Diadem of Blood and Bones

by Ripley Proserpina

  He nodded, like he’d expected it all along. “It’s okay.”

  “I can see your emotions, like waves, so I tried to follow them to their source. But it pushes against me, and I’m not strong enough.”

  “It’s okay,” Hudson said again. He touched her forehead with his thumb, skimming it down her nose to her lips until he could cup her cheek with his hand. “When the battle comes, we’ll be ready. Sylvain and Marcus tell us you’re quite the fighter.”

  Briar laughed and lifted a shoulder. “I’m not bad.”

  Her vampire humphed.

  “Tonight we hunt?” Valen asked. “If so, do you want to take more of your medicine? Keep your levels up?”

  “That’s a good idea,” Hudson replied. “It won’t hurt. How long ago was the last dose?”

  Valen glanced at a clock on the bookshelf. “Six hours.”

  “Thanks,” Hudson answered and dug in the bag he’d brought downstairs, removing a white bag. He shook pills from various bottles in his hand and then swallowed them.

  “That works?” Briar asked. “The medicine you designed to allow you to walk in the sun had to be given directly into a vein, didn’t it?”

  “It works,” Hudson said. “It’s not pleasant, but it works.”

  Hudson would take the medicine, and they would go out hunting. All of them. Briar glanced at the window. The snow fell heavier, making it seem later than it really was. “Tonight,” she whispered. The last hunts she’d gone on with Sylvain and Marcus hadn’t been fruitful, but she had a feeling tonight would be different.

  “Are you sure you don’t have homework?” Sylvain asked. “Or a night class?”

  When Briar looked at him, ready to tease him, she stopped. He may have been joking, but he wasn’t smiling.

  Protect them.

  Briar would. With all the strength she contained, she would. So she repeated the same thing they told her when she worried. “It’ll be okay.”

  Sylvain

  While Briar made goo-goo eyes at Hudson’s computer along with his brothers, Sylvain went to his room and freaked out.

  His insides were churning, the predator inside him wanted to leave. Not to run away but to end the threat to his family. We can’t. He tried to soothe his desperate vampire, but he hadn’t given it the name predator for nothing.

  Walking to his window, Sylvain only saw a reflection of himself in his bright room. Quickly, he ran to the light, switched it off, and returned.

  Better. Now he could see what the heavy snow didn’t hide. It was quiet tonight, which was strange given how familiar he’d become with the sirens and engines roaring down his quiet neighborhood street every night.

  This silence, this darkness—it brought him back in time to other nights where he’d considered his future. He’d been a human, and when he’d prayed, it had been for rain or a crop bountiful enough to pull them through the winter. He prayed for the trees to bear fruit and the frost not to hit too early.

  Then he married Juliet and had Jacques, and his prayers changed. He prayed for his wife to survive delivery of his child. He prayed to find Jacques when he hid his tiny self in their apple orchard. He prayed for the strength to kill the creatures who attacked his family. And then, when Asher came and took everything, he prayed to die.

  He hadn’t prayed since.

  It was hard to be a vampire and be granted immortality and pray. Hell—that was a certainty—he’d lived it.

  How then, did he find himself here? Weighed down with fears of Briar’s safety. Of his brothers’ safety. Turning away from the darkness, Sylvain stared into his room. Below him, Briar’s laughter filtered through the floorboards, and he smiled without thinking.

  The rumble of Valen’s voice followed, and then all of his brothers laughed.

  Running his hands down his face, Sylvain felt them tremble. He held them out, examined them, and saw the fine tremor moving through him. Clenching his fists hard, he let them fall to his sides. He couldn’t be afraid, not tonight.

  His predator growled. He wasn’t afraid, but he was determined. Sylvain and his vampire would lay waste to the creatures haunting Boston and threatening Briar and his child.

  Oh God. His child. The thought was enough to shut up his predator’s growling and make him whimper. He was going to have a baby again.

  A flash of memory brought Sylvain to his knees. In the light from a fire, he held Jacques’s newborn body. He’d been so soft and so tiny, and he’d stared at Sylvain with the same dark eyes Sylvain saw reflected in the mirror his entire life.

  Pain ripped through his chest as he remembered the last time he’d held Jacques. His boy had cried for him, but he’d pushed him toward Juliette’s arms. Then he’d held his knives tight in his hands and threw himself at the demons tearing down his home.

  Sylvain didn’t know he had the ability to cry anymore, but a salty tear dripped off his nose and landed on the hand holding him up. Pressing his lips together, he forced the pain of his loss back down in the black hole he’d carried around for four hundred years.

  He hadn’t been able to save Juliette and Jacques.

  Or Annie.

  Annie was supposed to be his second chance, and what did he do? Fuck it up. He never should have trusted that there was a limit to what a person could endure—especially an immortal person.

  The door to his room suddenly opened, and Sylvain whirled around, sniffing and wiping his face. The light from the hall shone inside briefly before the door shut quietly, and then Briar was there, surrounding him in the scent of home.

  She wrapped her arms around him from behind, cupping both hands against his heart. “I love you,” she whispered. He felt her lips against his back as she kissed him.

  Sylvain shut his eyes and held his hands over hers. “Don’t leave me.” His voice broke, and he shook his head, pissed he wasn’t stronger.

  “I’ll never leave you, Sylvain,” she replied. She was stronger in this form, and when she squeezed him, she pushed the breath out of him. He huffed, and she giggled softly. “You gave me this life, and we’re going to have a baby. And I’m going to get my master’s degree. And maybe I’m going to be a doctor.” She paused. “Or the first woman president.”

  And just like that, she took him from crazy freak-out to mostly logical man. Shoulders sagging, Sylvain chuckled. “Blossom, I love you.”

  She came around the side to face him and put her hands back over his heart, leaning into his chest. “I love you, too. We’re going to be okay. I know it. We haven’t found each other, survived Asher, and made a baby for it all to be ripped away. The universe doesn’t work like that.”

  “Except mine did,” he replied quietly. “I can’t lose everything again.”

  “You won’t.” Her voice was strong, and she pushed against him to punctuate her statement with enough force that he had to step back. “I’m telling you, Sylvain. My vampire and me? We’re strong, and we’ll do anything to protect you and this baby.”

  “I should be protecting you.” He was the man. It was his job.

  “You do! And I have no doubt you will.” She took his face between her palms and glared at him. “We’re in this together, wild man. You and me.” She canted her head, gaze going toward the door for a second. “And Hudson, Valen, and Marcus. We’ve got damn good odds.”

  It was difficult for him to smile while she held his face, and he was certain he resembled a fish with puckered lips. “You swore,” he pointed out, though it sounded more like, “Ooswoow.”

  She seemed to understand, though, because she bit her lip before hardening her features and throwing her shoulders back. “Well. Sometimes a curse word is needed to make an important point. A damn important point. We’re going to be fine, Sylvain. I know you feel it, too. When we leave here to hunt, we’re going to find a battle. But we’re going to win.” She suddenly smiled and it was a little frightening. “We’re going to slay.”

  Sylvain threw back his head and laughed. It felt so good. Each burst of ai
r that left his chest took with it a worry.

  He wasn’t smart enough.

  He wasn’t good enough.

  He wasn’t strong enough.

  He wasn’t deserving of this life.

  Briar thought he was.

  “I know you are,” she whispered, and he realized she’d heard all his fears. With her hands on his shoulders, she tugged him lower. He had to bend his knees so she could reach him. When her eyes closed, he kept his open. He wanted to see every nuanced emotion on her face, even if it was blurred and cycloptic.

  Her soft lips touched his and he was done. He lifted her into his arms and spun them until her back touched the wall. He kissed her and kissed her, his fears were chased away by the weight of her in his arms.

  “We’re going to be okay,” she said when he let her up for a breath.

  Letting his forehead touch hers, he nodded. “I know.” He sighed and pulled away. “So—want to match our hunting outfits again?”

  With the most serious face he’d ever seen on her, Briar nodded. “Absolutely, I do.”

  Briar

  Sylvain pouted as he and Briar waited for the other guys near the door. “I didn’t think about winter coats,” he muttered.

  Briar tugged the edges of her coat together before zipping it to her chin. “I could try going without it, but the snow is really blowing.”

  “No,” Sylvain replied. They’d been able to match jeans and shirts, but that was where it ended. Briar wanted to wear a coat to protect her against the wet and cold. Sylvain didn’t have a coat, but he’d pulled on a dark wool sweater.

  “I have a coat you could borrow.” Marcus thumped down the stairs, trying and failing to hide his smirk. “If you’re so worried about your outfit.”

  “I’m not worried,” Sylvain retorted. “It was just fun last time. At least our hair is the…” He trailed off as Briar pulled her hat over her ears. “Damn it, Briar!”

  She giggled. “When the baby is born, we’ll buy lots of matching outfits for you two, okay?”

  It may have been her imagination, but it seemed like Sylvain’s eyes got a little starry. “Okay.”

  A flash appeared in Briar’s mind of her baby in a flannel shirt and jeans, and she couldn’t help smiling. A lumberjack and his mini-lumberjack. It would be adorable.

  As Valen and Hudson joined them, the mood changed. Sylvain’s pouting really had been a joke. Briar could read the anxiety streaming off him. It matched Hudson, Valen, and Marcus’s, though Marcus tried to hide it with his smile.

  “Ready?” she asked. Their plan was to run northwest. The victims who’d been recovered had overwhelmingly been from less populated towns not far from Boston.

  Where the five of them were hunting tonight there were plenty of places for crawlers and soldiers to hide.

  “You’re staying between Sylvain and Valen at all times,” Hudson reminded her.

  “I know,” she answered. They’d gone over the plan a dozen times, and she wasn’t going to forget it. Hudson would run slightly ahead of them, that way if Theia was able to control him, they wouldn’t be surprised.

  Hudson had swallowed another dose of the meds meant to help him filter through visual input, and he was still feeling alert. His motor control was good, and he was thinking clearly and quickly.

  They were as ready as they’d ever be.

  “We may not even find anything,” Marcus said as they went down the front stairs and into the night. “We haven’t for the past two weeks.”

  “We will,” Valen said. “Tonight they’ll be ready for us. Marcus, let’s go.”

  The man sighed and straightened the hat covering his short hair. Soon, they were racing through the snow that covered their footprints as fast as they made them. It snowed in Beckley, but she couldn’t remember seeing so much all at once.

  Someday, she hoped she’d get to stop and enjoy watching the snow fall.

  Valen took her hand, squeezing gently to get her attention. His smile was wide, and despite what they were going to do tonight, she could sense his contentment.

  She smiled back at him. “You like the snow.”

  “I love it,” he answered.

  “You’re going to look like the abominable snowman and not a vampire.” Already, his sweater was covered.

  He brushed his free hand down his chest, wiping it away, and shrugged. “Perhaps I’ll frighten them into leaving. Sylvain!” he called. “Can you teach me to growl?” His gaze went back to Briar. “A good snow monster can growl.”

  The snow fell harder the longer they ran, forcing them to slow. By the time they made it to Concord, it was deep enough that Briar’s entire foot disappeared each time she took a step. Her improved vision didn’t help her see through the wall of falling snow, and she hadn’t realized how much she’d come to rely on her new ability to see and hear everything.

  Hudson was only a few paces ahead of them, but it was hard for Briar to keep her gaze on him. Despite trying not to, she ended up looking at the ground, head bent against the strong wind that made her eyes water.

  “Look!” Hudson called, coming to a stop.

  A huge divot was carved in the snow, the edges gray and dirty. A second later, the snow obscured her sight, but she knew what it was—a trail left by a crawler.

  Hudson sped up, and Briar forced herself to keep pace. “We have to follow the trail before the snow fills it in!” Valen called over the wind.

  She kept her hand in his, tightening her fingers so he knew she understood.

  “Stop!” Hudson suddenly called out, but he was too late. Briar stepped out of the snow and into icy water.

  She squeaked. The water was deep and filled her boots. When she tried to move, she was weighed down. Next to her, Valen looked just as disgusted. She turned around, barely keeping her balance, and slogged toward shore. Marcus, who’d been running behind them, had stopped in time. She could make out his figure, though the snow obscured his features.

  “Are you okay?” she called over her shoulder to Hudson. When he didn’t answer, she assumed it was because the wind was blowing so strong he couldn’t hear her. Glancing over her shoulder she called out, “Hudson?”

  And stopped.

  For a second, the wind died down and the snow slowed and she could see all the way across the pond. There at the edge was a woman dressed in a bright red coat, but between her and Briar, there was nothing.

  Hudson was gone.

  “Hudson!” she yelled. The flash of red disappeared at the sound of Briar’s voice, but Valen and Sylvain spun around, frantically searching for their missing brother.

  “Go to shore!” Sylvain directed pointing at her. “Marcus!”

  There was a splash and then Marcus grabbed her around the waist, lifting her like she weighed nothing. Valen and Sylvain dove into the icy water, disappearing under the black surface.

  “Theia is here,” she said as Marcus tugged her toward the shore. Her teeth chattered but not from the cold. Dread built in her stomach, clawing toward her throat. “Marcus, where is he?”

  He didn’t answer, but kept his gaze trained on the water. “There’s Valen,” he said and Briar caught sight of him as he lifted his head, searched the surface, and dove back into the water. A moment later, Sylvain emerged, took a breath, and went back.

  “Did you see Theia?” Briar asked. “Across the pond?”

  “I did,” Marcus answered and glanced down at her. “I think we can safely assume Hudson has gone there.”

  She nodded, not trusting her voice. Her nerves were strung as tight as piano wire, and she didn’t trust that they wouldn’t snap under the strain.

  “I can’t find him!” Valen called, and Briar had to shut her eyes against the pain. She thought this would work. She thought the medicine would stop Theia from controlling Hudson.

  Sylvain’s dark head, hair smoothed back, popped up next to Valen. They bobbed next to each other, treading water and speaking too low for Briar to hear. Finally, Sylvain nodded and disappea
red under the water.

  “We’re coming back!” Valen called, starting toward the shore.

  Briar kept one eye on him, tracking Valen’s progress while she studied the opposite shore and the woods.

  The snow, which had tapered off, began to fall again, but Briar could make out the vampires as they swam.

  “Will they be all right?” she asked Marcus. “Despite the cold and wet?”

  Marcus nodded. “It’s not comfortable, but it won’t do any lasting damage.” Briar saw that he was tracking Valen and Sylvain, but was also studying their surroundings. “Hudson!” he called out. “No point in pretending we aren’t here. She’s already seen us. And we know the crawlers are nearby.”

  “Mar—!” Briar caught a flash and then Valen went under the water. A second later, he came up. “They’re here!” he yelled and was gone again.

  “Let’s go,” Marcus said. He wrapped an arm around her waist and turned her away from the water, pushing her toward the trail they’d followed. A hand landed on her shoulder and she yelped.

  “Just me,” Sylvain said breathlessly. Water dripped down his face, but his hair had frozen into thick dark spirals. “Where’s Valen?”

  “He’s in the water,” Marcus said. “Something got him.”

  Sylvain growled and spun, but Briar grabbed his hand before he could dive in. “She’s trying to split us up.”

  Trust them. Her vampire took in the sounds and scent of the night. They are fine.

  As the snow and wind died down, Briar caught what the weather had masked—the rot of the crawlers and the tangy staleness of the soldiers. The scent was heavy in the air, filling her nose. There were a lot of them.

  Her boots would slow her down, so she kicked them off.

  “What are you doing?” Sylvain asked.

  “Getting ready to fight,” she replied and unzipped her jacket. Her gaze darted around the edge of the pond, searching for movement.

  Next to her, she heard a rustle and from the corner of her, eye saw Sylvain yank his sweater over his head, leaving him clad in a t-shirt. It clung to his body, outlining every muscle.