ANGEL'S KISS (A Dark Angel's Novel) (38 page)

“
Alexandria
, I understand that this is all a shock. Why don’t you go up and lie down, you’re exhausted. We can take care of cleaning up this mess.” B was at my side, taking my arm.

“No. B, I can’t, and I won’t.” I pulled free of her light touch. “Ben, Ivanka, let him go.” My hand gently rubbed Zeke's soft fur on the side of his neck.

“Alex, it’s for your safety.” Ben pleaded with me. “Let us take care of this.”

“Alexandria Marrietta, this is not some silly lifetime movie.” B grabbed my arms and gave me a little shake. I could feel the blood straining to pump under the tight grip of her hands. “This is the real world, you don’t get second chances. He betrayed us both. He needs to die.”

“I’m not killing him, B. Not cold-blooded murder. I won’t become that.”

She looked into my eyes and whatever she saw convinced her. She threw her arms up in exaggerated disgust and released me.

“We cannot let him live.” Annot whispered in my mind and pulsed under my arm.

I fought the soft whisper with all that I had left. “Ben, let him go.” Ben looked to B for his orders.

“Stand down, Ben.”

“Beatrix, dear, we cannot allow her to let him live.” Aleksandr spoke in a hushed tone to B.

“It is her decision.” She gave me a disproving look.

“No, it is not. Ivanka, please take care of this for me.”

I couldn’t believe this guy! “No, Aleksandr, or whoever you are.”

“
Alexandria
!” B shouted at me like I’d just spit at the man.

“No, B.” Annot was back in my hand, and although its light was dim, I found myself holding it defensively. “You don’t come into my home and make the rules. I’m not a cold-blooded killer, and that is that.” I turned away from Aleksandr’s shocked face to plead with Ben.

“Ben, don’t. Please?” Out of the corner of my eye I saw B nod her acceptance. Ben dropped Alan and his left side slumped. But Ivanka’s smile had changed to eagerness and hunger; she wasn’t giving up yet. She held fast to Alan as if he was the last piece of salty, cold, fried chicken, and she had the munchies in the middle of the night.

“Aleksandr, please. If I am your granddaughter, respect my wishes in this. I will not have him murdered in cold blood.”

“So now it is please and grandfather.” He turned to B. “The same thing that I love about you Seraiah women is the same thing that I dislike. Fine. Release him,” he said to Ivanka. He took B’s hand in his before he spoke. “This is a mistake; B, you and I both know it.”

“Master?”

“Do not question me.” I took a step back at the sound of his voice and his fury wasn’t even directed at me. Ivanka looked shaken for the first time. I wondered what his expression looked like to have upset the Amazon Vanna White lookalike.

“Yes, Master.” She bowed her head and let Alan fall. He landed in a heap. Ivanka licked her lips and gave me a look that was a mixture of pity and superiority. Boy, I was making friends fast tonight.

Zeke and I approached Alan. Everyone let me pass except Ben.

“Alex, this is a bad decision,” he said. “He has bargained with immortals for your life twice. You will not be safe unless you let me do my job.”

“This is the only decision I can make and stay true to myself. If I let you kill him, that choice will change the reflection I see every day in the mirror.”

I don’t know what Ben saw in my eyes; what I saw in his was determination and pragmatism. Probably he just saw determination.

My concentration broke when I saw a glint of something shiny. Zeke growled as Alan took a large pocket knife and thrust it toward Ben’s leg. Before he could even cut through Ben’s jeans, I stabbed him in the shoulder with the blade of Annot. I buried the dagger deep, pushing him back against the wall away from everyone else.

I recognized the knife he held. It had been my father’s. Dad had always carried it with him. I’d loved to sit and watch him peel an apple with that knife. He could cut a thin strip of flesh off the apple in one long curl. And now Alan, this person who I didn’t know anymore, had tried to hurt Ben and me with it.

I didn’t have enough energy left for the rage that I felt. Zeke shook Alan like a toy, and just as the knife fell from his fingers, the door opened and a small man announced his presence.

“’Ello, evrbody.” He took in the scene as we all stared dumfounded. He looked down at Alan panting and bleeding as I pulled out my dagger and prepared to defend myself, even though I was still on my knees.

“Aye, he said I would be just in time to take out the trash. Right as always,” the small man said, shaking his head. “And me worried that I might be late.”

The newcomer was probably 5’8” and his wavy, dark-red hair hung to his broad shoulders. The hair was a bit of a shock—it made me take notice. I’d never seen a red-headed man look so masculine and handsome. Most red headed guys looked feminine to me, poor guys, but not this one.

“Who are you?” Ben’s deep voice echoed off the walls. He and Ivanka had taken up defensive positions.

“You work for Ellasar, don’t you?” My voice was soft, but everyone heard me. They all turned to watch as I half crab-crawled and half scootched to sit at the back of the couch. Zeke followed and I leaned against him.

“Aye, dear, I do. And I must say that, as usual, my master has exquisite taste.” He had one eyebrow raised and a huge grin on his face. Shit! I was wearing a stupid dress. With my knees up and from his vantage point, I was giving him a hellava show. Zeke growled. Actually, I think I heard the same growl come out of Ben, too.

“Ellasar?” Aleksandr had my hand in his and smelled my skin almost before I could
pull my legs in and cut off Red’s view of my privates. “Дерьмо.” I don’t know any Russian, but I understood his look of “you’re screwed.” He released me. “You might want to rethink your criteria for what makes a good mate.”

And before I could reply to that
offensive comment, he turned on the red-haired guy.

“So, Ellasar would dare to infect my granddaughter with his stink, and then instead of protecting her, he sends you.” Aleksandr almost looked like Ivanka as he gestured dismissively toward the new guy. “And how convenient that you arrive after all the real conflict is over. Is your master too busy to show himself, or is he just a coward?”

The venom in his voice caused me to scoot farther back against the couch wanting to make myself into a smaller target. I was glad that I couldn’t see his face.

“Aye, the master thought you might take offense to his relationship with the lady.” To Red’s credit, he didn’t back away. But I noticed a slight bow of his head as he sidestepped around Aleksandr. Zeke squared his shoulders.

“Guardian, you’re a regal beast, and it’s good to see you. You bring back memories of great battles. Though I am not your enemy today.” He held out his hands to show Zeke he wasn’t a threat. Zeke didn’t back down, but he didn’t attack, either, so Red continued.

“I was told to give you a message, lass.”

I bet if I got close enough I could smell the green grass of
Ireland
on his skin and hear bagpipes.

“Forgive me for not coming personally, my Qadesh. My presence—” Red looked over his shoulder at Aleksandr before he continued, “would only cause more conflict. I can feel your exhaustion and your dismay. You will not make the right decision today, so I will make it for you. You will be angry with me, but you will be safe from at least one threat. Eventually you will forgive me. I am a patient man and we have all eternity.”

Red bowed to me and then glanced at Alan.

“Noooo.” I scrambled to stand, still holding Annot. But it was too late. Red grabbed Alan and was through the door before I could stop him.

“Why did you let him take Alan?” I looked around the room. “You’re all fast enough; any of you could have stopped him!”

I slowly looked from one face to the other. None of them showed any emotion except for Ben, who looked like he pitied me.

“You bastards, you let him go. Get out! Everyone!” I couldn’t stand to see the pity on Ben’s face or B’s satisfaction. “Get out!”

“I will not leave you alone tonight,
Alexandria
. Ben will stay to watch over you.” B took a step toward me, and I recoiled.

“I’m not alone.” As I said it I felt Zeke’s thick neck under my hand and I knew it was true. “Leave B, and take this circus with you. I’m tired.” B shook her head, but I could tell she was giving in.

“Beatrix. I refuse to leave her at the mercy of that Egyptian bastard. He has already marked her. She is at his mercy now; she will not be able to resist his call.” Aleksandr’s face was a mask of hatred. I couldn’t look at him without shuddering.

Zeke growled, stepping in front of me slightly.

“I see you, beast.” Aleksandr mocked. “But you and I both know that you are not enough.” Looking like a predator, Zeke edged toward Aleksandr.

“Zeke!” I screamed as Aleksandr shifted his weight to fight. “Stop, both of you.”

Zeke growled again, but Aleksandr straightened his vest and dusted off his arms, subtly dismissing Zeke as a threat.

B reached out and took Aleksandr’s arm. “Let’s take our leave. She has her guardian. She’ll be fine for the night. I will leave Ben to watch over her.” From the corner of my eye I saw Ben nod. Whatever, I thought, too tired to argue anymore.

“Beatrix, you have no idea how dangerous this situation is,” Aleksandr said. “You must make her understand that he has marked her. She will not be safe.”

“That’s the thing, Aleksandr—I was told the same about you, yet I survived.” B gently moved him to the door. Her touch seemed to calm him, which was scary. If it affected him like that what was that touch doing to her?

“Beatrix, I would never harm you! Certainly you must know this by now.” His voice was as sweet as honey to my ears.

“Hurt, maybe not, but you have tried to consume and possess me, using just the sound of your voice.” She gave me a wary look over her shoulder. Be careful, it said. This man could have had her if she hadn’t had incredible strength. Resisting his voice was difficult for me, and it wasn’t even directed at me.

“Beatrix dear, I would never try to possess you.” He smiled at her. B just held her gaze on him. “All right. As you wish, for now.”

He waited for Ivanka to open the door, and then he turned back to face me.

“Granddaughter, you will need every ounce of strength to resist Ellasar’s pull. Your grandmother thinks you will survive, but I know the odds. I’ll be watching now that I know of your existence. I will not stand by and let you tie yourself to another devious mate.” He looked from me to Zeke. “Guardian, don’t fall asleep on the job.”

Zeke growled as I held fast to his collar.

“Nicely said, beast.” His laughter filled the space as everyone filed out.

The last to leave, Ben stopped with his hand on the door.

“I’m sorry you had to go through all this, Alex. I could stay on the couch if you’d like.”

“No! I mean...thanks....I just want to be alone.” I slowly sank to the floor. Ben started to come back in, but I raised my hand to stop him.

“I’ll be close if you need me,” he said. “It’s me who should be thankful. You saved me tonight. I owe you one.” He went out, closing the door behind him. Then, just like in the movies, everything faded to black.

Virtue?

“Baby girl, get your ass off the couch. You’ve been sleeping for days. If you don’t get up and shower, you’re gonna smell like one of your brother’s workers!” The boom of Ottie’s voice made the thumping in my head even worse.

“Ottie, go away.” I tried to pull the covers up over my head. Why was he here? And what was with all the noise? Dishes were clashing together, the dishwasher door slammed, and someone was hammering something. Oh, God, I put my hands over my ears. “Dennis, stop that noise. Ottie, stop cleaning. Leave me alone.”

“No. No more sleeping. It’s time to get movin’. It’s been over a week, you been laying around mopin’.” I didn’t move an inch, keeping the blanket tucked securely over my head.

“Look, I been nice so far, but I’m not looking the other way anymore. The office is a mess without you, and Dennis is worried sick. Get up!” Ottie tugged the blanket, pulling me along with it. As my butt hit the floor the light hit my eyes. You would have thought I was a vampire the way I scuttled away from the light.

“Ottie, stop!”

“No. Get up!”

“All right, Ottie, all right! What do you want?” He sat down beside me on the floor and took my hand. His weight moved the couch back a few inches. Then I felt a familiar panic.

“Where’s Zeke?” I searched the room with my heart in my throat.

“I told him to go for a run. Poor guy’s been cooped up in here, too. Hell, it’s a good thing you got a plastic sheet for a sunroom door, or he would of had to piss on the floor.”

I turned away from the pity in his eyes. But seeing this room now might just be worse than seeing his concern. It was a mess. Blankets and tissues littered the floor. Dog food overflowed Zeke’s bowl, and the dinner that Alan and I had shared a week ago was turning to mold on the dishes that littered the dining table. At least on the dishes that were left on the table, most were scattered in jagged pieces against the wall. Flashes of an ugly memory surfaced—me throwing the dishes. I pushed it away.