by L. Danvers
I wanted to answer him, but even the thought of speaking made me feel sick. I was the worst hybrid ever. I couldn’t even defend myself without getting ill.
Taking the cue, Grace jumped in and told him everything. She told him about how one of the humans had used a crossbow to shoot me. About how he knew about werewolves. About how I had killed him in an attempt to save her. And about how I compelled the other to shift his loyalties.
“Keo,” Julian said, not risking taking his eyes off of me for a second. “Danielle needs to feed. Do you mind if we borrow your room?”
“Go ahead,” Keo said, gesturing toward the hallway.
With that, Julian scooped me into his arms and carried me through the living room, zigzagging through the others who had crowded around. Using his elbow, he opened one of the doors and brought me into the bedroom. He kicked the door shut with his foot and sat me on the bed. Cupping my face in his hands, he looked me in the eye. “I’m so proud of you.”
I placed my hands on top of his, squeezing them. I still didn’t feel up to talking, but I managed a nod as a tear slid down my cheek. I’d killed somebody.
Reading my mind, Julian lowered his voice and said, “Those men were going to kill you. That man would have killed you if he hadn’t missed. Protecting yourself doesn’t make you a monster.” He rested his forehead on mine, his lips so close that I could feel his breath tickling mine. “You’re weak. You need to drink.” He released his hold on me and tilted his head, revealing the veins in his neck.
When I was finished, I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. He was right. I hadn’t realized how much energy I’d expended earlier. But now, I felt like myself.
Rubbing his neck, waiting for the puncture wounds to heal, Julian said, “I’m sorry that happened to you.”
“Thanks. Me, too.”
“I really am proud of you. You stood up for yourself. You protected your friend. I know it must have been terrifying, but you did what you had to do.”
I could feel the heat rushing to my cheeks. I was both ashamed of what I’d done and flattered by Julian’s words. “Grace made me sound way braver than I was. It was all instinct.”
“Even heroes get scared.”
I laughed. “I’m not a hero, Julian. I’m a hybrid.”
“Maybe so. But even after all this time, I underestimated you. I felt like I had to protect you. But you’re perfectly capable of taking care of yourself.”
“And don’t you forget it,” I said with a wink.
He used his thumb to wipe at my lower lip, then, lifting my chin, he leaned in and kissed me.
I don’t know if it was the fact that I’d almost died today or the fear of what tomorrow would bring, but I melted into his embrace, allowing the taste of his lips to consume me.
Julian was fierce and warm and terrifying and kind. And the best thing that had ever happened to me. The world around us had gone mad, but here, with him, none of it mattered.
I didn’t care what trials were coming our way. I knew we could get through anything together.
Because, with him, I’d never felt so safe.
I’d never felt so loved.
I’d never felt so at home.
Grace
While Danielle was feeding, the rest of us turned our attention to orchestrating a plan. Keo offered beers to all of us, but only Xander and Ben took him up on them.
Standing now with his back against the wall, Keo took a swig. Eyeing Aurora, he said, “We never did settle on an agreement.”
She stood now, too, her shoulders swept back as she held her head high. “I’m not willing to negotiate. You want a deal? Fine. But we do it on my terms.”
Rolling his eyes, Keo said, “Let’s hear it, then.”
She swallowed, and I swore I saw a flicker of hesitation in her eyes. As if she was worried he would say no. I knew all deals with faeries came at a price, and they were rarely fair trades, but what on earth could she possibly be afraid of?
Folding her arms around herself, she said, “I want to come with you.”
Keo startled, standing up straight now. “Excuse me?”
“Not you specifically,” she said with a flick of her hand. “I mean all of you. I’ll make a portal for you as long as I can come, too.”
Keo’s eyes hardened.
“Absolutely not,” Xander interjected. “Keo, you can’t be considering this. She’s a faerie. You can’t trust her.”
“And you’re a vampire,” she snapped. “And a rather obnoxious one at that, I might add. Look, it has nothing to do with any of you. After what happened back there, I can’t ever go back.” She was talking about murdering her sister’s abusive ex and defending us against the royal guards. “Once word gets back to the Crystal Palace, I’m as good as dead. It’s a high crime to murder another faerie, no matter the reason. And even the mortal realm can’t protect me. I don’t know how long it’ll take them to put the pieces together, but eventually, they’ll connect me to my crimes. And they’ll come for me.”
Keo balled his hand into a fist, and I could see the veins in his arm bulging beneath his rolled sleeve. “You do realize what you are asking of me?”
Aurora nodded. “There’s no other way. I’ll create a portal with or without you. The only question is whether you and your friends want to come through it, too.”
Xander lunged for Aurora with supernatural speed, pinning her against the wall. Holding his forearm against her throat, he snarled. “You deceptive little—”
“Finish that sentence, vampire, and the pretty little blonde thing dies.”
A rush of energy lifted me from the ground as if I were nothing more than a feather. Using her powers, the window burst open. My head jerked back as a rush of energy thrust me toward it. I kicked and squirmed, but no matter what I did, I couldn’t break free from her hold. I even tried tapping into my powers, but it was like they were blocked. She was too strong.
“You wouldn’t,” Xander hissed, daring her.
I screamed as I started to fall, but it was only by a couple of feet.
“Wouldn’t I?” she asked, challenging him right back.
Xander’s lip curled, but he let her go.
With a swish of Aurora’s hand, I fell to the ground. Ben was there, ready to help me back to my feet. “Are you okay?” he asked under his breath.
I nodded.
Sweeping her silvery hair over her shoulder, Aurora explained, “I don’t like this any more than you do. But the fact of the matter is that I’m going to be hunted. And the only way for me to stay safe is to create another portal. Come, or don’t. It’s up to you. But don’t waste too much time mulling it over. Because once I seal it, there’s no changing your mind.”
Her words hit me like a punch to the gut.
“Wait,” Charlotte said, sitting up from her seat. “What do you mean? You’re planning to seal it shut?”
“Obviously. How else am I going to make sure the royal guard doesn’t track me down?”
Charlotte was on her feet now, pacing. She looked as frazzled as I felt. “I don’t know. Can’t Grace whip up some cloaking spell for the portal or something?”
“The witch’s powers pale in comparison to those of faeries. Her magic won’t hold.”
I didn’t argue with her, because I had a feeling it was true.
Growing visibly frustrated, Xander began to plead with her. “Can’t you make two portals? One for you, one for my brother?”
She looked at him like he was a complete moron. “What do you think I am, some all-powerful genie? Do you have any idea how much magic it’s going to take for me to pull this off?”
Danielle and Julian emerged from the hallway. I released a pent-up breath, happy to see my friend looking healthy again. “What’d we miss?” Julian said, smiling. He was oblivious to what he’d walked in to.
“Oh,” Xander said with a casual flourish of his hand, “nothing. Just that the only way Aurora will create a portal for you is if she goes with you
and seals it up behind her.”
Danielle’s face fell. “You’re kidding.”
With a smug grin, Aurora quipped, “Afraid not, dear. It’s the only way.” She went over her reasoning again, and Danielle nodded along even though she obviously didn’t like it.
“Promise me,” Danielle started, taking a step toward Aurora. “Promise me that you’re not going to cross us. That there’s no catch you’re not telling us about. You’re not going to kill us or something once we’re there?”
Aurora arched an eyebrow, her violet eyes twinkling with amusement. “You don’t trust me?”
“No.”
Aurora shrugged. “Well, I’m not lying. But if it means that much to you, I’m willing to make an oath,” Aurora held out her hand, offering it to Danielle. “I want nothing to do with any of you when this is all said and done. I want to live in peace. Once we’re on the other side of that portal, we can all go our separate ways. I won’t cause you any harm, and I won’t have anyone else bring any harm upon you, either.”
Reluctantly, Danielle took her hand to shake on it. But when she did, a brilliant yellow light glowed from their palms, swirling like winding ivy around their arms. Aurora released her, and the light dissipated.
Pulling her hand back, Danielle asked, “What was that?”
“A faerie oath. It can never be broken.”
Placing his hand protectively on Danielle’s shoulder, Julian asked, “And how can we trust that you’re telling the truth?”
“Ask her for yourself,” Aurora answered.
Danielle nodded. “She’s telling the truth. I could feel it.”
Placing her hand on her hip, Charlotte shifted her weight to her right leg. “Well, that’s all well and good, but that still doesn’t solve the problem of not being able to cross in and out of the portal.” Looking at her brother, tears swelled in her eyes. “You’re going to be stuck in there.”
Danielle lifted her gaze to Julian, and he dipped his head. “I can’t ask this of you,” he said to her.
But Danielle’s decision had already been made. “You didn’t.”
AURORA GAVE US ONE week. She felt fairly certain the royal guard wouldn’t sniff her out that quickly, and with her magical abilities, she could conceal Keo’s hut entirely. Julian and Keo would stay with her. Julian needed to lay low anyway, and Keo wanted to use the time he had left to convince other supernaturals to join them. To start over in a new realm. To live together as one, far away from the humans who were hunting them.
Having lived for so long, Charlotte had many friends in other kingdoms, too. While she still unsure about whether she was willing to step through the portal, she knew there were people she cared about out there that might. And she wanted to give them the opportunity to go with Danielle, Julian and Keo.
But she couldn’t get to all of them in one week. So, she tasked Danielle and Ben with reaching out to some of the tamer vampires for her. She gave them a list of names and where they lived. Danielle hadn’t done much traveling in her life, but when Ben wasn’t wrapped up in his family’s drama, he researched the various kingdoms and supernaturals under the guise of being a travel blogger. With Danielle’s protection, he could lead her right to them.
As for me, I had a plan of my own.
My pathetic excuse for a father was the reason I was losing my best friend. And I wasn’t going to let him get away with it. Reed Carlisle was dangerous. Not only to the people I cared about, but to everyone. He didn’t care about anyone but himself. So, my plan was simple: track down my father and use the same spell he’d used on me to force him into being good.
Xander came up behind me and stood so close that his jacket brushed against my shoulder. “I know that look in your eye. What are you up to?”
“Nothing.”
“You’re going after your dad, aren’t you?”
My brows furrowed.
“Oh, come on,” he said. “I can read you like a book.”
Frustrated, I turned to face him. Looking up, my eyes narrowed. “I didn’t ask for your help, Xander.”
He held up a finger in protest. “But you need it. You saw what Aurora was capable of. Your dad may not be a faerie, but he’s strong.”
I planted my hands on my hips. “So am I.”
“Don’t be stupid. Asking for help doesn’t make you weak.” I started to walk away, but he grabbed me by the arm. “What’s your problem, Grace?”
“I care about you, okay?” I blurted it out before I’d even thought it through. But now that it was out there, I had to roll with it. “You’re my friend... kind of. I don’t know. All I know is that I don’t want you to get hurt. If Reed killed you before I had the chance to put that spell on him, I don’t know how I’d forgive myself.”
“Well,” he said with a casual grin, “if it helps, technically, I’m already dead.”
I stifled a laugh. “I’m serious, Xander.”
“And so am I.” He lifted his wrist, dangling the bracelet with my name on it. The one I’d used to end Reed’s hold on him. “I owe you.”
“You don’t owe me anything. I didn’t do that for you. I did it for Danielle.” It came out harsher than I’d meant it to.
His throat bobbed, and I could see my words had wounded him. He hesitated, deciding whether he should say what he was thinking. “Either way, I’m coming with you. End of story.”
I nodded, secretly appreciating it even though I didn’t let that show.
I made my rounds around the room, saying goodbye to everyone and wishing them luck. When I was ready to say goodbye to Danielle, I found her in the hallway, talking with Aurora. “If something goes wrong... if we don’t come back or the royal guard comes for you before we return, promise me you’ll protect Julian.”
“He’ll hate me if I force him through that portal without you.”
“Him hating you is better than him being dead.”
Aurora straightened. “You really love him.” She almost seemed surprised.
“More than anything.”
“Fine,” Aurora said with a sigh. “But if that happens, I’m telling him it was your idea.”
“Fine.”
I slipped out of sight and waited for Aurora to re-enter the living room before I went down the hall. “Hey,” I said to Danielle.
“Oh,” she said, brushing her hair behind her ear. “Hey.” We walked toward each other and gave one another a big hug. “I’m so sorry,” she said, and I could feel the heaviness in her words. “I never meant to leave you for good.”
“I know,” I said, pulling away so that I could look at her. “I’m not mad. You’re giving up everything for the person you love. What’s nobler than that?”
She rolled her eyes. “You’re too nice.”
“Listen to me: once it’s safe for you and Julian here, I’ll find a way to open that portal. I don’t care how long it takes me. I’ll find a way. I promise.”
Danielle flashed a knowing grin. “I believe you.”
Grace
We had one week to tie up loose ends. Maybe less.
Xander and I had caught the first flight out of Lisbon. With one layover, that gave us approximately twelve and a half hours to come up with a plan. Which would have been a lot more helpful if I had even one of Ben’s grimoires with me.
Frustrated with my lack of resources, I reclined into the seat, shifting my weight to try to find a comfortable spot. Useless.
Xander let out a snore, and I elbowed him awake. “Whoa,” he said, startled. “What’s that for?”
“Are you seriously sleeping? We should be coming up with a strategy.”
He gave me that cocky smile of his. “I thought you didn’t want my help.”
“Well, now I do,” I said plainly. I held his arm and muttered one of the spells I’d memorized. Nothing complicated. Just something that would allow us to speak freely without anyone else overhearing our conversation. I hadn’t bothered with concealing our identities this time. Now that we weren’t w
ith Julian, there wasn’t a need to take extra precautions. No one knew who we were, and no one cared.
“What’d you do?” he asked.
“Something that’ll let us get to work without worrying about some rando overhearing us and freaking out.”
“Cool.”
I shook my head. “Anyway, we’ve got twelve hours or so to think this through. You don’t happen to know of any grimoires that might be posted online, do you?”
“Real ones? Doubt it.”
I groaned in frustration.
“What’s the problem?”
“I was hoping to do some research.”
“On what? All you’ve got to do is get your brother to agree to get Reed somewhere private, and you can handle the rest. It can’t be that hard. The dude’s a jerk. Your brother—what’s his name again?”
“Nick.”
“Right. Nick has to hate him. He’ll be all over this plan, don’t you think?”
“Honestly, I don’t know how he feels about him. I don’t think he agrees with anything Reed’s done, but at the same time, Reed is the only parent he’s ever known. What if he isn’t willing to help us?”
Xander pointed to himself. “That’s what I’m here for. A little compulsion is all it’ll take.”
“I can’t compel my brother.”
“Why not?”
“Because that’s wrong.”
“Didn’t you get Danielle to compel that military dude into helping supernaturals?”
I dropped my jaw. “Are you kidding me? That’s totally different. He tried to kill me.”
“And Reed is behind the death of how many supernaturals now? If it wasn’t for him, we’d be lounging in a castle back in Crescent Cape. But instead, we’re crammed like sardines on this airplane, and I may never—” He stopped short, realizing what he was about to say.
My chest caved. I hadn’t even thought about how he must be feeling. “I’m sorry about Julian.”
He scoffed. “I don’t care about him.”
“Yeah, you do. Caring about people isn’t a character flaw, Xander.”
“And what would you know about caring about people?” His words felt like a knife in the gut. I knew he was alluding to our earlier conversation. And he had a point. Like it or not, as much as I tried to fight it, I did care about him.
