by Eve Newton
“Don’t be sad for me, you are too pretty to be sad. That face was made to smile,” he said weakly. I felt the tears prick my eyes. This wasn’t my face. Not my real one. I wanted to show him the real me and tell him what I was. Constantine always said that we should never reveal our true selves to others, not unless they were already aware of us and accepting. I never really understood that, because how could someone be aware of us, if we never got to show them?
“I will smile when you are well,” I said to him.
He shook his head. “No, Aefre. I will not be well again.” I held his hand tightly as he coughed viciously, holding a cloth to his mouth to catch the blood. He fell into a fitful sleep then and I stayed with him, stroking his hair and curling myself around him to comfort him.
Galena returned the next morning. “He isn’t going to make it until sunset,” she whispered to me.
I shook my head. “No, there has to be something you can do. I know what you are. Help him.”
“I cannot help him, my child. But you can. I, too, know what you are.”
“I don’t understand,” I said, fearful.
“I know you are a Vampire, Aefre. If you want your friend to live, you can help him,” she insisted.
“How? How can I help him?”
“By making him into one of your kind,” she said impatiently.
“I don’t know how to do that,” I said honestly, as I had never done that before.
“How did your own sire turn you?”
“I was run through with a spear and then I woke up in Normandy as a Vampire. I don’t know,” I said, wringing my hands.
“You must know,” she said. “What did your sire tell you?”
“He mentioned something about giving me his blood, but he has never instructed me how to do it.”
“You don’t need instruction, my child. Just feed from him and then give him your blood,” she said. “It won’t make any difference now if you do it wrong,” she added quietly. “He won’t last the day as he is.”
I turned back to Evoric, still sleeping. Should I wake him and ask him or not? What if he says no? What if he says yes? I could not do for him what Constantine did for me. I didn’t know how to be a sire.
The candle burned and still I waited.
“Aefre,” Galena said, “you must make a decision.”
I bobbed my head and went to him as he woke. “Aefre?” he croaked.
“Yes, my love. I am here.” I took his hand.
“I must say farewell now, my lovely Aefre. Stay with me until the end.” He closed his eyes and I made the decision. I would not let him go.
“Evoric, open your eyes,” I said. “Please, I can help you if you say ‘yes.’”
He slowly opened his eyes. “Say ‘yes?’ What do you mean, Aefre?”
“I can heal you; I can give you an immortal life, my love. Do you trust me?”
“An immortal life? I don’t understand,” he said, closing his eyes again. “My love, you are not making any sense.”
“Listen to me, Evoric. Open your eyes and look at me.” I squeezed his hand. He opened his eyes again and they went wide as he stared at me and I said, “I am what they call a Vampire, Evoric. If you will let me, I can save you.”
“How?” he asked in wonder as he looked at my fangs.
“I need to bite you and feed from you. I then need to give you some of my blood. Will you allow me to do this?”
His eyes rolled back in his head. I thought it was too much for him. I felt for his pulse; it was weak. I made the decision for him. I did not want him to die. He made me feel again after being destroyed by Constantine. I had to save him. I took his wrist and I bit down sharply. It had been many months since I had killed someone, but I remembered the signs. I thought, when his heart started to slow, I must then release him and give him some of my blood. I was fearful that it would not work, that I got the time wrong. Maybe I had to drain him more, or less? I did not know. I slit my wrist open and dripped my blood into his mouth, making sure that he swallowed. Now, all I could do was wait.
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED EIGHT
I ’m up at 6 AM as usual even though I have nowhere to be today and neither does Cole. He is still sound asleep, when there is a knock at the door. Thinking it’s odd, I go to answer it anyway. There is no one there, just a basket of white roses. I pick it up and take it inside. I smile at Cole's thoughtfulness, but it strikes me as strange that he would have them delivered here so early.
I place the basket on the end table and sniff. Shaking my head, I must remember to get some blood after I have read the card that is attached.
“I can always find you. C.”
Why would Cole write that on a card, I wonder? He wouldn't, so they must not be from him. Constantine? No, he isn't crass enough to send me a basket of flowers here when I’m with Cole, besides, he knows where I am and wouldn't send me white roses anyway. Red ones are more his style.
"Nice flowers," Cole remarks as he comes into the sitting room, just a towel slung low around his hips. He takes the card from me and growls as he crumples it up in his hand. "Why can't he leave you alone?"
"I don't think they are from CK. He wouldn't," I say, absently still sniffing. "Can you smell blood?" I ask him suddenly.
"Yes, I thought you had gotten a glass."
"No…" I trail off and stick my nose closer to the basket. It's definitely coming from here. A clumsy florist, pricked herself on a wayward thorn, perhaps? I move the flowers around trying to find the source. It has me piqued as it is AB Neg and I’m starving now. I gasp as I pull the flowers out and see what is at the bottom of the basket: the head of a fully bloomed white rose splattered with blood. I move my fingers to it and into the blood, my fangs have dropped on their own already. It's still fresh, warm, and just going slightly sticky. I bring my fingers to my mouth and my lips tingle as the blood touches it and sets my tongue on fire as it passes my lips. I feel an incredible power rush, the hunger completely vanished from just that tiny drop I took. Cole watches me with interest and something else, perhaps, like I have lost my marbles lapping up the blood like some kind of crazy person. But it wasn't spilled. At least not accidentally. This was very much on purpose and very much for me. I pick up the crumpled card and reread it.
"Cade," I growl and swipe the basket off the end table, so the roses fly everywhere. "He's here."
Cole looks concerned now. "He's here? How do you know?"
"The blood is fresh, and these were hand delivered. He is the only one who could have done it."
"You mean, you just drank his blood?" he asks, now over-the-top concerned.
"Yes, and holy crap, was that a rush," I say, slightly breathless. I want more. Did he know what it would do to me? Did he know I wouldn't be able to resist tasting it and know I would want more? The only way to get more is to drink from him. What is he playing at?
"Liv. Hang on a minute. What are you saying?"
"I'm saying that his blood is like some sort of magickal elixir. Those few drops were strong enough to completely take away my hunger."
He looks very interested now and goes to pick up the blood-splattered rose.
"No!" I yell at him and he drops it, startled.
"What?"
"Don't. There's something crazy powerful going on here and I don't want you anywhere near it," I say. I must get rid of it. I focus and with a click of my fingers, the rose goes up in flames with a forceful whoosh that we both step back from, alarmed at the size of the flames.
My buzzing phone draws my attention away from the fire as it dies down. I answer it on speaker, "Yes, Linc?"
"Why is there a naked Vampire sibling in your bed?" he asks bluntly.
Focusing my attention on the phone, I frown. "What? Oh, Seb. He wants to crash for a couple of days. CK is on one apparently. Initial Vampire broodiness is quite affecting."
"Humph, well, you could have told me. Scott is having a slight freak out."
"Crap. Sorry, he only asked late
last night, and I forgot to call you," I apologize. Well, ‘asked’ is somewhat of an overstatement. We were told, more like. "Just ignore him. I'm sure he won't hang around."
"Fine," he sulks.
"Oh, by the way, Linc. Can you ask Scott to make arrangements for a trip to Las Vegas on Thursday? Jet, hotel, etc."
"Vegas? Oh, are we going on a field trip to see the Demon?"
"Yes. Get Scott to message me the details and to tell CK as well."
"Sure, will do."
"Thanks, baby. I must go. I'll see you in a couple of days."
"Okay. Bye V.A."
"Bye." I hang up and turn my attentions to my husband.
"So, what are we going to do today?" I ask him.
"I don't think we should be going out with this Hunter on the loose. I mean what kind of weirdo would follow you up here?"
"He does have stalker tendencies," I mutter, much to Cole's concern. "I don't want him to ruin our time together. I’m sick to death of everyone trying to come between us!" I yell, suddenly very irate. I’m shaking with fury, but I don't know where the anger came from.
"Okay, baby. It's okay. No one is going to come in between us. The gods know they would have by now if we let them." He pulls me to him, and I relax in his arms.
"Let me get you some blood, some human blood, and you just try and calm down. You are shaking."
I nod dutifully and let him go to get me something to drink. I down it in one gulp and feel a calm wash over me, followed by the need to Hunt. Oh, dear. Hunter's blood clearly was not made to be drunk by Vampires. Arsehole, did he know it would do this to me? Pushing the urges aside, I calm myself with great effort and gain control of myself. Cole is watching me warily but it's all good now. I’m fine.
"I want to go out," I say again. "I want to do some touristy things."
"Sure, okay. Like what?" he asks curiously.
"I don't know, you tell me. You live here," I say, realizing that all the times that I have come up here, we have never left the hotel.
"I don't live here, Liv. I work here," Cole corrects me in a huff.
"Same difference. You must know of some places."
He shrugs and thinks about it, then his face lights up. "Oh, I know exactly where we can go," he says. "You will love it."
I smile at his delight. "Okay. Where?"
"Not telling. You can wait until we get there."
I sulk at him but he refuses to budge, so I give up in the end.
He goes off to shower and I say I’ll join him in a minute as my phone rings again.
"Sebastian. What's up?"
"Livvie. The scent of you in your bed is driving me crazy. I'm hot for you," he says slyly.
"Seb!" I snap at him, thankful that I didn’t use speaker this time. "Rules."
"Screw the rules. They aren't my rules. I’m not used to being denied," he sulks.
No, I bet you aren’t. "Well, get used to it."
"Hm, a challenge? I accept," he says offhandedly. "I know you want to. I know you want to feel what it's like," he adds softly.
I sigh. He's got me there. "Don't, Seb. We aren’t bound. I can't."
"You can though. We are Vampires, we don't live by rules. Even those set by our sires."
"You would defy him?" I ask curiously.
"To be with you? Of course," he replies seductively, and I shiver slightly.
"Stop this," I say weakly. He is playing a dangerous game but I’m curious as to why. Why in the Hell would he go against our sire, just to be with me?
He knows he has me where he wants me, though. "Talk to him. Make him see reason. It's good for him too, to have us both."
"I…I have to go. I'll talk to you later," I stammer and hang up as he laughs at me.
I sit down heavily on the sofa as I think back to when we arrived back in L.A. after our trip to Sibiu. Cole, Devon and I carried on with things the way they had been. They were each happy to share me as long as there was Shifting involved. I was perfectly happy with that. Even though I’d wanted both of them in the same bed with me all of the time, Cole was insistent that we have our alone time. Which I was also happy with, because he gave me space to be with Devon alone, just to chill or watch TV and talk like we used to, but also get up to the naughty stuff that we both needed. It was perfect, and exactly what I needed to help me keep breathing after my sire abandoned me, threatened my charge and basically became a first-class prick.
It was a mutually beneficial relationship as I got to be with both of them, and they not only got me, but also the high you get by being with your sire and a sibling. I’m desperate to know what it is like. It isn’t fair that everyone gets this experience except me. I hope it will happen one day, but for right now, I need to sit on it.
I go and join Cole, very aroused by all these thoughts, and give him a shower to remember for the rest of his long life.
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED NINE
I ’m thrilled with Cole’s mystery trip out: a beautiful castle called Casa Loma. It is very touristy and right up my alley. Cole was right, I do love it.
We try to wander around without drawing too much attention to ourselves, but Cole gets spotted almost immediately. I sigh as we are once again pulled into the spotlight. I suppose I shouldn’t complain, but I do prefer the quiet life.
After a few minutes, we manage to sneak off to do our own thing, but we are closely followed. Maybe I’m being paranoid, but I feel like we’re being watched. I look back over my shoulder but there’s nothing. My first thought goes to Nico, but I don’t think he would be here in Canada while his boss is back in New York. Plus, CK knows I would be furious with him for spying on me while I’m with Cole. My phone is buzzing in my pocket, so I pull it out. Blocked number. I ignore it, as I don’t answer if I don’t know who it is. This is a private number, and nobody should have it that isn’t already in my Contacts list. It goes off again. I ignore it again. After the fifth time and Cole’s annoyed look – as he no doubt thinks I’m dodging the call because he is there – I’m about to switch it off but decide to answer it instead.
“Who is this?” I snap. Cole’s eyes land on me with interest.
“Finally, I was beginning to wonder if you would ever pick up.”
“How did you get this number?” I ask, recognizing his serious voice immediately.
“Oh, you’d be surprised the information I have on you, Mrs. O’Dell. Nice to see you with your husband for a change,” Cade says. I growl at him, but he ignores me and carries on. “Did you like the gift I left for you?” he asks slyly.
“Gift? What gift?” I say innocently.
He laughs. “Now, now, don’t be coy. I know you couldn’t resist.”
“I don’t know what you are talking about.”
“There’s more where that came from. If you’re a bit nicer to me, I might let you have it straight from the source.”
“What game are you playing? Just make your move already,” I dare him.
“Oh no, I prefer to have you right where you are. You’ll be seeing me. I have only just started with you. Enjoy your time with your husband, Mrs. O’Dell. There isn’t much of it left. Tick tock,” he taunts and hangs up, leaving me worried by his threat. I step in front of Cole, protecting him, as I’m pretty sure the threat was against him and not me.
“Liv? Was that Cade?”
“Yes,” I say quietly. My phone goes off again, making me jump, and the caller ID says ‘CK.’
“Are you okay?” he asks before I can say anything.
“Yes, I think so,” I reply.
“Think so?”
“Cade rang me. His closing statement rattled me,” I say in French so that Cole won’t understand me. I don’t want to worry him. I scrunch my nose up at him and he grimaces at me, knowing I have purposefully excluded him from the conversation but instead of pulling away, he comes closer, draping his arms around me and putting his hands in the front pockets of my jeans. I smile at the action and snuggle up against him.
�
��What did he say?” CK asks.
“He said to enjoy my time with my husband as there isn’t much of it left. I think the threat is against him, not me.”
“I see,” CK says thoughtfully. “Aefre, I want you to let me know immediately if you see him again. Nico is looking for him, but he remains elusive. It seems that he only turns up around you, and only then when he wants you to see him. The man is so far underground, it is a worry,” he pauses but then says, “I will have Nico send some of his team up to you. They can stay on to watch Cole when you come back on Monday night.”
I scowl at the Monday night comment but leave it as he is doing me – and us – a favor.
“Merci,” I say softly, as I know it is hard for him, adding, “I’m grateful.”
“It is of no consequence. I won’t let anything happen to him. I don’t want you that way,” he says quietly. “You can make it up to me on Tuesday,” he adds then with a smile in his voice.
“Mm, indeed,” I mutter, wondering if I should tell him about the bloody rose. Probably not. “I should go,” I add as Cole starts to nuzzle my neck, causing my Dragon to ripple across my back. I inadvertently gasp in delight.
“Yes, well, I shall see you soon,” CK grouses, clearly unhappy with me now. “Au revoir.”
“Au revoir, mon amour,” I say, and he hangs up.
“Liv, my darling. What the fuck is going on?” Cole whispers in my ear, as a crowd of onlookers gawk at our intimate pose.
“Cade is now causing me concern,” I say, needing to tell him something. “CK is sending some people up here to watch over you after I leave on Monday.”
“Monday? I thought you were going on Tuesday?”
“Change of plans,” I sigh.
He frowns at me. “He wants you first thing on Tuesday morning, doesn’t he,” he says angrily.
“Six in the morning,” I answer shortly, and I turn in his arms. “Please be careful. I couldn’t bear it if something happened to you,” I say desperately.