Immortals of Indriell- The Collection

by Melissa A. Craven

“Are we alone now?” he asked, tapping her forehead.

  “Yes.”

  “Then answer my question, Red. What do I need to know about tonight?”

  “You … can’t save Erin … or Dean. I’ve seen it a hundred different ways and it always happens and you always try but you never get there in time.” Her eyes bright with tears. “I won’t tell you not to try, Darius … but they drain you. Every single time. You have to let them go. We can always try to rescue them later. That is the best chance they have. Stick to Aidan like glue. He will need you to pull him back. Erin has a chance, but only if we leave it up to her to save herself.”

  “And Dean? Is there nothing I can do to help them?” His eyes held deep anguish for the two friends who were more like siblings. Erin was to him what Chloe was to Allie and her friends. The little sister. And he and Dean were as close as brothers.

  “Let Erin help herself. But Dean.… I’m sorry. Don’t ask me how—I just know when fate will have her way no matter how I might try to stop her. I’ve seen it so many times, Dare. I’m sorry. There’s just not enough time. They’ll take him no matter what we do.”

  Darius leaned against one of the largest apple trees as if he needed the support. “I will try to heed your warning.” He nodded, his face gray with the severity of what she’d just told him. “But they are my family. I don’t know if I can stand back and not help them.”

  “You have to, Darius. Please. It will be so much worse if they take all three of you. Do nothing and you and Erin have a chance to walk away to fight for Dean another day.”

  “I will … if you give me an honest answer to my next question.”

  Allie nodded. She knew what he would ask and she owed him the truth.

  “Will you make it through unscathed, or do I need to worry that you plan to sacrifice yourself to save everyone else? I’d like to know I can trust you to look after yourself. You’re more than capable.”

  “I’ll be fine, Dare. I see something. I'll do ... something. But I just don’t understand it yet.” It was one of those things she wouldn’t understand until it happened. All she saw was blood and all she felt was rage. “I just know the fewer witnesses, the better. So if you can cause a distraction at the right time, that would help. There’s so much I don’t understand yet, but I know even you will look at me differently after tonight. They are here for me. I’ve brought this down on us. I just don’t know why this Livia woman is so hell-bent on capturing me. But I will do whatever I can to keep that from happening, and not just for my own safety and freedom. If they capture me, they will use me for my power and it will be bad. They have ways to force me, but I can’t see how. So I have a lot of motivation to keep myself safe. I just want everyone to have the information they need to get through this with the least amount of loss. I need everyone to trust me when every instinct they have tells them I’m too young to know so certainly. There is a lot I don't know, but everything I do see is crystal clear now. I know what is within my power to change and what isn’t.”

  “I trust you. I’ll leave Erin and Dean to their fates if there is truly no other way.”

  She felt that now-familiar tug in her chest. The feelings she had for him were so confusing but she knew she couldn’t stop this from happening. Her warring emotions were at an all-time high where he was concerned and it left her breathless.

  “Darius?” She wanted so badly to cross whatever line they were about to cross, but she just didn’t understand it—she was terrified of where it would take them if she gave in to the pull of Darius. She couldn’t—wouldn’t—do that to Aidan. Especially now. Especially with Darius. But she wasn’t sure she had a choice anymore. She could feel her free will slipping from her grasp. This was happening whether she wanted it or not.

  “I know, sweetheart.” He hugged her close. “I don’t know what this is between us. I’m insanely attracted to you, but I know I don’t want to be with you like that.”

  Allie’s heart nearly beat out of her chest as she stared up at Darius. He was the one person who always made her laugh and never let her take life too seriously. She loved him, but she wasn’t in love with him. She was attracted to him in a thousand ways, but at the same time she knew he wasn’t for her. She wanted him to be part of her life, but she didn’t want him to be her whole life. She knew he was part of her—a missing piece that she’d always felt the absence of, but never truly realized until this moment.

  “What’s happening?” Darius whispered, clutching her hand.

  “I don’t know.” Allie’s heartbeat slowed until it grew sluggish. She could barely breathe. She couldn’t take her eyes off Darius. This couldn’t be … that.

  “Wait. No. We’re … bonding.” He fell to his knees, pulling Allie down beside him. “It makes sense now.” His breath grew shallow, matching her own.

  Allie was finally beginning to see Darius clearly. As if the strangeness of their feelings for each other was finally sliding into place. As her heart stilled in her chest and she gasped for breath, a green aura blazed around them.

  “Of course.” She was elated by the new understanding dawning in her mind. Darius was the most important person in her life now. Her heart began beating again, but she felt another beat there now—like she had twin hearts, one an echo of his heartbeat in sync with hers.

  “What is this?” Darius asked. “I can feel your heart beating in my chest. I love you so much it hurts.”

  “It’s so real. So pure,” Allie whispered. “What is this?”

  “I have no idea. We’ll have to ask Dad later. We don’t have time to figure it out right now.”

  “Don’t leave my side tonight, Dare.”

  “I can’t be away from you. Not now.” He grasped her hands tightly.

  “We fight together.” Allie nodded.

  “Be safe, Allie,” he whispered. “I don’t want to lose … whatever this is.” He pulled her into his arms and all the uncertainty and all the stress threatening to suffocate her just evaporated.

  She turned her attention away reluctantly. She would have to marvel over this new bond later, when she had time to grasp the enormity of what just happened. If she thought about it right now, she would totally freak, and nobody had time for that.

  “What the hell was that?” Aidan asked, his face white as a sheet as they returned to the barn, only to realize he’d been watching the whole time. Allie glanced down at their entwined hands.

  “It’s not what you think,” Darius said. “It can’t be. There was no choice involved.”

  “Then what is this? I can feel your bond and I don’t like it.” Aidan’s voice was like acid and his eyes blazed with hurt and fury––like the two people who meant the most to him had betrayed him.

  “We have no idea what this is, Aidan, but please do not let this distract you. Not tonight. I need you focused,” Allie pleaded with him. She was shaking with the aftershock of her bond with Darius and the hurt she could see in Aidan’s eyes. The hurt she felt at the mere thought that he might not understand. That he would think she could ever willingly betray him.

  “Lex?” Aidan stepped forward as her eyes filled with tears.

  She felt like her heart was breaking, like she didn’t have enough of herself for both Aidan and Darius.

  “Deep breaths.” Aidan pulled her close. “Get control, baby. It’s okay. I can see this is not something any of us has ever seen before. It’s just bad timing. We’ll ask Dad about it when all of this is over. Look at me.” He tilted her chin up to meet his gaze. “We’re okay.”

  Allie nodded. Taking a deep breath, the ache in her chest began to subside.

  Just don’t ever make me choose. It will destroy me. She let the thought pass between them and then she closed her mind off and knew she couldn’t risk it again. Not until this was all over.

  Aidan pressed his lips against hers, holding her close.

  A fist came out of nowhere and Aidan was on the ground in the next instant.

  “What the hell, Darius?”
Aidan growled, reaching for his bloody lip.

  “Shit, I’m sorry!” Darius scrambled to help Aidan up. “Apparently I do not like you kissing her.” He flexed his hand and continued to profusely apologize. “I have no idea what this is, bro. I’m so sorry.”

  “Is this some kind of sibling bond?” Aidan asked, spitting blood on the ground.

  “No,” Allie and Darius said at once.

  “It’s not—”

  “No,” they both replied just as vehemently.

  “I seriously can’t describe it, Aidan. It’s not a family bond, but it’s definitely not the other-not-to-be-named bond either,” Allie said. “At least I hope not. No offense, Dare.”

  “None taken.”

  “Can you give us a minute, Darius?” Aidan asked. “Go tell everyone to take their positions and get ready.”

  “I’d rather not.”

  “Darius, please.” Allie sighed, taking his hands in hers. She took a step closer, into the circle of his arms and felt the unsteady thump of his heart in her chest. “We’re running out of time and I just need a minute with Aidan.”

  “Just make it quick, sweetheart.” He tucked a loose curl behind her ear. “I’m not comfortable leaving your side with what’s about to go down.”

  “Son of a bitch!” Aidan spat, kicking a rock into the forest in his frustration. “Do you have to look at her like that?”

  “Sorry … I’ll just be in the barn.” Darius reluctantly left them alone.

  She sensed Aidan step up behind her, his arms wrapping around her. The empty echo in her mind was a reminder that it was up to her to keep him safe—even if it meant revealing the darkest part of herself to everyone here.

  “I don’t like this. Any of it.” His breath brushed the top of her head. “I don’t like whatever this is with you and my brother and I don’t like you blocking me.”

  “Me either.” She turned toward him, wrapping her arms around him tightly. “I don’t like the separation from you, but I need to focus tonight.” She could feel Darius in her blood, the thump of his heart beside hers––the sense of calm and reassurance it gave her.

  “Be safe, Alexis Ann. I can’t bear the thought of anything happening to you.”

  “I will be fine. Aidan Loukas.” She gripped his jacket in her fists. “You have to promise me you won’t do anything stupid. I can’t lose you now.”

  “We’ve got this, babe.” He took her hand as they moved closer to the trees nearest the path down to the beach.

  Allie reached to turn her headset on. “Everyone with me?” She heard the echoing replies of all her friends. “Good luck.”

  Allie would gladly give up her immortality to see this thing not happen, but she didn’t have that luxury. Her peripheral vision went green and she took it to mean she was choosing the right path.

  “How are we doing Chlo?” Allie asked over the headset.

  “As good as can be expected.”

  “Should we try to get closer to the beach or stay here?”

  “Stay where you are. You're in the best spot for reacting quickly when this thing reaches us.”

  Gregg and the others were lying in wait up at the house. Everyone was as prepared as they could be, given the fact that Allie still saw so many dark spots. But at least they had numbers this time. She’d never forget the dreams. The slaughter was branded into her mind forever, but this time, they would all have a chance.

  God, please let this work.

  She could sense Darius approach, crouching just behind her. It was like she could feel his every move without looking. He was part of her now.

  “I see movement toward the orchard in all directions,” Graham’s voice echoed in her ear. “Everyone get ready for this.”

  Allie heard the first sounds of battle in the growing darkness. The enemy wasn’t prepared for their quick reaction and mobilization.

  “There are more than I anticipated.” Allie chewed her bottom lip. Dark figures swarmed the sandy dunes below. Allie watched as the people she loved made their way to the beach. Several shadowy figures followed in hot pursuit. But they weren’t prepared to find Emma and Jin waiting there as backup.

  “Do not let me out of your sight, Lex,” Aidan said softly. “We’re doing this together.”

  “You too,” she managed in a strangled whisper as they stood.

  “I’ve got your back, killer,” Darius said. “You just tell us what needs to happen and when.”

  Allie nodded, gripping her mother’s sai, aching to hear them sing. The sound felt like her mother’s presence and she needed all the inner strength she could muster tonight.

  As their family came up the steep path, Allie, Aidan, and Darius crouched among the bushes, waiting to join the battle. Gregg and Emma streaked past them, unaware, while Naeemah and Jin followed. Their quick reaction seamlessly split Naeemah from her Complement in such a subtle way that Allie doubted those following even realized.

  “Where are Aide and Hélène?” Allie asked desperately. “They were supposed to be with them!”

  “Looks like Aide and Gen are coming down the path from the gates with ... shit! My great-grandparents are with them.” Graham said.

  Ju Long and Lu Li were Ming Lao's ancient parents. Allie had never seen any version of her visions with them in it. She felt like it was a bad omen that they were here now.

  “And Lucien and Hélène just came up through the tunnels,” Chloe added. “I think everyone is accounted for so far.”

  At the top of the path, Gregg and the others turned to meet their attackers. Allie lunged after the last figure, taking him by surprise. She fought to fully incapacitate her Immortal opponents and to only maim the mortals she faced. Now wasn’t the time to be squeamish, and Allie had come a long way these last months.

  One of Sasha’s lodestone arrows zipped past her to fell an oncoming assault. Allie moved with speed, scanning the small clearing, looking for the dark spots, the information she was missing.

  She heard Gregg’s growl of irritation when he realized Aidan and Sasha were there, but there was no time for that now.

  Hélène and Lucien burst through the barn with Ming and Daniel behind them. Imogen and Aide were coming down the path through the woods that led to the gates with Liam and George right behind them. Everyone was present now—almost everyone. She still hadn’t seen Quinn yet. Just as she planned, the fight was coming to them in the orchard. The first step was a success. The orchard swarmed with Coalition and Immortals she didn’t recognize—more than she ever saw in her dreams. But she spotted familiar faces, too. Dean and Erin were with Greyson, and Naomi fought with an Immortal man Allie didn’t recognize. They had friends here. Their numbers were good.

  “We can do this,” Allie murmured.

  “Allie, you need to decide now. Move or stay where you are, but do it now,” Chloe said.

  “Come on.” Allie darted along the rocky path back to the orchard. Aidan and Darius followed, fighting furiously at her side, keeping her free to observe. She saw familiar sights; events were unfolding in their favor, but she needed to know—needed to understand the cause of her blind spot.

  “Go right, Allie, back toward the barn and across the orchard,” Chloe’s voice crackled over their connection. “She won’t see you.”

  Allie followed Chloe’s advice, and then she saw her, standing at the end of the orchard. “It is Livia.” She exhaled in a rush as the missing information began to fill in. Allie understood more of what she’d witnessed in her dreams and visions now. Livia had been blocking her all this time.

  Livia was caught up in a battle with Ming Lao and Daniel. She was outmatched. Ming was ruthless, but Allie knew it wouldn’t go well for her. Somehow, what was about to happen would affect Jin, who was across the battlefield fighting beside Naeemah.

  To her utter horror, Allie saw Quinn, fighting alongside Livia, oblivious of his family’s presence. He didn’t seem to realize he fought against his own father—he was too far gone.

  “
He’s broken,” Allie realized. Had he seen Sasha yet?

  When Livia disappeared, slithering away to appear again just out of Ming’s reach, Allie understood. She was using Quinn’s gift. She’d latched onto him like a parasite. That was how she’d escaped with him last spring.

  “What do you see?” Aidan panted as he regrouped at her side. Sasha’s arrow sailed right through the eye of an approaching enemy. He hit the ground hard, buying them time to get away.

  “Sasha, go!” Allie cried as they scrambled through the rows of apple trees.

  “It’s Livia. She’s my blind spot. She’s blocking me somehow. That’s why I could never see who Quinn was talking to in my dreams—she’s using him, using his gifts. I don’t think he’s even aware any of this is happening.”

  “Erin!” Darius shouted.

  “I’m so sorry, Darius.” Allie turned away. She didn’t want to watch him try to save Erin, but she had to leave the decision up to him. If he did, he was lost—better off dead, some would say. She wasn’t sure she would survive losing him like that so soon after their bond.

  She heard Erin’s screech and couldn’t hold back her sobs, but she needed to keep moving. She didn’t want Livia’s attention just yet.

  Sasha’s arrows stopped. Allie turned to find Quinn standing with his sword drawn against Ming, his own grandmother, a grimace of confusion on his face as Daniel tried to talk him down.

  “Quinnton Greggory Loukas!” Sasha screamed his name. She stood at the center of the orchard, hair crazy, eyes blazing. “Snap the hell out of it!” She pointed her dagger at him, glaring so fiercely, Allie thought she would stare a hole right through his chest. Something unspoken passed between them. But it worked. It was enough to bring Quinn back to himself. He dropped his sword to his side and stumbled away from Livia.

  Livia, still battling Ming Lao, hissed in fury at Sasha’s interference.

  Jin Jing’s sudden roar of agony cut right through Allie. “It’s happened!” She searched frantically for Chloe. Her parents needed her now.

  “Go Chloe!” Graham called through the headset.

  Ming was failing in her attack. Livia had done something to rend her nearly catatonic. She fell to her knees as Jin streaked across the orchard to her side.