Darkness Unleashed (15 page)

My response made him grip the steering wheel harder. “I know better than to question Zane, but I can’t help wondering why he didn’t sense her in the first place. It’s not like him to not be thorough.”

I thought the same thing, but hadn’t come to any explanation. “He tested my blood after the conversion. Maybe that’s why. He wasn’t looking for signs of possession. As far as he was concerned, my spirit was still intact and in control. It wasn’t until afterwards, when I received the spell from Helena, that things changed.”

Mason humphed. “True. I just don’t like how we all missed it.”

“
Are we going to keep exchanging each other’s advice?” I laughed, shaking my head in disbelief. “It wasn’t your fault. It was no one’s fault. You couldn’t have known; and when you finally had the proof you needed, you acted. It’s over with, and like Devlin said, this is merely a formality. In fact, maybe you should be there so you can hear it for yourself.” In the time since I’d regained possession of my body again, I hadn’t spoken about my ordeal. It had been on the tip of my tongue to bring it up, but everyone had seemed reluctant to discuss the issue—giving me the space I needed to breathe. I’d appreciated it, but now was the time to share what I knew.

Besides, with Mason and Zane in the same room, it would save me from having to repeat myself. This was definitely a story I didn’t want to have to tell over and over. With any luck, Devlin would be at the building, as well.

Mason glanced at me, evaluating what I’d said. “How about you go in first and when you’re ready to share what you learned from Amber, call me in.”

“
Okay.” To reassure him it truly was, I placed my hand on his thigh, my thumb lightly brushing over his pants. “It’s behind us. It can’t hurt us anymore.”

Pulling into the building’s small parking lot, I refused to believe otherwise.

****

“
You seem . . . recovered,” Zane murmured, still holding my hands in his after testing my blood. This time, I was prepared and knew what to expect—I didn’t flinch when his nails pierced the flesh of my palms. “The conversion remains and I don’t find any side effects to Amber being inside you. Your blood still contains vampiric power and I suspect the evaluation conducted by Devlin still holds true.”

“
I feel the same,” I admitted, taking a seat once he released me from his grip.

“
What an extraordinary turn of events.” His statement was more for himself than me. Zane lowered himself into the chair opposite me, his stare making me wonder what he was thinking. Tapping his finger over his mouth, he seemed a million miles away only to snap back to the present and smile. “I feel I owe you an apology, dear Darcy. The burden of your suffering falls squarely on my shoulders. As your King, I should’ve known you were in jeopardy.”

“
Then you better talk with Mason and Devlin, because they’re also claiming ownership. Maybe I need to make you three a t-shirt that says ‘I Eat Guilt for Breakfast’.” I hadn’t meant to be flippant in my answer and his chuckle proved he’d taken it the way I’d intended.

“
That bad, huh?”

Nodding, I let out a heavy sigh. “Mason hasn’t stopped watching me since the spell ended and Amber was removed into the urn. When he’s not actually saying sorry, the look on his face says it.”

“
It’s a natural thing to assume responsibility when a loved one is injured or attacked. Our minds like to torment us with the what-ifs and make us believe we overlooked something . . . anything that might have revealed there was danger, sooner. It’s a bitter pill to swallow, thinking we’ve betrayed those who mean the most to us.”

“
But in this case, the only betrayal lies solely with Amber and whomever she was working for.”

“
Search you heart, Darcy. Tell me if you were in our position that you wouldn’t feel the same.” When my gaze dropped to my lap, Zane had his answer. “It is part of our humanity that makes us unsure. It is also what strengthens our determination to be ready should it happen, again.”

“
In our cases, danger always seems to be lurking on the horizon and within the shadows.”

It was Zane’s turn to sigh. “Now that’s a truth I won’t ever dispute. It comes with being in power. As much as I’d like to tell you otherwise, as Mason’s mate, this won’t be the last time you face such opposition. I can only hope that you will rise to the challenge and handle it with the grace I see before me. You are a marvel, Darcy O’Connor. If I didn’t think Mason would kill me for suggesting it, I would try to convince you to enter my Enforcer ranks. We could use more brave individuals like you.”

His flattering words had me blushing. “Then you should be inside my head. I don’t always feel so brave,” I blurted out, cringing when I realized what I’d said.

“
That feeling will pass, as well,” Zane offered.

“
What?”

“
The insecurity you’re trying to deny. The embarrassment at being compromised.”

“
Are you sure you’re not able to read my thoughts?” I was surprised he’d managed to capture perfectly what I’d been hiding from myself.

“
I’m sure. That blessing is solely the gift given to your mate. I’m just adept at reading body language and understanding the simple nuances we reveal about ourselves. Sometimes our bodies speak more than we ever could.”

Sitting up straighter in my chair, I was tempted to see how accurate he was. “Tell me more.”

Without shifting position, Zane quietly studied me, making me feel like I was a tiny lab rat under examination. If it hadn’t been for the fact I’d asked for this, I’d have squirmed under his scrutiny. Expecting him to answer immediately, I relaxed somewhat as a few minutes ticked by.

“
Well, to begin with, you don’t like feeling uncomfortable or like you’re on display.” Pointing to my lap, I realized I was fidgeting. Clenching my hands into fists to release the tension, I stopped, and then promptly slid them beneath my legs.

“
What else?”

“
There’s something else you’d like to talk to me about. Something you’re uncertain to address because you worry it’ll affect how I see you.”

My jaw dropped slightly in surprise. I’d wanted to talk to him about the rabbit. But sitting in here, listening to him praise me for seeming so well adjusted, I didn’t want him to second guess me or doubt his diagnosis that insanity wasn’t a factor. “Remind me to never ask you to read me again. You are spooky, Zane.” I tried to brush off my shock with an abrupt chuckle.

“
You’re not the first to tell me this.” Relaxing somewhat himself, his stare never left my face. “That doesn’t change the fact that what I said was true. What bothers you?”

“
Shouldn’t we talk about Amber?” The way he cocked his eyebrows in response told me he hadn’t bought into my diversion tactic.

“
We will, and you can invite Mason in when we do. He’s currently fighting the urge to enter the room and is growing impatient.”

I couldn’t resist, casting a glance over my shoulder at the door. “How did you know that?”

“
It’s what I would do in his place.” Grinning, Zane’s features brightened, revealing a youthfulness I didn’t always see. Being the King meant he was always guarded in his appearance, careful not to portray anything other than strength. It was in private moments, like this, I caught glimpses of the man he must have been growing up—before the weight of his office rested on his shoulders. “Now, stop avoiding my question. What’s on your mind?”

Wetting my lips, I nervously confessed that I’d lost control. “Mason and I went for a run before we came here. Everything was fine and there was no problems shifting into my wolf. In fact, it was pretty amazing.”

“
So, what concerns you?”

“
Well . . .” Hedging, I decided to be the brave soul Zane believed me to be. “I killed a rabbit.”

My admission confused him. “And?”

“
I lost control.” Once I said it out loud, it was easier to follow with the rest. “The moment the blood touched my tongue, it was like it became everything. It consumed me to the point where I defied my Alpha’s command to release the body. In that moment, all I was, was this savage monster that, if given a chance, would’ve spilled more . . .”

“
And relished in the massacre.” Zane finished my sentence.

Once again, he’d nailed how I was feeling. “That’s exactly how it was,” I exclaimed.

Standing from his chair, Zane approached me, doing something I doubted he’d done for many others. Dropping to his knee, he peered up at me. “What you felt was normal, Darcy. It’s something that even now, after all these many years, I still must monitor. Each vampire walks a line when they taste blood—a battle between letting their morals govern their actions or allowing themselves to be ruled by their hunger. For some, it comes somewhat easier, but it is something that always comes with time. With each situation where you choose to control the vampire within, your convictions become more concrete. Do you want to hurt others?”

His question was an honest one. “Never. I don’t ever want to become a monster without a conscience.”

Something that I’d said gave him pause. “You already believe you’re a monster, but one who still has a grip on her humanity.”

I nodded. “Isn’t that what I became when I agreed to become part vampire?” Seeing how he might interpret that, I rushed forward to clarify. “I’m not saying it’s being a vampire that makes me one. It’s the combination of that and my wolf—beast and demon—that’s turned me into something dangerous. Why else would it be so taboo?”

My answer clearly saddened him. “Sweet Darcy, the taboo comes from people abusing the power it gives them. It is frowned on because it holds the capacity to strip even the greatest of people down to something barbaric. It is only performed under the strictest of permissions because all life is precious, and once you witness the insanity that often comes when the conversion fails, you vow never to allow it again.”

“
So, what are you saying?” My next breath seemed to hinge upon his response.

“
That the only way you could ever become this monster you fear is by choosing to be one. It is a choice. It’s a willingness to stop battling against primal urges and give in. Everything that I’ve seen leads me to believe you will continue to fight until the end.”

“
With everything I have,” I whispered.

“
Then be at peace, Darcy. While it certainly shocked you to lose control like that, you didn’t stay that way.”

“
Only because Mason commanded me.”

“
Please don’t think I don’t take this seriously, because I do. Aside from the obvious of not wanting you distraught, I don’t want any who falls within my rule to falter. Even though I relinquished authority to Mason as your Alpha, I am still responsible for you because you are part-vampire.”

“
So, what do I do if it continues to happen? What can I do so I’ll be better prepared?”

“
Talk with Devlin. Have him explain what it was like for him when he was first converted.”

I tried not to snort, but failed miserably. “You mean, ‘our’ Devlin, right? He’s pretty tight lipped when it comes to his life.”

“
Tell him it was at my request. He’ll open up.”

The idea of getting a coveted glimpse into my uncle’s past was exciting. “Okay, thank you.”

Patting my knee, Zane finally rose from his crouch. “Now, let’s go get your husband. I believe we’ve made him wait long enough.”

We had, and with a clearer mind and lighter heart, I was ready to share everything I’d learned.

Amber hadn’t been acting alone; and while there wasn’t much she was completely sure of, one thing was for certain: whoever the Master was, he was bad news.

And he was coming for us all.

Chapter Thirteen

Mason

Draining the coffee cup, caffeine hit my system, giving it a boost of energy I didn’t really need. I was already on edge as I impatiently waited for Darcy’s meeting with Zane to be over. What seemed like a good idea at the time was proving to be my downfall.

If I was struggling to keep myself from barging into Zane’s office before, now it felt like an inevitability.

“
Fancy seeing you here, Mason.” Amelia Stratten greeted warmly, a Tupperware container in her hand. We were both standing inside the building’s small kitchen and I scooted out of her way so she could reach the fridge with what I assumed was her lunch.

“
When business calls, I answer,” I replied, smiling back at her. She was one of the council members who made the daily commute to the office so she could help make sure our community’s affairs ran smoothly. I’d sat in a few meetings with her in the past and found her to be keenly intelligent. She was a tiny slip of thing, barely reaching the middle of my upper arm, but I’d learned never to underestimate her. Her fiery temperament matched the thick red hair she had loosely pulled back in a bun. She was the first Fae I’d ever met and I quickly discovered why she was so widely respected.

Despite the misconception amongst Supernaturals that the Fae were cold and distant, only interested in the protection of their kind, Amelia was a powerful advocate when it came to maintaining justice. She was someone Zane trusted implicitly, often overseeing Enforcer cases.

I liked her. A lot. She’d always shown her support for the Mystic Wolves and, in return, I’d offered her my help should she ever need it.

“
Nothing bad, I hope?” Concern instantly filled her features.

“
It’s Darcy.” Briefly disclosing the drama we’d faced with Amber and the recent possession of my mate, Amelia’s eyes clouded with restrained hostility, reminding me that the coldness Fae’s were accused of wasn’t a complete fallacy.