Thats what Vlad the Impaler had most likely done, and thats what Victoria assumed she needed to do. Someone would have to teach her otherwise.
So. New task to add to Mary Anns ever-growing list. Teach Victoria to respect other species. Hopefully, Riley wouldnt need the lesson, as well. If he did, however, she would give it to him. There would be no killing unless absolutely necessary.
Unless absolutely necessary? Who are you? she wondered again. And just how was she supposed to teach a vampire and werewolf anything when they were far older than she was and had a lifetime of experiences she couldnt even imagine?
When is he going to wake up? Victoria suddenly asked.
Mary Ann pulled herself from her thoughts. When his body is ready, I suppose. Rest is healing.
I wishI wish I could turn him into a vampire. Then his skin would be indestructible.
She really needed to eliminate that word from her vocabulary. Vampire skin could be burned by je la nune; at least, thats what she thought Aden had called it. Hed also said je la nune was fire dipped in acid then wrapped in poison and sprinkled with radiation. Or something like that. Thats what was hidden inside of Victorias ring.
What a painful way to die. Mary Ann wasnt sure Aden would prefer that to the few cuts and bruises he had now.
Hes going to die, you know? Victoria said softly. She rested her head on Adens chest, as if she were listening to his heartbeat. Silky black hair spread around her shoulders and draped over the arm she had wrapped over Adens stomach. Together, they looked like a magazine ad for a fancy perfume. Has he told you yet?
Whats to tell? All humans die.
No. Hell die. Soon.
At first, Mary Ann could only blink over at her, certain shed misheard. Then, as the words penetratedHell die. Soon.they became real. All the moisture in her mouth dried, her limbs shook and her heart did that hammering thing. How does he know hes going to die?
One of the souls inside his head is psychic. A death predictor.
Wh-when is this supposed to happen? How is it supposed to happen?
A knife through the heart. The other, the timingthat, he doesnt know. Only that it will be soon, like I told you.
Soon. What was soon, though? A day? A week? A year? And a knife through the freaking heart? Dear God. An even worse way to die than from the je la nune. He really did need tough vampire skin.
Why hadnt he told her?
Why cant you turn him?
Attempts were made to turn humans in the past. None were successful.
Cant we?
Stop it from happening, now that we know about it? Victoria laughed without any trace of humor. No. Apparently, that will only make things worse for him. He told me that stopping a death, once its been predicted, does not change the outcome, only the way that outcome is achieved. And when changed, that outcome becomes far more excruciating.
Aden. Dead. Soon. No! Tears burned her eyes, stinging down her cheeks. How does he live with that knowledge? Dont talk like that. Something can be done. Surely.
I dont know. But I dont think I could. He is human, yet he is stronger than I will ever be. She traced something over his heart, but Mary Ann was too far away to tell what that something was. If she were guessing, though, she would say it was the same thing Victoria had traced on the tabletop in the cafeteria.
And youre sure you cant make him a vampire? There had to be a way to save him.
I am sure. Our blood isdifferent than yours and in large doses, which would be required to turn someone, it drives humans to insanity and death. Sometimes the vampire trying to do the turning dies, as well, though no one knows why.
No way Aden would risk Victorias life. That she knew. How did you become vampire, then? The question emerged broken, hoarse.
I was born this way. My father was the first to change, you see. He was a blood-drinker, even as a human, and slowly found himself changing. His skin thickening, his hunger for everything else fading away. His body no longer aging. He had his most trusted men and their females drink blood, like him, and they, too, changed. He then had his beloved pets, the wolves, drink. They changed, as well, though they became vicious. It is their offspring, like Riley, that you see now, able to shift into human form.
Why cant Aden drink that blood? What your father and his people drank?
He drank from people, Mary Ann, and those people are long gone. Dust in the grave.
But if Aden drank from peoplemaybe
That, too, has been tried. That, too, has failed.
So that was it? They were supposed to give up and watch Aden die? Soon? No. Absolutely not. She refused. There had to be a way to save him, she thought again. Please let there be a way to save him.
Suddenly Riley strode from the closet, wiping his hands together and claiming their attention. He was fully dressed now. His clothes were wrinkled, torn and bloodstained, and there were streaks of dirt on his face and arms.
Its done, he said, and there was no emotion in his voice. No one will know a prince was killed in Adens home. His gaze raked Mary Ann, ensuring she was okay, before moving to Aden and Victoria. How is he?
Better.
As if hed heard the question, Aden moaned.
Both Mary Ann and Riley stilled before rushing to the bed and crouching beside him. Mary Ann latched onto his hand and squeezed.
Victoria rose over him, on her knees, and patted his cheeks. Can you hear us, Aden?
Slowly he blinked open his eyes. There was a collective intake of breath as they waitedwaited He focused, though his multicolored irises, a mix of brown, blue and green, were glassy.
Victoria? he asked groggily.
Im here. How are you? Is there anything I can get you?
He frowned, his head tilting to the side. He blinked again, and his frown deepened. Then he shocked everyone by snarling, No! grabbing Victoria by the shoulders and throwing her behind him as he popped to his knees. Dont you dare touch her!
Startled, Mary Ann followed the line of his gaze. She sawno one. Aden?
How are you still alive? he demanded. Riley killed you. I felt you die!
Aden? Victoria approached him again and curled her fingers around his forearms, urging him down. Who are you talking to?
The prince. He remained where he was, balled his fists and raised them, ready to strike. The prince who had better be leaving.
Hes here? Riley demanded.
Yes.
But thats impossible. I mean really impossible. I just buried him.
SIX
BURIED HIM.
The words penetrated the fog drifting through Adens head, and he rubbed his face with a shaky hand. Not happening. This was so not happening.
Buried him.
He once again maneuvered Victoria behind him, but Thomas continually reached through him, trying to touch her. No, not just touch her. Kill her. There was hate in the fairys eyes. Only good news was Thomass hand ghosted through Aden and Victoria, every try.
Riley had already grabbed Mary Ann and pushed her against the wall, his body covering hers like a shield. His predators gaze circled the bedroom, searching, his body waiting to act.
Buried him.
Plausible, because Aden had taken a death-blow for him. He shuddered, remembering. The pain Hed never experienced anything like it. In fact, there wasnt a word to describe it. Excruciating was like a gentle massage in comparison.
And thats how Aden was going to die.
Which meant he would have to experience that again. Chest ripping open, organ tearing, blood spilling. The cold consuming him, turning his bones to brittle ice. No. No, no, no. He refused. No one should have to endure that kind of death. And twice? Not just no, but hell, no. Hed think of something, do something, anything, to prevent it.
Yeah, hed tried to save people in the past, hoping to circumvent the deaths Elijah had shown him. And yeah, theyd then died in other, more painful ways. But to Aden, there was nothing more painful than a knife through the heart. Hed take anything else. In a heartbeat. Stupid pun intended.
Why cant I touch her? Thomas snarled.
Back off. Or What kind of threat would scare a fairy? Or youll regret it. Not the best, but all his foggy brain could come up with.
Finally, panting and skin glistening with sweat, the prince stilled. What did you do to me?
Good question. Just leave her alone. Slowly, Aden moved from the bedhis legs had better cooperateyes! He remained standing, arms splayed to block any new attempt. In fact, just leave.
He stiffened as a thought occurred to him. Make you pay for this, even from the grave, Thomas had said before the knife plunged. Pay. Grave. Grave. Ohcrap. Had Aden earned himself a vengeful fairy-slash-ghost-slash-sidekick?
Aden. Whats going on? Victoria demanded, as the prince shouted, I cant! I tried. She moved in front of Aden before he could stop her, ready to fight his demons for him. Tell me what to do, and its done.
Victoria, he said. He couldnt stand the thought of her hurt. And despite everything, this could be a trick. What did Aden know about fairies and their afterlife? Thomas could be waiting for the right time to strike. For real.
Theres no one here, Aden. Just us. The prince is dead. Riley buried the body, like he told you. Yet you see him still?
Yes. But you cant see him? Cant hear him?
A chorus of No rang out.
So. No one but Aden could see or hear Thomas, and Thomas couldnt touch anyone. Maybe this wasnt a trick, then. Besides, Thomas wanted Victoria and all of her family deadenough to die himselfand wouldnt have waited for the right time to strike. He would have simply struck. Aden should have considered that before.
The prince really was a ghost.
At least you didnt suck him into your head, Julian offered helpfully.
Dude, Caleb said. Like thats a silver lining.
The souls had been quiet ever since hed taken that knife to the chest. Hearing them now, as if nothing had happened, was both a relief and a curse. They were alive and well, but he didnt need the distraction right now.
Thomas was here to haunt him.
Sickness churned in his stomach, threatening to revolt. Hed encountered ghosts before. Hell, the souls inside him were ghosts without bodies. And yeah, he now knew Thomas couldnt hurt Victoria, but that didnt lessen his concern. This ghost wasnt simply a deceased human. No telling what Thomas would be able to do.
Leave, he said to Victoria. He latched onto her arm and spun her around, then flattened his hand on her lower back and urged her forward, toward Riley.
Wh-what? She was so shocked by his words and actions, he knew, she offered no resistance.
You have to leave. Not once did he remove his gaze from Thomas. Just in case.
I dont understand.
You, too, Riley. Take Victoria and go. He wanted to explain, but didnt want Thomas to hear that Mary Ann blocked supernatural abilities, just in case other fairies were able to see and hear him. He didnt want the fairies to know that she even blocked Adens. That, when she was around, he didnt hear voices. That he didnt see ghosts or wake the dead. Except when Riley was with her. Somehow, Riley muted her ability to, well, mute. One day hed figure out how. Until then For Gods sake, go!
Riley frowned but nodded. Yes, my king. Ill keep both girls safe.
I thought I told you not to call me that. Aden was no ones king. And Mary Ann needs to stay.
No. Green eyes narrowed on him. Mary Ann goes with me, and thats final.
An argument? Now? For once, he would have preferred the reverence. Actually, Mary Ann stays. Thats an order.
Her dark head peeked from behind Rileys shoulder. She made a slashing motion over her throat, silently telling him not to go there. Thomas watched, gauging. Deciding what next to do?
There was a pause, heavy and tension-filled. Finally, Riley growled, Yes. My king. All shall be as you order.
Aden pressed his lips together to stop his retort. He was getting what he wanted; he could let the sarcasm slide.
Aden? Victoria said, and he could hear the questionwhy are you doing this?in her musical voice. Worse, he could hear the hurt.
He suddenly hated himself. Shed endured enough hurt lately, and he didnt like adding to the mix.
Dont be so harsh with her, Aden, Caleb scolded him. You know I only want to show her a good time.
A good time. Yeah. Thats all Aden wanted to show her, too. Always. Shed spent her life obeying one rule after another, sheltered, not really allowed to laugh, yet here he was, pushing her away without explanation.
Moment they were safe, hed tell her why. And then hed tease her until she laughed. Hed only heard her laugh once, and still dreamed of hearing that tinkling sound again.
Please dont tell me youre listening to Caleb now, Julian snapped. Weve got work to do.
Yeah. Sexy work.
You are such a pervert.
Boys. Elijah sighed. Is arguing necessary? Now?
Looked like Elijah had taken over the role of mother hen now that Eve was gone.
Aden, Victoria repeated, drawing him back to the present.
He ground his teeth, irritated with himself. His concentration sucked, even in times of great danger. Call me later, was all he said, still unwilling to explain while Thomas could hear.
Ill do more than that. Ill return for you this evening. Victoria grabbed Rileys hand before the wolf could protest. My family wishes to meet you, and their wishes are not something you can ignore.
With that, the two were gone.
A second later, Thomas vanished, as well. A second after that, the souls inside of Aden gasped, as they always did when Mary Ann muted them, fading from his mind, falling into the black hole theyd once told him about.