Ours? Caleb asked with annoyance and a hint of fear. Cause I like ours and dont want to give up a single drop.
My name is Mr. Thomas, the man said before Elijah could respond, walking forward and stopping only a few feet away from Adens chair. He anchored his hands behind his back and braced his legs apart. A war stance.
Aden knew it well. Hed stood that way many timesjust before launching himself at the person threatening him. Concentrate. The plain, ordinary name didnt fit the mans smooth features in any way, and had to be an alias. If it wasnt, Aden would plant a big, fat wet one right on his lips.
You want answers, he said, wondering, About what? Then youll have to tell me what I want to know. First. How are we here but not here? How am I alive but invisible?
There were several beats of heavy silence. At first he thought Thomas meant to strike him for using his own tactics against him. With every second that passed, fury grew in those blue eyes. Fury and indignation.
Finally, though, the fairy said, Your people would call this place another dimension, though it is the true realm of the Fae. Despite his expression, his words were calmly stated.
Fae had to mean fairy. And anotherdimension? Was that even possible? As soon as the question hit him, he wanted to roll his eyes at his own stupidity. After everything hed seen and done recently, anything was possible. So, just to clarify, Im not dead?
This constant need for reassurance is tiresome, so listen carefully, because I will not repeat myself again. You are very much alive. But you are in another dimension, therefore humans cannot see or hear you.
If Thomas was to be believed, Aden wasnt a ghost. He could return to Victoria, to his friends. And you brought me here? A croak.
Yes.
Why?
Another tension-laden pause stretched between them. Clearly, getting answers was going to be like pulling teeth.
Because, Thomas finally said on a sigh, I had met all the studentsbut you.
There at the end, the fury had returned to the mans eyes, this time blended with disgust.
Oh, yes. Blood will run, Elijah said on a trembling breath.
From a knife? Please, please dont say from a knife.
Dont know, was the reply. Can only see the river of red.
What do you mean, from a knife? Thomas demanded.
He must not know of Adens reputation as the boy who always talked to himself. Sorry. I wasnt speaking to you.
Then to whom were you speaking?
A question hed been asked a thousand times by a thousand different people.
Maybe we should. Run, I mean, Caleb said, all his bravado gone. Before we bleed.
Im with Caleb. Its not like we know how to fight a fairy.
Caleb suddenly snickered, amusement momentarily obliterating distress. Fight a fairy. Do you hear yourself, Jules?
Quiet, please, Aden snapped, and Thomas hissed in a breath.
Do not speak to me like that, little boy.
Rather than explain, Aden rubbed his temple to ward off the coming ache. There was no reason for you to meet me. You wont be tutoring me. He couldnt run, as Caleb had suggested. Where would he go? Plus, he wasnt anxious. Yet. He still had those blades. Maybe.
No. Thomas started forward, one step, two, then paused, thoughtful. But I will be killing you. Okay. Now he was anxious. Aden leapt to his feet. If Thomas issued another threat or made another move toward him, hed dive-bomb the boots. And if he couldnt clasp the blades inside them, hed run like hell, despite his lack of direction.
Do not even think of bolting, Haden Stone.
No one calls me that. Not since hed inadvertently butchered his own name as a kid and called himself Aden, and everyone else had followed suit. I killed the last guy who did. True story.
Far from intimidated, Thomas barked, Sit. I answered your questions. You will now answer mine.
Uh, that would be a big, fat no. He wasnt waiting around for the second death threat, he decided. The fairys anger level had just jacked up a notch. Sure thing. Aden faked left, Thomas following him, and then spun right, ducking around the tutor and swiping at the boots. His hand ghosted through the leather.
He cursed under his breath as he sprinted for the door, not allowing himself to wallow in disappointment or fear. Only, some kind of invisible wall blocked him. He slammed into it hard and fast, the shock of impact reverberating through him and tossing him backward. Thomas was in front of him a second later, pushing him the rest of the way down and stomping one of his boots on Adens neck.
Instinctively, Aden wrapped his hands around the mans ankle and shoved. The foot remained planted.
Bright blue eyes peered down at him, and if theyd been guns, Aden would have been blown to bits. Several weeks ago, an electric shock split through my world, creating a doorway into yours. A doorway we cannot close. The source of that shock has been traced to this ranch. And now to you. I feel the energy wafting from you even now, tugging at me, drawing me. Even increasing my power. The last was said in a drugged whisper. A needy whisper.
Increasing his power? Then why would he want to kill Aden?
Aden tried to form a reply, but the only sound that left him was a gasp for air. He continued to struggle, clawing at the mans leg, shoving. Breathe, need to breathe
He couldnt die here. In thisdimension? He just couldnt. No one would know what had happened to him. Not really. Theyd just assume Crazy Aden had relapsed and split.
Suffocation doesnt cause bloodshed, Elijah said. Stay calm. This isnt the way youre going to pass on. You know that.
Kick his ass! Caleb shouted.
Kick it good, Julian agreed.
They needed Eve, their voice of reason. But some of what Elijah had said did penetrate his fog of panic. Suffocation wasnt the predicted end for him. Thomas was simply trying to scare him.
We had hoped to keep you alive, to use you to finally close that doorway, Thomas continued. And yet, what do I find when I walk into your room to introduce myself? The stink of vampire. Our greatest enemy, the race that once tried to slaughter us.
Im surethey hadgood reason.
A muscle ticked in the fairys jaw. Tell me, Haden Stone. Are you aiding them? Planning to lead them into this dimension to attack us?
And just how was Aden supposed to lead the vampires here when he had no idea how hed gotten here in the first place? Cantspeakanymore.
The pressure eased on his neck. Theres no reason for you to answer my questions. I know the truth. You are aiding them, and that is why you must die.
Aden kept his hands on Thomass ankle, taking a moment to catch his breath and making a production out of gasping as he stealthily searched the room for some sort of weapon he could actually use.
All he discovered was his own determination. Over the years, hed fought too many corpses to count, their poison working through his body, weakening him, sickening him. Yet still hed won. Every time. He would not let a fairy defeat him.
Use your hands, Elijah prompted. Unbalance him.
Aden curled his fingers under Thomass boot and jerked with every ounce of strength he possessed, upsetting the big guys center of gravity and finally sending him tumbling down. Aden was standing a moment later, assuming the same this-is-war pose the fairy had adopted earlier.
That was not wise, boy.
Though hed never seen Thomas move from the floor, the voice came from behind him. Directly behind him. Warm breath trekked over the back of his neck, making him cringe. Slowly Aden turned, knowing a sudden movement would cause the fairy to strike. They faced off. Aden was tall for his age, just over six feet, yet Thomas towered over him.
I do not like to see humans suffer, and would have ended you painlessly. But An eerie smile lifted the mans lips. I told you not to fight me. You disobeyed. Now I will show no mercy.
Blood, Elijah gasped.
This was it, then. The big one.
Bring it, Aden said.
Suddenly the rooms only window shattered and a giant black blur flew inside. That blurRiley in wolf form, Aden realizedlanded, green eyes glowing, lips pulled back and sharp white teeth bared. A furious growl echoed from the walls.
Get back, Aden.
A command from Riley, whispered straight into his mind, blending with the others, yet still Aden heard it. You can see me? he asked, even knowing the wolf was too distracted to reply. If so, could Riley see Thomas? Could Thomas see Riley?
Mistake, wolf, Thomas said, turning to face Riley. There was enough menace in his expression to kill.
Apparently the answer to both of Adens questions was the same. Hells yes.
Without any more warning, the two leapt at each other, meeting in the middle of the room in a tangle of claws, biting teeth, odd bright lights and shimmering blades that appeared out of nowhere.
No question about this. As Elijah had said, blood would flow.
This match would be to the death.
THREE
YEP. TRUE TO ELIJAHS prediction, true to Adens suspicions, blood ran.
Riley chomped at Thomass neck, and his sharp claws swiped at the mans chest. The scent of burning cotton and flesh filled the air, smoke rising from Thomass shirt. Screams followed as a shaking Thomas grabbed thick hunks of the wolfs fur and tossed him hard and fast. The animal flew into Aden, who in turn flew into the wall.
Plaster cracked and paint chips sprayed. Air was knocked from Adens suddenly deflated lungs.
Riley was up an instant later, again leaping for the fairy; the two twisted together as they fell. When the wolfs nails next slashed, the scent of burning flesh intensified and blood sprayed. A few drops hit Aden in the face, and they were oddly chilled, like ice shards. When the fairys blades moved at lightning speed, Rileys blood sprayed. Hot, like prickles of flame.
Help him, Julian cried.
This is why Im a lover, not a fighter, Caleb, whose bravery had returned now that a wolf was taking the beating for them, said.
Breathing should have been impossible, but Aden managed to drag in a few mouthfuls of air as he lumbered to his feet. Dizziness hammered at him, and he swayed. Elijah?
Of course, the psychic knew what he was silently asking. How could he help? He had no weapons, and couldnt leave the room to get to any.
I dont know, Elijah said, agonized.
Will Riley win, then? He spoke quietly, not wanting to distract the wolf and cause his defeat.
I dont know, the psychic repeated in that same agonized tone. I see the blood, washing through this home, bathing everything and everyone.
So much? And from this fight? Or something worse?
Over and over Thomas tossed Riley aside, and over and over Riley returned, a catapult of wrath and teeth. For some reason, hed stopped using his claws. Furniture was smashed to pieces and more walls were ruined, including the invisible one, allowing the combatants out of the room and into the hallway. The fight then moved to another bedroom, the door smashed into puzzle pieces that would never fit back together. Aden followed. Somewhere along the way, Thomas lost his grip on his knives and dropped them. Aden tried to pick them up and insert himself into the actionmultiple timesbut the blades he couldnt touch eventually vanished and the fairy and the wolf moved so quickly, they would appear in another location before he even realized hed missed.
And why were they able to destroy the walls, doors and furniture, but nothing else?
The boys who lived at the D and M RanchSeth, Ryder, RJ, Terry and Brianwere in the entrance hall, each with a book in hand. Some were reading, some were pretending to read. None noticed the vicious fight unfolding around them.
Not even when their chairs were seemingly overturned and shattered. They just sat there. On air. Riley and Thomas ghosted through them, imperceptible, unfelt, unheard. Blood splattered over the boys, too, but again, they didnt notice. Perhaps couldnt even see it.
So freaking odd, all of it. Thomas had open wounds that were bleeding profusely, and yet he seemed stronger than ever. Riley, on the other hand, seemed weaker, his jumps slowing down, his snarls becoming slurred, and yet his wounds had already closed, healed.
What was weakening him?
Aden noticed that Thomas only punched to unhinge Rileys jaw from whatever body part the wolf had decide to munch on. Then Thomas would tilt his head back and practically offer his neck to the wolf, rather than allow the animal to bite down on his hands. Why?
And rather than immediately batting Riley away, Thomas would flatten his palms on the beast for several seconds, allowing the wolf to do whatever he wished. That was stupid. That wasnecessary?
Were Thomass hands somehow able to weaken Riley? That would explain Thomass determination to keep his hands free. That would also explain his lack of concern over his own injuries. What did a few cuts matter when your opponent would soon be too feeble to fight you off?
What can Ido? This time Adens whispered question trailed off. He knew. The answer had already slapped him, cold, hard. Stinging.
You know, Elijah said, and if hed sounded agonized before, he sounded pulverized now. Clearly, he had realized the answer, too.
What? Julian asked. What are we going to do?
Aden gulped. Caleb. Youre up.
Im upoh, hell, no!
He hadnt needed to explain. By requesting Calebs aid, they all knew what he now planned. They were going to possess Thomass body.
No. No, there has to be another way. If hed had a body of his own, Julian would have been shaking his head and backing away.
Sorry, guys. This had to be done. For Riley. Hell, for himself.
The pain, Julian moaned. Weve endured enough. This will wipe us out.
This is the only way, Elijah said. The fairy has to perish.
Weve been through worse. Like burning alive. Nothing could be worse than that, he was sure. And if Im going to kiss Victoria again, Ive got to save her bodyguard.
Hate to be the harbinger of bad news, but Adens right, Caleb said, suddenly leaping on board the Plan Save The Day bandwagon. Hed do anything for another kiss. Well survive this. Even if Thomas doesnt. Thats all that matters.
Aden focused on the two opponents. Riley lay on the floor, several feet away from Thomas, but inching forward as best he could, still determined to win. Having just been tossed like a rag doll, Thomas brushed big chunks of plaster from his chest and stood. His shirt was in shreds, his skin flayed, yet that skin was finally weaving back together, as if hed somehow absorbed the wolfs ability to heal.
Thomas smiled smugly as he approached the wolf and crouched down. Tell your princess not to send a boy to do a mans work. Oh, wait. As you wont be leaving this room, you wont be telling her anything.
Rileys eyes were glittering green fire and hate-filled.
The fairy sighed. I admire your courage, wolf. Therefore, you will not die dishonorably. Know that I am not a mere Fae servant, but a prince. Indestructible. The moment you entered my realm, you were destined to die. But there is no shame in your death. You should see this as the favor it is.
A favor? Hardly.
Echoing Adens sentiments, Riley growled.
Frowning, Thomas reached out. Again, I admire your courage. A shame you serve the vampires. Would you, perchance, be interested in switching allegiances?
Another growl. A clear no.
Well, then, I am sorry for this, but it must be done. Ill be swift, wolf.
What are you waiting for? Whether the question came from himself or the souls, Aden didnt know. Riley was his friend, for the most part, and he couldnt allow a friend to be hurt. No matter the pain involved.
Just before fairy palm met wolf fur, Adenwho had obviously been forgottensprinted forward. He didnt stop when he reached the fairy. He stopped only when he was inside the fairy.
One touch of skin against skin, and thanks to Caleb, he could meld his body with someone elses. Morphing from solid mass to insubstantial mist was painful, as Julian had said, not to mention maddening, terrible and shocking. But he did it. He bonded to Thomas, a shout of agony ripping from his throat.
The voice he heard, however, was not his own. This one was deeper, huskier. Thomass.
Panting, sheened by a cold sweat, Aden fell to his knees. There were sharp lances working through him, and he wanted to pound at his chest, tear at his skin, anything to stop them. Each of his bones was like a blade against his muscles, cutting. Worse, this pain was only the beginning.
Thomas screamed inside his head. What are you doing? How did you do that? Release me!
Usually Aden could block the persons thoughts. Could take them over so completely, they never knew what had happened. But creatures of myth and legend, he was coming to learn, were quite different from humans. They knew. And they hated.
Riley, he said in that deep voice. This is Aden. Im inside the fairy. I have control of his body.
Green eyes pierced him, searching for signs of truth.
Aden could feel the power surging through him. So much power. Rileys power, too, as if the fairy had not only weakened the wolf, but had drawn his energy inside his own body. Animalistic, wild pulses warmed the chill in his blood. They sang in his mind, more beautiful than a chorus of angels, drugging him.
This could be addicting. Once more, he couldnt tell who spoke, him or the souls. Maybe all of them at once. Part of him wanted to remain inside the fairys body forever, losing himself in that warmth and power, forgetting what had to be done.
Act quickly, Elijah demanded suddenly. Or you will never leave him.
He would leave. In just a little while. What would a few more minutes hurt? That musicso peaceful
The sooner you leave, the sooner well be able to see Victoria, Caleb added.
Victoria. Yes. Being with her was even better than this, he thought, at last focusing on the task at hand. Riley. Tell me what you need me to do so that you can defeat Thomas.
The wolf studied him, then nodded as if he were satisfied Aden had truly possessed the body.
Tell me, and Ill do it. Whatever it is.
A moment passed. The wolf frowned, snarled. Waited. Whatever reaction he wanted from Aden, he didnt get. In the end, he hobbled to his feet and tripped his way to the nearest closet, disappearing inside.
Riley, Aden called. He knew the wolf wouldnt abandon him here, but he had no idea what was going on.
Was Aden supposed to follow him?
There was a bright light, several grunts, then the rustle of clothing. Just as Aden was stepping forward, Riley emerged in a pair of jeans. No T-shirt, no shoes, just those ill-fitting jeans that couldnt be snapped.
How had he touched the cloth? Wouldnt his hand have ghosted through the material like Adens had?
Rileys normally suntanned skin was now pale, the blue veins underneath visible. His cheeks were hollowed out and his eyes slightly sunken and bruised. There were a few cuts on his chest, as if his ability to heal in a snap had abandoned him.
Fairies cant hear werewolf thoughts. Even his voice was fragile. That must mean you cant either while youre in there, because I was telling you what to do but you gave no reaction.
So. Hed expected a reaction. Because bad news had been delivered? Tell me again.
Do not aid him, Thomas roared inside his head. He is the enemy. His masters will destroy your world and all the humans who populate it. Do you hear me? Kill him!
Aden tuned him out as best he could.
I need to plunge a blade through his heart, Riley announced.
No! The protest came from Thomas and Aden simultaneously.
Fabulous. From Caleb.
Dear God. From Julian.
Blood. From Elijah.
Is there another way? Aden managed to ask past the lump in his throat. A way to leave him here, prevent him from causing any more harm?
No. Theres no other way. Hes a fairy. Like all his kind, he has the ability to borrow strength from immortals, temporarily possessing their abilities. More than that, hes a prince. If he lives, hell raise his army and come after us.
I dont like the thought of killing him. Even though Elijah, too, had said it was the only way. He protects humans. Victoria had told him. Still. Had he not known, he would have realized the truth the moment hed stepped inside the fairys body. The knowledge was there, swimming through his mind with the same potency as the warmth. Humans were like children. Irresponsible, feral children, but loved by the Fae nonetheless.
Hell kill you if given another chance, Riley said.
I know. That knowledge was there, too. But I dont care. He could take care of himself. He hoped.
Hell kill Victoria, Riley added coolly.
Low blow. The wolf knew Aden would do anything to protect her. His hands clenched, and his eyes closed. His heart pounded in a staccato rhythm as he condemned another creature to death. All right. God. Lets do it.
Are you sure?
Sure he wanted to take a knife through the heart? No. Yes. He wondered if he would die with the fairy the same way hed died with Dmitri. If so, would he come back to life?
Yes, you will die, but yes, you will come back, Elijah said, calming him. Still. Youll wish youd stayed dead. Youll feel the stabbing as if it was your own.
Okay. Bye-bye calm. Here was the pain hed feared before possessing the prince. Hed known Thomas would have to be injured and subdued in some violent way. Stabbing, though
For Victoria.
All right, then, Riley said, resolved.
Aden opened his eyes and nodded. Im ready.
Riley returned the nod, and unsheathed a blade from his back pocket. A blade that belonged to Aden.
Do not do this! Thomas commanded.
You didnt arrive with that, Aden said to distract himself from the sharp, deadly weapon soon to be embedded in his chest.
While I was in the closet, I slipped back into the human dimension and gathered what I needed. Riley shrugged those wide shoulders. Then I slipped back.
That easily?
That easily. All of Rileys nonchalance and confidence faded as he lumbered forward, paused and frowned. You wont be harmed when I do this?
No. Ive been assured Ill live. For the most part.
My king
Dont call me that, he snapped, and Thomas gasped in shock.
King?
Again, Aden ignored him.
If there were any other way Riley continued.
I know. He was surprised by how sad he suddenly was that hatred and intolerance had brought them to this point.
For several minutes, neither of them moved or spoke.
Maybe you should lie down for this, Riley said, shaky now.
All right. Aden studied his surroundings. The fight had ended inside RJs bedroom. The bunk bed had been toppled, but one of the mattresses was on the ground. Aden forced the princes body to stride over to it and lie down. By the time he stilled, he was shaking worse than Riley.
What was a stabbing compared to being burned alive? He could do this.
Youll regret this, the prince snarled.
If you would just promise not to harm Victoria.
Riley had already closed the distance between them and now blinked at him, clearly offended. I would never harm her.
Not you. The prince.
That, I can never promise. Your Victoriaoh, yes, I know her very wellshe is a spawn of Vlad, and her sister Lauren was to be my brothers bride. A peace offering, a uniting of the races. Only, Lauren killed him before the ceremony and admitted she had never meant to wed him. Spat with enough acid to burn. Should I live, Victoria will die. A sibling for a sibling. My vengeance will not be denied. At least the fairy hadnt lied. Even at the cost of your own life? Aden demanded, and this time Riley ignored him, knowing he conversed with the prince.
Hear me well. Ive already killed three members of her family. The rest will follow.
Three? he gritted out. Thats not a sibling for a sibling, is it? Who did you kill?
Cousins. Not nearly enough of a sting. I want them all. The entire royal family.
Then you are a murderer and you have brought this on yourself.
I am a murderer? What are you?
Hesitant, Riley raised the knife. Ready?
I
She is vampire, Thomas said, cutting him off. You are a human. All youll ever be to her is a blood-slave, addicted to her bite. And still you kill for her?
Flickers of fury ignited in his chest. He was more than Victorias blood-slave. He wouldnt believe otherwise. Yes. For her, Ill do anything.
For my brother, I will do anything. You might kill me, but youll never break me. And Haden? Somehow Ill make you pay for this, even from the grave.
Ready? Riley repeated then. Determination radiated from him, but that determination was waning. I want to get this done before I change my mind.
Deep breath in, hold, hold, slowly release. Aden was tense, which would cause more pain, but that wasnt going to change the final outcome.
Ready? Riley repeated a third time. Sweat dripped from his hand.
Ready. He could do this. He would not chicken out. Do it. Do it now!
Im sorry. The blade fell, a blur. Plunged deep. Cutting through bone, muscle and into the vital organ. Burning, stingingdestroying. Aden screamed, loud and long, and his voice soon broke from the strain.
The heart, though, continued to beat. At first. Each pump slid the knife deeper, cut worse, burned more. Blood flowed from the wound, soaking his chest, the mattress. Droplets even bubbled up into his throat, choking him, before rising into his mouth and spilling out, warming his cheeks.
Rivers, Elijah said, as if in a trance. Flow.
Caleb, Julian and Thomas were howling. They werent feeling Adens agony, he knew from experience, and he was glad to spare them that. But they were feeling the residual effects of his mental anguish.
Calm down, he told himself. For them.
But the pain never eased. Not when it felt as if every drop of life had poured from him. Not when his limbs chilled, so heavy he could no longer lift them. Aden could have abandoned the body at any time, but he wanted to spare Thomas every bit of pain he could. Besides, he had to know. For his peace of mind, he had to know when it was over. He had to know what he would one day have to bear himself.
A few moments later, Aden died for the second time that day.
FOUR
A few minutes earlier
Crossroads High
MARY ANN PLOPPED HER TRAY on the lunch table and settled across from the too-beautiful Victoria, who had just sat down herself. Shannon, Adens friend from the D and M, was beside her, a gorgeous black boy with green eyes that reminded her of Rileys. Once, shed even thought he was the wolf dogging her every step.
Beside Mary Ann was Penny Parks, her stunning best friend and next-door neighbor whose platinum hair, blue eyes that were prettier than sapphires and pale, freckled skin had fueled the wet dreams of many Crossroads High students.
A (regular) girl could get a complex, surrounded by all that perfection.
Victoria focused her own baby blues on Shannon. Question. Did you see Aden this morning?
Shannon had just taken a big bite of his pizza. He chewed as he shook his head, then swallowed. He was gone before I woke up.
But you saw him last night? Mary Ann asked.
Another nod.
So where was he? What was he doing?
She sighed.
So. Whats your deal? Penny suddenly asked Victoria, changing the subject. You dont even pretend to eat. Or drink, for that matter. Are you anorexic? Is that how you stay so skinny?