by Lexi C. Foss
Because she was mine to protect and I’d failed her.
I leaned in to press my face to her neck, my wrist against her snout, and I forgot about everyone in the room, the growls, the watching vampires, the waiting lycans, and focused only on Willow.
You weren’t supposed to leave me yet, I told her. I wasn’t done. We weren’t done.
She, of course, didn’t reply, but that wasn’t the point. I had to say these things, to make her understand, even in the afterlife, that she was cared for by at least me. As short as our time together was, I’d tried.
The world dealt her a cruel hand.
It wasn’t deserved.
The Blood Alliance had created this depraved, cold existence. It had to end. There had to be another way to coexist, one where we respected our food and didn’t torment them in this nature.
I vowed to her silently that I would avenge her, that I would find the wolves who did this and end them.
Then I would dismantle the alliance.
Those assholes allowed this debauchery to exist. They thrived on it. And I was done playing their fucked-up game. Lilith wanted me to behave. Well, I would show her a behavior that made my previous actions appear angelic.
I growled with the need for vengeance, my hands tightening into fists. I wanted to rant and rage and destroy.
This fucking world would go down in—
Everything stopped, my senses going on high alert. I’d heard the faintest hint of something. Had I imagined it? Was I losing my mind?
I waited.
And waited.
And then I froze all over again at the subtle beat.
I lifted to stare down at Willow, my wrist still by her snout.
Another minute passed.
Then I jolted as her tongue snaked out to lick my skin. The touch was followed by a wheeze as her lungs filled again, her immortality kicking in to repair any internal damage.
“Willow,” I whispered.
She didn’t reply, but her heart kicked off with another beat, and then another, and then more.
“She’s alive,” I marveled, stroking my fingers through her fur. Only then did I realize the room had gone silent around me, everyone having taken a few steps back to observe. I didn’t bother to ask why. I didn’t care. “She’s alive,” I repeated, my soul feeling whole once more.
How someone could impact me so strongly in so little time, I would never understand. Perhaps she just arrived at the right time, providing me with the mental outlet I didn’t know I needed.
However, now we would have time to figure it out. To move forward.
I won’t let anyone hurt you, I vowed, my desire to destroy the alliance still standing stern in my mind. You’re mine, sweet pet. My Willow.
She licked my wrist as though she heard me, and I chose to think of it as her claiming me in return.
“Do you realize what she is?” Jace asked, breaking the silence and drawing me out of my relieved state.
Rather than answer, I just looked at him, uncertain why he chose now to speak up. I arched a brow, the only indication he was going to receive that I’d heard him and that I was waiting for a follow-up comment.
“Ryder, you and Edon just created a fucking hybrid.”
“Well, Lilith’s going to love this,” Damien muttered.
I ignored him in favor of Jace. “A hybrid,” I repeated. “That’s… what?”
How could he tell that?
Willow wasn’t even awake yet.
Except, as I studied her now, I realized that I could smell it—the vampire and lycan mix inside her. “Oh, shit…”
23
Ryder
A hybrid.
We’d created a fucking hybrid.
I ran my palm over my face, then gripped the back of my neck. “She’s been living off my blood,” I said, pacing the length of my office. “I had no idea. I gave it to her to ensure her strength, wanting her to be as protected as possible. But I never could have guessed it was the reason she’s survived this long.”
Fuck.
Edon and Jace stood just inside the door, their expressions unreadable. I’d run upstairs to shower and change into a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, needing to get rid of my suit. Silas and Luna had agreed to watch Willow. Damien was supervising.
“The full moon last night would have triggered her need to shift.” Edon sounded thoughtful. “Or it could have been linked to my ascension. There was a lot of lunar energy in Clemente Clan as a result, and obviously one of my wolves initiated her change at the camp.”
Yeah, that was a conversation we still needed to have. “You realize I want those lycans slaughtered, yes?”
“You might have to fight Silas for the opportunity,” Edon replied. “Damien just showed him the files he found on Willow, and my Enforcer is demanding retribution in my head as we speak.”
“Good.” Not the fighting part, but the retribution part. “He can help.”
Edon grunted. “You underestimate his need for vengeance.”
“And you underestimate mine,” I countered, stopping in front of him. “One of your lycans bit her for sport, probably to leave her in torment to die. I intend to return the favor. Then I’m going to castrate every single lycan who touched her. And if I’m not satisfied with the results, I’ll burn the fucking building to the ground with all your mutts inside.” I’d remove the humans first, of course.
A muscle ticked in Edon’s jaw as he squared off with me. “You don’t have jurisdiction in my territory, Your Highness.”
“I wasn’t asking, Alpha.”
“Gentlemen, we’ll determine the proper recourse for punishment once we’ve resolved the more pressing issue, which is the hybrid sleeping in the living room,” Jace interjected. “The council will expect her to be terminated.” He held up a hand as I growled. “I’m not saying I agree. I’m saying we have a problem.”
“Lilith will insist on Willow’s execution,” Edon agreed, his wide shoulders visibly relaxing as he took a less defensive posture. “She’ll make it public, too.”
“Yes. But you both already knew that was a possibility before turning her.” Jace’s silver-blue eyes locked on me. “So what was your plan for hiding her?”
“There was no plan, as I never intended to hide her,” I admitted flatly. “You may be comfortable living beneath the council’s authority, but I find the activity rather tedious. I haven’t survived this long by being told what to do and how to do it.”
Jace’s lips twitched. “I’ve always admired your fuck-all attitude, Ryder. However, in this case, I don’t think it’ll be enough. Unless you’re okay with the council voting to exterminate your new creation?”
I lifted a shoulder. “They’re welcome to try. That doesn’t mean they’ll succeed.” I’d train Willow myself, and given her combined traits of lycan and vampire, I suspected she wouldn’t be all that easy to kill. They’d have me to contend with as well. Damien, too, if he chose to help.
“You can’t take on the entire council by yourself,” Jace pointed out.
“You assume the council will all eagerly jump to do Lilith’s bidding,” I returned. “I’m confident they won’t. You’re proof of that.”
“And what do you mean by that?”
“Isn’t there an edict against consorting with the opposite species?” I arched a brow, fully aware that, yes, such an edict existed. “Yet your penchant for lycans is well known.”
“Relationships are forbidden. I just fuck.”
“Perhaps,” I conceded. “But you’re also standing in my office having a willing conversation about how to hide my precious pet rather than reporting my actions to Lilith.”
“I could have sent her a message while you were changing. Perhaps I’m just stalling you.”
I smiled. “You didn’t.”
“How are you so certain?”
“Because my system network won’t allow any electronic communication to leave this property without my permission.” I walked around my desk
to click a few letters and numbers on my keyboard, then spun the screen around. “The only message you sent was to Darius telling him you’ve been delayed by an intriguing situation.”
Jace gaped at the monitor, his calm exterior allowing the first fracture of surprise to filter through. “That’s impressive.”
“You don’t know the half of it,” I replied, shutting off the screen with another keystroke. “But that’s not the topic for consideration at the moment. The more pressing item is the fact you’ve not reported a single damn thing to Lilith. And neither has Edon.”
I allowed those two facts to sink in and reveled a bit in their silence. It showed just how little those in charge knew about me and my abilities. I meant it when I said I hadn’t survived this long by adhering to the requirements of others.
Society had evolved over my lifetime, and I’d evolved right along with it.
I didn’t do archaic methods. The technology era was one of my favorites, and I’d done my due diligence in learning everything I could about the capabilities. Then I’d built and created my own survival network.
The screen before them was only the cusp of my abilities. The council thought they had the market on technical surveillance. What they didn’t realize was that I’d tapped into it a century ago and had piggybacked off their infrastructure to create my own safe haven.
This new world didn’t scare me. It only pissed me off.
“So while the three of us only make up a small section of the council, I’m willing to bet there are more who are not pleased with the current dynamic,” I continued, confident in my assertion. “Some members may opt to hunt me and Willow down, but I can handle a few irate lycans and vampires with one hand tied behind my back. Which leads me to my next statement—I see no reason for Willow to hide.”
Jace’s calm exterior had returned, his age and superiority a mask he often hid behind. I understood because I wore a similar expression when thinking through my options.
Edon was less skilled in hiding his emotions, but that went with traditional lycan culture. His brethren operated purely on animal instinct in this transformed generation. Yet Edon had proved himself different purely by taking two mates and allowing them to stand equally at his side.
Many alpha males commanded submission, even from their alpha females, which had fundamentally broken key points of lycan culture. However, Edon’s actions suggested he wanted to repair those fractures. It had fascinated me last month and intrigued me even more now.
“Not hiding Willow will come with consequences not just to you but to me and my clan as well,” the lycan said slowly. “And given that the next council meeting was scheduled as a result of the actions of Clemente Clan and Silvano Region, I’d say we’re in for one hell of a discussion.”
I snorted. “By ‘discussion,’ you mean a tantrum thrown by the Goddess herself.” I couldn’t stop myself from rolling my eyes. “I’ve been subjected to daily tantrums for two weeks now. I think I can survive another.”
“So what do you plan to do?” Jace asked. “Walk into the council meeting a few weeks from now and just tell Lilith no?”
“Actually, I haven’t decided if I plan to show up yet or not. It’s on my calendar, but I may schedule something over it.” I canted my head to the side. “Why do you allow her to lead? Is it because adhering to her edicts is easier than arguing?”
“She’s created an order in society that I haven’t felt the need to break yet,” he replied.
“Yet,” I repeated. “That’s an interesting term.”
His stoic features gave nothing away. “Let’s just say I know how to play the game. That doesn’t mean I enjoy it.”
“So don’t play.”
“And then what?” he pressed. “If we all go rogue, as you’re suggesting, what happens? The human population is down to ten percent of what it was a hundred and fifty years ago. Without regulations, we risk our primary food source. We both know our brethren require rules for a reason. They can’t be trusted to control themselves.”
“The fact that you’re saying all this tells me you’ve been contemplating another way to rule,” I inferred. “Rather than ask for my opinion, tell me your ideas. What do you propose, Jace?” He ruled as a British monarch in a past life, his penchant for politics and governing well known.
“That will make for a much longer conversation.”
“And a far more interesting one,” I added. “Hiding Willow would be a short-term solution at best, one we both know won’t work in this society. So rather than banter about what I would deem an inconsequential item, let’s discuss a more long-term solution. Tell me about your vision. Then I’ll tell you if I agree with it or if I have some suggestions.”
“What makes you think I have a proper plan?” Jace countered.
“Because you just told me you did.” I gave him a look. “If I wanted to play games, I would call Lilith. Don’t waste my time and I won’t waste yours.”
Jace studied me for a long moment, then conceded with a nod. “Fair enough. You obviously know Cam is alive. I’m guessing you were also informed of his intentions prior to the reformation.”
I dipped my chin in confirmation. Izzy’s survival as Cam’s Erosita had required assistance from several key players, myself included. But I’d helped from the shadows, Damien serving as the face of the operation. My name had been left out of it, mostly because I wanted to remain hidden indefinitely. But Silvano’s latest antics had forced my hand, and now I was too curious to return to my reclusive shell.
It’d be easier if I just took Willow and remained here for eternity, but after everything I’d witnessed in Silvano’s former region, I couldn’t just sit by idly and allow the situation to worsen.
The council had gone too far.
It was time for another change.
And as Jace detailed his ideas, I realized he had more than a proper plan in place; he had a full-on strategy for what was needed.
Edon remained quiet while Jace spoke, confirming he already knew about the revolution. I suspected he found out recently, given the events in his clan.
I sat in my executive chair while Edon and Jace took the two lounge chairs across from my desk, Jace speaking the whole time.
Thirty minutes later, I had a newfound respect for the male.
There was only one problem with his grand design.
“A decade is too long to wait,” I said at the end. “It needs to happen now.”
“We’re not ready yet.”
“By the time you’re ready, it’ll be too late,” I informed him. “One thing I’ve learned over the last four weeks as a royal is that vampires are being too gluttonous. There are not enough humans to satisfy our immortality. They’re being killed left and right, allowing precious blood to go to waste in the process.”
I turned on my computer again to show him the report Damien had been working on for me in regard to my newly inherited region.
“Look at these trends.” I swiveled the monitor toward him, ensuring he could read it. Then I switched the diagram to show him the progression. “And that’s ten years from now.”
The numbers were telling because they were all negative.
“I estimate your ten percent value to be around five right now, assuming this behavior is similar throughout the world. Your region may be governed differently, but can you tell me Ankit, Lajos, Sofia, and, hell, even Helias are running their regions similarly?” I scoffed at the very notion. “Those sadistic assholes were some of Silvano’s best friends. And don’t even get me started on Ayaz and Aika.”
Cormac was perhaps one of the few vampires in the world not killing humans aimlessly. Naomi, too, maybe.
“I would have said the same about Kylan, but he’s proven surprising,” Jace murmured.
“Maybe to you. But I’ve known him for a long time. He’s bored, not sadistic.” I didn’t particularly like the royal jackass, but I tolerated him far better than I did those in Silvano’s circle.
“He w
as suspected of killing his entire harem.” Jace pointed out.
“Suspected being the operative word in that sentence,” I returned. “And I’ve heard my fair share of rumors on your cruelty as well, but that doesn’t mean I believe them.”
“You should.”
“I don’t,” I countered, leaning forward. “Justice isn’t cruel; it’s a necessity. Some just choose to view it differently.”
He considered me for a long moment before conceding with a slight nod. “True.”
“A decade is too long,” I stressed again. “You can’t wait that long. It’ll be too late to revive the human race.” I looked at Edon. “And I haven’t even begun looking into what your kind is up to, but the moon chase pretty much says it all, in my opinion.”
“I’ve outlawed that in our clan,” he said.
“Good.”
“The breeding camps are next,” he added. “We don’t need humans to create lycans. We can do that among ourselves. Breeding with a mortal should be rare and done in situations where it’s a guaranteed success, not as a series of experiments.”
“I’m sure Willow will approve.” I sure as hell did.
His dark eyes hardened. “Good. But on the subject of Willow, I have a requirement.”
“A requirement?” I repeated, arching a brow at the young alpha. That took some serious confidence to say to one as old as me. “Which is?”
“I agree that hiding her isn’t really an option,” he said slowly. “That said, she’s partially mine and therefore my responsibility. If she wants to remain with Clemente Clan, I’ll accept and protect her. And if she opts to stay with you, I’ll expect you to do the same. But that’s my requirement—she gets to choose where she goes.”
24
Willow
Mint. My nose twitched. Mmm, Ryder. His scent was strong, which meant he was nearby. I rolled onto my side to reach for him, only to hit air. No mattress. No pillows. Just air. Frowning, I rotated to my opposite side and found a solid block of fluffed leather instead.
