The fear in the vampire’s eyes was painful for Jackson to see, especially since using his Alpha power had, most likely, caused it. But what was worse was the defeat he found in Lucius’ face and, though he was pretty sure he knew what caused it, that would have to be handled at another time. Closing his eyes, Jackson manipulated his Alpha power until Lucius was free of it, leaving everyone else still under its control. Then, he waited to see what the vampire would do.
Lucius blinked, once, and then several more times, just to make sure he could. The last thing he expected was Jackson freeing him, but then, what didheknow. Maybe it had to be done before…nope, not going there. Brady trusts Jackson so…“I wasn’t going to attack your brother,” Lucius said, feeling it was important for the Alpha to know it.
Smiling, Jackson replied, “Yeah…I figured.”
“You did?”
“Lucius, if that was your intention, no one…including me…could have stopped you.”
“No?” Lucius asked, incredulously.
“No,” Jackson replied. “Let me ask you this…did you see Valerian rush towards Zane and David?”
“Yes-s-s…” Lucius said slowly, wondering what that had to do with anything.
“But what Zane saw was one moment Valerian was standing with the other vampires and the next moment he was gone.” Then, seeing the confusion on Lucius’ face, he continued. “Vampires possess the ability to move faster than my eyes…or any other paranormal’s…can follow.”
“That can’t be right, because I clearly saw Valerian go after Zane.”
“It’s because you’re a vampire. To your eye, Valarian wasn’t moving that fast at all…but to everyone else he had simply disappeared,” Jackson said. “That’s why no one in this room could have stopped you from attacking Zane. By the time our brains could process what was happening, Zane would’ve been dead.”
Lucius’ eyes grew so big, he was sure they would pop out of his head. “Kill? Me kill Zane? Nonononoo! Never! I can’t…I don’t even know how to kill anyone!” Suddenly realizing what he’d confessed, Lucius slapped his hands over his mouth in an attempt to stop his frantic babbling. If it got out he didn’t know how to protect Brady, then he was useless as a mate.
Feeling Brady’s efforts to pull free of his Alpha power, Jackson drew it back until everyone in the room was free, but kept his focus on Lucius. “You’re lucky you don’t. Killing a person…even one as evil as Valerian was…stays with you forever. While you can learn to live with it…it’s always lurking, just waiting to remind you that you acted as judge, jury, and executioner by taking someone’s life.”
“Valerian deserved it!” Lucius exclaimed.
“I agree,” Jackson replied. “He knew what could happen when he attacked Zane and his mate. But even more, he deserved it for what he did to you by turning you into a vampire. That was wrong on many levels.”
“What do you mean?” Lucius asked, confused again.
“Valerian broke the law when he bit a human for any reason other than to drink some blood,” Jackson explained. “Once the Fates granted vampires the right to breed, the Universal Paranormal High Council passed a law forbidding any vampire from biting humans for the sole purpose of turning them into vampires.”
Shock silenced Lucius.EverythingValerian told him was a lie. He had no right to take everything from Lucius, especially his family—the family he still mourned the loss of. A shudder ran through him followed by long overdue fury, a fury so all-consuming, his body began to vibrate and his eyes turn blood red. Everything faded from his consciousness, leaving him with only one thing left in his mind: make Valerian and everyone else who helped him pay for what they did to him.
A red haze obscured his vision and the only thing Lucius saw was Valerian, laughing at him just as he’d done so many times before. Shaking his head, he tried to clear the image from his mind, but his rage wouldn’t allow it; instead it was pushing him to do something…to exact his revenge on the one who destroyed his life. Once again, his fangs grew, and his mouth watered for the taste of his master’s blood. But this time, there wouldn’t be any stopping…this time he would suck Valerian dry…taking Valerian’s life just as his was taken from him. Everything was ready…he was ready. Lucius felt power surging through his body. More power than he ever felt before, now knowing why it had suddenly appeared. Licking his lips, Lucius opened his mouth, anticipating the feeling of his fangs piercing his master’s neck.
Brady wasted no time, knowing what was happening to his mate, he spun Lucius around until they were eye-to-eye, reaching up to cup his mate’s face. “Look at me,leelan…look at me!” he demanded, keeping his eyes locked with Lucius’. “Don’t let him win…don’t let the bastard win!” Slowly rubbing his thumbs over his mate’s cheeks, Brady said softly, “Baby…come back to me…please…”
Shaking his head at the voice penetrating the red haze, Lucius was unwilling to be sidetracked from getting satisfaction for the years stolen from him. Focusing again on Valerian’s face, he discovered it had changed. No longer solid, parts of it had dissolved, allowing Lucius to see through it in spots. His eyes flited wildly around as the voice continued to penetrate the red mist. Then, slowly, the fog lifted along with his rage until only Brady’s face filled his vision.
“Leelan,” Brady whispered, “you came back to me.”
Staring at his mate, Lucius frowned, trying to make sense of Brady’s words. “Where did I go?”
“It’s not important,” Brady whispered, brushing his lips lightly against Lucius. He knew eventually his mate would eventually remember the blood rage he suffered, but for now, all he wanted to do was to get him to the place where he’d feel safe. “Ready to go home?”
“Yes, but what about the Witches’ Council meeting?” asked Lucius.
“We have plenty of time before…” Brady started.
Remy interrupted, “It doesn’t start for another ten hours. You and Brady go home and get some rest.”
“Thank you,” Lucius said, grateful for the suggestion, Then, grasping his mate’s hands, they vanished together, leaving only a whisp of smoke behind.
Exhaling the breath he’d been holding in, Zane looked at his brother. “I know now it was stupid of me to approach Lucius but he reminded me of David and how afraid of everyone he was in the beginning. I thought if I apologized…”
Turning around, Jackson studied his brother, thankful Zane was still alive. Sighing, he said, “I know that…and I know your heart was in the right place. But Lucius isn’t ready…for a lot of things including an apology from someone who he thought was going to kill him only a short while ago. Next time, ask me first before approaching a vampire who doesn’t appear to have been taught to control himself…yet. You’re lucky to be alive…and by the way, thanks for your restraint.”
