15. Chapter 15

15

Chapter 15

Darick

I 'm sitting on a wingback in my study, staring into the fire as I think back over the events of the past twenty-four hours. The taste of that witch's blood still lingers on my tongue, a pale imitation of what I truly crave.

Rowan.

Her name rings in my mind, a constant, maddening echo. Even now, I can feel the ghost of her touch, the memory of her lips against mine. Damn her stubbornness. Damn her distrust. And damn this fucking bond that ties us together.

I rise from my seat and head to the fireplace, bracing my hands on the mantelpiece. The heat is searing, the flames raging, but I don't feel them. I'm too preoccupied with that goddamned woman.

For fuck's sake!

She's out there somewhere, probably plotting her next reckless move. The thought of her in danger sends a chill through my undead heart. I think of how I'd panicked when Marcus had told me about the witches who'd gathered on vampire territory. I hadn't expected to be so badly affected. I can't stand the thought of feeling that way again. I should be by her side, watching over her. Instead, I'm here, useless, while she pushes me away at every turn.

A sudden sensation ripples through our bond, and I stiffen. It's not the first time it's happened since the twilight pulled me from sleep. And I wish it would stop. Rowan's not alone. I close my eyes, focusing on the connection between us. There's a warmth there, a flutter of…something. My jaw clenches as I realize what it means. That insufferable witch boy is with her.

What the fuck are they doing together?

Jealousy, hot and bitter, rises in my throat. I imagine his hands on her, his voice in her ear, and my vision blurs red. A growl escapes my lips, and I hear the crack of wood beneath my fingers. I've splintered the mantel without realizing it. I turn away, disgusted with myself.

What is going on with me?

I'm an ancient vampire, not some lovesick teenager. And yet, here I am, consumed by emotions I thought long dead. All because of one stubborn, infuriating, captivating witch.

A knock at the door pulls me from my brooding. "Enter," I call out, not bothering to turn around.

Marcus steps in, his footfalls nearly silent on the thick carpet. "I thought I'd find you here," he says, his voice tinged with concern. "How are you holding up?"

I turn to face him, forcing a wry smile. "Just peachy. Nothing like a night of drama and jealousy to lift one's spirits."

Marcus raises an eyebrow. "Did you manage to smooth things over with Rowan?"

"No," I mutter, sinking back into my chair. "After she saw me with that witch, things took a turn."

"Ah," Marcus says, understanding dawning on his face. "And I'm guessing she didn't take it well?"

I snort. "About as well as a stake to the heart."

Marcus waves a hand. "She'll come around."

"I wish I shared your confidence."

Marcus takes a seat across from me. "And then there's the matter of your meeting with Arabella."

I groan, rubbing my eyes. "Don't remind me. Lucien showed up, all smiles and charm. I could practically see Arabella falling for his act."

"We'll find a way to expose him," Marcus assures me. "Speaking of which, about that message I sent you…"

I sit up straighter. "Right. The activity you'd picked up on."

Marcus nods. "We've confirmed it was a witches' magic circle, but none of the Blackwoods were involved."

I frown. "A magic circle? On our land? What the hell are they playing at?"

"We're still trying to get to the bottom of it," Marcus says. "But it's clear something's brewing. The witches are getting bolder."

I purse my lips. "This complicates things. We need to find out what they're up to without escalating tensions."

Marcus nods. "Agreed. And we need to do it before Lucien uses this to his advantage."

I rub a hand over my face. "God. The last thing we need is to have him getting free access to them. Whatever he's playing at, it seems that witch blood is pivotal."

"About that.." Marcus crosses an ankle over his knee. "I've invited Selene and Elias to come around." He glances at the heavy Breitling on his wrist. "They'll be here in a few minutes."

I stifle a groan. There's been so much going on that I haven't had time to clear my head. But I know this is important. "Have they made any headway?"

"Selene says she's uncovered something interesting. And Elias has more details on those figures."

I raise an eyebrow. "That sounds promising."

"It does." He nods just as there's a light tap at the door.

"My Lord," Sebastian calls in. "Your guests have arrived."

"Send them in," I respond, rising from my seat. Marcus mirrors the movement.

Elias and Selene enter the room, their presence immediately shifting the atmosphere. Elias, ever the healer, has a calm demeanor that belies the gravity of our situation. His silver-streaked hair catches the firelight as he nods in greeting.

Selene, on the other hand, exudes an aura of controlled power. Her raven-black hair falls in perfect waves, and she takes in the sight of us with sharp intelligence. I've known her for centuries, but she still manages to keep me on my toes.

"Darick," Selene says warmly. "I trust we're not interrupting anything important?"

I gesture for them to sit, and we all resume our seats. "Nothing more important than this. What have you found?"

Elias settles back into his chair, his serene blue eyes meeting mine. "I've been analyzing the blood consumption patterns of Clan Umbra," he begins, his tone measured. "As we noted before, the discrepancies are concerning. But it appears it may have been worse than I believed."

I lean forward, intrigued. "How so?"

"Their Synth blood figures are down because at least an eighth of the Umbran clan has been stricken by the Bloodbane."

Selene sucks in a breath.

"You're kidding," Marcus says.

"Do you have proof of this?" I ask.

Elias nods. "I have all the files to back it up."

"So…this means he's lying about his people being weakened," Marcus says.

I slump back in my seat, steepling my fingers beneath my chin.

"What's wrong?" asks Marcus. "This is great news."

"Not unless it helps our cause," I say. Who am I to judge other sufferers of the curse when I have it myself?

"Well, that's where I come in," Selene interjects. "Because it bears out some of the findings made by my team."

I look at her. "Oh?"

She nods. "It seems that Lucien's managed to manipulate a significant number of high-ranking vampires from the Umbran clan. We've heard of several of the elders signing over their holdings to the House of Umbra, with him as the trustee."

"Interesting." Marcus looks thoughtful.

"And curiously," Selene goes on, "it's not just Umbrans who have been doing this. A number of the other clans have had similar behavior."

I ponder on this for a moment. Until it dawns on me. "He's blackmailing them. Controlling them with blood."

"You believe he could exert such a hold over them just with the promise of witch blood?" Elias cocks his head.

"Some," I respond, thinking of my recent interactions with Marlowe. "But my guess would be that he's threatening them with exposure if they don't comply."

Selene's eyes narrow on me. "You think that could work?"

I pause for a second, weighing up my next words carefully. "He's tried it on me."

Selene makes a choking sound, and Elias's mouth drops open. They're both staring at me in horror.

Shit, maybe this was a mistake.

Then again, it has to come out eventually.

"You have the Bloodbane?" Elias says cautiously.

"Yes," I say simply.

"How long have you known?" Selene asks.

"About a year."

Marcus, who has remained carefully quiet, now speaks up, "It is under control. It has had no impact on Darick's capabilities."

I give him a tight smile. "My friend here is being optimistic. However, there is truth in his words. I haven't felt any adverse effects."

"Well, that's good news," says Elias.

"Until recently," I add. Marcus frowns at me, but I continue. "When the witch, Rowan Blackwood, all but destroyed me with a sun blast, I took a knock."

"What?" Selene snaps. "The young witch? She tried to kill you? Why the hell would she do that?"

"Because she thought I was responsible for the abduction of her sister," I tell her. "But I believe now that Lucien is behind that."

Elias is slumped back in his seat, looking more than a bit shattered. He and Selene exchange glances.

"Darick, I don't want to seem unfair, but I'm beginning to think we backed the wrong horse," she says. It doesn't surprise me. Selene has never been one to pull punches.

"There's nothing to worry about," Marcus interjects. "Darick has found his blood match."

"Marcus…" I say in warning.

"You have a match?" Elias turns to me.

I hesitate before answering but then eventually give a hesitant "Yes."

"You don't sound convinced." Selene's eyebrow is arched. "Who is she?"

"Rowan Blackwood," I say the name and wait for the fallout.

"Hah!" Selene barks out a laugh. "Seriously. Who is she?"

"Rowan Blackwood," I repeat. "She's the one." As the words leave my mouth, it strikes me that there's a lot more to them.

She's the one.

"But she tried to kill you." Elias's eyes are wide.

"It was a misunderstanding. I already told you that she thought I harmed her sister." I don't know why I feel the need to defend her.

"I fear you may be less than objective when it comes to the Blackwood girl," Selene says drily.

"I really wish you had told us this sooner, Lord Drake." Elias heaves a sigh.

"As I said before, Darick's duties have not suffered in any way," Marcus seems determined to support me. "And, like I said, he's found his blood match, after all."

"The witch who tried to kill him." Selene's voice is still dry.

Marcus shrugs as he repeats his earlier words to me, "She'll come around. Our friend has certain charms when it comes to women."

"I'll take your word for it," Selene responds, flashing a look my way.

"Look, I understand your concerns. But this…connection with Rowan doesn't change anything. My priorities remain the same."

Selene narrows her eyes. "Does it, though? A blood match isn't just some casual fling, Darick. It's a profound bond."

"I'm well aware," I say, unable to keep the edge from my voice. "But I've managed for a thousand years without letting my personal life interfere with my duties. That's not about to change now."

Elias leans forward, his expression thoughtful. "Actually, this could be a significant advantage. A blood match doesn't just satisfy the Bloodbane – it amplifies our strengths. You could be more powerful than ever, Darick."

I consider his words, knowing he's right. I've never felt stronger than I have after drinking Rowan's blood. "That may be true, but it also puts her in danger. Lucien already suspects something. He'll try to use our connection to his advantage."

As I speak, an image of Rowan flashes through my mind – her fierce determination, the fire in her eyes when she vowed to find her sister. I think of her unwavering loyalty to her family, her courage in the face of danger. She's not just my blood match; she's extraordinary in her own right.

Selene's voice pulls me from my thoughts. "Regardless of the complications, you have our support, Darick. Your leadership is crucial, especially now."

Elias nods in agreement. "We believe in you. Bloodbane or not, you're the best hope we have against Lucien's machinations."

Their words of loyalty should reassure me, but all I can think about is Rowan. How do I protect her without pushing her away?

"Well then, now that we've got that behind us, let's discuss our next move." Marcus seldom leaves his role of strategist for long.

"We need to take some bold steps," says Selene. "If Lucien is playing dirty, we have to blow his game out of the water. I say we take our findings to Arabella."

I nod, processing the plan, weighing up the pros and cons. "At my last meeting with Arabella, he'd already started sinking his hooks in. Approaching her ourselves is our best move. We need to act before Lucien can spread his influence further."

"So we go to her chambers with this?" asks Eliot.

I shake my head. "Too exposed. Lucien would know we were planning to meet with her and try to sabotage us." I think of Valerian. He's clearly an ally on some level.

Selene rubs her chin in thought. "The Salon Privé at the Nocturne Lounge would be perfect. It's neutral ground, and we can control who enters."

Marcus nods in agreement. "I'll arrange it. Arabella won't be able to refuse such a discreet meeting."

The thought of returning to the Nocturne Lounge so soon sets my teeth on edge. The memory of Rowan's face when she saw me with that witch is still fresh in my mind. But I push the discomfort aside. This is bigger than my personal drama.

"Good," I say. "Let's aim for tomorrow night if possible."

As the others discuss logistics, I become acutely aware of the gnawing hunger in my gut. The witch's blood from last night barely took the edge off, and regenerating after Rowan's attack drained me more than I care to admit. I'm still weak, and I know I'll need more blood soon if I'm to be of any use in this fight against Lucien.

The thought of feeding from another random witch at the lounge repulses me. It feels…wrong, somehow. Harvested witch blood might take the edge off, but getting my hands on it is going to raise eyebrows. It's Rowan's blood that calls to me, but I can't bring myself to compel her, to take away her choice. The very idea goes against everything I believe in, everything I've fought for.

I'm caught between my needs and my principles, and I hate it. I need to be strong for my clan, for this fight against Lucien.

But at what cost? I won't ever force her.