by Emma Shade
While he closed the mascara, I whispered, “How am I supposed to do that?”
“Remind yourself that you deserve better than to be walked on or hurt because of their stupid pride,” he said, waiving the mascara tube around like a wand. “They both need to learn a blunt lesson in reality. Just because they’ve lived for a very long time, does not make the guys invisible to matters of the heart and free will.”
“Are you saying I act cold and heartless to teach them a lesson?” I muttered and shook my head in bewilderment.
“That’s exactly what I’d do,” Paige interjected as she made her way back into the bathroom with my dress hanging over her forearm.
Sam patted my cheek and then reached for a tube of deep red lipstick. “I know it’s not going to be easy, girlie. But you have to suck it up and show that your life does not revolve around Blake or Ashton. Now open your mouth,” he instructed and applied the creamy color to my lips.
“Sam, I like you more and more every time you open your chops,” Paige said from over my shoulder. “Now, let’s get Lily all gussied up and ready for her big reveal.”
I was prodded, primped, plucked, and dressed in less than an hour. My hair was straightened, cascading down my back in a curtain of dyed burgundy. Black stiletto heels strapped my feet and the slinky black dress hugged my curves in all the right angles.
While Paige and Sam got ready, I gazed at myself in the mirror and inspected the necklace that hung below my collarbone. My fingers brushed the chain and the intertwined rings as I thought back to the day Ashton had given it to me. So many things had changed since then.
Sometimes life can punch you in the face and other times give you a nice pat on the back. I just had to figure out which was the punch and which was the pat. Between a kidnapping, a madman, and now Enforcers after me, I was determined to make something of myself. However, saying and doing were two different things. For now, I’d be okay with enduring lunch without causing a scene.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Indigo Casino was the location of our little lunch meeting. Jamison lounged in the back of the limo with Paige, Sam, and I. Glancing out the window and towards the entrance, my heart raced as though it were a speeding car revving up the engine. Once I opened the door, I’d be facing everything I ran from to begin with.
“Darlin’, are you ready?” Jamison asked with a soft voice.
I swallowed the nervous lump in my throat and forced a smile. “Yep.”
He returned my fake smile with a genuine one. “You’re such a bad liar.”
The limo driver opened the door and Sam helped me out the vehicle. Keeping his hand in mine, he gave it a squeeze in what I speculated was both a reminder to play it cool and as a comforting gesture. Taking in the large expanse of the tall glass windowed building, I’d somehow summoned up the courage appear stony and calm, even though my insides were as jumbled as a bowl of spaghetti.
The walk into the restaurant felt like an eternity and time turned sluggish as though it was a drawn-out, slow-motion opening sequence of a movie.
Once finally inside, the hostess greeted and gushed over Jamison as though he owned the place. Sam held back from following Jamison and Paige through the doors to meet our party.
Kissing me on the cheek, Sam pulled back long enough to inspect my face and asked, “Are you doing okay?”
I breathed in sharply and exhaled slowly, letting the air pass through pursed lips. “I’m not sure. If I can keep my powers from blowing the power in the entire restaurant with all this anxiety, we’ll be okay. As it stands now though, I’m not sure what’s going to happen.”
“Remember what I told you, okay? Keep your head clear and bitch britches pulled up high. You’ll do fine.”
I nodded, took another sharp breath, and held it as Sam led me into the restaurant.
As though I was a high ranking celebrity, Blake, Ashton, Carlotta, and Jeffery stood once we entered the section that held our table.
My knees wobbled, my breath released with a puff, and I had to remind myself; you can do this. Remain calm, cool, and collected. Purposely avoiding looking directly at Ashton and Blake, I scanned the highly decorated glass chandeliers, the dark oak chairs, and finally focused on Carlotta and Jeffery. It stung to avoid eye contact with either of the guys, but Sam’s words rang through my mind. “You have to suck it up and show that your life does not revolve around Blake or Ashton.”
The fact of the matter was that he had a point. The months after I met the two men was spent worried about what one or the other might think, do, or say. It hadn’t been about me or what I wanted. Not really. However, that being said, my life hadn’t been a piece of cake so it was understandable that I revolved around the safety net they offered. I just forgot somewhere along the way that I had to take care of myself and focus on what made me happy.
“Liliana,” Ashton greeted me with a grin from ear to ear, standing directly in my line of site, “I’ve missed you.”
My inner ramblings had distracted me and I hadn’t noticed that anyone moved. Gathering my strength, I replied with a deadpan, “Nice to see you again, Ashton.”
He blinked as though surprised at my impassive response. Little had he known that my courage wavered once he’d spoken, even if my voice surprisingly hadn’t. It took everything I had in me to keep from throwing myself in his arms. Or Blake’s for that matter.
Frowning, Ashton blue eyes searched mine and he asked, “Are you okay?”
I choked back my initial reaction to cry and instead nodded, clearing my throat. “I’m fine. How about yourself?”
Blinking in confusion, Ashton’s attention narrowed in on my neckline and the necklace he’d given me, currently hanging just below my collarbone.
Why had I not taken it off before leaving? I ignored the internal reaction to reach up and play with the charm like I’d done so many times before.
Carlotta interrupted any response Ashton possible had, and threw her arms around me. “God, Lily. I’m so happy to see you.”
I hugged her back, but over her shoulder I observed Ashton pull Sam to the side and heated words flowed between them. I finally said, “Me too, Carlotta. It’s been way too long and I’m overdue for a nice girls chat.”
She smiled and pulled away to kiss me on the cheek. “I totally agree.”
Jeffery was next and a bear hug ensued between the two of us.
The whole time I couldn’t help but notice Ashton sneaking confused glances in my direction in between his conversation with Sam. Blake, however, seemed happy as a clam that I’d blown off Ashton. Little had he known that he was next.
Having no qualms about if I cared or not, and once Jeffery moved away, Blake strolled up and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. He murmured, “Don’t you ever push me out of a dream again. Okay?”
I longed to lean into his hand when he reached out to tuck the lock of hair. But I stepped out of his reach and forced the best bland expression I had. “Why would you think that I would let you back into my dreams to begin with?”
Blake recoiled at my question and irritation filtered across his steel colored eyes. “What’s wrong with you, Lily? What happened to make you so callous?”
I shrugged as though I hadn’t cared. Yet, that was far from the truth. I had cared. Way too much actually. It killed me to do this. Everyone so preoccupied by my strange behavior and icy resolve, they hadn’t noticed my trembling hands or that my supernatural powers sputtered to life.
Sam had though and pulled himself away from Ashton to wrap his arm around my shoulders.
Carting me away from the group, he pressed his lips to my ear and breathed, “You need to use the restroom. Take a time out and get your abilities in order before you come back out. I love you, and I know you’re struggling, but these guys both need to learn that mistakes aren’t easily forgiven. Okay?”
I nodded and excused myself from the group. If the hushed voices between the people I missed and loved were any sign, my ruse was working.
I’d caused a whirl of puzzlement and angst.
I entered a bathroom decorated with dark marble walls, gold faucets, and a beautiful white couch. I plopped down on the couch, put my head on the back, and breathed to the point of hyperventilation in hopes of soothing my unease.
Carlotta entered the restroom a few short minutes later and sat beside me on the couch. She patted me on the thigh, and said, “I guess you aren’t as composed as you make yourself out to be, huh?”
I looked up at her, shook my head, and whispered, “No, I’m not.”
“So why are you doing this to yourself, then?”
I shrugged. “It’s the right thing to do right now. I need to be strong to show both Ashton and Blake that they can’t do this to me and get away with it. What they did is almost unforgivable. Especially Ashton.”
“Is this coming from your heart or from Sam’s influence?” she asked with a small smile.
“A little bit of both,” I admitted.
“Lily, I know you aren’t ready to hear this, but I’m going to say it anyway. Both of those men have lived in regret long enough. None of you deserve to put yourself through any more heartache.”
“Carlotta, I can’t forget and forget just yet. Not after that.”
She patted me on the thigh again, “I know. And your secret about how you truly feel is safe with me for now.”
“Thank you. I’ve missed you so much,” I said, and smiled. “Did you know that I spotted you and Jeffery at Desert Sands after you arrived?”
“You did?”
I nodded. “Yeah, we were almost spotted, but Paige dragged me out of there like the hounds of hell were after us.”
Carlotta laughed. “Well, I’ve been called many things in my life, but the hounds of hell is a new one for me. Although, we weren’t looking for you at the time. We were searching for Sam.”
“Really?”
“Yep. Can you believe he took off without even telling Ashton? Sam packed up his belongings, and even stole one of Ashton’s cars.”
I grinned, and said, “Actually, yep, I can see him doing just that. Sam’s pretty stubborn when he wants to be, huh?”
“Yes, that’s no lie,” Carlotta said with a chuckle.
Carlotta sat with me for a bit, letting me gain my composer before I headed back out to face Blake and Ashton again. She knew when to be chatty and when to remain quiet when I needed it the most. I missed her friendship, and I hadn’t realized just how much until then.
She finally asked, “Are you ready to head back out and face your fears?”
With a sigh, I nodded. I wasn’t ready. Not really. But with anything that scares you, it was best to jump in head first to get over the initial shock.
*****
Dinner wasn’t any easier. An uncomfortable silence fell between Ashton, Blake, and I as we shoved food around our plates.
I barely ate the chef’s salad I ordered. Moving the remaining lettuce around the oversized bowl, conversation between everyone else at our table floated around me, but I was lost in my own thoughts.
Alistair had finally made an appearance halfway through dinner, and slammed back a few shots of alcohol, ignoring the rest of us. Most likely because of the blowout in the hotel room. Who knew with his moody ass. He’d yet to say anything except for his curt greeting.
“So, Lily, how did you end up in Vegas?” Carlotta asked, and taking a sip of wine.
“We flew here in search of a...”
Paige cut me off and said, “We were in search of a good time. A nice break away from training.”
Opening my mouth to speak, and realized I couldn’t come up with anything that confirmed or denied her reply, so I quickly shut it with a click of my teeth.
Wiping my sweaty palms on my dress, I shuffled in my seat and licked my lips as I strained to calm my nerves. I reached to pick up my fork again, and like static electricity, a miniscule spark traveled in to the metal. I inwardly cringed.
As if he’d been a lion awaiting his prey to falter, Ashton’s eyes pounced on me, never wavering as he observed my facial expressions and fidgeting.
It intimidated me, afraid he’d gaze straight into my mind and see the emotions that I struggled to hide. Yet, I held on to my courage and avoided his scrutiny with everything I had in me, even though my heart threatened to jump out of my chest and onto the table.
“Liliana,” Ashton asked, eyes still unwavering and fixed on me, “how long was your training?”
I gathered up the guts to look him in the eye and wished I hadn’t. Ashton’s eyes were haunted. Their normal bright luster was dulled, except for a tiny spark of hope in the depths of blue.
There was a moment of silence as we gazed at each other. A million unsaid words passed between us in those few short seconds. Sam’s speech about my lovesick pattern rang through my revere and I blinked, breaking eye contact.
Clearing my throat, I replied, “We arrived about a week ago, I think. Maybe a little longer, but I can’t remember really.”
Ashton raised a sardonic eyebrow at my vague reply and his lips crept into a smirk. “So you’re here on vacation, but don’t know when you arrived? Not to count that you have assassins after you. I know you better than you give me credit for. The two of you are up to something. You had to be to cause such a stir.” Ashton’s attention swung to Jamison. “Jamison, am I wrong to assume there’s more at play here?”
I froze and glanced at Paige. She tried to feign disinterest, but we’d never really understood how much Jamison really knew about us. And add to the fact that she could hear inside his head, because of the blood healing at the ball, only multiplied my unease.
Jamison shrugged, his smooth, southern drawl rolling out like butter. “I know there’s more to the story, but what it is, well, I’m not really sure. Other than Lily’s secret being out about what she is. How the conjurers found out so quickly? That’s a mystery I hope we solve soon.”
Frowning, a question popped in my head. “How do the vampires know what I am?”
Blake swirled the whiskey in his glass, the dark liquid whirling as ice clinked against the tumbler. Watching our exchange with disdain, his attention progressed to me, and he declared, “Somebody’s vampire daddy at this table mailed out a letter after the bastard died an electrifying death. That’s how the vampires know what you are.”
The breath caught in my chest. “What? Please tell me you’re joking.”
Blake’s response was chucking back the glass and swallowing the alcohol in one swig.
Jamison sighed and shook his head. “I wish they were joking. It would make my life much easier if I could forget Con ever existed.” Holding up his hands in surrender, he said, “How the son of a bitch mailed a letter is beyond me. I had nothing to do with the letter or the evil man for close to two centuries.”
Oh. My. God. My hands dropped to the table with a clunk from shock, shaking the glasses and plates in the process. I blinked continuously and my eyes bounced all over the place without focus as I thought about the repercussions of the whole thing.
Jamison had been changed into a vampire by the man I hated more than anything. A man whose motives had caused so much anguish and heartache in my life. Conrad Steele had died by my hands, but it seemed that his reign of terror wasn’t exactly over after he took his last putrid breath.
Ashton, with his arms folded across his chest, continued to stare. Without a word about the revelation regarding Con, he appeared to wait for some sort of reaction from me. Which reaction, I wasn’t sure, but right now I had the urge to escape.
My chair squealed against the floor as I swiftly scooted back and stood. Chest heaving from each breath rushing in and out of my lungs, I spun and darted towards the exit. Several people from our group called my name as I made my way out the entrance, but I didn’t stop.
Once my feet hit the pavement, I hobbled/jogged down the sidewalk in my heels, praying they took me far enough away. I needed a second to think. Just one moment away from the stress o
f seeing the people I loved and the fact that Con had managed to ruin my life again.
Once my high heels carried me about three blocks, and afraid I’d sprain an ankle if I kept running, my backside landed on the concrete stairs of the closest casino courtyard. Tall pillars surrounded the entrance and fountains with Greek deities sprouted from the center of them, allowing the water to cascade down their stone bodies.
Chin in the palm of my hands, I stared at the fountain of who I assumed was the goddess of war with her shield in one hand and a staff pointed in the air with the other. Glowering at the marblesque statue, it brought back memories of words spoken to me since I discovered what I was.
Not so long ago by Alistair: “It means that once the secret is out, everyone is going to either try to kill you, or use you for their own propaganda. The storm is already brewing. You’ll have two sides wanting you to choose. What side will you be on, Lily?”
And by my birth mother’s letter: “She will be a mix of both of our heritages. We hope that one day she will be able to bring both races as one and stop the war against each other. Of course, there will be people from both sides that will want to end her life.”
First, Enforcers wanted to either kill me or capture me. I wasn’t so sure on their plans. Then I found out my worst enemy mailed a letter announcing who the heck I was. It wasn’t going to take long for the vampire version of the Enforcers started making an appearance.
A shadow fell over me and I looked up find Ashton standing before me. I swallowed hard and choked back the reservations of being alone with him.
