Lunar Bound, page 7
part #4 of Sky Brooks World: Ethan Series
Winter said, “There must’ve been a witch nearby.”
“We’d have smelled it.”
Josh demanded, “Describe the magic to me. Don’t leave out any detail, no matter how small.”
“It was a transport spell.” I’d seen Josh use the same magic a hundred times, but I humored him. After my description, he nodded surprised agreement.
“Samuel?" Sebastian asked Josh.
“Could be Samuel has new allies,” he answered, reading my mind. “I doubt he’s sitting around waiting for us to make a mistake and leave the Clostra books unprotected.”
I added, “He might try to use Sky as leverage.”
Samuel had already tried holding my brother hostage. That hadn’t worked out well for him. He wasn’t dumb enough to dip into that well twice, but he was desperate. His entire existence seemed to be wrapped in his scheme to use the books to rid the world of magic.
A rush of panic passed through me as I became acutely aware of her absence. I turned to Steven. “Where is Sky?”
Winter answered for him. “Gavin recruited her. I saw them leave earlier this morning.”
I relaxed a little. Gavin was a pain in the ass, but he was one of our best fighters. He’d never wanted her in the pack, but he’d risk his life to protect her.
I said, “I’ll make some calls, see if I can find where this magic-using jackal came from. Shouldn’t be too hard to track down with a wide enough net.”
I’d put the word out coast to coast, if necessary. Once I found the jackal’s origin, I could follow his path to Chicago and figure out who he was working with.
“We have another problem,” I said, meeting Sebastian’s gaze. “I assume you’ve already heard.”
Winter smiled, impressed. “Sky nearly killed that psychotic bitch.”
“The Mistress of the Seethe,” I clarified.
“Yup. That one.” She glanced at her fingernails, sighed, “Sky must have an excellent teacher.”
She took notice as Sebastian stated, “We’re not fighting a war to preserve the Lost One’s right to botany.”
“I put Marko on the Seethe,” I said. “There’s been no movement there.”
Winter suggested, “Michaela was probably too embarrassed to tell anyone.”
I agreed, but remained quiet while Sebastian thought through the ramifications. “We’ve given Sky every opportunity to bring this Quell situation to some kind of resolution that she can live with.”
Steven said, worried, “She thinks she’s preparing him for her absence, making him independent. From what I’ve seen, they’re only getting closer.”
Winter’s nose wrinkled. “What does she see in him?”
“A pet,” I growled. Turning to Sebastian, I asked, “Do you want me to kill him?” Sky would never forgive me, but I’d do it to protect her.
“What about Michaela?”
“It solves a problem for both of us. She won’t like it, but she’ll see it as a political act, not personal. With any luck, she’ll forget about the fight with Sky and go off to create a new psychopathic plaything.”
Sebastian considered carefully. Despite his cool affect, I’d been in on too many hard meetings with him not to recognize that the issued worried him. Killing Quell was practical, but we’d be robbing Sky of an important lesson, alienating her in the process. If she couldn’t learn to let the vampire go, she’d find some other lame pet to protect.
“I’ll talk to her,” he decided. “If she doesn’t heed my warning, we’ll have to act.”
I nodded. He was being more than fair, though I wasn’t sure Sky would see it that way. I’d warned her until I was red in the face, but she trusted Sebastian more. Unlike me, he didn’t yell. I wondered if she’d learned yet that the more quiet our Alpha became, the more dangerous he was. He was never more dangerous or angry than when he smiled.
“I may have another solution to Quell,” I said, remembering. “Claudia.”
He leaned back in his chair, surprised. He nodded.
Claudia’s gallery was in the heart of Chicago. Walking in, I noticed an attractive woman admiring a recent addition, a marble statue of Icarus reaching for the sun even as his wings melted. Her ethereal beauty struck me. For a moment, I thought she was fae. Even before her scent gave her away, I caught her humanity in her honey-colored eyes. Sensing my attention, she turned, offered me a barely shy smile.
“Ethan,” Claudia declared, joining us. I took her gloved hands and air-kissed over her cheeks. “How good to see you. Fiona”—she turned to the woman—“this is my godson, Ethan. Why don’t you join us?”
“Of course.”
Uncertain what my godmother had in mind, I followed them as Claudia led us into her office. The small table had only two seats. While Fiona and Claudia sat across from each other, I stood patiently in front of her desk, wondering just what my godmother had in mind.
“Fiona just moved here from Colorado,” she informed me. “She’s been coming to the gallery every day for the last month.”
“I’ve never seen such a beautiful collection,” Fiona admitted. A silence hung in the air as she waited for a response from me. I could hear her heartbeat climbing a ladder as the pressure built in her to fill that silence. “Your godmother has been very kind to entertain my questions. I didn’t know much about Chicago when I arrived, but Claudia has made me feel right at home.”
“The city can be a lonely place,” Claudia said comfortingly, then turned to me with an innocent look. “I believe we both know someone Fiona would like to meet.”
Taking in Fiona’s elegant heart-shaped face, her flowing blond hair, the similarities to Sky were obvious. Claudia’s time wasn’t worth spending to find Quell food, and neither was mine. I stared back at her, folding my arms over my chest.
She peeled off a single glove and placed her bare hand over Fiona’s. My arms unfolded, my hands absently falling to my sides. Claudia was letting me know that there was something important about this woman. She didn’t use her powers lightly.
“Fiona, give us a moment, dear.”
“Of course.”
Fiona politely excused herself and left the office, closing the door behind her. I listened for her breath behind the door, but she’d stepped away into the gallery, honoring the request for privacy. Confused, I looked to Claudia for answers.
She explained softly, “Her mother was a witch. The youngest of five, she’s inherited no abilities, but she is familiar with our world.”
“What is she doing here?”
“She thought she was in a relationship with a vampire in Colorado, but it became apparent she was only property. She chose flight rather than be controlled.” A look of concern blanketed her expression. “I’m afraid she has an incorrigible fascination with vampires.”
“You want me to give her to Quell?”
She smiled an amused rebuke, declared, “I want you to introduce them.”
If she were anyone else, I would’ve walked out of the room, but Claudia never did anything without a purpose. Her wisdom gave her the respect of all of the factions. Even Demetrius deferred to her. Despite my uncertainty, I knew better than to discount her. I waited respectfully as she continued.
“The Seethe’s garden grows lost souls. Fiona’s fascination is more intellectual. I believe it’s a vampire’s immortality that draws her. She won’t fear him or worship him, which will appeal to Quell, and they are both intellectually inclined.”
“He’s still a vampire.”
She observed, “He has a reverence for women that is unusual.”
“He does not consider his attitude as reverence.”
“Well, he wouldn’t be the first to lie to himself.” She thought for a moment. “I’ve grown rather fond of Fiona. I’d hate for something to happen to her, but I fear she’s going to get herself into trouble unless we can steer her in the right direction.”
“Tinder?”
She ignored the remark, waited.
“He has difficulty with control,” I reminded her. I’d be walking her into a death sentence. “He’s killed at least three women.”
“When it comes to matches, you’ll have to trust me.” Claudia slipped on her glove, silently reminding me of their importance.
If she was right, Quell would have someone other than Sky to obsess over, making him less of a threat to her and the pack. Claudia’s interest was obvious. If left alone on her path, Fiona would likely choose another vampire who would abuse her. In that, Claudia was right; Quell was unique. He didn’t want to kill. I still believed he would eventually fall to his true nature. Apparently Claudia agreed with Sky that he might be redeemable.
She watched me closely. “Will you make the introduction?”
Claudia rarely asked anything of me. While I didn’t share her confidence, I trusted her. “Of course.”
“The sooner the better, I think.”
I’d have a hard time getting Sky on board with the introduction. She’d ask a lot of questions. She’d be protective and try to manage the encounter, if she even agreed to the attempt. Better I made the introduction without her. Sebastian would have her full attention tonight, for a couple hours at least, while they talked over dinner. I was pretty sure she’d run straight to Quell after receiving her warning.
“How about this evening?”
“Sebastian has lost his patience, hasn’t he?”
I nodded as she rose from the table.
“I suspect Fiona is ready. I’ll talk to her and get back to you about the arrangements.”
Fiona was quiet in the passenger seat of my AMG on the drive to Quell’s farmhouse. She wore a pink flounced shirt over parchment skin and a pair of blue slacks. She half smiled to herself as she stared out at the passing soybean fields. Her heart rate was accelerated, excited and nervous, but no more than I would expect for someone being taken by a stranger to meet a blind date.
“You’re not scared.”
Her smile broadened. “Should I be?”
According to Claudia, Fiona knew exactly what she was getting into. Still, I found it difficult to swallow, delivering her into a vampire’s arms.
“You don’t have to do this.”
Her eyes widened and she gave a nervous laugh. “I want to. You’ve met him. You know what he’s like?”
I wasn’t going to sell Quell. “You understand that he’s a vampire.” I took my eyes off the road for a moment to see the recognition in her eyes. “You understand that you’re food to him?”
“Vampires are…complicated. They have friendships and romantic relationships just like humans.”
I thought of Demetrius and Michaela, Chase and Gabriella. “Some people keep pigs for pets. They love them and care for them until they’re ready to eat the bacon.”
The humor in her smile faded. Clearing her throat, she turned away to stare out the window. I was playing out the same arguments I’d had with Sky, and getting the same results.
After a long, calming silence, I assured her, “I want to make sure that you’re fully aware of the risks you are taking.”
Her fingers brought her hair over one shoulder, teased the ends. “Immortality gives them a unique perspective on life. The things we worry about—the petty annoyances and the desperate need to do something meaningful before we die—vampires don’t care about that. They’re not neurotic. They see the world for what it is, its beauty and its ugliness.” She must’ve read my mind when she added, “I’m not naïve. I’ve seen vampires at their worst as well as their best.”
Satisfied, I kept the rest of my opinions to myself, but I couldn’t shake the nagging sense of responsibility for her safety.
She sat up straight, prepared herself as I turned onto Quell’s driveway. I parked behind his dark-blue Subaru, then checked the tracking app on my phone to make sure Sky was still at the restaurant with Sebastian. By now, she was starting the meal with her dessert.
“If you change your mind for any reason,” I assured Fiona, “I’ll take you away. There’s nothing he could do to stop me.”
Something I said reminded her of whatever she’d left behind in Colorado. She replied with a grateful smile, but said nothing.
At a signal from me, she followed closely as I approached the front porch. The door opened before I could knock, revealing the vampire known among the Seethe as the Lost One. He stared at me hard, suspicious. Curiosity flashed across his visage when he noticed Fiona. His gaze fell back to me, waiting.
“This is Fiona. Sky wanted me to introduce you.”
A lie, but using Sky’s name seemed to set his doubts aside. I made note of the weakness. He glanced over my shoulder, noting suspiciously, “She’s not with you.”
“She meant to surprise you. At the last minute, Sebastian required her attention for pack business. Since Fiona was ready to meet you, Sky asked me to make the introduction.”
His eyes searched mine, but I was a better liar than he gave me credit for.
“She’ll come later on.”
After a long moment, he introduced himself to Fiona with a pleasant but reserved tone.
“I’m Quell. Come in.”
I sat on the edge of an ottoman. Fiona sat on the couch across from me. Quell joined her, leaving a respectful distance between them. He was uncomfortable, but curious, and the woman intrigued him.
“Fiona is a psychology professor,” I said, sparking a conversation between them as they compared academic backgrounds. I didn’t really enjoy the view, but at least I didn’t have to participate. Still, I kept a close eye on them both, watching to make sure she was comfortable, that he wasn’t losing control with her. Initially the weight of the conversation was on Fiona, but she skillfully put him at ease, drew him out. After a few minutes, Quell was holding his share of the conversation, asking and answering questions.
It was a long, tedious conversation. After the first hour, I could’ve left them alone, but I didn’t want to miss the fireworks. Glancing at the tracking app, I noticed Sky was on the move, heading in this general direction. I smiled, waited. Soon I heard her vehicle pull to a stop on the gravel driveway.
By the time I stepped out onto the porch, she’d recognized my GT and started to back out. She stopped at the sight of me, scowling at me over the dashboard. Even without my enhanced hearing, I could make out the series of expletives she unleashed, banging on the steering wheel for emphasis. When she put an arm across the back of the passenger seat and peered out the rear window, I knew she was going to make her escape.
Before she could back away, I was beside her car, holding her door open for her. Her eyes narrowed at my extended hand. For a moment, I thought she would unleash another torrent of curses. I had a hard enough time keeping a straight face as it was. Eventually, her lips spread into a broad, mirthless smile. She took my hand and stepped out of her car.
I smiled back. “I’m so glad you are here. As if you could stay away.” My fingers entwined with hers, I led her toward the house. She hesitated at first, then followed the pull of my grip.
“We asked you to stay away,” I reminded her, “which undoubtedly ensured that you would be over here as soon as you could.”
The excuses came quickly. “I hadn’t heard from him in a couple of days. I was just checking on him.”
“Of course. After all, him managing to stay safe and alive the seventy years he had prior to meeting you was clearly a coincidence. And he can’t possibly take care of himself.”
“I thought I heard Sky outside,” I announced as we walked into the house. Quell and Fiona had moved to the middle of the couch, next to each other. She’d brushed her hair to the side, exposing her long, bare neck to him. Her attention was fixed on him, observing his every reaction as he greeted Sky with a genuine smile.
She paused, blinked as she glanced between the happy pair. A hint of jealousy passed through her expression before she suppressed it. The look she gave me could’ve killed a lesser man.
“This is Fiona,” Quell said.
Sky greeted her coolly. “Nice to meet you.”
I moved across the room, leaned against the kitchen counter for a better view. “Fiona is a professor of psychology at the community college nearby,” I explained for Sky’s benefit, glancing to Quell. “That was what you studied as well, am I correct?”
Judging by Sky’s glare, that bit of information must’ve been proprietary. Claudia had her own sources.
My smile broadened at her irritation.
“Yes,” Quell said, “that was what I studied, and when I returned I continued on to get my Masters.”
“Returned?” Fiona asked him, surprised. “From Germany? Ethan told me that you were involved. What branch of the military?”
Sky threw a hot look at Fiona, who pretended not to notice. Sky muttered miserably, “I guess we’re telling everyone about us now.”
“Army, ground,” Quell admitted, a long story revealed within the bounds of two simple syllables. Suddenly unable to meet Fiona’s gaze, he took on a distant look as if viewing some distant battlefield.
Fiona finally caught the rebuke in Sky’s glare. Fiona’s smile faded as she instinctively scooted back into the couch, demonstrating her intention to hold her ground. When her smile returned, it was cautious, annoyed. She inquired of Quell as she possessively slid her hand over his, “Freud, what do you think: genius or unjustly revered idiot? There have only been a couple of times I wished I were a man and they all were during a road trip when I couldn’t find a restroom. Other than that, I’m pretty happy with what I have.”
The vampire laughed, a surprisingly deep rumble, before engaging in a lively debate. Claudia was right. The two were a perfect match, and they knew it. Sky didn’t appreciate the pairing, but Fiona might just save Quell’s life, assuming he didn’t lose control and kill her.
As the conversation quickly devolved into a discussion of minutiae, I took Sky’s arm and gently led her toward the door.
“Sky and I are going to leave,” I announced, adding as I opened the door, “Quell, Fiona’s the coach for the debate team, good luck.”
I opened the door, glanced over my shoulder as Fiona mouthed a thank you. My hand on Sky’s waist, I felt her turning to stay and hustled her outside. On the porch, she turned away from my touch, glowered at me. I pressed my fingers to my lips.
