by J. M. Davies
Ella gasped. A sense of betrayal hit her square in the belly. She wanted to scream at Izzie, and be angry, but nothing came. She knew exactly how Marcus could be. The question uppermost in her mind was what did Marcus want so badly, that he would resort to blackmail? With her best friend? The room shrunk and she couldn’t breathe. A flicker of a memory scratched beneath the surface: an argument she had with Marcus at his mother’s funeral months ago.
“Where is the Liber Sanguinis?”
Isabella’s eyes narrowed, but she had no escape and they were past further lies. “The Book of Blood is so named because every otherworldly creature’s blood is woven by magic in the pages. The book itself is magic. No one knows who the author is, but the pages are filled with the history of every being you can imagine. Like I said to Marcus, if you call to it, the book will reveal itself, but only if you have pure intentions.”
Ella lifted the sleepy infant from the witch’s arms. “Don’t move. I’m going to put Nate down, but I haven’t finished—yet.”
Isabella didn’t say another word. She clamped her arms around her waist and stared at her before nodding in agreement.
Ella walked away, feeling adrift. She still didn’t understand what Marcus had done, or why he wanted the book so much that he had forced Isabella to get hold of it. Her belly twisted at the thought that her husband—the father of her child, the man she adored—would betray her, but this sickening sensation rang inside her head, telling her he had. As for Isabella’s part, she didn’t know how to feel other than let down.
After placing Nate in his crib in the room next to hers, she sauntered toward the dresser and lifted his brown teddy bear. Months ago, this soft toy had caused an argument when she caught Isabella and Jake clearing out the room. It had been the day of the funeral. A day she would never forget. They had buried Kate, a baby they now knew wasn’t theirs. The twisted scheme the professor and the Elusti had plotted. Names that made her shudder. She clutched the teddy to her chest and forced back tears. Making her way down to Isabella, a hardness rose. Once, she wouldn’t have trusted a living soul, her survival always her first priority. Upon entering the kitchen, she grabbed a mug and filled it to the brim with strong coffee, taking a hefty sip to wake her up.
“How do I call for this book, Isabella?”
The witch blew out a long breath and rubbed her hands down her hips, looking decidedly uncomfortable. Good. She wanted to scream and shake her, but needed to focus on the bigger picture.
“What is it that you seek from the book?”
Ella studied her friend over the brim of the steaming mug. “Knowledge. I want to know the truth. I know this book contains spells as well as the history of our kind. You mentioned it once when we talked about the balance of power between mates. Do you remember?”
If Ella knew one thing about her friend, she couldn’t lie and as she suspected, Isabella flinched.
“Yes—I remember. And I warned you both then of the consequences of messing with the balance of power between you. But whatever Marcus did, I know it’s because he loves you.”
Ella couldn’t take anymore. She lifted her hand to stop the witch from saying another word. A gut-wrenching bitterness swirled inside. A sense of being in this exact place before consumed her. Why didn’t Marcus talk to her instead of acting on his own?
“You need to leave before I say or do something I regret, Isabella.”
“Ella, please, I’m sorry. I care about Jake, you know that. He drives me crazy, but when you’re crazy about someone, it makes you do things you wouldn’t normally. In that, I understand Marcus. I know I’ve hurt you, and I’m not proud of that. Ask me anything, and I will do it.”
Ella listened. She understood how love worked. She loved Marcus and Nate. Outside of those two souls, next in line were Isabella and Jake. Hell, even Steel and the team at Orion she considered part of her family. A family she would fight to the death for if it meant they would live. How her life and the people in it had changed. She closed her eyes for a moment. She knew Marcus loved her, but she knew without a doubt he had betrayed her. What that entailed, she needed to find out.
“Do you love Jake, Isabella?” Ella needed an answer, and her friend shook her head.
“I don’t know. I’m a hunter, and I’m used to being on my own. I’m not good with relationships. With my sisters, we have a power that links us as well as blood, but even then, I’m wilder and different. I break the rules, while they live by them. My role within the coven is that of a protector for my people. Until I joined Orion, I had no time for romance. Sure, I flirt with Jake, but I don’t know where it’s headed. If anywhere. I’m not sure I have ever felt love.”
This didn’t surprise Ella. She had been the same until she had been captured by Marcus. “If you haven’t experienced love, how do you know Marcus loves me?”
They were inches apart, and the smell of coffee wafted around. The sun filtered through the window, but it didn’t lift her mood. An emptiness threatened to weigh her down.
“Because I see the way he is around you, and I believe it’s the way love should be. His every action revolves around you and Nate. When he learned you were kidnapped, he broke protocol and returned on the first helo. He didn’t sleep, or eat. He hunted for you, retracing all your steps until they tracked you down. I have no doubt he would’ve killed the professor if it wasn’t for you. Whenever you walk in a room, everyone else disappears for him. You can see it in his face, the way he smiles at you, and in his eyes.”
Every word Isabella spoke hit right in her heart. She knew she spoke the truth. Her lips curved automatically, but she pressed them straight. “He’s intense.”
“He’s your mate. His soul and yours are one and the same. In hurting you, he hurts himself. I know little of love myself, but I have observed love in others, and when it’s put to the ultimate test, the capacity for forgiveness is limitless.”
Isabella, despite lacking personal experience when it came to describing love, sounded wise, and Ella studied her serious expression as she continued. “My parents loved each other beyond reason. We’re not human, but we aren’t immortal like you soul-shifters. We live longer and age slower, but we die. My mother grew ill, and my father fell apart. In his grief, he turned to another woman for comfort. My mother forgave him, and they spent every day together before she died. Not long after, he passed too.”
Ella reached out to Isabella and held her hands. She closed her eyes. None of this was Isabella’s fault. Marcus wouldn’t let anyone stand in the way of what he wanted. She knew that about him. He never gave up or backed down; in that, they were alike. Isabella couldn’t stop a force like Marcus. But the betrayal hurt.
“Saturday night, I want you to be here for dinner. No questions, just be here—and bring Jake.”
Isabella opened her mouth, but snapped it closed. “I am truly sorry.”
Ella studied her friend and knew she wanted absolution, but she couldn’t give that to her. Yet. Maybe not ever. “I know.”
They stared at each other and Isabella walked to the front door.
Before she could stop herself, she asked what else had been bugging her since yesterday. “What happened with Roman?”
Isabella glanced over her shoulder and opened her mouth to speak, but glanced away and reached for the door handle. “Nothing—just the usual. I better go. See you Saturday.”
The deflated tone in her friend’s voice caught her, but she didn’t pry. What she had learned changed things between them and it hurt. Isabella stepped outside and the door closed behind her before Ella could say good-bye. She carried the mugs to the sink and poured out the stale coffee, watching it swirl down the drain and feeling more alone than she had ever felt before.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Reaching the command center, Marcus shucked off his leather jacket and tucked his phone in the side pocket of his black cargo pants. Jake approached him as he strode over to Huron, who stood surrounded by several agents. The chatter was quiet and
subdued, which highlighted the seriousness of the situation. Normally, an animated banter filled the room, but today everyone looked over their shoulder, which heightened his already fraught temper. He stood outside the main group of agents, and once they caught sight of him, the conversation died. Bear and Shadow slid off the desk and stood on either side of the big warrior Huron. The look on Marcus’s face was enough to dismantle the group as his crew sauntered away, leaving the Assembly guard alone.
“I want a full debrief concerning the events from the security detail last night. Jake, you have command here. Is there anything that needs my attention before I leave?”
Jake rubbed his neck while he looked at the other men in the room. “No, boss. All is quiet for the moment. But when you have news of Steel, the men would appreciate an update.”
Marcus glanced at the squad at the computer stations, attempting to look busy, and he nodded. For morale, letting the men know how their boss fared was vital.
“As soon as I do, I’ll let you know. In the meantime, I want you to replay the security footage from yesterday, and let me know if you see anything unusual. Get Bear to call the lab and chase up the results of the autopsy. I want to know as soon as they’re ready. One last thing. Do a roll call on all the guests. It’s early, but I want to make sure everyone is accounted for. We don’t want any more surprises.”
“Right on it, sir.”
Happy he had covered everything, he switched to face Huron. The solid man pushed off from the table he had been leaning against and rubbed his neck. Height wise, they were the same, but the guard was broader. He dressed in loose pants and a long-sleeved cotton smock with a belt tied at the waist, which held a long sword. Marcus motioned for him to lead the way, and followed close on his heels as they strode outside. They walked down the hallway and Huron pressed the button for the elevator. Beneath the magnificent sprawling coastal mansion lay a labyrinth of rooms, including a large shooting range, an arsenal of weapons, several interrogation rooms, a small operating theater, medical center, a state-of-the-art laboratory, and a fully equipped gym. The square footage of the lower level exceeded the footprint of the upper levels twice over.
“How long have you been an Assembly guard?”
“Centuries, my lord.”
Huron’s stony façade didn’t betray any outward emotion. Marcus surmised he would make a good recruit.
“It’s Drayton. My team has other names for me as well, but that is the one I will answer to.”
Huron nodded, and once they reached the basement, he continued to lead the way. Marcus studied the other man, who did not attempt to strike up a conversation. They walked past the holding room, and he watched as the guard pressed the five-digit code into the security pad that opened the door to the medical facility. He wondered for a moment why the man had the access code, and glanced at him sideways as he stopped to hold the door for him. He stepped inside the warm room, but turned before Huron followed him inside.
“Do you mind waiting out here? I won’t be long. After, I want a detailed account of the evening’s proceedings.”
“I have already given my testimony to Meadows, and Lady Tenille.”
He didn’t care who he had spoken to; he needed to hear right from his lips what had happened last night and this morning. Annoyance filled him, but he spoke calmly. “Once more for good measure won’t do any harm.”
The man nodded and did as instructed.
Marcus closed the door and made a mental note to change all the security codes. Damn it. They had become too complacent about security. He would need to review the safety protocols with all the staff immediately. His boss, the only patient in the medical facility, lay still in the bed directly opposite him, surrounded by electronic machines that beeped as they recorded his vitals, and an infusion for fluids. A small plastic tube had been secured in his nose to deliver oxygen. Doctor Davies leaned over, taking blood, and she nodded as soon as he approached the bed.
“I’m sending more blood off. So far, I haven’t been able to determine anything that would cause his loss of consciousness. The oxygen is there because his saturations were a little low, but nothing dangerous. Of course, if that changes and he cannot manage to breathe on his own, we will have to intubate and the machine will take over.”
The young doctor always appeared calm and controlled. She pushed her brown glasses up her nose and moved away with several blood bottles, shaking them as she moved.
Marcus glanced at the sleeping woman stretched out on the recliner next to the bed. “How long has Raine been here?”
“Not long.”
“I’m not asleep. I am trying to reach Steel.” Raine sat forward. Her bright-emerald eyes flashed wide.
Marcus didn’t know the story between her and Steel, but he knew they had been close—once. “And?”
The pretty witch flicked her long wavy locks over her shoulder and lifted Steel’s hand, kissing the top. The heart rate on the monitor jumped and beat faster.
“Well, I can tell you the loss of consciousness is down to magic. I can smell it all over him. Zephra is on her way to see if together we can break the spell. But it’s powerful dark magic. I’ve told Steel we will find a way to bring him home. The problem is he isn’t aware of any danger. He’s living in a dream world, and the longer he’s there, the less reason he has to come home. I’m going to stay and talk to him. But if we cannot break the spell, we need whoever cast it.”
Marcus shifted his gaze from Raine to the doctor, who shrugged. “Medically, as I say, there’s nothing wrong with him. He should be awake, and I support what Raine says. If you look at Steel’s brain waves, and observe his rapid eye movement, he is dreaming.”
He rubbed his temple. Marcus wasn’t sure what he expected. Examining the man who had been his mentor and his boss, he knew if the roles were reversed, Steel would be quick to put a plan in place and be ready to execute it no matter what to ensure the best outcome. The old goat had to pull through so he could wipe the floor with him. He wouldn’t consider any other possibility. Stepping closer to the bed, he slipped his fingers to Steel’s wrist, feeling the radial pulse, which beat a regular rhythm. His boss trained daily, as did all the men, and was in peak condition for his age.
“Okay, well, keep trying to reach him, Raine. Let me know if his condition changes. And, Doctor, the fewer people who have access to Steel, the better. From now on, only myself, you, and the Lockheart sisters. Do you understand?” He examined the quiet doctor.
“Of course, sir.”
“Good. I’m going to change all the codes.”
“Okay. Sir, one last thing before you go. It says here on Steel’s medical file, he’s married. Should I contact his wife?”
“No.”
“No.”
Steel and Raine both answered, and again he threw the witch a narrow glance, wanting to know the history between her and his boss. “Not now. He states in a letter, which I will bring so you have a copy on file, what his requirements are in regard to any medical emergency. Each member of Orion has one. His wife is not to be contacted. If the situation changes, I will deal with it. Anything else?”
“No, sir.”
“Good. Raine, you said that what happened to Steel is a result of a dark spell. Forgive me, but who else besides the witches would be capable of such magic? Also, am I right in assuming that the individual would’ve needed to be present to cast this spell?”
The witch flew at him, staring up with huge emerald eyes and wild auburn hair flowing behind her. “Yes. Whoever did this needed to be in close contact with Steel. And this kind of magic can only be commanded by the blackest of hearts. You really need to learn the history of all the non-humans. It makes for an interesting read. Like it or not, Drayton, you’re part of that special breed too.”
The witch inhaled a long breath and twisted away. Her long skirt twirled as she moved and she caught her hair in her hands, skillfully twisting it into a long plait. “I cannot read people the way your wife can.
All I can sense is magic. On the day of the meeting, I didn’t detect anything out of the ordinary, but there are many ways to disguise trails—hide a scent, cloak a person. But as I say, I didn’t pick up on any peculiar behavior.”
Marcus raked his hand through his thick, wavy hair that touched his shoulder, and stared again at the man who lay still as a corpse. When you wake up, you will tell me the story of you and Raine over a bottle of whiskey and one of your good cigars. Do you hear me? No one answered, not that he expected one, but he needed the only decent father figure he had ever had to know he cared.
“Raine, do what you can.”
The witch nodded, and with that, he strode away. His cell beeped inside his pocket as he reached the doorway and he lifted it to take the call. Jake’s urgent voice rang through before he could speak.
“Slow down. I knew it. Okay, check her room thoroughly, and get a team outside in case she’s still on the property. I suspect she’s long gone, but we need to make sure. I’ll be at the center after I speak with Huron.”
Raine left her seat to join him, clutching his arm.
“That witch—the princess, what’s her name—she’s missing. I knew when I stood next to her something wasn’t right.”
Raine stepped into his personal space and pressed her fingertips to each side of his head. “She’s not a witch, Drayton. Now, think back to when you spoke to this princess. How did she make you feel?”
The slender woman before him smelled of butterscotch and cookies. His shoulders dropped and he closed his eyes. It was the last thing he wanted to do. He needed to leave, but his thoughts drifted to yesterday. Revulsion and confusion filled him as he pictured Dina. The blonde woman shimmered and vanished. In her stead stood a hunched monster with talons for nails, jagged yellow teeth, and black eyes. The marble-white skin was translucent and covered in black, spidery veins. The stench of rot and decay wafted from the creature.
The minute the witch’s fingers left his skin, Marcus jerked away and shook his head. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her close. “Shit—what was that?”