“How can you say that?” She sat next to him on the sofa facing a massive flat screened television. “You never even gave them a chance to prove you wrong.”
“Nitara, look at me. I’m no longer a wolf, not really. It doesn’t even feel the same when I shift anymore.” Green eyes, the color of his wolf’s fur, stared at her and broke her heart. It wasn’t always that way, but after he’d been changed, so was his wolf.
“I just think you should try. Living your life like this, just accepting it, is—”
“It’s exactly what you’re doing.” He cut her off with a raised brow.
“Excuse me?” Rolling her eyes, she took a swig of her beer. This conversation was about to take a turn.
“Why didn’t you tell Jinn that you were here? Why wouldn’t you let him help you?” It seemed her pal hadn’t been completely out of the loop. Then again, he never was. The massive flat screen that hung on the wall wasn’t there for the enjoyment of sports. It was his eyes and ears on the world around him. Nitara had apparently become one of his favorite channels.
“You know the answer to that as well as I do.” She peered at him with suspicion, then her eyes flashed to the screen on the wall. “How do you know about all of that anyway?” she questioned though they both knew she already had the answer.
“I have my ways.” He smiled ruefully. “I just think you should try.”
“And I think you should.” She tossed the challenge back in his face.
“Looks like we’ve hit a stalemate.” He shrugged before finishing off his beer. He tapped the rim with his finger and the bottle was once again full.
“Looks like.” She smiled. “So, what else is new around here? I take it that it’s safe to assume you’ve been keeping up on everything.”
“Not very much, same old. Cast and his gang are still plotting, but I think they are getting closer to an actual attempt at that hostile takeover. Things may get interesting soon.” He grinned; it had been too long since he’d had something to pique his interest. The vampires were boring and predictable. A bit of switch up would be good for them.
“Good, I could use something to cut through the pain of being back here.” She finished off her beer which was instantly refilled by a tap from her host. “Well, thank you.”
“One would think you’ve had enough of interesting activity for a lifetime.” Rising from his seat, he stretched. “Besides, if they succeed it likely means that Tyrellis will be killed. I want him out as much as the next person, but if he’s out, it means …” It was obvious he couldn’t bring himself to finish the statement.
“It means I’m done with this mess, finally.” She swallowed the beer in nearly one gulp before shaking it at him. He reached down and tapped it, refilling its contents.
“You can’t mean that, Nitara.”
“I don’t know what I mean anymore, not after everything that happened with Daegal and Jinn.” Her chest tightened as she thought of Jinn. After all, he was still her husband, still the love of her life, and she would never see him again. Suddenly the beer in her hand didn’t seem strong enough, so she waved her hand and a whiskey neat appeared. She knocked it back and sighed.
“You could still reach out.” He pushed the topic yet again. “He’s still out there, pining for you no doubt. A call from you would make his day.”
“I could, yes, but I won’t.” She was adamant, Jinn deserved to move on with his life without the burden of her mayhem. Either way, there was no chance of them ending up together. Besides, she couldn’t be sure Tyrellis wouldn’t know about it. If Tyrellis ever found out about Nitara attempting to contact her lost love, there was no telling what he would do to her, or to him. The man was getting more reckless as time went on.
“Well, you know I’m down for whatever takes place. Just happy to have you back here.” He growled playfully. “I was beginning to get lonely!”
“In a strange way, I’m happy to be back. At least it means no more Daegal hanging over our heads.” They’d all been living their lives in fear. When it became clear that the warlock was back on the playing field, the djinns all went into hiding. It made no difference, though. He was able to hunt them all. The only two who had eluded his efforts was Jinn and Ardyn. Perhaps it was something to be said about them, something unique. Whatever it was, it had definitely bothered Daegal. During the time he held her captive, he’d chewed her ear off about it as if there was something she could do to change it.
“Cheers to that!” They lifted their drinks in the air—this was going to be a night full of booze. “You know, I’ll never get used to this.” He tapped his drink once more, and the bottle was again full. “I’ve been this way for nearly three decades now, and yet, I still find it odd.”
“Oh, yeah, you will, trust me.” She laughed as she watched him eye the bottle and wondered how many times he’d done that parlor trick before she got there. There was another bottle on the table next to her that didn’t belong to her. Ardyn was in a good mood, it seemed that was aided by a liquid booster. “Just be glad he never got around to assigning you a vessel. That is the absolute worst. Losing control at the whim of a bottle, it’s so depreciating. Here I am again, tied to a bottle, only this one can actually order me around!”
“You know, I think my wolf was supposed to be that. Daegal must have thought he could control the man by controlling the animal. However, it seems he made a miscalculation. I’m a mature wolf and therefore, I learned a long time ago to control the beast and not let it control me, so I guess that bit backfired on him.”
“Part werewolf, part djinn.” She shook her head in disbelief. In her life she’d seen a lot of things, but Ardyn was something that fascinated her. “You truly are one of a kind. I wonder if there are others out there, like you, creations of oddity.”
“Oddity, huh?” He laughed at her phrasing. “Well, a lot of good it’s doing me right now. I live in what is basically a dungeon, completely away from the world. Hell, I haven’t gotten laid in longer than I care to admit to you.”
“I won’t beat the topic to death but living here like this is your choice. There is nothing keeping you here, especially now that Daegal is gone.” She winked at him. “All of the lady wolves are out there howling at the moon. They’re just waiting for the magic that is Ardyn.”
“You know, you can really pour it on thick when you want to.”
“How about you pour some more of that magical elixir? I think this is a night to drink away. Besides, we should be celebrating the return of sunshine to your dreary little world.”
“And sunshine would be?”
“Well, me of course!” she said with a straight face that held for only a moment. The two broke out in laughter and the drinks started to pour.
After his fifteenth drink, though the count was fuzzy, Ardyn found himself watching a woman who was lost in thought. “Look, what if I told you there may be a work around? A way to get you out of this thing with Tyrellis, without it meaning harming yourself. There may be something you hadn’t thought of.”
“A work around?” His words pulled her from her thoughts. “What do you mean?”
“Yes, I mean that with a little help, you could be free of this, without sacrificing yourself. I know you’re all ready to throw yourself on the sword here, but I would hate for that to happen. Trust me when I say, Jinn wouldn’t be the only one to miss you.”
“I take it you’ve been working something out.”
“Yes, as a matter of fact, I have. And I kinda need to not tell you any more than this. Just in case Tyrellis wishes information from you. I just need you to agree to let me try. I considered doing this without your approval, but that somehow didn’t seem right.”
“So, this is to be a rescue mission that I’m left in the dark about?”
“Yes, for now. That much is necessary, I’m sure you understand.”
“And what am I to do in the meantime?”
“Keep being the badass peace keeper he wants you to be.” He laugh
ed. “Perhaps drag a few more vampires through the streets? That was hilarious to watch!”
“That’s something I can do.” She smiled widely as she thought of the man she left strung out in the field. She had only just considered if he managed to escape with any skin left on his ass.
“So, do you agree?” Ardyn waited with an eager and pleading look on his face.
She paused, thinking of her love, Jinn. If there was a chance that she could be with him again why shouldn’t she take it? She trusted Ardyn, and if he thought he found a way, well, she had faith in his instinct. “Yeah, I agree … If you agree to try to go home again once all of this is done.”
“Dammit, had to have a catch, huh?”
“Of course. So?”
“So, I guess we have ourselves a deal.” The two shook on the agreement before the liquor started to flow again. They had a lot to celebrate, and a lot to worry about. Whiskey seemed a solid solution for both.
“Inda, it’s good to see you again.” Graham flexed his muscles as he stood on the edges of Tyrellis’ land. He hadn’t expected to see the woman he’d been friends with since her return to Earth. “Still haven’t returned to your dragon I see.” He turned to the woman who landed softly on the ground behind him, carried by wings of fire. Inda was a phoenix. When the wars of Earth started, all of her kind were called to return home. It’d been about a decade since the ban was lifted.
“No, not quite.” She shifted, and the wings of fire folded into her back, allowing her arms to relax at her sides.
“Why is that?” He smiled as he started in with his usual teasing. “I expected the two of you to be honeymooning by now.”
“Is there a reason you’re so intent on my returning to him? I thought you and I enjoyed each other’s company, the loners that we are.” Crossing her arms over her chest, she tapped her foot on the ground. “If you prefer that I leave, I will.”
“You know that I enjoy every minute of your company.” He laughed at her angry face. “Now, settle down, you and I both know I couldn’t help myself. The return of your beloved to your life, and yet you’re still flying around here.”
“And yet, you’re intent on sending me to the land of dragons.” She thought of the man he spoke of. Jax was prince of the dragons and desperately seeking to reconnect with her. If it hadn’t been for Briar, her big-mouthed friend and now Queen of the Fairies, he’d still be unaware of her return. Now that he knew she was back in the realm that formerly belonged to the humans, he was searching for her. Hence her return to the one place he wouldn’t go, Reverie. Jax absolutely hated vampires.
“I just want everyone to be happy, and as much as you put on your brave face, I know that you aren’t content lurking around here.” Graham could tell that Inda wanted to be with her jilted lover, but foolish pride stood in her way. Time would take that away from her, he hoped. Though the woman was older than he could guess—and older than she would ever admit—all of her years and she was still just as bullheaded.
“Perhaps.” Her eyes viewed the back of her skull as she expressed her annoyance with the man with an exaggerated eye roll. Graham was worse than her own father when it came to the lectures in life lessons. He meant well, she knew it, but she wanted nothing to do with it.
“And yet you stay because you know that this is the one place, he won’t come looking for you.” Not only did Jax detest the vampires, he’d also made enemies of just about every species on the planet. For that reason, they were left alone. Everyone knew that if nothing else, the treaty with the fae would keep them in check. It made no sense to antagonize the situation any further.
“Can we change the subject please?” She feigned a yawn, covering her mouth with her hand and again rolling her eyes. It was something she did often, because it annoyed him just as much as his fathering bothered her.
“Of course we can!” He smiled. “Anything for you!”
“What brings you out here?” Inda had been flying overhead when she spotted him. “Not that I’m not happy for the pleasant surprise, it’s been quite a while since we’ve hung out. This just isn’t one of your usual spots, so out in the open.”
“You’re right. Usually I would be in hiding, away from the public space. I’m here waiting on a friend.” Graham had gotten a call from a familiar voice, one that claimed to offer a deal he couldn’t refuse. Otherwise, standing outside on a hill overlooking the city sounded like a terrible time. Just in the distance he could see the bedroom of the man the entire country wanted to take out. At least it seemed he was enjoying the night.
“Impossible, you had no idea I would be here.” She grinned. Graham wasn’t what you would call a popular guy. No one bothered him, but there wasn’t exactly a line of people bidding for the top spot on his buddy list.
“Look at the ego on you.” He laughed. “You know, I happen to possess enough charm to grunge up more than one person who appreciates spending time in my company.”
“Oh, I’m sure of it.” She looked over her shoulder. “What time were you planning to meet this mysterious friend?”
“Soon. Come to think of it, he should be here already.”
“Perhaps your date stood you up.” She winked and her laughter rang out into the night.
“Am I interrupting something here?” Ardyn spoke from behind them, appearing in a puff of green and black smoke. “I’d hate to disrupt whatever would cause such a delightful sound.”
“Well, aren’t you the charmer.” Inda greeted the new addition before turning to Graham. “You know, you could stand to learn a thing or two from him about how to treat a lady.”
“Ah, there he is, the mysterious Mr. Ardyn.” Graham was one of the few people who knew of Ardyn, and what he was. It was purely by accident that Graham spotted the shifter when he touched down in Reverie. Ardyn had been running from Daegal. The warlock had been trying to trap the wolf after his failed creation got away from him. It was Graham who showed him to the hidden cavern that he’d come to make all his own. The vampire was quite knowledgeable about the djinn’s magic, and until Nitara came into his life, Ardyn relied on Graham to help him through figuring it all out.
“In the flesh.” Ardyn smiled and flared his arms—a grand gesture not lost on his friend.
“Ardyn, this is Inda. Inda, Ardyn.” Graham made the proper introductions.
“It’s nice to meet you.” Ardyn flashed his handsome smile at Inda whose face warmed. Even with his time away from the general population, Ardyn still had a certain effect on the female sort. Inda was a shifter, which made her more susceptible to his particular charms. Becoming djinn turned that allure into something more intense. Imagine his surprise when a panther in heat chased him down. That had to be the most thrilling part about his escape from Daegal. “You do take up interesting companions, Graham. Djinns, wolves, and a lovely phoenix. You must tell me how you do it, being that you’re one of the most hated species around.”
“I’ll tell you my secret when you tell me why you’ve called me out here to meet.” Graham smirked. He could smell the arousal, the sexual tension between the two of them, and he wanted to bring that to an end, or get the hell away from them should it turn into something more tantalizing.
“Yes, our dilemma.” Ardyn paced, pensively looking at the unexpected addition to their gathering. He sized her up as he wondered if she could be trusted.
“And that is?” Graham noticed Ardyn’s hesitation. Of course, the man was ready to take her to bed, but couldn’t tell her a secret. “Look, Inda is good. You can trust her. If not, she wouldn’t be here.”
“If you trust her, I suppose it is okay. I’m here about Nitara.”
“Nitara? What about her?” Finally, Ardyn had said something worthy of grasping Graham’s attention.
“She wants out, and I intend to help make that happen.” Ardyn’s chest lifted with pride.
“She wants out of what exactly?” Graham had no idea of the hold Tyrellis really had over Nitara. It was the bit of information he’d
been trying, unsuccessfully, to get out of her for years.
“Her arrangements with Tyrellis.” Ardyn had contemplated just how much he should reveal to the man he’d hoped would become an ally in his efforts to save his friend.
“Wait, Nitara, as in the djinn formerly married to Jinn?” Inda’s mind was piecing the information together quickly. “She’s here in Reverie?”
“You know of her?” Ardyn asked. It wasn’t that shocking that she knew of the woman they spoke of considering they were in vampire territory where Nitara was something of a known enforcer.
“Yes, as a matter of fact, I do.” Inda’s shoulders squared with a sudden tension as her suspicion was confirmed. She met Graham’s eyes. “She just happens to be the reason Jax knows that I’ve returned here. If it weren’t for Jinn trying to save her, I’d still be free and clear.”
“Oh, you’re that Inda.” Ardyn smiled, recognizing the name of her ex-lover.
“You know who I am?” Inda tensed; the recognition wasn’t something she cared for.
“Yes, well, it would appear we live in a very small world. Even with all this separation it seems we’re all still just as entangled in each other’s lives.” Ardyn’s eyes danced as he thought of other ways they could become entangled, dragon prince boyfriend looming in the shadows or not.
“Why doesn’t she just leave if she wants out?” Graham was tired of the intermission from Ardyn getting to the point of their meeting. If the two of them wanted to play seven degrees of supernatural, they could do it another time. “Why is all of this subterfuge necessary?”
“It seems Daegal, her maker, had put something of a fail-safe in place. If you could imagine, this isn’t exactly a life she would so readily sign up for. In any matter, even though she wants to leave it isn’t as simple as just getting up and walking away from Tyrellis, but I believe that I have found a way around that. I’ll need your help, and Inda, if you’re interested, you could play an interesting part in all of this as well.” His mind worked quickly, recalculating the way things would play out. He hadn’t planned to include another party in their ploy, but now that she was there and privy to his thoughts, he figured she might prove a useful resource.
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