Deceptions fall, p.6
Deception's Fall, page 6
part #6 of Call of the Elements Series
“We didn’t have a choice,” the man groaned.
“That makes three of us,” I said.
A shadow loomed over us, and I made a feeble attempt to raise my arm. Braden grabbed it and scooped me off the ground. My heart stuttered. He’d carried me like this so many times, with my face buried against his chest. But now it meant nothing. Not to him anyway. There were no wandering hands or gentle caresses, just a vampire carrying me away.
Two more vampires grabbed my new friends and carried us into the unfinished house in the middle of the compound. They unceremoniously dropped us onto a long sofa. We leaned against each other to keep from falling over.
“Do you have someone coming to get you?” Braden asked, pulling a chair up in front of our little group.
“I sure hope so,” I mumbled. “I don’t suppose you have some bottled water lying around?”
He snapped his finger at the closest vampire, who dashed away.
“Why did you come here?” Braden pressed. “Why did you defend us?”
I pulled my eyes from his and glanced at the two people on either side of me, who had passed out.
“We are Dionadair,” I replied. “It’s what we do.”
Braden looked away and stood. I didn’t need a bond with him to see the wheels turning in his head. Did he remember the meeting with Dusha at the warehouse? He must. He’d told Gordon about Neònach.
Gordon came in with three bottles of water. His dark eyes danced between me and Braden before he twisted the lid off one and handed it to me.
“Thanks, man,” I whispered, trying to smile at him.
“Thanks, woman,” he quipped back at me. I really liked him.
“How many are left?” I asked.
Gordon’s eyes darted back to his boss.
“Not enough,” Braden answered. “But I appreciate your efforts to save them. What do I owe you?”
All kinds of things ran through my mind, but I could have none of them. I knew he wouldn’t accept ‘nothing’ as an answer.
“Your honesty, always.”
He stared at me for what seemed like forever before he replied. “Done.”
My eyelids fluttered closed. “And protection until Lodron shows up to get me.”
The irritating chuckle I hated forced my eyes back open.
“He’s already here with another army,” Braden replied, disappearing from my limited view on the couch.
Gordon patted my shoulder and left with his boss. A few minutes later, strong arms lifted me again.
“Damnit, AJ,” Lodron whispered, cradling me against his chest. “Release your armor before you pass out.”
Göksu was in no condition to heal anything that might be wrong with me, so the fae healers might need to take over. Something they couldn’t do if they couldn’t get past my armor.
“Just shut up and take me home,” I mumbled, but I did as Lodron asked.
Chapter 5
I sat at the table in my dining room the next day. I’d just woke up fifteen minutes before and done no more than pee, brush my teeth, then put on enough clothes to make me decent.
Lodron and Luria sat across the table watching me play with my food. Their focused stares made me uncomfortable and unable to eat. They could’ve joined me and made it less like an interrogation. Instead, I set my fork down and met their accusing eyes.
“Let’s get the questions over with so I can eat in peace,” I said.
They both started talking at the same time, and I shook my head, not able to understand anything either of them said. Their mouths snapped shut.
“Okay, you had your chance.” I pointed my fork at Lodron. “Braden said you brought an army with you. Who was it?”
Lodron narrowed his eyes at me. “After twenty minutes of arguing about it, the elves opened a portal in the middle of the room you abandoned us in.”
I’d suspected as much but was still surprised. It would’ve been great to see the silver-armored elves show up in the English countryside.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Lodron asked.
I knew exactly what he was talking about. My status as Dionadair. I bit my bottom lip and thought about my response, then did a mental fist bump with my filter. Thinking before a reply was a huge improvement.
“I was waiting for the Elemental Council to get their heads out of their asses,” I said after a few seconds.
Their grumpy expressions turned to surprise.
“You saw them?” Luria whispered.
I nodded and scooped up a pile of fluffy scrambled eggs. “Dusha took me to them after they purged all the shadowy magic I swallowed in the desert.”
“You mean three weeks ago?” Lodron snarled.
I nodded again and filled my mouth with food so I didn’t have to talk. I knew he would be mad, but I couldn’t blame him. Not really. Finding out the way they did wasn’t really fair. Neither was forcing them to take on the Dionadair mantle, though.
He pushed his chair back and stood. “That explains why you’ve been training alone and your sudden interest in the other supernatural families.”
I swallowed the bite of delicious eggs made special for me by Sage. “I’m sorry, Lodron. They gave me an impossible task, then proceeded to fight about how to do it.” I met his gaze and flinched. He was really pissed. “I told them I would do nothing until they got their shit together.”
“You said that to the Elemental Council?” Luria asked.
“Something like that. I called them out on a few things I’m probably not allowed to discuss.” A piece of ham on my plate suddenly became very interesting. Did she have to act so surprised about my lack of tact?
“What did they ask you to do?” Lodron leaned over, placing his palms on the table but not sitting down. I stole a glance at him. His jaw clenched methodically and every muscle in this neck and shoulders rippled beneath his shirt.
Should I tell him? It’s not like he would let it go, but I worried he would volunteer to join the stupid group. Or Luria would, which would only add more fuel to his fire.
“I’m supposed to be picking four more Dionadair,” I mumbled.
A whirl of emotions tap-danced across Lodron’s face before he turned and left the room. Not exactly what I expected, but it was better than him yelling at me.
“I’m on that list, right?” Luria whispered, drawing my attention from the door Lodron just left through.
“I’m so conflicted, Luria,” I moaned. “You’re one of my closest friends. The selfish part of me wants you by my side, but I have a feeling this job is going to suck.” I glanced at the doorway again. “And imagine your brother’s response.”
“Lodron will get over it. He’ll likely resign as captain so he can join you.” She waved a hand at my shocked expression. “The other two we brought home with you, are they also Dionadair?”
“He can’t resign,” I hissed, stabbing my fork in her direction. “Ignoring the fact that the king probably won’t let him, he’s too important. His kingdom needs him doing what he’s doing.”
“You didn’t answer my question,” she retorted.
I nodded reluctantly, and her hand smacked the table. I nearly dropped my fork at her outburst.
“Really? You would pick two complete strangers over me?” she demanded.
“This is exactly why I said nothing.” I drew in another deep breath and pushed my plate out of the way. “If you were paying attention in Elfland, you’d know I didn’t pick them.”
She huffed and glared at me. “Okay, fair enough.”
Lodron stomped back into the room, his gaze bouncing between me and his sister. I was so grateful I couldn’t feel his emotions because they were obviously all over the place.
He dropped back into his chair. “I need information.”
I understood him well enough now to know what he meant. His mind needed every little detail so he could sort it all out. So I told him each Dionadair would have four elementals bound to them. Then I explained the way mine seemed to fuse their essence into my well of magic, temporarily, giving me incredible strength when I needed it. I also explained the tug of my ‘summons’ in Elfland and how I couldn’t possibly ignore it.
I didn’t talk about the political constipation of the Elemental Council. That was their mess to figure out, not ours.
“How many are they looking for in total?” Lodron asked when I finished.
I thought about my meeting with the elements. “Eight or maybe nine, depending on whether or not they counted me.”
Lodron’s lips pulled into a thin line. “I talked to Braden after the battle yesterday. He told me how powerful the three of you were, how much damage you did all by yourselves.” He rubbed his hand across his face. “He also said the vampires are broken. There are less than fifty left, and they refuse to mobilize for anything.”
My heart shattered into a million pieces. I should’ve been concerned about the lives lost, the fact that another supernatural family would be next on Sabina’s list, or even my new role as Dionadair. All I could think about was Braden.
Everything I gave up so Braden could keep his people safe was meaningless. He threw away his soul and his memories of me for nothing. I should’ve told Dusha no. I should’ve followed my selfish wants and kept my vampire if the outcome would’ve been the same.
Fighting my tears, I stood and left the room. If Braden remembered me, I could help him rebuild. I would be by his side, holding back the sense of failure he had to be feeling.
“Leave her, Lodron,” Luria said, but I knew her brother wouldn’t listen. Him and his ‘I want to help you get past your pain’ bullshit.
He followed me into my bedroom and sat on the edge of the bed next to me.
“The dark fae will target the shifters next,” he said, repeating what I already knew. “We will need the Dionadair to fight against them.”
“It was for nothing, Lodron,” I mumbled, clasping my hands together in my lap and ignoring his comment. “I gave up my heart for nothing.”
“You know that’s not true.” He laid his hand over mine but didn’t try to untangle my fingers. “How much have you also gained? Look how far you’ve come in the last three weeks. Not just learning your magic but finding yourself.”
I pushed his hand away. “I don’t need your logical bullshit,” I snapped.
“Don’t dig up the pain you’ve almost completely gotten past,” he retorted. “You’re so much stronger, more independent, and secure in your decisions. Leave the past behind you so you can see your future.”
I let his words sink into my thick skull. No matter how much I wanted to argue, he was right. I doubted I would’ve found my place if I’d stayed with Braden. He would’ve sheltered me, loved me, and given me the perfect outlet for my darkness, but he couldn’t teach me about my magic. Which was the whole reason for me coming to the fae to begin with.
I also wasn’t sure I would’ve accepted my new role as Dionadair with Braden in my life. Honestly, I know I wouldn’t have. The constant threat of his death tied to mine would’ve forced me into hiding. Or a gilded cage.
And sitting here moping about something I couldn’t change would make all of it pointless. I wanted to stay mad. I wanted to let my pain resurface and drag me under, but how many more would suffer because I couldn’t get my head out of my ass? I’d accused the Elemental Council of putting their heads in the sand. I would be the biggest hypocrite on the planet if I did the same.
“Thanks,” I mumbled.
“It’s why I’m here.”
I glanced up and met his dark eyes. I didn’t deserve his understanding and patience, but it wouldn’t stop me from taking it. He tried to tell me I wasn’t selfish, but I knew better.
“I don’t know what to do,” I said, forcing my mind away from the vampires. “I can’t pick people for this. I’m pretty sure no one retires from this job. You know. Until death, do we part.”
He chuckled softly, but there was no smile. “Do you have a choice?” he asked. “Can you let the elementals pick?”
“Yes, but they’ve been disconnected from the fae for eons,” I replied. “They don’t know you any better than I do.”
A smirk pulled at his lips. “I think you know me much better than they do.”
“Shut up. You know what I meant.” I smiled at him, but it didn’t last any longer than his.
He squeezed my fingers before pulling his hand from mine. “Let me help.”
There was way more meaning in his tone than those simple words implied. He constantly told me to let him help. Help me get through my pain. My darkness. My magical ignorance.
“Don’t think so hard. It’s not that difficult of a decision,” he continued. “Unlike you, I know my people. Grant knows his. Between the two of us, we should be able to pick a few who can play nice with others and not abuse the power they’ll be given.”
He was right, again. It was the perfect solution. The only other option was to dump it all in the Elemental Council’s hands. Incompetent hands.
“Thank you.” I stood up and looked at him still sitting on the edge of my mattress. “Can we talk about your sister now?”
“No. My sister cannot do this.” He gripped my arms and pulled me closer until I stood between his knees. “Dylan would be my first choice. There are a couple others I need to think about, but let me talk to Grant first.”
“You realize you can’t tell her no, right?”
“I can’t let both of you go,” he whispered, dropping his chin to his chest. “I had no say in yours.”
He’d have no choice in Luria’s either and no matter what he told me, Lodron knew it. His hands slid down my arms and wrapped around my waist. I let him pull me into his embrace. It’d been too long since I felt his arms around me, and I missed it. My fingers slid into his hair when his head fell against my collar. It was somehow intimate and not. More than friendship but not. It was what I needed even though I knew he wanted more.
I already knew I could love him easily, but I couldn’t go down that road. Not again. I couldn’t love him only to wonder when he was going to be snatched from me, just like the others.
“I’m not going anywhere,” I mumbled, pressing my cheek against his forehead. “They said I can have a somewhat normal life, but I have to respond when they summon me.”
“There is nothing normal about your life.” Lodron chuckled and gently pushed me away. “I’ll talk to Luria.” His hands lingered on my waist for just a moment, his eyes holding mine. “At least she’ll let me pretend to be the boss.”
I smacked his shoulder and made my way to the door, hiding my grin. Somehow, he always managed to settle my fears.
“Are the other two fae awake yet?” I asked, stopping to see if he followed.
“No,” he said from right behind me. “I asked the healers to tell me as soon as they were.”
“What do you know about them?”
Luria was no longer at the table or anywhere else in the room, but my plate of now-cold eggs and ham were still waiting for me. I sighed and sat down to finish them. Lodron took the seat next to me.
“Vincent and Blaire,” he said. “I don’t know them personally, but Grant says they’re a good choice. He was a little surprised by Blaire’s selection, though.”
I swallowed my mouthful of eggs and glanced his way. “Why’s that?”
“He said she’s unsure of herself.”
I choked on my next bite. “Whatever,” I croaked, picking up my glass of juice and washing down my eggs. “We must be talking about two different people. She was amazing.”
His eyebrows rose beneath the hair sweeping across his forehead. “Grant said she was more than capable, just a little timid.”
“Nope. She reacted without any hesitation. She even saved my ass a couple times.”
I popped the last chunk of ham in my mouth and watched him think. I loved seeing his brow draw together and his jaw twitch. His lips moved slightly like he was mumbling to himself.
“Interesting,” he finally said.
“What about you?” I asked. “You’re not trying to join the chaos, are you?”
I searched his face, waiting for an answer. My brain took up the same argument over him as it did with his sister.
“I can’t,” he replied, not flinching under my scrutiny. “I think I can do more to help you in my current role.”
The breath I’d been holding slowly eased its way past my lips.
Lodron laughed. “Wow, I think my feelings are hurt.” He smiled, but it didn’t hide his insecurity bubbling under the surface.
“Don’t be stupid,” I snapped. “I can’t stand the thought of someone I care about jumping into this. If Luria does join—” I stopped, not even wanting to complete the thought much less say it out loud. “I can’t lose you both.” I repeated his words from earlier.
“I understand,” he said. “I had all day to think about it while you slept. No matter how I rationalized it, taking myself out of my current role would hurt more than help.”
I smiled, relief flooding through me. “I’m glad you’re so smart.”
His cheeks flushed. “I have one request.”
“Just one?” I teased.
“Never.” He winked at me. “One for now.”
“Fine. What?”
“Spend your normal life close to me.”
My smile faded. He knew I didn’t want to be pushed in any direction.
“I’m not asking for a romantic commitment, AJ. I want to know when you’re summoned so I can react immediately,” he explained. “Sending our warriors with you is better than you facing an unknown threat by yourself.”
His reasoning helped—sort of—but led me right back to wondering if he wanted me close for professional or personal reasons. I was pretty sure he wanted more, but times like this had me second guessing. As usual, he read me like a book.
“I don’t want to chase you away by sharing all my other reasons.” He ran a finger along my jaw, but his eyes didn’t leave mine. “When—if—you come to me, I want it to be completely your choice.”
I didn’t know what to say, so I sat there staring into his dark eyes. It was thoughtful and selfless. Something I used to think he wasn’t capable of, but now I knew better. Not just because of this moment, but the way he treated his sister, his team, and everyone else. He genuinely cared.
