Alfrigg broke away and puts his hand on the door. “Must be talking about someone else.”
Amusement filled Camille and she couldn’t contain the giggle as Alfrigg closed the door. “He certainly is an ornery little thing.”
Chapter 21
Hunter lead Rook up the stairs to his brownstone. “This is my home, our home.”
Rook took in the feel of the building with a smile and glanced either way down the street. “You’re in the middle of everything here.”
“I like it that way.” His features darkened. “I enjoy the sounds of the living.”
“I grew up on a farm, our closest neighbor was at least ten miles away.” She stepped inside the door and continued, “When I first arrived in New Orleans it was really hard sleeping with all the noise.” She shrugged, going on, “But I eventually–”
She was interrupted when Hunter pulled her close to him, putting his finger over her lips to shush her.
Her eyes went wide. “Augustus?”
“Shh.” Hunter listened for a moment, sniffing at the air.
“Hello, Hunter.” A woman’s voice with a heavy French accent came from the kitchen.
“Sophie?” Surprise ruled his tone.
A tall, slender woman wearing a skin-tight designer dress appeared in the hallway. Rook eyed her six-inch stiletto heels and the way she gracefully floated down the hallway. She broke away from Hunter, pinning him with a questioning look. She rested her hand on her hip. “Sophie?”
A grin passed across his lips. “Sophie, this is Rook.” He motioned to Rook. “Rook, this is Sophie. Camille’s wife.”
Deep red embarrassment crept up Rook’s neck. “Camille’s wife?” She reached out, offering her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“I’m so pleased to meet you.” Sophie smiled enthusiastically. “You have no idea how excited we are that Hunter found you.” She leaned in and said, “Maybe he won’t be quite so surly.”
“I’m not surly,” Hunter defended himself.
Sophie pursed her lips together then shifted to a smile. “Right then.” She turned to Rook, “Camille asked me to stock the fridge with food, she said you were human.” Sophie studied her, “She also mentioned you were beautiful, and she was right. But Camille has an eye for that sort of thing.”
“Oh, well, um, thank you.” Rook hung her head, hitching a stray curl behind her ear.
Camille turned back for the kitchen. “I’ll only be another minute and I’ll be out of your hair. Sunrise is coming.” She quirked her brow.
“Thank you, Sophie.” Hunter motioned for Rook to head up the stairs in the foyer. “I’d like to show you around. It’s not much, but it’s been home for about ten years.”
Rook hiked her backpack up to her shoulder, checking out the high ceilings and ornate crown molding. “It’s beautiful.”
Hunter took her backpack from her. “I’m glad you like it.” He put his hand in the small of her back, leading her to the study. “Of course, we can live wherever you’d like. We don’t have to stay here.”
“You do for bit.” Sophie appeared in the doorway. “Camille said that someone is coming in the morning to speak with you.”
Hunter looped his arms around Rook. “It’ll have to wait.”
“It doesn’t sound as though that is an option.” Sophie raised her brow. “Someone named Delia something.”
Hunter’s expression fell. “Delia Costanzo?”
“Yes, that was it,” Sophie recalled.
“Shit!” Hunter ran his fingers through his hair.
“Who is she?” Rook asked.
He set his stance, shaking his head. “Directive.”
“Henry said they’d want to talk with us,” Rook reminded him.
“This is likely about me killing Augustus.”
The color drained from Sophie’s face. “Augustus Ramagi?”
Hunter waved a hand. “Yes, it’s about time someone put that dog down.”
“Oh, this is bad,” Sophie said, worrying her hands together. “Camille didn’t mention that.”
“It’s going to be fine, it was completely justified,” Hunter assured her.
“But there are a lot of people that aren’t going to be happy,” Sophie warned. “And how was Camille handling all of this?”
“What’s the deal with this guy? He was nearly untouchable in New Orleans. We had hard evidence against him and The Directive wasn’t willing to act on it. Who was he?” Anger brewed in Rook’s belly at the thought of him.
“A very old, very powerful and very untouchable vampire.” Sophie wrapped her arms around herself protectively. “He was also Camille’s maker.”
“He was just a vampire,” Hunter shrugged, blowing it off. “I easily bested him.”
Sophie’s gaze darted between Rook and Hunter. “Yes, but how many of his followers can you ‘best’ if they come after you . . . or her?”
Hunter’s jaw popped with anger. “All of them.”
“You might want to consider laying low for a while,” she said, glancing at the window. “I’ve got to go; the sun will be up soon.”
Hunter hugged her, to give her some comfort. “It’s going to be okay. I’ll handle this, haven’t I always protected you and Camille?”
“Yes, but–”
“And I’ll do it this time as well.” Hunter nodded once. “Would you like me to walk you home?”
“No, I’ll be fine, it’s just two doors down.” She pressed her lips into a tight smile in Rook’s direction. “It was a pleasure.”
“Likewise,” Rook said nervously, considering the danger they could be facing.
Sophie made her way out the door. Hunter followed her to watch as she walked to the brownstone two doors down. When she disappeared in the door, he came back in.
Rook paced the study floor. “What are we going to do?”
“We’re going to be fine,” Hunter said, taking her into his arms.
“You aren’t worried about retaliation? Or being locked away by The Directive?” She curled deeper into his chest, “They are all powerful.”
“They’re pretty powerful, but please trust me. I won’t lose you, I’ve haven’t survived for thousands of years by being faint of heart,” his voice rumbled in her ear.
“How old are you?” she asked.
“I don’t know.” He laughed. “I lost count many hundreds of years ago. Let’s just say I’m old enough.”
Rook nodded. “Okay.” She wanted to believe him, trust that everything would be okay. But her life had been nothing but chaos since entering this world and she didn’t see an end in sight.
“Come on, I’ll show you the rest of the place.” He slid his hand down her arm, interlocking their fingers.
Rook’s shoulders relaxed as she followed him through the house. “You know, this isn’t what I’d expect from an old vampire.”
“What did you expect? Some sort of Gothic mansion?” He chuckled.
Rook pulled one shoulder to her ear sheepishly. “Sort of,” she sputtered, “All of the vampires I know have grand mansions and live . . . differently.”
“Show offs,” he said with a wry smile before saying, “But I do own a Gothic mansion in Europe.”
He continued up the stairs. “And a castle in Ireland.”
“Really?” she asked, surprised. “Which do you like better?”
“I’ve enjoyed my time here in Toronto. I like the weather and the people are very progressive,” he said, reaching the top of the stairs. “Our room is there, this is a guest room, guest bath.” He motioned to the various doors in the hallway.
“This is your favorite house?” She payed closer attention to the decor and the architecture to figure out what made this his favorite.
“No.” Hunter got a faraway look in his eye, “My favorite is my farm house in the Faroe Islands.”
“Oh, somewhere tropical?” She jumped a little with excitement.
A laugh rumbled from deep within his chest, “Hard
ly. The Faroe Islands is an archipelago between Denmark and Iceland.”
“So not tropical,” she deadpanned.
“No, but if you like, we can find some property on the island of your choice in the Caribbean,” he said, taking both of her hands in his. “I want you to be happy.”
“What about your happiness? Of the places you’ve named, they’re all in cold places.” She watched his reaction.
“I do prefer the colder weather, but it makes no difference to me. We can spend twenty or thirty years in the tropics, then move to Alaska if you wish.” He rocked her hips.
A peculiar expression crossed Rook’s eyes. “Hunter.”
He pulled her to him, “Yes?”
She lowered her gaze, “I . . .”
“You’re overwhelmed, overjoyed?” He tried to finish her sentence.
She pierced him with apprehensive eyes. “Mortal.”
Hunter sucked in a sharp breath, fear streaked through him at the prospect of losing her. “We can . . .” He stopped himself from finishing his thought. He remembered when he met Camille, the state she was in and what it’s like for a vampling.
“What? Turn me?” she said, stepping back from him. “We don’t even know if we can do the ritual thing without killing you. Then what? I live eternity without you? No, thank you.”
“Rook, we’re going to figure this all out.” He closed the distance between them. “I don’t believe the gods would be so cruel as to have me find you, only to take you away from me.”
“But we–”
He placed his finger over her lips. “Shh, it’s going to be okay. Henry seemed to know something about the bloodmate phenomenon. I also have unlimited resources. I own four research facilities for Odin’s sake, of course we’re going to find an answer to all of this.”
He knelt on one knee and pulled her to him, resting his head between her breasts. “Please, trust me, trust the gods that we are meant to be, and it will be okay.”
She dragged her fingers through his hair. “I do trust you.”
Rook let out a long yawn, stretching.
“You’re tired.” Hunter intertwined his fingers in hers. “You have to remind me that you require sleep.”
“You don’t?” she asked.
“No, but I still sleep often,” he said as they enter the bedroom. “It makes me feel more normal and I love dreaming.”
“I love sleep.” Her eyes widened at seeing the luxurious bed, then she turned toward the master bathroom. “I also love showers.”
“A shower, then sleep?” he suggested.
“Sounds perfect.” She smiled.
Hunter placed her backpack on an overstuffed chair in the corner. “We can send for your things tomorrow.”
“No need.” She laughed.
He shot her a curious glance.
“That is the sum total of my things.” Her face reddened. “I travel light.”
“Apparently.” He was impressed. “We can take you shopping. If you like.”
She laughed. “It might be nice to have more than two pairs of jeans.”
“I’ll buy you a hundred.” He waved his arms. “Anything you want.”
“I was thinking maybe two more pairs. I don’t need a lot.” She flattened her smile.
“Whatever you wish,” he said excitedly. “You will want for nothing from this day forward.”
Her expression fell deep into thought.
Hunter slid his finger under her chin to capture her gaze. “What is it?”
“I’m trying to take it all in.” She ran her hands up his strong arms. “Here I am with what has to be the hottest man on the planet . . .” She reached his shoulders and squeezed them to make sure he was real. “I love him, like I never knew I could love. He loves me . . . it’s all happening so fast, my brain can’t keep up.”
“Are you afraid?” he asked quietly.
“Of some things, yes,” she admitted.
“Are you afraid of me?” There was caution in his question.
She gasped, “No.”
“Then what is it?”
“Yesterday I was running for my life from vampires, now all I want to do is be with one.” She chuckled. “It’s weird.”
“It is a little jarring. My entire mindset has changed in the past few days.” His expression darkened with thoughts of Runa.
“What is it?” she asked, trailing her fingers down his cheek.
“You’re right, it is a lot to take in.” He gazed deep into her blue eyes and saw his future, his life and his soul. “I’ve spent thousands of years alone, chasing a ghost.” He swallowed hard. “And now, all I want is you.”
Rook’s face filled with color. “How could we be so lucky?”
“The gods have smiled upon us and it would be an insult to not enjoy it,” he said with a devious smile.
“You’ll have to teach me all about your gods,” she said, quirking a brow. “Because if this is their doing, I owe them big time.”
“Indeed,” he said, reaching past her to turn on the shower.
He tugged at the hem of her shirt. “May I bathe you?”
She nodded, lowering her gaze. Hunter pulled her shirt off over her head then slid her jeans down, trailing his fingers up her bare legs. With care he explored the curve of her waist up to her breasts.
She stood in front of him baring all of herself and felt nothing but warmth and comfort. He took all of her in, devouring her with his touch. Rook’s nipples responded as he trailed his fingers over them with a feather-light touch.
She inhaled a deep breath, licking her lips and raised her arms to his back, but he stilled her. “Be still, I want to take every part of you in.”
She lowered her hands to her side, struggling to not touch him. “This isn’t fair.”
A ghost of a smile played on his lips. “It isn’t meant to be.”
She bit her bottom lip. “At least level the playing field a little.”
He flicked a questioning glance.
“Take off your clothes,” she demanded.
He complied and laid his clothes on the counter neatly. With arms outstretched, he turned to face her.
Rook worked hard to contain her reaction to him. “Very good.”
Hunter stepped toward her, cupping her face in his hands. “You’re stunning, you know that?”
She faltered, looking down and away. “Thank you.”
His fingers lightly glided across her collar bone, then down the center of her chest. He halted, his touch resting on her birthmark, just above her sternum, “What’s this?”
“Oh, weird, huh? It’s a birthmark,” she looked down at where his fingers were resting.
“Interesting,” he whispered.
“How so?”
“It just is.” He continued moving his hands down her body.
Rook took a step closer to him, putting her hands on his shoulders and tracing the tattoos on his chest. “These are beautiful.”
“Thank you.” He watched her hand glide over his muscles. “They all have deep meaning.”
“I want to know the meaning of all of them.” Her eyes scoured his body, meeting his gaze while her hands trailed lower.
He grasped her hand lightly. “I want to tell you everything, and I will. For now, let’s get you into the shower and into bed.”
Rook sucked her bottom lip into her mouth. “I like the sound of that.”
Chapter 22
Camille ventured out into the main area of Alfrigg’s cottage. He was already awake and cooking breakfast.
“Are you hungry?” he called from the kitchen
“I’m fine.” She brushed downward on her pants, “You know, those little things . . .” Camille tried to remember what he called them. “The laundry fairies.”
“Flicks,” Alfrigg corrected her as he sat at the table to eat.
“Yeah, those.” Her lips curved into a grin. “They’re awesome. How can I get one?”
“You can’t,” he said through a mouth full of
food.
“That’s a shame.” She joined him at the table. “Looks like you’re an amazing cook. The smell alone makes me wish I could eat.”
“Can’t you?” he asked.
“No.” Her brow quirked upward. “Liquid diet only. It’s really the only thing I miss about being human.” Her mood dropped slightly.
“It seems you might be missing something else.” He pointed at her with a primitive looking fork.
Her shoulders shrugged. “Maybe never being able to have children.”
“Ah, children.” Alfrigg huffed a laugh. “Odin’s greatest blessing and sometimes his greatest curse.”
Camille was silent for a moment, deep in thought.
“What’s on your mind?” Alfrigg asked, not making eye contact.
“You said last night that Hunter lost his sons.”
“Yes.” He nodded.
“He’s never mentioned that he had children.” Camille searched her memory for something she may have missed.
“It’s very painful for him.” Anguish flashed in his tired eyes. “Calder committed the ultimate betrayal, it’s little wonder he never speaks of it.”
Camille’s brow wrinkled with concern. “Calder?”
“Yes, that’s a tale for another day.” Alfrigg shoved a fork full of eggs in his mouth. “And for another man to tell.”
“Augustus mentioned something about Calder before he died,” Camille said with alarm.
Alfrigg hand froze on the way to his mouth, the tips of his ears turned stark white. “Are you sure he said Calder?”
Camille nodded slowly. “Yes, I haven’t had time to talk with Hunter, but he was visibly affected by hearing the name.”
“This is very bad.”
Camille’s eyes widened. “Who is he?”
Alfrigg lowered his head. “He was his son, and he his father.”
Camille let the gravity of it sink in that Hunter was made a vampire by his own son. A breath pushed something barely audible past her lips, “Oh.”
“If Calder was involved in this . . .” he crumpled his napkin and threw it on the table, “We’re going to need to get to Hunter before Calder does, especially now that Runa is back.”
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