The werewolf and wizard made choking noises, their thrashing becoming increasingly more frantic.

Killian’s smile hadn’t dropped, and there was something…wild in his eyes.

The hair on the back of my neck prickled. I sucked my neck into my shoulders and scooted closer to Josh. “He’s going to threaten them and tell them to get lost?”

“Not at all,” Josh said. “He’s going to kill them.”

“What? But they aren’t doing anything!”

Josh shrugged. “It’s their mistake.”

My thoughts whirled so fast in my head I could barely contain them. “Hold my sword.” I thrust my sword into Josh’s hands, then sprinted to the fence. I wriggled between the spokes on the gate—one of the benefits of my small frame—and popped out on the other side. “Killian, wait!”

Killian shifted slightly to watch me as I ran to join him. The wizard wriggled in his grasp, his feet kicking, but I could tell he could still take shallow breaths—same thing applied to the wolf that was clawing at Killian’s foot. Though Killian must have been putting more pressure on the werewolf. He was red faced, and the muscles in his neck were popping.

“You can’t kill them,” I said when I finally reached him. “They haven’t done anything wrong.”

“They’re loitering on Drake land.” Killian’s voice was as frosty as winter. “That’s reason enough.”

“They didn’t even make it past the fence!”

Killian shrugged casually, holding the struggling wizard above his head as if he were merely stretching. “If I kill them no one will be around to say otherwise.”

“But that’s wrong!” I argued. “They didn’t try to kill or hurt anyone.”

Killian lifted an eyebrow. “I had hoped you were intelligent enough to realize they are here to spy on you and take news back to the traitor that threw you out. Perhaps I overestimated you?”

“I know why the wizard is here,” I said. “But I still don’t want him dead.”

“You’re from House Medeis.” The ice in Killian’s voice was starting to mellow to a bored tone, which was good for the werewolf, the wizard, and me. “You don’t want anyone dead, no matter what atrocities they commit,” he continued.

I opened my mouth to argue, except he was correct. Based on the rules of House Medeis, if—no, when—I reclaimed House Medeis, Mason would be handed over to the Wizard Council to be judged. Even if he did kill a member of my family, at worst he’d be exiled. Which wouldn’t be much of a hardship based on his relationship with House Tellier.

But that was a dilemma for a different day. “Maybe, I don’t know,” I finally said. “But I know killing them would be wrong. Can’t you just question them and send them on their way?”

“You want me to spare both of them?” Wrinkles appeared on Killian’s forehead, dispelling the last of the fearsome coldness.

“Please,” I repeated.

Chapter Twelve

Hazel

Killian stared at me for several long moments, the glowing red of his eyes gradually dimming. “Fine,” he flatly said. He immediately dropped the House Tellier wizard, who hit the road with a painful thump and a gurgle. Killian purposely stepped harder on the werewolf before moving to stand next to me. He stared down at the werewolf and wizard as if they were bugs he’d found in his home. “Tell your leader if he sends any more goons here, they will be slaughtered. Hazel Medeis is under the Drake Family’s protection. Understood?”

The werewolf was massaging his throat, but he nodded frantically. The wizard moaned as he peeled himself off the ground, but he nodded so hard I thought he might snap his neck.

“Leave, before I change my mind,” Killian said.

The wizard scrambled to his feet and ran down the road, heading for a car parked on the curb. The werewolf was a little slower, loping behind him.

I exhaled—exhilarated by my win—so I barely registered when Killian reached into his suitcoat.

He slid out a handgun, inserted a magazine, aimed, then fired. His shot grazed the werewolf’s shoulder, making him howl in pain—though he didn’t run any slower.

“What did you do that for?” I squawked.

Killian shrugged and removed his handgun’s magazine. “Principle.”

I pressed the heels of my palms into my eyes.

“I didn’t kill him,” Killian pointed out. “I didn’t even wing him.” He sounded almost regretful about that.

I needed to get him away before he decided to blow up their car for the fun of it. “You are unbelievable.” I marched for the fence. “Thank you,” I added when I was close enough to brush my hand across one of the dragon gates.

Killian waited until I was through before he jumped the gate with an athleticism I had to admire. “Don’t make it a habit.”

“Mercy doesn’t become you?” I asked.

Killian tilted his head back, and a shadow of the cruel vampire returned. “I have no use for mercy.”

“We’ll see about that.”

Killian lifted an eyebrow again—I was starting to recognize it as a sign of both disbelief and amusement from him. “Josh,” he called, “how is it my wizard is overly opinionated?”

“Her ignorance makes her daring.” Josh held out my sword for me, which I took with a smile of thanks.

“What, no prophecy that as a wizard I’m closer to death, and it unhinges my inhibitions?” I joked.

“That is also likely true,” Josh agreed. “I thought I would be sensitive to your lifespan and refrain from mentioning it.”

I snorted.

Josh bowed to Killian. “How do you wish for us to proceed if we see any wizards in the future?”

“Question them,” Killian said. “If they are sent by someone, immediately kill them.” He ignored my squeak of anger. “If they ask to see Hazel, let them, but stay within range.” Killian glanced down at me.

The last orange light cast by the long-gone sun had faded, but the moon was bright, so I could still see Killian’s speculative look pretty easily. “What, you think I’m going to start getting visitors?”

“Possibly,” Killian said. “Now that it is confirmed you are under my protection, any allies you have that are brave—and stupid enough—may come.”

I bit my lip as I thought of Felix and Momoko. “You might be right,” I admitted. “Thank you.”

Killian shrugged. “Continue with your run,” he said. “The time it took you to get from Josh to the road was abysmal.” He was gone before I could say anything more, running so fast he made a slight breeze.

I indignantly held my katana to my chest. “He just can’t say anything nice, can he?”

“He doesn’t have to,” Josh said. “Are you ready?”

I puffed out my cheeks then nodded. “Yeah…Thanks.”

“Into the blackness of the night, which perhaps mirrors the color of my soul,” Josh morosely said.

“You have got to get out more.”

Several days later, in the late afternoon, I found myself the unlucky recipient of Killian’s attention as he scrutinized me in my suit—which had already been adjusted by a tailor after what I thought of as the “murder meeting”.

Apparently, the tailor hadn’t done a good enough job, because Killian was looking me over with the critical eye of a mother-in-law as he lounged on a leather couch. “You look like a child dressed up as a secret service agent,” he finally said.

I tapped my foot—my favorite part of the outfit given they were reinforced leather boots that cut off at the ankle—on the mosaic tiled flooring. “I can’t help my height.”

Killian sighed and slightly tilted his head back. “It’s going to be a pain trying to make you look even half as fierce as you should.”

“Is that why you make all the Drake vampires wear suits?” I asked.

“No. Increasing your fierce factor is something you need given that you have the appearance of a puppy. My vampires are intimidating in their suits, but for an entirely different reason.”

I rubbed the back of my neck as I thought. “It sets you apart, but it also shows how aware you are of modern times and conveniences. Is that why everyone has smartphones?”

I didn’t expect an answer, but Killian smirked. “Precisely. Given my kind’s terrible habit to be complacent and spend most of their time complaining about change, the stark difference in my Family is unsettling.” The smirk fell from his face, and he abruptly narrowed his eyes. “You don’t have a phone.”

“Nope,” I said. “I had to leave it behind when I ran.”

“You’ll need one.”

“What, so I can call Celestina if I get lost on the running trails?”

“No, because eventually we’ll have to take you out on a test run,” Killian said. “And it’s imperative that you are able to communicate.”

I tugged on the lapel of my black jacket—which was actually quite comfortable, though it was going to be a beast to walk around in when the true heat of summer hit. “It’s still tough to run over a mile at a time, and you want me to go out to a fight?”

Killian shrugged. “You need to get used to blood and death,” he said. “I can’t have you whining every time an enemy is slain.”

“If you traumatize me, I’ll just whine more,” I warned him.

A dangerous light lit up Killian’s eyes, making the black depths show just a hint of red. “Traumatize…now that is a thought.” He sat up on the couch, resting his elbows on his knees, and stared at me.

I forced myself to stand still and boldly meet his gaze. (If I squirmed, I had learned he just pushed harder.) I didn’t have to like it, though. I wasn’t sure what was worse—weightlifting with Rupert or hanging around Killian like a pet.