by Bethany Shaw
“Cadence,” Zak breathed as he clasped her to him. He smoothed his hand through her hair as his rapid breaths puffed against her ear.
She clung to him, choking on her own tears while trying to force air into her lungs.
“What happened?” Zak asked, his grip growing tighter before he pulled back. He pushed loose strands of hair from her face as he searched her eyes. “You died. Then seconds later there was this white light glowing all around you.”
“It was the coven, and... and Malcolm. They attacked me when I was a child.” Her fingers fumbled at her throat until she grasped the chain of her necklace. “You saved my life. This saved my life.”
Zak followed her hand to the sapphire pendant in her palm. “It healed you?”
“Katherine said there was magic that prevented me from dying. It had to be this... I watched the wound heal myself. It was like with vampire blood, but they...” She trailed off and bit her lip to keep from crying. “They killed my mom, Zak. They slaughtered her in front of me. Malcolm, he... he...” She couldn’t say it. The words got stuck in her throat. Her mother hadn’t deserved to die in such a cruel way.
“Why?” Zak asked as he wiped away her tears.
“Because of us, because of what we do in the future. Jamie is right. Liana has been planning and working with Malcolm all along. So have Katherine and other members of the coven.” She squeezed her eyes shut as she drew in a breath. “They took my memories, killed my mom, and tried to kill me. This is how my mother really died.”
“This happened before?” Zak asked. “Or is this a new memory?”
Cadence swallowed as she thought about what he said. “No, this already happened. This is why I don’t remember what happened after my mom died. They took her from me. They took my memories from me.” A lump formed in her throat, and tears pricked her eyes. “Promise me we’re going to make them pay,” she growled, holding his gaze.
“I promise,” he swore as he pulled her into an embrace. “They’ll pay for what they’ve done. You have my word.”
She was going down a dangerous path, but at the moment she didn’t care. The coven had taken everything from her. They’d turned their back on her. It was their actions that turned her against them in the future. The very thing they were trying to stop had happened because of them.
Chapter Ten
Zak shifted to the right, nearly missing the burst of fire intended for his head. The inferno whizzed by and dissipated before hitting one of the nearby trees. If one good thing had come of the incident the other night, it was Cadence’s magic. She was focused and in control in a way he’d never seen before. The full moon was tonight, and he hoped she’d continue to harness her magic when they traveled through time. Malcolm would probably be ready and waiting.
Her other hand jutted out, and he coughed as a burst of fire clipped him in the chest. He pitched forward, forcing air into his lungs as his skin singed. The sensation crawled over his chest, then dissipated just as quickly with his accelerated healing.
Cadence dropped her hands. “Are you okay? I’m sorry.” She sighed, pushing wisps of hair out of her face.
“It’s fine. I heal fast, remember?” he said, trying to lighten the mood.
“I’m taking my anger out on you. You are okay, right?” she asked as she leaned against a tree trunk and slid to the ground.
Zak stood up and made his way over to her. “I’m fine.” He crouched down next to her. “Are you?”
Cadence blew out a breath. “I just want to get home. I want to make Katherine and those two other witches pay for what they did.”
“You’re angry.”
“Shouldn’t I be?” she asked, raising her brow as she plucked grass from the ground and dropped it into a pile.
“Of course you should, but don’t let it change who you are. Trust me, Cadence, that’s not a road you want to go down,” he told her honestly.
“They killed my mom and erased my memories. How can I — ”
“Cadence,” Zak cut her off. “When my siblings and I found out what we could do, we tore into that werewolf village and didn’t leave any survivors. We were ruthless in our vengeance.”
She nodded as she continued to stare at the ground. He’d told her this before, but there was more she needed to know.
“The anger and pain ebbed for a short bit, but it came back,” he continued. “It opened a door that changed us permanently. The coven will pay for what they’ve done, but don’t do it out of anger or to fulfill your thirst for vengeance. Do it to protect your friends. Know what you’re fighting for. Once you start down the road of hate, you’ll never stop.” He needed her to understand where her line of thinking was going. She had every right to be mad and upset, but she needed to funnel it correctly. “The second you strike and kill for revenge, you begin to justify each kill after. Don’t do that to yourself. You have a light about you, and I don’t want to see you diminish it. Don’t let them put it out, because even if you do kill them, they will still have won.”
Cadence looked up at him. “All I can think about is the vacant look in my mom’s eyes. The way that Malcolm carried her heart away in his pocket. He touched me... my younger self.” She trailed her finger over her lips as Malcolm had.
Zak gritted his teeth as rage bubbled beneath the surface. His fangs pricked his gums. If his father were here now, he’d tear into him. “Be angry, sweetheart, but don’t let that anger change who you are. Learn to channel your anger, use it for your advantage, but don’t let it control you. We will get Malcolm and Liana, I promise.”
Cadence sucked in a breath. “Bonds... bonding.”
“What?” he asked at her outburst. Where did that come from?
“I can’t believe I forgot about it. Malcolm told Katherine to have your mother look into bonds. What does that mean?” she wondered.
Zak gritted his teeth. Malcolm suspected they were bonded. He recalled Cadence’s words the other night about her wound healing as if she had vampire blood. He’d been careful not to bite her again, had gone to great lengths to ensure it didn’t happen. If she’d noticed, she’d said nothing about it.
“Zak?” Cadence asked when he didn’t answer.
He sucked in a breath. Telling her was the right thing to do. The longer he kept it a secret, the angrier she would be.
“You know what he’s talking about, don’t you?” Cadence asked, squinting as she looked at him.
“Are you in my head?” he asked, cocking his head to the side.
Cadence frowned. “I wasn’t reading your thoughts,” she whispered. “I don’t have full control of that power, though it is becoming more active. It still comes and goes when it pleases.” She shook her head and met his gaze. “I can tell you’re hiding something by the look on your face. What is it?”
He took a deep breath. “Bonds are something unique to vampires. They are created through blood sharing when two vampires have a deep connection with each other.”
Cadence blinked as she licked her lips. “What does that have to do with us?” she asked.
“I wouldn’t have thought it possible between a witch and a vampire, but I suppose magic knows no bounds in some regards.”
“We have a bond?” Cadence asked. She stood and began to fiddle with the sleeves of her oversized shirt.
“Yes.”
Her voice dropped to a whisper, and her eyes narrowed. “And you... you knew about this?”
He was in trouble now. “I suspected as much.”
“When?” she asked, beginning to pace. He stood and watched her for a minute. “The market place,” she blurted, coming to a stop before him. “You’ve known since we ran into Oliver at the marketplace.”
He looked away from her.
“Were you going to tell me about our... our bond?” Cadence asked.
He remained silent.
“I’ll take that as a no. Why not?”
“I wasn’t sure how you’d take it,” he said. “Obviously I was right to keep it from
you.”
Her eyes widened with surprise, and he realized his mistake. “This isn’t just about you, Zak. This bond affects me, too. You had no right to keep it a secret from me. How could you?” Cadence hissed.
“I haven’t bit you since I found out about it,” he reminded her. Except for that first night. Hopefully she wouldn’t remember that.
She tossed her hands up in the air. “And that makes it okay?”
“It only grows when we share blood, I didn’t think it would be an issue if I stopped feeding from you,” he explained. Even he knew his argument was lame.
“Let’s just hope Malcolm doesn’t find a way to use it against us,” Cadence said, covering her face with her hands. She blew out a breath before turning on her heel and marching off.
“Where are you going?” he asked.
“Home,” she called over her shoulder. “Don't feel obligated to follow.”
Zak scrubbed a hand over his face. That had gone about as well as he’d expected.
***
Zak lifted his fist and knocked on the door. Cadence’s footsteps flitted over the floorboards before the door popped open far enough for her to peek her head out.
“Are you ready?” he asked.
Cadence let out a breath and opened the door to their bedroom, where she’d holed up all day. She padded to the table and picked up a bag before meeting him at the door.
“I don’t suppose there is any chance we’ll get back to our time, is there?” she commented as she brushed past him.
“It’s unlikely.”
She was still angry with him. He’d suspected as much when she’d made no effort to come out of the room for the rest of the day. Fights with a significant other weren’t something he was familiar with. How did they move on from here?
“I’ll have to carry you if we’re going to reach the spot in time,” he informed her, trying to ease the tension between them.
“Okay,” she grumbled. “Are we sure we won’t end up in another tavern?”
“Yes. Pompeii won’t be explored for some time yet. Assuming we don’t end up too far into the future, all should be fine.”
“Where are Harrison and Melanie?” she asked as they passed the room the pair shared.
“Escorting the witch there. It’s a bit of a trek.”
Cadence jogged down the stairs and strode toward the front door ahead of him. She tossed it open and turned back to him. “Let’s get going, then.”
Zak nodded. He sped toward her, scooped her up, and sped off to their rendezvous.
Cadence curled her fingers around his arm, grasping on tight while burying her face in his shoulder. He relished the feel of her in his embrace. How long would she stay mad? He prayed it wasn’t long.
The run to Pompeii was quiet. Not that they ever spoke much while he ran, but he wondered if her silence was a bad thing. She hadn’t been the same since she’d remembered what happened to her and her mom. The memory had been traumatic. He couldn’t blame her for being distant. His omission about the bond hadn’t helped either.
The ruins of the charred city came into view, and he slowed as they neared the sight. Cadence stirred in his arms, peeking her head out.
“We’re here,” he told her, even though she could probably tell.
The witch was setting up to their right. Melanie and Harrison stood together, waiting for them.
Zak pulled up to a stop, setting Cadence on her feet.
Melanie walked forward and opened her arms. "I can't believe you guys are leaving. I feel like we finally just found you," Melanie said, embracing Cadence in a hug.
"We will see each other soon." She frowned and shook her head. "Okay, I'll see you soon. It might be a century for you." Cadence laughed, trying to lighten the mood.
Zak turned to his brother. "Be careful. Don't wait for us if it isn't safe. Malcolm’s out there, and he’s hunting us."
“That’s all the more reason for us to look out for you, Brother,” Harrison reminded.
“Stay safe,” he advised him. “Cadence and I can take care of ourselves. Don’t put yourselves in danger.” Harrison had no idea how dangerous their father could be.
“Is everything okay with the two of you?” Harrison asked, changing the subject.
Zak cast a glance to Cadence. She and Melanie were giggling about something. For the first time in days, she looked like herself.
“Everything is fine,” he assured Harrison. It would be, anyway.
“We’ll see you soon,” Harrison replied as he hugged Zak.
“The moon is reaching its apex. It is nearly time,” the witch informed them.
Zak pulled back from his brother and watched as he hugged Melanie to him. He offered his hand to Cadence. She sighed but accepted it, squeezing his palm.
"You’re sure there isn't going to be a town here whenever we arrive, right?" she asked again.
"It will be fine," he encouraged as they stepped inside the circle.
"I'm just afraid we'll end up in a wall or something," Cadence said as he pulled her against him. She rested her head against his chest while letting out a deep breath.
Zak pulled her closer, pressing her back with his palm. "We won't end up in a wall."
"You don't know that," she accused with a shiver. Whether it was from the light breeze or him, he couldn’t be sure.
"Cadence, I will keep you safe no matter where we end up." He placed a kiss on the top of her head, letting out a breath when she didn’t pull away.
The witch began to chant, and the wind sped up. Cadence gripped onto him tighter as the familiar tingling and dizziness enveloped him. The fire roared deafeningly around them, and he closed his eyes against the heat and brightness of the flames.
Then there was silence. Zak opened one eye and then the other, turning his head from side to side. Darkness gnawed at him, but he refused to give in to it.
The hairs on his back prickled. Malcolm was here, but he couldn’t tell where. Cadence took a step back, faltering on her feet. He steadied her, clasping her shoulders tightly to keep her from falling. Her warmth was ripped away from him, gone in the blink of an eye, followed by her shriek.
Chapter Eleven
"Zak!"
Cadence’s scream pierced the air, slicing through the ringing in his ears. He blinked through the dizzying abyss as he tried to gather his bearings. His eyes landed on the witch. Her body was flung against a large rock, causing her to crumple to the ground.
Zak raced forward to help, but Malcolm caught him about the waist and knocked him to the ground. Zak bucked up, rolling and tossing his father off before he leapt to his feet in search of Cadence. She screamed again. He turned, growling, as his eyes found her. Someone grasped her by the hair while hauling her to a stand. She swung her elbow backwards, catching her attacker off guard.
Icy fingers encircled Zak’s elbow, yanking him backwards. Zak turned, reaching out to block Malcolm from burying a stake in his side. Their hands shook with exertion as they battled for control. His muddled brain forced his eyes to focus. The roaring in his ears subsided as he began to best Malcolm.
The older man’s face strained as he pushed the weapon down, but Zak was stronger. Zak removed one of his hands and punched, connecting with his father’s jaw. Malcolm sputtered as blood dribbled from his nose. Zak struck again, hitting the same spot as before.
Malcolm stumbled back and collapsed on his knees. Zak kicked, catching Malcolm under the jaw. His dad’s head snapped back as he toppled to the ground.
Malcolm lurched up, unfazed, and threw the stake. Zak ducked out of the way, but not quickly enough. The wood embedded in his arm. With a grunt, he yanked it out of his bicep. He hissed as blood pooled at the surface.
The wind picked up, blowing so hard that leaves fluttered to the ground from the trees. He glanced to his left, looking for Cadence, but didn’t see her.
Where was she? Was she safe?
Movement out of the corner of his eye caught his attention. He spun
in time to catch Malcolm before the older man could drag him to the ground. Malcolm punched, but Zak caught his fist and jabbed the stake in his hand into Malcolm’s chest.
His dad sputtered as his hands flew to Zak’s wrist. Zak drove the weapon deeper. It wouldn’t kill him, but it would put him under for a short while. Malcolm’s skin paled and his knees went limp as he pitched forward.
Zak jumped to the side, letting Malcolm fall face first into the leaves.
“Cadence,” he called out, listening for her.
Lightning crackled overhead, striking close enough to hit a tree. The trunk snapped as it split and plunged to the ground. Rain pelleted down from the sky and he sprinted forward, desperate to find Cadence.
“Cadence!”
“Zak,” Harrison called out. “Over here.”
Zak raced toward his brother’s voice. The pair had found them quickly. What if very little time had passed? He could worry about that later.
He spotted movement to his left and sprinted forward, relieved when he not only saw the vampire couple but also Cadence.
They weren’t alone. Harrison and Melanie were occupied with vampires, and Cadence had a man lifted in the air. She whipped her arm to the right, sending her victim flying through the trees. His body smacked against a tree trunk, then collided against the ground with a thump.
Zak snapped a thick branch, broke it in two, and then raced first to the vampire Melanie was occupying. He plunged his stake into the vampire’s heart, then sped to Harrison’s attacker. Both vampires fell to the ground in a heap, dead.
“It doesn’t look like you are staying out of trouble,” he reprimanded his brother, keeping his eyes on Cadence.
She had a cut near her eye and one at the corner of her lip. The heavy rain made the blood fall in rivulets down her face.
“We’ve stayed in the city the entire time you’ve been gone. We knew when Father showed up you would be here soon. He gathered reinforcements.” Harrison pointed to the deceased vampires littering the ground. “We couldn't leave and take the chance the two of you would be hurt.”
“Malcolm?” Cadence asked as she pushed her matted hair out of her face.
