31. Kieran

I get off the bus at Victoria Coach Station, hefting my bag over my shoulder. Even though I booked it back to Manchester and took the earliest coach I could, it's already past midday, and I haven't slept much; dozing on the bus hasn't exactly left me feeling refreshed.

Weaving my way through the ever-present crowds, I make my way to the tube and then head across the city. I sent Lucien a text as soon as the bus set off, but the pull I feel to him is already like a physical thing in my chest.

I'll see him later. For now, I know better than to head right for him. I'm not sure if he's at the clan house or his flat, or that I'll be able to get into either and, if I somehow do manage it, I know I won't want to leave him again.

I chew the inside of my cheek. He seemed fine while we were exchanging messages, but there's a good chance he'll be mad at me for seeming to run off the way I did. I know Sam's still pissed off, and I don't blame him.

No, I get it. I didn't give anyone any warning or any information. I ran off without asking for help.

More people crowd onto the train, the noise almost overwhelming in comparison to the three days I've spent in near-silence, so I get off at the next stop—a couple early—to walk the rest of the way.

It's a little warmer down here and I skirt people as I head towards Rowan Hawthorneagain. The sign is flipped to open, and I take a second to prepare myself. She's not going to like any of this news, but especially not what Adelaide told me. She knows what happened that night. Truth be told, she probably has a better memory of it than I do; she was an adult at the time, after all. She might know, too, just how the vampire is up and walking around—if it even is him.

But it's going to be painful for both of us. I sigh. I'm not sure it'll help right now, either. Adelaide said I'd be doing them a favour, but just about the entire supernatural community of London is out to kill Tristan right now. Killing him shouldn't give whoever's left free rein to do whatever they like.

I shake my head, pushing open the door. That was probably a lie, too. They just wanted me out of their hair, away from whatever they're doing up there.

I can't risk Lucien. I can't risk Sam.

I have to stop him, even if it means I'm playing into someone else's hands.

Pris is behind the counter when I walk in, and her eyes widen when she spots me. "You're okay? How's Drew?"

"I'm fine." I shrug off my bag and run my hands through my hair. "Drew's… okay. Alive. I don't know what's going on with him."

Pris' mouth twists, but she doesn't reply.

"I ran into the other vampire while I was up there. Adelaide."

"And?"

"And there's something weird going on."

Pris frowns. "What do you mean?"

I glance at the door, and she gets up, locking it and flipping the sign before she leads me through to the back again. She's silent as she makes us both coffee and I accept it gratefully, stifling a yawn.

"What's going on, Kieran?"

"I don't know for sure. I didn't notice any supernaturals in Manchester—not that I was there for long. There's some other alpha sniffing around the pack or something. Drew's avoiding him and he's fancy, comes from money, or at least likes flashing it around."

Pris' frown deepens. "What about Adelaide?"

I set down my mug but keep my hands curled around it. "I—She's been feeding on a mage. She got the upper hand. I thought she was going to kill me, but when I mentioned Drew, she laughed it off."

"She could still be after him."

"No, I think that was honest. She told me to come back down here and find Tristan. Gave me this." I pull the crumpled list of addresses from my pocket. "It's a list of places Tristan could be hiding. I looked some up on the way down. They're mostly abandoned buildings. I don't know who owns them."

Pris takes the list and scans it, eyes flaring in recognition at some of the addresses. "A couple of these would be good safe houses, sure."

"That's not all."

"Why did she ask you to find Tristan?"

"She said if I killed him, I'd be doing her and her master a favour. If I stayed up there and interfered in their business, then they'd kill Drew."

"So you left." It's not an accusation; Pris is nodding like it makes sense, like she believes it just as I did. "Who's her master? There's someone behind all this?"

"Yeah." I stare into my coffee.

"Kieran…"

"She said—She said her master is the same vampire who killed Mum."

Neither of us speaks and horror crosses Pris' face. "That's not—He can't be—"

"Yeah, I know." I run my fingers over the scar on my throat without thinking about it. "But she said it. So I came back."

"You did the right thing," Pris says quickly. "If it was him… Drew may not be entirely safe, but you know he would have killed you both if you stayed."

Yeah, because he tried it before. It doesn't make me feel better. I take another drink of my coffee and barely taste it.

"What now?" Pris asks.

"I need to talk to Vasile, Moreau, and Deacon. If he's staying in one of these places, we need to hit them all at once, and preferably during the day so he can't escape."

"And the mage?"

I shrug. "She shouldn't know we have the list, either. Adelaide seemed pissed off that she and Tristan left them." I think about the magic I felt at Hyde Park. "I'm going to find Sam now and we'll probably talk to Lucien, Elle, and Adam tonight. If we take it straight to Vasile, then we can approach Moreau and Deacon directly."

Pris nods. "All right." Her expression softens. "And the bond?"

"Still there." It's tugging again, but after the past few days, I've become used to ignoring the feeling.

"Let me know if you need any help with your plan. I can get you in touch with Moreau if no one else."

She pushes the list back and I take it, putting it in my pocket. "Thanks. I will."

I text Sam when I realise I'm already heading in the direction of Lucien's flat. That has to be where Lucien is because as I turn onto his street, the bond finally quiets, and some of the tension leaves my body.

Not all of it. We're in the final stretch now. I can feel it.

I linger in the shadows of an alley across the street from the building. I could try to go inside, and I think I'd manage to get up to his flat. At least one of the attendants has seen me, after all, and I bet he mentioned it to the others. It doesn't seem like Lucien often brings humans here.

Doesn't seem like he's often here at all.

Sam replies—still angry, but glad to hear I'm back. I close the message and scroll to Lucien's number.

I could call. Lucien's in there, I know that. Maybe he'll answer.

I sigh. What would I say? I need to apologise, even though our messages have been pleasant. I need to tell him what we're planning tonight.

I want to tell him everything I saw while I was up there. Want to tell him my dad's looking old now and Drew looks terrified, and I didn't know how I could help him without getting us both killed.

I want to tell him that I'm fucking terrified the monster who haunts my nightmares is back, even though I killed him. And that the entire time I was there, the bond pulsed in my chest, and it took all my willpower to stay away. It's only because Drew was the one in danger that I could.

I rub a hand over my face. Lucien and I have only known each other for a few weeks, but—

A familiar tingle of magic washes over my skin.

It's not Sam's.

It's the same magic I felt at the gym. At Hyde Park. Even before I turn, I know I'll face the mage who's been working with Tristan.

A woman is standing there. I recognise her, though I don't know her name. She's one of the hunters who arrived with Elle when Adam was attacked.

She smiles. It doesn't reach her eyes.

"Night, night."

Magic flares and the world goes black.

I wake in increments. My head feels full of cotton wool, and I can hear voices, but they sound a million miles away. I try to move, but though I can feel all my limbs, I can't move well.

"He's waking up."

It's a woman's voice, one I don't recognise. Where am I? It doesn't smell like a hospital. Doesn't sound like one either. Fingers brush mine. My arms are behind my back. I want to open my eyes, but my lids are so heavy…

"Fuck. How hard did you hit him with it?"

Thatvoice I recognise. A growl vibrates in my throat.

Tristan.

Tristan's here.

"Get away from him, you fuck—"

Sam's voice cuts off suddenly, a choked sound escaping him. I force my eyes open. The room—our living room—spins and I tense when hands land on my shoulders.

The woman stands in front of me, and I bare my teeth when she grabs my chin, tilting my head back to look into my eyes. I try to pull away, but my wrists are tied, and for some reason, I can't get free.

"I told you to keep your mouth shut," Tristan growls behind me. Sam gasps, and I jerk away from the woman when I realise Tristan is cutting off his air. "I should just kill you."

"He's mine," the woman snaps. Magic fills the air and I figure that's what's keeping me tied—she's done something to the ropes. "Besides, you can drain him when I'm done. You need to be level-headed now, remember?"

It's not just a question. More magic tingles over my skin, practically coating my tongue. Sam's at my back, I understand, when his fingers wrap around mine and squeeze. I squeeze back.

"Fine," Tristan growls. He prowls around to face me, and Sam lets go, but I feel him tug at the knot tying my wrists together.

I glare up at Tristan. Whatever magic the woman used to knock me out and bring me here is still making me feel woozy, but that feeling is starting to fade. I can't get up until I'm untied, but I sure as shit can use this chair to my advantage.

"Did you have fun on your little trip?" Tristan asks. "I could have killed them all while you were gone."

"But you didn't." My voice comes out hoarse.

"No." Tristan smiles, and his eyes flick to the woman before they settle back on me. "I thought it would be better to wait. I want you to watch as I kill everyone you care about."

"I don't see them all." I make a point of looking around the room, taking in how trashed the space is. "You've had time."

The woman scoffs. "We've been busy. But you're here now."

I ignore her, never moving my focus from Tristan. "I spoke to Adelaide while I was up there, you know."

There's a moment, just one, where fear flashes through his eyes. They aren't gold, so either he hasn't fed from the mage in a while or he's not trying to use her magic.

"Oh? What did she say to you?"

"That if I kill you, I'll be doing her and your master a favour."

Tristan leans in close, one finger hooking under my chin to tilt my head up. "And did she tell you who my master is?"

"Yes."

Tristan studies me for a moment, then snorts, pushing away. "You don't get it," he growls. "Fucker pretends he only wants to oust Vasile but won't admit he's terrified of him. Terrified of you."

Sam's breaths are slow and even behind me, fingers still working at the knots.

"The only thing I don't get is why," Tristan says. The woman is watching him, her shoulders tense like she expects him to attack her at any moment. "I don't understand why he's scared of either of you."

He shakes his head and turns to the woman. "You've got his phone."

"Yes." She takes it from her pocket and tosses it to him.

Tristan shoots her a dark grin. "Thank you, Nora." He turns back to me. "Here's the thing, Kieran. I'm not scared of you. But you should be scared of me. So why don't we give your boyfriend a call?"