Chapter 12

Tori knew what Bryce was going to do. She had mentally prepared for it, but seeing Elora bind his wrists in silver was not what she had imagined. She watched him draw in a breath and flinch in pain as the thin strips burned into his flesh—it seemed barbaric. Her mate was in pain, and all she could do was watch. Bryce’s gaze traveled from his bloody, burning wrists to Tori’s eyes. She knew he was trying to be brave, but his eyes revealed a flash of his agony. So when he said to Elora, “My neck as well,” Tori lost control.

“No! I won’t have you walked in like a dog on a leash!” She stepped in between Bryce and Elora. “Wrists are enough.”

“Lassie,” Bryce whispered the two syllables slightly ragged as he attempted to hide the pain. “If they are to believe that I’m captured, I must appear captured.”

Tori nodded, but a thin bloody tear escaped. Bryce had insisted on being bound before they left the loft. With Jasmine taking Bryce around the city, people would assume she was Jade, and therefore expect to see Bryce shackled. Kane had stolen a car for them, so Tori had begged Bryce to remain free until they got closer, but he had refused, explaining how if they were pulled over by a wolf or a vamp, all would be lost. No, it had to begin, now.

Corbin had already said her goodbyes earlier and left to lead the group of vampires she had been assigned to. They were tracking the wolves and trying to contain them in one area. One of the vampires under Enzo’s lead had spotted Eadgar and Eadric on the bridge for the past two nights. They were keeping watch for the return of Jade and Faolan, and the Clan didn’t doubt they were not alone. Enzo offered to take his small militia over there to back up Liv and Kyle. Bryce, having known what the twins were capable of, agreed. He instructed Kane to act as a shadow to Elora and Tori who would be following behind Bryce and Jasmine.

The plan was in motion, only one thing remained. Jasmine walked over to Tori, took a breath and said, “I’m ready.”

They all agreed that Jasmine needed Tori to glamour her. Only under compulsion would she exude the confidence she needed to realistically pass herself off as Jade. If she could deceive them by her mannerisms, perhaps her scent would go unnoticed. Or as Bryce pointed out, his new burning-flesh-cologne might be enough to cover her humanity up.

Tori closed her eyes and thought about her words carefully. Opening her eyes, she locked her gaze on Jasmine, “You are to fool everyone into thinking you are your twin sister Jade. You are Jade.”

“I am Jade,” Jasmine said.

“The vampire known as Alasdair Bryce Galloway killed Jade’s mate, Faolan. Bryce is a traitor to the Council, you were instructed to bring back Bryce and his mate, Victoria Day. You had taken Victoria prisoner, but Bryce traded his life for hers. You knew you could never take both vampires back without Faolan. You agreed to his deal, and let Tori go.”

“I agreed to his deal,” Jasmine repeated, her voice sounding far away.

“You will bring Bryce before Dante and Averill. He is to be handed over to no one else. Do you understand?”

“I understand.”

“After I say goodbye to Bryce, you will begin your orders. Is that clear?”

“I pretend to be Jade after you have said goodbye to Bryce.”

“Good, now repeat all of your instruction’s back to me, then forget that it was I who compelled you.”

Jasmine repeated the plan verbatim and only when Tori felt comfortable that she had said everything that needed to be said, did she release Jasmine from her gaze. Kane walked right over to her, bent down his knees to meet her eye to eye and asked, “How do you feel?”

Jasmine looked at Kane confused. “Uhh… I feel like I have to do something, but I don’t remember what it is. Do you know what I have to do? It’s like… on the tip of my tongue.” She looked around at the room of people who had taken her hostage. “Why are you guys looking at me like I’m the messiah or something?”

“Don’t read into this, okay?” Kane flashed a sexy smile then wrapped his arms around Jasmine. She seemed surprised but didn’t exactly shy away from his embrace. Erin looked at him confused then checked her backpack for the millionth time to see if it had all of her weapons. He kissed Jasmine on the cheek and said, “You’re gonna do great. Oh and wear these.” He gave Jasmine a pair of leather gloves. Jade would be unable to touch the silver chains. No detail would go unnoticed by the Council.

“Um. If you say so.” Jasmine still looked confused but slipped the fitted gloves over her slender fingers.

Erin swung her backpack over her shoulder. “It’s time to go.”

The group began hugging and saying their goodbyes, but Tori refused to look at Bryce. She didn’t want to see how his brow was beaded with sweat or the red marks lining his neck and wrists. She didn’t want to see her powerful mate looking broken and weak. She could smell his flesh burning, and the thought of how much pain he was in was making her stomach twist into tight knots. The clan descended to the stairs below and outside where a black car was parked ready to go. Kane tossed Jasmine the keys. “You’re free to go.”

“Free?” she questioned.

“Yeah, you just have to do something first,” Tori replied, but looked at Bryce instead of Jasmine. He was leaning with his back against the car door. His head down, but his gaze swam up to meet Tori’s. The chain around his neck was wrapped around him several times, the flesh beneath raw and red, branding his skin with their plan.

Walking over to Bryce she took his face in her hands, her palms became lined with his sweat, but she was gentle, determined not to cause him any more pain. She locked her gaze on his. She wished they were alone but knew that would be asking for too much. The clan took a few steps back to offer the couple a moment of privacy.

“I love you,” she said barely above a whisper. “Don’t do anything foolish. Come back to me.”

“I could say the same about ye, lass. Just dinna forget how strong ye are.” His eyes flickered with admiration. “I love ye. Yer my sun, remember that.”

Tori nodded and kissed him fiercely. How does one kiss the love of their life goodbye? How do you turn your soulmate over to your enemies? Tori pondered sadly. She tasted blood, and realized her tears had fallen, dripping between their lips as they gasped for breath, desperate to have this moment last forever. “Ye have to be strong.” Bryce whispered in between kisses, and Tori knew that was his way of letting her go. Nodding, she brushed her lips one last time against his, then said softly, “Goodbye Bryce.”

Upon hearing those fated words, Jasmine snapped to attention, and pulled Tori away from Bryce. “C’mon, lover boy, you have a date with your maker.” She opened the door, and shoved Bryce in the car. It was a testimony to how much she believed to be Jade and the power of the silver that she was able to move him at all. Without looking back, she got behind the wheel and drove away.

****

They were stopped at the gate. The guard was dressed in security clothing, but he was a vampire. They were all vampires. Bryce glanced at the guard. He was new. He wondered if anyone he knew still worked here pretending to be human to keep out the riffraff. Ironic, Bryce noted, since the real riffraff roamed free within the stone walls. The stench of dog was overwhelming, and Bryce was disgusted at how Averill had allowed her mate to have the wolves run free over vampire territory. Wolves that had chased him out of his home when he was still human five hundred years ago.

Five hundred years.

How does one live for five hundred years only to come full circle with chains around his neck and wrists? He was weak, and he was about to face Averill. He always had envisioned meeting her strong, powerful—ready to avenge Miranda’s unjust execution. He often wondered if given the opportunity, would Averill beg to be redeemed? Would he even offer her a chance at redemption if she asked? Bryce didn’t know. But he was about to find out.

He knew Tori and Elora were close, and the thought of Tori being captured was worse than anything Averill could do to him. Jasmine gave his chains a tug as they stepped before the guard, the reaction was instant—searing pain where the silver carved deeper into his flesh.

“Jade! Where is Faolan?” the guard inquired, looking past her to see if he could spot the other wolf.

“Dead. This traitor snapped his neck. I need to see Dante and Averill, where are they?”

“In the throne room, below. Dante is not happy. He heard you were back, but didn’t come to see him, immediately.”

Bryce eyed Jasmine, but she didn’t falter. Tori’s mind control was greater than any he had ever seen. Even if the information wasn’t programmed for her, the belief that she was Jade was strong enough to answer the guard.

“I mourned my mate. Dante requested I return by the full moon, tonight is the last night. I have not disobeyed any orders.”

The guard looked from Bryce back to Jasmine. “Fine, let me call the wolves at the door, they’ll lead you in.”

Jasmine nodded as the guard grabbed his cell and made a call. After a few minutes, the guard nodded. “All right, you’re clear.” He waved the imposter wolf and her prisoner through, and Bryce knew that although he couldn’t see them, hidden a few feet behind him waiting in the shadows was an ex-fighter, a woman with the powers of mind-control and a necromancer prepared to snap the guard’s neck.

****

The Weres were waiting along the stone path that led to the hidden door, which revealed the passageway to the Council. Bryce counted in his head. Twelve. Kane would have to text Derek and Erin for backup. If there were twelve wolves here, he wondered just how big Dante’s pack was. Several had shifted into wolf form, pacing back and forth like mindless dogs at the sight of Jade walking calmly with their most hated traitor about to be taken before the Council for judgement.

As they stepped closer, they began calling Bryce names like, “wolf-killer” and “traitor”

A few that remained in human form started spitting at him and shouting bold threats in his face. He wondered if they would dare to threaten him if he was entering in his full strength. How easy it is to gang up on one who can’t fight back. Bryce kept his eyes cast down, and worried more that Tori was witnessing this from afar. It was humiliating, but then again most of his memories of England prior to finding Miranda had been humiliating.

A wolf ran in front of them and jumped at Bryce’s chest. Weak from the silver, Bryce fell to the floor, his back smacking hard against the stone pavement. Jasmine wasn’t prepared, and so the leash she led him on remained taut, choking him, the silver slicing once more into his skin. Bryce let out a cry of pain as the silver singed deeper into his neck. He feared for a moment that if Jasmine didn’t loosen the bindings, they might just decapitate him.

Then, as if an angel had heard his prayer, the silver bindings seemed to move on their own. It was subtle, but enough to offer him relief. Tori was with him, even if he couldn’t see her. Bryce rolled onto his knees and held his head up to face his attacker. The wolf shifted into his human form, and although he was nude, he didn’t blink as he eyed Bryce with hatred.

“Is it true. You killed Faolan?”

Bryce blew his wavy locks that were raked with sweat out of his eyes so that he might see his accuser more clearly.

“Aye.”

The Were’s mouth twitched; he grabbed at his cock and relieved himself at Bryce’s knees, the piss splashing onto Bryce, who didn’t flinch. The Were gave himself a shake then said, “Faolan was my cousin, and Dante will make you pay. The next time we meet, I’m gonna piss on your rotting skull.”

Another Were stepped forward and pulled Faolan’s cousin back, but not before he spit right in Bryce’s face. Bryce wiped the spit from his face, careful not to touch his cheeks with the silver on his wrists. He looked at Jasmine and stood to his full height.

“As much as I’m sure ye miss taking yer mate out for a walk, I’d like to get this over with.” Her eyes grew wide with hatred, but she just tugged on the chains and led Bryce through the door.

The door that would decide his fate.