Werewolves Be Damned - By Stacey Kennedy Page 0,54

he’s gained a new ability?” Zia asked.

Kyden shrugged. “I asked the same question, and Calder didn’t know. He said Lazarus is definitely strong. I’m assuming he’s stronger now than when before he vanished because why else would he have returned now? But Calder didn’t know if this vanishing ability belongs to him along, or if a witch has gifted it to him.”

Nexi shook her head again, trying to clear all her jumbled thoughts. “Wait, I’m so confused. You saw Lazarus that night in Salt Lake City. How did you not know it was him?”

Kyden brushed his thumb over the back of her hand and said softly, “I was three years old when your mother died. I have no memory of Lazarus.”

“Okay.” A frigid chill rushed through Nexi’s veins. Horror filled her at the thought the vampire who had not only destroyed Drake’s life, took Zia’s soul sister away, but also stole her birth mother away from her, still lived. “Let’s say it’s him. But again, what does he want from me?”

Kyden’s fingers tightened around hers and his muscles quivered, as his jaw clenched. “Calder told me he wants to drain your witch powers.”

She scrunched her nose. First, she had no idea what that meant exactly, and second, that made no sense. What in the hell would he drain out of her? “Ah, I don’t have my witch powers yet.”

Silence surrounded them before Zia whispered, “He must assume that you do. He drained Tillie for the magic held within her blood.”

The room spun in all directions around Nexi. How could Lazarus be so stupid? He hunted for something he couldn’t possibly get, since she didn’t have it to give to him. No, this didn’t add up.

Talon’s eyes flared with ire, as he asked Kyden, “What of the mortal deaths?”

Kyden exhaled, and his hold tightened on her hand. “Calder said it was to draw Nexi out, and to watch her to see if her abilities had flourished. Lazarus was waiting to see if she’d gained her magic.”

Something about that made her pause—as if something registered and a thought should follow, but her head hurt trying to piece this all together.. All those lives were lost because of her…and for nothing.

She didn’t have any powers…unless she counted her ability to feel Haven’s emotions and how Zia read her thoughts, and she was certain Lazarus could do a whole lot of nothing with that. She couldn’t even begin to process what this new information meant, or how the Council would deal with it.

At the same time, she wasn’t a victim any longer, and a plan formed. This might have been more of a concern, but she trusted those around her and believed in their strength. Was she really in danger? She didn’t think so. More to the point, she could see a way to put an end to this. “We have a little bit of leverage on him now.”

Talon cocked his head, curiously. “How so?”

“We do have something he wants.”

Kyden growled—a guttural, frighteningly inhuman sound—and stared down at her with more wrath than she thought one guardian could hold. “Not a fuck—”

Before he could finish his curse, Drake ripped her away, practically frothing at the mouth. “Are you suggesting you use yourself as bait?”

Nexi pushed Drake, sending him away, then repeated the move on Kyden. “Stop manhandling me. Now then, let’s discuss this.” She sighed, releasing the irritation bubbling up. “It’s our best shot at getting him, and you all know it. We can draw him out before he has the chance of taking more lives.”

“Absolutely not.” Drake glowered. “This is personal. He wants you, Nexi. By draining you, what Kyden means is Lazarus wants to kill you. And if he manages to somehow take your powers, he’d become near-unstoppable. Do you not understand that?”

Well, no, she didn’t understand what a vampire could do with drained powers, or really what in the heck he was talking about. But right now, she focused on the most obvious. “First off, I don’t have my witch abilities so he has nothing to take,” she gently reminded him. “And you’re all a force to be reckoned with. He wouldn’t get close enough to hurt me, then you can take him out.”

“No.” Drake finally gave a firm shake of his head. “You will not be involved—”

Nexi’s fists tightened to clobber him. They were so not having this conversation again where someone else tried to decide her life for her, but Kyden interjected, “Enough.” He turned to Nexi. “We won’t