Chapter 14 Puck #2
“I don’t like you,” Ezra says simply. “I don’t like how you’ve treated Gracie. I understand there’s some reason you did what you did. But that doesn’t change the fact you hurt her. And you tried to control her. You probably did what you thought was best, right?”
“That’s what he always does,” Darius mutters.
I don’t see the point in dignifying that question with an answer.
“As long as Gracie tolerates you, we have to get along.” Ezra leans forward, elbows on his knees, and looks at me. “Can we coexist? Or are you going to stick to the idea I shouldn’t exist at all?”
My life—everything—would be easier if he weren’t in the picture.
Today is a prime example of what kind of danger he can put Gracie in.
If she’d just let me take care of her, all of this wouldn’t be an issue.
She wouldn’t be bound to some warlock, and the demon would never have been summoned.
It would be the three of us. But as impressive as my powers are, manipulating time isn’t one of them.
So here we are.
“He can,” Darius says.
Ezra stares past my brother, eyes locked on me. “I need to hear him say it.”
I draw in a breath and let it out slowly. There’s no rush for this conversation. “I will adhere to Gracie’s wishes. If she wants you here, you won’t get any trouble from me.”
He rolls his eyes and pushes to his feet.
“Fine. Dealing with you is like pulling teeth, but I’ll manage.
If you really care about Gracie, think about how your attitude is going to affect her, okay?
At one point, she loved you. You mattered to her.
After that speech she gave you in the shop last week, how do you think things are going to go? ”
I stare past him into the kitchen and say nothing.
After a few moments of silence, Ezra turns and walks down the hall, returning to Gracie’s room.
The moment we hear the door close, Darius groans. “What the fuck, Puck?”
I say nothing.
Darius’ visions aren’t the only option. There have been times things had an unexpected outcome he was unaware of. He isn’t all-knowing. And Ezra could kill Gracie in an instant. Without intending to.
He sits up and perches his elbows on his knees. “You’ve got to soften up. You’ve got to get past this shit with Ezra. Come on… You really think she’s at risk with him?”
“He’s a vampire, Darius.”
We stare at one another for several long moments, neither of us speaking.
“We both know Ezra isn’t a normal vampire. Gracie made sure of that, didn’t she? And now he has his sire’s blood. He isn’t some common fanger. He isn’t a thrall.”
“What do you see?”
Darius shrugs. “Things are still cloudy where he’s concerned. That’s the way it is when there’s a big life event. It’ll be some time before there’s any clarity around him, which throws everything about Gracie into a mist.”
I glance around, but I don’t think this is a conversation to be had with our voices. ::You think he’s the Vampire King.::
Darius snorts, but I hear his voice in my mind. ::The signs are screaming at us. I think the demon knows.::
::If he is the Vampire King, that makes the situation worse.::
::Or… Hear me out, brother… Wouldn’t the fabled Vampire King be able to protect the ones he loves? What if the mythical Vampire King is someone with compassion? And kindness?::
::How do you think other vampires would react to that?::
::Puck, I think Ezra is powerful enough to not give a fuck.::
::I’m not willing to risk Gracie on the hope that Ezra retains a shred of his humanity.::
::Brother, I don’t think that’s your choice to make. The choice in front of you is whether or not you want to be part of this. Because where Ezra’s concerned, I’m fairly certain Gracie’s mind is made up.::
I can’t accept that truth. I can’t accept that Gracie no longer loves me. She has to feel the bond. The perfect connection that sings between us. That’s something she can’t fight. Right?
So why is she fighting it? Why does she seem to be so unaware of its presence?
I’m so lost in thought I don’t hear the car arrive until the French doors open and Briella and Poppy stick their heads in.
“Hey,” Poppy whispers and waves at me. “Is it okay if we’re—you know—here?”
“Of course.” I stand and return to the kitchen where the stew is cooling. “Hungry?”
The two women step into the kitchen, looking around as if they expect to see some sort of wreckage.
“I guess Gracie really is passed out,” Briella mutters and places her work tote on the table.
“I’m going to tell the guys we’re good and they can go. Be right back,” Poppy says and darts out.
Right.
I vaguely recall Gracie asking if other employees would stick close to Briella and Poppy.
Briella comes to stand across from me at the counter. “So… Are you out here by choice?”
“No. I was not invited.”
She grimaces. “Really?”
Darius wanders over, causing Briella to do a double-take. We only briefly saw her earlier.
“Wow, you two really do look alike,” she mutters.
Darius leans his elbow on the counter next to her. “Twins. It’s a thing.”
She chuckles. “I can see that.”
“What my brother fails to mention is that Gracie was barely conscious on the drive home. She over-exerted herself and had to take a pain potion.”
Briella’s eyes go wide. “No! That one?”
I nod. “That one.”
“Oh, flipping runestones. Barely conscious is impressive. You know she wouldn’t have been in her right mind, don’t you? She didn’t intentionally leave you out here.”
I shrug, but it is nice to hear her vote of confidence in my place here.
Poppy enters the kitchen once more, and the doors whoosh shut behind her. “What’d I miss?”
“Gracie took a potion and is passed out. Puck made dinner. And we’re going to take a little time to strategize his groveling.”
Poppy claps her hands together. “Yay!”
I scowl at them. “I am not—”
“You’ll talk some sense into him?” Darius blurts out.
Briella’s eyes go wide. “I’m going to try.”
I give the pot a firm stir, clanking the spoon against the side. “I do not need any sense talked into me.”
“Oh, Puck.” Briella sighs and props her chin on her fist. “I’m rooting for you, but you’re about to self-destruct.
And if that happens? Gracie will wipe you out of her life.
You weren’t really around for her dad’s divorce, but let me tell you…
She’s savage. And whatever connection you believe the two of you have? She doesn’t feel it.”
“Why?” I grip the edge of the counter on either side of the stove. “Why doesn’t she?”
Briella and Poppy glance at each other before rolling their eyes in unison.
“For a smart guy, you’re really stupid sometimes.” Poppy comes around the stove and slings her arm over my shoulders. “Think about it, Puck. What would make Gracie unaware of some fated mate connection the two of you share? What could possibly cover that up?”
“Nothing…” My mind flits to the connection I’m maintaining with her. The potion is still in effect, but I can tell she’s going to have one heck of a day tomorrow. “Pain… She can’t feel our connection because of the constant pain she’s in…”
“That’s my theory, at least,” Briella says. “There are precedents. Torture victims, for example. One particularly nasty one where the mates were prisoner and executioner. Their bond didn’t snap into place until the prisoner’s last breath, and it was too late. They both died.”
My heart aches at the thought so much I rub my chest.
I’ve waited and planned and dreamed for the time when Gracie would know what Darius and I are to her. I’m not willing to give her up. But I don’t know if I can truly accept Ezra either.