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Willow was about to mention to Malik that he needed to stop Axton from using the charm, when Malik suddenly closed the distance, drew back his arm and punched Axton in the jaw. When Axton flew backward, he lost control of the charm and the large, glowing emeralds fell to the ground. Malik didn’t hesitate to grind each gemstone into the dirt with the heel of his boot.
The charm broke instantly.
Willow had never really seen any of the Guardsmen in action before, so watching Malik take charge as swiftly as he did stunned her. Witnessing this side of him caused her interest to rise yet another notch. Of course, he was a man of war, and he’d chosen the simplest route to disarming the situation. But it had worked.
The vines called to her suddenly, a soft frequency reminding her that she had a job to do.
She slipped past Malik and melted into the wounded vines. She ignored the smell and quickly began the healing process. Releasing her power in a steady wave, the stench dissipated swiftly as the vines regenerated at lightning speed.
At the same time, she could see and hear both men. Axton had gained his feet and stood with his fists at his side, his neck arched forward as he confronted Malik.
The leader of The Society had dark, almost black eyes and a feral look that had always given her the creeps. He was Guardsman height, though not as tall as Malik and had thick light red hair that he wore short and shaved close on one side. Though predominately vampire, his sharp chin spoke of a partial fae heritage. His unusually pale skin and boney look indicated a use of cocaine, one of the imports from the States that had afflicted at least one percent of the realm population.
“Where did that woman – that fae – go? Is she the one protecting these wraiths?”
“You’re on a need-to-know basis, and right now you don’t fucking need to know. You’re trespassing.”
At that moment, at least eight of the Vampire Guard floated in from the canopy above, descending to form a half circle around Axton. One of them she knew as Evan, Malik’s right arm.
“Couldn’t handle this alone?” Axton spat on the ground.
“Just wanted witnesses to your crime. You’ve broken two of our laws: the illegal use of fae charms and being on private property without permission. I can arrest you or you can keep the hell away from here from now on. Which will it be?”
Willow understood exactly why Malik wasn’t in a hurry to arrest Axton. The vampire was a pro at using the media for his own purposes and wouldn’t hesitate to exploit an arrest to his advantage. The Society would go to work as well, spreading its hate propaganda all around the realm until Willow would end up with a mob at her gates and more dead half-breeds.
But for a split-second, she had a terrible feeling that putting Axton in jail was exactly what Malik should do.
Axton sniffed long and loud, a by-product of using the white powder. “You’re missing the point, Malik, as you always do. This woman is hiding wraiths on her land, wraiths that could easily become Invictus.”
“And I think you’re missing the point. You’re trespassing.”
Axton took a step toward Malik. “I’ve done more for Ashleaf than you ever will. I’m hunting wraiths, a service I performed long before you arrived and the reason our realm has the lowest percentage of Invictus attacks than any of the other realms. The people you serve know it and one day there will be hell to pay. You’ll see.”
Willow thought Axton was the consummate hypocrite and that Malik had called it right; Axton’s mind was bent. He was a real sociopath, seeing life through the prism of his own perverted ambitions.
The vines were now fully healed and the entrance to the colony protected once more. Willow could have remained in the safety of her invisibility, but everything was changing and instinctively she felt she needed to be part of the stand against Axton. She also thought it would be wise for Malik’s Guardsmen to see what she could do because every particle of her being told her that what had happened here tonight was just the beginning. Axton all but vibrated with his determination to get at the wraiths.
She emerged from the vines which brought a few ‘holy shits’ moving through the gathered Guardsmen.
“You’re back,” Axton said, but as he stared at her, a frown formed between his dark, angled brows. “And where exactly did you go?”
“I repaired the vines.”
“How?” But even as the word left Axton’s mouth, he got a funny look on his face as his gaze bored into hers. “By all the elf lords, I can smell what you are. Holy fuck. You’re a goddess-be-damned blood rose.”
Malik tensed beside her. “It’s none of your business what Willow is. Now get the hell out of here.” He even moved to position himself slightly in front of her.
Willow suddenly understood the mistake she’d made by emerging before Axton left, but it was too late.
Though she stood close to Malik, her blood rose drive to feed all mastyr vampires roared to life until she was completely focused on Axton. To her horror, she realized she was drawn to him for the sole reason that he was a mastyr vampire and she was a blood rose.
His eyes glinted and he angled his head in a way she could only describe as predatory. Yet, she liked it, liked him for looking at her. “So, what’s your name, Mistress?”
“Willow.” The part of her rational mind that still worked, despised that she could be drawn to him on any level, yet she was.
“I don’t recall seeing you around Ashleaf. You must be new to these parts.” Even his voice sounded seductive to her receptive ears.
Because Willow’s mind had shifted its focus and she began picking up on Axton’s mastyr frequency, she didn’t quite get the affect this exchange was having on Malik. In fact, she’d all but forgotten he was there, until he caught her arm and turned her toward him, breaking her mounting drive toward Axton.
