“You need to rest more as well. Why don’t you lie back down, and I’ll be back soon? Or do you not feel safe enough yet, even in my chambers, for me to leave? I can have Dimka or Summer stay with you to protect you if that would help.”
“Alone, please. I don’t want….”
“Anyone else near you. Okay, mal’chik. Then go back and lie down. I’ll return shortly.”
Trace nodded and wandered back into Sasha’s room. He couldn’t help the small hope that Trace’s clinging and comfort in Sasha’s space would one day turn into more between them. Forever was a long time for Trace to spurn him, after all.
Chapter Nine
TRACE WANDERED around the lavish comfort of Sasha’s bedroom, torn between the desperate need to recharge and the desire to leave. He didn’t want to stay, yet he couldn’t just leave either. How messed up was that? He was so tired he ached down in his bones. He assumed it was due to the healing from all the damage and whatever it was Sasha did to heal his mind. He feared it meant Sasha was now mated to him, even if he wasn’t mated to Sasha—not that he’d figured out how that worked. They’d mentioned that whole fated hearts thing and Sasha had said it wasn’t a forced mating, but it still didn’t make any sense yet.
Right then, though, he wanted sleep. He couldn’t bring himself to climb into Sasha’s huge bed, but the thought of hunting up a guest room wasn’t any more appealing. Trace looked around the room again, both hoping for a solution to his sleep issue and to try to keep his mind off what Sasha was doing at that moment.
It was ridiculous to be pissed off at Sasha for feeding on some human when Trace wasn’t about to let Sasha bite him. Trace knew it was insane to be jealous. Unfortunately logic didn’t seem to help any, no matter how many times he reminded himself that Sasha needed blood and was only doing what was appropriate to get his nutritional needs met.
Eventually he gave up and decided to shift into his lynx. Things were always simpler in his feline skin. Once he’d shifted he stretched out each leg, then arched his back before he prowled around, checking out Sasha’s room. When satisfied he knew the layout of the room and that there was nothing hiding from him—and he’d rubbed up against enough items—he hopped up onto the lounger at the foot of the bed and settled down to take a bath. He was finishing up his ears and whiskers when Sasha finally returned.
Sasha gave a tired chuckle. “I know you’re a big wildcat type, being a lynx and all, but that’s still adorable.”
Trace wrinkled his muzzle and snorted. Am not. Just because he wanted to be clean was no reason to be rude. Trace finished, doing his best to ignore Sasha as he gathered a pair of pale blue silky-looking sleep pants and a robe from a cabinet. “I don’t wish to offend you, so I will change in my bathroom. Excuse me.”
When he returned Sasha’s hair was damp and he was clad in only the pants and robe. It seemed odd to Trace that if Sasha had fed, and he could smell the hint of foreign blood from Sasha, he didn’t look much better than when he’d left. He hoped it had to do with the interrupted sleep after whatever Sasha did to help him. Sasha would be better in the morning, Trace would feel like himself again, and they could both go back to their lives. Right? Right.
“Are you staying as your lynx, Trace?”
“Reow.” Of course. I’m not curling up in bed with you as my two-legged self!
“Don’t get so offended. I could lead you back to the adjoining room so you could sleep in the bed there, if you’d like.”
Yeah, and you so sound like you want to do that. Trace sneezed at Sasha and curled up on the cushion, kneading it with his paws pointedly.
“I’ll still have that chamber set up for you tomorrow for any time you’re here. You can think it over and let Jalin know how you want it decorated then. Night.”
Sasha climbed into the king-size four-poster bed and, once under the covers, moved around until he was on his stomach, and then stopped moving other than to breathe softly. It took a long time for the words Sasha had said to stop ringing in Trace’s ears enough for him to drift off to sleep, but eventually the lullaby of Sasha’s gentle breaths won out, and sleep finally claimed him.
“I DON’T see why I need to discuss redecorating the other main bedroom in Sasha’s suite, and why the hell does this area have two master bedrooms anyway?” Trace kept snapping at Jalin, who didn’t deserve his temper, Trace knew that, but Sasha had left the two of them together with instructions to decorate the room for Trace and hadn’t returned since. That was over an hour ago.
“This is a very, very old mansion, Trace. At one point that was common. There were two because the master and mistress of the house kept separate bedchambers, though they often connected. The one Prince Sasha ordered set up for you was actually used as the nursery, as his parents didn’t like the idea of having their little ones too far away at night.”
“So I’m being either given the ‘little woman’s’ room, the concubine’s room, or the baby’s room? None of which is acceptable. I have a home, thanks.” Trace crossed his arms and glared at Jalin, refusing to look at the magazines or tablet the male held.
“You have no idea how many vampires would kill to have what you are belittling,” Jalin muttered softly, but not so much that Trace didn’t catch the words.
“I didn’t ask for this.”
“No, you are being gifted this by one of the most powerful vampire princes in the world. One that doesn’t flaunt his power, or abuse it, just because he can. You ought to be honored to belong to such a male, but instead you treat him and his gifts like dirt.” With that Jalin turned on his heel and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
As the sound died in the room, Trace stood in the middle of the room, unsure what to do. He didn’t want to make Sasha look bad or upset Sasha’s people, but he couldn’t explain to them why he couldn’t be Sasha’s. Just being in the room with Jalin without Sasha there to mute the effect was hard enough—and he’d really like to know what the hell that was about. With a sigh Trace slumped his shoulders and dipped his head. He turned around slowly, for once truly taking in the space before he thought about what he would want done to the room if it were his. He couldn’t imagine staying at the covenstead house, even though that was exactly what he was doing right then. However, if it would make Jalin and Sasha happy, he would let them make him a room.
After a few minutes, he poked his head out and realized Jalin was sitting in one of the chairs in the sitting room area, legs crossed, drumming the fingers of his left hand in a lightning-fast tattoo as he glared out the window. “Jalin?”
Jalin stopped his fingers and turned his head, but his gaze didn’t meet Trace’s. “Yes, sir?”
“I have a few ideas, if you still want to help….”
BY THE time he left to meet up with the council doctor, Trace was feeling more stable, though he still couldn’t deal with others touching him much—a handshake or a very brief hug was about his limit, and only if he knew about it in advance. Sasha hadn’t wanted him to leave—citing his safety and the touching issue—but Trace countered that he couldn’t let the attack undermine his life or his work. That figuring out why Sean could shift and what it meant for him in the future was too important. In the end Summer escorted Trace back to the tribe lands, and Kelley, one of Keith’s best friends and personal guards, was assigned to guard him while outside the reach of the vampires.
Dr. Liliana Petronia’s car arrived in the late afternoon of the day Trace returned home. There was a large van following behind it, but Trace had been notified about its presence already—it held her required equipment, as their tribe only had a small clinic and birthing center. Keith also ran an extensive veterinary hospital on the edge of the tribal land. He was a veterinarian, and it served to bring in income for not just himself, but others he employed. Keith also helped out the forestry service part-time, unlike when Trace first moved there—back then Keith worked for the forestry service full-time and the hospital didn’t yet exist.
The
doctor’s driver got out and then opened the back door, letting out two large lynx shifters—obviously her guards. A moment later the doctor herself exited the vehicle. She was about five seven, with silver-streaked brown hair and reddish-brown eyes. She reminded him of grandmothers and fresh cookies. He knew better. She was older, but she was a shifter, and so she was still lethal when needed.
Keith stepped forward and gave a small smile. “Welcome to the Glacier Rim Tribe of Seattle, Washington. I’m Alpha Keith Skyler.” He then motioned to each male in turn. “This is my mate and husband, Jason Grant, and you’ve been in contact with Trace Wilson, our council representative and trainer.”
“Thank you, Alpha.” She bent her head as was appropriate, then stood straight again. “Are my accommodations and work areas ready?”
“They are.” Trace gestured to John and Seth, a couple of the tribe members who were to act as her bellboys, basically. “They will help you unload anything you need moved. The vampire doctor, Dr. Niko, will be here later to give you time to settle in. He’s already set up his things at the clinic.”
She frowned but nodded. “I’m still not sure about working with one of them,” she said, her tone snide. “But if you insist, then can you at least guarantee he won’t bite?”
“That attitude will get you sent home faster than anything,” Keith snapped. “We don’t tolerate bigotry or hate here. Dr. Niko has no interest in nibbling on you or any shifter. He’s helped us before. He’s even taken care of my human mate once.”
She swallowed hard and nodded. “Sorry. It’s just… weird to be working with… vampires. I mean, in most places we’re at war with them or, at least, an uneasy truce.”
“Well, here we have an alliance and Jason is the best friend of Prince Tolstoi, so play nice.”
“Yes, Alpha.”
“Ma’am, the home right over here is the one you’ll be staying in.” Trace took over again, hoping to move things away from the vamp-versus-shifter issue and into setting up things for the research and hopefully figuring things out for Sean.
Once they were inside, she looked around the cottage that would be her home for the next while. “It seems clean and neat enough. Are the same rules of etiquette observed here as at the council headquarters, Trace?”
He nodded and smiled. “No one will enter your home without permission. Not even the alpha will do that unless it is deemed necessary, such as someone believes you are in grave danger or are committing a crime of great import. The only possible exception is if one of the kits gets a little too curious and wanders.” Trace gestured to the cat door most all the houses had. “We all know how to access and use them, so I would suggest you make sure to secure it from curious little ones. They mean no harm, but you’re new,” he finished with a shrug. It was the same anywhere that had young ones. Human children were curious enough, but shifter children, especially when in their lynx form, were even more like their feline cousins, and therefore into everything.
“Understood. Now if you will excuse me.”
Keith and Jason dismissed Trace, which he was thankful for right then. He wanted to be in his lynx skin, out in the forest. Well, what he actually wanted bugged him, as the feline side of him wanted to be back at the vampire house, curled up near Sasha. Or maybe exploring the grounds there. He hadn’t been able to do that. Sasha hadn’t felt it was safe—yet—not with Trace having just suffered an attack, and them not yet knowing who was behind it.
Shaking off his idiotic annoyance, Trace hurried inside to strip off his clothes, tending to them carefully before shifting and going out to run and play in the trees. He tried to play, at least, but unfortunately his mind kept wandering to Sasha, and his lynx wanted nothing more than to head right over to his home. That it would require them going through the middle of town to get there didn’t faze his feline side one bit. His lynx just wanted Sasha near, a fact Trace was less than amused with.
By the time he made it back, all Trace wanted to do was sleep. Sadly that wasn’t to happen yet. Out front was a dark gray Audi of some kind, and there on his doorstep was the vampire Jalin.
Trace padded onto the porch before shifting, ignoring how he was naked while Jalin was fully dressed. He looked around but didn’t see Sasha or his car. The SUV his guards tended to drive was missing, and neither Keith nor Jason had mentioned anything about Jalin visiting. “Um…. What are you doing here, and why are you here alone? Do the guards know?”
“Yes, your guards know. I had to be cleared with them before I came onto the property.” Jalin fidgeted, an odd, uncertain look clear in his eyes—Trace hadn’t even known the vampire was capable of such. “As for why, could we speak privately, please? And maybe you could dress?”
“So much for peace and quiet,” he grumbled before pasting on a smile and opening his door. “Come in.” And of course he’d dress.
“Thank you.”
“Mmm-hmm.”
Trace walked past Jalin directly into his bedroom and quickly pulled on a pair of running pants and a T-shirt. He then walked into the living room and flopped down onto his favorite comfy chair.
“Sit and tell me why you’re here. I still have to deal with the introduction between the two doctors later. The council one seems to believe the vampire one will want to bite her. Ugh! So whatever you’re here about, please tell me it’s not that some vampire has also been watching too many human movies and believes all that nonsense too.”
Jalin perched on the couch, his hands palms-down on his knees. “Wow, that’s a long way to say your doctor has a lot to learn about vampires, though I do understand. Making sure things flow properly is tiring at times.”
“Sadly. Now what can I do for you, as I’m certain you didn’t leave your prince’s side the day before his uncle is to arrive to see if the new doctor is annoying me.”
“It’s about Prince Sasha.”
Trace hopped up without thinking. “What’s wrong with Sasha?”
“Calm down, please. Nothing that wasn’t wrong when you left.” Jalin motioned to the chair. “Please.” It took a minute for Trace to calm himself enough to sit, but he managed. Once he did, Jalin continued, “I’m…. I don’t know how to explain this, and I’m honestly not sure what he will do to me when he finds out I came to you, but—”
“Why would you be afraid of that?”
“Once you hear why I’m here, you’ll understand. I hope.” Trace nodded, which seemed to encourage Jalin. “Our prince is very important to us, not simply as our leader, but he is also immensely powerful. Most of the other covens and especially the rogues would never think to come against us merely because of him, forget the power or might of the rest of his people. That’s part of why the attack on you was so significant, and why he’s putting up with his uncle and Tatiana visiting.”
“Right, it’s the same with the alpha. He’s leader, power, guide, father figure, and more.”
“But ours is suffering due to what he did for you.”
“I’m still not really certain what he did. He said it makes my life span like his, but that otherwise I’m the same. Then he cut off anyone who wanted more specifics with me in the room.”
“You’re his fated heart, Trace. It’s similar to being a true mate, only the vampire version.”
“He said that, but I won’t take a mate again. I don’t care what the Fates think.” He’d made that mistake once. Trace’s stomach roiled as he fought back the pain and memories of his past that threatened to bleed into the now.
“It makes no difference what you think or what happened in your past with this previous mate. He still bonded with you. It’s incomplete because you didn’t mate with him, though. You also didn’t feed him or give him your energy like a normal fated heart would have. Because of this he’s not gaining the nourishment from normal blood sources that he always has before. He’s…. I don’t know how he will react when he finds I came to you, but I’ve done some research, and he will continue to get sicker if this continues.”
Trace shook his head. “I can’t take him as my mate.”
“Can you let him feed from you at least occasionally?” Jalin’s voice softened as he continued, “Could you do that much?”
Chapter Ten
“DO WHAT now?” Did he really just ask me to bleed for a vampire?
“He’s starving, Trace. No matter how much or from whom he drinks, he’s weakening.” Jalin leaned forward, his voice higher than before. His hands were clasped in his lap as if he were trying not to reach out and touch Trace. “Do you really care that little for him?”
“S-starving?” Trace had a vague memory of pushing his neck against Sasha’s fangs, trying to get him to bite, but no, that was when his lynx was in control. Right? His thoughts were so fuzzy and vague from that time he couldn’t be sure it had actually happened instead of him dreaming of it. Because Trace had had dreams where Sasha did a lot more than just bite….
“Effectively. He can’t….” Jalin took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Dr. Niko explained it to me this way—Sasha can’t properly absorb what’s in the blood that we, as vampires, need to survive. So no matter how much he drinks, he won’t ever be full, won’t ever be… not be weakened. Because he’s such a strong prince, it will take a long time, and he’ll be able to hide it from those who aren’t close enough to him on a regular basis to know better. But he could lose control and kill a human or possibly eventually even starve to death. That knowledge doesn’t change anything. The only cure is the blood of his fated heart. That’s you.”
“I won’t take a mate.” But he couldn’t let Sasha suffer, much less die. What the hell! How could Sasha do something so foolish? Did he not know better?
“You don’t have to give him the mating bite. Dr. Niko said that if you would agree to feed Sasha at least monthly, and possibly if he’s hurt or has to do something major—like this insanity with the attack, his uncle, and the not-a-betrothal—it would protect Sasha and the coven. You have his life span, so it’s not a problem for this to continue as long as you are willing to allow him to feed from you.”
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