Chapter 18 No, Thank You
EIGHTEEN
no, thank you
Being a vampire means I don’t notice temperature changes.
Tonight, I feel it all. The cool breeze lifts my hair from my shoulders, sending chill bumps down my arms. Cyrus and I walk arm in arm around the back of Lucien’s property.
The bushes are each trimmed into different shapes.
Some resemble animals, while others look very humanistic.
“I’m sorry,” I say simply.
“There’s nothing to be sorry for.”
I scoff. “I made a fool out of myself. Lucien’s right. I still think like a human.”
Cyrus stops walking. “If you remember correctly, you were human not long ago. You never chose this life, Violet.”
“Harrison chose it for me.”
“He has a way of doing that.” He lifts my chin. “You are stronger than you realize.”
“That’s not going to keep Aurora or Callum from taking me.” I scoff. “Is there anyone else I should be aware of?”
Cyrus ignores my sarcasm. “If Lucien reverses the spell, I can prevent it,” he answers.
I stare at my buyer. “You purchased me to sell. I’m nothing more than an investment.”
Bright blue eyes stare back into mine. “You are much more than an investment, Violet.”
With his words, butterflies take flight in my stomach. How the hell does a vampire get butterflies? “What am I?” I ask, boldly.
“You are someone I’ve grown quite fond of.” Large hands wrap around my elbows.
“What are you saying?”
“I don’t know.” He turns, walking a few steps away.
“From the first night you ran from me, ending up by the river, I sensed something different in you. You possess a strength that not many people have. It’s that strength that kept you alive when Chamberlin left you by the riverside and the same strength that kept you from eating half of New Orleans afterward.
” He turns back toward me. “It’s the reason I’m willing to kill Callum. ”
I don’t know what’s happening, but I think I like it. Is Cyrus confessing that he has feelings for me or simply protecting an investment?
“You’re willing to kill an ancient vampire to protect me?” I repeat his words from earlier.
“Does that bother you?” he asks.
“Did you know it’s rude to answer a question with a question?”
Cyrus smiles. “Touché.”
I look into his eyes, trying to figure out if I’m imagining this entire scene. “No and yes,” I answer.
“That answered so much.”
I smile before continuing. “No, it doesn’t bother me that you want to fight for me. Yes, it bothers me that something might happen to you.”
“I’m strong, Violet,” he counters. “Stronger than I should be.”
“Did you forget that he kicked your ass earlier?”
One side of Cyrus’s mouth lifts higher than the other. “I like this side of you.”
“What side?”
“This. The feisty side.”
“You call it feisty; I call it smart.” I cross my arms in front of my chest. “I don’t want something to happen to you because you’re protecting me.”
He steps closer, leaving inches between us. “I’m a grown man, Violet. I am very capable of making my own decisions. If something were to happen to me, I can assure you it would be on my terms, not yours. This might surprise you, but not everything is your fault.”
Bright blue eyes look into mine, then to my lips.
When Harrison kissed me, I was nervous. When Cyrus looks at me, emotions I’ve never felt before fill my body.
Every part of my body wants to close the distance between us.
I fight the urge to throw my arms around his shoulders and place my lips on his.
“Violet,” he whispers.
“Yes?”
“Can I…Can I…” I don’t wait for him to finish.
I step on the tips of my toes, pressing my lips to his firmly.
At first, it feels awkward, but it doesn’t take long for Cyrus to respond.
His lips press into mine as his hands cup my cheeks.
His lips are soft and gentle as they press on mine, never pushing any further than a simple kiss.
Cyrus pulls away first. “I was going to ask if I could get you something to eat, but this works too.” The smile that covers his face seems to carry less weight than before. His lips press into mine once more, sending shock waves to my toes. I want to open my mouth like I’ve seen in magazines.
He pulls away for the second time. “Thank you, Violet.”
“For?”
“This,” he answers. “For trusting me…for sharing yourself with me.” His lips push into mine once more, this time moving further than before.
Teeth push against my lip as he nudges my mouth slowly open.
Sensations I’ve never felt before race through my body, begging for more.
More kissing, more contact, more everything.
As quickly as he kissed me, he stops. His actions remind me of an animal sensing danger. “What?” I whisper.
“Feel,” he answers. “Send your energy away from here, and tell me what you sense.”
I do what he suggests, not feeling anything different than before. I shrug. “Nothing.”
“Relax, Violet. Let your instincts take over.”
I take a deep breath, releasing it slowly, and concentrate on sending my energy in a 360-degree circle. It’s there that I find what he’s talking about. The faint trace of something paranormal. “What is it?” I ask, opening my eyes.
“Vampire,” he answers.
“Do you know who?”
He shakes his head. “No, but they’re powerful.”
“Callum?” I ask.
“Possibly. There’s no way to tell until whoever it is gets closer.”
Terrin appears from nowhere. “Do you feel him?” he asks, startling me.
“Feel who?” I ask the immortal child.
“Father,” he answers.
Cyrus makes eye contact with me. He kneels in front of the child. “You feel Callum?”
“Yes,” Terrin whispers, as if the ancient vampire can hear him. “He’s coming.”
“You might want to fill me in on this plan quickly,” I add.
“The plans only involve me,” Cyrus answers. “I will kill Callum and return here for the spell.”
“That’s not a plan,” I retort. “That’s a suicide mission.”
“We must go inside,” Terrin whispers. “Inside, there are protections. Out here, he will feel us, just as we feel him.”
We don’t question the child as we follow him through the double front doors and into the large foyer. Lucien is sitting perfectly still on the same chair he sat in earlier, appearing to be in a trance of sorts.
“He’s coming,” Terrin repeats his words from earlier.
“Of course he is,” the warlock responds. “My wards will protect you for a while, but even I’m not as strong as Callum. He will break through them, and when he does, there’s no stopping him.”
“You’re just a ray of sunshine,” I say. My voice is full of sarcasm.
“I like you,” Lucien responds.
“How long do we have?” Cyrus asks our host.
He casually shrugs. “A few hours to a few days. It depends on how strong his pull to the boy is.”
“We have to leave,” I announce to anyone who’s listening.
“Where would you go, Violet?” Lucien asks. “As Cyrus has stated before, I am the only one powerful enough to break the spell Aurora holds over him. If you leave without fulfilling your end of the bargain, we have no deal.” He looks at Cyrus. “I believe this is the best time to complete your task.”
“I know,” Cyrus answers. He turns, running a hand through already messy hair. “Will you protect Violet when I leave?”
“To the best of my abilities, I will protect them all.”
“Protect who from what?” Simon’s sleepy voice asks from the landing on the stairs.
“Callum’s coming,” I answer for the crowd.
“Shit. When?”
“According to Lucien, it could be a few hours to a few days.” Cyrus’s voice is laced with anger.
“That helps,” Simon says, echoing my thoughts.
Cyrus turns toward me. “I have to find him.”
“I…I…” I stop short, not sure what I want to say. Do I want to confess my feelings or keep him here?
“I’ll be okay.” He tries to comfort me. “We’ve already had one dispute. He’s still recovering. I’m stronger than most. I’ll be okay.”
“Why do I feel like you’re not telling the whole truth?” Terrin asks.
Cyrus ignores Terrin’s words and moves toward the stairs. “I’m going to change.” He disappears before anyone can object.
“You have to stop him,” I say, turning toward our host.
“It’s his choice. He’s more than capable of making his own choices and decisions.”
I move toward the warlock at vampire speed. “You could break the spell with Aurora without putting his life in danger!”
“Be careful what you say and do here, my dear. I am not weak,” Lucien warns.
He’s right. I don’t stand a chance. Hell, I don’t stand a chance against anything. I look around the room. “Am I the only one here with any common sense?” Anger fills my words.
“No, but you are the only human here.” Lucien’s words hit me in the gut. For the first time since turning, I’d rather be a vampire than human.
“Violet’s right. I’m going with him,” Simon announces. “Stella, stay with Violet.” He shifts into a giant wolf without another word.
“No matter how many times I’ve witnessed a shift, it never gets old.” Lucien moves closer to the wolf. “You are even more handsome now.” Even in animal form, Simon looks confused at his words.
Cyrus is in the foyer a heartbeat later. He’s wearing a pair of black pants and a black shirt. “Simon, I heard what you said. However, this is something I have to do alone.” The giant wolf shakes his head and snorts.
“He says you’ve saved his life more than once. He’s not letting you leave without him,” Stella translates Simon’s words.
Cyrus faces the wolf. “My friend, you owe me nothing, especially your life. I cannot guarantee your safety.”
“He says…” Stella starts.
“I don’t care what he says,” Cyrus interrupts. “You’re not going.” The growl that leaves Simon’s mouth would be terrifying in any other situation. “Lucien?” Cyrus turns toward the warlock.
“Sleep,” Lucien answers, and Simon drops to the marble floor instantly. Soft snores leave his mouth, and drool runs from his tongue a heartbeat later.
“Thank you,” Cyrus says, turning toward the door. “Does he have a weakness?” he asks the immortal child.
“Yes,” Terrin whispers. “Me.”
“The child must be protected,” Lucien reminds him. “If something happens to him, the deal is off.”
“That wasn’t part of our agreement,” Cyrus retorts.
“Consider it a minor addendum.”
Cyrus moves toward me. “If I don’t return, leave. There is an account in your name. The information is upstairs. I’ve left you specific instructions on what to do and where to go.” He pulls me close. “Do you understand?”
I stare at the man who, only days ago, was my buyer, but now…now, I don’t know what he is. “Yes,” I answer, not sure what I’m agreeing to.
“You promised to protect them,” he reminds Lucien.
“You have my word,” the warlock answers.
“He’s getting closer,” Terrin’s tiny voice says. “I feel him.”
“Why don’t you go to your special place, Terrin?” Lucien says to the immortal child who disappears a heartbeat later. The smile that covers the warlock’s face is hiding something deeper. The energy feels off. I glance at my buyer, wondering if he senses the shift.
“I’ll be back,” Cyrus says before I have a chance to ask, disappearing into the night. I change focus, redirecting all my energy to follow Cyrus. Terrin can wait. I can’t determine which direction my buyer’s moving, but I feel him. That’s all that matters at the moment.
The giant wolf transforms into the naked version of Simon. He pulls his knees to his chest, seemingly confused by what’s happened. “You’re okay,” Stella comforts her brother.
“Where’s Cyrus?” he asks.
“He doesn’t want you to follow him,” Lucien answers.
Simon is on his feet a second later. “That’s bullshit. I’m going to help him. Which way did he go?”
“As much as I’m enjoying the view, I’m afraid you’re going to have to sleep a little longer this time.” Lucien waves his arms to the side, and both Stella and Simon collapse.
“Lucien, what are you doing?” I ask.
“It was time for them to rest, my dear,” Lucien declares. “As handsome as Simon is, I’d hate to hurt him.”
Every hair on my body stands at attention at the realization of his words. “You promised Cyrus, you’d protect us. You lied.”
The warlock cocks his head to the side. “Lie is a strong word. Fibbed, maybe. Ooh, how about told a story?” He uses hand quotes. “I always thought that one was strange. Told a story? Should it start with once upon a time? I never understood…”
“That’s enough, warlock,” a woman says from the other room. Pocket doors on the side of the foyer slide open, revealing a woman I hoped to never see again.
“Aurora! It’s so good to see you again. You look as lovely as ever,” Lucien greets her.
“Hello, Lucien,” she answers, moving in front of me. “I’ll be taking what’s mine.”
“You son of a bitch!” I yell.
“I’m sorry, my dear. I wanted to keep my word, but as I told you before, my priorities are elsewhere.” He looks at the beautiful vampire. “She’s all yours. I must say, she has quite a bit of potential.”
“Cyrus is going to kill you,” I spew.
“Cyrus is already dead,” he answers, making my stomach rumble with anxiety.
“That would be a shame,” Aurora says. “I was quite fond of his…skills.” She steps behind me, wrapping a strong arm around my neck and another around my shoulder. My body is powerless to fight her. “It’s time to say goodbye.” She twists her arms against each other, and the world goes black.