Primal Kill (The Order of Vampires #5)

Chapter 29

CHAPTER 29

T here was not a spell in the world that could get her onto the back of that mule. “No.” Juniper stood, stubbornly holding her bags and wearing twenty-four hours of collective travel dirt from weird taxi cabs, train stations, airports, and public restrooms. Donkeys were where she drew the line.

Dane looked at the stack of their luggage. “Do you see that hill? I’m not carrying this shit anymore.”

His patience ended at the Kalamata airport. “It’s not necessarily up hill.”

“It’s a hill all the same. Get on the mule, June.” They were both tired, hungry, and devoid of wanderlust.

“I’m not riding a mule.”

He dropped the bags he was holding. “I’m done lugging books. Did you notice how everyone at the airport had wheels on their suitcases? Not us, though. Nope. We went one hundred percent hand held carryon because—” He pitched his voice high to mimic her. “Ruth’s vintage bag collection’s so cool,” he mocked her earlier enthusiasm. “I’ve been carrying this crap for five thousand miles!”

She rolled her eyes and picked up the bags. “Put the bags on the mule, jackass. We can walk.”

Dane mumbled something under his breath and loaded up the mule. “Not a single part of me envisioned this as part of my life.”

Ignoring his grumpy protests, she adjusted the satchel over her shoulder and climbed the decaying steps. They still had miles to go and only a few hours of daylight left.

“You’re a miserable traveler. And I’d like to point out that it took no physical effort for you to carry our bags once we were on the plane, drama queen.”

“I don’t want to talk about that tin can that got us here. That wasn’t a plane.”

“Then what was it?”

“People aren’t supposed to fly with caged chickens on their laps!”

“I didn’t realize you were so bougie. Next time, I’ll spring for first class.”

With little certainty of the welcome they would receive once they reached their destination, Juniper hoped Adriel’s parents were the warm, hospitable sort. If not, she was going to have to sedate Dane.

As the crumbling stone paths darkened with shadows, the earthy aroma of wet stone mingled subtly with the faint scent of olive groves surrounding the city. A chill hung in the air as the sun went down. The soreness in her feet was a constant reminder of the miles they had traveled.

The flight hadn’t been as miserable as Dane claimed, but it had been long. Juniper’s back ached, her clothes were dirty, and she just wanted to shut her eyes—but there wasn’t time to rest. Adriel was in danger and they needed to keep moving.

Thankfully, as they trekked into the old city, they fell into agreeable silence—for most of the journey at least. “How old is this place?”

“Ancient.” No wonder immortals flocked here. Like the Amish farm, this place also seemed untouched by time and modernization.

The stone columns stood like relics steeped in history. Juniper felt traces of magick in the air. History had its uses with witchcraft, and she was eager to test her skills in this place.

The cobblestone roads were worn smooth by centuries of time. Back roads and passages echoed with the footsteps of ghosts. She opened her heart so the spirits would recognize her as a friend and hopefully lend their energies like the spirits back home did.

The solemn cadence of their tired steps moved at a steady pace with the clip-clopping hoof beats of the mule. Juniper looked ahead, her eyes tired with awe and exhaustion. She hoped they hadn’t come all this way for nothing .

Unlike the iconic cerulean blue buildings people typically envisioned when thinking of Greece, the architecture here was constructed from pale limestone. Intricate carvings, worn and weathered by time, adorned many surfaces. Ivy clung to the walls and wove through cracks and crevices in a way that made the structures feel alive. Secrets of great tragedies and victories lingered in the wind, whispering through the streets as they traveled deeper into the crumbling city.

“It’s getting dark. Maybe we should find a place to crash for the night,” Dane suggested, leading the mule. His head turned toward the distant lights where more modernized buildings dotted the horizon. “I bet there’s a hotel with room service that way.”

“That’s not the direction we need to go. The location spell is pulling us north-east.”

“Aren’t you hungry?”

“We can eat when we get there.”

“If we’re not on the menu,” he grumbled.

He was right. They had no idea what they were walking into. Not all immortals followed a peaceful code. Not that being Amish was any sort of guarantee against cruelty and corruption. But it at least set a standard.

These guys could be cold-hearted killers. What if they were evil, like Cerberus? Adriel never spoke about her upbringing. If her parents were nice, wouldn’t she have mentioned them?

It didn’t matter. Without Adriel, Juniper had little to live for. She would do whatever was necessary to save her. If her mother and father could somehow help their crusade, she would get down on her hands and knees and beg them for assistance. She could not lose Adriel.

Her love had become inarguably clear. They might not be mates, but something brought them together. Adriel was a part of her destiny.

The scent of the sea thickened the air. Juniper’s skin wore a layer of sweat under her clothing despite the cold, and she welcomed the gentle breeze that whispered through the narrow streets. Sometimes she caught the fragrant bouquet of blooming jasmine nearby, but this place mostly smelled of salt and sea—two powerful elements that could help her if needed.

As they made their way deeper into the ancient city, the temperature dropped with the sun. Juniper shivered, pulling her jacket tighter around her neck.

“How much longer?”

“We’re close. I can feel it.” Or was that more weariness creeping in?

Magick guided them through the labyrinth of streets and passageways, but the use of her powers also exhausted her. Each turn revealed a sense of comfort that they were nearing their goal, but she honestly had little evidence that they were any closer. What if they got there and no one was home? They could be anywhere. Did immortals vacation like humans ?

They passed beneath an arched gateway, the surfaces etched with faded inscriptions she recognized from the visions. “It’s this way.”

Statues of gods guarded sealed doorways, their marble eyes watching them. Dane stared at the figures as if waiting for them to come alive. “Is it just me or is this place getting a little creepy?”

“There are definitely old souls here.”

“Old souls? You mean ghosts?”

“Spirits.”

“Good spirits?”

“Some. Some not so much.”

“Great.” Dane pushed the mule harder, picking up pace.

The soreness in her feet grew with each step, and a dull ache spread from her legs into her back. Cobblestone, though beautiful, was an unforgiving bitch to walk on, and she had not packed proper shoes.

She paused, the hair on the back of her neck lifting.

“What is it?”

She looked around. “I’m not sure. I thought I felt something.”

“Something like a ghost?”

“Don’t be a baby. If you don’t bother the spirits, they won’t bother you.” That was mostly true. “But this isn’t a spirit.” Something flashed in the corner of her eye—fast and silent.

Her heart raced. They were not alone. Something or someone was following them. “This way.”

They rounded the corner into an open square that looked like the ruins of an ancient temple. Massive columns, some still standing, others toppled and broken, ringed the perimeter. In the center of the square stood a large olive tree, its gnarled branches reaching skyward as if in supplication to the gods.

“Is this it?”

She scanned the area and frowned, not seeing the home she saw in the vision, but her instincts telling her this was where she needed to be. The crumbling fa?ade boasted an air of majesty and power but also wore the scars of battles lost.

“I’m not sure.” Wind whipped through the square. A carpet of dry fallen leaves covering the ground twirled skyward as if disrupted by something. “Somethings here.”

Dane gripped the reins of the mule and scanned the area. “I don’t see anyone.”

That didn’t mean anything. It could be a spirit, but she wasn’t getting that vibe. This was something living. Something fast. “Stay still. Look.”

The leaves shifted again, parting as a current of wind cut through the piles, then drifting back to earth slowly. Whoever was there was not merely air disrupting the stillness, they were taunting them.

“Show yourself.”

Another burst of wind, this one close enough to lift the hair from her shoulders. Her gaze snapped to every shadow.

“Are you sure this is—Shit!” Dane ducked and covered his head. “Did you feel that?”

Now she was pissed. “Whoever you are, we’re not scare?—”

Her words cut off as a thick arm wrapped about her throat, choking her, as her feet lifted off the ground. “Perhaps you should be, witch.”

“Juniper!” Dane charged then stilled when the man holding her growled.

“I wouldn’t do that.” The masculine voice spoke with thickly accented authority.

Dane’s eyes widened with worry as he held her stare. Her vision blurred as she squirmed for air. “Let her go!”

Juniper’s feet kicked, and her shoe fell to the ground. She couldn’t see him, but his immortal strength was unmistakable.

“You’re choking her!”

The immortal sniffed close to her ear. “Not just a witch. Kitsune. What is your purpose here?”

She debated telling the truth over a lie, but the choice wasn’t hers. As long as he held her by the throat, she couldn’t say a word.

“Let go of her, and I’ll tell you.”

“Tell me and I’ll consider letting her go.” He jerked her higher into the air. “I’ll smell any trace of deceit.”

Her heart thundered. Her magick was useless in this state.

“Fine!” Dane snapped. “We’re looking for a couple that goes by the names Lazarus and Lilias.”

He loosened his grip, and Juniper wheezed in a painful breath. As soon as she started to cough, he cut off her airway again. “What do you want with them?”

“You’re killing her!”

“And I will if you don’t tell me what you want with Lazarus and Lilias!”

“We have news about their daughter!”

The immortal stiffened and Juniper slipped out of his grip, her knees slamming down on the cobblestone road as she dropped to the ground and coughed.

“That’s impossible.”

Dane rushed forward, dragging her up before she could draw in a full breath. Her vision dotted with white spots as she gasped for air. “You could have killed her!”

The man turned, his expression haunted and showing no concern for either of them. “Lazarus and Lilias have no children.”

“We’re telling the truth,” Dane snarled. “We have a message from their daughter, asshole. She’s in trouble?—”

“Dane,” Juniper rasped, clutching her throat. “Shut up?—”

The immortal growled and snatched Dane off the ground, pinning him to a crumbling pillar. “What did you say?”

“Scintilla!” Juniper sent a spark of fire to his hand .

He dropped Dane and flashed his fangs at her, his eyes glowing with predatory intent.

Juniper scrambled to her feet and lifted her chin. “Do you know them or not?” She’d come too far to get scared off now.

“Witch!” He drew back to lash out and she held up a staying hand.

“Stop!” Dane yelled. “Adriel’s in grave danger!”

The massive male stilled, not due to magick but something much more powerful.

Love.

Was this who they were looking for? Perhaps he was a close friend of Adriel’s parents.

Juniper pleaded their case. “She needs help. Please, if you know them, we have a message for them and we don’t have a lot of time.”

“A message from their daughter?” His eyes narrowed.

“Yes, their daughter sent us. It’s urgent we reach them. Please. If you know them, we need to talk to them about Adriel?—”

“A—Adriel?” The immortal’s face notably paled as he staggard back.

“Do you know her?”

“I…” He looked away, his broad shoulders heaving as he grasped for composure.

“I give you my word. We mean no harm. But we’re in a rush. It’s life or death.”

His gaze snapped to her and fierce hostility glimmered in his glowing eyes. “Adriel is in danger? ”

“Her life’s at stake. If you know Lazarus or Lilias, we must speak to them.”

The immortal nodded. “I will take you to Lilias.”