by Emily Shore
“I trust you, Reina. It's more a matter of protection. And…fear.”
I read between the lines, squeezed my forearms together and then sighed, slumping my shoulders, disappointed. “I thought you had more faith in me than that.” My words gusted just above a whisper. I knew I shouldn’t press this. I shouldn’t press him to share his pain, but he’d seen mine. He’d witnessed my secrets, my challenges, my flaws. Was it so wrong for me to want just a sample of his? “I don’t care about perfection.”
Raoul stood, pacing the ground, contemplating my proposition. “Your good opinion of me is what I cherish most in this world. To tarnish it…I don't want to lose your respect or admiration.”
“You sound like a Jane Austen novel. Raoul…” I rose to slow-coax him, easing my fingers onto his sleeve, feeling both courageous and comfortable, “I will respect you even more for your openness. I'd much rather see you take the risk and trust me with your demons than to wear this…angel mask.”
Raoul stared down at my hand before covering it with his palm. Finally, he sighed, closing his eyes for a moment. “My history is long. Decades-filled. Soon, I will share it. But anyone can see you need rest. For now, I will leave you with this: I was not in a good place when I came to Le Couvènte. Originally, I came for another purpose. My stay was meant to be brief. But then, I rescued a little human girl when she tumbled off an embankment into a river.” He cupped my cheek. Milky twilight meeting pale, Parisian skin. “I met her family.” He tilted his head toward me. “I lingered. The situation intrigued me — a blended family of vampires and wolves strong enough to live every day with a human. But that little girl was the real reason I stayed. First, it was to prove to myself that I could endure. But I fell in love with her every day thereafter. And that has never stopped.”
My warm breath tangled with his cold one — two white ghosts until his shadow overwhelmed the breath as he pressed his lips against mine. Kissing Raoul was natural. Needing him was natural. With Skip, it was hard. Required more effort and control. But Raoul was Raoul. Full of secrets that I longed to explore. No power to woo. Just a healthy fascination.
Raoul’s hands sunk onto my shoulders, pushing me back. My breath left in white pants. For a few solid seconds, Raoul stared at me. Next, he kissed my forehead just above the bridge of my nose between my eyes.
“Get some rest, Reina. We will talk more later.”
That wasn’t fair. He reminded me of the Phantom with his hand outstretched to seduce Christine deep into his lair. Something needed to change soon. But I was still willing to wait until he was ready to lead me deeper.
In the morning, the thundering of paws outside the cabin woke me. Rejuvenated from a good night’s rest, I launched into full speed of changing so I could determine what was going on outside. The silver veins in my hands burst to life, eager for a new challenge.
It seemed I would get it once I stepped outside and discovered Raoul and Brian already there, prepared to guard the cabin against an onslaught of wolves. I didn’t cower. Instead, I stepped onto the porch and closed the door as the pack moved in closer and collectively growled, pawing at the ground. Raoul tensed at the threat. Brian rose to his haunches, snarling and shaking his head from the invasion.
I marched forward and cried out, “State your business!”
The pack split apart to welcome the Alpha. I recognized him. Wallace. Charged with the most powerful pack in Le Couvènte. One that constantly vied for territory with my mother’s. Why were they here? Wallace raised his head to the early gray light and howled so all the others echoed around him. Raoul winced. Brian planted the tips of his paws on the ground, prepared to defend me. The howl clawed deep into me. It meant one thing: a challenge. Inhaling deeply, I closed my eyes to sense the roots of my family branching out from my core like Redwood networks uniting, fusing together to remain strong.
Wallace was prepared to transform to address me, but I plunged into his head to dissuade him. No need. State your business I repeated, finding comfort that I could enter a wolf’s mind as freely as a vampire’s. Perhaps it had something to do with mine and Brian’s hunt.
I am here to dispute the blood claim, little Caraway. It is my right!
I sighed. I should have expected this…remembered it from countless history lessons. But Heath was always a better learner when it came to politics, territories, history etc. Wolves and vampires alike would undoubtedly come to challenge me. If I refused to accept the challenge, it was a sign of cowardice. And Le Couvènte would not accept a cowardly queen. If I were to fight but lose, I would have no choice but to refute my claim. And I understood why: Charlotte DuBois was a member of Wallace’s pack. Trained to become the first wolf queen since my mother’s reign.
The alpha snorted. A pity your mother has kept you in the dark regarding wolf procedures.
Not to be intimidated by the implied insult against my mother, I placed my hands on my hips and countered, “Draw the terms.”
I picked up on the Alpha’s thoughts. Blood sport. If you best me, we will leave and surrender our blood claim and spread the word to all other packs. If we win, you withdraw your blood claim, join my pack, train and hunt with us, and forsake all vampire bonds, little Caraway.
Forsake all vampire bonds. I thought of my silver blood and what it could mean. I thought of my father and brother, my own family, my own blood. Would it mean I would only mutate into a wolf from now on? The notion filled me with disgust. To turn my back on any part of me. To turn my back on my identity. How impossible it was. As simple as carving out half my heart and storing it in a vault until I could use it later while somehow keeping its heartbeat. However, even if I didn’t fully understand all the rituals of wolves, blood was a familiar one. And mercy was not.
I remembered Caroline’s words:
Rise to the challenge.
Did she mean this? I guess I would know soon.
Chapter Twenty-Six
The Museum of Paranormal Phenomena
I didn’t delay. I stepped forward to announce, “I will fight!”
The circle of wolves yipped and tapped in succession as Wallace made his way toward me with his pack cheering him on.
He was much larger than I previously realized. Up to my shoulder in full form. Fur on the back of his neck bristled like spikes, eyes glowing even in the morning light. As a wolf, I knew I wouldn’t stand a chance, so it was a relief when he mocked me. As you are, little queen. Time to show my followers what I can really do.
Everyone around me backed up, including Raoul and Brian till it was just me and Wallace circling one another. Even if I could sense a great range of my abilities within me, even if I could succumb one, using it against a wolf was something far different than a vampire. Especially when they had the power of compulsion. I remembered Brian and how easy it was for me to confess everything.
But it was not Wallace’s first ploy. Instead, he hurled himself at me, trying to catch me off guard by his offense. My silver blood instincts responded, my hand rising to thwart him with my telekinesis. A defensive move. One that simply upended him, kept him at bay. Snarling, he rose to his haunches, undaunted by my attempt. I needed to get creative. No more fire, shockwaves, or telekinesis. None of those would help if he used compulsion. Not even telepathy.
I met his next charge with fire and telekinesis. Much like countering Raoul or Skip. But when I dove into his consciousness, it was all the warning I needed. Before he could compel me, I closed my eyes and imagined a shield of quietude. Invisible lightning humming to form a blockade. I could sense Wallace cramming against it, seeking some chink no matter how minute. But I used my telekinesis to strengthen it. Until I realized the silver in my hands was diminishing. Soon, it would evanescence.
When he understood he couldn’t use his compulsion, Wallace took advantage of my diverted concentration. In one moment, he pinned me, wolf claws bearing down on my chest, sinking in, drawing scarlet blood. I shrieked, throwing my head back. In the background, I caught Brian cro
uching, Raoul touching him once to stay his instincts. First and foremost, Raoul still believed in me.
When the claws sunk deeper, extending, I screamed, clenching my teeth. Wallace’s voice in my head: You think you will be queen over us, mortal? I’ll show you what it truly means to rule! I’ll have you bowing to lick my paws!
My blood grew hot. Silver flame rose within me, echoing the spirit of the ancients. It downright sang. Combining telekinesis with strength, I forced Wallace to retreat, claws creeping out of my chest. He growled, jaws opening, muzzle shaking, canines chomping until with one great motion, I hurled him off me. He landed on his back, his pack baying and stomping for him to use deadlier force. But even with two small rivulets of human blood waxing from my chest, I was ready. I summoned one of my founding powers, one of the simplest. One that didn’t require creation. Only manipulation.
When Wallace tried to barrel forward, I drove all my senses into the earth till it grew roots, overlapping one another until they formed a cage. Held together by my telekinesis because of course wolves could break normal roots with ease. Wallace struggled, snarling his way through each branching root, teeth trying to break them in vain, but each one was impenetrable thanks to my telekinesis. The last of my silver blood began to ebb and I called out, “Yield!”
Wallace barked once before succumbing, before bowing. After I released him from his cage, I plummeted to my knees and passed out.
I woke to his hands, his power. Unhindered, Skip flattened his hands to the wounds in my chest. Not deep but deep enough to require stitches. Why was Skip here? How long was I out? Judging by the sun’s position above me, I wagered no more than an hour. I was still outside but on the porch. Surrounded by my family members…and by Wallace and his pack.
Skip winced as he sewed the holes in my chest together. That’s when I saw his thoughts, a memory so clear, so present. Just a shimmer of his consciousness, but I dove into his mind and isolated it. I witnessed how he sought Shaw, his father the night he died. How he discovered him on the edge of their estate, clinging to the frail edges of life. Wolf wounds. It was all I saw before Skip forced me out.
Healing my wolf wounds triggered that memory. Overwhelmed by the thought after all that was left was a crimson stain on my shirt, I studied him. His hands. For one moment, he stared down at them, eyes wavering, hands shaking. Covered in my blood. But my father steadied him. To stop the persuasion and temptation from overwhelming him.
Raoul must have contacted my father after I’d passed out. Did my father alert Skip?
Even as I got to my feet with Raoul offering his hand, I detected how Dad met Skip’s and nodded, grateful for his help. I’d thank both of them later.
Time to face Wallace. Even as I rose to summon my full pride, the wolf bowed before me. His honor and pledge. Mustering my newfound telepathy, I closed my eyes and entered his consciousness.
Please accept my sincere apologies, Reina Caraway. I am forever in your debt.
It was then that I realized what kind of duel I’d accepted. For Wallace, it was a battle of honor. One he intended as a fatal fight. One I did not. In granting him mercy, I left him with honor. That was how deep blood rights ran in Le Couvènte.
No sooner had I read the thoughts did I respond by kindling my wolf blood and transforming into similar form, though my wolf was nowhere near as large as is. If he’d challenged me to a wolf duel, Wallace would have triumphed.
No debt necessary, Wallace. Thank you for all your pack’s efforts to keep Le Couvènte safe. Everyone knew Wallace’s pack was one that patrolled the southeast side of Le Couvènte in case our Sierra neighbors happened to drop in by surprise. Vampire clans patrolled the northwest. Always divided. Packs and clans.
You have an open invitation to join my pack whenever you wish.
No, I couldn’t divide myself that way. Besides, there could only be one Alpha. I wasn’t one, but neither could I bow to him. Something in me knew that. I didn’t even possess compulsion. As important to a wolf as fangs were to vampires.
As the pack began to disperse, I recognized how populated the area was. Only Heath could pick up on that, so he cleared his throat to announce to the rest of my family and Raoul and Skip, “Rin needs some privacy. And a change of clothes.”
“Backup jumpsuit in the cabin,” Skip mentioned, gesturing to door.
My father opened the door. It was time for some rest.
I could only dream of rest.
After my victory over Wallace, there was no stopping the news. Rumors spread like wildfire. At school, my entourage grew and Heath and Brian had to remain even closer. But they weren’t the only ones. Thanks to my silver blood, I could pick up on the otherwise hidden whispers when Skip trailed me to my classes, hand often paused on the small of my back. An action that continued to set Heath’s teeth on edge while it only served to multiply the rumors. I knew what everyone perceived when they viewed us: the next Queen of Le Couvènte and her chosen King.
Today, Heath’s thoughts were louder than ever. So bothersome that at study hall when I was in the middle of research with Skip next to me, I finally snapped.
“That’s it!” I slammed my tablet down, sensing the reverberation inside my hands, veins sparkling with silver. “Get out,” I ordered Heath.
To my surprise, he didn’t put up a fight. Just eyed Skip and I before stalking off. Brian, who had his nose stuck in a popular mechanics magazine, just shrugged, muttered “sore loser”, and returned to reading.
“He doesn’t like his sister having a blood bitch,” Skip’s murmur hovered just above my ear, breath frosting along my neck.
The reminder as well as his closeness triggered my desire. With the sight of his jugular thrumming so near, silver blood quivering beneath his skin, it took all my reserve to return to my research.
Peering over, Skip touched my device and scanned the research.
“For my theater class,” I explained. “I chose a Broadway musical for critique.”
“Is it simply a coincidence that you selected the school play this year and the theme for the Masque?”
The hint he’d dropped was not lost on me, but I resisted the urge to smile and stuck to the subject. “I’ve actually been obsessed with the Phantom for years. I’m sure if you ask Heath, he’s got a video somewhere of my singing Think of Me in my pajamas.”
“Is that your favorite?”
“No.”
Amused by my silence, Skip leaned back in his chair and tapped his chin, debating on which to choose. I kept my head down, grinning while waiting for a few moments for him to finalize his guess.
“Music of the Night.”
I paused, pursing my lips, a little frustrated groan escaping because he was right.
Skip’s voice was soft and deep, like silk-wrapped secrets when he relayed the song’s message. “Surrendering to a soul journey of one’s darkest dreams. Turning to the temptation of the night.” He leaned in, breath hovering upon my lips. “Opening your mind and forsaking your old life to embrace music’s power.” The Phantom’s power I heard the stray thought.
“Past the Point of No Return is a close second,” I added, contemplating, wondering if our point would ever happen. I already had another point of no return to look forward to: my eighteenth birthday. And undoubtedly, more no return points before then. As it was, it seemed things had stewed too long. Too many weeks training. Too many weeks without another challenge for my blood claim. Too many weeks of silence from the Rose Killer. A blissful silence but paradoxically nerve-wracking. My blood was thirsty, ready for anything. I’d collected a multitude of bruises in training only for Skip to turn around and heal each one, persuading new skin to reform as if he was regenerating me every time.
“Like Christine, you have a penchant for flirting with the darkness.”
I looked up, registering the interruptive presence. Skip relaxed at the sight of her while I could only bristle. Ironically, she’d never challenged me on the blood claim. Perhaps out of respect fo
r her brother?
“I think it’s high time that we had a girl’s day out,” Calista interrupted. My face paled. “I have an appointment today at the Museum of Paranormal Phenomenon. Come with me for a private tour.” Not one question. She wasn’t as smooth as Skip about it either.
I registered the importance of the location, knowing it was the other resting place of Skip’s father. “Um…” I frequented a glance at Skip, who seemed all too pleased by the idea. “I don’t have any plans today, but I’ll just have to clear it with my Dad.”
“You do that. I’ll pick you up after school in an hour.”
I opened my mouth to debate that my brother would take me, but Calista’s vampire speed carried her far away, upending books that tumbled to the floor.
Calista was dressed to impress. A pale blue, lace-embroidered dress that draped down just past her thighs to flaunt her slim legs to her champagne-flute curls. So, when Brian answered the door, I rushed back around the corner of our hallway and into my room to change.
“Rin!” Brian called out to me from the first level, his voice pitching to a shrill octave. “Calista’s here!”
“Be right down!” I said while rummaging through my closet for last minute alternatives besides jeans and a t-shirt. Black emphasized my hair’s richness. I slipped into a flowy side-tail top with lace shoulder sleeves over some dark-wash jeggings and a pair of cunning, little heels that Heath had bought for me long ago.
“I don’t know how you tolerate living with wolves,” Calista proclaimed once we were in her Mercedes Benz, which Brian had drooled over.
“Wolves have their own beauty. And Brian’s one of the most…” I hunted for the right word, “noble wolves ever. He used to be a pain when we were kids, but now he’s pretty patient.”
