by Cassia Briar
The three Tromara bowed, then rose and backed away. One of them burst out of his clothes and transformed into a white wolf. The other quiet one, who had dark skin and long dreadlocks, dashed off in a blur of black, revealing himself to be at least part vampire. Cyril sprouted silver wings. Fae. They held a faint glow, their delicate structure torn and jagged. I’d never seen a fae with such damaged wings. He took flight.
Angel picked up the card with Cyril’s number on it and handed it to Caprice. She tucked it away.
“What should we do with these heads?” Angel asked, toeing one of them.
“I’ll burn them. Put them in the fire pit out back.” Caprice made a disgusted face. “I suppose I owe those Tromara a thank-you for killing Valdis. The bastard.”
She’d mentioned him a few times. Valdis had tried to kill her the summer she’d arrived in Oregon and again at the year end culling. Sensing the hatred radiating from her, I was sure they’d had other run-ins.
“I’ve got them.” Jaxon cast a spell to levitate the heads and walked them around to the back. Angel went with him.
“I thought you wanted them all dead?” I asked Caprice. “Why let them go?”
She sighed. “Because as much as I hate the idea, and don’t trust them at all, what if this Cyril does end up being useful? I can’t lose any allies right now. Even ones who are most likely enemies. Besides, they took out the Tromara Council. That’s four hard to kill fuckers we don’t need to worry about anymore.”
Pride swarmed in my chest. I’d been so wrong about Caprice. My little hot-headed, impulsive girl could learn to control her emotions. To make the hard but right choice. She was the one to lead us to freedom. I was sorry I’d ever doubted her.
“Come on,” I said, turning her to go back inside. “We’ll take the jet. Then we’ll figure out how to make Sebastian pay, and rescue our friends.”
27
Caprice
Montrell wasn’t kidding. He had a jet as well as a loyal pilot. A really nice jet with comfortable seats and tons of space. Too bad I couldn’t enjoy the luxury. My nerves were raw from the knowledge that we were heading back to face the Tromara and old Council. We needed a plan. I was done with letting Sebastian call the shots. He had the advantage over me—taking my mate and friends prisoner. We needed a counter advantage. We needed to outsmart him.
I couldn’t surrender. That wasn’t an option. I also couldn’t attack and risk Sebastian killing Liam and the others. Rock. Hard place.
Jaxon leaned across the aisle. “You’re going around in circles in your head again, aren’t you?”
I sighed and nodded.
“Why don’t we try talking it out,” he said. “We have to come up with something.”
I glanced at Angel and Montrell who occupied the seats facing us. “Any ideas?”
Angel said, “Liam and the others are supposed to be at the Academy—”
“We can’t trust that information,” Montrell cut him off. “They could simply want to lure us there.”
“Let’s confirm that then.” Jaxon fished out his phone. “I’m going to have Kyle check out both the Academy and Sebastian’s estate in the mountains.”
Everyone knew we were on our way back. Jaxon had called Josh and he was sending out orders for all the territories to send their fighters to Portland, in case we did decide to attack. Regina and Zed were already on their way with our wolf guards, including Destiny. I never thought I’d be so relieved to know that she-bitch was alive. Honestly, I was starting to miss getting my ass kicked by her. Elena was in Portland, too.
I refocused on the conversation. “We do need to know where they’re held. Though, we have no idea where Sebastian is going to want to meet. He’ll probably try to divide us, so that if we were to strike we’d have to decide between my location, and where they’re holding the prisoners.” I worried my lip. “We all know they’re going to take me captive. I don’t see any way around it.”
My three solemn men glanced away. Fear and outrage spilled from them.
“We need more information,“ I said. “Let’s hope Kyle can get it before the meeting time is determined.”
“I’m on it.” Jaxon poked at his phone. “I’ll get Josh to help too. These texts should go through as soon as our altitude is low enough.”
I tried to settle in for the rest of the flight. If Liam were here, he’d press that soothing fae magic into me. Of course, if he were with us I wouldn’t be as nearly out of my mind. Not feeling him through the mate bond was torture, like broken glass under my skin. Excruciating.
Eventually, my whirlwind of thoughts exhausted me enough to doze off for the last half of our five hour flight. I woke to mid-day sunlight streaming through the windows and warming my face.
Montrell crouched in front of me, buckling me in. “We’re about to land,” he said before retreating to his seat.
I rubbed my eyes and yawned as the jet descended. Clear blue skies and green trees was the view from the window. The runway was so close to the river, for a moment it appeared we were going to land in the water, but the wheels touched down on solid earth.
The jet taxied, then stopped in a large lot. We exited to a warm July day in the Pacific Northwest. Three cars waited for us. Burly wolves milled around as we approached, opening the middle vehicle’s doors and ushering us inside the limo. I was sandwiched between Angel and Jaxon.
“It’s good to see you alive, Dragon Queen,” Regina said. She sat across from me, wearing dark sunglasses. Montrell took the spot beside her. On her other side was Lyn.
“I’m glad to see you both, too.” The car started rolling forward and soon we were on the freeway.
The drive into downtown, to the Hotel deLuxe, took less than half an hour. I glanced up at the posh, early nineteen hundreds style hotel, almost afraid to go inside. This life as a royal was mind-bending.
“It won’t bite you, cupcake.” Jaxon nudged me toward the door that a uniformed doorman held open.
“You booked this place, didn’t you?” I asked, walking up the staircase to the amazing lobby. Our guard trailed behind. The word lavish was an understatement. I tried not to gawk at all the glitz.
“Well, yeah.” Jaxon moved us toward the counter. “This might not be my hometown, but it is my home city. And I like this place. It’s cozy.”
Cozy? I rolled my eyes.
Lyn hovered at my side, most of her face hidden behind large sunglasses. “It is suiting for your status, my queen.”
“Yeah, I guess.” I eyed her. “Are you doing okay?”
“Yes, my queen. We are very sorry to have failed you and that May was taken captive. Zed was ordered to protect her and he failed. He would like to do penance.”
I glanced up, spotting the huge vampire amid the wolves. I hadn’t realized he was with us, he must have been traveling in one of the other cars. His dark eyes found mine, then lowered to the floor. He obviously felt guilty, but I couldn’t bring myself to blame him for what had happened at the fae ball. Blame rested with the Tromara and them alone.
My gaze swept the rest of our party. Montrell and Angel stood near the elevator, waiting for us to check-in. Neither seemed out of place even in their casual attire. Of course, they were all used to luxury in their lives. I was not. At all.
We checked-in and took the elevator to a suite that had two king sized beds, separate living room, and city views. I really wished we were on vacation. Instead this was now Council headquarters. Our security team occupied the rooms on either side of ours and across the hallway.
I turned to Jaxon. “Tell the Tromara we’ve arrived.”
Sebastian loved to play the waiting game. Nearly twenty-four hours later, he finally sent a text: Midnight. Tomorrow. Academy Obscura. Only Caprice. The instructions were shortly followed by an incoming call, which Jaxon picked up.
He held the phone out to me. “Isabella wants to talk to you. Do you want to take it?”
“Yeah.” What did that evil bitch want? Isabella had bee
n silent for the past few weeks. I was curious why she wanted to talk now. “Hello,” I spoke into the cell.
“Caprice, my dear, I hope you’ll do what is best for everyone and come alone tomorrow night. If anyone follows you, they will die. We’re done playing games and chasing you around the country. And killing several members of the Tromara Council was petty, foolish. Sebastian is most upset about it. Don’t provoke him further.”
I ground my teeth. “You have Liam and my friends. I’m not going to risk their lives.”
“Good. I figured you’d see reason. But I wanted to make sure you completely understood what was at stake here. Make sure your mates understand too.”
“They do.” I snapped. Hearing her voice brought up all the betrayal and rage. I couldn’t believe I was related to this manipulative, two-faced bitch.
“Good. See you tomorrow for your official surrender.” She hung up.
My pulse thundered with anger. Isabella and Sebastian thought they’d won. Their arrogance was going to be their undoing. I just needed to figure out how to turn their advantage against them. How could I play into their hand, yet trick them? I wasn’t willing to give up, no matter what I’d just promised Isabella.
For the past several months I’d been reading up on how to be a good leader, how to keep a level head and make better decisions. I faced each new situation with all I’d learned in mind. Since stepping into my rightful position within the supernatural world, I wanted to be the queen they deserved. Honorable, just, and wise.
My inner dragon snarled. This war wasn’t going to be won with logic or reason. My enemies were ruthless, cunning, and unconscionable. I needed to take a tip from them. Some would see it as lowering myself to their level, but honor was not going to keep us alive.
“Caprice?” Montrell asked, surveying me.
I opened my mouth to respond, when a knock thudded on the suite door.
“Aimes is here,” Jaxon said, and Angel went to answer it.
Kyle, Elena, Lana, Brody, Regina, and Josh entered. Our living room became crowded in an instant. Kyle inclined his head in greeting. Regina settled like a cat on the sofa and shot me a fanged grin. How she could be so casual at a time like this, I didn’t know. Elena launched herself into my arms with a sob.
I firmly held her. “We’ll get him back. We’ll get all of them back.”
Lana and Brody held hands on the couch, their expressions solemn. Josh, who remained standing, grimaced. Dark circles shadowed his pained eyes. I didn’t need any fae abilities to know how deeply we were all hurting right now.
Kyle shocked me by rubbing Elena’s back and muttering reassurances. Her body shook with sobs. I wanted to cry with her, but this was not the time to break down. I had to be strong for all of us.
Elena released me and, again to my surprise, let Kyle lead her away. He walked her over to an armchair and stayed with her. My gaze lingered on them. Elena knew my history with Aimes. What the hell had Kyle done to earn Elena’s trust? When had they become friends?
I brushed off the question—for now.
Once everyone was gathered, Josh launched into his report. “Sebastian’s estate has a small crew of staff in residence and that’s it. All the rest of the Tromara are at the Academy. The campus is housing them and their supporters. Unfortunately, their numbers and strength rival our own. The prisoners are certainly held there too.” Josh’s voice was steady, betraying nothing of the worry he must hold for May. Our loved ones had been in our enemy’s hands for almost a week. I resisted a shudder.
“Thank you, Josh.” I offered him what I hoped was a reassuring smile.
Kyle cleared his throat. “Everyone is gathered and waiting on your orders.”
At least we hadn’t been idle while Sebastian tormented us by making us wait for his communications. Our supporters were here, organized and waiting.
“We can’t assault them outright,” Jaxon said. “Besides the fact that they’ll kill their hostages if we do, we believe the shield around Academy Obscura is now resistant to dragon fire. Plus, they have weapons that could take down Caprice.”
“We need to get inside those walls,” Regina said. “Is there any way to do that? Preferably, without anyone noticing.”
“Actually, yes,” Josh said, eyes alight with revelation. “The secret entrance. Remember?”
I did, now that he mentioned it. Genius.
“I have an idea.” Unable to sit still, I walked over to the window. “We should give them exactly what they want.”
Or at least make it appear that way. We had a way into the school that the Tromara didn’t know about—otherwise they would have already used it. We would need to make Sebastian and Isabella think they had won. My plan was foolhardy, but I was beginning to think that was my style.
The time had come to accept that Isabella and I shared the same blood. Sorrentino blood. While my father had been unable to outmaneuver Isabella during the last uprising, I wasn’t going to make the same mistake. As much as I hated to admit it, my grandmother and I had one similarity for certain—we didn’t like to lose.
I faced those gathered in the room. “Here’s my plan.”
28
Liam
I coughed against the cold, damp stone wall. Wrists chained above my head, my hands and arms had long since gone numb. The magic suppressing cuffs rendered me as vulnerable as a human. My wings wouldn’t expand. I couldn’t sense any emotions from those bound to the wall with me. No magic thrummed through my veins.
To my left, May was curled up on the floor. Her green gown covered in filth. She whimpered in her half-asleep state. On my other side, Tyler stared at the opposite wall, where his sister was chained. Bruises discolored his face. Some had begun to naturally fade, while fresh ones appeared red and swollen.
The two spots on either side of Flora were now unoccupied. Itzel had been taken soon after we arrived here. Some time later they came for a fae named Roman. That had been, I think, days ago.
I’d lost track of the days. Most of my time, I spent piecing together what had happened at the fae ball. My father’s face kept appearing in my hazy memory. Magic had sliced open Caprice’s throat and she’d been bleeding everywhere. So much blood. Montrell had carried her away from the danger, and I’d been right behind him. We’d shoved our way through the crowded dance floor, then…agony. Pain had blossomed in the side of my head and the world blacked out.
No one had come to rescue me. Obviously, or I wouldn’t be restrained down here in this dirty cellar. Sitting in my own filth. Were Caprice and my friends alive? Had they been captured as well? Not knowing, not being able to feel the mate bond, left me adrift.
As far as I knew, the four of us in this room were all that remained of the resistance.
My mind often drifted back to my father’s smug face. He hadn’t been a guest at the ball. No, he arrived with the Tromara which could only mean one thing—he was a traitor. I figured he’d turn on me one day, but not May. He hadn’t come to see us, if he was here at all.
I’d decided, at some point, that we were at Academy Obscura. The stone held a familiar texture. Once in a while the scent of pine and blackberry drifted in, and I was sure we were in Oregon. If I had to guess, I’d say we were locked in the sub-basement of the Dean’s Hall.
Food scraps came once a day—more likely at night—and beyond that we were left alone. For now. Other captives had not been so lucky. On numerous occasions screams, chanting, and the stench of death reached me from a nearby room.
My heart went out to the poor souls the Tromara feasted upon. Their deaths were prolonged and excruciating. Those shrieks would haunt me for the rest of my life—however long that would be.
The cellar door creaked open. Three Tromara entered, their hands empty of bowls. This was not feeding time. One stayed near the only way in or out of here, while the others set about unchaining May. When they took someone away, they never returned.
I coughed again. “No. Not her. Take me.”
&
nbsp; That earned me a blow across the face. Pain spiked, and for a moment I felt alive. The fog cleared from my mind with a rush of adrenaline.
I kicked out and up, my foot connecting with the back of one Tromara’s knee. “I said take me, you bastard!”
He turned and gazed down, furious.
His companion lifted May’s limp body over his shoulder. She roused, reaching toward me, panic in her eyes.
“Liam?” Her voice cracked.
I fought against the restraints, but it didn’t do any good. I couldn’t do anything to save her. Letting out a rough sob, I said, “I love you.”
“Love you too,” she mouthed back, as the Tromara carried her from the room.
The other monster continued to stare down at me. Lank blond hair curtained his brutish face. He grunted, as if confirming something with himself. He lifted one, heavy booted foot, and stomped down on my kneecap. A sickening crunch echoed in the chamber. I released an anguished cry.
He brought his foot down again, then a third time. I let the darkness take me away from the pain.
29
Caprice
As soon as everyone left my mates and me alone in the hotel room, the three of them folded their arms, radiating stubbornness and displeasure. They were going to argue with me.
I sighed. “Which part of my plan do you have a problem with?”
“The part,” Montrell said, “where you take on Sebastian alone. You made a promise—”
“I made a promise to tell you before I acted and not just run off on my own.” I crossed my arms over my chest too, mirroring their stance, as my mates glowered. “I am healed. And I’m the only one who can take on Sebastian now that he has a dragon form. You all know that’s true.”
Jaxon shook his head. “There has to be some way we can help you. Especially me. Witches are a dragon’s natural enemy.”
