Chapter 4 #2
Humans can’t sense energy or magic the way witches can.
If this guy is really from the Malus family—no, he wouldn’t be.
He’s human. All I know is that right now, something inside of me is saying don’t piss the guy off.
Because if he was sent here as a representative of the Malus Family and what he’s saying is true, then there’s no way we’re getting out of this.
The Malus family and the Order will see it through.
Maybe it’s because I was never fully accepted into the Order that I never developed the trauma bond most members seem to have. The Order can threaten most hunters with isolation. But more than that, they can really fuck up your life.
Or kill you.
And that would be the kinder option.
“What is going on?” I ask, head slowly moving back and forth. I can sense Gia trying to creep out of her room.
“I’m so sorry, but it’s better if it’s you,” Vivian says softly. Larissa turns, eyes iced over. She’s always hated me, and now she’s found a way to get rid of me.
“Pack your stuff,” Marco demands, and I only turn to stop Gia from leaving her room. Eyes wide, I walk down the hall.
“Wren? What’s going on?” Gia asks.
“It’s okay,” I tell her. “Let’s get you back in bed and I’ll explain everything.
” She nods, hazel eyes filled with worry.
I usher her back to her room and pull her quilt over her.
“I love you,” I tell her and smooth her hair back, bending over to kiss her forehead.
“Somnum,” I whisper and my sister goes right to sleep.
Blinking back tears, I go into my room and pick up the bag from my last trip that I hadn’t unpacked yet. I don’t own much since we’re always traveling from job to job. I spend more time on the road than I do at home.
Feeling panicked, I grab the only framed photo I have of my birth parents, my makeup bag and toiletries, a small wooden jewelry box, my tarot cards, and my purse.
I shove them into my duffel bag, change into a black t-shirt, dark jeans, and boots, and then go back downstairs.
Leo and Antonio are talking to Marco in angry, hushed voices, and Larissa stands in the foyer, arms wrapped around herself.
She has a smug look on her fucking face.
My eyes meet hers as I pass by, and I give her a telling look, one that lets her know this isn’t over. I stop just inches in front of the man and look up. He’s handsome, that’s for sure, and intimidating. But he is undeniably human.
“What is your name?” I ask, swallowing the fear that’s making my throat feel tight.
“Devon,” he tells me and gives me another look. “I’ll have the paperwork sent over in the morning.” He shifts his gaze back to Marco. “Pleasure doing business with you, as always.”
He grabs my arm but I don’t so much as flinch. If he’s pretending to be a vampire, then he has no idea I’m a witch. So for right now, I need to shut up and go along with it.
He marches me outside, takes my bag and puts it in the trunk of the BMW he arrived in. The driver is already inside, waiting for us. The security guard opens the door for me and I get in, fear starting to take over.
The car door closes with a deafening slam, shutting out the light and swallowing me in darkness. My heart is hammering away in my chest, and I slowly inhale, pressing my nails into the cold leather seats beneath me. Stay calm. It’ll be okay. Somehow, this nightmare will end.
Devon walks around to the other side of the car and I reach down, feeling for the silver-tipped dagger I have stuck in the ankle of my boot.
Slowly, I pull it out, flicking my eyes to the driver.
He’s human, and seems as if he’s been held spellbound so many times his brain is only capable of simple thinking.
I swallow my pounding heart, feeling my throat tighten with nerves. The outside porch lights of my family’s home flash before me as the door opens and quickly closes as he gets into the car, sliding in close to me.
“Don’t touch me,” I say when he reaches out, moving my hair off my face.
“I can do whatever I want with you, darling.”
“Like hell you will,” I say through gritted teeth and bring my hand up, fingers clenched around the dagger.
Devon’s eyes widen for just a millisecond. Then he laughs. “That won’t kill me.”
“I beg to differ.”
“I would think a hunter like you would know only a wooden stake can kill a vampire.”
Letting my eyes close in a long blink, I feel for the dark energy that comes off in waves from a vampire. There is none. I’m right. I know I am.
At least I really fucking hope so.
“Oh, I do know that,” I sneer. “Just like I know that cutting off the head and ripping out the heart also kills vampires. But you…you’re not a vampire.”
His face tenses and if my hearing was as acute as a vampire’s, I would hear his heartbeat increase. “You’re pushing your luck, sweetheart.”
“What are you going to do, bite me?”
“Don’t tempt me.”
I move my hair over my shoulder and arch my neck. “Go ahead, I’m waiting.”
“I wouldn’t want to spoil my meal. I want to purify your blood anyway. Who knows what you’ve been eating.”
“Sure,” I state, and continue staring at him as the car starts moving forward.
He’s good at pretending, moving slowly to keep his breath controlled and not obvious.
He doesn’t even blink that often. But I see it, the gentle rise and fall of his chest. And most of all…
he’s warm. I can feel his body heat radiating off of him and the most confusing part is that it’s almost comforting. “They won’t be happy, you know.”
He shoots me a look, unable to help himself. “Who?”
“The actual vampires. When you walk me into that house…” I just shake my head, trying my hardest not to look as terrified as I am. Because I have no freaking idea what actual vampires will do when they find out the chosen one is a witch. “I mean, you’re only human, so maybe they’ll forgive you.”
“I am a vampire.” He quickly turns, advancing and getting close. My lips part and a trembling breath escapes me. The heat coming off of him intensifies, warming me right to my core.
“If someone is constantly yapping about how much prettier, happier, more successful, or more accomplished they are than others, it’s a dead giveaway that they’re actually miserable inside and trying to convince themselves of the things they keep saying.
The lion doesn’t need to remind the sheep they are above them on the food chain.
” I take in a breath, not looking away from Devon’s blue eyes.
“And a vampire doesn’t need to tell a witch he’s a vampire. We already know.”