by Donna Flynn
“Hey, sis,” Paul said, placing his arm around my shoulders and pulling me against him. “Sorry about last night. My mouth overloaded itself and I kind of lost my temper.”
I wanted to be angry, but he grinned at me and I was unable to remain mad. “Don’t let it happen again,” I said simply.
“I won’t,” he told me, looking chagrinned. “Did Mom bring you in this morning?”
“Uh, Aidan drove me in.” He frowned and his hand tightened into a fist, but I ignored it, unwilling to start an argument with him in the middle of the hallway about his sudden dislike for Aidan. The only thing I could figure was that Paul, who had always been close to me, picked up on my feelings for his prince and was worried I would get my heart broken.
“Let’s get going, or we are going to be late for class,” Jess said. breaking into our conversation.
I shoved away all of my worries and allowed Paul to lead me to my next class, but I knew I was going to have to confront my brother at some point about what was happening between me and Aidan. I mean, did he seriously believe someone who was as handsome, smart, and powerful as Aidan would want anything to do with me? Then again, I reminded myself, he did kiss me, and when he was with me he seemed happy and content, and what about those weird sparks that flew between us when we touched? Was it all just my imagination, or was there something between us?
“Katie,” Paul said at the door of my next class, pulling me from my thoughts. I smiled and said goodbye, then walked into class, but I still couldn’t shake the idea that there was something going on that I needed to know.
*****
I was reminded once more of Chad’s interest in dating me at lunch as he flagged me down wanting me to sit with his friends and him at their table. I wanted to say no since he was sitting with all the football players, but he looked so hopeful that I just couldn’t hurt his feelings. Besides, it was not that I did not like Chad. In fact, he was really quite good looking: Blond, well muscled, with large chocolate-brown eyes that made you feel warm and comforted. He was everything a girl my age should want in a boyfriend, but he did not make my heart flutter or my palms sweat like what happened when I was around Aidan. I sighed, quickly chastising myself for the direction my thoughts had taken.
I sat at the table and opened the lunch that my mother had packed for me, listening as everyone around me speculated about Scott’s very sudden move, dreading the moment one of them would ask me what I knew about it.
“I heard his dad got a promotion and they had to go immediately,” one of the football players said.
“Yeah, that’s what I heard too, but it really sucks. This was going to be our year to dominate on the field,” another player said disgustedly.
I listened and wondered how Aidan managed to get that rumor spread so quickly. I mean, our date was on Saturday so barely any time had passed, but it seemed everyone knew about Scott’s sudden departure from our town.
“Katie, you saw him last. Did he say anything to you?” Jackson Riley, our team’s secondary quarterback, asked.
Everyone stopped talking at once and looked my way, waiting for my answer. I wished in that moment that the floor would open up and swallow me whole. “To be honest, he didn’t really tell me anything. I wasn’t feeling good so I left the party early, and the music was so loud that we did not really have time to talk much before that.” It was not quite a lie, but not the truth either. Whatever happened to Scott, only Aidan knew, and he was not telling.
With the subject of Scott’s disappearance satisfied, talk shifted to my upcoming sweet- sixteen party. Since we lived in such a small town, where everyone knew everyone, that meant most of the school was attending. My mother was famous for the parties she threw, which were usually the talk of the town for weeks afterward, so everyone was looking forward to the party. I nodded and answered all of their questions vaguely until the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch. Ready to escape, I rose from my seat, but one of the other guys who had been at the table stopped me before I left the cafeteria and asked me if I wanted to go out sometime with him. Jess and Chris appeared, flanking my side, and Paul joined us, glaring at the male, who mumbled something about getting to class before taking off without an answer. I never thought I would be glad to have my brother scare a guy away from me, but in that moment I was grateful for his overprotective nature.
“Jeez, what perfume did you wear today?” Jess asked.
“Why?” I asked, confused by her question.
“I want to borrow it. It seems to attract guys like a magnet.” She laughed, ignoring the scathing glare Paul gave her, but I pondered her words, wondering what was going on. Before Scott, none of the guys had approached me, now it seemed like I was free game. Not that it mattered. It wasn’t any of the guys at my school I was interested in.
*****
By the end of the school day, I was exhausted and just wanted to get home. Trying to smile and pretend I wasn’t concerned about Scott’s sudden departure was mentally draining. Despite Aidan’s assurances that Scott was not dead, I still had reservations, but I had to trust my instincts and they told me no matter how things looked. I should trust Aidan.
I was standing on the sidewalk looking for Paul’s truck after school when I heard the low purr of an engine and looked up to see Aidan pulling into the parking lot. With the ease of someone used to driving fast cars, he pulled in front of me and jumped out to open the passenger side door.
“Hi,” he said softly, the sound of his voice sending tingles down my spine and flutters of excitement deep in my belly. He looked incredible in his black dress slacks and white button- down shirt. and I found myself unable to speak as he helped me into the car and his amazing one- of-a-kind scent surrounded me.
“How was your day?” he asked as he got behind the wheel.
“Long,” I said, offering no other explanation as I laid my head back against the leather seat. He seemed to sense my sour mood and drove in silence the entire way home, but I felt his worry for me radiating across the car.
“We’re here,” he said as the car slowed to a stop, his voice sounding troubled.
I opened my eyes, surprised to find a long black limousine parked in front of the house and looked at Aidan questioningly, but he just frowned and got out of the car, then came to my side to open the door for me. He was visibly tense as he helped me from the car, and at the front door he stopped me from walking directly inside.
“Before we go inside, I should tell you that some of my people have come from far away to meet you today.” I couldn’t keep the surprise from my face, but he quickly tried to reassure me. “I know your parents have kept you sheltered from our world and you are not used to meeting other vampires, but in this case I think it wise you make their acquaintance.”
I glanced nervously at the door, wondering why they would want to meet me.
“You’ll be fine,” he said, clearly sensing my unease. “This particular group of vampire’s are some of the oldest of our kind and can be rather imposing, but do not be afraid. I would never let anything happen to you.”
“I know you would never place me in harm’s way,” I told him, unable to keep the tremble from my voice. It wasn’t that I thought he would allow them to hurt me, but these vampires were an unknown entity. I had no idea what they were capable of or how powerful they were. I was simply scared to death.
“Not on purpose,” he said, his voice taking on a sadness that made me feel horrible for allowing him to see my fear. “Believe me, your life is no joke to me. I will always protect you above all else.” His face filled with resolve and he let go of my hand to open the door. “Come, everyone is waiting for us.”
Once inside of the house he placed his arm around my shoulders, pulling me close. Sensing his own unease about the upcoming situation didn’t help and I trembled slightly, but if he noticed, he said nothing.
As we entered the office I glanced at my parents, who stood behind the large leather sofa. My mother graced me with a wan
smile, but my father frowned as he stared at Aidan’s arm around me. I had no time to ponder his reaction though; my eyes were drawn to a stunningly beautiful female sitting in a wing chair, staring at me with a welcoming smile upon her flawless porcelain face. Her long, silvery-blue hair was pulled to one side and cascaded down to the floor to pool at her dainty slipper-clad feet. Her reed-thin figure made her appear delicate and frail, but I felt the power she possessed and knew she was far stronger than her appearance let on.
The female stood and approached us gracefully, her green, luminescent eyes holding a hint of merriment as she met my stare, holding me captivated by her gaze.
Another of our “guests” cleared his throat, breaking her hold on me and I turned in his direction. The man’s face was pale, and drawn so tight; that I thought if he smiled, it might crack, but it was his eyes that drew my attention. They were as black as onyx and so entrancing I felt as if a deep abyss had opened and was slowly sucking me in as I stared at him. If not for Aidan’s growl next to me that diverted the vampire’s attention, I was confident he would have completely taken over my mind.
Another man, dressed in a three-piece business suit, stepped forward from the darkened corner where he had been silently watching us all. His silver hair against his shocking alabaster skin reminded me of a specter from a ghost story. Fortunately, he did not try to entrance me but instead bowed to Aidan respectfully then took a nearby seat.
I stood uncomfortably, feeling highly inadequate amongst the room of vampires before me and lost for any reason why they would want to meet me, a lowly human.
“Council, this is…” Aidan said, but before he could finish, the white-haired man cut him short with a wave of his hand.
“We are all aware who she is, Aidan. Those eyes have not changed one iota since we last saw her.” He moved so quickly in front of me that I had to step back or be knocked over. Aidan stepped up behind me, his hand on my back reassuring me and stopping me from falling. “I am Cedric,” the man told me, his voice monotone.
“Nice to meet you,” I managed to whisper politely, despite the fact I was petrified of the vampire before me.
He was much bigger up close, more intimidating, and his power filled the area around us, reaching out like tentacles threatening to suffocate me. He reached out suddenly, placing his hand on my arm, his fingers locking tightly around my flesh. I felt a sharp stab of pain in my head and, despite Aidan’s warning, my eyes met his in shock. I was too stunned to move away or protest but Aidan was not. He tore the vampire’s hand away with a feral snarl and moved in front of me, blocking Cedric’s power with his own. A low, deadly growl tore from his throat.
“Cedric, you are upsetting everyone,” the female vampire said, coming forward and putting a small, delicate hand on his chest. “Now take a step back before Aidan rips your throat out.” She exerted what looked like light pressure on his chest, but he stumbled backward as if she had shoved him.
As I stared at her, in awe of the power she held, I recognized her as the woman from my dream. From what I had seen then I knew she was someone important in the vampire world, and that made me even more nervous. She caught my gaze and smiled warmly, but made no move towards me as I peered around Aidan’s large, tense body.
“Hello, Katie,” she said, her voice soft and gentle, lulling me with its calm, easy melody. I found myself moving from behind Aidan towards her as if under compulsion, unable to stop myself. “My name is Zoe. It’s good to see you again. You have grown into quite a beautiful young woman.”
The man on the sofa grumbled, pulling me from my trancelike state to look in his direction.
“That is Kale. Just ignore him, we all do,” Zoe said. She reached out, brushing her hand across my cheek. The coolness of her fingers brought me immediately back under her spell. She smiled encouragingly as I took another step toward her, but frowned, a flash of fang appearing, when Aidan snarled and started pulling me back behind him. “No one here is going to hurt the girl, Aidan. We just want to get to know her better.” She looked annoyed by his protective stance, but he ignored her irritation, took my hand, and pulled me away, tugging me down next to him on the love seat.
“Could we just get this over with?” Kale barked, looking bored.
Zoe regained her seat, her serene facade once again firmly in place as she looked at me. “Katie, I know this will be difficult, but it has come to our attention that others of our kind seek to harm you. We have, of course, made plans to keep you safe and…”
I blinked, unsure I had heard her right, then passed out right there in front of them all. The last thing I saw was Aidan’s panicked face as he reached for me.
Chapter Eight
“You should have never come here!” Paul was yelling as I came to, his temper, as always, getting the better of him. “This is entirely your fault! Your presence in her life has put her in danger.”
“You’re right, but my leaving won’t change anything,” Aidan answered, his voice filled with regret.
“Paul, this threat would have come whether Aidan was here or not. We have been lucky to hide her for this long,” my father snapped angrily.
“His presence here drew them,” Paul shouted.
“We don’t know that,” my father told him. “Aidan has been here many times before without incident.”
“He should leave. We can take care of her; she does not need Aidan here, complicating her life and confusing her emotions,” Paul insisted.
“You know, it isn’t easy for me to leave. It will be even harder now that her life is in danger,” Aidan told him.
I winced inwardly at the pain in Aidan’s voice.
“Deal with it,” Paul snapped.
His words were followed by a growl, then a gurgling sound followed by a loud thump that I felt even from where I lay. My eyes were heavy as I struggled to open them and see what was going on, but I knew the sound had to be Paul hitting a wall. He had pushed Aidan too far.
“Aidan! You don’t want to hurt Paul. Let him go,” my father said, confirming my fears.
Another loud thump followed by a crashing sound made me cringe.
“Sometimes Paul, you forget yourself, and who you are talking to. I am your prince! I will not allow anyone to talk to me in such a manner, even a member of Katie’s family,” Aidan growled. “Our goal has always been to keep her safe. She is, and has always been, my first priority. I will do what I think is best for her.”
I felt his anguish from across the room, and my first and only thought was to ease his discomfort. “Aidan,” I called out. Within seconds, I felt his presence surrounding me like a comforting blanket as I came fully awake. His cool fingers brushed my cheek, and my eyes fluttered open.
“I’m here,” he said softly.
“Can we get you anything, sweetheart?” my father asked from behind him.
“No, I’m okay, I just feel extremely stupid.” I couldn’t believe that I’d passed out like I did, but the idea that I was now being targeted by other vampires had overwhelmed me.
My family rushed to offer me comfort, assuring me my reaction was normal, but Aidan sat quietly next to me, his eyes filled with sadness. I felt his regret, his fear that he had indeed been the cause of the vampires who sought to harm me.
My father cleared his throat. “We should see to the Council now that Katie is feeling better.”
“Are you up to going back downstairs, honey?” my mother asked with concern.
“She should rest. We can handle this without upsetting her anymore,” Paul argued.
It would have been so easy to agree with him and hide there in my room where I had always felt safe and comforted, but I couldn’t give in to that childish urge. “This is important, isn’t it?” I asked Aidan. He nodded. “Then I will come with you,” I answered, swallowing back my fears as I made to rise from the lounge.
“You are still weak,” he said, scooping me up into his arms instead and carrying me down the stairs, despite my assurances I could walk
.
At the sitting room door, he finally allowed me to stand, but I leaned into him for support when my knees threatened to buckle.
Zoë came forward as we entered, a frown marring her perfect features. “I am so sorry if I scared you. We don’t deal often with humans, and sometimes I forget to consider that the emotions you feel can be…” she tapped her chin with her finger looking for the right word, “overwhelming.”
“It’s okay,” I assured her. “It was just a shock. I mean, I know what you all are, but I have nothing to do with your world, so why would any of your kind wish to harm me?”
“Why don’t we take our seats?” my mother suggested, looking nervous.
Everyone took her suggestion, except for Aidan, who stood behind my chair his hand on my shoulder.
“I am a little confused,” I told them. “What have I done to make these vampires want to harm me?”
Every eye in the room looked at Aidan. He moved before me and knelt down so we were eye to eye. The mixed range of emotions he felt flooded me, overpowering my senses, and I was shocked to see his eye color morphing between black and blue, a sign his vampire side was warring to be free.
“You are extremely valuable to my people,” he said.
“Why?” He looked uneasy. I knew he was hiding something, but I also had the feeling he wasn’t going to confide in me.
“Let’s just say that if anything should happen to you, the ramifications would be dire for my people.”
“I don’t understand,” I said, hating the secrets they kept from me.
“For now, it is better you don’t. I promise someday I will explain everything to you, but for the moment I need you to trust me. You are in danger, and we are trying to protect you.”
