CHAPTER
18
S LOWLY Aleksei rose, taking Gillian with him as he turned toward the desk and the still-ringing phone. Tanis picked that moment to enter the library and Aleksei dropped Gillian’s arm like she was suddenly molten rock. Trying to seem as though she weren’t running for her life, she scooted around the desk, away from Aleksei, and practically ran to meet Tanis.
“I am leaving now, piccola. Do not worry. I will be in touch.”
Tanis swept an arm around her, pulling her against him in a warm embrace. Forgetting Aleksei for the moment, Gillian turned her face upward and met Tanis’s kiss with a brief one of her own. When they pulled apart, Tanis had a thousand questions in his golden eyes, none of which Gillian was in the mood to answer. There was something wrong, he could sense it. As he scanned her mind lightly, Aleksei was foremost in her thoughts and those thoughts were turbulent. Puzzled but knowing this was not the time, Tanis waved to his brother, who was still on the phone. Aleksei waved back in a dismissive gesture and sent along their private path:
“Be safe, Tanis. I need a living brother, not a statistic from Dracula.”
“I will. I am relying on you to take care of Gillian while I am gone.” Tanis’s voice was firm and a little cool in his head. Aleksei excused himself from the phone for a moment and gave Tanis his full attention. Golden and silvery eyes locked on each other.
“You know I will see to her safety in every way.”
“Yes, but I want it clear, Aleksei. Take care of her. I charge you with her happiness and well-being.”
Understanding what his brother meant, Aleksei nodded, then turned back to the phone as Gillian walked to the door with his now-diplomat brother. They said their brief good-byes. Last night had been the long good-bye. Gillian didn’t want Tanis to feel badly about leaving and Tanis wanted her to know that the separation would be good for them to sort out their feelings. Whatever happened, they would remain friends. Close friends.
He left then in a swirl of cape and gleam of boots. She shut the door and leaned against it. When he left, Gillian felt a little bereft. Not because she was in love with him, but because she’d grown to care about him as a friend over the past few months and rather liked his company. Tanis had felt a little off as well, leaving Gillian behind, but where he was going, Humans were not necessarily welcome, and she would be a detriment rather than a help, not to mention her being safer right where she was.
Sorting through unfamiliar emotional territory in her mind, she knew she’d need time to think. There was a window seat nearby and she took it, drawing her legs up and waiting for the inevitable “Aleksei conversation” that she didn’t want to have, leaning her head against the ancient stones and pondering the stars.
Aleksei was having a difficult conversation of his own on the phone. At the moment, he was struggling between absolute shock and absolute fury. Apparently Gillian had been careless about checking her e-mail. When one of her contacts at the IPPA noticed that no one had heard from Gillian for a few days, they became naturally concerned. Her cell phone also went unanswered. One of the board members, Helmut Gerhardt, placed a call to Count Aleksei Rachlav, inquiring as to the safety and continued health of their MIA therapist/operative.
Aleksei was happy to tell them that Gillian was alive, well and safe. Puzzled as to why they would call him instead of contacting her, he asked. Dr. Gerhardt gladly filled him in on the circumstances, including the confirmed death of the paradoc in Hungary. The body had been found drained. Gerhardt was summarily surprised that the Count had not been kept abreast of all the developments. So was Aleksei.
The IPPA assumed that since Count Rachlav was handling Romania, that he was aware of all the developments. Gillian neglected to tell them she hadn’t shared information. That was a mistake. Hanging up, he slumped rather ungracefully into the large wing-backed chair and tried to absorb everything he’d just been told.
Anubis strolled into the room, took one look at Aleksei and knew somebody was going to be on the receiving end of a very angry Vampire tirade. “What is it, my friend? You look like a thundercloud.”
“I am going to have a word with Gillian.” Aleksei rose slowly, deliberately, every muscle rippling, temper near snapping. Moving around Anubis, who stood deliberately in his path, he stopped when the Egyptian Vampire put a hand on his arm.
“You are very angry, Aleksei. Do you think now is a good time to speak to our little warrior? Does she need to hear what you have to say right this moment?”
Anubis was genuinely concerned. He’d known Aleksei for centuries. The Vampire was always reserved, calm and in control of his emotions. He had never seen Aleksei really angry, nor heard the heated tones that were in that black velvet voice. Gillian was in a world of shit, she just didn’t know it yet. Anubis was certain that if Aleksei got hold of her, someone was going to get hurt, and he was betting it would be Gillian.
“Speak to her? Anubis, she has withheld information that could endanger us all. Tanis is correct; she should be disciplined.”
Filling in the Egyptian, Aleksei watched his friend’s eyes harden perceptively as Anubis “got it.” Gillian had been unforgivably lax in her communication with them. Her safety and theirs was possibly jeopardized. If they had known how close in proximity the killings were coming, known about the other Paramortal psychologists’ deaths and the deaths of the other Humans, they could have prepared. Now there was no way of knowing how close Dracula was penetrating.
Anubis stepped away. “I will remain, Aleksei. I know you are angry. I know Gillian is deserving of a harsh reprimand, but now is not the time to alienate her or frighten her away.”
“That is where our opinions differ, Anubis. I fully intend to frighten her.” Cold fury swept thought the room as Aleksei went to the library door. Opening it, he saw Gillian across the foyer, in the window seat.
He called out softly, “Gillian. A word with you, please.”
Something in the softly spoken words made a chill run up her spine. His face was an unreadable, lovely mask, but the purring voice held soft heat. She could feel his anger beating at her from where she sat. Hopping off the window seat she went to him. Aleksei held the door for her, allowing her to precede him.
Seeing Anubis there was comforting, and she greeted him. “Hi, where’s Sekhmet?”
“She is with Maeti. Come in, Gillian. Aleksei and I would like to hear your explanation on something.” He settled in the middle of the couch, his arms draped across the back, and waited.
Feeling Aleksei’s arm snaking around her waist, Gillian would have jumped, but she didn’t have time. Propelling her forward, he took her to the desk. Half sitting on it, he pressed her hips against his thigh, his hand in the small of her back, and reached for a notepad. “I have had a very enlightening conversation with Dr. Gerhardt, Gillian. Do you remember him, perhaps?”
Startled, she looked up at Aleksei. An ebony eyebrow arched, then she was treated to his perfect profile as he read to her some of the interesting facts that Dr. Gerhardt had shared with him. Facts about Vampires, killings, disappearances; facts that Gillian had known about for days, even weeks. One fact in particular he called her attention to. The fact that the missing Hungarian psychologist was dead. Very dead.
“Explain.” One word. Just one. That he could send a ripple of apprehension through her with a single word frightened her more than if he’d started yelling.
“I didn’t want to scare everyone to death, Aleksei. You all are so concerned about me all the time. There are whole villages, countries, hundreds, thousands of people who are at risk, and they have no idea of the danger they are in.” She searched his face, hoping he understood her, knowing that he didn’t.
“Nor apparently do you, mia ragazza angela.” Heat washed over her from his power. It was flaring in conjunction with his anger.
“Yes, but I am safe. More than anyone else, I am safe here, with you, with Tanis, with all of you.” Gill gestured toward Anubis.
He was rubbing her back gently, he realized. A lover’s comforting touch. Aleksei jerked his hand back as if the contact burned him. At his sudden movement, Gillian half turned, beginning to drop into a defensive crouch, ready to fight. A deep growl sounded in his chest, the tones so low that they vibrated through her. The warning was unmistakable. Instantly, she was bent forward over his thigh, the iron muscles in his leg pressing against her abdomen, an elegant hand holding her down.
“Wait, Aleksei, let me up, I can explain!” Her voice sounded a little bit petulant and she cringed inwardly.
“No, dolcezza. Not this time. You have the courage to face down guns and monsters, you will have the courage to live through this. You lied to me, Gillian. I specifically told you what would happen if you ever lied to me again. Give me one good reason, piccola, why I should not reprimand you as you so richly deserve.”
This was the second time she’d been over an ancient Vampire’s knee. She didn’t like it any better this time either. What flew through her mind in those few seconds was that when Tanis had spanked her, it had been in the middle of a fight. No holds barred in a fight; all was fair. He’d made her mad, but she couldn’t really cry foul.
This was different. Aleksei was angry. No, mad as hell was more like it. He was also scared. Afraid that she’d inadvertently put them all at risk from her failure to communicate. She felt it all through her empathic gift, but her sensitivity was keyed higher than that. He loved her. She was someone he loved, she had been unconscionably negligent and he was damn well going to make it clear that it was not to happen again. Ever.
One swat landed. “I asked you a question.” Pure steel in that quiet, level voice. No velvet this time. That one smack hurt her feelings more than Tanis ever could have. She’d forgotten that Anubis was looking on with interest, that the library door was open and anyone might walk by. Nothing occurred to her except she’d let Aleksei down. He cared for her, had taken her under his protection, into his home.
Now, draped over his thigh, she saw things with incredible clarity. She did care what he thought. She cared a lot. His respect and his feelings were important to her. She had liked him, been attracted to him from the moment they had met. When all else failed, either a gun or honesty had always gotten her through. Shooting him was definitely out. Even with the current state of affairs, putting a hole in that perfect reborn body over something this ludicrous didn’t work for her. She went for honesty. He’d smell a lie in a second and then he would finish what he was starting. Lying was absolutely a bad idea.
“I can’t, Aleksei.” Her voice sounded fragile even to her. “I can’t give you a single reason. I fucked up. I’d say I was sorry, but I know that won’t help.”
The next blow never connected. Hearing truth in her words and realizing that she was scared, he stood her upright. He didn’t want her afraid of him. Putting her need for comfort above his own need to chastise her, he held her there, silvery eyes boring into her soul. Paling under his scrutiny, she tried to pull back, but he held on to her.
“You do not know what you put me through, piccola guerriera.” He drew a deep breath. “You terrify me.” His heartfelt admission choked her up.
The big bad Vampire was afraid that the little blonde marine was going to get herself very dead. Hell with decorum, hell with her pride. She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly, inhaling his marvelous scent of cardamom and nutmeg mixed with pure male stud. Even half sitting on the desk he was much taller, his frame much larger; she felt very aware of the difference in their sizes and very female.
“I am so sorry. I meant to protect you. I didn’t think that…hell, I didn’t think,” she whispered into his ear in a shaky voice. She’d hurt him, frightened him for no reason and she knew it. That didn’t feel very good. Maybe the spanking would be less painful.
Aleksei’s arms enfolded her like a cocoon, pulling her against him, wrapping her in his strength and warmth. “I know, dolcezza. I know,” he whispered into her hair, smelling the familiar scent of sunlight, snow and clover on her.
Finally having her in his arms shook him to the core. She was so small. Power and muscle wrapped in a short, dynamic, blonde package. That he couldn’t take her upstairs and make love to her broke his heart. For Gillian, that she wanted to make love to him at all, to know him as he knew her, terrified her.
There was a terrific pounding on the door. Anubis muttered that he would get it and left. They didn’t notice him leave. Moments later, “Aleksei…Aleksei you must come.” The urgency in Anubis’s voice snapped them both back to reality.
Exchanging a glance, they disengaged from their embrace and hurried after him, Aleksei gently moving Gillian behind him as they ran to the door and outside. The pack was waiting. Montu held his arms out to stop them.
“My Lord,” Montu began. He didn’t finish the sentence.
Gillian couldn’t make out what the wolves and Anubis were staring at. She felt Maeti’s familiar presence behind her. Turning to look at Aleksei, she saw his face harden into granite. Noph was coming up the drive from the gates to the estate with something in his arms. Her eyes focused on it, but her brain didn’t make sense of it at first.
It was a body. Not just a body. The body was of a young Lycanthrope. He had been impaled lengthwise on a thick wooden stake. Cezar snarled and the pack howled its fury. Noph lay the body gently down near Aleksei’s feet. Carved into the chest of what had been a young Werewolf was the Romanian word Voldevode.
“What does that say?” Gillian’s voice was a mere whisper.
“Warlord.” Aleksei answered her. His voice dark and cold as the grave. “Dracula’s personal calling card. He is here.”
Mentally he reached for Tanis; his brother couldn’t have gotten far yet, and they needed him here. Silence greeted him on the familiar path. Tanis simply wasn’t there. Dracula was at their door, literally, and now there was a void where Tanis should be. Not realizing he did so, Aleksei reached for Gillian.
If she hadn’t been so furious, her knees might have given out. As it was, she felt Maeti take her hand in the steady grip of a friend. Unconsciously, Aleksei moved his hand over the nape of Gillian’s neck, pulling her under the security of his shoulder. Maeti stepped away as Gillian reflexively molded against him, her arm going around his waist.
“I cannot locate Tanis.” No one moved. The gravity of what Aleksei had just said stilled all of them.
The fun was just beginning.
CHAPTER
19
T ANIS had been missing for weeks. Aleksei, Cezar, Anubis and Osiris checked every contact they knew nightly. Dionysus sent word that he too had his operatives searching for Tanis. No lead was ignored, no rumor neglected. Looking for Aleksei’s golden-eyed brother consumed most of everyone’s time. Gillian put her own feelers out. Dante and several of the other local clients she’d picked up were aware of the Vampire conflict but not the disappearance of Count Rachlav’s brother.
During this time, Gillian realized two things: Part of her missed Tanis a great deal but, curiously, more as her friend than lover. Second, in her darkest secret heart, her commitment-phobic self was rather relieved that she had no decision to make as long as Tanis was gone. She wasn’t proud of that, but there it was. She wanted his friendship; she just didn’t know if she wanted him, not for eternity anyway. Just thinking about it made her stomach hurt and the relationship monster claw at her inner claustrophobic.
Aleksei tried repeatedly to raise his brother through their familial mental link. The rest of his time was spent in communication with Osiris, planning strategies and negotiations; coordinating meetings with the various local paranormal community leaders; traveling around the Transylvanian province near the estate and village of Sacele, investigating reported attacks and deaths. One death had occurred near the village itself.
A young girl had been found in a field, savaged by fang marks on all major arteries. The Mayor of Sacele had called Aleksei in, as the governing Vampire and Count
of the realm. She’d been bled dry, but apparently in the throes of sexual ecstasy, judging from how her body was arranged when she was found.
Gillian had gone with him. Her expertise as a field operative and her background in criminal psychology would be useful. She’d seen bodies before, investigated crime scenes. Familiarity with various types and manners of death made her a good resource, though not everyone was pleased about it.
Reluctantly, Aleksei had taken her along. He watched her as she examined the girl’s body. There was little blood left, but the scent of fresh death was heavy on the air. The long grasses around the body were flattened and crushed. The local magistrate, Ivan Jarek, was Cezar’s brother, and had heard positive comments about Gillian from him. He was more than willing to let her take a look at the body.
Aleksei was furious. Gillian watched his entire body coil with anger as he reviewed the scene. The heat her empathy read from him was palpable, and she had to fight down panic as her own stomach roiled from the effects of his rage. Even a young Vampire could project emotion like a beacon, but one who was hundreds of years old, like Aleksei, was power personified on a good day. Now, with his raw, hot fury spilling over her aura, he was positively frightening. Children under eighteen years were forbidden to be considered as prey of any kind and certainly not meant as a lover for a Vampire or any Paramortal. The girl had been seventeen with a full life ahead of her. She should not have been Vampire fodder. When he discovered the beings responsible, there would be hell to pay.
There wasn’t a lot Gillian could do in the field—she wasn’t a crime scene investigator, didn’t do lab work, wouldn’t solve the crime; but she could do a down-and-dirty investigation on site and give her immediate impressions of the scene, the victim and probable cause. Her knowledge of sexual predators was informative to Ivan and raised more than a few eyebrows, including Aleksei’s. Thinking about Gillian having to possibly face down a true monster who fed on fear, power and control, sent ice through his veins.
Key to Conflict Page 21
