Primal Kill (The Order of Vampires #5)

Chapter 36

CHAPTER 36

A driel awoke to the sound of cracking trees and the low buzz of insects chirruping. Her brow pinched at the unfamiliar scent of jasmine in the air.

She wiggled her fingers. No pain.

Opening her eyes, her vision was crisp, but her location was completely foreign. A four-poster bed draped in white gossamer. White walls. A mirror. Juniper.

Her heart instantly settled at the sight of her love sleeping peacefully by her side. What was this place?

A vase of pink flowers sat on the bedside table next to a glass of water. “June?” She touched her beautiful face, and her heart fluttered with joy. This wasn’t a dream. “Juniper, wake up.”

Dark lashes twitched, then revealed violet eyes. She smiled and sighed. “Hi.”

“Are you well? ”

She shifted, drawing her arm under her head and reaching for Adriel. “I feel good. How do you feel?”

“I feel…perfect.” She glanced over her shoulder and whispered, “I don’t know where we are.”

Juniper hitched herself up on her elbows and chuckled. “We’re at your parents’ house.”

A strange emotion surged through her veins. “We are?”

Juniper nodded. “In Greece. They probably brought us here.”

“My parents?” A flash of memories strobed through Adriel’s mind and her breath hitched. The cave, Cerberus, an avenging angel, Juniper. “They were there.”

She nodded. “You told me to find them. Remember?”

It was all coming back to her, even the bad parts. She shivered and reached for June. “You heard me?”

“I did. Your father said that can happen when a couple shares enough blood.” Juniper grinned and pulled her fingers to her cheek, turning her face to kiss her palm. “Let’s just say I won’t be touching anyone else’s veins.”

Adriel laughed, stunned that she was actually there with her. She caressed her beautiful face and smiled. “I never thought I’d see you again.”

“I was never going to let that happen. One way or another, I was coming to save you. ”

Her heart grew heavy with shame. “I’m so sorry I left you.”

“I know you are. You were scared and only trying to protect me.”

“It was foolish and cruel.” Tears rushed to her eyes. “You asked me to believe in you and I couldn’t see past my fear. I only wanted to protect you the way you wanted to protect me.”

“Hey.” She caught her chin and forced her to meet her stare. “I forgive you. We’re both here—alive—and he can’t hurt you anymore. It’s finally over.”

Her vision blurred. The surreal concept of a life without Cerberus felt unfathomable and it wasn’t easy for her to trust such a permanent assumption of safety. “It’s going to take some time for me to get used to that.”

“Take all the time you need. I’m not going anywhere.” She kissed her softly, and Adriel closed her eyes.

The gentle affection drew a shaky breath from her lungs. “I love you, Juniper.”

“I love you too.” Juniper pressed her forehead to hers and hummed happily. “Do you want to meet your mother and father?”

A hand fluttered to her chest. “I… Are they kind?”

“Very. Lilias is so sweet and nurturing. And Lazarus is incredibly wise and brave. He used to be a warrior.” She gripped Adriel’s hand. “They love you.”

Uncertainty needled. “They don’t know me. ”

“That doesn’t matter. They want to get to know you, and no matter what they find, they will love and accept all of you, because you’re part of them. They’re your family, Ade.”

She considered how lucky such a gift was, especially in the eyes of Juniper who had lost all of her loved ones tragically. “They know about us?”

“Yes. I told them.”

“And?”

“And what?” She laughed. “They live in the modern world. Baby, they just want you to be happy. That’s all that matters to them.” She wiped a tear from Adriel’s cheek. “Don’t cry. Today’s a new and beautiful day.”

“This is unbelievable. I’m…overwhelmed.” She tried to piece together her memories, but there seemed huge gaps in her timeline. “Is Christian here?”

“No, he had to go home to his mate. But he promised to visit soon.”

She smiled. “They met him?”

Juniper nodded. “Kind of crazy seeing three generations of immortals. Collectively, you guys are older than the Roman Empire.”

Adriel scowled. “I’ll have you know I’m still in my heyday.”

Juniper lunged forward, pinning her to the bed and kissing her deeply. “I’m just teasing.”

“I missed your kisses.” She leaned up to steal another.

“I missed yours. Oh! I have to tell you something. Remember how you said two supernatural genes can form a third?”

“Yes.”

“Well, I know what I am!”

“You do?”

“I’m kitsune— part fox-shifter, part witch, with a dash of vampire.”

“Immortal.”

She waved away her need to correct her terminology. “Lazarus is teaching me all about the different supernatural cultures. He has tons of books. Some are even written in languages that don’t exist anymore.”

“And he knows about this race— kitsune ?”

“Your father knows about everything! He’s fascinating. They’re nothing like the immortals you lived with in The Order. They’re open-minded and curious, not at all afraid of people who are a little different. As soon as they knew who we were, they accepted us.”

“You and Dane?” She recalled the creature in the cave and what that meant for Gracie. “How is he?”

The light in Juniper’s eyes dimmed. “He’s…processing. That creature took her away before we even scattered Cerberus’s ashes into the sea. Dane left, but Lazarus said he’d meet us later. I think it was just too much for him. To think, all this time, he was told a half-breed could not get called only to watch her go with that wolf-creature… My heart breaks for him.”

Adriel rested her head on the pillow, trying to take it all in. There was so much to absorb. Life here would be very different from The Order, but knowing how Juniper suffered, she would never ask her to return to the farm.

Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, she confessed, “I’ve never dreamed of such independence. To think, I can do anything I want, be whatever kind of female I wish to be.”

“Imagine that.” She raised a brow, her eyes teasing. “No bonnets or bossy men deciding what’s best for you. Every choice from here on out is yours.”

A sense of power rushed through her. “I choose you. You’re my future, June.”

She kissed her and whispered, “And I choose you. We’re going to build a life together, Ade, you and me.”

“And my family.”

“And your family.”

A cool breeze swept through the windows, carrying the scent of herbs and jasmine with it. Clothing had been set out for them.

“Your mother,” Juniper explained, following her gaze. “She insisted on taking care of everything.”

“No one’s taken care of my needs in centuries.”

“Well, that’s going to change now.” She pulled her fingers to her lips and kissed her knuckles. “What do you say we get dressed and I reintroduce you to your parents?”

“I’d say I must be dreaming. ”

“You’re not. Come on.” She flung back the covers and tossed her a sweater. “You can put this over your nightgown.”

Adriel donned the cardigan and fussed with her hair. It had grown a great deal since leaving the farm, and she no longer knew what to do with it, but she no longer felt the rebellious need to cut it.

“Soon, you’ll be able to pull it into a ponytail—if you wanted.”

She considered her reflection. It had been a long time since she wore her hair long, and back then, she’d only styled it with braids, bonnets, and pins.

“A ponytail might be nice.” Turning to face Juniper, she glanced down at her bare feet. “Do I look all right?”

“You look beautiful.” She took her hand. “Let’s go meet your parents.”

Juniper seemed to know her way around the old home as they walked the silent halls. Terracotta pots clustered in corners, and hand-woven baskets hung on the stone walls. Shadows pooled on the tile floor where natural light spilled in. The house was strangely quiet.

“No one is here.”

“They’re probably out back.”

Curtains blew in the wind, and laughter carried on the breeze. “Go fish,” a female voice called.

Drifting past the flowing linens, Juniper pulled the curtains aside, and Adriel stilled. Her father noticed them first. Then her mother turned, a smile frozen on her face.

Nostalgia washed through Adriel as she took in her mother’s familiar, timeless beauty. Those painful memories she’d tucked away spilled into the forefront of her mind.

Dane stood, holding a handful of playing cards. “You’re awake. How do you feel?”

Adriel couldn’t move. She felt safe and cherished. Loved and accepted. It was so much to process when, only days ago, she believed she’d never have reason to smile again.

She laughed, the sound coming out like a stunned sob.

Her mother slowly stood, and her father followed. Her voice was soft and her eyes watchful. “We’re so glad to see you, Adriel.” Lilias crossed the yard with cautious steps. “I can’t begin to express how much I’ve missed you. How I feared…”

Her father took her mother’s hand when emotion got the better of her. “Welcome home, filha .”

Filha. Adriel remembered that word. She was Filha. Daughter.

They did not spoke a mixture of heavily accented English with various Portuguese words sprinkled throughout. She hadn’t spoken the language in centuries, but it was there, in the deepest part of her memories.

She held out her hands to them. “Eu também senti sua falta, Mam?e e Papai.”

They rushed forward and gathered her into their arms. Laughing and crying, they pressed kisses to her hair and face.

“I’m so sorry for all the pain I’ve caused?—”

“No, we’re the ones who must apologize. We never would have accepted your calling if we knew Cerberus was behind it. We assumed, once mated, you wanted your own life, so we tried to respect that.”

“I never would have intentionally left you without a goodbye!”

“Those troubles are behind us now,” her father said, grasping her shoulders affectionately. “Let us not waste another moment on the past. From here, we only look forward.”

“Agreed,” Dane said, closing this distance.

Adriel rushed to hug him. “I was so afraid when I saw you get hurt.”

“I’m fine. Solid as a rock.” He pounded a fist on his chest.

Her father clapped Dane on the shoulder. “Your friend here has been teaching us American card games, but I think he cheats.”

“Yeah right.” Dane cupped a hand at the side of his mouth and mumbled, “Your dad sucks.”

They were so comfortable with each other, so accepting. Juniper’s hand slipped into hers and squeezed. Their eyes met and she could so easily picture them living a happy life here.

She looked at her parents and smiled. “You met Christian?”

Her mother beamed. “What a fine son you’ve raised! He says he will come for a visit as soon as his mate delivers.”

Adriel’s eyes widened. “Delilah’s pregnant?”

“Oh, I thought you knew.”

“I’m going to be a grandmother?” She looked at Juniper and Dane. “Did you know about this?”

They both shook their heads.

Her father wore a proud grin. “The Schrock line is strong.”

Adriel remembered how hard she’d been challenged when she chose to give her son her family name. Now it all made sense. This was how it was always meant to be. “Yes, it is. Our line is very, very strong.”

Juniper smiled, her eyes twinkling with shared pride. She’d always claimed Adriel was stronger than she realized. Now, she believed she was right.

“Is it true, filha ? Christian is, in fact, Cerberus’s son?”

A cold wave pushed into her chest as she met her father’s questioning eyes. There had never been anyone else until Juniper. Would this truth change things?

Her gaze lowered. “He is of his line, yes, but he has always been my son.” Deciding to no longer live in fear, she met her father’s stare. “My son Christian is an honorable?—”

“I have no question about his honor, my dear. I was only asking because I think this is helpful information for Dane.”

Adriel frowned. “Why? ”

“Delilah is Christian’s called mate, correct?”

“Yes.”

“If Cerberus was Christian’s father, he is half draugr. Your son’s calling further proves that crossbred immortals can be called.”

“Crossbred, but not half-bred,” Dane clarified. “Christian is fully immortal where as my birth mother was mortal.”

“It’s still worth investigating,” her father argued. “I have a theory that the cross-pollination of species is altering our evolution.”

“Wait,” Juniper cut in. “If Christian is a combination of two supernatural races, doesn’t that make him a hybrid like me? Shouldn’t he have some additional mutated gene that makes him something else?”

“Technically, yes. But we will have to spend more time with him to know for sure.”

Juniper glanced back at Adriel, a look of worry in her eyes. “If Christian’s a hybrid and he was called, does that mean I face the same possibility?”

“No,” Adriel said, disregarding all science in favor of love. “I won’t have it.”

“Fuck callings,” Dane snapped. It was an easy position for someone who didn’t face such possibilities. But for Adriel and Juniper, the threat of being called was a very real concern.

“Why would The Order keep this from us?” she wondered. “They teach that only purebred immortals can be called to other immortals.”

Both Dane and Juniper rolled their eyes. “ They lie, Ade. They like their neat little world as simple as possible. People like Dane and I mess that up. That’s why they despise outsiders.”

Her father frowned. “It’s my understanding that they kept a great deal from the females. Is it possible the males knew, but the females were kept ignorant for a reason?”

Adriel clutched her throat as a sense of betrayal choked her. Was that true? Did Christian know? He was an elder on the council.

She couldn’t imagine such deliberate deceit. “I listened. I’ve never heard whispers of such things or sensed any desire to interfere with destiny. The Order views any calling as sacred.”

Her father rubbed his jaw contemplatively. “Many creatures with supernatural bloodlines have destined mates. Some callings have even been known to skip generations, traveling through time and the cosmos in order to find the other half of the soul. These are the mysteries philosophers have tried to solve since the dawn of immortal man.”

“Hold up,” Juniper interjected. “Are you talking about reincarnation?”

“Indeed.”

Adriel’s faith did not recognize reincarnation, so she had difficulty aligning with such claims.

Dane sank into the bench, his face as white as a sheet.

Adriel released Juniper’s hand to go to him. “Dane, are you all right?”

He rubbed his head. “My grandmother… She wa s called to Jonas, but died before the claim. Does this mean she’ll come back?”

“Possibly. But such things take time,” her father explained. “No one knows how fast a lost soul can be reborn.”

“Did you say lost soul?”

“Oh, no.” Adriel sensed where this was going and tried to intervene, but her father spoke too fast.

“That’s the traditional term.”

“They called my sister a lost soul.”

“That’s different, Dane. Cybil died.”

“Then why is she still breathing?”

“Who is Cybil?” Lilias asked.

“She’s my sister.”

“Dane, I could possibly understand such theories in cases like Isaiah’s, but Cybil’s situation was a tragedy.” Adriel hated to see him lost to false hope when the chances of his sister ever recovering were completely unlikely.

“Whoa.” Juniper dropped into the seat beside Dane. “Is no one else thinking…” She looked at them one by one. “You all didn’t immediately think…” Her mouth snapped shut. “Never mind. Ignore me.”

“No, say it.” Adriel wanted to know what she was thinking.

“She means Isaiah,” Dane said, a look of horror on his face. “There’s a reason he was in our area. A reason why he never left.”

“Perhaps his mate died. ”

That seemed obvious to Adriel. “You never considered that possibility?”

Juniper scoffed, her eyes shifting to awe. “It makes sense why he was so protective of her.”

“Who?”

“Cybil,” Dane said and chills raced up Adriel’s legs, her head already shaking in denial.

Cybil was a lost tragedy. Dane needed to accept that and move on.

“He drank from her,” Juniper whispered as she stared into the distance as if recalling a different time and place. “I heard them at night, growling and slurping.”

“I saw it too,” Dane confessed. “I even reported it to the council.”

“Maybe that’s why she went ballistic when you tried to kill him.” Juniper looked at Adriel. “How long ago was he called?”

“It’s been nearly a century.”

“A hundred years seems like a nice round number.” She shrugged. “Your sister would be of age by then.”

“It doesn’t work like that,” Adriel argued.

“Do we honestly know anything about how it works?” Juniper challenged. “Gracie was just called to a wolf-man.”

“He’s a shadow-wolf,” Lazarus corrected, sounding very much like Adriel.

“Whatever. I’m just saying, those two were in that basement with me for months. I heard them attack anyone who came within reach, but they never hurt each other. ”

“She’s right,” Dane breathed. “He protected her. And she protected him. They were both feral but not nearly as deranged as everyone believed. They trusted each other. If their humanity were truly gone, that wouldn’t be possible.”

“Be careful, Dane,” Adriel warned. “Some answers only complicate matters.”

“No offense, Adriel, but I’d rather know the truth than hide behind ignorance.”

There would be no arguing with him. No matter what the outcome, she was certain neither Isaiah nor Cybil could be saved and that was going to be another painful lesson Dane would eventually learn.