Stakes and Daggers (Vampires of Crescent Cape Book 3)

by L. Danvers

  “For now.” It looked like there was more that she wanted to say, but she didn’t say anything else about it. Another time, maybe.

  More footsteps came clomping downstairs. Evanna, Aiden and Victoria were rushing down to meet us. I suppressed a gasp upon seeing Victoria. Her entire arm was fading. I tried hard not to look at her and focused my attention on Aiden instead. “He’s on his way,” Aiden announced. “Now, let’s go over the plan...”

  Danielle

  It was eerily pleasant outside this evening—an odd contrast to the storm I felt brewing within. My heart thrashed wildly like thunder, pounding against my chest, sending lightning bolts of energy pulsing through my veins as I stood there, waiting at the top of the stairs. I remained as still as a statue, knowing that any second, Xander would burst through that door with the intent to kill me. Exactly as he’d been spelled to do.

  Julian had pleaded with me to go somewhere safer. Lock myself in a bedroom, or even the dungeon. Anywhere to place a barrier between me and his brother.

  But I’d refused.

  I was scared, yes. But I wasn’t going to let Reed win.

  Raising my chin, I pulled my long, dark hair into a high ponytail. Then I rested my hand on the railing and waited...

  A gentle voice whispered in my ear, “You’re going to get through this. I promise.” For a brief moment, I turned toward Victoria and smiled. In truth, she served no usefulness here. But since I refused to leave, she did, too. She insisted on staying by my side. Why? I wasn’t sure. Aiden had probably asked her to keep me from doing anything stupid...

  Now, Julian was by the front door with Aiden and Charlotte. Grace and Evanna were waiting there, too, ready to cast the spell as soon as Ben, who was hiding in the shadows, secured the bracelet around Xander’s wrist.

  It was a simple plan: restrain Xander, get the bracelet on him... and all would be well.

  I squeezed the railing tighter, trying not to blink as Julian looked at me over his shoulder. I didn’t want to let him see me sweat. He and Aiden were two of the most powerful supernatural beings in all of existence. And I had both of their blood running through my veins. I could handle myself.

  Maybe if I told myself that enough times, I would start believing it.

  I tried acting braver than I felt for Julian’s sake. And honestly, after everything I’ve been through, I didn’t anticipate this situation affecting me as much as it did...

  My breath hitched. Yellow lights flashed through the window. A car.

  “Xander’s here,” Ben announced. “Everyone, get in position.”

  The others nodded.

  I sucked in a sharp breath. This was it. There was no going back.

  The golden handle to the front door gave a spine-tingling creak as the knob turned. It took a million years for the door to open all the way, and when it did, Xander was standing there, a statuesque figure with devilish good looks that harkened to an earlier time, a leather jacket fitting snugly over his broad shoulders. His white V-neck tee clung to his torso, revealing the silhouette of his rock-solid abs. He twirled a keychain around his finger before stuffing it into the pocket of his dark jeans. Chomping on a piece of gum, he stepped forward, passing through the threshold. Leaving the door wide open behind him.

  The cool night air breezed into the castle, prickling my skin. I didn’t blink as I stood there, watching him. I was out of his line of vision. So, as long as he didn’t bother looking up, he’d never know I was here...

  “So,” Xander said to Aiden, “our big brother finally came to his senses?” Aiden didn’t answer. Xander’s attention shifted toward Julian. “I’m glad you came around, Julian. All I want is your girlfriend. As long as you hand her over, no one gets hurt.”

  Julian’s eyes were a swirl of rage and mischief. He forced a smirk. “Of course, brother.”

  He’d hardly gotten the words out before Evanna and Grace raised their palms and started reciting a spell. Latin, or some other ancient language from what I could tell. Their brows furrowed with concentration, but before they could finish, Xander flashed toward them, knocking Grace’s back against the wall as he tossed her like rag doll. I covered my mouth in horror. The back of her head smacked into a candle sconce, and she fell to the ground, blood saturating her fanned-out blonde hair... She wasn’t moving. She was either unconscious or...

  Wanting to check on Grace, Evanna started toward her. But before she could take another step, Xander grabbed her by the throat and lifted her off of the ground. Panicking, Evanna’s toes fought to reach the floor, but he only raised her higher, squeezing harder.

  Killing her.

  I leaned forward, knuckles white from squeezing the railing so hard. Releasing a pent-up breath, I let go and started forward. But Victoria jerked me back. “No,” she said forcefully.

  Xander released Evanna, and her body thudded to the floor.

  His dark eyes, those bottomless pits of death and pain and fury, followed the voice. Then, his eyes locked in on mine. Crap. I took a step back...

  “Now!” Ben shouted, and Julian and Aiden jumped Xander from behind. They held his arms back as Ben raced their way, his hands shaking as he carried the wooden case.

  Charlotte stood in front of Xander, blocking him and trying to put out the fire burning within him. As if a spell were something he could be talked out of. But there was no reasoning with him. He wasn’t in control. Xander cursed at her while he fought off his brothers. But it was no use.

  Ben came up from behind and fastened the bracelet around Xander’s wrist. But instead of looking relieved, his features fell in despair. Because the two witches in the room were incapacitated. Taking a step back, realization dawned on him. “We can’t activate it.”

  Charlotte’s mouth fell open, and she fumbled for words as Xander stood there, muscles bulging as he tried getting out of his brother’s hold. The bracelet was utterly useless. Which was a huge problem, because based on the look on Aiden’s face, they wouldn’t be able to restrain him much longer.

  Panicking, Charlotte rushed to Evanna’s side. She slapped her cheek and shook her shoulders, then she bent over her, trying to listen for any sign of breathing. Overcome with dread, Charlotte announced, “Evanna’s dead!”

  Aiden’s chest caved in reaction, and using that to his advantage, Xander broke free.

  My face hardened. That was it. Evanna was dead because she tried protecting me. And if Evanna was dead, that might mean my best friend was, too. I fought back the urge to vomit, clenching my jaw so hard it ached.

  No one else was going to die today.

  No one except for Xander.

  Danielle

  I didn’t want to hurt Xander, but without a witch to cast the spell the activate the bracelet, I was as good as dead. And who was to say that the killing would stop after I was gone? As long as he was under Reed’s control, he was a threat. To me. To his siblings. To Julian. To everyone.

  Victoria tried to stop me, but a guttural growl escaped my lips, startling her so much that she stepped back, afraid to cross me.

  I flew down the stairs, coming face-to-face with Xander. The very man I’d spent recent days running from. “I’m not going to let you hurt anyone else,” I said, my resolve unwavering. I widened my stance, readying myself for a showdown.

  He snorted. “That’s cute, little vamp.” He opened his mouth, exposing his razor-sharp fangs that were protruding from his gums. His tongue swept across them, making my skin crawl. Then, he sprang toward me.

  But I was fast. Faster than him.

  I sped past the others, trying to ignore the pure terror in Julian’s eyes as I raced past him. He followed after me, but Xander stiff-armed him, knocking him on his back.

  I ran for the stairs, trying to get on higher ground. If I was above him, I’d have the advantage...

  But as my leg raised to ascend the first step, it was pulled out from under me. I fell to the floor, my back crashing against the step, sending a wave of agony through every cell in my
body.

  I tried scurrying out from under him, but it was no use. Xander was above me, fangs bared.

  A hybrid bite would kill him, but there wasn’t time to shift.

  And I wasn’t convinced I could bite him before he could rip my heart out.

  So, I reached for the dagger strapped to my thigh.

  Swallowing down the lump in my throat, I forced out a pitiful I’m sorry. A tear raced down my flushed cheek.

  But as I was about to plunge the dagger into Xander’s heart, Aiden ripped him off of me, bringing him to his feet. With a tortured look in his eyes, the man who had once loved me shook his head. “I’m sorry. I can’t let you kill him, Danielle.”

  Xander’s eyes flashed in delight. And I’d hardly gotten back to my feet before he pinned me against the wall, knocking the painting hung behind me from its nail head and sending it crashing against the floor.

  I panted, trying desperately to figure out how to get out of this alive. I wasn’t convinced that I could.

  Xander reached out his hand, aiming for my heart.

  I held my breath and squeezed my eyes shut.

  This was it. This was how I was going to die.

  But by the time I opened them again, Julian had thrown Xander to the floor. The brothers wrestled, fighting with every ounce of power within them.

  Seizing the opportunity, I came up behind them, watching them roll back and forth, delivering blow after blow to one another.

  I had to end this.

  Dagger in hand, I lifted it up, ready to plunge it into Xander’s chest the second I had the chance.

  I couldn’t let Julian die for me.

  I had to protect him.

  But again, Aiden came up behind me, fighting me for the dagger. With desperation in his voice, he pleaded, “You can’t do this, Danielle. Xander’s my blood.” I knew in that instant that Aiden didn’t want things to end this way. I could hear it in his voice. But he was being forced to choose between the two of us. And he chose his brother. I wished I could hate him for it, but, in a weird way, I understood.

  One second of empathy was all it took. That fleeting distraction gave him the time to rip the dagger from my hands. Aiden’s hand was shaking. Was he about to...?

  Now, Xander was on his back, laughing like some sort of maniac. He’d stopped fighting altogether while he watched the battle between me and Aiden in utter delight.

  I knew in that instant that there was no way I was going to get out of this alive. Aiden twirled the dagger along his fingers. And then he pointed it at me. “I don’t want to do this, Danielle. But I can’t see another way. If I have to choose between you and my family... I’ll always choose my family.”

  I stepped back, palms raised, eyes pleading. “P-p-please...” I stammered.

  Aiden squeezed his eyes shut. A tear escaped through his lashes and raced down his cheek. “I’m so sorry.”

  Dagger in hand, he lunged for me.

  But Julian jumped in front of him, knocking Aiden off balance while he shifted into his werewolf form. I let out a scream. Relief or terror, I wasn’t sure. Julian’s bones creaked and cracked as silver hair erupted from his flesh, and he lunged toward his brother.

  And then Julian sank his fangs into Aiden’s shoulder.

  Danielle

  “NOOOOOOOO!” Charlotte cried out from the depths of her soul as she held Xander down. It was like I could feel her heart splitting in two while she watched Aiden fall to the floor, all while trying to restrain her other brother.

  Victoria raced down the staircase, dress swooshing with each long stride, sobbing and screaming hysterically. Her face was as pale as the moon, her eyes wide with horror.

  Julian shifted back into human form, covering himself with shreds of clothing as he hovered over his brother with a mindless stare plastered on his face. Hands trembling, I walked over to him and squeezed his arm.

  He didn’t look at me.

  Or maybe he couldn’t look at me. This was my fault. Despite their differences, Julian loved Aiden. If it wasn’t for me...

  My chest fell in as the magnitude of what had happened hit me.

  Julian had told me about Cynthia, the witch who had placed the original curse upon him and the Blood Heirs. She’d warned that he was their failsafe. That one single bite from Julian would end them.

  We stood there, a swirl of unspoken emotions between us. We stared wide-eyed at the wound Julian had inflicted on his brother. No one said a word...

  Until a pain-stricken voice, so shattered it was shaking, began muttering an indecipherable incantation behind us...

  I CRANED MY NECK AND let out a massive sigh of relief when I spotted Grace by Xander’s side. Charlotte was still holding him down, crying out in despair, as a wounded Grace uttered a spell. An invisible surge of energy jolted from my friend, and all of a sudden, the formerly blank pendant now had ancient markings etched in the center: an angular P with two lines jutting out from the left side.

  I gulped, giving Julian’s arm another squeeze to get his attention. “Look.”

  He turned his head and met eyes with Xander.

  Watching the spell over Xander be contained was like watching a thousand pounds lift off of someone’s chest. Xander gulped down air, desperate for breath as if he’d been held under water and was now breathing for the first time.

  Confused, he pressed his palm to his head. “What the hell happened here?”

  He didn’t remember.

  Meanwhile, Victoria was sprawled across Aiden’s body, sobbing uncontrollably. Lifting her head, she shot Julian daggers with her eyes. “How could you do this?” she seethed.

  He shook his head, for once at a loss for words.

  “He was your brother.”

  Steadying himself, Xander sat up, propping himself on his elbows to get a better look. His eyebrows drew together. “What did Julian do?”

  I looked over at Julian, my heart breaking while he faced the reality of what he’d done. “I... I...” He shook his head and looked up at the ceiling, praying to find the strength to bear the burden of the consequences of his actions.

  Victoria stiffened. “He ki—”

  Her mouth snapped shut.

  Aiden stirred, letting out a moan.

  I backed up, wondering how this was even possible. Julian had bitten him. He should be dead... right?

  Another groan. Aiden reached for his chest, grimacing when his fingers found his wound. He blinked, trying to process what he was seeing...

  He looked at Julian. “You bit me.”

  Charlotte was now kneeling by Aiden’s side, stroking his hair, trying to comfort him. Despite the anger swelling within her, she shook her head in terror. “Aiden...”

  “What?”

  “You’re not healing.”

  “I DON’T UNDERSTAND,” Aiden said to his sister, the color draining from his face. “His bite should have killed me. But I’m not dead. So, why am I not getting better?”

  Instinctively, he looked for Evanna, figuring she would have the answer. But she was gone. Xander had killed her.

  Grace’s eyes darted back and forth, her mind racing. “Wait a second,” she said, standing to her feet. “It’s possible that...” She paced, shaking her head. “It sounds crazy, I know, but... maybe you misunderstood what would happen if Julian bit you. Did Cynthia specifically use the word kill?”

  Aiden looked at his siblings for confirmation. They all nodded.

  Grace thought for a moment more. “Even if she did use that word... from what I’ve read, magic can be finicky. It’s possible that...” She hesitated.

  “Spit it out,” Julian huffed.

  The tension in her shoulders relaxed. “It’s possible that your bite killed the vampirism, not the person. You were the failsafe, right?”

  Julian nodded warily.

  She shrugged. “Then the failsafe worked.”

  Aiden

  Hours passed, and the wound hadn’t healed. The pain was spreading, fanning out in all di
rections like a spider web. Danielle and Grace cleaned up the mess while Victoria and my siblings stayed by my side.

  When I couldn’t take the pain any longer, Charlotte offered me her blood. “You’re joking, right?” I scoffed.

  “Aiden... Maybe Grace is right. You’re not getting better on your own. You can either try drinking my blood or we can take you to the hospital in Quarter Square. Your choice.”

  My eyes narrowed incredulously.

  She folded her arms, tapping her foot.

  “Fine.”

  My sister bore her fangs and held out her wrist. Strangely, I didn’t pick up on any scent. I shook my head. “Here goes nothing,” I said before drinking from the thick blood pooling on her wrist.

  Within seconds, the bite marks stitched themselves up.

  I let out a long breath.

  I hadn’t believed it before, but was it possible? Had we misinterpreted Cynthia’s curse all this time? Or had that wretched witch tricked us, making us believe there was no way to escape our fate when the cure was living within these walls all this time?

  I looked over at my older brother, conflict warring within me. He’d tried to kill me. He’d chosen Danielle over me. His own family. My eyes hardened, and I lifted my chin. Forcing myself to my feet, I stared Julian down. I wanted him to see me. To look me in the eye. To tell me he’d chosen wrong.

  And yet... now that I was face to face with him...

  His lips parted, and I could sense his internal anguish. He didn’t regret his choice. I could feel it. And yet, I knew it was a choice he never wanted to make. Just like I never wanted to hurt Danielle...

  He pressed his lips into a hard line, his eyes widening with anticipation. Unsure of how I would react. After all, he had intended to kill me. I had every right to be furious.