He hears her words feeling the truth in them as he leaves the shop and gets into the jeep. The sun dips lower in the sky. His pocket watch ticks away the moments he’s been apart from Mila and now more than ever the inscription has an intense meaning.
He has to bide his time, wait for nightfall to go to her when he will have less of a risk of being seen. The egg has provided a link to Mila, he can feel that she’s afraid, but that she’s safe for the moment.
“Sit tight my love, I’m coming for you.” Grey whispers.
“I know.” he hears her voice in his head.
Grey pulls into the driveway of his Garden District home and bolts through the front door nearly crashing into the caretaker, “Penny!”
Penny steadies the wine glass filled halfway with blood, “Professor Hart, are you okay?”
“No.” Grey scratches his head momentarily, “How did you know I was coming?”
“A little birdie told me.” She motions to a small yellow bird sitting on the inside of the window sill by the door.
Grey studies the bird and makes the connection, “Vivienne?”
“Yes, she had a message for you as well,” Penny says offering the glass again.
“I don’t need that.” He waves it away, “What did she say?”
Penny turns and walks toward the kitchen, “She said I need to remind you to drink.”
“I don’t need to feed.” Grey snaps. “Was that all she said?”
“Her message was quite cryptic.” Penny places the tray on the kitchen counter.
“She said something about the origin being last seen in the Lower Ninth Ward.”
Grey thinks for a moment, certain that Mila isn’t there. “That’s all she said?”
“Yes. That was it.” Penny says washing and drying her hands. “Can I get you anything?”
Grey slams his fist on the granite counter top. “Damn it, you witches and your vague messages.”
Penny startles back a bit, “Don’t kill the messenger.”
Grey looks down the hallway, rage is taking him over again from the pain of being away from Mila. The little yellow bird sings a sweet song that’s raking away at Grey’s last nerve.
“Professor Hart.” Penny scolds moving down the hallway to let the bird out of the house.
“I’m sorry, I’m just on edge.” He starts for the master bedroom. “I’m going to get cleaned up. I’ll be leaving tonight.”
He takes each step slowly running the words through his mind on repeat. The lower Ninth Ward, why would she want me to go there? There has to be some reason for that.
He catches a whiff of a scent in the air, “Wolves.” He rolls his eyes splitting the blinds with his fingers to peer out. Across the street two men are leaning against a lamp post. “As I thought.”
He gets dressed and goes back to the kitchen where Penny is cooking something on the stove. “What is that?” Grey asks finding the aroma of human food unappealing. The eggs still wrestling in his stomach remind him of their presence.
“Well, dinner of course.” Penny says, “I wanted to be sure we’d have food for your guests.”
“Guests?” Grey searches his thoughts. “I’m not having guests.”
“Vivienne said you were having your future in-laws over.” Penny says in a confused tone, she looks up as though the clarification is in the air, “Or maybe she said something about outlaws.” Penny shrugs, “Either way, she said I should prepare dinner.”
Grey squeezes his eyes shut in frustration taking a moment to think, was there more to the message? “Did she tell you what to prepare?”
“Why yes, she said I should make lycan stew. That your mate and her mother would enjoy it when you brought them back.” Penny pumps her brow, “I have to say, I’m tickled to meet your new mate.”
“Her mother.” Grey says it on a breath, “That’s it.” He takes his jacket and slides it on quickly heading for the back door and stops, “Penny?”
“Yes Professor Hart?” She says with a pleasant shrill.
“What’s in lycan stew?” he turns looking at her over his shoulder.
“You leave that to me, dear.” She smiles, “Now, be off with you, we both have work to do.”
Grey slips out the back door thinking to himself that he should never forget how vicious Penny can be. She’s an old witch, with many tricks up her sleeve.
Chapter Twenty-One
Mila shivers in the cold, damp crypt she’s found safety in. She wants to move around but is terrified of being discovered. Grey is coming for her, of that she’s certain. She jumps at every sound outside the crypt, it’s worse now that darkness has fallen and the birds have stopped singing.
Comfort covers her at the thought of Grey not questioning her innocence. She worries about being able to prove it, and it doesn’t solve the mystery of who’s doing the killing. She knows so little of this world, but the killings definitely sound like the doing of a blood fairy.
Mila freezes when she hears the sound of footsteps coming into the crypt. She remains completely still watching the shadow of a figure enter the room.
A flash of red fills her with dread, it’s not Grey. It’s a blood fairy. Her father’s men have found her.
“Mila, my love.” Elomere’s voice echoes against the stone walls of the crypt.
She sucks in a breath, unable to phase away from him as it will leave a trail that blood fairies can detect. She doesn’t want to fight him, since that will mean killing him.
Another scent is on the air catches her attention, it’s only faintly familiar.
Elomere calls out to her again, “I know you’re in here, I can smell your delicious scent.”
Her skin crawls at the thought of him knowing her so intimately. His footsteps draw closer until his legs come into her view as he stops in front of the niche she’s folded herself into.
Mila slows her breathing and tries to calm her bloodlust, remaining still as Elomere continues to speak. “Come now my betrothed, I know we’ve gotten off to a bad start. But it’s time we had a new beginning. I want to take you home and we can begin our mating, you will be the mother of my first-born children. You can fulfil your destiny as my primary.”
The thought of him touching her, of having his children tugs at her stomach in the worst way. Grey is the only man she ever wants touching her.
“I’ve already forgiven you for your indiscretion with the vampire. I understand you’re young and you wanted to sow your wild oats. But even his friends know that you can’t be together. You can’t stay here, I’ve made sure of it now. If you come out and come home with me, I may even spare your vampire lover.”
Mila can no longer contain herself at the threat of him hurting Grey. She phases out of the niche and appears in front of him, her eyes glowing white. “I will not be yours.”
She draws her power and launches Elomere against the back wall of the crypt.
Elomere recovers with a slight laugh, “Mila, my darling. Please, let’s not quarrel.”
“I’m not going back with you. I’d rather die here than go back to the Underworld alive with you.” She slams him against the wall again.
“You can’t stay.” He grits through his teeth.
“I can, Grey will see to it!” She puffs her chest out, her anger growing by the second.
“Grey can’t erase the bodies The Directive has found, and all of them lead right to you.” He says with an oily grin.
“You killed those people?” Remorse floods her at the thought of all the innocent people that died. “This is why I don’t want to be with you. You have no heart or compassion. You don’t care if I’m happy, you only want the power that comes with being my primary mate.”
“You’re correct, which is why your father knows I’m a suitable mate for his first daughter. He knows I’m the only one that can tame you, bring you back around to our traditions.” Mila notices his subtle movement toward her, she knows better than to allow him to get too close.
She raises h
er hands and pushes him back into the wall. Something unknown stirs in her, an intense power flowing. “I’ll never be yours.” She vollies the magic toward him. A ball of light travels across the crypt hitting Elomere square in the chest. His body freezes turning to glass.
Mila studies her hands wondering where that came from. How did she do that? She approaches Elomere looking at his pained expression frozen in place. She senses he can still hear her. “Goodbye Elomere.”
She starts up the stairs to leave, but there’s a familiar, but unpleasing scent is getting stronger. “Wolves.” She whispers. She phases out of the crypt, behind the wolves. There are three standing outside, all in wolf form. She phases out again to put more distance between them.
She can feel Grey drawing closer to her and remains quiet hoping he can hear her thoughts. Warning him of the danger all around her. Wolves, vampires and other blood fairies lurking in the trees. Mila stands in the shadows from the street lights. Two arms wrap around her holding her in place.
She struggles against them, “Hold still, I’m trying to keep you safe.”
“Let me go,” She bucks against him wriggling away. She turns to see the vampire from Vivienne’s shop.
He whispers over his shoulder, “Hera, get her home.”
Hera steps into the light, “Come on Mila, it’s time.”
“Hera?” Mila chokes it out.
“Yes, you’ve created enough problems.” Hera stands next to Mila.
“I can’t leave.” Mila tries to move away from Hera.
“You have to. Your father wants you home.” Hera insists waving her arms. “There’s a portal nearby, let’s go.”
“No, I won’t leave Grey.” Mila tries not to sound small.
The vampire approaches her with an angry stare, “I’m allowing you to go home as a courtesy to Grey. Otherwise I’d haul you off to The Directive to be held accountable for what you’ve done.”
“I haven’t done anything.” Mila cries out, “Grey! I’m here!”
Clarence puts his hand over her mouth, “I’m trying to help you.”
Mila can’t speak, but this doesn’t feel like help. She calls out to Grey in her mind hoping he can find her in time.
“I’m going to release you to go home. You will be safe there, you are not safe here. This is your only chance, I suggest you take it.” The vampire says with a penetrating gaze. She finds herself only wanting to comply with him.
“I didn’t hurt anyone,” Mila says quietly walking to Hera’s side.
“You murdered several people, I’d say that’s enough for me to know you need to go home.” he says as his voice softens, “I know it’s in your nature and you can’t help it. We will see if Grey will be allowed to follow you to the Underworld, but he has to answer for what he’s done as well.”
“Please don’t hurt him.” Mila turns in a panic toward the vampire.
“I have a great deal of respect for Grey Hart.” The vampire says. “I will do all I can for him, if you agree go home now.”
Mila complies as the only way to protect Grey. In her mind she calls out to him again, “I will find you Grey, I will come back for you.”
The werewolf from Atlanta runs up to the vampire shifting into human form. “Clarence. She didn’t do it.”
Hera grabs Mila’s arm and drags her through the portal. Mila fights trying to get away, but she can’t. Once on the other side Hera closes the portal and drags her out of Cerberus’ reach, “I’m sorry. But it was the right thing to do.” She walks away.
Mila drops to her knees sobbing. She feels as though her insides are shriveling to nothing. She longs for Grey’s touch, his voice, his body to be near her, but fears she will never see him again.
She gazes upon Cerberus standing guard in the center of the circle of portals.
Mila studies each of the portals, she knows her mother found a way to master them, long before she should have been able to. She’s going to learn how too if only to get back to Grey.
Chapter Twenty-Two
“Mila!” Grey bellows across the street as he sees her disappear into the portal. He uses his vampire speed to reach her, but he’s too late. The portal closes, and he feels his sanity slipping away.
“What the fuck Clarence!” Grey approaches Clarence.
“Don’t make this worse. I’ve been very patient and did this for you. She is safe from The Directive now.” Clarence says in a stoic tone.
“But what about the one in the crypt?” Vash says pointing back toward the crypt.
“There’s another one?” Clarence’s tone is full of irritation.
“Yes, she didn’t commit the murders.” Vash widens his eyes. “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you.”
Grey paces in front of where the portal was, running his hands through his hair. His anger brews hot and will soon be out of control. He should have come for her sooner, but he thought she was safe. He promised her she’d be safe and now she’s gone.
“Is he being held?” Clarence demands.
“He’s not going anywhere,” Vash says with a smile. “She turned him to...glass.”
“Glass?” Clarence asks.
“Yeah,” Vash starts toward the crypt.
“Elomere,” Grey hisses and dashes to the crypt. Clarence keeps up with him.
“Grey,” Clarence says with warning. “Let me handle this.”
“He’s the reason she’s gone,” Grey growls.
“No, she’s gone because it’s forbidden for her to be here.” Clarence walks down into the crypt and circles Elomere’s glass form. “Curious.”
Grey’s fists are balled at his sides, his heart is pounding, and his jaw pops with tension. “I want to smash him to bits.”
Clarence puts his hand across Grey’s chest. “Hold on a moment. This is not the work of a blood fairy.”
“I didn’t think so, but I saw her do it.” Vash says admiring her work, “I wish I had this power.”
“Yes, curious indeed.” Clarence taps his finger to his chin in contemplation.
Grey is pushing back the madness. He wants to destroy everything in his wake.
“Grey, you need to get hold of yourself.” Clarence puts his hand on Grey’s back.
Grey’s eyes darken with a seriousness that Clarence has seen in him before, “This is as close to controlled as I may ever be again.”
Clarence remains silent, he has no words to soothe Grey’s pain.
Grey tries to right himself, think straight. What if she’s not a blood fairy? He thinks trying to work it out.
Her mother, I have to find her mother. Grey turns to leave.
“Where are you going?” Clarence stops Grey in his tracks.
“I’m going home.” He says with conviction.
“Home?”
“Yes. If I stay here one more moment, I don’t give a fuck what you say, I’ll smash that son of a bitch to bits.” He stops before heading up the steps, “Honestly, I want him to be aware when I destroy him.”
“That’s not going to happen,” Vash says defensively. “We have to get him to the home office, where he will be dealt with.”
Grey approaches Vash, rational thoughts and actions slipping away. “If I have to go through a thousand wolves to be the one who kills him, I will.”
“Go home, Grey. We will be in touch, be available.” Clarence warns him.
Vash snarls at Grey, “I would be careful getting home.”
“I don’t have to be.” Grey starts up the stairs in disgust. He knows there’s not much more control left in him and he needs to leave before he tears Vash to pieces.
Grey walks at a normal pace to the car contemplating everything, but mostly obsessing on howto get Mila back, or get to the Underworld.
He drives uncharacteristically slow, hoping that a solution will cross his path. There’s a car in the drive in front of his home, his insides tense as he gets out of the car, “Charles.”
“Hey there Grey.” Charles comes out of the shadows
on the front porch. “I hear you’re having a hell of a time.”
“Get off my porch, Charles,” Grey growls and goes into the house slamming the door behind him.
“Did you bring guests?” Penny asks cheerfully.
“Yeah, Charles is on the front porch.” Grey stalks up the stairs and into his bedroom.
Charles follows him up the stairs, “So you found yourself a blood fairy? Bad luck, mate.”
“There are a lot of people that will be having bad luck, but I’m not one of them. I will find her.” Grey promises. “And I’ll bring her back.”
“That’s a pretty tall claim, there are very few who can open portals to the underworld. Unless you want to go the old fashioned way.”
“If I have to, I will,” Grey says sitting up.
“That’s no way to be thinking.” Charles says in a soothing tone, “You’re going to get this worked out.”
Grey ignores him, he came home because he wants to destroy everything in his path. He feels as though The Directive has tied his hands in all ways and he just wants her back. “Charles, she’s my Bloodmate. I’m going to go insane without her. I’m going to do bad things.” he admits with a deadly seriousness.
“Bloodmate? That’s just a myth.” Charles laughs.
“It’s not a myth.” Grey shakes his head. “I can’t think straight without her. I know how I felt once I caught her scent, and I can only imagine what I’m going to do now, knowing that she too is in pain.”
Charles takes Grey into his arms like a loving father, “I will help you through this.”
“I don’t think you can,” Grey says falling deeper into anger and despair.
“I’ll talk to Clarence to see if there’s anything we can do. In the meantime, I’ll put some feelers out for someone that can open a portal.”
“You would do that?” Grey says astonished at Charles showing any compassion.
“Yes, I made you, you are my progeny, and I love you as such. I’ll do what I can. But for tonight. You need to sit tight.”
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