Destiny Fuckin’ Loves Me

Delilah

 

I walked down the street cautiously, my stomach roiling with nausea, blood and bodies everywhere. On the streets. In the doorways to the shops. Necks gashed open. Throats ripped out. Limbs ripped away.

They were all gone. Every last human.

Save me.

This couldn’t be right. This couldn’t be what they wanted. This was worse than we’d expected.

They needed humans to survive.

So why were they killing them all?

“This is a warning.”

I whipped around at the voice and saw him standing in the middle of the street.

A vampire. Handsome. Proud.

Evil.

“This is what we can do. This is why they will submit,” he went on.

“Where’s Abel?” I asked.

“He will sacrifice himself for you.”

I felt my insides freeze and it was agony.

The vampire smiled like he knew he’d caused me pain and liked it. “You won’t have forever. You won’t even have tomorrow. You will only have a lifetime of mourning.” His head cocked to the side. “Don’t worry, it won’t last long. It’ll only be a human lifetime.”

“No!” I screamed.

* * * * *

“Bao bei,” Abel called, gently shaking me.

My eyes opened and I saw him leaning over me. Instantly, I latched on, holding tight, pressing deep.

Abel rolled to his back, keeping me close.

“You had another dream,” he murmured.

“Yeah,” I agreed.

“You remember it?” he asked.

I searched for it.

Nothing.

“No,” I whispered.

“Try, pussycat. It might be important.”

I tried but still got nothing.

“It’s gone,” I told him.

“That’s okay,” he replied softly.

“Did I say anything?” I asked.

“Just screamed ‘no,’” he shared.

I lifted my head to look at him. “Screamed?”

“Yeah, you sounded scared and I don’t like that for you, Lilah. But still, part of me wishes you’d say more so I might be able to get a lock on what’s happening.”

I didn’t like me screaming in my sleep either, not for me and not for Abel, but I agreed.

“Maybe I can get hypnotized or something so I’ll remember,” I suggested. Abel said nothing so I asked, “You don’t think that’s a good idea?”

“The situation we’re in, not sure I want anyone controlling your mind.”

At his words, it hit me.

“Do you think you can get in there?”

His brows drew together. “What?”

“When I’m dreaming. Do you think you can get in my head before I wake up? Use your mind-control abilities, see what’s happening?”

He shook his head. “Never tried that. Not sure I can even do that.”

“Maybe you should try it.”

He studied me for a second before muttering, “We’ll see, next time you dream.”

“Okay.”

“We got a big meeting today, baby. Best get up.”

I sighed and repeated, “Okay.”

But Abel didn’t let me go.

He rolled me to my back, him on me, his eyes to my neck where he also put his finger, trailing it like a whisper along my pulse point.

“First, I wanna feed.”

I felt my body relax and my lips smile.

He looked to my mouth, then to my eyes, and his got lazy.

“You wanna take care of me,” he said quietly.

I so did.

“Yeah,” I agreed.

“My Lilah’s sweet, warm blood…for eternity.”

My head tilted on the pillow and I lifted a hand to his neck and stroked his jaw, feeling the ridge of his scar against the pad of my thumb, loving how he gave that to me.

But still, his words made a thought occur to me, so I asked, “Will it get boring?”

“No.”

I didn’t believe that.

“You sure?”

“You taste like you every time, but you also taste different. Sometimes it’s richer. Sometimes it’s thicker. Sometimes it’s more tangy. Sometimes sharp. Sometimes sweet. Don’t know what’s happening in you to make it that way, but it isn’t like I’m eatin’ steak for every meal. It’s a variety, depending on the time of day, where your mood is at, whatever.”

“Wow. That’s cool.”

“Yeah,” he grinned. “Cool.” Then he dipped his head and ran his tongue along my neck. I shivered while he whispered there, “Sometimes I get Lilah cotton candy.”

I felt his tongue again and slid my hand from the side of his neck into his hair.

“Sometimes I get Lilah nectarine.”

I felt his tongue again at my neck, but the numbness was invading.

I wasn’t numb at my ear where he whispered, “Sometimes I get creamy Lilah.”

“Abel,” I breathed, squirming beneath him, thinking he was about to get seriously creamy Lilah.

He slid a hand low on my belly, almost there but not there enough.

“What’re you gonna give me today, pussycat?” he asked.

“Don’t know,” I answered.

He slid his hand an inch lower. “Want me to find out?”

“Yes,” I panted, clutching his hair and lifting my hips as best I could.

“Whatever you want, baby,” he murmured, sliding his nose down my jaw as he slid his hand lower.

Then he found out.

And whatever it was for him, for me, it was awesome.

* * * * *

“You nervous?”

We were walking down the hall toward the dining room where we were going to have a breakfast meeting with our Save the World Posse.

I looked up at Abel and answered, “No, are you?”

“No,” he replied. “You just seem…not right.”

My head jerked. “Not right?”

“You were right when I was drawing from you and doin’ the other things to you,” he said, and I grinned. He was not grinning. “Before that and since, you’ve been off.”

I stopped outside the door to the dining room, stopping him with me. “Off how?”

“Can’t get a lock on it, but it’s like you’re tweaked.”

“Lots of shit is going down, Abel,” I reminded him.

“Yeah,” he muttered. “Probably just tweaked myself and reading too much into it.”

He started us moving toward the door but stopped instantly, shoving me behind him as the air shimmered and a woman suddenly formed in front of the door.

Peering around Abel, I stared at her.

Back at the restaurant, I’d seen bits and pieces of what Abel told me were wraiths, but considering I was hiding under a table when all that went down, and they took off after the bad supernaturals before I got a good look, I didn’t get a whole eye view.

Now I was getting it and it was freaking phenomenal.

She seemed mostly solid; you could only partly see through her. She had white hair, elegant features, and a pastel dress with lots of ripped edges (but also lots of cleavage). She looked like she was in a music video that had the wind machine set to low, except she was also floating.

And smiling at us.

“Abel and Delilah,” she said, her voice very real too, but still somehow dreamy.

“Serena,” Abel replied, but it was also a question.

“Indeed,” she confirmed.

Serena. Empress of the wraiths.

Awesome!

“Uh…” I pressed into Abel’s back and got up on my toes to whisper toward his ear, “Are we supposed to curtsy or something?”

“Only if you’re in a ceremonial chamber, and this is not one of those,” she answered.

I caught her eyes. “Oh, okay.”

“I rule my wraiths, but that doesn’t mean I am not equal to them, and them me. I’m also equal to you,” she continued. “The curtsy in a ceremonial chamber is just tradition. And tedious. But ceremonies wouldn’t be ceremonies if there wasn’t tradition.” She paused and grinned. “And tedium.”

“True enough,” I murmured.

“I’ll say now, it’s lovely to meet you both,” she told us.

“Same,” Abel grunted.

“Yeah,” I said on a return smile.

Motioning to the door, she invited, “After you.”

Abel hesitated before he reached out and opened the door. We went through and I did it wondering if she could float through it if it was still closed.

At that time, she didn’t. She floated but did it through the open door.

“Excellent, we’re all here,” Gregor said as Abel and I were confronted with much the same as yesterday, except the table wasn’t covered in platters of food. Instead, a buffet had been set up to the side (and I was happy to see pancakes were on offer, seeing as I was getting tired of eggs).

There were also more people. This meant Serena wasn’t the only new person we met. We met a handsome, dark-haired vampire with an accent named Cristiano, who was also on The Council. We also met a tall, large, strange-looking man with big hands, which were bizarrely knobbly, and kind eyes. His name was Avery, and although he was strange-looking, he was also strangely attractive, though I couldn’t put my finger on exactly how. He just was.

What he wasn’t was explained in the sense that he didn’t share if he was vampire, wolf, or what, though he didn’t look like any that I’d met. Since it wasn’t offered and it would be rude, Abel and I didn’t ask.

Stephanie, Caleb, and Ryon were also there.

We were invited to load up plates and we did. After everyone was seated, Gregor began.

“Since Serena does not eat as the rest of us do, and she has information we need to know, while we partake, she’ll give us her briefing.”

Serena was doing her music video thing by the window and I wondered if she sat, seeing as she could float apparently effortlessly.

Obviously, I didn’t ask this for more reasons than the fact that she started talking and I started eating.

“Although fortunate that we were on the inside with the traitors, which meant we could intervene when they attacked The Sacred Triumvirate some days ago, this also means that we are no longer on the inside.”

I looked to Abel who felt my eyes and looked to me.

I mouthed, “Traitors?” since I hadn’t heard them referred to that way.

He gave a slight shrug and we both looked to Serena when she kept talking.

“By the time we exposed our true allegiance, we’d learned that, while planning to do damage to The Three—and they were looking at this a variety of ways, such as total annihilation or simply dispensing with one which, according to The Prophesies, would make the rest ineffectual—they’re also planning to expose the existence of immortals to humans. And they were not planning on doing that diplomatically.”

Leah, Sonia, and I gave each other looks even as we ate and Serena carried on.

“However, the one wraith we have left in position, who infiltrated our sisters who have long since sided with the traitors, has shared with us that the plans we were once privy to have been changed. Unfortunately, due to my sisters intervening to save The Three, they’re being far more careful with all wraiths, including the ones who actually share their ideology. Therefore, she hasn’t been able to ascertain any of their new plans.”

I swallowed pancake and butted in quietly, “Thank you for that, by the way. Your, um, sisters, coming to the rescue. We wouldn’t have made it or would have…” I shook my head, swallowing for another reason, thinking of Snake, Chen, and Jabber, before I finished, “Things would have gone far worse if your sisters hadn’t been there.”

“We’re committed to equality amongst ourselves and all beings, so it was an honor to come to the aid of The Three who’ll keep all beings allied and free,” she replied.

“But if that’s your philosophy,” Leah put in, “how did you get the others to think that you might be on their side?”

Serena looked to Leah. “Our mates are phantoms.”

“Sorry?” Leah asked.

“Wraiths are ethereal, for the most part,” she stated, drifting a hand in front of her. “For those humans who have seen us who we did not let know what we truly are, we’re known as ghosts. All wraiths are female. Phantoms are the same, but they’re male.”

She looked to Abel and me and had clearly been informed we were new to this supernatural business, because she kept explaining.

“We aren’t actually ghosts. We’re born in this form and have always lived in it. We are much like all other beings. We live. We sleep. We love. We make babies.” She smiled. “And for us to make babies, we need phantoms.”

“All right,” I said when she stopped.

“The problem with this is, we and our phantom mates had a falling out some time ago. There was…” She hesitated before continuing, “A situation and we didn’t agree on how it would be handled. Our mates are quite protective and felt we should stay safe and they should deal with it. We wraiths felt we should fight at our mates’ sides. They’d demanded we stay behind and they do the fighting. We did what we felt was necessary and had joined the fight against their wishes. They thought that was disobedience. We found that concept repugnant as we’re not children; we’re simply a different gender. The situation we were engaged in was sorted, however, our mates are quite stubborn. Rather than being grateful for our assistance, they punished us by disconnecting.”

“When did this happen?” Sonia asked.

“Twelve hundred years ago,” Serena answered.

My eyes got wide. “Whoa, phantoms can hold a grudge.”

Serena smiled at me. “They can indeed, as can wraiths. The longer they stayed away, the more the grudge switched from one side to the other, turning us away from them should one try to approach for reconciliation. As you can imagine, this has gone back and forth for over a millennia. There were, of course, some…” Another hesitation before she went on with a not-hard-to-read-grin, “Connections as we all have needs.”

I got her so I grinned back.

She kept going.

“But this struggle started over equality. The sisters who have not turned traitor still wish for nothing but a lasting reconciliation with our mates when they accept us at their sides, not at their hearths. However, we were able to convince the traitors that we were tired of our disconnection with our lovers, and could deliver the phantoms to the other side through our subjugation to our mates. As the traitors are being led by males, it’s not surprising they would believe this, as even vampires, who well know that females of their kind have the capacity to be exceptional warriors, can be chauvinistic. Therefore, it didn’t take much convincing.”

“And the sisters who have turned traitor?” Sonia asked, and Serena’s expression became anything but serene.

“To survive, we feed off mortal energy,” she stated.

I tensed and felt Abel tense beside me.

She must have felt it too for she looked to us. “This does not harm mortals. It does not take from you; it emits from you all the time. It’s natural. We don’t need to control you to absorb it. You just need to exist so we can do the same.” Her tone changed to dire when she continued, “This doesn’t mean that all beings don’t have those amongst them who thrive on negativity. The majority of wraiths and phantoms absorb positive energy. They crave joy. Or contentment. Or success. Or humor. A variety of these things. But there are those who feed off despair, anger, fear, jealousy, prejudice, hate. In our case, quite literally, you are what you eat.”

“Yikes,” I muttered.

“Yes,” she agreed. “And those who have sided with the traitors would thrive if humans were enslaved. A world of unhappy humans would mean they’d have even more of what they crave.”

“Not good,” I kept muttering.

“No, and worse, it’s gluttony. For there is already much anger, jealousy, prejudice, and fear for them to feed from.” She shook her head and, along with it, her music-video-drifting hair. “It makes no sense to the sisterhood. The more you consume, you just become more of what you consume. It doesn’t make you more powerful. It just makes you angrier, uglier, more hateful.”

“Just like humans,” Leah stated.

“Exactly,” Serena replied.

“The good news is,” Gregor butted in, “although Serena and her sisters have lost their foothold amongst our enemy, she’s managed to make a meeting with Gastineau.”

“Who’s Gastineau?” Abel asked.

“My lifemate,” Serena answered. “He’s also emperor of the phantoms. We were reconciled seventy-five years ago, but this lasted under a decade. However, we made a child during that time, our third daughter, and since he dotes on her, but I’m raising her, we’ve had to stay in close contact. As his brothers wish after the last situation they involved themselves in, which segregated our kind, Gastineau prefers to keep to the shadows and allow other immortals, and humans, to do what they will. Including making their mistakes. I hope to impress on him during our meeting that this time he must take a stand, with his brothers, alongside their sisters, uniting us all once again in order to keep peace.”

“And how is he leaning?” Abel asked.

“We, like wolves, once we find our mates, never stray. Imagine you were separated from your mate for decades, a mate you love who you’re simply angry with, a mate who’s raising your child.” She tipped her head. “I think you know how he’s leaning.”

“In other words, you got leverage,” Abel remarked, and her smile came back.

“Indeed, I do. But also, most phantoms, like most wraiths, prefer positive energy. Even if I didn’t have that leverage, I know my Gastineau. He would never side with the traitors. He may not wish to get involved, but he would not ally himself with them. Therefore, in order to keep the state of the world as it needs to be, I believe inside he understands that he must lead his brothers to maintain that. I just have to point out that this situation has become dangerous; instead of pockets of rebellions breaking out, this is a real threat.”

“Why do you call them traitors?” I asked, and her attention turned to me.

“They know we’ll not feed on negativity and therefore will perish. To ally with those who would wipe all goodness from humanity would mean vast amounts of wraiths and phantoms would cease to be. And this is the same for vampires. There are those who don’t like fear and desolation to sour the blood of humans, but they’re resigning their brothers and sisters to that fate. In the end, we are all of this world. We all must find a way to live together in harmony, and anyone who doesn’t agree is a traitor to the way things need to be.”

“Amen to that, sister,” I said.

“Yes, amen to that…sister,” she agreed on another smile.

“Something else you need to know,” Lucien began, and I looked to him. “Abel, you saw it back in Serpentine Bay, but Lilah, it’s doubtful you did. Wraiths can appear and disappear. When they’re invisible, they have less ability to manipulate their surroundings. They can move things…adjust a chair, knock a vase off a table. But this is limited. When they appear, their power increases exponentially.”

“Uh, yeah. Ripping a head off with your bare hands is pretty powerful,” Abel murmured.

I pressed my lips together and gave Leah big eyes.

She mouthed, “I know,” in return.

“Our ability to be invisible, although it weakens us in the earthly world, allows us to appear unannounced. As we can move through solid things both in our invisible bodies as well as our visible ones, this is an added strategic advantage,” Serena went on.

“Not if we’re dealing with your sisters who are against us,” Abel replied.

“Yes, this is why you need to know that there are physical manifestations even when we’re invisible. An unusual coolness to the air in a room could mean a wraith or phantom is close. A chill could mean they’re very close. A shiver could mean they’re sliding through your actual person,” she explained.

“Whoa,” I whispered, not liking the idea of a ghost sliding through my body.

She nodded to me but kept explaining.

“We can’t overtake your bodies. We can’t possess you. And prior to transformation into a visible being, the air will shimmer. As our attack was completely a surprise, the vampires and wolves you were fighting with didn’t have the attention to sense our presence or see the shimmer. However, in the future, just in case, you need to know all of that.”

Abel nodded to her and Callum spoke, asking Abel and me, “Do you have any questions for Serena?”

Abel looked back to the wraith. “Not to put too fine a point on it, but still gotta know. How do you die?”

She tipped her head to the side again and answered, “An extreme blast of electricity can sap us of all of our energy and we’ll blink out of existence immediately.”

“That’s it?” Abel asked.

“Well, no.” She shook her head. “When we’re visible, not only do we have the power to navigate the world like a human or other immortals…touch things, move them, do battle…we can also be touched. And harmed. It’s difficult and requires a great deal of strength, but if any of our limbs were removed forcibly or by a weapon, unless we receive attention from a fellow wraith or phantom or absorb a large amount of mortal energy, all the energy we have will escape and we’ll eventually die. This, obviously, hastens if our heads are removed from our bodies.”

Ugh.

“‘Thanks’ seems like a fucked-up thing to say, but thanks,” Abel said quietly.

She inclined her head.

“Uh,” I butted in, “if you guys can float through walls, or float at all, doesn’t that make us vulnerable here, even in this compound?”

Serena didn’t answer. Gregor did.

“There’s an invisible electric net over the entirety of the land the compound is on, Lilah,” he told me. “And the walls surrounding the compound have a slim chamber the length of them situated between the inner and outer walls which contains an electrical charge. Another net runs from the beach up the cliffside. If a wraith or phantom were to try to breach any of these, a surge of electricity would occur. A surge that would be noted by our security and we’d be aware that an attempt was being made. In other words, wraiths and phantoms must enter the compound like any other being…through the front gate.”

Well, that was good.

“Any other questions?” Callum asked.

Abel shook his head at Callum. So did I.

Callum dipped his chin sharply in response and turned to Gregor.

“Right, that’s out there. Now where’s your Council with the president?”

“The president?” I asked, and Callum looked to me.

“Of the United States.”

I blinked.

Gregor spoke. “It would be good if you sent Ryon or one of your brothers as an emissary to our delegation.”

“I’m happy to go,” Ryon stated immediately and I had to stop myself from shrinking back in my chair when Callum’s expression changed at his words.

“Regan is en route to the compound. She’ll be here today,” Callum replied. “And no member of my family will be sent to join the delegation since any of them, if captured, could be used against me. All of them will be safe from that here, with Sonia and me. So this is where you all will be.”

“Regan is Callum’s mother,” Sonia told Abel and me quietly.

“Cal, wolves don’t hide,” Ryon stated at this point and did it impatiently. I got the feeling they’d had this conversation before.

“I’ve lost a brother and a father to this shit, Ryon. I’ll not lose more, which means I’ll not lose you. Until we know more about what they’re planning, who’s with us and who’s against us, you’re all staying safe,” Callum fired back.

“Which blows,” Caleb muttered, then rolled his eyes at Ryon when Callum’s expression turned downright ferocious.

“Safe does not blow, Caleb,” Callum clipped. “Safe means our mother, who lost her mate and her son to these rebels, will not lose more.”

Caleb appeared like he didn’t much enjoy being told off, but he said nothing else. Ryon said nothing else mostly because his jaw was clenched so hard, I wasn’t sure he could speak.

So Gregor took this opportunity to butt into the family argument. “Callum, we must impress upon the president the gravity of the situation, and the king sending one of his governors—”

Callum cut him off. “Saint is a skilled diplomat. He has a direct line to me. And if the president doesn’t understand that my number one priority is my family, I don’t give a shit if the gravity of the situation is impressed upon him or not. He makes a fucked-up decision based on the fact that he doesn’t have the attention he thinks he deserves, then he pays for that through his legacy.”

“You wanna fill us in on what you’re talking about?” Abel suggested.

Gregor looked to Abel. “We’re attempting to talk a variety of world leaders into devising a plan to expose the existence of immortals in a way that will not be alarming, at the same time sharing that there is some cause for concern due to those who wish to cause harm and explaining how they could take precautions.”

“And you’re gonna manage that how?” Abel asked but didn’t allow an answer. “First off, humans are gonna totally freak. Then they’re gonna totally fucking freak when you share that there’re evil supernaturals who want to enslave them, are pretty much impossible to kill, can get in their homes without invitation, and are impervious to silver, garlic, shit like that, which means humans are essentially completely unsafe.”

“I’ll admit, it’s a diplomatic challenge,” Gregor conceded, and I swallowed back my snort.

“Yeah, a challenge,” Abel muttered sarcastically, obviously feeling the same as me.

“It’s your destiny not only to ensure humans live freely but also to create harmony between humans and immortals,” Serena pointed out, and I was glad she seemed so positive and didn’t mention it could go the other way.

“Which brings us to you and Lilah, Abel,” Gregor stated, and I looked to him. “We’ve consulted with experts in the field and they believe that, of The Three, with your manner and the fact you’re a hybrid, as well as Lilah’s vivacity and, well”— he flicked a hand out to me—“her attractive every-girl characteristics, you two would be the best poster couple to show how not only are immortals nonthreatening, but that humans and immortals can live in harmony.”

I felt Abel’s tenseness and reached out a hand to curl it around his thigh as he asked, “Poster couple?”

“We’d like to place carefully crafted articles in a variety of reputable media outlets about you and Lilah, sharing that you’re an immortal and she is your human mate. This would include photo spreads,” Gregor explained, and unfortunately he wasn’t done. “And due to our need to prove this is not nonsense, we must utilize television in order that people can see you transform.”

That was when I got tense.

Abel performing for the masses?

I did not like that.

“Are you fuckin’ crazy?” Abel barked.

He didn’t like it either.

Gregor ignored Abel’s question and assured, “This would all occur behind these walls so you both would remain safe. And we’d have approval over what was written or broadcast. It would help enormously if Jian-Li and your brothers would agree to participate too. Our experts feel your close connection with a family of humans would hold much sway with humanity.”

“You are crazy,” Abel whispered dangerously, and I gave his thigh a squeeze.

Gregor again ignored him.

“After this is shared, we’d strategically release Leah and Lucien’s story. And after that, we would share about Callum and Sonia, they being last as both are wolves,” Gregor continued. “However, Sonia’s lifetime as a human would be carefully communicated. We also have other wolves who have taken human mates, not to mention vampires who have recently coupled with humans. We would ask they tell their stories as well. And the concubines have agreed to come out about what they do for vampires and share our own version of…” He paused, “Humanity.”

I knew about concubines, or the women (and dudes) who, for centuries, provided their blood to vampires so that vampires didn’t have to go out and find their meals, freaking out humans in the process. There had been a lot of rules around selecting them and keeping them. Some of those rules ended when Leah, who had been Lucien’s concubine, fell in love with her vampire and he did the same in return, this being forbidden. Until them.

“The Council is crafting a media plan that will eventually expose wolves and vampires within society,” Gregor kept going. “Doctors. Nurses. Businessmen and women who provide jobs. It will be explained we already live harmoniously with humans. We own property. We pay taxes. We purchase goods and services. We provide employment opportunities. We’re involved in our communities.”

“Did you live amongst humans all your centuries?’ Abel asked when Gregor quit speaking.

“I have, indeed, Abel,” Gregor confirmed.

“Right, so you know all that’s shit and they…are gonna…freak,” Abel returned. “It doesn’t matter that I’m a biker who has a Chinese American family and Lilah’s the shit. They’re just gonna freak.”

I was feeling warm inside about Abel describing me as the shit when Gregor kept at him.

“This would be you doing what you need to do as a member of The Three to convince the American people, the people of the world, that your people mean no harm.”

I felt Abel preparing to reply so I squeezed his thigh and quickly leaned into him.

“He’s right. It is,” I said quietly.

“He’s right. It is,” Abel agreed. “It’s also not gonna work.”

“That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try,” I pointed out.

“And put your face out there for people to think shit about you? You with a werewolf vampire? So even when we do sort out those assholes, everyone everywhere knows you and me and can give us shit…for eternity?”

“Uh, babe, you’re hot. Women the world over are totally gonna get it,” I shared, and he stared.

Then he stated, “Lilah, this is not about me bein’ hot.”

“People forgive a lot if you’re hot, believe me. That means Lucien is gonna kill and so is Callum, and I mean kill in a good way. Everyone will want their own vamp or wolf.” I turned to Gregor. “Actually, that’s more of a problem than the other stuff. Especially if it gets out that vamps can make their mates live for eternity.”

“Specifics about certain things will be shared carefully, Lilah, or not at all, until that knowledge is needed,” Gregor told me.

“Good call,” I muttered.

“Seriously, are you thinkin’ of goin’ for this shit?” Abel asked, and I looked back to him.

“Do you have another idea?” I asked.

“Find those fuckers who wanna turn the world upside down, obliterate them, then go back to normal,” Abel answered instantly.

“This idea holds more merit for me as well,” Lucien put in.

“We’re working on that too,” Gregor shared.

“That’s good since an eternity of fame is far from tedious. It’s often frustrating and can be aggravating and I’d rather not expose Leah to enduring it,” Lucien shot back. “Therefore, I can obviously understand why Abel feels the same.”

“Lucien can seriously kick ass, as you know,” Leah said as explanation to me. “What you might not know is that the immortal world knows it too and thinks it’s awesome, and that’s not always good.”

“Ah,” I murmured.

“Find another way,” Lucien ordered Gregor.

“We are all destined to live in harmony,” Gregor returned, then finished on a dire note. “Or not.”

“We can accomplish that without all of us being poster couples in the press,” Lucien retorted. “So find that way.”

“Do you have another idea?” Gregor asked calmly.

“That’s not my job,” Lucien bit out, not calmly. “My job is to save humanity while keeping my bride and the rest of The Three alive. You’re the politician. Do your job.”

“I had concerns our plan would meet with negative reactions, so this isn’t surprising,” Gregor replied. “However, I’d still request that all of you consider it.”

“You’ve explained that you’re concerned about your family’s safety.” Cristiano spoke for the first time, his attention on Callum, “That being the case, I would further request that you consider utilizing Calder. He has a vast worldwide network and is able to find out a good many things. If The Three don’t wish to come out publically, then we must intensify our efforts privately to understand what the enemy is planning.”

“And Calder has activated his network,” Callum told Cristiano. “He’s just organizing those efforts from here.”

“He has a way with them,” Cristiano pointed out carefully.

“And he’ll use that way over the fucking phone,” Callum returned.

Cristiano drew in a breath before he nodded.

“Avery?” Leah called softly. “What do you think?”

The strange-looking man turned kind eyes to Leah and didn’t hesitate with his response. “Although I understand why it was suggested we utilize the media in our efforts, I’ll share with you what I shared with Gregor, that being I don’t think it’s an exceptionally good idea to have any of The Three identifiable by anybody around the globe. I believe this creates unnecessary vulnerability.”

To that, Gregor’s only response was for his lips to thin.

“There might be desperate times that call for desperate measures,” Avery went on. “Fortunately, we have not yet hit that time.” He took in a breath and finished, “Unfortunately, if we do not do something, I’m afraid that time is fast approaching.”

“And your idea would be…?” Callum prompted.

“My idea, I’m afraid, will be even less popular,” Avery told him.

“Share it anyway,” Callum ordered, and Avery nodded.

“I believe we should allow our adversaries to make their first move.”

Something about this made my body string tight.

Abel felt it and his hand curled around mine at his thigh.

“This way,” Avery continued, “our immortals, and there are many, including The Three, would swoop in to protect humanity. This would offer a very powerful message. Obviously, losses would be had on both sides. But humanity would see that there are immortals who are guardians, not vanquishers. The Three would be able to go about whatever they’re required to do anonymously so that, when we all taste victory, they can enjoy their eternities without celebrity.”

“I’m not all fired up about that plan,” I said quietly.

“I’m not either, Delilah,” Avery replied. “And we can hope we receive some intelligence that will allow us to make much the same statement without any human losses. Thwarting such a plan by immortals and doing it publicly, sharing in that way that immortals exist, the bad being in the minority, the good willing to put their lives on the line for harmony, would also be a powerful message.”

“I hear you. I’m not super hip on the idea, but I’ll deal with people knowing who I am if it means saving lives,” I shared, and Abel’s hand tightened around mine. “Though, I’m not big on Abel transforming. I haven’t even seen that. He could just extend his fangs or something.”

“That says a great deal about you, my dear,” Avery returned but did it shaking his head. “But even if you and Abel, Lucien and Leah, and Callum and Sonia made the public aware of who you are, that doesn’t ensure that an attack will not be forthcoming.”

He had me there so I could do nothing but nod.

“There’s much to think about and much to do,” Gregor put in. “So I suggest we go about that and reconvene this evening for further discussion.” He looked to the wraith. “Serena, you’re away to Gastineau shortly?”

“Indeed,” she confirmed.

“Let’s brief,” he murmured, throwing his napkin down and pushing his chair back.

He rose and gave Cristiano and Avery meaningful looks.

Cristiano took a sip of coffee before he rose.

Avery said, “You’ll excuse me,” and he got up as well.

Stephanie muttered, “I haven’t had a real breakfast yet so I’m going to Kyle.” She got up and looked around, finishing, “Later.”

Caleb threw his napkin on the table and rose from his seat too, saying irritably, “I got twiddling of my thumbs to do.”

Callum sighed.

Sonia smiled at me.

“We’ll talk further after we have our session with Abel,” Ryon stated, also moving to leave.

It was then I remembered that Abel was going to train as wolf with his wolf brothers. It was also then I hoped I got to watch.

My thoughts came back into the room when it hit me that the only ones left were The Three.

“Gotta admit, sittin’ on our hands and waitin’ for shit doesn’t sit good with me either,” Abel told the table.

“It’s smart and it’s safe,” Callum replied.

“It’s still irritating,” Lucien murmured.

“Your last battle was five hundred years ago, Lucien. Mine was last Christmas,” Callum said quietly. “We should be smart and we should remain safe.”

“I don’t disagree with you, Cal,” Lucien returned. “However, this…” He swept a hand across the fine china and silver littering the table. “It isn’t our nature. Especially when that’s going on out there.” He pointed a finger at the window. “Therefore, we need to remember precisely what our nature is so we don’t end up doing something stupid due to impatience or frustration.”

“Agreed,” Callum said. “So we prepare. I train Abel to fight as wolf and you work with Abel’s brothers to further improve their abilities.”

“Agreed,” Lucien repeated Callum’s word.

“That’s good with me,” Abel added.

“Uh, what do we girls do?” I asked.

Lucien, Callum, and Abel (yep, all three) looked at me, baffled.

Yeesh.

Men.

“We are in on this destiny of saving the world too,” I reminded them and turned to Abel. “Xun, Wei, and Chen offered to train me in some of their kung fu magic.”

“I want them going two-, three-, four-on-one with Lucien and Callum’s wolves so they can improve their ‘kung fu magic,’” Abel said the last three words like they amused him, then added, “And so they can stay alive again if more shit goes down.”

“Okay, so I’ll get in on that. Leah and Sonia can do it with me if they want,” I returned.

“Sonia’s practicing with her abilities, attempting to increase her affinity with wildlife by communicating with them,” Callum shared. “Perhaps you can go out with her.”

“And miss my opportunity at throwing a ninja star?” I asked.

Callum’s lips quirked and his eyes slid to Abel.

Abel’s arm slid along the back of my chair and I looked to him. “Pussycat—” he began, and I knew what was coming. I didn’t know how, but I did.

And all I could think about what was coming was, Oh no he didn’t.

“I get your protective instinct, baby, but I have one too,” I reminded him.

“The boys need to be prepared,” he reminded me.

“So do the girls,” I returned.

“True, but it’s doubtful any of you will see actual fighting,” Abel retorted.

“You don’t know that,” I pointed out, and his face got hard.

“I fuckin’ do,” he growled.

Oh man.

“Abel—”

“Let us do what we gotta do.”

“Abel!”

His face suddenly was in mine. “Lilah, let us do what we gotta do.”

I narrowed my eyes. “And what about what we gotta do?”

He leaned a bit back and threw up a hand. “I don’t know. Go try to zap some shit. See if you got some ability like Leah and Sonia.”

I blinked.

Then I glared.

Then I fought back slapping him upside the head.

When I got that under control, I hissed, “You didn’t just say that.”

“Right,” he clipped, his patience gone. “A day, Lilah, for me to work with Callum and see what I gotta do to get my shit sorted, fighting as wolf. A day where Lucien works with Xun and Wei to see where they’re at and what they need. After that, we take you on.”

Compromise. And a good one.

It was also an annoying one precisely because it was good.

“A day,” I snapped, and he grinned.

More annoying.

Then he leaned into me and ran his temple along mine.

That was not annoying, but I decided to pretend it was by turning away in a huff when he was done.

“Good call, not weighing in on that,” Sonia noted, and I looked to her and Callum.

Callum just grinned at his empty plate and murmured, “Mm.”

“Next time I’ll let one of you go a few rounds with your bitches so I can avoid gettin’ shit from mine,” Abel remarked, and my angry eyes shot back to him.

“What you did was avoid the doghouse. Don’t court a permanent stay,” I warned.

“Like you’d send me there for eternity,” he retorted.

“Don’t try me.”

Abel burst out laughing.

I again fought back the urge to slap him upside the head.

I did this by pushing my chair back, throwing my napkin on the table, and announcing, “Time for me to go and try zapping something. Any of you girls with me?”

“I’m in,” Leah stated immediately.

“After you’re done zapping things, we’ll all go out so I can talk to bunnies,” Sonia added.

“We’ve got a plan,” I decreed and turned to go but didn’t get very far when Abel caught my hand.

I looked down at him.

“Thanks, bao bei,” he said softly.

“Just so you know, you being sweet totally works. I’m still gonna pretend it doesn’t and bust your chops,” I informed him and got another grin.

“Have a feeling I draw from you again later, I’ll get tangy Lilah, seein’ as you’re in the mood to be sassy,” he replied.

“And just so you know, you being hot totally works too. I’m still gonna bust your chops.”

That got me a full-blown smile.

It also got me a tug on my hand that forced me to bend to him. When I got close, his other hand shot up in a blur and caught me at the back of the head so he could pull me to him and give me a short, but hot and wet, kiss.

When he broke it, he whispered, “Good luck zapping something.”

To which I replied, “Whatever.”

To which he delivered his kill shot, giving him the win.

He did it with his eyes to my mouth, still whispering. “Regardless of the extraneous shit and the centuries I had to wait to get what was mine, destiny fuckin’ loves me.”

As completely awesome as that was, still, I was me, so I shared, “That’s the sweet part I’m pretending doesn’t work.”

His eyes came to mine. “Keep it up, pussycat. I like tangy Lilah.”

“Let go of me so I can be annoyed somewhere else,” I ordered, though what I meant was so he’d stop turning me on.

“So full of shit,” he replied.

He knew what I meant, but of course he would. He could smell it.

I pretended that wasn’t the case too and told him, “I’m almost at my quota of bickering for the day so you need to let me go so I can save some up for later, seeing as I’m gonna need it.”

Abel kept smiling, this time doing it giving my hand and head a squeeze. Then he let me go.

Without looking at the other men, I stomped out, Leah and Sonia on my heels, so I could try to see if I could zap something.

I couldn’t. But I knew this already.

I still tried, though not for very long, since it was a lot more fun to go out and watch Sonia talk to bunnies.