She groaned, setting her face in her hands. A search party just for her?
The fact he chuckled about her humiliation didn’t help. “When I got the call from Lila you were at her house, I was pretty shocked, and goddamn relieved. Surviving a wolf attack? You’ll be legendary, Nadine.”
“Ha. A legendary idiot. Had Lila not shown up when she did, I would’ve been nothing but a memory and a pile of bones.” She settled back in the seat.
“I wouldn’t get too comfortable,” he warned with a lightness in his tone. “The second I told Marex where you were, and that you were okay, he nearly took off on foot.” He turned right to the main road and hit the gas. “So I let him come with, but Seth, Reed, and Brogan have had to hold him down to keep him from running to you.”
Hold him down?
Another mile down Kane pulled off to the side of the road, where there was a truck parked. Their headlights beamed on a scene that had Nadine’s heart lurching with sorrow, with the shifters holding her fated’s arms, and Jean-Luc standing in front of him, constantly holding him back every time Marex tried to break free. The look on Marex’s face was one of desperate terror, determination, and concern. His teeth were bared, proving he was willing to fight his own friends to get to her.
What had she done? “Oh my,” she whispered.
Kane sighed, shaking his head and putting the car in park. “Exactly.”
Either because he was too upset to notice, or because he couldn’t see her, her lover continued yelling at the four to let him go, that he needed to find her.
She closed her eyes, preparing herself, then got out of the car.
“Marex!”
All went still, including him. Jean-Luc glanced over his shoulder, muttering some kind of relief in French. Kane walked toward them, giving a sharp nod that signaled they could let him go. Reed and Chase simultaneously released their grips on his arms, lifting their hands to show they’d meant him no harm.
He pushed past Jean-Luc, eyes wide, breathing labored.
Seeing him like that broke her. All of the strength she’d summoned crumbled as she shuffled toward him, ashamed of what she’d done, the anxiety she’d caused, the bike she’d damaged. Everything. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, tears gathering. “I’m so sorry.”
Marex exhaled, closing his eyes, as she drew closer. She wanted to throw herself in his arms and demand he hold her, but she had no right to make demands, only apologies.
“M-Marex, please,” she sobbed, needing him to reach out.
He sank down to one knee, then the other, placing his hands on her waist, and pulling her in. What she’d put him through, she could only imagine, but was certain he’d tell her every excruciating detail later. She laced her fingers in the back of his head as he hugged her tight, turning his face, and locking her in his arms.
The other five turned away, talking amongst themselves in low tones.
“Don’t ever do that to me again,” he uttered, setting his forehead on her lower belly.
She sighed, dropping her head, wishing she could go back in time and a make different choice. “Okay,” she was all she could choke out, too close to sobbing.
Jean-Luc and Brogan had each expressed how happy they were to see she was okay, and insisted she share the story of her encounter with the wolf someday. She didn’t get a chance to speak to Reed, who’d gotten on his phone before she could approach him. His bike was in the truck bed, and she hoped it wasn’t totaled beyond repair, determined to pay for it somehow.
Seth chucked her under her chin and tsked with a sardonic, “Women.”
Chase asked if he was permitted to hug her, and Marex relented, since it’d been seven days, and probably because he knew, and liked, the shifter a lot more than he did the first night.
The ride was quiet. Kane, Seth, and Reed took off in the truck, and the rest of them rode in the car. She sensed everyone was tired, possibly still hungover, and that Marex was either so relieved she was safe he had nothing to say, or was waiting until they were alone to vent his anger.
They were following the truck to a warehouse, where Marex was set to pick up a car for their trip to Canada, a plan that was still firmly in place. The suspicions and doubts she’d had earlier were just a product of her overreaction to the circumstances. There was no trap, betrayal, or deceit. Perhaps her past had made her more paranoid than she thought, quick to believe in the worst, instead of hoping for the best.
She sighed, and rested her head on Marex’s shoulder.
The warehouse was where they said their final goodbyes to everyone. Brogan and Jean-Luc had jobs to get back to, and were going to be Marex’s eyes and ears in New York. He shook their hands and yanked them in a masculine half-hug, expressing his gratitude for their loyalty and friendship. She knew they’d see them again soon.
Chase told her the trunk was packed with supplies and provisions for their journey, including a brand-new burner cell phone for them to use to contact the pack.
“Oh, and I threw in a couple magazines and girly books in there for you, too,” he told her, shutting the truck down. “My sister has a ton of that stuff and shipped them overnight a couple days ago.”
Seth gave her his pocket knife, and she laughed, thanking him. He simply winked at her.
While Kane and Marex were talking and giving each other respectful slaps on the back, she spotted Reed leaning against the truck, head hung, arms crossed, chewing on a toothpick.
Tentatively, she approached him. “I’m—” she squeezed her eyes for emphasis, “very, very sorry for what I did. You told me to stay inside and I should have. I can’t tell you how bad I feel about your motorcycle. I’ll send you whatever you need to fix it.” She twisted her fingers, unsure her apology meant anything, as he still had his head down. Gods, he must be really mad not to even acknowledge her. “Um, I…hope you don’t take what I did as insult to your skills as a bodyguard or anything. I just thought something happened to you when you didn’t come back—”
He grabbed the toothpick and tossed it. “You don’t have to feel bad. I have insurance.”
Finally. He speaks. “Oh. So, you have enough coverage for impulsive, irrational, hysterical female vampires who don’t listen to orders that will protect them?”
He met her gaze for the first time, and cracked a smile. “The deductible is disgusting.”
She smiled. “You made a joke! I hope that means you don’t hate me. Obviously I’m a terrible client to bodyguard and need to learn to obey.”
“I hope whatever you do, Ms. Nadine, you never learn how to do that.” He patted her shoulder and walked off.
Kane past by him with a curious look before coming up to her, taking her hand, and kissing her knuckles. “Did I do it right?”
“Come on, Kane. I know fully well a southern man learned how to do that before he learned to piss standing up.”
He laughed at her attempt to mock his often vulgar humor. “You are a treasure, Nadine. I can see why your gods chose you for him.” He released her hand.
She smiled up at him, hoping he and Marex’s newfound friendship would continue to grow. “Thank you for everything. A thousand times, thank you. We might not have gotten this far without you.”
“From the courage you showed this afternoon? I think you both would’ve been right as rain. In any case, I’m glad I could offer temporary shelter from the storm that is sure to catch up to you soon enough. I have to get back to Louisiana, but I’m only a call away, and we’ll be in touch often to continue with our pursuit of peace.”
“One way or another, it’ll happen.” She went up on her toes and kissed his cheek.
Marex waited for her by the Jeep as the rest took off in the truck and car they’d arrived in. “Fond of the shifter leader, are we?”
“Not nearly as much as you are,” she teased as he pulled her to him.
“It’s a seven-hour drive where we’re going. We have more than enough time to get there by sunrise, but we’ll stop at a hotel on
the way, right before we get to the border, just to be on the safe side.”
“Sounds good.” She winced when he rubbed his hands up and down her arms.
“What’s wrong?” he asked in alarm.
“Nothing. Just my scratch.”
“You’re hurt?”
She sighed, removing her jacket so he could see the bandage. “It’s mostly healed,” she defended as he unwrapped the gauze. “It doesn’t even hurt anymore actually.”
He frowned, inspecting it, grazing a few of the cuts with the pad of his thumb. “Why didn’t you tell me? If you don’t feed soon, it’ll scar.”
And strangely… “I’m okay with that, actually.”
He shot his gaze to hers. “You are?”
Yes, unusual for a female vampire to accept any kind of scarring on their usually flawless skin, but Nadine realized she didn’t think like most vampires these days. “I know it’s weird, but kind of like the reminder of what I’ve been through. I think it makes me…distinctive,” she joked, raising a brow. “Amongst all the perfect women at the Centurias walking around with their unblemished skin and boring lives.”
Marex grinned and picked her up in his arms, turning her around, making her laugh and hold on.
“You are perfect and distinctive.” He set her down, cupping her face. “And you’re mine. And I love you. I love you so much it hurts.”
He leaned down to kiss her, but she leaned back. “But have you forgiven me?”
“No.”
“Marex!”
“We’ll talk about that in the car. And you can begin making your plea for my complete forgiveness at the hotel.”
“Oh, I see,” she said dryly, wrapping her arms around his neck. “You want me on my knees, begging.”
“It’s amazing we think so much alike.”
This time, when he came to kiss her, she let him, and the rush of desire and love swept over her protectively, with assurance that come what may, they would always have that to rely on to never change.
And there were many changes ahead of them.
The Centurias Newsletter
*A Century in the Making*
Greetings & salutations from Frostwythe Tower!
My first newsletter of the year as we countdown to our rabidly anticipated and notoriously unpredictable Centurias. Already it is forming to be unlike any other before it. I cannot place my finger on why, but trust me, as the reports (and gossip) trickle in, I am sensing each of those nine nights will reveal a surprise in one way or another. As you may imagine, preparations are coming together at a fury’s pace. Rumors abound that this century’s event is going to be the most exciting one to date (could it possibly top 18th Century??)
Your letters and inquiries have been pouring in regarding details. You know I do my best to keep my communication often to the powers-that-be, though they’ve been able to keep the secrets better than any being on earth.
The ever popular events are confirmed:
Silk & Savory Ball. Hosted by our infamous Nine twins, Wesson & Darwin Voltaire.
Madame Morsha’s Masquerade. Hosted by the queen of nightlife herself.
Virgin’s Blood Wine Tasting. Hosted by The Royal Bank.
I know you’re as desperate as I am for the location reveal. Little birdies say they’re keeping it in the northern territories. Perhaps Asia, perhaps Russia. Be prepared for anything. What marriages will be offered? What truces will be made? Broken? As most of us like to keep our intentions close to the chest, we won’t know for sure until January.
Until next time, keep those letters coming in. They make for perfect fireplace kindling.
Next in the series:
Dison
Coming April 2018
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