She’d never take a more important vow. “I swear.”
Her lips parted as they kneeled, heads angling to the side. The older children mirrored the actions of their elders while the babes cried out softly and clung to their mothers. All heads were bowed, so she couldn’t see their faces. Concerned, she reached out to their minds, finding that all of them were resolved and accepting.
Accepting of what?
“You,” Trey rasped. The male would never cry but she heard the emotion in his voice. “They’re taking you into the pack.”
It couldn’t be that easy. No way. She hadn’t done anything to deserve it yet.
“You saved the life of one of their children,” Trey thought to her. “There is no greater gift in the pack. When you protected Ava you showed them that you value the same thing. Apparently they’re willing to take you at your word.”
A child—no more than five or six years old—broke position and stood.
Sadie grinned when he scowled, shaking off his mother’s hand when she tried to make him kneel. He was an adorable little thing, still chubby in his youth, maintaining the roundness in his cheeks, his brown hair streaked by the sun. He cocked his head to the side, looking straight at her, resting his cheek on his shoulder.
“Do you really drink blood?” he yelled, like he couldn’t believe anyone would want to do something so repugnant. When she didn’t answer immediately he asked, “What about flying? Can you do that? I heard you could fly if you wanted to.”
His mother shot up, trying to shush him.
“Oh Mom,” he complained, squirming out of her hold. “You said questions are important.” His poor mother looked mortified, eyes darting to Sadie. “That’s why we’re here, isn’t it?” He kept going, embarrassing the hell out of the poor woman. “Why can’t I have a turn? Why does it always have to be grown-ups? It’s not fair.”
She released Trey and phased, appearing in front of the youth. His mother startled, taking a step back. Whispers surrounded Sadie, the accepting pack wondering if they’d made the wrong decision. The child reacted differently, apparently pleased. An enormous smile lit his face, his chocolate-brown eyes excited.
“Wow,” he exhaled. “You can fly. You moved so fast I didn’t see you!”
“I can do all kinds of things.”
“Tell me!” he exclaimed, rushing at her. “This is better than a bedtime story.”
Normally she didn’t touch other people’s children unless she was given permission. Such a thing was considered rude. But since the little boy was coming at her like a steaming locomotive she didn’t have a choice. She couldn’t let him fall. That would probably tick the pack off more than her holding him.
Catching him midway, she hoisted him up. Everyone around her was anxious. Their worry ate at her, robbing her of breath. She needed to give them a reprieve, allowing them to become comfortable in her presence. Trey gave her a disapproving look when she turned around and faced him. He didn’t like her doing things unexpectedly.
Barbarian.
“I’m sure you have a lot of questions.” She eased down, taking a seat at Trey’s feet. She faced the pack but talked to the boy, speaking loud enough for everyone to hear. “I’ll do my best to answer them.”
“I’m Arkin,” he told her proudly. “Momma named me after my grandpa.”
“I’m Sadie,” she murmured. She didn’t tell him her parents took the name from Hebrew, or that it meant princess. “It’s nice to meet you, Arkin.”
“So how do you fly?”
How did she answer that? Would it freak everyone out?
She’d promised to be honest but could she really share all of her secrets?
The coven has already shunned you. You can’t sink any deeper.
Trey kneeled at her back, resting his hand on her shoulder. Electricity zipped down her back, winding down her spine. His touch exorcized her demons, forcing her fears to retreat. She’d made this decision. This is what she wanted. In order to be a part of the pack she didn’t have to merely earn their trust, she had to give them hers as well.
She gazed at the men and women in front of her.
They were listening, just as keen as the child to know an answer.
“I don’t fly. Not really. It’s called phasing.”
“How do you do that?”
Settling in, she answered his question. He’d chosen a good one. “Well you see,” she said, looking at Arkin, “it starts with a bit of magic.”
His face bunched together, lips pursed. “Magic is for sissies.”
She brought her hand to Trey’s, resting her fingers on top of his. She felt their connection, growing stronger by the minute. “Why do you say that?”
“It’s mostly fake,” he informed her briskly, bored now. “I’ve seen it on TV.”
Her eyes settled on a scrape on his leg. It was nearly healed but not quite.
“It’s fake, huh?” She peered up, meeting the stares of the pack.
They didn’t trust her but they wanted to. She remembered what her father had used to say, chiding her when she’d complained about her studies in her youth, saying that Rome wasn’t built in a day. He loved to quote Roman Emperor Hadrian.
Brick by brick, my citizens, he’d say, brick by brick.
This was the start, the first block in her foundation.
Releasing the child’s waist, she called on her magic, gazing at his knee. Energy buzzed through her, warming her blood, heating her from the inside. Trey knew what she was up to, gave her shoulder a squeeze. She intended to start things off on the right foot. There was no better way than revealing her gift for healing.
A simple touch and the wound disappeared.
The child was amazed. The pack, stunned.
She turned to Trey, giving him a smile. He lowered his head, skimming lips over hers.
Brick by brick, she’d become the woman they needed.
This was only the beginning.
Epilogue
What a quandary.
Aldon Frost studied the fireplace, watching the wispy red flames dance and sway. He didn’t like to brood. It wasn’t his style. Normally he didn’t have to. Smart people avoided him. They certainly never fucked with him.
Not if they wanted to keep their heads attached to their shoulders.
Sadie Dumus, how you’ve thrown a wrench into things.
He’d put her down more than once but she kept coming back, determined as ever. He’d actually found her stalking rather amusing at times. She’d truly believed he hadn’t been aware of her. A shame, since a true member of The Fallen would have killed her. For all her slyness she wasn’t intelligent. Likely she’d never even encountered a member of The Fallen in her life. The silly vampire had no idea what she was dealing with.
The fire spurted, wood splintering. The sound matched his dour mood.
Thrumming his fingers on the edge of his chair, he contemplated his next move.
Although he wanted the vampire who could locate objects using touch, he didn’t have to have her. So far he’d gained much information about the whereabouts of the zephyr. The ignorant human dog that had the mystical creation managed to maintain a low profile but he left a paper trail. After Aldon had gotten a name it was as easy as phoning in a few favors. Thomas Brisbane was tightening the noose. Soon he’d jump the gun and strangle himself.
Irritation was a waste of time but he let the sensation flow through him.
Foolish mortal.
His brothers wouldn’t like it if Aldon didn’t obtain the relic. As the self-proclaimed hunters of The Fallen, they wanted the tainted thing wiped from existence. Certainly they could use it to their benefit but his family would never allow that. They operated under a strict code of ethics. True, they did use black mage magic to accomplish their tasks but only when absolutely necessary. Otherwise they’d be lost to the allure of the dark. Besides, if they didn’t use their gifts they couldn’t blend in, spying on those they picked off one by one.