Stone Maiden

by Tina Gerow

  A hard bolt of nausea roiled inside Ariel’s stomach. She noticed her mouth had dropped open and she firmly closed it. A glance over at Logan confirmed he was just as shocked. His mouth still hung open, and all the blood had drained out of his face, leaving him pale, his eyes impossibly wide.

  Then finally, he took a deep breath and turned to Ariel. “Would you mind taking the horses in? Charity and I need to talk.”

  *****

  Charity watched as Logan dismounted and handed the reins to his pudgy security guard. She couldn’t believe Logan McAllister had been about to kiss the tramp. Logan was an Adonis, and this…bodyguard just wasn’t in the same league. Probably just a groupie who wanted to be able to say she’d screwed Logan. But then half of Texas could lay claim to that particular achievement. Logan had never been too picky about where he dipped his pen. Oh, what a flair he had with that particular pen though.

  That was why this was going to work out exactly as she planned.

  Logan pierced her with a suspicious stare and she effortlessly pulled out her mask that said “innocent, hurt and scared.” If it was one thing Charity was good at, it was manipulating men. It was so pitifully easy since she made sure she had a body they would drool over and they never thought with their upper brains. “Please stop looking at me like that,” she said and added a hitch to her voice.

  Logan’s look instantly intensified. “How far along are you?”

  She looked into Logan’s gaze and used her best ‘I’m-innocent-take-care-of-me’ look. “Two and a half months.”

  Logan’s jaw tightened and his eyes narrowed. “Why wait two and a half months to tell me?”

  Charity pushed a wayward strand of hair away from her face. “I wasn’t sure for a few weeks and then, well—we’d grown apart, and you were finding excuses not to see me anymore.” She pursed her lips in her practiced Charity pout.

  A flash of guilt swam through Logan’s gaze before he hid it. A smile of triumph almost blossomed across her face, and she had to bite the inside of her lip to maintain her strained expression. Logan was a sap when it came to “doing the right thing.” He’d been raised with a backwoods country boy attitude, which would serve her purposes just fine.

  “You could’ve told me earlier.” Logan pushed a hand through his hair and then tensed. “Are you sure it’s mine?”

  Charity’s temper sparked. Why didn’t he just buy this and let them move on, she wanted to get to the part where he fucked her brains out and bought her expensive jewelry. She knew he’d already seen past her innocent act, so she dropped it and moved on to the next tactic. “How can you ask me that?”

  “Look, cut the crap—you and I both know the virginal act is for on stage. Are you sure it’s mine?” he repeated, pinning her with his stare.

  Charity crossed her arms in front of her and glared up at him. “Yes, it’s yours. I haven’t been with anyone else since you.”

  Logan raised his eyebrows and let his skeptical expression show.

  She sighed and leaned back against a nearby tree. “I’m serious, Logan. I’ve been in recording sessions since I left here, and I haven’t had time for any extra-curricular activities.”

  Logan’s face paled, and he was silent a long time before he finally spoke. “We always used condoms, we were careful…how did this happen?”

  She huffed, her patience straining. Logan had always been the one to insist they used a condom or she could’ve trapped him long ago, legitimately. “They are only ninety-nine percent effective. I guess this,” she placed a hand to her flat stomach, “is the one percent.”

  She reached out to touch his cheek. Damn, Logan was a sexy man—it wouldn’t be a hardship to fuck him on a regular basis to keep up her end of the marriage bargain. Besides, once they were safely married, she would also have the corner on the market of his songwriting abilities and her own career would take off.

  Logan flinched, but didn’t pull away.

  “Come on, Logan.” She stepped closer to him, just close enough for the tips of her breasts to brush his shirt. “I may be a lot of things, but I wouldn’t lie about a baby.” She kept eye contact and held her breath. I know that country-boy sense of doing what’s right is lurking in there somewhere.

  “Son of my blood,” Logan murmured under his breath.

  Charity hid her shock and pretended she hadn’t heard him. So, he knew about the prophecy. That could only help her. She’d have to pay off the doctor to say she was having a boy when the time came and then deal with the consequences when the child was born. Because she was sure one of her vampire lovers—because she’d slept with the whole kiss to complete the ritual—had given her a daughter, the daughter of Logan’s destiny. It would all be worth it when they made her a vampire and she got to keep her youth and beauty forever. And besides, Logan was a sentimental sap. Once he was attached to the child, he’d never abandon it, prophecy or no.

  “Charity, look me straight in the eye and tell me this is my baby.”

  When Logan put his hand over her stomach, she had to fight the urge to smile. She knew she had him. She allowed her eyes to mist over, and she sniffed just enough to be believable. “It’s our baby, Logan. We’re going to be a mommy and daddy.”

  Logan closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against hers. As he’d heard Ariel say on several occasions, he whispered, “Your will be done.”

  *****

  James stood under the hot shower spray and let the water knead away his tension. Between Logan’s attacks, Ariel, and the problems within his kiss due to his recent absence, he was glad vampires couldn’t have heart attacks due to stress. He sighed and poured a healthy dose of shampoo into his hand. The normal scent of musk from the shampoo scented the air, and he thought he detected a hint of…cinnamon.

  He whirled to look behind him, but saw no one. There was only one being who could get past his wards without James sensing it and who always smelled of cinnamon. James slowly cracked the sliding door on the shower and sure enough, Gabriel sat cross-legged on top of his vanity.

  “Good morning, James,” Gabriel said as if they’d run into each other at the local coffee shop and not in the middle of James’ steam-filled bathroom.

  In an automatic gesture, James tried to kneel on one knee and place his fist over his heart, while still trying to balance a palm-full of shampoo in his other hand. Since his six-foot-six frame and broad shoulders already filled the small shower stall, so there wasn’t much room left to contort them into a kneeling position. After a few tries, he looked up and caught Gabriel trying to hold back a laugh. He glowered at the angel, which only served to cause Gabriel to laugh aloud until he was holding his middle and rocking back and forth on top of the vanity.

  Finally, James settled for just placing his fist over his heart and bowing his head. Figuring he’d completed the respectful greeting, he pulled the shower door closed and finished soaping his hair. “What can I do for you, Gabriel?” he asked over the sound of the water, still trying to ignore the angel’s continuing giggles.

  “I’m sorry James, there are so few times you catch a vampire trying to kneel in a shower stall—you just have to enjoy it when it happens.”

  Fucking smart-assed angel.

  “Now James, there’s no reason to start impugning my character,” Gabriel said, amusement still plain in his voice. “Besides, I think it’s rubbing off on you from the gargoyles.”

  At the mention of the gargoyles, James scowled. He and Ariel had avoided each other as much as possible since he’d caught her and Logan in bed together. And they’d never talked about what happened. Although he supposed it wasn’t any of his business any more. His heart hurt all over again at the thought of Ariel in someone else’s arms.

  “James,” Gabriel continued. “I wanted to discuss that very thing. Ariel is not your destiny. She is for Logan now, and your destiny lies along a different path.”

  The words hit him like a blow. He knew long ago that he’d lost Ariel and had to honor his commitment
to Gabriel and to God. Seeing her with Logan now brought back the loss all over again. And after losing Jaclyn too…

  James finished rinsing off the last of his shampoo and turned off the water in a rush, almost breaking the handle. When he opened the shower door, Gabriel held a towel out for him and he took it and began to dry off, not meeting the angel’s gaze.

  “I know you think life has been unfair, James. But your destiny still awaits. Jaclyn and Ariel were only visits along the way.”

  James grunted. “Life doesn’t have to be fair for the likes of me. I was grateful for the opportunity to become more than I was.” He slung the towel around his hips and tucked it together so it would stay up, then finally met Gabriel’s piercing stare.

  “Life isn’t fair for anyone, Dark Redeemer, but I think The Creator has gone out of Her way to be generous to you in the past, you should trust Her with your future.” The angel stood and gestured for James to precede him into the bedroom. “Please, continue your grooming ritual. We can talk while you finish.”

  James shook his head at the age-old term and walked to his closet to pull out clothes for his upcoming meeting with his kiss. “I wasn’t questioning Her fairness to me, Gabriel. I know I deserve none, and She’s been more than generous with the life I’ve led. However, regrets do hound me about the two women I’ve loved and lost.” He turned to look over his shoulder at Gabriel, who reclined on his bed, leaning back against the pillows, his hands cradled behind his head.

  James resisted the urge to cringe. He wasn’t homophobic, but the sight of a man he knew every woman in the universe would lust over lounging on his bed while he was trying to dress was a little unnerving.

  Gabriel’s lips quirked, then he continued. “You did have the great fortune to love, and love truly. Some men never find that—even those who lead pious lives.”

  James pulled on Armani slacks, and the first shirt he grabbed. Gabriel always had a way of making him feel selfish and petty. He knew his life of evil had earned him the notice of the Dark One and his status as a vampire. However, he also knew that he’d only been an evil man for thirty-three years, and he’d been a good vampire for several hundred. Shouldn’t that count for something?

  Gabriel sat up and looked at James with compassion in his gaze. “Yes, of course it does. Jaclyn and Ariel were part of your destiny once, but no longer. Her plan has woven you in tightly so that you touch many lives. Your eventual destiny will come, James. Trust in Her.”

  James sighed and scrubbed a hand over his face. “I have and I do. Sometimes the human emotions overwhelm me. I can deal with the vampire emotions of hatred and violence better than I can deal with the pain and loss from the human ones.”

  “Maybe it’s closure that you need.” Gabriel stood and walked toward James. “Go to Ariel, take her in your arms. Kiss her and see if you love her as you once did. I think you’ll find that time has changed you both.”

  A macabre laugh bubbled up out of his throat. “That’s a sure way to get my bollocks cut off and fed to me, you know.” He shook his head and studied Gabriel’s face to see if he was serious. “Kissing a gargoyle without permission was risky even when we were together. Now, it’s positively suicidal.”

  Gabriel smiled, his cerulean blue eyes glinting with mirth. “You’re a vampire, James. One of the most fearsome creatures on Her planet and yet you’re afraid of a mere woman?”

  James knew Gabriel was baiting him. It seemed the angel gained enjoyment out of needling his charges to see how they would react. James refused to give him the pleasure this time. “Ariel is anything but a mere woman. And if she were mad enough, I wouldn’t put it past her to stake me herself. Although, I can see her guilt catching up with her later.” James smiled to himself. “I hope.”

  Gabriel slapped James on the back and laughed. “You are one of my favorite charges, James. When you first came to me, I used to be able to prick at your massive vampire/male pride and watch you lash out. I think you’ve become almost domesticated over the last three or four-hundred years.”

  James ignored the comment and sat on the end of his bed to pull on his shoes. “So why are you so keen to have me go to Ariel?” He fixed the angel with a steely stare until another smile bloomed across Gabriel’s face.

  “Let’s just say it will put things in perspective for both of you. And besides, I need you close to Logan this evening. After your vampire social, anyway.”

  James was shocked for a moment that Gabriel knew about his meeting, but then Gabriel knew everything. “Is something going to happen to Logan tonight? Do I need to go to him now?”

  “Something has already happened to Logan, but it’s not life-threatening. At least not yet.”

  James bolted to his feet, one Italian loafer still dangling from his hand. “If Logan is in danger, you should have told me sooner!”

  “Calm down. It’s nothing like that. Trust me. Logan’s well being is important to me, as well.” The angel motioned for James to sit and continue putting on his shoes. “And there’s no reason to hold the succubus, she will not tell you what you wish.”

  “I was afraid of that. I’ll have the kiss kill her quickly. There’s no need for her to continue to suffer.” James ran his hand through his damp hair and glanced up as he realized Gabriel continued watching him. He raised a questioning brow.

  “Such compassion for a being of evil?” Gabriel queried.

  “You’ve taught me that compassion for any being is well placed. I just wish we could find out who is behind the attacks. I’m afraid they will eventually succeed just from pure persistence.”

  Gabriel cocked his head as if listening to a voice only he could hear. “Yes, My Lord,” he murmured and then turned his attention back to James, his blue eyes sparking. “Dark Redeemer, the one you seek equals your power, and it will eventually come down to a choice between yourself and the one you hold most dear.” With that, the smell of cinnamon permeated the air and the angel disappeared from view.

  “I hate it when he spouts prophecy and runs. It always means it’s going to be really bad.”

  *****

  Ariel stepped out into the hallway and ran into a wall—a human wall she recognized immediately. Squaring her shoulders, she raised her chin and met Logan’s troubled gaze. “Hello, Logan.”

  He grabbed her elbow and steered her across the hall into his office, pulling the door shut behind him. “Ariel,” he began and then stopped as if groping for what he wanted to say.

  She took a deep breath and crossed her arms over her chest. “What can I do for you?” Inwardly, she winced as she remembered he had asked her those very words in this same office not long ago.

  “I wanted to try to explain.” He looked flustered, his sandy blond hair standing up in sexy waves, no doubt from having his long, tapered fingers thrust through it repeatedly.

  “Explain what?” she asked as calmly as possible. “We had a nice time together. And now it’s done.”

  Before Ariel finished speaking, his long strides had eaten the distance between them and he glowered over her. “Damn it, Ariel. We had much more than a nice time and you know it. If you’d open that stubborn stone brain of yours long enough to admit it.”

  Her chin thrust up stubbornly on impulse. “Whatever happened between us is obviously in the past. Now that the child of your blood is here, your destiny has arrived and mine lies along a different path.” Her heart broke in two at the words, but she forced her expression to remain serene.

  He studied her for a moment and she feared he’d seen a flicker of her regret. He sighed and stepped away from her. The sudden loss of his proximity made her long to run to him and feel his strong arms around her one last time.

  “I wish I could dismiss us as easily as you,” he said softly and leaned back against his desk. When he finally met her eyes, he said, “Charity and I had sex, but you and I made love, and I’ll never be able to forget you.” He closed his eyes and sighed. “But you’re right. My destiny has arrived and I have a chi
ld to think about now.”

  “Do you believe the child is actually yours?” The words were out before she could think better of them. She winced internally, but schooled her face.

  Logan didn’t appear shocked at the blunt question. “I do. I can’t explain it, but I have a gut feeling this is the way things are supposed to happen. And I already feel a connection with the child.” When he caught sight of Ariel’s skeptical look he shook his head. “I know what you’re thinking. Charity isn’t exactly a one-man woman. I can’t explain it logically, but I believe her.”

  Ariel opened her mouth to object to his blind belief when he interrupted her. “Besides, I did some checking, and she’s been in constant recording sessions for the last few months according to her business manager. Just like she told me.”

  Ariel remained skeptical but reminded herself that she didn’t know Charity as well as Logan. And apparently, he knew her well enough to knock her up!

  She closed her eyes to allow her temper time to cool. When she finally opened them, Logan was watching her.

  Her fingers itched to brush the frown from his face and skim over the crisp five-o’clock shadow, which peppered his cheeks. She fisted both hands until her nails bit into the soft flesh of her palms. And she willed the tears that burned in the backs of her eyes to wait to fall until she was alone.

  An uncomfortable silence hung inside the room, and she knew if it didn’t end soon, she’d give into her urge to run into his arms. She cleared her throat. “I’ve assigned Dara to protect Charity and the baby. Since she’s a healer, I figured that would be best.” She can also watch the little bitch because I don’t trust her one little bit. And at least she can be objective—or at least more than I can.

  His head snapped up, his eyes wide. “Is that all you have to say to me?”

  “No, Odeda will be watching over you for the next few days while I fly out to Nashville to perform a pre-security check on the awards show site. I leave in the morning.”

  Logan’s eyes swam with regret and hurt, and Ariel bit her tongue to keep from telling him what she really wanted to say. I love you! I can’t live without you…