Immortal Blood

by Magen McMinimy

  Izzy hated the smell of Garcia’s canned food. She, as always, held her breath as the can opener broke through the tin seal. Garcia meowed and weaved his way through her legs. Izzy lifted the top and flinched as the sharp edge ran over her finger, slicing it deep and causing the crimson of her blood to pool.

  “Jesus,” she huffed under her breath and grabbed a napkin. Garcia continued to meow as the doorbell rang. Izzy was almost at her wit’s end and seriously considering going back upstairs and crawling under the covers. She plopped the stinky concoction of food into Garcia’s bowl and stomped to the front door, flinging it open when she reached it.

  “No!” she said fiercely, looking up into the unnatural shade of purple eyes. She started to shut the door in Bain’s face.

  Bain was struck then. He saw that this particular human was attractive last night, but she was beautiful in the light of day. She had a petite, but curvy frame, full, pouty lips, and deep blue eyes. She was definitely Bain’s type. Then again, any beautiful woman was, but this one had a fire in her—she was feisty. It intrigued him. Bain smiled and put his black-booted foot in the doorframe.

  Izzy was frustrated. This was not happening! Her anger flew in the form of the door crashing against the boot in its way. Bain wrapped his long, calloused fingers around the metal of the door and pushed it back open, stepping inside the foyer and closing it gently behind him.

  Isabelle’s eyes were heated as she stared at Bain, and he continued to smile down at her. He wouldn’t mind seeing how that fire translated to the bedroom.

  “Go get dressed and pack a bag; it’s time to go see Rowan,” he said, an assertive set to his muscles, as he moved past her and settled onto her plush, micro-suede couch.

  Izzy’s hand rested on her hips and one perfectly manicured brown brow arched at him. “No,” she said stubbornly.

  Now Bain was the one with the raised brow. “Yes,” he responded.

  “Get out.” Izzy pointed back to the front door.

  “I’m afraid I can’t do that. Either you come with me, or I make myself comfortable on your couch. Either way, I’m not allowed to leave your side, not until we get your luck back from Zander.”

  “I don’t need a sitter, and I don’t believe in luck,” she said, opening the front door and expectantly awaiting his removal from her house.

  “Really? Do you run out into oncoming traffic often? Do you trip on a regular basis? Does your showerhead come flying off the wall and knock your head? Do you usually fall going up the stairs and cut yourself on canned cat food?”

  Uriah had filled him in on the night’s events, but Izzy looked pissed as he recited her misfortunes. She wasn’t generally a clumsy individual, but it had been a rough twelve hours.

  “How do you know any of that?” she asked sharply.

  “Uriah spent the night watching over you. He filled me in.”

  “He was spying on me?” she yelled at Bain.

  Bain lifted a shoulder in response. Izzy was irritated. She wasn’t a hostile person, but this immortal was an accelerant to her anger. Every time he spoke or even looked at her, she felt her temper grow. He was arrogant, demanding, and so hot, it fit him perfectly. He was a languid, sexy creature stretched out on her couch, the cream suede a perfect backdrop to his all-black attire—a black, fitted t-shirt hugged a set of chiseled muscles, and a pair of black cargo pants that hinted to the perfection they hid from her sight. The fact that she noticed these things just added fuel to her irritation.

  Izzy slammed the front door, knowing he wasn’t going anywhere, and headed back to the kitchen. Pulling the first aid kit out from under the sink, she flipped it open. Riffling through its contents, she pulled out some antiseptic and a Band-Aid.

  “So sweetheart, how about I fix up that cut for you, and you get that bag packed so we can go.”

  Izzy didn’t lift her head, but still answered. “I already told you no. Just like I told your friend… Uriah, wasn’t it?”

  Bain nodded.

  Izzy lifted her gaze to see the smooth nod of Bain’s head, which caused the silky tresses of his blond hair to wisp over his forehead. He pulled off a masculine air while still being way to pretty for anyone’s own good. His hair was a little long and messy, but she guessed he spent hours making it look that way, and with the rising sun streaming into her kitchen, he looked more like a fallen angel than anything else.

  “Well, like I told Uriah last night, I’m not going anywhere with you guys.”

  Bain studied her; yeah, she really wasn’t planning on going anywhere. The stubborn set of her jaw proved that. But Bain was sure he’d have her convinced here shortly. A smug smile pulled his lips as he thought of all the things he’d convince this beautiful human to do, but first, he needed to stop the bleeding.

  Bain walked over to Izzy and took her hand in his. He lifted it to his mouth, blowing softly on the cut, as he kept his eyes locked on hers. The skin knitted back together, sealing it and eventually fading, leaving her olive skin unmarred, perfect, and smooth. Izzy pulled her hand back and inspected her flesh. She hadn’t watched it heal. She’d felt it tingle and the pain reside, but she had been too mesmerized by the glowing violet eyes that belonged to the creature that had invaded her space, and life, and had some obviously very cool and useful tricks up his sleeve.

  “What are you?” she breathed.

  “Didn’t Uriah tell you?” Bain asked as he folded his muscled arms across his chest and leaned against the counter.

  Izzy took a minute to look over the mass of a man in her kitchen; he made it feel small. She’d never felt so claustrophobic in her own home, but this man was huge, towering at a good six-foot-three to her five-foot-five and outweighing her by at least ninety-five pounds, probably coming in somewhere around two hundred and thirty.

  The all-black ensemble made him look like he was all business, but the lounging position just added to the confident air that welled around him. His t-shirt was snug and pulled at his biceps. She thought she saw the hint of a tattoo, but she couldn’t be completely sure. She guessed there was some kind of tribal masterpiece decorating his equally masterful muscles and tanned skin.

  “I knew you’d come around,” Bain mused.

  “Excuse me?” Izzy asked, irritated by his smug tone, but she had been totally checking him out.

  “You see something you like, sweetheart. I can tell.” He smirked.

  “You are incredibly arrogant,” she accused.

  “True,” he agreed. “But that’s not the point. The point is you can trust me, and you need to come with me.”

  “And the answer is still no,” she said, stomping from the kitchen and back up the stairs.

  Bain groaned and followed her.

  “Okay, let’s start over,” he called after her, following her up the stairs and then down the hall to her room.

  Izzy swiveled and put a hand up. “You probably don’t hear this much, but you’re not coming into my room with me.”

  “You’re right. I don’t hear that often. I’m not sure I like it either, but the truth is, sweetheart, I am done playing with you. You’re in danger, so I really need you to come with me.”

  Izzy shook her head, feeling some exasperation working through her body. Sweetheart? Yeah, because that was going to convince her. “I don’t know who you are. I don’t even know what you are.”

  Bain stuck his hand out towards her. “I’m Bain, and I’m an Immortal warrior, a species of Fae, just like your date from last night, except he was an evil leprechaun who stole your luck. And all these little things that keep happening will continue to happen until we catch him and give it back to you. Now it would help if you would be so kind as to come with me, so I can take you to Rowan.”

  Izzy took his hand and shook it. “I’m Isabelle, my friends call me Izzy, and I still don’t want to leave with you.” She dropped his hand and stepped in her room, smiling at him as she closed the door in his face.

  “Does that mean I get to call you Izzy too?�
� Bain asked through the door. “If you won’t leave with me, then I have to stay here with you. We might as well be friendly, right?”

  Izzy rolled her eyes and headed for her closet. The man was insane if he really thought she was going anywhere with him. His looks probably made most women drool and comply with his every whim and the truth was, she wasn’t too far from that either, but she was not going to let a pretty face convince her to do anything.

  Chapter Six

  Izzy slipped silently from her room. She could hear the television downstairs. It was low, but she could make out Paula Dean’s unmistakable voice flowing from her living room. Paula was making some sort of peanut butter chocolate pudding, and Izzy had to admit it sounded good.

  Was there anything better then peanut butter and chocolate? She certainly didn’t think so.

  “Ah, she emerges,” Bain said sarcastically. He bit back the rest of his sarcasm as his eyes drifted over Izzy. Her feminine curves were being caressed by a dark, fitted pair of jeans while the cotton of her white V-neck shirt tugged tightly over her breast. It was a casual outfit, but still sexy in its simplicity. Bain was used to women in short dresses flashing their skin at him, but this… this was better somehow.

  “You really aren’t going to leave, are you?” Izzy asked as she walked past him.

  Two hours hiding in her room, and Paula talking about peanut butter and chocolate, had her stomach growling.

  Bain didn’t say anything as he followed closely on her heels.

  Izzy opened the fridge and sighed. She should have known she’d find nothing in it. She ordered in most of the time, occasionally went out to eat, and Sundays she did family dinners with her parents, sisters, and of course, grandmother.

  “You have no food in this house,” Bain said, stating what she already knew.

  Izzy narrowed her eyes at him. “Did you go through my kitchen?”

  “Yep, it’s proper to offer a guest a drink at least, and then I got hungry waiting for you to come out of hiding,” Bain said close to her ear as he leaned over her shoulder to peer into the fridge.

  Izzy fought a shiver and bristled. “You are not a guest. I told you to get out.”

  “True, and I told you I can’t. Rowan won’t let me come home without you. She’s being very persistent about me protecting you.”

  She. Izzy did not like the sting that flew through her body when Bain said she. It was ridiculous and made no sense. That could not be jealously she felt…

  “Who is Rowan?” Izzy asked, the heat in her voice evident.

  “Rowan is our clan’s Mistress.”

  “Clan Mistress?” There was a distasteful tone to her voice.

  Bain laughed. “Yes, she is the ruler of the Light Fae and the mistress of the Immortal warriors.” Bain put his right fist to his chest over his heart. “My four brothers, though not biological brothers, and I are the warriors of the Light Fae and protectors of the human race.”

  “So you and your brothers protect the human race from what exactly?” She hadn’t forgotten the Mistress part, but her curiosity was peaked.

  “From Darion, the leader of the Dark Fae, and his minions.”

  “Like Zander the evil leprechaun?”

  “Exactly.” Bain smiled a wicked, sexy smirk at her.

  “So tell me more about your brothers.” Izzy sat at the table, grabbing her iPad as she did.

  Bain raised a brow at her. “Why? Are you going to try to look them up?”

  “No,” she said impatiently. “I’m going to order some food while you—the intruder in my house—answers all of my questions.”

  Bain sighed and took a seat at the table across from her. “Fine, but what are you ordering?”

  Izzy scowled at him. Was he really going to question her food choices? At least she planned to order enough for him to have some too. “Pizza. Is that to your liking?”

  Bain nodded “Pizza is good, but I like extra cheese.”

  “Any other requests?” Izzy asked sharply.

  “Yep, mushrooms, olives, Canadian bacon, and pineapple.”

  Izzy shook her head. Man, he was pushy and domineering, pretty much all around forceful. Not to mention he was big. He stifled the moderate space in her kitchen with his overwhelming presence, but she didn’t mind this kind of stifling. Izzy smiled; she was entertaining dangerous thoughts. She shook it off and started building their pizza.

  “Okay, tell me about your brothers.”

  Bain sighed. “Fine, Uriah, who you met, is the middle brother—biologically—between Lothar, who is the oldest, and Kale, who is the youngest. Then there’s Cree, who is our leader.”

  “So your army consists of five? That doesn’t sound like a very impressive army.”

  Bain grunted. Was she trying to insult him? “Well, not all Fae can move between worlds. There really aren’t very many in your world. We are more than enough to keep your race safe. In the Middle World, where the Fae live, we have an army that protects Rowan and the Light Fae. My brothers and I are simply the elite.”

  Smug… every word out of his mouth was arrogant.

  “Can your brothers heal people like you did me?”

  Bain smiled and sat forward in his seat, folding his muscled arms across the table in front of him. “No, that’s reserved for me.”

  “So what can they do?” Izzy asked as she continued placing their food order. “Chicken wings?”

  Bain furrowed his brow. “Excuse me?”

  “Do you want chicken wings too?” She lifted her gaze to meet his expectantly.

  He smiled, his violet eyes holding her gaze. She had finally looked him in the eyes again, and he drank them in. They were beautiful… big, round, and blue like water at night. Deep, endless orbs of midnight. “Sure, spicy.”

  Izzy nodded and waved her hand, encouraging him to answer her question.

  “Uriah is telekinetic, Lothar is an empath, Kale is pyrokinetic, and Cree is omniscient. He’s also my leader and brother-in-law.”

  Izzy smiled; he had a sister. Two of her favorite people in the world were her sisters. Marie being her baby sister, and Eppie being the middle sister. She was the oldest of the three of them, and they’d been her best friends since the day they were born twenty-seven and twenty-three years ago.

  “You have a sister?”

  “Yep… Rowan.”

  Izzy couldn’t or didn’t try to hide her shock. “The leader of the Light Fae is your sister?”

  Bain nodded. “Makes me royalty.”

  Izzy smirked and sent in their order. “Um hmm, that explains a lot.”

  “Really?” Bain raised a brow at her.

  “Yes, you’re arrogant enough to be royal, and I’d certainly say you’re a royal pain in the ass.” She smiled wide and winked at him.

  Bain smirked at her, but said nothing. He was enjoying this feisty little female. Perhaps Rowan had done him a favor by forcing him to relieve Uriah and protect her.

  Chapter Seven

  Sitting against the back of her plush couch, Izzy zoned out on the television screen. She was tired now that she had a full stomach. Bain had watched her eat, smiling as she kept up with him. The Immortal had a healthy appetite, but she hadn’t eaten since last night, and she was starved.

  “So,” she hedged. She had a question she wanted to ask, but wasn’t sure she wanted the answer to.

  Bain eyed her from his lounging position on the other end of the couch. He grabbed the remote and paused Izzy’s choice in entertainment. He was thankful to get a break from the gaggle of woman who had too much money and not enough brains. He doubted they were really all that Real of Housewives.

  “How do you watch this shit?” he asked before she could ask her own question.

  Izzy raised a shoulder. “It helps me to be smart with my money and senses.”

  Bain shook his head; he had a feeling Izzy did well enough for herself. She seemed smart with her money; she had a nice car, a nice home, and nice things inside of it. He doubted she want
ed for much. He didn’t want for anything either. He had more than what he needed for himself, a mate, and a few kids, but money worked differently where he came from. He and his brothers also had bank accounts and strongholds in the Human World, though they rarely needed to use them.

  “All right, what’s your question?”

  “Umm… what are the fangs for?” she asked almost shyly.

  Bain smiled, the white tips of his canines peeking through. She’d noticed that he’d done a good job hiding them most of the time, but they occasionally peeked out when he smiled that sexy, wicked smirk of his.

  “What do you think I use them for?” Bain asked, a husky heat lacing his words.

  Izzy smiled. It was a cute, seductive curve of her full lips. “Well, when I first saw you… I assumed they were for drinking blood, but after you cursed at me for even entertaining the idea that you were a vampire… I really have no idea what they’re for.”

  Bain chuckled. “I didn’t curse at you… not exactly.”

  Izzy snorted. “Yes you did.”

  Bain waved her off. “They serve multiple purposes.”

  “Go on.” Izzy smiled.

  “Fine, they are useful in a fight, and we use them for…” Bain trailed off, not sure he wanted to explain the details of his and his brothers particular species of Fae.

  “For what?” Izzy asked, narrowing her eyes at him.

  Bain narrowed his eyes. “To feed off of Fae blood.”

  “Wait, you do drink blood?” She showed no fear, only vindication as she smiled at him questioningly.

  “We drink from the Immortal Three, but only once a month or so for healing.”

  “But can’t you heal your brothers?”

  “Yes of course, but who do you think will heal me if I’m severely wounded?”

  “Hmm.” She didn’t like to think of him ever being severely wounded. Izzy would never admit it out loud, and certainly not to Bain, but she kind of liked the guy. He was sexy, smart, and fascinating. She never bought into the paranormal stuff, but she always loved the thought of it.