by Jaye Wells
Taking a deep breath, I admitted to myself that while Callum might be an asshole, no one else was in on his plan. Sydney really was my friend. Kira believed I was a better person. Jorge and Geraldine had accepted me. Miranda always was and always would be my best friend. Even Logan and Alaric had begun treating me with a sort of grudging respect.
I’d learned that there’s more to life than paying my father back for my shitty life, most of which wasn’t his fault at all. I’d chosen to rebel. I’d chosen to be selfish and myopic.
Perhaps, in some weird way Callum had done me a favor by leading me on. He’d distracted me from my self-pity long enough to learn that the life I’d been leading wasn’t really a life at all. I’d been so stuck in the past I had no clue what I really wanted.
Shaking my head, I realized I still didn’t know what I wanted. But I knew this—I could never go back to living my life in the dark. It was time for me to put the past where it belonged and move on. I was a little bit wiser and a lot more heartbroken, but better overall.
Slouched in the seat, I decided what I needed right then was a smoke. Yes, a good dose of nicotine to help clear the cobwebs and help me relax. I reached into my purse and pulled out the pack. One left.
Punching the car’s lighter, I realized that the lone cigarette was the last from the pack I’d brought with me to Raleigh. Frowning, I tried to remember how long had it been since I’d had one. It had to have been weeks. How odd, I thought.
The lighter clicked, signaling it was ready. I held the metal to the cig’s tip, puffing on it until it glowed red. Taking a long pull, I inhaled the smoke.
Immediately, I began gagging and coughing. The damned thing tasted like ass. Quickly opening the window, I threw the blasted thing outside.
Imagine that, I thought, as the last of the coughs subsided. I’d gone so long without a cigarette that I’d lost my taste for them. It looked like I’d changed more than I thought.
Glancing at the clock, I realized I’d been sitting on the side of the road for half an hour. Sydney would be wondering where I was by now.
It was decision time. Did I go fulfill my promise to my friend, even if I had to swallow my pride and face Callum and my father?
Or did I run?
In the end, there really was no choice. I couldn’t disappoint Syd just because I had some personal problems. I would pretend everything was okay while avoiding Callum as much as possible. If I could get through the next few hours, I’d finally be able to get away long enough to make some real decisions about my future.
Throwing the car in gear, I checked the road for cars before pulling out. As I drove, I pulled Miranda’s cell phone from the console. It was time to call the minions.
Chapter Twenty-One
Throughout the ceremony that evening, I kept stealing glimpses at Callum despite my better judgment. A few times I caught him looking at me, too. Each time, I snapped my eyes back where they belonged, horrified at my behavior.
Before I knew it, Logan grabbed Sydney and kissed her passionately, eliciting cheers from the guests. Laughing, they pulled apart and went down the aisle hand in hand, accompanied by a bagpipe playing a happy tune.
That’s when I realized I would have to walk out with Callum. He was already moving toward me. I inched forward, reluctant but not wanting to cause a scene. When we met in the middle, he held out his arm. Ignoring it, I marched forward with a smile pasted on my face, not caring if he kept up or not. Just behind me, he muttered under his breath about stubborn females.
We reached the foyer and continued to the study where we had been told to go for pictures. Sydney and Logan were already there, locked in a toe-curling kiss. I stopped just inside the room, forcing Callum to bump into my back. I jerked forward, my bouquet flying through the air to land with a thump in the corner.
Callum grabbed my arm to keep me from falling.
“Gabby! Are you okay?” he asked, swinging me around.
The newlyweds didn’t seem to notice the ruckus.
“Dammit, Callum, watch where you’re going,” I said, venting my frustration.
He sighed. “I’m sorry. Listen,” he said, moving closer, “we need to talk about what happened this afternoon.”
Alaric and Miranda strolled into the room, saving me from having to respond. I scooted away from Callum to go stand next to Miranda.
“Whoa, you guys, get a room,” Alaric said.
Syd and Logan, who had finally came up for air, looked surprised to see us.
Logan frowned as if annoyed by our presence, but Sydney couldn’t have looked happier.
“We’re married!” she said, hugging her husband.
We all laughed and went to take turns congratulating the newlyweds. Soon, though, Jorge burst into the room with the photographer.
“Listen up, people,” he said, clapping his hands for attention. “We’ve got fifteen minutes for photos while the guests enjoy cocktails.”
True to his word, fifteen minutes later, after barking orders and lining us up in different groupings for the shots, Jorge pushed us out of the study to go mingle with the guests.
I was walking out with Miranda when Callum stopped me.
“We need to talk,” Callum said, pulling me back toward the study.
“Callum, we don’t have time. They’re about to do the first dance,” I said desperately.
Miranda grabbed my other arm. She didn’t know that Callum was a lying ass since I hadn’t told her, but she’d interpreted my pleading look correctly.
“She’s right. You two can talk later,” she said, playing tug of war—with me as the rope.
“They won’t miss us,” he insisted, giving an extra strong yank.
“Ouch! Stop it, you guys,” I said, wrenching my arms back from both of them.
Turning to face him, I said, “Callum, now is not the time.”
His eyes narrowed. “Fine, we’ll go do our duties as the wedding party. Meet me in two hours back in the study.”
“They’ll be cutting the cake then,” Miranda said.
I smiled at her, grateful for the help.
“Yeah,” I said.
“Gabriella, you meet me in two hours, or I will come find you and drag you away in front of everyone.”
I gasped. “You wouldn’t dare.”
He crossed his arms, looking deadly serious. “Wanna try me?”
I threw my hands in the air, frustrated by his caveman attitude. “Fine.”
He looked shocked by my acquiescence, but what he didn’t know was that in an hour the minion rescue squad would be picking me up.
“Fine,” he said. With that he walked past us on his way to the party.
A large tent had been rented for the reception and set up in Logan’s back yard. The path leading to the tent was lined with luminarias—white paper bags with votive candles inside. Overhead, trellises had been set up with twinkling white lights creating a magical quality to the chilly night.
The interior of the tent was a winter wonderland. On either side of the entrance were large pots filled with white tree branches draped with glittering crystal ornaments. Large silver and crystal snowflakes hung from the tent’s draped ceiling. The tables were covered in snowy linens with silver and white candle centerpieces.
At one end, an elaborate buffet had been set up surrounding a huge snowflake ice sculpture. On the other end of the tent, a large dance floor was set up in front of a stage, which held the band.
As we watched Logan and Sydney dance, I felt a mixture of happiness for them and pity for myself. Callum stood across the dance floor next to his mother, scowling as he watched the couple. For an asshole, he looked pretty dashing in his kilt. Made of the Murdoch plaid, the kilt was also worn by Logan and Alaric—but it looked best on Callum. My conscience cried foul at the thought, reminding me he was nothing but a manipulator.
The song soon ended, and other couples went to join Mr. and Mrs. Murdoch on the dance floor. Alaric came and claimed Miranda as his partner.
She smiled and shrugged at me as she took his hand.
Turning, I went to find someone to talk to. Geraldine was standing near the bar, which was also made of ice.
“Wow.” I surveyed the frozen masterpiece with Logan’s and Sydney’s monogram carved into the front.
“I know, amazing isn’t it?” she said. “Need a drink?”
I nodded, and we both turned to order from the bartender.
“You and Jorge did an amazing job,” I said, taking a sip of my martini.
“Thanks. I hope Syd and Logan like it.”
“How could they not?” I asked, motioning to the magical atmosphere. “It’s like a fairy tale.”
She chuckled. “You surprise me.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“Look at you. You’re standing there sipping a martini with a mortal, and I haven’t heard one complaint from you all night.”
Taking another sip, I thought about what she said. “I guess I was kind of a bitch to you, huh?”
Without hesitation, she nodded. “Honey, you were a bitch to everyone.”
I flinched, realizing the truth of her words.
“I’m sorry,” I said, meaning it.
“Don’t apologize. Seeing you try to become a better person is enough. I’m proud of you.”
The corner of my mouth lifted, recognizing the irony of what I was about to say.
“You know, I never thought that I’d say this, but you’re pretty cool . . . for a mortal.”
She laughed. “You’re pretty cool too . . . for a bitch.”
We were chatting about her and Jorge’s plan to expand their business into party planning when I felt a tap on my shoulder.
My smile wilted when I saw my father standing to my left.
“Gabriella, I must speak to you.”
Grimacing, I excused myself from Geraldine. I crossed my arms and prepared to give him a piece of my mind. He was still on my shit list for that afternoon.
“Yes?”
He took my arm and led me toward the entrance of the tent.
“In private,” he said, heading toward the house.
Not wanting to make a scene, I allowed him to lead me inside the house to the study.
“Father, if you have something to say to me, you could have said it outside.”
His jaw clenched. “And risk you throwing a tantrum? I think not.”
“Listen, I have had enough of this,” I said, placing my hands on my hips. “I am not a child. If you want to talk to me, you’d better show me a little respect.”
He snorted and shook his head.
“Fine, we’ll play this your way,” he said, sounding bored. “Your behavior this afternoon makes me wonder how much you actually have changed.”
My mouth gaped open.
“My behavior? Mine?” I said. “You know what? I don’t get you. I have spent the last three months working my ass off. And do you tell me you’re proud of me? No. You tell me that the man I love has been using sex to manipulate me. How exactly did you expect me to react?”
“Perhaps I could have been a tad more sensitive with my wording, but the fact remains the same. You may think I’m callous, but I honestly thought I was helping you. Just as sending you here was my way of helping you.”
I actually sputtered with outrage. “You’re insane.”
“Let’s not forget I still have not given my official verdict about your rehabilitation.”
“Is that a threat?”
He shrugged. “It’s simply a fact. I have no guarantees you won’t revert back to your troublemaking tomorrow or next year or a decade from now.”
“You know what? You can go fuck yourself. I am sick and tired of this war between us. If you can’t accept me for who I am and love me simply because I am your own flesh and blood, then I want nothing to do with you. As for worrying about me starting my subversive activities again, don’t bother. I’ve realized that all of that was some twisted attempt on my part to earn your love. But you know what? I’m done.”
“My love? What do think all of this has been? Why do you think I still bother to try to change you?”
Bitter laughter flew from my mouth before I could stop it.
“If this is the way you love someone, I’d hate to see what you do to your enemies. I am through being the whipping boy because of what happened to mother.”
His cheeks flushed angry red, and his eyes practically glowed with anger.
Good. It was time to lay everything on the table.
“You think I don’t know that she is what this is all about?” I said. “Please. I don’t know if it’s guilt on your part or if you truly blame me for what happened to her, but it doesn’t matter. You can send me to Norway, or you can lock me up, but it won’t bring her back.”
Jaw clenched, he looked about ready to slap me.
“You have crossed the line. Get out of my sight.” His voice was deadly calm, dripping with ice.
“Fine,” I said, turning to the door.
“One more thing,” he said quietly. “Watch yourself. One false move and you’ll earn yourself a two-hundred-year vacation.”
“Whatever,” I said, throwing my hair over my shoulder and stalking out.
His warning echoed in my head, but I couldn’t have cared less. Soon, I’d be free. My father would probably hunt me down. But he could rot for all I cared at that moment.
“There you are,” Callum said, entering the room. “I was looking for you.”
My heart stopped beating for a moment. I had really hoped to avoid him until Freddie picked me up.
“Here I am,” I said lamely, too shocked at seeing him to think straight.
“Let’s go into the study so we can talk,” he said, taking my arm.
I started to tell him I couldn’t talk when the doorbell rang.
“Hold that thought,” Callum said. “I’ll just see who that is.”
I turned to watch him, and the grandfather clock caught my eye. Quarter after eight.
Holy shit!
Callum was already reaching for the doorknob.
“Callum, wait!”
But it was too late. He had already pulled the door open. From my vantage point, I couldn’t see who was on the other side. But I knew.
Running to the door, I heard Callum say, “Can I help you?”
I reached him just in time to see and hear Freddie, say, “I’m here for Mistress Raven.”
Callum’s head swiveled to me so fast I’m surprised it didn’t fly off his neck.
“Raven? Do you know this guy?”
Freddie stood on the porch wearing ratty jeans and a Marilyn Manson T-shirt. His hair looked as if it hadn’t seen a comb in weeks. At seventeen, he was one of my youngest minions. But he was loyal and available to pick me up.
Casting a sideways glance at Callum, who was frowning, I moved forward, trying to block Freddie from his gaze.
“I told you to wait in the car,” I whispered.
“I did. But when you didn’t show up, I figured I’d come see if you needed backup with your escape,” he said, trying to peek around me.
I gritted my teeth. “Your idea of backup is ringing the freaking door bell?”
He started to talk, but I waved a hand.
“Never mind. Go back to the car, I’ll be there in a minute,” I said, starting to close the door.
“What if he tries to stop you from escaping?” Freddie said, stepping forward before I could close him out. “You might need my help.”
Right, because a scrawny teen like Freddie stood a chance against Callum—a three-hundred-year-old vampire. Idiot.
“Raven? Might I have a word with you?” Callum said from behind me, his voice sounding overly polite.
Looking over my shoulder, I cringed at the leashed anger on his face.
“Callum, I—” I began.
Behind me, I heard Freddie walk in and close the door.
“No explanation needed,” Callum said, cutting me off. “It’s qu
ite obvious you’re running away.”
The indignation on his face made me see red. It reminded me that this man was full of shit and could not be trusted. He didn’t care about me. He just didn’t want me to leave because he might lose his precious seat on the council.
“I’m not running away, Callum,” I said, my anger rising. “I’m getting the hell away from you and your lies.”
He frowned. “What lies?”
“Don’t play dumb with me, asshole,” I said loudly. “My father—"
Realizing I had been about to lose it, I sucked it all down and wadded it up into a tiny ball of pain in my gut. A deep breath helped me regain control.
Callum’s eyes narrowed. “What about your father?”
“Never mind,” I said. “I’m leaving, all right? That’s all you need to know.”
“Why?” The one word shot out like a bullet.
“Like you don’t already know,” I said.
“Gabby, don’t do this. Don’t run away because you’re scared. I don’t know what set you off, but I think you need to calm down so we can discuss this. You’re way too emotional to act rationally right now.”
White hot anger exploded in my head at his patronizing tone.
“Emotional? Emotional!” I sputtered, stalking toward him.
He held his hands up to ward me off. “Okay, maybe emotional was the wrong word. I meant you’re upset.”
I stopped in my tracks. “You’re wrong. I’m not upset. I’m just done, Callum.”
“Listen, dude,” Freddie interjected, “is this going to take long? My mom only lets me have the car out until ten.”
“No, dude,” Callum said, looking at me, his eyes suddenly hard. “She just needs to get her purse and then she can scamper off.”
The glare I sent him would have turned a lesser man to stone.
“I must have been high to sleep with you!”
“Whoa! You slept with him? Talk about sleeping with the enemy, Mistress Raven,” Freddie said, watching the exchange with rapt attention.
“Shut. Up,” I said, glaring at my mouthy minion. Callum talked again before I could continue.
“This is rich,” he said scraping his fingers through his hair. “You know what I think? I think you knew I was going to tell you I’d fallen in love with you. And you’re so scared of trusting anyone you’d rather be alone than face it.”