Hes anything but normal, and you better remember that, Ni-cole snapped. Answer my question, Rephaim.
I escaped into the tunnels after being wounded by a warrior from the House of Night, he said truthfully. Rephaims instincts, which had served him well for centuries, told him to remain silent about Stevie Rae, that even though these must be the rogue red fledglings she had been protecting, they were not truly of her flock, nor did they follow her.
The tunnel between here and the abbey collapsed, said Nicole.
It was open when I entered it.
Nicole took a step toward him and sniffed the air. You smell of Stevie Rae.
Rephaim made a dismissive gesture with his good hand. I reek of the bed I slept in. He cocked his head to the side, as if confused by what shed said. You say I carry Stevie Raes scent. Is she not the Red One, your High Priestess?
Stevie Raes a red vampyre, but she isnt our High Priestess! Nicole snarled, and her eyes took on a red glow.
Not your High Priestess? Rephaim pushed. But there was a red vampyre priestess called Stevie Rae who stood with a group of fledglings against my father and his queen. She had your markings. Is she not your High Priestess?
That was the battle where you were hurt? Nicole ignored his question to ask her own.
It was.
What happened? Wheres Neferet?
Gone. Rephaim didnt hide the bitterness in his voice. She fled with my father and those of my brothers who still live.
Whered they go? Kurtis asked.
If I knew that, I would not be hiding in the earth like a coward. I would be at my fathers side where I belong.
Rephaim. Nicole gave him a long, considering look. Ive heard that name before.
The Raven Mocker stayed silent, knowing it was better for her to come to the understanding of who he was without him having to brag about his position like a braying ass.
When her eyes widened, he knew shed remembered where it was shed heard his name.
She said you were Kalonas favoritehis most powerful son.
Yes, that is who I am. Who is this she whos been talking about me?
Again, Nicole ignored his question. What covered the door to the room you slept in?
A checked blanket.
Stevie Raes room, Starr said. Thats why he smells like her.
Nicole acted as if Starr hadnt spoken. Kalona took off without you, even though youre his favorite.
Yesssss, Rephaim drew out the hiss of anger that came with the acknowledgment.
Nicole spoke to Kurtis and Starr. You know this has to mean that theyre coming back. This birdboy is Kalonas favorite. No way is he going to leave him here forever. Just like were her favorites. Hell come back for him; shell come back for us.
Do you speak of the Red One, Stevie Rae?
In a motion so fast her body blurred, Nicole moved to Rephaims side, clamped her hands around his battered shoulders, and in one smooth motion lifted the huge Raven Mocker off the ground and slammed him against the side of the tunnel. Eyes blazing red, she breathed rancid breath into his face as she said, Get this, birdboy. Stevie Rae, or the Red One as you keep calling her, isnt our High Priestess. She isnt our boss. She isnt one of us. Shes tight with Zoey and that bunch, and thats not cool. See, we dont have a High Priestess, we have a queen, and her name is Neferet. Now, whats with this obsession with Stevie Rae?
Agony seared through Rephaim. His broken wing was on fire, lighting his body with white-hot agony. With everything inside him he wished he was whole again so that he could destroy this arrogant red fledgling with one slice of his beak.
But he wasnt whole. He was weak and wounded and abandoned.
My father wanted her captured. He said she was dangerous. Neferet didnt trust her. I am not obsessed. I am only following my fathers will, he choked out through the pain.
How about we see if youre really telling us the truth, Nicole said. Then she tightened her already viselike grip on his arm, closed her eyes, and bowed her head.
Incredibly, Rephaim felt her palms begin to heat. The heat radiated through him, tracing his bloodstream, pounding in time with the frantic beating of his heart, and slamming into his body.
A shudder went through Nicole, then she opened her eyes and lifted her head. Her smile was sly. She continued to hold him against the wall for one very long minute more before she dropped him. Looking down at where hed crumpled on the floor, she said, She saved you.
What the fuck? Kurtis shouted.
Stevie Rae saved him? Starr said.
Nicole and Rephaim acted as if neither had spoken.
She did, Rephaim gasped, fighting to get his breathing under control so he wouldnt pass out. Then he said nothing more, only tried to figure out what had just happened while he breathed through the radiating pain in his wing. The red fledgling had done something to him when shed touched himsomething that had given her a glimpse into his mind, maybe even his soul. But he also knew that he was unlike any being shed ever before touched; his thoughts would be difficult, if not nearly impossible for her to read, no matter her talents.
Why would Stevie Rae do that? Nicole asked him.
You saw into my mind. You know that I have no idea why she did what she did.
That much is true, she said slowly. Its also true that I didnt pick up that you have any bad feelings toward her. Whats with that?
Im not sure what you mean. Bad feelings? That makes no sense to me.
She scoffed. No senselike you have any sense? Your mind was the weirdest thing Ive ever looked into. So its like this, birdboy, you say youre still doing what your dad told you to do. At the very least that should mean you want to capture hermaybe kill her.
My father did not want her killed. He wanted her brought to him unharmed so he could study her, and maybe use her powers, Rephaim said.
Whatever. But, see, the problem is, when I looked into that bird-brain of yours, I didnt find anything that said youre after her.
Why would I be after her right now? She isnt here.
Nicole shook her head. No, see, thats just weird. If you want to get Stevie Rae, you want to get her, whether shes here or not.
That isnt logical.
Nicole stared at him. Look, this is what I have to know. Are you with us or not?
With you?
Yeah, with us. Were going to kill Stevie Rae. She spoke matter-of-factly while she moved with her preternatural speed to his side and grasped his arm in her iron grip. Rephaims bicep heated instantly as she probed his thoughts. So, whats your choice? Are you with us, or not?
Rephaim knew he had to answer. Nicole might not be able to read all of his thoughts, but obviously she had enough power that she could discover things hed rather keep hidden. Making the decision quickly, he met the red fledglings scarlet gaze with his own and said truthfully, I am my fathers son.
She stared at him, her hand burning the flesh of his arm and her eyes glowing red. Then she smiled her sly smile again. Good answer, birdboy, cause thats the major thing I found inside your bird head. You definitely are your dads kid. She let loose of him. Welcome to my team, and dont worry. Since your dads not here right now, I dont think hell care whether Stevie Raes dead or alive when you catch her.
And deads easier, Kurtis said.
Most definitely, Starr said.
Nicole laughed, sounding so much like Neferet that the feathers at the nape of Rephaims neck lifted in response. Father! Beware! His mind shrieked, The Tsi Sgili is more than what she seems!
CHAPTER 26
Zoey
Heath, what are you doing in here?
Heath clutched his chest like shed shot him and staggered around, making mock gasping sounds. Your coldness is killing me, baby!
You are a dork, she said. If anythings killing you, its your absolute lack of good sense. So, what are you doing in here? I thought youd be out there doing bird burning with Darius and Shaunee.
Well, I was gonna, cause they can definitely use my superhuman strength to help them out. He waggled his brows at her and flexed. Then he plopped onto the bench beside her. But Stark found me and said you needed meso here I am.
Stark was wrong. You should go back and help Darius.
You look bad, Zo, he said, all kidding gone from his tone.
I sighed. Ive been through a bunch of stufflately, thats alljust like all of us have.
Helping the hurt kids kicked your butt, he said.
Well, yeah, it did. But Ill be okay. I just need to get today over with so I can get some sleep. Thats all.
Heath watched me for a little while without speaking, then he held his hand out to me. It was an automatic reflex for me to thread my fingers through his.
Zo, Im trying hard not to let it drive me crazy that you have some kind of special thing with Starksomething you dont have with me.
Its a Warrior Bond. I can only have it with a vampyre. I said the words apologetically, and I was sorrysorry that I kept hurting this guy whom Id loved since grade school.
Yeah, I heard about that. Anyway, what I was sayin is that Im trying to deal with the Stark thing, but it makes it doubly hard for me when you push me away.
I couldnt say anything because I knew exactly what he was really talking about. It was why Stark had sent him in here. Heath wanted me to drink from him. Just thinking about it made my mouth water and my breath come faster.
I know you want to, he whispered.
Unable to meet his eyes, I stared down at our joined hands. In the dim light of the deserted cafeteria the tattoos on my palms were almost invisible and our hands looked so ordinaryso much like theyd looked for so many years that it made my stomach hurt.
You know I want you to.
I met his gaze then. I know you do. I just cant, Heath.
I expected him to explode and get all pissed, but instead he deflated. His shoulders sagged and he shook his head. Why wont you let me help you in the one real way I can?
I drew a deep breath and told him the complete truth. Because I cant deal with the sex part of it right now.
He blinked in surprise at me. Is that the only reason?
Sex is a kinda big reason, I said.
Well, yeah, not that Id know from experience, but still I get what youre saying.
I felt my cheeks get warm. Heath was still a virgin? Id thought for sure that after I was Marked and left my human life for the House of Night, my ex-BFF had totally gone after him. Actually, I knew skanky Kayla had gone after him.
What about Kayla? I thought you two hooked up after I left.
He gave a humorless little laugh. She wishes. Not no, but hell, no. I wasnt with Kayla. Theres only one girl for me. The humorlessness left his expression and he grinned at me. And even though youre a big-time High Priestess and so not technically just a girl anymore, to me youre still my girl.
Again, I didnt know what to say. Id always thought when I had sex for the first time it would be with Heath, but then Id messed up majorly and lost my virginity to Loren Blake, which was literally the biggest mistake of my life. It still made me feel sick and more than a little guilty.
Hey, stop thinking about Blake. You cant change what happened with him, so lets forget it.
Are you a mind reader now?
Ive always been able to get inside your head, Zo. His grin faded. Well, I guess I havent been able to do that so good recently.
Im sorry about all of this, Heath. I hate that it hurts you.
Im not a kid anymore. I knew what I was getting into when I got in my truck and drove to Tulsa to see you. It doesnt have to be easy between us, but it does have to be honest.
Okay. I want to be honest, too. So Im telling you the truth when I tell you that I cant let myself drink from you. I cant deal with what will happen between us because of it. Im not ready to have sex, even if the whole world wasnt going to hell in a handbasket all around us.
Hell in a handbasketyou sound like your grandma when you say that.
Heath, changing the subject wont change my mind. Im not having sex, so Im not drinking from you.
Jeesh, Zo, Im not a moron; I get that, he said. So we dont have sex. Weve spent a whole lot of years not having sex. Were experienced at it.
Theres more to it than just wanting each other. You know what the Imprint does to both of us. It was intense enough before when I was hurt so bad I was almost dead. It would be that times ten if I drank from you now.
Heath swallowed hard and ran his hand through his hair. Yeah, okay, I know that. But heres what Im saying about itthe Imprint goes both ways, right? While youre drinking my blood you feel stuff I feel, and I feel stuff you feel.
Yeah, and the stuff is all about pleasure and sex, I said.
Okay, so, instead of us focusing on the sex part, well focus on the pleasure part.
I raised my brows at him. Youre a guy, Heath. Since when do you not focus on the sex part?
Instead of the kidding response I expected, his expression was absolutely serious. When have I ever pressured you about sex?
There was that time in the tree house.
You were in fourth grade. That doesnt count. Plus you knocked the crap out of me. He didnt exactly smile, but his brown eyes twinkled.
How about the back of your truck last summer at the lake?
You really cant count that, either. You had that new bikini on. And I didnt actually pressure you.
You had your hands all over me.
Well, there was a lot of you showing! He paused, lowering his voice to a normal level again. My point is, weve been together for a long time. We can definitely be together without having sex. Do I want to have sex with you? Hell, yes. Do I want to have sex with you when your head is all messed up from that Blake guy and youre worried as hell about everything thats going on, and you dont actually want to have sex with me? Hell, no! Hell, hell, no. He put his finger under my chin and made me meet his gaze. I promise that this wont be about sex because you and me, what we have, means more than sex. Let me do this for you, Zoey.
My mouth opened and before I could stop it I heard myself whisper, Okay.
His smile was like hed just won the Super Bowl. Excellent!
But no sex, I said.
Absolutely none at all. Just call me Heath No Sex. Hell, my middle name is No Sex.
Heath. I put a finger on his lips to shut him up. Youre dorking this up.
Oh, yeah. Okay, he mumbled around my finger. Then he let loose my hand and reached into the pocket of his jeans, pulling out a small pocketknife. He slid off his coat and opened the knife. The blade looked weirdly like a kids toy in the dark cafeteria.
Hang on! I kinda shrieked when he started to lift the knife to the side of his neck.
What?
Um. Right here? Were doing this right here?
He raised his brows at me. Why not? Were not having sex, remember?
Of course I remember, I said. Its just, well, someone might come in.
Starks guarding the door. No one will get past him.
That shocked me into silence. I mean, obviously this had been Starks idea, but guarding the door to make sure Heath and I had private time? That was just
The scent of Heaths blood hit me and all thoughts of Stark flew from my mind. My eyes found the small ribbon of red that lay along the soft spot where his neck met his shoulder. He shifted, putting the knife on the table and holding his arms open to me.
Come here, Zo. Its just you and me right now. No one else for you to think about. No one else for you to worry about. Come here, he repeated.
I went into his arms inhaling his scent: Heath, blood, desire, home, and my past all wrapped up together in a strong, familiar embrace. When my tongue touched the line of scarlet I felt him shiver and knew he was suppressing a moan of pure desire. I hesitated, but it was too late. His blood exploded in my mouth. Unable to stop myself, I pressed my lips against his skin and drank. At that moment I didnt care that I wasnt ready for sex, or that the world around me was one big ball of chaos, or even that we were in the middle of the cafeteria while Stark guarded the door (and probably was experiencing everything I was feeling). At that moment all I cared about was Heath and his blood and his body and his touch.
Sssh. Heaths voice had gone all deep and kinda raspy, but it was weirdly soothing. Its okay, Zo. It can just feel good and thats it. Think about how strong it makes you. You need to be strong, remember? You have, like, a zillion people counting on you. Im counting on you; Stevie Rae is counting on you; Aphrodite is counting on you, even though I kinda think shes a bitch. Eriks even counting on younot that anyone cares about him
Heaths words went on and on. And as he spoke a weird thing happened. His voice stopped being all deep and raspy. He started sounding just like Heathlike he and I were sitting here talking about normal stuff and I wasnt sucking blood from his neck. Then, without me hardly knowing it, the surge of feeling that filled me as I drank from him changed from raw sex to something else. Something I could think through. Something I could handle. Dont get me wrong, it still felt good. Really, really, seriously good. But good was tempered with what I can only describe as normal, and normal made it manageable. So when I felt strong and rejuvenated I was actually able to pull back. Close now, I thought, and licked the bleeding line on Heaths neck, automatically changing the endorphins in my saliva from coagulants to anticoagulants. I watched the bleeding stop and the small wound begin to knit together, leaving only a slim, pink line to betray to the world what had happened between us.
My eyes lifted to meet Heaths gaze.
Thank you, I said.
Anytime, he said. Ill always be here for you, Zo.
Good, because Ill always need you to remind me of who I really am.
Heath kissed me. It was a gentle kiss, but it was deep and intimate and filled with a desire I knew he was holding back, waiting for me to be ready to finally say yes to him. Instead, I broke the kiss and snuggled into his arms. I felt him sigh, but his embrace didnt falter and he held me tightly.
The sound of the door to the cafeteria swinging open made us both jump.
Zoey, you really should get to the dorm. Theyre waiting for you, Stark said.
Okay, yeah, Im coming, I said, pulling out of Heaths arms and helping him put on his coat.
Id better find Darius and those guys and give them some awesome human help with stuff, Heath said.
Like guilty kids, we walked together over to where Stark stood, expressionlessly holding the door open.
Stark. Heath nodded at him. Thanks for getting me to her.
Its part of my job, Stark said sharply.
Well, I think you deserve a raise, Heath told him with a grin, then he bent and gave me a quick kiss before telling me bye and hurrying toward the door that led to the central school grounds.
Its not a part of my job I like, I heard Stark mutter as both of us watched Heath disappear outside.
Like you said, guess we better get to the dorms, I said, starting to walk briskly down the hall that led to the exit nearest the dorms. Stark followed mealong with a very uncomfortable silence.
So, he finally said, his voice sounding strained. That sucked.
I spoke before thinking, and the ridiculous words seemed to babble out of my mouth of their own accord. Yep. Yep it did. Literally. Then, unbelievably, I giggled.
Okay, in my defense, I was feeling amazingly good. Heaths blood had made me feel better than I had since Kalona burst through the ground and messed up my life.
Its not funny, Stark said.
Sorry. It was a bad pun, I said, giggled again, and then clamped my lips shut.
Im going to pretend really hard that youre not all giggly and I didnt just feel everything you felt in there, Stark said in a strained voice.
Even through my blood rush I understood that it must have been really hard on Stark to experience the intense pleasure another guy had just brought me, and to realize how close Heath and I actually are. I slid my arm through Starks. At first he was cold and stiff, and barely responded, like I was trying to hold on to a statue, but as we continued walking he thawed and I felt him relax. Just before he opened the door to the girls dorm for me, I looked up at him and said, Thank you for being my Warrior. Thank you for making sure Im strong, even though it hurt you.
Youre welcome, my lady. He smiled at me, but he looked old and really, really sad.
CHAPTER 27
Zoey
Do you want a brown pop, too? I called over my shoulder to Stark, who was waiting impatiently for me out in the very silent, very weird main room of the dorm. I say weird because it was silent, even though there were a bunch of fledglings, girls and guys, sitting in the clusters of chairs staring at the flat-screen TVs. Seriously. They just sat and stared. No talking. No laughing. Nothing. They did look up when Stark and I walked into the room. Actually, I was semi-sure some of the kids sent us hateful glares, but they still didnt say anything.
No, Im fine. Just grab your pop and lets get upstairs, he said, already walking toward the stairway.
Okay, okay. Im coming. I just And I ran smack into a kid named Becca. Jeesh, sorry! I said, stepping back. I didnt see you cause I was
Yeah, I know what you were doing. What youre always doing. You were checking out a guy.
I frowned. I didnt know Becca very well. Except that shed had a big crush on Erik. Oh, and Id caught Stark biting and practically raping herbefore hed chosen good and sworn himself as my Warrior. Of course, Becca hadnt remembered the raping part. Shed only remembered the biting pleasure part, again thanks to the jerk Stark used to be.
Still, that didnt give her permission to pop this ridiculous attitude on me. But I didnt have time to get things right with her and, honestly, I didnt really care that she was a big, festering pile of Im-jealous-of-Zoey. So I just made one of Aphrodites unattractive snorting noises and walked around her and over to a fridge, opened it, and started my quest for brown pop.
You did this, didnt you? You messed up everything.
I sighed. I found my can of brown pop and turned around. If you mean, did I get rid of Kalona, who is not Erebus come to earth but really an evil fallen immortal, and chase away Neferet, who is not Nyxs High Priestess anymore but really an evil Tsi Sgili who wants to take over the world, then yes. Yes, with the help of some friends I did that.
Why do you think you know everything?
I definitely dont know everything. If I did, Id know why you still cant see that Kalona and Neferet and the Raven Mockers are evil, even after they killed Professor Anastasia.
The Raven Mocker only killed her because you pissed them off by running away and then fighting Kalona, who a bunch of us think really is Erebus.
Get a clue, Becca. Kalona isnt Erebus. Hes the Raven Mockers dad. He created them by raping Cherokee women. Erebus wouldnt do that. Has that occurred to the whole bunch of you?
She acted like she hadnt heard a word Id said. Everything was fine when you were gone. Now youre back and everythings screwed up again. I wish you would just leave for good and let the rest of us do what we want to do.
The rest of you? You mean like the kids in the infirmary who were almost killed by your winged friends. Or do you mean Dragon, who is out there mourning the death of his wife by himself?
That only happened because of you. No one was attacked before you took off.
Seriously, are you not hearing a word Im saying?
Hey, Becca. Stark was standing in the doorway to the kitchen, just behind Becca.
She turned her head, tossed her hair, and gave him a flirty smile. Hey there, Stark.
Eriks free meat, he said bluntly.
She blinked and looked a little confused.
He and Zoey broke up, he added.
Oh, really? She tried to sound nonchalant, but her body language gave away her pleasure. She glanced back at me. Its about time he dumped you.
Other way around, you you bitch! I blurted.
Becca actually took a step toward me, raising her hand like she was going to try to hit me, which shocked me so badly that I didnt even think about calling one of the elements to smack her down. Thankfully, Stark wasnt so shocked, and he stepped quickly between us.
Becca, Ive done enough bad to you. Dont make me toss you out of here. Just walk away, he said, looking very warriorlike and dangerous.
Becca backed down instantly. Oh, whatever. Like I care enough about her to mess up my nails? She spun around and huffed out.
I opened my pop and took a long drink before saying, Well, that was really disturbing.
Yeah, I must be losing it. The real me would never stop a good girl fight.
I rolled my eyes at him. Youre such a guy. Come on, lets get upstairs where theres less crazy.
We walked out of the kitchen and had to go through the main dorm room to get to the stairs, which meant jumping back into a whole bunch of crazy. Becca was all whispery with the biggest cluster of kids, though she stopped talking to give me the stank eye, which was the same stank-eye-kill-you-dead that all the other kids were giving me, too.
I picked up the pace and practically vaulted up the stairs.
Okay, thats freaky, Stark said as we hurried to my dorm room.
I just nodded. It was hard for me to find the words to describe how it felt to me that almost everyone at my school, my home, obviously hated my guts. Opening the door to my room, I was instantly assaulted by an orange ball of fur that hurled herself into my arms as she mee-uf-owed like a disgruntled old woman.
Nala! I ignored her annoyance and kissed her on the nose, which made her sneeze in my face. I laughed and juggled my brown pop to my other hand so I didnt spill it or my cat. Ive missed you, little girl. I pressed my face into her soft fur, which stopped her complaining and started her purr machine.
When youre done making out with your cat, we have stuff to discussimportant stuff, Aphrodite said.
Oh, dont be so odious, Damien told her.
Ode this, Damien. Aphrodite made a rude gesture at him.
Stop it! Lenobia spoke before I could tell them to be quiet. The body of my good friend is still smoldering out there and I dont feel like listening to teenage bickering.
Aphrodite and Damien actually muttered apologies and looked uncomfortable, which I decided was an excellent cue for me to start talking. Okay, so, every single one of those kids down there is hating my guts.
Really? They were just being Stepfords when we came in, Damien said.
Really, Stark said. I almost had to pull that Becca girl off Zoey.
I could see by the looks on Aphrodite and Damiens faces that they were remembering Starks not-so-nice past. Neither of them said anything.
That doesnt surprise me, Lenobia said.
I looked at the Horse Mistress. What is going on? Kalonas gone. Way gone. Like I dont even think hes in the country anymore. How can he still be affecting fledglings?
And vampyres, Damien added. No other professor except for you came out to be with Dragon. That means the rest of them are still under Kalonas influence, too.
Or theyre simply allowing fear to defeat them. Lenobia said. Its hard to tell whether theyre afraid, or whether the demon began something within them that is still at work, even though hes no longer present.
He isnt a demon, I heard myself say.
Lenobia gave me a sharp look. Why would you say that, Zoey?
I shifted uncomfortably under her scrutiny and sat on my bed, curling Nala into my lap. Its just that I know things about him, and one of the things I know is that he isnt a demon.
What difference does it make what we call him? Erin asked.
Well, true names are powerful, Damien said. Traditionally using someones true name in a spell or ritual can be more binding than sending out energy generally, or even just using their first name.
You make a good point, Damien. So we wont call Kalona a demon, Lenobia said.