“The world is not a fair place. You have to even matters up for yourself, if you want fair,” Adán replied.
“You can see everything about me and figure out the rest, while I can’t even begin to unravel what you’re thinking.” She grimaced. “I’m usually much better at it, too.”
“So Justin told me.” He smiled. “I am glad to know I have you fooled, at least for a little while.”
“Why?” she demanded.
He gave the smallest shrug. “Why does anyone hide their feelings? For protection.”
“You? You need protection?” She laughed.
“This is all very new to me,” he said. “I warned you, did I not? You are a most novel attraction.”
“You make me sound like a carny ride,” she complained.
“Oh, you are all that and more,” he murmured and she realized with a start that his head was close to hers. He was looking at her mouth.
Her heart leapt high and hard. “No, Adán, don’t,” she pleaded. “I can’t fight you, but I beg you. Don’t.”
“Because you do not wish my kiss, or because you do?”
Deonne couldn’t answer because she didn’t know the answer.
“Deonne,” Justin called. “I’ve made coffee.”
Adán looked over her shoulder at their apartment building. Then he smiled and turned her loose. “Go drink your coffee,” he told her.
How long might they have stood there, locked in that delicate point of balance? Or would Adán have taken his kiss? Deonne would never find out now.
A deep sense of relief washed over her, which didn’t erase the tiny drop of disappointment nesting inside her.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Low Earth Orbit, 2264 A.D.: It was quiet in the limousine. Even Brenden, who could keep a conversation going all by himself if he was in the mood, sat sullenly in his corner.
They were all damp from the heavy fall of rain that had begun just as they were heading for the location where Kieren had parked the car and bribed a local to guard it. As a result, the smell of wet clothing and hair and warm bodies filled the limousine. The air scrubbers were working overtime to freshen the air and the almost silent hiss of the vents was the only sound to be heard inside the cab, as Kieren lifted the car into the air and lined it up for the initial trajectory and climb.
“Rome in forty minutes, sir,” Kieren told Cáel quietly. “Hold your horses, gentlemen.”
The limousine shot into the air with a high scream of the engines, pressing them all back into their seats.
“Well, that was a waste of time,” Brenden said, sounding disgusted.
“Why on earth did you think he would have the skills and men we need, anyway?” Ryan asked. “He’s clearly on a downward bend to self-annihilation.”
“We all get to make that choice sometime or another,” Brenden said quietly, and Cáel’s gut clenched. This was an aspect of long life he had never considered before. Choosing to end it by whatever creative means one could devise would be common, amongst those whose lives stretched on endlessly into the future. When one did not fear a sudden or early death, embracing it deliberately would perhaps be a relief.
Cáel fought hard not to look at Ryan in the mirror that let him see the back seats, as he let his shock dissipate. Ryan knew him too well and would read his expression.
“I’m not judging him,” Ryan replied. “But I am wondering why you thought he had potential.”
“He does. He did,” Brenden amended.
“I don’t think he’s suicidal,” Kieren said.
“Why not?” Ryan asked, his tone sharp with interest.
“He has been living this way for quite some time, judging by the food that was in the cupboards and the cold drawer. There was nothing in the apartment that would tell me that, as a human, he was making plans to end his life.”
“You’ve had experience profiling such people?” Ryan asked.
“I have,” Kieren said.
“He’s not human, though,” Brenden growled.
Cáel spoke up. “Could someone explain to me this two minute thing? I didn’t follow that at all, but you two seemed to understand perfectly. Is it common with vampires?”
“Common, no,” Ryan replied. “But it isn’t completely unheard of, not since time travel became a known fact.”
“What is he doing to himself that involves two minutes, which had you two so freaked out?” Cáel asked and saw in the mirror Ryan and Brenden exchange glances.
Brenden cleared his throat. “Sometime…a while ago, if Kieren is right, Cadeyrn Rhydder jumped back in time by a minute or two. Not far back. Just a wink’s worth. Just enough to live as human in his current life, for as long as the symbiot would let him. He reverts back to vampire just long enough to let the symbiot recover, then jumps back again. He’s been doing it long enough that his apartment looks like a human lives in it. That’s what Kieren saw.”
“But why?” Cáel said. “If the risks are as bad as you told him? He already knew what he was risking, so why do it?”
“I suspect,” Kieren said, his voice neutral and non-judgmental, “that whatever is driving him into the deep end of a bottle is the same thing that is making him want to live life as a human.”
The deep ascent of the limousine gradually eased and all of them shifted in their seats as gravity returned to nearly normal once more. The sky was a deep, dark indigo around them. They were into the upper atmosphere now.
“What would make him want to do that, Brenden?” Ryan asked. “You know the man.”
“Knew,” Brenden amended. “He’s always had a large sized chip on his shoulder, that one. But as a fighter….” He shook his head. “‘tis a pity. He was one of the best, once.”
“What is the chip?” Cáel pressed.
Brenden looked awkward all of a sudden. He shifted in his seat uncomfortably. “He’s Malsinne,” he said. “So were the rest of his men, as far as Fahmido could judge from description alone. They were all cut-throats, thieves and gamblers. They liked to hire themselves out as mercenaries – Rhydder channeled most of their aggression by finding them solid, well-paying assignments. He trained them himself and they were a force to be reckoned with. But they all had issues, each and every one of them. It wasn’t until the research into casts started up that we figured out Rhydder had pulled the misfits of the Malsinne cast into a semi-cohesive unit. But he had to use a bullwhip and a cattle prod to keep them in line, most of the time.”
“Malsinne?” Ryan repeated, astonishment thick in his voice. “You know they don’t work well with the agency structure…what were you thinking, Brenden?”
“Kieren said he wanted an army, one that wouldn’t be interested in time travelling. Well, Rhydder had that army once and the Malsinne don’t time travel.”
The silence that greeted his words was almost total. It lasted for nearly sixty seconds.
“They sound like the perfect fighting force,” Kieren remarked, his eyes on his instruments and readouts.
“They’re Malsinne,” Ryan said, as if that explained everything.
Cáel turned in his seat so he was facing Ryan directly. “I heard Brenden the first time. They still sound perfect.”
“You don’t understand,” Ryan said flatly. “Even before we knew of the casts, we knew there was a type of vampire we needed to stay clear of. It was only later we connected them up with the Malsinne cast. They’re trouble, Cáel. With a capital ‘T’. Emotional instability, addictions, lack of control and more. It’s not just a possibility we’d have issues with the Malsinne. It’s a guarantee.”
Cáel stared at Ryan steadily. Ryan stared right back.
“You’re one of the last people I would have considered capable of such prejudice,” Cáel said gently. “And these are your own people.”
Ryan’s gaze remained on his face for another few seconds, then he looked away.
The silence fell once more, thick with uneasiness. Cáel faced the front again, troubled. Then a thought s
truck him. “Wait,” he said. “I thought the Malsinne couldn’t time travel. That’s how Ryan explained it the first time I learned about the casts. The Malsinne have no extra talents the way the other casts do. They have an inability to learn new skills.”
“That’s why no agency members are Malsinne,” Ryan agreed.
“Then how did Rhydder learn to jump back in time?” Cáel asked. “And who did he learn it from?”
* * * * *
Liping Village, East Yunnan Province, China, 2054 A.D.: Justin remained standing at the door until she reached his side. His face was a blank, neutral mask that she had learned meant that he was angry and controlling it.
Deonne stopped by his side, still facing the door. She didn’t want to look out toward the path. In her gut, she knew that Adán still stood there, watching them both.
Thunder rumbled overhead and the first drops of rain began to fall, pattering onto the dry ground between the trees.
“Finished talking to Adán?” Justin asked her. His tone, like his expression, was bereft of any emotion.
“It wasn’t what you think,” Deonne said.
“You have no idea what I’m thinking,” Justin told her.
A great tiredness swept over her. “No, I don’t,” she said. “I never know what you’re thinking, because you don’t tell me. I’m so sick of trying to mind read, Justin. A relationship is supposed to be a two-way street but I feel like I’m the one doing all the work and all the compromising.”
“So you figure it will be different with Adán because he dangles some of his pretty stories in front of you?”
“I don’t think about Adán that way at all.”
Justin’s fingers clamped around her elbow. His eyes met hers and now she could see the anger seeping through. “Don’t lie to me,” he said. “I can stand anything but that.”
“Fine. He wanted to kiss me and I thought about letting him. Does that make you feel better?”
His jaw flexed. “What is it you want me to do?” he ground out. “Kill him? Is it that basic?”
“For a kiss that didn’t happen?” She pulled her arm out of his grip and turned to face him properly. The rain was falling steadily now, but they were protected by the projecting eaves of the roof. From the corner of her eye she glimpsed Adán, still standing where she had left him, despite the rain. “Are you jealous that he tried to kiss me,” she asked Justin, “or that it wasn’t you he wanted to kiss?”
His fury blazed in his eyes and his face. “That’s it,” he snapped and strode out into the rain, heading for Adán.
Deonne tried to catch his arm before he was out of reach. “Justin, for heaven’s sake…” But he was moving too fast. He took the direct path across the small patch of clover that the village used as a substitute for lawn, eschewing the path.
Adán stood with his arms by his sides, unmoving, watching Justin’s approach. It was only then Deonne remembered that as a vampire, he had probably been able to hear every word they had said.
“Oh, hell…” she breathed and hurried after Justin. She didn’t know what he intended to do, exactly, but with his temper up, whatever he did wouldn’t be considered or controlled.
The rain immediately soaked her hair and face, and she could feel her shirt sticking to her back. There was no way she was going to emerge from this anything other than totally soaked. She mentally shrugged. Better a dunking in cool rainwater than stand and watch Adán and Justin…do whatever Justin intended to do.
As soon as Justin got close enough he grabbed a handful of Adán’s shirt, the muscles in his forearm bunching with the effort to pull Adán closer.
Then he swung with his other fist, making Deonne suck in a sharp hard breath. He could not possibly have thought it through, she realized. Adán was vampire, here and now, while Justin had only his human strength, considerable though it was, and his reactions were slowed to almost human speed, too.
Who in their right minds would take on Adán Santiago even if he was merely human? Justin might be taller, but Adán had thicker shoulders and the developed chest that said his upper body was strong.
Justin’s fist slapped into Adán’s hand, the sound muffled by the sound of the rain. Adán curled his fingers over Justin’s fist and held it still. Adán shook his head. “There is no need for this.”
Deonne reached them and slapped her hand on top of theirs. “Stop it. Both of you. I’m not some toy you get to squabble over.”
Adán was staring at Justin, not letting his gaze shift. “The lady speaks.”
Justin shook his head. “We’ve been circling around this for five days and now you’ve stepped over the line.”
“Don’t be juvenile, Justin,” Deonne told him. “You’re letting your temper control you.”
He grinned wolfishly. “We could be facing each other over pistols or swords. A fist fight is almost civilized in comparison. My temper is just fine.”
“I would have beaten you, if you had chosen swords,” Adán replied. “I learned from the best in Spain.”
“And I’m a crack shot with a pistol. You would have lost there.”
“Oh, for…” Deonne let go of their hands and reached over them to grab Justin’s sweater, just as he was hauling on Adán’s shirt. Their hands separated as she leaned in to get a firm grip.
Justin’s eye widened in surprise as he glanced down at her knuckles.
Deonne couldn’t take hold of Adán’s shirt because Justin was still holding it. So she grabbed the back of his head and pulled him toward her and his head down to meet hers.
She pressed her lips against his, tasting rainwater and the cool, soft pillows of flesh. His mouth was not at all like Justin’s.
For a moment, Adán froze, his shock keeping him motionless. Then, when she did not let him go straight away, she felt him relax and lean into the kiss. His tongue swept into her mouth, making her breath catch and her body to thrill with the pleasure of it.
She could grow addicted to Adán’s kisses.
Then Deonne felt Justin trying to draw away from her, from the grip she had on his sweater. She tore her mouth away from Adán and shifted so she could look at Justin. “You’re not going anywhere.”
There was a deep furrow between his brows and pain showed in his eyes. “I’m not staying here,” he said, his voice hoarse.
“Yes, you are,” Deonne returned. She pulled on his sweater, trying to drag him closer to her, but he was heavy and uncooperative. “Come here, or lose the sweater, Justin. It’s already tearing,” she warned him.
He shook his head. “I’m not kissing you. Not after him.”
“Fine,” she shot back. “Then kiss him.”
Justin abruptly grew still. So did Adán. She could feel their combined tension via her hold on both of them.
“What did you say?” Justin breathed.
Ideas were blossoming, faster than she could encompass them consciously. Images, fragments of thought and feelings. Emotions. They were combining. Shifting. At the base of them all were previously uncoupled facts: Ryan and Justin together. Ryan’s and Adán’s past history. The story she had read in Ryan and Nayara’s biography – their relationship with Salathiel that had lasted for over six centuries. Then there was Rob, Tally and Christian, the Agency’s unofficial ambassadors for family, vampire style. Finally, there was Cáel Stelios’ feelings for both Ryan and Nayara, that were as clear as silvered crystal, for all three of them glowed with the power of their love when they let their shields down, which they did when it was just Agency people around them. Stelios was human, too.
Deonne drew in a breath that shuddered, as she looked from Adán to Justin. “I said, kiss Adán if you won’t kiss me.” Her voice shook.
“Deonne,” Adán said, his voice a deep rumble. “You cannot play this game unless you mean it.”
She looked at him. “I do mean it. I should have thought of this two days ago, but I’ve lived among humans for too long. It’s taking me a while to shrug off that early conditioning.�
� She looked back at Justin. “This is why you’ve been like a bear with a headache. You didn’t want to have to choose.”
Something…a shadow…flickered over his face and was gone. Justin met Adán’s gaze. “The lady speaks,” he said softly. So softly, Deonne barely heard it over the rain hissing around them. His anger had gone.
Adán made a sound…Deonne thought that perhaps he was trying to clear his throat. He bowed his head for a moment, and when he lifted it once more his black eyes were hot with some emotion. He looked at Deonne, then his gaze shifted to Justin. “After all this time, wild one?”
Justin shrugged. “Take it or leave it, big guy.”
Adán’s smile formed slowly. “Oh, I’ll take it.” He gently pulled Justin’s hand away from his shirt and glanced at Deonne. “Do you mind?”
Her heart was hurting as it drove itself into her chest, beat after beat. She shook her head, unable to form a coherent, decent answer. The only answer that she could form in her mind was to cry ‘hurry up!’
Adán hooked his fingers into the V-neck of Justin’s sweater and pulled, slowly and inexorably. Justin let himself be pulled into taking a step forward. Then he held up a hand. “Wait.” He lifted Deonne’s hand away from his sweater, then Adán’s. Then he kissed her, taking his time with it. His mouth was hot on hers and the hand he slid under her hair was warm, too.
His eyes met hers as he let her go. The corner of his mouth lifted. Then he straightened and kissed Adán.
Deonne held her breath, almost dizzy with the intensity of the moment that lingered and throbbed as she watched them. There was nothing timid about their kiss. She watched as Justin’s eyes closed and Adán groaned.
When they separated, they were both breathing hard.
So was Deonne. She lifted her hair off the back of her neck, feeling the heat of an explosive arousal radiating from her. Her hair slapped wetly against her neck and shoulders. “Perhaps we should get out of the rain and get dry,” she suggested.
Adán looked up at the rain, surprised.
Justin nodded, his expression one of a man who was dazed. “I’d forgotten about the rain,” he said distantly.
Romani Armada (Beloved Bloody Time) Page 28
