Forever Love (Circle of Ghadan Book 1)

by Kimberly Cummons

  Forcing her breathing to even out and her pounding heart to at least attempt to beat at a rhythm that didn’t roar in her head, she opened her eyes. To her surprise the sun slanted low through the window covering the bed with its glow. Was it morning, or had he taken her farther west? Had they left Missouri?

  Frustrated at not knowing the time of day, what day it was, or the place she was in, she decided to examine her surroundings. As she thought, she was tied hands and feet to a double bed. She gave her foot a tug. The silken cord was securely attached to the brass footboard, a pull of her arm over her head, proved the same held true for her hands and the simple brass headboard. Her eyebrows rose as she looked at what was covering her. Gone were her usual jeans, tennis shoes and sweater. In their place was a bright red, silky dress that reached just below her knees. She looked up as best she could and saw it had long sleeves that were cuffed at her wrists and she couldn’t see the tracking bracelet. She might be crazy, but she was pretty darn sure the dress was all she was wearing.

  Holy Cripes, she might have made it through the last time without him forcing himself on her, but she just knew she wasn’t going to be so lucky this time. She should be embarrassed Dewhurst had seen her naked, but really that was trivial next to the fear of rape that shot through her. And he would have to rape her because she’d die, if she could find a way to do that, before she willingly gave him anything, herself included.

  She looked around the beautiful blue room. Well, Dewhurst had moved up in the world this time. This looked like a room in a posh hotel. She listened, there were no street sounds outside the window where she could see a tree. Only bird song broke the silence. She couldn’t prove it, but somehow she knew she wasn’t in a hotel.

  Where had he taken her? In the bright light of the sun, which had moved up her legs, she could see a few knick-knacks on the table in the corner. Concentrating on the small statue of a bird, she was satisfied to see it slide a couple of inches. Thankfully, she hadn’t lost her telekinetic ability this time. That would come in handy if she needed it.

  And since the sun was moving up and not down, she figured it was morning. Great, she’d lost an entire freaking night. At least Keegan had had some time to try and find her. The longer she’d been out, the happier she was. It meant there was a good chance Keegan wasn’t too far away. She really, really hoped that was the case.

  The door opened and Cass knew she was getting her first good look at Bartholomew Dewhurst. Like the other Aeterni, he stood over six feet, but not much, making him one of the shortest Aeterni she’d seen. Unlike the others, he didn’t seem to spend much time taking care of his body, as she’d noticed when he’d held her against him every time he managed to capture her. He was slightly overweight, the roundness of his stomach reminding her of a beer gut.

  Unlike the others, he wasn’t particularly good looking, just slightly better than average with his dark blond hair cut in an executive cut that gave him whitewalls around his slightly oversized ears. His eyes had a watery appearance that she figured was likely caused by their unremarkable hazel color.

  Dewhurst was the most average Aeterni she’d ever seen—not that she’d seen that many, really.

  Cass watched the man cross the room to sit on the edge of the bed, facing her. The undamaged, unblemished skin of the Aeterni was magnified in his soft hands.

  He held her ring, the diamond sparkling with life in the light. Flinging it on the bed beside her he said, “So Fitzgerald was at the cabin after all.”

  Cass stared at the ring out of reach on the bed next to her. Sadness filled her, she’d never see it again.

  Dewhurst grabbed her chin hard and forced her to look at him. His grip brought tears to her eyes. “What is the significance of the ring?” he demanded.

  She clenched her teeth to keep from screaming in pain and frustration. “It belonged to my grandmother. I wear it to honor her.”

  He shoved her head back and released her chin. Anger laced his words. “Like all mortals, your grandmother is nothing more than a pile of bones in the ground. It’s best to forget them.”

  He sighed and his voice softened. As much a caress as the pudgy hand that stroked her cheek. “You’re as beautiful as your mother.” Her eyes widened as she realized he spoke the truth.

  “Oh yes, my love, you look just like my beautiful, delicate Lucy.”

  Apparently her silence didn’t matter. She suppressed a shudder at his calling her his “love”.

  He reached in his trouser pockets and pulled out a switchblade. He ran his thumb lovingly down what looked like carved ivory before he flipped it open. Looking at it, he continued in what she was sure he thought was a seductive voice, but one that gave her the creeps as he lowered the knife to her dress, slowly raising the hem with the blade. “I wanted her so much. She was to be my next wife. I knew she would have beautiful children. I’ve studied women for millennia; I know what features to look for to get the best looking children. You see, I know I’m not as handsome as others of my race, but I know which women to love to make the best of children.”

  Cass’ eyes widened. The man was sick, he didn’t pick women for love, he picked them for their genes.

  He stroked her inner thigh, his soft fingers made her stomach roil with revulsion. Cass felt a sharp pain and blood welled on her leg where he’d pulled the knife along her thigh. “But that bastard, Grande, got to her first.”

  She watched with horror as he pulled a fine linen handkerchief from his pocket, his initials embroidered in the corner. He used it to gently clean the blood away from the cut he’d brutally carved in her skin.

  As he bent to kiss the area he’d just cleaned, Cass bit the inside of her mouth to keep from flinching away from his lips. He was too unstable, there was no telling what he’d do if she gave any sign of the repugnance she felt. When his tongue joined his lips, she fought the growing nausea.

  She had to find a way out of here. Keegan had no idea where Dewhurst had taken her. She had no idea where he’d taken her. But one way or another, she’d bide her time and find a way to get free of him. Preferably before he touched more than her leg with his slimy mouth.

  “Damn, my love, you taste so sweet, and you heal so beautifully. I’ve done a marvelous job in your creation.”

  He sat up, his eyes gleaming with a light that scared Cass spitless as he used both hands to push the skirt of her dress farther up her legs, exposing more of her thighs. She couldn’t speak, fear clogged her throat as he licked his lips and placed the knife blade against the inside of her leg. Clamping her teeth together, she refused to make a sound despite the pain shooting through her as the blade cut deeper this time.

  It’ll heal, you’ll be fine, the pain will go away soon. The words became a mental chant as she watched him once again wipe the blood away. She couldn’t see the entire cut, but what she could see and feel wasn’t healing as quickly this time, but it was healing.

  “Beautiful,” he breathed, looking back at her, something close to adoration shining in his eyes. Cass’ fear spiked higher. “You are the most perfect being in the world, and we’ll have eternity together, Lucy.”

  Her mother again. He was slipping farther, soon he wouldn’t know who he was talking to. Hopefully she could use that to get away sooner rather than later.

  Dewhurst raised his handkerchief to wipe more of her blood away, but his phone chirped before he could touch her. Cursing he stood and walked out the door, pulling the phone out of his pocket on the way.

  Cass breathed a sigh of relief as the door clicked shut behind him. She realized there was a weight on her leg. Looking down, she saw the open switchblade he’d neglected to take with him. She felt a glimmer of hope that she would be escaping sooner rather than later after all.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  Keegan shoved his hair back from his face and watched the sun through a break in the pine trees near the lake bordering Bastien’s property. The others had tossed him out of the library a few minutes earlier. He knew
his pacing and snapping had been irritating, but he didn’t know what else to do. Before he and Tomas arrived via helicopter the night before, Micah’s men had found Cassie’s sliced apart tracking bracelet and the SUV at the bottom of the ravine on Keegan’s mountain road. Dewhurst must have changed vehicles before they got off of the mountain.

  It’d been the only news they had to pass on and they’d found nothing that panned out since. Keegan and five other Aeterni had been locked up in Bastien’s bloody library since ten the night before looking into anything that could tell them where to find Dewhurst and Cassie. Every house and business the Circle was aware of was searched, and not one clue had been found.

  Sidney hadn’t been any help either. Not that he could blame that on her. Apparently Dewhurst kept most of his life apart from her even though they shared a house.

  Rubbing his hand over this face, Keegan cursed long and hard. The morning was brisk and clear, and promised to be a fine day even for April. Not that he gave a damn about the weather as he paced through Bastien’s garden. All he cared about was the one thing he’d stopped caring about millennia ago. Another person’s life.

  It surprised him to realize that as much as he’d cared for Susan, as much as he’d loved his daughter, nothing came close to his feelings for one woman whose emerald eyes could pierce him with anger just as easily as they could fill with laughter and take him along with the joke.

  Because he’d let down his guard, trusted another to take care of her, she was in danger.

  What had Dewhurst done to her? What did he plan to do with her?

  He agreed with the others, she was still alive. He knew that in his heart, as well as following the logical conclusion that Dewhurst had worked too damn hard to create her to want to kill her. Keegan had to hold on to that belief, it was the only thing keeping him from going completely insane.

  He wandered farther across the lawn where patches of snow covered areas the sun couldn’t reach.

  How had she gotten past his hard shell? He’d been alone so long. He’d never been comfortable around others, never trusted that others cared for him. His mother had been his first lesson in just how two-faced people could be. How they would abandon and stab him in the back at the first sign of reality not falling into a world they understood.

  For the first time in his life, he wanted to risk all. And if Cassie let him, love her forever. For sure she wasn’t afraid of what he was, wouldn’t be even if she weren’t the same, he knew that on a basic level. Knew it because he knew her. She had a heart of gold and was a good person. So much better than he was, than anyone he’d ever known. Even those few Aeterni he trusted enough to call friend.

  What if she could have her heart’s desire? Be mortal again. Even if there was a way to give her back her mortality he’d still want to spend as much of her life with her as she’d let him, whatever she’d give him. Even just friendship, although he wanted so much more. He was finally willing and wanted to grab everything, his past be damned. A future with Cassie, however it played out, was all he wanted. He’d gladly take whatever she gave him and hold it close for the rest of eternity.

  He cussed a blue streak, pacing a circle in Bastien’s well-maintained yard. He’d find her. If it took years, he’d find her. He didn’t think Dewhurst would kill her, but he’d never give her back her mortality after he risked so much to take it from her in the first place. When Keegan found her, he’d do everything in his power to give her everything she wanted. He didn’t want to lose her, but for the first time ever, he’d grasp what he could have and let the memories see him through the rest of his life.

  He hadn’t wanted to fall in love, not like this. He’d honestly believed when he’d married Susan he’d loved her as much as he was capable of loving. He hadn’t, he knew that now. He’d loved his daughter, but again, he’d kept her at a distance letting her mother care for her. He hadn’t let her get close knowing she’d live only seventy or eighty years at the most, and he knew he couldn’t bear to let her take more than a small portion of his heart. But even that small portion had been more than he’d allowed Susan.

  Somehow Cassie had gotten past all his defenses and taken more than a small portion. She’d taken it all. Everything he held dear was now in her hands to do with as she pleased, and he’d let her without holding anything back. She’d been thrust into situations that should’ve broken her, and yet she’d risen proud and strong, holding onto who she was. He knew she’d embrace whatever her future held with the same strength.

  He was so damn proud of her and knew he could learn how to live from her, from how she’d handled the unexpected and unwanted changes in her life. Even though he’d existed for thousands of years, he’d never lived until he met Cassie. Her zest for living, her thirst for knowledge, her ability to make a good living for herself and her partner despite a mother and father who wanted nothing from her. She’d been cast aside by her mother, just as he’d been, but rather than let it rule her, she’d embraced the love she’d received from her grandparents and made a future for herself.

  He reached the edge of the lake and picked up a stone, skipping it across the surface. Cassie was making him rethink everything he’d believed or had chosen to believe as he hid himself away behind closed doors on his mountain or wherever else he’d chosen to hide away. He no longer wanted to hide, he wanted to live life with Cassie. Show her all the wonders of the world—all the books and history to be found. He wanted to love her completely everyday he had with her. If she couldn’t be changed back, he’d give her reason to never regret her new life.

  He groaned as another thought chased its way through his head. What if she didn’t love him the way he loved her? Well, he’d let her go. It’d be hard, but he would, keeping her close just the same. He believed they were and always would be friends. He’d give her that, but hopefully he’d be given an eternity to convince her he was worthy of her love.

  But first, he had to fucking find her.

  No longer able to stay out there and do nothing, he stormed back into the house and burst into Bastien’s library. “It’s eleven thirty, have you found her yet?”

  Derian looked up from his laptop. “Maybe.”

  “You’ve been at this all night, what do you mean maybe?”

  “And you’ve been pretending to help, but in reality you were prowling around in here all night making things difficult. I thought we sent you away an hour ago to get some sleep and let us work.”

  Keegan glared at the Greek.

  “Staring daggers at me doesn’t make me work better, Celt.”

  “Stop baiting him,” Bastien said. He looked at Keegan and continued, “We were just coming to get you if this panned out. Micah called an hour ago. He has gotten confirmation that along with Paul, Herbert Ryan cannot be found and has not checked in since the Circle meeting. Fifteen minutes ago, we discovered Ryan has property near Suttons Bay. We are doing a satellite search of the area now.”

  Derian became serious as he explained. “Micah’s on his way with Gideon and a few trusted men. They were already near the Traverse City area checking out one of Dewhurst’s art galleries when we found this. Micah seems to think this is where they’re at. I don’t know why he thinks that, but he and Gideon know that part of the State having lived around here for centuries. It would’ve been helpful if we kept better records of where Aeterni are, but we’ve never had the need and no one knows how to hide and change themselves better than an Aeterni.”

  It would’ve been helpful if Sidney had a better handle on her father’s business.

  “Not my fault Keegan. He kept everything from me except what he thought I needed to know. And, apparently, what I needed to know was only about his art galleries.”

  Keegan ground his teeth and glared at her. “Get out of my mind, Sid.”

  “Again, not my fault. I’m not trying, you’re broadcasting all over the room.”

  “She’s right, Keegan,” Althea said softly. “You’ve been shouting at us all night. I wo
uld’ve said something earlier, but I thought telling you we were hearing exploits of your time with Cass would have just upset you.”

  Keegan felt appalled and slammed a door on his thoughts. He knew where his thoughts had gone at times during the night. Damn Cassie would skin him alive if she knew Sidney, Althea and Hannah had been privy to his vivid memories of their private time.

  “Thank you. I guess I should’ve said something earlier,” Althea said.

  Bastien broke into the conversation. “Tomas, get the helicopter ready, we are on our way to Suttons Bay. Bartholomew has never been overly bright, but leaving his sports car parked in the driveway is plain stupid.”

  Keegan grabbed his sword, scabbard and shoulder belt, pulling them in place. He already had his gun on his belt and knife strapped to his ankle, but he needed one more piece of protection, something that would be easier for him to reach than the knife strapped to his ankle. Something quiet and effective. “Bastien, where do you keep your daggers, I’d like one to strap to my belt.”

  Bastien rose. “That is our next stop. We all need to be adequately armed, n’est-ce pas? And since we are taking your helicopter, we do not need to include the Daughters, we can keep them safely here.”

  Althea jumped up. “Now just a second, I want to go.”

  Derian turned to his daughter swearing in Greek. “You are staying here. You’re not immortal even though you seem to insist you are.”

  Nilos smiled. “About time someone put you in your place, enfant.”

  If looks could kill, Nilos would have burned to a crisp on the spot. Keegan almost smiled, but he wasn’t in the mood, so he growled instead. “Enough, we don’t have time for this.”

  He turned and strode out of the room behind Bastien who had already left. Derian kept pace beside him as Keegan asked, “Did Micah’s men find anything at Dewhurst’s when they searched it?”