I snorted. ‘You don’t follow me, Gray. You don’t follow anyone.’
He smirked. ‘Princess, I’ve been following you since the day you showed up in my city a year ago. You just never realised.’ He dropped his head fractionally. ‘And my service remains yours, eternally.’
I froze, my eyes fixed on Gray’s retreating figure as he walked away.
Rogues most certainly do not serve anyone, ever.
‘Are you really that surprised?’ Lincoln asked softly.
Ah, yes. Yes I am.
Attempting to thaw from the shock I could only manage to stare at Lincoln’s amused eyes. He seemed to have no trouble hearing my unspoken response.
Once I had my faculties back under control I glanced around and caught Josephine’s eye again. She’d been watching, and I could almost see her mind ticking over, making me wonder, yet again, if she was playing another angle.
‘Onyx is right,’ came a familiar voice from behind me, ‘There is never a dull moment with you.’
I turned to see Dapper leaning against a steel wall, watching me with a knowing smile. I knew why instantly.
He can see my aura. Our auras.
‘Why?’ I asked Dapper, noticing that Onyx was there too, standing apart and talking quietly with Chloe. Grigori were here to play their part in the fight, but Dapper and Onyx were not able to fight and yet had willingly entered this city knowing it was likely a one-way ticket.
‘I heard that a lot of Rogues were going to be here and I figured you could use someone with some extra healing abilities on standby.’
I nodded, pressing my lips together to fight back the tears. Rogues rarely still had their partners, which made healing a problem. Dapper’s help would be very much needed.
I glanced over to where Onyx and Chloe were still talking, their body language awkward yet a genuine bond evident between them. ‘What’s the story between those two anyway?’ I asked.
Dapper was watching them too. ‘Oh, it’s one of violence, death, regret and forgiveness.’ He turned back to me. ‘You know the type.’
I already knew that was all he was going to say. ‘I have an idea,’ I said, smiling as Onyx sauntered towards us.
‘And why did you come?’ I asked, looking at Onyx.
He waved a hand in the air, feigning nonchalance. ‘It might have something to do with that family thing we talked about the other day.’
Dapper rested his hand on Onyx’s shoulder and squeezed. For Dapper it was a major PDA.
Lost for words, I stared back at Onyx knowing, no matter what was in our past, he was now and forever my family.
‘I see you have the fire back in your eyes,’ Onyx said, glancing at Lincoln, who was talking to a nearby group. ‘Looks like things are finally how they should be for you.’
I nodded. ‘I’m surprised you don’t have any gloating to do,’ I said, still half expecting a sly comment to follow. But then I followed Onyx’s line of sight to where Phoenix stood talking with some of the Rogues.
‘Apparently I’m turning into a bit of a girl.’ Onyx gave a tight smile. ‘Besides, I’ve already collected on all the betting pools.’ But his quip fell short of his usual flair.
I nodded, looking awkwardly at my feet as I said, ‘He could use a friend.’
When I looked up again, Onyx was giving one of his dramatic eye rolls. ‘Oh, please. I’ve seen what Phoenix does to his friends and it isn’t pretty.’
‘You’re not the only one who’s changed, Onyx,’ Dapper said softly.
Lincoln joined us then, halting our conversation. He shook hands with Dapper and Onyx and I could tell he was just as humbled by their presence as I had been.
After a brief chat to bring them up to speed – which Steph had mostly taken care of – Lincoln turned to me. ‘Vi, we only have a couple of hours left.’
I nodded. ‘I’ll be ready.’
Lincoln kissed me quickly and then rested his forehead against mine, speaking just to me. ‘I know, I have to go and take care of a few things but come and find me soon. I was hoping we could have a bit of time together, just us, before …’
I nodded, wanting nothing more, before turning into the fray and getting on with business. As I walked away I wondered if it would always be like this: battle waiting as we joined hands and got on with the job, sharing brief kisses when we had the chance.
Could I be so blessed?
CHaPteR tHIRty-tHRee
‘The belief in a supernatural source of evil is not necessary; men alone are quite capable of every wickedness.’
Joseph Conrad
By 10 p.m. the full moon, weighted with the promise of devastation, had risen above the steeple of St Louis Cathedral, and almost two and a half thousand Grigori had taken up position along the riverbank of the Mississippi.