Chapter 21
The second Elias’sname left my lips, the mood shifted drastically. We were already on edge, prepared for whatever might come our way, but suddenly, the suspense cranked up a notch. The sight of Elias striding toward us with such purpose had me tensing from head to toe.
Gabriel’s hold on Nash loosened a bit as he glanced over his shoulder at his approaching brother. The brother he once trusted, now potentially a traitor. Waves of emotions poured off Gabriel—confusion, anger, pain.
“Elias.” Gabriel’s voice cut through the night, his entire body coiled for a fight.
I repositioned myself next to Gabriel with my back to Nash so I could keep an eye on Elias. I trusted my mate to protect me from any threats behind me, as I would for him.
Elias halted a safe distance away, his gaze sweeping over Jaden, Josh, and Avery before fixing on me. The slight smirk on his lips suggested he found something amusing about this situation. Yeah, well, doubtful he’d find it funny when I rammed my stake up his ass—or in his chest. The choice depended on him and his next move. If he’d come to protect Nash, then he’d join him in hell.
“Fancy seeing you all here,” Elias remarked, his attention flickering between me and Nash. I thought I caught a hint of annoyance cross his face for a moment. But annoyance at what? For us catching Nash? Or that he was still alive?
“What do you want?” Gabriel demanded, his back still to his brother as he focused on Nash.
“I’m here to put an end to all of this,” Elias declared, as though that simple statement told us anything. Spoiler alert: it didn’t—it merely created more questions.
I readjusted my stance and gripped my stake tighter. If it came down to choosing who to take out first, Elias topped that cake. He presented the bigger threat. Nash could wait another night or two. I’d tracked him down once already. I could do it again.
“End what, exactly?” I pressed.
Elias’s slight smile returned, and he dared to step closer, a motion that sparked an instant reaction from Jaden, Josh, and me. Within the span of a breath, Elias found himself the target of three stakes, all pointed at him by three very unhappy slayers.
His expression comically shifted to shock, as though he hadn’t expected us to react so quickly. He lifted his hands, as though to show us he was unarmed. We knew better. Vampires didn’t need weapons to be considered dangerous. Nor did werewolves.
“Not another step,” I warned, balancing precariously on the balls of my feet in case I needed to spring into action.
Our eyes locked, and for a second, I thought Elias was trying to silently communicate with me. But since mind-reading wasn’t in my skill set, his efforts were rather pointless. After a moment, he gave a subtle nod, so minimal I might have missed it if I hadn’t been watching him so closely.
I angled my head and studied him, trying to puzzle out his purpose here. Elias’s true allegiance remained a mystery. He’d told me point blank that he’d come to America to watch Gabriel die, indicating that he’d sided with Adrian. Yet he’d been the one who’d given me the idea to feed Gabriel my blood, which was what we’d needed to escape. I honestly didn’t know what to think. Before things went south, Gabriel had believed Elias was loyal. But it was so easy to be blinded by love for someone you cared about. I’d only ever spoken to Elias over the phone before this entire mess, which, in theory, should have given me a clearer perspective. Except, here I was, just as uncertain as everyone else. It was maddening.
This was why I hated spy novels. All this covert undercover nonsense—it wasn’t for me.
Elias took another cautious step forward, lifting his hands a little higher. “I’m just here to talk.”
Josh let out a derisive laugh, one I echoed.
“I generally don’t engage in chitchat with traitors,” I informed him.
Elias raised an eyebrow at me, unbothered by the accusation. I spared a quick glance to Josh and Jaden, who remained intently focused on Elias, while Avery eyed Nash like a rabid dog. Clearly, she wanted to take a bite out of him, and I wasn’t sure how much longer she’d wait. Given what Nash had done to her, I doubted she’d hold back much longer. Then there was Gabriel, who seemed only seconds away from finishing Nash himself. We were a powder keg waiting for a spark. Meaning, I didn’t have long to figure out Elias’s intentions or where he stood.
But then, my eyes met Elias’s, and I saw something. He stared at me so hard, like he was trying to communicate with me. I thought I caught a hint of…what? Regret? Pain? I remembered wondering the same thing the first night we’d met. I hadn’t gotten an answer then, and it didn’t seem like I would receive one tonight, either.
He jerked his chin to the side, suggesting I move. When I didn’t, he tried again, his gaze still boring into mine.
I blinked at him and nearly laughed aloud. Surely, he hadn’t expected me to listen to him. There was no way in hell I’d stray from Gabriel’s side right now.
Exhaling harshly, Elias’s shoulders slumped, and he pinched the bridge of his nose. He muttered something quietly, a word that almost sounded like, “Mates,” and then he suddenly vanished into thin air.
Like full on disappeared.
Chaos erupted in the street as everyone realized that he’d well and truly vanished from sight. I spun in a circle, my keen gaze searching every nook and cranny.
“What the hell!” Josh shouted. “Where’d he go?”
“Where is he?” Jaden echoed.
“What’s going on?” Lucy’s voice blared in my ear.
“What’s happening?” Avery shouted.
“Where is he, Maddie?” Gabriel demanded, his attention torn between keeping Nash in check and the sudden disappearance of his brother.
“I have no idea!” I answered, frantically scanning our surroundings for any sign of Elias. How on earth had he disappeared like that?
But then, as quickly as he’d vanished, Elias reappeared—except he wasn’t standing in the same spot. No. Instead, he stood on the other side of Gabriel… With a stake gripped tightly in his hand.
My heart leapt into my throat, a strangled cry escaping my lips.
“Gabriel!” I screamed, terror seizing me. Every fear I’d ever had of losing him seemed to crystalize in that single, horrifying moment. All Elias had to do was turn and drive that stake home, and I wouldn’t be able to stop him. Time seemed to slow the second Elias raised his hand, ready to bring all my nightmares to life. My body moved on instinct, ready to throw myself at him, between them, anything to save Gabriel. I couldn’t lose him.
But then, a heartbeat later, everything changed. Elias didn’t turn the stake on Gabriel. Instead, with a startling precision, he plunged the stake into Nash’s chest.
The street fell dead silent, everyone skidding to a stop.
He’d staked Nash. Not Gabriel. Nash.
Nash’s expression mirrored my shock. He stared at the stake in his chest, then dropped into the middle of the street, dead. All I could do was stare, still trying to wrap my head around what had just happened. Elias had just staked Nash—his supposed ally. I’d wanted an answer regarding his loyalty, and now I had it. Relief had me staggering back a step and lifting a hand to my heated cheeks. I felt so faint, my body unsure how to process all this.
Gabriel broke the silence with a loud, triumphant, “Ha!” that nearly gave me a heart attack. I whirled around, my hand now cupping my throat, and watched as Gabriel engulfed his brother in a bone-crushing hug. “I knew you were on my side!”
Elias just chuckled and gave Gabriel a brotherly pat on the back. “You didn’t know shit. Come on, admit it. You had no idea what was going on.”
“Nah. Never doubted you for a second,” Gabriel retorted, his accent thickening as it always did when he spoke with his brother.
“Your girl did,” Elias said, laughing. He stepped out of Gabriel’s embrace, then turned to face me with a beaming grin. “Had you wondering, didn’t I?”
“Still do,” I admitted, still breathless. I bent at the waist and hung my head down by my thighs, hoping it would help slow my heart rate.
“You alright, luv?” Gabriel asked.
“Just need a moment,” I mumbled. The image of Elias lifting that stake would haunt me until my dying day. I’d truly thought he’d intended to use it on Gabriel.
Elias laughed as though he’d just managed the biggest prank in the world.
Gabriel’s firm hand came down on my back and rubbed in small circles. I accepted the comfort for a few seconds, then straightened to find I wasn’t the only one still freaked out. Jaden and Josh stood off to the side, their eyes wide as they took in the developing scene. Avery, however, crouched near Nash, her face stark as she memorized his features. This might have been a heartwarming moment for Gabriel and Elias, but for Avery, it was something else entirely.
I stumbled to her side and crouched next to her. “It’s over.”
She nodded, tears spilling down her cheeks.
“He can’t hurt you or anyone else anymore,” I said to Avery, hoping to provide her a measure of comfort, however small.
She sniffled, then nodded again. I couldn’t begin to imagine the emotions assaulting her right now. This man had murdered three of her pack mates, one of whom was her best friend. He’d abducted and tortured her for at least a week. He’d taken joy in her suffering, reveled in it. And to make matters worse, Elias had robbed her the chance of staking him.
Wiping her cheeks with the back of her hand, she faced me and offered a weak smile. “Thank you. I’m just so glad it’s over.”
“Hello? Hello?” Lucy chanted in my ear. “Is everyone okay? What the hell happened?”
“We’re safe, and Nash is dead. As for the rest, I’ll fill you in when we get home.” I reached for my phone, tucked squarely in my back pocket, and disconnected the call.
Turning back to the others, I found Elias’s gaze on me, still with that infuriating smirk that said he knew exactly how much he’d rattled me. I wanted to be angry, to yell at him for the heart-stopping fear he’d put me through, but I was too relieved to scold him.
“How on earth did you do that?” I waved my hand in his direction. “Just vanish like that?”
Gabriel chuckled, then slid his arm around my waist and pulled me close, clearly reveling in our two successes tonight. “Teleportation. That’s his vampire power.”
“Might have been helpful to know about that beforehand,” I muttered.
Gabriel at least had the decency to look a little chagrined. “Sorry, luv.”
“Never do that to me again,” I growled at Elias.
Elias just shrugged, the smirk softening into something more genuine.
I shook my head and couldn’t help but laugh. It was hard to stay mad, especially when I saw how ecstatic Gabriel was to have his brother back.
“Well, since you’re in such a helpful mood,” I sniped. “Care to tell us where Adrian is?”
“I can do you one better,” Elias replied, his voice smooth. “I can take you to him.”
“Wait, what?” I blinked, taken aback. “Are you serious?” Because that would be perfect. Maybe even too perfect.
“Dead serious,” Elias affirmed. “I know his exact location, and I’m offering to take you there right now, if you’d like.”
Gabriel and I exchanged matching looks of surprise. After everything we’d been through, for Elias to offer us exactly what we wanted at exactly the right moment—it seemed like a dream come true. But I couldn’t shake off the simplicity of it all. The last time I’d trusted a family member of a friend, I’d landed in a literal cage.
“Tell me something, Elias. Where does Adrian think you’re at right now?” I questioned.
“What?”
“Adrian. Where does he think you are? Why isn’t he with you right now? You two have been all buddy-buddy up until this point. Now you show up here alone, and stake Nash. You have to admit, it’s convenient. So, where does Adrian think you are?” I dragged out that last question.
“He thinks I’m meeting with Nash,” Elias replied. “He just thinks I came to talk to him, not kill him. And come to think of it, I might just keep that little detail to myself. Self-preservation and whatnot.”
“So, you’ve been playing both sides?” I probed. “Acting as a double agent of sorts?”
That damn smirk again. “Well, I am rather good at it. And as you recall, I can be very convincing.”
Yes, I was all too familiar with his deceptive skills. So much so that it had me questioning his motives here. What if this was another setup? A scheme to lure us to a specific spot. Maybe they planned this. Elias would swoop in and save the day, then guide us right into Adrian’s trap.
Thank you, but I’ve been there, done that, and unfortunately gotten the T-shirt. I had no desire to experience that level of betrayal again. I needed to be smarter this time. Adrian had paid the Academy to assassinate Gabriel, and when that’d failed, he’d hired witches to raise a demon—that was how determined he was to kill us. I would bet my last dollar that he would absolutely send his son into our camp as bait.
“So, you’ve been on Gabriel’s side this whole time?” I asked.
Elias chuckled. “Still don’t trust me, huh? That’s fine. Guess I played my part well.”
Too well. I honestly didn’t know what to think. All these lies and manipulations made my head hurt. How was I supposed to know which Elias was the real one? Was it the one who claimed to want Gabriel dead? Or the one who wanted to help us? I suppose he’d had every chance earlier to stake Gabriel himself. Of course, then I would have staked Elias. So maybe he was waiting until they were alone? Playing the long con?
“I know of one way to verify his story,” Gabriel offered.
I turned to him. “How?”
“I’ve compelled Elias in the past. I can do it again. Compel him to truthfully answer any question you ask, if that would make you feel better.”
Looking at Elias, I pondered the offer. “You okay with that?”
He shrugged. “Whatever gets this show on the road, little wolf.”
Oh, I didn’t like that moniker at all, but I held my tongue and instead nodded at Gabriel. “Do it.”
“First, let’s take care of Nash’s body before someone happens by and sees his corpse lying in the middle of the street,” Gabriel said. “Then we’ll find somewhere cozy to chat. Sound good?”
My gaze dropped to Nash, and I nodded. “Yeah, sounds good to me.”