Chapter 162

Candido was headed back to the barracks we were staying in. No one seemed bothered by the scent of smoke. Some of them watched us run past with curiosity. The man that had been following us, trotted behind us, keeping up easily. I smelled smoke the closer we drew. Suddenly, he stopped and glared back at me.

“I told you to stay there.”

“I want to help.”

He was about to say something when something cracked in the air. It was like lightning had struck nearby. He turned back, and I looked in the direction, and I saw a tall man, broad-shouldered with dark hair blowing in the wind that swirled around the area. He was dressed much like Ian was but with less metallic trim on his clothing. His boots were scuffed. He was wearing armor and there was a sword on his hip. He was really handsome. He looked about as old as Candido was and furious. His eyes glowed. A glimmering wall surrounded the barracks as other vampire darted inside.

Ian and Raven were nearby along with Shiloh and Messiah. None of them looked concerned about what was happening. This man didn’t seem to be a threat to them, but what was going on?

“And you think that makes it right?” The man yelled, his voice was deep and seemed to shake the air with its power. “I have deferred to you Prince Ian for years out of consideration for her, but to think you’d do something like this is unforgivable.”

“I see you’re in a particularly melodramatic mood,” Ian said plainly. “I have no interest in fighting you today, Cillian. Calm yourself. It is not nearly as bad as you think.”

Cillian. I had never heard the name before but something about it was familiar. I felt… something that I couldn’t explain as we drew closer. The air felt different.

“I would never think to fight you, but I deserve an explanation after all this time. Damian’s forces and all the following have moved forward with their plans and we are no closer to finding the other artifacts.”

“I have recovered the triskele.”

Cillian went still.

“And…” Ian sighed. He lifted his hand and pointed at me. “There is the rest of your explanation.”

Cillian turned sharply then went still. His eyes widened as our eyes met. He looked at me the way I always dreamed of Candido looking at me, with so much love and passion that I felt a little overwhelmed under his gaze. His eyes were full of hope. The air stilled, stopping dead. The glint of his eyes vanished revealing his true eye color: a warm hazel.

For a moment, I felt like we were connected. I felt a bit hot and utterly shaken. I knew him somehow. The problem was that I had never met this man before.

“Hedwig… I… Impossible… You… You said…” He turned to look at Ian. “You said she was dead!”

“She is. Don’t be fooled by the resemblance.” Ian scoffed. “This is Hedy, her second daughter.”

“… daughter?”

“She’s half-werewolf,” Ian said. “In the truest sense.”

Cillian looked back at me. His expression was twisted with confusion.

“And dumb,” Raven said. “I told you to stay there.”

“I don’t have to listen to you,” I growled at her. “What’s going on?”

“You’re a werewolf,” Ian said. “Isn’t that what you said?”

He turned his cold gaze on me, disdainful and dismissive.

“You said you weren’t one of us; thus, this does not concern you.”

Cillian shook his head. “You can’t just exclude her. She’s… She’s…”

“Involved,” Ian said. “And there is where her loyalties lie.”

Cillian turned back and grew stiff. His eyes narrowed as he looked at Candido. Candido went still.

“Candida’s son,” Cillian said softly then glanced at me. “Somehow, I’m not surprised to see you here with her…”

He glanced at me again, his gaze lingering on me before he turned to look at Ian.

“You offered them refuge… At a time like this.”

“It suits my plan.”

Cillian shook his head. “Somehow, I should have expected you to say that… And the rest? Their little vigilante organization?”

He lifted a shoulder. “Again. It suits my plan for now. If you would lower the wall? I did at least tell them they would be free to leave so long as they obeyed the rules.”

Cillian hesitated and the glimmering wall vanished. He lowered his gaze. Ian walked towards him and placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Whatever you choose from this moment on, I will not stop you.”

Cillian looked at him. They seemed to share a silent conversation before Cillian spoke.

“You… hid this from me. I am not so… damaged to need such protection.”

Ian scoffed and clapped him on the shoulder. “I never considered you damaged. Perhaps prone to flights of fancy and melodrama, but not damaged.”

Cillian chuckled as Ian turned to leave. Raven came over to me, looking between me and Candido. She looked like she wanted to say something, but she shut her mouth and drew back. She turned with a huff and vanished on the spot.

Cillian’s eyes widened. “When did she…”

“Little Raven’s powers have grown over the years,” Ian said. “It is good to have you back, Cillian. Perhaps you’ll stick around a while yet this time. Many have missed you.”

Cillian nodded, his gaze drifting to me. He tore his gaze away sharply and turned.

“I will take my leave.” Cillian turned walked down the street back the way we came. He didn’t walk near to me. He seemed to be doing it on purpose, but for a moment our eyes met again and I felt that sense of connection again. Candido stood in front of me, but Cillian didn’t react. Our gazes held until he looked away. I turned to watch him leave, unsure of why.

There was something in his eyes. The wind blew, and I smelled something spicy like cinnamon and rich like chocolate with the faintest hint of something earthy. It was completely different than Candido’s usual scent, but it made my mouth water and my gut clench.

Ian chuckled, drawing my attention. His eyes glinted as he scanned me.

“Well, isn’t that interesting…” Ian said and looked at me. “You might have some use after all.”

“What does that mean?” Candido asked, stepping between us.

I looked back to where I could still make out Cillian’s figure. An older woman came streaking out of a shop and stopped him on the street, wrapping her arms around him. He seemed to laugh and embrace her kindly, warmly. A little girl came out with a bag. He crouched down to give her a hug and take the bag from her. She took him by the hand and dragged him towards the shop.

Others came out from other shops, crowding around him like he was a celebrity.

“Who… is he?” I asked.

“Cillian Hargrave,” Ian said slowly. “In another life, he might have been your father, but Hedwig never had any interest in him.”

“Why?” I asked.

His lips twitched. “She said… She preferred blondes… though give her second choice, I think it was more she preferred her first.”

“You’re saying… that he loved her,” Candido said slowly.

Ian smiled. “That and he has a distinct distrust for you and every werewolf not born in Lunae.”

I turned back. “There are werewolves here?”

Ian snorted. “Of course. We, unlike you, do not believe in passing the sins of the previous generations down to their successors.”

Ian looked at her. “Though now that you’re here, you may as well stick around. Perhaps you can ask him to release your friends.”

Candido went still. “What do you mean by that?”

Ian chuckled. “He took down the wall, but he has asked to take custody of them. He believes there is information of worth to be gained from them.”

“And you agreed?” Candido hissed. “That wasn’t the deal!”

“What deal?” Ian asked. “You would have to have something of worth to offer for there to be a deal.”

I swallowed and turned back as Cillian came out of the shop, waving goodbye. I looked back at the building and saw a new group of vampires, all of them dressed in the same armor as Cillian. They were armed with swords and other weapons, and looked as though they were awaiting orders.

“Then let us leave.”

“And get yourselves killed?” Ian asked. “Cillian won’t kill you unless you decide to be difficult.”

I thought back to the guards and Troy from before. Maybe they wouldn’t kill anyone if they refused, but they wouldn’t let them off lightly either. Vampires were cruel, and with these stupid things on our necks and arms, we were at a disadvantage. The more I thought about it, the more II realized that there wasn’t much choice about what had to be done. I turned back and headed after Cillian.

“Hedy, wait!”