Fateful 2-Fractured

by Cheri Schmidt

  Though she tried, Danielle couldn’t ignore her husband who was seated on the sofa with his face in his hands. When she’d finished off what she could stomach of her food, she called to him. “Ethan.”

  He came to the bed with a hesitant look on his face, sat down next to her, and enveloped her into a tight hug. “I love you so much; I can’t bear to see you upset with me like this.”

  As he buried his face into her hair and clutched at her like he’d be lost without her, she finally said, “I love you too. No matter what you are.”

  She didn’t want to prevent the eye contact he was again searching for when his head lifted. This time it didn’t make her feel sick, just dizzy enough to nearly knock her out again.

  “Please tell me you’re feeling better.”

  “I am. The waffle helped,” she mumbled as she closed her eyes, trying to get the room to stop tipping like that.

  He didn’t buy it. “You don’t look okay.”

  She fell limply back to the bed. “I’m all right.” She wondered if he noticed how those words squeaked out of her.

  Feeling the mattress depress on either side of her, Danielle chanced a peek. Ethan was looking down at her. “You’re fibbing.”

  She held onto his gaze even though it was causing the bed to start rocking. “It’s hitting me harder. I’m sorry.”

  His hopeful expression fell as though the idea crushed his world.

  “I’ll get used to it. I did before,” she said, trying to soothe the look of total heartbreak on his face.

  Ethan’s gaze landed on her plate and he frowned. “You didn’t eat enough. That might have helped.”

  Shuddering at the idea, she complained, “I can’t eat eggs right now, and that sausage...” Another shudder moved over her as she trailed off.

  He reached for the glass of orange juice she’d neglected to finish, tugged her upright as he supported her with one arm, and held it to her lips. “Drink your juice and I’ll be satisfied.”

  Silently, she accepted the glass and downed it slowly while he watched her. She wondered what he was thinking until he noted, “You’re color is better than earlier.”

  Danielle set the empty glass on the tray. “What’s next? Are we going home to pack?”

  “Yes, and no.”

  “Huh?”

  Ethan took her by the hand and led her to the sofa with him. She noticed he watched her closely, probably to see how steady she was. Danielle knew he noticed that wobble when his eyebrow lifted. But what disturbed her more was the sense that he had more bad news to confess.

  “You’re going straight to the airport with Cedric, Merrick, and Richard.”

  Her eyes rounded as her eyebrows lifted. “The Black Prince?” she asked slowly.

  “Yes.”

  “Without you?” Hearing the panic rising in her tone, she swallowed thickly.

  “I’ll be going home with Gillian, who will be dressed as you, to let them see us hunting together. Max and Nadia will be going out to eat driving a car exactly like the one you and I will be in. Beon will be driving another, and so will Seth. We plan to lose them with four cars that look the same, all going in different directions. And we need to put you in a disguise.”

  Another twinge of nausea roiled inside her gut when he mentioned Gillian. That pretty vampire was going to be in her home, with her husband? “When will you come to Colorado with me?”

  “I’ll follow as soon as I can.” He combed his fingers through her hair, and then tugged her close for another kiss and hug.

  Even feeling his arms encircle her, she couldn’t smile, this pout that she felt on her face was the only expression available.

  With a chuckle, he pulled back to meet her gaze and said, “I know, you need to know the exact amount of hours until we’re back together.” Those blue eyes of his danced with mirth.

  “If you knew that, then why didn’t you just tell me in the first place?”

  “Because I don’t know the answer. I need to stay until we think they’ve bought into Gillian being you.”

  “If you stay too long, they could figure out that she isn’t me.” And I would continue to stress about you being with her.

  “I’m trying for a week.” He held her close again, his cheek resting against her hair, like he sensed her internal distress. “Will that work for you?”

  She thought a week sounded like a really long time at the moment as her chin settled onto his shoulder. Instead of expressing that to him she asked, “And I’m going to be safe with three vampires, two of whom, I don’t really know?”

  “I know them. You’ll be fine ... or I’ll kill them,” Ethan threatened and she knew from the menace in his tone that he meant it.

  They separated and she leaned against the back of the sofa. “I don’t have anything to take with me on the plane.”

  “Beon took care of that. He went to our place and packed a bag for you, along with your purse, and your passport.”

  “Beon packed? Why didn’t he send Sophia, I think I’d trust her more…” with things like underwear.

  “Beon didn’t feel like it was safe for her.”

  “But—” The door opening again silenced her, and Beon walked in carrying a purse, not the one she normally used, but a different one. Danielle figured he’d probably left the luggage in the car. She realized it was time for her to go, and she slung her arms around Ethan’s middle. It didn’t take much more than that for the tears to come.

  Ethan cupped the back of her head and rubbed her back with his other hand. “Shhh, everything will be fine. I need you to trust me, and the others.”

  “I’ll try.”

  “Good, now let’s get you into your disguise.” Ethan lifted a sack from the floor, led her to the bathroom, and started pulling out items for her to put on. It was the type of outfit she would never wear, and she realized why they’d chosen it. She would have been hard to recognize in it. There was a curly, blond wig, a crocheted Bohemian skull hat, a pair of holy jeans, a baggy sweatshirt, and a pair of brown hiking boots. It all came together for a sort of nature-girl meets hippy-chic.

  She slipped out of her dress, and tugged on the clothes. Ethan helped her with the wig, and hat, trying to make it look as natural as possible, and then advised her to put on makeup that also made her look different.

  “How is my passport going to match this new look?”

  “They have a camera ready. Cedric can fake it for us, and then we’ll go, or rather, you’ll go.”

  “He’s that fast?”

  “He’s the Order’s computer nerd.”

  “Hm. I see.”

  When they were done, he towed her back to the room and she was greeted with her three escorts. She recognized Merrick and Cedric who were both dressed as business men. But she had never seen the man she assumed to be the prince, and noticed that he was dressed to match her grungy look with faded jeans, a gray t-shirt and a black leather jacket. Apparently they meant to make it look like they were a couple.

  “Shall we?” Cedric said, offering his arm.

  Which she didn’t take, spinning back toward Ethan, she clutched him close and kissed him goodbye. He chuckled and returned the sentiment, then shoved her gently toward Cedric, who gathered her to him and tugged her from the room with Merrick and Richard following. Cedric took her picture, worked his fraudulent passport magic, and then they left for the airport.

  Chapter 14

  The Black Moods of Noble Toads

  They took the long way to the airport, and even switched cars three times. Seemed they were really serious about getting her out of the country unseen. At the airport they made it appear as though they were in pairs, rather than one girl with three men.

  Richard took her about the waist and nuzzled her ear. “Pretend with me, Danielle. We’ve already seen vampires watching for you here.” She tensed but tried to lean into him like she liked it, and couldn’t help but worry if this is what Ethan was doing with Gillian. She felt another heavy twinge of jealo
usy about it.

  The plane ride was way too long, and the prince kept lifting the back of her hand to his lips to give her kisses. This intimate treatment came from the same man whom she’d only just met, and had barely shared more than a handful of words with. He then muttered into her ear that they still weren’t alone, and she secretly wondered if he was just taking advantage of this situation.

  That is until she saw one of the passengers strolling down the walkway as if he were headed toward the bathroom. His look reeked of vampire mercenary, and she barely resisted a shudder as his searching gaze slid toward her. Panicked, she tugged Richard to her by his leather jacket and tried to hide behind his bulky frame, feigning a hug. However, Richard turned her innocent attempt at concealment into a kiss on the mouth. Her fingers shot to his hair, and she tried to pull his head away, but ended up only making it look like she was really into it. She didn’t even want to know what Ethan would think of this, and the guilt that twisted her insides was excruciating.

  After the man passed by, Richard smirked and said, “You saw him, didn’t you?”

  “Yes.”

  “I told you we weren’t alone.”

  She rolled her eyes. This prince was a pompous jerk…. And she wished she hadn’t noticed how handsome he was. His long, honey-colored hair waved nicely past his ears. The features of his face were angled harshly, but in a pleasing manner, and his hazel eyes nearly smoldered every time he looked at her. Could that have been anymore unnerving? All of this made the guilt over the accidental kiss that much worse. “Eth—”

  Suddenly his lips were on hers again and she tried to shove him away, but couldn’t budge him. After smothering her for far too long, he finally let go again. “Damn you. Eth—”

  He silenced her with one finger and a deadly look. “Do not speak his name out loud. I’m tired of your dwelling on your ex.” He winked at her, then lowered the volume of his speech so low, she barely heard his next words. “Apparently you didn’t see him coming back through.”

  “No,” she mumbled and then said what she wanted to say, but edited. “He is so going to kill you.”

  Richard snorted at the threat. “He’ll thank me.”

  His arrogance was just too much, and wanting to get away from him she stood, but he jerked her back into her seat. “Where the bloody hell do you think you’re going?” he growled in a deep angry voice.

  “I’d rather sit by Cedric…” She grunted when his arm landed against her chest shoving her back into the seat when she tried to stand a second time.

  “That wouldn’t leave the right impression,” he ground out.

  “Then I need the restroom,” she shot back, though quietly.

  “I don’t believe you.”

  She was bluffing. They stared at each other for a minute before she mutely backed down and turned to face the window. For three more hours.

  Incredibly relieved when they landed, Danielle ignored her guards as they drove to Glenwood Springs. Again, they’d taken the long way, and again switched cars three times before they actually arrived. Only after they entered her home did the guards back off, and she felt like she could finally breathe.

  Setting her purse onto the table along with the hat and wig, she then dropped onto the sofa and began to peruse her new home. Ethan had selected this place, and apparently had it decorated.

  The colors of the living room were soft shades of tan and cream with touches of dark brown and deep red. The style was understated, but a little bit shabby chic. She loved it, and wondered if he’d chosen these colors himself, or just hired someone. Figuring it was probably the latter, her eyes landed on a painting over the loveseat and she shot upright. “A Jack Vettriano?”

  Hearing the men chuckling from the other room, she wondered if they were laughing at her outburst as she stood from the sofa and went to the piece of artwork. It looked like an original of The Singing Butler. “But it can’t be.”

  “Ethan told me it was,” Cedric said from right behind her, and she jumped. “Relax.”

  “Then don’t sneak up on me.” She turned back to the painting when Cedric simply shrugged his shoulders. “It can’t be an original.”

  “Ethan said it was.”

  “I’ll ask him myself.”

  “Fine, do that.”

  “Fine, I will.”

  “Stop it. You sound like a couple of children,” said Richard.

  “We are children compared to you, old man.”

  He grinned like a genuine rakehell. “You don’t kiss like a child.”

  “That wasn’t by choice!”

  “As I recall it, you’re the one who grabbed me first. And I didn’t feel you resisting.”

  “You weren’t paying attention then. I would have thought you’d be more observant.”

  Richard laughed and reached for the phonebook. “What are you hungry for, Danielle? Ethan said to make sure you’re fed.”

  “Fed? You really just said ‘fed’? Vampires feed, I’m mortal, I eat.”

  “What would you like to eat then?” Irritation flashed in his eyes.

  She folded her arms feeling irritated too. “I don’t care. Whatever!” She turned on her heel and headed for her bedroom, only then wondering where it was. Must be down this hall, she thought turning into it.

  Richard sighed before she’d left earshot of him. “Order something for her, Merrick,” he commanded, like some military general.

  Merrick’s happy tone followed her down the hallway. “Something healthy like salad with chicken and nuts on top,” he said, before adding, “Chick’s love that kind of stuff…. And strawberries, I was told that’s her craving.”

  “Indeed. Command and concur, Merrick,” Richard rumbled.

  Danielle rolled her eyes as she reached for a door handle to check if this room was her bedroom. It was going to be like living with some sort of medieval-alpha-male-warrior, she decided. Danielle couldn’t believe Ethan had left her alone with these three, especially him. For at least a week! She just might consider running away if it goes longer than that.

  * * * * *

  Danielle gasped in wonder when she entered her and Ethan’s bedroom. It was decorated almost exactly like the suite in Le Meurice where they’d spent their honeymoon, except it was a little more understated. The thought occurred to her—he wanted this room to be a constant reminder of that romantic time together, and she smiled as she explored it. The room had peaked ceilings, fabric draped archways, and carved wooden beams that divided a sitting area from the bed and the bath. The fabrics were in soft shades of blue and cream. They were simple, without much pattern, creating a clean yet romantic feel. Just above the sofa was another Jack Vettriano painting, Dance Me to the End of Love, and then across from the bed hung a collection of framed, sepia wedding portraits. Suspecting the big empty space on one wall was for the painting of the ruins she’d painted for Ethan, she smiled and decided she needed to talk to him, to thank him.

  Slipping off her shoes, Danielle pulled her phone from her pocket, flipped it open, then strode toward the bed.

  She dialed Ethan’s number, and then settled down onto the white bedcovering as it rang. Suddenly the phone was snatched from her hand and closed. Danielle screamed in surprise.

  The narrowed gaze of an angry prince stared down at her as he said, “No calls.”

  Danielle swallowed, unable to speak, thinking it looked like he was fighting really hard to keep his anger bottled and leashed.

  After a long pause where their gazes held uncomfortably, his expression softened, but he said nothing and left her alone, taking her phone with him.

  Irritated with that, she curled up on the bed. Maybe I will leave before the week is over, she mused. I’m sure this isn’t what Ethan had in mind ... and now she couldn’t call him, or Beon, or her parents, or anyone…. At least she had Cedric, and Merrick seemed all right, but this Richard….

  Soon after that, she fell asleep, glad to be exhausted from the flight so she could sleep, even with a
ll the thoughts in her head.

  * * * * *

  “Danielle,” a deep voice said. The rumbling sound ripped a shudder from her.

  She furrowed her brows. “What?” The word was thick with sleep.

  “Your food is here. Wake-up so you can eat it.”

  Danielle rubbed her eyes and then pried them open. She blinked. All three of her guards stood next to the bed, each holding a paper bag or plastic box. This confirmed her suspicion that she was going to have very little privacy with these guys. They’d probably barge in while she was in the bathroom if they felt she was in danger, or trying to make a phone call, or needed to feed.

  “Your salad, my lady,” Cedric said, opening the takeout box and setting it onto the bed next to her.

  “Strawberries, dipped in chocolate, lass.” Merrick opened another box and set that next to the salad.

  “Bread and soda,” Richard grunted, holding a paper sack and a thirty-two ounce cup.

  “But, I-I don’t drink soda.”

  “I told you she’s one of those healthy eaters, but you wouldn’t listen.”

  Richard scowled and told Merrick to shut up, then asked her, “What do you drink then?” in a kind gentle tone. She suspected that maybe he was attempting to make up for his rude behavior earlier.

  “Water…. Please?”

  His mouth twitched and she thought he almost smiled as he set the bag down onto her lap. He left to retrieve water, she thought. The other two filed out after him.

  Danielle was surprised to find that the bread was warm, and for some reason that touched her. Maybe because they’d gone to the trouble of gathering a meal she would enjoy. She knew those strawberries couldn’t have been easy to get this time of year. Even Richard had made the effort to get her a drink and bread that was so fresh it hadn’t yet cooled. In light of this, she thought perhaps these men weren’t so bad after all. She broke off a piece of bread, and the wonderful smelling steam rose to her nose. Chewing, Danielle felt her mood shifting from fear and irritation to acceptance, and hoped that the remainder of her time with these men would continue like this.