“So we’re going to pick out a girl,” she muttered. “You couldn’t wait until this evening at the after party.”
“Don’t need one.”
“You can’t go two nights without a woman.”
“I won’t, Ms. Thursday.”
She bit back her retort. There were too many curse words he might take as an invitation. There was no way in hell it was going to be her, not with all he’d revealed during their secrets game. She was edgy enough in the car with him. Sleeping with him then walking out? She had a feeling it would tear her apart and he would use that as leverage. If she had to choose between pissing off him or Jonny, she was completely fucked.
She was beginning to think that was the case anyway. Was there a way to protect the kids, even if she didn’t make it out of this situation?
“You’re the first man I’ve kissed in five years,” she said.
“I believe it,” he replied. “You didn’t do too bad.”
“Omigod.” Her face flamed red. She hadn’t thought about performance when cornered by a vampire.
“I once had the choice between absolute power and immortality,” he continued. “Guess which I chose.”
Her eyes slid to him. “You’re here, so I think immortality. But you seem like you’d rather have power.”
“Bingo. I chose power. My benefactor gave me immortality.”
“He knew you too well.”
Xander smiled.
“Where are we going?” she asked to take her mind off her growing sense of urgency.
“Mall.”
Jessi drove to the mall, relieved he hadn’t said her house. She parked in a back lot, far away from any other car, so no one dinged the doors of the sleek automobile. Grabbing her purse, she got out and joined him. Her eyes went over him appreciatively. He caught the look.
“One night won’t kill you,” he said.
“It just might,” she replied. “I’m not a one-night stand kind of girl.”
“Not even for whatever it is you want to steal from me?”
“With my luck, it’ll be the one thing you won’t give me,” she said, recalling his warning about trading almost anything if she slept with him.
“One way to find out.”
“Not interested.” She strode towards the mall, hating the reminder.
Xander kept up with her easily, the solid, warm body beside her affecting her senses in ways that made her angrier.
“Ashley asked me to meet her and some friends at the mall during their lunch hour,” he said.
“She what?” Jessi stopped.
“We’re almost late.”
“Xander, no! I don’t want you having anything to do with them.”
He was ignoring her. Jessi waited for him to turn, but he kept walking. Her eyes took in his broad shoulders, thick upper body and lean lower body. The two other people in the aisle walking to their cars from the mall stopped to stare.
She wanted to cry. The more Xander knew about her family, the worse this was all going to turn out. What the hell did she do? She had two days to steal a necklace from an inhuman creature capable of tracking her down after she did.
Quelling her panic, she trailed Xander. He didn’t wait for her, and she paused a few times along the way to the food court to argue with Ashley via texts about talking to Xander. It did no good; the girl was not only a teen, but one enamored by a celebrity who gave her the time of day.
Jessi sighed and put her phone away, at a loss as to what to do in any part of her life. If she survived Jonny and Xander this week, she’d be out a job come next week. She quit her old one to work for Xander – at Jonny’s direct order. She could waitress or bartend again, good gigs that could bring in tip money.
She could run back to her parents with the kids, too. It was the last resort, but it was something. Assuming she survived, it was an option. Her phone buzzed, and she pulled it free from her pocket as she walked.
“Hello.”
“Hey, it’s Jonny.”
Fear flew through her. “Hey.”
“I need you to make sure Xander is at home tonight.”
“He’s got an after party planned.”
“Do I really have to repeat myself, Jessi?” he demanded.
“Jonny, I can’t manage this guy.”
“Someone is going to pay him a visit. It’s important he’s there and you’re not.”
“Why?” Dread settled into her stomach. She paused at the edge of the food court and caught sight of Xander and the girls. Even seated, he was drawing a crowd.
“When it’s over, you should be able to grab the necklace and bring it to me.”
The sudden images of Jonny sending in a hit squad on Xander or blowing up his condo went through her mind. She could see the kid doing it, though she liked to think Xander was able to counter anything like that. Somehow. With magic vampire powers or something.
“I’ll do my best,” she said. “I can’t guarantee anything, Jonny. If you’ve been around him, you know he does whatever he wants.”
“I do know that.” There was a reserved note in Jonny’s voice that told her he had a history with the vampire. “If you can’t, call me by six.”
She almost sighed in relief. “Will do.”
He hung up.
Jessi’s eyes remained on her cousins. Both were there. Ashley’s face was glowing, and Jessi suspected her connection to Xander was helping her find friends at school. She hadn’t seen a smile on Ashley’s face like that since before the death of the cousins’ parents. Even Brandon was enthralled by the vampire, along with a handful of Ashley’s girlfriends and quite a few other women who had gathered around.
Xander caught her gaze. He lifted his chin in silent invitation. Jessi shook her head, occupied by trying to quell the frantic fear within her. She wasn’t able to pretend to be okay. Instead, she grabbed a coffee and sat across the food court, within view.
Thinking. Hard.
“Before I sit down, tell Xander Jenn comes in peace.” The woman’s voice held a husky edge.
Jessi looked up at the speaker, stunned by the tall brunette with a body Jessi would kill for. The woman was guarded, her tension clear, much like those sparring on the beach had been. She was dressed in leggings and a snug T-shirt, neither of which left much to the imagination. She watched Xander like a predator eyeing a newcomer on its turf.
“Are you one of the Guardian things?” Jessi asked, recognizing the strange aura that Jule had.
“Yes.”
She rolled her eyes but texted Xander the message. Without even looking in their direction, he replied instantly.
She was almost number seven.
“Okay, let me translate this,” Jessi said. “He says he’s happy to see you.”
Jenn sat with a smile that turned her from stunning to breathtaking. With large, brown eyes and dark hair, she was toned and tall, a model’s body with an extra layer of muscle. A well-worn, silver medallion with a symbol of the sun and moon, pierced by an arrow, was at her chest.
“You’re Jessi.”
“I am,” Jessi said.
“Jule sent me.”
“Great.”
“Just checking in,” Jenn said. “He was right.”
“About …”
“Your mind. My gift is the ability to manipulate minds. Yours is impossible,” Jenn said curiously. “Interesting. Bet Xander hates it. He’s a control freak.”
“He is, but he seems to find it entertaining,” Jessi said. “Like a mad scientist in a lab. He keeps poking at me to see what I’ll do.”
Jenn laughed in her low, husky voice. Jessi’s phone vibrated, and she saw another text from the vampire.
She will be number seven in about two minutes.
“I’m betting he wants me gone,” Jenn said. “We had a rather … contentious relationship.”
“I’m guessing you weren’t one of his one night stands.”
“No. I barely survived him as it was. We were competing entities,
trying to influence someone. His mind control attempts against mine, and we had our own agendas. He let me live, only so I could watch him win.”
Jessi covered her face with her hands. “What the fuck have I gotten myself into?”
“What’s important is that you recognize you are into this thing. Once you are, there’s no going back,” Jenn said. “You’ve got some enemies that are going to give us a run for our money. If you need anything at all, a place to go, a friend, whatever. Call me. We’ve got a place in Texas where we can shelter you from anything, even Xander’s enemies. Even Xander, if you need it.” Jenn picked up Jessi’s phone as she spoke. Jessi watched her program a new contact into it.
“Texas,” Jessi murmured.
“It’s a blink away,” Jenn said with a smile. “Right now, Xander is getting ready to kick my ass. Nice to meet you. Hope to see you around. Feel free to call, text or visit.” She rose with alacrity and moved away.
Jessi watched her go then glanced at Xander. He was looking her direction, impossible to read. She almost flipped him off but stopped herself.
These people – Guardians or whatever – feared him. She’d seen the dangerous side of him the other night, when he effortlessly killed the three people who attacked her. He admitted to killing people and monitoring her. He was a vampire, one that seemed content to toy with her.
One she kind of found herself liking for more reasons than he was the sexiest man she’d ever seen and his touch made her want to throw herself into his bed. He was also the most fascinating person she’d ever spoken to, in a terrifying, otherworldly way. He was good with her cousins, which shocked her, and he helped her, despite knowing she was there to do something bad to him.
The longer she sat and watched them, the more upset she got. What if there really was a way to protect her cousins without pissing off the vampires who marched uninvited into her life? Could she send them to Texas then face Jonny alone and let him do whatever he wanted to her? Were these people really able to protect them?
She dialed Jenn.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Jenn. Jessi. We just met.”
“Hey, hon. You okay?”
“Great. Never been better.”
Jenn laughed.
“Listen, I’m trying to figure out a few things. Trusting complete strangers to take care of people I care about isn’t exactly something I want to do,” Jessi said with some effort.
“Completely understood. Something made you call me, though.”
“I have no idea what my alternatives are.”
“Well, why don’t we do this? Meet me downstairs at the restrooms. Tell Xander you’re going to walk around for about half an hour and you’ll meet him back at the food court. You definitely don’t want him finding out you’re hanging out with me,” Jenn said.
“You’re not really helping things,” Jessi said, perplexed. “Who the hell should I trust?”
“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but both of us. He and I don’t get along, but he likes you. He won’t let anything happen to you, even if he’ll still kick my ass for trying to help.”
“So complicated.”
“Meet me downstairs?”
“I suppose.”
“See you in five.”
Jessi hung up and texted Xander.
Walking around for a bit. Be back in half an hour. I got the keys – promise not to leave without you.
She glanced towards him. His attention dropped for a second before he met her gaze and gave her a nod she took as either permission or understanding. She rose and walked away.
Jenn was waiting for her downstairs. The tall woman gave a smile. Something about her put Jessi at ease, despite the watchfulness.
“So, I’m gonna ask you to trust a stranger,” Jenn said. “Walk with me.”
Jessi followed her down the narrow hallway leading to the restrooms. She waited, curious and uncertain if she really wanted to know more about the strange new world she stumbled into.
“Take my hand and close your eyes,” Jenn said, holding out her hand to reveal a perfect French manicure.
“Um, okay. Why?” Jessi asked.
“Trust me.”
She sighed. “I might as well. I spent the week with a vampire.” She did as Jenn said. Nothing happened after a few seconds, except it felt like the mall shut off the air conditioner.
“Okay, open your eyes,” Jenn instructed.
Jessi did and froze. They weren’t standing in the hallway anymore. They were somewhere else completely: a sprawling compound with low buildings, a huge barn and a massive, two-story hacienda style house. The sun overhead was blinding, the air light but hot.
“Texas?” she asked.
“Welcome to our headquarters.”
Jessi released Jenn’s hand and looked around. There were people … Guardians? …wandering the compound and a corral nearby with a horse and donkey in it. Beyond where the compound ended, she saw the tan sands of the desert punctuated by short, round shrubs
“It’s called Traveling. It’s a gift a few of us have,” Jenn explained. “We can move between places with I guess you can call magic. This is the compound of Damian, the White God. I live here, too, with my mate, the Grey God.”
“White God kills vampires,” Jessi recited from her talk with Jule.
“Exactly. We’re due to move our headquarters, but his wife had a baby six months ago. So, we’re staying put until the kid is a year old. She’s an Oracle. I wanted you to meet her.”
Panic filtered through her. Jessi sucked in a deep breath, held it for a count of five then released it.
“Okay, let’s go,” she said.
Jenn studied her. “You’re okay with this?”
“I’ve got two teenagers. I’ve learned how to wait until I’m home in bed to have a meltdown,” Jessi replied.
“Wise woman. C’mon.” Jenn struck off towards the barn. “Sofi is trying to learn to fight. It’s not going very well.”
Jessi had no idea what to say. She wasn’t certain her meltdown would wait, but this place seemed real enough. She could accept there was a magic way to move between places, if she was able to accept being the personal assistant to a vampire. If she concentrated on the here-and-now and dealt with the aftermath later, she might survive this experience.
“So all these people have magical powers,” she said as they passed a muscular man jogging with his ear buds in.
“Yes,” Jenn answered. “It’s our job to protect people against Jonny, the Black God.”
“Looks like a nice kid, until he breaks your arm.”
Jenn frowned. “I hope you haven’t met him.”
“Yeah, well, sorry. I have.”
“That’s not good.”
“I figured that much out.”
They walked into the barn through a side door, and Jessi paused to let her eyes adjust. While it was huge and red from the outside, the inside resembled a boxing gym with several rings, training equipment and a wall of mirrors. In the center ring was a petite woman with her long, blonde hair back in a ponytail. She wore headgear and boxing gloves and faced off against a man with the chiseled features of a Greek god, blond hair and sharp blue eyes. Their skin coloring and complexions were similar enough for them to be brother and sister, despite the size difference.
Beside the ring was a man the size of Xander with blond hair and golden eyes and skin. He watched closely, appearing amused and cautious, like a husband watching his wife learn to box.
Jenn stopped beside him.
“How goes it, D?” Jenn asked the large man.
“I keep telling her to hit him the way she does me,” he replied.
“I do not hit you!” the woman in the ring retorted.
“Jessi, this is Damian, the White God and head of the Guardians. His wife, Sofi, is in the ring with Dusty, who heads up the vampire fighting operations for the Western Hemisphere,” Jenn said quietly to Jessi.
“Right.” Jessi leaned around Jenn to see what a go
d looked like. Damian definitely had the body and weird, glowing amber eyes. He unfolded his arms and faced her, studying her closely. Jessi gazed up at him, overwhelmed by the compelling aura around him without understanding it.
“This is Jessi,” Jenn said. “She’s a Natural, if nothing else.”
“What does that mean?” Damian asked.
The two in the ring had moved to the edge to see them. Jessi glanced up, taking them in. The blonde woman maneuvered through the ropes. Her husband helped her down. Her face was flushed, her blue eyes bright. They were surrounded by silver that seemed to flare and swirl as Jessi watched.
“Xander,” Sofi said.
“No shit?” the man named Dusty asked from the ring, leaning over the ropes.
“I’m not following,” Jessi said.
“Put your hand out like this,” Sofi told her and held out her hand, palm up.
“She’ll look at your future,” Jenn added.
“Like a gypsy?” Jessi asked, confused.
“I like this one.” Damian snorted.
Sofi’s gaze grew cold. “I’m not a gypsy.”
Sensing she offended the petite beauty, Jessi held out her hand as directed.
Sofi touched her palm to Jessi’s. The silver of her eyes grew brighter and swirled faster, mesmerizing Jessi. When she finished whatever it was she did, she dropped her hand. Jessi felt like she’d been mentally hit by a truck.
“Can you read her?” Jenn asked.
“Yes. Not easy, but yes,” Sofi replied, tilting her head to the side.
The others seemed to be waiting for something. Jessi grimaced and rubbed her temples. She had a sudden, mild headache. Not understanding why everyone was quiet, she pulled out her phone to check the time.
“Bring them here,” Sofi said at last.
Jessi glanced up, not realizing she was being addressed. Sofi’s penetrating blue-silver eyes were on her.
“Bring what here?” Jessi asked.
“Before tomorrow at noon,” Sofi added. “You know what. It’s why you came.”
Jessi stared at her.
“You’re going to make a very stupid choice soon,” Sofi said in a quieter voice. She drew closer.
Jenn stepped away to give them some privacy.
“If I could make Xander miserable, I would,” Sofi said, a flare of anger in her eyes. “You are the next best thing. He will become the lesser of two evils. In the meantime, bring them here. If things don’t blow up, then Sunday at midnight, you can give him a message from me. Tell him, Sofi said, I told you so.”
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