The Somber Call (The Ariane Trilogy Book 2) Page 7

  Bray's voice shakes. “Brionna, please. I'm not sure what's going on, but we can work it out. Please drop the knife.”

  Internally, I'm screaming at the top of my lungs. Bray will not die tonight. I have to do something to stop her. But what?

  9

  Then a guardian angel shows up in the form of an angry vampire. Everything happens quickly. First, he appears in the distance behind Brionna and Bray so she can't see him. Neither I, nor the wolves, move or give any inkling he's there. A quick snap later and he's standing behind her, with his black trench coat fluttering in place, his fangs descended. She heard him snap. Heard him appear behind her, but she's not quick enough. The second she turns her head, Ford bites her neck. Her body goes lax, the knife in her hand drops, and Ford drains her of blood before our eyes.

  I haven't witnessed this side of him before. The dark, vicious side. The one that also just saved my friend. It doesn't change how I feel about Ford, not one bit. But it does remind me he's not human and can kill at a moment's notice. He’s a paranormal, playing by his own rules.

  Wake and Rion shift back, now that the threat has been taken care of.

  Bray lunges forward, blood trickling down his neck. “What just happened? And why is he drinking her blood? He's killing her!”

  “And rightfully so,” Rion states calmly.

  “Are you insane? Are you all crazy?” He wildly gestures to all of us. “He's murdering her and none of you care?”

  “It was either kill her or you'd be dead, Bray,” I say with a shrug. “You should thank Ford for saving your life.”

  “Saving me? How are you fine with all of this, Ari? Or you, Paige? These two are wolves,” he says, motioning to Rion and Wake. “And that one is a freaking vampire. None of this is okay!” I’m grateful Paige’s house isn’t close to any others. If anyone heard this conversation, we’d all be screwed.

  Paige walks over and slings an arm over Bray's shoulders. “Welcome to the world of paranormals, my friend. Now we don't have to keep anything from you anymore.”

  “Did one of you put drugs in my drink at dinner?” Poor Bray. He got thrust into this world like Paige did. Neither was intentional. Being my friends brought them smack-dab into the middle of it.

  “Nope. This is real,” I reply. “Believe me. There are some days I wish I were normal.” Rion glances my way, a somber look in his eyes. I didn't say it to hurt his feelings. It was pure honesty.

  Ford drops Brionna's body to the ground then licks his lips. He stretches his arms out wide. “I feel like a million bucks. What should we do next?”

  “I have an idea,” I grin. Oh, it’s a good one.

  Ford freezes instantly, and I quickly throw a block up in my mind. “I don't like the sound of that. What are you thinking?” he asks.

  Bending down to Brionna's body, I take hold of her wrist. With a quick snap, I'm crouched down on the ground, dead fox shifter in front of me. Before me is a huge, white, stone home with two large pillars flanking a deep blue door.

  “Travis!” I yell as I stand. “I brought you a present!” He can hear me. The whole pack can. They have super shifter hearing.

  Ford appears by my side. Rion must have sensed where I went and told him. “This wasn't the smartest thing you've ever done,” Ford mutters.

  “Please. Smart went out the window a long time ago.”

  Wolves rush to us from all angles, forming a circle around the three of us. This reminds me of one of my premonitions, minus the clearing in the forest and the dead fox shifter at my feet.

  Travis exits the front door of the home. “Ariane, did you come to offer yourself over to the pack? Finally decide to join the winning side?”

  “That's a good one, but no. Instead, I brought you a gift.” The wolves part to allow Travis into their ring of anger.

  He glances down at the body. “Well, that's a pity. I kind of liked her.”

  “And I kind of like my friends staying in one piece and breathing,” I hiss. “Never send one of your pack after my friends again. Is that clear?”

  “Who are you to threaten me, little girl? I will do what I want, when I want.” Little girl? Who does he think he's talking to? Before I can lunge, Ford is next to me, taking my hand in his. His hold is like steel. There's no chance I can move now.

  “You better keep her contained, Verascue.”

  He grins. “I will, but not for long. If there's one thing I know about Ariane, it's that she's unpredictable. Watch your back, Travis. This wasn't a smart move on your part.”

  “At least you got dinner out of it.”

  “That I did.”

  A second later, the grip Ford has on me loosens. Three things happen at the same time. Ford collapses to the ground beside me. Travis shifts into a grey and white wolf. And the rest of the wolves close in on us. Okay, time to get out of here. There’s zero chance of me taking on all of them while keeping Ford safe. Bending, I quickly take hold of Ford’s hand and snap my fingers, bringing us to the entryway inside the Avynwood Pack’s mansion.

  “Desmond!” I call, my voice shaking as the reality of what happened settles over me. “Help!”

  Dante is the first one to enter the room. His shoulder-length black hair pulled into a ponytail at the nape of his neck. Amber eyes find mine then assess the vampire beside me on the beige, marble floor.

  The next thing I hear is him yelling for Desmond as well. “Des! Get down here! Now!”

  Carter comes barreling into the room next. His blond hair is sticking up at odd angles. “Ari, what happened?”

  “Please,” I beg as tears form in my eyes. Ford isn’t moving. “Help him. We need Desmond.” Carter nods and takes off running, while Dante walks over and lifts Ford into his arms. Swiftly, he carries him into one of the medical rooms down the hall, gently laying him on the table.

  Desmond appears a second later. “What happened?” he asks, as he begins to check Ford's vitals.

  Tears begin rolling down my cheeks as I stare at Ford’s lifeless body. “A fox shifter was holding my friend hostage. She had a knife to his throat. Ford…” I barely get his name out, as a sob breaks free. “Ford saved him by killing the shifter. He drained her. But then Travis—” I suck in a breath, trying to steady my voice.

  Both Desmond and Dante's head snap up as they spear me with their gazes. Both of their eyes flashing emerald green. “Did you say Travis?” Dante growls.

  I nod. “I brought the fox shifter to Travis' house since he sent her to spy. I figured I'd send his pack a message. But Travis must have done something to her because Ford collapsed. Please,” I cry. “You have to save him.”

  “Ari,” Desmond starts. “Whatever Travis did won't kill him. The only way to kill Ford is a silver stake to the chest or by decapitating him.”

  “What if a mage had something to do with it?” I ask. “Put a spell on the fox or something?” I still have no clue how mages perform magic. I’m rambling at this point.

  “It's possible,” he mutters. “But even then. He should come around in a few minutes. Vampires are one of the hardest paranormals to kill.”

  “Then, why do it?”

  “I'm not sure,” Desmond states.

  “Where were you before you went to Travis'? Where are your friends?” Dante asks.

  “Brayden!” I yell, snapping my fingers.

  I pop back into Paige's backyard. Ford is being taken care of by Desmond. If what he said is true, Ford will hopefully be fine. I have to check on Bray.

  My eyes latch on to the scene in front of me. What did I just stumble into?

  There are three wolves squaring off against Wake and Orion in their wolf forms. Paige and Bray are behind them with their backs pressed to the house, scared to death, not moving.

  I teleport to both of them and grab Bray's hand first since he has blood still running down his neck. In a flash, I bring him to the mansion, right in front of Desmond.

  “Help him,” I state before reaching for Dante. “You need to come with me
. Orion's in trouble.” The green eyes of Dante's wolf take over Dante’s normal amber eyes.

  Placing his hand in mine, I bring him with me to Paige's. He takes in what’s in front of us, then immediately shifts into a massive grey wolf. He’s bigger than Orion with a white patch on his chest. He crouches down low, then bursts forward, running at the wolves about to pounce on Orion and Wake.

  As quickly as I can, I grab Paige and take her to the mansion, too. When I get there, Desmond is tending to Bray, Carter is in the room with murder in his eyes, and Ford is sitting up, rubbing his head.

  “I'll deal with you in a minute,” I point at Ford. “Carter, let's go!” He wraps an arm around my waist so I can teleport him back to Paige's. In a flash, we’re at Paige’s. Carter turns into a beautiful red wolf. The same color as his brother Cash and the color Cace's wolf was.

  Orion’s voice rings out in my head, stopping my thoughts from turning dark. Any reminder of Cace, and I come close to crumbling to the ground. “Ari, get out of here!”

  With Carter and Dante helping, it's four against three in the Avynwood Pack’s favor. They’ve got this. Besides, I’d only be a distraction to Orion. He needs to focus on the wolves before him, not trying to protect me.

  I exit the fray, teleporting back to the mansion. Ford's eyes are clear when I arrive; he's standing now. But not for long. I lunge for him, knocking him off balance. He stumbles back, bumping into a cart of medical supplies. I guess he isn't healed completely yet. If he were, I wouldn't have been able to move him.

  “Don't you ever do that to me again!” I yell. “I thought you were dying—or worse—that you were dead! In fact, you're going to wish you were once I get through with you,” I seethe. Lunging again, I don’t get a solid hit because he’s ready for me. He pulls me to him and teleports us away.

  We arrive at Ford’s beach home. His familiar scent of leather and the salty ocean air wraps around me as I bury my face in his chest. The anger I was feeling leaves me just as the ocean leaves the shore. My arms wind around him, under his trench, fisting the material of his shirt at his back. He returns my embrace just as fiercely, his chin resting on the top of my head.

  “Don't ever do that to me again,” I mutter as tears cascade down my cheeks once more. “I thought I lost you. I can't… You’re too important to me.”

  “Shhh... It’s over now. I’m fine. Promise. And I'm not going anywhere. It will take more than poison to kill me.”

  “I can't lose you. I can't lose anyone else.” He strokes his hand down my hair.

  “I'm here for good, princess. You aren’t getting rid of me.”

  The tears come in earnest as I cling to him. I thought that was the last time I was going to see him alive. He’d be another person who died because of me. I couldn't handle it if that happened. Not Ford.

  Lifting my head, I ask, “Why did you do it?”

  “Do what?” he replies while brushing a few strands of hair from my face, gently tucking my locks behind my ear. The move is subtle yet intimate. I release him but stay close, needing him near. My nerves are still raw with the thought of losing him.

  “Why did you save Brayden? And how did you know he was in trouble?”

  “It wasn't him I knew was in trouble. It was you. I heard you screaming in my head and was able to find you. You only go to a few places. And as much as I like to joke around with you and the wolves, I never want to see you in pain again. Never like I witnessed after the loss of Cace.”

  “Brayden would have been worse on me.” I’m not sure what I’d do if I’d lost Bray tonight. He’s innocent in all of this. He didn’t ask to be part of this life.

  “I know. I had to act. What I didn't know was that I was being poisoned with every pull of her blood. Well, not until I followed you to the Diaminsey Pack. Smart move on your part, by the way. Too bad it didn't have the effect you were hoping for, considering I dropped to the ground completely useless.”

  I already know the answer, but I still ask. “You did it for me? Saved Bray?”

  “Most of what I've done since we've met has been for you.”

  “Ford...”

  “I know you don't love me like you do Orion and never will. Believe me, I hear your thoughts about him as clear as day. But I'd rather have some small part in your life than none at all. I can't help the way I feel, Ari.” The sincerity in his voice and his eyes has my chest cracking wide open. This man—vampire—is holding nothing back from me. He’s exposing himself in a way I wonder if he ever has with another person.

  “Why did you bring me here?”

  “Because if those wolves saw how much I love you, they'd never let me near you again. You heard what happened with Wake. I can’t take the chance of being ripped from your life.”

  “You and Wake are very different. You're not challenging Orion for me.”

  “No, and I won't. I can't compete with him. But know this. I will always be there for you. I will always rescue you.”

  Brushing my hair aside, I angle my neck. “Bite me.”

  “Excuse me?” he stammers with wide eyes. He should know by now how impulsive I am. I proved it again tonight by dropping a fox shifter at Travis’ doorstep.

  “I want your strength. I need to be more powerful if I'm going to go up against Travis.”

  “You've lost your mind!”

  “No,” I say, shaking my head. “I finally found it.”

  10

  Ford stands stunned for a moment until he reads my mind and realization of how serious I am settles over him. “You’re sure?”

  I nod. “Absolutely.” I need this strength if I’m going to have any shot at taking Travis down. He’s gotten away with far too much. Next time he comes near me, I have to know I stand a chance against him. With Ford’s vampire strength, Travis coming at me would be like him slamming into a brick wall.

  Ford’s shaking hands reach for my waist to hold me in place. My name leaves his lips in a whisper a moment before his teeth sink into my neck. That same sense of euphoria settles over me as it has every time I’ve been bitten. I soak it in, relishing in the feeling of happiness like I’ve never known. I need this. Need to cleanse the darkness from my mind, even if only for a moment.

  A second later, his fangs leave me. There’s a slight lick of his tongue as he closes the wound. Ford’s hands stay on my waist, steadying me as the fog in my mind begins to lift and the happiness I felt a minute ago slowly washes away. The only effect remaining of the bite is the warmth I feel all over.

  “Ari? Are you okay?”

  The darkness is back, reminding me of the reason why I just asked Ford to bite me. I need to use my sadness and pain to propel me forward. I can’t dwell on this right now. Ford bestowed another gift upon me. One I’m grateful for.

  “Thank you,” I say in a shaky voice.

  His eyes shutter closed as he takes a deep breath. Every thought of his pummels into me with the force of a tornado. His love for me. The way his body jolted with pleasure when he was transferring his power. How he doesn’t want to let go of me. Not now. Not ever.

  It’s me who breaks away, stepping back from his touch. I can’t allow his feelings to grow for me more than they already have. Ford is a friend—one of my best friends. I won’t lead him on. But I also can’t pretend the thought of losing him didn’t do something to me. I love him, too, just not in the same way I do Rion. He’s the one who lights my body on fire like no other.

  Shaking my thoughts away, I take his hand in mine and teleport us back to the mansion. If it were up to him, we’d stay in his house for hours longer. Just the two of us.

  I bring us to the entryway again then walk to the medical room. Bray is in one corner with wide eyes as Paige tries to explain everything to him. Desmond is waiting on the sidelines with a needle behind his back. I'm guessing it’s in case Bray freaks out and needs to calm down fast.

  Guilt washes over me when I feel Orion’s anger in my chest. I forgot about him. Between me thinking Ford was dead,
him teleporting me back to his home, and his fangs in my neck, I was only focused on him. That can’t happen again. Rion is the one who’s dedicated his life to me, and there I was, my mind on Ford.

  Shaking my head, I take a moment to check in on Orion. He's running through the forest with Wake, Carter, and Dante. The three Diaminsey pack members don't have a far lead, but enough where I'm not sure Orion and the others will catch them. They're sticking to the trees and mountains so as not to be seen.

  Knowing Orion is safe and unharmed, I walk over to Paige and Bray, needing to focus on something other than the two paranormals occupying my thoughts. “Ready to go back home?”

  Bray's still wide eyes find mine. “What the--how long--? Why didn't you tell me?” Bray stammers.

  I shrug. “Would you have believed me? Besides, the fewer people who know, the better. We don't want the whole world knowing about us.”

  “Us?” he asks, confused. Time to fill him in on me.

  “I'm a paranormal, too.”

  He points his finger at me. “You can shift into a wolf?”

  “No,” I smile. “But I can read minds, teleport, can't die unless I'm decapitated or really old, and now have the strength of a vampire.”

  “What?” Paige yells at the same time Desmond does.

  Desmond whirls on Ford, pinning him against the wall. “You bit her again?” he seethes.

  Ford rolls his eyes. “She asked me to. I wouldn't bite Ari unless she wanted it.” He smirks.

  “I'm going to tear into you, vampire,” Desmond growls.

  “Have at it,” Ford challenges him.

  Walking around a table and a cart of medical supplies, I make my way over to Ford and Desmond. “Would you two knock it off? This isn't helping anything.” I shoulder between them, shoving Desmond back a good five feet with minimal effort. “Hey, this vampire strength is nice.”

  “I can't believe you, Ari,” Desmond chastises. “Orion isn't going to be happy when he gets back.”