Blood Bargain

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Blood Bargain Page 17

by Maria Lima


  Bea and I made short work of the cleanup, mostly because Ignacio had already done most of the heavy lifting. The kitchen was spotless and he'd already washed and dried the pans he'd used to cook with.

  "Go on to bed, Bea,” I said after she yawned a third time. “It's late and you've had a stressful day between the teenaged hordes and then everything else."

  "Mm, yeah, you're right.” She folded the dishtowel she'd been using and placed it on the counter. “Sorry I'm so wiped. I was hoping to have some time to sit and chat with you."

  "I know, sweetie. Me, too, but we're all tired.” I ushered her out of the kitchen and shut off the light. “Let's plan on a girls’ night, soon, okay?"

  "Cool.” Bea trundled down the hall and into the second guest bedroom, shutting the door.

  * * * *

  The dark enveloped me as I sat curled in the armchair. After taking a quick shower, I'd changed into a tank top and some loose sweatpants and come back out to the living room. I'd thought about sacking out, getting the sleep I sorely needed, but at this point, I'd moved from tired and sleepy to tired and wired. A low energy buzzed through me, the kind you get when lack of sleep and too much stress keep your mind whirling and unable to let go. My muscles ached with exhaustion, but the last thing I wanted to do was to lie down in bed and stare at the ceiling.

  The porch light peeking through a gap in the curtains gave me enough ambient light to see by. I saw more than most; my night vision enabled me to make out the nap of the couch, the leaf pattern on one of the throw pillows. I wrapped my arms around my legs and closed my eyes. So here I was. Back in my house, Bea in the guest room, like it once was. Before Adam. Plus la change, I suppose. Tonight was nice, spending time with Bea, even though the reason wasn't so good. I was lucky to have her as a friend. We'd known each other since I was seven, since my father brought me here, straight from the Sidhe stronghold underneath the Welsh faery mounds and with no idea what was going to happen to me. Over the years, our friendship deepened and grew and despite my family, despite my travels, despite my all but abandoning her for the past few months, she still cared. I was one very lucky woman.

  "Hey, whatcha doing?” Bea's sleepy voice interrupted my thoughts.

  "Hey back."

  She crossed in front of me and curled up on the couch. She was dressed nearly as I was, which was no surprise, seeing as how she'd raided my dresser for something to wear. On her, my tank top was almost too small. Bea was a lot shorter than me, but curvy and much more well-endowed. Since most of my pants would probably not fit, either in width or length, she'd opted for a pair of cut off sweats, which on me, reached mid-thigh, but on her were to her knee. Both of us were barefoot.

  "Couldn't sleep?” she asked.

  "Nope."

  "Me, neither."

  We sat in companionable silence for a few minutes.

  "You thinking about anything in particular?” Bea asked, her voice soft in the stillness.

  "Sort of.” I rested my chin on my knee. I watched a spider crawl across the top of the window. I couldn't tell if it was inside or outside, but I couldn't bring myself to care.

  What I really wanted was to go back to the Wild Moon and finish my discussion with Adam. I felt unfinished, as if too much was left undecided. I didn't know what would happen from here, but I didn't like not having an answer. Maybe that's why I'd volunteered to search for the kids, to look for Alex Robles. I hadn't asked to be involved, but I had been.

  "You want to go back to the ranch, don't you?"

  "You can tell, can't you?"

  She chuckled and pointed at me. “I know you, Keira Kelly. I've known you for thirty years."

  "That you have."

  "Anything I need to worry about?” Bea asked.

  "Not really.” I sighed and straightened my legs, leaning forward in the chair. “Adam and I have some unfinished business."

  "So go, take care of it."

  "I can't do that. I promised to watch over you tonight, and I will. Adam will keep.” And so would I. “Besides, no one's going to die because Adam and I don't get a chance to talk tonight and come to a resolution. He and I can talk later."

  "Resolution?” Bea perked up at that, sensing the opportunity for some girl gab.

  "It's nothing, really,” I said, unsure of how to explain it without grossing her out. When Bea first found out vampires existed, her immediate reaction was to grab at the cross she wore around her neck. Now, six months later, she'd accepted my relationship enough to tease me about it, but I knew the fact of his being vampire still bothered her. “Adam and I are of a difference of opinion on something and we haven't had a chance to work it out."

  "Again, so go. It's obviously bothering you,” Bea said. “And, just as obviously, you're not ready to share with me, so I can't help."

  "It's not that I don't want to share...” I began.

  "Keira, really, I know you, remember? It's okay. You'll share when you're ready. Go on back to the ranch. Ignacio and I will be fine here."

  "But that will leave you without a car,” I protested. What else could I say? I knew this was a losing battle, my own stubbornness rarely a match for Bea's. I was a little uneasy about leaving her here, but she was right. Pete Garza didn't know where I lived and I was well enough off any beaten path that stumbling across my house was more than unlikely. I had no neighbors, no other houses near mine.

  "Don't worry. I'll call Tio in the morning, he can come pick us up or send my nephew. Do what you need to do and I'll rest easier knowing that you did. Promise me one thing?"

  "Absolutely."

  "When you're ready, come see me and tell me what this is all about?"

  "I will, if you'll promise me that you'll keep all the doors and windows locked and you will not, I repeat, not go outside until Tio gets here tomorrow."

  She nodded. “Done. Now scoot, get on out of here before I call your brother to come get you."

  I laughed and went to change clothes.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  It took me a few minutes to get dressed and head out to the Wild Moon.

  As I drove up to Adam's, I noticed the porch light was on, but the house lights were still dark. Odd. Usually, once Adam got up for the night, showered and dressed, he went upstairs and turned on the living room lights. He'd sit there for a bit, reading through correspondence and getting papers in order, then walk over to his office for the rest of his work. Occasionally, he skipped the first part and went directly to the office, but he always turned on the lights.

  My cell phone rang as I pulled up to the front of the house. I glanced at the display and answered it.

  "Hey, Carlton,” I said. “Kind of late, isn't it?"

  "It's been that kind of a day,” he responded. “Besides, I knew you'd be awake."

  Not surprising. Even before Adam, I'd been more of a night person and tended to sleep days. “I guess you got my voice mail?"

  "Yeah, interesting. I'm going to send out a couple of guys in the morning to go check out that old cemetery. I talked to Mrs. Wentz about it, but she didn't know it was there."

  "Any other signs of the kids?"

  "Nothing yet, but I'm not giving up on the runaway idea. I still can't put my finger on what's up, though."

  "Hey, listen, I was up at Bea's earlier. Talked to a couple of kids there.” I quickly filled him in on what Crystal and Andy had said.

  "Huh, well, at least that corroborates what you all saw out there,” he said.

  "Yeah. You get anything out of the other parents?"

  "Mrs. Martinez thinks Brittany's been brainwashed by ‘that bitch Missy Wentz’ and Aaron Stahl mostly figures his nephew's old enough to do what he wants. So, I'm batting pretty much zero at this point.” I didn't need to see him to know how frustrated Carlton was. The weariness in his voice made him sound old.

  "I'm about to turn in for the night,” he continued, “but I thought I'd make sure to let you know I got your voice mail. I've got a guy stationed at each of the house
s, in case they call. I'll also ask Rick to see if he can swing by the Pursell place in the morning, maybe ask around again."

  "Thanks, appreciate that. Hey, so you know, Bea's up at my place with Ignacio Robles.” I filled Carlton in about what had happened earlier and about Bea's history with Pete.

  "For heaven's sake, Keira,” he said. “She never reported that?"

  "I know, Carlton, but now's not the time to worry about that. It's a long time ago. I want to be sure that Pete's not going to bother her or Ignacio."

  "Don't worry, I'll take care of that. I'll have someone drive up to your place and check in on them in an hour or so. I can't station someone there all night, since we've got a few guys, but we'll make sure they're okay."

  "Thanks. Call me if anything happens,” I said.

  "Will do.” He hung up.

  I reached to open the door. A tap on my car window startled me.

  "What the—” I whirled, dropping my phone. “Tucker, what are you doing here?” I picked up my phone, dropped it in my bag, then opened the door and he stepped back.

  "You haven't gone inside.” It wasn't a question.

  "No, I got a call from Carlton, why?” I peered at my brother's face, which was in shadow. He wasn't smiling. Tucker reached a hand out and touched my shoulder, giving it a quick squeeze.

  "Bea's okay?"

  "Yeah, I couldn't sleep so she sent me home. Tucker, what is it?"

  I caught him glancing at the house and his sort of neutral expression morphed into one of concern.

  I got out of the car and made it to the porch nearly a full three seconds before my shapeshifter brother caught up. The front door of the house was unlocked and I started inside.

  "Wait, Keira—” Niko's voice came from behind me.

  "No.” I stepped forward into the dark silence. Niko's hand landed on my shoulder, I twisted to move away but he was faster and stronger. He grabbed my upper arm and stopped me as I entered the foyer.

  "Please, wait. Just a moment.” I half turned, angry he was keeping me from going down to the bedroom. I knew that's where Adam was, despite the fact that it was still dark.

  "What the hell is going on, Niko?"

  "I'm sorry, it's Adam. He needs blood."

  "I know.” Obvious. What wasn't he telling me?

  "Lance came by here about an hour ago, to drop off some mail. Adam was still asleep."

  "Still?” My heart stuttered in my chest. “Niko, it's past one. Adam should have been awake hours ago."

  "I know."

  Niko's blue eyes glittered in the darkness. He was a very pretty man, red-gold hair framing a pale sculpted face. He and Tucker made a lovely couple. Normally, Niko's face was relaxed, if a bit wary, as befitted the man who served as second in command to the lead vampire. Tonight, it was neither. I saw true worry there, the kind of worry that gave me the cold chills.

  "Lance called me immediately,” Niko said. “I came over and tried to wake him, but couldn't. Then I tried to give him fresh blood, from a deer."

  We both blinked as the living room lights came on. I glanced around. Tucker stood by the switch, arms crossed over his chest. He'd gone into protector mode. I'd almost forgotten he was here.

  "Adam roused a bit when I painted blood on his lips.” Niko's voice broke a little. “He drank some, Keira,” Niko continued, his worry lines more obvious in the light. Niko had died a young man, but his many years of experience reflected in the cool blue of his eyes. This was no boy.

  "Didn't help?” I asked in a whisper.

  "No."

  I barely heard the word, closing my eyes against it.

  "You know he wouldn't take any from me,” I said as I opened my eyes again, catching Niko's gaze. “I offered. Every night.” And he'd refused, again and again. Was this what his stubborn denial had come to? “I'm willing to offer again."

  "I know.” Niko bowed his head in acknowledgment. “But...” He fell silent. I waited long enough to see if he was going to continue speaking.

  "I'll go down now.” I stepped away from Niko and headed for the stairs.

  Niko's arm shot out again, blocking my way.

  Both my hands flew up automatically. “What?"

  "He's in really bad shape, Keira."

  "I don't care.” I pushed Niko aside and ran down the polished wood steps, the heels of my boots clattering and echoing in the stillness.

  Damn it. Stubborn fucking vampire had gone and almost died.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  I rushed to Adam's side, barely taking in the fact that he lay rigid on his back as if tucked into a coffin. A soft blanket covered him, baring his unclothed shoulders. I shivered. This wasn't the vampire I'd come to know. I'd often watched him sleep, fascinated by him, wanting to imprint his beauty into my brain. He was the third lover I'd spent any appreciable time with. Most of the others were for fun. The first man I actually slept with, as opposed to just have sex with, was Carlton. He'd been a sound sleeper and tended to drape himself all over me ... constantly. I didn't mind at first, but soon got to the point where I started to feel claustrophobic. I soon realized that Carlton had seen my staying over as a declaration of “forever after.” Our breakup happened a few months after my first sleepover.

  The second man had been Gideon. Almost the opposite of Carlton, Gideon was a light sleeper who spent much of the night tossing and turning, occasionally reaching over to grab at my arm, touch my back or shoulder, never really relaxing into sleep. Often, after sex, I'd stay for a while, but eventually make some excuse and go seek my own bed in the maze of bedrooms in the old house. Because we were distant cousins, both Gideon and I stayed at the clan home in London, a centuries-old and ridiculously appointed mansion harking back to the turn of the eighteenth century.

  Adam was more of the “sprawl all over and take up space” sleeper, but he never forced himself into my side of the bed. Instead, we often made room for each other, turning when the other did, sliding over to accommodate an arm or leg, touching lightly sometimes, other times spooning together. It never seemed a battle for territory, more a mutual comfort zone.

  I suppose I never really paid attention to sleeping habits before now. Sleeping together was so much more intimate than sex. It was when you finally let go of all pretense, the façades that we build around ourselves. I could never let go of mine with Carlton; Gideon never let go of his with me. With Adam, all barriers were down. Not the first night I stayed with him, but soon after. I didn't have to pretend I was human, he didn't have to pretend he was other than vampire. So quickly we'd let all the warts show.

  "Adam,” I whispered as I crawled across the bed to him. He didn't budge, didn't move a muscle. I couldn't very well listen for a heartbeat or put a mirror up to his nose. I reached out, half afraid to touch his skin, expecting it to feel clammy, the cold of true death. He couldn't be totally gone though, Niko would have told me—wouldn't he?

  I slid the blanket down, and laid my hand on his unmoving chest, skin to skin. I needed to know how much of him was still in there. Was this a case of retreating while trying to heal? Thing was, healing took energy, whether you got that energy from a juicy steak, a McBurger or a few ounces of fresh blood. This wasn't the broken hurt kind of healing, either. It went a great deal deeper. I didn't know how long Adam had been conducting his experiment, trying to survive on animal blood extracts mixed in wine. I knew the catalytic event occurred during World War II, but I had no idea exactly when he'd stopped taking living blood.

  Adam's skin was so very cold. I closed my eyes and reached, using the metaphysical connection we'd shared longer than we'd been lovers. My barriers dropped, opening up, senses seeking whatever spark of Adam was left deep inside him.

  Silence. The utter stillness of death unanimated. I tried again, letting everything drop, all defenses, all barriers open. The sound of my own breathing seemed loud as hurricane winds enveloping me, buffeting the void where Adam belonged. He wasn't totally dead; I couldn't feel any decay, but the icy emptine
ss echoed the loss of awareness as if he'd passed over. My body shivered in response. Immediately, I slammed shut my shields, not willing to follow him down whatever hole he'd fallen into himself.

  "He's in a coma.” Niko's voice jarred me back to reality and the present. He stood behind me, Tucker to his left and slightly to the back, as if to guard and protect. It hadn't taken my brother long to establish a relationship with this man. Not that I could say anything, I'd taken up with Adam as quickly ... although I suppose our years of acquaintanceship in England counted for something. It didn't really matter though. Tucker's judgment was usually sound ... unlike my own.

  I scooted away from Adam's unmoving body and sat at the edge of the bed.

  "Coma?"

  Niko shrugged, his head cocked a little to one side, arms folded across his chest, a strange mixture of defensive posture and conciliation. Until he and Tucker became lovers, the two of us had barely been able to have a civil conversation. Last year, when I'd first visited the Wild Moon, his attitude towards me had even led to a fight between him and Adam. I never asked about it; Adam had never volunteered any information.

  Now, Niko and I could speak together. I wouldn't call us friends, simply tolerant of each other's place in our respective lives.

  "Self-induced. I think he's trying to regain his strength,” Niko said.

  "Damn it,” I leaped from the bed, angry at myself. “I should have been here. I could have forced—"

  "Keira.” My brother stepped around Niko and took my arm, stopping me. “It wouldn't have helped."

  "He's right,” Niko agreed. “If he's in a coma now, Adam was in no shape—"

  "To what?” I snapped the words out. “To take blood from me and live?"

  Niko sighed and dropped his head, staring down at the floor. We all three stood silent for a moment, an eerie tableau at the side of what easily could be my lover's deathbed. The figure in the bed remained motionless, no more lifelike than if he were displayed at Madame Tussaud's.

 

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