Burning (3 page)

I huffed out a frustrated sigh.
  Then I started to giggle, and so did Chloë.  “Yeah.  God, Chlo, I’m so… You know.  I hated that he was going to be gone for so long, but I hoped that this sexual tension would ease off a bit.  At least as long as Dean insists on getting married first.” 

“Can I
ask you a question?” Chloë began tentatively. 

I shrugged my answer. 

“Why don’t you want to marry Dean?” 

“I…
Well, what I’m trying to say is… Shit, it does seem like I don’t want to marry him, doesn’t it?” Chloe nodded.  “I do want to marry him, but at nineteen?  What’s the rush?” I shrieked. 

“You could ask yourself what you’re waiting for,” Chloë responded.
  “I mean, if you aren’t sure he is the one,” she added.

“Of course he is the one. 
I can’t imagine ever wanting anyone else,” I answered. 

“Then what is it?” she pressed. 

“I don’t know.  I mean, what will people think if we get married now?” I freaked out. 

Chloë
waved her hand. “They’ll probably think that you are knocked up.  Who cares though?  As you so astutely pointed out last year, we are pretty antisocial, and we don’t usually care what normals think anyway.”

I raised an eyebrow at her
. “Normals?”

“I
figure, if we keep calling people humans, they will realize that we aren’t one of them,” she explained.

“I guess I don’t care what others think
.  Shouldn’t we graduate from college first and get jobs?”

“Who says?” she countered.
 

“
What if I get pregnant?” I argued. 

“Yeah, ‘cause your plan is better.  Everyone knows that babies come from marriage certificates,” she ridiculed.
 

I rolled my eyes
. “I know babies don’t come from marriage certificates.”

“Really?  You have been complaining for months because Dean won’
t take the next step, but the reason that you won’t marry him is because you might get pregnant.  In his scenario, if you did get pregnant, you would have a husband with you every step of the way.  If you got your way, you could still get preggers, but you would have only your boyfriend to back you up.”

I plopped down on our couch.
  “Gah! I’m an idiot,” I exclaimed. 

Chloë sat down next to me and played with my hair
.  “Hey, I do think that you should wait until you are completely sure.  It obviously is not the right time yet.  I don’t think that it means that you aren’t in love with Dean.  I do think that you need to explain to him what is going on though.” 

I nodded. She was right
. It was time for Dean and me to talk about where we were heading.  It was past time really.  First though, I needed to consider where I wanted us to go.

Did I want anyone else, even someday?  No, that
was an easy one.  So what was holding me back?  Chloë was right—the whole getting-pregnant thing is stupid.  If I had really been worried, then I wouldn’t have been in such a hurry to advance our physical relationship.  So what if I did marry Dean?  Mmmm, mental pictures of a naked Dean raced through my brain.  His sexy hazel eyes heated with desire.  His wheat-blond hair mussed by my fingers and leonine, muscular body bared for my perusal. I wondered if I could keep him that way.  Wow, my body felt hot again.

Was I really holding back because I was afraid that people were going to talk about me?  Am I really that shallow?

“Yes. Yes you are,” Chloë answered my mental debate. She laughed. “Sorry. You think really loud.” 

Ah, witch telepathy
. I keep forgetting about that.  “I guess I have some thinking to do,” I said aloud. 

“Well you better get to it then, because they should be here any minute,” Chloë said and left the room.

Dean

“Do you have to go anywhere to pick up your stuff?” I asked Finn. 

“No. Chloë convinced me to leave it all here when I told her I needed to think about moving in,” he said and shrugged. 

I shook my head at him.  I really wanted to knock some sense into him, but he
was such a stubborn ass that I might just knock out the little sense he’s got.

“I don’t get you
, man.  I understand that you are afraid to tying yourself to Chloë since witches don’t bond the way our races do.  Believe me. I get that, but it isn’t going to stop me.  I’m going to keep working until Anita marries me.”

“Why?  Why are you fighting so hard for someone who won’t be bound the way you will?” Finn asked. 

“Couples like us have never existed before.  Who’s to say that they won’t be bound to us like we are to them?  My dad said that the bond only works with the one we are destined for and that you can feel it before it happens,” I replied.

Finn stared off in the distance, analyzing what I
’d said. 

I continued
. “Has there been anyone you have really been interested in since you met Chloë?” 

He sighed, and I knew that I had reached a touchy subject. 

“No.  There hasn’t been a single female who has managed to keep my attention since the moment I looked into her big brown eyes.  When we shook hands, I felt like I had grabbed a live wire, but it was a good feeling.  I don’t know why I freaked out and pushed her away.  It’s not like she fought me about it though.  She practically ran to be with the dead guy.”

“She really liked you
, Finn, and then you treated her like she had the plague when you found out what you are.  Even still, she waited around for you for a week.  That was more than you deserved since you weren’t officially dating then.  Grey came along and showered her with attention.  She didn’t betray you,” I argued.

“I know that. 
But come on, Dean.  She loved the guy.  I could see that.  If we were destined, if we were supposed to be bound for life, how could she fall for someone else?”

“She’s a witch
. They don’t respond the way we do.  However, I don’t think that she was
in love
with him.  She loved him, sure, but I don’t think that she ever stopped thinking about you.  As far as being bound together… Well, there is a reason that I have been holding out on Anita, because I’m not the only one affected by it.  I want her to be sure that she wants to be with me forever.  I want her to decide. That way, when the magic or biology or whatever you want to call it kicks in, she doesn’t blame me for taking away her choices.”

“Are you sure that sex will impact them the same way it will us?” he asked. 

“Yeah. My aunt is a scientist, and she has done a lot of research about this.  It all has to do with pheromones and magic, but basically, our bodies change each others’ until we are only compatible with each other.  If one of us were to die before we fully matured, the other might die too.”

I growled
. I couldn’t help it. We were so close but still too far from the new house. 

“Getting antsy?” Finn teased.  Finn had started absentmindedly rubbing his chest.

“I can’t wait to see her. I can’t believe I let you talk me into an entire month away from her.  It feels like my skin is vibrating and my blood is burning through my veins,” I replied.

Finn’s unnaturally blue eyes opened wide. 
He chuckled once without humor.  “Is that why I feel like this?”  I raised an eyebrow in question.  “You know, like my skin is too tight and my heart can’t beat under the strain,” he continued. 

“Yeah
. Apparently, not being fully bonded to your mate hurts.  I hope Anita doesn’t take too much longer to make up her mind.  Not that it will make a difference, because I’ll never want anyone else anyway.”

“Even if she decides that this is too much for her and wants to date someone else?” Finn asked
, stunned. 

“Even if.  Look
, she’s all I want, and she’s worth the risk.  Isn’t Chloë?” I asked him even though the answer was obvious. 

“Yeah, she’s worth it,” he mumbled.
 

“Well then I guess you’ve decided to prove to
her that you’re serious,” I replied. 

I turned down a country road,
passed by a hay field, and drove down a long, private gravel drive.  I pulled up in front of a large, restored two-story farmhouse.  It was light yellow with brown shudders and a beautiful carved oak door.

“I thought Chloë said she bought a ‘cute
, little old farmhouse’?” I commented. 

Finn laughed
. “You saw the
Council’s
palace in France.  To Chloë this
is
little.”

The front door flew open and suddenly Anita was standing on the top step. 
“I think you were missed,” Finn observed.  His mouth turned down a little until Chloë walked out and stood next to Anita.  She smiled slightly, and he smiled in return. 

It seemed we were back to where we started
—he four of us hanging out, the two of them awkwardly trying to figure out what they were to each other while I waited for Anita to make up her mind. 

Chapter 2

Baby Steps

Anita

The distinctive rumble of Dean’s large truck filtered through the
tree-lined gravel driveway.  I wanted our relationship to move forward; our one-year anniversary was rapidly approaching, after all.  As it stood, we were at an impasse. Dean was refusing to take our physical relationship to the next level, and I still hadn’t agreed to marry him.  Could I get married at nineteen or twenty, with my birthday less than six months away? 

I shuddered thinking about satin and tulle and everything covered in white.  But that
was just the wedding—could I be married?  Hmm… Married to Dean, open access to his hot, muscular body, waking up in his arms, forever.  Well that didn’t sound so bad.  Okay, so I was thinking about it like Chloë had said, and the thought was growing on me.  What could I do to try on the idea a bit more? 

In September
, Dean and I would have been together for a year.  We had been together now for eleven months, and I still hadn’t introduced him to my mother.  I mostly tried to keep my human family away from my supernatural life.  My mother knew that my father was
special
, but she did not know that he was an immortal wizard.  I was afraid to shatter her illusions of their life together, but I didn’t have to lump Dean into that same category.  I needed to see how he fit into my old life, into that part of me, and then I could decide.

The giant silver beast turned into view, and there he was again. 
I stood on the top step, waiting for him to park.  I vibrated with the desire to run down to him, but I forced myself to stand and wait.  They pulled up, and Chloë came out to stand next to me.  I knew that she wanted to see Finn.  They were pulled to each other, but they were both stubborn mules and fought against their feelings. 

Dean jumped out of the
cab of his truck and stalked toward me.  I blazed off the porch and launched myself into his arms.  He buried his face in my hair and took a deep breath. 

“I’m never leaving you like that again,” he muttered hoarsely. 

“Sounds good to me,” I replied. “Stay with me tonight,” I requested.

“Anita
…” he said in frustration. 

“Just to sleep, Dean.  We’ve spent enough time apart
. I don’t want to spend the night in different beds as well,” I implored. 

His hazel eyes searched my face, and his luscious
, full lips smirked into a half smile.  “Just to sleep then,” he agreed.  He ran his hands through my long honey-brown hair.  “Have you given any thought into marrying me?”

The
late afternoon sun shone in his thick dark golden-blond hair. The shadows accentuated the strong muscles in his jaw and his cut biceps.  I’d definitely been thinking about being with him. 

“I can smell the pheromones pouring out of your skin. 
I can’t hold myself back forever, Anita.  I need you to be mine, completely and soon.”  He gently caressed my face and slid his palm around my neck.  “I want it to be your decision, but my control is growing thin.  If you start wearing your tiny shorts and low-cut tops, I’m going to take what you are offering and I won’t ask you to marry me anymore.  You’ll be mine and I’ll be yours, but I want you to choose it first.”

I felt a purr trying to break free of my chest, which was odd since he was the cat
, not me.  He cocked his head sideways, sensing the vibration that I was trying to contain.  I rubbed my head against him before I arrested complete control of myself. 

“You’re already bonding to me,” he whispered huskily. 

“Are you turning me into a cat?” I choked out.  How big of a freak was I going to be?  I was already unique in the supernatural world, which was really saying something.  I was the only half-witch/half-vampire, and now I was becoming part cat? 

“No
, you aren’t becoming a shifter. You are just in tune with me.  It is like picking up each other’s mannerisms.  It means the bond has started.  Once it does, it will demand we complete it.  Call it magic, biology, what have you, but we will be driven to mate and cement the link to each other forever,” he answered.

“That isn’t all we are
, is it?  I love you, Dean.  Yeah, I want you, but I would, magic or not,” I insisted. 

“I love you
too.  That is why we feel this.  You are my one, and I am yours.  Our bodies know it. Only your mind is unconvinced,” he comforted. 

“Maybe we should work at convincing my mind,” I purred. 

“Anita, baby, you are killing me.” Dean’s voice was strained. 

“Nice to know that you want me that badly too, but that isn’t what I was talking about.  I want to take you home to meet my mother,” I explained. 

He cocked his head to the side, which he always did when he was thinking. 

“I’
m getting there,” I whispered.

Finn

“Sickeningly adorable, aren’t they?” I said, walking toward Chloë. 

She had a wistful look on her face.  She wasn’t jealous, but I could see that she wanted what they
had, and I wanted to give it to her. 

Chloë turned to face me, her full lips
pulling into a smile, and her warm, brown eyes flashed emerald green.  It used to frighten me to see how strong her reaction to me was, but now I found it encouraging.  Truthfully, I had only really been frightened because I’d felt the same way. I just hadn’t been ready to admit it.  I was ready now.

“How was your trip?” Chloë asked. 

“Eh,” I responded vaguely.  “It was missing something,” I continued. 

She cocked her eyebrow at me.  “You were in Europe
. What could have been missing?” 

I smiled at her and tugged on one of her long curls.  “You,” I responded.
 

“Finn…”
she warned. 

“Chloë…” I refused to back down.

She sighed.  “I thought we were going to try and be friends?” 

“I tried.  I want you too
badly—physically, emotionally, and permanently.  No, not want. I need you.  You still want me too.”  I put my index finger over her lips when I could sense she was going to argue with me, and I felt the delicious jolt of electricity travel between us.  “Don’t deny it.  I know you felt that.  Your eyes can’t lie to me.”

“I won’t deny it.  I want you
. I’ve always wanted you, and I probably always will.  Maybe someday we can get it together and be on the same page at the same time,” she admitted. 

“You want me right now?”
I asked.

She nodded
hesitantly. 

“
You have feelings for me, more than lust?”

Again, she nodded.
 

I wrapped my arms around her waist, and she softened against my chest.  I stroked her silky
, soft hair and whispered, “Then we
are
on the same page at the same time.”  She tensed in my arms.  “Shh. I won’t push too fast.  Go out with me.  Let’s do it right this time.  Let me take you on a real, ordinary date,” I urged.

“An ordinary date?  You’re really trying to sell it
, aren’t you?” she teased. 

“Dinner and a moonlit stroll.
  I’ll grow you some flowers.  I’ll be a gentleman and walk you to the door.  Maybe you’ll kiss me goodnight.  You know, a normal first date,” I said trying to convince her. 

“Normal, e
xcept you are going to sleep down the hallway.  How are you going to avoid me if things get too serious for you?” she asked nervously.

Ah, at
last, we were getting to her worries.  “I don’t want to avoid you, and I want us to get very serious.  I want to prove to you that I’m not going to run again,” I promised her. 

She looked into my eyes
, and I could see her hesitation flicker briefly.  “I’m not sure how you are going to do that, Finn.” 

“I’m going to keep trying until you believe me,” I replied confidently.
 

“Well I guess that could work,” she responded and playfully bumped my shoulder with hers.

“Tonight?” I asked. 

“You move fast.  Tonight
, huh?” she thought, tapping her finger against her chin.

“You really have to think about it?” I grumbled. 

“No, I don’t really have to think about it.  Tonight sounds perfect. It’s five now. Give me an hour to get ready.  You know where to pick me up,” she answered and teleported away.

Grey

Mere seconds after the flight attendant announced that we could use our cell phones, mine began to ring.  “Hello, Carlos.  Do you have an update on the
Auto-da-fé
?” I asked. 

“Unfortunately, yes. 
It appears that there is an American branch to the group.  Hans, Eliana, and I nearly caught up to the group responsible for the murder of Miss Bisset, but it seems that they fled to join the American Inquisitors.”

“What are my instructions?” I asked Carlos. 

Carlos, Anita's father, led the
Watchers
, and we deferred to him to coordinate our efforts.  Unfortunately, he answered to Marguerite Du Lac, and she always had her own agenda in play.  It was becoming increasingly obvious that she was trying to set the stage for Chloë to take over the council, even if that meant placing her daughter in harm’s way.  Marguerite was pushing her daughter to take on responsibilities that fully matured witches didn’t even handle. 

I could only speculate why Marguerite wanted her daughter to take over her position on the
Council
.  I can’t imagine Marguerite willingly giving up such a powerful position, but the status of maintaining this dynasty with yet another Du Lac witch would be a powerful accomplishment.  Rumors said that Marguerite missed Eli and wanted to retire from the
Council
to rekindle their romance.  I thought that was assigning feelings to her that she was incapable of, but then again, she and I had never been friendly. 

I
knew for a fact that she had arranged with Hans Christianson for Chloë to marry Finn.  Of course, no one had mentioned to either of them what their parents had planned.  Chloë was so wonderfully independent; she’d ultimately make her own decision.

I was going to tell her what I
’d overheard nearly a year ago, but I couldn’t deny that there was something between her and Finn.  I would love to be able to, but the air practically crackled when they were near each other.  She was loving, faithful, and unfailingly loyal.  She would have stayed with me until it was painfully obvious to both of us that we didn’t have a future.  Meanwhile, I’d had to stand by and watch her fight her longing for Finn.  My heart had been slowly breaking standing next to her as her second choice.

“Grey, are you listening to me?” Carlos yelled over the phone.
 

“Shit
. Sorry.  It has been a long day and I’m…hungry,” I said as an excuse. 

“I suppose that Marguerite placed you on a commercial flight without consideration of your need to feed?  Don’t say anything
. I know the answer.  I know how a vampire’s mind trails off when in need of sustenance.   I’ll make this quick while I still have your attention. 

“
There was a murder of a young shifter in Oregon. He was not fully matured, only about twenty-two years old.  They, thankfully, missed his younger twin sisters.  I have sent Cooper, who is Dean’s cousin, to extract the girls.  Grey, the
Watchers
have been ordered to rescue every supernatural that is not living in a coven.  We are to send them to their home coven, or if they don’t have one, we have a few designated covens listed to temporarily house the stragglers.  The Christiansens and I are handling the European members, while you and Cooper are supposed to handle North America. 

“
I am e-mailing you a name and address.  This young woman does not have a home coven.  You are to deliver her to the Central Coven.  Cooper’s charges will be joining you there.  The two of you will stay on to assist in this fight.”

I felt my fangs pushing at my gums.  It was more than my mounting thirst; anger was thundering through my body at how carelessly Marguerite
treated her daughter.  “Marguerite expects Chloë to fight these fanatics, doesn’t she?” I asked, a deadly chill lacing my words. 

I heard Carlos sigh.  He was equally frustrated since his daughter was also at risk.  “Yes she does.  Grey
, listen to me carefully.  Marguerite wants you to stay away from her daughter because she believes you will damage her hopes of an alliance with the Elves.  I don’t give a shit what she wants.  Her political maneuvering is putting our children at risk.  I want to make sure that two mature supernaturals are present to assist them.  I have also instructed Cooper to remain with the Central Coven.  I know that this is going to be difficult for you because of your feelings for Chloë, but I need you to make sure that they have the help they are going to need.”