I only need to take two steps in to realize I made a huge mistake. Vivienne is sitting facing the side of the couch with her hands braced against its arm. Her face is tilted toward the ceiling, but her eyes are closed and she’s moaning. I can only guess who is lying between her legs. I try to backtrack without making any noise, but I end up bumping into a high chair.
She gasps, whipping her face to mine. Then she covers her breasts and pretty much falls off the couch with a soft thud. Lucca sits up at once, briefly glancing at me before helping his girlfriend from the floor.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to invade your privacy like that,” I say while looking at everything but them.
“How did you get in?” Lucca asks.
“The door was open. I was afraid that someone had broken in.”
“Lucca, you told me you shut the door,” Vivienne complains, but it sounds half-hearted.
They’re in the honeymoon phase of their relationship. I bet all they do all day is fuck and cuddle. Yikes, that thought makes me sound like a bitter old woman. I’m happy things have worked out between them. Vivienne has become a close friend and I don’t begrudge her happiness.
“Sorry. I thought I did,” Lucca replies sheepishly. “I can’t concentrate properly when you decide to parade naked in the living room.”
I chance glancing in their direction again. Vivienne is now wearing a T-shirt, and Lucca has put some pants on. I can still see the tent in the front, though. Shit. Focus on his face, Aurora. On. His. Face.
“Oh, have you embraced the vampires’ lack of modesty, Vivi?” I tease, remembering how appalled she was the first time she saw a vampire fuck a human in the middle of a party while he fed.
“No.” Her face turns beet red.
“So, you’re not worried that Manu could catch you?” I return the crystal to my bag since the only danger facing Vivienne was being impaled by Lucca’s cock.
“Manu doesn’t live here anymore,” she replies.
“Seriously, then ... oh. You guys have moved in together? When did this happen?”
“Last night.” Lucca pulls Vivienne to his side and kisses her soundly on her cheek.
Okay, I’m getting mega jealousy surges now, even though I don’t want to. Saxon’s image pops in my head and I have to fight hard to banish him to a dark corner in my mind. That reminds me of the reason I’m here.
“I was hoping I could talk to you in private, Vivi,” I say. Immediately, Lucca makes a face, so I add, “Chill, Prince of the Night. This is a personal matter concerning me.”
“Ugh. Is it a female thing? Then I’m out of here.” He jumps over the couch instead of walking around it like Vivienne does. He kisses her again, long and hard, making me uncomfortable enough that I have to look away.
I’d tell them to get a room, but then I’d have to come back later. Breaking the mating bond with Saxon is too important. I know he won’t leave me alone, and eventually, my feeble barriers are going to crumble completely.
Lucca bangs the door shut this time as he leaves, but I wait a few seconds to make sure he’s not within eavesdropping distance. Vampires and their enhanced senses can be a drag.
“Do you want to drink something? I can finally store food and drinks in the apartment without fear of being found out.”
“I’m okay. I’m really sorry that I barged in like that. I feel horrible.”
She waves her hand dismissively. “Don’t worry about it. I think I’m getting used to not giving a crap about modesty.”
“Were the Nightingales as promiscuous as vampires?” I ask, regretting my question immediately. There’s a visible grimace on Vivienne’s face now. “Gah. I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have asked that.”
“Oh, don’t apologize for being curious. To answer your question, no, the Nightingales weren’t like vampires. They loved rules and decorum. Maybe that’s why some looked down on vampires and called them savages.”
I didn’t know how I was going to broach the subject of a vampire bond, but if that’s not the perfect opening, I don’t know what is.
“That’s interesting. Was that the reason why your kind created the mating bond?”
“What do you mean?”
“You know, the magical bond that makes two vampires perfect for each other.”
“Oh. I’m not sure if that was something the Nightingale elders did on purpose, unlike the familiars who were created by design.”
“So, are you saying it was a side effect?”
“It’s possible it was residual magic. Fated mates is something that happens quite often among my people—I mean, former people. I don’t consider myself a Nightingale anymore.”
I catch the sadness in her tone, and I should ask her about it, but I don’t want to deviate from the mating bond yet.
“What if people weren’t happy with their fated mates, was there a way to break the bond?”
“Fated mates were a big deal back in Ellnesari.”
I notice she totally evaded my question. Why?
“But there has to be a way. What if suddenly the Nightingales returned, and a dashing Nightingale prince claimed you were his fated mate?”
The look of pure horror that appears on Vivienne’s face makes me suspect she was mated to someone.
“Then I don’t think I’d have a choice. Bonded mates don’t have eyes for anyone else besides their mates.”
Okay, maybe she didn’t have a mate. Duh, Aurora, of course she didn’t. She wouldn’t have left Ellnesari behind if she was mated to someone. I know I wouldn’t have been able to walk away from Saxon and cross into a different realm.
“So the fact that you’re madly in love with Lucca wouldn’t matter?”
“I’d probably cease to be in love with him.” Vivienne narrows her eyes. “Why are you asking me all these questions about fated mates?”
Shit. I thought I could get all the information I needed from her without having to tell the truth. I guess not.
Letting my shoulders sag forward and heaving a loaded sigh, I say, “I’m mated to Saxon.”
She stares at me without blinking for a few seconds. “Are you sure?”
“I’m positive. We hook—”
“You hooked up with Saxon? Oh my God. When did that happen?”
“Gee, take it easy, will you? It was about a month ago.”
She smacks her open palm on the counter. “I knew there was something going on between you two.”
“There’s nothing going on between us. I’m his mate, but I can’t be.”
“Why not? Because he’s a vampire and you’re a witch? Besides the whole immortality bit, is there a rule that says you can’t be together?”
“No, not a rule, only my upcoming wedding to someone else.”
“You’re engaged?” Her voice rises to a pitch, making me wince.
“Yeah. To a douche canoe. Arranged marriages are still a thing among witches and mages.”
“Oh my God, Aurora. I’m so sorry. Is that why you want to break your bond with Saxon? What does he have to say about it?”
“He wants the mating bond gone as much as I do.” I try to keep my voice steady, but it pains me to say that.
“Really?” Her delicate eyebrows furrow together. “Mated males are super possessive. I can’t believe he hasn’t killed your fiancé yet.”
“He almost did. If King Raphael hadn’t intervened, Saxon would be facing a trial right now. Murder is murder, no matter the cause or the victim.”
“How are you coping? I mean, I assume you’re not sleeping together.”
“No, although it’s pretty hard to resist the pull.” I look at the floor. “And Saxon is a hot piece of ass.”
Vivienne laughs. “Yeah, he’s not bad to look at.” There’s a poignant pause, and Vivienne’s expression becomes grim again. “But in all seriousness, I get why you need to end the bond, but those things don’t simply happen at random, Aurora. The mating bond happens to bring the right people together. Are you sure you want
to find a way to destroy it?”
“I have no choice, okay? I shouldn’t be telling you this, but I made a deal with a very powerful witch. She wants me to marry Calvin so I can have access to the first grimoire in history, which his family possesses. In exchange, she gave me the spell that brought Lucca back from hibernation.”
That’s as much as I dare reveal to Vivienne on the matter. I can’t say what I saw in the Nightingale mirror. That future is too gruesome, and I hope that Elena is wrong and it doesn’t come to pass.
“You found the spell? Everyone thinks your mother was responsible for it.”
“And it should stay that way. No one can know about my deal with Elena, not even Lucca.”
Vivienne shakes her head. “This is really messed up. I’m so torn right now. Grateful that you brought Lucca back, but distraught that you have to marry someone you don’t love as a result.”
“Don’t feel bad about me. I come from a long line of High Witches. Sacrifice for the greater good is in my DNA.”
Her frown tells me she’s so not buying my lame excuse. “I wish it didn’t have to be this way for you. But don’t worry, your secret is safe with me.”
“I appreciate your discretion, but I also need your help. We have to find a way to break the bond.”
She drops her gaze, biting her lower lip. She’s definitely hiding something.
“You know of one, don’t you?”
“Kind of. Rikkon was bonded to someone before he crossed over to the human realm with me. It nearly killed him to be apart from his mate. I think…” Her voice becomes chocked up. “I think it’s why he deteriorated faster than I did. Why he became a junkie in the end.”
“Vivi, it wasn’t your fault. He made that choice.”
When she glances at me again, her eyes brim with unshed tears. “I don’t think so. The bond settled only moments before we crossed the veil. And my mother had already used her magic to banish us. There was no time for him to make the decision, and honestly, I don’t think he’d have crossed with me if it hadn’t been already too late.”
“What do you think finally broke the bond in the end?”
“I think the memory spell did. But I don’t know if the bond is severed or simply buried. It’s possible that it will come back with all its horrible symptoms if he remembers who he is.”
“Shit. That’s not good at all. So maybe it’s best if he doesn’t recover his memories.”
“No. I can’t allow him to keep living as he is now, a shell of the male he used to be. He was the most courageous, beautiful, and kind person I’ve ever met. His mind was the sharpest in the entire kingdom. And look at him now. He’s a junkie, a liar, and a thief.”
I understand Vivienne’s determination to restore Rikkon’s memory. I would do the same if I were her.
“All right. Then you have to help me find another away to break the bond, for my sake and your brother’s.”
16
Saxon
When I return to my apartment in a sour mood thanks to unfulfilled mating pains, another unpleasant surprise is waiting for me. All the living room stuff is packed up and there are several strangers moving around and dismantling furniture.
“What the hell is going on?” I ask to no one in particular.
Ronan walks out of his room, carrying a huge box in his hands. “You didn’t get my message? We’re moving to a bigger apartment.”
“Why? I like this one.”
“Because we’re getting new roommates.”
I arch my eyebrows. “Who?”
“Vaughn and Rikkon.”
“What? Are you serious? I didn’t realize there was an apartment with five bedrooms at the institute.”
“Not five, four. Lucca moved in with Vivienne.”
“Whoa. That’s huge. And where is Manu going to live now?”
“She got an apartment for herself,” Ronan replies with a note of criticism.
“How did she manage that?”
He shrugs. “You know how. By acting like she always does, with tantrums and threats.”
“She probably wants privacy now that her familiar is back in the picture,” I say jokingly, forgetting for a moment how weird Ronan gets every time Karl is mentioned.
His response is a grumble, and he walks away before I can say anything else. I think the next nine months are going to be very interesting—that is, if we all survive the drama. Yeah, I’m more concerned about the inner circle’s integrity than the conflict outside the institute’s walls. I’m not an idiot. I know Tatiana will retaliate after Lucca killed her son, but if our small group is not tight, if we’re unstable, we’ll crumble at the slightest pressure.
I head for my room, pissed that I didn’t find out about the move sooner. I didn’t bring a lot of my stuff here, but I don’t want strangers going through my personal belongings. I’m glad to see no one touched anything in my room. Ronan must have warned the human helpers to stay clear of my stuff. He knows me too well.
With supernatural speed, it takes me five minutes to pack up my shit, and another five to bring everything to our new digs, and only because I had no fucking clue where I was going.
It turns out, our new apartment is much closer to Lucca and Vivienne’s love nest, and only two doors down from Aurora’s apartment. But the closer proximity doesn’t make things easier for me. On the contrary, I can sense the exact moment she walks by our front door, and the awareness doesn’t decrease with the distance. My yearning seems to double, and it gets so bad that I begin to shake like a fucking palm tree getting slammed by an incoming hurricane.
Ronan is busy getting the TV system set up and doesn’t witness me grab the kitchen counter and rip a piece of the marble. Damn it. I totally forgot to get a new potion from Aurora. I got too distracted by her.
“Um, hello?” a male says as he pushes the front door open.
I turn around, ready to bite the newcomer’s head off, when I see Rikkon, Vivienne’s brother, standing there like a fucking lost kid in a park. He looks better than the last time I saw him. He’s gained weight and lost the gaunt appearance. Looking at him closely, his Nightingale roots are impossible to miss. It’s not the longish, light blond hair or his wiry and tall stature. It’s his face. The male is too perfect to be confused for a mere human. He’d probably make loads of money in the fashion industry. Too bad he lost his mind and probably never had the idea.
“Hey. Welcome to Bloodstone Institute.” I open my arms in a grand gesture.
He only has one duffle bag with him, and it looks kind of empty.
“Thanks.” He sets the bag down and looks around. “This is pretty nice. I confess, I was expecting a darker vibe.”
“Well, the gothic and scary exterior is only for show, you know, to keep the good old folks of Salem terrified of us.”
“It’s definitely an improvement over my lodgings at Ember Emporium.”
“Dude, you have to tell me what that was like.”
He raises an eyebrow. “You want to know what my prison cell was like?”
“Err…” I rub the back of my neck.
“Ignore Saxon. He can be an idiot sometimes.” Ronan approaches, apparently to save Rikkon from me. “Is that all your stuff?” He eyeballs the bag.
Rikkon glances at it and then shrugs. “Yeah. I don’t need much. To be honest, I’m not sure what I’m supposed to be doing here.”
“You’re pretending to be a vampire, so just try to relax and follow the flow. There’s really not much to it.”
“I don’t quite get it. Why do you have to attend school? Aren’t you, like, hundreds of years old?”
“You do know that we have to hibernate from time to time, right? Thanks to your elders leaving us here to hang dry.” I give him a meaningful stare.
“Yeah, Vivi explained that to me. I still can’t believe what she told me or that I was stupid enough to procure a memory spell.”
His reply gives me pause. Whoever sold him the spell must have been someone powerfu
l enough to be able to come up with it. Maybe they know a way to break a mating bond too.
“Where did you get it?” I ask.
Rikkon stares at me as if I’m stupid. “I don’t know. The spell erased all my memories, remember?”
“Oh, right.”
I should be disappointed, but deep down I’m not invested in breaking the bond. What if Aurora and I are meant to be together and we’re going to unleash a much bigger problem if we succeed in our plan? But the damn pain, though. Fuck, I could do without that.
“How did you get here?” Ronan asks Rikkon.
“Cheryl dropped me off.”
There’s a visible tension around the corners of Ronan’s mouth now, which is no surprise with the way he’s clenching his jaw. Ronan and his females. For a brooding vampire, he sure knows how to pick them. The quiet ones are always the worst.
“Did she just leave you to fend for yourself?” I ask. “The females in admin can be quite dreadful.”
“Oh, I didn’t register yet. Vivi said she’ll take me. And Cheryl went to visit Karl.” Rikkon runs a hand through his hair. “I still can’t believe Karl and Cheryl are wolf shifters.”
“There are two rooms left,” Ronan interrupts. “Pick one and get ready to hit the gym.”
“Shit. I haven’t worked out in ages.”
“Noticeable,” I say. “Don’t worry, Ronan will whip you into shape in no time.”
Rikkon twists his face into a grimace. I wonder if he ever received combat training when he lived in the Nightingale realm. It doesn’t matter now. Ronan will make sure he can kick some ass when the time comes.
“Knock, knock. Is this where the cool kids hang out?” Vaughn, the newly turned vampire, says from the door, sporting a stupid-ass grin on his face.
“Hey, Vaughn. Are you staying here too?” Rikkon asks.
“It looks like it.” He walks in, staring at everything with his mouth hanging open. “This is neat.”
“You seem to be handling your new existence well,” Rikkon adds.
“Dude, it’s amazing. The stuff that I can do now. Mind-blowing.” He tilts his head to the side, squinting. “You feel different. What happened to you?”
Wild Thing: A Vampire Paranormal Romance (Blueblood Vampires Book 2) Page 10
