Chapter 23
Chapter twenty-three
Saiden
Saiden hung back as Tressa dragged his mate into the house, mentally kicking himself for not forcing the conversation that morning.
Or at any point during the painfully quiet road trip.
He told Baylin last night that he was going to talk to Cora about the concept of mates before they arrived, but that plan took a header out a ten-story window when they kissed, and she made it clear she never wanted him to touch her again.
What was he supposed to say after that? I know you don’t want me to kiss you, but the universe knows that we belong together so any chance you’ll get over that in the next few minutes?
Trudging up the steps, he couldn’t help but recount all the things he wished had gone differently.
His violent outburst on the side of the road being at the top of the list since that had likely done him no favors in trying to convince her that vampires weren’t soulless killers.
At this point, Tressa was his best bet to get Cora onto Team Vamp.
Nobody could spend time with his perky cousin and honestly believe that she was evil.
Like all of his kind, she had a dark side, but for the most part she maintained a sunny disposition that could hopefully sway Cora’s opinion about him.
Then maybe he could casually bring up the topic of mates and judge her reaction.
Pausing just outside the door, he debated his next step.
This whole process was supposed to go so differently.
Normally when a vampire met his mate it was instant attraction on both sides.
No seduction. No games. No convincing. Just an immediate feeling that the person in front of you was the other half of your soul, and no one else would ever come close.
Of course he had to be mated to the one female who would fight the process every step of the way. Maybe this was Lilith’s idea of retaliation for hunting down his own kind. He’d assumed never having a mate was his punishment, but this was starting to feel like a much more painful kind of torture.
Heading into the main building, he swept his eyes around the parlor and spotted Cora and Tressa standing in front of the bank of floor to ceiling windows.
He was pleased at the mesmerized look on her face as she gazed outside.
It was the best view in the compound to take in the enormity of the estate grounds as it perfectly showcased the rolling hills, quaint babbling brook, and large meadow out back that often had a small herd of grazing deer.
With the sun just dipping below the horizon, it made the whole place seem peaceful and so at odds with the oversized building most of them called home.
Marquin modeled the compound after the Palace of Versailles originally, but a couple decades ago he got on a modernization kick and resurfaced the entire exterior.
Saiden thought it looked like a Swedish prison, but at least the inside still boasted the classic baroque style he’d grown rather fond of over the past century or so.
The sharp staccato clacking of heels on marble resounded through the long hall to his left, and Saiden turned to see Raven stalking toward him, her short hazelnut hair swishing violently around her face, fury blazing in her eyes.
Making a snap decision, he sped down the hall to intercept her before whatever she was so enraged about spilled into Tressa and Cora’s conversation.
Raven was normally a reserved individual, but when she got in one of her moods she could become the epitome of the evil vampire Cora was so convinced they all were.
Grabbing her by the arm, he yanked her into the library and slammed the door shut.
“Are you out of your Lilith-damned mind, you sodding wanker?” Raven barked.
Much like Baylin’s drunken Irish brogue, Raven’s British accent always became more pronounced the angrier she got, and right now she had the Queen’s English dialed up to an eleven.
Although Saiden doubted Raven’s expletives would be much appreciated in the royal palace.
“That depends on what you’re referring to this time,” he answered, sinking down onto a soft burgundy chaise.
He’d been afraid he was the one responsible for her current acidic demeanor.
It was the last thing he needed right now, but since what he did need was her help, he’d have to pacify her first.
“I’m referring to how badly you’ve bollocksed things up with Cora.
First Baylin tells me that you have him hacking into her life behind her back, and now I find out you haven’t even told her that she’s your blooming mate?
Why exactly does she think she’s even here?
” Raven folded her arms and glared at him like a mother admonishing a kid who got into the cookie jar.
Despite Saiden being a few decades older than Raven, something about her posh, upper crust demeanor and the sharp pantsuits she always wore made him feel like a child in comparison.
“I take it Baylin was spying on us again?” He should have known his brother would have tuned into the cameras the second he pulled up. Baylin probably sent a text to the entire cadre before he even set foot in the house. He loved his brother, but the guy gossiped like a twelve-year-old girl.
He forced himself to meet Raven’s accusing stare. “I told her that I’d been sent to compel her because of her script, but since I failed I would let her plead her case to Marquin. I said he would ultimately decide if she could keep her screenplay or not.”
The appalled look on Raven’s severe face was almost comical.
“Please tell me that you are joking.”
Saiden shook his head.
“And how exactly do you think she’s going to react when she finds out the truth?”
He jumped to his feet and threw up his hands.
“Not well, I'm sure, but what was I supposed to do, Raven? I honestly didn’t even think she was my mate at first. She smelled off, and it screwed with my head. Was it wrong to lie? Probably. I just assumed that once I got her here Marquin would solve the dilemma, and I’d never see her again.
Once I realized who she was to me, it was a little late to change my story. ”
Raven’s face softened but maintained a healthy amount of skepticism. “And siccing Baylin on her?” she asked warily.
Saiden shoved his hands into his back pockets.
“One of the first things she told me when I revealed that I was a vampire was that she didn’t want to become one of us.
She won’t drop the film willingly, so I had no choice.
At least until we can find some way to convince her… I have to protect our kind.”
Raven’s irritation fully drained from her eyes as she sat on the chaise and pulled him down beside her, patting his leg sympathetically. He would have preferred her rage. Pity was almost more than he could handle right now.
“You’ve really screwed the pooch here, haven’t you?” she asked in a way that was less question and more statement.
“Most likely.”
“She’s going to be devastated when she learns the truth.”
“Most likely.”
“And she’ll never trust you again.”
“Most likely.”
Saiden flung himself backward on the chaise, wondering when exactly he went from feared enforcer to distraught, lovesick teenager.
“I know she feels something for me,” he told his cousin, his eyes tracing the intricate wainscoting in the room so he could avoid her pitying expression.
“When I kissed her she kissed me back, and it was more than just a peck on the lips. It was filled with passion and desire. She felt the connection, I’m certain of it. ”
“Then what happened?” Raven prodded.
“Then she just seized up and said to never do it again. There’s something wrong with her medically, but she won’t tell me about it.
I’m floundering here, Raven. She writes these horror films where the vampires are demonic villains and therefore believes that I’m just trying to sink my fangs into her neck.
I’m afraid that I’m not exactly doing a good job of convincing her otherwise.
Killing rogues is easy. Understanding women is…
let’s just say I need all the help I can get. ”
Raven sighed. “You know I’ll do everything I can for you, Saiden.” She regarded him with haunted eyes. “I owe you my life, even if some days I wish you hadn’t saved me. I know how important this is. How important your mate is.”
They both fell silent for a moment. He knew this would be hard for his cousin, and it meant the world to him that she would help.
“What do I do now?”
Raven pursed her lips. “Well, what have you done so far?”
Saiden described his time with Cora, and his efforts to sway her thoughts in a more positive direction about him.
His cousin let out a rather undignified snort of derision in response.
“Are you telling me that you honestly believed the best way to woo her was to put on a Magic Mike show? Bloody hell, Saiden, she’s your mate not a sorority girl.
No wonder she doesn’t trust you. Women have instincts like you wouldn’t believe, and your little striptease told her more than enough about your ‘intentions.’ Did you honestly never once consider just telling her the truth?
That every vampire has a mate, and she is yours? ”
Saiden frowned. He had considered that approach but rejected it for being too absurd. Maybe another woman would have gone all moon-eyed at those words, but not his girl.
“You don’t understand. She’s not like other women.”
Raven waved her hand dismissively. “Yes, yes, every vampire thinks his mate is a truly special and perfect creature.”
Saiden barked out a harsh laugh and sat up. “That is definitely not what I said.”
At Raven’s quizzical look, he continued. “She’s… difficult. It’s like anytime I say or ask anything she has to clam up or turn belligerent. Whenever I get close to her I can’t decide if I want to kiss her or strangle her.”
“I imagine it doesn’t help that you have considerably more experience with the latter than the former.”
It was depressing how accurate her assessment was.
“I’m not charming or suave, Raven, but even if I was, she would likely be immune.”
“I think you are underestimating modern day women, Saiden. Have you ever considered that charming and suave is not what she’s looking for? That perhaps you should just be yourself?”
“Yeah, right,” Saiden grunted, dropping his head into his hands. “I highly doubt she’s looking for an emotionally stunted, anti-social, violent, centuries-old vampire who prefers solitude and spends most of his time hunting and murdering other vampires because it’s the only thing he’s good at.”
“Well at least you can add self-awareness to your list of personality traits,” she teased in a rare display of amusement.
“Ha. Ha. Ha,” he replied dryly, failing to see the humor in his situation.
“You have a soft spot for your family,” Raven pointed out. “Perhaps you can bond over that?”
“She doesn’t speak to her father, has no siblings, and I’m pretty sure her mom is deceased.”
“I see,” Raven mused. “You really do need more hobbies, Saiden.”
“I’m well aware, thanks.” He rose from the chair and held out a hand for his cousin. “I’m pretty sure Tressa will have Cora in the dining room shortly. Will you just go meet her and maybe talk to her for a bit? I’ll take any advice you have.”
Raven shook her head. “It’s not going to be that easy, Saiden. You can’t learn what makes a person tick in one meal. You have to put in the effort. I’ll meet her tomorrow after she’s settled down a bit. Let’s not overwhelm the poor girl from the start.”
Raven spun and strode toward the door. Pausing at the threshold, she tossed back, “I can give you one piece of advice, though. No more naked seduction. You’re an attractive male, Saiden, but you don’t want her to see you as a fling. Keep it in your pants, alright?”
Saiden nodded even as certain parts of him bristled at the suggestion. He could do it, though. He could fight the pull of the mating bond and keep his hands to himself.
After all, nobody ever said love was easy.