Into The Light (Immortal Hearts Book 1)

by Katherine Hastings

  “May I present you with this one-of-a-kind Versace gown?”

  Emilia looked to me and searched my face once more.

  I glanced at the gown and then back at her. Tonight was about her, but I’d love to see her in that dress. “We’ll take it,” I said.

  “That’s a yes,” Rachel repeated, the salesman scurrying after the first one with the dress in tow.

  “Are you serious, Aiden?” Emilia asked while the next salesman stepped forward.

  “Joking isn’t really in my repertoire.” I shrugged.

  “Aiden, this is too much. I couldn’t possibly accept all this.”

  “You can, and you will. You said yourself that you’ve never had anyone celebrate your birthday. We have a lot to make up for.”

  Her dazed smile transformed into a grin that could illuminate even the blackest night. It certainly lit up my heart, the one I long since thought to be the darkest thing on Earth.

  “Don’t hold back, Emilia. Mark won’t forgive me if I don’t come home with a jet full of new clothing. You don’t want to see Mark upset with me, do you?”

  She shook her head.

  “So, do me a favor and don’t hold back. Mark is already upset enough I didn’t let him come to witness this. He did this to me here once, hence how they already know me, and he made me promise to bring him back with us another time. But tonight... tonight is just about you. Now... pick.”

  She squeezed my hand tighter and nodded before turning to the red pantsuit displayed before her. She shook her head, and the salesman jogged off in the opposite direction of the first two.

  Wave after wave of shoes, clothing, and purses came at us. Emilia squealed with delight when she saw things she loved, and the sound of her pleasures warmed a part of me I long thought dead. Her delighted noises made me wonder what she sounded like in bed, and I pictured her squealing beneath me while I took her over and over again.

  Glancing at my watch I noted soon we’d need to go. In the hour we had been in the store, we’d created a considerable collection of couture. A collection that would please Mark and I wouldn’t have to endure his disappointed scowl coming home without a proper wardrobe.

  “Well, Emilia, we are about to move on to the next part of our evening. Do you feel like you have enough to bring home?”

  She spun in her chair to face me. “Are you kidding?” she squeaked. “This is beyond amazing. This puts Pretty Woman to shame!”

  “Pretty Woman?” I quirked a brow.

  “A movie. Julia Roberts? Richard Gere? Never mind. Just... yes! Yes, I have more than enough! I can’t believe you did this for me. Thank you, Aiden.”

  “Your smile is all the thanks I need,” I said, and I meant it. Once again joy washed over me under the glow of her grin. “Rachel?”

  “Yes, Mr. Mackay?” she responded, stepping to my side.

  “We have other plans this evening, so please have that packaged up and sent to my jet.”

  “Of course, Mr. Mackay.”

  “Could you also bring out the final present?” I asked.

  “Final present?” Emilia asked, turning toward me with eyes wide. “There’s more?”

  Rachel snapped her fingers and a young woman came around the corner with a red purse propped up on a silver platter. Emilia’s eyes nearly popped out of her head when she caught sight of it.

  “A Birkin bag? The Birkin bag? I can’t believe it!” she screamed.

  Her enthusiasm exploded out of her as she shot out of her chair and hurried toward it. “Can I?” she asked, stopping before grabbing it.

  “Of course, Miss Charles,” Rachel said, gesturing for her to take it. “It’s yours.”

  “Oh, my God,” she mumbled and pulled the bag into her arms. Closing her eyes, she hugged it and inhaled the smooth leather. “It smells like magic.”

  My chuckle shook my shoulders while I stood up, watching her sniff and fondle the leather bag. “Mark told me you were ready to go to jail over that purse the night we met. Now it’s yours, and no jailtime is needed.”

  With a goofy grin she spun to look at me. In three big leaps she was in my arms, her own wrapped around my neck while she squeezed me tight. “Thank you, Aiden. Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

  For a moment I stood frozen, stunned by her response and affection. My arms finally responded and wrapped around her waist, pulling her in closer. Closing my eyes, I inhaled her sweet scent and held her close, letting her warmth envelope me and soothe even my deepest scars. My affection for her exploded into a feeling I couldn’t identify but I didn’t want to let go. I stifled a groan when she slid back to the ground, pulling from my embrace. If I could have my way, my arms would never have released her. I wanted more of the feelings she evoked in me... the draw becoming even stronger than my lust for her blood.

  “You’re welcome, Emilia,” I said while she stepped back and grinned at me. “Are you ready for the next phase of your birthday?”

  “I can’t believe there’s more!”

  Little did she know just how much more I had planned.

  “Your ride awaits,” Cyrus said, stepping in through the door. We turned to meet him before I extended an elbow to her. She giggled and slid her arm through mine.

  “Thank you all so much!” she called over her shoulder to the sales associates who lined up again to see us off.

  “It was our pleasure,” Rachel said, waving us goodbye while we headed out the back door.

  Stepping out onto the street, Emilia gasped when she saw the carriage with the gleaming white horse pawing his impatience. The driver stood waiting, his top hat in hand while his coat tails blew in the warm summer breeze.

  “Good evening,” he said, bowing.

  “Are you serious?” Emilia said, her excitement barely contained. “Is this for real?”

  “Your carriage awaits,” I responded.

  She held my hand while I helped her inside. I slid along the burgundy velvet seat and settled at her side.

  After returning to his seat, the driver turned and placed his top hat back over his thinning grey hair. “Are you ready?”

  Emilia nodded and I waved him on. “We are.”

  The driver clucked his tongue, sending the horse trotting off. The carriage turned onto Madison Ave and headed toward the entrance to Central Park. She sat beside me in silence, taking in the sights and sounds of the city until they disappeared into nothing but the chirping of crickets and the soft crackling of branches as we made our way into the park. The clip-clop of hooves kept a soothing rhythm while the horse pulled us toward our destination. He veered left onto the smaller path and soon we arrived at Gapstow Bridge.

  Candles lined the entire stone arched bridge; another flourish Mark had arranged. It glowed in the warm lights and illuminated the soft flowing water beneath it.

  “Aiden... it’s so beautiful,” she said, staring at the impressive sight. “Is this for me?”

  “Of course,” I responded, climbing out of the carriage and helping her down.

  I walked her along the bridge until we reached the small table draped in white linen and topped with two candles, a small flower vase, a glass of wine and a silver lidded platter.

  “Please, have a seat,” I said, pulling out her chair.

  She smiled up at me when she sat, and her gaze followed me until I took my seat across from her.

  “What is it?” She examined the silver dome that shone in the candlelight.

  “Open it and see.”

  When she lifted the lid her eyes popped open and flew to mine.

  “Seriously?” she exclaimed. “You have all my favorite foods here! Pizza, sushi, and spaghetti?”

  “Only the best from New York’s finest restaurants. Please, enjoy your dinner.”

  “I don’t know which one to start with.” She laughed before settling on a piece of sushi, moaning while it slid past her lips. It was another sound she made that sent visions of her writhing beneath me flashing through my mind.

  With
each bite she closed her eyes and savored the tastes from the best selections in the city. Before, when she had told me how much she enjoyed food, I didn’t realize just how much she appreciated all the flavors. Her pure and raw enjoyment of them made me long to taste them with her... to experience things as she experienced them. For the first time in centuries, I craved something other than blood.

  “Oh, my God!” she said, her mouth still full of food. A powerful swallow cleared her throat, and she sat forward in her chair. “Your dinner!” She lowered her voice and glanced around us. “You haven’t fed tonight! I’ve been so caught up in this experience I just realized that we haven’t done our thing.”

  “I fed on a bag when I woke up so you could have the night off,” I whispered back.

  A look of disappointment washed over her face. “Oh, I see.”

  “Does that upset you?” I asked. Her discontent surprised me. I thought she would enjoy an evening not forced to be my live feed bag.

  A non-believable shake moved her head. “No, it’s fine. I’m just surprised is all.”

  I heard her heart race when the lie came out. A trait shared by all humans. It upset her that I hadn’t fed on her. I scrunched my brow in response.

  She wants me to feed on her?

  “I’m sorry, I assumed you would appreciate the vacation.”

  “I don’t mind doing it, you know,” she said. Her eyes conveyed the surprising truth. She truly enjoyed it.

  “Perhaps later,” I said. Her eyes twinkled for a moment and she nodded. She enjoyed it more than I realized.

  After finishing her last bites, she sat back and pushed her plate forward. “This dress and that much food may have been a bad idea.” She puffed out a long breath.

  “Did you save room for cake?” I pulled the piece of cake from where they’d hidden it beneath the table.

  “Is that Boston Crème Pie?” Her eyes grew as wide as the small plate.

  “I heard it’s your favorite.”

  “You have no idea. You haven’t lived until you’ve devoured an entire Boston Crème Pie in one sitting!”

  “So, you have room?”

  A child-like smile stretched across her face. “There is always room for cake. But we may need to go back to Barneys and get me some fancy sweatpants.”

  Her clever wit made me chuckle. “Then cake it is.” I pulled out the small pink candle from my pocket and tipped it into the flame dancing on the table. The little wick sizzled before lighting up. After pressing it into the cake, I passed it across the table. “Make a wish.”

  Emilia closed her eyes and then blew, the little flame dissipating into a puff of smoke that drifted up into the dark night sky.

  “What did you wish for?” I asked while she took the cake.

  She flashed me a staying look and a smile. “I can’t tell you or it won’t come true.”

  “We don’t want that now, do we.” I sat back and watched her devour the little dessert, again taken by how much joy the taste of it brought her. Her moan reverberated in every cell of my body, setting them all on fire. I’d never had chocolate before and couldn’t even imagine what it resembled.

  “Aiden,” she said, scraping the last bit of chocolate off the plate, “tonight has been more than I could imagine. More than anyone could imagine. I... I can’t believe you did all this for me.”

  “There’s one more surprise for you.”

  “There’s more?” she said, the chocolate-covered fork still wedged in her mouth, mumbling her words.

  I chuckled. “There’s more. Are you ready?”

  She licked the last bit of chocolate from her fork and set it back on the plate. Moving to her side, I took her hand and lifted her from her chair. Together we walked arm in arm across the glowing bridge back to where the carriage awaited. Cyrus would be waiting for us back at the limo to whisk us away to her final birthday surprise... and the one I was most excited about.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Emilia

  “WE’RE HERE,” AIDEN said, startling me from my trance induced by the bright lights and activity that still lit up the city even though it approached midnight. Everything about this place was incredible... the fact that Aiden had given me my very own Cinderella evening made it even more special. In my wildest dreams, I could never have imagined such an amazing birthday. To say his thoughtfulness made up for all the non-existent celebrations before would be the understatement of the century.

  I turned to look at him. That impossibly perfect face still glowed with the same excitement he had worn on it all evening. Secrets and surprises still danced behind his eyes, and I knew from the glint of mischief in them that this part of my birthday excited him the most. I didn’t dare even try to imagine what he had in store for me next.

  Cyrus opened the door, and I squinted against the marquee lights illuminating everything around us.

  “Miss Charles,” he said, offering me his hand. I clutched my new Birkin bag against my chest and scooted along the leather seat to climb out beside him. Aiden followed just behind and soon the two of us stood beneath the giant building towering over us.

  “Are we at Madison Square Garden?” I asked. The thumping of the music from within caused me to raise my voice while I tipped my head back to take in the building glowing with colored lights.

  “You are correct.” Aiden flashed me his most charming smile.

  “Text when you’re ready for pickup,” Cyrus said before sliding back into the driver’s seat and pulling away.

  “Is it a concert?” I listened closer to see if I recognized the band.

  “It’s a benefit concert featuring some of the country’s top bands. It’s been going on all night, but there are still two acts left. There is one I am most excited to see.”

  I had a hard time picturing Aiden fist-pumping at a concert, but the delight in his smile told me he was ecstatic about this next stage of my birthday surprise. “Sounds great. Who are the bands?”

  Mischief flickered through his eyes. “That’s the fun part.”

  He placed his hand on my lower back and guided me around the corner. I looked up to see a sign with the band names, impressed by the talent listed as I read. “Wow! Kings of Leon, Imagine Dragons, Thirty Seconds to Mars...” My voice trailed off as I saw the next name on the impressive list. “Is that my ex-husband’s band?” I gulped.

  Aiden’s smirk pulled into a full-blown grin. Even though his fangs were safely tucked away, the deviousness of his smile may as well have had them out in full display. He looked positively scheming.

  “Wow,” I started, unsure of what to say next. Tonight had been pure magic and he’d catered to every single desire I never knew I had. But why he thought I would want to see my ex-husband living out his dreams, actually our dreams, eluded me. Jeff’s presence, playing amongst the country’s top bands, made me sick to my stomach. He had achieved his dreams using me as the steppingstone he squashed on his way to the top. Seeing him standing on a stage singing for tens of thousands of people made me want to vomit. “I... I don’t know what to say.”

  “When Mark discovered the line up here tonight, I knew exactly what I wanted to give you for your birthday.”

  I nodded, still not sure how to tell him I didn’t want to go inside. I didn’t want to see the success of the man who had betrayed me and used me. The man who’d achieved that success because of my funding and my support, and yet he had tossed me aside the moment he’d made his break. Even seeing his band’s name in lights made me want to poke my own eyes out.

  “Follow me and I’ll get us in backstage.”

  “Aiden.” I sighed. “Tonight has been incredible. Amazing. Perfect. I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but I can’t go in there and watch that piece of shit live out his greatest dream. I especially don’t want to go backstage and risk running into him. Never seeing him again would be a better birthday present.”

  Much to my surprise, Aiden’s smile grew. “Oh, I’m so sorry, Emilia. I wasn’t clear enough with m
y intentions here.” He placed his hands on my shoulders. “I have no desire to see that... asshole, succeed either. Tonight we are here to get you some much needed revenge. Tonight you and I will end the ill-conceived career of the man who betrayed you.”

  “What?” I stammered, still spinning from the twist in my evening.

  “It all ends tonight,” Aiden said, a malicious glint bubbled to the top from the depths in his eyes.

  “You’re going to kill him?” I struggled to keep my voice down while I felt the ground move beneath my feet. A healthy thirst for retribution was one thing, but killing him? I didn’t think I had the stomach for that. No... I knew I didn’t have the stomach for that. “Holy shit, Aiden—”

  Tossing back his head, he bellowed out laughter, and the deep, true laugh shook his whole body. I knew he was a vampire, but sweet Jesus, seeing him so nonchalant about murder made me take a step back.

  “Aiden, while I appreciate your intentions, we are not murdering anyone tonight,” I said while his laughter continued.

  “Oh, Emilia. Again, I was not clear. I’m sorry you thought I was here to rip out your ex-husband’s jugular. I’m not... unless you want me to?” He quirked an eyebrow.

  “No!” I shook my head.

  “Just checking,” he said with a shrug. “I have plans for him using my other talents that will leave him alive and safe when we’re done. Do you trust me?”

  Biting my lip, I nodded my head.

  “Good. Then just relax and follow me. I won’t kill him tonight, though he deserves it,” Aiden said, scowling. “Unless you want me to. If you do, just say the word and I’ll part his trachea from his body before you can blink an eye.” He flashed his devious smile.

  I chuckled and shook my head again. “Tempting, but no thank you.”

  “Let me know if you change your mind.” He winked. “Now, follow me.”

  He reached out and took my hand; a spontaneous movement, one normally seen between couples much more intimate with one another. I didn’t even know what we were, yet holding his hand felt natural. The coolness of his touch still startled me, though not at all unpleasant. We both glanced to our entangled fingers. His expression reflected my same shock at the involuntary touch, almost as if his hand had reached out for mine before he’d even realized it. I could see the uncertainty in his eyes, so I squeezed his hand in return, reassuring him that touching him was fine with me.