Chapter 9
9
KILLIAN
I paced back and forth in our bedroom, my mind churning with the implications of what Esme had told us. Lizzy sat on the edge of the bed, watching me with concern in her beautiful eyes.
"I don't know what to do, acushla ," I confessed, running a hand through my hair. "This isn't our fight. We're vampires, not witches. We don't have the magic to go up against a djinn. And it isn't us he wants."
"But if Marcus is really back, we can't just ignore it," Lizzy said softly. "He's a threat to everyone, not just my aunt and cousins. He's a threat to me , Killian."
I sighed heavily, knowing she was right. "Judy and her witch’s coven are more than capable of handling this on their own. They've dealt with Marcus before. We should just send Esme to her."
"I don’t know what Esme’s family did to get his attention, but how would he even know she was here? Of all the places in the world she could’ve gone?” She shook her head, staring out the window with her brow furrowed in thought. “No. He's here for Alice and Alex,” she mused as her eyes followed me. “To try to force them to join him somehow.”
I nodded. "Aye. And he can fucking have them for all I care.” That would be two less witches I had to worry about.
"Alex is Kenya's mate, Killian. What's to stop the djinn from using her again to get to him?"
I stopped pacing and stared down at Lizzy, noting the worry etched on her perfect face. With a sigh, I sat down beside her on the bed and took her hand in mine.
My Lizzy was right. The thought of Kenya being used as a pawn in Marcus's twisted games again made my stomach churn. We'd almost lost her the last time, and I was confident we would have, if it wasn't for Alex.
"Kenya's stronger now," I said, trying to convince myself as much as Lizzy. "She can handle herself."
Lizzy gave me a knowing look. "Not if she loses her mate. Killian…you'll lose her. And what if you lost me? What would happen to you?"
“That will never happen.” It would destroy me. Besides the fact my heart would shatter into so many pieces I would want to end this unnatural life of mine the second she was gone, I quite literally couldn't live without her blood now that our bond was complete. And it would be the same for Kenya if something happened to Alex.
I sighed, scrubbing my hands over my face.
"We need to help her protect Alex."
I grimaced at the mention of the warlock's name. The darkness within that one set my teeth on edge. But Kenya loved him, and he was her mate. For her sake, I had to set aside my reservations.
"Fine. If it comes to that, then yes," I said grudgingly. "But let's hope it doesn't."
"Why else would he be here?"
"Maybe he is after that one." I threw my arm toward the kitchen, where Brogan and Esme were talking.
Lizzy stood up from the bed and walked into my arms. I wrapped them around her, breathing in her sweet scent, running my hands over her back and ass. Every cell in my body came alive, eager as always to drown in my mate and forget the rest of this shite.
"And what are we going to do about Esme?" Lizzy asked finally, breaking the stillness and bringing us back around to where this conversation started.
I considered the question. The girl was an enigma, showing up out of nowhere with a story that seemed too convenient to be true. But, perhaps, she was telling the truth. She'd offered to let me into her head. Maybe I should take her up on that offer.
However, if I found she was lying, there would be no place on this earth she could hide from me. I would do whatever was necessary to protect my family, and I didn't give a shite who got hurt in the process.
As though she could read my mind, Lizzy said, "Something has happened between her and Brogan. You'll have to be careful."
"I noticed."
Aye. I'd seen the way Brogan looked at that female, like a male dying of thirst. It was obvious there was an attraction there. He watched her like a hawk, his gaze following her every move. And when she spoke, he hung on her every word like it was gospel.
And, he'd nearly challenged me when I'd questioned her.
I didn't trust it. And I didn't trust her . If Esme proved to be a threat, I wouldn't hesitate to eliminate her, no matter how Brogan felt about her. Fucked up as it may be, my family's safety came first, always. And he would find another woman to lust after eventually.
Lizzy snuggled closer to me, drawing my attention back to her. I tightened my arms around her and pressed a kiss to the top of her head.
"We'll figure it out," she murmured, her breath warm against my neck. "And in the meantime, she'll be working for me at my shop, and I'll be able to get to know her better."
I pulled back. "No. Absolutely not."
She stiffened in my arms. "No?"
Shite. I probably should've gone about that a different way. "We don't know this woman, acushla . That sob story she gave us could be just that. A story."
"I can take care of myself, Killian. I'm a witch, too. In case you've forgotten."
I hadn't forgotten. But she was a witch who was newly into her powers and lacking control.
Again, she seemed to read my mind. "She's just a human. I can handle her."
And yet, my instincts told me there was something much more to that woman than she was telling us. "I don't trust her, Lizzy."
She took a step back so she could look up at me. "But…you said you believed her."
"I know what I said. But that doesn't mean I trust her around the woman who is the most precious thing in this world to me." Taking her face between my palms, I told her what was in my heart. "I can't lose you, acushla ."
She gave me a sad smile. "I know."
But she didn't. She had no fucking idea of the intensity of my feelings for her. It was all I could do not to be buried inside of her every second of every day, both my fangs and my cock. And the only reason I could control myself at all was because I couldn't live without seeing the way she looked at me, the smiles she gave me, hearing her laugh, and listening to how her mind worked.
I didn't deserve her and her kind heart.
However, Lizzy was MINE. The devil himself wouldn't be able to take her from me. And I was not about to let her endanger herself over some silly human and her tales of woe.
"Did anything about Esme tell you she was a threat to me?"
I stared at her long and hard, then I shook my head. "No, but that doesn't mean?—"
"It means she won't hurt me, my love. You're worrying over nothing."
I wasn't so sure about that.
"Besides," she gazed at the old black dog who'd followed us in here with her full heart in her eyes, "Wiggles will protect me."
As if he knew we were talking about him, his mouth opened in a doggy smile, his tongue hanging out one side as his cloudy eyes looked back at his human with all the love in his little heart.
"Aye," I admitted. "I have no doubt about it."