Make believe.
“What about you?” he asked, lifting himself from the chair. “Lexie said you live with your aunt. Is she nice?” Braden wandered around the room. He picked up a travel brochure displayed on the TV cabinet, glanced at it briefly, and then placed it back on the stand.
“Aunt Bev is okay.” Liz closed up the pizza box. “She puts up with me anyway. She never wanted to have children, especially a gangly adolescent, but the Captain decided she was better suited to handle me since she had ovaries and everything.”
“Why do you call your father Captain?” Braden asked.
“It started out as a joke. He’s a Navy man, so his men always called him Captain,” Liz explained, placing the greasy box on the small table by the window. “It was hard to get his attention, so one day when I was ten, I thought I would call him by his title and see what happened. But, he didn’t even notice. That’s when I stopped calling him Dad.”
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “You deserve better than that.”
Liz wanted to shake it off and pretend it didn’t matter. She usually masked her hurt feelings regarding her only parental, but for the first time, decided not to. Instead she just smiled at Braden without saying more. His words were sweet and it was nice to know he meant them. Some people will say things because they pity you, but she could tell he cared.
Liz sat back down on the bed. Although it was midafternoon in Vancouver, because of the time difference and her early morning, it felt like late evening. Pulling the covers back, she slipped in between the cool sheets. Perhaps they could watch a movie or nap for a while before going out for some fun.
When will Braden make the call to get Ruby’s cure?
Maybe he already did and planned on stopping for it before they headed back to the airport?
Liz curled onto her side so she could face Braden’s chair. Her thoughts froze for a moment as she watched him slip his tee shirt off over his head. She couldn’t help but dip her eyes from his muscular chest, right down to his narrow waist where his jeans sat on his hips.
Checking him out, she admired his six pack abs, but even more surprising was the tattoo he had on his left shoulder. It was some kind of integrated tribal swirl. Raising her eyebrows in approval, it appeared the preppy damphyr had a badass side to him that she didn’t recognize at first.
Her eyes traveled back up until she found his strong jaw line and flawless mouth. She would enjoy kissing him, just once, to see what it was like.
When Braden touched her on the plane, he made her skin sizzle. Because of being choosy, she didn’t have much experience with boys, but there was something about the tall blonde that left her considering the possibility of being with him.
Catching her stare, Braden’s eyes flashed before melting into hers. She smiled coyly. There was no use in pretending she wasn’t staring, she was just thankful she didn’t drool.
Liz rolled over onto her other side, so the damphyr could no longer tempt her. Her insides heated when he looked at her like that, leaving her confused with a mixture of longing and recklessness.
Liz wasn’t sure why she responded to him the way she did, but she knew he definitely left her mystified. Braden was inciting, but she had to get a grip. The two of them had work to do and she just didn’t swoon over boys.
Guys are best at a distance. They can’t hurt you that way.
As she looked at the empty space in the bed beside her, she considered asking him if he wanted to at least stretch out. They were both mature and could share a bed without physical contact. Even if he didn’t sleep, his body must require some form of rest.
She placed her hand out across the bare space, searching for the courage to open herself up to him for one night. But, instead, closed her eyes and focused on her breathing.
If she fell for him, she would end up hurt. For one night, she could dream of asking for more, but that was all. She wouldn’t allow herself the comfort of Braden’s nearness or his touch. Liz had been down that road and knew where it led.
To pain and disappointment…
Listening to the sound of her own breathing, her eyes grew heavy. She wanted to doze for a short while, just long enough to rejuvenate and tackle a level of self-composure.
Unsure how long she slept when a quick rap sounded at the door, Liz opened her eyes. The room’s darkness surprised her.
How late is it?
Glancing where Braden was last propped in the corner; the vinyl chair sat empty. Her mind flashed through different possibilities until settling on him stepping out while she slept to get Ruby’s cure
…or a bite to eat.
After another knock, she dragged her fingers through her hair and padded across the greasy carpet to unlock the door.
“Don’t you have a key card?” Liz teased, swinging the heavy door open. But, it wasn’t Braden.
Standing before her, was the most attractive guy she had ever seen. With wavy, jaw length, chestnut hair and a dazzling smile – Liz was dazed by his presence. Never had she seen such an exquisite face.
Smiling down at her, his bewildered expression mirrored her own. “Hi... Is Braden here?”
Liz found it difficult not to stare. Searching for her ability to speak, she waved at the empty room behind her. “He stepped out for a bit, but should be right back.” Her words sounded airy and simple, like she was a young girl feeling star struck.
Mr. tall and dazzling was about 5’10 and lean – her eyes followed the movement of his, from his sweeping gaze to the casual way his body filled the doorway.
“I’m Riley and this is my friend, Strix,” he motioned to the small man standing just behind him. “Braden asked us to meet him here.”
Liz glanced at Strix. The older man had a plane round face, but a friendly smile. His dark brown eyes peaked out from wisps of greyish brown hair. In his tweed jacket, he looked like a university professor or a librarian. Perhaps he carried the knowledge of Ruby’s predicament and just how to fix her.
Braden made the call. They’re really here.
Relief pulsed through her. She would be able to bring the antidote back first thing in the morning.
Silently, Liz chastised herself for doubting him. Braden continued to prove that he was worthy of trust. After all, Ruby wasn’t his responsibility, yet he was willing to travel to Vancouver to help her. Although Liz didn’t like to let down her guard, she had to stop second guessing him.
“You are welcome to come in while you wait. I have some left over pizza if you’re hungry, it’s probably cold now but it was tasty.”
Riley stepped into the room, his eyes never leaving her. “We’ll be dining later, but thank you for the invitation.”
Liz stepped aside for them to pass. Strix sat in the chair at the table while Riley leaned against the dresser. His indigo eyes scanned the room before settling on the unmade bed. “Are you and Braden a couple?”
Liz could feel her cheeks flush, a characteristic she had always hated. “We’re friends,” she said simply.
That’s awful personal considering we just met.
Although Riley was stunning to look at, Liz felt suddenly protective of Braden. The insinuation left her feeling uncomfortable, like Riley might be quick to judge Braden. Perhaps letting two men she didn’t know into her motel room wasn’t the best way to start trusting people.
Hoping Braden would hurry along from wherever he went, Liz tried smiling casually. She wondered if they wanted something in exchange for the cure, perhaps he needed to get cash from the ATM.
Unsure how to make small talk, Liz studied the two strangers. There was a certain otherness about them, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on what it was. She would have guessed they were damphyrs like Braden, but he said that his coven were the only half-vampires left.
Maybe they’re werewolves?
They seemed friendly enough, but looking down at her bare legs and tee shirt, she suddenly felt vulnerable. It was strange how life seemed more manageable with appropria
te footwear.
“You can watch TV if you want. I just need to get changed.” Heading to the back of the room where Braden left her suitcase sitting on the stand, she ruffled through her things. The men weren’t even talking amongst themselves, making the situation even more weird. Grabbing jeans, a tank top and her worn hoodie, Liz ducked into the bathroom. The jerk at the airport had left her confidence shaken. She wanted to be ready for anything, even if it was just running to Taco Bell for Braden’s acquaintances.
Or running, period…
After dressing, she glanced at her reflection in the small oval mirror hanging above the sink. Her hair was wavy but tamable without the use of the flatiron she left at home. Hazel eyes stared back at her; the circles underneath were a bit puffy from a lack of sleep. Fishing through her cosmetic bag, she thought to apply a little mascara and her custom eyeliner in hopes of bolstering enough confidence to go back out and sit with them. Having yet to decide whether or not she liked them, she still wanted to look like she had her crap together.
Riley was striking and Strix seemed like a quiet older man, but something nudged at her consciousness and she wanted Braden to return. After double checking her appearance, she opened the door and hoped she wouldn’t have to practice her self-defense moves again.
As she stepped around the corner, she was about to offer them a can of soda when the two men sprang to their feet. A crash followed as Braden burst through the motel room door, leaving the frame in ruins.
With a blur of movement, Braden barreled forward, placing his large body between her and the visitors. The little hairs on the back of Liz’s neck stood up as she stared from Braden’s white eyes and extended fangs to Riley’s contorted features. Strix flanked his side; the man no longer appearing scholarly, but poised to attack.
Instead of the silvery white of Braden’s eyes – the two men’s irises were a fathomless black. Their jaws contained rows of sharp teeth and the shade of their skin had paled.
Liz’s stomach tensed in fear as she finally recognized the strangeness of the two men.
They’re vampires.
“Hello brother,” Riley crowed, a twisted satisfaction formed across his face. Darkness replaced his beauty.
Brother?
Fear darted through her. Liz placed her hand on the damphyr’s shoulder, his muscles rippled with tension beneath her fingers. She didn’t know what would happen, but could fight beside him.
Grasping at her stored knowledge, she tried to anticipate her first move. Disarming an assailant was one thing, fighting off fangs was another. What did she know about vampires? She didn’t have any wooden stakes or holy water on hand.
“Don’t call me that,” Braden hissed. “You shouldn’t have come here; it wasn’t a part of the deal.” His strong arm encircled Liz. As he drew her closer to his body, she realized he was protecting her from attack.
Riley dragged his hand through his rich brown hair, a mannerism in which Liz had seen Braden do a countless number of times. The familiar eyes were another thing, where Braden’s were a beautiful deep blue, Riley’s were dark like a stormy ocean. The shape was the same. Was it possible he actually was Braden’s brother?
Does the coven know this?
“Now, is that the kind of first impression you want to give your lover of me?” Riley chuckled, but his laughter wasn’t playful. His black eyes bore down on Braden, sending panic through Liz.
“We don’t want trouble,” Liz interjected, trying to change the mood of the room.
Cocking her head, she leveled her gaze at Riley. She expected they could hear her heart beating erratically, but hoped to calm them with her false bravado. “We’re here because we’re trying to save a loved one from a werewolf infection.”
Offering Braden the same placated smile, Liz turned to him, urging him to release his grip. “I didn’t realize you were going to have your acquaintances stop over, I would have been up and dressed.”
He peered down; his damphyr face was strangely appealing. “I didn’t tell them we were here.” Concern left a small V between his brows, more scared for her than himself. “I was supposed to meet them tomorrow night, after you returned home.”
Confused, Liz tried to understand what he was saying.
He was going to send me home by myself?
Liz’s face reddened. Hurt, she wanted an explanation – but now wasn’t the time.
We can’t leave without Ruby’s cure.
She glanced back to Riley and Strix; the two vampires studied her and Braden minutely. Becoming visibly calmer, at least their mouths weren’t primed to tear open any throats.
As she watched, the inky blackness of Riley’s eyes took on the navy blue of earlier. Pleasure radiated from his smug expression. He liked the terror and unease he was weaving in the room.
Liz narrowed her eyes at him. If Riley wanted to scare her off, he would have to try harder than that. She grew up with the Captain. If she could survive that bastard, she could survive anyone.
11
BRADEN
As they pulled up to a darkened building, Braden was on alert. Every cell in his body rang with alarm. He stayed at Liz’s side, ready to protect her.
I never should have brought her here. She’s in danger because of me.
He tried convincing Riley to let her stay behind at the motel, arguing she wasn’t a part of this. Even insisting he didn’t violate their deal. But, the creature that was once his brother laughed off his concerns. Forcing them both into the car, Riley made it clear leaving Liz behind wasn’t an option. Braden hoped like hell he didn’t sign her death warrant.
How did he find us?
Riley insisted that no harm would come to Liz, that he only wanted to show her the wonders of Vancouver at night. The draugr’s interest in her was unnerving, always studying her movements and standing too close. If Riley harmed one hair on her head, Braden wouldn’t think twice before killing him. Playing it cool, he bided his time until he had a chance.
Braden knew if he attacked Riley, Strix would tear Liz apart. As a human, she had no way of fighting back. He hoped the draugar would keep them alive for a while, at least until he could find a way for Liz to escape.
As he surveyed the front of the dilapidated structure, an ironic sign announced their arrival at Sunnydale Rest Home. The front windows were boarded up. A neon green poster heralding its permanent closure was taped to the glass front door.
On the surface, an abandoned nursing home seemed like a strange place for vampires to nest. But it had an invisible quality as it sat back from the road with its overgrown shrubbery and sunken roof. No one ever looked for life at a place that was originally meant for the sick and dying.
Riley gestured them in through the double doors like he was the maître d’ of a grand hotel instead of a butcher. His mischievous smile made Braden sick.
Forever eighteen, Riley hadn’t aged a day, but he was no longer his brother. As far Braden was concerned, his favored family member died a long time ago. A demon now possessed his brother’s skin. No different than the ones who slaughtered the little village in Eire where his descendants came from. They may drive cars now instead of traveling by ship, but they still raped and pillaged their way around, murdering and taking whatever they desired.
Although there were eerie similarities in the way Riley moved and his tone of voice, Braden refused to buy the lie that his brother’s soul remained in the vampire before him.
Braden remembered how it felt to ride on Riley’s shoulders when he was just a little kid. He idolized him and was proud of the fact that out of his cousins, Braden was the only one to have an older brother.
From the time of their creation, fate-partners had one son. Boys were born in groups. Even though Braden was too young to understand why the elders whispered about the oddness of Brigid and Lachlan having two sons, he just considered them lucky. It wasn’t until he was older that he considered how difficult it must have been for Riley to grow up alone without cousins his age to
lean on.
It would have been hell for me to not have Torin around.
Braden mourned with his mother when she believed her husband and oldest son passed away. Riley had just turned eighteen; he hadn’t even completed the change. His death came as a shock to them all. Between the severing of her bond with Lachlan and losing a child, his mother never recovered from the trauma. The lively spirit Brigid was known for curled up inside her and dwindled like a slow ember until it was gone.
The elders weren’t sure where Lachlan traveled to; just that he brought Riley with him when he planned on buying Brigid a vacation home for Christmas. His father was impulsive like that; as soon as a spark of an idea took hold, Lachlan would run off with whatever inspiration popped in his head. After chasing a few leads, they reasoned the two of them died in a fire or were encountered by slayers. With what they were, it wasn’t possible to go to the authorities for help.
It wasn’t until he was ten and Riley crept in his dorm room that Braden put the pieces together. Riley must have gone through the final phase of the change and fed on a human. Becoming a monster, Lachlan must have fought to stop him, but Riley killed him.
Taking everything from us…
Liz’s heart rate was high as she stepped into the room beside him. The girl was terrified and he didn’t blame her. He needed just one moment. One moment for the two draugar to turn their backs on him. Once she was okay, he would deal with Riley.
Braden thought of Ruby growing sicker back home. He wondered if there really was a cure. Riley claimed there was, but now he knew it was like everything else, a ploy to get him to come.
For years, Riley’s command that he appear before him hung over Braden’s head. The vampire wanted him to suffer, to pay a cost for being born. He always expected Riley to deliver him a sudden death. Now that he was here, he realized it wouldn’t be that simple. No easy trade like his former brother assured – Braden’s appearance for the lycanthropy cure.
Blood Twist (The Erris Coven Series) Page 5
