Another date for him? Probably.
Fabulous.
Youll need a jacket, Dan said, prompting him into motion.
He stood. Ill be fine. He walked over to Brendal, who held the front door open for him. Knowing she might attack him helped dull his unnatural fascination with her.
Thomas followed him silently into the night, though the ghost disappeared from view the moment Aden stepped from the porch. For some reason, he was only visibleand awarein the ranch and bunkhouse, not outside in the elements.
Cold, damp air slithered around Aden, biting at his skin. Should have accepted that jacket. The moon was partially obscured by clouds, and there were no stars to be seen. The insects were eerily silent.
Well begin our tour in the far pasture, she said.
Ah, a tour. That he could do. Im not sure why youd want to see a barn, horses and cows this late in the evening, but come on. Unless, of course, shed simply wanted to get Aden alone. Ill show you the way. He uttered a quiet prayer that Victoria wouldnt follow.
Ten bucks says the woman is gonna try to nail us. And not the good way! Caleb said.
You dont have ten bucks, Julian reminded him.
Aden will pay.
If seeing the ranch had been my goal, Brendal said as they started forward, I would have chosen one of the other boys.
I guessed as much. The Fae were power-hungry, Victoria had told him. They loved humansuntil those humans exhibited signs of their own power. Aden exhibited signs of power. Had she sensed them, or had she figured out who he was and what hed done?
No. She probably felt the draw of him right now. Without Mary Ann nearby, they all did, all the creatures of this otherworld. Some had called him a beacon in the night, some a chain that tugged without regard. And because hed possessed Thomass body, Aden now knew how cold fairies were inside. Deadly cold. Yet, when Thomas had fought Riley, hed drawn warmth into him. Delicious warmth. Was that why they craved power? Did power equal warmth?
You guessed, and yet you came with me anyway.
Im not a coward. He and Brendal reached the far edge of the pasture, where a wood and wire fence blocked the animals from the surrounding field. Aden had no trouble seeing, despite the darkness, because Brendal now glowed. What the hell? She must have swallowed the sun.
Do you know what I am, Aden? she asked, her tone now lacking any hint of emotion. She rounded on him, her dressflowing and white, something girls probably wore to the beach to cover their swimsuitsdancing around her ankles. You havent remarked on my radiance.
To lie or not? Why not tell the truth? he thought next. In this, at least. He knew better than most how hard it was to tell truth from lies when the two were intertwined. I know, he said, and settled atop the top post of the fence, as if he were relaxed, as if this conversation was no big deal. Casual disregardrather than fearwould throw her off.
Was Victoria nearby? He couldnt see her.
Brendal nodded with satisfaction. Good. We can skip the formalities. My brothers final report said that you were the reason we were here. That you were the one who summoned us. So here we are. Why? Why did you want us here?
Careful. A warning from all the souls.
I didnt, I dont, he said. It was an accident, summoning you.
She arched the perfect line of a brow. Yet that accident summoned many others, as well. Our enemies. Enemies to all humankind.
Yes. Hed argue that vampires werent an enemy to humankind, though. They fed off humans, yes, but humans fed off animals. What was the difference? And no, he wasnt calling himself an animal. It was simply the circle of life.
Did you hope to start a war? We have not been together in centuries, and the last time we were, our numbersall our numbersdwindled significantly.
I swear to you, I dont want a war to erupt. Especially here. But I cant help what I am and what I can do any more than you can.
Her head tilted to the side, and she peered at him intently. That unwavering stareand her unemotional tone, he realizedwas familiar. Reminiscent ofDr. Hennessy. His eyes widened as a very repugnant idea sprang up. Was the doctor a fairy, too?
What exactly can you do? Brendal asked.
He gave a falsely negligent shrug. I draw creatures, like you said. Just not with a pen and paper.
And that is all?
Yes.
Then you must die, she said simply. Only when youre dead will the pull to you cease.
He didnt hop off the fence, didnt try to run away. One, he didnt know what she could do, ability-wise. And two, he didnt want her to know shed spooked him, his mind replaying his death by stabbing over and over again.
You wont kill me, he said with more bravado than sense. Or certainty.
No, I wont, she replied, surprising him. Yet. Where is my brother, Aden? And do not lie to me. I have lived for more centuries than you could comprehend. I know when my humans lie.
Her humans?
Uh-oh, Caleb said. This is dangerous territory.
Tread carefully, Elijah suggested. Your next words are highly important.
Because they might be his last? Yeah, hed surmised that. For all he knew, Brendal could teleport him into town and stab him, bringing Elijahs vision of Adens final minutes to life. Or death.
She sure is pretty, though, isnt she? Caleb continued.
I prefer girls with dark hair, Julian said.
Not now, guys, he wanted to shout. He needed to concentrate, to keep his emotions at bay.
Aden? Brendal prompted. My brother would not have left without first contacting his people, without first contacting me. Yet he did. Which means something happened to him. So I ask again. Where is he?
He wanted to tell her. The truth was there, welling up in his throat, threatening to spill over. All he had to do was open his mouth. She would know, and he would feel better. The guilt would leave him.
His brow scrunched in confusion. Were those his thoughts? On some level, they seemed to be. That guiltBut on another level, they seemed foreign. They were softer, almost like the music of the fairys voice, like a song in his head.
Tell me, she said softly. Her eyes, so deep a brown, were hypnotic, swirling, and then, oddly, different colors began flickering. You could get lost in those eyes.
They were very much like Victorias, only darker.
Victoria.
Aden snapped back from whatever spell the fairy had cast, only to realize hed hopped off the fence, closed the distance between them and now had his arms resting on Brendals shoulders, his hands fisted in her hair.
Oh, hell, no. Had he been about to kiss her?
Scowling, he dropped his arms to his sides and stepped back. Brendal frowned. Listen, I dont know where your brother is. He was here, and then he was gone.
You lie, she replied, and yet again, there was no emotion in her tone.
Somehow, that made her all the more dangerous.
Aden, a male voice suddenly called. Dan. Its time to hit the books. Ms. Brendal, I know you understand how important his studies are. Thank you for coming to speak with us, and well see you in the morning.
Obviously, Victoria had voiced him into sending the fairy away.
Brendal stared at Aden for several moments, her expression as blank as her tone, before nodding. We shall speak again, Aden. That, I promise you.
ADEN PACKED A BAG while Victoria and Stephaniethe vampire whod been beside her at the windowconvinced the boys, as well as Dan and Meg, that he was here, he was sleeping and theyd see him in the morning to wave him off to school.
Actually, he was spending the rest of the night at the vampire mansion.
When the sisters returned to him, he was ready, standing outside the bunkhouse, bag in hand, the souls chattering happily about this latest turn of events.
Never thought Id see the day Victoria broke the rules, Stephanie said with a laugh. A reason to celebrate. For real.
What rule? Aden asked, holding out his free hand.
Victoria twined their fingers. As always, her skin was hot, a brand, and the warmth shot straight through him.
Im not supposed to be around you while you date the others, so youll have to remain inside my bedroom, quiet.
Stephanie laughed again. Which was why I was so surprised when she brought me here as backup in case the fairy flipped her lid. But better me than Lauren, huh? She would have attacked first and asked questions later. A pause. Im not needed anymore, right, so Ill just mosey away. Cool? Im hungry, and I hear theres a party in town.
Cool, Victoria replied, the human word sounding weird when spoken in her solemn, formal voice.
See ya! Stephanie vanished.
Aden peered down at Victoria. Wont the vampires living in the mansion smell my blood and feel my pull? No way did he want to get her into trouble.
There are other humans there, so your scent will blend with theirs. As for the pull, I dont know. Riley and Mary Ann are there, so perhaps shell mute it.
Even though Riley negated Mary Anns muting effect? Worth a shot, he said. Hed been to the mansion twice, but hed never been inside Victorias room. He wanted to see it. Desperately. And if she got into trouble, well, he was the king and hed just
Wait. He was the king. Thats what hed just thought. Without reservation or doubt.
But he was still determined to set things right, to pick another ruler. Right?
Ready? Victoria asked, releasing his hand to wrap her arms around his waist.
He lost his train of thought. God, she felt good. Ready.
She licked her lips, gaze falling to the pulse hammering in his neck. Firsta kiss? Thats what I came here for. Earlier, I mean. To kiss you.
This might be the best day of my life, Caleb announced.
My pleasure. Aden tuned Caleb out and pressed his lips to Victorias; her head tilted, and she immediately opened up, his tongue sliding into her mouth. Tasting. Exploring. The heat, the electricity, they made him feel like hed stuck his finger inside a light-socket, every cell he possessed sparking to life.
More, she whispered.
They strained against each other. She was so soft. All the while she made little purrs in the back of her throat, urging him on. His blood quickened in his veins, burning him up, rendering his organs to ash and remaking him into a new being.
A being that could fly, he mused, his feet losing their solid anchor. Victorias hands were in his hair, though, her nails scraping his scalpwhich he loved, needed more ofso he didnt care.
I want to bite you, she said, and she sounded intoxicated, her words slurred.
Yes. He didnt hesitate. He loved when she bit him. Could even be considered a blood-slave, he was sure, but again, he didnt care. He loved this girl. Would be anything she needed him to be.
I shouldnt.
Please do.
She trailed little kisses along his cheek, his jaw, then his neck, her tongue flicking against his skin. Yes. This is what hed dreamed of, before hed even met her. Just being with her, giving and taking like this. Kissing on and on, forever. Sure?
Do it. Please.
Her teeth sank into his vein, sharp and insistent. There was no pain. Her mouth, tongue, teeth, something produced a drug, a chemical, and it numbed his skin before slithering through his body, caressing him from the inside out. Yes, yes.
His eyes opened to half-mast, and he realized he was no longer outside. Four walls surrounded him. They were painted white. Everything in the room was white. There was a large, canopied bed with white fur draped over the top. A vase of white roses that scented the air rested on a vanity. There was no dresser, but there was a computer and game system, though neither looked as if theyd ever been used. Too much dust.
So good, she whispered. So She jerked away from him, panting. Dangerous.
A bead of blood trickled down his neck, he felt the heated glide of it, but he didnt wipe it away. I like it, he reminded her, and he, too, sounded intoxicated.
She cleaned her mouth with the back of her hand. I like it far too much. Next time, you have to tell me no.
I never want to tell you no. As he spoke, lethargy swept through him. Blood loss, combined with all those sleepless nights, all the tension, the worry, the battles, that drugging kiss, suddenly caught up with him and his knees buckled.
Victoria rushed to him, arm wrapping around him and holding him up. She helped him walk to the bed. He fell on the mattress, his eyes already closing.
Sleep, she said. Ill take care of you.
He believed her, and so he obeyed. He slept.
TWENTY-ONE
IM IN BED WITH RILEY. And hes not in wolf form, Mary Ann thought. Giddily. He was human, and they were back together. For the moment. And in less than two days, they could die. Right now, things were innocent. They were dressed, they werent kissing. They were simply snuggled together, her head resting on his chest, his heart beating against her ear, his hand caressing her back. They were talking. Or had been.
They were silent now. His bedroom was next door to Victorias and theyd heard the vampire return. With Aden. Thered been a short, muffled conversation, then a telling silence. A silence that had drifted into this room, bringing tension with it.
Sexual tension. Awareness.
Mary Ann tried to distract herself from thoughts about what was happening next doorand what could happen in here. She studied Rileys inner sanctum, a place of absolute relaxation and comfort. Game stations, a computer, pillowed chairs, a mat for lounging. Only thing that kept her from thinking this place belonged to a bored human billionaire intent on distracting himself was the wall of weapons. Knives of every shape and size covered every inch. Cleary, he took his duties of protector seriously.
How long have you been Victorias guard? she asked.
Since her birth.
Thats a long time.