Revolution (Risen Series Bk2)

The next chapter may be the last one but I'm not sure yet.

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Chapter 26: Crazy Ex Girlfriend

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“You have to be kidding me.”

But no, my mate’s expression was completely serious as he pulled out an overstuffed armchair from the huge table that filled the meeting room. The other chairs were all wheelie ones I could at least spin around in while receiving whatever bad news I was about to.

I knew I looked rough - dark purple bags bruised the skin under my eyes, my hair was in a matter bun piled on top of my head, and I’d chosen a baggy hoodie over a pair of worn leggings which didn’t help - but come on!

Atanas lifted his chin, waiting for me to protest further or give in. Without the energy to argue, I resigned myself to being coddled and fell into the chair. “If you try and put a tartan blanket over my lap, you’re crossing the line.

With a chuckle, he shoved the chair closer to the table for me and patted my shoulder. “Don’t tempt me. After your actions last night, embarrassing you like that might be the only punishment you’ll learn from.”

Again there was no trace of a joke as he walked around to stand behind the tallest chair at the head of the table. I decided not to test him today. Dressed again in smart black trousers, a white button up shirt with a black tie, he looked like the stony faced businessmen that stalked the streets of the city centre.

Why he was insisting on having a formal meeting instead of giving me a quick rundown of what I’d missed, I wasn’t sure, and Atanas wouldn’t budge when questioned. Nor had he allowed me access to my iPad or a new phone, which only made me all the more worried. Had some human government official figured out who I was or where I might live? Were we expecting a squat team to swing through the windows while intense music played?

Drumming my fingers across the table, I glued my eyes to the door, straining to hear the chorus of footsteps coming down the hall. Kincaid arrived first, a pile of files under his arm with bits of paper fluttering and close to falling out. He nodded once as honey eyes met my gaze, which was enough to let me know he’d been worried about my health. He took the seat on Atanas’ left and pushed the folders in between us.

“That’s everything?” Atanas asked.

“It’s everything they claim to have.” Kincaid shifted and glanced at me again. “There’s enough to cause some measure of concern, and it will probably get worse before it gets better.”

“Someone needs to start talking or I’m going to start an interrogation,” I snapped, tired of all the riddles. “Spill the damn beans already so I can decide whether or not Leyla will be booted out. Surely you can fill me in on something without needing our entire council here? What happened to Gideon? Titus? Xiaodan? Airell’s followers?”

Atanas clasped his hands together on the table, his gaze unfocussed as if debating with himself. Lifting his head, he acquiesced. “There weren’t many of Airell’s followers left once the fighting was over, but those who did survive were given a choice to join us. Those that did, left completely clear on the new laws and what would happen should they break one; no more needless killing, hunt under the radar, no more selling or taking of Ailill blood, and no blooding humans until I give the say so.”

Laws? We had laws now? I was impressed.

“Every Princeps has been given notice about these laws,” Kinacid added. “They’ll pass quickly by word of mouth too, and most will no be stupid enough to go against Atanas. Any young vampire ignorant of who he is before, will soon quickly hear.”

I hummed a quiet agreement though I couldn’t be convinced all who’d agreed to pledge to Atanas’ would keep their word. However one thing was certain, Vampires loved a good story and what happened in Romania would spread like wildfire. Hopefully I’d never have to hear how I was portrayed. Damsel in distress, the idiot falling into another trap, the one that got Padraig killed. . .

“As for Titus, do you really think I would let him live after what he did?” Blue eyes darkened and his voice hardened to steel. “He took the life of one of my most trusted friends and allies, hurt you, stole you, betrayed us to Airell. He sealed his fate.”

“Stole me,” I repeated unhappily, hating that he’d made me sound like property. “So he met his end in the caves too?”

Atanas nodded once, causing a strand of inky hair to fall into his eyes that were now trained on a polished knot in the wood.

I knew the betrayal hurt him but I didn’t expect the pain I saw in his creased expression, blue eyes misty and far away. Titus had always been on the grey end of our trustworthy scale, but they’d known each other longer than I’d walked the earth. A relationship like that didn’t just disintegrate. . . Or was it anger and disappointment in himself at Titus having drawn the wool over his eyes?

It wasn’t a question I could ask with Kincaid here so I reached under the table to squeeze his leg, urging him to understand it wasn’t his fault. Blues flashed a bright electric colour as they lifted to me and Atanas’ shoulders dropped, his chest expanding with a deep breath. I smiled as his fingers twined round mine, keeping my hand locked in place.

“Xiaodan was returned to her people in a province in China. I think she was pleased to be back for she didn’t complain, she didn’t really speak at all. The witches at the Montedoro Fort were also told to go home, those that had one; a few chose to come here and Una has them living with a few of her coven.”

That was one piece of news I was happy to hear. Una would make sure the witches were well taken care of. Whether they were with Titus by choice or not, something about the arrangement hadn’t sat right with me. Was it really a choice to stay with him if they had nowhere else to go?

“And Ren?” I asked softly.

Despite his affiliation with Titus, and the fact he looked down his nose at everyone, he had never struck me as having a real bad bone in his body. I hadn’t seen him amongst the fighting in the caves, but then I hadn’t exactly been looking for him.

“Fled,” Atanas muttered. “Along with most of Titus’ vampires, those that didn’t fight with us. For all his mistakes, he made sure his people were kept out of the way so no matter who won, they would be safe in neutrality. As he promised. No blame can be placed on them, so we won’t hunt them down . . .not unless you think we should.”

When I frowned, he explained, “I killed their leader. More than that, Titus had turned more than a few of those around him. They may seek revenge no matter whether they agreed with his betrayal of us or not.”

Brilliant. Another side for us to be attacked from. Although, Ren seemed like the most likely one to replace Titus and though he was volatile, I doubted he’d be stupid enough to come at us. Not now we’d taken down Airell. And yet, for a moment, enough fury at Titus burned in my veins to tempt darker instincts that demanded blood. Then I shook my head and ran my tongue over my fangs until they retracted again.

“No, you made the right choice to leave them be. Enough blood has been spilt and we’ve drawn enough attention, it’s time for peace. . .or whatever.”

Atanas and Kincaid shared a grim look that made me sit up straight in the armchair, which was hard to do when the cushions sunk beneath my weight.

“What? We have peace, right? Airell is gone, his minions dead or cowed, and Leyla is in our custody, but you still haven’t explained how that fucking happened. Don’t think I’ve forgotten.”

Blue eyes narrowed at my crass language but he resisted scolding me. “One thing at a time, Libertas Mea. I’d rather not have to go over details again for the council.”

My hands shimmered over the table as frustration boiled over, and while Atanas barely reacted, Kincaid cleared his throat and offered some information of his own, “You asked about Gideon; he's downstairs, under lock and key until the Ailill blood has left his system, but it shouldn’t be more than a few days now. Then we’ll be able to ascertain his state of mind and better help him.”

More good news, in a way. . .so why was everyone acting like we were about to witness the end of the world?

Thankfully, I didn’t have to wait much longer. The double doors finally swung open again and in streamed our most trusted, along with a few faces I didn’t recognise. I could almost swear a few of the new members were human though the scent of vampire was so strong around them, I couldn’t put the scent to faces. The red-faced man in a suit and tie perhaps, or the middle-aged woman with streaks of silver running through her impossibly dark hair.

I glanced at my mate curiously but he was busy making an impression, rising slowly from his chair with the imperious look of a king about to call his court into order. I tried to catch Una's gaze but she intently studied her red painted nails. Zena and Lachlan were missing from our number too, and while I knew Zena had a coven of her own she was desperate to get back to, I couldn’t see her leaving if we were in some sort of trouble.

“Thank you all for coming again,” Atanas greeted everyone. “We have a lot to go over this evening so if we could keep the squabbling to a minimum this time, we will get out of here all the faster.”

Guilty faces looked down and I wondered how many meetings gone wrong had been held while I’d been recovering. Enough to warrant a warning this time round.

Feeling eyes on me, I glanced up Atanas who stared at me expectantly. I spluttered and folded my arms. “I’ll be on my best behaviour, when am I not?”

He smirked and ignored the chuckles around us as he sat back in his chair.

Maybe sometimes I lost my temper, and yes, I’d slapped him in front of two of his subordinates, but my track record was otherwise...mostly...sort of immaculate.

Motioning to Kincaid to take charge, the vampire stood and cleared his throat. It appeared he’d finally stepped up as Atanas’ right hand, but as I remembered why, my stomach sank. Over and over again, I forgot that Padraig was gone. And over and over again, the grief hit me with as much force as the first time. I saw his last moment in my mind’s eye. The wide eyed but resigned expression as he realised he was going to die.

Forcing myself not to blink so tears wouldn’t escape, I watched Kincaid shuffle papers until he found what he wanted.

“The reports of the explosion in the warehouse in Brașov didn’t make it past the local papers. Investigations have concluded the cause was an electrical fault and closed the case. The clothes and food left behind have been put down to squatters but they feel no need to track them down.”

“Of course not,” I muttered. “Who cares about the poor and homeless?”

Kincaid quirked a brow. “Indeed. Either way, nobody is looking for us there, and there is nothing to be found anyway. Ihrin and her family will, of course, alert us if they hear of anyone sniffing around.”

That was a small relief.

“So we only have the mess in Italy to worry about?” I asked, curling my legs beneath me.

“And what a mess it is,” a voice mumbled from down the table.

The man with the red face and nervous twitch outed himself as human. His heart quickened when the attention turned to him and my curiosity grew. He didn’t look like the usual humans that hung around our kind in the slightest. The off green suit he wore hung off his heavy frame, and the way he kept nervously glancing at Kincaid made me wonder exactly how they knew each other.

“Three most wanted lists, you’ve been deemed possibly armed and dangerous, but you’re also the only witness so they want you alive.” He snorted and wrung his hands together, shifting his gaze nearer Atanas but not daring to look at him directly. “I really do think handing her in is the best option. Have her give her statement. With no priors-“

“And no proof she even exists,” Una cut in. “You think they’ll take a statement and leave it at that? No. They’ll dig into her background and find she has no birth certificate, no school records, no medical records, and no bank account.”

Kincaid shrugged. “That can all be easily forged.”

“To withstand the scrutiny of entire nations?”

And so the first fight broke out.

I ignored the shouting to think over both points, coming to the conclusion that Una was right. Even if I gave a statement, there would be too many missing links; including the fact we couldn’t hand over the perpetrator.

I leaned over the table towards Atanas and whispered, “Is Seth still alive?”

He tore his irritated gaze away from his fighting council to look at me. “No. He had long outlived his usefulness. It’s not as if a human prison would keep him in anyway, not unless we wanted to reveal ourselves at the very least. Though, that might be out of hands now too.”

“What? How?”

But my question was drowned out as Una loudly declared the poor human man inept.

Having had enough, Atanas fisted his hand and brought it crashing down on the table, stopping the fighting in its tracks. The last insult faded with an angry breath and most slumped back in their seats. Kincaid and Una however, glared openly at each other until Atanas let loose a long hiss from between long fangs. Kincaid straightened the cuff of his sleeve before sitting down, and only then did Una follow suit.

The humans around the table were hard to ignore now. Their hearts fluttered and raced while their fear permeated the air, tempting predator instincts. Adrenaline laced blood came second only to Ailill blood in addiction levels. I managed to pick out the other two humans sitting either side of the red-faced man. All three sat with terror in their eyes, pupils dilated and bodies tense. And these were humans I could only surmise had known of our existence for a while, or they wouldn’t be allowed here. If they were this terrified of pissed of supernatural having a lively debate, how would the rest of the population react to our mere existence?

Fear always made the worst of monsters.

Once the room was silent again, Atanas held his hand out and Kincaid passed him yet another folder which was then passed to me. I stared at it like it would bite. My name had been scrawled on the orange cover in loopy writing which did not bode well by how thick the damn thing was. I reached out with trembling fingers, and no one dared so much as breathe as I opened it.

The first few pages were screenshots from some Facebook clickbait sites that I scanned over with bemusement.

‘Death comes to Rome – is the ancient city under the attack of something other?’

‘Are vampires real? Is the mysterious woman caught on camera during a murder in Rome a member of the undead?’

‘’Is there a bloody cult working throughout Italy? These photos say yes!’

“Well, these can be easily dismissed. There’s articles convinced good ‘ol Queen Bett is a lizard.” I snorted as I read further on, skimming a blog that argued the image of me is so grainy and blurred because cameras struggle to capture vampires.

If only. Then I wouldn’t have been in this mess in the first place.

“Those are the least concerning. Keep reading,” Atanas urged.

Flicking through a few more posts that screamed conspiracy theories more than real news, I finally found a few that made me pause. A photocopy of a statement from a name I didn’t recognise but as I read the English translation noted down the side of the page, I realised it was from the taxi driver who'd taken Atanas and I to our hotel.

He’d recognised me in the picture being circulated.

The one saving grace was he said he couldn’t pin my accent down to any more specific than “Maybe British”. It made my nose scrunch in distaste, but on the other hand, thank fuck.

Turning to the last few pages, again all in Italian with English notations, I surmised they were orders for the Italian Police and morgues to double check all future bodies found for markings similar to the ones Seth had left. Further details included then taking extensive measurements and swabs of the wound. The entire body would need to be tested for any trace of what could have caused it. Blood, if any can be found, would be tested for foreign bodies or unusual counts. . .

It only took one clumsy vampire leaving too much of a trace.

The gravity of the situation hit me square in the chest. It was almost inevitable they’d find something eventually if this stayed in place for long

“They’re onto us, whether they think I’m part of a cult that likes blood, or a real vampire, they know they need to be looking for something.”

“If it was just being implemented in Italy, I might be convinced they think it’s a small cult causing trouble,” Atanas said, a grit to his tone the betrayed his annoyance with human interference.

“But it’s not just Italy.” Kincaid tapped his fingers over a folder in front of him. “We've had reports of similar changes in police and hospital procedure throughout the United Kingdom; since that’s where the driver suspected you were from. There’s also been an abnormal amount of cold cases being pulled up-“

“How do you know?”

Kincaid looked smug as he replied, “It’s my job to know. If a vampire has been stupid enough to let a kill be found, I make sure the police are guided to a fitting conclusion. Or no conclusion, as is often the case. They’re going to start being more careful now however, but I’m still hopeful there’s a way to deal with this quietly. If we can make them believe this is all the work of a cult and that it’s come to an end, they won’t keep these new procedures in place, it adds hours to an already lengthy process.”

Mutters went around the room and to be honest, I doubted Kincaid’s assessment too. How could one wipe so much away?

“We could tell the world leaders,” I mused, picking at the edge of the armrest. “And hope they make the decision to keep it from the public. It’d be easier to hide ourselves if we have human help and I doubt any Minister or President wants to deal with mass hysteria.”

“You think all governments are capable of keeping such a secret?” Atanas asked, and it worried me that he was completely serious when I’d been joking. . .mostly.

The human man down the table chuckled and fidgeted with the cuff of his sleeve. “You think they’re not already keeping dozens of horrors from the public? I think it would be foolish to believe they are only now catching onto you all. It wouldn’t surprise me if a few high ups around the world were in the pockets of creatures like you.”

As horrifying a statement as that was, he had a point. Nadia was the perfect example; she’d once hinted at having even politicians within her sway. Our own humans at the table appeared to be more than just lawyers for hire, especially if the sleek and expensive lines of the black and silver haired woman’s suit was anything to go by.

Atanas had been busy while I’d been on death’s door. Or Kincaid somehow already had links because they seemed familiar with him. Did they help Kincaid sweep vampire crimes under the rug?

“So, we wait and see if Kincaid’s plan will work.” Una tapped her nails on the table then shook her head. “In the mean time, in case he can’t-“

Kincaid cut her a sharp look and sniffed, offended at her questioning of his abilities. Una ignored it after a small smirk and continued, “You should allow the Principes to have a say on who amongst humans in their territories can be trusted. You should also request the other councils for their opinion, if not permission, should you need to reveal our presence to the humans. After all, out yourselves, and how long do you think the rest of us will manage to remain hidden? Witches, Elves, Fae, Shifters. . .you need to remember this will effect more than your own people.”

Atanas growled, and it made me wonder if she’d broached the subject before. “I’m quite aware of what the consequences could be, Una. You’ve made your point a few times in the last week and while I accept your words as an advisor, I will not be dictated to. Contact your witches, though I assume they will pick you to represent them anyway, and the Ailill as well."

Her nails dug into the wooden table before she shook away stray curls from her face and sat back. “I will talk to the Ailill though this might be enough to make them decide to close the veil between their world and here for good.”

“That’s their prerogative.”

“Hang on,” I cut in. “The wolves, witches, and most other creatures don’t have a King or Queen to represent them the world over. Are you suggesting we send a message to every coven leader, and every Alpha in the whole world?”

Kincaid looked green at the mere thought.

“Put like that. . .” Thierry muttered from where he lounged next to a quiet Elaine. “The dogs would fight like strays over a bone for the chance at wielding such a title over the packs.”

I hadn’t had many interactions with wolves, but even I knew that assessment wasn’t far off the truth. Another war breaking out was the last thing we needed.

“Perhaps just those in the country,” Atanas amended.

“So one country decides what effects the entire world? How very Roman of you, Atanas.” Scoffing, I shook my head him, feeling suddenly overwhelmed. I was tired. Oh so tired. And every inch of me still ached despite having fed three more times since I’d woken.

Long gone were the days of lazing around in my flat, reading books and watching movies to fill my time, feeding every other week only when I was close to passing out. Now I had the fate of our species, and possibly others too, resting on the decisions of my mate and I. All the while we had no idea where the next hit would come from and how big a blow it would be.

This is too big for us.

Atanas gripped my wrist and leaned in close, blue eyes darkening to midnight as he rumbled, “Nothing is too big for us. We will do what we have to do. All this worry might be for nothing anyway; humans have fleeting attention spans and something else will catch their notice in a few weeks.”

The vampires in the room chuckled while the humans shifted uncomfortably in their seats.

Maybe he was right. Maybe as long as we stayed on top of the loose ends often left by our kind for a while, all would be well.

Facing the others again once he was sure I found the last seed of hope for a peaceful existence, Atanas clasped his hands together on top of the table. Blue eyes moved around all the waiting faces before he nodded towards the end of the table. “Elaine, you’re on good terms with the packs.”

She nodded, seemingly eager to have a task. “I’m friendly with an Alpha or two.”

Thierry’s grey gaze narrowed on her face but the Celtic warrioress didn’t acknowledge him. It was hard to tell whether they were on good or bad terms today, even though the smell of sex permeated the air around them.

“Invite their council to meet with us. If they agree, I will give them a date and time. They can choose the location as long as it’s neutral.”

Copper curls bounced as she bowed her head with a hand over her heart. “Yes, Your Majesty."

“Mr Dunfield,” Atanas moved on swiftly, addressing the human man who finally stopped moving now Atanas’ attention was directly on him. “I trust you will continue looking into procuring documents for Shylah should she need them. Though if your team can focus on directing police attention elsewhere, that should be the priority.”

I heard the human swallow from across the room just as well as I could smell the acrid drops of sweat beading his skin.

“Of course. It’s all being arranged. Like I warned you though, the cost of these documents is quite substantial.”

“Money is no issue. I want everything ready by the end of the week.” Atanas waved a hand, and most everyone took that as their cue to leave.

Chairs legs screeched across the floor as they stood, murmuring quietly to each other.

Watching them trickle out, I narrowed my gaze at my mate. He’d avoided one subject expertly so far but no more. “None of this explains why you’ve chosen to keep Leyla alive and in our home."

I swore Thierry and Elaine both paused at the door to hear the rest but a stern look from Atanas sent them scampering out. Una propped her feet up in the chair beside her while Kincaid shifted his weight foot to foot, hands folded behind his back, probably wishing he was anywhere else.

“Leyla is the only being alive that knows about, well. . .whatever she was entombed with.”

I frowned, dropping my legs to sit straight. Atanas’ expression gave nothing away, and the other two were determined not to meet my eye.

“Why would we need to know anything about it?”

He made a show of buttoning his suit jacket before admitting, “I thought it best to check the other tomb before Xiaodan resealed the caves.” From the way he looked at me, I somehow knew what he was going to say next, as his lips parted and a grave expression creased his brow. “It was empty.”

A chill shot down my spine, alongside a flash of standing in a meadow while a shadow ran closer and closer. I shook my head free of the image.

“Can’t we assume he’s a vampire. Maybe the actual first vampire; Leyla’s maker.”

Kincaid hummed his agreement but Atanas shook his head. “We can’t afford to make assumptions. Not when it matters now more than ever that our world stays quiet and away from the humans for the foreseeable future. If there’s a creature like that on the loose, I don’t imagine it knows or cares to keep a low profile. It might only take one more suspicious death to take us all down.”

“If that happens, it won’t be long before Vampire is being shouted in the streets. It’ll be another witch hunt,” Una agreed. “Until we know what was trapped with Leyla, and exactly what it wants, we’re going to have to be as alert as the humans are.”

Atanas’ gaze burned into the side of my face while I glared in fury at the table. I was ready to argue with whatever reason Atanas had for keeping Leyla until I was blue in the face. Even with the fact she was the only one that knew anything about the creature that could be stalking the streets somewhere at this very moment, it still felt like keeping her was more trouble than she was worth.

My thoughts chased each other around and it wasn’t until Atanas pinched my jaw that I realised I was chewing my cheek to shreds.

“Someone else must know what it is, and what its weaknesses are. Hell, we don’t know when it managed to get out or if it was even really there to begin with.” But the words fell flat and I growled as I threw myself to my feet and paced the length of the table.

Those were all thing that Leyla might be able to answer so it only boosted Atanas’ arguement.

Three sets of eyes watched me fret until I spun around and glared at my mate. “Fine.”

“Fine?” He lifted a brow, unfazed by my mood.

Irritated, I marched back over. “Your crazy ex-girlfriend can stay for now. But I swear if she comes near me again-“

“You won’t so much as have to look at her if you don’t want to. We’re busy securing one of the cells in the basement for her and she’ll be moved tomorrow evening.”

I could only imagine what 'securing' meant. He was probably redecorating it so it was fit for a queen.

Teeth grinding together, I folded my arms, fighting to keep hold of the idea that this would eventually all be over. No wonder nobody had told me anything until now. If I’d heard when I first woke up, my mind might have finally snapped under the pressure.

“I want to see Anna now.”

Atanas stilled and cleared his throat, busying himself with clearing up the scattered papers. “Anna left for Cala-phort shortly before dawn.”

Swaying on my feet in disbelief, I spluttered while hurt gripped my chest. She didn’t want to see me?

“You let her go alone? She just lost her mate, after losing so much already. She was close to stepping into the sun before, how do you think she feels now!”

“She didn’t go alone; Zena and Lachlan are with her. She just needs some time,” Una had a gentleness to her tone that she never had for me, she even offered a sympathetic smile. “Give her a few more days before dragging her back to. . .this.”

“I can go visit-“

“That would not be wise, Shylah,” Kincaid argued.

“Right.” I huffed. “Because I’m under house arrest.”

Pushing away from the table, Atanas reached out for me to stop my tirade. His hands wrapped around mine and immediately some of the trembling dissipated. With an audience, I felt a little awkward, but allowed myself to fall against his chest.

His warm scent surrounded me and chased away the anxious energy that thrummed through my aching limbs.

“I thought Airell’s death would be the end of it,” I admitted on a shaky breath.

Atanas rumbled a gentle laugh and pressed a kiss to my hair. “Oh, my love. That is one of the reasons I admire you, you’re an optimist at heart.” He pulled back after his gentle teasing but kept his hands firmly on my mine, his thumbs brushing over my knuckles. “It won’t be forever. The police will move on when they realise you can’t be found. And who knows, maybe there was no body to be found in the tomb because it was all but dust.”

Una snorted and I grimaced. Didn’t he know he was tempting fate by saying such things? My fingers twitched with the need to reach over and knock on the wooden table but Atanas would only make fun of such a superstition.

“As soon as we know what it is, or if it’s even still around, Leyla is out.” Firm and gritty, my words were final and not be argued with; but I was still taken aback when Atanas went so far as to bow before me.

Una stared at him with her mouth hanging open, Kincaid snapping his own shut when I glanced at him. I fought a smirk, watching my mate rise again with as stern an expression as I could muster.

Dark blue eyes stared straight back into mine, and even without the bond, I knew he would have understood: I wouldn’t put my neck out for Leyla. If someone threatened us to get to her, I would hand her over without blinking as long as it was her death they were after. If she killed, or even looked at me in a way I didn’t like, I’d demand her death myself.

Keeping Leyla under our roof was akin to keeping a starving wolf in a pen of sheep. Was it worth it just in case the wolf knew how to defeat the lion?

“If I’m not needed, and Anna doesn’t want to see me, I want to see Gideon.”

Atanas folded his hands behind his back and nodded towards Kincaid. “Of course. Don’t leave Kincaid's sight. And don’t open Gideon’s cage no matter how convincingly sane he might come across.”

His brow arched as I sucked my teeth.

“What’s with the bodyguards?” I asked. “I feel fine now, if a little tired. Leyla is locked up, and we’re in our own home for god’s sake. I don’t want to be followed every time I want to eat or go to the bathroom, or whatever else I’ll be stuck doing until I’m allowed out.”

Atanas smirked and tutted, amusement shining in his eyes. It wasn’t the reaction I’d expected and I knew he enjoyed throwing me off course.

“Firstly, don’t think your time is going to be spent idly, Libertas Mea. You are a Queen now, we have laws to create for our people, and you’ve much to learn in case you’re needed to lead in my stead if I’m away or. . .” The smile fell from his lips and he retook his seat, his gaze scanning over the papers before him all stacked in neat piles beside a sleek silver laptop. “Secondly, it has become far too clear that all the weeds have yet to be pulled from amongst us. Until I’m certain I have uprooted the last one, you’ll be watched by someone at all times. The glowing hand trick you pulled so I could locate you in the cave means that stories of your power are going to start being spread too. Older vampires may know enough to link you to Leyla.”

It would be easy to argue, to allow the feeling of being trapped to overwhelm my already tentative grasp on sanity. But Atanas’ gaze was steady and he wet his lips as if preparing to counter any and all excuses or counter points I could come up with. Or bat away whatever insults I would through at him.

In truth, his words frightened me. With Leyla here, I might finally have answers about where my magic came from. Whether I had it while I was human, in which case surely I should have lost access to them when turned as all witches did, or whether they were somehow activated when I was turned. Yet, I wasn’t sure I wanted to know. Ignorance was bliss, and I’d never truly appreciated that statement until now. Not that I regretted meeting Atanas, but everything else?

Others might become just as curious about my heritage too, and I’d seen what Airell’s curiosity pushed him to do. I could only be grateful that the number of beings alive who knew about Leyla was dwindling. Vampires might have been immortal, but few made it past they’re first century, and fewer still every century after. There were no more than perhaps a dozen vampires who could claim the title of an Ancient, One who’d seen over a thousand years.

I was reaching four hundred, and perhaps it wasn’t best to take my chances while things were so unstable.

Smoothing my hands over my top, I gave Atanas a smile. He frowned in confusion, his eyes narrowing suspiciously, which made the moment that much more sweet. He wasn’t the only one that could shake things up.

“Okay, I’ll allow the stalkers to stalk. You have enough to deal with already without worrying about my safety too, I get it.” Pressing a kiss to his cheek, I nodded to Kincaid for us to leave. I paused by Una on my way to the door, her green eyes alight with amusement as my mate continued to stare at me like he was waiting for me to implode. “Give Anna my love. Tell her. . .tell her if it could have been me instead of him. . .”

Atanas growled at my words. His snarl drew his top lip away from pointed fangs, features contorting so there was no mistaking that Atanas wasn’t human.

“You intend to torture me with your nonchalance for life for eternity,” he hissed, but his emotions were anything but anger. A cold fear chilled our shared bond. He truly was concerned something was going to happen to me, but after Titus, who could blame him?

“Yup!” I sang, popping the P. “And you’ll love to hate every second of it.”

Una rolled her eyes. “Go, already. We need to keep working on saving your viral ass, and I can’t stand to listen to you and Atanas both haver and nip at each other like an old married couple.”

I snorted. The old part was right anyway.

Atanas’ features softened thoughtfully as he stared off in the distance, and I wondered what part of Una’s words had caught his attention. He was probably already plotting our next step. Good. The sooner we did, the sooner Leyla could be politely shown the door and told to bugger off.