Choices (The Forever series, Book Four) (12 page)

It starts to get dark and I sit back and close the laptop
down, done with work for today. I get a message from Sebastian telling me our
missing sire has returned and has declined to be entertained by the sexy
blonde--Sebastian’s words, not mine--he had picked out for him. I am relieved
to say the least and relax somewhat knowing that he is at least accounted for.

Picking up the pillar candles I asked to be brought up, I
set about arranging them, always in threes: one at the top, two underneath. I
painstakingly set out four arrangements, as is my custom, and then light them
with a click of my fingers. They roar to life and my soul eases. I don't have
to click my fingers, as it is my mind that lights them, but I like doing it.
It's like a magician's act,
voilà
!

A key in the lock signifies Cole's return and I turn to the
door as he steps through.

"Hey," I say softly.

"Hey," he says just as softly, eyes taking in the
candle arrangements. "Sorry, I forgot," he mumbles.

"It's okay. I don't expect you to remember."

He crosses to me and hugs me after a quick kiss. He has a
weird look on his face and says, "Can I ask you something?" Oh geez,
there's been a lot of that going around lately and I say, "Sure," a
bit warily. No one ever says that unless they are about to follow through with
a question they think you won't answer.

"Why in threes?"

I blink at him but remain silent.

"I mean, I know it's a thing for you. I've seen you do
it hundreds of times and even Devon does it. And I've heard Constantine mention
it. I don't understand it," he says, faltering slightly as I still don't
say anything.

"It's the way I like it," I say eventually.
"It has to be three," I say, my voice rising slightly as the panic
starts to set in. "It has to be three."

"Okay, okay, baby," he says, pulling me to him.
"It's okay. I didn't mean to upset you. I'm sorry."

I relax slightly as he lets me off the hook but I know
sooner or later he will ask again.

"Come and sit." He leads me to the sofa and I sit
down gratefully. He sits next to me and I snuggle into him.

"I love you," he says. "I'm so glad you're
here. I'm sorry I couldn't spend more time with you."

"Oh don't worry about that. I got to see you this
morning and that is good, and we are here together now. As we should be."

“Did you ever hear back from Nico about my mother?” he asks
cautiously.

I sit up, alert. “No. I asked him to take care of it. I just
assumed he had paid her off.”

“Oh,” he says and looks away, upset that was the only reason
she had contacted him.

“I’ll ask him. Don’t worry about it. He is very good at his
job,” I reassure him and hope that paying her off is all he did. In all
honesty, with everything else that happened I had forgotten all about it.

"What do you want to do tonight?" he asks me.

"Mm, all sorts of things," I murmur with a sultry
look and he laughs.

"I mean, can I take you out somewhere?"

"Oh," I say, disappointed. "Sure, I guess.
Where do you want to go?"

"Somewhere very, very public," he says casually
and I giggle at him.

"Oh, I see. Damage control. Well in that case, by all
means."

He frowns at me then, "You're in love with him, aren't
you?"

I say nothing. What can I say?

He nods. "It was plain as day in that picture," he
says sadly.

"Oh baby. It's not like that," I lie to spare him.
"I was happy. Happy that we had sorted through our issues. That he forgave
me and we moved on. The happier he is with me, the better it is for us. For you
and me. You know that," I whisper in earnest and he looks grim as he says,
"I suppose so. I really hate he has so much control over our relationship.
It should have nothing to do with him."

"I know. I wish it were different, but I don't want to
talk about him. I am here with you and I have missed you." I kiss him to
bring his attention back to the present and back to me and he responds, wanting
that as well.

Sometime later we pull ourselves away from the bedroom and I
step into the shower. Cole joins me a minute later with a frown. “Who is
Seb?" he asks suspiciously and I turn to him with a surprised look. “Your
phone was ringing, caller ID said “Seb”,” he explains as I remain quiet.

"Sebastian would be my sibling," I say cautiously,
wishing that I had been able to tell Cole about him in my own time and my own
words.

"Oh. And where did you meet him?"

"He's staying with CK for a while. He's nice. You'll
like him."

"Humph. I will reserve judgment on that front. Old or
new?"

"Old. Oldest, in fact, the first."

"First?"

"His first change. It's quite strange that I never even
thought about it before."

"So, he's as old as him?" he asks, still refusing
to call Constantine by name. We are stuck with a bunch of confusing pronouns
but I leave the grammar lesson and let him deal with it in his own way.

"Yes."

"And you like him?"

"Yes. He's fun, and we have a shared interest in poking
fun at our sire. It's all quite amusing," I say lightly but he is still
not impressed.

"Are you sleeping with him?" he asks, as I knew he
would. He just can't help himself. But there again, I don't exactly give him
reason to.

"No. It's not like that," I say patiently.
"Please, Cole. Don't read into it any more than is there. Trust me,
please. Trust me to keep in the boundaries you have set." I know I sound
resentful but I can't help it and he hears it in my voice.

"Liv, I'm sorry. I know I hold you back from being who
you want to be. I just don't think I can take yet another addition to your
‘to-do' list."

"No, Cole. I'm sorry. I know I give you every reason
not to trust me, but you can. I promise you. Please say you believe me."

He sighs, "I do. It's everyone else I don't
trust."

"Well, forget about them. Concentrate on me," I
say and pull him to me for a kiss and he lifts me up against the wall and takes
me again under the pounding water and we forget about everyone and everything
else, including my nightly feed as we head off downstairs to mingle in the
hotel’s bar.

We settle comfortably together in a big chair and he is
happy to be with me, next to me, and touching me, as I am with him. These times
apart are not good for him and I do get worried that he will slip. He has been
the model charge so far, but I don't think that has much to do with me but more
him and his moral standings.

My phone goes off in an actual ringtone which surprises me,
as I have it set only to vibrate. I frown as it is Falco's “Rock Me Amadeus,”
and I grimace as I see it is Sebastian video calling me. Fuckhead. Well, it
would look odd if I ignored him, so I accept the call with an apologetic smile
to Cole.

"Livvie!" Sebastian says into the phone with a quick
wave. He is in a very loud place with a group of people behind him.

"Sebastian. Nice ringtone, you arse. How did you manage
that?" I say.

He grins. "Anyone ever tell you, you sleep like the
dead? Wasn’t difficult to swipe it for a few minutes and play with it for my
own amusement. Can't wait to see his face when he hears it!" he snickers.

"Seb, don't wind him up about it. It's a dodgy subject.
Where are you?" I ask.

"I don't know, some bar near the apartment. I had to
get out of that mausoleum,” he replies.

“What mausoleum?”

“You know, away from our unhappy sire. Christ, he knows how
to get himself into a mood. I had forgotten after all this time. Just sat there
brooding over the book."

It is now my turn to snicker, since I am fully aware of his
moods. "Hm, that he does. Who are all your friends? Wait? What do you mean
‘the book?’ What book?"

"Oh, just some book, never mind," he says with a
bit of a grimace. "These are just some people who wanted to see if I
really knew you," he says slyly and holds the phone up and they all wave
at me.

I wave back. I really don’t like this whole celebrity thing.
I mean, working in real estate is not exactly like being a rock star. Although
in all fairness, while I was recognized before, being the wife of a famous
movie star has plastered my face across the press in a big way.

"Christ, woman, be a bit nicer to your fans," he
grouses at me.

"Hi fans!" I say with sarcastic enthusiasm and
they all say “Hi” in return while Sebastian nods his approval.

He comes back onto the screen. "So, are you having fun
with your actual husband?" he asks snidely and I glare at him as I pull
the phone away to now include Cole on screen who glares at Sebastian.

"Sebastian. This is my husband, Cole."

"Oh," he says, clearing his throat.
"Hello."

"Hi," Cole says grimly but then turns on the charm
as Sebastian’s new friends all clamor to have some FaceTime with a famous movie
star. He deals with it all far better than I, and I beam at him with pride.

Eventually standing up and walking away in a huff, Sebastian
comes back on the screen.

"Well, you are popular, aren't you?" he asks.
"I look forward to making your acquaintance at some point."

"Likewise," Cole says with ease but I know he
isn't best pleased with this phone call.

"Livvie, do come back soon, my dear. In the meanwhile I
will be staying at your place."

"Erm, I don't think so, Seb. Lincoln is very
territorial and Scott isn't exactly comfortable around ancient Vampires he
doesn't know. Mind you, he isn't comfortable around ancient Vampires he does
know," I add more to myself.

"I can handle the Wolf. Who is Scott? I thought you
lived with someone called Devon?"

"Devon is my charge. But he is back in L.A. Scott is
here for work. He is my assistant."

"Well I shall behave myself. Take care and hurry back,"
he repeats again with force and hangs up. I sigh. That is definitely a very
annoying trait of the older Vampires.

"He calls you Livvie?" Cole asks coldly.

"Oh ignore him, he's an arse, just trying to get to
you."

"But you call him Seb. Clearly there is something
there."

"Baby, don't project. Please. I have enough guilt trips
to last me the next thousand years without you adding to it."

"Meaning? Something to do with the moody sire?"

"Yes. But can we drop it? I said I didn't want to talk
about him."

"Sure. I can see why you like him," he says
casually. "He's a bit like Devon."

I blink at him, "Yes, I suppose he is."

"Seems
he
has a bit of a type though," he
says casually then. "You and Sebastian look alike."

I know he has said that to gross me out about the whole
family relations things so I ignore him and say instead, "Go get me
another drink, please," as I hold out my empty glass.

He bobs his head, "Of course, my love." As he
stands, his phone rings. He glances at it with a frown and then turns his back
to answer it with a low, "It's not a good time," as he saunters over
to the very far side of the bar. I raise my eyebrows in suspicion. Sorry, baby.
That won't help you, I think, as I use my magickally-enhanced hearing--that no
one yet knows about for obvious reasons--to listen to whoever is on the other
end of the phone.

"Why, what's up?" It's Devon I note as my heart
drops. Everyone gets calls except me, it seems.

In a low, low voice Cole says, "Liv is here."

"Oh," comes the flat reply. "I thought she came
up on Saturdays."

"Well seems that now you are back in L.A., it has freed
up more ‘me' time," Cole says, not nastily but not altogether pleasantly,
either.

"Lucky you. Enjoy it while it lasts," he says
cruelly.

"I'm not even going to ask what that means," Cole
says, insulted.

"Nothing. I'm sorry, forget it."

"Fine. What's up? How's Jess?"

"She's…you know. Fine I guess."

"Gee, such enthusiasm. I say you just turn her and be
done with it. She clearly wants it."

My heart jolts as my eavesdropping ears just take in what
Cole has said. Turn her? Devon has someone? Someone who wants him to turn her?

"Not likely," Devon scoffs.

Relief shoots through me at that comment.

"Well, I'd better get back. Is there something you
wanted?"

"No, it can wait. Don't tell her it was me, okay?"

"I don't really want to lie to her, Dev."

"Please. It'll be better for you as well. You know how
she gets. She's like a dog with a bone," he sighs.

"Yeah, no kidding," Cole says with a chuckle.
"I'll catch ya later."

"Sure. See ya."

End of conversation. Most curious. I knew they talked. I
didn't know they rang each other up to “chat.” Although, I am quite glad, it's
nice that they get on well enough to talk about things.

Cole reappears with our drinks and sits casually back down
next to me with a lingering kiss. Oh, he's learning the distraction techniques
all right.

"Who was that?" I ask when he lets me up for air.
He may be learning but I'm still better.

"Oh, just someone from the studio," he says,
avoiding my gaze.

Hm, so he is going to lie to me. Oh well. I will drop it, as
I really don't want to cause a scene and ruin our time together.

"Oh, okay," I say and take a sip of my drink. He
stares at me in surprise as I have so easily dropped it.

"Oh, all right!" he snaps. "It was Devon. Happy?"

I look back at him mildly. "Oh. I see," I say.
"What did he want?"

"Just to talk, it's no big deal. Don't make a thing out
of it. Please?" he asks with earnest.

"Fine." I shrug and it infuriates him but he
remains silent, as do I. I snuggle into him, knowing a thing or two about
distraction myself, and he accepts it and relaxes a bit. Catching him now off
guard I ask, "How is he?"

He tenses back up and scowls at me. "He's fine.
Dealing. It helps he has…" he trails off and I wonder if he meant to say
that or if it was a genuine Freudian slip.

"Has what?" I pounce and he sighs.

"He has someone to distract him, okay?"

"Oh really? Already?" I sneer into my drink and he
pulls my face towards his to look at him.

"Liv, that's unfair. She's been around awhile now."

"Awhile? How long is awhile? And why don't I
know?"

"A few months on and off. Since before we left L.A. It
wasn't a big thing. He didn't want you to know."

"He's never been shy about it before, why now all of a
sudden?" I ask, genuinely confused by his words. "Unless it's
serious?" I gulp.

He shrugs. "Maybe. I don't really know. I know that she
knows about him."

"What?" I suddenly snap. "He told her about
us?" I am furious now, how dare he tell her our secret without telling me
first.

He nods warily. "Yes. He doesn't need your permission
to tell. Just like you didn't need
his
," he points out, still using
pronouns and making life difficult. "She won't say anything. She's quite
accepting. Wants to be one of us." He takes my hand but I pull away.

"Wants to be one of us? Well, that will never
happen," I say, absolutely confident of my words.

"Why not? I say he should turn her. Might help him get
over…you know."

"He won't," I say, absolutely resolute and he
peers at me curiously. The penny drops and his mouth drops open. "What?
He's never turned anyone before?"

I shake my head smugly, "No."

Processing that nugget of information he stares at me and
then suddenly his eyes light up and he snaps his fingers. "It all
completely makes sense now!" he says excitedly. "I don't know why I
never realized it before!"

I narrow my eyes at him, "What are you talking
about?"

"Oh please, don't be coy. You know exactly what I'm
talking about. His complete devotion to you even after all this time. The
reason why he hasn't left your side in over five hundred years except for a few
years a couple of centuries ago. You are his whole world. He doesn't have
anyone to be responsible for. It's no wonder he had to get away again at some
point."

I am hurt by his words and he must see it pass across my
face.

"I'm sorry, my love. That was harsh. But I'm right
aren't I?" he questions. Before I even have a chance to say anything he
clicks his fingers again and has another “Eureka” moment, adding, "And you
like it that way! I bet you haven't ever encouraged him to branch out on his
own!"

"Excuse me?" I say to him. "How dare you! How
dare you cast aspersions!"

He looks a bit wary at my tone but stands his ground and
says, "I told him to do it. It will be good for him to have something
other than you to focus on. You should let him if he wants to."

"He won't," I say again. "And I will not let
him tie himself to someone he isn't in love with."

"It seems quite clear that you don't have to be in love
with the people you sire. Why not just let him have some fun?"

"Fun? Fun? Oh no. Not a chance. It's not his style.
Don't ever push him to do it again," I say quietly.

"Jealousy is not a good look for you, my love."

"It's not jealousy. I am protecting him from making a
big mistake."

"Why is it a mistake?"

"It just is!" I say heatedly and he sighs.

"Can we drop this now? I don't really want to spend
what little time I have with you arguing about him or any of the others."

"Done," I say and pull him to me for a kiss. I
don't want to argue either and I really don't want him prodding at this subject
anymore. First sires are a dodgy area and mine especially isn't something I
want him to know about. Just yet.

Although surprised with my acquiescence, he takes it in the
manner with which it was intended and kisses me back. I pull away with a smile
and he smiles back and I snuggle into him again and all is well. "Tell me
about your week," he says. "You said you had a pile of shit to tell
me."

"Oh Christ, yes. It's been a bit of a hectic few
days," I say, remembering everything he needs to know.

"How so?" he asks, interested, and I launch into
my tales of Cade, Xane, and, well, he already knows about Sebastian now.

"Cade approached you?" he asks worriedly when I
finish up.

"Several times. He is a pain in the arse," I say
ruefully.

"But he hasn't tried anything?"

"No, it's odd and when I confronted him about it he
said he didn't know why?"

"You confronted him?"

"Yes, I was getting tired of his games. I am intrigued
to see what happens next."

"Intrigued? Shouldn't you be more concerned? Shouldn’t
you be actively trying to get rid of him?"

"Get rid of him? I’m not going to kill him, Cole. Not
when he hasn’t done anything to me.  I can't explain it but I really don't feel
he is a threat. But still, keep your guard up," I warn. "I may be
invulnerable but I just couldn't bear it if anything happened to you," I
say. He throws me his half smile that I love and says, "Grayson watches me
like a hawk."

"Good," I say. "I shall have to compensate
him well."

"So Demons now as well?" he sighs and I know what
he is thinking, but ignore it.

"Yep. I am going to go to Vegas on Thursday to meet
with him. See what it is he has to say about his region."

"Don't go alone," he says grumpily, knowing that
he can't come with me.

"I won't, don't worry, baby. I will have back-up,"
I say, thinking that I will probably have more back-up than I would care for as
without a doubt Lincoln will come with me, but CK will refuse to stay in New
York without me and no doubt Sebastian will also jump on the bandwagon for a
free trip to the City of Sin as well.

Having thus far been peered at curiously but largely left
alone, it is now getting later and the younger crowd is coming out and both of
us get recognized and we spend a few moments chatting and signing autographs
and having our photos taken. We take the opportunity to have a very public
cuddle much to everyone's delight and I feel whatever anyone might have thought
about the photo of me and CK has now been forgotten as we are clearly in love
and can't get enough of each other. Cole reinforces this as he says,
"Well, if you will excuse us now, I haven't seen my wife for a few days
and I want her to myself now."