“Do you believe Ernesto?” a man in the back of the group yelled. “Do we only have a week?”
Braden glanced up at me again and I nodded. He was their leader, not me. I wouldn’t usurp his command.
“Alisandra has an army,” he replied. “But I fully intend to verify Ernesto’s claims. At our last council meeting, the reveal was still four months away. With everything that’s happened, I can see Jack moving the timeline.”
“What if we don’t want to fight?” another man asked, his English barely recognizable past his Russian accent.
“Then don’t,” Braden replied. “But if I see you in Jack’s army, that mark on your arm will not save you.” His gaze swept over the rest of the group. “That goes for all of you. If you choose to stay neutral, and abandon your brothers and sisters, don’t come to me afterwards thinking I’ll help you. Jack destroyed my clan and your leader. If you’re not willing to avenge them, walk away and don’t come back.”
He drew in a deep breath, his nostrils flaring and his fangs dropping.
“I’ve never tolerated disloyalty and I won’t start now. The new leader of the Russian Clan will be chosen by the survivors of the next battle.” A growl rumbled from his chest and several of those around him. “Only someone willing to fight for your people, will be worthy to lead them.”
“And will that be you?” another Russian growled from the front row.
Braden laughed and lashed out with a clawed hand, dragging it across the man’s chest. He jumped back too late but didn’t retaliate. “I’ve thought about it but no. Sergey wanted Shaw to take his place.” He glanced to his left and nodded at one of the men. I couldn’t tell which. “Since they are both dead, it’s the clan’s choice, not mine.”
Soft mumblings filtered through the group, and Braden stepped away, heading back to Ernesto’s tree. I rose, dusting the leaves from my butt. Somehow, I managed to keep fairly clean. Probably because Braden did most of the fighting. I strolled down the hill, watching the vampires disperse in small groups. I still couldn’t believe they didn’t attack me after I released them. They should’ve.
Braden picked his shirt off the ground and shook it out, then glanced down at this bloody chest.
“We’ll find a stream on the way for you to wash in,” I said.
“I want a shower,” he grumbled.
I covered my laugh with a cough and he growled at me. “A few minutes ago, you said it was worth it,” I teased.
“It was, but that doesn’t mean I want to stay this way.”
“I agree. It’s pretty gross.”
“Thank you for pointing out the obvious,” he snapped.
“Don’t be so grumpy,” I countered, my smile faltering.
I looked up at Ernesto’s headless body and took a deep breath. Tears clouded my vision, and I blinked them away quickly. I shouldn’t grieve for the evil bastard who wanted me dead. Maybe I didn’t. Maybe I cried for the loss of my innocence. How many had I killed now?
“Aviur?” I said softly.
“Yes, princess,” he replied, his warmth rolling over me as he appeared.
“Will you burn the tree?”
“I can, but you would be killing it as well.”
I hadn’t thought of the tree’s life. How stupid of me.
“No, we won’t do that,” I whispered, placing my hand on its twisted trunk.
I searched my mind for a spell that would heal and give life. If I left this tree without a host, it would die a slow, hungering death. Several spells flitted around and I closed my eyes, finally deciding on the perfect one. Mexico’s climate would be ideal for the constant blooms I wanted.
My mind whispered the words and the vines wrapped around Ernesto’s body, covering it completely. His blood soaked into the thin bark, leaving behind a pale green. They continued their quest to mingle and weave with one another, branching out and sweeping towards the ground. The same red blooms burst from the ends as I forced the last of Ernesto’s blood from his body.
“Have peace,” I whispered, trailing my hand over the soft green bark.
The limbs rustled, reminding me of the guardians at Kellen’s estate. Were they sentient beings trapped within the trees? If so, who else had sacrificed their lives to protect the magical community? Probably more than I wanted to know.
“Let’s go,” I said, turning away from my tree and Ernesto’s head at my feet.
“Shall I tell Kellen you’re on your way?” Aviur asked.
I looked up at his fiery expression that somehow portrayed mischief. “Sometime tomorrow,” I replied, deliberately avoiding Braden. “There are loose ends to collect before I leave here.”
“I understand,” he purred. “It’s a wise choice. He suits you much better than my mage.”
“Shut up, you pervert.”
He chuckled and disappeared.
“Damn elemental,” I grumbled, walking back towards the forest.
“I’m not sure if I like him or hate him,” Braden said as he fell in step beside me, holding his shirt away from his body. “I hate the way he toys with your emotions, but his attitude is somewhat refreshing.”
“It was okay when you toyed with my emotions, though,” I snapped.
“At the time, before I realized how it felt,” he replied. “Even my sadistic side has a hard time with that.”
“Oh really?” I asked, finding it hard to believe even if I didn’t feel a lie in his words.
“Sex is supposed to be pleasurable, no matter what stimulant you add to it,” he replied, so matter of fact I stopped and looked up at him. He returned my gaze and smiled. “If the pain doesn’t add pleasure, then there is no reason for it.”
“You surprise me,” I said, pulling his shirt from his hand and walking into the trees.
“I should hope so.” He caught up to me easily. “I would like to make one request, though.”
“We’re making requests and not deals?”
He chuckled. Not that fake irritating noise I was used to, but a sincere laugh. “I can offer a deal if you like.”
I waved my free hand at him, hiding my smile. “My brain is too tired.”
“I assumed as much,” he said, skirting around in front of me, forcing me to stop. The humor had left his face, replaced by a frown. “Don’t put me in one of those trees.”
“You honestly think I would?” I asked, somewhat offended by the request. “I’ve grown to tolerate you quite well and maybe even like you a little. What makes you think I could do that to you?”
“Gordon has seen it,” he replied, his eyes scanning my face.
“You can’t tell me this now,” I insisted, understanding washing over me. This had to be what Dusha warned me about. “Not now.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Is that why you made your oath with the queen?” I asked. “Are you trying to make me trust you so I don’t kill you later?”
Braden looked away but didn’t move. “No, not really,” he replied, then cursed at the pain of his lie. “Okay, it was the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back. Gordon’s vision happened a very long time ago. When I realized your mother was sleeping with Cedric, I thought he was the one.” His shoulders flexed, flakes of dried blood floating to the ground. His lips curled, but he still didn’t move. “It still could be Cedric, but I don’t want it to be you.”
“Maybe Gordon is wrong.”
“He is rarely wrong.”
“I see.” I thought back to my conversation with Gordon. He’d said Braden and I would fight together to defeat Jack, which I totally believed. What else had he seen? “Even if Cedric does imprison you in one of those, I’ll release you.” His relief bombarded me, and I understood. If I couldn’t leave Ernesto to that fate, there was no way I’d leave Braden. “As long as you don’t do something really stupid between now and then to piss me off.”
“Of course, there must be stipulations,” he quipped, “but, thank you.”
“What was that?” I d
idn’t even try to suppress my grin. “I don’t think I heard you correctly.”
“Don’t be difficult,” he snapped.
“That’s like telling the sun not to shine. Now move. We need to get you cleaned up and presentable enough to get on a plane.”
He sidestepped, allowing me to pass him. “I’m hoping the hotel still has our luggage,” he said. “And an empty room. The shirt might be salvageable, but these trousers are not.”
Chapter 16
On the way back to the hotel, we stopped in one of the many small streams and managed to scrub most of Braden’s chest and back, but he was right. He really needed a change of clothes and a shower. Now, so did I. Keeping the filthy water off me was impossible.
“Thanks for sharing,” I grumbled, picking a clump of mud off my sleeve. I really liked my new shirt and fully intended to try to save it. Braden would think I was being silly, but I didn’t want him buying anything else for me.
We stopped on the outskirts of Mexico City. Its bright lights in the distance reminded me of Vegas, along with the rundown homes looming before us. “Should we just get a cab to the hotel?” I asked. “It might draw less attention.”
“I can run faster than a taxi in this traffic.”
“I don’t think I can,” I said. “I don’t have your stamina and I don’t feel like being carried either.”
“We don’t have time to cater to your comforts,” he said, holding his hand out to me.
I rolled my eyes, feeling his lie. We had time. He wasn’t worried about Jack looking for us like he had been just a few hours ago. Braden and his followers had killed all of Ernesto’s men, so unless Jack had left a welcome party at the hotel, there wasn’t any rush.
“Please.” He reached for my hand and lowered himself to one knee.
My face flushed and he smiled. Where was the arrogant, selfish vampire I’d learned to hate just a few weeks ago?
“You’re an ass,” I hissed, putting my foot on his knee and crawling onto his back.
He chuckled and took off as soon as my fingers looped together around his neck. His strong hands gripped my legs as they wrapped around his waist. We zipped between cars along the street, too fast for anyone to see, especially in the dark. The city lights whirled by, making my stomach uneasy. I squeezed my eyes shut and buried my face against his shoulder. The smell of earth and blood overpowered his natural sandalwood, making me even queasier.
Lucky for both of us, he arrived at the back of the hotel a few minutes later. I slid off his back and leaned over, resting my hands on my knees and taking slow, deep breaths. I refused to puke all over the sidewalk.
“Is something wrong?” Braden asked.
I looked up at him and scowled. It was none of his business. “Nope, I’m good.”
He raised an eyebrow at me and smiled. “Sure. Let’s go.”
I straightened up and followed him around the front of the hotel. Rather than go to the desk, he caught one of the bell boys and pulled him into a corner of the lobby. Braden really didn’t want to be seen like he was. It surprised me after he’d flaunted his bare chest in the parking lot in Phoenix.
The young man nodded emphatically as Braden spoke to him in Spanish, the vampire’s voice low.
“Sí, señor.” The bell hop hurried to the front desk and whispered to the woman standing there, then disappeared into the office.
“What did you tell him?” I whispered.
“I asked him if our luggage was still here and if we could get a room,” he replied.
“And?”
“He said yes.”
A few minutes later, the same man appeared in the nearest hall with a cart of suitcases. He motioned for us to follow him. They gave us one of the few rooms on the first floor. It was much smaller than the last with only one queen bed and a single chair.
Braden ushered me in and helped the man unload our luggage. I stood in the middle of the small, open space. Memories of our shared bite flickered through my mind as I stared at the bed. I needed to get away from the vampire standing next to me. He toyed with my emotions as much as everyone else did.
My suitcases appeared on top the bed and Braden stared down at me. “Hurry up in the shower. We need to be out of here in an hour,” he said.
“You go first,” I muttered. “You need it more than I do.”
“Are you saying I smell bad?” he asked, brushing past me.
“Yep, and it will give me time to decide what to wear.”
I listened to him rustle through his own suitcase, refusing to turn around and look. The familiar sound of a zipper made my face flush. Damn him! He wasn’t waiting to get into the bathroom to get naked. I opened my suitcase, leaving my back to him as I started sorting my own clothes. Why was he acting like this? I needed the asshole who looked down his nose at me, not this.
“I’m not locking the door,” he said.
I still didn’t turn around and a few seconds later, the shower came on.
“You didn’t even close the door,” I mumbled.
“Maybe it’s an invitation,” he called out.
“That I won’t accept,” I retorted.
A lump formed in my throat as I thought of the showers Logan and I had shared. I’d never feel him against me again. I didn’t even get the chance to explain what happened. Or that I did it because I loved him. I wanted to prevent his death, but I’d only made it happen faster. It wasn’t fair. I’d promised him I would fix whatever was keeping us apart, but I hadn’t. I’d just pushed him farther away.
I fell face first onto the bed and let my tears and sorrow suffocate me. My entire life felt like nothing but one big heartache. And tons of responsibility. Neither of which I wanted. A mental meltdown wouldn’t help anything, though. And I didn’t want Braden’s sympathy if he found me like this.
I pushed myself off the bed and rubbed my face with the end of my shirt. I’d already told myself no more tears. I needed to stick to it.
Folding a pair of pants and a shirt over my arm, along with another set of underclothes, I went to the open bathroom door. My knuckles rapped against the frame, but I didn’t look inside. The water was still running.
“Hurry up,” I called out. “You’re not the only one who needs a shower.”
“You could join me,” his voice echoed.
“Nope, not happening. Now quit stalling.”
I heard his wet feet hit the tile floor, but the shower hadn’t turned off. He walked out of the bathroom with a towel riding low around his waist, water dripping from his too long hair. I tried to keep my eyes on his, rather than watching the rivulets of water rolling down his chest. I couldn’t go there with him. I shook my head and pushed him out of the way, or at least tried. He didn’t budge, so I slid between him and the frame.
“I’m locking the door, which means don’t bug me.”
He grunted as I closed the door and turned the little lock. It wouldn’t keep him out, but hopefully my words would.
~~~~~~~
An hour later, we were once again at the airport. Only this time, it was nearly empty. Very few people traveled in the middle of the night. Braden stacked the small suitcases on top of the larger ones and dragged them through the terminal. Apparently, the porters didn’t work at night. Either that or they were all busy, which seemed unlikely.
Twenty minutes after that, we were on the plane without a stewardess. One of the pilots stepped into the cabin and looked at us with tired eyes.
“You guys know the safety drill, right?” he asked.
“Yes,” Braden said. “We don’t require anything special from you. Just get us to our destination in one piece.”
“Thanks. We’ll be taking off in less than ten minutes.” He didn’t wait for a response, just disappeared into the cockpit and closed the door.
“Where are we going?” I asked, kicking myself for not bothering to find that out before.
“Los Angeles,” he replied. “Gordon will be there waiting for us with a car.”
<
br /> “Oh.” It made sense. We couldn’t really fly into Vegas or Reno. LA was probably the best choice, especially since our journey had started in Phoenix the day before. If Jack was watching, we shouldn’t make it easy for him to figure out.
“Please fasten your seatbelts and turn off all electronic devices,” the pilot’s voice echoed over the intercom.
A flashback to the last time stopped me from reaching into my purse for my phone. It could stay on. I didn’t want to experience that again. Yes, it was stupid, but I couldn’t help it. I just knew Kellen’s face would be on my phone if I picked it up. Not happening.
“Do you want help sleeping?” Braden whispered from the chair next to me.
“No, I don’t think so,” I replied. A sad smile pulled on my lips. “You know your life has gone to hell when even the sleep button doesn’t work.”
“Sleep button?”
I laughed and looked up at him. No one should be that beautiful, especially someone without a soul. Only he had one now.
“Once upon a time, as soon as I sat down, I was sleeping. I called it the sleep button on my ass.”
“Maybe I can be your new sleep button,” he offered.
“No thanks.” I waved a hand at him. “Your method is too good. I’ll only wake up when you want me to.”
“That’s not true,” he argued, catching my hand. “My method is only good for about an hour. After that, you’ll wake up on your own.” He turned my hand over and kissed my palm, pinching the skin.
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Do you keep biting me without permission?”
“Possibly,” he replied. “Now that we’re already bonded, I’m no longer concerned about swapping blood.”
“Well, maybe I am.” I pulled my hand away from him. “I don’t want to be your blood donor.”
He averted my gaze and I didn’t miss the anger flashing between us.
“Let me have control of at least one part of my life,” I said.
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