24. Twenty-Four
Twenty-Four
“ L ucille Loch, if you don’t stop hitting your brother, I’m going to instruct Nathan to turn this jet around and take us back to LA.”
“He started it,” Lucille whines, making me titter.
“And I’m finishing it,” Mother declares.
Erin’s shoulders are shaking with silent laughter. I did try to warn her that a Loch vacation was going to be interesting. So far, we’ve endured Lucas’s snoring. Lucille’s attempts to beat Jacob. Aliah’s off-key singing and my father’s insistence we all partake in travel games. All that and we’ve literally just taken off. For once, I’m pleased we are using a private plane. The public shouldn’t be subject to this.
After I got over the shock of knowing all my family planned to join us on our trip to Ireland, I refocused on keeping my eye on Erin. Everyone gave her a hug when we ventured downstairs this morning. A choir of “how are you” was followed by an “Erin, you have fantastic breasts.” It shocked me to hear Aliah make the statement, when that was prime Lucille. Before I could admonish Aliah for being crass, Erin spoke up. “Thanks, I grew them myself.”
With everyone laughing, including me, we began our epic journey. I say epic because any time I have to spend traveling with all my siblings is an epic effort on my part not to kill them after five minutes.
“How are you feeling?” I ask Erin quietly. She rolls her eyes, but at least answers me.
“I’m fine. Just like I was ten minutes ago, and ten minutes before that.”
“Okay.” I’ll drop it for now. Spotting Marcus, I give Erin’s knees a quick squeeze and head over to him. Maybe giving Erin a bit of space from me is what’s best right now?
“Marcus, you’re looking rather thoughtful on your own over here.”
“Just thinking.”
“Anything you want to talk about?”
“I suppose I’m just psyching myself up for the trip. It’s never easy to travel with you lot,” he smirks. Marcus and I share a dislike of family trips, for the same reasons. We’re all adults and yet revert to adolescent assholes the moment we hang around each other for too long.
“Well, I’m trying to stop Erin from giving me death glares every five seconds, so mind if I sit with you for a while?”
“Ah, you’re being overbearing, right?”
“Can you blame me?”
“No, not at all. Honestly, Amelia, I’m not sure how I would have reacted if in your position.”
“Well, according to Erin, not well,” I chuckle .
“Has Dr. Mendhi done his check-up?”
“Yes, but only after Erin made me leave.”
Marcus laughs. “You scared the piss out of him, Amelia.”
“I wanted to rip his throat out.”
“He should have told you his theory or concerns. But let it be now. He’s here to help.”
“Mmm, something Erin also said.”
“Listen to her. There’s a reason she’s your mate.”
“What does that mean?”
“You’ve always needed someone to call you on your shit and not let you wallow. Erin is that person.”
A smile breaks across my face. I can’t help it. Every time I think of Erin and the fact that she is mine, I’m filled with overwhelming joy. “She is, which is why I’m giving her some breathing room. I pissed her off this morning.”
Marcus laughs again. “Shocking.”
“Yes, well, it wasn’t my finest moment. Fear is a great motivator to say and do stupid things.”
“It sure is. How are you feeling about Ireland?”
“I just hope it gives us what we want. Mohan only had an address. We might be disappointed by what we find. Erin is upbeat about it—”
“But you’re not feeling so chipper?”
“Exactly. Nothing about this mating has been easy. Why should it start now?”
“Because the universe owes you one,” he smiles. “If the vamp has moved on, we’ll do everything in our collective power to find him, Amelia. ”
This is what Lucille was lecturing me about this morning. I don’t know why the idea of my family’s help puts me on the back foot, but I have to stop resisting and accept it. “I know you will, and I love you all for it.” The sound of Aliah hitting a high note off-key makes us both wince.
“Even when you have to put up with that?” Marcus jokes.
“They invented valium for a reason,” I laugh. We fall silent for a few minutes. “What do you think happened to Erin?” I ask quietly. Marcus has spent more time than all of us studying scrolls and texts. He’s also learned as much as he can about our physiology and the change that occurs after mating.
He blows out his cheeks. “It’s really hard to say. I’m sure Dr. Mendhi has his theories.”
“What are your theories?”
“We know that a vampire’s soul actively searches and bonds with its mate. As far as we know, a human soul doesn’t work the same way, but it’s my guess that for whatever reason, and I really don’t know how or why, but Erin’s soul was almost… what’s the word… activated? Awoken? I think her body reacted to her soul reaching out to yours.”
My gut is telling me he’s on the right track. I need to talk to Erin again. After last night, I was far too worked up to fully understand what she felt. My chin is cradled in my hand, which is resting on the fold-down armrest. “Mm, I think you’re right.”
“It’s a complete guess, Amelia.”
“I know, but it’s still worth considering. I need to talk to Erin.”
“Do it then.” Looking over my shoulder, I watch Erin laugh at something Maria has said.
“I’ll talk to her tonight when we’re alone. ”
“Do you think his human is still alive?” He, being the vampire, we’re looking for. Marcus’s question makes my stomach roll. It’s the question I’ve tried to avoid thinking about the most.
“I hope so,” I breathe.
“Looking at it from a scientific point of view, I would say she would have to be.”
“Meaning?”
“His soul bonded to her. We know that once that happens, one cannot live without the other.”
“Riiight.”
“If she died, I doubt he would still be alive. At least, I doubt he would still be sane.”
“He could have fallen,” I say.
“No. Mohan knows all the fallen vampires.”
“True.” My heart skips a beat. Marcus is talking logically, and for once, the news looks favorable. “I’ll ask the good doctor.”
“Play nice,” Marcus smiles.
“Always,” I laugh. Standing up, I look down the aisle. Dr. Mendhi catches my eye but looks away quickly. I feel a little bad now. Erin and Marcus are right. I need to move on.
“May I sit?” Dr. Mendhi shuffles in his seat, looking nervous, but nods. I slip into the empty seat and cross my legs. “Do you think the human is still alive?”
“I take it you mean the human that successfully bonded with the vampire we are visiting.”
I thought that was obvious! “Yes, the very same.”
“Yes.” His answer is confident. “I don’t believe the vampire in question would be still here if she were dead.”
“You sound sure of that. ”
“It’s a fact that our souls link. The bond cannot be separated.”
“But that begs the question of how she is still alive.”
“Doesn’t it just,” he replies with a twinkle in his eye.
“Care to share your theory, doctor?”
“Okay. It’s my belief that her body must have changed cellularly, like his did.”
“But how? Human bodies differ from ours. That’s scientific fact!”
“Indeed, but like all living things on this planet, evolution plays a part. If it didn’t, we would still be fish.” He chuckles at his own joke. “It makes sense to think humans and vampires would eventually evolve to allow crossbreeding.”
“And you think that’s what happened with the vampire and human who successfully bonded?”
“Yes, but until I see and examine her, it’s just a theory.”
“Thank you, Doctor… And thank you for tending to Erin last night. I apologize for my behavior. Then again, I don’t like to have information withheld, so in future…”
“I won’t keep anything from you again.”
Nodding to end the conversation, I head back to Erin, who is now alone. “Hey.”
“Hey to you too. Did you make amends?”
“I did.”
“Thank you.” She leans over and kisses me sweetly.
“Still enjoying the trip?”
“Oh yes. The more time I spend with your family, the more I love them.”
“Huh! It has the opposite effect on me,” I grumble. Erin bats my arm playfully .
“What were you talking with Marcus about?”
“Oh, this and that.”
“You are a terrible liar. Where’s that smooth poker face you had in place when we first met?”
Laughing, I shake my head. “You, Erin Hanson, stripped me of every ounce of smoothness I had the moment those fiery eyes locked on me.”
“Really? I wonder what else I could strip you of.” Erin’s voice is low, only above a whisper. Her hand snakes to the top of my thigh.
“Easy, tiger,” I laugh, but it’s forced. Erin’s eyes squint almost unperceivably, but I catch it. I know she senses there is more going on. “No sexy times with all my family close by.”
Erin removes her hand from my leg and crosses her arms over her chest. “Amelia, what’s going on?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, this is the third time you’ve looked uncomfortable when I’m making a move.”
“I’m not uncomfortable. Well, maybe a little, but that’s only because my family is right there.” I hook my thumb over my shoulder for emphasis.
“Hum, okay, so when we get to the hotel, you’ll be perfectly happy stripping naked and fucking me.” Well, she gets straight to the point, doesn’t she?
Taking a quick look around to check none of my nosy siblings are eavesdropping, I scoot closer to Erin. “My love, we have plenty of time for sex. It’s going to be a long day of traveling. I’m sure we’ll both be shattered by the time we fall into bed. ”
Erin sits up straighter. “I knew it,” she exclaims a little louder than I would like. “You’re scared to touch me, aren’t you?” It sounds like a question, but I think it’s more of a statement.
“Of course not,” I lie terribly.
“For a smart woman, you are acting pretty stupid right now, Amelia.” Well, ouch! “This bonding thing, you know it works both ways, right?” Um, what does she mean by that?
“Meaning?”
“Meaning that if you’d talked to me about last night, I could have warned you I can do that thing, you know, the thing you do with me?” I’m utterly confused. “I can sense you. In here.” She points to her chest. “I can close my eyes and know where you are.”
“You can?” This has to be proof of Marcus’s and Dr. Mendhi’s theory, right?
“Yes, and I can also sense when you are lying to me.”
Well, shit!
I clear my throat, suddenly feeling parched. “Are you thirsty? I’m thirsty. Let me grab a couple flutes of champagne.” I don’t wait for Erin to answer. Unfortunately, grabbing two drinks takes me all of thirty seconds to do.
“Are you done chickening out now?” Erin asks, looking amused.
“I don’t chicken out,” I say boldly.
“Oh, yes you do,” Lucille laughs from behind me. I should have known the Wicked Witch of the West would somehow ingratiate herself into my very private conversation.
“If you’re referring to the time, you dared me to eat three ghost peppers, then fine, I chickened out. I like to think I’m just not as stupid as you, dear sister. Now would you kindly fuck off so I can talk to my girlfriend?” I hiss.
“Ooh, someone’s a little touchy today,” she cackles but does in fact, fuck off.
“You were saying,” Erin continues.
Downing the entire flute, I face Erin. “I love you, Erin, and as often as you tell me you are okay, I have last night seared into my mind. Every time I close my eyes, I see and feel you convulsing. The thought of that happening again, because of me, is terrifying.”
Erin cradles my cheek with her hand, bringing the free one to my heart. “I think it’s time to talk about what I felt last night, Amelia.”