The fire crackled behind me. Why had Alrekur had wanted me to join him? It was strange since he hadn't paid any attention to me in such a long time. I had been so lost in my thoughts that I was surprised when someone said hello next to me. I looked over to see Svana sitting next to me.
"I remember when fires were restricted to outside," she said with a smile. "I was so excited when homes began to be made with fireplaces."
"Nothing like what we have today, right?" I asked.
She shook her head. "Nothing could have prepared me for what I woke up to."
"At least you didn't react to everything like Alrekur," I said, smiling. "He attacked a limo and kept throwing me to the ground to protect me."
"You can't blame him, though," she said with a twinkle in her eye.
I raised an eyebrow. "Why's that?"
"He waited two thousand years for you. He was always restless and never could fall in love with anyone. He tried, believe me, but he was waiting for you."
"That's what I keep hearing," I mumbled.
"Even if I couldn't see the mark, I would know that you're the one," Svana said, playing with her long, blonde hair.
"Really?" I asked.
"There's such strong electricity between the two of you that it can be felt by everyone around you. At least by us Fyrsturae. We can sense it in the air when you two are together."
"You can feel it too?" I asked, surprised.
"So you don't deny it!"
I sighed. "I can't deny it. But it doesn't change my feelings."
Svana leaned in so close that her hair brushed against my cheek, tickling me. "Alrekur told me to keep this a secret, but you should know."
"What?" I whispered.
"He removed the stake from the human boy's heart."
I leaned back and stared at her. "What…are you saying?"
She lowered her voice even more. "He took the stake out before the boy had actually died, then made him forget everything—and everyone—and he took him somewhere where he'll never be found. He's with common vampires and on a secret mission that Alrekur won't share with us."
My mouth dropped. "Why did Alrekur do that?"
"He couldn't handle seeing you in pain. He can't follow through with something that would hurt you. As much as he wanted the boy dead, he couldn't do it."
"Seriously?" I whispered, barely loud enough for her to hear me even though she was right next to me with vampire hearing. I couldn't believe that Tanner was alive!
She nodded. "That's why he didn't kill that son of Halldor, either. He could see how much more you loved that one, so he couldn't even let you think he had killed him. That's why he merely banished him."
"He has no problem letting me actually suffer, thinking that he did something that would hurt me."
She shrugged. "I'm sure he was planning on telling you eventually."
"Why are you telling me all this?" I asked. "And why did he tell you? You're his enemy's sister."
She smiled. "We've always been close, Alrekur and I. In fact, when his parents started insisting that he create his own line of vampires, he chose me to mate with."
"That's romantic," I said.
She laughed. "It wasn't like that at all. He only wanted to make his parents happy and I was just helping my friend out."
"Helping a friend out?" I asked. "Talk about friends with benefits."
"It was pretty obvious that he didn't feel anything toward me. Believe me: mating with him was nothing like mating with Soren." She sighed and her eyes glazed over.
"You can't wait to reunite with Soren, can you?"
She shook her head. "At least my brother knows where he rests."
"Don't you hate Halldor for killing Soren?" I asked.
"I did for a while," Svana said. "But when you know that the death isn't permanent, it's easier to forgive. Besides, my brother didn't kill him to spite me. The fact that Soren's death would hurt me pained Halldor; he almost didn't kill him because of it."
"I win!" Alrekur shouted from across the room.
"You win again," Baldur said, looking as though he didn't care. "I want to go hunting. Who's joining me?"
My eyes lit up and my mouth watered. I hadn't been on a hunt in a long time.
Alrekur looked at me. "You will not go hunting in your condition. Put that idea out of your head, my Sonnast."
I hated it when he called me his. I wasn't his anything.
Svana stood up. "I'll go with you, Baldur. I love a good hunt."
"Be careful," I told them. "You've seen the news. The mortals are convinced that there's a serial killer on the loose."
Baldur looked at me. "You know we all think the same—never going after the innocents. It's built into us."
"I always thought that it was because our parents taught us to protect the humans," Svana said looking at me. "But since you did the same thing, before you even knew you were a Fyrsturae, it makes me think that Baldur's right. It must be part of who we are. Our parents united and had us in order to help the mortals, so we can't intentionally harm an innocent one."
"Enough philosophy, Svana," Baldur said, running his hands through his fiery red hair. "Let's get going."
"See you around." Svana waved to Alrekur and me, before the two of them disappeared through the wall.
Alrekur sat next to me in front of the fire. "So, Svana filled you in on your human friend."
"You're such an eavesdropper," I said. Not that I had any room to complain, having done more than my fair share of it.
"My ears itch when I hear my name," he said with a charming smile.
He was so gorgeous when he smiled. I had to hold back my natural instinct, which was to kiss him.
Alrekur smiled even wider. He always seemed to know exactly what I was feeling—except when it came to Cliff, thankfully. "You don't seem to hate me so much today, love. What changed?"
How I would have loved to tell him that my happiness was from seeing the real love of my life. "I simply can't resist your charm," I said with a smirk.
He laughed loudly. "You know, your feistiness doesn't put me off. I adore it. Even when you hate me, I can't help but love that part of you."
"Then why banish Tanner and Cliff, if you know I'll hate you for it?" I demanded.
"Because you'll come around. You're the Sonnast—my Sonnast. I've waited so many centuries for you; a few more won't matter."
"How can a few centuries of waiting not matter?" I asked in disbelief.
"Love, when you've been around as long as I have, time is different. Think of it this way. As children, when we wanted something so much, two days felt like eight lifetimes, remember? Now that you're a little older time goes faster, even when you want something. Add a couple thousand years to the mix, and time isn't the same at all. Also, I understand the importance of having a tenth line. That's not something that could happen when we come together. Our offspring will be of the first line."
I sighed. He had a point about how time feels, and it was becoming abundantly clear that he had no problem waiting for me as long as he had to.
"Aside from that," he said, "I can tell that you want me. Even when you can't stand to be in my sight."
"Why have you left me alone these months if I want you so bad?"
He grinned. "Do you not realize that your fire makes me crave you all the more?"
"It's called sarcasm."
"Semantics, dear Sonnast. I've left you alone because that's what you've wanted. Svana's right: as much as it kills me, I can't bring myself to do anything that will make you unhappy." He brushed the back of his hand softly across my cheek, pulled a strand of hair behind my ear, and looked adoringly into my eyes.
My breathing stopped and my body was begging me to kiss him. It took every ounce of self-control not to throw myself at him. "Then walk away from me," I said, trying unsuccessfully to ignore my desire for him. "That would make me happy."
He grinned. "Ah, but I can't do that. For one, part of you does want me. You wan
t to kiss me right now." He slowly moved closer to me.
"You would kiss me now?" I asked, trying desperately to break the electricity in the air. "While I'm carrying…this son of Halldor?"
"I would," he whispered and placed his lips on mine.
The electricity ran through my body like a live current. I hoped it wouldn't hurt the baby. Cliff's baby. Holding Cliff's face in my mind, I grabbed Alrekur's shoulders to push him away. But our touch fueled my desire to kiss him. Instead of pushing him away, I squeezed his shoulders and pulled him close to me, kissing him back.
He pushed me gently against the mantel, careful to avoid putting any pressure on my stomach, and began kissing my cheek, up toward my ear. Then he stopped suddenly. I was too breathless to ask why.
"I can't control my desire for you," he whispered. "I will do one thing that the son of Halldor didn't do. I will wait until we're married. It will be special and it will mean something. Rest assured that none of the others meant a thing. I've never felt anything like what I feel for you. You're undoubtedly the one, and I'll wait for you as long as I must. When you finally decide to give yourself to me, it will be unlike anything else."
I stared at him. No words would come.
A slow smile crept across his face. He obviously thought he was a stud. "I've left you speechless."
I opened my mouth to protest, in vain.
"You're free to go."
"You're not ordering me away?" I asked, surprised.
"No. You're also free to stay. It's your choice."
"Why is it different this time?" I asked suspiciously. "You've always brought me to your wing to tease or torment me and then sent me away when you feel like it."
Half of his mouth smiled as he leaned against the mantel next to me.
I turned to look at him and object to his smugness, but I couldn't get over how good-looking he was. I accidentally brushed his hand with mine and the electricity ran through me again. His face showed a little bit of surprise. I knew he could feel it as well.
"Let's watch a movie, shall we?" he asked. "We haven't watched one together since we entertained the leaders."
"I…you want to watch a movie?"
"How about The Notebook?" he asked.
I smiled, holding back a laugh. "That's what you want to watch? Do you know what it's about?"
He looked directly into my eyes, his eyes were soft. "I've been watching a lot of romantic movies. I like them because they make me think of you. Baldur and Svana make fun of me for it, but I don't let them get to me."
"Oh…?"
"So would you like to watch it? Your parents are looking for you."
"How do you know that?"
He smiled. "I have even better hearing than you, my darling. My servants have alerted your parents that you're with me and not to be disturbed while you're here." He was still smiling.
I didn't want to deal with my parents. "Sure, let's watch that movie."
He stood up and extended his hand for me to take.
"I'm perfectly capable of getting up. In fact, I could still train for battle—if anyone would let me."
"I don't doubt that, my love. Just take my hand."
I sighed and let him help me up. He let go of my hand once I was standing and led me to a room that had a hundred-something inch screen TV and a very comfortable leather couch. I watched as he turned on the TV and got the movie going like a pro.
"You've come a long way since Germany," I noted.
"Yes. I've adjusted to this new world. I quite enjoy it." He sat down barely an inch away from me, and though we weren't touching, I could still feel the electricity as we sat next to each other.
When the movie was over, he was ready to watch another.
"You going for a movie marathon?" I asked.
"If you're up for it," he said, smiling. Did he always smile so much or was it only for me?
I yawned. "I'm actually pretty tired. I'm going to go to bed now."
"That's good, you get some rest. I'm sure that either Baldur or Svana will want to watch something with me when they return from their hunt. May I walk you to your room?"
I looked at him in surprise. "You're not going to send your servants to do that menial task?"
"I'm full of surprises tonight. Unless you'd rather a servant take you. But I'd be happy to walk you to your room."
"You don't think that would be improper?" I asked. He was surprisingly traditional when it came to how he treated me in the presence of others, especially for someone who'd started a whole line of vampire royals.
"I'm not going to enter your room. We will never be near a bed until you're my wife, beautiful Sonnast." He moved my hair away from my neck and stroked my mark.
I let out a breath of surprise as his face glowed blue. The light was coming from the mark.
"The mark is beyond amazing. It's never glowed like that before. I wonder, am I beginning to win you over?"
"I…I—no, it glowed when I pulled the stake from your heart, remember? I don't know what it means."
He stroked my cheek and looked at me in complete admiration. "You're even more beautiful when you're flustered. Actually, it was silver in color when you awakened me."
I wanted to tell him how gorgeous he was too. Instead I said, "Let's walk to my room. I'm tired."
"Of course. After you." He held his arm out.
I smiled and began walking. We walked side by side, going between light conversation and a comfortable silence. When we arrived at my bedroom door, he kissed the back of my hand and remained in his spot until I had closed the door behind me. I leaned against the door and let out a long breath.
What had just happened? What was up with that electricity between us? It was so strong I couldn't fight it or think clearly. Or was Alrekur right—was he actually starting to win me over? No, no, no. There was no way I was going to let that happen.
"What's going on with you?"
I looked up and saw Brooke across the room. "You scared me!"
"Sorry. I'm organizing the baby's things. Are you okay?"
"Yeah. I'm doing well, actually. Just a little tired and confused."
"It's good to see you tired. You try to do so much."
"I'm not trying to be a showoff. I have plenty of energy, and not being able to do anything doesn't help with that."
"Just think of it as giving that energy to your son. So, where were you? Your parents were looking for you and they weren't too happy."
"Alrekur wanted to spend time with me," I said, shrugging my shoulders. I walked to my big, luxurious bed and sat down. "Ahhh. I love this thing."
Brooke smiled. "There's nothing like the beds here at the castle, is there? What did Alrekur want?"
"You know him. He can't get enough of me. He waited two thousand years for me and feels the need to remind me every chance he gets."
She sat next to me. "I know, but he's left you alone for at least a few months. I don't get him."
"Apparently he can't bear to do anything to make me unhappy. He knew I hated him, so he left me alone."
She gave me a questioning look. "What changed then? Why did he call you this evening?"
"I was happier today. He took it to mean that I wasn't angry with him."
"What has you so happy?"
I laughed. "You and your questions! You drove me nuts with them when I was going through my transformation."
She smiled. "Yes, I did. So, what is it?"
"I don't think I'm supposed to say anything to anyone."
"You can trust me! I'm your servant. Wait! Did you hear from Cliff?" Her eyes widened.
How did she know? "Not so loud," I said. "You know how sensitive everyone's hearing is around here. Especially the Fyrsturae."
"Sorry, you're right. Did you hear from him?"
I glared at her.
She grinned and clapped. "Oh! Tell me everything! How is he? Did you tell him he's going to have a son?"
I sighed. "He's been better. He was thrilled to find out
that it's a boy."
She grabbed my hands. "Are you going to try to bring him back to the castle?"
"He's been banished, remember?"
"You just told me that Alrekur will basically do anything that you want, right?"
"Yeah, but not anything. He didn't kill Cliff; that's why he was banished."
"When are you going to see him?"
"I really need to get some sleep, Brooke."
She gasped and whispered, "Did you already see him?"
I don't want to have this conversation right now.
Who better to tell than me? I can help you!
I sighed. I'm going to meet with him tonight—after I get some rest.
That's why you're so anxious to get to sleep.
"I'm actually tired, whether you believe it or not."
"If you're tired and you don't like everyone thinking you're so weak, did he tire you out? Is that why you have to rest?"
I rolled my eyes.
She looked at my belly. "You have to admit the question isn't off base."
"Fine, it's not. But, like I've told you before, we only did it that one time."
"That's all it took."
"Look, I really am tired. I promise to give you all the details tomorrow if you'll let me sleep now."
She winked at me. "Sweet dreams."
I lay down and pulled the covers up to my neck, while sinking down into the soft bed. I looked over at Brooke, who was busy organizing the newly made baby clothes. My tired eyes closed and I finally fell into a deep sleep.
When I woke up, I looked around to see if I was alone. Nobody was there and I was grateful for the rare solitude. My parents didn't want me left alone for long, afraid that something terrible would befall me. I stretched and looked out the window. It was still dark, so it would be the perfect time to sneak off to see Cliff.
I got into the shower and tried to push away the thoughts of Alrekur that kept popping up. I didn't want to think about him or the connection we'd had earlier. It was impossible to deny that we had a strong connection, but a connection wasn't the same thing as a relationship, or care and concern. What Cliff and I had was real and it was based on love, not on some mark that caused mere feelings.
The Transformed Box Set: Books 1, 2, 3, 3.5 Page 86
