Immortal Wounds: Book #1 in the Immortal Wounds Vampire Series-Paranormal Romance/Vampire Romance/Romantic Fantasy (14 page)

I jumped a little. I still wasn’t used to Marcus's hissing.

“He bowed when he met me. I thought it was . . . unusually polite,” I shrugged my shoulders as I took a banana from the counter and began peeling it.

Marcus's eyes were black again. His lips were pressed in a fine line. I could see his face hardening. “He
bowed
to you?” he nearly spit the word.

“Yes,” I squeaked, taking an unusually large bite.

“He has the nerve to
bow
to you, to
kiss
you?”

“Marcus, I don’t understand.” I mumbled, trying to swallow the obstruction in my mouth. “Why would him bowing offend you?”

“Damen was your personal protector!” He said angrily.

“My what?”

“Your father wanted you protected at all times. Damen was the strongest werewolf he’d seen . . . aside from Aidric. He knew that if Damen were in charge of your safety, you’d never be in danger. He didn’t count on the beast falling in love with you, and insulting your honor. He has no right to bow to you.” The thought clearly repulsed him.

“He was in love with me?” I gasped. It was like a light clicked on in my head.

Marcus looked at me with alarm.

My eyes darted around as my brain worked fast to recall the memories of my dreams. They flashed from the beautiful room where Marcus and I were holding each other—to the room where I was looking out a window, watching Marcus ride off to battle the werewolves, to the street where I was running toward the battle. Then to me, standing before Damen, before he attacked. I looked . . . frightened.

I gasped in realization. “The images . . . they not mine!” I nearly shouted. “They’re Damen’s!”

“What do you mean?” his voice was shaky.

“Not all of them, anyway . . . I thought they were my visions last night . . . but they’re not.

Marcus was trying to understand what I was saying.

“In my dreams,” I explained. “He’s watching us. He saw us in our room!” I felt strangely embarrassed. “He saw me naked!” I cringed as I covered my chest with my arms. My face felt instantly flushed. I felt violated at the very idea.

Marcus looked murderous. “How could he have been so close without my knowing it?” he snapped.

“You were . . . otherwise . . . distracted?” I suggested, blushing a rare shade of crimson.

Marcus couldn’t help the corner of his mouth curling up. “Perhaps,” he conceded.

“He watched me as I watched you ride away,” I continued slowly. “He watched me run down the street calling for you . . .” I stopped talking as I considered what I was about to say. My mind worked silently as I debated.

“You’re not telling me something.” Marcus's tone was accusing, sharp.

I backed away from him, allowing a good three feet between us. “I’d rather not say.” I put my hands out, motioning him to stay where he was.

Marcus closed the gap between us before I could blink. “Phoebe!” he demanded.

“I’m sorry. I can’t. I don’t trust these memories. I don’t understand them.” I insisted.

He reached out and touched my face softly. “Let me help you,” his eyes were softer now, but still dangerously insistent. He was trying to work his magic of persuasion.

“I don’t want to hurt you.” I hid my face in my hands, breaking his stare.

“Is it that bad?” his voice was growing rougher.

“I think it is,” I ducked away from him and walked out into the living room. If what I believed was true, the knowledge would crush him.

“Phoebe. You don’t have to hide anything from me.” His voice was assuring, but not enough.

“Please Marcus, let this go . . . it was so long ago.” My hands were clasped together. I was begging him.

His eyes narrowed as he deliberated. I could see that I wasn’t going to win.

I sighed. “I promise, as soon as I figure this out, I’ll tell you . . . good or bad.”

My eyes followed his as he looked to the window—it was already dusk. He sighed as his resolve broke. “How do you feel about flying?” he asked with a smirk, still gazing out the window.

“Flying?” I was surprised by the question. “I don’t mind it . . . why?”

“Maybe you should change your clothes; you may want a coat,” he suggested.

“Alright?” I gave him a quizzical look as I walked toward my bedroom. I could hear him chuckling lightly from the living room.

I quickly changed into jeans and a long shirt. I grabbed a jacket from the closet, put my shoes on, and returned to Marcus feeling anxious. “So, you have an airplane or something?”

“Or something,” he grinned as he extended his hand to me. I took it cautiously.

I could feel a cool breeze kiss my face as we stepped out into the night. I snuggled into Marcus's side.

“Ready?”

“Ready for what?” I asked.

I felt a sudden pull at my waist—Marcus's arm was around it, holding me tight. My feet weren’t touching the ground any longer. We were flying!

“Ahahh!” I grabbed onto his body and tried to bury my face in his chest as he shot like a rocket through the air. Marcus was shaking with laughter.

“Phoebe,” he laughed heartedly. “It’s alright.” He pulled me upright so that I was standing. I tapped my toes around . . . I couldn’t feel the earth below me. I peeked out from the safety of his shirt to see that we were well above the redwood trees—suspended in air!

I screamed as I scrambled to twine my legs around his body as if I were climbing a tree.

“You’re still a scaredy cat!”

“How are you doing this?” My voice was muffled through his shirt.

“I can fly, as you so calmly pointed out last night,” he teased. A hint of sarcasm coated his words.

“Yeah, but I didn’t mean fly, fly!” I took a quick peek and buried my face once again. “Are you magic?”

“Magic?” he half-laughed. “I’m a vampire.”

“But you’re flying!”

“I can also swim without breathing; jump from any height and land as softly as a feather; climb any object effortlessly; and move at such speeds that if I didn’t want you to see me, you wouldn’t. It’s part of my immortal make up.” I could hear him grinning. “Phoebe, I won’t let you fall. I promise.”

My death-like grip became tighter. I could feel his cool hands on my cheeks. His fingers gently lifted my chin up, exposing the petrified expression that was on my face. I could feel his stare, though my eyes were glued tight.

His lips surprised me as they moved over mine. I forgot myself for a moment and opened my eyes. His skin gave off its own illumination in the moonlight.

“Watch,” he said, as he pointed to the mountaintop beyond. The moon was just beginning to peek over. It looked so big, so bright, so close . . . I found myself reaching out as if I could touch it.

“Shall I catch it for you?” he whispered across my ear.

I smiled. “I believe you could.”

Without thinking, I rested my chin on his shoulder, watching the moonrise. He didn’t seem to mind that I was still twined around him.

“This is amazing. How long can you do this?” I asked, wondering if we might fall out of the sky at any moment.

“As long as you like.”

I sighed contently.

The night air smelled clean and fresh; we were surrounded by millions of stars, speckling the sky like diamonds. He wrapped his arms around me tighter, trying to shield me as a cold wind embraced us.

“What are you thinking?” He spoke quietly.

“That you’re amazing—I told you you’re a super hero.”

“Ahh, if only that were true,” he mused. “It’s a good thing I am immortal; your grip would squeeze the life out of anyone!” he joked.

“Sorry, but I’m not letting go for anything!”

“I’m counting on that.” There was an odd tone to his words. Was he counting on my fear of heights to bind me closer to him at this moment, or was there something more? Was Marcus afraid that I might one day let
him
go? Impossible!

“You never could fly well,” he teased, interrupting my reverie.

“I could fly?” I looked at him in disbelief.

“You wouldn’t go higher than a barn,” he laughed. “Even for a vampire, you were always fairly cautious.” “I never had to worry, except when you felt the need to join the hunt.” I could hear the annoyance in his voice.

“I was a hunter too?” I sounded way too excited for Marcus's liking.

“Yes,” he said flatly.

“Was I any good?” I wasted no time. To hear that my former life was fraught with excitement, although this one hadn’t been exactly dull lately, was thrilling.

“You were fair when it came to one on one; you were light and fast on your feet.” he admitted.

“So, did we fight together?” I was beaming at the thought.

“A few times . . .” he admitted hesitantly. Marcus had a look of disapproval on his face. “I couldn’t stand to see you in danger. I begged your father to reconsider allowing you to be a hunter,” his jaw tightened.

“What did he say?” I nearly demanded; my tone became defensive.

“He said his daughter’s place was fighting for the good of the coven. He wouldn’t deny you any longer because he was worried about your safety.”

“Well, he was right,” I said firmly. “I wouldn’t want to be told what I could or couldn’t do; especially as an adult. That should have been my decision anyway.”

“Phoebe, it’s a different life. You do as you’re told. You would have obeyed your father or you would have been punished. Your actions affect the entire safety of the coven.” he spoke seriously.

I tried to let the words sink in. It was still so unimaginable, even here, suspended in mid-air high above the trees. I still couldn’t envision a world with such creatures.

“I thought you said my father wouldn’t allow me to fight?”

“At first he didn’t. Not hunts anyway. Something happened. You were so determined to fight. You had a personal hate for the werewolves that we never understood. Your father had no choice. You were sneaking out on your own, slaying as many of them as you could.” I could hear the concern in his voice. Even now, after hundreds of years, I knew Marcus hadn’t wanted Phoebe to fight.

“Your father agreed to allow you to be a hunter under the condition you never went alone. Come,” he said suddenly as he wrapped his arm tight around my waist.

We glided through the air once again. If it weren’t for my fearful periodic squeals I made when I decided to sneak a peek, we would have been virtually silent. He moved stealth-like through the night. I tried to imagine how many vampires had flown over my house unknown over the years. The thought was chilling. We landed in my back yard, minutes later.

“You can open your eyes now,” he teased.

I held onto his body tightly as I tapped my foot around on the earth below me.

“Oh come now, it was a little fun wasn’t it?” he asked playfully as he tried to unlock my arms.

“A little,” I admitted, trying to suppress a smile.

“It’s getting late. Why don’t I take you to dinner?”

“Mexican sounds good,” I admitted. “But I’m paying. It’s not like you’ll be eating.”

“Oh no. Ladies do not pay.” He looked like I’d just insulted him.

I grabbed my purse. “Fine, but I’ll provide the transportation this time!” I held up my car keys, jingling them in the air.

The corners of his mouth were turned up. “Agreed.”

I reached for the doorknob and paused. “Marcus?” I turned slightly, whispering as if someone might hear. “Do you have money?”

He laughed hard. “I think I have enough.”

I pursed my lips. “Well, how would I know?” I spoke over his laughter. “Just . . . get in the car!”

Marcus climbed in, still chuckling.

“So, how
do you
earn a living?” I asked as I started the car. “You can’t possibly get paid for hunting werewolves.”

“My family was extremely well off,” he said as his laughter subsided.

“But that was over seven hundred years ago! You can’t have any money left?” I tried to focus on the road, but the wheels in my brain were spinning at extreme speeds.

“We had a lot of money, and I
do
get paid for hunting werewolves.” He cut me a sideways glance. “I also make a few financial investments here and there,” he added.

We arrived at the restaurant before I knew it. Time always seemed to slip by when I was with Marcus.

“Maybe we can just get it to go,” I suggested as we walked hand in hand toward the front door. I could smell the food from outside.

“What’s the matter darling . . . afraid to be seen with a vampire?” he joked.

“No.” I rolled my eyes at him. “It’s just not the most private place to talk.”

“Ah . . . to go, it is.” He opened the door, and the tantalizing aroma of sizzling fajitas greeted us.

“Why humans like to eat this is beyond me,” he wrinkled his nose in disgust.

I huffed. “Not all of us are on a liquid diet.”

“You shouldn’t knock it,” he grinned, his eyes flashing crimson for a moment.

“Stop doing that,” I whispered then looked around me, afraid someone might have noticed him. I caught myself as I subconsciously reached up and held my throat. I gave him an exasperated look.

“Stop doing what? Reminding you that I’m a vampire?” Marcus laughed again. He was clearly enjoying this.

I placed my order and sat at the bar with Marcus, while he pretended to snack on chips and salsa while we waited.

“So, how old was I when we met?” I asked him when the hostess was out of earshot.

“Hmmm, you were one-hundred and ten. I remember it well. It was your birthday.”

“My birthday?” I took a bite of a chip and leaned in closer.

“You had been gone that first year I was turned. I hadn’t met you until your father arranged a party in honor of your return.” His eyes looked far away again as he recalled the memory.

“I do believe you’re blushing,” I teased.

“Impossible, I can’t blush.” He tried to evade my eyes.

“But if you could, you would be!” I smugly pointed out. “You look just like you did when I discovered I was completely naked this morning.” I smiled triumphantly as I watched how sweetly embarrassed he was.

The hostess returned with my to-go bag. Marcus pulled out some cash, instructing her to keep the change.

“That was very generous of you,” I commented as we walked back to the car.

Marcus shrugged.

“So, where had I been all year?” I asked, once we were back in the car.

“You were tracking the wolves.”

“Tracking . . . by myself?” I couldn’t even get the key in the ignition. I was horrified to think I would be doing something so dangerous.

“No. Raymose was with you, as well as a few others. As I said, your father had limits to his tolerance of your duties.” he spoke carefully, bowing his head slightly.

“Duties?”

There was so much I wanted to ask. I didn’t want to waste time with mundane necessities such as eating, but I was starved. I started the car and headed toward the house.

“You were tracking Damen specifically.”

My mouth popped open again. The look on Marcus’ face told me this was not a pleasant topic of conversation—I reluctantly dropped the subject.

The rest of the ride home was quiet. I wasn’t much of a night driver, and with the rain starting to drizzle; it made a terrible glare on the road.

“Would you like me to drive?”