“My brother thinks he can use it to overthrow my father,” Killian interrupted. “You must hand it over.”
“Who died and made you king?” Sadie asked incredulously. She remained seated to Maya’s right but kept her big, brown eyes on Killian. “Last time I checked, you’re not in charge,” she said, jutting her thumb toward the king. “He is.”
“Enough,” Olivia said wearily as she shot Sadie a look. “Apologies, we’re all a bit on edge.”
“No problem,” Killian said with a wink. “I like a woman with some moxie.”
“Oh please.” Sadie rolled her eyes.
“Maya,” Olivia said gently. “The necklace is your family heirloom, and I have explained to King Heinrich that I will not force you to hand it over. However, given the circumstances, I’m sure you can agree that it would be best to give it to the wolves.”
“Yes,” Maya whispered. She looked down at the necklace in her palm and ran one finger over the smooth, brilliant green emerald. “It vibrates when wolves are close by, and when it’s not lying against my skin…well…see for yourself.”
Maya held it by the chain and allowed the stone to dangle in the air. When it began to glow, everyone let out a gasp. Killian and Heinrich’s eyes flickered to orange and they growled. “It’s just letting me know that there are wolves in the vicinity. I don’t think it can hurt you like this,” Maya said quickly. “I think I have to be wearing it, and when I took that boy’s wolf away, I had both hands on his chest.”
“Yes,” King Heinrich murmured. His eyes flickered back to their human state. “According to the legend, the Vanator gypsy women who wielded the dark magic were always wearing that necklace.”
“My brother saw a picture of all of you online. The advertisement for the club, that one with all four of you.” Killian pointed to the necklace. “Maya, you were wearing it in the photo. That’s why he came to New York.”
You could have cut the tension in the room with a knife while everyone watched and waited to see what Maya would do. Rubbing the stone between her fingers, she looked at each of them but lingered on Shane. We all have choices , she whispered into his mind. Don’t we, Shane?
“Here.” Maya leaned across the table and placed the necklace at the center. “It’s yours.” She flicked a glance to Shane who had moved closer to Killian but kept his intense gaze on Maya. “Like you said, King Heinrich, we all have choices, and this is mine.”
“Thank you,” Heinrich said in a voice edged with relief. “You are exactly the way Sentry Quesada described you.” Maya flicked her confused eyes to Shane but the king continued speaking. “I have already informed the czars that Killian and I will meet Horace tonight at the bridge, instead of you, and we will escort him and his friends out of the city.”
“Thank you,” Olivia said as she and Doug rose to their feet. She shook hands across the table with both werewolves and gave them a charming smile. “Our two sentries, Shane and Pete, will be in the area and can provide additional assistance if necessary.”
“That’s generous of you,” Killian said with a wide grin. “But I’m sure we can handle this family matter on our own.”
“I insist,” Olivia said through a tight smile.
The tension level in the room ratcheted up a few notches while the leaders of both races smiling politely at one another. King Heinrich finally broke the silence.
“Very well.” He looked at his son and held up one hand to prevent him from interrupting. “We would be grateful for their assistance. You have been gracious hosts, and we wouldn’t want to seem ungrateful. Would we, Killian?”
“Aw, man,” Trixie whined and cracked her knuckles. “I was looking for a chance to practice the fighting skills that Pete taught us.”
“Another time,” Sadie said with a glance at Killian. “Something tells me we’ll have other opportunities.”
“What are you going to do with the necklace?” Shane asked the king while he continued looking at Maya.
“Destroy it,” the king whispered.
He removed a black velvet bag from his pocket, reached across the table, and used it to pick up the necklace. Maya took an involuntary step back. Her movement didn’t go unnoticed by anyone, especially Shane, who seemed more agitated than usual. Without a word, Heinrich dropped the bag on the ground and stomped on it repeatedly with incredible force. The room shook as the werewolf king pummeled the bag, turning the stone into dust and the chain into clinking pieces of broken metal.
Maya’s hand flew to her mouth while she watched the king transform her necklace into a bag of junk. Her stomach churning, she backed away from the scene. She was prepared to give them the necklace, but she definitely hadn’t expected them to destroy it right in front of her. Images of her grandmother flickered through her head and she squeezed her eyes shut, attempting to get herself together as pain flared deep in her gut.
“Maya?” Olivia moved across the room and stood next to Maya. “Are you alright? You look like you’re going to faint.”
“Oh man,” Trixie moaned. “She’s not knocked up, too, is she?”
“Trixie,” Olivia warned.
“What?” Trixie said with pure exasperation. “She and Quesada are bloodmates like you and Doug, so it’s not exactly outside the realm of possibility.”
“Is this true?” King Heinrich asked, looking from Shane to Maya. “There is another bloodmate vampire couple? Are they daywalkers, too?”
“No,” Shane said tightly. “Maya and I have decided not to commit to the bloodmate bond. I will be transferring to the European offices as soon as possible. Like you said, King Heinrich, we all have choices.”
“It ain’t exactly something you choose,” Doug said. Olivia shot him a look and he quickly added, “But I wouldn’t have it any other way. Right, babe?”
“You’re not going anywhere, Quesada,” Olivia said firmly. She placed both hands on Maya’s arms and lowered her voice to gentler tones. “Maya? What’s going on?”
“I—I didn’t think they’d destroy it,” she whispered through shaking lips.
“I’m sorry,” King Heinrich said earnestly with a bow of his head. “I shouldn’t have done that in front of you, Maya. It was thoughtless of me. Please accept my apologies.”
“It’s fine,” Maya bit out. “I’ll be fine.” She hardened her expression and looked at Shane briefly. “I’m not pregnant. Shane and I aren’t daywalkers, and I’m not a werewolf hunter. I’m merely an exhausted vampire who hasn’t slept in twenty-four hours, and I’d really like to go back to my apartment and get some rest.”
“You’re not going back alone,” Olivia said with a quick look at Shane. “Shane will take you home.”
“No,” Maya said a bit too sharply. She shook her head and plastered on a smile, trying to laugh off her reaction. “I flew all the way back from New Orleans by myself, I think I can handle going back to the apartment.”
“Right.” Olivia kissed her warmly on the cheek. “Then humor me and let Sadie and Trixie walk you back, okay?”
Maya nodded wordlessly and cast one last glance at Shane before leaving with her sisters, but he looked away. He didn’t insist on coming with her and made no attempt to telepath. A sob choked Maya when the doors closed behind them because Shane’s choice was heartbreakingly clear.
Maya wanted nothing more than to sleep. To drift into the leaden slumber of a vampire and hide—but sleep wasn’t coming. Clad in her favorite pink tank top and yoga pants, she lay on her bed tossing and turning but found no relief. She glanced at the clock on the nightstand and saw that it was well past one in the morning. The meeting with Horace had apparently gone off without a hitch, and according to the call she got from Olivia, the wolves were headed to Kennedy Airport for their flight back to Alaska.
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