Chapter 17
SEVENTEEN
Silas didn’t have the air of violence around him that Alric did. He seemed relaxed and calm as he watched me walk up the steps, though his eyes burned with power.
When I stopped at the second to last step, he spoke.
“You’re wearing the necklace.”
His voice was a low sexy rumble. Where Alric was smooth and polished, Silas was rumpled and messy.
The Shifter King wore a pair of beat-up jeans, an aged green and blue flannel, and brown work boots.
His dark hair was carelessly mussed, and his jaw was speckled with five o’clock shadow. That’s not to say he wasn’t handsome.
Alric was a beautiful man, someone destined to halt traffic and turn heads.
Silas Ward, on the other hand, was devastating. There was a command about him that forced your gaze his way. He was handsome in a way you couldn’t define. Silas possessed dark good looks, but he had something different, something I felt drawn to.
“You left it on the porch?”
“A courier.”
“Yes, I’m sure the Shifter King is too busy to drop his own packages.”
Silas flinched. A sigh escaped him. “You know who I am.”
“It’s difficult not to remember one of the two men who left me to die.”
Silas scrubbed a hand over his jaw. “I thought about you every single day since. I’m sorry, Alex. There’s no excuse for what I did. My position forces me to make difficult decisions and that…” His voice trailed off. “That one was the wrong one.”
“How’d you find me?”
He tapped the side of his nose. “Alric called me too.”
Of course he did. “You and the Prime have an odd relationship.”
Silas inclined his head. “I’d like to speak to you in private, if you’ll allow me inside.”
I watched him for a long moment.
“You will come to no harm from me,” Silas said quietly. “On my word as king.”
“You aren’t my king.”
His eyes glowed silver for a moment. “True. You have my word as an honorable male, then.” A pause. “Besides,” his lips twitched, “I wouldn’t want you to stab me.”
I sighed. “I’m not surprised Alric told you I was alive, but I am surprised he told you I stabbed him.”
“Oh, he didn’t tell me that part,” Silas said with a chuckle. “That intel cost me a bundle, but I’ll ensure he never lives it down.”
“So he’s still alive,” I grumbled.
Silas laughed this time, the deep, amused sound rolling over my skin. I turned and fished out my keys to keep him from seeing my reaction. Alric had trouble hiding the predator lurking within, but Silas was simply charming.
The Shifter King could prove far more dangerous than Alric.
“Would you like a cup of coffee?”
Silas rose in a graceful motion. “I would.”
“Enter under guest rules, Shifter King. Remember, I am not without defenses.”
Guest rules weren’t foolproof, but most supernaturals respected the ancient code of honor.
Once Silas stepped over my threshold, raising his hand to harm me would violate his oath and, if anyone found out about it, would bring shame to his house—and if he tried anything, I would ensure everyone would find out about it.
Silas gave me an odd look. “Again, Alex, I am merely here to talk.”
I didn’t respond. Instead, I opened the door and gestured for the Shifter King to come inside.
Edmund did not say a word, but the house let out a loud groan as if its bones ached.
Silas blinked, a furrow appearing on his brow, but he stayed silent, his sharp gaze taking in the decor.
The man was massive. I had to tilt my head up to look at him, and standing next to him made me feel like a little kid beside a professional basketball player.
He had to be at least six-five, but it wasn’t only his height that made him so intimidating. He was shaped like a storybook lumberjack. Wide chest, heavily muscled arms, and a sharp jaw.
“Gaston,” I blurted.
Silas glanced down at me. “Excuse me?”
My face burned with horror. “Erm. You remind me of Gaston.” He had the whole burly, handsome lumberjack charming everyone in the town square act down pat. Minus the goofy ponytail. But this was not a Disney cartoon. Why could I not stop talking?
“Hmm. Are you going to turn the townspeople against me?”
“Not yet,” I said.
Silas’s eyes crinkled at the edges. “I’m not sure if I should be amused or offended.”
“Sorry. It’s the jaw, I think. And the…” I waved my hands at his chest.
“Alex?”
“Hmm.”
“You might want to stop talking.”
I closed my eyes. “Yes. I really should.” Shaking my head, I brushed past him and headed into the kitchen.
Silas followed, his footsteps heavy. “I like your house.”
I glanced up from scooping coffee into the pot. “Yeah?”
He nodded. “Modern decor feels soulless. This feels comforting. Like I want to curl up on the couch and read a book.”
“Gaston doesn’t read.”
I don’t know why I said it.
Silas snorted. “You’re right. Forgive me. Perhaps I’ll take my axe and go chop something in the backyard.”
Once the coffee was on, I gestured for Silas to pull up a seat.
“I know I’ve already apologized,” he said as he settled his massive bulk onto one of the bar stools, “but it bears repeating. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me.”
“It helps being alive,” I murmured.
“I’m sure it does.” He crossed his arms, the fold of his sleeve pushing up to reveal heavily muscled forearms and a peek of an odd, raised black line that traced his veins on one side. Silas noticed my attention and jerked the sleeve down hard enough to make me suspicious.
Was the mark a tattoo or something else?
He leaned forward, drawing my attention away from his arm. “If I or my people can ever do anything for you, please let me know.”
The pot beeped. I fixed us both a cup and pushed his over. “Cream or sugar?”
He shook his head. “No. This is perfect, thank you.”
We took our coffee the same way. I liked cream and sugar, but I only used it as a treat.
To many people, coffee was simple. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Flavor could be extracted a dozen different ways, and I felt the best way to fully appreciate coffee’s particular flavor was to drink it with no enhancer.
We sipped in silence. Having Silas inside my house was odd, but I felt in no danger from him. The opposite, in fact. If Alric showed up and Silas was still here, I knew sitting next to the Shifter King was the safest spot in the city.
I’d be a fool to believe I was completely safe, though. He’d already apologized, and yet he was still here sipping my coffee.
Just like Alric, this male wanted something. So I curled my fingers around my mug and waited.
“Has the vampire been around?” He snapped his fingers. “Beckett, I think, Alric said.”
Not what I expected him to ask. “No. And it’s too much to hope he left town.”
“The Vampire Prime has a way of tracking down all his people.”
“Alric has neither confirmed nor denied Beckett is his.” I rolled my eyes just as Silas snorted. “He’s more apt to hold him over my head than deal with him.”
The Shifter King nodded in agreement. “He’s why I’m here, actually.”
I stared at Silas for a long moment. “I’m not sure I’m following. Did something happen?”
“I need to speak to the vampire. He seems enamored with you, and I was hoping if he came around again, you’ll contact me.”
My mouth fell open in stunned horror. “Beckett is a vampire. Why aren’t you asking Alric?” The nerve of this guy.
Silas had the grace to look embarrassed. “You nailed it the first time. We have a complicated relationship. Me asking to interrogate a vampire in his territory won’t go over well.”
“Let me get this straight. You want me to lure the vampire who attacked me here, to my home, so you can speak to him?”
“I would not ask if the reason wasn’t of the utmost importance.”
“And my life isn’t important?”
Silas’s fingers tightened around the mug. “Of course it is. I realize what I’m asking, but you’ve proven adept at survival. I have no doubt you will come away unscathed.”
I stared at the Shifter King, fury sparking in my veins. Setting my mug down, I rose and headed to the foyer. The door opened before I reached for it—Edmund helping out.
“Get out,” I said quietly.
Silas, still at the kitchen island, blinked owlishly. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me. Get out of my house. Your invitation is rescinded.”
Anger sparked in his hazel eyes, the polite and calm mask faltering. He needed Beckett for something, a reason he was willing to sacrifice me for.
“Alex.” His voice was cajoling. “I’m sure we can work something out. I can have some of my shifters come by and watch for him. They’ll act as backup if things go awry.”
“This is the last time I ask. Leave, Silas. Or I will make you.”
The Shifter King rose in one graceful move—a male that large should not be able to move like water. He watched me and then made a fatal mistake.
Silas smirked.
I hated smirkers. Everyone who made that expression was a smug bastard. They assumed they’d won far before the winners were announced. Silas was so confident in his charm and power that he automatically assumed I would roll over and show him my belly.
“Edmund,” I said quietly.
The floor rose in a swell, the sound of clattering wood reminding me of how I used to run my fingers over piano keys as a child. Silas’s eyes widened and he rose in the air, Edmund’s power carrying him across the floor.
The Shifter King flailed and swore under his breath, his arms pinwheeling behind him. I smiled as he sailed toward me and stepped to the side with a little wave of my fingers. A second later, Edmund flung him right out the door and onto the driveway.
I watched him land with a hard thump, smiling when his exhaled breath came out as a long groan.
“I’ll give you a minute to get off the property. Do not return.”
I slammed the door behind me and sank to the floor. “That bastard,” I hissed between my teeth.
“Are you alright?” Edmund’s voice echoed around the foyer.
“I’m fine. Thanks for the assist. Glad I sprung for the heated floors.
” Edmund could control anything in the house using electricity and possibly more.
The spirit was secretive on a good day. When I had the choice between the hydronic heated floors or the one using electric heated mats, I’d chosen electric. Just in case.
“Are you kidding? Getting to throw a real king into the front yard? I’m positively giddy.”
I chuckled. “I’ve made two big enemies in less than a week.”
“Yes. If it helps, they both seem like huge jerks.” No truer words had ever been spoken. “What could he want with Beckett so badly that he can’t go to Alric?” he continued.
“I’m more concerned about what this has to do with me. Luring Beckett here is foolish, but should I consider it to see what’s so important Silas was willing to ask a hedgewitch for a favor?”
“Absolutely not. That vampire’s obsession with you is the reason all this started. Leave Beckett to Silas and Alric. Stay out of it. No good will come from this.”
I sighed and rubbed my hands over my face. “You’re right.”
The sound of a vehicle starting up outside made me get to my feet. I peered out the window to see Silas pull away from the neighbor’s house a few doors down. He was driving a gray pickup truck, his jaw tight with fury.
Served him right. Asshole.
“Are you going out this evening?”
I planned to visit the address Marinka had given me. “For a little while. I won’t be gone for more than a couple of hours.”
“I’d use a ride-share and park your vehicle in your garage. Don’t underestimate either one of them. In fact, I’d take your phone to the police station and ask them to look for a tracker app.”
I sucked in a breath. “No. They wouldn’t do that.”
“Think about it, Alex. How do people who become that powerful stay that powerful?”
The thought of someone knowing where I was all the time sickened me. “They do whatever is necessary to keep tabs on people that threaten them.” I rolled my eyes. “I’m not a threat to either.”
“If that were true, neither of those men would be showing up at your place of work or home.”
I chewed my lip. “I’ll be careful. I promise.”
“Bring one of those hairpins you think I don’t notice.”
I went into the bedroom to change my clothes. I’d planned on cooking dinner before I left, but after Silas’s visit, time felt pressing. Maybe this contact of Marinka’s could explain what I was experiencing, and if I couldn’t get rid of it, maybe they could help me use it to the best of my ability.
Once I was ready, I chose a car through the app and waited by the front door for the vehicle to pull up.
Edmund warned me one more time to be careful before I left.
“You old worrywart,” I said affectionately as a dark SUV pulled up outside. “Lock up behind me?” I called.
“I always do.”
I slipped out and double-checked the license plate before getting in. The male driver didn’t acknowledge me, pulling away from the curb in complete silence.
Perfect. I didn’t feel like talking anyway.