Immortal Prophecy (The Immortal Prophecy Saga) (17 page)

“Aye,” Henry replied.

Alessandra and James got in the backseat of the car while Coco decided to sit up the front with her new best friend, Henry and Adele.

Dogs were intelligent but Coco was almost human. She seemed to know instinctively who was to be trusted and who wasn’t. Perhaps she would be a most beneficial extra pair of eyes around Ally. She proved her loyalty the other night with Vincent.

“How far is the house James?” Adele enquired.

“Only twenty minutes the way Henry drives,” he smirked.

Henry gave him a wink in the rear view mirror.

The drive was quick and easy. Upon a hilltop in the mountain range, nestled in amongst the forest, was the most beautiful piece of architecture that Alessandra had ever seen.

The driveway leading to the house was lined with green trees and the path was made of a primitive sandy gravel that suited the setting perfectly.

As they approached, the tall iron gates opened. There behind them sat Carlisle Manor.

The structure was five stories high with a charcoal tiled roof. There were two wide terraces on the ground floors and elegant white french doors behind them, doubling as windows. A small tower appeared off the side with a balcony attached. The gardens were simple but sophisticated. In short, Carlisle Manor was breathtaking. Ally found herself speechless in the presence of the majesty in front of her.

James looked at her and smirked at her expression. Her eyes were wide and captivated while her chin was practically touching the ground. It gave him the confidence he needed. She clearly was impressed by the house and that was a good start.

He threw her a dazzling smile and looked at her over his black sunglasses. “Welcome to our home, Alessandra.”

Heat crept through her from her toes all the way to her face. “Would you stop looking at me like that?”

How am I ever to resist you James? she thought.

“Like what?” he said, faking his innocence.

He was toying with her. Oh god that’s worse! Ally thought.

“You know what,” Ally said, trying to inject a warning into her voice, that didn’t sound as menacing as she had planned when she actually delivered it.

James chuckled, “What do you think of our house?”

“Well for a start it’s your house, not our house, and you know perfectly well I am begrudgingly impressed. It is completely breathtaking,” she pouted. “It’s a bit of a stretch to call it a house though don’t you think? Mansion doesn’t even do it justice. Perhaps Castle is more to the point.”

He laughed at her point of view. Ally was right that it wasn’t just your everyday house, but that was part of what made it so special. This house held a place in his heart. “You are beautiful even when pouting sweetheart,” James murmured to her.

She groaned, “And you are impossible.”

“Oh Alessandra, you will come around,” he said with confidence that bordered on arrogance.

Ally’s groaned in response and said no more.

She was amusing and she definitely had spirit. James longed for her in ways she could never understand. Ally was still only half immortal. When the conversion took place she would understand what he was suffering for her. James could just take what was rightfully his but she deserved better than that.

James wanted her to want him and to love him, to come to him of her own free will because she couldn’t bear to be without him. He wasn’t above pushing things to his advantage, but ultimately the choice would be hers.

At least Ally was safe from Vincent in his homeland for the time being. He would come, but it would not be for some time yet.

The car pulled to a stop out front of the grand marble steps leading to the house.

“Come inside. I will introduce you to Sophie then she can show you to your rooms. I’m sure you could both use some time to yourselves after our flight,” James said.

“That is a good idea James, thank you,” Adele said with a warm smile to their host.

Ally turned and looked at James with a smirk. “Yeah I agree, I could use some James free time.”

James put a hand to his heart, mocking Ally. “Lass, you wound me.”

At this, Henry burst out with a wonderful hearty laugh, which earned him a glare from Alessandra’s direction. They all hustled up the steps and in the front door when Sophie came running towards them.

“James, you’re home.” Sophie threw her arms around him in an embrace.

“Hello Sophie,” he smiled warmly and began the introductions. “Alessandra, Adele please allow me to introduce Sophie.”

Ally looked at Sophie. She was an older woman well into her sixties with greying hair that was pulled back in a loose knot. Despite her age, she was a beautiful woman and would have been quite the stunner when she was younger. Her demeanour was kind, gentle and open.

Ally instantly liked her but didn’t want too.

The group began walking from the entrance hall into the lounge room, to recuperate from the long flight and partake in afternoon tea with the Muir’s and James, before being shown to their guest bedrooms.

Everyone took a seat on the comfortable cream sofas and matching chairs around the spacious elegant room. Looking around the exquisite lounge she found herself in, Ally noticed the dining room off to the left which was equally glamorous.

Focussing on the black grand piano in the corner, she became lost in her own thoughts for a moment. So much for hating the country, the house and the servants, Ally sighed inwardly. She became intensely aware of the fact the she loved this wild untamed magical country. The house was incredible, Sophie and Henry seemed very nice and worst of all, the attraction she felt towards James, was increasing by the minute!

Suddenly Ally realised that Sophie was speaking to her, but she only half heard what was said. James was watching her, his emerald eyes sparkling, his face intent but soft, with a little concern thrown in.

Oh why couldn’t he have been horrible? Everything is a mess, she thought.

“
Ally it only feels that way. I’m honoured that you love my house, friends and country.”

“What the hell?” she muttered, looking at James with a burning question in her eyes.

Did I hear that or am I going mad again. Oh that’s right I wasn’t mad the first time it was all real!
She thought sarcastically.

“Perhaps this is a discussion for another time,” he said quietly to Ally, obviously concerned.

“Get out of my head James!” she said quietly frustrated.

It was an invasion of privacy that Ally was not happy about and wanted to make very clear to James. However she didn’t want to do that by causing a scene in front of his friends. Ally just needed an hour of normality. Her life had been thrown into chaos and too much information was running around in her head.

Unfortunately Sophie was a rather perceptive woman, and she noticed the quiet tension between the two. Looking in the direction of the couple to be, Sophie heard what Ally had tried to convey quietly and understood what had transpired.

Sophie appeared to be a mother figure to James, which became more apparent when she began to scold him the way a mother would. Lovingly but firmly she said, “James leave the poor girl alone. She obviously has a lot to process and if I know you at all, it wouldn’t have been put delicately.” Sophie directed the next question to Ally, “Am I right in assuming that you weren’t given a choice in coming here?”

Ally looked at her with respect and gratitude. “Yes but…” she paused. “They had a good reason to do so. Vincent nearly killed me.”

“I see. Choice or no choice it is a lot to process.” Sophie’s words conveyed her sympathy. She was obviously well acquainted with James and knew what he could be like at times.

“Clearly I’m out numbered here,” James said with a hint of annoyance. “I will leave you ladies to tear my character to pieces.” With a glance back towards Ally he said, “Alessandra, I know this is hard for you. Just know that I did what I had to, to protect you. I had only the best intentions from the start. I hope you can one day forgive me.” With eyes full of sorrow and concern, James left the room.

Ally watched him leave, regretting every miserable word she had said to him. She knew that he was trying to do the right thing by her. Tears threatened behind her eyes. Ally had hurt him, it was the last thing she wanted to do.

Despite being far from ready to accept everything that she had been told, Ally felt that she had to do something. James deserved better than this. She ran from the room in the direction that he had gone.

Adele called after her, “Sweetie, are you ok?”

“Yes, there is just something I need to fix,” Ally yelled back without stopping.

Sophie turned to Adele, “I think they may be very good for each other, but there is so much for the poor darling to take in.”

“I know…I know,” she said, watching Ally run from the room.

Ally didn’t know where James had gone, but she figured he couldn’t have gotten too far. “James wait,” she called out breathless from running.

When she didn’t hear a response, Ally decided to do something crazy. She attempted throwing him a mental command to stop. Ally had no idea exactly how to do it or if it would work, but she had to try. She turned the corner and there he was, looking bemused and relieved.

“Ally, what did you just do?” he asked with a sly smile. All the evidence of hurt and annoyance was gone from his face, replaced with humour at what she had just done.

“I think I made you stop,” she said with great satisfaction. It had obviously worked.

He chuckled, “I should have known you would use that against me eventually. I have to say I’m impressed.”

“Thank you…I just wanted to…well apologise.” She was looking down at the floor as she spoke. It was mortifying enough apologising, without having to look directly at him.

“You don’t have to apologise, Ally. I realise how much I have asked you to take on faith and that this has turned your life upside down again.” He reached out and tilted her chin up to look him in the eyes. “Ally, never feel like you can’t say what you’re thinking to me. I want us to be honest with each other about everything.”

Again Ally was struck by his eyes. Was he doing that, or was it something between them. The whole soulmate thing still confused her, but she did want to be honest with him.

“I don’t mean to be prickly, it’s just that there is a lot to process and everything I have ever known wasn’t right, I guess you could say. I know that you only have the best intentions towards me and that you had no choice. Because you were the one who took me away, I lashed out at you, but that’s not fair. It will just take me some time to adjust to everything.” She smiled shyly at him.

Ally felt like she was sixteen years old again. “I still remember the first time I ever saw you like it was yesterday. I thought you were the most handsome man I had ever seen and I felt a connection with you instantly.” Ally was trying to will away the heat she could feel increasing in her cheeks. Blushing was hardly becoming on a twenty one year old she thought whilst internally cringing.

“That is because we are soulmates Ally, I felt it then too and it was even stronger last night. Remember everything you feel, the connection, the pull, the desire…” he let the words hang in the air as he moved closer and drew her in, “I feel it too. You’re not alone in this Ally. I have never had a soulmate before either, so I think we both need time to adjust.” He smiled teasingly.

“I know. I guess I’m just processing. It will take me some time James. You can’t push me in this.” Ally was hoping he would understand and give her the time she needed.

Ally saw the desire and serious intent wash over his face as James began to speak with that whisky tipped voice that she was coming to adore. “I want you to want me the way I want you. Love me the way I love you. I will never force that Ally. I will tip the scales in my favour, but the choice about me is always yours.”

Ally found herself again drowning in his green eyes. She could see the emotion dancing in them. He was telling her the truth, she knew that instinctively. His words and honesty made her gravitate toward him even more. She was falling under his spell. James was leaning closer. His desire clouded eyes seemed to be moving closer to hers. Ally became abruptly aware that they were no longer speaking but gravitating towards each other. Her mouth went dry. Her body was moving and reacting without any conscious thought towards him. He snaked his hand around her waist and drew her in. She felt weak from desire. No-one had ever stirred her body this way. She could feel his breath on her lips. The anticipation surged through her with a force that almost took her breath away.

James lowered his mouth upon hers slowly and softly at first. Her knees buckled and he caught her never breaking the kiss. He tasted of whisky; smooth, dark and dangerous in large amounts. It was him.

She felt the passion pass from his lips to hers. She heard him growl in an almost animalistic possessive sound. The sound that escaped his lips seemed to surge her higher and make her aware that she not alone in this haze of desire. His hand moved down the small of her back. James moved her against the wall so slowly she barely registered what was happening. It was the single sexiest moment of her existence. His hands were moving over her body reverently. Ally knew they had to stop soon before they were carried away on a torrent of passion and desire. James must have realised that too, because he slowly broke away and looked deep into her eyes.