by Chloe Adler
I scrape one claw against the table, not hard enough to leave a mark but hard enough to make a noise. All eyes shift to me and I puff smoke out of my nostrils, opening and closing my mouth before sliding in front of Iphi. I want to make sure that Rhys knows we’ve got our eyes on him, in case he lets his animal instincts take over again. I’ll singe the other half of his face and maybe set his perfect hair on fire too.
He takes a tentative step forward, stops and uses the wall to prop himself up. The man who has always been so sure of himself is acting like a kicked kitten. Humility may not come easy to him, but it’s a potent and uncomfortable lesson.
“I agree to whatever conditions she has.” His voice lacks its usual command.
“It’s not really a condition,” Iphi says.
Rhys shakes his head. “Whatever it is, I agree.” He tears his gaze away from the floor and up to Iphi’s. I have to clamp my mouth shut so I don’t shoot waves of fire across the room and burn my brother for the way he’s looking at her.
She cringes, her hand rising toward his face, when he meets her gaze. Great, by protecting her from him, I’ve made her love him more because now he’s “hurt Rhys.” Stupid Thorn. She drops her hand. “I need a little space.”
“Space?”
“From you.” Iphi’s eyes brim with unshed tears.
“Of course, whatever you need. I’ll leave as soon as we’re done here.”
“That’s not necessary. I’m going to stay with Sadie for a while. Until I can make up with my mother, and then I’ll move back in with her.”
“I’d rather you didn’t.” Rhys’s shoulders slump, removing at least an inch from his five foot eleven inches.
You can’t afford that inch, buddy.
“It’s what Iphi wants.” Dom’s voice is stern, but soft. He’s trying to hide his sadness.
Rhys grits his teeth so hard that the horrible sound carries across the room. Then again, I have better hearing than most when I’m in my dragon form.
“What if . . .” Rhys holds her gaze and for the second time in several minutes I’d like to finish what I started and burn all of that amazingly thick, dark hair off the top of his head. He would not look as good bald as I do.
“Yes?” Iphi says.
“I go. I mean, I’ll go. Let me leave the Grove and stay elsewhere for a while.”
Iphi bites her lip, nodding. “Just until I make up with my mother.”
Times like these I wish I had my voice. What the hell is she talking about? Her mother is a nightmare. Shit, she’s obviously seeking forgiveness from the witch in order to help me.
“Iphigenia.” Caspian reaches for her hand but she pulls it back, gently, out of his grasp. Am I the only one who notices? “If you go to Sadie’s, we’ll all have to go with you. It’s not safe for her or Ryder, with the ghoul army after you. If you stay here, we can protect you.”
Rhys nods furiously, then looks away, sucking in a breath. A move he did as a child when trying not to cry. Wow, if he cries in front of Iphigenia, I will make fun of him for the rest of my life. When I’m back in my human form. Geez, I’m a dick. Good thing no one can hear my thoughts. I’ve never been in my shift for this long and I suspect when Aurelia stuck me here she didn’t know it would bring out my lizard brain. Or did she? Well, I’ve always been a dick, so maybe it has nothing to do with my current form.
“I agree.” Rhys holds up both hands, palms out. “I don’t want to cause you any more stress and if that means I have to spend the rest of my days only dreaming of the time we had together, than so be it.”
Caspian snorts but it’s so soft that I’m sure only I can hear it. Then he clears his throat. “Okay everyone, let’s back up a little. Big picture here.”
“One day at a time at the very least,” Dominic says. “I don’t think Iphi is breaking up with you quite yet.”
“No, of course not. I just need some processing time.” She reaches her unbandaged hand out and Caspian catches it, holding on too tightly for her to pull away. I wish I could hold her other one.
“Rhys, you drank from a donor, yes?” Dominic’s tone is curt and to the point. Nice subject change, buddy.
Rhys raises his chin. “I had Amber come over.”
“Amber?” A crease forms between Iphi’s brows.
She’s jealous! I should have predicted that. One point for Rhys, even though I’m sure he didn’t plan it. That’s something I would do, not him.
“She’s one of my donors,” Rhys says.
“Oh.” She looks away.
“I’m sure you’ve met her before. She was Burgundy’s donor for a while too.”
Iphi’s eyes brighten and she looks back at Rhys.
Way to undo all your hard work. Geez, man. I need to school him when I’m human again. If.
“I remember her. She’s really nice.”
Rhys nods. “I only did it to help you, otherwise I would have waited . . . longer.”
Her eyes soften and she licks her lips. Kudos to him, maybe he needs to school me.
“Come here.” Her eyes rake over Rhys and a grin bursts free, turning up the sides of those luscious lips. “Let me drink from you.”
And for the first time in my entire life, I wish I were a vampire-shifter hybrid.
Iphigenia
It takes all my discipline not to run to Rhys, hold him in my arms and take his pain away with soft kisses up and down both of those stubbly cheeks. I want to touch his scarred flesh, kiss it and tell him I love him no matter what.
I know I haven’t told him that I forgive him but maybe this is all for the best. I’m single-handedly tearing this pack apart. Rhys would be better off without me. All of them would be better off without me. His cheek and arm were ravaged by his brother. And if it weren’t for me, Rhys wouldn’t have lost control in the first place. He was starving. He starved himself. For me. I resist burying my face in my hands.
Instead, I scooch to the edge of the couch and pat the tiny space next to me. Caspian crowds my right side and Thorn expands his wings, moving closer to the table’s edge. They’ve all got my back. Dominic too. He follows Rhys over and flanks his left side.
“When Burg’s given me her blood . . .”
Dom leans past Rhys and holds up a hand. “Thorn and I are officers of the law and you all know that a vampire giving his blood to heal is still illegal so . . .” He plugs his ears with his fingers and spins around so he’s facing away from the scene. Thorn doesn’t move a talon. Instead, he takes another step closer and flaps his wings once in obvious defiance.
“Are you ready?” Rhys asks and I nod my head, gripping the sides of the couch. I fight the urge to lean into him, to turn my face upward and catch his lips in mine.
Caspian and Dom’s concern mute Rhys’s guilt, like one loud sound drowning out another. Empathic overload. It happens sometimes when I’m around several people in a small space who are all upset about something. When I lived with Mom and my sisters, it happened a lot. And either the person who is most upset or the one who I feel closest to at that moment will bleed through the loudest. I’m sure that’s what’s happening now. Caspian’s and Dom’s hearts race so fast I can almost hear them. But instead of showing his fear, Caspian rubs my back.
What sweethearts. They’re all willing to put my needs before those of their packmate. But I don’t deserve it and it twists my heart up to know that I’m coming between them. Like spinning in the silks, winding them tightly around my body before a drop over a stage with no net.
“I’m ready.”
Rhys brings the underside of his wrist to his mouth and nicks it with a fang. The blood rests just on the surface, dark and oily. He extends his wrist toward me and I wrap my good hand around it and pull it to my mouth. As my lips reach over his self-inflicted wound, I remember when my lips wrapped around his mouth only a day earlier. The way he tasted in the heat of passion, the sweet tang of his skin on my tongue.
As his blood seeps lazily into my mouth, thanks to his slow
heartbeat, I force the bitterness down in gulps, letting my mind wander. Focusing on the task at hand makes me nauseous and I have to keep this liquid down in order for it to heal me.
How easily everything can change in twenty-four hours. We were wrapped up tight yesterday, bucking and writhing in passion. The intimacy we shared can’t be washed away by such a small indiscretion but it does make my resolution stronger. I need to let him go so he doesn’t suffer without food, so he doesn’t jeopardize his relationship with his packmates. I love him enough to let him go—because he doesn’t know who it is he wants.
A hand on my shoulder brings me out of contemplation. I stop drinking and crane my head to look at Caspian. He kisses my cheek and pulls my hair back out of my face. Dominic hands me a black kitchen towel and I wipe my mouth. The same mouth that drank Rhys’s blood and tasted his sweat. The same mouth that tangled tongues with him. The same mouth that licked his raging cock. I shake my head a little and hand the napkin back to Dominic.
“How does your wrist feel?” he asks.
Oh right, my wrist. I run my tongue over my lips and a slight groan escapes from Rhys.
“Shut the fuck up. This is not the time to groan,” Thorn says and my head swings toward the little dragon perched on the table. But he hasn’t spoken anywhere but in my head. His emotions are so vibrant I’m able to pick up whole sentences. That’s interesting; it’s only happened with my family before and only a handful of times that I can remember. I cover my mouth with the napkin again to stifle a groan. Not even Thorn is immune to my mental meddling.
Cradling my hurt wrist against my stomach, I move my fingers cautiously. “No pain.”
Rhys lets out a sigh. Thorn folds his wings back in place and Dominic moves in closer.
“May I help you unwrap the bandage?” Caspian asks. I hold my arm out to him and he rests it on his lap. With each pull of the bandage I wriggle my fingers and by the time he has it removed I’m clenching and unclenching my fist.
“All better.” I hold it up, spinning my hand atop my wrist to demonstrate.
“Time for me to leave.” Rhys stands. “I’m so glad it worked.”
Don’t go. “Where will you go?” I ask.
“I can sleep at Ichor for a while, in the basement where I hold my classes.”
My stomach tightens at the thought of him spending so much time around all those attractive, willing donors. But isn’t that what got us into this mess, my own inability to accept his true nature? It’s what’s best, Iphi. Stop being such a selfish ass. “What about staying with Carter and Chrys?”
His darkened gaze swings to mine. “Would you rather I do that?”
Yes. I clear my throat. “No. I thought you might be more comfortable with your brother and my sister. You know, with access to a bathroom and a kitchen.”
One corner of his mouth turns up. “Yes, that’s true but . . .”
“But what?”
“I don’t really deserve to be living comfortably right now. If I stay at Ichor, I’ll have time to reflect on my behavior.”
“Great idea, brother.” Dominic pats his shoulder, angling him toward the front door. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”
What have I done?
“Sure man, thanks,” Rhys mumbles, letting himself be guided out. When the door is open and he’s on the threshold, he turns back and pins me with a smoldering stare. His deep brown eyes, the color of rich mahogany, glow and spark bright. “I love you.” His voice is thin. “I’m sorry.”
I love you too I mouth, but he’s already turned away. I sit in silence, listening to the beat of his feet as he descends the stairs away from Dominic’s log cabin and from me.
Chapter Six
Rhys
Walking away from Iphi is like walking into the longest, blackest night of the North Pole. The last tiny shreds of hope seep out from every despicable pore in my body. It’s as if I’ve lost a hundred pounds and I’m surprised I don’t float away on a wave of utter despair.
I can almost hear Thorn laughing. Show some dignity, brother.
Imaginary Thorn is right. I pick up my chin and walk to my house. Inside I throw some essentials into a small suitcase. I can always come back for more stuff or ask one of my cousins to bring me items later. Walking to my car, uneasiness creeps over me. Why am I leaving when danger could be lurking? Danger with Iphi’s name on it, in the form of Nolan, my only full brother. Our mother was such a good woman. Kind and proud. How could two apples have strayed so far from the tree?
The other three have her covered, Rhys. Time to give her the space she asked for.
I take the long path to the parking area. As the light deepens to late afternoon, shadows from the taller trees overhead overtake and consume me. Maybe I’m more like our asshole father after all. It’s the last thing I ever wanted, the thing I spent most of my life running from, and yet, here we are. Full circle. The only woman I’ve ever loved is afraid of me, the woman who always recognizes the goodness in others, even if they can’t see it in themselves. But that’s the conundrum. She may not hate me, but she doesn’t need to. I hate myself enough for the both of us. Us. There is no us anymore. I don’t deserve her. I never did.
I don’t want to leave the Grove yet, even though I am. No question there. But I’m not in a hurry to start my exile in Ichor’s basement either. In the quiet of the fading light, I drop my suitcase on the ground and sit cross-legged at the base of a coral tree, leaning my back against it.
I blink back the tears of a tattered memory. Lying in Central Park with my brothers, my back against a tree, just like this one. It was late autumn and the leaves had reddened and started to fall. The weather was hitting the low forties at night and Thorn wanted to go scout a warmer location, hopefully indoors.
We weren’t able to live in the subway stations. There were constant sweeps, and being kids, we’d have ended up in CPS’s hands. That night, Thorn left us alone in the park. Me at eight years old, with little six-year-old Nolan clinging to my thin jacket. He was gone for hours and I was sure he’d never return. I remember sitting there, crying, wondering why we weren’t good enough to go with him, wondering why we’d been abandoned twice in less than a year.
When he finally returned, I was curled up in a little ball around my brother, shivering and sobbing. Thorn felt horrible, as did Dom. They all did, but it was apparent that we were the outcasts to their tight brotherly unit. Shit, he’d even taken Caspian with them to scout and he was a year younger than me.
Looking up through the branches, I watch the sun kissing the tops of the trees. My eyes grow heavy and I close them. By the time they spring open, the sun is just inches from sinking below the horizon completely. Inches, that’s how I would describe it, but Dominic would be more accurate and use the proper astronomical measurement, no doubt. Whatever.
I get up and grab my suitcase, continuing the walk to the lot, letting my self-loathing consume me once again. So lost am I in my thoughts that I don’t notice anything amiss. One second I’m walking to my car, and the next a woman’s voice pierces the air to my right.
“Well aren’t you a pretty thing,” and then her fangs sink into my neck.
Muscle memory kicks in and I reach behind my shoulder with both hands, find purchase and flip her over my body and onto her back.
“That wasn’t playing very nice, was it?” She doesn’t even appear stunned and kicks up to her feet without using her hands, a la Jackie Chan. How could she have snuck up on me like that? No one’s ever snuck up on me before. My hearing is phenomenal, bred from my birthright and years of training and skill. No time for thinking.
I back up, also unlike me. The woman is not a vampire; her scent is all wrong for that. It’s rancid and foul, like the ghouls my brother’s been making. But those have all acted feral, like wild animals. This one is aware of her surroundings, aware of me, aware of her choices.
My hand moves to my neck, pressing on the wound she inflicted and I wonder how her venom will affect me. Will I,
too, turn into one of them? Is that what she was? A vampire bitten by a ghoul? That must be it. It certainly would explain her ability to sneak up on me.
“Were you a vampire?”
“What does it matter? I am a new breed now. Stronger and no longer saddled with compassion. I am,” she runs her hands along the tight curves of her body, “as my master made me.”
Her moves distract me—I’m a heartbroken male, after all, and my eyes follow those hands, her curves. I have only a moment to register the tight smile that plays on her lips. An evil smile.
And then three others are upon me, like I’m a feast and they’re starving for flesh. They tear at my arms and legs, fangs sinking in so deep I can’t shake them off. After giving Iphi my blood, I’ve weakened myself. I do everything I can to fight back, barely able to dislodge one before another finds purchase in my flesh.
A blood-curdling scream fills the air, bouncing around the sounds of ripping flesh. The scream, I barely register, is mine.
Thorn
We all hear the scream but I’m up and squawking at the front door before anyone else can react.
Dominic flings it open for me. “We’re right behind you, brother.”
I don’t stop to wonder who screamed, the sound familiar. I’m sure it was Nolan. The only other person it could be is Rhys, who is long gone by now.
Regardless, whoever it is, they’re in need of our help. No matter what they’ve done, I’m not willing to abandon either one of them to uncertain torture or death. I fly as fast as my wings will flap, following the scent of blood into the last of the sun’s rays. When I arrive at the scene behind the Grove in a small clearing, neither Rhys nor Nolan are there. There are plenty of ghouls though, and they’re running back and forth with gnashing teeth and reddened eyes. My humanity recedes and anger bursts forth from my mouth in a single flame.
“Thorn.” Iphi’s voice cuts through the twilight like a thirty-two-hundred-lumen flashlight beam.