by Amy Miles
Roseline clinched her eyes tightly shut. Too many hormones. Too many frantic heart beats. Too much pumping blood. The smells were too much to cope with. Roseline felt her control slipping and panicked.
“Stop it!” Roseline screamed, halting both guys in their tracks.
“Rose?” Gabriel questioned, shocked.
The memory of Gabriel’s betrayal wound tightly with the truth of his ancestry. Gabriel was Lucien’s son. No wonder he was special! And extremely dangerous. Fane had been right. She’d been too foolish to listen to him.
Roseline had to get away from Gabriel; the thought of hurting him shredded her heart. But what choice did she have? Roseline turned an icy glare on Gabriel. “I think Claire’s waiting for you.” Gabriel’s jaw clenched, hesitating for a moment before he nodded. “Well then don’t keep her waiting on my account,” she said coldly, grasping William’s arm.
William followed her lead, shocked by what’d just happened. He’d assumed that he was either about to have his face smashed in or lose his date. No way could he have predicted this outcome!
“Come on, let’s dance,” Roseline ordered, pulling him back onto the dance floor.
Roseline wished she could curl up into a little ball and wait for the pain to fade away, but her anger overrode that. She needed to prove to Gabriel that she could have a good time without him, that she could live without him. But more than that she needed to prove it to herself.
She slid her arms down William’s neck as she lowered herself until she was pressed intimately against him. Roseline tried to tune everything out apart from William’s racing heartbeat. As she moved against him, she could smell his desire; feel his self control as he fumbled with where to put his hands. She turned around, wrapped herself around his leg and bumped against him. William’s heart burst out of the starting gate, racing like a prize stallion.
“Oh man,” William groaned, closing his eyes as he tried to fight off his body’s reaction. “What are you doing to me Rose?”
“Shh,” she whispered, placing her finger over his lips as she continued to writhe. She glanced across the dance floor, watching as Claire rubbed herself up against an uninterested Gabriel. His eyes were locked onto Roseline, face red with fury as he watched her body move against William. She felt his jealousy and smiled at him coyly. He was getting the message.
Claire noticed his gaze. She shot icy daggers towards Roseline before she mounted Gabriel’s leg; doing everything she could to attract his attention. Her tiny dress did little to hide the assets she was trying to pawn off on Gabriel but he didn’t even glance at her.
Just as William’s hand landed a bit too close to her cleavage, Roseline flew backwards. Her feet came off the floor with such force that Roseline knew it wasn’t a human behind her. She whirled in mid air, her leg aimed directly at her attacker’s head. William sprawled to the floor, blinking furiously as he came down from Roseline’s hormone high.
Her attacker grabbed her leg and pinned her close to his body, chuckling. “Nice to see you too, Roseline.”
All fight went out of her as she dropped to the floor. Her mouth gaped open. “Fane? Is it really you?”
“Boy you look pleased to see me,” Fane laughed, pulling Roseline into a hug. He molded around her, leaving not an inch of breathing room. “I’ve missed you so much.”
Roseline wanted to return the sentiment but her tongue was tied in knots, much like her stomach. “How did you…why are you here?”
Fane frowned. “You knew I’d come.”
“But how did you track me?”
Fane held up his cell phone. “You shouldn’t have stayed on so long Roseline. You know better than that.” Roseline groaned, holding her forehead. “Who’s this guy?”
Roseline turned as William finally reached her side. His shirt was dirty, like he’d been trampled a couple times before he’d returned to his feet. “I could ask you the same thing,” William bristled. “You know this guy, Rose?”
“I’m sorry William. This is Fane. He’s a friend from back home.”
“Yeah,” Fane grinned, pinching Roseline’s side. “Roseline and I go way back.”
Roseline shoved Fane away, turning her attention back to William. “I’m so sorry for him. He’s not normally like this. Can you give us a minute? I really need to catch up with him.”
William glanced warily at the stunning man before him. Fane’s long blond hair was tied at his back, his broad chest boasting of great strength. William decided he wouldn’t fair too well in a fight. “Sure. I’ll just go grab us something to drink.”
“Yeah, you do that,” Fane grinned, tucking his arm around Roseline’s waist.
Her smile faded the instant William turned. “Why are you here,” she hissed, shoving Fane into a more secluded section of the ball room. The shadows were a perfect hiding space for them since human eyes would be hampered by the dark.
“I came for you of course. I couldn’t just leave you with that guy.” Fane’s head ducked to the side in search of William. “I gotta tell you Roseline, I think you’re taste in men has really fallen over the last few years. Please tell me he’s not the guy.”
Roseline rolled her eyes. “Of course he’s not. He’s just a friend.”
“Is that how you treat all your friends?” Fane asked. Roseline flushed, embarrassed by the show she’d put on for him.
“You were spying on me?” she hissed.
Fane rolled his eyes. “Oh come on Roseline. Every male in this room was glued to your skimpy little outfit.”
“Whatever,” Roseline snapped.
“Where’s the other guy? The one you called me crying over?” Fane pressed, raising his head to scan the room. “I figured he’d be the one you were plastered to.”
“We are not talking about this here Fane. You can’t just burst into my life and assume I’ll be happy to see you.”
Fane raised his hand, gently brushing it along her jaw. Roseline closed her eyes, swaying slightly. “But you are happy to see me.”
Sighing, Roseline nodded. “Yes. But you can be so infuriating at times!”
“Of course,” Fane grinned. “It’s one of my better qualities.”
Roseline glanced up into Fane’s eyes, as green as a spring meadow. She used to spend hours staring into his eyes, reading every thought before he could say it. For the first hundred years they’d been nearly inseparable. He’d taught her how to fight, how to heal and how to love. She knew him better than anyone else. Fane had never been able to keep anything from her.
His fingers flickered on her arm, tensing and releasing. His black pupils were dilated. The muscle along his jaw twitched.
“You’re not here to rescue me, are you?” Roseline whispered.
“You always could read my thoughts,” Fane said softly, cupping her cheek in his hand. “No, I’m here to take you back.”
Roseline’s shriek was masked by the loud bass pumping from a nearby speaker. “Why Fane? You know what he’ll do to me when he finds me.”
The reminder of the pain she would endure when she arrived home made Fane’s façade crumble. He nodded, face pinched with anguish. “Yes. But it will be far better than if he finds you here. Look around you Roseline,” Fane ordered, waving his arm around the ballroom. “You’re friends, your new life…he will slaughter every one of them. You know that. Remember what happened last time?”
Of course she did. The memory of her last escape had haunted Roseline for nearly a century. She’d made it all the way to London before Vladimir tracked her down, cornering her in a boat bound for the new world. Roseline shivered as she remembered how long it’d taken to get the blood out of her hair after Vladimir had finished his rampage.
There hadn’t been any survivors on the ship. Lifeless eyes of slaughtered men, women and children had stared back, accusing her.
Glancing around the room, filled with innocent teenagers, Roseline sobbed. “He can’t come here.”
“Then leave with me,” Fane pleaded, be
ginning to pull her away.
Roseline bristled, sensing the turmoil before she found him. Gabriel was livid and heading straight for her. His blue eyes pierced through the darkness. “We need to go.”
Fane glanced up, noticing the direction of her gaze. His face hardened. “So he’s the one that’s got you all hot and bothered?” He eyed up the tall boy, a deep rumble building in his chest as he noted how handsome and self assured he was. Fane barred his teeth, furious at the thought of the striking mortal’s hands on Roseline.
“Stop it Fane,” Roseline growled, pulling him away. “That’s none of your business.” She watched as his mossy green eyes flamed to life, his jealousy burning the forest to the ground. He was the last person in the world that should meet Gabriel!
“Not my business?” Fane snarled, pulling Roseline close. “Have you forgotten our time together?” His gaze flitted down the curves of her body, the admiring gleam quickly replaced by something hungrier. Fane reached for her, his fingers aching with the need to feel her silky skin once more.
“Of course I haven’t,” Roseline hissed, slapping his hand away. “But that’s in the past Fane. Let it go.” She glanced back over her shoulder. Gabriel was getting too close. Fury rolled off of him in almost visible waves. Roseline’s stomach cramped with fear. She had no idea what Gabriel might do with his new found abilities. “We can talk about this later. Let’s go.”
Fane smirked, planting his feet firmly on the floor. “Why? Because you think I might hurt your little boyfriend?” he cooed, glaring icily at Gabriel as he carved a path straight through the crowd.
“No,” Roseline growled, locking her gaze on Fane so there would be no mistaking her intent. “Because I don’t want to hurt you if you try.”
Fane flinched, incensed. “You’d fight me over a human?” Roseline nodded. Fane’s anger unleashed as he yanked her to him, fingers digging painfully into her left arm.
“What have you been doing while you’ve been gone, Roseline Dragomir?” His accent came out thick as he used her maiden name. It was the highest insult he could use to remind her of the humanity that’d been taken from her.
Roseline’s hand blurred as she slapped him across the cheek. “That’s for being rude. Now let me go or I promise I will hurt you.”
Fane reared back, his teeth gnashed. “You have a lot of explaining to do,” he snarled as he swept her up into his arms and ran for the door. Fane didn’t stop when Gabriel howled with anger or when a foolish girl tried to wrench Roseline from his arms. Fane easily shoved the stupid girl away, not even hesitating when the scent of her blood filtered into his nose.
He ran for the exit, not pausing when snooty hotel guests cried out in alarm as he raced past with Roseline in his arms. Fane burst through the front doors and caught the keys that had just been tossed through the air. In one fluid motion, Fane shoved Roseline into the passenger seat and leapt over the roof of the car, landing next to the open driver’s side door.
“What the…” the middle aged man in a pricey tux cried as Fane pushed him to the ground. Muck and slush sprayed as the cars flew past, covering the man from head to foot.
“Fane!” Roseline cried.
Ignoring her harsh call, Fane shoved the Mercedes into gear and tore out into the street. Car horns blared and tires screeched as he swerved dangerously out into traffic.
Roseline’s piercing scream echoed around the car as Fane yanked the wheel, barely missing the front bumper of an oncoming car. “Are you insane?” she shrieked, gripping the door handle tightly. The thin metal bent into the shape of her hand.
Fane threw back his head and laughed as he played chicken with a semi. “Someone has spent too much time around the humans. Did you forget you’re an Immortal Roseline?”
“Even if we can’t die from a car crash that doesn’t mean we won’t feel the pain your idiot!”
His smile faded as he threw the car up onto the sidewalk, sending pedestrians sprawling to the ground. The tires squealed as he rounded the corner, finally exiting the one way street. He melded into traffic and slowed to a more reasonable speed.
“Where are you taking me?” Roseline inquired, trying to sound bolder than she felt. She was furious that he’d kidnapped her in front of the entire school, but her fear of being presented to Vladimir had wormed its way into her mind.
“Your home. You need to pack.”
Crossing her arms over her chest, Roseline sat in silent defiance. Fane glanced over at her, confused by her actions. Of course he knew how badly she feared going back to Romania…but to overreact over that boy? It was mind blowing. “Are you gonna tell me about him now?”
“He’s just a guy,” Roseline muttered, pressing her nose against the cold window. Her warm breath fogged up the window. “Just let it go Fane. He doesn’t matter anymore.”
“Just a guy huh? I’m not buying it Roseline. You’ve never threatened me before,” Fane said, keeping watch over her from the corner of his eye as he wound through the heavy city traffic.
“You never gave me a reason to.”
Fane growled with frustration. “You call me out of the blue, crying over this guy and now you won’t open up after you’ve just threatened me? Roseline, I’ve been your best friend for three centuries. And sometimes more than that…” he let his voice trail off, his throat clenching at the memory of the few brief moments they’d snatched over the years.
Roseline sighed. “That’s why I can’t tell you about him Fane. You’re too involved.”
“Yeah, because you got me involved.”
She turned, gazing out the window. Roseline couldn’t bear to face Fane. “He’s just a guy that I’ve grown to care about.”
“Care about? Do you really think I’m that stupid Roseline?” Fane growled, clenching the steering wheel tightly. He released some of the pressure, not wanting to risk ripping the wheel right off the car. “I saw how you were dancing. You were trying to make him jealous, weren’t you?”
Roseline shook her head. “I was trying to prove a point.”
“What? That you’re a slut?”
Her hand flashed out, striking Fane’s cheek. “How dare you speak to me like that!”
Fane sighed, flexing his fingers. “I’m sorry. I’m just…the way you were moving was sickening to watch.”
“You never complained before,” Roseline snapped, grinding her teeth together.
Fane nodded. “I know but its different now. We’re different.”
“Exactly. We aren’t together anymore Fane. You have to accept that. Just like Gabriel has to accept that he has no place in my life. It’s forbidden.”
“So you two never…” Fane trailed off, taking his eyes off the road to observe her reaction.
Roseline stuffed down the sob rising in her throat. “No. Never.”
“Good.” Fane released his breath. He winced at the fury blazing in Roseline’s eyes and added to his words. “Cause if Vladimir smelled him on you he’d be a dead man.”
Roseline nodded, knowing full well the pain that Vladimir would happily inflict on Gabriel if he ever found him. Maybe this was for the best. If she left with Fane she’d be the only one punished. “Fine. Take me home.”
“I am.”
“No. I mean to him.”
Fane snarled as he yanked the car to a stop. His blazing eyes drilled a hole into the side of Roseline’s head, but she refused to look at him.
“You do love him,” he shouted. If Fane had been free of the car, Roseline was sure he’d have yanked off a mail box and hurled it like a javelin. Instead, he settled for clamping his fingers over his knee cap, his bones groaning in protest.
When she finally looked up at him, Fane was shocked by the depth of misery seeping from her dampened eyes. “Does it really matter now? I’m leaving and will never see him again.”
Roseline fought back the sob that ached to be released. She dammed up the floodgates that threatened to spill over. She couldn’t lose control in front of Fane, it would only
jab the knife in deeper.
Her words loosened the clamp that’d taken his heart captive. When he spoke, he barely recognized his own strangled voice. “You’d choose a human over me?”
She’d never wanted this. Hurting Fane was the last thing she wanted to do. Oh why didn’t he stay in Romania where he belonged? Roseline slid her hand across the gap, resting it gently on his forearm. “I never had a choice Fane. It just happened.”
Enraged, Fane slammed his hand against the steering wheel. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Roseline pulled back from his anger. Why did he have to ask the one question she was terrified of answering? Fane waited, unrelenting. He wanted an answer. Sighing, Roseline glanced out of the window, noticing for the first time that it’d begun to frost over. “We’re bound together.”
That was the last thing Fane had expected. The bond between Immortals was far stronger than any romantic feelings a human could experience. For Roseline to be bound to the boy it would mean…Fane sucked in a breath. “How? You said you’ve never…”
“I know!” Roseline screamed. “Don’t you think I know that? I can’t explain it Fane. That’s why I called you, but you weren’t exactly much help!”
Fane struggled to comprehend what it could mean. Immortal bound to a human. Such a thing was unheard of. It was forbidden to even care for a human, let alone be bound to one. It was impossible. Wasn’t it?
“You didn’t tell me you were bound to him,” Fane protested, grinding his teeth at the thought. “If I’d have known…” he trailed off, suddenly unsure of what he would’ve done. Would it have changed anything? No. This was one of those unspoken rules that were passed down through the ages. You never try to break a bond. But could you out run one?
Roseline’s tears fell silently. “He’s just a boy.”
“Exactly,” Fane said, his voice softer than it had been. “He doesn’t know what love is. But I do.” He gently pulled Roseline’s hands into his. “Roseline, we’ve been together through wars, plagues, tortures and so much more. I know you in and out. That boy could never know you as well as I do. I’m the one that should be by your side. You know how much I love you.”