Revolution

Carrie

It had been almost two weeks since the incident with Victor. The morning after the day of the bloodlust, what we were calling it, I woke up to both men holding me possessively. They were both also awake and waiting for me. I didn’t even have time to say good morning before their hands started moving along my body.

Over breakfast, they made me finally spill all the details of what happened with Victor. Since then, I always had at least one of them by my side. Colton slept with us every night. Every morning, he returned to the apartment I had apparently kicked him out of when I showed up, to shower.

Which was when Deacon and I had some alone time.

If Deacon and Colton had been overprotective before, it was nothing on what they were now. Something the other vamps picked up on. Even Carter had commented on it, nearly a week later.

“What’s going on? You two look like you are expecting a fight.” His voice was uncharacteristically serious.

“No. Just being cautious.” Deacon told him. “You know what you want tonight? If you want both of them, you’re gonna have to wait five more minutes. Grace is busy.”

Carter frowned, looking at the table she was sitting on. A female vamp was feeding from her thigh, while her hand was up Grace’s skirt. He turned back to Deacon, putting in a giant effort to not watch. I was sure if he watched much longer, he’d be ripping the other female off her.

“I know you better than that, Deac. What’s going on?” His eyes traveled over the room, stalling on me. Which made Deacon tense up.

I laughed and answered for him. “Someone cornered me in the alley the other day. They are both still a little sensitive about it.” I walked over and patted Deacon’s butt.

He playfully growled at me.

“Ah. Yeah. Well, we do get a little territorial over things we consider ours. Hate to break it to you, but they are both going to stay like this for a long while.” Carter chuckled.

Deacon wrapped an arm around me, holding me tight.

“That’s okay. I don’t mind too much.”

Deacon gave me a swift and rough kiss, appreciating my words.

“Do you know what you want?” He repeated to Carter. Probably hoping Carter wouldn’t ask about why the message hadn’t been posted outside. My boys eventually told me about what they normally would have done.

There were still a lot of things they didn’t tell me. But I did learn that they both liked pillow talk. And if I was careful, they would assume I had already fallen asleep, and speak freely. I heard all kinds of things.

Like my mate being a prince. Yeah, that one was a shocker.

I also learned that they didn’t like to keep their hands to themselves while I slept. Which was exactly why I put my foot down and insisted on no more putting me into a coma at night. I loved when they woke me up. And I really loved not sleeping through it anymore. And it always made me giggle when I woke up to them messing around. I didn’t think they even noticed how their own relationship had changed. It wasn’t usually much, just one or the other with a hand across me, while the other laid on his back, the hand moving. The mouth belonging to that hand usually landed on me not much later.

Bed wasn’t the only time I’ve caught them either. Deacon was kissing me one night, the bar packed full of Nightwalkers, and Colton just walked up behind him. Deacon kissed me harder as Colton unzipped his pants and pulled him out. Deacon lifted my leg, and this time Colton worked Deacon against me. At one point, I thought they were trying to push the connection, and it freaked me out. Again, bar full people! Deacon must have felt it though, as he pulled back. Colton followed his lead.

Tomorrow was going to be a rough day though. Tomorrow, Deacon was leaving to go on that supply run. Anytime I felt anxious or worried, Deacon would come and try to make me feel better.

Which was exactly what happened when the humans began to file out after the last call before sundown.

Deacon put both hands on my face and looked into my eyes. We were getting better at not using words. Of course, we had had the same conversation over and over again for days. So, it was just a repeat now. Instead of saying anything, he just kissed me deeply.

These were the times that Colton kept his distance from us. The times when Deacon couldn’t share. And neither could I.

“I will be fine. You will be fine. Trust me, please?”

I just nodded my head and wrapped my arms around him. I did trust him. It was everyone else I didn’t trust.

“Hope we’re not interrupting anything.” An amused voice said from the door.

I laughed but kept my head against Deacon. “I think you got your days mixed up. It’s only Thursday. Sunday is still a few days off.”

Grace tskd and waved her hand. “Neh. We just got bored. I never realized how much our lives revolved around technology until the power went out. We figured we might as well make a little money. I brought some different friends this time. Hope you don’t mind.”

I sighed as Deacon moved away from me, needing to get the newbies prepped. Although I was sure Grace had already done that.

“No Todd tonight?” Deacon asked curiously.

“No, he is back at the apartment with a few others. They will come tomorrow.”

I tilted my head, there was a lot she wasn’t telling us. A whole lot. Her eyes met mine, then rolled over to Colton.

Grace was scared for us. She knew something we didn’t. I opened my mouth to ask her what was up, when I was cut off by a squeal of excitement.

“Carrie???”

I turned, finally taking in who was with Grace. I covered my mouth in shock.

“Holy crap!” An identical voice said.

I frantically ran around the bar and met them halfway.

I gave them both hugs and then started running my hands all over them.

“You’re okay? You’re both, okay? I was so worried! I wanted to go find you, but I wasn’t sure where to look. And I worried I would lead him back to you somehow. It wasn’t exactly all that safe for me to leave either.”

Once I was satisfied they were both in one piece, I pulled them both in for another hug. The twins held onto me tight in return.

“We thought you were dead! We saw that vamp chase after you.”

“When you didn’t come back, we were so scared. We even went to the bus station the next day, hoping you had hidden in there for the night.”

“We were going to keep looking, but the cops showed up and insisted on taking us to a shelter.”

I kissed both their heads one more time before pulling away. Deacon had come up behind me, responding to my intense feelings, no doubt.

“What happened? How did you get away?” Raya asked. She had the slightest dimple on her chin. That was how I learned to tell them apart.

I glanced up at the face behind me. “Victor chased me down the back alley. Deacon heard me and stepped out. He saved me.” Deacon winked and kissed my head.

The twins giggled. “So, I guess you took our advice, huh?”

I looked back at my girls and Layla winked at me too.

I laughed. “He didn’t give me much of a choice.” I turned back to them and grabbed their hands. Pulling them to the bar. “What have you been up to since? Are you still in the shelter? I was there with Deacon, all those people made me sad, and the manager was creepy, so I waited outside. If I had known you were in there, I would have come over and dragged your butts out that day.”

“Mr. Ryan was the worst!” Raya exclaimed, rolling her eyes. She looked at her twin and they laughed. “We, uh, actually moved back into Bryce’s place a few weeks ago.” She shrugged, like it was no big deal. “It was a little closer than the shelter, more comfortable, and more food.”

I grimaced, walking around the bar to get them waters. “Please tell me someone got rid of the bodies.”

“Yeah, but I don’t know who. I do know the cops were going to places those first few days, looking for survivors, and cleaning places out. We don’t know what they did to them though. Sorry.”

“Eh, not a big deal. Honestly, it feels like another lifetime ago. Ya know?”

I leaned back as Colton set two plates with giant burgers down in front of them. He winked at me and rubbed a hand on my back. Something neither of the twins missed. They just giggled. From what I had seen of their little group, they were not going to judge me for how I was living now.

“Yeah, we get it. All of it. Looks like you are in a much better place now.” Layla said, dramatically leaning to the side to get a good look at Colton’s retreating frame.

Grace came and sat on the other side of them, digging into her own burger. I always insisted on feeding the donors first. Deacon insisted on it being something with iron.

“This the girl you were talking about?” She asked vaguely.

I could tell she was hinting at something. I could feel an underlying question.

“Yes. She and I were trapped in the bus station together.” Raya proudly answered the verbal and nonverbal question.

Grace appraised me with new eyes, something hidden. She and I were going to have to have a long talk. I could feel that she wanted that too but wasn’t sure how to go about it.

“Your ex had crap taste in coffee.”

Layla nearly choked on her burger. Raya spit out the water she had just taken a drink of.

“He had crap taste in a lot of things.” I responded in a deadpan voice. I could feel Deacon tensing up. I could see Colton’s fist by his side. “It’s a good thing I always knew there was something off about him. I chose better the next time.” I winked at both of them. Deacon huffed in amusement and shook his head.

“Yeah. A vampire prince. Talk about moving up in the world.” The whole world froze at Grace’s comment. “Huh, interesting. I’m not really sure what it means, but whatever it is, you all just confirmed it.”

“How the hell did you hear that? And from where?” Colton moved to stand in front of me, between myself and Grace, on the other side of the bar, a second later. Well, he was more to her side, but prepared to jump between us if need be. Scott quickly moved behind Grace, acting as back up. Raya and Layla leaned back, looking around warily.

“Don’t worry, we have about ten minutes before anyone else gets here.” Grace said, taking another bite like she didn’t just give two vampires a heart attack.

“You’re clairvoyant.” I whispered.

It was all that made sense, especially if she knew how long we had. Deacon and Colton both looked at me. Deacon took a big sniff of the air, moving closer.

“I knew that day in the shelter that she smelled similar to you, but it was weak. So, I didn’t give it another thought.” He sniffed again. This time close enough to make Grace flinch away from him. “You have witch’s blood in you. Not as strong and pure as Carrie’s, be grateful. She has had no end of trouble because of it.”

“Is that why that vamp didn’t even give us a second look and went after you?” Layla whispered.

“Most likely, yes. He talked a lot about my scent.” I could feel Deacon getting angry again, so I reached out and held his hand. I put my other across the bar to hold Colton’s tight fist. So sensitive. “It’s not a topic they like much. Victor came back a few days ago. He was waiting in the alley for me. We don’t have to worry about him anymore, but vampires, of both varieties, can be territorial.”

We needed a change in subject, and we were running low on time.

“Grace, did you have a vision about Deacon?” She nodded, a little scared now. “Don’t worry. My mother was a clairvoyant. A very powerful one at that. I’m sure the twins already told you what I can do.”

“Yes. If I had known you were the same person, I would have come to you sooner. I woke up to one hell of a vision this morning. Deacon was going somewhere, through the gate.” Her eyes looked up to Deacon. “The vamp guards will see you driving in the sun. They will call Curtis. I don’t know exactly what happens to you. But he does tell your friend here that you are of no more consequence. He puts some type of knife in his heart, paralyzing him, and takes Carrie. He says she is of the old blood and that he can see why you mated her.” At the deep growl from both of them, the humans all jumped back. “Yeah, it didn’t sound like a good thing.”

“What else did he say?” Deacon just had no control over that growl.

“He said he was leaving Colton alive to tell the king and other Vampire Borns. He said he was taking the throne and was excited to have the rest of your clan with him. He wanted them to be his secret weapons, his super soldiers.” Her voice trailed off into a whisper.

“What was the other path Grace? What is our other option?”

Her eyes widened, apparently she hadn’t fully believed me when I said I knew how it worked.

“Deacon has to take Todd with him. The vision didn’t say why. We think Todd needs to drive back, while Deacon pretends to hide from the sun.”

No, there was more. Much more.

“What else is there? What are you hiding from us?” She exchanged looks with the smug twins. “There is no need to keep secrets anymore. We can help each other. What is your plan?”

When Grace refused to say more, Layla answered for her, much to Grace’s dislike. “We are trying to place ourselves as a harem to Curtis. We are using Carter to get us there.”

“Why would you do that? Curtis is the most dangerous being on this planet.” Colton asked in confusion.

Grace growled. “Two minutes. I’ll talk fast.” She gave Layla the evil eye, who just shrugged at her. Not apologetic in the least bit. “I had a vision two nights after the roads blew. The government will fail to save us unless someone can get closer to Curtis. Real close. Todd and I survived that night because my visions told me what we needed to do in order to survive. We distracted Ryley enough that he said he wanted to keep us as his secret harem, he was too low for a real one or to get any confidential information. His friend had said something about only Curtis and his top men getting them. The visions came piling in after that.”

Colton smirked. “Ryley still complains about the pets that ran away.”

“Yes, we had planned on starting here a night earlier than we did, but I had a vision of him going postal. It would have made Deacon act out in a way that would have gotten him caught sooner. So, we waited. And then we met Carter. Somehow, if you take Todd, it will lead to Carter taking us with him. Which is what we need.”

I looked up at Deacon, pleading with my heart. If he didn’t take Todd, he was surely going to die.

“I could just leave earlier. I could make sure I do not drive during the daylight.” He was only talking to me, and the others knew it.

“If that was a possibility, the visions would have shown it. I know how these work. I watched my mother use them my whole life. She told me not to be late to dinner that night. She said I had to be on time. I was going to be late, so I blew off the whole night thinking it would make a difference. That was the night they died, Deacon.” I stood up, getting closer to his face. “You are taking Todd with you. End of story. If not for your own safety, then do it for Colton and me. Would you risk Curtis getting his hands on me?”

Colton leaned over the bar. “I second this. Either you take the boy, or you do not go at all, your highness. It is my duty to protect you. I am only staying behind because she needs me more.”

Deacon looked between both of us, then sighed. Alicia and Ethan walked into the room.

“Fine.” He spat quietly. “Tell him to be here an hour before sundown.”