by Ciara Graves
Yes, you will. You will do whatever it takes to bring Rudarius down and take what is ours.
I rolled over and faced the wall. “No, I won’t. Besides, it’s your damned fault he has the rings.”
Is it now? Who were you thinking of while we were trying to speak with you?
“It’s your fault if I was,” I argued, speaking aloud because the water was still running in the bathroom. “You were talking to me. You did this.”
Oh no. Don’t place this blame on us. You listened to his taint the same as you listened to us. You let him in, but don’t worry. He’ll soon find out how much of a mistake that was, letting you inside his head as he has.
“I won’t do that again. I won’t torture him.”
The voices kept talking, but I refused to acknowledge them. They were going to turn me into a bloodthirsty killer, something Helena and Macron seemed to be hoping for. There wasn’t a chance in hell I was going to talk to either one until this was all over. The way my temper had been lately, there was a strong chance I would accidentally kill one of them. Or both.
Would that be such a bad thing?
I growled, annoyed that the voices broke through, loud and clear now.
Two more people you don’t need, out of the way. All you need is us. Let us show you.
“Just leave me alone.”
Kill them, Seneca, show them who you truly are. Show them all. With them gone, you can focus on Rudarius and getting those rings back. You know it’s what you want to do, spill some blood, drink it for all we care. We all know how much you enjoy those blood-rages.
I snarled and dug my nails into the sheets, waiting for it to stop.
A hand landed on my shoulder and Draven was there, hauling me into his arms. I sank into his chest as he talked to me quietly. The words didn’t even register, but they calmed me down all the same.
“You’re sure about leaving the rings on?”
“Yeah, I’m damned sure about that. Sadly.”
Did I tell him I knew how Rudarius got the rings? Or what the voices were telling me to do? He should know so he could be ready to stop me from doing something unforgivable, but then I saw how much weight was already on his shoulders. The messengers from the covens were here, the fae were coming, and they were all going to be looking to him for answers, to lead them. I’d have to find some way to keep my shit under control on my own.
Once I was dressed, we joined Marlie, the vampire messengers, and Ash in a kitchen I was pretty damned sure was getting smaller by the day. Marlie offered me a cup of coffee, which I took, careful not to look at him. At all. For anything. I was still pissed at him for yesterday’s outburst. He had no idea what was going on upstairs in my head, and until he went through what I had, I wasn’t about to stand there and take his shit. I could read his expression well enough to know he wasn’t ready to apologize to me yet. Or trust me for that matter.
Draven held my hand the entire time he talked, never once loosening his grip. While he discussed details with the vampires and Ash, I listened but didn’t feel the need to say anything. Really, I was too impressed, listening to Draven taking command. He was born to be a leader. I started to have some hope that this crazy plan of ours might work after all.
Marlie’s gaze constantly shifted to me. At one point, our eyes met, and he stiffened, apparently not liking whatever it was he saw on my face. He quickly looked away and didn’t let it happen a second time.
“The covens will arrive in three days’ time,” one of the vampires said. I missed his name. “We’ll need shelter from the sun, of course.”
“That is something I’ve been trying to figure out,” Draven said.
“What is?” I asked.
Every set of eyes turned to me.
“Where we’re going to put an entire army of vampires and fae,” he replied.
“The fields. I’m sure we can erect tents that will be thick enough to block out the sun. The mages and demons are already camped past the gardens, anyway.”
“Won’t the owner wonder why there’s an army gathering in his fields?”
I grinned as I sipped my coffee. “Trust me. She won’t mind.”
Draven frowned down at me. “Something you forgot to mention?”
“Why else do you think Owen set up the demons and mages where he did?”
“How much of those fields do you own?”
I shrugged as I murmured, “All of them to the tree line.”
His brow rose then he laughed.
“What? You never asked, and I was damned good at my job. Made a pretty penny before all this shit started.”
“Right,” he said, still smiling, “we’ll have tents set up for the vampires for when they arrive.”
“We shall relay all this to our leaders.” After a quick bow, the vampires blurred out of the kitchen. Their actions seemed to throw Draven off. His smile fell, and he looked like he wanted to be anywhere but standing in this kitchen realizing the full brunt of being designated leader of this army.
“I’ll see to the fae as they begin to arrive,” Ash told us and even he bowed respectively to Draven, winked at me, then left us in the kitchen, alone with Marlie.
“Sounds like everything’s under control for now,” I mentioned.
“Surprisingly it does.” He glanced down at me again as he asked, “You really own all that land?”
“I’m a fae. I didn’t want a big house. I didn’t want a car. I wanted land. I did have dreams to start orchards at some point. Maybe even expand the garden.” My heart sank. Those plans would probably never become a reality, not now. “Doesn’t matter. As long as we have a place for everyone to set up, then we’re good, right?”
“Come on,” Draven said as he led me toward the back door.
“Where are you two going?” Marlie asked, his tone harsh.
“Out. Problem with that?”
Draven growled as Marlie approached, studying our clasped hands. “Something I should know about?”
“I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Bullshit. You really think being attached at the hip is going to stop her from going off again? Or stop her from talking to Rudarius?”
Even as I told myself not to react, still holding the coffee mug, my hand clenched. The mug fell in almost slow-motion through the air, shattered, landing at my feet. Marlie jumped back as if somehow that was going to make me attack him.
Draven picked me up easily and set me on the counter.
“Watch your feet,” he warned me gently, then leaned in closer and whispered against my ear. “I have to let go for a minute. You okay?”
I nodded. The second he let go, the voices rushed in, full force. I bit the inside of my cheek to stop from cursing, sensing Marlie’s gaze focused on me.
Draven picked up the broken mug and swept up the glass in less than a minute then helped me back off the counter.
His hands were back on me. I let out a shaky breath.
“As I said, we’re going out. If you have something to say, Marlie, I suggest you think very carefully about it. We’ll be back.” Draven took me outside into the garden, but we didn’t stay there.
We walked out of the side gate and into the tall, brown grass in the fields. The dirt was soft beneath my bare feet, a bit chilly, but nothing I wasn’t used to.
“You looked like you could use some fresh air,” he said after a while.
“I’m alright, really.”
“Tell me about your plans for the land.”
“Draven.” I sighed.
He spun me around so I faced the fields, my back to his chest. “Come on, what do you see. Tell me. I’m curious.”
I shook my head, but he nuzzled my neck until I was laughing and gave in.
“Alright. So over there,” I said, pointing to the right side of the fields, “that’s where the sun shines the longest. The garden would go there, a huge one. One you could get lost in for hours. And over there,” I nodded toward the left, “that’
s where I’d put a greenhouse. Always wanted one so I could have flowers all year round. The orchard would run right through the middle. Apples, maybe some pears. I don’t know, sounds silly now, right? Seneca the killer having freaking gardens and an orchard. A place to walk through when everything’s in bloom. Or in the summer when I need some shade. Or a chance to watch the colors fade into fall.”
Draven’s thumb wiped my cheeks.
I hadn’t even realized I’d been crying. “Damn it, sorry.”
“For what? I want you to have dreams, Seneca. I want you to remember and hold onto them. It’s what will keep you grounded even when I’m not here to hold your hand.”
And he wouldn’t be able to all the time. I knew that, but I hadn’t let myself think about it.
“When this is over, we’ll plant that garden and that orchard. And I’ll build you the biggest damned greenhouse you’ve ever seen.”
“Promise?”
He spun me around slowly in arms as he nodded. “Promise.”
I was an idiot, a huge, stupid idiot to think this would work. That I could have everything I just told him about. Rudarius would come, and there’d be so many lives lost. So many dead. And at the end of it all, who would I be? The Seneca Draven fell in love with? Or the monster he would have to put down?
I held onto him until a horn blew in the distance. We turned together in time to see three lines of fae marching around my cottage. More fae than I thought they’d been able to convince to join our cause.
Draven’s eyes narrowed, and he whispered something I didn’t catch.
“Hey, you got this,” I assured him.
“What?”
“Lead them into war. I saw how you were inside. You’re a true commander, Draven. Whatever Rudarius throws at us, you’ll be able to handle it.”
“Let’s hope they all feel the same. We should head back.”
“Then let’s go back.”
As we walked through the long grass, hand in hand, I knew I couldn’t tell him how serious the situation inside my head was. He had the entire weight of the fae, the vampires, and everyone else who chose to stand by us. He needed to stay as clearheaded as possible.
I’d just have to be fine. And I would be as long as no one dropped any more damned bombshells on me. I’d steer clear of Marlie, Macron, and Helena. And I’d be just fine.
Chapter 3
Draven
Keeping an eye on Seneca the last few days without being too obvious was hard even with the commotion inside and outside the cottage. If I didn’t have her in my sights, I ensured someone else did. It was damned near impossible to keep her right by my side twenty-four seven, but I tried. Shane was her shadow when I couldn’t be there, and so far he had nothing to report. She seemed to be getting a handle on the mess inside her head. Maybe our talk out in the field helped more than I thought. Gave her a good future to look forward to.
Instead of death. So much death.
“She’s anxious, but who the hell isn’t?” Shane mentioned as he came to give me a report in what turned into our central tent in the encampment.
“And her eyes?”
“Clear, man, her eyes were clear. You really think she’s going to just what, self-combust or something? Turn into a killing machine?”
I glanced up from the map Seneca had gotten for me so we had a better layout of the fields. Setting up this many tents to house our growing army was taking up just about every square inch she owned.
“Seriously? I know she went off on Marlie, but he deserved it.”
“Not arguing with you there. Who’s watching her right now?”
“Lark. He doesn’t seem to have the same doubts as Marlie does.”
I grunted, peering down at the map again. “Right, once the vampires have a chance to settle in, I want to meet with the leaders. Let’s say midnight, here. And as much as I don’t want to, send word for Marlie. Ash, Macron, and Owen, as well. I assume Owen’s become the voice for the demons preparing to fight with us.” I leaned on the table.
“And Seneca?” Shane chimed in.
I hesitated to say her name. She needed to be part of the planning, but at the same time, I was worried it was going to put too much of a strain on her to be around them all again. I didn’t want this first official meeting to be interrupted by her and Marlie getting into another fist fight, no matter how one-sided it’d be. I smirked, unable to help myself, knowing how Marlie was down one hand still thanks to me.
“Yes,” I finally told him. “And Seneca.”
“Talking about me, huh?” Seneca entered the tent, with Lark right behind her. She came over and kissed me on the cheek. “Lark said he needs to take care of some business with the fae and I was going to run into town, stock up on some more supplies. Think we’ve about cleaned out the general store, but I need something to do.”
“I have to stay here. Shane will go with you.”
“As you say.”
Seneca smiled as he offered her his arm. I told them to be back by midnight, and they set off, acting casual. As if there wasn’t an army gathering in the fields outside of Madwich. As if all of this was perfectly normal.
“Lark,” I said, confused to find him in the tent. “Thought you had business to take care of.”
His lips thinned as he walked further into the tent. “I do,” he said quietly. “It’s Seneca.”
“What happened?”
“She didn’t attack anyone. We took a walk through the woods. She said she wanted to get away from the commotion. I hung back to give her some space. I’m sorry.” He hung his head. “She was out of my sight for only a couple of minutes.”
“Lark, just tell me.”
He glanced over his shoulder as if checking we were alone. “She emerged from a small grove of trees and the smile on her face—it wasn’t hers. It was evil, Draven.”
“And her eyes?”
“They were black as night. Her rings were crackling. I don’t know what she did.”
I had a feeling I did, as much as I didn’t want to say it aloud. “It’s alright. Thank you for telling me. I’m assuming you don’t have any business you need to take care of?” He shook his head, and I rattled off the chore I’d given to Shane before he set off with Seneca. Lark said he’d see the right people gathered and left.
As soon as the tent flap closed behind him, I grabbed the table and threw it against the canvas with a growl, wishing there was more in front of me I could destroy. She was lying to me, right to my face. I asked her repeatedly if the voices were getting to her, asked her what they wanted her to do, and every time she said she hardly heard them. That she had everything under control. The nagging in my gut told me whatever she was sneaking around and doing involved Rudarius. I wasn’t sure how, but she was seeing him again. Talking to him.
Why was it so hard for her to just tell me the damned truth? What was she trying to do? Protect me? “Shit,” I muttered as it dawned on me. That’s exactly what she was doing, downplaying what was going on with her to protect me. If she’d been in distress, I hadn’t even sensed it. She was doing a damned good job of tucking away her emotions from the bond we shared, too. When she returned with Shane, we’d be having a talk about her thinking she had to keep me safe and not the other way around.
Between the two of us, she was the one taking the greatest risk.
I righted the table and replaced the map as the tent flap flew to the side. Marlie stormed in, walked around to the other side of the table, and stared.
“Help you with something?” I asked, my lip twitching from the raw anger pouring off him.
“Seneca. We need to talk about her.”
“Unless you’re here to tell me you plan on making it up to her for being a jackass, then no, we don’t need to talk about her. I suggest you get out of this tent until midnight when the others arrive to go over our options.”
“I said we need to talk about her,” he repeated. “She’s becoming dangerous. You and I both know it. We can’t trust
her around the army.”
“Because she tried to deck you, you believe she’s going to turn on everyone?”
“Yeah”
I hoped to avoid this argument, but it looked like I wasn’t going to get a choice in the matter. “Marlie, let me tell you something right now. One, you have no idea what Seneca’s going through. Not with Rudarius, not with the past she can’t let go of, not with anything. So unless you’ve been inside her head personally, you should shut up. Two, I trust her with my life. If I didn’t, then I would be sure to have her away from anyone she could hurt. And three,” I added, stalking around the table to stare him down, “if you lay a finger on her, if you do anything to cause her harm, you’ll have me to answer to. Do I make myself clear?”
He moved closer. “You are not my leader, Draven. You can’t order me around.”
“When it comes to Seneca, I damned well can.”
“I’m her family.”
“Then maybe you should start acting like it. Everyone has used her or turned on her. Everyone. Macron just admitted he let her be taken by Rudarius, let her be changed. And you have the gall to stand there and call her out for her actions? How would you react in these situations?”
“I wouldn’t be flirting with the enemy.”
The last word was still on his lips when I grabbed him by his shirt and threw him across the tent. He scrambled to get back up as I stomped toward him. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t I? She said it herself. She was with Rudarius. You told me what she told you.”
“In confidence. She’s not going to turn on us.”
“How do you know that for sure, huh? Those rings were supposed to help her, but all they’ve done is turn her into something I don’t recognize anymore.”
I was ready to deck him, but managed to keep my fists at my sides. “How would you know? You hardly know her?”
“And you’re any better?”
“I am because I know who Seneca is. You’re still hoping she’ll turn out to be the sister you dreamt of for all those years. Poor Marlie, can’t figure out that his sister needs us to be there for her. Not stab her in the back like everyone else,” I shouted.
