Chapter 16

I wasn’t wrong. It hurt. A lot.

Nathan’s fangs pierced my skin in one smooth motion. Liquid acid exploded, charring my insides instantly. His arm circled around me, forcing me closer.

Molten lava flowed through my neck, my chest, my back. I clenched my fists, frantically pounding against his shoulders in protest. My head swam and a vision of Phoebe’s sun agate entered my mind. One flash and the horror would end.

Screaming, I bucked.

Nathan dropped his hold and scrambled to the opposite wall.

I curled into a ball, whimpering as I rocked.

Slowly, the pain succumbed to a dull ache, leaving me battered and bruised. After a while I sat up, wincing with each tortured movement.

Nathan still sat against the wall, watching me.

“What?” I asked.

“What happened?”

My vision blurred as I glared. “You bit me and took enough blood that I probably need a transfusion. Or some orange juice at the very least.”

He frowned, studying me. After a moment his frown deepened.

“What?” I asked again.

“First of all, I barely took any blood from you. Way less than I normally would because, let’s face it, you don’t taste that good.”

“It’s the Sunshine potion.”

“Obviously. Second, you have a purple bruise right where I bit you.”

Fingering my neck, I carefully explored the puncture marks. Curiously, they didn’t hurt at all. How was that even possible? The rest of my body still suffered from his assault. I met his eyes and clamped my hand over the area.

“I don’t leave bruises,” he said.

“I bruise easily.”

“I can see that.” His gaze traveled over me from head to toe, lingering on sections of my exposed skin.

I glanced down at the black-and-blue marks visible in every spot he’d touched me and scowled. Perfect. Talisen had his work cut out for him. Again.

“Do you have some sort of disorder?”

Yes. A vampire one . I focused on the wall just above his shoulder.

A key rattling in the door drew his attention, and I was saved from further questioning as two guards walked in. I jumped to my feet, ignoring the screaming in my back.

The shorter one reached for my arm, stopped, and took a moment to study my appearance. “Whoa, looks like the vamp roughed you up. Shoulda played nice, I guess.”

I jerked back, bumping into the other guard.

“I’ll take her,” said the tall, lanky one.

“Whatever. I don’t need a hassle tonight, anyway. You, vamp. You’re with me. Don’t try anything stupid, or I’ll have to tag you.” Shorty crossed the room and pulled out a small gun designed to hold vampire tranquilizers.

“Don’t accidentally shoot yourself with that thing again,” Lanky said to his partner. “I have better things to do than take care of your sorry ass.”

Shorty glared and aimed the gun toward my guard.

Lanky snickered, gripping my arm.

“Hey!” I protested.

“Move it, sister.” He pushed me through the threshold and practically dragged me down the hallway.

“Where are we going?” I demanded.

“The director ordered tests.”

“I know that. Are we going to another lab?”

He ignored my question and turned left at the end of the hall. I knew this wing. There weren’t any labs here. But there was a stairway to the dank basement. It was rumored to be magically enhanced to stay dry despite the New Orleans high water table. I flared my wings as if they could somehow slow us down. The basement door came into view, and a familiar panic rose in my chest. They wouldn’t do scientific testing down there, would they?

They would if it wasn’t sanctioned.

I dragged my feet and stumbled.

“Keep up,” he barked. “I thought you fae were supposed to be graceful.”

“Not when we’re locked up for hours and then fed to vampires.”

He laughed. A bemused, casual laugh. It didn’t fit the don’t-mess-with-me attitude he had going on. “I guess that could make anyone feel off-kilter.”

“Off-kilter. That’s one way of putting it.”

His steps quickened as we neared the door. I scanned my surroundings, desperate for any means of escape. If I stayed, at best I’d have weeks of painful testing ahead of me. At worst, Maude would find a way to capitalize on whatever I’d done to turn David into a daywalker. It was the kind of power my aunt couldn’t resist. Maude would kill for it if she had to.

There had to be a way out.

Lanky stopped and positioned me between him and the basement door.

Now or never.

The guard fumbled with his massive key ring. Why the hell hadn’t I paid more attention when Phoebe tried to force me into those self-defense classes? What would she do? I mentally scoffed. Knowing her, she’d verbally bait him and then kick the shit out of his sorry ass.

I had no such skill.

Instead, I used the only strength I had. I stomped my foot down hard on his instep. He jerked his head up, eyes wide with surprise. I seized the opportunity to tackle him to the floor. My knees connected with the tile, and I swallowed the cry of agony caught in my throat. Flailing forward, I elbowed him in the back. Then, with a surge of determination, I thrust my burning wings and flew down the hall. My heart thundered, adrenaline fueling my flight.

“You bitch! Get back here or those wings will end up in a paper shredder.”

Yeah, right. Like that was going to convince me to turn around. I pumped my wings faster than I’d ever even attempted before and soared down another dark and empty hallway. Where was everyone? It must have been after-hours or the place would be teeming with Arcane staff.

Excited voices drifted from an open door. I cut to the left, ending up in a dim, narrow hallway I didn’t recognize. Trying to get my bearings, I slowed. All I needed was a way out. Every room offered nothing but abandoned stainless steel tables and old lab equipment. Not a window in sight.

Couldn’t a girl catch a break?

I whirled, intending to go back, but the loud clatter of heavy boots on the tile stopped me mid-flight. Heart hammering, I landed silently, darted into the nearest room, and tucked down beside the door, waiting.

The steady footsteps grew louder. I held my breath, trying to keep every muscle in my body completely still. As the footsteps moved on, I stifled a relieved sigh.

Then silence filled the hallway. One second. Two. Three. The clattering of the heavy boots resumed, moving in my direction. Oh, no. This was not happening. I hadn’t even breathed, let alone made a sound.

The noise stopped just outside my door. My heart pounded in my ears. Now what? I squinted through the darkness, searching for better cover. That was when I saw it. A stainless steel cupboard illuminated with a tiny streak of ambient light and a partial reflection of my shadow right in the middle of it.

Shit.

I rolled just as my tracker lunged into the room. My shoulder hit the floor, and I kicked out as a hand clamped over my ankle.

“Ouch,” my assailant huffed. “Willow, for God’s sake. Stop it.”

I froze and studied the guard in front of me. She wore the standard uniform of polyester pants and a crisp, white button-down shirt. Combined with the mousy brown hair and nondescript wire-rim glasses, I never would have recognized her had she not spoken. “Phoebe?”

“Yes, damn it. Hurry up before they find us.”

I scrambled to my feet and waited as Phoebe scanned the hall. “Why were you stalking me?” I asked her in a hushed tone.

“I had to be sure it was you. Now shush and follow my lead. We can’t afford to have you mess this up again.”

“Mess up? Again?”

“Shhh.” She grabbed my arm and marched me back down the hallway toward the basement door. When she spoke, her voice was deeper and tinged with maniacal glee. “One more stunt like that, and we’ll be forced to use the manacles.”

She grinned at me and kept up the illusion of dragging me along as we passed another guard, one I didn’t recognize.

“Looks like you could use some help.” He fell in step with us.

Phoebe glared. “Are you insinuating I can’t do my job? Just because Phelps is an idiot and lost her doesn’t mean I need someone breathing down my neck. Get back to your post. This one isn’t going anywhere.” Phoebe yanked my other arm, closing them behind my back as she propelled me forward.

“Watch it!” I complained loudly.

“Shut up. You’re lucky I’m letting you walk under your own power.” Phoebe yanked me back, and pain shot through my shoulder. If I hadn’t known better, I’d swear she was enjoying the act.

A trickle of doubt ran through my mind. Was Phoebe really on my side? She hadn’t said a word or tried to stop the guards from dragging me from Maude’s office.

Stop it! Of course she’s on my side. Why else is she disguised as a guard?

Phoebe was the one person I could trust besides Talisen. Whatever had happened earlier, she had obviously thought it was the best plan.

“Calm down,” the other guard said. “I’m not insinuating anything. Just thought you might want some backup.”

“I’ve got plenty of backup right here.” She tapped a tranquilizer gun on her hip. “Now get lost before I use it on you.”

“What the hell? Are you threatening me?”

“Damn straight. I don’t know you…” She peered at his name tag. “Fitz. All our asses are on the line with this one. High priority with the director, and I’m not taking any chances. So either you back off, or I’ll put you out. Your choice.”

“Fine.” Fitz held his hands up in surrender. As he retreated, he mumbled, “That witch needs professional help.”

I stifled a bubble of laughter, not daring to look at Phoebe. A moment later, Fitz disappeared around the corner.

“Come on.” Phoebe broke into a run, forcing me to use my wings to keep up.

“Where are we going?”

“Out.” Phoebe took a sharp turn and stopped in front of an emergency exit. She held me back, keeping me from bursting through. “I need to silence the alarm first. We stand no chance if it goes off.”

At least one of us knew what to do.

Phoebe produced a small bag from her pocket and pulled out a pinch of gray powder. Sprinkling it over a sensor, she chanted an incantation, waited a few seconds, then blew the dust away. A faint sizzle ran down the wire and ended with a pop.

“How did you do that without your magic?” It should be neutralized.

“Guards aren’t stripped of their magic.”

Right. They would need it.

“Now go!” she said and pushed me out first.

A blast of thick humidity hit me in the face, the stark contrast to the stale air-conditioning making it hard to breathe. I sucked the air down, trying to acclimate as I scanned the parking garage.

Phoebe bolted through the door right behind me. “What are you doing? Move it.”

“I don’t know where the car is,” I snapped, running to catch up.

“No car. They’re watching me. Someone is waiting a few blocks over.” A few feet from the exit, Phoebe pulled up short, holding her hand out in a stop motion.

I froze mid-step and almost knocked her down. “What is it?”

“Look at what we have here, boys,” Fitz said. “Nice try, Kilsen. You almost had me going there for a minute.”

The guard Phoebe had threatened was flanked by four other guards.

Phoebe stepped forward. “You think you and your wannabe agents can take me?”

He laughed. “It’s five to one unless you count the faery, but she’s useless and you know it.”

“Hey!” I cried, insulted, and peered around as my skin started to tingle. Someone else was coming.

“That just goes to show how stupid you are. I suggest you and your cronies step aside and forget you ever saw me, or you’ll regret it,” Phoebe said.

Fitz signaled and the guard clones spread out, blocking our path.

Phoebe pulled out her tranquilizer gun. “Last warning.”

Fitz’s eyes narrowed. “It’s not loaded. Besides, you can’t hit all of us at once.”

“I don’t have to.” Phoebe nodded past them. The one on the far right turned and gasped. No less than a dozen vampires stood behind them with David and Eadric at the center. All five guards brandished their sun agates, aiming them at the vampire gang.

“Oh, good. You’ve made it,” another voice called from behind us.

I whipped around and stared at Maude dressed all in black, emerging from a shadow.

What? She’d been expecting them. This couldn’t be happening.

“Tell your goons to back off,” Eadric said.

Maude quirked an eyebrow but waved a dismissive hand toward the guards. “Stand down.”

One by one, they each moved to stand behind my aunt. Eadric sent her an indulgent smile. “Thank you. We’ve got it from here.”

“Don’t rough her up too much, Eadric,” she warned. “We still need to finish our testing. But as a consolation, Kilsen is all yours. She was just a tool and of no consequence.”

Phoebe turned, her face pinched in anger. “You set me up?”

Maude laughed. “Don’t be a fool. Did you really think it would be so easy to penetrate my security? When it comes to my niece, you’ve never been trustworthy. Now I have my proof.” She waved to Eadric. “Get rid of her.”

“I don’t think that will be necessary,” Eadric said. “Ms. Rhoswen, will you join me?”

I took a step back, met Phoebe’s eyes, then David’s, and finally turned to Eadric. “Why would I do that?”

“I’m asking you to accept my protection.”

Dread snaked its way through my limbs. I’d already accepted his protection, but now he was forcing me to acknowledge it publicly. Everyone would know he considered me one of his own.

My worst nightmares stood both in front of and behind me.

I gulped. “From what?”

“Not what, but whom.” He gestured to Maude.

“What do you think you’re doing, vampire?” In an instant, Maude hovered right behind me, her powerful black wings working up a wind. “I demand you live up to our agreement and apprehend these traitors.”

Eadric barely glanced at her. “Change of plans, Maude. You lose this round.”

“You were working with the director?” Phoebe shouted and rounded on David. “Goddamn you. I knew I couldn’t trust a blood-sucker. You were going to give us up? Fuck!”

He gave a small shake of his head as he kept his eyes trained on me.

“They’ve been playing both sides the whole time.” I met David’s gaze. “Haven’t you?”

He ran a nervous hand through his hair. “You don’t understand.”

“He’s only done what he thought best. Do not blame him.” Eadric moved toward me, his hand stretched out.

Maude hissed and grabbed my arms, dragging me back. “She’s mine. Of my own blood. You will not take her from me.”

I grunted and tried to twist from her grasp. She clutched tighter, digging her fingers into my flesh. “Let go, you evil bitch!” I cried, jamming my elbow into her gut.

She only grasped me tighter. Damn it if I wasn’t tired of being manhandled.

Eadric took a step. “You don’t want to test me, Director.”

A warm trickle of power brushed my skin as my aunt started to spin a spell. I struggled, trying to escape her grip. “No!”

Maude levitated, pulling me above the crowd with her. Something cold and dark prickled as Maude’s power intensified. I gasped, a chill turning my limbs numb. Whatever spell she was spinning, was bad. Probably life-ending bad.

The vampires swarmed and then scattered as flashes of light illuminated from the guard’s sun agates. Only Phoebe and David remained.

Maude chanted something in Latin. Panic took over. If someone didn’t do something soon, Maude would kill them all. “Phoebe!”

Her eyes narrowed as determination settled on her features.

My muscles started to seize as the chant grew louder. Phoebe’s mouth was working, but I couldn’t hear her. Unwilling to go without a fight, I did the only thing I knew to do. I opened myself up and took in Maude’s spell.

My entire body convulsed, fighting the curse. I briefly wondered if my plants suffered as much when I stole their life before I rejuvenated them.

The thought triggered an idea. I tensed as I reversed the energy and forced Maude’s magic back into her.

She jerked her hands away, sending me falling to the ground. If I hadn’t been focused on releasing something dark and painful, I might have remembered to flex my wings. Instead, I landed on one of the guards, arms and legs flailing. Rolling off, I huddled near a car, trying to make sense of the scene in front of me.

The vampire gang reappeared, quickly neutralizing the remaining guards. My aunt swayed above me, struggling to keep airborne. Her body dipped and, her face tight with concentration, she flexed her wings, stabilizing herself. She glanced down at me, hatred in her black eyes. “This is far from over.”

Before I could respond, she sailed out of the garage and disappeared around the corner. Phoebe took off at a dead run after her.

“Willow?” David said.

“Huh?”

He wrapped me in his arms and pulled me into a hug, resting his chin on my head. “Are you okay?”

I stiffened and looked up. “Your touch doesn’t hurt anymore.”