Aria
I never meant to hurt you. I have a duty to my people, to my cause. You must understand that. You may not understand now, but one day you will. Your place is with with PsyShade, with me. I’ll give you time but I can only give you so much.
Until I return.
P.S. Your secret is safe with me.
-Inarus
I stared at the short letter, reading it and re-reading it again and again. When Hannah walked into the room I quickly stuffed it in my back jeans pocket.
“Are you ready?” she asked, eyeing me suspiciously.
“Almost, just give me another minute,” I said. She nodded before heading back out of the room. My thoughts went back to the letter. What secret did he mean? Did he know Viola was my mother? It was the only secret I could think of and I worried what he’d do with the information. Would he tell her, and how would she react? Maybe she already knew. I couldn’t be sure either way.
I stuffed a few last-minute items in my pack before zipping it closed. Grabbing it I headed back into the living room, stopping briefly to retrieve my toothbrush from the bathroom. “I’m ready,” I told Hannah aloud, but inside I wondered if that was really true. Was I ready for what was coming?
I found Declan in his office back at the Compound and without knocking, let myself in. He was situated behind his desk, his emerald eyes staring intently at the screen of his computer. When I walked into the room, he looked up, setting his keyboard aside. I had his full attention. Declan motioned for me to take a seat. I pulled the modern acrylic chair back and sat. Declan leveled me with his gaze and I had to fight the urge to fidget. His Alpha stare packed a punch but I wasn’t willing to give even an inch. I wasn’t a shifter. He didn’t own me and I wouldn’t look away just to satisfy his control issues.
After a beat, Declan flashed a smiled, showing a hint of fang before leaning back in his chair, hands folded and resting in his lap.
“What can I do for you, Miss Naveed?”
“Aria,” I corrected.
Declan inclined his head. “Aria, what can I do for you?”
“I have a problem,” I said.
He waited for me to continue.
“When a Psyker like myself is near another, we hear a buzzing in our heads. It’s like we hone in on one another. I was wondering if you knew of a way I could mask it. If you had a mage who may be willing to help?”
Declan studied me for a moment. Leaning forward he folded his hands on the desk. “That is a bit of a problem.”
I nodded.
“I’ll look into it and get back to you. I’m not sure if it is possible, your kind are new to us, but I’ll look into it.”
“Thank you,” I said. I rose from my chair to leave. Before exiting I stopped and turned back to him. A question nagging at me.
“I’m a liability to your Pack. Why are you helping me?”
Declan seemed to weigh his words.
“You’re right, you are a danger to my Pack.” My shoulders slumped and I waited for him to tell me to leave, to grab my things and head out as quickly as possible. A part of me bristled under his authority but another part of me wanted so badly to be accepted. To have the safety and security that the Pack offered.
“I’d still like you to stay though.”
My head shot up at his words, my mouth hung open. Was he serious? Declan was somber for a moment.
“Aria, there will be a war. I’m nearly certain of it. There is too much bad blood between the vampires and the shifters and PsyShade seems intent on being the spark that ignites the fire. We could use someone with your abilities when that time comes. I know you don’t owe any allegiance to the Pack but I’m hoping that your relationship with James will allow you to consider my offer.”
I stared wide-eyed at him. I was an asset? Now I really thought he was crazy. Hell, I was a freaking liability.
When I didn’t respond, Declan moved along. “I’d like to offer you friend-of-the-Pack status in exchange for your willingness to support our Pack and provide any information possible to help us come out on the winning side of things.”
Friend of the Pack status? I wasn’t sure what that actually entailed though I knew it was not offered lightly. The question must have shown on my face because before I could ask, Declan answered my unspoken question. He braced his elbows on the edge of the desk, his expression serious. “Friend-of-the-Pack status is not something to be taken lightly. As a friend of the Pack we offer you our full support and protection in times of need. In addition, we’re formally acknowledging our faith and trust in you. You’ll have free rein of the Pack grounds and access to all of our resources.”
Wow. I wasn’t sure what to say. Somehow I had lost a…I don’t know what Inarus was to me, but I’d lost him and gained an ally, a strong one at that. But…
“What does James think about this?” I asked, my voice hesitant.
Declan paused. “What is your relationship with him?” he asked.
I shrugged. “He’s a friend,” I said, looking away from Declan.
“Nothing more?” he pried.
“No. We’re just friends.”
Declan grunted in acknowledgment.
“Will you consider my offer?”
“I’ll think on it and let you know.”
I was going to be in so much trouble. I’d told Declan I would consider his offer and I really was. I was also taking advantage of it and the freedom it would afford me by sneaking off the Pack’s grounds. Easier said than done.
The Compound was huge and it had taken me a full hour to locate my car. Sneaking into the Pack’s underground parking garage was surprisingly easy. The hard part would be getting out with my vehicle.
I sleuthed closer to my car, peering through the darkened room to ensure I was still alone. As I reached for the door handle, a hand landed on my shoulder causing me to nearly jump out of my skin.
“What do you think you’re doing?” James asked from behind.
I shoved him in the shoulder. “You have got to stop sneaking up on me.”
James flashed me a grin, his white teeth practically glowing in the darkened garage. “Aria?” I ignored him, instead sliding into the driver’s seat of my car and closing the door. James leaned into the window, his eyes locked on mine.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“Out,” I said. I started the engine, the sound of the motor filling the enclosed space. Throwing on my seatbelt I turned back to James.
“Can you move?” I asked.
James glowered. He wasn’t pleased but I knew he wouldn’t stop me. James knew better than most that I refused to be caged. What he did surprised me though. Instead of stepping away and allowing me to leave, he went around the front of the car, opening the passenger-side door and climbed in.
“What are you doing?”
“Aria, in less than a week you’ve been attacked twice. In both instances you could have died. If you think I’m letting you go off on some harebrained errand on your own, you’re crazy.” He had a point.
“Won’t Declan be angry at you for letting me leave?”
He shrugs. “I was never ordered to contain you on the Pack grounds.”
I nodded as I pulled the vehicle forward and made my escape.
James wasn’t at all happy when I told him where we were going. He was even less pleased when he realized I’d originally planned on going on my own but it couldn’t be avoided. I hadn’t made an appointment and to say that Rebecka was happy to see me would be a gross overstatement.
“What do you want?” she said upon seeing me. At least this time she directed her question at me instead of to James.
“I want to know why you sent vampires to attack me at my place of work. Why you’re so eager to ignite a war between the Pack and the Coven.”
The look in my eyes se
emed to catch her attention. She considered me more, really looking at me and not just through me for once.
“What are you talking about?”
“I’ve been attacked on two occasions now by Coven members and I want to know why,” I said, my voice filled with vehemence. I left out the bit about Mike being dead. She’d have no sympathies for me and telling her I’d been hurt by his death would only make me appear weak.
“None in my Coven have done such a thing.”
“Liar.”
She bared her fangs at me. “Do not presume to lay your blame at my feet,” she seethed. I bared my teeth at her in a feral sneer.
“Your pride and your ignorance will be your downfall.”
If she could flush, I imagined she would have done so this moment. Her eyes blazed crimson in her fury, her face contorting in rage. She appeared to grow in height, standing up straighter and pushing her shoulders back. I glanced over to James to see his eyes locked on Rebecka. Every muscle corded, waiting for the viper to strike.
“I could snap that pretty little neck of yours in a mere second and then you would be dead, no longer a nuisance. How dare you come to my home and accuse me and my Coven of wrongdoings you have no proof of.” My anger rose at her threat and I decided to bring out the big guns. Holding my palm out I allowed an orange flame to dance on the palm of my hand.
Her eyes flickered with uncertainty. “I can light your entire Coven on fire in a matter of seconds. Would you like to find out who’s faster?” I challenged.
Her eyes narrowed but she didn’t move. Not that I’d expected her to. She wasn’t an idiot. Rebecka was cold and calculating and I’d just laid down all my cards.
Her eyes briefly turned to James and I could guess her train of thought.
“I’ve pledged no alliances,” I told her. James stiffened beside me. “I’m not interested in your politics, all I care about is stopping this war and finding out why you’ve been trying to have me killed.”
I could see the wheels spinning in her mind. “What do you require for your loyalty?” Before her sentence was even finished, I was already shaking my head.
“I can’t be bought and I’m not taking sides.”
“Miss Naveed, I believe you are in fact, taking sides right this very moment.”
“Will you tell me if it was you that gave the order to have me attacked?”
“I did not.”
“And you still claim to have had no part in Daniel Blackmore’s death?”
“I do.”
I take a deep breath through my nose. I believed her, which was infuriating. Inarus already helped to lay the blame of Daniel’s death at PsyShade’s feet but not Mike’s. Mike’s death came from a vampire’s hand but if the order hadn’t come from Rebecka, who could it have come from?
“One of yours has ordered an attack on my life twice. I want to know who.”
She glared at me but didn’t refuse my request, which was more than I could have asked for.
“Look, I’m not here to argue with you. I want answers. I want those responsible for Daniel Blackmore’s death. I believe the same group is responsible for the deaths of one of your vampires and a Pack shifter.” I watch as something passed over her eyes. Sorrow perhaps? I shook the notion away. She was a hundreds-of-years-old vampire. One life probably meant nothing to her.
“Someone is trying to draw the Coven and the Pack into a war. I can’t let that happen.”
“You just claimed you want no part in our politics. What business of it is yours?”
“If you two go to war, we all suffer. All I ask is that you not attack the Pack without just cause. That you ensure you have all the facts before making any rash decisions.”
“I never act rashly,” she bit out.
“Then we shouldn’t have any problems and there will be no war.”
Rebecka smiled and a shiver ran down my spine.
“I believe we have taken enough of your time,” I said. I turned my back to leave, James following behind.
“I will not forget this,” Rebecka said as I left.
“Nor will I,” I told her. Nor will I.
Nothing is finished, not with Rebecka, not with Inarus, and certainly not with my mother but I wasn’t giving up. Things were far from over.
Declan
Pacing the confines of my study, irritation bloomed in my chest. Brock stood beside the door, arms folded as he awaited my response.
“We need her,” I told him.
Brock nodded in agreement but didn’t seem convinced.
“She isn’t Pack,” he said.
“I know that,” I growled, continuing to pace. Brock took his job as one of my guards seriously but there were instances such as these where I’d rather be alone. Whatever was coming was big. As Alpha I needed to ensure that every resource was available to us in the upcoming battle. If we didn’t get her on our side, Rebecka would, or worse. Whoever was behind PsyShade.
“What is her relationship with our Hunter?” I asked, an idea forming in my mind.
“I believe they’re friends,” was his dull response.
I froze in my tracks and locked my gaze on him, he immediately looked down, eyes on the collar of my shirt. Smart pup. When I was like this, no challenge was taken lightly.
“She claimed the same but does their relationship go beyond friendship?” I asked.
“I don’t believe so, sir.”
Well damn.
“Speak with James and find out for certain whether he has feelings for the girl beyond friendship. If he does, tell him it is at his Alpha’s request that he pursue them. If he does not, find someone else. We need her invested in the Pack. The easiest way to do that is to tie her to one of our own.”
“But sir—”
I roared, loud and thundering. My voice echoed off the walls.
Brock stood frozen, like a deer caught in headlights. I was his Alpha, how dare…
“I meant no disrespect,” he said quickly. “I was only surprised by your suggestion, that one of our own mate with a human woman.”
“I said nothing of mating. I would never force one of our people to bind themselves for life to someone they did not wish to be bound to.” My voice still rumbled from the effects of my anger.
“I want her enthralled, swooning, taken with one of our men, or women if that is her preference. Find someone who will date the damn woman and wrap her around their damn little pinky. Are we clear?”
“Crystal,” he said, turning for the door.
“And Brock?”
He stopped. “Yes, sir?”
“Do it discreetly.”
With a nod he left the room. Finally, silence.
Danielle Annett is a reader, writer, photographer, and the blogger behind Coffee and Characters. Born in the SF Bay area, she now resides in Spokane, WA, the primary location for her Blood & Magic series.
Addicted to coffee at an early age, she spends her restless nights putting pen to paper as she tries to get all of the stories out of her head before the dogs wake up the rest of the house and vye for her attention.
You can learn more about Danielle on her Website or follow her on Facebook and on Twitter.
Cursed by Fire (Blood & Magic Book 1) Page 16
