by Morgan Fox
Zane glared at her, his eyes flickering with pride. “I’m glad to see you can take care of yourself,” he told her with a smirk. He cocked his head to the side indicating Dominic, Megan, Reyes, Ryken, and Luken. “We thought you could use some help.”
Before she could stop herself, her lips were pressed solidly against Zane’s. His warm touch was more welcome than the sun’s. Gently she eased back, meeting his gaze. “Thank you.”
“My pleasure.”
Sighing softly, she regained her focus, turning back toward the vampires. Lightning flashed over head as her body heated, the power inside her erupted like a volcano of energy, oozing out from every pore.
Zane stepped back. “Holy shit! Is that you?” His eyes were as wide as silver dollars.
Tiffany nodded. The power that raced through her veins was euphoric and didn’t frighten her in the least. In fact, it did just the opposite. It was addictive.
“I could really get use to this,” she said, licking her lips.
Easy, Brie breathed into her mind. Don’t get ahead of yourself. Her voice sounded faint. I won’t be able to help you. I’m not strong enough right now. Focus your energy on Lilly. Get her away from the vampires. Dominic and the others will take them out.
“Okay,” she said aloud. “I wish you were with me to do this.”
I’m here. Brie’s voice was but a whisper.
Tiffany knew she would be stronger with Brie at her side. She also knew Brie was the one who held the greater power, but Brie was unable to help, so that left it all up to her.
Zane squeezed her hand. “You can do this, Tiffany. I believe in you.”
Truth was she really needed to hear him say that. Having Zane have faith in her meant more to her than she ever realized. For years, she struggled to conceive that she was anything but a timid, ordinary witch. Never in a million years had she expected to be so much more.
“Get her,” Lilly cried as the first row of vampires rushed toward them.
At the sound of Lilly’s vile, screeching voice, Zane tensed at her side. Dominic, Megan, Reyes, Ryken, and Luken fanned out to take position.
A crack of thunder echoed from behind her, but it wasn’t the sky opening up from above. It was the sound of a feral beast snarling, launching his way toward Lilly.
Like a missile, Sebastian charged a dozen vampires alone. His mind had gone wild, judging from the way he slashed and tore through the bloodsuckers. He didn’t seem capable of stopping. His need was obvious. He wanted his child returned.
Following close behind was Jonah. Both men were now fully transformed. Each one punching, slicing, and biting through every vampire they confronted. Without hesitation, Dominic and the others set toward the same path, morphing into their werewolf forms and joining the fight. Wave after wave of vampires scurried like rats toward them. Zane lingered close to Tiffany, and she knew he was struggling to separate from her.
“Zane, you need to help the others.” She took hold of his hand, pulling it to her chest. “I’ll be okay. I promise.”
After a long moment, Zane nodded and changed into the wolf right before her eyes. As the man she loved shredded himself into the beast, her body hummed with longing and need. His power and strength turned her inside out, consuming her soul with a desire to fight.
Tiffany locked gazes with Lilly, who now stood atop of a solid brick wall, making her appear larger than life. The white cinder block wall fenced in a row of homes to their backs. The vampire queen clearly had an eagle-eyed view of the battle practically unfolding at her feet. Lilly’s godlike need was starting to irritate Tiffany. The bitch just didn’t know when to back down.
In warning, Tiffany’s skin began to prickle along the back of her neck. Immediately twisting about, she raised her hand and sent a bolt of light from her palm, igniting the sneaky vampire into a sold ball of flames. The others that had tried to come up behind her were not as interested as they witnessed her power. The rush had her itching to do it again.
Now that’s more like it.
Tiffany placed both hands directly in front of her and released the magic building inside her. The angrier she got, the more power she produced. Her concentration never wavered.
As Tiffany watched the vampires erupt into fire, she wondered just how powerful she’d be with Brie at her side. Surely, the two of them together would be unstoppable. Now that Tiffany had come into her own magic, she wouldn’t drain of power like she had once before. Now she was every bit as strong as her sister.
Turning about to seek out Lilly, Tiffany gasped. The vampire queen was gone. Her minions still fought for her. More and more of them charged over the hillside toward them, looking like a marching army of red ants as they drew near.
Without a moment to waste, Tiffany ran in the direction she’d last seen Lilly and prayed she wasn’t too late. She couldn’t let her escape again. This game they played had to end.
Reaching the spot where Lilly had last been standing, Tiffany came to an abrupt stop. Her eyes darted in every direction. Up and down the hillside, along the riverfront, up and down the tall, towering trees, and along the houses that were unfortunate enough to border the river.
Nothing.
Lilly had vanished.
Again.
Lilly had given Tiffany the slip, and there was no sign of her. No track to trace, no scent to follow. She simply disappeared.
Then as if struck by a wrecking ball, Tiffany was uprooted from her feet and forced down onto the ground. Her body slammed down with a force that robbed the air from her lungs. White stars erupted from behind her eyes. Her head pounded from the hard contact. The wicked taste of copper filled her mouth.
Tiffany rolled to the side to see what had knocked her to the ground. Lilly hovered over Tiffany like a smothering blanket, ready to steal the life from her body. The vampire queen glared down at her, slowly dusting off the dirt that covered her from head to toe.
She’d hidden underground, buried herself in the perfect hiding place. Had Lilly known that that was the place they would square off? Were there other surprises Tiffany was about to discover?
Narrowing her eyes, Tiffany quickly pushed to her feet, furious that the vampire queen had gotten the drop on her. Not that Tiffany was now an expert warrior, but she did expect to hold her ground a little better. Falling flat on her ass had not been the plan.
“You busted my lip,” Tiffany said angrily, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.
Lilly possessed a violent gleam in her eyes. “That’s not all I’m about to do.”
Then something Tiffany hadn’t expected occurred. Lilly raised her hands and blasted Tiffany with a jolt of energy. The same kind of energy, magic, that she had harnessed. Stunned, Tiffany couldn’t believe what she saw. Lilly had powers. She had magic. How was that possible?
Lilly laughed, sounding pleased with herself.
Tiffany was up again. Instantly fighting back, blasting beams of energy at Lilly. The ground around them shook like an earthquake as Tiffany and Lilly’s magic connected. The world around them seemed to be exploding. Wild winds whipped and danced in a vortex of power. Hundred-foot trees bent from the sheer force. The flicker of blue and white beams ignited from their hands, neither one giving an inch. The weight of the magic sent from Lilly felt like Brie’s.
Tiffany cringed. The magical energy flowing out of Lilly was different from that of Brie, but at the same time uncannily similar. Something felt so incredibly wrong.
Choked by the sensations, Tiffany couldn’t shake the feeling that Lilly had done something to Brie’s child. Had she robbed Brie’s child of the magic it possessed? Had she figured out a way to harness the same type of power she did?
Tiffany’s hands burned from the power blasting out of her. She wasn’t ready for all this. She was basically fighting herself, and there was no way to win. Something had to change. She needed a distraction.
Then Tiffany got one, but not the one she was hoping for. Once again, Tiffany was forced to th
e ground, but this time it was the heavy weight of a snarling vampire that had forced her down. His fangs dug into the flesh of her hand, and she screamed as the burning sensation rushed up her arm.
Before the vampire could draw blood from her, it was suddenly ripped from her. Zane’s powerful hands gripped hold of its neck and twisted. The snapping sound left Tiffany wincing. Her wounded hand dripped with blood, and the scent drew in several more vampires. Resisting Zane’s attempts to move her, Tiffany’s gaze shot to Lilly, who simply smirked and with a blink of an eye was gone.
“We need to get you out of here before the vampires find you even more delicious than I do,” Zane said, helping her to her feet.
“Wait,” Tiffany said, raising her good hand, and like a laser beam, sent a pure ray of light from her hand that eradicated any vampire within a fifty-foot radius. “Now we can go.”
Most of the vampires were now retreating, as if given an order to do so from Lilly herself. Those that lingered quickly met their end at the hands of Sebastian, Jonah, Dominic, Megan, Reyes, Ryken, Luken, and the rising sun.
Tiffany glanced down at Zane and realized he was naked as the day he was born. A warm heat filled her cheeks. “You need some clothes,” she told him, not because she wanted to hide his gorgeous body, but because her parents were making their way toward them, cradling Brie. With a click of her fingers, Zane was wearing low hip-hugging jeans. “That should do it.”
“Thanks,” he said. “You could use a bandage.”
But before she even had a chance to conjure one up, her mother took hold of her hand and healed her. Tiffany smiled at her mother, silently thanking her. Glancing at her father, she was still unsure of what to make of him, but watching him comfort Brie had her wanting to get to know him.
We have time. Her father’s voice was like a bass drum inside her head. We have all the time in the world.
Tiffany nodded, hoping that he was right.
“You?” Zane breathed, staring at Tiffany’s mother curiously.
“Hello, Zane. I see you took my advice and became a doctor.”
“You were the woman who sent me on my path.”
She smiled. “I simply shared a direction you could take. The choice had always been yours.”
Tiffany and Zane locked eyes. Had he chosen a different path, they never would’ve found each other. More pieces of her life’s puzzle seemed to fit together.
“I think I chose well,” Zane said softly, squeezing Tiffany’s hand.
Tiffany wondered what other little details of her life had been planned out. Did her mother have any other secrets she’d like to share with her? She’d ask her later. Right now she wouldn’t think of anything else but Ryder and the baby.
Lilly was still out there. Tiffany prayed she would see Ryder again soon, and when she did, he’d be bringing back Brie’s baby.
* * * *
Ryder stepped from behind a white van and directly into Bianca’s path. Her face immediately paled when her eyes met his. His fists tightened as he heard the soft whimper coming from the newborn baby.
“Give me the child.” Ryder’s eyes were sharp and heated like missiles chasing down their target.
Bianca froze, her eyes rounding. “I never meant for this to happen,” she said, taking a step back.
“I don’t give a shit,” he said with a growl. “Now give me the child.” He stepped toward her.
“If I do, you’ll have me killed.”
“You’re damn right I will.”
Bianca audibly swallowed, licking her lips nervously. Her breathing was shallow. “You may never believe me, Ryder, but I would never have let Lilly hurt this baby. I was trying to stop her.”
Ryder held his position, stunned by her words. “Who are you trying to fool, Bianca?” He glared at her. “You’ve done nothing but deceive me, and you’re now standing between me and that child.” Ryder pointed at the bundle in her arms and let his hand fall hard at his side. “Why would you think I would believe anything you say?”
Bianca’s eyes watered as she swallowed hard enough for him to hear. She moved forward, closing the distance between them. She handed the baby to him and stood with her eyes fixed on his. “If you want to kill me…do it. For the way you think of me, I deserve no less.”
Ryder held the sweet baby girl in his arms. Her crystal-blue eyes sparkled up at him. Thick, dark hair covered her precious little head. Her fragile body was unharmed.
His heart hammered in his chest as he realized he would’ve done anything to save the child that meant so much to his friends and to the woman in his charge. Then he realized that Bianca still lingered in front of him. She hadn’t run, hadn’t taken advantage of his occupied arms and mind. She waited for him to strike her down.
But he wouldn’t.
At least not yet.
“Bianca.” He said her name harshly and her eyes sprung open wide. “Remove yourself from my sight, but know this.” Holding the baby in one arm, he gripped Bianca’s bicep and squeezed. “I’ll be coming for you.” His gaze bore down, slamming against her with a force he hoped proved just how serious he was. He wouldn’t rest until she paid for what she’d done.
But now was not the time. He needed to get the child back to Sebastian and Brie.
Besides, there was a certain level of satisfaction at letting her sweat, wondering if the eerie sounds that echoed through the night were him coming for her. She’d never have another restful night’s sleep as he tormented her thoughts, slipping from the shadows of her mind. He was the best of trackers, and that fact alone would have her sitting on pins and needles until he found her.
Slowly, she eased back, slipping behind the branches of the trees that hung low. A flicker of sunlight danced over her shiny, raven-black hair. Her ruby-red lips quivered slightly. In her eyes he could see the churning of emotions, sadness, longing, fear, and regret.
Then she vanished from his sight.
Ryder quickly moved in the direction of the others. He knew Brie and Sebastian would want their baby girl back as soon as possible.
A girl.
He sighed hard, now realizing the sex of the infant. He hadn’t given himself a chance to think of anything other than getting the child away from Bianca. A flutter of joy and fear shot through him like a bullet.
Brie must be going mad with worry.
His feet were suddenly moving even faster.
Ryder was surprised at how easy it was to connect with the worried parents. Brie and Sebastian hadn’t even had a moment to enjoy their bundle when Lilly had absconded with her. Ryder had suddenly wondered what he would’ve done if his own child had been abducted.
If I had one…
“Oh God,” he heard Brie shout as he made his way back to the field. She rushed to him, the wince of pain and discomfort on her face, but masked by her need to hold her baby.
Sebastian raced to Ryder, his image a blur as he helped his wife collect their child. For a moment, Ryder felt awkward as if he were intruding on the now happy and relieved couple. As he handed the baby over to them, he stepped back, giving them space.
As if sensing Ryder’s retreat, Sebastian reached out and placed his hand on Ryder’s shoulder. “I’ll never be able to thank you enough,” he said, tears welling in his dark eyes.
“There is no need. It’s what friends do for each other.”
“Thank you, Ryder. You truly are a friend.” Sebastian reached his hand out and Ryder took it, shaking it firmly. “If there’s anything you need, you only need to ask.”
Ryder nodded. “There is one thing,” he said without hesitation.
“Name it.”
“I want to be the one who brings in Bianca,” Ryder said, his tone stern and filled with a need he knew Sebastian understood.
Sebastian’s eyes narrowed, and his eyes flickered with concern. “I’ll give you a month. After that I’m sending in backup. That bitch will pay for what she and Lilly have done.”
He swallowed hard, knowing he was askin
g a lot of the lycan leader. He knew Sebastian would want revenge, and a month was more than he’d hoped for. “Fair enough,” he replied.
Ryder turned, but before he could flee in search of Bianca, he sensed Tiffany coming up on his left. He held his position. He couldn’t fight the slight smile her sweet aura always seemed to force upon him.
“Were you just going to leave without saying good-bye?”
He faced her, his eyes shifting up to see Zane lingering a few feet behind her.
Always the protective mate.
She would be safe with Zane. He knew that much.
“I’m leaving you in good hands,” he replied, returning to meet her gaze. “I think you might like a little private time anyway…to catch up.” Ryder winked.
Tiffany smiled. “When will you be back?”
“As soon as I capture or kill Bianca,” he said matter-of-factly.
“Are you sure you can do it? She is after all the woman—”
Ryder cut her off. His heart was cold where Bianca was concerned. “She was once my childhood love, but no more. She’s been dead to me for years. I have no feelings for her, and what she did to Sebastian and your sister is unforgiveable. She chose to align with our enemy. That was her choice.”
Tiffany nodded. Her expression was blank.
Ryder cupped her face in his hands. “I’ll check in soon. Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.” He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. “Now, go to your mate and make little witch puppies.” He grinned, knowing she’d blush fifteen shades of red.
A wave of sadness settled deep within him. He didn’t want to leave her, the feeling nearly impossible, but he knew he must. He assured himself she’d be safe with Zane and the others. She was also a powerful witch and now had a family to guide her.
He brushed his thumb over her cheek. “If your children are anything like either of you, they will be amazing.”
Tiffany’s eyes watered, and with one more sweep of his thumb over her cheek, he turned and walked away, not looking back.
Chapter Fifteen
Tiffany’s heart exploded with panic and fear. The council members all glared at her in accusatory glances. She was as anxious as if she sat in front of them naked. She twisted her hands in her lap, the palms sticky with sweat. Her mother and father sat at the table with the other councilmen each whispering and staring. She was going to scream if someone didn’t speak up soon.
