Blaire
BLAIRE
The porch was empty at two a.m., when and Roman emerged from the cabin. Which suited just fine.
It felt like they never got any alone time anymore. Not with three hundred hybrids crowding the village, the pack roaming the forest, Raoul always lurking in the Vault, and Jude following Farida around, looking like there was something on the tip of his tongue that he needed to tell her, but never quite working it out.
And then there were the human parentals, who had been given a vacated cabin to share, as the only non-Strangers in the place. She still hadn’t worked up the courage to face them now that the stress of the rescue mission had eased. She had no idea what she wanted to say to them.
“Did Ellis just leave without saying goodbye?” Roman asked, scanning the village.
“She did say goodbye inside,” reminded him, her fingers walking their way up his arm, slowly. “And you know how excited she was to finally have something she could do to help.”
Roman sighed. “You’re right. I probably have wrapped her in cotton wool too often.”
hmphed. “You wrap lots of people you care about up in cotton wool.”
Roman’s emerald gaze swung to her, piercing. “You are not someone I merely care about, Sweetest. And you are … particularly fragile.”
She rolled her eyes, letting her fingers wander over his collarbone. His breaths became ragged. She loved undoing him slowly like this.
“You know,” she began, looking up at him through lowered lashes, “I could be fully immortal, and we wouldn’t know for sure, unless something that could kill a human happens to me.”
Roman’s face paled, his lips tugging downwards. “We are absolutely not testing out that theory, Sweetest.”
“Of course we aren’t … but you did get electrocuted back there, and I was no worse for wear, aside from some nasty bruises. That sort of voltage would definitely have killed a human.”
Roman scooped her up into his arms. “You’ll forgive me if I don’t stop worrying about this until you are well past the age that a Pureblood settles into immortality.
“Hmmm,” she mumbled, her nose burrowing into the hollow at the base of his throat. “As long as you don’t treat me like glass all the time.”
She glanced coyly up at him, her tongue darting out to daub her bottom lip. His eyes darkened to forest green, and his hands on her turned from cradling to exploring her ass.
“I’ll fuck you like you’re invincible, . But I’ll protect you like you’re precious … because to me, you are.”
“Can we just do the fucking part?” she begged. “I don’t need protecting from anything right now. I just need at least three orgasms. Are you up for the challenge?”
Roman snorted, pressing her back against the porch post. She wrapped her legs around his waist as his fingers delved inside her pants.
This was what she needed. This release … before she told him the truth about Farida … and his mother.
“My filthy, greedy girl,” he rumbled in her ear, two fingers curling inside her, his thumb working her clit. “Your hot little cunt is soaking my hand … I’m going to fuck you so hard, but I need you to be ready for me …”
“I’m always rea-ooooh!” moaned when Roman added a third finger, twisting and stroking and pressing on her G-spot until she was panting raggedly, her nails digging into his back, scratching desperately as she wound tighter and tighter, and then her orgasm rocketed through her, bowing her back and thrumming in wave after wave of pleasure.
“One,” Roman growled against her ear, his fingers still moving slowly inside her. “Now … how should we have number two? Should I suck on that sweet clit until you scream? Or should I fuck you slow, on all fours, while I play with your ass?”
“Number two is going to have to wait.”
snarled against Roman’s neck. She could kill Farida for walking in on this! But Roman was already slipping his fingers out of her, doing up her pants. With his gaze intent on her, he sucked her arousal off his fingers, his eyes going heavy-lidded.
Then he cleared his throat and turned. “Your timing could have been better.” He spoke mildly, but heard an undercurrent there.
“My timing couldn’t be helped. Ellis is on her way back here, and we don’t have much time.”
Roman’s gaze sharpened instantly.
“What’s going on?” he demanded. “Is she hurt?”
Farida’s eyes met ’s, and the resignation in them scared the shit out of . She suddenly had a horrifying feeling that something really fucking bad was about to happen, and even Farida, with all her crazy powers, couldn’t stop it.
“She’s not hurt. And she won’t be hurt. I won’t let that happen.” Farida stepped closer, her hand finding Roman’s arm. “I’ve … the others inside will not come out. And that’s how it should be, alright?”
Roman looked utterly confused.
“Just … don’t blame them for not helping. When Ellis gets back, I have to go. This is what’s meant to happen.”
Roman’s brow furrowed. “What do you mean, it’s meant to happen? What the fuck are you talking about?”
“He’ll trade Ellis for me, don’t worry.”
blanched. “Who is ‘he’?” she demanded, stepping closer to Roman. “What the hell is going on?”
Farida ignored all their questions. “You need to look after the Vault for me, Roman. I haven’t finished my search, but I have to go with him. I think he has something I need.”
“Who? Damn it, Farida!” Roman snarled.
“And make sure Jude is okay. I think he’s … remembering things, and it’s going to be upsetting for him. You need to be there because you know the truth.”
Roman’s face paled. “You’re dead serious right now, aren’t you?”
Farida nodded. “Tell Ellis she needs to get on that plane. She must go to Copenhagen. If we ever want to defeat Fortis, Ellis must be the one to meet with Asbj?rn.”
“I don’t … I don’t understand …” Roman muttered.
“I know. And I don’t either … not fully. But I know this. Ellis must go to Denmark. You must look after the Vault and the hybrids …”
Farida’s eyes clouded for a second before she gasped, gripping Roman tighter. “You must separate the healthy hybrids from the sick.”
“The sick …? They’re immortal, how are they …” wondered.
“Jack and Seven … ask Jack and Seven,” Farida muttered, shaking her head. It reminded of movies she’d watched where the character heard voices.
Was Farida hearing voices right now? Were they telling her about the future?
Farida’s expression turned devastated. “Roman … I’m so sorry …”
Roman’s frown deepened. “Sorry for what?”
But Farida’s gaze met ’s, and ’s stomach swooped.
“I’ll help him remember. Once Ellis is gone … he will remember. Please … help him when he does. I can’t … I can’t let Ellis remember yet. She’s got enough on her plate with the White Bear … But I can help him.”
“, what the hell is she talking about?” Roman demanded.
But couldn’t tear her gaze away from Farida, who reached out and pressed a finger to her forehead. ’s skin broke out in a cold sweat, her head aching like a brain freeze.
“I’m sorry I made you lie to him,” Farida whispered. “But we all had our part to play in taking Taiga down, and that truth would have derailed the mission. Everything is for the end game.”
What end game? wondered, but her mouth wouldn’t form words. Farida turned, placing a finger to Roman’s forehead.
“What are you doing?” he snarled, but then his brow creased the way was sure hers just had.
“When I’m gone … when Ellis is gone … he’ll remember …” Farida muttered.
Jesus fucking Christ. She’d wanted to tell him the truth … but this was something else. This was not the way …
But perhaps it was the only way.
“They’re coming now,” Farida whispered. “I’m so sorry, Roman. For what I did back then, and for every year since that I let you live that lie.”
Roman looked stricken. “Why are you talking like you’re going to your death? What’s going on?”
“Another step in the game. He approaches. Stay on the porch. Do not follow. Do not interfere. This must happen.”
“Farida!” a deep voice, with a thick Russian accent, hollered from the forest. “I have one of your precious minions!”
Roman’s face went gray as Farida stepped off the porch, her arms outstretched.
“It’s Yuvan,” Roman breathed.
’s heart plummeted. “Fortis’s second in command?”
Roman nodded grimly as the giant man materialized from the forest, his dark hair lank, his dark eyes dull. His huge, meaty hands wrapped around Ellis’s throat.
To her credit, Ellis looked completely unconcerned. wondered if Farida had warned her about this, too.
“Can we hurry this up?” Ellis asked, her voice thin but annoyed. “I’ve got a plane to catch, you know.”
“I’ll pop her head right off her scrawny little neck, Farida … or you can take her place and come with me.”
“Oh, Jesus fucking Christ,” hissed shakily. “We can’t let her—”
“I’m unarmed, Yuvan,” Farida called out.
The huge male guffawed. His fingers tightened on Ellis’s neck. Roman flinched, but his feet remained glued to the porch.
One wrong move from any of them, and Ellis was dead.
“You’ve never needed to carry a weapon, little witch!” Yuvan snapped. “I know what you can do.”
’s chest tightened. Witch? Was that truly what she was? Or was that merely a word he used to goad her?
“And I’m sure you know what I just did … turning a mountain to dust has tapped me out,” Farida argued. “You understand how this works, Yuvan, so believe me when I say I am unarmed.”
“And will you come quietly?” Yuvan asked, his head tilting in the direction of the porch. “Your other minions won’t attack the second I release her?”
Farida didn’t even glance back at them. She shook her head.
“I will come without a fight. From me or from any of them.”
“No,” Roman breathed. “Why is she doing this?”
had no words. She couldn’t work Farida out. And this talk of an end game? Farida was vicious in achieving her goals … but her goal with Taiga had been to save everyone who deserved saving.
We have to trust her … realized. We have to trust that everything she’s done has been for a purpose bigger than any one of us on our own.
I hate that you’re right, Roman bemoaned, reading her thoughts. This feels so wrong!
And it did. Farida approached slowly until she was within reach of Yuvan. ’s breath caught in her throat as the man threw Ellis to the ground.
“Ever the gentleman, Yuvan!” Ellis snapped, getting to her feet and cricking her neck.
But Yuvan had eyes only for Farida, and there was a new gleam in them that had shivering.
“Do I need to restrain you?” he rumbled, stepping towards Farida.
“No. I’m coming of my own free will,” Farida replied, her tone matter of fact. Yuvan didn’t seem to catch the menacing promise in her words.
“Ellis. You have a plane to catch,” Farida reminded her as if that was the most pressing thing going on. She stepped closer to Yuvan.
“Roman … I hope when I see you again, you won’t hate me.”
Roman’s face was a mask of pain. “I can’t … I will never …”
But before he could finish his sentence, Yuvan grabbed Farida to him, and they zipped into nothingness.
“Jesus shitting Christ!” Ellis shuddered, scampering up onto the porch and throwing herself at her brother. “What the fuck, Roman! She told me to expect someone from my past to turn up at the airport and to just let him do his thing. I thought I was getting banged in an airport bathroom!”
She gripped Roman tight. “What the fuck just happened? Did she really just … disappear with him?”
Roman shook his head, unable to form words. It was who intervened. , whose brain was a ticking time bomb to the moment her memories were unlocked, for him to see. To the moment his memories were unlocked for him to relive for the first time in over a century.
“We have to trust her, guys. All along, you two have insisted, over and over, that Farida will have the answers, that Farida will have a plan. We just have to trust that this is part of the plan … as much as it makes no sense to us.”
Roman’s jaw tightened, but he nodded. He gave Ellis one last squeeze and set her down. “Which means you need to get to the airport. That was what she said. Ellis must get on that plane. Will you still make it back in time?”
Ellis checked a non-existent wristwatch. “Uh, I’ll drive like the fucking wind if I can get a car.”
“I’ll wake Clay,” Roman said.
“No need. All that shouting woke us … but oddly, none of us were able to get out of bed.” His eyes darted between Roman, Ellis, and . “Why aren’t you in Fairbanks?” he asked, eyebrows raised.
“Long story,” Ellis muttered. “Can I borrow a car? I’ll have to leave it at the airport.”
Clay gave a sharp nod, and Cas handed over a set of keys.
“We’ll get one of the pack to collect it tomorrow. Just leave the keys locked inside it. It’s out back.”
Ellis nodded, turning to Roman. “I have no fucking idea what is going on … but I’ll keep trusting her because she’s never done us wrong before. I’ll … I’ll get Asbj?rn’s alliance, and I’ll be back as soon as possible.”
It was the most serious had ever heard Ellis be. Roman gave her another quick hug, and she turned to , who pulled her into her arms.
“You’re so brave,” mumbled against the smaller girl.
Ellis sighed. “This has been my life for over a century. It’s not bravery, it’s resignation.”
Then, with a wink and a cheeky salute that belied her solemn words, Ellis hopped off the porch and disappeared around the back of the cabin. An engine roared to life, headlights disappearing into the forest.
’s stomach twisted. Once Ellis is gone, Farida had said. Did that mean once she was on the plane or once she was out of the village?
She watched Roman, who stood staring at the spot Farida had disappeared like he could make her reappear through sheer force of will.
The door slammed open again.
“Where is she?” Jude demanded. “Where is Farida?”
“She’s—” began, but her head swam, and she staggered to the side. She blinked her vision clearing, in time to see Roman crumple to the ground.
A horrific, painful moan erupted from him.
“Mother!” he screamed. “Mother!”