15. Drew

Chapter fifteen

Drew

I'm half dozing, half waiting for Sam to come back to the flat, but still, I snap into full alertness when Kieran stumbles into the living room, rubbing his chest. "Something's wrong," he growls when he sees me sitting up, but he doesn't head for the door.

He has his phone in his hand but doesn't call anyone, either. It's a while before it rings, and Kieran lets out a heavy breath.

"What happened?" he barks down the line.

I don't listen to the words, but I hear Lucien's voice, his tone soothing. When Kieran's gaze cuts to me, I climb off the sofa, moving my stuff to one side.

Kieran's scent sours, and if Lucien's okay, then…

Maybe they've captured someone. Except even as I think it, I know I'm wrong. If they've captured someone, they'll head back to the clan or the Council; they won't bring them here.

Kieran hangs up and looks at me. "Adam's injured," he says, then shakes his head like he can hear the way my heart starts racing. "Sam says he'll be fine, but they're coming here. The wards are stronger."

My stomach sinks. The wards are better here, so whatever they faced, it's not over.

I force myself to focus on Kieran. He's still rubbing his chest. "Lucien?"

"He's okay. He says he's okay. But he's up and he's talking, and I don't feel like—"

"He's okay," I repeat, agreeing. I'm sure Kieran would feel worse if he weren't, even if he clearly has his doubts.

We wait, and when I hear a car turn onto the road, I cross over to the window. It pulls up outside the building and Kieran's already heading out of the flat, down the stairs, by the time the car door opens.

I stay where I am, feet rooted to the carpet as I watch Lucien climb out first. He and Sam get Adam out—and he's not conscious, I can tell—but then Kieran is with them. Sam hesitates but allows Kieran to take his place at Adam's side, then races into the building ahead of them both.

I look up when Sam all but skids into the fat. He lets out a breath when he sees me.

"You're okay."

I frown. I've been here all night. "I'm fine."

He takes a step into the flat, still not looking away from my face. He's paler than usual, dark smudges under his eyes, and I pick up the sharp scent of pain and frustration under his usual smoke and spice. I want to cross the room and take him into my arms. What happened out there?

I don't get a chance to ask. Kieran and Lucien come in behind Sam, still holding Adam up between them.

I smell blood and a growl rumbles up from my throat, my wolf pushing to the surface. Kieran looks at me.

"It's okay," he says. "They're okay."

Sam closes the door and follows them over to the sofa. They set Adam down gently and Lucien crouches next to his head, eyes moving over Adam's face.

There's a little blood on his jaw, a scrape that looks to have healed. Lucien reaches out and wipes it away.

I've rarely genuinely wanted to hurt another, but the urge rises in me now as I look at Adam, something deep in my chest tugging as if to pull me closer. Who did this to him?

Lucien moves aside as Sam kneels next to Adam. He pushes into Kieran's arms, face tucked into his throat for a moment before he stands tall and pulls out his phone. I half-listen as I watch Sam work, magic prickling over my skin.

"No, he's fine," Lucien says quietly down the phone. He's looking at Adam, concern pinching his brow, and Kieran's watching Lucien with a similar expression.

Magic flares again and I bite back a snarl. It's not that I want to hurt Sam. The thought that he was there too, that he's injured as well, is terrifying . I just need something. Some outlet that will help.

Lucien ends the first call, makes another, but I don't move my eyes from where Sam is working. He's growing paler with each surge of magic. Adam's going to be fine, right?

"Elle's on her way," Lucien says when he hangs up. He touches Kieran's shoulder before he kneels next to Sam. Kieran perches on the far arm of the sofa as Adam twitches and groans. I press myself back against the wall. I don't know how to help.

I don't want to be in the way.

"And the trail?" Kieran asks. My stomach twists. If Kieran hadn't been here looking after me, he'd have been out there too. Is it good that he wasn't? What can he do against mages?

"Vasile will tell Moreau. They will divert other teams there, to retrieve the body if nothing else."

Kieran rears back in surprise, but Lucien shakes his head, and he clamps his lips together. Sam sits back on his heels, shoulders slumping as he breathes hard. There's an edge of anger to his scent.

"He'll be okay," he says. "I can't fucking believe this."

"Believe what?"

"I know why I was framed now."

Kieran frowns and Sam shakes his head.

"The mage—Elliot—is Nora's brother. He thinks I killed her."

Kieran scrubs a hand over his face. "Shit."

"But they're after Lucien and Adam, too."

The silence that falls has an underlying tension to it. I can't tear my eyes from Sam because though he looks worn down by what's happened tonight, the fire in his eyes is breathtaking.

His gaze meets mine, just for a moment, and I jerk back like I've been burnt.

"Not me?" Kieran asks. "Not…"

"No," Sam says quickly. "Not that they mentioned, anyway."

"It cannot be a coincidence," Lucien adds. "You are not safe either, my love."

Kieran looks at me, then, and I realise I'm not safe either.

Not that I'm in danger. I can't leave this building.

"What did they hit him with?" I ask because there's not another thought in my head I can articulate right now.

Sam shakes his head. "A couple of things. I sent him outside; both of you, I shouldn't have—"

"I'm fine," Lucien says, though I'm not sure that's true. There's a hint of pain to his scent, too, and even without my sense of smell, I wonder if he's a little like Kieran. He doesn't want Sam to be preoccupied with him if Adam's the one in danger.

Kieran moves and reaches out, then wraps his fingers around Lucien's wrist. They look at each other. If Lucien isn't okay, Kieran will take care of him.

"What are we going to do?" Kieran asks. "If this mage wants revenge, he's not going to stop just because he didn't get you this time."

"Not unless I kill all of them," Sam mutters. Kieran frowns. "No. I'll meet Dante and Ophelia this afternoon. I've got a better idea of all their magic now."

"Okay," Kieran says. "You're all right, too?"

Sam glances up at him, surprised by the question. His eyes slide away, back to Adam's prone form as he replies, "Yes."

Kieran believes that about as much as I do, judging by the look on his face, but he doesn't push.

"The clan building's warded?" Sam asks, and Lucien nods. "Against teleportation spells?"

"I do not know. I will ask Vasile tonight. I take it your wards will keep Elliot out?"

"Yeah," Sam says, looking at Adam again. Adam's going to stay here tonight? My wolf is glad, from the way he's prancing around in the back of my head, but I push off from the wall before I can stop myself, heading for the kitchen.

Kieran watches me go. Neither Sam nor Lucien moves.

At least it seems like Adam's only sleeping now. I make tea for all of us—Lucien, too—and it's only a minute or so before Kieran joins me and grabs the milk from the fridge.

"If you don't feel safe here…" he begins, and I freeze.

"I do."

"Drew."

"Kieran." I meet his flat look with one of my own and for the first time since my arrival, it's an easy thing to do. My wolf howls inside me, desperate to come out and corral Sam and Adam back into a safe corner, to set myself between them and the door so I can face any oncoming threat.

"Fine," Kieran says, jaw clenching. I drop my gaze first. "But you're gonna have to be careful, okay? I know we still need to see Deacon, but I've gotta—"

"You've got to go with them," I finish for him. "I'll be okay. I'm not… I'm not a fighter, but I can keep him safe. You know I can."

Kieran pours milk in his tea and mine, then puts it back in the fridge. "I know," he says finally. He lets out a heavy sigh. "I can't believe this, either."

There's nothing to be done about it, of course. Kieran takes a cup of tea to Lucien, who accepts it with a bemused smile, and Sam, who holds it in both hands even though I know the mug is steaming hot. I stay behind the counter, close to the door, watching them.

"Elle's here," Sam says when I'm halfway down my cup. A knock at the door follows his words and Kieran shoots up to answer it, letting her inside.

She snarls when she sees Adam on the sofa, red lips curling back to show her fangs, and every hair on the back of my neck stands on end. I swallow down the growl building in my own throat.

"What happened?"

Sam explains it to her, giving us all the details too, and by the time he's done, she's still scowling, but I know it's not aimed at anyone in the room.

"He's going to stay here?"

"For tonight," Lucien says. "Sam's wards will keep him safe while he rests. We need to speak with Vasile and let him know what is going on."

"And figure out how to track the mages down and get rid of them," Sam says darkly. Elle shoots a vicious grin in his direction.

He's not scared of the mages, I realise as Lucien steps aside to make another call. And he killed one of them… I swallow hard. Has he killed before? He doesn't seem too affected by it, but I know that doesn't mean much.

"A car is on its way," Lucien says. "We need to speak to Vasile about precautions for other vampires. And the wards on the clan house. If they cannot keep Elliot out, none of us are safe."

"Yeah, and I feel like the entire clan might struggle to fit in our flat," Kieran says. Elle huffs, but Lucien smiles at him, some of the weight of the evening lifting from his shoulders.

Elle looks between them, then at Adam. "You could stay here," she offers Lucien, but he shakes his head.

"I think five of us may be too many," he says. "I will keep you all abreast of what is happening."

"Tell Vasile and Moreau they can call me, too, if they want Sam," Kieran says, and Sam gives him a sharp look. "If they need anything in the day—"

"I will." Lucien's phone buzzes. "The car is here."

Kieran walks Lucien and Elle down to the street and I don't move from where I'm resting against the counter until he's back up in the flat again and the door's locked. Kieran leans against it, looking between the three of us.

"You can sleep in my room," he says to me. "I'll take the floor, or you can, whatever."

He sounds exhausted. I shake my head, and he frowns.

"We can't move Adam yet, right?" Sam shakes his head and Kieran continues, "We can move him to a bed once he's rested up a bit, but for now, he needs to stay out here."

No. I can't do it. I can't explain it, except if Kieran tries to force me out of the room Adam's in right now, I might do something stupid, like shift and bite him.

I exhale a shaky breath. "I'll—I'll stay out here."

Kieran frowns. "Where? There's nowhere to sleep."

"I don't need to."

"Drew…"

I bite the inside of my cheek, looking straight ahead at Adam. I don't want to look at Kieran or Sam. A mass of confusing feelings swirl in my chest, and I fear they might read them from my face.

"Someone should stay with him," Sam says. He sounds exhausted. I glance over, but he's already looking at me, his hazel eyes too bright when they meet mine.

He saw Adam touch me earlier, I'm certain. For a moment, I can't breathe for knowing it.

Kieran shifts away from the door. "Then I can—"

"I'll do it," I say, a little too loudly. Adam shifts on the sofa and we all freeze, watching as he settles again. Sam's still kneeling beside him and Adam's hand moves, landing on Sam's shoulder. He smiles a little in his sleep, his breathing falling deep and even.

"Drew, you don't have to… It's okay that we weren't there. This isn't your fight."

I bite back a growl, finally looking Kieran in the face. There's some guilt there he thinks he's hiding, and I wonder how much of what he's saying is him trying to convince himself of the truth.

"Sam's wiped out," I say slowly, "and you are, too. I'm not going to sleep anyway and it's not like I need to be up for anything in the morning. I'll stay out here."

I cross my arms over my chest. Kieran's jaw clenches, but Sam's quiet laugh startles us both.

"Fuck's sake," he mutters. He moves Adam's hand ever so gently from his shoulder and gets to his feet, wincing a little before he stretches.

"You"—he points at Kieran—"in there." He gestures to the open door to Kieran's room.

Kieran opens his mouth, presumably to protest, but Sam shakes his head. "I mean it. Drew's right. You need to be alert in case something comes up tomorrow and you have to work, right?"

"Yeah."

"Then get in there. They'll be okay."

Kieran frowns and scrubs a hand over his face. "Fine. Drew, if you need anything—"

"I know where you are."

He nods, ambling over to my side. I'm surprised when he reaches for me, hands landing on my shoulders before he leans up and presses our foreheads together. I squeeze my eyes shut, letting the feelings wash over me.

Home. Family. Pack.

Kieran pulls away all too soon. He moves towards Sam and grabs his shoulder, too. Sam leans into the touch, just a little, and then Kieran heads into his bedroom without looking back.

The door closes and Sam lets out a little sigh. "He'll be safe with you," he says. It's not a question.

"Yeah."

Sam smiles. He turns to go, and I find myself speaking before I can stop myself.

"Sam. Earlier, when you and Kieran were arguing and Adam and I—I didn't mean—I know you're together, I just—"

I stop when Sam touches me. He takes hold of my hands—I don't know when I started waving them around—and holds them still.

"Take a breath," he says. Some complicated emotion crosses his face, but he shakes his head, and it vanishes. "Whatever you need, it's okay."

A whine builds in the back of my throat as the words sink in. My knees feel weak, the connection between me and Sam the only thing keeping me standing.

"What if I don't know what I need?" I ask, voice barely above a whisper.

"Well, that's okay, too." Sam tilts his head to one side, like he's considering it. "I think most people don't know that."

"Okay."

"Okay."

We smile at each other, and warmth settles in my chest. Sam darts up onto his toes, lips brushing my cheek. I suck in a surprised breath.

"Good night, Drew. Come get me if anything changes, yeah?"

"Yeah." Sam squeezes my hands once before he lets go and I press my fingers to the spot he kissed. "Good night."

I watch Sam go into his room and then move over to the sofa, taking the blanket draped over the back and laying it over Adam's sleeping form. I sit on the floor with my back resting against the sofa, positioned so I can see the door.

Adam shifts when I sit down. I freeze. Is he waking up? Will he want Sam?

A hand lands in my hair and Adam lets out a contented sigh.

I close my eyes, relaxing into that touch. The warmth that bloomed in my chest when Sam kissed me spreads through every limb.

Maybe this is where I'm meant to be.