“My God. How can you say this isn’t heartbreaking, Sebastian?” She didn’t need to lift her hand to feel the tears. They were dripping from her chin.
“Because of what I did to her, Eve.” He poured them both another drink. “It gets worse.”
“You don’t have to tell me anymore.”
“Afraid?” he asked, lifting the glass to his lips.
“Not at all.” She raised her glass and look a large swallow. The burn helped to ground her this time. She wasn’t in the past, watching horrible things being done to the man she loved.
He downed his in a gulp and just looked at the empty crystal. “I wish I could forget that time. I would give anything to not see her laying there, hatred and fear on her face while blood ran from between her spread legs. Her blood and my child’s blood. Even then, I could smell them as two separate humans. My little girl.”
The crystal fractured in his hand and for the first time, she got a sense of what he was holding away from her.
“Well, the ‘doctor’ lost his head at my intrusion. And I mean that literally. I had no idea of the strength I had and the only remorse I had at the time was that it was a waste of blood.” He tilted his head, staring at the broken lines of glass he held. “Actually, that’s still the only remorse I have. He slaughtered my baby.”
He glanced at her and she could see what she couldn’t feel. The torrent of hatred in his eyes succeeded in making her feel the fear he said she would. Quickly, she swallowed the rest of her drink and she poured herself a new one.
His lips twisted into that first smile she ever saw from him. “And then, there she was. The murderous bitch. There she was. Strapped down. Helpless. And I took my time with her. All night. She wanted to bleed, and she did, from hundreds of places. I made her beg, Eve. Beg me to kill her. Over and over. It was only when the sun began rising that I gave her what she wanted.” He took a deep breath. “The last sound she made was screaming my name.”
With the perfect recall found in his race, he could remember tying a bloody scrap of cloth over her mouth, because she was going to scream. He would make sure of that. He could see himself pulling the pieces of metal from her and watching his daughter’s blood run down them before stabbing them through her, piercing her body and pinning her to the table. Each bite. Each cut. Each muffled cry for help. All the exquisitely beautiful details he would never tell Eve.
His fingers clenched around the crystal, completing its destruction. The shallow cuts it left healed as fast as they appeared.
He turned from her and opened a cabinet door. She could hear the tinkle of glass as he threw away the shattered one.
“Just think, Eve, if we still had the mark, you would be bleeding again,” his voice was soft, and she wondered if he was regretting telling her his story. There was a sink below the bar top and it was there that he washed the tiny fragments down the drain. “Ready for more?” he asked, glancing up at her and she could tell the rage had died back down. Or was he hiding it?
Taking a swallow, she gave a brief nod, the whiskey keeping her glued to her seat.
“I grew stronger each day and each day I took a life. Sometimes more than one. Years passed like that.” He poured himself a new drink and downed it. “Then the impossible happened. I had just hunted one night and for the first time since I was turned into a monster, I felt somewhat closer to human. I started to feel things again and loneliness was one of them.
“Being what I was, and even though I had thought the world belonged to me as a boy, I didn’t want to just kill. The memory of my daughter’s blood kept me from losing myself completely in the drive to drink everyone. It was only that that kept me from ripping into anything and everything that had a heartbeat. Man, woman, child. Had it not been for her, I would have killed them all.
“But that night… That night, after I fed, I wandered the empty countryside of a small village in now Naples. There were these beautiful blue markings on a circle of stones. I wanted a closer look. And there was Amriel. Until you, probably the most beautiful woman I had ever seen.” His eyes flew to hers at her small breath and no, she couldn’t keep the jealousy at bay, though this woman was long dead. This time, his smile was soft and the look in his eyes was tender. This was the Sebastian she loved.
“She was on her knees in the center of these stones. Her head was bowed, and her hands outstretched, palms on the ground. She was speaking, but in a language I couldn’t understand. Feeling somewhat human again was the only reason I had for clearing my throat.
“She looked at me and the color on the rocks was the same color as her eyes. She rose to her feet before telling me she had been waiting for me. And lonely idiot that I was, believed her. She knew what I was, she said. The blue dimmed and her eyes were as black as my soul. But she talked to me, touched me and after some time, told me she loved me.”
Eve let the jealousy die as she could see where this was going.
“The way I knew what you did to me the night I found you was because she did the same. Only, she did it deliberately. She let me into her body, and I let her into my heart. I did everything she wanted me to. Everything.” He frowned before looking at her. “I remember.”
“I don’t think that’s a good thing,” she said softly.
“I killed for her. I killed innocent people for her.” The look on his face was one of horror. “I almost died for her.”
Eve jumped to her feet. “What? She went to take a step, thought about it, then climbed back on the stool.
“The mark. It was protection for her. She was branded a witch and they burned her. Only, it wasn’t her that burned.”
“Sick,” Eve groaned. “I’m going to be sick.” She took a deep breath then another. For him to have felt that pain. Three more rapid deep breaths and finally she could feel his hand on her back.
“It’s okay, Eve. It’s in the past,” his voice came to her over her deafening heartbeat. “It’s long gone.”
After calming her breath, she drained her glass. “Jesus, Sebastian. You burned!”
He went back to the other side of the bar. How did he survive that? A voice. A man’s voice. “A man broke the rune,” he said before laughing softly. “Now that I think about it, I wonder what she thought when the flames bit her instead?”
“She died then?”
“I… don’t…” He looked past her as he tried to remember. “No, she didn’t die from the flames. But when I saw her after that, she did. The man that broke the mark, he said something. Said that he needed me for something and that I would know.” His eyes closed. “This was what your mother was talking about. But it wasn’t the taste of the blood that drove me to it. It was the pain. She was Fae. She did that to me. Burned me for her crimes. That alone would have probably led me down that road, but it was the pain of my body as well. The blood of your race healed me far faster than what a human could do.” His eyes opened and met hers. His chest rose. “You not afraid.”
A quick shake of the head. “Not of you. Not of the man that comforts me, the one who breathed life into me. No, I’m not afraid of you.” She watched as he came around the bar.
“I’ve known other women, Eve. And they don’t stick around. It comes with the fangs. That’s probably why I haven’t said these words since Amriel.” He touched her cheek, hoping that what he was about to tell her didn’t push her away.
“What words, Sebastian?”
Her eyes met his and he felt as if she could see into his soul. Wanting just a moment of calm before the storm he imagined, he stroked the flesh of her cheek. Her warmth, just on his hand, filled him, giving him the courage to say, “I love you.”
Tears immediately filled her green gaze and before he could regret what he said, she was standing before him, pulling him down to her and wrapping her arms around him.
“You don’t have to say it back, I just—”
“I love you too, you idiot.” Her smile was brilliant as she turned it toward him. Then, he lost sight of it as she sof
tly pressed her lips to his.
“Do you mean it?” he asked, pulling away from her.
“Well, jeeze, let me think, nope, I lied to you and Gideon on the same day. Of course I mean it!” she laughed, pulling him to her again. “And don’t think I didn’t fight it. Because, I must be honest with you, my Sebastian.” This time she pulled away, the look in her eyes serious and almost sad.
“What is it, my Eve?”
“I can’t give you my whole heart, because I share it with others.”
He threw back his head, laughing that whole body laugh that she so rarely heard. “That was what you thought I meant when…” He trailed off at her nod. “How long have you been fighting this?” he asked, growing quiet.
“Well, a while, but that night with the exploding car?”
His face went white but he nodded.
“I had an idea then. The thought that you all wouldn’t need me anymore tore me to pieces.”
“You mean the night that you acted so happy to leave that you were willing to drive off in a snowstorm?” He took her shoulders and pulled her to his chest. “See, I was thinking that maybe there was something there, and then you acted so happy. It was going to be the past all over again. That was why I was angry. I had started to have hope that maybe you could deal with the crazy and still love me, love us.” His hand tilted her head back. “I’m honored to share your heart, Eve. We are kind of a package deal.”
She couldn’t keep the smile off her face. “Is it possible to be so happy that one blows up? Because I think I’m about to blow up.”
He laughed. “So, you already told Gideon how you felt?”
She blushed slightly before pulling away. “I did. But I didn’t really have much choice in the matter.”
“Eve,” he said, “he didn’t… hurt you, did he?”
“Gideon? Hurt me?” Why would he think that? “No, well, no, maybe?” She ran her hand over her bottom. The sting was almost gone.
Sebastian’s lips twitched. “I mean, he can be…”
“Intense?” she asked. “Don’t I know it. But no, love, he didn’t do anything I didn’t want him to do.”
His eyes dropped to where her hand smoothed over the swell of her ass. “Communication is important, sweetheart. Any more secrets you haven’t told me about?” His finger ran along the trail left by her hand and she swallowed at the look in his eyes.
“I don’t know. I didn’t know I liked that until Gideon did it.”
“I took a chance there, didn’t I?” Gideon’s voice came from her right and she turned, blushing brightly.
#
“Yes, yes you did,” she said, trying to fake a glare. That was impossible though with the feel of Sebastian’s hand stroking her sensitive flesh. Every so often, he would press his fingers down and the delicious ache would have her swallowing air.
“I have the same question as he did. But I heard what you said.” Gideon glanced at Sebastian. “I’m sure we’ll both enjoy figuring out the other bits you hide from yourself.”
“Both?” Eve breathed out, blaming the whiskey on the leap in her pulse.
Gideon gave her a wicked smile before tilting his head. “Later,” he said softly.
A second later, Alex showed up. He wrapped his arms around her and swung her around. “I’m so glad to see you out and about.” He winked at her. “Well, I mean it was awesome to have you next to me for those nights, but I like you better when, you know, you’re not dying in front of me.”
“I’m alive and very well, thank you.” She laughed as he set her on her feet. “But you might want to be careful, I’ve had enough whiskey to lay out a bar full of people.”
“But, you’re not drunk.” Alex looked at her and the bottle that was nearly empty.
“Sebastian had a lot,” she said in defense.
“No, Eve, he has a point. How do you feel?” Gideon asked her this, looking deep into her eyes.
“I feel tipsy, Dr. Gideon.” She laughed at his tight smile.
“Eve, the first time you drank here, you had a lot less.” Sebastian reminded her.
They were right. While she most certainly wasn’t sober, she should be plastered.
No. No no no!
“No, it can’t be!” She didn’t get drunk often, but sometimes she enjoyed the relaxation she got with the buzz. Like that infamous night.
She stared at her palm. “Damn it,” she whispered. She looked up and glanced around at the eyes watching her. “You guys might want to find Gabe.”
Someone picked her up and set her on the stool. The slightest wince and Gideon’s chuckle stroked her skin. “I’ll be easier next time,” his voice was a promise and she shivered.
“Don’t you dare.”
“Be careful, beautiful.”
“Tell that to sober Eve.”
He pulled away from her and she saw something flash in the hazel brown. Had she not been looking so hard, she might have missed the slight widen of his eyes or the ‘I know a secret’ look he threw Sebastian.
What had she done?
Dropping her eyes, she stared at her hands until she heard the sound of someone coming from another room. There was a thud and a muffled curse.
“What is it?” Gabe asked, storming into the room.
“I need apologize once again,” she said.
“Can you do anything other than that? Well, I mean, besides brand me, almost kill me, almost kill me again. And now I’m wheeling around like I’m drunk. I kicked the table!” He laughed again before moving behind the bar. He stared at her until she looked at him. “This is awesome though. Consider me your new best friend because Jesus, it’s been forever since I felt this.”
He gave her a grin and she remembered the quick glance he gave her in the kitchen. Her heart did the stuttering thing again and she held back her sigh of frustration.
“Any chance I could convince you to pickle your liver for me?” he asked, all but laughing.
“I don’t know what that means,” she said softly. Was he mad or not?
“He means would you stay drunk for him.” Sebastian said with a laugh.
“Oh, ah, no. But I can warn you the next time it happens? And to be completely honest, it was Sebastian that tried to get me drunk.”
“Why would he want you drunk?” Gabe was making her nervous with the way he was looking at her. Not in a scary, ‘gonna eat Eve’ kind of way, but something better, darker and she didn’t need anyone else to lust.
“Because I needed it,” Sebastian said. “And she likes whiskey.”
The normal calm gray of the eyes staring at her were different, at times wild, other times unfocused. Not knowing anything about vampires, she found herself questioning them. He acted intoxicated, but what she felt from him was off. Moments of lucidness leapt out at her, but just before she could get a grip on what he was feeling, his emotions were dulled, cloudy. Could this simply be the alcohol?
“You are absolutely stunning,” He rested his chin on his palm as he continued to watch her.
Heat rushed to Eve’s face. Still having not gotten to know Gabe, she was unsure how to take his compliment.
“She’s also shy as fuck, so don’t make her uncomfortable, drunk boy,” Fallon’s voice came from behind.
“Easy guys,” Slowly, she turned to see the crazy one and her eyes filled with stupid tears at the sight of him, hair not only not over his eyes, but pulled back into a ponytail.
“Fallon,” she whispered.
“This isn’t for you, princess.” He smiled at her laugh.
“Of course.”
If only she knew. He was still itching to talk to her, but it would wait. There were more important matters. But he knew the truth. It was for her.
“Gideon,” he said, voice low. Gabe could hear it if he wanted to but wouldn’t think it was anything too unusual. “Want to go for a run with me?” He never asked that. Maybe he would get that it was important.
Gideon gave him a brief look before nodding.
He was their defacto leader for a reason. Time to see if she was as quick.
“Eve, I assume you’re going to be glued to Sebastian? I mean Jesus, let him up for air, will you? I’ll come find him when I’m ready to talk to you.”
There was a look on her face that he didn’t like. One that he put there. Hurt. That was fine. As long as she was protected. He turned his back to Gabe and raised his eyebrows. She frowned but it quickly went away.
“Yeah, Fallon. You find him, you’ll find me.” She gave him a slow wink. “But you might wanna knock first.”
He rolled his eyes with a slight smile and then him and Gideon were gone.
She turned and met Sebastian’s look. What was going on?
It just then crossed her mind. Why didn’t Alex come back?
“So it’s true.” Gabe’s eyes traveled between the two of them. The haze of alcohol didn’t seem as strong. His eyes seemed clearer, but it was odd. While he looked normal, his eyes kept going distant, like he could hear something no one else could.
“What is?” Eve asked.
“That there is actually something between all of you.”
“It is.” Sebastian moved closer to Eve, wrapping his arms around her shoulders.
Something was happening and he didn’t like it.
#
Wasn’t there some piece of land on their god forsaken property that didn’t smell like the bloody Fae? Literally? Fallon growled, breathing in the cold air. All he could smell was their blood. The blood of those like her. A scent he thought belonged only to her. Evidently, it was a shared trait.
Bound by Destiny Page 29
