“Only if we kill Jack,” I argued. “Isn’t that what you said?”
He raised an eyebrow at me and a smile tugged at his lips. “Yes, the oath was for me to turn you after Jack’s death.”
“There you go. The option to ignore has been removed.”
He raised my hand to his lips and kissed my fingers, still not answering my question. “You are amazing.”
“Nope. I’m really stupid for allowing you evil bastards to lure me into your clutches.” I sucked in a deep breath. As much as it hurt, at least Logan would be free of my homicide-filled life. I might not feel bad if Braden died with me. Not that I’ll be feeling anything when I’m dead.
“We are not evil,” Niyol protested.
I looked up at him and frowned, then turned my gaze to the others. I wasn’t sure how I felt about them. They’d manipulated all of us with the excuse of protecting us. I’d put my trust in them, and now I might regret it. No; I already regretted it.
“What’s the best way to imprison a vampire?” I asked, deciding not to respond to my elemental’s remark.
“You don’t need to imprison him,” Qeb replied. “You only need to turn his people against him.”
“Which she already does very easily,” Braden said.
I pulled my hand from his and stood. “So rather than kill all the vampires in Mexico City, I need to recruit them.”
“That would be your best option,” Dusha replied. “But don’t expect them to come willingly. You will have to fight.”
“I know, but maybe I can do something spectacular that will scare the pants off them, without a bunch of deaths.”
Braden chuckled and I turned my glare on him. He shrugged.
“I don’t appreciate the nickname, by the way,” Dusha said. Was that a pout?
I smiled. “Too bad. I don’t appreciate being used as a pawn in your little game of chess.”
“You’re more like the queen,” Göksu said.
“Whatever.” I waved a hand at him and he smiled. “I need a shower, clothes, and food. Then I need to get to Mexico.” I looked around the group expectantly. “Which one of you is going to make that happen?”
Chapter 11
The elementals could do nothing for my physical needs, but Braden could. Gordon had reservations for us at a hotel in Phoenix, Arizona. Neither of us had any desire to run the entire way, so Braden stole a car on the outskirts of Vegas as we zipped by. He called it borrowing. I called it stealing.
He drove, and I slept like the dead. I’d wanted to continue our conversation, mostly to pick his brain about why he made an oath with the queen. Between our escape from Vegas, the fight with Jack’s guards, the encounter with the elementals, and my separation from Logan, my exhaustion won.
“Wake up, little mage,” Braden’s voice interrupted a very nice dream about that stupid fire elemental. Aviur and I would need to have a chat.
“I have a name, you know,” I mumbled, sitting up and stretching.
“I know,” he replied, still not saying my name. “We’ll be there soon, and I’m trying to decide which one of us should fetch the key to the hotel room.”
I glanced over at his shirtless chest and trousers covered in dark stains. I looked down at my shredded shorts and blood-stained shirt. “Maybe my t-shirt underneath isn’t as bad.” I started unbuttoning the shirt and Braden coughed. A wave of lust smacked into me and I turned to him. “You have to get that shit under control, Braden.”
He actually blushed, and I tried not to react, feeling my own face flush. “I’m not the only one,” he grumbled. “Your dreams were extremely intense.”
My embarrassment deepened. “Well, I need to have a chat with Aviur. He’s not allowed in my dreams anymore.”
“But it was so much fun,” the fire elemental purred.
A wave of heat erupted from the back seat and Braden jerked the steering wheel, driving us into the wrong lane. He swerved back, mumbling curses.
“You heard me,” I snapped, trying to force my heartrate to slow. “No more nightly visits.”
“If you insist,” he said.
“You’re going to burn up the backseat,” Braden snapped. “Can this not wait until we get to the hotel?”
“No, the seat is fine,” I corrected. “Just like Göksu doesn’t leave a puddle everywhere he goes. But Braden’s right. Why are you here? Surely not to torture me.”
“That was not...” I held up my finger, stopping his next comment. He smiled. “Kellen is concerned for your safety. Rather than allow him to send out a search party for you, I thought it would be wise to provide him an explanation of your whereabouts.”
“That was all rather formal, wasn’t it?” I asked, my thoughts still lingering on my sexy dream. “Never mind. Yes, please tell my partner I’m fine, but don’t tell him where I’m going. Not that he won’t figure it out, but still.” I paused and shifted in my seat so I could face him. “Is he okay?”
“No, not really,” Aviur replied. “He and Logan watched a video of your fight with this one.” A fiery finger pointed at the vampire.
“Oh great. Of course there are surveillance cameras at Jonathan’s,” I mumbled. “I don’t suppose you and Qeb can explain what I am and why all this is happening? If Logan is still with him, he needs to know why everything changed.”
“Of course we will,” he replied, reaching a fiery hand towards my chin. I tried not to flinch as his fingers touched my face. It was warm, but not hot enough to burn me. “Logan will not doubt your love and Kellen will not doubt your loyalty.”
“Why aren’t you calling him my partner?” I asked. “You’ve always referred to him as my partner.”
“You already know that answer,” he whispered. “Be brave. You are not alone.”
His finger trailed along my chin and he disappeared. Tears welled in my eyes as I turned around in my seat. They took my partner, too, and left me with a vampire who hated me.
I looked at the digital clock on the dash and cursed. We’d only been on the road for a couple hours. Could I go back to sleep? Maybe, but would that elemental screw with me again? Probably. I suspected it was the reason Braden woke me up.
“Your heartache is painful,” Braden whispered. “Why do I feel it so strongly?”
“Because we’re bound by spirit,” I replied, still looking out the window. “Everything feels… more.”
“What does that mean?” The slight shake in his voice made me turn to him. I wished I hadn’t.
Should I just explain Logan’s love? Would that be the easiest way? I didn’t want to share that, especially with Braden. Clinical explanation, that’s what he needed. I took a deep breath.
“Dusha, the spirit elemental…” I paused, not wanting to tell him he had a soul and afraid how he would react to thinking he could love. We already had that discussion.
“Your indecision isn’t helping,” he hissed.
“I’m sorry. Based on one of our previous discussions, I’m really not happy about telling you.”
His eyebrows rose, but he didn’t comment.
“Dusha connected our souls,” I said, finally with a long, exhaled breath.
“I don’t have a soul.”
“You do now.” I curled up in the seat and turned my back to him, trying to ignore his emotions. I shouldn’t have dropped that bomb and turned my back. I should’ve asked if he was okay, but this was Braden. The man who said love was inconvenient, that he was grateful he wasn’t capable of that silly emotion.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
I woke again when Braden pulled up to a large hotel, parking at the far end of the lot. I stared out the window at the lines of cars. It was almost morning, the wrong time of day to be checking in. People left the main entrance, dragging their luggage to their cars and carrying cups of coffee with the hotel logo on them. Going about their normal lives, doing normal things, unlike me.
I pushed open the door and took off my Hawaiian shirt. The t-shirt beneath was filthy with sweat stains, but
only a little blood. It might pass. “I’ll go get our key.”
Braden said nothing, didn’t even look at me. After slamming the door, I sighed and walked towards the main lobby entrance.
Several people glanced at me and wrinkled their noses. I didn’t blame them. Not only did I stink, but I was filthy. I reached the automatic doors and a mom with two kids pulled the little ones out of my way, giving me plenty of room to walk by. I smiled and kept going.
At the desk, I stumbled. I didn’t know Braden’s last name. Shit.
“Can I help you?” the man at the desk asked as I walked up. He wrinkled his nose, too, then glanced at the other customers.
“I need to pick up keys for Braden,” I replied. “His assistant made reservations a few hours ago.”
“I need a last name, ma’am,” he stated.
“I’m sure there’s only one Braden,” I insisted. “I apologize for my appearance. We’re part of one of those MMA groups, trying to stay under the radar. Braden looks worse than me, which is why I’m picking up the keys.” I leaned towards him and tried to smile past the obvious lie. “I’d really like a shower a change of clothes. It’s humiliating standing here in front of everyone like this, agreed?”
“Yes, agreed.” He tapped away at his computer and a smile bloomed across his face. “You’re right. Only one Braden, with a reservation made three hours ago.” His smile widened. “And the Presidential Suite. I’m sorry for making you wait.” He typed away on the key board and two key cards spit out of the little printer next to him. “Here you go. Room 702. The note says you’re expecting a delivery before noon. Should we send it up when it arrives?”
“Yes, please,” I replied, taking the cards. I couldn’t believe he gave them to me. He broke so many protocols releasing the key without identification or even a credit card. “You’ve been splendid.” I hadn’t commanded him, had I? I didn’t think so, but he never should’ve given in so easily.
I rushed from the lobby, trying not to run but probably failing. I didn’t know if Braden’s vampire gifts would be different from Logan’s and I didn’t really want to find out in the parking lot.
Braden waited by the car, attracting all kinds of attention with his bare, muscled chest and messy blond hair. It suddenly dawned on me. His amazing good looks came from his fae heritage. All vampires were pretty because of their perceived youth, but Braden was exceptionally so. The only one I’d seen who could match his handsome features was Jack. Which sparked another revelation. They were the last two elders, which meant Jack was also fae. Damn.
“You couldn’t wait in the car?” I asked, shoving a key card at him.
“Did you have trouble checking in?” he asked in return, ignoring my question.
“No,” I snapped, knowing he’d feel the lie. “We’re taking the stairs. I don’t think they’ll appreciate you walking half naked through the lobby.”
“Liar,” he whispered, not hiding his humor as he strolled across the parking lot to the side door. Was he hiding the shock of finding out he had a soul? Or did it really not matter to him? He had to be hiding it.
“Just wait until the shoe is on the other foot,” I mumbled as he swiped his card.
The lock clicked open, and we took the first door on our left labeled ‘stairs.’ Thankfully, our room was right next to the stairwell which meant it’d be quiet. Most people had no desire to walk that many flights, especially if they had any luggage.
Braden opened the door and a wave of gratitude rushed from him to me. I hadn’t realized how much he loved his material comforts. His prison at Jack’s had none, not even a blanket. I followed him inside and couldn’t help but smile. The set up was much like his apartment in London with an open living area and small kitchenette. Two doors graced each side of the room; one on the left and one on the right.
“Do you care which room I take?” I asked, taking off my shoes and leaving them at the door. I frowned at my socks, well one sock. I hadn’t put the bloodied one back on. I peeled it off my foot and went in search of the garbage can.
“No, take whichever you like,” he replied, unbuttoning his trousers.
I blushed and ran for the room on the right. I felt his humor just as surely as he felt my embarrassment. Relief flooded me when I found the lock on my door and even more so at the king size bed covered in a white, goose down comforter. Sleeping would be heavenly. Shower first, though.
I stripped out of my filthy clothes on the way to the bathroom, then flipped on the light and screamed. A stranger stared back at me. One with pointed ears that my hair didn’t cover. I snapped my mouth closed, stifling my outburst. I ran my finger along the edge of my new ear, sending tingling sensations down my neck. What the hell?
“Braden! Why didn’t you tell me I had stupid ears?” I yelled, knowing he could hear me. “When did this happen?” I whispered. I thought back to the night’s events. They weren’t there after Cedric activated my magic or Kellen would’ve told me. Maybe when my little monster showed her ass at the compound? Had to be.
“Because you didn’t ask,” he replied, standing in the doorway, wearing absolutely nothing.
I’d already seen his wide shoulders and rippling abs, but nothing below the waist. Holy shit. His body was not lean muscle like Logan’s. I spun around, turning my back to him and willing myself to stop thinking about what I saw.
“Shit!” I fumbled for a towel from the rack and wrapped it around my own naked body, then threw another one at him. “Cover that up.”
“You don’t mean it,” he said, wrapping the towel around his waist. “I can feel it. Hear the lie on your tongue.”
He stepped closer to me, but I stepped back, trying to keep my eyes off his chiseled chest and abs, or maybe even above his belly button. The desire radiating from him didn’t help. Damn.
“Get out,” I commanded. He flinched but didn’t leave. “Just because my body is arguing with my mind doesn’t mean I’ll let this happen.”
“Maybe,” he said, his gaze roaming over me. Curiosity mixed with his longing. “But I love feeling your desire and your struggle against it.”
“Well, go out there and feel it,” I said, shooing him away. That didn’t work either. “Braden, please. I can’t do this with you.” I tried to reinforce the mental barrier that worked between me and Kellen, but it was useless. I could see it in his eyes.
“Do you know how long it’s been since I felt anything other than anger, resentment, impatience or any of the other less desirable emotions?” he asked, taking another step towards me.
“A few centuries?” I guessed. “If you don’t back off, we’re adding fear to the list.”
He stopped and searched my face. “Fear is the last thing I want from you.”
He turned and left the room, and I collapsed onto the toilet, my fingers gripping the towel at my chest. My emotions warred with each other. I couldn’t deny my attraction to the vampire; he was beautiful. But I also couldn’t betray Logan. I’d already done so much damage to our relationship. Having sex with Braden would ruin everything permanently.
I blew out a long breath and stood, turning on the shower and closing the door. Not that it really mattered. He went right through the locked door. I’d put a chair under the handle so I’d have a little warning next time. Or maybe I just needed to get away from him. That was a better idea. Shower first.
I scrubbed myself for thirty minutes, then found my complementary toothbrush and scoured my teeth. I needed to figure out how to hide those pointed ears. My father did it. I’d seen him make them round, but it was never one of my lessons as a child. It couldn’t be much different than any other glamour though.
I rubbed the dripping water from my hair and pulled the complementary terrycloth robe over my shoulders. I stared at my reflection in the mirror, trying to remember what my ears looked like before. I almost called Braden in to ask, then thought better of it. He didn’t need to be in my space right now.
“Rounded ears, not pointed,” I mumble
d. Slowly but surely, the tips smoothed, leaving behind a small human ear. I giggled and the illusion disappeared. “Well, damn.” I tried again, making them normal a little quicker, but as soon as I looked away the magic failed. “Fricking lovely.”
I picked up the comb from the counter and tried to pull my short hair over the pointed tips. That didn’t work either. Maybe if it were a little longer it would hide them. Not today’s reality though. I gave up, cinching the belt around my robe a little tighter and going into my room.
Sunlight filtered through the curtains casting shadowed stripes across the carpet. The large bed didn’t call my name like I wanted it to. Instead, I sat on the floor and crossed my legs.
Niyol?
Yes.
How’s Logan? I asked.
Do you really want to know?
No and yes.
He’s hurting, but he understands, Niyol replied.
You explained what I am and why I severed our bond?
Yes, he was mad about that, but I think he’s also a little relieved, he explained. No one wants their life tied to someone else, no matter how much they love each other.
Does he still love me? I hated asking because I worried that he didn’t.
Yes, love isn’t that fragile.
I smiled, relief flooding through me. I needed Logan’s love, but would this new vampire allow it? I glanced at the door and reached for his connection. He was in the living room reaching for me. I pulled back, but not before I felt his curiosity.
I had to keep it professional with Braden; that was the only way to make it work. Memories of his naked body flashed through my mind. Why did he do that to me? Just to feel my reaction? Obviously. Shit! Professional. Keep it professional.
Can you tell him I love him? I asked after my few moments of stupid.
Göksu already has, numerous times.
Thank you.
A light tap on my door made me sigh.
“What is it?”
“I ordered breakfast,” Braden replied. “It’ll be up in a few minutes.”
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