by Olsen, Lisa
Aubrey – is he linked to Vetis? What was with that world order crack? What does Bishop blame him for?
“Whatcha working on?” Rob asked, locking the suite door after sending Gunnar off with instructions for the rest of the security team.
“Oh, just some notes on the people I met tonight. To try and keep them straight in my head, you know? It’s a lot of new introductions, I wanted to make some observations while they were still fresh in my mind.”
“Good idea. Anyone you’re worried about?”
“It’s too early to tell, really. Everybody still has their game faces on. We’ll see what happens when we get deeper into the talks. I’m especially interested to see what Corley has up his sleeve. Did you catch the Smiley Smilerson act he put on when we first got here? But then he tries to put me on the spot with a song?”
“You showed him though, you came through like a champ.”
“Thanks,” I smiled. “But I can’t take credit for that. Jakob compelled me not to be afraid of performing anymore. Not that I asked him to.”
Rob let out a low whistle, sitting beside me on the bed. “Do you mind, or are you glad he done it?”
“Mostly I’m relieved to be able to sing whenever I want in front of whoever and not feel like I have to vom first. But…”
“You can’t help but feel like he took advantage of you in a way.”
“A bit, yes. You have a remarkable sense of understanding for someone who can’t be compelled,” I mused aloud. If anything, I’d have thought it would affect him the opposite, never having experienced it himself.
Rob gave a half shrug. “I’ve seen what it can do to people up close and personal.”
“Sounds like there’s a story behind that.”
“I s’pose there is.”
“Someone you cared about?” Our shoulders almost grazed against each other, and I could feel the heat of his thigh next to mine through the gauzy dress fabric.
“Very much,” he replied soberly, staring down at Jakob’s ring on my finger. “It ended badly.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Not your fault, it was a long time ago. You remind me of her a bit. But you’re stronger than she was.” The hint of a smile lifted the corner of his mouth. “You’re a survivor, you are.”
“Especially with you by my side to keep me safe.” I nudged his shoulder with mine.
“You’re not wrong there. I won’t let anything happen to you. You know that, right?” He nudged me back.
“It’s one of the few things I’m sure of these days.” We sat there, shoulder to shoulder, just sort of looking at each other, neither of us feeling the need to speak. Until some… amorous sounds came through the walls from Felix and Bridget’s room and we both smiled uncomfortably and looked away.
“Hey, did you know that the vamps back home are openly challenging the Order?” I said, more for something to fill the silence than because I thought he really did have any information on it.
“Seems to me I might have heard something along those lines, yeah.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? Bishop says if we don’t stop it, the Order will send a bunch of reinforcements to crack down on us and make it worse for everyone.”
Rob seemed largely unconcerned. “Don’t get your knickers in a knot, Bishop was trying to get you riled up is all. It’s only in the San Francisco area as I heard tell about it, and there wasn’t any riots in the streets or nothing. The vamps in town are just standing up for themselves instead of cowering in fear. If the Order is scared about it, that’s their problem.”
“But what if they…”
He stilled my words with a single finger across my lips. “Anja… don’t go borrowing trouble. The Order’s got more to worry about than a few upstarts in a single town half the world away. We’ve plenty of time to see how it plays out. Now, you should get some rest.”
My lips parted, brushing across the pad of his finger. In the worst way I wanted to draw it into my mouth, but all I did was nod, lips curving the slightest bit to form an open mouthed kiss of sorts. Rob’s eyes were riveted to my mouth, and I felt his sharp intake of breath before he pulled his hand away.
“I’ll be quick in the bathroom, then leave you to your rest,” he said, sliding off the bed.
I slipped out of the pretty dress while he was in there, almost half hoping he’d catch me mid change, but I had my pj’s on by the time he emerged, smelling minty fresh.
“You don’t have to sleep out there on the couch, you know,” I threw out there, lingering by the door as he passed by with hardly a look at me.
“I’m not leaving you here alone, I don’t trust their security.”
Not what I meant, but I moved on. He obviously wasn’t thinking about sharing anything more than the bathroom. “You don’t have to be uncomfortable all night just to keep me safe. I’ll lock the door, I’m sure it’ll be fine.”
“You want me to leave?” His head canted to one side in puzzlement.
I let out a long breath. We were on two completely different wavelengths and I wasn’t brave enough to come out and invite him to share my bed. “No, that’s not what I meant at all.”
His shoulders dropped in exasperation. “If there’s something you want me to do before we settle in for the night, just come out and say it.”
“It doesn’t matter what I want, you’ve already made the decision for both of us.”
Understanding dawned, but with it came that tight reserve once more. “Goodnight then. I’ll wake you when the sun goes down.”
“Rob?”
“Yeah?”
“I meant what I said before.”
“You say a lot of things.”
“In the hall, when I was singing.” I might have been imagining it, but I thought his eyes warmed for just a moment before they became guarded again.
“You also said you were over Bishop. Is that true?”
“I want it to be.” I couldn’t say more than that, not with certainty.
“It doesn’t matter, forget I said anything about it. I’m sure he’ll come around and you’ll work things out together.”
“That’s not what I want.”
“We don’t all the time get what we want. Leastways not with someone like our benefactor in the picture.”
“And if he wasn’t there?”
His hazel eyes locked with mine, sending me a heated look that made my toes sweat. “I would fight for what’s mine.”
I let out a shaky breath. “I would too.”
“Well now, seeing as how we know where we stand, I’ll say goodnight, miss.”
“Goodnight.” I shut the bedroom door, leaning against it as a truth settled over me. I might get the occasional kiss out of a moment of weakness, but Rob would never choose to be with me, not while Jakob was alive. I could torture myself by singing him love songs and sighing every time his fingers brushed against my skin, but it wouldn’t make him mine.
The man was made of restraint, he’d proven it time and again. Apart from a few slips here and there, he’d been able to completely hide his feelings for me for months. Part of that was my own density, but mostly it was because he didn’t allow himself to give into his emotions. Bridget was right, a man like Rob would never let me all the way in to his heart. He might love me, but we didn’t stand a chance.
I lay awake for far too long contemplating that single thought before sleep finally claimed me for the day.
Chapter Thirteen
The next night, being Twelfth Night, was the occasion for Odin’s Hunt. Luckily, I had enough time to Google it, and the idea was, we’d all go riding through the countryside, hoping for a glimpse of the Norse God. Never mind that nobody claimed to have actually seen him since the first days of the Ellri, but it’d become a time honored tradition all the same. In any case, a ride on horseback sounded like way more fun than being cooped up in the mansion for a bunch of boring meetings, especially since I hadn’t been riding for a few years.
I half ex
pected to find an old-timey riding habit among the clothes the fae sisters had sent over, but there was nothing like that among them. So, I opted for a pair of jeans, brown leather boots and a soft, cashmere sweater in a mossy green, plaiting my hair back into a single French braid that hung down my back. Rob left his suit behind for a dark fisherman’s sweater and jeans, making do with motorcycle boots. Instead of his usual leather jacket, he wore a heavy pea coat in navy blue to guard against the cold. It was likely to be the most comfortable outfit I’d get to wear for my stay, so I could care less if I looked less posh than my peers in their elegant riding clothes.
Sure enough, Jennike strode into the hall in a tailored jacket and jodhpurs, a crop in hand, looking every inch the refined aristocrat. The other delegates showed up in various riding costumes of their own, the colorful jackets adding a festive flair to the proceedings. The only other person who didn’t make me feel like a bastard cousin was Macallister, who arrived in the expected jeans and boots with a slim fitting vest over a button up shirt, the cowboy hat pulled low over his eyes despite the nighttime sky.
“Let’s get this rodeo started,” he declared with a whoop as we meandered out to the stables where an assembly of horses already waited, saddled and ready to go. There was a lot more mumbling about how they expected him to ride on the “bitty little saddle” provided, only he used a lot more colorful language involving his behind.
I hid my smile over how Mac seemed to take it as a personal insult that they’d stuck him with a nag instead of a horse more befitting his capabilities. I was more than happy with the gentle bay they’d provided for me. Her name was Cinnamon, and I privately told her she was the prettiest horse there.
“That’s it, make friends with the horse, and you won’t go wrong,” Rob nodded his approval, checking to make sure all the straps and things were as they should be. “You going to have any trouble with this saddle?”
“I’ve never ridden an English mount before, but I’m willing to give it a go.”
“Atta girl. You’ll be fine as long as you’re easy on the reins, but don’t be afraid to tell her what you want.”
“Do you have a lot of experience with horses?”
“Oh yeah, me and horses is mates. Growing up on a farm, you can’t help but be familiar with them, especially back then.” His assigned horse was a spotted gray (named Flicka or Flicker – it was hard to tell with the accent), with a lively step, itching to be let loose.
I always forgot about his simpler roots, but I could see the easy familiarity with which he checked the tack and handled the horses, especially when my gentle Cinnamon startled. Her eyes rolled wide as she fidgeted in place, trying to break free of the lead.
“Ho there, luv, nothing to worry about. You’re safe with me,” Rob cooed to the mare, stroking the side of her neck while firmly taking hold of the reins to give her less slack. “What’s got you all jumbly then, eh? You’re fine…”
“H…h… hello, A-Anja,” a hesitant voice sounded from behind me. I turned to see Tucker standing there, his shoulders hunched with uncertainty as he waited to see how I’d receive him. No wonder the horse had spooked!
“Tucker!” I grinned, thrilled to see the young werewolf again. “I’m so happy to see you! Did Brody give you any trouble about assigning you to me?”
“N-no, not rreally.” He shook his head, blonde hair falling into his pale, blue eyes. “Is M-M-M-M-M…”
I realized he wanted to know if Maggie was with me, and that meant she hadn’t told him she wasn’t coming. “No, Tucker, I’m sorry. Maggie stayed back in San Francisco,” I said softly, resisting the urge to hug the poor guy at the way his shoulders drooped even more. “You can understand why though, right?”
He nodded without reply.
“Are you coming with us on the hunt?”
“Y-Y-Y…” he nodded again.
“Well, great. Let’s get you a horse.”
“N-not on horseback.” He shook his head and I understood that he’d be coming along in wolf form. Hopefully that didn’t spook the horses even more, but I had to assume he knew what he was doing.
“Oh, okay.” A horn sounded and people started mounting their horses. “I’d better get saddled up. We’ll talk more later.”
Tucker gave a shy nod and loped off, presumably to change. Part of me wanted like anything to watch the transformation, but I figured it was a pretty personal thing and he probably didn’t want an audience. Besides, it was time to mount up, and Rob was on hand to help me up onto the block.
“They’ve given you a side saddle,” he said as I prepared to throw my leg over the back.
“You’re kidding me. People still do that?”
“Gently bred ladies do.”
Sure enough, Jennike sat side saddle, her spine straight as a board. “Gently bred my…” I pressed my lips together to keep from saying something that might be overheard.
Rob leaned closer. “You don’t have to if you don’t want to, but with your age…”
“They’ll be expecting it,” I murmured. “Aw, what the heck, I’ll give it a shot. The worst that can happen is I fall off, right?” I smiled thinly, trying to figure out how best to get on the thing.
“Let me help you,” Rob offered, easily picking me up by the waist and setting me up on the horse. It took a few moments to find my center of balance in the unfamiliar position, but he held onto me until I was settled. “You good?”
“Yes, I’m fine, thanks.” A little too wobbly for comfort, but not too bad. “Hey, where’s Felix?” I asked, suddenly realizing he was nowhere in sight. “And Gunnar too. Aren’t they coming along?”
“I heard Felix say he’d rather eat dirt than go for a ride. Though I suspect it was fear of that very thing that kept him away from it,” he grinned up at me.
“Ah, gotcha,” I nodded. “And Gunnar?”
“About that, Gunnar came to me and asked if he could sit this one out as well.”
“Did he say why?”
“Apparently him and horses don’t get along so well.”
“Why? What did horses ever do to him?”
“I think it was something about their teeth he objects to.”
That struck me as hilarious for some reason, and I had to stifle my giggles with my sleeve. My big bad bodyguard was afraid of horses? And a vampire to boot; it seemed like the horse should be more afraid of him than the other way around.
“Well, that’s too bad, they’re both going to miss out on all the fun. It should be fine the two of us though, don’t you think?”
Rob swung himself up into the saddle in one perfect motion. “Yeah, I reckon we’ll be fine at that,” he nodded, sitting with easy grace. “Besides, we have Tucker if something goes pear shaped.” He jerked his head toward the treeline where a dark shadow loomed. Tucker, I assumed.
“Okey doke, let’s get this show on the road.”
Already the delegates had started moving off, riding singly and in pairs. All followed Corley who wore a bright red jacket, Jennike beside him.
I ambled along behind them, taking it slow as I tried to get used to the rolling gait of the horse from my precarious position. How the heck did ladies accomplish it in a dress? I sure didn’t feel more ladylike for riding that way – I felt like a big, clumsy, dork. Rob kept pace beside me, making no comment about my snail’s speed. Every so often I caught a glimpse of Tucker in wolf form slinking along between the trees, keeping a respectful distance to keep the horses from shying away.
Once we were about a half mile away from the house, the horn sounded again and the riding party picked up the pace. If I’d been trailing behind before, they really left me in the dust now. I tried urging Cinnamon to go faster for a few awkward lengths before I gave up.
“The heck with this,” I muttered, unhooking my leg to sit astride. Even without a second stirrup, it was so much easier to keep my balance, and I shot ahead, no longer in danger of completely losing the group.
“Atta girl,” Macallister w
hooped as I passed by him. “Ride it, darlin’!”
Flashing him a smile, I kept up my speed, feeling more confident as the horse surged beneath me, eager to get in a spot of exercise. I could hear Rob behind me, and I trusted him to keep up as I let Cinnamon have her head. After all, falling wasn’t nearly the scary option it used to be. Odds were I’d be able to walk away from any injury unless she happened to throw me in such a way that I landed skewered on a tree branch.
After a while, the group of riders fanned out, and I slowed a touch as the trees grew more dense. Rob picked his way to my side, and we rode in companionable silence until I wondered if there was something in particular we were supposed to be doing.
“So… is this it then? We’re out for a ride? We’re not actually hunting anything, are we?”
“Nah, it’s just an excuse for a drunken ride most of the time. At least that’s how I remember it from when I was a boy. Don’t get much of a chance to do this in the city. Why, you getting bored?”
“Me? No, I’m having a great time.” Thanks to my vampire endurance, my muscles weren’t even the least bit tired. “It does make me wonder what it’d be like to ride through the woods during the daytime though.”
“Do you miss it?”
“Sometimes,” I admitted. “For the most part I don’t think about it, but when we stop and spend time at the beach or out in nature like this… I can’t help but wonder how gorgeous it’d be in the sunlight.”
“If it helps, it’s cold and miserable out here most days, not like it is out in California. You’re not missing much.”
“It’s nice of you to say so, but we both know that’s not a hundred percent true.” Sometimes I forgot Rob wasn’t a vampire, like me. He moved around so comfortably in our world, it was hard to imagine him waking up at dawn to put on a suit and tie, working the nine to five day job. Then again, he probably hadn’t had to work a real job for years, if ever. Not with Jakob keeping him on the payroll.
“You can tolerate the sun somewhat, if you’ve a keen desire to watch the sun over the water, or see the flowers in bloom.”
“Sure, if I feel like covering myself from head to toe and if I can stay awake long enough.” It wasn’t the same.
