She closed her eyes, trying to remember the reasoning behind it. How it all came together. “When Lucius saved me from the Father, Markus had been looking for a human who was rumored to be a Blood Human.” She nearly choked on the words, because it meant admitting to Kaden what she was. “The appearance of one is very similar to that of a Dream Weaver, which had never really been proven to exist, but my brother and Lucius went with it. Keeping my eyes covered at all times or closed meant no one could see them and could not confirm or deny it.”
“You were without covering when Markus took you from the market place.” Kaden’s thumb rubbed comforting circles on the top of her hand.
She nodded. “I shut my eyes the moment he appeared, but he had seen them. He and the other members of the Circle believed the stories and feared me and my imaginary abilities. It worked, until Markus started to get suspicious because...” She shook her head. “I can’t tell you this. I’m sorry.”
“Tegan, you’ve already told me what you were—“
“But you clearly don’t know what the term means.” She snapped back. “Being a blood whore is different than being a bonded human and you obviously don’t understand that.” He hadn’t flinched or anything at the term, which meant he wasn’t familiar with it. How could he be her mate?
He let go of her hand. “You won’t explain it to me.”
“No.” His words hadn’t been a question, but she felt she needed to confirm his assumption. Getting off the bed she went to look at the bookshelf trying to keep her calm and trying to find some clue as to who she was.
When Lucius woke for the night two things hit him hard. One, Tegan was not at the mansion like she should be and the other was a power in his territory he had not felt fully in centuries. Tegan needed to be with him for this. He closed his eyes and reached out to his link with her. Something had upset her and he couldn’t pin point what. ‘Tegan?’
‘It’s dark I know, we’ll be back in just a moment.’
Even in her thoughts Lucius could sense the exhaustion. ‘Are you well?’
‘Fine.’ She shot back without explaining. Lucius knew she was guarding against something, a newer habit and a sign she was trying to return to herself.
‘Have Kaden bring you to Zaaren’s resting place, please. I’ll meet you there.’ He opened his eyes and ran a hand through his hair. Clean clothes was all he’d have time for. He would have to worry about her mood later and deal with the immediate problem.
Changing quickly, he didn’t bother with telling anyone else where he was going, this needed to remain low key until he confirmed his suspicions. He transported himself to the grave and sensed the power inside. Zaaren was awake. The energy pulsed through the area, but he hadn’t left the grave. The problem was, he needed to be fed. Lucius originally prepared Tegan for this, since Zaaren chose not to have a keeper, they would have to find many donors or she’d have to feed him, but Tegan didn’t remember the conversation.
The demon portal popped and whirled next to him and Tegan and Kaden stepped out. She pulled her arm away from the demon’s grasp even before she was completely steady on her feet. He snarled. “What did you do to her?”
“Nothing.” Kaden held his hands up. “She got upset because I didn’t understand the term Blood Human. I don’t understand why she’s so upset that she told it to me and my lack of reaction.”
“I don’t want to talk about it.” Tegan stated and put her hand against the door. “He’s awake.”
Lucius could feel the sudden rush of fear in her. “Yes. Tegan, he doesn’t have a keeper.”
“I know what that means.” She took a deep breath. “I have a feeling we’ve talked about it before.”
Lucius nodded, even though she wasn’t facing him. “We could find—“
“No,” Tegan cut him off and took a deep breath. “Because he’s awake now and we weren’t prepared for it.” Lucius saw the fine tremor in her. “We don’t have time to find people for him to feed from.” She turned and met Kaden’s glance with a sharp stare. “You’re staying out here.”
Kaden looked to Lucius. “She’s planning on feeding him?”
“Yes.” Lucius left no room for argument in his tone. The demon had no right to decide what his human would do. Tegan hated feeding but they knew she was the only one who could do it.
“His blood lust will—“
“Leave.” Tegan’s voice was strong and both Lucius and Kaden looked at her. Tegan clenched her jaw. “This is part of my life. Go back to the mansion if you can’t handle this.” Without another word she opened the door and disappeared into the dark room.
“He’ll kill her.” Kaden said.
Lucius shook his head. “This is part of why she’s upset with you. You truly don’t know what the term means. There are things about her that you don’t understand. She is right, you don’t need to be here for this.”
Kaden opened his mouth to protest and Lucius snarled. “Leave or I will fire you as her guard.”
Kaden threw his hands up in the air and left through a demon portal. Lucius didn’t know if he’d go back to the mansion or not, but no matter. He wouldn’t see Tegan tonight.
Tegan took a deep breath and leaned against the door. Pushing her sunglasses up on her head she looked up. Her brother sat on the coffin, his mouth quirked up in a smile showing the tip of one fang. His red eyes met hers and he held his arms open. Blood covered him and she raised a brow.
“Who the hell did you feed from? Christ, did you actually get any down your throat?” She asked, trying to keep the laughter out of her voice.
The other side of his mouth grew into a smile. “No hug for your brother?”
“Not when you’re covered in blood and not when I’m still furious with you.” She shook her head. “What poor human got your wrath?”
He shrugged. “A couple of men terrorizing a woman at a camp site.”
“A couple and your lust is satisfied?” She couldn’t help the disbelief in her voice. “Lucius sent me in here to feed you thinking you would be starving.” He’d left and didn’t bother to put any effort into finding her or Lucius. Typical Zaaren, always waiting for people to come to him.
He snorted. “I’m stronger than Lucius wants to give me credit for.” He shoved off the coffin. “Sister of mine.” He took her hand. “I heard you call for me.”
She nodded. “I did, because you are the only one who can fix the damage.” She sighed. “But here is not the place to discuss this. We need to get you back home and up-to-date on the situation.”
“Situation?” He frowned. “What have I missed while sleeping?”
Tegan shook her head. “I’d love to tell you, but all I really know is that there’s a war going on.”
“There’s always been a war.” Zaaren stepped up to the door and opened it for her.
Tegan laughed. “Yes, but now the violence has escalated and there are so many more sides to it than you know.
“She speaks the truth Zaaren and she is right. Here is not the place to talk about this.” Lucius’ met Tegan’s gaze. “I sent Kaden home for the night so you and your brother can get reacquainted and possibly solve your memory problem.”
The two vampires grasped hands and embraced each other in a brotherly move. “It is good to see you, Lucius.”
“Like wise.” Lucius responded. “There has been much chaos since you’ve gone to sleep.”
Tegan hoped recovering her memories would be that easy and though she wanted Kaden with her when the memories came back she knew that he’d never understand what she was. “Of course, but I think we should fill him in on everything that has happened.”
“You are nervous.” Zaaren stated and put a hand on her shoulder. “Sister of mine, there is nothing to be scared of.”
She shrugged him off. “Easy for you to say, you’ve been sleeping for the last three hundred years.” She couldn’t keep the venom from her voice. “You abandoned me when I needed you most. You left me with the Circle to be tortu
red.”
Lucius held his hand out and she went to him. Her anger calmed the moment their skin touched. “When we get back to the manor, I’ll let you two talk.” She muttered and tried not to cling to Lucius’ hand.
Markus put his book down when his phone rang. A glance at the screen told him it was his lesser vampire, the one the Father sent to Lucius’ territory.
“I found the resting place of Zaaren.”
Markus sat up in his chair. “Secure the location. I’ll be there within—“
“He’s awakened and just walked off with Lucius and his creepy human.”
Tegan and Zaaren were reunited and it would only be a matter of time until the Original knew what Markus did to her. They needed to switch their plans and fast, before Zaaren made his choice to back Lucius. The Father was already tucked into his hiding place for the day, but Markus could handle this alone. It wasn’t yet time for the Father to make his appearance. He was still toying with Tegan.
A wicked grin curved Markus’ lips. It was time to pay a little visit to Lucius and Tegan. “Go to Lucius again, tell him that I will be paying him a visit this evening.”
Chapter Six
Lucius let go of Tegan when they appeared in the manor. She wrapped her arms around herself and started towards her room.
“Sister of mine.” Zaaren tried to call out to her, but she held her hand up with her middle finger extended and kept going. Zaaren turned to Lucius. “What does that gesture mean?”
Lucius chuckled, Tegan didn’t often get this way, but her reaction proved to him that the modern Tegan still lurked in her. “It means fuck you.”
Zaaren’s brow drew together and Lucius shook his head. “It’s an expression nowadays. She’s telling you to back off.” Lucius would go after her if he didn’t have Zaaren to worry about. Tegan would wait, she was in the manor and pushing her might set her off again. His mind went back to the video and how she ran. The panic he’d felt from her and the fear were nothing he wanted from her again. He clenched his fist at the thought of how he called for her in the video and he hadn’t been able to save her.
“She’s more outspoken now.” Zaaren mused. “Shall you fill me in on what else I have missed? You mentioned Kaden, I thought that we took care of that demon.”
How could he explain all this? Lucius paced a few steps, stopped then turned to face Zaaren. “Kaden is part of the territory. Tegan does not know what he is to her and he is currently acting as her bodyguard. He’s not aware of what she is either. He poses no danger to her and in fact has been more than helpful in our current situation.”
“And how can a demon mate be helpful?”
Victoria came swaying in and Lucius looked away from Zaaren. “Ah, Victoria,” thank the gods for the woman’s impeccable timing. “Meet Zaaren.”
Victoria raised a brow then extended a perfectly manicured hand. “Powerful, vampire, and you’re not trying to kill us, take our people, or take us down. You must be the Original Lucius spoke about.”
“An immortal...cat.” Zaaren said after taking her hand. “Interesting. You must introduce me to the rest of your people.”
Lucius tried to imagine how that would go over. “Yes, another meeting will be needed.”
“Speaking of, I have a lesser vampire in the foyer wanting to speak with you. I suggest you do it alone, because he’s delivering another message from Markus.”
Zaaren hissed at the name. “What does he want?”
“I have a few ideas, but none of them I want to share right now.” Lucius growled. “If you would excuse me, I need to deal with this. Victoria will show you to a room and find you some non-blood-stained clothes.”
Victoria snorted. “Lucius, I’m not a pet dog to fetch things for you.”
Lucius met her gaze. “I know, but just this once, Zaaren knows nothing about this time or place. I will find him as soon as I’m done with this vampire.” What on earth could Markus want now? Of course it was logical that he knew Zaaren woke. More trouble. Lucius snarled, as long as it wasn’t another video he would be fine.
He walked out to the foyer leaving Victoria to take care of Zaaren. Sure enough he found the lesser vampire leaning against the wall, picking his nails as if he was bored.
“What do you want?” Lucius asked. “Speak quickly or I might just kill you.”
The vampire straightened up. “I am here to announce that Markus DeGreco will be visiting you tonight.”
Lucius controlled the sudden rush of anger that swelled in him. He could refuse Markus but that would only make him suspicious. With Zaaren awake, it wasn’t likely that Markus would try something stupid; of course Zaaren might be the reason Markus wanted to visit...or to check and see how much damage his time with Tegan had caused.
“Tell him that we will be prepared to receive him at ten.” Lucius kept his voice calm. Three hours would give them time to prepare Tegan and catch Zaaren up on things.
The vampire bowed his head and walked out of the mansion as Lucius spun to go find Tegan.
Tegan paced her room, her sunglasses on the dresser and her eyes tearing up from the pain in her head. She couldn’t remember anything no matter how hard she tried and how could she explain to her brother what he’d missed if she couldn’t remember. She needed Kaden there to ease the pain to ease the panic. She couldn’t figure out why he didn’t return back to the mansion after she had told him to go back. He’d made a habit the last few nights to stick around, especially after the nightmares and panic attacks. It was part of his job as her bodyguard.
She needed him for so much more now and he was nowhere to be found.
“Tegan?” Lucius’ voice made her stop pacing. “We need to prepare for a meeting tonight.”
Her hands went to her eyes instinctively and he nodded. “That will be needed tonight and I’m sorry, but with this particular visitor we cannot risk you being completely vulnerable. Even if he already knows what you are.”
She turned to him and shook her head. “No, he can’t be coming here. Markus can’t be coming.”
“Tegan, listen to me. Zaaren is his maker, Markus would not be stupid enough to try anything while Zaaren backs us.”
She wrapped her arms around herself. “We don’t know if he’s backing us or not, because he has not been caught up on events. For all we know the plan all along has been to use me to raise the Father and Zaaren will march me to the tomb...if the Father hasn’t already been raised.” The panic in her stomach made her feel sick.
“Tegan—“ He stepped towards her.
“Don’t touch me.” She wanted Kaden to be the one to calm her panic, not Lucius. The thought struck her as odd; she’d always wanted Lucius to be the one to provide her comfort. “Where is Kaden?”
Lucius sighed. “He took the night off because I thought you’d be recovering from feeding your brother.”
“Call him. Please.” She hated the pleading in her voice. “I have a feeling after this meeting, I’m not going to want you or Zaaren near me...and I want to go get coffee.”
Lucius chuckled. “Fine.”
He’d given in easier than she expected, but maybe there was something else she was missing. “Thank you. Shall we tell Zaaren the good news? Or do you want to deal with him alone?”
“Let me ease him into the situation. I’ll call Kaden first.”
A warm feeling went through her. “Have fun dealing with my brother.” She sat on her bed and laid back. Spending time with Kaden before Markus came sounded perfect, normal almost, and she wanted that.
Lucius stepped out of the room and she heard vague words being exchanged before silence. She waited, expecting Kaden to show up a moment after, but nothing.
Kaden answered his phone the moment it rang. “Is Tegan alright?”
“Calm down demon. She’s fine.” Lucius’ voice grumbled. “She has requested that you come here for a little while.”
Kaden’s mind spun, why would she request him after she and Lucius sent him away. He recalled the
conversation he’d had with Tegan before and how he didn’t understand what she meant. He’d never heard the term before and assumed it was an older practice and nothing unusual. Clearly he’d missed something. “I’ll be there as soon as I can. Is she alright?”
“Markus is coming tonight and she will need your comfort. Do not let her down, Kaden. I know that you two had a disagreement, but don’t think that it excuses you from anything.” Lucius snapped.
Kaden stood from his bed. “I get that. But I need to ask something, the term I didn’t understand was Blood Human, will you explain it to me so next time she freaks out about it I understand why?”
Silence on the other end.
“Lucius?”
“She has to explain the term to you, I can’t.”
The line went dead and Kaden sighed. No one was willing to give him answers about Tegan and it was starting to piss him off. She was his mate, shouldn’t he be entitled to answers or something? He reached for his jacket when a demon portal popped opened next to him and his sister stepped out.
“Seriously Cael, I’ve seen you more in the last week than I have in five hundred years. I’m not returning home, your mate can kiss my ass, I like where my head is.”
“Oh brother, how naive you are. I’m coming to warn you.” She stretched her arms out. “Aristides believes that you are a threat to his treaty with the Circle and he’s out to bring you home dead or alive. You have a price on your head now.”
“What the fuck?” He snarled. “I’m not attached to his stupid crown! Hell, I gave it to him when I decapitated the king. I’m not claiming that demons ally with Lucius. It’s just me.”
“He doesn’t see it that way and he’s willing to do anything he can to bring you back.” She put a hand on his arm. “He knows about the woman, the white haired one.”
Tegan. Kaden tensed under her touch. “You tell him to do his worst.” Aristides had never seen how a true mate reacts when one is threatened. He wasn’t worried about Tegan, Lucius had her so guarded that nothing was going to touch her again.
Dark War Chronicles Box Set One Page 54