Astrid's Wish (2 page)

Klaus studied the man. He brought up valid points, but there was more to it. The hairs on the back of his neck rose in suspicion. “So let me get this straight. You want me to go and question this guy for information on a witch he may not even know?” He arched an eyebrow.

Benedict looked up from his computer. “It’s not just about getting information on Asher, but for the safety of my boy and the other warriors in the house with this Astrid.”

Klaus chewed at the inside of his cheek. Since when did Benedict give two shits about his son? Klaus wasn’t the most sensitive man, but
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Benedict lacked emotions more than he did. The man operated like a machine. Benedict was one-track minded and focused strictly on his job. And as of late, that focus had squarely been directed toward a vampire who had been missing for centuries now.

“Benedict, you don’t have to tell me your reasons, but don’t sit there and tell me it’s because of your son’s safety that you want this witch.” Klaus leaned forward and pointed his finger at Benedict.

“It is the truth,” he shouted back. “Contrary to what everyone else thinks, including my son, I do care about him.”

Klaus didn’t want to argue with him. In the end it wouldn’t get him anywhere, and he would still be traveling to Middle-of-Nowhere, Missouri. “Fine, whatever you say, Benedict,” he said reluctantly.

“Okay then.” Benedict cleared his throat. “Like I said, I have the plane fueled up and ready to go. All that is holding up the mission is you.”

He stood up and headed to the door. Once there, he paused and turned back to the man sitting behind the desk. “Benedict, has it ever occurred to you that this man may just, in fact, be an innocent?”

“No one is ever completely innocent. Least of all, witches.”

Klaus grabbed the door handle and squeezed so tight the metal crushed in his hand. Benedict just didn’t know when to leave his mouth shut. “Watch what you say, Benedict. Let’s not forget that I am a witch. Rules or not, I can end you,” Klaus spoke the words real slowly, letting his meaning sink in.

Benedict barley batted an eye. “Like I said, no one’s innocent.”

He turned his back on Klaus and went back to work on his computer.

The man had no fear. Not very many people would turn their back on an angry witch, but Benedict did. A man with no fear was a dangerous man. And what exactly had driven the vampire to such lengths Klaus could only guess. But if Benedict wasn’t careful, he would push him to beyond his breaking point, and one day Klaus would make good on his promise.

Astrid’s Wish

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Without looking back at the man, Klaus left the room. He slammed the door on his way out and knocked the paintings hanging on the wall crooked. He didn’t care if the priceless art fell to the floor.

The council had plenty of money to replace the masterpieces ten times over.

All the expensive art that littered every flat surface and covered each and every wall was a big
fuck you
to the founding families of the council. Most of them started off living meager lives without the need for big fancy homes with priceless items, filling it to where it was almost bursting at the seams. The council was supposed to be about banding together with only one goal in mind, and that was to keep the innocents of the world safe. But with every passing year it seemed that objective had changed from protecting what they stood for to how much shit each person owned.

Klaus remembered when he was a child growing up. His parents weren’t wealthy, but they were rich in love. He had his mother and father, and that was all he needed. His father was on the Council, but back then it was just known as a coven. It consisted of witches that choose the path of good versus evil. As time progressed, vampires and shifters started to join in the ranks of defending others. They came together on common ground to settle their differences and work together to destroy the evils of the world.

Klaus let out a heavy sigh as he walked down the long stretch of hallway that led to his room. He longed for the simpler times when he and his family farmed their land and only got involved with council business when the situation was dire. His father had always told him to pick his battles because some fights weren’t worth getting involved in. He believed that, too. A bitter chuckled rumbled in his chest. That foolishness cost him his family. Sometimes in life, a person had to bring the battle to the enemy’s doorstep and catch them unaware. Had he thought that way centuries ago, his parents might still be alive today.

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All he wanted while growing up was to find his mate, fall in love, and settle down on the same land as his folks. Maybe even raise a few children. Give his mama the grandkids she always dreamed of. But that was a fool’s dream now. The death of his parents caused a part of his soul to die. Now his life’s mission was to protect others from the same lonely faith he suffered.

Klaus finally reached his bedroom door, twisted the knob, and walked inside. All upper council members lived on site for safety reasons. There were times Klaus hated being surrounded by people day and night. Sometimes a man needed to be alone with his thoughts, with no distractions. That was the only good thing about traveling as much as he did. It gave him the opportunity to be by himself.

Back in early days, he liked it for other reasons. He smiled to himself as he remembered several of those reasons. Mainly the endless stream of men that paraded in and out of his life. Being immortal, with the looks and body of a twenty-seven-year-old, had its advantages. All he had to do was spout off some cheesy pick-up line, and the humans bought it hook, line, and sinker. If they only knew what they invited back to their beds. The things he could have done to them was unimaginable.

But after a few hundred years of that, it got old. One faceless man after another didn’t hold its appeal anymore. Hell, he didn’t even have to flirt with them anymore. All he had to do was tell them he wanted to fuck, and just like that, they would drop trou and let him have at it.

Crazy how humans were so reckless with their own lives. Death was inevitable for them. One would think they would treat that precious gift a little better. But time and time again, instant gratification proved more important than longevity.

When Klaus entered his room, he headed for the closet to grab his travel bag. He tossed in a couple days’ worth of clothes, more than enough. All he had to do was mark a new vamp as a Warrior of the Light, so others would know he wasn’t dangerous, and to make sure a witch wasn’t a possible threat. Piece of cake.

Astrid’s Wish

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Vampires were funny like that. If a vampire didn’t come from a well-known family, coven, or part of the Light, others assumed they were evil and needed to be taken out. Especially if turned by a dark warrior. And all paranormals thought that witches were the evil, heartless bastards of the bunch.

Over the years, with the help of Benedict and his son Ben, the council had changed their way of thinking. But there were so many old paranormals that still lived by old laws that the best way to save these innocent paranormals was to mark them with the Warrior of the Light crest. It could only be given magically by a witch of the council.

Klaus grabbed his shaving kit and headed into the bathroom to get the rest of his things for the trip. He flipped the switch and flinched at the sting of the bright light that blinded him. His eyes started to water.

The crazy hours he kept didn’t allot for much time to rest.

He gazed up at the man reflected back at him. The stress of the job had started taking its toll on him. Bags marred the skin under his eyes.

It was a good thing he wasn’t out looking for a piece of ass. He would scare away any potential suitors.

Klaus threw the smaller bag into his suitcase and walked out of his room. The plane was ready, and there was no time to waste.

Benedict had been adamant on him questioning this witch ASAP, and he took his job seriously. Klaus was a bounty hunter of his own kind, as well as other paranormals, but mainly witches. Shifters and vampires feared a witch’s power, so the council thought it best to send other witches to collect the magical beings.

It did make since. Klaus was old, and with age came power so in the witching community he held a lot of clout and respect. A witch would think twice before trying to cast a spell on him.

But with that respect came fear. He hated knowing how everyone he had ever met or would ever meet would automatically hate him because of him being a witch. They respected him out of fear, not loyalty, and that dug a little at his soul.

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Klaus loved his job. He helped keep innocent people safe, be it from witches, vampires, or one of the many species of shifters. But all paranormals knew quite well he wasn’t above using magic to get what he wanted. He wouldn’t think twice about killing one to save many. It was part of the job, and no one was perfect. Death was a part of life.

He didn’t enjoy having to put down some poor paranormal, but if it was for the greater good, so be it.

He strolled into the council’s private hangar. Klaus handed his suitcase to the man at the stairs leading up to the plane. Once inside, he took a seat and buckled in. He had a few hours until they hit southern Missouri, and he planned to use those hours catching up on some much-needed sleep.

The plane rolled forward, and he felt the small jolt as it rose into the air. Klaus shifted in his seat. All of a sudden he had a strange stirring in his stomach. It was as if impending doom lay ahead of him.

His mama always told him to trust his gut, and right now his gut was telling him to run.

Astrid’s Wish

17

“Klaus, my boy, come here.”

“Yes, Mama?”

“My dear boy.” The older woman rubbed her calloused, work-worn hands across the little boy’s cheek. “I had a dream about your
future.”

“Oh, Mama, what did you see?” the little boy cried with
excitement.

“I saw you all grown.” She raised her hands high in the air. “Tall
like Papa and strong as an ox.” The little boy squealed with delight.

“And one day you will hold great power inside you.” She gently laid
her hand on his chest. “Use it wisely, my son. Always for good.” He
nodded.

“What else, Mama?”

“I also saw your soul mate.” She rubbed her hand over the boy’s
hair. “Hair and complexion of fair. Slight of height. A smile to lighten
the darkest of rooms, and eyes so blue you can swim in their deep
depths.”

“Sounds pretty, Mama. What is their name?”

“Oh, my son.” The woman smiled down at the small boy. “I did
not see that.” Her smile faded, and concern creased her brow. “My
dear boy, I see struggles coming your way. Be prepared, my son. You
must be willing to fight for what you want most.”

“Sir, we’re here.”

Klaus blinked his eyes a few times to clear away the long-since-forgotten memory. The words of his mother mixed with the dream he’d had earlier caused his anxiety to rise.

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What does it all mean?

With a nod to his driver, Klaus shifted his attention to a large home as it came into view. The house looked like a giant log cabin.

How very rustic and appropriate, since, after all, they were miles away from modern civilization. A log cabin only seemed fitting.

Once the car stopped, he climbed out. Klaus was eager to be on solid ground after the flight and the two hours spent driving in the car to get to this backwoods town. He couldn’t believe people actually chose to vacation here. If humans only knew what it truly was like to rough it, this camping business would hold no joy for them.

Klaus followed the stone pathway up to the front door. The iron knocker was of a wolf head. Shifter country, he should have known.

He shook his head. Wolf shifters had trust issues, and they hated witches more than they hated silver.

He grabbed the large handle and slammed it forward to bang on the solid wood door. It wasn’t long before he heard footsteps coming his way. The door swung open to reveal a small man drinking something red out of a cup. His nose twitched at the metallic aroma radiating from the glass.

Vampire.

“Can I help you?” The man tilted his head to the side as his gaze ran the length of Klaus’s body.

“Yes, my name is Klaus. I’ve been sent here by the council.”

Klaus set his bag down and reached out his hand to shake the young vampire’s. “You should be expecting me.”

The man looked from Klaus’s outstretched hand then back to his face. The vampire’s face paled to a chalky white. The next thing Klaus knew, the front door slammed in his face. He heard the lock click into place.

What the hell?

“Hey! I was sent by the Council of Paranormal Beings.” He banged hard on the door. “Hello!” Another bang.

Astrid’s Wish

19

He stepped back as the door flung open. The vampire Quinn filled the open space. “Look who we have here.”

Klaus rolled his eyes. He and Quinn didn’t get along too well.

They had a rocky history that hadn’t ended well. “Hey, Quinn, is Ben around? We have council business to discuss.”

Quinn’s lips pinched together as he stared at him. “I know, and must I remind you, I am part of the council, you self-righteous asshole.” He stepped back and waved his hand in front of him, signaling for Klaus to enter.

He crossed the threshold and surveyed the area. The house was massive. Typical alpha housing. They liked the allure of great outdoor living with all the guilty pleasures of modern society. He wasn’t complaining. He loved to have nice accommodations when he traveled.

“Like I said, is Ben around?” Klaus hated to be rude, but he wanted to get down to business. He also didn’t feel the need to rehash why Quinn hated him again.