And you think the witch will cast a healing spell? I assure you
Thanks for your help. Now go back to Aden, Riley said, scooping Mary Ann in his arms. Please. She was floating again, only this time she had an anchor. Strong, magnificent Riley. Out. Im serious, Vic.
Victoria growled, but disappeared.
Whats going on? a familiar voice asked. The witch.
Suddenly warmth and power swept through Mary Ann, easing her hunger, her pain. She sighed in ecstasy, drinking in every molecule she could. Yes. Yes. This was what shed needed, what she couldnt live without. Strength returned to her limbs, her body becoming hers again.
Drainer, the witch cried. No. No! Get back! Get away!
Well, Riley said dryly, if either of us were in any doubt, that doubt is now alleviated.
TWENTY-TWO
ADEN AWOKE MORE CLEARHEADED than hed been in what seemed forever, but also a little peeved. He was in the vampire stronghold; he remembered being whisked here, kissing Victoria, feeding her, loving her, but now he was alone in her massive bed and there was no sign that shed ever been here. No Victoria meant no more kissing or feeding.
At least he wasnt twitchy and in withdrawal, needing her to bite him again. Therefore he hadnt become a blood-slave last night.
He sat up and looked around. The room was as white as he remembered, and he could guess why shed chosen such a blank canvas. Her father remained true to the Im-an-evil-badass stereotype: black, black and more black. Colors, which Victoria loved, hadnt really been allowed, so shed done the next best thing. The opposite of what her father had wanted.
A small rebellion, but so wonderfully telling. Deep down, she hadnt wanted to be like her father. Here, in the privacy of her bedroom, shed allowed herself to be herself.
This place gives me the creeps, Caleb said.
Why? He glanced down at himself. He was still wearing his jeans and T-shirt, but his boot, socks and blades had been removed. By Victoria? Had she run her hands all over him? He wished hed been awake for that.
Cause theres no naked girls.
Aden laughed. Typical Caleb.
Well, I like it, Julian said. Add your clothes in the closet, and this would feel more like home than the ranch.
And why do you say that? he asked, gaze straying to the closet in question. The entry was dark, too dark to see what rested inside. Probably black robe after black robe.
Its almost like were smack in the middle of an unwritten book. Like theres nothing here but blank pages.
Which means we can write the story however we want. And anyway, you dont see this room as it will one day be, Elijah said. There are colors, so many beautiful colors.
That put a smile on Adens face. Will I be here?
Elijah didnt reply.
Aden took that for a no, and said goodbye to his blossoming good mood. How could he have forgotten, even for a second, that he was going to die? I dont want to die, he thought.
Once, hed simply accepted his pending demise as fact. Then hed been stabbed in the heart to save Thomas from the pain. Now he was starting to think crazy thoughtsfor the first time, despite what the world thought of him. Thoughts of changing his future, even though he knew that would only make his death worse.
Was there something worse than being stabbed?
Yeah, and watching his friends die topped the list. A sobering reminder. He had work to do. Have you figured out where the witch meeting is being held, Elijah?
No.
Caleb, you seem to like them when no one else does. Do you know where the meeting will be? Aden was beginning to feel guilty he hadnt done more.
Wish I did, buddy, but Ive got nothing.
One day left, tomorrow, yet hed made no progress. Six days had passed, and hed learned nothing. Yeah, hed been busy fighting goblin poison, meeting the vampires and dying. Twice. But when it came to the safety of his friends, there really was no excuse for his lack of results.
The door creaked open, and then Victoria was standing in the open entry, wearing a pink tank top and a blue miniskirt. Her dark hair hung to her waist, glittery green ribbons woven into the strands. Shed never looked so human. Or so hot.
I cooked you breakfast, she said, grinning as she approached him. She kicked the door shut behind her, her hands occupied with a tray of food. Id never cooked before, but one of the blood-slaves helped me. I hope you like the results. She sounded unsure, nervous.
His chest did that constricting thing. Thank you. Im sure Ill love it. And even if he didnt, shed never know.
Still grinning, she closed the rest of the distance and sat at the edge of the bed, balancing the tray in his lap. I hate to rush you, but youre expected below. I wasnt able to keep your location secreteveryone sensed you, and since youre here, the councilmen would like you to preside over their morning meeting.
The scent of pancakes, sausage and syrup wafted to his nose, and his mouth watered. We dont have time for a council meeting. Not that he planned to go to school. Was this even a weekday? He couldnt remember. Still. They had to get some answers out of their witch. Theyd run out of time.
It will only last an hour, and itll be better if you attend. They decided not to punish me for breaking the rules and seeing you, since they were desperate to speak with you. If you dont, youll be hounded or even followed. If you do, we can leave without incident afterward.
A worthy reward. What will be expected of me? He took a bite of the pancakes and lost his train of thought. They were oversalted and raw in the middle, but he didnt allow himself to cringe. He chewed and he swallowed.
Well? she asked hesitantly.
Delicious, he said, and smiled.
Her own smile bloomed. Im glad. So what do you think of my outfit? She stood and twirled. I borrowed everything from Stephanie.
You look amazing. And she did.
Her grin widened as she reclaimed her seat beside him, her hip pressed against his. All that heat and softnessAre you nervous? he asked, his voice huskier than hed intended. About the meeting?
She didnt have to ask which meeting he meant. They werent discussing the council any longer. She nodded. A little while ago, Riley told me that he went into town last night, and there were no witches. None. If they left Crossroads, that means they left us here to die.
Aden pursed his lips and thought back to when the witches had surrounded him, Victoria, Riley and Mary Ann in the forest.
We will call a meeting in one weeks time, one of them had said, when our elders arrive. You will attend that meeting, human. If you fail to do so, the people in this circle will die. Doubt me not.
Only I have to attend, he said after swallowing a bite of the runny eggs. But they were waiting until their elders arrived. The witch we captured told us that the elders were due to arrive any day. Maybe theyre finally here. His eyes widened. Maybemaybe we dont have to look for them. Maybe theyll find me.
That is my hope, though I will destroy them if they even scratch you. But we cannot rest our hopes on that. If we are wrong
Everyone he loved would die. His hopes sank. What could he do, then? How could he gain the information he sought? As he cleaned his plate, making sure to moan and grunt a few times as if he were consuming heaven itself, the souls tossed ideas around.
Mostly, they contemplated possessing the body of the captured witch, walking her into town and shouting until one of her friends appeared. Not bad, but that might just get Aden thrown into jail for disturbing the public or something like that.
The possessing thing, though That might actually work.
Heres what were going to do, he said, resolute. When I finish with your people, I need you to take me to our witch. Ill possess her, and try and travel back through her life, to last week and the following days, to see if she ever spoke to anyone about us.
Victorias electric blues widened. Thats brilliant!
Thank you. He only prayed he didnt encounter static like he had with the nonhuman doctor.
Wait. What? Static? When had he been inside Dr. Hennessys head?
Before you face off with the witch, you need to be warded, Victoria said, pulling him from his thoughts. And perhaps Ill add extra wards to my body, too. I think I told you that my beast has been snarling for release more than usual lately. Ever since our kiss in that car She shivered, then shuddered. I can barely stand the roars in my headand the fear that comes with them. What if he gets out? Solidifies? What if he attacks you, like he seems to want?
I dont think he will, Aden said. Attack, I mean. He couldnt know for sure until he actually faced the beast. He just remembered the way the thing had reached for him, as if to caress rather than rip apart. He could be wrong. He certainly had been before. Lets worry about that later, okay?
Youre right. Come. Ill take you to the meeting, and while youre in session, Ill gather the supplies we will need for the wards.
ADEN AND THE COUNCILMEN sat in a room of black. Black walls, black metal table, black chairs, domed black ceiling with a chandelier dripping with black crystals. The only decoration to be found was those strange symbols. The wards. They covered every flat surface in the chamber.
All eyes were focused on him, and some of those eyes were glued to the pulse hammering away in his neck. Some of the vamps even licked their lips. He was almost afraid theyd demand a snack, and his blood would be the only food available.
Un-com-fort-able, Caleb sang.
Maybe, I dont know, do something, Julian said.
Elijah sighed. I want to leave. I dont like this.
Aden cleared his throat.
Several of the men shook their heads and found their wits.
We have much to cover today, so lets get started. First order of business, one of them said. Aden was having a hard time telling them part, and for the life of him, he couldnt recall their names. Many challenges have been issued.
Challenges? Aden asked.
With the question, an entire conversation took place around him, as if he werent even there.
Several of our elite wish to challenge you for control of the crown.
Im only surprised they didnt cut the boys throat while he slept.
They feel theres no need for subterfuge, that hes too weak to handle them. Theyll learn otherwise, of course.
Anyone strong enough to kill the man who killed Vlad deserves our respect. But I think their refusal to launch a sneak attack is based more on their desire to have the entire congregation witness the new kings defeat. Such confidence is foolish, I think, and they deserve what they get.
And dont forget the wolves. The elite wanted to act honorably so they wouldnt anger the wolves.
Nice, but Aden couldnt worry about any of that now. Hello, everyone. Have you noticed my presence? Im here, and Id appreciate it if you spoke to me rather than about me. When they nodded, shamed, he added, Thank you. Now, Im happy to address your concerns.
We are on your side, Majesty.
And Im grateful. Please tell my detractors that I accept their challenge. Later. Well set dates fortwo weeks from now? Hopefully by then, the witches would be taken care of and hed have already picked out his replacement, so the challengers could fight themselves.
The thought brought a tide of anger. A replacement? Hell, no.
He shoved the silly emotionand the thoughtaside.
What are you doing? Elijah demanded.
Caleb gasped. Youre actually going to fight them?
Excellent. We did not doubt, not for a single moment, that you would take your duties seriously. All of the councilmen nodded, and one of them banged a gavela black gavel, of courseover the tabletop. Next order.
The use of colors, someone said with obvious displeasure. There have been complaints.
Why did you authorize the incorporation of suchhuman colors? Not that I wish to question your judgment, but we have traditions, you see.
The councilmens eyes flew to him. They looked so serious, so grave. Im human, he reminded them.
A murmur of as if we could forget arose.
Perhaps, if we limited the use of color to personal bedchambers
And clothing, Aden said, a picture of Victoria in her pink tank top rising in his mind.
There was a sigh, a few nods.
Agreed, the one with the gavel said, and then added, done, and then he tapped that gavel over the tabletop. Next order. The dating.
Another murmur arose, only this time, Aden couldnt make out the words. Victoria hadnt exaggerated. As quickly as this meeting was moving, it wouldnt last more than an hour.
Then he heard the words Your chosen, and stiffened.
You havent given the girls a sufficient chance, Majesty, yet you shared a bedroom with Princess Victoria last night.
I dont need to give the others a chance. Aden gripped the edge of the table. I know what I want. Know who I want. Ive made that clear from the beginning.
Why cant you simply wed them all? someone suggested. Vlad had many wives.
The man makes a good point, Ad, Caleb said. You should consider
I want to slap you, Julian muttered.
Boys, Elijah interjected. Let Aden answer the guy.
The answer was simple. Because one, Aden didnt want the other girls and two, Victoria would go crazy. While some Neanderthal part of him still liked the thought of her jealousy, he wouldnt put her through that. Im not Vlad, he ended up saying. I desire only one.
Youre ruining everything! Caleb sulked.
Besides, Victoria and I arent getting married. Yet. Were too young.
Another murmur. This time, he had no trouble discerning what was being said.
Difficult. Stubborn. And yet, even while calling him names, they somehow remained respectful.