Asylum (Causal Enchantment #2)(44)
“Bull!” the retort flew out of my mouth faster than even I had intended.
“I did!” Mage insisted. “Partly because it’s harder to influence a cross-breed such as yourself and Jonah. Partly because I knew you’d never trust me if I did.”
“And you think I’m going to trust you now?” I snorted mockingly.
“It doesn’t matter now.”
“How does you being able to insert thoughts into our head not matter?” Caden interjected before I could ask, his tone low, threatening. To say no one in the room was happy would be an understatement.
“Because . . . ” Mage paused, resignation settling on her face. She wasn’t used to divulging her secrets and it was clear she didn’t enjoy doing it. “Once you’re aware of what I can do, it’s no longer possible for me to do it without you seeing it for what it is, rendering it useless.”
Did I believe her? I wasn’t sure . . .
Mage smiled. “Why do you think Viggo has been so anxious to find out if I’m the original vampire? He knows what the original vampire can do.”
It made sense . . . Viggo evaded any questions I had about the first vampire, including what had happened to her. That sneaky bastard. He knew what Mage might be able to do to me and he didn’t warn me! I’d pay him back for that one.
“Speaking of Viggo,” Mage pressed, “we need to get going. Now. Before this mess gets any bigger than it already is.”
As usual, Mage was right. There were bigger issues to deal with for now. We both turned to stare at the window. My attention couldn’t help but drift over to Rachel lying on the floor. “You know I could leave you in limbo, caught within the Merth’s hold. Powerless,” I murmured.
“Yes, you could. But you won’t. You’re not an idiot. You realize having me as an ally is a better position to be in than otherwise,” Mage answered without missing a beat.
Check mark. Another right answer, Mage. “Fine.” I glanced back at Evangeline’s friends. Viggo could stumble on this at any moment, as Rachel had. If they duked it out, one of them would die. I couldn’t risk it, I decided. I guess it’s time to test out your blood theory, Mage. “We’re all going.”
“If I so much as think you’re getting out of line, I’ll instantly have you bound and gagged with magic,” I warned the five vampires standing in a row behind me, dressed head to toe in black to blend into the night like cat burglars. Purpose and exhilaration shone in their vibrant eyes. And fear. Such an uncommon emotion for a vampire, but we were all acutely aware of the consequences if we failed. Mage and I more so, given we knew the real truth behind Ratheus. I’d have to tell the rest of them eventually. Now was not the time.
“We’ll be fine!” Bishop assured me, waving away my concern. “Let’s go! I’m ready to kill some mutants.”
“I hope that’s all we kill,” Fiona muttered from his left side, not nearly as confident as her partner.
I glanced back at Caden and Amelie. “We’re good, honest!” Amelie exclaimed with a nervous smile. Caden attempted a reassuring grin but it came out looking like a grimace. No one was sure of this—except Mage. She seemed to hold confidence in them. They had been feeding nonstop for weeks now, gorging on enough blood to last most new vampires a year, at least, and that paralyzing lust that first consumed them did seem to be slowly vanishing. Now I glimpsed Amelie’s bubbly personality, Bishop and Fiona’s affectionate nuzzles, Caden’s gentle smile—the vampires Evangeline had fallen in love with. It was heartening to see what I thought forever gone now suddenly here and real. But could they handle what lay outside these walls?
Impatient, I glanced at my watch. Only a few hours until the city comes to life. The darkness would help hide the mutants. But with the sunrise . . . We needed to stop them. Tonight.
“How long before Mortimer and Viggo discover this window?” Mage asked.
I shrugged. “Soon. Or never.” They rarely toured the building. But now, with others wandering about, it was going to be hard to hide. “They will notice we’re gone as soon as they decide to go looking for us. Let’s get out before they start looking. Okay . . . you guys ready?” I asked Caden and his friends, feeling oddly elated. Hunting did that to me.
“Hell, yeah!” Bishop grinned boyishly.
“Yeah!” Amelie cheered, earning a groan from Caden.
“We’re not going clubbing, Amelie!”
Her plump lips turned down in a pout. “I know. It’s just . . . ”
Caden wrapped his arm around her shoulders and gave her an affectionate squeeze, smiling wickedly. He would be happy to see Jonah dead. Their pasts held a secret, I was sure of it.
I stepped to the edge of the Merth boundary. Rachel lay unmoving on the tiles nearby. Exactly how I should have left you from the beginning. I glanced back at Mage. She nodded and moved to stand beside me. Like two amiable women, we clasped hands and stepped forward.
A prickling sensation like a thousand tiny electric shocks instantly permeated my skin as I entered the Merth barrier. It wasn’t comfortable, but I knew it was nothing near the agony Mage was feeling right now. Like razor blades cutting into skin—that’s how they all described it.
The power of the Merth overwhelmed Mage’s body and it slackened and crumpled to the floor. I looked down at her frail little body. I could leave her here. It was a once in an eternity chance, and for a short second, I considered rolling the powerful, manipulative vampire over to lie beside Rachel. She’d never have the chance to insert anything into my head again.