by Maya Daniels
“You can come with us for a day or two. Even a Tasmanian devil like yourself needs a break from time to time.” We both giggle at the comparison.
“Thank you, but no.” She climbs to her feet, and I follow groaning when my legs protest at the movement. “Too many people give me a headache. I need my isolation time to recover, not someone constantly breathing down my neck.”
The way her eyes find Fenrir when she says it tells me there is more to the story than just chemistry between them. No matter how much the Fae kicks like a stubborn donkey, I know he is not indifferent when it comes to Myst just by his drastic reactions to her. I’m very tempted to ask her what she knows about the book Alexius tried to steal but something holds me back. Zoltan being almost next to us is not helping either.
“How do I get in touch with you if I need you?” She’s already turning away but my question stops her.
“You have an academy full of competent fighters ready to go through fire with you. Why would you need me?” She is watching me over her shoulder, her face tilted slightly up.
“I don’t know.” I’m acting indifferent but I have a nagging feeling there will be a day that I’ll need her more than anyone else. My pulse spikes up at that thought. “You never know,” I tell her. “Maybe I’ll need you or you’ll need me. It’s good to have a way to get in touch if that’s the case. You know you can find me at the Academy. I have no choice but to be there.”
“Leave this at any portal you exit if you ever need me.” After watching me for a long time she speaks, sticking her hand at me. I open my palm and she drops a small rock in it. It looks like a piece of coal. “I’ll come no later than an hour from the time you drop it on the ground, a lot faster if I’m close by. Unless I’m dead.”
My heart skips a beat at how nonchalant she sounds about dying.
“Thank you.” It sounds inadequate but it’s all I can think of. “What are you Myst?” My curiosity about the female cannot be stopped. “I’m usually very good at figuring people out, but not you.”
Her mouth opens but her eyes flick over my shoulder and her entire demeanor changes into the cocky attitude I associate with her. Zoltan steps next to me, his hand going to my lower back at the same time. It’s a possessive move that should irk me. It turns my knees weak instead.
“A Fae.” She grins at both of us before walking away. “Couldn’t you tell? We are very much alike.”
She doesn’t look at me for that last part, nor does she stop moving away. I’m sure she means it as reassuring, or maybe it’s her way of being evasive just to shut me up. She doesn’t count on the monstrosity in my chest perking up at her words and paying very close attention. Myst may have told the truth about being a Fae. Everything in me tells me it’s actually very important to know just exactly what type of Fae she is. Right now, not knowing seems pretty harmless.
I have a feeling it’ll be very important soon enough, though.
21
My head is resting on the cool glass of the window while the vehicle zooms through the streets of the human world. The rocking of it lulls me into a daze where I stare unseeing at the colors and lights blurring around me. Everything hurts. Now that I don’t have to move or fight to stay alive, I feel tired to the bone. Can your hair hurt? I think mine is smarting pretty good right now.
“You doing okay there, Franky?” Astara leans over me, getting in my face.
“Yeah.” Sighing, I lean back on the seat and roll my head to the side so I can look at her. “Just zoning out I think.”
“You did good tonight, girl.” Her eyes glitter when light from the passing city hits it through the window. “We did more damage to the hunters than we’ve been able to do in years. It’ll take them a while to recover from it.”
“Alexius and Roberti got away.” The dead bodies littering the mansion push to the front of my mind, but I shake the vision away. “I didn’t see Cassius either. I’m glad they blew the place up though. Too bad those idiots weren’t inside when it happened.”
“Still bloodthirsty?” Fenrir looks over his shoulder from the passenger seat.
Searching his face, I say nothing, and his smile turns into a thin press of his lips. I still can’t get over the fact that he just walked away from Myst while she was being cornered. No male should leave a female to fend for herself. Unless she’s the enemy, which the more I think about her actions the more I very much doubt. Crazy? She is absolutely insane. Evil? I don’t think so.
Blue eyes bore into my face from the rearview mirror. Zoltan is driving and has the steering wheel gripped tight in his large hands, but instead of watching the road he is staring at me. My stomach backflips at that intent look, so I duck to the side and use his seat as a cover. Yeah, I’m a coward. I know.
“What was in that bucket that Myst threw at the hunter?” That’s been nagging at me since it happened. It’s good for a change of subject, as well. “It had a strong scent of salt in it.” My nose wrinkles at the thought. Even through the stench of blood and gore, the salt seared my nostrils.
“Saltwater.” Astara giggles like it’s a known joke. I lift my eyebrow at her. “Just that, honestly. Salt repels evil spirits and demonic entities. It was a very quick thinking on her part.” Grinning brightly, she nods her head at something that only she apparently knows. “That female is always prepared, I’ll tell ya. For as long as I’ve known her, I’ve yet to see anyone get one over on her. She’s as slippery as a snake.”
Fenrir stiffens in the passenger seat, so I let the subject drop.
My fingers rub over the small piece of coal Myst gave me, the lump scraping over the pad of my thumb. Gnawing on the inside of my cheek, I can’t help but roll the possibilities through my head. No matter how pissed she was at Alexius, Myst had no need to go out of her way to help us. She could’ve shared info, or even come along to get her hands on that jerk, but she went above and beyond. If not for her, I never would’ve given Zoltan my blood in that basement to get him out of the feral state. I thought we needed magic for that. Didn’t we have the mage help Astara and me?
You are magic, stupid, the snide voice in my head chirps but I ignore it.
I have no idea what I am.
Isn’t that a bitch?
The fact that I would be dead right now if she hadn’t given me her blood is not lost on me either. Yes, I felt the magic burst from me and knock Zoltan out, but I was way past the point of no return. My throat was ripped out enough that I would’ve bled out in no time. Not even accelerated healing would’ve come in handy. She did a lot of selfless things in a very short time. And none of them even said a thank you. They watched her leave as if it was a normal thing to do. I should’ve asked her about the book.
When the vehicle stops, I flutter my lashes and glance around, not even realize my eyes are closed Maybe now I can actually sleep for a week, or a year. The way everyone opens the doors at the same time kills that dream before it starts. Everyone is still too wired to let everything go.
I startle when the door on my side is yanked open, almost falling out of the car at Zoltan’s feet. The look on his face sends a jolt through me and I do the only thing I can think of. Scrambling like a crab, I crawl to the opposite side and jump out next to Astara like the car seat is burning my ass.
Zoltan’s chuckle pebbles my skin.
I scowl at him over the car.
“Leo should be …” Fenrir turns in a circle, “Ah, there he is.”
Following the direction of his gaze, I see the shifter leaping out of another large SUV the Daywalkers use as transportation. I’ve seen them around the Academy building too. I wonder if they take them across the portal or if they have a ton of them stashed here and in Sienna. I’ll bet it’s the latter. Astara tugs on my hand and I walk with her to the doors of the building. We are back at Zoltan’s apartment. Because of course we are. No way will life give me a break.
“Does that salt thing work on demons, too?” I ask Astara just to erase the panic in my mind.
> “What?” Her head jerks and she looks at me like I’ve lost my mind.
“You said demonic entities.” I sound defensive but it’s not like I’ve made it my mission to know everything about the different species.
All I need to know is if anyone needs removing. They can be whatever they want as long as they’re not harming anyone … or trying to hurt me. My shoulders drop with that. I’m way out of my depth here. I have absolutely no idea about anything apart from fighting to stay alive. This night is quite an eye opener in the world of Francesca Drake. I must look dejected because Astara sighs and links her arm through mine as we stop in front of the elevators. I ignore the fact that Zoltan is right on my heels and almost tripping me as I walk.
“Demons are just like the rest of us, but not necessarily demonic entities.” She jabs at the button to call the contraption to pick us up. “Roberti did a good job of keeping you clueless about our life. Kept you busy enough with stupid shit so you didn’t poke around or ask questions.” Warmth spreads through me that she’s upset on my behalf.
I’ve been a shitty friend ever since Zoltan was taken.
Before that too, at least until she shouldered her way through the walls I built around myself.
“This has to do with the book, doesn’t it?” My palms get clammy just from the thought. “Oh, for fuck’s sake get off my ass.” I elbow Zoltan when he literally looms so close his chest presses on my back. My elbow hurts like I smacked a brick wall and he doesn’t even grunt. Jerk.
“The book?” Yes, I can feel his deep voice vibrating through my back because he doesn’t move away. Actually, he steps closer.
I grind my teeth.
The doors slide open with a loud chime. I practically run for them only to realize I’m inside a tiny square box with no room to get away from him. Judging by that permanent smirk on his face, he knows I’m stuck too. Astara chortles while holding the doors open for the other two males and Zoltan crowds me in a corner. He steps so close I can feel his breath on the top of my head. My lips turn into a thin line and I clench my fists, debating if I should punch him in his pretty face … or the groin. The groin sounds like a good idea. His fingers snatch both my wrists like he’s read my mind.
“You almost died tonight,” he murmurs, but I know everyone can hear him since we are all in this stupid, tiny box. And like repeating that explains everything.
“I wasn’t the only one, thank you very much.” Lifting my chin in defiance, I glare at him. “So don’t turn this on me by calling me reckless or whatever. You almost died too.” Now that it seems we are deceptively safe, the fear of being too late comes at me with a vengeance.
I stab a finger in his chest.
“If you wouldn’t have just let them take you, then none of this would’ve happened oh, mighty fucking Daywalker.” Another jab of my finger between his pecks. “You could’ve stopped them, and don’t you tell me I’m making shit up. I know you, Zoltan. No way anyone could’ve placed that dagger under your throat if you didn’t let them.” I get so worked up I shove at him with both hands. Not that it has any effect. “Why?” My voice is shrill in the closed space. “You put yourself and everyone else in danger you arrogant jerk.” You can hear a pin drop at the silence around us. “Why did you do it?”
I deflate when the last question comes out in a pathetic sob. I have no idea why the hell I’m getting so emotional. It’s not like me to show stupid weakness in front of people, even these four. My whole body is trembling and I hate it. As frustrated as I am at the vampire for pinning me in the corner, I’m also grateful he doesn’t move when I tell him too. His hands are the only thing holding me up in this moment.
The chime is like a bullet going off in the quiet elevator.
Locking my knees so I can actually walk without wobbling like a drunk, I gasp in outrage when Zoltan scoops me in his arms. The fact that I can barely stand is not lost on me, but I still stiffen like an unbending board, my legs sticking straight out. It’s childish and uncalled for, yet I can’t help it. It cuffs at my pride, and I most definitely am not a female he needs to carry around as if I can’t walk.
Zoltan is a male of many talents, so he doesn’t even get frustrated at my behavior. He simply waits for the rest of them to exit and then, turning to the side, he walks out striding towards the door Fenrir is holding open for him. I’m still playing stiff as a board, my back muscles aching from being stretched as far as they’ll go across his arms. The fucking Fae’s head look like it may spin right off his neck because of the wide stretch of his mouth.
Sinking into the leather couch when I’m finally deposited on it, I have to rub my arms and legs to get the blood flowing again. Avoiding looking at any of them, I take a deep breath to continue the word vomit I started in the elevator. I have a lot to say to Zoltan, and all of it has been building inside my head while he was gone.
“I had to let them take me.” His soft words are like a needle bursting my bubble. “We were getting nowhere trying to figure out what they were planning or who they’ve lured to their side.” Zoltan is pacing but he still doesn’t move away from me. He is doing it right in front of my legs, the fabric of his pants brushing my calves.
“A brilliant fucking idea.” Huffing, I fold my arms over my chest. “How did that work out for you?”
“We now know what they are after.” His blue eyes sparkle in anger when he looms over me. “The setback we inflicted on their numbers will give us time to prepare and end this once and for all.”
“I don’t mean to be a downer, but I must agree with Francesca.” Fenrir is trying to get on my good side again and I know it. “There are other ways.”
“The opportunity presented itself and I took it.” Zoltan’s large hand slices the air with finality. “Now we know.”
“First of all, they turned you feral.” I ignore Astara’s gasp and the blood draining from Fenrir and Leo’s faces. Zoltan’s eyes turn into slits. “Second, you don’t even know what they tried to steal besides the fact that it’s a book.” If I look smug, that’s because I feel smug right now.
“I was there with them.” Is it possible for him to see me when his eyes are slanted so much they almost look like they’re closed? “They thought I wouldn’t be leaving that place alive, so they loved sharing what they were planning to do.” Zoltan turns his head to look at Fenrir and Leo. One click glance at Astara shows she has gone as pale as a sheet and has a horrified look plastered on her face. “They are freeing the Titans. We will not let that happen.”
“We secured the book they were after.” Fenrir rubs his chin thoughtfully. “I’m not sure that will stop them for long but it’s a start.”
“I’ll make sure the security around the Academy is tight.” Leo stands up from the chair he is sitting on, stretching his arms like a cat instead of a wolf for the second time tonight. I’m not sure it’s smart to point that out right now. “I’m off, though. There is way too much to do.”
“I’ll come with you.” Fenrir straightens and is already moving after the shifter, but he stops to give Astara a meaningful look. “We need to talk to Azgor. Take advantage of the time we are given.”
“Yup.” I jump up like I was sitting on needles. “We should go.”
Astara doesn’t say anything. She’s still pale when she follows Fenrir, and it doesn’t take long for him to tuck her under his arm to lead her out of the apartment. My feet can’t move fast enough to catch up with them, but I play it cool so it doesn’t look like I’m running away from the place. Just because I feel like I’m on the edge doesn’t mean I love showing the vampire how he affects me.
Arms wrap around my middle and hoist my feet off the floor just as I reach the door. My wide eyes connect to Fenrir’s and the Fae looks like he is gloating, a dumb smile lining his perfect face. But then the door closes and I’m locked inside with Zoltan. Alone.
My heart skips a beat.
22
“I’m sorry.”
I almost swallow my tongue at
Zoltan’s whispered words when he tucks his head in my hair. With my heart hammering and bruising my ribcage, I’m too afraid to turn around and look at him. Although even if I want to, that isn’t possible with me dangling in his arms the way I am..
“For what?” I have to clear my throat twice before I can speak without croaking.
“For putting you in the position to risk your life … for not making sure you knew what I was planning even before they attacked the portal.” His words are muffled in my hair. “And for scaring you most of all.”
“They brainwashed you, didn’t they?” It’s really stupid that I melt in his arms when he chuckles.
“It helped to set my priorities straight, I’d say.” My stomach drops to the floor when he turns around, walking with a purpose in the direction of the bedroom I used to change.
“You’re right. We should go look for Roberti and Alex.” I sound panicked and the words come out in a rush. I don’t care. “No time like the present. It’s a perfect priority to have.”
My ribs will break if the galloping in my chest doesn’t stop. Zoltan’s dark chuckle sends spikes of adrenaline through me, but I hang limply unable to move. The damn door is getting too close and I can’t even flail like I want to save my life. This is a bad idea, Franky. A very, very bad idea. Even the voice in my head sounds panicked.
“I have a lot to make up for,” the vampire tells me as he opens the door of the bedroom, but he doesn’t head for the bed.
The sigh is wrenched from the depths of my soul, but it chokes me halfway through when he strides inside the bathroom and plants my ass on the slab acting as a sink. Zoltan rubs his hands up and down my arms in a soothing manner but that doesn’t help at all. My eyes are darting around in search of a way out. I’m also hyperventilating, so that might have something to do with him giving me time in case I’m about to faint. It’s a great possibility at the moment.
“Look at me.” He lifts my face with a finger crooked under my chin. “It’s me, Francesca. Since when do you fear me?”
