Crown of Smoke and Blood

by Sadie Jacks

  “Finally.” The guttural tone of the voice dawned on me.

  “Roarke?” I tried to sit up. Winced at the aching in my body. “What the hell happened?”

  “One of her powers activated. You need to help her.”

  I shot up straight. “What? What happened?”

  Roarke shook their shared head. For whatever reason, he seemed more real this time. Less marionette, more puppet master. But her eyes were a blazing blue instead of the rich glowing amber. “We don’t have time. You need to bite her. Then give her some of your blood.”

  I shook my head. “That can’t actually help her.”

  He lowered, got right in my face. “Bite her, or so help me, I’ll kill you with my bare hands.” He opened his mouth.

  Shrinking back from the rows of sharp, pointy teeth, I nodded.

  He nodded. His teeth shifting back to normal. “I’m going to put her in your lap. When she comes to, do not, under any circumstances, piss her off. This shouldn’t have happened this soon.”

  Questions crowded my mind and the back of my throat. But I nodded. “How do I not piss her off?”

  “Knock her out if you have to, but do not allow her to become enraged.”

  My brow furrowed. “If she can’t be awake, why not just let you keep driving for a while?”

  He shook their head. Her curls slapping at her cheeks. “No. I had to forcibly take over. I’ll damage the shield far too much if I stay outside. You have to protect her.” He put a finger under my chin, lifted my face. “She is important. Too important to lose. Can I trust you?”

  I nodded, felt the unspoken vow seal itself on my soul.

  He smiled. “When the time comes, I’ll reveal myself to her. But it is not now. I could do unspeakable destruction upon many worlds. She is not only Faery’s savior. She is ours as well.”

  With those fateful words, he let go of my chin. Settling their shared body down into my lap, Vari was splayed across my thighs.

  The blue of her eyes faded, leaving a muddy golden brown. The heat of her skin was gone, only frost in its place. She was vanishing. Right in front of me.

  Lifting her upper body, I allowed my fangs to descend. Prayed Roarke was right about this. Sinking my teeth into her jugular vein, I sucked down the sweetest nectar I’d ever tasted. After a few pulls, I sealed off the punctures.

  Raising my wrist, I scored open the skin over my veins with a sharp jerk of my fang. With practiced ease, I shoved the wound against her mouth. Massaged her throat to stimulate her swallowing reflex. “Come back to me, Vari.”

  I honestly felt like I was going crazy. Had been ever since I woke up this morning. Nothing was as it should be with her in my life. And I wasn’t sure I wanted to continue to live in the chaos she represented.

  She twitched in my lap. A hard shudder that wracked her entire body into a full spasm. I had to induce her to keep drinking from me.

  With my fingers threaded through her hair, I forced her mouth against my wrist. Demanded she drink from me. Eventually, her body stilled.

  When her eyes opened wide, I saw my Vari once more. The energy and force that was distinctly Vari was back.

  She shoved weakly at my wrist. Tried to turn her head away. But she was weak. Too weak.

  That, more than anything, frightened me.

  I tugged her to me as I removed my wrist from her mouth. “Are you okay?”

  She shook her head as tears gathered at her lashes. “I have more. How many did he put inside me? How many had to die?” She curled into herself, shutting out the rest of the world.

  I had no idea what she was talking about, but I could practically feel the sorrow washing off of her.

  “Why did you escape Faery?” My voice was soft.

  She shook her head, curled tighter into herself.

  “Vari. I want to help.”

  “You can’t. You would just die. And there’s been too much death already.” She turned, looked up at me. She studied my face for a long time in silence. When she finally licked her lips, a cold ball settled in my belly. “Will you kill me?” She swallowed. “Please.”

  Chapter 21 – Vari

  I waited in silence, my breath backing up in my throat. I couldn’t do it. Couldn’t fail them. But with everything going wrong, I didn’t think I had the strength to keep going. Nothing was working the right way. Including my powers.

  This was the easiest path. If I died, they at least would be safe. Well, safe-r. There was no true safety. Not really. Even if my plans had gone smoothly, there were no guarantees.

  Koehn’s handsome face pinched. “No.”

  I nodded. Known, even as I begged him, that it wouldn’t work. He wasn’t that kind of man. And I’d just made a huge fool of myself.

  Looking around the room, I was surprised to see that nothing had happened to it. No scorch marks. No smoke. Nothing. It was as pristine as it had been when I’d been unable to sift through space to escape him.

  That basic Fae trait and I’d still managed to screw it up. Well, at least Father wasn’t here to beat me.

  Koehn shifted, moving the world around me. I jolted. “Whoa.” Tumbled to the floor. “What the hell?”

  His snort was hard and sharp. “Exactly. We need real answers.” He got to his feet, towered over me like a redwood tree in the forest. He reached down, his hand out.

  Putting my hand in his, I was flying up at him from his gentle tug.

  He caught me around the shoulders and settled me back on my feet. His dark blue eyes twinkled. “I keep forgetting how light you are.” He patted my shoulders. “You okay?”

  I nodded. “Are you? I didn’t mean to burn you.” Red blazed through my cheeks.

  He looked down, patted over his belly. “Yeah, I think I am. No burns, anyway.”

  My smile was weak. “Good.” My knees shaking, I tried to move around him. I had to get out of here. Out of his world that I kept blowing up. He didn’t need the tornado that was me.

  He caught my hand. “Where are you going?”

  I shrugged. “Away. You didn’t want me here tonight. I’ll figure something out.” He didn’t need to worry about me. Ever again.

  His brow furrowed, but he dropped my hand. “You’ll come back tomorrow?”

  I kept walking. Unable to give him an answer he would want to hear. As quickly as possible, I made my way to the stairs. My only thought was to get out, to get away from him.

  “Vari.” His coolness washed over me as I started down to the ground floor. “Wait!” He caught my shoulder. “You’re coming back tomorrow.”

  I smiled at the demand. “You’re very bossy, you know that?”

  He shrugged. “You’re coming back.”

  Pulling free of his grip, I continued down the stairs. Felt him match my steps. For the first time since meeting him, I could feel his emotions. Almost like a caress against my skin. He was worried, impatient, annoyed. Relieved, happy, scared. It was a tumultuous mix that felt like a scratchy blanket on my bare skin.

  With his vampire speed, he rushed around me, barricaded the door. “I know I can’t piss you off, but I need to know that you’ll be back tomorrow.”

  My brow furrowed at his choice of words. He’d done well pissing me off before. Why couldn’t he now? I shook it off. It didn’t matter. I had a course to follow, and it didn’t include him.

  “You’ll see me again,” I said. It would have to suffice. And thanks to at least one of the essences I carried, I knew I would see him again. Even if it wasn’t in the physical plane.

  His shoulders relaxed. “Good. If I didn’t have to worry about the Council coming, I’d dema—ask you to stay here.” His smile was tight. “But they are coming. And that I couldn’t handle.”

  Council? What the heck was he talking about? But I shrugged it off. “I understand. I’ll see you later, Koehn. Sorry for wrecking your life.” I turned the doorknob, opened the heavy front door. And almost got a fist to the face for my trouble.

  “Oh, who’s this little bit
of fluff, then?” a stocky man said with a disgusting glimmer in his eye. He was wearing a bulky jacket, a pair of jeans, and a white t-shirt. His red hair was a matted mess of ragged curls.

  A torrent of anger spilled over me as Koehn came up behind me. “Shut your mouth, Michael. What the feck are you doing here so early?”

  Michael blinked his slightly muddy green eyes. His heavy brows pinched together. “I’m not early, my Ki—”

  “Get your arse in the house. I’ll be there in a minute,” Koehn interrupted him.

  Michael bristled. A look of pure hatred flashed in his eyes as he stepped up towards me. “And miss the action with the lady?”

  I tightened the fingers of my right hand around the grip of my favorite blade. The malice in this man’s voice made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. He was bad news. Very bad.

  Something about him disturbed me. Holding his gaze, I pulled on a thread of my borrowed powers. I might not like having them inside me, but I did know how to use them effectively.

  Michael’s eyes widened as his muddy green irises contracted rapidly. His face went lax as something fell from the depths of his jacket.

  I ignored whatever it was. “Michael.” I kept my voice soft, hypnotic.

  He leaned forward slightly.

  Koehn snarled low in his throat behind me.

  Shut up, I said to Koehn. Dang it. I would need to fix that stupid mental connection again. I shrugged it off. Focusing on Michael once more, I sent a little more magic into his mind. “What do you crave?”

  Michael jolted for a brief moment as he tried to fight off my enchantment. But in the end, he was as weak as he was belligerent. “To be king. To rule it all.”

  Koehn sucked in a noisy breath behind me. “Vari, what the feck?”

  I shook my head. “Are you willing to kill to get it?”

  Michael’s head dipped as if he were drifting off to sleep. Images that would have made my father’s eyebrows rise in delight drifted across my mind. This man wanted more than just power. He wanted to abuse that power.

  My power snapped back into place with a hard slap that left me gasping. It felt like a cold hand had reached into my chest and clenched around my heart.

  When Michael lifted his head again, his eyes were full black. “Stay out of my head, bitch.” A muscle twitching in his solid body had me bracing.

  I had my blade out and chest high as he launched himself at me. I smiled as he jerked and danced at the end of my sword. “You shouldn’t have done that, little boy.”

  His black eyes drained back to a puke green that matched the hatred oozing from him. He gurgled as blood filled his mouth and slowly dribbled down his chin. “Wh-wh-what are you?”

  “You won’t live long enough to find out.” With a quick flick of my wrist, I twisted the blade in his chest and yanked it back out.

  He slumped to the floor, his body already dead. I watched in silence while his brain caught up to the inevitable.

  The press of emotions over my back from Koehn kept me from reveling in the kill as I normally would. Whoever this man had been, at the very least, he had been a cohort of Koehn.

  “Vari. What the hell?” Koehn whispered over my shoulder. He nudged me aside and dropped beside his friend.

  I wiped the bloody sword off on my cloak before sheathing it again in its hidden scabbard. “He was evil, Koehn. Truly evil, not just playing at the darker side of life. If he hasn’t killed anyone yet, he would have.”

  Koehn turned and peered up at me. “So you’re the executioner?”

  I shrugged. Stepping around both of them, I headed down the steps. I had no idea where I was going, but I would figure it out. More than anything right now, I needed to get away from Koehn. Let him live his life in peace.

  “I’ll see you.” Waving a hand, I walked across the yard to the small gate.

  Koehn appeared before me. His eyes were wide and his nostrils flared wide as he panted slightly. “Vari, you just killed him.”

  I nodded. “Yes.”

  Koehn wiped a hand down his handsome face. “You have to answer for that.”

  My brows winged up. “Excuse me? I just saved at least five women from a fate worse than death. I should be getting a medal, not a dressing down.”

  Koehn’s dark blue eyes narrowed. “What do you mean, five women?”

  I blew out a breath. “I saw him killing five women. If he hasn’t yet, then he already has them in captivity of some kind.”

  Koehn’s eyes widened before his brows slammed together. “What the feck are you talking about?”

  “Look, I’m a freak. We both know that. I’m not going to tell you how I know what I know, you can stay safe. The man was a monster. He’s dead. Let the rest of it go.” I turned to move around him again. Wished I could sift through space to get away from him. But I really didn’t want a replay of what happened earlier.

  Koehn caught my arm, tugged me back to face him. “Vari. I can’t just let you go. Not now.” He made a low sound in his chest. “You killed him. He was under my protection.”

  I stilled under his grip. There was something in his voice that sent skitters of…something down my spine. “What does that mean, Koehn?”

  “Unless you have evidence of what he did, or is doing, then…” He stared at me.

  I laughed. Right in his face. Shook my head. “You want to punish me for killing that meat bag?”

  His grip tightened around my arm. “Vari. I’m not kidding. There are rules out here in the real world. If I let you go without satisfaction, then it shows everyone else that I’m weak. That anyone can go around killing anyone they want.” He shook his head. “I don’t play games. My word is law and my rules don’t bend.”

  In the entire day I’d known the man, his face was cold and hard for the first time. He was serious. Beyond serious. And of course he would be the one guy I wouldn’t kill.

  Well, shite. “What do you mean by satisfaction?” Maybe there was a loophole or something. Some little gap I could slide through.

  “Come back inside, Vari. You’re staying here.” Without taking his hand off my arm, he started walking back to the house, towing me along.

  “Tell me what your rules say, damn it.” I dug my feet in, but it didn’t seem to matter at all. He shouldn’t have been able to move me unless I wanted to be moved. Yet another thing that was going wrong with me around him.

  He shook his head and kept walking. The dying light turned the world into a weak imitation of the color of his eyes.

  Just as he was tugging me up the stairs, the night moved around us.

  Koehn stopped, causing me to smash into his side. “Hey.” I reached up and rubbed my face. “A little warning next time.”

  “Shut up, Vari. They’re here.” His words were softer than the breeze that ruffled through my hair.

  I looked out into the coming night. Saw shadows moving up the street. They barely disturbed the wind. Only the cessation of nature’s sounds spoke of their presence.

  Don’t say anything. Let me handle this, Koehn spoke into my mind.

  I yanked on my arm. Almost fell over when he let me go immediately. Arsehole.

  He snickered softly before his face moved into austere lines. For the first time, I could understand why he was in charge. And if he was to be my judge and jury, then I needed to pay attention to whatever was coming next.

  Chapter 22 – Koehn

  We waited in the dark. Even knowing who they were, I could feel my back stiffening at their approach. They were going to be too close. They would see her. Smell her. Want to taste her.

  Gideon’s face lit up as he flashed up the stairs. His pale blonde hair was a beacon in the dark. “What’s this?” He reached out a hand towards Vari. “We haven’t eaten fresh in a very long time.”

  I stepped between them. “She’s not dinner.”

  “Damn right, I’m not,” she muttered under her breath.

  Gideon looked up at me as he inhaled through his nose. The first s
tirrings of anger flickered in his golden eyes. “Why do I smell Michael’s blood?” He tried to shove me aside. “Did she do this?” He sank down into a predatory crouch. “Move aside, Koehn. I’ll take care of this insignificant human.”

  Vari pushed up on my other side. I felt one of her weapons jab me in the arse.

  “Stand down, Gideon. She’s my prisoner.” My voice was a low rumble in my throat. How the hell had everything gotten so screwed up in such a short amount of time? Honestly, it was almost funny—minus the death and the punishment I was now obligated to dole out.

  The hell I’m your prisoner, Vari said. I could hear the bite in her mental voice. Feck, I could hear my death in her voice.

  My dick stirred at the idea. So not the right time.

  Ambrose and Hector finally arrived. These two were not only ancient, but they enjoyed the whole resurgence of vampire fascination. They played it to the hilt when they got a chance. Ambrose was in his customary black Dracula cape that was lined in red silk. His bespoke black suit whispered of incalculable wealth. Black hair shoved back from his patrician features. Pale blue eyes completed the picture of the most famous of us.

  Hector’s normally Spanish brown skin was covered in white theater makeup. Two stray drops of faux blood decorated the lower right corner of his mouth. His brown eyes were so dark as to look black all the time, even without the theatrics. His smile was fanged, even though he wasn’t in the midst of feeding or bloodlust. Held as a prisoner during the Spanish Inquisition had left him in a perpetual state of semi-shift.

  “I say, Kohen. Why is Michael dead?” Ambrose asked. “Did his misdeeds finally catch up with him?”

  “Damn right they did,” Vari muttered from behind me again.

  Ambrose moved to the side. He sniffed the air delicately. “My dear, you smell absolutely divine.”

  I stepped between them. “She’s mine.”

  Gideon tried to turn a chuckle into a cough. “You just said she was your prisoner?”

  “Yes. Touch her and …” My words trailed off. What? What was I going to do to these men that I’d known for over two centuries? And over a woman I’d just met. Who killed another of our number.