Chapter 35: Greer

Chapter Thirty-Five

Greer

R eign finds nothing, which could be a blessing. Or it could be a terrible sign. I’ve never had particularly good luck, and I spend the next two nights afraid of my own shadow. The days are easier. Once I fall into my slumber, I sleep like a rock, and if I have any nightmares, I don’t remember them. Reign could be feeding off them, but I don’t want to know, so I don’t ask.

I can’t fathom why Cole would want to harm me, anyway, but the facts are clear. He sent those women to look for me, and they didn’t have good intentions. It’s insane that they even found me here. There are multiple sanctuary cities up and down the East Coast. It takes me way too long to remember how I told Cole all about my grandmother’s house in Black Cove. We were making small talk one night, and I naively mentioned that if we ever wanted to leave Haven, we could come to Black Cove.

My head hangs, making the warm water run down my face.

Reign slides a hand around my middle from behind, and he tugs me back into his chest. “What’s wrong, darling? I can feel your turmoil in the bond, but I can’t pick up specifics, and it’s beginning to drive me mad.”

“I’m an idiot,” I whisper. “I thought maybe Cole got lucky by sending those women here. No, I’m the fool who told him all about how I inherited a house in Black Cove.”

“I see.” Reign moves until his back is facing the shower spray. It blocks the water from bouncing against my front, since he and I are now chest to chest. “Hindsight is twenty-twenty. You’ll gain nothing from beating yourself up. You learned a lesson. We’ve all been there.”

“Yeah,” I agree, but this is an extra hard lesson to learn.

I’m growing spoiled. That much is obvious, based on my response to hearing that Novak has a town council meeting tonight. Seiran sits at my side on the couch in the downstairs living room as Novak finishes tying his tie.

Reign bounds down the stairs and takes the corner into the room. He’s wearing a black wool coat over a white T-shirt with dark jeans and boots. He leans against the doorway, smiling when he catches me staring. “I’m going to escort Novak to the council building, then pop in to check on the club.”

Seiran is nearly done with the blanket he’s crocheting, and he tosses it over my lap as he works the pattern back in the opposite direction.

I cross my arms over my chest and smile as politely as possible when my anxiety is still through the roof. “I understand you have lives and responsibilities.”

“You’re safe here with Seiran.” Novak takes the few feet separating us and bends down. He cradles my jaw, offering me a quick kiss. “We won’t be gone all night. Watch a movie, read a book, or just snuggle and relax. You deserve the chance to rest and enjoy the perks of immortality.”

I dive forward, pushing my lips to his once more. They all do seem perfectly relaxed. The bond says not one of them is concerned.

I’m overreacting.

Novak steps back and Reign takes his place.

My mimic smirks, wrapping his hand in my hair at the base of my skull. “You know, next time you and Seiran go to drop flowers off at your grandmother’s grave…” He chuckles and nips at my lower lip. “If you find yourself being chased by someone you don’t recognize, chances are that’s me. Don’t worry. I’ll transform back once I catch you.” He shoves his tongue into my mouth, and I lose all worries or concerns as he wrecks me in the best way possible. He gives my hair a playful little tug and pecks a final kiss on my lips.

Him chasing me is an intriguing prospect.

If only it was enough to permanently take my mind off the feelings of unease.

“Not every hobby is for every person.” Seiran wrestles the absolutely horrible attempt I made at crocheting from my hands. “Knitting is harder than crocheting, at least in my opinion. If you lose one stitch, you’re kind of screwed. So, I’m going to recommend we practice with the crochet hooks again…some other time.”

I snort. “I’m unteachable.”

His long hair brushes my arm as his head shakes. “You’re beautiful. And a little antsy. We can try again another time.” He pecks a kiss on my cheek. “I’ve always wanted to try pottery making. Or painting. I bet you could rock some watercolors.”

“I used to love yoga and going to the gym,” I say, trying to remember what else I did in Haven to pass the time. “I loved hiking in the mountains around Haven. Honestly, I barely used my car. Everything within town was like it is here, within walking distance.”

“Are you feeling claustrophobic?” Seiran asks. “It won’t be like this forever.”

I nod, but it’ll last until Cole is no longer a threat.

“I’m going to run and make myself a drink. Can I bring you anything?” Seiran asks, shoving himself off the couch.

Alcohol might be nice, but it would require consuming a lot for it to even touch my system.

“No, I’m good.”

He winks and heads off toward the kitchen. I watch his powerful wings flex as he strides off. My back falls against the cushion as I huff.

This is boring. Maybe Seiran and I should have gone with Reign to the club. At least it would have given me that false sense of safety that being in the busy club always seems to provide.

My fingers dance over the roll that Seiran keeps his knitting needles and crochet hooks in. It’s nice, but some of these things are massive. I pull out one of the larger knitting needles and examine it. If I’m not mistaken, it’s wood.

He probably keeps them at the ready to take Novak out. I snort, recalling the way he tossed that one at Hazel. I really lucked out with sexy mates. They’re protective and capable.

My body tenses as a bloodcurdling scream comes from somewhere outside. I jump up, keeping hold of the knitting needle.

“What the hell was that?” I call to Seiran.

“No idea, but it came from the backyard. Stay in here. I’ll check,” he says.

The front door is only a few feet away, and it explodes inward. Shards of wood go flying as the door falls against the floor with a thump.

“Greer,” Cole says, smirking when he spots me. He has Isabella held against his chest with his claws digging into her skin right above her heart. Okay, I kind of hate her for hooking up with my boyfriend when I didn’t even know we were broken up, but I also realize that was on Cole. He probably compelled her or something. “Come here.” His words are laced with so much compulsion, it almost forces me forward, and I rock on my bare feet. “You don’t want to be responsible for the loss of another life. Do you, honey?”

My body revolts at the thought of being anywhere near him. I flatten my hand to my dress, concealing the knitting needle. Someone really should have taught me basic self-defense.

It doesn’t matter. I have capable mates. All I need to do is keep him talking until Seiran gets back. “Why did you turn me?”

“It wasn’t by choice.” He scoffs. “But I learned my lesson. No more fae for me for a while. Your blood was too much of a temptation. I couldn’t force myself to stop. Only, you have family and friends who would have immediately known you were missing. Another mistake I made with you that I won’t make again.” He digs his claws into Isabella’s skin, pushing her dress down until her nipple almost pops out. “See, I had no choice but to give you my blood to save you. Only, I can still feel you… buzzing under my skin. It’s driving me insane. Severing our connection was supposed to work.” His pupils dilate. He’s trying to use a combination of his voice and the eye connection to double the effect of his compulsion. “Come to me or she dies.”

I stagger forward, shaking my head.

Isabella sobs and tears run down her cheeks, but she doesn’t say a word. Based on how tight her muscles are, it looks like she’s terrified.

And I’ve been there.

Cole is vile. He’s a true monster, and thinking about those newly turned vampires Seiran and Novak killed, it makes me even more furious. He uses women to do his dirty work… He’s even using Isabella as a human shield.

“Releasing you from the progeny bond was supposed to work,” Cole hisses. “Get the fuck over here, Greer!” His compulsion rolls through me, but my connection with Novak protects me from the worst of it.

“You still want me?” I ask, tilting my head and blinking repeatedly. “She ruined everything. I’m not going with you if she’s going to be around. Send her away.” It’s all bullshit. I’m just not prepared to watch him kill another innocent woman.

Cole chuckles. “As jealous and insecure as always. Get the fuck over here, now !”

“Kitten,” Seiran growls from behind me. “Don’t take another step!”

“Let her go,” I say, keeping Cole’s gaze. I’m barely a foot or two away from the door, but I don’t think he can cross the barrier. He would need to be invited in by whoever owns the home.

I stop right at the doorframe, and Cole shoves Isabella to the side. She lands hard, and he reaches for me, but he can’t pass through the invisible barrier.

I can, though. Tugging my hand up, I slam the knitting needle into his chest.

He wobbles and eventually falls to the ground in a crumpled heap.

My mouth opens and closes a few times like a fish.

Holy shit. I did it!

“Oh my god, that worked. I’m a badass!” I gasp. Glancing over my shoulder, I point at Cole’s corpse. “I did it! I totally killed him.”

Seiran snorts.

My gaze moves back to the porch to check on Isabella, but my face falls when I spot Reign. He drops Cole’s heart and gives Isabella an unimpressed look.

“Or not,” I whisper, wishing I’d kept my mouth shut. “Dammit, that was supposed to work.”

Reign laughs. “Yeah, sorry about that. I was a half second before you or it would have.”

Novak zips up the stairs, frowning at Isabella. “Who’s that?”

“Another of Cole’s victims.” I bite my cheek to keep from saying anything else. “Someone will need to help her get back to Haven.”

“Bart is right behind me.” Novak steps over Cole’s body, pulling me into his arms. “He’ll handle it.”

It dawns on me pretty quickly. “You never left, did you?” I ask, nuzzling my face to his chest.

“Nope,” Seiran says, coming over and hugging me from behind. “Just like the last thing I’d do would be to go check a random noise, but we thought facing him yourself might give you some closure.”

“And you really are a badass. You landed that knitting needle perfectly. It would have punctured his heart had the organ still been in his body,” Reign says. “Here, let me help you up.” I can’t see him, even when I glance over my shoulder, but I imagine he’s talking to Isabella.

Where the hell is Bart? I’m trying to be cordial, but she wore out her welcome the second she arrived.

“You did well, pet.” Novak kisses my forehead, sending steady comfort in the bond.

“Gods, I hate vampires,” Bart grumbles from somewhere behind me. “Whenever there’s trouble, it’s always at night. Not all of us are nocturnal, you know.”

Well, he might hate dealing with my kind, but I couldn’t be happier I ended up here.