Blood Legacy: Adult Urban Fantasy (The V V Inn Book 5) (31 page)

Fear lances my heart, forcing more adrenaline into my body. I have to help her! Maybe get them to drop hands. Panic grips me as I watch the horror unfolding, unable to move, unable to do a goddamn thing.
 

Rage like I’ve never seen crosses Rafe’s face, the intensity of it darkening his skin, forcing multiple veins to stand out on his forehead and neck. He’s fighting the binding just as I am, and having no better luck.

The urgent cries ripping from her throat continue, twisting deep into my gut with a pain I’ve never experienced before. I became hers years ago, a servant to protect and keep her safe—and yet I’m helpless, watching her raped from within.
 

She is my responsibility! I’ve sworn to protect her! I must do something!
 

I force the weakening thoughts from my mind. There has to be a course of action that can throw off their mental attack.
 

I gather my anger to me, press it into a tight ball of power, and thrust my arms forward in an effort to break the spell holding me. Pressing toward Rolando with everything I’ve got, claws start to emerge from my finger tips, fur begins to coat their backs as my hands grow larger. The magic from a transformation tickles across my skin, aching to break the hold on my mind and body. Determination swells within me. I will reach that undead bastard if it’s the last thing I do.

Abruptly, the screams cut off and Vivian falls limp on the cushions.
 

“I’ve got what we need,” Persephone says. “Give me a few minutes to clean up the mess and she’ll be right as rain in no time.”

Spittle flies from my lips as I gnash my teeth and reach with all my might. Rafe yells, the rage and ferocity in his shout a match for what I’m feeling, too.
 

“Hold them steady, Rolando. I need concentration for this.”

His voice sounds strained when he answers, “They’re stronger than they look.”

“Then knock their asses out, we don’t have time for this.”

And with that, my world goes black.

I awake first, in the backseat of the car, unsure how the hell I got there. My first thought is of Vivian, and I sit up too fast, nausea twisting my gut and threatening to spew its contents. She’s slumped in the front seat of the car, a coat over her face, perhaps to protect her from the sun that’s cresting the horizon.

Reaching a trembling hand between the seats, I grasp Rafe’s shoulder and shake him awake. He comes to with a jolt, eyes immediately flashing open and looking for his wife. He softens only when he lifts the coat and presses a hand to her cheek.

“She’s okay,” he says. “It’s a restorative sleep.”

Tension I was unaware of leaks out of me, leaving me more drained and spent then I ever thought possible. “Are you sure?”

He nods. “I’m linked with her, as you are. You just haven’t learned to use it yet.” Rafe looks up at the rising sun, the rays blinding us from their position over the large buildings. “A little sun won’t hurt her, but I don’t want to risk it. We’ve got to get her inside.”
 

He fumbles for the keys in the ignition and starts the car. His head swivels back and forth, then ducks under the powerful rays to get a feel for where we are. “Holy shit. They drove us a block from the apartment. They knew where we were staying.”

“Must have traced us while we were busy tracking the killers. Where to now? The third place you bought?”

He shakes his head and performs a u-turn. “Nope. Back to the first house. We’ve no threat from the Weres to contend with now, and it has provisions and a better escape route. I doubt they had the address as we’d only been there a few hours.”

We travel the distance in silence, residual shock making it difficult to sort through all that’s happened. Once we arrive, Rafe gently lifts his wife from the car as I see to the door. He carries her down to the basement and returns to the main floor, meeting me in the kitchen.

“Is she okay?” I ask.

“I can’t be sure. Nothing like this has ever happened to her while we’ve been together. But I think she will be, with time.”

“Why?” I ask. “Why the hell did they do that to her? She said she agreed with them, sounded like she was on their side.”

“Because they don’t trust her. And rightfully so. They want who she’s turned, those who may have her power, but they may not want her if she’s on the fence about their objective. They may have an easier time persuading younger masters to their way of thinking. By violating her mental barriers, they could see her intent, read all her secrets, and make sure she was worth keeping around.”

“And what if she’s not? What then?”

“I can only assume they would have disposed of her. We sure as hell couldn’t have stopped them.”

The feeling of helplessness slinks through me again, and I shake it off, hating the sensation. “We were useless against them. Now I understand why Vivian has always hidden herself, using her gift on the sly rather than exposing herself to the hatred of her kind. That much power is wrong. There was nothing we could do to stop them.”

“She believes the power is corrupting. That the darkness inside her is a manifestation of that power—which is why she so tightly holds onto her self-control, never allowing the monster within to have free rein.”

“What do we do now?”

“We wait until she wakes. Talk through what happened. See what she thinks. And she’ll need your blood when she comes to. It will help her regain strength. A mental attack like she went through will leave her severely drained. This sleep is a way for her body to repair the damage.”

I nod, understanding the words even if my brain can’t formulate an intelligent response. The spent adrenaline has left me shaky and unsure of myself. I need some of that control he spoke of. I need to feel like I’m not a complete and utter failure. In her darkest hour, I failed her. Unable to stop the two vampires from violating what everyone should be able to protect—the privacy of their own mind.

I stagger toward the front door. Determined not to face another day helpless.

“Where are you going?” Rafe calls.

“To learn a new skill. I’ll be back before sundown. I will not fail her again.”

Before I have a chance to reason out where I’m going, my subconscious has already led me in the right direction. I’m a block from Magda’s house, no longer hesitant about what I need to do.

I knock on her door, a surreal peace filling me. She opens the door, looking like she’s risen from bed, a surprised look on her face. “Jon! I wondered where you wandered off to yesterday. Where have you been?”

“It’s been a hellishly long day. Can I crash with you?”

A smile stretches across her face as she pushes the door open. “I’d like nothing better.”

I stumble in and she closes the door behind me.
 

“Jon, are you okay?”

I glance at the tidy, small apartment and determine the open door down the short hall is her bedroom. “No, no I’m not.” I shuffle forward and trip on my own feet.

In a split second she’s at my side, an arm around my waist as she leads me forward. “Let’s get you laid down.”

My eyes close before I hit the bed, and I’m out. The exhaustion and shock finally catching up to me.

When I next open my eyes, it’s past noon, and the smell of frying bacon wafts through the air around me. Resolve fills my heart, reminding me of what is the most important thing in my life, my sole purpose for living—protecting those I love. And while my heart is no longer filled with misdirected passion toward her, there is no doubt I love Vivian deep into my soul.

Without her, I’d have died years ago. And more importantly, so would an entire pack of Weres. She saved them and me, and refused payment in the end. My dedication to her may have started as a blood debt, but over the years it has transformed into a steel-hard loyalty forged in the hottest flame. I will help her battle what awaits. And I will do it with any means possible.

“Jon?” Magda calls. “Are you up? I hear rustling around in there. I’ve made breakfast.”

“I’ll be right in,” I answer while rising from the bed. I venture to the bathroom first and then join her in the small living area.

Thankfully she leaves me be for the moment, allowing me to eat without asking the questions I sense shimmering below the surface. Once the first plate is gone, and I’ve had a chance to eat half of the second helping, she clears her throat.

“What happened to you?”

I grab the mug of untouched coffee and down it, grateful it’s had a chance to cool. My voice hitches as I start speaking, the pain too fresh. “I watched my vampire master—the woman I’ve sworn to protect, bound my life to—get mind-raped by an ancient and a member of the inner circle.” Before I have a chance to contemplate telling her the truth, it spills out of me, eager to be told, to share the horror of my failure with someone else.

As the tale unfolds, my soul feels lighter, free of the deceptions I’ve held between us this whole week. I tell her everything that’s happened. I don’t reveal why Rolando and Persephone wanted Vivian in the first place, as that’s not my secret to tell, but I do tell her what they plan. It’s her city and she needs to know what’s in store for her and her pack. If the vampires have their way, Buenos Aires will soon become a hot bed of violence and change.

After a few questions to clarify what their plan could mean for the city, she settles on the part that affects her the soonest. “So all along, you’ve hoped to discover my skill and use it to unite packs? Why?”

“Yesterday, when we fought your packmates, the situation reminded me why it’s so important to have a strong leader.” I reach across the table and take her hand in mine. “Your pack was subjected to a man who abused those under him. He wasn’t a true alpha.”

“What do you mean by ‘true alpha’? He fought for the position and earned it under pack law.”

I shake my head, and grip her hand tighter. “No. Fighting to be top dog doesn’t make you a leader. It means you’re a good fighter. Ruling those under your care with an eye for their future, their well-being, their happiness… that’s what makes you a leader. Hector was a horrible alpha, and so were those who led before him. If they were any good, the pack never would have allowed the subsequent challenges to take place.

“In a war, there are many, many good fighters. But there need be only one general—the right one—to lead those entrusted to him through hell and back.”

“We’re not in a war. What do your pretty words mean in today’s life?”

“Aren’t we? Have you looked at your city lately? You’ve got witches and wizards setting up shop alongside the largest grouping of vampires in the entire world. Your pack of—how many werewolves do you have?”

“After booting out the four yesterday? Thirty-three.”

“Your pack of thirty-three needs to survive and thrive among all the other supernatural groups here—and I only mentioned the ones you’re currently aware of.” Thinking back to what Vivian said the other day, I add, “Did you even know there were fae and demons, too?”

The alpha’s olive skin tone pales. “I didn’t know about demons.”

“My point wasn’t to scare you into thinking there was an immediate attack about to happen, but to get you to
see
, really see, that your pack isn’t in a good position.” I let out a deep sigh, not thrilled with what I have to say next. “You’re not the best alpha to lead this pack.” Anger crosses her face as I rush to continue, “I’m not saying you haven’t tried, but there’s too much hatred and dissension among your packmates for you to effectively rule. They need someone else, Magda. You must see it too, no?”

The anger drains out of her as quickly as it came. Tears spring to her eyes and I feel like a shit heel.
 

“It’s not easy, you know. I never intended to rule when I defended myself against Hector. I thought I could choose another mate to rule by my side.” A tear trickles down her cheek. “But they didn’t want me that way. They were so filled with anger and hurt over what they endured under Hector, they wanted to battle me for the position. I became this hardened bitch to stay alive.”

“I understand, Magda. I truly do. That’s why I think you need to share your gift. Let them all know how to change into the hybrid form like you do.”

“But they’ll kill me!”

“Not if you pick one who can rule first. Take the time to get to know your pack, seek out those with strong opinions and see if they have what it takes to think of others and be a good ruler. Help decide their fate by choosing the one to share your skill with first, explain what you intend to do, and step down as alpha without a fight.”

“You really think it’s as easy as that? What if they don’t listen and kill me anyway?”

“You can do anything you put your mind to. Don’t let your fears rule you. Join with me in this idea to unite the packs around the world.” I reach my other hand across the table to grab her free one, now clasping both of hers on the smooth wood while I stare intently into her pretty brown eyes. “Your skill could be what makes werewolves finally come together as a cohesive group, able to stand against any supernatural race that threatens us.”

Her eyes close for a moment and I hear her heart racing in her chest. “I’m not sure I want to be part of something so large,” she says with a quiet voice. Her eyes open and she stares at me. “But I will try and help you learn the skill. You can do what you want with the knowledge. And I…” she lets out a long sigh. “I will do what you suggest and try to select a better alpha. Perhaps one who will show kindness for me and not hate me for the things I’ve done.”

My heart soars, even as I hear hers thumping out a nervous beat. This is what I’ve been hoping for, and I won’t have to manipulate her to get what I want. Life couldn’t be any better. Then I think of Vivian writhing on the couch while Persephone cracked her mind wide open.
 

Okay, life could be better: None of this shit could be happening. I’d wake up in Candy’s arms tomorrow, and my biggest worry—whether Pat and Eric unknowingly locked themselves in a cabin again as wolves and had to break out.

But in the darkness that has been this week, this moment is a bright slice of sunshine. I lean forward and wrap Magda in hug, hoping to convey my gratitude in her trust with the embrace.