The silence was damning, my future clearly in a noose.

Not a soul moved until Ezra blurred so fast that all I felt was the brush of wind against my side…then his fist was hammering into the side of Antonio’s face. He actually…floated. He followed the trajectory of Antonio’s body, catching him by the throat to hold him flush against the wall, his whole body quivering as he hissed in Antonio’s bloody face, “You bring him here to save her, only to give her a death sentence.”

Antonio didn’t fight back, merely stared him in the eyes as Ezra squeezed the living shit out of his throat, killing him, strangling him as he said he would.

Gulping air, I whispered, “Ezra.” If he murdered him he would have a death sentence, too. “No!” Not to mention, I didn’t want Antonio dead for saving my ass the only way he knew how.

Cahal recovered the fastest from Elder Venclaire’s — Daddy’s — arrival and Ezra’s attack on Antonio. He blurred to Ezra’s side, and I felt his power surge as Ezra’s had done moments ago. “Let him go.”

Ezra grunted, and it looked like he gripped Antonio’s throat harder, fighting his dad’s command.

Elder Venclaire was instantly on the other side of them. “Ezra, no harm will come to her. I swear this to you.” He put no command behind his words, even as Cahal grabbed Ezra’s wrist, trying to break his son’s hold physically.

Ezra’s head turned to him. “You know she’s your daughter? You’ll help her?”

Elder Venclaire glanced at me, his gaze worried. “I’ll help her.” Soft words. “And I’ve known she’s my daughter since I knew who her mother was.” A small smile lifted his lips, even as my breath hitched. “She may look much like Angela, but she looks plenty like me, too.” He placed a gentle hand on top of Cahal’s gripping one. “Ezra, let Elder Farrar go. I’ll hide her as I’ve planned to do, if needed, but it will be harder to hide both of you.”

“Release him!” Cahal shouted, shoving his face and command directly in Ezra’s face. “Now, goddamn it!”

Ezra blinked at his dad, and his floating stopped, his feet firmly planting on the floor. The movement not at all forced, he took his hand away from Antonio’s throat and stepped back, picking up my gun that had been tossed around the room in the whirlwind of the earlier spell, even as Cahal caught Antonio, who had begun to fall, coughing hard. Ezra didn’t seem to notice, though, throwing the safety off the gun and aiming it at Elder Jacobs and Elder Merrick as he moved toward the bed, Bindi having — smartly — hid behind them.

Intelligently, they stayed silent, even though their eyes were as wide as saucers, their gazes darting between the recovering Antonio, Elder Venclaire, and the gun aimed at them.

“Ezra,” I wheezed as he lifted the sheet to his knees with his free hand to climb onto the bed. “No killing.”

“Fuck that,” he muttered, eyes never leaving Elder Merrick and Elder Jacobs, even as his lips twitched, and he echoed my earlier comment, “What would you do?”

I blinked, a small smile lifting my lips. “Nothing different.” And it was the truth.

“Damn straight,” he rumbled, crawling behind me to place his back against the headboard. He used his free arm to pull me between his legs, settling my own back against his chest, my head resting on his shoulder. His arm circled my waist, holding me close as he rested his shooting arm over my shoulder, gun aimed directly on the two mute Elders and one silent physician.

Next to us on a pillow, Clyde was resting much the same, lying around Bonnie’s slight, quiet form and watching the proceedings, but his claws were out like he was waiting for an attack.

Again, my lips lifted, and I breathed, “Bonnie and Clyde.” My eyelids fluttered.

Ezra’s deep chuckle reverberated at my ear and against my back as his chest vibrated.

Antonio rolled his head around on his shoulders, only to go into another coughing fit, but brushed away any help. In fact, he pushed Elder Venclaire’s shoulder, shoving him in our direction. He rasped, “She doesn’t have much time left. Go do it.”

Elder Venclaire blurred, instantly at our side.

Ezra didn’t flinch and the gun didn’t falter at the action, nor did he move when Elder Venclaire sat on the bed. Instead, he asked evenly, “What do you need to do?”

“She’ll need to drink from me since we can’t give her my blood intravenously. Her body would reject it because it’s pure Vampire.” Blue eyes, just like mine, met my own. “You’ll need to quit masking so my power can find your own.” Softly, his fingers brushed a hair off my cheek. “It’s truly remarkable that you’re even doing it now.”

“Practice,” I whispered. My heart literally faltered as I felt everyone’s eyes on us, and Ezra gave me a shake. My eyes slammed open, though I hadn’t even realized they had closed.

“Hurry,” Ezra grumbled.

My dad placed his hand gently over my Core and whispered, “Relax.” And I immediately felt calm. “Open for me. Quit masking.”

Glancing at the others, who now wore varying expressions, my breath hitched, but I did as told. I quit masking. Years of training and survival instincts screamed at me, calling me a fool, as I laid myself bare to the power surging in the room, everyone already testing for the truth. I saw all but Antonio’s and Richard’s eyes widen, some more than others, their astonishment evident.

“Good,” Elder Venclaire murmured, and I felt his power rise, his eyes beginning to glow. “Now, the hardest part.” His eyes met mine. “Don’t send me anything to dull my senses while you drink.” He placed his free arm’s wrist at my mouth. “I need to be coherent for this next part.”

I blinked. I was starving, but I couldn’t move. I didn’t even think my fangs could extend. Inhaling a lungful of air, I whispered, “Can’t.”

Ezra and my biological dad both stilled.

Ezra cursed harshly, a round of inventive words, definitely not made for polite company, zinging throughout the room. “She’s worse than we thought.” Lifting his hand from around my waist, he tilted my head back, arching my neck before returning it to my waist, and then he gruffly ordered Elder Venclaire, “Bite yourself.”

I couldn’t see anything but Ezra’s face the way he had me tilted. His eyes were more than likely still trained on Elder Jacobs, Elder Merrick, and Bindi, but they did dart down to mine, and he rumbled, “When this is all said and done, I’ve decided I’m going to kick your ass.”

A breathy chuckle wheezed out of me, and I felt my heart stop. Completely stop. It squeezed painfully, only to thump again sluggishly. I coughed, even as Ezra’s own heart took off wildly, his eyes landing on mine and staying there. And then my father’s wrist was at my mouth.

Rich and spicy blood poured past my lips and over my teeth, sliding down my tongue to my throat. I whimpered quietly as the heady taste of powerful Vampire filled my senses. I got in only one good swig before he healed. A bitty growl erupted in my throat. Pure Vampire.

Ezra’s head was tilted, more than likely listening to my still faltering heart, but one eyebrow rose, his eyes darting to mine. “He wouldn’t heal if you let the girls out to play.”

And before my dad pulled his wrist back to bite himself it again, my fangs did descend, my body’s natural instinct coming to life, and I bit into my biological dad’s wrist.

He grunted softly. “There she goes.” I took a large pull from him, but instinct was a double-headed bitch because I instantly began sending him serenity. He jerked, shaking his wrist at my mouth, barking, “No!”

I stopped drinking, breathing heavily through my nose. Christ.

Ezra’s eyes darted to mine. “So what do you think Jack and Pearl did to rouse everyone in the cave when you called and,” he glanced at me as I slowly took another pull, listening to him, “blatantly lied to them?” He paused. “I’m betting it was something hideous.” His eyes met and held mine, and I took another tentative pull. “Too bad I bet it won’t be as heinous as what they’re going to do to you once they find out you tricked them.”

I took another pull, a larger one this time. And I didn’t send anything, but my eyes hooded at the rich taste pouring over my senses. Ezra chose that moment to glance down. His mouth was open to say something else, but he paused, and it snapped shut. Eyes going to the wrist at my lips, his own gaze hooded. I groaned softly, hungrily, as I pulled again, hearing a grunt come from my biological dad when I pulled long and hard.

Ezra’s hooded gaze narrowed, and he bent his head, placing his lips against my ear. “Is he better than your favorite?” Even though his voice was barely a breath, his tone was clipped and short.

I blinked even as my biological dad muttered, “For fuck’s sake, Ezra. She was out for two days straight in the infirmary.” He grunted as I pulled again. “She’s starving.”

Ezra lifted his head back to stare me in the eyes, his gaze still hooded. I would have laughed if I wasn’t lying there dying. He was actually jealous that I might find someone tastier than him. And the truly sad thing was that even though my dad was damn delicious, I very much preferred Ezra’s taste over any I had ever had.

Ezra sniffed and pulled his eyes back up to where he had the gun trained. “I’m sure that’s it.”

Hilarity bubbled inside me, and I felt my lips curve more than they had been able before.

Elder Venclaire snorted. “Jesus, that’s unbelievable.” A pause. “I need to start pouring my power into her before she bleeds me dry.” Another pause. “Ezra, you’ll need to put the gun down.” And that tone he used didn’t bode well for me.

Ezra’s eyes darted his way and stayed. And the carefully blank face he plastered on most definitely didn’t bode well. “Alright.” He slowly lowered the gun with one last look to them.

My dad wiggled his wrist. “Let go, Lily.”

I whimpered unhappily, wanting more, and most definitely not wanting whatever pain was about to come from his pouring of power.

Ezra’s gaze landed on mine. “I’ll give you more when he’s done with this next part.” Again, the short, clipped tone, and not at all in a whisper, his irritation barely masked. Gently, he placed his heated palm over my swallowing throat. “Enough.”

My eyes narrowed at the command. Not a Vampire command, but an order nonetheless. I took another hard pull, making his jaw clench when I didn’t immediately obey. I let my fangs unlatch from Elder Venclaire’s wrist, quickly licking over the wounds. As he pulled his wrist back, I flicked my tongue over a bit of blood at the corner of my mouth and smiled at Ezra, full of fang. I didn’t take orders well from anyone, not even from my husband…well, unless they were in the bedroom and private, which this most definitely was not.

Ezra’s gaze narrowed, but it swiftly shot to the side.

I let my eyes travel with his and saw that Cahal had moved to the side of the bed. He was staring down at me, eyes glued to my showing fangs. He blinked slowly, his face utterly blank. But he actually leaned down a smidge, as if to get a better look.

“Dad, not now,” Ezra muttered in exasperation.

Cahal’s head cocked. “Is that as big as they get?”

“Dad,” Ezra growled.

“How does she bite properly if they’re that small?” The question was purely curious.

Ezra chuckled. “Her bite’s just fine.”

Instant. “Even at the neck?”

“Yes.”

“How long have you known about this?”

“For quite some time.”

His eyes hopped from my fangs to meet Ezra’s gaze. “Hmm.”

Ezra stiffened under his dad’s regard, but he said evenly, “If you’re done ogling, I thought we might try to save her life now.”

“Oh, please do so.” Cahal grinned, his teeth white and straight, and he gestured for my dad and Ezra to continue. “I’m here if you need the added muscle.”

My fangs retracted instantly at the reminder of pain, and my heart faltered again. I still wasn’t a big fan, even if I had brass balls when they were needed. No matter how tough I got, I didn’t think knowing I was going to be hurt in advance would ever be a tranquil thought.

Ezra eyed his dad, as did Elder Venclaire, but eventually, when my heart fluttered again, Elder Venclaire jerked his head at my feet. “You can hold her legs.”

Cahal nodded and went to my feet. His large hands wrapped around my ankles. He blinked, and his gaze flew to his hands. And a reaction, his response to the difference in our size, just flew out of his mouth, and I was pretty sure it was without forethought. “I might break her.”

Ezra chuckled, grabbing my wrists to cross them over my stomach and hold them there tightly, he muttered, “Dad, just try not to get your brains bashed in.”

Cahal snorted and nodded to Elder Venclaire.

On the mattress, Elder Venclaire rose on his knees, his power rising with him, and he glanced at me with glowing blue eyes. “I’m sorry, but this is going to hurt.”

I blinked. “Yeah.” Um, got that already.

He placed his hand on the center of my chest, directly over my Core. A deep inhale. His power surged the air around us, making me marvel at the strength he had been hiding because I had never felt this from him. Ezra and Cahal didn’t seem surprised by it, but I saw everyone who wasn’t Vampire visibly jerk in astonishment. It was always the quiet, nice ones who surprised you the most with their hidden talents.

I quickly dispelled the idea, though, when he closed his eyes and let his power release down his palm and straight into my Core. And even though I thought my body had no life left in it, I lurched hard, bucking with a scream so earth-shattering it was enough to make Bindi race from the room. Any and all Shifter strength I had came to the fore, and I fought against the surge that felt like a million bee stings jabbing into my Core then scattering throughout my body with twirling stingers the size of switchblades.

Ezra, Elder Venclaire, and Cahal all grunted simultaneously, pressing to keep me contained.

“Ezra!” I screamed, jerking inside his hold. “Please, let me,” I choked, then shrieked another piercing cry, more of the same agony slicing through me, “go! Let me go, let me go, let me go!”

Wordlessly, he held me only tighter, even as he shuddered, curling his legs around my thighs.

I pulled at my legs, feeling the hurled slices race down them, making Cahal brace even further. I shook my head, feeling hot tears trickle down my cheeks. Another shriek left me, and I choked on it. My head automatically turned to Ezra’s neck, and as I started to sob, great tremors racking my body, I scented him. For a moment, I stilled, my nostrils flaring.

My first real scent of him since the silver had evaporated.

I held it in and kept my face directly under his sharp jaw, against the heat of his smooth flesh, as the rest of my body instinctively began trying to again fight away from the pain, tears racing down my cheeks. But I sobbed quietly.

No more screaming. No more pleas.

I had done this.

I was getting my due.

And it was worth it, just for that pure, spicy scent of him. He was alive and strong. I would endure much worse than this to have him healthy, although, death seemed like a kind mercy right now.

Elder Venclaire continued his power surge, his Core filling mine. And that was what sliced through my system. It wasn’t only energy or vitality. It was magic. A Mystical’s very existence.

As a shiver racked me, every muscle in my frame straining, Elder Venclaire murmured, “I’m almost at what it will allow me. I can feel it shutting down.” His voice was quiet, soft, even as he pressed down on me with more strength than I knew he possessed in his refined frame. “Just a few more seconds.”

My teeth chattered as I trembled, and I whimpered on a whisper as my body struggled for release from their prisoning arms.

And then it was gone. Utterly gone. No power flooded the room. No bee stings from hell floating like demon’s playthings inside me. Just nothing.

Ezra’s hands instantly released my wrists, one going to the back of my head and pressing my face more firmly against his neck, the other smoothing down one of my hands to intertwine his fingers with mine, our wedding rings touching. He cleared his throat hard, his chest heaving against my back as he stated quietly, “Elder Harcourt, you had better get the fuck out of here before I murder someone.”

Elder Harcourt’s response was soft. “Duly noted.” I heard him hobbling across the room even as shivers still racked my body as aftershocks. Before he exited, he murmured, “But you are both alive when you might not have been.” A pause. “Remember that, King Zeller.” Another pause, more of a hesitation by the way he stuttered, but eventually he stated, “I also want to say to the both of you…I’m sorry for what…” He sighed. “Just, please, try for control…it won’t be my…” A soft chuckle, his words never finishing, the sound odd. “Never mind, you won’t recall.”

I was confused as hell, my mind still swimming with the fact I wasn’t in horrendous pain, but I heard Antonio growl, “Get the fuck out.”

“Yes, of course,” Elder Harcourt stated softly, and then the sound of his shuffling moved farther away until I couldn’t hear it anymore.

I tried to move, but I realized I was still trapped. And not only that, my body was like a dead weight again, maybe even worse than before. My breathing hitched, and I whispered, “I can’t move.”

Ezra’s fingers dug into my hair, holding my face tight to him. “Let her go.”

I heard Elder Venclaire groan, his hand sliding off me, then the bed wobbled crazily.

Cahal cursed by my feet as he released me, and I felt the bed move again, and he was shouting sharply, “Venclaire! Venclaire!”

Elder Jacobs interjected, “He’s fine. That’s what happens. He has only passed out and should recover in a few hours. His Core will take longer, but he’ll be up and about in a few days.”

Antonio’s voice was closer than before, virtually beside me, asking softly, “Lil? How are you?”

“How do you think she is?” Ezra growled, his grip tightening. “You were in the fucking room.”

I tried to fortify myself, but it came out a croak when I said, “I still can’t move.” It was driving me crazy. It was claustrophobia on a whole different level. “It’s worse than before.” Before, I knew I was dying. It made sense. Now, my Core was semi-filled and I felt somewhat better, and it felt like I should be able to move. But I couldn’t, and my wolf was snarling in boxed-in anxiety, no longer at peace to die.

As the room went silent, Elder Jacobs stated quickly, “That’s what happened to the kid I saw before.” He paused. “She needs a Mage’s healing massage to revitalize her muscles.”

“Makes sense,” Antonio murmured, even as I felt the bed dip. “Ezra, you’re going to have to let her go while I do this.” Ezra growled a little, the vibration in his throat tickling my nose. “It’s not up for discussion. I’ll do her back first, so place her on her stomach.”

“Ezra, let me go,” I whispered, my wolf riding my voice hard. “I feel trapped like this.”

I felt his chest heave against me, but he nodded, gently laying my limp body next to him and turning my face on the bed so I could see him, his face stoically blank, with the others in the room. “Your wolf’s going insane?” He knew enough to deduce the issue.

“Yes,” I growled, my wolf literally pushing at my mind to break free, my eyes glowing fiercely and my heartbeat no longer lazy, instead skyrocketing. “And honestly, it’s freaking me the hell out.”

“Alright, sweetheart.” Ezra brushed hair off my cheek, glancing over my head. “Do it, Antonio.”

The bed moved again as Antonio readjusted himself, and I sighed as magically healing hands began massaging my shoulders, making my muscles twitch as his power jolted them.

Ezra glanced at Elder Jacobs, demanding, “This will heal her?”

Elder Jacobs nodded slowly as Antonio’s hands started moving down my arms. “She’ll be sore, but her Core and body will be back to normal within the week.” He nodded to Elder Venclaire, who was passed out on the bed. “As will he.”

“Well, that’s better than fucking stasis, which would be the only other alternative to keep her animal from making her insane if she was paralyzed,” Elder Merrick muttered, glancing at Elder Jacobs. “Could you imagine us on the brink of war and having the Queen Shifter unconscious for six months?” He paused. Blinked. “Wait, what the hell am I saying? She can’t be our Queen!” His voice rose to a fever pitch. “She’s a damn hybrid, which Farrar here fucking knew all along!”

“She is your Queen,” Ezra expounded, Antonio’s hands not faltering at Elder Merrick’s pronouncement, massaging into my shoulder blades. “What makes you think she’s not?”

Elder Merrick sounded like he was restraining himself. “A hybrid should be Lawfully dead. A hybrid is what creates those fucking freaks of nature. But most importantly, a hybrid cannot do a fucking Awakening!” He cursed hard.

Ezra took a deep, shuddering breath, and with as much restraint as what Elder Merrick had sounded like having, he said softly, “Your Queen has had her tubes tied magically so she can’t have children. Your Queen has done an Awakening. Successfully. And I, and your Queen, believe that fucking Law to be archaic, and brutal to the extreme of murder.”

Silence.

Sounding mystified, Elder Merrick muttered, “Truth. All of it.” A pause, then a half-frenzied, gravelly chuckle sounded from him, which he tried to contain as he muttered quietly, “The no condom thing makes sense now.”

“The four Awakenings before graduation,” Cahal said softly, ignoring Elder Merrick. “That’s when she did it.”

“Yes,” Antonio spoke calmly, kneading his fingers into my back muscles. “I have it all on videotape in a secure location so that no one can claim otherwise.”

Elder Jacobs sputtered, “The Elders have been lying to us this whole time?”

Massaging the small of my back, Antonio answered quietly, “I don’t know. They may truly believe it, a fabrication made long ago to keep hybrids from being born, when they saw the offspring of a hybrid and a Com. Or maybe hybrids couldn’t do it in our earlier days.” A pause. “I don’t know their reasoning, but I’ve done the research and plenty of it — not even including Lily’s proof with my own eyes — has declared itself in journals. Hybrids can indeed do Awakenings.”

“So, I ask you again,” Ezra said softly. “What makes you believe she is not your Queen?”

There were a few beats of silence, and then Elder Merrick growled, “Nothing. She is the Queen Shifter.” He sounded pissed the fuck off, but no longer hysterical. “Although, there are now some Elders I would like to dig up to rip their fucking heads from their corpses.”