Made By Design (Blood Bound Series Book 2) (31 page)

Relief swept through me as the car disappeared down Ocean Boulevard. A body-convulsing shiver followed that chilled me to the bone. Our mothers were in that car too, alone with Caius as they headed to tonight’s all-night council meeting. I loathed the thought of them near that monster, my mind ticking over all the lies he could be planting in their heads. Kendrick’s mom was a royal, so compelling her would be harder than if she were a turned vamp like my mom. But if Caius needed to pull something off, I didn’t doubt he would. And I wasn’t about to let anything happen to either of them.

As I was about to close the front door, a familiar drone of an exhaust rumbled down the road. Knowing who was coming, Kendrick pulled a reluctant Dorian into the kitchen to stock up on blood before the other wolves arrived. A slight irritation vibrated from Kendrick, but our unexpected encounter with Caius overrode his dislike of Ty. He was thinking up what to do to help our mothers too. Dorian on the other hand was still fuming and needed to cool down.

Headlights shone up onto the house as a bright blue WRX veered up the driveway. Ty parked at the front steps. As he emerged, an impressive smile brightened his face and his irises blazed, taking me in. Without hesitation I ran and leapt into his strong, protective arms. My hold on him was so tight that if he were human I would have cracked a rib or two.

Straight away Ty tensed. His capturing, possessive arms released and he inhaled a deep breath through his nose. He untangled me from his body and pushed me behind him. Power poured off him as his eyes darted. “Where is he?”

His body began to quake, threatening to change forms. I darted in front of him, clutching his bulging biceps while trying to ignore the movement of his transforming muscles beneath my hands.

Kendrick blew into the foyer with Dorian. Through the bond he knew what was about to happen. His face was hard as he and my brother shoved Ty into the living room. He flicked on the chandelier that threw crystal light prisms over the imperial sofa, ornate shelving, and mink-soft carpet. “Bloody impulsive wolves,” Kendrick mumbled, his eyes skewering me. “Calm him down.”

Knowing how dangerous it was for a vampire to be near an out of control werewolf on the verge of transforming, my words rushed. “He was here. But he’s not now. He left with my mom and Kendrick’s. There’s a full-on council meeting about the murders.”

The trembling in Ty’s body released, threatening cracks receding. Though his glowing irises remained, as did the taut strain of his muscles. At a moment’s notice he could snap back into action. He looked at me, furious and worried at the same time. “Why didn’t you call me?”

Kendrick folded his arms over his chest. “Because she had us to protect her.”

“Like that would have stopped him,” Ty snarled, taking a menacing step forward. “She’s almost died once when
you
were the only one around.”

“I saved her life!”

“Yeah.” Ty laughed mockingly. “After drugging her. What a hero.”

The death glare between both guys was acid-drenched. Dorian pulled out his phone and began texting. Of all the times for him to get distracted by a chick. What was he thinking?

Kendrick jabbed Ty in the chest. “At least I wasn’t here sulking over being dumped.”

Matched sounds of challenge came from both guys. I darted between them, a hand pressing on each guy’s chest. “Both of you stop it! This is not helping anything.” Right then we needed to plan a way to keep our mothers safe, not start another pissing contest. “If we’re constantly at each other’s throats we may as well give up now. And we can’t.” I pleaded with Kendrick. “C’mon. Our mothers are with that monster, and who knows what he’s doing to them.”

“What’d you have in mind?” Ty asked. His hand met my waist purposely, but his tension wavered.

I’d been brewing a plan in the back of my mind since our mothers had left. We needed to know what was happening. Waiting to find out wasn’t an option.

“No way!” Kendrick folded his arms over his chest.

I bit down on my lip. The plan had been to gently reveal my idea, knowing he would be against it. But with Ty’s reaction to picking up Caius’s scent, my walls blocking Kendrick had come crashing down.

Kendrick stalked over to the wooden corner shelves, stacked with books. His hands tensed as if he wanted to tear it all down to the ground. He spun instead, glaring. “It’s too bloody dangerous.”

“What is?” Dorian questioned, peering up from the phone’s screen.

Everyone was watching me. Ty and Dorian were waiting for me to explain. Kendrick just glared, spouting off reasons against my plan through the bond. But I didn’t reply silently to him. There was no point in keeping this discussion between the two of us when we were all involved. “We have to do something.”

“Not that. Not YOU!” Kendrick came forward and caught my hand, fingers squeezing.

Ty shoved Kendrick’s hand from my arm. “Don’t touch her.”

Another fight was about to break out, and I couldn’t have that. “Look.” I cracked my knuckles. “Mom and Serafina are at The Council with Caius, and I know none of us are okay with that.”

Dorian nodded while Kendrick remained stationary in front of me. His arms were like defiant bars over his broad chest. His glaring eyes remained zoned in on Ty who kept close to my side.

“So, I’m going to check in on their meeting,” I continued. “Spy to make sure our mothers are safe. See what’s up with the murders. And scope out what Caius is up to.”

Dorian and Kendrick both shook their heads and replied, “No.”

“We’ll go instead,” Dorian countered, nudging Kendrick.

I sent a silent message to Kendrick.
You know he would expect that. And what if he sends someone here? Besides, I won’t be alone
.

Kendrick gritted his teeth, slumping back onto the imperial sofa. “No. Of course not.” His acidic tone made Dorian and Ty look at him. “He,” Kendrick spat, pointing at Ty, “will be going with you.”

I planted my hands on my hips. “You know it’s for the best.”

“Well.” Kendrick blew air out his flared nostrils. “Why don’t you explain it to them.”

With a deep breath I set out my reasoning for Dorian and Ty to hear. Through the bond I knew that Kendrick wanted to be the one to go, the one to protect me. But that wasn’t safe or rational in this situation. A whole group going to spy was more likely to be spotted. Plus if one of Caius’s henchmen did show up, who knew what could be tampered with. Besides, I didn’t plan on getting caught. And I needed Kendrick here with our link wide open so that he and Dorian would be able to communicate with us. No other combination would work.

A motorbike followed by a car veered up the driveway, their headlights streaming through the bay windows lining the wall.

“I don’t like this at all,” Dorian muttered, heading through the archway to the foyer.

“Don’t worry.” Ty took my hand. “We’ll keep her safe.”

We? I threw Ty a questioning look as Troy and Marika strode through the front door without knocking, passing Dorian and heading into the living room. Vanessa was right behind them, looking party perfect in a black skirt, red top, and seriously high heels. Marika looked sultry as usual in skintight shorts and a boob tube. And Troy wore all black and a hard stare. No surprise there.

“You’re all coming?” I asked. Troy and Marika had just arrived, but with their werewolf hearing and Troy’s eyebrows lifting, it was clear they’d caught onto the thread.

Troy shrugged, wolf eyes flashing. “Going into the leeches’ lair? Can’t think of a better way to spend my night.”

“And where my beau goes,” Marika said, smiling at Troy. “I go.”

“No,” Ty said with a snap of his jaw. “Marika, you’ll stay behind.”

Marika’s mouth dropped and Troy growled, but neither argued.

“You’re staying here aren’t you?” Dorian asked Vanessa who he’d moved to stand near. Hope transformed the uncertainty from his face.

“Sure am,” Vanessa said, smiling at my brother without seeking approval from Ty. She wasn’t a wolf, and as their alchemist was never given orders. “I’ll put up some protective marks.”

I bit my lip again, gaze sliding sideways to Troy who leaned against the archway. Having him along as well as Ty made my spy mission less dangerous. That is if Troy followed Ty’s orders and didn’t turn on me himself. He and Marika hated vampires as much as they hated the thought of Ty and me together. I squeezed Ty’s hand. “Are you sure this is a good idea?”

“Trust me,” Ty said.

“I’m pack beta.” Troy’s expression was challenging, as if it held a promise…or a threat. “Second in command and sworn to protect my alpha.”

Yeah, but not me
.

~

Minutes later I’d redressed in black and was heading out front to Ty and Troy. I tugged on my zip-up hoodie, ready to feel the wind in my hair. “Let’s go.”

Ty followed me to the garage while Troy fired up his motorbike. It was a mean, beefy piece of machinery that matched his jacked body. But my concerns about him were forfeited, replaced by so much more.

Since moving to Rye my life had been turned upside down. The distinct changes had been irrevocable in so many ways. But, would I change any of it if I had the power? To be a normal girl who wasn’t in love with a werewolf? No. I knew the answer without a shadow of a doubt. I would never exist without Ty. The danger and fear for my life was nothing compared to the thought of living without him.

With a deep sigh, I pushed the button on my keys and the garage doors curled up from the ground. A controlled smile spread over my lips. Standing in the shadows waited my Ducati. What little light there was caught on the chrome and purple panels, making them glisten. I swung my leg over the seat and fired up the engine.

Ty stood back, gaze shifting over the
soul mates
insignia. “How about I drive?”

Since being back from the cruise, I’d taken and aced my driving test. But that wasn’t the point. Knowing his reluctance had nothing to do with my ability, I decided to lighten the mood. “Don’t you trust my driving?” I quipped over the noise of the engine. “Or, does being a passenger with a female driver affect your tough, manly facade?”

Ty stepped forward to swing his leg over the back of the bike. “I’m tough whether you take the reins or not. I’m just not used to handing them over. But for you? I’ll make an exception.”

I smiled and pulled my biker glasses from the front pocket of my jacket, perching them on my nose. “Ready?”

Ty placed his hands on my hips in answer. I let the clutch out and pulled back on the throttle. The bike’s wheels spun, screeching over concrete and out into the night. Troy pulled in behind us as we sped through the front gates, keeping one pace behind. The thin icy wind whipped across my face as we sped past the beach and adjacent mansions. It was exhilarating to move at this speed, as fast I could run. Still, it was distinctly different. Yes, I loved the feel of my tight muscles lengthening and retracting when I sprinted to any destination. But the feel of controlling this powerful machine beneath me—the grunt of the exhaust and maneuvering ability—was entirely foreign and thrilling.

As we cornered a sharp bend around the scenic park, I eased up on the throttle, veering off the unlit road and into a small parking lot. We ditched the bikes, concealing them behind a cluster of thick bushes, and continued on foot. The idea was to spy and find out what we could, not draw attention with the loud rumbling of our bikes.

We trekked through the thick trees before emerging on the other side of a large green field. Keeping to the bordering shadows, we crept closer. The council building appeared over the rolling hill.

When we reached the spiked fence surrounding the council grounds, Ty caught my arm. “Wait.” He pointed to the square, brick columns that joined each spiked panel. “They’re warded.”

On each column was a symbol carved into the brick. It was an almost full moon that had been split in half on an angle. “What does it mean?” I whispered.

“It’s alchemy,” Troy said, glaring. “Any entering wolves will set off an alarm.”

You’re not going in alone.
Kendrick’s voice lifted in my mind at the same time Ty said the words out loud.

“Besides, me being part vampire means I won’t trip their alarm. It’s doesn’t react to hybrids.” Ty nodded at Troy. “As for him, he’ll need your blood. It’ll temporarily mask the properties of his own blood.”

“Like that’s going to happen,” Troy spat. Fire scorched his neck and face and his irises rippled gold. “Assisting your leech is bad enough. But taking her poison blood? No way.”

“My blood?” I shivered, feeling cold. Kendrick’s voice in my mind strung out curses and argument, and I agreed with them all. Neither of us trusted Troy. On top of that, the last time an enemy had drunk my blood they’d tried to kill me. I cringed, remembering all the times Caius had drawn back my hair and bitten into me. Then I shook it off, getting back to the issue. Troy hated all vampires. If his canines even poked out a little, his bite could kill me. “Ty, I don’t think…”

Ty skewered Troy with a hard look. The tip of his canines peeked through his parted lips. “You will do as I order. Unless you want me to make Marika my second.”

Troy’s face turned to stone, chin jutting out. A second later his head dipped in the slightest move of agreement.

Ty took my hand, exposing my wrist. “I know you don’t trust Troy. You have every reason not to. But he won’t,” he glared back a Troy, “try anything. If I even see a glint of canines—”

“I’m not fucking stupid,” Troy grated. “If I’m going to challenge you as alpha, it won’t be outside a house of vampires.”

With that apparently everything was settled. Still, it didn’t ease my trepidation for what was about to happen. I gulped as I ran a quick nail across my wrist. Then I held it out with closed eyes. There was a grunt, and then warm hands took hold of my arm. A hot, open mouth pressed against my flesh and I flinched, feeling long pulls as Troy drank my blood. In less than a minute it was over. I stepped away feeling dirty all over. Ty tried to catch my hand, but I sidestepped to the fence. “Let’s go.”

We all cleared the barrier and shot to the building’s outer edge. Surrounding its base was a six-foot wide gravel path. Peering up I trekked over the stones, managing not to make a sound with my Vans. The pitched cathedral windows on the second floor were so high above the ground from where we stood.