Destiny (7 page)

Ren loved to flirt—so different from his serious brother. Of course, both turned deadly serious when it came to their jobs. Faith had deemed them my warriors for good reason.

“Now get out of here so I can shower and sleep.” I punctuated that statement with a huge yawn.

Ren planted a kiss on my cheek and strode out the door, taking the stairs down to their rooms on the second floor in loud, thumping twos. Mark followed his brother.

I eyed Thomas and Jonas. “You, too,
per favore.
”

The
please
did it. Jonas disappeared in a blur of speed.

Thomas kissed my cheek. “Sleep well.”

Heaviness hit my eyelids. He’d put power behind his words, dosing me. Wouldn’t be the first time. “Hey, no fair,” I yawned, already half gone.

He disappeared in a blur of motion.
No nightmares. Peaceful sleep. You are safe. Dixon cannot harm you here.

I trudged down the hall, letting my guard down, letting the despair well up and clog my throat before I did something truly stupid like run after all four men and tell them the truth.
Dixon has Faith and Kai.

But I had to lie and lie very well. I might have laughed at the irony of this situation if it weren’t for the fact my friends’ lives were on the line. My father and Thomas had taken everything away from me—my family, my memories, my power—and everyone around me, had kept secrets, told me lies, all to keep me safe. I’d resented them for it.

Now I got it, big time.

Sometimes you have to make the tough decisions, to do things you wouldn’t normally do, things that make you scream
this is so wrong
, yet you can do nothing else.

Sometimes secrets and lies are all you have. And I would keep my friends—and family—safe. At all costs. Even if it cost my life.

Hopefully it wouldn’t come to that.

I’m a liar and a junkie.

Hiding out in the fancy Zen-like stone and marble bathroom at Banzai Sushi, I prepped to down my drug of choice. Or rather, the substance forced upon me by that blackmailing, undead bastard from hell.

Hate you, Dixon.

I glanced at my black leather cuff watch
.
8:58 p.m.

Two minutes until my blooding hour, one hundred and twenty seconds until I traveled down the undead end road to I’m-so-screwed town.

I leaned against the sink, the cold marble chilling my hip much like the vial in my hand chilled my fingers. Water dripped from the faucet, the splatter marking the passing seconds and competing with the patter of my pulse.

Was I really going to do this?

Instinct screamed at me to stop this craziness before I hit the point of no return. But what choice did I have? I’d spent every waking moment scouring the World Wide UnderWeb for a magical solution, or any
solution to my problem, some kind of counterattack I could use against the bastard. So far, I’d come up empty. That left complying with his demand, for now, because I couldn’t, I
wouldn’t
let my friends die.

A burst of laughter sounded through the bathroom door, making me jerk. My hand tightened reflexively on the vial lest I drop it and doom Faith and Kai by my carelessness. On the other side of the door, restaurant patrons—including my gal pals Gen and Claire—downed delicious bites of the best sushi in town. My own nuggets sat heavy in my gut as I steeled myself for my task.

8:59 p.m.

I faced the sink and lifted the vial into the trio of lights above the mirror, studying its ruby red shimmer. Claps and shouts sounded outside, followed by the clink of sake glasses. Some of those happy patrons had watched me saunter past their tables from my window seat, the men and some women watching the sway of my hips in my little black dress, others staring further down, probably admiring my long legs or designer wedge-heel boots. To them, I looked like a normal, young twenty-something. None of them had the first clue what I was, though I certainly looked the Hollywood stereotype with my cloud pale skin, dark eyes paired with dark hair, and red lips.

Blood drinker. Half-breed. Hybrid. Vampire princess in a hot mess of trouble, skulking to the bathroom for my blood fix.

I broke the wax seal and pulled out the stopper, inhaling a mélange of aromas. Metal, lemon, grass, and more. Pungent and heady. Not pure blood, more like a blood cocktail, a black magic beverage.

What would happen if I didn’t drink at precisely nine? Would Dixon’s mark kick in and beat the crap out of me from the inside out? Did it lurk in the background like some mystical babysitter waiting for me to step out of line? Part of me wanted to test that theory, but Faith and Kai would surely pay for my rebellion.

9:00 p.m.
I tossed back the contents and braced myself for a magical blow.

Nothing.

The grass and citrus notes underlying the more typical metal and molasses flavor wrinkled my nose and tugged down the corners of my mouth in a grimace, but I experienced no head rush, no waves of power or pleasure, no warmth, none of the sensations I’d come to expect from imbibing blood.

A trickle of fear feathered over my skin raising goose bumps in its wake, this stealthy black magic scarier than an in your face magical attack. My mind pictured the blood snaking through my insides, planting its evil seeds, lurking like sleeper agents waiting for Dixon to activate them, while I felt nothing.

I jabbed the stopper into the empty vial and shoved it in my purse. My cell buzzed, and I yanked it out.

Text from Alexander.
Yours. Remember.

A frown furrowed my brow, my instincts buzzing with suspicion. But what could I do about it? As with my Dixon problem, not a damn thing. I couldn’t take charge and act, only react
.
I ground my teeth in frustration.

A four-on-the-floor beat plus a wailing diva issued from my phone, derailing my cranky thoughts. Adrian’s ring tone. “Hey, Adrian. What’s up?” My voice sounded calm. Impressive considering my angst level.

“Hey, babe, you coming to Haven tonight?”

“No, maybe, I don’t know yet. I’m out with Gen and Claire.”

“Two of my favorite ladies. Next to you, of course. Where?”

“Banzai. Duh.”
And currently hiding in the bathroom drinking the black magic blood I promised you and Jonas I wouldn’t drink.
I turned away from the mirror and my guilty expression.

“Damn, I forgot they reopened. Sushi, sake, and karaoke. Wish I could join you fine ladies.”

I stalked to the bathroom door. “Sorry, girls’ night out. No dudes allowed.”

Except for Ren who insisted on shadowing me, but he didn’t count since he waited outside with Stella. They kept watch from our BMW parked out front in the passenger loading zone, as per Stella’s usual disregard for human rules.

Adrian chuckled, the warm sound soothing my jangled nerves. “Message received, babe. Glad you’re out. Thought you might hole up by yourself after the incident with Dixon.”

“I won’t let him win, Adrian.” I’d die before letting him win this time. “I have to go. I’m in the bathroom, which is the only reason I can even hear you right now.” I stepped out into the hall.

“Sure, babe. Come over after you’ve had enough food, drink, and off-key singing. You’re so much fun when you’re tipsy.”

I smiled. “Life of the party, that’s me. Hanging up now, Adrian. Buh-bye.”

I headed for my table. Across the way, Lily, my witch ally and owner of this fine establishment, chatted with some happy sushi bar customers. Lily and her husband, Sam, had returned from white witch camp ahead of schedule and reopened their restaurant today. Jonas, of course, brought her straight to my house to check out the box I’d taken home from Adrian’s house. Her efforts to extract info from it failed, leaving me relieved my new secret remained secure, but disappointed I had to find and fight Dixon on my own.

I hoped to avoid Lily after that, but when Gen and Claire showed up at my place to drag me out for our weekly girls’ night, Stella told them Banzai was open. My friends were thrilled to party at our usual haunt while I had to conceal my dismay with feigned excitement. My act worked on them, but could I continue to hide my secret from one of the most powerful witches on the planet?

Lily’s gaze targeted me as I made my way back to my table. I smiled and waved then focused on my progress to my table. Felt like I walked a gauntlet.
A gauntlet of lies.

Gen and Claire spotted me and whooped with delight—and slight drunkenness—raising their sake glasses in salute.

I forced a smile, squared my shoulders, and sank into my seat. I could do this. Fake the happy until I made the happy. At least for the duration of this girls’ night out.

Gen handed me a glass filled to the brim. “Raw round two coming soon. We couldn’t resist. Hope you’re up for it, but if not, I’m sure I’ll manage.” She downed the contents of her glass, slamming the empty on the table hard enough to rattle the sushi bottle and tiny plates. Chopsticks rolled.

“Whoa.” Claire rescued a pair headed for the floor. “Watch it there, Wonder Woman.”

Gen flexed her awe-inspiring, super-cut biceps, bared for view by the tight green, baby doll tee she wore. “Yeah, baby, that’s me, super-powered badass.”

She air-kissed each muscle. I snorted sake.

Her firm hand slammed between my shoulder blades as my body attempted to cough and laugh at the same time. To my knowledge, Gen was one hundred percent human but freakishly strong and not shy about it. At five feet seven inches we shared the same height, and I possessed preternatural strength to match and surpass hers, but where she was all lean taut muscle and near zero percent body fat, I had curves and cleavage to spare.

Claire thwacked Gen’s arm. “Dudette, dial down your bad-assness before you choke Rina to death.”

“You two need to come to The Grind. Seven a.m. on Baker Beach. I’ll kick your asses into shape so you can keep up with me.”

“We
are
in shape,” Claire and I exclaimed at the same time then laughed.

“And super cute.” Claire tossed her head, making her neon pink ponytails—set high on each side of her head—bounce and shine in the dim lighting.

Then she stood and shimmied, swinging the edges of her black mini skirt and bouncing the waist tie of her black blouse. At five feet ten in her bare feet, she ventured over six tonight in her pink-laced, black platform boots. Heads turned, conversation volume lowered, and a group of men nearby whistled and applauded.

Gen elbowed me. “You’re up, Snow White.” She danced in her seat, whipping her head fast enough to make her silver and blue streaked red hair smack her cheeks. “Give the crowd some love.”

I shook my head. “No way, Xena.” I pointed at the waiter headed at us. “Incoming.”

Claire reclaimed her seat as the waiter delivered our second round of sushi goodness. Yellowtail, salmon, fatty tuna nigiri, and a couple of rolls—one spicy tuna, the other eel and avocado.

“Perfect timing,” Gen crowed, handing him our empty pink sake bottle. “Another one of these, ASAP, if you please.”

“I think we’ve had enough,” I piped up.

As much as I loved my sake, who knew what alcohol plus black magic blood cocktail would do to my system. I pushed away my glass and quashed the wave of unhappiness threatening to engulf me.

“Nonsense, lightweight,” Claire teased, adjusting one pink-and-black-striped, thigh-high stocking above her knee. “We need to toughen you up.”

My gaze shifted to the window. If they only knew how tough I needed to be right now. If they only knew what Faith and Kai experienced right now…hell, I wish I knew. I’d complied with Dixon’s demand and consumed his
gift.
Had he honored his promise of food and water for my friends? I had to believe even evil bastards like Dixon followed some twisted code of honor.

Claire snapped her fingers in front of my face. “Hello in there.”

I blinked and focused on her, working to reset myself yet again and fake the happy. I managed a smile, but I knew it didn’t reach my eyes, with every inch of me stiff and fake. A liar, a secretive, little—

She pursed her lips. “On second thought, maybe you’ve had enough.”

“It’s not the booze,” Gen piped up, surveying my face. “She’s got that look.”

I tensed.

Gen leaned in. “The my-guy-is-being-an-asshole look.”

I relaxed against my chair. Perfect. Alexander’s weird behavior did bother me so better to reveal that while hiding the more dangerous secret.

I ate a piece of hamachi nigiri, then followed it with a sip of sake before I spoke. “Alexander was acting odd during our video chat the other night. Secretive. Said he’d be incommunicado for a while. And he’d
text
me.”

My girls made appropriate groaning noises while their faces scrunched in commiseration.

Claire patted my arm. “Fool doesn’t deserve you, honey.”

“That’s it,” Gen growled. “I’m kicking his ass for you.” She smacked her fist against her palm.

I waved away her offer. “You can’t. He’s in Italy. And if there’s any butt kicking to do, I’ll do it.”

She gave me a hard stare despite her tipsy status. “I thought he was a stand-up guy. I thought you guys were tight.”

“We were, I mean we
are
tight, it’s just… I don’t actually know what’s going on.” I frowned. “Maybe I should call him.” I pulled my phone from my handbag.

“No!” Claire and Gen exclaimed and dove for my cell.

Claire snagged it first, stretching her arm over our neighbor’s table—an easy feat in this intimate restaurant—and before I could stop their amusing tussle for my technology, said tiny tech escaped her hand and clattered to the other table.

Gen and Claire froze. I hazarded a look at our neighbors, two men and two women.