Crimson Highlander (Onyx Assassins 2)

“Has he lost it?” Ransom asked.

Valor cursed at the keypad nearest the escape hatch, entering in numbers and cursing again when the door didn’t open. Her arm hung at an unnatural angle, and yet she was still fighting to get at her brother.

The pain streaming down the bond was countered with something hot from my side—anger. She’d gone off in the middle of the night. Chained me to the bed. Nearly gotten herself killed and had succeeded in getting herself injured.

“Try this one,” Daphne said in a soft voice, adding her own touch to the panel. Nothing.

“I don’t have to see you to feel you!” Hawke shouted, and my head snapped his direction.

“Building’s clear,” Ransom said, rubbing the back of his neck. “You can stop protecting that poster now.”

Hawke shoved off the wall, then crossed his arms and glared at it. “I’m not leaving, and I can smell you, Princess.”

One second, the space was empty.

The next, Avianna stood there, leaned against the wall, her arms folded across her chest, tapping her gloved fingers against her bicep as she glared at Hawke.

“Happy?” she asked.

His mouth dropped open for a second before his jaw clenched. “I fucking knew you were there.”

“Whoa,” Ransom muttered. “How long have you been able to do that?” He spun, pinning Olivia with a glare. “And did you know?”

“Since I matured at twenty-two, and yes, she knew,” Avianna answered.

“You never told us!” Hawke roared.

“Why would I?” Avi challenged. “You’re so busy telling me I’m useless! What harm did it do to let you believe it?”

“I never said you were useless. Pain in the ass? Yes. Spoiled, pampered, aristocrat? Definitely. Trust me, Princess, I can think of plenty of uses for you—” Hawke’s voice rose with every word.

“Hawke,” I warned. He might be right, but he was overstepping.

Hawke stepped back, and shook his head, then fingered the bullet holes in his vest.

“Are you hurt?” Avianna reached for him.

“Don’t.” He evaded her touch.

“Because I can keep a secret!” Olivia said behind me suddenly.

Ransom burst into laughter, earning every stare in the room, including Xavier’s.

“What?” Olivia snapped.

“I’m just thinking of your mother’s face.” He nearly doubled over, then tilted his head. “Oh, Mother, it won’t be dangerous being the princess’s bodyguard! Mostly tea parties and balls!”

“Shut up.” Olivia rolled her eyes.

“Now you’re out looking for fights that didn’t even involve you in the first place. Whatever would your lady mother say?” He covered his mouth.

“Tell her, and I’ll put snakes in your bed, I swear it,” she countered.

“You vampires have strange mating rituals,” Xavier muttered as Valor let out another curse.

We both turned as she gave up, cradling her injured arm and leaning against the wall. She swallowed when she saw my expression. I had enough conflicting emotions going on to wonder what exactly it was, but my bet was on fury.

Daphne saw us and gasped, plastering herself against the wall next to Valor.

Side by side, the similarities were easy to see. They both had the same delicate facial features, but Daphne’s wide eyes were blue. She was shorter than Valor, too, but I had no doubt she’d grow another few inches to match her cousin.

But there was a delicate vulnerability in Daphne’s eyes that I’d never seen in Valor’s. The girl had seen too much too young.

Next to me, Xavier stiffened, and every shadow in the room seemed to retreat as Daphne looked at him.

“Are you a vampire, too?” she asked, her voice strong if not for the slight tremble at the end.

“Oh no, I’m something far more dangerous,” he answered as his gaze skimmed down the girl’s frame, landing on her hand. A blast of heat exploded from his body, rocking my balance.

Daphne jolted, her eyes flaring as the ring on her finger melted away, sending the diamond skittering across the floor.

“Daphne!” Valor clutched her cousin’s hand, glaring our way momentarily before sucking in a breath. “She’s not burned.”

“Of course, she’s not burned.” Xavier scoffed, but he didn’t look away from Daphne. “And in my world, we don’t enslave young ladies with jewelry.”

Ransom stepped in front of him and clucked his tongue. “No.”

Xavier cocked a brow.

“She’s sixteen. No.” Ransom shook his head.

Xavier grinned and bowed his head slightly, turning toward me. “You owe me no favor for tonight, Lachlan.”

“I don’t?” My eyebrows arched high, and I fought against the tug that demanded I pull Valor into my arms.

“Not one.” His attention shifted back to Daphne for a second longer than I was comfortable with. “As long as I’m correct in assuming that you’ll be the human’s guardian in our world?”

“I’m her guardian,” Valor argued.

My jaw clenched because I knew exactly what he was saying. As Valor’s mate and the oldest male of my family, I’d be technically seen as Daphne’s guardian, even if Valor chose not to stay with me.