Dead by Midnight

by Kelex

  “Stop this!” the king cried before shoving Noah back.

  He stood in the center of the room, staring between them. His lips were red and kiss-swollen. His breathing came rapidly, his lungs working hard to provide air to his lust-stricken body.

  “I belong to no one!”

  With a wave of his hand, the king disappeared.

  Eilam stared at the space where the ruler had just stood a moment before looking at Noah.

  “He’s close to breaking,” Noah said. “But you’re in no shape to push him.” Noah smiled. “Yet. Rest up.”

  “How can I rest?” I have no idea where our mate just went. And how the hell do we get out of this place if the king doesn’t return?

  Another thought slammed into Eilam. What if he’s in danger?

  * * * *

  Adriel kicked a shell from the sandy shore as he walked along the water’s edge. He’d wanted to put more distance between him and the two bear shifters, but he knew it was too dangerous to leave the security of his private realm. The best he could do was to get out of that room before he’d been forced to admit what they both apparently knew to be true.

  His need for Eilam was too great. Now, coupled with his need for Noah that grew by the second, he felt his control slipping all the more. He’d nearly yielded moments before. Without the fear of Eilam’s injury preventing him from succumbing, he had nothing to quell the need.

  Easier said than done.

  His body ached for Noah’s touch. All he could think about was the shifter’s hands on him. All he could see was the three of them in that big bed, with him writhing between their large bodies.

  If he wasn’t careful, they would claim him and they would control him forever more.

  That can’t happen.

  In his fear of losing Eilam, he’d been weak and considered surrender. Now that Eilam appeared whole, he needed to remember the reason why he couldn’t yield to the two bear shifters.

  If the witch surrenders, Midnight will fall.

  The last line of the old prophecy had repeated in his head each and every time he’d been ready to surrender. He couldn’t be the reason Midnight fell.

  Adriel needed to focus on the mystery before them. He needed to save the city and those he cared about.

  Had his own race truly colluded with the vampires to overthrow Midnight? Varian and Ralnur both knew the prophecy and had to realize they were playing with fire—if they were helping the vampires.

  Ralnur had been like a father to him, after the passing of his own. Theral had died too soon, before Adriel had barely been out of adolescence. Had it not been for Ralnur, Midnight would’ve collapsed into chaos.

  Without Ralnur, Adriel would’ve had no idea how to rule the city.

  Did all of Midnight not matter to them? Siding with the vampires spelled the city’s doom.

  Words his father had spoken many, many years ago whispered through his mind. Be wary of thieves and sycophants, child. They gather around the weak who hold power.

  Adriel paused mid-step and considered those words.

  Adriel had sought independence from Ralnur and wanted to prove he could rule on his own. That had made him drift away from his family and seek out his own court. Who had he gravitated to? He craved those in his inner circle who would entertain him. Those who made him laugh. Ralnur had been a voice of reason when he least wanted it.

  He drank, made merry, and had taken many a man to his bed—before Eilam, of course.

  He was weak.

  He’d tempted the dark powers into Midnight by not taking his rule seriously enough. Ralnur and Eilam had been right. Had he listened? No.

  Adriel needed to listen now. He needed to be strong. His reign was in jeopardy. The safety of millions rested on his shoulders. This was a pivotal moment—either he stood strong and faced his enemy, or he lost it all.

  He stared out at the sea lapping at the beach for a moment, trying to seek inner strength.

  Adriel needed to lead his soldiers into battle… not hide away. With the wave of a hand, he returned to Midnight, ready to lead the charge.

  Chapter Eight

  Valen stood just outside the interview room, steeling himself for the man on the other side. After a deep breath, he lifted his hand to the knob and turned it slowly. The human sitting at the table turned and met his stare for a moment before quickly looking away. Brief as it was, Valen still felt the pull.

  It’s not real. Ignore it.

  He’d scanned the file from the last two encounters with these humans. The five of them worked on a show that worked to expose beings like them to the human world. That in and of itself was enough for his scorn. The fact they might be colluding with the vampires was even more.

  Slowly walking in a circle around the table, he watched the human closely. The man scooted in his seat, uncomfortable under Valen’s scrutiny.

  Good. Let him squirm.

  Valen finally sat down across from the human, pinning him with a glare. He placed the thick file on the table and opened it, scanning the page again before lifting his stare. “Why were you in the field outside our portal?”

  “Searching for people we lost.”

  Valen frowned. “Who did you lose?”

  The human sighed. “I… don’t know.”

  Valen watched the man closely. “You. Don’t. Know.”

  The man lifted his stare. “Look… we woke up in that field a few days ago with no idea how we’d gotten there or why. All three of us were freaked out… but we got a rental car and we headed home. And on the way, we started remembering little bits and pieces… and it felt like there were supposed to be others with us. We came back to the last place we remembered and looked for clues to figure out what the hell is going on.” The human sat back and glared at Valen. “It sounds like you have the answers.” He paused. “Where are we?”

  Valen saw nothing but truth in the human’s eyes, but he refused to be swayed. “You want answers… so do I.”

  “I don’t know that I’ll be much help. I appear to have lost a few days.”

  Start simple. Get him talking. “Your name?

  “Jeph.”

  “And you’re from?”

  “Pennsylvania. Jonestown.” Jeph eyed him again. “Well north of here.”

  “And what brought you to Mississippi?”

  “I told you. I don’t know.” He sat up straighter. “Nick, Griffin, and I have… a hobby… we’re ghost hunters, so maybe that’s why we were here in the first place.”

  “For your show.”

  Jeph lifted a brow. “What show?”

  Valen held the human’s stare. Had the mind wipe gone so deep that it had taken away the man’s very living from him? Looking back on the page, he searched for the name of the show. “Paranormal Prowlers?”

  Jeph looked as if he searched his own mind, seeking the answers trapped within. “That sounds… familiar.” He winced, as if in pain.

  Valen turned a few pages in the file and saw that Hart and Reese had been completely wiped off the face of the human world. It was strong magic… and it likely had come from the king himself. Since Hart and Reese had played a part in their show—apparently that had been a part of the wipe.

  The three had not only lost their friends but their very way of life.

  I won’t feel pity for this man. He could be our enemy.

  “I answered your questions, how about some of mine?” Jeph asked. “Why do I have pieces of memories I can’t fully remember?”

  “Straight for the heart of things, hmm?” Valen leaned forward. “I can do the same. Tell me about the vampires.”

  Jeph frowned, looking completely lost. “Vampires? What the hell are you talking about?”

  “If you want out of this room, you’ll answer my questions,” Valen said firmly.

  “I don’t know any vampires. They’re not real, dude.”

  Valen growled.

  “Unless you’re talking about—”

  Valen focused on the words c
oming from the human’s mouth.

  “—those goth kids who think they’re vampires. Dress all in black. Moody little assholes. Still… I don’t know any personally.”

  “Do you think this is some kind of joke?” Valen demanded.

  Jeph’s frown deepened. “Trust me. I do not think this is funny in any way.”

  “Admit it. You’re a distraction, aiding the vampire attacks, are you not?”

  Either the human was one of the best actors on the planet or he truly did not know anything about the vampires.

  It still didn’t stop Valen’s ire.

  He would have his answers. Slamming his fist on the table, he half shifted and screamed across the table. “Tell me what you know!”

  Jeph fell back in his chair and scrambled across the floor until his back hit the wall behind him. His eyes were wide, his lips quivering. “Wh-what are you?”

  Valen drew his gorilla side back and returned to full human. “I’m the stuff of your nightmares. And I’ll have my answers one way or another.”

  * * * *

  Hours later, Varian was in custody. His cousin sat in a lone chair in the dark room, a spotlight above his head as several king’s guardsmen surrounded them. Adriel stared at the warlock, now bound and unable to use magic for seven days. Adriel could feel pure rage emanating from the man, but he also sensed fear. Considering the trespass, his cousin had no right to feel anger.

  What does he fear?

  “Why?” Adriel asked. He didn’t need to elaborate. He couldn’t, not without the answer hurting him.

  Varian remained silent, looking anywhere but Adriel.

  Adriel allowed magic to cull within one hand. He lifted it, the waves of violet energy almost the same shade as his eyes. “I don’t wish to harm you… unlike what you might’ve planned for me.”

  “I planned nothing,” Varian said. “I only placed a tracking spell on you.”

  “For the vampires,” Adriel said, testing to see if his guess was right.

  Varian’s silence spoke volumes.

  “And what did you think they would do to me if they tracked me?”

  “I couldn’t think about that,” Varian said. He lifted his stare to Adriel. “I didn’t want to harm you. I had no choice.”

  No choice? Adriel frowned.

  “They have my father.”

  Ralnur? “He was just at dinner with me a few days ago.”

  “I didn’t act fast enough, so they took him as collateral. They claim they would kill him unless I placed a tracer spell on you. I attempted several times at the dinner, but that damned bear shifter stuck to your side like glue all night.” Varian paused. He lifted his head.

  Adriel stared into his cousin’s eyes and sensed the truth. Yet there was still a chance it was a lie and a means for another trap. He had to tread carefully. There was no one he could completely trust. “You could’ve come to me instead. We could already be searching for Ralnur.”

  “I asked for your help at dinner. I told you I had something important to discuss with you. But you blew me off. And then your secretary didn’t have an appointment open for weeks. Your call to the palace was my last chance… either give them what they wanted or lose my father.”

  “You sacrificed me for him.”

  Varian shook his head. “With all your guards and your power… I knew you had a chance to stop the assassins. They have my father. I have no one to stop them from killing him.”

  “Placing that spell could’ve meant the end of Midnight.”

  “What if it had been your father?”

  Adriel blanched.

  Varian’s face fell. “I only wanted to save him.”

  Adriel knew there was some kind of twisted logic in Varian’s thinking. In the same position, what would he have done to save his own father?

  Or Eilam?

  Noah?

  The fact the two shifters were never far from his mind troubled him. He shoved the thoughts aside. He spied his cousin and met the man’s gaze. Varian had tried to talk to him several times the night of the dinner, but he’d been too busy having fun. If this was true—he was just as much to blame for what happened.

  Adriel turned to Theis. “Gather as much information from him as possible. Check in with the Midnight police and let’s push the team searching for Ralnur. Make sure they have everything they need to do their job.” He wouldn’t bear the weight of Ralnur’s death if the pair weren’t truly a part of the conspiracy. “Wait… I haven’t seen Valen these past two visits.”

  “He’s checking in on an issue at one of the terminals.”

  “My gods, is the whole city falling apart?” Adriel asked.

  “There was a problem at one of the portals. Valen went down to check it,” Theis said, frowning. “Though we likely should’ve heard back from him by now. I’ll check in on him and find out what’s wrong.”

  “Good. Update me if you learn of anything.”

  “Yes, Your Majesty,” Theis said before Adriel swept from the room.

  Adriel headed for his cauldron. He shouldn’t have expected Varian to do what he should’ve done in the first place.

  It was time to brew a locator spell.

  * * * *

  Hours passed. Dawn broke outside the window, but Noah couldn’t be sure what time it truly was. He watched the outside, the water lapping against the shore, worried about the king. “What if he doesn’t come back for us?”

  “He’ll come back,” Eilam said, rising to his feet.

  Noah turned and watched as Eilam stretched his body.

  “I’m going to head down to the shore and shift. It’ll help repair a few things. Come with?”

  “Yeah,” Noah said. “Anything to get out of this house for a few minutes.”

  Noah walked before Eilam, careful to protect his brother bear from a fall. Eilam appeared to be good on his feet, but Noah wasn’t risking it. Once they reached the beach, Eilam peeled off his clothing and shifted.

  Fur sprouted over his arms and legs, his limbs twisting. His face became a maw, teeth elongating. When the shift was complete, Noah shifted as well before they padded down the soft beach. With every step, Noah sensed Eilam was nearing full strength. The shift would likely be the last key to get him the final bit.

  Noah was forever thankful for a shifter’s speedy healing, never more than now. He remembered how his human father had broken a leg and something as simple as that had taken weeks of healing.

  A human would’ve never survived what Eilam had experienced.

  After a good thirty minutes of walking, Eilam shifted back into his human form and walked naked into the sea. He turned, smiling, and urged Noah to follow. Noah peeled off the pants the king had given him and then trudged into the water.

  Eilam drew him close. “A bear in pants is one of the silliest things I’ve ever seen.”

  “Beats throwing away clothes every time I have to shift on the fly,” Noah said, wrapping his arms around Eilam’s waist. “I can’t believe you didn’t share that info with me before now.”

  “An animal in clothing is like having a beacon turned on them. An advertisement that something is strange.”

  “But we’re in Midnight—where we can be who we are without worrying about humans seeing us shift.”

  “For how much longer?” Eilam asked, worry filling his expression.

  “You worry for him.”

  “You don’t?” Eilam asked.

  Noah nodded. “Of course I do.”

  Silence grew between them, and Noah realized he knew so little about their mate. “What’s his name?” Noah asked. “I’ve only heard you refer to him as the king.” Eilam had gone into so much description about the king’s appearance but hadn’t shared something as simple as a name.

  “I suppose I never shared it. I’m sorry. It’s Adriel,” Eilam murmured. “Adriel, Son of Theral. But you are not to speak his true name in his presence. Something about magic and a name holding power. It’s why no one calls him by name.”

&
nbsp; Adriel. Noah liked the sound of the name. “Perhaps if we called out to him, he’d hear it somehow? He’d return here so we know he’s alright?”

  “I suppose it couldn’t hurt,” Eilam said. “I’ll leave any yelling to you. My throat is still somewhat sore.”

  Noah stepped away from Eilam slightly and lifted his hands. “Adriel… Son of Theral! You can’t imprison us here!” Noah paused, waiting to see if the king would answer. He called out the king’s true name a few more times, but nothing happened.

  Dropping his hands, Noah turned back to Eilam. “We are good and stuck… with no way to know if he’s okay. What if something happens to him in Midnight? Will we be trapped here forever?”

  “I don’t know,” Eilam said.

  “When he comes back, we need him to give us an emergency exit of some kind.”

  “A good idea,” Eilam answered, drawing Noah back into his arms. He laid a gentle kiss on Noah’s lips. “We should get back up to the house, in case he arrives.”

  They made their way back to the shore. After grabbing Eilam’s clothing, they returned to the house. Eilam lay across the bed, still seeming not completely himself. A niggle of worry entered Noah’s chest.

  He needs to be checked by a healer.

  Noah lifted his stare and caught sight of the mirror. And then he remembered the king had asked Theis to write a message on the mirror in his study. Noah turned to the buffet still laid out. Above it, was a large mirror. He walked over to the food and dipped his finger in a rich, red sauce before lifting it to the mirror. Across the surface, he wrote Adriel’s name… along with the word help.

  Within seconds, the king appeared inside the room, worry on his face. “What’s wrong?”

  “We need to get home,” Eilam said. “There’s no way out.”

  “You need to heal,” the king replied.

  “I’m nearly myself,” Eilam said. “And there’s much to do. I need to lead the security team… all of Midnight could be in danger.”

  “I’m handling security,” the king said. “I need you whole, Eilam. Not weak. Now is a time for strength. Until you’re fully healed, you’re a liability.”

  “I can lead operations from behind a desk. I know I’m not physically ready to jump into the fray quite yet,” Eilam said.