Stubborn Girl

by Mary E. Twomey

  Slowly, the light disappeared as Bastien pulled us up the long, dank shaft. My heart started pounding wildly in my chest at the closed-in feeling I was far too acquainted with, having spent my fair share of time in dark wells.

  Bastien understood my creeping anxiety and stopped our upward progression. “Hey, I’m right here. It’s you and me now, okay? We’re done looking over our shoulders.”

  My eyes met his in the trickle of light that filtered down from above. “Do you really think that’s possible? I can’t even picture what that would look like anymore.”

  “It looks like this.” Bastien leaned in and kissed my lips, bracing us on the ropes so we only fell for each other, and not down into the abyss.

  Oh, how I loved to fall for Bastien. He nipped at my lips even after the kiss came to a crest. His voice was low and filled with a need that only I could satiate. “That’s what I should’ve done the last time we were in this well. I should’ve kissed you right then so you would’ve known how much I want you, how much I loved you from the very beginning.”

  My arms tightened around his middle. “You loved me all the way back then?”

  “Oh, Daisy. I didn’t have a chance.” He kissed my lips once more. “Are you hungry?”

  My neck shrunk guiltily. “I’ll be alright. I can last a few more hours.”

  “Yeah, but this might be our only time alone for a while. I know you don’t like to eat in front of the others. Go ahead. Just a little taste.” He craned his head to the side, exposing the jugular that sang to me tempting songs of the deepest kind of lust.

  “Hello, you’ll drop us. It’s okay, Bastien.”

  “Don’t you know by now? I’ve got you.” He kept his neck exposed, knowing I was too mortified to ask for what I needed.

  My teeth latched onto the flesh just behind his shoulder, puncturing only a little, so I didn’t make a mess. Bastien and I both let out sensuous groans of pain and pleasure that fueled carnivorous pelvic thrusts we couldn’t control. We probably looked and sounded like we were having sex, but that was the nature of the Vampire and her mate, I guess. Pretty difficult to do discreetly in public. How Bastien managed to keep us from plummeting to the ground, I’ll never know.

  I pulled away, licking his skin clean over and over until the slight trickle of blood clotted. Bastien was covered in goosebumps, shivering on the seat as he tried to keep still for me. He bit down on his lower lip while I resituated his shirt, holding onto the ropes so we didn’t crash.

  “We’re getting a house,” he declared, his voice determined and breathy. “We’re getting a house and a bedroom with a bed. We’re breaking in that mattress nice and good, and you’re going to do that to me again and again until I can’t take anymore.”

  Though he’d assured me he loved our private meals, the whole thing felt like he should be running away from me. The devotion in his caramel eyes only burned more fiercely, tying us more tightly together. He was nearly as addicted to the connection as I was. Bastien seemed to need to give his blood almost as much as I needed to take it. The hunger burned on both our ends, binding us together in ways that made us one of those couples who couldn’t be apart.

  “You sure you’re not freaked out by me yet?”

  His eyes were lidded as a shudder ran through him, rocking us both on our precarious perch. “Like I said: house, bedroom, bed, more of that. More of you. Always more.”

  I licked my lips clean and gave him a break, pulling us upward so we could face the sun, and start our new life in Common together.

  Scan this code to sign up for my newsletter, join my book-of-the-month club and view my collection of books.

  Epilogue

  Bringing the Fairytale Home

  “You look nervous,” Bastien commented as he tore off the tie I’d picked for him. “This thing is impossible. I’m not wearing it.”

  “But look at how pretty this blue is! I thought you’d look dashing in it.” I slid the silk from his fist and gently looped it around his neck. Pressing a kiss to his pout, I took my time with the knot, making sure it was loose enough so he didn’t choke himself while trying to tear the thing off again. A few people shot us curious looks, being so dressed up at the Justice of the Peace on a Tuesday. The courtroom was unromantic, but us being there filled the halls with a brush of beauty and whimsy. We brought the fairytale with us wherever we went, and never apologized for it. “See? I was right. Handsome.”

  “I said I wanted to marry you, not be trussed up like a turkey.”

  “Think of it this way,” I said, leaning up on my toes so I could whisper in his ear. “If you wear the tie and the jacket for the ceremony, I promise to strip every scrap of clothing off of you the fun way tonight. What do you think about that, Mr. Avalon?” Bastien and Reyn had agreed to take our last names, which was good, since they didn’t have any for us to take.

  Bastien gazed down at my white satin strapless gown. Well, I called it a gown, but the saleswoman informed me that it was a cocktail dress. Whatever. I was a bride, so this would be a gown. Bastien’s eyes were hungry for me, staring at my curves like a teenager. I loved that I brought out the teenager in Bastien. He was such an old man otherwise. “I can deal with the tie, I guess.”

  When Lane came out of the bathroom, her eyes darted around nervously for Reyn. “I feel like I should go change.”

  I tugged on Lane’s arm, but her eyes were wide with fear. I squeezed Bastien’s hand. “Give us a couple of minutes, alright? We’ll meet you guys in there.”

  “Okay. Take your time. You look beautiful, Mom.” Bastien had taken to claiming Lane as his mom, partly to remind me that I had a parent who wanted me, and would cross worlds just to be near me.

  “Thank you, Son.” Lane all but jerked me into the bathroom, waiting until the door shut behind us to motion to her dress. “Would you look at this nonsense?”

  My eyes searched for a stain, but the white was unmarked. “What? I don’t see anything. It’s perfect. Other than the crazy face you’re making, you’re a ten in a world of sixes if I ever saw one.”

  Self-loathing painted her features as she banded her arms across her breasts, looking like she might vomit. “A woman who’s been passed around as much as me doesn’t have a right to wear white on her wedding day. I feel… I’m dirty now. I don’t belong in something this pure.”

  My eyebrows furrowed as I threw myself on her in a tight hug, covering her shame-filled parts with my body to shield her from her own condemnation. “I love you,” I said like a promise. “You are not dirty, and you’re not passed around. You’re a bride on her wedding day. You should wear whatever color you want, and white was the winner. Would you tell me not to wear white if that had happened to me?”

  “Of course not. It’s not the same, though. This feels…” She dug her nails into me, so we could endure her pain together. “Why does he still want me?”

  I pulled back, staring into the eyes that had only ever held love and goodness for me. “Because you’re you. Those soldiers didn’t take that away. Know who you are, Lane. Reyn sees you clearly. He gets what a catch you are.” I kissed her forehead. “I know who you are. The girl I love should wear the prettiest dress from the best store in town, which is what this is.”

  Lane sucked in the tears before they could fall and nodded, taking a steadying breath. “You’re right. I know who I am.” She glanced in the mirror, trying to summon up the confidence she’d once had on tap. “I wanted to wear a wedding dress, so that’s what I’m going to do.” She raised her chin in defiance of the white form-fitting gown that was almost the exact same as mine, except there was a lace layer over hers that stretched two inches above her cleavage, and hung two inches below the knee-length hemline. The long lace sleeves and the perfect low-set bun made her look elegant, fresh off a forties Hollywood movie set. Lane was a sight to be reckoned with, which was pretty much no different than every other day of her life. She squared her shoulders with a cool look of manufactured confidence, turned to m
e and said, “They’re not going to know what hit them.”

  “That’s my girl. Let’s do this.”

  With our hands clasped, we glided into the hallway of the courthouse like twin brides looking for trouble. Bastien moved with us, walking in step with me as we always did these days. So much of our time together had been spent out of step, but after I turned Vampire, something seemed to click in us both. We were done being stupid. We were done messing up a good thing.

  Reyn, Draper and Judah stood, straightening their ties and smoothing out their suit jackets when we rounded the corner. The look on Reyn’s face took my breath away – so enraptured with Lane was every fiber of his being. He looked dapper in his suit, making me smirk with affection that I was getting a new dad who was super way kind and totally wonderful.

  The ceremony was quick, the kisses were sweet, and the certificates were signed and promptly filed. I couldn’t believe how easy our world made it for us to finally be together after being pulled apart for so long.

  When our car rolled into the ten-acre plot of land we’d traded a few jewels to secure, our giddy grins quickly soured, and then died as confusion settled in. Gasps rippled around the interior of the SUV when we saw that the formerly grass-covered grounds were now utterly blooming with thousands of yellow roses. I mean, thousands. Lane’s jaw was practically on the floor. “What did that son of a gun do this time?”

  I let out a swear, covering my mouth as Bastien’s fist tightened. “We’re married now. I thought he was supposed to be in Avalon. Rosie, why is Kerdik sniffing around our place?”

  “I honestly don’t know, Bastien. I had no idea. Lane?”

  “No clue, baby. I don’t see him, though. Maybe he just stopped by to…” She shook her head. “I’ve got nothing.”

  Reyn, Bastien and Draper wore grim expressions as they stepped out of the black vehicle. Judah stayed with us in the car, locking the doors as if that could stop Kerdik. “‘Your boyfriend’s back, and you’re gonna be in trouble,’” he sang just to get a rise out of me.

  “Shut up. What’s that? Bastien’s carrying something.”

  Judah unlocked the doors and let us out when Bastien ruled that Kerdik wasn’t here (as if I should be afraid of Kerdik. I mean, sheesh). He shoved a box at me with a closed expression that told me this was not the time for Kerdik – as if I didn’t already know that. “This came for you and Lane. Whatever it is, the answer’s no.”

  “I know. Jeez. I didn’t do this, Bastien.”

  “The day we get married shouldn’t be the day your boyfriend shows up with gifts and flowers.”

  “I didn’t…” I rolled my eyes and huffed. “Do you want me to open it?”

  “No, I will. I’m your Guardien, and this is a package from a dangerous immortal.” He took the box back and ripped off the top as if he wished it was Kerdik’s face he could destroy. Then Bastien’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

  “Well?”

  He shrugged and handed Lane the white box.

  Lane pulled out a pouch of herbs that looked like the fancy kind of tea only serious hipster tea drinkers invested in. There was a note attached to it addressed to her that she read aloud to the group.

  “‘Dear Mother,

  Drink this tea on your honeymoon if your wish is to carry Reyn’s child.’” Lane gasped, her pace picking up as she read the rest in a rush. “‘You’re the kind of woman who should have as many children as you want. On the day your daughter leaves you to marry the man of her choice, the only gift that seems fitting is to give you a child to fill the hole that losing someone like Rosie marks a person with. On your child’s first birthday, I will come to visit with a birth blessing for your baby.’”

  Tears fell hard and fast from Lane’s cheeks, dotting the white paper and making Kerdik’s perfect calligraphy bleed.

  Reyn’s hands were shaking when he took the note to read it over, verifying that the thing he’d made his peace with not having was actually within his grasp. “Lane, tell me we can make a baby this very night.” He kissed her in front of all of us, making everyone but me tear up. I’d long since suppressed my urges to cry, instead digging my nails into my arm to release a little of the building emotion.

  Lane looked from the note to Reyn with tears sparkling on her lashes. “You want to have a baby with me?”

  “Only with you. Come inside. We’ve got plenty of time before we have to be to the airport. I’ll start some water brewing.” Reyn all but dragged the giddy Lane into their white farmhouse, not bothering to tell the rest of us to scram. We got the hint well enough.

  Draper and Judah looked away with mixed emotions on their faces. They were happy Lane would be a mother again, but didn’t feel so hot knowing their adopted mommy was about five minutes away from knocking boots in the house we all stood awkwardly outside.

  I lifted out an envelope, handing it to Judah out of habit. My ring sparkled in the sunlight. The two sets of three aquamarines in a triangle cluster from my wedding band encased both sides of the square-shaped diamond on my engagement ring. It was the exact opposite of the configuration on my right hand from Kerdik, and looked too beautiful for someone like me to wear without people assuming it was costume jewelry.

  Judah shot Bastien an apologetic look before he began reading.

  “‘Dear Rosie,

  The vase of roses inside are to keep with you until you bring them home to me when you return to Avalon someday. They possess a warding charm, so that anyone seeking you out with ill intent will have a more difficult time locating you. Not impossible, but the delay should give Bastien enough time to figure out an intruder is coming.

  Be kind to your husband. I fear I’ve made him suffer much.

  Truly Yours,

  Kerdik’”

  Bastien’s teeth ground together. “I swear, if he didn’t just help keep you safer, then I’d be pissed he snuck onto our property to leave you gifts. It’s like he’s trying to pee all over you to mark his territory.” Then Bastien raised his voice. “My home, you hear? This is my home, and Rosie is my wife!”

  It was Judah’s laugh that broke the tension as he handed me the note. “Kerdik cracks me up. I mean, what a dick move! You get married, and bam! Dude sends you magical flowers and re-landscapes the whole property to remind you he’s still around.” He clapped in Kerdik’s honor. “Ballsy, that’s for sure.” Judah looped his arm around my shoulders and led me away so Draper could talk Bastien down.

  I grimaced, pinching the bridge of my nose as we walked a few steps away from Bastien’s ranting. “Yikes. I didn’t think Kerdik would ever come to Common.”

  “He’s in love with you, Ro. Not sure why you’re always underestimating how far people will go to keep you around.”

  “Oh, you.”

  He stopped walking and turned me to him, holding my shoulders so he had my full attention. “I feel like we need to have the talk. You know, the talk.”

  I groaned, rolling my eyes. “Hello, I’m twenty-three. And you tutored me through sex ed. Don’t think I don’t remember your totally gross hand puppets.”

  Judah sniggered. “I forgot about those. I’m brilliant. Just remember, he’s supposed to stick it in your ear. That’s how I never got Jill pregnant. But make sure he wears protection, otherwise you won’t be able to hear for a week.”

  I belted out a laugh at his stupid joke. “Will do.” Then it began to dawn on me that this was actually happening. I was excited, but a little bit nervous at crossing this giant milestone. “It’s probably dorky of me to be glad my best friend is a telephone tin can call away, just in case.” Yes, we’d installed a telephone tin can system that went from my bedroom to Judah’s, because we’re awesome, and we can. He was staying in the smaller house that Draper lived in on our property until Judah decided what he wanted to do with his life.

  “I’m always a phone call away, Ro. Never forget that.” Judah slapped my palm with the secret handshake we’d made up back in the fifth grade, when we both realized w
e were the coolest people in our class. Then he chucked my shoulder with a wicked grin. “Time to cowboy up, Hot Mama.”

  “Thanks, Pimp Daddy.”

  Once Bastien had calmed down, he led me to our farmhouse, which was further back on our shared property. Judah and Draper were granted their very own bachelor pad that rested between my house and Lane’s. I loved the land we lived on, even more when it was filled with yellow roses. Bastien scowled at the flowers as if they were offensive, which I guess they kind of were. “When I die, I’m haunting Kerdik for the rest of eternity. That’ll be my mission in the afterlife. He’s in for some serious ghostly hijinks.”

  “I married you, you know. We’re technically on our honeymoon.”

  Bastien’s shoulders relaxed as he shut the door behind us. The blue accents on the cream walls greeted us like a calming hug. I couldn’t get enough of it all. It was our very own haven nestled next to the woods. Our ritual was to go for hikes through the thick trees every night before we went to bed.

  Bastien didn’t waste a moment, lest Kerdik snatch away the night we’d been waiting so very long to indulge in. My husband scooped me up in his arms and charged up the stairs to our bedroom. I adored the cheery yellow walls that greeted us, and the king-sized bed that seemed to give us a sexy come hither. Even though we had the whole house to ourselves, I gasped at the scandal when Bastien didn’t shut our bedroom door as he dumped me on the mattress, peeling off his suit jacket and tie.

  I frowned at him, propping myself up on my elbows. “Hey, that was my job. I wanted to take your suit and tie off for you. At least let me do your pants.”

  “I can’t wait, Daisy. I need this dress off of you. I told you, no clothes for a week, starting now.”