“I should change,” I said as an afterthought.
“You look fine,” Lucas assured me.
I was wearing pajama shorts with a giraffe pattern and an orange tank top. I looked down at my clothes self-consciously.
“No one will be out at this time.” Lucas tried again to reassure me.
“Okay,” I said reluctantly. So much for not looking like a kid.
We walked outside. It was still warm, but no longer stifling hot. I folded my arms self-consciously over my chest as we started walking.
At first, Lucas didn’t speak. When I couldn’t stand the silence any longer I finally asked, “Why did you come back?”
“I told you I’d come back,” Lucas replied.
“That doesn’t answer my question,” I tried again.
Lucas sighed. He stopped walking and turned to me, his eyes blazing. “You want to know the truth?”
“Yes,” I said defiantly. I wasn’t sure if I really did or not, but I’d come too far now.
“I thought you’d be better off without me,” Lucas said. “I came along and fucked up your life, your perfect life with Henry.”
“What is wrong with you?” I snapped. “Haven’t you figured out by now that Henry and I are just friends?”
Lucas laughed bitterly. “You’re fooling yourself. I see the way he looks at you, and the way you look at him.”
“You’re such an asshole,” I muttered.
“Excuse me?” Lucas was taken aback.
“Just what I said!” I stormed ahead of him, willing myself to calm down.
Lucas grabbed my shoulder, stopping me in my tracks. “What’s that supposed to mean?” he demanded.
“It means,” I said, talking deliberately slow, “that in case you didn’t know, you’re an asshole.”
I kept walking.
“Aurora!” I ignored my name. Suddenly Lucas was beside me.
“Come on! What the hell has gotten into you!” he swore.
“You brought up Henry, not me!” I snapped back.
“And I don’t recall you denying that you like him!” Lucas replied.
I stopped and turned to Lucas. “You want to know the truth?” I threw his question back at him. I was struggling to keep my voice low. “Henry hasn’t talked to me in over a month, and I have no idea what I want!”
I turned and kept walking.
Lucas was beside me. “I don’t want to fight,” he said.
“Could have fooled me,” I replied.
“Come on, Rory, slow down.” Lucas’ voice had returned to normal. That sexy, deep voice that made me want to melt.
“Only if you stop harping on my relationship with Henry,” I shot back, still walking.
“You and Henry are just friends,” Lucas said, repeating my words. He didn’t sound convinced, but I decided to let it go.
I stopped and turned to face Lucas. “So what’s going on?” I asked him warily. “Why would you, who tries to let as few people as possible know you exist, come to a huge party, then agree to stay at my house tonight?”
“I want to protect you,” Lucas said simply.
“Hmm.” Even though his answer sent chills down my spine, I wasn’t going to let him know how much he affected me. “From the twins?” I questioned.
“Yeah, I don’t think they were at the party. I just needed a valid reason to be there,” Lucas said. “That’s part of why I wanted to talk to you – away from Henry,” Lucas added.
I turned to him. “I can’t take more secrets,” I replied. “It just about killed my friendship with Henry once. I’m not risking that again.”
“You can’t tell Henry what I found out,” Lucas said seriously.
“What? Confirming the affair?” I asked. It wouldn’t surprise me. But even if I slapped him in the face with it, Henry wouldn’t believe me.
“Henry’s father isn’t having an affair,” Lucas said.
“Huh?” I stopped in my tracks. “How the hell do you know that?”
“Because,” Lucas said, “Henry’s father is a warlock. And all of those meetings you thought were with his lover – well, those were all about you.”
Chapter 13
“Me? Warlock?” I practically screeched.
A dog started barking in the distance. Lucas grabbed my arm and pulled me into a yard, next to a huge oak tree.
“I don’t want anyone to see us,” Lucas said. “Keep your voice down.”
“A warlock,” I repeated in a much lower voice. “Is that like a witch?”
Lucas nodded grimly. “Yes. Spells, magic. He’s one of the most powerful warlocks in the world.”
“Why didn’t you know about him before?” I demanded.
“My job has always been dealing with non-humans. Technically, he’s still human. And besides, he keeps a low profile. He doesn’t want anyone to know his secret.”
“How did you find out?”
“Nicholas. He’d heard that they had a warlock consulting on your case, trying to figure out the spell that would put you back in your grave. Of course he had no idea that you were friends with the warlock’s son. When I made the connection, I rushed back here to check if you were okay.”
“Then I found out that there was a party tonight,” Lucas continued. “I thought I’d get a look at Matthews. I didn’t think he’d be stupid enough to try any spells, but I wanted to make sure he wasn’t up to something.”
“Was he?” I asked.
“No. Too many people and he was the center of attention.”
“Does that mean Henry’s a warlock, too?” I whispered.
Lucas shrugged. “He’s the son of a warlock, which means he’ll have the same abilities. If he wants to practice magic, he can.”
“Why would David agree to help put me back in my grave?” I wanted to know.
“Money. That’s what it’s all about, at the end of the day. Someone paid him to do it.”
“Surely he didn’t know I was living at his house?” I wondered aloud.
“No, there’s no way. They’d have captured you before everyone knew you were back,” Lucas said. “You’re really lucky, actually. I had no idea what a risk it was for you to stay at Henry’s house. Even if they couldn’t put you back in the grave, they’d have locked you up until they figured it out.”
“They?”
“I don’t know who else is involved,” Lucas admitted. “But they’re powerful. Everything is top secret. I haven’t been able to get any more information.”
My mind was spinning. Now that Henry and I were talking again, I was sure I’d hang out at his house and inevitably run into David. How could I look him in the eye?
“If you are around Matthews, you have to act completely normal,” Lucas cautioned.
“I’m not sure how,” I said morosely. “Even if Henry’s dad doesn’t notice anything, Henry might think I’m being weird! We’ve known each other forever.”
“You can pull it off. And at some point, you may have to tell Henry the truth.”
“No way.” I shook my head vigorously. “That’s a secret I’m taking to the grave.”
“You just might, if David Matthews has his way.”
I snorted. “That’s not what I meant.”
“I’m glad you find this amusing.”
“Trust me, it’s anything but,” I shot back.
We started walking again. Neither of us spoke. I was acutely aware of Lucas next to me. I kept resisting the urge to turn and look at him, to reach out and trace his strong jawline with my fingertips.
“So you cleared your name,” I said finally. “Are you staying here then? Can you go to your house? And what about the twins!”
“One thing at a time,” Lucas said. He looked over at me and smiled.
“What?” I asked self-consciously.
“Just the way you blurt everything out at once,” Lucas explained. “It’s cute.”
Don’t freak out, Aurora! I commanded myself. Lucas was so standoffish most of the time, then h
e’d come out with some little comment that made my knees turn to putty.
“I wanted to tell you, you looked beautiful at the party,” Lucas said softly.
I stared at the ground, unable to bring myself to meet Lucas’ gaze. “Thanks,” I whispered. So my little black dress paid off. Of course I had secretly wished that Lucas could see me, but I’d thought there was no chance in hell of that happening.
“It took me a second to realize it was you,” Lucas continued. “But that dress – wow is all I can say.”
I finally looked up at Lucas. He had his hands shoved in his pockets and was staring ahead.
“Finally not thinking of me as a teenager?” I asked lightly.
“Definitely not tonight.” I wasn’t sure what that meant exactly.
“At least not until now.” Lucas pointed to one of the giraffes on my pajamas.
I knew I should have worn something different! The problem was I didn’t own any sexy lingerie. No one – besides my family – ever saw me in my pajamas.
“I’m just teasing,” Lucas said, seeing the look on my face. “The giraffes suit you. Kind of like your stuffed elephant – what’s his name?” Lucas asked in a flirty tone.
“Max, but I’m done with him,” I said quickly. Sorry Max. This is just for Lucas’ benefit.
Lucas stopped and turned to me. “Why are you so obsessed with seeming older than you are?”
Because you won’t give me the time of day, you dope!
I shrugged. “Guess I’m just tired of being treated like a child.”
“Enjoy the innocence of youth while you can. Even though you won’t look any older, trust me, as the years – then centuries pass – you’ll feel it.”
Lucas started walking again.
“So all of those questions I had, are you going to answer at least one or two of them?” I asked, ignoring his comment about growing old. I didn’t want to be innocent. I didn’t want to feel like a child. And there was nothing anyone – not even Lucas – could say to change that.
“Ah, yes.” Lucas paused. “I won’t be going back to my house, not now at least.”
“Why?” I demanded.
“The twins,” Lucas replied. “Honestly, I don’t think they’re coming for you. They have no reason to trap you right now, unless they’ve been hired again. And I think everyone is pretty baffled about how to kill you.” Lucas chuckled, shaking his head.
“But I am worried they have it in for me – a personal vendetta,” he continued. “They’re going to come after me – it’s just a matter of when – simply for the sheer pleasure of watching me suffer. I can’t stay in that house, at least not right now. It’s too secluded.”
“I’m not scared of Bartholomew or Thomas individually,” Lucas said, “but when they’re together, I’m outnumbered. It’s not even a fair fight. But of course, neither of them gives a shit about what’s fair. I used to rush into every confrontation, guns blazing, so to speak. I was a hardheaded idiot - I thought I was untouchable. I’m really lucky I’m still alive, after all the stupid risks I’ve taken.”
“I don’t want anything to happen to you,” I said quietly. “But where will you go?” Please don’t leave again!
“As much as I hate it, I have to go where it’s safest. Which means being around people.” Lucas said people as though it were a four-letter word.
I resisted the urge to laugh, even though it wasn’t remotely funny. “My mom won’t care if you stay with us for awhile,” I offered.
“Don’t get me wrong; your mom’s a great hostess, but I think she would start to get a little suspicious with me not eating or drinking anything,” Lucas said wryly. “And besides, apart from you, the rest of your family are normal people – with blood.” Lucas slapped my arm playfully.
That’s why you need to go away with me! I begged you to take me last time you left. If we’re together, you can have a girlfriend and not deal with constantly wanting to suck her blood because I don’t have any!
I couldn’t say what I was thinking. Lucas had sworn the only reason he didn’t let me come with him when he left town is because it was too dangerous. I was always questioning his explanations, wondering if he was telling me the entire truth, unsure of what he really thought of me.
I had to clear my head. Lucas was talking again.
“I may stay there one more day, if Audrey doesn’t mind,” Lucas said.
“She won’t,” I quickly replied. And I won’t mind having you so close to me.
Lucas nodded. “Thanks, that gives me another day.”
“For what?” I questioned.
“To go apartment hunting. I want something close by, in a popular area with lots of people.” Lucas visibly shuddered.
“I know this sucks,” I muttered, “but maybe we could trap the twins and turn the tables. And then you could – you know – kill them.” I gulped.
“I don’t want to involve you,” Lucas said immediately. “I couldn’t live with myself if I put you in harm’s way.”
“But it doesn’t seem like anyone knows how to kill me – not right now at least. Why don’t we strike while the iron is hot? We may not get another opportunity to take those guys out,” I argued.
“I’ll think about it,” Lucas replied in a tone that suggested he’d already made up his mind.
But I wasn’t ready to drop it yet. “If you’re worried I’m not strong enough, you could get Henry in on the plan. You saw how he attacked them when we were captured. He wasn’t playing around and he didn’t back down.”
“So now you’re suggesting we put not only you, which as you’ve pointed out, should be safe in theory-” he started.
“Right,” I cut in. “They don’t know how to kill me.”
“For now. That could change at any moment, without any warning.”
“But you don’t really want to involve Henry again, do you?” Lucas continued. “He’s mortal. If they turned a stake on him he’d be dead. Or what if they shot him? Or even just beat the shit out of him. And you want to know the worst-case scenario? If we hatch some elaborate plan and it backfires, one of those monsters could turn Henry. I told you before there’s a connection between two vampires when one has turned the other. They are deeply protective of each other. When a male vampire turns a male human, they become blood brothers; the loyalty runs deeper than you could understand.”
“Okay, you’ve convinced me that involving Henry isn’t a good idea.” It was true; I couldn’t put Henry in that kind of danger. “But what about Nicholas? If he’s as strong as you, it would be two against two. And I could still help out, from the sidelines.”
“Yes, Nicholas and I have talked about it,” Lucas admitted.
“Will he help you?” I demanded.
“Yes.”
“How can you be so sure it won’t be a trap? Even people, the most loyal people in the world, sometimes screw you over. Why would vampires have some higher moral code than actual human beings?”
“I’ve never told anyone this before,” Lucas said quietly. He sounded so serious.
I stopped walking and turned to him, putting my hand on his arm protectively. It was one of those rare moments where I’d seen him actually look vulnerable.
“What is it?” I whispered.
“You keep asking why I trust Nicholas so much. Why I was so certain that it wasn’t a trap when I thought Nicholas called me and it was really the twins.” Lucas paused.
I nodded for him to go on.
“I’ve known Nicholas forever – since before either of us were vampires.”
“Wow,” I said in surprise. He’d alluded to going ‘way back’ with Nicholas, but I couldn’t picture a time when he wasn’t already a vampire.
“We were best friends in school – normal teenagers. And then something changed – Nicholas changed. I couldn’t figure it out. He stopped coming to school abruptly. His family hadn’t seen him in weeks. No one had.”
“Everyone thought he must have been kidnapped,” Luc
as continued, “but then Nicholas sent a note to me with a location to meet him. I was a stupid kid and didn’t think anything bad could happen. I didn’t even bother telling my parents where I was going.”
“I can’t picture you with parents,” I commented.
Lucas laughed. “Even to me now, I can’t imagine that part of my life – the human part – existed.”
“Anyway,” Lucas said. “I went to meet Nicholas behind the school at night.”
Lucas paused and looked at me. “This is already sounding like a really well thought out idea, right? I think maybe I don’t tell this story because of how stupid it makes me feel.”
“Don’t say that! You haven’t done anything most people wouldn’t have done.” It was true. Who wouldn’t go meet their missing best friend at night? I’d done dumber things in my life, that was for sure.
“When I got there, Nicholas didn’t quite look like himself, but I couldn’t pinpoint why. He was acting strangely, too, and he was totally covered in black clothes with a black scarf around his head, even though it was dark out.”
“Before I could figure out what was happening, Nicholas bit me,” Lucas continued. “I can’t explain the sensation of being turned into a vampire, but you can’t resist it, can’t fight it. You become paralyzed.”
“Nicholas turned you and you would trust him with your life?” That made no sense! “It seems like you’d want to kill him for what he did!”
“Nicholas wanted his best friend to experience the same awakening that he’d experienced. And it was glamorous at first. There was no synthetic blood. The vampire who turned Nicholas taught us how to hunt and not get caught. Taught us that if you have to kill to survive, then kill bad people, not good ones.”
“So you had a moral code, even at the beginning?” I asked.
“A very weak moral code, at best. I told you I’ve done many bad things, things I’m not proud of, things I will never repeat, things that will never be forgiven. Nicholas and I were invincible. We went everywhere together, took insane risks that should have gotten us killed.”
“But the point of all of this, Aurora,” Lucas continued, “is that we did turn it around. We switched to the synthetic blood when it became available. We helped each other. We didn’t want to kill anymore. And when I’ve had a relapse, Nicholas was there for me, locking me up so that I couldn’t hunt, forcing me to drink the fake blood and lose my taste for the real stuff.”
Immortal After All (Vampire Hunter Book 3) Page 4
