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“Mistakes are always forgivable, if one has the courage to admit them.”
-Bruce Lee-
Daniela
Dom’s eyes narrow on the captive Tytus, then shift to Lucas. “Seriously? This is your solution?”
Finn shakes his head and grabs Tytus, pulling him to the back in Lucas’s office. Luz watches him go, then her gaze travels over each remaining wolf in turn.
“Is that why you’ve all been acting so weird, because he’s a dragon?” Luz frowns. “It wasn’t a shock to my system finding out you’re all werewolves, why the hell would this be any different?”
I look from Lucas to the guys, then Luz, feeling like I’ve just put my foot in my mouth. “She didn’t know?”
No one answers me.
“Dani?” Luz presses when her question goes ignored, too. I open my mouth to answer, but Lucas beats me to it.
“Si, cara. He’s a dragon, and stuffing his nose where it doesn’t belong.”
Dom intervenes then. “Why’s he bound?”
“He showed up when we were leaving,” I say, “and said something about the Reapers’ situation not being his ideal.”
“That’s no reason to treat him like a criminal!” Luz cries.
Lucas’ expression darkens. “It is when he’s been showing up all places, offering help where it suits him and he’s the only thing Thiago seems to fear. Seems a bit too coincidental.”
Tristan steps by my side and holds my hand in his. To Luz, he says, “Long story short, Tytus got into it with Lucas.” Then he whispers to me, “Come with me.”
I duck into the garage with him, and he pulls us out of sight. Once there, his eyes roam me up and down. “Are you okay?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Dani...” His chocolate eyes are soft, and I see where he’s going with it. But I can’t cry about my father – I won’t.
“He got what was coming to him already. I don’t want to talk about it, not now.” A few feet away, I hear Luz’s voice predictably increasing, followed by Dom’s attempts to calm her down.
“Why’s Luz so angry for Tytus?”
He shrugs. “Remember how I told you he helped her find Dom? I think there’s some weird bond between them, or something. Plus, Lucrezia tends to see the good in everyone.”
I sigh, and my body shifts of its own accord. My head drops on his shoulder, and I inhale his scent. “It just doesn’t feel like something he’d do, Tristan. Why would Tytus join my brother?”
He shrugs. “Who knows? But it’s amusing how both you and Luz defend him, without really knowing him.”
Disagreeing with him is useless, so I simply burrow deeper in his chest, seeking his heat and reassurance. Tristan wraps his arms around me, holding me. He doesn’t talk, doesn’t offer empty comforting words. And it’s more healing than he’ll ever know.
After long moments, I pull back and meet his gaze. “Let’s go back before Luz goes overboard.”
He chuckles and we open the door, just in time to catch the end of their conversation.
“You’re being irrational, Lucas! Nothing of what you said gives you reason to bind him!”
I’m surprised Luz will take this tone with Lucas, but while he’s annoyed, he’s also amused. “He’s been in the right time one too many times, Lucrezia. After a while, it becomes suspicious.”
I think Luz will back down, but instead she places a hand on her hip and tilts her head, glaring at him. “And he still saved my ass. I think that warrants some respect, not imprisonment.”
Lucas’ jaw clenches and he looks at Dom, who shrugs. Uninterested as he seems, he still takes a step closer and wraps an arm around Luz’s shoulders. “Draga mea, let Lucas handle this.”
She looks at Tristan, then at me, before meeting Lucas’ glare once more. “Fine, be your usual stubborn self. But I want five minutes with Tytus.”
Lucas pinches the bridge of his nose, exhaling loud enough we can all feel it. Tension builds up in the room, all eyes on him. After a few moments of silence, he nods.
Luz doesn’t wait until he changes his mind. She darts past him, dragging me with her.
In Lucas’ office, Tytus is exactly what I picture. Huffing and puffing like he’s ready to blow the place down. Only he’s tied to a chair, and Finn looks ready to kill him.
Tristan
We’ve moved into the garage while the girls have their five minutes with Tytus. Finn’s not back yet, so it’s just me, Dom and Lucas.
“You’re sure about this?”
Lucas arches an eyebrow in my direction. “Sure about what?”
“Tytus and his involvement.” Okay, so maybe Dani’s conviction might’ve gotten through to me. At the same time, I feel like Lucas jumped the gun with the dragon.
I’m nowhere near reassured when Lucas simply shrugs. “Maybe, maybe not. I can’t tell, amico. All I know is he’s keeping something from us. And Dom himself said Jared had a deal with a zmeu. Now that Jared is dead, the Reapers are under Cade’s leadership and the zmeu just so happens to be around?”
Dom’s silent so I prod him. “What do you think?”
He rubs his jaw, then shakes his head. “I don’t know. Tytus helped Luz a while back. Why would he do that, and then turn against us? It makes no sense.”
“Right you are, godson.”
We all turn around to see Ileana. Lucas’ eyes flash and I get the feeling it’s not the first he’s seen of her. His next words confirm that.
“What are you doing on my territory – again?”
Ileana floats closer, and this time her expression is hard. “I knew you were stubborn, but not to this extent. You have the wrong man imprisoned and it will cost you.”
“Spare me,” Lucas snorts and tries to walk away.
Tries, because the minute he takes a step, Ileana raises one pale hand and he finds himself two inches above ground, unable to move. A snort escapes me, but I stifle it. It’s hard not to take satisfaction when someone else is being tortured with her tricks, as I have.
“I grow tired of your attitude, wolf. And you have no right to threaten the zmeu with something you know he cares deeply for.”
Lucas glares at her. “I have every right. This is my territory and since he’s appeared on it, chaos has reigned. Come to think of it, your appearance has not helped, either.”
Ileana rolls her eyes. “It is not his appearance that causes chaos, nor mine.” Her eyes flick to Dom. “I told you before, more than one thing will come to pass.”
“Release me now, witch.”
Dom shakes his head and takes a step closer to his godmother, using her title in Romanian. “Naşă, all due respect, antagonizing Lucas won’t get you what you want.”
“It is not about what I want. Your leader feels threatened because there is another in town he cannot control.” Her eyes flash again. “That fear leads him to make stupid choices. Do not be the idiot who follows him onto this path.”
Then she releases Lucas and he lands on his feet. Her otherworldly eyes find each of us in turn, and a shiver runs through me at her next words.
“You will be attacked past midnight. Do not lose sight of what you hold dear.”
She disappears before we can say anything, and my gut clenches. “What we hold dear? Does she mean Dani?”
“And Luz?”
Our questions go unanswered by Lucas. He’s staring at the ground, eyes narrowed as if it would provide the answers he seeks. When he looks back up, his expression is hard. “The five minutes are up. Time to talk to the dragon.”
Daniela
Finn turns to us when we enter and it’s the angriest I’ve ever seen him. Nostrils flaring, fists clenched, it looks like he’s shooting fire through his eyes.
“What’s going on?”
Tytus shrugs, relaxing into the chair. “Seems your pack member has a prejudice against dragons.”
Finn clenches his jaw, but before he can say anything Luz touches his shoulder. “Lucas gave us five minutes with him. Alone.”
He opens his mouth to argue, then throws a scathing look to Tytus. “Just watch yourselves.”
When he leaves, some of his angry energy lingers. Only Tytus seems unbothered, instead turning curious eyes on us.
“What’s going on?” Luz asks, stepping closer. “I know you’re not trying to hurt us. You helped me, not so long ago.”
One shoulder lifts in a shrug. “Perhaps it was all part of my master plan.”
“Bullshit.” Luz gets even closer. “I don’t believe that.”
“Neither do I. Why would you have bothered warning me about my magic, helping me with everything?” I frown. “You even joined our fights. It may be you were looking for something, but that doesn’t take away from the fact you helped.”
Tytus turns his gaze away, sighing. “This is beyond your understanding.”
Luz crosses her arms over her chest. “Try us.”
He’s silent for a long time, and I whisper, “They only gave us five minutes. Two of those are up.”
Luz softens her tone. “Let us help, Ty.” I fully expect him to correct the nickname she gives him, but to my surprise, he doesn’t.
“This is beyond your help, Red. And yours, little wolf.”
I kneel in front of him, trying to catch his eye. “Not going to happen. You helped me with my magic. Without you, I wouldn’t have been able to face my brother once – let alone twice, and win.”
Tytus snorts, his expression twisting in a sneer. “I didn’t help you, I used you. Needed you to get me closer to your brother. Not that it helped...” He looks away.
“Nice try,” I say, “but you’re not fooling us. So are you saying you don’t want this?”
I reach into my pocket and pull out my father’s pendant. It’s similar to my mark, a pagan star with a snake around it. Except the body of the snake is actually a little vial, with a cap on the head. The weight of the liquid inside it sinks into my palm.
Tytus’ eyes widen, as if unable to believe what is being presented mere inches from his face. “Where did you get that?”
I grin at Luz, happy we got his attention. “Where you said it’d be – my father’s neck.”
Tytus frowns. “You wouldn’t have taken it from him, you’re too good for that.”
“You’re right, but my father’s dead now, so he won’t miss it.”
Tytus’ gaze is glued to the pendant, assessing, thinking. He wants this thing, needs it, but I don’t know why. And unless he opens up to us and lets us help him, Lucas will have his way.
“What’s in this, Tytus? Why do you need the pendant?”
He still refuses to talk, and turns his head away from us. But I won’t give up, not when I feel us this close. “Say what you will, but you helped me. And I need you to do it again. Thiago controls the ravens, and somehow I managed to as well. But I don’t understand how he uses magia when he’s in wolf form... How can I defeat him, when it comes down to it?”
Without looking at me, Tytus says, “The chance to defeat your brother was long ago. The only thing you can do now is defend.”
“I refuse to believe that. There has to be a way! What about the witch he keeps imprisoned?”
Tytus looks up sharply then, his expression hungry. “Where does he keep her?”
“I...don’t know. It used to be in a cave near Bow’s Arrow, but I’m sure he moved her since then. Now that our father’s dead, he’ll probably bring her to the house and keep a closer on eye on her.” I think back to the first time Tytus joined us in a fight, how he’d been circling the ground, as if searching for someone. I’d thought at the time it was my mate, but now something tells me I was wrong. “Is that what you wanted? The witch? When you helped me save Tristan...”
His stormy eyes hold mine for a beat, and he nods. Then his gaze flickers to the pendant still in my hand. I raise it to his eyes once more. “I’ll give you this, Tytus, and I’ll release you. All I ask in return is you tell me how to defeat my brother.”
A beat passes. Then another. And another.
Finally, he says, “Your brother might have been gifted the magic, but he has sullied it, taken to using it for selfish gains. Every act he has done, has turned him worse than he was in the beginning. There is no saving him, you have to understand that. That is why he wants you, wants to mate with you. To own you – body and soul.”
“Why?”
“So he can kill you after, and gorge on your blood. Then he’ll be the alpha he wants to be, with the lobisomens fully subservient to him.”
I frown. “His pack already listens to him.”
“They may listen, but they cannot hear him, little wolf. The ravens are in his head, leaving no room for the lobisomens. Thiago is slowly going insane from the lack of contact with his fellow wolves. Your death, the true leader of the pack, would make him their uncontested alpha, and break the last bonds of loyalty to you.”
I stagger to my feet, looking down at him. “Thank you.” He nods, then looks away again.
“Ty, please,” Luz begs. “Talk to us. Tell us how to help you, too.”
He takes a deep breath, then releases it. “Can’t. You should remove yourselves from this town as soon as you can.”
“Kind of hard, considering we both have men we love here,” I snap. “Let’s try something else. What does Lucas have on you?”
His eyes flash at that. “Nothing.”
“Didn’t look that way to me. You practically kneeled before him when he mentioned a she.”
A growl escapes his lips, and he actually bares his teeth. “A dragon never kneels.”
“Oh yeah?” I know I’m taunting the beast, but at least he’s talking. And we’re down to no more minutes. “Isn’t it funny then that you’re here, bound by ropes I know you can cut, imprisoned in a building I know you can explode?”
Luz picks up on my words and tries again. “Let us help, Ty. We’re the only ones who believe in your innocence.”
Then I remember something. “Is it the bakery? Is that what Lucas has on you?”
Tytus tries to avoid a reaction, but his eyes flicker to mine. Then I think back to last time, when I’d been there with Luz and Finn. He’d been the handsome stranger with the stormy gaze outside the bakery. Except there had been no one inside it, except for...
“Elle.”
Luz gapes at me, but I know I’m onto something. Footsteps echo in the hallway – we’ve run out of time.
Bending over Tytus, I reach into the front pocket of his jeans, sliding the pendant in there. “Keep it. It’s Elle you’re protecting. Lucas followed you and he knows you have an interest in her. You don’t want to put her in jeopardy.”
He scowls at my sure tone, but there’s a hint of panic in those stormy eyes. “Stop meddling. Go help your wolves. The Reapers will attack soon.”
“No,” Luz shakes her head. “There’s more than one menace out there. If we warn Elle, keep her safe, will you stop fooling around and join forces with us?”
The door opens before Tytus can answer. Lucas stomps in, followed by Dom, Tristan and Finn. And he doesn’t look happy. “Five minutes are up. It’s our turn.”
My stomach clenches and I catch Tristan’s eye. He’s innocent, I know he is, but Lucas won’t listen to reason. I probably wouldn’t either if I was head of a pack and needed to protect everyone. But this isn’t right.
By the door now, I glance back to Tytus. And just before Lucas steps and blocks my view of him, he catches my eye and nods.
Luz sees it too, and we try to exit the room without giving anything away.
Tristan
Tytus looks up at Lucas, a defiant glint in his eyes, and I know we won’t get anywhere. Lucas must realize it, too, but he takes off his jacket instead and throws it in a corner.
“What was your deal with the Reapers?” Lucas asks. Only silence answers him. “It’s a simple enough question. Think hard before you don’t answer it.”
Tytus’ jaw clenches, and he releases a heavy breath. “Their territory hunts don’t impede on my territory.”
“And what would that territory be?”
“You should know.”
Lucas stays silent, and something tells me he does know. Only he’s not sharing with us.
“Why did you join the fight to save Tristan?” This comes from Dom.
Tytus spares me a glance. “His mate was very convincing.”
The smug grin is aimed at getting me riled up. But I don’t bite. Lucas does – and then punches him.
Bound, Tytus doesn’t strike back. He spits out blood, then meets Lucas’ glare with one of his own. His expression darkens further and I know a line’s been crossed.
∞ ♦ ∞
An hour later, Lucas and I are the first to walk out. We didn’t get anything from Tytus after that hit.
“You shouldn’t have gotten physical,” I say.
Lucas shrugs. “Maybe. But he wasn’t going to talk anyway.”
“Don’t you think we should take Ileana’s warning seriously? About being attacked tonight?”
It’s then I notice how quiet the reception area is. I check everywhere, cursing under my breath. “Where did they go?”
“Who?”
Lucas stares at me like I’m crazy, but I gesture around. “The girls!”
Luz and Dani are nowhere to be seen. Finn and Dom walk in after us then, and I gulp. How the hell am I going to tell him my crazy girlfriend took his away, probably on a suicidal quest for justice? If I know them at all, they’re out there trying to clear Tytus’ name.
Turns out, I don’t have to tell Dom anything. The vârcolac takes one look around, nostrils flaring, then his darkened blue gaze settles on me. “Where’s Luz?”
“They must have taken off,” Lucas says. “Tristan was just about to go look for them.”
“Fine, I’ll join him.”
“No, Finn will. I need you here.”
I walk past the scowling Dom, Finn trailing me. “I’ll get her back, meu amigo.”
He nods in a way that leaves no room for error, and we disappear.
Finn takes one look down the street, and starts heading to the bakery store. We walk in, the bell ringing above our heads. Guilty faces turn to us – Luz, Dani, and another young girl that looks familiar.
“What the hell are you two doing?” The growl escaping my throat is no human sound, and the other girl moves back.
Dani rolls her eyes, which only pisses me off further. “Trying to fix something. What’s gotten up your butt?”
I want to tell her to come to me, but I shake my head and instead walk to her. A glance to Luz shows her being fidgety. “Dom’s looking for you.”
She bites her lip, looking guilty as sin. Then I focus on Dani, wrapping my arm around her waist and pulling her to me. I lower my head to her ear. “Are you done making me sweat?”
She tilts her head back, eyes twinkling. “Maybe. Maybe not.” Then her expression grows serious. “How’s Tytus?”
I shake my head. “Lucas crossed a line, and he’s not talking.”
“So he’s still imprisoned?”
No sooner do I nod, that I catch her side glance to Luz. “You’re not planning anything, are you?”
They both look up at me with innocent expressions. “Of course not.”
We turn to leave, and only then do I notice Finn staring at the girl behind the counter like he’s never seen a woman before. “Amigo,” I tease, “you okay?”
He snaps out of his daze, and a flush covers his cheeks. He’s actually blushing. I glance behind, and Luz reads the question on my face. “Her name is Elle.”
“Elle.” Finn whispers. And it’s only loud enough for our wolf ears, but she perks up like she’s heard him.
Before I can say anything, Finn storms out.