Trials (The Forever Series, Book 6) (25 page)

“Says you, the Queen,” he points out.

“Hm, yes, I tend to forget that a lot of the time. Nobody
particularly treats me that way.”

“Because you give them too much power over you. What you are
doing next week will be good for them. They will see that they can’t make
demands on you all the time.”

“Even CK?”

“No, not him. You should divorce your husband and marry
him,” he says bluntly.

I blink at him. “Not shy about voicing your opinions are
you? Tell me something, are you able to sire? Do your charges have your
abilities?” I ask, changing the subject.

He looks taken aback, “I am able to sire and no, my charges
don’t have my abilities.”

“So it is just your actual physical blood. It wears off?” I
am thinking out loud but he follows my train of thought and says, “Yes.”

“I see. Did CK mention that we spoke about you in Italy?”

“Yes, he did.” Sebastian leans closer to me still sitting on
the floor. “Sure I can’t change your mind?” he whispers, his lips inches from
mine.

I feel a fizz go down my spine and I part my lips. He kisses
me softly. “I am due a feeding session,” he says as he pulls me up and onto his
lap. “You first, please,” he adds huskily.

I drop my fangs and he wraps his arms around me as I lower
my mouth to his neck. He groans softly as I pierce his skin and his delicious
blood pours into my mouth.

“Oh, Liv,” he whispers as he brings his hand up to hold me
close to him, “I want you so much.” I pull back but before I can respond to his
words, he unzips my comfy hoodie and brushes it from my shoulders before he
drops his own fangs and roughly bites me, sending a thrill through me. He
releases me and takes my face in his hands, eyes fixed firmly on mine. He
whispers to me, words I don’t follow. I blink and my head feels fuzzy as he
gives me a chaste kiss on the lips. He trails his hands down my arms and I feel
the sparks of electricity shoot through me.

“I know you can feel it,” he whispers. “I know you feel it
too. It’s like it was meant to be, Liv. Think how I could make you feel if you
let me touch you. Really touch you. Make love to you.”

My breathing gets heavier as I feel his hands moving up and
down my arms and I can imagine how he would make me feel. I close my eyes and
he kisses me again. “Let me make love to you. Just once and you will see how we
can make each other feel. How right it is between us,” he says.

“Uh,” I mutter desperately as I pull his head closer to
mine, kissing him back with fervor. I wiggle on his lap as I feel him growing
against me and another thrill goes through me. I am getting lost in his touch
and his kisses when there is a very loud thumping against the door. I jump off
his lap like a scalded cat as I sense Cole and bend to retrieve my discarded
jacket, pulling it back on me as I calm my breathing and try to ease the sexual
energy running through me.

“Come in,” calls Sebastian with a look at me that suggests
he hopes Cole walks in and knows something is up.

“Liv?” Cole asks as he opens the door. “You’ve been gone
longer than five minutes. I was worried,” he says and I feel rotten. I put my
hand to my mouth and say, “I was just on my way back up.” I cross over to him
but Sebastian says, “No. I am to take you back up myself.” He gestures for me
to take his hand.

“It’s okay. I’ve got this,” I say, pulling the folds of my
jacket close to me.

“I said I would take you back myself and I will,” he says
firmly. “You know he will only have a shitfit if he finds out I didn’t,” he
huffs at me and in spite of myself I laugh.

“Well I wouldn’t want to get you into trouble,” I say and
take Cole’s hand in one and Sebastian’s in the other. I feel the fizz as I
touch him and I tighten my grip on Cole as we are Teleported safely back to our
suite. “Think about what I said,” Sebastian says as he lets me go and
disappears from view.

“What did he want?” Cole asks shortly.

“A business relationship. I told him the same as I did CK,
too much conflict of interest,” I lie and turn away, feeling horrible. “Do you
mind if I have a few moments to myself? I want to take a long bath and just
clear my head.”

“No, I am not leaving you alone.”

Grr, how am I supposed to try and get to the alternate
universe if I am never left alone?

“Please, baby,” I wheedle. “You can join me in a bit. I just
need some time to think about things.”

“What things?” he asks suspiciously.

“The Thirteen,” I remind him. “I need to think about how to
get rid of it.”

“Well I will help you hash it out,” he insists.

“No Cole!” I snap at him and he flinches. “I’m sorry, baby.
That’s not my process. I need my brain to try and figure it out first. Please.”
I touch his arm gently and he sighs.

“I will be in the bedroom. Even if you think you are
dreaming or are actually dreaming or whatever just shout for me.”

“Thank you. Give me half an hour and then I will make it up
to you. You can take any liberty you so wish,” I lower my voice seductively and
his eyes light up, completely distracted.

“Any liberty? I can think of a few,” he says. “But let me
run your bath first. Make sure you get settled in first.”

I nod and let him have at least that. I feel awful for doing
this behind his back but everyone made it clear that they were against it
yesterday, so it will remain my secret until I can bring Fraser home to me
where he belongs.

Chapter 12

Once Cole has run the bath I usher him out. He is protesting
but I remain firm. I close and silently lock the door. Not that it will make
much difference. If he wants in, he will get in. I have no idea how to go about
doing this. In the heat of the moment, the adrenaline pumping, I just thought
where I wanted us to be. Okay, so I got it slightly wrong most of the time but
now that I have an anchor, something real and only in the other world to think
about, I am hoping it will go without a hitch. That’s what Xane said on the
jet, something real to focus on. I sit on the edge of the bath and relax.
Breathing slowly and deeply I think of Fraser. My eyes pop open. Wait! My brain
yells at me. I went back to the past in this world (I assume it was this world,
it could well have been the other one), I can go back again to my Fraser. I can
go back to 1745 and convince him that he needs to let me turn him and then take
him away. Away from Culloden, away from Scotland. It will drastically change
the course of history though. Who knows what will happen if I do that? Just
bringing him here from the other world to fill the gap that should have him in
it probably would be less risky. I want Fraser with me but I don’t want to lose
Cole. I don’t want that to happen. Oh, I am torn now. I don’t know what to do
and time is ticking away. Make a decision, Liv, I tell myself.

Other world Fraser. If he is different and not the man I
love, I will revisit.

I think of him, I think of her, so cold and hard and
horrible, I think of him as a Vampire. I want to be with him. Just let me get
to him.

I feel that feeling wash over me and I open my eyes. I am
still in the bathroom. That’s disappointing. I stand up and sigh but then do a
double take. The bath is empty, not full as it was when Cole filled it. I
suppose it makes sense that I would have come to the same place, although whose
hotel suite this is remains to be seen. I use my super hearing to listen.
Nothing. I cautiously open the bathroom door and the bedroom is empty. So is
the sitting room. Good. At least I don’t have to explain my presence to anyone,
although how I am supposed to find Fraser from here is anyone’s guess. If I am
even in the right timeline, that is. I could be in the past or the future for
all I know. I peek out the window and see that it looks like 2013 but that
doesn’t mean much, now does it.

“You!” her voice rings out behind me, full of disdain. “What
the hell are you doing here?”

I spin and take in her vicious sneer as she stands there
with her hands on her red leather clad hips. Actually, they are quite nice
pants, I note. Low slung red leather to show off her flat stomach, tight
fitting but pleasantly so. The top, however, is a different story--what there
is of it, anyway. Red heels complete the look with her long hair straight to
her waist and a lighter blonde than mine, her overdone eye make-up pronouncing
her very green eyes. They are a Shift if I ever saw any. She casts her eye over
me in my bare feet and casual sweats and hoodie. Ah yes, perhaps I should have
had the foresight to change into something a bit less comfortable. I hope my Powers
still work here as I try to change into my usual attire of black mini and
halter-top, Louboutins in place.

“Huh, slightly better,” she says through narrowed eyes. “I
ask you again, what are you doing here?”

“Looking for someone,” I say boldly, mimicking her pose of
hands on hips.

“Oh?” she cocks her eyebrow. “Got bored with your boys and
came to take a go at mine? I assure you yours are more fun,” she says dryly.

“Erm, maybe,” I say carefully.

“Well what’s mine is yours. Feel free, although I am sure
you won’t find them to your satisfaction. Except maybe Cole.” She shrugs.

God, this woman is just mean and horrible. I can’t stand
her.

“Do you not care about any of them?” I have to ask.

“Of course I do. I love them all. They are just boring. I am
way past this place. Being transported to your world has made me realize that
there is more out there to challenge me. I didn’t think that there was any
more.” She sounds almost sad. “You really should be a better Queen, you know.”

“How do you know what I am like or what my world is like?” I
ask, somewhat offended.

“Oh please, look at you,” she sneers. “You haven’t gripped
your true potential. Not having Devon be the one definitely did not do you any
favors.”

“How do you know he wasn’t?” I know I sound childish now but
she has me on the defensive.

“You aren’t married there,” she says as if that is the
be-all and end-all. “And it is quite clear that you haven’t had your Powers
very long. If you had, you would be more like me.”

Oh Christ, I hope not.

“It is a shame that you had to wait so long. Had you become
Queen in 1506 when you were still a proper Vampire you would be so much better
at it.”

I tilt my head at her, “Proper Vampire?”

“You know, a predator. A hunter and killer.” She gestures
with her hands to make her point. “You are just weak,” she adds.

Humph! Now she is seriously starting to piss me off.

“Where is Fraser?” I snap at her.

I catch her off guard momentarily before she assumes what
seems to be her usual sneer, “Fraser? What do you want with him?”

“He is here?” I ask, trying for casual, but probably not
pulling it off.

“Well he isn’t
here
. Why are you here, in Toronto?”
She is suspicious now.

“I came from Toronto. Where is Fraser?” I ask again.

“Why do you want to know?” she asks slyly.

“I want to see him.”

“Why?”

“I just fucking do, so tell me where he is!” I yell at her
and she laughs, perfectly in control of her emotions as I go off on one.

“Don’t like yours? Thought mine might be more suitable?”

I go for the truth, maybe she still has some heart left
under than teeny tiny red leather belt she is using as a top. “I don’t have him
anymore,” I admit.

“You don’t have him? You mean he is dead? How did that
happen?”

“Long story I would rather not recount if you don’t mind.
Please. I just want to see him.”

“Hm, well in the spirit of sisterhood I will let you see
him. Can’t say that he will be what you are looking for, though.” She frowns
and my stomach drops. “He isn’t altogether very nice.”

Oh crap. That coming from her makes me want to be sick. CK
was right, maybe I shouldn’t have done this. “How so?” I choke out.

“He is mean and cruel. If I didn’t love him so I would have
put him down years ago.”

Tears prick my eyes but I blink them back, turning from her.

“He was a mistake,” she says quietly. “He didn’t want me to
turn him and I shouldn’t have. I just wanted him to be with me forever.” I turn
back to her, mouth agape at her soft tone.

“Did you turn yours?” she asks with genuine interest.

“No, he died a human. He didn’t want me to turn him either.”

She nods sadly. “If I were you I would leave well enough
alone. You have your memories. Leave it be,” she says and orders the last three
words.

I stare at her. Seems she does have something resembling
compassion.

“How did you know he was still alive over here?”

“The Thirteen told me.”

“The Thirteen? What is that thing still doing around in
2013?” she asks incredulously.

“It is making a nuisance of itself.”

“How long exactly have you been Queen?” she asks me then.

“Err, eight months,” I say.

“Eight months? That is it? No wonder you are a weak-assed
fool.”

“Hey!” I snap at her. I am all for self-deprecation but this
bitch doesn’t get to judge me.

She holds her hands up, “Okay, calm down. Just making an
observation.”

“Have you already got rid of it?” I ask.

“Oh yes, I defeated it many centuries ago.” She dismisses it
with a wave of her hand and a strange look on her face.

“Well many centuries ago it was weaker than it is now. I
know it has been feeding off every paranormal being to cross over,” I say
trying to make her see that it’s not just me being weak but It being stronger.

“Hm, yes you may have a point,” she admits ungracefully.

“How did you get rid of it?”

She hesitates and I wonder if she will tell me anything. “It
was a trial but my power was greater in the end,” she says eventually.

“A trial? That’s it? No words of wisdom or advice to pass
down to your weaker self?” I snarl.

“I defeated it as it had nothing on me. It tried but failed.
I know its game. What power does it hold over you?”

I blink at her. No power over her? Well, clearly not Fraser,
but what about Lance? Is that what this is? Is It making a fool of me because I
care enough to love or even be afraid of someone?

“What about Lance?” I ask instead of tell.

“Lance?” she scoffs. “What did he do to you?”

“What did he do to
you
?” I ask instead.

“Oh many things,” she says with a glint in her eye. “We were
a thing once, back in the day. Vicious creature. So much like me.”

My heart pounds, “You were involved with him?”

“Oh yes. For many years, until I grew bored and killed him.
You weren’t? I am still finding it difficult to keep up with our differences.”

“He took me and tortured me for a dozen years,” I choke out.
“You loved him?”

“Hm, I suppose. He tortured you? What did you do to get a
bug up his ass?”

“Nothing, except exist.”

“Oh, he was jealous. Yes, I see. Your sire must be far more
fond of you in your timeline than mine is here.”

“He loves me.”

“Lucky you. Mine hates me,” she says as she plops down on
the sofa.

“I can see why,” I mutter.

“Oh?” she snaps. “Being a bit judgy, are we?”

“Truth hurts, does it?” I snap back.

She regards me with renewed interest, “How does he love
you?”

“He just does. We are in love. He will do anything for me.
Give me anything I ask.” All of this is unnecessary info but I feel the need to
rub it in her smug face.

“Since when?”

“Since always. Albeit only the last few months have we come
to realize just what we mean to each other and how far we will go to be
together.”

“Told you he will marry you, did he?” she goads and I have
the great satisfaction of telling her.

“Yes. In fact,” I hold up my right hand and wiggle my
fingers, “he gave me this in exchange for my promise to marry him.”

Her eyes nearly pop out of her head and I smile smugly at
her. Seems I have something she wants this time. I am itching to tell her about
Ponte
but I keep my mouth shut, with great difficulty.

“But you are already married. To Cole, I understand? I don’t
understand this?” She seems genuinely perplexed.

“It isn’t for you to understand. This is
my
life.”

“And yet you come here looking for
my
Fraser? You do
have some nerve,” she says as she stands again.

“Look, I don’t want to argue with you,” I say, trying to
placate her. “But anything you can tell me on how to defeat this Thirteen lark
would be most appreciated.”

“How appreciated?” she asks, very bright green eyes narrowed
to two tiny slits.

“What do you want?” I ask cautiously.

“I think you know.”

“You are not coming to my world and taking what is mine,” I
say vehemently.

She shakes her head sadly, “I want my sire’s love. I don’t
understand why you have it and I don’t.”

“How can I help you with that? You aren’t having my sire.”

“I don’t want yours,” she grinds out. “I want mine. I saw
the way mine looked at you. Why do you get two who love you?”

“Your sire doesn’t love me. He doesn’t know me. He clearly
knows you though,” I say, hands returning to my hips now as I gain a slight
upper hand.

“What do you know?”

“He said the Power has gone to your head. That he fears for
this world now that you are Empress. Doesn’t that say something to you about
the way you are acting?”

“He said that?” she asks, taken aback.

“Yes. In the whole two minutes I knew him, that is what he
chose to tell me.”

She steels herself, “Help me and I will help you.”

“Help you with what?” I ask.

“My sire,” she says as if I am stupid. “Help me make him
love me and I will tell you how to get rid of The Thirteen.”

“How do I do that?” I ask incredulously. “I can’t just make
him love you.”

“Yes, you can. You can pretend to be me, for a while. Sweep
him off his feet. Once he has fallen for you I will take over.”

“I think he will notice the difference. He isn’t stupid.”

“It will be too late then. He will be in love and that’s all
there is to it.”

“I can’t. I can’t leave my world and come to yours to help
you manipulate your sire. I have issues to deal with and a handful of men to
please.”

“Yeah, I hear you. Don’t you sometimes think we made a rod
for our own back there?”

I step back, hand on my stomach, “You think that?”