25. The Slayer
The Slayer
“Good work. Iris can’t stand people being mad at her,” Scarlett says, licking my face.
“You know, little fox, I think I understand what a best friend is now,” I tell her, and her eyes glow as she nips my arm gently.
“You should give the man time with the body as she asks.”
“I thought I just said we were best friends?” I whisper. Iris is fitfully sleeping. I wanted to comfort her and hold her again, but Scarlett said it would be a bad idea.
The fox nips me again. “When have I been wrong, Slayer? You let Adam take over the body from time to time. It makes Iris happy, and he can help with your cause.”
“What does that even mean?”
Scarlett sighs, as though I am inept. “You share the same body with the guy, use him to help make her fall in love. Duh. I swear you’re so lucky you have me.”
“This is true,” I agree. Without Scarlett, I would be completely lost with Iris. “But I hate the man.”
“Well, everything isn’t about you, Slayer. Happy mate, happy life, right? So give her what she wants and reap the benefits.”
“I will consider this.”
Scarlett looks over at Iris and back at me. “Word in the forest is the council is getting tired of chasing after a ghost. As soon as they’re gone, you’re going to need to come up with a game plan.”
My brows furrow as I mindlessly scratch behind her ears and her chin.
“What do you mean?”
“Meaning there are vampires that are clearly off limits. Iris doesn’t understand what it means to be a predator, but I do.
Slaying isn’t something you can just give up, but if you want to keep Iris, you’re going to need to make sure you don’t kill any of the vampires that Mistress Ember cares about. ”
I groan, resting my head on the couch. The day Iris invites me to sleep in her bed will be the best day of my life.
“You could take hits for the vampires,” Adam chimes in, nearly startling me. I haven’t heard from him since he planted the idea to conspire against me with Iris.
I don’t respond to him, because he’s the worst, and instead, pet Scarlett.
“We will come up with a plan, indeed.”
She licks me once more, before bouncing up to the bed, running in a circle five times, and then curling up into a ball next to our witch. I stare at them lovingly for a few moments. If I want this peace, I’ll need to figure something out.
Either I need to find some magic to quell my blood lust or unfortunately, Adam might be right. I’d need to become more particular with my hits and work alongside vampires.
The thought makes acid come up my throat, but I ignore the feeling. Today started off awful, but this has been progress. The book is not in the wrong hands. Iris has agreed that we’ll start over, and I’m still alive and in her presence.
Scarlett is right, and there’s no doubt that this will be my most difficult cycle yet, as well as my most rewarding.
Iris taps on her phone. I still don’t truly understand all that it can do. She’s described it as a handheld computer, but I don’t really know what that means. My last cycle, the biggest mortal achievements were the steam engine and the telegraph.
“What’s wrong?” I ask as she frowns at her phone.
“Ember hasn’t texted me back in a while,” she says solemnly.
I keep my thoughts to myself about how I dislike her friend or her mate. Who would ever accept a mate like a vampire?
“Maybe she has reverted her sleep schedule for her bloodsucker,” I say and Iris magically wafts a pillow at me. “It was just a thought.”
“I just hope everything is okay.”
“I’m sure it will be,” I tell her, and she gives me a small smile. “Let’s work on the puzzle.”
She agrees, though she has her phone face up and glances at it now and then to check in on her friend.
I’ve gotten way better at this puzzle making business. We’re nearly done with this one and Iris said she ordered another one online, whatever that means.
We’ve only got a handful of pieces left to place when Iris jolts from her chair and her heartbeat increases to a worrisome level.
“What is it?”
“Fuck. I can’t portal this far,” she says, staring at the phone, not answering me. “Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.”
“What is it?” I’m panicking as I look at my mate and she hands me her phone. “I don’t understand.”
It’s a series of images that make little sense and it mentions needing back up and someone named Oz and him giving Adam’s parents the spell book. The last thing is an address located in New Orleans.
“I know where that is,” Adam says in my head. “We could teleport there.”
“There’s a lot of vampires there,” Iris says and I glance down at the phone again. Ah, that’s what those are, a series of vampires and stakes. The thought makes me chuckle internally. Now is not a time to laugh. “There’s no way we’ll be able to make it in time.”
“Release me from my vow. I’ll teleport us and save your friend.”
Iris looks at me in shock. “You can teleport?”
“Of course, all slayers can.”
“You can’t hurt Warin, his progeny, or his team, Ember's safety is the priority.”
“I vow it,” I tell her, even though the idea of leaving some vampires alive is disgusting.
“I release you from your containment vow,” Iris says, wand in hand as she whispers the words. The sensation of the vow releasing me is euphoric as I grab her by the waist and teleport us right to the venue based solely on Adam’s memory.
“Stay here,” I demand from Iris, hiding her under a desk. “Spell yourself to stay hidden.”
Her eyes are wide, but she agrees. Once I’m out of her view, I take a deep inhale, and it’s fucking glorious.
The scent of dead vampires has me desperate to drag a stake through more of them.
I haven’t had time to fashion my rune decorated stakes, instead I grab one of the plain and boring discarded stakes that lies on the floor.
Warin and his team have made quick work of the low-grade henchmen, but I know the big bad is still looming around. It’s the entire reason they sent out a distress signal to Iris.
They needed a slayer to handle their dirty work and I’m more than fucking itching to kill one of these motherfuckers.
They’ve smeared the place with blood and guts, a beautiful sight, but one still remains and I can tell this one is strong. The others are hidden, though I can still sense them near.
What if they completely abandoned us and he’s found my Iris?
As much as I want to growl, scream, and threaten this vampire, goad them to show themselves, I have a feeling this is the vampire Iris alluded to earlier. The whole reason Adam is my vessel, which I appreciate, but no one else seems to.
I’m hidden behind a large barrel as I finally hear him threatening Ember.
The relief that Iris is safe is nearly immediate.
The fragile pink-haired witch is cowering on the floor, and I know I need to save her.
It’s funny, because I would have thought I’d want to save her to make Iris happy, but something within me wants to save her because it’s the right thing to do.
“Make him fucking pay,” Adam says in my head.
For the first time taking over this vessel, I enjoy Adam’s candor and I plan to do just that.
“He was worth it,” Ember croaks as the vampire looms over her.
She just used so much magic to help in this battle and she thinks she’s the last one standing.
He’s a sharp-looking vampire, definitely old and powerful.
He has the scent of Warin and I realize he must be his sire.
It makes me want to roll my eyes. All these vampires are so fucking dramatic.
Oz gets down on his haunches and tsks his tongue.
“It’s a shame you and your coven will have to die because you got involved with the wrong vampire.
But I can assure you, I’ll have the utmost fun draining them all dry.
Who should I start with? Violet, Iris, or maybe your bigoted grandmother? Maybe I’ll let her live.”
The mention of my Iris has my hand twitching and my nostrils flaring, ready to kill him immediately.
“Rip his fucking heart out,” Adam proposes, and I really like the idea.
“He always had a soft spot for sweet, pretty, little things. Now, if you give me the protection item you have, I’ll make it painless,” Oz says.
“Vow it,” she begs Oz and I wait for the right moment. He doesn’t hear or see me.
He laughs. “I don’t need to make a vow with a dead woman. They’re gone, all of them. It’s just you and me here, but the difference is, I have more vampires and what do you have? Nothing.”
“I have a family, people who care about me, more than I can say for you.”
Oz laughs, squeezing her face. “You think I give a shit about that?”
This has all gotten quite boring for me as I fist the stake in my hand and approach in a deadly silence.
“I don’t know, you tell me? You’re how old and throwing a tantrum over your progeny not loving you?”
“You know nothing. You’re an insignificant little bi—”
The vampire doesn’t finish his sentence as I slam the stake into his heart and watch him splatter all over me and the wide-eyed witch on the floor. I tilt my head, and stare at her gore-covered face, listening to her solid heart beat.
“She’s unhurt,” I alert Iris.
Iris’ feet patter behind me and she’s quickly on the floor, hugging her friend. I cross my arms over my chest, feeling jealous of the affection and I want my own.
She explains to Ember how we got the tip to be here, but it’s all tedious to me. Unless there’s another vampire to kill, I’d like to go back to the apartment and continue to enjoy my day.
“I wish to have a hug of my own now,” I tell her, and Iris rolls her eyes at me, though they hold no heat.
“Give Adam control, and I’ll give you a hug,” Iris counters.
It’s my hard-earned hug, not fucking Adam’s.
“No. Me. I would like the hug, not the man,” I tell her, standing firm.
“I’ll give you a hug and then you give Adam control. He’s the only one we came here to kill. None of the others,” Iris says, her hands on her hips.
“A kiss. A kiss and I will not kill the other bloodsuckers and I will let Adam have control for an hour.” I feel as though this is a great compromise. I was already planning on giving Adam time with the body. I might as well get more out of the deal, anyway.
Iris takes a deep breath, looking up at the ceiling for guidance.
“Fine, a kiss and you do everything you promise.”
She tilts her chin up and I remember every movie and show that Scarlett has shown me. I cup the back of her head and lean down as I press my lips against hers.
It feels as though the kiss is infinite. Nothing has felt better than having my mate’s lips against mine.
She parts, looking up at me with her beautiful rounded eyes I could get lost in and I stare back down at her filled with joy.
“The best half second of my tremendously long life,” I tell her honestly.
“Give Adam control,” Iris demands and I swear she seems confused.
My mate liked the kiss, but I feign being irritated that she wants the human man in charge. “If anything seems suspicious with the undead, I’ll take over immediately.”
My mate flicks her hand at me, and this time the change is easy. I let Adam take control while still being completely present.