Sometimes, Charlotte wondered if honesty really was the best policy when ignorance was bliss. Then again, if he'd lied about the way he felt, things would've become even more complicated.
So a part of her was grateful—though she didn't relish knowing.
As promised, he released her with those words, and in turning to gather their things, added, “If you want, we can talk more about this later. For now, Isaac will help us make better time, so we should go.”
Ulric was right, with the demon's help, they could possibly make it to Tallahassee by morning, not that she was going to get her hopes up.
Grabbing their belongings with his help, they were back on the highway only a few minutes later, giving Charlotte plenty of time to think. She welcomed it, feeling more confused than she'd ever been in her entire life.
Trying to sort out her conflicting emotions seemed impossible. There was just so much going on that she had no idea where to even start, or which parts fazed her the most. So maybe the best idea was to think of the things that weren't quite so bothersome, and go from there.
Charlotte could adjust to a world where mythological creatures existed, and adapting to the notion that she wasn't fully human shouldn't be too difficult either. If she'd been part fae all her life, the only change was the incorporation of new knowledge—she certainly didn't feel any different.
If anything, the potential transition into immortality Ulric mentioned would be the hard part to handle. But he wasn't even sure it could happen, and if her mother was part fae too, then Charlotte knew it wasn't an automatic change because she'd passed away at the age of fifty-five.
Her biggest problem, of course, was being hunted by vampires. Still, even that seemed manageable if she could make it to the sanctuary Ulric mentioned, lending hope that things could be resolved with her life intact.
So these were issues she could inevitably handle. But how did you handle hearing you might be a draconian's eternal mate?
The upside was that Ulric wanted to help her beyond the limitations of their deal because he was drawn to her—which surprised her in itself. A man that attractive wanting me? Impossible.
But she had to wonder what it would mean in the long run—if anything at all. He said mortals and immortals didn't mix, so nothing substantial could form unless she attained an unending lifespan, which may not be possible.
So was it a fluke? Charlotte wanted to believe so, but disquiet rose when she remembered Ulric's explanation that fae were impotent unless mated, and compared it to the way she'd felt kissing him.
Either she was never impotent to begin with, or Ulric was her own turbocharged aphrodisiac.
With her track record, Charlotte had come to believe someone wanting sex was just wanting a connection to the person you loved, and not the big deal everyone made it out to be. But if the response Ulric elicited from her was the big deal she'd heard about, she'd been completely wrong.
It wasn't as if she'd never felt that kind of interest before either, it just hadn't been as intense, and definitely not from simply kissing. With Mitchell, she'd felt butterflies. With Ulric, it was an aching desire for more than the kiss offered.
But how could she want a man she barely knew, and feel nothing as intense for one she'd fallen in love with? Why the hell does it even matter, Charlotte?
The facts were simple—she was mortal, Ulric wasn't. That was what mattered, and after three hours on the road, she was too frayed to think anymore about it, focusing on the present.
They were now heading toward Macon with nothing but trees on both sides of the road. It was a major highway, lessening the chance that they'd be attacked again, and with Isaac following them, the risk was cut down even more.
Isaac showed up from time to time, hitching a ride in the back seat to report that he hadn't spotted much going on before disappearing again to continually check. Charlotte asked Ulric why he couldn't just teleport them to Tallahassee, and learned there was a mute on his abilities—he could only go so far, particularly when taking others, and could be mortally injured if he tried to do more.
But Charlotte was grateful for his assistance, hoping they wouldn't be stopped again at all—especially when she was so worried about Julian.
Ulric checked his phone to make sure they hadn't missed any calls, but found nothing. So she left another message, urging Julian to reply in the morning before handing the phone back, asking, “Do you think he's okay?”
“I don't see why he wouldn't be,” Ulric answered honestly. “It's a random mortal's home in a human community. Mercenaries may be looking, but unless they have a lead, they won't check him out.”
He sounded confident, and Charlotte tried to put faith in his words while thinking of any leads that might be available. She'd deleted the information from her laptop when Ulric showed up, and someone would have to know she'd been the recipient of the box to begin with before they'd even look for Julian.
With the thought, she asked, “Ulric, how did you find me?”
He glanced at her briefly, then admitted, “Isadora. She had a vision and told me where to go.”
Charlotte's anxiety redoubled. “Couldn't another mercenary locate him that way?”
Ulric's voice was gentle when he pointed out, “We'll be there by morning, Charlotte, and he'll be fine. Don't let your imagination get carried away. Besides, if it makes you feel any better, Isadora could never see the box in her visions because it's shrouded from being magically tracked. So others will run into the same problem.”
“Then how did she know I'd gotten it?”
“She didn't, not for certain. What she foretold was that you'd lead me to my ultimate goal, being success in payment. So we'll find the box there, and I'm sure your friend will be fine.”
Relieved, Charlotte exhaled lowly, remarking, “That's why you made a deal with me.”
“What?”
“Her vision. It seemed like you could've gotten Julian's address a million different ways, but you still agreed to help me.”
“True, not that everything else I told you was a lie,” he returned. “I hate vampires, and it's an excuse to kill them.”
And now you think I'm your mate. Charlotte watched him quietly, wondering if he was right. The mere thought of their kiss had her blood warming in an instant, reminding her of the impotency issue.
Was it all just coincidence?
“Ulric?”
“Hmm?”
“You said the fae are impotent until they find a mate, right?”
“Yes,” he replied, glancing at her curiously. “Why? What's on your mind?”
“I … ,” she trailed. “I'm not sure. Just wondering if maybe my fae side had some effect on my marriage.”
“How so?”
“It's personal,” she retorted, deciding that telling Ulric he'd turned her on so easily wouldn't be wise. But she could see he wanted an answer, the inquisitive expression on his face somehow cute, making her smirk. “You'd better keep your eyes on the road.”
Grumbling, he looked ahead again. “You won't explain?”
“It's personal, Ulric,” she reiterated. “Why should I say anything?”
“Because I asked nicely,” he retorted playfully.
Charlotte hid her amusement, insisting, “I'm not telling you, but could you do me a favor and pull over at the next rest stop?”
She'd been too frayed to think about using the bathroom before they'd left the hotel, and while slowing the trip down wasn't the best idea, dawn was getting closer, Isaac was out scouting, and she'd be in and out as fast as possible. So now was as good a time as any.
“Okay,” he agreed without trouble. “But at least tell me what part of your marriage you think might've been effected.”
“The part where it lasts my entire life,” Charlotte muttered. “Now stop asking, you wouldn't tell me what Isaac meant about driving you crazy, so we're even.”
She glanced over to see that Ulric looked completely displeased now. Charlotte wasn't sure
if it was her refusal, or if he was trying to decide whether or not his secret was really worth keeping, but he remained quiet.
After another ten minutes, Ulric pulled over at a rest stop. The small lot was completely deserted at that time of night, as well as dark, with only two streetlights illuminating a few picnic tables and a small building housing vending machines and restrooms.
Turning the engine off, Ulric remarked, “I'm getting out with you. It's too quiet here.”
Charlotte didn't argue, unlatching her seat belt to climb out and meet him at the front of the truck where he walked by her side.
She thought it might feel awkward at first, but realized on the way just how grateful she was to have him there. Ulric's presence made her feel safe, which was comforting—it was just hard to cope with the notion that he thought she might be the woman he'd been waiting to spend his eternal life with.
As if reading her thoughts, Ulric mentioned once they reached the restrooms, “Charlotte, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable with what I told you at the hotel.”
“I know,” she confirmed, turning to face him not far from the door, “and I'm not exactly uncomfortable. I'm just … really confused with everything going on.”
“I don't doubt it,” he returned, his tone genuine. “Nothing's ever easy.”
“That's an understatement,” she muttered, and her gaze locked on his.
There was a curiosity in Ulric's electric blue eyes she couldn't ignore, intense and longing. No one had ever regarded her in such a manner, not even Mitchell, and it sparked the same desire she'd experienced with their kiss.
Charlotte found herself backing through the door before it clouded her judgment, whispering, “I'll be right back.”
Inside the restroom, she leaned on the sink with a groan. All she could think about was going back to the truck with Ulric and kissing him again until it lead them wherever it would go—which was hopefully to the back seat of a rocking vehicle.
Charlotte cringed over the thought, wanting to chalk this up to the simple fact that he was the single sexiest man she'd ever laid eyes on, but his physical appeal wasn't the only factor.
Ulric told her the truth because he'd considered her feelings and thought she had a right to know, not because he expected her to show any returned interest. He'd even comforted her when she'd been worried about Julian, and wanted to help her beyond the limitations of their deal.
Charlotte could feel herself softening toward the mercenary over the thoughts.
No! I'm not interested! Even if she'd accepted everything he'd told her—which she hadn't—Charlotte couldn't allow her feelings to get involved. There were no guarantees here, so what would happen if she threw herself into this only for Ulric to find his actual mate in the meantime?
She'd be hurt all over again. Having my heart ripped out once was enough.
So she pushed all notions of interest in the draconian away, endeavoring to keep her emotions separate from the situation, and hurried through her tasks to get her break over with so they could reach Julian as soon as possible.
Turning the water on to wash her hands, she heard a sudden, anguished roar. Charlotte's face darted to the door, her eyes going wide. Ulric?
Without stopping to turn the water off, she ran outside.
Chapter 16
Ulric didn't know which way to go.
Charlotte had been quiet for most of the ride, making him worry the truth had undone whatever ground he might've gained with her that day. But then, he noticed a definite interest in her eyes before she'd gone into the restroom, making him wonder what was going through her head.
Sadly, Ulric wasn't telepathic, but he could put the pieces together, and the answer was intriguing.
Judging by Charlotte's curiosity over fae impotency potentially effecting her marriage, it stood to reason she'd had trouble in her sex life, yet she'd been aroused kissing him earlier. So could it be possible that her fae side saw Ulric as her mate, and not Mitchell?
The notion had him feeling even more possessive than before.
Standing outside the door thinking it over, Ulric's senses began tripping when the feeling of being watched overcame him. Looking up, his eyes swept the lot, revealing that it wasn't Isaac because the demon wouldn't have bothered hiding, and there was absolutely no one around.
The only sound he picked up on was that of Rozdra flying back to the truck after she'd been out hunting for a few hours. Still, he paid careful attention to his surroundings, pulling his dagger out to hold at the ready when a swift rush of air hit him from behind.
Ulric's skin ignited with electricity as he turned around to face the threat just as he was toppled over with a good bit of force. Simultaneously, an excruciating stab of pain ripped through his gut, eliciting an agonized roar.
The blow knocked him backwards, and coupled with the pain, his grip loosened on the hilt of his dagger, which went flying away.
His assailant flipped over him before he could see their face, but Ulric was more concerned with his wound, gazing down at the weapon embedded in his stomach.
It was a shard of stone—and not just any type of stone.
“It's black stone, so don't bother removing it,” Lillian announced. “You'll only hurt yourself even more.”
Ulric already felt as weak and disoriented as he ever had, and this wasn't the first time he'd been injured with the material. Though considered sacred by his kind, black stone was poisonous to all draconians, and was forbidden to be taken from the valley of its origin.
Even making weapons out of it was taboo.
But he didn't question where the hell she'd gotten her hands on it, focusing instead on his state of being. Apparently, Lillian hadn't hit any organs, otherwise the pain would've been even more agonizing.
She stood not far away, saying, “I tried to negotiate, warned you the mortal was worth a great deal, but you wouldn't listen.”
Ulric snarled, grasping the weapon to try prying it free, but it felt as if the stone was leaving splinters in him with the brief tug he gave it. With a sharp yell, he released the shard, searching for some way to get to his feet before Charlotte came outside.
But he was too late.
“Ulric?”
Charlotte emerged from the restroom, and he tried to warn her away, but Lillian had her by the throat within a moment’s notice.
Ulric jerked, letting a vicious growl. His need to protect Charlotte was greater than any survival instinct he possessed, and he pushed himself to his feet despite the pain.
Moving just fast enough, he grasped Lillian's arm, catching her off guard when she likely thought he'd be down for the count. The black stone prevented him from using his abilities, however, so shocking her was out of the question. But that didn't stop Ulric from sending a fist sailing into Lillian's jaw hard enough to make her stagger.
He tried to use that time to free Charlotte, but Lillian recovered quickly enough to retaliate by grabbing the shard in his stomach with her free hand, forcing it in deeper—then maliciously twisted it.
Ulric roared as excruciating pain tore through his body.
“Stop!” Charlotte screamed, just as the vampiress lifted a leg and slammed the bottom of her boot into Ulric's chest, sending him sailing ten feet backwards.
He slid to a stop across the ground, weakly growling in both pain and anger. He could hear Charlotte struggling fruitlessly as Lillian remarked, “Say goodbye to your protector, Human, though I can't say I blame you for not wanting to leave his care. He does satisfy a woman's needs rather well, just as he did mine so long ago, and countless others.”
The bland remark proved that Lillian was one of many who'd used Ulric when he'd been enslaved, and if he didn't already feel sick, he would've after learning as much. Rage seethed, and once more, he was unable to react to it.
But now, he made another vow—no matter what it takes, I'm going to kill Lillian.
If he survived.
“What are you talking about?” Charlo
tte asked, trying to pry the vampire's grip from her throat, but to no avail. Lillian was much too strong.
She wasn't inclined to answer either, merely stating to Ulric, “I'll be sure she's—,” and stopped when an arm wrapped around her throat from behind with a hand gripping the wrist holding Charlotte, crushing Lillian's bones in a tight squeeze.
The vampiress was forced to release Charlotte in response as Isaac spoke on a chilling tone of voice, “You're not gonna do shit except hail the Dark God for me when I send you to meet him, bitch.”
Before he could make good on that promise, Lillian's entire body burst into mist, leaving his grasp immediately. She knew she was no match for him, and Isaac stumbled, watching the vapor moving away swiftly with no lack of irritation in his fiery eyes.
Charlotte hadn't wasted a moment, running over and dropping to her knees by Ulric's side as soon as she was freed. He tried to focus, but his consciousness was fading, wondering if she'd be the last thing he'd ever see—and he couldn't imagine a more beautiful sight.
“Sorry, sweetness,” he rasped as his vision blurred. “Isaac can … get you to a Spire from here.”
“No!” Charlotte cried, and though the fear in her voice ate at him, whatever else she said didn't register.
Everything went dark.
“Ulric!”
Charlotte had no idea what was going on. Just a few hours ago, Ulric was fine after being shot twice and stabbed with a shard of glass. Now, he acted as if he were dying because of a dull shank embedded in his gut.
But she didn't concern herself with why when his eyes shut and his head fell to the side, a line of blood dribbling from the corner of his mouth.
Gasping, she grabbed him and called, “Isaac! What's wrong with him?”
The demon was already kneeling on Ulric's opposite side to reach for the shank. With a quick movement, he jerked it out, and Ulric's body tensed in his unconscious state before going lax again.
“Lillian stabbed him with black stone,” Isaac answered.
Light of Dawn Page 14
