by J. J. McAvoy
“Are you alright?” he questioned, checking me over again.
I just nodded, before laying back, putting my arm over my eyes.
He rolled over to his side, waiting a moment. “You saw something.”
I nodded again, though he didn’t seem to be asking a question. Nevertheless, I was trying to make sense of it before speaking. Thankfully, he gave me the space to do so. Last time, it was a kiss, and what I saw completely unrelated to it. This time, it felt parallel, though I didn’t understand how.
“When I reverse time,” I still hadn’t gotten used that statement. “Some things don’t change, or if they did, it was only tweaked a bit, but the meaning was still the same. Like what was said had to be said, no matter how the situation had changed.”
“You saw yourself reversing time?” he asked gently.
I turned to him, and I shook my head. “No, I saw us in bed together.”
“In bed together as we are now or as we were?”
“More than that,” I said and wished the thought of it did not make me feel as hot as it did because it made it hard to speak of.
“I see.” He placed his hand on my cheek, focusing my mind with just a touch. “Where you a vampire or a witch?”
“Witch,” I said, and he frowned. “What?”
“Vampires taking mortals to bed can be very dangerous. We lose sight of our strength, and without knowing it, we could crush them or get so wrapped up in our own pleasure that we do much more damage…internally. Not to mention the temptation to drink. Was I being cautious?” It was sweet to know he was so worried about what he may or may not have done.
“No,” I said, watching his expression worsen. “Neither of us were cautious. In fact, we were joking and teasing one another, wrestling on the bed even. I just used magic. We didn’t have a care in the world and were happy.”
At that, he smiled, relaxing a bit. “What didn’t change that made you remember how you reversed time?”
“You and I called each other cruel and how you…pleasured me.” I never thought I’d have this conversation. “It was similar to now. I just don’t understand that. I have no memory of it being real. However, if it weren’t, why would I see it?”
“I do not know. And I prefer you do not receive the visions anytime we are intimate.” He frowned.
Leaning in, I kissed his lips, and he wrapped his arms around me. “See, it’s not anytime. I was fine when we kissed. It was only when you began to…”
“Pleasure you?”
I bite my lip, glaring at him but nodded.
“You are cute when you play innocent.” He snickered.
“I’m not playing.”
“So, you are innocent?” His eyebrow raised. Rolling my eyes, I tried to pull out of his grip, but he held me closer, kissing my nose. “Forgive me.”
“Hmm,” I said, just like he would be making him laugh.
I enjoyed the sound of it. In fact, I enjoyed watching us, too. Resting my head by his neck, I played with the buttons of his shirt. “What’s going on, Theseus?”
“I do not know, but we will figure it out together,” he said.
Hearing his voice so clear and certain made me relax, and it made me think of how the words he’d said in my memory, daydream—I didn’t know what to call it—and the causal way we both touched each other, the way he kissed me and laid claim to my body, was much more satisfying than I ever thought it would be.
He’d called me his mate.
“Druella, I think we both need a distraction from whatever it is you are thinking,” he muttered, and I could smell the spice rising in his scent again.
“This is your fault. You should have just told me about your family.” I pouted, and he chuckled.
“Very well, I shall now,” he said, releasing his grip on me only a little bit. “What was it you were asking about?”
There was his bad memory again; though this time, I didn’t blame him. Even I had lost track of what I was asking. “I think it was about the French Revolution. I asked what you had gained from it? Land?”
“No, it was family,” he replied, his hand on my hip, mine still on his chest. “My father and I came for land as we were looking to have a foothold in France at the time. However, my father made a deal for my younger brother, Arsiein, then known as Antoine Philippe de La Trémoïlle, the Prince of Talmont. A young French noble fighting against the Revolution. When I first saw him, I could not believe he was any bit older than nineteen. He looked so boyish, too pretty, Ulrik said then, and yet he was a revered general. So much so that the French wanted his head desecrated after it was cut.”
“He was executed by guillotine?” I wondered how it was possible to turn him if he had been fully dead and decapitated.
“No, Ulrik freed him from prison before he was transported to Laval for his execution. I found a replacement and influenced the jailers into believing the imposter was him,” he confessed. He watched me carefully, and I knew he was waiting for my reaction.
I didn’t want to ask, but I had to know. “Was it an innocent person?”
“During that time, everyone was innocent, and everyone was guilty. That is the nature of war. Some were more guilty than others. I did not think of the solider I replaced him with nor did I think much of the men he’d helped kill, either. Vicious, is it not?”
“The world is vicious,” I whispered back. “How did your new brother take to his change?”
His eyebrows contracted like he was trying to remember. “He fluctuated between numbness and hunger. He drank and drank his fill, and then he’d just sit there quietly and stare up at the stars as we explained immortality to him. He did not ask to see his family; many normally do, and he did not have passion for the war or for his once beloved king any longer. With his rebirth, he left all of the mortal world behind. The first time he spoke was to ask our father to allow him a new name, Arsiein.”
“Arsiein? What does it mean?”
Theseus shook head. “None of us know. There is no root for it in any language. My brothers and I conclude that he made up. So, whatever it means was for him to decide.”
“So,” I thought back to all I had learned. “Your father’s name is Sigbjørn, your mother’s name is Rhea, and you have two elder brothers, Ulrik and Hinrik, as well as a younger brother Arsiein?”
“Two younger brothers, Jabari and Arsiein. Jabari is closer to my age, though.”
“And who is Melora?”
“She is the mate of my brother, Ulrik.”
“Do your other brothers have mates?”
“Hinrik is mated to Matias. Jabari is mated to M’Kena. They live mostly in her lands, and I told you of them before. Arsiein was not mated last I recall. He has always been the young one of our family, and I’m sure he’ll be pleased you have taken that title.”
His family was so large. I couldn’t imagine what it must feel like to have such a big family. Did everyone like each other? How often did they speak to each other? Would I even be able to meet them all?
“Druella?”
“Sorry. How old is he? The youngest of you?”
“224. Do you dislike being the youngest?”
“I dislike being called young one.” Though I didn’t mind now if Theseus said it, more so others; it felt like they were looking down on me.
“I am out of siblings, so you have to wait until my father sires a new child or one of my siblings do. My siblings have their own children, but there are many, and they prefer to only come during the holidays. You do not have to worry about them any time soon.”
“Your mother doesn’t have any?”
He frowned, shaking his head. “She did; she had two. I think she was trying to replace Demetrius and Thalia. But they were killed by witches. After losing her mortal children and then her immortals, she refused to sire any others.”
&nbs
p; “And your reason?” I pressed gently.
He had said only his father and siblings were to sire, not himself. “I am very similar to my mother at times,” he said halfheartedly, his gaze unfocused.
I was sure he was thinking of the children he’d lost too. I placed my head on his chest. “Thank you for sharing that with me.”
“No need to thank me. They are your family now, too.”
“I’m not good with family, Theseus,” I confessed. Mine was gone, but they barely existed when I was mortal anyway.
He leaned and whispered, “Neither am I, but I’m sure you’ll learn more in an hour than I have in a millennium.”
“And if not?”
“We’ll wander together.” He lifted my chin, so I could see him, just like he’d done earlier. “As long as you wish to be beside me, I shall be beside you, wherever you desire that to be.”
I smiled, amazed that I was only just realizing it. “…I think you’re winning now.”
All the fighting, arguing, and denials I had put up were pointless. The fact that I was already this close him, clinging to him, kissing on him, and moaning his name proved I belonged to Theseus Christian Apollo de Thorbørn. He knew that; he was just letting me become comfortable with the idea.
From the look in his eye, he understood what I meant, too. He inhaled sharply, and his jaw tensed. “I need to get you off this forsaken plane.”
Chapter 21
It was the first time I had seen a vampire with dark circles under his eyes. I hadn’t even though it was possible, which was silly considering all the things that I had learned were possible. Nevertheless, he looked exhausted, sexy, but exhausted. He hadn’t slept in three days, and it showed like he hadn’t slept in a year. What was worse was how much more frightening he looked to everyone. Even the vampires that were in the airport avoided eye contact, the witches were nowhere to be seen or smelled, and the humans, well, they were clueless as always. So, when one came up to us as we were about to walk passed the customs line, four other vampires, also customs agents almost tackled him, no doubt, saving his life. A male agent, in his late forties, just walked us through. He didn’t say a word to either of us, leading us all the way out of security while another vampire, already holding our bags, followed behind us. When we exited the international terminal, the airport was packed. My nose was overwhelmed by all the new scents. My mouth watered at one man as he stood, talking on his cellphone with a bouquet of roses in his other hand.
“This idiot,” Theseus grumbled.
Following his gaze, I looked once to the side where a large bear of a man with shoulder-length blond hair and a thick beard stood. I couldn’t see his eyes because he had on sunglasses and a baseball hat, underneath of a hoodie. He looked like suspect number one in every stalker case. But what truly made him look worse was the large poster he held which read Mr. & Mrs. Vampire-Witch. When we looked at him, he grinned wide like a child. Which was in contrast to the woman with short, dark hair— similar to a guy’s haircut—with tan skin, dressed in high-waisted, bell-bottom pants and a simple white button-down shirt.
“Your family?” I questioned.
“That’s Melora, but I have no idea who the strange one is beside her,” he muttered, walking in the opposite direction of them. But he only made it a few steps before he ended up hunched over, and the large man had him in a headlock.
“Brother!” His voice was like a sonic boom, my ears trembling, making me worry how badly Theseus must have been affected. “Did you not see me? I had a sign!” He’d taken off his sunglasses, revealing bright blue eyes.
“Release me, Ulrik,” Theseus growled, actually trying to break out of his brother’s grasp, but his brother was older and stronger and didn’t seem to notice or care that he was strangling him.
“How was America? Did you bring me anything?” he questioned and then pushed his head down, looking over him and on to me. “Other than a new sister, that is?”
“Ulrik,” Theseus growled.
Pushing him to the side, Ulrik stood beside me like a giant. “Hello, little sister. Welcome home. Did you bring me anything?”
“Ugh…”
“Must you be so childish?” Melora said, already standing beside me, her voice calm and soft. “You are embarrassing me.”
“After all these centuries, dove how is such a thing still possible.” He offered her a small wink, and I instantly did not want to be standing between either of them.
Like he could read my mind, Theseus reached out to grab my wrist when all of a sudden, a slender arm linked around mine.
“You’ve been on a flight with her for hours. Do you not think you should share, brother?” Melora questioned just as Ulrik linked up with my other arm, causing Theseus to growl again.
“I think you should share,” Ulrik told him. “After all, she must be exhausted by your company.” His head shifted down to me. “Aren’t you, young one?”
“I do not get exhausted—”
“Look at his face, Ulrik,” Melora giggled. “He looks like he’s been enjoying his mate so much that he refused even to blink, let alone sleep.”
“He’s probably worried she’d vanish if he closed his eyes.”
They were like a ping pong ball, going back and forth so quickly, leaving no room for anyone to get anything in. Theseus was neither surprised by it nor amused. I felt at any moment, he would just turn and walk away. However, his eyes only fell on me, concern in them.
“Aww he’s worried about her with us, Ulrik,” Melora actually awed.
“We aren’t going to bite her…Well, on the other hand.” Ulrik brushed the side of my hair, and in an instant, Theseus was in his face, their noses almost touching.
“Enough, brother,” Theseus sneered. “We are not yet at home.”
It was then I remembered, we were still in the arrivals wing of the airport. It was only the humans to slow down or watched curiously. I couldn’t imagine how we must have looked to them. A group of impossibly beautiful and tall “humans” altogether, arguing. Ulrik was much calmer, his face relaxed, yet serious. He stared directly into his brother’s eyes and inhaled deeply, even though he didn’t need to. Even Theseus looked taken back by this new expression.
“Finally,” Ulrik stated, nodding his head and reaching up to place his hand on top of Theseus’s shoulder. “Your eyes are alive.”
Theseus’s eyebrows twitched in confusion, but before he could question him, Ulrik pulled him into a tight bear hug. “I’m so happy for you little brother.”
“Ulrik!” Theseus struggled but then sighed, rolling his eyes before hugging his brother back.
“It brings a tear to your eye, doesn’t it?” Melora pretended to sniffle beside me with her arm still linked in mine.
I met her gaze and her vibrant hazel eyes.
“Are you all always this touchy?” I questioned back automatically but slightly regretted it, seeing as how it was my very first words to her. “I mean—”
“Forgive me, unfortunately, my mate’s ways have rubbed off me.” She beamed but didn’t release my arm. “As you can tell from yours, it’s much easier to give in to his way than to argue.”
“We aren’t mates.” I was pretty much a broken record.
“Ahh, yes.” She nodded. “We heard you created a limbo stage. You call it intending?”
“You heard? From who?” I asked.
“Everyone.” Ulrik grinned, now using his brother’s shoulder as an elbow rest.
Theseus spoke to the vampire who carried our luggage, and the man nodded, walking on ahead.
“The whole vampire universe is abuzz because of you two,” Ulrik went on. His blue eyes looked me up and down slowly. “And I can see why. Magic is your gift. It’s spiraling like a tunnel around you. I’ve never seen so many bright colors, not even from witches.”
“Really?” Both
Melora and I said at the same time. Only Melora stepped back, letting me go to see it for herself. However, as far as I could see, there was nothing but air.
Melora frowned, not seeing it either before walking over to her mate. “At the house, you must show me.”
“As if you would let me keep it to myself, dove.” Ulrik winked at her.
“Are you both finished?” Theseus questioned, his voice even more exhausted than before. “We’d like to actually leave the airport sometime today.”
He reached his hand for mine, and I took it. He didn’t wait for either of them to respond before walking with me. A little faster than before, but not so much that the humans would question. Though, I was more worried about the scene we’d made.
“It’s like you’re all invisible here,” I said to Theseus, watching as the humans went by. Someone would stare briefly, admiringly, before going on as if nothing was out of the ordinary.
“Not invisible, just normal,” Melora replied. She and Ulrik were already beside us. The only thing keeping Ulrik from creating another scene was whoever he was texting at the speed of light.
“Normal?”
“We’ve lived here for centuries, Druella,” Theseus stated. “And because of us, we have attracted many of our kind. The country is only so big; to them, it’s just a land filled with beautiful people. Most of them are tourists, so they stare. But once we are in town and about in the city, you’ll see that most people will treat us as if we are no different from them. Just an ordinary person on the street.”
“Most ancient cities work this way.” Melora nodded. “When I return to Istanbul, the only time people actually stop and gawk is when I’m walking next to this one.” She pointed to Ulrik, who was still on his phone.
Ulrik chuckled at Melora’s comment. “They are wondering how such a handsome man such as myself ends up with an erkeksi kız.”
Melora growled and kicked hard, at the back of his knees, sending him to the ground instantly. His phone dropped just as fast and just as hard, which made the screen crack right up the side.