She climbed the stairs to get to Isaac’s office and knocked.

  No response.

  Weird.

  She tried the knob and found it unlocked, so she walked in. “Isaac?” she called, and no one responded.

  His desk sat in the middle of the room. There were stairs to the left that led up to a loft library, but she couldn’t see anyone up there either.

  Her heart picked up speed as she stood and listened for anything that might tip her off that someone was there with her.

  The room remained silent except for the soft sounds of the heater blowing.

  Maybe she beat him there. She walked to the desk to take a seat but paused when she saw the list of names sitting on the desk, half hidden by a student’s paper.

  This must have been the list Joey mentioned. She quickly picked it up and shoved it in her bag, glancing around to see if anyone might have seen.

  Still no one around. What the hell?

  She pulled her phone out of her pocket, ready to text Isaac to see where he was.

  “No,” Isaac’s voice sounded outside the office. “You did not do as I asked. You ruined our chances.”

  “She is blaming you for everything that’s going on.” Sam’s voice sounded. “And you are blaming her. So I don’t know what to believe. Isaac, you’re always talking about making the Hunting Society a better place.”

  Crystal kicked her feet up on the desk to do her best to look like she’d been there all along when the door opened.

  Both Isaac and Sam stared at her when they came in. “What are you doing here?” Sam asked, his hand on the handle of his gun.

  “I could ask you the same thing. I thought you were in holding.” She dropped her feet down and stood. “I’m here because I got two texts from Isaac, one which threatened to get me suspended.”

  Isaac shook his head. “No, I never texted you. I don’t particularly want to see you right now, since you are the reason Sam is in trouble.”

  Crystal glanced at Sam and then shook her head. “Well, in that case, I’ll be going now.” There was no point in arguing. Either Isaac sent her a text, or someone sent one from his phone number, but either way, she didn’t want to continue this conversation.

  Isaac put a hand up to stop her. “I think we have some things to discuss, though. Sam tells me you think I’m behind killing the Elites.”

  Crystal locked her jaw but said nothing.

  “Aren’t so sure now that you’re facing him, are you?” Sam sneered.

  Crystal shrugged. “Maybe I don’t want to say anything because I know there are no other witnesses around.” She walked past Isaac and to the door.

  “You’re right.”

  She turned in time to see Sam pointing a gun at her. Crystal pulled hers out and dodged to the left before taking aim at Sam.

  Her bullet took him in the shoulder, and he cried out, dropping his gun. She darted for the door again, but another shot rang out and she had no choice but to change directions.

  She was going to die in Isaac’s office. And she had the list of names on her.

  There was no doubt in her mind that Isaac and Sam were going to frame her now. She darted up the stairs.

  She was younger and faster than Isaac. She could get up there and swing down before he could change positions.

  A bullet hit the bookshelf next to her.

  Fuck, fuck, fuck.

  She took a blind shot before wedging herself behind the edge of a bookshelf.

  Pulling her phone out with one hand, she dialed Joey and left the phone on the floor by her.

  “So this is your plan then, Isaac?” She called out. “Lure me here and then kill me?”

  “Just come down here, Crystal, and we can talk.” Isaac’s voice came from her right. She could hear his feet coming up the stairs. “There was no need to attack Sam.”

  She snorted. “He shot at me first, you bastard.” She glanced around the bookshelf and saw him standing down the row. She could run, swing over the bar, and land on the desk. As long as Sam hadn’t recovered from his shot arm, she could make it to the door.

  She crouched for a moment. Isaac wasn’t wearing his glasses, so his aim would be slightly off.

  There were a lot of what-ifs in this plan. She darted from her hiding place and shot to the bar.

  A bullet grazed by her, but she didn’t stop. She flung herself over the bar and landed in a crouch on his desk. Another shot, this one grazed her thigh, but she kept going. Adrenaline pumped through her with each frantic beat of her heart as her feet kept her moving.

  Then pain exploded in her leg, and she crashed down. She kept hold of her gun as she tumbled in her fall. The shot had taken her in her calf, making her see stars.

  Sam came walking up to her, his gun in his other hand. “Crystal, why?” He held it up, his arm shaking. “Why did you have to betray the society like this?”

  “Don’t, Sam. You’re falling into his trap.” Crystal took aim. “Please don’t make me do this.”

  Sam’s gun clattered to the ground, followed by him. There wasn’t a moment for Crystal to think about what happened, because Isaac was behind Sam, his own gun aimed at her.

  “Goodbye, Crystal.”

  Two shots rang out. Isaac jerked twice and Crystal waited for a bullet to hit her, but no more came.

  “Crystal.” Joey’s voice was right next to her ear, and she turned to see him.

  “Oh, my god,” Crystal cried. “Oh my god, Joey. Joey, they were trying to kill me.”

  He wrapped his arms around her and squeezed. “I know, I know.”

  She leaned her head into his shoulder and cried.

  Lucius appeared in the house of the humans Mae had found. Stacks of books covered tables beside the couch, a couple of laptops leaned against backpacks with notebooks sticking out of them.

  He could hear the heartbeat of one human clearly upstairs, and a faint one he assumed was downstairs. Both slow and steady enough to tell him they were sleeping. Good. That would give him time to look through the house to find the stone. If it was there.

  He riffled through the bags, putting everything back how it was, but with the state of things, he doubted the humans would realize if anything changed.

  Nothing unusual was in the bag.

  Maybe one of them was wearing the stone?

  If the humans woke, he could use his power to help lull them back to sleep, and hopefully they’d think he was just a dream.

  He went to the first bedroom.

  Things were different here. Everything had a place. Nice and tidy. The human was tucked in under the blanket, and a quick glimpse at her neck showed she didn’t have a necklace on.

  Lucius flipped through a jewelry box, and then through drawers, using his vampire speed to do it quickly.

  Nothing.

  He went downstairs but stopped when he sensed someone. Not just anyone. Tegan.

  He took himself back outside the house to find Tegan standing there. Barefooted, her red eyes blank as she looked at the house.

  “Tegan?” He walked up to her.

  She blinked at him and shivered. “Lucius? I’m freezing. Where am I?”

  Panic filled him, some hers, some his own. “Tegan, how did you get here?”

  She glanced around. “I don’t know. I don’t know where ‘here’ is.” Her eyes widened. “My eyes…”

  A moment later, Markus appeared, and Tegan buried her face into Lucius’ chest, almost like a child hiding.

  “Mm, thought I sensed you out here.” Markus looked at Tegan. “Greet me, Tegan, don’t be rude.” Markus snapped at Tegan.

  Tegan’s whole body shook as she turned around, her eyes squeezed shut, and bowed. “Hello Lord Markus.”

  “Bit cold to be out here in pajamas, isn’t it? And with nothing covering your eyes.”

  Tegan froze, but Lucius put a hand on her shoulder. “Tegan was sleepwalking. Her place is just down the road. We’re heading back now.”

  Markus made another hm noise, and Lucius knew he didn’t believe it. “Zaaren and Nuala requested a meeting with me. I thought it strange they didn’t mention your name.”

  Lucius raised a brow. That was news to him. “I don’t control either of them. Why would I need to meet with you?” Tegan turned back to him, and Lucius took off his coat and draped it around her to keep her warm.

  “Why would the two Originals want to meet with me?” Markus shot back. “You know why. Tegan?” He asked, and Lucius felt his power brush over Tegan.

  Tegan tensed but relaxed again when Lucius let his own power run over her and through their bond.

  “Your power is not welcome,” Tegan grounded out. “I do not answer to you.”

  Lucius nodded. “My human owes you no answers. Now, if you would excuse us.” Lucius disappeared with her, taking her back to the mansion.

  “Tegan?”

  She looked up at him. “I swear I didn’t mean to leave without my glasses. I don’t even know how I got there.” She wrapped his coat around her tighter. “Lucius, I can’t just pop in and out of places.”

  He nodded. “I know. I know.”

  “What do you mean you were out without your glasses?” Zaaren’s voice came from the doorway of the foyer. “Who saw you?”

  Tegan glanced up at Lucius and he sighed. “No one saw her,” Lucius said easily.

  “Sister of mine?” Zaaren asked, and she turned away without an answer.

  “How did she leave the mansion without you knowing?” Zaaren asked.

  Lucius shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  “And without her glasses. What if Markus had shown up?”

  If only he knew. “I would have handled it. She has years of experience hiding her eyes in the event someone shows up unexpectedly. She would have been fine.”

  She had been fine. She’d even told Markus to keep his power away from her.

  “Keep her in line,” Zaaren said before walking away.

  Lucius resisted snapping back at him. It wouldn’t help the situation.

  Nuala walked in a moment later. “I see Zaaren is upset with Tegan.”

  “Yes, but how did you know?” Lucius turned to her.

  “She was wandering around here calling for you. I don’t know what was going on, but she wouldn’t respond to me, so I took her to you.”

  Lucius nodded. “Next time, please leave her here. She’ll open the bond if she’s in trouble. Leaving her in a human neighborhood like that is dangerous.”

  “Maybe Zaaren is right, and you should keep a closer eye on your human.” She disappeared.

  Lucius let out a low growl. He could not afford to appear weak in front of the Originals, especially as the others woke. He needed to fix this.

  Chapter Ten

  Ayden straightened his shirt again. “Why did you think this was a good idea?” He glared at Zaaren. “Meeting with Markus and just asking for Izzy?”

  “Because, we’re Originals.” Nuala smiled and put a hand against his cheek. “He will give us what we want.”

  He had a feeling this would not go as they had planned, but he trusted Nuala. He had to trust that she’d get Izzy out alive. “And if he doesn’t?”

  A power brushed over the room, and Ayden shivered as he recognized it. Markus.

  “And if I don’t, what?”

  The three of them turned around and faced him.

  Izzy stood at his side. She tilted her head down so her short, choppy hair fell over her eyes. The clothes she wore hung off her body, showing how much weight she’d lost over the last year.

  Ayden’s heart clenched as he went to take a step forward, and Nuala put a hand on his shoulder. “Welcome, Markus,” she said, “It’s been a while.”

  Markus nodded. “Nuala, Ayden.” His gaze turned to Z. “Zaaren.” No one missed the snarl in his voice.

  “Markus, my fledgling, thank you for meeting with us.” Zaaren smiled. “What an interesting human you’ve taken.”

  Ayden swallowed. Did Zaaren sense a bond?

  Izzy looked up from under her hair. Her gaze met Ayden’s for a moment before flickering away. He swore he saw hate in her eyes.

  Markus ran his hand down Izzy’s hair. “She’s beautiful, isn’t she? I’m sure Ayden told you all about her.”

  Ayden glanced at Nuala, trying to figure out how she wanted to play this. Was he supposed to admit that he was on Markus’ property?

  “Ayden told me he was trying to keep the Hunter from making a mistake, and she didn’t heed his warning.”

  “And what is your task here?” Markus raised a brow. “You want the Hunter back?” He threaded his hand through Izzy’s hair and pulled her head back so that she was looking at everyone. “Do you want to return with Ayden and his vampires, Izzy?”

  There was a flash of defiance right before Izzy lunged into action. She slammed her foot down on Markus' foot and swung around with a blade that she’d taken from somewhere in the folds of her clothes.

  Markus hissed as the silver dagger sliced his stomach, but Izzy was too slow in her back up. Markus wrapped his hand around her wrist and snapped it.

  Izzy dropped the knife as he lifted her up by the wrist.

  “You’re mine. Remember?” He growled.

  She cried out and put her other hand to her head.

  “Stop.” Z’s power flooded through the room, and Markus and Izzy both froze. “Unhand her Markus.”

  Markus let go. “So, you’re going to use your powers as my sire over me to rescue this pathetic excuse of a human?”

  Izzy crumpled to her knees, cradling her wrist. Ayden stepped forward, but Nuala shook her head. “It’s not safe,” she whispered. “She’s feral right now.”

  Ayden turned to argue, but saw Izzy grab the knife with her other hand and lunge at Markus again.

  Was she trying to get herself killed?

  Markus turned and grabbed Izzy’s wrist again, turning it so the knife stabbed into her stomach.

  She made a noise and stumbled back with the knife in her stomach. A strange smile crossed her face as she fell to her knees again, blood coating her stomach.

  Ayden cried out and ran to her, but Markus blocked his path. “You may not touch her.”

  But Zaaren was already behind Markus, pulling Izzy into his arms.

  Izzy pushed weakly at him. “No, no, please. No.”

  Markus spun around. “Zaaren.”

  “You’re not bonded to her,” Zaaren said easily. “You just tried to kill her. Are you done with her, then?”

  Markus raised a brow. “Let her die.” He disappeared.

  Ayden ran to Izzy, who was still pushing at Zaaren weakly as her gaze lost focus. “She doesn’t want you near her,” Ayden said, trying to take Izzy from him. “She needs a hospital, or she’s going to die.”

  “She’s already fading.” Nuala walked up. “Her heartbeat is slowing, and her mind is giving up.”

  “No, no.” Ayden shook his head and took his shirt off to put on her wound. “Izzy, please, don’t leave.”

  Zaaren bared fangs at Ayden and then disappeared with Izzy. Ayden yelled and jumped to his feet. “Where is he? Where did he take her?” He turned to Nuala. “She fears him. If she’s dying, she shouldn’t be with him.” He didn’t want fear being the last thing Izzy experienced. His heart shattered at the idea of her dying. Never getting to be herself again.

  Nuala’s brow pulled together. “I don’t know. I don’t know why he would take the human.”

  “He better not change her.” Ayden shook his head. “Izzy hates vampires. She wouldn’t want to be one, especially after this.”

  Nuala nodded. “You need to be there for her, Ayden. Even if she doesn’t want you there.”

  “She has the Hunters. They’ll take care of her now.” He swallowed. “Did you see the hate in her eyes? She doesn’t want my help.”

  “Maybe not at that moment. At that moment, all she wanted was death.”

  “You were in her mind?”

  “Hard not to be when she was completely open.” Nuala sighed. “James did a great job removing her natural shields. She’ll need time to build them back up.”

  Ayden nodded. “Yeah, James’ specialty, stripping humans of their own protections. Let’s go back to Lucius until Z reappears.”

  Markus reappeared in his mansion, snarling. That stupid Hunter was still suicidal and wanted to die by his hands. Good, unless Zaaren changed her, she’d die of the stab wound. Her body was too weak to handle the damage.

  Stupid Hunter.

  But that was one more name off the list. One last Hunter to deal with. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and called the Master he was working with.

  No answer.

  He tried again and again until the phone went to voicemail. “You call me as soon as you can. Sidel’s body will turn up soon. You need to make a plan for that.”

  He disconnected the call and paced his office. Two Originals were awake now. They needed to double the effort of unlocking the Father’s grave, finding that stone, and raising the father.

  Tegan was the key to that stone. But that damn human had also been strong enough to resist his power. She’d grown over the last three hundred years.

  The stone was somewhere in the Springs. He could feel it, but he couldn’t pinpoint it. Anytime he tried to reach into Tegan’s mind about it, Lucius’ power was there to stop him, or the girl would only say that she sent it away.

  If he didn’t play his cards right, this was all going to be a disaster.

  Chapter Eleven

  “What happens now?” Crystal asked when Joey walked into the hospital room. “Isaac’s dead, Sam injured.” Her leg was in a cast, the bullet removed during surgery. She’d been lucky Joey was there, and she hadn’t bled out from the shot.

  Joey pulled up a chair to sit at her side. “Sam’s going to trial. I was in a meeting when you called me, and two other Elder Masters heard the whole thing.”

  “Lucky me. They can’t frame me for killing the other Elites.” Crystal leaned her head back. The world spun with the painkillers in her system. “I don’t feel like this is over.”

 

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