Balance (6 page)

                Sylvia
reached out and touched my head. “Be gone,” she whispered as witches around us
were cackling in laughter. Suddenly, the feeling was gone as I frowned and
shook my head, clearing it.

                “Whoa,
I felt drunk. What was that? I might need to take some home.”

                Sylvia
smiled. “That was happy dust. They’re showing off, but I like to remain clear-headed
in front of so many magic users.”

                I
nodded. Good idea. Gretchen and Maureen were high-fiving each other and
laughing hysterically.

                ‘What
was that?’
Kai asked.

                ‘Jesus!
Kai. I’m having a good time, okay? Stop pouncing on me every time you feel
something,’
I shouted,
harsher than I meant to.

                I
felt his anger and hurt.
‘Fine. Radio silent,’
he shot back, and I felt
the mate bond retreat a little.

                Whoops.
I was beginning to lose count of how often I pissed him off.

                The
food arrived and I gorged on exotic juice cocktails, sage and butternut squash
raviolis, chocolate lava cake and shoestring french fries roasted in truffle
oil.

                “Oh.
My. God. I will come here every year just for the food,” I declared to the
coven and they all laughed.

                Maureen
raised her glass. “It is quite spectacular.” She smiled and her gold-capped
tooth glinted in the candle light.

                I
felt so stuffed but I wanted to explore the market stalls and I had to pee
wicked bad.

                “I’m
going to explore and find a bathroom,” I stated.

                Sylvia,
who was in deep conversation with another coven leader, stopped talking.

                “Oh,
I’ll go with you.” She went to stand.

                “No,
no, keep talking. I’ll be back in ten minutes.”

                She
looked unsure. Kai had probably threatened her not to leave me alone. I could
feel my eyes going yellow; my wolf wasn’t happy being treated like a baby. “I’m
fine,” I declared through gritted teeth.

                “Okay,
dear.” Sylvia lowered her gaze.

                Shit.
Why was I pissing everyone off?

                “Sorry,”
I muttered before walking off. Seriously though, I was an independent control
freak being treated like I was made of glass. It was a shock I hadn’t killed
everyone by now. I understand some of the concern but the day I couldn’t take
myself to the bathroom was the day I went postal on everyone. Pushing past some
people, I went over to a table that had tons of beautiful crystals on it.

A short, curvy witch with wild, black, curly
hair and kind eyes stood as I approached. “Hello, dear. A crystal for wealth?
Love? Fertility?”

                I
smiled. “What about for protection?” I ran my hands over some of them, feeling
the power vibrating along my slender fingers. The entire table was coated with
white magical mist.

                “Ahh,
yes. Good choice. Here we are.” Her fingers were adorned with jewelry and
crystals.

                She
handed me a ring with a large, rectangle, shimmery black stone on it. I held it
and it felt good as I slipped it onto my index finger.

                “I’ll
take it.”

                She
smiled and I paid her before making my way to the next table.

                “Witches’
wine?” A server offered me a deep purple bubbly drink. I shrugged my shoulders.
Why not? I did have to pee, though. I grabbed the drink and took a sip. Bubbles
and flavor exploded on my tongue.

                “This
is amazing!” I exclaimed as the server chuckled and walked away. I chugged the
entire glass and set it on a table and then went to go in search of the bathroom.
Scanning the hall, I saw a bathroom sign in the far corner by the buffet tables,
which were crowded with people. I began to walk over there when a dizziness hit
me. Shit. I felt really drunk. Werewolves didn’t get drunk, not that easily. We
metabolized alcohol too fast. I shook my head to clear the feeling. I was
trying to move past a group of witches. “Escuuuse meh.” My words slurred.

                Holy
shit balls, I was hammered. My own thoughts were slurring, maybe I should find
Sylvia. No, I had to pee so badly! I rubbed my face, which felt numb. Maybe one
glass of witches’ wine was equivalent to two bottles of regular wine. The
bathroom! I stumbled through the door, my shoulder hitting the wall hard causing
me to bust out laughing. I found a stall and somehow managed to lift up my
dress and actually pee in the toilet and not on myself. Holy shit, I was wasted
and Kai was going to be so pissed. Maybe Sylvia could ‘be gone’ it away. The
thought made me laugh harder. After finally finding the handle to flush, I
decided to skip trying to wash my hands, and just find Sylvia. Leaving the
bathroom stall, I found four witches from Prudence’s clan waiting for me.

                Well,
shit. I busted up laughing.

                They
were grinning ear to ear.

                “You
look a little intoxicated, dear,” one told me.

                “Oh
my gawd, yer so obserbant,” I told her, feigning shock.

                Her
jaw set. “Bitch,” she roared and came after me.

                Okay,
shit. I was drunk off my ass, about to get jumped by four witches. Did one of
them have a knife in her hand? I blinked but the world was getting blurry.

                ‘Kai,
I’m druuuunk n bout to get jumped in the bathrum. Help, peeze.’

                Before
I got my arm up to block it, the witch slapped me hard in the face. Another laugh
ripped from my chest. “Who slaps people? Hit me!” I roared at her.

                The
one with the knife advanced on me. “Pin her down. Let’s get the blood.”

                Shit.
My immediate future was looking bleak and I was beginning to think they had
gotten me drunk on purpose. I decided to shift to my wolf and make it harder on
them. Looking down at my body, I tried to force the change. I wasn’t changing!
I had forgotten how. Dammit! Stupid drunk. I slapped my forehead as one of them
grabbed me hard and the protection ring on my finger heated up.

                “You
guz r bitchez.” I decided shit talking was all I was capable of at that moment.
I put my arms out in front of me and let mist pour from my palms. It was raw
and undirected magic and I had no idea what I was doing, but it was my only defense.

                “Step
back!” Sylvia roared from the door. My white magic was met with Sylvia’s
advancing white cloud and all four women were thrown hard into the wall.

                “Yer
such a badass, Sylvia.” I fist pumped as the protection ring lost its heat.

                She
came closer to me and sniffed. “Witches’ wine? That’s been illegal for decades.”
She shook her head in anger, then her eyes rested on the ring. “That probably
saved your life. It absorbed all of the dark magic.”

                Wha?
I tried to stare at the ring but it was blurry. They were throwing dark magic
at me? I didn’t even feel it. I should go back and tip that lady.

                Sylvia
placed an arm around me and dragged me out the door. I heard screaming coming
from the entrance to the convention center and saw a commotion. Blinking
rapidly, I tried to clear the image and see better.

                “Shit.”
Sylvia never cussed. “Calm down, Alpha! She’s fine,” Sylvia roared and her
voice was magically amplified to the entire hall. She walked me quickly to the
front of the dining hall but my feet kept tripping and I fell. Suddenly, Adrian
picked me up and jogged me to the front where I could see that the twin
warlocks guarding the front door were bloody and unconscious. Kai and Max
looked feral, fists bloody and fur rippling along their half-human forms. Kai’s
mustache and glasses were long gone. The second Kai saw me in Adrian’s arms he
rushed towards me. Adrian sat me down quickly and backed away as I tried to
keep my face calm.

                Kai
pulled me into his arms and took a deep breath. “What’s that smell?” he roared
as everyone looked on.

                Sylvia
had caught up now. “Witches’ wine. It’s illegal. I will take care of the
matter. She wasn’t hurt.” Sylvia held his gaze.

                Kai’s
eyes went yellow, he was breathing deeply, trying to control himself. Horrible
timing, but I busted out laughing.

                Max
couldn’t keep a straight face. “You’re three sheets to the wind,” he declared.

                Kai
growled, sending witches stumbling backward as he scooped me up and exited the
dining hall with Max trailing behind us.

                “You
smell good,” I told Kai and winked. His face was blank, eyes yellow. We got to
the car and I made him put me down. Max reached over and opened my door as I
looked over at him. Max. Dirty blond hair, blue eyes, rock-hard build.

                “Yer
a gud looking guy, Max,” I told him as his eyes widened and his face went red.

                “Are
you trying to get me killed?” Max looked horrified.

                I
laughed as the veins bulged in Kai’s neck. “What? Max is gud looking, not as
hot as Kai but still.”

                “Okay,
Aurora, enough.” Kai pushed me into the back seat and I lay down laughing. Man,
car seats were so comfy. That was the last thought I had before sleep took me.

                I
awoke with a headache from hell and all the memories of last night. Shit. My
throat was so dry, my head pounded. I squinted against the light filtering
through the curtains. Kai wasn’t next to me.

                ‘Are
you awake?’
Kai asked.

                ‘Shhh
… turn it down.’
I grabbed my
head.

                The
door opened and Kai entered with water.

                I
prepared for the bitchfest that was undoubtedly going to come down on me. Kai
spoke softly. “After hours of being completely livid with you, I’ve decided
that last night wasn’t your fault, so I’m not mad at you.”

                He
handed me the water and I squinted as my head pounded, trying to work out what
he had just said. No fight? Seriously? Yes!

                I
sighed. “Thanks,” I whispered. “Can I have some Advil? Like an entire bottle?”

                Kai
shook his head. “Won’t help. Sylvia said to take a bath in two cups of salt and
lavender oil.” He said Sylvia’s name with anger. She probably got the
bitchfest.

                I
sipped some water, letting the cool liquid quench my parched throat. Then I
slowly stood and stumbled to the bathroom to draw a bath, tossing the salt and
lavender in. The sound of the rushing water was too loud, so I plugged my ears.
My thoughts went back to last night. So I got drugged with some illegal spell
wine? Bitches. They probably planned the whole thing. What were they going to
do to me in that bathroom? I shivered thinking about it. I hadn’t been able to
change into my wolf. The thought made my eyes widen. What kind of wine was this?

                I
eased into the bath and immediately felt some of the head pounding dissipate. I
stared in shock as the water became deep purple. The salt was pulling the
witches’ wine out of my skin. Whoa. Note to self. Thank Sylvia. I soaked until
I felt somewhat normal again and then drained the purple water. Had I called
Max hot last night? I smacked my forehead and changed into skinny jeans and a
tight tank top. Padding out of the room, I went to find Kai. He was with Max in
the backyard working out. Since Jeremy and Alek had taken over the basement,
our workouts were limited.

                “Feeling
better?” Kai stopped doing pushups and stood to greet me.

                “Much
better,” I told him and turned to Max who was avoiding looking at me. “Max,
about last night.” I started to apologize and his hands went up, face red.

 “Didn’t
happen as far as I am concerned.” He looked nervously at Kai who grinned.

                I
chuckled. “Okay.” I glanced at my watch. It was midday. Wow, I must have slept eighteen
hours.

                “So,
I talked to Sylvia about the incident last night.” Kai’s voice was full of
anger.

                “It’s
not her fault–”

                He
put a hand up. “I know, but someone drugged you and she said four witches
associated with Prudence’s clan tried to jump you in the bathroom.”

                I
frowned. It sounded really bad when said out loud like that. That witch really
needed to die.

                “What
do you think they wanted?” he asked.

                My
memories of that incident were hazy. “I dunno. Blood, capture. What do they always
want?”

                Kai’s
phone rang, distracting him. He pulled it from his gym shorts and glanced at
the number, groaning.

                “Shit.
I forgot about this meeting with the government. I’ll be in my office.” He
answered the phone and dashed into the house.

                Max
shook his head as Kai left. “He deals with a lot.”

                Suddenly,
I felt awful for my mate. He dealt with so much shit on my behalf. All of this
drama with the humans was because of me. He did it all to protect me. Saying
goodbye to Max, I went to listen at Kai’s office door.

                “Sir,
with all due respect, my people will not be tagged like cattle!” He roared and
I flinched.

                I
couldn’t hear what was said on the other end of the line, but Kai didn’t seem
happy.

                “Tell
them we are doctors, lawyers, waiters. We are just as much a member of society
as the humans!” His fist hit the desk, making me flinch again.

                “Fine.”

                I
heard the phone slam in the cradle and I contemplated opening the door.

                “Come
in, Aurora.” He sighed.

                Damn.
Life was so much better when I was a human and could sneak around spying on
people without being smelled.

                I
slowly walked inside. Kai sat at his large wooden desk, his tight black V-neck
t-shirt clung to his large muscles, his breathing heavy, eyes yellow.

                “What
was that all about?” I cut right to it.

                His
lips pressed together. “The United States government has suggested we wear some
sort of tag or tracking device.”

                My
mouth dropped open. “You’re kidding, right?”

                He
ran a hand through his thick, wild hair. “I wish I was, Aurora.”

                He
looked at me and through the mate bond, I felt his guilt at coming out to our
people. His fear that it was the wrong choice.

                Sitting
on his lap, I wrapped my arms around him. “Hey, you did the right thing. Now
humans are aware of the vampires. The militias have tripled our numbers. Dozens
of feeder clubs and dens have been shut down. Who knows how many human lives we
have saved?”

                He
draped his arms around me and pulled me closer. “In the short term, yes, I
think I did the right thing. After the smoke has cleared and the vampire
problem is solved, I’m not so sure the humans will be so welcoming.”

                I
groaned. “Tagged? Like, a microchip? They really said that?”

                He
had a far-off look in his eye. “They said it would be voluntary. A way of
showing the reluctant humans that we aren’t hiding.”

                Bullshit.
“They want to know how many of us there are. What cities we are in, what jobs
we hold.” Mist began to leak from my skin. All of a sudden, Luna leapt out from
behind the curtain and hissed at me. Kai jumped up and I fell off of him,
crashing to the floor.

                “Jesus
Christ! That cat. I didn’t even smell her.” He clutched his chest.

                I
busted out laughing and Luna came to purr and rub up against me. I winked at
Kai. “A little spell I did to increase Luna’s odds at survival.”

                Kai
scowled at me. “Seriously? You took her cat smell? That’s not fair. She could
be anywhere and I wouldn’t know it.”

                I
lay on my back as Luna jammed her paws into my belly. “The coven and I are
trying to figure out how Layla and her vampires have no scent.”

                Kai
looked impressed. He inhaled again as Luna looked at him and hissed.

                Kai’s
eyes went yellow and he growled, sending Luna scampering up my shirt and flying
across the room to hide behind a potted plant.

                “Kai,
you scared her!”

                He
smiled. “Just having some fun.”

                He
kissed my cheek. “I should bring this matter of the tagging to the council. Can
you run the pack training session tonight?”

                I
nodded.

                After
he shut the door, I pulled Luna out from behind the plant.

                “Don’t
let the big, bad werewolf scare you. He’s harmless,” I told her.

                “No,
I’m not!” Kai said from the hallway.

                I
laughed but it sounded fake. I couldn’t forget what Kai said on the phone about
tagging us, like animals.