Chapter 23 #2
“No.” Killian yanked free of Warwick’s hold, moving to her. “That wasn’t it at all. He had nothing to do with it.”
“But you made extra sure he knew you were the one fucking me?”
“Szar! He’s the one who found us. I wasn’t trying to do anything.
Don’t act like you weren’t there, that all that happened last night and this morning wasn’t real.
” He took another step, almost pressing into her.
“Did I get possessive? Yes. Did I want him to know you are mine? Fuck, yes. That every scream and moan was for me? You better believe it. And I am not sorry about that.”
She sucked in, pink spreading from her cheeks, flushing her neck. It was then I noticed how brightly she was glowing and shimmering. The fae magic was still settling into her system, though I could sense it was far more than that, as if a thousand invisible webs connected her to Killian.
Killian and Rose. Scorpion and Hanna. I had missed a lot.
“Just wait until you hear about Birdie and Caden.” Warwick’s shade mumbled against my neck. The man standing feet away smirked hungrily at me, somehow knowing what I was thinking.
I almost choked, my attention darting to the pair who stood as far apart as they could, but I noticed dirt and leaves in Birdie’s hair and fresh bite marks along Caden’s neck.
What the actual fuck?
The other four I could almost wrap my head around, but Caden and Birdie?
He was so strict and by the book. She was the total opposite.
Plus, he had such a prejudice against fae.
Though the more I looked at him, the more I sensed something was not the same.
The boy I knew growing up was different.
Now, he carried an energy I had only seen in one other before . . .
“Eszem azt az ici-pici szívedet!” I’m gonna rip your heart out and feast on it! Wesley’s voice snapped me back before I could process my thoughts, his form tearing from Ash and leaping for Killian. The fae lord pushed Rosie behind him, going for Wesley.
“If that fist gets any closer to her, I will gut you right here,” Killian bellowed, grabbing Wesley by the collar and shaking him. “You want to fight me? That’s fine. But don’t ever get near my mate again.”
Rosie and I inhaled sharply as the words punched through the air, freezing Killian and Wesley both. Killian’s throat bobbed, his chest heaving as if he couldn’t believe he just said it and not knowing how to respond to it either.
Silence rained down on the group, no one knowing what to do. The tension between Wesley and Killian only grew with every second.
“Okay, that’s enough.” I finally stepped in, pushing Killian back.
Wesley’s face went from rage to utter pain. His eyes flicked to Rosie as if he was hoping she would refute it, say it wasn’t true.
She didn’t.
I hadn’t been around to see how this all happened, but it was clear Wesley cared about her a lot. I felt horrible for him because his feelings weren’t returned. She was one hundred percent taken, and I couldn’t have been happier for them, but that would have to wait.
“We have more important things to discuss right now. Personal matters have to be put on the back burner,” I addressed the group.
Wesley snorted, stepping back, his head shaking. “Funny, because I think it was pretty personal when you killed a slew of people and then ran away, leaving us high and dry.”
My lungs sucked in, his words punching me in the gut. I could see Warwick moving toward him, ready to put him down, but I put my hand out, wagging my head.
Peering around, all eyes shifted away from mine. Their nonresponse was an even louder accusation.
They all felt the same.
My head dipped, my arms folding over my stomach.
“I know.” I swallowed. “I ran away, leaving you all with the aftermath. I killed people you might have known or cared about. And then I ran away.” The declaration struggled to get off my tongue, the weight of my crime sitting on my chest. “What I did was unforgivable. And I understand why you all are mad at me. Possibly can never forgive me.”
“Mad?” Scorpion piped up, his teeth grinding. “Oh, we are past mad. Try terrified, worried, furious.”
“And hurt,” Ash added, his head titled, his green eyes soft. “None of us knew if you were okay. Why you left—”
“Because she needed to.” A voice twisted everyone around to the old woman walking up, her pink bunny slippers flopping around. “I led her here.”
“What do you mean, you led her here?” Confusion crossed Caden’s features. “Who the hell are you?”
Esmeralda winked at me. “Who I am and who you see are two different things.”
“What?” Birdie shook her head. “What does that mean?”
“Szar . . . .” Ash stepped back, his mouth opening. “I thought something was off last night, but I didn’t have time to focus on it.” He glanced at Rosie. Because we were too busy trying to save her life. “I knew the aura felt familiar. That there were two energies in her. But how is it possible?”
“She’s a true seer and has druid blood in her, making her one of the few I can use as a vessel.” Esmeralda motioned to herself. “And she had kindly allowed me in . . . well, kindly might be overstating it.”
I snorted.
“What are you talking about?” Kek peered around. “What am I missing?”
Ash scoffed, his face still in awe, his voice a throaty whisper. “It’s Tad.”
“I’m sorry, what?” Kek choked. Most of the group had similar responses.
“Tad?” Killian moved closer, his brows furrowed in a mix of hope and anger, as if he was terrified to believe what Ash claimed. “Lófasz.” Horse dick. Bullshit.
While everyone observed the old seer, I saw Tad’s blue eyes sparkle, his aura taking over until all I saw was him. Tad smiled warmly, taking slow steps to Killian, taking his hand with a soft pat.
“I’m starting to see the true leader emerge, my dear boy. What you perceive as failings or cracks in your armor are your strengths. Flaws aren’t weaknesses. They make you real. A better ruler. But only if you accept them as part of you.”
Killian yanked his hand back, critically regarding the old woman.
“Ah, still not convinced.” Tad pressed his lips together. “At the cabin, there was a night you thought I was already asleep. I saw you sitting by the fire. You keep a token of hers. Of the girl you hold on to. The dark-haired girl who haunts your heart.”
Killian stepped back with a jagged huff.
“You use the idea of her to keep yourself protected. To not let anyone in. But she was never meant for you, Killian. She was your childhood. A security you hold on to. It’s time to let her go.
” Tad’s gaze darted back to the woman behind Killian.
“Because you have met your match, my boy. So do not screw it up.” Tad turned to the rest of the group, his lightheartedness falling away.
“Brexley had to leave to prepare for what is ahead. Her journey was separate from yours. I sense the future, see bits and pieces, and it is dark, full of death and devastation. Every single person is important to this war. Every soul and body could turn the tide—” Esmeralda abruptly jerked, expelling Tad from her, but her eyes became even more hazy and faraway, her voice low and chilling.
“It is coming . . . Fire. Death. Ruin. You could be the savior or the destroyer. The villain or the hero. Dual fires burn brighter.” She cleared her throat, shaking her head, looking around as if wondering why we were all staring at her.
“What?” she snarled at us, lighting up a joint.
“Why are you all staring at me like that?”
None of us replied. A sense of unease ran through the group. We all knew she was talking about me.
The fire crackled and popped, the low murmurs from around the firepit drowned out by the music, cheers, and squeals coming from the circus tent in the distance.
The night was clear and cold, and I shivered under the fur pelt, shifting closer to the massive male heat source next to me.
Leaning against his arm to keep from falling over, I was completely spent after the day of catching up, sharing information, and planning.
Learning about everything I had missed out on had left me gutted and depleted.
My soul ached hearing Budapest had fallen to Sonya.
How fast a dictator could take over. And to know Lieutenant Andor, a decorated military soldier at HDF, helped make it happen to save his own hide.
In his quest for more power and money, he sold his soul and his country to the devil. It sounded like Romania had as well.
Out of everything, Hanna was the most upsetting. I had known the pills were affecting her, changing her, and I hadn’t been there for her. I doubt anything would have been different had I stayed, but it didn’t take away my guilt.
Responsibility. Guilt. I carried it like a suit of armor.
Even being here, putting Jethro and the troupe in danger, had me on edge.
We planned to leave in the morning and head to Kyiv, but until then we stayed in the campsite, away from the busy carnival full of people until then.
Many of the circus troupe were not happy we were here, but Zelda was the loudest about it, her brother standing next to her, eerily watching us.
She snipped about stuff of hers disappearing, something about us being bad omens and how we would be the downfall.
Thanks to Opie, at least part of that was true.
The feel of eyes on me from across the bonfire drew my attention away from my thoughts and to my old best friend.
Caden’s gaze burned into me, his shoulders hunching around his ears.
His expression was blank, but I knew him well enough to know when he was upset.
Once again, the sensation of magic, of something different about him, prickled at the back of my neck.
The flames reflected off his familiar eyes, but nothing else felt like he was the boy I once knew.