I looked away. “It doesn’t matter. Just let it go.”
Aldric leaned forward. “I saw how you reacted, Gray. Maybe I’ll just go ask him myself.” He started to get up out of his chair.
I hesitated and took a deep breath. “Fine. He said—”
“You are mine.” Dragos strolled into the study with urgency. His chest was puffed out and his bronzed skin radiated from the effects of my blood. It pumped through his veins like it was his own.
Aldric whipped his head around to look at him, cocking it to the side. “Excuse me?”
Dragos raised his voice. “Esti al meu is what I said to her. It means, you are mine.”
Aldric slammed his fist onto the table and sprang to his feet. He charged toward him and looked him square in the eye. “You’ve got a lot of nerve, I’ll give you that. But Gray does not belong to you. She never has.”
I jumped up and tried to wedge myself in between them. “Guys, can we just calm down please. This is not the time for this.” They both shrugged me off.
Dragos snickered. “That’s funny because she felt like mine when she was moaning underneath me at our cabin.”
Aldric’s fist flew into Dragos’s jaw. I gasped as he staggered back, laughing and rubbing his chin. His eyes flashed red as he smacked both hands into Aldric’s chest, sending him flying backward into the fireplace.
My pulse quickened, and I dashed in between them again. They were going to tear each other apart. I cried out for them to stop just as The Keeper ran in.
He scowled at both of them. “Enough. We’re running out of time. Jezebel will torch another village in twelve hours if we don’t stop her.” The Keeper gave each of us a look of disapproval.
Aldric and Dragos backed off each other. I let out a sigh of relief and sank back down in my chair.
Valentina walked in and chuckled as she eyed them both. “I always miss the fun stuff.”
I rolled my eyes at her as Dragos and Aldric continued to glare at each other from across the room.
The Keeper twisted his mouth in annoyance. “The human descendants have all been linked. You have your army. Now get going and try not to kill each other on the way there.”
I had created two monsters. Neither would rest until the other was out of the way. They would stop listening to me at some point. When the threat had been dealt with, they would just go back to being at war with each other. How could I love them both and not hate myself? There were no good outcomes. Only chaos and pain. But I had to know the truth.
I gave Dragos a knowing look and slipped out into the main hall. My heart beat fast as he followed at a distance. I wound my way around the corridors and led him down into the catacombs.
I spun around and waited for him to catch up. His eyes lit up as he started toward me.
I held out my hands to keep him at bay. “I didn’t lead you down here for that.” I raised an eyebrow.
Dragos smirked. “Well that’s disappointing, but I’m intrigued, nonetheless.”
I took a deep breath and looked him in the eyes. “Why didn’t you tell me what was really going on? You let me hate you all this time. I know about the coma—that you were only protecting me.”
His smirk faded, and his eyes widened. “It wasn’t my place to tell you. I was following orders.”
I grabbed his hand. “Dragos, I’ve been horrible to you, and you just took it. How can you even still love me?”
He squeezed my hand. “I did what I had to do to keep you safe. If that meant you hating me, then so be it. I would do it again if I had to. There’s nothing you can do to make me stop loving you, Gray.”
My heart fluttered. “But because of it, I fell in love with Aldric. You understand that, right? Don’t hate him for that.”
Dragos let go of my hand. “I don’t. I hate myself. I hate this war. The only thing I regret is not telling you sooner.”
I nodded and kissed his cheek before turning to leave. This tangled web we had woven was keeping us from moving forward. I loved them both in different ways. I was hurting them both just the same. Maybe they were both better off without me.
Aldric was waiting for me in our room when I returned. He sat by the fire with his head in hands.
I nudged his hand. “You okay?”
He rubbed his eyes and sat up. “How am I supposed to compete with him? He has this hold on you, Gray. He always has. I love you, but I don’t know how much more I can take.”
My stomach dropped. “I don’t blame you for doubting me. None of this has been fair to you. I understand if you want out. I know how it looks, but you have to believe me when I say you’re the one I want to be with.”
He studied my face pensively. “I want to believe that. I really do. Promise me you’ll never sleep with him again.”
I nodded. “With Apollo as my witness, I promise. It will never happen again.”
Would my promise be enough though? Would he ever feel safe around me again? I had to believe that it would, or I could lose everything we worked so hard to build.
Twenty-One
Everyone had a job to do. A role to fulfill. The mood was one of order and intention. The clock was a ticking time bomb. It was an alarm that could not be turned off. The rooms of the Hall were filled with soldiers. My soldiers. They sharpened knives, polished swords, fitted armor, and gathered their potions. Faces, painted in streaks of blood, flashed their war eyes. A kaleidoscope of colors reflected their shadow selves. From golden ambers and emerald greens to deep ruby reds and every shade in between. They readied themselves as they waited for my command.
The ships came in droves. Tobias’s, Arcadia’s, and Lycos’s ships all lined up in the harbor. Fleets full of Witches, Lupi, Dhampirs, and Rougarou armies flooded the Sea of Magia like a parade of marching ants. With their flags waving, high and proud, they all had a stake in this war. Each coven had something to gain and something to lose if we failed.
Jezebel and her Serpent Bearers had taken something from everyone. The human village that had been burned to the ground contained descendants of everyone here. Witches were taken as sacrifices to Lamia, Lupi and Rougarou had been slaughtered like farm animals, and Dhampir soldiers had been taken over by mind control. Our sisters and brothers, our lovers, and for some of us, our entire families—ripped apart for their cause. No longer at war with each other, we had come together to save us all.
I stood in the war room, facing the coven heads. I surveyed the room and spotted Lycos. A fresh tattoo marked his chest—the Helm of Awe. Arcadia snuck glances at him from just a few feet away, her hair knotted into three thick braids down her back. Josephine, who was back in charge of the Crescent Witches, stood to my right while her son, Samuel, peered out from behind her, eyeing me with contempt. A few more faces I recognized were Nadia of the Striga coven in Romania and Zari of the Rain Maker coven of healers.
Aldric, Dragos, and Valentina stood behind me while The Keeper stood in the center of the room. Some of us had been enemies in the past, some would be again. But right now we had one common enemy that threatened to destroy us all.
The Keeper raised his hands for silence. “We welcome you, coven leaders, to our sacred home. We welcome your warriors and your ships. You have chosen wisely by aligning with us. Now, as I am just a humble servant of the gods, I present to you Gray Wynter, daughter of Tobias Wynter, drinker of the Narcissus flower, blessed by the Fates, and the newly appointed leader of the Consilium.”
A burst of gasps and murmurs broke out among the crowd. My heart raced. Valentina’s mouth dropped open. Dragos snickered, and Aldric looked down at the ground.
Earlier, when I agreed to take over, The Keeper insisted it be kept quiet until everyone was in the same room. It was strategic, but the guilt clawed at me for keeping it from my friends. From Aldric especially.
I stepped forward. “Thanks for coming. You will all be given specific instructions shortly. No one touches Jezebel. I will handle her. When all of this is over, we will reconvene here to
discuss our future as covens, including our differences and our alliances. But now we must fight together. It’s the only way we survive. Get ready. We march on the temple in an hour.”
The coven leaders scurried about, giving orders and whispering to each other. If they didn’t already fear me before, they definitely did now.
Aldric raised an eyebrow at me. “Three months ago we were trying to destroy the Consilium. Now we are joining them? What did I miss?”
I let out a sigh. “We’re rebuilding them. It will be different now. Better. Tobias knows his methods only worked in the dark ages. It’s time for new leadership. The Dhampir covens need it.”
Dragos chuckled. “What’s the matter, Aldric? Feeling emasculated? I actually like my women in charge. It turns me on.” He winked as Aldric’s face flushed red with anger.
Valentina rolled her eyes and inserted herself between them. “As much as I enjoy your witty banter, it’s time for Gray to head to the ceremony room.”
I nodded as she ushered me away. I flashed her a look of relief and mouthed thank you as she giggled and then winked back at them.
She batted her lashes at me. “You know you are going to have to make a decision between them at some point, right?”
My cheeks flushed. “I’m with Aldric. Dragos is just playing his usual games to get a rise out of me.”
Valentina arched an eyebrow. “Sure, keep telling yourself that.”
If there was one thing Valentina was good at, it was knowing when I was lying to myself. And I was a bad liar.
The Keeper met us in the ceremony room. The pomegranate seeds had been extracted and brewed into a tonic, but I needed a blessing from the gods before I could drink it.
My nerves were shot. “What is this going to do to me?”
The Keeper looked apprehensive as he shook his head. “I can’t say. Hera’s power is ancient. It may bring you more darkness, or it may not work at all. You won’t know for sure until Jezebel drinks from you.”
It was a risk I had to take. “The Fates led me to her. I have to believe they wouldn’t steer me in the wrong direction.”
The Keeper nodded and motioned for Valentina to leave us. He shut the door behind her and led me over to the sacred oak tree.
He grasped my hands. “Let us begin.”
The tonic was sweet and thick, like syrup. It tickled the back of my throat as it slid down. My skin tingled as the nectar pushed into my bloodstream. My head was light, dizzy, but in a euphoric way. Like being drunk on fruit.
A soft humming noise simmered in my ears. An ancient song I had never heard, but it comforted me like an old friend. Hera whispered to me above it. Her voice was smooth and sweet like honey. I couldn’t make out the words, but it comforted me as well.
I blinked a few times to bring the room back into focus. The lightness subsided, and my heartbeat returned to normal.
I could still taste the nectar on my tongue. “I think it worked.”
The Keeper breathed a sigh of relief. “Now all you have to do is get Jezebel to bite you. Hera’s power will do the rest.”
He made it sound like it would be easy. Get my own mother to drink my blood and destroy the Serpent Bearers forever. I knew better than anyone that all magic came at a price, and there was no easy path to paying it.
The Keeper pursed his lips. “There’s one more thing. It’s about Dragos and Aldric. You are linked to both of them now. In different ways, but linked nonetheless. If you’re not careful, their jealousy will destroy you, and themselves.”
My stomach turned. He was right, but I was sick of being reminded of it.
I snapped, “I’ve got it under control.”
The Keeper bowed his head. “Of course. My apologies.” He could not hide the gleam in his eye that seemed to say, right, sure you do.
The only thing I could afford to focus on right now was keeping them from killing each other, maintaining order in the covens, and taking Jezebel down.
Twenty-Two
Zari’s war drums were already thumping as we marched toward our fleets. A twinge of sadness poked at my belly. Seven should be with us. I made a promise to myself that I would find a way to bring him back after this was all over.
The Resistance and the Deam Morte both raised black sails as a symbol of our union. The other ships followed suit. With six hours till our deadline left, we loaded our crews and weapons and set sail for the temple.
I drew in a long breath of salty air as footsteps came up behind me. “What is it?”
Dragos chuckled. “Always to the point with you.” He turned me toward him. “I forgot to tell you when we were in the catacombs, but I just wanted to thank you for saving my life. You didn’t even hesitate.”
I shrugged. “I needed you for this battle. Don’t get sentimental.” My heart was pounding.
He smirked. “You can deny it all you want, but I know that you still love me. I felt it in your blood when I drank from your wrist.”
A lump formed in my throat. “I love Aldric. You know this.”
He took my chin in his hand. “Yes, you love him like a puppy. But you want me. You’re in love with me.”
I pushed his hand away. “So, we’re back to this again? You may have had a good reason for putting me in that coma, but it still created a domino effect of events that I can’t change back. We’ve discussed this. Whatever feelings I have for you now are just the residuals left from another lifetime. Like a hangover. Despite everything, you and I are not good for each other. We’re dark and destructive. Aldric makes me feel safe.”
Dragos snapped, “You’ll grow bored of safe. When this war is over and you’re sitting in your little love nest in New Orleans, you’ll look around and wonder how to stay awake. When your flesh starts to suffocate you from the dullness of your existence, you’ll wish you had chosen me.”
His words stung. I swallowed hard. “When this war is over, you need to forget about me.”
He shook his head and stomped off. All the hairs on the back of my neck stood up.
My throat tightened. “How long have you been listening?”
Aldric stepped out of the shadows. “Long enough. Was he right? Are you gonna get bored with me?”
My heart sank. I threw my arms around his neck. “No. Safe doesn’t mean boring. You are the most fascinating person I know. Don’t let him get under your skin.”
He seemed to be mulling it over. His eyes reflected the sea, bright blue but stormy. I traced his brow with my fingertips.
A hint of mischief returned to his face. “Come with me.”
He grabbed my hand and pulled me below deck. No one gave us a second glance as we passed. He led me to a cabin in the ship and locked the door behind us.
A shiver ran up my spine. “Aldric what are you—”
His lips crashed down hard on mine. A hunger came over me as I pulled his hips toward me. He grabbed my waist and lifted me up onto a crate. My skin was on fire. We clawed at each other like wolves. I let out a gasp as he entered me. I threw back my head, shattering the porthole behind me. My body tingled as the cool ocean breeze danced over my sweat soaked flesh.
The crate broke underneath me sending splinters of wood sprawling out in every direction. Our bodies slammed onto the deck as we rocked harder. With one final thrust, I squeezed him into me as we both cried out with wild abandon. My legs trembled as wave after wave of ecstasy washed over me.
He sank down next to me, breathless and drenched in sweat.
I let out a deep sigh, a delirious smile stretching out across my lips. “Now that, my love, was anything but boring.”
Aldric grinned. “I still have a few tricks up my sleeve, darlin’.”
That he did. A refreshing reminder of what I had. I wished we could have stayed like this forever. We could just take the ship and sail away. But I knew in my heart if we did, there wouldn’t be a world to sail back to.
The drums echoed like thunder as we approached the beach. A call to arms. A warning to surre
nder. The Serpent Bearers stood, unwavering, in the sand. With wicked smiles on their faces, they hissed and slithered like snakes. Their faces were painted white, like ghosts.
I drew out my sword and thrusted it high above my head. The drums beat louder. I looked from left to right as my ships moved into formation. My heart pounded in my chest and my eyes shifted to black.
In one swift motion, I aimed my sword toward the beach and hurdled off the ship. Battle cries rang out behind me as all the covens descended onto the shore.
A volley of arrows shot past me as I touched down on the beach. I didn’t have to look to know Aldric was right behind me. Valentina sprang over me with her daggers out. With Dragos on my left and Lycos on my right, they had formed a circle around me as we marched.
The Serpent Bearers didn’t flinch. They returned fire with lightning bolts. Little sparks of electricity that shot out from their fingertips. Grains of sand turned to glass as they struck. The Crescent Witches moved into formation and sent a water spell toward three of them, frying them on impact.
We moved steadfast with me in the center. Dragos deflected lightning bolts with his sword while Zari and her coven made it rain. Valentina slashed in every direction as Aldric pumped one after another full of arrows.
The Lupi and the Rougarou flanked the last group on both sides. The Serpent Bearers stood, motionless. Their eyes rolled back in their head as they opened their hands to reveal long, dark violet branches wrapped around their fingers.
My heart raced. Poisoned wolfsbane. I called out to Lycos. “Everybody, get back.”
It was too late. The wolves charged. The Serpent Bearers moved with grace, slashing at them with their branches of wolfsbane. One by one, the wolves whimpered and collapsed to the ground, writhing in pain.
Arcadia screamed and darted past me. I reached out and pulled her back.
She pushed me off. “Let me go. They’re dying.”
I grabbed her again. “And so will you if you go over there.”
Flesh and Bone (Blood and Darkness Book 2) Page 12
