“What are you talking about? I’m going back to work tomorrow.”
“Oh, I just thought that since you two….well never mind. It’s none of my business anyway.”
“Keelie, what are you talking about? Why wouldn’t I go back to work?”
“Well, with someone like Angel, I don’t see why you would want to. He’s rich, and he would give you anything you want. Since you’re mated, I don’t see why you would want to wait on people when they should be waiting on you.”
“Mated?” Brea asked incredulously.
“Yeah, you know, he bites you, you drink from him, you get to live forever…mated.”
“He didn’t bite me.”
“Oh my,” Keelie said, looking more than a little worried.
“What are you not telling me?” Brea demanded.
“I think you need to talk to Angel. He should be the one to explain it.”
“I’m asking you, and you are going to tell me. Now.”
Keelie hesitated. “You drank from him, right? About the time he was coming?”
“Yeah, so?”
“So, he gave you more than a night of great sex. He gave himself to you.”
“I don’t understand.” Brea admitted.
“I’m no vampire, so I probably don’t have all my facts straight. But this is what I have been told: when a vampire finds his mate, he feeds from her while she is climaxing. The mate gives herself to him and she will forever belong to him. If he allows the woman to drink from him, the same is true. A true mating will leave a mark on both parties, a mark that looks like a tattoo.”
“So, Angel mated with me?”
“Yes.”
“So, what does that mean for him?”
“Since he didn’t mark you, I’m not sure. I know that once a vampire mates, it is for life. There will never be anyone else for him. Not for blood, not for love. He belongs to you and you alone. From what I understand, mated vampires only feed from their mates.”
“Will he starve then, if I don’t let him bite me?”
“It would take a very long time to starve a vampire. Like I said, you need to talk to him.”
“Oh, I plan to. I might just knock some sense into him while I’m at it.” Brea mumbled under her breath. How could he be so stupid? Why didn’t he tell her? A part of Brea wanted to jump up and down with joy. Wasn’t that what she had wanted? A man to love her more than life itself? He must love her very much to give himself to her, but why hadn’t he told her? Now, she felt obligated to him, and that wasn’t what she wanted. It had been selfish and presumptuous of him to take that kind of step without knowing how she felt about it. She would have to let him feed from her. Brea had all but decided to let him anyway, but now she felt like the choice had been taken away from her. She wanted to march downstairs and give him a stern talking to, but there were other things going on that took precedence over her anger. But he would tell her, Brea decided. Tonight. She would make sure of it.
TWENTY ONE
Brea sat at the end of the bar, slowly nursing a margarita. The guests were pouring into the great hall in a steady stream. Brea had expected mostly vampires, but she was pleasantly surprised by the number of humans in attendance as well. She had expected a vampire from every state, but she learned that some clans spread over a couple of states. Brea silently enjoyed the praise Angel received on the decorations and the theme. She had done her job well. Now, all she had left to do was see that the night went over without a hitch.
Angel was ever the gracious host; greeting each guest with a handshake or a kiss on the back of the hand. Brea had hardly been able to get in a single sentence with him, much less a conversation. If she didn’t know better, she would have thought he was avoiding her.
Keelie was dancing with Brandon on the newly laid dance floor. It had been surprisingly easy to bring in the wood panels and lay them down. The lighting was just right, as Brea had hoped. The chandelier was glowing from the center of the ceiling, and the candles on each table cast shadows in the right places. Vampires and humans alike were drinking and talking, having a good time. Brea sighed a content sigh. She had done her job well.
“This is fantastic,” a woman to her right said.
“Thank you,” Brea answered.
“Angel says you planned this all out. Are you a professional party planner?”
“No,” Brea replied. The woman was definitely vampire, she noticed. Her blonde hair rolled down her back in waves, her eyes were the clearest blue, and she had fangs. “I’m not sure what possessed Angel to hire me.”
“Well, then perhaps you should consider the possibility. I am having a get together in a few months. If you are interested, I think I would like for you to plan it for me. I would pay whatever the cost.”
“I have worked on this party almost around the clock,” Brea told her. “I don’t know if I want to go through all this again. But I will think about it. Can you leave me your number?”
“Angel knows how to get in touch with me,” she said. “I am Rhiannon, by the way. And you must be Brea.” The woman held her hand out to Brea. Brea took it and gave it a squeeze.
“It’s nice to meet you.”
“Likewise. Oh, look. I see my dinner approaching. Call me,” Rhiannon called over her shoulder as she sauntered off to a human gentleman sitting alone at a table. Brea shuddered. Would she really want to work for someone who might think of her as dinner? But if this woman paid half as well as Angel, wouldn’t it be worth it?
Angel watched from the corner of his eye as one guest after another greeted Brea and commented on her exquisite planning and attention to detail. There was nothing he would have liked more than to be by her side all night, but he had to fulfill his duties as host. It seemed there was a constant stream of people, human and vampire alike, that needed his direct attention.
Brea either hadn’t noticed or didn’t say anything about the reddish tattoo mark on Angel’s neck, and he didn’t bring it up. It was a conversation that needed to take place somewhere private, not in the middle of a party. Angel hadn’t planned on being marked; it just happened. He knew full well what he was getting into at the time; he just hadn’t thought it all the way through. But he was by no means upset by it. He rather liked the way female vampires looked at his neck with disappointment in their eyes. Several men had noticed as well, and he received several claps on the back for it. When he was questioned about it, he refused to tell anyone her name. The last thing he wanted was for someone else to unknowingly tell Brea.
The evening was in full swing by the time Angel finally got a free minute. He went to the bar in search of Brea, but she was not there. She wasn’t sitting at any of the tables, and she wasn’t with the group talking against the wall. Where in the hell could she have disappeared to?
Angel figured that she must have run to the ladies room or off somewhere with Keelie or Brandon. But she was not with them either. Keelie was dancing with Ricco, and Brandon was having what appeared to be an intense conversation with Antonio. Angel walked over to Brandon to ask if he had any idea where he might find his love.
“Hello Gorgeous,” Brandon cooed.
“Hey Brandon,” Angel greeted him. “Have you seen Brea lately?”
“Oh my god! Have you seen that dress? She looks so good tonight, I could just eat her up! What I wouldn’t give to be you!”
“I meant, do you know where she is now?” Angel said, smiling and shaking his head. Brea’s friend was certainly unusual.
“Oh yes, she’s out there,” he said, gesturing to the dance floor, “dancing with that delicious hunk.”
Angel whipped his head around in search of Brea and the ‘delicious hunk.’ He found her dancing to a slow song with John Rainer, the Clan Leader of Texas. He was dressed in a vintage pin striped suit and tie. He looked every bit the twenties mobster, except for the Stetson cowboy hat on his head.
Brea looked stunning. She was wearing the dress. His dress. The one she wore in his bedroom the day she
proposed the Roaring Twenties theme. Her hair was pinned up with little ribbons trailing around her face and neck. John said something to her and she tossed her head back and laughed. The motion caused her to bow her back, and John grasped her tighter around the waist.
Angel watched as the Clan Leader trailed his hand lightly over Brea’s exposed back. He watched as he let one hand drop so low that it was nearly on her ass. Angel saw red. He held both his hands at his sides, both rigid fists. The only thought he had was ripping the other man’s head off for touching his woman.
“Easy tiger,” Antonio warned. “Just go cut in. Don’t start a fight right now.”
Angel stalked over to the pair, his fists at his side. He saw Brea’s eyes widen as he approached, and he quickly pulled his temper in. The last thing he needed was to frighten her. Angel stood behind John and quite loudly cleared his throat.
“Oh, hi Angel. I was just telling Miss Brea how wonderful everything looks tonight.”
“May I cut in?” Angel growled.
“Whoa,” John said, holding his hands up, palms out, “Of course. Oh, this must be your-“
“Yes, thank you for keeping her company. I’ll take over from here.”
John backed away as Angel took both of Brea’s hands into his own. “Where have you been all night?” Brea asked, slightly irritated.
“I have been busy with our guests,” he smiled. Brea did not look happy.
“What is it? Did he say something to upset you? If he did, I’ll tear his tongue out. I swear it. Just say the word.”
“He didn’t do anything. He was discussing the possibility of me working for him sometime this spring. I would have to spend a month in Texas, but he’s willing to pay for all my expenses. It would be a good opportunity.”
“No,” Angel snapped.
“Why not?” Brea snapped back. She was mad, Angel was sure of it. Her eyes were narrow and her lips were drawn into a thin line.
“Because, I don’t want you to,”
“Well, Mister rock star, contrary to what you might think, you don’t always get what you want. You do not own me.”
Mine! Angel’s mind shouted. “You are right, I don’t,” he conceded. But I want to, he thought.
“Nice tattoo. When did you get that?” she asked.
“Um, I got it last night.”
“Is that all the explanation you are going to offer? You got it last night? Well, big news! I may not belong to you, but you do belong to me. When were you going to tell me? Why didn’t I get a choice in the matter?” Angel could see that she was fuming. He hoped it was more about his lack of good judgment rather than the act itself.
“I was going to tell you tonight, in private. Who told you?”
“Does it matter? What really matters is that you didn’t.”
“Let’s go upstairs, I’ll explain.
“Damn right you will,” she spat, glaring at him. “But not right now,” she said.
“Why not?” Angel asked.
“Ladies and gentlemen, if I may have your attention please,” the DJ interrupted over the PA system.
“That’s why,” she muttered.
“Mr. Angel Knight, would you join me up here please?” the DJ requested.
“Go, please,” Brea said. Angel did what she asked. He walked to the DJ stand and hopped up the step to face his guests.
“As most of you know, Angel is our most gracious host tonight,” the DJ continued. “He has lived for a lot of years and tonight is a special night for him. I hope he will forgive me for being the lowly messenger. Happy Birthday, Angel!” The crowd erupted in cheers and applause. How could he have forgotten? He knew Brea had planned a surprise for him, but in light of recent events, it had completely slipped his mind. The look of total shock and surprise on his face was one hundred percent genuine.
The crowd began singing a chorus of “Happy Birthday,” and all Angel could do was stand there and take it. Frieda rolled in an enormous cake with what was probably three hundred candles on it. Embarrassed and only slightly irritated, Angel worked to blow them all out. He was showered with small gifts from just about everyone and he opened them graciously, thanking each person sincerely.
It was more than an hour before he got the chance to talk to Brea. She was smiling, but she was still angry with him. She was pretty when she was mad, Angel decided.
“Can we talk now?” he asked in her ear. “Let’s go up to my room.”
“Yes, and your office will do just fine.” Brea stormed off in front of him, leaving him no choice but to follow.
Angel stopped briefly to explain to Sebastian where he was going, then followed Brea into his office. He stepped inside, and she shut the door rather hard behind him.
“Just tell me why,” she glowered.
“I didn’t actually plan for it to happen,” Angel said, taking her hand. She quickly jerked it back.
“But you had to know what would happen! I trusted you and you went and tied yourself to me forever! You didn’t even ask how I felt about it!”
“I know, and I am sorry. I never meant to deceive you, Brea. But the mating is only one way right now. You are free to walk away at any time.”
“And what about you? What are you supposed to eat if I walk away?”
“I can still eat. I just can’t feed off of anyone else.”
“Ever?”
“No, never. But I would never hold you to something you didn’t want. I gave myself freely to you. And I am glad I did. I have walked this earth for three centuries, alone. I now know who I belong to. I feel whole, alive again. I know I didn’t do this right, but I wouldn’t change it for anything.”
“Why?” she demanded.
“Because, I love you, Brea. And I always will. You are my other half, my soul mate. I cannot explain to you the feeling I have inside me.”
“How did you know it was me?”
“I didn’t. But I wanted it to be. The tattoo only appears if the person is a true mate. I won’t force you to be with me, but will you at least think about it? Would it be so bad?”
“I don’t know. I don’t want to think about anything right now. I don’t know what to do with all this information. And I am still mad at you for not telling me. And don’t you need to feed to live?”
“Yes, eventually. I need blood to survive. But I can go long periods of time without it. I will just be weaker the longer I abstain.”
“So your life is in my hands?”
“Yes. But if this is not what you want, I would rather die than live without you.”
“God! You are really stupid for a Clan Leader! So what am I supposed to do? Let you come over and bite my neck and feed from me once a week or something?”
“The choice is yours,” Angel whispered. He was losing her, he knew it. She felt betrayed and trapped. He really was stupid for making the decision without her. How had things gone so terribly wrong? He told her that he loved her, and she completely disregarded the statement. Angel felt a stab of pain in his chest, and he was having trouble breathing.
“Enjoy your party, I’m going to bed. Alone.” Brea pushed past Angel and stalked out of the office.
TWENTY TWO
Angel let her go. He respected her wishes and left her alone all night. He tried to go back to the party, but he wasn’t really interested anymore. He just wanted to be alone as well. At the first available opportunity, Angel stole away to his own room. Just before he went to bed, he got online and ordered four dozen roses to be delivered to Brea early in the morning. He would have to try again, to apologize, to talk her into staying. Hell, he would hire her full time if that’s what it took. Anything to keep her in his home.
When he woke that afternoon, Angel felt a keen sense of loss and emptiness. He knew immediately that Brea was no longer in his house. He leapt from his bed, still wearing his clothes from the night before, and ran to her room.
The roses he ordered for her were all in her room, as were the clothes he had bought for her. Everythi
ng she had brought with her from her apartment was gone. On top of her dresser was a black box. Without knowing why, he opened it. Inside was the diamond necklace Angel bought for her and a note. “I can’t accept this. It’s too much,” the note said.
Angel’s heart leaped up into his throat. He flew out of her room and down the stairs, hoping against hope that he was wrong.
Angel stormed into the kitchen where Ricco and Keelie sat at the table. “Where is she?” Angel demanded.
The look in Keelie’s eyes was one of sympathy. “She left a few hours ago. She went home with Brandon.”
“Why? Who let her leave? Go get her and bring her back here!”
“Angel, she wasn’t a prisoner here. She can come and go as she pleases. I tried to talk her into staying, but she said she had to work tonight and wanted to go home,” Ricco said. “Would you really want her here against her will?” Angel had said before that he would never force her to do anything. He felt his own words as strongly as if someone had slapped him across the face.
“Is that all? Did she say anything else?”
“She left you some of her blood. She said when you run out, for someone to call her and she would send more,” Ricco answered.
“What!”
“You screwed up, man. Big time,” Keelie explained. “She said she wouldn’t be responsible for you starving to death, but right now she didn’t want to see you. So Ricco and I helped her draw her blood last night and again this afternoon. It’s in the fridge with your name on it. She wouldn’t even let Ricco pay her.”
“Why not?” Angel demanded.
“I don’t know if I want to say,” Keelie said warily. “You’re pretty upset right now and I’d like to keep my neck intact.”
“I promise, I won’t fly off the handle. Just tell me why,” Angel said, trying to keep his temper under control. It was difficult; his fists were at his sides and his entire body was trembling.
“She said that the amount was too much, and she didn’t want to paid for her company like some high priced call girl. She said she didn’t want your money.”
Out of the Dark (Forbidden Love) Page 13