UnGuarded (41 page)
Authors: Ashley Robertson
“As long as it takes,” I shot back
instantly. “I have a feeling you and the others will delay me,
since we are all curious to learn more about me and my powers.”
Tristan closed his eyes momentarily,
presumably using his telepathic powers to confer with the other
members of the Council. I stole a moment to look at Stone. He was
shaking his head slowly, azure eyes with hints of red wide with
shock. I shrugged my shoulders warily, knowing fully that to keep
Tyler safe, I’d break this deal and the neck of anyone who attacked
him. Obviously Stone knew that too.
“We have a deal,” Tristan finally
announced.
I smiled. Relief flushed through me as the
remnant heat within finally extinguished. Moments later, my
breathing slowed and my heartbeat completely stopped. Oh the joys
of being a vampire hybrid. “I have one more favor to ask,” I said,
a whole new confidence exuding in my voice.
Stone called out, “Abby, what are you—”
“Silence, Mr. Rayver,” Tristan stated. “I am
very interested in what Abigail will ask for now.”
“I want to speak to Madelaine. Will Elliott
do that for me?” My real sorceress mother, Madelaine, had died long
ago, and I’d never even had the chance to meet her. My father and
one of his female blood donors, all the while believing she was my
mother, had raised me. And though I’d love for Elliott to connect
me to my father, I simply couldn’t risk giving away the fact he was
dead too. Who knew how that little piece of info would affect the
deal I’d just made, or the innocence I wanted to prove for Tyler.
Bronx killed my father. But it was because of Tyler’s gift of
premonitions that Bronx was able to find my dad in the first place.
So I guess you could say Tyler did carry some of the blame. But
he’d sworn that he never thought Bronx would’ve killed him. And I
believed him, hopefully not foolishly. So far I was taking the news
of my fathers death okay. Maybe my estranged relationship with him
was helping me through the mourning process. After all, he’d left
me when I was ten. Eleven years later, I’d finally gotten a phone
call from him, warning me I was in danger. I never had a chance to
thank him for trying to help me…or see him again.
“Abigail,” Tristan said, bringing me out of
those thoughts. “You’re going to make a great addition to our team.
You’re already very good at negotiations.” He chuckled lightly. “It
will be our pleasure to call upon Madelaine for you and an honor to
introduce you to your real mother.” He moved closer, holding out
his hand. “So we have a deal?”
I nodded, taking his hand inside mine. “We
have a deal.” Then I asked, “When do we leave?”
His answer was one simple word. “Dusk.”
I felt my chest tighten as he said it, then
I went to Stone and threw my arms around his neck, burying my face
against the softness of his tee-shirt, yet I could feel the solid
muscle just beneath. “I will miss you,” my voice muffled.
He gently grabbed my shoulders and pushed me
back, just enough for him to look at my face. “Abby, what in the
hell are you talking about? Do you actually think you can get rid
of me that easy?”
“What do you mean?” I asked feeling
confused.
“I’m coming with you.”
“No, you’re not!” Tristan shouted from
behind me.
I shrugged as a plan formed in my mind.
“Wait a second. I think it’s a great idea for Stone to come.”
“No,” Tristan repeated.
“Actually, sir,” Stone said, “I can be of
help to both Abby and the Council. I can help look for the
information Abby seeks to clear her human while she is tied up with
business affairs with you. It would make her that much more
available.”
I felt my eyes widen. That was actually
better than my plan. “But you hate Tyler.” And he did—with a
passion.
“Oh I still hate him, but I think the world
of you.” Stone gently gripped my chin, caressing it with his
fingertips.
I smiled, a lone tear I hadn’t felt before
dripping from my eye. Stone wiped it, as I glanced over at Tristan.
“Please allow Stone to come with us. He would be a true asset. And
he is my friend. Please.”
Tristan was quiet for a short moment, face
hard, eyes studying us intently. “Very well.”
“Where are we going exactly?” I asked.
“Boston,” Tristan replied. “We have a few
stronghold locations, but we are operating out of Boston right now.
It’s good to move around. Staying in the same place for centuries
can get quite boring. And it’s not as safe.”
I nodded. I’d never been to Boston before,
but I’d heard it was an interesting place. A huge part of me was
looking forward to seeing it, checking out all the historic
monuments and buildings, and meeting the statue of Sam Adams, if
there would be any time for sightseeing. With Stone coming, we
would certainly accomplish twice as much, twice as fast. I trusted
that he would work diligently on finding a way to prove Tyler’s
innocence. Though Stone despised Tyler, I was certain that he cared
enough about me to do as he said he would. Yet Stone wouldn’t be
upset in the slightest if he was unable to find the proof we needed
to clear Tyler’s name.
There was also the uncertainty over what
kind of situation I’d be getting myself into with the Head Council.
Learning vampire politics and more about the new species I’d become
once Bronx turned me, well, that could take more time from me than
I could ever imagine. Plus meeting my mother for the first time and
finding out more about her set my emotions swirling with
anxiety.
I closed my eyes and let out a deep, long
sigh.
Just take one thing at a time, Abby. One thing at a time.
Quit worrying about things that haven’t happened yet.
Bronx was
dead. Tyler was alive and pardoned for the moment. Lily, my closet
human friend and old blood donor, was okay. Stone was here with me
now and would stay with me at the Head Council’s stronghold. And
I’d gotten pretty good control over my amazing, awesome, and
insanely strong powers. I’d say my life, afterlife, whatever, was
going pretty darn good at the moment. Pretty good indeed. Yet, at
the time, I had no idea just how quickly everything was about to
change.
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