by Colt, Shyla
Her mind had been blown with a simple kiss. An avalanche of emotions barreled toward her. “Crewe?” Her voice sounded fearful.
“It’s okay.” He closed the link between them.
“How can you feel all of that?” she asked, stunned.
“Everything is amplified for us. It’s why we have to keep such a tight rein on ourselves. This is why I asked if you were sure. There’s no easily flipped off switch.”
“I didn’t understand.” The weight of responsibility threatened to crush her.
“Are you regretting it so soon, flower?” His lips curled up into a sad smile.
The nickname melted away the apprehension. “I’m just trying to understand.”
“We’ll learn together. This is new to me, too. Vampires don’t have mates. Much like humans, we have a choice and free will.”
“And you chose me?” she said, humbled.
“There was no other choice.” He stood. “Enough. Now we eat.”
“The spell—”
“Can wait.”
Slightly dazed from the strange turn of events, she acquiesced.
* * *
CREWE
Sard. He was tightrope walking without a net. Worse, he was fool enough to think it might be worth it. Peering across the table to the woman eating her steak, salad, and baked potato with gusto, he felt his spirit lift for the first time in centuries. Always, he’d been dedicated to his men, Dregan, and the mission. She was new and dangerous territory. A weakness he couldn’t afford. The bond had been a slippery slope he continued to ride straight down. He’d never been this close to another person. The connection they shared differed from any he’d ever encountered. The one he held with Dregan came the closest. He felt deeply for the man who’d saved him from insanity and death.
Colors were brighter. He stared at the stained glass he’d seen a million times or more. The emerald scales on the dragon contrasted with the blue spines on his back, around his facial area, and the reds and oranges of his mouth and forked tongue. The wooden table was polished to a high shine. He could smell the lingering lemony scent from the cleaning crew they brought in monthly. She’d disrupted the monotony and woke him from an extended sleep.
“It’s weird eating while you sit there.”
“I’m having my lunch as well.” He lifted his goblet. “It’s just liquid.”
“Can you eat?”
He grimaced. “If I have to. It does nothing for me. My body doesn’t break it down like yours. We sweat the unnecessary things out in blood.”
“No going out to eat. Got it.”
“You make light of these things?” He’d spent so long hiding the things that made him different, her easy acceptance felt wrong.
“Dude. I have purple eyes when I get angry, I crave blood, and we don’t know what the hell else I might start doing at some point. I can’t throw stones when I live in a glass house. Besides, aren’t we trying to build a better world? Saving the shitty one seems a little pointless unless we’re trying to do better. That means bringing our people together.”
“You ask for too much.”
“No, I ask for what we should’ve already done to be started.”
He shook his head. “Not everyone will take kindly to that point of view. My people are slow to change—”
“And look where that’s gotten them. If I’m the savior of the world, I should have some say in things.”
“You can speak out all you want. It doesn’t mean they’ll listen. The approach has to be particular.” Most of the vampires in charge were old school. An opinionated slip of a woman who was a witch to boot? Her words would automatically fall on deaf ears.
“So, they expect me to help them, risk my life, and then … what, remain silent? Bow down like a servant? Slavery and the oppression of women are both over.” Her eyes flashed purple and her full lips puckered. The fire inside of her shone bright. He was drawn to the light she gave off like a bonfire. Her passion and spirit attracted him like a bee to honey. There was an intrinsic sweetness that dripped from her pores, and he wanted to sample every drop. She was life after centuries of death.
“I can’t speak for all of them, but know you’ll be facing an uphill battle.”
“Will I face it alone?”
Could he turn his back on his people after a lifetime spent serving them? The ring of his phone broke the peace.
“I’ll be right back.” He moved quickly to answer it. He was unsurprised to see Dreagan’s number.
“Hello.”
“Have you found the answer?” Dregan asked. The lack of pleasantries told him his boss was feeling the pressure. If nothing, Dregan preferred to keep things civilized.
“Not yet. She had a vision today. A breakthrough maybe. We know what we’re looking for. The books we’ve gathered react differently to her.”
“Differently how?” Dregan asked.
“She sees things in them we never could. I watched her read from what appeared to be a blank page.”
Dregan gave a humorless laugh. “Clever witches. I need more.” The sadness in his tone seeped over the airwaves.
“What’s happened?” Crewe braced himself for impact. The loses they’d suffered recently were severe casualties.
“We had an unexpected situation among the old ones. We put him to ground in hopes he’ll recover later, once we’ve found a cure and set things to right. We had to put down his inner circle. They attacked once he did.”
Crewe bowed his head and rubbed his eye. “Who?” They couldn’t afford to lose old ones.
“I told you, an old one and his personal coven.”
“Dregan …” He put the emphasis in his tone. He was trying to keep things from him.
“Kazimir.”
“Kaz?” His voice shook. The arrogant, impeccably dressed, and light-hearted vampire had been one of the first to welcome him into their life. As a child of Dregan who he’d pledged himself to with a blood oath, they were family in a way. The same blood ran through their veins.
“It was the same illness?” Crewe asked.
“Yes. It’s like they’ve lost their ability to know when it’s time to go to ground, and it’s leading them to go past the point of no return.”
“Perhaps they are. The book mentioned the decline of the spell as far back as the early eighteen hundreds. Keeta believes they must’ve taken some preventive measure to keep things from falling apart until now.”
“Interesting theory. How is she adapting?”
“Better than we could’ve anticipated. Between researching we train.”
“Is she ready?”
“No, but she will be.”
“I will arrive soon for a visit.” If his heart still beat, it’d be racing. “I want to see who we’ll be putting all of our trust in.”
“We’ll be expecting you.” He heard the words that went unsaid. If Dregan wasn’t impressed with what he saw, there’d be hell to pay. Their time was running out faster than either had anticipated.
Retracing his steps, he formed a plan.
“What happened?”
“That was Dregan. He’ll be visiting us soon.”
“That’s bad, isn’t it?”
“It depends on the progress we made,” he answered carefully.
“You want me to do that spell now?” She pushed her plate away.
Folding his hands behind his back, he opened his mouth to eat a healthy helping of crow. “Yes, I believe it would be prudent.”
She smirked. “I love it when you speak the Queen’s English.”
“It’s the proper English. You Yankees have desecrated it.” He shook his head
“Oh, is a certain vampire expressing pride for his across the pond status?”
“We were here first, darling. You left and came over here to escape us, but it doesn’t make you less a part of us when you boil it all down.”
“Touché, Brit.”
Only this woman would be bold enough to tease him.
�
�I’ve ended people for such blatant shows of disrespect. You know that, right?”
She arched an eyebrow. “But I’m not most people, am I?”
“No, you’re not. I’m still deciding if that’s a good thing.”
“You and me both.” She sighed. “I need a few things for the spell.”
“We have an apothecary’s worth of herbs available.” Her eyes lit up and he chuckled. “Such a sassy little witch.”
* * *
A concoction of oil, marigold, rosemary, clove, mugwort, lavender, jasmine, and rose later, Keeta was in heaven. She ground the mixture up with a mortar and pestle, releasing the fragrant scent of the freshly dried herbs. The sweet and savory blended together to form a pleasant aroma. Sage burned in an abalone shell. It was one thing to know how things worked, and another to see them being used. Her warm honey brown skin glowed with a power that made her appear ethereal.
Loose, her curls tumbled around her body as she hummed. It was easy to envision a witch of old working in the small stone enclosure they’d turned into a witch’s kitchen. A hearth stood across the room and shelves were lined with herbs, salts, pots, and equipment. He’d never worked closely with a witch, though there were free-lance practitioners who would do a spell for the right price. Dregan took care of those and oversaw the stocking of this space.
Life had been about orders and responsibilities before. Now, he wondered about the witch. How did Dregan know her? They worked together on numerous occasions. Why did they have so much tolerance for one another? It shamed him to realize he’d become a robot. He did what he was ordered, asked no questions, and put no thought into things. He’d fallen into a rut where living stopped and existing began.
“Okay. All done.”
“Now what?”
“You can leave, or sit still and silent like a statue while I anoint myself with oil and go into a trance.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
“I figured as much.” She sighed. “Going into a trance can be dangerous if I’m distracted, and it’s going to be harder with you here. It requires total relaxation and vulnerability. If you stay you need to be mindful of your emotions and our connections. You don’t need to shut the link down, but you need to limit it.”
He gave a curt nod, ignoring the spark of irritation that tried to catch at the self-imposed distance. He moved to sit across from her against the wall, as she sat on a pile of pillows, crossed her legs, and rested her hands lightly on her knees. Closing her eyes, she inhaled and exhaled. Calm swept through the room. His chest rose and feel, synching to her as he sank into a meditative state of his own.
He retreated into the parts of his mind he rarely visited. The center of his brain was a peaceful oasis. A lush green area, shaded perfectly by an overcast sky, and a crisp, windy day with a light drizzle. It was the weather he’d grown up with. The scent of freshly baked pies drifted to where he sat on a stone bench.
“Crewe.” He glanced up, stunned by the appearance of Kazimir. Mental conversation wasn’t unusual between those of the same bloodline, but it was incredibly rare because they rarely let their guard down this way.
“Are you really here?”
“Yes. It’s easier to use the energy I have when I’m in the ground this way.”
“What happened?”
“What happened was planned. It was a sacrifice I was willing to make for the greater good. The only future where we survive is one that sees witches and vampires united. When the spell was damaged it acted like a poison injected into all of us. Slowly over the years it’s caused more aggression, darkness, and now the final death rattle of insanity. You have to be very careful who you trust. Minds are being warped by this invasion and people aren’t who they once were.”
“You believe we have a traitor in our midst?”
“Yes.”
“And why do you know so much?”
“About a year ago, I was approached by a coven of witches.”
“And they lived?” Crewe asked, stunned.
“They outnumbered me. They were powerful, and only looking to talk. I knew it’d be easier to hear them out than it would be to fight. The things they told me rang true, and the rest terrified me. It takes a lot to do that.”
“What did they say?”
“They saw the end for all of us if we didn’t work together. They knew about the search. Things from before my time as a vampire that no one else knew. So, when they told me what would happen if we don’t succeed, I believed them.”
“Why did they come to you?”
“They saw that my future was connected to them. They’re the reason I’m still rational and able to talk to you.”
“Why can’t we do this for all of us?” Crewe asked. The thought of a temporary cure was exciting.
“It took the entire coven to do this, and it’s been draining. It wouldn’t be a solution.” He shook his head. “Not to mention, they’d have to trust the witches enough to let them close, and we both know we’re a long way away from that. Your girl will be able to help.”
“You know about Keeta?”
Kaz nodded. “She was also in their visions.”
The thought concerned him. He bristled. He didn’t know these people.
“They’re on her side. None of us would ever endanger her. She’s the light in these dark times. Come and find the coven. I’m weakening and there’s still much left to explain.”
“Where are you?”
“Savannah, Georgia. The spells have been laid. They’ll find you when you arrive.”
“I’m not sure that’s reassuring, Kaz.”
“I have to go. Remember what I said. Savannah, Georgia.” Kaz said.
“Got it.”
“Come soon.” He faded away, and Crewe was pulled from his peaceful place. He blinked and found Keeta kneeling before him.
“Crewe?”
“I’m here.”
She sat back on her heels. “Where did you go?”
“To visit with a friend.” He focused on her features. “Are you okay?”
“Yes. We have a lot of work to do and not much time.” Overwhelmed, she tugged on her on her braid.
“Who told you that?”
“My great-grandmother. I don’t think I would’ve listened to anyone else.” Bashfully, she rubbed the back of neck.
Apprehension slithered down their bond.
“What did she say, Nakeeta?”
“We need to strengthen our bond.”
“Is that what you’re worried about?” He cupped her chin. “That is already happening. What’s wrong?”
“We need to drink from one another.” She peered down, hiding behind her long, dark lashes.
“Blood exchanges will make everything go faster.” Picking at her shirt, she avoided his gaze.
She struggled with the urge to fidget. “There may be side effects.”
“Is that what you’re worried about?” he asked.
She lifted her gaze to meet his blue eyes. “Aren’t you?”
His eyes were kind and softer than they’d been when they first meet. The man had changed so much during their time together. And maybe I have, too. “We choose who we connect to. I’ve already made my decision. Nothing you can do will alter that. This may accelerate things, but it won’t take away my choice.” That someone could care about his rights floored him. This woman had a big heart. How could he not want her? The purity that radiated off her made him feel clean, like he could one day be worthy of the gift her affection and devotion would be. He stroked his thumb down the side of her neck, circling her pulse point.
Her breathing increased. “You barely know me.”
“It is only with the heart one can see rightly,” he quoted a line from The Little Prince.
“The Little Prince?”
He nodded. “Until you I had begun to doubt I still possessed the organ. There was never another option.”
Her faced heated. He ran his thumb down her high cheekbone, chasing the warmt
h.
“Crewe.” Her lips trembled.
“I’m not looking for anything more than what you’re ready to give. I’m a man who has nothing but time, and you’re a woman worth waiting a lifetime for. I’d say we’re perfectly matched.”
Her lips twitched upward. “Well when you put it like that …”
“What else did she say?”
“Because that wasn’t enough? Are you trying to tempt fate?”
“No, I’m reading your emotions through the bond.”
“If we wanted to survive this we needed to lean on each other and be careful who we trust.”
He nodded thoughtfully. “Yes, Kaz said much the same. He wanted us to meet a coven of vampire and witches who want to help us.”
“Where?”
“Savannah, Georgia.”
“Well that’ll be simple then. Do you trust him?”
“Kaz? I want to.”
“But you still feel uncertain?” Cocking her head to the side, she studied him.
He cupped her face in his hands. “I will never take unnecessary risks when it comes to you.”
“Because I’m the chosen one, right? Just call me Keeta Potter.”
“I think we both know it’s beyond that.” He skimmed his lips over hers. She fisted his shirt, and pressed her lips toward his, slipping her tongue between his parted lips. The initiation lit a spark inside of him. He pulled her onto his lap and tilted his head as he devoured her full lips. She tasted like grapefruit with sprinkles of sugar. He fed on her lips, sucking down the goodness and hope she offered.
Allowing himself to feel, he placed his duty on the back burner, and drowned in the emotions she brought forth. She wrapped her arms and legs around him, surrounding him in her scent and with her caring. Like a staved man, he took it all in and held it close. Storing the memory in to his heart. Their link hummed between them and for a moment he swore he felt his heart beat again.
Chapter Seven
