Stygian Read online

  I felt the uneasiness in the room—anger, sorrow, and uncertainty. Balen had betrayed his oath, but he’d also saved a human from slavery to a vampire.

  Regardless, this wasn’t going to be easy to convince them to be lenient. “Balen drank the blood of a vampire. That alone is cause for death. He invited Ryszard into the house of Trinity, witch of the coven in Toronto where our Healer, Anstice, was being hidden. But Balen did what no other has achieved. He drove the tainted vampire blood from inside him.”

  Urtzi, Wraith of Air, spoke, “Did he return by his own free will?” Urtzi’s voice fluctuated according to his moods. When he was angry, his voice replicated a fingernail on a chalkboard and when he was in a good mood it was calm and soft like it was today.

  I gave a curt nod. “Yes.”

  “And he fought the blood without harming humans?” Urtzi asked.

  I nodded again. “As far as we are aware.”

  “Then we must take that into consideration.” His blue-and-white streaked hair ruffled as he spoke and the air in the room shifted. “He also saved a human, a woman—Danielle—a friend of Anstice, and an innocent to the circumstances.”

  A fist slammed on the table and I didn’t have to look to know it was Edan. Genevieve’s breath hitched and her shoulders tensed.

  “He broke the law,” Edan shouted.

  “Voice,” Tor warned.

  Edan glared at him, but lowered his tone. “It’s simple. He broke his oath to protect his kind. You want to be lenient for protecting the girl, then Rest—two hundred years.”

  “The human, Danielle, would’ve become a slave if it wasn’t for Balen,” Zurina objected. Her golden hair was like a mane of an Andalusian horse, thick waves reaching the small of her back. She met Edan’s scowl and smiled then winked at him. This was why she’d been chosen to sit on the Deaconry with me. She had a majestic strength that was respected by all.

  “He also betrayed the witches by inviting Ryszard into their house,” Mariana said.

  The Scars and the Witches were on good terms as long as neither got in the others’ way. On occasion, they assisted one another; however, some kind of payment was usually involved.

  I had to do some smoothing over with Trinity. Jesus, I’d slept with her for a week for her visions in order to help find Balen and Danielle. It may have saved them, but what it had done to Delara . . . My grip tightened on my dispenser. I never regretted, damn it. I’d done what I had to do to save a Scar and a human. It was my oath. I had no choice.

  “None were harmed,” Zurina said. “Nor was Anstice or any of the Scars.”

  Tor was short, broad, muscular, and rarely smiled, which explained his void expression. “We all know what he has done. We’ve been over this a thousand times.” He paused. “It has come to our attention that he has seen this Danielle. Has he revealed us to her?”

  “No,” I said. “He hasn’t.”

  “I sense a connection between them,” Tor continued. “He protects her.”

  “Yes.” I’d hoped they hadn’t been paying attention to Danni because a Scar becoming involved with a human would really piss them off.

  I felt Genevieve shift in her high-backed chair and my eyes shot to her. She quickly looked away, lowering her gaze. What was that? “It’s the law for Scars to protect humans,” I reminded them.

  Edan scoffed. “Fuck that, Waleron. You know damn well he protects this woman because he wants to fuck her.”

  I grit my teeth together and took a deep breath, trying to calm the rage that constantly lingered inside me. Edan was an unpredictable bastard and supposedly he was only agreeable when he had a woman in his bed.

  “He loves her.” Genevieve’s voice was maple syrup-like—sweet and smooth.

  “He feels guilt for what Ryszard did to her. That’s not love, sugar,” Edan retorted.

  Zurina said, “A Scar can’t be with a human, whether he loves her or not. Balen knows this.”

  “He also knows to not drink vampire blood,” Edan shot back.

  “I’ve felt the pull between them,” Urtzi said.

  “For fuck’s sake,” Edan muttered and sat back, shaking his head.

  Urtzi had the ability to taste what was between humans. Depending on the emotion, his taste changed. Urtzi had previously told them that anger tasted vile. I compared it to rotten milk. If Urtzi tasted love—chocolate—it would be easier to convince him that Balen deserved to live.

  Tor spoke. “This matter isn’t about the woman, as Edan has so eloquently put it. Balen will be punished. We cannot allow him to walk free and resume his status as a warrior when he has become untrustworthy.” He paused and looked to each of us. “However, he saved the life of a human, which is also our law. Therefore, this must be taken into account. I, Wraith of Earth, vote that Balen be sent to Rest for twenty years and exile for one hundred years.”

  Genevieve gasped and everyone’s eyes darted to her, mine included. She quickly lowered her head and her hands gripped the edge of the table so tight her knuckles turned white.

  Edan jumped on the reaction. “What’s your deal, Genevieve?”

  The water in the fountain began to bubble. Steam rose from the surface. Christ, she was panicking, and if someone didn’t calm her, we’d all be immersed in a rainfall of water.

  “I disagree,” I said, keeping my eyes on the fountain. “Sent to Rest is harsh. No one was harmed by what he did.” The water remained simmering like a pot of boiling water. “Balen has protected us for three centuries and is honorable. He was under great duress from the torture he suffered.”

  “Calm yourself, Genevieve,” Urtzi said in a soothing tone. A cool breeze drifted across the room and through Genevieve’s golden mane.

  “What’s with you?” Edan hated Genevieve, considered her weak and too sympathetic. My guess was that she refused to sleep with him.

  I felt Zurina in my mind. “She’s hiding something.”

  “Yes,” I replied.

  “Perhaps she cares for Balen?”

  I doubted it. Genevieve’s strength was emotions. Feeling the connection between Danni and Balen had to be difficult for her when she knew they would be separated. The water rose to the rim of the marble pool and Tor reached out and placed his hand on Genevieve’s shoulder. He closed his eyes and the water slowly began to sink back down until the liquid lay quiet again.

  “Waleron,” Tor said. “What say you?”

  I looked at each member of the Deaconry, the last being Edan, who raised his brows at me and had the nerve to mouth ‘fuck you.’

  I heard a crackle as the plastic of my candy dispenser in my pocket broke under my grip. “Balen is my responsibility. I failed him. I will take blame for what occurred.” Murmurs rose among them and I raised my voice. “Decide my fate.”

  “Aw, fuck,” Edan rolled his eyes. “Give me a break. Taking his punishment? Are you for real?”

  “No,” Tor said. He met my eyes and gave a nod of respect. “I understand your need to protect one of your own, but I cannot allow it. The CWOs are spreading. You’re needed.”

  Mariana, who’d been uncommonly quiet, twirled her finger around one of her dreads. “The woman survived because of Balen. Commendation. But he did lead the vampire to the witches’ coven. Rest for ten years and exile for one hundred years.”

  Urtzi sighed and the cool air exhaled from his mouth like a mist of rain. “I agree with Mariana.”

  I knew this was a lenient fate considering the Wraiths were predictable and never strayed from the laws. Balen broke it. Simple. Yet, I suspected I could push to get the sentence lessened even more.

  I had to approach this tactfully. “His blood is pure. That alone shows his strength as a valuable Scar. One that is needed. As you just said, the Center World Others are spreading.”

  Edan slammed his fist onto the table. “Bullshit. He broke the law. We cannot pick and choose who isn’t subject to the laws that were made for the benefit of us all.”

  Zurina placed her palms flat on
the table. “None have been able to fight off the vampire blood before. Therefore, this situation is unusual. I agree with Waleron.”

  “You would,” Edan muttered.

  Tor raised his hand. “The law, as it stands, says that any who drink vampire blood must be killed. Balen lives.” He nodded to me. “Your point is taken and Balen’s strength is imposing. Therefore, losing him as a warrior for a century is detrimental to the Scars. Rest for ten years for his betrayal of his sister, and exile fifty years for breaking our law.”

  I knew what Tor offered was pretty damn lenient considering Balen must have pissed them off for dodging sentencing for two years. If I pushed any further, Edan and . . . I looked at Mariana—yes, she was annoyed with Tor’s verdict—might argue the ruling.

  “I will fight this if you want,” Zurina said.

  I hesitated. “No. We push the issue, they’ll retaliate. We must uphold the laws.”

  I looked at Tor. “I’ll consent to this.”

  Zurina and Urtzi also agreed. Edan swore a few times, but he knew he was outnumbered. He gave a curt nod and Mariana soon followed. Only Genevieve had to give her answer and she looked like she was going to pass out. Her face was almost translucent and her eyes were no longer blue, but a scintillating gold.

  “Genevieve, we must have your consent,” Tor said, being careful not to set her off again by keeping his voice gentle and calming.

  “Come on, Gen, I have shit to do,” Edan said.

  “What?” Mariana asked. “A woman tied to your bed begging for mercy?”

  “Yes, as a matter of fact.” Edan glanced at me and cocked a half-grin. If Wraiths had sexual encounters it was never in the realm for obvious reasons, so what was he talking about in his bed? “A remarkable woman who begs for my touch and is willing to try anything once.” He turned from me and his eyes travel across the length of Mariana. “Care to join us?”

  “I don’t sleep with men who have to tie up a woman in order for their submission.”

  Tor raised his voice above the banter. “Genevieve.”

  “Yes,” she conceded. And then to my surprise, her body language changed. She straightened in her seat, her eyes widening with a delightful sparkle. A hint of a smile formed on her angelic lips. I’d give anything to be able to read what wheels were turning in her mind because something drastic had changed.

  “Then it’s decided,” Tor said then turned to me. “Now, what of CWOs? Any progress?”

  Wraiths were unable to touch the Center World Others. The numerous species came from the middle of the Earth, where they had lived for thousands of years. They had developed immunity to the Wraiths’ powers. Our guess was that the minerals and heat from the center of the Earth protected them.

  “Long Necks are banding with the vampires. It’s under control for now, but the Grits are still a problem.”

  “Women are disappearing at a more alarming rate across the city,” Zurina said.

  Grits were difficult for the Scars to detect and when the Scars did find them, Grits were even more challenging to kill. They were arrogant, determined males who used their good looks to lure women to their beds. They survived by sucking the air from the lungs of a human, which extended their life.

  “We’ll assist human women with their senses,” Urtzi offered. In other words, the Wraiths would heighten the humans’ awareness of danger. Although I didn’t think it would have much effect. The Grits were resilient, brutal, and were spreading across Europe and North America.

  Tor nodded to Genevieve and the water in the fountain began to change to gold, indicating the meeting was over.

  I quickly interjected. “What of Tarek? He rises from Rest soon.”

  “Yes,” Tor said.

  The water became blue again.

  “He’s dangerous and we need to re-evaluate his sentence.” Every time I said his name, my Ink became unsettled. I put my hand on my neck where my snake tattoo was to hide the glowing red eyes from the others.

  “He’ll have served his time,” Tor replied.

  “Delara will be at risk,” I kept my voice calm, but a mild tremor escaped as the roaring inferno raged inside me. I was uncertain if it was my Ink this time or the simple fact that I wanted to rip Tarek apart.

  “Perhaps. We don’t know what he’ll be like after suffering Rest. Regardless, we do nothing, unless he breaks the law again,” Tor said.

  My gaze shot to Edan as I felt the Wraith’s heat from across the table. What the hell was Edan’s problem? His eyes were narrowed and his skin pulsed bright red.

  “He almost killed her,” I replied.

  Tor nodded. “Yes. But we, including you, Waleron, passed judgment for what he did. When his punishment is complete, he’s free. If he breaks the law again, then we’ll interfere.”

  “He’ll seek revenge on Delara for speaking against him.” Jesus, I hated these meetings. The Wraiths didn’t know how to bend on anything.

  “Perhaps, perhaps not,” Tor replied.

  “She’s my responsibility. I won’t wait until he kills her for a ruling.”

  Tor’s fist pounded down on the table so hard the floor quaked. “You dare go against us? You may be powerful, but break the laws and you will be judged. You are not immune, Waleron.”

  I tensed. My patience was gone; I clicked the lid open on my now damaged dispenser and slipped one of the white pills into my mouth. Screw this. I’d deal with Tarek myself. Tarek was a violent Scar and no amount of Rest was going to change that.

  “You could ask Delara to be yours,” Genevieve suggested.

  Yeah, right. I was just as dangerous as Tarek.

  Urtzi looked amused, his blue eyes dancing. “Like that would ever happen.”

  “He deserves death for what he did to her,” Genevieve stated. I remembered that she had fought hard for the Deaconry to sentence Tarek to death.

  “Enough!” Edan shouted. “This meeting is over.”

  Tor agreed and nodded to Genevieve.

  I went to object when the water from the fountain changed back to golden. To speak after the water had changed was unheard of.

  Tor stood then closed his eyes and vanished into a cloud of red dust. Urtzi followed behind in a gust of wind, and Edan a red fireball of light. With a simple tug on one of her dreadlocks, Mariana left too.

  Genevieve slowly came to her feet and walked over to me. “You care for Delara.” It was a statement.

  “I protect all the Scars,” I replied.

  “Yes, but some more than others. Delara has found another, and now, she is no longer yours. That is your mistake.”

  What the hell was she talking about? A cold wash of dread blanketed my skin. “Who?”

  “You don’t deserve to know.” She put her hands together above her head and her seductive body glowed blue then swirled into a mist of water before disappearing.

  THE GUYS DIDN’T LOOK surprised to see me when I arrived at the Talde house. Keir, Damien, Jedrik, and Hack stood in the foyer and each nodded in greeting. However, none said anything. Well, Damien didn’t nod, he glared. But I expected a cold reception. Shit, I’d betrayed them then fucked off.

  Waleron appeared within seconds of me walking into the house and, without saying anything, he went directly into the library. Everyone followed. Then Waleron slammed the door closed.

  In his usual fashion, the Taldeburu was unemotional and direct. “Rest for ten years and exile for fifty years in the Pyrenees Mountains.”

  Coldness sank into me. I’d known this was coming, yet still, being sent to Rest seriously sucked. “Our law must be changed.” I looked to each of the Scars. “I’ve proven that consuming vampire blood doesn’t mean we’ll become one of them.”

  Keir raised his brows. “You challenge the law?”

  “Fuck yeah. And since I’ll be in Rest, I ask that the law be taken to the Deaconry by one of you.”

  “I second that,” Jedrik said, as he leaned back on the couch, legs outstretched, and ankles crossed. “Always wanted t
o go to the Deaconry and meet that hot Wraith, Genevieve.”

  Waleron shot Jedrik a warning glower. “No Scar may enter the Deaconry, as you very well know. The law was put in place for good reason. A vampire’s blood is powerful and its effects are deadly. You may have been able to withstand its poison, but no other has in hundreds of years.”

  “Then contain them,” Jedrik suggested. “Until they fight it off or don’t. At least, they have a chance that way.”

  “Fuck that. No warrior should drink the fuckin’ poison in the first place.” Damien scowled at me, his stance stiff and unbending. Yeah, no one likes you, asshole. Jedrik nicknamed him women-hater and he was. Damien was a volatile, cold bastard who didn’t give a crap about anyone but himself. “You betrayed us. You should be dead.”

  Jedrik leapt from the couch and went for Damien. Keir grabbed Jedrik, threw him to the ground, and twisted his arm behind his back. “Leave it.”

  Damien was among the most lethal warriors, with little patience and even less mercy. He’d already been sent to Rest a few years ago for beating up another Scar and nearly killing him. Unstable, dangerous, and now he’d have it out for Jedrik.

  “I’ll bring it up at the next Deaconry meeting, but I suspect nothing will change,” Waleron said. “It’s time.”

  Rest sucked. But it was better than dead. I nodded.

  Jedrik sighed. “Sorry, man. This friggin’ blows big time.”

  I shrugged. I deserved worse for my betrayal.

  I’d returned to Toronto knowing what I faced. But leaving Danni . . . Jesus, everything in me was screaming to stay near her, but I’d already done enough damage to those I cared about. Images of Danni swirled in my mind, of last night, of her in my arms moaning my name. My cock deep, thrusting into her and feeling her clench around me.

  The door burst open.

  All eyes turned toward it. Delara stood like a warrior ready for battle. She wore all black, leather boots climbing up her calves to her knees with tight black jeans. Her flashing walnut eyes narrowed as she met each man’s stare. “Balen saved Danni’s life. I saw what she suffered when we rescued her. We all did.” She turned to me. “You sacrificed yourself knowing you’d be killed for drinking Ryszard’s blood. But that’s why we’re here, to protect the humans.”