Dark War Chronicles Box Set One (82 page)

“Tricky, I’m sure since Kassity doesn’t exist to the human world.”

It was true, but sending that cat away was necessary. When the detective had visited it was the only warning Lucius had that they were on Kassity’s trail again. “Yes, but I have my ways.”

“I’m going to talk to my sister.”

“No. Don’t, she does not need your influences right now and since she is
my
human, then what I say goes.” Lucius shook his head. “You gave away all rights to control her when I bound her and you left her to be tortured.”

Zaaren shoved off the wall and went to grab Lucius’ throat. Lucius stepped to the side and grabbed Zaaren’s arm and twisted it behind his back. They both knew it was just a display of power, if they both called upon their abilities, the fight would be disastrous. “Do not attack me in my lands.”

Zaaren ripped his arm away and bowed his head. “I have already forgotten how powerful you have become.”

“Don’t, because I will do anything to protect my people and my territory.” He snarled.

Markus came out of the basement where he kept the humans. None of them had died and there were a couple confirmed pregnant females. It looked like they would be adding some new babies soon. He looked up to see the Father standing in front of him. The vampire’s black eyes bore into him.

“What?” Markus asked, trying to keep all sense of annoyance out of his voice.

He crossed his arms. “Any news from Lucius? I’m sure Tegan has told him everything she’s overheard.”

“No, but he is smarter than you think. He won’t do anything stupid like wage an attack on us. He’s going to bide his time and make sure he has enough people to back him first. We have the demons, both Cael and her brother are on our side now.”

The Father frowned. “Tegan’s mate left her?”

“By Lucius’ order, I believe. The last meeting I had with the demons he did not look thrilled to be there, but he will back his sister.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because she killed her mate for him. That is not something the demons take lightly.” Markus shrugged. “His absence will make Tegan more unpredictable, it’s just a matter of time until all hell breaks loose in Lucius’ territory.”

“Then what?” The Father asked, snarling. “Your strategy does not make much sense.”

“I sent a message with Zaaren and Tegan, to prepare for a visit from the Circle after the New Year. Once we have word that things are shaky in Lucius’ territory than we will visit. There will be reasons to take Lucius in under punishment, leaving the territory without a leader and free for the taking.”

The Father thought about it. “And who do you have in the territory, Lucius is very wary of new people.”

“It’s someone who he trusts and is already very close in his circle of trusted people.” Markus grinned. It was someone he’d planted in Lucius territory a while ago and his informant had provided all kinds of information. It was perfect.

“I’m trusting you with this, Markus. You do realize that if you fail me, I will kill you.”

He was very well aware of it, but to bring down Lucius would be worth anything. Even the Father wanted Lucius dead. Who would have thought the young fledgling would have grown to be so powerful over the centuries?

“Sister of mine?”

Zaaren’s voice came through her room and she growled and rolled over, ignoring him for her audio book.

“Sister of mine?” He said again and sat on the edge of the bed.

Tegan snarled. “Did you not understand that I don’t want to talk to you after I punched you?” She paused her audio book on her phone and pulled out her earbuds.

“Do you not understand that you are neglecting all the duties that come with being bonded to Lucius and being a Blood Human?” He mocked her and it took all she had not the lash out at him again.

“I have been nothing but loyal to Lucius.” She growled. “Get out of my room.”

“You need to deal with what you are and your responsibilities.” Zaaren growled. “I raised you better—“

She shot up and tore her blindfold off. “You didn’t raise me. You groomed me to be what you wanted. Lucius raised me, he got me out of my past and made me who I am today. Despite the curse, despite being the Father’s whore I am human.” Her heart pounded in her chest. She was done playing nice.

“Sister of mine...” For a moment shame clouded his eyes.

“Don’t even, Zaaren, do you even understand what you’re asking me to do when it comes to feeding the Originals? Do you know how many of them the Father shared me with? Their abilities? I know you were even at some of those ceremonies. I could feel you. I know what every vampire who has fed from me feels like.”

He was silent, but he met her gaze.

“That’s why the Keepers don’t trust me, because they feel that I know every secret of their assigned vampires. Lucius treats me as more than just a tool, he has never treated me as his whore, and all you could think of when you rescued me from the Father was hiding me.”

“Hiding kept you safe.” He whispered. “I didn’t want you to end up with Markus.”

“Yet you left me when he tortured me.” She shot back. “I’m done with hiding, I’m done with being used as a pawn in this stupid war.”

“Zaaren, I told you to leave her alone.” Lucius’ voice broke their argument. He walked into the room. “Forgive me for not knocking, I wanted to come in and break up the fight.”

Tegan bowed her head and went to put her blindfold back on. Lucius’ presence calmed some of her anger.

“I wanted to remind her of what she was.” Zaaren stood and shook his head. “She is as stubborn as ever.”

Lucius laughed. “She always has been. She knows exactly what she was and what she is now. Tegan, you said you were done hiding, explain.”

She hesitated. It was something she’d said in the heat of anger. “The Father already knows who owns me, the Circle already knows what I am, the younger generations of vampires don’t know or don’t care what I am. You took something from the Father, me, and older vampires will understand that, but only if we show them what I am.” She held her breath and hoped it worked.

Lucius sighed. “You are right. There is no point in hiding you when the Father has awakened.”

Zaaren growled. “You aren’t considering—“

“No, I’m not. I’m agreeing with her.” Lucius nodded. “It will still be used to remind you of where you came from, but no longer will you be blinded at meetings and no longer must you wear sunglasses. Those who understand the significance of it will know what it means to have taken something from the Father, those who are too young to know will hear the rumors. It will only strengthen the fear of us.”

Tegan smiled. “I think that is fair.”

“Lucius, you are only going to antagonize the Father more.” Zaaren snapped. “Showing Tegan off without any precautions will not work in our favor.”

“And hiding her will? Showing that we are scared of him will aid us how?” Lucius growled. “You are backing our territory and the Keepers will be located and in touch. The Originals will start to wake and the war will increase, but we stand a better chance. The more powerful we seem the more people will want to ally with us. Not against.”

Tegan waited for her brother’s reaction. The room fell silent and she wanted to scream or yell to cut the tension. 

“This is your territory, you do it your way. But remember if it ever becomes my territory, even temporarily, things will change.” Zaaren said, his voice strangely calm.

She heard his footsteps leave the room and she relaxed. “I’m sorry, I did not mean to start a fight. I just...”

“It’s because Kaden left.” Lucius finished for her. “You will learn to control those emotions. I’m sorry the demons allied with the Circle. If it wasn’t for that or his obligation to his sister, he could have stayed.”

She froze. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying that I see you are rash and careless without him now. Which is the whole reason we didn’t want you to mate. But I have also seen the strength in you when he was here.”

Except Kaden was never coming back. Bile rose in her throat and she wanted to cry. Her demon would never be returning to her. “And since he’s not here?”

“Then we teach you to channel those emotions towards something else. Coran will be continuing to teach you, something more than the sword.  I have talked to Dani and she will teach you as well. There are things that as an ex-Hunter she can help you with that Coran can’t.”

Tegan nodded. “Put the aggression towards something else, something I can use to protect myself.”

“Exactly.” Lucius kissed her head.

Tegan sighed. “When punishment is over, I want to go back to the bar.”

“Of course. Mae needs to take some time off anyways.” He said easily then started to walk away. “I am truly sorry, Tegan, I do not like to see you this way.”

Of course he didn’t, but he was part of the reason it happened. She laid back down and put her headphones in.

Chapter Sixteen

Tegan served a customer their drink and sighed. She’d almost exhausted herself every night for the last month, between working open to close at the bar and two hours of training with either Coran or Dani. She’d gotten in contact with most of the Keepers and other than Ayden they all swore everything was fine. She didn’t believe them, but it wasn’t her fault if they lied and got themselves killed. Those who weren’t in contact worried her. Some of them were supposed to pass down the responsibility through the family, but she couldn’t trace the lines.

She rubbed her eyes as sleeplessness made them sting. A couple hours of sleep a day wore on her, but Kaden never came and without him, the nightmares were not tolerable. She’d dreamt about the past too much since he’d left her. The pain was less now. Lucius was right, she needed another outlet for the anger that Kaden left her with. The grief however, still tore her apart.

“Excuse me.”

Tegan looked up at the male voice. It was one she didn’t recognize and she expected to see a patron of the bar, but instead she found a detective holding his badge out for her view. He stood tall, lean, and probably forty. His gray eyes bore into her as she studied his badge.

“How can I help you, detective? A little late to be working isn’t it? Almost closing time.” She leaned on the bar.

He shrugged. “I’m looking for someone, the last she was heard from was when she came to visit here.”

“I’ve been on vacation for a few months, I probably won’t be much help.” She tried to keep the worry down. It wasn’t often people traced missing humans to her bar. “But I’ll answer what I can.”

“Her name is Mae Kristos.”

Tegan kept her face blank and controlled the emotion that went through her. “Never heard of her. You sure it was my bar?”

“You’re the owner? I thought it belong to Lucius DeBeau.”

So he’d done his research. “I manage it, he’s the man who funds me.”

“You mean vampire.”

Tegan tried not to curse. “Yes, vampire. I can’t help you, Detective...?”

“Sanders.”

“I’ve never heard of Mae Kristos.”

He slid a picture across the bar and Tegan looked down and studied the face. It was Mae alright. “Nope, haven’t seen her.”

“I know your bar has a habit of attracting supernatural creatures.”

She smiled and pushed off the bar. “Of course it does, it’s owned by a vampire, many of the bars and clubs are. Hell, half the breakfast places are too.”

“Did you have an employee by the name of Josh DeBeau?”

Oh, fuck that ass
. Tegan nodded. “Horrible employee, had to let him go about a year ago.”

“Do you have his contact information?”

He needed to go away, it wasn’t good when a cop started sniffing around the bar. He could end up on Kassity’s menu. “No, I don’t. I’m sorry, I don’t keep in contact with ex-employees, especially if they leave on a bad note.”

“Why did you fire him?” He tapped his fingers against the bar.

“He was stealing from Lucius.” Tegan shrugged. “It happens occasionally. Shipments of booze were disappearing.” It was a lie, but unless the detective was something other than human, Tegan would get away with it.

He met her gaze and considered her for a moment. Tegan wasn’t sure if he believed her or not, but she wasn’t backing down. “Thank you for your time.”

As long as he didn’t ask any of the other patrons, she’d be in the clear. The change didn’t alter Mae’s appearance and she couldn’t depend on them to lie to the officer. She gave him a little wave when he looked back over his shoulder as he walked out the door. Grabbing her phone, she made sure he wasn’t watching her through the window.  Once he disappeared from her sight she called Lucius.

No answer. He probably didn’t want to answer the phone, she’d have to call him again later, or use their bond to talk to him. When she put the phone back into her pocket, something in her leapt. It was the feeling she got when Kaden entered the realm. She put her hand against her chest and growled. She didn’t want a reminder of him right now. No. She needed to focus on the problem at hand.

The ringing phone cut through the silence of Lucius’ great room. Kaden held his breath as the vampire looked like he was contemplating murder. The Circle was talking about taking over small territories and Cael had decided to make her change in alliances. Kaden had no idea what truly sparked it, but there he and his sister stood in the Great Room, staring down the vampire.

“What do you have to offer me and what assurance do I have that you will not be reporting back to the Circle?” Lucius finally asked, steepling his fingers and leaning forward. “You sent my human to Markus and the Father.”

“Under the orders of the Original who backs you.” Cael mentioned, her voice calm and collected. “I have information from the Circle to trade for your trust. As for how you can trust us not to betray you, I will leave my second in command in your territory for use.”

“I have no guarantee that he will not simply collect information.” Lucius pegged Kaden with a stare. “In fact, I told you to never return here.”

Kaden raised a brow, “Your actual words were ‘do not come to Tegan, or I will kill you’. I have obeyed your command and have not even visited her dreams.” And it tore him apart. He wanted nothing more than to reach out and comfort her. For years he was the only pleasant part of her dreams; it was his voice, his comfort that chased away the nightmares.