“Then tell us so we understand. We came here to help your people, Nico. My cousins have gone against their coven, and I have gone against my sister, who I love more than anyone else in this world. I gave her up for the life of your people. We have given so much up for the sake of you and your people; the least you can do is be honest with us!” I shouted. I was shaking, my anger rising. I couldn’t stop it. I could feel my magic bubbling up. If they didn’t start being honest with us soon, I was going to lose my grip.
“You need to calm down, Ryan, you’re starting to glow,” Jackson warned, taking a step toward me. As soon as I raised my hand to motion for him to stop, a blast of blue light shot from my hand and sent Jackson flying back into the wall.
“Holy shit, Ryan, stop!” Alex shouted
“I didn’t mean to! I swear, it was an accident!” I snapped at him. I pushed my way past Alex and Chase and ran to Jackson. Dom, Nico, and Kai were already bent down beside him. I bent down near his head and lifted it so it could rest in my lap. I couldn’t stop the tears from falling. I was a monster who hurt people, and I hated myself for it.
Jackson’s eyes fluttered open, and he groaned as he tried to sit up. Dom placed a hand on his chest and told him to lie still for a few moments more. I bent over him so he could see my face and spoke softly.
“Jackson, I am so sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you, I swear. I am so damn sorry.”
“Shush, it’s okay. It’s not your fault, Ryan. I know you didn’t mean to do it. Now if you could back up so I can stand, that would be great,” Jax said, looking to his brothers, who nodded and moved back. Once on his feet, he leaned down to offer me a hand up. I accepted it and let him pull me to my feet and into a tight embrace.
“You can let her go now, Jax,” Nico said, irritation clear in his voice. Jackson let me go and stepped back, but his hands were still on my shoulders. I looked into his eyes and saw raw desire; it set my heart racing, but not for the reasons Jackson was thinking. Don’t get me wrong, he was hot—but I didn’t feel for him what I felt for Kai, and if I’m being honest, I didn’t feel for Jax the way I did about Nico, either. Fuck my life.
Someone cleared their throat, which derailed my train of thought, thank God.
“Now if you two love birds would break apart and stop picturing each other naked, that would be great.” Dom didn’t apparently have a filter. I looked out the corner of my eye to see Nico slap the back of his head yet again. I moved away from Jackson and sat on the couch Jackson was occupying before I sent him flying. Dom took the seat next to me and everyone else took the same seats from before.
“I think you need to tell us what Randall has over you, king, before we risk our lives to save your people,” Alex said.
“My sister. Randall Cane has my sister.” Well that was a fucking game changer, now wasn’t it?
Chapter 22
“It all makes sense now; Kai couldn’t come back after the queen died. He stayed with Randall so he could try and protect your sister. You sent your best friend into the lion’s den to try to infiltrate Randall’s enforcers, which he did. What you didn’t expect was how far said bestie would go to protect the queen and then your sister. You have not retaliated to Cane’s threats for fear of him hurting your sister. Kai followed us here with an agenda of his own, didn’t you, Kai—you needed the king to think you came to Farrarie for me and not to tell Nico what you had learned,” I said breathlessly. I knew I was right; I could feel it in my bones.
Dom started clapping beside me, and I turned to see the biggest smile on his face.
“They seriously do not deserve you. I swear, you are smarter than what anyone gives you credit for.” Dom had such awe in his voice as he spoke. Wait—did everyone think I wasn’t smart?
“What he means is everything you just said is right, all of it, actually,” Melakai responded.
“Why did he take your sister?” Alex asked.
“Because she is my half-sister. Her mother was a witch, and Cane thought she was the one, but she isn’t. Ryan is the one with pure blood,” Nico said, looking at me with a sad smile on his beautiful face.
“So what does this mean for Ryan?” Chase asked
“That she can never fall into the hands of the vampire king, or a war will break out that might very well be unwinnable. I have no idea what the blood from you will do to his strength.” I had forgotten all about Randall drinking from me until Kai just mentioned it.
“We need to make a plan, and fast. I will teach Ryan how to master and control her powers. I believe I am the only one strong enough to do that, and she needs to be ready, if her blood is supercharging Randall. We need a weapon of our own to beat him,” Dominic said while giving me a devilish smile. That guy seriously had a huge ego and no regard for serious situations.
“But first we must send you all back. Dom will accompany you, and I will get to you as soon as I can.” Nico didn’t seem worried that my blood could potentially make Randall stronger then all of us. He just wanted us to go home. What a dick!
“Why do we have to go back now?” I asked, looking to the four alpha males in the room for an answer.
“Because I need to go back and explain my actions for saving you, so I can stay on the inside of Cane’s manor. I also need to locate Sophia, before this war breaks out. Jackson needs to get back to his pack and prepare them for war. Dom will stay with you and your cousins to help you train. Nico needs to remain here and to prepare his people for battle,” Kai said with a somber tone.
“Hang on a second—you just said she was your half-sister? And Dom said he was the first hybrid?” Alex asked the group.
“I am the first, because I can access both sides of my bloodline; I can change into my wolf form as well as use magic. Sophia can only use her witch magic, not her fae, so she is just a low-level witch, essentially.” Dominic’s answer seemed harsh, but it was the truth.
“I see. So does that mean I will be able to access both sides of my magic?” I asked no one in particular.
“Yes, you will be able to use both sides, with training. You have already shown how strong you are, but you are only using your witch magic, not your fae magic. That is why I will accompany you and your cousins home, so I can train you to use both sides,” Dom answered.
“Thank you, I will try not to let you down,” I said with a sheepish smile on my face, I looked over to Nico, only to see him trying to avoid looking at me at all cost.
“You will not let me down, sweetheart. I have faith in you, and we know you can access both sides already because you don’t glow purple. That’s the dead giveaway,” Dom’s answer explained why I didn’t have the same color as my sister and cousins.
“We all have faith in you, mi amor. You just need to have faith in yourself,” Kai said with such gentleness that it made my heart swoon a bit.
“How can you all be so sure? You guys don’t even know me that well, and you are putting so much trust in me to save a world I didn’t even know existed until a few days ago.” I started pacing . These guys are putting so much pressure on me and what if I let them down, I would never be able to forgive myself if I let a world fall because I wasn’t up to the task.
“Because I have been told that you will save Farrarie, I know someone who can see things. The fae realm will make it, with your help love.” Nico seemed so confident that I could do this.
“I was just a normal teenaged girl a few weeks ago, and now here I am about to fight the only family I have left in this world—well, aside from Alex and Chase. But still, Stevie is my twin.” I couldn’t help the rising pitch in my voice as I thought about my sister. I was holding it all together as best as I could, but it was getting too much for me to hold in. I needed to get my shit together before my magic exploded out of me and I hurt someone else.
“Ry you are the strongest person I know. You have been through so much, and yet here you are, still standing strong and still trying to help others, even when no one helped you,” Chase said, looking ashamed.
“Chase is right. Ryan, you are strong, wise, and selfless. You can do this. I know you can, because the cousin I know doesn’t quit, and she sure as fuck isn’t a pussy who runs away when shit gets hard! I know you are scared, and we all are too. We are about to take on the most powerful clans in the world, and the only way we are going to be able to even have a chance at winning this thing is if you man up and get your ass training so you can master your powers and help us win this thing.” I looked Alex in the eyes and could see he believed every word he said, bolstering my confidence. With a curt nod and smile on my face, I gave both my cousins a hug and thanked them for their kind and empowering words.
“I feel like as long as I have your faith and support, I can do this. I think,” I told the group with a forced laugh. “All joking aside, though, let’s get the heck out of here and get our butts home and start training. If I know my sister, which I do, she will already be getting her soldiers together to shut Farrarie off from Earth.” I don’t like the idea of fighting against my own coven, but I had no choice. They were loyal to Stevie, and they had no idea who I was, or that I even existed.
“Then we need to move fast. We need every minute we can get to train you, Ryan. It will be hard, and you will hate me each and every minute of it, but it will be worth it once we win the war.” Dominic had a look on his face that I couldn’t quite place, and it started to raise the hairs on the back of my neck. There was something these guys weren’t telling me. A quick glance at both my cousins they looked like they were wondering the same thing. Before I could even ask the question burning in my mind, Chase voiced it for me.
“What aren’t you telling us? And don’t bullshit me either.”
“It may not even come to pass,” Nico protested.
“Whether or not it does or doesn’t happen, we have a right to know whatever it is. After all, we are planning to go to war against our own coven for your people.” I agreed with everything Chase had said; I want to know what these guys are hiding.
“Tell her, Dom,” Nico ordered with a sigh.
“You may be king, brother, but you are not my king, so watch the way you speak to me! If your sister does not surrender, Ryan, we will have to take out the threat by any means necessary.” Dom cast his eyes downward, clearly anticipating my unhappiness. My blood started to boil, and my hands started to glow blue. Alex and Chase jumped back, and before I knew what I was doing, I raised my hands at the four men in front of me and blasted the whole lot of them across the room. Nico crashed into the far wall, and Dom smacked into the door and then crashed to the ground with a groan. Jackson was blasted through the nearest window, and Melakai hit the book shelf and collapsed the shelves, sending books cascading down on his slumped body.
“Holy fuck, Ry! You just smashed the shit out of them without even trying,” Chase said with his hand raised in the air, trying to give me a high five. I just glared at his hand and he quickly dropped it and stepped away. I turned back to face the four men I just blasted; they were all standing now and dusting themselves off. At least they all had supernatural healing, so if they were hurt it wouldn’t last long. I did feel bad about what I had just done, though, and at the same time I also felt good about it. If they really thought I would let them harm my sister, they were badly mistaken. I would never let anyone harm my sister, no matter what she has done or will try to do.
“We are sorry for upsetting you, mi amor. That was not our intention. What the others were trying to say is that we understand that Stevie is your sister, but if the choice comes to stop your sister or save a whole world, would you be willing to make that sacrifice?” I knew what Kai was trying to do, and he was right, but it still made me angry that he would even ask me that question.
“How am I supposed to answer that, Kai? Save a whole world or kill my sister—those are my only choices?”
“Ryan, we know that she is your sister, and that she is all you have left, but we are here too, and we are your family. I know it’s not the same, but if it comes to it, you have to make the right call. Stevie knows what she is doing by siding with Cane, and that is on her, not you! She has made her choice, and now it is time for you to make yours, cousin.” Alex was right; I needed to pull my big girl pants up and make the choice, but I would never harm my sister if I could avoid it, and that right there might just be my weakness.
Chapter 23
“Now you all must go through the portal so I can seal it. Dom will be the only way to contact me until I unseal all the portals. I cannot take the risk that your sister or Cane will send an army through to kill my people before we are even ready. They won’t make it far if they do, but still I don’t want them here.”
The only portal that would be left open was the main portal to Earth that kept Farrarie alive.
“I will go first to make sure that it’s safe.” Kai gave me one last look before he stepped through the portal, followed by Dom, then Jackson.
“I’ll go ahead of you both.” With a nod from Chase, Alex stepped through. As I was about to walk through the portal, Nico grabbed my arm. I looked up and saw those beautiful violet eyes pleading with me. I felt anger rise inside of me at the lies he told. He knew he was real when he came to me in my dreams, and he knew I was real, and never did he or Kai tell me the truth. I felt like such a fool; I gave them both so much of me in those dreams, and they lied.
“I know this is hard for you, but please believe me when I tell you I never meant to hurt you, love. I had always intended for us to meet, but not like this.” I couldn’t bring myself to feel bad that he was feeling like shit; in fact, I thought he deserved to suffer. He and Kai both deceived me; they’re not the ones who are feeling foolish, only I am, because they knew the truth all along.
“Now is not the time for this, Nico. I already have so much on my mind and so much to wrap my head around…the last thing I need is for you to fuck with my head some more. I will train and help you win this war, but as far as everything else, it’s finished. Don’t ever come to me in my dreams again. Do I make myself clear, your majesty?” I could hear the anger in my voice as I told Nico how I really felt. The worst part is that most of it was lies. I missed having fun with Nico and Kai in my dreams, and how they made my body feel. But now it just felt like what we shared was tainted by their betrayal.
“Yes, Ryan, you made your point. Just please promise me one thing?”
“What?” I said with an eye roll.
“When this is all over, will you give me a chance to explain why I came to you and why I kept the truth from you?”
“I’m not making any promises I can’t keep, Nico, so if there is nothing else, I really think we should be going before the others get worried.”
“Very well, love, be safe and look after yourself, please,” he said before leaning down and placing his lips on my forehead. The touch of his lips sent a shiver down my spine. I could feel the heat creeping up my neck and into my cheeks. The bastard had a satisfied smirk on his face when he pulled away and I itched to send him flying once more. I couldn’t fight my body’s reaction to his touch, even though I hated it.
Chase clasped my hand, and we walked through the portal. I never looked back, but I could feel Nico’s eyes burning a hole in the back of my head, and that put a smile on my face. Once Chase and I entered my bedroom at Jackson’s house, it was exactly the same except for the three alpha males and Alex standing against the far wall. I felt like I was a piece of meat in a lion’s den, the way three of them were looking at me. We were stuck in a staring match until Alex cleared his throat.
“Now if you three are finished eye-fucking my cousin, you filthy pigs, let’s get to work on a plan, aye?” Alex had so much anger in his voice that I think I even flinched a little. Chase had a glare plastered on his face, as well. It was no secret my cousins didn’t like the men standing in front of us, but in order for this to work, we all had to get along, or try to, at least.
“I know each of you have issues with each other, but that ne
eds to stop for the time being. I am not going to put up with you all squabbling like a pack of school girls.” I made sure to look each of them in the eye as I spoke so they knew I was serious. They each gave a nod, agreeing to what I asked.
“I think we should start with the history of each race first thing in the morning. Take the rest of the afternoon to chill.” Dom was looking at me as he spoke, and I gave him a thumbs-up. Not so mature, but I couldn’t formulate the words right now. I was nervous as fuck.
Kai walked over to me and gave me a quick hug, like he knew I was breaking down inside and just needed to be reassured that we were going to be okay. He gave me a small smile and I couldn’t take my eyes off his mouth. I wondered what it would be like to kiss him in real life. I used to fantasize about Kai and Nico being real…what it would be like to finally have someone who would love me and protect me. And now here they were, and things were so complicated that none of my dreams could be reality. A throat-clearing shook me from my depressing thoughts.
“Well, now that we got that sorted…it’s been a long-ass day, and I think we could all use a bath and something to eat.” Trust Chase to be the one thinking of food, but he was right—I was hungry and wiped out. Kai stepped back and faced Jackson.
“I will stay here with Ryan tonight to make sure she is safe.” Uh, a bit presumptuous, don’t you think, Kai?
“Oh like fuck you are. I will stay with her, not you, enforcer,” Jax snapped.
“Now, now, ladies. I will be the one to stay with her, since you two can’t get along,” Dom said while winking at me. What is up with him and winking?
“Piss off, you horny bastards! No one is staying with my cousin. Chase and I will be the ones to stay with her,” Alex shouted, motioning them to the door. I was getting pissed now—they were all talking about me like I wasn’t even in the freaking room. That was about to stop right now.
A Beautiful Dream: The Dream Trilogy Page 13
