Chapter 38 #4
“I hope you two can become friends. Being in her position, it’s hard to tell when people genuinely want to be your friend and when they are using you. Some are only friends with her because she will lead them one day.”
“Well, that sounds like a difficult path to navigate. It probably causes her to put up walls and not let too many people in.” The thought of someone not being able to differentiate who their real friends are sounds like it’s almost too much to bear.
“Not knowing who you can trust or count on to be there and not tell everyone else.” The strained smile on Oscar’s face told me that he had dealt with his daughter’s sadness at some point due to a so-called friend’s betrayal.
Not to mention that he probably dealt with the same predicament before he took over.
“Kids can be cruel and unfortunately if karma doesn’t work it out, they usually become cruel adults. ”
I felt Maddox’s hand on my thigh, and I turned my attention toward him. “Are you feeling at ease now?”
“I am much calmer. Thank you.” He leaned over and gave me a small peck on the lips.
“Good, I think you are a natural.” He smiled sweetly and picked up his wine, bringing it to his lips.
After dinner was over, people began to move around and talk amongst themselves. My nerves throughout the day and all the activity were starting to take their toll. These were creatures of the night, and I was tired. Bonnie sat down in an empty chair next to me.
“You were perfect today. You just have to be yourself and they will love you.”
“Thank you so much. I was so nervous all day, worried I was going to screw something up.”
“Nope, everything turned out great and with no hiccups. You don’t have to stick around; we humans require sleep and none of them would fault you for leaving.”
“I am supposed to be the host. I can’t just go to bed.”
“Yes, you can.” My head spun around, and Maddox was standing behind me. “They don’t need you to keep them entertained and besides they will be heading back to the cabins shortly. We have brunch at eleven. Let me take you back to the cabin so you can get some rest.”
I shrugged my shoulders and rose to my feet. “If you insist, I’m all yours.”
“I do insist, and you are all mine.” He shot me a look of dominance that made me wish I wasn’t so tired.
I worked my way around the room saying goodbye to everyone. When I was finished, Maddox led me toward the door and into the golf cart. He put it in gear and drove to the cabin. As he steered the cart onto the path that wound through the trees, he reached over and put his hand on mine.
“You know, I need to discuss something with you. I should have done it before now, but I was trying to get more information before I brought it up.”
The tone in his voice indicated that whatever this discussion was about, it wasn’t good.
“What’s going on?” I asked, trying to mask my concern.
“Remember when we said that the first vampire that kidnapped Char, was created for the sole purpose of taking her?”
“Yeah, I remember someone saying that. However, I also remember that he wanted to make her a vampire and keep her for himself.”
“Yeah, he was young and stupid and was going against what he was created to do. Well, I tried to find out who created him and when doing so I just kept coming up empty-handed. I found his maker but that wound up being a dead end. It was a vampire that wasn’t documented, and he was just making more vampires.
The whole thing feels off to me. It should have been brought to our attention sooner and the fact that it wasn’t, seems shrouded in secrecy. ”
“So, the not knowing is driving you crazy? Did you take care of the problem?”
“Not me personally; I have been with you. Until we figured everything out, I wasn’t willing to leave your life in just anyone’s hands.”
He was very serious and when we pulled up in front of the cabin, he put the cart in park and turned to face me.
“From the sounds of it, more than my life would be put in danger because of that vampire. Wouldn’t it serve everyone if you were the one to take care of the problem? I mean, unless you have men that are more dangerous than you working under you.”
I could feel a ripple of pure aggression flowing from his body, and he rolled his shoulders and cracked his neck. He invaded all my space, and I felt the moist heaviness of his breath on my neck.
“No one man under my command is more lethal and menacing than myself. I am the monster that drives fear into the souls of others. If I left and something happened to you in my absence, then that monster inside me is now unhinged and completely out of its fucking mind. That is beyond dangerous—for everyone. So, I protect you, The Order, and my sanity. The vampire was destroyed and so were all of his spawn.”
“I’m gathering that you think the problem is actually bigger than you originally anticipated.”
“I don’t know but my gut is telling me, yes. There is something bigger brewing and I am not comfortable being away from you and I needed you to know what I have been thinking.”
I placed my hand against his cheek. I could actually see a faint sign of worry in his eyes, and that did scare me.
“Follow your gut. I really don’t think you doubt yourself often, and I feel like you shouldn’t start now.
I want to help you figure this stuff out.
How am I supposed to learn if you keep me in the dark?
I may not know shit, but I am capable of learning.
I do not want to continue being some helpless girl that needs saving.
I like to fight my own battles, and I can certainly advocate for myself. ”
“Really? I hadn’t noticed.” Maddox whispered with my hand still on his face.
He crept closer yet and pressed his lips to mine. I kissed him back and rubbed my thumb across his cheek.
“You know what I mean. I am not totally useless.”
“Baby, you are anything but useless. I can think of a couple really good uses right now.” He ran his finger down my throat to the space between my breasts and back up. “Would you like me to show you?”
“I would love to get out of this dress, but not for that reason.”
We stepped out of the golf cart and walked up the steps to the door of the cabin. Maddox stuck the key into the door and entered the cabin first. I entered and shut the door behind me. He was walking into the kitchen and flipped the light on. I took my shoes off and carried them into the bedroom.
When I emerged from the bedroom about half an hour later, I was freshly showered and sporting shorts and a tee.
Maddox was wearing a pair of shorts and had released his hair from its restraint.
I padded into the kitchen where he was standing at the counter drinking a glass of water.
Squeezing myself between his body and the counter, I wrapped my arms around his waist and placed my head against his chest. He was so smooth and warm.
I let my fingers trace the tattoo that ran along his side.
He had one hand planted on the counter next to me, and the other was holding the glass to his lips.
He finished the water and set the glass in the sink behind me.
“I would sacrifice this entire world and everyone in it to save you. Without you the rest could burn to the fucking ground.” His voice was so deep that I felt it when he spoke.
My skin against his, I felt his words in my whole body.
He wrapped his arms around me and I tilted my head so I could see his face.
He made me feel like his most precious possession, his reason for being.
That was exactly what his face was conveying even without his words.
I reached my right hand up and placed it on the back of his head, pulling him to me.
He picked me up and I wrapped my legs around his waist.
“Let’s go to bed,” he said as he hit the light switch and carried me to the bedroom.