Get him! Julian cheered.
You can do it, Caleb said. Maybe.
Steady, Elijah added. If you can stall him
The goblin leapt at him. Aden spun and the creature darted by, hitting the ground before jumping back to his feet. He jolted forward, closing the distance, daggers once again raised. He would succeed this time. Nothing would stop him.
Or maybe something would.
A dark wolf burst from the trees, flying past him and slamming into the goblin, chomping at his midsection. That didnt slow the goblin down, however. The creature scratched and bit, angry, hungry, uncaring about pain. Corpses never cared. Perhaps they simply didnt feel.
The wolf raked sharp claws over the goblins face. Flesh sizzled, actually burning, and black blood squirted.
Thats not going to stop it, Aden shouted, racing forward.
The wolf tossed him an irritated glance. Dark brown and golden fur was matted to its face, and one of its eyes was nearly swollen shut. A growl of warning sounded.
Move away!
The hard male voice reverberated through his head, unfamiliarmaybe.
Hold him down. Though Aden suspected the wolf, whoever it was, would attack him for interfering, he raised his blade and struck. Finally. Success. The goblins head detached from its body and rolled away. That body twitched, then stilled.
Aden was panting as his arms fell heavily to his side.
Good job, boys, Stephanie said, skipping over to them. For a minute there, I thought we were all goners.
The wolf turned pale blue eyes on AdenNathan, Aden suddenly realized, Rileys brotherbefore focusing on Stephanie. A moment passed in silence.
She paled, shook her head. No.
The wolf uttered another growl.
One step, two, she backed away. But Im supposed to be here. The councilmen told me to
More silence. Another growl.
Fine, she snapped, and vanished, there one moment, gone the next.
Okay. What had just happened?
Nathan turned his heated gaze to Aden. I killed the thing, yet it came back to life a few minutes later. How?
The wolf was speaking inside his head, he realized. He didnt like the extra noise, but he wasnt going to complain. I did it, he admitted. I wake the dead, but only when Im close to them, he added in a rush. So if there are any more dead goblins in the forest tonight, Id get rid of them quickly if I were you. Nathan nodded. Thank you. For protecting the princess. The praise was offered grudgingly.
My pleasure. But, uh, what did you say to her to get her to leave? He knew the wolf had said something. He just didnt know why the vampires kept deferring to the wolves when the vamps were supposedly the ones in charge.
Youll find, Your Majesty, that wolves are the most feared creatures in the land. Even by their allies. Now, please. Leave the area. Just in case. With that, Nathan bounded off.
Hes right. Rileys voice suddenly echoed around him. Our claws produce the same je la nune contained in your ring. Thats why vampires are careful not to anger us. Thats also why we try not to use our claws on other creatures. Try being the operative word. We dont want them getting their hands on the poison.
Aden turned. Sure enough, Riley, Victoria and Mary Ann were striding forward. All three were frowning. Riley with urgency. Mary Ann with fear. And Victoria withconcern? And yet you serve them, he said.
Yes. Riley offered no further explanation. Now, come on. He waved Aden over before he could ask why. Enough dawdling. Weve got work to doand its not kidnapping a witch. Lauren already bagged one.
THIRTEEN
VICTORIA TELEPORTED EVERYONE to where the witch was being held. First Mary Ann, who begged to be left behind rather than be thrown across the world like a rag doll. Then Riley. Finally, only Aden remained. When she reached out to take his hand, he stepped back, out of range. His shredded knee screamed in protest, but he allowed no hint of his pain to show.
I want to talk to you first, he said.
Talk? Kiss her first, then talk! Caleb beseeched.
Give the boy some breathing room, Elijah countered.
Aden would have thanked him for supporting his cause, but the psychic finished with: So he can tell her about Dr. Hennessy.
Hell, no. There was a mood-killer for sure, and they had more important issues at the moment. Dating issues.
Were not safe here, she said.
Behind him, amid the trees, a wolf howled. Nathan. Letting him know he and Victoria were, in fact, properly guarded? That there were no dead bodies nearby? He hoped so, but if not, if the howl was to send him running because other corpses would soon rise, he wouldnt have cared. This was too important. Hed fight anyone or thing for the opportunity to finally hash this out with Victoria.
Well be fine.
Well, there isnt time for this, she said then, waving her fingers at him to motion him closer.
Im with Caleb. Kiss her, Julian piped up.
Stubborn, Aden leaned against a tree trunk and crossed his arms over his chest. The movement, slight though it was, shot another bolt of white-hot agony through his knee. Hed been bitten by a corpse, something that had happened a thousand times before, so he knew this was only the beginning. This corpse had been a goblin, sure, but corpse saliva, no matter its source, was always the same. Poison. And even now, that poison was working through him, burning him.
Tomorrow, hed wish he were dead. Again.
He almost laughed. Would he ever catch a break?
Aden. Victorias voice snapped him from his morbid thoughts.
Of course theres time for us to talk. The others will be questioning the witch, so we arent needed for that.
Her eyes narrowed, and she raised her chin. Fine. Well talk. Why dont I start? She crossed her arms, too. Golden moonlight poured over her, illuminating her flawless skin. Her electric blues pierced him, and those bad-girl lips beckoned him. No wonder the boys wanted him to kiss her first and talk later. Beautiful.
Tell me about your date with my sister, she commanded.
Ouch. Should have expected her to start there, he thought. I wouldnt call it a date. We talked about possible changes to benefit your people. Like pink being the new black. Then we talked about you. Or would have, if the goblin hadnt busted in. About how much Ilove you. There. Hed said it. Said the words. If ever there was a time to tell her, it was now. He didnt want her worried or unsure about his feelings. Youre brave and caring and you see me as an equal, not a hindrance. I just feel better when Im with you. Better about myself, about everything.
Her mouth dropped open. You love me?
Yes. I do. I love you, he repeated. You dont have to say it back. Ill understand if you arent there yet. Yeah, he would understandbut he sure wouldnt like it.
Her expression softened, and she gazed down at her feet, hands twisting together. There was now a rosy flush to her cheeks. Was she embarrassed by his confession, or had she fed recently? If so, who had she taken from?
Jealousy was a fist inside his chest. You have to get over that, he told himself. Shes a vampire. Thats what she has to do to survive.
II love you, too, Aden.
Thank God. Every bit of the jealousy drained. She loved him. She really loved him. Say it again. No one had ever loved him before. No one.
I love you, too. So much. Youre strong and loyal and you understand me better than I think I understand myself. So yes, I love you, she said again.
He would never get tired of those words.
And because I love you so much, she said softly, I have to tell you that the other girls will not allow you to simply talk to them. Or rather, their fathers wont. Youll have to romance them. The girls, not their fathers. God, Im making a mess of this. What Im trying to say is, theres no way around it. You have to date them properly.
No. I dont. I can refuse to see them. Simple as that. He loved her, and she loved him.
Nope, he would never get tired of those words.
You cant. I told you. That will cause problems. Violent problems.
I dont care. Youre more important.
Her lashes rose, and for a moment, there was hope in her eyes. But then she blanked her features, showing him more of that emptiness. Emptiness he despised. Actually, Im not. For all intents and purposes, youre king now. Youre the one whos important to my people.
Was that what her father had raised her to believe? That the king was the only one who mattered? Aden wanted to kill the bastard all over again.
Again? As if a second slaying would be possible?
He frowned. Look, I dont have a lot of time, Victoria, and I dont want to waste it arguing with you. Especially now.
She ran her tongue over her too-sharp teeth. Thats what I said, but then you said we had
I meant alive, he interjected. Not tonight.
The reminder sobered her. She knew about Elijahs prediction; she knew his life would end all too soon. Oh.
Your people will need a new king, anyway, and Ill find them one. Like Riley, maybe. The vampires were willing to let Aden, a human, lead them. So why not a werewolfa werewolf they already deferred to? He nodded, liking the thought. A lot. It was a perfect plan, really. Exceptonce again the thought of giving up the titleangered him, and that made no sense
He forced his mind to center on the matter at hand. Hed fought for this moment; he couldnt allow himself to become distracted and ruin it. Like I said, I dont want to spend what time I have left arguing with you. And I dont want to spend it being shut out for reasons I dont understand.
She stood there, silent, watching him, searching forwhat? He didnt know. Finally, she sighed. What do you want to know? Ill talk, Ill explain.
What are you feeling right now? About me dating those other girls? Caleb laughed. Dude! You sound like a girl, wanting to share your feelings and stuff. Dating 101, Julian told the soul. Sound like a girl and get the girl. Where have you been? I thought you were supposed to be the expert.
Her arms fell to her sides, and she wiped her palms against her thighs. Well, Imfurious.
With him? You dont sound furious. You dont look furious.
Her chin lifted yet another notch. Im bottling my feelings, Stephanie says.
So unbottle. Youll feel better, I promise. Oh, gag. He must have channeled one of his many doctors.
She shook her head violently, dark hair doing that dancing thing around her shoulders. Thats too dangerous.
For who?
You.
Try me. Unless The monster inside you
Now she gulped, backed two steps away. What about it?
Do you think that monster will hurt me if you unbottle? Is that it?
No. I have the wards, she said, but her tone lacked conviction. Anyway, I take no chances with my beast. None of us do.
So every vampire has a beast?
Yes.
And over the years, a few vampires have lost control of theirs? he asked.
Yes. Itsawful. The damage isthere are no words to describe the horrors that occur.
So. One mystery was solved at least. Despite her protest and her assurance, her fear clearly stemmed from what she thought that enigmatic monster would do to him. Tell me about these beasts. About why youre so afraidand why I should be, too.
Chin, another notch higher. Any more and shed be staring at the stars. Are you sure you want to know?
Because she assumed they wouldnt be able to be together once he did? Silly girl. There was only one way to prove her wrong. Yes. Im sure.
Very well, then. We are not shifters, like the wolves. We do not change into another form. Her tone was cold and flat. But the monster does come out of us, a separate entity, and the longer that entity is out of our bodies, the more solid its own body becomes. And as its body solidifies, the tether that once leashed it to us withers and dies.
Wouldnt that help you, though? Getting rid of the beast?
Help us? She laughed without humor, and it was not a pretty sound. No. As it solidifies, it strengthens, and we become targets of what used to be our darker half. They blame us for trapping them inside our bodies, after all. Actually, no one is safe. And you should know, my beast has been pounding at my head since I met you, louder every time were together, wanting out.
Goodand horrifyingto know. But he wasnt going to let fear stop him from getting through to Victoria, from proving he could handle anything she dished out. Even if that meant acting like Prince Charming and slaying her dragon. Literally.
Does this beast talk to you? he asked.
No. Usually hes quiet, and he never uses words. Not like you and I do, at least, but he roars sometimes, and when Im hungry, I can feel his thirst for blood. Weve been very hungry lately.
Adens mind whirled. How had the vampires obtained these creatures inside them? Most likely, Victoria had been born with hers. She was the product of a vampire union rather than a human transformed by tainted blood like her father and some of his followers had been.
A transformation no one else had been able to make over the years.
Were the beasts why theyd changedand survived that changewhen others over the centuries had not?
Did I scare you into silence? Victoria asked coolly.
Hardly. They were so much more alike than even he had realized. She knew what it was like to battle noise inside her head. She knew what it was like to fear losing control. We need to get one thing straight, though.
She blinked over at him, surprised. Hed never used such a fierce tone with her.
Was he really going to do this? Was he really going to take this route?
Shed helped him accept himself. He would help her do the same. So yes, he was.
Am I your king? he demanded to know. For the moment, anyway.
Caleb whooped with excitement. Oh, baby, I am loving this.