Necessary Passion [Alchemy Mates 3] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic ManLove) (3 page)

“Your powers are growing,” Sky said, apparently unruffled. He drew his handkerchief from his pocket and began mopping up the blood that trickled from his nose and mouth.

“Oh God, I’m sorry!” Aidan gasped, frozen in his seat. He turned to Lucian and Andren. “Do you see what I’m dealing with? This shit happens all the damn time!” He felt so out of control lately. Like runaway horses existed in his veins just waiting to burst free. “Father and I were on a hunt a few months back, and I tossed one of the servants that confronted us through the wall. The next hunt, I busted every gaslight in the house and ignited the place. Of course, by then Papa decided that I couldn’t be trusted coming out on hunts or in the village anymore. I can’t control it!” He was shaking all over, his muscles jumping in irritation. Panic always came on the heels of the expression of his powers. It unsettled him in a way that was nearly impossible to describe.

Sky was instantly by his side, putting a warm hand on his shoulder. “It’s all right, Aidan. It’s to be expected. I told you to come to me when you turned eighteen in an effort to train you before the powers began to manifest fully. You had a great deal of my blood when you were young. So much was required that under normal circumstances it would’ve been best to turn you fully. You were too young for that, so I just gave you blood and hoped you could handle it. As your body went through hormonal changes, it triggered the powers within you. If you notice, you haven’t aged since you were around twenty-two or twenty-three. The older you get, the more intense it will become. The power jumped exponentially because of our exchange last year. It reaffirmed the bond, and you drew some of my powers into yourself.”

“It is very strange that Aidan is assuming so much of your power, though,” Lucian said in concern. “I mean, the only time I’ve ever heard of a servant drawing so much power from their master is if they have alchemy.”

Andren’s eyes widened at the realization. “Oh, Christ. You have alchemy with him!”

“What the hell is alchemy and why are you looking at me like that, Andren? Did I grow an extra appendage?” Aidan demanded as Andren’s mouth went slack with surprise. Sky remained unmoving, his face completely devoid of emotion.

“Did you know you had alchemy with him this entire time?” Andren demanded, staring a hole through Sky.

Sky shifted uncomfortably. “No. I didn’t. That’s why I didn’t seek him out before last year. The only reason I sought him out at all was because of the situation here in Prussia, I swear.”

“When did you know, Sky?” Lucian asked.

“When I took his blood last year, when I held him in my arms and caught his scent.” Sky dropped his gaze to the tabletop, avoiding Aidan’s questioning stare.

“Good God, man,” Andren said, sitting back in his chair and pulling Lucian to him out of habit. Aidan could tell that the comforting touch steadied him by the almost instant flash of relief over his face.

“Hello? Can all the vampires in the room kindly stop talking over me like I am a kid? What the hell is alchemy and what situation in Prussia?” Aidan was getting more and more irritated, fidgeting in his seat like an impatient child.

Sky rubbed the bridge of his nose. “One of my brethren, Jessup, challenged me to a contest several months from now. He wants to be prince of the German states. He was made by my sire only months before I was, so by vampire standards we ‘grew up’ together. Our power levels are almost perfectly matched. Neither of us can truly penetrate the defenses of the other. When I held court last, he claimed that it wasn’t fair to say I retain the title by default since he is as strong as I. So I indulged him and agreed to a challenge of his choice. It was my arrogance that put me in this situation. As I’ve told your brother and his partner.

“The challenge he came up with was a battle through our chosen servants. It is what is known in your language as a Blood and Honor Tournament. The servant becomes a vessel of the master, a puppet to the vampire puppeteer. Though, it is more complicated than that. To achieve that sort of singular partnership requires an unparalleled level of trust. I haven’t created a human servant in years. I’m a bit of a humanitarian in that respect. I don’t believe in the unwilling binding of humans for selfish reasons. All my servants were more than willing, friends that wanted a little piece of eternity without the added responsibility of being a vampire. All of them are long since dead or moved from this place.

“Because I am so old I don’t need to feed as often, and I never take more than a sip or two at a time from any of my prey. Therefore, I don’t even have a regular servant that I feed on.

“Usually under such circumstances I’d seek out some warrior who wanted immortality and strike a deal so I’d have a champion to fight my fight. Jessup threw in another twist on the competition, however. I can only use a servant which is already in my service. He knew I didn’t have one, but by the rules of the tournament I am required to meet his conditions. Without a servant I must forfeit my title, and Jessup is not as kind of a prince as I am.

“I was horrified to learn this and turned it over and over in my mind, but then I heard mention of your brother’s union to Lucian. It was quite the scandal, a battle-trained vampire hunter bonded with a vampire. Then it clicked. I had a servant, and that servant was you. I knew that if I could get into contact with you and explain the situation, that perhaps I could persuade you to help me.”

Aidan was saved from having to reply by the arrival of the servants carrying plates of lamb, potatoes, and greens. They filled Aidan’s wineglass again with water, and he drained it down in three great gulps and motioned for a refill. His head was starting to pound. As soon as they left them alone again, Aidan turned his attention to Sky.

“So that’s how I get you out of my life? I fight on your behalf with your rival, and then I’m free?” The prospect of being free from Sky made him feel a curious mix of dread and elation. Sky looked vastly unhappy and cut off a piece of lamb for Aidan’s plate.

“If that is what you wish,” he said softly.

“This is great!” Aidan said, forcing cheer into his voice. He spooned some greens into his plate and tore into his meat. “It’ll work out twofold. You’ll win your fight, and I’ll learn how to control this loony bond between us.”

“Aidan, this isn’t as cut and dry as you may think,” Andren cautioned. “When he starts training you, you are going to have to get very intimate with Sky…You may not be so eager to leave after all is said and done.”

“Let them be, Andren,” Lucian interrupted, exchanging a sharp look with his lover.

“What about the alchemy thing?” Aidan asked, continuing to stuff his face.

Sky chuckled at Aidan as he shoveled food into his mouth. “I’d prefer to discuss that with you in private.” He wiped a stray bit of sauce from the hunter’s bottom lip. Aidan considered him, chewing his food perhaps a little longer than was necessary.

“Very well, but you have to promise me that we will eventually discuss it.”

“All right, jäger,” Sky said, looking deep into Aidan’s eyes. “I promise.”

* * * *

“So if you need anything, send one of Sky’s servants to our home. It’s the third estate past Sky’s, a ten-mile trek in all. We’re there all the time, so if you want to drop by sometime you’re more than welcome,” Lucian said, hugging Aidan around the neck. It was still strange to Aidan to realize that this man was now technically his brother-in-law. The rest of supper had been a pleasant mix of chitchat and business, and as the wine flowed and the meal filled his stomach, Aidan couldn’t help but relax with the pleasant company.

“Thank you. I’ll make sure to stay in touch. I’ll be here until February, so we’ll have to get together,” Aidan offered, feeling a deep affection toward the little brother he’d thought he’d lost forever and his mate.

“You and Sky should come to our house for Christmas!” Andren added enthusiastically. “We were going to invite Raj and Rannulf. They’re traveling from Holland.”

“It’s only October,” Aidan said, laughing at his brother.

Andren scowled at him. “I know, but I don’t want you making any other plans.”

Aidan chuckled. “I promise not to make any plans.”

An awkward silence stretched between Aidan and Sky as the carriage carrying his brother and his brother’s lover pulled out of sight.

“Thank you,” Aidan murmured at last. His voice was low as if he had to force the compliment through his lips against his will. “It really meant a lot to me to have my brother here.”

Sky gave him a strange look that Aidan couldn’t quite place. “I knew you were in unfamiliar territory and needed a touchstone. I figured that having him over would ease your transition. Feel free to visit them whenever you want.”

The sun was just beginning to make its first appearance in the cloudy sky, coloring the heavens in a golden haze. The world itself was still covered in shadow, but that would be changing soon. Since vampires were mainly nocturnal creatures, Andren and Lucian had stayed well into the night until morning was almost upon them. It was still relatively early by vampire standards, usually they were up until ten or eleven, but it was still odd to be awake for the transition from night to day. Andren had gotten in relatively late the previous day and the nap he’d had really hadn’t rested him after his long journey.

“I’m going to call it an early morning,” Sky said, turning from the sun and retreating back into the house.

“I thought vampires could stand sunlight? Wasn’t that your big deception, convincing us that you couldn’t be out in the day?” Aidan asked.

He hadn’t disclosed the fact to his father or the other hunters in the guild, but it was something he and his siblings had learned over the course of the London debacle where Lucian and Andren had chosen to reveal it. The hunters had always assumed if they went out that they had to have some kind of protective lotion and carry umbrellas to protect their skin. The fact that they’d been so wrong was a little disconcerting when he’d found out.

Aidan followed the vampire back into the foyer.

Sky smiled. “Yes, I can go out in the day. However, I am strongest in the night hours, and I find myself growing tired after tonight’s excitement. Help yourself to anything in the house. My house is yours. I bid you good night.”

With that he turned and made his way up the staircase in the supernatural speed of his kind. Aidan swallowed, unsure of whether or not he’d ever get used to all the extra capabilities of vampire kind. He sighed, suddenly terribly tired. He stretched his limbs and let loose the yawn that had been threatening through their conversation with Andren and his lover. If he were being a good hunter, he would explore the house, make notes of the exits, take in possible problems. But, he was too damn tired to think on it today.

“I think I’ll join you, Sky,” Aidan rumbled, rubbing his sleepy eyes. He immediately wanted to snatch the words back. Despite the fact that the vampire had gone up the stairs and disappeared, it sounded like an invitation to Aidan.
It is certainly not an invitation. It is not
. His body stirred in interest, and Aidan wanted to scream. How was he ever going to get his own body under control?
It’s just for a few months. I can make it through a few months. Can’t I
? Silence answered his internal question. Not even his inner self could reassure him at this point. He sighed and made his way back to his set of rooms.

* * * *

“The first thing you must learn to do is trust me,” Sky said, gently stretching his arms above his head in a long, lean line. He’d woken Aidan shortly before nightfall and instructed him to leave off his shirt and follow him barefoot out into a large solar attached to the house. A very disoriented hunter obeyed reluctantly, dragging himself out of bed without putting much effort into anything but walking.

The inside of the building was surprisingly warm and lush, filled to the brim with jungle plants and other lovely flowers. The heat was not making him awake, however. Aidan felt himself growing sleepier the more he sat in the plush armchair the vampire had instructed him to sit in for his “lesson.”

“I trust you so much I’m falling asleep,” Aidan said with a touch of sarcasm. He yawned deeply to emphasize the point.

“I’m being serious, Aidan. You really need to pay attention,” Sky reprimanded. “Are you always so difficult to wake up?”

Aidan grumped, pushing an errant strand of hair out of his face. “Yes.” He still wore it unfashionably long. “Just give me an hour or two, and I’ll be wide awake. Papa used to tell me that I was the most difficult creature to wake as a child.”

Sky smiled softly. “I am truly not surprised that you were a difficult child. It seems that not much has changed. I remember you when you were a defiant pup that just
had
to play by the river in Berlin.”

The casual mention of the incident eighteen years previously that had almost cost Aidan his life was not a welcome reminder. Aidan’s already-sour mood darkened. The reminder that his childish defiance had actually led to his current predicament made him want to strike out at Sky. “Well, you’re supposed to be my teacher. So teach me. How do I control this connection?” He needed to be able to distance himself from the stupid vampire and his stupid alchemy, whatever the hell that meant.

Sky’s expression hardened. “It is not as easy as you think. It isn’t some spell or incantation that can fix this. We’ll have to deepen the connection, make it static in the background.”