The blow, too fast to see, took me by surprise and sent me flying against a thick tree trunk. Tasting blood, I scrambled up, my arms raised to protect my face, my head throbbing. What the heck? This wasn't quite the rescue I'd imagined. I pictured a white horse and a knight in shining armour assuring me that everything would be al right. Then it struck me—Blake wasn't the king's brave knight, but the king's hit man. To be more precise, Aidan's enforcer. He had been sent to kil me, right here, right now. The prophecy in my dream was right on. How could Clare leave me to this fate?
Blake inched closer when someone moved behind him. My breath caught in my throat as Aidan threw my assailant to the ground shouting, "I should kil you for this."
A breeze swayed the nearby bushes. Dark, faceless shapes, thin as veils, appeared out of nowhere, their mouths whispering words I couldn't hear.
Blake rose to his knees, head bowed. "I'm doing you a favour, Aidan. You're better off without her."
Aidan threw him against a tree with supernatural force, bark flying around them. "She's my mate. You're lucky I owe you for saving my life once.
Don't ever come near her again, or I'l forget we were friends. Now get the hel out of here."
Blake disappeared without a look back. Aidan kneeled beside me. "Are you al right?"
The shapes inched closer. I gaped at them, trying to discern their features. "I think I see dead people," I whispered.
"Yep," Aidan said, smiling. "More vampire jokes. You're just fine, then. Once this is over, you and my brother wil be BFFs." He wrapped his arms around me, pressing me against his broad chest. Against my better judgement, I leaned into him, strangely comforted. I noticed I was shaking as he carried me to the car, the dark shapes fol owing a few paces behind. I shouldn't trust Aidan, shouldn't trust anyone, but it felt so good to be near him again.
"What happened? You just took off," Kieran asked as we reached the vehicle and Aidan squeezed onto the backseat, pul ing me close.
"Just drive." His voice came low and hoarse, his warm breath tickling my cheek.
"What about the others?" Kieran leaned forward and felt for a pulse on my neck.
I slapped his hand away. "What're you doing?"
"Just checking you're living and breathing," Kieran said. "Maybe we should discuss ways to keep you that way because right now I feel like strangling you. You got me into a lot of trouble with my brother."
"I didn't mean to sneak off." He had a right to be cross.
"No, no. I get it. You had to do it." Kieran's eyes narrowed. "Believe it or not, I'm a sucker for romance. Two star-crossed lovers who don't fit in each other's world. Kind of like Romeo and Juliet—just with fangs."
Aidan took a long breath. "I said drive. They'l find their way back."
"Yes, Father," Kieran said. He started the engine and sped down the road. I wanted to point out that I'd rather wait to see Clare was safe, but then I decided to shut up. Aidan knew what he was doing.
The tyres rattled, gravel crunching under the wheels, until we reached the main road. The low humming of the engine made me drowsy. Cuddled against Aidan's chest, I fel asleep and only woke up as Kieran pul ed onto the driveway and said, "Okay kiddies, we're home. Let's go grab our guns, knives, and arrows."
"He's a drama queen." Aidan helped me out and carried me the short distance to the house.
"You knocked out one of us," Kieran muttered. "You're delusional if you think it's not going to come back to bite your ass."
Aidan just shrugged and opened the door. In the bright light of the hal I spotted the deep furrows on Aidan's forehead. When he noticed me watching, he curled his lips into a smile. I didn't miss his wince as Kieran slapped his shoulder to get his attention. He couldn't fool me. I could feel he was hurt.
"I guess what happened back there wasn't very pretty," Kieran said.
"We'l talk later." Aidan's jaw set. "Lock the doors. As for Blake, he's no longer welcome here." I squeezed his hand, feeling guilty for how things turned out. If I didn't strike that pact with the Shadows, Aidan and Blake might stil be friends. But it also occurred to me that Aidan might also be dead.
Kieran snorted. "I've been tel ing you for years Blake's a loose cannon."
"Forget Blake," I said, realising I was stil alive in spite of what the Shadows had claimed. Who could I trust? The line between friend and foe was shifting back and forth. Al I wanted was my old life. I had a feeling it was time to try bargaining with Aidan. "You have more pressing problems.
The Exorcist kid wants me to save the Shadow race. They're not letting me go without a fight."
"Amber's right," Kieran said. "Besides, what good is a locked door against an army of Shadows if they decide to encircle the property and wait until our blood supply dries out?"
"I know, but—" Aidan hesitated and shot me a strange glance, as if considering whether to continue "—we can teleport, they can't."
Kieran nodded and disappeared into the kitchen. Aidan led me to the library. As soon as the door clicked shut, he lowered his lips onto mine, pul ing me close until I could barely breathe. Closing my eyes, I savoured the soft caress of his mouth while his fingers trailed down my arm. He ended the kiss too quickly and took a step back.
"Look at me." His voice was barely more than a whisper. I opened my eyes to meet his burning gaze. He moistened his lips. "Don't play hero because this isn't a game. They could've kil ed you."
"I highly doubt that. You're the one with an X on your back," I said. "Actual y, they loved me and even wanted me to be part of their family."
"That's one crazy family in need of psyche meds big time. Can you imagine the family portrait with al those big black eyes staring at you." He pul ed me close again, cradling me against his broad chest. "Don't believe their lies, Amber. We're talking about people who've hated me for centuries. They'd promise you the world if it helped them gain your trust."
His hands clenched to fists, his face flushed. I could see how much he struggled to keep his temper under control. The Shadows had been nothing but obliging. Something stirred inside me, a deep voice echoed at the back of my mind, cal ing me to listen. Realisation struck me with such force that I stumbled back, staring at him. "You're doing your mind games again."
"What?" Aidan's expression darkened. "What are you talking about?"
Hiding my trembling hands behind my back, I shook my head. I had to keep quiet for the sake of my safety. Aidan didn't know the Shadows had fil ed me in on his secret ability. I grimaced at the image of Aidan holding beautiful Rebecca in his arms, laughing at the common mortal trusting and fal ing in love with him. I had been such an idiot to let my guard down. If it weren't for his ability to influence my mind, I wouldn't have fal en for him so hard in such a short time. If he ever found out, my humiliation would be complete.
"Just tel me what's wrong." He touched my cheek. I slapped his hand aside, disgusted with myself. I didn't belong here and the sooner I left his world, the better.
"Don't get a hero complex." I crossed my arms over my chest and glared at him, barely able to keep my voice from shaking at his fake confusion. "I don't owe you a thing, Aidan. In fact, you owe me for saving your butt."
He frowned. "I'm most grateful, but you should've let the others handle the situation."
"Ha. If I did you'd be dead by now." I felt the first pangs of anger. Of course he'd play the good guy. He had his role mapped out in great detail: get me to trust him, and then stab me in the back—or should I say, stab me in the neck. "You're right; I shouldn't have risked my life for you, because you're not worth it."
Annoyance crossed his face. "Just listen to yourself. You let them manipulate you. Deep down you know whatever they told you was a lie." He stared at me when the door opened and Clare walked in, oblivious to the tension in the room. She slumped down on the sofa. His gaze stil locked on me, Aidan said, "You took your time."
Clare let out an exaggerated sigh. "Thanks for not ditching me in the dumpster. But it's okay, Thrain gave me a lift hom
e." She shot me a smile and winked. "I got his phone number."
"Good for you. Seems like you have more luck than the rest of us," Aidan said with a scowl.
Clare laughed. "Don't be a sore loser. I'm sure he would've given you his number—if he swung that way."
Aidan snorted, a faint smile crossing his lips. "Believe me, you have nothing to worry. Demons don't rank high on my dating list."
"Don't come running to me when he breaks your heart," Kieran said from the hal .
Clare broke into an adoring chant of how the guy cal ed Thrain slash demon fooled the guards into thinking he was one of them. It took her several minutes before she stopped and scanned the room. "Where's Blake?"
I didn't catch Aidan's expression, but I heard his low growl. Clare's eyes popped wide open as if she understood, and I wondered whether the vampires had some sort of secret code to communicate with one another. Surely, if I figured it out, I'd be able to fathom Aidan's plan. Or I could just ask him, but I figured the chance of him tel ing me the truth was almost nil. Stil , I could at least try.
Aidan must've seen the change in my expression because he raised his eyebrows. My gaze wandered over the cuts and bruises on his forehead and chin—now almost faded. They hadn't been there on the day of his disappearance. For some reason, he had tried to free me from the gift and risked his life. Could be a trick, but it could also mean he at least sought a way to avoid kil ing me. What was the whole shebang about this gift anyway? It wasn't like I could put it to any proper use. I was so useless I doubted I could do more than cal the spirit of Elvis to shake his hips.
How could that help an immortal? I had to know. I wouldn't let them keep me in the dark any longer.
"May I talk to you?" I jumped up from the sofa and walked to the door without waiting for his answer, assuming he'd fol ow. He caught up with me as I stepped into the kitchen. When I turned he stood too close, his breath brushing my lips as he gazed down at me.
I cleared my throat, unable to hold his blue stare. "Let's go elsewhere. This isn't the place to tel you what I have to say."
"Wait a second." He disappeared into the hal and returned with a blanket he draped over my shoulders. "Let's go for a walk, but not too far." He opened the door and we stepped out into the chil y night wind. "See the path over there? It winds around the house, and leads directly into the woods."
Nodding, I let him grab my hand. I didn't tel him I'd seen the path before, on my strol s during working hours. He quickened his pace, throwing glances over his shoulder every now and then as if to make sure no one was fol owing. The moon was hidden behind impenetrable clouds; it was so dark I could barely see my hand in front of my eyes. The house disappeared in the distance, obscured by thick trees, when Aidan took a bend and stopped in front of a wide dead trunk.
"Immortals love the woods," he said as he sat on the trunk and pul ed me on his lap. "They're so mystical and tragic, don't you think?"
I pressed my lips tight as I tried to fight the uneasy feeling in my stomach. Yeah, pretty tragic al right, and a great place to chase any potential victims. Who'l hear them scream when they're having their throat ripped out in the middle of nowhere? "I don't know, Aidan. I'm not immortal."
Pressing my palm against his thigh, I pul ed away from him, but he draped his arms around me signal ing he wouldn't let me go. I sighed and peered into the darkness, mental y preparing my words.
He spoke first. "You stil don't trust me, Amber. What have I done that you don't seem able to give me a chance?"
"My mother always advised me not to trust a dead person." I hesitated, considering whether it was wise to have this conversation about us, or just ask him to reveal my purpose in his game. "You have strange manners and habits, and I—" my voice broke "—I don't know what you want with me."
He rubbed a hand over my tummy, gently squeezing as if to ease my nerves. There was nothing comforting about his touch though. "I know it's hard for you to believe what I am, but you figured right from the beginning there was something wrong about me. If you didn't walk into the woods that night to, uh—" he cleared his throat "—star gaze, things would be different. We could just get to know each other without—"
"There's no us, Aidan." I turned to face him, surprised to find I could see him clearly in spite of the darkness around us. His eyes burned with something I could not define. Anger. Frustration. My heart started to race. He seemed to buy my bluff. Maybe he cared after al . I groaned inwardly.
Drop it. Let it go. Don't even go there. I forced myself to look away as I whispered, "What do you want with me?"
"Don't be afraid of me because I—"
Want to use your body for my beautiful zombie bride Rebecca. "Because what?" My heart hammered faster. He'd say it; I'd final y know.
He pul ed something out of his pocket and squeezed it into my palm. I turned the object in my hand. In the darkness, it felt like a coin dangling from a chain. "What is it?" Whatever it was, I had no use for it. He was the enemy. Al of them were.
"It's a lucky charm. I got it from my mother right before my—" he hesitated "—before I was turned into this. It saved me from sure death. I want you to have it now." I stared at him suspiciously. What was he trying to say? Why would he give me something this valuable?
"Please just accept it. It means a lot to me," Aidan said. With a soft moan, he kissed the skin on my nape, his fingers tracing slow circles on my skin. I couldn't help but close my eyes and enjoy the tingling sensation. Cameron had never been so loving, but my ex had also never needed to fool me into trusting him. "We can't return what's inside you, but we can make the best of it."
"What's that?" The feeling of warmth turned into ice. I waited for his answer, suddenly oblivious to his kissing.
He sighed and stopped, his tone turned serious. "There's something you need to retrieve for me. For us. Trust me, if I could do it myself I would.
But you carry the gift now. And if we don't do this soon, others wil continue to come after you. I can't protect you during the day."
"Just say what you want, Aidan." I held my breath, my heart racing again. Once I knew, maybe I could bargain with him to get my old life back.
"There's a book, a dark manuscript that once belonged to the Shadows. The one who turned me—Rebecca—stole it a long time ago. Before she disappeared she hid it, and no immortal has been able to find it." His fingers resumed tracing circles on my neck.
"So, Rebecca turned you. What happened? After a rol in the hay she bit you? Or was it al a big misunderstanding, a love bite gone wrong?" I snorted, unable to hold back my jealousy. "What's that book good for anyway?"
"Rebecca turned me, Kieran and Clare," Aidan said. "I turned Blake when she sucked him dry, ready to dispose of his dead carcass. I couldn't let her kil one of my friends. That's why he thinks he needs to protect me. The book's one of enchantments and incantations, the most powerful in the paranormal world."
That was a touching story. Turning your friend into a vampire because the girlfriend was about to kil him. I fidgeted on his lap, unsure what to say. Eventual y I decided to return onto safer terrain. "You said Rebecca stole it. I gather she didn't spend one minute in the slammer since that might be hard to do with a ripped out throat."
"How did you know about the wound? I never said that."
I shrugged. "Kind of saw her in her room, sprawled out on the bed. Trust me, she wasn't a pretty sight."
"What else did you see?" Something in Aidan's voice made me look up.
"Is there something I should've seen?"
He shook his head. "Nope. Anyway, she hid the book before she died. It's said only someone carrying your skil —Sight—can find it."
He was keeping something from me. I could sense it. The whole affair sounded suspicious to me. How convenient for Rebecca to die before anyone saw the manuscript. "But if no one can find it, how do you know for sure this book even exists?"
"Believe me, it's not just a legend. Others have longed for it. Immortals like me,
but far more wil ing to do whatever it takes to get it." He placed a finger under my chin and lifted my head until our lips almost met. "Lore rules or not, most wouldn't hesitate to kil for it."
I held my breath, captivated by the moment, waiting for him to lower his mouth on mine. When he didn't, I said, "The books about enchantments, right?"
"I don't know much, but from what I've been told it's more than a simple spel book. It knows the answers to al kind of questions. Legend says long time ago it was written by Blye, a powerful Shadow who sought knowledge. One night a demi-goddess appeared in his dreams. She offered to share al her wisdom with him if he promised to be hers forever. Blye knew he couldn't deny her. No one denies a demi-goddess. He loved her during the night. During daytime, he worked on the book. Twenty-one days later, the manuscript was complete, but he found a horrible fate."
My interest was piqued. "What happened to him?"
Aidan buried his face in my hair, chuckling. "You don't want to know."
"That's okay. You don't have to tel me. I'l just summon him right up and ask myself." I smiled, enjoying his warm breath on my skin. "I'm sure I have a pretty good picture of what happened."
"You've no idea," Aidan said. "The book's said to be one of the most powerful manuscripts in the world. It's unique, invaluable, and of greatest benefit to the one who owns it. It's also the reason why Layla arranges a race every five hundred years. She loves to watch the bloodbath."
I considered his words for a moment. Dal as had been wrong about the gemstones. They were worthless to mortals, but worth kil ing in the paranormal world. As if Cameron's cheating on me wasn't bad enough. Trust Dal as to find new ways to make my life suck even more. "What do you want the book for?"
Aidan pul ed away. I could sense a certain seriousness in his voice. "There's a ritual that can take away the bloodlust and the danger of burning in the sun. Layla wouldn't take your prize away so others wil continue to chase us, but with the help of that ritual I'l be able to protect you at al times."