by Maya Daniels
Closing my fist, I breathe in slowly. No one has been here, or if they have they didn’t find the one thing my father gave me the last birthday he was alive. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I shove my hand inside the gaping hole again and pull the flat leather holster I keep in it. Feeling the bumps of the blades neatly placed inside settles my nerves. The day I step into the Academy is the day I lose everything that was mine. But it’s time Roberti and those hunters face Francesca Drake in her style.
“Ready?” Daren sounds like he is about to faint, so I jump up.
“Yup, let’s go.” Hugging the necklace and the daggers to my chest, I face the mage.
“You look like the cat that ate the canary.” Daren looks at what I’m holding suspiciously. “What’s that?”
“Just some old friends I’d like to introduce to Roberti.” Tucking my free arm around his, I turn us to face the portal. “Now we go to the human realm.”
“I’ll pretend I fainted until you calm the Daywalker.” I burst out laughing when I see his serious face. “Like hell I’m going to deal with Zoltan for you.”
“I got this; you have nothing to worry about.” Still chuckling, I tug him through the portal.
The second I step through, I’m lifted off the ground and Daren drops on the floor unconscious, a black panther holding his neck between razor sharp teeth.
Chapter 12
“Stop!”
My shriek echoes around an open field surrounded on three sides by thick forests, the tall evergreens swaying sharply from the stormy weather. The one side not having trees is actually a humongous house very much like a wooden lodge standing three stories tall and protecting us from the sharp sting of the angry wind. Kicking my feet, I force Zoltan to put me down, although he is not releasing me. With his face twisted in a grimace, the vampire has his furious burning gaze locked on Daren, while I fight with my hair that’s slapping my face.
“I’ll kill him,” Zoltan snarls, and the noise only riles up the panther, who is growling without even a pause to take a breath.
“He only did what I forced him to do, Zoltan.” Yanking on his stiff arm, I try to get his attention. “I had to get this from my apartment.” Waving the leather satchel in his face, I step between him and a still-unconscious Daren. Zoltan moves slightly to the side to keep an eye on the mage, which pisses me off. Since nothing is working, I sigh.
And punch him in the face.
“Francesca.” I almost laugh at the shock in his deep voice, but I choke it down when his eyes narrow at me.
“There you are.” Tugging on my shirt to straighten it up, I beam at him. “As I was saying, I had to take this so he did what I asked.” Zoltan’s gaze flicks to the leather satchel before returning to my face.
Silence stretches between us as thick as molasses, making it hard to breathe. The wind is still slapping my hair all over my face before lifting it around my head in chunks of dancing strands. I can see that Zoltan is fighting to gain control, his chest rising and falling in fast succession as the air whistles through his flared nostrils. Guilt stabs me in the chest since I scared him with my impulsiveness, but I shove it away fast. If I told him what I wanted to do he would’ve never agreed. The knot in my chest loosens when he lifts his hand to my face. Until his fingers brush my neck and he brings them between our faces covered in blood. Shit, I forgot the asshole that almost choked me to death.
“That was not Daren.” I rush to assure the Daywalker, who’s face is darkening in rage every time I blink. “He actually saved me.”
Zoltan snarls.
“Okay I’m screwing this up big time.” Blowing out a breath, my mind whirls with how to explain this without killing Daren in the process.
“It was a hunter,” Daren rasps from behind me and Zoltan’s fangs lengthen again.
“Keep your mouth shut.” Hissing at the mage, I grab Zoltan’s face to keep his attention on me. Then Daren’s words penetrate the fog in my head. “A hunter?”
Whirling around, I lose my balance and Zoltan’s hand latches onto me to stop me from falling. Maybe I should sway drunkenly to stop the Daywalker from attacking the mage. That’s one way to calm the testosterone blasting me from all sides.
“A hunter.” Still with his neck in the panther’s mouth, Daren’s eyes are locked on Zoltan over my shoulder. “A mutated hunter at that.”
“The claws.” A shiver crawls up my spine. “I thought it was a shifter or a demon.”
Zoltan nods at the panther and the shifter releases Daren, stepping away. Rubbing at his neck, the mage pushes off the ground, eyeing me with an expression that makes me gulp air. My friend has never looked at me like that since I’ve known him.
“You are more trouble than you’re worth.” Daren lifts both hands in surrender when the panther bristles and bares his teeth at him. “I’m just saying. I didn’t live this long to die without taking at least some of them with me.”
“How are hunters getting in Sienna without using our portals?” Ignoring his comments, I look at Zoltan over my shoulder. “Are there others that can open portals like Daren?”
“No.” Zoltan glares at the mage. Lo and behold, the one-word wonder is back.
“Yes, there is.” Brushing leaves and dirt off his clothing, Daren walks away from us, heading for the house with a purpose. “I just didn’t know he was still alive.”
“Care to elaborate.” Hurrying after him, I almost trip over the panther when he bumps into my leg and hip. The damn thing is silent death when he moves.
“I know of only one other mage that can open portals the way I do.” Daren throws over his shoulder, reaching for the large entrance door of the house. “My uncle that I was told died long before I was born.”
“So, Solomon is involved with Roberti.” My body trembles at the menace in Zoltan’s words.
“Not necessarily.” Holding the door open for us, Daren waves his hand to hurry us along.
I don’t have the luxury of enjoying the calm feeling Daren’s house blankets us in. I’m aware that the foyer is open and wide with a large staircase curving all the way to the top on one side. Tall ceilings are crisscrossed with wooden beams, carriage wheels holding candles swaying above our heads like chandeliers. Sand-colored tiles cover the floor, and open archways lead to other rooms in the house. The mage guides us deep inside, entering the third open arch to our left.
“From what I know, him and my father never saw eye to eye. They were never close,” Daren continues.
“That doesn’t prove anything.” Zoltan dismisses the explanation without missing a beat.
“Who never saw eye to eye?” Fenrir turns to look at us over the back of the leather couch he is sitting on.
“We have a problem.” Zoltan is not taking chances with me, snatching me by the arm and plopping me on a two seater before squeezing in next to me.
“Well that’s something new. Whatever will we do with an actual problem since we’re not used to dealing with those at all?” Astara chirps, walking through the same entrance we used and carrying a tray with cups along with a steaming pot of what smells like tea. I wrinkle my nose and she laughs. “There is coffee and juice, too. His kitchen is well stocked for someone that doesn’t leave Sienna often.”
“I never said I don’t leave Sienna often.” Daren looks like he doesn’t care that all the males in the room are staring daggers at him. “You assumed, but it seems to me that the time for secrets is long past. We are here and the wards and protections of this place will not let anyone get near without at least alerting me of another presence. Let’s hear what all of us have to say.”
“I’ll feel better if Fenrir does his fancy juju too.” When the Fae arches an eyebrow at my comment, I shoo away his arrogance with a closed fist. “I can’t pronounce the illusion thing, so I’ll just embarrass myself and butcher the shit out of it. Ward us off, please.”
Fenrir tilts his head, reminding me how not human the Fae is, but the fact that he doesn’t take his eyes off my fist a
lmost makes me laugh. His eyes widen slightly, flicking from their usual blue to real black with white pupils, but it happens so fast I’m pretty sure I imagine it. When he finally looks at me, there is something akin to wonder all over his face. He gives me a slow nod.
“As you wish, fuil drágon.” A soft breeze passes across my face as soon as he is done speaking. “We can talk freely.”
I sit back because I’m tired to my bones, listening while the others bring Daren up to speed on everything that has happened since I entered the Academy on my bike until he showed up through the portal. Absentmindedly, my thumb brushes over the stone of the necklace and I catch Fenrir flicking his gaze to it more than once. I wonder if the Fae can sense its presence or not, but that thought is squashed when Zoltan squeezes my thigh. It’s official. I can’t think when he is touching me. My whole body tunes in to his nearness and everything else fades to the background. Even when the mage spits out curses after hearing about the book and the Titans, it’s still just a buzz in my ears.
“Yes, I am aware she is.” Daren’s voice snaps me out of my hormonal daze.
“What?” Looking from him to the others, I squeeze the stone hard enough for it to dig into my palm.
“I knew you are a dragon blood,” Daren tells me like it’s normal for him to know things about me that I had no clue about.
“How?” Pushing the words through clenched teeth, I force my fingers to lessen the pressure on the necklace.
“Your father, of course.” Daren frowns at me. “You knew he used to come to my pub often.”
“Not to discuss me I didn’t.” I’m not sure what angers me more, that he was talking to my father about me or that my father felt comfortable telling Daren what he never told me.
“He was worried about you, Franky.” The mage shifts on his chair like he is uncomfortable. Well good, that makes two of us. “He asked me to keep an eye on you should something happen to him. I think he knew he was going to die.”
Bile rises in the back of my throat. Zoltan gives me a comforting squeeze, but I slap his hand off my thigh. “That’s why you befriended me? So I could let you close enough to keep an eye on me?”
“Wait a second, Franky.” Daren leans forward beseechingly, but I see the guilty look crossing his eyes.
“Don’t you Franky me, you liar. Answer the fucking question.” I push each word through my teeth. “Is. That. Why. We. Became. Friends?” I don’t dare to look at the others. I don’t think I can handle if it I see pity in their eyes.
“I started talking to you because he asked me to. We ARE friends because of you and who you are.” The mage looks insulted, but betrayal is still burning a hole in my chest.
“It doesn’t matter now, does it?” I’ll have a pity party later when I’m alone. There are more important things to worry about. “What I want to know is who has Roberti been dealing with and is all of this somehow connected to my father’s death? People come and go in your pub; you must’ve heard something.”
“Apart from his typical informants, no one else as far as I was aware.” Rubbing at his chin, he stares at the ground. “There were times when him and Aiden would take off up the hill, but whenever I heard anything to indicate he was dealing with the Daywalkers, it didn’t raise any red flags at the time.”
“Aiden.” Spitting my ex partner’s name like a curse, I want to slap myself for not thinking of it sooner. “That weasel will know something.” A humorless laughter bursts out of me. “Of course he will.”
“He is the least of our concerns.” Leo cracks his knuckles. “I’ll pay him a visit as soon as we get back. He’ll sing like a bird if he knows anything.”
“You are certain that your uncle is dead?” Zoltan doesn’t get sidetracked. The Daywalker is still dwelling on the gateway opening. “And you are the only other mage that can open a portal?”
“From what I know, yes.” Daren squints at Zoltan. “I have no reason to lie to you Daywalker. I want to protect Sienna as much as you do.”
“Sienna is the least of my worries.” I jerk back from Zoltan and his words. He turns that penetrating gaze my way, nailing me in place. “Hear me now Francesca, and let them hear it too. If one hair is displaced from your head, the realms will be too small of a place for any of them.”
The air entering my lungs is filled with some sort of expectancy. The rest of the people fade away and I sink into his too-blue gaze, which is promising things Zoltan has no right to offer. Tears prickle the corners of my eyes, but I force myself to blink them away because I will never let him see what those words mean to me. At least the dream they paint because the reality is very different. Not even the stubborn vampire can change the course of nature or the way our world functions, no matter how much both of us wish he could.
“How romantic,” Astara gushes with her hands folded at her chest, breaking the snare I was in.
“Before we see what Aiden knows we might as well get my mother back.” Pulling the leather satchel closer, I pet it fondly while changing the subject. “My daggers haven’t seen action in a while, and I’d like to take them for a ride.”
“That can be arranged.” Daren jumps to his feet. “It’s been a while since I have seen action too. It’s time to brush off the rust.”
“Just don’t get yourself killed.” When he smiles at me fondly, a sharp pang stabs me between the ribs. “We need the portals, but don’t think I care too much about what happens to you after your treachery.”
Daren grabs his chest dramatically as if I just stabbed him in the heart. Astara snickers and I can’t stop myself from smiling for a split second. Lifting my hand to rub my forehead, the necklace slips through my fingers, the stone dangling in the air in front of my face. There is a collective sharp intake of breath.
“Serpentine,” Fenrir says so reverently a shiver like a premonition crawls up my back.
Hopefully it’s not a bad omen.
Chapter 13
“We need to talk, Francesca.” My hand pauses mid reach when Zoltan’s voice drifts to me from the door in the kitchen.
“No sense of personal space and no care when someone asks for privacy when they need to think about things on their own.” I snatch the glass out of the kitchen cabinet, slapping it closed. “You are quite the catch. I have no idea how any female resisted you until now.”
“Avoiding me will not solve anything.” Stubbornly, he leans his shoulder on the arched entrance, his arms folded like a shield in front of him. “What is it that spooked you so much? It’s not the hunters for sure.” There is a playful smirk on his lips, but his gaze is burning a hole in me.
“I’m not spooked,” I lie shamelessly, avoiding looking straight at him. “We don’t have time to worry about trivial things when everything is up in the air. Yes, we stopped Roberti from getting his greedy hands on the book, but I doubt that will stop him from bringing the Titans out. When that happens, the hunters will be the least of our worry.”
“How do you do it?” The genuine curiosity in his deep voice snaps my gaze to his face. “This”—He waves a hand encompassing my person—“pushing your personal life aside while going head-first into danger just to pretend it doesn’t exist.”
Sticky orange juice slushes over my hand when I overfill the glass, but I’m too stunned to notice because of the accuracy of his observation. Spitting obscenities under my breath, I grab a towel to blot it out of the counter. My body stiffens when he comes behind me, his hand closing over mine and stopping my frantic swiping.
“I don’t want you to run from me.” Zoltan presses closer, murmuring the words in my hair when he nuzzles me. “I won’t let you.” My knees wobble when he nips my ear.
“You think everything is about you.” Steeling my spine, I stomp on the stupid butterflies fluttering in my stomach until all of them are turned into a pulp. It’s for the best, I tell myself. “It never occurred to you that all I wanted was to scratch an itch and move on.”
Something inside me dies when he turns into g
ranite behind me.
“Scratch an itch?” Pulling away, his words come out so slow that each letter is like a dagger sinking in my heart. “That’s what this is?”
“Was.” My voice is calm and steady. unlike the screaming inside my head. “What this was, Zoltan.”
Curling his fingers under my chin, he forcefully turns me to face him, holding my face so that I have no choice but to look him in the eye. I expect him to crush my jaw at any moment the way those digits are flexing. Determined to do the best performance of my life, I keep my eyes steady on his. Inside, though, every breath I take is killing me a little more.
“I am not a quick fuck to you.” His gaze flicks on mine, searching, probing.
“You are one of the hottest males I have seen in my life. Why is it so strange to you that I would want to jump your bones?” Please just leave so I can die in peace, my mind screams desperately.
“You are a liar, Francesca.” He flicks my face to the side, taking a step back. “If this is what you want, who am I to deny you?”
Sliding to the side on the kitchen counter, I don’t turn to look at him again because I’m too afraid I’ll start crying and apologizing for saying those words. My body is already missing the feeling of him being close to me. He stands there, the weight of his gaze like a noose around my neck, but I turn to the tall windows and stare unseeing at the forest beyond the clearing. It’s early night in the human realm, not dark yet not light enough to see past the first row of trees in the distance.
“What time will we be leaving in search of my mother?” My voice sounds like a stranger’s to my own ears. Who is this person that sounds so collected and unfazed by ripping her own heart out? When he doesn’t answer, I glance at him over my shoulder.
