The smile faltered then disappeared completely as a muscle in his jaw twitched. “That’s it? After seven years, you have to go?”
She ignored the ire in his voice and found her own. Finally getting the nerve to meet his eyes, she whipped off the glasses and shoved them in her pocket. “Seven years isn’t my fault, Thomas. I’m not the one that left. That was you. Remember? Because I do. Vividly.”
His eyes shifted away before coming back to hers. “You asked for time. I gave it to you.”
Her heart constricted at the words. She closed her eyes and forced the sorrow that threatened to overwhelm her back down into the little corner of her soul where she usually kept it. Anger took its place as she thought of all the pain that could have been avoided if he hadn’t gone off to nurse his cursed wounded pride. She opened her eyes, met his with a blazing fury. “You call disappearing from my life giving me time? Seven years and you can’t pick up a phone, send flowers, a postcard, anything? And now you want me to be happy you’re here? Keep waiting.”
Thomas scowled, his eyes cold.
Juliana shrugged and pain tore through her shoulder, making her wish she’d finished the scotch. Thomas froze, his body possessing the stillness only the elder Altered could achieve.
“You are injured,” he said, his voice low, soft.
He always hated to see her hurt. She laughed at the irony, cringing at the bitter sound that escaped her.
The skin around his eyes tightened. He leaned forward. “Let me see.”
She shook her head. “I’m not your responsibility anymore. Haven’t been for a long time. I take care of myself.”
His brow furrowed and he reached for her. She took a step back. His hand fell away. “I understood you would be upset by my arrival, but I did not expect this level of...”
“Hatred?” she finished for him.
He laughed, an echo of her earlier bitter sound. “I was going to say hostility. You cannot possibly hate me, Joya.” Determination flashed in his eyes. “Was seven years not long enough? Perhaps you wanted more time? I’m tired of waiting. Your time ends now.”
Clenching her jaw, she ignored the nickname and the fact he was right. She didn’t hate him and she did want more time. She’d spent so long waiting for him to come back. When he didn’t, she resigned herself to the fact it was never going to happen. But now here he was, just as infuriating and magnetic as she remembered him. She wasn’t ready for this.
He seemed so unaffected by her, by her anger. She needed him to suffer the way she did. “I think you’re imagining more between us than there was, Thomas. It was just one night.”
His eyes swirled black in anger. Finally, the reaction she yearned for. One night didn’t even begin to cover their history. She’d given herself to him, but he only wanted what she had to offer if she gave it all to him. Everything she was. So they were United—a metaphysical pairing which joined them forever, no matter how much she might regret it now. The next morning he started talking about her role in the coven and announcing their union to the Council. Her head spinning with the enormity of it all, she’d asked for time before they told anyone. He took it as a rejection and not only left the room, he left California completely.
“You can tell yourself any lie you want. But don’t try it with me. It won’t work.” His eyes were still dark, but his stance relaxed.
She ignored him. “See you, Tony. Miguel.” She stepped around Thomas and headed for the door, not daring to breathe until she was safely past his reach.
He remained silent until she reached the top of the stairs. “This isn’t over, Juliana. Not even close.”
Chapter Three
Did she think to be rid of him so easily? His little bride, as aggravating and enticing as always. Thomas narrowed his eyes at the door that stood between him and his mate. She thought to reduce their history to one night? He tried to read her, to see if she meant her words, but the shield she erected against him in her mind was impenetrable. Their union should give them access to each other’s emotions, even their thoughts if she let it.
But she threw the wall up right after he left, and only on rare occasions had he been able to get through her mental shields. He hoped lessening the distance between them would make it easier for him to gain access, but he was wrong. If anything, his appearance only made her strengthen the barrier. Seven years he’d been anticipating their reunion and nothing thus far had gone as he envisioned.
He thought once he explained why he left, she’d understand, be grateful even, but she never gave him the chance. The corner of his mouth curled into a reluctant smile as he remembered their volatile exchange. He’d always enjoyed their sparring matches. No one else dared speak to him that way. No one else had in nearly a thousand years and lived. No one but his Juliana.
She always had a sharp tongue and a quick temper, even as a child. Her complete disregard for the danger he represented was the reason he took her off the streets in the first place. Well, that and his sister’s begging. Sara had been as instantly snared by Juliana as he was. She’d never feared him, never questioned her belief that he wouldn’t harm her. She reminded him of his humanity.
And she’d been completely unwilling to admit that she needed help. She’d been taking care of herself for months when Sara came across her in the park and they became instant friends. Twelve years old with no memory of where she came from or who she was beyond her name. Of course, her age was an estimate done by the same doctors that had done the tests to determine her heritage. She’d built a new life with them in their coven. And then another life after he left.
His smile faded into a frown. Despite the familiarity of her anger, she wasn’t the same woman he left behind. She’d changed. Changes that went beyond her red-streaked hair and the lean muscle that now graced her body from head to toe. She’d lost the playful edge she used to have. The twinkle that lit her eye as she antagonized him. She was harder, rougher around the edges.
But it was the injury she wouldn’t let him examine that stayed in the forefront of his mind. He knew she worked for the Agency, knew she was a Walker even, but never imagined she would be in a high-risk position. There were many who bore the title Realm Walker and never left the walls of the Agency as their skills were not suited for the field. Curse it, what had that girl been up to?
“You told her I was coming?” He kept his eyes locked on the door, some part him waiting for her to walk back through and finish their fight.
“No. Of course not, my lord,” the underling behind him stammered.
Thomas hadn’t actually thought the man had, but he’d learned long ago never to make assumptions. The manager of the Den had been one of his best informants over the past seven years. Juliana was in the bar almost as much as she was home. But Tony hadn’t told him everything. Thomas wasn’t foolish enough to think he happened along the first night she’d been hurt and Tony had never mentioned any injuries. The man would answer for his omission later.
Thomas should let her go. Should find her again later when she’d had time to absorb his return. He knew this but he found himself flashing back to the vivid daydream he’d allowed himself on the flight home. Juliana, happy to see him, had thrown herself into his arms. Unable to wait another moment before he claimed her, he emptied the bar and took her on the nearest table. The image was enough to make him follow her into the night.
Juliana was just climbing on her Ducati when he opened the door. A tendril of power snaked away from him to wrap around her, caress her. It was a physical manifestation of their bond, one that went beyond their union. He could control it if he chose, keep his power contained, but what was the point? No, better to remind his bride that he was there. And that she better get used to it.
The limo he brought from the airport drove up and he slid into the back seat just as Juliana pulled out of the parking lot. He shut the door and the driver glanced back at him. Michael Bishop, the only one he’d trust with his life and, more importantly, Juliana’s.
/> Michael arched his brows. “What do you want to do?”
“Follow her. Make sure she gets home all right.”
“She won’t like it,” he said, but put the car in gear and followed in her wake.
Fifteen minutes after Juliana left the Den, she pulled into the short drive next to a small well-kept house.
“What is this?” Thomas asked. He assumed Juliana would head straight home.
Michael coughed into his hand, but Thomas had already seen the smirk. “This is her house.”
Thomas ran his eyes over the hovel before him. It was what a real estate agent would have called “cozy”—which translated to “tiny.” He’d be astounded if there was more than one bedroom. Glancing down the length of the street he saw the only working light was directly across from her and it flickered on and off. “That is not a house. That is a hut.”
Juliana flipped him off and shut the door behind her. After a moment, he motioned for Michael to drive on. She was doubtless tucked in safe behind multiple wards and enchantments. At least, she better be in this neighborhood. He had antagonized her enough for one evening. “Why did you not tell me she was living in such conditions?”
Michael shook his head. “She’s happy there and she’s done a lot of good for the people in the neighborhood. Leave her be.”
In the past several years, Michael had taken a very protective stance when it came to Juliana. It was a trait Thomas usually liked in his second, but not now. She didn’t need protection from him. It was everyone else Michael needed to worry about. Thomas mentally counted to ten. If he didn’t value his second so much, he’d remind him exactly what his place was, but he didn’t want to lose him. Not over this. Juliana belonged to Thomas, regardless what anyone else might think, including the woman herself.
He let his mind wander as Michael drove him to the house. There was no reason for Juliana to be living as she was. Everything he possessed was hers. She had a home, money and she turned her back on all of it to live like a pauper. He ground his teeth. The cursed girl stripped his nerves bare and stomped all over them. She always had.
Michael’s phone rang. The timing was too coincidental for it to be anyone but his bride. She’d want to know why her lover hadn’t informed her that her husband was back in town. Thomas allowed himself a bitter smile. Oh, he knew the moment his bride had fallen into bed with his most trusted associate. In a way, it was what he wanted when he left and he supposed that Michael was a better choice than most. He would protect Juliana with his life.
Thomas also knew that if Michael were aware of their union he never would have slept with her in the first place. “Answer it,” Thomas said after the third ring.
“I’m driving.”
“I wasn’t asking.” Thomas met Michael’s eyes in the mirror.
Michael swallowed whatever argument he’d been about to make and answered. “I didn’t know,” he said, confirming it was Juliana on the line. “He said he had some business and left on an errand out of town. He’s moving home. You aren’t getting rid of him.”
“Super.” Her voice drifted to where Thomas sat in the back. Sometimes he was more grateful for his superior hearing than others. “Where are you?”
Michael shifted in his seat. “I have some business to finish up. I’ll be around in a day or two at most.” Not a lie, but skirting the edge of truth.
“Call me when you get here. I want to see you.” Thomas clenched his teeth. She should be saying those words to him. No one else.
Michael glanced at him for the barest of moments. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Why not? I hope you don’t think you get to disappear just because Thomas shows back up.” Thomas dropped his chin against his chest unwilling to let Michael see the pain the conversation brought with it.
Michael cleared his throat. “You know why not. You’re his whether you want to admit it or not. You always have been.”
“I don’t belong to anyone, Michael. Especially him.”
“I’ve got to go. We’ll talk when I get there.”
Thomas kept his head down as his second hung up the phone.
“I can explain,” Michael said after a moment, his voice low.
“That won’t be necessary. I’m aware of more than you imagine.”
* * *
Juliana tossed her phone on the table, knowing it wasn’t broken despite the satisfying crack it made. The cursed thing was impossible to break. She’d tried many, many times. Curse Michael for not being more concerned about Thomas’s sudden decision to move home. And curse Thomas for making her care. She shouldn’t give a crap what he did. Shouldn’t care where he lived or why. But she did. She couldn’t shut down that elated part of her that was jumping around like a demifae on crack.
That this was the first Michael heard of Thomas’s move bothered her. Thomas didn’t go around announcing his plans, but he rarely kept them from Michael. Shit.
Michael was Thomas’s second, the one that would take over his territory should anything happen to him. Once upon a time, she thought nothing could separate them. Then the vampire Thomas put in charge of the coven when he left attacked her, drained her and left her for dead. It was her first death. At the time, she also wished it had been her last.
When Raoul and his cronies realized she survived, they fled the territory. Thomas sent Michael to find out why. Instead, he found her in a hospital bed with Thomas’s sister Sara holding her hand. Sara had been too afraid of her brother’s wrath to call and give him the news. Michael told her not to and sent her home.
Thomas reclaimed the coven, ruling it from afar and Michael stayed with Juliana for a year. After he helped her heal, he helped her hunt the bastards down. They’d found them all except for Raoul. They still chased down the occasional lead, but always came up empty handed. When Michael returned to Thomas, he didn’t breathe a word of what had transpired.
At the time, Juliana thought he had and Thomas just hadn’t cared. Michael told her it wasn’t his story to share. She believed him. He’d never lied to her before and she didn’t see why he’d suddenly start. She hadn’t thought about the attack in months and she hated Thomas for bringing it to the forefront of her mind again. Hated him for stirring up emotions she buried a long time ago.
She picked up the phone and dialed Sara’s number.
“Thomas is back,” Juliana said.
There was a long silence on the line. “Well, crap.”
“You didn’t know?”
“Of course not.” Relief flooded through Juliana. “He may be my brother, but I wouldn’t let him surprise you like that. Although...”
“What?” she asked, already knowing she wasn’t going to like the answer.
“It should tell you something that he came looking for you before seeing me and Rachel.”
Juliana ran a hand down her face. “He was probably just checking on the Den,” she said even though she knew it was a lie. “It would figure the person I least want to see owns my favorite bar.”
“If you recall, that is precisely why it was your favorite bar once upon a time.”
Juliana grimaced at the reminder. “That was a long time ago. Now I like it because everyone leaves me alone.”
“Have you talked to Michael?”
She clenched her teeth. “He says he didn’t know anything about it?”
There was silence for a moment. “You believe him?”
“I haven’t decided yet. I am starting to regret not letting James give me those mage lessons he offered, however. A fireball spell wouldn’t be remiss right now.”
Sara snorted a laugh. “That is unfortunate. My husband would have greatly enjoyed teaching you how to bespell my brother’s ass. Not that you haven’t done it in your own way already.”
“Yeah, that’s enough of that conversation. I’ve got to go. I’ll talk to you later.”
She tossed the phone on the table and rolled to her feet. She peered through the slit at the edge of the curtain. Her
eyes ran up and down the length of the street looking for any sign of Thomas or the car. They skipped over a shape in the lot opposite her house then snapped back when her brain realized it didn’t belong. A figure stood with hands stuffed in his pockets. The streetlight at his back kept his face in shadow.
It wasn’t Thomas. The figure was too short, too lean to be her vampire. She eased away from the window, careful not to disturb the curtain.
Grabbing her gun, she fired up her gift as she opened her door and stepped out onto the front stoop. Cold cement against her feet reminded her she wasn’t dressed for a pursuit. Scanning the area, she picked up no signature, nothing at all. Not even the residual signature she should have gotten if someone had just left. There was no sign anyone had been there at all. Her blood chilled. The key was not to freak out. The cursed troll had probably given her a brain infection and she was imagining the whole thing.
She slipped back inside the house, locking the door behind her. For an hour, she moved from window to window searching for another glimpse, another sign she wasn’t crazy. Nothing. Of course not, why would there be? That would mean she could relax and quit freaking out. Eventually she crawled back onto the couch. She placed her gun within easy reach on the table beside her and she fell into a fitful sleep.
* * *
The phone vibrated and shimmied across the tabletop, knocking against the wood as it went. She opened one eye to scowl at it, but it continued to buzz instead of going to voicemail. The Agency provided her phone, which meant they could charm it and she couldn’t say a word. The charm that gave her full service bars and a battery that never died she loved. The one that caused the phone to continue to ring until she answered when the call was work related? Not so much.
She glanced at the clock and groaned. Fewer than four hours of sleep. She groped along the scarred wood, feeling a flash of triumph as her fingers closed around the cool plastic. This had better not be another bullshit relocation or she was going to shove the phone up someone’s ass.
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