Chapter 6

Rage glistens on Kole's skin. He storms down the corridor as if he and Thornfield just survived a fight to the death instead of a fuck-fest.

He is coming down from his orgasm, but my blood will race through his system for a few more hours.

I can almost feel the way his teeth itch and his muscles twitch beneath his skin.

"Are you alright?" I put my hand on his shoulder and he stops in front of the witchcraft exhibit.

"Fine," he snaps.

"Kole, I didn't force you to…?" I frown at him, folding my arms around my waist. "With Thornfield? It was my idea."

Kole looks at me, looks up at the security cameras above the exhibit, then turns around, rips a piece of fabric from a wall hanging and wraps it around my shoulders. Clearly not giving a shit if it's valuable or old, only thinking of my modesty.

"No, Little Star, you didn't force me to do anything. I enjoyed fucking him. But now I'm back to hating him. And hating that I have to work with him."

"Work with him?" I ask as we start walking again.

Kole follows the corridor past Thornfield's study toward Mack's room. "Thornfield wants to work with me to bring Zephrya down while you and Tanner find the ingredients Miranda needs for the elixir."

I raise my eyebrows, my eyes widening a little. I know Kole wants to destroy Zephyra. But does he want it bad enough that he'd work with Thornfield to achieve it?

Answering my question, he sighs, pinches the bridge of his nose then says, "We need Thornfield. His motives aren't clear, but we need him. Which means I have to help him."

I press my palm to his chest, sliding it up to rest on his neck. I want to kiss him clean. He is still wearing remnants of me, and I have the overwhelming desire to make him sink into a hot bath so I can wash them away.

Taking my hand, Kole kisses my knuckles while staring into my eyes. "I also need Zephyra to be gone, Nova."

I inhale sharply. I know why he needs her gone; despite everything, she still has power over him. Power he can't shake.

"I need to know I'm walking through a world where she no longer exists. If she's still alive, I can't take her down alone. I wish I could, but…"

"You don't have to persuade me, Kole." I lean into him, resting my head on his chest. It feels strangely normal to be standing here, naked, in the middle of a museum corridor with no one else around. "I understand why you want her gone. So, why not let me help you? Sam and Tanner can search for the ingredients for the elixir. I can?—"

"No. I'm not letting you anywhere near her, Little Star. Now she knows what your blood can do, she'll?—"

Reaching up on tiptoes, I kiss him lightly on the lips then tuck my hands behind his neck. "I understand." I kiss him again, deeper this time. "Let's not talk about that now." I glance down at my naked body, only just covered by the fabric Kole wrapped around me, and shiver as I suddenly start to feel the cold. Giggling a little, I shrug. "Let's go get cleaned up, and we can?—"

I'm interrupted by a loud banging sound.

Someone is outside, clamoring to be let in.

Retracing our steps, we grab our clothes and pull them on as we make our way to the front of the museum. The entire place is deserted now; it is close to nightfall and even the security guards don't bother to walk the halls at night.

"Where did Thornfield go?" I ask, slipping my hand into Kole's.

The banging has stopped, but something doesn't feel right.

Kole looks at me as if he's going to tell me to stand back, then catches himself and doesn't bother. She's the phoenix, she can take care of herself, I hear him mumbling.

When he flings open the door, at first, it seems as if there is no one there. All we are looking at are the darkening steps and the courtyard beyond the museum's entrance. Then something groans. I look down.

"Kim?" I drop to my knees and smooth my hands over his back, then heave him over so he's lying face-up.

He groans again,

This time, Kole bends down too. Scouring the courtyard, he scoops his arms beneath Kim and says, "We should get him inside. Quickly."

We move silently through the museum, Kole practically carrying Kim. We are almost at Thornfield's office when Miranda appears. Her eyes gleam in the darkness. She takes in Kim's bedraggled, dust-covered form, then nods and beckons for us to follow her.

When we reach Mack's room, instead of walking by, Miranda pushes open the door. Mack sits up in bed, bleary eyed. From beside the fireplace, Snow yawns loudly. Tanner is slouched in a chair, Sam curled at his feet looking more like a wolf than a person. Both carry on sleeping.

Waving her hand over the scene in front of us, Miranda steps back as she mutters a low incantation. With a shudder, the room expands. A large space opens up beside Mack's bed, and then another bed appears. As if it was there all along, hiding in the wall, waiting to be summoned.

In his chair, Tanner begins to stir, but Sam continues to sleep soundly.

"What's going on?" Mack looks at Kim, then at Kole and me.

"We thought he was dead." I cross the room and slide onto the bed, pressing up against Mack's side. He puts his arm around me. Even when he's like this – not himself – he feels like warmth, and home, and safety.

"Seems he escaped," Kole obliges as Miranda gestures for him to deposit Kim in the bed, then stands back to examine him.

"I don't see any signs of internal injuries," she says. "Although, he still has some burns and I think his wrist may be broken."

"Do you need help resetting it?" Tanner asks quietly, clearly trying not to wake Sam.

Miranda shakes her head, a wry smile creasing the corner of her mouth. "No, my dear. I'm quite capable."

Swiping his fingers through his hair, Tanner nods. "Of course."

A few moments later, Miranda steps back and examines Kim's newly-set wrist. The entire time, he hasn't stirred, but when he finally opens his eyes, Snow is the one who ambles over to him. Giving him a long sniff from head to toe, Snow yawns again and climbs up onto the bed.

Kim chuckles at him. "You know, I really hope I get to see you bear-sized before you guys leave town," he says.

Instinctively, he moves as if he's trying to adjust his glasses on his nose, then remembers he's not wearing any and sighs.

"You have any spares?" Mack asks him.

"Not with me."

Kim pushes himself up on the pillows. Guilt tugs at my insides. "I'm sorry we left you." I meet his eyes, and he nods quietly.

"I made my choice, Nova. I decided to fight. It wasn't your job to save me."

I glance at Kole as he strides over and extends his hand to shake Kim's. "I'm glad you're alright," he says gruffly.

Kim nods, once again attempting to adjust the glasses he's not wearing. "How are things here?" he asks, looking around the room as if he expects us to have been celebrating.

Tanner is the one who answers. "Not great," he says. "Thornfield lost the scepter in the auction. It was bought by the AMA."

"The Anti-Magick Alliance?" Kim raises his eyebrows. "Shit."

"That's what we said," Tanner replies. "So, now we're pretty much fucked. We don't know where it is, whether they already have hold of it, or how and when they intend to use it."

"But we do nearly have the elixir—" Miranda interrupts as she reenters the room, carrying a tray of mugs that slosh gently as she walks. As Kim peers into the cup she offers him, she chuckles. "Don't worry, it's just tea."

He sniffs it, then wraps his fingers around the mug and takes a long sip, leaning back on the pillows. "Thank you."

After passing around the rest of the mugs, waking Sam from his dozing to offer him one too, Miranda stands at the foot of Mack's bed. "How are you feeling, Rhone?"

I flinch at the sound of his name on her lips. Only those closest to him call him by his first name, and even we do it sparingly.

He smiles at her and shrugs. "Not too bad," he says. "Whatever you're giving me seems to be keeping the worst at bay." Then he glances at Snow. "Keeping Snow close helps."

"That's important," she says. "And, like I said, the good news is that the elixir is nearly ready. I managed to locate most of what we need but there's one thing that's alluding me."

"What is it?" Tanner asks. "We'll find it. Whatever it is."

I nod and stand up, slipping my hand into Tanner's.

Miranda purses her lips. She puts her hands into the pockets of her long, thick cardigan then sighs a little. "I'm afraid it's a big ask," she says. "We need the claw of a demon."

"A demon?" Tanner's eyebrow quirks. "Any particular demon?"

"It doesn't matter. Just has to be a demon."

"Does Thornfield count?" Sam mutters.

"Unfortunately, vampires don't have claws," Miranda replies with a gentle chuckle. "Of course, we do get the occasional demon in the city, but they're few and far between. I've heard of a potential nest on the outskirts of the county. In the woods. A group of?—"

"What about this?" Kim interjects.

Everyone turns to stare at him. He's reaching into his pocket, beneath the bed sheets. After rummaging for a second – causing movements of the sheet that make me expect Tanner to throw in a dirty joke – he raises his hand.

In his palm is a thick black claw.

Miranda's mouth drops open. Her eyes sparkle. "What is that?" she asks, crossing the room quickly and lifting the claw from Kim's grasp.

"The Venatrix. I took it from him in the fight. Used it to slice Zephyra's face off before I escaped, too." Pride blooms in his voice, but then he looks at Kole and says, "Yeah, sorry about that. I should have led with the fact she's alive."

Kole's jaw twitches. He folds his arms in front of his stomach, his tattooed shoulders rippling. "We can deal with her later. First…" He turned to Miranda. "Is this what you need? Will it work?"

Miranda turns the claw over in her hands. A slow smile spreads across her face. "Yes," she says. "I believe it will."

As she speaks, I can't stop relief and excitement making me rush back to Mack and wrap my arms around him. Kissing his forehead, I whisper, "Did you hear that, Daddy? You're going to be fine."

Mack strokes my hair from my face and kisses the bridge of my nose. "Don't count your chickens just yet, Little Star. Miranda needs to finish the elixir, and we need to make sure it works."

"It'll work." Miranda has scratched the base of the claw and is tasting the tip of her finger. She nods, grinning. "It needs twenty-four-hours to brew. But then we'll be ready to test it. I assume you're volunteering?"

Mack nods firmly. "Very much so."

"Good. I will update you shortly." With a decisive wave, she turns on her heels and leaves the room.

"I need to take a walk." Sam stands up, rising slowly as if his bones ache, even though I know it's his soul that hurts.

I hate seeing him like this – not himself. A shadow that needs bringing back into the light. "I'll come with you," I offer. But before I can leave Mack's side, Sam shakes his head.

"It's alright, Nova. I need some time alone."

I open my mouth to speak, but Mack squeezes my hand and whispers, "Let him go."

I try to smile, but why does it feel like I'm getting one of my mates back and losing another?