Fateful 2-Fractured

by Cheri Schmidt

  “I hope you’re right, Danielle, but I want you to keep your distance from him.”

  “All right, I’ll be careful.” However, she still needed the violence she’d come out to the garden for in the first place. So far, she’d done more talking than karate. “Fight with me, Ethan. I need to punch something!” She shoved away from his chest and struck out at him, hoping he didn’t notice how she swayed from his influence.

  Ethan chuckled. “Go for it, darling. Just don’t overdo it this time.”

  They sparred, but it was plain to see the he was being extremely careful with her. He blocked a few of her strikes but let the majority fall. And he never struck out at her, not even in jest. She continued until she’d cooled her anger, but hadn’t exhausted herself. “Thanks, honey, it’s nice to have a dummy I can’t hurt.”

  “Anytime, darling.” His gaze met hers then. She’d been careful about avoiding that until just then, and she swooned.

  Ethan scooped her up into his arms before everything went completely black. “Did you eat before you came out here?”

  Danielle flushed with guilt. Nope, in her anger she’d skipped that again.

  “That’s what I thought. Next time you exercise I want you to eat first.”

  “Yes, sir.” She knew he was right. She had to stop being so distracted and focus on taking care of herself, and this baby.

  * * * * *

  “Ooo! Pancakes! May I have some?” Nadia asked as she walked into the kitchen. She and Max had just arrived.

  “Sure, have a seat. There’s still some batter left over.” Ethan turned the burner back on, and dropped more butter into the pan as the heat returned.

  Max popped his head in to say, “I’m taking our stuff to our room, or rather rooms. Which way do I go?”

  “Last two doors on the left, at the top of the stairs.”

  “Thanks.” Then he added, “Oh, and Nadia already had breakfast.”

  “But not pancakes…” she muttered as Ethan gave her a fork and a glass of milk while the cakes were cooking.

  “You get to sleep alone too, huh?” Danielle asked.

  Nadia nodded.

  Ethan flipped the pancakes. “I’ve already explained that…”

  “We know. It still sucks.”

  He dropped the pancakes onto a plate and placed it in front of Nadia with a bottle of syrup.

  Danielle was finished with her pancakes and she’d stood from the table to help herself to an apple. She got out a plate and knife to cut it, but Ethan snatched the blade from her like she was the toddler who’d just gotten into the knife drawer.

  “I can cut the apple,” she argued.

  “You’re in a house full of vampires and you’re pregnant. You won’t be cutting anything.”

  “The sun is up, and I’m fairly certain that pregnancy doesn’t make me incapable of slicing fruit.”

  “Humor me.” He kissed her soundly on the forehead as he presented her with the cored and sectioned apple. And she noticed right away that his lips were warmer than they were earlier.

  “Fine,” she said as she lifted a slice to her lips and then rolled her eyes at Nadia.

  Nadia smiled while drowning her pancakes in syrup.

  After Ethan had cleaned up, and left the kitchen, Danielle sat next to Nadia again. “It’s nice to have a fellow mortal in the house,” she mumbled around another bite of apple.

  “I know what you mean.”

  “How have things been?”

  “Crazy. Max is constantly on edge. I think he misses the food.” Nadia stuffed a syrup-dripping, double-layer square of pancake between her lips.

  “I know Ethan does.” Danielle stared at her last piece of apple, trying to decide if she had room for it or not.

  “Let’s go shopping today.” Nadia made the decision about the fruit for her by stealing the wedge and then gave it a lick before she chomped off half of it.

  Danielle smiled as she stood, gathered their dishes and turned to put them in the dishwasher. “I’d like that. Do you think we’ll be allowed?”

  “It can’t hurt to ask.”

  Chapter 17

  Married to a Vampire

  Silence and tension filled the room when they asked if they could go to the mall.

  Cedric was staring at his feet. Merrick was rubbing his hands on his pant legs as if his palms were sweating. The prince looked like he had a lot to say, but had obviously chosen to hold his tongue. His expression of anger whipped across the room to her. Would he dare start bellowing again in front of Ethan? And that other guard, the one who’d been outside most of the time, the one Danielle didn’t yet know stared at her too, expressionless.

  She swallowed and met Ethan’s gaze. “Please?”

  “What do you think, Max?”

  “Nothing has happened for days now. We could be safe.”

  “Richard?” Ethan turned to The Black Prince.

  Richard passed his gaze over Danielle, and then surprised her with his reply. “Let them go. We’ll make sure they have at least fifteen men watching them, myself included. And we’ll make sure they pretend to be watching Nadia since Danielle is supposedly immortal.”

  After another heavy pause, Ethan released a slow breath and then nodded. “All right. You may go.” He dug his wallet out of his pocket and extracted a gold credit card. “Here take my card.”

  “I don’t need that. I—”

  Ethan moved closer, and dropped his volume to a mere whisper. “Take it. Please? What’s mine is yours…”

  She did believe that, but her gaze automatically shifted to her studio and landed on the two paintings she’d done that week. The two she’d designed to sell so she could have her own money. Knowing she would never be allowed to have a job outside of the home for safety reasons, she’d sold a few pieces in London. She planned to continue that little side business.

  “Where are you two going today?” Nadia asked the men, interrupting with a change of topic.

  “Car shopping.”

  “Oh!” Danielle said suddenly. “I have a Mini at my parent’s house. Can Nadia and I go get it?”

  Ethan choked on something, it seemed to be words. “A Mini Cooper?”

  “Yes, it’s so cute. Nadia, you have to see it. It’s blue with white stripes—”

  Her eyes rounded when Ethan took her gently by the arm and moved her to the other side of the room. She realized that he was trying to avoid embarrassing her in front of the others as he defused, what he apparently perceived to be, a bomb. “I—you can’t—I mean it just isn’t safe,” he cooed gently into her ear, and it seemed it took a great deal of effort for him to coo gently.

  To further exasperate the tension mounting between her and her husband, she could almost physically sense the eyes of the others on her back, and knew they could probably still hear his whispers. Though he certainly meant to spare her—the feelings of abashment slithered through her veins anyway, and she attempted to defend herself. “I’m a good driver.”

  “I’m certain you are.”

  “Then I don’t understand.”

  His expression brightened, as if he’d just gotten a brilliant idea. “I want to buy you something. Something special.”

  “Really? A new car? Are you sure?”

  “I’m more than sure. I’ll pick something out for you today.” He wagged his eyebrows at her, apparently trying to sell the idea.

  “Okay,” she said, still feeling a little hesitant. “If you want to. I do like my Mini, though, so it isn’t expected…”

  She felt the cold plastic of the credit card touch her hand and looked down at it as her fingers curled around it.

  “Have fun shopping.” Ethan kissed her forehead and gave her a hug. Danielle tried really hard to ignore the audience.

  * * * * *

  Six of the guards remained close to them, while the other nine melted into the shadows at the mall. Which had to have been difficult considering how well lit it was. Danielle wondered how they felt about ente
ring shops that mainly catered to just women. Though they were pretending to only be guarding the mortal Nadia, they kept Danielle close to her, and didn’t let her stray more than a couple of feet from her friend.

  She recognized most of them: Cedric, Lance, Jack, Richard, Merrick, and the one from outside her home whose name she didn’t yet know. Danielle tried to get to know him. “Would you mind holding these for me?” she asked him.

  Mutely he held out his arms and accepted the pile of clothing that she meant to try on.

  “Thanks. What’s your name?” she asked softly as she draped a pretty skirt over the stack.

  “Dorin,” he said gruffly.

  “It’s nice to meet you, Dorin.”

  “You shouldn’t be talking to me,” he muttered from behind two feet of fashion.

  “I don’t think anyone is watching…” One glance in Richard’s direction and she knew that wasn’t true.

  “You can’t know that. I don’t think they’ll ever stop pursuing you, even if they think you’re one of us.” His tone had turned dangerous, and she wondered if he took his job just a little too seriously.

  Attempting to soften the sharp edges of his attitude, she said, “Thanks for what you’re doing. We both appreciate your service.”

  “Yes, we do,” Nadia agreed as she draped three tops and a pair of jeans onto the many layers of material.

  She and Nadia added four more items to the others, and then began weaving their way to the dressing rooms at the back of the shop. Dorin followed silently. Danielle winked as she lifted half the pile and reached for the handle of the dressing stall.

  His lips twitched and she wondered if he’d almost smiled, almost.

  Nadia was close on her heels after she snagged the remainder of the clothes and took the stall next to hers. They sifted through the mess, passing things back and forth underneath the wall divider between them, and then began trying things on.

  When they emerged with their purchases, after about forty-five minutes of stripping and redressing, Dorin addressed her again. “Why do you purchase clothing that you won’t be able to wear when you’re swollen with that child?”

  Danielle halted in her steps and he nearly ran her over. She tipped her chin up to look into his unreadable gaze and realized that her nose only reached to his chest. The man was massive, and she was relieved that he was on the good side. However, she wondered if he even knew how rude that comment was, and didn’t know if she wanted to laugh or cry about it. It was true, she was going to get fat, but she liked clothes, and they were on sale, and she wouldn’t always be swollen, as he so gently put it. And it was comforting to shop when, deep down, she was troubled by all of the little things that go along with pregnancy. Gaining weight. Doctor’s visits.

  “Look, Danielle, let’s go try on some shoes,” Nadia interrupted, and Danielle was deeply grateful for it. Without answering Dorin’s question, she followed Nadia to the store.

  The men, of course, tailed along behind and she could hear their continuing conversation. “Did I say something wrong?” Dorin asked Merrick.

  Merrick chuckled, a low rumbling sound. “Oh, nay, of course not.”

  “You only just said the worst thing you could have possibly said to her, that’s all,” Cedric said, shaking his head.

  “Should I apologize?”

  Danielle twisted to face him, clutching a pair of shoes in her hands. Did he really mean to say he was sorry?

  He looked down at her. “Miss Darcey ... er ... Mrs. Deveroux, pardon my thoughtless exchange.”

  His expression still held nothing recognizable as any sort of remorse, but she accepted anyway. “It’s all right.”

  The men remained quiet during the rest of their shopping, but graciously carried their bags for them when they got to be too much.

  They returned home after going out to dinner, and stuffed the booty into their bedrooms before Danielle met with Nadia in the kitchen for a treat before bed.

  “I want ice cream. What about you, Danielle?”

  “That works for me. What flavor do you want? Ethan’s got this freezer loaded,” Danielle said, tugging the freezer door open.

  “Let me see.” Nadia peeped over her shoulder to look inside. She gasped and pointed. “What’s Death by Chocolate? Is that good? It sounds sinfully divine.”

  Danielle snickered, and pulled the carton out. “I think you’ve made a good choice for yourself, here.” She handed over the ice cream, then selected her own. “I think I want vanilla with bananas and nuts and hot fudge topping.”

  Nadia already had a mouthful of Death by Chocolate when she said, “That sounds good too.”

  Smiling, Danielle got out her fruit and toppings and began making her banana split. However, Nadia squeaked when Danielle pulled out a knife to slice the banana. “Oh, no, not you too. I’m not going to hurt myself.”

  Nadia’s eyes widened and Danielle wondered what her deal was until she heard that all too familiar male voice behind her. “Darling, I thought I said you weren’t to use anything sharp”

  She turned, wide-eyed to face her husband. “Bananas are easier to cut than apples.”

  “I don’t mind cooking for you. You know that. All you need to do is ask.”

  “But you’re not always around to ask.”

  Silently he took the blade from her hand and quickly prepared it for her. He even put two of those maraschino cherries on top.

  “Wow, Ethan, would you make one of those for me too?” Nadia asked when she saw the fancy-looking treat he’d made for Danielle.

  “Of course.” He quickly prepared another banana split and set the bowl down in front of Nadia, who dug in happily.

  After watching them spoon this cold treat into their mouths with a blatant, envious expression, he said, “It’s time for me to go hunting. After the other men return, Max and I plan on going.” He really didn’t look happy about the prospect of hunting.

  * * * * *

  When he and Max returned, Danielle and Nadia were watching a movie while munching on popcorn. Ethan strode to the sofa with his eyes on that item that had been one of his favorite foods. It seemed he couldn’t help himself when he shoved one hand into the bowl and removed a handful of popped corn. He sniffed at it then stuffed it into his mouth, and cursed as he chewed. “That’s just wrong!” He then plopped into the chair next to the sofa dusting his hands of salt and butter.

  Danielle laughed because he looked like he needed to go brush his teeth to remove that disgusted and puckered twist of his lips. She sprang from her seat and jumped into her husband’s lap for a kiss, hoping to cheer him.

  “Danielle!” He stood and dumped her off his thighs. “Don’t! You can’t forget I’m cursed!”

  His blue eyes swirled with anger, and the magic of them stole her knees right out of their sockets. She managed to hold onto consciousness as she dropped to the rug, then drew her knees to her chest and covered her face which was quickly streaked with mortified tears.

  They’d all witnessed that: Nadia, Max and several other men.

  Humiliating.

  So this is what it’s like to be married to a vampire. The Ethan she fell in love with was there most of the time, but this dark, cursed side of him could strike at any moment after sunset. Had she really foolishly thought she’d married Mr. Darcy? Perhaps Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde were more accurate descriptions. She remembered how he’d kept his distance from her physically even at the ball, even when he’d visited her bedroom, even when he’d rescued her from Lucas. And now she remembered how he was never in the best mood after having killed for his dinner. And here she’d just thrown herself into his arms. Danielle knew his anger was her fault, and she couldn’t stop the sobs that began to rack her.

  “I’m sorry.” She heard him mumble as strong arms lifted her from the floor.

  But it wasn’t Ethan holding her. “Let’s get you to bed, all right?” It was Max. And that hurt too. Why wasn’t it Ethan? Yes, she had acted too abruptly, but hadn’t he
been able to tolerate her presence when he’d tested his magic on her and she pretty much threw herself at him? Or was this somehow different?

  She couldn’t respond as Max carried her to her bedroom and set her gently on the bed. She listened as his footsteps receded from the room. Danielle wanted to be alone. After shoving the moisture from her cheeks, she rushed to the door, slammed it, and locked it.

  Seconds later, however, she heard a knock at it, followed by Ethan’s calm voice. “Danielle, can we talk?”

  “Go away,” she muttered, knowing he could hear her anyway.

  He jiggled the locked knob. “Honey, I’m really sorry I snapped like that. Please let me in.”

  She replied with silence.

  Ethan responded by breaking the lock and entering.

  Danielle scrambled under the covers to hide her returning tears. She could feel the bed tip as he settled onto it next to her and placed a gentle hand on her hip. “Would you like to see the vehicles we bought?” he asked, an obvious tactic for distraction.

  Again, she answered with nothing.

  His hand began to work out the tension in her back and neck through the blankets.

  “Come-on, I got something in red. You need to see it.”

  “You know where the guest bedroom is.”

  Ethan tugged the sheets from her, pulled her to her back, and forced her to look at him, though he kept his eyes closed, not even narrowed as he’d done in the past. A line had formed between his golden brows. “Danielle, I’m truly sorry. It’s just that your lovely scent is more intense now that you’re pregnant, and the knowledge that I’m a cursed man never releases my conscience. What if I hurt you? What if I jeopardized this precious new life?” He took a breath. “Even so, I overreacted, and I deeply regret that. I can fight it like I did in Lucas’ dungeon, but it will always be a challenge because it’s an evil spell that holds me captive at night. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?”