Chapter 18 #2
“I’m assuming you traced through the border of my territory, alluding my enforcers? What do you want, Constantine?”
“To collect on the debt you owe me.”
Too nosy to resist, Nessa stepped to the left, ignoring the way Murphy’s fingers tightened on hers as she looked at the vampire again.
“You could have called,” Murphy grumbled, a muscle ticking in his jaw.
“I could have,” Constantine agreed.
Nessa narrowed her eyes in confusion as she watched the vampire; something felt out of place when he spoke. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but Murphy’s words from before echoed in her mind. There was something off about him. Unnatural—and it wasn’t because of his demonic-looking eyes.
Well, not just because of them anyway.
“However,” the vampire continued, “this matter is important. The task I have for you requires the utmost care, which is why I’ve come in person.”
“Speak your business, Constantine. It’s late and my mate needs to sleep.”
Constantine smiled. “Of course. My daughter is traveling in a few weeks for an event. She needs a bodyguard to escort her to her destination, protect her for the duration, and return her safely back to her coven.”
Murphy’s brows rose. “That’s all?”
The vampire inclined his head before straightening.
He sent a sidelong glance to Nessa before returning his attention to Murphy.
“I’d like to request that you send a shifter that isn’t mated.
I would have preferred you, as you are the strongest of your clan, but I won’t risk my daughter’s safety if you’ve become distracted by your mate. ”
Murphy nodded. “I’ll select someone from my clan to act as your daughter’s chaperone.”
“Why can’t a vampire go with your daughter?” Nessa blurted out, curiosity getting in the way of her common sense. Why was she interrupting their impromptu meeting? This had nothing to do with her!
She snapped her mouth closed, hoping Murphy wouldn’t be upset that she had just stuck her nose in his business.
“That’s a great question,” Murphy murmured.
He lifted her hand to his mouth, his lips brushing against her knuckles.
She shivered at the touch, remembering all too well how his mouth felt on hers.
How good it had felt while he’d sucked on her neck, teasing her sensitive throat.
“Constantine has many warriors within his coven. I’m sure they’re far better suited to protect his daughter. ”
Constantine curled his upper lip in disgust. “Unfortunately, Kiara has been insistent on taking this trip alone. She is refusing my warriors at every opportunity. It was a miracle she agreed for a shifter to act as her guard.”
“And where will she be going? How long will she be gone for?” Murphy asked.
“She’ll be attending an event in New York to celebrate her friend’s transition into vampirism. This will only be for a week. Once she is safely returned to me, your debt will be paid.”
“I agree to your terms. We can discuss itineraries over the next few days.”
“Very well.” Constantine smiled, his fangs looking longer than they had a few seconds ago. “Enjoy your night.”
Then he suddenly disappeared, evaporating into thin air. Nessa jumped, a shocked sound escaping from her throat as Murphy closed the door. “He just—Where the hell did he go?” she exclaimed, placing a hand over her frantically beating heart.
“He traced away.”
“What is that? Like teleportation?”
Murphy’s lips twitched, and he pulled her to him as he turned to face her. When she was close enough, he scooped her up into his arms, carrying her like a bride back toward his bedroom.
“No. The only people who can teleport are demons and witches. Vampires move too fast for the human eye to notice and can travel long distances in seconds. That’s how blood was delivered in time to save your life.”
“Demons and—” Nessa felt lightheaded. She shook her head in disbelief before filing that information away for another time.
“You were right, by the way. About how creepy he is,” she added.
“I couldn’t figure out why he unnerved me so much, but every time he talked, I kept feeling like something was wrong with him. ”
Murphy stepped into his bedroom, and then into the adjoined bathroom, turning on the light before setting her onto her feet. “Vampires aren’t alive like we are, Nessa. Oxygen in the blood they consume sustains them, so they don’t need to breathe.”
“His chest didn’t move!” That’s why he looked so unnaturally still when he spoke! Because he wasn’t breathing.
Murphy hummed in agreement, starting the shower. The water kicked on, shooting from the showerhead and hitting the bottom of the porcelain tub. After a few seconds, steam filled the air.
Nessa bit her lip, another thought plaguing her now that he’d cleared up this one. “What did Constantine mean when he said he’d never been unable to compel someone before? Is there something wrong with me?”
Murphy shook his head. “Absolutely not. There is nothing wrong with you. But I noticed it before, too. A powerful shifter can send out waves of their dominance to command others. It’s useful if someone is being unruly and prevents altercations.
Or if a shifter has difficulty managing their counterpart, I can use my ability to keep them from losing full control,” he explained.
Her brow furrowed, a sliver of hurt cutting through her. “You used your dominance on me before?”
When? Why hadn’t she noticed it? And would he do it again? The thought worried her.
A pained look crossed his features that helped ease some of her hurt. “I would never intentionally do that to you, I swear. It happened the night you showed up at my door. My bear and I didn’t want you to leave, and he pushed to the surface, demanding that you stay.”
Murphy scowled, as if just remembering that event pissed him off.
“I was infuriated with my bear for doing it, but before I could take it back, you told me you had to go. You’d brushed it off as if it were nothing.
I’ve never seen anything like it. I realized then that it hadn’t worked on you at all. ”
“You didn’t try again, just to test it out?” she asked, a slight quiver in her voice.
“No,” Murphy answered fiercely, his eyes never leaving hers.
“I never want to take a choice away from you, Nessa. I didn’t try again because I was ashamed of what I’d done.
I don’t care that it didn’t work. In fact, I am glad it didn’t.
I hate that I lost control of myself in that moment.
I never even want it to be a possibility. ”
Nessa stared up at him for a handful of seconds, studying his features for any sign of deception. All she saw was a man who regretted his actions.
And she believed him.
“Okay,” she said softly, placing her hand over his. “I trust you.”
Murphy’s shoulders sagged in relief. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a big, warm hug. “I can look into it for you, see if there’s any information on why you can resist compulsion,” he murmured into her hair. “I’m not sure if I’ll be able to find anything, but I’ll do what I can.”
“I’d like that.”
“Alright, little mate.” He kissed the crown of her head. “The shower’s ready if you want to take one before you go back to sleep.”
“Does that mean you’re not planning to take a shower with me?” she blurted out, both surprised and impressed that she’d had the courage to ask him. It probably helped that her face was buried against his chest, hiding her from view.
Murphy stiffened, his tension returning. “Not tonight, Nes,” he said tightly, letting her go abruptly.
Then he left the bathroom, closing the door softly behind him. Nessa watched him leave, confused about what she’d done wrong.