Authors: Cindy Paterson
Zurina met Edan’s eyes without flinching. “None have been able to fight off the blood before.
Therefore, this situation is unusual. I agree with Waleron.”
“You would,” Edan muttered.
Tor raised his hand as voices grew in argument. “The law as it stands says that any who drink blood of a vampire must be killed. However, Balen lives and walks this earth. We have been lenient to allow this and have already defied our own laws.” Waleron’s left cheek twitched and his grip on his Pez tightened. More like Balen had evaded them for two years and they were pissed. “Waleron’s point is taken. Balen’s strength is imposing. Therefore, losing him as a warrior for a century is detrimental to the Senses. Rest for one year for his betrayal of his sister, and exile fifty years for breaking our law.”
Waleron knew what Tor offered was merciful considering Balen must have pissed them off big time for dodging them for two years. If he pushed any further, Ed
an and . . . he looked at Mariana—yes, she was displeased with Tor’s suggestion—might argue the merciful judgment.
“
I will fight this if you desire,”
Zurina said.
Waleron hesitated. Yes, she would. Backing down from anything wasn’t something Zurina did.
No. Balen broke the law. We push the issue any further, they will retaliate. We must uphold the laws as spoken and written by the council.
Waleron gave a slight nod. “I will consent to this.”
Zurina and Urtzi also agreed. Edan swore and fumed to himself for several minutes, but he knew he was outnumbered. He gave a curt nod and Mariana soon followed. Only Genevieve had to give her answer and she looked like she was going to pass out. Her face almost translucent, eyes no longer blue, but a scintillating gold. Unable to meet any of their eyes, she kept her hands clasped beneath the table, but he could sense they were trembling. He was curious to know why she was so uneasy this night. She normally had a calm demeanor and kept her thoughts to herself.
“Genevieve, we must have your consent,” Tor said, being careful not to set her off again by keeping his voice in a soothing tone.
“Come on, Gen, I have shit to do,” Edan said.
“What?” Mariana asked. “A woman tied to your bed, begging for mercy
?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact,” Edan replied. He glanced at Waleron and a smile formed. “A remarkable woman
who begs for my touch.” He raised his brows and his handsome face was filled with amusement. “My woman is . . . willing to try anything once.” He turned from Waleron and let his eyes travel across the length of Mariana. “Care to join us?”
They all noticed the slight hesitation. “No, I don’t sleep with men
who have to tie up a woman in order for their submission.”
Tor interrupted before Edan released his fury. “Genevieve, if you will.”
“Yes,” she conceded. And then to his surprise her body language changed. She straightened in her seat, her eyes widening with a delightful sparkle. A hint of a smile formed on her angelic lips. He’d give anything to be able to read what wheels were turning in her mind because something drastic had changed.
“Then it has been decided. Waleron, we leave Balen’s sentence in your hands,” Tor said. “Now, what of Center World Others? Any progress?” He looked to Waleron.
Wraiths were unable to touch the Center World Others. The numerous species came from the middle of the earth, where they had lived for thousands of years. They had developed a shield of sorts that made them immune to the Wraiths’ powers. His best guess was that the minerals and heat from the center of the earth was what was protecting them. Whatever it was, Wraiths assisted with what they could to protect the humans against the CWOs, and the Senses eradicated them.
“Long Necks are ban
ding with the vampires. Under control for now. It is the GQs that are still a dilemma.”
“Women are disappearing at a more alarming rate across the city,” Zurina said.
GQs were tricky for the Senses to detect, making it difficult to locate them, and when you did, they were even more challenging to kill. They were arrogant, determined males who used their good looks to lure women to their beds. They survived by sucking the air from the lungs of a human, which gave them about a month of life. Unfortunately, for their victims, it was the last bed they ever lay in as GQs rarely let them survive.
“We will assist human women with their senses,” Urtzi offered. In ot
her words, heightening humans’ awareness of danger, although Waleron believed it would have little effect. The GQs were resilient, brutal, and they were spreading like a spider’s web across the Europe and North America.
Tor gave a satisfied nod.
The water in the fountain began to change to gold.
Waleron spoke before the transfer was complete. “Tarek will rise from Rest soon.”
“Yes,” Tor said.
The water became blue again.
“He is dangerous,” Waleron stated.
“He will have served his time,” Tor replied. His stare was fierce and solid as a rock. The Wraith had the ability to take away anyone’s sense of taste or give you a rancid taste you could never get rid of. Good thing he was the most controlled of the Wraiths.
“The warrior Delara will be at risk,” Waleron said.
“Perhaps. We do not know what he will be like after suffering Rest. Regardless, we do
nothing, unless he breaks the law again,” Tor said.
What the hell was Edan’s problem? His eyes grew bright red, fire within their depths. If he wanted he could shoot a flame of fire from his eyes.
Waleron felt every muscle tense, his eyes narrowed, and the rage escalated at Tor’s candid reply. “He almost killed her,” Waleron growled with fury.
“This is not our issue, Waleron,” Tor replied. “We, including you, passed judgment for what he did. When his punishment is complete, he is free to return to his warriors. They trust him and he is relentless in pursing the Others. If he breaks the law
again, then will we interfere.”
“He will seek revenge on Delara for speaking against him,” Waleron said. Blood dripped from his hand as his nails ripped into his palm.
“Perhaps, perhaps not,” Tor replied.
“She is my responsibility. I will not wait until he kills her for judgment.”
Tor’s fist thundered down on the table and the floor quaked. “You dare go against us.” Tor’s voice grew quiet. “You may be powerful, but break the laws and you will be judged. You are not immune, Waleron.”
Waleron tensed. His patience was
gone; he clicked his Pez open and slipped one of the white pills into his mouth. Screw this. He’d deal with Tarek when he rose and damn them all. Tarek was his warrior and the man was violent. No Resting period was going to change that.
“You could ask Delara to be yours,” Genevieve suggested.
No, that was impossible. He was just as dangerous to her as Tarek was. Never.
Urtzi looked amused, his blue eyes dancing. “Yeah
, right. Waleron? Marry?”
“He deserves death for what he did to her,” Genevieve stated. Waleron remembered that she had fought hard for the council to put Tarek to death.
“Enough!” Edan shouted. “Delara will be safe. I have matters to look after. We adjourn this meeting.”
Tor agreed and rose.
Waleron went to object when the water from the fountain changed back to golden. He grunted. To speak after the water had changed was unheard of.
He needed Tarek to remain in Rest. The bastard was vicious and a strong Tracker
, which didn’t help matters. Tarek’s four warriors had been with him for centuries and they were waiting eagerly for him to rise from Rest. They’d been displeased with what had occurred with Delara, but they were loyal to Tarek and had refused to speak against him.
Tor stood and closed his eyes
, then vanished into a cloud of red dust. Urtzi followed behind in a gust of wind and Edan a red fireball of light. Mariana followed behind. With a simple tug on one of her dreadlocks, she vanished.
Genevieve gracefully came to her feet. Her hair flowed like silk down her back. “You care for this Delara.” It was a statement.
“I protect all the Senses,” Waleron replied.
“Yes, you do, but some more than others.” She put her hands together above her head and her seductive body glowed blue and then swirled into a mist of water before disappearing. He heard her voice seep into his head despite the mind blocks he was careful to erect before coming to the realm.
“Beware, my friend. Delara has found another. She is no longer yours and that is your mistake.”
“
Who?
” Waleron demanded.
“
You don’t deserve to know
.”
****
When he arrived at Keir’s yesterday morning to turn himself in, it hadn’t been much of a surprise to the warriors to see him. Keir, Jedrik and Galen stood in the foyer and each gave a nod of greeting.
Waleron appeared within two seconds of him walking into the house and said two words “Stay here.” Yeah, like he had anywhere else to go. He was turning himself in.
Anstice was nowhere to be
seen, which was a relief; he had enough to face without her looking at him with abhorrence. Keir set him up in a room in the basement, also known as the Tomb, and he had remained there for twelve hours before Waleron returned from council and bid him upstairs to the living room.
Waleron spoke. As
usual, his voice was potent and abrupt. “It has been decided by the council that Balen will be sent to Rest for one year and exile for fifty years in the Pyrenees Mountains.” Waleron’s ice-blue eyes met Balen’s. “Speak if you wish.”
Balen felt a coldness sweep through him. He
’d known this was coming, yet still being sent to Rest left an acrid taste. At least, he’d live. “I returned for one reason. Our law. It must be changed,” Balen said addressing all the warriors. “I’ve proven that consuming a vampire’s blood does not mean we have to become one of them.”
Keir
raised his brows. “You challenge the law?”
“I do,” Balen stated. “Since I will be in Rest, I ask that the law be taken to council by one of you.”
“I second,” Jedrik said, raising his hand. “Always wanted to go to council and meet that hot Wraith Genevieve.”
Waleron held up his hand for silence as the warriors began to talk among themselves. “No warrior may go to council.” Jedrik scrunched his lips together with displeasure. “Although I agree with Balen, the law wa
s put in place for a reason. A vampire’s blood is powerful and its effects are known to those who have succumbed to it. You may have been able to withstand its poison, but others may not.”
“Then contain them,” Jedrik suggested. “Until they fight it off or don’t. At
least, they have a chance that way. Few of us are left. We need all who can be saved.”
“No warrior should drink the blasted stuff in the first place,” Damien shouted. “He deserves to die for such a pathetic act.”
Jedrik leapt from the couch so quick that even Waleron was taken aback. He managed to get a fist into Damien’s aristocratic face. Keir jumped on Jedrik, pulling him back before Damien had a chance to retaliate. Damien being among the deadliest warriors, it would have been a disaster for Jedrik’s welfare. The only other warrior comparable to Damien was Kilter, who lived on the East coast.
Damien had already been sent to Rest for beating up another warrior and nearly killing him a few years ago. Unstable, dangerous
, and now he’d have it out for Jedrik.
“The law will be reevaluated,” Waleron said. His eyes met Balen’s. “We leave immediately.”
Balen gave a single curt nod. If the law was changed, other warriors might be saved if they succumbed to vampire blood. One warrior’s life was significant, considering there were fewer of them than ever.
Jedrik let out a long explosion of air from between his
lips, which caused them to rumble. “Sorry, man. This sucks big time.”
Balen shrugged. He deserved a worse fate. He accepted this, had returned to Toronto to face them
, and yet still he feared what leaving would do to Danielle. Would she be safe? Would they protect her like one of their own?
“No.” A female voice blasted into the room from the doorway and all eyes turned.
Delara stood like a warrior ready for battle, wearing all black, leather boots climbing up her calves to her knees, with tight black jeans and a long black leather coat. Her flashing walnut eyes narrowed as she unflinchingly met each man’s stare. She had changed since leaving them minutes after Balen had two years prior. She appeared stronger, more determined. “Balen saved Danielle’s life. I witnessed what she suffered. We all did.” She turned to Balen. “You sacrificed yourself knowing that death awaited you for drinking Ryszard’s blood. It was not a betrayal, Green Eyes.”
“This is bullshit. The decision is not yours
, Delara,” Damien growled from the other side of the room.
Balen never liked the
guy; he had it out for women and was as crass as a pissed-off Rottweiler. He used to live in Florida, but when Ryszard had appeared, Waleron brought him to Toronto.