Who, Tucker? Talk to me!
He licked his cracked lips. Ive come this far. I might as well just tell you, right? Its A beam of sunlight hit his face, illuminating the dark circles under his eyes, making him look like the living dead. ItsVlad. His voice dipped into a tortured whisper.
Vlad? Her brow crinkled in confusion. Vlads dead.
He shook his head. Not anymore. Hes very much alive. He called me while I was in the hospital.
Like, on the phone?
No. Inside my head. He called me, and I went to him. I couldnt stop myself. Hes underground, in a crypt behind the vampire mansion.
Tucker, I
No. Listen. He wanted me to watch Aden, to report what he was doing. And II did. Have. Will. Hes angry right now, Mary Ann. Very, very angry, and all of that anger is directed at Aden for daring to take his throne. Tuckers gaze darkened. I dont know what Vlad will do to him, and I dont know what hell command me to do, but you should know that Ill do it, whatever it is. I wont be able to help myself.
This isthis is
True.
The implications of this were vast. Too vast. Too frightening. And, she thought, almost more than her already fragile state of mind could bear. You have to tell the others whats going on. Theyll
No. No. He jerked from her hold, backing away. I wont go near them. Not while they can see me, at least.
Tucker, please. They wont hurt you. She wouldnt let them. You have to tell them everything Vlad has said to you. Everything hes asked you to do and everything youve told him.
No. He gave another shake of his head. You dont understand. When Im with you, I feel good. Normal. Happy. I can control myself. But when Im with the others, Icant. I do bad things.
Ill be with you. I wont leave your side. I swear!
Doesnt matter. Not when youre with them.
Tucker. Please.
Im sorry, Mary Ann. So sorry. Consider yourself warned. He turned on his heel and ran off as fast as his feet would carry him.
TWENTY-FIVE
ADEN STOOD IN FRONT OF THE witch. She was sitting in the same chair as before, only shed scooted herself across the room as shed screamed about a drainer. She wore a blindfold, but this one was a different color than the one shed worn before. Had she managed to destroy the other one? Why else would someone switch them?
Her ties were different, too. Had she tried to escape? Almost succeeded?
She was paler than before, her skin almostyellow. Her cheeks were more hollowed. There was a brittle quality to her hair now, as though the strands had lost their shine and had dried into hay. Before shed hummed with power. Nownot so much. She could have been a human.
The wolves had been caring for her, feeding her, that kind of thing. But she had to be uncomfortable. Miserable, actually. And he felt bad about that. He really did. He didnt like that she was suffering, bored, stiff, uncertain, scared, but more than that, he didnt like that his friends could die because of her and her kind.
Im not here to hurt you, he told her gently. Im not going to drain you of anything.
Her panting breaths echoed between them. Youre the Summoner. Even her voice was different. Weaker. Raspier.
Yes. If only he could tame witches with the same ease he tamed flesh-hungry beasts, none of this would have been necessary. What are you so afraid of being drained of?
Dont engage her, Elijah instructed. Just do your job.
Your blood? he found himself adding.
Good going. Dryly uttered.
As if you dont know someone among you can and has
Riley entered the small room and propped himself against the closed door, snarling, Quiet, witch. We gave you a chance to share. You refused. Now, you can deal with whatevers done to you.
Caleb, highly agitated since seeing the witch in such a weakened condition, prowled through Adens head, huffing, puffing, and now growling at the wolf. She can talk if she wants to talk! Aden, man, you cant leave her like that. You have to save her.
Whats with you? Julian asked. Save her?
Look at her. Shes sick. She needs help. I know I helped come up with our current plan, but that was before I saw her like this.
Well save her, Aden muttered. After. So lets get this done. He glanced up. Victoria stood across from him, behind the witch. Ready? he mouthed.
She nodded, expression tight with nerves.
Save who? the witch demanded. Me? Well, thats not going to save you. Not after everything youve done.
Aden! You wouldnt tolerate this kind of thing if your vampire girlfriend was the one tied up, Caleb said, unwilling to give up. Let the witch go. Now. Please.
Why do you care so much about this witch? Elijah asked. And really, even the others. From the time they approached us and cast their death spell, youve been as drawn to them as they are to Aden.
I dont know, was the agonized reply. I just know I dont want her hurting.
Aden suspected the witches were part of Calebs past. Plus, this witch had stiffened when hed mentioned a guy who could possess other bodies. Maybe we can find out, he said. After all, he kinda needed Calebs cooperation for this. And he had promised to discover who the souls had been when theyd lived. Hed promised to help them with their final wish, to send them on, even if he would miss them terribly, even if he now wanted to keep them. When were inside, well search for information about you.
Inside? the witch asked, struggling against her bonds. What are you planning? What the hell are you planning? If you hurt me, my sisters will hunt you down and curse you with pain, such terrible pain. Theyll curse your family, too! Do you hear me? Her chair rattled, bouncing up and down with her motions.
I already told you, Im not going to hurt you, he said. But really, shed already threatened to punish him no matter what happened, so her newest threat missed its mark.
I dont know about this, Caleb said. What if we change her past? What if that change destroys her?
Well be careful, but we have to do this. Tick-tock on the deadline, you know? Theres no other way.
A pause, then, Fine. Do it. But dont injure her in any way.
Aden took offense to that. As if I would. Not purposely. You know me better than that.
Know you better than what? the witch snapped.
Time to act. Reaching out, he removed her blindfold. She blinked against the bright light of the room, eyes watering, nose wrinkling, lips pursing. Aden cupped her chin and forced her attention on his face.
Relax. The moment their gazes met, Caleb took over, Adens body dissolving and slipping into the witchs. He expected pain, had braced himself against it, but there wasnt even a flicker of discomfort. Maybe, after everything that had happened to him, his pain threshold had increased. Or maybe Caleb was getting better at this. Maybe Caleb had done everything in his power to keep Aden from feeling pain because, if Aden had felt it, the witch also would have felt it the moment they linked to her, whether she was aware of the link or not.
Now seeing through her eyes, Aden took stock. His wrists and ankles were bruised and cut from tugging at the rope. His muscles were stiff. Free me, he told Riley. The oddity of speaking with someone elses voice always startled him.
A frowning Riley strode to him, claws sharpening, and slashed at the ties. Aden pulled his hands into his lap and massaged his wrists. When his feet were freed, he stood. His legs were so weak they almost collapsed, but he managed to walk around the room, increasing blood flow.
She wouldnt know hed done this for her, but she would feel better.
Thank you. As he walked, he let his mind wander through hers, the world around him fading away. Unlike with Dr. Hennessy, he didnt see static. He sawwait. There was that thought again. Static. He must have entered Dr. Hennessys mind. Otherwise, he wouldnt keep thinking about what had happened there. How long had he stayed? Why couldnt he recall?
Dont think about that now.
Aden returned his attention to the witch. But unlike when hed been in Shannons mind, he didnt see scenes from her life. He sawboxes? There were thousands of them, scattered across a sea of white, each boasting a thick silver lock.
He frowned as he clamped one of the locks between his fingers, and an electric shock tore through him, burning. What would cause such a reaction?
Wards, Caleb said, and hed never sounded more confident. She has wards of her own. Her memories are in the boxes, and the boxes are warded against invaders.
How do you know? Aden asked.
Dont know. Just do.
Well, Aden needed inside them. Each ward could do only one thing, so whator whichwards did she have and how, exactly, did they protect her mind? There was only one way to find out.
He searched the room until he found Riley, who was once again leaning against the door. I need you to leave, he said.
The wolf shook his head. That would be
The right thing to do, he interrupted. Shes warded, so I cant reach her memories. Therefore we have to see what wards she has, and I dont think shed want a guy looking.
Oh, no, Caleb said. Youre not stripping her down.
Usually, Caleb was the one begging for a peep show. Well work around her clothes, okay?
If Im gone, Riley said, I wont be able to protect you.
Dont care. Go. He pointed to the exit.
Fine. But if she somehow realizes what youre doing and rips at your mind, I cant be blamed. The shifter threw open the door, stomped out and kicked it shut behind him.
If that happened, you wouldnt be able to help me anyway, Aden called. Victoria, you look the body over.
Yes. She glided to him, as graceful as a ballet dancer.
Aden closed his eyes. One piece at a time, she moved the witchs clothing out of the way, searching. At first, her motions were quick and efficient. Then she slowedslowedlingered.
Ive never studied a witch this intently, she said, voice heavy. Usually I avoid them. I dont know why. Your scent
Bad?
No. Shed finished her search, but her grip tightened on his arms, holding him in place. Good. Soooo good.
He recognized that tone. It was the same one the councilmen had used just before flying at him and chomping at his veins.
Red alert, Elijah suddenly announced.
I know. Aden opened his eyes and tugged from her. He rushed to the far end of the empty room. When she attempted to follow, he shook his head. Stay there.
Her eyes were glazed, her fangs longer than ever before. Just one taste, she pleaded. Ill make it feel good. Youll like it.
Riley, he called.
The wolf entered the room a second later. Clearly, he hadnt gone far. Decide you needed me, after all?
We have a slightproblem. Victoria had crouched, ready to leap.
What Riley noticed and grabbed her by the waist, holding her in place. Oh, no, you dont. She struggled against him. There are bags of blood in the other room. Shell feed and shell be fine. Well be back, he said, and hefted her out the door.
Several minutes passed. Aden waited, wishing he could be the one to feed her, the one who calmed her. But he wasnt ready to leave the witchs body, and Victoria couldnt be allowed to drink from the witch. He remembered what shed said about the allure of the witches, how addicting their blood was, and he didnt like the thought of her strung out like a drug user.
When the pair finally returned, a subdued Victoria walked by Rileys side. He shut the door and stayed there, but she kept moving, careful to give Aden a wide berth. She perched against the far wall, her cheeks rosy with color.
Sorry about that, she muttered.
Dont worry about it, Aden said, just glad to see her clearheaded again. Can you tell me what wards she possesses?
Victoria nodded. Her wards are tiny. Actually, Ive never seen wards so small. I would think them ineffective, yet when you run your finger over them, you can feel their intense power.
How many does she have?
Nine. Two are purely cosmetic, preventing anyone from cursing her with ugliness. One is for the protection of her wards, so that no one can tattoo over them and ruin or change them.
Smart witch. Though Riley had told him not many people chose to have that particular ward.
One is to protect her from mortal injury, one to protect her from mental injury, which is probably whats hindering your progress. One to anchor her to this world, I guess so that she cannot be taken into another dimension by a fairy. One against goblin poison, one to protect her against a lying males seduction and one to prevent her from speaking secrets. Which means she couldnt have told us what we wanted to know, even if shed wanted to.
Riley fisted a handful of his hair, released the strands, then fisted them again. We should have thought to look for wards before.
True. In our defense, weve had a lot to think about.
And we normally avoid witches, Victoria said. Weve never willingly spent time with one. Why would we have known what to do?
Good point. Okay, so. She cant speak secrets, and her mind is protected from injury. I dont mean to harm her, but she cant know that. Even if she doesnt know Im here, inside her, her mind probably recognizes me as foreign and therefore views me as a threat.
Can you hide yourself from her? Riley asked.
I dont know, but its worth a shot. Maybe if she were conscious, unaware of his presence, her mind would relax. Maybe those boxes would open up on their own. Here, tie me back up.
I dont like this, Caleb said.
Aden didnt either, but there was no other way.
He plopped into the chair, stretching his arms behind his back and pressing his wrists together. In less than a minute, Riley had him bound back up. Yep. Uncomfortable. Poor girl.