by Weil, J. L.
I squinted, and then my heart tripped over. “Colin,” I exhaled, my shoulders relaxing for the first time in hours. I took off and threw my arms around his neck. “I was so worried.”
Colin let a weary chuckle, his arms slow to wrap around me. “You’re okay.” He pulled back, eyes sweeping over my face.
I swallowed the knot of emotion. “Just a few scratches. I’m fine.”
“You knew she released the hounds?”
I nodded. “We were able to fend them off before they reached the village.”
Colin’s eyes lifted over my head. “Thank you,” he said to Zavier.
The warden gave a slight nod. “If it wasn’t for Skylar, the hounds would have had the advantage. She gave us enough time to form a defense.”
“Let me guess, she was also barking orders.” Colin ruffled the top of my head. “Sometimes I forget how dangerous she can be.”
“That I can definitely attest to.”
I rolled my eyes, but was too happy to have Colin alive and home to protest. The wardens who had gone with Colin began to shuffle inside the compound, looking like they could all use a shower and ten hours of uninterrupted sleep.
A movement from behind my brother caught my attention. I angled my head to the side for a better view. Five little fingers clutched the end of his shirt, and a head peeked out.
“Katie?” I whispered.
A little girl with big brown eyes stared up at me, half her face shielded behind Colin. She looked afraid to let go of him, and I didn’t blame her. My brother was trustworthy and steadfast.
My hands flew to my mouth. “Oh my God, Colin. You found her.”
There was a flicker of sadness in his eyes. “Sky, I—”
I shook my head, preventing him from saying anything more in front of Katie. “I already know. I saw it.” Tears threatened to spring to my eyes, but I shoved them back, not wanting to alarm the girl any more than she already was. God knew she’d been through an ordeal, and it wasn’t over yet. She looked so much like Abbey.
Colin’s eyes widened, and then he cautiously encouraged the little girl to his side. “She doesn’t understand what’s happened.”
Crouching, I looked into her frightened face. “Hey, Katie, do you know who I am?”
She clutched onto the back of Colin’s shirt, and shook her head. Her lower lip trembled.
I didn’t blame her for being wary, and I hadn’t expected her to remember me. In truth, kids scared me.
Colin put a hand on top of Katie’s head, like he had when I was younger. “Take her inside and get her cleaned up, will you? I’m going to send someone to find her parents.”
He was going to break the good and bad news himself. That was the thing with Colin. Regardless that he was bone tired and basically a walking zombie, he would find the last thread of energy to do this deed. It was why he made an exceptional leader.
I looked at Katie, and my mind went blank. What was I supposed to do? Little girls weren’t my expertise. I’d been surrounded by warriors and swords growing up, not ribbons and dolls. How old was Katie? Eight? Nine?
Zavier crouched, once again becoming my knight in shining armor. Careful, Sky, feelings are messy business.
He held out his hand. “You hungry? I bet we can find something to eat. You like cake?”
Katie’s scared eyes sized up the warden, but at the mention of something sweet, she nodded and put her small hand into his.
I walked beside him and the little girl into Silent Bend. “Smooth, going for bribery, even if it has a creepy-predator-with-a-white-van-to-lure-kids quality,” I mumbled.
Zavier leaned in, close to my ear. “You should be one to talk. I’d never seen the deer-caught-in-headlights look from you before. I’m not sure who was more scared, you or the kid.”
I shook my head. “So, I’m not great with kids.”
“Shocker.”
I cracked a smile, pushing open the door to the kitchen.
Getting Katie back felt like a small victory, even though we’d lost Abbey. It was how she would have wanted it. Lilith sought to send a message, and I received it loud and clear, but if it was her intent to make me fear her or get me to be complicit in her ploy, she was sadly mistaken.
My desire to see the vampire queen perish had only intensified. I was coming for her, when she least expected it. I wouldn’t give her a fair warning, and those who stood in my way would met the same fate.
* * *
I ran my shop like I ran my life. With a style born out of instinct, and mostly out of my own personal amusement, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t a crafty business woman. I enjoyed doing things my way and on my own time.
What bored me, I ignored, and what piqued my interest, I pursued.
And right now, Zavier Cross intrigued me.
Probably too much.
I sipped from a mug, letting the strong coffee smooth my mood. Lilith wanted my coven, wanted my power. I was strong with my circle, but I wouldn’t let her have what was mine. I would prevail over the bitch, and the last breath she took would be taken by my hand.
“You are right. It is your duty to stop her.”
I turned.
A woman stood in the streaming morning sunlight, dust particles swirling around the long dress of dark blue.
It was almost like looking into a mirror; the hair, the eyes, and the shape of the face were identical to mine.
“Mom?” I wanted to run to her, throw my arms around her neck, smell the sweet scent of honeysuckle that always lingered after she left a room, but as I took a step forward, I knew she was an apparition of the past.
Disappointment tornadoed through me. Could I touch her? Would her skin be warm or cold like the dead? I wasn’t sure I wanted to find out. The memories of her alive were so much sweeter.
“Aye. You’re my blood. My daughter.” She touched the amulet that hung at my neck. It had been hers, and I was never without it. “I am of the original witches, but it is you who will have to finish what we set out to do.”
“How am I to stop her? She never leaves the safety of her den, and even if I could get inside, the caves and tunnels are crawling with vampires. I’m not sure my coven is strong enough, not now…” My voice trailed off as I thought about Abbey. We were one less member, our power weakened by her loss.
“Love. It is another candle against the darkness. Believe,” she whispered, and then she vanished. A shimmer of what looked like a thousand fireflies descended before fizzing out.
I blinked.
Love.
Was she kidding? That was her advice. What did that mean? The love I had for my coven? For my brother? For a lover? A friend? There were so many forms of love. I wanted to will her back, beg her for help, but I couldn’t. Once again, I was on my own and sadness shot through me.
“Who were you talking to?” Zavier asked. He was crouched in front of me, his hands on my knees. Those silver eyes were surprisingly gentle, softening his usually fierce features. “You’re eyes, they went blank. You were looking right through me, and no matter how many times I called your name, you stayed as still as a statue.”
Tears pricked at my lashes, but with a deep breath, I kept them at bay. “I’m sorry. The vision hit me out of nowhere.”
He stood to his full height, the sun slanting at his back and a scowl marring his lips. “Don’t ever do that again. How am I to protect you when you go to a place where I can’t reach you.”
I folded my fingers together, pressing them into my lap as I got myself in control. The vision had left me emotionally raw. “I was in no danger. It was my mother.”
The lines on his forehead deepened. “I don’t like it, seeing you space out like that.”
No, he wouldn’t. Magic wasn’t something he could control, and that would burn the warden’s ass. “I’ll try to remember that the next time a spirit summons me from the other side.”
He threw me a look of dismay. “This isn’t a joke. You aren’t safe. Nowhere. If Abbey can be f
ound and taken, so can you. There is nothing Lilith won’t do to get her hands on you, even use the dead.”
I sighed, taking his hand and lacing our fingers. “I know. My intention was not to alarm you. Believe it or not, I’m trying to save us all.”
His expression hardened. “When did it become your job to save Frisco Bay? Alone?”
“Probably the day my mother died.”
Zavier shook his head, eyes skimming out the window, up and down the market. “We shouldn’t even be here. Have Tulip run the shop for a few days, until the situation with the vampires is under control. It would be best. You need to be somewhere where you can be protected at all times. The compound.”
My back stiffened. “Sounds like you want to lock me in the tower.”
“The thought has crossed my mind, but I figured you’d find a way to escape. You always do.”
My finger tapped on my leg. “Finally, you’re starting to understand me.”
“Let’s go,” he demanded curtly as he leaned down and slipped a hand under my elbow.
I jerked my arm out of his grasp, glowering. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”
“Minx, you have two choices, but both end with you tucked away behind the walls of Silent Bend. It’s your choice. We can do this the hard way, or you can walk out of here on your own.”
Okay. Maybe he hadn’t learned enough about me. If he had, he would have known that the caveman approach never worked with me. Nope. Just the opposite. I flicked out both hands, aqua flames dancing over my palms. “I’d like to see you try.”
“Temper. Temper,” he tsked, and if I wasn’t mistaken, there was a hint of a smirk on his lips, as if he was looking forward to the challenge.
Defiance sparked inside me as I stood from my seat. “You can take your ultimatum and shove it up your dead hole.”
“Have it your way.” Zavier moved with lightning speed. The second he stirred, I let one of the shimmering spheres of light zip through the air. He dipped his shoulder and the ball zoomed past him, hitting the wall. Then he was hoisting me up like a sack of potatoes over his shoulder.
I squealed as I lost my breath, but the second it returned I was going to zap Zavier Cross into Timbuktu. To my frustration, the man moved impossibly quick. He was already strutting across the room. “No magic,” he growled, anticipating my retaliation. “Or you’ll be sorry.”
Like a threat was going to stop me. As I was about to give him the jolt of his life, the door to the shop flew open and Tulip stumbled back.
She stopped in the doorway when she caught sight of Zavier and me. “Oh, sorry, am I interrupting some creepy foreplay you two have?”
Zavier’s hand was on my ass. I’d like to think it was there to hold me steady, but I’d bet there was an ulterior motive. “Tulip,” I exhaled, blowing a piece of hair out of my face since I still hung upside over Zavier’s shoulder. “Will you tell this Neanderthal to put me down?”
Tulip turned her head sideways to get a glimpse of my face. “Um, I don’t think I will. My guess is he is probably stopping you from doing something foolish. If so, I support it completely.”
“Thank you. I knew we’d get along,” Zavier said.
Tulip fanned herself, leaning against the wall. “Dear God. Don’t stop talking. Your voice is lethal to the heart.”
I couldn’t see his face, but I didn’t need to. I could tell the fool was grinning.
Tulip’s hand covered her heart, and she sighed. “I swear to God, my ovaries just sung.”
“You’re supposed to be my best friend,” I pointed out, irked with the situation. The blood was rushing to my head.
“And as your best friend, I’m telling you I would give my left boob to trade places with you right now.”
Zavier chuckled, his body rumbling.
“There’s something wrong with both of you,” I shot through a curtain of hair.
“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of the shop,” she called as he walked through the door.
That was very generous of her, but it was not the kind of help I was looking for. I pinched Zavier’s behind.
“Minx,” Zavier roared deep from his chest.
“Argh. You are the most frustrating man. Fine. Take me home, but do it quickly, for I don’t know how much longer I can hold myself back.”
“There’s a first time for everything.”
Chapter 15
Days turned to weeks, and the attacks in the village grew in numbers. It had the entire Bay on edge, and who could blame them? Lilith was a name feared, and her destruction spread over the land, keeping the people in a constant state of distress.
It had to stop.
Cassidy Harmon breezed into my room like a bolt of sunshine. I did a double take, wondering if I had accidently left my bedroom door open.
“Come on. We need to get you ready,” Cassidy said, flipping her golden hair over her shoulder.
My whole body went into shock. “For what?” I snapped. Nothing good ever happened when Cassidy and I were in the same room. I couldn’t figure out why my brother wasted his time with her. He was too good for the fake bitch. Not to mention, I had plans. Tonight, I was meeting with the coven. We had much to discuss. The restriction on my movements put me in a sour mood. Colin thought it best I avoided the village until it was safe again. I missed my shop. I missed my life. And there was only one person to blame.
Zavier.
“For the council. You didn’t forget, did you?” Cassidy batted her baby blues.
Of course I did. There was about a million other things on my mind than some damn stuffy political soiree. I left all that garbage to my brother. The vampires were up to no good, and the council wanted to throw a freaking party. As if that was going to solve anything, other than their need to drink themselves stupid. “No, I didn’t forget. I just don’t know why I need to be there.”
“It’s important,” she reminded me in a sweet voice as if she liked me. We both knew the truth, so I didn’t see the reason for the charade. If only Colin could look beyond the pretty face. “Colin wants to show the council a united front, that he can continue on what his father started and further build and improve the city.”
Blah. Blah. Blah. This was how interested I was in the wheeling and dealings of the council. Give me a sword and stick me on the battlefield. “Tell Colin I have nothing to wear.”
Cassidy gave me an overly bright smile. I wanted to pull her hair out. “Good thing you have me.” She danced to my closet and returned with a black garment. “You should definitely wear this.”
I took one look at the dress and thought about screaming for help. It would only take Zavier two seconds to bust through the adjoined door. I smiled as I envisioned Cassidy’s face at seeing Zavier. It was temptation enough to follow through and ruffle Miss Perfect’s feathers. She was the type of girl who cowered behind a man, always waiting for one to step in and save her.
Shaking the thoughts from my head, I stared at the dress. I’d never seen it before. This was obviously a plant, and by the way Cassidy was coveting the material, I was about to tell her she should wear it.
But in walked Colin. “I know that look. And no. You can’t get out of this. I was planning to have you at my side this evening.”
Cassidy slipped out of the room, leaving me alone with Colin. “Take Cassidy. She’s dying to be at your side.”
“Skylar,” he warned.
I scowled. “I’m not a child. You don’t have to scold me.”
“Then stop throwing a tantrum and get dressed. Zavier will bring you down in an hour whether you’re ready or not.”
I choked back a laugh. “Is that a threat?”
“If it gets you downstairs on time, yes. No tricks or glamour.”
“You take the fun out of everything.” I decided not to tell him I wasn’t speaking to the council.
“If I have to suffer through the next few hours, so do you,” he said dryly.
I smiled, but it was strained. “Or we coul
d both indulge in a rune.”
“No magic.” He turned toward the wall that connected my room to Zavier’s. “Did you hear that, Zavier? No funny business, or I’m holding you personally responsible,” Colin hollered.
“Loud and clear,” Zavier’s voice traveled from the other side of the wall.
“You’re lucky we’re related,” I told Colin.
He grinned. “I’ll let you curse my name as you get ready.” He turned to leave, but paused at the door. “Oh, Liam is going to be there. Will that be a problem?”
“We’ll find out. Why do we host these dumb parties anyway?” I hated them when I was little, and I despised them even more as an adult.
“It’s tradition, Sky. Gives them hope, a semblance of normalcy that life can be as it once was.”
“But it can’t,” I argued. “Why pretend otherwise? Life will never be like what it was before.”
“Maybe so, but we can try.” His fingers drummed on the doorframe before slipping out into the hall.
I sighed and stared at the dress lying on my bed. It seemed like wasted energy for someone to have crafted such an elegant dress. There were people in the village who needed clothes far more than I needed a dress. Heartsick, I knew there was little time for grieving and even less for comfort.
* * *
Forty-five minutes later, I was draped in frilly silk, pacing my room. I nibbled on my lower lip, wrestling with this insane idea to climb over the terrace and scale down the three stories to ditch the party. It wasn’t like it was the first time I’d done something reckless, but there usually isn’t a house full of people. Or the six-foot plus warden next door with an unusual six-sense where I was concerned.
The evening air was balmy, making the room feel like a sauna. My skin was slightly pink and flushed, and there were beads of sweat dripping between my breasts. A knock sounded on the door, and I drew my eyes away from the balcony. “Come in,” I called, swiping the moisture at the base of my neck.
The door squeaked open and Zavier dwarfed the archway. Tonight, he wasn’t wearing his usual boring warden getup. A silver shirt stretched over his chest, nearly matching his eyes. He stilled the second he caught sight of me, his eyes running over the length of my body. When his final gaze connected with mine, the room got a whole lot hotter. “Wow. You look—”
