by Devlin Chase
Chapter 8
Cat stared out at the burning skyline and knew she was facing the last few minutes of her life.
As Jacen approached she stared at the flaming buildings and saw them for the façade they were. This was clearly Jacen’s gift, the ability to let you see what he wanted you to see. Perhaps it was nothing more than glamour, she thought. Either way, it was quite impressive.
But she could see through it now and hoped with all her heart that what she was about to do would work. It was only a temporary measure, but it might be enough to keep him at bay long enough for her to find her missing brothers and sisters before he did.
“It could be perfect,” she heard him whisper behind her and turned, seeing his cruelly beautiful face, his tall muscular frame encased in black leather. His hair hung black and straight to his lower back and his blood ringed eyes latched onto hers with a hunger that stunned her.
“No,” she sighed. “It could never be perfect because you don’t want it to be perfect.”
He stepped closer still, reaching his hand out as she stepped back, feeling his fingers graze the thin fabric of her t-shirt before she butted up against the broken frame of the window.
She’d arrived at the apartment to find it destroyed much like Frankie’s had been, glass littering the floor around broken furniture.
The sudden blaze that had erupted around her had been a nice touch, she thought. She’d managed a fearful look, which hadn’t been too difficult actually. It had become far more genuine as he’d stepped into the room behind her.
She felt glass cut deep into her hands, knowing it would draw Darien to her, clearer than any homing beacon, and she could feel him pulse within her own blood, knowing he was just down the hall in case she needed him.
Then she faced Jacen, dragging her hand through hair that was still matted with her perspiration and blood following her Ascension. She could feel the smear of blood she left on her forehead as she retreated, felt the glass cut into her back and sides as she tensed against the window frame.
He seemed to sense what she was about to do. “You cannot do this!” He yelled as he reached for her, trying to keep her close. “I will not allow it!”
Now her laughter erupted, bubbling like water as her legs tensed against the low wall, drawing pressure into her feet.
“Oh, but I can,” she smiled broadly.
“It’s called free will, and it’s the one thing you can never take from me, you son of a bitch!”
She pushed against the frame, throwing herself out of the window, hearing Jacen’s howl of rage as she fell. Then she simply vanished.
Jacen was still staring out of the window, his mouth agape as he stared at the space Cat had just occupied when he heard a soft panting behind him.
Whirling around, he came face to face with the object of his obsession, seeing her drag her hand through her hair again.
“I can see why you guys love doing that,” she grinned, revealing fangs that had never been there before. “It’s one hell of a fucking rush.”
He lunged and she vanished again, reappearing a few feet beyond his reach. He hissed with fury as she smiled.
“You really ought to know when you’re beat,” she said softly and with no malice.
He glowered at her, his eyes a burning blood red, as she leveled her gaze at him.
“My Ascension has passed and I’m bonded to Darien.”
Her words shocked him but his eyes narrowed and a sly smile lifted his cruel mouth. “How? Nobody knows the incantations and even the Council no longer believes in the prophecy.”
“Hmm. Maybe that’s true.” Cat smiled, her hands braced on the bar counter behind her. “But the Elementals believe in it and Galena, it turns out, is pretty handy with a photocopier.”
Jacen stared at her, seeing her fangs as she smiled and realizing that everything he’d planned for so long was under threat. He snarled as he took a step toward her, his own fangs fully extended as he loosed a roar of pure anger.
Cat remained unfazed, merely lifting her hand as he approached, as if her gesture were enough to halt him in his tracks; which it was.
“Things are going to be a bit more difficult for you from here on out, I think.” She pushed away from the counter and headed for the door. “Frankie’s being watched around the clock and I doubt you’ll find a chance to get too close.”
Cat paused, her hand on the door handle. “You don’t know the identity of the others any more than we do. So I guess we’ll meet again before long.”
The door opened and she stepped into the hallway. “Take care, Jacen.” The door closed softly behind her.
He stood in the devastated apartment for a moment, considering her words. Then he flung himself at the door, nearly ripping it off its hinges as he stepped into the hallway.
The woman he’d spent so many years looking for was heading down the passage at a quick pace. Clearly she wasn’t as confident as she’d appeared to be inside the apartment just moments earlier. At the far end of the passage, illuminated by the dim glow of the exit sign above them, Darien was turning to smile at her, his blue eyes shimmering with what Jacen could only assume was an echo of something they’d shared during the Ligata’s Ascension. But the electric shimmer darkened to ice as he saw Jacen loom behind Cat, hands reaching for her and the expression on his face leaving Darien in no doubt that if the older vampire couldn’t have her then nobody would.
Suddenly, what had occurred during Cat’s Ascension slammed into him with the force of a runaway truck. He’d given himself over to this woman, body and soul, relinquishing everything that had driven him century after century.
His reaction to the murderous gleam in Jacen’s eyes was visceral in its intensity. In an instant all he could feel was the overwhelming desire to destroy that which was threatening his mate and he felt a familiar urge swell within him as his sin stared intently at Jacen.
Mine.
Greed threatened to overwhelm him completely as he launched himself down the passage, his movement past Cat so fast that all he sensed was her hair fanning around her shoulders as the breeze wafted around her.
His hands wrapped around Jacen’s throat; his face contorting with rage as he propelled the older vampire back against the wall. Despite Jacen being taller and bulkier, Darien managed to pin him against the wall, loosening one hand yet still able to keep his enemy immobile as he bared his fangs and brought his face close to Jacen’s.
“You touch her and I will slice your head off myself and leave your remains for the vultures to pick at before the sun comes up and turns you to ash!”
Darien’s hand tightened. “She. Is. Mine.”
Jacen appeared momentarily surprised at the absolute rage pouring off the usually controlled younger vampire. But he concealed his emotion swiftly, his eyes narrowing.
“Fine!” he spat out, jerking his head until Darien loosened his grip and his feet found the floor again. “She’s yours; I can’t have her. I get it.”
He rubbed at his neck, even though the gesture was futile and more for show than any evidence of pain; there had been no blood spilled although he was sure Darien would be willing to go into full-blown attack mode if he made any further move toward the woman who was staring at them from just a few feet away. Casting a quick glance at her face Jacen could see that Cat’s eyes were wide with shock, but gleaming with something he was sure was aroused pride that her mate was so willing to defend her.
He took a step back, putting distance between them as Darien took his own couple of steps back, reaching Cat and shielding her behind his body.
This could turn ugly real quick, Jacen thought as he stared at Darien. He knew he could have taken the other in a down and dirty fight any day up until the day the younger vampire had met the female. Now, of course, it was a different story and he could see the truth of that shimmering in the radiant glow of Darien’s eyes. Damn but the male had always had weird eyes but now they were downright freaky.
The pos
sessive way in which he protected his female was all the proof Jacen needed to know that the two were bonded by Cat’s Ascension. There was a strength in the woman that he hadn’t sensed before, an authority he knew was more than just her taking on the traits of her lover and mate.
His eyes narrowed again as he watched her, aware of the growl that was rumbling from the depths of Darien’s chest. But he couldn’t take his eyes off her. He felt an eerie sense of detachment as he watched the interplay between them, the way they moved in synch with each other.
The Ascension and subsequent bonding had worked; there was a connection between the two of them that was almost tangible and he felt a flood of relief course through his body, relief and excitement.
His mind worked quickly as he tried to piece together the order in which the bonding processes had to occur. There had been nothing in the prophecy to say in which sequence the bondings must occur but if he went with the dogma of the Church then pride would be the first of the sins and somehow he hadn’t pictured Darien being the embodiment of the deadliest sin.
Facts and assumptions tumbled around in his mind until, his eyes widening, everything fell into place.
He recalled the many years of watching Darien obsess over his holdings, his wealth and status. Then he considered the nightly forays Cat had been making recently in an effort to raise the funds to help with an orphan’s operation and her eagerness to be the one to provide what the child needed so desperately.
Greed and Charity.
Watching them Jacen couldn’t help but see the desperate way in which Darien was protecting Cat. Evidently his greed was still in place and he wondered what the male had sacrificed in order to complete the bonding and what Charity had demanded in return.
Nothing was evident as he observed them and he cursed the fact that there was so much still hidden, even from him, the one who had resurrected the Ligata. If there was no logical order to the bonding of Sin and Virtue then he would have to create one to suit himself.
But that was for another time. Darien was restless and, judging by the tense line of his mouth, the younger male was going to regret his decision to allow him to leave so easily.
About to turn away, Jacen paused and tilted his head to stare at Cat, who was peering from behind Darien’s shoulder.
“I’d like to wish you well finding your other precious Ligata, Cat. But lying isn’t my sin.”
His lips lifted in a twisted parody of a smile as Darien took a step toward him, his eyes flashing with electric fire.
“See you both real soon.”
Before Darien could take another step Jacen turned, his leather coat swirling around his legs as he took off down the passage…and simply disappeared, raising a swirl of dust from the carpeted hallway.
***
“I need to work on this vanishing thing.”
Cat climbed to her feet, brushing at the grass that clung to her jeans from where she’d landed.
Darien was climbing out of a rose bush, tangling in the thorns that clung tenaciously to his sweater and his skin. “I think it’s more the rematerializing that needs attention,” he grinned.
No shit, Cat thought as they headed for the front door of the house. Practicing in their room an hour earlier had been one thing but jumping halfway across a city was something else. But she had a feeling she could get used to it pretty quick.
It beat the hell out of rush hour traffic.
Once inside they found Riley limping across the entrance hall from the kitchen. His jacket was shredded across his shoulders and there was a gouge along one cheek. He gave them a sideways look before he continued his slow walk.
“You okay?” Darien asked, knowing that Riley would be fine by tomorrow although he felt a twinge of guilt at not having been with the others when they’d faced off against Jacen.
“He’s fine. It’s more a case of a bruised ego.” Brent sauntered past, covering a yawn with his hand. He was dressed in a clean t-shirt and ragged jeans. His feet were bare and he was carrying a bottle of chilled mineral water in one hand.
Riley turned to glare at him.
‘Yeah? Well I took out three of those dogs by myself.” He followed Brent down the passage. “How many did you take out?”
Cat looked across at Darien and he shook his head as he pulled her into his arms.
“Get a room, why don’t you?” Marabella strode past, encased in a silver catsuit that showed off her slender curves to perfection. Black boots sheathed her legs to her thighs as she headed for the door.
“There’s a club over in Hatfield I’ve been dying to go to all week,” she explained as she pulled the door open. “I figure if we’re going to be here for a while then I might as well avail myself of the local…er, talent.”
She stepped over the threshold. “Ciao.”
Conrad entered from the kitchen, Riley’s car keys jingling in his hands, his sly smile indicating that he would be ready for the beating he’d get when the redhead realized his car had been taken again.
“I’m going to meet the Wakelings that Claude arranged at the airport.”
Cat’s instinct was to press herself closer to Darien. The big man had unnerved her since the first time she’d met him. But, as she watched him stride over to the door she caught the wink he flashed in her direction and tentatively met his broad smile. For once he looked genuinely relaxed and at ease and she was amazed at the way it changed his appearance.
Then he was gone, the door swinging shut behind him, and she was alone with Darien. They walked into the kitchen and found Angelo and Galena at the table, sorting through a pile of papers littered across the pitted surface.
Angelo looked as gorgeous as ever, all signs of his earlier injuries gone and the tattoos on his arms flexed as he swiveled around in his chair. “Everything go okay?”
Galena poured coffee and they sat at the table in comfortable silence.
“How’s Frankie?” Cat asked.
Angelo looked up, his expression hard under the fluorescent lights. “He’s resting in one of the guestrooms. We’re keeping him under until tomorrow night and then we’ll take him back to his apartment.”
Cat frowned. “Isn’t it safer to have him stay here? Especially if he’s going to go through the same thing I did?”
“It’s best that he gets back to his normal life. It’ll make his Ascension easier when it’s time.”
Cat stared at the scarred table top. “But he knows so much now.”
Angelo’s smile was bitter. “Not anymore. I’ve already taken his memories. All he’ll know is that he got home and found his place trashed.” He avoided her eyes as he turned his attention back to the papers.
“It’s better this way.”
***
Later, lying in Darien’s arms and hearing the rhythmic thump of his heart under her cheek Cat thought back over the last week of her life. She was now a full-blooded Ascended Ligata, although she had no real idea what that meant.
She had a bone marrow donation coming up, a brother who was going to need her more than ever and an evil vampire who was prepared to do God knows what to find her brothers and sisters before they could.
And she had a new family now, one which was going to take some getting used to.
As if he sensed her disquiet, Darien shifted beneath her, brushing his lips along the top of her head.
“Something wrong, love?”
Cat wasn’t sure how to answer. She had so many questions. But she knew that Darien would answer then as best he could in the days and weeks to come. Something else was bothering her, something that had been nagging at the back of her mind for days.
She leaned up, propping her arms against Darien’s chest. In the warm glow from the bedside lamp she could sense the vivid blue of his gaze as he stared down at her.
“The night we went back to my apartment, when Jacen found me…”
Her words faltered, images of that night coming back to her and making her shudder. But she pressed on.
“He told me a story, something about a family being split apart.”
Darien was watching her intently, focused on her every word.
“He said that the father had sent his children away because of something they’d done to anger him. And that they’d hatched a plan to reunite the family.”
She pushed her hair out of her eyes before resting her hand on his chest once more, feeling his hand slide along her back in response.
“Do you know what he meant?”
Darien shook his head. “No idea.”
Cat looked into his eyes and saw nothing but honesty shining in his gaze.
“He was probably just trying to scare you.”
She nodded. He was probably right, although something still nagged at her.
“Family is important to you, isn’t it?”
His words were just a whisper, muffled against her hair as he kissed her again.
“Don’t worry, love. Nothing’s going to happen to Frankie. Angelo’s going to keep watch over him and there’s nothing he won’t do to protect what’s important to us all.”
Cat nodded, resting her cheek against his chest once more, feeling the ripple of muscle as his hand continued its smooth slide up and down her back.
“I have more brothers and sisters out there.”
“I know. And we’ll find them and keep them safe too.”
Lulled by his touch Cat nestled closer into his embrace and smiled, laughter catching in her throat as his hand slid down to grip her hip. Her fangs lengthened and her pulse quickened. She pushed the thoughts of her family from her mind as she turned and opened herself to Darien’s embrace.
There would be time to think about the brothers and sisters she’d never known tomorrow.
For tonight everyone she cared about was safe. She was in the arms of the man she loved and, no matter what happened in the days to come, she knew she’d found her peace.
She’d found her home.
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