Im sure.
Then tell me why you want a cut.
Yeah, Julian said. This is dumb. Well look like an idiot.
Elijah had no comment.
After everything that had happened, Aden felt like a new person. He was a new person. Yet every time he passed a mirrorand as a lot of the walls here were, in fact, mirrors, he saw more of himself than he wantedhe looked the same. That had to change, too.
I just do, was all he said.
Very well, then. Resigned, tentative, Victoria got to work, and he watched black lock after black lock fall to the floor.
Stop her, Caleb practically cried. Grab her hand and stop her.
For a moment, Aden felt somethinga rope, maybepulling at his arm, lifting it, his fingers twitching, ready to close around Victorias wrist, and he frowned. A conscious effort was required to keep his arm at his side.
What the hell?
Come on, man, Caleb continued. All you have to do is lift your arm and grab her wrist.
Lift his arm. Grab her wrist. The answer popped into place. You trying to take over the body, Caleb?
Maybe, was the grumbled reply.
None of the souls had tried anything like that in years. Probably because they couldnt take over without his permission. Or hadnt been able to. But that tugit was stronger than anything theyd done before. He wasnt exactly sure what that meant.
Dont do that again, he snapped.
Fine!
Victoria had moved between his spread knees, and at his words, she stiffened. I didntIm justyou told me to do this!
Immediately repentant, he said, Sorry. I wasnt talking to you.
Oh. Good. You had me worried. She returned her attention to the trim job.
Her scent hit him with the force of a swinging baseball bat. Aden forgot the souls as his mouth watered, and his stomach curled into itself. Hed been on the verge of starvation ever since her brother had maimed and killed those vampires, and hed barely made it out of the throne room without falling to his face and licking the oh, so delicious-looking blood off the floor.
Only two things had stopped him. The desire for Victorias blood, and only Victorias blood, which fortified itself by the minute, and the knowledge that showing weakness of any kind would be used against him during the big battle. And the battle would happen, just as hed promised Victoria.
Elijah might have seen several different outcomes, but circumventing the battle altogether hadnt been one of them.
A few times, Aden had seen himself die, his head removed by a sword covered in je la nune. Victoria wouldnt be able to save him from that. But then hed thought, I wont go low, Ill dart to the side. And the visions had instantly changed. So, when the new outcome played through his mind, hed seen Sorin swing, encountering air as Aden ducked and went in for his own attack.
Hed realized then that his future was uncertain. Completely changeable. And he could winmaybebut at a price. His victory would mark the beginning of a downward spiral for Victoria. Maybe because she would see him standing over her brothers body, vampires cheering his success while she cried.
He didnt want that for her. Didnt want her depressed or angry, or worse, hating him with every fiber of her being. Therefore, he had to figure out a solution.
Did you know you have small black dots on your scalp? she asked. Freckles?
Most likely. Theyre cute.
Cute kicked the butt of hideous, but just barely. Thanks.
Welcome. A soft hum drifted from her as she finished up. There, she finally announced. Done. She cupped his cheeks in her less than warm hands and looked him over. You are She gasped.
What? Was it that bad?
I dont like to say I told you so, Caleb announced. But I freaking TOLD YOU SO.
While Victorias mouth opened and closed, Aden unfolded to a stand. His reflection in the mirror above the sink slowly came into view. Hed expected a real ugh-o to stare back at him, but that wasnt the case. He had two inches of hair left, the strands spiked. They were a dirty blond, his natural color, and they made his skin appear a deeper bronze. And his eyes, which had once been black and had recently converted to violet, were now a golden brown.
Oh, Caleb breathed. Well, okay then. Will wonders never cease?
You dont like it? he asked Victoria.
Like it? With a trembling hand, she reached up to run her fingers along his newly shorn scalp. I love it. And I finally see the appeal of the bad boy.
He looked like a bad boy, he wondered, leaning into her touch, hoping it would deepen.
Kiss her, Caleb prompted. Now, now, now! Before the mood is tainted.
For once, I gotta agree with the pervert, Julian said. French that girl within an inch of her life.
Yes.
Before Aden realized hed moved, his hands were on her waist, drawing her closer to him. Automatically his gaze dropped to her neck, to her hammering pulse. A high-pitched roar, similar to what hed heard outside, only a bit louder now, suddenly echoed inside his head.
Victoria noticed the direction of his gaze. You need to feed or youll be too weak to survive tomorrow.
Ill do more than survive. He hoped. You offering?
N-no. She gulped, sending a shiver down the rest of her body. Aden, you have to stop this.
Stop what? Holding you?
Nooo! Caleb cried, and Adens fingers clenched on Victoria, making her wince. Ive missed her.
Thats enough, Aden snapped at him. Loosen your hold, and give me a minute.
The souls? she asked sympathetically.
His nod was clipped, scattering Calebs mutterings. Then the pressure eased and Aden was able to gentle his grip on his own. Caleb kept that up, and something would have to be done. What, though, Aden didnt know. Other than finding the souls way out.
And no, Victoria said, picking their conversation up where it had ended, I didnt mean I wanted you to stop holding me. Or maybe I did. You want me one minute, you dont the next, then you want me again, like now, and I cant keep up. I justsweet heavens above!
The innocent curse didnt surprise him, but the panicked shock bubbling from it did. Whats wrong? No one had stepped into the bathroom. No threat had jumped out at them.
She pulled from his hold and withdrew her phone, her hand trembling, her breathing ragged. Riley just texted, and the vibration freaks me out every time.
He wanted her back in his arms. Easy fix. Turn it off vibrate.
Sure thing. As soon as I figure out how to do that. She read the screen, her pale skin tinting with gray. Will you, uh, excuse me? She didnt wait for his reply but raced from the bathroom, throwing over her shoulder, Ill send a blood-slave to see to your hunger, maybe the same one from before, before slamming the door shut behind her.
Dont do that, he called. If she heard him, he didnt know. Even then, he wanted only Victoria. He strode into the bedroom, but she was already gone.
I cant believe you let her get away without a goodbye kiss, Caleb whined.
Elijah made a noise that sounded like a cross between a wheeze and a cough. First the hair, and now the kiss. Will you stop already? Youre driving me crazy.
No! This is important.
I shut you down once, Caleb. Dont make me do it again.
Shut me down? What do you mean? How and when did this alleged shutdown happen? Because Aden can tell you that, of the three of us, Im the most powerful, and if any shutting down needs to occur, Ill be the one doing it.
Elijahs annoyance bled into unease. Never mind. Just
Wait! Hold on a sec. Im not gonna let this drop. Youre talking about the cave, right? Because the end of our stay is like the same black hole Mary Ann sends us to whenever Aden nears her. Did you do that to us, E? Huh, huh, did you?
A, uh, black hole, you say?
What did you do, E? Julian demanded.
For the love of God! I need Elijah to help me during the battle with Sorin, but if you guys dont shut up, Ill find the meds Victoria gave us and send you to a black hole right here and now.
Sorry, Ad, Julian said.
Fine, be that way, Caleb said.
Thank you, Elijah said.
Good. They understood each other.
From the corner of his eye, Aden spotted the dancing woman from this morning gliding toward Victorias bed, leaning over. A little girl with long black hair lay there, sleeping. He frowned in confusion. Neither female had been there a moment ago.
You, he said, approaching.
She ignored him, saying to the little girl, somehow equally as familiar to him, Come on now, precious. She threw a panicked glance over her shoulder. Not at Aden, but at somewhere far, far past him. We have to leave now. Before he returns.
The little girl stretched and yawned. But I dont want to go, she said in the sweetest angel voice hed ever heard.
You must. Now.
If she doesnt want to go, youre not taking her. Aden reached the woman, tried to latch onto her shoulderbut his hand ghosted through her.
FOURTEEN
AFTER ARRANGING FOR A blood-slave to be sent to Aden, as promised, Victoria locked herself in Rileys bedroom, knowing no one would enter without permission, and she could have as much privacy as she wanted for as long as she needed.
She hadnt lied to Aden. Riley had sent her a text. Think we found Js ID. Being tracked by WBs & FS. Except 4 raging fungus, all good. BK?
J for Julian. WB for witch-bitches. FS for fairy spawn. Raging fungus had to be Tucker. Shocking that Riley hadnt killed him already. Or maybe not. Mary Ann must have put her dainty foot down, and, lovestruck idiot that he was, Riley caved.
Like Aden used to cave for Victoria. And might again, one day soon, if the looks hed given her in the bathroom meant anything.
BK good, she typed. U B careful.
And the Boy King was good. He was finally returning to his normal self. Only, things were about to change for him yet again, and in a way that would hurt him deeply. Because, if Riley and Mary Ann had discovered Julians true identity, it was only a matter of time before Aden had to say goodbye to the soul.
She wouldnt tell him. Not yet. He had too much to worry about already. And that brought her to the other text shed received, one she hadnt mentioned.
Im in the forest. Find me. Sorin.
Her brother wanted to speak with her. Her brother. About building a relationship with her, or about Aden? Or both? Either way, she would be taking a huge risk simply to see him.
Although, on one hand, she might be able to change his mind about the fight. Big might. On the other, he might try to use her to force Aden to back out. Having witnessed his merciless skill with a sword, that seemed more likely. But
The desire to see him was overwhelming.
She would go see him, she decided, but she would be smart about it. She wouldnt go alone, and she wouldnt stay long. Neither of those concessions makes you smart. Didnt matter. Hope was a silly but completely undeniable thing.
She gathered her sisters as backup and headed outside, careful not to shiver at the sudden drop in temperature.
I dont want to meet him, Lauren said firmly. Im only going so I can murder him if he threatens you. Tall, slender and as blond as Sorin, she wore a skintight black leather halter top and pants. Barbed wire circled both of her wrists. Shed been training to be a warrior her entire life, and shed killed more witches and fae than the leader of Vlads army had. The fact that she was female had kept her from advancing up the ranks. He had decades to convince Vlad to let us talk to him, years to visit, and he didnt.
You should probably shut up now, Stephanie said after popping a bubble. Shorter than either Lauren or Victoria, she had long blond hair and moss-green eyes. Rather than traditional vampire garb, she wore a blue tank top and a black micro-mini. The length of her hair was braided and twisted into tiny buns all over her head. Youre only showing your dumb side.
Dumb side! I dont have a dumb side, and you know it.
Ha! Ive met pet rocks who were smarter than you.
Do you want me to murder you, too? Because I will!
They loved each other, but they also loved to snipe at each other.
Victoria was envious. These two had always possessed the courage to be who and what they wanted to be. But then again, Lauren had been favored by Vlad, and Stephanies mother had been the favorite of all his wives. Hed gone easy on both of them. Victoria had not been favored, and her mother had been the most despised, so shed always borne the brunt of his rage.
Shed tried to please him, as well as her mother, but theyd admired such different traits that, in the end, she hadnt pleased either of them. Vlad had wanted a fearless soldier who threw herself into every battle; her mother had wanted a sweet-tempered, fun-loving brat. She was neither.
As she made her way through the trees, she endured the bitter cold, savored the scent of the coming storm. The sky was darkening, the clouds growing thick and black. Hadnt taken long to learn Oklahoma weather could change in the blink of an eye.
Footsteps just ahead, branches slapping together. She and her sisters halted just as her brothers men stepped forward, forming a circle around them. They were camouflaged so well, she had to stare and stare hard to see them.
Sorin moved from the center of them. Sisters, he said with a nod.
With a whoop, Stephanie ran to him. She threw herself in his arms. He caught her, twirling her around. Envy returned, nearly swallowing Victoria whole. The pair had spent time together, that much was obvious. They knew each other, were comfortable with each other, perhaps even loved each other.
Why hadnt Sorin wanted to spend time with Victoria?
What are you doing, you cow? Lauren snarled at the youngest princess. Get back here before he double-crosses you and youre watching your head roll away from your body. Stephanie smirked. Still snuggling in Sorins arms, she said, Im not the one who failed to visit our brother in secret. And who are you calling a cow, you whale? Have you seen your ass in those pants? A mocking shudder raked her. Actually, forget the question. Everyones seen your ass in those pants.