Good, the Bad, and the Vampire (21 page)

“I assume you're talkin' about me.” Dakota kept his gun at his side and his gaze on the queen.

“You assume correctly. You can put your gun away, sentry,” she said calmly. Her hands were clasped in front of her and she exuded serenity. “If I wanted to kill you, then you would already be dead. As you can see, you are quite outnumbered.”

“That's comforting,” he murmured with a smirk. He holstered his weapon and bowed his head. “You must be Queen Alana.”

“Yes.” She flicked her enormous green eyes to Trixie. “And this is a Rathbone witch who is also a vampire? Interesting.”

“Mostly vampire, by the way. And for the record, we don't want your gold,” Trixie chimed in. She jutted her thumb over her shoulder to the open pyramid behind them. “In fact, we were coming to get it so that we could give it back to you. I know you probably won't believe—”

Alana held up one hand and her lips curved in a smile, but there was strength and determination in her eyes. “I know why you are here.” She waved her hand and the gargoyles behind her dropped their wings. “And what has recently transpired.”

A moment later, Henry shuffled out of the darkness with his head down and a sheepish expression on his face. He hurried in and stood beside the queen with his cowboy hat in his hands, all while avoiding Dakota's gaze.

“Henry?” Trixie said with obvious relief. “Oh man, I am so glad you're okay. But, dude, you totally tried to kill me.”

“I'm sorry, I—”

“Silence.” The queen's voice was quiet but commanding, and Henry immediately shut up. “You'll have to pardon my son. He sometimes forgets his place.”

“Your son?” Dakota and Trixie asked in unison.

You weren't kidding about the slow aging thing
. Trixie touched his mind and even though she was trying to be playful, he could tell how nervous she was.

“Yes. It seems he's been getting himself into trouble and coming up to the surface, even though it has been forbidden. I caught him sneaking back into the Dome, and after some coaxing, he told me what happened.”

“Right, about that…” Trixie cracked her knuckles and let out a nervous laugh. “Sorry about the whole drinking-your-blood thing, Henry, but—”

“Normally, I would not approve of a vampire feeding on any of my people, let alone my own child. However, if you had not done that, Jonner's glamour effect might not have been broken and my son might well have been lost to me. And I have already lost enough.”

“That's why Henry's eyes were glowing all weird!” Trixie elbowed Dakota. “Just like the two that attacked us in the city. Jonner must have glamoured them to attack us.”

“It would seem so,” the queen said quietly. “Two of my guards went missing recently while patrolling on the outskirts of the Dome. We detected some unusual activity in the area, and though I was reluctant to do so, I sent them to the surface. They never returned. I can only assume they are the two you speak of.”

“So”—Trixie arched one eyebrow—“you're not pissed?”

“Henry told me what you did.” She flicked her gaze to Dakota. “You destroyed Jonner and recovered our gold.”

“Yes, ma'am.” Dakota squared his shoulders and bit back the regret that bubbled up from the sins of his past. “But that doesn't erase the damage I did as an…executioner.”

“From what I am told, you were manipulated and lied to by him, much like we were. He was allowed into the Dome under the guise of creating a peace treaty between our people and the vampires. But he betrayed my father's trust, slaughtered my family, and stole our gold.”

“You have to know that Emperor Zhao and the Presidium had nothin' to do with that.” Dakota stood tall and braced himself for whatever this woman was going to throw at him. “Gatlin didn't know what Jonner was plannin' either, but I can tell you that he gave his life to save mine. I know ‘sorry' ain't gonna cut it, but that's about all I've got. If I could go back and fix it, I would. All I can offer you is my regret.”

“Do you think an apology is going to atone for the lives you took?” Her voice remained as calm as her demeanor. “Erase what has happened?”

“No,” he said firmly. “But you can take my life if it will make you feel better. All I ask is that you let Trixie go.”

“No way,” Trixie shouted. She punched him in the arm. Hard. “You're a big jerk. That's your plan? Say that you're sorry and throw yourself on their mercy? That's a shitty-ass plan.”

“If it will keep you safe, that's all that matters,” he responded. “Damn, woman. Stop arguin' with me. Now is not the time.”

“I do not wish to kill you, sentry.” Alana strode closer and the gargoyles behind her growled as they followed. “Do you know what it is that I do wish for?”

“No, ma'am,” he said with a hint of apprehension.

“Peace,” she said quietly. “Peace and the ability to have my people live on the surface without fear of extermination. I was a baby when my family was killed. Since the gold was stolen, we've lived a meager existence within the Dome. I want more than that for my people and their future.”

“Not to be rude,” Trixie interjected, “but didn't you have any other money?”

Queen Alana's brow furrowed and confusion flickered in her eyes before a look of understanding passed over her face.

“Of course…how could you know the truth?” Her melodious voice drifted around them in the wind. “So much about our people has been misunderstood, so why would the gold be any different? The gold is not only of monetary value to our people. It represents far more than you could understand, and returning it will mean returning dignity and purpose to those within the Dome.”

“It's all yours,” Trixie said, holding up both hands. “Seriously, Your Highness, take it.”

Though Dakota didn't hear the queen utter a word, one of the gargoyles swept down from the sky and grabbed the bag of gold with his massive claws. Moving on instinct, Dakota grabbed Trixie by the arm and pulled her away from the pulsing wings of the beast. The gargoyle ascended, the rocks rumbled and scraped against each other, and the pyramid closed back up. All of it happened in a matter of seconds, and then the gargoyle was once again flying in formation with the others. Except now, he had the huge sack of gold coins hanging from his clawed feet.

“I have one request,” Alana murmured. She extended her hand and held out a gold envelope. “Give this to Emperor Zhao. I would like to take my rightful place on the committee and attend the annual summit with the rest of the supernatural leaders. It's time that we come out of the shadows and put the past behind us.”

“That's it?” Dakota eyed the envelope warily as he took it from the queen. “You don't want to see me hung up by my fangs or staked out with silver?”

“No.” She took a step back and kept her gaze pinned to his. “You will be more use to us alive.” She smirked. “Well, as alive as a vampire can be.”

“That's it?” Dakota asked incredulously. “Why would you let me live?”

“Dude”—Trixie elbowed him—“shut up.”

“She showed me what you are going to do and how important you are to her.” Alana let her brilliant green gaze drift over him and then to Trixie. “Both of you.”

“
She?
” Trixie held up both hands and shook her head. “Wait a minute. Who is she?”

“The child,” Alana murmured. A twinkle glimmered in her eyes when they crinkled at the corners. She was obviously amused by Trixie and Dakota's confusion. “As a child born of gargoyle and witch bloodlines, Rebecca has some exceptionally unique gifts.”

“But she's only a baby,” Trixie scoffed. “How can she tell you anything? All she does right now is eat, sleep, and poop. Although she does look adorable while doing it.”

“And until a few days ago, you were only a vampire and my people were extinct.” Queen Alana strode backward with a peaceful smile on her face. “You should know by now, Trixie, that nothing in this world is ever as simple as it seems.” She bowed her head and turned her attention back to Dakota. “I'll await Emperor Zhao's response.”

In a flash of blinding green light, Alana shifted into her gargoyle form and launched into the night with a shriek. The others followed their queen immediately, leaving Trixie and Dakota alone again in the quiet Texas evening.

“Holy crap,” Trixie muttered. “She let us go.”

As the gargoyles faded in the distance, Dakota couldn't help but wonder if the emperor would be as forgiving.

Chelsea had stepped into her new life as though she were born to be a vampire. Their reunion had been everything Trixie had hoped for and then some.

“I can't believe you knew,” Trixie whispered. She hugged Chelsea tightly and forced herself not to cry. Again. “All this time…you knew.”

“Well, sort off.” Chelsea giggled and kissed her mother's cheek. “I didn't know you were a vampire but I really did think you were my guardian angel. I always knew I was different. I was really good at reading people, kind of seeing through their lies and pretenses. My adoptive family was awesome, but they did
not
understand my obsession with tarot cards and crystals. I mean, I didn't know I was a witch…but I knew I was strange.”

The two women sat next to each other on the bed in the guest room of Trixie's apartment. Rebecca made a cooing sound from her bassinet, and Chelsea made quick work of scooping her up in her arms. She settled onto the bed again next to her mother and adjusted the blanket around the baby's face.

“Well, the glamour obviously didn't work.” Trixie sat cross-legged on the bed. “I wonder if it's because of the witch genetics.”

“Maybe.” Chelsea shrugged and laughed softly. “I don't know. But whatever the reason, I'm grateful for it. I knew you were watching out for me and you sparked my interest in coin collecting. The one you gave me was unique, so I started looking for others.” Rebecca smiled at the baby and then looked at Trixie, tears glimmering in her eyes. “If you hadn't given me that coin, then I never would have met Gatlin. I loved his smell… It was like roses.”

Trixie arched one eyebrow. They say love is blind, but obviously it has a weird sense of smell too.

“And you wouldn't have that gorgeous baby girl,” Trixie said wistfully. She bit her lower lip nervously. “Can I hold her?”

“Of course,” Chelsea said quickly. She leaned over, the bed creaking with the movement, and gently placed Rebecca in Trixie's arms. “She's your granddaughter.”

Trixie cuddled the baby close and her chest clenched as she stared at Rebecca's serene expression.

“I can't believe I finally have my family with me,” Trixie said with pure awe. “I never really believed it would happen.”

“From what I can tell, you already had a great family.” Chelsea stretched her arms over her head before fluffing up the pillows behind her. “Olivia and Doug are so cool, and little Emily is freaking adorable. Maya has already offered to babysit, and Damien is a sweetie pie. When I woke up, they were all standing around me with big smiles.”

“They are one weird bunch, aren't they?”

“Honestly?” Chelsea laughed and shook her head. “Nothing has seemed weird to me for a long, long time. And this vampire family, weird or not, loves
you
a whole lot.”

“They do, don't they?” Trixie was quiet for a moment and her thoughts went to Gatlin. “He loved you, you know.”

She turned her eyes to Chelsea's and finally brought up the one subject they hadn't touched on.

“Gatlin really did love you. He told us that the day he first met you in the coffee shop, he fell in love the minute you smiled at him.”

“He was so corny.” Chelsea laughed through her tears. She swiped at them with the back of her hand. “And he was so excited to be a daddy, but right before Rebecca was born he started acting weird. He was nervous all the time and always running off to secretive meetings. At first, I thought he was stepping out on me but he came clean. Told me about his past and about the coin. A couple nights later, Franklin showed up at the cottage while Gatlin was in town picking up some things at the store. He got back after Franklin went after me…then he left with Rebecca…”

“He must have sensed us coming,” Trixie whispered. “He wanted to protect her.”

“And he did.”

* * *

Even though she wanted nothing more than to sit in her apartment to play catch up with Chelsea and fawn over Rebecca, Trixie and Dakota had been summoned to the Presidium's offices.

Emperor Zhao had arrived, and whatever was in that letter had captured his attention.

Trixie clutched Dakota's hand tightly as they strode side by side down the stone hallway that led to the main office. With their footsteps echoing along the stark corridor, Trixie couldn't help but notice how barren and empty it was. Everything was gray and cold, and she found herself longing for the sun. All of this, the whole place, represented her life before
him
…before them.

Before she was free of fear and addiction. Before she stopped hiding.

They rounded the corner, and the instant the door to the Presidium's main office came into view, it swung wide open. Suzie stood in the doorway, looking like her typically nervous self.

“It's wonderful to see you both,” she said with a shy smile. Suzie closed the door behind them and gestured to the brown leather sofas. “Have a seat. I'll let them know that you've arrived.”

“Thanks, Suzie.”

But before they even had a chance to sit down, the door to the conference room swung open and they were met with Olivia's serious green stare.

“Time to face the music,” Dakota murmured.

Hand in hand they went into a meeting room that was so quiet it was almost painful. Emperor Zhao sat at the head of the long table and Doug was seated to his left, but when Trixie saw who was sitting on the emperor's right, she was unable to hide her surprise.

“Holy crap,” she said none too delicately. “Queen Alana? What the hell are you doing here?”

“Girl, really?” Olivia plastered on a tight smile and shot them a look before gesturing to the two empty seats at the end of the table. “Sit down, you two. Trixie, try to control yourself.”

“Sorry.” Trixie shrugged sheepishly. “But I wasn't exactly expecting to see her here.”

“Lovely to see you too, Trixie,” the queen said with her hands folded on the table. “How is Rebecca?”

“Um…she's good.” Trixie shrugged. “You know. She's doing her baby thing. Eating, crying, pooping, and sleeping.”

“Yes, of course.” The queen sat up straighter in her seat and flicked a glance to Emperor Zhao, who was glaring at Dakota with his trademark emotionless black-eyed stare. “Emperor Zhao, may I?”

Zhao said nothing but tilted his head in agreement. The formidable vampire exuded more power than any other Trixie had encountered. His hulking, broad-shouldered form was clad in one of his fancy expensive suits, and he kept his gaze fixed on Dakota, which made Trixie incredibly uncomfortable.
Dude, if looks could kill, you'd be dusted.

Yeah, I'm gettin' that
. To his credit, Dakota sat tall in his seat and met the emperor's icy stare with one of his own.
Looks like moldy old Emperor Zhao is ready to hand me my hat. What do you think he'd do if I flew across the table and gave him a big smooch?

Trixie stifled a giggle and settled her hand over Dakota's. Even in this bizarre situation, with him staring death in the face, he was trying to make her smile. That was love, wasn't it? He was looking at possible execution but he was doing his best to put
her
at ease.

“Emperor Zhao and I have agreed to a new treaty.” The queen smiled at the emperor. “It is one that will allow my people to integrate back into the supernatural world.”

“Awesome.” Trixie gave them a thumbs-up and pressed her lips in a tight line. “I'm not sure what that has to do with me and Dakota.”

“Dakota will no longer be a sentry here in New York,” Emperor Zhao said. His voice was deep and barely audible, but it carried a wallop. “He is relieved of his duties.”

“As you wish,” Dakota said quietly.

Trixie's heart clenched in her chest, and even though Dakota didn't flinch, she knew how much this hurt him. He loved being a sentry, and part of her wondered if Dakota would see this as a fate even worse than death.

“You will need to relinquish your sentry dagger.” Zhao flicked his gaze to Dakota's left arm. “Immediately.”

Without a word, Dakota removed his hand from Trixie's grasp and undid the leather straps of the sheath around his forearm. Holding the emperor's stare, he removed the dagger and sheath before tossing them across the table to Zhao. They landed with a loud thud directly in front of the emperor, who didn't even glance at them.

“Was never really mine, anyway,” Dakota murmured. “It was Jonner's. And in case you were wonderin', I killed him with it.”

“Very well.” Zhao made no move to take the dagger. “You'll have no need for it where you're going.”

Panic fired through Trixie's chest and she hopped to her feet, slamming both hands on the table.

“You're an asshole!” she shouted at Zhao.

“Trixie, stop.” Dakota rose to his feet next to her. “This isn't gonna do you or me any good.”

“No. I will not stop.” Anger had taken over and it took all her restraint not to flash her fangs at the emperor. “Dakota was tricked and lied to by Jonner, the same as the gargoyles were. Shit, man. Dakota's the one who fixed this whole stupid mess. If it weren't for him, the gargoyles wouldn't have their gold back and Jonner would still be out there. Not to mention what could have happened to Chelsea and Rebecca. He saved them and he saved me and I'll be
damned
if I'm going to let you harm one hair on his gorgeous head. He is my bloodmate, and if you kill him, then you kill me. I'll kick your moldy old ass before I let you hurt him.”

The emperor said nothing, merely raising his eyebrows at her outburst, which only pissed her off more. She wanted to bite that smug look off his stupid old face.

“Who said anything about killing him?” Zhao said in a calm, matter-of-fact tone. “All I said was that he would no longer be a sentry here in New York.”

“Wait…what?” Trixie stilled and looked around the room at the various faces. “You're not going to execute Dakota?”

“No, but might I say that you have lived up to your feisty reputation,” Zhao said. “Your youth, exuberance, and love for your mate are…enviable. Nonetheless, you are still incorrect.”

“Oh…” Trixie let out an awkward giggle and sat down. “Sorry.”

“Like Queen Alana, I am tired of war and vengeance. I am three thousand years old, Ms. La Roux, and I have seen more death than you could possibly imagine. We have made peace with the werewolves and the Amoveo. There is no reason we can't include the gargoyles in our dealings. It is the least I can do after the pain that was inflicted upon them by Jonner.”

“Jumping the gun, as usual.” Olivia rolled her eyes and shot Trixie an annoyed look.

“What was I supposed to think, Liv?”

“As I was
trying
to say,” Zhao continued, “Dakota will not be staying here as a sentry. I am sending him to Texas to serve as a senator and work with the gargoyles. Unlike most senators for the Presidium, he will not report to the local czar but directly to me. There have been several misunderstandings and an abundance of misinformation about their people and ours.

“Dakota will be a liaison to help us dispel some of the…confusion. Rebecca and Chelsea will be going as well. The child is of some importance to the gargoyle community, and it's my understanding that she will need to complete training as she grows up. Training that she can
only
receive from Queen Alana.”

“Chelsea already knows what we are asking and she has agreed to come. Gatlin still has family there, and this will allow Rebecca to learn about both sides of her heritage,” Alana added. “Chelsea and Rebecca will live within the Dome by day and can learn to navigate the human world by night.” She smiled. “With your help, of course.”

“Do you accept?” Zhao directed his attention to Dakota. “Will you serve as a senator on behalf of the Presidium?”

Trixie's throat tightened. They'd mentioned everyone but her. Could she do it? Could she let them all go?

“I don't know which is worse,” Dakota drawled. “Dyin' or bein' a politician.”

Trixie gritted her teeth when no one said anything and all eyes went to the emperor, but to everyone's surprise, Emperor Zhao burst out laughing. His shoulders shook, a deep baritone chuckle rumbling through the room. Finally after a few awkward glances between them, the rest of them joined in.

“Then it's a yes?” Alana asked hopefully through a wide smile.

“Yes for me.” Dakota turned to Trixie and gathered her hand in his once again. “But on one condition.”

“What's that?” Zhao arched one dark eyebrow.

“Trixie comes with me.”

“Of course.” A flicker of confusion washed over the emperor's face. “She is your bloodmate. We assumed she would be going with you. I would never deign to come between a bond as special as that.”

“Cool. Thanks.” Trixie let out a sigh of relief. “Sorry about the asshole thing and the ‘moldy old ass' comment.”

“I've been called worse,” Zhao said with a small smile. “But I trust you will work on your diplomatic skills.”

“Me?” She jutted her thumb at her chest. “A diplomat?”

“I'd like you to train with Isadora. Asmodeus gave her a glowing recommendation. She can help you to learn as much as you can about the witches.” He leaned back in his chair, exuding pure confidence and power. “I've already been in communication with her and she is…agreeable.”

“Okay.” Trixie looked from Olivia and Doug to Dakota. “Will we be able to come back and visit?”

“I don't see why not,” Zhao said casually. “This is not a prison sentence. You are free to refuse, but I'm afraid that either way, Dakota will not remain as a sentry.” Emperor Zhao's expression grew serious. “I'm sure you can understand why.”

“Yes, sir,” Dakota murmured. “I do.”