by Rye Brewer
I went to him, full of new confidence. So much so that I kissed him, harder than we’d kissed earlier. I still wasn’t sure what it meant, kissing a man who’d brought about so much death, but it felt right to my heart. The feelings between us ran too deep to dissolve in the face of his past.
We were both breathless by the time the kiss ended, and Stark curled his hand around the back of my neck as he touched his forehead to mine.
I closed my eyes, content to be in the moment.
The moment couldn’t last forever. “I’m sorry,” he whispered.
“I know.” I paused, the memory of Ferdinand’s pain still fresh. “I have to become as powerful an elemental witch as possible.”
“I know,” he replied. “And I’ll help you.”
30
Anissa
It was all so different on the roof of the Bourke high-rise. The sensation of wind whipping through my hair and past my ears was a familiar one, and completely foreign in comparison to the tranquility in Hallowthorn Landing. But it would always feel more like home than anywhere else, even Avellane.
“I’ll go in to get him,” I said, motioning for Fane to wait.
He nodded as though he understood and had in fact been expecting me to offer just that—after all, there was no telling who I’d find inside. He couldn’t simply walk in, the way I could.
I made my way down the stairs from the roof to the penthouse level and in through the front door. It was cracked, I noticed. Something must have happened while I was gone.
“Jonah?” I called out, almost afraid of what I’d find.
“You’re finally back.” He came running from his room, scooping me up in a big hug. “Please, don’t go running off on me like that. Please.” There was desperation in his voice. “I looked for you and couldn’t find you anywhere, and I was so afraid I’d lost you. Don’t run off when there’s so much happening around us. I can’t lose you.”
“I’m sorry.” I wrapped my arms around his neck and buried my face there for a sweet, too-short moment. “I didn’t plan on being so long. Believe me, I wouldn’t have left you for that long without telling you so. Which is actually why I’m back right now.”
He pulled back, putting me on my feet. “You’re going somewhere? Already?”
I traced the sharp curve of his jaw with my fingertips and wondered if there would ever be a time when it would be just us. “I wouldn’t if it wasn’t important—and not just to me.”
He kissed my forehead, his lips lingering there. “Where are you going, then?”
“Come with me. You’ll understand.”
I took his hand, but he didn’t budge. Like he was rooted to the floor.
“Wait. There’s something I want to talk to you about, and I can’t wait until the next issue or the next emergency. Right now. I want to settle something.”
“All right.” I wasn’t sure how to interpret his intensity.
He seemed ready to jump out of his skin. I waited with my heart in my throat.
His sternness gave way to a tender smile as he lowered himself to one knee. My brain could hardly keep up with what was happening as he pulled a small box from his pocket and held it up to me.
“I wanted to make it official.”
“Oh, wow.” I didn’t know what else to say. I was too busy trying not to faint to come up with anything more eloquent than that.
His eyes shone as he smiled up at me. “Anissa, I want you to know that no matter where we are—no matter how many miles separate us, no matter where life takes us—that I am always on your side. I’m always going to fight for you, no matter what that means. No matter what it takes. You come first, forever. And I will always love you the way I love you right this minute.”
“I love you, too,” I choked out over the tears clogging my throat.
“Will you marry me?” He opened the box to reveal a beautiful, antique sapphire-and-diamond ring. The craftsmanship of the white gold band was exquisite, just like the sparkling center sapphire and the diamonds which surrounded it. I could tell it was an heirloom, and one which undoubtedly meant a lot to him.
And he was giving it to me. More than that—he was giving me his heart, his protection, his love.
There was only one thing I could say. “Yes.”
The metal was cool as he slid it over my finger, and then I was in his arms again. The sensation of everything being right with the world was a sweet one as he kissed me, and my tears dampened his cheeks.
He was smiling when the kiss ended. “I couldn’t wait.”
“I’m glad you didn’t. No matter where I go, I’ll have this, and I’ll feel stronger.” I grinned. “And now, you can’t go back on it.”
He laughed. “I wouldn’t for anything.”
“I’m glad you’re saying that, because there’s still something I want to show you.”
I hated to bring an end to what was a perfect moment, probably the most perfect I’d ever known, but there was still someone waiting for us on the roof. There would always be something else we had to face together.
He didn’t protest as I took his hand and led him out of the penthouse and up the stairs to the roof. But he did drop my hand when he saw who was waiting up there for us.
“Jonah.” Fane stood with hands clasped behind his back, nearly melting into the darkness around him. He was good at that, blending into the shadows.
“Fane. What are you doing here?” He looked down at me, frowning. “You brought him? You’re with him for... some reason?”
“We can explain.” I fought to keep the edge of strain out of my voice... I wanted so much for the two of them to get along, and a lot of that would have to do with how Jonah treated his father just then. If he saw me as consorting with the enemy, it would drive a wedge between us. I couldn’t have that.
He held my gaze for a beat before nodding. “Not up here, though. Let’s go inside. I don’t feel like shouting over the wind.”
I took that as a small win. He was willing to invite Fane into the penthouse.
Only when the three of us were there did Fane notice my hand.
His eyes widened with recognition—then, he smiled. “So, it’s official.”
The pride in his voice warmed my heart.
“It is,” Jonah confirmed.
“Congratulations. You’ve chosen well.” He surprised me by holding his hand out to his son—who surprised me by shaking it.
Fane smiled down at me. “I’m very proud. Thank you for letting me have this moment.”
I didn’t know what to say, I was so touched. He had me at a total loss for words.
Jonah, however, was not at a loss. “All right. As much as I hate to break this up, what’s it all about? Why are you here?”
I looked at Fane. It was his story to tell. “I plan to go to Shadowsbane Island to find the witch and necromancer who turned Nivia and Valerius to vampires, so that I can engage their assistance in getting Nivia out of your mother’s body.”
I took Jonah’s hand, instinctively knowing the announcement would rock him. It would rock me to my core.
He took it better than I would have, only flinching slightly before pointing out, “We don’t know for sure whether she’s still in there.”
“You’re right,” Fane acknowledged, “but she’s the mother of my children. I have to be sure.”
It was my turn to flinch at his choice of words. I knew what Jonah was thinking before he even said it. “What about the mother of your other child? Where does this leave Sirene?”
Fane took it well, like he’d expected as much. “Sirene is part of my current life. I’m not turning my back on her by trying to free your mother, just as I’ve never turned my back on Elena. I may have moved on—I thought she was dead, after all—but she still means a tremendous lot to me. If she’s still in there, I can’t allow Nivia to hold her hostage any longer.”
Jonah nodded slowly, thoughtfully.
I watched his face for any sign of what he might be thinki
ng. I even expected him to jump at the chance to free Elena. He surprised me.
Jonah nodded. “I wish I could help you with this, but I can’t.”
My eyes went wide as he turned to me—a look of confusion crossed his face. He was surprised by my reaction, but what he asked next clarified his stance for me. “Did you tell him about everything that’s happened lately? With the clans, with Lucian?”
Of course. Lucian. Jonah couldn’t leave right now.
“No, I didn’t. There are always so many things happening.” I shot Fane a look of apology. “It slipped my mind, as ridiculous as I know that sounds.”
“What slipped your mind?” He looked from me to Jonah, who suddenly looked uncomfortable as he had to explain to his father the chances we had taken.
“We used spiritwalkers to control Marcus,” he admitted. “I was going to have him kill Lucian at a special meeting of the League.”
“You were what?” Fane hissed, shocked beyond belief.
“We never got that far,” Jonah continued over his father’s reaction. “Because Vance—or, rather, Valerius—did it for us. He pulled out a bone dagger and killed Lucian with it.”
The bone dagger. I had forgotten all about that, too. I could feel its presence, tucked into my boot. The murder weapon. I held my tongue, rather than confess that I’d taken it, and still had it.
Fane went pale. I had never seen him look so shaken.
“Lucian’s dead?”
The weight of his words wasn’t lost on me. I wondered what it would be like to spend so much of my life hating and cursing the man who’d done everything in his power to ruin me, only to find out somebody else had killed him. To know he was gone, just like that. I’d be shaken, too.
“I saw him turn to dust,” Jonah confirmed with a grim smile.
“And it’s just like Valerius to use Vance’s body to do it,” Fane observed. “The ultimate twist. I can hardly believe it.”
Jonah reached into his back pocket and pulled out another ring. I wondered how many rings he normally carried around with him. This one was very old, a gold band with a signet.
He extended it toward Fane. “Philippa gave me this. She found it in Lucian’s dungeon. It’s Gage’s.”
Fane examined it. “Yes. I remember.”
“It had blood on it when she found it.”
Fane looked at Jonah. “In the dungeon,” he confirmed.
“Right. That’s where Gage was. That’s who beat the hell out of him. Lucian.”
Fane snarled. “I’m not sorry he’s gone. Where’s Gage now?”
Jonah stiffened. “I don’t know, exactly. He had something to take care of.” And just like Fane had done earlier, he looked around the room. He was avoiding telling the truth.
What was Gage really up to? Whatever it was, Jonah couldn’t say just then. I wouldn’t press him for answers—at least, not at that very minute.
Fane shook his head with an impatient scowl. “What does all of this have to do with why you can’t come with us to help free your mother?”
“Without Lucian to lead the League, someone has to. I’m interim leader. I had Vance—or Valerius, rather—and Genevieve, and Marcus imprisoned after Lucian’s murder. If I leave now, who’s to say who will be in charge, or what side they’ll be on? They may decide to free those three before they go to trial. If Vance goes free, anything could happen. Besides, you know how Philippa feels about him. She’d be livid if I let him go, even indirectly.”
Fane nodded. “So be it. You have to stay. I understand.”
“But I’m going,” I announced.
Jonah turned to me, his eyes wide as saucers. “You’re what?”
31
Anissa
“I don’t think so.” Jonah folded his arms. “Absolutely not.”
“Yes. I am.”
“You have no business putting yourself in that level of danger! This isn’t your mother we’re talking about.”
“No, but I thought we were engaged. Doesn’t that mean I have some connection to this family? Am I not allowed to care because we aren’t related by blood?” I turned to Fane. “We’d better get going if we want to get this done.”
Fane looked unsure as to whether this was still a good idea.
I was about to ask if he had suddenly adopted Jonah’s point of view before I remembered how tenuous their relationship was and how I might be getting in the way of their patching things up. But that wasn’t my fault—Jonah was the one trying to tell me what to do, when I had been just fine with taking care of myself before we met.
“Are you sure this is the best idea?” he asked, looking at Jonah.
“Yes. I am. We ought to get moving.”
“Anissa. Don’t do this.” I ignored Jonah, following Fane out the door and up the stairs. The ring was still new to my finger, and a reminder of all we had just said to each other about love and being connected—even so, it didn’t give him the right to order me around. I made it a point to stare straight ahead as we went to the roof.
Jonah followed on my heels.
“Give this a little more thought,” he urged.
“I understand why you’re concerned,” I assured him as we stepped outside. “I really do. But this is important to me. I want to help Fane. I’ve already made up my mind.”
“You don’t know what you’re about to get into!” he protested. “Stay. This is too much—it’s too dangerous. Just stay.”
“Stay where?” That wasn’t Jonah. Or Fane.
The three of us turned as one, surprised, to find Scott walking toward us from the stairwell.
“I was just on my way out of the elevator when I saw you three coming up here. What’s going on? What’s too dangerous? And where the hell is Sara?”
I gulped, glancing at Jonah and Fane.
Fane spoke first. “I’m going to track down a way to free your mother’s body from Nivia, in hopes of bringing her back.”
“And I’m going to help him,” I added.
Jonah merely glared my way.
“You’re going to bring Mom back? Then I’m going, too,” Scott declared.
Fane stepped forward. “Scott, I don’t know about this. It doesn’t seem like a wise idea.”
“Yes, I am,” he insisted. He was just as stubborn as his brother. “And while we’re at it, is there any chance we can track down Sara? I haven’t seen her in weeks, and I refuse to believe nobody knows where she is.”
That last comment was aimed at me, I know this, because his eyes bore into me.
“I know where she is,” Fane replied.
A cold feeling spread through my stomach until I remembered that Fane didn’t know why she was there. He couldn’t possibly give her secrets away.
My heart clenched when Scott’s face lit up. “You do? Where?”
“Hallowthorn Landing. I saw her there myself.”
“You did?” I asked, as surprised as Scott. Fane hadn’t mentioned that.
“Is that where we’re going?” Scott asked.
“We’re stopping there first—we have to before we can get to Shadowsbane Island—but we’re not staying there.”
“Scott frowned. We don’t have to stay, but I do want to see her. I absolutely have to.”
“Wait a minute. Everybody hold on.” Jonah stepped into the center of our makeshift triangle. “This is all moving much too fast. Scott, you want to just pick up and travel to another dimension? All to see Sara for a few minutes, if you get a chance to see her at all?”
“Don’t get into this with me right now, Jonah,” he warned.
I marveled at the fact that I’d never seen him so determined. It was touching, the way he cared about my sister, but it was crucial that he not find out why she’d gone for training. And he would inevitably ask why she was there and not back at the penthouse.
Jonah only shook his head—it was clear that he knew this was an unwinnable argument—and turned his attention to Fane. “There’s something important I need, now that Lu
cian’s gone. The enchantment he had placed on headquarters is decaying without him.”
Fane’s brows knitted together. “Right. I hadn’t considered that.”
“I’m going to need a witch to place a new enchantment—one I can trust,” he added, almost as an afterthought.
Fane nodded. “All right. I’ll get word to Sirene.”
Jonah’s frown was as deep as I had ever seen it, deep enough to make my heart sink for both him and his father.
Fane noticed, too, naturally. “It’s a good idea, maybe the best we could hope for right now. She would never betray us.”
Jonah shrugged blithely. “If you’re sure.”
“There’s one thing I would ask of you, now that we’re talking about her.” Fane took a step toward Jonah and lowered his voice—though not so much that I couldn’t hear. “Please. While I’m gone. If you could only take care of Sirene, it would mean a lot to me.”
I flinched, my gaze immediately cutting to Jonah’s stony face.
“You can’t be serious,” he replied in a flat, emotionless voice.
It didn’t seem to faze Fane, who pushed on. “If she doesn’t want to be in Duskwood all by herself, could you please give her a place to stay? She shouldn’t be alone right now, not with the baby coming.”
Anger flashed in Jonah’s eyes.
Fane added, “The child is a fact, just as you were a fact before you were born. I’m asking you to do what I would’ve asked someone to do for your mother if I couldn’t be there with her. It would be better for her to be around others, and it will be easier for me to do what I have to do if I know she’s safe.”
“Doesn’t she have anybody of her own kind to hang around with?” Jonah asked. I couldn’t believe him. How could he be so deliberately cold and unfeeling? Sometimes, it was like there were two sides to his personality. It hadn’t been more than an hour since he’d proposed and kissed me as I wept with joy.
Fane’s anger rose to the surface. I guessed he had his limits.
“Since you mention it, you may as well know that she isn’t as easily accepted by her own kind now that they know she’s carrying the child of a vampire.”