Always

by Amy Richie

  Always

  Immortal Love Series Book 2

  By

  Amy Richie

  World Castle Publishing

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used factiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locations, organizations, or person, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  World Castle Publishing

  Pensacola, Florida

  Copyright © by Amy Richie 2012

  ISBN: 9781938243141

  First Edition World Castle Publishing March 20, 2012

  http://www.worldcastlepublishing.com

  License Notes

  This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you respecting the hard work of this author.

  Cover: Karen Fuller

  Photo: Shutterstock

  Editor: Beth Price

  Dedication:

  For my sister; Molly Gibbs. I don’t even need to say that this book would not even be finished yet if it wasn’t for my sister. We set a goal and she made me stick to it. Thank you for that; and for the ten hour writing days; and for listening to me whine but not caring. Where would we be without sisters? Probably still on chapter ten!

  Chapter One

  The night wind swirled through my hair as the horse thundered towards the clearing. I closed my eyes to savor the feel of it. “Eva,” I heard his deep voice calling to me. I inhaled deeply, relishing in the crisp night air. “We’re home,” Dominick whispered the words I loved to hear. Even after six months had gone by, the cabin and the man I shared it with still seemed like a dream.

  “I’m kind of sad,” I admitted with a sigh. I dismounted gracefully and waited while Dominick came around to meet me. My heart thrilled at his touch on my shoulder.

  “Why is that, my love?” He tilted his head slightly, further wreaking havoc on my heart.

  “Why is what?”

  He raised one eyebrow. “Didn’t you say you were sad?”

  “No, why would I be sad?” I murmured only half coherently. I tilted my face into his kiss. Our lips met only briefly but as always, my senses went into hyper- mode, leaving me dizzy. “I wonder if I’ll ever get used to that,” I breathed.

  Dominick glowered playfully. “No.” He bent low to kiss me again. I smiled when he caught my lower lip between his teeth. Slowly, he brought my hand to his lips so he could kiss each of my fingertips. A chill raced down my spine. “Go on in, I’ll put the horses away and join you soon.”

  “Okay.” He started to turn away, but I waited, knowing he would return to me one last time before leaving. As always, he turned back with laughter on his lips.

  “Have I told you today that I love you?” he asked as he twirled his strong arms around my waist.

  “Mmm,” I pretended to think about it. My arms went up automatically to encircle his neck. “I can’t remember.”

  He chuckled once. “You lie.” His face was already close to mine so it was easy to pull him down to me.

  “Maybe I just like to hear it,” I whispered before I lost all sense of thought in his kiss. He deepened the embrace and I responded naturally. Whenever I was with Dominick, it felt so natural…just like breathing.

  All too soon, he drew away. “I love you.” His voice was hoarse, but gentle. “Go inside before you freeze.”

  “I love you too. Hurry up out here.” We were both reluctant to turn away, as if we wouldn’t see each other in a few minutes. Since I couldn’t, Dominick had to be the first to turn away.

  “I’ll hurry,” he called over his shoulder.

  It took me a few moments to regain thought, and then I ran the short distance to the front door. “Ooph.” The inside of the cabin was colder than outside. I set to work quickly to restart the fire. Dominick hadn’t put it all the way out before we left, so that I could easily restart it. I rubbed my hands briskly over the warmth.

  I sighed as I remembered that Claudia and Marcus would soon be leaving Blakesly House. She had told me earlier that evening. It saddened me to think of her leaving.

  “I wondered why you were sad,” Dominick’s voice shattered the quiet of the cabin. I jumped in surprise.

  “I didn’t hear you come in,” I laughed.

  “Normally, you are watching for me but tonight you are preoccupied.” He joined me by the fire.

  “I am,” I admitted readily.

  “I know you are fond of Claudia, but she has been ready to leave for some time.”

  “I know.” I nodded, my smile slightly sad.

  “Don’t look at me like that or I will be forced to make her stay.”

  “You can’t make her stay.”

  “I could try.” He pulled me close to his chest and folded his arms around me.

  “It will seem empty here without them.”

  “We could go to Lexon,” he offered. “Visit David and Nadia.”

  “Are Rueben and Anya still there?”

  “I think so.”

  “Maybe we could.” I brought my face up to look at him. “When do you think Elizabeth will be back?”

  “I don’t know. It seems to me like you should just be content with me.”

  I laughed and buried my face back into his chest. Of course I was content with only Dominick. After all we had gone through, all that he had done for me–he was certainly enough for me. I shuddered to think that Neleh had almost made me miss out on his love. Claudia had reminded me that without Neleh, maybe I would have never even met him.

  “We should go to bed,” I suggested with a grin.

  “I am kind of tired.” He was still chuckling when our lips met.

  The next morning was clear and crisp. I awoke to the familiar sounds of the forest waking up. Dominick was still asleep, but I knew it wouldn’t be for long. I slipped my bare feet onto the cold floor with a gasp.

  “Where are you going?” Two hands shot out and pulled me back into the warmth of the bed.

  “I was going to start the fire.” Dominick positioned himself above me.

  “It’s cold.”

  “I know,” I smiled at his look of concern. “Which is why I was starting a fire.”

  “I can think of better ways to keep you warm.” He grinned wickedly.

  “Oh yeah?” I snuggled deeper into the bed, prepared to spend the rest of the morning there.

  His lips bypassed mine and went directly to my throat, to the spot that throbbed for his kisses. My breathing sped up. He moaned softly, sending my heart down to my stomach.

  Suddenly he stopped and brought his face to mine. “We have company,” he growled darkly.

  “We do?” My breathing still made my words sound funny.

  Dominick sighed loudly and pushed himself off of me. “You’d best get your robe on my love; Claudia will be here soon.” The skin on his broad back glistened in the morning light that was streaming through the window. My mouth fell open slightly. What was it that I was thinking of doing? “Here,” he tossed my large blue robe on the bed.

  “Claudia’s coming now?” I was confused.

  “Yes.” He glared my way.

  While Dominick started the fire, I struggled to make myself presentable. I had almost managed it when a knock sounded on the door.

  “Come in Claudia,” Dominick called.

  “I hope I’m not interrupting,” came her musical voice.

  When Claudia walked in, her presence filled the room. She didn’t even stand five and a half feet, but h
er smile lit up her beautiful face. Her wild auburn hair was even crazier than usual after the run to reach the cabin.

  “Did you run here Claudia?” I asked disbelievingly.

  “How can you tell?” she laughed and brought her hands up to cover her flushed cheeks. “It was a nice run; nice to breathe some fresh air.” With a flurry of graceful movement, she settled herself on the chair by the fire. “What are you doing in bed so late anyway?”

  Dominick gave her a look that made my face flame red. “Late?” I croaked. “Is the sun even up yet?”

  She smiled broadly. “Yes.”

  Dominick came to stand beside me, suddenly fully dressed. “Claudia isn’t going to leave us alone,” he grumbled, “so I’m heading up to the house. I’ll see you in a minute.” He kissed me gently, glared at Claudia, then disappeared through the closed door.

  “He should just change me. I’ll never get used to how fast he moves,” I commented absently.

  “Unlike a certain human I know,” Claudia winked.

  “Are you in that big of a hurry to leave Claudia?” My voice came out soft and slow.

  “I’m not leaving today. We’ll wait until after tomorrow.”

  “Why the change?” She shoved a pile of clothes in my direction, and discreetly turned away while I slipped out of my robe.

  “Tomorrow is August 23.”

  “And?”

  “Everyone will be here.” August 23? I searched my memory for why that date should mean something. “The day the warriors were made?”

  “Oh.” I paused in pulling my shirt over my head. “I didn’t realize…”

  Claudia stood up with a sigh and finished pulling my shirt on for me. “That’s what you get for staying holed up in this cabin for six months. The world could have collapsed and you wouldn’t know.”

  I gave her my best sheepish grin. “Everyone will be here?”

  “Probably before today is done. You’ve met everyone already though.”

  “Not Rueben.”

  “Hmm.” Her tiny features puckered in thought. “It is true, Rueben has stayed away longer than usual.”

  “I thought you just came back once a year?” I rummaged for a hair tie and plopped in front of Claudia so she could put my hair up.

  “That’s different. Tomorrow is like a holiday. But we are all drawn to this place. It’s like Kiera put a spell on us. After you’re a Letrell, Blakesly House calls to you.”

  “Or maybe it’s just the people in it.”

  “Maybe you’re right.” She finished my hair and pushed herself up gracefully. “Marcus always wants to return here, more so than me. I guess that’s just the bond he has with his brothers.” She paused in thought. “Pancakes or eggs?”

  “Pancakes.” My stomach rumbled at the thought. “Where did you meet Marcus?” She paused in her swift, sure motions.

  “You always ask me that,” she accused with a smile.

  “And you always say you’ll have to tell me about it someday. You are leaving soon.”

  “Hmm.” Ingredients appeared to fly around her. “Okay, where do I start?” I sat silent, waiting to hear her story. This was the first time that she seemed ready to tell me. “I guess the beginning is as good a place as any.” She plopped a full plate of pancakes in front of me. “Eat,” she ordered, “then we’ll go to the house.” Claudia sipped her coffee.

  “Were you born in the States?” I prompted before I took a bite.

  “I was.” she smiled, “In the mid 1800’s.”

  My mouth fell open. “Were there people then?”

  She giggled softly. “Yes, of course. My parents went to the States before I was born.”

  “The States?”

  “Eat.” I picked my plate up and followed her to the fire. “My parents were madly in love,” she smiled broadly. “And they loved adventure so they moved to the States.”

  “They went alone?”

  “No, they went together. But they died when I was eight and I was sent to live with my only living relatives–Uncle Philip and Aunt Dora.”

  Her eyes took on a faraway look. Pancakes forgotten, I scooted closer to Claudia.

  “I met Marcus just three days before I was to wed Edmund Harris.” Her smile grew.

  Chapter Two

  Claudia

  A pool of white moonlight splashed across the otherwise dark room. Everyone else in the house had already gone to bed long ago but sleep would not come to me. At first I had tried to lay still and stare only at the darkened ceiling as I had when I was a child but it was soon apparent that it would no longer work. My thoughts wouldn’t slow down.

  With a small sigh, I climbed from my bed and scurried over to the window, flinging it wide so I could feel the cool night air on my face. It was a beautiful night with just a hint of the chill that fall promised.

  The moon hung high in the sky, bathing the earth in its light. I saw Uncle Philip’s garden far below me, almost completely dead this late in the year. The rose bush that Aunt Dora had insisted on having grew wildly, covering the shed with its green leaves. I smiled to myself. I could almost see them down there even now working away the hours tending the earth.

  My aunt and uncle had always been kind to me since my own parents had died. They had brought me back to England from the States where my parents had made their home. At eight, there hadn’t been anything worse than having to leave my home; but now I loved it here.

  And in three days I would once again have to leave my home.

  My eyes went automatically to search out the nearby home of Sir Edmund Harris– my soon to be husband. I twisted the thin gold band on my finger.

  I was trading my quiet country life to live with Edmund, who stayed in London half the year. Edmund was the richest man we knew; it wouldn’t have been proper for Uncle Philip to refuse him my hand. I was nearly twenty years old and although I had always told Aunt Dora I would never marry anyone, she assured me that this would be a good thing.

  Not for the first time, it occurred to me that this was entirely my fault. I should have never danced with him at the Darby’s Christmas ball last year. He had vowed then that by the next ball at the Darby house, we would be married. I had laughed at his boldness then, but he turned out to be right.

  Just three more days…

  The sound of a wolf’s howl rang in the distance, bringing my attention back to the present. I closed my eyes and tilted my chin into the light breeze. I felt the wind tickle the curls around my ears and chin.

  Soon I would have to pin my wild auburn curls close to my head like Lady Harris did. My face scrunched up at the thought of Edmund’s mother–such a disagreeable woman!

  “Oh, Claudia,” I whispered to myself, “What are you going to do?”

  It is probably best to just try to go back to bed, I thought. Tomorrow was another day–one of the last that I would spend at home–and I didn’t want to miss any of it. I sighed deeply, unable to tear myself from the window.

  Out in the night there was a lonely sort of silence that did nothing for my mood. It was as if the night itself was pulling me down to its depth. I shuddered at the morbid turn my thoughts had taken. I needed to go back to bed; in the morning, things were sure to look normal again.

  As I turned away from the scene below me, a flash of movement caught my eye and I leaned forward quickly, searching for whatever was down there. I craned my neck wildly, but I couldn’t see anything except the dark shadows. Just when I’d convinced myself that I had imagined the movement, a man emerged from the blackest of the shadows.

  My breath caught in my throat in what could have been a gasp. He was tall with dark clothes on. It was hard to tell anything about him in the dark, but when the light passed over his eyes, they flashed red.

  I jumped back so suddenly that I hit the back of my head on a nearby stand. That was definitely my imagination; no one’s eyes could be red. I sat there cowering for a few tense moments while I gathered my courage to look again.

  Maybe it was
our stableman Thomas. But Thomas was getting on in years. I couldn’t imagine him leaving his bed to go out into the cool night. Could it have been Edmund Harris trying to be romantic? That was even less likely than Thomas. Perhaps Uncle Philip then?

  With my heart still beating wildly under my nightclothes, I inched my head up to get another look at the man. Slowly, ever so slowly, I peered over the windowsill. The man was gone!

  I whipped my head around, searching as far as I could for any sign of him, but there was no one. My heart sank, confusing me. Was I disappointed that he had gone? No, but I did wonder who he was.

  My hand fell upon something soft on the windowsill. There, waiting just for me, was a perfect red rose. I picked the flower up gently with trembling fingers. My eyes widened as I took in the beauty of the rose and yet, who had placed it at my window? And how had they gotten up here?

  I realized suddenly that it must have been the stranger standing outside. My jaw dropped open at the thought. I stretched my head as far as I dared out the window, determined to get another look at my mystery caller.

  “I don’t think he’s out there,” a voice whispered loudly from inside my room.

  I felt the blood drain from my face. Someone was in my room! I whirled around and a cold hand clamped over my scream.

  “Shh,” he warned.

  A man stood just inches from my face, his dark blue eyes wide with a mixture of amusement and worry. His dark hair curled down by his ears with several curls falling along his furrowed forehead.

  At only just over five feet myself it wasn’t difficult for someone to be taller than I was, but this man towered over me so much that he had to hunch over for our faces to be close. He smiled, revealing almost perfect teeth and two small dimples.

  “I’m going to take my hand from your mouth now. Do you promise not to scream?” he asked in a low voice.

  I considered my options quickly. There was a strange man in my bedroom in the middle of the night–three days before my wedding to Edmund Harris. It was probably best for everyone if we kept this quiet. I nodded.

  He smiled again and dropped his hand. “As I was saying, I think he’s gone.”