“What about Darius? He’ll keep coming back.”
“One step at a time, kjaere.” He drew his hand over mine and finally looked up at me. “There is no hurry.”
It was so much to consider.
I stared at the rays of sunlight across the room, creating a pattern of light on the wall. It seemed brighter than usual and I squinted.
“I’ll burn in the sun, won’t I?”
“Yes, unless you accept the role as a Protector and Rose enchants your tattoo. There are witches that can cast sun protection charms as well, but they are hard to find.”
What was there to think about? I had no intention of leaving Erick or Sanctuary. This was my home.
I jumped from the bed, intending only to stand, but I flew through the air and landed near the doorway instead. “Holy crap!”
Erick chuckled. “Think slow. You can move much faster now, and your strength is fifty times what the average human possesses.” He stood and walked toward me, his voice calm and sexy as hell. “Move deliberately. Think about where your foot needs to go before you lift it. Every cell in your body is perfectly attuned to your every desire and responds in turn.”
I took a few more steps, carefully making my way down the flight of stairs to the entryway, but a large swath of sunlight from the living room blocked me from going any farther.
“Wait here. I’ll pull the drapes.” He went ahead, and soon the apartment was dimmed and sunlight was nowhere to be seen. He flipped on a few ceiling lights, though I found I could see perfectly in the shadows, and motioned for me to follow him to the kitchen.
I sat carefully in one of the polished, white leather barstools, worried that if I moved faster than the speed of a turtle, I might just break his furniture.
He opened the fridge and pulled out a blood bag. “Compliments of Raven and Maven. They got several cases off a donation van over in Fort Worth for you. Human blood will help ease you into your transition,” he said, putting it on the counter in front of me. He pulled a couple of glasses from the cabinet to his left and then emptied the contents of the bag into both. “Cheers.”
“Several cases?”
“You will need a lot at first. After a while, the hunger will fade to a more manageable level.”
Picking up a glass, I took another sip and paused. It was different than the first glass. This blood was thinner, lighter, and almost had a fruity taste to it.
“Whose was in the glass upstairs?”
“Mine.”
I set the glass down and stared at him while he downed his. “Why would you give me your blood?”
“The only way a vampire can complete the change is to drink the blood of their sire. If you had not, you would have died … painfully.”
“Oh.” Not the answer I was expecting, but then this was all very new. Who was I to argue with how vampires were made? “I didn’t know blood could taste so different. What did mine taste like?” The question popped out before I could stop it.
“Kjaere, your blood was like the finest, sweet, red wine. Thick and strong, with a healthy dose of sugar.” He closed his eyes and smiled, as if reliving the memory of tasting me.
Strangely, it made me feel good to know he enjoyed my blood. Almost proud that I was that desirable. “I guess my destiny wasn’t so easy to get away from after all.”
“I’m sorry this happened to you, Bailey. If there was anything—”
“It wasn’t your fault I died, Erick.”
“No, but if it hadn’t been for your previous injury … I would have lost you. It’s selfish, I know. Being semi-immortal is a hard life, and though I am happy to share it with you, there are things you can no longer have. I grieve that your choice was taken away.”
“I’ll miss food.” My first thought was Rose’s café. I hadn’t eaten so well in years. I tried to lighten the mood and smile a little.
He frowned. “Food is negligible. And you can still eat, if you wish. But children,” he said, taking another swig from him glass. “And family.”
I sipped on the sweet liquid and considered his words. “Kevin stole my ability to have children years ago. I made peace with that already. My parents died when I was a teenager and I have no living relatives that I’m aware of. You …” I gestured to the window. “You and this town are all I know. Arlea is the only person I’ve ever met that’d heard of my real family name. I still think I’m probably the last D’Roth on the planet. But maybe not.”
“I heard you speak with Arlea, but I don’t think you’re the only one.” He fell silent for a moment, staring so determinedly at his glass. “I’m sorry, though.”
“For what?” It didn’t surprise me that he’d listened in. I slipped from my chair and moved to stand next to him. “For being glad I’m still here and kind of alive? You only met me a few days ago. You can’t possibly feel responsible for my life before that.”
“I can. They should have sent us looking for you sooner. We could have protected you. Your family should’ve protected you.”
“From life?” I leaned my head against his chest and sighed as he slipped his arm around me and squeezed. “I’ve had a shitty few years, but my entire life wasn’t bad, Erick. I loved my parents and the time I had with them before they died. Granted, I could’ve skipped the foster system and the year with Kevin. I wouldn’t mind having those memories permanently lasered from my brain, but like you said—I’m a fighter.”
“A warrior,” he whispered. “And I can help you research your family, kjaere. Don’t be surprised if we find relatives somewhere in this vast world.”
Turning to face him, I wrapped both my arms around his waist and looked up, waiting patiently for his beautiful, blue gaze to meet mine. “All in good time. Right now, in this moment, I’m glad that sonofabitch is dead. I’ll sleep better at night because of it, but I’ve still got some fighting to do. Darius said he would be back.”
“Let me worry about Darius. You just need to eat and get up your strength.”
I giggled.
“What could you possibly find funny?” he asked.
“Nothing’s changed. You’re still trying to get me to eat.”
A resounding laugh rumbled in his chest and he rubbed his hands up and down my back. “I really don’t know what I would have done if I’d lost you.”
“You didn’t. Just focus on that.”
He nodded. “You know Rose and Calliope were here earlier.”
“Yes.”
“She and Calliope worried I would leave town in a rage, but she needn’t have. I wouldn’t have left your side until I knew for sure if I’d lost you. Nothing in this world short of Rose locking me up would have kept me from hunting down Darius if you had died.”
“I suppose Rose was also concerned that her future Protector might be dead.”
“She means well, kjaere. She is just devoted. The House of Lamidae is the only thing she has left of her old world. She cares for everyone in Sanctuary, but in a special way, the Sisters are like her children.”
“The Oracle did say one thing I’ve been wondering about.”
“What?”
“She said my bloodline was magickal at one time. What exactly did she mean by that?”
“My family was descended from an ancient order of priests, probably witches. Javier and Marcus can also trace their lineage to gifted humans. Sita is another Protector whom you’ve not met, yet. She knows nothing of her family, but I would not be surprised if her family lines go back to witches as well. It seems to be a running theme.”
“So, what? We’re genetically predisposed to be part of this spell?”
“I don’t know. Anything is possible when you are dealing with magick this old. I’ve personally not heard of the D’Roth name, but if Arlea knows something we will find out.” He kissed the top of my head and released me from his embrace. “I’ve protected the House of Lamidae more years of my life than I haven’t. I still do not understand them, but I know in my soul they need to be protected.”
>
“I can see how an all-knowing, all-powerful supernatural who can control everyone could be a problem for the world.”
“Hmm,” he murmured his agreement.
“Could I have another glass of … that … um?”
“Blood?”
“Err … yeah. It just doesn’t sound right saying ‘pass me a glass of blood’.”
“Give it time.”
“Will I want to bite everyone? Like, uncontrollably?” I leaned back against the counter, remembering how good he’d smelled and how my mouth had watered at the thought of drinking from him.
“You will be tempted, but no. It’s not uncontrollable. Feeding often will also help control the urges.”
“Can I have more now? Or do I need to wait a while?”
“Of course.” He moved to the fridge and grabbed anther bag. Pulling out the top, he poured it into my empty glass. “There is more than enough to keep you sated for several weeks. Plus, we can supplement my blood as needed, too.”
I took a deep breath and leaned back against the counter, sipping on my now-full glass. It tasted divine. No wonder vampires chose to drink from humans whenever possible. His blood had been good. Rich, thick, and filling. But human blood was like candy. Though, the fact that I’d just compared the taste of blood to candy was kind of gross.
Everything had happened so fast. Meeting him. Learning there was so much more to life than what the government let on. I couldn’t imagine trying to live outside this town after being here. I felt a connection to the people I’d met here and committing to my predestined fate as a Protector felt like the right path. There were enough human tyrants already dominating the world. We didn’t need unstoppable supernatural ones, too.
“How do I get my tattoo?”
Erick’s eyes widened before a smile spread across his face. His two adorable dimples made me want to toss my glass aside and leap into his arms. He looked positively edible.
“Bailey.” His voice brought me back from its preoccupied state of arousal.
“Yep.” I blinked and tried to focus back on his face and not how I’d feel wrapped in his arms.
“Are you saying you want to stay? That you want to become a Protector? I told Rose I would not allow you to be pressured by her or anyone else.”
“This is where I’m supposed to be.” I put the glass down and stepped up to him again, wrapping my arms around his firm waist. “I can think of nowhere I’d rather be than by your side. If being a Protector comes along with that, then so be it. I can learn to be a vampire and a Protector at the same time.”
He wrapped his arms around me and squeezed tightly. “I’ll be with you through every step.”
I nodded, taking a deep breath. It wasn’t the air I needed, but the action was so familiar and comfortable I couldn’t imagine feeling the way I did and not heaving a sigh. Human or not, some things would always be the same.
A buzzing caught my attention and I turned to the right. Rose’s name was blinking on the face of his cell phone where it lay on the counter. Erick picked it up and answered.
“She’s awake and has eaten … Yes …” He gazed into my eyes, a frown tugging at the corners of his mouth. “I know, but … He what?” Erick growled, his fangs descending. “We’ll be right there.” He pressed the red button on his screen and tossed the phone back onto the countertop.
“Darius?” My gut said it couldn’t be anyone else.
“He tried to burn the library.”
I blinked. A vague recollection of seeing a sign for a library rattled around in my brain somewhere. “Was anyone hurt?”
“No, thankfully Meredith was already home. Her wards protected the books, but the fire did quite a bit of damage to the building before Jared got there.”
“Who are Meredith … and Jared?”
“Meredith is the redhead who helped us on the bus the day you came here.”
An ‘o’ formed on my lips and I nodded, remembering the witch quite clearly.
“Jared is Sanctuary’s fire chief, so to speak.”
“But there’s no engine or office. The sign makes it look like the fire and police share the same office.” I remembered seeing the little brick building and wondering how they managed with such a small office for both departments.
“Alek Melos is sheriff and Jared MacKay is the fire chief. They take care of the town. Drama, accidents, etc. They make sure the town as a body of citizens gets along and everyone stays safe.” He gestured to the front door and I walked ahead of him. A pair of my flats was sitting next to the wall. I slipped my bare feet into them.
“Are they human?” I hadn’t met either of them but wasn’t surprised after hearing about their responsibilities. The poor men probably never had time to sit down.
“No. Alek is a Gryphon, and Jared is a Phoenix.”
Neither species sounded familiar. “Do I even want to know?” I asked as we walked out the front door.
“Probably not right now.” He chuckled, closing the door behind us and then taking my hand. “We are headed to the café. Why don’t you try to run?”
I nodded and leapt into the first step. The wind rushed through my hair. A feeling of freedom swelled in my chest and I came to a sudden halt in front of Rose’s café. Amazing. It felt like I’d only taken a few steps, but I knew from walking the path again and again over the last couple of days that I’d gone at least a quarter-mile.
A few yards down the sidewalk, a small crowd had gathered in front of a smoldering building. I recognized Miles and Eli’s formidable figures. Both men were a good six inches taller than everyone around them. Several other men stood near them, but I didn’t know them. Calliope was talking to Rose and another woman I’d yet to meet. Garrett caught my glance and nodded a hello before turning back to his conversation with some other men I didn’t recognize.
“Why would Darius care about burning a library?”
Erick leaned down to my ear. “He’s looking for the vault.”
“Vault of what?” I scrunched my forehead.
“Bottled Djinn,” Rose said, walking toward us. Calliope followed a step behind. “Over the course of several thousand years, I’ve caught and imprisoned nearly a thousand of their kind.”
Rose had such strength in her presence, but I could tell she was tired this evening. Her eyes were reddened like she’d been crying, but maybe it was just irritation from the smoke clouding the air in the circle.
“Still, Xerxes keeps them loyal by promising to release them all when they help him take control of the Sisters.”
“You can’t bottle Darius because he’s wearing your husband’s ring,” Erick said, rubbing his temple.
“True. At least Calliope and I can still sense when he teleports into town, but neither my powers nor Meredith’s can affect him while he’s wearing it.” Rose sucked in a ragged breath. “I don’t understand how they found it. It was lost so many years ago …”
“We will make it right.” Erick placed a reassuring hand on Rose’s shoulder.
Rose nodded, but her gaze narrowed and veins in her neck bulged. Energy surged from her body like static electricity, sparking in the air like firecrackers.
Erick withdrew his hand like he’d been bitten.
Rose’s voice doubled in volume, anger flowing like a river of white hot metal. “He’s using my own husband’s magick against me. Naram trusted Xerxes until the very end. Now his brother gives our sacred, binding ring to one of his psychotic flunkies.” She fisted her hands at her sides and stomped a foot. I could’ve sworn the ground shook just a little.
At first glance, she was just a petite woman pitching a fit. A closer look showed the luminescent swirls of color in her eyes, the shimmer of gold on her sun-kissed skin, and the hint of fangs behind perfectly painted, mauve lips. Whatever Rose was, it was trying desperately to surface.
“Rose, take a deep breath,” Calliope said, placing a hand on Rose’s shoulder. “You can’t let him get to you like this. You always tell us to keep
our focus. Don’t let him steal yours.”
Rose shuddered. “Thank you, Calliope darling.” The swirls of color in her eyes faded away and her hands relaxed at her sides. A moment later, she focused her gaze on me and I took a nervous step backward. She might be able to bottle Djinn, but she was keeping a whole lot of power bottled up just inside herself.
Calliope dropped her hand as Rose took several steps closer to me. Gooseflesh rose along my arms and the hair on the back of my neck stood on end. Nerves apparently didn’t fade with death. The Sentinel of Sanctuary still made me quake in my shoes with just a glance—glowing eyes or not.
“Darius wouldn’t even be here if it wasn’t for me,” I said.
“Oh, no.” Rose waved her hand dismissively. “That arrogant Djinn has been hounding Sanctuary for centuries. Don’t you dare think you’re responsible.”
I opened my mouth to object, but shut it again quickly when Garrett and another man walked up to the group.
“Bailey, you already know Garrett. This is his brother, Travis. If you are comfortable—”
Erick growled and pushed me behind his body, blocking me from the two wolves and Rose. “You said no pressure.”
“I wasn’t pressuring her. I was offering an option, Erick. I understand you claim her, but she is important to Sanctuary, too. We need her.”
I brushed my fingertips along Erick’s shoulder, surprised by how much I could feel—tension, anger, fear, then remorse and regret. In fact, I could smell the same things coming from most of the crowd. Pheromones? Wow. I took a deep breath and wanted to cry and then scream. It was too much. So many were upset by the fire. Others were angry. But some couldn’t care less.
The wolves next to me were very different. Travis was devoted to Rose. I could see it in his gaze and smell it in his body chemistry, but Garrett held less concern for Rose and more for … me. I narrowed my eyes and waited for a smart-ass comment to fall from his mouth like water through a sieve. Instead, he merely cocked his head to the side and stared.
He couldn’t read my mind anymore.
Score one for being a vampire.
“How are you feeling?” Garrett asked, ignoring the slight rumble vibrating out from Erick’s chest.
Sanctuary, Texas Complete Series Box Set Page 19
