Primal Kill (The Order of Vampires #5)

Chapter 30

CHAPTER 30

T he moon cast long shadows as they followed the immortal male through the streets of Argos. The towering male said nothing after agreeing to take them to Lilias, but that did little to bolster their trust.

In the distance, Juniper spotted a house similar to her vision. The night sky slightly altered the appearance, dousing the home in shadows and an eerie blue glow. A figure appeared on the balcony, slender and petite as the wind caught her hair. Juniper knew right away that it was Lilias.

“She knows you’re coming and she knows why you’re here. One sign of disrespect and I’ll end both of you without hesitation. Understood?”

Both she and Dane nodded.

The weathered iron gate hardly protected the home, a clear sign that the inhabitants were immortal. Its stone cornerstones showed signs of decay, and the windows were all open.

The gate creaked as their immortal escort pulled it open. Juniper looked back at Dane, communicating her worries silently. She hoped this wasn’t a mistake.

They stepped inside the yard, and the female from the balcony appeared in the shadows of the doorway, her face drawn with worry and her arms crossed protectively over her chest.

Her stare went directly to Juniper. “You’re a witch.”

“Kitsune.” That was the second time the male immortal used that unfamiliar word, and Juniper didn’t know what it meant. “Half witch, half immortal.”

Well, wasn’t he astute?

The female appeared unmoved by this information. “You have news of my daughter?”

The immortal escort watched them closely, obviously protective of the female. Juniper stepped closer to the house, hopefully appealing to the female’s good nature if she had any. “Your daughter, Adriel, is alive but she’s in great danger.”

The female’s hand rushed to her mouth, her brow pinching tight and her eyes flooding with tears. “She’s alive?”

“For now.”

Relief surged through the air like a wave. “Did you hear that, Lazarus? Our daughter lives. ”

Both Juniper and Dane did a double take. The big bastard was Adriel’s dad?

Juniper pushed her objective to the forefront of the conversation. “Your daughter’s in danger.”

“Where is her mate?” Adriel’s father snapped.

“He’s the problem.”

“I don’t understand. Her mate should protect her at all costs.”

“He’s not her real mate. He’s a traveler who’s spent centuries manipulating and controlling her.”

Both immortals rushed forward, speaking in a language she couldn’t translate. Their confusion morphed into frantic concern as Lazarus tried to calm Lilias down, but there was no reasoning with the female. She swiped a hand through the air and snapped at him, then turned back to Juniper.

“You must tell us everything. We assumed our daughter was lost.”

“She may be soon if we don’t help her.”

Lazarus stepped forward, his energy completely different from what he displayed in the square. “You will come inside and tell us everything.”

They followed the couple into the house, where they sat at a plain table. Lilias offered them water but urged Lazarus to pour. Distraught by the news, she sat in shock and explained, “My daughter was called more than half a millennia ago. We never had the chance to meet her mate. The night he claimed her, they left without a goodbye.” Lilias covered her mouth as a soft sob escaped, then gathered her composure. “This is quite a surprise for us.”

“As much as I’d like to be delicate, time is of the essence, and we need your help. The immortal that has her intends to torture her. He wants to punish her for evading him. I believe he already has.”

“Who is this immortal?” Lazarus stood, his hulking body seething with uncontainable rage. “Where is he?”

“I’m not sure. We’ve been traveling nonstop, and my magick’s lagging. I can try another locator spell, but my power’s weak right now.”

“You must regain your strength.” Lilias grabbed the glass of water and flung the contents into a basin on the floor. She sliced open her wrist and filled the cup with her blood. “You will drink and nourish yourself.”

Juniper glanced at Dane. He nodded.

She pulled the cup closer but hesitated. She’d only ever shared Adriel’s vein and didn’t fully understand the laws of blood exchanges. What if this somehow endangered her? They didn’t know these immortals.

“I will pay you the respect of not using compulsion,” Lilias said. “But if what you say is true, my only child is in danger. Please, drink the blood. It is good and strong, and it will help you.”

She looked at the female and recognized love in her eyes. Nodding, Juniper brought the glass to her mouth. The warm, life-renewing blood was dark and rich, spiced with ancient flavors, and aged like a potent wine. She swallowed every drop and immediately felt its regenerative power working through her system.

“Thank you.”

Dane cleared his throat and pushed his glass toward Lazarus. The old immortal glared at him.

“I’m Juniper. This is Dane.” She glanced at the glass. “We both plan to save Adriel.”

The male immortal snatched the glass and dumped the contents, adding blood for Dane, but only half as much as Lilias offered. “You are a strange pairing. How do you know our daughter.”

“She’s our close friend. We’re risking our lives for her—if that means anything to you.”

“It does,” Lilias said, shooting Lazarus a look of censure.

“Holy shit.” Dane set down the empty glass. “I feel like I just drank lightning.”

“Who has our daughter?” Lazarus snapped, his fist rattling the table.

Juniper swallowed. “His name is Cerberus Maddox XI?—”

Lilias was on her feet. “ Impossible!”

Oh shit. She hadn’t expected that reaction. “I’m guessing you know him.”

Adriel’s mother looked up at Lazarus, pure panic in her eyes. “He wouldn’t… After all this ti me… How…?” She covered her mouth, unable to comprehend.

“Are you claiming that he is the immortal posing as our daughter’s mate?”

Juniper and Dane nodded. “It’s been five hundred years of hell for her.”

Lilias whimpered. “Oh, Lazarus!” Her eyes flooded with tears. “He vowed to punish me!”

When Lazarus tried to comfort her, she shoved him away. “Tears will not help matters.” He bundled her in his thickly muscled arms and she punched his chest.

“He’s had her all this time, Lazarus! We’ve failed her!”

“Actually,” Dane chimed in. “She got away from him for most of it.”

Both parents looked at them, and Dane explained what happened. He didn’t go into much detail about the quartering, but he made it clear that Adriel was no helpless victim, which made Juniper want to get to her that much more.

“Your daughter’s stronger than she realizes,” Juniper said, hoping to add some relief, but Lilias collapsed.

Lazarus caught her in his arms as she fell into a state of inconsolable grief. He carried her to a different room, whispering soft-spoken words in an unfamiliar language Juniper didn’t recognize.

“What do you think?” Dane asked, voice low.

The blood had hit her system, and she found sitting still challenging. “I think her parents are older than the ancient guardian trees of Vouves. ”

“No kidding. His blood’s buzzing through my veins like rocket fuel.” He glanced at the door where Lazarus carried Lilias. “Do you think they’re going to help us?”

Following his stare, she nodded, then smiled back at him. “Cerberus is going to die.”