Key to Justice

by Talia Gryphon

  “I’m sure everyone will agree that it is awfully lucky to have individuals like yourself and your team: Dr. Gerhardt, Dr. Aristophanes, Dr. Delphi and all the rest you mentioned on our side. Everyone I have personally spoken with in Romania or connected with the Rachlav Institute itself seems to be an individual case in point of remarkable coexistence.”

  “Thank you, Arthur. That truly means a great deal to all of us.”

  “Thank you for your time, Gillian. Well, you have heard it directly from the lady herself, and I use that term with all the positive connotations it is meant to have.

  “It seems that the generators of prejudice, bigotry and intolerance will always be around. Thank heaven there are those like Dr. Key and her team, who are demonstrating that it is possible to overcome those barriers as well, making the world a better place for all of us. This is Arthur Kent reporting for the BBC. Good night.”

  The interview was a success. The switchboard at the network was lit up like Times Square for several days after her spot was aired. They ran it again, every half hour, for the next three days, as a lead story. Father Daily’s rant was edged out, and more proponents of Gill and her group came forward with positive atta-girl statements.

  The Brownies were absolutely ecstatic about being mentioned specifically in Gillian’s interview. They went on a mad cleaning and cooking spree, making the castle, guesthouse, grounds and village into a Disney-esque portrait of beauty, tranquility and amazing food.

  The IPPA and the USMC issued their own pro- Gillian announcements, backing her 100 percent in all her endeavors and coining the phrase “Paranormal Partners for Peaceful Coexistence” as their tagline. They had never doubted her intent or her skill. No one had anticipated the level of shit that was stirred up by Father Daily and his offshoot cronies. This was just damage control, but they were happy to do it.

  Aleksei finally cornered Gillian long enough to take her hand and, with every ounce of genteel decorum, ask her for a date. Gill stared at him for a minute, then got his meaning perfectly clear. She opened her mind just a crack to let him know that all was well and he was definitely her number-one guy.

  “Sure thing, hot stuff . . . What should I wear? Or are you going to be ripping it off the first chance you get?”

  Aleksei actually blushed, then laughed uproariously. “Not at the first chance, certainly, but do not wear anything you are terribly fond of.”

  Now it was Gillian’s turn to blush. The white- hot heat radiating from his eyes was enough to turn her legs to Jell-O and other parts of her to liquid.

  “I have made dinner arrangements in Radu’s restaurant. I understand you are particularly fond of the steak there.”

  “I love his steak! Goddess above, I wish you could still eat food, Aleksei. I don’t know what he does to it, but it is amazing.”

  “I am glad you approve of my choice.” He smiled down at her. His little powerhouse of a woman. Well, she wasn’t his yet, but soon, with any luck . . .

  “Of course I do. You always have impeccable taste.”

  He leaned down and brushed a kiss against her neck. “So do you, bellissima . . . so do you.”

  “I have to go.” She pushed him away and ran up the stairs, blushing again. Dammit, how did he do that? He made her feel like a virgin . . . Oh wait. She skidded into her room and shut the door, slid down it and laughed herself silly.

  Later, after a shower and some primping, she was ready for her night on the town with her favorite Vampire. It was after eight, but even with dinner they would have plenty of time to progress to other activities if they chose. Gillian checked herself a final time in the full-length mirror.

  Hair, check . . . makeup, check . . . clothes, yup. Car keys, cell phone, purse, gun . . . oops. She wasn’t planning on shooting anyone tonight, so she removed her Glock from her clutch and started to lay it on the bedside table, then put it back in her bag. She still felt naked going around without at least one weapon on her. Her back-sheathed dagger was out. It wouldn’t do to get a spinal injury if Aleksei got a little overenthusiastic. The gun and her little cleavage dagger went with her. Hopefully she wouldn’t have to use them.

  She made it downstairs to find Aleksei talking with Cass, Trocar and Helmut. Daed was thankfully elsewhere. She didn’t need his twisted brand of Southern humor tonight. Just looking at Aleksei sent warm tingles through her central nervous system. He looked stunning in black velvet pants that were laced both up the outer sides and in the groin. His matching jacket was cut in a bolero style, accentuating his lean hips and perfectly flat stomach. They were so tight they left very little to the imagination, but she didn’t care.

  His shirt was an amazing silvery blue silk, with a flat front and pearl buttons, open at the neck, which brought a glow to his skin, and gave a hint of blue cast to his eyes when he raised them to meet hers. His hair fell in its usual thick, black waves past his shoulders. Yeah, he made her mouth water.

  The smile he gave her was for her, and her alone. Gillian couldn’t remember who else was in the room when she experienced the full force of that smile. It wasn’t Vampire foo; it was just him.

  Aleksei looked her up and down appreciatively. She’d left her hair down from its usual French braid and it spilled in golden waves over her shoulders and chest. He didn’t know where she’d found her outfit, but he made a mental note to tell her that brown was definitely her color. The dress was one she’d had stashed away for ages, bought but never worn. She’d been saving it for a special occasion, and this was about as special as they came.

  The dress was a nutmeg brown silk blend with long sleeves, a deep décolletage and an appropriately short skirt. Three gold buttons held the shirred waistband together and matched the ones on her cuffs. Her legs were bare and lightly tanned, from what he could see of them. The lower halves of her legs were covered in brown suede flat-soled boots that looked painted on. She looked like a dryad; delicate, sweet and oh so very alluring.

  He walked to her without a word, bent and brushed a kiss across her shell pink mouth. “Breathtaking, Gillian. Simply breathtaking.”

  She blushed again at his appraisal, and muttered, “Thank you.”

  Tucking her hand under his arm, he escorted them from then hall and into the Transylvanian night. It was cool, clear and vibrant outside. Gillian felt invigorated by the fresh, crisp air, and very proud to be accompanied by such a stunning date.

  “You look really handsome tonight, Aleksei.”

  “Thank you, dolcezza. I am glad you approve.”

  As they got to the parking lot, he waited until she unlocked the Opel and then opened her door for her. Once she was seated, he walked around to the passenger side.

  “We are quite the gentleman tonight,” Gillian teased him.

  “I would always treat you that way, if you would let me.” He grinned back at her.

  It was a short drive to the village, but they were much more relaxed with each other by the time they arrived. Over dinner, Gillian told him a few stories of her adventures with the Marines. The topic had come up because several of her comrades were off duty and in the bar, and they saluted and toasted her as she and Aleksei came in. He was intrigued by her tales, amused by her animated recounting of several near disasters in the field and altogether charmed by her company.

  On Gillian’s part, she realized she felt more comfortable with him than she had with anyone else in a long time. Kimber, Helmut, Trocar, Daed and Luis didn’t count. They were family to her and she’d known them for eons. Aleksei was still relatively new to her circle, but she had no qualms about sharing more than just a few bits and pieces of her life with him.

  “You told me about your family, but I still do not know where you grew up,” Aleksei prompted her while she was munching on a bite of Radu’s superb steak.

  “Well . . . I grew up in northeastern Oklahoma. We had some land, a few horses, like I told you. I went to school, to college and enlisted in the Marines from there.”

  “Is it a nice
area?”

  “It’s gorgeous. There’s the prairie, the foothills of the Ozark Mountains; out West there are plateaus and desert; down in the Southeast, there’s swamp. It’s everything really, in one state.”

  “Do you miss it?”

  She looked up at him and thought about it. “No, not really. I love the countryside; in fact, I love the whole area—cities too. Oklahoma people are the nicest you’ll ever meet anywhere. I had a lot of friends. I just had a not-so-close family, like I told you already.”

  “Are you still in contact with them?” His question took her off guard.

  “Like . . . do we send holiday cards and stuff like that? Yeah, we e-mail a little bit. As you know, I haven’t been anywhere except here for the past few years, so no, we’re not close and we don’t have big happy Rockwell-type family get-togethers.”

  “I apologize, Gillian. I did not mean to bring up bad thoughts or memories.”

  She realized she’d sounded a little harsher than she’d intended, so she smiled and squeezed his hand. “It’s fine. You didn’t know.”

  He relaxed under her grip. Either he was imagining things or she was getting less reactionary about her personal life. A year ago she would have bitten his head off if he’d asked her about herself. Interesting. Very interesting.

  “I feel really badly eating in front of you, you know,” she laughed.

  “Please do not worry about it. I have no desire or craving for food. I enjoy watching you take pleasure in your meal. It is enough that we actually have time alone together.”

  “Thanks, Aleksei. I’m having a good time with you too.”

  After dinner, he gave her directions out of the village, away from the castle. They drove for about ten minutes, then he pointed out a turnoff into the forest. It was a dirt-and-gravel road leading up the side of a mountain. The only illumination was from the headlights on the car. They drove in relative silence, with Gillian’s commentary on the lunar landscape of the road they were driving on and Aleksei chuckling over her swearing and griping.

  There was another turnoff and another dirt road, this one even more rustic than the first. It curved around the mountain to the right, then leveled off. In the glare of the headlights, Gillian could make out an absolutely lovely log cabin.

  “This? This is it?” She was all smiles as they pulled up and she hopped out of the car.

  Aleksei’s long legs took him quickly to the door. He opened it with a key, then flipped on the light, making an inviting golden glow for them to walk into. He went back to take Gillian’s hand and lead her into his surprise.

  “Oh . . . wow. Aleksei, it’s beautiful.” She meant it; it was stunning.

  Unlike the little guesthouse she’d stayed in long ago, this cabin really was a cabin. The walls were burnished logs, set together with perfectly spaced and level mortar. A stone fireplace filled one corner. The huge prow front windows were hung with traditional Romanian-design curtains. He showed her the fully stocked kitchen and open dining area. A whimsical loft with a sitting area, plate glass windows and another bathroom were up a flight of stairs. The furniture was rustic, solid, charming old-world pieces. All of it was antique and in perfect condition.

  He led her off to the side of the living room, showing her where yet another bathroom, the extra bedrooms and finally the master suite were in the open floor plan. The cabin hadn’t looked that large from the outside. Inside, however, Gillian was mentally totaling up the square footage, and it had to be over three thousand square feet.

  “This is the first home my father built for my mother,” Aleksei told her. “I had it remodeled a little to hopefully reflect a more modern style.” He wrapped his arms around her as she took in the master bedroom. The log walls were strategically interspersed with drywall to allow for a soft cream-colored paint, while the furniture and bed were golden oak, decorated in soft peach and golden yellow hues. Despite the lack of windows, the entire room seemed suffused with light. She was betting the bedspread was real honest-to-God damask silk. The bare floor was wooden and had several reindeer pelts and bearskins strategically placed on it. It was a perfect blend of luxurious rustic décor.

  The full bath carried the light-colored theme from the bedroom. There was a shower, a tub with a spa system, a toilet concealed behind another door and a white marble countertop with a clear glass bowl for the sink. The entire place looked like it was straight out of Architectural Digest.

  CHAPTER 13

  “HOLY shit, Aleksei. When the hell did you have time to pull this off?” She stared at him.

  “I’ve been wanting to redecorate it for a long time.” He smiled down at her. “This used to be a place I came to so I could be alone with my thoughts. There are paintings in the middle bedroom, from the time I spent up here. Finally, I decided that I would like to eventually share this with you, so I hired a decorator and architect, gave them a free hand, and this is what they came up with.”

  “Well, it’s beautiful.” Gillian pulled away and wandered around the room. “I love the colors in here.”

  “I am very glad.” He settled into a large wing- backed chair to watch her as she moved around the room.

  Gillian was admiring one of the gorgeous Egyptianthemed paintings on the wall. Her eyes widened when she saw A. Rachlav in the lower left-hand corner. Aleksei had painted this. She’d seen only this painting and the painting he’d done of her that hung in the hallway of the castle, but based on her limited knowledge of art, she had to admit he was extremely talented.

  She stiffened, remembering her promise to herself. Deliberately, she put her purse on a chair, then turned back to where he sat waiting across the room. He was staring at her, so she dropped her eyes to avoid another blush.

  “Aleksei . . . I had some time to think while I was in Akabat, before you got there.”

  He frowned a little. Her demeanor had completely changed from open and warm to very guarded. What was on her mind to make her shut down so quickly?

  “Yes, cara? Tell me.”

  She looked up at him, this time meeting his gaze squarely, and walked to where he sat. To his utter amazement, she knelt at his feet and took his hand in both of her smaller ones.

  “What I thought about was you. I thought about all the things we’ve been through together, about how our relationship just evolved naturally to where it is now. I know I tend to overanalyze things, but that’s not what I was doing. I was really looking inside myself. I wanted to know what was holding me back.”

  He reached out his other hand and stroked his knuckles down the side of her cheek, then cupped her chin. “Holding you back from what?” His voice was almost a whisper.

  She shivered at his touch, but didn’t falter. “From loving you the way you say you love me.”

  “Oh, Gillian . . .” He started to lean forward to kiss her, but she stopped him with a hand on his chest.

  “No, let me say this or I might chicken out again. I realized I had no reason not to trust you. You’ve been there for me. You’ve put your faith in me. Even when it went against your nature, you trusted me and let me do what I had to do . . . with a minimum of bitching.” She grinned at him and he returned her smile.

  “All this time, you let me be who I am and didn’t push me for more than I was ready to give you. That means a lot to me, Aleksei. You don’t know how much.

  “I realized that none of this experience was painful, scary or restricting. I wasn’t feeling anything but happy, warm and safe when I was with you. I realized . . . that I do love you. I guess I have for a while but was too stubborn to let myself know it.”

  Aleksei let out the breath he didn’t realize he was holding. He wanted to scoop her up and spin her around the room. He wanted to laugh, cry . . . make love to her and return her declaration with his own. Instead he kept his mouth shut and let her finish.

  “I love you, Aleksei. I know you love me; you’ve told me a dozen times. I just wanted you to know that I love you back.”

  Her clear gre
en eyes were shining and not with tears. The smile she gave him was from the bottom of her chickenshit little heart. He couldn’t stand it anymore; he gathered her up and lifted her to him.

  “That was the best gift you could have ever given me, Gillian.” His voice was low and sensual. “I love you and I am not going to let you out of this cabin until I have shown you, over and over again.”

  His mouth closed on hers with a singular purpose. When she opened to receive his kiss, she felt his love, his passion and his need pour through her. There was no more discussion as he tenderly laid her on the bed, disarmed her, then undressed her small form.

  When Gill tried to help him with his clothes, he stopped her, removing his own clothing, piece by piece, never taking his eyes off her as she reclined against the pillows. The supple mouth tissue holding his hidden fangs snapped them down into place as his groin filled with longing for her. For a Vampire, sex and blood were closely bound as exciting stimuli. Sexual excitement or blood anticipation meant fangs were involved whether the Vampire intended to combine the two activities or not. Aleksei definitely intended to combine the two if she was willing. Gillian’s appreciative gaze beckoned him like a magnet as he impatiently shed the remainder of his clothing.

  Both of them completely forgot about her present state of being. When he moved over her, she opened to him automatically, wrapping her arms and legs around him and pulling him in tightly. It was the gesture of one familiar lover to another when trust and love have already been established. His first thrust brought them both back to reality instantly. He felt her forgotten barrier give, then he was seated inside her. Gillian felt a sharp, brief pain, then a deep, stinging fulfillment as he came to rest against her cervix.