"Reah moves pretty fast," Aurelius was still chuckling.
"She'd have to; otherwise that spawn would have had her from that distance." Drew agreed. "You had the skillet in one hand and the knife in the other?"
"Yes," I nodded, pushing some of the fish around my plate. "I wish they'd called me, I would have made the fish for you," I said.
"See," Ry pointed his fork at me.
"It's not the worst I've tasted," I said.
"What was the worst?" Tory asked.
"Master Cook Vyn's," I was hiding a grin while ducking my head.
"He's in prison now for his little mistake." Norian Keef walked in with his second-in-command, Vice-Director Schaff. "As are those two glorified vegetable slicers."
"They couldn't even do that right," I said. "Vyn kept them around for what they gave him in bed."
"Well, they managed to get him convicted for a lengthy sentence," Norian took a chair farther down the table. "Are we having fish again?" he grumped.
"Is there more fish in the cold keepers?" I asked. "I can make fish in no time."
"We just got a fresh batch of yaris fish," Another male I didn't know spoke up.
"That's Cheedas. He's vampire now but he used to be head cook," Drew told me.
"Give me a click, you'll have good fish," I said, rising from the table.
They did have good fish—even Addah Desh had loved it and he was the worst critic anyone might have as far as food went.
"Reah, this is so good," Gavril was having more. I was thankful the kitchen island was as large as it was—everybody was either sitting or standing around it, eating fresh yaris fish with sauce and vegetables.
"Chash, it was a pleasure to get to cook for you," I gave him a hard squeeze.
"Reah, you could cook for anyone in the Alliance," Norian Keef rolled his eyes in ecstasy.
"Director Keef, I have cooked for just about everyone important in the Alliance," I told him. "When Desh's number two started getting the top awards, they all came. If I had more time, I'd make my special ox-roast for you."
"You'll like that," Aurelius was nodding his head. "I thought the officers on Mandil were going to fight each other over who got the leftovers."
"We have a house for you, Reah, and clothing and traveling bags and toiletries have already been taken there. Aurelius will show it to you after dinner." Lissa came to stand beside me, interrupting the conversation. I was perched on a tall stool at the end of the island while Aurelius stood beside me. Unconsciously, I reached out with my left hand and rubbed his back while I blinked at Lissa.
"I have a house?" My voice sounded squeaky.
"Every vampire who relocates to Le-Ath Veronis gets a basic house, free of charge. If they want something nicer, they can pay for the upgrade. This house is located next to a good friend of mine, and it was vacated recently. You're welcome to use it as long as you want. If you want it decorated, you can do that yourself. The fish is wonderful, Reah. I think Gavin is in ecstasy. If Norian and the Alliance didn't have a stranglehold on you, I'd pay you top dollar to run my kitchen," Lissa offered a genuine smile.
"We'll try not to strangle her, breah-mul. We need her. You can wrangle over the head cook's job when she's finished her tour of duty." Norian Keef put an arm around Lissa and grinned.
"Does he always get the better of you?" I asked before I thought.
"Oooh, Norian, you are in trouble now," Lissa poked him in the ribs.
"I think Lissa will get the better of me in the next few days," Norian's smile was on the wry side as Lissa ducked from beneath his arm and walked away.
"My love," Aurelius whispered next to my ear, "if you do not stop touching me, I will have you out of here so fast you will not know how it happened, and I cannot be held accountable for my actions after that."
My hand stopped making circles on Aurelius' back—I'd wandered down to the small of his back to do that and only then noticed that Aurelius' breathing had gone ragged.
"Sorry," I mumbled, taking my hand away. I think that may have been the first time I'd ever voluntarily touched an adult male with affection.
"My love, I will ask you to do that again when we are alone," Aurelius nuzzled my ear and then my neck before pulling away. "Someone else will clean up. Let us see this house of yours."
Aurelius must not have been expecting the crowd that came with us—Ry, Tory, Gavril, Lissa, Norian, Lendill, Erland and Gardevik all came, as did a few others. The house I'd been given was very nice. Built of brick, it held three bedrooms plus a basement that locked and looked strong enough to withstand a bomb blast.
"Vampires are very wary—this is a holdover from our days of living on planets with bright sunlight every day. If we wanted to live, we protected ourselves in such ways," Aurelius explained as I looked around the spacious underground room that held a bed, a cold keeper and a vid screen. The house was furnished and thankfully, it had a kitchen in it. The kitchen looked as if it hadn't been used, except for the cold keeper. That suited me just fine; the stone on the countertops and the island looked new and was more than acceptable.
"I like it very much," I said, causing Lissa to smile. I'd never hoped to have this much space to call my own, before. The only thing it lacked was dishes and cookware. I was going to shop for those things the moment I got back from Tulgalan. Somehow, my clothing and things—some of it I hadn't seen before—had made their way into a large, walk-in closet inside the spacious master bedroom.
"Reah, you need to pack." Ry and Tory were examining my closet with a critical eye. I think Aurelius just wanted them to disappear.
"I will help her pack." Aurelius gave the obvious hint. I felt nervous, suddenly. Tory and Ry looked at each other, eyebrows lifted perceptibly. Both said hasty farewells and disappeared. Everyone else had already gone. "Reah, there is no need to be frightened, love." Aurelius' hands were tilting my face up, his thumbs under my chin. Bending down, he gave me a kiss that took my breath and quickened my pulse. He began to nip his way down my neck.
My fangs will not harm you, sweet girl, Aurelius' voice was in my mind, causing me to draw in a breath. His arms pulled me hard against him and I felt the piercing of my throat, just before the waves of pleasure came. They became so intense I fainted.
* * *
"Love, that was only the smallest part of what we can do together," Aurelius was stroking hair back from my forehead. How had we gotten into bed? And the smallest part? That had caused me to lose consciousness, it was so intense. I'd never felt anything like that before. Was that why people were so anxious to have sex? I blinked up at Aurelius' face as a small smile played about his lips. He watched me carefully, no doubt reading my thoughts. Again. A hand reached up and touched a nipple. My nipple. When had he undressed me?
"Shhh," Aurelius bent his head to the same nipple and put his mouth on it. How did he do what he did with those teeth of his? I nearly came off the bed. I think he was holding back, too; somehow I got the idea that if I'd not been virgin he would have been more urgent in his demands and would have taken what he wanted more quickly. As it is, he was gentle. Careful. And when the pain came from the initial coupling, he understood and made it all worthwhile.
* * *
"Reah, drink this." Aurelius woke me after our second time, offering a glass of juice.
"What is it?" I asked as he offered it to me.
"Red citrus," he said, placing the glass in my hands. "With protein mixed in. Drink it. It will be good for you."
I drank it. It tasted strange but I finished it as he asked. Feeling extremely sleepy afterward, Aurelius tucked me against him, curved his body around and over mine and lulled me to sleep.
Chapter 14
Two trunks and two wheeled cases. That's what Aurelius helped me pack. I didn't understand why I might need so much in the way of clothing, toiletries and such, but he wouldn't consider sending me to Tulgalan with less. I found I had some jewelry, too, when I woke. I'd slept a full eight hours, though I'd planned to get
up earlier than that to see Gavril and do other things before taking the shuttle to the space station orbiting Le-Ath Veronis.
"Are you ready yet?" Ry's voice teased me as he and Tory showed up from nowhere inside my new living room. Aurelius had kept me so busy the night before that I hadn't had time to fully explore my new home.
"She is nearly so," Aurelius crossed arms over his chest and glared at our visitors.
"I wanted to say good-bye to Chash before I left," I said, slipping into a chocolate-colored jacket that someone had purchased for me. A heavier coat lay draped over one of my bags—it was winter on Tulgalan and I'd need the coat the moment I stepped off the shuttle onto my home planet.
"I'll go get him—he can go to the station with us," Tory grinned and disappeared.
"Our bags have already been sent up," Ry examined what Aurelius had piled in my floor. "Is this all you're taking?"
"All? I have enough to clothe a small continent," I sighed, looking at the pile of luggage.
"Love, there is barely enough there to last three weeks," Aurelius informed me. "I will take you shopping as soon as you return. The jewelry, too I was guessing at, so we will buy more later."
"You bought jewelry?" My voice squeaked annoyingly on the question.
"And this, but you cannot take it with you on assignment." Aurelius sounded sad about that fact as he lifted a small box from his pocket. Inside was the most beautiful ring, with a large, clear stone that winked brightly in the light.
"But what does this mean?" I could barely draw breath to finish the question.
"It is a token of my love. We are mated, you and I," Aurelius slipped the ring on my finger. "See? It fits. Unfortunately, Director Keef does not want you to have it with you on your mission. I will keep it safe until you return." Aurelius pulled it off my finger and returned it to the small box. I chewed my lip. Even though it seemed presumptuous of Aurelius to buy the thing, I wanted it.
"Come, we should go. If I look at you much longer, I will not be able to let you go," Aurelius whispered. Tory was back with Gavril, who came to slip an arm around my waist. That is how we were folded to the shuttle station.
"Reah, be careful." Gavril sounded just as concerned as Aurelius.
"Bro, she's with us," Ry pointed to Tory and then himself.
"Ry, if she doesn't come back, I'll hold you responsible." Gavril had arms crossed angrily over his chest. He looked like a smaller, dark-haired version of Aurelius at the moment.
"Chash, you shouldn't worry so," I pulled his head next to mine and gave him a kiss on the cheek. I'd never had anyone so concerned about me before. Aurelius, too. Perhaps he'd been worried on Mandil. More than he'd shown, anyway.
"Re, just come back, okay?" I wasn't sure what okay meant—another unfamiliar slang term.
It means all right, Aurelius supplied mentally. "Okay," I nodded to Gavril and let him go.
"Reah, I will be working away at Director Keef to get us time together when you return," Aurelius informed me. He kissed me before taking Gavril by the arm and disappearing.
"Wow," Ry said, herding me toward the shuttle. Our bags had already been taken aboard—we were getting a private shuttle to the space station.
I didn't realize that Vice-Director Schaff would be traveling with us. "I'll get off first, so we won't be seen together," he told me as he settled into his seat. A private compartment, large enough for six, had been booked for us—we were traveling first class. "Reah, you'll be using your new name—there's no need for an alias just yet," the Vice-Director informed me. "Rylend and Torevik will be using different last names."
"Yeah—we're the Garell brothers now," Ry grinned. "You're our poor cousin from Shirves." Ry patted my head and sat next to Lendill. Tory took the chair beside me and buckled in.
"He means poor as in unfortunate, being related to us and all," Tory chuckled. "At least your hair is growing out." He touched the hair in question.
"This haircut wasn't my idea," I grumbled. "Aris—Aurelius—cut it so I could pass as a male recruit."
"How much did he cut off?" Lendill Schaff was interested, for some reason.
"My hair was nearly to my waist," I said. "I kept it braided while I was doing my Alliance training, otherwise they would have made me cut it then. I worked so hard to keep it, but Aurelius had a barber whack it off with barely a thought." It still upset me—I'd kept my hair long by choice, only having it trimmed occasionally if I could afford it. Only once before had it been whacked off when I was younger, and that certainly hadn't been my choice.
"Your images in your Alliance records must have shown you with it braided, then," Lendill sighed.
"My hair was as long as my great-aunt's," I ducked my head and stared at my hands. I'd still had no word from my great-aunt, or any other relatives on Kifirin. I was now classifying them with my family on Tulgalan—as no longer family. It didn’t matter that I'd chosen a fictitious name as my surname; none of them cared, anyway.
"And the same color." Tory stroked my hair before I could duck away from his hand. If he wanted to confuse me, he was doing a fine job—his hand on my head sent tingles through me. What was I supposed to do about that?
* * *
"Child, she is so young," Aurelius sighed. Gavin watched his vampire sire closely—Aurelius had never been this forthcoming with his emotions. Now he was obsessing over the age and safety of his mate.
"I thought Lissa young—and she was nearly fifty when I found her. I have no words of advice, Father."
"Did it cause friction—the difference in your ages?" Aurelius was worried.
"At times. But I feel I am more rigid than you in that respect," Gavin admitted.
"It is difficult relinquishing that control, is it not?" Aurelius' smile was wry.
"And Lissa was headstrong—still is." Gavin gave a small smile of his own. "I find myself wishing that Reah could have stayed—not just for you, father, but for Gavril. She pulled him along when Ry and Tory took her out. He doesn't get to spend time with his older brothers, and I am so old I no longer remember the things a boy might like to do. I didn't remember skipping rocks until Reah took him with her and his brothers."
"And Gavril was the one she chose to go to the bank with her, and she helped him do research. I don't think any of us were aware of how lonely Gavril was until now."
"He's back to his usual silence," Gavin sighed this time.
"I have an idea," Aurelius offered Gavin a pointed look.
* * *
"Lissa, I like this idea. I was wondering how to make them appear more normal—I mean if anyone was looking to find who might be ASD, it would be the newcomers. Having Gavril and a tutor there with them would put that idea to rest immediately." Norian was doing his best to convince Lissa to allow Gavril to go. Lissa didn't know what to think—Gavin and Aurelius had come up with the original idea and suggested it to Norian, since Gavril had sunk into a silence unnatural even for him. Reah had only been gone two days.
"But he won't be safe," Lissa muttered.
"He will. Morwin isn't anyone to trifle with and Rylend has had an offer from your grandfather. King Wylend thinks Wyatt needs more experience in defensive spells. This would provide a good learning experience for him."
Lissa stared hard at Norian. Wyatt was her half-brother and she seldom saw him. She also seldom saw her and Wyatt's father, Griffin. "Wylend thinks he needs the experience?"
"And Tory and Ry can help him get it. Wylend thinks that having someone under his care—such as Gavril—will be good for him. Plus, you can fold to the housing we've got for them anytime, love." Norian sat on the edge of Lissa's desk, attempting to convince her that the idea was a sound one. He merely wanted Ry, Tory and Reah to provide the ASD with information gathered from the young people with whom they would associate. The ASD would be making the investigations and arrests. Norian didn't add that Aurelius had offered to go as a bodyguard. That would be too much, in his opinion. Aurelius had been disappointed at Norian's refusal.
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"Gavin, what do you really think?" Lissa turned to her first mate and Gavril's father.
"I think our son would enjoy this," his dark eyes watched Lissa's face carefully. "You and I know he is a modified vampire—only the second known to be born that way. He has strength and agility that no other twelve-year-old has. I think he will be fine. He has already done his lessons with the Falchani—he can wield two blades with ease."
"But these people may have laser tazers," Lissa grumped.
"Then allow Wyatt to shield him." Norian added to Gavin's argument.
"Fine—I see I'm outvoted on this," Lissa muttered. "Let's go tell him."
* * *
"You're letting me go?" Gavril could barely contain his excitement. The bonus was that this was a treat he hadn't even asked for.
"It will only be for a few weeks at the most," Norian pointed out. "And you have to obey Master Morwin and your older brothers. If you do not, you may never be allowed outside the palace again." Norian cut his eyes toward Lissa who was standing nearby, a frown plastered across her face.
"I get to go," Gavril stood and whispered in disbelief.
"Pack your things, son. Your mother and I will fold you to your brothers in an hour." Gavin ruffled Gavril's dark hair affectionately.
* * *
"We had to do this now, since I have to skip you there. It isn't becoming for one of our supposed status to be out grocery shopping," Tory dumped an armload of fiber bags filled with groceries on the expansive kitchen island while I grumped about going so early. We'd gone to the market extremely early in the morning—before daylight, actually, since none of our neighbors would be awake at that time.
Tory had volunteered to go with me—Ry had been out late the night before making new friends. I translated that to drinking heavily in a nearby tavern with other locals, but didn't say anything. We'd been placed in Taritha Village—a high-end collection of condominiums and apartments that catered to the young among the wealthy and aristocratic.
"Since you got up and helped, what do you want for breakfast?" I was attempting to get past my early morning wake up while unloading food and putting it away. Tory ended up with coddled eggs and my special sauce. He ate four I think, before Ry wandered into the kitchen. He got two.
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