“You seem pretty young to be one of the Hayes brothers. And a little late since that brother’s been missing for over twenty years. Almost twenty-one, to be exact.”
“Looks are deceiving,” I answered, refusing to give away any more information than we already had.
“It’s interesting to me that you’re marrying your mortal enemy,” Norm said.
Acacia stepped a little closer to me. The scent of her reminded me of our night together, and a smile twitched at my lips. She gently elbowed my gut as if noticing the slight rise in my heartbeat. It was something I wouldn’t be opposed to doing again, but marrying her? Unlikely.
“We’re the modern-day Romeo and Juliet.”
“All right, Romeo and Juliet, how much do you know about your brother’s disappearance?”
“Not very much. We were hoping you might have more of a lead than us. We know it was quite the little scandal,” Acacia said, her voice lowered a couple of octaves into a seductive tone. Norm blinked a few times before his gaze glazed over and his jaw slackened. “Tell us everything you know.”
“Horace started to stir up trouble with the vampires long before he went missing. He worked as an investigator, specializing in missing person reports, mostly necromancers. He had some theory that vampires were still kidnapping them and selling them on the black market. His reputation got him in some scuffles. Most vampires knew his name.”
Norm never took his eyes off Acacia, and I realized how dangerous my new partner was. Vampires who could control Mystics were rare, unheard of practically.
Keeping my face neutral, I listened to what Norm had to say about my uncle. She would be a threat I would have to worry about later.
“The rumor that floated around when he disappeared was that he got caught up with a vampire coven that didn’t like him poking his nose where it didn’t belong, though no one knew what coven it was. Twenty-some-odd years is a long time to be missing, but his spirit never returned to the Hayes family.”
“Thanks. Now forget this whole conversation. We were discussing my fiancé’s missing brother, Fred.”
Norm sat down heavily in his seat. I released the hold on my powers, and ghosts filled the space. A couple seemed to be wandering, lost and confused. A few watched us with rapt interest. Those were the ghosts who’d be working for him. They would fill him in on the missing conversation unless I did a little magic of my own.
“Honey.”
Acacia glanced over at me before commanding Norm to focus on her once again. I stepped around her and felt for the connecting lines between Norm and his ghosts. It barely took me a second to feel the threads; before our birthday, it would’ve taken minutes. Wrapping my own lines around his was surprisingly easy; snapping his Control Lines and replacing them with my own was child’s play.
I faced the ghosts who looked at me with curiosity.
“You will never tell him what occurred here with the vampire. And if he comes across any more information regarding Horace Hayes, you will come to me directly.”
The ghosts in the room who worked with Norm nodded. A few of the confused ghosts who’d been wandering slowed and stared at me. I tried to rein my powers back in though it took more of an effort than normal. They felt turbulent, like there was no control, no process to them anymore.
“Let’s go.”
Acacia released Norm again and thanked him for his time. We left the building, my powers still raging inside of me. As soon as we stepped outside, I couldn’t help but do a quick scan of the area.
“He’s still around. I can smell him. I don’t know who he is, but we need to get going.”
Acacia wrapped her arm around my waist, and I held her around the shoulders as we strolled in the direction of Ever’s apartment complex. If she didn’t steer us in a different direction, I would. If our tail had started following us the moment we left the apartment, it wouldn’t matter, but if not, I didn’t want to give up where we were staying.
Acacia tightened her grip on me. I leaned down as she tipped her head up as if silently asking for a kiss. Instead, as our lips touched, she whispered so quietly that I barely heard her.
“More joined him. We may need to split up.”
“Do you think that’d be wise?” I asked as I moved my bicep so it would block their view of our “passionate” embrace.
“We meet back up at Ever’s place.” Acacia placed a quick peck on my lips before she stepped back. Her eyelashes fluttered, and I wondered if she’d decided sticking with me would be too much of a hassle. But now I knew another one of her secrets. “Go.”
Acacia walked back down the way we came, and I headed in the direction of Ever’s building. In a block, I would change directions.
Resisting the urge to look behind me, I expanded my powers, calling one of Norm’s ghosts. He appeared next to me a moment later.
“How many people are following me?”
“At least two.”
“Can you tell what they are?”
“One is a necromancer, and he’s trying to pull me from your hold.”
Funny, I hadn’t even felt a tug on my powers. Had the necromancer following me been that discreet with his own, or had they not even begun to touch through mine?
“They’re approaching from both sides,” the ghost continued. “The right side is closer than the left.”
I took a step closer to the building. It was a risky move if they had someone waiting ahead of us, but it could also work to my advantage.
I glanced at the ghost walking with me. “Scout ahead. Let me know if anyone is up there.” I dug into my pockets and pulled out both my onyx and silver knuckles. My muscles twitched, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw the necromancer who was headed toward me. He looked a hell of a lot like the figure that’d followed me into the Other Side.
I didn’t have a moment to process this before he threw his body at mine.
Chapter 15
Grunting as the shorter male threw his weight into me and knocked me down an alley, I saw my ghost companion had returned.
“It’s just the two of them,” he announced.
“Not helpful,” I gritted, flinging my arm out to hit the other necro in the face. He had the same hood covering his features as the last time I’d seen him.
“You’re a fool for contacting your uncle,” he snarled.
“Then maybe you should release him.”
“You don’t know what you’ve started.” The other necro stepped back, avoiding my punches. I snatched my dagger, hot rage rushing through my veins. Whatever I’d triggered by contacting my uncle, it would be for the better. I would free him even if I had to kill this necro.
“I’ve come with a quick warning, Hayes. The others are closing in on you. And if you go searching for your uncle again, we’ll both be in trouble.”
The necromancer turned away and left.
Unable to help myself, I felt my powers surge forward. My anger had gotten the best of me.
Control Lines shot out of my fingers, wrapping their way around the necromancer's soul. Souls were strange things, and I’d never seen them before. One ancestor of mine who’d passed their knowledge to me could see auras, but even that was different than what I saw now. My anger must’ve strengthened my powers.
He staggered and turned on his heel. “Careful, boy. You don’t know what sort of magic you’re dealing with.”
With a simple wave of his hands, my Control Lines broke. His own lines shot out and latched onto my soul. The digging sensation felt like hot pokers penetrating every open pore.
Fuck.
“Do not test me. You’re powerful, but you don’t know how to control your magic.”
The necromancer pushed his hand back and threw my body into the brick wall. I hit it hard and fell to the ground. The necromancer left with whoever had been traveling with him, having left him standing guard at the front of the alleyway.
As I lifted myself off the dirty ground, I swallowed the groan of protest. My muscles a
ched, but it could’ve been worse.
The ghost who I’d borrowed from Norm still hovered nearby.
“What’s your name?” I asked him.
“Isaac, sir.”
“Can you go check on the woman I was with?”
Isaac disappeared before I even finished the question. My hold over the ghost remained strong, and I doubted Norm would be missing him or even able to get him back at this point.
Flinching, I stood up and reflected on the power I’d used. The power the other necromancer had used on me. It’d been instinctual; I couldn’t pinpoint how I’d done it.
Isaac returned to my side and waited for me to take a step before he started speaking.
“The woman is currently evading some other vampires. She seems to be holding her own well.”
“Go watch over her. If she needs assistance, come to me immediately. I’m going to head back to my apartment.”
“Done.” Isaac disappeared once again, and I was left with my thoughts.
I headed back toward Ever’s apartment, switching directions whenever I could. While I didn’t notice anyone following, I didn’t have the same senses Acacia did. I should’ve kept Isaac by my side to keep an eye out, but I couldn’t help worrying over Acacia, though she probably didn’t need my concern.
After taking as much time as I felt comfortable taking, I headed back to the apartment complex. Isaac never returned to me, and I had to assume Acacia made it back to Ever’s with no issues. As I stepped inside, I checked to make sure the outer door shut behind me then took the stairs and waited outside the apartment door for a solid minute before entering.
Pulling out my dagger, I kept it tucked close as I checked the living room and kitchen. Both clear, I went to my room first for a quick sweep, then to Acacia’s. It was quiet inside, and I opened the door. Everything seemed untouched, but I had an unsettling feeling in my gut.
Turning, I headed back to the door when it shut and a gentle hand pressed against my mouth.
“I think they might’ve followed me and were waiting for you to get home,” Acacia whispered in my ear before encouraging me to crouch down next to the bed. Her normally perfectly styled hair was disheveled.
Why hadn’t Isaac warned me?
“Are you all right?” I asked as soon as she dropped her hand.
“I’m fine. Are you okay? Did you notice anyone following you inside?”
“No.”
“I had vamps and a necromancer follow me.”
That might explain why Isaac hadn’t come to me, but I didn’t feel my tether to him snap. Pushing those thoughts aside, I ran through multiple plans in my head. Logically, I knew we should leave Ever’s apartment immediately. We’d need to find somewhere to hide out for a while and figure out exactly who had been following us. Were they Acacia’s enemies or mine?
If I could get my burner phone, it might be best for us to split up for a couple of days. A necro and a vampire together stuck out like a sore thumb. Separating might not be ideal, but it would be less conspicuous.
“Abel.”
“What?” I asked, snapping out of my thoughts.
“I can hear them coming. We need to make a decision soon.” She grabbed my arm, her lips parted as her fangs dropped a little.
An idea formed, and I voiced it before I could change my mind.
“Bond with me.”
Her eyes shot to mine. “What?” A look swept over her face for a split second. “Do you know what you’re asking?”
“Those necromancers and vampires formed temporary bonds at the club. It doesn’t need to be a forever commitment, but if we get caught, this way we might each have a bit of protection. Together we might be able to escape. Otherwise they’ll separate us.”
“Are you certain? This isn’t an exact science. Everyone in that club takes a chance,” Acacia warned me, but her gaze shot toward the door.
We were running out of time.
“We need to make a choice, Acacia.”
A moment of uncertainty crossed her features before she placed her hand on my shoulder and tugged me closer. Acacia’s lips brushed against my neck, her tongue sweeping across a vein. As a red-blooded male, it was hard not to react and try to be as gentlemanly as possible. I turned my hips in a different direction. We had already gone down this road, and we didn’t have time for a repeat.
I could’ve sworn I heard her whisper, “I’m so sorry.”
Pulling back, I tried to make eye contact with her, but she held my head still and dove forward, her teeth sliding into my skin. There was a pinch before the sensation became both painful and euphoric. At the first pull, my hips acted on instinct while I attempted to control myself. She took three more pulls before she caressed her tongue over the wounds then bit into her wrist and pressed it against my mouth, forcing me to take as many swallows as she had.
As the blood seeped into my system, a tether I’d only ever felt with Rowan grew between Acacia and me. This one felt different though, tainted and wrong, wrapping around my wrists like shackles. The more she forced down my throat, the weaker I felt. My shoulders sagged, and I swayed.
Acacia pulled her wrist away and licked the wounds closed as my eyelids dropped heavily and my muscles weakened.
“Guess I should’ve warned you this part wouldn’t be very pleasant,” Acacia said, straightening.
Why would anyone ever do this willingly?
Setting my hands on the floor, I tried to push myself up into a standing position. I fell back almost instantly, my back hitting the bed. Flinching, I shook off the hazy feeling in my head, but it only made it worse.
“What the fu—”
“Hush.” Acacia took a step toward the bedroom door and pressed her forefinger to her lips.
As she cocked her head and listened to what was happening outside, I tried to stand up. That time my legs shook, and a nauseous feeling swirled in my gut. Swallowing, I blinked hard.
Acacia had her hand on the doorknob, and I heard stomping in the distance.
“Acacia.”
How could she not hear them out there? If anything, we should’ve been trying to find a way out. But as soon as I tried yet again to stand, I was forced back down.
What’s wrong with me?
Acacia disappeared into the living room. Hyper-aware that I was trapped on the floor, I reached for my dagger, thinking the least I could do was protect myself. The sound of a door opening came from the other room, and I gritted my teeth. Whatever happened when Acacia and I bonded had weakened me. We were screwed.
Trying one last time, I managed to get to my feet and stumbled to the doorway of Ever’s bedroom. Acacia stood near the open door to the apartment as two men came through.
“Where is he, vamp?”
“Through that room like I promised. And you promise to keep your end of the bargain, necro?”
“As long as he has the information we need.” His gaze cut over to where I stood, his lips pressing down into a frown.
“I thought you were going to have him ready for us?” The necromancer motioned to his partner, who strode toward me. I didn’t have the strength to fight back. The other man forced my arms behind my back and tightened a zip tie around my wrists.
“You did this?” I asked, my words slurred.
“You may want to keep him weak. His powers with ghosts are remarkable.”
My vision blurred as my head swam. She glanced at the necromancer, holding out her hand for something. He passed it over, and she left the room.
Anger filled me at her betrayal.
After all her ‘we’re in this, favor for favor’ shit? After fucking everything, she did this?
By putting my trust in the wrong person, I’d put Rowan at great risk.
In that moment, the powers I’d managed to keep a leash on exploded out of me.
Ghosts flashed into the room, and Control Lines spider-webbed from my fingertips, seeking out anything I could latch onto.
Before my lines could touch the s
oul of the other necromancer, something slammed into the back of my head. My body shut down, and my mind turned off from the pain.
Chapter 16
A full-body jolt brought me back to reality. Struggling to focus, my mind tried to catch up to where it had abruptly cut off. As my brain processed and the memories started to filter in, my anger returned twofold.
Acacia bonded with me then sold me out. What the hell had her plan been? Of course, she would never get the chance to act on it. The moment I got free, I would track her down and kill her.
Rage simmered under my thoughts, reinforcing the idea.
Fuck her for messing with me. For endangering my sister.
Has she given up any information on Rowan? What was her reasoning?
I would’ve helped her, but she ruined any trust I had in her.
A tug on my arm jolted my thoughts away from Acacia. She would have to be a second thought for now; protecting Rowan would be number one. The necromancer who Acacia sold me out to had to know who I was; otherwise, why would he have interest in me?
I had no feeling in my wrists still, and my shoulders were sore from the awkward position.
Straining, I lifted my head and cringed when a bare bulb shone in my eye. Squinting, I tried to lessen a budding headache and focus on anything else. The surrounding area was quiet, and I reached out with my magic to try to feel for any ghost nearby. If I could get Isaac, I could get word to Norm, then hopefully to my parents.
“Inject him.”
Footsteps sounded next to my head, and someone cast his shadow over me, blocking the light. Before I could register his plan, there was a prick in my neck then the quiet hiss of a syringe emptying.
As soon as the unknown substance hit my bloodstream, a roaring fire rushed through my entire body. The muscles in my neck bugled as I clenched my jaw as tightly as I could to keep from screaming. Darkness bled from the corner of my eyes, and my chest heaved with deep pants.
“Excruciating, isn’t it? Almost like your insides are burning from the inside out?”
Breathing through my nose, I clenched my fists, my nails biting into my skin enough to draw blood. The necromancer standing in front of me didn’t look much older than me. If I could focus, I would’ve tried to gauge the necromancer’s magic, but the pain spiked whenever I tried.
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