23. Sam

Chapter twenty-three

Sam

We leave Ophelia and Dante behind to take care of the mage. Naomi is on her way, but there's no way I can have her in the car that's currently carrying me, Kieran, and Lucien to the clan house.

More importantly, I don't think Lucien could handle it, and if he's more worried, then so is Kieran, and so am I—

Adam can't have killed a chieftain. It just can't be true. Not unless the chieftain tried to kill him, but I can't imagine that one of them would. If anything, they all seem to like Adam a lot more than the rest of us.

It seems to take an age before we pull up outside the Council building. No one is waiting for us, but it doesn't matter; Lucien wrenches the door open in his haste, and Kieran is quick on his heels. I follow after, trying to calm my nerves before I approach the building.

Impossible, of course. But I can't show weakness now.

First me, now Adam. They can't believe this, right?

"Wait!" Elle gets out of another car, and Lucien comes to a stop when he sees her. She grabs his forearm when she gets to his side, her eyes flashing with anger. "This has to be a mistake."

"Of course," he growls. I join Kieran at the top of the steps.

He nudges his shoulder against mine, and I nod when he looks at me, a question in his eyes. Whatever happens, he'll look out for me and Adam both—and I'll do the same for him.

That's without question.

The door to the Council building swings open, and Hunter Moreau steps out into the night. "Come on," he says. "I want to talk to you before we go in there."

Yeah, this doesn't feel right. Still, Lucien moves, and we all follow him into the building. Instead of going directly to the Council chambers, Moreau leads us to the room I spoke to him in the other day. He closes the door, then looks at me.

"If you don't mind."

I cross my arms over my chest, but lash out with my magic all the same, creating a soundproof bubble around the five of us.

"What has happened?" Lucien asks. There's despair in his voice, sure, but I don't know if Moreau can hear it under the obvious thread of anger.

"Hunter Helene got a call from Chieftain Lazarus not long after sundown. He said he had something to tell her about the mages and the clan. She left with two other hunters."

"Did you know?" Kieran asks.

Moreau shakes his head. "She didn't tell any of us until she came back. The hunters had Adam and she said she found him in the building where the chieftain told her to meet him. There was ash in one room and a stake."

"She thinks Adam staked him?" Elle snarls.

"Yeah, that really sounds more like something I would do," Kieran mutters. He shrugs when Elle glares at him, but Lucien reaches over and squeezes his hand. "You believe her?"

"I believe she found what she said she found."

"That's not what he's asking," I say. "There's no time to be coy. Do you think Adam killed Lazarus or not?"

Moreau holds my gaze for a long moment. "No, I do not."

"Then what are we doing?" I ask.

"It's not just about what Helene found tonight," Moreau says. "It's about what she's saying. What it implies ."

"And what does it imply?" Elle asks. "Why is Adam here at all? He should have been turned over to the clan immediately."

"Helene is saying—and some of the other Council members agree—that a vampire killed Nora. Only a vampire could have killed Nora."

I shake my head. "But she knows about the spell. She knows it was my signature that was found."

"To muddy the waters. She is saying, now, that Chieftain Lucien killed Nora, and that he—that you—sent Adam to kill Lazarus because you knew he was going to talk to Helene about what he knew."

For a moment, we're all silent. Lucien's expression is stunned, and though Elle is still clearly furious, she seems lost for words.

Kieran shakes his head, and when he speaks, there's more anger in his voice than I think I've ever heard before. "That's ridiculous. You know it is."

"I do. But we have no other evidence."

"We have leads," I say. "Another vampire—"

"Do you have a name? A location? Without that, you have nothing."

Kieran shakes his head, and turns to Elle, effectively shutting Moreau out of the conversation. Lucien is still clinging to his hand. "You said Adam should have been turned over to the clan. That's in the treaty, right?"

"A vampire killing another vampire? Yeah, so long as no humans were hurt, it's not Council business."

"Then that's it. That's all of it. The rest we can deal with after, but for now, we need Adam out of here."

Moreau shakes his head. "You can't just—"

"I told you last time," Kieran growls, and Moreau swallows hard when their gazes meet. "We appreciate the heads-up, sure. But you should've put an end to this and called Vasile immediately."

"Let's get him," I say. "Screw the rest."

Moreau sighs. "This isn't going to go well. You need to think about—"

"With all due respect," Lucien interrupts, "we do not require your counsel. This is a clan matter, and as such, our crai should have been your first call. I appreciate that you took the time to warn me, but now I would like to retrieve my turn and return to the clan."

"Very well," Moreau says. "This way."

I wave my hand and the shield surrounding us drops. For a second, I'm almost light-headed; I've been using far too much magic over the past few days. It doesn't matter, though. What matters is getting Adam back.

Moreau leads us to the main Council hall, and Lucien lets go of Kieran's hand before Moreau opens the door. Kieran takes a step back, falling in beside me as Elle steps up to stand with Lucien. I get it. We shouldn't really be here at all, but I know that unless Lucien's the one to tell us that, we're staying.

The doors open, and my eyes immediately fall on Adam. He's standing in the centre of the room, arms fastened behind his back. Aside from Moreau's seat, all the others are full, though the Council members are wearing a range of expressions from fury—Hunter Helene, of course—to disbelief.

"Chieftains Lucien and Elle have arrived to discuss the return of one of their vampires," Moreau says. He rounds the circular desk and takes his seat, throwing himself almost carelessly into it.

It's only then that I notice the man standing in the corner of the room. He's a hunter, one I've never seen before, but I can sense him from here.

Fae-blessed. Fuck.

He doesn't look at me, though. His eyes are on Moreau, arms crossed over his chest, and the other Council members are acting as though he's not there at all.

"And the others?" Hunter Helene asks, looking between me and Kieran. "What are they doing here?"

I open my mouth, already annoyed, but Kieran shakes his head minutely. "We're just concerned for a friend," he says smoothly, and all the anger that was in his voice earlier is gone. "We can wait outside if you'd prefer."

Like hell we will. Moreau shakes his head. "Not necessary," he says. "This should be over with quickly."

Helene scoffs. "Over with?"

"Aside from the return of our clan member, we would appreciate any information you might have that would be useful to us in tracking down Chieftain Lazarus' murderer. And his ashes, of course," Elle says. Adam's shoulders tense at the sound of her voice, but he doesn't lift his head. I want him to turn, want him to look at us.

I want to be certain he's all right.

"Why would I tell you that? Chieftain Lazarus called me precisely because he felt he could not trust the clan. Neither can I."

"Because it is a clan matter and the treaty states that it should be treated as such," Lucien says. There's no leeway in his voice. "If you wish to keep your concerns to yourself, you are perfectly able to do so. But if we later discover that some harm was caused to our clanmates because of your silence, then I am certain my crai will not hesitate to take appropriate action."

Helene scowls, but some of the other Council members look concerned. The treaty is what holds the city together. It stops vampires from killing wolves—and vice versa—and hunters wiping out the bloody lot of us, should they feel so inclined. I eye the hunter in the corner again. He hasn't moved an inch.

"Tell them, Helene," one of the other Council members says. She's got no magic about her; none of them but Helene do.

"I do not know the precise reason why Chieftain Lazarus contacted me," Helene says through clenched teeth. "Except that he said he did not trust your crai. He believed the same thing I do—that a vampire killed Nora."

She looks at Lucien when she says it, like she's expecting a reaction. All he does is nod, and a muscle in her jaw jumps before she speaks again.

"Chieftain Lazarus said he found something and that he wanted to meet me alone. Something to do with that mage…" She eyes me and I stare impassively back.

Kieran reaches out and squeezes my wrist. He has his phone in his other hand, and I see it's ringing. Drew. I frown and he leans in, lips to my ear.

"I'll be right back. Come get me if you need me."

I nod, and the line of Lucien's shoulders tightens as his mate slips out of the room. He doesn't look back, though. His attention remains focused on Hunter Helene, who watches Kieran go, then flicks her gaze back to the three of us again.

"Like I said," she continues, "Lazarus had his concerns about your relationship with Mr Ware. And your crai's inability to see past his own obvious indulgences when it comes to you."

Adam flinches and Elle's jaw sets, but Lucien doesn't betray his own discomfort in any way. He smiles faintly and inclines his head.

"Your concerns are noted. And you are free to proceed with your investigations into the murder that took place in this building as you see fit. What you are not permitted to do is hold a member of our clan without cause, and the death of one vampire at the hands of another does not amount to cause for the Council." He turns his head, ignoring Helene completely and focusing on Moreau. "Or am I incorrect?"

Moreau doesn't smile, but there's a spark of something in his eyes. "You are entirely correct, chieftain. Apologies for the overstep. I trust this will be handled by the clan."

Helene opens her mouth and closes it again, but when she finally tears her gaze from Moreau, it's to focus on me. One of the hunters moves towards Adam at Moreau's request and unfastens his cuffs. I don't look at him. I can't, not while she's looking at me—I can't let her see too much.

"The vampires may not be under our jurisdiction, but you, Mr Ware, most certainly are. As is your flatmate. We will continue our investigations into your involvement in this matter, and I do not believe you will like what we find."

Elle tugs Adam closer, into the small group the three of us have formed, and I give Hunter Helene an easy shrug and the hint of a smile. A hunter approaches and passes Elle a silver urn.

The hunter in the corner is looking at me now, and I like that even less than I like knowing he's there.

"I'm sure you'll let me know if you find anything interesting," I reply. "After all, you all did such a good job of it when Tristan was running around."

She leaps to her feet, but Lucien is faster, pushing Adam behind him and ducking his head again. "Thank you for your time, Council members," he says.

Well, I know a cue when I hear one. I grab Adam's wrist and when I tug him over to the door, he moves easily. Elle is beside him, one hand on the centre of his back, and Lucien follows behind.

We leave the building quickly, walking out into the night. I don't let go of Adam. I can't. If I let go of him, they might snatch him back again, and then what would I do?

Kieran waits by the car. Both ours and Elle's are still idling by the kerb. He pushes off from it when he sees us, studying Adam for a moment before he turns to Lucien.

"All good?"

"No," Lucien says. "What happened?"

"Drew called. Elliot appeared outside the wards tonight."

Adam's breath catches in his throat, and my heart stops for a moment.

"Is he okay?" His voice is rough; it's the first thing he's said since we've got him, and that's what makes me look up at him.

I can't see any visible injuries, not until I look at his wrists. They're red from the cuffs—too red—and I let go hurriedly, hoping I haven't hurt him.

Adam trembles. I move closer to him, pressing our shoulders together.

"He's fine," Kieran says. Is he trying to reassure us or himself? "I mean, he said so. We need to head back."

"Adam has to go to the clan house," Elle says. "Lucien, I can take him if you—"

"No," Kieran interrupts. He wraps his arms around himself, and the twist to his expression gives me pause. "I can't—It's not safe there. Not for any of us."

"My love," Lucien murmurs. He moves in closer and cups the side of Kieran's face. "Adam will be safe there. He must speak with Vasile, and Vasile will protect him."

"That's not good enough," Kieran says and shakes his head at the resulting look on Lucien's face. "I'm sorry. I just—"

This is something else. Lucien seems to understand it, too, even if Elle and Adam still seem confused. "Let's take him back with us tonight," I say and hold up a hand when Elle shakes her head. "No, listen. I've not examined the wards at the clan house, but I don't think they can stop a teleportation spell, and I don't have enough energy to beef them up tonight. In a couple of days, maybe…"

"So what are you suggesting? Adam stays with you?" Elle's gaze flicks between me and Kieran.

"Yes," I say before Kieran can. "Our wards are secure. They have to be, or—" The words stick in my throat. I need to see Drew. Why else would Elliot have been there?

"What happened tonight?" Lucien asks, and Adam shrinks in on himself again, his cheeks going red.

"I was going to find Elle and Gareth stopped me. He said Chieftain Lazarus wanted to see me, practically pushed me out the door and into a car. It took me to some house, but when I got out, the driver left."

"Did you recognise the driver?" Elle asks.

"No," Adam replies. "I went in the house and there was no one there. When I heard a car pull up, I thought it would be people from the clan because Gareth told me he'd let Vasile know where I went. It was Hunter Helene. She came into the room as I—"

"What did you see?" I murmur, and Adam looks at me, his eyes wet.

"Ash. Just… ash, and a stake."

"Fuck," Kieran mutters. "And she walked in on that?"

"Yes."

Elle and Lucien exchange a glance, and, after a moment, she nods. "Right. I'll go back to the clan. I'll let Vasile know what's happened, if Moreau hasn't told him first. There's still a good chance he'll want to speak to you tonight."

"Okay," Adam says.

"If that is necessary, I can go," Lucien says and shakes his head when Kieran reaches out to grab his arm. "No. I will be fine, but I may have to do this."

"Fine," Kieran says mulishly. He looks at Elle. "And you'll let us know when you get there?"

Elle nods. She hugs Adam before she gets into the car, and the four of us watch it pull away.

"Come on," Kieran says. He still seems closed in on himself, like he thinks the enemy is breathing down his neck.

I guess they are.

We pile into the car, Adam wedged between me and Lucien, and Kieran up front with the driver. I fasten myself in, then reach out and run my thumb over the red line on Adam's wrist.

He shivers and looks at me, his eyes still too bright. I drop my head onto his shoulder, then turn, brushing my lips over his neck. He shivers again, threading his fingers through mine.

I won't let them get to him. I won't let them get to Drew.

I'll protect them with everything I have, even if it kills me.