“I was kidding.” The stare he shot Orion told him that no, Varu had not been playing around. “The truth is, we are Night Bloode, our own kin. We are made up of six different tribes, but that only means we bring diverse talents to the table, making us greater than other clans. I’m not my father. I do not believe in killing for the sake of bloode sport,” he directed to Macy. “I believe in protecting assets and fortifying our strengths. Destroying Orion makes no sense. Destroying you...” He looked Duncan in the eye and said, “also serves no purpose. But you will not keep secrets from me in the future, Macy.”
“No, Varu,” she said and bowed her head.
Duncan sighed. “It was my fault too. I knew something was going on but said nothing.”
Varu nodded. “Your job is to keep us aware of our enemies. And our Bloode Witch.” Varu gave a small grin then turned to Orion. “Did you deliberately betray our clan?”
“Hell no. I would have escaped the sea witch myself but had no chance to prove it. Kaia rescued me.”
“I need to talk to this Kaia.”
Hearing her name on Varu’s lips bothered him. “I’ll get her.”
“She’s at my dad’s.” Macy shot Orion a look. “I’ll bring her by tomorrow night, okay? In the meantime, I’ll talk to MEC about Pazuzu.”
“Good.” Varu opened his mouth to say something and paused, looking at Orion. “Tonight, we’re on a break. I think we’ve earned it.”
Khent scowled. “But the lycan—”
“He can keep.”
“Waste of my fucking time,” Khent said under his breath, continued to mumble, turned on his heel, and left.
Kraft whooped. “I’ll set up the games in the basement.” Rolf left with him.
Duncan and Macy shared a kiss before trailing the pair.
Shadow shifted in Orion’s arms but continued to purr against his chest.
Varu’s lips twitched at the sight. “Orion, I need a moment. Would you mind if Fara took your friend with her?”
Her eyes sparkled. “Oh, yes, please.”
Orion let her because Shadow liked her, and because Varu had asked. His kitten had a thing for fae creatures and happily climbed into Fara’s arms. They both watched as Fara walked away, presumably to join the others.
With everyone suddenly gone, only Orion and Varu remained in the kitchen.
“What’s wrong now?” Orion waited, pretending indifference when he was actually on edge. Varu felt much more powerful than he had before. A true master with not one but three Bloode Stones at his disposal, he might very well be able to rule the Bloode Empire.
And destroy Orion pretty damn easily.
Varu pursed his lips. “I’m glad you’re back, even if you are annoying.”
“Thanks so much.”
Varu grinned. He did that a lot since mating Fara. “I didn’t want to mention this in front of the others, but the Bloode Stones make me more sensitive to the bloode. And yours is still tied to someone else.”
Orion paused. “Hecate said I’m fine now.”
“You’re not under a spell. This is more a bloode issue.” Varu paused. “And it’s the first stone that told me, but Orion, you feel the tiniest bit... mated.”
CHAPTER
SEVENTEEN
Tired, Kaia took an extra day off work, her days and nights mixed up. She still grieved the loss of Orion.
She’d only known him for a few days, yet she understood, deep down, that Orion was perfect for her. But life went on. She had more important things to worry about. Like, did her mother know she’d stolen her prisoners, and if so, did Sabine plan to hurt and or kill Kaia for doing so?
Though it pained her to consider her mother might be capable of murdering her only daughter, Kaia knew Sabine had done some pretty shady things over the years. Heck, she’d almost killed Sean just for a boost in power. Unfortunately, Sean had disappeared soon after, so Kaia couldn’t ask him what else her mother had been up to. Not that she could blame him for not sticking around.
She slept until noon then forced herself to get up. After sitting around her parents’ house by herself for a few hours and feeling bored and sad, she’d had enough of her own moping. She called a ride service and had it take her home, where she belonged, then texted her dad and Diana to let them know she’d gone.
Kaia always relied on family and friends to feel better. It was time for her to stand on her own two feet. Dad, Diana, and Macy had done enough for her. It was time to fight her own battles now. And she’d start with going back to work tomorrow. She called her boss, who was more than happy to have her, no questions asked.
Then she checked in on her roommates. Apparently, the three of them were working a potential pack war, so they’d be out of pocket for another two weeks for sure.
Stay safe. I’m good, she sent, content when she received goofy emojis from all of them.
She wandered the house, noting nothing to clean up but her own room. She dusted, did laundry, and managed a grocery run for the next week. By five, she’d done all she’d set out to do with nothing to fill her time but thoughts of the stubborn, angry vampire she still missed too much for comfort.
After watching a few Christmas movies still playing despite it being mid-January, she’d had enough. She waited for the darkness to settle and let herself out back, down to the dock, and slipped into Lake Washington.
Surrounded by her element, the warm embrace of life-giving water, she swam and let herself go. Strife, pain, and anger leached out of her, the waters bringing change and movement, flushing the toxic hurts that kept Macy from flourishing.
She flew through the water and decided to move even faster, with a power she hadn’t realized she’d had. Before she knew it, she entered the Sound and felt the call of the Pacific beckoning her forward. Kaia pushed, a new form of motion adding to her speed.
She circled Whidbey Island and ran into a pair of Orcas. Joyful, she joined them, and they raced each other and played, skirting a boat with spotlights that pointed at the killer whales in awe while Kaia kept below the surface, out of view of humans.
She felt powerful, no longer a sad sea nymph, but a being who commanded the waters and those who dwelled within them. Until a divine voice shattered her enjoyment.
I am Neptune, and these are my waters. Who are you that you do not pay tribute to my territory? The power in that question should have had her racing for home.
Your territory? she thought but didn’t say and mentally added, This is my sea, and these are my people. Who do you serve, tired Neptune? When this is not your home any longer? None of which she actually said aloud or to the sea god.
That need to confront a divine presence shocked her into turning around and speeding back the way she’d come.
Holy crap. What was I thinking? She swam faster, a blur in the water as she cut through a school of merfolk who swore at her and interrupted a sea serpent’s meal, much to the relief of a group of shapeshifting seals. Finally back in Lake Washington, she paused to consider her uncharacteristic aggression.
Kaia liked being the nice, quiet employee at ADR, checking out books and helping people do research. She enjoyed spending time with her friends and family, always nearby to help out or offer a warm smile or encouraging comment. She didn’t play to win; she played to have fun. And she didn’t own or claim any territory in the water. She simply liked to swim and be at one with her element.