Liz nodded. “She’s got your cuffs.”
“Yeah, I know. Containment is on the way.”
Liz nodded. “Okay, good.”
“Ambulance too,” I promised.
The teens were all checked out by EMTs and cleared to go back to the house, with the promise that I talked to their parents about going to the doctors for a follow up. I assumed the underground had some sort of doctor, so I agreed. Liz and Mason went for an ambulance ride. A police cruiser took the Petersons, heading to a human jail, and Aaron was off to containment.
I loaded the teens into the SUV, breaking a law or two to do it, but I wanted to be the one to take them to Titan, and Liz let me use her SUV with promises that it wasn’t going to explode.
I pulled up to the house with a car full of sleeping teenagers. I couldn’t imagine how exhausted they were, but I’m sure they were glad to be going to a place they called home.
Titan and a woman came running out of the house when I stepped out of the SUV. “Agent Jefferson called and said that you were bringing the kids home.” Titan’s voice sounded as if he couldn’t believe it.
“They’re all sleeping.” I jerked my head towards the car. “They’re tired and terrified. Aaron tried to strip them of their abilities. So be careful.”
“And where is Aaron?” Pam snapped.
“In containment.”
“You didn’t kill him?”
I snorted. “I try very hard not to kill people in my job. But if they find him guilty of killing with magic, they’ll send him to death row. We’ll see what the judge says.”
Titan nodded. “I forget that you’re bound by the law of the normal world.”
I shrugged. “Not always. I got my partner to agree that we don’t name the kids. They are all minors, so there won’t be any record of them.”
“So they are still missing kids?” Pam smiled. “You aren’t returning them home?”
“No, I am. They all claimed here was home.”
Titan slapped a hand on my shoulder, and I cringed as the burn on my arm hurt. “Oliver was right, you’re a good woman, Collins. If you ever need a connection in the underground, let me know.”
“Thanks. Also, train them well. They saw a lot of scary things. They don’t need to grow up being terrified of what they are.”
Titan nodded, and Pam went to wake the kids up, and one by one, the five of them climbed out of the SUV and walked into the house.
“Got burned, did you?” He looked down at my arm.
“Yeah, no big deal. It’ll heal. I got cocky and underestimated Aaron.”
“It’ll leave a nasty scar.”
“I’m not worried about it. I have plenty. When I get home, I’ll treat it properly. It’s really just another week of my life.”
He nodded. “I can’t thank you enough, Agent Collins. I don’t want these kids in the government facility. I don’t know if it’s changed over the years, but I wouldn’t want those kids to go through what I did.”
“Is that where you met Aaron?”
“Yeah. This house was our dream when we got out. I never thought he’d betray me like this.” He shook his head.
“Sometimes, you just don’t know. How does Agent Ross play into this?”
He shrugged. “You’ll have to ask her. I don’t know why she was poking around so much.”
“Thanks, Titan.” I climbed back into the SUV and headed to PIB. I had paperwork to do, and I wanted to get a hold of Agent Ross.
I blared the music on the way back to keep me awake and turned it down only when I pulled into the PIB parking lot and got out. Liz had texted me on the way back that she was going to catch a ride to the office and help with paperwork. I got into the building and climbed the stairs to my office, only to find Agent Ross standing there.
“Hear the news then?” I asked, trying not to sound as tired as I was feeling.
“A little birdy told me.” She motioned to my door. “Shall we go talk?”
I nodded and swiped my key card to open the door. She followed me and we sat at the desk.
“Who told you?”
“Martha. She got a call from Titan that you caught Lisa’s murderer.” Ross sighed. “It took me years to hunt down all those children and where they were, to figure out what they all had in common, and what they all feared. I learned about Aaron and Titan, but all I could figure out was the underground and the government ran facility. And you… you solved the murders without going into the facilities and did what with the kids?”
“Took them back to where they called home. Look, we couldn’t have gotten this far in the case without you, but let me give you a word of advice?”
She nodded.
“When you take on something this big? Leave detailed notes and have a partner help you.” I turned and flicked on the computer. “Now, if you’d excuse me, I have paperwork to do.”
She sat there for a moment as if she was expecting me to say something else. After a moment, she stood and let herself out of my office. I relaxed a little and started on the paperwork.
Three Weeks Later
I walked into the mansion to find Mario waiting for me. Zayne looked at him. “I thought I was escorting her to the meeting.”
“It can only be me, her, and Levi there. I’m sorry, Zayne.” Mario held his elbow out for me. “Princess?”
I knew what the meeting was for. I hadn’t really slept during the day or the night before because of anxiety. I took a deep breath and tucked my hand into Mario’s elbow and looked back at Zayne, “I’ll see you after the meeting,” I promised, and he nodded.
Mario walked me down the hall. “I’m sure you know both Samuel and Hannah are waiting for us. The rules of this meeting are that everything must remain peaceful, or they throw all negotiations out and Samuel will take you by force.”
I sighed. “Do we know why he wants me to stay with them so bad?”
“My guess is to see if he can break you or, for lack of better words, turn you to his side.”
“You mean turn me against Levi.”
Mario sighed. “Yes, that’s what I mean.”
We entered the study, and Mario kissed my cheek. “Peaceful,” he reminded me with the barest of whispers.
I nodded and stepped away from him. Levi had arranged four chairs so that he and I would face Samuel and Hannah side by side. He stood and motioned for me to sit. “Princess Abigail, thank you for joining us.”
I nodded and sat down in front of Hannah. She gave me a smile. “I’m looking forward to teaching you what a real witch can do.”
I kept my sarcasm in place and offered her a fake smile. “I’m hoping to gleam some magical information while I’m with you.”
I don’t know what she expected, but not that, because her lips turned to a little ‘o’ shape of surprise, but Samuel chuckled.
“Not so rash today, Princess?”
“Too tired to be rash,” I said honestly. “I understand that we’re here for more negotiations.”
“Yes, after looking over yours, I decided I wanted to counter with a few things of my own.” He motioned to Mario and Levi. “Clearly we are sticking with your desire for these two returned and out from under our influences for five months, in exchange for you coming to us.” Samuel drummed his fingers on the arm of the chair. “You wish to perform no black magic, so in return for that I want feeding rights.”
Levi looked at me. “I’m letting you lead these negotiations since you’re the one that will have to uphold them.”
I thought for a moment. What was more important to me, keeping my soul and my aura clean or keeping Samuel’s fangs out of my neck? “If you get feeding rights, we limit it to once every two days and none of your influences.”
“No influences and feeding rights for Hannah.” Samuel leaned forward.
I’d never had Hannah feed from me. I wasn’t sure what that would be like. I glanced at Mario and he gave a subtle shake of his head.
“No.”
“
Then I feed with influences.”
“With the understanding that you withdraw them the moment I step foot back in Levi’s territory.”
Samuel smirked. “With the understanding that I withdraw them when Hannah and I leave Levi’s territory.”
“What?” Levi and I both said at the same time.
Hannah nodded. “We know Abigail is dedicated to her job, so we wanted to make sure not to interrupt that.”
No, that wasn’t it. They wanted to make sure that Levi and Mario saw the damage I went through. I glanced at Levi.
“You may stay in the territory, with the understanding that you will only feed from donors or Abigail. Hannah may only feed from donors and will not be near Mario.”
Hannah seemed to pout. “Does Abigail not share her lovers?”
There was a moment that I was going to correct her, but then I let it go. There was no need to draw attention to the fact that I wasn’t in love or with Mario.
“It’s not a matter of Princess Abigail sharing, but a matter that I need my second in command in proper shape.”
Samuel sat there and thought for a moment while Hannah pouted. I hoped he’d take it because I wanted to stay here. Home was safe, Levi’s territory was safe, and I could work.
“I need to be in shape to work as well, since that is the reason for staying in the territory.”
Samuel raised a brow. “I have no intentions of interrupting your work, Abigail. In fact, I look forward to seeing you in action.” He flashed a smile big enough to show me fangs.
I wasn’t sure how I felt about that.
“Under those requirements you can stay in the territory.”
Samuel nodded. “Then Hannah and I will look for a house to occupy while we are here for the next three months.”
I wasn’t going to be away from home and my people while I was doing this. That was good.
“You are welcome to stay at the mansion,” Levi offered. “We have a small dwelling in the back detached from the main house.”
That used to be mine when I was in the academy. An illusion that Levi was letting me live on my own.
Samuel nodded. “We’ll take you up on that offer. Abigail will stay here at the mansion then?”
“Yes,” I agreed.
“Then that is settled.” He stood up and then paused. “Oh, and Levi, I’m trusting you and Mario won’t interfere in Abigail’s studies.”
“As long as you stick to the negotiations,” Levi agreed. No one pointed out that I had guards, no one suggested that security stayed out of it, and I wasn’t going to bring it up. I felt like it was almost a failsafe.
“These negotiations take precedence over any other current negotiations.”
Levi stood. “Of course. We’ll see you in a week.”
“A week,” Samuel agreed.
“Oh, and Samuel,” I added. “Please pull your blood-starved out of the area. There’s no need for them to be lingering anymore.”
He looked almost surprised and then smiled. “Of course, Princess. Their job is done here.” He and Hannah disappeared.
Levi let out a sigh. “I expected feeding rights, but I didn’t expect him to want to stay in the territory.”
“Me either, but I’m sure he can show you the damage he can do. The good thing is, he doesn’t plan on doing enough that I can’t work.”
Mario growled. “Is that all you think about Abigail?”
“It means that he doesn’t plan on maiming me or keeping me too weak to function.” I met Mario’s gaze. “Look, I know you think the solution is to change me, and I know that you’re still very much healing from being with Hannah, but yes, most of the time work is what I think about. But being in the territory also means I’m surrounded by the people who support me. Working and staying here will help me get through the next three months of hell that Samuel is planning on throwing at me.”
Mario was quiet for a moment. “Forgive my outburst. Speaking of healing, I need to go feed.”
“Nice touch with the blood-starved.” Levi laughed. “Torrid never brought one in. It was the same group that he found on occasional footage, but there were no attacks.”
I nodded. “Because Samuel had them in place just in case negotiations went bad or we went back on our word. At least, that’s my assumption. Now, a week before my studies with him, there’s no need for the vampires. Call Torrid tomorrow night and I bet he tells you he saw the group disappear.”
Levi smiled. “You’ll make a great leader one day, Abigail.” He held up his hand before I could protest about leading the vampires. “I’m not speaking necessarily about my people, but maybe you should look into leadership positions within PIB.”
“I don’t want to be responsible for other people’s lives. No more than I am already.” I shook my head. “Speaking of other people’s lives, I’m due to go to pack lands and snuggle my wolf.”
Levi snorted. “Spending more time up there?”
“Travis approved Liz. Simon is almost completely healed, and since there’s no way I’m seeing him while Samuel is here, I want some time with him.”
Levi nodded. “I think that’s fair. Enjoy your night with him. I’ll make sure I work on getting the kitchen stocked with more than frozen foods.”
“Thank you.” I walked out of the room.
Levi stopped me. “Abigail, are you okay?”
I took a moment to consider his words. “I’m terrified, but I’m going to make it through this,” I promised him.
And I would. And if I was lucky, it would be Samuel and Hannah that didn’t survive the encounter.
Epilogue
One Week Later
Levi, Mario, Zayne, and I all stood in the foyer as Samuel and Hannah walked in. Samuel leaned forward and kissed my cheek. I did the best I could not to flinch, but I felt Zayne behind me tense.
“Hello, Princess,” Samuel said easily. “I’m looking forward to getting started tonight.”
I forced a polite smile. “Welcome, please get settled. You’ll be able to find me in the kitchen when you’re ready.” I still needed to eat dinner. I had jetted up here from work and I was starving.
“Of course. Then the work begins. I’ve had Hannah collect some documents for you to study first. Tonight, we’ll have our first feeding, and then you and Hannah will spar, so I know where your talents truly lie.”
Sparing would allow me to learn more about how Hannah used her magic and how to break it. I glanced at Levi, wondering if he thought the same thing. If he did, it didn’t show on his face.
“I look forward to it.” And I meant it. Sparring or not, I’d get to kick Hannah’s ass.
Snippet: Rise and Fall, Here Witchy Witchy Book 13
Please enjoy the first few sentences of Rise and Fall. You can preorder it here.
I stared at Hannah through the red and purple circle that surrounded me, waiting to see what her next attack would be. The last two months had been exhausting. My body ached with the amount of magic I’d been forced to use each night. My neck and wrists burned from repeated feedings from Samuel, but I used that pain to move forward.
I smiled as Hannah wiped the blood from her cheek.
“You’re getting better, Abigail,” she said. “Last week you couldn’t get close to me.”
What she didn’t know was that she was basically training me to kill her, and once she was gone, Samuel would be easier to take care of. As if on cue, Samuel’s voice entered my head.
“Abigail…”
I tried to force the distraction out with magic, but unfortunately for me, his voice seemed to be immune to it. Another distraction for Hannah to get a shot in.
I know it was short, but I hope you enjoyed the little taste I was able to give you, don’t miss the last book in the Here Witchy Witchy series, Rise and Fall.
Also By A.L. Kessler
The Hunter Academy
Syndicate (With Mia Bishop)
Parlor Tricks
The Children of the Apocalypse
> The King’s Game
Normalcy
About A.L. Kessler
A.L. Kessler is most well known for her Here Witchy Witchy series. She resides in Colorado Springs, CO with her family and can be found working from her couch. She can be bribed with chocolate and coffee on any day of the week.
The Lost Ones (Here Witchy Witchy Book 12) Page 22