Page 66 of A Spark in the Ash

"Hmm, let me think about it," I say with acid in my voice. "It might have something to do with the fact that you're leveraging his sister against him."

"The work doesn't slow simply because my son is distracted," Vivian says.

"Careful, Vivian," I say in a low voice. "Your second face is starting to show."

Once more, there is a pause on the other end of the line. "Your participation in this family would be appreciated, Serena. When I first met you, I thought you were the perfect match for my son. You would be a valued member of our team. I'm a little confused why you are fighting against our family. It seemed you understood what kind of family you were walking into from the start. What changed, Serena?"

I pace back and forth across the office slowly. My insides are shifting, ready to explode. I'm barely keeping myself contained at the moment. "What changed is what Jaxon wants. And what Jaxon wants, I will help to make happen. He told you he's not walking away permanently. Do you really have to keep your claws in him twenty-four seven?"

"Yes, my son said that," Vivian says evenly. "Yet he left the wedding party I threw for the two of you without vile anger on his tongue, and you proceeded to threaten me. Jaxon has now disappeared. From my understanding, the two of you weren't leaving for your honeymoon for a few more days. I simply expect my son to keep his word."

I shake my head and my jaw clenches tight. We are never going to find common ground with this woman. She's possessed. She doesn't care about anyone but herself.

"Will you please tell Jaxon that in his absence, Chantel will be taking over while Scarlett is in the hospital? It seems her injury has turned septic. She isn't doing too well. It looks as if she's going to be in the hospital for at least another week. But as I said, the work doesn't stop. Chantel is older, more experienced. She might not have the strength or the weight that Jaxon has, but I think she might perform better than her younger sister. Would you please let Jaxon know this?"

I swear under my breath, but not quietly. Vivian clearly hears it. "I will not let you destroy him from the inside out," I hiss into the phone. I stalk forward, though I have nowhere that I'm actually going. "You and I need to talk. Tonight."

"So you haven't left for your honeymoon yet," Vivian states simply.

"It seems not," I say coldly. "I will meet you at the penthouse. We’re going to talk. Alone."

"I will see you in an hour then," Vivian says, and then she hangs up.

I hold the phone away from my ear and look at the screen.

My eyes shift up to the glass door leading out from Davorian's office. The others are gathered around the ultralight board. And I know exactly what that means.

The Kindred are finally on the move again.

I can't wait. Everything inside of me is roiling and shifting and burning with hatred and adrenaline. I have to do this now. If I don't, things could get so much worse. And I will do anything and everything that I can to protect Jaxon.

I have to get out of here now, before anyone tells me that I can't.

Jaxon will be safe here. There are forty-six other darklings that can help protect him. There are forty-six other darklings that can track down the Kindred and take them out.

For now, I have a different job to do.

I step out of Davorian's office and slip into the crowd in the command center. I move slow, careful not to draw attention. Silently, I slip into my bedroom and grab the keys to my motorcycle from the nightstand.

I slide further down the passageway and peek into Jaxon's room.

He lies on his bed with his back turned to me. From the slow rise and fall of his shoulders, I think he is asleep.

Perfect.

I glance back over my shoulder just once as I continue down the passageway, making sure no one is watching me. They are not. They're too distracted by Davorian and the plan they are putting into motion.

I reach the end of the tunnel and shift instantly, climbing up through the tube.

It feels good to shift. I've been on the verge of it for so long. Letting the shadows billow out of me, letting myself dissolve into smoke and pinchers, it's exactly what I need in this moment.

I'm almost tempted to stay in this form all the way to Las Vegas. But there will be too many people out right now. It would be extremely difficult to get all the way to the Strip without being spotted.

So, I shift as I walk over to my bike. I pull my helmet on and insert the key. I push it away from the entrance. I don't need the engine roaring to life and giving me away. I probably only have fifteen or twenty minutes before someone realizes that I am gone. I need every moment I can get.

I push my motorcycle at least fifty yards away before I finally climb on and start the engine.

I don't hesitate one second as I throttle the gas and launch forward into the dark.

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