by E E Everly
But they’re dangerous. Killian drilled this into my head repeatedly. Vampires are predators, never to be trusted.
“Put the fangs away!” I slap Natalia, and she stops clawing at the carpet and goes slack. Her red hair fans around her like an angelic halo.
Angelic, she is not.
Dumitru whirls on me. I stand to meet him. “Easy, big guy. You know I love you. Remember who you are. Sasha is not a tasty treat. Neither is Thandoran, even if I have been tempted to let you have him.” I build the storm within. A whirlwind forms around me. Half the room is already trashed, so why not add to it? My hair lifts, and Dumitru’s shirt plasters to his chest as he pushes against the torrent.
“What did you do, Thandoran?” I yell above my storm. “They’ve totally lost it.”
“I tripped. Last night. Over a stupid toy. Broke my toe and ripped my toenail off.”
“So you bled everywhere!” With my storm, I throw Dumitru against the wall. The globe on the hallway’s light fixture crashes to the floor. “I’ll have to bind him in silver. Oh phoenix poop! Under the mattress on the right side. A silver rope.” With barbs to puncture his skin.
I edge to my bedroom doorway while holding Dumitru. Natalia has given up the blood lust.
Thandoran slaps the rope into my palm. “I’m really sorry, Sasha.”
I release the rope into the whirlwind and coax it around Dumitru so it cinches tight. The silver works fast. I slow my storm to a stop as Dumitru falls limply to the floor. I slide down the wall and drop my head back. “This is not how I wanted to start my day.”
About five minutes pass before anyone moves. Thandoran leans against the doorframe of my bedroom. He’s wise not to speak or move because I don’t have a lick of patience for him.
Natalia sits up and rubs her face. “Ow, Sasha. Your vamp powers sting.”
I don’t lift my head to look at her. “It’s not the vamp strength, and I won’t apologize.”
“I don’t expect you to.”
Dumitru moans. Horrible guilt lands in my chest. I half crawl half slide over to him. His head is lolled to the side. I cup his cheek and kiss his forehead. “I’m so sorry, Dumitru. I really am.”
He mumbles words I can’t make out. Natalia brushes to her feet and disappears for a second. When she returns, she pulls on thick leather gloves to handle the silver. “Ve’ll go to Deorc. Ve can’t stay here. His blood still lingers in the air.” She flicks her head in Thandoran’s direction.
I help her hoist Dumitru to his feet. She leans close to me and speaks so low I can only make out what she says because of my vamp hearing. “There’s something about his blood. I don’t know vhat it is. Don’t trust him.”
“Don’t worry, Nat. I know how to take care of myself. And it’s just me now. Kili’s safe. One less stressor to worry about. You take care of Dumitru.”
I brace his shoulder. “I’m sorry about the silver.”
“Don’t be. That’s vhy you have it.” Natalia blurs out of the flat with Dumitru.
Thandoran looks up from his silent vigil with the doorframe.
“You can come out now.” I frown at him.
He says nothing as he stoops to pick up pieces of the shattered globe. He has something on his mind, but I don’t know where to start to ask him about it.
I throw open the blackout curtains covering the large picture window and let the morning sun in. The room is destroyed. Even though Christmas is a few days away, I’ve hung just some meager garland. The flat is too small for a tree. Now the garland sags from the corner. I rip the rest of it down and ball it up. With Kili gone, I don’t feel much like celebrating.
The one thing not out of place is the TV on the wall. Not a single scratch on it. I’m somewhat relieved. Most of the toys are pushed against the perimeter from the whirlwind. The coffee table is in splinters. That will go right into the trash, and I need to pack up Kili’s toys anyway.
The cracks in the wall can wait. Dumitru’s handy. He’ll fix them up when Thandoran’s gone.
I get a trash can for him, and he picks up everything that’s broken that fits into it. “Set the table in the hall. I’ll take it to the dumpster later.”
Thandoran moves mechanically, most likely loaded with guilt. I like him silent and smirk-free. I pile the toys and other baby belongings in a corner. When the room is clean enough to move around without Thandoran breaking another toe, I head to my room to change out of my pajamas. As I pull my shirt on, I realize Thandoran isn’t limping. Shouldn’t he be limping if his toe is broken?
I stick my head into the hallway and call out. “I’ll look at your toe. See if there’s anything we can do about it.”
I receive no reply. After zipping up my jeans, I find Thandoran sitting on a stool. “Let me see your foot.”
“There’s no need.”
“Why not?”
“It’s healed,” he says.
Talk about accelerated healing. Maybe he ate a lot of ambrosia last night. I eye him as he shoves half of one of my cookies-and-cream toaster pastries into his mouth. I turn to find the empty box in the pantry.
“Another strike against you.” I flatten the box and wedge it into the overflowing trash can. “You’re turning into my favorite guy.”
Thandoran blows dust off a mandarin before chomping it in half. The juice squirts across the counter. I grab a dishcloth and wipe it up. “What is with you? I just saved your life by hurting my friends.”
Thandoran calmly sets down his half-eaten fruit and braces his hands on the counter. He breathes loudly through his nostrils before answering me. “They’re vampires. In what world could they ever be your friends?”
“You couldn’t understand.”
“Go ahead. Try to explain how two creatures who would rather kill you are your friends!”
“Shut up, and eat your dang mandarin, Thandoran!” I rip open the freezer and start on a carton of tin roof sundae. I’m so angry that I’m about three bites in before the bliss hits me. I shove another creamy spoonful into my mouth before I can moan.
Thandoran studies me with interest.
I gulp. “What’s so special about your blood?”
“There’s nothing special about my blood.”
“Natalia could smell it on you. She’s been able to control herself around me for”—I count on my fingers quickly—“twenty months. Why’d she lose it with you?”
“I just have that kind of allure.”
I snort. “Right.” I sniff the air with my normal human sense. I was so annoyed that I didn’t register that he toasted the pastry. Thandoran didn’t eat it straight from the package. I touch the toaster. It’s still warm. “How did you know what this was for and how to use it?”
“It’s not hard to guess.”
“Did they show you in Earth Appliances?”
“Never took the class,” he says.
“You’ve been on Earth before, haven’t you?”
“Storms, your quick, princess.”
“When? When were you here?” The portals between worlds have been closed since before I was born—about twenty years. How was Thandoran here if the portals were closed? He couldn’t have been here twenty years ago. He would have been a child.
Maybe he was here as a child.
So he knew what his ambrosia was, then.
I shake my head. “Your ambrosia. You knew.”
“I wanted to see to what lengths you’d go to help me since you dislike me so much.”
I slap the counter. “You need to be honest with me, or I’ll dump you out the door.”
“I can fend for myself.”
“Clearly you couldn’t. Your scream wasn’t from anticipation.” From a vampire bite? Yeah. I’ve seen freshies get into all sorts of moods before they were bitten. Mostly heightened sensuality. That was not the case with Thandoran.
“She caught me off guard.” Thandoran’s brows pinch together. “I was asleep.”
“Or were you hoping Natalia would take a bite?”
“I
’m not that kind of person.”
Nor am I. “I’m trying to impress this on you and get it through your thick skull.” I tap his forehead. “Your blood, your storm sprite blood, is an intoxicating elixir for all supernaturals. If vamps drink from you, they will not be able to stop. A frenzy begins, and they will drain you!”
He swats my hand away. “Don’t get your panties in a twist.”
How’d he know that idiom? He’d have to have been on Earth for a while to learn that one.
He heads down the hallway but stops and turns to me. “I’m going to shower. Wash off the vamp stench.” He pulls his shirt over his head and tosses it to the floor.
I blink at his abs. An eight pack. Not grossly prominent like a body builder’s, just enough so that they’re there.
“Is that all right with you, Your Royal Highness?” He unhooks the button on his pants.
I jump up and push him down the hall. Forget that my hands are on his bare muscled back. “In the washroom. Take your clothes off in the washroom.” I push him through the doorway and let go.
“Uh huh.” He stops in the room’s center but doesn’t turn toward me. “I knew you couldn’t resist touching this.”
He wiggles his pants lower, but I yank the door closed, with a slam, before I can see a thing.
If Killian’s ghosting around the flat this morning, what does he think of my guest? How will I even start explaining it to him?
“He’ll be out of here before you know it,” I mumble to the air. I hope that satisfies Killian. He won’t become jealous. At least I don’t think so. It’s been too long since I’ve seen that much skin. Since Killian and I made love and conceived our son.
I swallow. Too much skin.
I will not feel guilty just because my vampire lover haunts me.
He’s dead, and I’m alive.
That doesn’t ease the guilt as the water clicks on in the shower.
I throw the kitchen tap on and stick my hands under the cold water because I can still feel the heat of Thandoran’s back on my palms.
TEN
I don’t say a word when Thandoran emerges with a towel around his waist. I just point to the bedroom where he can find clothes. I’m messing with boxes while holding my tears in as I pack up Kili’s stuff. Maybe I can drop them off on Belyven and zap back before I pass out.
Don’t try it, Sasha. It didn’t work last time.
Killian brushes my hand.
A tension in my chest melts. “There you are. Are you able to drift between worlds? Can you keep an eye on Kili for me?”
A breeze brushes my cheek, and then the air is still.
He’s gone. So he must be able to.
Thandoran emerges, wearing a snug pair of Killian’s jeans and a black tee. I won’t lie. He looks good. Especially with his hair spiked on end and his leather cuff on his wrist and his smug smile.
His nose twitches. “Were you talking to yourself?”
I shrug. “I’m a freak.” I’m not about to tell him about Killian’s visits.
Thandoran studies me with wide eyes. My cheeks burn, and I look away. Killian was here just two seconds ago. I can’t let Thandoran have such an effect on me.
“His shoes are a half-size too small,” Thandoran says. “Can I borrow some cash to buy new ones? I’d planned to check out the city today. Maybe I can find a place to stay to get out of your way.”
I squeeze my eye shut. I don’t really want him away, do I?
Yes. Yes, I do.
No. No, I don’t.
“You’ll need to see an umbos to get papers.” I shove a baby blanket into the box so I don’t have to look at Thandoran. “A special guy who takes care of the paperwork and IDs for supernaturals new to Earth.”
“I have it all taken care of, princess. No need to worry about me. No vamps during the day, right?”
“Yeah.” I press a strip of packaging tape to a closed box. “But stay away from demons.”
“We can’t tell who demons are.”
“I can.” I can smell them.
“You want to go with me?” Thandoran leans over my shoulder.
I take a measured breath and try not to scream at him to get out of my space because he does too much to my insides. Ghastly ghouls, I need some cold, cold ambrosia. “Are you asking because you’re scared?”
“No.”
I sigh as I stand and shove past him. I go to my room to pull cash from my safe. It’s what little I keep on hand. I’m not going to hand him my bank card.
I come out to see Thandoran in Killian’s trademark woolen trench coat. “You cannot wear that.” No way in Grimoria—the version of hell that I know of. A demon world.
Thandoran’s eyes round as he looks at the coat. “Oh. Sorry.” He pulls it off and hangs it on its hook by the door.
I edge over and discreetly give the coat a sniff, afraid the faint scent that’s Killian’s has disappeared now that Thandoran’s put it on.
Heavyhearted hippogriffs! It most certainly doesn’t smell like Killian anymore. My face pinches as I resist the urge to cry into his coat.
Thandoran laces up his boots from Belyven and doesn’t notice my morose hovering.
“Those look all right,” I say as he yanks his pant legs down. “Human enough.” I press the cash into his warm palm. Enough for shoes, lunch, a taxi, and whatever else he wants to do today.
“So you coming?” He pulls his leather jacket on. I don’t bother to tell him that it’s probably not warm enough.
Please give me today, alone, my overloaded emotions scream. “No,” I calmly say. “But I’d like you to come with me somewhere tonight.”
“Ooo.” Thandoran lifts my chin with a single finger. His eyes dim with something. Concern?
Can he see my misery? I’m sure my nose is red.
He smiles, meekly, so his words shock me. “I’d go with you anywhere, babe.”
I smack his hand off. “I like ‘princess’ better.”
He blows me a kiss and is out the door.
ELEVEN
Thandoran strolls in just before dark, carrying an armload of bags and a plastic foam cup. I sniffle, rub my eyes, and click off the TV.
I won’t tell Thandoran that I was crying on the couch all afternoon because of the suffocating silence. Kili’s not here creating chaos as he crawls all over the place. He’s not pawing at the couch as he tries to reach me and pull himself up. He’s not pulling my hair when I hug him.
Thandoran drops his bags and curls the cup into my palm. “Thought you could use this.”
The steam brings the aroma of hot chocolate to my nose. I bite my lip. How did he know I could use some piping-hot ambrosia? Chocolate, milk, sugar. Yes, please.
As I take a sip, he sits beside me on the couch. “So, where are we headed tonight?”
He has two tiny moles, no more than freckles, about an inch apart on his left cheek. I stare at them as I enter my bliss-out. I have a strange urge to poke them or join them like connect-the-dots. They look like twin stars brighter than all the other stars, I mean, faint freckles on his face.
“Sash…?” Thandoran raises his eyebrows. “Miss me all day, I see.”
I lean back, away from him, and lick the lip of my cup. “You wish.” I did miss the presence of another human being. I take another sip. “It’s a quick stop.” My once-a-month stop. Since Nat and Dumitru are out, I’ll take Thandoran.
Not that I need him. I can take care of myself.
But Mom did assign him to protect me. I smirk to myself.
“Did you have a nice day shopping?” I blink my eyes at him, like a girl. Mostly to tease him, because I did not expect him to come home with all those bags.
“Yeah. You can relax. I won’t have to wear your boyfriend’s clothes.” He pushes off of the couch and pulls a wallet from his back pocket. “I saw the umbos.” He returns my cash. “Have my funds taken care of.”
How? I shove the cash into my pocket. Storm sprites don’t just have wads of cash hidden on
Earth. Maybe he had money from before. Whatever. “Let’s go.”
TWELVE
Thandoran gets out of Nat’s SUV and stops under the light of a street lamp. I try not to think about my first time here with Killian and how we stood under a light in the same hospital parking lot. I had a cut on my forehead that needed stitches, and I thought Killian was about to lick it shut with his vamp-healing saliva.
But he didn’t.
I would give anything to have him lick me now. Even if it did involve tasting my blood and possibly sending him into a frenzy. I touch my forehead. I don’t even have a scar. My ambrosia took care of the cut.
“So this morgue guy,” Thandoran says, with his hands in his pockets, “you trust him?”
What is it with people and trust? Maybe I’m too trusting, but Killian had a lot of friends, so yeah, I trust them.
“He’s all right. Has helped me out a little.” Like by drawing my blood every month. Aside from the pints Natalia brought to the hospital, I have a few more in a mini fridge in my closet, safe within my wards so Natalia can’t get to them. It was her brilliant idea to stockpile them, and it turned out we did need them.
We creep into the hospital. It’s so empty at night that it’s eerie. It’s busier in the emergency room, but we steer clear of people as we take the elevator to the basement.
Jakob, the morgue guy, is at his computer, punching a keyboard.
“Hey, Jakob. Here for a blood draw.” I shrug out of my jacket and sit on a chair across from his desk. Thandoran roams around the sterile-smelling room as Jakob looks up.
“Whoa. Who’s this? Sasha, did you bring me a treat?” Jakob asks.
“In your dreams.”
Thandoran narrows his eyes. “You didn’t say he was a bloodsucker.”
Jakob is out of his chair and has Thandoran shoved against the wall so fast I miss the chance to intercept the vamp. Jakob bares his fangs and snaps in Thandoran’s face.
“Easy.” I pry Jakob off. “There will be no biting. Isn’t it enough that you lick the cannula after you remove it from my arm?” That’s as much as I give by way of payment. Like licking the spoon after making a batch of brownies. A trace amount of my storm sprite blood, enough to appease him. I was hesitant to let him do it the first time, but he has yet to vamp out on me.
