by Kristie Cook
I pressed my lips together to block out the emotional pain of Owen’s betrayal and shrugged. “I’m sure Mom will give us our best. Hopefully that’s one she’ll give to our cause. The best is no longer ours, but his mother is.”
Tristan nodded. “If they really want us to build an army, Rina and Sophia will send Char to us.”
As if on cue, the warlock’s mind signature entered the safe house, along with a few others belonging to Amadis. The others hung back in the foyer, but Charlotte made a beeline for my office. I waved my hand to open the door for her, and she strode in and up to me and wrapped her arms around me in a bear hug.
“I’m so sorry, Alexis,” she said. “I feel for you. I really do.”
She knew what it was like to lose her son to the Daemoni. Only, hers had chosen to go. Damn traitor.
She stepped back and assumed a soldier’s stance with her feet spread apart, her spine ramrod straight with her leather-clad chest out, and her hands clasped behind her back. Her straw-colored hair, which she’d cut boy-short after Kali announced that the previous seventy or so years of her life had been a scam, had grown out enough to be pulled back into a tight ponytail. Her sapphire blue eyes fell on me.
“At your service,” she said. “What’s the plan?”
“We’re still formulating one,” Tristan said from his perch on the edge of my desk. “We need a team, and we need to secure the safe house before we set out.”
“I brought people for the safe house on Sophia’s orders.” Charlotte’s posture softened, and she rocked on her feet. “They’ll take care of security for the whole colony so we have room here for any new converts we can make in the area.”
“Good. That’s checked off the list,” I said. “Now, what about our own team? We have the three of us. Who else?”
“We don’t want to be too numerous to be noticeable, but we need enough to protect ourselves,” Tristan said.
“Right,” Charlotte agreed. “You two are an excellent start, but we should have at least one Were, though two would be better. And a vampire or two.”
Tristan shifted his weight back and leaned against his hands on my desk. “I’m sure Sheree will volunteer.”
My stomach knotted with the idea of taking sweet Sheree on such a dangerous mission. “Shouldn’t she stay here for faith healing?”
“Do you really think she’ll stay?” Tristan asked with a brow raised. Probably not. She felt so indebted to us, and she also loved Dorian, which meant she’d be on our side when it came time to break away from the army.
“She could use the field experience,” Charlotte added. “And a big cat is always nice to have around.”
“Okay,” I relented. “So who else? Do you think Trevor, the werewolf, would come?”
“I’m sure he would for you,” Tristan said, “but he needs to stay for his pack. They’ll be dealing with enough, and he needs to be there to lead them.”
“Too bad Jax is so far away,” I muttered, missing the were-croc who’d helped us in Australia.
“Hmph,” Tristan grunted. “I’m sure he’d do anything for you. He’s already come this far for you once.”
“I don’t know if it’s fair to ask, though. He’d be completely out of his element. He’s stayed in the Outback for a reason.”
“We’re at war,” Charlotte said. “Every Amadis knows what that means. If they can fight, they will.”
“I don’t want anyone to feel obligated. Our team should want to be on it.” I began to pace again. “Let’s move on. Who else? What vamps?”
“Vanessa is an obvious one,” Tristan offered.
Charlotte chuckled. “That is one hell of story. Rumor has it she’s your sister. Lucas’s other daughter.”
“Rumor spreads fast.” I rolled my eyes. “But it’s true. At least, according to Lucas and Vanessa, but I don’t know if I trust her.”
“She’s here. She’s Amadis,” Tristan said. “She’ll be better with us than left behind. What better way to let her prove her loyalty?”
“And if she is loyal, she’ll be able to share insider secrets,” Charlotte pointed out.
I grimaced.
“You know she’s an excellent fighter,” Tristan pressed, irking me—why did he insist on Vanessa’s presence with us? Of course, they both made excellent points.
“Fine,” I huffed. “Vanessa. Who else?”
“I’m sure there’s another vamp or two out there who will accompany us,” Char said.
“You don’t think Rina will give up Solomon, will she?” I asked with a small trace of hope.
Charlotte snorted. “Not likely. He’s at the United Nations right now.”
Of course. I could see Solomon being a good diplomat.
“She might give us Julia, though,” Char said.
I cringed at the thought of the raven-haired vamp. She may have apologized for her actions, but she’d still been part of the accusers who almost banished Tristan from the Amadis. Julia wasn’t exactly my favorite vampire in the world.
“She probably won’t leave Rina’s side.” I hoped.
“If Rina asked her to, she would,” Tristan said.
I scowled at this truth. Julia would do anything for Rina, even lie down and die for her. But she remained far from my top choice as a travel companion, especially since our real mission was to rescue Dorian. She’d try to stop us, probably sabotage any attempt we made. Maybe even accuse us of treason again. Char followed Mom’s orders, but I hoped when the time came, she’d understand my need to go after Dorian. Maybe she wouldn’t go with us, but I didn’t think she’d try to stop us. Having a son herself, she’d understand. Unlike Julia. Plus, if Heather was with him, Charlotte would definitely do what it took to rescue the Norman girl. Again, unlike Julia. The vamp gave me the impression she was loyal to the Amadis, but not necessarily to humanity.
I paused in my tracks to tally up our roster. “We have the three of us, Sheree, if she wants to, and Vanessa. Do we really need anyone else? I don’t know who I would trust.”
“We need another mage,” Charlotte said. “I can’t do it all on my own. Not this kind of job, when I’ll be spending a lot of energy on converting, too.”
“What other warlocks do we have available?” I asked.
“None,” Charlotte answered.
I gaped at her. “None?”
“They’re all on assignment already. Some are protecting colonies and villages around the world. Others are guarding conversion teams.”
“Surely Rina and Mom will give us one!”
“They have.” Char smiled as she cocked her head to the side.
Oh. Right. I supposed if we only got one warlock, at least we had her.
“What other mage would you recommend?” I asked her as I resumed my pacing.
She tapped her fingers against her lips as she thought. “I don’t know who would be available. This mission is important, but the Amadis is already stretched thin. And covens are like packs—they stick close to each other. If we ask for one witch or wizard, they’ll all want to come.”
“So we need someone who’s not tied to a specific coven,” Tristan said.
Charlotte joined me in my pacing as she tried to think of a mage who could complement our team. Tristan moved around to the back of my desk, probably to get out of our way.
“Ahem.” The clearing of a throat sounded from the corridor. Damn. I should have had Charlotte muffle the room.
The warlock opened the door, and I lifted my head to see Blossom step into the office. “I’m sorry, but I couldn’t help but overhear.”
I stopped pacing and put my hands on my hips. “No way.”
Her face crumpled.
“Blossom, I love you dearly.” I walked over to her and took her hands into mine. “I really do. You’re my best friend. Which is why there’s absolutely no way I will ask you to do this.”
She flipped her blond hair back and squared her shoulders. “You don’t have to ask me. I’m volunteering.”
“It’s too dangerous.”
“Everything is dangerous now. I’m up for the challenge.”
I shook my head. “No. I’m not taking you out there.”
“I’m stronger than you think I am. My magic is more powerful than anyone wants to admit.”
“You’re not a warlock, though. You’re not built to fight.”
She put her fists on her hips, and her big hazel eyes narrowed with determination. “I can help you, Alexis.”
I leaned back on my heels and crossed my arms over my chest. When she focused, Blossom’s magic wasn’t as weak or sporadic as everyone seemed to think it was. But it definitely wasn’t strong enough to take on the mages we’d be facing. The Daemoni would have their most powerful warlocks out there, perhaps sorcerers and sorceresses, too. There was a good chance we’d come up against Kali . . . which meant Owen. Which meant even Char could become a problem, if it came to that. Crap. I’d started to feel confident in my team, and now I didn’t know how we were ever going to do this. To get my son back.
“Please, Alexis,” Blossom implored. “Let me be on your team.”
“No. It’s too dangerous. And we need you here.”
“Let me make that choice! Let me take the risk. I want to be there for you. Do you really think I can watch you walk out of here without me? Do you really think I’m any good here when I’m worried about you and Tristan? And Dorian? And Heather?” Tears filled her plea. “Those two are like my own. The kids I didn’t have to raise. You’re all family to me. Don’t make me stay behind.”
Unable to look her in the eye, I resumed pacing in front of my desk as Tristan watched me from the seat he’d taken in my chair. With a long exhale, I pushed my hands through my hair.
“Passion and love go a long way,” Charlotte murmured.
I turned sharply and eyed Blossom. “But is it enough to kill for? Because that’s what it might come down to.”
The witch’s eyes widened, then her gaze traveled around the room and to the floor.
“That’s what I thought,” I said. “You don’t have it in you.”
After a moment, Blossom straightened her spine, squared her shoulders again, and lifted her chin. “To protect you or myself, yes. I would.”
“But you shouldn’t have to!” I snapped. The memory of my one and only true kill in the caves of Hades flooded through me, taking my breath and nearly knocking me to my knees. My hands grasped the edge of my desk to keep me from falling to the floor.
He was an evil werewolf trying to kill me, but the way his wolf’s body shrunk into human form . . . his blood spurting from the artery I’d sliced with my dagger . . . I’d never be able to cleanse that from my mind. I shouldn’t have been able to. I. Killed. A. Person. Someone whose soul I might have been able to help. I should have to live with the hellish memory and the sickening feeling in my gut and heart the rest of my life.
“You okay?” Tristan silently asked.
I closed my eyes and nodded.
I should have to live with those images, those feelings, and, sadly, I could live with them. Maybe because I had Daemoni blood flowing in my veins, or maybe because what they’d done to me already had left a dark stain on my soul. But Blossom never should have to live with it. Her heart was too big and too warm. Her soul remained clean. Taking a life would destroy her, and I didn’t want to know the person she’d become. I loved the person she was now too much.
Charlotte cleared her throat. “Tristan, Vanessa, and Sheree—”
“You’ll bring Sheree but not me?” Blossom demanded.
I pushed the memory of my kill back into the dark corner of my heart where it would forever live.
“She’s a tiger, Blossom,” I said, turning back to her. “With big muscles and huge teeth and sharp claws. And she’s a Were, which means she stands a good chance against a vampire. And she’s killed before.”
Blossom pursed her lips.
“As I was saying,” Charlotte said, glaring at me, “with those three, and especially if we get another Were and vamp, it’s likely Blossom won’t have to fight, even if you and I are in the middle of a conversion.” She turned toward the witch. “I could train you in conversions, too. So if one of us does need to fight, you can take over.”
Blossom shifted her weight to one leg, threw her hip to the side, and crossed her arms over her ample chest. “See. I can be useful in all kinds of ways.”
With a sigh, I looked across my desk at Tristan, who leaned back in my chair, his hands folded across his stomach.
“I don’t like it either,” he said. “If something happens to her . . .”
“Exactly. I’d never forgive myself.”
“But if anyone would support our main mission, she would.”
I made a face at his point. This argument wasted valuable time, and apparently I was in the minority.
“So what else will you be able to do?” I asked her. “Convince me that you’re an asset.”
Blossom blinked at me. “Well, uh . . . you know I’ve been working on my magic, prepping for a disaster, although I hadn’t imagined it would get this bad so soon. But you haven’t seen what I can do now. New spells. And potions—all kinds of new potions that would help.”
I cocked my head with a thought. If she was really determined to help me and would go to any lengths, I had a way for her to prove it.
“Tristan, can you please talk to Sheree and Vanessa?” I requested. “Ask them if they want to be a part of this—I don’t want to force anyone. We don’t need anyone on the team who doesn’t want to be on it. Charlotte, please help your people get settled and take care of the colony. I want to move out as soon as possible.”
“On it,” she said, already on her way out of the office.
“Blossom, come with me.” I headed for the door.
Tristan’s brow wrinkled.
“Sheree and Vanessa,” I reminded him.
He nodded. I could tell he knew I was up to something. But if I told him what, he would stop me, and I really didn’t want him to know the thoughts in my mind. They weren’t exactly the kind that made you love someone more.
I led Blossom through the crowd, into the corridor, and down to the suite I’d slept in last night. The one where Dorian had last been seen. My heart squeezed painfully at the sight of his video games and other toys abandoned by the TV. Sasha hadn’t moved—still curled in a ball on the pillow—but her new wing had grown to nearly full size. She lifted her head when we walked in, rose and stretched, then padded across the bed. I gave her a scratch before turning back to Blossom.
“First, show me how strong your shield is.”
She squirmed. “I’m still working on that. If it were strong enough . . .”
I pressed my lips together. She didn’t need to finish the sentence. If her shield were strong enough, we wouldn’t be in this situation. My mages wouldn’t be dead. My son wouldn’t be gone. But that wasn’t her fault.
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “I need to know its strength.”
With a sigh, she closed her eyes, lifted her arms above her head and twirled her hands. Then she opened her eyes, dropped her hands, and looked at me.
“Did you muffle the room, too?” I asked.
She thrust her hands out in front of her. “It is now.”
“CHARLOTTE,” I yelled, making Blossom flinch. Charlotte flew into the suite. I looked at Blossom. “Not strong enough.”
“What’s not strong enough?” Char’s gaze scanned the room. “What’s wrong?”
“Sorry,” I said. “I didn’t mean to alarm you. We were testing her shield.”
Char’s eyes came back to me, filled with understanding. She gave me a small smile. “Not too many witches can shield me out. That’s not a good test. Besides, she’ll only have to maintain my shields. I can put them up.”
“Unless you’re incapacitated,” I muttered.
“Alexis—” Char began.
I waved her off. “I know. It’s not the biggest of
my worries. I was only curious.”
Char studied my face for a moment, then nodded and left.
We’ll have to talk like this, I said to Blossom’s mind. I don’t want to be overheard and with all of the powerful hearing around . . .
Blossom nodded.
You know we’re not going out only to convert people who the Daemoni have turned, right?
“I know you, Alexis. You won’t let Heather suffer or Dorian go so easily.”
It’s not really official Amadis business, though. At least not Dorian, and I don’t know about Heather yet. For now, only converting and training our army is the official order. But Tristan and I are going to be searching for Dorian and Heather, doing the conversions along the way.
“I want to help the Amadis any way I can,” Blossom said, “but honestly, I insist on going because of Dorian and Heather. I love them. And I was in charge of the safe house when all of this went down, and I can’t help but blame myself—”
I held my hands up. Stop. We could go on and on about who’s to blame, but it’s definitely not you, and we don’t have time to argue.
She nodded. “So what do you want me to do? How can I prove that I can help so we can get going sooner rather than later?”
I sat on the bed next to Sasha and stroked the soft fur on her back for a few moments before peering up at Blossom.
How far are you really willing to go to save Dorian? I asked.
She tilted her head. “I’ll do anything, Alexis. I swear I will. When I said I’d kill if I had to, I meant it.”
How many? I asked.
Not understanding—or not having a good answer—she squinted her eyes.
I made my question more direct. Is it possible to wipe out a whole mage coven or vampire nest at once? Is there a spell for that?
Blossom rocked back on her heels, her eyes wide. “What?”
Is there a spell for that? I repeated.
“Um . . . yeah. I’m sure there is.”
Are you powerful enough to do it?
She visibly gulped, and her hand went to her throat. “Maybe. I don’t know. But that’s a lot of souls. Surely some can be saved.”
I twisted on my butt to face her more directly. Here’s how I see it. If we can wipe out an entire nest of vampires, how many human souls would that be that won’t be turned by them? We do it enough times, the Daemoni will—