The Other Switch (The Forever Series, Book 7.5): The Forever series, Book 7.5 (7 page)

Chapter 6

“No, this isn’t the way it is supposed to be.” Sebastian is yelling at his father and I am thinking again what a bad idea this was to begin with. “Neither of you are taking this child. It is mine and Aefre’s and we will be raising it back at home. I expected better from you than from him,” he spits out furiously.

“Kalen,” Aelfric says in a calming voice. “You must realize how precious this child is. You have been gone for so long and you are still not the son I wanted you to be. That cannot be changed, but the child can take your place,” he adds in that pseudo-soothing voice he has. Don’t let the fact that he is Light Fae fool you. He is just as conniving as Drake is, only less overt about it.

“The child is not taking anyone’s place. It is supposed to make its own place.
That
is its destiny.” Sebastian is still yelling and I am getting agitated. I want to go home and forget about all of this. Go away with Constantine before things start to show and he rebuffs me.

“Sebastian, let’s go,” I say quietly, pushing my blonde hair out of my eyes in defeat, having been prudent enough to Shift to back my natural form before entering this Court, which is acceptable to the Light.

He turns to me and I can sense his emotions going off the chart from where I am standing. He is about to have an apoplexy and that is not good news. I need to get him out of here before he does some damage.

“Please,” I say. “I just want to go home.”

He softens slightly at that and nods briskly. “Of course. We need to get you back home safe.”

“You aren’t going anywhere,” Aelfric says, motioning to the Light Guards to block the way out, which normally wouldn’t be a problem, only we are unable to Teleport or Astral over here, so we are either stuck, or will have to fight our way out. “There is no way that this child is going to be raised by Drake. I will not allow you to leave here and be vulnerable to attack and kidnapping by the Dark.”

“We are capable of looking after ourselves,” Sebastian says through gritted teeth.

“Be that as it may, you aren’t leaving. You will stay, be married, and have this child here,” Aelfric says.

“And what of my husband?” I ask, now getting highly irritated with everyone telling me what to do. “Am I just supposed to leave him to wonder where I am?”

“Your husband?” he scoffs. “Your husband will be Kalen. There will be a Holy union before this baby starts to show, make no mistake about that.”

“I cannot leave my Empire,” I say, trying a different tactic, as duty means something to him whereas family clearly does not. Or at least
my
family does not.

“I am sure it will be fine left in your Halfling’s hands,” he says dismissively, and if anything he was going to say was going to anger me to the point where I am about to kill, that was it.

“Halfling?” I yell at him, stepping forward. “How dare you call my daughter that?” It is the biggest insult he could use, and I will not allow my precious Cassis to be slandered in such a manner.

“Father!” snaps Sebastian at the same time, also angered.

Aelfric holds his hands out. “It is the truth, is it not? Much like you.” He points to me and says, “Her true heritage is most confusing.”

I am boiling with rage now and this only leads to one thing. “Get me out of here,” I say to Sebastian and he catches on that it is now a necessity.

“Father, you have to let her go. If you don’t, she is going to Shift and that is going to be the end of everything,” he says quietly, as my breathing gets more and more ragged. I am trying to relax. Even though I briefly thought this was a good idea a few hours ago, I have very definitely changed my mind. I drop to my knees and Sebastian drops with me. “No, Aefre. You cannot do this. Calm yourself. Please, my love, please,” he begs me and I am trying to regain control, but it is taking me over.

“What is she doing?” Aelfric asks thunderously, standing up and striding towards us. He is glaring down at us from his towering height, his long blonde hair floating gently around him.

“She is reacting to your insults to her family. Her fury is controlled by her Dragon. Let us out of here now to go home, otherwise it’s the end,” Sebastian explains.

“The end of what?” Aelfric asks.

“The baby,” Sebastian says as I grip his hand tightly as a lifeline.

“What?” he bellows. “No! Make her stop. Now!”

“I am trying to. You are not helping,” Sebastian snaps back at him.

“If anything happens to that baby, I will have her head,” he snarls
.

Like Dark, like Light.

“Then let us go,” Sebastian snarls back, helping me up, as Aelfric with fury on his face waves the Guards off to let us leave.

“Get her under control and get back here by the full moon,” he says as Sebastian picks me up and carries me out of the Court, as I stifle the cries of agony that holding onto the Shift are causing.

“Aefre, please be okay,” he mutters as we exit into the fresh air and sunshine and he puts me down carefully.

“How is it that he manages to rile me up more than Drake does?” I ask as I sit heavily, breathing deeply.

“Two reasons I can see. One, he doesn’t frighten you like Drake does and two, Drake just ignores your family so no insults necessary,” he says wryly. “I’m so sorry, Aefre, I thought he would help. It never even occurred to me he would have the same plan. I should have guessed it though.”

“You once said to me, never trust a Faerie. I guess you are right. Please take me home. I need to get back to my home,” I say to him.

“Of course. But what are we going to do? Both Courts want us back here soon,” he says, helping me up and I stand, a bit shaky, but at least not about to Shift.

“I am not coming back,” I say forcefully. “This baby stays with us.”

“But what about the marriage?”

“Sebastian, I can’t think about that right now. I need to focus on getting home and then Constantine and I are going to go away.”

“Where are you going?” he asks slowly.

“Away. From everything.”

“Just the two of you?” he asks sadly.

“For a time,” I say, taking his hand. “I want you to join us, but Constantine wants some time alone, and I have to give it to him. Especially now, as he doesn’t want anything to do with me when I start to show,” I add cautiously as I know this will both anger and delight him.

His eyebrows go up and he tries to hide his conflicting emotions. “He told you that?”

“Yes,” I say as I keep my eyes straight in front of me.

“He is sending you away?” he asks in disbelief.

“No, I will still be at
Ponte,
but he won’t share a bed with me and he won’t be with me,” I explain.

“Then you will be with me,” he says, taking my hand more firmly.

“No, Sebastian. I can’t disrespect him that way. He is hurting, not trying to deliberately hurt me. I will sleep alone.”

“He is a fool if he lets you sleep alone,” Sebastian says heatedly.

I smile wanly and he looks at me, concerned.

“We have walked a distance today, my love. I need to rest,” I say.

“No, Aefre, we need to keep going. We can’t leave anything to chance.”

“Sebastian, I haven’t fed for two days and holding off the Shift has worn me out. I need to rest.” I stop and sit on a large rock. I look out into the distance and see the beautiful forests and mountains and wish that I could appreciate its beauty, but all this place is to me is increasing demands, humiliation and hate.

“I will carry you then, we cannot stay here a minute longer than we have to.” He gives me his wrist to feed from and it gives me enough energy to stand up again.

“If only we had our Powers and we could just get to the Faerie Ring,” I say, gesturing in annoyance at being so helpless.

We disappear in a puff of smoke and find ourselves right next to the Faerie Ring, staring at each other in wonder. “Did you do that?” he asks me.

“I think so. Or, more to the point, it was…” I say and run my hand lightly over my stomach. “She is a powerful little thing, isn’t she?” I say with a shy smile.

“She?” Sebastian croaks, also running his hand over me. “She is a she?”

I nod and his eyes fill with love as he drops to his knees and kisses my stomach. “My daughter,” he says in awe. He looks up at me with a renewed determination. “They aren’t taking her away from us. Never,” he says and stands, pulling me into the Faerie Ring and transporting us back to the forest in our world where he Teleports us home.

Chapter 7

As we land in the Entrance Hall, I say to Sebastian, “Don’t say anything yet. I don’t want to upset him any more than I have to right now.”

He looks pained, eager to share our news with the world, but he agrees and kisses me before I got to Constantine’s office.

“You’re back,” he says with a soft smile as I open the door. “I didn’t think you would be so quick.”

“I couldn’t stay. I had to get out of there, and back to you,” I say.

He looks at me concerned. “Is everything okay, my love? You look exhausted.”

“I haven’t fed in two days. Drake wouldn’t allow us.”

“He stopped you from feeding?” he asks in disbelief, already picking the phone up to call Ramon.

“He is a horrid, horrid man. I am never going back there, Constantine. Please don’t make me.” I start to cry and he is at my side in an instant.

“I won’t, my love. You never have to set foot near him again,” he reassures me.

Ramon knocks, and I am on him feeding hungrily before he has even walked through the door. I feel better, stronger, and dash the tears from my eyes, standing straighter. I wave my hand at him dismissively and he goes.

I turn back to my husband and his eyes are fixed on my hand, which is absently stroking my stomach. I pull it away quickly, but he already knows and looks at me sadly.

“You know already?” he asks quietly.

“Yes,” I say just as quietly. “Drake knew. He said he could sense her.”

“Her?” he croaks.

I nod slowly. “I’m sorry, my love. I know this hurts you.”

“Don’t worry about me,” he says, taking my arm and leading me to the chair. “You need to take care of yourself now.”

“Oh, Constantine, everything is going so wrong,” I say and start to weep again.

“What do you mean?” he asks, stroking my shoulder.

I tell him of the Fae Kings’ plans and his face hardens. “No, we will not allow them to take your child.”

“I don’t know how we can stop them. Drake, especially. He wants this child and he wants me back there in two days. I can’t go back.”

“Two days? He wants you back in two days?”

I nod sadly.

“What happens if you don’t go back?” he asks, concern etching his handsome face.

“I don’t know. I suppose he will come looking for me,” I falter as I look up at him and he shakes his head.

“No, Aefre, we cannot allow him to come here. Our daughter…she won’t be safe from him. He has used her once before to get to you. You will have to go back,” he says forcefully.

“What?” I ask in disbelief. “No, you said that I didn’t have to go back.”

“You must. To protect our own, my love,” he insists.

“No,” I say, shaking my head. “I am not going back there. I will go away. He will be looking for me, if I am not here, he will leave.”

“Aefre, no. That reasoning isn’t logical. He has taken her once, he will do it again,” Constantine says.

“Constantine, please. This is the only way. Tell Sebastian I’m sorry. He will see me again one day, as will you.” I cross over to kiss him, knowing this is the best way, the only way to protect my unborn child. “I love you. Please promise me you will keep Cassis safe.”

“Aefre, no, you cannot leave,” he says, desperately clutching my hands as he sees my resolve
.

“Promise me, Constantine, that you will protect our daughter,” I say again, needing to hear him say it.

“Of course, I will. I will not allow him to take her again, but Aefre…this isn’t the way. You cannot leave me. I love you. Please,” he begs.

“I will return, my love. I love you too much to be apart from you for too long.” I brush the tears from my eyes, missing him already, and I daren’t even think of my sweet Sebastian. I hope he forgives me in time. I step back from him and he shouts, “Aefre, no,” as I Astral off, cloaking myself so that no one will ever find me.

I know exactly where I am going. I open my eyes carefully, hoping that I have landed here alone. The suite is empty and looks just like it did the last time I saw it. I smile in anticipation as I change my clothes and alter my appearance just slightly so that I look exactly like the woman he fell in love with. With a feeling of sadness, I pull my wedding rings from my fingers and put them on my right hand. It feels awful and unnatural, but Cole will never agree to anything if he knows I am married
.

I exit the suite, knowing I am risking a lot by going out a different way to which I came in, but also knowing that it is worth it. Worth it be a sire, worth it to stay off the grid until my child is born and hopefully by then I will have some idea how to protect her so that I never have to see Drake again
.

One day, my love, we will be reunited, but for now I have to do this. I have to do this for me and for my child.

I conjure up a bunch of documents with her name on them and some credit cards. I make my way to the front desk and book myself a suite and then I sit and wait. I have no idea where he is and no connection to him to find him. I am not about to wander around Miami looking, so I wait where I know I will see him when he returns. The time ticks away as I flick through a magazine absently. Then I see him, looking just as gorgeous as before, and I crave his touch. I know it will be different now. He is human and it will be very strange for me knowing what he can give me. He is alone, which is good, the hotel doorman is blocking the cameras from following him inside. I stare at him, following him with my eyes as he makes his way across the lobby. He must sense me staring, as he turns with a slight frown towards me, and I wait a beat as his eyes meet mine and then I smile. Slowly and seductively. His eyes sweep over me sat in the big armchair with my legs crossed, in my heels and tiny skirt, and he smiles back. He hesitates, but then slowly makes his way over to me.

“Hi,” he says, his beautiful eyes a deep shade of blue.

“Hi,” I say softly in her British accent. His eyes light up as I stand and hold my hand out in the way for him to take it and brush his lips gently over it, which he does to my delight. His eyes take in my Fae markings with a raised eyebrow and a smile.

“You are far too beautiful to be sitting here alone, shall I keep you company while you wait for your,” his eyes flick to my left hand free of my rings, “date?”

“No date,” I say.

“No date?” he repeats. “Is this my lucky day?”

“Maybe, if you are good boy,” I say with a smirk and he laughs.

“Oh, you are a wicked woman. May I buy you a drink?” he asks.

“You may,” I say, and we make our way to the bar.

“I’m Cole O’Dell,” he says.

“Liv O’…”

Oh crap! I have no idea what her name was before she married him. Oh well, maybe he will find it charming.

“…Dell,” I finish, wrinkling my nose up.

“No way?” he asks with a laugh. “Are you just saying that?”

“Not at all, look…” I pull out the fake driving license and he peers at it closely.

“Well, fuck me, will you look at that. If we ever got married you wouldn’t have to change your name.”

I grin up at him and a shiver goes down my spine as his eyes darken. “It’s handy, I’ll give you that. I’ll bear it in mind when I’m looking for a suitor.”

His eyebrows go up. “And what else will you be looking for?” he murmurs close to my ear as he leads us to a secluded table in the back.

“The usual.” I shrug nonchalantly. “Tall, dark, and handsome,” I smirk and add with a saucy wink, “and with the prettiest ever-changing blue eyes I ever did see. What about you?”

He snorts in amusement. “If I were looking for a wife, she would have to be short, blonde, with eyes like emeralds and lips like cherries.” He brushes his fingers lightly over my lips and I part them slightly. His eyes focus on them for a moment as I run my tongue over them slightly and I can hear his heart start to pound. “Someone who isn’t afraid to express themselves via ink and I think I would also like to find someone who doesn’t have to change their last name to be with me.”

“Then, I am your girl,” I say softly through lowered lashes. He leans closer and I think he is about to kiss me, when he abruptly pulls back. I look up in annoyance at the hovering waiter come to take our drinks order. It’s a bar for heaven’s sake, do we not go and order our own? But no, apparently the waiter is Cole’s “biggest fan” and the two spend a few moments chatting. He is very amiable with his fans. I twiddle my thumbs and order a Scotch when I finally get remembered
.

“Sorry,” he mumbles as the waiter disappears clutching his autographed napkin to him.

“No worries. You are famous?” I ask. I mean, I know that he is because of going over to the Other World and learning who he was, but I had never heard of him before then. Not surprising with my sheltered and busy life, though. I don’t know anybody.

He splutters. “You don’t know who I am?” he asks.

I shake my head as our drinks arrive and I take a sip. “Should I?” I say with a suitably confused expression.

“Ah, well, no, I suppose not…” he trails off and stares at me. I stare innocently back and he chuckles. “Sorry, I don’t get that a lot, especially from such a beautiful woman.”

“You usually have beautiful women throw themselves at you?” I ask with an arched eyebrow, getting into this role now. Being her is so easy and such fun. He is fun and sweet, but there is no edge to him as there is as him as a Vampire. He just, is.

“Let’s just say that there are some crazy stalkers out there,” he admits ruefully.

“I’m sure,” I murmur.

“Are you a crazy stalker?” he asks me with a wicked smile.

“Oh no. I have never stalked anyone in my life,” I say in mock horror with my hand on my chest. “I am wounded you would think otherwise.”

He laughs. “No, I don’t suppose you have. You have no need. You are probably the one fighting off crazy stalkers.”

“So does that make you a crazy stalker?” I ask.

“If you keep looking at me like that I may have to start,” he says as he leans forward again. I lower my gaze from his eyes to his mouth and back up again and his breath hitches.

“Like that, you mean?” I whisper.

“Just like that,” he says before he pulls me to him for a kiss. I fall into it, forgetting all about everybody else and just focusing on him. He has to fall in love with me so I can turn him. That is all that matters.

“Shall we take this upstairs?” he murmurs, and at my nod, he drags me to my feet and leads me hastily to the elevators. I punch in the floor number to my own suite and lead him inside. My palms are sweating and I find I am nervous. With the exception of Constantine, I have never been propositioned quite so hastily before. I wonder if it all happened this quickly with the other versions of us? Is it all a part of destiny, or am I completely naïve and this is how things are nowadays? Either way, I know I want him so I just go with it. As soon as the door closes, he takes me in his arms and crushes me to him as he kisses me, his hands in my hair, over my back, and down to my backside. On a whim, I get rid of my underwear before his hands go up my skirt and he moans into my mouth as he feels my bare skin. “Oh god, you are so sexy,” he says as he pulls my leg up around his waist and pushes me back against the wall. I fumble with his pants, trying to get him free as he takes off his shirt. He pulls my hands away and runs his hands up my top to cup my naked breasts underneath, rubbing his palms over my nipples. I can feel my fangs aching to drop, but I can’t. Not yet. He pulls my top off and lowers his mouth, closing his lips over my peaked nipple. I run my hands through his hair as he swipes his tongue over me. “I want you, Liv,” he says, coming back up to kiss me.

“I want you too. Now,” I say as I reach for him again, but he pushes me away and takes my hand, pulling me towards the bed. He turns me around and gasps at the Dragon on my back, who thankfully realizes She is in human company and is staying remarkably still. “Wow,” he breathes. “You have got to be the sexiest thing I have ever seen.” He kisses my shoulder and then all the way down my spine as he pushes my skirt to the floor.

“Cole,” I say, turning to him. “Take me now.” I lower myself to the bed and scoot back.

He doesn’t need asking twice after that and loses his pants and crawls over me, dropping little kisses everywhere before he plunges his tongue right into my wet entrance as he rubs his thumb over my clit. I come almost instantly and I feel him smile against me. “Easy, aren’t you?” he asks as he kisses my still flat stomach and circles my belly button with his tongue.

“Not usually,” I lie, because who am I kidding, I love sex, especially this wanton, lust-filled variety that Liv is so fond of. I have to remember that I am supposed to be her. That is who he fell in love with. “But your tongue is like magick, I can’t help myself,” I smirk at him and he chuckles.

“Such a flatterer. I bet you say that to all the guys,” he says as he kisses me, and I run my tongue around his lips, tasting myself.

“Just you,” I say against his lips as he moves over me.

I can feel him gently against me and I raise my hips, but he hesitates with a look I can’t quite place. “Uh, do you have…you know…protection?” he asks me.