Everything had happened so fast. Meeting him. Learning there was so much more to life than what the government let on. I couldn’t imagine trying to live outside this town after being here. I felt a connection to the people I’d met here and committing to my predestined fate as a Protector felt like the right path. There were enough human tyrants already dominating the world. We didn’t need unstoppable supernatural ones, too.
“How do I get my tattoo?”
Erick’s eyes widened, before a smile spread across his face. His two adorable dimples made me want to toss my glass aside and leap into his arms. He looked positively edible.
“Bailey.” His voice brought me back from its preoccupied state of arousal.
“Yep.” I blinked and tried to focus back on his face and not how I’d feel wrapped in his arms.
“Are you saying you want to stay? That you want to become a Protector? I told Rose you would not feel pressure from her or anyone else.”
“This is where I’m supposed to be.” I put the glass down and stepped up to him again, wrapping my arms around his firm waist. “I can think of nowhere I’d rather be than by your side. If being a Protector comes along with that, then so be it. I can learn to be a vampire and a Protector at the same time.”
He wrapped his arms around me and squeezed tightly. “I’ll be with you through every step.”
I nodded, taking a deep breath. It wasn’t the air I needed, but the action was so familiar and comfortable I couldn’t imagine feeling the way I did and not heaving a sigh. Human or not, some things would always be the same.
A buzzing caught my attention and I turned to the right. Rose’s name was blinking on the face of his cell phone where it lay on the counter. Erick picked it up and answered.
“She’s awake and has eaten … Yes …” He gazed into my eyes, a frown tugging at the corners of his mouth. “I know, but … He what?” Erick growled, his fangs descending. “We’ll be right there.” He pressed the red button on his screen and tossed the phone back onto the countertop.
“Darius?” My gut said it couldn’t be anyone else.
“He tried to burn the library.”
I blinked. A vague recollection of seeing a sign for a library rattled around in my brain somewhere. “Was anyone hurt?”
“No, thankfully Meredith was already home. Her wards protected the books, but the fire did quite a bit of damage to the building before Jared got there.”
“Who are Meredith … and Jared?”
“Meredith is the redhead from the bus when you first arrived.”
An ‘o’ formed on my lips and I nodded, remembering the witch quite clearly.
“Jared is Sanctuary’s fire chief, so-to-speak.”
“But there’s no engine or office. The sign makes it look like the fire and police share the same office.” I remembered seeing the little brick building and wondering how they managed with such a small office for both departments.
“Alek Melos is sheriff and Jared MacKay is the fire chief. They take care of the town. Drama, accidents, etc. They make sure the town as a body of citizens gets along and everyone stays safe.” He gestured to the front door and I walked ahead of him. A pair of my flats was sitting next to the wall. I slipped my bare feet into them.
“Are they human?” I hadn’t met either of them, but wasn’t surprised after hearing about their responsibilities. The poor men probably never had time to sit down.
“No. Alek is a gryphon, and Jared is a phoenix.”
Neither species sounded familiar. “Do I even want to know?” I asked as we walked out the front door.
“Probably not right now.” He chuckled, closing the door behind us and then took my hand. “We are headed to the café. Why don’t you try to run?”
I nodded and leapt into the first step. The wind rushed through my hair. A feeling of freedom swelled in my chest and I came to a sudden halt in front of Rose’s café. Amazing. It felt like I’d only taken a few steps, but I knew from walking the path again and again over the last couple of days that I’d gone at least a quarter-mile.
A few yards down the sidewalk, a small crowd had gathered in front of a smoldering building. I recognized Miles’ and Eli’s formidable figures. Both men were a good six inches taller than everyone around them. Several other men stood near them, but I didn’t know them. Calliope was talking to Rose and another woman I’d yet to meet. Garrett caught my glance and nodded a hello before turning back to his conversation with some other men I didn’t recognize.
“Why would Darius care about burning a library?”
Erick leaned down to my ear. “He’s looking for the vault.”
“Vault of what?” I scrunched my forehead.
“Bottled Djinn,” Rose said, walking toward us. Calliope followed a step behind. “Over the course of several thousand years, I’ve caught and imprisoned nearly a thousand of their kind.”
Rose had such strength in her presence, but I could tell she was tired this evening. Her eyes were reddened like she’d been crying, but maybe it was just irritation from the smoke clouding the air in the circle.
“Still, Xerxes keeps them loyal by promising to release them all when they help him take control of the Sisters.”
“You can’t bottle Darius because he’s wearing your husband’s ring,” Erick said, rubbing his temple.
“True. At least Calliope and I can still sense when he teleports into town, but neither my powers nor Meredith’s can affect him while he’s wearing it.” Rose sucked in a ragged breath. “I don’t understand how they found it. It was lost so many years ago …”
“We will make it right.” Erick placed a reassuring hand on Rose’s shoulder.
Rose nodded, but her gaze narrowed and veins in her neck bulged. Energy surged from her body like static electricity, sparking in the air like firecrackers.
Erick withdrew his hand like he’d been bitten.
Rose’s voice doubled in volume, anger flowing like a river of white hot metal. “He’s using my own husband’s magick against me. Naram trusted Xerxes until the very end. Now his brother gives our sacred, binding ring to one of his psychotic flunkies.” She fisted her hands at her sides and stomped a foot. I could’ve sworn the ground shook just a little.
At first glance, she was just a petite woman pitching a fit. A closer look would show the luminescent swirls of color in her eyes, the shimmer of gold on her sun-kissed skin, and the hint of fangs behind perfectly painted, mauve lips. Whatever Rose was, it was trying desperately to surface.
“Rose, take a deep breath,” Calliope said, placing a hand on Rose’s shoulder. “You can’t let him get to you like this. You always tell us to keep our focus. Don’t let him steal yours.”
Rose shuddered. “Thank you, Calliope darling.” The swirls of color in her eyes faded away and her hands relaxed at her sides. A moment later, she focused her gaze on me and I took a nervous step backward. She might be able to bottle Djinn, but she was keeping a whole lot of power bottled up just inside herself.
Calliope dropped her hand as Rose took several steps closer to me. Gooseflesh rose along my arms and the hair on the back of my neck stood on end. Nerves apparently didn’t fade with death. The Sentinel of Sanctuary still made me quake in my shoes with just a glance—glowing eyes or not.
“Darius wouldn’t even be here if it wasn’t for me,” I said.
“Oh, no.” Rose waved her hand dismissively. “That arrogant Djinn has been hounding Sanctuary for centuries. Don’t you dare say you’re responsible for his being here.”
I opened my mouth to object, but shut it again quickly when Garrett and another man walked up next to the group.
“Bailey, you already know Garrett. This is his brother, Travis. If you are comfortable—”
Erick growled and pushed me behind his body, blocking me from the two wolves and Rose. “You said no pressure.”
“I wasn’t pressuring her. I was offering an option, Erick. I understand you claim her, but she is important to San
ctuary, too. We need her.”
I brushed my fingertips along Erick’s shoulder, surprised how much I could feel—tension, anger, fear, then remorse or regret. In fact, I could smell the same things coming from most of the crowd. Pheromones? Wow. I took a deep breath and wanted to cry and then scream. It was too much. So many were upset by the fire. Others were angry. Then some couldn’t care less.
The wolves next to me were very different. Travis was devoted to Rose. I could see it in his gaze and smell it in his body chemistry, but Garrett held less concern for Rose and more for … me. I narrowed my eyes and waited for a smart-ass comment to fall from his mouth like water through a sieve. Instead, he merely cocked his head to the side and stared.
He couldn’t read my mind anymore!
Score one for being a vampire.
“How are you feeling?” Garrett asked, ignoring the slight rumble vibrating out from Erick’s chest.
“Hungry,” I answered, trying not to smile. He smelled delicious and I had to purse my lips together to keep from licking them. His pulse pounded in my ears, teasing my body into a state of arousal I wasn’t used to. Actually, Calliope and Rose smelled just as good. The standing crowd outside the smoldering library was a feast my starving body couldn’t ignore.
“You’ve got it bad,” Calliope chuckled. “Better get her over to the café before she starts sampling all of us, Viking.”
“I wouldn’t!” Would I? Surely I had more control than that. I mean, the hunger was hard to ignore, but I wasn’t about to go biting people without a second thought.
“Oh, Bailey. I know, sweetie,” Calliope replied. “But you’ve got that look that says, dear gods in heaven and hell, please feed me!”
“I just ate.”
“Your appetite is stronger for the first two weeks or so.” Erick wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me a step away from Garrett and Travis, both of whom were grinning at me without shame.
I wanted to bite them just for looking at me that way. A throaty growl tore its way between my lips and I lunged at them, even angrier that they could make me lose my cool.
Erick’s arm cinched around my waist, yanking me back to the ground.
“When you’re ready for your tattoo, let me know.” Travis said, turning to leave.
His brother followed a moment later, but not before throwing one jab. “It’s a shame I can’t get into that pretty head of yours anymore.”
“You were a mind-reading asshole,” I spat back.
I sucked in a deep breath, taking a moment to process. My tattoo? The Protector tattoo. Travis did them … I’d have to let Garrett’s brother sit over me for hours with a needle full of ink!
Shit.
“I could always do your tat,” Garrett answered, a grin splitting his face. “I’d even throw in a drink on the house. Bet you’d like to get a tas—”
“Garrett, that is quite enough.” Rose’s voice cut through the racket of voices like a sharp knife, making everyone turn and look. “Travis will be doing her tattoo and you will be on the far side of town helping clean up the mess Darius made of the Winters’ place.”
He snorted, but nodded his head and turned down a different road than his brother.
Rose looked back at me. “Get something to eat. Raven stashed some blood in our refrigerators as well. If you are agreeable, I’d like you to get the tattoo as soon as possible.”
Erick started to speak but she held up her hand and he snapped his jaw shut with a snarl.
“I promised I wouldn’t pressure you, but we have a situation. Darius is untouchable with that ring and that is a very big problem for Sanctuary. The only thing we have besides the vault that he wants—”
“Is me,” I whispered.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
I’d already decided I wanted the tattoo, wanted to become a Protector, but hearing Rose point out I was the only bait they had to draw out Darius made my skin crawl. The moonbeams highlighted the gooseflesh pimpling my arm. I knew I was their best bet to catch him, but it didn’t make it any easier to swallow.
“I’m ready. Let’s do it now before he shows up again.”
Rose nodded. “Erick, take her to the shop. Travis was headed that way. Call me when you finish. I’ll meet you at the Castle.”
Erick’s hand pressed against my lower back and turned me across the circle until I was staring at the Castle. Why? Why did she need me to go there? I’d already agreed to let Erick help me work through my … personal issues. I didn’t need to have any more exposure to the dragons’ dungeon than absolutely necessary.
“The tattoo shop is down a block behind the Castle.” He pointed to the street that cut between the monstrous stone building and the strip of weather-beaten shops making up the face of the town circle.
“Wasn’t I supposed to get to eat first?”
“I’ll get you some after I get you situated at the shop.”
“Okay.” Damn. So much for avoiding the obvious.
We hurried across the grassy circle, avoiding the large, stone disk in the center, and down the dark alley next to the Castle. A light touch on my right shoulder guided me down a block and then around a turn. Another tap stopped me in my tracks in front of a small, white brick building. A large, blacked-out window covered most of the front wall, and a red neon light that read Tattoos and Piercings hung in the top right corner. The ratty, wooden front door was scuffed and most of its red paint had peeled.
I pulled open the door, expecting to see a messy shop I could balk at and refuse to get the tattoo due to its unsanitary conditions. Instead, a pristine, white tile floor met my scrutinizing gaze. The walls were painted a bright, canary yellow and were decorated with gorgeous, life-sized photographs of completed tattoos in sharp, glossy black frames.
Shocked did not even begin to describe my state of mind. There was a small, glass counter to the side of the curtained-off hallway. The case held all styles and sizes of studs, rings, rods, and other things I didn’t recognize.
I heard his heartbeat before Travis pushed aside the curtain and stepped into the main room of the shop. He glanced up and smiled at me. His scent was pleasant, earthy. I wondered what his blood would taste like. Would it be rich and thick like Erick’s or sweeter like the human blood from the bags?
“Ready?”
No, I wasn’t.
All thoughts of hunger vanished as the reality of what I was taking on solidly slammed into my conscious mind. I gulped. Would it hurt? I took a step backward and grunted when my back hit Erick’s solid chest. It couldn’t hurt worse than anything I’d already been through. I stood a little taller and gathered myself.
I could do this.
Compared to everything my body had endured, a tattoo should be a walk in the park. “What do I do?”
He gestured back through the curtain. Erick’s hand resting lightly on the curve of my ass propelled me forward. We turned a corner and ended up in another brightly lighted room. White tile floors and white walls with floor-to-ceiling mirrors were the only décor. A line of glossy, white base cabinets with a stone countertop lined the far wall. Two tinted windows gave a view out into a small green courtyard area.
The room was quite large and there were three different chairs. One looked like a massage table, another looked like a dental chair, and the last one was designed to straddle, facing away from the artist. That was the one Travis patted.
“Sit here, sweetheart. Let me get the straps.”
“Straps?”
“Just to keep you from flinching and pulling away.” He opened a drawer and pulled out several leather strips.
“I don’t need them. I promise I won’t move.” My eyes blurred from the tears welling in them. “Erick, please. I can’t …” I started to back away from them both.
“It hurts, Bailey. It’s just to help hold you steady.” Erick’s voice cut through the panic flooding my brain, but it wasn’t enough to stem the tide.
I felt my fangs descend and scrape against my dry tongue.
My body was preparing to fight even though I wanted to turn and flee.
“You are strong enough to pull free of anything he uses. But the tie helps you focus on staying still.”
“I’ve never seen anyone get strapped down for a tattoo,” I snarled, taking another a step backward. How could he think I would be okay with this? He knew what I’d been through. He knew how I felt about restraints. This wasn’t an option for me. Not now. Not ever.
I would never let anyone tie me down again.
“Hey, girl. It’s okay.” Travis dropped the ties back in the drawer and shoved it closed with his hip. “We can try without the ties, but it’s gonna hurt like a hot poker in the eye. Vampires heal too fast. I have to use a special silver-plated needle to keep the wound open long enough for the ink to set.”
The storm inside me calmed slightly at the explanation. My emotions were a rollercoaster between scared shitless and pissed off. Erick said everything would be enhanced, but this was far beyond anything I could’ve imagined.
My brain knew those ties didn’t present a challenge to my new supernatural strength, but the wounds to my psyche screamed in protest, reminding me how stupid I’d been to trust Kevin.
“I’m going to need Erick to hold you, at least for the first few minutes until you adjust to the pain.”
“No.” I shook my head, clearing my head of the raging storm of emotions. “I won’t move.” Taking a few steps, I seated myself astride the chair and leaned against the chest panel. For such an odd looking contraption, it wasn’t as uncomfortable as I thought it would be.
“Kjaere? Are you sure?” Genuine concern flowed from his ocean blue irises. He was worried about my well-being, not trying to chain me up and take advantage. It was consideration, not control I was shying away from. In my warped mind, control was all I’d learned to see.
“I won’t move.”
“All right,” Travis answered. He sat on a stool and rolled up behind me. “You’ll have to take off your shirt, the neck is too high.”
My Viking Vampire Page 19
