Enlightened (Love and Light Series)

by Melissa Lummis

  She glanced around the room as if there might be an answer written on the wall, but finding nothing to assuage her anxiety, she slumped onto her side. Well, if he had a fever, she’d keep an eye on him. She examined his swirling energy—red into orange into yellow. Green into blue into violet. Nothing was out of balance; nothing popped out at her. Everything seemed as it should be.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~

  Wolf sneezed, startling himself awake, the echo of his own snore in his ear. Twilight had already claimed the sky, and Loti lay beside him curled into a ball. The book she’d been reading was abandoned face-down on the bed. He clamped his hand to his forehead and sat up, woozy as he swung his legs over the edge. As his feet touched cold granite, Loti shivered. Smiling, he slipped the duvet over her bare skin. He hadn’t felt that sensation since . . . before he was turned. Running a hand through his hair, he stood up. A wave of dizziness hit him and he plopped back down on the bed and looked over his shoulder at the sleeping Loti. His heart skipped a beat. What? He grabbed his chest. What the fuck? Standing, he swayed, his vision tunneling down to nothing. Without a warning, his stomach kicked its contents out, and he puked blood all over the bedroom floor. When the spasms subsided, he wiped his mouth with a shaky hand.

  “Loti?”

  “Hmmmm?” she mumbled, rolling onto her stomach and tucking her arms under her pillow. She rubbed her cheek against it and fumbled around for the covers. Wolf grabbed her hand, and she jerked to sitting, her eyes flared wide.

  “You’re still burning up.”

  He looked at her with uncertain eyes.

  “This isn’t some vampire flu, is it?” She couldn’t keep the tremor out of her voice. “Something’s really wrong?”

  When he didn’t answer, she slid over and put her hands on his sweaty shoulders. Her stomach rolled in empathy. Feeling each other’s emotions had morphed while they’d slept into physical sensations. Hovering her hands just above his skin, the sensation went away. Yep, gone. She rested them on his shoulders, resisting the urge to snap her hands away when the sickness returned.

  “I don’t know what’s going on, but we need to get help.” Wolf put a hot, shaky hand on hers.

  She peered into his face and scanned his entire body, looking for something wrong with his energy. She could now see what she had always been able to sense. Each chakra spun in the right direction and prana flowed through the meridians the way it was supposed to—how she knew it was right, that was a mystery, but she knew it none the less.

  “I’m not detecting anything wrong with you—” but she faltered as she became aware of one crucial thing. She glanced from his feet to his head and back down again. “Your polarity is reversed.” She bit her lip as she turned her gaze to his face.

  “What?” He looked himself over.

  “Let me step back.” She scooted to the edge of the bed to step down.

  “Wait.” He reached out too late. Her foot slipped in the hot, slick blood, but he caught her before she fell.

  “Eww.” She braced one knee on the bed. “What is that?” Lifting the bottom of her foot up and to the side, she squeaked, “Blood? Where are you bleeding from?” She ran her hands over his torso and down his sides, looking for a wound.

  “No.” He cleared his throat. “I threw up.”

  “You what?” She jerked upright.

  “I threw up,” he snapped. Prickles burst under her ribs at the tone of his voice. “Christ, Loti, I’m not mad at you.” Wolf spoke gruffly. “I’m sick.”

  “I didn’t mean—I didn’t understand what you said,” she muttered. “I’m confused.”

  “I’m sorry, okay? Just help me.” His eyes pleaded with her for understanding and she flashed back on David.

  “Okay,” she said in a business like tone, her back rigid. “A reverse polarity is not supposed to be life-threatening. It usually means that something emotional is not being expressed?”

  Wolf looked at her as if she was crazy.

  “Okay, maybe that doesn’t apply in this instance.” She bit her lip.

  Wracking her brain, she tried to remember what reversed polarity was all about. It was usually a brief state, as the body and soul worked through some issue. She once worked with a client who had a chronic reversed polarity that caused depression and irritability. The client complained of migraines and general nausea, fatigue and obsessive thoughts, but that didn’t apply.

  At a loss, Loti shook her head. “I don’t know what it means, other than something’s working itself out. Maybe the bond is causing it.” She felt miserable. “I’m sorry, Wolf. I’m no help.” She scooted around the bed on her knees so she wouldn’t touch anything with the bloody foot. He lowered his head into both hands, elbows propped on his knees.

  “The nausea is going away,” he mumbled into his hands.

  She was overcome with a wave of sadness. Was it hers or Wolf’s?

  “I feel it too. I thought it was you.” Wolf snapped his head up and exclaimed, “Damn it.” His frustrated voice echoed in the cave.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~

  Several hours later, the bloody puke cleaned up, Loti ran a lukewarm bath. Wolf was agitated and inconsolable, and no matter what Loti said or did, he took offense. He had a fit in the living room, tossing books and kicking the cold ash in the fireplace, smashing a stool. She was desperate to calm him down, but he made it worse on himself and, because of their bond, on her.

  “I can hear you,” he yelled through the bathroom door.

  “Good,” she shouted back, her hand shaking under the faucet. “When is Korinna supposed to come?”

  “How the hell am I supposed to know?” The bathroom door banged against the wall and a naked Wolf stormed in. “Is it ready? I can’t stand this. I’m burning up from the inside.”

  Grabbing her around the waist, he snatched her off the edge of the tub. She balked at the raging need in his eyes. It jerked through her body like a junkies jitters, and he was hard against her stomach. There was a tearing sound and her t-shirt disappeared as he shoved her into the cool water, yanking her yoga pants down. The sopping wet clump plopped onto the tile floor as he pushed himself between her legs. Both of them panted with the need, every cell in their bodies on point. He pressed into her with one great shove, and she yelped at the double sensation of his and hers mixed.

  Ramming her against the back of the tub over and over, water sloshing over the edge, his boiling hot skin drove her closer and closer. Their orgasm built simultaneously until it burst over them, and they shuddered together as he bit her neck, hard.

  She yelled in pain. “Wolf.”

  He sucked greedily, and the pain morphed into bone-clenching pleasure. He moved inside of her, slower this time, and she gasped and trembled as he brought her again. His nursing slowed, and his wide tongue laved her neck. Through the fog of afterglow, a sudden jolt of terror ripped through her, and Wolf lurched away, turning her chin to the side.

  “Did I hurt you?” His voice was desperate.

  “No, I mean, yes, but in a good way,” she marveled. The vicious bite wound was closing already.

  “Dear, god, Loti, what if—”

  “You didn’t so don’t go there.” Her eyes twinkled.

  He squatted in the tub between her shaking legs, his eyes blank. “Are you cold?” He gathered her to him, his body radiating heat like hot asphalt.

  “Hardly.” She laughed.

  He hugged her close, murmuring apologies into her hair.

  She smacked his shoulder with a loud, wet whack. “Stop apologizing for making mad, passionate love to me, okay?” Holding his tortured face in her hands, she smiled. “I liked it.”

  He slumped, the faucet jabbing him in the back. Jumping, he squeezed around her to the other side and leaned back into the cool water.

  “I’ll run some more. We seem to have emptied the tub.” Loti twisted the faucet handles, adjusting the temperature. “It’s a little cooler, but I think it’ll help.”

  “I’m feeling better.” Wolf s
ighed, dragging her to his over-heated body.

  She snuggled into his chest and turned sideways, pulling a knee up over his thigh.

  “Watch it.” He stopped her knee just short of a groin strike.

  “Sorry,” she muttered, closing her eyes. Exhausted, she dozed off instantly.

  “Hello?” Korinna called into the empty living room, the front door creaking open. All was eerily silent in Wolf’s lair. She raised an eyebrow at the scattered books, splintered stool, and the fireplace ash all over the furniture and floor. Picking her way through the litter to the breakfast counter, she set down a bulging bag. Eyebrows stretched high, she glanced around one more time and headed for the bedroom door. It was the middle of the night, but maybe they were napping? The bedroom door stood ajar, but she knocked anyway.

  “Hello?” Korinna rested a hand on the door knob. “Wolf? Loti? It’s me, Korinna.” She waited for an answer, but when none came, she pushed the door open, peering around it into the cave room. The bed was empty, the long-armed reading lamp creating a blue-white glow in the room. With one hand still on the door knob, she leaned around, just to make sure.

  No. No one there.

  She backed out of the bedroom and took the three steps to the bathroom. This door was wide open, and she heard snoring. Smiling, she stepped through the door, slipping on the wet tile. She landed with a thunk on her well-rounded rear.

  “Damn it,” she yelped.

  There was a splashing commotion from the tub, and she stared into Wolf’s fever-glazed eyes. Not sure what to make of him, she held vampire still. His jaw clenched, strain apparent around his mouth. He blinked, his features softening as he settled back against the tub.

  “Korinna. I’m sorry. Didn’t mean to scare you,” he mumbled, covering his eyes with a hand.

  “Wolf? What’s wrong?” She pushed herself up to kneeling. Giving up on keeping dry, she scooted through the half inch of water on the bathroom floor to the edge of the tub. Loti was fast asleep in Wolf’s lap. Korinna looked up at Wolf’s beleaguered expression and then back at the flooded tile and wet pile of clothes. She picked up a scrap of Loti’s white T-shirt between pinched fingers, holding it like it was something rotten.

  “Things going okay?”

  “No,” Wolf rumbled. “I’m sick.”

  She slapped the piece of cloth on the floor. “That’s impossible. Vampires don’t—”

  “Yeah, well, I am. I don’t know what the fuck is going on, and I need you to get Fiamette and Guided, and maybe Calisto. I don’t know. One of them should have some idea.”

  Korinna nodded. “I’m contacting Justin. He’ll let them know.” She peered into the tub. “Is she okay?” She gently touched Loti’s forehead.

  “Yeah, but no thanks to me.” Wolf sighed.

  Narrowing her eyes, she leaned back. “You need to be careful with her, you know? This is new to all of us, but imagine what she’s going through.”

  “I. Don’t. Need. Your. ADVISE,” he screamed.

  Korinna jumped back vampire-quick to the doorway.

  Loti scrambled out of his lap, her mouth curled back in a sneer, as she clutched her bare chest.

  “What’s wrong?” Korinna hovered in the doorway, ready to slam and run.

  “Korinna.” She jumped up. “Please don’t go. You’ve got to help him. Something’s wrong.” Loti slipped and fell getting out of the tub, but both Wolf and Korinna caught her.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~

  “I know, Loti. I’ve told Justin. He’s getting the message to Calisto right now. He’ll get Fiamette and Guided too.”

  Loti looked from Wolf to Korinna. Justin, the young blond, must be her bond mate? They set her on her feet, and a shadow crossed her face.

  “Why Fiamette?” The woman was not exactly pleasant the last time she’d seen her. Fiamette’s warning, “you have no idea what kind of trouble you’re stirring up” came back to Loti. How had she known?

  “She didn’t know anything, Loti. She was just—” Wolf held her close while Korinna reached for towels on the wall shelf. Wrapping her in the blue terry-cloth Korinna handed him, he pushed her toward the door. “Go get dressed. I’ll get this mess cleaned up.”

  Loti gave him a quizzical look, but he waved her on. You didn’t answer my question.

  Wolf sighed. “She specializes in supes. She can heal supes best.”

  Korinna held a matching towel out to him, eyebrows raised as he wrapped it around his waist, tucking the ends in. He grabbed another towel and knelt down to sop up the water

  “Yes, we can hear each other’s thoughts.”

  Korinna’s nostrils flared, but she said nothing as she turned and left Wolf to his chore.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~

  “Well, there’s nothing wrong with you,” Fiamette declared.

  Loti and Wolf looked at each other and back at Fiamette. A small smile played at her lips as she organized her healing bottles and bags in the brown leather satchel. She kept her eyes on her hands.

  Quietly, she said, “I told you so.”

  Loti sat back, her left eye twitching.

  Wolf set his jaw. “Fiamette, I don’t understand.” He was used to controlling his emotions and his expressions, but Loti never felt things quite this strongly. Was this a vampire thing? Super-human strength? Super-human feelings? God, it was exhausting. Or was it just Wolf? Wolf feels things deeply; Wolf is a deeply feeling vampire. She giggled.

  Wolf looked at her askance.

  She shrugged, and he turned his aggravated attention back to Fiamette.

  “Are you saying there’s nothing wrong with me, or you can’t do anything to help me?” Now his eye twitched.

  Fiamette set her satchel on the coffee table, brushing some ash off her jeans, still refusing to meet his eyes. She glanced up at the tumbled bookshelf to the left of the fireplace. “This place could stand a little tidying up,” she mused.

  “Fiamette.”

  She snapped her head around at the sharp tone of his voice. His eyes drilled holes through her. “Okay, okay.” She rubbed at the ash on her fingers. “You’re not sick. You don’t need me. You’re evolving.” She crossed her arms over her chest as if that was the end of matters. Leaning back into the couch, she stared back just as hard.

  Guided kneaded her shoulders with his big hands. “Fia, please. What’s happening to him? To them?” She closed her eyes, tilting her head to the side. Guided massaged her neck then leaned down and kissed her cheek. She swatted at him.

  “Get off me, Grizzly Adams. Your beard tickles.” But she smiled. Guided’s brown hair hung in two long hanks over his chest, restrained by a red bandana tied around his forehead.

  “He’s evolving.” Flapping a hand at Wolf, she shifted forward, arms still crossed over her chest then settled back. “I’ve seen this once before. He’s changing like when he was turned. It’ll be three nights.” She peered around Wolf at Loti curled up in the other corner of the couch. Buried in the duvet, only her damp head was visible. “When did you two do it?”

  Loti rolled her eyes and fought the smile. “What does that have to do with anything?”

  “It has everything to do with this.” Fiamette grinned. “Sex is magic. It’s a sharing of prana, and when metaphysical bonding is involved, you better believe it’s important.” She looked Loti up and down disdainfully. “You didn’t know that?”

  “I know that,” Loti huffed, turning away to look at the fire Guided built while Fiamette examined Wolf. It crackled merrily as if mocking them.

  “Okay, let’s work through this.” Guided squeezed Fiamette’s shoulders. She fidgeted under his ministrations. “You’ve seen this before? When?”

  “I’m sorry,” she mumbled, looking down at her hands, twisting a silver ring round and round her index finger. “I’m not really this much of a bitch.” She peeked up at Loti, and then braved a look at Wolf. He stayed quiet during the whole uncomfortable exchange. “I can’t tell you who it was. Patient confidentiality and all.” She cleared her
throat. “I’m sorry, Wolf. I know you must feel miserable. I’m being catty.” She glanced up at Guided, who smiled that gentle smile of his, nodding.

  “You’re going to be fine. You’re evolving. Have you ever heard of the warm-blooded vampire legends? Out of Australia?” She shifted under Wolf’s cold stare. “Well, that’s what’s happening. I’ve seen it. After three nights, you’ll be fine. Only you’ll have a beating heart and warm blood.”

  “What will that mean for me?” Wolf came to life; his mouth softening and eyes alert.

  “You’ll still be vampire, only warm-blooded. You’ll have the same powers, as far as I know, and you’ll still need to feed on blood. I’m not sure what the ramifications are. The vampire I saw only stuck around for a few more days.” She swallowed, her eyes darting to the ring. “I never saw him again.” She was quiet for a moment and then shook herself. “The one thing I do know is that you’re vulnerable to heart injury now.”

  “Like a steak to the heart kind of vulnerable?” Loti sat up straighter.

  Fiamette held her gaze nodding. “Exactly like that, but I can’t be sure that other materials wouldn’t do the trick.” She looked off into space as if considering something. “I don’t know about bullets. I think as long as they don’t hit the heart, and they’re not silver, of course, you should be okay.”

  “What else does this mean?” Wolf sounded calmer. His shoulders eased, and he settled back into the couch as he put his arm around Loti.

  “I don’t know, Wolf. I just don’t know,” she conceded. “I told you, I didn’t see the vampire this happened to ever again.”

  “Why haven’t you told us this before?” Calisto spoke from the stool beside Korinna.

  Fiamette gathered her bag, not looking at him. “There wasn’t any reason to.”

  “We should get going,” Korinna piped up. “Dawn is less than an hour away.”