1
Amber flickers of sunrise gave a slow awakening. I did not answer the call immediately, however, as I was wanting to bask for a few more stolen moments in the nest beneath the feathered comforter, the warmth of Nicholas’s body sheltering my own. I sighed. The day would arrive, as surely as it would end. I could not ignore the inevitability of it for much longer. I shifted onto my side and stuck a toe out from under the covers, letting out a little groan when the cool air hit my skin.
Nicholas stirred, and he did not seem content with my decision to abandon him. As I lifted the edge of the covers with the intention of sitting up, he was swift, his warm hand grasping my hip. He pulled me snugly against him, wrapping one leg over mine. I let him have his way, enjoying the way he objected to my departure, and not at all unsurprised to feel that he was unabashedly, urgently, awake.
“Where do you think you’re going?” he asked. His tone was playful, but his hands—and the rest of him—were quite serious.
I rolled my eyes and squirmed a bit at his roaming touch, letting out a giggle when his lips found my neck. My back arched in reflex, yet he reeled me in, his flattened palm against my belly pulling me gently back into the curve of his body.
“You know we have things to do,” I murmured.
He let out a low chuckle. “Are you sure I can’t change your mind?” I closed my eyes and squirmed away from him with a smile, sitting up next to him on the bed.
“I’m sure you can, that’s why I’m getting up,” I laughed. A boyish pout twisted his full lower lip, and I wanted nothing more than to dive under the warm covers with him, but I resisted his playful attempts to pull me back in bed. I bent and dropped a kiss on his eager mouth with a smile, then gave him a gentle shove. I grabbed my robe from a chair by the bedside and tugged it on, casting him a bit of side-eye when I knotted the belt.
Nicholas shifted onto his back and watched me as I rifled through the closet looking for something suitable to wear. Although I tried to look busy, I couldn’t help but steal a glance at him. He was bare-chested and sprawled out on the bed, the comforter haphazardly covering his waist. His hands rested behind his head, the lines of his torso lean and sculpted, and I bit down on my lip and shook my head. We had reached a certain level of intimacy in the time since we returned from the seventeenth century, but by all that was holy, the man still made my heart race like a jackrabbit.
I chose a soft blue fitted sweater and pair of faded mid-rise jeans. It was a suitable enough ensemble for my planned trip to the city, and I grabbed a long crimson-colored duster coat to chase away the inevitable winter chill. Most of my wardrobe from my Philadelphia townhouse had been transferred to my suites in the east wing of my father’s estate, but I still had loose ends to tie up in Old City before I was ready to abandon the independent life I once lived. The moment Nicholas sauntered into my life, the trajectory of my future became irrevocably tangled with his. No, I would not change it, yet the adjustment was fluid, ever developing, and each day with him at my side made me hungry for more.
A shrill ring erupted from the intercom phone on the bedside table. Nicholas kept his eyes on me as he grabbed the receiver, but the humor in his gaze dimmed.
“Yeah, that’s fine with me. I’ll be down shortly,” he said.
“Julius?” I asked. It was an easy guess. Julius made a habit of rising with the dawn to attend to his work, and there was one particular project that my uncle had given all his attention to.
“Yeah. He wants to put Alec through a scan today, so I need to be there,” Nicholas replied.
Of course. Nicholas’s brother, Alec, was buried after his death in 1676. Unbeknownst at the time, Alec had been given a powerful elixir which would allow him to return to life after his death, making him immortal. Although we managed to retrieve him from the grave and bring him to the safety of the future, the boy remained in a state of unconsciousness since our return. Physiologically, there was nothing wrong with him—or rather, nothing that modern medicine could decipher. As an immortal Blooded One who spent weeks in a grave, however, the possibilities were endless.
“Maybe he’ll wake up today,” I said, more to myself than to Nicholas. He sat up then, his smile fading somewhat, and I regretted voicing aloud the reality of the elephant in the room.
He ran a hand over his face, squeezing his temple, and then bent over to grab his jeans, which he had discarded hastily by my bedside the night before. He joined me as he zipped and buckled up.
“Yeah, maybe Alec will decide this is the day to get up and join us,” he agreed. I felt his hand on my waist, and the long, slow sigh that released from him. I turned to him, swallowing to clear my throat before I spoke, as I could see the pain in his eyes. It had been there for weeks, lingering, tied to the immortal boy who lay in a peaceful slumber in the medical bay. We had traveled through time and risked everything to save his brother, bringing the boy to the present day to give him a safe future, yet with each day that passed, I wondered if something had gone terribly wrong.
Alec remained unresponsive. And Nicholas, I feared, was growing restless. He had broken all the laws of our kind a hundred times over, traveled through the centuries, hell, he’d even managed to turn himself into an immortal all in his quest to save Alec’s life. I had no idea what was going through his mind, or what he might do to ensure that Alec woke up, and the truth was that I knew he was capable of anything.
I kissed him softly on the lips. It brought a smile to his face, and for that, I was grateful. His hand drifted down, parting my robe at the side of my belly where my healed wound was scarred over, his fingers brushing lightly over it, and a question in his gaze.
“Does it still pain you?” he asked. I shook my head.
“No, it’s fine,” I replied. Neither of us enjoyed speaking about how I had been shot with a crossbow in the past. Luckily, the arrow went cleanly through the tissue of the most lateral edge of my abdomen, missing vital organs. The recovery, although difficult, was not impossible, and I’d come through it faster than even Julius predicted I would. Nicholas, however, still worried.
“You’re due for blood work this week, aren’t you?” he asked. A reflexive wave tightened my mouth, and I knew he felt my back straighten.
“I’m fine, Nicholas. Really. It’s not necessary,” I said.
“You were run through by a crossbow bolt. It’s not unreasonable to have a check-up,” he replied firmly.
“You know it’s more than that. I cannot keep doing it. Living from scan to scan, from one blood test to the next, it’s too much. We’ve changed things, I know it. There’s no need to keep looking for a problem that doesn’t exist. I just want to live, Nicholas. That’s all,” I said softly.
He pulled me close, avoiding the argument. I was fine with that, as I knew we would not come to an agreement on the matter. I was convinced we had changed my timeline, and that I was no longer destined to die before my twenty-ninth birthday. Nicholas, however, was still cautious, and he wanted me to continue working with Julius and Dr. Howard to monitor my health for any clues to an early demise.
I kissed his neck, nipping him with my teeth and eliciting a grunt from him. He took my face in his hands and kissed me soundly, and then let go. The hint of a grin returned to his face, and I relaxed as well, ready to leave the tension behind.
“Have it your way, then,” he said. I nodded.
“I’ll join you later. Just call me if you need me,” I replied. The unsaid lingered, as we both knew what I meant. It’s been weeks, and he’s shown no sign of coming back to us but call me if he wakes up and you need me.
“I will,” he answered.
I turned back to the business of dressing for the day and heard the door close softly behind him when he left the room.
Entering the dining room, I was greeted by a spectacle of holiday elegance. The large dining table, crafted from dark, polished wood, had been dressed in a rich, crimson tablecloth, the color of the season. At its center stood a magnificent centerpiece: a tall crystal vase filled with an arrangement of poinsettias, their vibrant red petals a stark contrast against the snowy white of baby”s breath and the lush greenery that framed them. Silver candlesticks added a touch of magic, and porcelain angels and wooden nutcrackers stood guard between the settings.
Leonard was in the dining room setting the table for breakfast when I walked through. His perfectly pressed suit was in meticulous order, his grey-streaked hair slicked neatly back as he made pointed effort to assemble the cutlery in his compulsively neat manner. It occurred to me that he was one of the only ones in my early life who changed with time, something I failed to consider in all the years I spent growing up in a mansion full of immortals. Why had I never noticed that the lines around his smile deepened with the years, or that each year the silver in his hair grew in numbers? Although Leonard aged, his demeanor remained the same, and he continued on serving my father and the other Keepers in the most loyal of ways. Of late, the observation of it all struck me at odd times. I wasn’t sure why seeing the kindly old butler made me feel so melancholy, but it was there, nonetheless.
“Shall I have an omelet made for you, Miss Sophia?”
I smiled, shaking my head. “I’m going to run out for a bit, I’ll grab something while I’m gone. Will you let Nicholas know I’m headed over to the townhouse? I won’t be long.”
Leonard’s brows raised, betraying his immediate objection to the idea.
“Why don’t I call him and have him accompany you?”
“No, that’s not necessary. If he’s not here when Alec wakes, he’ll never forgive himself,” I reasoned. Nicholas would insist on going with me, and I did not want to put him in a position where he might not be there for his brother. Despite the recent upheaval in my life, I was still an adult, and I could manage my own affairs. With the move to my father’s estate becoming a long-term reality, I needed to grab the last of my belongings and my spare keys before I closed the place up. I was perfectly capable of making the trip alone.
“Miss Sophia—” Leonard implored.
“I’m serious, Leonard. I’ll probably be back before I’m even missed,” I insisted, my tone final. I pulled my car keys from my pocket and gave him what I hoped was a comforting smile before I left, double clicking the fob to remote-start my vehicle in the front courtyard.
I continued through the halls, my footsteps silent on the plush carpet that led to the parlor. Here, the essence of the holiday season was captured in its full glory, a display of utter extravagance that my family insisted on indulging in. A towering Christmas tree, reaching towards the high ceiling, dominated the corner of the room. Its branches were laden with decorations collected over generations: hand-blown glass ornaments, intricately painted with scenes of winter wonderlands; delicate angels with gossamer wings; and vintage tin soldiers standing at attention. Twinkling fairy lights wove through the boughs, casting a soft light that reflected off the tinsel and garlands draped elegantly around the tree.
Beneath the tree, a collection of wrapped gifts formed a colorful mosaic, their ribbons and bows shimmering under the tree’s lights. The fireplace, its mantle draped with evergreen garlands and stockings waiting to be filled, crackled merrily, the scent of burning wood mingling with the subtle fragrance of pine from the tree.
I had to admit, I’d loved the holiday season during my childhood. It seemed so magical back then, when it was simply a time to host visitors from the other Blooded families and do normal things like bake cookies and hang twinkle lights. We stayed up late on Christmas Eve, sitting by the massive fireplace, watching the flames flicker while we drank hot chocolate and watched A Christmas Story. When I awoke in the morning, Santa Claus always left a stocking full of treats on my bed, and the wonder of it all still felt warm and heavy in my chest.
Nicholas and I had spoken very little about it, other than for him to admit he never gave or received any gifts or shared holiday meals with anyone since he’d been a boy. I was determined to rectify that, however, which was one of the reasons I was adamant to travel into the city alone. Tomorrow, on Christmas, Nicholas would receive a gift from me, and we would start some traditions of our own.
I walked through the parlor and went out to the grand hall to the main entrance. My car was pleasantly cozy when I sat down in the driver’s seat. I left the mansion compound, headed for Philadelphia.
It was not an unusual occurrence to find that someone parked a car illegally in front of my garage entrance, and today, Christmas Eve, was no different. The narrow streets surrounding my townhome were packed with visitors, bumper to bumper and jammed in tighter than canned sardines. After circling the block twice, I spotted a space open near the corner of Elfreth’s Alley, so I quickly claimed it. I winced when I tapped the bumper of the car behind me as I parallel parked but didn’t sweat it too much. Hell, scratched bumpers were a fact of life in Philly, and no one who parked on the street was immune.
Elfreth”s Alley was transformed into a picturesque scene straight out of a Christmas card. I navigated the narrow historic street, keeping to the cobblestone path and weaving around the red concrete bollards to avoid the tourists. I shoved my hands into the pockets of my wool peacoat and smiled in apology when I inadvertently walked in front of a woman taking a photo of a particularly beautiful door wreath. She mumbled something under her breath and sighed heavily, waiting for me to pass.
The air was crisp and filled with the scent of winter. Windows glistened with the soft glow of candlelight, casting a warm, inviting light onto the cobblestones below. Wreaths of fresh evergreens, decorated with red ribbons and clusters of holly berries decorated the aged doors, adding a vibrant splash of color against the rich history of the brick facades.
I managed to clear the alley and turned the corner, relieved at the sight of my doorway down the block. I laughed out loud when I reached my home. The car that had blocked my driveway was now gone.
“Of course it is,” I laughed. I shook my head, smiling, and unlocked the door. Once inside, I hit the wall switch to turn on the lights. A wave of familiarity washed over me, not quite déjà vu, but nearly the same, that tantalizing surge of warmth of memories of happy times.
The remnants of my life lived in the house. It was the first purchase I made on my own, completely funded by the sweat and tears of my own hard work. I’d painted the walls, stained and restored the old crown molding, refinished the plank wood floors. Day after day, week after week, I’d labored alone, learning how to be a homeowner, the architect of my own life outside the realm of the Blooded Ones. Now, as I stood there, taking it all in, I could not stem the sense of melancholy that took hold.
Behind me, the door squeaked on its hinges and the floorboards creaked.
“It’s only temporary. You’ll be back here again.”
I swung around to find Nicholas standing in the doorway. Although I appreciated the sentiment, I was not thrilled that he’d followed me.
“It feels like I lived here a lifetime ago,” I answered.
He approached, slow and careful, as if he meant to measure my thoughts. I lowered my gaze, watching as he took my hands in his own, and our fingers gently entwined.
“If this is where you want to be, we will find a way to return. I promise, Sophia,” he said. His thumb caressed my hand, sending a ripple over my flesh. I managed the hint of a smile at that notion. As tempting as it would be to return to my own home, I knew that wasn’t an option, nor would it be for a very long time. Too much had changed. We needed the protection of my family. Nicholas had broken every law of our kind, and the Council of Keepers wanted his head on a platter. And not only had I taken a leave of absence from my position at the museum, I had new responsibilities to adjust to after my uncles agreed to appoint me as a fellow Keeper for our clan. Complicated did not begin to cover the situation.
“Anyway, what are you doing here?” I demanded.
“Bash was concerned. He checked the drive cameras on your car as soon as you left the property and he realized you didn’t take anyone with you,” Nicholas replied. His eyes scanned the room beyond where I stood, his unease apparent. “Did you notice anything suspicious?”
I shook my head. “No. Nothing unusual.”
“Why didn’t you park in the driveway?”
“It was blocked. Someone parked in front of it,” I replied.
“A black sedan?” he asked, his tone short. He moved, placing a hand on my arm. My heart skipped a beat at the sudden tightness in his face, and the flash of concern in his eyes made me regret my decision to travel into the city alone.
“Yes, it was—how did you know that?” I replied.
“The cameras on your car. There was a black sedan that looked like it was following you, but it split off once you hit the freeway. I don’t think it’s a coincidence.”
A visceral pull at the pit of my stomach made me swallow hard. I remembered the car: shiny, black, expensive looking. Was it one of them? “Nicholas, I’m sorry, I should have told you I was leaving—”
“Let’s go,” he curtly replied.
“My car’s around the corner,” I tried to explain.
“There’s no time. It’s the Keepers. We cannot defend ourselves here. We need to leave now.”
I did not argue this time. I grabbed my spare set of house keys from a hook next to the door before I let him usher me outside, his grip on my hand firm as we descended the stairs. Bash, standing at the curb, opened the rear door of the waiting SUV, and I was further chagrined to see my father behind the wheel. His raised brows conveyed his displeasure with my decision-making process, and in that moment, I could not blame him.
I bent to step into the vehicle when Nicholas suddenly pulled his hand away. Three parked cars distance away, standing in the middle of the sidewalk, were two men, staring at us. I knew who they were—and so did Nicholas. When they attacked in the past, they were dressed entirely in black stealth gear, yet this time they made no effort to conceal their identities. A passerby might think nothing of them, two men garbed in typical sharp business attire, but the very way they looked at us sent shivers down my spine. Bash left the curb, an almost casual gesture, nodded to Nicholas, and leveled his gaze on the men. Nicholas lowered his chin slightly, his eyes briefly flickering to mine. Surely, they would not engage in broad daylight—at least I prayed they wouldn’t. The only way to kill an immortal was to sever the head, and I could not wrap my mind around the thought of engaging in a sword fight on a modern-day Philadelphia street.
“Get in the car,” Nicholas said to me.
My father opened the driver’s side door and stepped out. He was unnaturally youthful, an immortal in prime physiological fitness, buttoning the jacket of his suit as if it were another day at the office. “They’re not alone,” father said, tilting his head briefly in the opposite direction.
Two other men stood in the middle of the cobblestone walk on the other side of us. They did not approach, instead remaining motionless, and when a slick black Audi sedan pulled up to block my driveway once more, my legs were suddenly rooted in place. Flashes of the past surged up, swallowing me in a rising tide of panic, and my hand instinctively fell to my side, pressing on the spot where a crossbow bolt once pierced my flesh. It was healed, yet the memory of it lingered. Nicholas, my father, Bash, they could survive wounds, they were immortal. I was not—and my mortal body was painfully fragile in comparison to theirs.
“Tell me you have weapons,” I muttered.
“Tell me you’re getting in the car like I told you to,” Nicholas shot back. I ignored the jibe, not convinced that I was any safer sitting inside the vehicle alone.
“Weapons won’t be necessary this time. I’ll handle this. Stay here—all of you,” father interrupted. A tall figure stepped out of the Audi.
As I stood there, my gaze fixated on the figure approaching us, a shiver ran down my spine. He was a man of undeniable presence, his form exuding an aura of power and confidence that seemed to command the very air around him. Dressed in an impeccably tailored suit, the fabric clinging to his muscular frame like a second skin, he moved with the fluid grace of a predator stalking its prey.
His long trench coat billowed behind him, a cloak of shadows that only served to accentuate his dangerously chiseled features. Tall and imposing, he towered over those around him, his stature reminiscent of an athlete at the peak of his prowess. Dark hair, styled with meticulous precision, framed a face that was carved and angular, every line and contour speaking of a man accustomed to getting what he desired.
But it was his eyes that sent a chill down my spine – deep blue pools of darkness, devoid of warmth. They gleamed with a predatory light, a glimpse into the calculating mind that lurked behind his handsome fa?ade. I knew him for what he truly was – a manipulative, dangerous man whose charm masked a heart as cold as ice.
He did not acknowledge his men who surrounded us, nor did he give any inclination of his intent. His movements were purposeful and precise, his very demeanor betraying the underlying authority of his station. Father walked toward him, meeting him halfway where the two men were just out of our earshot. They looked like two lawyers making a deal, both powerful and confident, a pair of titans prepared to engage.
Stunned, I took a deep breath. It had been a long time since I’d seen him, but I was certain he was no less dangerous—and no less of a snake.
Bash let out a low whistle. “Christ almighty, you’ve really pissed off the wrong people, Nick.”
Nicholas scowled. “Who the hell is that?”
“It’s Elias Laxon,” I replied. I could give him no other explanation, despite the question in his eyes.
“Only the Primary Keeper of the entire Northwest clan. He’s even in tight with Rome. I hear he has dirt on pretty much everyone at the top of the food chain,” Bash prattled on.
I rolled my eyes in warning at him, desperately wishing to drop the background narrative. I would need to explain to Nicholas exactly who Elias was to me, and that was a conversation we needed to have far away from Bash’s ears.
“Immortal?” Nicholas asked.
“Yeah, he’s a relic, as old as Julius. He hasn’t been around since Sophia shut him down. I guess we’re all back on his radar now.”
“Shut up, Bash,” I hissed.
Nicholas settled his eyes briefly on mine. The question was blaringly obvious, one of his brows raised pointedly at me. “Shut him down, did you?” he asked.
My lips thinned before I responded.
“Yeah, I supposed I did,” I admitted. It was all that I was willing to divulge at that time, and frankly, I was relieved the conversation would be delayed. Elias and my father were walking toward us, so it was a topic that would be tabled for the moment.
I hoped my father would send him on his way, yet there was no such luck in store for us. What started out appearing to be another ambush had quickly deteriorated into something much more calculated and dangerous.
As Elias drew closer, a smirk tugged at the corners of his lips, a silent challenge that felt like daggers pricking my skin. I squared my shoulders, steeling myself against his gaze, staring coldly back at him.
I knew the truth that lay beneath his suave exterior – beneath the tailored suits and polished fa?ade, he was a wolf in sheep”s clothing, a predator lurking in the shadows. And as he approached with that dangerous smile, I braced myself for the storm that was sure to follow.
Father held up a hand in warning as they approached. Bash grunted something low under his breath, and Nicholas moved slightly forward, as if he meant to shield me from them all.
“Nicholas, this is Elias Laxon, Primary Keeper of the Northwestern clan,” father explained.
“So we finally meet, Mr. Neilsson. You’re a difficult man to get in touch with,” Elias said. He pointedly did not extend his hand in greeting, nor did Nicholas appear to care. Nicholas stood beside me, his tension palpable, radiating in waves that seemed to clash against the charged atmosphere. His normally composed demeanor cracked, giving way to a simmering intensity that mirrored the fire burning within me. His gaze, usually warm and inviting, now bore into Elias with a steely glare, a silent warning etched into the depths of his eyes.
“You knew enough about me to track Sophia. Why now, and what do you want?” Nicholas replied.
I silently cursed Bash for making a bad situation worse. I could feel the suspicion radiating from Nicholas, a potent blend of mistrust and apprehension that threatened to ignite the air between us all. His jaw clenched, the muscles tensing beneath his skin. I knew he saw through the polished exterior, the carefully crafted facade that Elias wore like armor. He recognized the danger lurking beneath the surface.
“I came here to fulfill the bounty on your head. That is no longer necessary, so I will be on my way. I just thought it proper that I meet the man who has caused so much dissention within the ranks of our Keepers,” Elias said smoothly.
“What do you mean by that?” I interrupted, unable to hold back.
“Connor and I have come to terms, and I will honor them. You should be aware, however, that I am not the only Keeper with an interest in this bounty. You can consider us allies. There will be no attacks from my clan.”
“What exactly are you up to, Elias?” I demanded, punctuating each syllable as I stared at him. Elias did nothing unless it benefitted him, it made no sense for him to back down.
Father reached out to me, but I shrugged away his hand. “We’ve made an arrangement, that’s what he means. This matter is closed between us,” Father interjected.
“It’s good to see you, Sophia,” Elias said, his eyes now locked on mine. I felt a rush of angry warmth wash over my cheeks, and Nicholas did not miss the way Elias stared at me.
”Leave her out of this, Elias,” Nicholas growled, his tone low and dangerous, barely contained beneath the surface. Nicholas”s voice sliced through the tense air like a knife, his words sharp and laced with an undercurrent of fury. His hands clenched into fists at his sides, the muscles in his jaw twitching with the effort to rein in his rage.
As Elias met his gaze, his smirk widening into a knowing grin, Nicholas”s glare intensified. I could see the battle raging within him, the desire to protect me warring with the instinct to confront the danger head-on.
The tension between them crackled in the air like lightning on the horizon. I could sense the power struggle unfolding, the silent battle of wills that threatened to erupt into open conflict. We were outnumbered, and we had no weapons. I reached out, placing a hand on his arm in a silent gesture of solidarity, willing him to find the strength to remain in control.
Elias, for his part, seemed unfazed by Nicholas”s warning, his smirk widening into a mocking grin. ”Ah, but where”s the fun in that, Mr. Neilsson?” he replied, his tone dripping with arrogance. ”If I know anything about Sophia, I know she’s a woman who is more than capable of taking care of herself.”
As Elias”s taunts echoed in the silence that followed, Nicholas took a deep breath, his rage simmering beneath the surface. ”I don’t care what arrangement you made with Connor,” he warned, his voice a low, menacing growl. ”Stay away from Sophia, or I’ll be coming for you.”
Elias”s chuckle cut through the tension like a knife, a mocking echo that seemed to linger in the air long after he had turned to leave. His laughter, tinged with arrogance and disdain, was an echo of the power he wielded and the danger he posed. With a casual flick of his hand, he dismissed Nicholas”s threat as if it were nothing more than a mere inconvenience.
Turning on his heel, Elias strode purposefully back towards his waiting black car. The sleek vehicle gleamed in the afternoon sun. His men, loyal soldiers in his twisted game, followed suit, their shadows melting into the dimness of the alley as they dispersed.
I watched in silence as Elias disappeared into the confines of his car, a sense of unease settling in the pit of my stomach. Despite Nicholas”s warning, I knew that Elias would not be so easily deterred – that he would continue to pursue his own twisted agenda, regardless of the consequences. And though I dreaded the thought of facing him again, I knew that our paths would inevitably cross once more.
As the sound of Elias”s car faded into the distance, leaving only the quiet hum of the city streets in its wake, I turned to face Nicholas, my heart heavy. His jaw was clenched, his expression a mask as he watched Elias”s departure with narrowed eyes. Beside him, Connor and Bash stood silent.
“Dad, what did you do?” I asked, turning to confront my father. He uttered a long, slow sigh.
“I made an alliance. With his support, the others will think twice about coming for us. I had no choice,” father said.
“You gave him a coin?” I whispered, not truly wanting to hear the truth. I prayed I was wrong, that my father had not given our worst enemy a way to insinuate himself into our lives. A coin given between immortals was a symbol of honor; when given, it represented an oath, a promise. Yet once the recipient held a coin, he had the option to request a vow in return from the giver, and it could not be refused. To give a coin to one’s enemy was a dangerous game.
“It was the only way to stop him,” father admitted. He raked a hand through his hair, an uncharacteristic gesture. “We need to live to fight another day, Sophia. And we cannot let them find out about Alec. Come on, let’s go home.”
I swallowed hard and nodded, taking my car keys from my pocket.
“We’ll meet you back at the house,” Nicholas told them. Nicholas gently took the keys from me, and I did not object.
As we walked away, I heard Bash mutter, “Damn, Connor, a coin? Sleeping with the enemy much?”
I would have laughed if it wasn’t the ugly truth.
The city lights blurred into streaks of color as we sped away from the hustle and bustle, leaving behind the chaos of city life in our wake. The familiar hum of the engine provided a rhythmic backdrop to the silence that stretched between us, each passing moment heavy with unspoken tension.
I stole a glance at Nicholas from the corner of my eye, his profile illuminated by the soft glow of the dashboard lights. His jaw was set in a stubborn line, his hands gripping the steering wheel with a white-knuckled intensity. Despite the mask of composure he wore, I could sense the turmoil simmering beneath the surface, the reality of our recent encounter with Elias weighing heavy on his mind.
For my part, I was lost in a whirlwind of conflicting emotions, grappling with the aftermath of our confrontation and the unsettling truths it had unearthed. Elias”s presence had dredged up memories I had long tried to bury, reopening wounds that I had fought so hard to heal. And though I had faced him with confidence, the echoes of our past still haunted me, lingering like ghosts in the shadows.
As we drove in silence, the city gradually gave way to open roads and rolling countryside, the landscape unfolding before us like a vast tapestry. And yet, despite the tranquil beauty of our surroundings, the tension inside the car remained palpable, pressing down on us both.
It was Nicholas who finally broke the silence, his voice cutting through the quiet. ”What happened between you and Elias, Sophia?” he asked, his tone gentle yet probing.
I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal, of how deeply to delve into the tangled web of our shared history. But I could see the concern etched into Nicholas”s features, the genuine curiosity mingled with a hint of apprehension. And so, with a sigh, I began to recount the events that had led us to this point, the memories resurfacing unearthed from the depths of my mind.
”It was during college,” I started, my voice barely above a whisper. ”Elias and I... we were close once. But he was not the man I thought he was.”
Nicholas listened in silence as I spoke.
“He was charming, and he knew exactly how to pit me against my family. It was nothing more than a game to him, and I was young and stupid. I regret that I allowed him to get into my head. He asked me to marry him, but he wanted me to be like him, an immortal. When I refused the elixir, he became enraged that I would disobey him—he demanded I take it, insisting it was the only way we could be together. I broke it off with him. That’s it.”
When I finally fell silent, the car enveloped in the cocoon of my shared confession, Nicholas reached out, his hand finding mine in the darkness.
“He sounds like a real prick,” he said.
I snorted a hint of a laugh and nodded. “Yeah, he is.”
The edge of his mouth curled into a grin, and he let out a slow breath of air, as if releasing the tension from deep in his chest.
”I know you had a life before we met, Sophia,” Nicholas said softly, his voice a soothing balm to the ache in my heart. ”I want to know what made you who you are. All of it, every moment, the good and the bad.” He raised our joined hands to his lips, placing a gentle kiss on my knuckles.
I leaned into his touch. The strain eased from my bones, and the events of the day seemed somehow smaller.
“I’m afraid of what he’ll do with father’s coin,” I admitted.
“Connor knows what he’s doing. If it keeps them from finding out about Alec, it’s worth the risk. You gave a coin to Julius not that long ago, it seemed to be a reasonable choice.”
“That’s completely different. Julius and I were angry at each other, but I knew he’d never hurt me. I knew even if he chose to give it back to me, he’d never ask for anything I could not give. That’s the problem. If you give a coin to your enemy, there’s no limit to what they can ask of you in return. Elias will use it against us, it’s just a matter of time.”
His eyes flickered briefly to mine, then back to the road, and he adjusted the grip of his hand on the leather-wrapped steering wheel. His other hand, still entwined with mine, squeezed gently.
“I won’t let anything happen to you. Or to us,” he said.
“I know,” I replied.
The miles slipped away beneath the wheels of the car, the fading sun over the horizon giving way to the first twinkle of moonlight in the sky. And though the road ahead was uncertain, I knew that with Nicholas by my side, I had the strength to face whatever challenges lay ahead. For in his steadfast presence, I found a glimmer of hope amidst the shadows – a beacon of light to guide me through the darkness.