14. Chapter 14

14

Chapter 14

Rowan

I toss and turn, the sheets tangling around my legs as I drift in and out of fitful sleep. Gran's words echo in my mind, mixing with flashes of memory and fear.

"Blood match," her voice whispers, and suddenly I'm back at the Nocturne Lounge. Darick's face swims into view, his fangs sinking into the neck of that beautiful witch, and nausea consumes me.

The scene shifts. I'm running through a dark forest, branches clawing at my skin. "Mia!" I call out, my voice hoarse. A text message floats in the air before me: "Mia sends her love." I reach for it, but it dissolves into ash.

Lucien's smooth voice cuts through the darkness. "History repeating itself, little witch." His eyes glow red, and I stumble backward right into Darick's arms. For a moment, I feel safe, but then his grip tightens painfully.

"You're mine," he growls, and I feel his fangs graze my neck. I try to scream, but no sound comes out.

The dream fragments again. I'm in Gran's living room, objects floating around me as my magic spirals out of control. Kara's face is a mask of fear. "Ro, what's happening to you?"

I look down at my hands, shimmering with power I don't understand. "I don't know," I whisper, terror clawing at my throat.

Suddenly, I'm face to face with Darick again. His glacial eyes burn into mine, full of hunger and something deeper. "We're bound, Rowan," he says softly. "You can't escape it."

I stare at Darick, my heart racing. His presence is magnetic, drawing me in even as every instinct screams to push him away. The forest around us shimmers, dream-like, but suddenly, I know that this is no longer just a simple fantasy. This conversation is real.

He's here. In my dream.

"Get out of my head," I snarl. "I don't want to talk to you."

Darick's eyes soften, a flicker of hurt crossing his face. "This is the only time you let your guard down, Rowan. I needed to see you; to find out that you were okay."

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"Because there was an incident on vampire territory, and my first thought was that it was you. Even when I learned it wasn't…I had to see for myself."

He was worried about me?

Don't let him sway you, Rowan. He's just looking out for himself.

"Well, I'm fine." I splay my arms wide. "You can leave now."

He huffs out an exasperated breath. "No. There's more. I need to explain—"

"Explain what?" I cut him off. "How you used me? How you're involved with my sister's disappearance?"

He takes a step closer, and I hate how my body responds, craving his nearness. "I swear to you, I had nothing to do with Mia. And what you saw at the Nocturne Lounge…it wasn't what you think."

I laugh bitterly. "Right. You were just having a friendly chat with your fangs in her neck."

"I was desperate," Darick says, his voice filled with intensity. "You refused to help me, and I'm…I'm not well, Rowan. After fending off your magic, I was drained; I needed to rebuild my strength. And the Bloodbane—"

"Stop." I hold up a hand. "I don't want to hear your excuses."

He falls silent, watching me with those unsettling eyes. The dreamscape shifts around us, and suddenly, we're in my bedroom.

"Why are you really here, Darick?" I ask, exhaustion creeping into my voice.

"Because I care about you," he says softly. "And because you're in danger. There are things happening that you don't understand—"

I shake my head, fighting against the part of me that wants to believe him. "I don't need your protection. I need you to leave me alone."

"You know why I can't do that, Rowan. Besides," he steps closer. "Do you want me to?"

"I…" I falter, hating the uncertainty in my voice. "I don't know what I want anymore."

Not this…I can't want this…

"Tell me to leave." He watches my face carefully. When I shake my head, I realize with a jolt that I've inadvertently invited him into my world.

Darick's eyes soften. "Let me tell you what I know, Rowan. Please."

I nod reluctantly, crossing my arms. If nothing else, he might give us more leads to follow.

"Lucien is more dangerous than you realize," he says. "He's vying for power in the vampire realm, and somehow, exploiting your kind seems to be part of his plans. I'm pretty sure that your sister has been among those he's got his hands on."

My breath catches. "Mia. Do you think he would…?"

"If I know Lucien Marlowe, she's alive," Darick says quickly, and relief floods through me. "He wouldn't have taken her just to kill her. He has a purpose for her. And he's smart enough to know how to safeguard his assets."

"She's not an ‘asset'," I snap. "She's a living, breathing woman with feelings and a family who loves her."

"I know that." His voice grows soothing. "I'm just trying to give you an understanding of how he thinks. I want you to know what you're dealing with. What we're dealing with."

"Oh, so it's ‘we' now, is it? You and me against the bad guys?" I raise an eyebrow, not convinced.

"I want to help. If Lucien has your sister, I can help you get her back." His eyes lock on my face.

I'm still not convinced. "And I'm supposed to believe that you're doing this out of the goodness of your heart? Like some sort of vampire vigilante?

Darick observes me for a moment. "Rowan, I have never professed to be any kind of hero. I've lived long enough to have made my share of mistakes. I don't intend for this to be one of them. Besides, Lucien's plans have a direct impact on me. He's targeted me too. Getting him out of the picture suits me."

I rock back on my heels as I consider this. There's so much at play in this new world I seem to have been thrown into. Danger, intrigue, conspiracies…it's not something I'm accustomed to. I don't know if I like it.

"Why didn't you tell me this before?" I demand.

"Did you ever give me a chance?" he says softly. It suddenly occurs to me that he's been closing the distance between us and that we're now only inches apart. "I'm worried about you, Rowan," he murmurs.

I tilt my head back to stare up at him, transfixed by the depth of his eyes. It barely occurs to me that he's raised his hands until I feel them frame my face, strong and cool against my skin. We stand like that for a moment, lost in each other.

"Fuck," he groans a moment before his head dips low. I freeze as Darick's lips meet mine, a jolt of pure need shooting through my body. His kiss is gentle at first, almost hesitant, but it quickly deepens into something more urgent. My mind screams at me to push him away, but my traitorous body has other ideas.

I melt into him, my hands sliding up his chest to tangle in his hair. His arms wrap around me, pulling me flush against him, and I can't help the small gasp that escapes me. The kiss is intoxicating, a heady mix of danger and desire that leaves me dizzy.

Memories of our night together flood my senses – the feeling of his skin against mine, the way he made me feel alive in ways I never thought possible. I cling to him tighter, torn between wanting more and knowing I should stop this madness.

His tongue traces my lower lip, seeking entrance, and I grant it without thinking. The kiss becomes more heated, more desperate. I can feel the barely contained power thrumming through him, matched by the magic coursing through my veins. It's exhilarating and terrifying all at once.

Part of me wants to lose myself in this moment, to forget about all the complications and dangers swirling around us. But another part, the part that remembers Mia's disappearance and the photo on Darick's phone, screams caution.

I pull back slightly, breathless, my lips tingling from the intensity of the kiss. Darick's eyes are dark with desire, and I can see the struggle in them – wanting more but cautious of pushing too hard.

"Rowan," he whispers, his voice husky. "I—"

I shake my head, trying to get my wits about me. "Don't do this again, Darick. Don't try to confuse me."

"I'm not trying to confuse you, Rowan. I can't fucking resist you, dammit." His brows pull together. "You can't tell me you don't feel it, too."

I stare at him for a second, my chest heaving. And then I see it: the sharp points of his fangs protruding over his bottom lip.

Damn him!

I push him away abruptly, my heart pounding. The realization hits me like a bucket of ice water.

God, I'm such an idiot!

"I know what this is," I say, my voice trembling with anger. "It's just the blood match." When his eyes flicker, I know he can't deny it, and I forge on. "I'm not a fool – I found out exactly why you've been hanging around me. Because my blood makes you stronger. That's all I am to you – a convenient food source."

Darick's eyes flicker. "No, Rowan, it's more than that. I—"

"You what?" I cut him off. "Care about me? Have feelings for me?" I laugh bitterly. "Please. I know vampires can't be trusted. And you've done nothing to prove otherwise."

He reaches for me, but I step back. "Rowan, please listen—"

"No, you listen," I snap. "I don't need your protection. I'm perfectly capable of looking after myself. And as for Mia? You barely have any real information about her. You're just using this to get me to let you feed again."

Darick's face falls, and for a moment, I almost believe the hurt in his eyes. But I steel myself against it. "I want you to leave," I say firmly.

He doesn't move. "Rowan, I'm trying to help you. To take care of you."

I feel my magic rising, responding to my anger. The air around us sparks with energy. "Don't make me blast you again, Darick. Besides, I know that if I withdraw my invitation, you have to go."

He stares at me for a long moment, his jaw set. Finally, he nods. "I'll go. But this isn't over, Rowan. I won't give up so easily."

As he backs away, I feel a pang of…something. Regret? Longing? I push it down, reminding myself of all the reasons I can't trust him. The misty dream haze that had surrounded us seems to close around him. When it dissipates, he's gone, and I'm left alone with my swirling thoughts and the lingering taste of his kiss on my lips.

I sink onto the edge of my bed, dropping my head into my hands.

"God, Rowan," I groan out loud. "Why do you have to be so weak?"

I can't let him keep getting to me this way. I can't!

Determined to push him out of my head, I crawl beneath the bedclothes and force my eyes shut. But I toss and turn for what feels like hours, sleep eluding me completely. Darick's presence in my dream left me shaken, and his kiss… I groan, burying my face in my pillow. I can't think about that right now.

As the first rays of sunlight filter through my curtains, I give up on sleep entirely.

Might as well start the day…

I drag myself out of bed and into the bathroom. The hot water of the shower cascades over me, and I close my eyes, trying to relax. But as my hands move over my skin, unwanted memories flood my mind. Darick's cool touch tracing the curve of my hip, his lips trailing down my neck, the way his fingers tangled in my hair as he kissed me breathless.

"No, dammit!" I mutter, shaking my head violently. I can't let myself get caught up in those memories. It isn't real – it's just the blood match playing tricks on me. I shut off the water abruptly, stepping out of the shower and wrapping myself in a towel.

As I'm getting dressed, I hear a knock at my door.

What now?

I freeze, one arm halfway through the sleeve of my favorite sweater. Who could that be? I'm not expecting anyone, and it's way too early for casual visitors. My mind races through possibilities as I hurriedly pull the sweater over my head, smoothing down my unruly hair in the process. Another knock, more insistent this time.

"Just a second!" I call out. Frowning, I make my way to the front of the cottage.

Who could be here this early?

I open the door and find Heath standing there, his eyes filled with concern. I wait for the familiar flutter in my belly at the sight of him. It doesn't come.

"Heath." I blink in confusion. "I didn't expect to see you today."

"Your grandmother sent me," he says, his deep voice laced with urgency.

"Gran?" I say stupidly because I haven't had enough sleep to be thinking clearly this morning. "What for? Is she alright?"

"Actually, it's you she's worried about," he says firmly, glancing past me into the cottage. "We need to talk about your magic. I'm here to teach you how to use it."

I hesitate, my hand on the door. "Right. Of course." Of all the people in the world, why would it need to be Heath? But I smile and step aside, letting him pass. I'll be no use to anyone if I can't manage my power. It's one thing frying a vampire, but the last thing I want is to harm anyone else.

I walk inside behind him, determined to get this thing under control.

My family needs me. Mia needs me. I can do this.