by Shania Tyler
In his unconsciousness, he’d felt her touch. The warmth of her fingers had been a shock against the cold that had been growing in his body. He’d thought he would die until he felt her touch and then he’d felt her heart. Her blood pulsed through her hands and against his flesh, as though it were trying to get in, and he’d known that he couldn’t leave her. He couldn’t let the Darkness take him. It was not his time yet. He had so much he wanted to do, and he wanted to do it all with her. They were fated and though they’d not been consummated, she was his no matter what and he would make that known.
Mason helped Theo up and in all the movement, he would still not release Piper.
“What is happening here?” Isabella asked as she marched across the grass. “You have healers? How? We don’t allow elves into the Temple of Jinn.” She looked at the number of his men she’d enslave if she could.
No one replied.
Isabella said, “If you broke into the temple, then you broke the law and shall be punished.”
Mason crossed his arms. “We’ve broken many laws already, but you should already know that we don’t answer to the Evaness anymore.”
Isabella frowned before her expression became neutral. “You are right. We are still in negotiations about you reentering our folds. Forgive me.” And she looked at Theo. “How did you do it?” By now, some of the other council members had joined them. Aluna was in their numbers, and she watched Theo with steady eyes.
“I don’t know how I did it,” he replied. It was the truth. He had no idea how he’d made his blade invisible, but it had happened before everyone’s eyes.
Isabella said, “That is quite a gift you have, Colester Theo. Invisibility is rare. I know of no other Evanesce, though I have read about them in the ancient books. It’s a style of vanish that could be deadlier than others, as you have proven today. We had planned on giving your aunt’s seat to Ben—”
“After he killed me.”
As though he hadn’t spoken, Isabella said. “We would like to offer it to you now.” She even managed to give him a smile. “Our race has always favored those of us who are stronger. There shouldn’t be any hard feelings that we sought to test your skills.”
So, the council had been behind the attack. “And you chose the day of my aunt’s funeral?”
Piper snaked her hands around his chest. His temper was growing. He took a steadying breath.
Isabella barely blinked. Her hands were poised in front of her as though a man didn’t lay dead just feet from her. A man who’d just given his mother a final farewell. “There was no other choice as we are not welcomed here.”
“And you brought Monrel with you.”
A hush fell over the crowd. Monrel’s name, in certain circles, was never spoken, while others praised him as the father of the vampire race. But since Theo had just fought the Darkness and won, he would offer the being neither praise nor fear.
“What are you talking about?” one of the other council members asked.
“When I looked into Ben’s eyes during the fight, Monrel was there.”
Isabella gave a slight downward tilt to her mouth, and then said, “We had nothing to do with that. I’m sure you are aware that no one controls Monrel. He is a god.”
“No,” Theo quickly said. “He is not.”
Isabella waved her hand, as if to dismiss the topic. “Call him whatever you will, but we have no power as to where he will be. Now, do think about what we are offering you and Colester Mason.” She spun around and headed toward the house and like good little minions, the other council members followed.
Aluna took a leisurely glance in Theo’s direction.
“You need help with something?” Piper asked her. She lifted a dark brow and her anger boiled over to Theo. He placed a hand at the small of her back, hoping to reassure her there was nothing to worry about.
Aluna’s eyes widened as though shocked she’d spoken. Then she grinned at Piper. “You’re a brave girl.” It was the first time Theo had heard Aluna speak, and he found something odd about her voice. There was a light echo to it that almost made it alluring. At least, it would have been if Theo found her the least bit appealing. “I’d watch myself if I were you.”
Piper smiled. “Time and place, bitch.”
Aluna’s eyes widened again, her smile fell, her lips parted, and she stilled.
Theo pressed his lips together to stop himself from grinning, but wasn’t sure he did a very good job. It was obvious that Aluna was not accustomed to women like Piper, and Theo knew why. The women of the Evaness were always more secretive with their hatred for one another. They were able to smile and speak kindly in someone’s face while all plots of demise happened behind someone’s back. And the women of the Evaness never used vulgar language.
After collecting herself, Aluna narrowed her eyes and turned toward the house with a sweep of her black skirts.
Piper placed herself in front of Theo and announced, “You were quite amazing.”
“I almost died,” he told her. His eyes moved to the diamond she was twirling from the end of her chain.
“Oh, sorry.” She moved to take it off.
“No, keep it.” His dark gaze remained on the object, but then slowly lifted to her face. She hadn’t noticed it while he’d been dying, but she did notice it now. He was really hot without a shirt. His body was toned, ripped, and had felt smooth under her hands when he’d held her tightly. The chain around her neck had rested against that beautiful body, and she had a feeling it had been doing that very thing for a very long time.
She looked at the blue gem. She’d held onto it during all the fighting, but when Theo had been knocked down, she’d let go, fearing she’d break it. And then she’d taken a step toward him only to be stopped by Maurice.
“He needs help,” she’d told him.
“Oh, yeah,” Maurice asked. “And exactly what are you going to do?”
She hadn’t had a response to that, but Maurice had.
“You’ll distract him, so just stand here before I change my mind about liking you.”
At the time, she’d been too nervous to think about the compliment. All she’d been able to think about was Theo. She ran her fingers on the gold chain, stared into Theo’s eyes, and said, “It seemed pretty important to you when you gave it to me.”
He grinned slowly, one side of his mouth tilting up higher than the other.
She narrowed her eyes. “What?”
He just stared for a long time. His dark eyes traced over her face as if he were memorizing every detail to draw it later. The look was soft. He made her feel so beautiful without saying a word. He also made her feel more aware of herself and her actions than ever before. Then he looked in her eyes again and said, “You don’t get it, do you?”
“Get what?”
“You, Piper. You are important to me.” He shook his head as if baffled then took her hand and led her toward the house. A servant handed him a shirt, but he didn’t put it on. He just held it in his hand and started down one of the long halls that led to the foyer.
You’re important to me.
It played repeatedly in her mind at every step they took. She couldn’t remember the last time anyone had made her feel important. Sure, her friends loved her. She knew that, but this was different. Everything about Theo was different.
She couldn’t stop herself from looking at how the muscles of his chest moved when he walked. She thought she’d never seen anyone sexier in her life.
They were just about to make it into the foyer when Theo yanked her hand and pulled her into an open room. He closed the door behind him and in the next minute, his lips were on hers and she was melting.
Theo had wanted to kiss her since he’d woken up. He’d wanted it more than his next breath, and only the need to stay alive had stopped him. And then they’d had had an audience as well. But at the moment, there was no audience. It was just him and her and the liquid passion flowing between them like ocean currents laced with heat
and passion.
He kept his palms pressed to the door as his tongue invaded her mouth, but it was such a small thing compared to how she was invading his heart. He could tell from her every expression and word that she’d never been cherished and that she didn’t see her value. He wanted to do that for her. He wanted to show her that he was the one she’d been waiting for. He was the one who would adore her, defend and protect her, and bask in the woman that she was.
Her fingers skimmed his back before running up his sides and over his chest and down, lingering over his abs. “Your body is amazing.” She boldly ran her tongue over his lower lip and then bit gently.
Theo had to brace his hands on the door behind her to keep upright. “I’m glad you approve.” And she’d approve of the rest, he was sure, once they were wedded. It was the way of a pava and pavo. He knew from the ancient poems that they would fit like gloves.
She pressed her body closer, and he brought a hand to her chin and angled her mouth more toward his.
She moaned and it hit him right below the gut.
He pulled away.
She smiled and touched his cheek.
He didn’t move, too captivated by the woman who’d turned a very horrible day into a very good one. Had she not been here, Theo was not sure he’d have been sober enough to stand for his aunt’s burning or stand up to Ben for that matter. While some would think it coincidence, he knew fate was at work. She’d come into his life right on time, and he’d be a fool to let her go.
“Are you going to dinner?” he asked her.
She nodded and said, “We humans get hungry.”
He smiled and whispered, “But you’re not human.”
Something flickered in her gaze right before she dropped her hand. Her smile grew tight before she said, “Oh. I forgot.”
“How are you doing with all the change?” It was obvious it wasn’t going very well for her.
Piper shrugged just as he’d suspected she would, hiding her true feelings. She didn’t have to hide them from him. He could be trusted, but he was sure that would come in time.
“I just…” she began.
He was patient and remained silent, though in his mind, he begged for her to speak from her depths.
“I just…” She lifted her hand and touched his stone, as if drawing comfort from it just as he had for more than four centuries. Her brown eyes were open and expressive. “I don’t know what’s going to happen. Before I came here, my life was set. I had goals and, for the most part, I knew who I was.”
“But you’re lost now,” he said cautiously. His heart began to race, because for him, everything had the opposite effect. He felt found and more certain of himself than ever.
In response to his question, she touched his face again and said, “No, I don’t feel lost. Not with you.”
He smiled. “That statement deserves another kiss.”
Her smile widened, and she pulled up on her toes, making them eye level before planting a firm kiss on his lips.
Then he pulled away and said, “I will meet you later in the parlor.”
“Is that where everyone is meeting?”
He nodded. “It is tradition to the Evaness to have drinks served on days where we don’t drink blood. They will expect it.”
She nodded and grabbed his hand, and it reminded him of the way she’d touched the chain around her neck. But this time, instead of pulling comfort, she was giving it. “I’ll be there.” For you. The words hung between them and were evident in her eyes. He couldn’t wait until she felt completely comfortable with him, but he would. He’d already waited four hundred years. What were a few more days?
He opened the door and finally felt ready to take on the rest of the day.
* * *
15
CHAPTER
FIFTEEN
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Meg followed Kelly downstairs and into a room that looked like it had been pulled out of a sport’s club. The walls were brick, and she spotted a variety of table games around the room. Instead of hanging lights, there were hanging lanterns that made the room seem cooler to her. In the middle of the room was a large brown plush leather couch. This was a bachelor pad and some of the men were there. Ethan, Mason, Maurice, Noel, and Lanzo, a vampire she’d only met a few times, were talking about the fight and Ben’s death. Lanzo’s wife, Fedora, was curled up next to him.
“It was a close fight,” Noel said. He was the only one standing. His elbow leaned on the edge of the couch and seemed to be swallowed, which spoke to just how plush it really was. There was a look of disappointment on his face. “Too close.”
Kelly sat down by Mason just as he said, “Calm yourself, Noel. You taught him well. He was simply caught off guard by Monrel’s presence. It’s not every day you train to fight the unknown.”
“Besides,” Lanzo said, “We all saw the birds. Hopefully, this will mean good things for everyone.” Meg had been told that the Rebels were waiting for a message before they’d leave the compound. She wondered if she’d be allowed to do so as well.
Ethan smiled at Meg when she reached his side. His smile was contagious and her heart skipped at receiving it. He grabbed her hand and pressed her side against him. They were sitting across from Mason and Kelly and Fedora and Lanzo. Fedora was a beautifully tanned woman with long black hair and eyes that slanted high on the ends, making her impossible to miss. Her facial features and long lean body made Meg think of all the women she’d seen in magazines. Lanzo was just as tan with dark eyes and very short dark hair. He was built like a fighter, though she’d been told that much of his business with the Rebels was done away from battle.
Sitting alone in the point of the circular couch was Maurice. A beer was in his hand. His head was pointed toward Mason, showing off the diamond that rested in his ear. His blue eyes were fixated on the conversation… until they slid to her.
She quickly looked away and then wondered why she’d done so. It was just Maurice. She could look at him if she wanted. There was no harm in that. She looked at him again, and his eyes were ready.
He lifted his beer to his lips right before he turned his eyes to Noel and said, “Yeah, Monrel had to have been the reason. Otherwise, Theo would have beat Ben in seconds.”
Meg’s hand was squeezed, and she turned to smile at Ethan.
Her boyfriend said to his brother, “Seconds? I don’t know. Ben looked really big, Monrel or not.”
Mason answered, “His size, his strength, it all came from Monrel. Ben was tempted just as the first of the vampire race was.”
“What do you mean?” Meg asked. She’d never heard the story of the vampire races’ beginning. All her studies centered on elves.
Mason turned to her. “There have been legends that said vampires, while being the keepers of the night, were able to walk in the sun, just as the elves are able to walk in both daylight and night. We also ate food.”
Meg asked, “So what happened?”
“Greed,” Lanzo said as he straightened. “Monrel offered Sinem, one of the first vampires, great power and she took it, not knowing there would be a cost. With a bite, the entire race was turned, and we truly became the creatures of darkness.”
Kelly curled a leg up under herself and said, “I thought you couldn’t change someone with a bite.” With a confused look, she turned toward Mason.
He said, “We can’t, but Sinem could. The Evaness hold her as a great leader of the race. They claim we were incomplete until Monrel. They praise him for their power and respect him as a god.”
“So, you all hold parts of Monrel?” Meg asked, and after everything she’d been told about the being, it did frighten her a bit. Not of the men around her or any of the Rebels, but of those she did not know.
“Yes,” Mason said, without doubt. “But I have learned that I do not have to let the Darkness control me. I am not him.” And he smiled at Kelly, who to
uched his cheek before sharing a kiss with him. He was the Lord of Shadows, and many believed Mason had a stronger link with Monrel than anyone else, but Meg, when she looked at Mason and when she saw how happy he made her friend, only saw good in him. No Monrel. Just Mason.
Fedora asked Noel about some of the fighting techniques that Theo had used and a conversation was launched around that. Noel seemed to be the man who knew everything about how to hurt someone else.
Ethan leaned toward her and said, “I’m getting a beer, you want one?”
Meg shook her head. “Not if we’re going to drink in the parlor later.” She’d never been good with too much alcohol.
Ethan nodded and then said, “Why don’t you try to speak with Maurice while I’m gone?” Meg must have made a face, because he laughed and said, “Just try. I want you guys to get along. He is my brother.”
Meg nodded and watched him walk across the room toward the bar before turning to Maurice.
His eyes were trained on the conversation, but Meg noticed he hadn’t said a word during any of it. She moved closer to him, and his eyes snapped to her. His bottle rested suspended in midair.
She smiled and scooted over all the way until she was about a foot away. Then she lifted her hands.
Maurice’s eyes moved to her hands.
Meg said, “There’s no need to be afraid of me. I was lying in the supply closet.”
His eyes moved to her face and he said, “Yeah?”
She nodded and put her hands down on her lap.
He sipped his beer and adjusted himself back into the couch before saying, “That was some lie you came up with. How’d you know it would work?” He looked short of disheveled, she realized. A few strands of his dark blond hair fell in front of his face in a way that tempted her to push it back. His suit had become slightly wrinkled since the funeral earlier, and he’d opened the collar to expose his neck.