"Okay, and?" Lily asked, adjusting the collar of her coat to shield against the soft, icy breeze. "He could've taken me with him or did you tell him to leave the dirty half-breed where she was?" She added, with bitterness.
"No, I didn't, but he knew you'd be happier and safer with the Lycan alpha," Lord Etienne said. "It pains me to admit that many of our kind hunger for the young and innocent. It would've been very difficult for William or even myself to have kept you safe. An innocent girl with the first touches of womanhood and a fiery spirit would have tempted many of my kind. You would've been hunted and charmed with empty promises that the young are so eager to believe. I have no doubts that if you reached adulthood, you would've been bonded to a vampire and be his plaything."
Lily eyes widened with shock and disgust. She was really starting to hate vampires. Bianca, a vampire that once worked for Silvano, had boasted about how she adored the taste of children's blood. It was disgusting and evil. "I'd rather die," Lily sneered.
Lord Etienne gave her a cold smile. "As would be many others. Lycan's protective nurturing of their young, or any young for that matter, has always been something that my kind tends to envy and hate of the lycans. It's a reminder that even though we're all monsters, some of us have fallen farther from grace that others. And it's why your father decided that it was in your best interest to stay with the alpha.
It pained him. It still does, and you're punishing for it is cruel. You have a son. What would you do in his place? It if was your son? Would you have allowed your son to grow among the vampires, knowing they crave to sink their teeth into his soft flesh?"
Lily didn't say anything at first. "No," she said slowly. "Yeah. Fine. Another point to you. Good for you!"
The vampire dipped his head with a slight smirk. "I would also like to know if you've considered allowing me to be your sire?"
"Nope. The jury is still out. Now if you don't mind, I've got an early morning. So ta. Come on James. I'm starting to freeze out here," Lily said, giving James arm a tug.
"You alright?" James whispered as they walked.
Lily gave him a shrug. "Yeah, I mean that's nothing new. I just wish people stayed out of my private life. I mean seriously?"
James chuckled, wrapping his arm around her and pulling her against him. Lily smiled, leaning into him, the warmth and the support more than welcome. She was sure it was thanks to him, she managed to get any sleep at all. His confidence that they were going to get back Tristen, safe and unharmed, almost had her believing it.
A fairy, a human, a werewolf, and a hybrid get in a car, Lily thought with a smirk as SUV raced down the empty road. Bill was driving, Zander was in the front seat, and Donovan was in the back with her. The meeting at Dawn had taken a few hours as Nick, and Bill made plans. Bonnie's persuasion had been broken by Etienne, and she could now point out where exactly Vincent was holding Tristen.
It was nearing two now that they were underway. There was a tension in the car, thick and heavy. Even the fairy looked serious which was surprising. He usually always had a joke or crude comment on hand. Lily glanced out the window at the passing trees then back to Zander in the front. Maybe it was because there was so much on the line? It wasn't just about rescuing Tristen.
It was about protecting the natural order of things. If Vincent succeeded where Thompson hadn't, there would be hybrids popping up by the dozens and everyone would be at risk.
Lily sat up straighter as they pulled off the main road and onto the dirt road. They were getting close now. "Alright, we're going to drive for about ten miles then ditch the car," Bill said, noticing everyone's renewed alertness.
"We'll need to try to stay upwind of the cabin, just in case Vincent has more than humans doing day guard," Lily jumped in.
"We've attempted to simulate Thompson's scent blocker," Donovan said, leaning forward. "It's not perfect, but it'll keep us from being identified."
Bill nodded, not taking his eyes off the road. "That it does, but as Lily said, if possible we'll stay upwind."
When they pulled out of the car, Lily practically jumped out. Eager and antsy to get started. Opening the back, Donovan took out what looked like bug spray. He sprayed it all over himself then passed it to Bill.
Lily leaned over and sniffed, wrinkling her nose. "That stinks! What the hell is that," she exclaimed, pinching her nose and waving her hand.
"Our imitation of the scent blocker," Bill replied, spraying himself.
"I hope you don't expect me to put that on do you," she said, still waving her hand.
Zander took the can and glared at her. "Quit being such a girl," he snapped at her but didn't look to eager himself. At her challenging look, though, he sprayed himself down.
"You dork," she said, taking the can. "And I'm proud to be a girl! We can totally rock," she added, then with a pained grimace sprayed the stinky stuff over her. "Man, this better work or I'm kicking your ass fairy!"
"Let's get a move on, shall we," Bill said before anyone could say anything more.
They walked into the woods, towards where they believed the cabin was. Each was spread out about twenty feet from each other. They'd been walking for almost forty-five minutes when Lily picked up the scent of Lycans. She waved down Bill and tried to mime a wolf. At first, he looked confused then he nodded. She did the same to Zander as Bill with Donovan.
A few more minutes and the trees dropped off into a large clearing with a cabin at the center. There were lycans everywhere. Two were on the roof, two were at the door. Several were walking the yard. Three stood on the dirt road that leads up to the overhang for a car. Who knew how many would be inside. Lily lifted her nose and sniffed, she didn't catch any scent of human besides Tristen.
These wolves couldn't all be rogue. There had to be a pack working with Vincent. Thankfully, the occasional breeze was at their side and keeping the stinky smell of the attempt-blocker from the lycans. Lily bent down to watch the lycans. See if there was some kind of routine when she picked up another scent. It was an odd scent, neither lycan or vampire. It certainly wasn't human. There was also something familiar about it. Like Lily had smelled the person before.
She jumped when Zander touched her shoulder. Lily was about to get on his ass about leaving his position, but there was an alarmed look on his face. "What?" She hissed in a whisper, but then her eyes widened as she heard someone speaking with one of the lycans. "No, it can't..." Lily turned to see what her nose and ears were telling her.
Smiling as he leaned on a cane, he spoke with the lycan as if they had been lifelong friends. Maybe they had been. His dark hair was styled elegantly in a slicked back fashion that went very well with the dark suit he wore. His skin was pale and unnaturally perfect. Even though he looked twenty years younger than when she last saw him, there was no mistaking who he was. It couldn't be... she'd seen him die! Hell, she was the one that cut him into little pieces!
"Xavier," she breathed. That was Xavier freaking Thompson, alive and well! He was the boss! He was the one Vincent was answering too. But... how? Relief swamped James when he saw the large SUV drive into the parking lot, and he felt even better as he saw Lily dropped down from the car. However when he saw the look on her face. Dread prickled the back of his neck as he realized Zander wasn't with them. "What happened?" He asked, walking up to Lily and the others.
"Zander stayed to gather intel on unexpected development," Bill replied.
"Unexpected development? Unexpected Development!" Lily shouted at him. "He isn't a god damn unexpected development! He's a fucking nightmare come to life!"
He? James didn't like the sound of that. He licked his lips nervously. "I take it you found out who Vincent is working for," he replied, stating the obvious, but he couldn't help himself.
"We're not sure it's really him," Billy replied.
"You may not be really sure it was him, but I am! I know his scent better than anyone here," Lily said, she continued to shout. She started to pace back and forth, running her hands through her hair. "It could've been anyone in the world, why him?" She said fisting her hair. "He should be dead. I should know I watched him die!"
James grabbed her by the shoulders worried at the wild, crazed look in her eyes. "Who Lily? Who was there?"
She dropped her hands, and they fell limp at her side. "Xavier Thompson," she said, looking haunted.
James froze, staring at her. That couldn't be right. He was dead. He'd been dead and gone for two years now. "Lily..." he started, not sure what he wanted to say.