How could Josey stand back and watch her cousin face the very bad odds that either she or her child would die during the birth? How could she watch Mickey— whose own mother had died giving birth to Rebecca, Mickey’s younger sister—suffer such fear?
She couldn’t.
She began pulling textbooks off the shelves and stacking them on one corner of her desk. His desk. She would have him carry them back to the suite for her tonight.
She had a lot of reading to do.
Chapter Twenty
He came for her around five, and Josey was waiting. She’d spent several hours in her office, reading and taking notes of things she wanted to double check or that stood out to her as potentially pertinent.
He appeared tired, and she cursed herself mentally for feeling concerned. She shouldn’t feel concern for her kidnapper. But, he looked stressed. Concerned, as if the world rested upon his shoulders. Yes, they were broad, strong shoulders. But he was not Atlas. He could not support the world for long.
She bit her tongue to keep from mentally asking him what was wrong. She would not care; she wouldn’t!
So did you enjoy your day in your office?
Enjoy it? She didn’t know that she would say she’d enjoyed it. But she had come up with a list of things to ask him about, points on different things that she needed clarified. Today was just information gathering. I wouldn’t say I enjoyed it. But I did get a good start.
You won’t find anything to reverse the conversion. Just so you know.
I didn’t even look.
Really? Why not? I would think that would be the first thing you’d search for. A way to get away from me.
Josey pointed to the stack of books she needed him to carry. She could take a few, but her muscles still ached. Better not to risk it. He took the stack without saying anything, lifting the heavy books so effortlessly.
He was ten times as strong as a human male, if not more, according to one of the texts she’d read. He could have killed her so easily. And from what her cousins had told her, he had been the one to kill three of the six of those Lupoiux who had attacked her. Emily’s vampire had killed two others, and Mallory’s had taken out one before rushing to Free’s side. Strong. Protective.
The books she’d read had all mentioned how that to treat a Dardaptoan female, the male had to be barred from the room. Apparently seeing his mate in such pain caused some Dardaptoan men to go crazy. And if the woman died, some had even turned on the healers. But Cormac had stayed with her. She couldn’t recall any of the healers trying to kick him out of the room.
He had been one of her only sources of comfort during the minutes and hours following the attack. She’d been able to feel him in her head the whole time. He’d probably helped keep her sane.
He carried the books in one arm, and the other arm he wrapped around her waist. He liked to walk that way, but for the first time, she let him. His arm around her felt warm and good. And right.
Maybe those books—some of which dated back to 1158 AD, and were very difficult to read—all said the same things. Dardaptoan mates, or Rajnis, were destined to be together. No bond was considered more sacrosanct in their world. A Rajni’s wellbeing superseded everything, including the kings and queens of the people, the families of the Rajnis, and even the children.
Was she that important to him? He said he’d waited over five hundred years for her, and she’d found an old tome that had the Dardanos tribes birth records. He was 613 years old—she'd tell him that later. And he’d spent that time alone, supposedly waiting for her.
What was any rational, well-educated, woman supposed to think of something like that?
Should she just chuck all she had ever believed in, all she had worked for over the past eight years—since the brutal attack on Mallory—to fall into line with what he wanted. What would she be giving up by staying with him?
Her position as researcher and acting supervisor in Taniss Industries R&D department? She’d been acting supervisor for a month, since Albert Boltier had suddenly resigned and disappeared. His resignation was what had prompted her and her cousins to dig deeper into his files. To eventually find where their grandfather had been embezzling from the company.
What are you thinking of so seriously?
What I’ve left behind. A woman’s face flashed in her mind. Her friend Anna. They’d worked together every day for the past two years. She was as close to Josey as her own sister. What had Anna thought when Josey had failed to show up for work that first day? What was Anna doing now?
The other woman could run the department, if she wasn’t so leery of dealing with people. But had she in Josey’s absence?
They weren’t working on anything too important in regards to new research, but they were going over all of Boltier’s files.
Like what? Tell me of your life. Maybe…
Maybe what? I can’t go back. Not like this.
But maybe you don’t have to lose it all, either. Tell me.
****
Cormac tightened his hold on her waist, surprised she hadn’t yet pulled away from him. Normally she acted like his touch was acidic; only rarely did she seem to accept him even a little bit.
His Rajni was definitely a strong-willed, fiery little creature, despite her silence. A fighter. Like him. Was that one of the reasons the goddess had gifted him with her? Whatever the goddess’s reasons, Cormac would cherish his female. The way a Dardaptoan male was supposed to. And if anyone ever sought to hurt her again— Nothing would stop him from ripping that creature into a thousand pieces.
My friend Anna. Her words came several moments after he’d made the inquiry and it took him a minute to remember what his question had been.
What about this friend? Is she special to you?
Very special. She’s my best friend, and my lab partner. She’s a phenomenal researcher. I was just thinking—Anna’s help would be invaluable in this.
You know that cannot happen. We cannot expose a human to our world, not without great caution. Especially a medical doctor. The risks are just too great. If he could, he would deliver her friend to her in a heartbeat. But it wasn’t a good idea. Still, that didn’t mean she couldn’t have any relationship with her friend. Can you call her? Send her an email?
You would let me? Her head turned in his direction, clear surprise on her beautiful face. I thought…
You thought that I would keep you here, forever. With no thought to your friends or life that you had before me? Sudden shame at his plan filled him. That was what he had intended. To hide her, to cloister her within the walls of his family hall. To keep her safe and all to himself. What kind of Rajni did that make him, that he had thought so little for her happiness? Would he want to be kept from his own sibling and friends, expected to fall in love with someone who’d done that to him?
Well, that was the plan, wasn’t it? Plan B, anyway. Plan A was kidnap and kill poor unsuspecting woman. Make a snack out of her.
And she was quite delicious. I wouldn’t mind tasting her again. He chose to respond in a light tone, though he had no trouble feeling the sarcasm in her words. There’s this spot along her neck that I am sure would taste wonderful.
He didn’t miss the small shiver that shook her. He smiled briefly. Yes, she did want him. Somewhat. What Rajni didn’t hunger for her male? Soon her body would overcome her mind’s resistance. Much like it had when she had fed from him.
His body tightened at that memory. Nothing in his six hundred plus years of existence had prepared him for exactly how that would feel.
If she hungered for him, could they act upon that huger safely? She was far from completely healed, she still moved with one arm over her abdomen. Winded easily.
No, it would be best for them to wait until she was better healed. He would not risk hurting her with his desires.
Cormac had never been described as a gentle man. And when he finally had her, he could not guarantee it would be tame for either of them.
Funny. So
are you going to ‘let’ me email Anna, or not? Just to…check…on her. To let her know I am all right. She doesn’t have any family, anyone else. And she spends most of her time in the lab at our office. Or in her apartment nearby.
A real homebody, then?
Scared. Afraid something will happen to her. Afraid of an ex-boyfriend who hurt her. I’m the only person she even speaks to on a regular basis. On non-work related things. She’s probably been worried sick!
Cormac thought for a moment. First chance he got, he’d have a servant fetch him what he wanted. I will see it happens after dinner. But we will have to wait until then. Dahr Rydere has arranged a small family dinner for us and your cousins. I think they have been worried, and didn’t believe me when I told them you were in your office all day.
He could easily feel the sigh she released. They always worry about me. Especially Em and Mal. Because they are a few years older. Mickey is almost a year younger, and so sweet. But Mal and Em can get a bit smothering at times.
Because you cannot hear?
Or talk all that well. And sign can only express so much. They are all fluent, of course. My father and their parents ensured all my cousins learned.
How old were you? He opened the door to their suite as they conversed, and she stepped inside in front of him. He put the textbooks on the small coffee table. When you lost your hearing? Was it something you were born with?
No. A fever, infection that was left untreated too long. My parents divorced because of it. I was six, Jade was less than a month old. My mother simply didn’t want to be bothered with a sick kid and a crying baby. She locked herself in her room. The nanny didn’t realize I was sick until it was too late. Had my dad not been out of town, I would have been fine. She shrugged. I guess it wasn’t meant to be that way. My fever got so high that there was permanent damage to my hearing. And the infection spread to my throat. It was several weeks before I was able to talk again. Eventually I just stopped talking as much; we’d all learned sign language, and I can read lips.
And now you can talk with me directly. The only creature of any Kind who has ever been able to do that. In six hundred years. That has to mean something. You have time if you want to take a shower and change before dinner. Your cousins will be waiting at 6:30 for us. Dhan Emily said she had business to discuss with us all.
Chapter Twenty-One
Josey signed rapidly, looking in Emily’s direction. Emily’s idea wouldn’t work. Not without some serious revision, and she told her cousin that.
First, how would they keep the human element away from the Dardaptoan? And what if the research got crossed, and someone saw something they shouldn’t?
Emily nodded. Josey watched her cousin’s lips as the other woman spoke. “We’ve thought of that, Josey. We are going to have to separate areas of study. Keep a skeleton staff of humans on hand—those with long terms of service, or excellent personnel jackets. Those we know are loyal to Taniss and who can adhere to strict confidentiality clauses. The rest of the staff will be composed of Dardaptoans.”
Josey nodded. Then signed her concerns. “It will be risky. And time consuming.”
Mal tapped the table in front of her, and Josey turned to her redheaded cousin when she felt the vibration. “We’ve thought of that. And we were closing Grandfather’s lab, anyway. Mickey suggested we move the new lab here. And the four of us oversee it.”
Josey paused, then signed another question. “And what of the rest of our family? How are we going to explain it to them?”
Em knocked on the table and Josey turned toward her. “It is believable that I— and Mickey, for that matter—would want to stay with our new husbands. And they are established here. Rand could take over the main branch. He’s got the capability to do it. If he would.”
Josey still had her reservations, but it was obvious the other three women were resolute. “I am in. But you are going to have a difficult time convincing my dad and the rest of the family. You know how they can be.”
Mal signaled and Josey turned to her, then read her cousin’s lips. “We know. But what other choices do we have? There are several issues we still need to work out. But we want you to head the medical research. Keep a very close eye on all of it. Just in case.”
Could she do it?
It was basically similar to what she had already planned; only now the rest of the family would be involved. It would be permanent. It wouldn’t just be her doing research and tiny experiments with Dardaptoan or human blood. It would be an entire facility devoted to medical research, designed solely for benefiting the Dardaptoan people.
She pushed the partially empty plate of fish and fruits away. She wasn’t hungry any longer. She had a lot of thinking to do.
Cormac’s hand wrapped around hers, a move she definitely hadn’t expected.
She’s almost forgotten that he and his pals were present, so focused on her cousins as she had been. They had stayed silent—as far as she could tell—letting Mal and Em dominate the signed conversation. How could they be happy with this development?
They hated Taniss Industries. Cormac had made that abundantly clear to her. They hated her grandfather, and her father, and her aunts and uncles, and the rest of her cousins.
So why would they accept an entire building of Tanisses in their world?
Chapter Twenty-Two
Cormac watched her talk with her cousins, fascinated by the dichotomy of their relationship. The smallest woman, her cousin Emily, was clearly in charge. The strawberry blonde—who looked remarkably like his Jocelyn except for the hair color and cheekbones—was the quiet little peacemaker. A good fit for the calm, placid Theo.
The other woman was a fiery redhead in every sense of the word. A quick brush of her mind revealed nothing but an intense desire to protect her family. Especially Jocelyn and the strawberry blonde, the younger of the group.
Would this idea of theirs work? And more importantly, did he want his woman involved in something so complicated? It could potentially prove dangerous if humans learned more than they should. But how could he not let her do what she had to do?
Was he ready to deal with more of her family? Could he look at her father and not want to tear him apart for the harm his family had done to Kindara?
He didn’t know.
He did know that her grandfather would never escape Dardaptoan justice. Even if ten more Rajnis for his people were related to the old bastard in some way, Leo Taniss would pay for what he had done.
His woman’s place in this small group of females was harder to define. The other women seemed protective, but they listened to her. She kept pointing out the ways in which their ideas wouldn’t work. Was that her position, always? Was she the one who pointed out the flaws so that they could overcome them? Not quite a peacemaker and not a naysayer. But very logical in her arguments.
Interesting. Was it like this with the rest of the family? Was that why she argued with him on everything?
Would he want her any other way?
His thoughts were interrupted by running feet and the sudden entrance of a servant from his own House.
“Excuse me, Dahr Rydere! I have an urgent message from Phalon.” Amaia bowed respectfully to the Dahr and Dhan before turning to Cormac. “Equan Jareth, two of Phalon’s guards have reportedly found the car Lady Kindara took, abandoned thirty miles from here.”
Cormac’s blood chilled over at the girl’s words. “And my sister? Her guards?” “Your sister is missing. As is her daughter. No mention was made of any guards. From what the front desk says, Kindara left only with Jierra. No guards were remarked upon.”
Cormac stood, as did the rest of the men. “Aodhan? Confirm with the front desk, and check on Barlaam and Bronwen. The rest of the healers.” Healers were prized targets in any of the Kinds. Especially those of Kindara's rank.
Aodhan nodded. “We will find them, Cormac. Not too much time has passed. I will have my men searching the hills immediately.”
Rydere s
ent Amaia running for the rest of his own personal security detail. “I will set out Matthuin, as well. Plus other outliers that we have positioned. And will prepare for ransom demands. And I will question Phalon’s guards personally. You know I will not rest until we have them back here where they belong.”
Cormac wrapped his hand around his Rajni’s and pulled her to her feet. Go back to our suite or to your cousin’s sitting room. You do not leave those two places; do you understand me?
He was gone before she had a chance to respond. She turned to her cousins and signed her question. “What has happened?”
Emily is the one who answered. “Someone has kidnapped Jierra and Kindara. They are going to go look for them now.”
Josey sat back down at the table. No wonder he’d been afraid. It was easy for her to see how much he loved and protected his sister. And now she had been taken less than two weeks after he had kidnapped Josey and her cousins. Bad karma or something else?
****
She saw very little of him over the next two days, and what she did see had her concerned, despite her wanting to feel nothing for the vampire. He was pale, and almost gaunt. He wasn’t eating, either. And she knew he barely slept. He’d come into the suite the evening of the third day, his eyes red from exhaustion.
She was spread out over the huge mattress, medical books opened before her. Normally the vampire would make some wisecrack about just climbing in bed with her. He’d usually end up sleeping on the couch in the sitting area. He hadn’t made those jokes in two days.
Anything? Josey had tried not to worry about the two missing women, but she liked both of them. And she could see how their disappearance had affected the people in this place.
They were both well loved. Kindara as a healer who’d dedicated her life to her people. And Jierra as an elementary science teacher was absolutely beloved by all. Everyone walked around the hotel with worried expressions, and their disappearance was on everyone’s lips. Josey had read several comments just walking down the Healers’ Hall.
In the Beginning... Page 19
