Chapter 13

Trent stood to my right. Sean and Colt stood to my left. Piper and her sisters were sequestered behind the house and would show themselves when the time was right. Isach and Chloe were in the house with Abby, ensuring she and the twins were safe inside the nursery. Wyatt and Whitney were in the living room and would be the first line of defense against anyone who might try to get past us.

And I stood in the middle of all of them with Heaven Leigh by my side. Because I’d been the one to find her sneaking around, and because I had the most volatile temper, we agreed I should be the one “holding her hostage” when Ivy arrived. Little did she know I’d given Isach—and everyone else—my word that I wouldn’t kill Heaven Leigh, so she was as safe with me as she’d be with anyone else. But if she tried to double cross us, I wouldn’t hesitate to end her.

Behind me, the front door opened, then closed. Chloe moved to stand beside Trent. Her movements were stiff, and fear poured off her in waves.

“All good?” I asked.

Chloe gave a small nod.

“Ivy’s on her way,” Trent said.

Adrenaline spiked in my veins, and I shifted on my feet. My muscles tensed in preparation, and my hold on Heaven Leigh’s arm tightened.

“Ow,” she whispered and tried to twist from my grasp. “This is for show, remember?”

“Sorry.” I frowned and eased my hold. I honestly hadn’t meant to hurt her, though after all she’d done, she deserved a little payback.

Piper’s plea for me to be nicer to Heaven Leigh whispered through my mind, and guilt nagged at me. I’d told Piper I’d give Heaven Leigh a chance to prove herself, and I wasn’t going to break my word to Piper. I loosened my hold a little more and shifted closer, my stance both menacing and protective.

Isach stood nearby. Piper and her sisters had him fully cloaked, so I couldn’t see him, but I sensed him. His racing heart wasn’t helping calm the already tense situation. What the hell was taking Ivy so long? She’d better not ditch us. Everyone was silent, on edge, as we waited for her to show up.

Moments later, Ivy appeared out of nowhere and approached cautiously, her gaze sweeping across each of us before settling on Heaven Leigh. Wrath burned behind Ivy’s eyes. That alone was unsettling, but the fact that she was alone had dread crashing over my senses. Where was the rest of her coven?

I sliced a glance at Sean and Colt, both of whom gave me an equally concerned look. A glance at Trent and Chloe showed they were suspicious, too. Something wasn’t right. I focused my hearing on the inside of the house—Wyatt and Whitney’s footsteps were solid in the living room, the two of them pacing anxiously. Upstairs, Abby did the same, her heart hammering so fast I momentarily worried she might pass out from the sheer amount of blood pumping through her body. The twins’ vitals were steady and undisturbed.

My attention snapped back to Ivy, who had come to a stop several feet in front of me. “Got something that belongs to you,” I said and jerked Heaven Leigh forward half a step.

“Yes, I see that.” Ivy’s smile was grim. “Mind telling me why?”

“Cut the crap, Ivy,” Chloe snapped. “She’s your witch. You tell us why she’s here.” Taking a step forward, she crossed her arms. “She claims you sent her here to spy on us.”

Ivy’s face reddened. “She’s a liar. I have no reason to spy on you.”

“That’s what we thought, too.” Trent stepped forward so he was once again beside Chloe. “But then we got some troubling information about your recent… activities.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” She had her hands clasped in front of her, but her gaze was on a swivel. She tilted her head, eyes narrowed slightly. “Tell me, Chloe. What should I make of the fact that you’ve made deals with other witches and are using their power right now to protect yourself and your family?”

I’d expected Ivy to be able to detect the magic, but did she know who it belonged to? If so, she wasn’t offering up that information. Neither was I. Let her wonder. By the time she figured it out, it would be too late.

“I have to say I’m quite disappointed. I expected more loyalty from you, Chloe.” Ivy twisted her hands.

Heaven Leigh stiffened, which set off my instincts. I watched Ivy’s hands closely, waiting for her to do some sort of magic. For now, all she did was twist her bracelets around on her wrist.

“You have no room to talk about loyalty. Not after what you did.” Chloe balled her hands into fists.

For the first time since arriving, Ivy looked shocked. She placed her hand over her heart. “What I did?”

Either she really had no idea what Chloe was referring to, or she was acting to throw us off. Knowing Ivy, she was more than likely playing games with us right now. That only made me want to kill her even more, but Chloe had made everyone promise to show Ivy some mercy. We weren’t here to kill her, but rather strip her of her magic and ensure she couldn’t hurt anyone ever again. I wasn’t exactly on board with that plan, but I’d been outvoted.

“I told them what you were planning to do to Isach,” Heaven Leigh said. Shoulders back, she jutted her chin. “They know you were going to take his magic and kill him.”

Ivy laughed, a light, airy sound that made me want to rip her heart from her chest. “That’s what this is about?” She waved her hand dismissively. “What I was going to do doesn’t really matter anymore, now does it? Isach’s dead, and it wasn’t by my hand. But that’s not really why you called me here, is it?”

I grinned at Trent. “I told you she wasn’t stupid.”

Trent rolled his eyes, and Ivy glowered at me. Good. If I couldn’t kill her, I was going to have a bit of fun tormenting her. Turnabout was fair play and all that.

“Need I remind you all that you swore a blood oath to me.” Ivy moved closer.

Was she really trying to invoke the blood oath we’d sworn to align ourselves with her? I fought back the urge to laugh. Clearly she’d forgotten that oath was in place to defeat the Zoya Coven, which we’d done. None of us were bound to her, and if I had my way, we never would be again.

“That oath has been fulfilled, Ivy, and you know it.” Chloe stood firm and unwavering. “We owe you nothing.”

Ivy scowled but quickly hid her emotions. “Very well then. Give me my witch, and I’ll be on my way.”

I eased Heaven Leigh behind me, positioning myself between her and Ivy. “Not so fast. You still haven’t told us why you sent her here.”

“I didn’t,” Ivy snapped.

“No? Okay.” I shrugged. “Then why don’t you tell us why you’re amassing huge amounts of power and killing anyone who tries to oppose you?”

Slowly, Trent, Chloe, Sean, and Colt moved in closer, forming a united force.

“Or better yet. Why are you here alone? Are you that powerful now that you think you can take on five vampires by yourself and win? Or was I wrong, and you really are just that stupid?” I asked with just enough bored arrogance to piss her off.

I swore tangible fury sizzled around her, and her aura flashed an angry red. She was seconds away from losing control, and I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not. If she snapped, she’d more than likely exude a very powerful magical blast, and that could be bad for us. While I wanted to taunt her and knock her off her game, I didn’t want to push her too far and lose whatever advantage we had.

“Don’t you mean seven vampires?” She raised a brow. “Yes, I’m aware of your two friends in the house. The human, Abby, I assume, upstairs with the twins.” She cocked her head. “And the cloaked witch who’s nearby. Show yourself!”

I didn’t need to turn around to know Isach had done exactly as Ivy demanded. Her widened eyes and small gasp were all the clues I needed. We parted so Isach could stand between us.

“Well.” Ivy straightened her shoulders, effectively masking her shock. “I have to admit, I didn’t think your girlfriend had it in her to go through with a resurrection.”

“Underestimating Abby is just one of your many mistakes.” Isach planted his feet shoulder width apart, arms crossed. “But this ends now, Ivy.”

“And you think you can stop me?” She smiled like a child who’d been told her first secret. “That’s admirable, Isach. Really. But you can’t kill me. You’re still bound to me by the blood oath you swore. Your loyalty is to me.”

“The blood oath was broken the moment I died. I owe you nothing,” he said in a deadly tone. “But I’m feeling generous today, so I’m going to give you what you deserve.”

Ivy roared with fury, lifted her hands, shouted a few words, then shoved her hands in our direction. A blast of fiery heat pushed past us. Thanks to the protection spells Piper and her sisters had cast, Ivy’s magic didn’t have much of an effect. But she’d just made the first move, and now it was our turn.

“Ready?” Isach glanced over his shoulder at Heaven Leigh, who nodded.

I released her arm, and she stood next to Isach. Together, the two of them immobilized Ivy with a spell and a steady blast of strong magic. Ivy frantically tried to block their magic, and several times, she succeeded in breaking free, only to be stopped again and again. But one look at Isach and Heaven Leigh and I could see they were quickly being drained.

“Now!” I shouted.

On cue, Piper, Peyton, Sophie, and Sabella emerged from the back of the house. Hands raised, the four of them moved gracefully as one, their chants whispered in perfect unison. They shouldered past us, and as they did, Piper winked at me. She never once faltered, though, her words timed perfectly with her sisters, her magic strong and unwavering.

Ivy cried out, dropped to her knees, and clutched her head. My mouth hung open, and my eyes widened. Despite only being four of them, the Pendragon Coven was every bit as powerful as they’d claimed. And watching Piper in action—I had a whole new respect for her. Not to mention a whole new host of emotions to go along with the laundry list of things I wanted to do and say to her.

“Where the hell is the rest of her coven?” Trent said under his breath.

I glanced around. Unease slithered up my back. “I have no idea.”

“No way she came alone,” Sean said, his gaze sweeping every inch of the area around us. “What’s her move here?”

Wyatt burst out the front door, eyes wild, hair a mess. “Abby!” he gasped. “She’s being attacked. He wants… the girls. Too strong. I can’t get to them!”

Isach whipped around, and that momentarily lack of focus was enough to give Ivy a small boost. She forced herself to her feet and hurled a blast of energy at Heaven Leigh, causing her to fly backward. Piper and her sisters chanted louder. The air crackled with magic, and my skin tingled from the power they produced.

“Go!” Sophie yelled. “We can hold her.”

Isach gave a small nod and turned to go inside. Chloe followed, then she stopped near me. Her eyes were solid black, and the tips of her fangs protruded. “Forget everything I said before.” She tossed a disgusted look at Ivy. “Kill the bitch.” Then she disappeared inside.

About damn time. I barreled through the magical barrier Piper and her sisters had erected around Ivy. My flesh sizzled from whatever spell they were casting, but my bloodlust propelled me forward. Trent and Colt appeared beside me, and they each grabbed one of Ivy’s arms.

“Rot in hell, Ivy.” I snarled, fangs bared, then slammed my fist into her chest and yanked her heart out.

Instantly, the magic around us vanished, and the air was deathly still. I dropped Ivy’s heart. Just like that, within seconds, she was dead. Somehow, I thought killing her would be a lot more satisfying. Trent and Colt released her, and she crumpled to the ground in a heap. I took comfort in knowing she’d never harm anyone ever again.

***

Later that evening, after we’d disposed of Ivy’s body and ensured Abby and the twins were safe, we celebrated. Ivy Rose had been destroyed and could no longer wreak havoc on anyone. Heaven Leigh, with Isach’s help, would lead the Rose Coven through the process of electing a new leader. She’d given us her word that she’d do everything in her power to guide the coven into picking a leader who was fair and honest. Then she swore her allegiance to us, promising a peaceful existence between our kind and the Rose Coven.

She also issued one free favor to me and Chloe for what she’d done to us, to Abby for dragging Isach out of hiding, and to Isach for keeping his word to help rid the world of Ivy. Anytime, for any reason, all we had to do was call, and Heaven Leigh would step in to help. Only time would tell if that promise would hold up.

I stood in the kitchen and watched as Piper talked animatedly with her sisters, Chloe, Abby, and Whitney. Her face glowed vibrantly with a sense of peace and happiness I hadn’t seen on her before. A pang of longing hit me hard. I wanted Piper to be part of my family, but asking her to stay would be asking her to give up the life she had with her sisters. And that would make her unhappy, which meant I couldn’t ask, no matter how badly I wanted to.

If she asked me to go to New Orleans with her, I would, and being with her would make me insanely happy, but could I leave my family? I didn’t want the twins to grow up not knowing me. I hadn’t known Piper long, but I knew enough to know she’d never ask me to give up my family, either. So, we we’d hit a proverbial roadblock.

Unnoticed, I slipped outside and down to the pool’s edge. I shoved my hands into my pockets and stared at the clear water, but it offered no clarity. The enticing, familiar scent of magnolias had me stiffening and my senses sharpening.

“Didn’t peg you as the type to leave a party early.” Piper’s voice was low and tinged with the same knowledge I’d been trying to forget for days.

“Any party with witches is lame.” I shrugged.

She playfully nudged me, then we fell silent. The longer we stood not talking, the more my heart ached and splintered. For my own sanity, I couldn’t prolong the inevitable. It hurt too damn much.

“I’m going to say something to you that I’m guessing you’ve never heard before, and probably never will again.” I turned to face her, and she did the same. “You were right.”

She laughed. “I’m pretty sure I’ve heard that a lot more than you have. Or ever will.” Her eyes twinkled in the moonlight. “But I like where this is going, so keep talking, vampire.”

I couldn’t contain my smile. “I underestimated you, Piper. You’re a hell of lot stronger than I gave you credit for, and you were right when you said you could handle Ivy.”

Saying that out loud made me realize that she truly would be okay, with or without me, and that gave me enough strength to do what needed to be done, regardless of the unbearable pain tearing through me. Because at the end of all this, I absolutely could not destroy her life the way I had Hannah’s. The way I’d nearly destroyed Chloe’s.

Her expression relaxed into a warm, genuine smile. “Thank you.”

I nodded, then took a deep breath in preparation. “When are you leaving?”

“In a few minutes.” She shifted and averted her gaze to the ground between us. “I wanted to say goodbye.”

My hands curled into fists in my pockets, and I momentarily closed my eyes. Drawing on every ounce of strength I possessed, I said, “Can I ask you a question?”

Piper lifted her head and met my gaze. Her eyes were filled with expectation. “Of course.”

I’d done a lot of shitty, cowardly things in my life, but what I was about to do would forever top that list. Asking her this question without first telling her the truth about being my soulmate wasn’t fair, but I didn’t see any other way to make this less painful for the both of us.

“You’re happy living in New Orleans with your sisters, right?”

“Yes.” She tilted her head, her expression confused. “Now that Ivy’s gone, we might actually be able to live a semi-normal life again.”

“That’s what I thought.” I forced a smile. “I have no doubts you’ll do great things with your life, while annoying everyone you encounter.”

She chuckled. “For what it’s worth, you’ll always be my favorite person to annoy.”

I blinked rapidly to hold back the tears her words had evoked. All I had to do was tell her she was my soulmate, that I loved her and would do absolutely anything for her. But that wouldn’t be fair to her, because then she’d feel obligated to choose between me and her sisters, and I couldn’t do that to her.

“Piper, it’s time,” Sophie called from the back porch.

Piper turned to respond to her sister. The moonlight caught her hair just right, giving her red locks an ethereal glow. The contours of her profile were all soft lines full of loyalty and compassion. I seared this image of her into my mind, then I vanished into the woods without looking back.