Dead and Beyond (21 page)

And last but not least telepathy, which instantly made me think of Aidan and his ability to get inside a mortal’s head to influence their emotions. Granted, it wasn’t exactly telepathy, but I figured it counted. As far as I knew Cass was the only supernatural with the uncanny ability to read everyone’s mind.

My head threatened to burst from all the new information. Even though the lines were blurred, it was obvious supernaturals had various abilities that defined them. Leaving out the fallen angels, whose role wasn’t clear to me, the three main courts remained: the Shadows, the vampires, and the demi-deities ruling the Lore court. Maybe the drawings on the wall were the key to winning the war for hierarchy that had been raging for centuries. But how was it all connected with Angel who, as far as I knew, had no abilities?

Engrossed in my thoughts, I barely noticed when the sun set over the Scottish Highlands and clouds darkened the evening sky. The temperature cooled down. I sat up and crossed my arms to keep warm although as a vampire I wasn’t feeling the cold the way a mortal would.

“Babe?” Aidan’s voice came from the hall. He must’ve completely slipped my mind. For a moment my breath caught in my throat, and I almost forgot about his plan to find the mirror so Rebecca could return to the land of the living.

The lights in the hall went on a second before the door opened and Aidan stepped in, wearing his bounty hunter gear. My mouth went dry at his sight. The way he reached me in two long strides and bent down to place a kiss on my lips—so confident, so natural—I thought my heart might just burst into a thousand pieces.

“I missed you,” he whispered against my lips. His hands trailed down my shirt to my waist. I didn’t manage to utter a single word, just nodded like an idiot in love, wondering why I couldn’t just tell him I knew all about his little scheme before I slammed something over his head.

“Did you have a good day?” he continued, playing his role of loving boyfriend perfectly. I nodded again as I found myself wrapping my arms around his neck to draw him closer.

Don’t do that, you moron, a voice screamed in my head. Ignoring it, I lifted my lips to meet his hungry mouth in a deep but tender kiss as hundreds of butterflies fluttered inside me.

“You’re everything I ever wanted,” Aidan whispered.

He tasted of honey, and smelled of warm summer nights and a soft breeze caressing the blossoming rosebushes. He was home.

I pulled back and moistened my lips, avoiding his impossibly blue gaze. He misunderstood my sudden albeit half-hearted attempt at putting some much needed distance between us. “I’m so sorry you had to spend the last few days alone. But I’m almost done now and, as promised, I have a surprise for you.”

Last time we talked, he hadn’t mentioned a surprise. I looked up, suspicion and fear creeping back into my heart. “Maybe another time. I’m kinda busy with my project.”

Disappointment crossed his features and the tiniest hint of a frown creased his forehead. I fought the urge to touch his cheek and kiss it all away. This stupid bond made me do things, like cave in when I didn’t want to.

“It wouldn’t take long. Half an hour tops,” he said.

Even though I knew I shouldn’t trust the guy, he looked so hopeful, I just couldn’t deny his wish. Hesitating, I nodded. “Just make it quick.”

“Thanks.” He helped me up to my feet and accompanied me back inside the house, still holding my hand. Under normal circumstances, his touch would’ve soothed my nerves, but today it did the opposite. My eyes scanned the area, unsure what to expect, as he guided me into the hall and closed his eyes, signaling me he was about to teleport.

I pulled my hand from his grasp and took a step back before he could drag me to some eternal dungeon from which there would be no escape. “Whoa, where are we going?”

He opened his eyes and raised his brows. “Relax. I wasn’t going to kidnap you. I told you I have a surprise.”

Why did he sound like the axe murderer ringing on the door in the middle of the night, asking the home-alone teenager if he could use the phone for some fake emergency?

“Uh—” I opened my mouth to speak as I willed my brain to come up with a great excuse why I couldn’t leave the house. Expecting guests? Let’s just say, we were in the middle of nowhere so no one ever lost their way to our door, let alone visit willingly. Pretend I couldn’t miss something on TV? Wouldn’t work after the invention of TiVo. I raised my chin, proud of my absolutely idiot-proof excuse. “Aidan, I’m not going out wearing this!” I pointed down the front of my shirt and jeans.

“What’s wrong with your clothes?” he asked.

“Are you serious?” I rolled my eyes and walked past him up the stairs, already working on my next plan to fake the obligatory two-hour I-don’t-know-what-to-wear tantrum every woman experiences before a date. I almost reached the upper stairs, when I felt Aidan’s arm wrapping around my waist. His breath caressed my skin as he whispered, “You look gorgeous just the way you are. In fact, I wouldn’t mind if you didn’t wear anything at all.” An instant later, everything turned black, the air vibrated around us, the telltale sense of nausea settled in the pit of my stomach, and then I knew I was somewhere else.

The darkness before my eyes lifted. The moon, a perfect semi circle, hid behind heavy rain clouds, but the light was enough to help me recognize the parking space, which led to the house perched on the cliffs overlooking the angry sea below. My first happy memories with Aidan invaded my mind.

We came here right after I started working for him. I remembered the car drive and how confident and easy-going he had seemed. At that time I was too naïve to question why he moved so quickly from barely exchanging a word with me to wanting to date me. I didn’t know Aidan had watched me in London and naïve to question why he moved so quickly from barely exchanging a word with me to wanting to date me. I didn’t know Aidan had watched me in London and planned my arrival in Scotland so he could protect me, get me to fall in love with him and win the supernatural race, all at the same time. That night in that same house, I had fallen for him. Plan accomplished. Now I wondered about the purpose of this second visit.

He was about to whack me.

Or worse, tonight was the night when Rebecca would be taking over my body.

Heck, for all I knew, he might be planning both.

I held back a shriek at the thought and fought the urge to turn around and get the hell out of here. But I figured if I wanted to escape, I had to be cleverer than that. What was the point in running anyway when he’d chase right after me? As a bounty hunter, he’d find me in the blink of an eye.

“Come on,” Aidan said, grabbing my hand and pulling me behind him. Slight impatience became evident in his voice.

“I don’t want to.” I stood my ground. “Is that your surprise? Don’t you remember you brought me here already a few weeks ago?”

“I know that.” He pulled again. I didn’t budge from the spot.

“Maybe another time. I like it here outside so much better anyway.”

“Amber, what’s wrong with you?” Aidan asked. “Just play along. You’re ruining my surprise.”

Yeah, I bet I ruined more than that. Like his future with his beloved, the detached house in the suburbs and the two point four children. I wanted to scream in his face that he could have all of that, just not at my expense, but I didn’t. He pulled again and this time I followed because, as much as I valued my life, I knew I couldn’t fight fate. The guy was everything I had. I loved him to bits. If he preferred someone else, then he should have the happiness he craved. I’d die for him because I couldn’t bear to live without him.

We reached the house and he opened the door. “I didn’t bother with a lock. Now that you know about our world, there’s no need to pretend, right?” He laughed softly. “Besides, everyone crossing this threshold knows they’re entering at their own peril.” I swallowed past the lump in my throat. Talk about dropping hints. Aidan held out his hand. “Please, after you.”

Sudden panic grabbed hold of me, threatening to choke me. I shook my head as I looked at him imploringly. “Aidan, I know what you feel. I really do.

When you’re in love you’d do anything to be with the other person, but I don’t deserve this.”

“What are you talking about? Of course you do. You’ve been—” He moistened his lips as he struggled to find the right words. “Please, I’m not good at this.

I’ve never done it before, so I don’t wanna mess it up.”

I was convinced I understood him. He hadn’t killed someone like me before, but he didn’t want to mess up his chances of being with the psycho ex.

Aidan pushed me gently but firmly in front of him, through the entrance and down the narrow hall, ignoring my half-hearted protests. We stopped in front of the door to the living room, and he grabbed the handle. In slow motion, I watched my life roll before my eyes. I was about to die and the guy couldn’t stop smiling.

Was it so hard to pretend it pained him? Did it not sadden him? Not even a little?

My panic turned into a rage I hadn’t felt in years. “I know what you’re about to do. You’re—” Aidan opened the door as I shouted “—killing me!”

And then my gaze fell on the beautiful living room that was now turned into the most stunning office I had ever seen with countless candles lining the floor in the shape of a heart. The flickering candles mirrored in the dark glass, as though they were dancing for us. A huge glass desk was set up near the floor-to-ceiling windows running across the entire wall. On top of it was a silver frame featuring a snapshot of Aidan and me. I instantly wanted to lift it up and place a big, fat kiss on it. But what enthralled me the most was the huge stony fireplace set up right in the middle of the room in which bright flames leapt greedily at dry logs, creating that crackling and popping sound of burning wood that I adored.

I stepped past Aidan into the room, my mind searching for answers as to how this could possibly fit in with my assumption that Aidan might be about to kill me.

“Kill you?” Aidan said, touching my upper arm gently. I turned to face him. “Amber, what are you talking about? I thought you’d be thrilled to have your own office. And since this is my favorite view in the world, it might help inspire you to fulfill your dreams.” He shrugged, as though it was no biggie, but I knew it was. For once, I had to admit I had been wrong…and I couldn’t be happier about it. He didn’t spend his time away from me planning my demise but rather revamping this place so I’d feel comfortable. A surge of love rushed through me and I brushed a stray tear from the corner of my eye. My boyfriend wasn’t about to dump me. Our relationship was going stronger than ever.

His raised eyebrows told me he was still waiting for an answer.

“I meant, you’re killing me! This is breathtakingly beautiful.” I pointed around the room. “I don’t even know what to say, except thank you and I love you so much.” I rose on my toes to plant a kiss on his lips. As usual, he had to meet me halfway.

“My girlfriend deserves the best, which is why Kieran and I made this for you. Of course it was mostly me since he’s been busy hooking up with Patricia.”

Aidan walked over to the white leather sofas on the left side of the room and retrieved a gift bag, then handed it to me.

“What is it?” I asked, pulling out a large packet wrapped in red tissue with tiny silver hearts.

“Open it.”

No need to tell me twice. I removed the wrapping carefully, making sure not to damage the paper so I could keep it forever, and peered at the pair of designer jeans I cherished so much because they really made my butt look awesome.

“You said how much you miss doing normal things like shopping and since you ruined your favorite pair jumping out of that window—” His voice trailed off. The tiniest trace of a blush covered his cheeks. He was so cute when he was embarrassed.

“Thank you. Again.” I wrapped my arms around him and buried my face against his chest so he wouldn’t see the shame in my eyes. I couldn’t believe I almost ruined my chances with the most gorgeous guy in the world by turning into a suspicious nutter. I vowed never to doubt him again.

“Wanna try it on?” Aidan asked. “I got you the right size.”

I looked at the label and groaned inwardly. The guy knew my real size? Why didn’t I think of removing the labels before I started dating him? I had just committed a horrible beginner’s mistake. According to Cosmo’s dating advice, a boyfriend must never know the size you’re wearing because men have great spatial visualization based on numbers, hence can easily picture sizes, which might just cancel out the more flattering result of being in love and seeing everything through pink-colored glasses. The plan is to tell him the usual supermodel size, add the very generous number two, and that’s the answer he should be given upon inquiring about one’s size, particularly if you don’t have a killer body like my friends Clare and Sofia.

“Uh, yeah, they might be a tad too large,” I said.

“Are you sure?”

I slapped his arm playfully. “Aidan, I know my body better than you do.”

“You’re right. I’ll take them back and exchange them for whatever you want.”

“Nah, it’s okay. They’re bound to get smaller after a couple of washes.” He looked so horribly disappointed, I swallowed down the sudden lump in my throat. No lies between us. “Oh, toss it. You got the right size, I just don’t want you to know it.”

“Why?” A lazy smile spread across his lips. I stared at his tiny dimple I adored so much as he continued, “You’re gorgeous. Everyone else’s beauty pales in comparison to yours.”

I wondered whether he meant it or just tried to please me.

I wondered whether he meant it or just tried to please me.

“I mean every word,” Aidan whispered, sensing my thoughts. Something flickered in his gaze—an all-consuming fire that burned just for me. He brushed my hair out of my eyes and cupped my face as he lowered his lips onto mine. I pulled him on the sofa and began unbuttoning his shirt. For the first time in my life I had no doubt I was doing the right thing.

Aidan and I spent the night at the cottage, but we didn’t get intimate straight away because he insisted on teleporting back to the house to get a few things, claiming he’d be back in five. I tapped my fingers against the cold leather of the sofa, anxiously awaiting his return. My whole body was on fire; even my scalp seemed to burn from so much tension. This was the moment I had been picturing over and over again in the last few weeks, and now that it had finally arrived it felt surreal. As though it wasn’t happening to me but to someone else.