His fingers fumbled on the buttons of his dress shirt as he yawned loudly so she walked over and brushed his hands away, her fingers making quick work of the line of buttons. The shirt joined the pile on the floor and for the first time, she saw the tattoos that she had only caught a glimpse of before.
The image of an angel covered his back, her wings spreading over his shoulder blades and down his biceps where the tips reached the tops of his elbows. In her arms, the angel held an infant and she gazed down lovingly at the child, a serene smile on her lips. The child gazed back up at her with wide eyes, his tiny mouth open slightly.
As he bent down to remove his shoes and socks, the wings appeared to flutter as his muscles flexed under his skin. She reached out and let her fingers trace the curve of the angel’s cheek.
“She’s beautiful.”
“She’s my mother,” he said, his voice rough with emotion. “I got it done after she passed away.”
Cordelia had no idea that he had lost his mother. He had never offered up any information about his family and she had never wanted to pry in case, like her, family was a painful subject.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “How long ago did she pass?”
“It’s been ten years. Still hurts though. She was an amazing lady. Raised me by herself when my asshole of a father ran out on her two months before I was born. She worked her ass off to take care of me and I worked my ass off to make her proud. It nearly destroyed me to lose her.”
And now Cordelia knew why Gabe had known just what to do for her family. He had lost the most important person in his life. He knew grief inside and out. And the ink on his back told her he knew the importance of paying tribute to the dead.
“She does sound amazing,” she told him and he turned around to smile his appreciation for the compliment.
Cordelia couldn’t help but let her eyes drop to his naked chest, his firm pecs covered with a dusting of golden hair that tapered into a line down the centre of his abdomen. Her mouth went dry as she followed the line of hair to where it disappeared beneath the elastic band of his boxers.
He was beautiful and as she gazed at him, her heart began to pound and a throbbing started between her legs. Seeing him like this, practically naked, she had never wanted him more.
Except his eyes weren’t hooded with desire but exhaustion. He was ready to drop where he stood while talking about his dead mother and all she could think about was getting him naked. She really needed to get control of her attraction to him. It was popping up at the most inappropriate moments.
“Come on, let’s get you in bed,” she said and went over to pull back the blankets for him.
He obeyed her without complaint, climbing into the bed, a deep sigh issuing from him as he sank into the mattress. She went around the room, turning off all the lights leaving only the bathroom light on and the door cracked so that he could find his way there if he needed to in the dark room.
She knew she should leave him alone to rest and go downstairs to see what the others were doing or if there was something she could do for them except there was a strange instinct inside her that commanded her not to leave his side. She needed to stay here and watch over him as he slept to make sure he was safe. Which was pretty creepy, at least by human standards.
By Shadow Walker standards, it made perfect sense. After losing one of her own, her baser instincts would be screaming at her to protect what she had left. Gabe belonged to her and her nature told her to watch over what was hers.
Except he didn’t belong to her, at least not the way it really mattered. She didn’t want him to be hers because of Shadow Walker law or because she could influence his mind. She wanted him to be hers because he wanted her to be his.
“Will you stay?”
Relief washed over her at his whispered request and she couldn’t stop herself from smiling.
“I’m just going to change and then I’ll be back.”
She disappeared into the bathroom, glad to be rid of her funeral dress. She pulled on a tank top and flannel shorts and washed her face, feeling a little more normal. Though the weight of what had happened in the last twenty-four hours was still there, it was lessened slightly now that she felt more like her regular self.
She emerged from the bathroom and saw that Gabe had rolled on his side and burrowed down into the pillows. She walked over to stare down at him, her heightened vision letting her see a clear picture of him in the dark. His eyes were closed, his thick lashes dark against his tan skin. A few locks of golden hair had fallen across his cheek and she wanted to reach out and brush the strands back but instead she turned away, heading to the sofa. She figured she had a few books she could read while he slept and the sofa was comfortable enough if she wanted to catch a nap herself.
“Where are you going?” he asked her, his voice slightly slurred from exhaustion.
“I’m not leaving. I’m just going to sit over here.”
“No, I want you to stay here,” he said, pulling back the blankets that covered the empty side of the bed. She stared at the spot on the bed next to Gabe and wondered why a higher being was insisting on torturing her because that’s what laying next to Gabe’s warm body was going to be: pure torture. Unfortunately, she couldn’t deny a request from him, not after everything he had done for her.
She climbed into the bed and he tossed the blankets over her. She laid there next to him, stiff as a board, unsure of what to do. She could hear his breathing, feel the heat of his body next to her and smell the scent of sawdust and pine that she knew would remain behind on her sheets.
“Come here,” he whispered and wrapping his arms around her and pulling her body against him so her back was pressed flush with his chest. She felt him nuzzle the back of her neck, breathing deeply as if he was taking in her scent.
“That’s better,” he murmured in her ear. “Promise me you won’t leave.”
“I promise,” she whispered, threading her fingers through his, their joined hands resting on her stomach. “Now you need to go to sleep.”
“Mmm…you know Cordy, I figured if we ever shared a bed, we wouldn’t be just sleeping in it. I really wish you wanted me as much as I want you.”
Her heart skipped a beat and she went completely still. Did he really just say what she thought she heard? She looked back at him, ready to ask just what he had meant but his eyes were closed and his breathing had evened out. He was out like a light which was wonderfully convenient for him. She, on the other hand, definitely wasn’t going to get any sleep now.
Chapter 13
Nicky hated the idea that he had to attend this meeting of the High Council. He would prefer to be with his children at a time like this but he could not put off this meeting. As the head of Zopyros clan, his presence was required at all meetings of the High Council but especially so at this one, where he would deal with Olivia’s murder. Business needed to be taken care of before he could retreat into a period of mourning.
The anteroom where he appeared was pitch black, a necessity for the members to shadow walk to the meeting place. The anteroom had no entrance of its own, a round room with only one door that led into the chamber where the meetings of the High Council were held. No one knew the exact location of the chamber, only the Old Ones had been privileged with that information. As new members joined the Council over time, they were brought to the anteroom by an existing member and could return to the anteroom via shadow walking but they never knew where in the world the anteroom and chamber were located.
Nicky could hear voices beyond the thick oak door and by his count; he was the last member to arrive. He took a moment to himself before entering the chamber, needing to calm his frayed nerves. Despite the fact that all the members served to protect the Shadow Walker race, not all of them were truly altruistic. They completely embraced the idea that they were infallible beings and could be a vicious bunch if they sensed weakness.
Since the great war, there had been an unspoken divide among the Council betw
een the older generations and the younger ones. Jealousy and ego urged the younger ones to push against the older ones when they felt the need to demonstrate their strength. These power moves always had an undercurrent of hatred towards the older generations. As the second oldest member, with well over a thousand years on the younger ones, they would relish seeing him off his game. There was also the chance that one of them would exploit his weakness for some sort of personal gain.
He thought of Katerina’s chastisement when he had confessed his investigation of the Council. It had been unfortunate that she was the member to discover his secret. She was one of the few that he had true trust in. She believed in her duty to serve the race and she put it above all else. Unfortunately, it also meant that she believed that the others were like her and that made her blind to the danger they presented.
But Nicky’s eyes were wide open to the truth and he would not let the younger ones gain any advantage from Olivia’s death. As much as he desired to seek violent vengeance for her, he knew that it would only make things worse. He also knew that Olivia would never want to see blood shed in her name. She would consider it an affront to her memory.
Instead he would be calm, play the game of politics with these children and then go home. There were much more important tasks to undertake there. He pushed open the door and entered the chamber where the Council had been meeting for nearly five thousand years.
There was nothing fancy about the chamber. It was a large circular room with rough rock walls broken only by the oak door and the two oil lanterns that flanked it. The chamber was always humid and the musty air seemed to cling to the skin. Three oak tables stood in the centre of the chamber placed in a U shape with twelve simple pewter candlesticks placed evenly along them. Pulled up to the tables were plain wooden stools for each Council member to sit upon.
There were no thrones or elaborate decorations here. No sign of the power that gathered in this room. The Old Ones had made the wise decision to disallow any show of affluence in the chamber. There were no thrones or daises for any of them to look down from on high. No one would have an advantage in this room, everyone facing each other on common ground.
It had been a wise decision on their part but the Old Ones could never have predicted the power designer fashion and jewellery would come to hold in the future.
Nicky studied the gathered members that were milling around the chamber. It wasn’t just Shadow Walkers in this place; Chanel, Armani and Tiffany were also all in attendance. Despite the musty and humid air in the chamber, most members came dressed as if it were a black tie event. Nicky always dressed in deference to the temperature here, coming in a light t-shirt and khaki shorts. He knew it made the others uncomfortable to know that he did not need the armour of designer labels to assert himself as someone to be respected.
Nicky slid into his seat at the table, lighting his candle and nodding in greeting to the others who were already there. Wendat, first son of Damianus, sat down on his right and placed a friendly hand on his shoulder.
“My deepest sympathy for your loss. Olivia was a great woman.”
Before he could thank Wendat, they were joined by Cassian who took his place on Nicky’s left.
“Indeed, she was a treasure. She will be missed by many of us,” Cassian said morosely.
Nicky smiled his thanks to them, afraid to respond and have his voice shake. He had known both males for almost his entire time as a Shadow Walker. His sire Zopyros had been close with his brothers Damianus and Galenos and he and Zopyros had spent much time with their clans. Wendat and Cassian had fought shoulder to shoulder with him in the great war and that had solidified their bond as brothers.
They were the members he trusted implicitly, so much so that they not only knew of his secret, they aided him in his subterfuge. Cassian possessed a wealth of information as the race’s great entrepreneur. He owned a plethora of businesses that catered to the needs of the race. Not only did he have his nightclubs where those without Datores Sanguis could feed, he provided night-time delivery of anything a Shadow Walker could want.
Though Wendat was more removed from Shadow Walker society, he was still a font of information. As the oldest living member of the race at well over five thousand years old, he had experienced more than his share of life. His wisdom was indispensable and Nicky sought Wendat’s council frequently. He was also able to do things that other Shadow Walkers could only dream about.
“Beatrix told me of your request,” Wendat said in a low voice, wary of anyone else listening in. “It has been done.”
Nicky gave a tiny nod of his head, not wanting to draw any curious eyes. Wendat did his best to conceal what exactly he was capable of, fearful that if other members knew of his strengths they would get it in their heads to try to exploit him.
The sound of benches scraping across the stone floor filled the chamber as the others took their seats around the table. All eyes were on Katerina, who stood before her seat, waiting to call the meeting to order.
“Thank you for coming tonight. I apologize for the urgency of my call but we have business we must deal with immediately,” she said to the group. “Nicomachus, first son of Zopyros and member of the Council, wishes to address the High Council.”
He stood up, his eyes roving over the assembly before speaking. “Last night Armand, twentieth son of Aldric, entered my home uninvited and took the life of one of my clan.”
“What say you, Helene, tenth daughter of Aldric and member of the Council?” Katerina said.
Helene rose from her seat, her back ramrod straight and her chin held high. Her chestnut brown hair was pulled back in an elegant French twist that showed her delicate bone structure to its best advantage. She wore a Chanel suit with a pair of Jimmy Choo’s and she was dripping in Cartier. Everything about her screamed aristocracy, even when she bowed her head in deference to Nicky.
“I offer the condolences of the Aldric clan for your loss. The Aldric clan has disowned the Shadow Walker in question and would like to be the first to motion that he be declared rogue and stand before the High Council for judgment. As his sire has passed, we request the Enforcer be tasked with summoning him here.”
“The Zopyros clan seconds the motion,” Nicky said. Helene inclined her head once more towards him and Nicky mimicked the gesture. Helene was bright if cold hearted and though she suffered no genuine sadness at his clan’s loss, she knew when to cut bait. It was unlikely that she had ever even set eyes on Armand during his existence, so scattered was her clan. To defend him would be an illogical risk for her.
“Very well, what say you members of the High Council?” Katerina asked, putting the motion up for a vote. All the members gave their aye votes and Katerina declared the motion passed. “I shall contact the Enforcer and task him with bringing in the rogue.”
Katerina then turned back to Nicky. “Nicomachus, first son Zopyros, as is your right by our laws, you may declare war against the Aldric clan. What say you in this matter?”
Nicky looked over at Helene and for the first time, he could see a crack in her icy façade. The fear in her eyes was evident even from a distance. If he took the offer to declare war, she knew that her clan would suffer greatly.
“I have accepted the Aldric clan disowning Armand. This is enough. There is no need for war.”
“Very well,” Katerina said. “Are there any other motions a member would like to table at this time?”
When no one came forward, Katerina nodded. “I call this meeting to an end. Thank you all.”
The scraping of the stools being pushed back echoed in the chamber and the other members came to offer their condolences to Nicky. He accepted them all with grace, even the hollow ones given out of social obligation. He just wanted to finish it all so he could return home and tend to his children.
Helene was the last to come to him, waiting until most of the other members had gone. Her head was held as high as ever when she gave him her hand.
“I would like to
offer my personal condolences. I also want to offer my word that the rogue will pay for the injustice he has wrought on your clan.”
Nicky could see the fire burning in her eyes and he knew she spoke the truth. She would make sure that Armand would be brought to justice, if only for the sake of redeeming the reputation of her clan in the eyes of the Council. Her reasons didn’t matter to him, as long as she was on his side, he would take what he could get.
“Thank you Helene,” he said. He watched her leave, amazed that she could keep her balance on the rough stone floor in those sky-high heels.
The last of the Council members left the chamber until only Cassian and Wendat remained behind with him.
“There is something else that happened,” Nicky told them. “Armand found some of my files and took them.”
Cassian cursed. “What did he get?”
Nicky shook his head in dismay. “I’m not sure. I still need to go through what is left and see exactly what is missing.”
“If he is brought before the Council for trial, he could tell them what he discovered,” Wendat cautioned.
“Then we need to get the files back before he can be brought in,” Cassian said. “Without physical proof it is just a rogue’s word against a Council member. Even if they have their doubts, they will not be able to convict you of anything.”
“It’s the doubts that have me most worried,” Nicky sighed in frustration. “You know that it has been a delicate balance for decades among all of us. This will just push us closer to war.”
“War is inevitable between us, Nicky. You know that, it is why you started this venture in the first place. We can’t put it off forever,” Wendat said. “All we can do is make sure we are on the right side.”
Nicky knew that Wendat spoke the truth but a naïve part of him had hoped that another war would never come to pass. Innocents were always harmed in war and he did not want to see that happen again.
He barely had any family during the great war and that had meant he had little to lose. Now he had a family full of good souls and the most to lose.
Born in the Shadows (In the Shadows Series Book 1) Page 20