“That makes no sense,” I mumbled, genuinely confused.
“Amelie was right. You are oblivious.”
I scowled.
Caden exhaled noisily, pushing me away so I could look into his eyes again. They searched my face, touching on every detail, memorizing every line. “That first night you arrived here, on Ratheus, I had just come back from New Shore for the first time in hundreds of years. I was going to report Jethro for having Merth. I’m no rat, but it was either that or start a war with him, one that would surely cause death on both sides. I couldn’t risk losing any of these three, especially my sister.
“The Council hears grievances on occasion, as their way of governing society—it’s a circus show, really. Entertainment. Anyway, it was at the Council meeting that I first met Rachel. They would have laughed me out of there, possibly killed me, if she hadn’t spoken up, saying she would personally investigate the matter. I believed her. Stupid, right? So I led her back to that small cave we were in that first night.
“It wasn’t until we were sitting in our cave that she told me I was her soul mate and she had to have me.” He shuddered. “The feelings weren’t mutual, believe me. I was looking for a diplomatic way to let her down when Amelie showed up, you in her arms. It all happened so fast. Rachel saw you and, realizing what you were, demanded we take you back to the Council. She’s ancient—I don’t even know how old—and therefore impossibly strong. We could have fought her, maybe killed her, but one of us would have died in the struggle. Or she could have escaped, running back to the Council to tell them before we had the chance to catch her. She’s even faster than Bishop, and he’s the fastest of us.”
Caden paused to Rachel’s eyed narrowed push a strand of hair away from my face. “So I did the only thing I could think of to stop her. I pretended to love her and used that to my advantage.” He shuddered again. “I convinced her that we needed to hide you. It worked like a charm … except for one small problem,” he murmured, softly running the back of his hand along my cheek. “The only thing more deadly than a hungry vampire is a jealous vampire. Rachel is a narcissist. She wouldn’t even consider the idea that I’m deceiving her—that in truth I’m disgusted by her. But she’s also terribly suspicious. If she even suspected for a second that my thoughts and feelings were with someone else …”
I felt the nervous flutter in my stomach as I heard him say those words but I quickly reprimanded myself, sure that I was reading too much into it. He had to be talking about someone else. I remained silent.
“That night you were bitten … if she had ever found out what had happened, she would have torn through me to get to you.”
“But you had no other choice,” I said defensively.
He chuckled to himself. “I suppose not,” he whispered, looking at me strangely. “That’s why I was so cold to you today. It’s getting so much harder to pretend. I was afraid she’d see right through me.” He pushed my hair away from my face then, those gorgeous jade eyes gazing adoringly at me. “I knew … the moment I laid eyes on you, I knew.” His hands slid down my arms to twine his fingers with mine. He pulled my hands behind my back, forcing me closer to him.
Butterflies the size of bats began madly flapping around in my stomach, flying at warp speed. Am I imagining things? I swallowed. Is this impossibly beautiful man telling me what I think he is? “So that means you’re not with Rachel, right? You don’t love her, after all,” I whispered, needing to hear him say it.
“No, not her. I don’t love her.” He buried his face in my neck, inhaling deeply. “I thought you would have figured it out by now. I promised myself I wouldn’t tell you anything, for your sake. It’s safer to keep you in the dark, given Rachel, with you being human, with you being from another world …” he went on, naming all the obvious obstacles. “But that’s not possible anymore,” he said, pulling away to gaze down at me again, his face solemn, “with you attacking me that morning and all.”
“I didn’t attack you,” I stammered, embarrassed.
The corners of Caden’s mouth twitched. He’s teasing. “I don’t know what came over me,” I admitted sheepishly.
“And I thought you were reserved,” he quipped.
We stood there, silently staring at each other. The urge to lean forward and “attack” him again became unbearable. But I wasn’t going to initiate it this time. So I stood there, trembling in anticipation.
He let out a loud sigh and dropped my hands to slowly back away from me. “I shouldn’t be doing this.” He dipped his head to study the ground. When it lifted again, his face had gone stony. “I meant what I said about you and I being impossible, but I wanted you to understand why.”
My mind was reeling with the sudden change in direction. “What … what does that mean?”
Caden heaved another resigned sigh and leaned against the cave wall. “It means we continue doing what we’ve been doing, pretending this conversation didn’t happen. That these feelings don’t exist.”
“Why? What do you mean? I can’t sit around and watch you being pawed by that she–devil!” I said, my eyes narrowed with incredulity. How could he even suggest such a thing?
“Don’t worry about me. I can handle it.”
“I bet,” I grumbled, suddenly realizing that a beautiful seductress throwing herself at a guy, willing to do God–knows–what, wasn’t exactly the worst punishment in the world.
His eyes flickered with recognition at my insinuation. “Hey, if you have a better idea, I’m all ears,” he snapped. But he quickly apologized, adding, “The only way any of that is bearable is because I’m imagining you.”
I felt myself blush furiously, a strange sensation stirring within me. “So what now?”
“Now we get out of this cave,” Caden said softly, wincing.
It hit me then. “Merth!”
“Yeah, it hurts.”
“No! I mean, we can bind her in it.”
“No, ‘we’ can’t because ‘we’ can’t touch it,” he explained patiently.
“I can, though,” I began, but he was already shaking his head furiously.
“Not a chance. It’s too dangerous.”
“But I could—”
“No!” Caden yelled, then clenched his jaw tightly again.
I shrank back.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that. This was what I was worried about—why I didn’t tell you how I felt in the first place. It’s going to be hard enough to ignore each other. I can’t be worrying about you pulling any insane stunts with her. What you did today, lying to her like that—it was stupid. Impressive, but stupid. She’s the most dangerous, wicked creature you will ever face in your life, and I’d like that to be a long life.”
My anger flared. “Then maybe you shouldn’t have run off into the woods to pick flowers, and been so damn flirtatious!” I snapped back at him.
He smirked. “I thought getting angry was pointless.” That only infuriated me more. “I’ve never seen you angry. It’s endearing.” He smiled adoringly at me. The smile only lasted a second, though, fading as he stepped in closer to me. “I know … I shouldn’t have. But I couldn’t help myself. I’m not much better than any other vampire out there.”
“No, you’re different,” I whispered with stoic conviction.
“That’s because this pendant is protecting you, Evangeline,” Caden lectured softly, reaching up to run his finger along the silver chain, grazing my collarbone and sending shivers through my body. “Believe me, things would be different otherwise.”
“You’d be fine,” I said firmly, closing the gap between us. I slowly reached up to touch the tips of my fingers to his chiseled jawline.
“Evangeline, please, don’t make this harder than it already is,” he pleaded, but then he leaned in, letting his lips tenderly fall onto mine. My knees buckled, but Caden’s arms were there to grip me firmly. I wasn’t going anywhere.
It wasn’t until he pulled away that I managed a breathe again. He rested his forehead
against mine, closing his eyes.
“What if we find another hiding place? Move the statue there? Rachel won’t know where we went,” I suggested.
“You’re brimming with ideas today, aren’t you?” he retorted sarcastically. “Then there’d be no incentive to keep Rachel quiet. Besides, it wouldn’t take long for the Council to track us down.” He stepped away from me again, a sad smile on his face. “Come on. We should get back to the others.”
We stepped into the main cave as Bishop made a loud crashing sound, evidently enjoying a board game Sofie had included in the bag. And seriously annoying Fiona, based on her irritated frown.
“Battleship?” I asked. “Sorry. A bit lame.” What was Sofie thinking?
“You’re kidding, right? This is awesome!” Bishop countered. “If you haven’t figured it out yet, things get boring around here.”
“I hadn’t noticed,” I murmured, stealing a glance at Caden.
“Stay awhile,” Fiona muttered absently, concentrating on the game.
“How long have I been here now, anyway?” I suddenly remembered that I didn’t have much control over that.
“Not sure, but it was morning when you came and it’s dark now,” Amelie responded. “Tired? Hungry?” She tapped the top of the cooler that Sofie had packed for me, full of bottled drinks and food. Scattered untidily about the cave was everything I had ever brought for them. The portable speakers were perched on one of the benches, playing music softly in the background. My mattress and sleeping bag were laid out. The two giant Merth–stuffed mountain bags rested on the far side of it, as far away from the group as possible without being out of sight.
Now that Amelie mentioned it, I realized I was both starving and exhausted from the day’s events. Rooting through the cooler, I grabbed a chicken salad and sat down on the bench beside Amelie. “Is the Merth bothering you?”
Her curls bobbed as she shook her head. “I can’t sense it at all. Must be the canvas liner.” Suddenly she hugged me. “I so wanted to tell you, but I was sworn to secrecy!”
“You knew?” I whispered.
Amelie rolled her eyes in response. “Of course we knew.”
“How could you keep that a secret?” I asked, mildly irritated.
“Oh, I’m the one keeping secrets?” she retorted dryly, and I averted sheepish eyes. “Because Caden was right—you were better off not knowing,” Amelie answered, showing no sign of remorse.
Caden sat down beside me, cutting our private conversation short.
“Rachel should reach New Shore by noon tomorrow if she runs,” Amelie said, fiddling with a digital camera. She hopped to her feet. “Smile!” The flash went off as the camera captured a picture of me with my mouth full of food. “I wonder how long before she gives up and comes running back to her ‘Smoopy Woopy,’” she teased. Caden glared at her. I didn’t find the reminder too amusing either. “Oh, come on. I’m your baby sis. I’m supposed to be a constant thorn in your side,” she said matter–of–factly, then snapped another picture.
The giant cave reverberated with another of Bishop’s obnoxious explosion sound effects. Fiona jumped up and whipped the small plastic boat at his face. “Have fun playing with yourself!” she announced, adding in a spiteful tone, “In every way.”
“Oh, come on, Fee! It’s not my fault I’m just better than you at everything,” he responded in mock innocence.
His cockiness infuriated her more. Fiona marched over and sat down on the bench across from me, arms crossed and brow knitted as she glowered at the fire.
“Those two should be banned from competing against each other,” Caden observed, smirking. “It’s the only time you’ll see Fiona angry. I’m afraid she’ll claw his eyes out one day.”
“What’s the point? They’d just grow back,” Fiona grumbled.
“Cheese!” Amelie called cheerfully, snapping a picture of Fiona, Caden, and I together. Likely not a flattering snapshot.
“Pictures usually turn out much better when your subjects aren’t eating or brooding,” I said casually.
“I figured you’d want some pictures of us to admire when you’re home,” Amelie said, then promptly stuck out her tongue at me.
Caden laughed as he rose to go and join Bishop.
It was my chance to pick up on the previous conversation. “Then you also know that we’re apparently ‘impossible’ and he wants me to pretend I don’t care when Rachel is climbing all over him,” I whispered harshly.
“Yup!” Amelie chirped. “Don’t worry, though. It will all work out.”
“Well … what am I supposed to do until then?” I asked the two female vampires.
“Convince him otherwise,” Fiona responded in that sultry voice.
“What do you—” Her impish smile silenced me. Instantly grasping her meaning, I felt myself flush.
“Ew … That’s my brother you’re talking about,” Amelie moaned, feigning disgust. But then she winked at me.
Fiona leaned back on the bench, her dour mood giving way to uncharacteristic giddiness. “I’m still having a hard time believing this is all happening. Where will we go? What will we do?”
Panic set in. What if I can’t bring them all back? No, I wouldn’t even consider that. It was too painful. I brushed my fears aside. “Well, I’m sure you can stay at Viggo and Mortimer’s. They’re quite accommodating when they need something from you,” I said wryly. The mention of Viggo reminded me of my mother—of her death.
“What’s wrong?” Amelie asked.
Caden was sitting beside me in a flash, a concerned look on his face.
“Well, I learned a few more things while I was back …” I started filling them in on Ursula’s attack, Sofie’s confession, and Max being able to talk to me. I ended with how Viggo murdered my mother. The cave fell to silence then. “So I guess Sofie will release her sister, one of you can bite her, and then everyone lives happily ever after.” I smiled sadly.
“Not a chance in hell!” Bishop erupted.
“There’s no way we’re helping Viggo after what he’s done to you,” Fiona agreed, her voice ominous.
I was already shaking my head. “I just want to be done with all of this. With them.”
“And you will be,” Caden’s low voice was menacing.
I glanced at him. “I don’t want to help Viggo, but—”
“Then we don’t help him!” Amelie announced firmly.
“And what, be hunted? I’ve already got that lunatic witch after me. I don’t need two vampires hunting me too,” I said. “I thought the same, but it won’t change anything.”
“He can’t hunt you if he’s dead,” Caden said with icy determination.
“No! I’m not risking it. I’m not going through all of this only to have one of you killed when we get there.” I was almost screaming now, desperate for them to understand how serious this was.
“Okay, okay.” Caden’s arm went around me.
“I just want to be done with all this,” I mumbled, feeling tears welling in my eyes.
“And will they be done with you, after all this?” Fiona asked quietly.
I shrugged. “I mean, what else could they want with me? They’ve already murdered my mother and ruined my life.”
“And Sofie? You don’t seem to be too angry with her anymore,”
A sad smile pulled at my lips. “I’m not sure, but I think she’s been played in this mess as much as I have.”
“I don’t know, Evangeline,” Caden said softly. “Sometimes I think you’re—”
“Too trusting. I know.” I smiled. “Sofie said the same thing.”
He nodded. His hand slid tenderly down to the small of my back, where his thumb drew tiny circles. My appetite for food instantly vanished, shifting to desire for something entirely different. I gave my head a slight shake. When had I turned into such a hormonal maniac?
The camera flashed as Amelie snapped another picture, lifting the somber cloud I had dropped over them. “Do you think I could pass f
or a high school student?” she asked innocently. “I had so much fun in high school.”
“That’s because you spent your days seducing the football team and making their girlfriends jealous,” Caden joked.
Amelie smiled smugly at him. “Well, I am going to do some stage theater. It’s more discrete than film. I’ll likely have to travel around the world so I don’t have to take fifty–year breaks. And I’ll wear wigs and contacts so I’m not recognized,” Amelie said confidently. “You can come with me, Fiona, be the voice behind my lip synching.”
“Gee, that sounds like loads of fun for me,” Fiona drawled with exaggerated annoyance, but she was smiling.
Bishop walked over to sit beside his girlfriend, draping his arm affectionately around her shoulders. “She’s not going anywhere without me, and I’m sticking to the mountains and the ocean for at least a hundred years, showing up all those humans with my mad skills,” he announced. Fiona leaned over to rest her head on his shoulder, all signs of anger gone.
“What about you?” I asked Caden timidly, hoping his answer would be “I’ll be wherever you are.”
He smiled wistfully. “Something productive.”
“And what about your … diet?” I asked quietly. Your desire to murder humans.
He and the others shared glances. “It’s going to be hard at first,” Amelie said. “But we’ll manage.”
“Right. You’ll feed off animals, right?”
“Right,” Fiona said confidently.
I exhaled in relief. “So you’ll be fine.”
Caden chuckled wryly. “Not quite.” My brow creased with worry, and he sighed. “Imagine the smell of ground beef frying in a pan on the stove. It’s edible enough, right? You can survive off it fine. You may even convince yourself that you like it.”
I did like it, actually, but I decided now wasn’t the time to divulge that.
“Now, imagine walking down the street on the first warm day of spring, only to catch the aroma of a big, fat, juicy steak grilling on a barbeque.”
“Oh,” I moaned, recalling the countless times I had been tortured with that exact mouth–watering situation.