Die By Night

by Kaitlynn Aisling

  I’m so enthralled by my expensive surroundings that Gavin has to clear his throat twice to gain my attention.

  “Yes.”

  “Has the fear eased now that we’re indoors?”

  “Oh, aye,” I assure him in a haughty tone, his accent rubbing off on me.

  His amber eyes twinkling, he leans closer.

  “I’ll hold you so close within these arms o’ mine that there will no’ be room for fear tonight.”

  I push him aside, flirting before I can stop myself. The truth is that it’s easier to escape the anxious dread when he’s joking around. At least I think he’s joking.

  “You’re such a rake, just like in those old romance novels,” I say.

  “Really now? The man in those novels is referred tae as a hero. If you want tae think o’ me as such, tis fine with me, lass.”

  “I don’t see it the same way, MacCrae.”

  “Tis King MacCrae, if you insist on my last name.”

  “Oh, so I’ve landed royalty! Yay me.” That explains the hotel, the fleet of rental vehicles, and the airfare here. Old money.

  “Aye, lass you’ve done well for yourself then.”

  “Quit with the lass, you throwback,” I grouse.

  It’s shameful, but money, or the promise of financial security, is an attractive trait in a male, especially if the female is preggers. Baby needs a college fund. He’s charming, solicitous, and funny. From what I can tell, he’s also educated and a fierce protector. All of these qualities are enticing. The one problem, the huge issue, is his belief that he is a werewolf, and that my relationship with him has painted me as a target for vampires, putting both me and my unborn child at risk.

  The bad, though not as numerous as the good, still outweighs it.

  “Sorry, mate. I’ll do my best tae keep from riling your ever ready temper.”

  “Yeah, right. Thanks, your unrighteous jerkiness.”

  Connor flinches away from each word I say, and Piper’s eyes are wide and glistening with tears. Oops. I may have crossed the line on that one. I just thought we were verbally sparring! I mean I was insulting, but not overly so, at least not in my opinion. I’ve committed a huge faux pas, because their culture and traditions are beyond my understanding.

  Gavin laughs, causing his tribe to glance at one another in wonder. Are they shocked that he’s not angry, or that he’s laughing? It could be both. Things can’t be too happy in the wolf world, considering the night that I met Gavin he was drowning his troubles by getting sloshed.

  “All set!” Hawke is back from the front desk and whatever arrangements he was making.

  En masse, the pack stands. I follow their lead. It’ll be all too easy to escape them. The more people in a group, the more confusion can take over. But I’ll have to plan it just right. I can’t risk it at night.

  Through the lobby to the stairs, our herd makes its way to the rooms. It feels like we could take up a whole floor together. We’re on floor eight, which doesn’t strike me as the wisest decision, considering the vampires have the advantage in the air.

  They must not believe in elevators. I’m still weak, pizza and cinnamon roll notwithstanding. I’m back to gasping my way through movement, which increases my sense of weakness.

  “I can carry you now, Natalie.”

  It’s weird to hear my name from his lips; he so rarely uses it. I didn’t know he remembered it.

  “I’m not some wilting flower. I can walk.” Albeit slowly, painstakingly, and uncomfortably right now.

  Stubbornness suits me, but it suits him too. The whole group stops its parade up the steps, as Gavin stops my ascent with a light grasp of my arm. He swoops me into his arms, and we continue on as if nothing happened. No one bats an eye. It all happens so quickly that I’m still working my tongue around the words of protest while already in his arms.

  “Now, isn’t this better?”

  “Not really.” I say it so quietly that he bends his head down to hear me, but then he straightens up.

  “I’d rather no’ know,” he says.

  That Scottish lilt will be the death of me I swear. How am I supposed to deny him any request when it comes out all smoky and sinful? The burr in every ‘r’ and the skipped consonants that make some of his speech a sexy mystery—it’s just too much to resist. I’m beginning to understand his word substitutions too, proving I’ve already spent too much time with the man.

  “You’d best become accustomed tae this. As you get further along you need tae caw canny.”

  OK, that one I don’t have enough context to figure out yet. I do loop my arm over his neck though, because at this point, his will feels inevitable.

  “Take it easy, dove,” Hawke throws over his shoulder, translating the foreign phrase.

  Well, as nice as that sounds, I have a job, a family, a life, and rent to pay. Soon I’ll have a newborn to care for and support; I don’t have time to caw canny.

  When we reach the top of the stairs, they all disperse to their individual rooms. Athol drags her poor husband away, shooting evil glances toward me, and in turn Gavin, since he’s still cradling my body close. Piper and Nolan give longing glances toward each other, before Silas drags Piper to another door, her mom following close behind. Nolan’s parents chuckle a little as he trudges to his own room door. They’re more indulgent than Piper’s family, apparently.

  Hawke opens a door midway down the hall for Gavin to walk through, and then goes next door with Connor.

  I got my wish; our room features two queen size beds. A nagging voice in my head reasons that the reason there are two beds in this room is because Hawke and Gavin were originally staying here together.

  The door shuts behind Gavin, and he sits down atop the comforter on the bed closest to the window, with me still in his arms. This of course prompts me to wiggle and fidget until he sighs and lets me go.

  “Explanations then?”

  “Yes, please,” I reply primly.

  I sit on the bed closest to the door so that I can face him on even turf, so to speak. The pleasant give as I settle against the navy micro suede comforter promises a good night’s rest, the perfect mix of softness and support. It’s a shame I won’t be sticking around to enjoy the amenities the hotel has to offer.

  There’s a room service menu on top of the night table that is between the beds, and a mini-fridge beneath it. Two remote controls rest beside the menu. The TV is a shiny, fifty incher; it sits on top of the dresser against the opposite wall. The windows are large, covered by comforter-matching drapes with a blue and taupe striped valance.

  The whole set-up is classy. It’s different from the times my mom and I used to go on a weekend trips together, or the hotels Meg and I would stay at for spring break in college. Yet, despite the differences, this room brings back memories all the same. It makes me think of corny rom-coms, the smell of over buttered, burned popcorn, and the sweet tang of sour gummy worms.

  Tears burn against my eyes. I cried a river earlier. I shouldn’t have any left to shed. Pregnancy hormones are the only thing that makes sense. As if sensing or smelling my tears, Gavin stops rifling through the bag at his feet and tenses. His fingers spasm. Battling transformation?

  Please Gavin. Hold it together, because I just can’t right now.

  Maybe he hears or senses my thoughts too; because he closes his eyes, leaning forward on the bed toward me until what’s left of his once long hair flops over his eyebrows. When his lids lift to once again reveal his amber gaze, he has control once again.

  “Let’s go for a douk in the pool,” he says suddenly.

  “B-bbut . . . I don’t have a bathing suit.”

  He gives a wolfish grin.

  “There will be no skinny dipping!” I blurt in response to his smile. He looks too tempting right now.

  Raising his hands in a defensive gesture, he says, “There’s a shop in the lobby downstairs with some suits. You should enjoy the pool before you try tae leave me.”

  He knows
I plan to try and escape him. That’ll make it that much harder.

  “You’re easy tae read, lass,” he says gently.

  “Fine. Let’s go swimming, but you have to give me answers.”

  “Aye, you’ll have your answers.”

  He gives me some time to freshen up in the bathroom, and I indulge in a quick shower and utilize the hotel provided toothbrush and toothpaste. It’s amazing how simple things such as shampoo, conditioner, and scented body wash can make you feel more human. Now, if only I had a hairbrush and a razor. A razor would be nice.

  I pull on the big, gray tee shirt that Gavin gave me. As for underthings, I clean what I have in the sink and blow-dry them to dampness, then to cover the bit of thigh that Gavin’s shirt does not cover, I wrap my towel around my hips.

  It’ll have to do.

  When I emerge from the bath, my hair leaving a chilling wetness down to my lower back, I’m surprised to see Connor and Piper waiting for me. Piper has a shy smile on her lips, while Connor stands behind her with his arms clasped behind him, unreadable.

  “I picked this out for you. I hope you like it,” Piper says.

  Her voice is sweet and soft, high-pitched and young. She’s too cute. She holds out a tankini, and God love her, a hairbrush. If she had brought me a razor too, I might have requested to adopt her.

  She strokes her own strawberry blonde hair over her shoulder before gesturing to mine.

  “I thought you could use this after your swim.”

  “Thank you.”

  Piper takes a step forward as if to hug me, but catches herself. A blush suffuses her cheeks and she takes a step back.

  “See you later!” she chirps, and then skips out the door.

  The brush is in my hand and halfway through my hair before I think about it. I continue to tug it through my tangles as I stare at Connor, waiting for him to follow Piper. No dice.

  I clear my throat expectantly.

  He still stands there as immovable as a rock, his expression and stance never changing.

  “Umm, hmph,” I try again, louder and with more force.

  Clearly, Connor is clueless.

  “Connor,” I say sweetly, trying for a tone similar to Piper’s natural innocence. It comes out a little sarcastic, but it’s lost on Connor anyway. “A little privacy please?”

  The man turns around. He turns around.

  I don’t know why I care really. I can’t jump from the window to get out of here, because we’re on the eighth floor. If he was standing outside my door I still couldn't get out because he’d see me for sure. By this time, night has descended, cloaking the outside world in darkness and danger, which means that even if I could get past Connor, I wouldn’t get far on my own.

  He just irks me. Do I have to have a reason?

  The door opens once again, this time to admit Gavin. His eyes soften as soon as they see me, though he begins wincing with each attack I launch against my hair.

  He irks me too.

  “Ready tae go?” he asks with another flinch.

  In his left hand, he’s holding a green plastic bag with the hotel’s name emblazoned on the side. The index finger of his right hand keeps rubbing over his thumb, as if he’s restraining himself from taking the brush and combing my hair himself.

  “Obviously not,” I say cheerily.

  I grab the bottom of my hair, and in a move that the hairstylist in Meagan would faint over, brush over the ends repeatedly.

  This proves too much for Gavin, and he launches forward. Just before his fingers can grab the brush handle, I take a step back and say, “All done!”

  It’s all too easy to maneuver to the side and underneath Gavin’s arm to get the bathing suit on the bed. He looks flabbergasted.

  After I shut the bathroom door, a little bit harder than necessary, I look at Piper’s bathing suit choice. The tankini top is a navy blue, with lime green around the hem, straps’ edges, and down the sides of the waist. The bottoms are the same shade of blue, with side ties in the green. The elastic band on the waist of the bottoms proclaims it to be maternity friendly.

  Nice job, kid.

  Another plus—the new suit is drier than my bra and panties. To account for my not completely smooth legs, I wrap the same damp towel around my hips over the bathing suit bottoms. Once we get in the pool, the water should cover that little detail.

  This time when I open the bathroom door, there is only Gavin, in a pair of white swimming trunks with blue and green lines over the top. The stark white is a loving contrast to his tan skin. Seeing him shirtless reminds me of the night we first met. He knows it too, if his smirk is anything to go by.

  There are two towels stacked on the bed beside him, but there’s something even more enticing beyond that. A cellphone.

  “I need to make a call first.”

  “I doona believe that’s wise.”

  “You’re just going to have to get over this. Your pack holds no love for me. I need to get back to my people.”

  “The pack will come tae accept you. Just give them time, but for now know that you have their support.”

  “It doesn’t bother me what your pack thinks. None of you are permanents in my life, therefore nothing you people say or think is important.”

  “You are lying, lass.”

  “I am not. Besides I won’t be here for much longer to deal with all of this. As soon as Jeff realized I was gone, I’m sure he ensured there was an international search effort. We got back together right before I was captured by the vampires, you know.”

  “Lying.”

  “You don’t know that!”

  “I do.”

  “The fun in meeting new people is that you can portray yourself however you want. You can be whatever you want.”

  “What’s wrong with who you are?”

  “You’re missing the point. You’re taking out all of the fun, and it’s not fair because I know I’m lying well.”

  “I know when you’re lying because—”

  “No! I don’t want to hear the voodoo explanation behind it. I just don’t want you to do it, whatever it is. Just—ugh! I demand you let me call Max!”

  “You what?”

  His Scottish brogue holds a bit of threat and a lot of warning. I understand why. The man is easy to read. He isn’t used to being demanded to do anything and it rankles him when someone tries.

  “I said, ‘Can I please call Max?’ It would mean a lot to me.”

  “Who is Max?”

  “He’s one of my best friends and—”

  “No. You doona need male friends, besides you must begin building friendships with the pack. If you continue tae hold yourself apart from them and seek outsiders over their companionship, they’ll grow tae resent you.”

  “They already do!” I can sense it, and Athol and a few others have confirmed it. “No one here wants to build a friendship with me.”

  “You’re their rìgain, their queen; the pack is here for you.” He says it like a psychologist trying to reason with an insane patient, which makes me angrier considering he’s the one referring to me as a Scottish queen of wolves.

  “Well, thank you for that, but you can’t force someone to be your friend. You understand that. And your pack will resent being ordered to spend time with me.”

  And I plan on leaving before they have time to even pretend to befriend me.

  “I’ll ensure you have plenty o’ friends.”

  “Look, don’t do that! I hate when you say something in that tone as if it officially ends the discussion. Your word is not the final say to me. It’s easy for you, because you have Hawke. I’ve always had Max. Besides you can’t keep me from my family forever.”

  “Family?”

  That word seems to halt the build of his anger. He stills, his expression evens out some, and his fingers stop their betraying twitch.

  “Yes, Maxim is my youngest brother.”

  “You said he was your friend!” And the anger is back.

 
“He is! He’s also my brother.”

  “Why did you no’ say that?” Coupled with exasperation.

  “I tried. If you care about what I have to say, you should try listening.”

  “Fine.” Finally, appeasement.

  “Good.” I say it like he always says things, like a declaration that cannot be ignored or denied.

  It works for him, why not me?

  “Am I no’ tae receive a thank you?”

  “The trouble you put me through before conceding cancels out my gratitude.”

  I pick up his phone before he can change his mind and stop me. Then I dance out of his reach as he does what I predicted he would.

  “I’m already beginning tae reconsider the wisdom of this action. What are you going tae tell this bràthair about where you are and why you’re there?”

  “I’m going to tell Max the truth. I was abducted by vicious vampires, because of an unbelievably stupid, one night stand five months ago that left me pregnant. I am now travelling with a group of insane individuals, who have deluded themselves into believing they are not human, but are in fact werewolves. All of this is taking place against my will, of course. I will then ask Max to please call the FBI to begin a search for me so I can forget any of this ever happened.”

  “I am no’ amused.”

  He stops moving toward me and crosses his arms over his chest. Is it sick that the movement distracts me from my purpose?

  “Geez, Gavin! What do you think I’m going to tell him?”

  “I’ve already asked this question.”

  “You’re so dang difficult! I’m going to tell him that I had to get away to do some soul searching, what with all the major changes happening in my life. I’m going to tell him I’m safe and not to worry. Then I’m going to apologize for leaving without telling anyone. And finally, I’m going to tell him that I love and miss him dearly. Is that detailed enough for you? Oh, I’ll also breathe at points and listen to his responses. I might yawn or maybe sigh too.”