Chapter 58
“Don’t get up,” I barked as Declan leaned forward on the couch in the lounge.
He froze, his gaze lifting to me, a smile on his lips. “Leighton. The doctor said I’m healing wonderfully. I am allowed to move.”
“But you don’t need to. I can get you whatever you need,” I argued.
Trace shot Declan a grin. “Take advantage of this, man. I bet she’d wear a French maid outfit for you if you asked.”
I smacked him upside the head. “This isn’t funny.”
Trace rubbed the back of his head. “You’re vicious when you want to be.”
“And you’d do well to remember that,” I warned.
Declan chuckled and grabbed hold of my wrist, pulling me down next to him.
“You could reinjure your wound,” I snapped.
He just grinned wider. “My stitches are out. The doctor said I can start running again next week. Flying the week after that.”
Because it was the alpha of their horde who had injured Declan, the wound hadn’t healed as quickly as normal. Typically, after a shift, he would’ve been fine. But not this time. His recovery had been slow and painful, but we’d been with him every step of the way.
Ronan shook his head. “Just don’t push it. You’ll be kicking yourself if you end up back in bed for another few weeks.”
Declan grumbled something under his breath, and Ronan chuckled. “He’s not a very good patient.”
“Understatement of the century,” I agreed.
Declan saving Ronan’s life had removed any final barriers between the brothers. They were as close as two people could be, and I knew it was part of what was helping Declan heal.
Colt glanced down at his phone. “It’s almost time.”
A shiver ran through me. We’d put off meeting with The Assembly for as long as possible. But it was time. They’d been putting the pieces together for weeks, interviewing everyone involved, and trying to figure out the true extent of the damage that had been done.
“I think Declan should stay here,” I said.
“Fat chance,” he clipped.
Dash sent me a reassuring smile. “We’ll make sure he takes it easy.”
“What if they try to throw us in jail for anchor bonding without permission of the full Assembly?” I argued. “He could get hurt.”
Colt shook his head. “Not going to happen. We have too many people on our side. The Assembly knows that without us there would’ve been mass casualties.”
As it was, there had been reports of a gang war in our upper-crust neighborhood in the news media.
They thought that gang members had painted their faces before attacking Colt’s home to rob it.
They had no idea that the dark ones were actually supernatural beings.
And since the dragons flew over protected space, there was nothing else for them to see.
Declan pushed to his feet and offered me his hand. “Come on. Let’s get this over with.”
I sighed and took the palm offered. We all headed into the entryway but came up short as Cillian strode into the foyer with a duffel slung over his shoulder. There were cracks in his typical harsh mask, and I swore I saw worry there.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
Cillian jerked his head in a nod. “One of my bond mates called. I’m needed back at home.”
Concern lit Ronan’s features. “Do you need backup?”
Warmth swept through me at the immediate offer. Over the past few weeks, all of the brothers had bonded, and I knew the relationship would be a lifelong one now.
“No,” Cillian assured him, showing no hint of emotion. “But I’ll let you know if that changes.”
Ronan strode forward and took his hand in a firm grip. “Stay safe.”
Declan released my hand and moved in for the same contact. “Thank you for everything.”
Cillian released Declan and pinned him with a stare. “Take time to heal. And make sure Princess doesn’t get into too much trouble.”
I stuck my tongue out at Cillian and launched myself at him in the tightest hug I could imagine. “Promise you’ll come visit.”
“I promise,” he said, patting my back awkwardly as though he wasn’t used to affection. And he likely wasn’t. His mother had been killed when he was young, and he’d been on his own for much of his youth. My heart ached for Cillian.
The rest of the guys said their farewells, and Cillian headed out to a car that Baldwin was driving.
“I’m going to miss him,” I said softly.
Colt wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “He’ll be back.”
I nodded. I just hoped he would be okay in the meantime.
Dash motioned to the Escalade. “We need to move.”
We all hurried to the vehicle, piling in. Trace and I rode in the back, Ronan and Declan in the middle, and Colt and Dash up front. Colt made the drive to The Assembly amphitheater more quickly than normal, and by the time we were parking, my stomach was in knots.
Trace laced his fingers through mine. “Everything’s going to be okay.”
I hoped he was right.
We piled out of the Escalade, and I took in all the other vehicles in the lot. It was a full house. Each step settled a weight heavier in my stomach.
As we reached the amphitheater, I scanned the faces. There were familiar ones and strangers alike. I caught sight of Mimi and Grace near the back. The moment they saw me, they cast their eyes at the ground, shame filling their expressions.
Trace leaned down to whisper in my ear. “I heard they’ve been removed from anchor duty.”
My head jerked up. “Seriously?”
He nodded. “The Assembly found out everything they’d done to you and how they helped Chloe. They said it’s not worth the risk of pairing them with powerful bonds.”
Being an anchor was all Mimi and Grace cared about. I couldn’t imagine a harsher blow.
We made our way down the aisle but halted as a man stood. My eyes narrowed as I took in Trace’s father.
He cleared his throat. “Trace.”
My mate didn’t respond, and I wrapped my hand around his in support.
Trace’s father shifted on his feet. “Thank you for what you did. Ending the dark ones.”
“I didn’t do it for you,” Trace clipped, tugging me to the side and out of his father’s path.
“At least he’s showing you some respect,” I whispered.
“His respect doesn’t mean a damn thing to me. Only yours and our bond’s.”
I stretched up and pressed a kiss to the underside of his jaw. “Well, I think you’re amazing.”
Trace looked down at me, eyes sparkling. “You can show me just how much later.”
My cheeks heated. “Wouldn’t mind that.”
A throat cleared on stage, and we hurried to find our seats. Colt, Declan, and Ronan were on one side of me, Trace and Dash on the other.
I glanced at Declan. “Do you feel okay?”
He grinned at me. “We’re about to hear it confirmed what a total and complete douchebag Patrick was. I’m great.”
My lips twitched.
“You are all welcome here,” Marjorie greeted.
“Thank you for your welcome,” the crowd answered.
But there was an underlying anxiety to their words. No one knew what was about to be discussed, but everyone knew that we’d had a traitor in our midst.
“Thank you for joining us today. We have much to cover,” Marjorie continued.
Saoirse shot me a wink and some of my tension eased.
“We’ve spent much of the past weeks conducting a thorough investigation of all the clans,” Delphine informed us.
Whispers sounded around us. Rumors had swirled as The Assembly had cleaned up Patrick’s mess. Everyone knew that Connor had been taken into custody and that Chloe and Damien were dead, but no other information had been shared.
She held up a hand. “It was necessary. We have to root out all evil if we hope to flourish.”
Delphine nodded at two groups of men and women clad in black, standing on either side of the stage. “Seize them.”
Each group moved to a different individual. One circled Alister, seated in the front row to our right. And I gasped as the other went for Raphael. The guards moved so quickly, neither had a chance to retaliate. They clapped those magical cuffs on them, binding their magic.
Raphael writhed and seethed. “This is atrocious. You have no right!”
Alister simply went silent, his blistering gaze glaring at me.
Marjorie stood, scowling at him. “We have every right. You and Alister have been found guilty of aiding Damien Laurent.”
“And of hiding vampire attacks on humans,” Saoirse added.
The group gasped.
“I thought it was Patrick helping Damien,” I whispered.
“It must’ve been both,” Colt said quietly as the two men were dragged away.
“Now,” Delphine said, making a gesture of brushing off her hands. “The vampires will elect a new ruler. They will also nominate a new Assembly representative that we will have to approve as a group.”
I thought for sure the vampires would argue, but no one said a peep.
“It’s time for us to come together,” Saoirse said, rising. “We have been at odds for too long. That makes us weak.” Her gaze landed on us. “Thankfully, we have young blood showing us the way.”
I looked at my guys one by one. They were leading the way. Showing how we could come together and be stronger as one despite our differences.
Declan leaned over and took my hand. “It’s you, Leighton. You brought us together when I thought it was impossible.”
Ronan nodded. “A walking miracle.”
Dash’s mouth curved. “Not even torture and binding could hold you.”
“Not even death,” Trace growled.
Colt’s hazel eyes shone. “You are our north star.”