If she hadn’t been lying down, the truth of his words would have sent her to her knees. He knew all the details because he was there. Somehow, given everything that had happened, she wasn’t surprised he knew. Maybe nothing would surprise her anymore.
She brushed the back of her fingers along his jaw, trailing them underneath where the sun rarely kissed. As long as he was here, holding her in his arms, she could stand anything. She stared at his lovely olive skin and splayed her hand over his chest as she caressed him. She swallowed. Who did she lie with? Who was this man who could hold her with such adoration and warmth, yet demand her future?
“Who are you? You’re not human, are you?”
He stroked her hair and didn’t answer her immediately. Finally he said, “That’s less important than who you are.”
Which affirmed her suspicions; the banshees had come for her. They had come for her eleven years ago and they had returned tonight.
Did she really want to know the truth? She had asked him to tell her everything, but was she ready to hear?
Instead of answering her question, Jason began, “The other night, you went on a date with a man named John—”
“A nightmare,” she interrupted softly, snuggling closer to him, needing his warmth. His arms tightened as though he sensed the chill rising within her. Yet even as she said it, she knew it hadn’t been a dream. “I had a nightmare about a monster.”
“A succubus. That’s a low-level demon.”
She searched his face, recalling why she had thought he seemed so familiar. Resigned, she understood why the dream had seemed so real. “You saved me that night.” Suddenly, things clicked into place, matching with all the little tickles in her memory and the strange sense that she knew him. Daria brushed her lips along his neck, the only place she could reach without leaving the safety of his arms. “You’re my hero. But you look different,” she mused.
Jason tugged at his short hair and gave her a sheepish smile. “I look different when I change forms.”
“Change forms?” She blinked at him.
Of course.
His wristbands pressed against her lower back. He still had them on. She caught one of his hands and brought it to her cheek, then kissed his wrist. Jason said he couldn’t take them off and she had the distinct feeling it had something to do with this other form, the one in the alleyway who had stood in the darkness, an omnipotent shadow threatening to crush everything in its path.
Jason kept a leash on that form but it lingered beneath the surface of his easygoing smiles. If she dug too hard or deep and attempted to peel off the layer she knew, then she’d find that man who had the ability to destroy her with a crook of his finger.
“What?” he asked at her stare.
“Which one’s the real you?”
“They both are,” he replied quietly. “My father has always said I have the ability to far surpass him in power.” Jason swallowed hard. “But it scares me.”
The quiet admission couldn’t have come easily for him. This man, who had sent chills down her spine, also left himself vulnerable. Her female pride soared that he admitted it to her. Did she dare believe she held a special place in his heart?
The tone of their conversation had darkened with the talk of monsters and death, so she tried to insert some levity. “I can’t decide which one I like better. The black coat is pretty hot, I have to say.”
He snorted and rolled to his side, pinning her under him. “This is serious,” he chided.
She smiled lazily and sifted her fingers through his hair. With Jason beside her, she didn’t feel fear. He had saved her all those years ago, he had saved her tonight, and she knew he would continue to protect her from whatever came.
Daria leaned up and kissed his lips. “I’m listening.”
Jason frowned. “Maybe we should get dressed and then you’ll pay attention.”
Maybe if she hadn’t almost died in a fire or by a passing cab, she’d pay more attention. Maybe. But after the banshees, she didn’t care about the serious stuff. She wanted happiness and right now, this moment, Jason made her happy.
She pouted playfully. “Do you really want to get dressed?”
A loving smile lit his face. “I would like nothing more than to lie naked with you all day, every day.” As her grin widened, he cautioned, “But there’s so much we need to talk about.”
Daria sighed. “I can already guess. There are ‘things’ out to kill me. I’ve been rather . . . unlucky lately.”
“An imp pushed you into traffic, a poltergeist messed with your appliance and shower this morning, a puck poisoned the wine tonight, and a goblin tried to kill you with the scaffolding. That pretty much sums it up.” He paused. “But I’m not going to let anyone hurt you.”
Pride echoed through the vehement vow and she knew he meant it.
When she didn’t reply, he queried, “Aren’t you going to ask me why there are monsters after you?”
Actually, she kind of wanted to be an ostrich. Life’s road stretched short before her. She could almost see the end. Jason’s presence lengthened the road a bit, but she didn’t expect him to be with her nonstop. Apparently she had a target on her head. It didn’t really matter why. She had already lost her parents because of it. She didn’t want anyone else to die because of her.
“I figure someone somewhere has a grudge against me.” She sighed. “You’re going to tell me even if I don’t want to know.”
“Let me tell you a story,” he began, inhaling deeply. “Every five hundred years, a human will be born under all the auspicious stars.”
A sick feeling began to tighten her stomach. It expanded its cavernous mouth, swallowing her from within, consuming the remaining faith she had in what she thought she knew of the world. The muscles and nerves surrounding her lungs clenched and twisted. She couldn’t breathe because she saw a train wreck approaching. And she was the train.
Stop. Don’t say any more. She couldn’t speak her protest aloud.
“If the human is a man, the Houses send the oldest daughter to protect him. If the human is a woman, the Houses send the oldest son. But anyone, even those who don’t belong to the Houses will want to take this person. If they drink this human’s blood, they are given immense power. Those who eat this human’s flesh, will be granted immortality. But if one of the Houses can claim this human, not only will the clan prosper, but also that House will rule over all the land.”
A web of tangled uncertainties overwhelmed Daria. Was she walking death, living on borrowed time? Had fate determined this from the moment she was born? Only she wasn’t a bystander in this tragedy. She was living it. Her reality was one big, inevitable wreck that ended with her life snuffed out.
“It’s me, isn’t it?” she asked woodenly. “They are here to drink my blood and eat my flesh.” She met his eyes, no longer feeling as safe in his arms as she did a few minutes ago. “What are you here for?”
He pulled back and chucked her chin. “You’re special. You are the auspicious one, the first one to survive to adulthood in fifteen hundred years, Daria.” His golden irises transfixed on hers. “You are nearing maturation and have the potential to develop great powers. Powers no one can fathom. Everything in this world will be after you then. If you do not have one of the Houses to protect you, you will be eaten.”
The impact of his words crept inside her fuddled brain. Eaten. Like an animal. Goose bumps rose on her arms. The ghastly thought sent nausea through her, turning her stomach. A plain vanilla death surely seemed kinder than being eaten.
“What powers will I develop? And when is this ‘maturation?’”
“Soon. Probably on your birthday in three days.”
Her skin felt too tight across her face. He said everything in the world would come after her then. Sudden shock stole her br
eath. Her heart just might stop beating, too.
“And these powers?” she whispered. “Will I be able to fight those things after me?”
Jason didn’t respond at first. After a long pause, he said, “My mother was the last auspicious one to survive to adulthood. She never developed any powers. I don’t know what will happen once you reach maturation.”
A sitting duck with a target on its back. At least ducks had the option to fly away. She had nowhere to go.
“And what is a House?”
“One of three families. Each an individual clan. I represent the most powerful and the ruling House. I’m here to protect you.”
Daria braced herself for the final fine print she knew was coming.
Yet it never came.
A veil closed over his eyes and he maneuvered onto his back, taking her with him. Lying draped over him, she marveled at how natural it felt. She hadn’t been with many guys and she usually spent most of the time feeling self-conscious about her body. She’d definitely never rolled around in bed with a guy the way she did now.
“Is that it?” she prodded. He wasn’t telling her something. She could feel it in her bones. And he still hadn’t told her who he really was. “You said you’d tell me everything.”
His hand cupped her breast and he bent forward to trail kisses along her skin. He was avoiding her question and trying to distract her. But suddenly she didn’t care. She’d get it out of him sooner or later.
She slid her hands down his stomach, caressing the line of muscles, basking in the raw strength of his body. He flipped her to her back and kissed his way down her torso, pausing to thrust his tongue into her navel, before moving between her legs. He bent her left leg and nuzzled her tender core before suckling her. Her hips arched with pleasure.
“I want you,” she gasped between breaths, her hands clenching his hair.
Raw pain lanced his face. He turned away. “We can’t.”
Her heart pounded against her chest and she moved to kneel beside him, turning his face to hers. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
“They’d know.”
Daria froze. “What?” she asked, aghast. She whirled around, searching for hidden cameras in her house. Or could supernatural creatures see through walls? She narrowed her eyes and lowered her voice. “Who would know?”
Jason sighed and raked his hand through his hair. He stepped off the bed and grasped her around the waist to set her on her feet. “We should get dressed.”
She opened her mouth to protest but Jason had already turned his back to pick up their clothes from the floor. A pang stung her heart. Was everything he had done just part of his duty in protecting her? Like a romp in bed? A fling?
He straightened and she noticed a black mark on his left shoulder. She squinted, trying to see what it was. A tattoo? Birthmark?
When she reached for the clothes in his hand, ready to run to the bathroom in humiliation, he instead began to help her dress. “Let me keep taking care of you,” he begged softly.
His gentle hands slipped the clothes over her head and his eyes remained tender. His body testified to his desire but for some reason unknown to her, he wouldn’t have her. The hollow pit in her stomach grew. Yet, seeing how he had to resist his obvious need, she forgave him his silence.
After they had both dressed, he took her hand and led her out to the living room. They stood there for a few seconds, neither saying anything, and she was again struck by how young he appeared. But she knew he couldn’t be young. Not if he had saved her all those years ago.
“How old are you?” she asked, abruptly suspicious.
He raised his eyes to the ceiling as if the numbers were written there. “Probably much too old for you,” he replied with a chuckle. He tilted his head to tease, “If I tell you I’m a crotchety old geezer, will you be nicer and spoon-feed me?”
Daria poked him in the ribs and he laughed, swinging her to face him. He linked his hands around her waist. “I know we’ve only gone out twice. But given the circumstances, would it be too forward of me if I asked to spend the night? So I can watch over you?”
A twinkle glinted in his eye but she knew his question was serious. He asked so formally yet hesitantly, as if worried he sounded too pushy. An ache stabbed her as she recalled her first impression of his picture and the desolation she had noticed. Some of that desolation had just reappeared.
He was lonely, too. Daria nodded.
He grinned. “I just need to go pick up some clothes.”
“Wait a second.” Her mind reeled at what he said. “Are you asking to move in?”
Jason’s eyes widened in innocence and she felt like an idiot. Apparently that was what he meant, but in her stupidity she’d had no idea. Staring into his golden gaze, she saw nothing but patience as he waited for her answer.
Though they both knew what she’d say, he respected her enough to hear her say it. Daria didn’t even know why she felt so comfortable with him. She knew only that she trusted him. If Jason was the only thing standing between her and monsters, she would gladly trust him.
Daria nodded a second time.
“I don’t want you out of my sight. Come with me?”
Every word he spoke sent a tingle through her body. Was he was trying to make her fall for him with his charm, consideration, and kindness? If so, then how devious. If she really let him have his way, she’d never want to be without him. Then where would she be?
“Sure,” she croaked. She couldn’t talk anymore. Better to stay silent. If Jason kept saying such sweet things to her, she might betray her feelings and leave herself even more vulnerable.
To her surprise, he didn’t go to the front door. “Let me show you a different way to travel.”
That was all the warning she got. The next thing she knew, her body whisked away as though on a high-speed train. A second later, she stood in a dark room. The lights flipped on and Jason smiled at her. “Make yourself at home. I’ll be quick.”
Amazing. He truly wasn’t human. Yet the thought didn’t scare her. He wouldn’t have been able to save her so many times if he were a normal human.
Daria sat down on his black leather couch and noted the modern décor with the barest of furniture. Definitely a bachelor’s pad. How many women had sat here before?
She squelched the destructive thought. Not good to think like that. And what did it matter? He was here with her now.
“I still have a lot of questions,” she reminded him when he emerged with a round duffel bag and another long black bag that seemed big enough to hold a rifle.
A tangible wariness seemed to surround him. So many questions deluged her mind, yet only one kept surfacing; one centered on her ego.
“Let’s go back first while you think of your questions.” He took her hand.
He stepped through a shadow and suddenly they were back at her condo. That was certainly one way to avoid the traffic hour. He placed his bags in the corner and waited patiently for her to ask her questions. But she couldn’t ask why he protected her. Was it only for duty? If he said ‘yes,’ her heart might break. If it broke again, would she be able to find all the pieces to glue together?
The emotional struggle must have shown on her face, for he stepped closer and laid a soft kiss on her lips. His eyes searched hers and as though he read her thoughts, he murmured, “For twenty-seven years I have watched over you, Daria. Those have been the happiest years of my life. And if you’ll let me, I’ll spend the rest of my life protecting you.”
“That sounds like a really long time,” she whispered.
“It wouldn’t be worth living without you.”
Jason ran his fingers through Daria’s hair. She had fallen asleep beside him more than an hour ago. He smiled at the catch in her breath.
He had intended to
sleep on the couch or in her spare bedroom. But as they stood in the living room, loath to part from each other, they had meandered back to her bedroom, and fallen into each other’s arms again.
His heart ached with torment when she wasn’t with him. Daria would think him a fool if he told her. So he didn’t, the sweet torture his alone to savor. He knew she didn’t feel much for him beyond simple attraction. Just as he knew she had reacted to him in the physical sense only. It was too early for her to develop any feelings for him. He sighed and pressed a kiss to her hair. He couldn’t help but wish she could love him.
Sinking into bed, he laced his arms around her and in her sleep she turned to snuggle closer to him. She felt absolutely perfect in his arms. No one could claim otherwise. She was his. Would always be his. He’d never let anyone take her away from him.
That’s what you thought about Alice.
The betrayal skidded to the forefront of his mind and he forcefully pushed it away. But it didn’t stop the ache from growing like cancer in his chest.
He heard a pinging sound from the kitchen and he stiffened. Jason glanced down at the precious bundle in his arms and gently eased out of bed, careful not to wake her.
Strange. He wasn’t expecting a message. He went to the kitchen and opened the oven. Sure enough, an envelope rested inside.
He glanced briefly at the addressee before tearing it open.
I’ll swing by the office tomorrow.
A
His stomach twisted into knots and his entire body cringed. Alastor. A satisfying slicing sound filled the air as he ripped the letter into tiny little bits before throwing it into the trash.
Alastor always had impeccable timing. They needed to talk. It was about time they got things out in the open. His brother never failed to exploit Jason’s emotions. Why should he behave any differently now? What better moment than after Daria had learned the truth of the danger closing in on her?
Blood In The Stars Page 9