Blood's Voice

by Aine Massie

  “Anya? What’s wrong?” Declán asked, critically looking over Louie and Nyx. He could tell something was off but didn’t understand the issue was me, not them. I moved to bring him the rest of the way. Nicholas stayed at my side flawlessly.

  Signing only – “I need your help. Please translate for me.”

  “Anything.” He turned so that he could see them but could also see me clearly. “I don’t understand why, but she wants me to translate for her. So . . .”

  “Let’s move back inside,” Nicholas said as he motioned toward the house. Everyone moved inside, though Nyx seemed slightly reluctant – I couldn’t blame her really.

  Louie decided to be the first to break the silence. “Anya, this is your human mate, the Guardian yes?”

  “Yes. This is Declán. He won’t harm you as long as you do not harm the humans here or any of us. The same goes for Nicholas.”

  “And you two communicate with your hands?” Nyx asked, looking puzzled. She kept glancing back and forth between Declán and me.

  “Yes, we actually met thanks to a sign language class. It is safer for you right now.”

  “Strange creatures, both, but okay. Louie, you were modest when you told me about what had become of Anya. No wonder you wanted me to come personally.” Nyx was shaking her head as she smirked at Louie. “But, after your slight fit,” she looked sharply at me, fear flashing across her face for a moment before composing herself, “I think I would like to take my leave.”

  I nodded but was worried about the humans in the area. Nicholas seemed to catch my worry before I could decide what to do. “Nyx, you do understand that the humans in this area are under her protection, yes?”

  “Oh, yes. Louie made that abundantly clear before we arrived. I’ll not be harming your pets, any of them.”

  She took a moment to say goodbye to everyone, eying Declán oddly but not directly addressing him again. Once she left, I was able to relax some. Louie, I knew, wouldn’t harm anyone here even though he was a ‘traditional’ diet vampire. Declán hadn’t seen one like Louie and Nyx except the one night, in a dark club. He couldn’t seem not to stare, poor thing.

  “Thank you Declán,” Nicholas murmured. “Anya, do you think you can talk again? It’s just Louie and us now.”

  Tentatively I tried, still worried about how stable I was right then. “I believe so.” I half smiled at him.

  “And thank you Declán. I kind of lost control of my voice before, but – I am being intolerably rude. Declán, this is Louie. Louie, Declán Keane.”

  “Ah, I am very glad to finally meet you, Declán,” Louie asserted. He was watching me in his peripheral vision as he extended his hand.

  While I noted Louie watching me, I was focused on Declán, as was everyone else. “Thank you,” Declán replied, cautiously shaking hands. “You are one of the two that visited before?”

  “Yes, Simon, my mate, and I visited Anya the night it was decided they would form a larger House under Anya. You are really going to live here? With six vampires?” Poor Louie still hadn’t been able to come to terms with the fact that Declán was so comfortable with us, even though he was this Guardian thing.

  “Yes, I am. I am where ever Anya is. As is Nicholas.” Declán sounded so certain, so calm.

  Declán half turned to Nicholas, “The eyes are creepy though, you’re right.” They both started laughing. I worried Louie would be offended, but he seemed to be enjoying watching us all.

  Jonathan, trying not to laugh as well, cleared his throat. “Well Louie, it seems like you got what you wanted even if not quite the way you intended. I believe your friend Nyx has decided that Anya is everything you claimed, possibly more.” He won the fight not to laugh, but the grin was precious.

  Louie was shaking his head, smirking as well. “Yes, well. I had not intended for her to be caused pain, though she probably deserves it.” Sobering a bit, he continued, “I am a bit concerned about you, Anya. I know Ashley is a sore point for you, but you dealt with Simon and my yelling and ranting last time much better. You also regained control faster. I am not meaning to chastise you my dear, but I do worry.”

  “That’s what all that was about?” Declán inquired. “You were that out of control over her?” Declán and Nicholas both moved back to my side quickly. “Anya, love, she didn’t really hurt me, and you already dealt with her. There’s no need to be upset. Ashley’s gone and I’m fine.”

  “Declán, you didn’t see how she was at first,” Louie countered. “She was truly terrifying yet glorious.” He had the same awed face that Nicholas and Jonathan often did when discussing my voice.

  “Yes, yes, to all of you. I am scary. We know that! I don’t like being like that. I wish you all could understand.

  “Though, I did want to ask why you had stayed inside with me when everyone else had gone out to try to assist Nicholas,” I asked Louie.

  “Hmm, oh, I wanted to make sure you were okay. You seemed virtually in pain, trembling as you were. I–”

  “I was?” I interrupted. “I didn’t realize I was shaking, though that makes sense. I mean, I couldn’t seem to calm down but . . .” I normally noticed such little markers in myself.

  “You were, love,” Nicholas sighed. “I would have stayed with you but . . . You would have been upset if you had done any worse than terrify Nyx.”

  “No, you were right to move her, though her being away from me didn’t seem to undo whatever I had done.” I was not happy about my behaviour. “What is wrong with me,” I muttered angrily.

  “Nothing,” Declán and Nicholas said in chorus.

  “Come on, love,” Nicholas continued, tugging me – Declán and me – along with him. “Louie can hang out with Jonathan and Amber if he wants but lets us head up to our area. Declán hasn’t even gotten to see his room yet.” Declán happily tagged along, Nicholas keeping a pace that Declán could maintain.

  Louie looked a little disappointed as we left, but I could hear him chatting with Jonathan once we were out of sight.

  I had let Nicholas show Declán his room when we had made it up to our area. I was desperately wishing for some quiet, personal space, just until I could get a handle on what had happened. It wasn’t usually so difficult to regain control over my voice, especially since I knew she couldn’t actually do anything to Nicholas. No one in that room would have allowed her to harm him.

  I could hear them, Nicholas and Declán, joking out in our common area, as they fidgeted with the exact placement of the furniture and decorations. The deliveries had begun shortly after I had closed myself off in my room. After a little, I heard a timid knock. It was Declán, of course. “Come in, a ghrá.”

  He came in absolutely beaming. “We waited to disturb you, but we really need access to your area, dearest.”

  “I know.” I sighed. “I shouldn’t be so antisocial, sorry. Let’s get everything finished.”

  “Actually,” Nicholas said as he came blurring in with some of my things. “Could you go entertain the girls while we finish? They just arrived and well, Skye is still weird about us acting normal. It would be easier for us.”

  I could feel my face twist with confusion. “You want me to go entertain while you and Declán, a human, carry and arrange things on the third floor? I know I’m a little off today, but wouldn’t I be better suited to carry heavy things?”

  Declán shushed me. “Shh, you’re supposed to be letting me be a man, remember? Let us do the heavy lifting parts and you can rearrange all you want later.” He was smirking, and there was some weird look that passed between him and Nicholas.

  “Oh, fine. You two go play caveman, but I am not anyone’s damsel.” They were being so cute. Boys.

  I flitted down the stairs in time to catch Kayla and Skye getting out of their Prius. Geoffrey and Peony, of course, pulled in as well in their car. It had taken a little convincing to get them to let us arrange a vehicle. Geoff had finally decided on a graphite grey Lancer Evolution. I had to give him credit though, not o
nly was the car beautiful, but he had it imported from the U.K. so that he could get the steering column on the right side – ‘where it belongs’ he had cheerfully declared.

  “Hi, girls. All moved in?” I asked. They were both gawking at the house and hadn’t even gotten to the porch. Funny.

  “Um, wow,” Kayla declared. “You said big but just, wow.” Skye wasn’t much better considering she hadn’t managed to speak yet.

  “I’m going to take the girls on a tour,” I added looking toward Geoff. Peony had already gone inside. “You ought to know that Louie is still here, so play nice.” I tried to smile, but my nerves were still a little tangled.

  Looking intently, as I knew he could scan my surface thoughts – and did often – Keep an eye on him with the girls here, he isn’t like us. Oh, and talk with Jonathan about what happened while you were out, we can catch up later. Thanks!

  Geoff nodded once, quickly. “Oh? Interesting, I haven’t met him yet. You have fun,” Geoff called as he sprinted – slower than he really had to, but where Skye would be more comfortable – inside.

  “So, this is what you took off to go buy?” Skye finally chirped. “No wonder the cars were no big . . .”

  “Well, there are a lot of us; I needed something that would accommodate. But, come. Should we start in the gardens or inside?” I needed to keep them busy for a few more minutes. It wouldn’t take long for them to finish, but as Declán was determined to do for himself, it would go a little slower.

  “I still can’t get over this,” Kayla said, looking around upstairs again. “When you said you’d each have your own space, you really meant it.”

  “I can’t believe that she convinced them both to move in with her like this,” Skye teased with Kayla. They both turned an exquisite shade of red.

  “Kayla, Skye,” Declán snapped critically. “You need to stop that. She accepted you without question and has always been supportive.”

  “Declán, a ghrá, they’re fine. She’s teasing; I know that. Jonathan and Amber don’t really understand us either. Relax, please.” I really didn’t need them fighting over us.

  “Sorry, but you’ve already had a rough day . . . they don’t need to upset you again,” Declán murmured wrapping me protectively in his arms and pulling me into his form.

  “She’s not that fragile Dec, really,” Nicholas gently reminded him, reaching up to rumple his hair playfully. “Good thing my arms are so long or this would a lot harder,” he said with a laugh. He was lying with his head in my lap, while we visited. We were gathered in our combined asylum – Nichols had already named it.

  “We didn’t mean anything bad, Declán. Just, I could never handle a relationship like yours, especially not like this. I mean, you’re holding her while Nicholas rests on her . . . But, we didn’t come over to fight, big brother. This is supposed to be a house warming, of sorts.” Kayla was shaking her head, as she always did when he became defensive.

  “Though,” Skye continued, “we need to head back soon. I’m getting really tired, and with the insane luck – that I’m still suspicious about – we have, Kayla and I are roommates, so . . .” she trailed off with a grin.

  “Ah, well then, do you know how to get back?” Nicholas asked, sitting up.

  “Yeah, Geoff had the GPS programmed already. He’s so sweet,” Kayla stated with the same humour and indulgent tone she often takes with Declán. Their relationship was amusing, yet confusing, considering how terrified she was for a while.

  “Ah, good. I’ll still escort you off the property, if you don’t mind,” Nicholas continued raising an eyebrow, daring her to argue.

  “Whatever makes you happy Nic. But, you already knew that,” Skye smirked.

  Chapter Nineteen

  “Finally, alone! Love my sis dearly, and Skye also, but I’ve been dying to talk to you since I got back from the store, and either you were secluded, or we had ears,” Declán asserted eagerly. “I really want to know how you’re doing. Nic and the others filled me in on the parts I missed, but I’m worried about you. You seem . . . off.”

  “I’ll be fine dear. I lost my temper, though I cannot really explain why it was so severe. Louie just wanted to show me off, so he could have independent corroboration of his claims about me.

  “But, is that really all you’ve thought about?” I was instantly on my feet, pulling him to his.

  “Well,” he murmured against my lips as he began kissing me. There was no restraint in his kisses. He was pushing me toward his room, his body eager. We barely made it through his door before he had my wrists pinned to the wall, lightly slamming me into it.

  A moan escaped my lips as I scrambled to regain my centre. “Careful,” I tried to say but he wasn’t having it, his kisses were too hungry. If I didn’t stop him now, I wouldn’t be able. Not yet . . .

  In a flash, I spun so he was the one pinned to the wall, my body crushed against his. His heat, his intoxicating and maddening scent pushing me further . . . the craving for him was so exquisite yet painful.

  His sapphire eyes blazed as his body arched towards me. I pressed my lips to the moist skin of his throat, feeling the pulsing of his exotic, intoxicating essence. I continued devouring his scent as I hungrily kissed down his throat to the powerful, quivering muscles of his chest. Revelling in the power and haze his passions were flaming within me.

  I didn’t want to hurt him, just revel in his pleasures. “Ah, I can’t!” I shuddered as his cravings drove him further. Had he not heard me? He lifted me up, kissing eagerly down my neck. Without conscious thought my legs wrapped around him – pulling me closer still. “No, no, no. Stop,” I begged. I did not want to stop, not truly but considering my loss of control earlier, I couldn’t risk it right now. I grasped his shoulders, sliding my feet to the floor again.

  I was having trouble calming my breath or my desires. I wanted Declán; not to be the responsible one! Be good, I chanted at myself. I had to regain control, not the easiest thing when he was actively working to undermine me.

  Declán growled, staring at me with such hunger in his eyes that I was nearly undone. He tried to reach for me, but I deftly manoeuvred out of his grasp.

  I couldn’t think clearly, I had to get away from him before . . . Sprinting to the window, nearly taking flight; I sprang lithely catching the edge and scurrying to the roof.

  I lay back, trying desperately to calm down. After a few minutes, I heard Declán whisper “Sorry” into the night after me. I closed down my hearing as best as I could, as hearing his heartbeat still thundering was not helping.

  “Go away, Nicholas,” I groaned. Why did he always have to chase me down?

  “I only chase because you’re insane enough to run away from someone who loves you as much as Declán does. He’s worried that he pushed too hard and that you’re upset with him. I know better but.” Nicholas was standing over me as he lectured. “At least sit up and look at me.”

  “Fine,” I grumbled. “You won’t leave me alone until I do anyway.” Sitting up, curling so that my chin was sitting on my knees and my arms wrapped around my legs, I waited for the lecture I knew was coming.

  “I am not planning to scold you love; however, I am troubled. He’s afraid he did something wrong, and you’re afraid period. I really don’t understand. Can you help me?”

  “Nicholas, I wanted to give in so badly. My body wasn’t obeying my mind properly. I wanted him so completely. But, beyond the normal worries, think about how out of control I was earlier. What if?” I trailed off, not wanting to finish the thought.

  “Here, try this, think through exactly what happened, including how you felt. I’ll try to see it through your eyes and see if I can help.”

  I wasn’t sure about this. “A mhuirnín, are you sure you want that?”

  “I know, just please. It might make it where I can help better.” Nicholas was so loving; I couldn’t help but trust that he meant every word.

  He sat down behind me, sliding me to him. “I am going to sho
w you something we can do, especially those of us with bonds. Start at the point I left with the girls.” As soon as he stopped speaking, I felt his fangs descend through my skin – there was something different about what he was doing though, it didn’t cause the usual ecstatic euphoria. Nicholas felt more like an extension of self.

  I let my mind replay every moment from before, starting from when he left up until when I bolted from the room. Letting my mind do this made me hunger for Declán as if no time had passed. I could feel Nicholas’s body suddenly become excited as he began trembling. He released me swiftly and moved back.

  I turned so I could see his face. I had never felt him react quite like that to anything before. “Nicholas?” His eyes were wild, blazing just as Declán’s had been. That was not helping; I closed my eyes and focused on my breathing trying to calm this irrational craving. That was not how Nicholas and I were – he never even tried to do those things with me – and I wasn’t in control enough even to think about giving in to Declán.

  Nicholas and I, both, worked to regain control. Finally, I felt his gentle fingers trying to coax my face up to look at him. Finally relenting, I found his eyes to be nearly calm.

  “Anya, love, sorry about that. Wow!

  “I had no idea the level of craving and passion you two shared, and you haven’t even done that much. I honestly don’t know how you left him; I couldn’t have, not that I would’ve wanted to.” He shuddered again, closing his eyes as he sighed – it was practically a moan.

  “Not helping.”

  “You’re right, sorry. It’s just that doubled passions are hard . . .” Nicholas trailed off, seeming to struggle as I already had been.

  “I need to check on him and let him know that I’m not upset. Maybe afterward we could go hunting? Let my body have some form of outlet,” I suggested.