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Ignited: A Vampire Urban Fantasy Series (Daywalkers Series Book 6)

Page 13

by Maya Daniels


  “Now what?” I ask without looking away.

  “Now we wait.” Zoltan comes next to me but stays just out of touch.

  Good thing, too, because I’m not sure I want to be touched at the moment. My nerves are frayed, my chest is tight enough that I can’t take a full breath, and I feel so fragile I think I will break if the slightest breeze blows.

  “I never thought it’d come to this,” Soren murmurs, and the blood curdles in my veins.

  My mouth opens but no words come out.

  “You knew someone crossed the portal and was stealing the book.” Zoltan’s voice is lacking the accusation I want to hurl at the ancient Fae.

  Soren says nothing.

  “And you didn’t stop them,” Astara hisses.

  “I did not.” A line forms between his eyebrows.

  Something inside me breaks and I jump at him. All I can see is red, and the only thought in my head is to kill the fucker who, because of his stupid decision, has cost us many lives, including our own. Fangs bared, claws burst from my fingertips as my body sails through the air. Soren doesn’t move, nor is he trying to defend himself.

  Strong arms snatch me around the waist and rough fingers press hard on the side of my neck. Every curse word I can think of comes to the tip of my tongue to scream at Zoltan so he knows exactly how I feel about his interference, but darkness consumes me and I know nothing more.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Sitting in Myst’s house, I keep staring at Soren and imagining all the different ways I’m going to kill him the second Zoltan slips. That’s all I need, just one distraction and the Fae’s head will be rolling across the floor. Myst found us in the forest and dragged us here saying Leo will come when he sorts things out back at the Academy. Or so I was told.

  How she knows what’s happening across the portal is beyond me, but I wasn’t in the state to argue. Being unconscious can do that to a female, especially with a stubborn ass like Zoltan around. It irks me more that the three of them and Tenebris act as if what Soren did is not a big deal. All I can think about is, if he knew this, what else did he know about and didn’t lift a finger to stop?

  Could he have stopped me from killing my brother?

  “You need to let him explain, love,” Zoltan murmurs in my ear, his cheek nuzzling on mine. He’s had me pinned under him what feels like forever, pissing me off.

  I jerk my head to the side and snap my jaws to bite him like I’m some kind of feral animal, but he moves away too fast. Chuckling, the vampire shakes his head before stealing a quick kiss. When I glare at him, his smirk only widens.

  “You should worry more about why Leo is not back yet and less about that traitor.” Hissing through clenched teeth, I wiggle, but he is too heavy to push away. “It’s because of him that we are stuck here under this bubble of protection like fish in a fucking aquarium.”

  “If I can trust you not to do something rash, I would go and check myself.” I hate when he uses a reasonable tone with me. “Since that’s not an option, I have to stay here and play peacekeeper.” Pulling back so he can look at my face better, the expression on his softens. “Leo is a powerful Alpha, love. And he is a member of the Order now. He will be fine. I’m more worried about whoever stands in his way.”

  “It’s been two days.” Grinning at him, which is more like me baring my teeth than anything humorous, I try to goad him. “How long do you think you can hold me like this?”

  “Being on top of you, you mean?” Hunger sparkles in his blue eyes, and of course my stupid, traitorous heartbeat speeds up. “I can do this for a century or two.” Winking, the corners of his lips slowly stretch into a predatory smile.

  “If I have to listen to the two of you for another day, I’m going to scratch my eyes out.” Myst saunters in from the front door, slamming it shut.

  A harsh rap on the wood follows.

  Craning my neck, I try to see what she’s doing, catching her shoulders and head just as she turns to yank the door open. Myst stumbles back when Fenrir storms inside, my friends face twisted in anger.

  “Oh, I forgot you were right behind me.” Myst turns innocent eyes on Fenrir.

  “I see why the two of you get along so well,” Zoltan mumbles, watching the two of them stand at the entrance glaring at each other.

  “Seriously?” His gaze falls on me, one eyebrow cocking up. “I’ve never made you chase me on foot while I’m driving a car.”

  “I’m sure that’s only because you can’t go through the gates. If you can go to Sienna, I’ll have the same fate.”

  Rolling my eyes at him only makes him look at me as if I’ve proven his point. He is wrong. I’ve never done it, but that’s only because I didn’t think of it. I’ll have to talk to Myst to get some ideas since Zoltan loves being an ass.

  “Feumaidh sinn an ceàrr a rinn mi a rèiteachadh, rìoghail òg.” Soren speaks and all of us turn to see him.

  Lifting off the armchair he was using, the ancient Fae has eyes only for Fenrir. All the humor and mischief is missing from his expression, and that makes him look strange. Foreign even.

  “English,” I snap at him just because I can’t help myself.

  Inclining his head in my direction, Soren keeps his gaze averted away from me. “We must fix my wrongdoings. I requested assistance from the young royal.”

  “First you must tell us what else you did before you ask for help.” My body jerks under Zoltan, my need to stand up and face Soren tugging at me, but my attempt is to no avail.. “Let’s start with that, huh?”

  “Francesca,” Zoltan says my name in warning.

  “Don’t Francesca me.” Turning on him, my voice grows louder with each word coming from my mouth. “How many people died while he played possum? How many more will die while he is brooding and feeling sorry for himself?”

  “She has right to her anger.” Soren silences whatever the vampire was about to throw back at me. “And she has a reason.” I don’t miss the glint in his gaze, though I still narrow my eyes on him.

  “I guess all your crap finally caught up with you, Soren.” Myst shoulders her way past Fenrir to stand above my head. I hate being pinned on the ground so my teeth grind audibly. “Let her up, jerk. I won’t allow her to kill him. Your cock will shrivel before you get any after pulling this stunt, even though it’s for a good cause. Am I right, Chicca?” She nods her head as if agreeing with herself and with the word vomit spilling from her mouth.

  “As I said,” Soren answers Myst on a sigh, “I’ve done wrongs. I would very much like to absolve myself. No matter if it was well meant, teine air a bhreith.” A small smile plays on his lips and, to my shock, he bows at her. His head doesn’t go below shoulder height, but even that from the arrogant Dragon Blood is too much.

  “What did you call her?” It takes me a moment to realize Zoltan is off me and pulling me up along with him. It’s the shock from seeing Soren bow, I swear.

  “Fire born,” the vampire answers me, still holding my hand while frowning at Myst, who has gone pale.

  I move fast. Tenebris, who was curled up in a sunny patch on the floor, pounces just as fast, and everyone else tenses to stop me. There is no way anything can stand in my way, though. I need to reach the ancient Fae so I can scratch his eyes out with my fingers, which are curled into claws. I just want to see him bleed.

  I want to see him hurt for what he has done.

  The way I’m hurting.

  Myst steps in front of me to block my view of Soren. The look of surprise on his face at the thought of being protected by her almost makes me laugh, but my “Oh, Shit!” moment stops me in my tracks. Power slams me in the chest and sends me on my ass. The two-foot five female that speaks with no filter—and I’d like to say is my friend—transforms from one blink to the other.

  A silver crown sits on top of her head, red stones glistening like blood encrusted on it. The same runes I saw on Fenrir swirl everywhere her skin is exposed. Her brown eyes are pitch black like the bottom of an abyss tu
gging at my soul. With her right hand extended toward me, she stands firm with her legs shoulder-width apart, her presence overwhelming.

  My magic bursts out and propels me on my feet. I face her, my fangs bared while claws glint on the tips of my fingertips. Dizziness makes me sway, probably from standing up so suddenly, so I pay it no attention. The creature inside me that was taking a nap while Zoltan had his body draped over mine—and the bitch was purring, too—perks up. Emotions slam into me from her, to protect her, to keep her safe. My own are at war with it because she is in my way.

  “Stand down, cousin.” Her voice is not her own. This is the second time she’s called me cousin, and I still don’t understand why. “Nothing happens without a reason, and the web of life twists and turns to lead us to our fates. Do not take life unless you are prepared to offer one in return. I shall not stand in your way if you are willing to pay the price.”

  “I already paid the price with my brother’s life that he could’ve prevented.” Sliding to the right so I can sidestep her, she moves with me.

  “But are you willing to pay with your own?” Her power hits me again, and this time it pushes me a step back.

  Zoltan snarls and surges to attack her, but Fenrir tackles him to the ground.

  “If he can kill me, then yes.”

  I send my magic at Myst but it only moves the strands of her hair. The strength I put behind it is more a thought than an actual action. It’s almost as if I don’t want to hurt her, or maybe I can’t It’s not like she’s hurting me either, but it’s pissing me off. That’s when she delivers the blow that makes me deflate like a balloon.

  “Think! His life is tied to Sienna. If you do kill him, which I believe he will welcome with open arms, are you ready to take his place?”

  Both Soren and I hiss as if burnt at the same time.

  Zoltan and Fenrir stop struggling, too.

  Only Tenebris is watching with interest, not moving from his place in the sunlight.

  “I will not leave her to that fate,” Soren snarls at Myst.

  “Not her exactly, no.” Tilting her head, she gives me a slow, appeasing look before pointing a finger at my crotch. I glare at her. “Can you say the same about what she carries in her womb?”

  This time I drop on my ass because my legs give out from under me.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Everyone starts shouting at the same time so they can be heard over the others. Zoltan scoops me up as if all of a sudden I have become an invalid and can’t walk on my own, Dazed, I allow it, the cacophony of sounds, snarls, and growls lulling me into an out of body existence where I’m drifting between clouds with no feelings or emotions at all. Myst’s words haunt me there, repeating on a loop.

  “Can you say the same about what she carries in her womb?”

  The smug feeling coming from the creature inside me strokes the kindling fire in my chest. I know I’m going to lose my shit eventually, but as of now, all I can do is blink and breathe.

  The door opens and closes, more voices joining the yelling. Words like “fates,” “destinies,” “mistakes,” “fights,” and more drift to my ears, but nothing sticks long enough to make sense of it. Until I hear someone say, “Titans.” Protective instincts blast like an inferno inside me and I scissor my legs, jerking out of Zoltan’s arms. There is no magic behind my reaction. It’s not like all of a sudden I can feel a life growing inside me. But knowing that there is …

  It changes everything.

  Zoltan reaches for me and I slap his hand.

  “Stop that shit.” Glaring at him, I look around to see Astara and Daren. Leo has also arrived.

  They stayed at the woods because they claimed their connection to the Alpha didn’t allow them to be so far apart. Or so Zoltan told me anyway. Seeing me watching him, Leo offers a small smile. It doesn’t reach his eyes.

  “The same magic is covering Sienna. It’s a mad house back at the Academy but we have it under control … for now.” Blowing out a breath, his gaze drops to my stomach. “I knew there was something different about you, but I never thought …” Nostrils flaring, he shakes his head.

  I look down to see my hand pressed on my stomach, and I snatch it away while heat creeps into my cheeks.

  “Myst is full of shit.” Not even I believe the words, but I say them anyway. “Soren told us that it was a possibility only a couple of days ago. That’s not how that happens.”

  “Because unless you know it’s an option it won’t take, huh?” Astara giggles but stifles it fast when I turn a sharp look her way.

  Zoltan’s hand comes at me again, and again I slap it away.

  “That would explain the explosion of power when the hunters attacked the other day.” Daren is looking much better than the last time I saw him when he got out of the car at the woods. Everyone is nodding like that explains a lot of things.

  “Wanna share with the new kid in the class?” Folding both arms across my chest, I stare him down.

  “You control your actions and powers as long as the youngling is not in any danger.” Daren turns thoughtful, his eyes darting left and right as if trying to remember facts. “When it’s in danger, your Dragon Blood pushes all rational thought out the door and acts on pure maternal instinct alone. Remove all threat at any cost.”

  “And you know this how?”

  “You don’t need to be a genius, Franky.” The old Daren I knew comes out in the familiar smile and tone of his voice. “Regardless, if it’s just a bloodline and not a shifter gene, a dragon is an animal. A scary and a very powerful one at that. It’s logic, plus it makes sense.”

  “It does?”

  “Of course. Zoltan has been unbearable to deal with, too, even more than usual,” Leo says, while the others, including Soren, nod.

  “Zoltan is always an ass.” The said ass smirks at me, using the distraction to tug me to him. “As you can see. A stubborn ass, as well.” Rubbing the back of my neck, I decide it’s time to change the subject before reality hits me for real. Who knows what I’ll do if I panic?

  Ignorance is bliss.

  Turning to Myst, I wave a hand around my head. “Where is your …”

  The female is back to her usual self, no sign of spooky eyes, glowing runes, or spiky crowns.

  “You can see it?” The color blanches from her face, which earns me a scowl from Fenrir.

  “Can’t you?” I ask her stupidly.

  “Of course I can. You’re not supposed to,” she snaps, and Zoltan growls at her.

  “Oh look, we have two Neanderthals. Wanna see them in a fight? I’ll bet you a serpentine stone mine will be the victor. He bites.” Grinning like a fool, I wiggle my eyebrows, and it makes her laugh. “The winner keeps the stone.”

  “Speaking of which, you owe me one.” She extends her hand palm up.

  Sticking my hand in my pocket, I pull out the chain and let the stone drop in the air, dangling. Every eye in the room follows the movement, but I place it in her hand and Myst tucks it between her boobs without batting an eye. I had to carry the damn thing around with me because everyone else’s reaction to it scared the shit out if me the first time they saw it. The power of that little rock turned them all greedy and acting unlike themselves. I’m glad to be rid of it.

  “You have effective tactics to stop bloodshed,” I tell her as I wearily move to plop on the sofa. Zoltan is next to me in a flash, pulling me under his arm like we are glued at the hip. “Not that I don’t want to kill him for letting things get this far.”

  “It would be deserved, young dragon.” It soothes me to hear the apologetic tone in Soren’s voice. “I have failed you.” I still want to scratch his eyes out.

  “Someone mentioned a Titan earlier.” The energy in the room turns gloomy as soon as I utter the word.

  “We checked the book.” Leo sighs, swallowing thickly. “You were right, Drake. Pages are missing in it.”

  “But Myst said the magic in this city started two days before we arrived. The timing is n
ot right,” I point out.

  “The seals could’ve been broken if the child-god used your blood to tamper with it,” Soren explains, absently scratching between his pecks as if trying to remove an ache. “With the invocations written in the book, it wouldn’t take much at all to blast them open and release whoever was held by them.”

  “Are you saying we have a Titan to worry about on top of Roberti?” Stomach churning, I press a hand on it so I don’t puke.

  Zoltan’s hand goes on top of mine, and when I try to shove him away, he growls deep in his throat. At my raised eyebrow, his smirk returns. I snort. This shit is going to get old really fast.

  “That’s exactly what this magic comes from.” There is no doubt in Soren’s claim. “I dare hope I am mistaken, albeit on this, I am not.”

  “I’m still very angry at you,” I tell the ancient Fae, who has the decency to look ashamed. “Your selfishness allowed you to look away when innocent people lost their lives. I want to know if we can count on you to help with this.” His mouth opens, but I keep talking, not wanting to hear whatever bullshit comes out of him. “No more games, Soren. No more tricks and manipulation. Too much is at stake.”

  “My kind has very powerful seers,” the ancient Fae muses, and we all watch him like he’s lost his mind. Chuckling, he smiles like he knows a secret the rest of us are not privy of. “We lived our lives based on prophecies and told fortunes.”

  “I don’t get it.” Deadpanning, I narrow my gaze on him. “I said no more games and puzzles.”

  “No games, young dragon. Just the simple truth.” He sighs and the sadness I see on his face guts me. “I was told a prophecy for my own fate one day. It made me want to end my life.”

  “Unfortunately here you are, fucking up our lives.” Myst glares at me when I say the words, which tells me I’m really being an ass.

 

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