Chapter 25

There were perks to being a thousand-year-old vampire… money was never an issue. My old-world fortune, combined with the power of the stock market, had padded our coffers well. But to stay powerful and secret, we'd been forced to target certainhigh-profile entities, planting operatives both in governments around the world and in private organizations.

Undoubtedly, it made traveling between countries easier, especially when transporting travelers and prisoners of adistinctive kind.

I reclined on the beige leather seat in my private jet. Closing my eyes, I pleaded for peace.

Leavened by magic, the scent the witch's blood emanated called to me like a siren. The response from my body unnerved me.

And downright pissed me off.

Arabelle's blood had given off a similar scent, and the memory of her saccharine taste mauled my mind with temptation. One drop had been enough to enslave me, beguiled by her promise of love.

A false love.

I punched the memories of her treachery out of my mind.

Even the origins of my kind's curse were birthed by a lover's betrayal—felt as if every tragedy began with the story of a broken heart. Kingdoms rose and crumbled, and at the crux of it all, the wars had always been waged in the name of love.

And now, a new war was brewing; I could sense it deep in my core. I'd felt it when I'd stood outside her cell, focusing on the rise and fall of her breath. She had the kind of face warriors would pillage through cities and fight armies for. The kind that would pit brother against brother, and rain destruction on all who would stand in between.

But her beauty hadn't been what crystalized the oxygen in my lungs. The magnetic pull of her blood, like a pulsing energy that beat in tune to my own heartbeat—that right there, had been what made the pillars of my foundation crack.

Anya's warning rang inside my head like the gong from a bell tower.

I never made the easy decisions, but I always stood by them. Never second guessing myself.

Until now.

A part of me feared I'd made a mistake by choosing to bring her to my home. And the rankling sensation had me ready to rip out of my skin.

Immensely aware of my throbbing gums and the swelling behind my eyelids, I took deep breaths. The compulsion to touch the succulent, cream-colored skin of her neck tingled my fingertips. My breath grew shallow, and my heart drummed eagerly, craving the warm silk of the nectar I knew danced in her veins.

I rubbed my face, fingers tangling in my hair. I gripped tight, hoping to block the beckoning of her blood. But I knew better. The need was primal, and if I didn't do something to quell the hunger, sooner or later my instincts would win. It was simply a matter of when.

Damn witches.

Of all the supernatural gifts my kind possessed, speeding up time wasn't one of them. I'd have to endure the misery of being enclosed in the same space with this girl for the remaining six hours—without a chance of escape.

Bal plopped his massive body on the empty seat across from me, his facial features drooping with displeasure. He handed me the satellite phone, temporarily offering me a much-needed distraction.

Still dressed in his tactical clothes, it didn't seem as if he'd bothered to clean up. Black hair disheveled and green eyes devoid of luster, he looked like utter shit. "The council members have assembled. They know we have the Spirit Marked. Caelian asked for you to call her back."

I quirked a brow. "Let me guess. She's furious I called a Convening?"

"I didn't tell her about the Sisterhood."

"That's a relief. Gives me more time to decide what I wish to do with the witch without the council's interference."

He leaned in, his countenance growing grim. "Our job was to find the Spirit Marked. We should be handing her over to the council. Let them deal with her and whatever the hell the Vates Ordo plans to do next. We need to be back in New York going after Luther, shutting down that vile blood trafficking ring and recapturing Azrael."

Sitting up straighter, I pressed on my knuckles. "You don't think I want payback for what they did to Larick and Gideon?"

"Frankly, I don't," he shot back, stabbing at my already bleeding heart. "My brother is still fighting for his life and we're on this fucking plane playing escort. You could've shipped her off to the council while we stayed and gone after Azrael."

I let out a soft breath, allowing his words to sink in. I knew he was angry, but they hurt, nonetheless. "I know how much Gideon meant to you."

"You know shit."

"I know you blame me for his death."

He shot to his feet. "I blame Luther," he gritted. "Which is why, when we land, I'm going back."

I pushed up to my feet, standing chest to chest with my son. "I need you at Stonehaven for when the Sisterhood arrives."

He scoffed. "You're wasting your time with that lot. You think they're any better than the Vates Ordo? You're literally handing them the Spirit Marked, the most powerful witch of their kind." He ran a hand through his dark mane. "This is what I'm talking about; your refusal to feed is jeopardizing our team. You're not thinking straight, Father."

Stepping even closer, my heated breath was inches from his. "I know the threat they pose. And that with my brother on the loose no one is safe. But I need to do this methodically, Bal. The Spirit Marked is what they want, and they will come to us. We don't have the kind of manpower in the States needed to take down Luther's coven and the Vates Ordo." I placed a hand on his shoulder, trying to affirm to him how much I depended on him. "Which is why I need you with me. I want you with me."

He shrugged my hand off. "The council already sanctioned my mission. Once we arrive at Stonehaven, I will be handing my post over to Lars. He will be the new head of operations until I return."

"You can't take them on by yourself."

"I'm leading a team of Caelian's operatives."

"Of course. She's never one to pass up an opportunity to undermine me."

Narrowing his eyes, he gifted me a hearty dose of his darkest gaze. "Not everything is about you, Father. Caelian's doing her job… something you should do, too." He headed toward the back of the cabin, abandoning me to my troubled mind.

With the phone still resting in my hand, I peered out the window and sank my gaze into the darkness beyond. Things were already starting to fall apart. Bal was right; I could've shipped the witch off to the council and gone after my brother instead. But I couldn't ignore the lead ball sitting in the pit of my stomach, anchoring me to this girl.

Anya had said to trust my gut, and that was exactly what I was doing.

Saints help me if I'm wrong.

The lights in the cabin dimmed, blanketing me in my own personal eclipse. Sitting back down, I closed my eyes and sank into my seat to await the sunrise.

Just six more hours…

Perth Airport,Scotland

The jet pulled into the hangar at around eight a.m. Overcast skies and dense fog shielded the area from the early sun. Three heavily tinted black Range Rovers were lined up waiting for my team to disembark. The girl was still in her drug-induced deep sleep and was carried off the plane by Bal and safely settled inside the second SUV. Caleb and Lars joined her along with Ice. Trek and two other crew members climbed into the third car.

I was the last to exit the plane. Bal joined me as I stepped off the last stair.

"We are set to go," Bal said, his haggard eyes red from exhaustion and hunger. "For the record, I don't think going to Stonehaven is a great idea. Bringham is better guarded. The grounds are more secure."

"That's what we all thought, then shit happened."

Crossing his arms, Bal's impatience ran a current over his skin, his body bristling. "How is your private home a better option?"

"After what happened with Hogan, I'm not taking any chances. I'm keeping my circle small and tight, something I can't do at Bringham. Trek's already vetted the security team for Stonehaven."

Bal huffed and dropped the Rover's keys in my palm. "You're driving."

I flipped the keys once in the air before jumping into the driver's seat of the first SUV. Bal remained planted by the plane's stairs as if lost in thought.

"C'mon," I said. "We don't have much time before this fog starts to clear."

We headed northeast toward the seaside town of Stonehaven. The deep green of the rolling hills was visible even through the thick mist, and my chest filled with warmth for the timelessness of the landscape, something only an immortal could truly appreciate.

A quiet fishing village, I'd chosen the coastal nook as my home away from home when the gloom of Bringham became too much. It's where I went to be alone and to ride out my hunger.

In recent years though, the town's sense of history, with the impressive ruins of Dunnottar Castle, the majestic views of the North Sea and harbor, combined with the friendliness of its people, had made it a major tourist attraction.

It was no longer a place for a vampire to dwell without calling attention. Temptation ran rampant. Not feeding from the locals was manageable, as a constant stream of missing folks wouldn't go unnoticed. That knowledge was enough to keep me in check. But an on-going supply of backpacking travelers was like ringing the dinner bell.

Twenty-four/seven. Buffet style.

It's why I hadn't visited in a long while.

Through his side mirror, Bal stared at the SUVs following behind. "What's the plan once we arrive?"

"The staff has been informed to prepare one of the guest chambers for the witch. Anya and Ice will oversee readying her for when the Sisterhood arrives later tonight."

"I still think we should've gone to Bringham. We have appropriate cells, interrogation rooms."

I briefly glanced at him then back at the road. "Another reason I decided against it. I need her to cooperate and bringing her to a fucking fortress and treating her like a prisoner will start us off on the wrong foot."

He spun toward me in his seat. "We fucking sedated and kidnapped her. Not to mention flew her across the ocean to another country. Regardless of where she wakes up, she's going to feel like a damn prisoner."

His boldness was teetering over the line of outright disrespect. I sucked in a deep breath and clenched my jaw. "Just make sure she's transferred safely to her chamber. Have fresh clothes and food brought to her as well."

"Fuck that. You're not reducing me to a bloody lady's maid. Anya and Ice are handling that shit."

I slammed on the brakes, the Range Rover coming to a squealing halt, along with the other two trucks behind me. I bared my fangs, flames burning behind my eyelids. "Until you leave, I'm entrusting you with the world's most dangerous witch. And if that means fetching her some water, you will fucking well play whatever role I need you to play. Is that clear?"

Chest heaving, he seethed, but kept silent. A simple nod was all the indication he gave me that he understood.

I bit back a curse as I put the truck back into drive when my gaze snagged on a red fox standing at the top of the hill a few yards from the winding road. It cocked its head as if wondering why we'd stopped, then it started running once I pressed on the gas, as if following us down the path.

Not sure why it intrigued me, but as I picked up speed, I kept an eye on it through my side mirror until I lost all sight of it.

An hour and a half from the airport, my home was nestled in the heart of Dunnottar Woods, only a few minutes' drive from the center of the village. Protected behind a tall wall of mature trees lining the grounds, the gothic-styled estate offered extreme privacy and solitude.

Tires crunched on the loose gravel as we approached the stone driveway. As we pulled through the wrought-iron gates, I spotted the row of house staff awaiting our arrival. At this time of day, the human crew was on the clock.

The fog had thinned which meant we were no longer protected from the sun. Taking the carriage circle to the entrance, I decided to don some UV protective gear and brave the light while the rest of the team proceeded to the attached coach house instead. Bal was already geared up and wasted no time exiting the vehicle.

As I closed the driver's side door, I caught a flash of red fur snaking behind the house.

Had that fox followed us all the way home?

Not sure why it surprised me. Red foxes were native to this land. Shrugging the thoughts away, I handed the Rover keys to Armand, my butler.

Clutching the keys, he clasped his hands behind his back and bowed his head. "Good day, my lord. Welcome home."

I patted his shoulder. "Feels good to be back, Armand. Gather the staff in the great room; we have much to discuss. The Sisterhood will be here at sundown, and I would like to offer them a Woods Manor welcome."

"Very well, my lord. Sounds like tonight will be an interesting evening."

"Indeed, Armand. Interesting indeed…"