This is the only way, Elijah said. The fairy has to perish.
Weve been through worse. Like burning alive. Nothing could be worse than that, he was sure. And if Im going to kiss Victoria again, Ive got to save her bodyguard.
Hate to be the harbinger of bad news, but Adens right, Caleb said, suddenly leaping on board the Plan Save The Day bandwagon. Hed do anything for another kiss. Well survive this. Even if Thomas doesnt. Thats all that matters.
Aden focused on the two opponents. Riley lay on the floor, several feet away from Thomas, but inching forward as best he could, still determined to win. Having just been tossed like a rag doll, Thomas brushed big chunks of plaster from his chest and stood. His shirt was in shreds, his skin flayed, yet that skin was finally weaving back together, as if hed somehow absorbed the wolfs ability to heal.
Thomas smiled smugly as he approached the wolf and crouched down. Tell your princess not to send a boy to do a mans work. Oh, wait. As you wont be leaving this room, you wont be telling her anything.
Rileys eyes were glittering green fire and hate-filled.
The fairy sighed. I admire your courage, wolf. Therefore, you will not die dishonorably. Know that I am not a mere Fae servant, but a prince. Indestructible. The moment you entered my realm, you were destined to die. But there is no shame in your death. You should see this as the favor it is.
A favor? Hardly.
Echoing Adens sentiments, Riley growled.
Frowning, Thomas reached out. Again, I admire your courage. A shame you serve the vampires. Would you, perchance, be interested in switching allegiances?
Another growl. A clear no.
Well, then, I am sorry for this, but it must be done. Ill be swift, wolf.
What are you waiting for? Whether the question came from himself or the souls, Aden didnt know. Riley was his friend, for the most part, and he couldnt allow a friend to be hurt. No matter the pain involved.
Just before fairy palm met wolf fur, Adenwho had obviously been forgottensprinted forward. He didnt stop when he reached the fairy. He stopped only when he was inside the fairy.
One touch of skin against skin, and thanks to Caleb, he could meld his body with someone elses. Morphing from solid mass to insubstantial mist was painful, as Julian had said, not to mention maddening, terrible and shocking. But he did it. He bonded to Thomas, a shout of agony ripping from his throat.
The voice he heard, however, was not his own. This one was deeper, huskier. Thomass.
Panting, sheened by a cold sweat, Aden fell to his knees. There were sharp lances working through him, and he wanted to pound at his chest, tear at his skin, anything to stop them. Each of his bones was like a blade against his muscles, cutting. Worse, this pain was only the beginning.
Thomas screamed inside his head. What are you doing? How did you do that? Release me!
Usually Aden could block the persons thoughts. Could take them over so completely, they never knew what had happened. But creatures of myth and legend, he was coming to learn, were quite different from humans. They knew. And they hated.
Riley, he said in that deep voice. This is Aden. Im inside the fairy. I have control of his body.
Green eyes pierced him, searching for signs of truth.
Aden could feel the power surging through him. So much power. Rileys power, too, as if the fairy had not only weakened the wolf, but had drawn his energy inside his own body. Animalistic, wild pulses warmed the chill in his blood. They sang in his mind, more beautiful than a chorus of angels, drugging him.
This could be addicting. Once more, he couldnt tell who spoke, him or the souls. Maybe all of them at once. Part of him wanted to remain inside the fairys body forever, losing himself in that warmth and power, forgetting what had to be done.
Act quickly, Elijah demanded suddenly. Or you will never leave him.
He would leave. In just a little while. What would a few more minutes hurt? That musicso peaceful
The sooner you leave, the sooner well be able to see Victoria, Caleb added.
Victoria. Yes. Being with her was even better than this, he thought, at last focusing on the task at hand. Riley. Tell me what you need me to do so that you can defeat Thomas.
The wolf studied him, then nodded as if he were satisfied Aden had truly possessed the body.
Tell me, and Ill do it. Whatever it is.
A moment passed. The wolf frowned, snarled. Waited. Whatever reaction he wanted from Aden, he didnt get. In the end, he hobbled to his feet and tripped his way to the nearest closet, disappearing inside.
Riley, Aden called. He knew the wolf wouldnt abandon him here, but he had no idea what was going on.
Was Aden supposed to follow him?
There was a bright light, several grunts, then the rustle of clothing. Just as Aden was stepping forward, Riley emerged in a pair of jeans. No T-shirt, no shoes, just those ill-fitting jeans that couldnt be snapped.
How had he touched the cloth? Wouldnt his hand have ghosted through the material like Adens had?
Rileys normally suntanned skin was now pale, the blue veins underneath visible. His cheeks were hollowed out and his eyes slightly sunken and bruised. There were a few cuts on his chest, as if his ability to heal in a snap had abandoned him.
Fairies cant hear werewolf thoughts. Even his voice was fragile. That must mean you cant either while youre in there, because I was telling you what to do but you gave no reaction.
So. Hed expected a reaction. Because bad news had been delivered? Tell me again.
Do not aid him, Thomas roared inside his head. He is the enemy. His masters will destroy your world and all the humans who populate it. Do you hear me? Kill him!
Aden tuned him out as best he could.
I need to plunge a blade through his heart, Riley announced.
No! The protest came from Thomas and Aden simultaneously.
Fabulous. From Caleb.
Dear God. From Julian.
Blood. From Elijah.
Is there another way? Aden managed to ask past the lump in his throat. A way to leave him here, prevent him from causing any more harm?
No. Theres no other way. Hes a fairy. Like all his kind, he has the ability to borrow strength from immortals, temporarily possessing their abilities. More than that, hes a prince. If he lives, hell raise his army and come after us.
I dont like the thought of killing him. Even though Elijah, too, had said it was the only way. He protects humans. Victoria had told him. Still. Had he not known, he would have realized the truth the moment hed stepped inside the fairys body. The knowledge was there, swimming through his mind with the same potency as the warmth. Humans were like children. Irresponsible, feral children, but loved by the Fae nonetheless.
Hell kill you if given another chance, Riley said.
I know. That knowledge was there, too. But I dont care. He could take care of himself. He hoped.
Hell kill Victoria, Riley added coolly.
Low blow. The wolf knew Aden would do anything to protect her. His hands clenched, and his eyes closed. His heart pounded in a staccato rhythm as he condemned another creature to death. All right. God. Lets do it.
Are you sure?
Sure he wanted to take a knife through the heart? No. Yes. He wondered if he would die with the fairy the same way hed died with Dmitri. If so, would he come back to life?
Yes, you will die, but yes, you will come back, Elijah said, calming him. Still. Youll wish youd stayed dead. Youll feel the stabbing as if it was your own.
Okay. Bye-bye calm. Here was the pain hed feared before possessing the prince. Hed known Thomas would have to be injured and subdued in some violent way. Stabbing, though
For Victoria.
All right, then, Riley said, resolved.
Aden opened his eyes and nodded. Im ready.
Riley returned the nod, and unsheathed a blade from his back pocket. A blade that belonged to Aden.
Do not do this! Thomas commanded.
You didnt arrive with that, Aden said to distract himself from the sharp, deadly weapon soon to be embedded in his chest.
While I was in the closet, I slipped back into the human dimension and gathered what I needed. Riley shrugged those wide shoulders. Then I slipped back.
That easily?
That easily. All of Rileys nonchalance and confidence faded as he lumbered forward, paused and frowned. You wont be harmed when I do this?
No. Ive been assured Ill live. For the most part.
My king
Dont call me that, he snapped, and Thomas gasped in shock.
King?
Again, Aden ignored him.
If there were any other way Riley continued.
I know. He was surprised by how sad he suddenly was that hatred and intolerance had brought them to this point.
For several minutes, neither of them moved or spoke.
Maybe you should lie down for this, Riley said, shaky now.
All right. Aden studied his surroundings. The fight had ended inside RJs bedroom. The bunk bed had been toppled, but one of the mattresses was on the ground. Aden forced the princes body to stride over to it and lie down. By the time he stilled, he was shaking worse than Riley.
What was a stabbing compared to being burned alive? He could do this.
Youll regret this, the prince snarled.
If you would just promise not to harm Victoria.
Riley had already closed the distance between them and now blinked at him, clearly offended. I would never harm her.
Not you. The prince.
That, I can never promise. Your Victoriaoh, yes, I know her very wellshe is a spawn of Vlad, and her sister Lauren was to be my brothers bride. A peace offering, a uniting of the races. Only, Lauren killed him before the ceremony and admitted she had never meant to wed him. Spat with enough acid to burn. Should I live, Victoria will die. A sibling for a sibling. My vengeance will not be denied. At least the fairy hadnt lied. Even at the cost of your own life? Aden demanded, and this time Riley ignored him, knowing he conversed with the prince.
Hear me well. Ive already killed three members of her family. The rest will follow.
Three? he gritted out. Thats not a sibling for a sibling, is it? Who did you kill?
Cousins. Not nearly enough of a sting. I want them all. The entire royal family.
Then you are a murderer and you have brought this on yourself.
I am a murderer? What are you?
Hesitant, Riley raised the knife. Ready?
I
She is vampire, Thomas said, cutting him off. You are a human. All youll ever be to her is a blood-slave, addicted to her bite. And still you kill for her?
Flickers of fury ignited in his chest. He was more than Victorias blood-slave. He wouldnt believe otherwise. Yes. For her, Ill do anything.
For my brother, I will do anything. You might kill me, but youll never break me. And Haden? Somehow Ill make you pay for this, even from the grave.
Ready? Riley repeated then. Determination radiated from him, but that determination was waning. I want to get this done before I change my mind.
Deep breath in, hold, hold, slowly release. Aden was tense, which would cause more pain, but that wasnt going to change the final outcome.
Ready? Riley repeated a third time. Sweat dripped from his hand.
Ready. He could do this. He would not chicken out. Do it. Do it now!
Im sorry. The blade fell, a blur. Plunged deep. Cutting through bone, muscle and into the vital organ. Burning, stingingdestroying. Aden screamed, loud and long, and his voice soon broke from the strain.
The heart, though, continued to beat. At first. Each pump slid the knife deeper, cut worse, burned more. Blood flowed from the wound, soaking his chest, the mattress. Droplets even bubbled up into his throat, choking him, before rising into his mouth and spilling out, warming his cheeks.
Rivers, Elijah said, as if in a trance. Flow.
Caleb, Julian and Thomas were howling. They werent feeling Adens agony, he knew from experience, and he was glad to spare them that. But they were feeling the residual effects of his mental anguish.
Calm down, he told himself. For them.
But the pain never eased. Not when it felt as if every drop of life had poured from him. Not when his limbs chilled, so heavy he could no longer lift them. Aden could have abandoned the body at any time, but he wanted to spare Thomas every bit of pain he could. Besides, he had to know. For his peace of mind, he had to know when it was over. He had to know what he would one day have to bear himself.
A few moments later, Aden died for the second time that day.
FOUR
A few minutes earlier
Crossroads High
MARY ANN PLOPPED HER TRAY on the lunch table and settled across from the too-beautiful Victoria, who had just sat down herself. Shannon, Adens friend from the D and M, was beside her, a gorgeous black boy with green eyes that reminded her of Rileys. Once, shed even thought he was the wolf dogging her every step.
Beside Mary Ann was Penny Parks, her stunning best friend and next-door neighbor whose platinum hair, blue eyes that were prettier than sapphires and pale, freckled skin had fueled the wet dreams of many Crossroads High students.
A (regular) girl could get a complex, surrounded by all that perfection.
Victoria focused her own baby blues on Shannon. Question. Did you see Aden this morning?
Shannon had just taken a big bite of his pizza. He chewed as he shook his head, then swallowed. He was gone before I woke up.
But you saw him last night? Mary Ann asked.
Another nod.
So where was he? What was he doing?
She sighed.
So. Whats your deal? Penny suddenly asked Victoria, changing the subject. You dont even pretend to eat. Or drink, for that matter. Are you anorexic? Is that how you stay so skinny?