by Lisa Emme
“So who is this chick? A vampire I guess?”
“Yes, a very powerful vampire. She is an Empress and she rules all of southern Europe with an iron fist.”
“An Empress? Truly?” Isaac wasn’t talking about a rank for a sovereign ruler, he was talking about the rank in the power hierarchy of vampires. An Empress or the male counterpart, Emperor, was the highest rank there was, the biggest, baddest, scariest they came. I highly suspected that Salvador ranked as an Emperor, but since I had nothing to compare his power level to, I wasn’t sure. I did know that he was off the scale on my own personal supernatural power meter. I thought on that for a moment, chewing my lip. “And so the date on the other side of the card? It was –”
“The date of her arrival in Riverton,” Isaac said, finishing my sentence for me.
Our conversation was put on hold when the door flew open and Tess hurried in. “Am I late?” She threw her stuff down on the bench by the door and came over to the kitchen. She took a deep breath, sucking in the delicious aromas. “Mmmm, it smells amazing. I’m glad I didn’t miss anything.” She scooped a big mouthful of hummus onto a pita and popped it in her mouth.
“No, you didn’t miss anything. Isaac was just telling me about the Mariposa.”
“Oh good. Do you know why there are vampires on the roof next door as well?” Tess smirked and pulled herself up onto a stool. “They aren’t doing the greatest job of being inconspicuous.”
Isaac frowned. “I’ll speak to them.”
I grabbed another pita from the plate before Tess could scarf the rest down. “I think they’re here to babysit me.” I wrinkled my nose to show what I thought of that idea.
“Why? Because the Agister-may is your ather-fay?” She mock-whispered, her hand to her mouth, a gleam of mischief in her eyes.
I shrugged and we both turned to look at Isaac. “In part, but mainly because of the threat that the Mariposa represents, especially if that information gets out,” he said, giving us a stern look. “You must both keep it to yourselves until we know how widespread the information has become.”
I shrugged. It wasn’t like I planned on going around blabbing it to everyone. Tess made a show of zipping her lips and then turning a key and throwing it away. “Is dinner ready?” she asked.
***
Tess teased me mercilessly about my date with Nash all through the meal until I punched her in the arm and said she was just jealous because I was getting some. She had such a hurt look on her face I was immediately sorry and apologized profusely, even going so far as to promise her all the butter tarts for herself, the next time Isaac baked some. Isaac’s butter tarts are sublime, so trust me, it was a huge concession on my part.
Good natured as she is, Tess forgave me quickly and was back to teasing me when there was a knock on the door. My palms got instantly sweaty. I had first date jitters! How crazy was that? I mean we had already been intimate - really, really mind blowingly intimate - several times, but still I was feeling like I was a teenager going out on her first date.
Tess jumped to her feet and raced to the door, beating me to it. “Oh, it’s you,” she said with a smile, allowing the door to swing open.
Christina walked in the door. “Sorry to disappoint. Were you expecting someone else?” She looked at me with a wry grin and I felt the blush right to the roots of my hair. “Hiya Harry. Good to see you again.” She gave me a little hug and then went over to Isaac and gave him a peck on the cheek. I swear if it was possible for Isaac, he would have blushed as well. It was too cute.
“Hi Christina.” I smiled and then covered my mouth. “I’ve got to go brush my teeth.”
I dashed upstairs, Tess’s laugh following me, echoing up through the fire pole hole in the floor. “You’ve already brushed your teeth Harry – twice!”
Chapter Four
“So where are we going?” I asked Nash, giving him a sideways glance. He was dressed casually, like I was, in jeans and t-shirt. He had a heavy, brown leather bomber jacket on over top. He was freshly shaven and I couldn’t decide which I preferred, clean shaven Nash or five o’clock shadow Nash. They were both sexy as hell.
“You’ll see.” Nash threw me a roguish smile and my insides did a little flip.
“So, you’re okay with what’s going on between Christina and Isaac?” I threw him another little glance. It hadn’t been as awkward as I expected when Nash came to the door to pick me up and found his sister cuddled up with Isaac on the couch drinking a glass of wine.
“Sure. Whatever.” He shrugged. “She’s a big girl and can decide for herself.” Huh, if only he gave me that sort of courtesy. I really didn’t know how much older Christina was than me. I knew she was the second oldest and that Nash was the youngest, but as with many supernaturals their age was hard to determine. Nash appeared to be only a few years older than me.
“How old are you?” I turned in my seat to face him.
A look of surprise came over his face and then he shrugged. “I’m forty-six.”
“Forty-six!” I sat for a moment processing. “Holy crap, you’re old.” I laughed to take the sting out of my words. Nash chuckled. “You’re practically a cradle robber,” I added, immediately regretting it. Why did I have to remind him how young I was? He already thought I was helpless.
“Oh yeah? Well, how old are you anyway?” He turned to look at me and frowned. “You are twenty-one at least, right?”
“Of course I am. Geez! I’m going to be twenty-four soon.” I looked at him in mock outrage.
Nash grinned and then shrugged. “What can I say? I like ‘em young.” He leered at me and I laughed.
Nash pulled into a parking lot and I looked at the sign on the side of the building. It said “RPD Armoury”.
“The police department?” I looked at Nash. “You planning on finally arresting me, Detective?”
Nash snorted and then looked at me with smoldering eyes. “No, but I’d love to handcuff you later.” He hopped out of the truck and slammed his door before I could recover with a witty comeback.
I was still sitting there thinking about the possibilities of getting naked with Nash and a pair of handcuffs, when my door opened and he stood there with a grin - a very cheeky grin. Thanks to the mate mark, he knew exactly what I was thinking. “Oh wipe that smile off your face, you old wolf. I don’t put out on the first date.” Nash’s surprised laugh echoed across the empty parking lot.
***
“You know, every time you stick out that tongue, I just want to bite it.” Nash’s voice was rough and a wave of heat flooded over me.
“Quiet you. You’re ruining my concentration.” I huffed out a breath in exasperation.
“You don’t need to stick your tongue out to concentrate, do you?” Nash chuckled.
I sucked my tongue back into my mouth - I really hadn’t realized I was doing it - and pursed my lips shut. I looked down the gun sight and slowly pressed the trigger.
Even with ear protection, the sound was almost deafening. We were at the Riverton Police Department’s gun range and Nash was teaching me to fire his Glock. On our first date! I grinned like an idiot thinking about it. So maybe he did know me a little.
“Are you sure you’ve never fired a gun before?” Nash looked at me skeptically and then back at the target at the end of my lane. There were three closely spaced shots, all dead centre mass on the target.
“Nope, first time,” I bit my lip. There was no way I was going to tell him I just had a shooting lesson, albeit with a hand-held crossbow pistol, that afternoon. The two were pretty similar, after I got used to the recoil that is. On the first shot, my hands had flown back and almost hit me in the face. Luckily Nash had been ready and stuck his hand out to stop them. “I guess I’m just a natural.” I smiled and gave an innocent little shrug
.
Nash narrowed his eyes at me, his bullshit detector obviously going off, but not willing to call my bluff. He took the gun from me and stood in my place at the line. He fired off five more shots in rapid succession, hardly looking like he aimed at all. The target at the end of my lane sported a happy face. Nash had added a smile to the eyes and nose I had inadvertently placed with my shots. He flashed me a smug grin - the show off.
Chapter Five
I shifted nervously in my seat and glanced at Nash. We had left the gun range behind and were back in the truck heading to the outskirts of the city. I had no clue where we were going and when I asked Nash, he shrugged and said “you’ll see”. Even though we were nowhere near the old cement plant where our showdown with Navarre had taken place, the terrain was similar, making me uncomfortable as my thoughts flew back to our terrifying escape through the woods. I shifted again. Nash reached over and grabbed my hand, twining his fingers in mine. He smiled reassuringly.
“Do you trust me?” He gave my hand a squeeze.
“Yes.” I didn’t hesitate. Deep down I knew the answer to be true.
“Good. Then just try to relax. We’ll be there in a few minutes. Everything will be all right, I promise.”
“Okay.”
A few minutes later we pulled off the road and onto a gravel path. In the distance I could see a glowing light. As we drew nearer, forms began to take shape out of the darkness, cars and trucks parked in a row, people milling about. The glow became more defined and I saw that it was a large bonfire. I looked at Nash in confusion as he pulled the truck up and parked in line with the other vehicles.
“It’s just a few people from the pack paying their respects to the lost wolves,” he said. “Think of it like a wake. Many of the people we rescued will be there too. I thought it would do us both some good to get back out and face our demons, so to speak, and remind ourselves of the good we did. Besides, there’s something else I want you to see.” He squeezed my hand again and then hopped out of the truck. I opened my door and slid down from my seat just as he came around to fetch me. I landed on the ground right in front of him and our bodies brushed together. His arms wrapped around me, steadying me on my feet. He dipped his head down to mine, his nostrils flaring. I expected him to steal another passionate kiss but instead he gave a little growl and then kissed me on the forehead.
“Come on.” He grabbed my hand and tugged me towards the bonfire.
As we drew nearer to the clearing and the bonfire, people began coming up to Nash and greeting him, patting him on the shoulder, shaking his hand. They all had smiles and nods of greeting for me as well. I recognized a few of them, but most were strangers. My grip tightened in Nash’s hand and he gave me a little reassuring squeeze back.
“Harry!” I turned at the familiar voice to see Tess bounding up, all smiles. She threw herself at me, wrapping me in a hug. “About time you got here. I was beginning to think Nash had spirited you away to have wild, kinky sex instead.” The last bit she had stage whispered in my ear. There were a few chuckles from the onlookers.
“Tess!” I hugged her back and then gave her arm a mock punch. “Did you know this was his plan the whole time?”
Tess shrugged. She reached down into a nearby cooler and grabbed a beer. “Here, have a drink.”
I looked over at Nash, who had stepped aside in the face of Tess’s onslaught. He was already holding a beer. He raised it in salute to me with a smile. I did a little double take when I saw who he was talking to. It was Isaac, his arm wrapped across Christina’s shoulders. Christina caught my eye and tipped her own drink at me. I smiled and then turned back to Tess, grabbing the offered beer.
“Cheers, sister,” I said, holding out my bottle for Tess to clink against hers.
“Cheers, sister,” Tess replied, throwing her arm over my shoulder.
I took a long drink and then looked around at the crowd milling by the fire. There were about thirty people. They were all talking and laughing. It wasn’t a raucous party or anything, but it was more animated than you would expect for a memorial.
Tess and I moved over to join Nash, Christina and Isaac. Nash pulled me close, putting his arm around my waist. The bonfire crackled and popped, the heat welcome against the chill in the night air. As the evening progressed, several people came around and introduced themselves to me, nodding hello to Nash and the others. It was a little uncomfortable because so many of them thanked me, their gratitude evident on their faces.
“Thank you for finding my Tyler,” one older woman said, reaching out to hold my hand and pat it. “I would have always wondered,” she turned her head, tears filling her eyes. She took a deep breath and then turned back, looking me in the eye. “You did a good thing, giving our loved ones justice. Thank you.”
“I’m sorry for your loss,” I said, squeezing her hand. “I’m glad they were able to recover…” I stopped, biting my lip. “I’m glad that you have closure.”
The woman smiled and then patted Nash on the shoulder before moving off. Nash pulled me up against his chest, wrapping his arms around me. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m good.” I leaned back against him, his body heat enveloping me. I took a deep breath, enjoying his scent.
“Hey, everyone! I think it’s starting,” Carly, one of the rescued werewolves that had introduced herself to me, called across the clearing. The murmur of conversation grew louder as the crowd turned en masse and began to follow Carly away from the clearing and into the dark woods.
I looked at Nash, wondering what was going on. “Wait here a second, Harry,” he said, giving my arm a squeeze. I shrugged an ‘okay’ and he dashed off back towards the truck. I looked across the bonfire and saw Tess. She caught my eye and then tipped her head at the handsome, young werewolf holding her hand. She wiggled her eyebrows, shooting me a cheeky grin, and then followed him away from the fire. I laughed, shaking my head. I guess I didn’t have to worry about her. I looked around again and found Isaac and Christina. They too were heading off away from the clearing and into the dark. Where was everyone going? What was starting?
“Here,” Nash’s voice made me jump as he came up behind me. “Put this over your shoulders so you don’t get cold away from the fire.” He draped a blanket over me and then grabbed my hand and pulled me away from the clearing. “Come on.”
“What’s going on?” I balked, holding my ground.
“You’ll see, but we have to get away from the firelight. Let your night vision adjust.” Nash looked at me expectantly.
“Lead the way, old wolf.” I gestured with my arm that he should go first.
I followed Nash through the trees for several minutes. I could hear the others, talking and laughing as they did the same, but I found my heart had started to pound. My mind flashed back to running through the trees, Navarre in pursuit.
“Hey!” Nash stopped and gathered me into his arms. “Hey, now.” He rubbed my back to comfort me. “It’s okay. You’re safe.” He tipped my face up to look at him. “You know that, right? You’re safe with me.”
“Yeah, I...” I let out a deep breath trying to slow my racing heart. “Sorry, I just…it just reminded me of…”
“It’s okay, Harry. I know.” Nash hugged me to him. “I can’t stop thinking about it either.” He gave me another quick hug and then pulled me through the trees. The path opened up to another clearing. The others had spread themselves out in groups of twos and threes. Some were lying on the ground on their backs. Everyone was looking up at the night sky.
“Ooooo, there’s one.”
“Look! There’s another.”
The shouts and ‘ooos’ and ‘ahhs’ were coming from all around the clearing. I looked up at the sky. A star suddenly fell from amongst the billion others, followed closely by another and then another. I gasped in surprise.
“It’s the Leonid meteo
r shower,” Nash said, tugging on my hand again. “Come here.”
He led me to a fallen tree where he stretched out a blanket on the ground. We settled down on the blanket, our backs against the log. Nash spread the second blanket over our legs and we watched the show in comfortable silence, as the meteors streaked through the night sky.
After a while, I shivered despite the blanket. Nash grunted and then scooped me up before I could protest, depositing me between his legs, my back pressed against his chest. He settled the blanket around us again, pulling it up and tucking it under my chin. “Better?” he asked, his face buried in my hair.
“Better,” I replied, snuggling against him.
The Leonids were putting on quite a show. Several meteors streaked across the sky every minute. We watched for a while longer and I listened to the murmur of the others around us.
“I have a confession to make.” Nash’s voice was quiet in my ear.
“Oh yeah? About what?” I turned in his arms to look at his face.
His lips thinned and he looked uncomfortable. “I had an interesting meeting with Salvador this afternoon.”
“Before or after you saw me?” My breath hitched.
“After.”
I turned away not wanting to see his face. “And what did he tell you?” My voice was a whisper. Did Nash now know that Salvador was my father? Was he sorry he bound himself to me now that he knew? Was he angry that I hadn’t told him?
“It’s not so much what he told me, but what he showed me,” Nash said carefully.
“What?” I turned back to look at him in surprise.
“We made a trade. He said he would show me what happened at the end with Navarre. I have no memory of it at all.”
“And what did you have to give him in exchange?”
“I let him read me.”
“You what?” I looked at him in shock. Not long ago he had scolded me for letting that very thing happen. Besides being able to dig through a person’s memories, Salvador was a Reader. With a single drop of your blood, he could read your powers and potential. It wasn’t exactly like seeing the future, more like seeing what was possible in the future.
