“I dumped you? As if. I adore you.” A twinge of pain splintered behind her eyes. She needed sleep before this conversation.
“That is precisely how I felt about the matter. However, I did promise I would allow you time and space to decide where you belong.” He rubbed her temple gently with his thumb. “You are exhausted.”
“I am, but I don’t have time to sleep yet.” She placed her hand over his. “You mean you gave me time to decide who I belong to. Isn’t it unfair to you and what we supposedly have between us, for me to decide that, when you also took away all the reasons why I feel so close to you?”
“Yes.” He leaned down and whispered in her ear. “You feel close to me, because you are close to me.”
Her breath rushed out and her knees felt like they would buckle. A tremble laced her words. “She says with your blood we can work a spell that will protect my mind from manipulation forever.”
“Did she?” He straightened, the lust in his eyes vanished. “That’s new. Most useful. More than likely illegal spellcasting.”
“Apparently that kind of magic is frowned on and it would need to be secret. I guess it would be against the rules, if not illegal.” Could she ask him to bend even more rules for her? How many times had he done that. “I know it’s asking a lot, but it would mean I could know for sure everyone involved in the deaths was targeted. You’ve done so much for me and I will understand if this is just one rule too many.”
“The rules are irrelevant to us, my dear.” He turned her and opened the door. “Shall we? We’re not strangers to mischief making.”
She glanced at the door and back to him. “What are we doing?”
“Protecting you.”
“Just like that, you will give that crazy witch, who you just called a vile hag, your blood?” So easy. Could he really love her?
He kissed her nose. “Did she explain to you what a dearling is?”
“I read some and I’m a little confused. It sounds like a dearling is a consolation prize.”
He growled, spun her around and shut the door. “This is why it makes me angry she told you, and that I waited to tell you. There are three loves in the life of a vampire, and only three. That makes each and every one important in its own right. None are taken lightly and they are certainly not consolation prizes.” Matthias gripped her shoulders and closed his eyes.
Icy cold prickled unpleasantly for the first time since she met him. Alice flinched and stepped back as his presence bristled against her. “Don’t get angry with me. Help me understand. We need to move past this before you leave. I won’t have ugly between us while we are working in such a dangerous place.” She reached up and touched his face. “The creation of another vampire is your first true love.”
“No, my first true love was my creator. I submitted to the process and loved her deeply. Did you read why that was doomed?” He loosened his hold.
“Yes. I’m sorry, it’s a sad story.” As she studied his eyes, she didn’t see any pain. Was he over the loss of his soulmates? Could a soul recover from that twice?
He walked her back to the chairs. “We will do this first and then see the witch.”
She didn’t sit, instead she held both his hands. “I’m sorry.”
“I’m not angry with you. This entire situation makes me beyond angry. All of this was supposed to be perfect for you. That was the only reason I blurred your memories and waited to tell you. You aren’t ready.”
“No, I’m not ready, but I think we are out of time.” She kissed the muscle on the side of his jaw as it twitched. “Perfect is overrated. Explain it to me. Maybe we can have more between us than secrets and shadows.”
“My first love was cursed as you read. The creation of a vampire taints that love and the child will hate the maker. The reason is long and we can talk about that later, but suffice to say we were cursed that the creature we loved most, the one person we decided to turn into our child would no longer love us from the second they awoke as a monster.” A crease formed between his brows.
Alice rolled up on her toes and kissed the crease. Pain on his face was startling and disturbing. “Do you hate her? The one who made you?”
“Deeply, as deeply as I loved her, and as deeply as my child hates me.” His arm wrapped around her, resting at the small of her back.
“But you made a vampire of someone you loved, knowing how you felt about the woman who made you?”
“Yes, because when you live forever, and you love someone with your whole soul, you would rather lose their love for you than watch them wither and die.” He closed his eyes and rubbed his neck. “Perhaps we are all romantics and truly believe it won’t happen. The love is strong enough to beat the curse. It isn’t.”
“You have loved deep twice, and you still love your child, but a dearling, is what then, if not a consolation prize who you can’t love as profoundly?” Did she want part of his heart and soul? Could she offer him more than that?
He held her chin between his finger and thumb, and pressed his lips against hers. “Do not tell me how deeply I feel.”
Alice wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him with a desire she didn’t realize she had. She backed away, feeling every nerve ignite with passionate fire. “I feel it too. But I can’t love you like that.”
“Why? I loved twice, soulmates I guarantee, and yet my soul knew as soon as I saw you that you would be my dearling.” He tangled his fingers in her hair and tugged her back to him. “You belong to me.”
“I love Jasper and Amarok. While Jasper wants no claim to me other than to learn magic together, Amarok loves me with his whole being.”
“You can’t have his love any more than I can Lizette’s.” He rubbed a thumb over her lips. “We’ve debated this before. You are the one who said it must be a sign that we both had two great loves and would share the powerful three together.”
“I did?” Alice shook her head. “You took that from me, because I couldn’t face it?”
“Yes. I would do anything for you. Even wipe away all of the moments that would bring you to me. Would Amarok? Did he pull the needed strings to dissolve your partnership because he loves you that much? It sounded like he fought tooth and nail to keep that partnership intact, even when Maxwell offered to dissolve it.”
Guilt stabbed her heart. “I… it would hurt him and I can’t just stop loving him any more than I can help how I react to you apparently. I wouldn’t ask you not to love Lizette.”
“Then we understand one another.”
“It’s complicated.”
“Yes, and will be messy.” He kissed her shoulder. “And more passionate than you can imagine.” His kisses trailed across her collarbone. “And worth it.” He continued up the side of her neck. “I will spend every day making sure that your forever, while not perfect, will be mostly beauty and happiness.” He nipped her ear. “A touch of darkness.” With a gentle suck he pulled the lobe between his teeth. “A load of mischief.”
God. What is he doing? Don’t take off your clothes. Don’t rip off his. “I can’t decide this right now. Can we slow down?”
“Yes.” He kissed both of her eyes. “Every time you ask me to do that, I’ve done it, but you understand that I can’t anymore. If we work this spell with that hag, you will always know what has happened between us from then on.”
“You already love me? Do I, did you take away my love for you? Is that why I always feel peace around you?” She rested her head on his shoulder. “You feel so right.”
“Possibly. I never ask for a declaration.” He grinned and shrugged. “I’m loveable for a dead monster.”
He was. Touchable. Kissable. “I certainly want you to the point of distraction. We have so much work to do.”
“Dear god, don’t do that to me right now. I won’t make you come to any complicated decisions, but you can’t say you want me and then expect to go have ice cream and play chess.”
“I like chess.”
“As do I, and I
know you like ice cream, but this, whatever between us would melt it.”
“I’m glad you feel that too.” She touched his face again and ran the tip of her finger over his lips. “It’s supposed to be dangerous to feel this way about a partner. That’s why Amarok and I can’t, aside from the rules.”
“After this mission, we will never work together again.” He kissed her finger. “With your new dark friend’s aid, we will be ahead of schedule and you will be safer than I could have made you.”
“Until then. Until we are both back here safe and the vampires who are hurting witches are locked away, we can’t.” She pulled her hand away.
“This is going to get awkward more than one more time. Biting is deeply erotic.”
A soft sound escaped her lips. “I’ve imagined so.”
A rolling growl came from deep in his throat. “See the witch now? Then biting.”
Chapter Five
“KNOCK OUT THE security cameras in the hall. Just disable them temporarily, don’t break them.” Matthias rested one hand on Alice’s back and the other on the doorknob.
“How did you know I can do that?” Alice peered up at him, unable to resist returning his grin.
“We don’t always stay to common areas.” He winked and nodded toward the door. “Don’t dally, a grumpy lizard is expecting results. We both have one strike. Don’t start collecting more.” He mimicked Sarg El’s voice and wrinkled his features in mock disgust before sticking his tongue out. “I’m afraid I can’t do the slithery tongue thing.”
“That’s not a bad thing.” Alice closed her eyes, and muttered. “They are disabled. I thought you were overseer for the ambassadors on this wing. This isn’t boss-like behavior. Maxwell would disapprove.”
“I’m a do as I say sort of leader.” He closed and locked his door behind them. “No one expects vampires to behave as angels.”
“We are bad for each other, aren’t we?” Alice walked as close to him as she could, without touching him.
“So bad. Lusciously bad.” He slowed when they passed another ambassador. A cold prickle danced out from him.
“Did you just trance them?” Alice looked over her shoulder, watching as they walked away.
“A little.” He pinched his fingers together to indicate how small and kept walking. “Clear the next hall of cameras. You can turn on the others once we round the corner. One hall at a time. We wouldn’t want anything truly important to escape recording.”
“We are going to talk more about this later too.” Alice continued to turn off and on cameras as they navigated to the dark wing.
At the checkpoint Alice handed the authorization pass Maxwell gave her to the guard.
The same troll who had been guarding the entrance when she visited before, gripped her card in its large, brown hand and slid it through a card reader. “Welcome back, Alice. You have access to see Morrigana. Please take the main hall to the third door. Swipe your card and make sure the door closes fully behind you.”
“Yes, thank you.” Same as before. She took her card and slipped it in her pocket.
Matthias handed the troll his access card.
When the card swiped, the light on the reader flashed red. The machine buzzed. “You will have to wait here. I can message Maxwell, if you feel this is in error.”
Matthias lifted a hand to his own face, rubbing beside his eye.
Busted. Alice glanced from one to the other, holding her breath. Would they alert Maxwell? What would happen to Matthias?
The movement of Matthias’ finger drew the troll’s eyes to his. Matthias rubbed his other hand on Alice’s back while he talked. “I’m sure if you swipe it again, you will see the light is green and I have the same access as Alice. You really should swipe it again.”
“I should swipe it again.” The troll swiped the card. The scanner flashed red and buzzed. “Welcome, Matthias. You have access to see Morrigana. Please take the main hall to the third door. Swipe your card and make sure the door closes fully behind you.”
They started past the troll.
The troll reached out his hand stopping them. “You will need a pair of glasses.”
Alice grabbed a pair of the night-vision glasses like she’d used last time. “Thank you.” She turned to Matthias. “Do you need a pair?”
“I see quite well in the pitch.” He clipped his card at his waist.
After the main door closed behind them, Alice slipped the glasses on. “Your influence is different with everyone. I noticed you didn’t need to talk to the ambassador in the hall.”
“It varies. I’ve had enough practice to know what creatures need what for the best results.” He draped his arm over her shoulders.
“I’m surprised they give such a dangerous creature free run and a position of power.” She reached her hand up to his and clasped it.
“I’m not more dangerous than you. In fact, I’d venture you are far more dangerous, and unpredictable, and delightful.” He breathed in deep. “And you smell delicious.”
“That perfume was left for me.” On the dresser at night while she slept. “You did that, didn’t you?” The abrasive vibrations coming from the first two doors caressed her, sending goosebumps racing across her arms. She pressed out peace and flicked her fingers, shoving the sensation away with a spark.
“That’s impressive.” Matthias petted her shoulder. “A light in the dark.”
“This place feels awful. I’m glad she isn’t very far down.” At the third door, Alice swiped her card. The light flashed green and the lock clicked open. “Will that troll know you manipulated him?”
“God no. Trolls are simple. I’ll wipe us from his mind after we leave.” Matthias held the door while she walked through.
Him holding the door flashed across her mind. It wasn’t this door. Happiness flooded her thoughts. “Have we gone off grounds together?”
“We have.” He pulled the door until it clicked. “You really wanted to. In all fairness to me, you’ve known how to play me for a very long time. When you ask with that pouty look, how am I to deny you? That would be truly monstrous. My evil has limits.”
“You are not evil.” Even in the odd lighting of the night-vision glasses he was stunning. “Dastardly at most. What did we do?”
“That sounds harmless. Fiendish? Diabolical?” He started walking again. “Even you traipse past dastardly on occasion. I’ll give you those memories after the mission, like we agreed. No complications right now.”
“Me? Dastardly?” A warmth grew between them, pushing out the chill hanging in the air. “Thank you. Taking me out of here, that’s, risky.”
“I like risky. Perilous even. For you.”
“Thank you for doing this too.”
The sound of laughter filled the air. They made their way to the end of the hall and the witch’s workroom.
“Matthias. You’ve not been to visit in decades. A witch might think you didn’t care.” Morrigana slipped from a shadow when they stepped in her room. “I’m not surprised you agreed. She is delicious.”
Matthias tucked Alice against him. “You’ll do good not to taste my witch even metaphorically.”
“Temper, temper. That is a vampire trait though, isn’t it? Don’t show her your monster just yet.” Morrigana circled them, muttering under her breath. “Did she tell you what was needed?”
“Blood.” Matthias spun them to face her.
“Yes.” Her tongue swiped around her mouth. “Your blood and her apprenticeship.”
“You need her for a spell.”
“Clever thing. Never could get anything past you.” Morrigana’s gaze trailed to Alice. “Not even when you were blood drunk.”
Alice felt a punch in her gut. He tasted her? Why didn’t either of them mention that before? A secret affair. Working partnership. Blood magic. “Matthias, we don’t have to do this, if you don’t think it is a good idea.”
“We are doing whatever it takes to keep you safe.” He turned back to Morrigana and
lowered his voice in challenge. “What do you need from her for this spell?”
“Just cooperation.” She turned and vanished into the shadows, returning with a bag in one hand and a jar in the other. “This one is all you and me. This sort of permanence will require a life.”
“That’s fine. You or me?” His arm tightened around Alice.
“Your blood, your favor, you take the life.” Morrigana stared at them a long moment. “Unless you want her to take part.”
“I’m capable. I will assume you have something.” He turned to Alice, holding her in a soothing gaze. “A proper spell is gruesome. You don’t have to watch.”
Morrigana slipped from sight again and returned with a slithering creature in her hand. “She’s not a fragile flower.”
“I’m not afraid. I’ve worked dark elf spells with Jasper and Decker. Chester showed me some witch spells. Let’s do this before someone realizes you are in here.” She looked up at him and added, “I can kill it. This is for me.”
“No.” Matthias kissed her forehead. “Spells like this could darken your light.”
“She rushes forward without much thought. The young ones are so impetuous. Works for us both.” Morrigana pointed to the table and sat the creature on it. “Stand there, little arcana.”
Alice stepped away from Matthias. The space between them filled in with a cold emptiness and questions. How many times had he been here working dark magic with the witch?
“Her light is quite resilient. Did she tell you, your blood hasn’t dimmed it? It will survive your final taint. I looked.” Morrigana ground seeds and leaves in a small stone bowl. She extended a jeweled knife to Matthias. “Two drops in the bowl. If you want to leave an extra drop for my trouble in the glass, I wouldn’t complain.” She nodded toward an empty glass.
“I don’t think so.” Matthias pushed the knife away and bit his wrist, letting two drops fall into the bowl. “I won’t be leaving you any on your blade either.”
“A wise creature. A clan master is wasted on a child witch. Though I do see the appeal. Powerful and innocent. Are you afraid her elf blood will spoil the flavor?” She nudged the slithering creature away from the edge of the table.
Blood Relic Page 5