Kristie Cook - Devotion

"I am well aware of some feelings against Tristan. Do you share these feelings, too, darling?" Rina's tone, though warm, held the edge of a challenge to it.

"I believe it would be wise to remove the child from the island and from all the Amadis," Julia said, not answering the question. "I have seen him use powers."

My breath caught in my throat, and I fake-coughed to cover it up. Tristan wasn't fooled. I gave him an I'll-tell-you-later look and refocused on the telepathic conversation.

"Dorian is too young to have powers," Rina said.

"I have seen it myself. We cannot have him near our people or our secrets. The Daemoni will be hunting him soon."

"They already hunt him and his parents. We must keep them protected as long as possible, not send them out to fight on their own."

"We cannot keep them here!" The intensity of Julia's thoughts escalated drastically. "Their presence on the island is a danger to all of us!"

"What ever is the matter, darling? You seem quite upset all of a sudden."

"It is not all of a sudden. I have my doubts about all three of them. The people who question Tristan's loyalty make excellent points. How do we know he's not actually betraying us by being here? He could be the traitor! Even Alexis–her father is Daemoni! We have no guarantees–"

Rina cut her off, her own thoughts full of anger. "This is ludicrous, Julia. I will not stand for this."

"There are too many unknowns with those three."

"I have assessed them myself. They are Amadis. Both of them!"

"Are you sure about your assessments?" Julia sneered. "Maybe you want them to be with us so much, you're not being completely objective."

Julia's eyes showed the shock on Rina's face.

"How dare you!" Rina seethed, her beautiful face contorted with a mix of emotions. She took a moment to regain her composure. "Where is this coming from? What is wrong with you, Julia? Questioning me? This is not like you at all!"

"Everyone questions you. They think you make poor decisions based on emotions rather than fact or past experience."

Again, Rina's face showed shock. Then her expression melted into … defeat? No, it couldn't have been defeat, but I wasn't sure what Rina was feeling, and I couldn't take the risk to hear her thoughts.

"I sense a division in my council," Rina finally said. "I will take this all into consideration. Thank you for being forthright with me, Julia. I can always count on you."

Rina's tone was amicable, but the disappointment and dismissal came loud and clear.

At that precise moment, Owen barged through the door to our room and bellowed, "Attack!"

We all spun at him with surprise, and he explained in a rush.

"The situation in Italy has escalated. The Daemoni have attacked our village in Tuscany, along with a Norman town nearby. They surround our island now!"

"What do they want?" Solomon demanded.

"Tristan and Alexis, of course," Owen said. "They say they'll continue attacking until Tristan and Alexis come out of hiding."

"Absolutely not!" Solomon barked, the rage in his eyes blowing away any doubt that a good vampire could be frightening. I was glad he was on our side.

Julia's voice rang in my mind. "I told you there would be trouble," she said to Rina in the grand room. "They need to leave. Immediately."

Tristan's voice brought me back to our room. "What exactly happened? What do you mean by attacked?"

"An old-fashioned raid," Owen said. "Dad arrived a few minutes ago and said they set fire to the Normans' homes and businesses and attacked the citizens. All to provoke us. Our people lifted the village's shield to flash to the Norman town and fight, but Daemoni were already waiting for them. We've lost several lives–both Amadis and Normans. Including a few … children." Owen's voice cracked with that last word.

My stomach rolled as if I'd plunged over the highest hill of a roller coaster. I clutched at my chest, finding only leather straps instead of the missing necklace.

"People … died … for us?" I gasped breathlessly. "We can't let them keep attacking. Tristan, we have to get out of here."

"You cannot leave," Solomon said. "If the Daemoni surround us, you cannot get off the island without being captured … or killed."

I stared at him with disbelief. "We can't let them kill anyone else because of us."

Julia piped up again, reminding me I remained connected to her mind. "Even Alexis knows they can't be here, Rina."

"Yes, she is concerned about everyone else's safety, but we must keep her protected," Rina insisted.

"We must let her leave! Let them go, Rina. It is best for everyone."

Next to me, Tristan murmured, "Give me a moment, my love."

I let him search for the best solution while Rina and Julia continued in the back of my mind.

"Her safety is paramount to our survival," Rina said.

Julia blew out a breath. "I didn't want to do this, but if you don't let them go, if they don't leave immediately, I will expose your secret."

My full attention jetted back to the other room in time to see Rina's eyes narrow. "What secret?"

"Your secret about the next daughter."

My breath caught again. Rina knows? She knows about the girl?

"Yes, we should go," Tristan said at that moment, covering the noise in my throat. "It's the only way to keep everyone safe."

I barely heard him, still reeling, as though I'd been punched.

"We're getting out of here," I said, again sounding breathless.

"No!" Rina commanded as she burst through the door. "You cannot leave our protection!"

"You choose your own blood over all of the Amadis?" Julia's thought followed her in, though her body did not. "Do you forget your role?"

Rina's face blanched, but I didn't feel sorry for her. Not when her betrayal stabbed me like daggers in the heart. She knew something about our daughter–the very one she dismissed after the council meeting, saying it was a ludicrous idea.

"Yes, I think that's exactly what we need to do," I said, trying with everything I had to keep my cool. "We don't need your protection. Tristan is the most powerful creature on this planet. According to you guys, I might be the second most powerful."

I didn't personally believe that last part, but, hell, everyone else did, and it supported my argument. I'd say anything to get out of here.

"Where will you go?" Mom demanded. "You'll be attacked everywhere."

I didn't have an answer, but Tristan did.

"The States, as we'd originally planned," he said.

"And if she is recognized as A.K. Emerson?" Rina challenged. I knew she didn't believe that possible. She grasped at straws. Why did she want to keep us from leaving, especially if her secret would be revealed? I didn't understand her anymore–no, I never really knew her at all.

"We all know I look nothing like the author's pictures."

"We'll use disguises, if necessary, but that's where Alexis wants to go," Tristan said. "It takes us away from the direct center of the current action here in Europe, and it's a place where they likely won't search for us. They won't expect us to go anywhere near where we once lived."

Just then, I realized Julia's mind signature was still close by–she was listening to our plans. And so was that other signature, which I'd nearly forgotten about.

"Rina, who was with Julia?" I demanded, seemingly out of the blue. She looked caught off guard.

"Nobody," she said.

"Bullshit!" Everyone gasped but I ignored them. "There was someone else."

I wanted to tell her about the other mind signature, but I couldn't. Too many people in the building weren't aware of my power, and I wasn't about to try telepathy with her while still minding Julia and the other signature. Too many thoughts to manage safely.

"I do not know what you speak of, Alexis," Rina said, sounding offended. "It was only Julia. I would have sensed anyone else, would have heard their thoughts."