Shadowed Secret (Daughters of the Vieux Carré)

by Rhys Rowlyn

  “They are a few miles away and waiting on us to call. We never know how a new vampire is going to react, so we wanted to get you fed before they came. I’ll call them now.” The blonde pulls out her phone and leaves the room.

  I watch her go and then turn back toward the man. I have so many questions. “Who are you?”

  “My name is Jean Pierre Chastain.” He bows at the waist and kisses my knuckles again. “The lady who just left is Cassandra Dubois.”

  “Cassandra? Is she the same one Tara knows?” Tara had only good things to say about Cassie, but Joey had told us she was a vampire. So many things are hitting me at once, making me stagger a bit.

  Jean Pierre quickly grabs a chair and slides it behind my knees, and I sit, gripping my head. Oh man, I am a freaking vampire. Not that I have anything against vampires… Hell, I don’t really know any, but wow. Just wow.

  “Are you all right? Do you need more blood?” Jean Pierre kneels in front of me and meets my gaze with an anxious look on his face.

  “I don’t know. How will I know if I need more?” Oh crap, this is so weird.

  “The same as when you were human, you will feel hungry like you do when it’s dinner time.” He smiles tentatively, raising his brows in question.

  “Then yeah, I need more. I still feel hungry, or rather thirsty.” I take the bag of blood he gives me and look up at him, not knowing what to do.

  He grabs it from me and nods for me to open my mouth. When I do he slips it against my fangs. I immediately feel the thirst go away.

  “Better?” He takes the bag away and throws it in a can in the corner.

  With a nod, I sit back in my chair, narrowing my eyes on him. “So let’s discuss this whole mate thing. What did you mean when you said that?”

  Jean Pierre rubs the back of his neck, not meeting my gaze. “How to explain it… A long time ago, my family and I made a deal with this group of women. One of those women was your ancestor, Catherine. The women reneged on their end of the bargain and placed us under a curse, which is where you came in. Your ancestor offered you as payment.”

  “What do you mean she offered me? How exactly did she do that?” I sit in shock as Jean Pierre tells me the story of how my great-great—and so on—grandmother gave up a descendant so she wouldn’t have to live up to her end of a bargain she made.

  Everything he tells me about this woman does nothing to endear her to my heart. She was a selfish tyrant who cared nothing for anyone except herself. He seems to not care how I am related to this Catherine but only that I am his mate, but I care, and I’m embarrassed.

  “So you’ve been asleep for three hundred years, and now that you’re awake, you’re saddled with a mate. What if you don’t like me? What if you’re not attracted to me? What if I don’t like you? Wait, are you expecting us to just be together like now?” My anxiety levels are skyrocketing. I can usually handle stress fairly well, but with everything I’ve been through, I don’t know what to do with this.

  “Stop, don’t get so upset. It’s going to all work out. Just so you know, I already like you, and from what Joey and Tara have told me, you are nothing like your relative.” He places his hands on my shoulders and rubs them, helping me to relax. “I have no expectations. We will get to know each other. I’m sure you feel the attraction, so I don’t think that’s going to be an issue, but we have time. We are, after all, immortal, so time is on our side.”

  This calms me down, and I take a deep breath. I tilt my head to the side, giving him better access to rub my shoulders. The man has magical fingers. Tension floats from my body, and desire takes its place. I quickly get up and step away from him before it gets out of hand.

  The door bangs open, and Joey rushes in. I run into her arms, so happy she’s safe. Tara is next through the door and cries out in excitement. I grab her in a hug. I’m so happy they are safe. Jean Pierre slips out of the room, and I feel a sense of loss, which is silly. He’s only a few feet away.

  “You two look so much better. I’m so happy to see both of you.” I grab them both back into a hug. I don’t have any family of my own—only my mother—and took on the role of older sister with these two. I don’t plan on giving that up, no matter what has happened.

  “You look better too. Vampire life looks good on you.” Tara leans back with her hand on a hip and waggles her eyebrows at me.

  I giggle, shaking my head. “So fill me in. How long have I been out, and what happened to our kidnapper?”

  “You’ve been out for three days.” Joey rubs my arm and gives it a little squeeze. “Cassie had Kyle as a prisoner, and that’s how they found us. They caught him trying to take another girl.”

  My eyes narrow and I growl, hating that asshole. “That’s horrible. Has he been turned over to the police?”

  “Not exactly. See, he stole an alpha’s daughter, which placed him under pack law. Let’s just say Kyle has been taken care of and is no longer a part of the living.” Joey bites her lower lip and holds it between her teeth, wrinkling her nose.

  Well, all righty then. I guess I best leave this one alone. “So in other words, don’t ask any questions about what happened to Kyle, got it. But do we know why he took us?”

  “All we can figure is Kyle was a serial kidnapper. He was obsessed with his collection. When Dad had his trial and Kyle found out we were loose, he went berserk, ranting about his collection. Needless to say, the pack tried him and did away with him per pack justice. So yeah, no questions about what happened to Kyle is probably for the best. Tara stayed here while we took care of all that nasty business, but now she can come live with me.” Joey slings her arm over Tara’s shoulders, grinning at her.

  As crazy as it seems, I find I’m glad the pack did away with that psychopath. Now we don’t have to worry about him or his crazy cousin hurting anyone else. Call me cold.

  “What do you mean she can come live with you? Why can’t she stay with me?” My gaze darts from one to the other.

  “Hey, guys, I’m right here.” Tara points to herself and then lowers her eyes, not meeting mine. “Nyla, I appreciate the offer, but for now I feel more comfortable with Joey’s people. Besides, you need to adjust to being a vampire and having a mate.”

  “Okay, I get the vampire thing, although I really don’t feel that different, but Jean Pierre has assured me we have time to do the whole mate thing.” I glance at the door, wondering briefly where he is before I mentally shake myself.

  “Yeah, well, I don’t know anything about how vampires are, but I’ll tell you wolves don’t do well with waiting. Once we see our mates, we don’t want to waste any time.” Joey waggles her eyebrows, giggling. “So?”

  “So what?” I frown and furrow my brow.

  “Jean Pierre is like super hot, and he was so knight in shining armor when he rescued you.” Tara clasps her hands in front of her chest, her eyes taking on a dreamy look. “Flung the door off your cage and flew in there. It was very romantic.”

  “Yeah, being in a cage is super romantic.” I roll my eyes at her and laugh.

  Tara shoves my shoulder, tsking me. “You know what I mean, and you’re avoiding the question. What do you think of him?”

  “Well, considering I’ve only known him for about an hour, it’s hard to say.” I bite my lips to keep from grinning.

  Tara narrows her eyes at me, pursing her lips. “But he’s hot.”

  I burst out laughing, unable to hold it in. “Yeah, he’s hot.”

  Cassie peeks her head in through the doorway. “Hey, girls, I hate to break up this whole reunion thing, but we need to get back to the city.” She raises a brow in the girls’ direction. “Joey and Tara, are you coming with us?”

  Joey shakes her head. “No, we’re going back to the compound. I still am having a hard time going to the city.”

  Jean Pierre enters the room, takes my hand, and brings it to his lips. His gaze meets mine over my knuckles. “Mon cheri, are you ready to meet my famille, and now yours too?”

&nbs
p; “Sure, I guess now is as good a time as any.” I pull my hand away and find it hard to catch my breath. I’m nervous about what lies ahead, but I’ve never been one to shy away from an adventure or challenge, and something tells me this may end up being a bit of both.

  Jean Pierre

  Around me is a field of purple flowers. There is a bed in the center with white silky sheets on it, and I grin at the images my mate has created. She is standing next to the bed, looking around in confusion.

  Nyla came back to the house with me earlier and met everyone. She was nervous at first, but they made her feel so welcome, she soon warmed up. I showed her to the room I’m using, and she frowned about us sharing a bed but didn’t resist. I was glad because I don’t want to be separated from her. She doesn’t know what seeing her so close to death did to me. It’s going to take some time to get over that.

  Right now, I believe I’m in a shared dream with my mate. Bram told me about these dreams. He said they weren’t as good as the real thing but were pretty close. He also said they were a good way to get to know your mate.

  Nyla walks toward me, still looking around in confusion. “Jean Pierre, what’s going on?”

  “We are dreaming together.” I rub her shoulders, leaning forward and kissing her forehead.

  She pulls away from me, narrowing her eyes. “What do you mean?”

  “Bram told me about it. It’s a thing we do to get to know each other.” I tilt my head to the side and wonder what her reaction will be.

  “Oh, really? So because I’m wearing a see-through gown and you’re wearing silky pajama bottoms, I take it it’s a sex dream?” She smirks, turning her back toward me and walking around the bed. She wraps her arms around one of the bedposts and grins, not showing any signs of being shy.

  “Oui, something like that, but we can do whatever you want. You’re acting much more relaxed than before.” I lie on the bed and put my hands behind my head, relaxing and waiting on her to make the next move.

  “It’s only a dream, I can act any way I choose.” She looks me up and down, and I feel the heat of desire in the pit of my stomach. Slowly, she takes the few steps until she is inches from me, then leans over me and braces her hand on my chest. Our lips meet, and I take her face between my hands, deepening the kiss.

  Running my tongue along the seam of her lips, I demand entrance and she complies. Our tongues dance together, and she moans against my mouth, moving to straddle my waist. I feel myself hardening against her and move my hands to her hips to hold her against me.

  I thrust upward against her, and she throws her head back, grinding her hips harder against me. Nyla is not shy about showing her passion, and I find myself wanting her more with each passing second.

  “Merde, angel, I want you.” I rub my thumbs across her nipples and sit up to take one into my mouth, then suck on it through the thin fabric of her gown.

  Nyla arches her back, bringing herself deeper into my mouth, and grips my hair with her finger. Her nails must be leaving indentions in my scalp. I lift her up, throw her on the bed, and quickly cover her with my body, taking her mouth with mine in a hard kiss.

  She wraps her legs around my waist, and I move my hips against hers. My lips move down her neck, and I rip the gown from her body, needing to feel her soft skin against mine. Nyla gasps when I take her nipple back in my mouth, give it a light bite, and quickly soothe the pain with my tongue.

  Using her feet, she pushes my pants down and takes my swollen cock into her hand, giving me a squeeze. Unable to stop myself, I thrust forward.

  “I’m not a shy girl but a woman who knows what she wants.” Nyla lifts her hips and rubs my tip against her entrance. I groan at how wet she is and lean forward, pushing into her until I am fully seated.

  She clenches around me, and my eyes roll back in my head at the pleasure of her surrounding me. “Oh, angel, si bon.” I move inside her, pulling almost completely out and then thrusting back in until I bury myself to the hilt.

  Nyla moves her hips in rhythm with mine. “Yes, Jean, harder.”

  I lift her leg, changing the depth of my thrust, and she shudders against me. I press my thumb against her most sensitive area, and she explodes around me with a scream. My balls tighten, and pleasure overwhelms me as I topple over the edge with her, emptying myself deep inside her.

  Falling forward, I tilt to the side so I don’t crush her and pull her face closer to mine to give her a tender kiss.

  “Wow, Jean Pierre, that was amazing. I don’t know that I’ve ever sex that good.” She grins, winking at me, and turns to her side so we are lying in the bed facing one another.

  I laugh, not knowing how I should react. Most women from my time were not as open about things of a sexual manner, but I know things are different now. “You are very open and forthcoming.”

  “Oh sorry, I forget you’re not used to modern women. We tend to say what we want. Are you offended by it?” She dips her chin, lowering her gaze.

  Using my finger, I tip her face back up and brush my lips against hers. “I’m not offended. Never feel you have to hold back from me. I want all of you, even your directness or strangeness.”

  “Strangeness? Hmm, I’m not sure how I should take that.” She wrinkles her nose, narrowing her eyes at me. “Okay then, you want openness, and I want the same with you. Tell me about yourself. How old are you?”

  “Oh my, that’s a hard one because I’ve been asleep for a long time, but I was born in sixteen eighteen, in France. I was working as a mercenary for a local baron and didn’t like the way he was doing things. I was in my early twenties and very idealist.” My smile turns into a frown as I remember the pain of the blade sliding into my back. “I trusted the wrong people and was ambushed and left for dead. Gabriel and Bram came upon me, and Gabriel felt compelled to change me, so am I the age I was when I was changed or am I over four hundred years old?”

  “Wow, the things you’ve seen. Sorry, but I’d go with the big—and I do mean big—four oh oh. I always liked older men, but this is extreme even for me.” She pushes my shoulder, giggling and lightening the mood.

  I chuckle, my chest shaking. I’m fast learning to like my mate. She’s easy to talk to and has a wit that challenges me. “What about you? How old are you, and what was your life like before the kidnapping?”

  “You know you’re not supposed to ask a lady her age, but because I was so curious, I’ll let it slide.” Nyla bites her lower lip and holds it between her teeth for a moment, and I can’t take my eyes off it. I have to mentally shake myself when she starts talking again. “I’m thirty-two, and I left New Orleans when I turned eighteen, determined I wasn’t going to be like my mother. Now, all I want to be like is her. She had a strength that I had no clue about.”

  “Is she dead?” Going through the death of a parent is very difficult. I hate my mate has had to endure this pain.

  She shakes her head and releases a deep sigh. “No, but she has a brain disease that has taken her personality. She doesn’t remember anything and doesn’t know who I am. I had to put her in a home that could provide twenty-four–seven care like I was unable to do. She’s done better since she’s been there.”

  “I’m sorry. It’s never easy to watch the decline of a loved one.” Unfortunately, one of the downsides to not dying is seeing those around you perish.

  “Have you had to experience this?” she asks.

  “Yes, when I was first changed, I thought to continue making relationships in the human world. After I watched several good friends age and die, the need for a connection away from my famille almost caused me to lose my life. After that, I only trusted my famille.” I shake my head, trying to block the dark images of those years from my mind.

  Reaching out, she brushes my hair from my forehead. “What happened?”

  “Ah, mon cheri, let’s not talk about dark times. I prefer to enjoy our time together getting to know each other. So is your mother your only family?” I will eventually tell Nyla about my p
ast, but I’m not quite ready to confide just yet.

  “Yeah, I was an only child and she was a single mother. My mom was black, and my dad was white and married. Mama didn’t know when she started the affair that he had a wife. When she found out, she moved back to New Orleans and left him in Houston. I don’t know if he ever knew I existed. I tracked him down and found out he died of cancer when I was around sixteen.” She plays with the fringe on a blanket that suddenly appeared, and I stare at it until I remember we are dreaming. It feels so real, for a brief moment I thought the blanket was too.

  “Again, I’m saying I’m sorry.”

  “No, I never knew him and don’t really know if I truly wanted to.” Her brow furrows, and she purses her lips. “Now it’s me putting a damper on things. I really haven’t had a sad life. When I left, I went to Los Angeles and started doing work as a model, then a few small acting bits, but I really loved the stunt work and trained for that. I have a real talent for it and love the physicality of it all.”

  “Maybe after things are settled, we can figure out how you could continue with your job, although sunlight can be a problem. It doesn’t kill us or turn us to ash, but it’s not fun to be in it. It’s like a bad burn.” I honestly don’t know how it would work, but if my mate desires to continue her work, I will do everything in my power to see it happen.

  “Yeah, we’ll see.” She averts her eyes, her gaze darting around and not meeting mine. “I would like to know if we have to live here.”

  I don’t understand why she would be nervous about asking if we could move out. I’m not opposed to having her all to myself. “No, we don’t have to, but we do like to stay close to our famille. It helps with protection and loneliness.”

  “Oh, we wouldn’t have to go far. I have a house on the street over.” She sits up, bouncing in the bed. “As a matter of fact, its backyard butts up against their neighbor’s yard.”