by Lexi C. Foss
A fair point well made. Every time she picked up a phone, she risked her life. It was why I usually texted with her in code, but Damien had felt the situation warranted a voice discussion. Which meant he took my and Willow’s situation seriously.
Maybe I would only shoot him once instead of four times. He really was a loyal friend, as was Izzy. And if she trusted Jace, then I could temporarily extend him the same courtesy.
I finished my blood bag and folded it in my hands before saying, “One of your terminated humans recently ventured onto my property. She was in bad shape and dying, but I cured her with my blood.”
Jace’s dark eyebrows shot up into his hairline. “You saved a human?”
I nearly smiled. “Does my temporary humanity shock you?”
“Yes.”
At least he didn’t feel the need to lie. “Is it because you wouldn’t do the same?” I wondered out loud.
“No, because we live very different lives,” he replied.
That was fair and true. “I don’t care for this new world or the penchant for treating humans like cattle. Honestly, it would have been kinder of me to let her die, but she tried to attack me, and I found that rather amusing. So I’ve kept her. She’s mine. And now she’s dying again.” I looked at Edon. “Which brings me to what I need to know—what really happens when a human is marked for termination?”
“They’re supposed to be killed immediately,” Edon informed me, his dark eyes holding no signs of emotion. “But I’ll admit that I haven’t ventured to that part of my territory for some time. I’ve only recently ascended.”
Fair enough. “Well, this human was marked for termination three weeks after her Blood Day assignment, yet she stumbled onto my property just over four weeks ago. And even more important, we believe she was bitten.”
That evoked a reaction from the alpha’s dark eyes. He shared a look with Luna and then Silas, a slight hum of energy coming off the three of them. I suspected they were mentally communicating, something that happened with lycan mates. It also occurred between vampires and their Erositas, but not between Sire and progeny.
From what I learned during my time in Clemente Clan territory, Edon had turned Silas into a wolf. He’d won the last Immortal Cup, which earned him the gift of eternal life. And in this case, it appeared he’d won the heart of his alpha, too.
Luna gave a slight nod, confirming one of my observations from last month.
Edon considered her an equal.
That was a rare trait in alphas these days.
Making a quick judgment call, I opted to lay all my cards on the table. They’d figure this out anyway, so I might as well ensure they had all the pieces of this puzzle. “I also tried to turn Willow last night, and it did—”
“Willow?” Silas repeated, his blue eyes widening.
I frowned at him. “Yes, that’s her chosen name. I prefer it to the serial number of her birth. Anyway, as I was—”
“I need to see her,” he interjected again, causing me to question his survival instinct. That question turned into a raging red flag as he moved around Edon and attempted to enter my home without an invitation.
I caught his shoulder and shoved him back, which stirred a growl from the ballsy pup. Edon stepped up to his side in a show of solidarity, just as Damien moved to my side.
Jace sighed audibly. “Honestly, children, can we play nice for five more minutes and discuss this like adults?”
“I need to see her,” Silas stated again as if it were his God-given right to make demands on my land.
Luna moved forward and put her hand on his arm as she softly explained, “He had a friend at the university named Willow. She went to the breeding camp, and he learned from Kylan last night that her location is currently unknown because she escaped.”
“Kylan? What the fuck does Kylan have to do with this?”
“His Erosita also went to the university with them,” Luna replied. “Kylan tracked down her location as a favor for Rae, and he passed on the information to Silas via Jace.”
I wasn’t even sure where to begin with all of that, the information startling and revealing a whole new level to the game that I hadn’t even begun to explore. Perhaps I wasn’t the only one who disliked this new way of existence. Izzy had always claimed there were others, but I hadn’t cared enough to ask. Now I wondered if I was looking at the others she’d mentioned in passing.
With a shake of my head, I stepped backward into my house.
Worst case, it wasn’t the Willow they knew, and we could continue our conversation appropriately.
Best case, Silas knew her and Edon would be encouraged to help her. Not that I needed the added motivation. He’d be assisting my pet whether he wanted to or not.
I led the way without a word, Damien a solid presence at my back. He stepped up to my side to take the blood bag from my hand when we reached the juncture between the kitchen area and the living room. I went left while he turned right. Then I moved to Willow on the couch and crouched before her to ensure nothing had changed.
She still had no heartbeat but otherwise appeared alive.
Silas cursed, confirming he knew her even before he tried to elbow me out of the way to reach her. I immediately shoved him back and growled menacingly. “Hurt her and I will kill you.”
He postured right back at me. “She’s not on my couch dying.”
“I tried to turn her to save her, mutt. Your kind did this to her.”
Luna squeezed her way between us, placing her palm on my chest and not so gently pushing me away from her mate. I stared down at the fiery little female, momentarily impressed by her might. “He’s not trying to hurt her, Ryder. She’s one of his best friends.”
Silas wrapped his arms around Luna, pulling her back into him as though to claim her, but I caught the hint of need in his gaze—a need for comfort. She spoke the truth about his connection to my Willow. They truly were friends. How fascinating that my pet never mentioned him or Kylan’s Erosita. Was that because she didn’t trust me enough to comment on her previous life?
I made a mental note to ask her once she woke up.
Because she was going to wake up.
I refused to accept the alternative.
“May I?” Edon asked, gesturing to Willow.
I dipped my chin, only because I needed his opinion on her state. As Silas seemed content with holding his female mate, I went to sit beside my pet, leaving everyone in the room within my peripheral view while I focused on Willow.
“You failed to mention that he tried to turn her,” Jace said conversationally, standing near the entrance of the room. His words were directed at Damien as he rejoined us.
My progeny chose to stand beside Jace, which served as a purposeful position that would aid in a swift defensive strategy should it become necessary. There were weapons hidden in every room for this very reason. I never left anything to chance, and neither did Damien.
“It wasn’t relevant to the conversation,” my progeny replied.
“That your maker attempted to illegally turn a human into a vampire?” Jace reiterated. “You’re right. Not relevant at all.”
“It wouldn’t have been required had she not randomly fallen ill,” I put in. “She’s been drinking my blood regularly, yet something about the moon last night forced her into this limbo state. My guess is, one of Edon’s lycans bit her. Illegally.” I added that last word for Jace’s benefit.
“If his lycan meant to kill her, it technically wouldn’t be illegal, just cruel,” Jace replied. “It takes two bites to turn a wolf.”
“Which is why I need to bite her now to complete the transition,” Edon interjected, looking at Silas, not me. That strange hum of electricity followed, the two males engaging in a conversation within their minds once more. Hell, they’d probably been talking this entire time.
“Speak out loud,” I demanded. “You’re saying our theory was right, that she’s mid-transition. So complete it. Now.”
“I
t’s not that simple.” Edon shook his head, making me want to throttle him. “How long has she been in limbo?”
“Roughly seven hours,” Damien told him.
“In addition to how many days, twenty-eight or twenty-nine? Perhaps longer?” Edon ran his fingers through his dark hair and blew out a breath. “She’s only alive because of Ryder’s blood, which, I imagine, is quite old. I have no idea how that will have impacted her transition.”
“It kept her alive,” I said. “That’s how it impacted her. Now bite her and fix it.”
“Even if I do, she’ll be killed for being turned illegally.” Edon glanced at Silas again, not me.
Right. I’d had enough of puppy playtime. “You’re acting as though I brought you here for a debate. I didn’t. You’ll bite her, or I’ll find a lycan who will.”
“Technically, Damien invited us,” Jace said, his tone conversational again. “And you also failed to mention he’d fallen off the deep end over a human.”
“It’s a fairly recent development,” my progeny muttered. “I’m still working on a solution.”
“Is it a result of royal stress, perhaps? From what I understand, Silvano’s former region is quite a mess. No one wants to inherit it, even with Lilith actively searching for a replacement.”
“He’s handling it,” Damien replied.
“I am,” I agreed. “And I would handle this, but I’m not a fucking wolf. Your lycans started this, Alpha. Fucking fix it.”
Edon sighed. “And I imagine you want us to protect her as well? In case you’ve forgotten, we’re currently under scrutiny because of your predecessor igniting a war.”
“Protecting her won’t be your concern,” I said, exhausted from this discussion. Every moment we wasted debating her fate brought her a second closer to death, and that was unacceptable.
“Then whose concern will it be?” he tossed back.
“Mine.” I allowed him to hear the power in my voice, underlined with my age and superiority. “Willow is mine.”
A ripple of shock went through the room, my proclamation having the desired impact.
“I tried and failed to turn her because of something your mutts did to her. Now either you can fix it for me or I’ll take her to your breeding camp and find someone else who will. And trust me, Edon, you don’t want me anywhere near that compound right now, not after what Damien found in her files.”
His pupils flared at my threat, the alpha in him not taking kindly to my aggression.
“You think I’ve lost my mind,” I continued. “Wait until you see what I’ll do to bring her back.”
Damien cleared his throat. “I suggest you bite her. Ryder’s not one to issue idle threats.”
“Why are you doing this?” Silas asked, a note of confusion in his tone. It took me a moment to realize he was addressing me, not his mate—who, in my opinion, needed to hear the same damn question because he was continuing to stall despite my threats.
Regardless, I focused on the young wolf and replied, “Because she’s mine.” I’d already said that, but if he needed to hear it again for it to register, then so be it.
Maybe his hearing had been impaired during his own transition. I truly hoped that didn’t happen to Willow, but we’d cross that bridge when we came to it.
“What does that mean, exactly?” he pressed. “How is she yours?”
“Ask her what it means when she wakes up,” I countered. She probably wouldn’t have an answer, but he didn’t need to know that. “Unless you want her to die?” I added. In which case, I’d note him as a horrible friend and ally.
Silas remained silent for so long I thought he wasn’t going to respond. I was about to pick up Willow and leave when he quietly said, “My heart broke when the Magistrate sent her to the breeding camps. She deserved better.” Emotion darkened his tone, his expression taking on a stern edge. “There’s no positive path in this world. However, Willow deserves the right to choose, and she can’t do that while in limbo.”
“She would never choose death,” I said, certain.
Apparently, that was the right thing to say, because Silas gave me a look of esteemed approval in response. “I agree. But there’s only one way for her to tell everyone else that.” He looked at Edon. “You have my vote, Alpha.”
“And mine,” Luna said.
Edon considered them both, then nodded. “All right. We face the consequences together.”
“Always,” Luna murmured, a hint of emotion in her voice. Then she placed her palm on his shoulder while he picked up Willow’s arm.
“This may not even work,” he warned me. “The energy around her is unique, but my only experience has been turning Silas. I’m going to try, but I can’t promise anything.”
He didn’t wait for me to acknowledge his comment; he merely turned his head and sank his teeth into her forearm.
Silas winced as though reliving a memory of the pain of transition. Then he watched Willow with the predator in his gaze, his nose twitching as the scents in the air began to change. Luna’s lip curled into a slight snarl, the three wolves reacting to the magic.
I glanced at Damien. He remained stoic, while Jace leaned against the wall, hands tucked into the pockets of his trousers. We’d need to have a long conversation after this if Edon succeeded. Because Jace would be required to report this to Lilith and I couldn’t allow that to happen.
He met my gaze, a hint of knowledge passing between us.
We would either come to a mutual agreement or we wouldn’t. The latter would be a shame, as it would necessitate his death and I’d always been rather fond of the easygoing immortal. He knew when to turn on the mediator role and when to flick it off. I’d witnessed that just last month after Silvano had lost his head.
There was something brewing in the background; I could almost taste it. He’d met with Darius and Kylan several times while in Clemente Clan territory. I’d also seen him with Luka.
Part of me had wondered what they were all up to, but I hadn’t cared enough to ask. Now I felt like asking and would once Willow was tended to.
I returned my gaze to her, my fingers automatically combing through her hair.
Edon had released her arm, his palm now on her abdomen. He seemed to be trying to find her soul, power pouring off him in waves. I’d misjudged his strength before. This male, despite his young age, was a force to be reckoned with. I could taste his primal energy in the air, witnessed the impact it had on his mates, and nearly felt the need to bow before him as a result.
He’d just earned my respect in a matter of seconds, a fact very few in my history could claim.
The hairs along my arms rose as he growled, the command in that sound one that caused Luna and Silas to tremble in response. The vibration grew, his chest emanating a command—one he directed at Willow.
Then Silas added to it, his own growl bolstering that of his alpha, the rumble intensifying by the second.
Luna joined just as suddenly, the three of them matching in tempo and stirring electricity in the air. It hummed along my skin and shimmered off of Willow, her body beginning to quiver despite her missing heartbeat.
My eyes widened as she began to shift, her bones breaking with a sickening crunch that had my pulse thrumming in my ears.
Breathe, I begged her. Breathe, damn it.
The growls only grew louder, the energy a rampant spiral of unseen forces swimming around us as Willow continued to change. I didn’t release her, not even when her head morphed beneath my palm to properly form a snout. Her hair went next, seeming to melt into her new form to change to a pretty white fur coat.
And still she didn’t breathe.
I swallowed. Come on, Willow. You’re stronger than this.
But what if she wasn’t? What if I’d missed all the obvious signs of this and had reacted too late?
She might be gone forever.
Because I hadn’t paid attention.
Because I’d treated her as a pet, not a person.
I’d considered her memory loss a blessing, but what if that had been the key all along? One I’d overlooked in my eagerness to play with her.
My chest physically hurt from the thought, the sensation foreign.
I’d been so sure this would work that I hadn’t considered the alternative, that I might never hear her sweet voice again. Might never witness that fighter inside flaring in her eyes. Might never have another chance to tease her, worship her, taste her.
My jaw clenched with the possibility, my mind reliving every moment I’d spent with her in rapid succession.
From the moment with the hammer, to her gagging on ice cream, to the way she crawled across the carpet.
I’d been enamored with her from the start.
It wasn’t supposed to end like this. We needed more time. We weren’t done. I required more from her, just as she required more from me.
I refused to accept this.
“Come on, Willow. Breathe,” I growled, the rumble adding to the cacophony around me. “Breathe.”
She was fully transformed now, her wolf form absolutely stunning save for the lack of a heartbeat in her chest.
I moved my hand from her head to her rib cage, my fingers threading through her fur.
“Breathe.” It came out as a plea-mingled demand, a complete oddity and not at all spoken in my usual voice. I could feel myself breaking inside at the realization that this might be my last moment with her.
How had she gotten under my skin so completely? Four weeks of knowing her and I felt as though half of my soul was leaving me for another realm.
It was insanity.
I’d lived for nearly five thousand years. I never got attached. Yet at some point, Willow had become more than just my pet. She’d become a constant in my life that I intended to keep. I just hadn’t acknowledged that until now.
Until it was too late.
Because she still wasn’t breathing or moving.
I didn’t understand it.
Was it a result of my blood impacting her transformation? Did she need more?
I shook my head, agonized over the insanity of this entire situation. And I did the only thing I could—I bit my wrist and placed it in front of her snout. It was all I could offer her. I’d tried to change her, I’d tried to cure her, and now I was going to force her to die with my blood on her lips.