by Lila Rose
Oh, my God. I cursed myself black and blue for being in cat form because I wanted to know what Isaac would have done with me.
He rubbed his cheek against mine. “Now I must hunt. Dare to accompany me?” He smiled.
Purring, I rubbed my face against his again, while reaching my mind out. Would be my pleasure, I said through our new connection. He set me down and sped off toward the area where we both already scented some prey.
Chapter Fourteen
The following three weeks were the happiest of my life so far. Isaac and I attended classes every day with Darik, and every lunch, we sat in the cafeteria with Ty. I really enjoyed getting to know him. And the more comfortable he got with us, the less stuttering there was in his sentences. I also discovered Ty was strong when, a few days over the weeks, he’d come to my place and there he met Xavier, Adan, Jezanna and Caelen. Even though we had a guest present, Adan and Darik wouldn’t let up on my training of swordplay and martial arts.
It served as a constant reminder that there could come a day that would doom my good mood.
It was in those times I witnessed Ty at his strongest. He joined in with the martial arts, and once he started sparing with Adan, he won. It made it hard to believe he was blind. Ty explained his mum made him study the techniques so he wouldn’t be picked on so much, not that he ever used it against the dickheads we knew, because honestly, it wouldn’t be a fair fight. Ty could kick arse.
Other days, when we weren’t training, I got to play the Xbox against Jeremiah and Xavier. Of course, I kept beating their butts every time. The steam coming from Jeremiah’s ears was always a pleasure.
Gregory had a go at teaching me to cook, but after so many attempts and failing them miserably, he gave up and became everyone’s personal chef. Okay, well, mainly mine, since no one else really needed to eat normal food except Gregory and me.
Each night, I got to run with them while they hunted for food. Most nights, it was animals. Still, I wasn’t so stupid to believe they’d left humans off the menu, and one night, I was witness to their drinking. A hunter stumbled in our area as we were out playing. Isaac, who thought I wasn’t admiring him, crept up on his prey and sank his teeth in for a feed. As I stood there watching him, his eyes met mine. It caused primal emotions from me. I wanted to be the one Isaac fed from. I wanted his teeth in me while he was inside of me.
Lust caused me to flush. Isaac removed his fangs and was in front of me in seconds. His mouth met my urgent one. At the time, there was no thought to our audience. I moaned when his tongue demanded entrance. Jumping up, I wrapped my legs around his waist. Isaac’s hand went to my butt, where he ground my heated core against his firm dick.
A need pulled at me. I wanted Isaac right there and then. That was until he had to go and be the sensible one and break our connection. I swayed when I lost his support and found him metres away from me. Both of us panted hard.
Jeremiah, Darik and Xavier burst out laughing. Kicking at the ground, I swore at them under my breath and walked back to the house solemnly.
I didn’t understand his restraint. His not wanting to go further with me was like a hit to the stomach. However, I understood we couldn’t do it in front of people. Though… No, Leila, just no.
Also over the three weeks, Jezanna had become like a sister to me. We shared everything with each other. I’d never had that before, a girlfriend to talk to about anything. I ended up asking her if she had the same problem I did every month. She laughed and said, “Of course I do. Just because I’m a vampire, it doesn’t mean my body isn’t the same as a human’s. I still have my monthlies. I can still fall pregnant. My insides are still very much alive. The only differences we have with humans are we’re strong, faster and also need blood to survive.”
Apparently, most of the vampire stories were filled with lies.
She told me that when it was that time for her, she wore a charm her mother had given to her to help with anyone else scenting it. Turned out she had two charms and gave one to me. Thank God!
It was towards the end of the few weeks, I could tell Isaac grew more worried about the fact Hamish and Seraphine hadn’t returned. I tried to reassure him everything was okay, though I still had doubt myself. When I was over at his house one night, having dinner, I went to the toilet and overheard Isaac telling everyone he would give it until Saturday the following week for his guards to return. If they didn’t return, they’d be leaving. He tried to bring it up with me a couple of times, but every time he did, I either changed the subject or distracted him in other ways.
I couldn’t handle telling him I wouldn’t go with them when they left. And I refused to think about it, because it hurt too much. Knowing I could possibly be losing my world soon was too much to bear. Every time the thought filtered into my mind, it left behind a residual thread of agony, one that burned its way into my soul, leaving me breathless and near tears. It was much easier to ignore the possibility and pretend everything would be fine.
It was Saturday, just a week before Isaac would be leaving with his family, when I asked, “So, what are you doing tonight?”
As we sat on my bed together, the rest of the house was quiet. Ty had just left with Adan, who’d offered to give him a lift home and then he would continue on to Isaac’s house and keep an eye out there. I had the music going from the stereo on my desk, which once lived in the lounge room, but I transferred it there so our guards for the night, Darik and Xavier, couldn’t overhear our conversation.
“I was thinking of joining the others at Boozers. More of my people have come to see me.” He shuddered.
A couple of nights earlier, Caelen had come over from being at Boozers and told us there’d been an increase of vampires in town, ones who travelled to swear their allegiance to Isaac. Isaac hated the thought of any of it. However, I hoped one day he’d accept his responsibilities, because I did believe he was the right vampire to run things.
“Would you want to come with me?” he asked. “Although, I’ve been a bad influence on you. I can see you’ve had too many late nights.” He ran a finger gently under my eye, before he placed a kiss there.
“Are you saying I look like crap?”
He laughed and pulled back so I could see him shake his head. “Always so blunt. But no, I’m not. You’re always beautiful to me.”
I blushed, which I seemed to do a lot when Isaac used sweet words. “Thanks,” I mumbled and quickly continued, “Anyway, I was thinking of having an early night.” I raised my brows up and down quickly.
Only he didn’t get it.
“If that’s what you wish, I’ll get going then…”
For a 398-year-old guy, he sure could be so dense sometimes. Still, it made me smile and think he was the cutest thing out there.
“Isaac.” I groaned in embarrassment for having to spell it out for him. My cheeks heated once again. “What I meant was I wanted an early night.” I sent him a wink. My gorgeous man looked puzzled still. Looking away, I blurted out quickly, “Isaac, will you spend the night here with me?” I felt him freeze.
Great. I’d stunned the guy into shock. He should have known it was coming. Sure we did other things, but I’d been hinting at taking our relationship further. I was just about ready to jump his bones. I swore, I was so worked up to take the next step with Isaac my panties were constantly wet anytime I was around him.
Doubt grew in my bones, because he’d still said nothing or even moved. “I mean you don’t have to. Gregory probably won’t like it, and think of all the hell we’d get when the guys found out. Look, I get it. It’s okay. It’s… all right.” I went to move off the bed, my heart sinking, pain travelling into my chest at his rejection, but he grabbed my arm.
“Leila, it’s not that. I would love to stay here with you, to hold you all night—”
“I’m sure we can come up with better things than that.” I gave him a sly look. He smiled, but it didn’t shine in his eyes like it had ever since he kissed me that first time. He seemed di
stracted.
“Another night perhaps, when I can pay all my attention to just you. However, then I’m afraid I’ll never let you go again.”
I gulped loudly and stuttered, “O-okay.”
He stood quickly. “I must go.”
“Wait, what, why? Isaac, is something wrong? Have I—”
He silenced me with a kiss and left in a flash so I couldn’t ask any more questions, leaving me frustrated and confused. Again. My gut twisted. You’d think he’d know me better. No one left me curious, and I knew something was going on. Now I had to find out what.
Darik would have gone with Isaac, so that left me to contend with Xavier. My best option was to sneak out my window. I was already in the right clothes for a late night run, black leggings, running shoes and a hooded black jumper. The nights had turned cold in the last week.
With a jump, I was out the window, only to stumble back against the house when a face appeared in front of me.
“Curiosity killed the cat.” Xavier smiled.
“Don’t worry about curiosity. You’ll do a damn fine job of it. You scared the bejesus out of me, Xavier.”
“I won’t apologise for it. However, you should to me, for trying to sneak away while under my care, which could lead to having me killed by my master. I knew the moment Isaac left it wouldn’t take you long to want to find out why he disappeared so suddenly.”
Placing my hands on my hips, I glared at him. “Do you know why, Xavier?”
He looked everywhere but at me. “No,” he lied.
“Well, that’s all right.” I shrugged. “I’ll find out for the both of us.” I started to walk off, until he grabbed my arm.
“Please, don’t go.”
Sighing, I said, “I can’t do that, Xavier.”
“If I have to tie you down, I will, to prevent what will happen.”
Spinning quickly, so my face was inches from his, I snapped, “You can try, but it won’t happen. Xavier, you can either come with me or stay. But no matter what, I’m going.” I knew what I was about to say was pretty low, but the way Xavier wanted me to stay here told me—and had me more worried—that I needed to find out what was going on. “Or I’ll tell Isaac you hit on me.”
“I would never hit a woman. My master knows this.” He looked perplexed.
God, were all vampire so dense? “No, Xavier, it means you tried to kiss me, bed me.” I totally regretted it as soon as it was out of my mouth, because Xavier looked flabbergasted and hurt. “I’m sorry, Xavier, but I have to do this.”
“You’re a cunning piece of work.” He sighed. “Just don’t curse me when I’ve warned you to not go.”
“I won’t. Promise.” I crossed my finger over my heart. “Thanks. You ready?” He gave me a grim nod and we left.
It took us longer than usual, because I stayed in human form, but eventually we got to Isaac’s just as he climbed out of the car with Darik. They both looked sick with concern. Had they taken the longest route home for us to arrive at the same time? Why did they take so long? I also noticed two new cars in the driveway. Great, they had company and I looked like crap after sweating to get there. Didn’t matter. I could still manage a short stop over, and if no one saw me or heard me or even scented me, then it wasn’t my fault, was it?
I waited a moment after Isaac and Darik went inside. Then I turned to Xavier’s still grim expression.
“Wait here for me,” I said. He nodded. My head jutted back as I studied him. He’d agreed too quickly for my liking.
Ignoring the foreboding lurking in the air, I crept over to the door. With senses attuned to my surroundings and my power hiding my own presence from those within the house, I stopped just outside. When I felt no one on the other side of the door, I quietly opened it and sneaked down the hallway towards the kitchen, where I heard the voices coming from.
“I told her to leave, but she won’t,” Jeremiah growled.
“What could she want?” Isaac asked.
“She won’t say. She’s waiting in the parlour for you.”
Stuff it, the parlour was at the front of the house. The part I’d just sneaked by, but I hadn’t sensed anything. Before I was caught, I quickly bolted silently down to the front of the house and hid in Gregory’s bedroom, which was opposite the parlour. I waited and heard three sets of heavy footsteps coming my way, and then the parlour door was opened.
“Isaac, darling. It’s been too long.” As soon as I heard the high-pitched voice, I wanted to rip the head off whoever it belonged to.
“MaryJane, how did you find me?”
“Aren’t you happy to see me?” Her voice was closer to the door now, which meant she was walking towards Isaac.
“Of course, I just didn’t expect you.”
“Yes, well, you should have known I would have been able to follow you anywhere. As I am sure you had sensed I was here. These things happen after sharing blood with one another.”
Isaac, Isaac, Isaac, does your taste in blood donors come from your arse? First, the two bimbos at Boozers, and now, this piece of…
It took all my strength not to run into that room and beat her to a pulp. I clenched my fists and bit my tongue in case my body decided to listen to my brain.
“Still, that doesn’t answer why you’ve come.”
“I wish to speak with you alone.”
Don’t you dare leave him, boys. If you do, there’s no telling how long she’ll keep her dirty claws off him, and then if that happens, there’s no telling what I may do.
“We’ll not leave if you have your people still in the room,” Darik barked at her. I smiled.
“Very well. Leave us.” I heard shuffling. It sounded as if at least five others had been in there with them, not including Darik and Jeremiah.
“Isaac?” Jeremiah asked.
“It’s fine.” He sighed.
“Let’s go to the kitchen,” Darik ordered, more footfalls moving towards the back of the house. Still, I could feel two more presences other than Isaac’s and crap-head’s just on the other side of the door.
“Leave,” Jeremiah said.
“Not unless you do as well. I’m paid to guard her,” a new voice said.
“Fine.” They stayed in the hallway.
Leaning against the bedroom door, I was able to hear what was being said with my heightened sense. “Isaac, why are you standing so far away? Come sit by me.” Don’t you dare, punk. “That’s better.” I am going to stake you myself, Isaac.
“I’ve missed you, Isaac. That’s why I’m here.”
“I’d asked you to accompany me, but you refused.”
What? He’d asked her to move with him?
“I was silly to think I could live without you. It near killed me to do so.”
“And now?”
“Now, I’m hoping you will welcome me back into your arms… and bed.”
What the hell? Who does she think she is? That stupid, naïve slut!
“Isaac, why are you delaying to answer me? Is there someone else?” She sounded crazed. I could hear her sniffing at Isaac.
Yeah, sniff that, witch. I’m all over him.
“Why can I smell another, a human girl? Why, Isaac?” She screamed. “Who is she to you? Tell me now,” she ordered.
Yeah, tell her, Isaac. Don’t take her crap. Set her straight, or I will run in there and do it for you. Does it matter if I use my fists? Or murder her in the process? No, I don’t think it would.
The silence was crushing me.
“It’s nothing. She means nothing to me. She’s someone who has a crush and refuses to leave me alone. A plaything, really. But now you’re here, I have no need of her.”
Every word tore me deep inside.
A plaything? Was he that bored with life he thought he’d play with mine?
Did I mean nothing to him?
I mustn’t if it was that easy to brush me aside for that bitch.
Oh, God.
No!
Clenching my teeth, I threw the
door wide, ready to stride into that room and tell him where he could stick his thoughts.
Jeremiah and his friend’s eyes widened. “Oh, shit.” Jeremiah gasped.
“Jeremiah?” Isaac called from the parlour. Jeremiah quickly pushed me back into Greg’s room, shutting the door in my face, and held the handle so I couldn’t get back out.
“Don’t do this,” he whispered through the door. “Now is not the time.”
Fuck it! It was the perfect time… before my emotions and mind caught up with what my heart was already feeling.
Dammit… too late. I tumbled to the floor on my hands and knees. I couldn’t seem to get in enough breath. My forehead touched the carpet. Why couldn’t I breathe?
“Is everything all right, Jensen?” MaryJane called.
“Yes, mistress, everything’s fine.”
No. Everything wasn’t fine. He couldn’t have meant those words. He wouldn’t, would he? I didn’t know. I didn’t know… how could I not know? I thought I knew him, but maybe I didn’t. Maybe it’d just been a front all along.
“Who is she? I didn’t feel or smell her? How is that possible?” Jensen asked.
“None of your business,” Jeremiah quietly scolded.
The door opened. I looked up from the floor to his eyes as tears slid down my cheeks.
Another crack fractured my heart when I saw pity in Jeremiah’s eyes.
No.
It hurts, it hurts too much.
“What are you doing here? He doesn’t mean anything he says. He doesn’t,” he whispered in my ear.
Scoffing, I scrubbed at my eyes, but they wouldn’t stop leaking. “Really, Jeremiah? Can you be 100 percent sure? Because right now, all I have is doubt, like you do. I can see it. I can taste it on you. Oh, God, J, why? Why has he done this to me?” I couldn’t stop my voice rising at the end. Only Jeremiah didn’t want me to be overheard. He picked me up in his arms and carried me outside through his patio door.
Did he also know I didn’t think my legs would work? He placed me down gently and I managed to stand. Well, good on me. Even though I wanted to crumble to the ground, I stood tall. The rage and anger had arrived.