Chapter 33

Taking the stairs as fast as she could force her tired body to go, Remi made it to her bedroom in record time. Kicking off her boots, she sat on the bed and covered her face with her hands. Dropping back onto the comforter, she lay there with her eyes squeezed shut.

She knew she wasn’t old by any sense of the word, but still, she had been through some things that were devastating, things that bordered on illogical without reason. This – this was just so far beyond anyone’s scope of normalcy; she didn’t know what to think.

Aside from people being killed, which was undoubtedly a travesty, unfortunately, a part of everyday life in this whacked-out world.

Someone, no make that more than a dozen were conspiring, for some unfathomable reason, to harm anyone involved with Serenity. It didn’t make sense. What possible reason could there be to kill sweet Mrs. Chaise and Mark? They were both warm-hearted people that probably didn’t so much as squash a bug in their whole lives.

It was insane. She couldn’t comprehend the reasons at all. Why would they kill the inspector and auditor? Seriously, neither had a profession that was well loved or would win a popularity poll, but why kill them? They weren’t exactly loved by those here. If anything, killing them was doing Serenity a favor.

The attack on Emery, she didn’t see a point. Opening her eyes, she stared up at the ceiling. It was her, not Serenity. Cait. “Oh my god!” She bolted upright just as Darien was walking in the door. “It’s me.” She scrambled to her feet, her heart racing. “Go check on Cait.”

Darien paused for a moment and then spun around and left the room again.

When he came back in, she was sure she hadn’t taken a breath.

“She’s sleeping.” He stopped and looked at her. “What’s wrong? What’s going on with you?”

Heaving a frustrated breath, Remi sat down and started pulling at her braid to take it out. “It’s me. They’re not after Serenity. They’re after me.”

Darien sat down beside her. “How do you know that?”

Rolling her eyes to look at him, she gave him a blank look. “They’re choosing either people I have argued with, had problems with—probably trying to discredit me, or people I care about…”

He placed his hand on her shoulder. “Remi…”

“No.” She turned sideways to look at him. “Listen, they chose Mark and Mrs. Chaise and attacked Emery.”

He sighed. “They also attacked you…”

“Before Emery and after, I told them their powers wouldn’t work on me.”

Darien gripped both her shoulders lightly. “You need to calm down…”

“Calm down?” Jumping up, she paced over to the dresser and stared at it. “This day just keeps getting crazier the longer it goes on.” Spinning, she waved her hands around. “There’s a group of paras targeting me and Serenity, and I have no idea why.” Narrowing her eyes at him, she gave him her best scowl, “and don’t think for a second I forgot about the wonderful information your uncle shared.”

He didn’t comment, just sat back and looked at her, a defeated expression on his face.

“Seriously, Darien, why didn’t you tell me he forced your wolf to surface instead of letting me think he just pissed you off?”

“He did piss me off…”

Leaning back against her dresser, she crossed her arms over her chest. “You know what I mean. How did he even do that?”

Sitting up, he examined the palm of his hand. “Elders can do that to younger wolves.”

Giving him a bland look, she shook her head. “It’s not like you’re a kid.”

He grinned. “No, I’m not, but there’s a reason he was drafted by the council, Remi. Only the most powerful beings are.”

“Tell me dragon lady is just there for her blunt snobbery,”

Darien shrugged. “I’m sure that’s a bonus, but no, she’s there because she’s more powerful than other older vampires.”

Remi heaved a sigh and went back over to sit on the end of the bed. “Well, I’m going to just pretend she slept her way to the top.”

Cringing, his eyes wide. “She probably ate her partners.”

“I’ve never seen Pascal afraid of anything…”

Rubbing the back of his neck, he nodded. “I didn’t think it was possible.”

Closing her eyes, Remi tried to breathe out the tension that was filling her. Giving up, she opened them and gave him a serious look. “Why didn’t you tell me that having a mate would help you control your wolf on the full moon?”

His chocolate eyes moved over her face before moving back to her eyes. “I didn’t want you to agree to be my mate just, so I didn’t have to be caged one night a month.”

“I wouldn’t have…”

Titling his head, he glared at her. “Yes, you would have.” Sighing, he fell back onto the bed and rubbed his hands over his face. “There’s no guarantee that it would work either.”

“Oh.” She studied him and realized he was just as tired as she was. “I’m beat, but I doubt I’m going to get a minute’s rest tonight.” She picked at the comforter beside her leg. “I have no idea what they think I can do. They expect me to draw these demons here. How do I do that?”

Rolling his head to the side, he shrugged one shoulder. “I have no idea. I didn’t know it was something you could actually control.” He shifted and propped his head up on one arm. “I’m sure one of them will know how to help you.”

“I hope so.”

“Darien.” Emery appeared at her door. “Hope and Alaric are back. They sensed someone testing the boundaries of Nadine’s spell and want to go hunting.”

Darien bolted up off the bed.

“They want you to go with them, Attis and Pascal too.” Emery pranced on the spot.

Remi got up and started for the door. Darien put his hand against her waist to stop her.

“You stay up here,” he said softly, with a tone that told her not to argue.

Emery interrupted before she could say anything. “Finn and I are going to be up on the roof to see if we can spot anyone. Brome is coming up here, just in case anyone breaks the boundary spell.”

Remi felt her heart beating in her throat. She knew this was the council’s plan, but she didn’t like it. “Why are you on the roof?”

Emery grinned. “Backup. No one is expecting us to be up there,” he shrugged, “and Leontes is staying downstairs. I’d say whoever tries something stupid is in for a wild ride.”

With that, he turned and was gone from her sight. Remi stepped in front of Darien. “Do you have to go out?”

Cupping her cheek in one large hand, he leaned down and placed a light kiss on her mouth. “I won’t be alone.” Straightening, he stared into her eyes. “Stay up here.”

Sighing, she hugged her arms around her waist. “It’s not like I could do anything but throw my boots at them and scream my werewolf is going to beat them to a pulp when he comes back.”

Grinning, Darien shook his head and turned to the door. “I can actually see you doing that.”

“Be careful, please.” Remi watched him walk out and inhaled a shaky breath. She wanted them to find those responsible, but at the same time didn’t want anyone else she cared for to be hurt.