“He
is
a threat, Ara.” He sat back calmly, cupping his hands in his lap again. “Perhaps now is a good time to tell you he’s made plans to waltz in here and take my uncle.”
“How do you know that?” I spun sideways to look at him. “Who told you?”
“Jason read Morgana’s mind the other night. She’d spoken to Drake only hours before.”
“When does he plan to come?”
“Soon.” His eyes didn't actually change colour but as they lowered to his lap they seemed to darken.
“Do you … I mean, what do we do?”
“Arthur says let him come. He’s not worried.”
“How can he not be?”
David smiled then, just a half turn of his lip, but it was enough to light up his eyes. “Ever seen what he can do—my uncle?”
I shook my head.
“He has the power of physical manipulation. He can make a man pick his own nose just as easily as he can force a room of soldiers to stand still while he escapes.”
“You’re kidding!”
“Nope.” His smile moved out to spread across his entire face then. “So don’t worry too much about Arthur. He’ll keep himself safe.”
“You hope.”
“Well, he’s never gone up against Drake before. I’ve seen him battle against unthinkable forces, Ara, but—”
“You’re worried he’ll be no match for the all-powerful king?”
He nodded.
“I won’t let anything happen to him, David. I promise.”
“It’s not for you to promise, Ara.”
We sat quietly for a while then, both off in our own thoughts, looking up intermittently to smile at each other when one of us thought something a little funny. As the sun hung lower in the sky, casting fiery orange across David’s nose and lip, he turned to me and said, “Hey, wanna hear a story?”
“Sure.”
He settled down a bit in the chair and turned his knees slightly to face me. “While I was in Paris, I learned a little more about Drake’s history.”
“How?”
“I found an old journal. Well, Morgaine found it.” He widened his eyes. “Sorry. Morg
ana
.”
“And she gave it to you?”
“Yeah. Only because there wasn't anything in there about the contract. It was all about his childhood.”
“He had a childhood?”
David rewarded my sarcasm with a gentle chuckle. “He and his father were estranged, turns out. Vampirie left Drake when he was a small boy, and Drake grew up knowing nothing about what he was. Until he killed a man.”
“Oops.”
“Yes. Oops. It was shortly after he turned twenty-five and his vampirism set in naturally. His mother, who’d been his only companion as he grew, cast him aside. He went off in search of his father, not knowing where to start. But as the decades rolled into centuries, he never found him. And by that time, he had a following of over a hundred vampires he’d created—he called them Family.”
“That’s a lot of vampires.”
“Yes. And they did a lot of killing. In the end, it was Vampirie that found Drake.”
“Why?”
“To stop him. Murders had reached unbelievable numbers and the original vampire wanted it to stop. But, with no way to kill vampires, they needed to find a way to get everything under control. Vampirie warned Drake that Nature would find a balance if this murdering didn't stop, but Drake refused to listen. By the time of the Black Plague, there were over a thousand vampires in the world, spread out through three continents.”
“And that was around the time Drake met Arthur?”
David nodded. “Just before that, Drake did some maths, realised that, at the rate of creation versus deaths, there would be no food for his kind within fifty years. All humans dead. Gone. So he tried to get control, but the vampires he’d created had become arrogant and selfish. They wouldn't listen. Gave him no respect at all. So, he created a Council of men who would swear ultimate allegiance to him and had them split into groups around the world to find and capture any vampires that refused to adhere to the new laws. But while they gained some control, it wasn't enough. Anyway, a century or so later, Vampirie fathered Lilith to a human girl. And Drake fell completely in love. He was like a father to her, practically raised her.” He stopped and his expression changed, taking my face in with a look of interest. “And, now, here’s something you
don't
know.”
“Ooh, I’m already excited.”
David smiled. “Lilith was kidnapped when she was eighteen. By a group of rebel vampires. They … she was raped and abused by them for months on end and, finally, as they were about to kill her, she attacked one—bit him. He writhed and screamed and fell down dead,” he said, rolling his hand in the air as if he was casually listing a bunch of names. “She used the distraction to escape. But when she finally made it home and Drake found her wandering the forest, she was incoherent, shaking. All she kept saying was that she killed a vampire. It was from that day forth that they had the weapon they needed. Vampires were then rounded up for Lilith to kill if they couldn't behave and it soon became apparent that she was not only a weapon but was also immortal. A few months later, she gave birth to the first
born
Lilithian. But it was the offspring of a man that raped her, so she had Drake slay the baby when it was born.”
I covered my mouth. “He didn’t do it, though, right?”
“From what I gather, no.”
“What happened to it?”
“No one knows. We only know
now
that he kept the child, because he mentioned something about a secret he’d keep from Little Lily until the day he died—that Evada lives.”
“Evada?”
“It means Child of Sin in the old language.”
“Well, what makes you think Evada is this child Lilith wanted killed? Maybe she was some other child.”
“Because he mentions that she was Lilith’s firstborn.”
“Whoa.” I exhaled deeply, my chest caving. “So, do you think she's still out there somewhere?”
“Who knows?” He shrugged, looking so young as he did it. “But it makes for an intriguing story.”
“I’ll say.” I sat back. “This family has way too many skeletons.”
David laughed. “And curses.”
“Yes.” I wrapped my hands over my bump—the bump that had ended my apparent curse to bear only females.
“Wanna know the worst curse your family has?”
My gaze moved sideways to see the cheeky smile before I asked him to go on.
He reached over and delicately ran his thumb across my lashes. “These big blue eyes of yours.”
“How are they a curse?”
“Because I’ll be damned if I can ever stay mad at you for long.” He smiled fondly at my face, his own eyes softening and taking in every inch of me. “I wasn’t even going to stop and talk to you, but then you looked up at me, and I couldn't help it.”
I tried not to smile.
“You are very beautiful, Ara-Rose. No matter what you've done to hurt me, I will never be able to look at you and think otherwise.”
“Except to tell me I’m fat.”
He winced, looking away. “Can I say something in my own defence about that?”
“Be my guest.” I offered the floor.
“I didn't know you were pregnant that day in the kitchen and, seeing your tummy sticking out like that, it was a shock.”
“You thought I was carrying your brother’s child?”
“No. That thought never even crossed my mind. To be honest, I wasn't sure what was wrong with you. I certainly didn’t think for a second you were pregnant.”
“But even after you found out I was pregnant, you still said I was fat, and—”
“I know.” He smiled to himself. “And, in truth, you are a little bigger around your hips and thighs, now, but it really suits you, Ara,” he added as I began my protest. “You filled out, left that teen figure behind and you’re
lovely
pregnant. And I should have told you that.”
I bit my lip to hide the smile.
“On another note,” he added, “I was also blood starved.”
“Oh, blaming your moods on hunger, huh?”
“Taking a leaf out of
your
book, you mean?” He laughed, jabbing me in the ribs until I giggled. “In all honesty, though, the moods didn't help. But, when all is said and done, Ara, I am sorry for the things I said to you, and I want you to know that I
wanted
to mean them. Doesn't mean I did. Well, not all of them anyway.”
“So you meant some of them?”
“Some.” He nodded. “Yes.”
“Like the fact that you hate me—can never forgive me?”
His throat shifted as he swallowed, sitting back and looking out over the darkening gardens. “Nothing between us can ever … I won't go back. You know that. But I don't want you to think that I don't still see the most beautiful girl I’ve ever known every time I look at you. And I don’t want you to think that I can’t let the past be the past—at least enough to, hopefully, be friends one day.”
“Friends, huh?”
“I want you to be happy. I truly do. I always have.” He turned and gently scooped my hand up in his, not really holding it but more … touching it. “Which is why I think you should go with my brother when he leaves.”
“Leaves?”
“He hasn't told you?”
“No. I mean, he mentioned something about working at the asylum, but—”
“Jason’s been offered a position in New York. At the IVRS.”
I studied his face for a moment, but he wouldn't look at me. “And you want me to leave with him?”
“You … if you're ever to be happy, the relationship with my brother needs time to flourish. And that can’t happen here with me looking over your shoulder.”
“Or is it that
you
want time to move on—without me walking in on you?” I stood up. “This is about Pepper, isn’t it?”
“Ara. No.” He stood up too.
“You only left her because she was arrested.” I brushed away his reaching hand. “You only met me because of that! But she's back now, and—”
“Ara, please.” He swept in and grabbed my arm. “It’s not like that. She’s sixteen years old, for God’s sake.”
“Her human age made no difference before.”
“Yes, but I’m a different man, now. I see no appeal in her youth or her innocence.”
“Then why do you want me gone?”
“I don’t want you
gone
. I want you to move on and, for whatever reason you’re doing it, stop holding on to the past.”
I jerked out of his grasp.
“I will never be able to take you back, Ara—you have to realise that.” His eyes flicked across my face in search of understanding. “I may have given you the impression lately that there’s a hope for us. I’m sorry. That was poor judgement on my part. But even if I still loved you, I don’t
want
you anymore. Ever. And, frankly, I’m not sure why you’re even wasting your life waiting for me to have a change of heart.”
“Who says I’m waiting for it?”
“I can read your mind, Ara,” he said gently, tilting his head to one side.
I felt stupid and pathetic under that pitiful gaze. Worst part was, I knew he still cared for me, maybe even loved me. But who was I fooling to ever think that would matter? He hated me for betraying him. Nothing would change that. Nothing would make him open his heart up and risk being stabbed there again. And no matter what Drake or Blade or anyone said, I was only hurting myself waiting around for him to love me again.
“Look, in a way, it’s kinda sweet.” He touched his chest. “Believe me, it warms my heart to think you could possibly ever forgive me for the way I’ve treated you, but I just don’t understand why you’d need to. You have Jason now, and—”
“So that’s it,” I said, looking at my feet. “I made
one
mistake and now, no matter what I want or don’t want, you don't care? You’re just walking away from me forever?”
“Don’t pretend this isn’t what you want, Ara! You’ve been pining for him since he abducted you and brutalised you!”
“That’s not true!”
“Yes, it is. You can’t lie to me anymore.” The strength and volume in his voice made mine disappear. “The fact is, you’re holding on to me because
one
man is not enough for you—never was. You have some twisted need to be loved by everything with a penis.”
I stepped back, so overcome by that cruel statement that I just didn’t know what to say. “If that’s what you
really
believe about me, then I guess what happened with Jason was a blessing in disguise.”
“Guess so.”
“Fine.” I took another step away, lowering my eyes so he wouldn't see the tears. “Then I guess there’s no need for you to stop and talk with me again, is there?”
He drew a long gulp of air into the back of his throat, closing his eyes so slowly it looked like his gut was on fire, forcing a break of sweat beads across his brow. And, shaking, with his fists tight, he turned away stiffly and disappeared, leaving me sobbing quietly to myself in the coming night.