Chapter Fifty-One

Waverly.

Drake’s anger rolled through him like lightning. Waverly scooted around him toward the bed, sitting on the edge, watching as his anger unfolded in front of her.

He’d been angry before. When he fought the vampires in the alley. But this was a new anger. Maybe it was boiling over from the overwhelming amount of crap being tossed at him.

Or maybe he didn’t appreciate being shoved into the side of the building.

There was a new look on his face that both frightened and excited Waverly. It was fierce. She enjoyed a strong man. One that took charge and protected her. Everything about his stance, the way his fingers curled and uncurled drew her to him. Even the way his brows pulled down between his eyes.

“Are you okay?” Waverly asked.

He didn’t look hurt physically. She assumed vampires healed quickly so he would not have any ripped arms or holes in his body for long.

Drake stopped in front of her. “I’m fine.”

“You look fine,” she said sarcastically. “You look like you’re about to blow a gasket to me.” She stood and slid her palms up his chest to his shoulders.

“I’m tired,” he whispered. “This has to end soon or I'm going to go crazy."

Waverly lifted both brows. “What has to end?”

“This,” Drake said, stepping back and gesturing around the room. “I want to face the royals head-on and stop this.”

Waverly cringed. “You want to go face the royals alone, Drake? Seriously? After what they just did to that kid?"

He sighed heavily. “I want this to end. I want to live happily ever after with you. I want you to go back to your job and your life."

“I want that too, Drake. I know I'm new to this scene but isn’t that suicide? You can’t face them alone.”

“It’s better than waiting around here for everyone to kill one another or the royals to attack us.”

Waverly cleared her throat. “I’m sure a peace offering won’t work, but maybe your mother could wear down your dad?”

Drake smiled softly and kissed the tip of her nose. “You’re sweet, but my dad isn’t going to do anything just because of my mother. His hunger for power dominates his life. He doesn't even think clearly anymore. He's become numb to feelings."

Waverly tried to imagine a life with power and no true family. It saddened her heart. “Do you think your dad is sad, Drake?”

Drake gave her a lazy look. “No, Baby. I think he’s a power-hungry man who doesn’t care about anyone other than himself.”

Waverly shrugged. “It was just a thought. You don’t think it’s possible to at least ask your mother? What would it hurt to ask?"

He chuckled. “We can ask for the sake of your curiosity.”

Waverly walked toward the door.

“Where are you going?” he asked behind her.

She glanced over her shoulder. “To speak with your mother.”

She listened to his footsteps behind her while walking into the living room. Sarah sat beside Roderick on the couch and Barbie stood in the doorjamb to the kitchen, biting on the corner of her thumbnail. She wore a nervous look that reminded Waverly of her own mother.

“Are you okay, son?” she asked, rushing over to examine him as if he were a child again. Waverly realized the motherly instinct never went away no matter how old you got.

Drake wrapped his palm around her wrist. “I’m fine, Mother. Waverly wants to ask you something.”

Waverly lifted both brows at him. “Traitor,” she whispered. "Way to toss me under the bus."

“Hey,” he said, gesturing toward his mother. “This is your crazy idea, not mine.”

Barbie turned to look at Waverly. “What is it, honey?”

She cleared her throat. “Can’t you just ask your husband to help us? He’s close with the royals. Doesn’t he care about what happens to us, or at least his sons?”

The corners of Barbie’s eyes saddened. Waverly regretted asking as soon as she did.

“Honey,” Barbie said, “I wish I could call my husband a normal person and have him come to the rescue, but his humanity has slipped more and more each year. His inability to have empathy for people disappeared a long time ago.”

Waverly leaned forward and pulled her in for a hug. “I’m sorry, Barbie.”

Barbie embraced her, and it brought tears to Waverly’s eyes. “It’s not your fault. But I’m afraid I can’t ask him for help. He’d be the first person to send for the royals.”

“I understand. I just thought it was a shot since your son is considering facing off with the royals alone.”

Barbie’s face morphed into shock and then anger. Waverly definitely recognized that look.

Roderick let his head fall backward against the couch and he laughed loudly. “Oh, brother. Did that little fight out there pump you up enough to go beat up the royals? Come off it.”

Drake shoved his hands into his pockets. “I don’t see another option. I can’t stay around and get the hell beat out of me because these vampires are realizing what is coming our way, because we brought it to them.”

“Is there anything the royals would want?” Sarah asked. “I know they’re rich, but maybe there is something they can’t have.”

Waverly doubted it, but Barbie looked inspired. “Maybe the leader of the revolt,” she suggested. "They want to end any vampires that are against them."

Waverly’s heart thumped wildly in her chest. They couldn’t toss Beau under the bus. Not after he took them in, helped them through their problems, and gave them a place to stay.

“No,” Drake said.

“No?” Roderick asked, standing up to face his brother. “You’ve been at odds with him since we arrived because he knows Waverly, and now you want to protect him?”

“Yeah, I do,” Drake said again. “He’s helped us. He took us in when we had nowhere else to go, Roderick. We weren’t raised to toss people under the bus because times are tough. Don't be like Dad."

Roderick rolled his eyes. “You’re the one sick of being here and dealing with the aftermath of them slowly tearing us apart.”

“I’ll endure it. I’m not tossing him under the bus.”

Waverly had never been so proud of Drake in her life. It made her proud to be his mate. Even though she knew Beau got under his skin, he wouldn’t drop his character to get ahead.

She reached over and interlaced her fingers with his.

He seemed to understand her happiness and smiled at her.

Roderick sat back down on the couch and closed his eyes.

Barbie cleared her throat. “It’s getting late. Since you’re not hurt I will go ahead and take a shower. The girls need to rest. We’ll talk about all of this tomorrow once they’ve rested. You can't forget they need food and rest, Drake."

Waverly was thankful for that. Barbie reached over and caressed her cheek in a motherly way that made her miss her own mother.

Drake sighed heavily. “Are you tired?” he asked.

“Very,” Waverly said. “I had some wine at dinner with your mother and I’m a lightweight. I’m ready to lay down.”

Drake ushered her toward the room.

Waverly waved at Sarah as she left the room. The look on her face made Waverly sad for her. She wanted to make it work with Roderick.

She hoped that Roderick would pull the stick out of his butt and talk to Sarah.

Drake shut the door behind them.

Waverly turned to look at him when he kissed her softly, wrapped his arm around her waist, and dragged her close.

“I’m proud of you,” she whispered into their kiss.

“Yeah?” he mumbled pulling her toward the bed.

She giggled. “Thank you for sticking up for Beau. He doesn’t deserve to be tossed to the royals.”

He pushed Waverly onto the bed and hovered over her. “No one does.”

She put her palms on his chest. “We’re going to figure this out. Promise you won’t go after the royals?”

Drake kissed her softly. “I promise.”

And she believed him.