“That’s some revelation, Julian,” Sebastian says.
“It’s not something I felt needed to be shared before now,” Julian answers.
“I understand.” Sebastian’s voice reveals a great antipathy towards our Queen. I wonder what motivates it and from when. “It could be of great help to us, though, if she decides to be difficult.”
“When?” I ask.
“A little over five hundred years ago. I was lonely and wanted a companion. She was beautiful and smart and alone in the world. I came to her one night and offered her everlasting life. She accepted. We remained lovers for many years. There was never any love in our relationship. I wanted to pursue my studies and she wanted power. We parted ways. Not long after that I met Helena and the rest is five hundred years of history.” He purses his lips. “I’m not proud of Zoe and her behavior has disgusted me on occasion!”
“Are there others?” I ask timidly.
“That’s my business, young one.”
Aidan is quiet. Focusing on me.
“Julian, what do you think I should do? Should I offer her trinkets, some Herculean deed? What will release Lilith? Do we need to wait for you to threaten her?” Aidan asks.
“I think that we need to give Zoe a chance to think about it. I will take an audience with her tonight and see if that makes a difference in her decision.” Take he says not request. There is no room for doubt he will see her. “I will negotiate.”
“Very well. If it doesn’t go well, I’m taking Lilith out of there and away from here. I will tell you all when she is safe.” Aidan’s handsome face is carved in cold lines. He looks at my lover. “Sebastian, I’ll come back for you and for the rest of you after I get her settled.”
“If you must take her somewhere, we are in favor with the King of France and Zoe is not.” Helena says. “It would be an easy country in which to re-establish ourselves.”
“Very well. I already have a flat in Paris.”
“Let’s just hope it doesn’t go that far, my friends.” I’m sad that I’m the reason for this concern. I don’t want to move and be on the run. I don’t want them to sacrifice their lives. We would have to relocate Andrew and Liam as well. “Surely she will see reason.”
Aidan touches my cheekbone and Sebastian pulls me closer gently hugging me. My family has closed ranks. We walk a bit more. No one has much to say, caught up in our own thoughts. I cling to Sebastian’s hand. After a while I take Aidan’s as well. With his other hand he hands me my favorite hand sanitizer.
Near dawn we wander back to the Queen’s mansion. Aidan provides appropriate meet the Queen clothes out of thin air for Julian. The rest of us retire to our rooms, giving Julian some time with his child. It is quite a while before we hear him in Helena’s room. I have been pacing. Sebastian finally stops me, taking me in his arms. Aidan is waiting with us. Dawn is all but upon us and I will have to sleep soon. Julian doesn’t report. My apprehension rises.
“Lilith, I’ll leave so you can change and get into bed. You need to rest soon. Before you know it, we will be talking to the Queen again and we will know what is going to happen. Rest easy, my love. One way or another, you will be safe.”
“Thank you, Aidan. Please don’t promise her anything rash while I’m sleeping. Promise me.”
“I promise. Nothing to keep me away from you,” he says.
“It’s time to go to bed now, Lily. Come, get changed,” Sebastian says, leading me to the bed.
I pull on a night gown and Sebastian takes off his tie and jacket. He slips off his shoes and climbs onto the bed with me. He gathers me into his arms. This is my favorite part of the day. I snuggle into Sebastian’s cool body and strong arms. He tucks my head under his chin.
“I love you. I love your arms around me. No matter what, as long as you are with me, it will be all right,” I whisper into the dark room.
“Shhh, Cherie. I will always be with you. I will always hold you.”
I fall asleep and wake up with Sebastian holding me yet. I can tell he has just climbed into bed, though. He has his tie on again.
“Were you with Julian or the Queen?”
“Both. The Queen requested our presence this morning at some business meetings. She wanted our opinions. I think it was to give us some more impressions of what life at court would be like. Frankly, it was interesting. Interstate business disputes.”
“As interesting as You Belong to Me?” His club is his baby.
“No, ma petite. Just different.”
“I suppose I should get dressed. I wonder if I can take a shower. I don’t have anything to change into.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. Aidan, as usual, thought of everything, right down to French lingerie,” he adds sarcastically.
“Ohhh, yay!”
He holds up a new Stella McCartney dress and beautiful Prada heels. Make up, tooth brush and a hair dryer. Of course all my shower things are here, including more of my favorite hand sanitizers and some handi-wipes. Aidan has even summoned some lovely jewelry to go with my dress. I can tell that Sebastian is feeling testy about Aidan’s intimate knowledge of my preferences. I glide to him and give him a big kiss. Our kiss continues a little too long and soon he is pulling the straps of my night gown down.
“Bast, we don’t have time for this if I am going to take a shower. The Queen doesn’t wait for people.”
“You’re right. I couldn’t help myself. You taste so good.” I look back at him over my shoulder. “You wicked girl. Stop teasing me and go take your shower.”
I hurry through my shower and brush my little fangs. I’m blow drying my hair when Helena knocks.
“I see Aidan is taking care of you,” she shakes her head at the dress laid out on the bed.
“Sebastian wasn’t impressed with the lingerie.”
“Well, he’s right and probably a little jealous.”
“I think he was, but I think I reassured him,” I say wiggling my eyebrows at Helena.
She chuckles.
“The Queen is expecting you in fifteen minutes. Will you be ready?”
“Yes, I’m done with my hair. Can you zip me up?”
“Sure, hop into your dress.”
I comply and Helena zips me up. I step into my heels and am ready to go. Helena stands back and admires the outfit.
“Aidan has good taste when it comes to you.”
“Right down to the skin.”
“Shame on Aidan,” she laughs.
“How did it go between Julian and the Queen last night? I’m dying, Helena.”
“Julian was not entirely satisfied. He wasn’t completely forthcoming with me. I think they are playing a game between the two of them as well as this game of who will win you. It all disgusts me as well as Jules, but it is Zoe’s way. She wanted us to experience more time at court, like I haven’t spent years at court before,” Helena mumbles.
“What was that last bit?”
“Oh, nothing important. Let’s go if you are ready.”
We’re standing in the hall when the others exit Julian and Helena’s room to join us. We walk down the stairs together. Sebastian holds my hand and I have a death grip on his. We’re guided into an office. The Queen sits behind a big desk. There are several chairs set up for us and after we bow she waves us into them.
“Lily, did you sleep well?”
“Yes, your Majesty.”
“Good.” She chuckles. “I remember sleeping. I’m glad that part of my life is over with. I get so much more done now.” She is done with the small talk. She puts her hands flat on the table and meets my eyes. “I have been doing a lot of thinking about the proposition I made you. I think I have come up with a solution we can all live with.”
I fidget in my seat until Sebastian lays his hand on my knee, reminding me to be still.
“I would like you to spend your next moon phase with me. You and Aidan. Would that be acceptable? I would very much like to observe your changes myself. Aidan is so much fun to have aroun
d. We have plenty of food here at court. You wouldn’t have to hunt to feed.”
“Your Majesty, I would like to accompany Lily,” Sebastian says.
“That will not be necessary, Sebastian. Besides, you will have your hands full with two new ones, one of which will be a were-vampire.”
“I must protest, your Majesty…”
“I know it will be an inconvenience, Sebastian, but I’m sure that Aidan can handle Lily and keep her safe.” She raises a hand towards Aidan. Sebastian shifts in his chair. “Are you insinuating we can’t protect her here at court?” Her eyebrows fly up. Challenging him.
“No, your Majesty,” Sebastian says through gritted teeth.
I can feel Sebastian’s grip tighten on my leg. He is very upset. I know he is thinking of my heightened sexual senses during those three days, let alone my predilection towards Aidan. This could be bad.
“Lily, does this meet with your acceptance?” I’m low girl on the fang-tastic meter. I either comply or we may all die.
“Yes, your Majesty.”
“Aidan? Will you do us the honor of escorting Lily?”
“Of course, your Majesty. It would be my pleasure.”
Sebastian’s grip gets even tighter. This time, I am the one to still him with my hand. He eases up and takes my hand.
“Now, that’s settled. Unless you all want to see more of New Orleans, you are free to go. I look forward to seeing Aidan and Lily the day before the next full moon phase starts.”
“Yes, your Majesty, thank you,” I say.
We get up and bow to her and make our way to the foyer. Aidan summons our things and we huddle together so that we could transmanifest back home. Within seconds we are back at the manse in a gloomy San Francisco with gloomy hearts to match.
When I put my things away upstairs, Sebastian is close on my heels. As soon as he shuts the door to our bedroom he is shouting. I expected he would be upset, but am still startled by the magnitude of his reaction.
“No way! I will not allow it! Four days alone with Aidan. I don’t think so. You practically tore me apart, Lily! I could hardly keep up with you sexually and I never thought that would happen to me.”
“So you don’t trust me?”
“No, not when you have urges that are beyond your control.”
“I won’t sleep with him, Sebastian!”
“There are a lot of other things that you could do!”
“Sebastian,” I gasp.
“Don’t play coy with me, Lily. You were beyond any self-control the last few days. You were insatiable. I just can’t trust Aidan to control himself while you are away and you need sex.”
“You make me sound like an animal.”
“Well…”
“Ugh!”
I stamp out of the room and down the stairs. I get a drink in the small bar in the library. I’m not even sure what it is. I just know I need something. Aidan and Helena look up at me. Sebastian storms in after me.
“Lily!”
He stops short when he sees our audience.
“What? Are you going to call me a dog again?” I steam.
“What?” Aidan growls.
“Stay out of this, Aidan,” Sebastian warns.
“Sebastian seems to think I can’t control myself any better than an animal can when the moon is full.”
“Sebastian,” Helena admonishes.
Sebastian stalks out of the room. I finish my drink in one gulp and plop down in one of the wing back chairs. I glare at the room in general. Sebastian’s car roars down the drive way, the sound of the oyster shells flying against the house echoes in his wake. I assume he is going to the club. He had been on his way there the night before. After the time we’ve been away, he has a lot of work to catch up with. But I also know he’s avoiding our ‘discussion.’
“You know he just doesn’t like you being away from him,” Helena says trying to diffuse the insult.
“I know he doesn’t trust me.”
“He doesn’t trust me,” Aidan says. “And rightly so. It will be a very tempting time for me.” He is not helping. He pulls a contrite face. “But I will behave myself.”
I look at him and scowl. It doesn’t help that I know Sebastian has reason to worry. Still his lack of trust hurts.
“You know it would be easier if you wouldn’t admit to being tempted.”
“I’m just being honest,” he grins.
Helena throws up her hands at him and Aidan laughs.
Andrew makes us coffee and the normalness of the ritual calms me down along with copious amounts of hand sanitizer. We tell him and Liam all about the Queen and her home. Andrew wants details from about what she wore to the royal decor. It is time to cook something for Liam to eat again. He looks better.
Sebastian still hasn’t returned.
I leave to get ready for work. Instead of designer, I go with fashion statement in a tee shirt that says ‘Never trust a vampire—they suck!’ and mules. Hannah bought me the tee when we’d gone shopping in Berkeley once. Aidan stops me on the way out.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“To work.” I don’t like his tone. I’ve had enough bossy males today. “I’m going to catch the bus.”
“I don’t think so. I’ll take you. You have a tendency to get into trouble on your own.”
“That’s entirely unfair, and you sound like Sebastian.” He winces. “Besides we don’t have any rogue witches or vampires running around. No problems. I should be just fine,” I argue.
“Even so, at the risk of coming across like a domineering arrogant ass, I’ll escort you to work.”
I can tell he isn’t going to budge. His body temperature goes up when he gets emotional and he is quite adamant at the moment. The heat feels good. I wait in the library until it is time to leave. There’s a nice fire taking the chill from the damp foggy night. I get as close to the blaze as safety allows. After all, I can’t stand in front of Aidan rubbing my hands together like I’m in front of a campfire. Helena gives me nervous looks. I know she’s upset about my fight with Sebastian. I am too, but if he isn’t here to talk about it, there is nothing I can do. Before long, Aidan holds out his hand to me, and I take it. We wave goodbye and are gone.
We land in a doorway across the street from work. He asks if he can go in with me again. I know it amuses him and it’s reassuring having a big bad jinni close by, so I say yes. I key code us in and head to the coffee machine. I need a map to find my way to my desk. I swear they reconfigure the cubicles every week. After I’ve sterilized everything, I put on my headphones. My little red light goes on, and I push the button, I glance at the time and it’s five after ten.
“Suicide Hotline, this is Lilith, how can I help you?”
“I think my girlfriend is having an affair and all I want to do is hurt her or hurt myself, I can’t decide.”
“What’s your name?”
“Sam.”
“Sam, why do you want to hurt anyone? Why not just walk away?”
“She humiliated me. It’s driving me crazy. I just can’t get it out of my head. I keep seeing them together. Over and over again. It’s my best friend. I think they’ve been together in my house, in my bed.”
“That’s a difficult situation, Sam. It must hurt a lot.”
“It hurts so much I feel like I’ve been stabbed.”
“Where are you right now, Sam?”
“At my house, waiting for my girlfriend to get home from work.”
“What’s your address, Sam?”
“Why do you need my address? I thought this was anonymous?”
“It is, I need it for demographic statistics—if it’s a problem…,” I lie, willing to say anything to get the info.
This man is a danger to himself and to others. He needs to be stopped before his girlfriend gets home.
“This is bullshit!” I wait silently. “Not my last name.”
“Sure, Sam.”
“It’s 6739 Chelsea in SF.”
I quickly type an email to my supervisor with the information pertaining to the phone call and that it is an emergency. She will call 911. I see the light flick on, she is listening.
“Sam, do you have anything in the house that you can hurt yourself or your girlfriend with?”
“I’ve got a gun.”
I know my supervisor will relay this to the police as well. They need to know what they are walking into.
“Is it loaded, Sam?”
“Yes,” his voice cracks. He’s starting to break down.
“Can you unload the gun for me, Sam?” My voice is as gentle as I can make it.
“No, I need it.”
“Sam, what is it going to solve if you hurt yourself or your girlfriend? It will cause you more pain. It won’t change what happened. Let’s talk about another course of action you could take.”
“I need her to hurt as bad as I do.”
“Don’t you think leaving her will hurt her?”
“Yes.”
“You finding out about them will humiliate her. You don’t need to kill her. Let her live with that shame. Take the bullets out of the gun, Sam.” The line is silent. I can almost feel his indecision.
“I’ll take them out, but I’m holding on to them just in case.”
“Okay you hold on to them, but promise me you won’t use them.”
“No promises. I just don’t know.” He’s crying and shouting. The discussion is breaking down.
“You need help, Sam. You need someone to help you sort this out. You can’t hurt yourself. Think of all the people that would be sad if you were gone.”
I hear him sobbing.
“Sam, I’ve called the police to come and help you. I don’t want you to be surprised when they show up. Don’t shoot at them.”
“Why did you do that?!”
I hear a knocking in the background and a shout at the door.
“They’re here. Oh man… oh man… what have you done?”
“Put the gun down Sam.”
“I need it!”
In the distance I hear the door being smashed open.
Then I hear the police yell. “Put your hands where we can see them, sir!”
Sam is sobbing in the background, yelling it’s all her fault and screaming profanities.
Sucking Bites (San Francisco Vampires Series #3) Page 19
