Antonio interrupted Elder Merrick’s rambling of shredding already dead Elders, mumbling quietly, “Lil, I have to touch your…behind. You have muscles there that are used for walking and fighting.”

I snorted. “You changed my diapers, Antonio.”

“Yes, but you were much smaller then.” He sighed. “It’s so hard when kids grow up.” He quickly zapped my ass, then went straight to my legs.

“Ow!” That had hurt.

“Sorry,” he rumbled, sounding embarrassed, which was funny in itself. He quickly changed the subject, speaking to the others while saying evenly, “This news is not to be leaked. In due course, the four current Rulers may present the change, but right now is not the time to advertise Lily’s hybrid nature.”

Elder Jacobs snorted. “Agreed.”

“No shit,” Elder Merrick muttered.

“Of course not,” Elder Zeller murmured.

“Good,” Antonio stated, then he muttered, “And I’ll see what I’ll have to do with Bindi. She is still in the apartment, isn’t she?”

Ezra and Cahal actually chuckled, glancing at each other, and then Ezra flicked a finger over my head, whispering, “She’s eavesdropping right outside the door.”

Softly, Antonio muttered, “Good, because if I have to wipe her memory I really don’t want to have to chase her down.”

Ezra’s lips pinched, his gaze meeting mine before moving back up to Antonio’s. “She’s a good physician and I don’t believe she’ll say anything. She knew the twins were hybrids, and she didn’t rat us out.” His finger flicked again. “She’s only curious.” A memory wipe was horrible in both of our minds. It was like mind rape, taking away knowledge you had gained.

Antonio grunted, patting my foot. “Roll over, Lil.” I rolled onto my back, biting my lip as my joints ached like an old piece of machinery that hadn’t been serviced recently. Antonio smiled, apparently pleased at seeing that I was able to move — as was I — even if like an old Com, but he glanced back at Ezra, stating loudly, “I’ll see just what secrets she can keep. A permanent memory wipe is only a last resort, but if it’s needed, I’ll do it.” He tilted his head at the door as he started working on the front of my legs, now going in reverse. “Just tell me if she runs.”

“Will do,” Cahal murmured when his son didn’t reply, leaning back against a wall, arms crossed.

Antonio’s gaze hit mine, and I could tell he was still upset with me, barely hiding it with his actions and words as his fingers dug into my stomach muscles, magic sizzling.

I met his eyes evenly. “I would do it again.”

“I know,” he stated gruffly. “That’s what scares me.”

“If she’s going to be ill for a week,” Elder Merrick began to pace, interjecting our exchange, “The Elder Shifters will need to be told something when our Queen suddenly disappears for a week with a war knocking at our door.”

Antonio shook his head. “No. No others can talk to her. How the hell does she explain it?” He shrugged a shoulder. “Oh yes, Elder such-and-such, I willingly broke into a Mage’s restricted space reserved for one of the largest Mys criminals, then made a deal with the devil.” He glanced at me. “And yes, none of us here are senseless enough to believe you didn’t make a deal with her of some sort,” my lips thinned, though I managed to control my heart rate, but he still snorted at my expression, “and God help us when that happens.”

His attention went back to Elder Merrick. “And then, Elder such-and-such, I had the King Elemental and Queen Mage perform an illegal act inside our only sanctuary, and then I broke into an Elder Vampire’s suite and willingly gave up my own damn life to the King Vampire, and the only way I could be brought back to life was to announce my hybrid nature and bring in my Vampire father to save the day.” Again, he shrugged. “Sounds about right to get everyone shot, hanged, and burned.”

The only person in the room who didn’t stare at me with a narrowed gaze was Ezra.

“It does sound kinda bad when you put it like that,” I muttered as Antonio massaged the front of my shoulders.

“It is that bad,” Cahal said dryly, glancing to Elder Merrick. “Antonio’s right. We should allow only you to answer any questions to the Elder Shifters. Come up with a story that will fly on everyone’s truth radar.” His gaze met mine. “You’ll just have to suck it up and not recover in your room the whole time, and make believable performances, so no one suspects you’re hurting.”

I gritted my teeth as Ezra helped me sit up, since Antonio was done with the massage. “I can handle that.” Hopefully.

Elder Merrick sighed, giving me a glare, knowing I wasn’t being completely honest, but he still turned his attention to his group, asking, “Then what’s the damn believable story?”

Everyone was silent, considering, until Antonio’s head teetered back and forth, murmuring, “If anyone notices she’s not up to par just tell them the arrow that pierced her thigh did more damage than expected, which caused a need for a blood transfusion, which she couldn’t have. Just don’t mention why she couldn’t have the transfusion. So, she’s drained of energy, which she actually is, and since she’s an anomaly to most anyway, they’ll believe this to be the cause.”

Elder Merrick’s jaw clenched. “They’ll suspect something’s askew.”

Elder Jacobs retorted, “Suspecting is better than knowing.”

I sighed, sluggishly rubbing my forehead. “Once I drink again, I’m sure I’ll feel better. Elder Venclaire wasn’t incorrect. I’m parched, and it’s not helping the situation.” When Elder Merrick and Elder Jacobs only stared at me blankly, I stated, “Blood, gentlemen. I need more blood.”

They physically jolted at the reminder of my hybrid nature.

Cahal asked quietly, “Who are your donors? Because Ezra can’t be the only one supplying you.”

Instant. “I can do bagged.” I wouldn’t mention Pearl and Jack. The less they knew the better.

Even though his face scrunched up in disgust, he stated, “That wasn’t what I asked.”

“Are you offering, Dad?” Ezra interrupted, getting the focus off me.

I was pretty sure his dad didn’t quite know what to say as his jaw slacked a bit.

Antonio sighed heavily. “Since you’ve obviously had more practice with live, Lil, go ahead. I’ll donate. My blood’s powerful and it should help you recover faster.”

It was like a switch flipped inside my head, I was so damn thirsty. I seriously blacked out for a moment, pretty sure I showed the tiny bit of Vampire speed I had, because a moment later my fangs were in his neck, the bubbly, almost tart, taste of Mage blood pouring into my mouth. I sighed, wrapping an arm around him as I pulled, instantly sending him peace. His body went slack in my arms as I pulled again…and I shuddered, tasting just how powerful he was…as I gently lay him on the bed, my hair fanning over his face and mine in a semblance of privacy as I drank.

“Well…shit,” I heard Elder Jacobs rumble quietly. He cleared his throat. “Did you see that? She’s too fucking fast for a Shifter.”

Ezra grunted, and I felt his hand running over my back softly. Up and down. Warmth trailing its repetitive wake. “Imagine the control she’s always had to use.” His lips brushed my neck, saying quietly, “She’s amazing.”

“Huh.” Elder Merrick’s wolf growled quietly in his throat. “I need to think of something different for her training now that I know this.”

“Or,” Ezra stated, his grip on me tightening, his own Vampire growling quietly, “I can join your training sessions with her, so she gets both Shifter and Vampire training.”

Antonio’s pulse started to slow against my tongue, and I sighed in frustration, still thirsty, but I pulled back, licking over the wounds and hearing Elder Jacobs state, “That’s actually a really good idea, if it can be done privately.”

I listened to Antonio’s heart, resting my hand gently against his cheek and watching as his lids slowly fluttered open. I smiled down at him. With Elder Venclaire’s blood already coursing through me, and now Antonio’s, I felt a hell of a lot better. I kissed his forehead, murmuring, “Your blood rocks. Thank you.”

His chuckle sounded groggy. “Glad to help.” He blinked. “I didn’t expect you to go for the neck. I almost zapped you.” He chuckled again. “But your mind hold isn’t so bad.”

It was my turn to blink. “Yeah, um, sorry about that. It’s what I’m used to and I’m so thirsty I just kind of lost it there for a second.” Slowly, I helped him sit up, resting him against the headboard. My eyebrows puckered in confusion when a bottle of orange juice was dangled in front of my face. I glanced up, seeing Cahal holding it out while he listened to Ezra and Elder Merrick argue about my ‘new and improved’ training schedule they were concocting all by themselves without my input. Since there was time to argue about that later, I took the juice, mumbling, “Thank you.”

He ignored me. Same ol’ Cahal.

Opening the juice, I put it to Antonio’s lips. He opened his eyes when the liquid hit his mouth, and took the bottle from me, chugging it. I had taken enough to make him groggy, so I wasn’t worried about his sluggishness, plus his heart rate was within normal parameters. Although, he did mutter incoherently, “I need…spell.”

“What do you need?” I asked, taking the empty from him and placing it on the nightstand.

He shook his head hard, and I bit my lip when he reached out a hand and yanked on Cahal’s shirt, startling him. Cahal glanced down, eyebrows furrowed. Antonio waved his hand, the action wobbly, mumbling, “Come here, Cahal. Need to do something.” He sounded a little drunk. Everyone glanced at Antonio, and I tried not to laugh at Cahal’s wide-eyed expression to the demand in Antonio’s tone, even if slurred.

“Excuse me?” he asked with a blank face.

“Don’t pull that,” Antonio waved the shaky hand again, “higher than thou crap right now. I need to do a spell on,” he waved a wobbly finger at Cahal, Elder Merrick, Elder Jacobs, and Elder Venclaire, “you guys, so get your ass down here so I can finish up with everyone else before I pass out.” When everyone stayed motionless — including myself — at the woozy Mage’s abrupt demand, Antonio sighed and lifted the empty orange juice bottle off the nightstand…and literally…smacked Cahal in the ass with it. “I. Said. Ass. Down. Here. Now.”

Ezra leaned, whispering at my ear, “You didn’t take that much blood, did you?”

I shook my head, eyes huge, not sure if I should laugh at Antonio for his drunken antics or protect him, since Cahal looked like he wanted to pummel him. “Enough to make him woozy, but not delirious.”

“What spell?” Elder Merrick interjected, just as Cahal opened his mouth to say something I was sure wasn’t going to be…polite…to Antonio.

Antonio grinned. Tapped his head. “Trust, my friend. Trust me to do right by you.”

Well…that explained shit.

Antonio blinked and glanced down at Elder Venclaire, and his eyes narrowed. “Well, I guess I could leave him out.” His head tilted haphazardly after a moment, his golden gaze meeting mine. “You really think of me as your dad?”

Mentally shaking myself at the abrupt change in topic, I nodded. “Yes.”

He waved the orange juice bottle at Elder Venclaire. “What about him?”

Um, not really the intimate conversation I wanted to be having in front of everyone, but he was looking so intently at me, even if blinking repeatedly, that I didn’t think he was going to let it go. I cleared my throat, watching Antonio closely. “I don’t know what to think of him. I know that he’s intelligent, cunning, a smart ass, and powerful.” I shook my head. “But other than that, I don’t know much about him, except that he loved my mother — even though she still ran from him when she found out she was pregnant.” I licked my lips. “With all that being said, I would like to know him better, but as far as a dad is concerned, you’re always going to be first in my mind and heart.” I shrugged, the action fairly easy. “You’re my dad.”

Slowly, Antonio began to smile until his grin was brighter than any twinkling star. “Well, alright,” again, the orange juice bottle waved drunkenly in the air, “I guess I’ll do the spell on him since he’s no threat.”

Huh?

His eyes glowed golden, and before anyone could stop him — we all sat or stood stunned — he ran his thumb over Elder Venclaire’s forehead, a line of shimmering golden dust trailing where he touched before it sank into Elder Venclaire’s skin. Then, further adding to our shock, he bent/fell over Elder Venclaire, his lips moving without sound as he pressed on Elder Venclaire’s chin, opening his mouth to press his own lips to the Vamp’s. I blinked, frozen, and watched in stupefied shock as a golden light suddenly erupted between the cracks where their opened mouths touched. Elder Venclaire’s body arched for a second, like he had been shocked, then fell back to the bed as slack as he had been before, still out cold as Antonio took his mouth away, gently pushing the Vamp’s mouth closed again before he thumped back against the headboard with a silly grin on his face.

He threw his arms wide, teetering. “See, it wasn’t so bad.” He tapped his head with the orange juice bottle as we all watched, stumped. “Knowledge and protection, my friends.” He pointed the orange juice bottle at Elder Venclaire. “He’s got it. Now, who else wants it?”

There was a full minute of silence as everyone looked from the grinning Antonio to Elder Venclaire. I was pretty sure none of us really knew what to think of this. Antonio had just performed a spell on an unconscious Elder Vampire, someone not of his faction. He had just stepped over some major boundaries without getting Elder Venclaire’s consent. Honestly, I wasn’t even sure how many Laws that broke. I counted nine in my mind, and then gave up, figuring he should be rotting in jail for at least six of his lifetimes.

“Maybe I did take too much blood,” I mumbled, instantly training my ears on his heart rate again. “This could be blamed on that. He might not be held responsible for his actions, then.”

Antonio chuckled, his heart rate sounding fine to my ears. “Oh, Lil. There’s no jail that could hold me, and besides, I do believe,” his eyes glowed dimly, “I’m about to have another taker.”

Bindi was suddenly at the door, her eyes glowing as she stared at the ceiling, peering at absolutely nothing. Her voice was distant as she stated, “I’m needed.” Her head tilted to the side oddly, her gaze floating to Antonio. “Can you do the spell on me? I’m not powerful enough to do it myself.” Abruptly, her eyes stopped glowing, and her head straightened normally, but she didn’t take her attention from Antonio. “I can be trusted.”

Antonio’s eyes flickered tiredly, and he asked, “Do you know what you ask for?”

“No.” Her shoulders straightened. “Only that I’m needed.”

Antonio smiled drunkenly, “Then come on over here, and show these pussies it’s not so bad.”

She came, kneeling beside the bed. Antonio swiped his thumb over her forehead, the dust appearing then sinking into her forehead. He tilted up her face gently, murmuring, “Open your mouth.” She did, and his lips started moving — again, no sound emitted with his silent words — and he placed his lips to hers. The golden light shone through the cracks between their lips, and he gripped the back of her head when she arched, the light shining brightly. A soft moan emitted from Bindi before her body relaxed, just as Antonio took his mouth from hers.

“Now, that wasn’t so bad, was it?” Antonio slurred his question, thumping back against the headboard.

Bindi cleared her throat, shaking her head a little. “Nope.” She blinked. Shook her head again, and then stood on steady feet. “Not bad at all.”

“Who’s next?” Antonio asked, when Bindi moved to the corner of the room. “Or, more importantly, who trusts me?”

Now, that was such a loaded question. “I guess I can—”

Antonio tapped the orange juice bottle against my mouth, stopping me. “Nope. Not you.” He thumped Ezra’s forehead with the bottle. “Or him.” He blinked lazily a few times. “The spell won’t work on you two, but it will on us since we’re just the rebounds.” He sighed heavily, glancing around the room. “Seriously, people, I can’t stay awake too much longer.”

Elder Merrick stalked to stand next to the bed directly beside Antonio, staring down at him hard. “We need this?”

“Eh,” Antonio’s head wobbled, “You don’t need it, but if I were you, I would sure as hell want it.” A scowl graced his features. “Now me, on the other hand, I’ll want to commit murder, but I already have the protection.”

“What’s going on, Antonio?” I asked slowly, beginning to worry, my amusement long gone.

His gaze met mine. He blinked. Suddenly and completely unexpectedly, his eyes filled with tears, shocking me still, never having seen him cry. No tear escaped, but everyone in the room froze, staring at him. He cleared his throat, his head teetering to the side. “A vision.”

Breathless, my gaze darted back and forth between his, even as I scooted closer to Ezra, needing his warmth. Ezra’s arms instantly wrapped around me, hauling me onto his lap and holding me close as we both stared at Antonio’s stricken expression. I whispered, “Can you tell us anything?” Because it was definitely about Ezra and me since he said his spell wouldn’t work on us.

His golden gaze swung back and forth between Ezra and me, even as Ezra practically crushed my ribs, he was holding me so tight. Finally, Antonio shook his head, whispering, “Just that I’m so sorry for the agony you two will endure.” And, fucking hell, a tear did slip down his cheek. One of the most vicious men in Mystical history was crying because of what was in our future.

Both Ezra and I didn’t move, our heartbeats pounding like mad, both of us not breathing, even as thoughts to keep our fate from occurring ran like rapid fire in my mind.

“Get the fuck out of my way,” Cahal ordered gruffly, shoving Elder Merrick to the side and bending over Antonio, his hands on either side of Antonio’s face against the headboard and his gaze level with his, staring him in the eyes. “Can this be stopped?”

Antonio’s chest rose and fell heavily, and he shook his head once. “I’m not powerful enough to stop it.” He held Cahal’s gaze. “I can only offer my protection to those I know should have it. Those I know it will work on.”

Cahal trembled, and slowly, like he didn’t want to know, he asked, “Do I need it?”

Antonio’s lids blinked slowly, his lips pinching. “You will wish to slaughter, too.”

There was a silent pause, then Cahal roared in Antonio’s face, slamming his fist into the headboard above Antonio’s head, cracking it. “Just do it.” He cursed. “Do the damn spell.”

Antonio’s chest rose and fell again, but he nodded. Swiped his thumb over Cahal’s forehead. I wasn’t in a position to see the dust appear and disappear, but Cahal jerked at the motion, telling me that it had and that he hadn’t liked the sensation. Antonio sighed again and grabbed the back of Cahal’s head, stating, “Open your mouth, and don’t pull away.”

Cahal’s Vampire growled, but he did as told and opened his mouth. Antonio lifted and pressed his mouth to his, Cahal like a statue as light erupted between their mouths. Cahal trembled, and he grabbed the top of the headboard when he jerked hard, Antonio’s grip becoming white-knuckled on the back of his head. But in the end, like Bindi, a deep, soft moan erupted from him right before his body relaxed and Antonio pulled his mouth away.

Like Bindi, Cahal blinked repeatedly and then shook his head hard for a few moments before lifting away from Antonio on steady legs. His heartbeat wasn’t normal, very much accelerated, but he still ran a hand over his face and turned to Elder Merrick and Elder Jacobs, saying, “It wasn’t that bad.”

Elder Jacobs snorted. “The hell it wasn’t.” He pointed to the top of the headboard, which was cracked not just where Cahal’s fist had hit it, but also where he had gripped it. “It might be okay for a Mage,” a head tilt toward Bindi, “because they’re used to that shit, but for another faction it didn’t look like a damn walk in the park.”

“We’re going to leave, if we’re not needed anymore,” Ezra stated slowly, his grip never having let up on my rib cage. “I’m sure Lily needs to rest.” If something was going to happen, he left unsaid, but it was heard nonetheless.

Cahal met his son’s gaze. “Go.”

Ezra stared at him a moment, then nodded, lifting me off his lap to the bed as Elder Merrick and Elder Jacobs started arguing about who was going to be spelled next. Ezra made his way through the debris to a dresser, opening it while I gingerly made my way off the bed, both Bonnie — now well enough to move slowly, too — and Clyde jumping off the bed. As Ezra put on jeans he found in a drawer, working them on underneath the sheet, I met Antonio’s woozy gaze.

“What happened to my Hummer?” I asked, not sure when I would talk to him again.

“I had to transfer it back here, which took forever,” Antonio rubbed his eyes, “It’s currently parked outside, and I gave the keys to Pearl.”

I rolled my shoulders. “Our Prodigies?”

Antonio yawned. “All four Prodigies are here. Safe.”

Ezra let the sheet drop, zipping and buttoning the jeans while adding to our conversation. “You do realize it wasn’t natural to have so many Coms in that town where I found the Prodigy Vampire, don’t you?”

“It was a trap for Ezra,” I stated firmly, grabbing my gun off the bed and my Cizano case from the floor, my body only creaking a smidge with the action.

Cahal nodded. “Yes, but you two left no survivors for us to question. We don’t know how they knew to take the girl and lie in wait for him. There were no clues where the girl was being held, and the two surviving Vampires of the battle had only been visiting with their friends who died that day.”

“Coms couldn’t have known what she was,” I said quietly, giving him and Antonio a look.

“Yes. We’ve deduced that much.” Cahal’s face wasn’t friendly. “It means there’s a traitor somewhere, but it’s most peculiar because the only person that should have known where to find her was Ezra, thanks to the spell.” He eyed me. “There is a reason for our madness.”

I nodded. “But couldn’t a Mage have done exactly the same spell to find her first?”

Antonio shook his head drunkenly, his eyes closing only to slowly reopen. “The spell is entrusted to only two — the original spell is in an enchanted book. If they die, the spell is to be passed on to the next two.” He paused. “Elder Harcourt has been questioned extensively. He is innocent. And so am I.”

I sniffed the air. Truth. And it was interesting to know that Antonio was the second Mage to be trusted with spell. One word: power. “So in other words, you’re stumped.”

“Exactly,” he muttered. “Although, Ezra still needs to be questioned.”

I snorted, glancing at Ezra as he unzipped a black duffle in the corner that looked like his and peered inside at its contents. “Ezra, did you tell anyone where the Prodigy Vampire was?”

He pulled out a shirt, which was his. His bag. “No.”

Truth.

“Did you have anything to do with your Prodigy being held by Coms?”

He put the shirt on over his head. “No.”

Truth.

I glanced to Elder Merrick, thinking it would be best to come from him.

He sighed and stopped long enough in his discussion to glance around the room at the occupants, and state, “He’s telling the truth.” Then he went back to arguing with Elder Jacobs.

“Questioning done,” I muttered, shaking my head. Duh. But irritation aside, I still glanced at Antonio, holding his gaze, wanting him to hear me. “I love you.”

His lips lifted into a sad smile. “I love you, too, Lil.”

Ezra’s arm wrapped around me from behind, his duffle hooked over his shoulder, catching at my leg. “I love you, too, Dad.”

“I know.” His dad met his gaze evenly. “And I love you.”

The goodbyes were done.

Ezra and I didn’t speak as we quickly made our way back to our room. All Vampires stopped and stared at him, but he wore an expression that didn’t bode well if any were to stop our progress. I appeared the same as my husband, since every Shifter I passed quickly sidestepped. I was almost positive Ezra was on the same wavelength as me, but I wanted to get into our room so we could hash it out. Not to mention, we needed to speak with Jack and Pearl before anything more happened.

I sighed in relief as we turned the corner to our room, my bones only faintly aching. Rubbing a hand over my face, I glanced at Ezra. His features were still set in quiet fierceness. But he did peer at me when he unzipped his bag’s front pocket, pulling his key from its depths. Honestly, I had no clue where my duffle was — maybe it was in the infirmary, since I hadn’t seen it in our room earlier — which meant my key was missing, too. Bonnie and Clyde waited patiently while Ezra bent and kissed my lips gently, his eyes never closing, before he stuck the key in the door.

We stepped inside.

And froze.

This, I had not expected.

My eyes opened wide, my jaw flapping as I stared at…

I shrieked, covering my eyes. “Best friends having sex! Best friends having sex!” I inhaled sharply and amended my screeching chant. “Best friends having freaky magical sex!” I dropped my hands and pointed at them, yelling, “On our goddamn bed!”

Pearl howled like a banshee, hiding her face. As if that helped.

Ezra muttered, “How the fuck…” His head tilted.

I waggled my finger at them, shouting, “On our goddamn bed! Freaky…freaky shit.”

Jack’s eyes glowed in our direction. “Get the fuck out!”

Ezra coughed. “Right.” He lifted me straight off my feet, my back against his chest as I continued waggling my finger, and he murmured, “Sorry to interrupt.”

“On our goddamn bed!” I shouted, pointing hard with each word, right before Ezra blurred backward with me in his arms and slammed the door in our faces.

My chest was heaving as I stared at the golden door, my finger still pointed. After an extended, silent moment, I whined, “On our bed, Ezra. On our damn bed.”

Again, he coughed, and his voice trembled. “Actually, they weren’t technically on our bed.”

My finger dropped, still staring at the door. “They were kind of…hovering.”

Ezra made an odd noise in his throat.

My hand mimicked a wave in front of my face, going right to left. “What was the water doing?”

Ezra choked. “Don’t know.” He gurgled. “Don’t really want to know.”

Using both hands, I made an explosion motion. “What about the golden sparkles?”

Ezra snorted. “No clue.” Snorted again.

I lifted a leg, a little hindered because of Ezra’s hold on me, but I pointed at it. “How was she doing that with her leg?”

Ezra laughed outright. “Honestly, I’m more shocked by Jack’s flexibility.”

I nodded in large motions, letting my leg drop. “Yes.” I kept nodding. “Who knew?”

We stared at the door.

I drummed my fingers on his arm. “What now?”

Ezra grunted. “Now, we wait like they’ve been doing for us.”

I grunted.

We stared at the door.

“Think they were about done?”

“We’d better give them an hour, so we don’t have to…” He left it unsaid.

I didn’t. “Walk in again on our best friends having freak-ity magical sex?”

Ezra’s chest vibrated against my back. “Exactly.”

I nodded once. “Good plan.”

Ezra’s chest still vibrated. “Yes, good plan.”