Chapter 28
Caster couldn’t get out of the cabin fast enough when Riley called with information about the witch.
A thorough search revealed a dagger in his study that contained so much of her dark power it needed to be destroyed.
In his haste to get away from Mark and the temptation he aroused, he’d almost forgotten that Riley hadn’t had a chance to protect him.
Kyle’s insistence on staying seemed odd at first, as had the guilt following him to Damien’s house.
He couldn’t go back to his house, not with Mark still there. He’d asked Riley to meet him at Damien’s and thanked the Goddess when he hadn’t thought to ask why.
It was clear Damien had not been expecting him or anyone. The house was quiet except for the unmistakable sound of pleasure coming from the playroom upstairs.
Caster smiled. His cousin was at it again. Certain an interruption would not be welcomed, he went to the massive house’s kitchen, trying but failing to keep from listening in on his cousin’s activities.
That he didn’t register the young human’s presence until they were face-to-face was the first indication he’d lost his mind to Mark.
The young man had the same shade of brown hair that his face had been buried in a few hours ago, but the eyes were all wrong.
These eyes were a pale blue, almost gray, and they stared at him with apprehension growing into fear.
The predator in him relished the stock-still shock holding his prey in place, the rapid heartbeat that permeated his senses, filling him with the need to punish, to feed, to fuck.
His steps ate up the tiny distance to his prey, and the young human dropped the mug he’d been holding, the crash of its shattering impact nothing but an afterthought.
There wasn’t a trace of another vampire’s scent on him, but there would be soon.
Caster’s hand reached for his throat, and he caught his gaze, his compulsion flooding the human’s mind.
It was amazing how the young man thought of his family, of his home.
Perhaps he sensed the end was near. But Caster didn’t want to kill him, just to work off some frustration.
“Don’t move!”
Every muscle in his body stilled, and he sighed, relaxing in Caster’s grip.
“No! I want your fear. I need it.”
His prey gasped, his body trembling as his mind found the right response. Good. Today, he needed the fear. There would be no pleasure for either of them here. He smiled, allowing his fangs to lengthen, and the stench of fear tore past the human’s pores to infect the room.
There was no preamble. He didn’t compel the pain away.
Instead, a conjured image of Mark filled his mind as he sank his fangs into the human’s neck, the sound of tearing flesh mixing in with a horrified, gargled scream.
He drank his fill, the compulsion keeping his prey still even as adrenaline infused every muscle with energy.
The blood was unremarkable, but he didn’t do this for the taste.
The sobs, the pain he felt through the compulsion, provided a salve for his injured heart.
The human went slack in his arms, and he released him, allowing his body to crumble to the floor.
“What the hell, man?” Damien’s voice startled him, and he turned to find his cousin staring daggers at him. “He wasn’t yours.” He walked toward the human. “Is he dead?”
Caster hadn’t considered it. He listened for a pulse, and relief replaced the haze of anger when he found it.
“What the fuck?” Damien didn’t seem angry, concerned maybe? With Damien, it was difficult to tell.
When Caster didn’t reply, too caught up in the high of consuming so much blood so fast, Damien grabbed him by the arm. “Riley and Julian are here. Get your shit together.”
He closed his eyes and took a breath. Mark had reduced him to this. His cousin looked at him with more than concern now. He shrugged out of his hold. “I’m fine.”
“Really…”
He leveled Damien with his best intimidating stare, but his cousin smiled.
Caster nodded at the young man who was still bleeding. “Aren’t you going to do something about that?”
Damien chuckled, but knelt beside the human, using his blood to close the wounds Caster’s fangs had inflicted. “It’s the wolf, isn’t it?”
“I don’t know what you mean.” His denial rang hollow. If there was someone who understood, it was Damien. They’d been through too much together. His cousin’s mocking laugh followed him down the hall as he tracked the sound of Julian’s voice to the study.
“Your Highness?” Ever the soldier, Julian zeroed in on the droplets of blood on his shirt.
“Don’t worry. He just ate.” The humor Damien couldn’t hide was grating.
Julian nodded, accepting the explanation with little hesitation.
“What did you find?” Caster asked, the fresh blood coursing through his veins making it impossible for him to relax long enough to sit. The others didn’t have that problem. Damien sat behind his desk, Julian and Riley on the couch lining the wall.
“Trouble with Bastian and not the usual kind.”
Caster glanced at Damien, bracing himself for what Julian was about to say.
“Bastian and his friends attacked the Prime Alpha’s brother ten years ago,” Julian continued. “They would have killed him too, if James hadn’t been there.”
“The Prime Alpha’s man, James?” The look on Damien’s face was a reflection of the dread replacing the rush of his indulgence a minute ago.
Julian nodded. “From what I gather, another wolf, one who is very important to Mark, died that night under circumstances no one seems to want to talk about.”
“What do you mean?” Caster had to try twice to get the question out. He feared the answer, feared it would match his suspicions about Mark, feared his young cousin was involved in something that would risk them all.
Julian glanced at Damien. “You told me to find out what I could at any cost.” He waited for Damien’s nod.
“Well, I found one of the vampires with Bastian that night, and I convinced him it was in his best interests to tell me everything. His cooperation was not optional.” He held Caster’s gaze, his conviction unwavering, his tone hardening. “This isn’t good, Your Highness.”
“Just tell me.”
“He spoke of stalking two wolves, the Prime Alpha’s brother and another Alpha. I think his name was Zeke. He didn’t know why they followed them, but they were to report to the witch as soon as they had them cornered. Well, that night, they did.”
“You’re saying that Bastian is working with Ethel?” Riley asked.
Julian nodded. “I assure you, I removed every reason for my prisoner to lie.”
“What happened?” Caster needed to know if he would protect his family, protect Mark. He felt Damien’s stare, but he didn’t dare meet his cousin’s eye. Damien knew him too well.
“My source didn’t have many answers as to why the witch wanted the Prime Alpha’s brother, but he was her target.
They cornered the two wolves, and the inevitable fight ensued.
Mark injured one vampire before they could subdue him.
My prisoner says another wolf appeared in wolf-form, and the tide turned.
From his description, the wolf could only be James. ”
“And the other wolf with Mark?” He wasn’t sure why he wanted to know, but Caster had to ask.
“Zeke. He died that day.”
Mark’s pain, his inability to speak of it, made sense in that instant.
“And you are sure Bastian was involved?” Caster understood the pain hiding behind Damien’s casual question. Bastian had always been a problem, but this was beyond his usual nonsense.
Julian nodded, concern coloring his often emotionless demeanor. “I know for sure.” He kept his gaze on Damien. “I’m sorry, boss. I didn’t want it to be, but it’s clear it was all his doing.”
“Which means Lucien is working with the witch,” Riley said. “And the treaty is under threat.”
“We have to tell Dean.” Damien’s voice was low; the anger and hurt at what his brother’s actions would cost them were clear.
“I thought so too,” Julian said, standing. “But allow me to find out how much they know first.” He glanced at his watch. “I am meeting James in a few minutes. I know he, too, was looking for answers.”
Caster nodded. Mark must have suspected a larger play when Bastian showed up at the house.
It was smart of Dean to seek more information before confronting them, but that confrontation was imminent.
He reined in his thoughts of his inexplicable attraction to Mark.
This situation required rational thought, a strategy.
His undefined feelings for the werewolf in question shouldn’t come into play.
A hush descended after Julian left. There was little to say. They should have known the witch had not acted alone. But did Uncle Lucien hate his father enough to destroy everything they’ve built?