Aden? Victorias voice was soft, gentle as she attempted to return to his side.
Several of the beasts hissed and snapped at her.
No, Aden told them, stopping his petting. Shes a friend. He didnt know what he expected the admonishment to do, but what he got was pitiful mewling. His arm was even nudged, a demand for more pets.
He gave them, even as he said, Victoria, approach us slowly. He couldnt allow these beasts to threaten or hurt her in any way. Ever.
He could hear the soft fall of her footsteps. Again the creatures hissed and snapped. Their bodies stiffened, scales rising, almost like armor being engaged, preparing for attack.
Stop, Aden told her and the beasts.
The footsteps ceased. The beasts calmed.
Another step.
She obeyed, and more of those hisses erupted.
Stop.
Again, she obeyed. Again, the beasts calmed. He sighed. They would have to try again another time. These monsters just werent ready to accept anyone else, not that he could tell, and he wouldnt be able to hold them back if they lunged for her.
How do I get them back inside their vampires? he asked, still petting.
Theyre solid now, she told him, voice trembling. They dont have to go back.
Ever? Can they, though?
Yes, but Ive only seen a return once. Usually the vampire hosts are dead by the time the beasts reach this point.
Are the councilmen
No. Theyre alive, she said. In pain, bones broken, but alive. Theyll heal.
Aden peered into the eyes of the monster in front of him. I need you to return to where you came from, he said. He couldnt have them running about, scaring people. Eating people.
That earned him a derisive snort.
They understood, he thought, taking heart. I need you to return, he repeated more firmly.
This time, he got a shake of the beasts head.
Please. Im grateful for your help, but those men, theyre also helping me. I cant visit this home without them. So if you dont return to them, I have to leave, and I can never come back. If you do return, however, I can talk to them about their wards, about letting you come out and visit with me.
He was taking a gamble. Did these creatures care about him? He didnt know for sure. Did they want to spend more time with him? He didnt know that for sure, either, but it was the only bargaining chip he had.
They stared at him for a long while, eyes narrowing, nostrils flaring, clearly angry, but at least they didnt attack him. Finally, huffing and puffing, they rose, one after the other. Gradually their color faded and the scent of sulfur thinned. By that time, they were once again nothing more than outlines, like ghosts.
Astonishing. Those outlines floated to the writhing vampires and disappeared inside them as if sucked up by a Hoover. Aden watched everything through wide eyes. Amazing.
A commotion behind him had him turning. Victoria was rushing to him; when she reached him, she threw herself into his arms, the impact nearly flattening his lungs. As he struggled to breathe, he hugged her tight. The other vampires who had entered the chamber were chalk-white, muttering and peering at him with a strange mix of awe, horror and disbelief.
How did you do that? someone finally asked him.
Im wondering the same thing myself, Elijah said.
Ive never seen anything like that another said.
The beasts were tamed. Actually tamed!
Beast Tamer. That should be our new nickname, Caleb said with a whoop.
A big, burly vampire with red hair stepped forward, head bowed. He even dropped to one knee. I do not know if you were told of my challenge, Majesty, but I humbly withdraw it.
A second vampire echoed his words and gestures, followed by a third, a fourth.
Good. Thats good, Aden replied, because he didnt know what else to say. Victoria and I are going to take off for a little bit. Okay?
Yes, yes.
Of course.
Please, enjoy yourself, Majesty.
Do whatever youd like. This is your home.
Though he was shaking, Aden twined his fingers with Victorias and allowed her to lead him out of the chamber and up the stairs toward her bedroom. There were now pink and green ribbons tied along the banister, he noted. Clearly people were taking his color mandate seriously. But with the councils insistence that changes be limited to bedrooms and clothing, he wondered how long the ribbons would last.
Riley and Mary Ann were waiting for them upstairs. They sat on the edge of Victorias bed, silent, not looking at each other.
When he shut the door behind him, closing everyone inside, Victoria whirled on him, her eyes as wide as his probably were. That was incredible. How did you do that?
Do what? Riley asked, frowning.
Victoria told him, and the wolf paled, pushed to his feet and shook his head. I should have been there. Im sorry that I wasnt, sorry you were attacked. I
Its no big deal, Aden told him, trying not to waver on his feet. I had things under control. For the most part.
Are you all right? Mary Ann asked. You look like youve been in a boxing ring. While playing with knives.
For the first time, Victoria raked her gaze over him. She frowned. Shes right. Your clothes are torn and your skin is eaten up with bites and youyou smell divine. Her voice lowered, husky with desire. Shall I give you some of my blood to heal you?
No, thank you. He didnt want to see the world through her eyes. Not that he minded. He actually liked itwhen he wasnt seeing through Dmitris eyes, toobut for the next couple of days, he needed to be in control of himself. Were you able to get the tattooing equipment?
She nodded, forcibly jerking her attention from him. Then she motioned to the vanity. There were tubes, vials and needles scattered along its surface.
If you dont mind, she said, prim now, Riley is going to do the tattooing. Its going to hurt, and well, I dont want to hurt you.
They shared a smile as Aden sank into the chair in front of the vanity. I dont mind. He wouldnt want to hurt her, either.
Does it speak poorly of my character that Im looking forward to this? Riley strode to him and pulled a second chair in front of him. He busied himself with the equipment, asking, How many wards do you want?
How many do I need?
As many as you can handle. Were the situation reversed, Id cover myself in them. But these are permanent, you know? With vampires, they fade as their skin heals from the je la nune we have to prep the needles with to leave marks on them at all. Not so with humans. And no, I wont be using any of the je la nune on you.
Is the ink magical or something? Aden asked.
No. The designs themselves are spells. Well, anti-spells. Youll see swirling lines, but the lines are actually a series of words.
Cool.
Anyway, choose carefully, because youll be stuck.
He pondered his options. We dont have a lot of time, so Ill give you two hours. Hows that? Give me as many as you can in that time frame.
Six. I can give you six.
That seems like a lot for such a short amount of time.
Ive been doing this for, like, a century. Im very good. So. What do you want to be protected against? Mind control? Ugliness? Pain? Death? Anything you can think of, they can cast a spell for. Impotence. Love. Hate. Rage. Oh, and well have to give you a ward to protect your wards, so that they cant be tampered with, well, unless theynever mind, thats not important right now, but anyway, I guess that means we only have time for five others.
Wait. Go back to that never mind, Aden said.
Riley sighed. Wards can be closed with more ink, which negates their power.
Aden arched a brow. Why would someone want to negate one? Is there a ward that will keep me alive forever?
Yes and no. Thats a weird one, and one we dont really have time to discuss. What I can do is give you a ward that will protect you from a death spell. Rileys self-recriminating tone lingered long after the words were spoken.
Can you protect Mary Ann and Victoria with such a ward? Victoria had already told him the answer to that, but it couldnt hurt to get a second opinion.
No. I could tattoo the ward on them, but the moment I finished, that ward would crackle and burn away, rendering it useless since theyve already been bespelled.
Too bad. Okay, then, Ill give you an hour to work on me, which means I get three wards. Then I want you to ward Mary Ann against some stuff.
Tattoos? I dont know about that, Mary Ann said, nervously shaking her head. My dad would kill me.
No one pointed out the obvious. You had to be alive to be killed.
Riley nodded again, for Adens benefit. She needed to be warded, therefore she would be warded. End of story. It would be one less worry for all of them. Shed realize that and cave, Aden was sure of it.
Riley held up a silver gunlike device. So. Besides the ward to protect your wards, what two would you like, Majesty?
One against a death spell, like you said. No question. And he was tempted to ward himself against hate. What if they bespelled him, and he thought he hated these friends of his? What if they cast a rage spell, and he injured his friends in a fit of violence? But in the end, he said, Protect my mind.
Good. Well start with that one. So far, the witches have wanted you alive. If they were to capture you, theyd probably try to scrub your head for information. This way, they wont be able to do anything like that. Now, take off your shirt.
With a quick look to Victoriashe was watching himAden obeyed. Riley raised the device to his chest and got to work.
There was a constant sting, but nothing Aden couldnt handle. In fact, he could have taken a nap. And did. He closed his eyes, mind drifting, until he heard Riley curse under his breath.
Aden blinked his eyes open, suddenly noting the burning in his chest and the scent of sizzling flesh that saturated the air. He looked down. There was a tattoo on his chest, but lightning snapped over its surface, wiping away the color, causing steam to rise.
Youve already been cursed, Riley said gravely. Why the hell didnt you tell me?
What? I havent. Believe me, I would remember something like that.
Well, the only other thing that would cause this kind of reaction is if you have a ward that prevents me from warding you.
I think Id remember that, too. But there was a niggling sense in the back of his mind, a sea of darkness, of static. Maybe Im having memory problems, though. I mean, I was thinking that Id encountered static in Dr. Hennessys mind yesterday, yet I cant recall even trying to enter his head.
Memory problems, huh? Riley frowned, set the equipment aside and stood. Take off your clothes. All of them.
He choked on his own breath. Excuse me? A shirt was one thing. Everything was another.
You heard me. Strip. Im going to check you for wards.
We are not giving everyone a peep show, Julian sputtered.
Nothing wrong with showing a little skin, Caleb said.
I think I would have noticed
Rileys severe head shake cut him off. Not always.
Still he persisted. The girls
Will turn their backs. Stop stalling. You dont have anything I havent seen before, you big baby.
Aden glanced over at the girls, and sure enough, theyd turned their backs. So, with a sigh and flushed skin, Aden stripped. Riley looked him over. Frowned again. Growled low in his throat.
Damn, he said as Aden hastily dressed. No wards.
Did you check everywhere? Victoria asked.
Meaning his family jewels? Adens cheeks flamed.
Yeah, I checked there. There are a few more places I need to look, though. Riley checked behind his ears, in his hairline, under his arms. Still nothing.
With a push to his shoulders, Aden flopped back into the seat. Riley sat and lifted one of his feet, then the other. Bingo, Aden thought, because Riley was shaking his head and studying both as if they held the secrets of the universe.
How? Aden demanded. I would have known afterward, even if I wasnt aware during. Wouldnt he? Walking would have hurt.
No. You were warded twice, and one of them prevents foot pain. After you woke up, you never would have felt a thing.
Dear God. There really was a ward for everything. You mentioned foot pain. Whats the other ward for?
Preventing you from being warded against mind manipulation. Which means whoever warded you wanted your mind malleable. Wanted to control you. Probably has controlled you. And if youre having memory issues related to your doctor, chances are good that hes the one who did the warding.
Shock swept through him. Shock and fury. How would Hennessy have known to ward him? Whats more Why would he do such a thing? What would he have wanted me to do?
Well pay him a visit tomorrow and find out.
If they were still alive, he didnt add, but they were all thinking it.
As for now, Im going to negate the mind manipulation ward by smearing the words. Then Ill give you another antimanipulation ward. Then Ill give you a ward protecting your wards. That way, he cant negate ours like were doing to his. Warning, though. Not many people want the ward protecting ward because it makes any wards you get now, as well as any you get later, permanent. And if another ward is ever added without your consent Anyway, with you, with our circumstances, its worth the risk.
Thank you. Aden was still numb with that shock, still on fire from the fury. The dual sensations created havoc inside his head, the souls now equally numb and upset, demanding answers. Will there still be time for the death-prevention ward?
Well make time. Anyway, Ill leave the anti-foot-pain ward alone. Youre gonna need it. With that, Riley got back to work.
TWENTY-FOUR
TUCKER HAD NEWS TO SHARE. News he knew Vlad would hate, but share he would. He had to. His blood vibrated with a need he couldnt fight.