38. Drew

Chapter thirty-eight

Drew

Adam falls to the floor, unmoving.

Sam lets out a cry that tears through me, and the magic he unleashes is terrifying in how powerful it is, slamming against Elliot's shield with all the force of a battering ram.

Another mage falls and doesn't get up. Elliot's shield fluctuates, shifts, moving to encompass only him.

No.

Him and Adam.

He's leaving Adelaide for us.

Sam is terrified for Adam—I can feel it as surely as I can feel Adam's life slipping away—and so I focus on her, a snarl rumbling up my throat that has her turning towards me.

She smirks.

"He won't care if I kill you ."

It's all the warning I get before she moves.

She hits me harder than she has any right to, claws trying to dig in through my thick pelt of fur. I turn on her, snapping my jaws, and she flinches back as my teeth graze her arm.

I don't have time to waste. Sam's still attacking Elliot's shield, but Elliot—

Elliot has his wrist pressed to Adam's mouth, Adam's head propped up on his thighs. Blood still spills from his wound, but maybe it's beginning to slow?

Adelaide launches herself at me again, and I brace myself for the hit. It's the best way to fight a vampire, even one as freakishly strong as she is. They're faster than wolves, but we can outlast them.

I duck my face so she can't get my eyes, and when she grabs me around the middle, trying to toss me aside, I dig my claws into the wooden floor and snap at her legs. She cries out when I bite her, and I growl when her claws scrape my side.

She seems to know better than to bite me. Not that she'd get far. I lock my jaw and drag myself back, pulling her legs out from under her. Blood fills my mouth. She shouts again, trying to get the mages to wake, trying to free herself without losing a chunk of her calf.

I growl, long and low. I might just kill her. The bond between me and Adam feels stronger than it did a minute ago. It doesn't matter. She tried to kill him.

She kicks me in the muzzle, and I yelp, skittering backwards and letting go of her leg. Adelaide pants, face twisted in fury as she stands on shaking legs.

I can keep her busy, at least. Except, her eyes flash gold and magic washes over me, which is—

Impossible.

The magic digs in, like thousands of needles burrowing through my fur and into my skin, and I howl but stand my ground. I'll protect them. Both of them.

When I run at her, she hesitates, and I leap, my front paws landing on her shoulders and bringing her to the ground. She tries to fight me, but she's weakening, and though I feel the buzz of magic again, it's less intense.

"Get off me, you—" She twists and claws at me, but I can stand it. I can.

"Move!" Sam's voice isn't one I can disobey. I leap aside, and Adelaide gets to her feet, bleeding and injured, and she jerks towards Sam but doesn't get any further than that.

His magic is more powerful than anything I've felt tonight. It hits her, a tsunami of sheer force, and she flies back, crashing through the window and out into the night.

I race over to the window and look out. She's impaled on the fence below, but I only see her for a second before her body bursts into flames, the brightness making me yelp in surprise.

She's gone.

But Adam…

I turn on Elliot with a growl. He's sitting on the floor, leaning against the wall, and his face is pale, breath coming in short pants. Adam lies a few feet away. His throat is healing up, and his eyes flutter open, widening in panic.

Elliot drags his shield back, surrounding only himself, and Sam races to Adam's side. "It's okay," Sam murmurs. "It's okay, just relax, don't hurt yourself."

I stalk over, too, my eyes on Elliot, who's watching me right back. He looks pained and tired, and though he's been trying to kill Sam, he just saved Adam's life, and I don't know what to do about that.

Sam's magic surges and he turns on Elliot with a vicious glare. Even I can feel that his shield is now paper-thin. "I should—"

I shift back, kneeling on the floor next to Adam's head, and Sam's attention snaps to me.

"Why did you help him?"

Elliot looks at Adam, his expression still soft. It hardens when he looks at Sam, and he sneers. "Figured it was my best chance of getting away from unhinged vampires."

"You're not getting away from anything," Sam growls. "I should kill you myself."

"He saved Adam," I say. Adam makes a confused sound and I run my fingers through his hair.

"Fine," Sam snaps. "The Council, then. They can deal with him."

I shake my head. "We need to know—" I look at Elliot, who frowns at me. "Who's the other vampire? Who was Adelaide serving?"

He doesn't speak and Sam scoffs. I reach out and take hold of his wrist, then his hand. We need to be patient. There's a time and place for violence, maybe, but there's a time for this, too.

"Please," I say. "We need to be ready for him."

"Be ready?" Elliot shakes his head, practically spitting the words. "You can't be ready for him, wolf. No one can."

"Then help us," I reply.

I meet Elliot's gaze. I need him to know. I need him to know I'm sorry that his sister is dead, but I'll do whatever it takes to protect my own family. He has to understand that, right? He's tried to do the same thing.

"His name is Tamesis," Elliot says eventually. "He's—You need to be careful with the vampire. Vasile. It's him he wants."

"And Kieran," I reply.

"Not like he wants Vasile. Or Deacon. He'll burn the world down if it means they'll burn with it."

A shiver wracks my spine. Adam tries to sit up, and I turn my attention to him, trying to help. The wound on his throat has mostly healed over, though it's still angry and red.

Magic rushes over me. Elliot's drawing it in, and Sam jolts forwards.

"Stop it! You'll kill yourself."

Elliot huffs a laugh. "Maybe. Did you kill Nora?"

Sam shakes his head. "No. I swear, I—No."

Elliot doesn't reply. Magic surges and pain creases his face and then, all at once, he's gone, like he was never there at all.

I hold Adam against me until Kieran and Lucien arrive. Ophelia and Dante aren't far behind them, and Sam squeezes my arm when he sees them all, though Lucien is already stalking over to us.

Adam's still awake, his breathing even. Lucien crouches and looks into his eyes, face paling at the red skin on his throat.

"You—"

"He'll be okay," I say, and Adam's hand lands on my thigh. My bare thigh. I close my eyes and press my forehead against his shoulder. I'm not about to leave him to go fetch my clothes. They'll just have to deal with it.

"You saved him?" Lucien asks.

I shake my head. "Elliot—"

Adam squeezes. "You… did," he croaks out, and I slump against him again.

Kieran appears at our side, my clothes in his arms. "Lucien's got him," he murmurs, but I don't move until Adam lets go.

I change in the middle of the room. The three mages are bound up now, still unconscious. Has Sam told Kieran what Elliot told us?

I don't have a chance to ask. Vasile ascends the stairs, his guards flanking him, and everyone falls silent. Sam drifts over to my side. Vasile looks at Adam and Lucien, and his expression is one of pure fury.

"I saw ash outside," he says, voice clipped. "I take it that was Adelaide?"

Lucien looks at Sam, who nods. "Yes, crai."

"And we do not know who else is behind this?"

Sam grabs my wrist. Kieran doesn't even look at us as he says, "No."

Vasile hums. Does he believe it? "Moreau is on his way," he says. "I am uncertain whether we should hand over custody of these magic users, considering what happened to the last."

Lucien nods his agreement and I take his place at Adam's side when he moves towards his crai. The two talk it over in low tones and I press my forehead against Adam's shoulder, trying to breathe in the scent of him underneath all the blood and fear.

When I wrap my arms around his middle, he rests his hands on mine and leans back against me. Sam stands close to us, watching Vasile and Lucien talk, and I reach out and wrap my hand around his ankle.

He doesn't say anything, doesn't turn to look, but I feel a pulse of affection down our bond. Adam hums deep in his chest.

"I… knew," he says.

Did he? How could he? I've never known of a mating bond between more than two people.

"I don't think Vasile is wrong," Sam murmurs to Kieran. Ophelia and Dante are hovering over the other mages, though Dante avoids being anywhere in the orbit of Vasile's guards.

"About what?" Kieran asks.

"Can Moreau keep her alive?"

Kieran sighs. He pushes a hand through his hair, but the sound of someone coming up the stairs distracts us all again.

No—two people.

I smell a wolf, but a wolf I recognise. The burly, grey-haired man who walks in first has to be Hunter Moreau, but Chaya is right behind him, eyebrows lifting when she sees the mess we've made.

"Well, this is one for the books," Moreau says. He strides over to the tied-up mages, looking them over. "Three this time?"

"We need to discuss where they should be held," Vasile says.

"Think we'll lose more of them?" Moreau doesn't wait for an answer, letting out a huff. "We've kept the other one alive so far. They don't seem as fussed about this lot."

"If they know their master, they may be in danger," Vasile says, and I frown when I notice a sudden, sharp spike in Moreau's scent.

Fear.

I squeeze Sam's ankle, trying to draw his attention to me, but now Vasile is looking at Chaya, who meets his gaze with a polite smile. "I was not aware that Alpha Deacon wished to be involved in these matters," he says smoothly.

"Oh, he doesn't," Chaya says. Her smile never falters. "Though I'm sure he'd prefer to be kept abreast of them. Elle told me I would find you all here. I came to issue Kieran more information on his challenge."

Both Vasile and Moreau still, exchanging a glance, but Vasile speaks first. "Challenge?"

Kieran steps forward, ignoring Vasile's question. "What's the news?"

"The challenge will go ahead as agreed. Alpha Deacon expects you at the pack house tomorrow evening, an hour after sundown. Your brother should accompany you."

"Anyone else?"

"Your mate is expected, of course," Chaya says, eyes flicking to Lucien for a second. Her gaze roams over me, Sam, and Adam before she looks at Ophelia and Dante, who are still standing by the mages. "The others may join you, but should anyone refuse to honour the terms set out for the challenge…"

The threat hangs, unspoken, in the air.

Kieran nods. "I understand. We'll be there tomorrow."

"See you then." She nods to us all—but Kieran first, before even Vasile and Moreau—then turns on her heel and leaves.

Vasile frowns at Kieran. "What's going on?"

Moreau looks just as curious, though he seems inclined to let Vasile take the lead. I squeeze Sam's ankle again and he crouches next to me, not moving as I press my lips to his ear.

"Moreau knows something."

Sam tilts his head, eyes never wavering from the hunter.

"Some arsehole was saying he was Drew's mate," Kieran says. "Against Drew's will, obviously, so I challenged him. If I win, he leaves."

Moreau shakes his head, but Vasile simply studies Kieran for a moment. "And you will win," he says.

It isn't a question.

Kieran shrugs. "Of course."

We leave not long after that. Lucien orders one car to take Ophelia and Dante home—though Ophelia tells Sam she'll call him later—and then another for the rest of us. With five of us, it's a tight fit, but none of us are inclined to leave the others behind.

That's why Sam ends up perched on my lap, Adam squashed between me and Lucien. Kieran sits up front, and his gaze in the mirror is faintly amused.

"Don't bang your head," he mutters.

"Fuck off," Sam replies.

There's no heat in his voice. He has one hand on Adam's leg, the other on the arm I have wrapped around his waist.

We pile back into the flat when we arrive, and Kieran sets to ordering food. Adam squeezes my hand before he heads to the bathroom to shower.

I can't help the way I watch him go.

We need to talk about the bond, but tonight?

I can't do it.

Kieran sits on Lucien's lap, and they murmur to each other. Sam takes my hand, dragging me towards his room. I can't go in there, either. If I do—

What will happen?

If they don't want the bond, we'll have to break it. A bond as weak as ours—though it feels plenty strong now, after the boost Sam's given it—won't be especially hard to break, but it'll hurt, and I don't want that for any of us.

"We should talk about this," Sam murmurs. "We have to know what we're going to do."

I have to face Hale tomorrow. I can't avoid that. It's hard enough anyway, but with a newly broken bond inside me?

Would they be so cruel as to want to get rid of it right away? Sam could do it. It's not that difficult.

After the challenge is over. If Kieran really does win, then I can stay. And if he loses…

If he loses, I'll let them break it, and I'll probably leave anyway.

"Drew," Sam says. He pushes up onto his tiptoes and presses his forehead against mine. His scent overwhelms me, and pain ripples down the bond, but I don't know who it's coming from.

"I can't," I breathe against his mouth. "I—Tomorrow, please , I—"

The bathroom door opens and Adam steps out, some colour finally back in his cheeks. He pauses when he sees us, and that's the distraction I need to tear myself free.

"Sorry, I—"

I lock myself in the bathroom before anyone can protest, then turn the shower on as high as it can go. I take one shaking breath after another. I have to get myself under control.

Tomorrow.

Everything will end tomorrow.