The Blood Moon Twins
Chapter 129

CAULDER

"Not interested," I said and started to close the door.

He tried to stick his foot in the door, but the shield blocking the entrance made his foot bounce off the opening. He tried to hide his frustration, but it was clearly etched onto his face. Even though physically he couldn't stop me from shutting the door, something else made me pause.

We were safe inside the house, but I didn't feel safe. Others would be here any second, and Winslow had been defeated by me alone before, but something told me I needed to hear what he had to say-even if it was just to know what was coming. "Trust me, you'll want to make this deal." There was something guttural about his voice.

I didn't trust him. I would never trust him or the Council of Magic ever again. I still didn't shut the door.

When he saw my hesitation, he took the opportunity to offer me the deal anyway. "We want you and Remy to come work with us."

His eyes flickered to Remy, and I was sure he could feel the change in her power. She only grew stronger every day, and I could see the hunger in his eyes. It disgusted me.

"No." It was a simple answer, and it wouldn't change, no matter what else he said.

"You did a lot of damage, and you owe us," Winslow said. He meant it too. He truly thought I owed him after everything that had happened.

I scoffed in his face. "I don't owe you anything after what you did."

His eyes darkened, and I saw him for the true villain he was. He liked to play the good guy, the one doing what he could do to save my family, but it was all for selfish reasons. He didn't care what happened to my family. He only cared about the power we possessed. "I made you what you are today. You wouldn't have been able to break out of an impenetrable building if it weren't for the power I coaxed out." Glass and nails spilled out of his mouth as he spoke. There was a simmering anger just beneath the surface, because he truly felt entitled to my power, like he did me a favor and I should be grateful for it. But I wasn't, so he just saw me as this ungrateful brat.

I opened my mouth to argue against him, but he cut me off before I could even begin.

"If you don't agree to come, you will be deemed official enemies of the Council of Magic. This entire wolf pack will be deemed enemies, and we won't hesitate to tear you down and take what is owed to us," he said, his voice unwavering.

This was a serious threat, but it didn't phase me. "I assumed we were already your enemies after what I did-which was justified by the way. You kidnapped me, tortured me, and you expect me to be grateful? Not a chance. And there's no chance we'll ever agree to work with you."

This only irritated him more. Some part of him honestly thought that he could threaten us and get his way again. What he didn't realize was that when he released my magic, he also broke a part of me, the part that felt intimidated by an old man's threats. It couldn't get much worse than what he had already put me through.

"The shield you put around that creature was the strongest it has ever been. We need your power, or that creature will break free and attack your sister." This time it was desperation that filled his voice. Since his threat didn't work, he was hoping to manipulate us by making the guilt suffocate me.

Remy stepped forward, standing next to me while being careful not to cross the threshold. She stood tall, and she didn't look afraid. There was no fear radiating from her, and I didn't understand how she could face him so confidently.

"How dare you try to threaten my safety to manipulate Caulder." Her voice was strong and unwavering, and she was holding it together better than Winslow or myself. "How dare you step onto our pack and threaten us, because you didn't get what you wanted. You're not welcome here, and there is nothing you can say that will get us to agree to work with you. Ever. We are strong enough to take care of ourselves. Just because you are not strong enough to deal with an ancient creature doesn't make it our problem." "It is your problem," Winslow snapped. "The shields are failing again. Rapidly, I might add. Soon, we won't be able to stop it, and if that happens, it will be your problem and the rest of the world's."

Before Remy could give her retort, my father stepped up, pulling us behind him. "My children have said everything that needed to be said. Now leave this pack without touching a hair on anyone's head, or I can guarantee that you will not be leaving here alive. I suggest you don't test us."

The alpha energy spilled over him, and the air grew thicker from his power. Winslow swallowed hard, but it looked like he was trying to swallow something gummy that would not slide down his throat with ease.

"I will be back, and you'll regret this." Winslow's voice wavered, and he sounded scared. I had never seen that man show an emotion other than confidence, anger, and then surprise when I broke free. Fear was a new one, and I felt satisfied with it filling his face. At least I wasn't the only one afraid.

Then Winslow was gone, and the air felt lighter. It was still tense, but everyone could breathe again. My father quickly shut the door and turned to us. "We got everyone in their homes, so they should be safe. If Winslow does attempt anything, we are ready," he ensured. "You both handled that well." Harper's hand slipped into mine, and my body stopped shaking at her touch. I didn't even realize I had been shaking until she touched me.

"What are we going to do if they come after us?" The thought terrified me, but I didn't want to admit it out loud. I was stronger than Winslow. I was sure of that, especially with his comments about the shields, but anger mixed with fear as I thought about Winslow coming after me again. I had been pushing those thoughts away, focusing too much on the vampires. It was a nice distraction, but not a realistic one.

"They will come," my mother said, stepping up to join my father's side. "But we'll be ready. I have already talked to Cain, and he and his people are willing to help, especially if it means taking out the Council of Magic."

"What about the creature?" Remy asked. "He said their shields are failing."

"That was probably just a scare tactic," my father said.

"It might not be," Blade said. "Draven could be using Remy's blood to break down the shields. He wants that creature to go after her to weaken us or to try to gain its power. I'm sure he's doing everything he can to make that happen."

"So vampires and sorcerers are coming after us at the same time, unknowingly helping each other," Remy said. "Great." She closed her eyes, and I could feel her turmoil rising. She knew both groups were interested in her, and it came down to the prophecy putting a target on her back.

I wanted to comfort her, tell her everything was going to be okay, but I couldn't. I didn't feel like it was going to be okay. Seeing Winslow triggered something in me, and it was taking all of my energy to keep myself together. I couldn't worry about Remy at the same time.

Her eyes met mine, and somehow they seemed to tell me it was okay. She wanted me to know that she would be okay and to focus on myself. I gave her a quick nod, acknowledging the feelings she was sending my way. She was right. As much as I would do anything for Remy, I couldn't do anything if I let myself spiral. I needed to clear my head and ground myself first.

"You've had a long day. Why don't you all head to your rooms and relax," my mother said.

I could feel her eyes on me, and I knew she knew I was struggling. Mother's intuition perhaps. Either way, I didn't argue.

"If Winslow does something, we can be useful though," Remy said. She wasn't ready to just back down. Maybe it was because she was able to nap for a moment and had more energy. Or maybe it was because she wasn't terrified of the sorcerer the way I was. "I don't think he'll do anything," my mother said. "I've known him long enough to know this was his attempt to take the easy way out. The harder way comes later."

I nodded, satisfied by that response.

"Okay." Remy wasn't as satisfied, but she didn't push it. "Let us know if anything changes."

With that, I hurried to my room, Harper's hand in mine the entire time. She didn't say anything until the door was shut behind us, and even then, she hesitated to say anything. I knew she could feel my turmoil. It was easy to sense each other's emotions ever since we marked each other.

Harper moved to my bed and sat down. She bounced a little before she settled into the bed. "You don't have to pretend to be okay."

I stayed standing, watching her carefully. I didn't speak right away, but it wasn't for her sake. I was worried if I talked about the emotions Winslow brought up that it would send me into a spiral I wouldn't be able to pull myself out of. I was in that spiral when I was being held prisoner. Harper was the only thing that pulled my heart away from the hatred that was threatening to take over, but I was afraid to tell her that. I was afraid she would see me as broken.

She patted the bed next to her. "I don't know what you are thinking exactly, but I can feel your emotions blaring at me. Whatever it is, I promise it won't change the way I feel about you."

Her voice was genuine, and I knew she was telling the truth. It eased the pain in my chest a little, and I was able to take a deep breath.

"Seeing Winslow brought up all of the memories of when I was locked away," I finally admitted. I didn't move yet.

Harper pulled her lips tight. "Please sit with me."

This time my legs moved on their own, desperate for the comfort Harper's touch gave me. I sat on the bed, and she gently motioned for me to lay down with my head in her lap. She ran her fingers through my hair, and my eyes fluttered shut.

"You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to," she began. Her voice was soft and soothing, and my body melted into hers. Slowly, my heart rate was returning to normal. "But please don't ever feel like you're alone in this. I will be with you until the end, no matter what happens or what you're going through. You are my future, so don't forget that."

A smile pulled at my lips, and it was incredible how Harper could shift my mood from one filled with anxiety and stress to one of complete bliss. "I love you," I whispered as my body grew heavier and heavier.