She didnt respond, was still staring behind him, at the blood.
He kissed her then, hard and fast, but enough to finally gain her attention. She blinked up at him. Aden?
Stay here, he commanded. Okay?
He moved forward, dodging one frantic witch after another. Someone grabbed his arm and jerked, and he tripped to the side. He freed himself and crouched, remained searchingscanningthere. Marie.
Panic clouded her features as she guided her sisters out of harms way. She was closing in on himalmost therehe leapt at her, knocking her down, rolling and pinning her to the jagged floor.
Careful, Caleb pleaded.
She struggled, but Aden held tight. Call the meeting to order.
No! Panic receding, she gripped his chin and forced his eyes to lock with hers. Hear me well, Haden Stone. You love me. You want to obey me. Power pulsed from her, growing, spreading, wrapping around him. Yes, you love me so much.
Yes, Caleb said. Yes.
A spell, Aden realized. She was weaving a spell, the desire to love and adore her suddenly there. Impossible. He was warded against mind-manipulation. Wasnt he? Or was he feeling Calebs love for her? Calebs need to obey her? Or was love an emotion of the heart, rather than the mind, and she could make him feel whatever she wanted?
Someone tried to physically turn his head for him. Victoria, he thought. He recognized the heat of her hands. Still, he resisted. Caleb was muttering about the rightness of Maries claim, how everything was going to be okay if they just did whatever she wished. Aden!
The voice, so familiar, beloved, reminding him that there was something he needed to do. Something about his friends. His friends! Yes. He needed to save them.
He gave Caleb a mental shove, and the need to please Marie faded. He glared down at her. Call the meeting. Now! Call it, and the beast will stop.
Hear me well. Her eyes swirled, luring Caleb back to the surface, catching him, snaring them both, beseeching Aden to obey, to forget his purpose a second time. You love me. You want to She shrieked as the beast chomped her by the arm and tossed her through the air.
She landed with a hard thwack and slumped, fighting for breath. Adens gaze remained glued to her. Loveobey
Aden, Victoria said, shaking him. Aden! Listen to me. Hear me. You have to fight this.
Marie gained her bearings and stood on shaky legs. She raised her arms, eyes narrowed and still pinned on him. You love me. You will obey me.
Love, obey, Caleb said.
Shes hurting him, Victoria cried to the beast, and a second later, Marie was screaming, tossed into another wall, but again she stood, ready to finish her spell.
MARY ANN STUMBLED OUTSIDE, into the moonlight. Thered been aa dragon in the cave. An honest to God dragon. She shouldnt have run, she thought, but the urge to flee had been instinctive. Shed panicked. Shed obeyed Victoria without hesitation.
Perhaps, though, she wasnt any safer out here. Another war was being waged.
Where minutes before there had been calm in this rocky canyon, now vampires and a few wolves battled more fairies than Mary Ann could count. And those fairies were vicious. They might not have had access to je la nune poison, but they fought with swords, hacking at fur and flesh, aiming for the vampires eyes, ears and mouths, blood spraying.
Riley was here. She knew he was. He would have followed Victoria. So where was he? If he was hurt, she would
Behind her, there was a screech of fury, and then a heavy weight was pushing her down. She flipped midair and realized Brendal had trailed her out, then she hit the ground and lost her breath, her train of thought.
You cannot leave, the fairy snarled at her, grabbing her by the shirt and hefting her to her feet. You must convince Aden to tell me about my brother.
Midnight would arrive very soon, and the winnerand loserof this battle would be decided. One way or another. If Mary Ann died, this woman would never learn the truth about her brother. Had the situation been reversed, had Mary Anns dad been the one missing, she would have been just as determined and desperate for answers as Brendal.
Your brotheryour brother is dead, Mary Ann told her gently, still fighting for air. She tried not to cringe when someone screamed behind her.
Shock. Disbelief. Rage. All three passed over the fairys expression. Brendal shook her head, pale hair slapping her ashen cheeks. No.
Yes. He is. Im sorry.
Eyes narrowed. Then where is his body?
I dont know.
Who does?
Please, Mary Ann said. Just tell your people to leave the wolves alone.
Who knows? As she spoke, she shook Mary Ann so hard her brain rattled against her skull. The boy? The wolf? The vampire?
Again, Mary Ann ignored the question. Shed given the fairy an answer, but she wouldnt condemn her friends.
Would you tell me to save your own life? Brendal reached behind her, and when her hand reappeared, she was gripping a blade. She held its gleaming tip to Mary Anns throat, slicing her skin, burning. Not enough to kill, just enough to hurt.
Fight. You know how. But as Mary Ann moved to smash the womans nose into her brain, the blade sank a little deeper. She froze, panting, a cold sweat breaking over her. She was stronger than shed ever been, yes, and had some training now, but this, this she had no idea how to combat.
There was a howl, a blur of black in the corner of her eye, and then Brendal was soaring to the side, away from her. Riley, in full wolf form, landed on top of the fairy, doing his best to subdue her. Mary Anns relief didnt last long. He wasnt having much luck, his motions slowing, becoming sluggish.
Was he being drained? Was the fairy somehow weakening him?
Im the Drainer, Mary Ann thought darkly. If anyone was going to be weakened, it was the fairy. Determined, she lumbered to her feet and stumbled her way to the still-straining bodies. Riley must have sensed her, because he snarled over his shoulder. When he realized it was Mary Ann approaching, he returned his attention to Brendal.
Hold her as best you can.
As Riley dropped all of his weight on his opponent, pinning her, Mary Ann crouched and placed her hand on the womans neck, where her pulse hammered. She hadnt had to touch the witch to feed from her, but then shed been starving and the draining had been involuntary. This time, she suspected shed have to use force.
She closed her eyes, tried to blank her mind. An unwanted thought arose. If she did this, everyone would know what she was. Her secret would be out. She would be marked for death. Well, more than she already was. Not just by the fairies, but by the wolves and vampires.
Another thought formed. If she didnt do this, Riley could be injured. And besides, she might not survive the night, anyway. So, really, what did she have to lose?
Finally, her mind blanked. Im hungry, she told herself. So hungry.
She waited. The warmth remained at bay, out of reach.
Im starving. I need the fairys energy.
Again, nothing.
Time to regroup. So far, the ability had worked only on the witches. Riley had said that Mary Ann would begin with the witches, but then her need would expand to fairies, then to all other types of creatures. Perhaps it was still too soon to feed from anyone else.
No. No. She could do this. She had to do this. Mary Ann concentrated, focusing completely on the fairy. Brendals skin was soft, her pulse strong, so strong, like a drum. A song. Mary Ann listened to that song, allowed it to play inside her mind, absorb in her blood.
Brendal jerked against her hold.
Mary Ann absorbed the motion, too. The warmth shed craved soon followed, sinking inside her, and oh, it was nice, too. Like being inside a cabin, snow all around, yet a fire leaping to life in front of her, soothing her.
The song slowed, however, and she frowned. She wasnt done listening, and now, the melody wasnt quite as pretty. It was lacking somehow. And then, even the warmth faded. She wanted more warmth. Needed more warmth.
Enough. You have to pull away, Mary Ann, or youll kill her. I know you dont want to kill her.
Rileys voice shouted through her head, jolting her, and she ripped her hand away from the fairy. She blinked open her eyes. Brendal lay motionless, barely breathing, but thankfully alive.
Shed done it. Shed actually done it. She had drained the fairy.
Can you drain the others? Riley asked, urgent. Just enough to weaken them?
Trembling, she scanned the still-raging battle. Most of the wolves were as sluggish as Riley had been, the fairies seemingly stronger than ever. She was ashamed of the little spark of glee that flickered in her chest. Not because she wanted to help, but because she want to hear more of those songs, feel more of that warmth. Ill try.
THIRTY-ONE
VICTORIA STEPPED IN FRONT of Aden and kissed him, just as he had done to her. She was there, in his arms, exactly where he liked her, and with the touch of her hot, soft lips, his senses snapped back into place, Calebs pleading drowned out, the witchs hold on him broken. Before he could thank her, however, she jumped away from himflying toward Marie.
What are you
The two clashed together and rolled to the ground in a tangle of limbs.
Victorias skin couldnt be cut, so Aden didnt worry about her. Yet. He approached the beast, who had positioned himself back in the doorway, keeping everyone inside, and raised his hands, as if he meant to pet. The beasthe needed a name. Chomper, maybehuffed and puffed through his nostrils, clearly agitated by all the violence.
Can you place the witches along the wall for me? Aden asked.
There was a moment of suspended silence, where no one moved or breathed, everyone waiting to see what would happen. Finally the beast dipped his head and began gathering the witches with his mouth, sometimes several at a time, and tossing them along the wall. The ones still conscious tried to dart away, but he snarled in their faces, and they settled against the wall willingly.
Finally, only Marie was left. Her fight with Victoria hadnt slowed. Or gentled. Nails slashed, teeth bit, fists punched and legs kicked.
When the beast moved for her, Aden said, Not her. Not until I remove the vampire. Okay?
Chomper snorted as he nodded.
Good boy, Aden said. Therell be lots of pets for you when this is over.
Chompers tongue rolled out, red and wet, and his tail actually wagged.
Aden turned to the still-fighting girls. They were rolling on the ground, their punches more concentratednose, throats, stomachsand their kicks more vicious. There was no hair-pulling or slapping. This was knockdown-drag-out, and to the death. Without a single drop of blood spilled, since neither was bleeding.
What was the best way to break up a witch and a vampire?
Caleb babbled, and Aden tried not to allow himself to become distracted. Victoria. Separate. Please.
A moment passed before she reacted. Then she flung herself away and pinned herself to the wall, arms splayed, nails digging into rock, as if they were the only thing holding her in place.
Marie spun, facing Aden. Not much time left, she taunted.
He raised his chin, refusing to back down. Theres not much time for either of us, then, because Im taking you to the grave with me.
Youll try.
Ill succeed.
Really? What about her? Grinning, Marie held out her hand and wiggled her fingers, revealing a ring very much like the one Victoria always wore.
Aden realized what was about to happen, and his stomach twisted.
Victoria threw herself to the right, away from the witch, even as Aden leapt forward, intending to block, forcing the liquid to splash him instead. But he was too late, and Marie moved too quickly. Every poisonous drop hit Victorias profile. Her face, her neck, her arm and side. Immediately she dropped, screaming her pain, clothes and flesh sizzling.
Aden changed his direction and slammed into Marie; they rolled until he was on top, straddling her and holding her down. He was so angry, he almost hit her. Almost. But hed never hit a girl before, and didnt want to start now. Instead, he hopped to his feet and moved out of the way.
Get her, he pushed through gritted teeth.
Chomper grabbed the witch and once again threw her against the wall. A gust of air left her on a pained moan.
Hold her down.
The beast went back for her, pinning her to the ground as Aden had, using his teeth instead of legs.
She struggled against the hold. Let me go!
Aden raced to Victoria. He gathered her trembling body in his arms and held his wrist over her mouth. She immediately bit down, sucking his blood. Call the meeting to order, he told the witch.
Why dont you come over here and request that to my face, Marie sputtered.
So she could ensnare him again? Ha!
Do what she says, Caleb beseeched. We have to do what she says.
Caleb! Dude. Its not gonna happen. Leave the boy alone. Shes bad news. Julian.
No. She isnt!
Julian cursed at him.
Hes ensnared, Elijah explained, just like Aden was. Only Caleb hasnt snapped out of it yet. You wont be able to talk any sense into him until he does.
Victorias trembling eased and her teeth loosened on Adens wrist. With his free hand, he smoothed the hair from her face. His trembling increased, making him a little lightheaded.
I think Ill stay here, Aden said. Victorias eyes were closed, and she was breathing heavily. She radiated tension, but she wasnt screaming. Now call the meeting to order, Marie, or I let the beast have you. And if youre warded against death, youll get to live in his stomach, probably melting from the bile and acid there. Always in pain, never allowing death to relieve you.
I dont care! Do you hear me? I dont care. I could call the meeting to order, youre right about that. I dont need the elders. But your friends need to die, and so they will. At midnight. Theyre dangerous. Theyre evil. They will die.