“You’ve never been to the beach, have you?” Kellen asked. He walked just behind me, and I could feel his humor at my expense.
“You know where I grew up,” I replied. “Lots of sand. No beach. The fake ones they created in Vegas don’t count.” The water rushed over my feet again and I giggled. “This is perfect. I need a house on the water.”
“I can give you that,” he whispered.
Was I supposed to hear him? I stopped and turned around. He stood a few feet behind me with an uncertain look on his face. He wanted me to love him. I could feel it through our connection.
“I can’t give you a family, Kellen,” I said, closing the distance between us. “They would have to kill me to take my children. It would be cruel to both of us to even consider bringing them into this nightmare.” I didn’t even need to bring up my relationship with Logan, not now. Kellen’s face fell, and I grabbed his free hand in mine. “Have you forgotten the fae are immortal?” I asked. “Please tell me you won’t make me watch you grow old, without a family to love you.”
He pulled me into his embrace. “Why do I feel like I’m being punished?”
“Maybe you are,” I replied. “You removed my binding. I was supposed to die, and you interfered with someone’s plans.”
He loosened his hold on me and I looked into his deep brown eyes. The same eyes that broke my heart only a month ago. They were different today, but so was I. I just hoped he would accept my rejection with grace and let me be with Logan like he promised. As his partner, I needed Kellen’s friendship, but I couldn’t love him.
“I don’t regret saving you,” he said. “You’ve turned my life upside-down, but you’ve also made me see a part of myself I refused to accept. You made me a better person than I was.”
“You’re so full of shit.” I smiled and we continued our walk down the beach, our shoulders occasionally bumping as we went. “When do we need to make our way to the airport?” I asked, kicking the wet sand from my toes.
“About ten minutes,” Kellen answered.
“Too soon,” I muttered, watching another wave cover my toes. “I’m not ready to confront William.”
“Logan?” Kellen asked.
“No, William,” I said, looking up at him.
“No, is that Logan?” he asked again, pointing down the beach.
A man walked towards us with dark brown hair and thick eyebrows, wearing khaki pants and light blue shirt. He looked like my vampire. My heart leapt into my throat. Why was he here in the middle of the day, on the beach? And how did he get here? I took a deep breath as he approached. No spearmint.
“What are you doing here?” Kellen asked when the man was a few yards away.
“I have news for Alisandra,” he replied in Logan’s voice.
My vampire never called me by my full name. I breathed deeper, searching for what I knew should be there and wasn’t.
“It’s not Logan,” I said.
The imposter’s eyes widened and he smiled. “How did you know?”
“None of your business,” I replied. “What do you want?”
“To talk to you.”
“We have places to be,” I stated. “I don’t have time for you.”
I suspected it was my father, and I really didn’t want to deal with him. My anger simmered just below the surface of the calm waves circling my feet. How dare he approach me as the man I loved! No one replaced Logan, especially the bastard who abandoned me as a child. Where were my elementals? Didn’t they say he wouldn’t come anywhere near me?
“Niyol, where the hell are you?” I asked, not bothering to keep the comment private. A gust of wind picked up the sand and peppered my bare legs. “Seriously?” I asked, waving my hand at the unseen elemental, but not taking my eyes from the man in front of me. “You let him near me?”
“AJ, is this your dad?” Kellen asked, tugging at my hand.
“How about it, Dad?” I asked, snarling at the name. “Show us the true Cedric.”
The vision of Logan slowly faded, revealing light brown hair surrounding strong features. His pointed ears rounded quickly, almost too quickly for me to see. His shoulders and chest widened, his shirt stretching across them. He was uncommonly attractive in a rugged way, like he belonged in the woods, not on the beach. I saw nothing of myself in him, and as my vampire disappeared, my heart ached.
“This is my new son-in-law?” Cedric asked, looking up at Kellen, who stood several inches taller.
“You don’t get to be part of my life,” I snapped. I didn’t want to hate this man. Yes I did. He abandoned me and was possibly the reason for my horrible childhood.
“You don’t have a choice, daughter,” he argued. “I’m here to make you the weapon they need. If we’re lucky, we might survive.” He glanced at the sea and his scowl softened. He felt it too. “I’m not normally lucky.”
“That makes two of us,” I whispered, too low for either of them to hear. “Whatever. We have a plane to catch. Your weapon will have to wait.”
He pulled his eyes from the water and focused on me. “Ernesto’s men are rallying. They’re going to test the waters in Mexico City.”
I eyed him suspiciously. Did he really expect me to believe him? The information we had contradicted Ernesto’s ability to rally anything. We destroyed half of his army.
“I don’t believe you,” I finally said. “As a matter of fact, I have no reason to believe anything you say.”
Niyol? What’s he talking about?
I’m not sure, my elemental replied.
Can you find out?
I’ll try, but it will require me to leave you.
I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. Niyol saved my ass so many times. Could I really survive without him?
Stay with me for now. I’m too stupid to be without you.
“That’s rather childish,” my father said, interrupting my conversation with Niyol and taking a step towards me. “Do you even remember having a conversation with me?”
“Childish?” I spat, my anger and rejection pushing everything else away. “You put your little sperm in my mother, who only ever wanted to kill me. Then, you took me from her as soon as I was born and left me with people who would never love me!” I closed the last step between us, pulling Kellen with me. “I don’t want to believe you were also the one to place that horrible veil and binding on me, but you’ve done nothing to instill trust, loyalty, or even a pretend friendship.” I poked his chest and flinched. His hard chest didn’t move. “Don’t talk to me about being childish.”
He didn’t react, surprising me. I wanted him to react. I needed a reason to release my anger and sadness. He just stared at me, his deep blue eyes searching mine.
“You have it too,” he whispered, his pale eyebrows furrowing. “Of all the things you could’ve gotten from me, did it have to be that one?”
I instantly knew what he meant: my darkness. I stepped back and put my feet in the water, but it didn’t cool my emotions. Kellen pulled me into his arms and rubbed my back. It helped a little.
“I’ll cancel our flight,” my partner said. “I don’t think this can wait. As much as I don’t want to admit it, your elementals may be right.”
I mumbled incoherently. If Cedric hadn’t approached us right now, it could’ve waited. He did it on purpose, obviously with an agenda. Just like everyone else. Kellen kissed my forehead and released me. More of my anger melted away. That was the answer. Surround myself by people who loved me and avoid the ones who don’t. Like Cedric and Braden.
My partner pulled his phone from his pocket and took a few steps away to pay a ridiculous cancellation fee on tickets that likely cost him a fortune. I hated the guilt that washed over me. I had money now. I should’ve taken care of it. Damn.
“We need some place private to have this discussion and your training,” Cedric murmured.
“I’m sure Kellen knows somewhere we can go,” I replied, keeping my feet in the water and trying not to look at him.
/> “Your gifts are a secret that cannot be shared with a mage,” he insisted.
The water washed over my toes, and I drew in a deep breath.
Göksu, help me stay calm, I pleaded.
I’ll need to leave Logan and come to you, he replied.
Is Logan safe?
No, not really.
Shit. What now? Could I even think about this with everything else going on? Yes. Not knowing would eat me alive.
Stay with Logan, but I need to know what’s happening. Give me a few minutes.
He didn’t reply, not that I expected him to. I turned to my father with a pointed finger.
“Be silent,” I commanded.
His eyebrows rose, his lips pressing into a thin line. “How do you command me?”
“Not very well if you’re still talking,” I hissed. “Now shut up. I have a more important conversation that needs my attention.”
“Is everything okay?” Kellen asked, ending his call.
“No, I need to talk to Göksu.”
He nodded as I sat on the beach, ignoring the water soaking my clothes. My fingers dug into the wet sand and I closed my eyes. I needed to forget my father, King William, Thomas, Braden, everyone. The soft waves caressed my skin, and their constant back and forth pulled my anxiety out to sea.
Deep breaths carried the smell of fish and exhaust from the numerous boats. Brown sugar and cinnamon wafted by me and I wanted to smile. My partner. Even if I couldn’t love him the way he wanted, I could love him. I truly believed he was sorry for his poor judgment, and his emotions for the last few days had been true. He hadn’t even tried to hide them from me.
Göksu, what’s happening there?
William sent mages to Jonathan’s compound. The small contingent of vampires and shifters that were present managed to defend themselves, but Jonathan now realizes he has lost an ally.
Maybe it was too late to change William’s mind. We needed to find out who Jonathan’s other allies were. We also needed to talk to Victor about mobilizing the shifters. Could he do that? I didn’t know, but maybe Kellen would.
I hear your confusion, child, Göksu said. Jonathan is moving his people to another location, but he expects more attacks. The mages he thought were his allies know most of his safe houses.
That sucks. My frustration surged again, and I took several deep breaths. Kellen’s voice behind me distracted me for a moment, but I ignored him. He’d get my attention if he really needed me. How can we help? Is it safe for me to text Logan? We really need to coordinate.
I agree, Göksu said. You need to reach out to Logan and make a plan with Jonathan. Your vampire worries for you.
I miss him. If it wouldn’t be really weird, I’d ask you to hug him for me.
Be careful, child, and for now, trust your father. It’s in his best interest to train you.
Thank you, Göksu. Tell me if something changes with Logan and Jonathan.
His feeling of love wrapped around me and I sighed, opening my eyes. Several boats bobbed on the water just off shore. A couple were fishing boats, but the others were obviously for pleasure. Their occupants sprawled out on lounge chairs gave away their carefree lives. Something I would never have.
The water washed over my soaked clothes again, providing one last dose of comfort before I stood. Kellen noticed my movement and pulled me to my feet. Concern filtered between us, but I shook my head.
“My uncle has offered one of their training rooms for our use,” he said. “I’ll assure our privacy when we get there.”
“We cannot trust them to give us privacy,” Cedric spat. “Would you allow it at your palace?”
My partner glared at my father. He had a point, and Kellen knew it.
“Why don’t we invite one of them, whoever you trust the most,” I suggested. “We’re going to need allies anyway. It’s best they know what’s happening. Göksu’s news isn’t good.”
“It’ll have to be my uncle or cousin,” he replied, taking my hand and turning back the way we came. I noticed he didn’t even ask Cedric to follow. “I’m not sure if my uncle will allow anyone else to be included.”
I glanced behind me. Cedric hadn’t moved. Maybe I should’ve been the adult and offered the invitation, but I couldn’t do it. He knew what was at stake just as well as the rest of us, probably more. I suspected he had information about Jack’s plans based on his accusation against Ernesto.
“I don’t trust him, AJ,” Kellen whispered, apparently noticing my distraction.
“Göksu said to trust him for now,” I whispered back. “He has an interest in training me, so he’ll play nice.”
His interest in training me was worrisome. Did that mean he made a deal with someone to train me? My elemental didn’t say it, but he certainly implied it. And I knew all about those deals.
“I’m still wary,” Kellen continued, starting our forward progress again. “If he’s the one who created your binding, I don’t see how we can trust him. And do we want to reveal your heritage to everyone? I could argue it both ways.”
“I don’t know. I think we have to reveal it in order to gain allies,” I replied, keeping step with him. “William attacked Jonathan’s compound.”
He stopped and turned to face me. “No, he didn’t,” he said, but I heard the question. He didn’t want to believe it.
I nodded, meeting his concern. “They’re trying to find another location that William’s mages don’t know about.” I glanced back at my father, who had moved closer. “The king claimed to be his ally, but I’m wondering if he wasn’t feeding information to Jack all along.”
“I hope not,” Kellen mumbled as Cedric caught up to us.
“How long will it take to reach your uncle’s?” my father asked.
Kellen held my gaze and his uncertainty lingered in our connection. I nodded and tried to smile.
“About an hour,” he replied, still looking at me. “Let’s pick up our luggage from the restaurant and get moving.”
~~~~~~~~~~~
Cedric didn’t join us in the rental car Kellen picked up. He just said he would meet us there. I suspected it was another taunt about my training he insisted couldn’t wait. A blood oath, the need to get his part done so he wasn’t tied to the vampire, would create that urgency.
A new thought occurred to me, one that I didn’t like. Had he made an oath with Ernesto? Would my elementals know if he had? Would activating my magic somehow benefit the vampires? Too many questions and not enough answers.
I shed the outer layer of my wet clothes and pulled my phone from my purse, then texted Logan.
Me: hey stranger
Logan: hey princess
I didn’t hide my smile.
Me: can you talk?
My phone rang two seconds later.
“How’s my favorite vampire?” I asked as soon as the call connected.
“Better now,” he replied. “Are you safe?”
I looked over at Kellen and felt his emotional barrier slide into place. I didn’t blame him. I pulled mine up as well. He didn’t want to experience my need for Logan.
“Yes, I’m with Kellen and we’re on our way to his family’s place. So much has happened. Has Göksu filled you in on the latest?”
“Your elemental is amazing,” Logan said.
“He’s yours too, you know.” I imagined the smile I knew would be on his face.
“I suspect that’s why he stays with me.”
“Do you guys have a safe place to go?” I asked.
“We’re scattered at the moment,” he replied. “Otto is staying with me, and Yun went to Marissa’s. The other teams also went to their own safe houses that the Europeans were unaware of.”
“William won’t attack the shifters, will he?”
“I don’t know. Marissa and Yun are talking to Victor. They hope to convince him to prepare the other shifters,” my vampire responded. “Things are moving quickly, and we aren’t ready.”
No, we weren’t ready, but
I didn’t think I would ever be. I’d only known my magic for a couple months and now they wanted to throw more at me. They expected me to master magic that most of them had their whole childhood to learn. Stupid presumptuous bastards. And how were we supposed to solidify allies? Shouldn’t that already be done? Hadn’t Jonathan said he had allies secured and I just needed to show up? Yeah right.
“Did you hear about Braden’s estate?” I asked.
“Yes.”
“Where would Jack take him?”
“Probably Vegas,” Logan replied. “They have cells below the Sanguis designed to hold vampires. Just a sec.”
Rustling and mumbled curses filled the silence, followed by a slamming door.
“Otto just got back,” my vampire said. “By the look on his face, the news is not good.”
“I wonder if he heard about Ernesto’s plans,” I mumbled, still not believing my father.
“What does she know about Ernesto’s plans?” Otto’s faint voice filtered through the phone. Of course he would hear our conversation with his super-vampire hearing.
“Well, shit,” I said. “I hoped he was lying.”
“What did you hear?” Logan asked. “I’m putting you on speaker for Otto.”
“You’re on speaker with Kellen as well.” I pressed the button and held my phone between us. Kellen glanced at me and I didn’t miss the look of concern. “Supposedly, Ernesto is doing a test run on Mexico City,” I replied. “Please tell me that’s not true. It makes no sense to reveal themselves on such a small scale. Only a large, consolidated attack would truly work. They must see that.”
“I heard the same thing,” Otto’s deep voice echoed in the background. “They’re relocating the remainder of Sergey’s forces to Mexico.”
“As a test of loyalty?” Kellen asked, leaning towards my phone.
“That’s what it looks like to me,” Otto replied. “Sergey’s men will be on point, with Ernesto to back them up.”
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