by Juniper Hart
For the most part, Franz had been convinced that he would eventually prove himself worthy to the Monarchy, but Lara had handled the isolation differently.
She had begun to retreat into herself, spending days without communicating until Franz would corner her and force conversation from her lips.
In some ways, Lara was still a very young soul, forgetting that they had eternity to work out the flaws of immortality and all the politics that went along with it. Franz had been sure that winning a war between the shifters would earn him a rightful place in the Monarchy but for that to happen, he would need to rein Lara in.
He tried to find solace in the idea that she had gone on her own to do whatever it was she was doing but he knew that it wasn’t so simple. Whatever Lara was up to, it was not going to bode well for him or the tribe.
Is that why I’m standing out here instead of storming the house? Because I’m afraid of what I might find inside?
After several more minutes of waiting, Franz realized he couldn’t stand there anymore. The anticipation was killing him and far outweighed the dread that had formed inside him. He stepped out of the stinking alleyway from behind the dumpster but as his dark boots hit the sidewalk, a front door slammed open. Blinking, Franz watched the trio, confusion overcoming him.
Was that…Pascal?
Franz barely knew how to register what he was seeing. He had almost forgotten about the vampire who had gone off to train with the Sleepers over a year and a half earlier. He reasoned that Pascal had either been turned by the program or was still in training, but he had never thought that he might be working with Lara.
What else didn’t he know?
An instinctive spark of anger coursed through Franz’s veins and he wasted no time hurrying after them, watching as they climbed into a blue Rabbit that was parked in the driveway. Franz had no choice but to shift into his bat form again and follow them, even if he had not fully regained his energy.
Keeping his distance between them, he honed his ears to catch snatches of their conversation through the open window of the car.
Franz couldn’t make sense of what he was witnessing. He knew that once upon a time, Pascal and Lara had been promised to one another but that had been well before they had all been turned that fateful night.
But that was so long ago. So much had happened since that time. Had they been carrying on an affair throughout the years?
As Franz carried himself through their wake, his fury mounted. He could not believe that he had not noticed the pair carrying on beneath his nose.
They were both betraying me all along. I won’t stand for such a slight. They will both pay for this!
He swooped lower to catch the remnants of their conversation.
“You should return home tonight,” the female driver told her. “And return tomorrow. I will have everything ready for us then.”
“Must I?” Lara groaned. “I was hoping to get this done tonight.”
“We won’t,” the woman corrected her sharply. “And Franz will come looking for you. We can’t risk being interrupted during the ceremony.”
“It sounds like you’re not sure you know what you’re doing,” Lara shot back. “Is that what this is about?”
There was a long silence and Franz’s alarm doubled.
What the hell were they up to?
“Just go home and come back tomorrow,” the witch driving insisted. “If you want it to go well, I need you to trust me.”
“I guess I don’t have a choice, do I?” Lara moped. “I’ll head home when we get to your house but I’m coming back before sunset tomorrow. I want this done. I can’t wait any longer.”
“Tomorrow,” the woman repeated. “We’ll be ready for you then.”
And I’ll be ready too, Franz thought grimly, flapping his wings with more fury to turn back toward the coastline.
“How was your day?”
Lara jumped at the unexpected sound of Franz’s voice and spun to stare at him guiltily.
How did he not see it before? The shame was written all over her face!
“Have you been waiting up for me?” she demanded. “What are you doing sitting there in the daylight?”
She slammed the door for effect, but Franz could see right through her now, the fear almost palpable.
“I’m only asking how your day has been,” he replied, a growling purr to his voice. “Is that such a demanding question?”
“It was fine,” she answered shortly. Without encouraging more conversation, she turned to escape to the sanctuary of her room, but Franz was not about to let her off the hook so easily.
Don’t give yourself away, he warned himself but in his excitement, he found himself on her heels.
“What did you do?” he asked casually. “Did you feast? Visit friends?”
He tried his best to keep an innocent lilt to his words, but it was increasingly difficult under the tension he was feeling.
She stared at him, irritation overtaking her features, but when she spoke, her words were even.
“Why are you so interested in what I’m up to?” she asked slowly. Realizing his mistake, Franz forced a smile and shook his head.
“I’m just curious,” he insisted. “You are my mate, aren’t you?”
The words seemed to slap her in the face and Franz felt a sinking feeling in his gut.
“I went for a walk through the city,” she replied quickly. “I’m tired now, Franz. I’m going to rest.”
Franz stood in the doorway, his hand pressed firmly against the door, rendering Lara unable to close it for whatever privacy she was hoping to garner.
“Lara, I know I don’t tell you this often enough, but I care for you very deeply,” he told her seriously. Lara blinked, apparently surprised by the confession. A wave of affection crossed over her face and she gave him a wan smile.
“Where is this coming from, Franz?” she asked, sounding exhausted.
“My heart.”
The answer shocked him as much as it did her.
“I care about you too, Franz,” she told him, realizing that he was waiting for a response. They stared at one another for a long moment until Franz gave her another faltering beam.
“I would be very lost without you,” he told her. “We don’t have anyone else but each other.”
Lara visibly swallowed and averted her gaze.
“We are lost regardless if we have one another or not,” she whispered. “Good night, Franz.”
She closed the door in his face and Franz stifled a grimace of dismay.
Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe she’s not doing anything at all, he thought, but even then, he knew he was lying to himself. His tribe was falling apart. He needed to save everyone from themselves before it was too late.
20
Thank god this is my last trip! Lara thought as she flew through the brisk air.
Lara was sure she would be unable to do it again, even if Kyla had insisted. Every muscle in her body ached from the overexertion of the last few days. She was unable to heal fast enough for the amount of abuse she had put her body through.
I’m going to miss the quick healing, Lara thought and for a second, she thought of all the other things she would miss along with it.
It wasn’t just the healing but the eternal life and ability to fly off on a whim.
Did the pros outweigh the cons?
She suddenly wasn’t so sure as she landed outside of Kyla’s house and frowned.
Franz had been behaving peculiarly and she somehow felt as though he was onto her, but she chalked it up to a shamed conscience. She knew fully well what this would do to Franz, but she again reminded herself that she had not asked for the life she had now.
As she caught her breath, she had the sudden sense that she was being watched but as she looked, she saw nothing. She narrowed her eyes and peered into the dark but there was no one around.
Again, that’s your guilt weighing on you. Get in there. They’re waiting for you.
She hurried toward the door and knocked once. Immediately, Pascal opened the door.
“It’s about time,” he grumbled. “You said you were going to be here hours ago.”
“Did you miss me?” she asked sarcastically.
“Close the door,” Kyla called out to them and Lara obliged. She cast a glance at Pascal as she entered the house, her eyes taking in the surroundings with interest.
Kyla’s house was much nicer than Pascal’s had been and she wondered what that meant.
I wonder how Kyla will feel about having me as a roommate, Lara thought, only half-joking, but another wave of concern washed through her as she thought about the future.
What am I going to do after this is all done? she wondered. I have nowhere to go. I can get my hands on some money but not a lot…
She couldn’t let herself think about that now. She had come too far to back out. Whatever happened, she would figure it out.
“Don’t look so stressed,” she told Pascal when her eyes fell on him again. She forced a taut smile and ambled into the living room where Kyla was working at the coffee table. The house smelled of freshly burnt sage and something else she didn’t quite recognize.
Pascal snorted.
“You’re asking us to murder you,” he responded flatly. “It’s hard not to feel a little bit of stress.”
“If you follow my directions, everything will be fine,” Kyla interjected, shooting him a warning gaze. “I was up all night looking into this and it can be done.”
There was more confidence in Kyla’s voice than there had been the night before and Lara felt a surge of hope.
“See?” Lara said brightly. “It’s a piece of cake.”
Her gaze fell on a glinting object on the side table and she balked slightly.
“What is that?” she demanded, whipping her head around to look at the witch.
“You must know what it is,” Kyla sighed. “Don’t you?”
Lara shook her head, but she could guess what it was she was looking at.
“Oh geez,” Pascal muttered, staring at the item. “It’s a Mange Saber. Kyla, where did you get one of those?”
Kyla shrugged.
“I made it,” she replied flippantly. Pascal gawked at her in disbelief.
“You made it?” he echoed but Kyla had already turned her attention back to the concoctions at hand.
“How else do you expect me to kill an immortal being?”
“What is a Mange Saber?” Lara asked nervously.
“Don’t worry about it,” Kyla interjected before Pascal could answer. “I know what I’m doing.”
“Clearly,” Pascal murmured, watching Kyla admiringly. Lara felt a flutter of jealousy when she saw the pair and she wondered if she would ever find the kind of connection they clearly felt for one another.
They’re mates, real mates, not like me and Franz. They found each other. They were not forced together. Yes, I’m doing the right thing. I need to leave this all behind me and let these two get on with their lives.
“I’m still not sure about this,” Pascal felt the need to add but before Kyla could speak, Lara answered.
“It’s the only way,” she said flatly. “Let’s get this done. We’ve wasted enough time as it is.”
Briefly, Lara saw a veil fall over his eyes, as if he was seeing her for the first time.
Who is he seeing right now? she wondered but it didn’t matter. All that mattered was that he saw this through.
And quickly. The feeling of being watched had not diminished since entering the house. Through the windows, grayness was overtaking the black of night, indicating that dawn was about to break.
“All right,” Kyla finally said, rising from her spot and turning to Pascal. “You will be the one to use the saber.”
“Me?!” he choked. “Why me?”
“Because I have to bring her back,” Kyla explained. “As soon as we’re sure she’s gone, I’ll have to do a spell to revive her while you perform CPR.”
Pascal’s jaw was almost on the ground.
“Are you sure, Kyla?”
“If you ask me that one more time…” Kyla growled and he clamped his mouth shut, a spark of anger glowing in his bright eyes.
“Forgive me for not wanting to kill one of my own.”
“You’re not killing me, Cal,” Lara breathed. “You’re saving me. No matter what happens.”
“When everything is done, we’ll rush her to the emergency room,” Kyla went on. “And disappear.”
“And if none of that works?” he insisted. Lara met his eyes determinedly.
“Then it will be on me,” she reminded him. “Now stop fighting and get it done.”
She smiled at him and for a moment, they were children again, running through the mountain hills without a care in the world.
Without warning, Pascal reached for the blade and grabbed Lara by the throat, weapon aimed at her chest. Shocked by his sudden movement, Lara impulsively tried to draw back, but Pascal held fast, plunging the blade forward.
Lara closed her eyes, exhaling in anticipation. She forced her body to relax, waiting for the sword to drain the immortality from her being.
But the impact of the blade did not hit her chest.
Instead, she flew backward through the air, a strong arm whisking her aside in one motion. It didn’t take a full second for her to understand the gravity of what had transpired.
“Franz!” she screamed, her eyes popping open in shock. Her body catapulted through the living room and Franz unleashed an unholy howl of fury, his wrath focused solely on Pascal. Lara’s slender frame fell again the far wall with a sickening thud and she crumpled to the ground.
Without wasting a second, she sprang to her feet and raced toward the now dueling pair. Pascal barely managed to keep Franz at bay, using the sword as a barrier between them as Kyla tried to pry them apart.
“Stop!” Kyla howled as Lara yelled at Franz.
“Franz!” Lara screamed, rushing to pull him from Pascal’s weakening body, but once more, Franz raised a muscular arm and swiped her away. This time Lara was prepared and clutched at his forearm as Kyla overtook his opposite side.
“How dare you?” Franz thundered, his wrath tangible as he bared his fangs. “I trusted you!”
“Please, Franz, stop!” Lara begged. “Get off him!”
Franz was a formidable opponent, but Pascal was no stranger to combat and soon, he gained the upper hand.
It was an exercise in futility trying to separate the two incensed vampires but that did not stop Kyla or Lara from trying.
“You stupid ingrate!” Franz snarled. “After everything I’ve done for you! For both of you! This is how you repay me?”
“Franz, no! It was my idea! He is innocent! Cal didn’t do anything wrong!” Lara breathed again.
“Listen to her!” Kyla begged. “Pascal didn’t want any part of this!”
“He is not innocent!” Franz countered, gnashing out with his teeth. “If he is willing to murder after betraying us by running off with…”
Franz paused to look at Kyla through narrowed eyes.
“No! You have all deceived me.”
Lara pounced on him then, nails digging into the flesh of his shoulder, but Franz seemed to anticipate her actions. He lifted an arm, tossing Lara from his body with little effort. She landed a few feet away, her head smashing off the corner of the coffee table, causing Kyla’s well-crafted concoctions to spill everywhere. As red spots began to dance in front of her eyes, she saw Franz throw his head back, before exposing his teeth. She watched as he reached behind him, the Mange Saber falling into his hands, and Lara knew it was all over for Pascal.
Kyla screamed then and Lara was on fire.
The last thing she saw before she passed out was Franz’s arm raising over his head and plunging down the Mange Saber toward Pascal’s chest.
21
The sword fell down, but Kyla was too fast, her hand sweeping onto the coffee table to sn
atch up one of the many spilled potions knocked over by Lara when she was tossed aside.
With a nimbleness she never realized she possessed, she leapt onto Franz’s back and spilled the concoction of herbs and chanted magic over Franz’s head.
The vampire froze in place, the tip of the blade half an inch from Pascal’s chest.
Gasping, Pascal fell away from under his clutches and out of harm’s way, his eyes wide and shocked.
“He almost killed me!” Pascal breathed. “Holy hell!”
He looked at his mate in stunned gratitude as she climbed down from Franz’s back.
“We need to get out of here,” Kyla said urgently, nodding toward Lara, who remained unconscious. “I have no idea how long that spell will hold but when he comes to, he’s coming after all of us with a vengeance.”
Pascal wasted no time running for Lara and he grabbed her in his arms, the trio bolting toward the door as Franz began to stir.
In seconds, they had piled into the Rabbit, Kyla behind the wheel as always.
“What the hell are we going to do now?” Kyla muttered, casting the pair a look over her shoulder as she drove recklessly out of the neighborhood. “He’s going to come after us.”
“I told you this was a terrible idea!” Pascal moaned. “What the hell were you thinking agreeing to this?”
Dubiously, Kyla eyed him in the rearview.
“What was I thinking?” she echoed in disbelief. “I was thinking that your ex-girlfriend had followed you to the ends of the earth. I was thinking that a grown woman wanted to be free of a life she wasn’t born into. I was thinking that maybe, just maybe, we could live a life without some of your drama for once but clearly, I was wrong.”
Pascal’s face twisted into a look of shock.
“My drama? You’re the one who has been on my ass from the day we met! What about the drama you bring to the table?”
Kyla swallowed her resentment and focused her eyes on the road ahead before they ended up in a ditch.
A long silence ensued as she drove toward Hout Bay, her heart heavy and sad.
