“I see muscles straining with the ferocity of competition. I see sweat glistening on skin tones
of differing hues…” A dark chocolate voice petered off, as Alex chuckled contentedly.
“Bingo… Lots of women would pay good money for front row seats. We get to watch buff
bodies at play, absolutely free. Now do you want to ask me again, why I am more than happy
to sit here?” Spontaneously they collapsed together in hiccupping giggles.
Gasping for air, Alex tossed another red fruit to a female she was beginning to regard as a shy
little sister. It felt good to see some warmth in a perpetually insecure face.
She had the impression Ameia was testing the waters constantly, waiting to be scalded.
Swallowing a mouthful of deliciously sweet fruit, Alex waggled a finger at the plethora of
male muscle.
“Given a choice, which one would you pick?” Sapphire eyes glowing with warmth and
friendship watched the tension ease from the slight frame of the waif.
“Apart from your mate…?” Contemplative eyes scanned every tall figure, taking in size,
strength, colouring and attitude. Practising battle skills was a serious business for the
enforcers, but the sound of male laughter rang out across the still waters of the lake.
“I know… It’s like having a freezer full of ice-cream and wishing you could eat it all.”
Alex grinned at the complete understanding in midnight blue eyes.
“No, that’s an easy choice. Ben and Jerry’s cookie dough…” That answer was delivered
firmly in a deep voice, accompanied by a delightful smile.
The snort of laughter that agreed with her had nothing to do with Lady-like.
“Aw, come on… That’s a no brainer.” The two females were in complete accord over the
choice of ice-cream.
“Lady Alex, may I ask how you made your choice?” The fear of over-stepping the rigid
boundaries of Sidhe etiquette made the whisper harsh and abrupt.
“If you stop calling me Lady Alex you can ask me anything you like. My friends call me
Alex or Angel, whichever one you prefer.” A soft smile curved pink tinted lips, one hand
was held out palm up in a gesture of friendship and connection. Slowly Ameia placed her
palm down on the proffered hand, fingers intertwining in a grip that sealed a growing
regard for each other.
“The first time I met Teague, I felt insignificant, unworthy to breathe the same air as him.
Then he smiled a shy greeting and I was hooked.”
As if drawn by his name being spoken aloud, the Bard loped gracefully towards the two
females, violet eyes alive with laughter.
“Aingeal my ears burn….” He bent to drop a tender kiss on her hair.
“Serves you right for eavesdropping…” Alex grinned up at him, eyes basking in the glory
of a half-dressed male. If they had been alone, he wouldn’t be dressed at all.
Teague knew exactly what she was thinking and laughed a soft rumble of complacency.
“Lady Ameia, the gift of thy company is pleasing for my mate.” With his trade mark shy
smile the Bard bowed low to a charmed female.
“See…” Alex chuckled at the bemusement on Ameia’s face.
A nod of comprehension said it all. The waif was hooked too.
“We go to hunt Aingeal, what is thy wish for dinner?” He could see the wish in the crystal
blue depths of sapphire eyes, but wasn’t going to be drawn in front of witnesses. His mate
had a healthy appetite for more than food.
“Lots and lots of meat…” Teeth gleaming in a licentious grin, Alex batted her eyelashes at
him coyly.
“Aye Aingeal you were misnamed. She-devil is a more worthy description.” Trailing long
fingers over the smooth curve of one cheek, he reached to tug at her hair. Later…
The promise bounced around her brain as he sped off to catch up with his brothers.
“Whew…” Ameia exhaled slowly.
“You two are not safe to be around. I could live for days on the loose pheromones.” Wafting
a hand over heated cheeks, Ameia glanced towards the lake. She really needed to cool off.
Unabashed, Alex chuckled at the signs of discomfort.
“I have a spare swimsuit. It might be a little loose on you, but for now it will get you in the
water.” She hadn’t missed the longing look at a tranquil lake.
“You do swim?” Leading the way to her yurt, she was surprised by a hearty laugh.
“One of my elemental forces is water, the other air.” A shrug of slim shoulders was answer
enough. Throwing her hands in the air Alex sighed gustily.
“Just my luck, another bloody seal…”
She kept pace with the stream-lined grace of an aquatic hybrid, only because she swam
most days with kynthelig. He was merciless in the demands to keep up. To be honest with
herself, it made a nice change to be able to play a little.
The Lord Kynthelig did not appreciate her penchant for childish games.
Basking in the sun on the shale beach of her favourite tiny island, the silence was comfortable,
peaceful, restful. Rolling onto her stomach Alex chewed on a piece of grass, her gaze ran over
the slight figure that resembled her in some ways and not in others.
They both had blue eyes, different shades but definitely blue. Hair colouring matched, though
skin tone differed. Ameia had the milk white skin of the majority of the vampire race, whereas
hers resembled ripe apricots. They could easily be mistaken for sisters.
“Ameia how old are you?” Alex didn’t believe in cushioning her questions. She was forthright
in obtaining the truth from the Sidhe. Never leave them an opening to wriggle out of
answering you with complete honesty.
Long lashed eyes opened to turn her way, a hint of fear lurking in inky depths.
“I have lived, if you could call it living, for over a hundred years.” The deep whisper held a
hint of shame and terror in equal quantities.
“Well that messes up my plan to have a little sister to lead astray.” Flicking a piece of grass
from her fingers, Alex felt compelled to help Ameia overcome her reserve.
There was more to the hybrid than expected. A strained face held secrets of a past that had
leached hope from a weary soul. Playing with a strand of her hair Alex unlocked the darkest
memories of her past, to a being who had survived alone for far too long, trusting the waif
as she would a sister.
“When you are ready to tell me what troubles you Ameia, I’m ready to listen.”
Laughing and crying at the same time, a huge hug was shared before the hunt for their
contribution to dinner began in earnest.
Floating on their backs under the soothing rays of a sun more red than golden, Alex
scanned the tree shrouded island, a spark of an idea taking root in her head.
“Ameia do you want a place of your own, away from the settlement?” Dropping her legs
to tread water, she raised her eyebrows in inquiry.
Ameia remained on her back eyes closed, soaking up rays that made no difference to the
pasty white skin of a vampire.
“That would be wonderful. The matrons scare me to death.” She breathed longingly, eyes
still locked shut.
“Yeah I know… They have a way of looking at you that makes you want to crawl away and
hide under a rock.” Alex agreed with heartfelt sincerity.
The young vampire sank under water in shock. Coming up spluttering, her grace in the
>
water deserted her. “You too…?” She coughed harshly.
“Me too…?” Alex grinned, recounting the tale of satisfying revenge.
Ameia bobbed in the water, laughing until she cried. It was a delicious, infectious laugh, all
dark chocolate with a velvet coating. Alex pointed to the Island she would have loved to
claim for herself. Practical considerations discounted her wishes to make a home on the little island,
she would either have to swim or count on Teague to transport her back and forth.
Common sense ruled when her heart made silly demands. She had the cove, it was only fair
Ameia had her own slice of paradise.
“How about a tree house…? I always wanted one when I was younger.” With a wistful
expression on her face, she waited for her proposal to sink in.
“Really…?” Midnight blue eyes sparkled with animation for the first time in weeks.
“Really, truly…. Cross my heart and hope to die.” It was an oath from childhood. Alex
realised it was quite gross, and inappropriate when speaking to a vampire.
“What I mean is, yes. There’s absolutely no reason to stay where you are not the flavour
of the month.” Shit… Done it again...
Alex, bit her lip. She was going to have to rework her list of oaths and profanities. Luckily
her slip of the tongue had flown right over the waif’s head.
“You would do this for me? Why…?” Suspicion darkened midnight blue eyes to inky black
pools of distrust.
“Why not…? No one else is using it and you have as much right as any other member of the
community to claim your own space.” Alex had planted the seed, time to let it take root.
“Come on, let’s get back. I don’t know about you, but I’m turning into a prune.” Stroking for
the shore she caught the wicked smile on a vampire face.
“What…?” She grinned back, enjoying the blossoming of a usually non-vocal waif.
“Vampires don’t do prunes, it upsets the system…”
Alex choked as she sank beneath the surface, trying hard not to giggle.
Teague watched the similar females, locked arm in arm, carrying their catch as they strolled
leisurely towards the yurts. Hunched down by the fire pit to finish dressing a small boar
before spitting it for roasting, his inner tiger wanted nothing more than to pounce on his
mate and lick every last drop of moisture from her skin. Decency prevailed. His brothers had
no mates. It would be beyond bad manners to flaunt his luck in acquiring Aingeal in their faces.
The Bard was a gentle, generous soul, his tiger a ravenous beast ready to devour it’s mate at a
moment’s notice. Aingeal loved both sides of his nature equally, but given the choice she
would taunt the beast to take pleasure in the feast.
Locking down his desires, Teague relieved the females of their catch, complimenting them on
the variety of molluscs and fish begging to be roasted or broiled, or in the case of rock oysters,
eaten raw.
Alex knew by the tension in his shoulders, that Teague was controlling himself by sheer will.
Steering Ameia towards her yurt, she thought it would be prudent to cover some skin before
he imploded. The inner animal was close to picking her up and carrying her off. Not that she
would argue, but right now the newest member of an intimate group needed reassurance.
Not to be abandoned in the midst of hungry wolf, Bear, cat and foxes because her hormones
insisted in running amok.
Twilight reigned. Pale pink clouds dusted the sky with candy floss. A gargantuan meal
disappeared with alacrity. Alex had the bright idea of sending Teague and Turi to her
apartment to bring back wine, and every tub of Ben and Jerry’s ice-cream from the freezer.
She and Ameia were happily fighting over the last spoonful of cookie dough heaven.
Turi solved the problem by filching the tub and licking it clean.
Alex clocked him on the head with her spoon, whilst soaking up the comfortable chuckle of
a more relaxed waif. With a last swipe at the grinning male she settled back with a mug of
red wine, muttering all the various forms of revenge she could think of.
Ameia curled up next to her, sipping at the fruity merlot from a plastic cup. The banked
fire cast a golden glow on her face, bringing colour to otherwise alabaster skin.
“Ameia…” Alex murmured gently, unwilling to dispel the softening of the timid female’s
composure.
“Apart from helping me with the admin of the settlement, how would you choose to spend
your free time?” She was insatiably nosy, aswell as forthright and unstintingly generous
when it came to friends and family.
Ameia blinked a couple of times before placing her cup on the ground. She drew up her
knees, locking both arms around bare legs before answering.
“I’d really like to learn to fight as the enforcers do…” Alex was surprised, it was the truth.
Sidhe cannot lie.
“Why would you want to become a warrior?” Her whisper was low, but every ear was tuned
in for the reply.
“So that I can protect the innocent… and defend myself.” Her explanation was a hoarse
whisper, revealing the harsh reality of a previous life.
“It’s a good idea. I think I’ll join you.” Locking eyes on each warrior in turn she dared them to
disagree. Coming to her mate, his eyes gleamed, the deep amethyst of the beast clamouring
to be released. With a wide eyed innocent stare, Alex finished her wine quickly.
Teague took the initiative, in graciously offering Ameia his yurt for the night. Lips quirked in a
lop-sided grin, Alex knew the enforcers would disperse within minutes.
Behind the flimsy walls of her yurt, Teague wrapped his arms around her in a steel cage.
“Aingeal you do not deserve gentle…” Brushing her mouth with cinnamon lips, he left a trail
of kisses over her jaw to graze the sensitive skin of her neck with sharp teeth.
“What do I deserve?” Her body shook, heat flared in the pit of her stomach, spreading out to
set every nerve end alight.
“A long, hard, night….” He drew out every word, interspersing each syllable with tender bites
at her throat.
“Yes please….” The Bards mouth on hers demanded complete compliance. A moan of delight
was all she could manage as he whisked them away to a more private location.
Morning came too soon. Alex lifted her head from the pillow of Teague’s chest.
Violet eyes watched her in rapt fascination.
“What?” She murmured, digging her chin into his sternum.
“I wonder that you wake so soon from strenuous exercise.”
Rolling to his side to stretch out, she sought the aching bits. None…
“You didn’t work hard enough. I don’t ache anywhere.” She chuckled at a snort of disgust.
“I’m tempted to make you start all over again, but we have a meeting to attend.”
Teague’s snort descended into a heartfelt groan.
“And you are the token Sidhe…” Her laugh was derisory, neither of them wanted to be present
at a meeting with police and government officials. Cat had discussed her plan to reveal the
Sidhe realms. Help was needed to track down rogue vampires. The community was sceptical,
but safe in the knowledge humans couldn’t destroy the disparate dimensions without
destroying earth along with them.
“Why me…?” Teague shuddered at the thought of being ogled
by human officialdom.
“Because you’re the pretty one…” Easing from his side, Alex stroked silver hair.
“Come on, take me to my apartment, we can get ready there.” Pulling on a t-shirt and shorts
she threw him pants in an over arm toss. “I need a shower, I’m covered in sand.”
Brushing off her legs, she caught the wicked gleam in violet eyes.
“May I shower with thee?” The rasp of his voice always sent a shiver down her spine.
“If you behave….” Pushing yesterday’s lists into her shoulder bag Alex had to laugh at the
naked lust on a beautiful face.
“Good behave or bad behave…?” The Bard licked his lips.
“Whatever…” A rush of blood made her light headed. He was going to wear her out before
she had chance to grow old. In a scramble of molecules, Teague made certain his mate
was thoroughly clean and dressed appropriately for a momentous occasion. It helped
tremendously to calm the anxiety in his mind, at a reveal that could spell disaster for his
kin at the loss of anonymity.
The conference room at the Queen’s residence wasn’t small, it felt claustrophobic with
the number of bodies stacked around the long table.
Along one side of the table, Cat placed strategically in the middle, Alex sat to her right
Drusal to the left. Beyond Drusal, the Prince Regent of the Dark Dimension, Phillipe St Clair
lounged like a contented cat.
To the other side of Alex, Turi glowered at the opposition. Glamour filled the air with the
hum of magic. Teague was in pride of place, dressed in full Sidhe regalia, holding up the
wall at the Queen’s back. His face wiped clean of emotion, he stood tall, proud and
stunningly ethereal.
Across the highly polished table, Police Commissioner Dallas, government representative
Mark Senior and Detective Inspector Ireland sat facing a wall of silence. A local council
member and a reporter for the region filled up their quota. Unfortunately they didn’t have
a Bard to make up the numbers.
Alex’s job was to record every aspect of the meeting, sending it to the IT centre where the
Sidhe community gathered to watch on the wall sized plasma screen. Her task was solely
admin and organisation, so it came as a shock when she was addressed directly by the
Eternal Bond (Edanholme Book 2) Page 18
