She looked at our matching height and weight. “Can you lift me?”
Snorting, I easily tossed her over my shoulder and blurred up to where I felt my husband. Both my mom and Ashley were laughing when Teren shut the door. They stopped when they noticed the sounds of traffic and city life stopping. Mom looked around. “Wow, it gets quiet in here.”
Teren shrugged. “We had it soundproofed so the kids wouldn’t hear us.”
Ashley started giggling and I poked her ribs. “When we want to talk, Ashley.”
My mom flushed and looked anywhere but our bed. Ashley bit her lip to stop giggling and Teren ran a hand through his hair, avoiding looking at the bed too. Rolling my eyes, I dragged Ash to the edge of it and made her sit down. Once the embarrassment filtered out of the air, Mom sat down on it too.
The seriousness of our conversation coming back to her, Mom asked, “So…you and my daughter were kidnapped. How did you get away?”
Teren sighed and looked down. His shuffled his feet, seemingly unsure what to say. Not wanting him to admit his part in it, I twisted to my mom. “The man was going to kill us…so I killed him first.”
Her mouth dropped open as her face paled. Tears sprang into her eyes as she looked between Teren and I. Teren had the look of an objection on his face and I gave him a glance that clearly said, don’t say a word. As awful as it was to admit I’d taken a life in self defense, I didn’t want him to admit that he’d drained the man of his life-force. I wasn’t sure how much truth Mom could take in one sitting…and I didn’t want Teren to think about it anymore than he already did.
Ash reached across me to pat Mom’s knee and she looked over at her. “Did you know about this?” she whispered.
Ashley shrugged, then nodded. “I knew most of it.” She looked back to me. “The rest I…pieced together.”
I looked down and then Ashley and my mom’s arms were around me. Closing my eyes, I savored feeling comforted for just a moment. Even though the event had happed awhile ago, I did still have nightmares every now and again.
Teren walked up to me and cupped my cheek. His smooth skin bringing my attention to his eyes, he smiled warmly. “She was amazing. She saved my life.” He looked back down at my mom. “Well, sort of. The hunter injected me with something that killed me, forced my conversion.” My mom looked at him blankly and he explained. “Turned me from a living vampire to a dead one.”
Her hand went to her chest as her eyes watered even more. Reaching her hand up to clasp Teren’s, she softly said, “I’m so sorry, Teren.”
Dropping his hand from my skin, he clasped her hand between his. “Thank you, Linda.” Shaking his head, he continued. “Anyway, what the hunter injected me with was stolen by the man we saw tonight.” He raised an eyebrow. “He stole it from Gabriel…and Gabriel would like to speak with him about it.”
Mom twisted her lips. She’d heard all about Halina’s boyfriend from the twins. While Mom had never met him herself, she was aware that he was pretty powerful, and pretty smart. After the birth of the twins, we’d told her about the shots that were keeping my heart beating, shots that Gabriel had created. Mom looked between Teren and I. “This man won’t survive a meeting with Gabriel…will he?”
Teren bit his lip. “Most likely not, no. As Gabriel is getting closer to him, he’s getting a little desperate. His message to us was to give a warning back to Gabriel, so Gabriel would leave him alone. I don’t think Gabriel plans to.” A tension filled the chillingly quiet space and Teren threw on an effortless smile as he glanced around the room. “But, whatever bad blood is between those two doesn’t directly involve our family, so you really have nothing to worry about.” He patted her thigh and then my sister’s. “Staying with us is just a safety measure, so we all know where the other is until this blows over. Alright?”
Both my mom and my sister woodenly nodded, each looking thoughtful. Seeing the fear in their features, I slung my arm around each of them; they both shivered as their heat leached into me. “It’s just for a few days. Gabriel is close, I’m sure he’ll have him soon.”
Teren nodded, his hands coming up to rest on his hips. “Especially since he stupidly popped up on Gabriel’s’ radar. Now that he knows he’s in the area…it’s just a matter of time before Gabriel catches him.”
I nodded, exhaling in a long, steadying breath. “Then this will all be over with.”
Having my family close, being able to hear them constantly in my home, was a tremendous relief to me. I stayed up late into the night once Mom and Ash turned in, just listening to everyone breathing. Teren beside me squeezed my hand, still awake as well. “Get some sleep, Emma.” Laughing into my ear, he kissed my neck. “You’re going to need your strength with a full house.”
I twisted in our bed to face him, his arms slipping under me as he held me close. “Maybe we should all go out to the ranch? Maybe it would be better if both our families were together?”
The glow of his eyes washing over my face, he considered silently for a second. “We’ll see what Gabriel says tomorrow, after Great-Gran has talked to him.” Leaning in, he kissed me gently. “I don’t want to disrupt everyone’s lives if he is right on Malcolm’s tail.” He shrugged. “Who knows, maybe all this will be over by the morning?”
I nodded, curling into his body and hoping he was right. Even still, I listened to everyone’s breaths for quite awhile longer.
Gabriel called right as Teren would have been getting ready for work; he’d decided instead to work from home, so he could stay in the house and keep an eye on everyone. Shutting our door so he didn’t wake our super hearing children, Teren sat beside me on the bed as Gabriel started asking him questions. After inquiring about every detail of our encounter with Malcolm that a person could think of, Gabriel assured us that we would be of no further interest to him.
“You’ve served you purpose, I don’t suspect that he’ll bother you again. Besides, we’ve narrowed down all of his possible haunts in the area. We’ve cut off every connection he has. We’ve already ended his monetary source and he’s running out of places to hide. Trust me, Teren, this will all be over soon and the person responsible for your early demise will be brought to justice. You have my word.”
Gabriel had a reassuring way of talking and I did feel soothed by his conviction. Before hanging up the phone with Teren, he added, “Just for your own peace of mind, I have sent a couple of mixed your way. Extra eyes are always…helpful.” There was a smirk to his voice as he hung up the phone with Teren and I raised my eyebrow at hearing it.
Teren shrugged and patted my leg. Feeling a little better about the whole incident with the mysterious Malcolm and his ominous message, I got ready for another typical day of work. I didn’t really want to leave my family, but knowing that some of Gabriel’s devotees were already on their way to us made me okay with it. That was, until Teren called me later and I discovered just who Gabriel had decided to…saddle us with.
“He what? Are you serious?” Clarice across from me narrowed her eyes and shook her head, like me being on a cell phone during business hours was a sacrilege.
Teren sighed into the phone. “Unfortunately, yes, I’m serious. They’re here now…looking through the various rooms.” Sighing again, he muttered, “I think they want ours.”
I groaned into the phone and dropped my head into my hands. “I can’t believe of all the people he has down there, he sent Starla and Jacen to protect us,” I muttered under my breath.
Teren chuckled into the phone. “Well, you know how he loves to kill two birds with one stone. This way, he’s given us some extra protection, and he doesn’t have to listen to them make out…constantly.”
I exhaled dramatically as Tracey popped into the room with some reports. Her face was peaceful and serene, like nothing odd or bad had happened last night. I quietly thanked her as she tapped a picture of her finalized choice for the bridesmaid dresses on the top report – they were the teal ones I’d had Halina implant on her. Grateful t
hat at least Halina’s powers seemed to be working fine on Tracey, I said to Teren, “Well, I’ll help you deal with it when I get home.”
He sighed and in the background I could hear Starla smacking her gum and complaining about the firmness of our mattresses. “Okay…please hurry.” Hearing Starla loudly exclaiming that she couldn’t believe our sheets were cotton, of all things, he added, “Are you sure I can’t go hunting with Ben?”
Laughing softly, I firmly told him, “Yes, I’m sure about that.”
I almost reconsidered sending Teren out to help get this guy, to get our lives back to routine, when I was sitting at home later in the evening, surrounded by friends and family. Our house was packed. Except for Halina, who was on her way back from Gabriel’s, everyone was there - Teren and the kids, my mom, Ashley, Alanna, Jack, Imogen, and even Hot Ben, and then, of course, our vampiric protection…Starla and Jacen. Our home was moderately sized for the city, but felt about as big as a postage stamp with all the noise and movement bombarding my senses.
I did relish having everyone close and everyone safe though. Imogen and Alanna talked with my mother over recipes. Alanna loved cooking, even though Jack and the kids were the only eaters left among us. My sister kept the kids in a constant state of laughter, tickling them or playing hide and seek, which was really unfair when it was the kids’ turn, since they could hear the specific thump of Ashley’s heart anywhere, even in our packed house.
Teren spent most of the night in his loft office with his dad, discussing details of transferring to the new ranch. Jack wanted to Teren to go, naturally, but wasn’t going to push him on the matter. Even though they’d all moved together in the past, things were different now. Teren had a family of his own to consider.
Jacen, the blonde near-twin of his girlfriend, Starla, was walking the inner perimeter of the home with Hot Ben, discussing strategy if we were ever infiltrated. Jacen talked with the air of a Secret Service agent assigned to protect the President or something. Ben eagerly listened to his advice like we were about to have World War III explode on our doorstep.
Jacen would have seemed more credible about his protection plans, if his girlfriend didn’t take every opportunity to grab his butt or suck on his ear. It always affected him too. He’d pause mid-sentence and close his eyes before telling her that he had important work to do as he triple checked every point of entry. With his attention to detail, I was a little surprised I hadn’t been frisked at the door when I’d come home.
After being dismissed for the third time, Starla sat beside me on the couch, folding her legs up on the soft leather. Popping a bubble in my ear, she looked over at me. I held my breath at the swirl of mint mixed with floral hairspray. Sometimes, I didn’t know how Starla could stand the smell of herself; everything about her was so strong.
“So, Father says this dude’s as good as toast, so I’m sure we’ll be gone by the end of the week.”
I nodded at her, hoping that as well. She sighed like she was the one put out though. Propping her head in her hand, she moaned, “I miss my room at the house.” Her eyes closed as she began to reminiscence about the luxury she’d left behind in L.A. “I have the softest European sheets you’ll every find.” Her eyes binged open. “One thousand count.” I blinked, not even knowing what that meant.
Starla twisted her lips and looked over at Jacen standing near the elaborate, wrought iron front door with Hot Ben. “Jace and I share a room now, so we’ll be sharing one here too…for however long we’re stuck here.” Her eyes lit up as they traveled down his body. The heat in them was unmistakable. It made me really uncomfortable and I looked away. Not before I caught the equally prissy male vampire look over at her, though. The heat in his eyes was unmistakable too.
Mentally rolling mine, I wondered if I’d have to have the ‘no sex in the house’ speech with her. I really wasn’t prepared to give the birds-and-the-bees speech to my children yet, and I doubted those two would think twice about the tiny, super hearing bodies that were just a few rooms away from them.
Standing to put my kids to bed, I muttered, “Well, the sooner this is over, the better…for all of us.” Starla wholeheartedly agreed as I walked away from her steadily thumping heart. The heart I’d decided to help keep beating.
But, lying in bed later, I smiled at hearing the living heartbeats in my home – safe and secure – even Starla’s.
A few more nights of family togetherness however, had me longing for our comfortable routine of just the four of us. Our house was in a constant state of flux – someone always coming or going. The Adams clan popped in for a few hours every night, sometimes staying very late into the evening. Hot Ben usually checked in before heading home to guard his fiancé. My mom never left our place, sticking to the kids like glue, but Ash came and went for work and to see her boyfriend. She even chose that crazy time to invite the man over.
Pacing a little as she waited for him to arrive for “family movie night,” since the entire clan was at our house again, Ashley went over the rules. “Okay, no freaking him out with inappropriate talk.” She pointed at Halina, who had stuck pretty close to our house most evenings after returning from L.A. Halina shrugged and smiled wryly.
Ash sighed and looked over at Jacen and Starla. Starla had made a couple offhand remarks about my sister’s looks when she’d first shown up, mainly that she knew some really great plastic surgeons. From what was now family lore, Teren had blurred over to her, tossed her on the front lawn, and wouldn’t let her come back in the house until she apologized. The sprinklers in our yard had been on when he’d done it. Starla never said another disparaging word about my sister. I kicked myself for missing that little showdown.
Ash gave the two lovebirds a stern glare. “No, sucking face either.” Starla bounced on Jacen’s lap, crossing her arms over her chest as she pouted. Biting her lip, Ashley reminded everyone to act like regular human beings, so the love of her life wouldn’t flee in terror.
Seeing her nerves, I stood up and put my arms around her. “It will be fine, Ash.”
She nodded, leaning into me. “I know. I just really want him to love you guys.” Peeking up at me, she tilted her scarred head. “Maybe this should wait until things are less crazy around here?”
Teren stood up and circled his arms around my waist. “If we always waited for the craziness to die down, we’d never do anything,” he told her. His hand came out to pat her arm. “Everything will be fine.”
Ashley nodded as Alanna and Imogen and Jack stood up. “We’ll leave you to your evening with your boyfriend, Ashley,” Alanna said warmly, giving my sister a hug. My sister started to tell her that it wasn’t necessary for them to leave, but Alanna shook her head. “I know how intimidating it can be to meet the entire family at once. You introduce him to just yours.”
Alanna tilted her head at Halina, silently asking her to leave with them. Halina frowned as she looked around our house, then nodded. Smiling at our home being just slightly less crowded for one evening, I looked over at Starla and Jacen. They’d tuned out everyone and were making out again. Tossing a throw pillow on them, I said, “Why don’t you guys go with them? You could have…a little privacy.”
I grimaced, remembering walking in on them “testing” out my soundproof room last night; I’d nearly tossed them out on the lawn myself. Starla smiled brightly like it was the best idea she’d heard in awhile. The grin spreading across her lip-glossed mouth was the exact opposite of Jacen’s. While she nodded, bouncing in his lap again, he frowned, trying to still her hips.
“Father told us to stay by your side.” He shook his head, his demeanor serious. “He wouldn’t approve of us leaving.”
Starla twisted to look down at him, her lip twisting into an adorably cute pout. “Babe, it’s just one night.” She wriggled in his lap, making his face twist and his eyes flutter. “Besides, you talked with Father this morning. Their doing that raid thing tonight.” She bent down to kiss his neck and his mouth dropped open. “Malcolm is pro
bably already lighting up the sky,” she breathed in his ear.
Swallowing, Jacen’s eyes refocused on mine. “Perhaps you’re right, one night wouldn’t hurt anything.” Shifting Starla off his lap, he stood and adjusted the obvious discomfort in his jeans. I bit my cheek to not smile. Sniffing, he causally tossed out, “Besides, Father wanted us to protect all of the Adams.”
His pale eyes shifted to Halina. A worried look from hearing the word “raid” instantly evaporated off her face. Crossing her arms over her chest, she leaned back on her hip. “I don’t need your protection.” Her gaze flicked down Jacen’s body, no taller than hers. They lingered on his personal area and a smirk drifted across Halina’s face.
Starla stepped in front of her boyfriend. “Hey, Grandma. Eyes up.”
Halina’s smirk widened and she looked about to verbally rip off Starla’s head, but Ashley intervened. “Hey, this is exactly the kind of stuff that I don’t want Christian to see.” Her hand flicked over to the twins lying on the floor, heads propped up in their hands as they watched the multiple vampires in the room. “Or them,” Ash muttered.
Conversion Book Three: 'Til Death Page 32