13. Adam

Chapter thirteen

Adam

We go back to Sam and Kieran's flat that night. I don't know if Lucien's wondering the same as I am, but I hope Kieran's calmed down a little. I know he wants to protect Sam, but Sam's capable of looking after himself.

Elle stays behind. The Council haven't discovered anything else during the day; their magic users can't pick up more than what we felt in the room where Nora died, and I think some of them can only sense that, now, because they know it's there. They want us to ask Sam to help, though, and I'm not sure anyone is going to be pleased about that.

The air's tense when Drew lets us in. He skitters back over to the kitchen once we're inside, and the cause of the tension is immediately clear.

Sam and Kieran are arguing, Kieran pacing as Sam stands to one side, hands on his slim hips. Lucien moves over to where Drew has started working on dinner again, keeping his head down.

"Do not worry," Lucien says, his voice low. "They will work it out. They always do."

Drew nods, some of the rigidness of his shoulders easing at Lucien's words. As Lucien moves aside, careful not to intercept Kieran's path, I take his place, perching on one of the stools at the counter.

"It's not up to you." Sam's keeping his voice low, and his magic doesn't flare, not even a little, so he's angry but not close to losing it. I watch Drew work out of the corner of my eye.

"I'm not saying it is." Kieran rubs a hand over his face. "But it's dangerous. You can't just go off on your own!"

"And you can't tell me what to do. Believe it or not, I'm a big boy. I can take care of myself."

"Let me come with you—"

"And what if they do attack? Then I've got to keep an eye on you while I fight them. That's if they're even bothered about me at all. We don't know—"

"That's the point!" Frustration bleeds into Kieran's voice.

It's not going to be over anytime soon, so I turn to look at Drew, who flushes under the attention. So pretty. "How long have they been at it?" I asked, voice low enough that I know a human standing right next to us wouldn't overhear.

Ah, the perks of supernatural hearing.

"Couple of hours," Drew mutters back. He drains a pan of potatoes and turns back to me, potato masher in hand. "Sam wants to try to track the signature he found. Kieran doesn't want him to go alone."

What a coincidence. I reach out before I think about it, patting the back of Drew's hand. Drew stills.

"Sorry." I go to pull my hand back, but then Drew lets out a sound that hits me straight in the chest. It's quiet as a whisper, barely audible under the sound of Lucien now trying to calm Kieran and Sam behind me.

He whimpers .

I press my hand down a little more firmly and Drew swallows hard. Right. Wolves are tactile, I know that, and Drew's not with his pack anymore, has been keeping his distance…

Had he been keeping his distance before, too?

Curling my fingers, I carefully turn Drew's hand until it's palm up. When I hold on, Drew's fingers tighten around mine, and he lets out a heavy breath.

"I've got you," I murmur. Butterflies whip up a storm in my stomach when Drew looks at me, his face flushed and his eyes so big and dark.

"We can all go together," Lucien says behind me, and I feel the shift in the air that means attention is going to turn back to us. "Eat first, and we will organise what we are going to do."

Drew squeezes my hand so gently before he lets go, moving to the fridge to get what he needs for the potatoes. I stare after him for a moment. My chest feels tight with how much I suddenly want to leap over the counter and wrap him in my arms, keep us pressed so tightly together it would be impossible to tell where one of us ends and the other begins.

"We can't all go," Kieran says. "They don't need me there, and I'm not leaving Drew alone if there is someone out to get us. Not after…"

I turn to look at them and hear Lucien say, "After what?" but I don't really process the words.

Sam's looking at me. I feel, suddenly, like he's been watching me the whole time, like he just saw the moment that passed between me and Drew.

He doesn't look upset about it.

He looks… lonely.

"Is there a chance they could break your wards?" Kieran asks Sam, and the moment shatters, Sam's attention shifting to him.

Sam scowls as he replies, "Yes. They shouldn't, but…" He looks past me, where Drew's still moving in the kitchen, and I see the same softness in his eyes that I think has lodged in my chest. "Yeah, they might be able to."

"Right," Kieran says decisively. "We'll eat. I'll stay. If you need anything, ring me and I'll be right there."

Kieran moves to sit with Lucien on the sofa as they eat, the two of them murmuring together as I carefully try not to listen. Drew and Sam are awkwardly silent, Drew staring steadfastly down at his plate as though if he looks at us, one of us will yell at him.

Eventually, Sam sighs. "What're you going to watch tonight?"

Drew pauses, his fork halfway to his mouth. When he looks up, there's a moment where he doesn't believe Sam is talking to him.

"Uh, I—I think Emma is streaming." His eyes dart to me, and he blushes.

"Austen?" I ask.

If anything, his blush deepens, and Sam nudges me in the side when Drew stares down at his plate again. "Yeah."

I ignore Sam's glare and hum. "Sounds fun. Fancy watching it twice?"

"What?"

Both Drew and Sam are looking at me like I've grown another head. "We could all watch it when we get back. I read the book in school, I think, but"—I wrinkle my nose—"that was a while ago."

"Oh yeah?" Sam's eyes sparkle. "How long ago?"

"How about I tell you when we've watched the film?"

Sam snorts, and Drew's relaxed enough now to keep eating. "You vampires," Sam says. "Took Kieran ages to get it out of Lucien."

"Don't think I can help you with the method, either," Kieran calls over from the sofa, and when I glance at him and Lucien, the look he's giving Lucien makes me want to blush.

"Jesus," I mutter. Drew directs his smile downwards, but it's there, and Sam laughs.

When he's done, he looks at Drew until Drew meets his eyes. "I'm sure we can think of something, right?"

Sam winds tighter and tighter the closer we get to the Council building. He stands stiffly away from me and Lucien when he gets out of the car, but I don't feel his magic flare, at least.

"We will not be long," Lucien says.

"I want to search, after," Sam replies.

We both look at him. Lucien frowns. "You waited until we got here—"

Sam crosses his arms over his chest. He dressed up again—was dressed up before we even got to the flat. The crimson shirt he's wearing looks incredibly soft. "I'm going with you or without you. The hunters are way more at risk than we'll be."

"I have to tell Kieran," Lucien says, and Sam shrugs.

"Yeah, of course. Tell him he can yell at me later."

Lucien hums but says nothing else as we're let into the building. He'll call Kieran after, and I have no doubt that Lucien and I will be going with Sam.

Only Moreau is there to meet us, and the thin smile he directs at Sam tells me why. Sam doesn't react to it. He studies the empty meeting room Moreau takes us to, the horseshoe of a table that shines mahogany in the low light.

"Your mages?" he asks.

"They're waiting," Moreau says. "You really have no idea who did this?"

Sam's magic rises, his hazel eyes darting around the room before he turns to Moreau properly.

"No," he says. "And I don't know who the relative is, either. As far as I know, all the Lyttons are dead."

Moreau shakes his head. "A stray mage who can teleport is a concern, but someone who managed to sneak in and commit murder…"

Sam sighs. He waves his hand and a bubble of magic surrounds us, keeping us in. Keeping the sound in?

"I spent this afternoon trying to work out how anyone would have been able to use my magical signature and transfer it here. I've never heard of it before. We think they could have used obsidian to syphon it off the wards. From there…" Sam sighs heavily, crossing his arms over his chest. "The fae could do it. Or someone fae-blessed, maybe."

Moreau doesn't say anything, but I think there's something in his eyes I've never seen before.

Fear.

"You're certain?"

"Of course not," Sam replies. "But it opens up the suspect pool. There can't be that many mages from the old families out there. And if there were… I don't know why they'd move in now. If anyone could have done it, then there are some people who move up the list."

"Like who?"

Sam glances over his shoulder at Lucien. They look at each other for a long moment before Lucien nods.

"Adelaide. Whoever she's working for."

"This old mystery vampire," Moreau muses. He must have spoken to Vasile. "Vampires can't use magic."

Sam shrugs. He doesn't have an answer, but then none of us do. When Moreau shakes his head, he seems to understand that.

"Thank you for your assistance, anyway. The magic users are this way, if you'd like to come with me."

The magic snaps back to Sam and when he follows Moreau, Lucien and I follow him.

The next hour or so passes in a blur. Sam has Moreau bring him in as many magic users as he can, teaching each of them how to pick out his magical signature, as well as that of the mystery Lytton.

I stay close as Sam talks them through it, Lucien off explaining to Kieran what we're about to do. I know he won't be pleased, but I agree with Sam. Someone needs to keep an eye on the flat if there's even the slightest chance the wards could be breached. I trust that Drew can look after himself, that he can get himself out of there, but Kieran knows places to go and people who will back him up if necessary.

As the magic users learn to pick up the signatures, they're whisked off into teams to head out into the night. Naomi remains when Sam's done, her expression unreadable.

"I'll come with you," she says to Lucien.

He shakes his head. "You would be better suited with one of the other teams." It's no secret that the magic users here aren't well-trained. And if they're focusing on a weaker skill—their magic—then they're more vulnerable to attack.

Naomi pulls a face, looking between Lucien and Moreau. "Hunter Moreau…"

He shakes his head. "The chieftain is right. Join Thistle's team. They'll need your protection if they pick up the scent. Lucien and his turn are more than able to defend Sam—and I am certain he can look after himself."

A little heavy-handed, but Sam seems happy to take it. Naomi nods and leaves, clearly reluctant.

"Head out," Lucien says to me and Sam. "I will join you in a moment."

Sam follows me as we head out of the building. He keeps glancing back, like he doesn't like the idea of leaving Lucien with Moreau.

I reach out and take his arm as we step outside. "He'll be fine."

"I know." Sam's eyes study the shadows, and I wonder if he's looking for an enemy or tracing magic I can't see. The teams are all gone, and I can pick up some of their magic, but I know the trails will fade for me quickly.

"Which way will we go?" Lucien asks when he joins us.

Sam frowns, turning in a circle. I can sense his magic, almost as though I'm becoming more sensitive to it.

He looks in the direction I'm feeling a pull and lifts his chin.

"This way."

We walk for an hour or so, the trail eventually becoming so solid even I can feel it. Lucien has his phone in one hand so he can keep Kieran, Moreau, and Vasile in the loop. I don't envy him.

I don't understand why the trail of Sam's magic is so strong. Or who it's been left for. I glance at Sam out of the corner of my eye. Determination is carved into his delicate features, and his magic rises and falls as he feels out where we need to go.

He stops all at once and I frown, opening my mouth to ask—but then I feel it, too.

"The other Lytton," he murmurs.

Why would the trail have led us here ?

"Where?" Lucien asks.

Sam sends his magic out, then points to a squat, brick building across the street. It's quiet here, but then it's two in the morning, so I figure most people are already in bed.

"Is there anyone in there?" Sam asks when we cross the road. Lucien holds up a hand for us to stop, and Sam frowns.

I tilt my head. I can't hear a heartbeat from within, even if I tune out Sam standing next to me. "No," I say.

Lucien shakes his head a moment later. No one, as far as we can tell.

"Then let's go."

"What can you feel from the magic?" Lucien asks.

"It's just… sitting there," Sam says. He sounds confused. "No wards. No traps. Nothing I can feel from out here."

"And in there?"

"I'll be able to get a better feel for it. I'll make sure it's safe before any of us move."

Lucien hums, still thinking it over. His phone buzzes a couple of times, but he ignores it, then pushes it into his pocket.

"This is what we will do," he says. "I will go in first. Sam, you will look for any traps or anything the magic users may have left behind. Adam, you will bring up the rear and let us know if you see anything."

I scowl, but by the time I open my mouth to protest, Sam's already speaking.

"If you go in first…"

"You will be close behind. I cannot, in all good conscience, send you in first."

"Just because Kieran thinks—"

"It is not about Kieran," Lucien says, eyes flashing, and where Sam stands his ground, I take an uncertain step back. "Crai Vasile would have my head if I sent you in first and something happened, not to mention Hunter Moreau. This is not about your power."

Sam glares at him but eventually relents. I wonder if he's thinking what I am—there's no way Kieran has nothing to do with Lucien's decision-making, but Lucien's right, too. No matter what I feel for Sam, I'm beginning to think his magic is more important than we are.

"Fine," Sam says. "Let's go."

Lucien pushes the door, which opens easily, and I swallow hard as I move in behind Sam. I can hear there's nothing inside, and vampires can see well in the dark, but I can taste the stranger's magic, too, and it leaves me unsettled.

Lucien looks at Sam as he moves cautiously forward, and I tune out the feel of Sam's magic as I follow them both. This place used to be a shop, I figure, taking in the smashed counters and scattered debris on the floor. Glass crunches under our shoes and we make our way through to the large open room towards the back, where the magic feels stronger still.

Sam glances back at me, worry pinching his expression. There's no one here. I know Nora could teleport, but the chances of the mage popping in…

Lucien swings open the door, and we wait for Sam's eyes to adjust to the darkness. I sense nobody, and when Sam looks at me, I shake my head.

No one's here.

"Seems empty," I murmur.

Lucien hums his agreement. "Sam, you need to be able to see."

Sam shifts his hand and light pools in it, forming into a ball as he steps past Lucien and fully into the room. I remain in the doorway for a moment, glancing back, but there's no one on the street, so I follow Sam again.

We move around rusted, bare shelves, and Sam kicks an empty cardboard box aside, the noise loud in the silent space. Lucien stands in the centre of the room, hands on his hips as he frowns.

"Weird," Sam says. The stranger's magic is strong in here, strong enough that I can't feel a trace of Sam's except what he's actively using. We walk towards Lucien. "It's like they were here seconds ago, but I'd have felt it if they'd—"

Movement out of the corner of my eye makes me turn, but Sam's faster, and a shield flares into life as the magic user reveals themselves. Their first spell crashes against it, and I mutter a curse, turning as someone else appears on the other side of the room.

There's more than one of them.

They've surrounded us.

I take a step closer to Sam and he's trying to pull his shield around, I can tell, but another magic user appears and a spell hits Lucien, sending him sprawling.

"Lucien!"

I lunge for him, but Sam grabs my arm. "Wait!"

His shield covers Lucien just before another spell hits it, and when Sam lets go, I run to Lucien's side. My fangs have dropped, fury and fear pulsing at the back of my skull. Lucien groans and sits up.

Sam's trying to keep all the magic users in his range of vision, but they're moving quickly, and their magic feels… strange.

Like Sam's, but not. Like the stranger's, but not.

"What's going on?" I mutter as I help Lucien to his feet.

Sam doesn't look at me, just shakes his head. "I don't know."

"Okay, what can we do?"

"Nothing, vampire," a new voice says.

Another magic user appears, and this time I bare my fangs, immediately recognising his magic. He's taller than Sam—as tall as me, maybe—but as slim and just as impeccably dressed. Dark hair curls around his ears and his smile has a cruel edge as he eyes the three of us, hiding as we are behind Sam's shield.

I recognise Nora's features in his face—the sharp jut of his chin, the curve of his nose. I sense it in his magic, too, sparking around him.

Sam sucks in a breath as he comes to the same conclusion I have. "You're related to Nora," he says.

The stranger tilts his head to one side, and the smile he gives us doesn't reach his eyes. "I'm Elliot," he says. "I'm her brother."