Behind them, Steel made a beeline down the stairs and out the front. Seth motioned for them to go upstairs. “The office is upstairs. Tye will find you.”
“Stay put,” Am pointed at Destin before he followed Rhea upstairs.
In all the activity, no one noted the black haired beauty who spotted a more mature Destin from the last time she saw him. Intrigued she made her way toward him through the crowds.
Catarina stayed behind with Destin. She noticed the other woman’s approach and openly stared at her.
“Hey little vampire,” Zephyr said, slipping a gloved arm around Destin’s shoulders. “You’ve grown up nicely.”
“Hi,” he returned and sat up a little straighter. Zephyr still towered above him.
“Hello, miss…?” questioned Catarina.
Zephyr didn’t acknowledge her and leaned in to whisper in Destin’s ear, her lips barely brushing his skin. “I hear your Mother is throwing a party. Will you be there?”
“Sure,” he breathed and tried to look at her.
“Who will you be? Superman? Wait, no, Batman?” she winked.
Destin laughed. “Nah, that’s kid stuff. I think I’ll go as a god. It’s a Woodland Fantasy.”
“Destin I don’t think the young lady needs to know your family’s business,” Catarina said.
“It’s all right. We’re old friends, aren’t we Destin?”
Catarina’s eyes turned golden, and she hissed at the woman. “I suggest you leave him alone. His parents are upstairs. I don’t think you’re going to like them.” Her nostrils flared when the air conditioning provided a first whiff of Zephyr.
“Oh don’t be so stuffy. We’re not doing anything wrong, are we Destin?” she hovered close and clung to the young man like Spanish moss.
Destin eyed her neck, wanting to nuzzle her. Maybe a dance.
“Hey Zephyr, there you are,” Tye-dye eased into the group and did a double take when he saw Catarina. “Well hello gorgeous, I haven’t seen you here before, and I know I would remember. I’m Tyler.” He stuck out his hand. Catarina shook with him.
Destin snorted, “He’s a hippie. His name is Tye-dye.”
“I’m Catarina. Very nice to meet you.” Destin’s words hung in the air. “Tye-dye.” She stared at him. Her smile was oddly shy and sweet.
Tyler grinned like a fool.
Immediately Zephyr put herself between them. “Hey Tye sugar, are we going to dance or what?”
Tyler shook himself as if he’d been in a staring contest. “Uh, sure. Let’s dance. See you around, Catarina?” Zephyr pulled him away but not before Catarina had a chance to nod her head.
Destin angrily watched Zephyr dancing with Tyler. She slithered around him like a snake charmer. The longer it went on, the angrier he got. Catarina put a hand on his arm, and it shocked him so much he jumped.
“She’s interested in Tyler, you know that, yes?” Catarina said.
“Temporary,” Destin smirked. “He can’t handle both you and her.” He put his hand over Catarina’s and considered pulling her closer but his confidence, and intentions, faded when his parents returned.
“Let us leave. The music is deafening,” Rhea complained and waved goodbye to Seth. They worked their way through the crowd and back outside where they spotted Detective Bayone checking IDs.
“Well this is a nice surprise,” Rhea said as they walked over. “A bit off your regular path is it not, detective?” Even outside the music was wildly thumping and jarring.
Mace smiled, surprised to see them, and tossed his cigarette aside. “Someone has to do it. What brings you down here this time of night?” He shook hands with Am and gave Destin a handshake too. “You’ve grown. A lot.”
Destin nodded, “Yeah, so I’ve been told.”
Rhea growled softly under her breath, and the flames in her eyes blazed to life. “Destin, I will not repeat myself.”
“Sorry,” he sighed and offered a sheepish shrug. Mace waved it off with a nod.
“He wishes he was old enough to stay,” Am said with a sharp look at his son. “We just drove in from the airport and stopped to check on Dra’s club.”
“And who is this?” Mace smiled at the midwife.
“Catarina Silva. I’m here from New York. Nice to meet you,” she said.
“Honored, Miss Silva. I’m called Mace.” More smiles.
Destin growled again.
“I am glad I ran into you, detective,” Rhea said. “I wanted to be sure you received my invitation to the Halloween gala. More of an open house, but it will be a costume party too. Perhaps you will bring a guest. Your wife?”
“I did get your invite, and I would love to come. Sadly, I am a widower, but maybe you’ll save me a dance? By the way, I wondered how did the wedding go? Happy couple away on their honeymoon?”
They all walked away from the club and Rhea filled him in on the ceremony. A surprisingly animated Destin offered insights into the reception and the after party. There was no mention of Tobias or any trouble. Mace listened and wished he could take notes, but that would be too obvious.
“And how is Miss Robards? I’ve meant to contact her.”
“She is well though I think she misses her store. Have you discovered the arsonist? It was arson, correct?” Rhea prompted.
“Yes, it was, and yes, I think I know who commissioned the blaze but we haven’t located him. I will. Would you tell Miss Robards I will be in touch?”
Their conversation continued with general niceties until they came to the corner and parted ways. After saying goodbye to the company, Mace focused on Catarina. “It was a pleasure to meet you. I hope to see you again.”
Destin rolled his eyes and walked off, choosing not to hear the rest of that discussion.
Mace whistled his way back to his car at the precinct. He was going to that party now.
As for Rhea and Am, they elected to ignore Destin’s sharp jabs.
Catarina’s thoughts were back at the club and the people she met. She hoped Tyler would call. She slipped him her number on a napkin and grinned when she remembered. Destin was too busy being outrageous with that dark-haired woman to notice.
BY THE TIME they arrived back at the bower, Rhea was exhausted but joyously met the hugs and squeals from the girls. Franklin bowed, and Cooke smothered her with hugs and a promise of tea. It took all of a minute for Cooke to notice Catarina.
“Cady, lass, how good it is to see you again. You didn’t tell me you were coming, you minx. You have grown up into quite the beauty.” Cooke nodded and wiped the tears from her eyes.
Catarina hugged her and rubbed her cheek against the elderly woman’s. “Like old times, Cooke,” she sighed.
Rhea made introductions for everyone else, and they joined in the welcome.
“So it is true! You’re preggers!” Keta said with a wide grin. “Hot spit! I mean, cool beans!”
Rhea apologized for not believing in the cards and Victoria beamed with vindication.
“I told you I’m rarely wrong, but the cards never are. This is exciting news! And a girl.”
“Yeah, yippee,” Destin snarked. “Now Sondra will finally have a job.” With that pronouncement, he dropped a carry-on in the hall and disappeared back out the front door.
For a short second, no one knew what to say and then Catarina filled in the gaps with questions about her luggage and her room. Immediately Franklin and Cooke were on the job with a flurry of activity to get food for the hungry and suitcases into Catarina’s suite in the master wing.
Rhea’s eyes fluttered, and she yawned. “I apologize, but I need to sleep. Ladies, I will see you all tomorrow. We have so much to do, and I want to tell you about my visit with Drahomira.”
When she stood and swayed, Am gathered her up and climbed the stairs to their rooms. Gently, he set her on the edge of the bed and helped her out of her suit. She yawned again, and he kissed her nose.
“You may have noticed I am not naked,” he whispered.
�
��And I am not hungry,” she replied as she curled into his lap.
“But we are back together, and we have all the time in the world, m’ange.”
“Mm-hmm. Tomorrow we can both be hungry and naked,” Rhea murmured as she fell asleep.
He covered her up and left her to her dreams, closing the door to their suite behind him.
He went to Destin’s room and decided to wait for him. As he sat in the dark, he could not fail to notice the curious light shining across the bayou. It came from the old house.
THUNDER ROCKED THE skies and lightning tossed jagged lines over the water. The rain arrived in buckets. A drenched young vampire dashed onto the porch and out of the downpour.
“Were you followed?”
Destin nervously glanced over his shoulder and shook his head. “I need to tell you something,” he said, his voice quivering.
The shadows around him waited.
“She’s pregnant. A girl.”
“It is as I told you, non? She replaced you. Your safest place is with me now.”
“I know,” Destin whispered angrily but his eyes watered and not from the rains.
THE NEXT MORNING, Rhea woke before dawn, noted she was naked and rolled over with lustful intentions. To her surprise, Amor-el wasn’t there. She slipped on a robe and checked the balcony, but he wasn’t there either. Thinking she would check downstairs, she paused to admire the colors of the rising sun.
The dawn barely teased the horizon. Gradient shades of indigo and magenta spiked at the sky’s edge. Shadows darkened and deepened if only for a few moments. She could understand why Drahomira enjoyed her nights. There were moments when Night was a mistress longing for her worshippers. She would have loved sharing the view with Am, but where was he?
Worried that his hunt ran late, or that he found trouble, she left their suite and went straight to Destin’s room. She hoped Am slept with his son’s following a successful hunt.
She found Am standing over a sleeping Destin, but something was wrong. She could tell in the way he hovered. Am glanced up at the sound of the door opening, and his eyes were troubled. He joined her in the hall and pulled her close. Together they went downstairs to the library.
The moment they were safely alone, Am sat in his favorite chair by the fire and Rhea curled into his lap. Her robe opened just enough for him to notice his sexy phoenix was warm and still naked from their bed. Her body’s heat teased him with her cinnamon perfume. With one hand sliding into her long thick tresses, he pulled her mouth to his. Lips and tongues danced the tango of desire. He nipped her tongue and relished a burst of fire from her blood. His body surged as his latent embers swelled and he moaned into her eager kisses. All worries left him for a greater need.
“Naked and hungry you said,” she breathed over his lips. “I am both.” Rhea slid her hand into his half-open shirt, feeling the chill of his flesh as her fingers skimmed over his chest.
“I am always hungry for you, my rose. Your touch almost burns,” he sighed and opened her robe for a better look. How he had missed her!
Her skin was alabaster smooth but, even in the small firelight, her heartfire gave her flesh a rosy hue. Her body’s lines were elegant. Tantalizing curves hid her sinew. His exploring hand paused on her abdomen. The baby. Her unexpected pregnancy was visible now, and he caressed her protruding stomach with wonder in his fingers and his eyes. Another miracle he didn’t deserve.
“Then we burn together,” she whispered and pushed his hand lower letting her outer leg slip until she touched the floor.
Exposed, he could not resist exploring her, remembering every detail of her body, delighting in her small cries, and kissing her softest places as she bent back over his arm. When he finally growled with uncontrollable needs of his own, he swept her up to him, and she turned to straddle his legs. His mouth followed the curve of her swollen breasts, and his lips kissed up from her pink nipples to the elegant line of her neck. There he buried his fangs in the surging heat of her blood, tasting her orgasm underneath her fiery embers. With their arms locked around each other, their soul-song whispered as the dawn broke. Desire fed their fire and burned out in a blaze of long-denied need.
“I love you, m’ange,” he said gently afterward as he toyed with a curl of her hair.
“And I you, my beloved,” she sighed and curled up into his arms again.
Their afterglow ended abruptly when full morning blazed over the bayou. The light woke the house and ushered thunderous feet down the stairs. Am yawned.
“We have some things to discuss, my love,” Am said. They mulled over recent events and observations.
Rhea listened, alternating between annoyance with Destin and disbelief over a possible betrayal from Sondra.
“I can speak to him,” she offered. “His behavior at the club worried me, flirting then jealous, and confused. He is not the boy I left a week ago.”
“I will speak to Destin. I think he and I need more bonding together. He is conflicted, he misinterprets your love for the baby and feels supplanted. I can deal with him.”
“I need you to check on Sondra. Destin doesn’t need her help as it appears he’s eschewed his studies and if she’s not influencing him, then something else is going on. Perhaps it is the condition called teenager.”
Rhea couldn’t help the smile. “Teenager. That is funny. Rumored to be temporary insanity, I hear.” They chuckled, but it was short-lived. “I’ve always felt something odd about Sondra, but she’s never given me any reason to doubt her, darling. Tell me why you worry.”
Am recounted the orb, her mysterious disappearances, Reaper’s refusal to be near her as a few of the oddities.
“There is one more thing, my rose, and you may not find it alarming, but I do. My – what shall I call him – grandsire? – is coming here.” He outlined the letter and the duke’s wishes to live in the old house. “I’m assuming he wants to meet Destin and get a good look at you.”
Rhea said nothing.
“You will recall that Nathan worked for him, as well as your fake Comtesse, the mimic fae. I believe he is the one who hired the elves and that means Tobias is working with him too.
“It is worse, Am. Tobias also worked for Drahomira’s regent. They were in her country together.” She paused, and flames illuminated her eyes.
“Well, well,” Am snapped. “Then consider the elf blade Reaper found. It belonged to Echo. And there is the strange woman in town who is neither vampire nor human. If she is fae, she is well-glamored. Do not forget the strange runes at the fire and the murder of that poor woman. Those need to be understood. Our troubles are nearly upon us.”
“I need to start wearing the amulet Victoria gave me. There is too much to worry about with the baby coming, and I think we need all the warnings we can get.” She stood and tightened her robe. “Speaking of the blade, I will keep Reaper close to me, for now. And Cooke offered to help Victoria. Perhaps she has answers.” Rhea tried to sound hopeful.
“Meanwhile, I need to check on Franklin’s progress at the old house. I will keep Destin close to me and try to figure out what is going on with him.” He took her hand, and they stood. “I must sleep, my love, but tonight, we will prepare what we can and tell the others. Until then, be careful for the baby and me.”
Rhea’s nod quelled their fires. “For her, my love, and for my two men.”
Rhea found the house enjoying breakfast on the back porch. She joined them with her large mug of coffee. The air was humid but perfumed with flowers and fresh water. Rhea felt she could breathe here as nowhere else.
“Good morning, everyone,” said Rhea and then swallowed a big gulp of java.
They peppered her with questions about her trip and the party.
“We missed you, Miss Rhea,” Sondra said, putting aside her book and glass of water. “You are looking better than before you left. Are you well?”
“Did you see Dra? When is she coming home? Can we call her?” Keta plopped down beside Rhea’s chair.
Franklin rolled out a large cart with one pot of coffee and one pot of tea, and some of the magical popovers that Cooke claimed as her specialty. Also, there were fruit cups, granola, and a pan of ooey-gooey cinnamon buns.
Behind him strolled Catarina, taking a deep breath of fresh air and smiling at the company.
“Good morning, Rhea. Ladies.”
Heads whipped around at the strange voice.
“Morning Cady, did you sleep well? I did. Best sleep in weeks. Care for some coffee?” Rhea turned to the others. “I would like you to meet an old friend, pediatric doctor and certified midwife, Catarina Silva. Her nickname is Cady. She will be with us through my pregnancy.”
The girls welcomed Catarina and seemed happy to meet her. Everyone but Reaper who sat in the far corner of the porch and huffed when Cady spoke.
“I’m glad you’re here. We had a hard time convincing Rhea she was pregnant,” said Victoria.
Rhea patted her abdomen. “I think my body decided to offer proof.”
Keta glanced up from her cinnamon bun. “When is the baby due?”
“Sometime during last week of February,” Catarina offered.
“You’ll still fit into your costume for the party, right?” Keta wondered.
“I do hope so, my dear. I have taken great care to get it just right. And that reminds me. I have copies of the invitation,” Rhea said as she rooted through a canvas bag by her chair. “I know some of you wanted to invite a guest. And I wanted to discuss the costumes. Am and I have suggestions to keep the flavor of the gala’s setting. Ah, here they are.”
Rhea set a stack of thick cards on the table. They were a soft green with embossed leaves curled around the edges. Each large postcard offered the following in deep gold letters:
You and a Guest
are cordially invited to
The Evening Bower,
the new home of
Jean-Louis Riviere and Rhea Rose
for the revival of the exclusive
Love and Blood (Evening Bower Book 2) Page 21