Davy Harwood in Transition (The Immortal Prophecy) by Tijan (4)

Roane glanced at me and then said to the vampire, "I'm staying with Davy. Gregory, you—"

He jerked his head behind him and everyone looked at Brown, who was nearly pressing into his side. She scurried back a couple steps and gave everyone a sheepish grin. "He's like the jolly green giant, but not green."

"—can stay with the witch," Roane finished with a frown.

Brown perked up. "Gee, thanks. You know I'm a witch."

"Lucas?" The other vampire stood to the side.

"Gregory, keep Emily with you too."

"And the wolf?" Gregory glanced at Pippa, who stood behind the group. She looked unsure.

Roane's eyes hardened. "I'm sure they won't hurt their own."

"Lucas?"

He jerked his head in a nod. "Bastion, circle behind us. Wren, Tracey, and Gavin will set up a perimeter. Anyone who gets through them, Gregory and I can handle. You'll scout around and sweep back. I don't want anyone trying to get us from behind."

"And me?" Kates asked in a firm voice. "I can fight too."

With a smug look, Roane told her, "There's no decree against them."

A bright smile filled her face. The anticipation in her eyes doubled. It sent a shiver down my back as she purred, "That's what I thought."

'Lucas, they're here!' Wren's thought warned the vampires.

As one person, Roane, Gregory, and Bastion jerked around. Emily squeaked. Brown grabbed hold of Gregory's shirt and flew with him. Her body picked up in the air as if she were a balloon. Kates jerked forward, but stopped at the sight. As the vampires disappeared down the alley, she held back.

Kates looked at me. "Your friend is crazy."

I had enough time to shrug before she shot after them. Pippa, Emily, and I were the only ones left in the alley.

"What's going on?" Emily hugged herself tightly.

Pippa stood next to her, but didn't say anything. She looked at me instead. They both looked at me. "What?"

"They're here for you. What's going on?" Emily gave me a 'duh' look. "Are we under attack?"

"Oh my god!" Pippa burst out. "You're not stupid, Emily. You know what's going on. That's why you're not that scared. I can tell when you're scared and you're not."

"What are you talking about?" Emily's lip trembled.

"He just said 'what about the wolf?' and the other guy said 'I doubt they'll hurt their own.' You know we're under attack. They're all acting like they're going to war. What does that mean? That they're going to war! Figure it out, or at least stop acting like you haven't because I know you have. You're just acting like this so that people will take care of you. God forbid that you'd have to fend for yourself."

Pippa started to walk away when Emily cried out, "What do you mean by all of that?"

"Davy!" We turned at the fierce command. Roane stood a few feet away and he gestured to me. "Let's go!"

"But…" I looked back. What would happen to Emily and Pippa?

Pippa waved me to go. "I'll take care of Emily. We'll be fine. Be safe."

I opened my mouth to ask if she was sure, but there wasn't enough time.

Roane grabbed me around my waist and flew out of the alley. We were in the park within moments. When he stopped, I was plastered against him and a wolf was in the air. He had leapt in the air with his mouth opened, fangs extended, but Roane reached up, grabbed his hair and flung him across the park. The wolf bounced against a tree. As it snapped in two the wolf threw his head back up and snarled at us. He took off again. Bounding towards us, he tried to go around us this time. Roane bent down and sped towards him. He met him halfway and caught the wolf unaware. With another throw at the same tree, the wolf was impaled on the broken stump. The body twitched and jerked to get free, and a high pitched whimper came from its mouth as it did. Two more wolves snapped to attention. They had been stalking Wren, but whirled around. As one went to its mate the other flew at us.

Roane tucked me behind him. 'Under any circumstance, no powers. You are human and only human. Got it?'

I gave him a mental salute, but the wolf was on us. Roane ducked underneath the massive jaws, caught him around the neck and twisted. It snapped in two and the giant body fell limp at his feet.

Five wolves froze in place. As one body, they turned and regarded Roane. Wren plunged a dagger into one of their necks. Gavin took hold of another and threw him, but the other three bounded towards us.

"Gregory!" Roane called out.

The Viking vampire looked up, saw the situation, snapped his wolf in two and took three long-legged strides towards us. He jumped and grabbed me from his leader’s arms in mid-air, just as the three wolves ascended on Lucas. Brown smiled at me from underneath Gregory's long arm. She held onto one of his belt loops with a knife in hand.

"Hi, Davy. Isn't this exciting?"

"Brown." I shook my head at her. "You are crazy."

"I tried doing spells, but they didn't work. So then I tried to twist their tails when I caught them. I distracted a few, but one of them just swished me away." She showed me a red welt on her cheek. "It got me good so now I just hold onto Green's belt."

"Green?" I said faintly, but was distracted when Gregory deposited us both of the ground. We were away from the fight now and I expected him to return. He didn't move. I knew his job was now to guard us.

"It's my nickname for him. I think the leader called him Greg, but I like Green." Brown spoke as if we were shopping for a couch.

"Not much fazes you, does it?"

She let out a puff of air. A strand of her hair flew back in place. "Not much, no. You fight. You either live or die. It's easy to know what to do. Other stuff's harder to figure out."

Gregory glanced back and we quieted.

From there we watched the fight unfold. Roane was quicker than the others. He reacted faster and with more strength than the wolves expected. The body count grew around him, but the fight continued. Wren and Tracey had their own system. Wren would distract the wolf and lure it in while Tracey would come behind with the fatal stab. After the first one they killed, I saw that Tracey knew where to hit their heart. The wolves fell instantly. Gavin and the other vampire, the one who Roane had called Bastion, didn't fight with weapons. They threw the wolves around or were thrown by the wolves. Eventually, each of them would have enough of a hold on the necks to snap them. They just weren't as quick at it as Roane.

Kates fought her own way. She punched, twisted, rolled underneath them. I realized that she used her smaller size against them and moved around until they couldn't keep up. That was when she'd bring her gun up and shoot them in the head. Her arm was steady, her feet planted apart. She knew what she was doing and she had no qualms about it.

For some reason, the other vampires didn't bother me when they killed the wolves, but watching Kates brought chills down my back. She was human, but she wasn't at the same time. Was that how I was going to be? Was I going to become like her? I shuddered at the thought, but I knew I couldn't hide much longer.

When only seven remained, the wolves began to disperse. A few tried to drag their fallen comrades with them, but then Roane announced, "We will allow you to take them with you as long as you do not come back. This is my territory. No wolf will come in and take what is mine. Take that message to your Mother Wolf. Tell her that she's mine."

All of them stopped in their tracks and then turned to one in the back with a fur coat of sleek black. He padded forward and lifted piercing blue eyes.

Roane waited and held his gaze.

The wolf lowered his head in submission. The fight was done, simple as that.

I looked to my far right. Pete stood in an alley with his fists bunched at his side. He wanted to go out and fight with them. I felt the immense control it took to keep him where he stood, away from the fight. It was costing him. Sweat poured down his body to puddle around his feet.

His eyes caught mine and he jerked back in surprise.

As I held his gaze, I let him see inside of me. I wanted him to see inside of me. I was strong. I wasn't afraid. And I knew, without a doubt, that I'd have to deal with him at some point. Pete felt all this from me. I didn't let him go too far, not far enough to sense the Immortal, but I wanted him to know that I wasn't scared of him. The vampires had defended me this time, but there was going to be a time for my fight. I was starting to look forward to that now.

Then Roane stood in front of me and blocked my view. He snarled at Pete, "Leave."

I grabbed Lucas' arm. "No. This is my fight."

"It's not!" He turned on me and grabbed my arms. "It's really not, Davy."

"Yes." I took his fingers and lifted them off my arm. "It really is." But when I moved around him, Pete was already gone.

I was conscious of Brown's gaze. She watched every interaction between Roane and me, but I didn't feel judgment from her gaze. Then she took my hand and I felt her calm slip into me. Immediately, my heart slowed down. Rational thought returned and then I was able to remember Emily and Pippa.

"Where's Emily?"

Kates had come over. She pointed down a hill. "They're safe. The Werewolf Wonder didn't stick around for his mate. I wonder why."

"Because she's not his, not yet." I held Roane's gaze as I spoke, "She's still my friend more than she's his girlfriend."

I moved forward, but Kates stopped me. "She's going to have to pick sides, Davy. Or you're going to have to let her go."

"She's not a part of this. She's not supposed to be a part of it. She shouldn't have even been here."

But then Roane pulled me closer. "Enough." He turned towards Gregory. "Take them to the estate."

"All of them?"

"Wren, Tracey, grab the other two. Yes, all of them."

"Roane," I started.

He turned and walked away. Gavin gave me a soft grin before he followed behind him. Bastion went next and then Gregory spoke up, "Davy?"

Brown patted my arm.

"Yeah," I sighed.

Kates laughed, "Road trip."

"Shut up," I snarled at her before I followed the jolly green giant. Brown was already going after him. Pippa and Emily got into a car with Wren and Tracey while the rest of us climbed into the back of Gregory's car.

"Where are they going?"

Gregory didn't answer.

Kates did. "They're following the werewolves, making sure they leave town."

Why wouldn't they? I should've thought of that in the first place. I rolled my eyes at my own sarcasm. What was my problem? Roane had come to protect me. He did it for me. If he hadn't, I would've used my power and the truth would've been out. Everyone would know it was me. My friends would know too and maybe that was my problem. Maybe I was sick of hiding? Maybe I was tired of being protected like I was some helpless weakling? I wasn't one, not any longer.

I sighed and then settled back in my seat. As I turned to look outside, I bolted back up. Saren stood on a hill. She was watching our car and I knew she'd been watching me the whole time. When our gazes met, she grinned and lifted two fingers in a salute. Then she disappeared and something in me went with her.

It was over. I knew at that moment that my normal life was gone. Werewolves had attacked. Vampires had defended. And one of my guides had stood back because she knew I could handle it on my own.

I couldn't stay out of the war any longer. I was the entire reason for the war.

A tear slipped down my cheek and I felt someone take my hand. Brown gave me a smile and then squeezed my hand. 'I might be going out on a limb here, but I'm pretty sure you can hear thoughts. Maybe you can't. If that's the case, then I'm just thinking to myself which is normal. I do that a lot, but I know something's different about you. Maybe this is it or maybe this is a part of it. I don't know. All I know is that whole fight was about you. And the other thing I know is that when I'm not around you, I don't feel the magic in me. Okay. I feel it a little, but I always thought I was just fooling myself. But when I met you, I felt the magic in me. It was the first time I knew it was really there. I always feel it when you're around and that means something. So whatever's going on, I'm always going to be grateful to you. You made me not believe everybody when they said I was crazy.'

Another tear fell down my cheek.

'Thank you, Davy.' She squeezed my hand once more.

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

Everyone was quiet when we arrived an hour later. Even Wren seemed withdrawn as she showed the rooms to everyone. Tracey stayed in the foyer, which was big enough for a tennis court, but I felt her eyes. They hadn't left me since we'd arrived and despite the private room I was shown, I still knew she could see me. When someone knocked on my door, I wasn't sure if I should answer. I didn't know if I wanted to talk to Talia's sister or not, but then Kates burst through the door.

"That was a welcoming invite." She flung herself on my bed and flashed me a smirk. "What's your problem? Your honey came to your rescue and now you get to sit back and wait for him to come to bed tonight. I don't know about you, but that would give me the shivers, the good shivers."

"I was just attacked by werewolves. Unlike you, I don't find that thrilling."

"You should." Kates sat up. "What's your problem?"

"Have you seen what's going on?" My voice went shrill.

"Have you?" My childhood best friend shook her head and got off the bed. "Davy, this is what happens. We fight. We deal. Then we wait for the next fight. Why are you acting all shocked and bothered by it? Wait. I should've thought of it before, but I didn't." Then she sighed. "You can't deal, can you?"

"Shut up."

"You can't." She stood behind me. "I can't believe it, but you were the one that lit Craig on fire. It's not like this is the first time you've had to deal with something bad."

"Craig wasn't bad. Craig was a nuisance. He didn't mean that my entire life would change. I did what I did so that my life wouldn't change."

Her voice gentled. "You lit him on fire. You burned him alive, Davy. I was there and don't act like you were doing it to save yourself. You were doing it to hurt him. You wanted him dead."

"I didn't kill him. Those hunters—" My voice trembled.

"Those hunters ripped him apart, but he was dying anyway. He was already on fire when they got him. You killed him; they just made it go faster. You're going to have to do worse. You know that, right?"

Could I deal with what I'd done in the past? Craig had been obsessed and a vampire stalking me had made me go crazy. I won't ever deny that, but to acknowledge that I'd made the decision to kill him… I wanted to hide from that reality. I knew it was there. I'd made the decision, but what sort of a human was I if I could do that and then pretend I was still normal? What did that say about me?

"Davy, this is just the beginning." Kates sounded shaken. "I thought you were ready. I thought Roane had been prepping you this whole time, but he hasn't. You aren't ready for anything."

"I'm ready for what I need to be!" I shouted at her, but stopped when someone else knocked on my door.

Emily poked her head inside. "Can we come in?"

"We?" Kates laughed under her breath.

Pippa and Brown followed behind. All three of them looked around the room.

"You have a better room than me," Brown exclaimed. "You could have two bedrooms in this room."

"Three." Pippa gave me a shy smile.

Emily was quiet, but she glared at Kates before she sat in a far corner.

Kates' eyebrows went up. "Could you find a seat farther? In the next room maybe?"

"Kates."

"What?" She looked at me. "The girl's got a problem with me. I'm just pointing out the nonverbals."

"Nonverbals?" Brown's eyes danced between us.

"She glared at me and then sat as far away as possible. You know what that's called? Passive aggressive. I've heard that's not good."

"Leave her alone." I felt a headache coming on.

"Tell her not to glare at me."

"She didn't say anything."

"That's the point. Passive aggressive. She's being passively aggressive with me and it worked. She's got you doing her dirty work."

"That makes sense," Brown murmured as she sat beside me on the bed.

"Thank you."

"I don't like you. You know that." Emily glared again.

"It's like you're blaming me for this. I had nothing to do with it. If you want to blame someone, blame your wolverine, not me."

"What are you talking about?" My roommate stood. "Not all werewolves are connected to each other. They don't all know each other."

"No, but when your honey runs to the Mother after meeting Davy for two seconds and she sends a pack after her, I'd say he had something to do with it."

"Pete had nothing to do with that. And what does this have to do with Davy?"

"Please. Everybody knows it. Even the witch knows."

Brown gave Emily a tentative smile. "He was there."

"Pete would never hurt anybody. He's not like that."

Pippa's eyes went wide and Kates snorted in disbelief.

"What?" Emily looked around. "He wouldn't."

"Do you know that he changes into a werewolf?"

"That doesn't mean he hurts people."

Kates laughed. "I just want to make sure you're not denying that too."

My roommate's face twisted into an angry scowl.

"Ask her." Kates gestured to Pippa. "Weren't they friends since the cradle or something? She's the one who warned Davy."

Emily gasped. "Pippa? Is that true?"

The wolf squirmed. "I think there are things about Pete you may not know about right now."

"Did you warn Davy about the attack?"

Pippa nodded.

"Pete was behind it?"

"I really shouldn't say anything. Pete wants to be the one to explain things. It's not my place."

Kates snorted again. "Way to take the pussy way out. You're not running for office."

Pippa snapped her mouth shut and her cheeks flamed.

"I agree." Emily's eyes were accusatory.

"Hell's frozen over," Kates muttered under her breath with an evil grin on her face. "I think you two should clear the air. It's obvious something's going on between you two."

Both girls grew quiet and glanced at each other, but the door burst open and they shrieked in the next moment.

Kates groaned, "We were just getting to the good stuff."

Wren strode inside. "I could care less. You and you." She pointed to Emily and Pippa. "Come with me."

"Davy?" Emily looked at me in fear.

"It'll be fine. You haven't been kidnapped this time. You're just here for our safety."

My reassurance fell on deaf ears as Emily went pale when Wren and Tracey both grabbed an arm on each girl. They were lifted into the air and carried out the door. The two looked like dolls from the ease each vampire moved them.

When the door closed again, Kates spoke, "I wonder if we'll see them alive again?"

"Kates, shut up!" I pushed her off the bed. "Get out."

She laughed and shook her head. "Come on, Davy. That's a little funny."

"Out." I pointed to the door.

After she gave me a sarcastic eye-roll, she grabbed Brown's arm. "Come on, witch. Let's go find Gregory and see if we can get the Jolly Green Giant to find us some food. I checked the kitchen and it's bare."

Brown followed and I heard her say before the door shut, "Vampires don't eat food."

My headache had gotten worse. I had no idea where Roane was or when he would come to the estate, if he would come to this place, but I knew I couldn't do anything at that time. When I closed my eyes, I wasn't sure if I could fall asleep. Maybe I'd rest. So much had happened that day.

 

 

 

 

 

Roane dropped to the ground after the last werewolf bounded across the field. When Gavin dropped beside him, he turned and held his best friend's gaze for a moment. Neither spoke. Then Bastion sidled up to his other side and threw a cigarette on the ground. His heel ground it out and he spoke, "It's been ten miles. They're gone for good."

Gavin grunted. "Let's hope."

Roane watched over the field. They'd gone, but he knew they'd be back. The Mother Wolf knew about Davy. He wasn't sure what she knew, but she knew she was connected to the Immortal. The Alpha's alarm would've piqued her interest. Even he had felt it as they had fought. The Alpha had hid in an alley, there to make sure his mate went unharmed, but his fear of Davy was strong underneath his fury and concern for Emily.

Roane knew the wolf had been given strict instructions not to join the fight. If the Alpha had fought, then the truce between the Benshire wolves and Roane would've been destroyed. But he hadn't and the Mother Wolf knew sending her own wolves from a different pack wouldn't violate the truce. She had only agreed that Benshire wolves wouldn't claim his territory. The truce had been mediated years ago and Roane hadn't given it much thought since. He'd been too concerned with the impending vampire army, but the number of wolves had been increasing. Their pack still didn't match the vampires' numbers, but it was a two to one ratio now. If they succeeded in getting Davy's powers it could've been a five to one ratio and it wouldn't have mattered. Her power mixed with the Alpha's magic would've made the werewolves unstoppable. The Roane army with Jacith wouldn't have been enough.

"What are you going to do about the Alpha?" Bastion asked. His eyes were cold. "He'll figure out who she is."

"We need to strike first."

Roane knew they were both correct. It was why he had Wren take the roommate and the wolf with Davy and the rest. He wanted them away, far away. If the Alpha came for his mate, the more secluded the better. He wouldn't travel with his pack, he wouldn't dare. Roane wanted to choose when the Alpha would find out Davy was the Immortal and not a thread-holder.

"We will," Roane spoke with an icy calm in his veins.

"He's going to come for his mate. That's the plan."

Gavin didn't blink, but he looked at his best mate in surprise. "That's what you want, isn't it?"

Bastion grinned. "Seems like a good plan to me. He'll come for her—"

"And he'll come alone," Gavin added.

"Then we'll kill him. Even the Alpha can't be a match for the six of us. We're too strong together."

Gavin glanced at Roane. The mask he wore to the world had classic handsome features. Gavin had watched many times as vampires and human alike had fallen prey to the mask Lucas showed to the world. Noble. Honor. Determination. Those were some of the traits that Roane's conquests had loved about him, but it wasn't often when they glimpsed the darker side of the hunter. He saw it now and knew their own speculations weren't at all close to what Roane had in store for the werewolf. Gavin also knew he'd be wasting his time if he tried to guess more. Roane always surprised him, but this time he worried what the price would be.

"She cares about her roommate." Roane looked at him. His gaze was emotionless, but Gavin still felt fear tug in his gut. Even so, he kept talking, "She's still a human."

Bastion's eyes skirted between the two.

Roane narrowed his. "And your point is?"

"She cares as a human. She won't understand about casualties."

"Anyone who is mated to the Alpha is a casualty. She has to die." Bastion moved back a step.

"Davy's not just a human."

"She hasn't been for awhile, but there's a part of her that still feels like she is. She's going to hold onto those friends tightly because they preserve that side of her. She feels like a human when she's with them."

Roane shook his head. He knew what Gavin warned wasn't to be taken lightly, but he didn't know Davy. He didn't see how she had faced the Alpha in the park. She wanted to fight him and she wanted him to know that she wasn't scared. That confrontation was inevitable, but he hadn't wanted it to happen then. If it had been his choice, the Alpha would've been kept in the dark for another month, maybe more, but Davy had ended those chances. No one stood up to the Alpha unless they had power inside of themselves. No human would consider staring down the werewolf and since Davy had, the Alpha would know there was power in her. She let him look inside of her. She wanted him to see that power, but she hadn't shut him off quick enough. The werewolf had sensed more than she realized, but Roane knew. A flare of shock in the Alpha's eyes had been enough for Roane to know. The Alpha already knew she was the thread-holder.

"When he comes, he's not coming just for his mate. He's coming for Davy too."

"The truce," Gavin reminded him.

Roane faced him. His eyes were fierce. "The truce means nothing. We killed too many of her fighters. They'll rise up now. They were going to anyway. It was just a matter of time."

"But the Roane Army—"

"—is the perfect timing for their revolution. They want this land and they want the thread-holder. Now they know who she is. We'll be divided against the army and the wolves. It's perfect timing on her side."

"They'll have to fight the Roane Army then," Bastion spoke.

Roane shook his head. "No, they won't. The army doesn't want this territory. They'll search for the thread-holder. When they won't be able to find her, they'll leave. We'll be destroyed by then and the wolves will stake their claim."

"Why won't they wait it out? Let the Army destroy us and come in afterwards?" Bastion itched for another smoke. He gritted his teeth against the craving. No vampire should be dependent upon something men invented.

"They'll move soon. They know where she is now. And they won't want me to move her where they can't find her."

Gavin knew how Roane cared for Davy, but he wondered if he cared more about keeping the Immortal from his enemies. When the Roane elders hadn't listened to Roane and instead had sent a hunter after him, he knew his best friend had been shattered by the betrayal. Roane had always been loyal to his Family. He had lived and breathed by what the Family wanted. His post as the hunter and then protector of the Family had been the creed that he lived by. When they didn't listen to him and decided to try and destroy the thread-holder, Roane had taken it as a personal attack. Gavin wondered how much his best friend's ego was mixed with protecting Davy.

Then a different enemy popped into his mind and Gavin asked, "And your brother? I know you haven't forgotten about him."

Roane turned cold eyes on him. "I haven't forgotten."

Bastion remained quiet, but he was aware of their tension.

Gavin kept quiet and Lucas instructed, "We'll go back to the estate. Keep on patrol when we're there. I expect Davy's roommate will call her mate soon. I want to be there when he arrives."

Then the three turned as one and sped away. In the night sky, they blended with the ground and were only shadows among the darkness.

 

 

 

 

I woke to darkness. When I sat up, I knew someone else was in the room with me and I could hear him undressing.

"Roane?"

"Yeah?" He pulled back the covers and slipped underneath. I felt him slide in next to me and then his arms wrapped around me. He tucked me close. I relished the feel of his body against mine. It calmed me.

"Why were you angry with me before?" I yawned as I asked him.

"Because you showed yourself to the Alpha. He knows too much now."

My mouth was pressed against his shoulder as I mumbled, "I'm sorry. I was so angry."

He tightened his arms around me. "I know."

"Did I mess up?"

"A little, but we'll be fine. We can handle it."

"Did they go away? Those wolves?" I tried to keep my eyes open. I wanted to see him, but it was a struggle. They were becoming too heavy.

He kissed my forehead and smoothed my hair back. In a gentle voice, he soothed me. "You can go to sleep. The wolves are long gone by now."

I reached for his hand and entwined our fingers. "What about you? You don't need to sleep that much."

"I'll stay with you for awhile. Go to sleep, Davy. You need it." He pressed another kiss to my forehead and then my shoulder. His arms turned me and he shifted so he spooned me from behind. I felt protected and sheltered in his arms.

"G'night, Davy."

I tried to return it, but I couldn't. My mind had already ventured into dreamland.

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

When I woke again, Roane was on the edge of the bed. He sat with his elbows on his knees and his hands cradling his head. I scooted beside him and looked at his back. Not long ago, I would've itched to caress it. This day, I felt nothing.

"I'm numb."

He looked at me. "I know."

I lifted haunted eyes to him. "I should feel something. I've tried to fight this. I try to feel something and sometimes I do. I feel guilty. I look at my friends and a part of me doesn't feel like I'm friends with them anymore. What's wrong with me?"

As his hand reached for mine, I heard him sigh. "I feel it too."

"I don't like feeling like this."

"Your mind is preparing you for what's going to happen. Bad things are going to happen."

I didn't want to hear him, but he was right. My body had started to shut down. Emotions weren't going to help me anymore. "I don't like being this way. I'm becoming a robot. I don't even care what's going on anymore. When Kates kidnapped Emily, I was so irate. I was hurt by her betrayal, but now she could betray me again and I wouldn't blink. What does that say about me?"

Roane pulled me to his side and pressed a kiss to my shoulder. He murmured against my skin, "I think it means that we're going to survive. Whatever happens, we're going to survive."

"I should feel. I don't feel anymore."

He kissed my forehead with a sense of desperation. "We'll get there. I promise."

"What about Emily?" I felt him tense beside me, but I had to ask. "I know Pete is my enemy, but she's in love with him. I saw their connection. It's deep, really deep. And she's my roommate. She was a good friend to me."

He pulled away and stood to cross the room. His voice was distant. "If she's with him, she's with him."

"What about Kates? She still loves Lucan, you know."

Roane's eyes pierced mine. I could feel the struggle in him, but he shoved me out. "I'm sorry. I can't lie to you. You're going to lose friends. What do you want me to say?"

His words whipped me. They stung.

He added, "I am sorry, Davy, but this is what war is. And we're in one. It started with Lucan and then it began again with the wolves. They'll be coming back. I moved us off my territory so that he would come."

"What are you saying?"

"I want the Alpha to come. Then the Roane army will be coming too, and then my brother. We can't survive all of them. Not all of us are even going to survive this first round."

Something in his voice made me cold. I heard everything he said. He said it before, but it was how he did it now. He was trying to tell me something else. He wanted to prepare me for something. I could feel his regret. It went deep, down to his bones, but he wouldn't let me in. He used to let me in. We wouldn't even have to speak out loud, but now he was a stranger again. It seemed so long ago that we had shared a bed.

My gut twisted inside. "What aren't you saying to me?"

Pain flared in his coal eyes, but it was gone quickly. Regret replaced it and then a steel wall slammed over it. He stood upright. "I'm saying to you that you're going to lose some of your friends. I've tried to shelter you from this, but I can't anymore. You're not just a human anymore. You're the reason for all of this and you've been taking a backseat. This is when you stop crying about the war and start becoming a part of it."

"You haven't wanted me to be a part of it." I couldn't believe him.

Roane hissed back, "Because you haven't wanted to step up. You've had this 'poor me' attitude the whole time, even before I met you. I felt it in the library that day and I hated it. You act like a victim. That is what’s going to make you a victim."

My mouth fell open; I couldn't form a single thought. How dare he—how dare—He was right. I couldn't fight it anymore because he was right about everything. I had been feeling sorry for myself this whole time.

"You stopped transitioning awhile ago." Roane brought me back. His voice was soft now. "Since you came back from wherever you were, you've been ready. You came back ready. You just didn't want to admit it. That's why you've shut down. That's why you can't feel anything and I know that you've been forcing yourself to ignore it. I could feel that from you too. You don't trust your friends anymore. You want to, but you don't. Stop lying to yourself."

My mouth snapped shut. Each word hurt more than the last. "It's a hard pill to swallow. I hate when things change, especially when I have no control over any of it."

"That's life." His eyes were hard. "Deal with it."

It was then that I really looked at him. He snapped me out of my reverie and brought me back to our reality, to the two of us in that room. I was highly aware of how close he stood to me. And that he only had on a pair of unbuttoned slacks. They had fallen low on his hips. His stomach and groin muscles were defined. Each ridge and line stuck out against his body.

"You've lost weight." My eyes were hungry. I was hungry.

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "The last few months haven't been easy on me."

"Do you need to feed?"

Molten heat flared in his eyes. "And become human? I think not, Davy."

I knew that. Of course, I knew that, but I didn't like it.

"What?"

I shook my head. "What if there's a way you could feed from me and not become human? I wanted your brother to become human. Maybe I can control it. You could get power from me."

"I did get power from when you bit me. I got a lot of it. I still have it in me."

"You do?"

He nodded and watched me with a knowing look. I flushed under his perusal. "Sometimes I think you know me better than I know myself."

"Because I do. I love you, Davy." He crossed the room and cupped the side of my face. "How are you feeling now?"

"More normal."

His lips were so close. "You feel better?"

I nodded. My throat was thick. The need for him flared inside of me. I was becoming blind to everything else. "I need you. When we're not on the same page, I can't handle it. I feel disjointed. I'm strongest when I'm with you."

He grinned and dipped down. His lips met mine, but stayed still. I closed my eyes. I waited as my heart pounded loudly in my eardrums. Then his lips brushed against me. "I can help you with that."

Before I had time to respond, he picked me up and threw me on the bed. I shrieked in laughter, but his mouth quickly silenced me. Everything in me hummed in pleasure. His arms went around me. His mouth explored mine. His body demanded everything from me and I gave it to him. As he lifted me higher on the bed and slid inside me, I was blind to anything but him. The world ceased to exist. It was only the two of us.

And then an hour later I rolled over as Roane lay beside me.

"Now I feel really connected to you," I drawled and panted for a minute in silence.

Roane grinned and then groaned as he pressed a quick kiss to my shoulder. He sat up in the next moment. "I'm sorry, but I should go. I have things to do. So do you."

"I do?" I enjoyed watching him getting ready to protect me.

He spoke as he began to dress, "I can't take on three enemies without help."

"You said no powers. They'll know then."

"They already know. They might not know you're the Immortal, but they know you're the thread holder. Maybe it's time they find out the rest." Roane flashed me a grin before he left.

Whatever I'd been feeling before was gone. As I dressed and went in search of the kitchen, I couldn't keep myself from grinning. He did that to me and when I finally found it, Kates looked up and laughed. "You've got the Roane Glow again. Lucky."

Brown smiled and gestured to the table. "They have doughnuts, Davy."

Indeed they did. The kitchen table was filled with cartons of the frosted pastries along with bowls of fruit. Some bread sat beside boxes of cereal and a dish of pancakes was placed in the middle.

Pippa gave me a tentative grin. "They have a chef. He made me an omelet."

Emily was quiet as she sat on a stool by the counter. Kates caught my look and rolled her eyes.

"Davy?" Gavin brandished a metal spatula in the air. "Give me an order. I'm here to please."

"You're the chef?"

He smirked. "I have many skills."

"Okay," I replied as I scooted onto a stool beside Emily. She stiffened and bowed her head. "Surprise me. Whatever you want."

"Anything?" His eyes lit up.

"She just said anything." Kates scowled.

A heated look passed between the two before he jerked away. I heard the control in his voice as he forced a light tone. "You said anything, Davy. Be warned."

I watched Kates, but said to him, "It'll be fine. I'm sure."

She rolled her eyes at me this time, popped a strawberry in her mouth and left the room. Brown watched her go and I saw the same nonjudgmental curiosity from when she'd studied me with Roane before fill her eyes.

"This is a really nice place, Davy. This is your—" Pippa frowned.

"Boyfriend's?" Emily supplied. She looked up again.

My roommate was in love with a werewolf, but she was acting jealous. I thought she was over her crush. "I guess. I've never been here before."

"Lucas seems to own a lot of places."

Though Gavin didn't act any differently, I could feel his interest in the conversation. His hands slowed as he opened an egg.

"Davy."

"Yeah?" I looked back over. Emily had been studying me. "What?"

"So you and Lucas are serious?"

Pippa moved away from the counter, but Brown inched closer. The witch stepped away from the table to round the counter so she was behind me. It was a slow movement, but I knew that Gavin had noticed it. His eyes jerked up once, but went right back to the skillet.

"Why are you asking me about him?"

Emily drew back. "I can't ask you some questions? You lied to me about him, remember?"

"We've gone over this."

Annoyance flashed over her face, but she cleared it quickly. "I thought you were in love with Adam before. I'm just wondering how serious this is. I don't want you hurt again."

She was lying. I knew that much, but this sudden loathing shook me. "I thought you cared about me."

"I do." Emily smiled. "Why do you say that?"

What could I say without making it worse?

"A bitch." Pippa jumped as she spoke.

All eyes turned to her.

"What did you say?"

Pippa jerked to the side. She met Emily's gaze. "A bitch. You're being a bitch."

“Excuse me?"

The wolf crossed her arms and leaned back on her heels. "You heard me."

Kates chuckled behind me and Gavin was all eyes. He didn't hide his attention now.

"I can't believe you. You have some nerve, Pippa! You're the reason we're all here."

"No, I'm not!" she shouted back. "We're here because of Pete. He didn't like Davy and he could tell there was something different about her. He's the one who went to the Mother Wolf. I've been trying to shield Davy from her. I've been trying to protect her. I wanted to protect all of us."

"Why? And what's so special about her? I don't understand any of this." The hysteria in Emily's voice was evident.

Pippa opened her mouth and then clamped it shut. She grabbed the ends of her braids and held on.

"Well?"

She pulled harder on her braids. "I don't know what Davy is, but she's something. I could tell right away. But Pete didn't care. He got mad. He didn't see that she's a person and a good one. And she's your roommate. And she cares about you. He didn't stop to think about any of that."

Emily turned heated eyes to me, but looked back at Pippa. "What are you talking about?!"

A plate was placed beside me gently and I saw that Gavin had a resigned look in his eyes. Then I saw behind him that Wren and Tracey had filed into the room. They stood in the background waiting for an opening. Something had happened.

Roane and Bastion came in next. He jerked his head to the side and motioned for me to come. Before I left, I looked back once more. Brown and Kates both saw where I was going, but neither said a word. When I followed Roane out into the hallway, I heard Pippa explode, "Because it's not right! They want to hurt Davy and I know it's never right when someone is going to get hurt."

Roane reached for my hand and led me into a different room. When the door closed, he didn't say anything for a moment. "The Alpha's coming. He's on his way right now. They're waiting for me to talk to you and then when we go back in, they're going to grab your friends."

"How do you know he's coming right now?"

"Gregory called it in. He was on sentry duty last night. We don't have long. They're coming fast."

"They?"

Roane nodded. "I wanted him to come alone, but he's not. It's going to be a full fight. Your roommate's boyfriend is bringing twice the number. Forty wolves, plus the Alpha. I'm not going to lie to you. Some of your friends won't make it out alive, especially the female wolf."

"Pippa?"

"They see her as a traitor. He's been talking to Emily. He's brainwashed her into thinking you're the enemy and so is the other girl. Emily's no longer Emily anymore."

"That's not true. She still has feelings for you."

He sighed again and leaned back on a desk. He braced against the edge, his arm muscles bulging. "Maybe. Maybe not. She feels lied to. She saw us last night. I'm sure she could see how we feel about each other. You've been lying to her since the beginning and she doesn't understand our side. No one's been talking to her to explain it."

"She should've talked to me."

"She came to your room last night. I think she heard us talking. I knew she was there, but she left. I should've given it more thought."

It didn't matter anymore. What was done was done. I swallowed back the pain and asked, "What do I do?"

"You do what you can." Roane held my face in his hands. He tilted it up so his eyes held mine captive. He'd been guarded before, but now he let me in. The wall lifted and I saw his love. It was clear as day and I had to choke back tears. "I love you, but stay close to me. Okay?"

My throat was thick with emotion. He wiped some tears from my face. Then he pressed a kiss to my forehead and dipped to meet my lips. I pressed against him.

Someone rapped on the door with their knuckles. Bastion poked his head inside. "Gregory's here. We've got five minutes."

Roane straightened and the hunter took over him. He was cold. Ruthless. "Let's go."

"And her?" Bastion nodded to me.

"You don't have to protect me. I'll be fine. I promise."

"Let's go!" Wren shouted from the hallway and then all the vampires sprinted away.

The kitchen had grown quiet when I went back. Kates straightened from the wall. "What's going on?"

"The Alpha is here. He brought forty wolves with him."

Pippa paled. "They're going to kill me."

Emily looked at her sharply. "Don't be stupid. You'll be fine."

"She's right, Emily." My voice was strong. "They're going to kill her. They think she's a traitor."

She flushed. "They're not going to kill her. That's insane, Davy."

"Yes, they will. She chose to protect me against them. Kates, protect Pippa. She's one of ours. Brown, stay with Gregory."

She perked up. "I don't know where he is."

"He came back. We've got three minutes."

"Davy." Emily looked shaken.

"Wake up," Kates barked. "Nothing's the same anymore." She was serious, more serious than I'd ever seen her. "The numbers are unmatched. We're not going to keep a unified front. That means it's going to be every person for herself."

"I'll be fine."

Kates snorted and then turned to me. "Will you?"

She was asking a different question and I nodded. "I'm ready. I'll be fine."

The Immortal stirred inside of me.

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

We started to scatter, but Roane spoke in my head, "Davy, stop them."

"Wait!"

Everyone froze. Brown tripped.

"Davy?" Kates frowned. "What's going on?"

"Roane said to stop."

"Huh?" Brown looked around. "I can't hear him. Am I defective?"

Kates snorted. "No, girl. Oh my god. They have a mind thing. They can talk to each in their heads."

Emily scowled and Pippa gave me a dreamy smile.

"I was right!" Brown snapped her fingers in the air. "You heard me in the car, didn't you?"

"Tell them to shut up," Roane snapped.

I held up a hand and everyone quieted.

"Change of plans. Tracey and Wren are going to cover the south corner. Bastion and Gregory are on the west side. Gavin and I will take the north edge. I need you and your friends to watch the east side of the house. It's a cliff, Davy. Make sure no wolves can climb up from the rocks below."

"How are we supposed to stop them?"

"I don't know. Use your Immortal power. Figure it out. You'll be fine. There's a slayer with you."

Use my Immortal stuff. Easier said than done, but he was right. It was time I fought beside them.

"What'd he say?" Kates moved forward a step.

I skimmed the group. Brown looked scared and excited at the same time. Pippa was wary. Emily looked like it was beneath her to be with us and Kates gave nothing away. She was ready to fight. In that moment, I knew everything was going to be okay. It had to be. I'd just gotten this group of friends, even my brainwashed roommate.

Before I replied, I caught a mischievous glimmer in my roommate's eyes. It was masked quickly, but it was there. Then I caught Kates' gaze and nodded in Emily's direction. She understood immediately, shuffled one step to the side, and backhanded the girl. Emily went down hard.

"Ah! What'd you do that for?" Brown slapped her two hands to her cheeks.

Kates snorted. "Like she was really going to help us."

Pippa bit her lip. "She's right. Emily can communicate with Pete. She would've told him everything that was going on with us."

"So what did your lover say?"

"Right." On to business. "We're supposed to guard the east side. He doesn't want any wolves to climb up the cliff."

Pippa's eyes went wide, but Kates smirked. "Have you seen that cliff? A bird wouldn't come that way."

"What do you mean?"

Kates led the way to the east side. When we stepped outside, the entire east side of the house was a stone patio. It extended outwards and around the back of the house. A basketball court could've fit on it. We went to the edge and looked over the cliff. Brown gasped and reeled back. I didn't blame her. My own stomach jumped into my throat at the sight beneath us. Water crashed onto boulders below. The fall would've been two miles down. Huge boulders littered the floor of the ocean. Wind rushed against us at a violent speed.

I could see why a bird wouldn't fly upwards.

"It's a vacuum effect," Kates explained. "Nothing could climb up those walls. They're made completely of rock so it's going to be hard for any werewolf to scale it. If they come up in their human forms, the wind's going to just knock 'em down. Anyone climbing that thing is suicidal."

"He wants to make sure."

She rolled her eyes. "Roane doesn't want you near the action. Forget that. I'm going."

"Me too." Pippa jumped next to Kates. "I'm going to fight too. You guys are protecting me, but my family's bloodline is old."

We all stared at her.

She blushed. "That means I'm stronger than the normal werewolf."

"Ah."

"Gotcha."

"That makes sense now."

"Let's go." Kates started to turn.

"Wait. What about us if werewolves come up?" Then I looked at Emily, who groaned from the lounger that Kates had placed her on. "And what if she wakes up?"

"Really?" She quirked an eyebrow at me. "Put her back to sleep, Miss Almighty."

With a curt gesture to Pippa, they were both gone within an instant.

Brown mused, "Why'd she call you Miss Almighty? Was that metaphorical or rhetorical? Is there a difference? I should look them up when I get home." And then it didn't matter. Brown circled around me with her hands in the air. "I was thinking that I could try some spells. When I'm around you, I feel my magic more. Maybe if I'm connected to you, I might be useful."

"Connected? What do you mean connected?" I moved back a step.

"Our minds. Like meditation. We can chant together."

Suddenly a howl split through the air. Brown grew silent. And the air grew heavy. A somber feeling came over me. I felt him in that howl, the Alpha called to his pack. A second later a unified chorus howled back.

Brown jumped back. Her eyes went wide and her golden skin went white. She grabbed my arm, but I couldn't reassure her. My own heart was pounding.

The essence of Talia's mother was in him. He wasn't holding anything back. That deep magic sparked into me. He could feel me and even as I shook to the core, I couldn't dwell on it. I felt him searching for me. Something shifted and a channel opened to me. I heard him talking to Emily.

"Ems. Emily, are you there?"

When she didn't answer, his anger kicked up a notch.

"That bitch. What'd she do to you?" I heard his growl. "Wake up!"

Emily stirred behind us. She rolled over on the lounger, but her eyes stayed shut.

"Davy, this is not fun."

"Was it ever?" I asked through gritted teeth.

"What if I can't do magic? I don't know how else to help."

They howled again. The sound echoed all around. It ricocheted off the rocks. They zapped around us. Brown gasped again and whirled in a tight circle. Her fear was so strong. She was rattled to the bone.

"Brown," I started.

"What?" She glanced everywhere, but at me. She kept jumping in place. The shadows were terrifying her.

It grew dark in the next instant. The light sailed away and the night sky rolled in its place. Only one person had the magic to do that.

"What just happened? This isn't right." Brown clung to me. Her nails dug into my arm.

"It's Pete," I seethed. "It's easier for wolves to hunt at night. Vampires don't see as well as they do."

"I'm really starting to get scared now," she whimpered.

I grew tired of the wolves' antics with their howling. I felt the Immortal kick inside of me and closed my eyes. It was only a matter of time before she burst free. When that happened, there was no going back.

I said again, "Brown."

"What?"

"Look at me."

She grew still and turned. When she did, her eyes widened. "Aren't you scared?"

"No."

"I wet my pants, not in the good way." She shuddered.

"I'm not scared because…" How could I say it?

"Because?"

He howled again. This one was long and drawn out. It was meant for intimidation, but it had the opposite effect on me. The Immortal rattled inside of me now. I could barely hold her back. She wanted out. She wanted his blood. She wanted to reclaim Talia's essence into the rightful body. Mine.

I opened my mouth, but my body shook.

Brown's eyes grew into saucers. She stepped back and her hand let go of my arm.

The Immortal burst free in me. I couldn't hold her in and my eyes switched like a light had been turned on. It now looked like daylight to me. Brown's ashen face was stretched from her fear. I saw the veins in her neck and the blood that pumped into her heart. Everything in her was a colorful three dimensional x-ray.

Pete's howl was cut off. He'd sensed my transition and now he sat back, waiting for the next move. It was mine and I shot off from the patio. I was everywhere at once. I could see all the wolves, how they hunched down behind their hiding spots. Some overlooked the vampires, but most of them still hadn't found where Roane's small army waited. The element of surprise was everything among these two supernatural beings.

Bastion stood behind a tree. His form was camouflaged. I wouldn't have known he was there except for the blood pumping in him. His eyes were closed and he waited. He sensed where they were and they hadn't moved close enough for an attack. Gregory had taken a position behind a boulder. The giant blonde Viking had a bow and arrow in hand, notched and ready to fly. He waited for Bastion's signal.

Then I saw Wren and Tracey. Both knelt down behind a small wall. Each looked graceful, content with their heads bent between their knees. They, like all the others, were waiting. Roane and Gavin stood on separate ends of their area. Unlike the others, they didn't hide. They stood at the tip of their hill. They wanted the attention. They wanted the wolves to come to them.

Roane's head bent and his nostrils flared. He had sensed me. When his head turned towards me, I knew he wanted to see me so I stepped forward.

"What are you doing?"

Gavin tilted his head to the side. "You look good with the white eyes."

I'd forgotten how I looked as the Immortal. I smirked at him. "He wants to be invisible." My anger sparked and magic exploded inside me. "So you will be instead."

Gavin's mouth started to open, but he was gone in the next second. So was Roane. And I knew all the others were too. They were now the invisible ones among the night. Only the wolves remained in true form. I felt Pete's shock when the magic exploded. He knew the thread holder was present, but the new power in the air was a surprise.

Then I bent backwards and my body swooshed to Brown. When I landed behind her, she didn't react. She had no idea I was there so I reached inside of her. My hand found the box where her magic was locked. It was stretched at the seams, ready to explode. My thumb brushed against the lock and the door opened an inch. Magic slipped through and Brown gasped. Her back arched upwards. Her arms shot out. I could see the blood rushing through her. The ends of her fingers tingled and sparks shot out.

The box's lid remained in place. Even as I watched, I saw how it was trying to close again. Magic older than me had put it there. It fought against the Immortal. Something moved in me and I knew it was a response to Brown's box. The magic surrounding it was angered by my interference, but the Immortal's magic was too powerful. I reached back in and lifted it once more. It went open all the way, but when my finger moved away, the lid started to close once again.

"Oh my god," she shrieked and squealed at the same time. In the next moment, she had her eyes closed and was chanting. If I'd been nervous she couldn't control her magic, it would've been for nothing. Brown had complete control over herself. The magic filled her and the paleness of her skin grew into a rosy tan. The fear was gone. She glowed.

"Thank you, Davy," she spoke in the next breath.

A wolf howled in pain. The sound split through the night air.

It had begun.

I lifted my head and was there in the next moment. Wren pulled her sword back and stood over the wolf. Its body quivered in pain underneath her feet. It lifted his head and looked at her, but the fight quickly left its body, its neck slumping back down.

The first kill went to the vampires. Pete's anger exploded into full force. He leapt through the air, right behind Wren and Tracey. Both vampires jumped out of the way, but his mouth was opened. One of his fangs nicked Tracey's leg and she screamed. Her body twisted and convulsed. Poison from him shot through the vampire. Wren screamed and lunged in the air. Her sword was poised above her head, ready to strike, but he turned his head. He waited, ready to open his powerful mouth.

I appeared in that moment. He turned to see me and sniffed into me. His eyes widened. He wasn't ready for what he saw, but it didn't matter. Wren's sword pierced his eye in that moment. Instead of reeling back from pain, he snapped his jaw at her. I threw myself forward and opened my arms. A light from me blinded him and he recoiled.

"What the—" Wren gasped, but he was gone. She ran to Tracey.

I knelt on the other side of her and reached inside. The poison was flowing throughout her entire body. There was a glazed look in her eye and her body began convulsing in a seizure. Her head was thrown back and her body lifted off the ground. When her eyes met mine, I knew she saw me. Wren had no idea I was there. I was invisible to her, but it didn't matter. Tracey's blood saw the thread in me, the same one that had been in her sister and mother before that. I felt her mother's essence battling to get back into me. It wanted to rejoin the Immortal, but it couldn't. It was still locked inside of Pete, but Tracey saw that too.

"Mom?" Her eyes were white around them.

"Tracey, honey, don't go. Stay with me." Wren patted her cheeks.

"You," she gasped. Her tongue got stuck and she repeated the word over and over. Her throat was convulsing at the same time. Her eyes locked onto mine. I couldn't look away.

Wren lifted her head and looked around. Sounds of battle filled the air now. Wolves growled. They whelped. They screamed.

My eyes couldn't leave Tracey's in that moment, so I went into her. My empathic nature shifted and separated from the Immortal. I felt her fear, but I also felt her yearning. She wanted her family back. She loved Wren, but she had returned because of me. I was connected to her sister and she wanted her back. The love she had for her sister and mother was blinding. It brought tears to my eyes. Before I left her, I took some of the fear from her. She calmed and her body lay back down on the ground.

Wren's fear subsided then.

My empathic side connected with the Immortal again and I reached inside of Tracey. I sucked the poison into my hand. Unlike the vampire, the poison bonded with me. It was from the essence of the Immortal and it wanted to be back with its master. When I stood back, Tracey was already healing. I watched as her strength sparked and built. Wren sat back and gaped in relief. Before long, both of them were looking at the other. No words were shared, but they turned as one and jumped at a passing werewolf.

I returned to Brown the next moment and found her bent over the deck's edge. She cast spell after spell below her. Werewolves had braved the treacherous terrain. They were slowly inching their way up. It wouldn't be long before they overcame us.

Brown groaned as she gritted her teeth. Magic sparked from her fingertips. One by one, werewolves fell, but then they got back on the cliff. It was as if she had never hit them. I snapped back to my human form and could feel their magic in the air. The Alpha was keeping them from falling to their deaths.

"Brown," I said.

She gasped. "They won't die. Why won't they die?"

Each spell she sent to them was powerful, but the Alpha's was even more so. My eyes shifted into the Immortal's and then I was able to see through the darkness below. A net had been strung up below them, made of magic. When the wolves were hit by Brown, they fell, but bounced back up. They bounced to a higher place. She was helping them.

I laid a hand on her arm. "Stop."

"I can't. They keep coming."

"His magic is stronger than yours. He put up a net below them. They can't fall through it."

"How do we break it?" Brown wanted to help. I felt the need in her. It was strong. Tears filled her eyes. "I need this, Davy. I need to help. I need to be useful for once. All my life, everyone's laughed at me. I'm tired of it."

I nodded. "Instead of hitting the wolves, shoot below them. I think your magic can undo the net. The wolves will fall then."

She clamped her mouth shut and turned. Her shoulders were square. And she concentrated with everything she had. She drew up a spell stronger than she had ever imagined. It came out from the depths of her magic and built at a furious rate. I stood back, slightly awed at the gift Brown had. If this was what she could do now, I wondered what she could do when that box was broken in pieces.

"Tres all conte, break the binds he has made. Break the net to fall free. Tres all conte, tres all conte, tres all conte, break the binds he has made. Break the net to fall free. Tres all conte," she repeated. As the power built in her, she narrowed her eyes and the magic blasted from her. The net burst into flame the next moment. It singed the air and crackled. As it fell, the sounds faded. Then a smug look came over Brown's face.

I grinned and stood back. The wolves didn't stand a chance against her.

"Davy!" Gavin shouted at me. I whirled.

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

When I flashed to Roane and Gavin, I saw the Alpha in mid air. He was lunging with his massive jaw open and ready to tear into Roane, who stood with his back to him. He was facing Gavin, who had another wolf lunging at him.

"No!" I thrust my hands up. Everything stopped in that moment. Both wolves froze in mid-air. Only Roane turned to me.

I walked towards the wolf that was ready to pull Gavin's spine out. After a jerk to the fur underneath his neck, I knew the wolf would fall on the ground. Then I went to the Alpha and stood there.

"No—" Roane started.

I snapped my fingers and time started again. Pete's jaw closed around me instead of Roane.

"No!" I heard Gavin yell in the distance, but I closed my eyes. I felt Pete's surprise, but it didn't matter. He tried not to clamp his teeth together, but everything happened so quickly. He couldn't stop in time. I wanted all my Immortal power to burst within him. I wanted it to be like a bomb. And I wanted to take back Talia's mother's essence. She belonged to me. She wanted to be with me and I wanted to take her with me. As the Immortal's energy built up, I felt her beside me.

Pete struggled. He knew what had happened and was trying to take it all back. He was trying to open his jaw and unclench what he had accidentally swallowed. It didn't matter. He wasn't the Immortal, though he thought he was. I saw that now. The Mother Wolf had told him that he was the Immortal. He had the essence therefore he was the one all the prophecies foretold.

He had been wrong. He could feel it now.

For a split second, I looked up and saw Talia's mother. Her hair was red like her daughter's and flowed back. Her black dress billowed beneath her hair and blue eyes flashed at me. She smiled and I heard her thoughts, 'It is time for my energy to join the rest. He is not to blame. What was put in him was not his fault or his inspiration. He has been led astray in many ways.'

It didn't matter. Pete meant to hurt someone I loved. Her pleads wouldn't save him. I pushed forward and let the Immortal explode within him. When it sparked, he reeled backwards and tried to spit me out of his mouth. It didn't matter. I wanted this to happen. It needed to happen. The Alpha's body twisted and convulsed round and round. He tried everything to get me out, but I held firm and then the explosion happened. When it did, his jaw snapped open and I was flung from it. Talia's mother and her essence went with me. She had joined the Immortal and was at peace. As we were thrown in the air, her eyes closed. She laid her hands on her chest and melted away. Then I felt her join the Immortal.

We landed on the ground a few feet away. Pete was flung across the hill. Roane and Gavin had fallen back too. I was beside them before they awakened.

A sudden tingling on my neck made me look over. Pippa stood above Pete's body. She watched him. Somehow she knew what had happened, though I didn't know how. I didn't care at that moment.

I stepped towards her. "Let him be."

"He loved her," she wrung out. Her eyes didn't leave his form as he lay on the ground, writhing in pain.

I watched as she knelt at his feet.

"He's not the same, Pippa," I warned her.

It didn't matter.

She shook her head and ran a finger over his forehead. "No matter what he's been told, he loved her. He's lost Emily as well as the trust he had in Mother Wolf. You don't understand the betrayal he's feeling." She looked up with tears in her eyes. "He was supposed to become my mate. She changed that. She changed everything."

Pippa closed her eyes. The wolf spirit within her went into him. I closed my eyes and followed. Where I went, I wasn't expecting what I saw. The two were pups again and they were playing in a field. Pippa tripped him with her large paws and Pete grinned crookedly, tongue hanging out as he bounded towards her. He stumbled over his own paws, but the two rolled over each other in the grass. Though in wolf form, their joy was evident. Both grinned and whimpered in excitement until the air cooled. They stopped in the next second and lifted their heads to gaze at the far corner of the woods.

An older woman in black garb floated out of the trees. She held a long arm with a finger pointed to them. As a spell started to spew from her mouth, I lunged at her. Black eyes widened and whirled to me before I fell on her. All her battles were won or lost through words and magic. I grinned in enjoyment as I wrapped both hands around her neck and lifted her head free. The fight was over. Her body slumped to the ground, both pups breathed in relief, and her head melted in my hands. It became a puddle of black gunk and I dropped it in disgust.

I felt Pippa's approval, but was back in my real form the next moment. She was still bent over his body. The air sizzled with relief instead of despair and I breathed more lightly.

Roane grasped my elbow and frowned. "What just happened?"

"I have no idea." I smiled at him. "But I think it was good."

He cast a concerned look at the two wolves. "Are you sure?"

"It's for the best. I promise."

Pippa looked up now. She brushed tears away. "Everything's better now. She can't touch him again."

"Mother Wolf?"

She jerked her head up in a nod. "That was her inside him. She was trying to come back in and fix him. She underestimated you." A laugh sputtered from her. "Who knew you could do that? You stopped her, Davy. Thank you."

Pete still lay on the ground unconscious. He had curled into a fetal position.

"Is he going to be okay?"

Pippa shook her head. "I have no idea, but I'll take him back with me."

"To school?" Alarms went off in my head. If Emily went back there too, how would that go?

"No." A grave look entered her eyes. "I'll take him back to my family. I won't be returning to Benshire again."

"Huh?"

"I come from the old wolves. We want to remain hidden. We don't want to war against the vampires. We'll never win. That was her agenda for the last hundred years, but now that the Alpha doesn't exist anymore, we'll make our stand. You shouldn't have to worry about us anymore."

When she turned to leave with a determined glint in her eyes, I was taken aback. There was fierceness in the female wolf that I'd never witnessed before. She was like a new person, but one that I already respected.

"How are you going to move him?" But as I asked, the words died in my throat. Wolves emerged from the shadows surrounding us. Their green eyes glowed in the night. I jerked forward, but Roane caught my arm. He pulled me back.

He murmured in my ear, "They're allies."

"How do you know?"

"She called them."

"Pippa?"

I whirled back to where she was greeting one of the larger wolves. He had shaggy grey fur. His old age was evident, but his eyes looked through me. In wolf form, he towered over Pippa. He would've stood a foot higher than even the Alpha's wolf form. As more wolves moved to the unconscious wolf, a sense of ancestry filled in the air. I felt it surrounding us and knew it came from them. They were old, wise, and strong.

I was grateful that they had chosen the side they had. If we had gone against them, I wasn't sure who would've won.

Pippa turned back and approached with the older wolf beside her. Pete had been transported away. Fresh tears filled her eyes when she stopped before me and then she threw her arms around me. As she hugged me tight, she whispered, "Thank you so much, Davy. For everything. I don't know what we would've done if you hadn't helped us."

All this because of the essence in Pete? That was all they needed from me?

She smiled. "We didn't know it was possible to separate it from him. If we had and if I'd been more certain that you were the Immortal, I would've asked you right away."

"What?"

A carefree laugh broke from her and she wiped more tears away. "I came to Benshire for my family. We knew the Immortal was here. I was supposed to find you, but I didn't know it was you until now. I still can't quite believe it. I didn't even really like you."

"I know. You loved Emily. You guys were bosom buddies."

"I sensed her mate in her, but it wasn't Pete, at least not this Pete. This Pete is supposed to be mine." Her face sobered at that thought.

I asked, "What about the mateline? Are you able to recover it so he'll be your mate again?"

She shook her head. "I have no idea. That's old magic. No one would dare interfere with something like that, but Mother Wolf has become impervious and foolish. This will anger the Elders greatly. Matelines are never to be manipulated and now that it's been done, we'll have to see what other damage she did."

"About her, is she dead now?"

"No. You just stopped her magic from getting to Pete again. You put up a block within him. I'm sure the Elder wolves will move on her soon. She's weak now." She smiled again. "Thank you, Davy. You have helped so much. I can't express our gratitude in words."

The elder wolf dropped his mouth to her neck. His eyes locked with hers and Pippa nodded a second later. "This is Christane. He's my Elder and he wants you to know that the Christane family is indebted to you. If you ever need us, we will come."

Elders. Christane family. All this ancestry among the wolves. It was getting overwhelming.

"Davy?" Pippa frowned.

"Sorry. Yes. That sounds nice." I lifted a shoulder up in an awkward shrug. "All this is new to me. I've never had a werewolf feel like they owed me something. I'm just used to him," I jerked a thumb beside me. "He's always telling me to lay low and be quiet."

Roane barked out a laugh, but moved forward. "Thank you, Christane. I am indebted to you as well."

The wolf lowered his massive head to the ground and then turned as one with Pippa. She melted into her white wolf form and soon they had vanished from our eyes. It wasn't long before I felt all the wolves disappear and then I turned to Roane. "Why are you indebted to him?"

"They came to show their allegiance to me."

"They came because of Pippa."

"She called them, but they were here to fight on my behalf. If you hadn't stepped in and taken care of Pete, it would've been worse. If the Christane bloodline had fought with me, they would've showed their loyalty to a vampire. That would've meant declaring their own war on the Mother Wolf."

I shuddered at the thought of her. "She sounds like a bitch."

Roane put his arm around my shoulder and drew me close. "Well, she's their problem now."

Gavin approached and flashed a grin. "Is this the official victory walk?"

I felt Roane tense. "For now."

"One victory down, two more to go?" As we treaded down the hill and neared the estate, Kates darted to meet us. Her eyes were gleaming and her chest was heaving. A glow appeared over her skin.

She lifted a hand. "They've gone. All of them. What happened?"

"Davy took care of the Alpha," Gavin responded in a curt voice.

Annoyance flared in her eyes, but she didn't bite back.

"Wren and Tracey are waiting for us in the hall. Bastion and Gregory will follow and make sure the other wolves don't double back." Roane's hand slipped to my waist. His thumb started to rub the side of my hip.

When we entered the house, the two female vampires stood from their table. Brown panted from her seat. She gave me a loopy smile. "I can't stand. My legs have turned into goo. They're all melty. I did magic. Can you believe it?"

I couldn't contain a smile. "I knew you had it in you."

"Oh man." She slumped back. "I feel drunk. Is this normal?"

"Where's the traitor?" Kates looked around in contempt.

Brown tried to lift her arm, but dropped it on the table. "She's still out there, snoring away. They didn't take her with them and they could've. A few of the wolves got around me, but then they all ran away. I must be awesome."

"The wolf?" Wren spoke for the first time. She shifted in her stance and I saw pain flare in her body. She couldn't contain a grimace.

"She was a Christane wolf. She left with them." Roane narrowed his eyes. "You should rest, Wren. Heal. Tracey, take her to your room. Everyone should go to their rooms to clean up and rest."

"What?" Gavin lifted his head. "No party? We should be celebrating."

"We will." Roane's eyes glimmered in amusement. "But no one is fit for that right now." His hand spread out over the small of my back. "Let's enjoy our rest first."

Gavin and Kates shot a look at each other, but quickly looked away. I pursed my lips at that. It wasn't the first time there had been a spark between the two, but then Roane urged me in front of him and I didn't care. I wanted my bed. I wanted him. And I wanted a night away from the war.

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN

Her eyes snapped open when she felt the defeat. The magic had been destroyed, banned from the Alpha. When she tried to go back in, a block was set in place. There was no way she could get past it, but then an explosion occurred and her magic was thrown back at her. It slammed into her and recoiled onto itself. She felt it quaking and knew the tremors were from fear. As she gritted her teeth, her anger rose swiftly. Something had not gone to plan and she was determined to figure out what it was, who it was. No one banished her.

The door burst open and a servant rushed inside. "Mother, what has happened?"

It was then she realized the room was shaking. She wasn't surprised. The rage in her was tightly controlled, but when she stood and turned, the appearance of Gailith made her pause. A bruise was forming on the top of his head; blood spilled from it and soaked his shirt. One of the lenses in the small glasses he always wore had a crack and his hair was matted from his blood.

"What happened to you?" She tried to keep the disgust from her voice. Servants wanted to be cared for. Everyone wanted to be cared for. They found it comforting. They were pathetic.

He hesitated and ran a hand through his hair. It caught on the blood and he withdrew it quickly to tuck behind his back. "Was there an earthquake?"

"What do you mean?"

"The whole house, Mother. It's been shaking for the last few minutes. Many of the servants died."

"Why?" Had her rage been so suppressed?

"They're human, Mother."

She couldn't hold back her disgust any longer and snapped, "What are you talking about? Why would my servants die from a small earthquake?"

"It wasn't small. This is the only room that's still standing."

Her eyes widened and she couldn't speak for a moment. Nothing and no one ever surprised her, but it had happened twice in the space of two minutes. She hated that. Someone was more powerful than her. The wolf inside her raged to get out. It needed to kill, but she took a deep breath and calmed herself. More deaths would not satisfy her. She needed to know what had become of the thread holder. That would satisfy her. She had gone to great lengths to get close, but if it had all been for nothing… she clamped her eyes closed at the thought of the possible repercussions.

"Are the wolves okay?"

He jerked his head in a nod. "Yes, ma'am."

"Ma'am?"

"Mother Wolf. Yes, the wolves were able to escape. I got away because one of them carried me out."

She narrowed her eyes and turned back to the window. Her home had been built during the Civil War. It had been made to survive anything, but she had not considered her own power. Never would she have imagined that she'd hurt something she had built and nurtured. But she had hurt it. Sheds that had surrounded the plantation were in pieces on the ground. Someone made her do this and that someone needed to be dealt with.

"Gailith, I want you to go to someone."

"Who, Mother?"

Her eyes were flat when she looked back. "The vampires."

He paled and his hand jerked to clench around his shirt. Filth. Everything about him was filthy. "You're human. They'll love you."

He closed his eyes and bent his head.

She smirked. They were pathetic, all of them, which is why she knew the thread holder had been underestimated. She had underestimated the girl, so Jacith must've also.

"You will go to Durres to see the Romah Family."

His body started to shake.

"There is a powerful sorcerer there. His name is Jacith."

Her nostrils flared as she smelled his fear. It wasn't long before his bladder emptied itself. It trickled down his leg and pooled on the floor. His head hung in shame, but he couldn't stop himself.

She could barely keep herself from killing him. Worthless humans. They couldn't do anything, much less refrain from wetting themselves. If she asked this of him, how did she know he'd succeed? Maybe a wolf would be better? But no, as she watched him through narrowed eyes, she reconsidered. A human was a perfect messenger and gift. Jacith would see him as one and that he had been one of her servants would mean something to him. The sorcerer was stupid in that way, but he had his uses. And he was powerful. He would be angry to find out the existence of a thread holder who could use the Immortal's powers. It was his fault. He should clean this mess up himself.

"You need to go and tell him what happened to the Alpha. The thread holder destroyed his precious experiment. Tell him this and then return home, Gailith."

He jerked his head in another nod and bolted from the room.

As she sat back down in her chair, she took a deep breath. Everything would have to be rebuilt.

"You're sending a servant to Jacith? He won't be returning, you know that."

She turned and a smile spread over her face. "Hello, Christian. Did you come to make sure I was okay?"

He was tall and muscular with piercing black eyes. That wasn't what attracted her to him. It was the wolf inside of him. He was the inspiration behind the Alpha. Christian Christane was the reigning Alpha wolf for his family. He had many grandfathers still alive, but he was their leader. A union between her family and his would cement the werewolves' dominance over the vampires. No creature could stand against power such as theirs and Christian was raw power in himself. As she watched, she saw it thriving within his body.

She licked her lips.

"No, Caralie. I came to tell you that my family knows what you did. You took the mate that was supposed to be for my little sister and joined him to another. You should not manipulate magic like that. It's old, older than your family."

"Older than yours too."

"Yes," he clipped out. "Older than my family, this is why the Elders have called a meeting."

He wasn't there to flirt. He never was, but there was gravity in his voice. Her inner wolf stirred. It sensed something that she hadn't yet. She stood and gave him a sultry smile. "What are you saying?"

His disdain for her flared. "The Christane Family will be separating themselves from yours. We no longer have to sit back and let you do what you want. We're going to stop you, Caralie. Your fight is now against us."

Her smile vanished.

His nostrils flared once more. "Good luck."

 

 

 

 

Gavin helped Emily to a bedroom close to ours. She snored when he picked her up and she was still snoring as Roane and I lay in bed. It was a few hours later and the sound kept me awake. When I rolled over, I saw that Roane was too. His eyes were open and he stared back at me with an arm on my hip.

We hadn't talked much when we got to the room. Both of us had showered and then crawled under the sheets. I had rolled to my side as he spooned me from behind. His arm hadn't moved the whole time.

"Why can't we sleep?" I asked now.

A ghost of a smile filtered over his face. "Because of the adrenaline."

"I bet no one can sleep."

"I wanted to be alone with you."

My heart skipped a beat. No matter how many times he said it, I knew I'd always love hearing statements like that from him. "You don't want to make love?"

"I wanted to hold you tonight."

I rolled over so I was facing him. His arm slipped behind me and he pulled me tighter against him. One of my legs slipped between his and my hand found his to hold. Our fingers interlaced and I closed my eyes. I wanted to savor the feeling of holding his hand.

But I knew it wouldn't last and I asked, "You're leaving tonight, aren't you?"

His arm tightened around me for a moment. I heard the regret in his voice. "I have to go. The Roane Family could've doubled back."

I bit back tears, but I couldn't fight the wave of sadness that washed over me. He was always leaving. "When?"

"In a few minutes." He hesitated a moment. "Bastion's been waiting for me. Once I return and learn how things are, I will come back or I'll send for you."

"I can't go back to a normal life, Roane." My eyes searched his. He must know this. "I can't be the college student anymore. Too many people know about me. Pippa, the wolves." Who else?

He nodded and pressed a tender kiss to my forehead. "I know. Trust me, I know."

"I'm coming back. I'm going to be at your side. We're stronger together than we are apart."

He held my gaze for a moment, a long moment. The minute stretched into another and then a third. My heart pounded the whole time and I held my breath. Was he going to accept my plea? He couldn't protect me any longer. I had to start fighting on my own. It was time for everyone to learn who I was. I felt it in my bones and I felt the thirst within me. I wanted to fight.

"I know, Davy. You don't have to worry, I'm going back to check on everybody. If the Roane Family has returned, I won't risk my best warriors. I'll go alone. Don't worry. If I need you guys, you'll be the first to know. Gavin and the rest have strict instructions to never leave your side. Think of them as your personal entourage."

"Great," I groaned. "Wren is part of my entourage."

"She's not so bad," he teased. "She might act tough, but she's grown a little fond of you. I can tell."

No matter what he said, that vampire was still tough. She might be happy with Tracey among the group, but I knew if or when things went south between them, Wren would blame me. There was nothing logical about my speculation, just a gut feeling.

"Tracey asked if she could speak with you."

I took a breath. She wanted me to tell her about her mother and sister. Did Talia want me to tell her about the child?

"Roane, do you think I should tell her about Talia's daughter?"

There was silence for a moment and then he murmured, "I think Tracey would be indebted to you for the rest of your life if you did."

"So should I tell her?"

"If you were Talia and you had a child, would you want your sister to be told?"

I closed my eyes as a wave of sadness washed over me. "I would want her to be told."

"There's your answer. And Davy?"

"Hmmm?" I looked up.

He kissed me softly and whispered against my lips, "Can we not talk anymore?"

"Why?" But the sudden darkening in his eyes told me and I felt my own desire leap in response.

"I think you know why," he responded, his eyes half closed already. Then he reached for me and it wasn't long before both of us were groaning.

It was an hour later before we could even move from the bed. When I thought of going to the bathroom, my mind screamed in protest. My bladder didn't agree and I tore myself from the bed to dash for the bathroom. When I came back, Roane was sitting on the edge of the bed. The blankets pooled around his waist and the Roane tattoo was prominent on his arm.

I traced it as I sat beside him. "You're not a Roane anymore." It felt weird to say that.

He glanced at me and then lifted one of my legs onto his lap. As he caressed my thigh, he murmured, "I'll always be a Roane. I'm just not on their side with this one."

"You think you will be in the future? Can you go back to them?"

"They're wrong about you. I hope they figure that out, but history is filled with moments when leaders make wrong decisions. They rarely apologize."

I was about to say something about how they should apologize, but someone knocked on the door. Roane was across the room in a flash. He stuck his head out and then he looked back. "Gregory spotted a new army approaching. I have to go."

I stood and dressed as he did the same.

He stopped with his jeans in one hand. "What are you doing?"

"I'm going to walk you out." And then I thought, 'I love you, Lucas.'

His head snapped up in shock and he was across the room the next instant. His mouth ground against mine and I felt myself being lifted up. My legs wound around his waist and I held on. We couldn't get enough of each other, but then we heard another knock at the door.

He groaned as he pulled back, but whispered against my lips, "I love you too."

Both of us dressed after that and walked down the hallway hand in hand. When we got to a small door, we stepped out and saw a car waiting there. Bastion and Gregory were conversing on the side, but both looked up. They stood at attention, ready for their orders. Roane jerked his head to the side. Bastion got into the vehicle as Gregory ducked his massive head and went into the estate. A moment later Gavin came back outside and waited next to us.

Roane pulled me against his chest for a hug. After we kissed again, he thought, 'I will be back soon or I'll call for you. Stay with Gavin or Wren. They are to protect you from now on.'

'Be safe.'

He nodded and kissed me one last time. His lips lingered over mine as I clung to him. Every instinct in my body told me not to let go. Something bad was going to happen. I knew it. I felt it, and so did Roane. His eyes darkened and I knew he had heard my thoughts, but it didn't matter. He needed to go and be the leader. We had another battle to fight.

As he stepped back, Roane shared a look with Gavin. They both nodded and then he was in the vehicle and it pulled away. The night air had a chill that I hadn't felt before. It wrapped around me and I hugged myself as a shiver wracked my body.

Gavin touched the back of my elbow. "We should go in."

I nodded, dazed. Roane had gone. I knew he had to, but it was different when I felt it. He urged me inside and the door shut behind us. It seemed to slam with extra force, but Gavin didn't react. I stumbled.

"He'll be fine."

I looked up. Gavin watched me with concern. He said again, "Roane's the toughest ass I know. If anyone is going to be fine, it's him. He's just gone for now. He'll be back within the week."

That didn't reassure me. It should've, but it didn't. Then we walked into the kitchen and found Gregory in the kitchen. Brown was slumped down at the table. She gave me a sloppy smile. "Heya, Davy. I still can't walk."

"Big man." Gavin slapped a hand on the Viking's back. "What are you making?"

"Pancakes and scrambled eggs." Both of the vampires grimaced in disgust, but Gregory shook his head. "Sarah insists this is appropriate food for humans. This is what she wanted."

Brown laughed. "It's the middle of the night and I feel like we just had a rave party. That food is what we need. Right, Davy?"

My eyes danced in delight. "What else would we want to eat?"

"Blood," Gavin and Gregory spoke at the same time.

I rolled my eyes. "We're not vampires. We're human."

"Speaking of vampires and humans," Brown spoke up. "What's going to happen with school?"

"What do you mean?"

"I was excited to go back to college, but then I was thinking about all the vampires coming to town. There's going to be a huge fight, right? I mean, there was already one with those werewolves in the park. How are the humans not going to know what's going on? Isn't it going to be too big to hide?"

Both vampires became still at her question and that was when I knew the answer. "It won't be hidden."

Gavin turned apologetic eyes to me.

I gulped. "Benshire is going to be destroyed, isn't it?"

No answer again, but that was my answer. A part of my heart fell. I had wanted to think a small part of normalcy wouldn't be wiped away, but that didn't seem to be the case. My life wasn't the only one that would change. Everyone's life was going to change.

Then Kates walked into the room. She moved in a stiff manner and had an odd expression on her face. Her eyes found mine, but she turned away quickly. When her jaw clenched and moved back and forth, I saw that her teeth were grinding against each other. She did that when something was wrong.

I sat up straight. "What is it?"

Gavin's head snapped up. Gregory paused in his cooking and Brown grew quiet.

Kates' eyes darted between all of us and she jerked her head. "What are you talking about? What are you guys doing?"

I narrowed my eyes. Something was wrong, very wrong. I stood up. "What did you do, Kates?"

Suddenly there was an explosion in the air, except there was no fire. Nothing blew up. No one was thrown backwards and no smoke filled the air, but I knew it was an explosion. I felt it and it staggered me. I fell backwards, but no one else did. They looked at me. In slow motion, I saw all of their different expressions. Gavin started to reach for me. Brown's mouth started to open and Gregory's eyes shifted over my shoulder. Kates never moved. She already knew. I turned my head slowly.

Roane walked into the room with a cocky swagger. His mouth was twisted in a smirk and his eyes held an evil glint. His hair was long. It reached below his ears and was tucked back. There was no fear in his eyes. There was nothing in his eyes. Then everything clicked in my brain.

This wasn't Roane. This was Lucan.

My eyes whirled back to Kates' and she looked away. She bit her lip and ducked her head down in shame. Then Lucan threw his arms out wide. "Hello everyone! It's good to see you all."

"What?" Brown looked at Gregory for explanation, but he and Gavin both couldn't move. They seemed frozen in place. As I tried, I found that I couldn't move either. Whatever had exploded in the air worked magic on all of us. Brown started to lift her hand, but I shot her a pleading look.

'Brown, don't move.'

Her eyes went wide. 'Holy crap, I can hear you!'

'Don't move.'

'Why? What's going on?'

'That's not Roane. It's his twin brother, his evil twin brother.'

'This is like a soap opera.'

'He used magic. None of us can do anything.'

'I can.'

'I think it's because you're human. So is Kates.'

'Davy, what should I do?'

'Nothing.' This was important for her to understand. 'He can't know that you have magic.'

'I don't have much. I think I used it all up.'

I closed my eyes in frustration for a moment. I couldn't tell her that the box inside her had closed again. 'Brown, this is really important.'

'What's going to happen?'

Fear started to creep into her thoughts and I felt it in her emotions. It began to choke her, but I couldn't think about that. 'He's going to take me. I don't know what he'll do to Gavin or Gregory, but I hope he'll let you go.'

'Davy,' she whimpered. 'I'm getting scared.'

'You have to get to Roane. Tell him what happened and that Lucan used magic against us. Tell him that Kates knew about it.'

Vampires came into the room behind Lucan. They swarmed everywhere, searching for something. A moment later, they returned with Wren and Tracey held captive. Both female vampires struggled against their captors, but it didn't make a difference. When they set foot in the kitchen, they were frozen like the rest of us.

Lucan clipped out, "Is that everyone?"

A vampire snapped to attention before him. "He's not here."

He let out a deep breath. "I don't know if I'm disappointed or relieved." Then he swung his dark gaze towards me. "Where'd your lover go?"

I narrowed my eyes at him and dared him to enter my mind. Whatever magic held my body immobile didn't affect my thoughts. As we stared each other down, I felt the Immortal rally in anger inside of me. She was angry and she wanted to hurt him. Rage filled me and I tasted revenge in my mouth. I didn't know what I could do, but I knew I could do something if he entered my mind.

Lucan came to a decision and jerked his head around. "Fine. They go with us then."

One of the vampires reached for Brown and lifted her in the air. She squealed and he asked, "The human?"

Lucan looked at Kates in question. She spoke in a bored voice, "Leave her. She's nothing."

The vampire dropped Brown and everyone swept out of the estate. All of us were placed in different vehicles. I was put in the backseat with Kates across from me and Lucan beside me. One other vampire sat beside Kates and we started off.

My best friend refused to meet my gaze. I swallowed hard and realized that she'd known the whole time. Had this been her intention since she came back? I had been handed to her lover on a silver platter. Did she choose to wait until Roane was gone? Or until we were all weakened from our battle against the Alpha?

When her eyes finally found mine, I saw sadness in them. I didn't care. I narrowed mine and opened a channel in her mind so she could hear my thoughts. 'You don't know what you've done, but you will. I will kill you myself.'

Kates didn't look surprised, but she thought back, 'Not everything is how it seems, Davy.'

'You better hope not.'

It was days later before I realized where we'd been taken, and my heart sank.

THE END

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

 

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