by Sarah Piper
“Gray," Haley whispered, her hand on my lower back. “You need to calm down and pay attention. We need this intel.”
I nodded, shaking out of the funk and re-focusing on the conversation. Haley was right. Already we’d learned more in fifteen minutes of spying than we’d managed to piece together over the last few weeks with the guys.
“What of the Grinaldi vampire?” The Darkwinter Knight asked.
“He’s talking about Fiona,” I said to Haley and Addie. She turned out to be a surprising ally, and was presently recovering back at the lodge with the others we’d rescued from the crypt.
Phillip waved away the question. “Useless to us now. As I suspected, her loyalty to Jonathan was thin at best. Sources tell us she’s now firmly entrenched with the enemy.”
“We can’t just forget about her,” Orendiel said. “She knows too much about Jonathan’s plans—our plans.”
“I will personally deal with her if and when it becomes necessary,” Phillip said. “Our immediate concern is launching the operation here in the Bay, then relocating our core team to the permanent base in Seattle.”
“And what of the units in Europe and Asia?” Trinity asked.
“Once the United States is converted and fully within our control,” Phillip said, “it will only be a matter of time before the other countries fall.”
Fear and frustration simmered in my gut.
“When?” I shouted, slamming my hand into the back of one of the chairs, but of course my touch passed right through. I could no more cause a physical action here than I could make the monsters sitting around the table answer me.
Still, I didn’t know what else to do. If we had any hope of preventing whatever horrors they’d planned to unleash upon the world, we needed a damn timeframe
“When?” I shouted again. “When the fuck is—”
“When?” Georgie asked suddenly, and I gasped, my eyes darting back to her.
She was looking straight at me
“Georgie?” I asked.
“She can't see or hear us,” Haley said.
I waved my hands. Georgie didn't blink.
But she didn't look away either.
“She heard me,” I said. “I know she did. Guys, she knows we’re here.”
“What did you say, Georgina?” Trinity asked, her voice barely audible, yet shaking with rage.
Georgie's face was ashen.
She broke our gaze and looked back at Trinity, then lowered her eyes. “I just… I was just wondering when we… When you thought we would be leaving Blackman Bay?”
Good girl, Georgie. That’s what we need to know.
“Do you have urgent business elsewhere?” Trinity asked.
“No, mother.”
The fake smile came back out. A shark’s smile. “A date, perhaps? With a boy?”
“Of course not,” Georgie said, her cheeks darkening. But despite her obvious fear, she persisted. “I just wanted to know when we’d be heading up to Seattle.”
“Our target date is in three weeks,” Phillip replied. “But that's assuming—”
“That's enough, Philip.” Trinity turned those dagger eyes back on my little sister. I wondered if she was using her vampire influence, but Georgie didn't flinch. Didn't blink. I sensed the tremble in her body, but she held her chin high, her shoulders squared.
Fucking fight her, little sister. You’re a Silversbane witch. You’ve got this, and we’ve got you.
“It’s a simple question, mother,” Georgie said.
It happened so fast, none of us even realized it until my sister was already bleeding.
Georgie gasped, tears springing to her eyes. She pressed her fingers to the fresh gash on her cheek, wet with blood.
The same blood dripping from Trinity’s dark blue fingernails.
Georgie met my eyes again.
“I’m sorry,” she said, and I knew in my gut her apology was meant for us.
I no longer had control over my body—I no longer cared. All I saw was Georgie’s blood dripping from Trinity’s nails, and I was in motion, launching myself across the table, gunning for the bitch who called herself our mother.
“Gray, stop!” Addie shouted, and then it was like someone had hit us with a sonic wave. I was falling, spinning, sucked through time and space, everything around me disintegrating…
When I opened my eyes, I was pinned to the kitchen floor back at the lodge, Darius and Emilio trying to steady my thrashing limbs.
“She’s awake,” Emilio said. “She’s okay. Gray? Gray, can you hear me?”
I nodded, blinking away my confusion and trying to sit up.
“That’s it, love,” Darius said, helping me up. “Nice and easy.”
My sisters were standing in front of us, still inside the salt circle that I’d managed to break through, taking several candles down with me.
“What happened?” I asked. “How did we get out?”
“We didn’t get out,” Haley said. “Someone pushed us.”
“Georgie,” I said, adamant. “She knew we were there. I’m telling you, she could hear me. She knew we needed a timeline. That’s why she asked. She pushed us out to protect us.”
“Let’s hope it was her. Because if Trinity or any of the others knew we were in there, then everything we’ve just seen is useless, and they’re going to double their efforts to shield themselves now.”
“I’m sorry,” I said. “I know I shouldn’t have blown up like that. I just… I saw Georgie bleeding, and then all I saw was red. I wanted to claw that bitch’s eyes out.”
“Your protective instincts are strong, Gray,” Darius said. “That’s not something to apologize for.”
“No, it isn’t.” Haley offered a smile, but it quickly melted, and she knelt down to blow out the remaining candles. “It wouldn’t have done any good, though. We were there on the astral. Georgie might’ve sensed us—I’ll give you that. But that’s about it.”
“Only it isn’t it. Not by a long shot.” I held out my hand, unfurling my fist to reveal a chunk of Trinity’s dark hair.
Twenty
GRAY
In so many ways, it felt as if an entire year had passed since I last stood in the common room to rally the witches for a battle they never should’ve had to fight.
An entire year since I’d asked them for their support against an enemy bent on our complete annihilation.
An entire year since they’d given it freely.
In truth, it had been less than two weeks.
And now, the night after Haley’s blood spell had given us a glimpse into the darkest corners of our enemies’ minds, I found myself standing in the same spot at the front of the same room, looking out at a familiar sight.
The crowd was larger now—including the new friends and allies we’d rescued from the crypt and several more Raven’s Cape area witches Verona and her people had rallied to the cause—but everything else about this moment felt exactly the same.
A room full of friends and allies gathered before the fireplace, some huddled on the couches, others standing near the fire, all of us trying to find a moment’s warmth in an otherwise inescapable winter.
The men I loved, wordlessly sending me their unwavering support. My sisters standing by my side.
And in my shirt pocket, close to my heart, the objects I’d taken to carrying as gentle reminders of those who’d gone before me—those who were with me still: the Page of Cups card for Sophie, the High Priestess for Calla, and the granite heart Liam had given me, carved with the raven’s feather that would always remind me of Death, my teacher, my guide.
Borrowing their strength, I steadied myself for the task ahead.
The fire popped, and a heavy silence descended on the room.
It was time.
“We have some news about our enemies in the Bay,” I began. “Before we get into specifics, let’s just rip off the Band-Aid.” I paced in front of them, trying to meet each and every person eye-to-eye. I wanted them to kn
ow we were in this together, no matter what. “Ten nights from tonight, whether we’re ready or not, we are going to war.”
A murmur rippled through the group, the tension in the room rising. I could feel the spike of their heart rates, smell the hit of adrenaline that flooded their bloodstreams as soon as I’d said the words.
But the sharp, pungent scent of fear? Completely absent. Two weeks ago, a month ago, three months ago, we had no idea what was coming for us, and that fear of the unknown was enough to drive a person mad.
Knowledge was ammunition, and now, we had a stockpile.
“You guys followed me into hell once before,” I said. “Some of you are still recovering from that night at the crypt—and others never will. You put everything on the line that night, and now, I’m going to ask you to do it all over again.”
“You don’t have to ask us shit,” McKenna said from the back of the room. “We’ve got your back, girl. No question.”
The others quickly voiced their agreement, and I smiled, grateful for the boost.
“The same caveat we established before still applies,” I said anyway, just in case. “And this goes for new friends, too. Anyone who wants to tap out can do so, no questions asked. You will always have a home here, so long as the rest of us are able to provide and protect it. But I have to be honest with you, guys. This is a balls-to-the-wall, all-hands-on-deck kind of situation. If ever we needed the numbers, it’s now.”
“We’re here for you, Gray.” This from the yellow-eyed witch who’d been imprisoned in the caves with Haley and McKenna. “We’re here for each other. I know I speak for everyone in this room when I say that. This is family now. You’re family.”
“Here, here,” came another call, and a few witches let out a whistle, showing their support.
“I… I feel the same,” I said, emotion threatening to cut off my words. I swallowed past the tightness in my throat, then continued. “The fight at the cemetery was hard-won—for those on the front lines as well as for the brave souls who’d been imprisoned there. But from the enemy’s perspective, the cemetery was just a minor outpost. Blackmoon Bay is ground zero for their entire operation, and it’s no longer simply the home we’re trying to take back. It’s the spark that will eventually set the whole world on fire.
“I know we talked about this last time, but it bears repeating: this is not just about our own lives, but the lives of everyone we’ve ever loved. If we fail, we will all die. Witches, shifters, vampires, demons, fae, and humankind. None will be left standing. Not one soul but the few who’ve masterminded the entire collapse.”
Haley and Addie joined me at the front of the room, and together we passed along all of the pertinent intelligence we’d gathered from the blood spell vision. Emilio, Elena, and detectives Lansky and Hobb shared their thoughts on the likely scenarios we’d face once we got past the fae’s magical borders and into the city proper, assuming we could get in at all. And those who’d been imprisoned shed more light on the types of hybrids they’d encountered inside, along with details about the fucked-up weaponry both Jonathan and his father had been working on.
“Well,” I finally said, certain the picture we’d painted couldn’t get any bleaker, “I’m afraid that’s all the good news we’ve got for you tonight.”
Everyone laughed, breaking the tension just a fraction.
“If that’s the good news, what’s the bad?” Detective Hobb asked.
“We’re outta booze and the roads are fucked,” Asher said, inspiring a chorus of groans and more laughter from the crowd. “That’s about as bad as it gets in my book.”
Taking advantage of the levity, I closed my eyes and took a moment to reset. Again, I thought about all of the people gathered here before me, all the people counting on me. I thought of my two sisters standing beside me, strong and beautiful women who I’d only just found again after two decades of separation. I thought of Georgie, trapped by a delusional, dangerous psychopath. I thought of the men that I loved, the men that I wanted to build a life with.
My heart expanded in my chest.
When the noise died down again, I opened my eyes to find the entire room looking at me, their smiles encouraging, their gazes serious but hopeful. No doubt they were thinking about their own loved ones, their own dreams of the future, their own reasons for fighting against these nearly impossible odds.
They were counting on me—each and every one of them. In that moment, amidst the laughter and the tears, the darkness and the light, I felt the weight of their collective hope settle firmly on my shoulders. It was, I realized now, mine to carry.
But it wasn’t a burden.
It was an honor. I would die for them. Not just the men I loved, not just my sisters. But every one of the witches and allies gathered in this room.
And I suspected they felt the same way. Darkness had brought us together, but through that togetherness, we would fight our way back to the light.
I blinked away tears before anyone saw them fall. When it came to translating messages from the heart, words were a limited medium.
But I had to try.
“Despite what the Silversbane prophecy says about leadership and uniting covens and all that stuff…” I shook my head, those limited words crashing into each other and getting stuck on the way out. “Guys, I'm not really one for big speeches. I just want you to know that I appreciate each and everyone of you so much. I know what we’re facing, and I know it won’t be easy. I don’t really have any big inspirational words or battle cries, but I can tell you what always helps me keep the monsters at bay. It’s pretty simple, really.” I looked at each of my men in turn and smiled. “You just remember the ones you love, and know that everything you’re doing is for them. And if you’re on your own right now, then I want you to look in the mirror tonight before you go to bed. Take a good look. Truly see that woman looking back at you. Memorize the color of her eyes, the shape of her face, the sound of her laughter. When things get dark out there, when things are at their most hopeless and bleak, know that whatever demons we face, whatever bombs are dropped at our feet, whatever evil befalls us tonight or tomorrow or ten years from now, that woman is always worth fighting for.”
Twenty-One
GRAY
From that moment forward, we went hard and fast on all fronts, pushing each other and ourselves to our absolute limits.
Potions and poisons. Protective amulets and charms. Darkwinter lore. Combat training. Mental acuity and shielding. Cardio. Strength-training. Weapons—God, so many weapons—all of them lethal, and not just to our enemies. Asher’s fae swords would do a lot of damage against the Darkwinter Knights—the right hit would kill them on contact. But they would also decimate the shifters, as Emilio could attest to first hand. I’d grown particularly fond of a fae staff Ronan had taken from the crypts, but using the staff meant giving up the sword. Ash was immune to devil’s traps, but Ronan could easily fall prey; we had no idea whether Jon’s original devil’s trap nanotech was just a prototype or if it’d been replicated on a larger scale. Darius and I, along with the other vampires we’d liberated from the crypts, could only fight at night, and we had to be particularly careful around fire and sharp swords. On the most basic physical level, the witches and Liam—the humans among us—were at the greatest risk, but all of us had weak points.
It was a lot to account for, and we had very little time to plan. If the intel we’d gathered was accurate, and the enemy’s plans were still on track, we had about two weeks before all hell broke loose. The only way we were going to survive this, reclaim our home, and save the rest of—well, existence—was by working together, sticking together through the shit of it, and seeing it through to the very end.
Despite the risks, there was excitement in the air, a crackling charge I could feel everywhere I went. Though we'd only just learned about Trinity’s plans, this battle has been a long time coming, and there was something to be said for knowing the end was on the horizon.
No mat
ter what that end would bring.
We might very well be slaughtered in Blackmoon Bay, but after being forced into hiding for thousands of years, we were damn well ready to fight—and fight hard.
Fuck anyone who thought we’d go out quietly.
A few nights after our training had begun in earnest, Ronan and I took a break from sparring with Elena and Emilio to take the hounds for a walk along the shoreline, sneaking in some long overdue alone time.
We walked in silence for a while, keeping as close together as our curse would allow. It was our new normal—the “almost” we’d adapted to, almost without realizing it. He could almost brush a lock of hair behind my hear. I could almost lean up on my toes and kiss a path along his beard. He could almost wrap me in his arms, push me against the wall, and…
“Ronan, we can’t wait any longer.”
He nodded without meeting my eyes, knowing exactly where my mind had gone. Where it had been, ever since the blood spell.
The moment I realized I’d yanked Trinity’s hair out of the astral plane and into our reality—that I’d captured physical proof that we knew of her whereabouts—the wheels began to turn.
We had leverage now. A new bargaining chip to offer Sebastian.
“We’re heading into the Bay in six days,” I said. “This needs to be settled up before then.”
Ronan nodded, but didn’t respond.
I stopped, turning to meet his eyes. “I need to see him. It’s our best shot.”
Ronan held my gaze for only a moment before cutting away, his eyes roaming the dark, choppy sea, a stiff wind blowing the hair in front of his eyes. When he finally turned to look at me again, he said simply, “We.”
