5 - Together To Join (7 page)

“So…what?” he asked.

“Miraculous. Magical. Amazing.”

Every word thrilled. Her voice thrilled. Garrick concentrated on the ceiling until the sensation muted. It didn’t disappear, but he hoped it wouldn’t carry over in his voice. Then, he chickened out and decided just to grunt.

Coward.

“No wonder there is so much sin in the world.”

Surely she was joking. He rolled his head toward her. She really was something. Her beauty seemed to capture the glory of the sky and radiate it outward toward those lucky enough to be in her sphere. He’d thought her angelic when he’d first seen her. It was even more marked now. Almost like a Renaissance angel had fallen from above by mistake. Or been kicked out of heaven for some evil deed. No. That wasn’t true. She didn’t look capable of anything approaching wrong-doing.

She’s a dead thing, Garrick. A corpse. An ugly, rotting, decaying…

The words failed. Nothing about her matched the descriptions he marched through his head. She was propped on one arm, and with the other hand she held the remnants of her bodice to cover herself. As if he hadn’t seen and enjoyed every delectable inch already. He flicked a glance to perfect, creamy flesh carrying a hint of cleavage before focusing on her lips. He didn’t dare look into her eyes again. He wasn’t strong enough to fight the pull of her. But at least he knew it now.

“I should have known it wasn’t true. Nothing this glorious could be sinful.”

“What?” His voice cracked. He should’ve stuck to another grunt.

“Making love. It can’t be sinful. Or evil. But that’s all they seemed to speak of all the years I spent in the Convent
St-Pierre-les-Dames
.”

“The convent of what?”

“I hated it there. Didn’t I tell you?”

“You hung out at convents, too? Waiting for an occasional blood fix?”

“
Non.
I was sent there for punishment.”

“Do you ever tell the truth?”

The hand that had been covering her touched his wrist. He didn’t move. He didn’t blink, either, and his eyes were starting to burn.

“All the time. I swear.”

“I thought you were married.”

“
Oui.
But he died.”

“And I suppose you helped? Sucked him dry maybe?”

As an attempt to put her firmly back in vampire territory, which might put his feet back on terra firma, it didn’t work. Not much did, actually. She shook her head. He watched the mass of hair on her shoulder move with it.

“They blamed me for Jean-Claude’s death.
Merde!
How could it be my fault that he choked to death? I was barely fifteen and had no training in how to respond!”

“So…you let him die, and his family sent you to a convent, and there you ran across a vampire who just happened to turn you into a creature of the dead. Is this the story?”

“It was the plague.”

“Why does this feel like I’m reading a really bad book where the author tosses in every plot thread from history? Now you’re talking the Black Death? Aren’t you off by few centuries?”

She sighed heavily. As if he was being an insubordinate pupil.
She sighed, Garrick. Vampires do
not
sigh. It takes breath to sigh.
The train of thinking wasn’t working again. She still looked and sounded and seemed real. Too real.

“Pandemics happen all the time. Throughout history. 1790 was another year full of plague. I attended a death. And then I caught a cough that seemed to burn through me. And when I prayed, an angel came to me and offered me life instead. Eternal life. What would you have done?”

“An angel. Right.”

“I thought that’s what she was! I didn’t find out until later – much, much later – that I’d been turned into this.”

“Whatever you say.”

“You don’t believe me? But why? I swear to you that is what happened.”

“You don’t have to defend yourself to me. I’m a hunter. I kill vampires. Remember?”

There was a long silence. He could feel his body tensing and barely managed to keep it hidden.

“That didn’t feel like death to me. More…like life being renewed. Exactly as I always dreamed.”

”Why do you act like a real woman when we both know you’re not?”

“I
am
a real woman, Garrick.”

“You’re dead. Ancient. Decayed.” There. He said the words. They did about as much good as keeping them in his thoughts. None.

“Me? Oh, no. Not me. I feel reborn! Alive! And totally womanly. I have been mated! I’ve found my soul-mate! Not only is it fated, but it’s miraculous. Amazing. Magical. But I have used those terms already. I shall think of other words…once you give me more to describe, of course.”

He barely caught the groan. She licked her lips, putting moisture on flesh that already looked plump and mauled. His body reacted, in a lurch that wasn’t remotely graceful, although it did make the bed sway for a bit before it settled.

“Oh…my.”

He moved his glance to her shoulder. Then past it to the alcove where he’d left his half-eaten meal. He’d been warned of their abilities; trained against their allure; immured to their sensual nature. And all of it was absolutely worthless. A red light started blinking from somewhere behind him, reflecting off the walls.

“Oh. It appears I have a message. I have to answer it.”

“That’s a message light?”
She had the capability of sending and receiving messages.
 He stored the information.

“
Oui
. And I cannot ignore it. You won’t try and escape again, will you?”

He shook his head.

“Truly?”

“I don’t even know where I am.”

“Canada.”

She said it quickly and then there was the slightest pause, as if she just realized what she’d done. Garrick glossed over it as if there wasn’t any bit of meaning.

“Canada, huh? Great country. Large. How did we get here from Louisiana?”

“I have to go.”

Fair enough. He’d figure it out. There were safe houses throughout the world, including Canada. Calgary alone had three of them. She’d had his meal delivered somehow. And that meant civilization wasn’t out of reach.

“We flew, right? Please don’t tell me you flew
and
carried me. I weigh at least twice what you do. I’ll have to turn in my man-card.”

He flicked a glance to her upper lip, barely avoided eye contact and the searing vision of her nakedness. His breath shuddered through him. His attempt at humor fell flat. She wasn’t telling him anything and everything about her aroused him against his will. He was in luck he hadn’t removed the bottom half of her attire. It was better to keep talking, fishing for information.

“I’m going to guess you put me on a commercial flight. No…that can’t be right. I was unconscious, and you’d have a hell of a time getting through security. You’re not photographable. You’d be a TSA nightmare.”

“If you need anything you have but to ask. I’ll return as soon as I can. I promise.”

“Who am I asking? And how? I’m a prisoner, remember?”

She ran a fingernail along his arm to his shoulder. He didn’t watch. It was enough that she raised goose bumps on him with the motion. “Oh. Use the com-link button. There’s one near every door. It connects with my staff.”

“You have a staff?” Jesus. He could be in a nest of vampires. He’d have to rig up a cross or something.

 “I really need to go. Akron does not like to be kept waiting.”

Akron?
The head vampire? She was in contact with the CEO of the Vampire Assassin League? Garrick had never been so close, and if he stayed near her, he’d get even closer. Maybe close enough to get in a one-in-a-million shot. He blinked a couple of times while he considered it, searching out the wall buttons she’d spoken of, while avoiding everything to do with her.

Akron was so near. It was almost enough to abort his escape plans. Almost.

CHAPTER EIGHT

“You took your time answering. And a bust line like that doesn’t need that much effort.”

Angelique tipped the screen six degrees upward. It was the optimal position for viewing and got any watching eyes on her face. Of course there wouldn’t be any. Akron never got in view of a camera, even their specially filtered ones that could find and define a vampire’s electrical field. He was also fishing. She wore a high-necked lace-edged Victorian blouse. And it was fully buttoned. Fully.

“You’ll need to forgive me. I had to prepare.”

“Trouble up there?”

“Why would you think that?”

“I got a report from Nigel. He took more than three days to deliver it. I don’t suppose you asked him to stall for time?”

“No.”

“Good. Then he can reap the punishment.”

“But, why? Last I saw he was leading hunters away from my position. Why should that gain punishment?”

“He left you. Injured. Alex dead. And in a precarious position.”

“I can handle myself.”

“You’re a babe in the woods, Angel. Always have been. Killing makes you shudder. No matter how many years pass, and how much fluid you drain. It’s that upbringing of yours. That’s why I pair you with another operative. Always.”

“Nigel saved me.”

He cleared his throat. “Forget Nigel. He’s fine. Spending some time learning from The Crusader, and then I’m testing him again. Besides, Nigel’s desertion is not why I called.”

“No?”

“I was worried.”

“You? Worried?”

“Why don’t we just cut the chatter and you tell me what I need to know.”

“I don’t…know what that is.” She still had trouble lying. Maybe he wouldn’t spot the hesitation.

“The minor detail we’re leaving out here.”

“Detail?”

“Where is he?”

“Who?” She was getting better at lying. Maybe. There wasn’t a hint of hesitation, although the word was slightly higher pitched than normal.

“I’m already debating sending a 4-D Team up there, Angel. Don’t play me. Where is your hunter?”

“He’s not a hunter. He’s my mate.”

“Nigel told me and I’m still not buying it. My little angel claiming that murderer? Even owning for the law of opposite attraction, it’s out of the range of consideration. The man’s their best killer. He loves taking out women. And mated pairs. Has two pair kills to his credit already. You getting this?”

“I think it’s three. He had three patches, anyway.”

“Angel!”

“He’s my mate, Akron. It wasn’t like I wanted it. Not then, anyway.” Her voice went dreamy as she remembered. Tingled. And then swallowed.

“That better not sound like I think it sounds. I’ll personally take him out.”

“You’d do that to me?”

“Somebody’s got to save you.”

“There’s no saving about this. There’s no changing it. There’s no altering it. You’re the one that told me about mates. How…when I found the being fated to be with me, I’d just know. I’d be complete. My entire soul would awaken to the ecstasy only mates can provide. It would be the closest thing to paradise imaginable. And it is.”

“He’ll kill you, Angel. It’s in his DNA.”

“He already tried. He can’t. We’re mates, Akron. I swear it. You always told me how it would feel, and you were right! It’s not something I can fight. He can’t, either…although it’s taking him a bit longer to realize it.”

“This will end badly, Angel. There’s no other path open to the man.”

“You don’t know him.”

“Garrick Wolfgar Von Holstaad. Twenty-seven. Six foot, four, two hundred twenty-one pounds. In spectacular physical condition. Benches 410. Runs the 60 meter dash in 6.8 seconds. Can do push-ups and sit-ups and pull-ups for hours on end. Perfect diet. Perfect stats on his blood-work. Sleeps exactly 6.2 hours every day, strength and agility exercising four hours, spends three more on weapons and combat training. Honed to killing strength and weight and speed. Orphaned at birth and left at the hospital. Norwegian mother, father not listed. Probably some stuck-up British lord. Family never claimed him. Poor kid. Life in an orphanage isn’t a bed of roses. That’s where Lord Beethan found and fostered him. Von Holstaad was six. Unloved. Unwanted. Impressionable. And hungry. Got turned into a killing machine. I don’t think he has a heart. And if he does, it’s rotten. How am I doing?”

“Anyone can change. You know that.”

“There’s something even he doesn’t know, Angel. It’s the real reason Beethan found him and took him in.”

“What?”

“His mother didn’t die because of the birth. She was a mugging victim. Margolis came upon her and then showed his stupidity. He says he gave her his fluid to try and save her. It might have worked if she hadn’t gone into labor…and if the authorities hadn’t decided to arrest him. That’s how I got involved actually. I had to post his bail.”

He stopped as if waiting for her to insert words. So, she did, although they were whispered. “Garrick didn’t feed from one of us?”

“He got half-turned in the womb. He was always gifted.”

“It wasn’t another vampire?” Her voice was back.

“Jealous?”

“Appalled. And angered. Margolis should be warned.”

“You can’t hurt a fly.”

“He’s my mate, Akron. Mates have no secrets. How am I to prevent him from knowing this?”

“Maybe I just told you so he will know it.”

“What?”

He sighed so heavily, it made a boom sound through his mic. “You say he’s your mate. You say he can change. You say he has a heart. Or did I get anything wrong?”

“
Non.
I said all that.”

“Then, maybe I’ve decided to help your cause. If he has a heart, it got played with long before you came along. I’ll warn Margolis, although he may have saved Von Holstaad. I’ll let Old Beethan worry over the rest. But first things first. I have a business to run. That’s why I called. I need you.”

“But—.”

“The contract will be in Vegas. Tonight. The Palace. You leave in an hour. Len is your contact.”

“Isn’t there anyone else?”

“All right. I’ll give you an hour and a half. Be ready. Angelic-looking. That will certainly stand out in Vegas.”

He was chuckling at his wit when the screen went blank.

o0o

He didn’t have to escape. It didn’t even require breaking a sweat. He didn’t resort to semantics, either, because after she told him she was leaving him to his own devices for the rest of the evening, she didn’t even ask for his vow not to try and escape. She might’ve assumed he was so overcome by their lovemaking episode, it was a given. Or maybe that was what got reflected to him in the liquid warmth of her beautiful eyes when they’d glossed over with unshed tears. Or maybe she just thought her little castle creation was inescapable.