Devour (18 page)

We all nod silently and slip out o
f the room. I don’t realize I’m holding my breath until we step out and it exits in a whoosh.

Once we’
re in the living room, Cody sits at the end of the couch and holds his arms out for me. I’m still rattled by everything and climb into his lap. I need his comfort and soothing touch. It seems the closer we are getting to our official mating, the more I need him near me.

Chase sits in a chair, not looking our way.  He’s completely silent and my focus quickly drifts away from him.

Lana sits cross-legged at the other end of the couch. She is eyeing us curiously, with a look between jealousy and confusion.

“I hope I find a mate at the blood ball next year.
Being around you two is ridiculously uncomfortable, you’re so into each other. Don’t get me wrong, it’s sweet. I just can’t wait until you can get a room and stop mauling each other in public.”

“
Pshh, we don’t maul each other,” I say with a cheery tone in my voice that I don’t actually feel.

Chase snorts and I glare at him.

“Um hmm, that is something we will agree to disagree on. So, do you want to tell me what you think is going to happen from this little mishap?” Lana says, trying to pretend Chase isn’t even in the room. 

“I’
m terrified to find out. My biggest fear is that they are going to take Callie away from me. I don’t think I can survive that. She’s my true mate and my life is tied to hers now. We’ve already starting the mating so there isn’t any turning back, not that I would even want to,” Cody tells her.

“I wonder what will happen to the
hottie over there. I can see why you picked him, Callie. He’s super yummy,” she says like a typical seventeen-year-old girl would.

Chase just flashes a wicked grin but remains quiet.

I feel Cody tense and jealousy spikes through the bond. I turn my head and lean into him. Our lips meet in a soft and gentle kiss that lets him know he is my choice every time.

The jealousy recedes and is replaced with overwhelming love.
I actually smile at this one bright spot in a cloud of darkness.

“I feel responsible because I knew something was different about
him
. I didn’t know if it was attraction or something else. It was intriguing and I couldn’t help myself. If only I had steered clear the minute I realized he was different.”

“You can’t blame yourself
, Callie. I wouldn’t have been able to resist either. That could just have easily been me. I’m definitely going to be more careful when hunting now. You have officially become the poster child for hunting gone wrong.”

Cody remains stoic and I know his brain is whirling at a hundred miles an hour.
I can feel his jumbled thoughts and even catch snippets of them. Mind reading doesn’t happen with mates often. The prospect of having it with Cody overshadows my fears temporarily. I light up and Cody raises an eyebrow in suspicion.

I don’t want Lana to know so I bring my lips to his ear and let out a slow
, breathy giggle, tickling him. He sucks in a breath and I know that I’m getting him worked up.

Then I whisper in his ear.
“What was that about mating in a jail cell? You don’t really think that will happen do you?”

He turns to respond, frowning at my question.
Then he gets it. His eyes widen and he smiles. He in turn, nibbles on my earlobe before saying anything. I inhale sharply at the extremely intimate gesture and struggle not to alert Lana.

I feel the evidence of his
excitement and the thoughts I’m catching are definitely not pure. I close my eyes and smile at the images they bring to mind. Then he whispers in my own ear.

“Careful
, princess, or you might see something less than pure. I’m already having trouble keeping my hands off you.”

“Is that a promise?” I say out loud in a low
, seductive voice.

“Mm hmm, I believe it is.
”

“Oh
, jeez, get a room. I don’t want to witness this. Can we please focus?” Lana states, effectively breaking up our hushed conversation.

Then she continues.
“What do you think will happen to Chase? Do you think they will execute him? I hope they turn him. He can be my vampire any day.”

Cody sh
akes his head. “I don’t know, but I don’t care as long as it doesn’t affect Callie and me. I have a feeling it won’t be that simple though. They need someone to blame.”

Reality comes crashing back and tears start to slip down my cheeks.
I can’t seem to stop them. What if I lose Cody? I couldn’t stand to live without him. He is my reason for living now. I feel like this could turn into a Romeo and Juliet scenario.

Cody studies me for a minute before he says anything.
He wipes at my tears with the pads of his thumbs. “I won’t let them take you away from me. There will be no Romeo and Juliet happening with us.”

My tears are still spilling, but my eyes meet his and I smile.
He has read my mind. This is really happening. I can’t believe that as the bonding strengthens, he and I will grow more adept at reading each other’s thoughts.

I throw my arms around him and pull my face forward just enough to give him a quick
, chaste kiss. I don’t care that Lana is watching. This is a truly exciting discovery, one that I don’t want to share. It seems too private.

“I agree, let’s just keep things on the down low,” he replies in a hushed tone so Lana won’t hear what he says.

“Okay, that is really enough. It’s bad enough I am stuck here as the fourth wheel, but the whispering and kissing are making me uncomfortable. I know it’s not helping Chase. I love you both, but this situation is serious. What can I do to help?”

“I don’t know yet
, sis. I promise that if we need something, I’m going to cash in on that offer though. We don’t know what’s ahead of us yet. We are as in the dark as you are. All I know is that they have been in there a long time. I’m starting to worry.”

As if hearing our thoughts, Finn enters the room.
“The council is ready for you now. Follow me, please.”

This is it.
Their case has been made and will be brought to Alexander. My heart rate speeds up and my nervousness increases two fold. I’m trying not to panic again, but I don’t make myself any promises. At least Cody has my hand in his and is stroking it with his thumb.

None of that matters when we reach the door to the sitting room and Finn opens
it. All the talking ceases and everyone’s expressions grow somber. This is so not a good sign. I just stand there and wait for what will happen next.

I peer over at
Mom and Dad first. There is a look of sorrow on their faces. Not good. Then my eyes seek out Cody’s parents. They are frowning and can’t even look our way. In a last ditch effort, I switch my vision to Chase.

Chase is
being forcibly handled until his hands are bound behind his back. I feel as though I might cry. This whole thing is my fault. I can’t believe this is happening. Before anyone has a chance to tell me the verdict, tiny, black dots dance in my vision.

I close my eyes, trying to calm down
, but it doesn’t help. Instead, I open my eyes and my vision has turned completely black. My breathing is rapid and it feels like my heart is going to jump out of my chest.

Suddenly the edges of reality fray and I begin to lose my grip on reality.
I crumple like a sack of potatoes. I just hope Cody catches me in time, is the last thought I have.

I’m not sure how long I was out, but when I come to, I’m wrapped in Cody’s arms.
Maybe it was all a dream. I open my eyes and scan the room. Nope, I’m still inside my nightmare.

“Callie, it’s good to see you awake again.
You gave us quite a scare,” Ginger says sincerely.

“How long was I out for?”

“Almost an hour, baby,” Cody responds.

I break away from him and sit up.
I lost a whole hour, a whole chunk of time. At least Cody is here.

“I’m sorry we can’t be more delicate about this, but it’s getting late and we need to get going soon,” Mr.
Shangon tells me.

Dread fills me up at the words Jane’s
Dad says. He continues and I’m almost afraid to listen, to hear them judge me and my mistake.

“This is an unprecedented situation you have put us in.
We have to decide Chase’s options for Alexander to approve. We also have to figure out what to do with you. There will be some sort of repercussion for this even if it was an accident.”

Chase stands rigid and my
Mom comes over to me. “Honey, they have to take you in until the verdict is reached. The trial will be held on Friday. That is the soonest we can fit it in. I know this puts a crimp in your bonding, but it can’t be helped.”

“I’m going with her then.
I can’t leave her and you can’t ask me to. I’m her true mate.” Cody states.

“Fine, but you must submit to blood tests to prove it and you can’t stay in the same cell as her.
The best we can do is get you adjoining cells so you can hold hands and talk. You can’t be alone together until the mating ceremony. If there is a mating ceremony,” Mrs. Lucia smirks as she says it.

Hate floods my senses and I can hear Cody cussing her out internally.
I have to struggle to keep my composure.

“I’ll do whatever it takes.
Oh, and there WILL be a mating ceremony. You can’t throw my life away with hers. It’s not how our laws work and you know it,” he replies, challenging anyone to say different.

His words are met with silence and it is a small victory for us.
“I’ll go willingly, just don’t tie me up please. Am I allowed to bring anything with me?” I ask.

“No
, Callie, we will provide clothing and blood for you. Unfortunately, your blood will not be your usual cocktail. We can’t risk that secret getting out either. It will also weaken you so that you can’t fight your way out of Alexander’s final decision,” Winter’s Mom explains.

I nod and the council begins to file out of the room.
When all that is left is my family and the Gregoria’s, I run and hug my Dad. He hugs me back tightly. “Don’t worry, baby girl. We’ll figure this out. I have a few tricks up my sleeves.”

After pulling away, I smile and then wrap my arms around
Mom. I can feel tears as evidence that she is crying. It seems she’s the one that needs the encouragement.

“It’ll be okay
Mom. We’ll get through this.”

Before I can say anything else, I notice
Winter’s Dad standing in the doorway impatiently. Cody gently pulls at my hand and I follow him out the door. The council closes in on us and we leave the house en masse.

I sit next to Cody on our way out of my house.
There is a trail of cars as the whole council follows to the castle. They will go over our case and see to our accommodations. All members must be there when they present a case to Alexander.

I’
m nervous and try to ease it by playing with Cody’s hair. It’s so sexy on him. I love the way it curls up at the edges, just above his ears. It is such a gorgeous tint of sunny blonde. I still don’t know how I managed not to notice him before. He’s hot as well as kind, loving and funny.

He hears my thoughts and kisses my forehead.
He gives me a wink and I grin. Then I abruptly turn my grin into a neutral line. This isn’t the time for this. I have to be more careful until we are alone again.

Chase is in another car, thank goodness.
I don’t think I could deal with him and Cody in the same car. They need to stay separated, for Chase’s safety.

T
he only thing keeping me from being a shell of a vampire right now is Cody. When we pull up to the castle, the car slows to a stop at the front gate and waits for the drawbridge to drop.

Finally
, we make our way across the steel reinforced, wooden bridge and park in the circle drive out front. The driver opens the door for us and we step out into the night once more. The night that seemed breezy and perfect earlier now feels stale.