The Devil's Soldier

by Rachel McClellan

  "I wouldn't know what to do with normal," Lucien said and walked by him. He came up behind Eve. She was staring down at the enclosed metal coffin that held Boaz, her hands limp at her side.

  "What do you think, Eve?" he asked. "Do you want to go water skiing?"

  She turned around and for just a fraction of a second he caught her expression—a mixture of fear and doubt. She quickly replaced it with a smile. "Sounds nice, actually."

  "Don't plan any trips just yet," a voice said from the cabin. Liane stepped onto the deck wearing a light windbreaker, and her hair pulled back into a ponytail.

  "What is she doing here?" Lucien asked.

  Charlie stuck his head out from within the boat's cabin. "I didn't see any harm in bringing her along. Besides, we were having dinner together when Henry called. I couldn't just leave her alone."

  "I'm glad you're here," Eve said and gave her a hug. "After everything Boaz has done to you, you deserve to be here and see this bastard drown."

  Liane released Eve and smiled. "It's about time he suffers. Was it hard to capture him?"

  Eve's eyes flashed to Lucien's. "It wasn't easy."

  "Where's Henry?" Charlie asked. "I thought he was going to be here."

  "He left after we put Boaz in there," Lucien said. "He was meeting with Alana to discuss what to do next."

  "Who is this Henry I keep hearing so much about?" Liane asked.

  Charlie opened his mouth to answer, but Lucien interrupted. "Just an employee of the Deific."

  He felt Eve's eyes turn on him, but he didn't look her direction. He still didn't trust Liane. Besides, there was no reason for her to know Henry's true identity.

  "Time to go," Charlie said. He ducked back into the cabin. A moment later, the boat lurched forward. Eve grabbed onto his arm to steady herself.

  "Hunwald," Eve said, startling him.

  "What?" Lucien asked.

  Her eyes were big, eyebrows arched high as if she had just remembered something. "Where was he? That wolf and Boaz are inseparable. Why wasn't he there to protect Boaz?"

  Lucien hadn't thought of this either, not with everything that had just happened.

  "Maybe he was scared off?" he offered. He didn't know Hunwald, but from what Eve had told him, Boaz and the wolf had an unbreakable bond. It worried him that Hunwald hadn't been seen, now that she mentioned it.

  "Possibly," Eve said, and she grew quiet.

  No one said much as they traveled over the smooth waters. Eve was pressed to his chest, her hair blowing wildly around her. Liane had gone inside the cabin with Charlie. Every once and awhile, Lucien would glance through the window to them. Liane would be hovering near Charlie, smiling and occasionally touching his arm. Charlie seemed to enjoy the attention. Lucien tensed when Liane laughed at something Charlie was saying.

  Eve peered up at him. "What's wrong?"

  He quickly relaxed and smiled. "Everything's perfect."

  She narrowed her eyes but didn't press the issue.

  Several minutes later, Charlie turned off the boat's engine. Water sloshed up against the sides as they rocked back and forth.

  "It doesn't get much deeper than this," Charlie said. He walked to the edge of the boat and peered over the ledge. Liane came up beside him, her face pale.

  "Are you okay?" Charlie asked her.

  "I'm anxious to get this over with," she said.

  Eve stepped away, cooling Lucien's body. "Me, too. Finally we can move on with our lives."

  Liane took her hand, and they turned to face Boaz's coffin. In the moon's silver light, they almost looked like twins.

  "Ashes to ashes," Lucien said. He took hold of one side of the heavy coffin and tipped it upright. With one good shove, he pushed the metal box over the boat's edge, spraying water upwards.

  Eve hurried to the side. Lucien watched with her as the coffin slowly disappeared into the murky blackness. Liane had dropped to her knees and was crying quietly, her hands shaking near her face. The tears seemed genuine. Maybe he was wrong about her, and Boaz really had held her captive all this time. Charlie knelt beside her and wrapped his arms around her.

  It was several minutes before anyone spoke, even though Lucien wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible. An unexplainable urgency was tugging on his senses. But he shouldn't be feeling this apprehension, not with Boaz slowly sinking to the bottom of the lake.

  Charlie straightened, taking Liane with him, and said, "I think we need a celebration."

  "Completely," Liane said, wiping at her eyes with the sleeve of her jacket.

  "Sleep first," Eve said. "I think I could sleep for a week!"

  "I'll join you," Lucien said, tugging her to his side.

  "I'd love nothing more." Eve kissed him briefly on the mouth. The movement was so carefree, Lucien wondered if that's how a normal relationship was supposed to feel like.

  "As much as I'd love for you two to spend a week in bed together," Charlie said sarcastically, "there isn't enough time for a honeymoon. We can take one day for a much needed rest, but then we need to tear down whatever network Boaz has created. I'd hate to have one of his minions rise to power in his place."

  "How about if we meet for dinner tonight?" Liane asked. "A simple celebration with us and whoever else helped bring Boaz down. Invite Henry, too."

  "A great idea," Charlie said. "But won't you be tired of seeing me two nights in a row?"

  Lucien cringed and turned away.

  While the two continued to flirt with each other, Eve whispered, "I think they're cute together."

  He glanced over his shoulder at Charlie, who was smiling big at something Liane was saying. He did look happy.

  Charlie glanced at each of them, still smiling. "Let's go home."

  As the boat's engine came back to life and cut through the still water, Lucien couldn't help himself. He looked back just once, afraid he might see Boaz rising from the water, but there was nothing but darkness.

  ***

  Lucien walked behind Eve into her apartment and closed the door. Her smell was everywhere in the room. It was the best scent in the world.

  Eve dropped onto the sofa. "I can't believe we did it."

  Lucien said nothing, but joined her on the couch. "How do you feel?"

  She tightened her lips as if trying to find the right words. "Tired."

  "Come here," he said and pulled her over to him. She snuggled against his chest. "Get some sleep."

  "Just for a few minutes. I don't want anything to take me away from you, including sleep."

  He smoothed back her hair. "I'll be here when you wake."

  She lowered her head and within minutes her breathing became slow and steady. Her whole body relaxed into him, and he held onto her protectively. He still didn't feel Eve was safe, even with Boaz buried at the bottom of a lake.

  For several hours, he held onto her, wondering about their future. He loved Eve more than life itself, but felt it was a slippery love, one that could be easily taken from him. He wanted it to be eternal—their souls still bound to one another even after their bodies were gone. Was that possible for someone like him? A vampire? He doubted there was any God in the universe that would grant him an eternal marriage, if it were possible.

  But if it were… he would propose to Eve in a heartbeat. She stirred in his arms and opened her eyes. His image reflected in their green surface.

  "You are so beautiful," she said and smiled.

  "Isn't that what I'm supposed to say to you?"

  Eve twisted out of his grip and sat up, her legs straddling him on the sofa. "How about if neither of says anything?"

  She leaned down and pressed her lips to his, gently at first, her mouth moving slowly. Lucien followed her pace, enjoying the taste of her on his lips. He sunk further into the couch and slid his hands up to her waist; they disappeared beneath the back of her shirt. Eve's kiss deepened, and she lowered her body, pressing her hips into his. Pleasurable heat raced through his body, and he moaned. In one swift mo
tion, he scooped her up and carried her to the bedroom.

  He almost asked her then—to marry him—but the moment didn't seem right. There was still so much unfinished business with Boaz. Maybe, after things were resolved, he would propose to her on a mountaintop somewhere at sunset. This image brought a smile to his face. He lowered Eve to the bed.

  "What are you grinning at?" Eve asked.

  "Our future," he said and pressed his mouth to hers. Eternity was theirs and nothing was going to get in the way.

  23

  Eve had never been happier. Boaz was gone. Lucien was in bed next to her. The world was as it should be.

  Her phone on the nightstand buzzed. She picked it up. A text message from Charlie read that they were all meeting at Bella's for dinner at 9:00. She glanced at the time on her phone. That was in five hours. She turned back around and rolled on top of Lucien. His arms came around her.

  "Don't you ever sleep?" she asked.

  "And miss a moment with you?"

  She kissed him on each cheek and finally on his mouth. In between kisses, she said, "Dinner's at Bella's at nine."

  "Where's that?" he asked, but his words were muffled because she was still kissing him.

  She sat up, her long hair falling to the sides of her face and reaching Lucien's chest. "Downtown. Not too far from here, actually."

  "I'd like to go downstairs first," he said. "I want to see what's been going on with Alana."

  "Not until I'm done with you," she said and kissed him again.

  ***

  "Hello, you two," the secretary said when Eve and Lucien walked in.

  She was an older woman with strawberry blonde hair and a kind smile, but Eve's heart still stung whenever she saw her sitting in what used to be Sarah's chair. Eve still blamed herself for not being there when Sarah died.

  Lucien pressed his palm to the small of her back as if he knew what she was feeling.

  "Charlie's in the conference room with Liane and Alana," the secretary said. "Henry should be here shortly."

  Eve turned the corner down the hallway to the conference room, but Lucien stopped her just before going in. "I don't think Liane should be a part of our conversations."

  Not this again.

  Eve turned around. "Liane has been through just as much as the rest of us. Why won't you give her a break?"

  Lucien glanced through the door's window to inside the room. Eve followed his gaze. Liane was listening to Alana telling Charlie something. Her hands were folded in her lap, and her eyebrows were drawn together as if she was upset or frustrated.

  "Her timing," Lucien said. "It feels off. Don't you think it was strange the way she just suddenly showed up?"

  Eve had considered this at first, but after talking to her and seeing the fear of Boaz in her eyes, Eve knew she was telling the truth. "Liane was lucky she got away from him when she did. You need to let this go. Liane is staying, and I'm going to help her any way I can."

  She opened the door before Lucien could say anything else.

  "Sorry we're a little late," Eve said. "What did we miss?" She scooted into the seat next to Liane.

  Lucien sat across from her next to Alana.

  Alana groaned. "I hate repeating myself, and I don't want to do it a third time. Where's Henry?"

  Charlie glanced down at his wristwatch. "He should be here by now. I'll go call him."

  When he left the room, Eve asked Liane, "Did you get some sleep?"

  "It's the first time I've slept in months. Knowing Boaz is finally gone and then being back with you, and of course meeting Charlie, who took me to breakfast this morning, by the way… Life couldn't be better."

  Alana sunk into her chair, grinding her jaw. "I'm just going to talk because I can't stand to listen to anyone else. Tonight at the Harvard-Johnson center, the Vice President is going to be speaking to a room full of political whack jobs. With elections coming up, his schedule is tighter than a hangman's knot. I think my only chance to speak with him will be tonight. I've got an invite as Mr. Allen's intern."

  "But how are you going to get close enough to actually speak with him?" Lucien asked.

  "I won't, but I managed to find out his personal cell number. I'm going to send him a message and have him meet me in the bathroom or something. One thing I'm good at is pissing people off, so don't worry about my plan working. The VP is going to want to talk to me, especially when he notices I'm a vampire."

  Charlie returned to the room.

  "It sounds kind of dangerous," Eve said.

  Alana stood. "I hope so. Where's Henry? I have to go."

  "He said he would call you," Charlie answered.

  "I'm beginning to think this Henry doesn't exist," Liane muttered under her breath.

  "You're coming to dinner tonight, right, Alana?" Eve asked.

  She had been trying hard to get to know Alana better ever since her boyfriend, Michael, was killed by Aiden's men, but Alana had an impermeable wall around her. The only person she ever seemed to talk to was Henry.

  Alana shrugged and walked to the door. "Depends upon whether or not I end up in jail for accosting the Vice President of the United States. If I find out he's in any way a Boaz sympathizer, he's one dusted vamp."

  "You can't kill him," Charlie said. "We need to find out what he knows."

  "Alana's right," Lucien said. "The Vice President is in too much of a powerful position to be kept alive. If he's plotting with Boaz, then he must be destroyed."

  "Seems awfully rash," Liane said. "Don't you agree, Eve?"

  Liane was staring at her expectantly, her bright red lips pressed together. Eve looked at Lucien. His expression was all hard lines and flexed muscles.

  Eve squirmed in her seat. "I'm not sure."

  "How very noncommittal of you," Alana said, rolling her eyes. "Look, I'm the one meeting with the bastard, so I'm going to be the one who makes the final decision. And don't expect me to call to talk it out with you. If I sense deception, the guy's toast."

  "Deal," Lucien said.

  Eve shook her head. She didn't like how eager he was to kill anyone who might have something to do with Boaz. What if he decided Liane was working with him? That would really cause some problems between her and Lucien.

  "I don't like it," Liane said, folding her arms to her chest.

  Lucien turned so fast, he nearly scared Liane from her chair. "Then it's a good thing you don't have a say in the matter."

  "Lucien!" Eve said.

  Charlie dropped his fist onto the table. "Enough!"

  Eve glared at Lucien, who was glaring at Charlie. The whole room felt like a pressure cooker ready to blow.

  Charlie took a few deep breaths then turned to Alana. "Before you make any decisions, please just promise me you'll talk it through with Henry."

  "Whatever," she said and left the room.

  The secretary appeared at the door, glancing back over her shoulder at Alana. "What was that all about?"

  "What do you need, Mary?" Charlie asked.

  "Oh, um, this package just arrived." She handed him a brown manila envelope. "The courier said it was urgent."

  Charlie took it from her and closed the door when she left. Before tearing into it, he said, "We need to work together. All of us have—"

  He froze, and the color drained from his face. The envelope fell from his hands.

  "What's wrong?" Eve asked. If she didn't know any better, she would have guessed that Charlie had just had a vision. He didn't get them often, but when he did, they were powerful.

  Charlie cleared his throat and bent over to pick up the package. "I don't think this is a good letter."

  Eve glanced at Lucien, meeting his gaze. There was more to it than that, and by Lucien's narrowed eyes, he agreed.

  "What does it say?" Liane asked. She stood and came to Charlie's side.

  Charlie's hands were shaking as he slipped his finger beneath the flap of the large envelope and jerked upwards. He reached in and removed a single sheet of white pap
er. He didn't say anything for several seconds.

  "What does it say?" Eve asked.

  Charlie inhaled deeply. On his exhale, he read: "There are consequences to the choices you make. What happens next is on you."

  Eve swallowed the hard lump in her throat. It didn't go down well, and she coughed.

  "Who is it addressed to?" Lucien asked.

  Charlie turned the envelope over. His gaze slowly lifted to Eve's. "You."

  Lucien jumped from his seat, nearly knocking the chair over. "Let me see it."

  Charlie slid it down the table toward him.

  "Who sent it?" Liane asked, her voice growing loud. "Not Boaz, right? Because he's gone, right?"

  Charlie wrapped his arms around her. "Of course he is. We all saw it. This has got to be one of Boaz's followers who knows what we've done."

  "I don't like it," Lucien said. The muscles in his face were pulled tight.

  Eve would've gone to his side, but she was frozen in her seat. Boaz couldn't have freed himself. There was no way!

  Charlie released Liane. Color, a deep crimson, had returned to his cheeks. "Look, we don't even know if this threat is credible. Besides, we already have everyone on full alert. Let's just continue with the plan. Alana will speak with the Vice President tonight, and we will meet up with her afterwards at Bella's."

  "We're still going to dinner?" Lucien asked, his voice full of disbelief.

  "I don't see why not," Charlie answered. "Life has to continue. Besides, this is a celebratory dinner in a public place. Several Deific men will be there. I can't imagine a safer place."

  "You're right," Liane said. "I can't let Boaz control my life any longer!"

  Eve studied her, wondering how she was able to gather such strength. All Eve felt like doing was running away, but if Liane could overcome her fears after being held prisoner by Boaz, then surely Eve could go to one seemingly safe dinner.

  Lucien turned to her. "Eve?"