by C. M. Steele
I went along with it and added, “About your visions.”
She just shook her head at me, and I knew it was the same thing like my mother. Secrets and half-truths were all I ever got when it came to her visions. I was so grateful that it wasn’t something I would have to constantly be concerned with again. If Leonora had the visions, I believed I would lose my mind.
“Nothing right now. I’m sorry, Falcon. I know that it annoys you. It drives Draco batty.” She clasped her hand over her mouth, fighting off a laugh. Then it hit me why she was cracking up.
“Ha-ha, batty,” I said sardonically.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it.” She started laughing even harder.
“It’s fine. We don’t shapeshift anyway.”
“I know, but it’s still funny to me. Almost every movie has that correlation.”
“We had the name first,” I grumbled, pretending to be offended.
“Yes, yes. It will be alright,” she said, placating me. I gave her a dirty glare with a huff, which only made the seer laugh even more. Shaking my head, I rolled my eyes and continued on to the airport.
Once we arrived, we had to go through security. I always worried that the scanners were going to x-ray and see more than necessary. Of course, they couldn’t see my fangs, but I didn’t know if the tech had gotten better. Sometimes, technology annoyed me more than it should.
“So now that were done with that, let’s get to the terminal.” This airport was a quarter of the size of Chicago and a lot emptier, so we got to spread out on the seats and just talk about the company.
“Are you going to hire more staff members?”
“Yes, I suppose I should. More scientists and I need an assistant, but I think I need a male one. I can’t stand the female thoughts because many of them were about me or other men.”
“That’s true, and if you have a guy working for you, then you don’t have to worry that he’s constantly thinking about you…unless…”
“A straight male is the ultimate goal. Or maybe an old woman,” I interrupted her.
“What’s funny is when you say old woman and all I can think of is the fact that you’re like four times older than most old women.” She was in a laughing mood so far. Let’s see how hysterical it is to sit in a long, boring meeting.
“Yes, it is strange, and one day you’ll have the same thing happen to you. Do you have family? Draco’s never mentioned it. Although since I met Leonora, I’ve been a terrible friend.”
“I assure you, Draco feels the same way. But over time, the newness of all this will ease up. And as to your question, no. I don’t have any family left. I was orphaned as a little girl.”
“I’m sorry, but at least then you don’t have anyone wanting to see you when you’re not changing.” It was cool that this place was empty and we could whisper and no one was any the wiser. I looked around several times to see if anyone had their ears perked to listen, but nobody noticed us and most of the people were thinking about their trip. There was only eight people around our area.
“I’m thirsty,” she said, rubbing her throat. Something was off about her color all of the sudden. She blanched for a moment before recovering her color.
“Me, too. I’ll go get it. Some water?” I asked. She nodded, but she looked like she was having another vision, but if it involved me she would have said something, so I ignored it and started to walk away.
“Wait. Actually, can you get me a pop. I’ve had enough water,” she called out.
“Any kind in particular?”
With a shake of her head, she replied, “No, anything they have will be fine.”
I went to get the drinks, but I had to call Nora. I missed her like fucking crazy already and having Charlotte around wasn’t making it any easier.
I took out my phone and dialed her number just as I handed the cashier two twenty ounce bottles, one water and one soda. She didn’t answer for me and that bothered me, then I remembered that I could just talk to her in my head. Or so I thought. I’d never had a chance to test the distance on it. As far as I knew, it worked the same as if we were close. Since I never heard otherwise, I called out to her.
Leonora, I miss you.
She didn’t respond, which made me want to cancel the meeting and go back home, but I had to remember that I did enough damage to my reputation and the company’s in the last few weeks. Until I had a cure, there was no way I could lose the ability to keep the lab open.
I miss you, too. I’m in the shower getting ready for work.
Did you have to say that?
Maybe I did. Perhaps it’ll get you to teleport back home as soon as you can.
It most definitely will.
Have a safe trip.
Be safe.
I took the drinks back to Charlotte, who had slipped on her earbuds. Handing her the pop, I took a peek at what she was listening to. I didn’t know what I expected. Music wasn’t that big of a deal to me and I didn’t know most musicians.
“Thanks,” she said, focusing on her music. Our flight was called quickly and I took a nap. There was nothing to talk about, and from what Nora let slip, Charlotte had a thing about interrupting her music.
We landed in Chicago and I tried to ignore Charlotte. There was something going on with her. I knew it was more than the songs that she was listening to. Every other look from her seemed to be marred with distress. It was like she was talking to Draco. I grabbed our bags from the luggage corral and we walked out to the cabs. These were the moments when I would love to just teleport myself there. Driving was tedious in a place like Chicago. It was one of the reasons we moved. Back west there was a lot less traffic and, therefore, a lot less congestion.
I got to the hotel and tried to call Leonora telepathically, but she didn’t answer. So I tried her phone. Nothing again. Perhaps she was in the middle of something in the lab. She hated when I bothered while she was actually working. I’d try again in a little while.
Chapter Thirty-Four—Draco
Don’t say a word to Falcon. I’ll find her.
He’s in the meeting. She’s going to be fine, Draco. Just hurry.
That didn’t sound like the best news. I knew she was trying to put on a brave outlook on it, but something told me that it could be pretty bad if I didn’t find her soon. Charlotte had been very evasive earlier, and as soon as Leonora didn’t show up at the designated area, I knew something was wrong. Driving back to Falcon’s home, I saw Falcon’s Mustang smashed against a tree. Fuck, I ran there because I didn’t know who was hiding. She didn’t crash on her own, the weather is perfect outside. I looked to see where she was but she wasn’t in the car. It had a large scrape on the side that wasn’t because she hit the tree. Someone sideswiped her. I called out her name and heard a moan. I rushed through the wooded road to see another car. Standing outside the car was Miller and Veronica. Oh shit, what did they have in mind for her? I crept up behind them. I had to decide if I was going to kill them or turn them in. Turning them in would be better for us as long as Leonora and I didn’t show our true selves.
They pulled and started to kick her in the side and the crotch. All I saw was red, but I wasn’t the only one because Leonora wasn’t down for the count. She grabbed Miller’s leg as he tried to kick again, dropping him on his ass. I saw Veronica with a rope twisting it around her knuckles into a ligature. I rushed over to her and punched her straight in the face, then used that rope to tie her hands together. Leonora attacked Miller over and over, kicking him with rage. I stopped before she killed him. What she didn’t know is how close she was coming. I could hear his body getting close to shutting down.
“Leave him alone, Leonora. I’m going to call the cops.”
I did just that, getting a warning to not handle it myself. They arrived and all of the sudden my phone started ringing. “Hello, Falcon,” I answered. Leonora’s eyes bugging out at me.
“Yes, she’s right here.”
I handed her the phone and wondered why he didn’t just talk t
o her telepathically. I could hear their entire conversation, but the police and the shits couldn’t.
“Do you want to tell me what happened? You were vague,” he remarked. So she had been talking to him. He was starting to panic and it was clear in his voice.
“Um. I was talking to the police,” she muttered nervously.
“Police?” he roared. “What’s going on?”
Her body language was anxious. “Please don’t freak out. I’m okay now.”
“What happened, Leonora?”
She started fidgeting as if Falcon was standing in front of her scolding her. “Miller and Veronica came after me and ran me off the road.”
I could hear the growl coming from his throat. “I’ll be home later.”
“Please, don’t.”
“Leonora, I was planning to come either way, but don’t tell me to stay away from you because that’ll never happen,” he stated over the line. He was right and I don’t know what the fuck she was thinking.
“I know, but I just don’t want you to lose it. I’m sorry I wrecked your car.”
“My car? You think I give two shits about the car? I’m worried about you and I want their heads on a stick. I’m not going to…not yet.” I wasn’t going to laugh because everyone would look at me like I was crazy.
“Okay. I miss you,” she said.
“I miss you more than you know. Please tell me you’re okay.”
“I am, really. I guess I have this new energy I didn’t realize I had.”
“Miss, I think it’s the adrenaline talking. You can go home, but if you feel bad or sore, take some Advil or Motrin,” a detective said as he approached. He’d been the first to arrive on the scene having been closest to the accident site.
“Thank you, but I wasn’t too hurt.”
“Well, if you need anything, don’t hesitate to call me, Ms. Dulles,” the detective said. God, you’re so fuckable. Those lips need my dick between them. I was shredding that card before Falcon saw it. I know he heard that fucker’s tone, but what I heard in his head was way worse.
“Leonora,” Falcon stated through the receiver.
“Excuse me, officer, my fiancé is on the phone.” She stepped away, and I could hear her soothing Falcon’s temper that boiling over.
“Detective Bauer, do yourself a favor and stay away from her. She’s taken, and that fuck over there tried to date her and look what he had to resort to. Her fiancé will not take kindly to it.”
“Is that a threat, Mr…?”
“It’s Dr. Romano and no. It’s not a threat; it’s a promise.”
We went into the office in my car while the other was being towed away. I could tell that Leonora wasn’t her usual bubbly self, but I had to let it go. The rest of the day, Vigo and I kept an eye on her. She seemed to have recovered from the accident. Perhaps, she was worried about Falcon or just shaken up by what happened.
I drove back to Falcon’s place with her. “You know he’s not mad at you, right?”
“I know, but I’m afraid of what he’s going to do to Miller and Veronica.”
“If he’s smart, nothing. Letting the court system handle it will be better. If they die, we’ll be the first people they look at.”
“Well, he hasn’t been known to think straight when it comes to me.”
“That’s why we’re going to talk about it when he gets back.”
We got to the house and I saw Falcon’s figure in the window. He better have Charlotte with him or I was going to deck him. I smelled the air and she was inside.
As soon as we got up the stairs, Falcon came out and had Leonora in his arms.
“Draco, take me home,” Charlotte said as soon as I stepped into the house.
“I need to talk to Falcon,” I replied, pulling her into my arms.
She pouted and ran her finger off my bottom lip before whispering, “It can wait. I can’t.”
And like that, I was teleporting us back home.
Chapter Thirty-Five—Falcon
It had been a week since that attack on Leonora. She was back to normal, but I was feeling a bit uncomfortable about leaving her alone again. She finally admitted that her ability to read human’s thoughts wasn’t that good. As my mate, she thought she was failing me by not being perfect at everything. The only thing I needed her to be perfect at was living and loving me forever.
Charlotte was acting weird again. This time she waited until Leonora was asleep, then she came to our house with Draco.
“What brings you here?” I asked, wiping my eyes.
“There's something we need to talk about and I need to do it while Nora sleeping.”
“Okay, let's go outside.” We stepped out of the front door and down the stairs, walking all the way to the exit gate.
I whispered, “What is this about?”
“You're going to have to go to the castle in three hours. There is much I cannot say, but you must fight despite whatever happens. I will tell Leonora when she wakes up.”
“Why can't we tell her now?”
“Because she needs her rest. I don't want her too stressed out. You all have to do your part and be the badass warriors I've heard about.”
“You're not telling me something,” I accused her.
“And I won't be telling you something. That's all I have for right now. I have a feeling things are going to change greatly very soon.” Her expression changed; her face blanched and contorted. “Excuse me,” she said. With her cheeks puffing out, Charlotte stepped away and started to vomit. I didn't know if it was the stress of whatever she was telling us or if she was carrying one of our own. Draco looked completely concerned and it scared me, too. If The Lamia found out about her and if she was carrying a babe, we were in for a war.
I said goodbye to them and walked back into the house before Leonora woke up. I was going to have to make love to her as soon as she woke up. I went to my secret place with all my blades and grabbed my favorite. For the next hour, I sharpened the edges and grabbed several daggers. After that was done, I gathered my armor to protect my heart. I needed to have armor made for her as soon as possible. I couldn't believe I hadn't thought of that already. My head was pounding in fear because I was afraid to leave her again. It was like the crazies knew when I was gone and decided to strike.
I took a calming breath and tried to relax. It was time to go say goodbye to my love. For all that was just, I hoped that I’d come home to her. I appeared in our bedroom, wasting no time at all, and stripped myself bare. Standing at the edge of the bed completely naked, I stared down at my sleeping beauty. Nora was perfection, but she looked so fragile to me.
I climbed under the covers from the foot of the bed. Her legs were already parted and her scent struck me full force. I wanted to wake her up with a pleasurable orgasm. She’d fallen asleep in a tiny negligee without panties. I salivated as I got close to her pussy. I placed a soft kiss on her wet lips, causing a little moan to escape her lips.
Slipping a finger into her honey pot, I teased, coaxed some of her sweetness out, and lapped it up. I loved her taste. It was like it was made for me. Tonight, it tasted sweeter. It must be my mind. I knew this could be our last time together. Roughly, I flicked my tongue on her clit, causing her back to bow and arch off the bed. She sighed with her hands clutching the sheets. I stretched her thighs further apart, opening her pink treat to my view. My tongue and fingers fucked her until I heard her screaming my name.
“Falcon, oh Falcon,” she chanted, her breathing picking up with her orgasm. I wasn’t far behind her. My cock was throbbing in my pants so bad I thought I was going to come on the spot. I felt beads of pre-come dribble off the tip and wet my boxers. It would only be a little bit longer before I was coming.
Chapter Thirty-Six—Leonora
Charlotte and I left for work quite early because I couldn’t sleep. We parted ways on my floor and I headed to the lab to get started on a new sample of blood from Falcon, Vigo, and his wife. Fresh eyes are what’s needed or
at least I hoped so.
When I learned that Falcon had to go the castle and that it wasn’t for recreation or even just to speak with his brother but to save his older brother Alessio, I freaked out. I could feel that something was wrong. I got off the elevator and walked toward the lab. There were no lights on in the hallway. I supposed it was just an oversight by the guards. They normally hit a switch downstairs that turned all the lights on. With my newly enhanced eyesight, I didn’t need the lights on but having them off sent a chill up my spine.
Using my key card, I entered the lab and the light there had been off as well, but that was normal. The four of us were the only ones to enter the room, so this light wasn’t attached to the main light box. I reached over to the left and flicked the switch, but the light still didn’t come on. There wasn’t a power outage when I stepped into the building and the elevator was working, so what was going on? I flicked it up and down, then walked over to the personal fuse box on the floor and hit the breaker. Nothing happened. A rush of fear wash over me. I felt like I was in a scary movie. I was going to go back upstairs with Charlotte and wait until Vigo arrived. I started my way back to the door when I saw a man nearly the size of Falcon standing in front of the door. He was about six feet tall, but the way he was staring at me, he could have been a hundred feet tall. He was staring at me with such an intensity that I couldn’t even speak. He was pale with dark hair and bright eyes that had large black circles underneath.
Now the reason the lights were off was starting to make sense, he had gotten in here somehow. I closed my eyes to see if I could read his thoughts, but there was nothing. It hit me, he wasn’t human. I should have guessed that because he was scary looking. Could he be one of the shifters Falcon was searching for?
The stare down was getting stronger, and I knew he was trying to intimidate me. It was working, but I wouldn’t let him know that. “What do you want?” I asked the intruder with a stillness in my voice, trying to keep my fear from taking over my senses. My body shuddered on the inside while I gave the appearance of calmness.
