Jude Stephens (13 page)

“
They were my foster parents.
Onatah is my natural mother. It’s a long story.”

Alex came over and took my hand, reminding me of the
Alex that I loved. “I’ve got time Olivia.”

The mood was broken when Cheve said, “No you don’t.
The sun will be up in a few hours and then you will be what? Oh
yeah. Dead.”

“
Where are you staying Alex?” I
asked.

“
There’s a safe house about an
hour south of here. You can come tomorrow before sunset and climb
into bed with me. Do you remember what it’s like to wake up with a
vampire next to you?” Alex teased.

I shivered remembering how lustful vampires are when
they awaken from their topor or death sleep. I steeled myself from
Alex’s charm by remembering how he and Roberto manipulated me a few
months ago.

“
No. It would be better if you
came to the Island and stayed with us. It’s a long commute to and
from the Island and it wouldn’t just be me. I’m not stupid enough
to leave the Island without backup.”

Cheve and Alex both began to protest but I cut them
off. “That is my final decision on the matter.” I began walking
back toward the club hoping I would be able to find my shoes.

Alex caught up with me, “Olivia, where will I sleep?
Will it be safe?”

I inwardly cringed at his question. A few months ago
I had left him unprotected in a motel room and he had been captured
and tortured by The Guardians. “Don’t worry Alex. I will keep you
safe.” I vowed.

Alex smiled and Cheve frowned. I rolled my eyes at
the two of them. “I’m out training during the day and you’re out
hunting at night. And Mark can be your day guard for awhile. We
won’t have much contact.”

“
Umm Baby….all I need is a
little,” Alex quipped.

I tried really hard not to smile, but this was my
Alex. He was always flirtatious and fun. My life had been sorely
lacking these last few months.

“
What do we do about the body? I
asked looking at the woman who had tried to kill me.

Cheve said, “Leave it. I’ve made sure that there is
no evidence that anyone else was here. The authorities will only
see a suicide, exactly what it is.”

We walked back to the club and I was happy that my
shoes were still there. We started back to the dock. Alex was
walking on one side and Cheve on the other. Alex lagged a little
behind.

“
Holy crap …Baby got back. I knew
there was something different about you. You are buff. Oh my
God…look at your calves.”

“
Will you get up here? I don’t
want you walking behind me anymore.” Though, I was pleased by his
words.

“
Seriously, Olivia. You’re really
looking fantastic. I hate to admit it but your trainer is
good.”

“
Thanks Alex. I’ve been working
hard. And Alex?”

“
Yes?’ he stopped walking at the
sound of my serious voice.

“
I go by the name of Orenda now.
It’s Iroquois and it means magic power of the earth. It’s my
heritage and my destiny.”

“
All right. But I’ll always think
of you as Olivia. Can I call you Wren for short? I like that. A
wren is a tiny bird but very complex, and it sings the sweetest
songs. It can be my special name for you.”

I smiled at Alex. I liked Wren too. And he
remembered how I used to sing. I used to have a bad habit of
bursting into song whenever I was nervous, or happy or scared. I’m
not sure why, but I stopped singing a few months ago. It could be
that Roberto hadn’t found it as endearing as Alex did.

Before I could give my affirmation Cheve said
rudely, “I can’t believe you question the Sensay. Her name is
Orenda…it’s a proud name.”

“
It’s okay Cheve. I like Wren. He
can call me that if he likes.”

Alex smiled and Cheve made a kind of snort. This was
going to be fun. We made it back to the boat and I settled on the
seat in the rear. The September night was quite chilly. I cursed
because I left all of my other clothes in the cabin of the other
boat. Cheve pulled the boat out onto the river and immediately a
cold breeze assailed and I began shivering. Alex came over and sat
beside me and put his arm around me. “I wish I had worn a jacket.
Would you like my shirt?”

“
No.” I said quickly not wanting
to see his muscular chest bared. That could be too dangerous. “I’ll
be okay in a minute. I just need to concentrate.” And I did just
that. I pictured in my mind that the sun was hitting my exposed
skin with penetrating warmth. Soon my shivering stopped and I felt
nice and warm. I opened my eyes and smiled, “Mind over
matter.”

From the front of the boat Cheve called back,
“That’s my girl.”

Alex ignored him and said to me, “Baby, that’s
awesome. You’ve really come a long way since I’ve last seen
you.”

He took my chin between his thumb and forefinger and
tilted my head up to look into his eyes. “I’m really proud of you
Baby. Do you remember me telling you that this was your
destiny?”

Looking into Alex’s gorgeous green eyes made me feel
like melting. I remembered how it felt as he bit me and took my
blood. It was the most erotic thing I’d ever experienced. I found
myself wanting him to do it again. I broke off contact and changed
the subject “Has there been any word from your sister?”

“
No. Nothing. This is all so
strange. Neither Annika or Roberto is the type to up and disappear
like this.” In his agitation he ran a hand through his blond hair.
“I have this feeling like we’re all missing something really simple
though. Cristoforo has been going crazy.”

At the mention of Cristoforo I cringed. I didn’t
like Roberto’s brother at all. The one time I met him he was rude
and obnoxious. But then again, maybe he didn’t like me because I
was sleeping with his brother who had a mate. My eyes began to get
heavy. Since training began, I had not stayed up past ten pm.

Alex noted my drooping eyes and said “Put your head
on my shoulder, Baby. You look tired.”

For one instant I thought about protesting but
thought what the hell? I tucked my feet up under me and snuggled
against Alex. He smelled nice. A sweet muskiness mixed with the
faintest scent of earth. It made me feel safe and happy. The next
thing I knew I was being jostled awake as the boat hit the side of
the dock.

Groggily, I opened my eyes and it took me several
seconds to realize that my head was now on Alex’s lap and my mouth
was resting against the long hard erection that was straining the
material of his jeans. Jumping up as fast as I could, which was not
easy since my leg had fallen asleep, I mumbled “Sorry.”

Alex’s eyes were closed and he looked like he was in
pain. He opened his eyes slowly and I felt like someone punched me
in the stomach when I saw the passion burning bright in his green
eyes. My body reacted swiftly. My breasts felt full and heavy and
an ache began building between my legs. I stumbled to the side of
the boat and finally having found my balance, jumped over the rail
of the boat onto the dock.

I was glad to see Bullet waiting for me on the dock.
He always seemed to sense when I would be back. I knelt down and
began rubbing him behind the ears the way he liked. “Did you miss
me boy?”

Alex swung over the side of the boat and landed
beside Bullet and me. “So this is the infamous Bullet.” And then to
my utter amazement, Alex knelt down and began to stroke Bullet’s
back. “How are you boy? I have to thank you for watching over
Wren.”

I turned to look at Cheve who was standing there
with is mouth open. It wasn’t that Bullet wasn’t friendly, but he
usually only let me pet him. I smiled at Alex “I think he likes
you.”

“
Of course he does. I’m very
likable.”

I rolled my eyes. “Let’s get moving. I’m beat. I
have to get up in a few hours for training that is unless my
instructor will let me off the hook for a few hours?” I teased
Cheve, knowing that he would never agree.

Much to my surprise, he said, “You had a very trying
evening, why don’t we meet after lunch?”

“
Okay, sounds good. Thanks,
Cheve.”

When we got back to the village, I asked Alex, “Are
you going to hunt? If you do, please be careful there are other
wolves on the island.”

“
Don’t worry about me, Baby. I’ll
be fine. Should I just let myself in when I return?” he
asked.

“
Yeah, that will be fine. I’m sure
that I’ll be sleeping like a rock by then.”

“
Good, should I just crawl in
beside you?” Alex asked with a mischievous grin.

Cheve said quickly, “I’ll bring you a cot.”

Both Alex and I said thanks to Cheve but in quite
opposite tones. As the men went off in their separate pursuits,
Bullet and I went into the cabin. I headed straight for the
bathroom to shower. I was in the shower when Cheve came into the
bathroom.

“
Everything’s all set up for the
fucking vampire.”

I peered around the shower curtain. “Is that really
necessary?”

“
I don’t like it Orenda. These
vampires have fucked with you before. I don’t trust them and I
don’t want to see you hurt again.”

I turned off the shower and unabashed stepped out.
Cheve handed me a towel. “Don’t worry. I know better than anyone
not to trust a vampire. I won’t let anyone use me that way
again.”

I walked out of the bathroom wrapped in just my
towel and ran right into Alex who was standing there with his face
a mask of granite. “I hope I’m not interrupting anything,” he said
in an emotionless voice.

“
Don’t be silly, I was taking a
shower.” I said. To Cheve I said. “Thanks again for letting me
sleep in tomorrow and for bringing the cot.”

Cheve looked like he wanted to say something else
but instead nodded and left.

I went over to the dresser, got my brush and sitting
on the side of the bed began brushing out my hair. “You can take a
shower if you’d like.”

“
Wren, what is that guy to you? I
don’t think you’re lovers but I sense a closeness that’s more than
just friends.”

I stopped brushing my hair and looked him in the
eyes.

“
Not that it’s any of your
business, but Cheve and I have a unique relationship. He is the one
person in this world that I trust.”

A look of pain crossed Alex’s face. “I deserved
that. If I could, I would take back everything that happened the
first night I met you. You don’t know how I regret following
Roberto’s orders.” He came over, knelt before me and grabbed my
hand.

“
I promise you right here and now
that I will never deceive you again. And I will spend all of my
days proving my love for you.”

I snatched my hand back. “Love? I
don’t believe in love anymore. Love is for foolish women who are
willing to believe that lust is love.” I laughed. “Now lust, that I
do believe in. That’s why Roberto wanted me; it’s why you first
wanted me.”

Getting really angry, I stood up
and ripping my towel off said, “Here. Go ahead. If you want to fuck
me so bad then let’s just do it, and then maybe you’ll leave me in
peace.”

Alex bent and picked up the towel and wrapped it
around me. Then he wrapped his arms around me and said, “I’m so
sorry for what we did to you. I’ll spend the rest of my days
regretting that, but I’ll never regret that I met you, and despite
your disbelief of love, in that I have never lied to you.”

I let him hold me for a few minutes and it felt
nice. I thought back to the night we met. Alex was so charming and
sweet. If only I could return to the naïve girl I was that night. I
sighed. There was no going back. What was done was done. I could
only go forward with my destiny.

I stepped out of Alex’s arms with a heart made of
stone and said, “I’m tired and I’m going to sleep. Goodnight Alex.”
He looked like he wanted to say more but just mumbled,
“Goodnight.”

As he went into the bathroom, and
I heard the water turn on, I climbed into bed. Almost immediately I
fell into a deep slumber. It was natural after the day’s events
that I would dream of Alex.

I saw Alex lying naked and tied to a bed. He was
looking at me with burning eyes. I walked slowly and seductively
towards him and when I reached him, I kissed him on the mouth and
plunged a stake into his heart.

Chapter 14

I woke up with a start. My heart was pounding. I got
out of bed and went over to the cot. Alex lay there dead. I pulled
the sheet off of his body and to my great relief didn’t see any
gaping hole in his chest. Sitting on the edge of the cot I let out
a long sigh. My heart began beating at a more normal pace.

I thought about the dream. It seemed like Alex and I
had been alone. I couldn’t recall anyone else being in the room.
Alex was naked. His hands were tied above his head and clasped to
the headboard. His eyes were burning with passion. He had a huge
erection jutting up from a patch of thick curly blond hair.

I closed my eyes and tried concentrating on myself.
I moved out of my body like Onatah had instructed me, and I could
see in my mind the scene as if it were a movie playing. I was
dressed in a red satin bustier and nothing else. I had the stake
behind my back.

I walked slowly towards Alex letting my free hand
caress the length of his body. I was looking into his eyes as my
hand came in contact with his cock. He sucked in a breath as my
fingers lingered at the glistening head. I was smiling as my hand
continued up his chiseled chest.

When I at last was close enough I bent down and
seemed to whisper something that made his mouth pull into a hard
line. I touched my lips to his and at the same time plunged the
stake into his chest.