Broken (20 page)

A low snort of disdain escaped Camille as she shifted beside Genny. "We're fine Marie," Genny answered.

Marie glanced around the manor before focusing on the two of them again. "What is all of this? I could scarcely believe it when some of the villagers told me that you had moved in here. Where is Felix, is he here?"

"Is he not at home?" Genny inquired innocently.

"No, he hasn't been seen in a few days. I know he wouldn't leave me," she moaned.

"Why not? Everyone else has," Camille muttered.

Genny elbowed her and shook her head disapprovingly. Camille was right of course, but Genny didn't like the idea of her sister stooping to Marie's malicious taunts. Marie's eyes narrowed on Camille but she didn't respond with some scathing retort like she normally would have. Genny didn't understand why she held her tongue; she never had before.

"Felix was different though," she said and folded her hands before her demurely. "He cared for all of us so much."

The sad thing was Marie actually did believe the man had cared for her. "Now that you've seen we're fine I think it's time for you to leave," Genny said quietly.

Marie barely glanced at her though before focusing on Camille. "Whose home is this?" she inquired.

"That's none of your business," Genny told her.

"Is the man of the house here?" Marie pressed her voice taking on a desperate edge. "I would so like to meet him."

Genny's jaw locked as she realized Marie's purpose here. Marie thought that perhaps there was a chance she could get to Atticus and that he would take an interest in her if they were to meet. Marie had a way with men but Genny knew there was nothing she would be able to say or do that would entice Atticus, but the thought of Marie trying to sink her claws into him made her hands fist.

"He's not here," Genny replied briskly.

Her mother gave her a scathing look before focusing on Camille and smiling radiantly at her. Confusion rolled through Genny, she didn't understand what was going on and Camille appeared just as baffled as she shot Genny a puzzled look. "My beautiful daughter!" Marie declared loudly as she approached them once more.

Marie went to take hold of Camille's hands but she took an abrupt step away and shot a flustered look at Genny. "Leave her be," Genny ordered.

"This conversation has no place for you in it, Genevieve," Marie replied dismissively. Camille took another step away but this time Marie was able to seize her hands. "My beautiful girl, you remind me so much of me when I was young. You most certainly inherited my beauty."

"Let go of me!" Camille spat and jerked her hands free of Marie's grasp.

Marie grabbed at her again but Camille retreated hastily. "I have no one to take care of me now, and I gave up everything for you," Marie whined as she took another step toward Camille.

Genny stepped in between them and thrust her shoulders proudly back. "Leave her be," she commanded briskly.

"I am not speaking with you Genny." Tears actually swam in her sky blue eyes when Marie focused on Camille again. "Please baby, I've done so much for you over the years. Please find it in your heart to give me a room here. I'm sure if you ask your lover…"

Marie's words were drowned out by Camille's harsh bark of laughter. "You stupid,
stupid
woman," Camille choked out between her loud guffaws.

"Camille don't," Genny warned.

Marie's eyes were filled with confusion; she glanced between the two of them before focusing on Camille again. "I promise you won't even know I'm here. Just please have it in your heart to take care of me as I have taken care of you."

"I'm not the one Marie," Camille managed to interrupt though she was still giggling behind her hand. "You've latched onto the wrong daughter today. It seems you really don't know men as well as you think you do."

Marie's gaze slid toward her, Genny braced herself while Marie's eyes ran scathingly over her body before settling on her face. They were full of disbelief as she stared at her. "That's not possible," she murmured.

Genny thrust her chin out. She was used to Marie's dismissive and callous demeanor toward her but she couldn't deny the stab of hurt that the words caused her. No matter how much she wished it didn't, it bothered her that her mother so openly disapproved of her.

"It's time for you to leave," Genny told her in a surprisingly stable voice.

Marie's disbelieving demeanor vanished; she batted her eyelashes as she rapidly switched tactics. "But Genevieve, I have nowhere to go. You cannot expect me to live on the street."

"Perhaps Felix will come home; you can stay there until he does." Genny felt no compunction about lying to Marie. The woman would have lied to her with far more ease and would have no problem with seeing her living on the street. She'd treated her no better than a piece of meat when she'd tossed her over to the wolf that had been Felix.

"You have so much here," Marie moaned.

"It's not mine," she replied crisply. "And even if it were, I do not want you here."

Marie's eyes flared red as she took a threatening step toward Genny. Refusing to back down, Genny held her ground and stared down at the woman that had given birth to her but would just as easily allow her life to be snuffed out. "Everything you have is because of me!" Marie hissed through her teeth. "
I'm
the one that taught you how to get your way with a man!
I'm
the one who has made you what you are! You wouldn't have any of this if it wasn't for
me
."

"I'm nothing like you Marie," she replied. "I don't use men; I don't manipulate them. I'm here because of a good man that I love and who loves me. That is something that you could never understand. You are not welcome here; do not come back."

"You ungrateful little
bitch
!" Marie spat.

Marie's hand shot up so fast that Genny barely saw it moving until it was slicing through the air toward her. She recoiled, instinctively expecting the sting that accompanied such an action but Marie's hand never fell. Genny's eyes flew open, her mouth dropped when she spotted Atticus standing behind Marie with his large hand encircling her thin wrist. She had no idea where he'd come from, he'd been nowhere in sight just seconds ago, but he was there now and he looked livid enough to kill. His eyes were the color of fire as he stared at Marie. Marie's mouth hung open; her eyes bulged from her head as she gawked up at him.

"That would be the worst mistake you ever made," Atticus growled at her.

Marie tugged at her hand, a small mewl escaped her, but he didn't let her go as he continued to glower down at her. Genny stepped forward and rested her hand on his arm in an attempt to calm him. The fire faded from his eyes, his shoulders relaxed as he looked to her. He flung Marie's arm away with the same care he would have given to a dead rat.

His hand slid into hers, he pulled her closer and held her against him. He fixed Marie with a look of loathing. "Your daughter is nothing like you. Now get out of this house. If you come back here I'll kill you myself," he vowed.

Genny's fingers curled into the material of his tunic as Marie's gaze darted back and forth between them. She took a few stumbling steps back before regaining her composure and turning on her heel. Watching her walk away, Genny began to realize that she no longer hated the woman. She pitied her, yes, but she found it impossible to hate Marie when she had so much happiness in her life now.

Though she never wanted to see her again, something drove Genny to speak to her once more. "Marie." She waited until the woman turned to look at her. "I forgive you, for everything."

Atticus's hand squeezed her waist. Marie stared at her hatefully before turning and storming out of the house. "You're better than me," Camille said. "She doesn't deserve any forgiveness."

"Forgiving her will bother her more than our hatred of her ever could. We have a new life ahead of us and we'll never have to see her again," Genny murmured.

"No, you won't," Atticus promised and kissed the top of her head. "Did she hurt you before I arrived?"

"No," Genny assured him.

He kissed her again and rested his chin on her head. Camille slipped from the room as Genny closed her eyes and leaned into his reassuring embrace.

Genny giggled when he tickled her belly and pulled her closer against his bare chest. The sound of her laughter was the most beautiful noise he'd ever heard. It helped to ease the lingering bad memory of his visit with his father.

He stretched his bare legs out on either side of her on the bed. His fingers ran over her arms as he inhaled her alluring scent. The aroma of his blood drifted from her veins and he could feel the power of hers pulsing through him. He was loath to intrude upon this moment of peace and love but he had to talk to her about what had occurred with his father. The compulsion to hold her had been too overwhelming once he'd seen her again, and he'd lost himself to her for the past few hours, but she had to know what was coming next for them and what he planned.

He nuzzled her temple and kissed her tenderly. He'd recently fed from her but the need to taste her again came back with a fierceness that caused his fangs to lengthen against her silky skin. She turned her head to the side to give him better access to her vein but he had to refuse it if they were going to get any talking done. He gave her another kiss before leaning against the headboard and wrapping his arms around her.

"We have to talk," he said.

She twisted her head to meet his gaze, her laughter faded away as apprehension flickered across her features. "Things didn't go well with your father, did they?"

He brushed the hair back from her forehead. "No, they didn't."

Her mouth pursed and her chin jutted out as if she were bracing for a blow. "What happened?"

He intended to tell her what his father had said but the anxious look on her face caused him to skip that part of the conversation and go straight to his plans. He had to reassure her that he still did not intend to be without her. "Have you heard of the other land? The one that the Vikings have discovered?"

"Well yes, I've heard the whispers and rumors about it."

"They're not rumors Genny."

"What does that land have to do with anything?"

He pressed a kiss to her forehead, hoping to ease the lines of distress etched into it. "My father has refused the idea of Merle marrying Anna." Her fingers curled into his, he felt the tremor that slid through her before she suppressed it. "And he has decided that my wedding to Anna will be moved up to the end of next month."

Her lashes fell over her eyes as she bowed her head to stare at the bed. "I see."

"I'm not marrying that woman Genny."

"If he says you must Atticus, then there is nothing else that you can do." Her fingers dug into his but she wouldn't look at him again.

"No," he said forcefully. He placed his fingers under her chin and lifted it so that she had to look at him. "
No
. He believes I can marry her and keep you as my mistress."

That shudder ran through her again, and though she couldn't keep her eyes from turning as red as rubies, she was able to maintain an impassive expression on her face. "I know how things work; I know that you have to obey him. If you must…" her voice broke off, tears filled her eyes but she rapidly blinked them back.

"And you would allow this?"

Her face twisted in sorrow, she tried to break free of his grasp but he refused to release her. "Please let me go."

"Tell me Genny, how would you feel about me lying with another woman and having her bear my children?"

"It would break my heart. I don't think I could stand it," she whispered as tears slid down her face. "I can't be your mistress but losing you will kill me."

He tilted her head and kissed her trembling lips tenderly. "It would break my heart too," he whispered when he reluctantly pulled away from her. "I could never hurt you in such a way,
never
. I wouldn't even be able to lay with her, not with the knowledge of what it will do to you. Not when the idea of even
touching
another woman is completely repulsive to me. This wedding won't happen simply because it can't."

"Then what do we do?"

"We leave."

"Your father won't allow you to leave. I'm not a part of the aristocracy but even I know that such disobedience would never be tolerated. They would hunt you down."

"They would," he agreed.

"They'd kill you," she whispered.

His hands clenched on her, he didn't care about himself, it was her safety that was of far more importance to him. He debated keeping the threat his father had made from her, but she had to know everything before she made any decisions. She may just choose to walk out of his life in order to keep herself safe, and he wouldn't blame her if she did. It would break his heart, he didn't know how he would react to it, but he would allow her to go if it kept her alive.

"It's you my father would kill." Her head shot around, her eyes fixed on his. "He knows about you Genny, and he's made it clear that if I don't marry Anna he will find a way to end
your
life."

Her eyes searched his face as she studied him. "And what would become of you? What would he do to you?"

"I'm not concerned about me."

"I am."

His fingers slid over her hair. He pulled her closer and kissed her tenderly as the love he had for her swelled even higher. "Taking you from me would be the worst thing he could ever do. If you decide to leave me Genny…"

"No!" she cried. Her hands clasped his wrists. "I never want to be apart from you!"

The relief that filled him with those words was short lived, her life was still in peril and his father would do what he could to make sure that Atticus obeyed him. "It would keep you safe if you did," he whispered.

"Do you think I should leave?"

"I think we should
both
leave, together. We could hide in the new land. They would never expect us to go there, especially not me. It will be difficult, it will take a lot of getting used to on both our parts, but we would be safe there. We could build a life together without constantly having to worry that they'll find us. There are indigenous people there and plenty of wildlife we could feed from. We'd be free."

She tilted her head to look up at him; her nose almost touched his. "What about everything that you would be giving up?" she inquired. "The money, your home, your family."

"Money will mean nothing over there, I will gladly call wherever you are my home, and we will build our
own
family." He smiled at her as he stroked her cheeks with his thumbs. "We'll have many children that we'll love and cherish, children that will run free in the new land."

"And they'll never know unhappiness?"

"How could they possibly with you as their mother?"

She laughed as she squeezed his wrists more firmly. "That sounds better than a dream. Camille will have to come with us."

"Of course," he said.

"And will Merle go?" she asked.

"It was Merle's idea and he has offered to take us on his ship."

"He'd be willing to give everything up too?"

"It's not giving everything up; he would be gaining a freedom that he would never have here. Neither of us are particularly fond of the political intrigue of the nobles and though Merle is resigned to marrying Jane, he's always enjoyed his freedom. I think, to him, this is a big adventure and he's more than willing to sign on for it."

"Are you sure
you
want to do this?"

"This is the surest I've ever been about anything in my life. It will be us from now on." He leaned over and grabbed hold of the tunic he had draped over the wooden chair beside the bed earlier. He searched through the inside pockets before closing his hand around what he sought and pulling them free. He brought his hand before her and opened it to reveal the simple gold bands he'd taken from his room.

"These rings have been handed down through my mother's family since they first walked upon this earth," he told her. "When my mother died they came to me. They haven't been exchanged in a wedding ceremony since my great great-
great
grandparents were first wed. These were the first wedding rings ever exchanged between vampires and I want them to be ours."

She gawked at the rings in his hand before she turned toward him. "Atticus, they're… are we even supposed to?"

"We are supposed to do whatever we choose to do from now on," he said with a smile. "Just like these rings were a beginning back then, they're a beginning for us now." He took hold of her hand and held her fingers out. "I want you to be my wife Genny and to wear this ring as a symbol of the fact that you
are
my wife, if you'll have me."

Lit by her vibrant smile, her face radiated love as she nodded enthusiastically. "Of course I will."

He slid the ring onto her finger and settled it snuggly into place. He handed her the other ring and held his hand out for her to place the ring onto it. "I probably won't be able to make the ceremony happen while we're still in England, not with my father watching. As soon as I can I'll find someone to marry us, but this is permanent for me Genny," he vowed.

She threw her arms around him. "It doesn't matter. I don't need a ceremony; this is permanent for me also. I've never been so happy before!"

"Neither have I, wife," he whispered as he nuzzled her ear.

She giggled and pressed closer to him. "My husband," she whispered. "You are my heart."

His arms constricted around her as love swelled within him. "You are my soul."

***

Camille glanced up when Genny approached where she sat alone at the large table. There was a needle and thread in Camille's delicate hand, she'd been trying to learn how to sew and Atticus had brought in a woman that was helping to teach her. Genny stopped to admire the colorful blues, purples and yellows weaved throughout the beautiful tapestry her sister was creating.

"You want to learn now, don't you?" Camille inquired with a teasing smile.

At first the idea of it hadn't been overly appealing to her, but seeing what Camille was creating and knowing what she knew now, it would probably be best if she did know how to sew, at least to make clothes. "I do."

Camille released a small laugh. "I never thought I'd hear you say that, but I'll teach you if you would like."

"I would." Genny pulled out the chair next to her. "But we have to talk first."

Camille lifted an eyebrow and placed down her needle and thread. "Is there something wrong?"

"No, well yes, sort of." Genny leaned toward her as she explained everything that Atticus had told her last night. "We can start over there."

"Or we could be killed," she whispered when Genny was done speaking. "We have no idea what awaits us over there."

Genny rested her hand on top of Camille's and squeezed it. "I won't go without you, but if we go somewhere else they will hunt us down. I can't lose him Camille; I can't lose either one of you."

Camille's eyes fell to the gold ring on her index finger and widened considerably. "Genny…"

"It may not have been the traditional ceremony but he's my husband now."

Camille's eyes came back to hers; tears bloomed in their vivid blue depths. She threw her arms around Genny and laughed as she hugged her close. "I'm so happy for you."

Relief filled Genny as she hugged her back. She hadn't been sure how Camille would take the news. "Thank you."

Camille reluctantly released her and sat back. "We have no idea what may await us over there."

"We've never had an idea of what awaited us," Genny said. "Our lives have always been a never ending game of not knowing where we were going to sleep, where Marie was going to leave us, what Felix was going to do next. It will be uncertain in the new land too but at least we can start over. We can make it a home and hopefully we can stop living in fear."

Camille wiped at her eyes before smiling at her. "You're right," she agreed. "This will be a new beginning."

"It will," Genny promised and squeezed her sister's hands.

"Are you sure you would like me to teach you how to do this?" Camille asked as she turned back to her tapestry.

"It would probably be best if I knew how to sew if we're going to stay clothed."

"I don't know, I think Atticus prefers you naked," Camille teased.

Genny laughed and shook her head at her sister. "Well he doesn't always get what he wants."

Camille pulled out another needle and some more thread and set Genny up to start a new project. In less than thirty seconds she managed to stab herself with the needle but they were both laughing as Camille patiently taught her what to do.