Her nerves were humming because of the overbearing presence of a vampire and a werewolf. The reappearance of Declan in her life had aroused all of the longing shed once had, and though it might have just been the result of their sexual encounter, Aria didnt care for the idea of being without Adam, either.
And she was terrified that none of it was real. It wouldnt be a sudden surge of knowledge for them, but she knew that they would wonder why they had taken up with her.
In all of this drama, we havent had a chance to talk to you about why we came for you, Aria. Screwing the cap back on to his flask, Declan reached across the table and caught her hand in his. He looked at Adam as he did, and though the werewolf was busy inhaling what appeared to be his third steak sandwich, he nodded in agreement and understanding.
You didnt come for me. The words were out of her mouth before she thought them through, and though she cringed inwardly, she pressed on. You werent disappointed to see me again, but I wasnt the reason you came here.
True. Declan spoke slowly, and Aria felt her heart sink as he confirmed what she had said.
Why? Dropping all pretenses of spunk, she rested her cheek on her hand, suddenly weary. Why not just leave things as they were. We were doing all right.
Adam and I met not long after you and I parted ways. Declan began, reaching for Arias hand.
She pulled away.
I always knew that there was a piece of his heart that I could never have, Adam added, shoving his empty plate away and fixing his eyes on Arias face. Because it belonged to a woman hed once known. He was determined to get back to her someday, once hed fulfilled what the Capitol wanted from him.
Aria felt her thoughts stutter as she turned that knowledge around in her head.
Wait a minute. She saw Declans eyes fixed on her face, saw the truth in them. Fury began to rise inside of her. You told me you left because vampires needed to roam.
I left because the Capitol would have killed you if Id refused their demands. Declans voice was steady and full of strength. Aria ground her teeth to keep from shouting obscenities. And you can hate me for it. But I would rather have broken your heart and still have you alive than the alternative.
Arias mind whirled.
It wasnt your choice. Hot, angry tears clawed their way through her throat. I would have chosen to fight at your side.
They wouldnt have allowed it. Declan said flatly, slamming his palm flat on the table. They didnt allow anything. Complete obedience or death. Though they told me theyd let me go somedaytold Adam the same thingI began to see that they never would.
Declans precognition was too valuable to them, Adams voice was full of suppressed rage. And so were my connections to the wolf packs. But its how we met, how we decided to escape. If we died trying, well, we figured we were better off.
Arias mind whirled as she tried to take in the influx of information.
But why come here? Turning, she looked Declan square in the face. If you left to ensure my safety, that seems like a waste of effort.
The men looked at each other, and Aria found herself wanting to smack their heads together. It was as if they had their own nonverbal language.
I had one of my premonitions, Declans voice was low and determined. And it drew meushere.
Hope was a wild thing curling inside of Arias chest. Could it really be?
So...in theory, we destroy this spell creature, and we can...can... she couldnt spit out the words.
Declans face was set and serious.
I think theres more than a spell creature, Aria.
Aria frowned and looked from Declan to the werewolf, who had finished his steak and was now guzzling what appeared to be a pint glass of orange juice.
Realization clicked. You think the Capitol has found you. That they tracked you down after you escaped. Panic rose in a dark cloud, and she tried to stand. Lori!
Two large, masculine hands gripped her, one hot, one cold, pulling her back down to the table. Two pairs of hard eyessoldiers eyesstared at her.
Lori will be safer if were not there. Adam spoke flatly. And youll be safer if we are.
They were talking in circles, and Aria had had enough. Shed had one hell of a day, her emotions were a mess and a demon was stalking her.
Spit it out already. She slammed her hands on the laminated tabletop. The movement jolted her glass, and cold water sloshed over the side, wetting her hand.
Declan raised an eyebrow at her. She glowered back.
Were not leaving you. Not until the Capitol has fallen. Arias mouth fell open as she looked from one alpha male to the other. Anger rose, hot and fast, as she realized that they had planned this all out for her, just as Declan had made life-shattering decisions for her three years ago.
Fury painted her vision red.
Standing, she hissed when Declan laid a hand on her wrist.
Touch me again, and Ill give you a hex that will make your cock fall off. Though she was certain that he would follow her, she climbed right over him and out of the booth, stomping her way to the washroom that was located at the back of the restaurant.
She slammed the door shut behind the small, single stall room and leaned back against it, her heart pounding a rapid tattoo in her chest.
This sucks. Aria had never been one to cry, not if she could help it. But thisthere was nothing she could do about this.
Declan had tried to save her with his leaving, but she couldnt get past the fact that hed made the decision for her. A decision that wasnt the one she would have made herself.
She knew her lover, and suspected Adam wouldnt leave Salems Hollowwouldnt leave heruntil she was safe.
Shed be damned if she was going to tie them to her like that when they already had each other, though if she was honest with herself, she wanted them both, wanted them willingly back in her life.
Sometimes Fate was a bitch.
Once she could breathe again, she crossed to the cracked porcelain sink. The pipes groaned and the water spurted out, tainting the air with the scent of minerals. Rinsing her face, she ground her teeth and understood what she had to do.
Closing her eyes, Aria inhaled deeply and pictured the creature she had seen earlier, the gray, ethereal shape. She focused her intentions, and at the same time channeled her energy into her fingertips.
She wasnt afraid of a shadow creature. Wasnt afraid of the Capitol. They were the organization that ruled over the supernatural creatures of the world, true enough, but she refused to believe that they couldnt be beaten.
Especially not with rage filling her blood.
Come and get me, asshole. Arias voice echoed off the walls as she invited the creature to her. If I cant handle a little shadow demon, I dont deserve to call myself witch.
It took a moment before the whoosh of energy came, before she registered the out-ofplace scent.
Decaying roses.
Her muscles tensed as she raised her head but saw nothing in the mirror. She didnt trust her eyesshe could sense the demon.
Her muscles tensed as she raised her head but saw nothing in the mirror. She didnt trust her eyesshe could sense the demon.
She whirled, pressing her back to the sink. The thing hovered just inside the door, the size of a large man. She again sensed the lack of awareness from the creature.
Something wasnt right. If the Capitol had sent something to get Declan back, or to hurt her in hisplace, surely they would have sent something more than this. This demon was dark, but it was as if it had been cued for one purpose onlyto kill her and restore the balance altered by Lorelais spell. As it slid slowly, threateningly toward her, she tried to channel her magic.
Focus, she told herself. She would take care of this, of what she was suddenly sure was indeed a by-product of Lorelais spell, and deal with whatever shit the Capitol threw down after.
Shed accepted the need for balance, even if it meant giving up Adam and Declan. But she wasnt the one who was going to die to accomplish it.
As shed done outside the motel, she pictured the demon disappearing. A few sparks danced from her fingers in the direction of the creature, but the stream of power that she was trying to reach for eluded her.
Tendrils of fear began to wind their way around her muscles as her bravado disappeared and she realized that she might very well be in trouble.
Fuck this. Taking a precious moment to close her eyes against the threat, Aria tried to pull her magic toward her again. A short burst exploded from her fingers, slamming the creature back against the bathroom door, but it wasnt deterred and just kept coming.
Blast, slam. Blast, slam. Aria could feel her energy draining, and it became harder to channel even the small bursts of magic.
She tried again to pull her power to her, and with her heart in her throat realized that she was drained. She had nothing left.
The creature reached for her, its arms outstretched, and Aria feinted to the side to avoid its grasp. Her foot looped behind her ankle, and she fell hard onto the tiles of the floor, jarring her spine painfully.
She shrieked as the demon turned and bent, those fingers inches away from brushing her skin.
The door exploded open, half of the door frame coming with it. A massive silvery wolf leaped into the small room, its muscles bunching with power. It flew at the demon, jaws open wide, lethal-looking teeth glinting in the neon light.
Declan was in the room a fraction of a second later. Aria was in shock as he drew a dangerous-looking blade from the hilt of his cane. His movements graceful despite his injury, he swiped the blade through the air once, twice.
As the possibility of losing him again slapped her hard in the face, Aria was faced with a hard truth.
I still love him.
Before the demons shadowy head separated from its body beneath Declans blade, Aria felt power blast through her. Raising her hands, she sent a wall of her magic careening toward the demon. It slammed into the creaturethrough itand the thing floated upward before bursting into eerie amethyst flame.
The rest of its form quickly followed suit, tingeing the air with the smell of flowers.