Shadows and Stars

by Becca Fanning

  “All right, everyone. I know where they are, and they have Ryder. Back to the battlefield!” Vivien shouted, then took off running toward the clearing as fast as her legs would carry her.

  She could hear Ryder’s ragged breath in her mind. He’d been tortured, that much she knew. Those sons a bitches were gonna pay for hurting her mate. She ground her teeth together and pushed her legs harder. She knew Tristan and Amelia were with him too and prayed they were all right. Machin’s time was coming. No, his time was almost at an end. He might have nearly killed her as a wolf, but he had his chance—his only chance.

  Vivien heard a large bird screeching from the sky above and knew in her heart it was Machin. He was trying to beat her there. Well, let him. Let him think he’s won something. The power was hers now and she was gonna wield it.

  Moments before entering the clearing, Vivien stopped, halting everyone behind her. What she saw made her blood run cold. Ryder, Tristan and Amelia were strung up by their arms, hanging from a tree. Her first instinct was to run to them, but she knew it was a trap. Her heart galloped in her chest. The three vampires looked near lifeless with their heads falling to the side. There was so much blood. Her heart cried out to Ryder.

  Coven warriors and vampires were standing guard. Vivien knew she could take them out, but it was then that she decided enough blood had been shed. She wasn’t willing to risk the lives of anyone else, especially her mate.

  Vivien turned to look at her newfound friends and allies. “I won’t allow anyone else to die for me today. This ends now.”

  Richard and Emma stepped forward and each grabbed a hand. “Do what you must, but we’re here to back you up, no matter the cost,” Emma said. “You’ve suffered a great deal. Remember your mother and what she sacrificed.” Then the two backed away after embracing Vivien in a tight hug.

  She looked around at all the faces of those who had willingly fought alongside her, risked their lives, and she knew what she had to do next. “Follow me,” she said. “We’ll walk in together, but they want me, not you.

  “At my call, I want all witches and hybrids to stand beside me and lock hands. There’s something everyone here needs to see.”

  Witches and hybrids stood tall, nodding their approval, and followed Vivien into the clearing that was now a bloody battlefield. Vivien kept her eyes trained forward, keeping a watchful eye out for Machin.

  When they made it to the middle of the clearing, all eyes were on Vivien. “Let my friends go in exchange for me. I’ll go willingly as long as they’re left alive,” she shouted, looking around at the coven warriors and vampires surrounding her. An outburst of gasps lit up behind her, but she had to do this—she had to save Ryder.

  Machin—in the form of a large bird—soared from the nearest treetop, to land standing in front of her in his true form. “Why should we negotiate with you when we can kill you all?” He all but sneered, taking a step closer.

  “It would be in your best interest. You’ve only seen a fraction of what I can do. If you and your coven of witches and vampires wish to live, I suggest you take the deal.” Vivien smiled, showing not a hint of reservation or fear.

  Machin blanched. “You think you’re more powerful than me?” He turned toward his warriors, laughing and mocking her.

  “Isn’t that what you’re afraid of? The abomination taking over your rule, ending your coven? Take the deal. I’m done running and I’m done fighting. Release my friends and you get what you want.” She shifted her feet to the side, looking past Machin to see Ryder, Tristan and Amelia stir. Vivien smiled internally.

  With a thought, she released the three vampires from their binds and they fell gracefully to their feet. The warriors and vampires who’d been guarding them had left their post. Her distraction was working.

  “I’m not afraid of an abomination!” Machin clutched Vivien’s throat with both hands, attempting to choke the life out of her. She could hear the witches shouting behind her, but she shook her head while gasping for air.

  Vivien pulled at Machin’s arms, feeling her magic rise within, then with a thought, sent a force of power so great, he flew across the field, landing on his ass. To her right, she could see Ryder, Tristan and Amelia mixing into the crowd of witches after they’d fed on a few unsuspecting coven warriors along the way in order to heal their extensive injuries.

  “Do you wanna try that again, Daddy Dearest?” Vivien asked with a smirk, taking several steps forward while Machin was still trying to catch his breath.

  “You will die tonight,” he said, attempting to stand.

  Vivien pushed him down with her boot to his neck. “I don’t think so, but you, Father, have a surprise coming.”

  She looked around at the approaching warriors and vampires. They seemed terrified, and rightly so. “Don’t come any further. I have something for you as well.” She looked at them all and laughed.

  “The abomination must die! Why are you all standing around like a bunch of idiots? Kill her. Now!” a voice shouted from her left. A vampire. No one moved.

  Vivien eyed him closely as the moon shone brightly on the battlefield. “And just who might you be?” She pressed her boot harder on Machin’s throat, causing him to cry out. She was holding him down with her magic as well. The bastard couldn’t move.

  “Damien. I’m the Los Angeles Vampire Coven leader.” He strode toward her. “You will not be spared!” He bared his fangs and claws, then ran toward Vivien, but before she could react, Amelia appeared before her in a blur, reaching through Damien’s chest and ripping out his heart.

  “Die, you sick fuck! Burn in hell!” Amelia had tears rolling down her face and Vivien wondered what the hell had happened, then remembered the haunted stare she’d seen behind her beautiful blue eyes when they met earlier.

  “Thank you, Amelia,” Vivien said.

  Then Tristan came running to Amelia’s side. “Shh, it’s okay. He’s not here and can’t hurt you anymore. Come on.” He walked her to the side of the clearing while everyone, coven warriors and vampires alike, stood slack-jawed. Their leader was dead.

  Vivien turned toward the witches and hybrids, giving them the signal. One by one, they formed a circle, holding hands. Emma was to her right, while Genevieve was to her left. She turned toward Emma and everyone in the clearing.

  Shouting, she said, “I have something I want to share with everyone here—a memory—my mother’s memory of the night I was born. You’ll soon learn who the real traitor is.”

  Releasing her boot from Machin’s throat, she took a step back, then turned toward Emma. “I’m going to project it from my mind to everyone here. I need your help.” Emma nodded, then smiled.

  Concentrating on the memory of her mother, Vivien’s breathing slowed. Her magic rose within every part of her being. She could feel it rushing through her bloodstream. Opening her eyes, she projected a scene for all to see, like that of a movie screen playing before them on the battlefield.

  “But Machin, I can’t get rid of her. She’s ours—yours—your flesh and blood. How can you be so cruel?” Gretchen clutched the baby tightly in her arms. She was lying in a small bed, covered in a thin red quilt. The dimly lit room was sparsely furnished. It looked to be that of an old wooden cabin.

  Looming over her, Machin sneered. “You will get rid of the child or I’ll kill her myself. I am the legitimate ruler of this coven, not some child of a prophecy.” Machin attempted to rip the child from Gretchen’s arms, but she yanked the baby away, standing from the bed. Then backed against the wood-planked wall.

  “I knew you were ruthless, but I had no idea you would go to such lengths for power,” Gretchen said through tears. “Vivien will be the legitimate leader of this coven when she comes of age. Your time is over!”

  Machin pulled an old scroll from the shelf above the bed—the original prophecy.

  Gretchen snatched it from his hands and summarized the part pertaining to Vivien aloud: “It states that your first born, much more powerful than you or
I, both of witch and shapeshifter blood, will lead the coven into a peaceful existence among all supernatural races.” She threw the scroll in his face, then covered a stirring Vivien and rocked her in her arms.

  “It says that for now, Gretchen,” Machin spat, waving his hand over the scroll. “In a moment, Vivien will be known as an abomination from demon blood. No one will know she’s my offspring. She’ll never take my coven. There will be a price on her head until the day she dies!”

  Gretchen gasped, seeing what true evil looked like up close. Grabbing a small blanket from the crib, she ran from the room, hearing Machin’s maniacal laughter as she disappeared into the woods. “Run, little witch. Your time is short.”

  The vision of her mother’s memory ended, and Vivien could feel the glow from her eyes receding. Ryder had come to stand next to her. He entwined his fingers in hers, then kissed her forehead.

  FOURTEEN

  VIVIEN GLANCED AROUND at the awestruck faces: vampires, coven warriors and witches alike. All of a sudden, the coven warriors took a knee, pressing their right hand over their heart. This was what her mother, Richard, and Emma had meant by her destiny. When she looked at the kneeling warriors, she didn’t feel like their leader, nor did she want to be. All of this was for her freedom and now, theirs.

  All was quiet until Machin stood. “This is a lie!” he shouted, but with much less passion than before. He knew he’d been outed. He’d lost the respect of his coven.

  “No, Machin.” Vivien left Ryder’s side and stepped forward. “My mother’s memories tell the tale of a heartless man, hell-bent on killing his own child for power. I pity you,” Vivien said in a calm tone. “All this bloodshed, this war—all of it—was for nothing.

  “You’ve chased my shadow all these years attempting to keep a title that doesn’t belong to you. And you killed my mother.” She choked back a sob. “I had imagined taking my revenge on you, but you know what? You’re not worth it. Live with what you’ve done and the lives you’ve ruined. You mean nothing to me.”

  Vivien turned to walk away from him, but heard the whoosh of a sword just before it came down on her head. She ducked, conjuring her own sword, turned and swung, watching pitifully as Machin’s head slid from his shoulders. This wasn’t what she wanted in the end, but with him now dead, she no longer had to worry. She was indeed—free.

  Ryder sidled up beside her again, grinning. “I was supposed to do the saving. So, should I turn in my man card now?”

  Vivien laughed. “Not yet. I’ll let you keep it, for now.” Then he kissed her long and hard for everyone to see.

  Once the rogue vampires scattered, the coven warriors made their way toward Vivien, pledging their undying loyalty to her as their true leader. Many apologized for their roles in years of hunting her under false pretenses. Vivien understood, but she had no desire to be their leader. She thanked them, then sought out Emma and Richard.

  She found them speaking with Genevieve, Dee and Grace and asked if she could have a moment of their time. She knew she wanted someone she could trust to take over as coven leader and who better than Emma—her mother’s trusted friend? For without her, she would’ve never known of her true origin or how much her mother truly sacrificed to keep her safe.

  Taking a deep breath, Vivien looked between the two of them. “Emma, I have something important to ask you. Now that I’m the true leader of the coven, I wish to hand it down to someone who is truly worthy of the title. That person isn’t me. It’s you.”

  Emma gasped in surprise, covering her mouth with her hand. A tear trickled down her cheek. “Vivien, are you sure about this? It is your destiny, not mine.”

  “Maybe it was years ago.” She looked over to where Ryder was standing next to Tristan and Amelia. “But I have an even greater destiny now, and that’s with my mate by my side.”

  Emma wrapped her arms tightly around Vivien, then pulled back. “You have no idea what this means—an opportunity to make that coven as great as it once was. Thank you for this honor, and for entrusting me with it.”

  Richard stood by with his hand on Emma’s shoulder, smiling. Vivien felt that Richard knew what was coming. He always seemed to know Vivien in ways better than she knew herself. She reached over and embraced him in a tight hug.

  “I can’t thank the two of you enough for all that you’ve done for me—for Ryder—for everyone,” Vivien said. “If it’s all right with you, Ryder and I need to stay for one more day. The sun will be coming up soon.”

  Emma winked at her. “Of course, my dear.”

  Walking away, Vivien looked around at coven warriors intermingling with witches, hybrids and even her vampire friends. The very same warriors she’d been fighting only hours earlier. It was surreal. The battle had ended… It was time to announce their new coven leader and that’s exactly what she did. Of course, Emma would have to hash out the details later, but that was something only she knew how to do, because Vivien was clueless. All she’d ever done was run from them.

  She took a deep breath when Ryder came to stand next to her. “You ready to call it a night?” he asked, kissing her cheek.

  “Yes, and shower… I need a shower.” They both laughed and walked back toward the bed and breakfast.

  EPILOGUE

  VIVIEN AND RYDER spent two more days in Harlington before making their trip to New Orleans, with a promise to call and visit Richard and Emma often. Genevieve had insisted that they live with the Hybrid Coven for a while, at least until they were ready to settle down. She wanted to expose Vivien to a life full of magic, and teach her the way of the ancestors—something she had never had the opportunity to learn. In the end, both she and Ryder accepted, but decided to take a bit of a vacation in the French Quarter.

  Standing on the balcony of their two-room suite, Vivien looked below at the masses of partygoers filling Bourbon Street. She leaned along the wrought iron railing with a glass of red wine in her hand. She felt Ryder’s strong arms wrap around her waist; then he placed the gentlest of kisses on her hair. When he stepped to her side with a glass of bourbon in hand, he raised it to her for a toast.

  “To our new life together. May it be filled with happiness and friendships to last a lifetime.”

  Vivien smiled lovingly at her mate, then clinked her glass to his. “To us. I love you, Ryder.” Then she set her wine glass on the small glass table on the patio.

  Ryder reached for her, pulling her into his arms. “I love you too, my dear, Vivien.” Then he covered her mouth in a soul-crushing kiss. Vivien was in heaven. Finally living a life that she never thought possible, with a man she’d grown to love—her soulmate in every sense of the word.

  When Ryder pulled away, he positioned them to look over the crowd once more. “Do you smell that, Vivien?” he asked.

  “What? Alcohol and sweaty bodies?” She laughed, snuggling into the crook of his arm.

  “No, the smell of freedom.” He looked deep into her eyes—his were a swirling gray, almost silver.

  Vivien smiled. Ryder was right. They were both free. She no longer had a coven to run from and since the death of Damien, the vampire coven was set to rights—Ryder was a free vampire, no longer under their thumb.

  Come to find out, an investigation had been underway by the older generation of vampires for quite some time about the mysterious death of Damien’s father. Ryder learned from a trusted friend that his suspicions had been confirmed: Damien had poisoned his own father to take over the coven, then had one of his loyal goons behead him in an attempt to cover it up. In a play for power, he teamed up with Machin after being promised five million dollars for Vivien’s death, and a partnership for years to come. With the death of both evil bastards, peace was finally restored among the supernatural races, just as the original prophecy had stated.

  “I think I’ve seen enough of the party scene for one night.” Vivien showcased a sexy smile, then walked toward the double doors leading to their bedroom with a swing of her hips, crooking her finger at Ryder. “Tak
e me to bed, big boy.”

  * * *

  The End

  Continue the Hybrid Coven Series, and learn more about Angela Sanders other paranormal romances; where it all began with The Delphine Rising Series.

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  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Angela Sanders is a wife, Mommy to a precious little boy, and a retired Navy Chief. She spends most of her days either writing, editing, reading or all three. Her love of books and active imagination is what brought her here. If not for a few special authors who stumbled into her life, her books wouldn't be possible.

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  SOUL TO KEEP

  RACHEL RAWLINGS

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