I screamed as the energy the witches summoned burst from every fiber of my being. It erupted from me in powerful, fiery waves. I glanced down and watched the witches shield their eyes from the bright yellow rays as they crumbled to the ground in exhausted heaps. With their connection broken, they no longer powered the spell.
Yet I remained in the air, controlled solely by the magic within me.
I could feel it there, The Power the witches originally bestowed upon me. The Power of the witches, the immortality of the vampire, and the strength of the sun battled beneath my immortal coil, each hoping to be the last in control. I held on, screaming as my skin ripped open wherever the power was too great. I was being lashed by the power within me, with tears threatening but did never flowing.
The Power boiled within me, the acidic slop burning through my body, melting me from the inside out. With one final burst, the magic released me, and I fell. I slammed against the ground, wincing as bones snapped.
I suppressed the pain and opened my eyes, watching as the remaining Rogues, who scrambled to their feet, tried to outrun the power we’d created. But it was useless. The sun spell emulated the sun’s power and would continue spreading through the world until it evaporated into space. There was nowhere they could run, nowhere to hide. At least, not in the few seconds they had to take cover.
I never doubted this plan, because I knew of my power, and the power that flowed through me also encompassed every other hybrid. Our shield was nothing more than an extension of that power, of ourselves, and we offered up my gift to share. The shields encased the Hunters like a tree in full bloom. It shaded their weakened states from the rays that threatened to take their lives.
I closed my eyes, pulling at The Power that nestled deep within me, begging it to heal me once again. But it wasn’t there. I found nothing. Emptiness. The tank needed to be refueled, and I’d forgotten my membership card.
“Avah, love,” a voice said.
I opened my eyes to find the Hunters surrounding me. Jasik’s eyes were brimmed with tears as he looked down at me.
Breathlessly, I said, “Is it over?”
He smiled. “It’s over, love. You can rest now.”
He placed a kiss to my forehead and brushed the loose hair from my damp face. Jasik offered me his dripping wrist, but I was too weak to lower my fangs. So I pried my lips apart and waited for the sweet bliss that was his blood to simply drip into my mouth.
But something else found me first.
Muffled voices in the distance called to me, but I was tired, too weak to respond. I told myself to hold on. But when it mattered most, I couldn’t give myself a reason to stay. So I let go.
My last breath escaped me as darkness swallowed the light. I opened my eyes and smiled at the familiar surroundings. I’d visited this place often as a child, but never as a spirit. The tingle in the air surged through my essence. I spun around, searching for someone, something, but found nothing. The world was empty, the people gone.
I was alone.
Would I be alone forever?
The flash of a memory bounced through my mind: Jasik.
“He’s waiting for you, darling,” a voice said.
I faced her, smiling as I took in everything she was. Her long, white gown glowed against her pale skin. Her hair flowed in dark waves behind her as she approached me. Her smile was wide, her eyes bright. She grabbed onto me, pulling me close against her. Our essences mixed together, sending shivers through me. We were not solid. I knew this. But I could feel her hold onto me all in the same.
“Where are we?” I asked, even though I knew the answer. I’d been to The Beyond countless times.
“You don’t belong here, Avah.”
“I—I did what you asked, Mother,” I said. I raised my hand to her, showing the scar on my palm. “I promised to avenge your death.”
“And you did, but you’re not meant to be here now.”
Confused, I didn’t speak. I didn’t want to leave. Here, I was happy. I was free. I was weightless. I didn’t want things to be hard anymore. I didn’t want to leave her again.
“It’s time to be with your friends now, Avah,” she said.
“You don’t want me anymore?” I asked.
She smiled. “I’ll always be with you. Whenever you need me, look up at the stars. I’ll be there, beside the moon, watching over you.”
I hugged her, squeezing her tightly. I blinked, and she began to pull away, her essence evaporating into the air, meshing with the fog that surrounded us until I could no longer see her.
“They’re coming for you,” she said, her words echoing around me.
“I’m not ready yet,” I said.
“Be strong. Be brave. Live. I love you, Avah.”
I opened my eyes, gasping as the world came crashing down on me. I was assaulted by the sounds and smells of the earth, of the Hunters kneeling beside me. I clutched my chest and rolled over. Heaving, hacking, I dug my fingers into the frozen dirt. Bile stung my throat as I expelled it onto the ground beneath me. A hand rubbed my back, while another held the loose strands of hair. I sat back on my knees, and someone tucked my hair behind my ears as I wiped my mouth on the back of my hand.
Tears stung and slowly slid down my cheeks. My mind was muffled. I blinked, looking around, letting the faces, the scenery, the aftermath of the fight sink in until realization hit. My head lolled back, and I stared at the sky. Dawn was beginning to break, but I could still see the moon. She was there, watching me now, silently beckoning me to recover, find shelter, and survive this world.
I yelped and looked at my palm. The sharp points of my scar stung, the skin glowing until it faded to nothing. The scar was gone, the promise fulfilled.
My slate was washed clean.
A new beginning awaited me.
I RUBBED MY eyes and dropped my bag next to the door, yawning and stretching dramatically. The other Hunters and Sebastian filed in behind Jasik and me, slamming the door shut to announce our presence. Even so, the foyer of Kat’s manor was empty. The sun was rising, so the remaining vampires of the house had already retired to their bedchambers.
“I have no intention of leaving our room for… I don’t know. At least a year. Or two. Or ten.”
Jasik smiled and rested his hand against the small of my back, applying just enough pressure to make me shiver. Gone was the usual romance. Gone was the sweet man I fell in love with. As his icy blue eyes stared back at mine, the only emotion he portrayed was a deep sense of possessiveness.
I arched an eyebrow and bit my lip.
“I’m more than ready for that challenge,” Jasik slurred as he kissed my temple.
I leaned into his kiss, closing my eyes. “Mm. Let’s start tonight.”
He pulled away, ignoring my protests. I pouted, but that only made him laugh. Leaning down, he slipped a hand under my legs and cradled me in his arms. I squealed as he carried me up the stairs and toward our room.
“Fiends!” Jeremiah yelled. “We just got home!”
I wiggled my brows in response and caught a glimpse of Malik carrying my bags up the stairs. I mouthed him a thank you, to which he simply nodded, before we slipped down the hallway, out of sight.
Jasik kicked the door shut with his foot when we reached our room, and he tossed me onto the bed. I giggled and rose to my knees.
“You, Mr. Lavery, are a very naughty boy,” I said.
I reached for him, grabbing onto his shirt and pulling him toward me. His hands clasped mine and brought them to rest behind his neck.
“Are you going to punish me?” he asked wickedly.
I bit my lip and arched into him. Running my hands through his hair, I tugged on the roots, angling his face toward mine. I ran my tongue across the lobe of his ear and suckled on the end. Jasik leaned against me, a deep rumbling escaping his lips. He was hard against me, and I relished in how little I had to do to affect him the way I did.
I ran my tongue down the length of his neck, stopping when I
reached his clavicle. I placed a kiss there, before opening my mouth and dragging my teeth over his sensitive skin. Jasik shivered, and I smiled. I kissed my way back to his ear.
“You, sir, are most definitely getting punished tonight.”
He groaned, his hands dipping under my shirt. His nails scratched against my skin as he pushed me closer to him. I moaned, dragging my teeth against the skin of my lips, and pulled away.
“I love you,” I whispered.
Jasik’s icy blue irises turned a neon shade of blue, a showcase of his carnal need for me. With Jasik, reason was tossed aside, and we were left with just our basic animal need for each other.
“I love you, too.”
THE DOOR TO Kat’s office was open when we approached, so we filed in.
Glancing up from the papers strewn across her desk, she smiled. “Hello, Avah.”
I nodded. “Kat.”
The others exchanged greetings as I took a seat in one of the chairs facing her desk. Normally, I’d opt for a more formal stance, but in truth, I was too exhausted with the rules and formalities and regulations. I just wanted to be me, talking to Kat, who was just a friend.
“It was a success,” she said, though it wasn’t a question.
After I was revived, we spent the next three hours commuting, meeting, and praying to any god and goddess who’d listen. The twelve-hour flight from Russia to Seattle passed quicker than I had anticipated since we were all dead weight, falling asleep as soon as we sat in our seats.
“It was,” I said. “But we lost some from each side.”
She nodded. “Yes, I know. You should be happy to know that they will be honored, remembered, for their sacrifice. They would be proud.”
I smiled.
“I’ve been on the phone with both London and Russia for the past several hours. Everyone’s impressed with you, Avah,” Kat said, her gaze landing on the hybrid standing behind me.
“They should be.” Sebastian shrugged. “They owe her their lives.” He gazed down at me, smiling.
“I’m not the only one they should thank. It was your crazy plan, after all.” I held my hands up in defeat. “And I take full responsibility.”
Chuckling, Jeremiah interjected. “Yeah, only because it worked!”
“Well, regardless, a video chat has been scheduled, and I think you should attend,” Kat said.
“A video chat?” I asked. “With who?”
“The new council members.”
I gawked, looking at my wrist, where a watch inconveniently didn’t stare back at me. “It hasn’t even been a day!”
Kat laughed. “This has been in the works for a long time.”
“What has been in the works?”
“A new council—one that had hoped to overturn the old council. Ethically, of course.”
I arched an eyebrow.
“Not all vampires wanted this war, Avah. Some of us do believe we can live peacefully among humans, witches, and even hybrids. We just need a chance to prove ourselves.”
I glanced at Jasik. “The vampire laws, this council passed those?”
He nodded.
“You knew about this?”
He shook his head. “It wasn’t my place to ask questions. I took orders.”
“That’s how we all got into this mess.”
“Both witch and vampire covens across the world assisted you in this plan, Avah, even if they weren’t fighting beside you in Russia.”
“So what does this mean?”
“Someone still needs to maintain order. Magic must be controlled, the existence of both magic and vampires concealed from humans. And while the Rogue population may not be flourishing right now, that doesn’t mean there aren’t any remaining Rogues in the world. And, unfortunately, winning this fight doesn’t mean more vampires won’t become Rogues.”
I nodded. “I’ve considered this.”
“Hence the order,” she said with a smile.
“How do you expect to maintain control? How can you expect anyone to fully trust you?”
“Because this council will be a blending of the species. It will be run by vampires, witches, and hybrids. We all follow the most basic of laws, so coming together is only natural.”
“Who’s on this council?”
“Actually, there are several interested parties. Your friend Meredith’s coven is interested, her mom especially. Of course, I’m interested. I’ve always believed that the segregation has only fueled the hatred. There will be three members of each species. So three witches, three vampires, and three hybrids.”
“Have any hybrids stepped forward?” I asked.
She nodded, “Yes, Sibyl is interested. In fact, her entire coven is considering uprooting to London, where the council is set to reside.”
“So if you’re chosen, you’ll move?” I asked, dumbfounded.
“Yes. When I’m chosen, I will be relocating.”
“So you’ve already been accepted?”
She nodded. “More or less. There is a bit of seniority, too. No other vampire priestess is interested in the position, so it will fall to me. This is the same for Sibyl. She’s the oldest hybrid we know. If she wants in, she’ll get in.”
“But what about your coven?” I asked.
“Well, a new priestess can run this coven. Otherwise, this house can run itself.”
I was sure my jaw hit the floor. I couldn’t believe this was even an option. I was sure she’d spent centuries with this coven, and she’d just abandon them?
She smiled. “I can see you’re surprised, but there isn’t any need to be. In the past, we’ve put these rules in place to protect ourselves, to protect the species, but Rogues aren’t a threat. We don’t need to be forced into covens. We don’t need the protection of Hunters.”
“You yourself said Rogues can still become an issue. If you ignore them now, we’ll run into the same problem in a few hundred years. Now, that may seem like a long time, but I’m banking on forever, here. A few hundred years is nothing compared to the eternity we have to live on this planet.”
“When I said we didn’t need the protection of Hunters, I only meant in such a small setting. We no longer need to force Hunters to group and protect. Instead, we have a new plan in mind.”
“And that would be…”
“Hunters are blessed with rare gifts. They should be used for the greater good.”
I nodded. “I agree.”
“I think we would also agree that controlling the Rogue population is for the greater good.”
I nodded. “Sure.”
“We’re only suggesting what’s already been done. Just on a global scale.”
“You want Hunters to kill Rogues.”
She smiled. “Exactly.”
Confused, I said, “And how is this any different than what’s been happening for centuries?”
“Because Hunters will no longer be tied to a coven. They’ll travel freely, working directly for the council. If we discover Rogues, we’ll pass that information along, and Hunters will do what they were born to do.”
“And what if you don’t find Rogues?”
“Well.” She smiled. “I guess you’ll be on vacation.” She laughed.
“Vacation. I’ve never heard of this.” I smiled.
“Avah,” Kat said, her tone growing serious. I stiffened in response. “We’d like you to join us. We’d like you to be one of the three hybrids on the council.”
I frowned, speechless, but I didn’t speak. I didn’t know what to say. Sure, it was an honor, but I hadn’t thought of myself as council-worthy. My DNA by birth made me destined for something more than the usual witch. But that was mere luck. Being born a spirit user didn’t make me more special than anyone else. It just made me luckier. Or, unluckier, depending on whom I asked.
Why would anyone think I was council-material?
Sure, I led the first-ever group of witches, vampires, and hybrids into battle against a common enemy, but that didn’t mean I was qualifie
d to lead the world—even with eight other members on the council.
“We don’t expect an answer now, of course. You can take some time to consider this opportunity,” Kat said.
I fidgeted in my seat, avoiding her gaze.
What would this mean for me? Jasik and I spoke briefly about the future. We’d planned lazy days and traveling. He planned retirement.
My gaze flickered to his. He smiled at me, his eyes genuine. They expressed everything he didn’t say: he was happy for me, for this honor, and he’d support me regardless of my decision. But of course, I knew he always would. He’d already followed me to the ends of the earth and into battle after battle against ruthless enemies.
I stood, crossing my arms over my chest. I turned, my gaze scanning the floor. The other Hunters and Sebastian surrounded me. My eyes lingered on each person in the room.
I faced Kat. “If I said yes, what would that mean?” I asked.
She smiled. “Well, that would mean you’d likely relocate to London. It’s easier if we were all together. You could request to remain here, in Washington, or even in California, if that’s what you prefer, and I’m sure your request would be granted.”
“Granted?” I asked.
She nodded. “There are nine members of the council. We have an equal say in all matters that affect every species. We vote on everything.”
I nodded. Three of each species. Nine in total. Uneven numbers were good for casting votes. Tie breakers.
My gaze flickered back to the others. They were my friends, my family, my confidants. We’d gone through life, death, betrayal, and love… together.
“What would happen to them?” I asked Kat, keeping my eyes on the Hunters.
“Well, they’d be reassigned into the Hunter program, of course. Except Sebastian, that is.”
I faced her. “Why? What will happen to Sebastian?”
“Well, we are in agreement that hybrids are to work with Hunters against Rogues, but some of us were actually hoping Sebastian would join the council, as well.”
Blood Promise (Blood Books Book 3) Page 16
