The Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance 2

by Trisha Telep

  “I get it.” She’d been letting her life as a Mark overtake whatever was left of the mortal she’d been before. Her personal and professional lives were both being moulded around her goal to get her former life back, which – until now – had been only a distant possibility. She had a family: two parents, and a great sister and brother-in-law with two kids Eve loved madly. The thought of them growing old and dying while she lived for years afterwards was crushing. Just thinking of it made it hard to breathe. But was that selfish of her? Wouldn’t she be more useful to them as a protector than not?

  Pulling back, Eve looked up at him. “You need to shelve the proposal for a bit.”

  “Ouch.” He grinned, knowing her too well to take offence.

  Still, she explained. “You’re mortal and until we deal with the safety issues around that, I can’t think about what you’re asking me.”

  “I still know how to protect us. Taking away the power doesn’t take away the skill.”

  Her thoughts rewound through the events of the day before, then rushed ahead. “Zaphiel took me with him to meet the head guy who’s in charge of cleaning up after the Fallen. Adrian. I just can’t see him missing a vampire in his own backyard, especially one living in a place like Arcadia Falls where the neighbours are unusually friendly. Adrian seemed too sharp, Alec. He’s definitely not someone I’d ever want to piss off.”

  “You have to understand Zaphiel. He has a problem with the seraphim, so he likes to fuck with them, with or without a valid reason. He believes they’ve been given too much power, to the point that they’re encroaching on the cherubim.”

  “What kind of power?”

  “Like elevating a Mark to archangel.”

  “You.” She began to pace, which helped her think. “You’re saying this is about the deal you struck with Sabrael for your promotion?”

  Alec’s ascension to archangel had come at a price – he’d agreed to perform some unspecified future service for the seraph who had promoted him. That bargain gave Sabrael a tremendous advantage over everyone else in the angelic hierarchy: the seraph had at his command the greatest weapon since Satan.

  Watching her, Alec nodded. “The only way to break free of my deal with Sabrael was to go higher up the food chain, but I had to be careful not to position myself as the sole target of retaliation.”

  She understood. “If you went to God, Sabrael couldn’t take it out on the Almighty, so he’d have to vent his anger on you.”

  “Exactly. When I heard that Zaphiel was coming to see Adrian about a recent Sentinel killing, I made sure Raguel knew that I didn’t want to be an archangel anymore. I figured he’d be only too happy to find a way to knock me down a rung or two and if Sabrael gets pissy, he can take it up with him.”

  He was playing a dangerous game, pitting angels against each other to achieve his aims. And he was doing it for her. So he could love her again. She’d been so determined to keep distance between them, while Alec had been trying to find a way to close it . . . even at the cost of his own dreams of promotion.

  She scrubbed at her tearing eyes, aware that she didn’t have time to be emotional if she was going to keep Alec alive. “So that’s your side of what’s going on – you wanted out of the advancement and your obligation to Sabrael, and you knew Gadara and Zaphiel would make it happen. But it’s looking like knocking you down isn’t enough for them. It makes sense now why Zaphiel made me drive him out to Adrian’s place. At the time, I figured he was just trying to mess with you or Reed by making me play chauffeur. Then this assignment came up and I reconsidered. Maybe he wanted me to know where Adrian lived or what he looked like. Maybe there was something he wanted me to see.”

  “Maybe he wanted to insult Adrian by sending a Mark to do a job an elite seraph couldn’t manage.”

  “I think it’s because I was supposed to be seen, by someone who’d follow me and find you stripped of the archangel gifts that help keep you safe.” She stopped moving and faced him dead-on. “Adrian Mitchell isn’t in hiding. I Googled him last night, because I knew that house he owns must have garnered some press. I found out he owns Mitchell Aviation, one of the largest aeronautical companies in the world. He’s been on the cover of Forbes and his home has been showcased in a dozen architectural magazines. The Fallen know exactly where he is and if they’re smart, they’re watching his place.”

  Alec crossed his arms. “So we’re waiting for the other shoe to drop. In the meantime . . . Marry me, angel.”

  “Alec—” She groaned and starting pacing again. “Are you paying attention to me at all?”

  “Some things are still sacred. Marriage happens to be one of them. Whatever happens from this moment forward, no one could break vows we make before Jehovah.”

  “ ‘Let’s get hitched before I die and lose the opportunity’? Is that what you’re saying?”

  His smile was breathtaking. “You know I’m too valuable to kill, or I’d already be dead. They might want to see me knocked around a bit, just for shits and giggles, but it won’t go farther than that.”

  “I’m already a huge liability to you. Moving me up in status from ‘piece-of-ass’ to ‘wife’ is just going to make that worse.”

  “You’ve never been a piece of ass to me and everyone damn well knows that.” He caught her as she passed. “Right now, we can’t control whether or not Sabrael promotes me again. We can’t stop Raguel from yanking you around to piss me off. We can’t do a damn thing about Zaphiel hanging us out as bait. They’ve got all the power, but it doesn’t have to be that way. We can make a commitment to each other that no one could break. If Sabrael promotes me again, he can’t take my love away. If Raguel wants to toy with you, he’d have to think twice about it, because interfering in a marriage is a damn sight trickier. And Zaphiel won’t let anything happen to you, knowing the censure he’d face from Jehovah.”

  “So wedding vows supersede or take precedence over everything?”

  “Always.” He let her go. “I was late getting here today, because I stopped by your parents’ place and talked to your dad. He gave me his blessing.”

  Eve moved towards the fire, noting the blue at the heart of the gas flame, the same flame-blue she saw in the irises of cherubim and seraphim. The hue seemed murkier now, everything around her did except for Alec. The loss of the Mark was like listening through water, feeling through gloves and smelling through a head cold. Maybe she’d acclimatize to the loss of heightened sensation after a while, but for now, she felt disconnected and out of sorts. It would take her more time to be sure, but she was resigned to the fact that she’d turned a corner somewhere and she couldn’t go back. Without the Mark, she’d always be looking over her shoulder and second-guessing everyone she crossed paths with, wondering if they were an Infernal because she no longer possessed the senses required to identify them.

  She heard him come up behind her. He set his hands on her shoulders and gently turned her around.

  Groaning, she dropped her forehead against his shoulder. “I need to talk to Reed. This is happening so fast and he needs to know what’s going on.”

  “He knows. If you think he avoids eavesdropping for politeness, you’re way off base. I’ll admit that you’re probably the closest he’s ever come to caring more about someone else than himself, but that’s not your problem. You don’t have to be the only hope he’s got of being happy. He has to figure that out for himself.”

  “I don’t think you know him as well as I do.”

  “I know I’d kill him again before I’d let him have you,” he said fiercely. “See if he’ll make the same effort before you say your vows to me.”

  Reed, she called out. Talk to me, please. We need to discuss this.

  She waited for long moments, but he didn’t answer.

  Alec dropped to one knee and her heart stopped beating. She forgot to breathe until the room tilted, then she sucked in air with a huge deep breath. He reached into his back pocket and withdrew a ring box. The moment the lip snap
ped open, she covered her mouth with her hand. A solitary princess-cut diamond sat within a simple platinum band. Sized around two-carats, it so perfectly fit her tastes she wanted to weep at the sight of it. Her reaction to the ring was just as ferocious as the one she’d had the night before, but for a very different reason.

  “Angel, would you—”

  “Yes.”

  Five

  The phone rang less than five minutes after Eve left a message with Adrian Mitchell’s secretary.

  She answered immediately and shivered at the sound of the smooth, warm voice on the other end of the line. The power the man wielded caused a tangible response, even without the Mark’s enhancement to her senses.

  “Eve,” he said. “Adrian Mitchell.”

  “Hi. We’ve got trouble.” She explained how Zaphiel had stripped her of the Mark. She didn’t mention Alec’s lack of power, unable to say it aloud out of fear for his safety. If something happened to him . . . “Assistance would be appreciated.”

  “I already have someone on you, although I doubt Cain needs the help.”

  “You do?” She looked at Alec with brows raised. “Did you have me followed?”

  “Of course. Changing to the Jeep threw us off a bit, but as it turns out, I would have found you anyway.” His tone was wry. “I’m told you’re a former agnostic, but I’m sure you’ve learned by now that some things fall into place despite the odds.”

  Since she was living that fact now, she couldn’t disagree. “Thank you.”

  “Not necessary. You got stuck in the middle of a pissing match that has nothing to do with you.”

  “Yeah,” she said wryly. “That happens to me a lot.”

  It was five minutes after six when Alec rang the Andersons’ doorbell.

  The smell of barbeque on the grill and the sounds of conversation and laughter had begun a half-hour before, but Eve and Alec had spent time getting the house ready for any unwanted visitors.

  The door swung open and revealed Pam, who looked smart in a pair of white capris and a sage green shirt that matched her eyes. “Hey. Come on in. Terri’s in the kitchen being an overachiever.”

  Eve held up a bottle of wine, Alec carried a six-pack of Blue Moon.

  “My kind of neighbours,” Pam said, grinning. “Come this way, Eve. Alec, if you want to head outside, that’s where the men are.”

  Eve followed Pam through the living room to the kitchen, while Alec headed out the sliding glass door that led to the back patio.

  “I was hoping I could come by tomorrow,” Pam said, eyeing her avidly. “I have a new catalogue and some great samples.”

  Remembering that Pam sold cosmetics, Eve smiled. Certainly Pam would be familiar with many of the Arcadia residents. Perhaps Pam was using her consultant business as a cover for a darker purpose. If not, Eve could use their acquaintance to do so. “Sure. I’d love to have you over. You’ll have to forgive the boxes.”

  “I can help with that while Jesse’s in school.”

  “Thank you. I’d like that.”

  They entered the kitchen where Terri stood tossing a salad at a large granite-covered island. “Enjoying the new house so far?” she asked Eve.

  “We’re thrilled.”

  Jesse looked up from her task of slicing strawberries and smiled, then glanced out the backdoor longingly, as if she’d much rather be outside.

  “Can I borrow a corkscrew?” Eve asked. “I need to let this Merlot breathe a bit.”

  Terri gestured with a jerk of her chin. “There’s a wine bar in the family room. You’ll find all the accessories – glasses, wine charms, corkscrew – in there.”

  Heading into the family room, which was easy to find since the floor plans were so similar, Eve made a point of checking out the house. She had no idea what she was looking for, but knew she’d recognize something off if she found it.

  She’d just located the corkscrew in a drawer when Tim came into the room.

  “Hey,” he greeted her.

  “Hi.” She noted that he looked different, then figured out what it was. His eyes weren’t blue so much as a muted grey, similar to how dull Zaphiel’s irises became after she lost the Mark.

  “I was hoping to catch you alone.”

  Something about the way he approached her set her on edge. There was a sharp focus to the way he watched her and the balance of his footfalls – light and on the balls of his sandalled feet – was inherently predatory.

  Although he was dressed innocuously in navy board shorts and a loose-fitting white tee, she altered her stance and her grip on the corkscrew. She may not have the speed and power of the Mark, but she still knew how to fight.

  He smiled. “We have a mutual acquaintance.”

  Eve absorbed that. “Oh?”

  “Adrian.”

  Her head tilted to one side. “Wings or fur?”

  “Definitely not furry.” He wagged his finger at her. “Be careful who you call a lycan. Those who aren’t one, don’t take it well.”

  “Point taken. How are you with corkscrews? I’ve been known to get cork in the wine.”

  He moved to the other side of the bar and took over. As he deftly uncorked the bottle, Eve looked around the room, noting the same lack of wall adornment she’d picked up on in the living room. Almost as if the Andersons hadn’t quite moved in yet . . . or were ready for a quick move out.

  “How long has Terri lived here?” she asked.

  “I have no idea. I haven’t been here long myself.”

  Eve looked at him. “Is this home permanent for you? Or just for now?”

  “Nothing’s permanent.” He tossed the cork in the trash and rinsed off the corkscrew before tossing it back in the drawer. “I get in, get what I came for, and get out.”

  “I know what that’s like.”

  “I’m surprised Cain is getting involved in Adrian’s business.”

  “That’s my fault. I got suckered into this and I’m flying blind. I didn’t even know the Watchers . . . the Fallen . . . vampires – whatever were still around until last night and I’ve been scrambling to catch up. Since he’s my mentor, he has to tag along, too.”

  “He looks a bit more invested than that.”

  “Yeah . . .” She smiled, but kept her personal life to herself. “It’s complicated.”

  “Which is why I work alone.” He poured a half-glass and set it in front of her.

  Eve toyed with the stem a minute, then asked, “Why are we both here in Arcadia Falls? Is the location tied to the hunt in some way?”

  “I’m here because of the resort rental situation. No one expects me to keep regular hours or stick around long term. If the vamp is here in the community, it’s because Adrian, Raguel, and Cain are all running their operations from Anaheim, so there’s a high concentration of angels in the area. Since Raguel owns this property, maybe the vamp thinks that ups his chances of catching an angel here. As for you, I don’t know. Maybe Raguel knows something about this location that roused his suspicions?”

  “I wouldn’t know. He enjoys withholding vital intel from me.” Eve took a drink and was surprised to feel warmth as the alcohol moved through her. The mark prevented mind-altering substances from having any affect. “Do you know why angel blood is in such demand?”

  “No, but it has to either cause a rush – like a drug – or be power-enhancing, because it’s commanding a hefty price on the black market.”

  “I’d expect so, considering the risk.”

  “There’s no risk to you,” he said, his handsome face austere. “I’ve got your back.”

  “I appreciate that. Thank you. Do you have any leads?”

  “I’ve been looking at Jesse. I know Twilight is all the rage with kids these days, but she might be emulating someone else with those veneers of hers. One of her girlfriends? Or a boyfriend, maybe? I’ve been trying to figure out who she’s hanging out with, but it’s tough to ask questions about a girl that age and not look like a pervert.”

  She glanc
ed aside at him. “I can help with that.”

  “I was hoping you’d say that.”

  “In the meantime, we’ll be better guarded from tomorrow night onward,” she improvised, taking the first steps towards the door. “I doubt anyone will come for us so soon after we’ve moved in.”

  Tim fell into step with her. “I agree. There’s reckless, and then there’s stupid. I don’t think we’re lucky enough to be dealing with the latter.”

  “Figures.” She smiled at him. “At least the neighbours are nice.”

  It was three o’clock in the morning, the devil’s hour, when Eve knew her house had been breached. The security system was on and silent and all the doors and windows were locked, but she felt the disturbance in the goose bumps that covered her arms. She slid her legs off the side of the bed and looked at Alec, who reclined against the headboard beside her.

  His gaze met hers and he reached for her hand, his arm flexing in an inherently graceful display of taut muscles rippling beneath olive-coloured skin. He offered a reassuring smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. He was worried about her. She wished he’d be more worried about himself.

  Eve stood and padded barefoot towards the open bedroom door. She was dressed in clothing that gave her a full range of movement – loose flannel pants paired with a spaghetti-strapped bra top. She’d prefer to have her Doc Martens on, but they needed their visitor to be as unguarded as possible. They were mortals trying to trap an immortal; they needed all the help they could get.

  Moonlight from the guestroom windows cut alternating swathes across the carpet, affording her enough illumination to walk without fear of running into anything. That didn’t mean she wasn’t afraid of something happening to Alec while she was helpless to protect him. Her heart was racing and her palms were damp; physical reactions that the Mark would have prevented. She missed the rush of aggression and bloodlust that came from the Mark, as well as the heightened senses that would have allowed her to hear even the minutest of noises and to sniff out her quarry. As it was, she wasn’t blind in the strictest sense, but she was definitely guessing.