Where Loyalty Lies

by Hannah Valentine

  “No,” Henry said, still looking wistful. “He found his mate. Over two hundred years of seeing him almost every day and then, one day, he meets his mate and that’s it. They moved off to live happily ever after.”

  I laughed. “Is that true?”

  “Yes, it’s true,” said Thomas. “Lucky bastard. He’d been around less than three hundred years and he found her.”

  My mind boggled at the number. The thought that I might live for longer than one hundred years was hard enough for me to get my head round, but to imagine thinking three hundred years was a short wait was crazy. With the topic being mates, I couldn’t help but remember the conversation I’d had with Ian and Richard.

  “Is it true that, once you find your mate, there’s nothing you wouldn’t do for them?” I asked.

  “Yes, that’s true,” Thomas said. “But the majority of us aren’t ever lucky enough to find them.”

  I wondered whether I should mention the story I’d been told about Saul. The truth was that I was desperate to find out more and I knew Henry would be a good person to ask, but I wasn’t sure if it was appropriate.

  Henry laid his cards carefully face down on the table and twisted in his chair to face me. His head cocked gently to the side and a thoughtful look covered his face; he was studying my emotions.

  “I do believe someone’s told you about what happened with the Reapers.”

  I nodded, amazed at how spot on he was.

  “And I’m guessing they also told you about Alina.”

  I nodded again.

  “Do you believe it?” Henry asked in a casual tone that implied he wasn’t really bothered about the answer. Thomas and Roy both turned their gazes on me.

  I thought my answer over carefully before I answered. “I believe The Sénat sent him there to bring the Reapers down from the inside. I believe he spent over a hundred years with them to earn their trust. And I also believe he killed them all. I don’t believe he’s a traitor who plans to bring down the Sénat. As for Alina, I’m not sure. At first I thought maybe she was his mate but, if you say a vampire would do anything for their mate, then Saul would never have wiped out the Reapers. So, no, I guess I don’t believe it.”

  My answer was honest and complete. I had to admit, I was surprised. I was forever reminding myself that Saul couldn’t be trusted and yet my gut instinct told me that his dealings with the Reapers had made him resilient, but not a traitor.

  A slow smile spread its way across Henry’s face and I could tell my answer was right. But this wasn’t the comical grin I usually saw on Henry; it was filled with pride and affection and I knew I’d been wrong in thinking my answer didn’t matter to him.

  “Spot on,” he said simply. Then he stood and refilled our glasses.

  * * *

  It turned out that that was only the first of many refills. At some point around one in the morning I remembered I had combat training with Peter tomorrow, no, today, and so I really should get some sleep.

  As Thomas had been topping up my glass before I’d even finished, it had become a little blurry as to how much I’d actually drunk. But, if my slightly slurred speech and inability to walk in a straight line was anything to go by, it was a lot.

  The three men watched with humour as I staggered across the room muttering about beauty sleep. It was only when I stubbed my toe on the corner of the sofa, and after much yelping, hopping and slumping into a heap on the floor, that anyone bothered to help.

  Roy knelt down next to me and I gave him a desperate look.

  “I think it’s broken.” I showed him my big toe and, to his credit, Roy kept a straight face as he examined it.

  “I think you’ll live.”

  “No,” I argued, “it’s definitely broken.”

  I was about to suggest calling a doctor when Roy hooked his arm under mine and, in one swift motion, had me on my feet. All thoughts of a doctor left my mind as the room started spinning.

  “A good night’s sleep’s all you need,” Roy said.

  “I quite agree,” Henry said, appearing next to me and taking me out of Roy’s grip. “And I don’t think she’d be getting that if you go in her bedroom.”

  I gave an exaggerated gasp and looked at Roy. “Why, Roy, I’m shocked, surely you’d never take advantage of a lady in my condition?”

  “A lady? Never. You? Abso-fucking-lutely.” He gave me a cheeky wink before my bedroom door closed between us.

  Henry pretty much carried me to the bed muttering about how Roy should rein it in if he wanted to keep his head. He all but threw me onto the mattress and I laughed as I bounced before landing right in the centre.

  “Ah, Henry, I never realised you were so protective of me. Ooooo, look, this one’s so pretty!” I’d found today’s flower resting on my pillow. It was bright orange, with large frilly petals. “I’m lucky I didn’t squish it.” I crawled to the edge of the bed and popped it into the vase with the rest.

  Henry eyed my odd bouquet with interest. “It looks like someone has an admirer.”

  I frowned at both Henry’s comment and the fact that it was proving so difficult to get my jeans off. Finally I won the battle and threw them across the room in the vague direction of my laundry basket.

  “You don’t get flowers on your pillow?” I asked.

  Henry whipped the covers from underneath me and threw them over me, probably trying to save my modesty as I stripped off my top and bra and collapsed with my head on the pillows, pulling the duvet up under my chin.

  “Flowers are a little feminine for me,” Henry commented.

  “Well, a mint, then, or... I don’t know... a shot of whisky or something,” I said through a huge yawn.

  “No, I think it’s just you,” Henry said as he turned the light off. “Sleep well.”

  I mumbled my own good night and tried to work out why Henry’s words were important but sleep proved too persuasive and, in seconds, I was gone.

  Chapter 52

  I was on a high as I made my way back towards my room. I’d excelled in my combat training today and, although Peter hadn’t actually voiced his approval, he’d given me a satisfied nod. From Peter, that was high praise indeed. Thanks to last night’s drinking/poker/making-an-idiot-of-myself session, I’d been exactly four minutes late and so Peter had been extra tough on me. It had seemed to make me step up my game.

  I could feel the aches and bruises on my body from the few blows he’d managed to land on me but I bore them with pride.

  Just to add to my excitement I now had two whole weeks off. It was the 22nd of December and I only had to endure one final week of testing in January before my official trial.

  I’d just reached the top of the stairs in the main entrance hall when the sound of voices reached me. It was the mention of Saul’s name that made me stop. I quietened my footsteps and pressed myself back against the wall.

  “I’m telling you, it’s true. He went to The Sénat this morning and told them he’d be taking no more jobs for the foreseeable future.”

  I didn’t recognise the voice.

  “He really said that? But Saul never turns down a job; hell, I can’t even remember the last time he took a holiday. What’s got into him?”

  “Well, that’s just it. When The Sénat asked him what his reasons were for taking time off, he flat out refused to tell them. Rumour has it it’s because of her.”

  “What? You don’t mean to tell me she’s the reason for all this.”

  “Apparently so,” the first guy replied.

  “But that makes no sense; why would he need to take time off for her? It’s not like she can go anywhere.”

  “Who knows? Maybe it’s so he can be around for her trial, or maybe trying to get her into bed’s become a full time occupation. What I do know is that his loss is our gain; the longer he’s out of work, the further down the ladder he’ll fall. Who’d have guessed the half-breed would have given us such a wonderful gift for Christmas?”

  The voices faded as they c
ontinued on to wherever they were headed. My mind seemed to fill with white noise as I stood dumbfounded. That couldn’t be right. That guy had been right when he’d said it made no sense for Saul to take time off for me.

  On autopilot, my feet started moving, but I didn’t even notice my whereabouts until I was in my own front room. I dumped my bag of sweaty workout clothes on the floor and cursed that nobody was here. Why was it that, when I really wanted to see a vampire in my room, there was none?

  I yanked the front door back open, still not sure where it was I was headed, but as it turned out I didn’t need to make a decision. Henry’s hand was frozen in motion, reaching for my door handle. He blinked at me in surprise.

  “Did you know he was going to do it?” I asked.

  “Ah, you’ve heard already,” Henry said, coming in and closing the door behind him.

  “So, it’s true then? Saul’s refusing to work?”

  “Well, I wouldn’t call it refusing; it’s more like he’s taking time off. It’s not so unusual really; vampires book time off work just like humans do.”

  “But Saul doesn’t,” I said. I didn’t know that for sure but the guy in the hall had said it, so I thought it probably wasn’t far from the truth. “So why has he decided to do it now?”

  I watched Henry carefully. He’d once promised me that he’d never lie to me and I knew he wouldn’t break that promise.

  “Everyone needs a break sometimes,” Henry said. He started browsing through my DVDs that were lined up on a shelf.

  “Henry,” I chided, as if he was a naughty child.

  He turned to face me with a look of resolution on his face.

  “Why won’t you answer my question?” I asked.

  Henry sighed. “Because it isn’t my answer to give.”

  “You’re right,” I said. I crossed to the door.

  “He’s not in his rooms,” Henry said, guessing where I was heading. I turned to him and I don’t know what expression was on my face but Henry sighed again.

  “You could try the conservatory; he spends a lot of time there. Just head for the library but instead of turning left at the end, go right and follow the corridor all the way round to the north east side of the building.”

  I nodded my thanks and left.

  If I hadn’t overheard the two men talking in the hall, it still wouldn’t have taken me long to realise that something was going on. Everyone I passed gave me odd looks which only quickened my pace. Following the corridor Henry had told me to take, I was starting to think I’d gone the wrong way; the rooms on either side were getting darker and darker. I was just about to turn back when I noticed a patch of bright light ahead.

  I had to blink a few time to adjust my eyes from darkness to daylight. The place was like a jungle with huge overgrown plants scattered everywhere so I couldn’t even see the edges of the room, just the glass panels of the ceiling. It was pouring with rain outside and the sound of it hitting the glass was very loud. I followed a small tiled path, feeling like I should be dropping breadcrumbs.

  In what I guessed was the centre of the room, there was a set of high-backed woven chairs with cream cushions, all placed around a matching table. One of the chairs was slightly apart from the rest and Saul was sitting in it with his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands.

  All the way there I’d been practising a speech in which I demanded to know what exactly Saul was playing at. I’d been planning on asking him if he didn’t think I had enough on my plate without him pulling this little stunt which made me stand out a mile. But my thoughts vanished as I stood and watched Saul. In my mind, I’d assumed this had been part of some stupid plot to try and win me over, I’d been picturing him feeling pleased that his new plan had caused such a fuss. However, the person in front of me wasn’t smug or happy.

  Saul must have either heard my breathing or sensed my emotions because he suddenly looked up and, in record time, he covered his own expression with a careful blankness.

  Seeing him hide his emotions made me so sad. I had no idea why, but I had an overwhelming urge to put my arms around him and try to help him. I pushed the thought away before Saul could pick up on it.

  “Are you okay?” I asked, not really sure what to say now that I’d been caught off guard.

  “I’m sure I can guess the rumours you’ve heard,” Saul said, not answering my question, “but you don’t have to worry, I didn’t do what I did because of you and I’ll make sure I set the record straight on that.”

  I nodded. “Thank you.”

  I felt like a complete idiot. I’d been so full of it, marching down here ready to give Saul a piece of my mind about how I still wasn’t interested and how he should stop whatever this game was, only to find out it was nothing to do with me. I thought about asking if he was okay again but he clearly didn’t want to discuss it with me and who could blame him? I’d frequently told him I wanted nothing to do with him.

  I was so preoccupied as I walked back to my room that I hardly noticed all the stares and comments. I couldn’t understand why it bugged me so much to see Saul so upset. He was so complex that I felt like he was a million different people rolled into one. I’d seen him soft and gentle when we’d been at the abandoned house, intense and angry when we’d argued, relaxed and carefree with Henry, powerful and formidable when surrounded by others and now I’d seen him troubled and sad. I was beginning to wonder why I judged him so differently. Why did I have to put him under a magnifying glass and analyse everything he did?

  Chapter 53

  Henry was still in my rooms when I got back. He watched me as I picked up my bag of gym clothes and carried it into my bedroom. I chucked the dirty clothes into my laundry basket and stood for a moment staring at nothing. I had the strongest feeling I was missing something. I felt like there was something right on the edge of my mind but the harder I tried to grab at it, the further away it moved.

  My gaze landed on my bed and stayed on the electric blue flower that was resting on my pillow. Henry’s words from last night came back to me. It was just me getting the flowers. Every single night, a beautiful exotic flower had been placed on my pillow. I thought of Saul sitting in the conservatory, surrounded by plants and vines. Henry had said that Saul spent a lot of time there.

  I snatched the flower up and strode into the living room. Henry looked up at my entrance and clocked the flower in my hand before resting his gaze on me. He seemed too calm and I realised he was trying hard not to give anything away.

  “It’s Saul, isn’t it?” I asked.

  “That’s not my answer to give either,” Henry replied but a slight glint in his eye told me what I needed to know.

  “But why?” I said dumbly. “It doesn’t make any sense.”

  I stared at the flower in my hand. If Saul had left notes with the flowers or hinted that they were from him, I’d have thought it was another plan to try to win me over. But he’d never said anything; for months he’d been sneaking them in here and there was no reason for him to do it other than because he thought I’d like them. Every day he’d done it, even the days when I’d ignored him or insulted him.

  I’d spent so long trying to avoid Saul; it had never occurred to me that I might be wrong. As I stood stock still, I tried to see the last couple of months from Saul’s point of view. If he’d been telling the truth about his feelings for me, then it must have driven him crazy that I’d simply refused to believe him. I’d based my opinion of Saul on my past prejudices of the way men felt about me and on what Monique had said. How could I have been so stupid as to believe what people like Monique had said, rather than what he’d tried to tell me himself? Even Henry had tried to tell me that I had the wrong impression of Saul and I’d flat out refused to listen.

  Christ, I’d spent too long not taking any chances because I was scared. I didn’t want to live like that anymore. So what if it turned out that this meant more to me than to Saul? Surely it was better to try and fail than to never try at all. I did not want
to get to old age and regret that I had never taken the chance. My decision was made. Most of my life I’d been waiting – waiting to grow up so that I could move away from Mary, waiting to decide what I wanted to do in life, waiting for my trial to find out what The Sénat declared me to be – but now I was sick of waiting. Right in front of me I had the opportunity to discover something amazing and I wasn’t going to wait any longer. I was all in now.

  A mass of feeling bubbled up inside me and I looked up at Henry. He felt it too and smiled.

  I took off, back to where I’d just come from and, by the time I finally reached the conservatory, I was practically running.

  “Saul!” I yelled over the sound of the rain as I made my way down the path again, hoping he was still there.

  I came skidding to a halt as I reached the clearing and found Saul standing by his chair, looking at me in surprise. He opened his mouth to speak, but my emotions must have hit him because he closed his mouth and looked puzzled.

  Suddenly I wasn’t sure what to say; there were so many words and explanations spinning through my mind that I had no idea where to start. I decided that Saul’s built-in emotion detector might just come in useful. I let my feelings wash over me. I finally let myself admit how much I cared for him and that I believed him. I thought about our kisses in the rain and the pool and how much I wanted to kiss him again.

  A slight crease appeared in Saul’s brow and I knew it was working. I pushed any thought of worry and mistrust out my head and focused on how much I wanted him, on how long I’d spent wishing we could be together and on how, from the very first moment, I’d wanted him. All the feelings I’d spent months bottling up started to spill out and I couldn’t do anything to stop them.

  Saul’s expression changed from confusion to astonishment. He moved towards me only stopping when we were a couple of inches apart. His hands grasped each side of my face and he tilted my head back, searching for the truth in my eyes. He lowered his head towards mine as if he was going to kiss me, but stopped. I knew he was remembering our last kisses and how I’d freaked out afterwards. I stood on tiptoes and pressed my lips to his.