Trials (The Forever Series, Book 6) (15 page)

“Well, we don’t really have much choice.”

“We always have a choice, my love. I say we hold off on any
decisions and see first what she comes out as.”

“What she comes out as?” I choke back my indignation. “She
isn’t a fucking recipe that we will throw together and chuck in the oven.”

“You know what I mean,” he says, abashed. “We can’t say for
certain.”

I glare at him and he smiles winningly at me. “I love
talking about this with you.”

He wins me over as I have to admit, I am getting quite
excited about it myself. Although I will never admit to him, or Cole, or anyone
else for that matter.

I disappoint him though as I crawl out from under him and
pull on my robe. “I need to read these now,” I say, picking up the papers Cade
left. “I’m going to get a coffee and sit in the library for a bit.”

“I’ll come with you,” he says instantly.

“No, baby. Please. I need a few minutes to myself to
concentrate.” At his upset look I add quietly, “You know I can’t when you are
around me.” He brightens considerably and I kiss him and make my way barefoot
downstairs to the kitchens for a cup of badly needed coffee.

I enter the kitchens and my heart stops as I see the door to
the dungeon. I walk over slowly, placing the papers down on the big wooden
table as I pass. I reach the door and hesitantly place my hand on it. No wards
this time as there is no reason. Tears spring to my eyes and I can’t believe
that only a couple of short weeks have passed since I killed him.

“Morning, Mrs. O’Dell,” Marguerite says, making me jump.

I turn and clear my throat, “Hello Marguerite. Call me Liv,
remember. It’s nice to see you again.”

“And you. It has been a while. I’m glad you are back.”

I smile at her and, casting one last glance at the door, I
move away.

“I miss him too,” she says quietly and my eyes snap to her
sad face. “I looked after him. I made sure he was safe and comfortable.”

Locked away in a dungeon.

“I went to him every day, since I started working here,” she
continues. “I wish I could have done more.”

“You and me both,” I say to her just as quietly.

In an abrupt change of mood which she must have learned from
CK, she says brightly, “Coffee?”

“Err, yes, please. Black. Do you know where Cade is?” I ask
her.

“Yes, he and Mr. Abazia are training on the field,” she
replies, handing me a big delicious smelling mug.

Mr. Abazia? Who the fuck? Oh, Nico. I think that is only the
second time I have ever heard his surname.

“Oh, thank you,” I say and pick up my papers to head towards
the library.

Who should be lurking around though but the gorgeous Ramon.
He is leaning casually against the wall outside the kitchen, hands in the
pockets of his tight jeans.

I appraise him as he smiles seductively at me and says in
Italian, “Can I please you?”

Hm, bold when his master isn’t knocking about. I return his
smile but shake my head replying in Italian to him, “No thank you.”

“You should feed,” he says, pushing away from the wall. “I
am happy to oblige.”

Oh well, who the heck am I to argue with that?

“Maybe just a quick bite,” I say, snapping my fangs down.

He chuckles and pulls me to the big table in the Entrance
Hall and picks me up and sits me down. Gee, eager much?

He stands close to me, putting his arms around me and I sink
my fangs into his delicious neck and suckle slowly, driving him crazy in the
process. I release the bite and swipe my tongue quickly over the wounds to help
heal them and retract my fangs. “Thank you,” I say.

“What, no kiss this time?” he says, bringing his mouth to
mine and pushing his tongue into my mouth.

Oh ho!

I enjoy it for a few more seconds than I should but then
push him away gently.

“I am here to please you,” he whispers. “That is my only
job.”

“I am sure that Mr. D’Arcangelo has changed your job
description since last year.”

He chuckles again, “You should ask him.” He chucks me under
the chin in an overly familiar gesture, “I will come and find you later. Mr.
D’Arcangelo has been very specific that you feed regularly while you are here.”

Humph, I’m sure. The man has the stamina of ten thousand
men, and so wants me to be able to keep up, no doubt. I nod briskly and alight
gracefully from the table and I head back towards the library. Again I wonder
where everyone is. It can’t just be us. This place is too well-kept to be
handled by just Marguerite. I close my eyes and bring up the mental map and I
see the rest of the staff dotted about. They are clearly here but obviously
asked to stay out of the way. Curious. Anyway, I shrug and halfway to the library,
I change my mind. This Lance thing being raised again is churning me up inside.
Especially the whole fake life we had together in my dreams. I remember when he
tried to take me to the tower room, calling it our bedroom and I shudder. I
have a massive phobia--with good reason--of tower rooms. In fact, circular
rooms in general freak me out. A great leader shouldn’t have fears and I am
going to conquer mine, right now. I set my mouth in a grim line and head
straight for the nearest tower, which is the top left one. The place has four
and I have never been in any of them. Not even before Lance, as they were
always occupied, being the best guest rooms in the castle. Tucking my papers
under my arm I push open the heavy studded wooden door and walk into the tower.
A frisson of fear goes down my spine but I square my shoulders and off I go
taking the stone steps one at a time with both feet planted in case I change my
mind and turn to run. Sometime later--there are quite a few steps--I reach the
top and hesitate only for a second to push open the same style heavy wooden
door to the turret bedroom. I hover on the threshold, staring into a room that
is quite lovely. I note it has been modernized but some time ago. Clearly it
got left for some reason after the last renovation, which near as I can tell
was only a few years ago.

I step inside and close the door, leaning against it,
breathing rapidly. I can bust my way out of this room in a second. Just keep
remembering that, I tell myself over and over. I half expect the Lance
impersonator to show up and taunt me and I move quickly to the window seat to
place down the mug and papers so my hands are free. I relax a smidge as nothing
turns up so I take in the room a bit more. A feminine room, all whites and
pastels, a bit of floral here and there. So not my style. Not CK’s either, but
I assume that someone who stayed here decorated it this way.

I sit on the padded window seat and lean against the stone
wall and stare out at the view. Absolutely stunning as always. I have never
seen the view from this high up and if I thought you could see for miles from
the second floor, this is positively hundreds of miles. I sigh in contentment
but, still a bit wary, I pick up the pages and start to read. I myself am a
proficient speed-reader but not up to CK’s standards. I read all ten pages
thoroughly and I am dumbfounded. I reread it again and again. I could tell you
every word from the first sitting, what with my photographic memory and all,
but sometimes it is easier to glean more information to actually have it in
front of you in print.

“Pretty shocking, isn’t it?” Cade says from the doorway. “I
have gathered this Tiamat woman is your mother. Please never introduce me to
her. She sounds terrifying.”

I snort, “Indeed. How did you find me here?”

“Sixth sense,” he says mysteriously, to which I query with
raised brows.

“Well, sixth sense and an open door.” He points downwards.

“Hm,” I say, still somewhat dazed by the info in my hands.

“Want to talk it over?” he asks, indicating the pages and
sits next to me on the window seat.

“Christ. What is there to say? My mother is a badass and now
this thing is gunning for me in revenge.”

“Seems that way.”

“Definitely that way. If it hasn’t bothered anyone else in
the last three thousand years it seems to me it’s pretty pissed, but there are
still questions this doesn’t answer.”

“I know. There are definite blanks that need filling in.
Perhaps going to see your mother about it could help you?” he ventures.

I stare at him. “Maybe. She gets annoyed with me when I act
like I don’t know what I am doing.” I shrug as he laughs at me.

“Well, we can figure this out. Together,” he says. “Do you
miss home?” he adds suddenly changing the subject.

“Where is home?” I shrug. “England? Yes, I do. Sadly, there
are too many memories.”

“I would imagine that there are. I would like to hear more
about your story…you know…when you have the time.”

“You want to know about me? Bless you. I am more intrigued
about you.”

“You already know the highlights,” he says with a half-smile.
“You, on the other hand, have centuries worth of stories.”

“That I do. Maybe one day we can sit with a tub of ice
cream, two spoons, and chat,” I say with a sassy wink and he laughs out loud.

“I do like you, Mrs. O’Dell. You are surprising and funny. I
am glad that we have this arrangement.”

“I still want to know why you really chose my side over
theirs.”

“I told you before, I know when to pick a side. You truly
don’t believe or maybe you don’t want to believe how powerful you are. Or, as
your friend said, will be, once you accept it.”

“Well, if I am to take on this thing,” I hold up the papers,
“I had better get my shit sorted.”

“I will help you,” he declares. “I would like to suggest
that you take a regular time every day to train. Keep your senses honed.”

“I know how to fight, Cade,” I scoff at him.

“No doubt, but it isn’t about the fight, it’s about the…”

“Discipline,” I interrupt him, thinking of Jess.

“Exactly.”

“So you will take me on?” I ask him.

“Err, maybe not. Although I would also suggest a different
sparring partner than a Vampire.”

“Oh? Why is that?” I ask, genuinely bewildered.

“You will know each other’s moves off the bat and more than
likely be equal in tactics if not strength. Or at least any of yours that will
be willing to take you on.”

I ponder that, I guess he is right. “So who then?”

“Lincoln is very skilled in swordsmanship and I am pretty
sure that Xane wouldn’t go down without a fight. A very, very,
full–on-no-holds-barred-even-if-it-is-you fight.”

“Yes, I see that you have been keenly observing.”

“It’s my job,” he says with a smile.

“Yes it is. And one you are very good at. Did you sign that
contract?” I ask, changing the subject abruptly.

He laughs loudly and snorts derisively. “Did you read it?
It’s quite insulting.”

“No, I have to say that I didn’t. How so?”

“Oh the usual malarkey with your sire. He is a very jealous
and overprotective man.”

“You don’t have to tell me twice,” I grump. “What
specifically?”

“He wants me to report to Nico any, and I quote,” he holds
his finger up, “‘suspicious, secretive, sexual, abusive, threatening, harmful
and/or self-destructive behavior.’”

My mouth drops open in shock. But then I close it again in a
grimace as I realize I shouldn’t have been expecting anything less.
Self-destructive indeed. Jerk.

“You won’t agree to that?”

“No. I work for you. Plain and simple. I won’t be forced
into an alliance without prior consent. And I don’t consent.”

“Admirable, Mr. Sinclair. I definitely made the right
decision,” I murmur, thoroughly impressed with his loyalty.

“Glad you approve,” he mutters back to me. “Let’s just get
this clear. I work for you. So get the guard dogs to stand down, okay?”

“Oh, have no doubt that I will. If you are happy to leave
this as a verbal agreement I have no qualms with that, otherwise I shall get
another contract drawn up for you.”

“Look, I think that I have proven myself to you. I don’t
need it in writing and I certainly don’t need restrictions on me that may make
me fail to do my job properly. I know what you want from me and you know what I
will do to protect you.”

“Agreed,” I say and shake his hand with a smile.

I feel the familiar tingle go up the back of my neck and
pull my hand out of Cade’s.

“Aefre?” CK says from the doorway. He looks horrified and in
total shock. “Liv. Get out of here.”

“What?” I ask, perplexed by his attitude.

“Liv! Get out. Liv! Go now! ” he snarls at me.

“Constantine,” I snarl back at him. “What is the problem?”

“Cade, get your employer out of here right now,” he says
quietly--deathly quiet and now I am worried. Is he concerned because I am here
in a tower room or here in
this
tower room?

I don’t get much chance to ponder as Cade, sensing the
threat, grabs my elbow and ushers me swiftly from the room, but not before I
grab the papers on the research as I am not done with those yet.

“What the fuck?” I pull my arm from him as he drags me down
the stairs.

“I have no idea, but I wasn’t sticking around for either of
us to find out. Not then,” he says. “You can go and speak to him when he has
lost his…” he waves his hand about, “… ancient Vampire menace.”

What the hell was all that about? I think to myself as Cade
lets go of me once we are back in the main hallway. He called me Liv. I don’t
expect that from him now. Certainly not to my face.

“That was weird,” I voice out loud and Cade just nods.

“All of you are just weird. Anyway, I need to go eat. I’m
starving. You will be okay?”

“Yes, fine. Go. I will catch up with you later,” I say
absently.

“Holler if you need me,” he calls back over his shoulder,
hastily making his way towards the kitchens.

I, on the other hand, look back towards the tower and wait
for CK. I wait for about ten minutes and nothing. What the hell is his problem?