Blood Ties Read online

  “I’m sorry. I don’t believe we’ve met.” Renata said, cool as ice. She knew this man was from the Order of the Seven Blades. She didn’t have to check his wrist for the mark.

  “Oh, how rude of me. I’m Scott Emsworth, my lady.” He tipped his head to her in a way that mocked her status, making her feel smaller than an ant under his boot.

  “Ah. Mr. Emsworth, sadly I cannot recall inviting you to my humble home.” She said, her politeness fading with each word.

  “Ah, but you did. You see, Auntie,” he taunted her, “you have something of mine, and I fully intend to reclaim him.”

  Jackson Crowe.

  “I’m not leaving without him. I have ten hunters throughout this ballroom, ready to attack at my command. And, I don’t particularly believe you’d want that, would you?”

  Renata froze. Ten hunters ready to change into magnas at any moment. She assumed this man, Scott, was the Order’s leader if the hunters were ready to attack at his command. She wasn’t sure how to proceed. She could refuse, and risk the lives of her House members and the two hundred guests, or comply with his demands and let the Order take what they wanted so easily. Scott had her hands tied, and he knew it. Renata had no choice, and she despised it.

  Scott continued, “So I suggest you hand him over to me. Then, we’ll leave quietly, and I’ll let your little party continue without a fuss.”

  “I see. I will have someone deliver him to you immediately.” Renata turned, startled, to see Wyatt behind her, his body tense. She’d been so focused on Scott, that she hadn’t noticed the music stopped.

  “Go get him.” She said to him quietly. The smell of Edwin’s culinary masterpiece soared through the ballroom.

  Wyatt protested, “Renata, you can’t just—”

  “Just do it, Wyatt.”

  He hesitated, but then left Renata with the Order’s leader, a member of her long lost family. Wyatt and Will returned with Jackson, who seemed to be looking at her as Will led him towards Scott.

  “Uncle Scott,” Jackson breathed with relief.

  Uncle Scott?

  That must mean…

  Laurentia Crowe was Scott’s sister.

  She has to, Renata concluded, because they don’t share a last name. Like Scott, she was one of Evander’s descendants.

  Scott walked toward his nephew, placing his hand on the small of Jackson’s back, leading him out of the mansion. Just before reaching the door, Jackson turned to look back at Renata. She looked away quickly after he met her gaze. Soon after Jackson and Scott left, the ten other hunters, dispersed throughout the room, followed suit.

  Renata was grateful for the cacophony of laughing, drinking, and talking that concealed the confrontation. She didn’t want the other House members to see her moment of weakness, yet, she couldn’t help but be angry with herself. Yes, she prevented a deadly attack, but she also allowed the Order to push her around and take what they wanted without a fight in her own mansion. She had no other choice.

  Scott gave her no other choice.

  She hated that feeling of helplessness, playing right into the enemy’s plans. So easily, Scott waltzed right in and got what he wanted. And she let him do it. She let him taunt her, walk all over her, and take her only possible advantage.

  Then again, there was no guarantee she would have even gotten Jackson to talk.

  Some advantage he was.

  She presumed he simply would have been nice to look at, but other than that, a waste of her time. She headed up the stairs to her room. All she wanted was to go to sleep. To pretend like today never happened.

  “Renata,” Wyatt started, chasing after her.

  “I’d just like to go to sleep if you wouldn’t mind,” she said, defeated. “Goodnight Wyatt.”

  She turned around to continue up the stairs.

  “I think you made the right call,” Wyatt said to her, stopping Renata in her tracks.

  She smiled halfheartedly, her hand resting on the railing beside her. “Thank you.”

  SEVEN

  “I want to go undercover.” Wyatt said to her, “We need an inside man.”

  “An inside man?” Renata asked, even though she fully understood Wyatt’s proposition.

  “Yes.” He explained, “Someone on the inside who the Order won’t suspect, who can send information back to you. It will give us the upper hand.”

  “Wait a minute,” Renata said, holding up her palm. “Where is all of this coming from? Why do you want to do this?”

  “Seeing how helpless you were at the party…” Wyatt’s expression hardened. “I didn’t realize how dangerous the Order was or how much of a threat they were.” His tone was resolute. “If anything happened to Adela, I would never forgive myself.”

  Renata turned to Will, who stood next to Wyatt in front of her desk. “What do you think of this?”

  “I think it would be useful to have someone we trust inside the Order. The information we could get would be extremely valuable.” Will said, “Especially after that stunt they pulled last night.”

  She couldn’t help but see the advantages of having Wyatt infiltrate the Order. With Laurentia Crowe dead, she’d need to either employ someone who was currently a part of the Order, or a human who happened to be loyal to her. Wyatt could be an even greater asset to her and the House—more than just a free piano player for events.

  Still, infiltrating the Order of the Seven Blades would be a great risk. If he were discovered, the mission wouldn’t only endanger Wyatt’s life, it would jeopardize the House. It would be irresponsible to start something she couldn’t finish. Alexander taught her better.

  “It’s too dangerous,” Renata said.

  “Renata, this is exactly the step we need to take,” Wyatt pleaded. “Besides, I’m the only human in the House. I’m the only one who can do this.” His hazel eyes pleaded with her. “You have to let me do this.”

  He had a point. If the Order’s hunters were trained to kill vampires, they must be trained to identify them too. Only a human would be a plausible spy.

  “I can train him to fight, should anything happen to him,” Will offered. “Although, I’m sure the Order will train him too.”

  Renata was silent, reconsidering Wyatt’s proposition. Will seemed to be on board, and when it came to the Order, Renata was sure that she needed any advantage she could get.

  “Fine. I’ll allow this, under the conditions that Will trains you, and you are to report to me every two weeks by email. I’ll have Veronica create an account for you that can’t be traced,” Renata said.

  “Veronica’s making me a secure email address?” Wyatt asked.

  “Of course,” Will said. “She was one of the few female computer science majors in college, back in the 1970s when it was still a new a major. Aside from publicity, she’s a computer whiz.”

  “I want this project to be on a need to know basis. Only people involved, the two of you, myself and Veronica, will know about it to ensure Wyatt’s safety. Understood?”

  The two men nodded.

  “Will,” Renata said, “send Veronica to my office so I can brief her on this. Other than that, we’re done here. The two of you should start Wyatt’s training as soon as possible.”

  “We’ll get right on it,” Will said. Then he and Wyatt left.

  “I guess this means no more piano lessons,” Renata said aloud to herself. She’d learned a lot from Wyatt during those weekly lessons. Alexander would’ve been proud of her.

  Renata pulled Alexander’s diary out of her desk drawer. She had been reading it so often that she had started leaving it in her desk rather than the hidden room. A few moments later, Renata heard a soft knock at the door.

  “Come in!” She said, closing the diary and slipping it back into her desk drawer.

  As anticipated, Veronica sauntered into the room.

  Renata briefed her with what she needed to know. No more, no less.

  “It should be no problem,” she assured Renata. “I can ma
ke the email address anonymous and untraceable.”

  “Thank you, Veronica.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  ~

  The next day, Renata was up and about busying herself with menial house tasks when she finally got around to seeking out Adela.

  “How are you taking it?” Renata asked her second-in-command. “Wyatt’s becoming a spy, I mean.”

  “I’m worried about him, but I’m confident he can do this without being detected by the Order,” Adela answered, tucking her dark hair behind her ear.

  “This project is on a need to know basis. As my second-in-command, you should know, but you’re also his sister.”

  Adela hugged her. “Thank you, Renata.”

  “I’ll have you know, though, this whole thing was his idea, not mine.”

  Adela laughed. “Trust me, I believe it.”

  Wyatt and Will, both of whom were drenched in sweat, walked into the common room talking. Both had towels draped over their necks.

  “How’d training go?” Adela asked Wyatt, “Can you fight yet?”

  “He’s been doing pretty well the past couple of training sessions,” Will said. “I think he’s ready.”

  “Good. Now we need to get you into the Order.” Renata said to Wyatt.

  “Maybe if you draw attention to yourself with vampire-hating behaviors, the Order will come to you,” Adela said.

  “That’s a good idea, Adela,” Renata said to her. “The Order must have eyes and ears everywhere, so with the right act, it shouldn’t be too hard to get their attention.”

  “So, what is he supposed to do,” Will asked, throwing up his hands. “Take a nice stroll in the park and profess his undying hatred for bloodsuckers?”

  “Yes,” Renata contemplated the idea. “That’s exactly what he’s going to do.”

  In response to the blank stares she received from the others, she said, “I have a plan.”

  ~

  “Why do your plans always make me feel like someone is going to get killed?” Will asked exasperatedly as he, Renata, and Wyatt walked onto the beach later that day.

  The beach in Newport was always crowded with people. It was the perfect place to be discreet, to hide in plain sight, while not being completely hidden. She needed the Order’s eyes and ears to fall for her ploy.

  Renata shrugged. “Maybe I’m secretly a thrill-seeker.”

  “Sure,” Will said, stretching out the word, his voice laced with sarcasm.

  “Alright,” she said to Wyatt, “I’m going to be walking along the beach towards the street, and you need to pursue me, corner me, and attempt to kill me with the stake.” Renata pulled her brown hair out of her ponytail. “I’ll overpower you and escape.”

  Wyatt looked down at the stake in his hand and nodded. “Okay.”

  Renata continued, “Will, lie low and watch us.” She turned to him, “Be ready, should we encounter the Order directly.”

  Will nodded, his careful eye already scrutinizing the beach. He turned to Wyatt, pointing to the wooden stake in his hand. “You’re going to want to conceal that until you plan to attack Renata. If you were actually trying to kill her, you wouldn’t want her to see your weapon.”

  “Got it,” Wyatt slipped the stake into the inside pocket of his jacket, taking a deep breath. “Let’s do this.”

  Renata zipped up her black hoodie, pulling the hood over her head as she walked out onto the sand. The cool, early March wind kissed her body as it pushed against her. This time of year was still cool in New England. Her hoodie fit the climate, allowing her to blend in. But, she knew the Order would be looking for someone suspicious, someone attempting to hide their face. The black hood conveyed just that. She was sure she was on the Order’s radar, and even if they didn’t yet know what she was, they were now suspicious of her.

  She sensed someone walking behind her.

  Good, it’s all going according to plan.

  She hastened her pace, a sign of someone who didn’t want to be followed, giving the Order another reason to watch her.

  She walked onto the sidewalk parallel to the beach and proceeded into the city, passing restaurants and parked cars. She felt a presence behind her advancing and, taking Wyatt’s cue, and she ducked into an alleyway on the side of a building. She turned to look at him but had a sickening feeling in the bottom of her stomach when she saw someone else, someone who wasn’t Wyatt.

  She recognized those beautiful brown eyes, that black hair…

  Jackson Crowe.

  The last time Renata felt this kind of fear, she was being cornered by two magnas. She looked around, desperate for a way out.

  There was no sign of Will or Wyatt.

  Not a second too late, Wyatt pounced into the alleyway, stake in hand as if he was going to attack her.

  In a flash, Jackson took a defensive stance in front of her, blocking Wyatt’s pretend attack.

  Renata’s brain couldn’t process what she was seeing. “Why did you—”

  Jackson’s hand covered her mouth.

  “Hey man,” Wyatt said with pretend disgust, still going along with the plan. “Let me have this one.”

  Slight relief washed over her. Wyatt would still get the Order’s attention, but that did nothing to ease her fear. The situation spiraled beyond her control. She was sure this time, Jackson wouldn’t hesitate to kill her.

  “I don’t have time for amateur hunters,” he said as he dragged Renata out of the alleyway.

  Good lord.

  He was going to kill her himself.

  Renata looked at Wyatt, begging for help with her eyes. He exchanged a stare with Jackson, before running out of the alley. Renata prayed he was going to get Will. Until they arrived, she would have to stall. She would have to think of something. Anything that could buy her some time.

  Jackson waited for a moment and then took his hand off her mouth.

  Renata couldn’t understand what just happened. Her body froze, limbs rigid, while she searched for a rational answer that could explain what she’d just seen. A wave of emotions washed over her. Shock, confusion…relief.

  “Why,” she hesitated, the words lodged in her throat. “Why did you save me?”

  He didn’t know that this was all a setup, and she intended to keep it that way. Still, he saved her, and she couldn’t wrap her head around why.

  “I don’t know,” he replied, looking at the sidewalk just outside the alley.

  “Thank you,” she said to him.

  He avoided looking at her. “You’re welcome.”

  They were silent for a moment.

  “You should get home,” he said quietly, strolling out of the alley without another word.

  She nodded, her mouth dry. “I will.”

  Renata’s eyes followed him as he left her alone in the alley.

  EIGHT

  “That was way too close,” Will said as he, Renata, and Wyatt, strolled into the parlor. “I think I have deja vu.” He plopped onto the armchair by the piano. He pointed his finger at her, “Because I said the same thing to you after your last plan.”

  Renata remembered. Her plan to capture a magna hadn’t gone all that well either.

  She didn’t know how to respond. How could she have known Jackson would interfere? He didn’t hurt her, though.

  He saved her.

  Not that Wyatt was actually going to kill her, but Jackson didn’t know that.

  “Will, he saved me.”

  “Wait a minute.” Will sat up in his chair. “He what?”

  “He stood in front of me, blocking Wyatt’s attack.” She said, “I knew Wyatt wasn’t going to hurt me, but he didn’t know that. He couldn’t have.”

  Could he?

  “What did he do after that?” Will asked, leaning on the arm of the chair.

  “He said I should go home, and then he left.”

  “I don’t trust that guy,” Will sighed. “Well, we definitely got the Order’s attention.”

  “That’s for s
ure.” Renata said to Wyatt, “You’re going to have to go out in public tomorrow and hope the Order recruits you.”

  “Will, go with him and stay hidden, and be ready for anything unexpected,” Renata ordered, heading upstairs to her bedroom. The past couple of days had worn her out. Once she got to her room and changed into a comfortable T-shirt and sweatpants, she climbed into her bed. No matter how much she tried to rest, her mind continued to race.

  Why did he save me? Shouldn’t he want me dead?

  She could have sworn that the hateful man she held captive in the mansion’s basement wouldn’t have hesitated to let Wyatt kill her.

  Maybe he was more like his mother than she thought he was.

  Renata closed her eyes, but all she saw was Jackson and his beautiful brown eyes, as he leaped in front of Wyatt’s staged attack.

  No, no, no. She refused to swoon. Jackson was still a vampire hunter, still a killer, and still dangerous. Not to mention he was Scott’s nephew.

  And she couldn’t trust him.

  ~

  A week later, Wyatt sent his first email.

  “He’s in, Renata. Your plan to get the Order’s attention worked.” Will informed her.

  Wyatt was now a spy for the House.

  “Good,” Renata said. “Now we wait for his first report.”

  “Yeah,” Will said to her, grinning. “We’ll be ready for almost anything the Order throws at us.”

  Renata smiled softly, hiding her thoughts behind the mask. “That’s what we hoped for.”

  She still had her reservations when it came to Wyatt’s position within the Order. There was no guarantee that Scott would trust him with any information that would prove useful to the House.

  Renata was grateful Jackson’s interference didn’t hinder Wyatt’s acceptance into the Order. She still couldn’t help but wonder why he saved her.

  Could it be possible he felt something for her?

  No. He wouldn’t feel anything for me.

  She was a vampire, his sworn enemy. Hell, his entire family was probably members of the Order. His uncle Scott was the Order’s leader, making Jackson some kind of vampire hunter royalty. It would never work between the two of them, so she might as well get over whatever feelings she harbored for him now.