Page 31 of The Fang Arrangement (Celestial Witches #2)

T oday was somehow one of the most horrifying yet gratifying days of my life. I feel complete, like Ember’s magical blood is coursing through my system, giving me a strength that I never imagined.

I wasn’t thrilled over the idea of her spending the full moon with her coven. But Betty will keep tabs on her, plus it’s for the best that she isn’t around while I do what needs to be done.

Since my retaliation could get me in trouble with the vampire council, I told Achille to bring our little problem to the bunker.

The sun hasn’t set yet, and Conner is attempting to get away from Achille as he drags him into the bunker.

“Get your fucking hands off of me, you fucking lap dog.”

His face is covered in one of our UV protectant balaclavas. I rip it off of his face before slapping him.

“That was a very unkind thing to say to Achille. He’s been nothing but kind to you, apologize,” I say, keeping my voice even.

“You’re nothing. You’re fucking ruining the nest, everything Oz built. Treating that witch like she’s meaningful to you. She should be dead or drained of her blood. You’re fucking pathetic?—”

Before he can continue spitting vitriol, I grab the stake I had Samantha retrieve, the one that nearly took my life and my witch’s, the one Conner stole from my office. Then I promptly shove it in his stomach, knowing it won’t kill him immediately.

I push it so far into his gut, the moment the tip pops through his back has me smiling.

He collapses to the floor, and I no longer need Achille to hold him, knowing he isn’t going anywhere.

Conner whines in pain, bleeding from his stomach as I grab his chin.

“I thought Oz was special too, once upon a time. Then I learned what an insecure, irrational, psycho he is. You’re young, it’s not a surprise you worshiped him, but fuck he’s only been rendered ash for a little over a week. You’ve already made such a critical assessment of my leadership abilities?”

“You…you…c-could never b-be him,” he stutters out in pain, trying to pull the stake from his gut.

“Pesky little bitch, that stake is. You’d need someone who isn’t a vampire to pull it out. Don’t see any of those around, do you, Achille?”

“No, sir,” Achille responds, leaning against the wall, bored.

“You could have left the nest, gone nomad. Instead, you betrayed me, you almost killed Ember. If I wasn’t fast enough to get her out of harm’s way she could have died.

Burned the shit out of my fucking face, too.

Thanks for that. I kind of pride myself on my face,” I say with a roll of my eyes. “Now, you’re going to die.”

“Just do it al-already.”

“Well, I’m kind of testing a theory. Want to make a bet, Achille? My bet’s ten minutes.”

“I’ll give it seven,” he says, holding up his phone, showing that he already started a stopwatch.

“My theory is the stake will still kill you if it’s left in, even if it’s not in the heart.

Would make sense why most people don’t live to tell the tale of a slayer.

Lucky me, I had a pretty little witch take mine out.

You know what’s sad for you? If she were still here, she would probably take mercy on you and pull it out. That’s what kind of person she is.”

Conner’s grim reality must be catching up with him as he looks up at me with pleading eyes. “Please. Take it out. I’ll do whatever you want.”

“Oh, that wasn’t even on the table. It was just a hypothetical if Ember was here. But she’s not. You’re stuck with me and I fucking hate you. She might have shown mercy, but you won’t get that from me. All you’ll get from me is pain.”

Red tears of blood spill from his eyes. I can tell he’s either about to plea for his life more or make up some pathetic excuse and frankly, I don’t have time for that shit.

I consider staking him again, but I don’t need to. Not as black veins creep along his neck, and his demise becomes evident. His jaw drops as he falls to the floor, becoming nothing but a shriveled pile of goo.

Achilles holds up his phone. “Five minutes and thirty-seven seconds.”

“Fucker. What victory prize would you like?”

“Not cleaning this mess up,” he says, and I let out a huff.

“Fine,” I groan, and Achille takes a seat in the corner.

I grab some of the cleanup as he crosses his arms. “Things have changed,” he declares.

The mop soaks up his guts as I glance over at him. “They have.”

“I thought it would be a bad thing, but I think change is maybe good.”

I pause cleaning, and stare at him. “You do?”

“I’ve known you for a long time. This is the happiest I’ve ever seen you. It gives me hope,” he says the last bit softly, and I wring out the mop.

I feel like a selfish dick, all these years moping and thinking I’m the only vampire out there having a crisis about who I am and what my purpose is. Achille may be doing the same thing.

“I didn’t realize you were having these feelings.”

He glares at me with an arched brow. “Yes, because we all talk about our feelings so much. Sometimes I wonder what it would have been like to grow old, have a family, say goodbye to my grandfather. I’ve been wondering if there’s more to this life, or if it has run its course. So, yes, now I have hope.”

I stare at my friend I’ve had so long but have never confided in.

“You’re not tethered to me. If you want to see what else is out there, I’d never stop you.”

He adjusts in his seat. He still has on his gear, minus his face covering, as he runs a hand over his head.

“You mean that?”

“You will always be welcome in the nest, but yes. If you’re feeling unfulfilled, life is too short, or too long, to not actually live it.”

As I say the words, it sinks in deeper. The fact that I have tethered Samantha to myself, that she’s right, she was my only reason for continuing this life.

Ember has given me a deeper purpose, and it’s due time that I do the same for everyone else around me.

“I’ll consider it, maybe take some vacation days,” Achille says, scrolling through his phone.

“You do that,” I reply as I mop up the guts.

The door to the bunker opens and Samantha comes strolling in with her night time clothes on.

“Smells like dead vampire in here,” she says solemnly. “You boys ready to go, I’m sure the council is getting antsy.”

“Achille, I’ll meet you in the car.”

“I think I’ll take the long way home,” he replies, zooming out of the room.

“What’s up? Also, you missed a spot,” she says, pointing to a speck of blood.

“I release you from your sire bond,” I say simply, and she gasps. The tie between us broken.

I’m not sure what I expect, for her to run away, for her to curse me out.

What I don’t expect is a bloody tear from her eye as she comes up to me and hugs me.

“I’m proud of you. Now…” she says with a sniffle, wiping the blood away with an eye roll. “Let’s go keep the council busy so your witch can do whatever it is witches do on the full moon. Do they get naked together? Are you cool with that?”

“Samantha, I just released you from the sire bond.”

“Yeah and?” she asks like I’m stupid.

“I thought you wanted to travel, to get as far away from me as possible.”

She punches my arm a little too hard.

“War, you’re a fucking idiot. No, I don’t want to leave you. I just wanted you to get out of this funk and find your blood mate.”

“I don’t deserve this life.”

“Nope, you likely don’t. Now let’s get the fuck out of here before they start asking questions.”

“Warin. How was your daytime stroll?” Sebastian says as we all stand on the edge of our property.

“Lovely. Did you rest?” I ask, ready for this asshole to fuck right on off.

“Could have been better,” he says, glancing over at Samantha.

“How much longer will the council insist on staying here? What if the Slayer realized they’re no match for the nest and went hunting elsewhere?”

“Hmm. I haven’t considered the possibility.” He snaps his fingers. “It’s a full moon. The chances of finding him tonight are higher than ever, so are the chances of running into a wolf or a witch. We’re to stay away from their running grounds.”

“Speaking of witches, where’s your guest, Warin?” Joyce says in her grating voice.

“If you must know, she has a life outside of me. It is the full moon, after all,” I reply confidently.

“You mean like a ritual with vampire blood on the full moon. It’s not like you don’t have a reputation of being manipulated by witches,” Joyce says.

“And you have a reputation for being a pain in the ass. Can we get this over with?” I ask.

“Yes. Sebastian, can we get this over with?” Samantha says sweetly, all the curiosity dripping from his face as he looks at her.

I might not hold the sire bond over her now, but she will always be my progeny and I don’t like how intrigued he is.

“So right, Samantha, darling, let’s go hunting.”

That’s just what we do, my mind open to Betty in case Ember runs into trouble.