She curled a lip. “You’d know.”
Temper flashed across his handsome face. “Damn it, Cheryl! We have a duty to protect mortals from things like that dragon. Whatever it is -- whoever it is -- it’s going to come back. We need to know how to deal with it. You’re our best chance to find out what the hell is going on.”
“And while you figure that out, I’ll be helpless, since my magic doesn’t work in the Mageverse. What happens to me if Arthur decides you can’t risk letting me go?”
“I won’t let him hurt you.”
She snorted. “Don’t insult my intelligence. You threw me away once because he told you to.”
A muscle rolled in his jaw. “I didn’t throw you away. You deserved a man who could be with you. And it’s not good to keep fucking with a mortal’s memory to make them believe shit that doesn’t make any sense. You kept wondering, Cheryl. I’d see you start fighting the spell and I’d have to send someone to reinforce it.”
Yeah, she remembered the roaring argument he’d had with Arthur. “Do you want to burn holes in the poor bitch’s brain? Let her go while she’s still young enough to find someone else.” Thanks for your concern, Arthur. You dickhead.
“I didn’t want another man -- I wanted you.” That sounded way more wounded than she’d intended.
Ulf moved closer. “And I wanted to stay with you. You have no idea how much.”
“I know exactly how much. Gaia, remember?”
“Cheryl, what the hell was I supposed to do? Alys said I couldn’t tell you the truth, but I couldn’t keep fucking with your mind. I had to put you and Adam first.” He reached toward her face, probably intending to cup her cheek, as he so often had in the years they’d been together.
“The point is, you didn’t put me and Adam first. Yeah, okay, I see why you did it, but you handled it in the worst way you possibly could. You should have waited for me to get home and told me before you told Adam. He was ten, damn it! I could have softened the blow. As it was, he was convinced for years it was something he did.”
Ulf raked his hand through his hair, his expression tortured. “I intended to tell you first, Cheryl. But I wanted to spend one last evening with Adam. Give him one more decent memory of me. Took him to a movie, bought him that video game, that thing with the hedgehog, or whatever the fuck it was.” He looked away. “He was having such a good time, whooping when he scored, I started thinking that I’d never see him again and I just… teared up.” He looked disgusted with his own lack of emotional control. “Of course, he asked what was wrong…”
“And you told him.” She rubbed her face with both hands as her anger imploded into exhaustion.
“You’re right, I should have had better sense.” He caught her wrists and pulled her hands down so he could meet her gaze. His eyes bored into hers, intense, earnest. So incredibly blue. “Whatever you think of me, believe this. Those eleven years with you were the best in my life. I’ve never been loved the way you loved me. I had never felt such love. I never will. The last thing I want to do is hurt you any more than I already have.”
“Your timing always was impeccable,” she muttered. She’d never felt so alone in her life. If Gaia was right about the alien scout, she might not survive the coming fight. If she was honest, that was the real reason she was so pissed off.
She craved Ulf’s strength and protection with a ferocity that matched her body’s helpless need for his.
He took another step closer and lowered his head. Cheryl found herself lifting her face. His mouth covered hers in a soft apology of a kiss. A plea for understanding. His arms slid around her until she felt surrounded by his strength. And despite her common sense, she felt almost… safe. Ulf will protect me, insisted the small, irrational voice that had always loved him. This time, Ulf won’t let me down.
Gaia’s voice rang in her mind. Don’t fight.
“I’m sorry,” Ulf whispered. “But there are lives at stake.”
Her eyes widened, but before she could wrench back, his arms clamped tight, pinning her as he lifted her off the floor. From the corner of one eye, she saw a wavering oval open in the air. Terror stabbed into her heart with a knife of ice. “Uuuulfff!”
They fell sideways through the dimensional gate.
* * *
As they hit the floor, Ulf twisted to take the impact on his back. The gate snapped closed, leaving them safely in the Mageverse. Light exploded in his face with a flare of hot pain that brought tears to his eyes. His grip loosened.
Cheryl catapulted off him. “You motherfucking son of a whore!”
“Mom!” Adam protested.
Ulf shook his head to clear it, then rolled to his feet despite the way the room spun. She headbutted me. He was astonished a mortal could hit that fast, that hard -- especially with her own forehead. Caught him dead in the nose, too, judging by the flood of salty copper dripping down his upper lip and into his mouth. “Cheryl, we just want to…”
He took a step forward -- and froze, staring up the length of one of his own swords into Cheryl’s glaring eyes. Her lips were curled in a vicious snarl. The rapier’s point was a fraction of an inch from his carotid, held in a white-knuckled grip.
He whipped a hand up, meaning to smash it against the flat of the blade and knock it aside so he could take the weapon from her. Instead the blade flicked around his hand, avoiding the block to come to rest against his throat again. She’d done it every bit as fast and smoothly as one of the Knights.
No mortal should have been that fast. Hell, most Majae couldn’t have done it.
Ice rolled over him -- and it wasn’t fear for himself. He knew Cheryl was still in there. He’d recognized the look in her eyes while they’d made love, the passion and keen intelligence he knew so well.
But now she wasn’t moving like the woman he loved at all. And he didn’t recognize the murderous fury in her eyes. Yeah, she had reason to be pissed… but… had Gaia just taken over? Is this a case of multiple personalities? It was possible. When you were immortal, you eventually saw everything at least once.
The point of the blade indented his skin as she glared into his eyes. “Really? You involved our son in this? He’s not like you. He can’t just betray the people he loves.”
“Cheryl, this isn’t necessary.” Opal sounded utterly controlled. “Nobody wants to hurt you. But that’s going to change if you use that sword on a Knight of the Round Table.”
Managing to tear his gaze from those lethal hazel eyes, he studied the filigreed hilt in Cheryl’s hand. It was one of a pair of dueling rapiers that hung on the library wall. How had she gotten it down so fast?
Her strength and speed are more than human. He’d suspected as much from the way she’d pulled him off the floor -- with one hand and him on his knees. And that from a sitting position on the couch, though he outweighed her by more than a hundred pounds.
It wasn’t just the strength. Thanks to Gaia’s magic, she now looked just as she had the day he’d met her. The same beautiful brunette hair, though longer now, curling around her shoulders. The same wide hazel eyes, delicate oval face and full, soft mouth. The lush, long-legged body. She’d been a witty, intelligent girl, charming as a songbird. A shaft of idealistic sunlight piercing his cynical night.
But if the face was the same, the eyes were a different story. Where once there’d been a young woman’s pure, uncomplicated love, now she watched him like an enemy. “So that whole seduction was a trap.”
“No.” He really hadn’t planned it. “I just… got carried away.” From the corner of one eye, he saw Adam’s brows lift. Ulf winced as his cheeks began to heat.
“Calling bullshit on that one, ‘Paul.’ You don’t get carried away on a job.”
He needed to put an end to this. She was stronger than human, but he was still a vampire. And he had fifteen centuries of combat experience she lacked. Besides, she was bluffing. If that’s Cheryl. Well, there’s one way to find out.
He pressed into the sword’s poin
t, felt blood roll down his throat. Her angry eyes widened just a hair. The blade flicked down, pressed against the center of his chest.
“That’s close enough.”
“No.” He stepped forward, hands spread wide. She retreated smoothly, refusing to let him impale himself.
But her gaze was narrow and steady. And she moved like one of the older warriors who’d been fighting for centuries. She wasn’t even breathing hard, and there was a cold steadiness to the weapon that surprised him. To his knowledge, she’d never even touched a sword. That kind of skill took centuries to acquire. That’s got to be Gaia. The thought chilled him.
A flurry of motion erupted in his peripheral vision. A strong hand grabbed his shoulder and shoved him back so hard, he had to take a step to catch his balance.
Adam stood between them, one hand raised to his mother. Judging by the distance, the tip of her sword must press against his chest. “Mom, do you really think I’d let anyone hurt you?”
“Damn it, Adam, stay out of this.” She jerked the rapier up, backing away, catlike and practiced. “This has absolutely nothing to do with you.”
“The hell it doesn’t,” Adam snapped.
Ulf took a few steps to the side, so he’d have a clear path in case Gaia decided to attack their son. Cheryl would never do such a thing, but there was no telling about the creature inhabiting her.
“Ulf’s going to do what he’s going to do,” Cheryl said. “And I don’t want you interfering. If you go up against him, you go up against Arthur -- and you’ll lose.” She tossed the sword across the room. As it landed on his desk with a clatter, she gestured at Opal. “Why don’t you take your lady and go home. I need to talk to your father.”
The Maja stirred, looking uneasy. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Look, my magic doesn’t work here,” Cheryl told her impatiently. “There’s no place I can go, so it’s not like I can escape. I’d just as soon have this out now.”
“Mom…” With a sigh, Adam stepped forward to wrap his arms around her. He was a big man, and the contrast made his mother look small. Fragile, despite the blood rolling from Ulf’s nose. “Come home with Opal and me. We have plenty of room, and the house is gorgeous. Opal owns a Remington bronze. You’ll love it.”
Cheryl pulled back, smiling tightly up at him. “Thanks, but…”
Opal moved to lay a hand on her shoulder. “He’s right. We do have plenty of room. And I think everyone could use a little time to cool off.”
For a moment, Ulf thought Cheryl would agree. Then she shook her head. “There’s no point. The sooner I answer his questions, the sooner I can go home. And since I can’t afford to lose my job, I’d rather get it over with.”
“I could cast a spell on your boss to…” Opal began.
“Yeah, I know.” A muscle rolled in Cheryl’s jaw.
Distress tightened Opal’s brows. “Cheryl…”
She smiled, but it looked forced. “That came out bitchier than I intended. I meant I’ll take care of any blowback from my boss. You two go on. I’ll be fine.”
“I’m not going to hurt her, damn it,” Ulf snapped, unable to let the implication pass any longer. “I don’t abuse women.”
His son shot him a hot look that strongly suggested Ulf had damned well better not start. “Fine. We’ll go. But we’ll be back tomorrow night, and then we’ll talk.”
Adam gave his mother another quick, hard hug before he and Opal headed for the door. But as he passed Ulf, he glared a warning and opened his mouth. Then he closed it again, shook his head and stalked out. The door banged shut behind the pair.
Ulf sighed and gingerly touched his stinging nose. At least it had already stopped bleeding. Minor wounds healed fast for a vampire. Too bad his heart had never been as sturdy where Cheryl was concerned. This is going to be nasty. He made himself meet Cheryl’s gaze. For a long, uncomfortable moment they stared at each other.
Finally, she turned and looked around the study. Like most of the house, it was all stone walls and stained-glass windows. Towering mahogany shelves held hundreds of books and a variety of weapons like the one she’d tried to skewer him with. “I’m starving. I don’t suppose you have any food, considering you haven’t eaten anything since the fall of Rome.” Rolling her eyes, she added, “And I used to think you hated my cooking.”
“Actually, Opal stocked the kitchen for you. It’s through here.” He gestured toward the door.
She just stared at him, as if she didn’t trust him at her back. He wasn’t sure he wanted Gaia behind him either, but it looked like Cheryl had surfaced again. He’d just have to be ready in case he was wrong.
With a sigh, Ulf led the way out of the room and down the corridor. After a moment, he heard the soft pad of her sneakers behind him. He slowed his step until they walked abreast. The skin between his shoulder blades stopped twitching.
She took a thoughtful look around. “Brenna really went for the whole castle thing, didn’t she?”
He started to ask how Cheryl knew about the former apprentice who’d conjured the house. Oh. Gaia. “Brenna wanted to try her hand at a major project. She had the power and experience to pull it off by then, so I said yes. Worked her butt off on it for two years.”
“I’m not surprised, given how young she was. Though being the magical architect for a Knight of the Round Table would be quite the coup.” Studying the elaborate carved lintel of a stained-glass window, she added, “It is impressive.”
“Thank you.” And it was, between the heavy oak beams and stone walls, the floors inset with mosaics of jousting knights, ladies, unicorns, and dragons. Crossed weapons hung on the walls, and statues of graceful nymphs stood tiptoe in niches. “At least it’s a lot less drafty than the castles I’ve lived in.” Ulf grimaced. “Plus, no smell of shit from the garderobe.”
She laughed. “And yet another romantic fantasy goes up in flames.”
He shot her a wary look, but there was genuine amusement in her eyes.
The kitchen featured walls of the same rough fieldstone as the rest of the house, though the countertops were smooth, shining marble swirled with cream and earth shades. The cabinetry was mahogany, heavily carved in a motif of ivy vines. Ulf headed for a cupboard and opened it. “Opal’s a pretty good cook, from what I understand.” He lifted out a pan of lasagna and a tray of crusty French bread. The moment they left the cabinet, both began to gently steam. He put the dishes on the octagonal mahogany table and started collecting glasses, a plate, and silverware.
Cheryl took a seat at the table and stared at the pan, nonplussed. “It wasn’t hot a minute ago.” Then realization hit and she grinned, as delighted as a kid. “It’s a stasis field. Like in a science fiction novel. The spell keeps dishes hot, but in their own bubble of stopped time.”
He barked a laugh. “You always were a bit of a nerd.”
“Sue me.” She started dipping lasagna out of the pan and onto her plate, then tore off a hunk of the bread, took the fork he handed her, and began to eat. “Oh, my God,” she moaned. “It’s too bad Adam can’t eat anymore. He’s missing out on a hell of a cook.” She tucked in with periodic approving hums.
Ulf watched, feeling more than a little off-balance. She’d been ready to gut him ten minutes ago. Maybe he could make some progress while Opal’s cooking put her in a good mood. “It would be better,” he said softly, “If you told me who that dragon was.”
She took another bite of lasagna and shook her head. “All I know it is that it wasn’t me.”
He moved to the cabinet and got out a bottle of a very nice rosé. “Are there dragons in Gaia’s universe?”
“Nope. Magic is more like electricity where she comes from. You need technology to channel it. Something that big, that flies and breathes fire? Not happening.”
He filled the glasses, handed her one, and sat, breathing deep. If she started lying, his vampire nose would pick up the changes in her scent. “Yet that creature used magic like hers.”
Well, that didn’t smell like a lie. But on the other hand, he kept picking up whiffs of deception. “We need to stop whatever that thing is before it tries again.”
“Then return me to mortal Earth. If he’s from Gaia’s universe, I can fight him. You can’t. But I can’t do a damn thing if I’m stuck here.”
That smelled true. “We’d be happy to return you -- if you tell us what the hell’s going on. Until then, we can’t be sure Gaia’s not doing this stuff. If we keep you here and the creature attacks again, we’ll know you’re innocent.”
She stopped eating to glare. “And how many people will die during that little experiment?”
“Which is why you’d be better off being honest with me. The alternative is we get Smoke or Kel to question you. They can get the knowledge out of your head whether you want to tell us or not.”
She lifted a brow. “Can they?”
It didn’t sound like a threat, but her gaze was hard, steady, and utterly confident. Unease rolled over Ulf as he wondered whether that was Gaia in those eyes.
She ate in silence for several more minutes before looking up from her plate again. “Whatever Arthur orders done, do me the favor of not doing it.”
He turned to stare at her. “If you expect me to betray Arthur…” I just might do it. He blinked. Where had that come from?
She made an impatient gesture. “I mean don’t do it personally. Especially if he decides to kill me.”
“Nobody wants to kill you.” Or at least, nobody wanted to kill Cheryl. Gaia might be a different story.
“No, but they will if they have to.”
“If Gaia knows me as well as you keep saying, she’d know I would never hurt you.”
She looked away and picked up her wineglass. “Yeah, all right, you wouldn’t do it. But someone would. My point is our son is not going to just twiddle his thumbs if someone comes after me.” She drained the wine in one long swallow that made his brows climb. She’d never been much of a drinker. “I don’t want him involved.”
Master of Honor (Merlin's Legacy 5) Page 5
