Faith huffed but stopped fighting and went. Her friends were human, weaker than whatever was coming. Nadie might be a succubus, but she wasn’t fully ready to fight either. She hadn’t practiced on anything other than trees at this point, and though she didn’t feel prepared, she would not let her friends get hurt. She risked a look over her shoulder at her mates.
She would not let her mates get hurt either.
The sound of a train, tornado…something so loud she could barely hear her own thoughts filled the room, and she threw herself over Faith and Amara, pulling Eliana down with her. They hit the floor as a stream of fire shot overhead.
They screamed and curled into balls before trying to crawl out of the way. But there was nowhere to go. She heard a fight begin behind her but couldn’t move her head to look for fear of catching on fire.
Dear God, there had to be another dragon in the room. She knew the feel of Dante’s magic, of the fire in his veins, and this was not it.
“Come on!” Faith yelled over the roar of flames and the dragon.
Nadie nodded and pulled Amara to her side. The four of them huddled in the corner, blocked from reaching an exit on all sides.
“Can you block the flames?” Amara asked.
Nadie shook her head. “I don’t think so, but I can try.” She held up her arms and let her power flow through her. She had no idea if this would work since she’d been told her powers could only act like lightning, but maybe she could divert the flames…or at least harm whoever was on the other side of the wall of fire, the one who had the audacity to come into her mate’s bar and attack them.
Lightning power shot from her palms, sending a shock of white light through the fire. The girls gasped behind her, and sweat poured down her face from the intense heat and concentration. She didn’t know if she could help, but she would not go down acting worthless.
Her friends touched her, bringing her focus to what was in front of her.
“Oh my God, it’s working,” she panted. The fire couldn’t come closer, not with the shield her succubus seemed to be providing. She couldn’t let it fall. She couldn’t let the fire touch them.
But what of her mates?
****
Dante roared but couldn’t shift to his dragon form, not when they were inside the building. He’d break through the roof, endangering everyone in his care. He could, however, beat the fuck out of the little shit who dared come to his land and threaten his mates.
Jace growled beside him, stripping off his clothes and shifting to a six-hundred-pound grizzly. His mate pawed at the ground, ready to pounce at the dragon in human form in front of them.
Rock.
How wrong Dante had been to even consider this piece of crap dragon to take his place. That would be something he could beat himself over later. Right now, he needed to teach this fucker a lesson.
Rock spewed more fire, but Dante held out his hands, letting the fire in his heart, in his veins break free. Instead of attacking Rock, the fire attacked the enemy flames. He felt Nadie through the bond and saw her powers in use as she tried to shield herself and her friends.
But that couldn’t last forever.
She was still so new, so young. Her succubus would run out of energy before too long, and then it would be too late. He wouldn’t lose her. Couldn’t lose her.
The fire died down around them, Rock’s power no match for Dante’s. Beside him, Jace leapt on the other man, clawing at the other’s face and sides. He knew that Jace wouldn’t kill the other man, not until they had answers, but his mate would maim him. Just a little.
Dante ran back to Nadie, who stood in front of her friends, her face pale, her arms red and burnt. He roared, fury slamming through him, the steady staccato of anger about to burst free. He reined in his temper, refusing to go dragon and kill all in his path for daring to harm his mate.
Nadie came up to him, tears streaming down his face and cupped his cheek. “I’m fine. It’s only on the surface. Go to Jace. I’ve got this.”
Dante didn’t touch her, afraid once he did he’d never let her go. He only nodded and gave a cursory glance at her friends to ensure they were unharmed before stalking back toward Jace and his prey.
Rock would pay for harming his mate.
For damaging his bar.
For daring to attack him.
Painfully.
Dante crouched down, staring into the eyes of the dragon he didn’t know but had apparently caused so much hatred that Rock had attacked. “Tell me why you’ve done this.”
The other man didn’t answer through his bloody lips. Jace pressed down on Rock’s neck with his paw until the other man choked, gasping for breath. Dante patted Jace’s forearm until his bear pulled back slightly, letting Rock breathe enough so he could answer the question.
“You should have died long ago,” Rock sneered.
Dante snorted softly, a small tendril of smoke escaping his nostril. This dragon was truly an idiot. Dante nodded at Jace, who growled before pressing down on Rock’s throat.
He could feel Nadie and the others behind him, but thankfully they were far enough away that he could protect them in case Rock got a crazy idea in his head, like escaping. Nadie, he knew now, could protect herself as well. That alone calmed his dragon from raging beyond redemption.
Jace let up after a few minutes, and Rock gasped for breath.
“Tell me,” Dante ordered. “Tell me why you are here. Why you tried to hurt my mates.” The sight of burns on Nadie’s arms would haunt him forever. He knew her succubus would heal her slowly, but once they got home, he’d do what he could to help it along.
“I couldn’t get to your home the day that bitch ran off the road, so I came here. You must die so I can rule.”
Dante growled and stood slowly. “Did you run my mate off the road?”
Rock shook his head—or at least tried to. It was hard since Jace had his claw on the bastard’s jugular.
“It wasn’t me. It was happenstance. I was there to break through your wards. Someone else tried to kill the bitch.”
“Call my friend a bitch one more time, and I’ll let the dragon fry you to a crisp,” Faith yelled.
Dante smirked. “I could always let the human at you, Rock. I’m sure she could torture you just as well as I could.”
“Damn straight,” Faith agreed.
How Dante loved his friends.
“You’ll never get me,” Rock sneered. “You know nothing, Dante Bell.”
Jace growled, and Dante tilted his head. He was missing something. Something important. The dragon sounded too confident considering he was about to die.
The scent of burnt sage and jasmine filled his nostrils, and Dante cursed, throwing out a ring of protective fire around Nadie and the girls. Jace jumped back, and Rock screamed before going up in flames.
Jace shifted back to human, standing naked next to Dante. “What the fuck just happened?”
“Why is Jace naked?” Faith asked.
“Not the time, Faith!” Eliana screamed.
“There is always a time to ask why someone that hung is naked!” Faith yelled back.
Dante could tell the girls were freaked out of their minds, so he let them yell at each other while he looked at the charred circle on his floor.
Nadie came to his side, and he held out his arm. “What happened?”
Jace growled, and Dante knew the other man had spotted her burns. As it was, he himself was on the verge of changing to his dragon, letting out a stream of fire so long he’d burn the entire city to the ground because someone had hurt his mate. But he was controlling himself for her.
For now.
“That was Rock,” Dante explained.
“Why did he want you dead?” Nadie asked.
“I think he wanted the Conclave’s position,” Jace growled.
“That would seem so,” Dante agreed.
“At least he’s dead now,” Faith added in from his side.
Dante shook his head. “No, I’m afraid he s
till lives.”
Everyone grew silent.
“Dante, baby, he went up in flames,” Nadie said. “How could he still be alive?”
Dante sighed. “Because he’s a dragon and because he had help. Someone with powers to call other dragons who have shared blood…or other things…to their side.”
Jace cursed. “Your mother? Your mother fucking took him back to her side?”
The girls gasped beside him, and Dante ground his teeth. “It would seem my mother and Rock have joined forces to kill me and take over the dragon realm.”
“Well shit. That doesn’t sound like the best family reunion,” Faith muttered.
Dante nodded. No, he’d missed something. Something far greater than he could have imagined. The end was coming, and he needed to look at the pieces and figure out how he could save his mates.
They were running out of time with the Conclave, and his mother had thrown a new player into the fold. Nadie gripped his hand, and he knew it was time to get everyone home so he could try to heal her. He pulled her closer and closed his eyes.
He’d fought off a dragon for his mates, and now it would seem he’d have to kill his mother. It was never ending, and he’d be damned if he’d lose. He had too much to live for.
****
Faith tossed her bag on the table and threw herself on her couch. It had been one hell of a night, and frankly, Faith was tired of nights like these. It seemed that every time someone in their group found their mate or mates, the world went crazy and people had to fight for their lives.
She’d watched each of her friends who’d bonded almost die, and then when they were healed, they lost a part of themselves. Oh, they told Faith they were happy with all the changes and loved being part of a mating bond where it seemed they would readily sacrifice themselves for their loved ones.
Hell no.
It didn’t seem worth it.
Not one bit.
It didn’t help that she was the weak one in every situation—not something she was used to. She might be able to fight with knives, but that meant nothing against a fucking dragon or wolf with claws and fangs. Everyone was moving on, and Faith was left behind.
She needed to find a way to protect herself and her friends because she’d be damned if she had to hide behind little Nadie again. Not that she wasn’t grateful that the little succubus could protect them and herself, but Faith didn’t want to have to rely on anyone.
And she damn sure didn’t want to rely on a mate.
Men lied, cheated, and treated her like trash.
No thank you.
It seemed the only way to find a way to grow stronger and become the paranormal the lightning had triggered was to bond with her true half. That was something Faith wasn’t prepared to do. Not now. Maybe not ever.
She’d just have to find another way.
Because there was no way Faith would allow herself to be weak, helpless, and she’d never rely on the kindness of others.
There was no way she’d give up her freedom…her heart…for a man she would never be able to trust.
She’d just have to find another way.
Somehow.
Chapter Seventeen
Levi ran a hand through his hair and promised himself that if he made it through this Conclave meeting without killing someone, he’d get himself a present. Like a beer. Or a willing woman.
Anything to entice him to stay somewhat sane and not…dead.
Because if he started murdering, or at least maiming, those of the Conclave who were so out of touch with the rest of the universe, he’d surely be killed by one of their cronies. Gods, it sounded as though he worked with part of the human mafia, not a group of powerful supernaturals who were supposed to be the rule makers, the protectors of their realms.
And now he was sitting in a room as the others plotted to kill when they didn’t get what they wanted.
Levi didn’t know what to do, but he knew he had to do something.
“What’s your plan?” Tristan, his fellow member and friend, whispered to him. While Levi was a wizard, Tristan was fae. The two of them in some respects would have different ways of helping their own realm, but right then, they had the same goal.
To keep the Conclave from falling to the hells it was on the fast track to.
“I would try reason, but I think we’re long past that.”
Tristan snorted. “They’re going to war. You know this.”
Levi nodded. “You’ll have to stay here. There are those who will stay behind with you, trying to take over the Conclave or use its powers to harm even more.”
Tristan’s expression darkened, but he nodded. “And you’ll go with the Conclave. Protect the innocent.”
Levi nodded. That was why he had joined the Conclave with Tristan at such a young age. He’d sacrificed so much to do what he thought was right, and now it seemed he might have made a mistake. Levi closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, before standing, his chin held high.
He’d follow the Conclave to Dante’s and do his best to find a way to protect them all. He’d been too late with the accident on the road, too late with the lightning in the first place. He just prayed he wasn’t too late for this.
****
Jace leaned against the wall, watching his two mates practice hand-to-hand combat in their gym. While Nadie’s powers were growing day by day, as was her ability to control those powers, he and Dante wanted her to learn to use every weapon she had.
“It annoys me that we need to teach her these things,” Faith said as she walked up to him and leaned on the wall as well. “It annoys me that I need to learn these things.”
Faith had come to their place so she could learn along with Nadie. Though, at least in Jace’s mind, Faith’s skill was well beyond Nadie’s in hand-to-hand and blade combat.
“It annoys me as well that any of you have to learn this. The seven of you should have been able to live your lives the way you wanted to. Now, as each of you learn your new powers and realms, it seems we’re always on the brink of war.”
Faith snorted. “I’ll stand by all of my friends and wish them luck in every area of love and all that crap they want, but that won’t be me. I won’t start a war for any man. I’m learning so I’m not the weak one in any fight—human or not.”
Jace thought Faith’s words would come back to bite her in the ass later, but he didn’t comment on that. “I don’t think anyone would ever mistake you for weak.”
“Such flattery,” Faith mumbled. “I’m still not prepared to go against a dragon.”
Jace shook his head. “I’m not either. I could only take down Rock in my bear form because Dante’s fire was there. Without it? I would have lost easily. Only a dragon can take down a dragon.”
“Sounds shitty to me.”
“Agreed. You do know that we won’t let you actually fight against the Conclave when they come, right?” And they would come.
Faith turned so she was facing him, her hands on her hips. “Really? You’re not going to let me?”
“Stop bullying my mate,” Nadie said as she walked up to his side.
Jace held out an arm, and she sank into him as if without thought. “She’s not bullying me, or at least she’s not succeeding.”
Faith rolled her eyes, but she grinned anyway.
“You’re doing better, my sprite,” Dante said as he prowled toward them. Honestly, the man never walked. He always looked as though he was ready to fight or take someone to bed when he moved—something Jace appreciated.
“I’m not fully there yet, but I’m getting better.”
Jace kissed the crown of Nadie’s head. Her skills improved by leaps and bounds every day, and he was beyond proud concerning how well she was doing. Dante was patient with her and taught her to use her own strengths while fighting. As each moment passed, the three of them were learning facets about each other that he never thought he’d know. These two were the center of his life, and his role as Mediator could be damned. He’d alread
y shunned his responsibilities, as well as a Conclave that had tried to pull him away from the ones he loved. The pixies were being cared for by another.
Now, it was Jace’s time.
Jace had straightened, ready to take his mates and Faith back to the kitchen to get something to eat when the house shook. Nadie dug her fists into his shirt, and he gripped her hip, trying to decide if it was a normal earthquake or something far worse.
He met Dante’s gaze and knew the time had come.
“The Conclave is here,” Dante growled and let his hand fall from Faith’s shoulder.
“Where are they?” Jace asked.
Dante tilted his head as if sensing something. “They’re in the clearing, and there are more than a few of them.”
Dread settled in Jace’s stomach, but he buried it. “What are our options?”
“Running and hiding won’t work. They’ve put their own wards around my wards. No one can get out, but others can come in.” Dante raised a brow. “They did that for their own reinforcements, but I’m bringing in my own.” He turned to Faith. “I would tell you to hide in the basement with my mate until this is over.” He held up his hand to silence both women. “But I know that wouldn’t work. Even if I thought I could keep either of you away from this, being by our sides will be safer.”
Jace pulled Nadie in front of him. “I’m going to go call my parents and have them come here. I want you by my side or Dante’s the entire time until I tell you to go somewhere else.”
Nadie nodded, worry in her gaze. “I will. I can use the powers I have to protect myself and Faith. I won’t do something stupid. I promise.”
Jace cupped her face and kissed her. Hard. “I’m not going to lose you.” He pulled away and kissed Dante the same, repeating the phrase until he started to believe it himself.
Dante growled. “Go call your family and tell them to come here quickly. Faith, call Shade and the others. I will call my House. We have only thirty minutes at most I believe until the Conclave is gathered before they come at us. They need to fully get through our wards first. They’re taunting us right now, and we’re going to use the time to prepare.”
Tangled Innocence Page 18
