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No. It didn’t matter. My mother had no intention of dying any time soon, and as satisfying as the thought was, I couldn’t kill her because of a decision she’d made two-hundred years ago. Though, it was tempting. Plus, it would probably send the Conclave into a spiral we so didn’t need right now. I’d just have to think about killing her later, or perhaps, talking her into retiring.
But, none of it mattered, of course, if they banished me for being Benedict’s mate.
Warmth filled my blood, a soothing kind of heat that washed away the rage like it was cleansing a wound. There was something good and powerful and stronger and bigger than any of the plans I’d ever had for this world before. And that was the bond between us. I couldn’t explain it, but it was like it was always meant to be there, that braided line connecting him and me. Like it had been woven in my soul at birth, and then exploded when Benedict had come into my life.
One step at a time.
First, we find Avi.
Second, me and my mate kill the bastards who took her.
Third—
A gasp rocketed through me, every thought emptying from my head in an instant as my crystal stopped dead center over Edgemont.
Avi.
I could feel her, smell her sweet scent, hear her laugh tinkling in my ears.
My eyes widened as I studied the spot for a few more seconds before I launched to my feet. My magic propelled me almost as fast as a vampire would wend, and it took me no time at all to find my mate.
“Jocelyn?” Benedict asked as I frantically stormed into the stone hallway leading to the front doors of the residence. The breath stalled in my lungs at the sight of him fully dressed in fighting leathers, the brutal armor so much different than the pristine suits he normally wore. And with the other four vampires around him? The power was thick in the suddenly small hallway. My own rose up in response as the Hunters filed in around the corner.
“Good,” I said, nearly breathless as I tried to hold onto my whirling power. These aren’t our enemies, chill out. “You’re all ready—”
“We’ve been called to handle a lycan matter—”
“Forget that,” I cut off my mate, flashing him an apologetic look as I did so. “I found her.”
The vampires went statue still, even my mate, as if they needed those precious seconds to determine whether I was lying or not. Which, of course, I wasn’t. Why would I?
Hawke moved first, and a tiny yelp of fear betrayed me as he snatched my wrist in his hand. It only took me a second to recover, and I soothed that panic, even as the hulking vampire looked like he’d eat me where I stood if I was wrong.
“Are you sure?” he asked, and his voice, usually so strong and menacing was desperate, pleading.
“Hawke,” Benedict warned, coming to my other side, his eyes on the hand at my wrist. I shook my head at my mate, silently assuring him I was fine. Hawke wasn’t hurting me, not yet, anyway.
“I found her,” I said again. I tugged on my wrist, but he didn’t let go, like my words had made him short circuit.
“Where?” Alek asked, stepping up behind Hawke as if he too was ready to jump between us if necessary.
I sighed. All the power flying around the room was enough to choke me. Benedict’s roared most of all, his predatory gaze locked on that hand on my wrist. And for fuck’s sake, this was his brother.
“Goddess,” I groaned, rolling my eyes. “I will not let you kill me today, Hawke,” I teased, and instead of trying to remove his hand, I shifted so I was gripping him as well. I grabbed Benedict with my free one. “She’s at the opera house. Time to wend—”
The second the words left my mouth we were spiraling through the night, through the world in a tunnel of power that felt so different from my mates. This was not the soothing, gentle ride Benedict had given me before. No, there was something primal and ancient and bloodthirsty in this power. And pain. So much pain I could feel it like spears sinking into my flesh—
My boots hit the soft grass surrounding the opera house, and the pain disappeared so quickly I wondered if I imagined it. And as Hawke released me, racing toward the opera house, I realized he’d wended us, not Benedict.
The sounds of the other vampires arriving were minimal, and surprisingly, the space was clear of people. My heart hammered in my chest, the locator spell still clinging to my skin and crying out for the subject which—
Hawke skidded to a halt just outside the entrance to the opera house.
There, clothed in a white silk dress and gloves, was Avianna. She looked as polished and put together as any vampire princess would. Even her hair was swept away from her face in an elegant braid, and her cheeks had a good color to them, like she’d recently fed.
