A Guardian's Love

by Stein Willard

  “We’re all fine, Mother.”

  Tahlia nodded slowly as her eyes anxiously ran over both Inger and Jemima. Inger knew she was checking them for injuries.

  “If we were a few seconds later, he would have killed you.” Pain flashed across the beautiful features. “I cannot afford to lose either of you. You are my life.”

  “But he didn’t and I’m okay. You and mom came to rescue me.”

  There was a deep groan and they turned sharply. The vampire’s head lay a few feet away from them, and Paloma was wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.

  “He was Mercredi’s son, Jonah,” she said.

  †

  Tahlia swung Inger into her arms and using preternatural speed they were at her grandparents’ mansion in a matter of minutes. After reassuring James that she was unharmed, Tahlia carried Inger to her room. She waited until Inger disappeared into the bathroom to take a shower before she left.

  She found Paloma waiting for her outside in the hallway. After the meeting with the Consortium, Tahlia had hoped to talk with Paloma, but before they could start, Jemima had alerted her to Inger’s capture. It had cost all her willpower to sit through the meeting knowing that her daughter was in trouble. The others would’ve understood had she rushed off, but Jemima was adamant that she could handle the situation while Tahlia was indisposed.

  In the end the faith she’d put in her wife’s ability to head the rescue was a good call. Jemima had grown into a great fighter over the past twenty years. Tonight was the first time she’d seen her wife’s ferocity on display. Her ruthlessness also had to do with the fact that her daughter was threatened. An hour later, Tahlia could still feel the queasiness in her stomach at the danger Inger had been in. A weak smile formed on her lips when she saw the concerned look on Paloma’s face.

  “Is everything all right, Tahlia? Inger?”

  “You have always looked out for me. This time you have helped me save my daughter. Please accept my gratitude.”

  They studied each other for a long moment, before Paloma stepped forward and pulled Tahlia into a tight embrace.

  “We promised our mothers that we would look out for each other. Besides honoring my promise, I did it out of love. I love your daughter, old friend.” Paloma held Tahlia’s eyes even though Tahlia could see a nervous tick in Paloma’s cheek. “May I have your permission to court her?”

  Paloma’s desire was out in the open. Tahlia’s eyes bored into Paloma’s silver ones, but still no one broke the growing silence.

  Finally, Tahlia nodded.

  “Firstly, I grant permission as long as you do not hurt my child, because if you do, I will have to hunt you down, and we both do not want that to happen.” A red gleam flashed through Tahlia’s dark eyes. She wanted Paloma to know that she meant every word. “Secondly, it will not always be easy for me to see you with Inger, and I might react negatively at times. Bear with me. I will inform Jemima about your wish to court Inger. Allow her the opportunity to act and react like a mother. She loves Inger very much and might have misgivings about a union between the two of you.”

  Paloma nodded and stepped closer. She touched her right hand to Tahlia’s chest, right over her heart and Tahlia’s eyes widened. The Old World gesture reaffirmed a deep binding promise. The last time they made such a promise between them was when they were still children and they vowed always to be there for one other.

  “I promise to look after her always and to love her for as long as I draw breath.” Paloma’s voice broke and the silver eyes faltered. “I love her, Tahlia. I love her more than anything in this world.”

  Touched by the heartfelt declaration, Tahlia stepped back.

  †

  Inger lifted her face to allow the water to caress it. Her thoughts were on the night’s events, and she gingerly touched the spot where the vampire had pricked her skin. There was only smooth skin now, but still a shudder ran through her body. This was the closest she’d ever come to death. She rested her forehead against the warm tiles. Tonight she had stared death in the eyes and it scared her. It had terrified her, to be honest. When she’d looked into the eyes of the renegade, one thought crossed her mind. She’d realized that she was too young to die and she still had much she wanted to do. So many things she wanted to experience. Things like love. She wanted someone she could go home to, just like her mothers. The love they shared is what she aspired to. Cool silver eyes flashed through her mind, and she exhaled noisily.

  As much as she was attracted to Paloma, she doubted if the vampire would want to settle with a girl. Paloma appeared so controlled and sophisticated. She didn’t fit the part of a player, but she also didn’t look like she was ready to commit to an exclusive relationship. Hell, the woman was gorgeous and sexy and could have any woman she wanted. Growing up around female vampires, their seductive powers awed her. Paloma was like them, but so much more. Maybe it was time to move on before she got in way too deep. She wondered if it were possible to have your heart broken before you’ve actually fallen in love. She reached for the towel. With it wrapped around her, she strolled into her bedroom only to come to a quick stop. Sitting on her bed was Paloma, her silver eyes looking calm but intense.

  “Your mother let me in, but if I had known you were in the shower, I would have waited a while longer.”

  Inger clutched the towel tighter to her as she stared at the other woman. Paloma was sitting stiffly on the bed. Her large hands rested in her lap. She looked both beautiful and dangerous. Inger gave herself a mental shake and walked deeper into the room. Her thoughts were going down a dangerous path.

  “If my mother let you in, she must’ve had a good reason.”

  They were alone in her bedroom and just the thought of having this sexy, dangerous woman in such close quarters made her heart race. It made her act stupid, too. Without any further thought, she turned her back to Paloma and dropped the towel. The moment the towel hit the floor, she regretted her rashness. But it was too late. What’s done is done. Secretly she was glad for all the hours she’d spent in the gym over the past four years. Her body was firm and evenly muscled.

  She heard Paloma suck in her breath and grinned slyly. Her action might’ve been impulsive, but it seemed not have been in vain. When she turned to face the vampire, she found the silver eyes roaming hungrily over her body, moving from her long legs up to her face. When they made eye contact, Paloma’s eyes were translucent with desire.

  Inger felt the heat pooling between her legs at the raw lust in Paloma’s eyes. A heavy compulsion ushered her toward Paloma, and her legs carried her slowly to the bed. She shrieked when Paloma’s hand shot out and pulled her onto the vampire’s lap. Her eyes widened in shock when she felt a cool hand cupping her twitching mound.

  Inger gasped at the intimate touch, her eyes fixed on the large hand covering her naked sex. This was unexpected, too fast, and so unbelievably erotic. The hand lifted slowly and Inger stared in total fascination at the slickness coating the vampire’s strong fingers.

  “You need to put on clothes before I forget my honor and ravish you.” Paloma’s voice came out muffled as she pressed her lips against Inger’s cheek. She slowly loosened her grip. “I have not been with anyone for over 500 years.”

  Swallowing hard, Inger nodded and scrambled off Paloma’s lap. She rushed over to where the towel lay. Whatever made her think that she would be able to handle Paloma? For the second time that night, she felt close to being gobbled up by a vampire. With the towel wrapped tightly around her body, Inger slowly turned to look at Paloma. This time the vampire was looking at her with such a heart-numbingly sad look. The look lasted only a second before the silver eyes again went blank.

  “I am not one of those women with whom you can flirt and have a hasty romp in the backseat of your car,” Paloma said in a harsh tone. In one fluid movement, she was on her feet and walking slowly toward her. “I have lived long enough to know when I want something, and I have also learned not to look a gift horse in the mo
uth. When I am presented with the opportunity to take what I want, I take it.”

  Inger shivered when Paloma touched her naked shoulder and a strong electric current ran from her shoulder to settle in the pit of her stomach.

  “Unless you want what I want, do not ever try to do what you did tonight. I will seduce you and take you to my bed. And when I am done with you, you will never be able to look at another woman again, because your body will crave my touch. And my touch only.”

  With a final look at Inger’s exposed legs, Paloma stepped back.

  “Hurry up and get dressed. The others are waiting for us in the boardroom.” She walked to the door and let herself out.

  Still shivering, Inger stared at the closed door for a few seconds before she fled to the bathroom and closed the door firmly behind her.

  †

  Paloma could feel Tahlia’s eyes following her as she crossed the boardroom to take a seat at the table. On the way to the boardroom, she had bumped into Rafina, which explained the mugs of steaming coffee on the table. The subtle taste of Inger’s ill-concealed fear was still lingering in her mouth and she was glad for the coffee to mask the taste. Looking up she found Tahlia staring at her with unblinking eyes. Jemima stood a few feet away chatting to Michael while Pierre was sitting quietly, looking deep into his cup of coffee. The sight worried her. He worried her.

  Pierre’s loneliness was almost tangible. Genevieve had disappeared while she was still underground, but biting Gillian had brought Paloma up to speed with almost all the events she had missed over the past 500 years. Losing Genevieve was devastating. That was probably the most difficult news she had to process when she’d sifted through Gillian’s memories. She had known Genevieve very well. The sweet, petite redhead had a heart of gold.

  While she and the Royal Vampires had crisscrossed the globe fighting and killing, Genevieve was the one they all came home to. She reminded them never to let go of their humanity and to distance themselves from their kills. She was Pierre’s life, and for him to have survived four hundred years without her—without a mate—was due greatly to his stout sense of duty. He knew he was needed, and that was the only reason he hadn’t yet walked into the dawn.

  The door to the boardroom opened, and Inger stepped inside. As if on cue, all the others took their seats. Ever the doting mother, Jemima pushed a mug into Inger’s hand. Everyone in the room could feel the waves of comfort that came from Jemima. Inger smiled weakly at her mom before scanning all the room’s occupants. When their eyes met, Paloma sensed the apprehension the young woman was trying hard to hide. Paloma picked up her cup and took a long swallow of the bitter brew to hide the grimace that came to her lips.

  Having filled in the others of what had happened earlier, Tahlia turned to Paloma. “What did you find out about the slayers and their vampire?”

  Paloma gently placed her cup down. “It is not good. The vampire we killed tonight was the son of Columbus Mercredi, the founder of the Servants of Redemption. Drake turned both Mercredi and his son. Acting on Drake’s counsel they managed to capture a vampire to serve as a blood cow.” She saw the looked of shock and horror on Joan’s face.

  “How did they capture him?” Paloma saw Jonas reach out and take Joan’s hand.

  “Her. It is a vampiress. I have no idea, but I know they are holding her somewhere in Italy. We will never know how many others she was forced to create.” Paloma looked from Tahlia to Jonas and then to Pierre. “We will have to find and destroy her.”

  Even after centuries of hunting and killing their kind, it had never become easy. But it needed doing. The three Royal Vampires nodded curtly. They would have to do it together. The others in the room must have sensed the weight of the four master vampires’ decision and remained silent. Tahlia broke the silence.

  “Now that we have destroyed his heir, Mercredi will be coming for us. I left one human alive to take a message to whoever they report to.”

  Michael cleared his throat softly. “We can use that to our advantage.”

  “How?” Inger asked. She had been quiet until now, only sipping from her mug and throwing nervous glances Paloma’s way.

  “If Mercredi comes, there is a good chance that he will bring the vampiress with him. We will have home ground advantage and can organize an operation here.”

  “Why are they are keeping her alive?” Inger asked her eyes focused on her mug.

  “After centuries of killing innocents, a vampire’s blood becomes diluted with every kill and they begin to lose some of their powers,” Paloma explained. “One such power is the ability to shape shift to and from the human form. The vampire will also have trouble blending in with the shadows as he will be followed everywhere by a hideous demonic stench warning humans of his presence, thus robbing them of sustenance.”

  The room was quiet after she answered. Paloma turned to look at Inger and found her looking back. The blue eyes held a look of stark horror. Paloma quickly turned away, not wanting to see the fear in Inger’s eyes again.

  “A vampire such as the creature we destroyed today will need the fresh blood of another powerful vampire to revive, albeit temporarily, its failing powers. Mercredi must have found a vampiress of pure heart.” There was a small silence. “One of ours.”

  Frowning suddenly, Jonas sat up straight. “The only vampiress I knew who would fit that description is—was…” His voice trailed off, but Paloma knew exactly what he was going to say.

  All the eyes in the room sought out Pierre’s. He shook his head.

  “I have questioned each and every servant in the household more times than I can remember about that night. They all remember seeing her being staked through the heart and left to die in the flames.” His blue eyes were almost pale with anguish as he relived the memory. “If...if she were alive she would have contacted me.”

  Tahlia nodded. “Pierre has a point. We stick to our original plan. We lure Mercredi here and free the vampiress.”

  The three Royal Vampires came to their feet and left the room with the rest following in their wake.

  †

  Inger was the last to leave the boardroom. As soon as she stepped through the door, she felt a hand on her shoulder. She knew who it was before she turned to face her. It was quite late already, and she wasn’t sure if she was up for another mentally draining round with Paloma. The reason she left the boardroom last was to avoid meeting with her.

  “Could we talk, please?”

  Inger looked at the grandfather clock in the lounge. It was late, and she was tired. Nor did she want to talk to Paloma while she still felt uneasy about what happened earlier in her bedroom. She shook her head slowly and saw the silver eyes darken.

  “I can hardly keep my eyes open. Can’t it wait until tomorrow?”

  Paloma stepped back. “Yes, you must be very tired. I will see you tomorrow.”

  With a gentle smile, Paloma walked over to where the other vampires stood talking to the Consortium members. Inger was about to leave when she overheard Michael talking.

  “We’ve had successful trials to date. Of all ten vampires we’ve injected with the serum, all of them have been able to walk about during daylight hours.” Intrigued, she stepped closer, but a stern glare from Tahlia made her blush at being caught eavesdropping. She was still a junior member of the Consortium and was not privy to most of the issues discussed. Her direct involvement in the evening’s earlier event was the only reason she was allowed to sit in on this meeting.

 

  She quickly turned and left the lounge. At the door, she turned to look back and felt the air explode out of her lungs. Paloma was staring at her with an intense expression of longing, but she quickly averted her eyes and turned back to listen to Michael.

  †

  After Michael and Joan left, accompanied by Jonas, Juan, and Pierre, Jemima came to sit next to Tahlia where she and Paloma were sipping their coffee. Paloma felt a pang of envy when she saw the possessive way Ta
hlia looked at Jemima. Examining Jemima, she too would’ve looked at Jemima that way.

  Dressed in black pants and a tight-fitting white shirt that clung to her curves, Jemima looked gorgeous. Paloma thought back to the year 29 BC, when she’d stumbled upon Tahlia and a young woman in one of the animal fodder sheds. Tahlia’s mother, Grinolde, was worried when her daughter hadn’t returned home in time for the noon meal and had sent her to go out and look for Tahlia. After having looked everywhere possible, she’d turned, in desperation, to the royal fodder sheds situated near the walls of the Emperor’s castle.

  The first stall was empty, and she had impatiently pushed open the door to the second stall only to be brought up short. There in the thick fresh hay, she’d found Tahlia with her head buried between the legs of a beautiful blonde girl with vivid blue eyes. Shocked by the intrusion, the pair had jumped up and hastily pulled on their clothing. Catching them in the act had shocked Paloma, but not too much. She had suspected for quite a while that Tahlia, despite her unbelievably good looks, was attracted to girls. She always was in the presence of a beautiful girl or two. But seeing her like that with another woman had rattled her. She too had been suppressing her attraction to women for the past few years. Yet, here was Tahlia fearlessly living out her life.

  When she had shifted her gaze back to the girl, she’d felt her blood run cold. It was Aurora, the most untouchable woman in the whole realm and Caesar’s goddaughter. What did Tahlia get herself into this time? She could get her head chopped off for what she was doing with the noblewoman. And then it struck her that the girl was staring at Tahlia with absolute adoration in her beautiful blue eyes. Exactly like Jemima was looking at Tahlia now.

  “You seem to be far away, Paloma,” Jemima noted, snapping Paloma out of her reverie. Grinning, Paloma lifted her mug to her lips. “I was thinking about the first time I saw you. Nearly two thousand years ago.”