Book 8⌇19. Departure

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Chapter 19 ∣  Departure

-Maverick

"Mom?" My mother walked right past me while Eris and I approached the double doors to the coven's entrance, her arms sliding easily into her ebony trench coat. Eris held a takeout pizza box from what was leftover from our dinner in her left hand, while her other held the dark bag from the sex shop.

She didn't say a single word, her boots echoing off the ground as she strode further away, my father barely having caught up with her, standing in the entrance to the mansion. "Evie stop! You can't do it alone..." his voice was mixed with anger and pain.

What's going on?

My mother simply turned on her heels for a moment, her whitish-blue eyes boring right into his as she winked and stated, "I've heard that before. The last time I checked, I've done the impossible by killing those much stronger than I." She outstretched her arms, as though ready to take on the world.

"You had blood magic th-"

"Lucca, you can't stop me," my mother's voice was clear, Eris edging closer to me as she saw the two of them narrowing eyes with one another.

"Dad, what's going on?" I asked, my mother, turning away once again, fear settling in the pit of my stomach. My father's eyes glanced my way and from what I could tell, there was nothing he really could do. He couldn't chase after her, he's the King and with this war, he'd be an easy target out in the open. Who would lead the vampires then?

Before he could get a word in edgewise, Killian moved past my father, his green eyes holding my own hazel blue ones before continuing to my mother's side. Her long white hair was blowing gently around her slender form, glancing to her left for a moment when Killian came to a halt.

"I'll watch over her," he sighed, seeing the tension in my father's shoulders ease at Killian's words.

"Just like old times," she smiled.

"Now it is," Zak came around the mansion's right side, with him the twin rangers Clover and Ryker. Their weapons and clothes represented that this was not just a scouting mission.

What is my mother thinking?! She's the Queen and if any of those wolves notice and recognize her...

"Zak, you might not like where we're go-"

Zak held up his hand, shaking his head, "I know. If it comes down to it...I'll end his life...besides, no one stands a chance against Ryker and Clover."

"Will someone stop, and fucking explain what is going on?!" I growled loudly, everyone's eyes shooting in my direction, Eris moving closer to my side and hiding away from view.

No one said anything.

"Damn it!" Frustration was gripping me hard, making me even angrier that I was being kept in the dark and about all I could gather, was they possibly might run into Rainier. But that meant...

"Watch your tone with me, young man," my mother shot me that dark glare of hers and my skin instantly broke out in goosebumps. She tilted her head to the side, debating whether she was going to tell me anything.

"You found Hendrix's pack, didn't you?" I asked.

My mother shook her head, "Possibly, but I doubt it's him."

"I'll come w-"

Eris elbowed me in the ribs, my eyes falling away and locking with her translucent green orbs. She glared at me and huffed, "No you aren't..."

"She's right Mav," my mother nodded in agreement with Eris, "You're staying put."

"I'm not a child," I argued back.

"You sure sound like one," my mother arched a brow, placing a hand on her hip and sighing heavily. It still didn't make sense, why was my mother leaving? She never left the mansion, staying with my father as they represented the vampire species and, in this day, and age, their presence was power. It drove the other vampires to fight against the werewolves and the hunters that aligned themselves with them. Why would she risk her life when she could easily send Arlynn?

Speaking of which, where is she?

"Arlynn?" I asked.

"Staying with your father, someone needs to babysit him," she giggled, and my father rolled his eyes, turning away from the doors.

Mom...

I said no, Maverick. I'm stronger than you know, and I am very capable of handling myself.

But why are you going?

It's something I have to do.

But you don't.

End of discussion. Her eyes left mine, sealing off our connection before she walked further down the pathway up to the mansion.

It wasn't long before they had all left. I was left standing outside the double doors, staring off into the distance. Eris' shaky voice brought me back to reality when she whispered, "What's happening?"

"Nothing good," I didn't want to lie to her, but I still wanted to reassure her, everything would be okay, "But as long as you are within these walls, you'll be safe. I promise."

"Don't make a promise you can't keep," she scrunched up her nose, pulling away from my side and adjusting her grip on the bag and takeout box. Tossing her ebony hair over her shoulders and walking away and into the mansion, I was left to the silence of the night. There were so many thoughts running through my mind and the safety of my mother was creeping to the top of the list.

It must be important if she has left.

What bothered me, was my grandfather was staying behind as well, finally walking inside and following Eris' tracks down the hallway to the kitchen. She'd already set the takeout box down on the island counter, the black bag hanging off the edge of one of the tall chairs. My grandfather tossed something away in the trash, his eyes glancing my direction as I entered through the open kitchen door.

"Why are you letting my mother place herself in danger?" I asked, moving around the island, and nearing where he stood. Eris looked from the two of us, deciding to move further away and place the leftover pizza in the fridge.

"Have you met your mother?" my grandfather chuckled, but stopped immediately when he saw my face darken, "Even if I went after her, she wouldn't stop what she's doing."

"Okay, well why not protect her?" I glared at him, confused as to why everyone was so calm.

My grandfather shook his head, "She doesn't need to be protected. She's a strong woman and knows when she's outmatched." He paused for a second, eyeing Eris. He tried to move toward her, hastily saying, "Wait, don't open th-"

When the fridge door swung open, Eris practically jumped back a few feet, her scream making my heart skip a beat. She was still backing away shakily, darting her eyes in my grandfather's direction and growling, "What the hell are those?!"

I couldn't see what she was talking about until I walked past her and saw the vials of blood lined in two racks. There were five sample sets, my eyes narrowing when I tried to get a better look at what was on the labels.

"What is this?" I asked my grandfather, nearing me and closing the fridge door.

"Noth-"

Opening the fridge door again, I reached my hand out and grasped the farthest vial, bringing it out of the cluster and holding it in my palm. The blood swirled together before binding briefly and then it thinned out. There was a slight hint of purple hue that coated the clear container, my eyes lifting to meet my grandfather's.

"Liquid wolfsbane?" I asked, "Why would there be..." I stopped myself, my voice trailing off. I remember Onyx and the people I had met who helped me understand how to make a weapon...lethal. Did they finally figure out how to kill the werewolves with it?

Or...

My grandfather cleared his throat, extending his hand and I let the vial fall into his palm. He stated, "It won't kill them, though it will not just weaken them any longer. With this new batch, it'll put them to sleep, so hopefully, we can get a hold of an Alpha instead of these trackers and get some real answers as to where their King is."

"Mom..." I glared at him, "she's going to try and fin-"

My blood boiled and I clenched my hands into fists, "Hendrix."

He's an Alpha...

"If all goes well..." my grandfather placed the vial back into the stand, closing the fridge door behind him, "She'll ensnare and bring him back here alive."

"If he sets foot in this house, I'll end his life," my nostrils flared and I felt Eris' presence moving away, turning and seeing that she was near the kitchen table with a worried look in her eyes.

My grandfather snarled, "You will do no such thing. Yes, he's the last wolf you want in this house, but he has answers and probably our best shot at tracking down the Alpha King and putting an end to this war. You killing another Alpha isn't going to solve our problems."

"It'll make me feel better."

"Tough. Deal with it. If I have to weaken you like when you were a child to stop you from doing something you are going to regret, I will," my grandfather's icy blue eyes narrowed on me. I just glared right back at him, a dark growl emitting from the back of our throats as I saw the shift in his eyes, black rose irises replacing the once lighter orbs.

I couldn't believe what he was saying. Yes, we needed a leader, but not Hendrix, any other wolf but him I would be completely fine with. He was the one that made it possible for Rainier to kill Eris and the fact that he betrayed the trust Eris and he had fostered, it made me even angrier. He could have let her go...but he chose to end her life, thinking I'd give my own since I had nothing left to live for.

Breathing in deeply and calmly, I broke my grandfather's stare, seeing Eris holding onto the top of one of the chairs. She looked from both of us, unsure of what she should do or say. She was uncomfortable and I wasn't making things any easier for her.

"Fine," I breathed out, walking across the kitchen to where Eris stood silently. "I just have one request," I glanced back over my shoulder.

"And what might that be?" He asked, arching a brow as Eris quickly maneuvered past me, skidding to a stop near the chair where she'd left her bag. She took it in her hands and gave us each a parting glance before she left the kitchen, running off down the hallway.

"After you're done with him, I want to be the one to kill him," I watched as my grandfather was about to protest, but I stopped him, "Yes, we may be able to foster peace somehow, some way, but more than likely you know it will end in more bloodshed. Hendrix's life is mine to take and I will make him pay for his part in Eris' death. Use him as you will, but don't forget, I will not let anything threaten my love and his very existence is endangering her."

My grandfather furrowed his brows, "Why?"

"Because he ran into her when we were in town," my grandfather tensed at my words, but I stated, "He didn't do anything...he must have thought she was just someone who looked a great deal like Eris, but who is to say that we'll be that lucky again?"

"Trust me, I understand where you are coming from, but don't do anything reckless," he made me promise.

That might be a promise I can't keep.

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To Seduce a Mortal by K. A. Young and Laisha C. Gardner

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