Counselor of the Damned (13 page)

She still did, however. Despite the overwhelming evidence at the moment that she shouldn’t. “I don’t trust vampires. I trust you. I have faith in you, Fernando.”

He dropped his hand as his eyes went wide. Stumbling backward out of the confessional, he covered his face with his hands. Tegonni saw one lone tear fall before he hid the rest.

“What did I do?”

She approached him gingerly. “You lashed out. Like people often do when they are confused and in pain.”

He lifted his face. Anguish filled it. “That’s no excuse. I dishonored you and defiled the sanctuary.”

She frowned.
Defiled
was a strong word.
Mildly soiled
perhaps. Her cheeks heated again as she realized she wasn’t as sorry as maybe she should be. The naughtiness of making out in the confessional was seriously hot. She decided Fernando was unlikely to admit to that.

“I cannot make this offense up to you, senhorita. I dearly wish I was worthy of your faith.” He bowed, then disappeared in a blink, the heavy entrance door lumbering shut behind him.

“Dr. Ellis?” Father Morgan had appeared near the front of the sanctuary. “Was that Fernando? What’s going on?”

Tegonni didn’t know where to begin. Explaining the night’s events to the priest would not be fun. She sighed. “Father, I have a confession to make, but ah, not in the confessional, okay?”

Chapter Ten

Sitting at the table in the rectory’s small kitchen, Tegonni tapped her heel as she swirled the untouched tea in her cup. She didn’t dare meet Father Morgan’s eyes. He’d been silent during her tactful review of the evening.

Finally, he said, “Well, I understand why you didn’t want to go in the confessional.”

She winced.

He gave her hand a squeeze. “Tegonni, you and Fernando aren’t the first to tarnish the sanctum of a confessional. I have to worry more about teenagers, but I’ve caught a couple of adults.”

“I’m so sorry, Father.”

“Good, but I’m sure heaven is strong enough to recover.”

Humbled, she said, “Of course.” What, was the church going to crumble to the ground just because she’d made out in it? Her world, though, was a different matter. She’d gotten the impression from Fernando’s last words to her that he didn’t intend to see her again.

“My concern is why Fernando, given his traditional religious beliefs, would do such a thing.”

“He’s trying to get me to give up on him. Prove what a horrible person he must be because he was born a vampire.” Her lower lip trembled. Somehow, she’d screwed up. All the progress she’d helped Fernando make over the past several weeks seemed to come undone tonight.

Father Morgan patted her hand. “I know the frustration. He can’t get past what he was born as, to see the man he is.” He looked thoughtful as he took a sip from his teacup. “I think his actions tonight were an attempt to find out what you really thought of him rather than to push you away.”

She furrowed her brow. “And I surprised him by actually having faith in him?”

“Very likely.”

She saw a shred of hope dangling in front of her and clung to it. “Maybe if I show him my faith is still unshaken, even after having time to process what happened tonight, he can take a step toward having faith in himself.”

“Perhaps. He is stubborn, but it’s worth a try. You don’t have much time, however.”

She was thinking aloud more than to the father as she continued. “He won’t put off taking communion for much longer. Especially after tonight.” She supported her head with her hands as it spun with thoughts. “And now the Lephiri have agreed to his
special request
.” She paused, then looked at Father Morgan. He’d sounded certain time was running out, not like he guessing. “What don’t I know?”

“I was informed about the request being granted…and told Fernando.”

A chill went through her.

“I received the guidance in prayer this afternoon to give Fernando the Eucharist, and that Heaven would bless him with Holy Fire. I told him tonight before you arrived. He was pleased and set the ceremony for Sunday evening.”

Tegonni’s chest felt so heavy, she could hardly breathe. “I have to stop it.” Her voice faded to a whisper as she said, “I can’t lose him.”

“Dr. Ellis, I fervently hope you find a way. However, please keep in mind he has suffered for years. Don’t ask him to continue. Even for the gift of your love.”

Startled by the truth, she stared at him, and then she nodded. “I won’t ask him to stay for me. But if my love is a good enough reason for him to choose to, I want to tell him.” Would it be? Even if he felt the same?

“Fair enough. I suggest you leave it for this evening. Give him time to calm down.” He held up a hand as Tegonni opened her mouth to protest. She didn’t want Fernando to stew in his self-depreciating juices. “I’ll talk to him tonight. I’ll tell him you still have faith in him.”

“Thank you, Father.” She pushed away the full teacup and stood.

He gave a reassuring smile and walked her to the entrance of the rectory. “My prayers are with both of you. I believe Fernando shares your feelings.”

She turned and stared.

The priest chuckled and placed his hands on her shoulders. “Love is powerful medicine. Remember that.” He stepped back and wished her a good night as he closed the door.

* * * *

For two days her messages went unanswered by Fernando. She was a wreck. On Saturday evening she was both surprised and relieved to receive a call from him inviting her for dinner at his apartment. He avoided deep conversation on the phone, saying he preferred to wait until they were face-to-face. She played through numerous possible outcomes of her confrontation with Fernando. He’d reject her. He’d postpone the ceremony. He’d declare his love, calling himself a fool for wanting to die. He’d refuse to see her. Her emotions twisted like a roller coaster along with the various scenarios. Despair, hope, joy, defeat. High-strung, she walked through the lobby of his apartment building toward the front desk.
At least I look good.

She’d been nervous enough that picking an outfit had been an act of self-torture. Admitting defeat, she’d called Nat over to do it for her. He’d wanted to take her shopping, but she refused to buy some designer clothes that would normally never grace the inside of her closet. The flyaway white miniskirt came from her seldom-worn collection of party clothes along with the copper high-heeled sandals.

The top she couldn’t remember ever seeing before, though Nat insisted he’d bought it for her last Christmas. She suspected he’d sneaked it into her wardrobe while she obsessed over her hair in the bathroom, but couldn’t be sure since her closet was a mess. A mosaic print of white, copper, and purple, the fabric clung to her waist and breasts while baring one arm and shoulder. The one asymmetric sleeve hung loose and short. She’d balked at his choice at first, but he was right. Looking great gave her a boost of confidence.

“Hi,” she said to the concierge. “I’m here to see Mr. Amaral.” She fought the urge to fidget as she waited for the woman to look through some papers.

“Dr. Tegonni Ellis?”

Tegonni smiled. “Yes.”

The cheerful woman exuded friendliness. “Such a pretty name. You can go down this hallway and take the elevator to the top floor. Mr. Amaral’s penthouse is to the right.”

After thanking her, Tegonni walked down the opulent hallway with its chandeliers and wall art, careful not to snag her heels in the plush carpeting. Feeling a bit self-conscious amidst all the luxury, she stepped into the occupied elevator. She stood next to a dark-haired young woman in a flowy dress, which barely covered her ass. Delicate and lacy, it no doubt cost half of Tegonni’s annual salary.

The girl studied her up and down. Her eyes sparkled when she zeroed in on Tegonni’s top. “Is that Versace? I’m sure I saw it on the runway in Milan last month.”

Tegonni glanced down at herself. “Ah, I don’t know. It was a gift.”

“Well, keep that friend around. They have excellent taste.” She breezed out on the twenty-fourth floor, and Tegonni stared after her. Well, that confirmed her suspicion about the true origins of Nat’s gift. She supposed she should be glad he’d picked an ensemble that made her blend, but this was not the kind of place she’d imagined Fernando choosing to live. Her nerves frazzled anew, she peeked out of the elevator on the fiftieth floor, wondering what other surprises he had in store.

This hall was wider than the one downstairs and just as elegantly decorated. In front of the elevator, a large mirror hung on the wall. Below it stood a polished wooden console table with fresh, colorful flowers arranged in a bouquet. She read the two discrete plaques fitted to the wall on either side. The left read
Eben
, and the right said
Amaral. Here we go.

When she stepped out of the elevator and headed right, a man walked toward her from the end of the hallway. Short, but stocky, he had rich-amber skin darker than hers and narrow eyes that spoke of Asian ancestry. His suit appeared tailored, but nondescript.

He smiled, revealing fangs. “Dr. Ellis. A pleasure to see you again.” He looked vaguely familiar. Someone she’d seen lingering around Fernando at the hotel, but he hadn’t been introduced.
Ah, his driver.

“Thank you.” She shook his offered hand.

“We haven’t officially met. I’m Phil Lawson, Fernando’s head of security.”

She nearly stumbled.
Nat’s Phil? A demon hunter?
“I thought you were just a driver for the hotel.”

With a chuckle, he shook his head. “I don’t work for the hotel, ma’am. I’m personal security. Council-assigned bodyguard.” Tegonni couldn’t respond. She definitely hadn’t been expecting any of this. Phil spread an arm toward a set of double doors and desk at the end of the hall. “Please, this way. Fernando is waiting for you.”

Preceding him down the hall, she half expected it to shrink and end at a three-foot door. She felt like Alice in Wonderland. His job as hotel manager was probably cushy, but this had to be beyond his means. And a bodyguard from the Council? She’d assumed he lived outside of Clan politics, in some nice modest condo somewhere. This place, however, indicated he was very much involved. “And why the need for security?”

“He’s bloodborn. They are royalty among us. He can’t wander about unprotected. Chicago is wild land for us—no governorship—so rival clans are always a threat. But don’t worry. With the human guards and wards against magic, we’re pretty safe.”

She assimilated the information with a slow nod. She’d known bloodborns, due to low birthrates, were less numerous than vampires who used to be human. However, she hadn’t known they were a superior caste. It made sense, but would mean the Council would not take Fernando’s desire to die well.

Phil continued. “I suppose this is part of what he’s trying to escape.” He paused as they reached the door and looked at her with hopeful eyes. “He’s talked a lot about you, Dr. Ellis. I hope you can talk him out of his plans. He’s an admirable man, and we’d all miss him.”

She inclined her head. Mild dizziness hit her as realizations whirled. He’d told Phil. And others. People who cared about him. Vampires who cared. Never once in the whole time they’d been meeting had she ever bothered to ask if he had friends among the vampire community. People he’d miss and who’d be hurt if he died. He’d suffered more than she’d known. His integrity leading him to a decision that would pain people he cherished.

Looking at Phil, she saw a worried friend. Not evil hellspawn. He wasn’t different than Fernando. Was he an exception too? Or was what she was coming to believe true? That vampires, though cursed, were no more predisposed to wrongdoing than any human.

When Phil opened the doors, Tegonni ignored the stunning view of the city through the window in the entry hall. She was too focused on Fernando standing before it, hair stylishly tossed and looking dashing in cool summer linen fit to reveal the long, toned lines of his body. The shirt was thin enough to give the illusion of being sheer. She imagined she could make out the darker circles of his nipples, and her sex tightened in appreciation.

She took in his demeanor, hands in pockets and worry lines etching his face, and her heart stuttered. Did he fear
her
rejection? She could do nothing but follow her instincts. She ran to him and wrapped him in a tight embrace, wishing all his sorrows away.

“I love you.”

Chapter Eleven

They stayed entwined and silent for several minutes after Phil left and closed the door. A tear fell to Tegonni’s lip as Fernando leaned back to look into her eyes.

“Tegonni.” He stroked the tear away. “I am not often thunderstruck, but I hardly know what to say.”

Pleased, she leaned forward to brush her lips against his, sweet and delicate. “Then let me speak first.”

“All right.” He looked more at peace than she’d ever seen him outside of the blissful expression he’d had at the church the first time she’d met him there.

She smoothed her hands down the rough texture of his linen V-necked shirt, delighting in the feel of him strong and firm underneath. “I haven’t been a very good counselor or friend to you.” He frowned, and she rushed on. “No, Fernando, I haven’t. I assumed vampires are inherently evil, and you are different. You are certainly special.” She cupped his face. “But I think your desire to be a good person is not unique among the vampires.”

He glanced toward the door to the hallway where Phil sat. “Yes, true enough.”

“I should have asked if you had friends.”

“I didn’t think it was relevant.”

“Still, I should have asked. To know you better.”

He smiled. “Well, you know now. And you love me.”

Grinning, she hugged him tight. “Yes, I do.”

“Then I should stop being a rude host.” As he stepped back, he took her hands and spread them out to the sides. He took in her bare legs from the plum-painted toes all the way up to where her thighs disappeared beneath the miniskirt. His gaze wandered over the curves hidden by her top. His eyes were heated by the time they focused on hers. “Breathtaking.”

A warm quiver passed through her. She loved the sweet word on his lips.