CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Asher only reacted when he saw Valeria with the vampire. On what he reacted, he wasn’t sure yet. And if it was because there was a vampire so close to her or that he was kissing her, it wasn’t important. He hadn’t smelled lust on her, but the stranger had touched her, held her, nonetheless.
Now facing the dark-souled predator, Asher felt his beast shiver in bloodthirsty anticipation, lusting for battle. He circled, his eyes never breaking the eye contact.
“Asher!” From a distance, he heard her voice, but it didn’t distract him. He knew that Ian would take care of her. That she would be protected.
The vampire before him might still sport wounds and be weakened by sunlight, but Asher would never take such an opponent lightly. Bracing for the attack, the vampire bunched in preparation. He would have leaped if not for a brown blur blocking his view.
“Asher! Stop!!” Damn woman. Still in wolf form, he snarled at her, but she wasn’t fazed at all. Damn witch.
Surprisingly, the vampire also came to a halt, his eyes on her. The beast inside him was hard to rein in, and Asher ever so tempted to let him loose.
“Guys, sorry to break your fun, but witches and warlocks will soon swarm this area, and we shouldn’t stay here. None of us.”
That bit of information forced his logical mind to come back to the forefront, and he shifted back into his human body. Standing tall and naked in front of the vampire, who wasn’t wearing much more, Asher forced himself to glance at Valeria. Ian remained at a certain distance, his eyes on the vampire.
“We found your truck a mile away. Ours is parked beside it.”
The witch seemed to hesitate. “You and Ian go. You need to go back to the Sanctuary and protect it.”
Asher sensed something off from her. “I’m not leaving without you and certainly not with that vampire.”
“I had no intention of taking him with me. I mean… It’s complicated, and we don’t have a lot of time.”
“Exactly! Let’s go back, and discuss it.”
“Asher, be reasonable. Your duty is to the Sanctuary.”
Her words twisted something inside him. She was right. He had the Sanctuary to think about. In fact, it was his main responsibility. But despite who he was, and what could never be between them, he was unable to let her go.
“No.”
Valeria shook her head and without another word, started walking in the direction of the parked vehicles. If what she said was true, they’d better get going. And once inside the truck, he would find a way to convince her to come back.
In silence, they made their way down, Ian behind them, with the vampire following at a distance. He didn’t know what exactly happened back at the cabin or with this vampire, but he was going to ditch him the first chance he got.
As the trucks came into view, he knew that Valeria would try to make an escape, and that’s why he grabbed her wrist as she was reaching for the door.
“I drive.”
Her entire body tensed. “Asher…”
Ignoring her, he threw the other set of keys to Ian. “I’m driving, Ian will follow us.”
As he was about to forcefully stuff her in the truck, the vampire took a step closer, making him shove Valeria behind him, Ian crouching close in defense.
Slowly, the man lifted his hands and slightly bowed his head. “I mean no harm, but I feel a shift in the magic behind us.”
Ian hissed. “I don’t know about you, vampire, but I wouldn’t remain here.”
The gaze of the old warrior shifted from Valeria to Asher. “I request the protection of your Sanctuary, as is my right.”
Asher clenched his jaw at the undeniable request. When in danger, any living or unliving soul of the Otherworld could ask refuge and protection. Even the man before them who probably never needed it in a thousand years. It took a deep, steadying breath to remind himself that he was a Sanctuary Master, with duties.
“You’re welcome to my Sanctuary, vampire, but I warn you that you must abide by my rules at all time, and are forbidden to feed on anyone living there. At all times.”
The vampire bowed more deeply. “I agree with your terms, Sanctuary Master.”
Asher nodded at Ian. “You’re driving with my second-in-command, Ian.”
Again, the vampire bowed and walked to the passenger side of the second truck. Unceremoniously, Asher grabbed Valeria and put her in the passenger seat of his truck, and fastening her seatbelt, before jogging back and grabbing a pair of jeans and shirt that Ian had left on the driver’s mirror for him.
Valeria didn’t say a word as he drove off, but it was easy to guess what was going on in her head.
“If you’re considering fleeing, think again. I’m not closing my eyes for the remainder of my entire life.”
When she didn’t answer his taunt, he grew worried. For a long moment, she simply looked straight in front of her. He was tempted to reach for her, but something was off. It was when they reached the main road that she spoke.
“Go to town again. I need to see Sera.”
Nodding, he turned and headed in the right direction. As he suspected, Ian followed him.
Asher was wary of the vampire in the second truck. He knew the Sanctuary rules and wouldn’t turn him away, but something was off. He saw the way he only had eyes for Valeria. He observed her with such intent. His wolf inside him didn’t like it at all, but there was something else beyond jealousy or possible attraction.
Once in town, he parked in the same spot as the day before. Valeria didn’t wait for him to stop the car, and hopped out, walking away from the direction they had used the day before. One glimpse at Ian confirmed that he was following, the vampire on his heels.
Valeria didn’t run, but she didn’t wait for them either. There was a definite determination in her step, and as she wasn’t talking, it couldn’t be good.
As they rounded the corner, he recognized the store. How weird that it didn’t stay in the same place … appearing randomly, or according to a pattern known only to witches.
As he followed the silent Valeria through the door, the strange Abrams greeted them.
“Miss Valeria, always a pleasure to have you here. Mr. Stonelake. A great honor to have you again. I see you have brought two more friends.”
And before Abrams could continue, the white witch-cat, Layla, jumped on the counter.
“Ian Macon, the beta of the Sanctuary and Finn O’Malley. Well, well. I never thought I’d see the infamous 12th-century vampire in my humble shop. By your appearance, it seems that you cannot quite get the boy out of the dirty Dublin streets. This new style suits you well.”
Asher looked at the vampire again and realized that he was still dressed in torn and bloody clothes. And before he could blink, the witch-cat had replaced it with a clean pair of dark jeans and a thick gray cardigan.
As if used to having magic around him, the vampire called Finn merely arched a brow and ran his fingers through his now clean hair.
“Thank you.”
Layla ignored him and focused on Valeria. “Is there a reason you’re back here with all your friends, breaking all the rules and with a face ready for war.”
“Are Sera and Violet in the back?”
And without waiting for her answer, Valeria marched into the back store, straight into the library. Layla jumped off the counter and glanced questioningly at Asher before following Valeria. All four of them faced a closed door. Asher tried to open it, but it was locked. As anger started surging, he heard Layla chant something, and the door flew open.
“You have no right to lock anything here!”
On the other side of the table, among piles of books and manuscripts, stood Valeria and Sera with a tall woman, with a wealth of red curls and a snarl on her lips.
“I didn’t lock the door on you, but to keep the Three Stooges out.”
Asher didn’t realize he had taken a step toward the new witch until Layla blocked him.
“Wait, Asher.”
His eyes shifted to Layla before settling on Valeria. She locked eyes with him, before quickly looking away. Asher was torn between shaking her to her senses and waiting. From the first time they butted heads, he knew she would fight back. It took everything in him to relax his stance, and that’s when he realized that Ian had been on the brink of attack himself. Finn, on the other hand, was still as a statue, assessing the scene before him.
Layla jumped on the counter, a visible defender between the women and the men. Making sure the men would stay put, the witch-cat turned her attention to the women.
“Glad you’re back, Violet. But remember that you’re still in my home, and I’m the only one that can decide who can enter or not. So rein in your tongue.”
The witch called Violet crossed her arms and stared at their little troop with great disgust. Sera seemed more willing to bring peace.
“Guys, I’ve been working on some stuff, pretty personal, delicate information. And there is an awful lot of people here I don’t know if we can trust. Layla, sort it out. I’m not discussing this matter until you confirm that every male here will hold his tongue.”
Layla swished her tail and turned to the men. Asher was prepared for a fight because there was nothing that witch could say that would make him leave this room.
“Well, Asher Stonelake is the Sanctuary Master, and holding his tongue is his second nature, especially for everything concerning Valeria. Ian Macon is his beta, and as such, he knows that he could get his head ripped off, but I suspect that he’s willingly protecting Valeria in this current situation. As for Finn, his intentions remain to be revealed.”
Valeria sighed. “I freed him from three wizards who had bound him with silver. He’s lucky I was going to the cabin.”
Violet raised an eyebrow. “Easy indeed, a simple spell would have removed the chains from a distance.”
Valeria shook her head. “I… I didn’t use my powers. It was too risky. I could have lost control and been seen. I was close to finding James, and I wanted answers.”
Violet frowned, a hand naturally rubbing her friend’s shoulder. Asher sensed that there was a strong friendship between the fiery redhead and the mousy-blonde bookworm; one to be reckoned with. “So what did you do?”
“I found a thick branch, waited for two of them to leave and hit the third one on the head. I freed the vampire, Finn, and left him. I was only interested in James.”
Layla turned to Finn before speaking again.
“A starved vampire, especially from silver, is dangerous. I’m surprised you didn’t go for Valeria as soon as you were free.”
Finn angled his head, expressionless. His green eyes skimmed Valeria again, before settling on Layla. “The man she had rendered unconscious was still breathing. I could quench most of my thirst with him. And a few minutes later, I followed her to the cabin, and had the opportunity to drink from another attacker. The third one fled, most unfortunately.”
Sera turned to Valeria. “Did the vampire kill James?”
“No, he didn’t. He’s the one who fled.”
“So? What did you learn?”
Valeria took a deep breath as it seemed that Layla had vetted for Finn too. “That I almost married a crazy man. Or worse, that the intent behind the marriage, was the agreement between him and my father so that James could take the Lancaster name and become the rightful heir.”
“But you’re the rightful heir!” Violet’s indignation reverberated through the room.
Valeria shook her head, a wan smile on her face. “Not for Lionel Lancaster. From the moment I was born, I wasn’t enough. But that’s in the past. There are more important things I need to take care of. Saving my mother is one. But my father, James and their followers are brewing something nasty. In that clearing, near the cabin where Finn was a prisoner, I saw that they were preparing for some kind of ceremony. I don’t know the full picture yet, but what I do know is that they were preparing for a sacrifice. A vampire sacrifice. That’s why I need to go to the council and tell them. Tell them everything.”
Panic etched on Sera’s face. “You can’t. Not in that state … if they feel you’re…” Sera looked at Ian and Finn. “…different, they might execute you.”
Asher couldn’t stay silent anymore. “You’re not putting yourself in danger. There must be another way to tell them what is going on.”
Valeria swallowed and straightened her shoulders. “I don’t see how. I won’t certainly let any of you do it. There are too many risks. And I already bear the name and blood of the Lancasters.”
“You may bear the name, but certainly not the blood.”
Finn’s words hung in the air as everybody held their breath. Asher turned to him.
“What do you know about Valeria’s blood?” Asher took a step toward the vampire.
Finn lifted his hand in an appeasing gesture. “I mean no harm to her, wolf. It’s just that when she saved me, and I realized what she was, it surprised me. And now, here, with those two witches… I didn’t know it was possible. Mixed bloods; I’ve heard and seen it, but between two beings of the Otherworld … and between one of my dear friends…”
Asher looked at Valeria and then back at Finn. “You know who Valeria’s mixed with? Her true father?”
Finn examined the three silent women. “Valeria’s father.”
Valeria laid her hand on the counter as if to support herself. That was enough for Asher, rounding. the counter and circling her waist, lending her as much strength and support as he could. What surprised him the most was that she let him.
Sera and Violet stayed close, and he felt the magic enveloping the three of them. A link and a show of support.
“My father is Lionel Lancaster.”
“The man your mother chose to raise you with is Lionel Lancaster. The man who sired you is Soren Racovan, member of the High Council and one of the few remaining dragons roaming this earth.”