Immortal Embrace
Page 44
Chapter 44
Connections
“So I think the party is a success. What do you think?” Nathanial inquires.
“Yes, it’s all very nice. I enjoyed meeting your friends instead of them just gawking at us,” I reply.
“So what is going on? You seem preoccupied,” he inquires with genuine concern.
“You can tell?” I ask.
“I feel like we’ve known each other forever, and I can sense when something is bothering you, I told you so earlier. Relax and tell me what is going on and what I can do to make it go away, sweetie.” He places his arm around my shoulder and gives me a little squeeze.
“I will, but tonight is not the night. Let’s enjoy our first New Year’s celebration together. I promise to tell you later,” I insist. I make an X over my heart with my index finger and smile.
“Alright, but only because you are so breathtaking that I can’t possibly argue with you,” he says with his goofy little crooked grin that I so adore.
“So then why don’t you come closer and give me another kiss?” He pulls me closer, and I allow it.
He pulls me right onto his lap. Now up on my knees with one on either side of his lap, straddling him. I begin pressing my hands against his perfectly shaped pectorals and lean in closer. I kiss his soft, gentle lips. Our lips move together in perfect sync, becoming more and more passionate. He softly runs his hands down my sides and rests them on my hips. Things are getting intense. I have never felt passion like this before. It’s obvious we have both forgotten about the house full of guests. It’s as though only the two of us exist. Nathanial’s hands move around the back of my hips, gently caressing my buttocks. I press in even closer, and he grabs even harder. He turns me so that my back is flat on the couch and he’s half on top of me. Still kissing, I never imagined passion like this existed.
Just then, we hear a knock at the door, and we both jump to our feet. I answer the door, and it is Luke.
“Hey, bro. Sorry to interrupt, but Mom and Dad are ready to go. Can I catch a ride home with you? I’m kinda digging this girl named Eliza.” He winks at Nathanial.
“Sure, no problem; whenever you are ready.” He laughs.
The three of us go back downstairs and say our goodbyes. This is yet another amazing evening spent with Nathanial McCord that I shall never forget. I’m so excited to see what the following months shall bring us. I only hope it is half as good as Christmas and New Years has been. This is better than any dream or movie, I think to myself. I know it’s not movie though, because this will not have a happy ending, but for now, I’ve decided to just go with it and enjoy it while I can. I don’t ever want this to end, but I do not ever want anything to harm Nathanial. I vow to protect him for as long as I’m near, for as long as he’ll allow me continue to be a part of his life.
S S S
“Luke and Eliza really are growing close. They’ve been talking for hours,” Nathanial notes.
“I know. Everyone else has left. They’re locked eye to eye and don’t even notice the cleaning crew working around them,” I reply.
Matilda gives me a look that I know; they have a special bond. I only wonder if things can continue to grow once Luke returns to school this week.
“I’ve never seen my brother this interested in anyone before.”
“Do you think it could go somewhere? Mati believes they are a perfect match,” I whisper.
“It could. Luke is very dedicated to everything he’s passionate about, and he looks pretty passionate to me.”
I watch the two kindred spirits bond. “I hope he can handle her secret as well as you’ve handled mine.”
“I think he will. Mom and Dad always raised us to not judge others based on their circumstances, race, or beliefs. Luke is the fairest person I know, always ready to stand up for the outcast.”
After a little longer, Nathanial interrupts Luke and Eliza’s conversation. “Luke, I’m sorry, man, but even the staff has left. I think it may be time to let Eliza go home with her sister. I bet Mom and Dad are wondering what’s taking us so long.”
“You’re probably right.” Luke turns back to Eliza. “I’m so glad we met tonight. I hope we can spend more time together before I go back to school.”
“I would like that. Thank you for keeping me company.” Eliza smiles and Luke leans in for a small kiss on the cheek before leaving.
The boys are the last of the mortals to leave. The family invites the sisters to stay and brush up on our vampire history. We get our journals out and look for all notes regarding the Cerberus.
Elijah has spent most of the night researching the murders from the New York area and trying to figure out which ones and how many could be attributed to the Cerberus. He also spoke at length to the Renata. Elijah has agreed to work with them to keep the peace and protect the secret. He explains to us, “Isaac, Florence, Constance, and I have faced them before in the previous New York riots, before we found you kids. When we found you, everything changed for us. We were living differently than most of our kind, but with you came responsibilities. You have heard some of the stories, but you have never been involved firsthand before. This is not the kind of fight our family is used to. Our fights are usually within ourselves, fighting our natural urges to feed off the mortals. Our biggest fight has always been our civility. Now we were opening up things that have been dormant in us for over a century. We must all be prepared.”
We all agree that something needs to be done to stop the Cerberus; for human sacrifice is not something we can just sit idly by and watch. We’ve only been in Wenham for less than six months but have never had such a life before. We have never found so many mortals to care about. The townspeople are not only the civilians of Wenham, but they are also our friends, and some are like family to us.
We decide in this moment that it’s not an option to allow the Cerberus to come anywhere near Wenham on their killing spree. We know the only option is to prepare for battle, fight them, and win. This will be difficult and training needs to begin immediately. We’ll need help, but we may not be lucky enough to find it. When things become difficult like this is when I miss Caspian the most. He was always a great fighter and protector. I can feel our entire family longing for him now. I possibly yearn for his return even more since I saw him in the area only a few short days ago. I just don’t believe anything can bring him back, not even the danger that is upon his family. We are his family and will always be. I hope one day soon he will realize we can help him and that he will join us again.
“We must begin training and preparing. I think Danika is in the most danger here. Wait...where is she? Does anyone know where Danika is?” Isaac questions.
“Now that you mention it, I don’t recall seeing her when we gathered in the library before midnight. Actually, the last I remember seeing her was when she was greeting our guests,” Matilda says with a hint of panic.
“I can’t reach her. I don’t sense her anywhere near us. She must be far if I’m not able to link with her mind,” Alexander confirms.
“You don’t think….?” Florence begins to panic.
Once again that girl is driving me batty. We need to find her and begin our training, to ensure our battle is won and Wenham remains safe forever. We finally have a life and I intend on living it to the fullest, for as long as I can. After more than a century, I have found friendship, and love. I have found my other half and am finally complete.
A teaser from Forbidden Embrace - The Embrace Series Book 2
Written by
Charlotte Blackwell