by Grosso, Kym
She nodded quietly. Instead of waiting for Dimitri to open the door, she pushed on the handle, but it slipped from her hands. She raised her eyes and her breath caught at the sight. Léopold. Before she could help herself, she’d placed her hand in his outstretched palm. God, he looked magnificent. If she hadn’t known he was a centuries-old vampire, she would have sworn he was a high fashion cover model.
Her gaze fell from his captivating black eyes to the hard lines of his jaw, eventually landing on his soft lips. Spellbound, she wondered briefly what it would feel like to touch them with her fingers, kiss them. Her face grew hot and she knew she’d looked for a second too long. Her eyes darted to his, and a broad smile broke across his face. He knew. Oh God, how could she let herself think for one second that fantasizing about a vampire was even close to a good idea? Hell, it wasn’t at all safe; she knew that as well as anyone.
But there was something about him that drew her to him. Like a comet hurling toward the sun, she let him pull her up out of the car, into his arms, and she quietly gasped as his lips brushed her cheek. She closed her eyes, pressing her hands to the fabric covering his chest. For a second she considered sliding her fingertips downward so she could feel the ridges of his abdomen. Enclosed within his wicked embrace, her world stopped, and she realized her life would never be the same.
Léopold knew he should’ve waited inside the house for Laryssa, but he’d felt her presence as soon as she’d arrived. It had nearly killed him to ask Dimitri to pick her up, but after his fiery reaction to her, he resisted the urge to see her. He’d met hundreds of beautiful women throughout the years, had sex with nearly as many, but he’d long protected his heart from love.
The insidious torment of his wife and children’s deaths had nearly killed him. It had ripped through his body and soul, breaking him down to a skeleton of a man. Truth be told, he would have welcomed the loss of his own life. Their violent murders left him questioning not only God but his own humanity. Ironically, his oath to protect his king and God had caused her demise, and yet it was what drove him to keep living afterward, leading to the ultimate death of his mortal life.
As a knight for King Capet, he’d been sworn into service, earning his place in the nobility. During the snowy winter of 988AD, he’d taken up arms in a Parisian skirmish targeted at the weakened king. He’d known the monarch held little power outside the boundaries of his domain, yet he’d held faith that the new leader would unite France. Gallantly he’d fought, successfully defending the king’s territory, only to find out that his own home had been a casualty of war.
Returning from the battlefield, he’d trod into his estate, discovering the aftermath of the attack. His family had been slain. Falling to his knees, he’d submitted to his grief, taking in the sight and smell of death. The blood-splattered floors. Their rotting bodies. The maggots and flies that had somehow managed, even in the cold heart of winter, to proliferate. Despite their decomposed states, he’d gathered his wife and children into his arms, screaming a cry of despair into the night.
The very next day, he’d rejoined his brotherhood in what was supposed to have been a celebration of their victory. Drinking himself into oblivion, he languished in his grief. The loss had stolen any sense of self-preservation. So when a fight had broken out at the inn, he readily threw himself into the brawl. Thirsting for death, he’d fought mercilessly and welcomed the final blow that struck him down. Dragged into the alleyway by a benevolent stranger, Léopold spent his last mortal moments lying on his back in the gritty rubble, crying aloud, the name of his wife and children on his lips. Quintus Tullius, a mercenary loyal to no king, had taken mercy on the young warrior that night, gifting him with immortality. Léopold, despite his wish to die, had been reborn. Vampire. Quintus had stayed until morn, only to inform Léopold that he’d been turned. For a sire he was not. While he’d saved Léopold from certain death, he had no desire to mentor another of his kind. Without regret, he’d left Léopold to fend on his own, never having contacted him again.
Over the centuries, Léopold had learned how to compartmentalize the pain, to shove it deep down, disassociating from the horrific nightmare. Most days, it was as if it hadn’t happened…until now. Deliberately, he’d avoided relationships, keeping acquaintances and other immortals at a distance. Saving Wynter had been the impetus for his reversal in fate. Watching Logan and Wynter, their love and commitment splayed open, had driven a wedge into his icy demeanor. Perhaps he should have let her die, but in the heat of the moment, he’d breathed life into her. Like dominos, his actions had triggered the memories of his past, leading him to Wyoming, continuing to help Wynter by finding her blood that could have been used to hurt the wolves.
He’d also grown entirely too close to Dimitri in the past few days. He cared. And caring was something Léopold generally didn’t do. Caring meant feelings. Feelings meant pain. Pain was something he delivered as punishment, not endured. The ancient warrior was far too battle hardened to go soft, yet that is what he feared had happened. Yet there was no undoing what he’d done, saving Wynter, befriending Dimitri. However small, the experiences had pierced his heart and mind, cleaving open a path to emotion. Now within just a week’s time, he’d saved a pup and become infatuated with a woman he barely knew.
Looking down at Laryssa, he couldn’t help but wonder if she’d felt the shiver of excitement that he’d tried to suppress. So wrong, but undeniable, he simply smiled at her. Shutting out the unsettling thoughts, he released her from his embrace.
“Laryssa.”
“Léopold.” Laryssa, shaking, looked down to her hands, which he firmly but gently held in his. Léopold’s voice wrapped around her like a blanket, calming her racing thoughts. It was as if she could feel his power connecting with her own, filtering it so that she’d relax. She shook her head disbelieving the warmth that ran through her body. There was no way he could touch her energy, let alone control it. She lifted her eyes to meet his, searching for answers that didn’t come.
“Ma chérie, don’t fret. It’ll be all right. You okay?” Léopold asked. Goddess, the woman charged him like no other. She hadn’t been lying about her energy. His fangs itched to pierce her creamy flesh, tasting her essence as he fucked her mercilessly. It was wrong, he knew. He had to leave her alone. If he didn’t, she’d only get under his skin further, driving him mad with emotions he swore he’d never feel again. As if he’d touched a hot pan, his hands fell from hers. The less he touched her the better, he thought.
“Um, yeah,” Laryssa stammered, embarrassed that she’d held onto him like a child. She wrung her hands together, confused that she’d felt a tinge of rejection at the loss of his touch. He must have thought she was either insecure or pathetically weak.
“Come this way,” he gestured toward the door. “I’m not sure if Dimitri told you but there’re quite a few people waiting to meet you.”
“But you said…you promised you wouldn’t tell anyone,” Laryssa sighed. She gazed into his eyes searching for the truth.
“I didn’t tell anyone else,” Léopold said with his hand on the sliding glass door.
“You told the wolf,” she countered. Did he think she was an idiot?
“Ah well, he doesn’t count. And the others? They only know that I’m bringing someone who’s helping me find information about Ava. They don’t know what you can do or what you are. But then again, you haven’t told me what you are, have you?” he challenged.
“Point taken. But why doesn’t Dimitri count?”
“He was at the club last night. He’s seen the video. So he’s in on your little secret. He just hasn’t had a personal demonstration like the one you gave me.” He smiled and raised an eyebrow at her, reminding her how she’d thrown the settee at him. What a fiery little thing, she is. “You’re ready now, no?”
“No. Yes. No. Ugh, look what you do to me.” She took a deep breath and then stilled as he leaned his head toward hers. What was he doing? Was he going to kiss her? She closed her ey
es as she felt his warm breath on her ear.
“And what do I do to you, mon petit lapin?” Léopold resisted the temptation to go any closer and waited for her response.
“You…you…” He was too close to her, much too close. She couldn’t think about anything but wanting to touch him, to sink her body into his.
“Oui?” Léopold smiled, thoroughly enjoying making her nervous, putting her on edge. But when he scented just a faint touch of her arousal, he regretted what he’d done. Slowly, he dragged himself away.
“You make me…I don’t know…I’m flustered. Please, Léopold, let’s just go in,” she said, both relieved and disappointed that he hadn’t kissed her.
Léopold turned to open the door and then stopped and faced her. He didn’t owe the woman anything, but he was nothing if not forthright. “They’re going to know.”
“What?”
“They’re going to know you’re supernatural. I don’t know what you did in the club to hide it, but you’re projecting. If I can feel your energy, well, they’ll know, too.”
She sighed and bit her lip. Oh Lord, he was right. Being around Dimitri and Léopold had made her drop her defenses. It just felt so good not to hide it, to go around concentrating on keeping the hum of her aura to an unnoticeable, human level. Anger surged through her as she thought about being dragged into this situation and she quickly realized that she wasn’t mad at Léopold. No, she was mad about being in danger, about being turned. The constant watching and concealing, she couldn’t take it anymore.
“I don’t care,” she stated, looking directly into his dark eyes. She hated to admit the truth of it, but there was something about him she trusted. Moreover, she wanted to trust, to finally have an ally. Why not go for broke? “I’m not ready to tell you everything about me, so I’m sure as hell not going to tell whoever’s behind that door. But I’m tired of hiding. And if you keep your word about my safety, then that’s good enough for me. So let’s do this thing, okay?”
“As the lady wishes.” Léopold smiled at her bravery. Even though her heartbeat revealed her fear, she intrepidly stepped forward.
The delicious scent of Jambalaya floated in the air as they walked into the kitchen. Instead of being attacked by fangs and wolves, smiles greeted them. Dimitri came in behind Laryssa and put his hand on her shoulder. He guided her over to the stove, where a petite lady with frizzy blonde hair busily stirred a pot.
“Hey, gorgeous,” Dimitri said, kissing the woman’s cheek. “Laryssa, this is Wynter, my Alpha’s mate. Where’s the big guy?”
“Hey, yourself. Logan’s touring the house with Kade. He’ll be out in a few.” Wynter dipped the spoon into the pan, lifted it and blew off the steam before tasting her creation. As she did so, she caught the look of surprise on Dimitri’s face.
“What?” Wynter asked. She suspected that he was worried about Logan allowing vampires in his home. “It’s all right. Sydney’s with him.”
“Okay,” Dimitri reluctantly agreed. Dimitri had heard that Kade Issacson kept his vampires on a tight leash and his fiancée, Sydney Willows, was a hard-nosed police detective, who’d recently transferred to the Big Easy.
“They’re double checking our security. You know…for the baby.” Wynter wiped her hands on her apron and smiled at Laryssa. “Welcome to our den. Sorry it’s a bit crazy in here, but we’ve got us an impromptu party going on. That little lady over there is the cause of the fuss. I know I should be upset with Léopold, but I just can’t be. Ava’s just so sweet. Like sugar.”
Laryssa looked into the family room and saw a couple cooing over a baby. Ava. The handsome man wrapped his arm around the red-headed woman, and they both made faces at the little girl then looked lovingly at each other. She couldn’t help but think that Dimitri and Léopold had overreacted in warning her about the vampires. They appeared happy and caring, a far cry from the bloodthirsty monsters she’d been expecting.
“She’s adorable,” Laryssa agreed, feeling drawn to the infant. Ava’s tiny energy pulsed like a siren. Overwhelmed with emotion, knowing another one of her kind actually existed, she took a deep breath.
“Can I get you something to drink? Wine? Water? Sweet tea?” Wynter offered, jarring Laryssa from her thoughts.
“Tea would be great. Thanks.” Laryssa, disoriented, dug her fingernails into her palms, trying to focus.
“Come,” Léopold told her as he took her hand in his. He could tell she’d been as captivated by Ava as he’d been. He guided her over to the baby, intent on introducing her to everyone. “Laryssa, this is Luca Macquarie.”
Laryssa nervously smiled. Luca nodded coldly and stood to greet her. She briefly shook his hand. His eyes were cold and dark, and she knew instantly that she’d been wrong about her initial impressions. Death lurked beneath this man’s skin. His aura swirled in red and purples, dominance and compassion sliced through the colors.
“And this,” Léopold approached the baby, but Luca moved to block him. Before he could protest, the woman stood with the baby and pushed in front of him.
“Hi, I’m Samantha. Please excuse my overprotective fiancé. He seems to think everyone is a danger, but he forgets that I can take care of myself.” Samantha smiled up at Laryssa, holding the baby.
Luca’s eyes softened and he put his arm around her. “Just taking care of you, darlin’. You can feel it, can’t you?”
“But of course I can. She’s very strong.” Samantha smiled at her, knowingly. “Come sit. Léopold told us that you may be able to help us protect her.”
Protect the baby? Laryssa tensed and glanced up at Léopold, who had perched himself above her, sitting comfortably on the arm of the sofa. His lips curled in approval, never taking his eyes off of her. Laryssa felt her heart begin to race. What was he thinking? He shouldn’t have faith in her. She hadn’t promised him a thing, only that she’d meet the child. Laryssa had barely succeeded in keeping herself hidden, safe. How the hell was she supposed to help them?
As if he’d read the impending dread stirring in her belly, he placed his hand on her shoulder. The tingle of his touch seared through the thin fabric of her sweater. A sense of calm settled over her, leaving her even more confused. What was he doing to her? She searched his eyes for understanding, but he merely looked away to Ava, who gurgled happily at her caregivers.
Laryssa wasn’t sure how much to disclose to Samantha. She seemed nice enough, but she suspected that she also wielded powers. Although Laryssa didn’t have great knowledge about supernaturals, she’d never heard of a vampire bearing children. Even if she could trust her, Laryssa wasn’t used to others discussing her energy. Anyone who’d known about her abilities had shunned her, afraid of what she could do. The strangers had no reason to trust her. She considered her options and decided to partially disclose why she was there.
“I don’t know if I can help.” She looked again to Léopold for reassurance, and he simply gave her shoulder a squeeze. It would have to be enough. “I felt her…I could feel her being born. And now…”
The baby squealed, and grabbed a pacifier from Samantha’s hands.
“That’s right, sweetie. See? She feels you, too.”
“May I suggest that we get to the bottom line? What are you, Laryssa? And why would anyone want to harm this baby?” Luca asked. He and Léopold had never seen eye to eye, and he grew annoyed that Léopold had involved vampires in wolf business by bringing Ava to New Orleans, putting them all in danger.
Like an insect pinned to a mounting board, Laryssa struggled silently, her thoughts flailing in distress. Revealing herself was not part of her bargain with Léopold. She reached inside herself for the diplomatic words that would both cease this line of questioning and appease the vampire’s curiosity.
“Léopold asked me to come here to meet the child, to see if we connected. Do I know who tried to kill her? No. I have no direct knowledge of who did this. In fact, I literally just met Léopold last night.” It was the truth. Sure, she had her suspicions. B
ut that was all she had. There was no hard evidence of anything.
“Why is she here, Devereoux?” Luca demanded. He remained seated but his brow furrowed; he looked like a caged animal ready to attack.
“She’s here because I asked…” Léopold began, but was interrupted by Laryssa.
“I’m here because unlike you, I can feel her. And when I say feel, I mean she’s putting out energy.”
“So what? All humans do that. Or wolves in this case,” Luca countered.
Léopold watched intently, altogether peeved at the insolent vampire who challenged him, but his anger was tempered by the way his little rabbit had turned into a tigress, not just defending herself but him as well.
“It’s not just some kind of heartbeat or pulse or anything like that. It’s pure, clean energy. The kind that electrifies the night sky and can move objects. I don’t know you very well, so I don’t plan on sharing my life story with you, but suffice to say, there’s a chance Ava’s like me.”
“What exactly are you?”
“Don’t you mind what I am. You aren’t here to protect me. You’re here because of Ava. I’ll do what I can to help but make no mistake, the only reason I’m helping is because Léopold asked me and I’m doing it for Ava.”
Laryssa realized she’d raised her voice at Luca. Silence cut through the room like a knife and her face heated as she became aware that everyone was staring at her. She caught Dimitri’s eyes and he began laughing. What the hell was so funny? She took note that Léopold wasn’t laughing, but he was smiling.
“Luca, dear. Leave poor Laryssa alone,” Samantha said sweetly but firmly. Still cradling the baby with one arm, she cupped his cheek. “You’ll catch more flies with honey. Be nice. We just met Léopold’s friend, and you’re giving her the third degree. I can tell she isn’t a danger. And she’s right about the little one. Ya’ll may not be able to feel it. But I can. She’s very special. Little Ava here, is humming her own tune.”