Chapter 14
“All right, Mrs. Malus, you’re good to go.” The phlebotomist smooths a band-aid over the little needle prick on the inside of my elbow. “The lab is a little backed up so you can probably expect to see your results tomorrow morning.”
“Thanks,” I tell her, head spinning at being called Mrs. Malus. Technically, that’s who I am now. Legally, at least. I filled out all the papers to change my last name and I’m sure Xavier has strings to pull to make sure anything dealing with him gets filed and stamped or whatever right away.
“Good luck! You’ll make a beautiful mother.”
“Thanks,” I say again and do my best not to roll my eyes.
As far as everyone here in this OB/GYN office is concerned, I just got my yearly exam and IUD removed in preparation for trying to get pregnant.
Xavier doesn’t hide the fact that he’s a vampire.
He’s pretty involved with the VC, actually, probably because a lot of politicians are in his pocket.
How is he going to explain it when his human wife is seen out in public with a baby bump?
It’s not like I can go around telling everyone my husband’s distant “brother” knocked me up because the whole fucking family is obsessed with carrying on their biological line, but when you stop and think about it, the math ain’t mathin’ because where are all these vampires that have been created?
Why do only three Malus brothers live in this house?
What happened to the rest?
Nina is outside waiting for me as I leave the doctor’s office.
“Hungry?” she asks when I get into the car.
“I could eat.”
“What would you like? Sushi? Might as well get some while you can.”
“Uh, sure,” I say, not bothering to say I can eat veggie rolls while pregnant. It’s the raw fish you need to avoid. Watching the scenery pass us by, I hear Xavier’s voice echoing in my mind. They kidnapped you.
Why would Vivian kidnap me? It just doesn’t make sense. There’s a chance Xavier lied, but why would he? He’s cold and calculated and doesn’t do things that don’t benefit himself…lying about that doesn’t work in his favor.
“You can join us,” I tell the driver when we get out of the car at a Japanese restaurant. He hesitates but then nods. As a hunter, I’ve been trained in a variety of areas, not just combat. I’m pretty good at reading body language, but my ability to sense people’s emotions is better.
He and Nina have a thing going on. It started with them getting drinks after work so they could talk about how crazy the Malus family was, and they’d fill each other in on anything they might have been forced to forget.
I smile and look from him to her, secretly rooting for this relationship.
Everyone deserves love…just not me, I guess.
I eat my weight in ramen and vegetarian sushi rolls, making small talk with Nina and the driver, whose name is Henry.
They’re very closed and guarded…but distracted with each other enough that they don’t notice when I swipe several tealight candles from the tables as we leave.
Now I just need to sneak into the kitchen at the house, get what I need from the herbs, and I’ll have more to work with in terms of doing magic.
After lunch, we go to the jeweler to get my ring.
It fits perfectly and as wrong as it feels to have this giant rock on my finger, I can’t deny how pretty it is when it sparkles in the late afternoon sunlight.
I almost walk into the doorframe as I leave the store because the light hit the ring and nearly blinded me.
“You all right?” Nina asks.
“I have no idea,” I reply honestly. Because I really don’t know. My dream life is unfolding before me effortlessly. The house, the ring, the financial stability to never have to work again, a sister-in-law I can be friends with…even marrying into a family who isn’t afraid of the fact I’m a witch.
But I’m not in love.
“That’s fair,” Nina agrees quietly. From the jewelry store we go to a salon, where I get a massage, my nails done, and then get my hair washed, cut, blown out and styled. Again, sur-fucking-real. I’ve painted my nails more times than I can count, and I’ve bought press-ons before from Target.
But I’ve never had long, elegant nails like I do now. I couldn’t grip my dagger with nails like this, and I accidentally poke myself in the face twice. It’ll take me a good day or two to get used to these, I’m sure.
We stop at some bougie boutique so I can pick up a dress that Xavier specifically wants me to wear tonight.
I cringe as the owner goes into the back to get it, assuming whatever he picked out is going to be awful.
It’ll either be too revealing or make me look like one of his many Mormon housewives, I'm sure.
So I’m shocked when I try on the dress and am pleasantly surprised.
Stepping back, I run my hands down my sides as I look at my reflection in the large mirror in the dressing room.
The dress is light blue, reminding me a bit of Cinderella.
It’s mid-length, with a halter style top and a deep neckline that shows off the little bit of cleavage I have.
The dress fits perfectly, making me look feminine and soft.
“Who are you?” I whisper to my reflection before twirling.
As a hunter, I’ve played many roles to get into places I need to be.
The Order hired us to infiltrate a charity gala a few years ago, and Leo and I both dressed up in black tie apparel.
I wore heels and even borrowed an expensive diamond necklace from the Order’s archives so I’d even look the part.
Yet this…this still feels different.
I try on several pairs of shoes before deciding on a pair of white heels.
They’re simple, yet probably still cost half of a month’s rent at any average apartment in the area.
Keeping the fancy clothes on, we go back to the house so I can wait for Xavier to come back or be done with whatever he’s doing.
Still in heels, I hurry upstairs and into my room, stashing the candles under my pillow just seconds before the bedroom door opens.
“You clean up nicely.”
I spin around, this time recognizing Devon’s aura.
“Same to you,” I say and cock an eyebrow.
He’s wearing black dress pants and a black dress shirt that’s tucked in.
My eyes linger for a second too long on the gold buckle of his belt.
I blink and tear my eyes away, telling myself I didn’t notice his half-rolled sleeves or the dark stubble that covers his strong jaw. “Are you coming with me?”
“No,” he says with a chuckle. “I’m just a lowly human.”
“So am I.”
“Nah, you’re on a higher level.” He says it as a joke, but something tells me he really believes that. Probably because his so-called family has drilled it into his head. “I will be eventually.”
“You really want to become a vampire?”
He shrugs. “What other alternative do I have?”
I widen my eyes and slowly shake my head. “Umm…live your life. You were raised as a fancy, well-educated trust-fund kid. You could go anywhere. Unless you’re not allowed?”
“Oh, I could leave. They’d wipe my memory and give me enough money to get me set up and then…” He shrugs again. “It’s not so bad, really.”
“Sounds like you’re trying to convince yourself, not me.”
His eyes meet mine and it’s like I’m looking into a mirror. Because I can feel the emptiness and longing inside of him. The desperation to belong and be a part of the family.
“Let’s not talk about why you’re still here then,” he presses. “You’re a witch and can’t be held spellbound and I know you snuck herbs from the kitchen.” He takes a step into the room. “Even Xavier finds it curious you haven’t tried to escape. But I know.”
“What do you know?” I ask, fighting to keep my voice steady.
“You’re smart and resourceful and could find your way. But you feel like you have nowhere to go because you have no one to go to.”
I clench my jaw, hating that his words brought on a sudden surge of emotion. Because he’s right, dammit.
“I won’t tell anyone about the herbs,” he goes on and comes closer, flinching a bit when he moves his shoulder.
“Oh shit, how’s the, uh, wound?”
“Okay.”
“That doesn’t sound too convincing,” I say, raising an eyebrow.
“Let me look.” Getting to my feet, I wait as Devon crosses the room.
He goes to roll up his sleeve but realizes it won’t go up high enough.
He unbuttons his shirt and something about watching his fingers undo each button does something to me.
Get it together, Wren. I’m married to his brother.
“What is that?” I can’t help but ask, seeing a tattoo on his chest.
“Oh, this?” He looks down as he carefully shrugs the shirt down his injured arm. “It’s the Malus family crest.”
Going against my better judgement, I reach out and run my finger along the outline of the coat of arms. The crest is divided into three sections, with the letter M in the section along the top and center.
There’s a raven and a sword in the other sections, and the whole thing is adorned with vines and thorns.
“Wow.”
“You’ll probably get a necklace with this on it soon,” he goes on.
“Malus means bad in Latin,” I start, “so that can’t really be your last name.”
“It’s not,” he tells me with no hesitation. “Xavier changed it when we had to register.”
“Oh.” I nod, knowing a lot of vampires got to call themselves whatever they wanted when it came time to get their government-issued IDs. It’s not like there was any way to prove who they were or weren’t.
My fingers slip down his chest and I shake myself. Right. The burn on his arm. I pull the fabric down and look at it.
“You should put something on it so it doesn’t get infected.” I step back. “But it doesn't look horrible.”
“Thanks.” His eyes linger on mine and he slowly inhales as he buttons his shirt back up. “Good luck tonight. You at least look the part.” His lips twitch into a forced smile.
“Thanks, I think?”
“You’ll need it.” He winks and then leaves the room, closing the door behind him.
I let out a shaky sigh and go into the bathroom, gripping the counter and leaning forward.
I didn’t think I’d start to have feelings for anyone again after Ryder, so it’s on brand for the chaotic mess that is my life that the first person to give me butterflies is my brother-in-law.
“I…I don’t even know what’s going on tonight.”
He presses his lips together and shrugs. “Be glad you’re at least aware you don’t know what’s going on. Maybe?”
Our eyes lock and that same knowing feeling passes through me.
“Yeah, I guess,” I say and take in a slow breath. Devon lets his eyes linger on my face for a moment and then leaves. Letting out a sigh, I perch on the edge of my bed and close my eyes, trying to focus on my breathing.
Suck it up, buttercup.
Marco’s voice echoes in my head. Not showing emotions is a hallmark of a good hunter.
We’re raised like warriors, little demon-killing machines who listen to what the Order says without question.
But now Xavier’s voice is also echoing in my head, and I’m starting to look forward to actually having some time alone with my vampire husband.
“Husband,” I whisper and hold up my hand, looking at the rock on my finger that could sink a fucking ship. “Fuck, that sounds weird.”
“You’ll get used to it.”
I jump at the sound of Xavier’s voice coming from the open door.
“You need a fucking collar with bells,” I huff, shaking my head.
A smile plays on his lips and I hate how handsome he is.
It’s not fair how some people get everything in life: good looks, money, power, and in his case, immortality.
And right now, dressed in a dark, expensive suit with his hair effortlessly swept back, he looks like a walking red flag that would break your back and your bed frame and leave you begging for more.
“Now where’s the fun in that?” He speeds into the room and extends his left hand. I notice he’s wearing a ring too. “You look stunningly beautiful, wife.”
“Thanks. You, uh, did a good job picking the dress. I was surprised.”
“Mabel helped,” he tells me. “Though I knew that color would look good on you. It brings out your eyes.”
“Most people would have put me in a green dress, then.” I take his hand and he effortlessly pulls me to my feet. His large hand is cool against mine, long fingers encasing my whole hand.
“Blue complements, not competes.”
“Yeah, that is true.” I’m standing right in front of him, breasts moving with each breath. And he’s completely still. I can’t sense any emotions coming off him like I can with humans. It’s unnerving as well as calming. Does the dark magic inside him cancel mine out?
“Before we go,” he starts and slides his hand down my arm, making me suppress a chill.
Not just because his touch is cold, but because his fingertips brushing over my skin like that feels so damn good and I can’t help my mind from wondering what it would feel like if he brushed them over the rest of my body.
He takes his hand off me and reaches inside his suit jacket, pulling out a thumb drive. “Consider this a wedding present,” he says and sets it on my dresser.
“What is it?”
“Files,” he starts as he strides back over.
“From the Order.” His large fingers close around my wrist once more and he gives me a gentle tug.
I willingly let my body move closer to his.
He’s tall and firm and, fuck, he smells good.
“You thought they hadn’t been keeping records of you. Turns out they have.”