by Eve Newton
Busted. “I don’t want to talk about it anymore,” he sulks.
“Fine but think about it.”
“Do you think there is something more going on with Constantine and Sebastian?” Cole asks, now full of curiosity about what he saw earlier.
“How do you mean?” Devon asks and frowns at him, accepting the change in subject.
“Like you know…I mean, how does he show his affection to a male charge?” He curses himself as he blushes, but he wants to know.
Devon lets out a loud guffaw that startles the early morning birds off the grounds below and says, “The same way as he would to a female charge.”
“What?” he spits out the gulp of water that he had just taken. To hear it said out loud is a different thing than just thinking it.
“You turn people because you feel something for them, usually,” he adds wryly. “It’s no surprise that there is something deeper there. I know it's different with him. He has that many charges, he probably lost count centuries ago and he certainly doesn’t feel love for them. Sebastian is different though, I think. His first charge. It’s special. Someone he sought out at the beginning to be like him, that he could be with forever.”
“Yeah, I guess. I hate thinking about him and Liv,” he adds. “That he turned her to be with him.”
“I know,” Devon agrees. “You have it hard with him wanting her back. I was lucky that I never even met him for a hundred and eighty plus years.”
“Seems like I always end up with the short straw,” Cole says in a mood.
“Don’t say that. She loves you,” Devon rebukes.
“I know.”
“She was so smitten with you that first night she met you. I have never seen her that way,” he says, and Cole looks up in surprise.
“Yeah?”
“Oh yeah. She adores you. She was so nervous the night she wanted to tell you what she was. She was so scared that you wouldn’t understand and leave her,” Devon admits this on his sire’s behalf.
“Nervous?” Cole says. “I can’t say that I have even thought she knew the meaning of the word.”
“Tell me about it,” Devon agrees.
“I was so mad with her that night. Even though we had only just met, I knew she was keeping secrets. I just had no idea how huge it really was.”
“She told me how perceptive you were. She found it a bit scary that you could see into her essence,” Devon says.
“I almost didn’t go after her,” Cole admits, looking away, and he can feel Devon’s intense gaze on him.
“What changed your mind?” he asks after a minute or two.
Cole laughs nervously. “Initially, because I had the keys to her Veyron in my pocket. I’m a lot of things but I’m not a thief,” he says. “I had just intended to give them back to her and leave. But the second I saw her in the parking lot, kicking the tire as she realized I had the keys and how upset she was that she thought I had rejected her, I knew I couldn’t leave her. I was so in love with her. I had to hear more and to see if she was…” He trails off, not knowing if Devon will understand what he was going to say.
“She was what? Delusional?” he snickers.
Cole smiles weakly at him. “Still the woman I thought she was, the one I had been dreaming about, the one I fell in love with at first sight.”
“Ah, I see. You hear Vampire, you hear mass murderer. I get it.” He bobs his head in understanding and then adds with a quizzical look, “Dreaming about?”
Cole shrugs off his question. “Something like that. It sounds so hypocritical now. I’m the one who wants to Hunt and kill, and she is the moral one.”
“I know, it’s bloody ridiculous,” he says and sighs in frustration at the change in topic. “We can find you someone else. Someone just for you. You’re a good-looking guy, a famous actor to boot. You must be beating them off.”
“Yeah, I have hundreds of women throw themselves at me on a daily basis. I get underwear sent to me in the post, and naked pictures, and propositions about all the things they will do for me. But they are crazy, Devon. I don’t want a crazy stalker. If I can’t have my wife, I need someone nice and normal and, above all, discreet.”
“Underwear?” Devon asks with a raised eyebrow, but then says, “Well, yeah, I get the discreet part. You don’t want your business plastered all over Twitter.”
"Just leave it. I am fine. Liv will be back soon in our bed. Even if Constantine is down the hall and she goes to him, it doesn’t matter. She will sleep with me and that is what I need. I need the intimacy of that more than I need a quick fuck. He gets the short end of the stick with that.”
“Yeah, I know what you mean,” Devon mutters, giving him a look that he wishes he could place.
“Ask your question,” Cole says eventually.
Devon’s eyes narrow. “Now isn’t the time,” he says. “I’ll wait until she gets back.”
“Why? Does it suck?”
Devon shrugs. “I love her, and I am tired of not being with her,” he says.
“Meaning?” Cole says, his anger getting the better of him.
He likes Devon. They have grown closer over the last few months. He can honestly say that Devon is his best friend. He likes it. He likes having someone he can talk to who knows about things and won’t think he is a complete idiot. But he has a funny feeling he knows what’s coming.
“Meaning, I want to take things further. I want to take our times together and make them more,” Devon says, staring him right in the eye.
“Are you saying you want to move into our bed with us?” Cole snaps at him. Man, he just can’t catch a break with this woman.
“That is what I am saying, and more,” Devon states. “Look, I don’t know how much of our history she has told you, but we had plans. Plans I fucked up royally after I was turned. Christ knows why it has taken me this long to realize it, maybe because of what she said to me after I had to sire Jess. Who knows? But the fact is, I want to be with her. Completely.”
Cole groans. “Not you as well!” He sinks his head into his hands. “I knew that was coming, but it still hurts to hear it out loud, man.”
“I know,” Devon says lightly. “What can I say? You being around has forced my own issues to be confronted. I don’t like it any more than you do. I should have stepped up hundreds of years ago. I could have ensured Constantine never became a bigger part of her life after she left him and turned me.”
“But where would that have left me?” Cole asks, intrigued by this admission, but pissed off about it too.
“Other Liv still has Other you,” Devon shrugs it off.
“So let me get this straight. You are saying that you want to be in a three-way marriage with us?”
“Yes,” Devon says boldly.
“Fuck’s sake, man. How can I agree to that?”
“It isn’t just for you to agree to. If Lizzie wants this, then there isn’t a damn thing you can do to stop it. And make no mistake about it, I am going to ask her. When the time is right.”
“Really?” Cole drawls.
“Yes, really. I am sick to death of being on the sidelines when I should be with her. I like you, Cole. I feel a lot for you. And I have come to you about this first because of that. I didn’t want to blindside you with it.”
“What about Jess?” Cole asks quietly, dying inside. If Devon and Liv get together in that way, he has no idea if he will be able to keep hold of her. It’s worse than what Constantine wants in a way.
“What about her?” Devon shrugs. “This has nothing to do with her.”
“I don’t know what to say,” Cole stammers.
“Just say you will be happy to share her with me as I am happy to share her with you. We belong to her. Both of us. Together we can cut him out of this.”
Devon has said the exact right thing, at the exact right time. And he knows it.
He searches his sibling’s eyes. “What about Lincoln?” he asks.
“I have absolutely no problem with
their relationship the way that it is,” Devon replies “Do you?” It’s a challenge.
“Not really,” Cole admits. “He is bound to her, so I get it. I don’t like the way he went about it, but it’s done, and we’ve moved on and he’s a good enough guy. I know he loves her and that it is as pure as it can be.” He doesn’t need to add that he knows Constantine’s love for her is the exact opposite of pure. It is toxic and he has no way of cutting him out of Liv’s life. But with Devon’s help, and even Lincoln’s, he feels they may stand half a chance.
“For you,” Cole says softly and means it with his whole heart.
Devon’s eyes fill with so much emotion, things he hasn’t ever seen in the older Vampire’s eyes before. He nods once and stands.
“When?” Cole croaks out.
Devon shrugs. “When the time is right. I can’t fuck it up again,” he says with a smirk.
Cole snorts in amusement.
“Anyway, we’d better round up the troops so you can tell them what Lizzie said. I guess everything I said about another lover, is kind of moot now. I will be there for you when she isn’t here.”
Cole raises his eyebrows but stays silent as he has no idea what to say to that. Frankly, because he has no idea what Devon meant by it. He nods briskly and Devon leaves him alone with his racing thoughts. Fuck. He didn’t expect this. He knew Devon and Liv had planned on being married, but it was he who never followed through. There is no way she will refuse him if, when, he asks again. Cole knows he is all right with that though. He knows it will make Liv happy to have her two boys with her all of the time. And that’s what makes this okay. He feels less frustrated and less lonely now that he knows he will have someone there for him, however that will work, when Liv has to go away. He is not so naïve as to think that they can get rid of Constantine right away. It will take work and effort and probably betrayal and a whole load of other stuff, but he will do it to get his wife free from that toxic relationship. He is beyond tired now but casts his gaze across the grounds restlessly and spots Constantine on the terrace reading a newspaper and smoking a cigarette. Geez, he really doesn’t sleep much. How long has he been there? Hopefully not long enough to hear them plotting. Fuck. No, surely Devon would’ve known if he was there.
Cole stares at him and Constantine, sensing his eyes on him, looks up, that impassive look on his face that Cole has tried to master in the mirror, but can’t. Constantine holds his gaze for a few moments and then goes back to reading his paper.
Cole hates him. He is so jealous of him and he hates it as he never used to be the jealous type. But he hates everything he feels about him and just hates everything about him. His perfect good looks, his charm and appeal, his immaculate dress sense, his authority and power, that he knows sends Liv all mushy, because he has seen it. That ring! That ring he gave her that she wears on her right hand and never takes off. Cole wants to rip it from her finger every time he sees it. His wealth, his confidence, his age. Both his true age and the age he was when was turned, made, whatever. Forever twenty.
Cole is always highly conscious that he is the oldest in human years of this group. It’s disconcerting to know how young they all were. Liv especially.
Oh, yeah, that also makes Constantine a filthy pervert, one more thing to add to his Things-I-Hate-About-Constantine list.
At least he didn’t take her virginity. Cole can be grateful for small mercies, as that would be too much to bear. No, that belongs to that monster that has his own special hate list. At least he is dead, and Cole doesn’t have to look at his smug face every day. He heads back into the bedroom, very aware that he hasn’t had any sleep apart from the hour several hours ago.
He is beat, but if he doesn’t go down and fill everyone in on Liv’s plans, then it will just create problems for him later. He is ravenous and after the Hunt, they told him not to drink straight from humans for a few days. Something about losing control. He grabs two bottles out of the mini fridge and downs them in a couple of gulps each and reaches for a third. And then a fourth. He gets dressed and strips the sheets off the bed and shoves them in the hamper with the balled-up clothes. He thinks there is a housekeeper. Things seem to get done around here and he knows that Liv doesn’t do any chores. He smiles as he thinks of his wife’s perfectly manicured nails and the look on her face should she have to go anywhere near a dish cloth. He wonders if she even knows how to use a washing machine? He shouldn’t be too hard on her. She must have had a tough life back in the eleventh century. Fuck. He really should Google it and see what it was like for her.
But there’s an idea.
As much as he prefers his wife to be naked, the thought of her in a sexy maid’s outfit is a huge turn-on. He wonders if she would wear it for him? He grabs a fifth bottle and heads towards the library, eager to get this over with so he can go back to bed. He rips the cap off the bottle and chugs it as he takes the stairs quickly. Everyone is gathered as expected, waiting for him. He likes that they are waiting for him. Liv came to him, her husband, and they have to wait for him to tell them what she is doing. He glances quickly at Devon, who gives him a slow, knowing smile. Then to Jess, gazing up at her sire, probably with no idea what his plans are regarding his own sire.
He casts his gaze over Lincoln, who is sitting with his usual stoic silence, definitely a man of few words. Cole really doesn’t mind him at all, massive cock aside. The Wolf has respect for his marriage. He doesn’t flaunt his Alpha-ness in Cole’s face and is discreet in his feelings for Liv and their physical relationship. Cole knows that he loves her, he saw it with their impromptu three-way the other night. And then in the morning when he woke up and Lincoln was watching her sleep with a look of adulation that made him kind of jealous. Not of Lincoln looking at Liv, but in that he wishes Liv would look at him that way.
And then to Xane, who is leaning against the fireplace with his arms and ankles crossed. An arrogant confidence that comes from his station, no doubt. Cole worries about the Demon’s intentions towards his wife. He can’t pinpoint what it is exactly about him that he doesn’t trust. Maybe it is the way he looks at Liv? Probably that kiss he gave her. Or maybe it’s just because he is a Demon. And ruler of the Demons, no less. Devon didn’t seem too perturbed by him. In fact, didn’t even mention him, so he supposes he should let go of any paranoia that is there.
He finally brings his eyes to him, sitting behind Liv’s desk like he owns the place. Constantine doesn’t take his eyes off him as Sebastian hands him a cup of tea. Their fingers brush slightly, and Sebastian is glowing as he places his hand briefly on Constantine’s shoulder before moving it to the back of the chair. Cole narrows his eyes at him and Constantine smiles at him. That smug, arrogant smile that lets everyone know he thinks he is better than them. Asshole.
Cole smiles back slyly with a slight tilt to his head, letting him know that as soon as he can he is going to tell Liv exactly what he and Sebastian have been up to while she has been away. Constantine’s gaze hardens and he smacks down the cup and saucer harder than bone china should be treated. Bone china. Ugh, he has been spending way too much time with these older Vamps.
A year ago, he wouldn’t have known bone china from a hole in the ground, much less cared about how it was treated. He must make a better effort to find some Vampires his own age to mix with. With that thought in his head, he opens his mouth and tells them all that Liv told him about her plans for the next couple of days.
Chapter 6
Kingdom of the Dark Fae, March 2013 – Liv
“It’s time to go,” Drake says as he barges in. I have just finished speaking to Cole and I am not happy about being interrupted so rudely.
“Privacy not a big thing in Faerie land?” I ask.
He stares down at me from his great height. “This is not ‘Faerie land’ and no, you don’t get privacy. I don’t trust you.”
“Do you trust anyone?” I ask as he ushers me out with a rough shove to my back.
“Not any of your business,”
he replies.
“That probably means ‘no’ then,” I say without expecting a response. “So, what exactly does this naming ceremony entail?” I ask a question that he has to respond to.
“I will present you as my daughter and you will be gracious and, above all, quiet, and then I will announce your name,” he explains.
“Does anyone actually know who I am? I mean, really am?” I ask.
“Unfortunately, yes,” he says, as he strides down the long corridor, forcing me to jog to keep up with him. “Your Vampire nature is unfortunately one we cannot get away from.”
“No, I mean do they know I am Queen of the Underworld?” I prod.
He stops in the middle of the corridor and stares down at me. “I suggest you steer clear of that title while you are here. Your type, all of your types, are not welcome here. The last thing I need is for my people to get a reminder of exactly who you are.” He stalks off, leaving me to follow.
Wonderful. I can see this ceremony going swimmingly.
“Will I get to meet my brothers?” I ask.
He stops dead again. “Brothers?” he sneers in disgust. “My sons are not your brothers.”
“I beg to differ,” I say.
“Humph,” he says rudely. “I can assure you that you will be presented before my sons, but don’t expect a very warm welcome. They are not going to be very fond of you.”
Well, can’t say that I blame them. They are all but redundant from what I can see. I trail in his wake now and he takes pity on me and slows down. “They will not see you as a sister,” he says quietly. “I don’t want you to be disappointed.”
“Oh,” I say, a bit disappointed anyway, despite myself.
“They can be quite an unruly bunch, the middle lot. I suggest you keep clear,” he adds.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, they won’t see you as a sister, but they will see you as someone to take advantage of. Unfortunately, you being a Vampire will only encourage them,” he sighs.
“I can take care of myself, no need to worry,” I say in reassurance and he looks at me as if I have grown another head.
