He made his decision. “I’ll bring in Frida and her team of PR specialists and let them decide what to do. In the meantime, just let everyone know that help is on the way.”
He got Longeness back on the com and ordered him to send his PR team over to Chelana. “I won’t be able to answer any questions tonight, but I will tomorrow. In the meantime, have them try to keep the Kellcasse Chronicle from going overboard in its write up.”
“Done. But just so you know, I alerted Frida the moment you mentioned Margetta was at a wedding.”
“Thank you for the foresight. I owe you one for thinking ahead.”
“You’re welcome, Mastyr.”
With that, Jude launched into the air, holding Hannah tight once more. She trembled now, not surprisingly.
“You smell like cabbages, Jude. You’ll have to have your coat and leathers cleaned after this.”
He smiled that of all the things she could have said to him, even that she could have railed at him about dragging her into this mess and risking her life, she talked about getting cabbage stains off his leathers.
He nuzzled her neck, even while flying. “And you smell like fire with just a hint of roses and the seashore underneath.”
She laughed but hugged him tighter still.
He flew her back to Castle Island, cradling her in his arms. She shook, but he understood the cause. Battle could do that to anyone, not to mention a mile-long flight straight down.
Dawn was hours away yet, but he refused to put Hannah in jeopardy one more time. He’d take her back to the Castle and spend the rest of the night with her there. Hopefully, the day as well. She’d been through a lot and needed her rest.
While in flight, he contacted Reese, requesting a squad to patrol the Castle Lake just in case Margetta made a way-too-speedy recovery. He doubted she’d be back tonight, but he wasn’t taking any chances.
Once daylight came, Margetta as predominantly fae, would need to seek shelter as well, so he felt fairly confident that he wouldn’t have to worry about her killing mist until the following night.
Jude, though I don’t like to mention it, I sure hope your fridge is stocked because I’m starving.
Me, too. And don’t worry. Nathan always keeps the shelves packed. I’m sure we’ll find something to satisfy.
Her hand found his chest and she rubbed in a gentle motion.
Oh, I’m absolutely certain we will.
He didn’t even try to misunderstand her, but put on a little more speed. A meal. A shower. And Hannah in his bed.
He felt lightheaded as he descended onto the back balcony, landing easily just outside the door. When he set her on her feet and led her across the threshold, he could see that her body was still flushed from battling with her fire-gift.
Once inside, she turned toward him. “Jude, I know this may not seem like a big thing, but is there any way I can get some of my things over here? I need my brush, a change of clothes, other stuff.”
“Don’t worry about it for a second.” He used his cell this time to contact Longeness, then handed it to her, saying, “You ask for everything you want. I have a large staff who can get whatever you need within the hour.”
She took the phone with a hearty ‘thank you’, then drifted into the hallway to make her request.
Part of Jude wanted only one thing, to hustle Hannah upstairs to his bedroom, feed from her vein and make love to her. But what he wanted right now didn’t matter. Hannah was starved and he’d make sure she had a good meal before he did anything else.
He headed for the fridge, and pulling it open, found a tureen of fresh beef and noodle soup. His stomach growled, making him aware that the last thing he’d eaten hours ago, was a cupcake.
He toasted some French bread, poured out two glasses of sweet German wine and by the time Hannah returned, he was ladling out two bowls.
“That smells wonderful.”
He gestured to the table by the bay windows. “Have a seat.”
“Thank you for this.” She held a hand to her stomach as she sat down in one of the chairs so that she could look outside. “How close to dawn are we?”
“A few hours yet.” He didn’t even have to think. He had an internal clock, as all sun-sensitive realm-folk did. He could have stated the time to the minute, if he’d wanted to.
He brought everything over in quick trips, then sat down beside her. She picked up her spoon, dipped, sipped and moaned. He loved that sound, no matter when she made it. “Jude, this is freaking amazing. I’ve never cared for soup much, but I think I’m in heaven.”
“Nathan studied in Paris for a year.”
“Seriously?”
“He made quite the stir. I think he became a minor celebrity for a time. But damn he can cook.”
“He sure can. The bread is perfect. All of this. Thank you.”
He met and held her gaze for a moment. “You did great tonight.”
She drew in a quick breath. “I’ve never been so scared.” She sank her spoon again and this time maneuvered a thick noodle into her mouth, though her fingers shook.
Adrenaline,
She pathed.
I know. Been there.
Despite the fact that he normally didn’t care for small talk, he decided to do it anyway for Hannah’s sake. He knew how hard it was to come down after a battle. He gestured to the lake and named the various villages in the distance that rimmed the shoreline. A second glass of wine helped, and she finally stopped shaking.
She even smiled.
“What?”
“I was told by a very wise woman, to ask you an important question.”
“And who is this woman? Do I know her?”
“Amelia, my manager.”
He choked on his wine. Then swallowed and wiped the corners of his mouth. “Amelia, the wise? The one with purple stripes in her hair who has dated at least a dozen bikers and one ex-con?”
“Just because she has a thing for bad boys doesn’t make her unwise. But I’ll let you judge for yourself the wisdom of her advice. She told me that I should ask you to show me your bedroom.”
Jude’s nostrils flared, and his heart expanded about twice its size. At the same time, his leathers shrunk. “I take it back. Amelia is brilliant.”
He didn’t act on what he felt, however, even though all he wanted to do was haul her into his arms and get on with things.
Instead, he sat with her at the table striving for patience, especially given that another kind of hunger had risen; he needed to feed. But Hannah needed her things before they retired.
Movement out on the lake showed that his Guardsman were already on patrol.
After sufficient time had passed, he rose as he spoke and started gathering up the dishes. He rinsed and left things in the sink. He wasn’t about to do a full clean-up when Hannah was there, waiting.
She rose as well, and at the same time, his phone rang. After shutting off the water and drying his hands on a towel, he answered. “Yes, Longeness.”
“Mary is at the front door to the castle with Hannah’s belongings.”
“Thanks. The timing is perfect. Much appreciated. You’re off in a few?”
“Ten minutes.”
“Say hello to your wife.”
“And take care of our girl.” Longeness and his wife had often gone to the Gold Rush, until she’d discovered she was pregnant with twins. They’d stuck close to Kellcasse since.
“I will.” Everyone loved Hannah.
He put his phone away and waved Hannah toward the front door. “Your things have arrived.”
“That was the phone call?”
“Yep. Standing orders. I want to know who’s coming to my house before I open that door.”
“Makes total sense.”
A vampire named Mary brought a rolling flight bag full of Hannah’s clothes. She was beautiful, with straight black hair and large blue eyes, and had often spent time at the Gold Rush. She’d been married to a Guardsman years ago, but he’d fallen to an Invictus attack.
After the two women exchanged a few laughing comments about digging around in other people’s closets, Mary wished them a blessed night. Jude offered the same farewell, and a moment later, she took off into the night.
He watching Hannah staring after Mary, clearly amazed at the way vampires could travel so easily in levitated flight.
Jude took the suitcase in hand, then guided Hannah to the stone staircase at the left.
“This really is a castle, isn’t it?”
“It is. It was my wife’s dream and though I might have chosen something different for myself, all I cared about was making her happy.”
He heard Hannah catch her breath. “Oh, Jude. She should have lived. Your daughter, too. I’m so sorry.”
“I couldn’t agree more but it was a long time ago.”
She stopped him just at the bottom of the stairs, tugging on the inside of his elbow. “I can feel your sadness, though. I’ve always felt it, and if I could erase it, nothing would make me happier.”
Jude stared down at her, hardly knowing how to respond. He knew she’d spoken from her heart and maybe that’s what troubled him. Hannah was such a good, worthy woman. “You have a very tender heart, Hannah. I mean, I know you’ve cared for my men and even for me with all that you do for us in your bar. But I don’t think until this moment, I ever realized that everything you do comes from that tenderness.”
She looked taken aback. “Thank you. I’ll always remember that you’ve said that to me.” She then took his hand and started up the stairs.
Jude felt gut-shot in a way he couldn’t explain. He didn’t even know why he’d told her about Naomi’s love of this house, but he was so at ease with Hannah. Of course he always had been. He’d just never thought it would lead to this, to Hannah in his home, leading him upstairs, to his bedroom.
Sweet Goddess.
His heart ached, not just because he missed his wife and always would, but because Hannah was … well, exactly who she was and he loved her for that, more than he’d ever understood before.
He tried not to think about it, however, nor did he have to make any decisions right now, but the transformation of his relationship with Hannah seemed to be moving at light speed. But to what possible end when Hannah wanted to sustain her life in Port Townsend more than anything else in the world and he ruled an entire realm?
~ ~ ~
Hannah took a long, cool shower, grateful that she had her things with her. Mary had been thorough, even adding a few things she hadn’t put on the list, like two more pairs of shoes and socks. She’d delivered the requested nightgown as well, just not the one Hannah had asked for.
She had at least a dozen nightgowns ranging from long flannel to the lavender silky one now hanging on the back of Jude’s bathroom door.
Mary had chosen a very skimpy negligee, made of sheer lavender fabric trimmed with lace. She’d never even worn it before, but had been saving it up for something special.
And now Jude would see it.
When she had her hair washed, she finally left the very large, Jude-sized shower with massaging jets and a variety of heads aimed at all angles. She blew her hair dry, loving the texture after having used Jude’s crème rinse.
She’d have to find out where he got it because it was fabulous. With all his hair, of course, he’d need to work hard to keep it under control.
Once her hair was dry, she slipped into the nightie.
But as she looked at herself in the mirror, without a single light burning, her skin had a warm glow that had never been there before. Even her features seemed stronger somehow, though not in a bad way.
Closing her eyes, she opened up to what resided inside her now, to the heat always close to the surface, to her tingling palms, and to the ability to fight off the most powerful fae in the Nine Realms.
She felt the vibration of it and began to explore. The Nine Realms was a world of vibrations, something she’d always known but now experienced. Jude had used physical vibrations when they’d made love in the bunkroom and just thinking about them again loosened the tendons at the backs of her knees. He also had a battle vibration and maybe that’s what this resonance of heat was within her body as well, a tool of war.
She opened her eyes, but still didn’t see reflected a warrior like Jude and his Vampire Guard. She was just a regular sort of person who owned a bar in one of the best places in the U.S.
And she was a blood rose.
She took another moment to sort through her new inner life and found the vibration attached to the other part of who she was in the realm world. Closing her eyes once more, she took a moment to examine the blood rose vibration and felt more than anything that it had a nurturing quality, which made sense since it was designed by the hidden mysteries of this world to feed a mastyr vampire. She still couldn’t believe that her blood could relieve Jude forever of his chronic blood starvation.
As she connected with this frequency, it led her straight to Jude who she had heard earlier moving around in his bedroom. Opening up to him, she could feel the level of his hunger in the same way she’d been starved when she sat down to have her beef and noodle soup. Jude needed her blood. Badly.
She could also tell that he’d held back letting her know of his hunger, something she valued so much about him. He seemed to always be thinking of others.
The errant thought ran through her head:
So just how far have I already fallen in love with Jude?
A shiver ran through her at the thought of donating again, of giving up the most important element of her body, the thing that nourished every living cell. She would give this up to Jude, and do it happily because Jude was … well, Jude.
She’d never thought in a million years that she’d have a sexual relationship with him, but here she was, just a few feet away from his bedroom.
She opened the door slowly to catch a glimpse of him before he saw her. Having already showered in another room, he sat on the end of the bed in nothing but a light blue towel, his head bent over as he carefully worked a brush through his damp hair.
The bedroom also had stone walls like the outside of the castle, heavily mortared, very masculine and beautiful. This room fit Jude extremely well. But she also saw the feminine hand of the designer since the room was decorated in shades of blue with floral drapes reminiscent of at least a century past.