“One, two… three!”
Jonah ran and tackled Abe, knocking him off Julia.
Julia got up fast and had made it twenty yards before the ball of fire hit her square in the back. She screamed in agony as her body was engulfed in flames.
“To the car! Run!” Rainey waddled out of the water and shoved Abe and Jonah towards the suburban. “Ariana, are you all right?”
“Of course I am. But I’m not so sure about Becky.” She pointed at the shield covering her best friend. “Go!” she whispered, and the shield disappeared. There was no sign of insects or blades; Julia’s spells had died with her. “Take Abe and Jonah to the plane, and then come back for us. I’ve got to try and heal Becky.”
“Oh, no, you’re not. I’m not letting you out of my sight!” Abe put his arm around her middle and lifted her off her feet. He started walking towards the car, carrying her as if she was a rolled-up blanket. “Rainey will bring Becky over, and you can heal her in the car, or when we get back on the plane. She’s alive. I can hear her heartbeat and her breathing. You two coming?” he shot at the frozen forms of Lance and Janie.
CHAPTER 64
As soon as they got on the plane, Rainey put a sleeping spell on Janie and Lance – they soon fell asleep in each other’s arms. The best way to deal with the trauma, Ariana thought. They could always talk when they got back home.
They’d laid Becky down and Ariana was using the last of her energy to heal her devoted friend who’d stepped up bravely in front of danger to protect her. She owed Becky her life, and probably Abe’s and Jonah’s, too.
Luckily, there were no deep lacerations. Becky would heal completely, given time. In the background, Abe and Rainey were talking.
“I owe you an apology,” Rainey said, dabbing some orange potion on her bites.
“No, you don’t, Rainey.”
“But I do!” she insisted.
“I don’t want one, Rainey. This was all Julia. Nothing to do with you. And she’s gone now, so let’s hear no more about it. We worked as a team and got it done.”
“Ariana was fantastic,” Rainey sniffed. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“Yes, she was. Did you expect any less from your future Queen?”
“Ugh!” Ariana couldn’t contain her reaction.
Abe chuckled.
“That’s all I can do,” Ariana stood up. “I think I’m gonna…”
Abe caught her before she hit the floor. That was becoming a serious habit of hers. He sat her on his lap and held her close while she slept. She had spent a lot of energy getting rid of Julia and Max, and doing all the extra magic, and then healing Becky. She had good reason to be exhausted, and he’d have to make sure these kinds of reasons never arose again.
He wished he could dream walk; he would go see her in her dreams and she would still be able to rest. Jonah was in bad shape, he’d used most of his energy on the swim to California and he’d passed out. Abe had laid him in bed and covered him with the blankets they’d used to black out the car, but Jonah was still shaking with cold sweats. He’d been right when he said he might not make it back without a meeker’s blood.
Abe needed a blood fix himself, but he would wait for Ariana to recover. He had the feeling she didn’t like it when he fed from the meekers, and he didn’t want to disappoint her.
Ariana opened her eyes and looked straight at him, as if she’d sensed his need or his thoughts. She moved her hair away from her neck and he had to fight back the urge to take it.
He closed his eyes for a moment and then opened them slowly again before he spoke to her. “No. You are so tired and weak. I’ll wait till you build up your energy.”
Ariana stared up at him with pleading eyes, and held her wrist up to him. “You came to save me. Let me save you.”
Abe looked at her, then looked at Jonah. “If that’s the way you feel, help me save Jonah. I can wait, but he can’t. I’m afraid he’s not going to make it.” Ariana’s eyes held a mix of guilt and reluctance. Abe played his last card. “I promised Lidia I won’t let him break her heart, and if I don’t get him back to my daughter and her babies in one piece… Please, help me keep my promise.”
Ariana looked at him, then around the cabin at the sleeping forms of Janie and Lance, Rainey tending her own wounds and Becky out cold on the floor. What other options were there? She nodded at Abe and lifted her head off his lap with his help. She sat there a minute, trying to make the dizzy feeling pass, then she stood up and walked to Jonah.
Jonah’s eyes were closed and he was shaking. His brow was streaming with sweat. She felt Abe at her back and looked up at him.
“He won’t be able to break your skin. Here, let me.” Abe took her wrist and elongated his fangs, breaking her skin as gently as possible, then putting her wrist to Jonah’s open mouth.
It took him a minute to take it, but eventually he latched on and moaned. Abe gritted his teeth as he heard a small sigh escape from Ariana’s lips, too.
Elton came over the PA. “Attention ladies and gentlemen. We will shortly be landing at the Eternal Island International Airport. Hope you’ve enjoyed the flight. Have a good day.”
Abe turned his head quickly, then stepped out of the plane’s only bedroom, unable to watch another man giving pleasure to his woman.
“It’s nothing, Abe. She is saving his life. She doesn’t want him, really, and you know that.”
He looked up at the ceiling with tears in his eyes and put his hands over his face. “I know. It’s just hard to watch her do that with someone else. I know how I feel when I take her vein, and to know Jonah is feeling that with her… it just kills me. I know it’s nothing, Rainey, but… God, it hurts.”
The plane landed, taxied into the hangar and stopped. Rainey opened the door and then went to wake Lance and Janie.
“Abe?” Jonah spoke with a nervous quiver in his voice.
Abe’s head peaked around the door in his direction. “I think I took too much…” His face was worried and guilt stricken. He’d sat up in bed and was trying to support Ariana’s slumped body. “I’m sorry, I…”
Abe didn’t feel anger. Jonah had been unconscious. He could have kicked himself, though, for not being man enough to stay and watch over them.
“I’ll carry her.” But Ariana’s heartbeat was faltering. “Shit! Move!” he shouted at Jonah.
Jonah shot to his feet as if he’d been burned. Abe laid Ariana on the bed and pierced his own wrist. She’d bloody better make it. He wasn’t going to lose her now. And through his own fault, for God’s sake! Julia’s evil hadn’t killed her, but his pathetic jealousy and inattention would.
Abe parted her lips over the puncture marks in his wrist and held it there. After a few drops, instinct took over and she began to swallow his vampire blood. The color started to come back to her cheeks and the pulls she took from his wrist became stronger. Abe relaxed; she’d be okay. Good thing she was out cold, he smiled to himself, because if she knew she was drinking blood… well… she’d only pass out again.
Abe lifted his head and saw a wrist in front of his face. “Take it before I change my mind. You’re exhausted and if you’re going to be any use to her, you’d better replenish your own.”
“I can get a meeker.”
“It’s stronger than a meeker’s. Take it, Abe! She’ll need you to look after her now. You’re two seconds away from passing out, yourself. Take it!” He took Rainey’s wrist in his mouth, closed his eyes and pictured Ariana in his mind.
Rainey let out a sigh and sat down beside him.
“Abe!” Jonah shouted, puncturing his bliss balloon. “Take it away from her! She wants to have a baby, have you forgotten? She’s fine, man. Any more, and it will be too late.”
He’d got caught up in the moment, thinking of Ariana and the feeling she stirred in him, but Jonah was right. If he didn’t stop her soon, Ariana was likely to complete the change. In small amounts, vampire blood would only make her stronger. Too much, and she woul
d wake up with fangs.
Abe sealed Rainey’s wrist and took his own away from Ariana’s mouth. She tried to resist, but he pulled his arm out of her grasp and cradled her in his arms. She had been unconscious the whole time, so he was pretty sure she wouldn’t remember anything.
He looked up at Rainey, who was still on cloud nine from the arousing feeding experience. “Thank you, Rainey. Are you okay to drive us to the palace?”
“Of course, Abe. I’ll never look at you the same way again, but I’m fine nonetheless. Come on, carry her to my car. I don’t have enough room for everyone so I’ll take you two and Jonah, and Elton can bring Becky, Lance and Janie.”
Abe stood up, holding Ariana to his chest, and walked down the plane steps to Rainey’s car. He was worried that she would be mad at him for doing what he did, but damn it all to hell, what choice did he have? He would take his ass chewing from her later. Still, it would be so good if she hadn’t taken too much. He really liked the idea of having a baby with her. To feel her body swell with new life, and see her hold a baby, and watch her laugh, clap and play with his child – it would give his existence a whole new meaning.
What will be, will be. They would soon find out. It only took a few hours or less for the transition to occur. If she woke up with sharp teeth, that would be a dead giveaway. He opened the passenger door and settled her on his lap.
Rainey glanced at him. “Either way, Abe, it will be fine. She won’t stop loving you.”
“I hope you’re right, Rainey. I hope you’re right.”
CHAPTER 65
Abe stayed by Ariana’s side as she slept in his bed. His phone, which Lidia had rescued from the mess hall and delivered to his room, though a little dented and sporting a cracked screen, had been ringing off the hook with people wanting to know how Ariana was feeling, if it was true she killed Max and Julia, and how she had done it.
All he wanted to know, as he looked at her face relaxed in sleep, was if she was going to be a vampess when she woke up, or the same Ariana she was when she’d left. He had been checking her pulse, every now and then, ever since he put her in his bed and kicked everyone else out of the room. Janie had been the hardest one to convince. For such a small human girl, she held her own pretty well.
Abe sat down in the chair beside his bed and propped his head on his left hand as he checked for a heartbeat with his right. Still strong, good, he thought as he sat back in the chair. He rubbed his bloodshot eyes and, when he looked back at her, she had hers open.
Abe grabbed her hand swiftly. “Oh, thank God, I was so worried. Jonah took too much of your blood and…”
Ariana took her and Abe’s linked hands and put her finger to his lips.
“But Ariana…”
“Shhhh. Come here.” She took her hand from his to pull her hair away from her neck.
Abe’s fangs elongated before he could stop them, but he shook his head. “No, it’s too soon for you.”
“Take it, Abe. You are in bad shape, too.”
“No. I’ll go use a meeker, since I know that you’re okay now. I’ll have Janie come sit with you for a while.”
“Abe, no,” Ariana cried and it broke his heart to watch her cry because of him.
He put his head down; he couldn’t look at her like this. “Look, Ariana. You were unconscious through all this, so let me tell you what happened. You remember letting Jonah take some of your blood?” She nodded. “Well, he didn’t realize how much he’d taken. It’s not his fault, it’s mine. He was out of it, but I should have been keeping watch. By the time I noticed, it was too late. You were already exhausted. You passed out and were close to death. Your heart was failing. I couldn’t lose you. I had to do everything I could to save you. So I gave you some of my blood. I thought it was touch and go, the last few hours, whether you would wake up still human. I can’t risk taking any more of your blood right now; it would dilute yours further. Ariana, it could change you. Do you understand? Is that what you want, to not ever have a chance to have a baby?” She hid her face in the pillow. Abe stroked her hair gently. “I want you to be a vampess, you know that. And one day you will be. But I want you to do it willingly, when you’re ready, and not because of a mistake. If you don’t want a baby, I’ll take your vein now. What’s it gonna be?”
“Just go.” Her voice was muffled by the pillow, but she didn’t turn to look at him.
“I’ll send Janie to sit with you. She’s been hysterical ever since you were taken. It got even worse when I wouldn’t let her stay in here while you were sleeping. She probably hates my guts now, but I always knew that was a strong possibility. Becky’s fine, too. Not a scar on her; your healing powers are amazing. She called the Shaman and let him know that the two of you wouldn’t be back to work until Monday. Apparently, he understood. That’s a good thing, because if he didn’t, I could always pay him a visit and make him understand.”
Ariana didn’t say anything, just kept her face in the pillow. Aww, hell, would she ever forgive him? Abe didn’t give up, just kept stroking her hair and speaking softly.
“Rainey got your dress and the rest of your shopping bags. They are over there, in the corner. I didn’t look at the dress, I promise. I knew you didn’t want me to see it.”
That got her attention. Ariana sat up quickly. “Where’s my purse? Did she get my purse out of the dressing room?”
“Yeah, but I think your phone is still in the vehicle Julia and Max kidnapped you in. I’ll get you another phone when the sun goes down. What else do you need?”
“My purse. Your gift was in it.” Ariana started to get out of bed, but Abe had her purse in her lap before she even put a foot on the floor.
Ariana smiled as she opened it. Abe let out a relieved sigh; she’d finally smiled. She rummaged around in it until she pulled out a little black cardboard box with a red bow wrapped around it. “Here. I’d like you to see it now, if that’s okay.”
Abe smiled, took it and sat down beside her. He twisted the box in his fingers, poked at the sides and bottom of the box, as if he couldn’t work out how to open it, then put on a fake-confused face and frowned at Ariana. Next, he lifted the little box to his ear and gave it a shake, as if he was trying to guess what was inside. Ariana giggled. Finally, Abe tore the ribbon away, lifted the lid and took out the black velvet box inside.
“It’s your wedding ring. I wanted you to see it before I put it on your finger Saturday night, to make sure I got the right size. It would be a little embarrassing if it didn’t fit. Rainey said the jewelry store here could size it in a day if it’s not the right fit.”
With shaking hands, Abe lifted the lid and revealed a beautiful ring. There was a large emerald cut black diamond in the center with four quarter carat brilliant cut diamonds lined up either side of it. The design was simple, yet masculine. Absolutely perfect. He was speechless.
“Don’t you like it?”
He looked at her with tears in his eyes. “No one has ever gotten me something so beautiful. I love it, Ariana.”
She smiled. “Good. Look on the inside; I had it engraved for you.”
He took it out of the box and looked at the inscription on the inside of the thick band.
Abe and Ariana for all Eternity
“Abe?” Ariana counted to ten slowly in her head, but Abe was still as a statue. She counted another ten.
She’d just opened her mouth to ask if he was alright when he grabbed her and hugged her fiercely. He was choked up. “I thought I had lost you. I thought that life sucking bitch had taken you away from me for good. I couldn’t get to you fast enough.”
“I’m here, Abe. You saved me, I’m here.”
He laughed and looked at her. “No, you saved you and you saved me. Oh. Something I meant to ask you. How did you get Jonah to knock me on my ass?”
“Oh, I tried something new. I used telepathy. I wasn’t sure if I could do it, but it turns out it’s one of my many gifts.” She took the ring from his fingers. “Here, let’s see if
this fits.” She took his left hand in hers and slipped the ring into place on his ring finger. It fit perfectly. She started to pull it back off and he closed his fingers in a fist.
“It stays.”
“Oh, no, it doesn’t.” She started tickling him.
“Okay, okay, I give in. Here, take it.”
Ariana took the ring and put it back in its box. “Very wise of you. Thank you.”
Abe kissed her passionately, then pulled back. “I have to feed, or I’m going to hurt you.” He stood up. Ariana got off the bed, too, and walked towards the bathroom.
“Don’t bother sending Janie in here. I’m going to take a shower and then go find her. I feel great, Abe,” she said when he gave her a questioning look. “Go do what you have to do and then get some sleep, you need it. I have some wedding plans to make. You probably won’t see me a lot until the wedding, so find something to keep yourself busy. We’ve got Lance a tux, too. He’s going to give me away.”
Abe didn’t like the idea of not seeing her much till Saturday night, but he understood. She had a lot to do in a short amount of time. He walked back to her and took her in his arms. “I’ll leave you alone. I’ll get your new phone to you tonight and let you do what you need to do without bothering you. I might send an occasional text message.”
She smiled up at him. “I might answer it.”
He grinned his perfect grin. “I’ll see you Saturday night. I’ll be the guy in the penguin suit waiting at the altar for you. Don’t mistake me for Jonah; he’s my best man. The wedding will be in the gardens behind the palace. I’ve already got that organized. It’ll be the most extravagant wedding this island has ever seen. How many groomsmen do I need to have? How many bridesmaids do you have?”
“Three. So you need two more.”
Abe walked to the bedside table and pulled a CD out of the drawer. He turned and looked at her. I have a request for the first song we dance to. I don’t care about any others, choose what you like. But I’d like this one to be our song. It says everything I need to say to you right now. Here, take it.” He smiled down at her. “You will understand when you’ve listened to it.”
Eternal Island (Book 1 in the Eternal Series) Page 33