Dream Walker: Blood Legacy Series Book 1

by Elise Hennessy

  “Don’t bluff me, girl.” Neala stepped close enough to draw a warning growl from Alex. She glanced toward him, a rasping chuckle leaving her lips. “I want to use my words, not my fists, this time. You told me Gwendolyn wants to make sure a few Seelie fae can make it to Earth during the solstice.”

  “That’s my understanding of it, yes,” he said, his face schooling to a neutral mask.

  “Then I have to know if they’re my children.” After seeing Violet’s confusion, she added, “My adopted children.”

  “Oh, wow, okay.” She hesitated when Neala’s attention sharpened. The woman looked fit to shake the truth from her. “So...you want to help her?”

  “We don’t help traitors,” Sirius put in, glancing between them. A tic formed over his brow as the thought worked him up toward the same rage that had fueled his first anti-Gwendolyn rant.

  So much for a tension-free day, Violet thought to herself, resigned to it after the last couple days.

  “Shut up for a minute,” Neala snapped.

  “She’s just going to use us again,” he hissed.

  “I will see my kids,” she insisted.

  Sirius stepped away from her. “And if she uses that against you? Against us? What are the chances Keegan and Sorsha are even still alive?”

  Instead of following after him, raising the fist she balled at her side, she instead fixed Violet with a piercing stare. “Where is she? I tire of pointless what-ifs. I would hear her out directly.”

  “The gardens. There’s a block of stone—” Neala was already gone, racing down the stairs.

  “Neala!” Sirius chased after her, leaving Violet and Alex alone.

  They turned to each other. He lifted a shoulder. “I vote we go back to bed.”

  “I’m supposed to be getting trained,” she sighed. “You know, something I only have four more days to do?”

  “I don’t think you’re getting anything from her today. That’s all. But we can walk all the way down these stairs and see.” He let out an exaggerated sigh.

  She didn’t admit how tempting it was to leave the humid murk of Nyixa outdoors to go share some intimate time, but she started taking the stairs downward anyway. “These are the bane of my life. No, thigh life.” Her thighs and calves would definitely not be thanking her for the return trip.

  “I hope this is worth it,” Alex remarked. “Also, that pun was a stretch.”

  “I’d like to see you come up with better.”

  “I’ve been saving one for King Adrius if we see him again,” he admitted.

  “Really? Me too.” She laughed. “It was nice to actually see him, you know, laugh. That’s a gloomy guy.” Another Ancient that was hard to be anywhere near.

  “Not that a pun or two will fix that,” he pointed out.

  “Sure. But smiles are free. And in short supply around here.”

  That certainly felt like an understatement as they found Gwendolyn, Neala, and Sirius arguing in the gardens. Sirius was the most heated of them, pointing accusing fingers and swapping insults with Neala once again. “Yup, that’s what I expected,” Alex remarked. “Can you believe they’re on the same side?”

  Chapter 31

  Violet

  SHE AND ALEX started making out in a shadowy corner, just within earshot of the Ancient trio. He’d promised they’d go back when they resolved their differences but that made for a long, inevitably frustrating tease by the time Alex parted from her.

  “Sirius left,” he said. They took a moment to cool off and then went to rejoin the two women. They sat opposite one another on the stone benches that remained of the garden’s gazebo.

  Complete silence stretched between them, so there had to be some sort of mental communication. Violet was hesitant to interrupt, though their footsteps alerted Neala, whose fiery gaze turned to them. Her voice came into focus as she beckoned them closer. “Gwendolyn was telling me of modern affairs,” she said, standing and nodding to the elderly woman. “Have a good training session.”

  She left at a brisk pace. Gwendolyn sighed out her tension. “Come, sit. Did you have an opportunity to read any of that book I gave you last night?”

  Violet nodded, eager to talk about what she’d seen from the book. “I understand what the elements of fae magic are and read a few chapters.”

  “She fell asleep with the book on her face,” Alex pitched in, pulling her to his side as they sat together.

  “I really wanted to read more,” she said, a blush creeping up her face.

  Gwendolyn’s stern expression broke with a rare smile. “I’m glad to hear it. Let’s try to activate the rest of your elements. Then we can figure out which of the five virtues you’ve inherited.”

  “Oh! I already figured that out,” she exclaimed. “I have true sight. I haven’t seen any vampire’s glamor this whole time.”

  “Maybe you’ve gotten more than one.” Gwendolyn, despite the smile, seemed disappointed. “True sight is considered the fifth virtue. But it does make you unique. In retrospect, I know my daughter Nyah had empathy. And Lucia inherited future sight.”

  “It’s possible to have more than one?” she asked, her enthusiasm dampening when she read between what Gwendolyn was saying. True sight must be considered the weakest of the five powers. Being unable to be tricked probably didn’t stack up compared to seeing into the future or into the spirit realm to talk to lost loved ones.

  “I have heard rumors of a fae who was born with all five. But that does not matter to us. We have to train the gifts you were blessed with,” she said. “All Sorcerers and Sorceresses have at least one virtue and one element of magic they’re exceptional at. Once we’ve figured out which element that is for you, we will focus on that one to get ready for midsummer.”

  With more time to train today, Gwendolyn led Violet through the thirteen hand motions. Some came easily after a night’s rest, but she got stuck when trying to make a portal or shapeshift into an animal form. Her cheeks burned from the irony, with Gwendolyn and Alex a master of those respective talents. However, she told herself eleven out of thirteen wasn’t bad, especially as she turned and realized they’d gotten a silent audience.

  King Adrius and all five Blood Princes were gathering to watch at the edge of her lantern’s halo, murmuring to each other. The hair raised on the back of her neck as she glanced to Alex, whose attention had snapped over that way the moment the Ancients had appeared. “Talk to your boyfriend for a minute. Maybe he can help your shifting,” Gwendolyn said to her, standing a little straighter to see this group. After the blowup with Sirius earlier, Violet imagined they were all there to talk to her, one way or another.

  She went to Alex’s side, murmuring, “Sure would be nice to train without interruption.” She was sweating from the sheer effort of pushing her newly discovered magic to its limits and felt gross as it remained in the humidity of Nyixa. A shower was desperately needed.

  “I think you’ve done bloody well for yourself today,” he said, kissing her forehead. His gaze had gone slit-pupiled, his animal close to the surface as he focused its more sensitive hearing toward the meeting going on between Gwendolyn and the other Ancients. “Well, I’ll be damned.”

  “What? What is it?” she asked quietly.

  “Neala’s demanding a portal to where Lucia was spotted last. They’re arguing.”

  What else is new? she thought with a sigh.

  “But Gwendolyn is willing to send her if she promises to bring Lucia in alive,” he added, eyebrows raising. As he said that, Neala’s attention turned their way. “She wants us to help her blend in.”

  “Yes,” Violet gasped. “At least for a bit. I need a shower!”

  Her outburst startled a laugh from him, and he hugged her close. “I don’t begrudge you one. But we should come right back.”

  “When I figure out portals, we’re going back so we can shower every day,” she said emphatically.

  He nodded in agreement, going stiff with alert as the group of Ancients headed t
heir way. “Good evening,” Adrius said, positioning himself so his bulk was between Sirius and Gwendolyn. The Ancient shapeshifter looked like he’d swallowed something rotten, clearly the most displeased. The rest of the Blood Princes seemed more curious than anything, especially Qin, who’d stopped his constant coin flipping to turn his full attention on the proceedings.

  “Good evening,” Alex replied for them both.

  “I’m glad to see your magic is progressing,” he said to Violet, offering a brief grimace that might’ve been a smile. “We have something to ask of you. Consider it a request to match your plea for protection here.”

  Alex considered him, unblinking. Violet wondered why he didn’t accept that right away when they already knew what the request was. Then she realized this was completely political, tying one deed to another. If they didn’t perform to Adrius’s liking, he could take away his permission for them to stay here in Nyixa or chase away Gwendolyn for good.

  “I would hear the request first,” Alex said finally.

  “We have come to a truce of sorts.” Adrius’s gesture included all the Ancients, Gwendolyn included. “Despite our…differences, we are still on the same side.” He spoke with a heavy sigh, as if reluctant to even have this conversation.

  When Neala stepped forward and nudged him, Violet figured that was her taking charge. She wasn’t very surprised when he nodded to her. “What he means is that some of us are tired of sitting around in self-pity. I, for one, am very tired of pity. My request is thus: I need an escort to modern lands and have been warned that things are quite different now. You are a coven master. Assign me someone who will help me find Lucia and bring her to justice.”

  Alex nodded slowly. “I know of someone. You’re the only one going?”

  “For now.”

  “Then we need a portal back to my home for an hour or two,” he said to Gwendolyn.

  “I’ll be going with you.” She gestured as she spoke, opening a doorway-sized portal. Without hesitation, Neala plunged straight into it with shoulders squared like a soldier marching to battle.

  “Okay, looks like we’re going now,” Violet remarked, going through with Alex and Gwendolyn. Her shoulders sagged with relief to see the mansion’s foyer and one of Alex’s maids dusting the mantle. The woman turned and froze upon the sight of their sudden appearance.

  “It’s all right,” Alex said quickly, raising his palms. “Would you fetch Samuel if he’s in?” She bobbed her head and rushed off.

  Neala had covered her eyes with a hiss at the sudden influx of light from the chandelier and lamps set out to create a cozy atmosphere. Gwendolyn went to have a seat in one of the lounge chairs set up for visitors. “Get used to it now,” she said to the other Ancient. “Humans hate dark nights.”

  “Something tells me this is the least of my new concerns,” Neala replied.

  Violet, at loose ends as soon as Sam arrived to chat with Alex, slipped off to have a blissful shower and change clothes. She wondered who he would pair with Neala to really get her ready for modern vampire life. When she emerged, she realized she shouldn’t have even questioned the choice.

  He’d called in the same woman who’d first helped her, Petra. Her thick Russian accent preceded her as Violet turned the corner and saw her plucking at Neala’s old-fashioned suit and clucking over the shaggy, careless cut of the Ancient’s hair. She had to kneel for petite Petra to reach that far. “This will not do at all. You’ll stand out immediately,” she was saying. “Also, no mortal speaks with their mind!”

  Violet joined Alex and Sam, who both watched this interaction with amused smiles. Her own mirth faded as Neala opened her mouth and spoke aloud for the first time. What came out was a labored rasp instead of words. Petra’s perusal paused with a surprised gasp. “Oh, my apologies. I did not know…”

  “I have tricks to make mortals think I’m speaking aloud,” Neala responded.

  “Of course, of course.” Petra clasped her hands before her, looking mortified.

  “Think nothing of it. Handicapped vampires must still be a rarity,” she said, sounding more bored than offended. “Let us get started. I suppose I must try on these…jeans you speak of.”

  “You’ll love them,” Petra said, bustling off for the taller woman to follow and catch up in a few fluid strides.

  Sam turned a casual smile toward Violet. “I see you two have been having fun without us. Care to show me a magic trick?” His eyes twinkled with mischief. It was a relief to see someone who wasn’t a ball of stress and anxiety or wanting her magic for their own ends. She thought about what would be the showiest spell of the few she knew off the top of her head.

  She clapped her hands thrice, lifting her hand straight up from her palm on the third clap. In the air between her hands appeared a tender new flower. She’d meant to make a violet, but the buds at top unfurled into a meek cluster of buttercups instead.

  “Aww, look at that. You shouldn’t have,” Sam said, plucking it from her palm and pulling up a network of roots that rested on her skin, ready to be buried in the earth. He took a sniff of one flower and nodding approvingly. “You want to make about a dozen more of these so I can give them to my wife?”

  “I could try.” She giggled at the thought. “She’d probably be more impressed with roses, though.”

  “Want to make an entire bouquet with your hands so I can give it to my wife?” he teased.

  Alex snorted and elbowed him. “Stop trying to take advantage of my girlfriend.”

  “Not my fault she’s cooler than you, mate!”

  He pulled a long-suffering expression. “Two centuries of friendship and she’s cooler because of a flower? I see how it is.”

  “You could say I won him over once and flor-al.” She grinned as they face-palmed at the same time.

  “Is it just me, or are those puns coming out more?” Alex complained.

  “You’re seeing my true self,” she said with a wink.

  His expression grew more tender as he drew her to his chest. “Good thing I like it.” If they were alone, she knew where this moment would be going. For all his complaining, she thought he might like her little plays on words, so she looked for more opportunities to make them.

  Gwendolyn cleared her throat before they could go on any further. “It’s about time to return,” she said.

  “I think I will shower first,” he said, parting from her after a quick kiss. “Violet had the right idea.”

  “Good, you smell,” Sam said cheerfully, waving when Alex shot him a dirty look and went off to his room. He turned his attention to Violet. “Melanie says hi, by the way, and wanted me to remind you that she’s thought all along that there wasn’t a thing wrong with you.”

  “Thank you,” she said, smiling to herself. She missed the kindly surgeon who always seemed to be working. “Did Alex tell you what we’ve been up to?”

  He nodded, his smile fading. “I don’t like it at all. We’ve always tried to dodge the big guys making moves on each other. Politics is the easiest way to find a knife in your back.”

  “I bet,” she said, frowning as well. “How are things going here? Are you playing politics too?”

  “Sure am, but don’t you worry. I haven’t signed on to anything. Don’t be alarmed or anything by this, but…” He held up his palms preemptively. “Haven and Coven Rockefeller have both declared for Lucia, giving her a mega coven larger than even the former biggest, Coven Deveaux.”

  “What?” Her voice was a disbelieving squeak. In a couple of days, as far as Violet understood, Lucia had assembled enough people to become the ruling power in New York City. “What about the Deveaux Accords?”

  He worried his bottom lip. “Too soon to tell. But they’re probably overruled. Coven Deveaux hasn’t declared a side, but we’re really screwed if they lean Lucia’s way too.”

  “It won’t be a problem in a few days. Gwendolyn has a plan,” Violet said with a nervous laugh. “Lucia will be gone by then.”

  “I su
re hope you’re right, love.” He sighed, brushing a hand through haphazard curls. “We needed a bit of good news. The more superstitious of us are freaking out, for lack of a better explanation. Julian hasn’t slept since this whole thing started. I’m of half a mind to send him with you and Alex.”

  She hesitated at that thought, imagining the brooding man following her and Alex around. She really enjoyed having more private time with Alex, but that was a selfish thought. “He could come if he wanted.”

  He shook his head. “It’s fine. He’ll get over it. We’re going to seem weak if our most powerful people keep disappearing. Outsiders will think we’re hiding.”

  She nodded to herself, fitting that information with her understanding of vampire logic, which was definitely focused on appearing as strong as possible. Alex going with her and disappearing at a time like this must have seemed like weakness when they couldn’t afford to be weak.

  Alex’s talk of Team Violet came back to mind. He walked a dangerous tightrope, arranging events to keep both her and his coven safe. When he emerged a few minutes later, showered, shaved, and with new purpose in his step, she eyed him with new appreciation. She’d need to show him what his dedication meant to her when they were next alone.

  Chapter 32

  Alex

  THEY RETURNED TO Nyixa and ended their evening with Gwendolyn having Violet study her portals and the magic that created them. Alex pretended to be interested as their talk grew more technical until Violet had a breakthrough of her own in creating a portal. Twelve of thirteen unlocked, except for what he was best at—shapeshifting. His lip quirked that she would have trouble with that of all things.

  He decided to teach her himself as they settled back into their quarters. Eyeing their bed, he wished they could spend the night back at the mansion. Now that they’d seen how easy it was to go there and back with proper portal magic, he yearned for the comfort of home with the privacy of this room.

  When he started stripping, Violet turned an eager look his way. “I want to try something first,” he said, waggling a finger. “You need to be naked too.”