Page 57 of Druid Dreams

“No, Trouble. You're pissed and you're not thinking straight,” he confronted me without a hint of regret. I fucking love that he’s not tiptoeing around this. He was right though. I needed to calm down and think this through. Think, bitch. “He knows you won’t give up, so he’s had to switch his tactics,” Novak started.

“And, he has to be in contact with a high ranking demon to have access to the Fates,” I theorized. “He’s also using someone with Sight. That’s a vampire trait, not a fae or mage trait.”

“Right. We found out about the potential next target with no hints from him,” Novak smirked at me. “And,” he dragged out, “It sounds like he thinks you’re doing this by yourself. He doesn’t know that you have mates. He’s not counting the people who will stand by your side.” His eyes spoke volumes as he picked apart the short letter.

“You’re right.” I tilted my head to the left, thinking through all the information. He's very right.

“I read the copy of your letter from Nathaniel, the one that Palmer has. I think he was on to something. It’s time to start building alliances, and we’re going to start with the Vampires when we go to Baton Rouge.” He was so certain and confident, but I needed to know if he knew what he was saying. I knew how I felt, and I knew the difference, now, between my feelings and the bond’s urges. The feeling of giddiness when he nudged me with his shoulder was ridiculous, but all mine. The need to be closer to him earlier was the bond trying to pull us together.

“Are you sure, Novak? I don’t want us to rush into anything that you may regret later.” The look he gave me could’ve had half of Hell frozen in its tracks.

“I’m positive,” he affirmed. “I was before reading that letter, I will be tomorrow, and I won’t change my mind in a hundred years.” He leaned down and gave me a chaste kiss. “If you're getting cold feet, you should take them out of the water,” he advised.

“You know that’s a saying about marriage and…” I paused as a provoking grin split his handsome face. “Oh. Ha. Ha. Very funny,” I humorlessly supplied.

“Call your Pops. Let’s make it almost official,” he insisted, the smile never leaving his full lips.

“Pah-Pee,” I corrected him, slowly sounding the name out.

“Papi,” he repeated, sounding amused with himself. “Don’t try to stall now,” he joked.

I smiled big at him, flashing a little fang, and he rolled his golden eyes. Lifting my right hand between us, I summoned a flame the size of a softball with my intent solely focused on Papi. Communication by hellfire was some of the first magic I learned as a child. Jack and I would talk to each other this way from our separate rooms, well past our bedtime. We were such rebels.

I called quietly into the hellfire floating above my palm, “Papi, are you awake? Is this a bad time?”

His response took no more than 20 seconds. “Of course not, My Sweet Little Devil,” Papi answered as his face appeared in the fireball. “Is everything okay?” His brows and forehead creased in his concern. He waited patiently for me to speak, but I didn’t know where to begin.

“I don’t want to tell him about the letter yet.” I sent the thought to Novak and he squeezed my thigh in reply.

“There’s a ton of things going on, Sir.” Novak leaned his head next to mine so Papi could see us both. “We were able to recover the Druid and shut down the power farm he was being held at.” That’s a good start for information.

“Papi, I need you and Dad to meet us at Father’s house. I’m still waiting to hear from Simon, but we have enough evidence to suggest something big is about to happen with the Vampires.” I kept my voice low. I had no idea who could overhear us from his end.

“Something big like what, Sloane? What’s going on?” He demanded of me, using my name and not my nickname to show me he meant business.

“We’ve heard that the drugs are now in the hands of vampires and being distributed, specifically by one Kadence Moore. I don’t know if that’s true or not, but with Father gone I need to step in and investigate,” I acknowledged.

“Kadence is on the council, Sir. She’s not a fan of Sloane, and we’re worried it could get ugly. Having Nathaniel’s co-mates there could ease the tension when Sloane steps up,” Novak informed Papi.

“I suppose it could,” Papi agreed. “But, it may also make it worse,” he contradicted himself in the next breath. “Having both of us there would be the prime time to challenge you for your position, Little Devil. Are you ready for that?” He warned me as he worried with his bottom lip, rubbing his teeth across the surface.

“Yes, Sir.” I looked to Novak and he nodded his head. He was ready too. There would be no going back when we reached the council. We would seal our bond and go through with the ritualistic traditions. A vampire wedding. Not to be confused with a human wedding; a vampire wedding was all about sharing blood and speaking an ancient oath. Since I was next in line, behind Father, we’d need his equals present to witness our ceremony. His co-mates and his second-in-command. After Novak and I sealed our bond, I’d take over as High Coven Mistress of Vampyre. We would take over. Novak would become the High Coven Master, second only to me as the true heiress.

“I’ll call Charles now, but Sloane,” he paused, making me anxious. “Be ready for a fight, My Sweet Devil, and give that bitch Hell. She’s been after Nathaniel and his position since before Amelia went missing.”

“Yes, Papi. I will,” I answered truthfully, my determination seeping into my words. If Kadence Moore was after my Father and his position then she would not like my interference. Too bad for her. I gave zero fucks about what she liked. As soon as we stepped up, she’d be removed from the council.

“Your Mother would be so proud of you. See you soon, Devil. I love you.” With those last parting words the flames dispersed from my palm into a heart before disappearing completely. The Devil is a show off. I didn’t miss the fact that he called me Devil. He’d never called me just Devil before.

“You didn’t want to tell him about the letter,” Novak pointed out.

“No,” I concurred. “I’d rather show it to them in person.” That was not a “phone call” sort of conversation to be had with my parents. The thought of seeing them at the end of the week excited me. The knowledge that Novak and I would seal our bond in a couple days had filthy images running through my head. I’m not sure if they’re mine or his.

“They are definitely yours.” His voice entered my mind with ease, but he laughed out loud. “Stop. You’re going to kill me before we make it that far.”

“I can’t just turn them off.” I shrugged my naked shoulders. “But it may help to act them out.” I bit into my lower lip and winked at him. He groaned, but before he could follow up with any sort of comment, we heard my phone ringing from inside.

“Where is it?” He asked me as he stood.