5. Chapter 5

5

Chapter 5

Darick

E ven crouched on the floor in the dingy alley, her beauty sucks the breath from me. Her eyes are wide, her auburn hair a tousled mess framing her pale face. She's so fucking vulnerable. The sight of her stirs something in me – a pull I can't explain, mixed with frustration at her impulsive actions.

She tried to kill me, for fuck's sake. Yet here I am, drawn to her like some kind of impulsive kid.

"Hello, Rowan," I say, keeping my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me.

She shoots up and backs away, eyes wide with shock and fear. "How…how are you alive?" she demands, stopping short as she bumps up against the wall behind her. Her hands start to crackle with uncontrolled magic, the air around her shimmering with power.

I take a step forward, palms raised in a calming gesture. "I'm not that easy to get rid of, little witch. Though I must admit, you gave it a good try."

"Stay back!" Rowan warns, her voice trembling. Sparks dance between her fingers, and I can sense the raw energy building around her.

I stop, torn between the need to explain and the urge to grab her, to feel that connection again. "We need to talk," I say, trying to keep my voice calm. "About what happened, about Mia, about all of it."

Rowan's eyes flash at the mention of her sister. "What do you know about Mia? Those photos on your phone…"

I shake my head, frustration mounting. "It's not what you think. If you'd just let me explain—"

But Rowan's shaking her head, her magic crackling more intensely. I can see the fear and confusion in her eyes, mixed with something else – a reluctant attraction she's fighting against. I know it's there. I can feel it in our bond.

"Explain what?" she spits out. "That you never took her? Lies! And how are you even here? I saw you die. I saw the ash. How the hell did you do that?"

"I'm an ancient." I shrug. "We're stronger." I don't tell her that it had taken nearly everything in me to recover from the heat of that blast. It had charred skin from flesh, flesh from bone, seared organs… I'd been unrecognizable when I'd materialized back home after transporting myself there. Pure instinct had taken over.

"So what? You…you…just reconstituted or something?" She looks horrified.

"Or something. Yes." I'm not going to go into a detailed lecture on the biology of vampires. Most of us have no idea how these things work ourselves. All I know is that when necessary, my cells simply regenerate. Although what happened this time was unprecedented…and very likely attached to the fact that I'd just fed from her.

"It's not…natural," she husks out. She reaches a hand forward as if to touch me, then snatches it back. A perverse part of me wishes that she hadn't.

"I'm a vampire, Rowan. I'm supernatural." I meet her eye. She blinks owlishly at me for a second. I take a deep breath, knowing I need to be honest with her if I want to regain any semblance of trust. "Rowan, your magic…it did affect me. More than I'd like to admit."

Her eyes widen, a mix of surprise and something else – concern, maybe? – flickering across her face.

"What do you mean?" she whispers.

I exhale slowly, remembering the searing pain. "I've survived damage before, but that… I've never experienced anything like it in all my centuries. It took all my strength to recover from that. Strength I got from you. And now, it's gone."

Rowan's face pales. "I- I didn't know…"

"I know you didn't," I say softly. "But it's important you understand the power you possess. You're not just some weak witch, Rowan. You're something…extraordinary."

I take a step closer. "And that's not the only thing that's extraordinary about you."

Her eyes meet mine, confusion and wariness swirling in their depths. I can see her pulse quickening at the base of her throat.

"Rowan," I say, my voice gentle. "Surely you remember our connection? The way it felt when we were together?"

I reach out slowly, giving her time to pull away if she wants to. My fingers brush her arm, and I feel that familiar spark, that undeniable bond between us.

"Can you feel it?" I ask, my eyes locked on hers. "This isn't just some trick or illusion. What we have…it's real."

"No!" She recoils as if I slapped her, and I'm taken aback by the fury in Rowan's eyes. "Don't you dare!" she hisses, her voice trembling with rage. "You've been manipulating me this whole time, haven't you? Using our…bond for your own gain!" The crackle of magic in the air makes the hairs on my arms stand up.

Her accusation stings more than I care to admit. "Rowan, that's not—"

"Save it!" she cuts me off. "I bet you orchestrated this whole thing. The dreams, the blood exchange, all of it. What was your endgame, Darick? Information? Power over the witches?"

I clench my jaw, frustration building. How can she not see the truth of what's between us? "You're wrong," I say firmly. "I didn't orchestrate anything. This connection…it's as much a surprise to me as it is to you."

Rowan scoffs, but I press on. "Look, I know you have no reason to trust me. But I swear to you, I want to help. Let me help you find Mia."

Her eyes widen at the mention of her sister, hope and suspicion flashing across her face.

"I had nothing to do with her disappearance," I insist, holding her gaze. "But I have resources, connections. I can help you track her down."

Rowan hesitates, clearly torn. "Why?" she finally asks. "Why would you help me?"

I take a deep breath, knowing my answer could make or break this fragile moment between us. "Because despite what you might think, I care about what happens to you, Rowan. And because I believe our bond means something. It has to."

Even as I say the words, I can see that I'm not getting through to her. I brace myself as I see the fury ignite in Rowan's eyes again.

"No!" she hisses. "You're just trying to play me again; turn me into your personal blood bank. You were involved. You took Mia! There's no other explanation."

When bright light begins to flicker around her fingertips, I take a step back, holding up my hands. "Rowan, no. That's not—"

"Shut up!" She hurls a bolt of energy at me, which I barely dodge. "I saw those photos on your phone. Why did you have them? Why?"

Her magic lashes out again, scorching the wall behind me. I can smell the ozone in the air, feel the heat of her power. It's intoxicating and terrifying all at once.

"Tell me the truth, Darick," she demands. "What did you do to my sister?"

I meet her gaze, trying to project calm, trying not to antagonize her; she's clearly on the edge. "Rowan, I swear to you, I had nothing to do with Mia's abduction. Those photos… It's not what it looks like. But if you'll let me explain—"

"Explain?" she spits. "So you can spin me yet another web of lies?"

I pull in a deep breath, fighting down a surge of frustration. "Think about it, Rowan. If I were involved, why would I let you see those photos? Why would I risk exposing myself?"

For a moment, I see doubt flicker in her eyes. But then her face hardens again. "Maybe you're just playing some sick game. Maybe this is all part of your plan."

Goddammit! This stubborn witch is impossible to reason with.

"For the last time, Rowan, I'm not your enemy here," I growl, my patience wearing thin. "If you'd just listen for one damn minute—"

"Listen to what?" she snaps back. "More bullshit? I trusted you, Darick. I let you into my head, into my life. And all this time—"

A sudden movement catches my eye. Another redhead rounds the corner, her eyes widening as she takes in the scene before her. I recognize her from the meeting but also from the moments when I was sharing Rowan's thoughts. Kara. Rowan's sister.

Great. Just what I need. Another Blackwood witch to complicate things.

Kara rushes to Rowan's side, placing a protective hand on her arm. But I don't miss the way her eyes dart between us, curiosity evident in her gaze.

"Ro, are you okay?" Kara asks, her voice laced with concern. She turns to me, eyes narrowing. "What's going on here?"

I can see Rowan struggling, torn between her anger and the need to explain the situation to her sister. She opens her mouth, then closes it again, clearly at a loss for words.

"Your sister and I were just having a…discussion," I say smoothly, meeting Kara's suspicious gaze.

Kara raises an eyebrow. "A discussion that had Rowan running out of the council meeting?"

I resist the urge to roll my eyes. These Blackwood women will be the death of me. Again.

"It's complicated," I say, my eyes flicking back to Rowan. She's watching me warily, her body tense. "We have some…unresolved issues to work through."

Kara looks between us. "Unresolved issues?" she scoffs. "I'll say! The last I heard, she'd turned you into a heap of dust."

I take a deep breath. This situation is spiraling out of control, and I need to regain some semblance of order.

"Kara," I begin, my voice steady, "I understand your concern. But there's more going on here than you realize. Those photos of Mia—"

"Don't you dare!" Rowan interrupts, her voice sharp with anger. She turns to her sister, eyes blazing. "Kara, don't listen to him. He can't be trusted. He's been manipulating me, us, this whole time."

"That's not true, and you know it, Rowan," I respond.

Kara looks between us, her brow furrowed in confusion. I can see the conflict in her eyes – the protective instinct tussling with her curiosity.

"Hold on," Kara says, holding up a hand. "Let's all take a moment to think here."

Rowan opens her mouth to respond, but I cut in, needing to get my side of the story out. "Rowan saw those pictures on my phone and jumped to conclusions before I could explain."

"Because there's nothing to explain!" Rowan snaps. "Kara, he's involved in Mia's disappearance, I know it."

Kara's eyes narrow further, and she turns to me, her gaze sharp. "Is this true? You have information about Mia?"

I shake my head, choosing my words carefully. "Not specifically. And it's not what Rowan thinks. It's…complicated." More than complicated. Lucien's weaving a web that's so tangled I may never unravel it. But the last thing I want is to put Rowan in his crosshairs.

"Complicated! What a fucking joke! Don't fall for it, Kara," Rowan warns, grabbing her sister's arm. "He'll say anything to get us to trust him."

Kara hesitates, looking torn. I can see the hope in her eyes at the mention of Mia but also the wariness as she glances at her sister's distressed face.

"Look," Kara says finally, her voice measured. "We both want the same thing here – to find Mia. Maybe we should hear him out, Ro. At least let him explain about the photos."

I watch as Rowan's face contorts with a mix of anger and hurt that twists something inside me.

"I'd rather kill you again than listen to another word out of your lying mouth!" she spits, her voice trembling with rage.

I take a step forward, desperate to make her understand. "Rowan, please—"

But she's already turning away, grabbing Kara's arm. "We're leaving. Now."

Kara hesitates, glancing between us. "Ro, maybe we should—"

"No!" Rowan cuts her off sharply. "We're done here."

I watch as Rowan storms off, practically dragging a reluctant Kara behind her. The younger Blackwood sister throws one last look over her shoulder at me, her expression unreadable, before they disappear around the corner.

I stand there for a moment, frustration and something dangerously close to despair coursing through me. How did everything go so wrong so quickly? I rake a hand through my hair, trying to regain my composure.

The memory of Rowan's face, twisted with hatred and distrust, burns in my mind. I've lived for centuries, faced countless enemies, but somehow, this stubborn witch's rejection cuts deeper than any blade.

I clench my fists, the gravity of my situation sinking in. Not only do I need Rowan to understand the truth about Mia, but I'm also acutely aware of the growing hunger gnawing at my insides – a hunger that only Rowan's blood can truly satisfy, especially after the immense energy I used to heal myself from her magical attack.

The realization hits me: without Rowan, I may not survive much longer. I need to fix this. Somehow, I need to make her understand. But from the looks of it, she'd happily see me die, anyway.