That, she could take comfort frombut it cost her. Suddenly she was bathed in shame, her skin tingling with it. I wish I could give him back to you. But shed absorbed him and must have chewed him up bite by tasty bite, because she couldnt sense him inside her. Not on any level.
You cant, he said, confirming what shed already known.
If thats not the issue, then why are you so angry with me?
I told you. I cant protect you like this.
Riley, I never liked you because of how well you protected me. I liked you because of how hot you look in your jeans!
Funny. The word was laced with sarcasm, but his lips were quirking at the corners, delighting her, uplifting her.
But kind of true.
All too quickly, he sobered up. My pack, the vampires, they all hate you, fear you and will be out for your blood.
Even though Im no longer draining?
Yes. A drainer has never been rehabilitated before. They wont believe youre no longer a danger to them.
And he didnt either, apparently. A few weeks ago you would have said theyd never follow a human king, but look at them now.
He flicked her a glance, and the car at last slowed down. He was still breaking the sound barrier, but she took heart. Do you want to be with me? Because I seem to remember you pushing me away again and again.
Now or never. She may as well lay it all on the line, since she was asking him to do the very same. Yes. I want to be with you.
And if you start draining again, will you run from me again?
So not the response shed craved. I Crap. She had no answer for him. Would she? Wouldnt she? She didnt know, and then it didnt matter. Blue and red lights flashed behind them. A siren blared. I think were being pulled over.
Riley slowed the rest of the way, easing over to the side of the road.
Panic beat through her. Does he know its stolen? Is that why he stopped us?
No, or hed have his gun out and aimed. Just stay calm, and say nothing.
A few horribly agonizing minutes later, the cop was standing beside their car, his elbow resting against the open window, and Mary Ann was battling a panic attack.
Do you know how fast you were going, son?
Nope. And Riley didnt sound as if he cared.
Thirty-five miles over the speed limit.
You mean the sign wasnt just a suggestion?
She wanted to curse. Why was he being so antagonistic?
Gaze narrowing, the cop focused on her, his lips turning down in a scowl. License and registration. Now.
Cant, Riley said easily. This isnt my car.
She really wanted to curse. What was he doing? Did he want to be arrested?
What are you saying, son?
That I dont know who it belongs to. Riley flashed a wicked grin. I he air quoted the next word borrowed it.
Aaanndthats when the cop pulled his gun.
WHERE WERE THEY? Victoria wondered for the thousandth time. The allotted half hour had come and gone, yet Riley and Mary Ann never made an appearance, never texted, and never answered her texts or calls.
Maybe we should go look for them, she suggested to Aden. Then, you can teleport us where we need to go.
Shed had to work for years to move even a yard, and even then, shed always winded herself. Yet he had jetted them miles across the city, without having to stop and rest or check his surroundings to ensure hed hit the right spot. She was baffled, impressed and, yes, jealous.
The jealousy made her feel guilty. Hed given up a lot to be with her. She could deal with the loss of her vampire abilities.
Theyre probably arguing and lost track of time, Aden replied. Come on. We dont need them for this.
Youre probably right. Riley had never had to work for a girl, so a resisting Mary Ann was good for him. Seeing them together, seeing the need Riley tossed her way when he thought no one was watching, Victoria had stopped blaming Mary Ann for what had happened to her friend. Clearly, they needed each other.
Aden gave her a quick kiss and dragged her up the porch steps. Hard and sharp, he knocked on the front door.
Several seconds ticked by. Victoria didnt see or hear anything, but Aden must have because he said, You will open the door, Tonya, and welcome us inside. The polished cherrywood swung open, Tonyas eyes already glazed as she stepped aside.
Aden led Victoria into the living room. The furnishings were clean, yet clearly aged, the floral fabric on the couch faded in spots, the coffee table scuffed. In fact Victoria studied the few magazines resting on top of that table. They were yellowed, a little brittle and dated seventeen years ago.
Grimacing as he made himself comfortable on the couch, Aden muttered, Julian is going crazy. He recognizes the furnishings. He clearly spent more time inside than out.
Well, theres a possibility the inside looks the exact same as it did before he died. She motioned to the magazines.
Huh. Interesting.
Tonya sat across from them. What do you want? The words lashed, as if she were fighting the forced desire to welcome them. And those shadowsthey were in her eyes and undulating madly.
First, I want you to know that I will not hurt you, Aden said. Do you understand?
A frown. Yes, but I dont believe you.
Thats all right. Ill prove it.
What do you want? she asked again, and wonder of wonders, she was less hostile.
Answers. The truth about your husband and his brother. Tell me what I want to know, and Ill leave you alone.
I dont like to talk about my darling Daniel and that rat Robert. Adoration mixed with revulsion. Her frown returned, and the shadows picked up speed. I always call them by those names. And I feel that way, I do. I loved my husband and hated his brother, but
But? Victoria prompted.
But I didnt always feel that way. I mean, I never loved Robert, but I liked him. And I remember wanting to divorce Daniel. Her brow furrowed with confusion. Or maybe I only dreamed that, because I love him so much. I will always love him.
Aden massaged his temple. Was Julian shouting? Tell me about them.
Theyweretwins. Tonya acted as if she were having to push each word through a too-thin pipe. Daniel worked at the hospital morgueRobert was a good-for-nothing con artist. Yes. Thats right. Flowing more easily now. My Daniel was not jealous of his brother.
And yet, the words seemed so rehearsed, as if she were repeating something shed been told over and over. Maybe she was. Those spell booksthe shadows in her eyesthe faded black aura Riley had mentioned.
Perhaps Tonyas emotions and her unwavering loyalty were magic-driven.
Yes. That was it, Victoria realized with shock.
In unison, she and Aden sat up straighter. I think I know what happened, they said.
THIRTY
MEMORIES FLOODED ADEN. None of them his own, all of them Julians, and all of them devastating. His name was Robert Smart. Yes, hed had thinning hair and had worn glasses. Daniel had been the good-looking one, the strong one, the smart one, but hed never been the beloved one, and so hed always been jealous of Roberts talent for the supernatural.
So Daniel had turned to spell books. Black magic, deeper and deeper into the occult, until finally delving into human sacrifice.
Roberts sacrifice.
Normal people would not have known to go that route, but Daniel hadnt been normal. His human parents had loved all things mystical, believing whole heartedly in psychics, Ouija boards and enchantment of any kind.
Maybe thats why they had loved Robert so much more. Maybe thats why Daniel had finally struck at himfatally.
On the night of December twelfth, Daniel had called Robert and asked him to come to the hospital. Robert had gone because hed wanted to talk some sense into his twin. But there had been no talking. Daniel had stabbed him over and over, trying to draw Roberts ability into his own body as Robert lay dying.
Only, Robert had been absorbed by Adenhis past buried, his mind rebornbefore his twin could succeed.
Something else Robert had done to defeat his brother during those final minutes alive? Over the years hed learned to control his ability to raise the dead, and hed raised the corpses in the morgue. Several had disposed of Robert, eating him completely, and the rest had killed Daniel before help arrived.
Before all of that, however, Daniel had cast a spell over Tonya to gain her eternal devotion.
Uh, Aden, Victoria said at the same time Julian said, I loved her, his tone sad, so sad and heavy with his memories, but she never loved me back. She loved him, and she paid for it. Too late she realized Daniels craziness and tried to leave him. Thats when he cursed her to love him always. All I wanted, there at the end, was to set her free. And I could have done it, if my own brother hadnt betrayed me.
Then well set her free now, Aden said. A wave of sadness moved through him. Doing this would set Julian free, as well. Smart-mouthed, fun-loving Julian, whom he adored. Whom he wanted to keep forever. Losing Eve had devastated him. Losing Julian would be even worse. Julian was like his brother, closer than blood.
Aden? Victoria tried again.
How, though? Julian asked. I need to know what spell Danny used, and I dont know. I wasnt there. Thats the real reason I went to the hospital. To see if I could trick him into telling me.
Aden, please.
What if you traveled back through her life? We could listen to the spell he cast.
Aden!
Wait, wait, wait, Elijah said before Aden could turn his attention to Victoria. He travels back, he looks through Tonyas eyes, hears through her ears, and HEWEcould become bespelled to love Daniel, too. I dont think any of us want that.
And he, we, could not become bespelled. Its worth the risk, Julian replied with a huff and a puff.
They always thought the risks Aden took on their behalves were worth it. For them, they were. For everyone else, no.
He didnt go back for my witches, hes not going back for your human, Caleb said.
He told us hed do anything to help us, Julian snapped. Correct me if Im wrong, but time traveling falls into the category of anything.
Guys, please. Theres gotta be another way. How many times do I have to say thistraveling through the past is dangerous.
Aden! Cool fingers shook him.
Aden forced the room back into focus. Victoria, I The words died in his throat.
His father was sitting next to a too calm Tonya, a gun resting on his thigh, the barrel pointed at Aden. Immediately Aden jumped to his feet, in front of Victoria, acting as her shield. Junior belted out a snarl, responding to the spike of aggression in Adens veins.
The ward to control the beast suddenly seemed like a brilliant idea, damn the consequences.
Aden did a little deep breathing, keeping his blood pressure down and his head clear. Emotions were not going to engulf him. Not this time.
Howd you find me? he asked.
Do you really think Id ward you and not make one of them a tracker?
Joe had always known where he was, he realized. His father had simply chosen not to seek him, until now. Dont react. Thats what he wants.
Now, if I was going to hurt your girl, I would have hurt her already. Joe tapped at the trigger, light but threatening all the same. Sit down.
Aden sat, angling his body so that he remained Victorias shield. She trembled against him, her chilled breath shuddering over his neck.
Im sorry, she whispered.
No reason to be.
He snuck in, and Another shudder raked her.
He reached back and squeezed her knee.
Id be still if I were you, Joe said. The slightest move makes me twitchy.
Warning received.
Tonya hadnt moved or spoken during the entire exchange. She wasnt dead, but she wasnt all there, either.
I drugged her, Joe explained, having noticed Adens attention on the woman. One injection, and shes out but still functioning. Guy learns to use what weapons he can when hes always running for his life.
The first wave of danger had passed. Clearly conversation was up next on the chopping board. You sound bitter. As old as you are, you should get over yourself already. Some people have had harder lives.
Junior kicked up a bit of a fuss, drowning out the arguing souls.
One sandy-colored brow arched. Meaning you? You think you had a harder life than me, boy?
Dont you dare react. Meaning youre a baby. By the way, you should see what happened to the last guy who held a weapon on me. Oh, wait. You cant. Hes dead.
Joe placed his free hand over his heart. My son, the killer. Im so proud.
First time Joe had ever willingly acknowledged their link. And to do it that way, full of piss and vinegar, well, that was a far more deadly weapon than the gun. So youve never killed in self-defense, you
Reacting
In and out he breathed.
Victoria linked their hands. Her trembling had intensified, though her expression was serene. Junior gave another roar. Much as Aden despised histhis manno way hed refer to the guy as his dad againhe didnt want Joe to become a Happy Meal for his beast.
By the way, your conversations with yourself are more interesting now than they were when you were three. Joes gaze shifted to Victoria. Do you know what his first word was? Lijah. His second was Ebb. His third, Jew-els. His forth, Kayb. Yes, he had a slight pronunciation problem.
I was last? Caleb said. Thanks for the love, Hay-den.
Rather than getting caught up in a distracting conversation with the soul, Aden ignored him. There had been no affection to Joes words. Just straight-up facts. No question, Joe was determined to flay him alive and leave him bleeding to death internally.
Murder with words. Smart. You couldnt be convicted for that.
Victoria tsked under her tongue. You know, Joemay I call you Joe?Aden probably said the names of the souls first because they were better parents and friends to him than you had ever been or would ever be. Food for thought, dont you think?