by Nikki McCoy
Daneya had coaxed the events of that night from her. How Gabriel and Cherri had died and about Saden’s false declaration of responsibility for Gabriel’s death. She worried Mckenzie might never fully recover from what she’d done, even though the murder was more than justified.
How had Saden done it? Survived the death of his parents only to be betrayed by his uncle then abused for years afterwards.
As her thoughts drifted to him, she heard his voice in her mind. Leisontee. She remembered nothing after Gabriel had drugged her except that one strangled word and a look of worry of Saden’s face. Not knowing what had happened to him was like a chain around her heart, squeezing unbearably at times. She couldn’t believe how much she wanted to see him again. To thank him for all he’d done so they could both have closure.
At least that’s what she told herself in a vain attempt to keep her emotions at bay. Almost impossible at times when she could see them reflected in Mckenzie’s behavior. Her daughter hadn’t spoken of Saden or Blade since the truth of that night had come out, but it was obvious she missed them in her frequent bouts of despondency.
After Marco had rescued her from the first facility, she’d always known Gabriel would come back to impact her life. Had spent what seemed like a lifetime preparing for that day. In the end, however, it hadn’t been him who had irrevocably changed her again. It had been a man who’d been there all along, watching her from a distance.
She jumped when a hand touched her shoulder and turned to see Vincent standing behind her. “Sorry,” she said quietly. Her nerves had been all over the place lately.
“Don’t apologize.” He glanced past her to where Mckenzie slept. “How is she doing?”
Daneya breathed a deep sigh and scraped a hand through her hair. “She has nightmares, but she won’t talk to me about them. Dr. Addison prescribed her mild sleeping pills that are helping a little. I just wish there was something more I could do.”
“Cherri was like a second mother to her. That kind of betrayal will take time to forgive and recover from. As for what happened to Gabriel Aikins, we can only assure her that what she did was necessary.”
Small comfort in light of the circumstances. Still, there were other things to consider. Mainly, whether the authorities in charge of cleaning up Gabriel’s mess held the same opinion.
She knew the Drakonem had little care for the reasons behind any murder that fell under their jurisdiction, as evidenced by Saden’s past conviction. If they were to find out it had been Mckenzie and not Saden who had killed Gabriel, Mckenzie’s life could be at stake. A concern that wouldn’t even matter if Mckenzie were fully human and therefore subject only to human laws.
She kept this from Vincent, though. He had enough to deal with as it was. On the day Blade had anonymously contacted him to pick up her and Mckenzie three weeks ago, he’d put in his resignation as director of their DCM unit. He claimed the decision had been a long time coming. That he needed a break from the constant demands of his job. A sabbatical during which he would stay in Oregon on his horse ranch and reunite with his brother and sister whom he hadn’t seen in years.
When he had extended another offer to take her and Mckenzie with him, Daneya had accepted. There was nothing keeping her here anymore. The threat of Gabriel was gone and staying in the same house that contained so many memories of Cherri was out of the question. As much as her anger over her friend’s actions still held, her grief was stronger. In the end, Mckenzie had made it clear that Cherri had tried to save her. It was that act Daneya wanted to remember her by.
Then there was Saden…
She shook herself from her reverie, afraid to dwell on questions she would never get answers to. “How is your replacement adjusting to the unit?”
Vincent grimaced and pinched the bridge of his nose. “It’s more a matter of how the unit is adjusting to her. She’s old school. Trained by the best but completely devoid of any leniency or compassion. I’ve already had requests for transfers from a handful of the vigilantes. A few even mentioned quitting if she stayed.”
“Wow. That bad?”
“Let’s just say she could impersonate a functioning sociopath with a God complex without breaking a sweat. She’s really done a hell of a job managing the intake and care of the second batch of survivors, though. Through her request, the superiors at DCM headquarters have provided funding for a private psychologist and medical doctor and a program to support the reintegration of the women into civilian society.”
Daneya lifted her brows in pleasant surprise. A week after her rescue, Roshon had contacted Vincent to arrange the delivery of the women who’d been held at the same facility. Apparently, accounts of the events surrounding their captivity had been taken for each of the women by the Vampyres under Lady Ilsa’s orders.
Roshon had informed Vincent that the Lady had originally planned to have their memories wiped for security purposes, but he’d overruled that option. According to him, Saden had put him in charge of the survivors and he wasn’t about to let some ‘old lady’ jeopardize their welfare.
The decision to overrule Lady Ilsa’s plan had been a smart one. There were several records of humans having their memories erased by Vampyres, and all too often, the process was done with blatant negligence. Which resulted in entire lifetimes of memories being removed.
“I think she’ll come around eventually, though,” Vincent continued. “Fortunately, that won’t be our problem.”
Daneya smiled and nodded. A part of her pitied her comrades for having to break in a new director, though not enough to make her stay and endure the aggravation with them.
He glanced at Mckenzie then said, “I’ve already put your bags in the car. Are you sure you packed everything you want to take for now?”
“Yeah. I’ll wake up Kennie. We’ll meet you outside in a minute.” They were taking only the bare minimum for the trip to Oregon. Movers would come in later to load the rest of her belongings and drive them to the ranch.
She’d gone back to Saden’s manor earlier to retrieve the weapons and clothes Saden had brought from her house to his. It was an empty shell now. The fire had destroyed nearly half of the front and rains had caused water damage to the exposed interior. It had been such a beautiful place, and was now no more than the abandoned remnants of lives cut short more than half a century ago.
Mckenzie stirred drowsily at her touch. Daneya waited as she got dressed then walked with her to the front door. “Go ahead and get in the car, baby. I’m going to do one last check.”
After Mckenzie went outside, she turned around to survey the house she’d spent the past year in. It was no more significant than any of the other houses she’d lived in. Still, leaving it seemed to hold so much more meaning. It was the start of a new chapter in her life. Not the one she might have hoped for, but not the worst either.
A shout from Mckenzie had her running through the front door only to skid to a halt on the walkway, frozen in surprise. At first, she didn’t trust her eyes. Then her heart kicked into gear and thrummed with a mixture of relief and excitement.
It was Blade, standing in her driveway looking every bit the surfer turned ruthless assassin as she remembered with his spiked, blond hair and black trench coat. He bent to sweep Mckenzie up in a hug as she launched herself into his arms. The simple joy on his face was mirrored by her bright laughter.
Daneya held back the rush of questions that crowded into her mind to watch the two of them. It amazed her to think that not so long ago, she would’ve tried to castrate the Drakon for going near her daughter. Now, she only wanted to thank him for protecting them.
“Put the girl down and show me your hands.” Vincent’s hard voice cut into the moment. He stood by his car along the curb and held a gun aimed at Blade’s head.
Blade put Mckenzie behind him then drew a knife from his belt.
Daneya took a step toward Vincent with one hand raised. “Wait.”
“I know you, don’t I?” Vincent said with a frown.
“At my house. You were the one who broke my arm.”
“You shot me in mine!” Blade retorted.
Daneya rolled her eyes. “Both of you, calm down! Vincent, this is the Drakon I told you about. The one who watched over Kennie and I at Saden’s house. He’s no threat to you.”
“Really?” he replied sarcastically. “I thought Drakons weren’t allowed to harm innocents.”
Blade flashed a quick grin. “Our laws forbid us from love and arbitrary murder. Anything in between is fair game.”
Daneya let out a low groan. “Kennie, go show Blade to the fridge. I think there’s still some beer in there.”
“Daneya!” Vincent cried incredulously.
She waved her hand behind her as she followed the pair inside. “You can beat your chest like an overprotective caveman later. I want to know why he’s here.” Once in the house, she began pacing the living room until Blade came out of the kitchen with a beer in hand.
He sat on the couch next to Mckenzie and kept one eye on Vincent who hovered warily by the front door. “I thought you might want to know that Kennie’s off the hook for killing Gabriel. Apparently, some other Drakon accepted her punishment. I haven’t been able to find out who it was.”
Daneya felt the blood drain from her face. “Saden—”
“No. Not him. Although it wasn’t for lack of trying. I’d have accepted it myself if this other Drakon hadn’t beaten me to it.”
Mckenzie shifted restlessly, her gaze somewhere in the distance. “It isn’t fair.”
“It is what it is,” Blade said.
“No. I mean, I’m the criminal. I should pay for what I’ve done.”
He grasped Mckenzie’s shoulders firmly and gave her a little shake. “Don’t ever call yourself that again. What you did took a lot of courage, and no one can say it wasn’t the right thing to do. The only ones to blame are the gods for permitting the Drakonem their twisted justice system. You were an innocent caught up in the mix and you fought like a warrior. I’m proud of you.” After wiping the tears from her cheeks, he pulled her into a tight hug.
Daneya blinked away the moisture in her own eyes and wondered for the first time how Blade had become a Drakon. It was a good life wasted, in her opinion. He’d have made an excellent father. “Thank you for letting us know.”
He nodded and released Mckenzie. “You should also know that Saden’s out. By killing Gabriel in his defense, Kennie gave him back his treasure. He’s a free man.”
Everything within her stilled as her mind tried to comprehend the meaning of his words. She furrowed her brow in confusion. “I don’t… I don’t understand.”
“A demon is essentially reborn a Drakon after committing a crime worthy of the punishment. The key to that crime then becomes the Drakon’s treasure. When someone sacrifices that same treasure for the Drakon, they’re responsible for setting the Drakon’s soul free.”
When she didn’t respond, he shrugged a shoulder. “I don’t get the whole thing myself. It’s so rare, most Drakons aren’t even aware of it. All I know is Saden’s been acquitted of his crimes. The Lady Ilsa has appointed him leader of the leisonguardes chosen to capture those who were involved with Gabriel.”
A slow elation bloomed in her chest, narrowing her world down to the implications of Blade’s statement. Saden was free? No more harsh restrictions or penalties. No more living under the shroud of his uncle’s sins. He could finally have the life he’d deserved all along. Not only that. He was pursuing an endeavor that would’ve made his parents proud. Carrying on their dedication to protect their race, even from the dangers within.
The wild beating of her heart faltered when she realized what else his freedom meant.
His promise to Marco was fulfilled. She and Mckenzie were safe. There was no longer anything tying Saden to them. He could choose his own fate now. Re-establish himself with his kind, fall in love and take a preyuna. That was obviously what he wanted, wasn’t it? Otherwise, it would be him sitting on her couch and speaking of the future instead of Blade.
“I can take you to him if you want,” Blade said quietly.
Daneya stared at him unseeingly for countless seconds. The idea was both tempting and ludicrous. In the short time she and Saden had spent together, not once had they considered this outcome. Their bittersweet memories had been made of fleeting moments.
Now, he had more than the desolate fate of a damned soul ahead of him. He had advantages and choices. A place among his people. Her presence would only hinder that. She could never feel comfortable among his kind and he would never be accepted with a member of the DCM at his side.
She took a steadying breath then said, “That won’t be necessary. I’m sure you’ll tell him how grateful I am for everything he’s done.”
Blade frowned as if he hadn’t heard right. “Saden misses you. I may still be a Drakon, but I know that having a soul means nothing if you can’t find happiness. He was only happy when he was with you.”
A hard lump formed in her throat. Damn him for making this harder! Couldn’t he see that what she was doing was for the best? Saden needed a fresh start, and she was going to let him have it. “Thank you for coming but we really need to get going.”
“Mom—” Mckenzie started.
“Daneya, can I talk to you privately?” Vincent interrupted. He led the way outside then rounded on her as soon as he closed the door after them. “Go.”
“Excuse me?”
“Go to him. It’s what you want to do, isn’t it?”
A sharp bark of disbelief broke from her lips. “This is hardly any of your business. And since when did you start giving a damn about Saden?”
“I don’t. I care about you.” He sighed heavily then gestured to the porch steps. “Take a seat.”
“Vincent—”
“We haven’t officially left the DCM yet and as your commanding officer, I’m ordering you to sit.”
She nearly grinned at that and sat down grudgingly. He took up position beside her and fixed his gaze somewhere in the distance. “I know you love him.” When she opened her mouth to protest, he held up a staying hand. “Trust me, I’m the last one who wants to point this out, but it has to be said. I’ve known you for almost a decade, and in all that time, I have never seen you give in to emotion the way you have when you talk about him. There’s something in your eyes that wasn’t there before. Passion, I guess you’d call it.”
“I’ve always had passion,” she argued.
“About your work and your daughter, yeah. Not about yourself. I kept hoping maybe…” He gave a cynical chuckle and shook his head. “It doesn’t really matter anymore. What I’m trying to say is you’re different now, and that’s a good thing.”
Daneya eyed him askance then had to look away as unshed tears burned the back of her throat. She thought she’d hid her feelings well in regards to Saden. “You must think I’m a fool.”
His face crinkled in a sideways smile. “You are a lot of things, Daneya Perodee. None of them is a fool.”
“You don’t understand. I can’t just ‘go to him’. It would never work. He’s a Vampyre and an ex-criminal. I’m a human who’s dedicated my life to eradicating demons who have crossed the line. We’re from two completely different worlds. You can’t build a paper bridge between two cliffs and expect everything to be okay.” She swallowed repeatedly, trying to keep the futility of the situation at bay. “Even if I did love him, it wouldn’t be enough.”
The quiet of dawn spanned out around them, then Vincent said slowly, “Before I joined the DCM, I was in love with a civilian. We were high school sweethearts and I thought my world revolved around her. Then I ran into my first demon, a Rakshasa turned Vanara. It gave me a new perspective and suddenly my priorities had changed. I left my girl to become a vigilante. Be part of something greater. It took me a long time to realize that there is nothing greater than sharing a life with someone you love.”
She twisted her mouth in a wry grin. “Have you turned shrin
k on me now?”
“No, but I do think I’ve sunk to a new low and hit the friend zone with you.”
Her short laugh echoed with a hint of sadness. “He deserves a chance at happiness in his new life. Just like you do.”
“He deserves to know the truth about how you feel,” Vincent shot back. “And no man could be better off without you.” After a pause, he said, “I’ll be fine on my own. I can live with my regrets and the mistakes I’ve made. Question is, if you don’t at least talk to him, can you live with yours?”
The tears she’d been fighting spilled down her cheeks. “No regrets.” That had been her promise to Saden. Yet, leaving without seeing him felt like a regret she would hold onto for the rest of her life. At the same time, did she have any right to open old wounds when it wouldn’t change the outcome?
She leaned into Vincent as he wrapped an arm around her, grateful for his comfort.
Behind them, the door opened and Blade cleared his throat. “I have to get going. Have you made a decision?”
Daneya pulled away slightly to look at Vincent and the deep understanding in his eyes. Then she turned around to face Blade with a sigh. “Yeah. I think so.”
Chapter Twenty-One
After reading the same sentence for the fourth time in the dim light of his lamp, Saden set the document aside on his desk and scrubbed his eyes. The rays of dawning sunlight outside were blocked by heavy drapes over the floor to ceiling windows on both sides of his office. Now that he was a Vampyre again, he could no longer withstand the touch of UV rays on his skin.
The room was located in the west wing of Council Hall, a massive building erected in the early eighteen hundreds. It belonged to the house of Avram for the purpose of conducting business and storing some of the historical artifacts of their race. Which was why the walls of his large office were lined with bookcases holding hundreds of texts, some dating back several centuries.
The morning was coming up on another seventy-two hours of sleep deprivation for him. Fatigue and hunger ate away at his concentration. Their effects were different than what he’d learned to deal with as a Drakon. Instead of being a minor annoyance, the gnawing ache in his belly and tension in his muscles couldn’t be ignored. He was losing both strength and weight as a result of negligence.