Or maybe it was because this time, Tessa was fighting for something—someone—that mattered.
Tessa flipped Kettlingr up and around, reversing her grip on the hilt so she could lead with the pommel instead of the blade. She danced out of the path of Evangeline’s sword, coming around with Kettlingr high, and drove the pommel against Evangeline’s temple.
The sword connected with a dull thud and Evangeline dropped to the ground like a rag doll, her borrowed weapon clattering to the hardwood beside her.
If Evangeline had had a pulse to check, Tessa would have put her fingers to the woman’s throat. Instead, she dropped Kettlingr to her side and glanced at Sebastian. “She’s not dead. I swear.”
He nodded. “Well, actually, she is dead, being a vampire and all, but if you’d done enough damage to end her existence, she would have turned to ash.”
“Good to know.”
“I’m surprised you managed to lay her out, frankly. Not that you’re not capable, because clearly you are, just that it can be done. Vampires tend to be pretty high on the tough scale.”
“Kettlingr packs a wallop.” She lifted her sword up a bit, admiring the blade. It really was a beautiful piece of craftsmanship.
“Apparently.” He stared at Evangeline’s prone form. “How long do you think that wallop will last?”
“At best she’ll be out an hour or so.”
“Good. Long enough for her to be taken into custody. The sheriff should be here soon.”
“And your brothers are on their way?”
“Yes.”
“Do you want to go to the hospital then? Check on Greaves? I can wait here and keep an eye on her.” She didn’t want to be separated from him, but her needs were unimportant at the moment, although she very much wanted to know that the rook was all right.
“We’ll both go as soon as this is taken care of.” He went to her, closing the gap between them. “You drew your sword for me. Thank you. I know that wasn’t easy for you.”
She managed a small smile. “Easier than I thought it would be, actually.”
“It seemed to me that you contained your temper very well.”
She shook her head slowly. “There wasn’t much to contain. I was very angry, but it never took over. Instead it seemed to direct me. All these years, I’ve feared the return of those emotions. I thought that there was a part of me that was uncontrollable. Now, I don’t know if that was ever true. Maybe everything I was afraid of was just…youth.”
“Perhaps it was.”
She stared down at Kettlingr. “I feel pretty foolish.”
He caressed her cheek with the backs of his fingers, his touch light and sweet. “I spent my life watching over the woman who just tried to kill me, wishing for many of those years that I had been enough of whatever she needed to keep her at my side. If you’re a fool, so am I. I guess we’re perfect for each other.”
She laughed. “Maybe.” Then she lifted her sword. “This is Kettlingr.”
He smiled. “It’s as beautiful as its owner. May I hold it?”
“Only with my hands on it.”
He nodded. “Whatever your conditions, I’m happy to oblige.”
“They’re not my conditions. They’re part of the magical protection built into the sword. Watch. Hold out your hands and keep them flat.”
He did as she asked, palms up.
With great care not to nick him, she balanced the blade on his hands, keeping hers on the hilt.
“Now watch when I let go.” She took her hands away.
The sword shimmered and disappeared.
Sebastian frowned. “Where is it?”
“Where it belongs.” Tessa realized she meant those words as she reached back and drew it free again.
He smiled. “So without your touch, it sheaths itself?”
“Not exactly.” She walked to his desk and set the weapon down. It gleamed in the light almost as though it was pleased to be seen. “Pick it up.”
With a curious expression, he joined her there, hefting the blade with great admiration in his eyes. “Amaz—”
His hands were empty. He looked at her. “Let me guess. You have it again?”
“I do.” She laughed. “The only person who can wield a valkyrie’s sword is a valkyrie. The same goes for the swords of the berserkers.”
He rubbed his chin in wonder. “I’ve never seen anything like it. Extraordinary. And very fitting that a woman of your caliber should own such an incredible weapon.”
“Thank you.”
“Thank you.” He bowed his head. “I owe you a debt I will probably never be able to repay. You saved my life.”
“You would have done the same for me.”
“In a heartbeat. If my heart still beat, that is.”
“Sebastian.” The voice called out from the hall. Hugh, Tessa guessed.
“In the office,” Sebastian responded.
Julian, Hugh and Delaney walked in a second later, the men in tuxedos and Delaney in a pretty dress of navy lace. Their wedding attire.
Julian walked over to where Evangeline lay sprawled on the floor. “How about that.” He looked up at them. “Does this mean the wedding’s off?”
Sebastian ignored Julian’s question. Of all the good things that had come out of the day’s events, not marrying Tessa wasn’t one of them. Even though he knew it was for the best, he was curiously disappointed. “Evangeline was after my amulet.”
Hugh’s eyes held a warning expression. “Sebastian.” He glanced at Tessa.
“She knows about the amulet,” Sebastian said. “And if she hadn’t, this incident would have led to it.”
He grunted. “Fine, I suppose, but how did Evangeline know about it?”
“She didn’t know about the amulet specifically. She just knew that I, that we, could daywalk. She was here to figure out how and gain the ability for herself.”
Julian put his hands on his hips and stared down at Evangeline. “What happened to her?”
Sebastian grinned. “Tessa happened to her.”
All three of them, Hugh, Julian, and Delaney, turned to look at the valkyrie.
Delaney’s brows shot up. “Nicely done. I will never turn books into you late ever.”
Tessa laughed and moved closer to Sebastian. He put his arm around her as she spoke. “She was going to kill Sebastian. I had to do something.”
“That explains the blood on your shirt,” Hugh said. “Start from the beginning.”
Sebastian described how Evangeline had pinned him with one of his own weapons, threatening to kill him if he didn’t reveal the secret to his daywalking. “And then Tessa came in at just the right moment and—”
He glanced at her. This wasn’t his secret to reveal.
She smiled back at him with only the smallest bit of worry bracketing her eyes. “You can tell them.”
“You’re sure?”
She took a breath and nodded. “Yes. I’m done pretending I’m not who I really am.”
His heart ached with affection for her. “All right then.”
His cell phone rang. “Just a moment.” He answered it. “Ellingham.”
“Sheriff Merrow again. I’m on my way. Greaves is going to be fine. The doctors gave him something to wake him up. He’s going to have an awful headache for a day or two, but that’s it. The wound is already healing up.”
Relief flooded Sebastian. “Thank you for letting me know.”
“Also, he told me a woman named Evangeline did this to him. Said to talk to you about it.”
“Come over and I’ll fill you in. Any chance you have vampire-proof handcuffs?”
“I do. I’ll bring them with me. Be there in ten.”
Sebastian hung up. “That was Sheriff Merrow. Greaves is going to be fine.”
Hugh frowned. “Greaves was hurt?”
Sebastian nodded. “Evangeline left to go to the chapel with him but I don’t think she ever intended on arriving. She knocked him out, then came back here, probably
with the intent to search the house for my secret. She’d already tried to pick the lock on my office door.”
Julian walked to the bar and poured himself a drink. “I still want to know how the librarian knocked out a vampire.”
“Yes, about that,” Sebastian said. “Tessa came in, saw that Evangeline was about to run me through and—”
“What’s going on in here? Is everything all right?” Elenora Ellingham walked in, her brow furrowed. Alice Bishop trailed her.
“How the bloody hell—never mind,” Hugh sputtered. “Alice and her damned police scanner, am I right?”
Elenora lifted her brows as she surveyed the room. “We heard about Greaves. We were concerned. What’s going on?”
Julian walked over to his grandmother and kissed her on the cheek. “Evangeline tried to kill Sebastian and Tessa knocked her out cold. We’re not entirely sure how yet, but obviously it was very effective.”
Elenora swung around to find Tessa. Her lips parted and her eyes filled with the brilliant gleam of unfettered joy. “You dear sweet child. You saved my Sebastian and you defeated that wretched excuse for a wife and vampire?”
Her hand went to her pearls momentarily as she swept forward and embraced Tessa. When she released the valkyrie, Elenora shook her head. “I’m not pleased my grandson didn’t see fit to bring you to meet me, but I am overwhelmed with gratitude for all you’ve done today. I definitely give my blessing to this marriage.”
Tessa blanched. “We’re, uh, we’re not getting married anymore. There’s no reason now that…well…Sebastian?” She turned to find him, clearly looking for rescue.
He stepped up. “Grandmamma, we were getting married only so that Evangeline would sign the papers. I told you that.”
“Yes, but this woman must love you if she saved your life like that.” Elenora gave an imperious nod. “You should still marry her.”
Delaney snorted.
Sebastian sighed. “We only met three days ago, Grandmamma. We need time to get to know each other. To make sure we’re compatible.”
Elenora huffed out a sigh. “Don’t be an idiot. Of course you’re compatible.” She turned toward Alice. “See if—” She let out a blood-curdling shriek as she pointed toward the hall. “What is that?”
They all looked in the direction she was pointing. A ball of brown and black fluff came scampering in.
Sebastian laughed. He scooped the little beast up and held him against his chest. “This is Duncan. Tessa’s cat.”
Elenora’s lip curled. “Not you too.” She sighed. “At least he’s not the size of a horse like Delaney’s creature.”
“Aw, come on, Elenora.” Delaney snickered like she was barely holding in a laugh. “You love your grandcat.”
“Stop calling him that. I want real grandbabies. Not furred ones.”
Julian made a small noise. “Now’s probably not the right time to tell you I’m dating a werewolf then.”
“Julian.” Elenora glared at him.
He grinned, clearly teasing her.
Sheriff Merrow walked in. “The door was open.” He took a long look around the room. “I’m pretty sure I missed something.”
The next few hours passed in a whirlwind for Tessa. The sheriff carted Evangeline off to some special holding cell for vampires, which he said had never been used before.
Hugh, Delaney, and Julian all headed back to their homes to change out of their formal attire while Tessa and Sebastian did the same.
Then they all met up again at the hospital to visit Greaves, who was being held overnight for observation. The rook was rather cranky about that, but happy to see them and even happier to hear that Evangeline had been dealt with.
Finally, they regrouped at Sebastian’s grandmother’s house for a family meeting.
Tessa had never seen a house like Elenora’s before. Well, sure, maybe on Downton Abbey, which gave her an instant love for the place, but in real life? Never. It was the sort of house that conjured up images of grand balls and hunting parties and life in the English countryside, which she imagined was what Elenora had been trying to re-create.
A bit of the past she still longed for, perhaps. It made Tessa sympathetic toward the woman, even if she was a bit bossy.
Despite it being the end of January, displays of fresh flowers were abundant inside, making the house smell like spring. It was a luxury Tessa had never experienced before, but she could see how easy it would be to get used to.
They were all gathered in a small sitting room—not so small it couldn’t contain a baby grand piano—that was so pristine Tessa felt like it should have been roped off. The velvet chairs showed minimal signs of use, but then maybe this was a room reserved for family only. The way the old manor houses in England that allowed visitors kept wings of the house off limits. If there were grand balls thrown in this mansion, the guests of those events certainly didn’t get to use this space.
The witch named Alice Bishop sat in a far corner doing needlepoint. The rest of them, Tessa and Sebastian, Hugh and Delaney, Julian and Elenora, were all seated in the center of the space in a grouping of sofas and chairs.
Elenora had everyone’s attention. “There’s only one reasonable thing to do with Evangeline. We must turn her over to the council.”
“I don’t disagree,” Sebastian said. “But she will bring charges against me. It’s the only thing she has to counterbalance what she’s done.”
Elenora nodded. “I understand, but I doubt anything she has to say will carry much weight against what she did to you. You never raised a hand to her or threatened her in any way during the course of your marriage, did you?”
Indignation darkened Sebastian’s eyes. “I know you’re asking because you have to, but you must know I would never do such a thing.”
“Of course I know that. I just needed to hear you say it.” Elenora looked at Tessa. The woman radiated good intentions and gratitude, but that didn’t settle Tessa’s nerves. “Our dear, sweet Tessa. I hesitate to ask any more of you, but turning Evangeline over to the council means we’ll all be required to give statements of the events that transpired. That will include you. Are you comfortable with that?”
“I am.”
“So you’re willing to participate, whatever it means?”
Tessa glanced at Sebastian before answering. “What could it mean beyond telling the truth?”
Elenora straightened and seemed to gather her thoughts before answering. “It will very likely mean a trial. That will require you to travel, possibly to Amsterdam or Madrid, and once there, you will have to testify in front of the council.”
It was a daunting thought, baring her soul before an audience of ancient and judgmental vampires. But she would do whatever was necessary.
Sebastian took her hand. “You won’t be alone. I’ll be with you. Even at the trial.”
“That would help immensely.” She smiled at him and answered Elenora. “I will absolutely do it. In for a penny, in for a pound and all that.”
Elenora put her hand to her chest and gave Tessa a short bow from her seat. “Thank you. I understand that this will not be easy, but as a family, we will be there to support you.”
Delaney leaned forward. “You’re so brave.”
“Agreed,” Julian added. “Who knew Sebastian was capable of finding such a remarkable woman? Now let’s see if he can keep you.”
Tessa lifted her chin. “Your brother is an equally remarkable man.”
Then Sebastian spoke up. “What would you know about keeping a woman, Julian? For more than twenty-four hours, that is.”
“Touché,” Hugh said. “Until you can manage a lasting relationship, Julian, your opinion on Sebastian’s love life carries very little weight.”
Elenora cleared her throat. “That’s enough, boys. Let’s focus on the task at hand, shall we? As I’m the most senior vampire here, I will contact the council about our issue. I don’t know if they’ll send someone for Evangeline or require us to transport her
but either way we have work ahead of us.”
Alice’s small voice spoke from the back of the room. “Are you sure she was only after the secret for herself?”
“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but Alice is right. Evangeline could have been working with someone,” Sebastian said.
They all turned to look at him.
He held out a hand. “She was going to great lengths to find out what enabled me to daywalk. I know Evangeline better than any of you and for her to put that much effort into something, her motivation could have come from something more than her own desire to see the sun rise again. Losing that ability wasn’t something she ever seemed to regret.”
The thought cast a visual pall over the people in the room. Both Hugh and Julian muttered curses.
Tessa straightened, knowing immediately how to fix the problem. “Let me talk to her. I’ll know whether she’s lying or telling the truth, either way. So no matter what she says, we’ll know if there’s someone else involved.” She glanced at the others in the room and answered the unspoken question. “Valkyries can read a person’s intent. It’s our gift.”
Elenora’s eyebrows rose and she gave Sebastian a pleased look. “I may buy her an island after all.” She shifted her gaze to Tessa. “We should do this immediately. This isn’t something we can wait to find out.”
Tessa stood. “Take me to her. Right now.”
Sebastian hadn’t been down to the Basement of Nocturne Falls in so long that Julian accompanied them. Only town employees with approved access could enter, which of course Sebastian was, but he rarely carried his keycard. This was more Julian’s territory anyway, being the vast array of underground passageways that allowed much of the behind-the-scenes activities in town to take place.
And unlike Sebastian, Julian, always had his keycard on him.
He led them down the steps from one of several secret entrances tucked here and there around town. When they reached the bottom, Julian spread his arms wide. “Welcome to Nocturne Falls’ best kept secret, Tessa.”
“Wow.” She glanced down both sides of the hall. “You could drive a truck through here.”
The Vampire's Fake Fiancée (Nocturne Falls Book 5) Page 22