I sure wanted to know both answers.
Cord gave the okay for us to “look around”.
There was not one ounce of evidence that a single soul had been near the camp in months, maybe years. Cord had texted on the way that it had been abandoned since before he became leader. Yet, we arrived to find a rogue Vamp, rogue Were, and two female Were’s in it hiding. The situation seemed kind of obvious to me, but no one wanted to admit what we thought they were doing here. For all I knew, they were outlaws who found love. But he wouldn’t have killed the girl if he loved her. I didn’t get it.
One of the guys found a pile of needles hidden in the floor. Drugs. For now, that’s all we had.
And for the time being, we would give this up and question the source. I made sure that that interrogation belonged to me.
Chapter Five
Most of the change we think we see in life is due to...
The favor.
Lee answered my text and agreed to meet me at the warehouse. Alone.
I arrived early to have my weapons ready, though I needed none of the ones that were inside the giant room where we practiced for the onset I had planned.
He didn’t knock.
I was seated facing out at the table where we snacked and hung out often at the corner of the room where the fridge sat. Two water bottles sat across from each other with sweat dripping down the sides of each with summer standing on our doorsteps. It was just cold days ago.
He shuffled in heavy steel-toed boots surveying the room noting with a bemused expression that we were alone and immediately his hunched up shoulders appraised he knew I was up to something. His hands were on his belt like he might draw a weapon. Mr. Prepared for Attack didn’t trust me. Things had changed.
First, I never drove alone. So this was a first for me. Second, I’d never interrogated someone and Lee seemed the easiest to make my first. Third, not even Cas knew I was here.
“I won’t pretend I’m your best friend, but I can see now that we can’t be enemies. I know you tried to help us; I just want to believe deep down that it’s for a good cause and not personal gain. You’re information was either bad, or you lied and want me dead.”
And I know he is one hundred percent selfish about what he wants when he wants it. Even when it was movie night years ago. He always got the pick somehow. So I always liked what he picked. Who cares? This wasn’t the movies. When he lied to Calum on pizza night at Calum’s apartment room, I held it in. He was a liar then.
A reserved tone in his voice, he sat rather slowly to my left and faced me instead of across where I’d intended. He bent a leg over the other jutting his huge knee out towards the doors while I crossed my feet and leaned back in the chair. He’d become Hunter sized in every way and his rakish appearance told me he was adjusting well. He was definitely easy on the eyes. Were there any ugly guys in my life?
I’m not complaining.
“I told you it’s to keep you safe,” his jaw tightened. Even his face was more angular, defined. His slant-eyed look told me he wasn’t happy.
I wanted to roll my eyes, but it would set me back. “And you know I’m immortal with one exception. Did you set us up?”
“Immortal doesn’t make you invincible. Not when a man has his whole life staked on taking you down. He will not stop Anastacia. Never.”
Devotion wasn’t what that was. I knew he meant it that way and it made me sad. So maybe he was only ninety-nine percent selfish. “You know, your loyalty seems obvious when I talk to you directly but I wonder sometimes if it’s because I can’t see past those eyes that were so trusting in the past. You were the first boy to ever know me Lee.” I meant most of this more than I’d planned as part of my ploy. In my head, it had sounded insincere and rehearsed. It was...in my head. But it was halfway the truth.
“Was it a setup?”
“No. I was misinformed on the camp being vacant and did not know the Vamp was housed there. In the future, I will relay with caution.”
Wow! He just admitted a whole bunch. He really is a double agent. He really has some inside because he already knew what we found. (i.e. one of the good guys told him or he’s friends with the druggies—doubt that.)
“I want a favor.”
His “aha” was present in the way he dropped his face. “What?”
Gods, why did a man’s voice deepen when he didn’t foresee what was coming next?
“I want you to find out if Borgon intends to just kill me or does he have other plans.”
Lee’s jaw tensed. A painful look flashed across his eyes but left so fast I wasn’t sure if I’d seen what I thought. “He intends to hurt you, experiment on you, torture, and worse.”
I’m hard to kill, but if he takes my loved ones, it could very well kill me. And you specifically think that I am still intact because of you?”
“Partly.”
“Did you send us on a wild goose chase today? On purpose?”
“Yes.”
I reared my body back with the intention to strike him on impulse, but Lee’s now larger arm that was attached to the larger sized Hunter body, shot out and stopped me.
“If I hadn’t, you’d have been right where he wanted.”
I gritted my teeth getting angrier by the second, “And where was that?”
“At the real camp where he lies in precious wait for you as we speak.”
“And you saved me from that?” I seethed hating his continuous empty stare.
“He thinks you went after him based off information found in the bar you went to.”
Club, not a bar.
I wanted to ring his neck. “You...you’ve been following me?” I screamed in his face and not meaning to, inched closer.
He flipped me easily across the table, bear hugging me from behind and holding my arms down beside me. How in the heck could he hold me?
“I know you too, Stace. I know your moves.”
Ugh!
“I will protect you no matter what I do. You may continue to think I am the bad guy, but in the end, I will not let him have you.”
The able girl that I am at reading emotion, I was convinced once more that Lee was genuine.
“Okay. Will you let me go now?”
“If you intend to have a civilized conversation even if we do not agree with all each other has to say.”
Fair enough. “Fine.”
“What is the other favor?”
“How do you know I have another?”
“Because you’re still here.”
Okay. That hurt. I would try to make good and halfway believe some of what he says. “I heard once the side talk of some Vamps or someone...oh, I don’t know, in the said club...not a bar. They said something about some plans the Elves had involving a silver Godslayer. At the tail end of the conversation, they said my name.” I didn’t mention the voodoo princess part. It was too alarming and offensive.
He cocked his head sideways. “Done!”
That was easy. My eyes softened, giving him an in I didn’t intend. I couldn’t resist. “You don’t know anything about this, do you?”
I’m sure now my voice was accusing.
“No, I do not.”
I checked over his emotional state. He didn’t appear to be lying. I shrugged backward and told him, “Alright. Text me if you find anything out.”
“Did anyone else hear this?”
I hesitated but answered with a no. His chest rose in the air as if some type of pride hit him that he was the only one in the know. No doubt, he wondered why I didn’t tell my “crew”.
My feet pivoted to leave hinting at the dismissal, but he had other ideas.
“Are you going back to the club?”
I absolutely had no idea on his angle on this latest question so I left it open, “If the need arises.”
He nodded, held out a tentative hand in front of me, and looked down to my face. I allowed him to further move his hand and let him half hug me. He kissed my cheek. I figured it was harmless
.
He held onto my sleeve making me aware that if I moved, I’d tear my clothes. He whispered in my ear, “I will protect you.”
After he left, I did. I thought all the way back to the Cross Manor about what it all meant and why Lee’s promises seemed true to me. I think he was telling the truth.
I told Cas that my father heard from Lee what he said about the camp and even shared what he said Borgon’s plan was in the long run, but I left out the favor he was doing for me. If Cas knew I left, he didn't say.
Chapter Six
...truths being in and out of favor.
Cas was gone. He went with Granite to solve a situation I wasn’t allowed to be aware of. You’d think I’d be able to handle whatever he deals with, but for some reason he still worried I’d judge him.
And I still hadn’t told him about Granite. I wanted to study it a bit longer before accusing. I was astonished it slipped by Cas in the first place.
Cord was there with my every step lately at the warehouse so I decided to avoid it today. Lee had disappeared off the radar staying at the Hunter school. I really hadn’t tried to keep up with him for fear of him hearing things I don’t want him to and use it the wrong way. He was helping me and that made the difference.
The Vamp court guards avoided me all morning. In fact, I hadn’t seen a soul.
I found Liam looming around the office I rarely went into across from the Sun room. In fact, I’d been in only once before. I knew Cas spent nights there sometimes while I slept getting what he called “work” done. I didn’t always know what constituted as work for a Vampire lord, but I was slowly learning. I sure didn’t know the definition of true work unless you count the missions I’d been sent on and pampering sparring lessons. I’d only recently had to actually make my own plans of “how to save the world” or at least our supernatural world that was at stake. It seemed half were on my side and the other half were trying to kill me. That left my “work load” somewhere in between dodging death and fighting bad guys.
He told me that Cas and Granite went after a rogue Vampire they’d traced and wasn’t back yet. Oh, the irony. Aren’t they all roguish in a way? And isn’t Granite exhibiting all kinds of super roguish qualities lately?
Still, I was perturbed I wasn’t included.
I would follow the leads where they went. Liam said he’d follow some other leads and get back to me. Liam was sent in right after we returned to check out the real place where we were to be ambushed. Turns out, the camp was moved and kept the same name. That’s how Lee was able to cover up his slide of hand trickery. We went to the wrong camp.
When Liam flipped papers around on the desk, I leaned against Cas’ masculine designed desk that matched the walls and decor of the room and paused to appreciate the musky scent that I knew was only Cas. I loved this room. Yes, a Vampire lord has a dark mahogany desk that screamed manliness. Huge too.
As I turn to leave the deep browns of the tall ceiling office, I caught something glinting off the sun sticking out of the papers. Cas would never leave his phone. My body convulsed with fear acknowledging instantly something was wrong.
“Why are you in his office?” I barked at Liam suspiciously.
His weary Vampire eyes froze and looked at me. “Um, just...” He put his head in his hands. “He was trapped. Someone led him straight to a trap. I don’t even know who has him.”
“How did this happen?” I said in a panic. The idea of what he was hinting sent my deepest fear to the edge of my brain and breeching to a near explosion.
“I don’t know. It’s not happened since Lord...” Liam looked back up at me. “I will get him back.”
Yeah. Cuz’ it looks like you have a great plan. “I’m on this. I will get back with you.” Wait. “How did you find out?”
“Very important Vampire connection.”
“Talk,” I folded my arms and raised my knife for the effect.
Liam, the very scary Vampire, swallowed long and said, “Dude calls himself Drac. Don’t misinterpret. He’s very dangerous and walks a thin line between sane and crazy. He knew it was Borgon who wanted you dead by the way the two Elves were bragging in the bar a few hours ago. Thorn is very aware of what Drac is capable of. They will do something to him to get to you. I’m here to get the funds to make him let him go.”
Funds. I didn’t need funds. I needed a chest to throw a dagger in.
And out I went. Grabbing my knives, daggers, and a bow I was out like lightning for the first time being on my own out the door of the Vampire court with battle gear on. First, I didn’t know where to go. I took the black Hummer since the keys stayed in it. I flew to the front gate and zipped with the speed of a demon on rails. I didn’t even stop to think all the bad things that might have happened and I didn’t know about. I didn’t want to.
Focus! Worry later. At least my brain told my heart this.
Szar was faster than me out the door when I called him. He was down by the gate and in the driver seat of the Hummer before I could undo the seat belt and let him in. I told him on text about Liam and the phone. He said Cas had mentioned something about Granite and he going to a bar to tamper down a fight that involved three Elves. We started there.
I stuck out like a sore thumb in jeans and boots. The other girls, mostly Vamps, were dressed rather scantily. Was this why Cas hid me from his life? It was dark and dangerous on the inside too.
I tried not to think about Cas ever coming here and set to find the information we needed. We got into the club that Szar told me about. My first astonishing notion for the day...Szar got us in on his name alone.
The bouncer at the door of Club Sire recognized him.
“Ask me later, Stace.”
He didn’t call me sister. We sure didn’t look anything alike and we knew now we weren’t ever really related, but he had a reason for it now. Weird followed me everywhere. I wish I could tell it to go away and let me be. Live my life in the norm. But what is norm?
A big burly Vampire man bartended the long counter with...whoa! Elves. I saw a Hunter. I knew he was Hunter because of the way his body countered as so Amazon looking like Calum and Lee.
And Valkyrie court boys I knew were there and I recognized. They nodded to me puzzled by my appearance. Szar was leading us right too them.
“Anastacia. Szar.” A tall boy with long blonde hair in a pony-tail greeted me.
“Jared?” I squinted in the smoky air and yelled since the music was louder than I could speak. It was the boy who would never give up on trying to beat me. He was the one regular sparring partner I knew well.
“What are you doing here?” He looked me up and down to hopefully note my obvious dress code violation or...for other reasons.
“We need some help?” I pounced.
Szar took my arm in some kind of warning. “Not in here.”
Where then?
“In the backroom?” Jared looked at my brother then gave me another flesh examination that made me feel naked.
Well. Well. Well. Brother’s got secrets.
Winding throw throbbing bodies and sweaty fingers groping places even I hadn’t held onto myself, I felt like a sandwich between Szar and Jared. Jared was a little too close to the back of me but I thought better of knowing whose parts were touching me than who else it could be. Once in the room, I detached the leeching body and stepped to the center of an empty room with a game table and chairs around it. Like a mini casino, but currently desolate.
“Care for a game, man?” A boy already in the said room slapped Szar over the shoulder. He was familiar, but I didn’t remember him.
Szar’s eyes reverted to me. “I’m not here for the good times brothers of mine. I need a favor.”
“Mar,” the other boy suddenly introduced himself to me zoning in too dang close to my face. I stretched back at first towards Szar then realized it hadn’t been that long since I’d had to stave off boys like this. I’d become accustomed to Cas’ protective nature and just now appreciated it. Cas
never leaving my thoughts didn’t keep the fear from rising.
These boys sensed it too. I’d lost my touch.
“Didn’t mean to frighten you Anastacia,” the boy named Mar said. Funny name. Familiar too.
“Oh, I’m good. Just ready to get the goods on the table Mar. I have a time issue at stake and small talk is not in the...cards.” I eyed the table I’d scooted up against trying to be my icy old self.
Szar snorted at my odd to him behavior.
Jared decided his own unique humor might be welcome when he said, “Well, if I recall. You were always fond of being on your back. Maybe you could show me some of your latest moves.”
Szar reacted first with an arm across the guy’s neck yelling, “Not to my sister, man. Save it for the scum out there.”
At least he acknowledged what we were among. I felt the ice come over my body taking with it the power of what I held. I, for the first time, intentionally allowed my Valkyrie power of persuasion to take care of the situation. I so often hid it because it made me feel like I couldn’t get what I needed without it. Since the guys have figured out I have it, I didn’t see any reason to hide it anymore. Besides, it took meeting them to be sure it was in me.
I peeled Szar off the boy and stood prostrate with the foul excuse for a Valkyrie in front of me rubbing my hand across his shoulder slow and meticulously in a facade to gain his favor. “I am not in the mood to neither clean up blood nor get out the band-aids. Forgive me Jared for doing my next move.” I jacked my knee up between his legs the second he relaxed.
I let him fall to his knees and turned to the other boy from my very own court. I never sparred him. That’s the memory. He always refused.
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