Choices (The Forever series, Book Four) (8 page)

"How dare you! Of course I love Cole. I would never
have turned him if I didn't," I snarl at him.

He shrugs off my anger, "So he gets you two days of the
week. What do you think will happen when you leave tomorrow?"

"I am not leaving. I am right downstairs," I snap
at him.

"No, you will be leaving and he will be
devastated."

"Oh please. Don't give me that crap," I say,
suddenly highly irritated by this conversation. "He accepts our
arrangement. It was his idea to start with. If he wanted more he should have
bloody negotiated better. Or better yet, he shouldn't have waited until I sired
and was married," I say, happy with my argument that he only has himself
to blame if he is unhappy.

"Oh, Liv. You know what a stubborn fool he can
be," Sebastian sighs.

"Yes, I do."

"Fine. Well I have said my piece and I have your word
that this conversation will not get back to him?"

"Of course. What kind of bad sibling would I be to rat
you out for trying to protect him?" I smarm at him.

"You know," he says then, suddenly all coy,
"it has just occurred to me that you will never have felt what it is like
to be with your sire and a sibling. It can be most pleasing."

"Yes, so I have been told," I mutter, irate that I
never have and yet Devon and Cole have had the pleasure and voiced their
opinions quite loudly on the subject.

"You could talk him around, he would do anything you
asked of him,” he murmurs, hovering his hand over my tits still poking through
the dissipating bubbles.

"Maybe so, but I have my own set of rules."

"You mean your husband’s set of rules," he sneers.
"Don't you find it hard work to stick to them?"

Actually yes, I do. CK aside, if it weren't for Cole, I
would have had Sebastian in this bath as soon as he walked into the room. But I
have to keep remembering how I felt when I was new. He allows me my freedom but
with restrictions and I have to honor that. However, when Sebastian's hand
flicks over my nipple I inhale sharply and feel the connection between us. For
all Lance’s creepy familial terms and our own banter about family and being
related, we really aren't. I was born to different parents and turned a couple
of thousand years after him, but our sire has connected us with his blood as I
have connected my own charges hundreds of years apart, and we feel that
connection pulling on us.

At my lack of pushing him away, Sebastian trails his hand
through the bath water closer and closer to…

His phone vibrates in his pocket and he glances at me as he
takes it out to check it.

"As expected…" he holds it out for me to see a
message:  Hands off
Vincentius
!

"Have you ever wondered how he does that?" he
asks.

"All the fucking time!" I state with a laugh.
"Glad it isn't just me then."

"No, he has a way of feeling the spike in our emotions.
What a fucking shame. I was under the impression you were up for it."

"Hm," I say noncommittally. Spike in our emotions?
Is that what it is? I honestly thought it was because he could read my mind.
"Vincentius? Your original name I presume?"

"Yes," he says shortly, not offering up any more
than that.

"And yet you choose to be French, not Italian, like
him?"

"I did for a time. I prefer the French way of life. So
much more
joie de vivre
," he says.

"Indeed."         

"Why do you choose to hang onto to your
Anglicism?"

Startled at the question no one has ever asked me, I blink
and say, "Erm, I don't know. My origin, my history?"

"Sure, I get that. Although technically your history
would be Saxon in origin, German."

I smile at him, "Yes, that would be so, my parents'
parents came over from Saxony."

"My parents were from Ancient Rome. My grandparents
were Etruscan."

"Yes, I gathered," I say. "He never talks
about it," I say quietly.

"No, he doesn't. Not just to you."

"But you knew him then. You must know something."

"I knew him after he was created, remember. There isn't
a thing I can tell you about his human self as I don't know."

I must look disappointed as he smiles at me and says,
"If you asked I am sure he would tell you."

I shake my head, "I have asked so many times and I get
nothing from him."

"What about your super brain?"

I snort, "That is a pain in the arse. Yes, I know the
facts after events, but I don't know what he feels or how he felt. I want to
know but he won't tell me."

"Try again. You never know." He shrugs as he
twiddles his fingers idly in the water. "Watch this," he says,
suddenly mischievous and my eyes go wide as he moves his hand back into the
bath, his fingers playing lightly against the water just above me.

Not two seconds later our sire bursts in the door of the
bathroom and says, "Enough! Get out!"

We both burst out laughing at his fury. For all his denial
of sensing our intentions, and it being an Initial Vampire ability, he has most
definitely just shown his hand.

"Out Sebastian!" he says again and we continue to
chuckle. I find having someone to laugh with, someone who knows him so well,
very comforting. I thought I would be wildly jealous but that is not the case.
But that is most probably because he is a man. I know for a fact that I would
not be sitting here giggling with Grace.

Sebastian holds his hands up in defeat, "Can't blame a
guy for trying."

"Yes, you can," CK snaps at him, glaring, bringing
his irate gaze to me still languishing in my bubbles. "Don't be a tease,
Aefre. It is not an attractive quality."
I lower my eyes in contrition and sink myself further into the bubbles. Peeking
back up at him, he is watching me with growing desire and I inwardly high-five
myself. Knew he wouldn't be able to resist. Sadly though, as ever, my stupid
face must give me away. No need to be able to read minds, when he can read my
face. He suddenly narrows his eyes at me. "Aefre," he warns.

"Oh come on. Give me something," I snap as
Sebastian snickers. "I don't want to wait until later." I pout then
as it always works whereas fury just amuses him. Tilting his head to peer at me
he comes to crouch next to the bath. I hold my breath in anticipation, eyes
firmly on his. He lowers his hand into the bath water, lower and lower until
his shirtsleeve is soaked. He lightly brushes his fingers over me all the while
watching my reaction. I shiver at his touch and he pulls away and stands up.

"Time to get dressed, my sweet," he says and
saunters off to presumably change his shirt.

I stare at him open-mouthed that he just teased me. Then I
shut it again grimly as quite clearly that was his lesson: Don't be a tease.
Ignoring Sebastian who is having a right old laugh at my expense, I pull the
plug out of the bath and stand reaching for a towel, which shuts him up
promptly as he gives me a lingering once-over. Having the satisfaction of
seeing his eyes cloud over as I wrap the massive towel around me, I step out of
the bath and picking up my discarded wine, and I too saunter off to get
dressed.

Sebastian then having the sense to leave me be, I cross to
the closets and wonder what dress CK has picked out for me. Not that I'm worried.
I trust him completely. He has impeccable taste, coupled with the fact that he
wouldn't go anywhere in public with me looking anything less than my best. Not
that I would, just to be clear.

I am stunned when I open the door and see what is there. Of
all the dresses in the whole world he could have picked out for me this was not
what I expected. I told him to dress me up however he likes and he chooses…
pink? I can honestly say in all my years I have never worn a pink dress. Is he
harboring some kind of fetish here? Well some other kind of fetish I have yet
to learn about, that is. I take it off the railing and twirl it around. It's a
beautiful dress from Lipsy London. Again I am surprised. It's fun and flirty
and young. Not something I would have expected of him. I lose my towel and step
into it. It has thin straps and an interesting low cut neckline that dips a few
inches in between my breasts and falls in soft folds to my mid-thigh in front
and to just below my knees at the back. I have to say I look very pretty but
have no clue what shoes to wear with it. Doing a quick mental sift of my shoe
wall back home in L.A. I call forth a pair of black spiked Louboutins and slip
them on. Yes, I like the fact that it still gives an edge. I don't really do
pretty. I am too young-looking for that. The main reason I wear black, apart
from that it is sexy and so flattering is because it makes me look more kick
ass than I really do.

Cheating with my hair, I magickally arrange it in soft loose
curls, and critically eye myself. I usually wear my hair straight in this form
as that is what it is naturally and I like it that way. This softens my
features slightly, making me look sweeter, more innocent. I think CK is trying
to tell me something with this dress, so I leave it. Cheating again with my
makeup and long pink painted nails, I am ready soon after to go on this mystery
date. Before I step out of the bedroom I ring Cole and he answers straight
away.

"Hey baby. I was just about to ring you."

"Hey. Great minds…" I smile.

He chuckles, "Well yours maybe. What you up to?"

"About to go out. Part of the reason for this call and
to say I love you and miss you."

"I love you and miss you too," he says
suspiciously. "Go on."

"CK is taking me out. On a sort of date, out in public.
I just wanted to tell you in case you saw any publicity," I say quickly
and he remains silent.

"I see," he says eventually, which usually means
he doesn't see at all. "Where are you going?"

"I'm not sure. But judging by this dress I'd say
dinner," I say wryly.

"Humph," he says rudely. "Well, you enjoy
yourself."

"Oh baby. Don't be upset please. You know I love
you," I say quietly.

"I'm not upset about him taking you on a date, per se.
Christ knows you do worse than that with him." I flinch at that as he
continues. "It's more that you will be seen in public with him, and not
me. If you get where I am going with this?" he asks.

I do indeed. He is worried people will think that I am
cheating on him. Which, okay, technically I am, and while we don’t use that
nasty word and it is considered acceptable to our kind, humans don't really
take too kindly to screwing around and it may have damaging effects on both him
and me. Him, mostly.

"I know what you mean, baby. I promise you we will
conduct ourselves appropriately."

He sighs, "I really hate this."

"I know."

"What time will you be here on Friday?" he asks,
an abrupt change of subject.

"I plan on leaving here at lunchtime. Shit, that
reminds me, I need to get the jet back here," I mutter to myself.

"Why, where is it?"

"Devon took it back to L.A.," I say with a lump in
my throat. "Have you spoken to him?" I ask casually.

"Yeees," he says cautiously. "I don't think
we should discuss that though."

I close my eyes against my heartbreak. "Is he
okay?" I whisper.

"He'll do," he says shortly and I choke back a
sob.

"He'll be back soon, my love," Cole whispers to
me. "He needs time."

"What did he tell you?"

"Liv, don't ask me that. I am not getting in the middle
of your relationship with him. It's weird and I have too much weird going
on."

"Okay, you're right. I'm sorry. I'm sorry for bringing
you so much weird."

"I love you, Liv," he says with a small chuckle.
"I'd better let you go. You don't want to keep him waiting. Bye, my
love."

"I love you too. Okay, bye." And I hang up.

Stepping out into the sitting room I stop conversation again
when I am noticed, only this time it isn't because they don't want me
overhearing what they are talking about, but rather because of how I look.

"You are breathtaking, my sweet," CK says proudly.

I incline my head in thanks. "As are you," I tell
him back as he is rocking an expensive navy suit that makes me want to rip it
off him and have my wicked way. He smiles smugly at me as he sees that thought
flash across my face, he knows he looks good. He always looks good.

"You look incredible," Sebastian offers up and I
smile my thanks. "Worthy of capturing and showing to the world," he
adds.

I simper at him and move over to join CK, brushing past Nico
who is looking everywhere but at me. "Nico," I murmur.

He clears his throat, "Liv. You look lovely."

Geez, what is it going to take?

CK pulls me close, eyes never leaving mine as Sebastian
takes a picture of us gazing into each other’s eyes. Oh now that is the kind of
behavior that won't do in public.

"Send that to me but don't post it publicly," I
tell him.

CK's eyebrows go up in question. "Cole," I mutter
and he looks annoyed that I had to mention him.

"So where are we going?" I ask CK as he leads me
to the elevator.

"Just dinner. I am afraid that is about my limit with
this."

"Well, it's perfect," I tell him and he smiles
down at me.

Thankfully it has stopped raining but I pull the wrap closer
to me that Nico had handed me. Not so much out of a sense of the chill, but I
am terribly conscious of my very intricate tattoo. I had to keep covered up for
a few months due to its sudden appearance until we could explain it away as
something I had done. Fortunately though, as it turned out, the whole Power of
One marking wasn't visible to those outside of the supernatural community so at
least we didn't have to go into explaining how that vanished overnight. Don't
get me wrong, I love my marking, but it moves sometimes when my mood changes
and it wouldn't be good if someone saw it who shouldn't.

Stepping into the car that is idling by the sidewalk, CK
follows me and takes my hand as Nico closes the door.

"Can I ask you something?" I say.

"Of course," he says but he looks wary as I
usually only ask that before a question he doesn't want to answer comes out of
my mouth.

"Of all the dresses you could have picked out, why this
one?"

He looks relieved that it is something he doesn't mind
discussing. "I wanted to see if it would make you look more like
Aefre," he says shyly.

"Pardon? I do look like her. I am her," I say,
slightly baffled by his comment.

He shakes his head, "No, you look like Liv. Don't get
me wrong, I love how you look and dress but just once I wanted you to be mine.
Just mine. And short of having you trussed up in a 15
^th
century
gown, I went for something that makes you look… softer."

"I figured you were going for that look but wasn't sure
why. Oh and I wouldn't say no to being trussed up in a 15
^th
century
gown," I add with a glint in my eye.

He chuckles. "I will bear that in mind. I love the hair
by the way. It suits you," he says with a sidelong glance and I snuggle
into him.

We arrive at our destination shortly thereafter. We probably
could have walked in all honesty but my sire definitely prefers the more
luxurious way of doing things. Not that I am complaining as I glance down at my
ring. Not the easiest thing to wear all day every day but he doesn't want me to
take it off so I don't.

He helps me out of the car but then steps to my side with
his hand lightly on my back taking my words about Cole seriously.

Once seated in the restaurant with drinks ordered, he looks
at me seriously. Uh oh. Not usually a good sign.

"Can I ask you something?" he starts and I gulp.

"Sure," I say, now wary myself.

"When you said that you could go and live on a mountain
somewhere, did you mean it?" he says cautiously.

Somewhat taken aback by that question I recover and say,
"Yes. For a time. It would be nice to just get away. Why?"

"Well I think my use of the D'Arcangelo name is coming
to an end and it is time to move on, although it isn't going to be as easy as
all that this time."

I blink at him, not quite registering what he is saying.
"What do you mean? It can't have been that long?"

"Twelve years, my sweet. And I am clearly not getting
any older in an aging sense. I am not sure I can successfully pull it off any
longer."

"Twelve years? Already?" I do the math and yes, it
would be. I mean I have been Liv for coming up on nine years now. As that
thought registers it must pass across my face. We used to be able to stick with
our old identities for decades--even centuries--if you moved from country to
country. Without global fame and fortune it was easy. Nowadays it is so much
more difficult. Well not for me, obviously, but for the others. Also his plans
to move on, goes some way to explaining why he is happy to be seen out in
public.

"I can't change. Not yet," I say, mild panic
setting in. "Cole is still new. I can't pull him away from his life yet
and Shift. He needs to feel normal still. Like things haven't drastically changed."

"I'm not suggesting you ask him to," he says
mildly.

"No, you are just asking me to leave him and come away
with you?" I say angrily.

He shrugs, "He can visit. You can still be you, be Liv.
He wouldn't have to see a change in you if we did go and live atop a mountain
for a few years."

"Constantine! That is not our agreement."

"No, it's not. But I have to think about moving on and
I don't want to do that without you."

Softening slightly I rack my brains for an alternative when
all of a sudden he peers over my shoulder with a sardonic look on his face.

"Now this feeling I remember well," he says with a
sigh.

"What?" I ask, now confused.

"Being out in public with you and having every man in
the room staring at you," he grouses.

I turn to look over my shoulder and while it's not
every
man staring at me, there is one in particular standing casually at the bar and
it makes my blood boil. Cade, I think angrily. I stand up to confront him and
CK stands as well seeing my anger, and as I take a step forward the whole room
slows down until it comes to a complete stop. The whole room and everyone in
it, that is, except me and, turning to CK, him as well. "What the
fuck?" I ask and he looks perplexed.

"
ValamAtrux
. Sorry for the intrusion, but I was
getting impatient."

I spin around towards the deep voice and see before my eyes
the most attractive man of height with piercing blue eyes and short black hair.
Christ, I do have a type and he is it. I raise my eyebrow at him and he
continues, "I am Xane Draconis of the House of Dracul and Demon Overlord
at your service, My Queen."

"Come again?" I say a bit stupidly and he laughs
at me.

"It is a pleasure to finally meet you. I was beginning
to think I never would."

"I'm sorry Mr. Draconis, but you seem to have me at a
disadvantage. Am I supposed to know who you are?"

"Xane, please," he says with a smile. "I am
one of your loyal subjects."

"Demon Overlord?" I say, trying to play catch-up
as Constantine comes to stand next to me, intrigued.

"Constantine D'Arcangelo, I presume," Xane says to
my sire who nods briefly. "Seems I interrupted."

"Yes, in fact, you did. We were trying to have a
pleasant date which was about to be interrupted by that," I point to a
frozen Cade, "and then you suddenly show up."

"A date? You date outside of your marriage?" he
asks, surprised.

 I pull myself up to my not-so-great height, affronted.
What's with all the judgment today?

"What's it to you?" I say haughtily.

Xane looks back at me after giving Cade a sweeping
once-over. "Oh, I'm not judging, I am just surprised. Dragons usually
remain faithful to one. Clearly your Vampire self is strong." He slides
his eyes over to CK who glares at him. "But then it would be, considering.
You are a most unusual creature, My Lady. A human-born Dragon that was turned
into a Vampire. Makes for quite the tale. I am sure your mother must be pleased
to have in your rightful place."

"You know my mother?" I ask suspiciously.

"Oh yes, Tiamat is old family. We are closely linked
you and I, by your Dragon heritage."

"We are?" I ask, now intrigued and he chuckles
that he has my undivided attention.

"Indeed. I like your dress by the way. Very
pretty," he says, changing the subject.

Narrowing my eyes at his comment I put my hands on my hips
and say, "Well I think you are a bit overdressed for the Upper East
Side."

He looks down at himself clad in a long black cape complete
with a shining sword at his hip and laughs again, "Yes, we can be a bit
over the top down there."

"Down there?"

He points down and my eyes go wide as he says, "The
Underworld. The actual Underworld. You know, the Domain of Hades." He
shrugs and in the blink of an eye he is standing before me in a casual black
t-shirt and combat pants with biker boots, and no sword in sight.

"You live in Hades?" I all but croak out. Shit, I
need to catch up on my Queenly duties. This guy has thrown me completely off
balance.

"No, but I do live in Sin City. You know, Vegas,"
he says offhandedly. "Hades is my kingdom. Well, actually, I suppose
technically it is yours now, although that brings me to my visit. We need to
discuss terms."

"Terms?"

"Yes, terms. Don't think for a second that I am going
to let you barge into my world and take over," he says taking a step
forward although without threat, just fact.

CK steps forward now to protect me having thus far been
silent, no doubt taking it all in and processing better than I could.

Xane holds his hands up, "I'm just saying. This is why
we need to talk."

"Fine, but can it wait until later? I still would like
to finish the first date I have had with my sire in over two years and I also
have that to deal with," I say pointing again at Cade.

"Of course. I am flexible. Do you need help with
that?" He too points over at Cade.

"No, thank you. I can take care of it myself."

"Hm, yes, I have heard the stories. I trust the sword
has been good to you?" he says slyly.

"It's yours?" I ask incredulously.

"Not exactly. It is mine to watch over and keep
safe."

"Then why am I allowed access to it?"

"For the greater good," he says as if it is
obvious. "What's mine is now yours,
ValamAtrux
," he says and
bows.

"You can call me ‘Liv,’" I say, getting tired of
my multitude of names.

"Liv? I prefer your Dragon name, but as you wish.
Well," he claps his hands together, "I will leave you to your Hunter
problem. You know where to find me when you want me. Don't leave it too long
though."

"Wait, I don't know where to find you."

"I told you, Vegas, baby," he says and winks at me
before he disappears in a move that I can only describe as a mixture of
half-Teleporting, half-Astralling. Astraporting? I like that word.

The room starts to move again once he has gone and speeds
back up to normal. I turn to CK who is glaring at Cade. "Hunter? That is
the Hunter?" he gestures subtly to the bar.

"That is all you have to say? You don't have anything
at all to say about Xane Draconis, of the House of Dracul and Demon
Overlord?" I snap.

He looks at me patiently, "First things first,
Aefre."

"Fine. Yes, that is Cade. Stalker extraordinaire. And
also now obviously confirmed as Vampire Hunter." I frown at that. How did
Xane Draconis know who he was?

CK steps forward but I pull him back saying, "No, I
will handle this. You have no tact."

He looks insulted by that and says, "I won't let you go
over there by yourself."

"CK, I will be fine. Just sit and if he makes a move I
give you permission to rip his head off, okay?"

He looks slightly mollified by that but I can see he is
still going to refuse but then his phone rings. He glances at it out of habit
and his face changes. "You get two minutes," he says and sits
answering his phone with a brusque, "Yes?" followed by,
"Everything is fine."

This makes me curious, but I turn on my heel and stalk over
to the bar. "Three times in one day? You must either want to marry me or
kill me?" I say sarcastically and he smiles at me humorlessly.

"I am just here having a drink. I can't help it that
you happen to be in my favorite restaurant. If anything, I would say you are
stalking me again."

"What do you want with me?" I ask.

"With you? Nothing. There isn't anything you have that
I want," he says matter-of-factly and I take the insult quite badly. I’m
about to blast him with reasons why I wouldn't touch him with a bargepole, when
he interrupts me and says, "I see you are on a date with the jealous lover.
Judging by the security that is in and around this building, I count six this
time, he is quite protective of his investment." His eyes flash to my ring
again and I clench my fingers into a fist.

"What is it with you and my ring? It is no business of
yours who gave it to me or why."

"No, that it isn't," he says mildly, picking up my
right hand and rubbing his thumb over it. "But I do know that if your
husband had given it to you it would be here instead," he picks up my left
hand and rubs his thumb over my engagement ring. "I just have to wonder
why you get married and then choose not to honor it?"

I pull my hands out of his with a huff and am completely
speechless because how can I explain it? I can't tell him my reasons and
besides, it's none of his damn business and I tell him so.