Izzy glanced at him, but didn’t respond.

  “I can hear your thoughts, Isadora. You want me to kill you? End this misery because you’ve failed as a Hunter. I won’t give you that satisfaction. Your mind is almost mine. You will sit at my feet like a proper pet. You’ll be just like Astel.”

  “I will never be a pet.”

  “That’s what Astel thought, too.”

  Crystal sat on her balcony watching the sunrise. The warmth of the mug against her fingers and the blanket around her shoulders kept the chill of the morning away.

  Joey walked out with his own cup of coffee. “Sam is being held until the Elder Masters can interrogate him. He’s still insisting that you’re the one out doing the killing, but now he’s adding that it’s under my command.”

  Crystal shook her head. “How did this get so messed up?”

  “You were right to send me that text. We weren’t far away when you and Sam finally stopped moving. Matthew and I were following a trail, and you and Sam were on that same path.”

  She sipped her coffee, her gaze still on the horizon. “What were you guys hunting? Or should I be asking who?”

  Joey was quiet for a moment. “There is a rumor about a Circle meeting here. We wanted to check it out.”

  Crystal cringed. “That’s a lot of powerful vampires in the territory. Sam dragged me to The Disappearing Act to see Tegan. He wanted to confirm that she was Lucius’ human.”

  “And?”

  “She admitted to it. He threatened to kill her, and she pulled an honest to god sword on him.” Crystal smiled a little and then shook her head. “She was confident in her sword skills against his gun.”

  Joey glanced at her. “He pulled a gun on her?”

  “Yeah. Trust me, I tried to intervene. I feel like Sam was trying to figure something else out. I don’t know if Tegan caught on to that or if she was just tired of everyone’s bullshit.”

  Joey laughed. “I’ve only met her a handful of times. She blocks her mind from me, so I never know what she’s thinking. Who else was there?”

  Crystal sighed. “Z was.”

  “Did he say anything about why he stopped feeding you information?”

  Crystal shook her head. “He said that he’d see me later, but after everything with Sam, it was too late to go meet him.”

  “I still think that’s a dangerous game, Crystal.”

  She nodded. “Well, with Sam thinking I’m betraying everyone, I think it might be too dangerous of a game to be playing right now.”

  “Agreed.” His phone rang, and she looked at him. “Bit early for someone to be calling you, isn’t it?”

  He scowled when he saw the name on it. “Hold on.” He tapped something on his phone. “What the hell do you want, Ayden?”

  Crystal raised a brow and mouthed, ‘Ayden Blackwell?’

  Joey nodded, his jaw locked as he listened to what Ayden had to say. After a moment, Joey let out a low growl. “Are you kidding me?”

  More chatter on the other side of the phone and Crystal sipped her coffee, trying to be patient.

  “As long as you stay off Hunter grounds, fine. And do not drag any of my Hunters into this, do you understand?”

  Another pause.

  “I’m serious, Ayden.” Joey sighed and then his voice softened. “Please let me know if it works. I’d like to bring her back here.”

  There was no response, and Joey pulled the phone away, looking at it.

  “What does Ayden want? I thought he disappeared.”

  Joey leaned back in his chair. “He and two vampires are going in after Izzy.”

  “They know where she’s at?” Crystal turned toward him. “I want to go.”

  He shook his head. “I can’t let you go, because I can’t promise that you’ll come back alive. We’re talking about a human and two vampires against an entire trade of vampires. What you can do is figure out why Z is so interested in Izzy, because he is one of the vampires going.”

  Crystal frowned. “They aren’t going to bring her back to the Academy, are they?”

  “I don’t know. I don’t know what kind of shape she’s in, or if she’ll even be alive when they find her. Ayden seems pretty confident that he knows where she is now.” Joey rubbed his eyes. “If Izzy comes back to the Academy, we won’t know what her recovery will be like after being with the vampires that long.”

  Crystal settled back in her seat. “We’ve dealt with people in similar situations, haven’t we?”

  “Yes, we have. But Izzy was on the list of Hunters to be killed, so whoever is working that list, they might try to keep her out of the Academy. Especially if she knows who did this.”

  Crystal was quiet for a moment, her mind flashed to her mother. “What if a vampire has bonded her?”

  Joey cringed. “I don’t know. There’s no way to undo that bond that we know of. According to the vampire side of things, there’s nothing anyone can do. She’ll belong to that vampire.”

  “Just like my mother to James.” Crystal couldn’t keep the heartbreak from her voice.

  Joey sighed. “Yeah, but hopefully it doesn’t come to that.”

  Chapter Nine

  “Where is she?” Lucius growled as soon as he appeared in Orion and Coran’s home.

  Orion looked up from the chessboard that he was leaning over and put his finger to his lips. “Shush, she’s sleeping.”

  Lucius stepped up to him. “Why is she here?”

  Coran stood. “Because she said she couldn’t sleep during the day, and she wanted company.” The caramel-haired werewolf met Lucius’ gaze. “And we offered her a comfortable place to rest.”

  “She was supposed to stay at the mansion during the day.” Lucius started toward the stairs that led to the second level of the town home. Orion appeared in front of him.

  “You need to listen to me before you go up there.” Orion lifted his chin. “Tegan—”

  Lucius didn’t wait for him to finish. He transported himself to the guest room, which Tegan wasn’t in. Anger filled him as he rushed to Orion’s room.

  Everything was incredibly tidy and seemed to be in the right place, and there was Tegan, in the middle of the bed, a blanket pulled close to her chest. Her brow was creased and a small whimper escaped her mouth.

  Orion walked into the room. “Lucius.”

  “Did you touch her?” Lucius snarled. “Did you lay a hand on her in any way?”

  Orion held his hands up. “I moved her up here so I could keep an eye on her. That’s it.”

  Lucius snarled. “She’s not yours to keep in your bed.”

  “Lucius, please.” Tegan’s voice was soft enough that had he not been a vampire, he wouldn’t have heard her.

  He turned toward her. “Tegan, we’re going home.”

  She sat up and shook her head. She kept her eyes closed as he had taught her to when she wasn’t wearing her sunglasses or the fabric around her eyes. The blanket fell, revealing her clothes from yesterday.

  Good. So she hadn’t been naked in the fae’s bed. “Lucius, everything is fine. I came here because I needed comfort.”

  Lucius shot a glare at the fae, wondering if he’d finally crossed the line. Orion shook his head. “She came here about noon and then fell asleep in the chair. She was having nightmares, so I moved her up here so I could sit with her. Nothing happened.”

  Lucius tried to open the bond and reach out to Tegan, but she had it clamped down on her end. “Tegan, home.”

  “I’ll bring your car to the club.” Orion kept his voice calm.

  “I don’t want to go home. My brother is there and… and the nightmares are worse there. I want to go to my apartment or stay here.”

  Lucius stared at her. Not being able to control her in front of Orion was a weakness, but the fae had been around long enough to know that Lucius didn’t always have control. “Tegan.” He put power in his voice and despite her blocking her mind from the bond, the power hit her.

  She tensed. “I don’t want to go home.”

  “We clearly need to talk. Come with me.” He held his hand out, even though she couldn’t see.

  She stood up with her eyes still closed and took a step toward him. “I hate when you do this.”

  “We’ll talk about it at home,” Lucius said and took her hand. The world around them disappeared, and Lucius and Tegan reappeared in his foyer.

  Tegan pulled her hand away instantly and opened her eyes, glaring at him. “You don’t want to hear me out? You had to drag me back home like a disobedient child?”

  “You have a bad habit of questioning me in front of Orion.” Lucius crossed his arms. “You are supposed to stay here, so that if Markus shows up, you’re safe.”

  “That’s what I was trying to tell you at Orion’s. I can feel Markus. He knows where I am. He’s in my dreams.” She opened the bond finally so he could feel her panic.

  “Sister of mine, is that true?” Zaaren walked in and she turned to face him and then spun back to Lucius.

  He could see the begging in her eyes. “Zaaren, please, this is a conversation between Tegan and I.”

  “Where is Markus?” Zaaren stepped forward, and Lucius stepped between Zaaren and Tegan.

  Tegan stepped closer to Lucius. “I don’t know.”

  “If he knows where you are, you can find him.” Zaaren crossed his arms. “We need to know where he is.”

  Tegan pushed past Lucius. “Why? Why is it so important to find Markus?”

  “Because I’m helping Ayden with something,” Zaaren answered easily. “Now, why are you leaving the mansion to stay with that fae?”

  “You’re his fucking sire. Find him yourself.” Tegan shook her head and stormed off. Lucius let out a long sigh. “You two are impossible. You bicker like children.”

  “And you two weren’t bickering?” Zaaren shot back.

  “I was trying to talk to her about why she was so panicked, and you thought it was more important to ask her where Markus is.” Lucius growled. “I know you hate him. I know you have had something against him since he took your sister, but we should be more concerned about him being in her mind.” He flung a hand towards the door Tegan went through. “She didn’t want to come back here because of you.”

  Zaaren went still. “Because of me?”

  “She didn’t say why, but you being back is making her anxious. You aren’t doing anything to help that.” Lucius rubbed his eyes. “Might I suggest trying to figure that out instead of chasing this Hunter?”

  “That Hunter,” a male voice came from the door and Lucius cursed when he realized Ayden had walked in. “Is a link to the Original Hunters.”

  Lucius turned to the man and then smiled at the vampire that stood behind him. Her braided red hair was piled on her head, and her green eyes sparkled when she smiled back at him. “Levi.” She seemed to float over to him.

  She wrapped her arms around him in a gentle hug. “It’s so good to see you.”

  “And you, Nuala. I didn’t think you’d be here so soon.” He pulled back and looked over at Zaaren. “Did you?”

  Zaaren shook his head. “No, I didn’t. Ayden didn’t say when they’d be back. Nuala, you look beautiful.”

  She smiled and pulled him into a hug. “And you look well. Now, tell me about this Hunter.” Nuala purred, and the tension melted out of the room.

  “Ayden, I believe Tegan went to her room. You may go join her.” Zaaren dismissed him and Lucius rolled his eyes.

  “Tegan is in the media room. First door on your left down the hall.” Lucius motioned. “If you’d like to join her.”

  Ayden snorted. “Yeah, I will.” He walked off. Nuala waited a moment before speaking. “Ayden is very taken with this Hunter. He feels responsible for whatever happened to her.”

  “As he should. He was with her when Markus took her into the human trade,” Zaaren said and then motioned with his hand for Nuala to follow him. “Come, let’s find a place to sit and discuss this.”

  “The study,” Lucius agreed. “Much less out in the open and much more comfortable.” He walked out, leading them down the other hall and to the study. He closed the door behind them.

  “Zaaren is letting this Hunter take priority over everything else.” Lucius sat in one of the chairs, Nuala and Zaaren took the other two chairs. “Including his sister.”

  Nuala glanced at Zaaren. “You rarely let anything come before your sister.”

  “Tegan will not bend to my wishes for her, so I have left her to Lucius. If they get in trouble for the way she behaves as his human, then so be it. This Hunter…” Zaaren looked at Lucius.

  “Go ahead and tell her.” Lucius motioned. “She needs to know why she’s so important to you.”

  “She is my blood,” Zaaren said.

  Ayden walked into the media room to find Tegan laying on the couch reading a book. “You know, you have a sixty-two-inch television to watch movies on.” He motioned to the wall-mounted tv.

  She glanced up at it and then at him. “What are you doing here, Ayden?”

  “Nuala wanted to come see Z and Lucius.” He sat on the leather couch with her. “Are you grounded or something? If I had this big of a tv, I’d be playing games.”

  Tegan didn’t even smile. “No. I’m enjoying my book before I take a nap.”

  “Not at the bar tonight?”

  She snapped her book shut and stared at him. “It’s my night off. You’re here about that Hunter, aren’t you?”

  “Actually, yes. I had a question for you.” Ayden sighed. “I would like your help with Izzy when we get her back.”

  Tegan stared at him. “What?”

  He took a moment to choose his words wisely. “You know the damage Markus can inflict. Z is horrible at helping wounded humans, and honestly, Izzy probably will not want to see a vampire.” He ran his hand through his hair. “Please, Tegan?”

  “If Lucius lets me, yes. Zaaren probably won’t let me near her.” She shook her head. “I don’t know what it is about Izzy that has Zaaren so interested, but he’s almost obsessed. Honestly, I’d keep him away from her if you can.” She shrugged. “But I will help if I’m able to.”

  Ayden gave her a small smile. “Thank you. Are you okay? Has there any progress with…” He let his sentence die off when she shook her head.

  “Markus is nearby. I can feel him like a pressure in my head. It’s like he’s taunting me.”

  “Or he knows where the stone is, and he’s tracked it to this area.” Ayden met her gaze. “Maybe you didn’t.”

  “Sent it away,” Tegan whispered and shook her head. “Please don’t.”

  Ayden nodded and touched her hand. “Come back to me, Tegan.”

  She looked up at him. “If Markus is back, something bad is going to happen.”

  “Does Lucius know?”

  Tegan nodded. “And Zaaren wants to know where he is. He wants me to find him.”

  “What? No. Why would he ask that of you?”

  Tegan laughed. “To find that Hunter.”

  Ayden shook his head. “There’s no need. I’ve checked the mansion he uses when he’s near Lucius’ territory. There was a party there recently, and there’s movement in the room he keeps Izzy in.”

  “Tell Zaaren and keep me out of it until you get her free.” Tegan leaned back again and opened her book. “Tell Nuala I said hi.”

  “You don’t have to, I’m right here.” Nuala’s voice floated in the room and put Ayden at ease.

  Tegan, however, snapped her book shut again and sat up. “Seriously, can I not read in peace?”

  Nuala paused. “You should be blindfolded and not be able to read.”

  “The invention of sunglasses let me read at any time I want. Long gone is the are times I had to learn by candle light at night, hiding.” Tegan tapped the plastic lenses. “They block my eyes, and I can read. Let me enjoy my book.”

  Nuala glanced at Ayden. He shrugged. “It’s a changed world, like I said.”

  “The 1920s were great. Sunglasses, mobs, danger.” Tegan waved a hand. “Great time. Lucius was a mob boss for a bit until people realized he wasn’t aging.”

  Nuala sighed. “I need a few history books if I’m going to catch up on three-hundred years of history.”

  “That’s a good idea,” Ayden agreed. “And we’ll catch you and Z up as fast as we can. What we need right now is for everyone to get along. Izzy is going to be in terrible shape when we get her out of Markus’ grasp.”

  “This is assuming Markus hasn’t claimed her as his human.” Nuala sighed. “We have to face that possibility.”

  Tegan shook her head. “Markus won’t claim a human. He thinks we’re a weakness.” Tegan shrugged. “Too easy to kill.”

  “I agree with Tegan. From what I’ve seen of Markus over the years, I don’t think he’d tie himself to a human.” Ayden nodded and looked at Nuala. “If I get caught, I’m going to need you to claim me.”

  Nuala nodded. “I won’t leave you with Markus. He’s a monster.”

  Tegan made a noise and opened her book up and went back to reading. Ayden said nothing but bowed his head to Nuala. “Tomorrow night then?”

  “We will all go to assess the situation tomorrow,” Nuala promised.

  Ayden smiled. “Thank you.”

  “My office now. -Isaac.”

  Crystal wrinkled her nose at the text on her phone. She had no intentions of going to the office if she could help it. Sam was being held in the Hunter version of jail while they figured out if he was going to trial or not.

  Her phone dinged again, and she glanced at it.

  “Now, Dunux. Or I will find a way to suspend you.”

  Okay, fine, so this was happening now. She stood and shot a text back. She was on her way, then sent Joey one to let him know where she was going to be.

  She took her time going through the courtyard of the Academy. The snow from the night before had melted, leaving nothing but wet sidewalks and puddles for her to trudge through.

  There were fewer students wandering around right now, all either in class or on a mission, or, well… dead.

  They’d lost too many these last few years. Crystal shook the thought from her head as she made it to the office building and let herself in. She shuffled her feet over the rug at the entrance to minimize the amount of water she tracked through the halls.

 

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