Chapter 30
DARCIE
Something is wrong.
The thought hits me the moment the task force leaves through the front door, and it lingers into the night, making it nearly impossible to fall asleep.
But sometime in the early hours of the morning, I finally manage to drift off.
Only to be awoken by a loud crash echoing through the house, resonating through the thin walls.
I bolt upright with a gasp.
Anticipation has my heart already racing, my body knowing something bad has happened even before I’m fully awake.
Thumps and curses reach my ears. I throw off my covers and race into the hall.
A door slams below.
I rush down the stairs, careful not to slip on the smooth hardwood.
When I reach the first floor, I slow down and listen.
More curses sound, followed by a muffled scuffle. Is someone fighting?
My pulse kicks harder.
Careful not to reveal my position, I creep forward and place a hand against the wall for balance. My skin prickles as I lean forward to catch a glimpse of what’s going on.
“Take him into the basement,” Alex hisses. His back blocks my view, but I catch a glimpse of Gregory and Lucas heaving a struggling form toward the basement door.
The shape is masculine, with broad shoulders and long limbs, but a sack over his head makes him impossible to identify. The fabric jerks with each frantic movement as he tries, unsuccessfully, to twist free from the ropes tied around his wrists and ankles.
Around them, my mother, Lola, and Paige stand in a tight semicircle with grim expressions.
A muffled scream travels through the sack, but the basement door slams shut, cutting it short.
“Well…” Alex exhales and pinches the bridge of his nose. “That did not go as planned.”
The women murmur their agreement.
“What happened?” I step forward.
Every head turns.
Their expressions range from surprise to fatigue to resignation.
“Who was that?” I ask when no one speaks.
Alex sighs. “What are you doing awake?”
I cross my arms and straighten my spine. “Your grand entrance woke me up.”
“So you decided to come out of your room to investigate a loud noise?” His tone sharpens. “Did it ever occur to you that it could be dangerous?”
“I thought I was safe in the house. Isn’t that why I wasn’t allowed to go tonight?” I spare my mother a pointed look before returning to Alex. “Or did that rule only apply when it was convenient?”
“You’re insufferable,” Alex groans, though a smirk tugs at his mouth, like he can’t fully commit to being angry at me.
“So what happened?” I press, motioning to the basement door. “Who was that?”
“One of Adir’s spies,” my mother answers. She leans against the wall behind her. Shadows darken her hard eyes.
“Adir?” I swallow down the bile crawling up my throat. “Did you find him?”
“No,” Alex answers with a scowl. “His lackey made us before we could infiltrate the meeting.”
I blink. “Made you?”
“Yes,” he grits out. “Now, there is a very real chance my dear father knows I am not on his side.”
Shit.
My eyes swing between him and the closed basement door. “But if you captured the spy, doesn’t that mean he hasn’t spoken to Adir?”
“We have no idea.” He scowls at the door. “But we intend to find out in whatever way we can.”
A shiver races down my spine.
“First, we need to learn if his recruitment was a success,” Lola interjects. “We need to figure out how many vampires signed up to join Adir’s rebellion.”
“I’m working on it,” Alex snaps.
My thoughts race with the information. “Adir is trying to recruit vampires?”
“And succeeding, from what that little bloodsucker said,” Paige spits out. Her eyes immediately widen and swing to Alex. “No offense.”
“None taken,” Alex says. His pale face is drawn. “That bastard isn’t a member of my coven.”
He rolls his left shoulder, wincing at the movement.
My eyes lock on the torn black fabric at the top of his arm. The cloth is soaked with dark liquid.
Blood.
I gasp and step forward, reaching out before stopping inches from touching his skin. “What happened?”
“He foolishly tried to capture the spy on his own,” my mother snaps, her tone as cold as ice.
“I was the only one fast enough to catch him,” Alex replies.
“We had a plan.” She scowls. “And he had a fucking stake!”
“A stake?” My heartbeat stutters. “Can that kill you?”
“Only if it hits my heart,” Alex replies. “Unfortunately for Neil, he missed. Now, I plan to return the favor until he tells us everything he knows about Adir’s plans.”
His words are calm, his demeanor steady.
But I stare at the blood, imagining what would’ve happened if the stake had landed a few inches to the left.
I thought the task force was a surveillance group. It never truly dawned on me how dangerous this all is.
My hands start to shake. I try to hide it by crossing my arms.
But a vampire’s eyes miss nothing.
Alexander’s pale blue gaze softens.
“I’m all right,” he tells me quietly. “If anything, this is good. We have a source of information now. This could help us find Adir sooner.”
I force myself to nod, but the tremor in my limbs doesn’t stop.
“That’s enough for tonight,” my mother says. “We should all rest. We can discuss what to do next in the morning.”
“Agreed,” Mistress Lola says.
Paige agrees.
Alex nods. “I will wait here until Gregory and Lucas have secured the prisoner.”
“Fine.” My mother’s gaze shifts to me, searching. “If I promise to share all pertinent information with you tomorrow, will you agree to go back to bed?”
I rear back and blink, stunned by the unprompted offer.
Is this her compromising?
Or is it just another method of control dressed up as kindness?
“Y-yeah.” I cough, clearing my throat. “Sure.”
With a relieved sigh, she leaves. Lola follows.
Paige manages a tired wave before she disappears down the hallway and up to the second story.
Just as I’m about to do the same, movement in the shadows catches my attention.
Henry.
I blink.
I didn’t even notice he was here.
The warlock walks close to me, then stops.
At my questioning look, he says, “My room is near yours.”
He gestures toward the hall, signaling for me to lead.
I glance at Alex.
His stare is fixed on the basement door, jaw tight, eyes distant.
Sensing my attention, he meets my gaze and gives a tight smile. “Goodnight, Darcie.”
“Goodnight.” With one last glance, I turn and head down the hall.
Henry falls into step a half pace behind me.
We move in silence until a dreaded thought hits me.
“Was anyone else hurt?” I ask.
I didn’t even check Gregory for injuries. If Alex was attacked, Gregory had to be close enough to be in danger, too.
“No,” Henry answers. “Once we realized our cover had been blown, we retreated.”
“Good.” The tightness in my chest loosens a fraction.
We continue until we reach my room. I hesitate to open the door, shooting Henry an awkward look.
His smile is…odd. “If you need anything tonight, you can come find me. I’ll help you.”
I hesitate, unsure how to respond.
I settle on, “Thanks.”
Awareness zips through my body, putting me on edge.
The sensation intensifies when Henry takes another small step forward.
“I mean it,” he says, lowering his voice. “Please do not hesitate to ask if you need anything.”
His gaze sharpens, intent. “Not everyone here has your best interests in mind.”
A chill crawls down my spine.
He sounds sincere…which is a problem.
What does he know?
Who is he warning me about?
My mouth opens, ready to ask, but approaching footsteps stop me.
Gregory rounds the corner.
Immediately, I note that his steps are intentionally audible. Like he wanted us to know he was coming.
“Gregory.” I exhale, scanning him quickly for injuries. “You’re okay?”
“Of course.”
He almost looks offended by my concern.
Without thinking, I step forward and pull him into a quick, tight hug.
The contact is brief, but it steadies me.
I step back and smile, breath shaky. “I’m glad.”
His eyes soften, and the corner of his mouth quirks up.
“You should get to sleep,” he says, then shifts his pointed stare to Henry over my shoulder.
“I agree. We should all get some rest.” Henry’s eyes return to me. “Goodnight, Darcie.”
He steps around us and walks down the hall toward the other side of the house.
Gregory watches him go, brow creased. “What were you two talking about?”
“Nothing important.” I shrug, then raise a brow when a thought hits me. “Why are you asking? Couldn’t you hear us?”
“Actually, no.” His gaze turns speculative. “It was dead quiet up here. Almost too quiet. I suspected someone was masking sound…But I did not anticipate you.”
“Me?” I echo, startled. “No way. I don’t know how to do that.”
“Obviously.” He rolls his eyes. “I mean, I did not anticipate you would be part of the concealment. I thought it was Jennifer or Lola.”
“Oh.” My stomach twists. “So…Henry was masking our conversation?”
“I believe so.” His gaze flicks once more in the direction Henry went. He asks again, “What were you talking about?”
For a moment, I consider lying.
Henry’s strange warning unsettled me, and I don’t know what his intentions are.
But Gregory has been one of my life’s few constants lately. He’s loyal. I trust him.
So I tell him everything.
By the time I finish, Gregory’s expression has darkened.
“Was he specific about who might be acting against you?”
“He never said someone was working against me,” I rush to correct him, suddenly anxious that he will storm off and confront someone. “He just said he’d be here if I need anything. It wasn’t that big of a deal.”
“We will see,” he grits out. “I’ll speak with him in the morning.”
His gaze cuts back to me, firm now. “Until then, I need you to go inside and sleep. I will keep watch outside your door.”
“Is that really necess—”
“Yes,” he cuts me off, “it is. Now, go inside. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Any other day, I might argue.
But tonight? I don’t have the energy.
I nod and slip into my room.
I fling myself onto the bed and drag the covers over my body, staring up at the ceiling while my heart hammers against my ribs, too fast. Too loud.
The reality of the danger the task force faces settles over me in a suffocating wave.
And the worst part?
This fear clawing at my chest, this sick twist in my gut, tells me we haven’t seen anything yet.
Not even close.