Love's Subterfuge (Warrior Camp Book 12)

by Flynn Eire

  Fuck.

  6

  “Spill,” Mark demanded as he caught up with me before the cafeteria. I turned to say something snarky but instead saw worried faces on most of my friends. “You didn’t touch the crabs you were so excited about, went to bed like all the puppies in the world were dead, and then you’ve got puffy eyes. No more of this hiding shit and being stupid guys. Spill.”

  “We met, it didn’t work out,” I answered, scrubbing my eyes when they started to itch again.

  “Why not?” Verge asked gently, rubbing my shoulder. “What did we miss?”

  I met Mark’s gaze, knowing he’d catch on because he was worried and didn’t have other shit going on. “I thought I saw orange eyes that night you came out to the tunnel.”

  Sure enough, he flinched. “Why would he do that?”

  “I don’t know,” I muttered, pulling away from him. “But he thought I was being drama and very clearly said it was over.”

  “Oh, I doubt that,” Lance drawled from the doorway, nodding inside the cafeteria. “Your nose has got to be stuffed up because you didn’t smell this.”

  “Smell what?” I asked, walking towards him.

  “Why did who do what?” Verge asked Mark quietly. “I don’t get it.”

  “The ancient who called me ‘gorgeous’ yesterday has orange eyes.”

  “Why would he say that if he was sending Zibon gifts? Is he stupid and doesn’t realize he’s the drama? Or is he fucking with Zibon’s mind?”

  “No, he’s a stupid, old fool,” Alastair said from in the cafeteria, easily able to hear us, as I reached Lance.

  I gasped as I took in the crazy.

  “Shit, man, he might have said I was gorgeous, but he’s certainly not done,” Mark murmured as my friends caught up.

  I bobbed my head as I looked over the dozens of huge flower arrangements, all made up of breathtaking calla lilies and roses. The coloring was amazing, all sorts of pure white, purples, blues, and even dark colors like black and gray I didn’t know were found in nature. Then I looked to my left and felt like my heart might jump out of my chest.

  “Dude, do we get to seriously eat those?” Verge asked, all of his teeth sweet ones every day of the damn year.

  “Alastair, say something before he faints,” his friend, the one I thought was Proximo said, having trouble not laughing. “He thinks you’re asking him to mate.”

  “No, not today, darling,” Alastair chuckled deeply as he stood and walked over to me. There was a single dark red rose in his hand with an enormous bloom that I’d never seen before besides in pictures. He held it out to me, and I watched my hand take it. “It means unconscious beauty, and that is you, young warrior. You are completely blind to the effect you have on others. The effect you’ve had on me.”

  “You said you were done,” I whispered as he moved closer and cupped my face.

  “I was a fucking idiot. Forgive me? I let the day, the pressure to fix so much, and everything around us darken my mood and outlook instead of hearing you, trying to see what you saw. I was stupid. The moment you closed the door, my heart broke, and I realized there was no way you were playing games but I missed something.”

  “And that led to this?” He still wasn’t making sense.

  “I will explain where my mind went, but I must know if I’ve ruined it all,” he murmured, moving into my personal space as he ran his thumb over my bottom lip. “Say you will forgive me.”

  I tried to get my mouth to work a few times but then finally succeeded when I saw the worry in his eyes he was going to get rejected. If he didn’t really care, if he wasn’t really putting himself out there for me and not playing games, it wouldn’t upset him. “Do you get why I was hurt? Really or do you think—”

  “Yes, I understand,” he assured me. “Subterfuge or having some more fun being the secret admirer to others while you knew wasn’t worth ever making you worry I was toying with you. That of course you would wonder if I was crazy with what I said and then acting like you were the brat. I very much understand, and I’m truly sorry. Sometimes you have to explain things to an old fool, but I always care. I lost my head because I care.”

  “Okay, you’re forgiven,” I agreed, the last word barely out of my mouth before he mashed his lips to mine. When we broke apart, I went to ask something—I wasn’t really sure with my brain all mushy—but then my rose was gone and I was pushed up against the wall by the door.

  “You are too delicious,” he growled and kissed me again, grabbing my ass as his body molded to mine. When we needed air, he nibbled up the line of my neck to my ear. “I wanted big and bold to make sure you knew I was serious. I went a bit overboard because I kept dreaming you would forgive me and would let me make love to you, feeling the petals against our skin as we become one and I bring you pleasure beyond your wildest dreams.”

  “Yeah, we should go do that right now,” I groaned as I fisted his shirt, wanting more.

  A throat cleared loudly to my right, and I glanced over to Dimitri’s frown. “Sorry, as much as I would love to say to take the day, we need you both because the moment we start chopping, those humans will come. They always do, and we need Alastair to handle lots with them and others. And I have a team ready for you.”

  “Plus, you’re taking the day with your mate and sitting down with Marissa,” Alastair said quietly, obviously knowing lots I didn’t. “She’s good. She had me sorted out in minutes when I came in here looking for alcohol and to throw a fit.”

  “Yeah, she’s good, but it’s never a good time, which it won’t ever be, so yeah, we need to,” Dimitri muttered. He gestured over his shoulder. “You’re also kinda scaring the kiddies, as this is their first morning here, and they’re sort of walking in on porn.”

  “They need to get used to people kissing,” I argued, annoyed he would say that.

  “Dude, he was dry humping you into the wall and has his hands down the back of your pants,” Mark drawled. I glanced over at him, and he was twirling my rose. “I mean, we’re your friends, and we’re blushing.”

  “Tonight?” I asked Alastair.

  “It’s a date. A naked, naked date,” he purred, my cheeks heating much to his amusement. One more kiss and he let me go. Then he grabbed my wrist and pulled me back into his arms. “You’re not getting away from me that easily.” I got another toe curling kiss, and then he moved next to me and his arm slid around my waist. “I was hopeful, very hopeful, you would forgive me because you have such a kind heart, and I took some liberties.”

  “What are you talking about?” I asked, distracted from how my body tingled from where he touched me.

  He led me over to a large table and nodded to the spread set up. “There was no way your one cook with a warrior helping with basics could handle all this madness, not right away until idiot trainees are taught how to. My network found another chef who was being forced to close or sell his very famous restaurant and cook for his coven instead, and I offered him another option.”

  “Cooking for all us warriors is better?” I murmured, taking in all the food as my stomach growled loudly. I had barely eaten the sandwiches I’d snagged for dinner.

  “Yes, because we are going to build your private subdivision, and he can have the fancy restaurant there,” he answered and then looked over his shoulder. “Gentlemen, if you would join us, as I would like to get to know Zibon’s friends and have him meet mine.” I realized only then the five other ancients were sitting there with full plates watching us as if we were a fascinating sight.

  “I’m Mark,” my best friend started, always good to read a situation. He pointed to the others in turn. “This is Verge, Wally, Bowie, Nate, and Lance.”

  “The telekinetic who has the family issue he’s petrified over,” Proximo said, giving Alastair a look. “I’ll handle that. I’ve already got feelers out.”

  “Really?” Lance whispered, leaning heavily on a chair in front of him. “You’ll figure out how to keep them from killing me?”
r />   “Killing you?” several of us shouted.

  “Alexander knows,” Lance mumbled. “I could get my father’s council seat when I’m older, as it’s a linage seat, but if I’m dead, there are lots of extended family who want it. I’ve had everything from threats of accidents on my next protection detail to promises they’ll keep me safe if I’m their puppet.”

  “There is way too much crazy in our world,” I bitched, bobbing my head. “Wow.” I glanced at Alastair, sort of letting him know I would ask him for help for Lance.

  He smiled and gave me a quick peck. “Consider it done.”

  “Yeah, you’re really forgiven,” I chuckled, glancing over the food again.

  “Right, onto eating,” he said as he picked up plates for us. Then he pointed out his friends as he introduced them. “That was Proximo who will help Lance. Next is Morggyan, my most trusted second if ever there is a need.”

  “High praise coming from you, Alastair.”

  “Praise you’ve earned many times over,” he assured her with a dip of his head. “All of my friends are trusted or they wouldn’t be here, but Morggyan and I have saved each other’s asses more times than I can count, so she gets the title. Next to her is Basilia, Seneca, Nero, and Gaius. More of us might be coming after some hunting.”

  “You’ve received word then?” Basilia checked, raising an eyebrow. “I would never have thought they’d come into the light.”

  “They may never, but I have word they’re coming this way,” he told them.

  Proximo threw back his head and burst out laughing. “You told them it was good hunting around here. They might not ever build a house in your subdivision, but they would circle us now and again for miles and miles to get good hunting.”

  “To feel that way instead of terrified is so hard for me to comprehend,” Verge blurted out, his eyes wide.

  Basilia gave him a kind smile. “I am just over seven thousand years old, young Verge, and I am one of the youngest of our group, Gaius and Morggyan only behind me. It took a long, long time to get here. I was born the first female warrior, so I fully understand your fear. It is not something easily forgotten no matter how many years pass.”

  “Some of us were raised too stupid to ever be afraid,” Gaius muttered, cutting into his food. “Eat before it gets cold. I’m looking forward to the workout and keeping trainees from falling off mountains.”

  Alastair snorted. “Liar.”

  “Yeah, but you’re always way too much fun when your sex life is good, and after seeing you and this young one kissing over there, you’re going to be completely sated, which means lots of entertainment.”

  “No pressure on the virgin,” I grumbled under my breath as I went for the fancy looking crepes. I heard several people cough or snort, rolling my eyes. Right, they had crazy good hearing. I felt my face flush so fast I got a bit lightheaded. “Fuck, you’re all going to hear me lose my virginity tonight. No, no, that’s so not cool.”

  “If I have my way, the whole warrior dorm will hear it,” Alastair teased, taking my plate and adding crepes. “And often, so don’t worry about them, darling.”

  “Not sure that’s helping.” I bounced it around my head. “Might be turning me on too.”

  “Either is acceptable. Now, you will like these,” he moved on, adding a few cheesy looking things. “Croque-monsieurs are ham baked in croissants and topped with cheese. I had the chef make extras for you to take with you so you keep well fueled today.”

  And going until tonight. He didn’t say it, but it was in his eyes along with a bit too much heat to be polite in front of others. I still loved it, setting my rose down next to me when we sat. I also learned Alastair had a fetish for feeding people, or maybe just me.

  I hoped it was just me.

  He really did, though, holding out fruit pieces to me and bites of his food to eat. He seemed to understand my unasked question and pressed his lips to my ear. “I love watching you eat, feeding you. I don’t understand it myself, but I have a feeling it’s tied to other things I want to feed you.”

  A thrill went through me as his meaning sunk in. I stuffed food in my mouth so fast I barely got to taste it.

  “Slow down,” he chuckled, rubbing my thigh. “As much as your enthusiasm is getting me hot, my heart would break if you choked.”

  “We should make up better before I have to go,” I offered as I stood.

  “Go,” Mark drawled, shaking his head. “I’ll box lots, and I’ll drive one of the trucks so you can eat.”

  “You are a good, good friend,” I sighed, grabbing Alastair’s hand and trying to drag him out of his seat.

  Except he didn’t come, frowning at me. “I thought we made up? Why are you trying to hurry from the breakfast where our friends meet?”

  “Because he wants to do something dirty from the look in his eyes,” Morggyan chuckled. I didn’t even deny it, nodding so fast I thought my head might pop off.

  Alastair gave a slow nod and then got to his feet, leading me over to the table of crazy cool wedding cakes that had been the reason my heart almost beat out of my chest… And Verge’s excitement. They were all covered in marbled frosting, that fondant stuff I thought it was called. The smallest one was five tiers, and they still confused me.

  He wrapped his arms around me from behind as his lips worked along my neck. “I heard you say once when I was visiting this camp that calla lilies and roses were prettiest, and I thought it adorable. The only place I could get something so perfect and lovely for you was a wedding expo given the time of night I got my head on straight. Luckily there was one in Tokyo that agreed to let me buy the flowers in the right colors I wanted.

  “They also told me they had some luscious cakes, and apparently marble frosting will be all the rage this spring because that was what they were showcasing. I had a plane close to the area, and I had it flown over. So yes, your friends can eat as much cake as they want if it makes you happy, because I want you happy.”

  I wasn’t sure what to say, trying to collect my thoughts as I pulled him into the bathroom off the cafeteria and locked the door. He studied me curiously as I leaned against it. “A bit more even would make me happy.”

  “I don’t understand. You don’t like what I did?”

  “I do. It’s amazing.” I walked forward and hugged him. “But Alastair, I would have been happy with one bouquet and a regular store cake. This is amazing. I’m not downplaying that or how overwhelming it is that you flew in part of a wedding expo from Japan because you wanted to apologize—”

  “It needed to be a big apology, like you deserve, because I fucked up.”

  “And we both will, I mean, I hope so because that means we’ll be together and I’m not perfect, so I will.”

  “Yes, I understand, I will too,” he chuckled, kissing my shoulder.

  “But the extreme up after the extreme low that had an extreme up before… I need a bit more even.”

  He flinched and hugged me tighter. “I cannot promise that. I can promise to try, but I feel too much pressure as an ancient with everything happening. If I had come back sooner, stepped out of the shadows—all of it. And I was alone then, darling. I hadn’t even seen my friends for over a century. Grouping together makes us targets. So I will do my best, but I don’t ever want to make a promise I could break.”

  “That’s fair,” I conceded, smiling against his shirt that he cared enough to make sure that was clear. “You can, however, promise not to just lay it all at my feet and say you’re out. I can’t live around anyone again who says their way is the only way, Alastair. It was do as you wanted or you were gone for good, and no one would ever treat me better, and you were so mean, and it hurt so bad—”

  “I’m sorry, darling,” he breathed as he kissed along my neck. “I did not mean to say exactly what would hurt you most. I will do better, my very best so the lows are not so low. I promise I will only ever call a time out as you did. Okay? Don’t cry.”

  I didn’t realize I was
until he said it. I bobbed my head and let him comfort me.

  “I cannot promise not to go to such high extremes, though. I know you said you would appreciate store bought cake and flowers, and I believe that. You would never lie to me about such things. However, the way you light up as you did today or seeing the crabs, it—my heart soars I made you so happy. So it’s my selfishness. I want that for you.”

  “I didn’t get to eat the crabs,” I mumbled with a sniffle.

  “I had the cook save some for you so there are plates full for you.” He hugged me and rubbed my back when I nodded. “Did we really make up now? Have I healed the hurt I caused?”

  “We really made up, but I don’t want to say yes because I—I don’t know, Alastair. I’m new to this. Does maybe being sensitive to it say the hurt is over? Do I know what we are to—”

  “We’re together,” he said with such certainty it did heal my heart. “If I tell you how much I want to be with you, the way you’ve touched my old, mangled heart, I will sound like a stalker.”

  “I could deal with a nice stalker.”

  He sighed and kept kissing my neck. “I was pretty much sunk from the moment I saw you sitting on the obstacle course sobbing you’d killed Lloyd while drinking way too much at the pain it caused you and the zakasacs you killed in that battle.”

  “Don’t tell anyone I feel guilty about that,” I blurted as my heart started beating out of my chest again.

  “Zibon, oh, young, wonderful Zibon, you are not the only one who’s struggled with that.” He smiled at me when I leaned away and blinked up at him. “We all have. Any of us who have been close to the edge. You killed a vampire to protect your friend, but we are trained with the ingrained idea we protect vampires. One instant that is a rule you know without a doubt, and then you killed one.”

  “It eats at me so bad,” I rasped, realizing there was someone who truly understood.

  “I know. I do,” he whispered against my lips. “I’ve killed humans. It’s why I told you that. It’s a scary, scary line. I’m not zakasac because I didn’t do it for blood and power and everything evil. I have killed on accident for feeding before there were blood bags. Before there was much help on how to handle the thirst. That is a scary, scary line.”