by G. K. DeRosa
“What do you want me to do?” asked Celeste. “How can I help?”
“Keep in contact with Marja and provide your assistance as needed. Once they discover what has been taken, I am sure they will need you to get it back,” answered Dante. “Dalla will also be closely monitoring the situation, of course.”
“And what about Alek?” asked Celeste. “Isn’t it possible he hired Brazen to steal something for him again?”
Dante frowned and turned to the others. “What say you?” They took a minute to discuss among themselves, then Balthazar leaned to Dante, whispering in his ear.
“We have decided you may inquire as to Alek’s involvement, but I warn you to tread lightly, Celeste,” responded Dante.
Celeste was still baffled by the sudden goodwill the Council was showing toward Alek, but there were too many things going on to question their decision. And after all, they had given her the green light to go after Alek again so she was at least thankful for that.
“You may go now,” said Dante. “It looks like you could use a little rest.”
Celeste appeared back at the apartment just moments later, finding everyone pretty much where she had left them. Roman and Nico were discussing their strategy to track Lilliana with Stellan, while Marie and Brian had moved to the couch where she was bandaging his outstretched legs.
“What was that about?” asked Nico when he saw Celeste.
“Well, we were right that there was a motive behind the basketball game strike. It was all a distraction,” she explained. All eyes immediately turned to her as she recounted the news that Dante had given her regarding Brazen and the Albsurori.
“So that’s probably where Vinny went after he led the werewolves in,” said Nico.
“Right. Now we just have to figure out what they stole and what they want it for,” said Celeste. “The good news is that I’ve been given permission to go after Alek again. Where are we on that, Stellan?”
“I was just telling the boys that I haven’t made much progress, unfortunately,” he replied, his brows furrowed. “However, I have now decided to try a more methodical approach as opposed to magical.”
“What does that mean?” asked Nico.
“Since tracking him magically has proven unsuccessful, I have begun searching the archives for some of Alek and Fabian’s prior known hideouts and cross-referencing them with places your family lived.”
“Why?” asked Roman.
“I am working on the assumption that Alek is trying to make your mother happy. If he was spotted with her strolling through St. Petersburg, I can only assume they are on good terms. If you hadn’t seen your mother in a century, wouldn’t you want to take her somewhere she would enjoy?”
Roman nodded. Celeste was impressed. She would have never thought of that, but it did make sense. She just hoped Stellan was right.
“I’m going to get back to work,” said Stellan. “Let me know if you need me.” He hurried up the stairs and in a moment disappeared into the dark recesses of the library.
“I think we’re going to head out too,” said Brian standing. He winced as the bandages rubbed against his sores.
“Are you sure you don’t want some vampire blood?” asked Celeste. “You’ll be as good as new in no time.” Nico held out his arm, offering his wrist with an ironic grin.
“Nah, I’m good, thanks,” said Brian. “Do you want to ride back with us, Cel?”
Celeste looked at Roman and Nico and the dismal expressions on their faces, and shook her head. “No, I’m going to stay with the guys for a little bit in case we get news about Brazen.”
Celeste walked them to the door where Brian gave her a parting hug and whispered, “Be careful. No more fighting tonight, okay?”
“I promise,” she whispered back as she squeezed him tightly. “And by the way, we’re still going to have a little chat about that knife you brought to the game.”
“Sure, Cel,” he said with a weary smile as he took Marie’s hand and led her out the door.
Celeste walked back into the great room and found Nico sprawled on the couch with a beer and Roman nowhere in sight. “Thanks for everything you did tonight,” she said to Nico. “I know you have other things on your mind right now, and I really appreciate it.”
Nico raised his bottle to her with a smile, “Of course. I’m always here for you. Besides, I was right. I do feel better after kicking some werewolf tail.”
Celeste ruffled Nico’s dark hair and shot him a grin.
“You better go check on Roman,” he said. “He was pretty messed up when he saw you take that fall. I could see how hard it was for him not to drop everything—and by that I mean the entire bleacher section, and run to you. He blames himself that you got hurt.”
“He shouldn’t. I told him to go. He actually listened to me for once and did the right thing,” she said, smiling proudly.
“I know that and you know that, but maybe he needs to be reminded,” Nico prodded, giving Celeste a nudge in the direction of Roman’s room.
Celeste turned to Nico with an appreciative smile and then she headed down the dark corridor with determination in her stride. When she got to Roman’s room, the door was open and she found him lying on his bed with eyes closed. She stood at the doorway and watched the steady rise and fall of his chest, appreciating every detail of his handsome figure.
“You can come in,” said Roman, breaking the stillness. “I’m not sleeping.”
“I didn’t want to disturb you,” she said and it came out more awkwardly than intended.
He propped his head up on his hand and patted the empty side of the bed motioning for her to take a seat. “What’s up?” he asked.
“It seems like I’m always thanking you for saving my life,” she said as she sat down cross-legged on the bed to face him.
“And I’ve told you that it’s not necessary.”
“But it is,” she said, “today more than ever. Not only did you save me, but you saved all of those innocent people. For once, you put innocent lives before mine,” she said as she reached out for his hand.
He took it happily and let out a long sigh. “That was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. Every fiber of my being was screaming at me to go to you and forget about everyone else.”
“But you didn’t,” she said. “How come?”
“Because I knew it’s what you wanted. And I knew it was what a good person would do. You do that for me, you make me want to be a better person,” he said, stroking her hand with his thumb while he stared at her intently.
“And you are,” she responded as she reached out her free hand to touch his cheek.
“I’ve still got a long way to go,” he said with a rueful smile. “Watching you fall and seeing your broken body on the floor made me want to never do the right thing again, if it meant not saving you.” He paused, trying to organize his feelings into words.“Celeste, you could have died today and I could have stopped it, but I didn’t. If anything had happened to you, I would have never forgiven myself.”
She hesitated for a moment to consider the weight of what he had said. “If I had died, I hope that you would have known that I would have died happy, knowing you had saved all those people instead of just me,” she whispered. “You weren’t selfish, Roman. You made the right decision.”
“But it would have meant nothing if I had lost you,” he said as he sat up and inched closer to her, his gaze intent on hers.
Celeste knew she wasn’t going to win this discussion. All that mattered was that he had done the right thing, and she was proud of him for that. As she stared into his ever-nearing blue eyes brimming with so much emotion, she gave into her most basic desire and closed the distance between their lips. Roman’s mouth locked onto hers with such a fiery passion that she felt certain it would completely consume her. She wasn’t sure if it was his blood running through her veins or the ordeal that she had just survived, but the need she felt to be near him was much too powerful to fight. She r
an her hands through his soft wavy hair and felt the familiar sparks of electricity everywhere their skin made contact. Reveling in the tiny shocks of pleasure, she breathed in the familiar scent of him as his lips set her world ablaze.
Celeste awoke in a tangle of Roman’s arms and legs and feeling happier than she had been in a very long time. She nuzzled her head into his chest, and he sighed contentedly. Wrapping his arm around her, he pushed aside a few stray hairs from her forehead and kissed her softly.
“Good morning sleepy head,” he murmured, his voice overflowing with affection.
“Last night was –”
“Perfect,” he said finishing her thought.
She nodded with a smile stretching from ear to ear. “But I should probably get home,” she said glancing at the clock on the nightstand. “I don’t want Mom to worry.”
“Sure,” he said, sitting up. “Let me throw on some clothes, and I’ll take you.” As he stood up, the early morning sunlight highlighted his muscular chest and finely sculpted abs. Celeste couldn’t help herself as she reached out for his arm and pulled him back down on the bed. “Maybe just ten more minutes,” she said with a mischievous smile.
On the drive back to her house, a comfortable silence pervaded the Porsche. Celeste knew they would have to talk about what happened and what it all meant, but for now she just wanted to bask in the afterglow. When they pulled into her driveway, she was relieved to see that her mom’s car was nowhere in sight. The charity ball planning really was running her ragged with the crazy hours.
“So,” said Roman as he switched off the ignition.
“Let’s not right now, okay?” she said.
Roman frowned. “Okay…”
“I don’t want to analyze everything to death just yet. Can we postpone this talk for another time?” she asked.
“Sure, whatever you want,” he said. “I just wanted to ask if you would be my date for the hospital charity ball this weekend?”
Celeste couldn’t help the huge smile that spread across her face. “I’d love to,” she said. Then she gave him a quick kiss on the lips, and darted out of the car and into her house, her heart soaring and her head in cloud nine.
***
“Are you happy here, mother?” asked Alek as Lilliana gazed out the open window. The two-story palazzo they had moved into overlooked the Piazza di Spagna and the Spanish Steps and was adjacent to the best shopping in all of Rome on Via Condotti. Alek appeared to have spared no expense when locating their new home.
“Of course, my son, it’s beautiful. How could I not be?” she replied.
“You’ve been very pensive as of late,” he said as he walked over to her.
Lilliana had still not told him about her returning memories. Everyday she remembered more and more about her past life and the misery that Fabian had wreaked on her family. She knew she would have to eventually tell Alek the truth. “I’ve been having vivid dreams,” she said, finally gathering up the courage to be completely honest.
“About what?” he asked, his generally pale face turning a few shades lighter.
“I think they are memories,” she answered. “I remember the day I gave birth to you.” She reached out for his hand and Alek’s first impulse was to pull away, but the warmth of her hand on his cold skin compelled him to yield.
“Sit with me,” she said. “I’d like to tell you about it.” She led him to the petite antique loveseat, all the while keeping hold of his hand.
Alek peered at her suspiciously. His entire life he had believed that his mother had abandoned him, and as pleasant as their reunion had been over the past few weeks, he wasn’t sure he was ready to hear this.
“I remember the day as if it were yesterday. You were a tiny little thing with bright blonde hair, even back then. When I held you in my arms for the first time, it was the happiest moment of my life. I didn’t know it was possible to love someone so much,” she said, as a tear rolled down her cheek.
Alek cleared his throat and shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
“When the fairies came to take you so that I could rest a few moments after you were born, I had the most terrible feeling. I never should have let you go. It is the one action I regret most in my life.”
“The fairies?” he asked.
“I’m sure it was orchestrated by Fabian in some way. I wish I knew more. When he came into my room the next day and told me you had died over night, I wanted to die too. I never thought for a moment that he would be lying to me. Why would he after all?” She looked down at the pale hand in hers and couldn’t help but remember the tiny pink one she held onto for those brief moments when he was first born.
“You really thought I was dead?” he asked, looking up at her for the first time since she began.
“Yes. I would never have let Fabian take you away from me otherwise. For my entire life, I believed you were dead and I mourned you,” she finished, wiping away a stray tear.
Alek’s expression snapped from sadness to anger. “Why would Fabian do that? Why would he ruin my life? I was raised without an ounce of kindness. All I knew was disdain and misery. From as early as I can remember he told me my parents had abandoned me because I was worthless.”
Lilliana cupped Alek’s cheek with her warm hand. “You were loved from the moment you were brought into this world, and I never stopped loving you or thinking about you. I am so sorry for what you went through.”
Alek’s head was reeling. After a lifetime of being fed nothing but lies, this outpouring of love and emotions was just too much. “I have to go,” he said, standing abruptly.
Lilliana nodded. “I know this must come as a shock to you, but you need to know how much you meant to me and still do.”
Alek glanced back, his lips twisted into a queer grimace and then he darted out the door.
Celeste’s heart was hammering with excitement as she unzipped the garment bag that lay across her bed. She carefully pulled the gown out, and it looked even more beautiful than she had remembered. Natalie had come home from Richmond the day before and the two had spent the day at the mall in search of the perfect dress for the ball. Now looking at the sparkling royal blue, full-length gown, she was convinced she had made the right choice, even if it had been way too expensive. She traced the bejeweled sweetheart neckline with her finger and imagined the look on Roman’s face when he saw her in it. This was going to be a night to remember, she was sure of it.
“Knock, knock,” said her mom, peeking into her room.
“Come on in,” she answered.
Her mom walked in already dressed in a fitted sequined black dress. “Whoa Mom, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you look so hot!” she said as she took her in from head to toe. Celeste noticed that she was wearing the pearl necklace that her mom had lent her for the Roaring 20’s themed prom last year, and it brought a smile to her face as she remembered that fateful night.
Her mom laughed and walked over to her bed, admiring the gown. “Oh Celeste, that dress is going to be absolutely stunning on you,” she said.
“We are going to be the hottest mother-daughter duo at the ball!” Celeste said with a gaping smile.
“Without a doubt,” she answered. “I wish I could stay and help you get ready, but I have to be there early to set up. I’m going to ride over in about five minutes with a few of the other nurses on the committee.”
“It’s okay. I know you are super important at the hospital. Roman and I will meet you there.”
“So is it official yet? Are you two back together?” she asked with a mischievous grin.
“I told you Mom, we’re trying to take it slow. I don’t want to complicate things,” she replied. As soon as the words came out of her mouth, she realized how silly that sounded. Things were always going to be complicated with Roman and taking it slow was already proving difficult. A few hours without him seemed like too many.
“Well, after Roman sees you in that dress, I don’t think he’s ever going to let you get away from
him again.”
“Thanks, Mom,” she said beaming.
“Okay, I’m off. I’ll see you in a few hours,” said Mrs. Wilder as she hurried out the door.
Celeste glanced at the clock on her bedside table and noting she had just under two hours, decided to hop in the shower. Nico had, of course, rented some fancy car to drive to the party and the foursome, along with Brian and Marie, were meeting at Celeste’s for a celebratory pre-ball get together. As she climbed into the shower, she promised herself this would be a night of fun. For just one night in her life, she was going to be a regular college girl and enjoy a party with her friends without worrying about Alek, Lilliana, Brazen or anything else supernatural.
***
Brazen and his pack sat in a tight circle around the crackling fire pit in the middle of the dark Fae forest. Within the ring of fearsome werewolves sat a petite young girl with ivy green tendrils, and she clearly did not belong. She stared adoringly at Brazen as he addressed his pack.
“The raid of the Albsurori compound was a success,” he pronounced as he lifted his bottle of beer high in the air. Whoops and hollers rose up around the circle as the others all followed his lead and toasted to their Alpha. He signaled to Vinny beside him, then pulled out a navy, leather-bound book from a backpack he had slung over his shoulder. Brazen held the book in his meaty hands, high above his head. “Now that we have the Albsurori grimoire, I’ll be able to build my unstoppable army. Soon you will all be immortal like me.”
Another roar of howls, yips and applause broke the quiet stillness of the forest as the rowdy wolves celebrated. Brazen raised his hand, and they all grew silent once more. “We could never have accomplished this without the help of our new ally, Astrid,” he said motioning toward the green-haired girl. “We are fortunate that she is not only a fairy, but also a formidable witch. Now, with the spells contained in this grimoire, the Black Devils will finally become invincible.”
The wolves resumed their raucous behavior, clinking bottles of beer and basking in drunken revelry. Astrid glanced over at Brazen with a look of sheer adoration on her face. He held out his hand and helped her to her feet, steering her away from the crowd. Once they were alone, behind a towering snow-capped evergreen, he gave her a twisted smile and handed her the book. She hastily flipped through the pages, searching for something.
