by Kyra Quinn
For a long beat, no one speaks. I chew the inside of my cheek and wait for Kane to reject his brother’s advice. We can’t leave Miami, no matter how much we might wish otherwise. There’s too much at stake to run away.
“What about the war?” Kane asks, lowering his voice.
Dagon shrugs. “What about the war? I don’t think anyone will win the infernal thing soon. Let me worry about battle strategies and war. You’ll have enough on your plate trying to stay off Lilith’s radar.”
It’s so tempting to listen to Dagon and leave town. Kane and I could start over somewhere new, somewhere neither of us must serve the Legion or the Dark Hunt. We could buy a tiny house somewhere in the mountains or near a different ocean. Or we could move to the other side of the world and pray Lilith’s international spies won’t recognize us. We could steal ourselves a tiny sliver of happiness.
But as tempting as the fantasy is, I can’t allow myself to get lost in it. I clear my throat and lift my eyes to meet Kane’s.
“We can’t run,” I say, voice small. “It’s not worth it. The Knights will hunt us anywhere we go, and too many people here depend on you. If we leave, we burn every bridge you have with the Paranormal community here.”
“So?” Kane shakes his head. “I don’t care about the Paranormals or the war, and I’m not worried about the Knights. The only thing I care about in this life is you, Nadia.”
The way my name sounds on his lips still sends shivers down my spine. It’s the closest I’ll ever get to a declaration of his undying love, and it melts my heart. If only this could last forever. I’d give anything for more time with Kane.
I refuse to spend our last hours mourning the inevitable end. Offering Kane a weak smile, I move forward until I can lay my head on his shoulder. It isn’t over yet, and I won’t waste what precious time we have left. In our last moments together, I want to give him something to remember.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Kane
“It’s not too late to change your mind.” I pull Nadia closer against my chest and comb my fingers through the tangled curls tousled from sleep. She tilts her chin to look at me and smile, squinting against the early morning sunlight streaming in through the bamboo blinds to bathe the bedroom in warmth.
“Change my mind about what?”
“Leaving.” She tries to wiggle away, but I tighten my arms around her. “You’ve already given your life for this war once. No one could hold it against us if we disappeared before the shit hits the fan.”
I have no idea where we’d go even if she agreed. There’s nowhere Lilith and Moloch couldn’t find us, and there’s no way they’d let us walk away and live a quiet life. I doubt either of us could live the suburban life, anyway. We know too much about the world and the darkness within it to let our guards down for long. And even after her near-death experience, Nadia still has that look of trouble in her steely eyes. She’d tire of that life within a month. Even with the Dark Hunt behind her, I doubt she can switch off the part of her brain that craves adrenaline and excitement. We have that much in common.
She nuzzles her face beneath my clavicle. “Don’t tempt me. I’d love nothing more than to run away with you and leave all this madness behind.”
“So why don’t we?” I bring a hand to cup her chin, forcing her to look at me. “This war is bigger than you or me, Nadia. There’s no reason we should take the burden on ourselves.”
A week ago, I never would have considered leaving Miami. Only cowards run from their problems and surrender. Dagon and the Legion need me to see us to victory.
But a week ago, I had nothing I cared about more than my pride. Nadia’s safety means more to me than winning or respect. Our time together is already limited by design. I refuse to risk losing even a second of it to Michael.
“What about your brother? Or the rest of the Paranormal community? They need you.”
I close my eyes, enjoying the way her body feels pressed against mine for as long as I can. The soft vanilla and jasmine of her shampoo fills my senses. If not for the war, I could stay in this bed with her until the sun burned out. I’d rather spend the rest of my days with her body pressed against mine. After all the time we’ve wasted, I don’t want to miss another second for even the most noble cause.
But she’s right, and I hate it. With Zeke dead, it won’t take long for the Dark Hunt to retaliate. Michael isn’t above destroying the entire city to avenge his brother’s death. Nadia isn’t the only one with a target on her back. Dagon and the others need me more than ever.
“Have you told him yet?” she whispers.
I need not ask who or what she’s referring to. Nadia is the only person I’ve told about Hollie joining the Dark Hunt. As soon as I filled her in on the details of what Michael told me, Nadia had no trouble connecting the dots and figuring out who Hollie was within the Dark Hunt’s ranks. I swore her to secrecy on the drive home from Zeke’s murder scene, promising I’d tell Dagon the truth myself. The news will gut him, but he deserves to hear it from someone who gives a shit about him.
I press my lips to her soft hair, inhaling the soft floral scent of her shampoo. Weirdly, it brings me more comfort than drugs or murder ever did. “Not yet. Still not sure how to break it to him. There’s no painless way to tell someone the love of their life was a liar and a traitor.”
She sighs and runs her nail down my chest, sending a shiver through my bones. “Do you think she ever loved him?”
Doubtful. If she loved my brother, her way of showing it was even more toxic and fucked up than my own perverse version of love. The only comfort in any of this is knowing her departure likely had nothing to do with our heated exchange.
But that isn’t what Nadia wants to hear, so I shrug my free shoulder. “Hard to say. Emotions complicate matters. Not my thing. But it’s hard to imagine caring about someone while you lie to their face every day and fuck them over. Did you know her well?”
She shakes her head against my chest. “No, not well. We called her Sage, but I can’t tell you much more about her. We didn’t hunt together often. I spent most of my downtime with Jade and Zeke. She hung out more with some older guys. She’s a skilled hunter, though. It doesn’t surprise me to learn she’s also a master of manipulation. That’s one of Jade’s talents, too.”
“Enormous surprise there. No one can twist a situation better than a woman.”
She smacks my arm and laughs. “Don’t be rude. You’re the far better liar between the two of us.”
“Mmm, I love it when you stroke my ego.”
She giggles as I pull her in for a kiss. Dagon and the war can wait until Hell freezes over for all I care. In this moment, nothing on the other side of the bedroom door matters. The entire world melts away as my tongue slides between her lips. I’ve done nothing to deserve the ecstasy I taste in her kisses, but that only makes me want her more.
My hand slides up to cup her perky breasts. The bedroom door flies open the moment I squeeze a pink nipple between my fingers and pinch. We freeze as Dagon storms into the room with his hands in the air. His sunglasses hang from the collar of his shirt as he stares at us with wild eyes.
“They’re here,” he says, making no apologies for his interruption. He doesn’t even bother to avert his gaze. “Downstairs.”
“Who?” Nadia gasps, pulling the sheet up to cover herself. Her face flushes a delicious shade of pink, and I hate Dagon even more for barging in and ruining my perfect morning.
“The Knights. All of them. And they’re demanding an audience now.”
Fuck me. Leave it to Lilith to ruin the happiest day of my life. I take my time slipping on clothes and combing back my hair. If this is how they want to do things, the trio of terror can wait until I’m good and damn ready. I’ll make them regret interrupting my morning bliss.
* * *
After Nadia and I throw on clothes, Dagon leads us downstairs to the den. Levi, Lilith, and Moloch perch around the room with identical scowls. An unopened bot
tle of scotch and glasses sit on the table along with a hand-carved cigar box. They stand as we enter the room, all eyes on us as we take our seats. I pick a spot on the couch next to Nadia and lace my fingers through hers, a silent reassurance everything is okay.
“Sorry to keep you waiting,” Dagon says, slipping into his diplomat role with an affable smile. “Drinks?”
“Not this time.” Moloch’s frown deepens. “We’re here about the girl.”
My grip on Nadia’s hand tightens. “What about her?”
Levi seems to sense my agitation. “Don’t make this difficult. Or do. I’ve always wondered who would win if the two of us squared off.” He pops his neck, a sly grin sliding over his face.
Nadia wraps herself around my arm. “Kane, no. It’s okay.”
“Listen to your little girlfriend, Kane,” Lilith purrs, lounging back against the leather armchair across the table from where we sit. “We’re all friends here. Your brother is one job away from a permanent place in our ranks.”
“Seriously?” I scoff, shaking my head. “Killing an angel isn’t enough to earn a promotion?”
“He didn’t kill anyone,” she points out. “Nadia did. And we plan to reward her handsomely for her efforts. But Dagon still needs to prove himself worthy of ascension. Besides, you gentlemen only completed half of the job. We’re still waiting for the other hunter.”
Nadia’s face pales. “What other hunter?”
“And you.” Lilith turns her attention to Nadia with a haughty smile. “I believe we had an agreement. It’s time you fulfill your end.”
Nadia never told me what she promised Lilith in exchange for her help. My muscles tense. “Wait. Whatever Nadia promised you, take it from me instead. She did all of us a service yesterday.”
Lilith shakes her head and gives me an exaggerated pout. “Sorry, dear, but there’s no buying her way out of this deal. The girl is coming with us.”
I squeeze her hand so tight I half expect her bones to break. “For what? She can tell you anything you need to know from right here.”
“That isn’t what she agreed to,” Levi says flatly. “Don’t worry. We’ll bring her back as soon as her six years are up.”
I almost fall off the couch. “Six fucking years?”
Lilith’s expression darkens. “Did you like her better dead? This deal is the only reason she didn’t stay that way.”
“Hey,” Nadia says, reaching to turn my face to hers. Her stormy eyes swim with tears she’s too proud to shed. “It’s okay. Victory demands sacrifice, remember?”
“This isn’t about victory. It’s Lilith’s sadistic side toying with you because she knows it will bother me.”
“Not everything is about you,” Lilith snaps.
Moloch lifts a hand. The room falls silent. He fixes his cold eyes on Nadia. “Does he speak for you, child? Do you intend to dishonor your deal?”
I squeeze her hand, but Nadia shakes her head. “Can I have a little longer to say goodbye? Please?”
Levi scowls and glances at his watch. “We have business—”
“Please,” she whispers, the tears finally spilling onto her cheeks. “I don’t need long. Just a few minutes and I’ll come without fuss or fight.”
Moloch says nothing for a long beat before rising to his feet. Levi and Lilith follow suit. “We’ll wait outside while you finish your goodbyes.”
“Thank you,” she chokes.
It physically hurts my stomach to watch her grovel to them. I wait for the front door to close to whirl on Nadia, my hands flying up to grab her arms.
“You can’t do this.”
“It’s too late,” she says, her voice small. “It’s already done. But if Lilith keeps her word, we’ll kill Michael and end all this long before the six years are up. I’m sure she’ll let me leave when it’s over.”
“She won’t. She wants your power, not peace. Fuck, Nadia. How could you agree to this?”
“I made a strategic deal for survival,” she snaps. “You refused to listen to me when I asked for your help. Lilith didn’t. Our common enemy gave us a reason to set aside our differences for a while.”
“Six years?”
She pulls away from my grasp and rubs her arm. “It won’t take that long. Lilith wants Michael dead even more than I wanted to kill Zeke. I promise you, I will end this and come home to you as soon as I can. But until we slay Michael, I’m safer with the Knights.”
I choke on the ridiculousness of her words. “You think Hell is less dangerous than Miami? Have you lost your fucking mind? I offered to leave with you. We could have gone anywhere in the world. You’re the one who said we needed to stay here.”
A sad smile creeps onto her lips. “And we do. There are too many lives at stake to run away from this fight. And Lilith would find us anywhere we fled. I’m sorry, but this is the only way.”
With a frustrated growl, my head snaps to where Dagon sits a few feet away. “Back me up here. Tell her what a colossal mistake this is.”
He shifts in his chair and stares at the floor. “Will you hate me forever if I can’t tell you what you want to hear?”
I groan. “Not you too.”
“We’re sitting at twenty-seven dead this month, and it’s not even the fifteenth. The last attack nearly wiped out every wolf in Miami. We’re losing, Kane, even if no one will admit it out loud. We won a minor battle with Zeke’s death, but we’re still losing this war.”
“Impossible.” I scoff. “The Legion alone outnumbers the Dark Hunt by dozens. They can’t kill all of us.”
“Unless Lilith is right, and Michael has a secret ace up his sleeve. We know he’s found a way to inject witches and Paranormals with something to suppress their powers, and we’ve heard whispers of a weapon capable of enslaving mortals to the Dark Hunt.”
“So what, we should allow the Knights to enslave Nadia based on speculations and fear? This is insanity.”
Nadia laces her fingers through mine. The warmth of her touch instantly calms my nerves like a shot of strong whiskey. She presses her other hand to the side of my face and locks her steely eyes on mine.
“I’ll miss you every moment of every day, and I promise I’ll come home to you as soon as we’ve won this war. But I must keep my promise. We’ll get our happy ending, even if we have to fight for it.”
A stabbing pain spreads through my chest. It’s impossible not to admire her fierce determination and passion. She’s so different from the woman I kidnapped a few weeks ago, and an entirely unfamiliar person from the girl I destroyed two years prior. No matter how many times her life is burnt to the ground, Nadia somehow rises from the ashes stronger and more terrifyingly beautiful.
I pull her against me and crush her mouth against mine, savoring the sweetness of her lips one last time. She moans into the kiss and parts her lips to welcome me. There’s nothing gentle about the way I kiss her, but her kiss is just as needy and devouring. We don’t stop until Dagon clears his throat for the third time.
“Not to interrupt, but there’s one more thing I need to ask Nadia before she leaves,” he says, his voice tight.
Nadia pulls away, but her hand remains pressed to the side of my face. “Yes?”
“I’d like to stop by your old family home one night and search your mother’s studio for information. It’s unlikely I’ll find anything useful, but maybe Alana left something behind we can use against Michael. She hated the Dark Hunt more than anyone after they killed her sister.”
Nadia’s face falls. “She also died over two years ago. I doubt there’s any trace of her left at that house. The Reverend probably threw it all out to make room for a new wife and family.”
“That’s what I suspected, but I sent one of my guys to scope the place out a few days ago. The shed is still there, but he couldn’t risk creeping any closer with your father home.”
She flinches at the word ‘father,’ but her mask of composure slides back into place so fast I almost wonder if I imagined it. “What
is it you need from me?”
“Insight. None of us can contact the other side, at least not without help. Something tells me you weren’t the only reason Zeke killed Alana. Can you contact your mother and find out if there’s anything she can tell us that might help us win against Michael?”
Nadia sighs. “Even if I do, how am I supposed to tell you what she says? My communication powers only seem to work with dead people.”
He flashes her a charming smile. “Don’t worry about that. We’ve found ways of getting around the Knights over the centuries. Do you think you can speak with her?”
Nadia chews her bottom lip, hesitating. “I’ll try my best, but I can’t promise anything. The last time I tried to use my powers on my own, Death ended up at the foot of my bed.”
“Magic is like any other muscle. It becomes stronger and more natural to you the more you use it. But we appreciate your willingness to try.”
Nadia gives me one last pained glance and rises to her feet. “I should go before Lilith drags me out by my hair.”
Dagon stands and wraps her in a one-arm embrace. “I’m sorry we had to meet under such tense circumstances but thank you for everything you’ve done to help us.”
She pulls away and fixes him with a pleading expression. Tears swim in her starry eyes. “Whatever hunter Lilith asks you to abduct next, don’t. Please. I have a terrible feeling I can guess who she’s after, and I need you to keep her safe from all this chaos. Give me time to find another way.”
My stomach hardens as she begs. After watching her stand strong and resist the worst we could throw at her for so long, this new desperation in her voice doesn’t sound right. How could she still want to protect any of those fuckers? We’ve already proven we aren’t the only monsters in this war.
“We’ll do what we can,” he says noncommittally. “Take care of yourself, love. Come back to us in one piece.”
“Always.” She gives his hand a quick squeeze before turning to face me. The moment her eyes find mine, a fresh flood of tears spills down her face. “Please don’t hate me for this.”