Death Bringer (Soul Justice) (12 page)

“Is this from you and Scott?”

“Yes. If you don’t like that brand, you can change it to something else. The gift receipt is inside.”

Ella unwrapped the tablet. “Cool! I’ve been meaning to get one of these to read on for ages! Is this the new mini?” Julie nodded. “Thank you. I can load up on books and games and keep myself busy.”

“I’m so glad you like it.”

She held Julie’s gaze and sent her soothing mental images. Her sister-in-law relaxed back in her seat and leaned into Scott. “I really do. Thank you.”

Her mother laid a big parcel across her knees. “This is from me.”

Everyone watched as Ella carefully ripped open the wrapping paper.

“It’s a quilt.” She looked up at Darlene.

“Yes.” She perched on the edge of the couch next to Ella. “Do you recognize any of the fabrics?”

Ella spotted a piece of neon orange cotton. “Didn’t I have a pair of shorts made out of something like this?”

“You did.”

“You
kept
them?”

Darlene traced another chevron of fabric. “Every year when the school sent back your outgrown clothes, I hung on to a few pieces. It was stupid, I know, but I found it hard to let go of them. Eventually your aunt suggested I make them into something useful, so I made this quilt.”

“That’s...” Ella stared down at the myriad of colors until they began to blur and dance before her eyes. Vadim took her hand and squeezed it.

“It’s beautiful, Darlene.”

“It really is. Mom, I—”

“I just wanted you to have something from home when you—” She moved away from Ella and returned to her seat. “—when you leave again.”

“
How long are you going to let this go on?
”

She glared at Vadim. “
Okay
,
I’ll tell them.
”

“This is all very nice of you, but I do have some news of my own to share—”

Before she could continue, Dave cleared his throat. “I didn’t get you anything.”

“That’s okay. Seeing you is all the present I need.”

He stood up suddenly and glared at her parents. Beside her Vadim tensed. “I thought you’d like to know that I got into that Otherworld class down at UCLA. I’m going to be a licensed medic in both realms by the end of the year.”

Ella rose too, then hugged him hard. “And that’s the best present ever. I’m so proud of you.”

He shrugged out of her embrace. “It’s the least I can do to make up for the rest of this family’s neglect.”

“Excuse me?” Darlene’s voice rose on each syllable. “We’ve done nothing wrong. We’re members of a close and loving family!”

“Ella could hardly be described as being close, Mom. She was stuck in Otherworld.” Dave turned his full attention on their mother. “You sent her away and never even let her come back for vacations.”

Darlene squared up to him. “I did what was best for us all!”

“No, you did what was best for yourself. You always do.” Dave shook his head. “And it’s too late to argue about it now, isn’t it, when she’s going to disappear on us again, this time forever. Do you really think a homemade quilt is going to make it up to her? “

“Well, that’s just it, Dave, I’m—”

The door flew open and Madison sauntered in, her gaze drawn immediately to Vadim. She wore kitty pajama pants slung low on her hips and a bikini top. Her long blond hair hung straight down her back, and her makeup was perfect—if you liked teenagers looking forty.

“Sorry I’m late. Happy birthday, big sis. I didn’t get you anything. I didn’t see the point. Haven’t you gone nuts yet?”

“I think I might start right now.” Ella glared at her sister as she insinuated herself into the nonexistent space beside Vadim on the couch and cuddled up to him. “As I’ve been trying to say for the past few minutes, I’d like to thank you for the presents and the birthday wishes.”

“You’re welcome, Ella,” her parents said dutifully.

Dave muttered something uncomplimentary and took another swallow of his beer. Vadim inched away from Madison’s questing hands and kept his gaze fixed firmly on Ella.

“I never thought I’d live past my twenty-seventh birthday, but it seems I was mistaken.”

“They found a cure?” her father asked.

“Well, not exactly.” She took a deep breath. “I changed my mind and took the Otherworld Community Outreach Services mate offered to me.”

The silence was deafening.

“You took a
mate?
You mean you have a
man?
” Darlene gripped her hands together until her fingers were as white as her face. “Where is he?”

Ella pointed at Vadim. “Right there. Why else do you think I’d bring him?”

“
Nice.
”

“
Can it
,
Morosov.
Can’t you see I’m nervous as hell?
”

“What exactly does it mean?” Her dad sat forward. “I know you mentioned it as an option years ago, but you seemed so set against it. What changed your mind?”

Madison waved a hand in front of her father’s face. “Duh,
Dad
, have you
looked
at Vadim? He’s
hot.
He’s also, like, way out of her league. How could she say no?” She poked Vadim in the side. “The real question here is, why the hell did you saddle yourself with my sister?”

“He didn’t. He was matched with me by the Otherworld mating service.”

“Like an arranged marriage?”

“I suppose so.”

“Like, is that even legal in this country?” Madison demanded. “Look at the poor guy. He’s still in a state of shock.”

“
Morosov
,
help me out here!
”

“
I
thought you told me to shut up and let you handle it.
”

“
Morosov
...”

He stood up, gently setting a clinging Madison aside, and took Ella’s hand. “I’m delighted to have been selected as a mate for your daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Walsh.”

Ella couldn’t decide who looked more stunned, her mother or her father. “This is a good thing, right? I’m not going nuts anymore.”

“But it’s so unexpected!” Darlene glanced at her husband. “Why didn’t you say something to us before?”

“I thought it was better said in person. I didn’t want you to be shocked.”

“Well, I am shocked!” Darlene pressed her hand to her bosom. “How could you do that to me?”

An all-too-familiar sense of anger rose in Ella’s gut. “Mom, this isn’t about you. Aren’t you pleased?”

“Of course I’m pleased! I just wish you’d mentioned it before we bought you all these presents.”

“The presents are great. It’s still my birthday, isn’t it?”

Vadim’s calm voice slid over hers. “I was hoping to take you all out to dinner this evening to celebrate Ella’s big day. Would that be acceptable?”

“That would be lovely,” Ella’s dad answered. “It will give us a chance to get to know you better, as well.”

“Dad...”

Vadim kissed her cheek. “It’s all right. I expect your parents have a lot of questions for me.”

“I have one.” Madison waved her hand in the air. “How long do you have to stick with my sister?”

He smiled down into Ella’s eyes. “For all eternity.”

“
Oh
,
please
...
you don’t have to lay it on so thick.
”

“You poor dude. But I suppose in her line of work, she might not last that long.”

“Thanks. By the way, I don’t think you can date your sister’s grieving ex. That would be icky.” Ella made a face at her sister. Why did she feel like a teenager again?

“I’m not being mean. I’m just stating the facts.” Madison flipped her hair over her shoulder. “Empaths don’t last very long, do they?”

“Only if they don’t take a mate.”

“It’s not fair,” Madison whined. “How come she ends up with
him?
”

Dave came across and shook Vadim’s hand. “Welcome to the family. I’m glad someone will take care of my baby sister for a change.”

“Oh, for goodness sake, Dave, can’t you say anything nice?” Darlene faked a laugh. “Poor Vadim will think he’s joining a family of freaks! Are you thinking of getting married?”

“God, no.” Ella turned to Julie, who had started to cry. “It’s okay.”

“I know, it’s wonderful. Isn’t it, Scott?” Her husband hugged her close.

“And you don’t have to worry about naming your poor baby after me either.” Ella winked at Scott, who winked back. He was a man of few words at the best of times. Stuck with his mother and his wife in the same room, he barely uttered a word.

Madison patted the couch next to her. “So, Vadim, tell us all about your family. Do you have any brothers or gorgeous male cousins?”

“Both my siblings are dead.” He remained standing by Ella. “But I still have quite a large family.”

“Ooh, are they local? Can you introduce me to some hot dudes?”

“
Madison!
” Darlene thundered. “You are hardly old enough to be dating anyone!” She turned to smile at Vadim. “Are your family from around here? We’d love to meet them.”

She felt Vadim hesitate and replied for him. “No, they’re not. He’s Russian, remember?”

“Oh, that’s true, I don’t suppose that nasty government over there lets people out much.” She waved at her husband. “Shall we have a drink to celebrate Vadim joining our family?”

“How about my survival, Mom? Isn’t that worth celebrating too?”

Darlene patted her hand “But you wouldn’t have survived if Vadim here hadn’t agreed to ‘mate’ with you, whatever that means.”

“It means Ella and I are bonded physically, emotionally and psychically for life.”

She glanced up at him while he was speaking. There wasn’t a hint of mockery in his voice or his expression. When he said it like that, it sounded so...permanent.

“
It is.
”

“
Shut up!
”

“You might as well get married, then!” Darlene laughed. “Although I don’t envy you having to deal with all that Otherworld stuff.” She hesitated. “You
do
know about that, don’t you?”

“Oh, he knows. Probably more than I do.”

Darlene continued to ignore Ella and grill Vadim, while her father passed out glasses of champagne. “And you’re okay with her being like that?”

“I’m fine with it. I wouldn’t have volunteered to be an OCOS mate if I hadn’t been.”

Darlene patted his cheek. “You’re obviously a saint.”

Ella made a gagging sound. “Hardly that.”

Darlene grabbed her elbow and steered her into the kitchen. “You should be grateful he took you on, Ella. Now that you have him hooked, try not to lose him too quickly, okay?”

Ella took the bag of peanuts her mom handed her and dumped them in a bowl. Several bounced out onto the floor. “Didn’t you hear what he said? We’re in this together for life.”

“Men say these things, dear, but do they really mean them?” Darlene pointed her bread knife at Ella. “Let’s hope he’s not the kind to stray.”

“Yes, Mom.” She picked up the bowl of peanuts, aware of a strong desire to burst out laughing. How had her redemption turned out to be all about Vadim? “Let’s hope.”

She walked through into the family room and found Vadim in conversation with Scott and Julie. He looked up and she grinned at him. Within a second he was by her side.

“What’s so funny?”

“This.”

“Your family?”

“My mom just told me you would probably stray. Should I arrange to have you neutered?”

His smile was breathtaking. “You know you’d regret that.”

“Will you stray?”

He held her gaze. “Never.”

She swallowed hard as the echo of his spoken word reverberated through her mind. “That’s kind of scary and reassuring at the same time.”

“Will you?”

“Will I what?”

“Stray.”

“Hell, no.”

He bent his head and kissed her hard on the mouth. “Then what do we have to worry about?”

“Apart from crazy Otherworld sects, our dangerous jobs and your family? Nothing much.” She shook her head. “In fact, when you think about it, my family is easy.”

“Exactly, so let’s just relax and enjoy the rest of the day.”

* * *

Much later, she closed the door of the guest bedroom and stared at Vadim. It came complete with pink roses on the wallpaper and Austrian swag drapes. For the first time in years she’d actually enjoyed an evening with her family, and it was all due to Vadim. His attitude toward her and his excellent manners had almost made them behave like a regular family celebrating a normal family occasion.

“They still drive me nuts.”

He appeared to follow her thoughts even as he stripped off his T-shirt, displaying his flat stomach and perfect abs. “Of course they do. They’re your family.”

“Is it true that both your siblings are dead?”

“Yes.”

“That must’ve been horrible for you.”

“Yes.”

She raised her eyebrows. “That’s all you’re going to say?”

“What would you like me to say?”

“Do you miss them?”

“Our relationship was...difficult. They were allied with my father. My sister worshipped my brother and hated me.”

“Why?”

He shrugged. “Because I was the eldest?”

“That’s stupid.”

“Families often are. Your mother doesn’t appreciate you at all.”

“Because I disrupted her life.”

“But that was hardly your fault, was it?”

He held her gaze and she hurriedly looked down at the buttons on her dress. “I can’t believe how she fawns over you, though.”

“I am rather spectacular.” His smile was wicked as he unbuckled his belt and unzipped his jeans to reveal his already erect cock.

“You sure are. Spectacularly arrogant.” Ella shrugged out of her jacket and dress. “Do you want to shower?”

“Let’s do that later. I have to fulfill your fantasy first.”

She paused. “Which one?”

“Having sex under your parents’ roof.”

“I was kidding.”

“No you weren’t.” His gaze fastened on her bra and the tight buds of her nipples. “Maybe I’ll make you scream when you come, so they’ll hear you.”

“And make my dad all awkward over his breakfast cereal?”

He advanced toward her. “Then you’ll have to keep quiet, won’t you? And I know how difficult that is for you.”