Chapter 33
Lock
Sam had hardly stopped glaring at me since she and Seraphim got back from their little outing. Sure, she’d arrived to find me hauling Ryan’s body from the lake, but like I told her, he was only temporarily dead. After drowning, he probably didn’t feel a thing for the four hours he was down there. It was basically just a nap.
They were all gaming on the couch, which wasn’t my ideal Friday night. She was sitting too close to the fire angel for my liking. Because of the bond, I knew there was no sexual attraction happening, but that hardly made it better.
God, was I fucking jealous of this oaf? I just wanted all of her attention, but now I had to share with not only her weak and annoying friend, but also her blood-bound Nexus member. The one that had kissed her, threatened her life, and only just recently decided he didn’t want to kill her.
It was bullshit. Complete and utter bullshit.
At least we were leaving tomorrow. According to Seraphim, Sibon knew where we were and that meant she could send others. He hadn’t been very forthcoming about who the ‘others’ were, but apparently they could be a greater threat than Vas. He was the one she sent to check things out and Seraphim used to be the one that took people down. There were more, though, and with Sam’s flimsy grasp on her magic, we were in danger.
She was afraid to go back to the tower right now and, frankly, I didn’t know if it was a good idea either. I didn’t think she posed a threat to our vamps anymore, but she needed a better place to explore her abilities.
I looked over at the couch, catching her smiling widely. Her laugh was musical and sent that nauseous elephant feeling galloping through my stomach. She shoved Seraphim, who shouted about her cheating, then her face became serious as she refocused on the game.
Slipping out the door, I flew over to Seraphim’s cabin, immediately heading into the basement. I hoped the music they had playing was loud enough to keep them from hearing me.
“Hemlock Giudice,” Vas drawled. He was sitting against a wall, looking bored out of his mind. I would be too.
“I’d say you look well, but you don’t, and I don’t pay compliments to those that I loathe.”
He laughed softly. “I have always been curious about you and I hoped we would meet someday.”
Dropping into a crouch, I dragged the tip of my dagger over the concrete just outside the barrier.
“Why is that?”
“For one, you’re the stuff of legend if the stories are to be believed.”
“They are.”
“Yet, here you are, the weakest among present company, the Novus boy excluded.”
“It’s not ideal,” I admitted. “But I’ve come to learn that not everything is about power.”
“The influence of your mating bond. It’s intriguing to see something that could have such a profound effect. For what, though?”
“I don’t understand the question.”
He leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees. “The purpose of the bond has always been pure speculation. I, as I’m sure you agree, believe it’s about power. One matches the other, so to speak. What, then, makes you worthy of an Ark?”
“I’m the strongest pure vampire this world knows. It makes sense.”
“Maybe. If we’re subscribing to this theory, though, don’t you think Seraphim would be a more comparative mate?”
My lip curled. “No.”
“Tell me why.”
“They have a different bond. Maybe they can’t coexist.”
“That’s interesting and I would agree with you. While there are varying levels of power within a Nexus, its members should all be relatively equal. To have one mated to their Ark would not only upset that balance, but also create a conundrum when it comes to tethering. Power is shared between them, so if they were to bind themselves, would that give the other some of the Ark’s ability to use multiple forms of magic?”
“I don’t know and I don’t particularly care. It hasn’t happened, so why speculate?”
“Is the mating bond something you’re born with or is it established based on the circumstances leading up to the moment it unfolds? If Seraphim had never found Sam four years ago, would the two of you have been meant for each other?”
“I guess we’ll never know.”
“Maybe it’s important.”
Gripping the handle of my dagger tighter, I continued its path along the concrete. “If you’re speaking in riddles, I suggest you quit. You know something and you’re keeping it from me.”
“I don’t know anything. I’m just reasoning there may be something to know.”
“Tell me how we beat this bitch,” I demanded.
He smiled. “Trying would only result in your death. All of you.”
“And you don’t want Seraphim to die, so maybe you should help us.”
“Dying isn’t in my long-term plan either, so perhaps I shouldn’t.”
“Don’t you want to be free, Vas?”
“What use do I have for such a thing?”
“Don’t tell me you’ve been a prisoner for so long, that you’ve lost all desire for anything else.”
Leaning his head back on the wall, he chewed on his lip. “If I had faith that you could win, I might allow myself to consider it. As you currently stand, I do not.”
“So, tell me everything you know. Anything that could help us. Then, I’ll release you and let you choose what you do next.”
“I don’t believe that.”
“I may be a monster, but even we have honor. If I’m giving you my word, I intend to keep it.”
He stared at me for a long moment, various emotions passing over his eyes. Finally, he threw his hands up and huffed.
“This isn’t me taking your side. In all likelihood, I will return and tell her everything.”
“Your choice.”
“First, you need to complete your bond.”
I raised my brows. “What will happen when we do?”
“I have no idea. I’ve never seen true mates among descendants of the Iraivan who actually bear magic.”
“Descendants?”
“Your strength does not come at random. Bloodlines have been weakened over the centuries, but those with a greater connection to their ancestors still exist, albeit in fewer numbers now. There is a chance that if your sire had been stronger, you would have manifested abilities of your own, though it’s pretty unlikely. Furthermore, if Seraphim and Sam had been changed by someone weaker than you, perhaps they would have simply become like you. Regardless of the possibilities, you have been mated to Sam, which isn’t meaningless.”
“Will I be able to do what she does?”
“No, but you will be stronger, as will she.”
“That’s what she’s afraid of.”
“With good reason, but she will be able to handle it, especially with the help of her Nexus. She only has one with her, but he is the strongest of them.”
“How do you know that? You didn’t even know the others existed.”
“The Eternal Flame didn’t earn its name for nothing, Hemlock. Of all our kind, he has the potential for the most destruction. He also carries a vast amount of energy. He can help her. So can you.”
“Go on.”
“Once your bond is complete, you may not be able to wield magic, but your blood has the potential for it. I believe that’s why you two are a match. Think about Sam as a human. She would be able to draw energy from Seraphim and vice versa, but hers would simply dissipate into nothing. Essentially, that’s what you can offer.”
“So, I can help to strengthen her,” I clarified. “And subdue her energy if it’s too much for her.”
“Exactly. With your physical strength, you are an asset as well, but when it comes down to it, she’s at a disadvantage without the rest of her circle.”
Scrubbing my face with my hands, I tried to decide how helpful any of this was.
“There has to be a way to find them.”
“If there was, we would have already.”
“Seraphim’s pill,” I suggested.
“If it identifies them, Sibon will know as well. She’ll be quick to dispose of them if she can get her hands on them. Besides, he won’t be able to get any more of them. She has control of the labs.”
“Well, this is just great. We’re fucked no matter what we do.”
“There’s always a chance. Complete your bond and see what happens. You were all drawn together somehow, so maybe you have fate on your side.”
“Right.” I got to my feet, brushing off my pants.
“You said you’d free me,” he reminded me.
With a frustrated eye roll, I returned to my cabin. Everyone was still on the couch playing games as if we didn’t have a hundred better things to do. Before they began to get suspicious, I came up behind Seraphim and snapped his neck.
“What the fuck!” Sam screeched, jumping to her feet.
“I was helping you win,” I said with a shrug.
She looked at his body, then at me. “You’re lying.”
“Depends how you look at it.”
“Lock, you…” Her head cocked, then she looked toward the other cabin. “He’s gone.”
“There was nothing else he could give us.”
“Why would you let him go? You’re the one that said we should kill him.”
“I gave him my word.”
“I don’t give a fuck about your word!”
“Sam.”
“God damnit, Lock. You keep doing fucked up things. Do you even think?”
Narrowing my eyes, I swept her into my arms, depositing her on our bed. She kicked out at me, but I grabbed both sides of her neck and kissed her.
“We need to complete the bond,” I said.
“I told you I don’t want to and that’s not important right now.”
“Vas said it is. He thinks we have a chance. A slim one, but we have to do this. It might make things harder, Sam, but I’m going to help you and so is the fucking fire angel. If you want to fight, we’ll fight.”
Her body was trembling as she stared up at me. “I’m scared, Lock.”
“No, you’re not. You’re Samara fucking Byrne. Every single thing you’ve ever faced, you have found a way to conquer. Even me. You’re engaged and mated to the only being more bloodthirsty than you. You fear nothing.”
“Okay,” she whispered. “But not right this second.”
“Tell me what you’re thinking.”
“Before we embark on this ridiculous quest that will probably get us killed, I want to do something.”
“Anything, Belladonna.”
“I want to go home.”
“To the tower?”
“No. Home.”
Raising a brow, I stroked her cheekbone. “Tell me why.”
“Closure, maybe. I never wanted to go back, but if I’m going to live an eternity, I think I want to really close that chapter of my life. Besides, they can’t hurt me anymore.”
“I hoped I’d never have to step foot in Alabama again, but for you, I’ll do it. However, I can’t promise not to kill at least a couple people.”
“We’ll see how it goes, baby.”
“We can leave Rafiki behind, right?”
“No. We have to stay close so Sibon’s connection doesn’t get stronger again.”
Dropping my head onto her chest, I groaned. “I expect tons of sex to keep me in a good mood.”
“That can probably be arranged.”