64

She gusted out a sigh. “You humans and your privacy. Nicky told me to protect you.”

“Congratulations—you bolted the door.” I tried to smile to soften my harsh-sounding words, but tension ratcheted through me and I could only think of Nic out there trying to protect me as well, endangering himself for me—again. “Someone should be with Nic,” I murmured.

“He’s got Conri’s pack and he’ll contact his own men, too. Nicky has more than enough protection. As do you,” she added, like I might somehow doubt her.

I shook my head. “I’m going to get changed.” Then I walked into the bedroom that had been assigned to me and grabbed some of the clothes Aimée had provided, making sure to select dark colors.

It didn’t matter how well-protected we were separately. When we were together, power seemed to course between us, stronger each time we had sex, and Nic needed that power now. I glanced in a mirror, momentary embarrassment coloring my cheeks as I took in my appearance. Moss clung to strands of my hair, and a small twig stuck out at an angle. I swept my hands through, tugging with impatience as I loosened the remainder of the evidence of Nic’s and my time together.

Then I changed my clothes quickly and slid the bolt home on this door, too, turning some music on to conceal unexpected noises from filtering to the women outside. Vampire hearing seemed heightened, and no doubt wolves heard well too. I just wanted to be closer to Nic by the time either Aimée or Ulva even noticed I’d gone.

I quietly unlatched the window, and pushed it upward to open it before shimmying out across the wide wooden sill. The usual scent of the bayou greeted me—a green vegetative smell so thick it was almost meaty, but something else lingered in the air as well. Something with a coppery tang, and fear pulsed inside me, a second heartbeat created by a steady rush of adrenaline.

I ran across grass soaked by… I didn’t want to know. It was wet and slippery but I could sense Nic was somewhere nearby. He blazed like a beacon in my mind, and the pull toward him was undeniable.

I had to be by his side. There was no other way for us to get through this.

The sounds of fighting grew louder. The sounds of ripping flesh, slashing claws, growls, and earthly wails surrounded me, and more… the cloying smell of something dirty and malevolent.

“Nic.” I whispered his name. There would have been no way for him to hear me, but I felt better to say it. Like it granted me a power. An incantation. Perhaps an evocation of all we were.

Then fighting bodies were in front of me and all around me, and I almost stopped running. But I didn’t. I couldn’t. If I stopped now, I’d be consumed in the battle, and all of the times Nic had endangered himself for me would be for nothing.

I could die here. Nic could die here.

That thought spurred me on, propelling me forward until I jerked to an abrupt halt, frozen by the sight in front of me.

Francois spun around as if he sensed me, his gaze meeting mine. His eyes were wilder than I remembered, a craziness lurking in the depths of them that hadn’t been as vivid before. His mouth curved into a smile, and genuine affection seemed to enter his expression.

“Ma petite.” He greeted me like no time had passed at all, like I’d come here to see him. Like he loved me.

Only it wasn’t love. It was madness.

He glanced at his left hand, his eyebrows narrowed almost like he was confused, as he took in where his fingers were wrapped around my father’s neck, and he tightened his grasp. Dad gasped in a wheezing breath and his face reddened. Air rattled in and out of him as he fought to fill his lungs.

I held my arms out, beseeching Francois and opened my mouth to plead for Dad’s life, but instead of measured words, I merely screamed, a jagged, raw sound of agony. Dad was all I had left, my only family. And I’d dedicated my whole life to ensuring our joint survival.

When Nic had stepped in with his crazy contract, that was the first time I hadn’t woken up worrying about Dad and the myriad of ways he could destroy all I’d built.

And now look. Look at what I’d done.

One more person was in danger because of me.

I screamed again, terror, guilt, and anguish pouring from me.

I launched myself forward intent on… Intent on fucking up something. Clawing Francois’s eyes out sounded good, but I’d settle for any kind of destruction. But before I could get close, I was plucked from the air and held immobile against something rigid and unmoving.

“Leia.” My name was full of censure and concern. “What are you doing here?”

I struggled against the strong arms holding me, but Nic’s grasp didn’t loosen.

“Let me go.” I howled the words as I returned my gaze to Dad. “I have to help him. Look!”

“Ma petite.” This time, Francois spoke the term of endearment almost as a coo, extending the syllables to something syrupy so the words almost clung to my skin. “Come to me.”

I fought Nic a little harder. “You have to let me save him. I have to try.”

“Francois will kill you.” He ground the words against my ear, and they were harsh and angry. “I can’t lose you here. Not like this. Not to him.”

“I can bargain. Let me go.” I kicked my legs, and Nic groaned as I struck him somewhere soft, his grip loosening enough that I slid to the ground, although he didn’t release me completely.

“Come, mon coeur. It is time for us to depart.” Francois twitched his fingers like he was waiting for me to take his hand.