* * *
Though Gavin had a history with Rose first, he couldn’t help feeling like he was stealing something from his best friend. Tatum needed to be unified. Hell, Elirion needed to be unified and Gavin knew the best way to do that was to ensure the line of succession and have the Rose Bound ceremony. But everything was on Rose now. If she wanted to be with Ollie, then he wouldn’t stop her.
“I know,” was all Gavin could come up with to say. Pathetic. “Ollie, I—”
“You don’t have to say anything, mate, I’m a grown wolf.” Gavin’s stony face fell. He was usually so composed, so stoic, but now all he wanted was a smoke, a drink and to fuck.
“Gavvvvv!” a young shrill voice yelled, echoing off the walls. Aurora came bounding around the corner and smacked right into Ollie’s side, nearly toppling over. Ollie reached out to steady her but she jerked away. A wounded look spread across the wolf’s face.
“Aurora. Why’d you do that?” Gavin asked as she reached for her brother to pick her up. He quickly obliged.
Whispering in his ear she said, “Lollie looks like the bad man.” Her voice quivered.
Gavin leaned back to look in her face. “Ollie is not a bad man. He has saved my life countless times. You should thank him. You still have Gavie here with you.” Gavin booped her nose with his index finger, sending her into a fit of giggles. “Are you ready to be a princess for all to see?” Gavin asked, hoping to lift her tired spirits. She had bluish circles under her eyes like she hadn’t slept in days.
Aurora rubbed at her eyes with the base of her palms, a yawn tearing from her tired lips. She nodded sleepily.
“All right, youngin’,” Gavin said. “Time for you to get some sleep!” Sunlight poured through the open doors, the middle of the night for vampires, and Gavin huffed a sigh. They should all be getting some rest. With Aurora asleep, perhaps he could lure out the shadows. And then, he could get to the bottom of this once and for all.
“No!” Aurora screamed. “No sleep. That’s when the shadows come...” her voice trailed off.
“Aurora,” he said gently. “No one will ever hurt you when I am with you, okay?” Gavin felt her body relax into his. Aurora yawned again, her eyes flitting shut as she rested her head on his shoulder. Gavin shot Ollie a silent plea to take over. Ollie stood with his muscled arms across his chest and a curt nod, a silent confirmation as Gavin started for the stairs.
“Your highness?” a rough familiar voice came from behind him. Gavin cursed under his breath.
“Counsellor, if you wake my sister, we will be having an execution instead of a Rose Bound ceremony.” An audible gulp from Tobias Barclay indicated that the threat was well received.
“But—”
“Sod off, Barclay. I’m putting my sister to bed. Ollie, would you please deal with Tobias?” Gavin’s voice was cool and clipped as he hastily made his way up the stairs, leaving a sheepish Tobias to deal with Oliver.
He would find out what was plaguing his home.
And he would destroy it.
Rose
Lounging on a velvet chaise in her guest chamber, Rose thought of Ollie.
Then Gavin.
Then Ollie again.
Whoever the fuck wrote the bylaws deserved to be mauled by dogs. The thought brought a smile to her lips and a blistering heat between her legs. She wanted to be manhandled by her wolf. Rose snorted softly. When would that happen now?
Before being roped into returning to Tatum, a place she loathed, Rose had one goal. Find Dahlia. Now, everything was on hold and her future was going to be forever tied to the Prince of Blood. On top of everything else on her plate, Rose knew Gavin would find out about her bargain with Dia.
Magic comes with a price. And goddess, she’d paid it dearly.
Footsteps down the hall pulled Rose from her vivid reverie. She heard a quiet melodic voice that pricked at her memories. She knew that voice all too well as it sang to her once upon a time.
Gavin was singing a lullaby. One he used to sing when they were children. One that he’d sang when Lorelei made her cry. He’d sang to her as he wiped away her tears and calmed her. Before the Ripper rooted within him. Before he’d turned to vices like drinking and gambling and bloodwhores. He’d been decent once. Perhaps, there was still a part of the old Gavin she’d loved in there. Perhaps. Rose stood and stretched before heading to her open door.
“Gavin?” she called, looking up and down the hallway.
“Shh,” he responded as he reached the landing. Rose’s breath hitched. He was carrying Aurora cradled against his chest. “She won’t sleep if I put her down,” he replied and continued on to the next verse. Rose’s lips pulled upward into a smile. She felt her heart quake, making way for the dam of emotions that swelled up within her. She’d placed up wall after wall when Gavin had run off with Lorelei, choosing her over Rose. She vowed never to let anyone cause her that sort of pain again, but now, those walls were screaming against the flood. Against old feelings.
“She looked exhausted earlier too. Are these shadows still bothering her?” Rose asked, stepping into the hall. Gavin nodded, never faltering. His eyes glinted with the darkness that had stolen this gentle prince away from Tatum.
Gavin finished the end of the song, listening to the soft breaths of his sleeping sister before whispering, “The council is up my ass today and all I can do is hold her and walk the halls.”
“Here, let me see her.” Rose opened her arms for him to pass Aurora.
“No!” Aurora cried, struggling to keep hold of Gavin’s neck.
“Shh, baby girl. Gavie has to go for a bit. Would you stay with Rosalie? I promise, you’ll like her more.” Aurora wrapped her arms tighter around Gavin’s neck.
“I promise to be back soon. Rose will protect you just like I would, Rory.” Rory. He had a special name for her.
“Aurora?” Rose peeked around Gavin’s broad shoulder to peer into the child’s tear-stained face. “I can show you how I get rid of my shadows. Do you want to take a nap with me?” Rose started to hum. It was the same melody that Gavin was singing earlier, though hers wasn’t as beautiful.
“You know the magic song too?” Aurora asked, her brilliant blue eyes snapping to Rose.
“I do, now can we let Gavie go to work for a bit?” Rose smiled up at Gavin who looked shell-shocked, which was saying something for the man of few emotions. She had seen glimpses though, especially around his siblings. His heart beat for them and them alone. Aurora was sweet and innocent while Declan was challenging and honest. Aurora reached for Rose, who welcomed her into her arms.
“All right, Princess, let’s fight those shadows, shall we?” Rose wrinkled her nose at the girl playfully, earning her a grin and a sleepy yawn.
“Thank you, Rosie,” Gavin breathed. Hearing her name on his lips was like strawberry brandy, sweet, burning, and familiar.
She turned back to him, expecting the same mask of indifference he always wore, but it was replaced with grateful eyes and a weary smile. “You’re welcome, Gavin,” she replied. “She’ll be well watched after.”
“There’s very few I would believe, but with you, I have no doubt.” The confidence in his voice sent shivers down her spine—a trust that had long since been forgotten by the heiress. Aurora was already dozing against her and Rose thanked the goddess that she had the child in her arms to ground her. Gavin touched his hand over his heart with a subtle bow and turned, retreating back down the stairs.
Light
She took a step back, raising her hands in front of her, her eyes widening. She called for the light, watching it crumble around them like ash. A smile spread across his lips.
“Five hundred years you kept me prisoner. Do you know just how long I’ve waited to see you? How long I’ve waited for your magic to run out?” he asked.
“You haven’t won!” she cried.
“Take a look around you, Dia!” Dia turned, watching the darkness seep in around them like smokey tendrils. She blinked, te
ars stinging her eyes as the Forest of Knowing sprang up around them. It looked the same, but there was another that owned these woods. Dia turned her attention back to Limos.
“Do you feel it?” he asked, arching a brow at her. “Do you feel the chaos? Let it sink into you. Let it consume you, Dia.”
“No.”
“No?”
“No,” she said, matter-of-factly. “Because no matter what, light will always triumph over darkness.” Limos stepped closer, closing the space between them. He reached a gloved hand out and tilted her face up toward his and laughed.
“We are the light and the dark. For if there is no you, then there is no me.”
“But my magic failed! You just said it.”
“Yes, well, blood magic does that when there isn’t any blood shared.”
23
Gavin
Aurora was safe with Rose. The same girl he’d once loved, once trusted. There was still a gnawing feeling in Gavin’s gut. Could he trust her with the Sinclair princess? She did work in the illustrious Underground, after all. But, even as the prince had those thoughts and feelings another took over. There was a gentleness about Rose when she held Aurora in her arms, one that melted Gavin’s icy heart. One that eased that ache in his belly that told him to grab his sister and run. Rose’s lapis lazuli eyes softened, her face turned motherly, and she’d sang, really sang, for his sister.
Aurora was safe. She. Was. Safe. Letting his mind play those words over, Gavin switched his attention over to the matter at hand. The halls were empty as he raced down the stairs toward the main foyer, skipping steps, jumping over the railing, and landing next to Ollie and Declan. Ollie’s lips curled into a smirk, one that he usually held before giving some snarky comment, but the hulking wolf remained silent. Declan narrowed his eyes on his brother and huffed a sigh.
“The covens are all packed away in their respectable chambers, but the Council is calling for a meeting,” Declan said. Gavin closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Of course they’d want to call a meeting. He’d expected it. But they needed to find the shadows, find out what they were and who commanded them.
Releasing a sigh, Gavin opened his eyes and looked between his best friend and his brother.
“Okay, you two search the castle. I want to know what these shadows are and what the fuck they want with Aurora. I’ll,” he huffed, “I’ll go deal with the council.”
“I’m part of that council,” Declan hissed. “I should be there when we all convene.”
“He needs us out here, mate. If you want to help, then help me search,” Ollie replied, placing his hand on Declan’s shoulder.
“Don’t fucking touch me, dog!”
“Call me dog, one more time, you little—”
“Enough. It’s settled.” Gavin cut in before Ollie or Declan could retort. “Go find the shadows and I’ll come find you. And for the sake of the three goddesses, stay the fuck away from each other!” Gavin turned on his heels and retreated down a side hall, toward the meeting room.
* * *
It didn’t take long for the council to gather there. Gavin had personally notified each leader and waited for them all to arrive. His fingers thrummed against the cool mahogany table as he leaned forward in his chair. He’d taken the seat at the head of the table, one that his father had used once upon a time, as each member took a seat, the heavy feeling in Gavin’s heart increasing. Gavin rolled his eyes, annoyed, waiting for Lord Coston, the last coven leader to take his seat before he began.
“We need to postpone tomorrow’s ceremony. The castle has been breached, as you all know, and a very real threat is lurking within these walls. It’s not safe for any of us to be out. We must neutralize the demons lurking within before anything else occurs.”
“You keep saying that there is a threat within these walls, Sinclair, but what proof have you got besides the dribblings of a wee babe?” Lord Coston chimed, leaning forward to Gavin’s right. He steepled his fingers to his chin and flashed the prince a glare.
“Aurora is the princess!” Linden Barclay snarled from across the table, flashing his fangs at the Coston lord. “You won’t speak disrespectfully about her!”
“Agreed,” Tobias Bloodworth said, coolly. “If the Sinclair princess saw the threat, then we should be exploring every option to find it.”
“I have Declan and Ollie out searching as we speak,” Gavin replied.
“Oh great! Let’s send the prince and your pet to look around, shall we? Goddess, I feel so much safer! What about you, gentlemen?” Lord Coston growled, pushing up from his seat.
“Sit down, Coston,” Gavin gritted out between clenched teeth.
“Gavin. Gentlemen,” Zachary said, lowering his voice to a smooth, controlled tone. “Any other time, I’d agree with you. Yes, the ceremony should be postponed, however, tomorrow is the full moon. There is no more time. The ceremony cannot be postponed, not unless you want to put Elirion even further at risk,” Lord Coston said, turning his attention over to Gavin. “And don’t get me started on your manhunt efforts, Sinclair.”
Gavin flicked his tongue against his fang, his teeth grinding against one another, sending a sharp pain up through his feathering jaw. “Of course, I don’t want Elirion to be at risk, but we have three High Lords here to help oversee it. Tatum can wait on a king.”
“Tatum cannot wait, sire,” Linden Barclay replied. “The bylaws—”
“To fucking hell with the bylaws!” Gavin yelled, throwing his hands in the air as he took to his feet. His mind whirled as he paced before the council. Hushed whispers sounded through the room as the three lords deliberated between one another. Finally, they stopped and it was Lord Barclay that spoke, his tone low.
“I’m sorry, Gavin, but we cannot postpone the ceremony on the imaginations of a child, regardless of her title. The Rose Bound ceremony will commence at dusk tomorrow.”
Anger boiled beneath the surface, but Gavin remained quiet, sitting back down in his seat. He looked between the three council leaders, noting Zachary. His eyes narrowed as he watched his soon-to-be father-in-law, a smirk of triumph curling around his lips as he leaned back in his chair.
Snide bastard.
The air was brisk with the overcast sky, shading just enough sun for the vampires to operate during daylight hours. Soon the sun would set and if they waited any longer, the kingdom would not see souls tethering above the ceremonial basin, bound together for eternity. Gavin took a deep breath as he held the enchanted white rose that never wilted or stained from all the blood it drew in. Encased in glass, the plush, ancient petals remained unscathed. Five hundred years it remained. The very rose that Dia, herself, had used to trap Limos with. It truly amazed Gavin that something so small could be so withstanding. He carried the rose to an altar in the courtyard where every Rose Bound ceremony was held, overlooking the city below. Every nerve in his body screamed that this was wrong. That he should be searching every crack within the castle, sniffing out the enemy, closing in on his parents’ murderer.
Soon, there would be droves of people clamoring to see the ceremony take place, but with the castle on lockdown, things would be very different from previous bindings. Guards were stationed along the castle’s perimeter, allowing just enough space for spectators to see, but not to get through.
Gavin had called upon the only Alchemist in Tatum, the one that had been approved by the late king, to perform the ceremony and use his magics of love to tether his soul. Gavin knew that Rose would join him soon, so he set the white rose down upon the ceremonial altar before hurrying off to his chamber.
It was customary in the Sinclair coven to wear white upon a Rose Bound ceremony, a symbol of light against the darkness, but Gavin had chosen a suit of black, instead. This was no joyous occasion for him, but a life sentence, bound to a woman who loved his best friend. Albeit they had history, he and Rose, it was nothing compared to the claim Ollie had bestowed upon her. Rose was his… well, he didn’t quite know what she was exactly.
If Ollie had a mated bond with her, he was sure his friend would tell him, but what he did have, was something else entirely.
Gavin quickly dressed and crossed his room to the bar and poured himself a drink. He knew that later he would feast on bloodwhores, and Rosalie. Amber liquid poured smoothly over cubes of ice, the faint crack of the freeze breaking, as Gavin lifted a crystal glass to his lips, downing the drink in one gulp. It burned as it raced down his throat, spreading a warmth through the vampire’s body. Gavin reached to uncork the decanter again when a knock sounded at his door.
“Come in,” he grunted. The door creaked open and Declan crept in. He wore the customary white garb; his suit free of any wrinkles, and a sword strapped at his hip. With an intruder lurking among them, Gavin didn’t blame him for such precautions.
“The entire kingdom is waiting for you, Gav,” he said, slowly turning to shut the chamber door behind him. “Are you ready?” Gavin knew the answer to that, that he would never be ready. But, politics won out when it came to royalty. There was no love in politics.
“As I’ll ever be,” he responded, before crossing the room to his brother, pulling him into a hug. “Thank you,” he whispered into Declan’s ear before pulling away. Declan’s body stiffened in his arms, but before his brother had a chance to react, Gavin released him and opened the door to his chamber.
Then he walked to his destiny.
24
Gavin
The chanting began, spoken in a language long since forgotten as Gavin walked the corridors toward the courtyard. Old hymns of the covens rang through the air, creating an electricity that rose the hair on Gavin’s arms. It was as though everything was on edge. Gavin fished in his trouser pocket for his matchbook and smokes. His fingers fumbled around the loose cigarettes, pulling one out and lifting it to his lips. He opened his matchbook and struck the match to life, lighting the end of the smoke. The sweet taste of cloves eased his troubled mind and the chanting grew louder. Gavin took a few more drags from his cigarette and dropped it to the marble floor, crushing it beneath his shiny black dress shoe.
Rose Bound: The Rose and King series Book 1 Page 18
