by Colt, Shyla
“She is my mate.”
Lav’s dark brown eyes widened. “Is that such a wise choice given her importance?”
A snarling growl rumbled in his chest. “If you try to come between us, you will not like the end result.”
“Distractions are dangerous and lead to mistakes,” Lav stated.
“I wasn’t aware that sharing a safe haven made you our leader. If this is the case, I respectfully decline. You see, I was alive and, on the battlefield, before you were a thought. Among your circle, you may be old, young one, but I am your elder a dozen times over.” He stood taller as the icy haughtiness decimated her. Lavina shrank back under his glower.
“She gets the picture, vampire. Now is not the time to play who has the biggest dick. You’d win by default.” Reagan’s dry humor broke the staring contest.
Lavina bristled as she lowered her gaze. Crewe’s shoulders relaxed slightly.
“I came to you because of Kaz. My faith is in him, not you. Don’t pretend to know me, what I’m capable of, or how dedicated I am to the cause. Keeta is mine. Accept it and treat her according to our customs, or we will come to blows sooner rather than later.”
A thrill swept through her as he staked his claim. The pride and possessiveness burned brightly through their bond. She took a fighting stance behind him, lending her silent support, and showing despite her vampire’s high-handed ways, she was no weakling.
Clenching her teeth, Lavina gave a stiff vow. “We have an understanding.”
Crewe nodded. “Then we shall proceed.”
* * *
CREWE
He didn’t like the odds. They were two people, facing six. He had no clue how powerful the other witches or vampires were. Lavina was two hundred years old, and what she lacked in years, she made up for with the chip on her shoulder. He carefully noted the directions as they left the city behind and wound their way through the city in the Navy-blue SUV with blacked-out windows. Keeta remained beside him, silent as she slowly flipped her way through the aging papers of the journal. The scent of aged parchment, old ink, saline, and desperation unnerved him. The item felt cursed. Slowly, he moved his hand closer, waiting for the burn. His fingers touched the leather.
“You and I are one. Of course, it wouldn’t hurt you.” Keeta’s admonishment made him smirk mentally. She’d come so far from their first encounter in the hospital room. He admired the woman she’d become. Returning his attention to the drive, he tensed. Pressure on his skin made him shift in his seat.
“You feel it so strongly?” Reagan asked
“Feel what?” He memorized the feeling, gathering information like intel for a battle.
“The wards.” Lavina peered at him through the back mirror.
“Yes.”
“Curious,” Reagan muttered.
“Why?”
“Because you’re responding as a witch would,” Keeta said quietly.
“Are you finding anything interesting in there?” Lavina asked.
“That’s one way of putting it.”
The weariness in her reply put him on alert.
“What?”
“This will require tedious rituals. I’ll need to go through a purification process, a full moon.” She paused. Apprehension flooded him.
“What?” he asked impatiently.
“You won’t like it. I’ll need to perform blood magic.”
He flinched. “Isn’t that dark?”
“It’s a gray area that’s hinged on intentions.”
“You’re downplaying how dangerous it can be.” Anger rose. “Do not hold things back from me.”
“Okay.”
Unconvinced by her tone, he grabbed her chin and forced her to meet his gaze. “I meant it.”
“So, you are the only one allowed to protect me? Never the other way around?” The ire in her voice amused him.
“When the fate of the world rests on you, yes. We can fight over dominance after this is over.”
Huffing, she jerked from his grasp and lifted the book to block his view. Sending her laughter through their link, he kept his attention on their guides and the surroundings. They’d long left the city and twisted their way through the countryside. The intensity of the wards told him they were nearing their final destination. Moving deeper into a forested area, the trees grew together overhead, giving them additional shelter from the sun’s rays.
“Do you move around during the day?” He wanted to take stock of what these people were capable of.
“Yes, more and more often now.” The concern in Lavina’s voice matched his own.
The sun’s rays chased them farther into the depths of the forest. They turned off the main road onto a private drive. The press of others became noticeable. He could feel them, waiting at their final destination. There was no animosity he could sense. This new skill would take getting used to. In a world bent on hiding emotions, being able to sense the will of others felt like a gross invasion of privacy.
“We chose this property because the land was unkempt and overgrown. Most have forgotten the house existed.” After a ten-minute drive through an urban jungle, the two-story, plantation style home with a wraparound porch came into view. Painted a garish pink, it reminded him of a Barbie home.
“The girls won the color vote,” Reagan muttered, glumly.
“And yet, you never let us forget it, so did we really win?” Lavina countered.
“It looks like a Barbie house!” Keeta sat up straight and pressed her nose to the window. Her delight was contagious. His lips twitched upward.
“It’s the perfect cover for a group of witches and vampires, no? At best, they think we’re eccentric artists. Everyone forgives your oddities once they realize you’re artistic.” Lavina’s voice swelled with pride.
“We occasionally sell paintings and sculptures in town. It keeps our story realistic, and they never know we’ve woven spells into them,” Regan added.
“What kind?” Crewe asked.
“Protective and monitoring. They give us a heads up on who comes into our town, and ward off most others.” Regan supplied the answers as they drove into an empty space among other cars and turned the engine off.
“Who creates the art?” Keeta asked.
“Cian and Silver do the painting. Lavina and I work with clay. Sculptures and pottery mostly. Rainer knits, and Cyprian creates the most incredible jewelry as well as paints.”
“You’ve created a cozy haven for yourself,” Crewe said.
“We’ve done all right,” Reagan replied evenly.
“The others are waiting anxiously.” Lavina turned into her seat. “Are you prepared to meet them?”
“The sooner we get the ball rolling, the better.” Keeta closed her book and sat up straight. “Surely, you feel the urgency I do.”
“I think you are directly connected to the events and it affects you differently.” Reagan’s word was thoughtful.
“Regan has a special talent for seeing things that aren’t obvious to the rest of us,” Lavina explained.
Crewe opened the door and helped her down. Eyes scanning the property, he followed Lavina and Reagan, keeping his body between them and Keeta. Though it pricked her pride, she allowed him to take the lead. The door opened into a large entryway where the others stood lined up to greet them. They ranged in height, shape, ethnicity, and hair colors. Each had their own personalities. From the long, silvery purple locks of the willowy vampire, to the white blond-haired witch with a mohawk dressed in ripped jeans and an old Nirvana shirt, they appeared to be at ease with themselves and each other. An impressive feat.
The petite brunette with the short pixie-cut stepped forward. Her pale pink cupid’s bow lips were curved into a smile, and her almond-shaped, amber-colored eyes welcomed them warmly.
“I’m Rainer. It’s lovely to meet you and your mate.”
He quirked an eyebrow.
“I see auras, and yours blend together,” Rainer answered the unspoken question. “The bl
ond behemoth is Cian. He’s terrifying but kind, I assure you.” The arctic blue eyes studying them made Crewe doubt her statement.
Cian bowed slightly. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” His voice held a faint Eastern European accent. There was a sense that didn’t fit with the image he portrayed. The discrepancy made him uneasy. He placed his hand on Keeta’s hip behind him, refusing to let her come closer.
“I have extended my life many times,” he explained.
“Wow.” Keeta’s head popped out from behind him. “That’s rare.”
Cian smiled. “It’s a family secret.” There was more to his story than he let on.
“Our resident purple-haired princess is Silver,” Rainer continued.
“I am starting to understand how the house came to be pink,” Crewe said.
Silver let out a tinkling laugh. “Oh, he might be a bit of all right.”
Her British accent told him she hailed from Yorkshire.
“Quite the eclectic group you’ve gathered.” Crewe wasn’t sure how to feel about that. It wasn’t in vampires to reach out of their comfort zone and befriend others.
“When people have a similar, peculiar interest, they tend to end up in the same circle,” the man at the end spoke with a cool, French-accented voice.
“Last but not least this is Cyprian.” The vampire was no more than five-foot-seven inches, but the aura of power he possessed made him seem twice that size. Long, black hair was pulled back into a ponytail, leaving his delicate features on display. His thin lips curled up in a smile.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Crewe. Though I wish it weren’t under such circumstances.”
“You know me, vampire?”
“Your reputation and that of your sire precede you. I make a point of knowing major players.”
“It’s a smart thing to do.” Vampires respected power.
“Oui.”
“You are the thing that pulls us all together, Mother,” Rainer said. Crewe watched on, stunned as they knelt before her.
“You wondered what bound us. Hope that this moment would come. We’ve prepared for this for years. Rainer is a seer. She found us and assembled our family. We will swear a blood oath to our fealty if you wish it.”
He turned to see Lavina smile sadly. “Our mission is too important to let quibbles get in the way of success.”
“Rise. I am no better than any of you.” Keeta’s voice rang out. “It was separation and superiority that got us here. I am honored that each of you are willing to help. We’ve much work to do.”
“She has the seer’s journal,” Silver’s voice said in awe.
“The next moon we must perform the revealing ritual to find the map. It will lead us to the others who will help me repair and recast the spell.”
“You’ve seen it?” Cian asked.
“No. All four of us must be together for that.”
“Brilliant,” Silver whispered.
“Indeed,” Crewe agreed.
“The next full moon is in a week,” Cyprian added.
“Good. We’ll need that entire time to prepare. It requires purification and a lot of magic. We’ll need to be well rested and well fed.”
“It’s finally happening,” Rainer whispered. She closed her eyes and placed a hand on her heart. “There were times I thought perhaps I’d been wrong about what I saw.”
Keeta stepped from behind him and placed a gentle hand on Rainer’s shoulder. “You aren’t crazy. Without you, none of this would have come to pass.”
Rainer grasped Keeta’s forearms and a moment passed between the two.
“Well, let’s not be rude to our guests, we’ll show them their rooms.”
Crewe scowled at Lavina.
“Room,” she amended.
He nodded, and the others laughed.
The urge to have her to himself was strong. He bit his tongue as she took the time to shake the hand of each person, and speak with them personally. They looked at her as if she hung the moon. He supposed in a way she did. It amazed him how easily she fell into her role. She smiled gently, nodding as she responded, giving them her total attention. Benevolence and humility weren’t things he’d seen much of.
Perhaps we had it all wrong.
“She’s not going anywhere. How about we let them settle in?” Lavina said.
“About that. I don’t have much of my own,” Keeta stated, sheepishly. “We left in a bit of a rush.”
“Understatement.”
“Shut up. Do you want to remain in leather pants?”
He decided not to respond.
“Thought so.” Her smug retort amused him. She’d picked up more than a desire for blood from him.
“I’ll take you shopping later on today if you’d like,” Rainer offered.
He didn’t like the idea of being parted.
“Perhaps I could order online, and you could go and pick it up?” Keeta suggested. She glanced to see him nod.
“That would be acceptable.” He walked over and placed an arm around her shoulders. Sharing time was over.
“Why don’t I show you to your room?” Lavina asked.
“Please.” Crewe clung to his upbringing. Polite, aloof, and observant without appearing so had served him well.
“How will we be protected from sunlight?” Crewe asked.
“The windows are tinted, painted with a special UV blocking paint, and covered with shutters. We wanted it to be safe, but accessible if necessary,” Lavina explained as she guided them up the massive showpiece staircase. “Is she sunlight sensitive?”
“No, she isn’t,” Keeta answered at the top of the landing. “I can’t help but feel like I’m in Gone with the Wind.”
“I had the same response when I found it and walked the property for the first time. Though it was a lot less appealing then.” She grimaced. “Restoring it was a massive undertaking. There were periods where we all wanted to throw in the towel. In the end, it was worth it. We have a home custom fitted to us. Not many people have that luxury, and the southern do so love their grand manors.”
She gestured to the walls painted slate gray. “There were parts we did remain historically accurate, but inside of each room, you’ll find modern amenities. Each one has an adjoining bathroom, so you’ll have as much privacy as you’d like. There’s a computer and a television inside as well. We have cable of course. Roughing it, didn’t appeal much.” She wrinkled her nose.
They stopped at a thick wooden door at the end of the hall.
“If you need anything, we’ll be around. There’s plenty of food in the fridge if you’re hungry, Nakeeta. There’s also a heavily stocked blood fridge in a storage closet.”
“You’ve thought of everything.” Who were these people? Their operation ran like a tight ship.
“As much as I’d like to take credit for being clever, it came together over years of planning. Trial and error can be the best teacher. I’ll leave you two to settle in.”
She sped away, and Crewe opened the door. The light gray walls were adorned with tasteful landscapes that captured Georgia in the four seasons. A master king-sized bed with a pillowed backboard was decorated in white bedding and piled high with pillows.
“I’ve died and gone to heaven.” Keeta ran forward, diving into the center.
Closing the door behind him, he shook his head. A large desk sat in the corner by the blacked-out window, and a flat-screen television rested against the wall next to the door. An antique dresser was placed next to a vanity. The high ceilings and light colors made up for the lack of natural light. Lights set into the wall were aimed around the room and controlled by a dimmer switch. He put them on high as he examined the room.
“You should’ve been a cop.”
“I’m assuring your protection.”
“Use your new senses. There’s nothing to worry about here.”
Sighing, he turned to face her. “I’m not sure how.”
“Close your eyes. Center yourself. Let all the worrie
s slip away.”
“I can’t.”
“Crewe. If you don’t control this, it’ll become a distraction. You know I’m right. It might make you uncomfortable at first, but you know I’m right.”
He sighed. “Fine.” Closing his eyes, he reached toward the newly developed energy inside of him.
“The energy is a new part of you, not your enemy. Make friends with it.”
“What?” A jolt made him jerk. “Ow.”
“It’ll make your life a living hell as long as you’re at odds. All us witchy kids experience it.”
“Are you telling me I’m going through puberty?” he asked dryly.
She giggled. “Yeah, I guess I am.”
“You speak as if it’s a living thing.”
“Isn’t all energy in some way? Think of it as you do the beast. I know what it’s like to live with that now. This is no different; only mine is less aggressive.”
Clearing his throat, he focused on the swirling colors of silver attached to the center of his being. It felt odd. Warm when he was used to a cold burn. Acquainting himself with the feel and effects, he relaxed. His beast bristled, before deciding to play nice. It was an odd, alive sensation he’d long forgotten.
“Now reach out with your senses. Feel the magic in the room.”
He immediately recognized Keeta’s signature. Moving past her, he felt the nuances of other magic settled into the very foundation of the building, around the windows, and the surrounding acres. He perceived no threat or deceit. Pulling out, he rubbed his face.
“Well?”
“All is at it should be.”
She nodded her head. “Nicely done, Crewe Gresham.”
Her praise warmed him. Speeding to her side, he snatched the book from her hands. “Order clothes. Then we’ll eat and rest.”
“You still don’t trust me alone with them?”
“No.”
She knelt on the bed. “Crewe, you can’t wrap me up in bubble wrap like delicate china.”
“I know.” He held her gaze, refusing to back down. “Pick out the clothes, and I’ll bring you food.”
Placing her hands on her hips, she pursed her full lips. “Are you bribing me?”
“I simply compromising. That’s what modern women like, isn’t it?” He reached into his back pocket, pulled out the wallet, and slipped his black credit card out. Waving it back and forth, he watched her eyes follow it like a pendulum.
