11. Chapter 11

11

Chapter 11

Rowan

I stare for a second, taking in the sight of him. The shadows define his strong features, his eyes catching the flashing lights. There's a tiny smear of red on his bottom lip. The woman in front of him has a pale arm draped gracefully around his neck. Her eyes are glazed. Blissed out. I know that look all too well. I've felt what she's feeling.

He's been drinking from her!

I can't tear my eyes away from the scene before me. Darick stands there feeding on some random witch like it's the most natural thing in the world. My stomach churns, a mix of revulsion and something else that feels too much like…

Jealousy.

It's not! I refuse to go down that road.

"That lying, manipulative bastard!" I hiss through clenched teeth.

My face burns hot with anger, and I can feel my power prickling just beneath my skin, begging for release. How dare he? After everything we've been through, after what we shared, he's here doing…this?

Stop it, Rowan. You didn't share anything; it was just sex.

I curl my fingers into tight fists. My breath comes in short, sharp bursts as I struggle to control the fury building inside me. Part of me wants to march over there and blast him into oblivion for real this time.

But another part, a traitorous voice in the back of my mind, whispers that I have no right to be angry. Didn't I push him away? Didn't I tell him to get lost?

"Dammit!" I mutter, furious at myself for feeling this way. I shouldn't care what he does or who he feeds from. He means nothing to me. He's just a means to an end, a way to find Mia.

So why does seeing him with another witch make me want to scream?

My magic flares, causing the lights around us to flicker. Heads swivel in our direction. Kara grabs my arm, her touch grounding me slightly.

"Rowan!" Her voice is sharp. "What's going on?" As she looks up in the direction I'm staring, her eyes widen. "Shit," she mutters.

"We need to go," I growl. I spin on my heel, but not before shooting one last glare in Darick's direction. Our eyes meet for a brief moment, and I see something flash across his face. Surprise? Guilt?

I don't care.

I tell myself I don't care.

But as I stumble toward the exit, my anger still simmering just below the surface, I know I'm lying to myself.

I burst out of the Nocturne Lounge, my heart thumping in sync with the throbbing bass still echoing in my ears. The elevator ride up feels interminable, the small space amplifying my anger and confusion. I tap my foot impatiently, willing the doors to open faster.

"Ro, calm down!" Kara says beside me, her voice muffled by the pulsing rhythm we've left behind.

I ignore her, focusing on the ding of the elevator as we reach street level. The moment the doors slide open, I'm out, gulping in the cool night air. The abrupt silence of the street is jarring after the sensory overload of the club.

I step awkwardly on my ridiculous heels as I reach the sidewalk, not really sure where I'm going but needing to put distance between myself and what I just saw. The quiet of the night is broken only by the distant hum of traffic and Kara's hurried footsteps behind me.

"Rowan, slow down!" Kara pants, finally catching up. She grabs my arm, forcing me to stop. "What the hell just happened in there?"

I whirl to face her, my anger finding a new target. "What happened? We just wasted our time, that's what happened! This was a stupid idea."

Kara's eyes narrow. "Is this about Darick? Because I saw—"

"Don't," I cut her off, my voice sharp. "I don't want to talk about it."

The contrast between the pulsing energy of the club and the stillness of the empty street is disorienting. My ears are still ringing, and I can feel the phantom vibrations of the bass in my chest. But out here, under the dim glow of streetlights, reality comes crashing back.

I take a deep breath, trying to center myself. The cool air helps clear my head, but it does nothing to ease the knot in my stomach. I keep walking until Kara catches up again.

"You're going the wrong way. We parked across the street."

"Ugh!" I grunt in annoyance, changing direction. "I'm so freaking mad!"

"I can see that," Kara replies, her calm tone almost making me madder. Mainly because I don't know why I'm angry.

It's not like I care what he does or anything. "He can drink from whoever he likes," I mutter.

"Sure," says Kara, although my words weren't directed at her.

"What the hell was he even doing there?" I mutter.

"Well, I guess—"

"On tonight of all nights!" I cut her off. "Did he know we were going?"

"I kept my arrangements really discreet, Ro. I got the keycode from my contact, but I never said who'd be here. I swear it." Kara looks repentant.

I breathe out, steadying myself. "I'm sorry, sis. I'm not mad at you. It just sucks that I can't seem to get him out of my hair." I wrap my arms around myself and focus on not twisting an ankle as we navigate the unlevel paving toward the parking area.

Footsteps ring out behind us.

"Shit," I say under my breath. If he thinks he can come after us and dish out more of his bullshit, he's got another thing coming. I pick up the pace, and Kara skips to keep up.

We're just a few feet from the car when a figure materializes out of the shadows, blocking our path. I stumble back, my heart leaping into my throat. Kara lets out a small gasp beside me.

I'm about to give Darick a piece of my mind when it hits me with a crash.

It's not Darick.

A strange vampire looms over us, his eyes glinting dangerously in the dim light. He's tall and lean, with a sinewy grace that makes me shudder. His lips curl into a menacing smile, revealing the tips of his fangs.

"Well, well," he drawls, his voice silky smooth. "What do we have here? Two little tidbits out for a midnight stroll?"

My anger from earlier, barely contained, flares up again. I straighten my spine and glare at him. "Back off, bloodsucker. We're not looking for trouble."

Kara catches my arm, her fingers digging into my skin. "Ro," she whispers urgently, "don't antagonize him."

The vampire chuckles, the sound grating on my nerves. "Oh, but trouble seems to have found you, pretty witch. You're a long way from your coven's protection."

I can feel my magic beginning to build, itching to be released. But Kara's right – we can't risk exposure. If the Conclave finds out we've been investigating on our own, we'll be in deep shit.

"We have wards," I say, trying to keep my voice steady. "You really don't want to mess with us."

Kara steps forward slightly, her voice calm but firm. "There's no need for this to escalate. We're leaving now, and we won't be back."

The vampire's eyes narrow, flicking between us. I can see him weighing his options, trying to decide if we're bluffing about our protection.

I tense, ready to unleash my magic if this creep makes a move. The vampire's eyes gleam with evil intent, and I can feel Kara stiffen beside me. Just as I'm about to throw caution to the wind and blast this jerk, a smooth voice cuts through the tension.

"Now, now, Dominic. Is that any way to treat our guests?"

The vampire in front of us freezes, his cocky attitude evaporating in an instant. I whip my head around to see another figure emerging from the darkness. My breath catches as I recognize him – Lucien Marlowe.

Lucien saunters toward us, every movement exuding confidence and power. His pale eyes dance with amusement as he takes in the scene.

"My apologies, ladies," he says, his voice like velvet. "It seems my associate here has forgotten his manners."

The first vampire – Dominic – takes a step back, his head bowed slightly. "I didn't realize they were under your protection, my lord."

Lucien's smile doesn't reach his eyes. "And that makes a difference, does it? I thought we had an understanding about harassing witches, Dominic."

I watch in fascination as Dominic seems to shrink under Lucien's gaze. It's like watching a scolded puppy, if that puppy were a centuries-old predator.

"It won't happen again," Dominic mutters, backing away further.

Lucien's attention turns to us, and I fight the urge to step back. There's something in his eyes that sets my alarm bells jangling despite his charming smile.

"I do hope this little incident hasn't soured your evening," he says. "The Nocturne Lounge values all its patrons, witches included."

I exchange a quick glance with Kara, uncertainty roiling in my gut. The immediate threat of Dominic has passed, but something about Lucien's presence sets my teeth on edge. His smile is all charm, but there's a calculating look in his eyes that makes me want to run.

"I'm Lucien Marlowe," he says, extending a hand. "I don't believe we've been formally introduced, though I did see you at the recent Blood Assembly meeting."

I hesitate before shaking his hand, suppressing a shiver at the coolness of his skin. "Rowan Blackwood," I reply, trying to keep my voice steady. "This is my sister, Kara."

Lucien's eyebrows rise slightly. "Blackwood? Ah, yes. I've heard quite a bit about your family. Powerful witches, from what I understand."

There's something in his tone that makes me wonder exactly what he's heard. I force a polite smile. "We try to keep a low profile."

"And yet here you are, venturing into vampire territory," Lucien says, his voice light but his eyes sharp. "I must admit, I'm curious about what brings two such…distinguished witches to our humble establishment."

I can feel Kara tense beside me. We hadn't prepared for this kind of interrogation. "Just a night out," I say, aiming for nonchalance. "We'd heard interesting things about the Nocturne Lounge."

Lucien's smile widens, but it doesn't reach his eyes. "Is that so? Well, I do hope we lived up to your expectations. Though I can't help but wonder if there might be…other motivations for your visit?"

My heart races. Does he know about Mia? About our connection to Darick? I struggle to keep my face neutral. "Just curiosity," I say, forcing a light laugh. "But it's getting late. We should really be going."

I'm about to make some excuse to leave when a familiar voice cuts through the night air.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

My heart leaps into my throat as Darick materializes out of nowhere, his eyes blazing with anger. For a moment, I think he's talking to me, but then his gaze shifts to Lucien, and his whole demeanor changes. Darick's jaw tightens, his body coiled like a spring ready to snap. Lucien, on the other hand, remains infuriatingly calm, a small smirk playing at the corners of his mouth.

"Ah, Darick," Lucien drawls. "How nice of you to join us. I was just getting acquainted with these lovely ladies."

Darick's eyes flick to me, then back to Lucien. I can practically see the gears turning in his head, trying to figure out what's going on without revealing too much.

"What do you want with them, Lucien?" Darick growls, taking a step closer.

Lucien raises an eyebrow. "Want? My dear Darick, I was simply being a gracious host. Unlike some of our less…civilized brethren." He glances pointedly at Dominic, who's still hovering nearby.

I watch the exchange, fascinated despite myself. There's clearly bad blood between these two, and I can't help but wonder what history they share.

"They were just leaving," Darick says firmly, his eyes never leaving Lucien's face.

Something in me bristles at Darick's presumption. Who does he think he is, deciding what we're doing?

"Actually," I interject, unable to keep the bite out of my voice, "we were in the middle of a conversation."

Both vampires turn to look at me, surprise flashing across their faces. Darick's expression darkens while Lucien's smirk grows wider.

"Is that so?" Darick snaps. "Well, I suggest you end it. There's no place for your kind here. This is vampire territory."

"Now, now, Lord Drake," Lucien cuts in. "There's no need to be rude. We welcome all to our little haven." He sweeps an arm in the direction of the hidden entrance of the club as if he owns the place.

"Not them." Darick jerks his head, his expression heavy with disdain. "They don't belong here."

That's it! The insufferable jerk!

"How dare you!" I bark. "We have just as much right to be here as anyone else – vampire, human, or witch ." My lip curls. "And don't try to convince me that you disagree. I saw you with your fangs in that female."

"You were feeding?" Lucien turns to Darick. "Interesting."

"This is none of your concern, Marlowe," Darick growls at him, then turns back to me. "It's time for you to go."

"I'll go when I'm good and ready," I huff.

Kara steps between us. "Okay, everyone needs to take a chill pill. We're all on edge here. There's no need for this to get ugly."

I glare at Darick, my fists clenching and unclenching. Part of me wants to use my magic, consequences be damned. But Kara's right. This isn't the time or place for a showdown.

"Well, this has been most…illuminating," says Lucien. "I think I'll take my leave." He turns to me, his eyes glinting with something I can't quite decipher. "So fascinating to see history repeating itself. Your family never fails to surprise, Miss Blackwood."

I frown at him for a moment. History repeating itself? What is he talking about? Before I can ask, he's gone, melting into the night with preternatural speed.

Darick takes a step toward me, his expression a mix of anger and concern. "Rowan, we need to talk."

"I have nothing to say to you," I snap. The image of him with that other witch flashes through my mind once more, making me grind my teeth.

"You shouldn't be here," he insists. "It's not safe."

"Oh, that's rich coming from you," I retort. "Worried about my safety now, are you? You seemed pretty preoccupied earlier."

I see a flicker of something – guilt? frustration? – cross his face.

Good. Let him squirm.

"That's not… It's complicated," he says, running a hand through his hair.

"Save it," I cut him off. "I don't care what you do or who you…feed from." My mouth feels dry as I say it. "Just stay away from me and my family."

I turn away, grabbing Kara's arm. "We're leaving."

"Good," he says as we start walking. "Don't come back here, Rowan. Ever. I forbid it."

Forbid? Huh! Pompous asshole!

As we march to the car, I can feel Darick's eyes boring into my back. My mind races, trying to make sense of everything that just happened. Why am I so angry? It's not like I have any claim on Darick. He's a vampire, for crying out loud. Of course he needs to feed.

But the sight of him with that witch… It shouldn't bother me this much.

It's because he betrayed your trust.

Not to mention that he's involved with Mia's disappearance somehow. That has to be it. It can't be jealousy. It just can't be.

"So that was out of left field," says Kara as she slides into the driver's seat and waits for me to buckle up. My hands are shaking.

"He's such a dick!" I keep fumbling with the seatbelt.

"I wasn't talking about Darick, but if that's who you'd like to talk about—"

"I don't want to talk about him!" My fingertips tingle, and I yelp as a flash of light sears a hole through the fabric of my black jeans.

"We may need to get a handle on those powers of yours," Kara observes.

"I'm fine," I reply, though I know she's right. I can't go around frying things every time my emotions flare out of control. Now is a perfect example.

"You okay?" Kara's eyes are on the road as she pulls out of the parking area, but she slants a quick look at me.

I nod, gnawing my lip. "Yeah. I'm sorry. I don't know what's gotten into me."

Kara is silent for a moment. "There's a lot been going on, Rowan. Cut yourself some slack."

I slump against the passenger seat, my heart still racing from our encounter. Kara navigates through the quiet streets, her knuckles white on the steering wheel.

"That was…insane," she says, breaking the silence.

I let out a shaky laugh. "You can say that again. Did you see how Darick and Lucien were looking at each other? There's definitely some kind of beef there."

Kara nods. "Yeah, you could slice the air with a knife. I wonder what their deal is."

"And what was that cryptic comment Lucien made about our family history repeating itself?" I muse, frowning. "It's like he knows something we don't."

"Maybe Gran would know," Kara suggests. "She's always hinting at some deeper connection between our family and the vampires."

I sigh, rubbing my temples. "I just can't believe I let Darick get under my skin like that. He's so…infuriating!"

Kara gives me a sidelong glance. "You seemed pretty upset when you saw him with that witch."

"I was not!" I protest, but even I can hear the defensiveness in my voice. "I just… I don't know. It's complicated."

Before Kara can respond, my phone buzzes. I fish it out of my pocket, expecting a text from Mom or Dad checking in on me.

My blood runs cold as I read the message on the screen.

"Ro? What is it?" Kara asks, concern lacing her voice.

I swallow hard, clearing my throat as I read the anonymous text aloud:

"Mia sends her love."