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  It was her fault. She attacked first. She lied first. It wasn’t Theseus’s fault. I should have stepped in. I knew something was wrong. I could have stepped in.

  I could have prevented this.

  The moment I thought it, the moment I blinked, and opened my eyes again…everything in the gallery, the paintings, the witches and vampires, everything disappeared, and I was within the four reflective walls of the elevator again.

  “Main floor.” The automatic voice spoke as the main level doors opened. Eyes wide, I stared at the back of his dark hair.

  “I do not know the answer to the questions yet,” he repeated just like last time, with the same coldness and the same damn grip. “Nevertheless, should they try to hurt you again, I will kill them all, without mercy.”

  “Nevertheless, should they try to hurt you again kill them all, without mercy,” I said with him very softly.

  “Stay close behind me.”

  “Stay close behind me.” Again, I spoke with him, noticing he turned back, looking over his shoulder with confusion written over all over his face.

  “You can read my mind?” he asked and quickly, nearly smashing the button in, I closed the elevator door, and I stood in front of him.

  “No. You’ve already said this, Theseus. We already had this conversation,” I replied, unable to understand. “We just walked out there and fought the witches, and now we’re back. What did you do? Is that your gift?”

  He shook his head slowly. “No, it is not.”

  “Then how? How this possible?” asked a vampire to the other vampire in an elevator surrounded by witches, I thought. Remembering I was now swimming in the realm of the impossible.

  “Was it you?” he questioned surprised.

  “Me?” That was a possibility I wasn’t ready to face.

  Chapter 10

  “Explain it to me again, slowly, step by step. What happened?” he asked, leaning against the elevator doors. He had hit the stop button, trapping us inside. “When we stepped outside, what did they say?”

  “You spoke first,” I muttered, putting my hands to my head as I paced back and forth. “You said, I know you are there.”

  “And then?”

  “And then,” I shook my head. “Simone said, are you leaving already, Mr. de Apollo?”

  “Where was she standing when she said it? How many people were standing with her?”

  I growled in frustration. “Can we go back to the part where you said this was my gift?”

  He glanced around the elevator. “You want to try again?”

  “No!” I lifted my hands, almost wanting to strangle him for being so damn calm. I was tired of calm. I needed him to be just as freaked out as I was. “I want to understand why it happened.”

  “Because it is your—”

  “Please don’t say gift,” I snapped, pacing back to the other end of the elevator. “I didn’t have a gift two days ago. I was just a normal restorationist, not a time reverser.”

  “Do you think you can go forward, too?” he muttered, eyeing me carefully, truly curious.

  Oh, I wanted to hurt him, and then I saw his blackened arm. He glanced down at it and then me. “Don’t worry, I’m going to be fine.”

  “You keep saying that. I’m fine. You’re going to be fine. How are you sure? The only way you could know that is if you somehow knew what was going to happen and this…and can now solve it…like you reversed time.”

  “That is not within my power. I think I would have noticed that, in fact, I would have used it often if it was.” He said.

  “You’re snickering, but it’s not funny. It was chaos, Theseus. I can’t even wrap my head around everything that happened because it was so much at one time, let alone give you a play-by-play recount of it.”

  “Then show me.” He pushed off the elevator doors, moving to me.

  “How?”

  “Do you trust me?” he questioned randomly.

  “Little too late to ask, don’t you think?”

  He waited.

  “Fine, I trust you.”

  He lifted his hands for me, and I stared at it. “Give me your wrist, and think of everything that happened. Don’t let your mind wonder onto anything else.”

  “No problem there—ah.” I hissed as he bit my wrist, his teeth breaking the skin. My blood rose to the surface.

  His eyes never left mine as he drank, and it should have hurt, but instead, I felt warm.

  How did he make me feel warm? Even in the lab…

  “Focus,” he muttered against my skin, and it tickled.

  I nodded, closing my eyes, thinking of what had just happened, leaning toward him, he stopped, placing his arms around my waist, pulling me to his hard chest.

  “I understand,” he whispered, releasing his bite but not my waist. He licked the blood from my wrist as it began to heal. “It truly was you, Druella. What an astonishing gift.” Of course, he’d be amazed instead of concerned.

  “Why now?”

  “Maybe you did not need it until now.” He kissed my forehead just like before. “Whatever the reason, I am grateful you spared me from seeing you hurt.”

  “But you did see it,” I replied, trying to back away.

  “You know what I mean.” He actually let me go. “Now we must go face them.”

  “Again?”

  He nodded. “But thanks to you, we will be wiser about it.”

  “Theseus…”

  “Do you suggest that we spend the rest of eternity in this box?” he replied, amusement clear on his face at the idea. “Do not worry; I know what I must do.”

  “Can you let me know what I need to do?” I muttered as he turned back to face the doors.

  “I doubt you would listen or enjoy even being told.” His fingers paused over the door for a brief instant before he pressed the stop button.

  “Main floor.”

  “Shut up,” I mumbled at the voice, and Theseus gave my hand a gentle squeeze again.

  When the doors opened fully, the scene was different. The witches weren’t hiding in wait, and the vampires, the young Lucy, Taelon Swan in his suit, were already waiting. They stood opposite from each other like chess pieces, waiting to be moved. All of their eyes shifted to us as we came out.

  “Ms. Ward, if you wished to see me again so soon, you shouldn’t have left,” Theseus said to her.

  Her eyes narrowed, but she put that classic fake and overly polite smile back on her face. “On the contrary, you said your name was Christian de Apollo, Taelon says you are a Thorbørn. So, am I meeting you for the first time?”

  “No, that is my name,” he replied. “It just is not my full name. Now, whatever poison you have inflicted, remove it before I become annoyed.”

  Déjà vu. I watched her face make that similar look as if she were really reconsidering what was going to happen.

  “A circle in our coven disappeared last night. We’ve tried searching for them, but we haven’t even been able to pick up the faintest traces of their magic. Would you happen to know anything? As you did arrive last night, as well.” She probed for answers, and I wondered if this was what made her attack, knowing she’d most likely die.

  “A full circle?” Theseus spoke with surprise. “Just gone? I’m surprised you are even questioning me instead of searching for them. This world is full of dangers, even for the most experienced Wiccan. And that you are not, at the very least, someone has bound a great portion of your power, have they not?”

  “You haven’t answered my question!” she snapped.

  “Who are you to question me?” He growled back, and I squeezed his hand. “I do not know what happened to the witches of your coven, nor do I care.”

  “He’s lying,” Faye snapped, stepping forward with her fingers twitching. “I feel it. He’s the one that killed them. T
he Swans would never mess with our coven. Druella is the only other vampire in the area. We’ve been watching her for a year. She rarely drinks human blood, nor does she have the type of power to kill my brother’s circle.”

  And this was one of the reasons I avoided human blood, vengeful relatives.

  Jericho, just like before, turned his back to whisper to Simone. “We cannot fight with them.”

  “No, you cannot, but I believe you will still try; will you not, Jericho,” Theseus spoke, making him turn around.

  “Do I know you, Thorbørn?”

  “No, but I know your plans, and it will only lead to your deaths,” Theseus answered, stepping forward. He lifted his now black arm to him. “Your snakes are strong. Had it been any other vampire, they would be on their knees. But I will let you in on a little secret, why every vampire here has dared not move without my acknowledgment.”

  “Yes, we know, you and your family are old and powerful—”

  Theseus glared. “My family would not even blink an eye at you all or your magic, but if they did, I would be the one they sent to destroy your coven.”

  Jericho stepped forward, clenching his stake in his hand. “You underestimate us. That poison will kill you in minutes.”

  “Doubt it, but if it does, I’ll just return.” He grinned cruelly. “You could rip me to pieces, burn me alive, poison me a thousand times, and I will live. Why? Because immortality is my gift. Do you know how many of your kind have tried? How many bewitched beasts I have fought? I have died so many times I have forgotten. I merely heal and rise again. A coven once thought if they just kept my body severed and locked under spells throughout the world that it would stop me. You should have seen their faces when they arrived at their coven meeting to see me there, just waiting, drinking from their head witch. They,” he nodded to the Swan crew of vampires. “Do not respect me; they fear me as I am the one thing in the world that is truly eternal. Is that not the truth, Taelon?”

  Simone’s gaze shifted to Taelon, who slowly bowed his head to Theseus before meeting her gaze. “I have seen it with my own eyes, Simone. He is called Theseus Thorbørn, the Prince of Night, the vampire eternal. Even if you win this battle here, you will be fighting for the rest of your short lives, not just you but your children and their children. He will destroy all of your lines. And all that will remain of the great and powerful Omeron coven are the stories that other covens will tell to warn their own. We have finally managed peace; do not throw these lands into war, especially when you all have so many of your own issues to worry about.”

  It almost sounded like he was begging. But he did it with a stern face, his hands behind his back, waiting.

  “We made an agreement with the Swan family.” Simone turned, looking to Theseus. “We will keep peace with the Swan family, but my coven will not stand for two more Nobles, especially a Thorbørn, to just stay here.”

  “Can you stop him?” Lucy spoke up, causing Taelon to growl slightly at her, and she merely looked away.

  “With magic, there is always a way. We want him gone, both of them gone,” Simone said to me. “It seems the pretending is over for us both, Druella. Don’t worry about the paperwork.”

  “Are you firing me?” I gasped in disbelief.

  “Washington, D.C. is witch territory. Be grateful we allowed you to stay this long; besides, I doubt your mate will trust you here every day under our eyes.”

  “I do not have mate,” I cut in.

  “That is not what it looks like, but then you’ve always been allergic to the obvious. Goodbye, Thorbørn.” She and the rest of her witches walked around the other vampires as the double glass doors of the main entrance opened for them.

  “I saved your life you….” I bit my tongue, glaring at the doors.

  “What do you mean you saved her life?” Lucy asked me, but Theseus spoke up before I could.

  “She means had she not told me to calm myself, I would have snapped her neck.”

  “Thank you, Ms. Monroe. We’ve worked for a long time to get peace with the witches here. Simone Ward is the adoptive daughter of Axel Omeron, the coven’s head. Everything would have fallen apart had there been a battle or if anything had happened to her. War with them is not a choice any should enter into lightly.” Taelon bowed his head to me, and I bowed back. His eyebrow rose, and a small smile graced his lips. “Lord Thorbørn, my family would be honored if you and your guest would stay at our home.”

  Theseus finally glanced down at me. “Trust me.”

  Not understanding, I nodded, and he faced Taelon again. “On one condition.”

  “Name it.”

  “Which one of your vampires here is named Jason?” Theseus questioned.

  I squeezed his hand, and he squeezed back.

  Taelon caught the battle between our hands but did not comment on it. He faced sideways, making room. “Jason, step forward.”

  A tall, slim man with sunken eyes, a long face, a thick nose, and large ears came forward. He bowed his head to Theseus. “Lord Thorbørn.”

  Theseus ignored him, and instead focused on Taelon. “I wish him dead.”

  Taelon’s eyes widen. “Excuse me?”

  “This vampire is a traitor to your family and our kind; death is even mercy. He protects witches, and had there been a battle here today, he would have stood with them and not us.”

  Taelon shook his head. “Forgive me, Lord Thorbørn, but not even you can command a vampire to death here. Unlike Ankeiros, America is a republic—”

  “It is because of your republic that I did not kill him myself,” Theseus said each word bitterly.

  “That’s impossible. You know the Omeron witches do not support relations of any kind between vampires and their own. They would kill both the witch and the vampire who tried it.”

  “And yet, it is so,” Theseus pressed. “Whether the coven knows or not.”

  They both locked eyes before Taelon nodded. “He cannot simply be deemed guilty by you. He needs to be taken to trial—”

  “Fine,” I cut in, wanting this to end and doubted Theseus would let it go. “Let him go to trial, and even though my guest didn’t say thank you, I will, to all of you. I know you didn’t come for me, but I appreciate it.”

  They all fell silent, their gazes shifting to Theseus whose glare was fixed on the lanky Jason. He didn’t say anything more. Taelon nodded to the two vampires nearest him who flanked Jason on the sides.

  “Jason Silber, you stand accused of treason and sedition by the Prince of Night, the vampire eternal, Theseus Christian Apollo de Thorbørn, third son of Sigbjørn and Rhea de Thorbørn, the King and Queen of Ankeiros. Do you deny the charges?”

  “I do.” His hoarse voice reminded me of the feeling of his nails around my neck.

  Taelon nodded. “Very well then. I, Taelon Swan, fifth child of President Waban Swan, order you to be held till trail. You may choose another to defend you if you wish.”

  “I do wish.” Jason nodded and then looked to his right. “I wish for Lucy Ming to defend me.”

  Taelon’s eyes narrowed in on him as he cracked his jaw to the side, clear annoyance on his face. “Lucy Ming is not a Noble blood, and thus not qualified to defend you. Think well and choose again, take him.”

  The vampires at his sides grabbed him, forcing him to leave with vampire speed. Leaving just a handful of vampires, the only one I knew being Lucy. He gave her a glance before looking over to Theseus. “This is all I can do for now.”

  “Very well, we shall only remain a short while before taking our leave,” Theseus said and began walking first, leading me with him, towards the doors.

  None of us spoke. I wasn’t sure what more could be said. When we got outside, it was pitch black, and the moon was still full, hanging in the empty sky with a golden hue. The whole street around the gallery looked abandoned, but I could feel eyes sti
ll on us.

  Turning, I looked up. I stared at all the flags, the whole building, and there at the very top level in the southwest office corner, there was one light coming from the window. In it, Simone’s hazel eyes watched, her arms crossed over her herself.

  “This morning, I was crossing my fingers for a promotion, and now I’ve been fired,” I whispered, it still not hitting me.

  “Forgive me,” Theseus whispered gently beside me. “I did not wish to disturb your world so much so quickly.”

  “It’s not your fault; I did this. How, I don’t know, but it was me,” I whispered back, and he squeezed my hand, shaking his head.

  His eyes shifted to the vampires all waiting for us now, four sleek and shiny black Range Rovers parked beside them. “We’ll speak more privately, but we can’t do anything more here.”

  He led me to the car. Holding open the door for me, I slid into the back, noticing the black glass that divided the driver from those seated behind. Resting my head against the window, I couldn’t hear the outside world anymore or in the front passenger seat. It was like being in a soundproof box. The silence made me wish more than anything for sleep so that I could turn my brain off for a bit.

  But instead, the events of the day kept repeating in my head as we drove. I could see it the way he had wanted me to, step by step, all the actions that led up to this very moment. From meeting him in the woods to just forfeiting my old life. No, I think I forfeited my life when I let him come home with me. And I put a nail in my own coffin without even understanding how when I somehow went back in time.

  In books, when people time traveled, everyone talked about the butterfly effect, how you could possibly bring about the end of the world by simply stepping on a butterfly. Of course, I’d be the one not to think about it, to change everything to spill everything to him immediately. And in doing so, he didn’t kill Simone, and I lost my job… It will take Dr. Lovell months to do all of that art…

  “You’re art.” I realized, whipping my head around to look at him, and of course, he was watching me carefully.