"You got to play with the blonde! Now it's my turn," Dorin told her and she pouted but he insisted. "I've wanted to stake her after the first five minutes of meeting her," he explained and Lily sighed crossing her arms. Dorin took the stake from Bianca with a stoic expression on his face.
"I thought you were a part of the Aequivalere?" Lily snapped at him.
"Let's just say I got a new deal, one that I couldn't refuse," Dorin mused then turned serious. He held the stake then turned to James and gave him a small nod. Before James knew what was happening the stake was impaled in Bianca's chest. She gasped as if she couldn't breathe. James watched with morbid curiosity as the vampire's bright red hair started to fade and grow white as her perfect skin slowly started to age until she looked like she was a ninety-year-old woman. She went limp into Dorin's arms and he let her fall to the floor. He bent over and removed the cell phone from Bianca's pocket and dialed a number.
"Sergio this is Dorin, tell the king, he is ordered to report to the closest Aequivalere station on charges of disobedience and violation of Law three hundred and forty-six. If you don't wish to go down with him I suggest you get the hell away from the alpha's house now," Dorin commanded then hung up. "Your family will be safe Sergio won't go against the Aequivalere," he told them.
"Is she dead, dead?" Lily asked looking at Bianca.
"No, I partially pierced her heart so she isn't dead, dead but she was into a sort of forced hibernation. It's her punishment for going up against the Aequivalere. As much as I would love to stake you the Aequivalere have recognized you as at least sane and sentient," he told her and Lily rolled her eyes.
"Gee I can so feel the love," she mumbled bitterly.
"I'm surprised you didn't kill her to make Silvano pay for your brother," James said honestly and Lily looked at them confused.
"You had a brother," she asked with a surprised tone.
"Yes I had a brother," Dorin replied and explained what he had told James.
"Oh so that's what the queen meant by history repeating itself," Lily stated and Dorin nodded.
"What queen?" James asked, not liking that he felt a little left out.
"Queen Hazar," Lily answered and Dorin nodded. "She is sort of like a fortune teller of sorts. The queen told me I had to go on my own to stop Xavier if anyone went with me he would have gotten away."
"That's your reason, that's your valid reason?" He demanded nearly shaking once more with anger. "Some vampire told you she foresaw it and you just accepted," he snapped, insulted that Lily seemed to trust everyone before him.
"Oh get over yourself, James! Yes, it was my reason and guess what she was right!" Lily demanded back at him. James glared at her, shaking with anger once more.
"You know what, just forget it! This is clearly not my problem," James added just wanting to leave that room before he lost control of his anger. That night there was a celebration for the rescue of the children, and even though no one dared say it out loud, they were also celebrating the doctor's death. Wendy led Lily around the center of town, talking almost nonstop. With a smile, Lily let the teen pull her around and introduce her to all of her friends. Besides the weirdness of it all, she started to feel almost back to herself and that felt good. She was almost able to forget what had happened earlier with James, it made her feel awful things ended like that, but at least now he could think for himself.
Pushing away her dark thoughts she decided to enjoy herself. When she was finally free from Wendy, she looked around the crowded park where most of the celebrations were taking place. She smiled seeing Crocell and Karya, she bet they knew how to have a good time. "To the victory," Karya cheered handing her a drink as soon as Lily walked up to them.
"To the victory," Lily repeated downing her drink earning a look of approval from Crocell. They filled their glasses and downed them again. They continue to drink while they talked about the fights they been in and who did what better than the others. It had been nice, just to have some good honest fun for a change with anyone expecting more from her.
The next night was the night of the full moon. Lily was disappointed to see she still had to shift and apparently Xavier's mate blocker thing didn't work on the beasts though because the morning after the full moon Lily woke up against James. Surprisingly he simply got up without saying two words to her. It made her feel relieved but also a little rejected. She had been right in the end; the mate bond was the only thing making James feel attracted to her.
"Do you really have to go," Wendy pouted as Lily prepared to leave and Nick gave Lily a pointed glare nodding his head slowly up and down where his daughter couldn't see him. Lily nearly burst out laughing as she hugged the teen.
"Yeah Wendy I do, I need to see my family again," she explained and the girl gave her an understanding nod. Lily turned to the alpha holding out her hand. "Thanks for your help Nick and I hope the next time we meet it will be under better circumstances," she told him.
"There is no need for thanks, Lily," he replied as he took her hand. "I should thank you for bringing Wendy back safe," he told her then got an evil glint in his eye. "As far as next time I sure hope it won't happen for a very long time," he added.
"Dad," Wendy cried out and Lily started to laugh.
"Don't worry Nick, I have a lot of work to do at home," Lily replied with a large smile then turned to Uriel. She was surprised he was there to see her off.
"I hope you have a safe flight Lily but before you go I wanted to talk to you about your mate," he said.
"Well then there is nothing to talk about because I don't have one," she said, crossing her arms giving the angel before her a deadly glare.