Chapter 34
Cliona pulled me toward the manor.
When we hit the yard, I ran past the guard at the door and into my bathroom.
I washed my face and brushed my teeth. I looked in the mirror and saw only that poor Witch’s face.
I didn’t even get her name. I stepped out as Abbey came in with all the necessary ingredients to make margaritas.
“I didn’t hear what her name was. She died because of me… and I don’t even know her name.”
Cliona made herself a drink and flopped into one of the chairs. “I don’t think this is about you.” She took a slow sip. “This one didn’t even resemble you. You weren’t in the area. The killings are unrelated.”
“She was small and blond but…” I stood by the bed, holding on to the large wooden post. The shadow of a guard passed by outside the door.
“There was another killing a while back,” Cliona divulged.
“The Witch was out in the woods. It looked like an animal attack. Her throat was gone but her head was still attached. I’m guessing we have a serial killer on the island.
Manus and his friend were attacked not because of you, but because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Jordan will probably agree when he gets back. ”
“Great. A serial killer on top of everything else. He’ll never let me out of the room again.
” I quickly changed into my trusty leathers and a tank then went to the table and poured the tequila straight into one of the margarita glasses, taking down about half in one drink.
When I closed my eyes to let the burn of the alcohol slide down my throat, I saw the poor Witch’s face.
“Damn,” Abbey said. “At least you can hole up in here with the hulk.”
I huffed.
Cliona took a big drink of hers to match mine. “First time you’ve seen so much blood?”
“Blood? No. It’s not the blood. The…” I couldn’t think of what to say.
“Body?” she finished.
“Yeah, I still see it when I close my eyes.” I raised the glass and finished the drink.
Cliona refilled it.
Abbey started to say something, but Cliona gave her a stern look. “Drinking’s good right now, Abbey. Really good.”
Abbey raised her own glass. “To numbness.”
Cliona and I lifted our glasses and we all took healthy swigs. “To Tynan,” I said. “I miss the dark Vamp.”
Cliona and Abbey lifted their glasses. “To Tynan,” Cliona echoed loudly. Then she continued, softer, “Not to worry, Witch. A connection that strong cannot be severed for eternity.”
I smiled at the thought but drowned that wishful thinking away with another shot.
We made several other toasts before the effects of the tequila eased my anxiety. Abbey started to share some of her favorite gossip as we slowly slipped into a wonderful state of drunkenness.
“You know,” Cliona slurred. “You get under the sarge’s skin even more than I do.”
I took another long drink, no longer affected by the burn of the tequila. “If I didn’t know better, Cliona, I’d say you were jealous.” Abbey looked to her waiting for a huge denial. There was a moment of silence then we all laughed heartily.
“I am. Well…I was.” She lifted her glass. “To Sarge!”
We joined her. Then she said, “I could have tapped that, you know. There aren’t many men who can stir this cold blood. Jordan was one of them.”
Abbey had crawled up on the table and pulled herself upright enough to prop against the upside-down ice bucket. “Why didn’t you? You can have damn near any man you want.”
Cliona waved her off, knocking over her empty glass. She proceeded to set it upright. It only took two tries before she could pour more tequila into it. “I can’t stand wimpy guys. They have to be at least as strong as me or…” She made a raspberry sound like a child.
We laughed at her. “That doesn’t leave many…except for other Vamps,” Abbey said.
“Tell me. Vamps are all medieval, though. They want to take you on for forever, like you’re married or something. Well…unless you’re just a human snack. But with the few of us female Vamps, they want some kind of lifetime bond. They get all…you know, Keena.”
“I do!” I managed to laugh out.
Abbey started to slip off her bucket. “Then why not Jordan?”
“He was in love with the pretty priestess here.” I gawked at her. “Plus, we work together too much. I wouldn’t be able to trust him as backup if I thought he was looking at my ass instead of the bad guys. You know what I mean?”
“No. Whadda ya mean he was in love wiff me?” I slurred.
“He talked about you way before you came into your powers. I saw it in his big silver eyes. He’s been waiting for you. Yes, he has. And now he’s mad at you.”
I sat up as straight as I could and took another big swig. “Why the hell is he mad at me?”
“You don’t love him back. And Mister Big Ol’ Ego can’t stand it!” She laughed riotously and put her head down on the table.
“How can I love some guy I just met? He’s yummy and all, but geez.” I waved my hand to push her away even though I didn’t come close to touching her. “And anyway, how do you know I don’t love him?”
She lifted her head off the table. “You didn’t mark him, Keena. Your joining didn’t mark him. He’s gotta be upset. Your body marked Tynan at your first joining, but you didn’t mark Jordan. He thinks you’ve made him a onesie.”
“A what?”
“A one-timer. Someone you don’t really want as a real consort.” She laughed out loud. “That’s why I called him a boy toy. I was just egging him on, but—”
“Oh my God!” I tried to stand, to move, but only succeeded in falling to the floor.
We all laughed. From the floor, I tried to talk through my laughter.
“I called him a boy toy in the woods.” I was still laughing and had to catch my breath before continuing.
“And two of his men heard!” I kept laughing—but they didn’t. “Oops.”
“Keena! You didn’t!” Abbey’s eyes were huge.
“I didn’t know! How can I tell my body who to mark and who not to?”
Cliona helped me up, all of sudden looking much more sober than she had before. “Subjects can formally request the mark, like I did. But your body will also mark those you love. You marked Tynan because you loved him.”
“He had just pledged an eternity to save my stupid life. Of course I loved him, for that if nothing else.”
She cocked her head to the side and rolled her eyes. She was considering the facts. “Either way, you didn’t mark Jordan—and you made it clear to him and his men that you have no intention to. He will definitely think he’s a onesie.”
With all the Latin and serious names for everything around here, that was such a childish name for a one-night stand.
It made me giggle even more. Until I realized I had unintentionally hurt Jordan.
I felt bad, but could still feel laughter coming over me.
“Maybe it’ll curb his arrogance,” I laughed, and they laughed with me once more.
“That wouldn’t hurt any, but really, Keena,” Abbey said. “You don’t want to leave things like this.”
Cliona poured me another glass, emptying the bottle of tequila. “The man does really love you. I think if you look inside your heart, the Witch part of your heart, you’ll know that you wouldn’t have been attracted to him if you didn’t have true affection for him.”
I sat there a minute and thought it over. They were quiet and a little wobbly as they watched me work out my own emotions. I did have feelings for the overbearing hulk of a man. How was that?
“See,” Cliona explained, “You got a witchy heart. Your blood burns for men you love. You’ll feel that burn many times in your life. Take advantage of it. Many of us envy that in Witches. Makes life much more—”
“Sexy!” Abbey blurted. “Let’s get out of here, Vamp. I think she has some apologizing to do.” She tried to start gathering the remains of the evening and dropped or spilled more than she got on the tray.
While I watched her, I opened my mind to Jordan and called to him. “Leave it, Abbey,” I said. “We’ll get it later.”
Abbey left. Cliona lounged across the bed. Jordan didn’t come. We sat for a while longer. He still didn’t come.
“I guess he is mad,” I said, slumping down in my chair.
“Go to him,” she said very matter-of-factly.
I slung open one of the French doors and Charles spun to attention and then relaxed when he realized it was me. “Take me to your leader!” I demanded. Cliona laughed behind me.
“Ma’am?”
“Geez, lighten up, Charles. Is that your last name or first?”
“Ma’am?” He stood stiff with his weapon at the ready.
“Never mind. Take me to Jordan.” He still looked at me, puzzled.
“Now, Charles.”
“Yes, ma’am!”