“Well, next time, don’t go without me or Elena. Please.” He finished that with adorable puppy dog eyes that pulled at my heart. I leaned in to give him a quick peck on the cheek, garnering a huge grin.
The door squeaked open and two more guards marched in with cots and bedding. I watched them set up the extra beds in no time, then position themselves at the ends.
“Huh. I’ve never had this much of an audience in my bedroom.”
“You’ve had an audience before?” Nick asked teasingly.
I gasped and stared at him, blushing. “What? No! That’s not what I meant.”
He chuckled, setting his arms on either side of me. I glanced down, tempted to run my fingers along his skin.
“Um.” I blinked and shook my head. “Do you think we’ll be safe? Are there enough guards for all of us?”
“Darlin’, I will protect you with my life. You can sleep sound knowing I am right here by your side. Elena too.” He darted forward and dropped a kiss on my parted lips. I didn’t know how to react. “You’re our priority.”
I shifted my gaze to Elena who winked and pursed her smile into an air kiss.
At a loss for words, I scooted under the blankets, vaguely aware of Tabi edging close to my side. I couldn’t stop staring at Nick and Elena. These two seemed to be taking my mental walls down brick by brick, and I was grateful. Grateful for my blood bond to weaken, but nervous of what feelings will be waiting for me when I’m finally allowed to fully have them.
Chapter Eight
As I dragged my consciousness up from the mires of sleep, I slowly became aware of warmth running along the side of my body. Forcing my eyes open to the dim room, lit only by the fading sunlight of dusk, I stared at the ceiling to gather my bearings.
Sometimes, I still woke up thinking I’m human. Waking up in this same room for a week has almost made those moments less jarring, but I did miss my own bed and routine. I’d never imagined mornings—or evenings, I guess—where my routine included guards watching over me and donors or mugs filled with warm blood waiting for me. Quite a change from those meal replacement bars I always forced myself to eat.
Crunchy oats and nuts never did feel quite as filling as a belly full of delicious blood.
I wiggled my arm and Tabi glanced over her shoulder at me with sleep-filled eyes and her blond hair like a curtain covering the bottom half of her face.
“Hey,” I whispered in a husky voice.
She reached up to tug the hair from her face, flinging it back and stabbing me in the eyes with several strands. “Hey to you,” she replied.
Brushing away the blond locks, I sat up and threw my legs over the edge of the bed. My feet hit something too soft to be floor. Leaning forward, I found a large, black wolf curled up on the old rug beside the bed. Pale blue eyes winked up at me before his muzzle raised in a big yawn.
“Oops! I didn’t mean to kick you and wake you up. Sorry.”
In the corner on the other side of the nightstand, another wolf lay curled up, one nearly black eye peeking at me over chocolate brown fur. Elena.
I gave her a little wave, but her eye closed and her muzzle burrowed deeper into her fur.
Using my new telekinetic power, I gave myself a little boost and hopped over Nick. Getting a bit more oomph than expected, I fell forward, head aimed at the window.
“Woah there.” Strong arms caught and steadied me. I looked up into Killian’s gray gaze and returned his pleasant smile with a grateful one. Steadying myself, I used the moment as an excuse to admire his long, silver hair and tanned skin. He had a strong jaw and lines around his mouth that said he smiled often.
“No wonder she likes you,” I murmured.
He grinned. “Does she now?”
My cheeks heated. “Did I say that out loud?” Shit!
“I didn’t hear anything.” He smirked and winked, giving me a little push toward the bedroom door. “You and Tabi should freshen up. The others are gathering already.”
I glanced at the empty, disheveled cots then back at the bed, ready to rouse Tabi. A gasp escaped my lips as I saw Kat sitting on the other side of the bed, stretching her arms above her head.
“What are you doing in here?” I shuffled over to her, reaching down to shake Tabi.
“I’m just waiting for Kat to move,” she said quietly.
Kat raised an eyebrow and stood. “My room was overflowing with men, so I came in here.”
I searched our link to gauge her mood but hit a wall. She eyed me with a little smirk.
“I think we should start practicing our mental barriers. With your powers on the rise, I would prefer to minimize the blowback. We have no way of knowing if your developments will always create beneficial surges.”
“Good thinking.” I took Tabi’s outstretched hand and pulled her up off the bed. “We’re going to clean up before breakfast.”
“Use the second-floor bathroom. I need to freshen up as well.”
My eyes rolled hard as I dragged Tabi out the door and down the stairs. Killian followed at a discreet distance.
In the bathroom, I helped Tabi braid her shoulder-length hair as she tried in vain to tame her wild bangs. After a splash of cold water on my face, I finger-combed my hair into a messy ponytail.
“So, you and Killian, huh?”
“Uh, yeah, sort of. My bond with David is still overwhelming, but I think I might really like Killian. I wish I could get some distance like you have with Kat.”
“Well, it’s so new, I don’t really know the limits now. This could be a temporary thing, but it is nice to not have her in my head so much.”
Last morning before sunrise took us under, I told Tabi about everything that had happened. We were surrounded by our most trusted guards and she had quickly become my BVFF, best vampire friend forever. I was so relieved to finally have someone I could talk to about all this crazy supernatural stuff.
A nudge in my head had me looking up as if I could see an impatient Kat tapping her foot upstairs.
“Time to go.”
“Yeah, David is calling.” Tabi tapped the side of her head and sighed.
We tromped back up the stairs and found an empty corner. Killian hovered at Tabi’s side.
Chima stood behind the sofa with Efram, David’s head guard, and Magnus, one of ours. Magnus was a werebear and Lynn Sheridan’s cousin. Thinking of Lynn and how he died made my heart ache. It was difficult to look at Magnus without remembering Lynn’s sweet face contorted in pain as his body was sliced in half.
Shaking off the darkness, I tuned into Chima.
“You take a team and watch the witches, especially Cassandra. Get some of the birds to watch from the skies.” Efram, a wereleopard, nodded. If you looked close enough, you could see a hint of spots in his dark brown hair and caramel skin.
“Magnus, I want you on Bull and his packs. Get an eye in the sky, but I want only shifters that can go up against his wolves. He may have some big cats among his people, but there’s too many Kin in this place to scent them out if they’re hidden away.”
“Right,” Magnus said in a deep, rumbling voice that matched his Herculean form.
“Complete discretion,” Chima said. “Blend in with the regular guard detail, keep to the trees and shadows, what have you. I don’t want them alerted to our extra presence.”
The two men marched off down the stairs just as Nick ducked into the room and came to me with a cheery smile. I smiled back, clenching hands that wanted to reach out to him. Looking down at them, I wondered at the sudden urge.
“You okay?” Nick brushed his fingers over the back of my hand, sending faint tingles along the skin up my arm.
I bit back a giggle and peered at him. “Yeah, I’m good. You?”
“Fine as rain on a hot summer night in the south.”
“You slept at my bedside…”
“I told you I wouldn’t leave you.”
Heat tinged my cheeks. “Thanks. I’m glad you’re my protector.”
“Me too.”
Chima moved closer to speak with Edgar who sat in the armchair next to the window by the stairs. I’d begun to think of that chair as a throne beside the fireplace where he or Kat could see out over the campgrounds or down the stairs at whoever might be coming up. Usually, Chima or Isabel was planted directly behind the chair.
“Nick…”
“Yes, darlin’?”
“How is a lion leading a pack of mixed creatures? How can wolves, bears, a leopard, a jackal, a hawk, a horse, and another lion all be in one pack? And, what about the secondary pack? I don’t even know all the different species in that one.”
“Well, the secondary pack is mostly wolves. Werewolves are the most common Kin, besides vampires. Many species are solitary but need the safety of numbers, so Kin like Chima will allow them to join. Integration isn’t always easy, and sometimes it doesn’t work out. The guard pack that Chima leads is a strategic one made up of mostly ex-military.”
“And he leads both those packs?”
“He does with assistance. Nando takes care of the secondary pack so Chima can keep the guard pack under control since it’s made up primarily of alphas. Being a lion, Chima is the ideal leader for strong packs and prides. He had a large pride before handing it over to his son to work for the vampires. In fact, Justus came from his pride.”
“Sigrid,” Chima said, gesturing to the tall Viking woman. Being one of the werebears of the guard pack, she had a strong build to go with her domineering and standoffish demeanor.
Other than Nick and Elena, none of the other guards under Chima had warmed up to me. They all seemed to keep to themselves, possibly in efforts to keep their alpha natures under control.
Sigrid approached Chima with her chin held high and her shoulders squared. “Aye.”
“Bring the donors up here and get them set up. I’ll inform Isabel to let them up.”
“Aye.” She gave him a curt nod and left.
Chima spoke into his comm, letting Isabel know to allow the donors upstairs. It sounded as if she might have a wall of guards at the bottom of the stairwell.
A delicate gasp came from Danielle where she sat with Julius on the sofa. Everyone turned to her as she went rigid and her eyes clouded over. Kat went to her and patted Danielle’s hand soothingly.
After a minute of silence, her stiff body slumped and Julius gathered her in his arms as she sucked in gasping breaths.
“The witches… Anaria… The wolves…”
Julius murmured for her to catch her breath, but she shook her head and pushed up, searching the room and settling on Chima.
“Bull’s wolves have blocked the Bellingham witches at the base of the mountain,” she said, panic in her tone. “They won’t let them come up.”
“I will take a team immediately and bring them here.”
“Julius,” Danielle pleaded. “Please go with him. Anaria needs to see a familiar face or she might leave. We need her coven.”
“I will go.” Julius kissed her forehead and followed Chima down the stairs.
“You said ‘We need her coven.’” Edgar sat on the edge of his seat. “Have you seen something we should prepare for?”
“Nothing quite so clear, just a sense that Anaria and the Bellingham Coven are vital to our survival.” Danielle wrung her shivering hands until Kat enclosed them with her own.
“We’ll sort this out,” she said with a soft smile. “In the meantime, we would all benefit from feeding.” She nodded her head at the donors being led into the nearest bedroom.
“If no one objects, I believe Kat and I will take Danielle in first. Blood will calm her nerves and wash away the clinging remains of her vision.” Edgar stood and held his hands out to the women.
As they filed into the room of donors, I sidled up to Nick. He slipped his arm around my waist. I peeked up at him, chewing on my lip, worrying about the ominous vision.
“Don’t worry, darlin’. Chima will bring the witches here.”
Chapter Nine
After Tabi and I took our turn with Rudy, we returned to the sitting room. Kat and Benjamin both squatted before Edgar where he sat on his throne. He watched out the window, appearing to ignore them.
“Sire,” Benjamin said in a quiet yet urgent tone, “we’re only concerned with the safety of our two clans. You may not find any others to side with us. Not in the time Cassandra has given you.”
Kat gripped Edgar’s knee. “Darling, even if you find others, there isn’t any room for them here. The Bellingham Coven occupies most of the second floor and we are crowded on the third. I don’t trust Cassandra. I think she only allowed Anaria’s witches here because she thinks she can sway them to her side.”
“I agree we are tightly packed in here,” Edgar grumbled, “but there are no sides. We are all in danger from Rowena and her hunters. Given time, we can come to an agreement.”
“I’m sorry to say, my friend,” David said from where he stood at the second window. “I have to agree with Kat and Benjamin. I do not like the looks of that woman. She hungers for a power she does not deserve.”
David Lyons was a sophisticated vampire. I would’ve never described a person that way until I met him. Like Edgar, he was strict but caring. He loved his clan and treated them with respect. Tabi would go on and on about how good he was to her.
Always dressed in a suit, he was a bit more buttoned-up than Edgar, who usually kept the collar of his shirt open and loose. David kept his dusky brown hair short, emphasizing the sharp angles of his face. His copper eyes reminded me of brand-new pennies.
“Where would we go?” Edgar glanced around the room. “Our numbers are still few but they are growing. And without the witches shielding us, we are in danger of becoming lab rats for the benefit of the cosmetics industry. Rowena King is a relentless woman.”
“We have our own witches now. I’m sure they’ll help us. Right, Danielle?” Kat turned to look at Danielle with pleading eyes.
“I can speak with Anaria and Arnon. They’re still settling in, so it will have to wait a bit.”
Edgar let out a long, heavy sigh. “I suppose if we have the witches to support us, I will consider moving. In the meantime, Benjamin and I will—”
“Edgar.” Julius rushed up the stairs with a scowl. “Cassandra is on the move. I overheard her complaining about the new witches. I think she is threatened by their presence. She mentioned bad blood between her and the Bellingham Coven.”
“Anaria didn’t say anything about bad blood,” Danielle said, rising to join Julius at the stairs. “I’ll go speak to her now.”
“Excuse me,” said a tanned man with long blond hair. He slid between Julius and Danielle, rushing to David’s side. “The witch has called for another meeting, sire.”
David’s shoulders sunk and he shook his head. “This doesn’t bode well. I believe it would be best if we attended this meeting as a force. We should present ourselves as a large united front, show her that she cannot intimidate us into cowing to her will.”
“Yes.” Edgar stood, pulling Kat and Benjamin up with him. “Danielle, Julius, please approach the High Priestess and High Priest. Find out what you can about their connection to Cassandra. See if you can determine their position in these matters and whether they might assist us, should we decide to part ways with Cassandra and Bull.”
After some shuffling of the guards, Edgar and David left for the meeting with Kat, Benjamin, Yvette, David’s mate, Tobias, David’s second, and a slew of guards, including Chima and Isabel. Before they’d left, Julius had rushed back with news that Anaria and Arnon would be joining our side at the meeting. Apparently, Danielle didn’t have to do much convincing.
With so many going to the meeting, Tabi and I were left alone with our own retinue of guards. We huddled together on the sofa, worrying about the fate of our clans. In an effort to take our minds off the meeting, we talked about ourselves. There wasn’t much we hadn’t already told each other during the time we’d been locked up i
n this cabin, but we tried anyway.
“Why did you go outside? And don’t tell me you needed some air. That’s a flimsy excuse.”
My eyes widened at Tabi’s boldness, and my cheeks reddened at being called out. I glanced up at Nick where he stood at the window behind Edgar’s throne. He cocked an eyebrow in response. Fuck.
“Uh, I had to make a call,” I whispered as low as I could, hoping Nick wouldn’t overhear. His noisy throat-clearing said he heard every word.
I kept my eyes down, avoiding his gaze.
“That was dangerous. Why would you risk yourself to make a phone call?” Tabi tugged on the blanket I was trying to hide behind.
“I needed to call my best friend, Mandy. She’s sick and I was worried about her. I wanted to make sure she wasn’t sicker because I went missing.”
Tabi gave me big, sympathetic eyes. “Oh, well, I guess that’s understandable.”
Another noise from Nick indicated he didn’t agree with her.
“I’m sorry. I won’t do it again,” I muttered to Tabi, but the sentiment was intended for Nick.
I peeked out of the side of my eye, hoping he accepted my apology. A soft smile and barely perceptible nod told me he did. Something’s changed. I’m concerned for Nick’s feelings and seeking his acceptance.
Puzzled by this development, I didn’t hear what Tabi whispered.
“Mercy? Are you listening?”
I shook my head to clear it. “No, sorry. I got lost in my thoughts.”
“I asked about your guards. I’ve noticed the looks you three share.” She bumped me with her shoulder, giving me a smug smile.
“I really don’t know how to explain it,” I whispered, thinking about the encounter at the car the other day. I’d felt something. Lust, maybe… “You know how it is with the blood bond. It’s like there’s no room in here—” I pointed at my head “—for anyone but Kat. I don’t even fit in here sometimes, but since what happened with those men, and my powers…”
Witch Slap (Vamp Tales Book 4) Page 4
