by LJ Swallow
Chapter Twenty-Six
ELOISE
I gasp in a breath as I snap my eyes open. My head and body feel as if somebody trampled me and my first recollection is the bears.
No, time has passed since the bears attacked Francesca.
I’m face down on something soft and rough that smells like cleaning fluids, and I touch the surface. A carpet?
Ravenhold doesn’t have carpets.
Two pairs of feet stand in front of my face—a woman’s high-heeled black shoes and a man’s shining black formal ones. My hair falls into my face as I push myself up to sit and swallow down the urge to vomit as I take in the surroundings.
I’m in my parent’s formal drawing room amongst the antique furniture nobody ever sits on.
“Welcome home, Eloise,” says my mother.
Omigod. I attempt to stand but fail. The man with her isn’t my father, or a witch I recognise.
Blood marks the carpet in front of me and I become aware of my stinging palm where a fresh cut still bleeds. A myriad of images tumble through my mind—Oriana. Dorian.
Ivan.
“Where is he?” I ask hoarsely.
“Which he?” asks the man. “Ivan?”
“And Dorian.” I wipe my uninjured hand over my perspiring forehead. “Where am I?”
“I’m here, mon tresor.” I shudder. He uses those words as a reminder—a threat. Something to reinforce that he has control. “And don’t fear, we have Dorian in his temporary accommodation.” Ivan sits in an armchair nearby by, hands linked behind his head and a smirk on his face.
“You won’t be able to hold him,” I cough out.
The man crouches down to look at me. “The boy has delusions of grandeur. Dorian is potent and vicious but..." He smiles. “So are we.”
His eyes are a captivating glacial blue, and an unsettling energy darkens his aura. I’ve met many witches when dragged around to visit their families as a child, but I don't think I've seen this man before.
“Such a pleasure to meet you, Eloise. I'm Nikolai Blackwood." He stands again and holds out a hand to help me up. "I can't wait to meet my half-brother. Family reunions are always such fun."
“I told you I’d take you away from Ravenhold. Didn’t you believe me?” asks Ivan.
My dry mouth parches. “I didn’t fully believe you could use temporal magic.”
“A select few can.” Nikolai stands again. “Ivan is a great pupil and a loyal supporter.”
“All I had to do was appeal to Dorian’s selfish ego and I had his co-operation.” Ivan waves a hand. “His family did wrong by him. Dorian has no idea how to use half the magic he’s capable of.”
I shake my head. They haven’t felt his power the way I have; Dorian doesn’t need to be a witch to take them down.
But after what Dorian did to me tonight, as soon as I’m strong enough, I’ll fucking take him down.
“If you taught Dorian a Blackwood spell to get out of Ravenhold, he can use that to get out of here,” I tell them.
Nikolai sighs. “Everybody always underestimates my family.”
I look to my mother. “Why are you working with the Blackwoods? Your family will be ostracised.”
She smiles sweetly. “The Thornbrooks and Summerhills are joining the Dominion’s campaign. Life is... safer that way.”
Unsteadily, I climb to my feet and reach out to steady myself on the back of a blue velvet and gold armchair. “I don’t feel well. I’m going to my room.”
I wait for the protest, but nobody speaks. Side-eyeing Ivan, I stumble through the open double doors. The large manor house looks no different than the day I left, but the carpeted halls and burgundy and white flock wallpaper are jarring after Ravenhold’s crumbling decay. Dazed from the spell and sudden change in circumstances, I grip the metal stair rail and haul myself up the wide staircase towards my room.
My room overlooks the gardens tended to by both gardeners and magic, and mist forms on the lawns as the sun rises over a confusing new day.
I scrabble around in my dresser drawer for a charcoal stick and kneel on the floor by my door. Locking the door won’t be enough to deter Ivan, and he’ll soon decide to come for what he thinks is his.
Kneeling on the floor, I etch the same runic protection spell as I did my first night at Ravenhold.
Now, I’m back to my original prison and without the guys who protect me.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
ZEKE
Ethan regains consciousness with a yell loud enough that the whole estate would hear him. He flails then staggers to his feet; eyes the unusual bright orange colour they were earlier.
“Where are we? Where’s Eloise? The others?” he demands.
I persuade Ethan to sit but my explanation doesn’t calm him. The guy is seconds from barrelling through the door onto the Thornbrook witch family estate, so I stand in front. He glares down at me, and snorts through his nose like an animal.
“Out of the fucking way.”
“No. We have a chance to help ourselves and—"
“Eloise is the most important person in this situation, you selfish arsehole,” he snarls.
I smack him in the chest. “I was saying, and then we figure out how to help Eloise. Maybe Dorian will get her out.”
Ethan stares at me as if I’m insane. “Nothing about Dorian’s so-called truce with us is real. He was working with Ivan all along.”
“Dorian wouldn’t hand Eloise to that bastard. He has another plan.”
“Yeah, like take her for himself.”
I smile. “Do you think Eloise would allow that?”
“Not funny!” he roars. “He seduces her mind. We’ve seen how he’s influencing her.”
I drag a hand through my hair. “Ethan. I’m not fighting a family of witches when I’m not at full strength. We go somewhere, watch the house, and wait.”
“I’m fucking strong enough,” he says, and I believe him as he attempts to intimidate me away from the door. “Move.”
In his eyes, I see something more than Ethan and my shifter side can practically smell the dragon within him. How does Eloise cope when he behaves like this?
“Eloise wouldn’t want you to, Ethan. I don’t believe anything will happen to her overnight, and if she does allow Dorian to take her blood, I swear he won’t hurt her.”
Ethan’s jaw remains rigid and although I tell him this to diffuse his temper, I don’t a hundred percent believe my words.
But I do know I’m not strong enough to survive against a coven of witches, and that pisses me off.
“Come on. Ivan gave us an out,” I say.
“And where do we go?” he asks gruffly.
I clap him on the shoulder. “I survived on Ravenhold island in the pissing rain and cold. I’m sure we’ll be okay.”
‘Okay’ involves hanging out amongst the trees while we watch the driveway that leads from the house towards the tall wrought iron gates. A nearby road runs towards lights in the distance. A small town?
We can’t do much else without cash, but I doubt Ethan would move far anyway. Neither of us feel the cold nor need much sleep, so the rest of the night is long and boring. A sleek, expensive car passes shortly after we take up our position, but the windows are too dark to make out the driver or if there’re any passengers.
I pull out Dorian’s cryptic note and re-read.
oh for when I know to sever no one free
The words make no sense. At all. Is this a hint at his plans? And why tell us this is how we find our way to him if we ever escape Ravenhold?
“We need to figure out where we are,” I say to Ethan. “I don’t know many different shifter communities, but somebody would help us.”
“Shifters would harbour escaped delinquents?” Ethan snorts. “Sure, they will.”
“What else do we do? We’ve nothing but the fucking clothes we’re wearing.” I bite my lip. “I don’t think Ravenhold will tell anybody that we’ve escaped. Not yet. Especially not us.”
>
“What do you think happened?” Ethan asks. “Do you reckon Kai and his mates tore down the academy?”
“I didn’t hang round to find out. As soon as you left I followed. They could do some damage, but I reckon more damage will happen to them. Stupid fuckers.”
“They’re desperate, oppressed kids, Zeke. A few months ago, you would’ve led a riot.”
Would I? I’m unsure. “Not my problem now. Let’s go.”
“I’m not moving from this spot until I see Eloise,” he says tersely.
“That’s dumb, mate.”
“Yeah?” He clenches his teeth. “I’m ready to tear Ivan apart this time, if I see the arsehole.”
I rest my head on a tree. I’m hungry and I’ve no money, so I need to check the town for signs of shifters who can help out. Otherwise, shifting to catch and eat rabbits is my alternative. Personally, I’d prefer a burger.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
DORIAN
I never expected to walk away the moment the Blackwood spell brought me to the outside world. I’m not stupid. Nobody would randomly help Dorian Blackwood without wanting something from him. I’d considered the alternative—whoever waits out here may attempt to kill me—but more fool them if they tried.
As nobody tried to kill me, I need to figure out what Ivan’s deal is.
I could’ve taken out these witches and walked away if they attempted to stop me, but they have something I want.
Eloise.
Ivan can’t take her.
I’ve mutilated people in the past. I can use mind control to force people to do what I want. Hell, it’s one reason people don’t cross me. But what Ivan did to Oriana goes against my tiny sliver of moral code. I don’t hurt women and kids, and the only time I would is if they had a chance of killing me first. Eloise knows—everybody is aware of this weakness.
If I’d had more time, I could’ve persuaded Eloise to give me her blood instead of Ivan’s method. But, as one sadist to another, I know he enjoyed what he did to Oriana.
The biggest reason this bothers me is he wants to manipulate and control Eloise, and the strength I saw in her when she first arrived at Ravenhold ebbed away the longer Ivan stayed. This isn’t magic but a psychological effect Ivan has on Eloise that’s as controlling as a spell.
We both want her for our own purposes, but I am willing to wait for Eloise’s consent because she gave me that once before.
So, yeah, I could fight my way out of this house, but I’ll bide my time. Unless the risk is too great for me, I’ll wait until I’ve the opportunity to take her. That may be unfortunate for anybody who attempts to stop me, but they took a risk bringing me here with the idea they could take on Dorian Blackwood.
I agree to stay but make my demands—a connection to the outside world. Internet and phone. Amusement. After a year in Ravenhold, the world I lived in shifted. Most of my society operates underground, so my attempts to find my parents' whereabouts fails. If they’ve any sense, they’ll get the fuck away before I find them. They’re the reason I was in Ravenhold and now I’ve an inkling why: they can’t suppress the witch inside their progeny and that’s dangerous to my vampire family.
Oh, yes, dear parents. Extremely dangerous.
Ivan and his witch buddies don’t trust me to leave. I pretend not to realise when they lock me in the luxuriously furnished guest room and attempt to use wards to hold me in. I’m a vampire—climbing from an unlocked window, two storeys high, isn’t a problem. Plus, Ivan taught me blood magic. Escape routes are everywhere.
The other reason I chose not to get the fuck out decides to visit me in the early hours.
I sit at a desk near the bay window with a laptop, re-familiarising myself with the world I want to control. Of course, most is hidden from the humans but I can glean something from names and business mentioned—and look at recent human changes. My biggest frustration is no longer knowing who holds power in the Dominion and Confederacy.
The man who walks in can answer my questions.
Nikolai Blackwood sits in the green winged armchair near the four-poster bed that’s decorated with coverings in garish blue and green flowers, and I turn to face him. He has an arrogance about him I’d expect, and a shadier presence than I’ve sensed around any other witch. The dark-haired man wears an expensive grey suit, all sharp lines and perfect tailoring, and I don’t miss his judgement of my scruffy jeans and shirt. Yeah, arsehole, I don’t need to dress to impress.
I scratch my cheek as we look at each other without speaking. I met him briefly earlier, but he barely spoke two words to me—an introduction and nothing more. Meeting Eloise interested him more.
This concerns me.
“Dorian.” Nikolai smiles. “I’ve waited years to meet you.”
“Such a shame our families are estranged. I never had the chance to meet my big brother,” I say with sarcasm. “Is that what you are? Does my magic bring me into the Blackwood fold?”
He wrinkles his nose. “I wouldn’t count you as a true brother. A distant relative, perhaps. You’ve only a small amount of the Blackwood energy in your blood.”
I give a tight smile. “I have enough. Blackwood magic created me. Who performed the spell? I’d love to thank them.”
“I’m afraid I can’t give a name, in case you decide to ‘thank’ them in your usual manner.”
I smirk. “Sensible, but I’ll discover who.”
Nikolai tips his chin as we verbally circle each other like animals ready to attack. “Your actions over the years have proved problematic.”
“Killing witches, you mean?” I arch a brow. “Aren’t you worried I’ll continue that pastime now I’m on the Thornbrook estate?”
He shakes his head. “Tsk, Dorian. That would be ungrateful. We risked a lot retrieving you.”
“I’m not a ‘thing’ to retrieve, Nikolai.” I stand and walk over to him. He straightens, but doesn’t move. “I am also not prepared to stay in this room indefinitely. Tell me what you want from me, and I’ll give the issue my consideration.”
“Of course.” Nikolai gestures at the door. "You may leave this room if you wish. Why not join us for breakfast?”
“How generous. Perhaps then you could explain why your family decided to release four powerful hybrids from Ravenhold. Freeing the shifter and mid who are under Eloise’s spell is bloody stupid.”
“Let’s call them insurance.”
I grit my teeth at his smug face. “I’m not interested in your attempts at enigma, Nikolai. Tell me what you want.”
“Dorian. I require you to finish what you started before Ravenhold took you. The Blackwoods are regaining our foothold within the supernatural society. Eradicating our opponents could take some time, and that time is of the essence.”
I scoff at him. “You want me to be your little soldier? No. I will kill who I want, and I’ll begin with those responsible for locking me in Ravenhold.”
“Your parents?”
I look unblinkingly at him. “Yes. Amongst others.”
“I do like ruthlessness in a man.”
“Nikolai. You appear convinced I want to join my witch family. Do I need to teach you this is not the case and that coercion will not work?”
Nikolai stands to face me. “You are still magically weak, Dorian.”
“And I am also in close proximity to the solution to that particular issue.”
“Eloise Thornbrook?” he shakes his head. “She won’t come near you.”
“Won’t or can’t, Nikolai?”
He ignores me. “Eloise will accompany me to my estate tomorrow. You are, of course, welcome to join us should you wish to remain close to your ‘solution’.”
My shoulders stiffen. He’s correct about my current weakness, and Eloise’s blood and co-operation will speed up my return to full strength. But, I don’t want to follow him and be drawn into the Blackwoods' world.
Witches hate me as much as I detest them.
“I hope you’re not considering
retaliation for Lawrence Thornbrook’s unfortunate demise a few years ago,” I say.
“We’d like to begin with a clean slate. Eloise’s family are of course displeased with your past actions, but they understand collateral damage.”
I laugh as the magic between us builds. “We are alike, Nikolai. Perhaps our blood does make us family.”
“Then you will be happy to accompany me to discuss how we can assist each other.”
Oh yeah, there’s only one person who can assist me and she’s in a different room. I have no intention to spend time around a jumped-up witch; one who totally misses the fact I’m a hybrid who could push through his magic and kill him.
Soon.
“Ivan will also join us at the Blackwood estate,” he says.
“How interesting,” I say dismissively.
“He’s skilled in many ways. I’m extremely impressed with his actions at Ravenhold.” He moistens his lips. “Ivan has earned his reward.”
“What? A place at the table with the great Nikolai Blackwood?” I sneer. “Like a good little lap dog?”
“No, Dorian. Eloise.”
I blink in an attempt not to show a reaction. Surely, he wouldn’t be strong enough to bypass Eloise’s trinity magic? But she has the same issue I do—she’s still weak. Eloise spent less time in Ravenhold than I did; her full magic will return sooner. Ivan’s will return quicker still.
“Dorian?” he asks. “Does this concern you?”
I lower my voice. “Nikolai. If you believe you can keep my power source away from me forever, you’re mistaken.”
“Oh, I’m aware, but Eloise can kill you if you try to take her blood. I hear she almost did once.”
“You heard wrong. I’ll take what I need from Eloise, and if I’m generous, I’ll allow her to live.”
Nikolai places a hand on my shoulder and I scowl at his impertinence. “You are correct, Dorian Blackwood. We are alike. That is exactly my plan too.”
He chooses that moment to walk away. To leave me overwhelmed with the conflict that rages every day. Eloise is a threat to my life, and I to hers. And she has everything I need to take down arseholes like this witch.
