Taken For His Own
Page 27
Devlin had planned this. I remembered the pajamas he’d happened to have that fit me, the bag of his clothes he’d had with him. He had known the men who attacked me, who had taken me. He’d worked all this out to get me alone, when he knew that I wouldn’t be able to call out to Terian or Danial or especially Theo to come to my rescue. Then he had conveniently been there to save my ass. But worse of all was that all his talk of love and devotion had been lies.
“Sar, what is it?” Theo asked from the doorway.
I sighed.
“There’s a sigh for yes and a sigh for no and a sigh for I can’t bear it.”
I shut my eyes tight, wanting to block out the sound of Devlin’s voice and the images flooding through my brain.
Theo came and crouched down in front of me. “What’s wrong? Tell me.”
“I’m okay,” I lied. “I’m just getting my period.”
“Sar, are you happy? Here with me?”
I looked at him in surprise. “Of course I’m happy with you. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“I just mean that you’re apart from Theoron. I know how much you love him.”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying that if you wanted to, we could move closer to Danial’s home. Maybe even build a small home on his property. You wouldn’t have to be so far from Theoron or from Elle.”
I relaxed instantly. “No, it’s okay. I see Theoron every day I work, and on weekends too sometimes. He lacks for nothing.”
“Except seeing his mother every day,” Theo said softly.
That stung. “Theo, leave it,” I replied stiffly, in no mood to have this conversation with him.
“Then what’s wrong, Sar?” he said worriedly. “Your body language is telling me that you’re not okay, that something’s bothering you. What is it?”
“Nothing,” I said quickly. “I’m just tired. Can we please just go to bed?”
“Sar, did one of those men who took you, did they ... hurt you?” he said.
I looked up at him, and all the blood drained out of my face. “Why did you ask me that?”
“I—” Theo began and faltered. He cleared his throat. “I know you. You never wear perfume, especially not to bed. It’s almost as if you’re using it to cover something—”
I dissolved into tears.
His eyes went yellow. “Why didn’t you tell me?” he shouted at me. “How could you not tell me immediately?”
I tried to break away from him, but he held me fast.
“We need to get you to a doctor. Camlyn’s got an emergency number—”
I had enough suddenly. I turned to him, enraged at him for pushing so hard and at Devlin for putting me in this position. “No, I’m not going anywhere! Get your hands off me!”
“I’m taking you to Camlyn right now,” Theo said and lunged for me.
What if Dr. Camlyn found traces of Devlin inside me? What if he could tell it had been a vampire who’d had me? “No!” I screamed at him. “I’m not hurt! I’ll be okay! I just want to forget it ever happened! Please don’t—”
“Sar, how could you lie to me?” he roared, louder than ever before. His eyes were yellow slits, his hands claws.
“Because I came!” I shouted back.
His face registered utter shock, then disgust.
“That’s why,” I said weakly, tears streaming down my face. “Because I never wanted to see that look on your face.” I turned from him, grabbing my long overcoat and getting my keys. I was almost out the door when he grabbed me.
“Let me go!” I shouted at him. “Let me go!”
“Where are you going?” he shouted.
“I’m going to Danial.”
“Why?” he said jealously.
“Because he’ll understand,” I said, pushing him away. “He would never judge me as you just did. Nothing I could ever do would make him look at me with disgust, not after what he put up with under The Lust—”
Theo grabbed hold of me. “Sar, I’m sorry. Please don’t leave—”
I dissolved into tears again, beating at him half-heartedly.
“This wasn’t your fault,” he said roughly. “This is my fault. I should have been there—”
“No,” I said vehemently, sudden hatred of Devlin filling me. “There is only one person to blame for this—the man who did this to me.”
Theo pulled me close, stroking my hair as his eyes changed back to their storm cloud blue. “He’s lucky he’s roasting in hell now. I know how to break someone piece by piece into jagged shards of themselves. And I would do worse to him.”
I shivered hearing that and did not correct him.
He kissed my forehead. “Get some sleep, Sar. I’ll be right here.”
I swallowed hard, blinked back tears and didn’t reply.
* * * *
The next morning I was awakened by sun streaming in the windows. Theo was beside me, his arm thrown over me, his chest rising and falling in his sleep. Everything was peaceful. Then I remembered Devlin and everything we’d done.
I grabbed the tissue box and wiped my filling eyes. If only I hadn’t wanted him. If only I hadn’t fed him. If I hadn’t tasted of summer. If we’d had double beds and not one bed. If he hadn’t held me when I was dreaming of Theo. If only, if only...
Theo stirred then, and I got up, leaving the room. I wasn’t ready to talk anymore this morning. As I was feeding the dogs and cats, I hit the play button on the answering machine.
“Sar?” Danial’s voice said questioningly. “Are you there?” Then he paused, and the machine hung up on him.
The next call was from him, too. “Sar, it’s me. Call me when you get this, even if it’s day.”
I paused, debating whether to call or not. As soon as he heard my voice, he’d know I was upset. Yet that was suddenly oddly comforting. I resolutely picked up the phone and dialed Danial’s cell.
It rang for a long time, and then a woman picked up. “Hello?”
This was a surprise. “Is Danial there?” I said awkwardly.
“Sar, it’s Janice. Sorry, I didn’t recognize your voice.”
“It’s okay, Janice, I didn’t recognize yours either,” I said, relieved.
“Danial left this upstairs with me, to field calls. But he wants to talk to you. Hold on just a minute.” There were sounds of her opening the basement door and descending. “It’s Sar.”
Danial grumbled something to her, then said, “Why didn’t you call back last night—?”
“I’m here,” I said carefully, in as normal a voice as was possible.
“There is something in your voice,” Danial said, alert. “What’s wrong?”
I ignored his question. “I’m sorry about Monica.”
“You know as well as I that is not what I’m talking about. What is wrong? Did you and Theo fight?”
I pretended I hadn’t heard and kept talking. “I know how you felt about her, Danial. I’m sorry—”
“Sar,” he interrupted. “Come with Theo to work tonight. I need your help with a few new clients. The house is a mess, but we can get some work done.”
“Now who is lying?” I said to him.
“Both of us,” Danial said flatly. “But you either show up with him, or I’m coming to see you tonight. Something is badly wrong, and if it wasn’t day I’d be heading to you now. As it is, I want to ask someone to go get you and bring you here to me now. The only reason I don’t is that Theo would throw a fit. But make sure both of you are here by sundown, if not before.”
“Okay,” I acquiesced.
“Put him on,” Danial ordered.
I took the phone into Theo, who was just getting dressed. “Danial for you.”
He took it with irritation. “Yes? Fine, Danial, I was going to be there anyway. But I think Sar should stay here.” Pause. “Fine, okay, I’ll bring her. I’m sure she wants to see Elle and Theoron, too.” He hung up and handed me back the phone.
“Do you mind going?” Theo said, rubbing his eyes. �
��Both of the kids want to see you, to make sure you’re okay.”
“No,” I replied, resigned. “I want to see them, too.”
Chapter Seventeen
I busied myself that day cleaning the house, moving on to autumn chores as Theo slept. This year the weather was turning cold faster than ever. It would be an early winter. I tried not to think as I worked, which was an exercise in futility. But I did succeed in ignoring all thoughts of Devlin.
After finishing my gardening, I took Ghost and Darkness for a long walk. The leaves were changing early, and already the huge red maple was red as blood, its leaves brilliant on this cloudless day, its branches swaying in the wind. I walked slowly, thinking about what to tell Danial and what not to. Finally, I decided not to make any preparation. The plan I’d tried last night with Theo had been a disaster.
The dogs and I got back to the house just in time to see Theo coming out. “We have to get going,” he said. “It’s almost five now.”
“Okay,” I said. “Let me put the dogs inside.”
I put them in, grabbed my purse, and then the phone rang. I looked at the caller ID and didn’t recognize the number. The call was from out of state, but it wasn’t a telemarketer.
I stopped still, looking at the phone as if it might bite me. What if it was Devlin again? I didn’t want to talk to him, not after the mess he’d made of my life. But did I dare let the answering machine get it?
The machine picked up, and Theo’s voice came on, saying that the caller had reached Theo and Sarelle, to leave a message. I held my breath, waiting.
“Sar, it’s your mother-in-law, well, former mother-in-law—”
I had to sit down I was so relieved.
“—How is married life? I hope you and your new husband are happy. I mean that—”
“Sar, we have to go!” Theo yelled from outside.
Startled into movement, I grabbed my keys, locked the door after me and ran to his truck. He’d already backed it out of the garage, and as soon as I got in, he floored it, getting to thirty just in the driveway.
“Did you get enough sleep?” I asked him, as he spun the wheel.
“Enough,” he said, giving me a smile. Then his smile faded. “Sar, I know you want to forget what happened. Probably like I do, with what I went through.” He paused. “When and if you want to tell me, I want you to know that you can. That I’ll listen. If that takes a while, it’s okay. I’m still not ready to tell you what happened to me in Europe, though I’m working toward a point where I will be.”
I expected him to say more, but he stopped there. I kept silent for a few minutes, thinking. Finally, I said, “Theo, give me some time. Please understand—there are some parts I don’t know if I can talk about—ever.”
“I feel the same about my own ordeal,” Theo replied. “I understand.”
He reached out and grabbed my hand. I squeezed his, and we rode in silence the rest of the way. It was a comfortable silence, one we didn’t need to fill with words.
Theo pulled up to Danial’s a good ten minutes before sundown. He parked the truck, and we got out, walking to the front door. Janice was there to meet us.
“Theo, Danial wants to see you inside,” she said.
Theo nodded, then ran up the stairs and in the front door.
Janice turned to me. “Sar, Theoron and Elle are with Terian at the compound. They are walking over and should be here shortly.”
“Good,” I said, relieved.
“Are you okay?” Janice said, concerned.
“I’m still shaken up,” I admitted. “But I’ll be okay.”
She gave me a reassuring smile, and I gave her one back.
“Mom!”
I turned as Elle launched herself in the air at me. I caught her, but my muscles were sore, and I gasped.
“Mom? Are you okay?” she said worriedly, alarm on her face.
“I’m okay, Elle,” I hugged her tightly to me. “I’m glad to see you.”
“I’m glad you’re safe,” Terian said as he walked up to us. “I should have tried to take you with me when I took the kids.” There was a large amount of guilt on his face.
“Frankly, I’m just grateful to you for getting them out of here that night. I’m surprised you were able to take both Elle and Theoron at the same time.”
“It was hard,” he said grudgingly. “That spell is meant to teleport one person, not for taking people along with you. There are ways to widen it, but you have to work up to that slowly. I’m still a novice—”
“You did wonderfully then,” I said, hugging him.
As I did, I noticed Theoron strapped to Terian’s back in his baby harness. He was reaching for me eagerly. I got him out with a little difficulty and held him.
Two more people walked up that I didn’t recognize. I turned to Terian questioningly.
“Sarelle, this is Hans and Warren,” Terian said, gesturing to them to come over.
Warren was older, maybe about thirty-five or so. He had brown hair and brown eyes. His smile was friendly, and he had a Western accent as he said, “Good to meet you, Sarelle.”
Hans was almost Nordic looking. His skin was as pale as Danial’s, and his eyes were pale blue. His hair was platinum blond and cut so short it was almost buzzed. “Nice to meet you, Sarelle,” he said with no accent.
“It’s good to meet you both,” I said, smiling at them uncertainly.
Theo came down the stairs, all business. “Okay, guys, Danial wants me to take you out to the range and see what you know. Follow me.” He headed off toward the fox compound, walking fast, and they strode after him.
Janice turned to me and said hesitantly, “I’m sorry, but I need to feed Theoron.”
I handed him back to her reluctantly, and she took him inside.
I’d wanted to start feeding him myself, but Danial was worried Theoron would associate me again with food. I conceded he had a point and comforted myself with the fact that at the very least, in a few months, I could start making him cookies, soup, pies and maybe even homemade ice cream. I’d never made the last, but for him, I was willing to try it. How hard could it be?
Then Elle had my attention again, squeezing me so tightly I couldn’t breathe. “And how about you, Elle?” I asked. “What are you up to?”
“Tears is taking me to the movies,” Elle said happily. “We are going to see the newest Saw.”
“She started calling me that last week.” Terian explained, smiling. “As far as the movie, I voted for that animated one, but I couldn’t change her mind, Sar.”
“Did your father say that was okay?” I asked her.
“He said it was fine and to keep track of the traps to let him know about them later.”
I made a mental note to talk to Theo. He was going to warp Elle, teaching her this stuff.
Yet was her life any less scary? People attacking her home, having to shoot them to survive? Well, I could do something about her entertainment, even if I couldn’t do anything about real life. I made another mental note to get her some “G” rated DVDs.
“Bye, Mom!”
“Have a good time!” I called as they drove off, waving.
I stood there for a moment, knowing I had to go in. Still, I couldn’t make myself do it. “Coward,” I muttered and put my foot on the first step, looking up to meet Danial’s eyes.
He slowly descended the stairs. “Come with me,” he said, walking toward the garage.
I walked with him. “Where are we going?”
“We need more office supplies,” he said, getting into one of the black Expeditions and opening the door for me from the inside. “We’re going to Staples.”
“Danial—”
“Sar, get in the truck. Now.”
He wasn’t angry, but he clearly expected me to obey him. I shrugged and got in. It was his money. I didn’t mind a road trip for work now and again, and this wasn’t a surprise. We had been low on manila folders and stamps, staples and printer ink since last week.
I turned to him in horror. “Theo—”
“Yes, he told me,” Danial said, turning to me. “You are getting checked out. Right now.”
No. Way. I threw open the door and jumped out of the SUV. Danial was faster, already in front of me.
I struggled with him. “Please, Danial, don’t make me do this!”
“You are going in there if I have to drag you in,” he said, a red glint in his eyes.
“No, I’m not.”
“Yes, you are.” Danial tossed me over his shoulder easily and carried me in still thrashing. He nodded to the stunned secretary and took me through the door, setting me down in one of the exam rooms. “Stephen, we’re here!”
Stephen came in. “Sar, please get undressed. My examination will only take a few minutes.”
Danial walked to the door and stood in front of it, his arms crossed over his chest.
“I don’t want to do this,” I said, pulling my legs under me, making myself as small as possible.
“Sarelle,” Stephen said. “What happened to you is not your fault. You know that. I just need to see if you’re hurt.”
“I’m not hurt,” I said softly, not looking at either of them.
“You can’t know that,” Stephen said gently. “Just let me—”
“Yes, I can,” I said steely. “Don’t tell me what I know. It’s my body.”
“At the very least,” Stephen said neutrally, “I have to check you for diseases. It’s normal protocol for this situation.”
“He didn’t have any.”
“You can’t know that,” Stephen said patiently. “He—”
“I know it,” I asserted.
Stephen said slowly, “Sarelle, please, just get undressed. It will only take a minute to examine you. Then you can go home.”
“Please step outside,” Danial interrupted. “Come back in a few moments, and Sar will be ready to cooperate.”
Dr. Camlyn nodded, then walked out and closed the door behind him.
I gave in, knowing it was hopeless to fight anymore. What was I hoping to gain by resisting anyway? Better to get this over with. Without speaking to Danial, I got undressed. Soon, I was being examined, Dr. Camlyn poking me and prodding me. Now that I was cooperating, Danial leaned against the wall, no longer blocking the door. I didn’t look at him, though I felt his eyes on me.