Jude Stephens
Page 23
Alex laughed. “Yeah you better get dressed or else I won’t hear a word you’re gonna say.” Flashing him a dirty look I grabbed some jeans and a t-shirt. I went back into the bathroom and quickly dressed. My hands shook as I brushed my hair. I wasn’t sure if it was from my sore scalp or the talk I was about to have.
I closed my eyes and took a few slow breaths to steady myself. I felt Onatah deep in my heart. “It’s as it’s meant to be Khe:awak.”
I found the calmness that I had earlier when I walked in the spirit world. I turned and went out to talk to my vampires. I sat on the bed. I wasn’t sure how to begin so I just dove in. “We should have done this the last time. We need to always be honest with each other and it’s hard to explain things when one isn’t present. First, I want you to know that I love you both.”
I got up and went over to Roberto and took his face in my hands. “Roberto, you have taught me about strength and commitment. You taught me how to trust myself. You showed me the wonders of passion that I never knew existed.”
Roberto stared intently at me, and I couldn’t resist kissing him lightly on the lips. “Piccolina,” was all he said.
I turned and walked over to Alex. I wrapped my arms around him and automatically his arms came around me. “Alex you’ve taught me about life and laughter. I want you to know what happened at that beach house tonight.”
I watched his face as I told him how Roberto helped me “get in the mood” to fool Seamus. I was a little worried when his face showed no emotion.
When I finished he simply looked over at Roberto and said, “Thanks. I know that wasn’t easy for you.” In awe, he said to me, “Baby, everyday you take my breath away. You are brilliant.”
I smiled up into his handsome face. “I want you to know the choice was not mine. My heart made the choice. That may sound strange, but it’s the truth. When I look at the two of you one of you has an aura that surrounds you when I’m in the spirit world.
I didn’t understand what Onatah meant when she told me, ‘open your heart to the light and all will be well.’ Now I know. I looked down on you both from the spirit world and could feel the love you both have for me.”
I walked back over to Roberto. “I love you, Roberto, but you’re not my light. Alex and I belong together in this life and beyond.”
Roberto looked hurt and I felt bad. He sighed, “Maybe it was destiny after all. Alex did meet you first and staked a claim. I just interfered and now you’re back on the right track.”
“No. You and I were not a mistake. I cherish every minute we spent together. You too were my destiny. For whatever reason, you were the man I needed to teach me about myself and to love me.” Tears streamed down my face. “I don’t want to lose you Roberto. Don’t cut me out of your life unless you have to.”
“I don’t know, Piccolina. Right now, I’ll be honest. It hurts to know I’ll never hold you again. I’ll need some time.”
I cried harder, and Roberto tilted my head up so he could look at me. “Don’t cry. If you ever need me all you have to do is call, and I’ll be at your side in an instant. I could never abandon you.”
Alex stood silently by the door. When I looked over to him he pushed himself off of the door and came over to us. He offered Roberto his hand. “You’re important to Wren. We can make this work.”
Roberto shook his hand. “Yeah, we can make it work, pup.”
Alex growled at the word pup, but then laughed. “Are you going back to Italy or to Atlantic City?” Alex asked playfully.
Roberto said, “Actually I have an assignment that I need to leave for tomorrow night. While Wren was falling asleep in the tub and you were feeding, I made some calls to the vampire council to report to them about Draco’s supreme council. It seems they’ve brought Vasile into their fold.”
“Shit,” Alex muttered. “Are you off to Romania then?”
“Yes. I hope it isn’t true. To lose Vasile to these guys would be disastrous.”
I hid a small smile. Roberto would be okay. He had a new cause.
Sensing that I was thinking about him, he turned towards me. “So what’s next for you, Wren?”
I looked at the two vampires standing before me. What I was about to say wouldn’t go over so big. “I’m going to infiltrate The Guardians.”
Roberto said, “No, Wren. It’s too dangerous. You’ve dealt with them before you know what they do to our kind.”
“Not as dangerous as you think. I can use the incident here to convince them of my change of heart. After all, The Evolved wants me dead. What better way to get payback than to help The Guardians.”
“I hate to admit it, but she has a good point.” Alex finally spoke.
Roberto still didn’t look like he thought it was a good idea. “Wait at least until I have some news from the council,” he insisted.
“Okay. If you think that would be best, Roberto. We’ll wait until we hear from you.”
“Thank you, Piccolina. I’ll, um…get out of your way. It’s almost dawn. I’ll see you before I leave.”
He took my hands in his, kissed the top of my head and was gone.
I stared at the door for a minute before Alex came up behind me and wrapped his arms around me “He’ll be okay you know.”
“I know.”
“Alex?”
“Yes, Baby?”
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For being so understanding and letting me do this my way.”
Alex back walked us over to the bed until we fell on top of it. “I have no problem with letting you do it your way, but now it’s time for letting me do it my way.”
“Go for it Handsome.”
We came together in a frenzy of need, love and longing. Just before dawn, Alex gathered me in his arms and sang in my ear, “I’ve loved you forever, in lifetimes before, and I promise you, never will you hurt anymore. I give you my word. I give you my heart, this is a battle we’ve won, and with this vow forever had now begun.”
I cupped his face in my hands and trying to sound serious I said, “You’re kidding right? N’Sync? Is that what you’re going to sing to me after making love? I expected at least some Barry White from you.”
Alex swatted my bottom and in his deepest voice began, “Can’t get enough of your love, Babe.”
We laughed until Alex succumbed to his sleep. I laid there in his arms and felt at peace and smiled. Alex had picked the right song. Forever had now begun.
The End
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31