Coming Together

by Brandy L Rivers

  “You could go to Tiana,” Eddie offered with a shrug.

  “I’m not leaving. And I blame her as much as myself. I should have questioned more. She should have told me his story.”

  “Worrying about what you can’t change is pointless. You’re welcome to use my room. I’ll grab a few things, and be in with Jackie.”

  * * * *

  Eddie stepped into his room and sighed. Relocating to Jackie’s space was the better choice. Easier to move on without the reminders of his time with Kim.

  Dialing, he walked to the window. He stared at the street like so many times before. A smile pulled at his lips, because now he no longer wished Jackie was his.

  Toryn answered on the first ring. “Hey, Eddie. Everything okay? I heard about Jackie being taken from Charlene’s.”

  “Yeah, she’s okay. I need a favor though. Or, I guess, I need to hire you all?”

  “Wards?”

  “Yeah. Jackie, Brent, and I are going camping again. Keep her away from Stefano and the Shadowstalkers. I’d like your help making sure she stays safe. Can you all work your magic, ward the campsite and area around it?”

  “You could use Isa’s cabin,” he offered.

  “Thanks, but we’d rather camp. It’s our place. When life sucks, we go there and find our happy again.”

  “How about after practice?”

  “Thank you, man. Tell me what I owe you.”

  “Nah, this is what friends are for.”

  “Toryn, seriously, thanks for everything.” Hanging up, he grabbed a stack of clothes and took them to Jackie’s room.

  She sat on the window bench, hugging her knees.

  “Hey, do I need to wipe out the memories again?”

  She shook her head, but didn’t look back. “Maybe later.”

  “Want to talk?”

  “No, but you could hold me.”

  “Of course.” He dropped the clothes on her dresser and moved across the room to scoop her into his arms.

  Chapter 31

  Sidra dragged the unconscious mage to Clive, whose head lay at an unnatural angle. She straightened his neck, and slashed the mage’s arm, before placing it at his open mouth. The blood poured and he gulped.

  One pop after another joined the gushing of blood. Clive’s hand came up to grip the small wrist as he took long draws on the gash. Her chest stilled with her last breath.

  Pushing the corpse aside, she knelt beside Clive. “Can you sit?”

  He did, and pulled her into his lap, crushing her lips in a kiss. When he broke away, he pressed his forehead to hers. “You brought me back. I was sure you’d be finished with me by now.”

  “No, my pet. You can’t control what others do. That bitch will die by our hands. We’re finally ready to use our secret weapon. The estate has been prepared, but we don’t have much time to get there before sunrise.”

  “Then we should go now. You promised me time in the dungeon, and I’m looking forward to serving your every whim.”

  She stood and took his hand. The estate sat outside of Seattle. Far enough into the woods, and away from neighbors, that they could torture whomever they chose for hours. No one would be the wiser.

  Their secret weapon had been locked in a basement cage, several doors down from their bedroom. With a dungeon on the same level, she would have access to all her favorite toys.

  After watching her loyal cohort nearly die, she had new plans for Stefano. He could not be trained, and thus would die. And no, Stefano was not the one who harmed Clive, but his obsession led them down the path. She planned to take great pleasure in destroying every single one of them now.

  She led Clive up through a trapdoor, and out a closed shop in Pioneer Square, before taking him to the car she’d acquired while looking for his dinner.

  Neither said a word during the drive. His knee bounced restlessly as his eyes travelled back and forth, searching, but never meeting her gaze.

  Sidra turned to him when she pulled in the driveway. “Ask, whatever is on your mind.”

  “Do you still crave Stefano?”

  “No. He’ll pay for being such a fool. He wants Jackie because she looks like Eloise. They deserve each other.”

  “They’ll destroy one another,” Clive said with a cold smile. “What about Jackie?”

  “Because of her, you were nearly taken from me. She needs to die. If Stefano or the revenant doesn’t kill her, we will. Once we release her, we’ll watch to see what the crazed vampire does.”

  “There is one positive,” Clive purred.

  “That is?”

  “You’re finally looking at me the way I’ve always craved.”

  “I’ve realized everything I wanted, you possess.” Anything and everything she’d ever required of Clive, he provided without question. Never again would she take him for granted. “Let’s check on our guest before I have my way with you.”

  He grinned before slipping from the car.

  The house was a sprawling three-bedroom home by outward appearances, sitting on five acres of land. The basement stretched out twice as far as the perimeter of the house. The property had been bought from a dark mage, who moved to another country when the Silver Council came too close to finding him.

  Sidra led Clive through the house, and down the hidden staircase. An underground hallway stretched out before them.

  Stopping at the last door, she turned back with a cruel smile. “Shall we?”

  Clive took a slow breath. “I’m not going near her.”

  Sidra couldn’t help the smirk. This victim had barely survived the change, and came out twisted. A revenant—a vampire whose sanity didn’t make it through the change intact. Her tragic story made her the perfect weapon against Jackie and Stefano.

  She pushed the door open and Eloise flew at the cage wall. The bars had been enchanted to prevent her from shadowmelding and escaping.

  Eloise dug at the metal with dangerous claws. Her long blond curls had matted, thick tangles. Blood stained the frayed hem of her dress. “I can sense him. Where is he!” she shrieked.

  Sidra smiled cruelly. “He’s replaced you with your lookalike. A whore. She’s tainted him.”

  “I’ll kill her, then punish him. I’ll make him love me again.”

  “You will. We’ve brought you a meal. You’ll require strength to hunt.”

  Sidra left the room briefly, and dragged back a fae under heavy sleep enthrallment. She threw him in the cage quickly, and slammed the door shut, before her weapon could think of escape.

  Eloise dove on him, sinking her fangs into his throat as she slurped.

  “Come,” Sidra murmured in Clive’s ear.

  “What did you have in mind?” Clive purred.

  She pushed him into their room and toward the bed. “Time to reconnect.” She ripped his shirt off and dragged one sharpened nail down his chest to lap at his blood.

  * * * *

  Jackie sat up heaving breath after breath. The dream started the way the night had begun, but didn’t end with Jared pulling Clive off her. No, Clive took things much further.

  Eddie pulled her down beside him, and combed her hair back from her face. “Nightmare?”

  Tears filled her eyes. “Don’t want to think about it.”

  “Jackie, you can’t bottle the fear up. You need to get it out.” He caressed her cheek and stared into her eyes. “I’m here for you. You can tell me anything.”

  A soft cry escaped. “You saw what he did. Only it didn’t stop there.” She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to roll away, but Eddie banded his arm around her back, holding her in his embrace. “I can’t,” she whispered.

  He tipped her face up and kissed her tears away. “I’m sorry it happened at all.”

  “Not your fault.”

  “I should have followed you back.”

  “They would have killed you, or taken you and done worse.”

  “Jackie, it’s not your fault.”

  “Didn’t say it was, but I can’t wi
pe out the memory of his glowing red eyes. After he was done drinking from me... I saw what he wanted. Even worse than when Stefano drank. He would have…” She buried her head against his chest and he pulled her tight. “Why?” she whispered.

  “Because Sidra’s obsessed with Stefano. She wanted to use you to break him.” Eddie rubbed his hand up and down her arm.

  “I couldn’t fight. I couldn’t get free. I couldn’t even think, I was so damned scared.”

  “Shh. Jared stopped him. That fucker may have messed up, but he clearly wants to make amends. If he hadn’t been in there…” He shuddered.

  Nodding, she scooted closer, trying to block it all out. Her body quaked at the memories that plagued her.

  “I can’t shut last night out of my head.”

  “Look at me. Please.”

  She managed to lift her head and open her eyes. “What if Stefano’s right? What if I can’t protect myself? What if they get me again?”

  “We aren’t going to let that happen. That’s why we’re going camping. Toryn and the guys are coming out to protect our area with wards.”

  “They are good to you.”

  “To you too. They don’t want anything to happen to you.”

  “Because of their friendship with you,” she countered.

  He shrugged. “Because of you.”

  “If you say so.”

  Eddie kissed her forehead and changed the subject. “First, I want to get you out of the house—have you do something fun.” He ducked his gaze, looking away. “That is, if you want. The guys planned to practice. We have a show next weekend, if everything is settled.”

  Warmth infused her. “Why wouldn’t I want to watch you play? I love seeing you perform.” A smile twitched her lips. “All that raw power, the beat running through your system. Sweat dripping down muscle. Your hair flying.” She shifted her legs together, squirming to relieve the ache as she pictured him at the last show.

  He closed his eyes and breathed deep. “Dear spirits, you smell incredible. You’re going to kill me.”

  “Then make love to me.”

  He sighed. “You can’t push away the memory forever. You’re going to have to talk at some point.”

  “Later. When I’m not naked, in bed with you, craving your love more than my next breath.”

  He rolled on top of her, spreading her legs with his knees. “I want to taste you first.”

  “As long as you love me, I’ll give you anything.”

  “Always loved you, Jackie. Always will.”

  “Love you more.”

  “Don’t think that’s possible,” he teased, crawling down her body, his silken hair tickling her skin.

  * * * *

  After joining Jackie for the shortest shower of his life, and leaving before she could seduce him again, Eddie stepped into the kitchen and found Brent at the coffee pot.

  Brent’s brow arched. “For as much boinking as you two are doing, there’s no reason for the expression on your face.”

  “She’s not okay. She wants to be, but she’s not. Jackie keeps turning to sex. She woke up freaking out, stuck in the memory, and horror at what could’ve happened.”

  “Considering what that fucker nearly did, can you blame her?”

  “No, but pushing it away isn’t going to solve anything. She needs to talk to someone.”

  Brent nodded. “She won’t talk until she’s ready though. You know how she is. We can try to coax it out of her while we’re camping, but there is no way to force the conversation.”

  “We have to do something. She asked if Stefano was right. I fucking want to kill that bastard for shaking her confidence.”

  “You’ll help her get it back.”

  “I hope so.”

  “You going to practice today?”

  Eddie nodded. “I talked to Toryn. We’re planning to.” A grin spread on his face. “Apparently, Jackie likes me sweaty and half-naked, banging on the drums.”

  “Don’t want to know!” Brent filled his cup and looked over his shoulder. “You two go to practice, then we should head straight to the campsite. That work?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I’ll get everything ready. Most of it’s still loaded in the car from our last trip. Text when you’re ready for me to pick you up.”

  “Will do.” Eddie promised.

  * * * *

  Jackie chewed on her lip while she watched Eddie setting up. She had to smile when he pulled his shirt off and took a seat with a wink her way.

  “You two are finally together?” Isa asked from beside her.

  She nodded, unable to pull her gaze away when he smiled like that.

  “‘Bout time. I’ve been wondering how long you two could keep pretending the other wasn’t your whole world. By the way, you failed, miserably.”

  A laugh bubbled up as she looked over with wide eyes. “Did not.”

  She nodded. “Both of you. Failed. Hard.”

  “I never realized he cared for me that way,” she admitted. “He consistently had another woman.”

  Isa nodded. “Yeah, well there were nights I competed with Toryn for another man’s attention, to get my mind off him. At least you didn’t have that issue.”

  One corner of Jackie’s mouth jerked up. “Oh, I like girls too. That’s come up a time or two.”

  Isa’s eyes widened. “Didn’t know that.”

  “Gave a go at a relationship with Skylar. Only she knew where my heart was, so that didn’t last long.”

  “Skylar? But she’s so cute with Tyler.”

  “Yeah, and she was in love with him at the time.”

  Isa sighed and they both moved to the music. In the lull between, she asked, “About your situation, how are you holding up?”

  Jackie groaned. “Seriously, I’m fine. Eddie wipes it all away.”

  Isa didn’t comment, but there was some unreadable emotion on her face.

  “Really, Isa. I’ll talk when I’m ready. But I’m fine.”

  “Closing everyone out won’t help anyone, especially not you.”

  “I won’t.” But the truth was, she didn’t have anyone to talk to. Eddie would get mad. Not at her, but Clive and Stefano, leaving her feeling like shit. Brent would blame himself. Isa took care of crap without any problem. And Skylar didn’t have a clue about their world. She could talk to Mike, but he was usually busy, and this wasn’t something he could relate to.

  Jackie pushed all thought away and settled in to watch Eddie. She wanted to lick the sweat from his body. He made a much better focus than her fucked up head.

  Chapter 32

  “And the wards will stretch to the lake?” Jackie asked.

  Scotty nodded. “Does water help relax your nerves?”

  “Usually.” She sighed. Nothing much relaxed them lately, other than Eddie. But he wanted her to talk instead of loving away the memories.

  Toryn nodded, a wry grin swept across his lips. “We’ll make sure they stretch far enough you can swim.”

  “Thank you.”

  Eddie came up from behind and nuzzled her neck. “Relax. They’re here to ensure we’re safe tonight.”

  She turned her head to kiss his mouth softly, then stepped away.

  “Hey, Eddie, give me a hand with this,” Brent called.

  He shot Brent a dirty look before moving to help.

  With everyone distracted, Jackie walked the trail down to the water, hoping to clear her mind. It was tempting to slide into the lake and not think, but Eddie had a point. She needed to deal with the shit rolling around in her head.

  She sat on a boulder, pulling her shoes and socks off to dip her feet.

  “Hey,” Scotty greeted.

  Her eyes squeezed shut, fighting back a frustrated tear. “Hey.”

  “Want to talk?”

  “No.”

  “I get it. But honestly, it helps. I’ve been there.”

  She shook her head. “I really doubt you were chained from the ceiling and molested, nearly raped.�
�

  “Worse. I was hung from the ceiling, then raped. Too many times to count. I’ve been there, Jackie. The shame, the fear, rage, they eat at you if you don’t get the emotions out. If you can’t tell Eddie, you’ve got to talk to someone.”

  “Don’t want to think about it.”

  “Can you honestly not?”

  She shook her head.

  “Talk to me. Please. Let me help.”

  “Yeah.” She sniffled.

  He moved next to her and put his feet in the water too. “That’s cold.” Scotty shivered.

  She shrugged. “I grew up jumping in when it was colder than this.” A soft laugh escaped.

  “Happy memories?”

  She smiled. “Very. Eddie and I spent so many summers here. His parents knew we wouldn’t get into trouble in the woods. We came here to get away, be stupid kids, and talk about everything.”

  “Except about what you felt for him.”

  “We grew up together, Scotty. His parents treated me as if I were theirs. Most people considered us brother and sister. It stuck in my head. I mean, I never felt that way, but I knew what others expected.”

  “Sometimes people recognize love early.”

  “Yeah. He was always my other half.”

  “I knew the second I laid eyes on Jayde, she was the one.”

  “Why’d you take so long to find her again?”

  He drew a deep breath. “Saressa. She tore us apart, but she didn’t win. When Saressa realized I could never truly love her, she tried to destroy me. Let her siren do whatever they wanted to me.”

  Her eyes rounded as she turned toward him. “Do you hate me?”

  His brow pinched. “For what?”

  “I’m a siren.”

  “Do you hate all vampires based on what Clive tried to do to you?”

  She shook her head.

  “Exactly. I can’t imagine you ever forcing your will on someone. You’re a kind soul. They wanted to impress their master, and earn her reward.”