September Moon (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #8)(42)

It had been painfully tempting to ignore her call. I knew my sister though, and ignoring her would only have her showing up at my club unannounced. I wanted to avoid that at all costs.

“Do you have any idea why they’re doing this?” Juliet inquired, studying me with an uncharacteristic hardness to her brown eyes. “I mean, why now? Is there something going on that we should know about?”

“There’s never anything you should know about,” I snapped, harsher than intended. “I swear half the problems in this city are because of the FPA constantly digging around where they aren’t needed.”

Juliet glared at me, biting her lip as if to keep from telling me off. She might as well. Everyone else seemed to enjoy doing it. “I don’t know where your attitude is coming from, but you can drop it anytime. I have a problem to solve here. If you don’t want to help, then leave. But that will force me to take matters to the next level.” With her hands on her hips and her dark curls blowing slightly in the soft breeze, Juliet looked ready to kick some ass.

I could out glare Juliet any day. Of course, there was little satisfaction in that kind of win. I glanced down at the body. A college-aged guy lay sprawled at my feet, his blood staining the concrete. A series of twin punctures marred his neck. After the discussion I just had with the two rebel idiots, I was especially ticked off that this had happened again. Either this was someone’s lame act of rebellion, or we had a rabid newbie on our hands.

“Don’t get all authoritative with me, Juliet. You won’t win that battle.” Despite my words, I spoke with a softer tone. Fighting with her was the last thing I needed.

Willow nudged me and gave me a look. When I just shrugged, he said, “Alexa, maybe you should tell Juliet what’s going on. She’s your sister. Surely she’s trustworthy enough to know.”

Juliet’s eyebrows rose. She looked back and forth between us. “Tell me what? What’s going on?”

I frowned at Willow who wore a neutral mask. Meddlesome angel.

Sharing sensitive information with Juliet wasn’t something I felt comfortable doing. She was government, and I didn’t trust them. Still, she was also my sister. Didn’t she have a right to know I was going to die my human death?

“Anything I say to you is off the record. You have to promise to keep this to yourself.” I shot a look over my shoulder to the other agents, ensuring they weren’t close enough to catch this conversation.

“If you say something that affects my job, then I can’t keep it to myself.” Juliet tried to maintain her tough image, but it faltered, allowing me to see the worry she was fighting.

“Dammit, Juliet. Don’t make this so difficult.” It took great effort to keep from shouting at her. “There’s a small vampire rebellion trying to make my life hell. It’s because they think I’m going to die and become some hard ass vampire queen. And I am. Going to die, I mean. Soon.”

She stared at me as if I’d spoken another language. Confusion creased her brow. “I don’t understand. How can you know something like that?”

“It’s been foretold by several people with the ability to see what’s to come. Shya needs me and a scroll to take over Lilah’s throne and the power that comes with it.” There. I said it. And I did not feel good about it. I suddenly wished I could snatch back the truth. My gut told me I had just betrayed myself.

“But how? Why? This doesn’t make any sense.”

I nodded. “Trust me, I know. I’m still trying to wrap my mind around it. There’s a lot of details I still don’t have.”

The color drained from Juliet’s face. She shook her head, trying to process what I’d said. “Are you supposed to be some kind of sacrifice? Is that why he’s kept you so close all these years? Son of a bitch.”

“Something like that,” I admitted as warning bells went off in my head. “Look, Juliet, you’ve got to understand that there’s a lot we still don’t know. I just want to find that scroll before he does. I know you guys are looking for it too. But please, take this seriously. It’s dangerous. Too dangerous for a human-run organization.”

She was quiet for a long time. Too long. My nerves grew increasingly frazzled.

Finally, she sucked in a deep breath and took a step closer. Leaning in so I could smell her perfume, she said, “You were never going to tell me this, were you?”

“I didn’t think you needed to know. When I die, I’ll become a vampire. I just assumed you’d find out when it happened.”

From the incredulous look on her face, it was abundantly clear that she felt betrayed. Her eyes flashed with irritation, and her wolf looked out at me. I wondered briefly what she looked like as wolf. I had yet to see it.

“That is so f*cking selfish of you, Lexi. All I am to you is government now, aren’t I? You don’t see me as family at all.”

Keeping this mature and professional was vital. Unfortunately, this was my sister, and the antagonistic tone she used triggered my defenses. It got a rise out of me the way only a sibling can. “You’re one to talk. You tried to arrest me! You let them hurt my friend.” My wolf responded to hers. A growl rumbled in my throat. “Better not throw stones unless you’re willing to take a few too.”

Willow stepped between us, gently pushing each of us back a few steps. “Excuse me, ladies, but I must point out that it’s nothing short of a miracle that you’re both standing here today. In times as dark as these, there are very few you can trust. You knew each other before all of this. Is this world you both live in now so much stronger than the one you came from? Have you forgotten each other already?”