Kindling Flames: Stolen Fire (The Ancient Fire Series Book 4) (16 page)

“You lie!” Ross growled.

Corban grabbed him by the arm, warning him back. Werewolf pregnancies were rare, but when they happened, the expecting mothers were treasured by their packs.

Sue raised her eyes to the offending wolf and growled menacingly.

Zak added his voice to hers and shook out of his disguise. The wolves took a step back as the fay waved warning tentacles at them.

“Zak seems to think she is.” Darien nodded to the fay, placing himself between Sue and the new wolves. “And I doubt he would be wrong.”

Zak chirped at him without taking his eyes from the wolves.

“Very well.” Corban pulled on Ross’s arm, steering him back towards the elevator. “We will drop this matter for now.”

Ross growled his discontent with the conclusion.

“But once the bitch has birthed her pups, she will answer for her actions.”

Darien curled his fingers into Sue’s fur, holding her back as she tensed, ready to attack the offending wolves.

Zak wobbled a step forward and growled menacingly at them.

“Once the children are safe, we will discuss the incident,” Darien corrected. “And the guilty party will be dealt with properly.” He caught Rupert’s eyes, reading the wolf’s satisfaction with this decision. The two visiting wolves didn’t look happy at all. “Is there anything else?” Darien’s voice held the finality of his choice.

“No.” Corban bowed his head to the vampire, not wanting to offend him. If he were as strong as the stories told, fighting with him in his home would only end in their deaths. “We will take our leave of you for now.”

“Then I will bid you good night.” Darien stepped past them and pushed the button to open the elevator doors.

Corban corralled Ross back into the elevator.

Rupert placed his hand on Darien’s upper arm as he passed. “We’ll talk later.” He slipped into the elevator and punched the button for the lobby.

Darien nodded to the local alpha and stepped back. He let out a cleansing breath as the door closed on the three wolves.

“Well, that was fun.” Elliot chuckled from his position leaning against the banister.

“How
dare
he call her a bitch?” Vicky said indignantly as she went over to rub Sue on the ears.

“Technically, she is,” Karl answered from where he stood patting Sue on the back hip.

Sue snickered and rubbed her head against Vicky’s thigh.

“Well, he didn’t have to use that tone,” Vicky huffed.

Darien came over and wrapped his arms around her. He kissed the side of her head soothingly. “Thank you for not making a scene of it.” Releasing her, he turned his attention to Sue and Karl. “You both have my protection until this is over.”

“She didn’t do it,” Karl growled at Darien, still upset over the wolves' visit.

Darien cocked an eyebrow at him.

“Okay, well, yes. She did try to rip the guy’s throat out,” Karl clarified, “but it was in self-defense. He tried to kill her first.”

Darien laid a calming hand on the agitated wolf’s shoulder. “Once the children are born and she can speak for herself again, I’ll make sure justice is served.” He released Karl with another pat. “You’re safe here.”

Sue licked the side of her muzzle again and turned to head into the living room.

Karl followed behind her.

Turning his mind away from the wolves, Darien went to Elliot. “Thank you for calling us back.” He touched his friend on the arm.

“Cassie called to let me know that the visiting wolves were calling for blood on Sue.” Elliot shrugged. “I figured you would want to know when a pack of angry wolves were about to rain havoc on your place.” He looked over Darien and Vicky, noting the blood on Vicky’s dark sweatshirt and Darien’s rumpled and torn pants. “What have you two been up to?”

Darien chuckled at his friend and turned up the stairs. “We went to New Orleans.”

Elliot followed.

Zak scampered past them, almost knocking them over.

“I’m going to go check on Sue,” Vicky called up after them.

Darien raised his hand in acknowledgement and continued on his way.

“Someone got upset with you.” Elliot made the comment a statement as he studied the hole in the back of Darien’s jean leg.

Darien looked back at the flap of material that was barely hanging in place. “I asked Zak to bring us in between.” He sighed as he led the way into his room. “Due to my… predicament, he wanted a firmer connection to ensure my safety.”

Elliot chuckled. “You’ve been fay marked!”

“And it hurt like hell,” Darien growled.

Zak gurgled as he wobbled into the room in front of the vampires.

Elliot stopped and looked at the cross hanging just inside the doorway. “Did you do something to this?” He reached his hand out towards the holy item. Usually the cross would drain his strength, but today it didn’t.

Darien stopped and looked back at him, then to the wooden carving. “No.” He turned to examine the object again. “It’s the same as always.” Reaching out, he laid his hand on it fully. “It’s so odd to touch it and not have it bite.”

Elliot had never been able to touch the consecrated item. Reaching his hand out, he brushed against the wood. The angry sizzle he was used to ran over his skin, and he pulled his hand back, confused. “Yes.” Elliot rubbed his palm trying to figure it out. “It is.”

Darien turned back to his room.

Elliot shook himself free of his thoughts and followed Darien. The cross seemed to be tied to Darien somehow, so maybe its power reflected that of its owner. Since Darien had weakened, maybe it had, too. “So, what did you learn from the priestess?” Elliot turned back to the subject at hand.

“Not as much as I’d have liked,” Darien answered as he went over and pulled the gris-gris over his head. He dropped it on the top of his dresser before pulling the dirt-covered shirt off. “My loss of power has nothing to do with anything I did.” He tossed the shirt in the hamper and pulled out a clean one. “Apparently, when I first took Vicky to Fairy, the lesser fay found a kink in her protection and set a spell on her to drain my powers.” Drawing the clean shirt over his head, he settled it in place before pulling off his pants. He looked at the bite taken out of the pant leg and chucked the damaged jeans in the waste can.

Elliot looked at the black and green swirl on the back of Darien’s calf. “He got you good, didn’t he?”

Darien looked down at his fay mark again. “At least it’s not flowers.”

Zak gurgled from where he had jumped up and spread himself out on the bed.

Elliot laughed and leaned his hip against the doorframe and watched his friend change. “To what ends?” he asked, pushing the subject back to the original topic.

“I don’t know,” Darien said as he slipped on another pair of jeans, “but I intend to find out.” Darien’s stomach rumbled loudly, surprising both of them.

Elliot smiled at him. “Maybe you should eat first.” The worn look around Darien’s eyes told Elliot that he was exhausted.

“Point.” Darien laughed. “Have you eaten?”

Elliot considered him. “Not yet,” he said softly.

Darien raised an eyebrow at this. ‘“You’ve helped me so much in the last few days.” A cockeyed grin split his face as he held out his wrist. “It’s only right to offer.”

Elliot tensed up against the wall. “No,” he clinched his jaw against the temptation, “and you should not offer your blood to anyone else, either.”

Darien’s lighthearted manner dropped as he took in his friend's discomfort. “What’s wrong?” he asked. Something struck a chord in Darien’s memory, but it was a fleeting thought.

Elliot swallowed hard, trying to control himself. “Your blood tastes different than anyone else’s.” He so wanted to taste Darien again.

Darien’s brow furrowed in thought as he worked his mind around why this would strike his memory so. Unable to make any connection, he shook the feeling away. “It’s probably the fay magic at work.” He dismissed Elliot’s concern. “Or, maybe my age.”

Elliot stepped back so Darien could lead them out of the room.

Zak jumped from the bed and wobbled out after the vampires.

“Well, it’s unlike anything I’ve ever had,” Elliot cautioned him. “Even now, I can feel its call.”

Darien looked back over his shoulder, concerned. “Then I will be careful,” he promised before turning his attention to where he was going.

Elliot let out a relieved sigh. He didn’t know how to describe the way his friend’s blood had affected him. The warmth that had filled him from just a few pulls, the bloodlust that had risen in him, or the fact that he had not hungered since he found someone to quench his thirst that first night. Even after two days, he could still feel the powerful blood moving through his system. “So, what do you plan to do now?” Elliot asked. “There’s going to be a special meeting of the Council at the end of the week to see what can be done about the rogue vampire.”

“I know.” Darien nodded as they went down the steps. “I’m going to have to get this solved before then.” He paused as he considered his course of action. “I’m going to see Lady Aine tonight.”

Elliot looked at him with concern. “Does she know you are coming?”

“No.” Darien shook his head and pushed through the door leading to the kitchen. He held it so Zak could pass before following the fay in.

“So, you’re going to drop in on the queen of Fairy unannounced,” Elliot clarified.

Darien nodded.

“While you're mortal?”

Darien let out a sigh. “Not the brightest decision I’ve ever made, but it’s something I’ve got to do.” He opened the fridge and looked to see what was in there. He hadn’t eaten since the beignets in the Quarter. “I don’t know how to break the spell, and Maria said that it may already be too late to regain my powers.” He grabbed up a handful of cherry tomatoes and shut the door, not seeing anything he really wanted. “And that means I’m going to be stuck as a human, unless you want to turn me again.” He dropped some tomatoes down to Zak wiggling next to him.

The little fay batted them around on the floor before pouncing on them.

Elliot chuckled at him. “I don’t know if I could stand you as a fledgling.”

“I don’t know if I could stand being a fledgling again.” Darien popped one of the fruits into his mouth while he continued his quest for food. Everything he saw would take too much time and energy to cook. He wanted food now. “To be held by the power of the sun. Oh, God, how would I run my business?”

Elliot laughed at him again. “We’ll get it worked out,” he soothed the older man. “Let’s just get you something to eat.” Seeing Darien wasn’t really focusing on the task, he pushed his way through the swinging door and out of the kitchen. The panel between the dining room and living room was open, and he found Vicky, Karl, and Sue sitting on the floor behind the love seat.

“How do you all feel about pizza?” Elliot asked as he pulled out his phone. A murmur of agreements and a quick round of ‘what toppings’ got dinner ordered and on the way.

“Thank you.” Darien patted his friend on the arm and went to sit down in the breakfast nook. He rested his head on the table, weary from the long day.

“Why don’t you put off the trip to Fairy until tomorrow?” Elliot suggested as he joined his old friend and master at the table.

Darien rolled his head to take in his friend. “I don’t have the time to waste,” he complained. “I need to get an answer as soon as I can.”

“You can’t go as you are right now. You’re much too tired. If you wait until tomorrow, you’ll be well rested and ready to face the fay,” Elliot pointed out. “Without your powers, you are going to need all your wits about you.”

Darien let out a deep breath as he considered his friend’s words.

“I could go with you if you want,” Elliot offered.

“Thank you, but no.” Pushing up from the table, Darien leaned his head back to stare at the ceiling. “You don’t have the same standing with the courts that I do.” He rubbed his knuckles into his tired eyes. Darien let out an oomph as Zak jumped up into his lap. Dropping his hands back down, he rubbed them into the little fay. “You’re right.” He looked over at his friend. “It has been a very long day.”