by Kate Wendley
She groaned in frustration. She was getting too emotional over a guy she’d only just met, and it made her think maybe she should leave Atlanta. This was getting crazy and she didn’t do crazy. She preferred uncomplicated living situations so she could easily take off when she needed to.
Except… Atlanta was a nice place. Supernaturals weren’t constantly at each other’s throats here. Blood and violence, well, it was nice to not have to figure out how to navigate her way around messed up vampire and shifter politics. Master Anthony didn’t seem interested in that kind of thing, either. In fact, he seemed pretty low key as far as Masters went. That was a huge relief in her life.
She looked around Ethan’s tidy bedroom in irritation, surprised that for how much of a hurry he’d been in to get out of here, he’d still picked up after himself before flying out the door. She sourly tidied the bedspread where she’d messed it up with her things, then blew out a frustrated breath before opening the door.
She was startled by a good looking vampire sitting in the living room, facing the bedroom door as if he was waiting for her.
“Good evening.”
She huffed at him and kept walking. She wasn’t in the mood to meet anyone new, especially if she really was going to move on again. She guiltily wondered why the hell she told Ethan the other night that she’d help him with his issue of dealing with Sonya’s death, though. Was she stupid or what? Was he that good looking and smooth with the ladies that everyone, including her, just fell for his every whim?
But was admitting he needed to learn how to deal with the murder of his wife just a whim? No. Dammit, she was being a witch. She’d told Ethan she’d be there for him because he was a good guy and she knew it. And he’d been there for her when she was freaked out by feeding from shifters. And showing her around the city to help her get to know her new home…
She needed to get some air to clear her head, so she gruffed at the man on the sofa, “Good evening and goodbye.”
He quickly stood. “Wait. I want to talk to you.”
She frowned and reached for the small wooden stake she’d stashed in one of the pockets along her thigh. “About what?”
“You’re Harmony, right?”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “Yeah.”
He extended his hand. “I’m Christopher. A business partner of Ethan’s. I suppose you could say we’re friends.”
She didn’t shake his hand, but she didn’t leave, either.
He smoothly took his hand back and said, “I’d like to talk to you about you, actually. And Ethan.” He gestured for her to sit.
She warily watched him, not sure what his game was, but she was willing to listen for a few minutes if he wanted to tell her something about Ethan she didn’t already know. She kept her senses wide open as perched on the edge of the chair across from him.
“Ok, talk.”
Christopher’s expression was mellow, almost thoughtful, and she found that oddly comforting. “I heard Ethan left you in something of a rush tonight.”
She rolled her eyes. “You could say that.”
His next words came out like an apology. “Ethan hasn’t been himself lately. He’s had a lot on his mind.”
“His dead wife.”
That earned her a look of surprise from Christopher. “His dead wife’s killer, actually.” He levelly held her gaze as she tensed.
“What?”
He sighed, then looked up at the pretty painting above the television with the woman and the butterflies.
Her eyes went wide and she couldn’t help the shock and dismay in her voice. “You’ve got to be kidding me. Is that her?”
Christopher slowly said, “No, just a painting. A memorial, though. It helps calm Ethan from his rages over her death. Her murder.”
Her heart felt like a lead weight in her chest. Ethan told her he’d woken up to Sonya being killed. That had to leave an emotional scar. And if he’d never dealt with it, she couldn’t imagine how it affected him after living with the photographic memory of it for three hundred years. Still, it wasn’t her problem to deal with.
She sighed. She felt like a cold hearted witch again for thinking that way. “Tell me more.”
“Why?”
Her uncomfortable thoughts made her realize that she really had developed feelings for him. Still, she sounded stubborn even to herself when she said, “Because I care about him.”
Christopher flicked a look at her packed bag. “Do you? I hear he cares a great deal about you, even if he left you here tonight. No doubt for your own safety.”
“My own safety? He said that same thing before he left. What does that mean?” She tensed. “Wait. That’s who he’s waiting for at the club? Her killer?” She jumped out of her seat while he put his hand up.
“Wait.”
Her heart raced as she snapped, “What.”
He sighed. “Do you need a ride?”
**
Harmony learned a little more about Sonya on the way to the club. Mostly that Harmony really was nothing like Sonya, which she thanked the gods for. She learned Sonya and Ethan had been madly in love for over sixty years, and also that George was Sonya’s adoptive father. He’d actually raised her from a child of about ten.
When they were almost to the club, Christopher dropped the real bomb on her. Sonya’s killer was Anthony’s father, the man who originally had the idea for this community of supernaturals helping each other.
“He wants to kill Anthony’s father?”
Christopher took a deep breath. “Or Anthony. He’d take someone Isaiah loves from him, like Isaiah did to Ethan.”
She shook her head in disbelief. “That’s not going to end well. Not at all.”
Christopher sat at a stop sign with no other cars in sight. “I know. He won’t listen to me, though. And I won’t betray him to Anthony, and neither will you. This stays in the family. This stays between the vampires in this family.”
“Until what? Until someone dies?”
Christopher was obviously frustrated. He didn’t say anything the rest of the way to the club. Not until they parked, anyway. “See if he’ll listen to you.”
**
Harmony hurried inside, and by the time she spotted Ethan, he was already on his way over. Her tension disappeared the instant she saw his ruggedly handsome face.
He hugged her before she could get a word out, then whispered in her ear, “I’m sorry about earlier. I’m glad you’re here.”
She relaxed even more, glad to know that at least he knew he was being crazy. He pulled back and looked worriedly into her eyes.
She smiled and he cautiously did, too.
“It’s ok. Can we talk though? In private? Will you go for a walk with me?”
His eyes flashed irritation, and then frustration. “Sure.”
He made her feel like she was tricking him somehow, but if there was anything between them, then they needed to get all this out in the open.
They left the building and walked across the street, then kept walking. When they were about half a mile away, she unceremoniously said, “Tell me what you’re planning on doing.”
He looked confused. “What?”
She didn’t say anything and a look of understanding finally dawned on him. He didn’t look pleased.
“Who told you.”
She kept her tone gentle. “Does it matter?”
He was wound up, but his silence gave her hope that he was giving serious thought to what a bad idea it was to seek out the death of Anthony’s father, or even worse, Anthony himself. Besides, the person she was falling for wouldn’t plan murders.
“Ethan, killing won’t solve anything.”
She regretted her words when his eyes went wide and he turned on her in a rage.
“I’m not the one that killed her! He did that!”
Hate poured into the air around them, and she tried to be more careful with what she said. “Honey, I know. He did a terrible thing, but doing what he did won’t bring h
er back.”
“But he’ll finally feel pain! He was supposed to kill himself after I turned him! He wasn’t supposed to embrace this life!”
She let silence fall between them for a time. “If you kill him, or Anthony, will your soul feel better?”
He angrily snapped, “Yes.”
She held his gaze and he started to squirm, then finally looked away from her.
He surprised her by saying in a heartfelt voice, “I’ll finally be able to move on once he’s gone.”
She put her arm around him and tried to give him a loving squeeze, but his body was tight and stiff. “Will you? She’ll still be gone, Ethan. Whether you kill her killer, or her killer’s son, or kill this whole damn town, she’ll still be gone.”
He didn’t look at her, but he seemed to be calming down.
She continued, “Or is this just a way to put off saying goodbye to her?”
He looked her in the eye and she felt bad for the pain she saw in him.
Her heart clenched when he calmly said, “Please go back to Wild Woods. You’ll be safer there.” Then he stepped coolly out of her embrace and disappeared into mist.
Harmony swore at herself. She should’ve kept her big nose out of all this, dammit, but she couldn’t. She cared too much for him already, even after barely a week. She growled again, then looked around and decided to hell with it. If Ethan thought he needed to do this, she wasn’t going to leave him by himself to face the demon from his past.
**
Ethan materialized back in the club and angrily sat down at a table by the pool tables. Who told Harmony what he was doing, and why? His gaze darted around at everyone here, then he reached out with his power to coax the object of his anger back to Atlanta. It angered him that the man was able to resist him for so long. He must be powerful, but so was Ethan. It didn’t matter. He could feel he was wearing Isaiah down. He’d be here soon. If not tonight, then maybe another night or two.
His gaze flicked to the bottom of the stairs, surprised and relieved to see Harmony. Why had he been mad at her? He sat stock still while she came over and put her arms around him, and he collapsed against her.
He whispered, “I’m sorry.”
She held him tight, pet his back, kissed his head, and made him feel warm and safe and like the world wasn’t riding on his shoulders. “It’s ok, honey. It’s ok.”
**
When it was obvious Anthony’s father wasn’t coming back tonight, Ethan said, “Do you want to get some more of your things before we go home?”
Harmony’s heart clenched at the look of vulnerability on Ethan’s face, though her soul felt warm that he assumed she’d be going home with him again. Whether he was crazy or not, she couldn’t help wanting him. They hadn’t even been all that intimate with each other yet, but she’d quickly grown to crave her time with him. She loved them just holding each other, talking to each other about anything and everything, mostly, and having a feeling of togetherness even if all they were was friends with petting benefits. So far, anyway.
She grabbed another outfit and a few more things, then met Ethan upstairs. She froze when she found him glaring across the room at Anthony. He only seemed perturbed by the attention, so she took a deep breath and cautiously nudged Ethan towards the door that led out of the club.
Ethan let her lead him away, then drove them home mostly in silence. She let him be, feeling like she’d pushed him enough tonight. Once they got to Wild Woods, though, he became curiously distracted with her things. He took her jacket and hung it in the front closet, then looked pointedly at her stuffed bag before going into his bedroom and giving a hard look at his short, wide vanity dresser as well as a taller chest of drawers along the opposite wall. He looked like he’d made up his mind about something and quickly started moving clothes around in some of the drawers, then moved things aside on the top of his dresser.
“Here, I’ve made room for you. We can figure out the rest later.”
She tried to stifle a smile at his obsessive neatness, and her heart felt full that he obviously wanted her to feel like she belonged here instead of like she was just staying a couple nights on her way through town.
Once she unpacked and everything seemed neat enough to Ethan’s standards, they dropped onto his bed and snuggled close.
Harmony quietly said, “I’m not letting you face him alone.”
Ethan sighed. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“I don’t want you to get hurt, either.”
“It’s too late for that.”
She didn’t bother arguing with him. Nothing could take away the pain over the love he’d lost.
She let her eyes wander around his room and zoned out for a time while he pet her arm. “I’ve never loved anyone enough to feel the hurt you feel. Enough to want revenge on someone else. I think I envy that.”
He gave her a sharp look, his expression now troubled. “You’ll have that someday.”
Her emotions welled up from somewhere deep inside. “Will I? I thought I was falling for you, but you might not be around much longer if things don’t go right. I guess I’ll have to start searching again. Probably move on again, too.”
He frowned hard at her, then pulled her into a tight hug. The sun eventually pulled her under its daytime spell while she was wrapped in Ethan’s arms, tears damp on her cheeks.
**
Ethan held Harmony as she fell asleep for the day. She confused him so much. He never wanted her out of his sight, but she was right. Things might not go right once Anthony’s father returned. Ethan could very well be killed instead of Isaiah or Anthony. He was prepared for that, though. He was tired of living with this horrible heartache and was ready for something else. But now that he’d met Harmony, was he still ready to put his own life on the line to exact a revenge that Sonya herself wouldn’t approve of?
He fell asleep with his thoughts running in ragged circles.
Chapter 13
Anthony woke Monday night to Kaia’s sweet scent as she slept soundly next to him. She looked like she came here straight from work and simply fell into bed. He wished she’d spent another day resting to give herself time to get over the flu but she was stubborn, and independent… and stubborn.
He fed from Sebastian, showered, dressed, and she was still sound asleep.
“Kaia.”
She stirred but didn’t wake. He knew he should let her rest, but he missed her. She’d been so tired and sick the last few nights that they hadn’t spent much quality time together lately.
He touched her arm and gently shook her. “Kaia, it’s Anthony.”
She startled and finally woke, turning to him with a smile on her face. “Hi baby.” She tried to sit up but he nudged her back down.
“Why don’t you stay in bed for the night? It looks like you went to work today, and you’re still not well.”
She surprisingly didn’t try to fight him. “Ok. I might get up a little later to get some food though.”
“You should’ve rested today.”
She draped herself across his lap. “I know. I’m sorry. I got up this morning to take my medicine and thought I’d be ok.”
He played with the ends of her long hair while he enjoyed the decadent feel of her warmth seeping into him. “Tell me about your day.”
She groaned. “Same old, same old.” She looked up at him then. “Thank you for healing my bites.”
He froze. She obviously didn’t remember Dag being here, and as she watched him, waiting for him to say something, he knew he had to tell her the truth.
“It wasn’t me. I can’t be the one to heal you, my sweet. It was one of my family. Dag.”
She frowned and struggled to sit up. “What do you mean it wasn’t you?”
He got the feeling this conversation wasn’t going well, but he wasn’t sure how to fix it.
“Anthony, all my bites are healed, even the ones…” She looked meaningfully at him, and he knew she was referring to the bites in intimate
places. Maybe he shouldn’t have let Dag heal her.
“My sweet, I was here. I directed him while he healed you. I−”
“Why couldn’t you heal me? And why did a strange man have to do it while I was asleep?”
Her outburst upset him. He’d thought he’d done the right thing at the time, but now he wasn’t so sure.
“My blood is too strong. I don’t know what would happen to you if I tried to heal you, but Dag has healed humans many, many times. He’s a weaker vampire, but strong enough to make your skin perfect again. You asked me about healing your bites, so that’s what I did, my love. I found someone to heal you.”
She looked confused and upset, and he didn’t want her to be mad at him. He’d take it all back if she would just not be mad at him.
She more tiredly said, “But while I slept? A strange man had his hands on my naked body… while I slept?”
He wondered if he should just stop talking because he wasn’t making this better, but more than anything he wanted to have a good relationship with Kaia. He wanted to learn how to communicate better for her.
He quietly said, “My sweet, you talked to him. You don’t remember?”
She stilled at that. “I talked to him? I was awake?”
He slowly said, “I thought you were, at least for a time. You were very sick, but you woke up and spoke to him, then went back to sleep. You don’t remember?”
Her brow furrowed. “What does he look like?”
“Truthfully, he looks like a Viking. He has deep red hair and a large build.”
She narrowed her eyes as if she were thinking, but she still looked confused.
“You don’t remember?”
She worriedly shook her head.
“Would you like to meet him again? Would that make you feel better?”
She wilted against his chest as she halfway whined, “But why did you do it while I was sick?”
He quietly chuckled. “You’ve been sick for a while now. I just wanted you better. I’ve been worrying about it since you asked me about healing Sebastian’s bite weeks ago. After seeing you so sick from the flu, I just wanted you better all over. I’m sorry you don’t remember.”
She sighed and cuddled into him while he pulled his phone out of his pocket. He texted Dag, then held Kaia in his arms while he waited. To his surprise, she quickly fell asleep again.