Shadow Queen (19 page)

“STACE!  STOP!”  His hands shot out to my shoulders.  That jerked me to life.  Cord’s hands on me was not a good thing.

A commotion was heard outside, banging around and such.  Being used to the Were’s and their rough housing ways, I ignored it.  But a second later I had another feeling hit me.  A feeling I’ve missed.

The door flew open, no slammed and was unhinged.  Cord stood up falling against me and knocking me down.  With little room between the exercise contraptions, we fell through the only open space that would keep us from gaining a concussion.  Whirled around to land atop him, Cord broke the fall for me.

A second later, both of us were looking up to a halfway stunned/black eyed Cas who looked ready to uproot a tree.

“What is going on here?”  Gods, his voice was so deep and calling out things it shouldn’t.   His nose flared as I stared upward.

“It is not what you think, man.  She was drilling me.”

Cas flew through the room, lifted me like a feather, and started pounding on Cord.

Cord and his way with words.

“Drilling me for answers, dude.  Stop—hitting—me!” This was said between fist thumps.  I saw Cord’s lip bust at the third hit.  “She wanted to know if you were okay and what happened.  I didn’t tell her, man.  She’s came to me.”

One more gut hit and Cas jumped off him knocking over the weight bench.  “I trust you to keep her safe and you make moves on her.”

“I didn’t, man,” Cord stood up enough to mop blood off his lip with his towel.

“Then why are you alone with her without clothes on and why does she smell like you?”

Only then did I notice Cord was shirtless.  His basketball style shorts were hanging low with boxers all hanging out.

I tapped my head back in Cas’ direction.  He was wearing his traditional gray t-shirt and jeans.  I wanted to run my fingers all over him and then some.  I wanted to leave the room and make him see that Cord had nothing on him.

Blinded with his presence, I still let my face follow the sound of his voice the way it made a hiss in Cord’s direction.

“She just slipped in to corner me about you.  The court forced a kiss that she was disgusted by.  Would she really want me so bad if the chick can’t finish a conversation without your friggin’ name in it?  Look at her face.  She doesn’t want me.  Believe me, I’ve tried.  Look at where her eyes are even now.”

I popped my head away, but not fast enough.  Cas’ piercing gaze was on mine willing me to him.  It wasn’t hard to see my state of failing composure.  I warmed from head to toe with his stare.  Waiting for the most horrific of moments for Cas to blow his top being the day he came back in my life after over a month, I was on the verge of a scream when he tossed a smile my direction.  Faltered by the reaction, I only blinked. 

Cas ran a hand through his hair.  “Have her things packed and sent over.  We will meet at the warehouse at ten.”

A little after lunch now and hours till that deadline I shouted out, “I don’t need them.”

Physical space meant everything in that moment.  My body screamed things it shouldn’t when his fingers touched the edge of my knuckles and slid around my palm.

His hand led me out of the room and down the hall to the large sitting room that I’d spent every late night in for weeks now.  I looked around feeling a peace about me to know I had yet another place to go that someone thought of my wellbeing.  I knew Cord cared regardless of how he went about it.

Cas walked me to the open terrace that led to the Hummer parked at the end of the circle drive.  He opened the door for me, skirted around to the driver seat, and drove us off the Ryan Manor.

Without a single word spoken, we pulled into the Cross Manor.  I wanted to ask if my room was my room.  I wanted to ask if someone was in
my
room.  Would we go right back to the way it was?  Is Drac really dead?  Who actually killed him?

“In good time, love.”

He was reading everything.

Straight to the weight room.  The
weight
room?

“I don’t want you in his rooms again.”

Oh!  “I didn’t choose to be in his rooms in the first place,” I snapped.

“If it could have been avoided, I would have extinguished the problem long ago.”

“Are you going to tell me how the problem was solved?”

“If you force me too.”  He didn’t look at me while saying this.  His focus was on the guards currently opening the doors before us.  When they were done, he made the best use of the weight room I’d ever seen.  Forever lodged in my memory, we were not disturbed until an hour before we were expected at the warehouse.  

The night didn’t last long enough.  I was greeted by virtually every patron of the home including a very peppy Claire who had ten different desserts ready for me across the dining table.

Cas explained that he was without any other option except to go along with it until he could work out a plan.  His plan didn’t fail, though Nara was never far away.  She apparently went ballistic at the news of Drac’s death causing all manner of disturbances in various human circles.  It took Cas all night to subdue the human authorities with the connections he held.  Using ambassadors within the factions that were posed as human were the only options in cases like that.

Dr. Quinn was to take over the club and therefore run the underground network of Vampires.  With hope, the tides would change.  Turns out, Cas knew all along that Dr. Quinn never held ill-will towards me or my familiars.  When his family was taken, he set out to make a worthy cause of revenge in their name.  Like his nephew, he played both sides to gain favor where needed. 

For the first time in a while, things were looking up. Lord Jetten was returning, the threats from Drac were gone, and I had Cas back.

              So I decided to throw a dinner party.  We’ d had enough doom and gloom for a day or two and could use the distraction. Cas reminded me of the last party I planned, The After Holiday party last December at my father's court that Borgon crashed. Cas was very reluctant only because of that event and secondly, his Vampire compadres.  He didn’t want “edginess” to come around in his court remembering what they’d been through in recent days.  So all were “edgy” it seemed. 

              I invited all of my marked ones and their respective dates anxious to have us all together again.  The menu was set.  I didn’t even get to choose the outfit.  My Vampire boyfriend insisted on it.  And I couldn’t even begin to know what a disaster it would turn out to be.  Or best night of my life!

              I remembered my Mother’s words from the first time she visited with me in a dream.

Allow Eos’s son to calm you.  The son of Orion will defend your greatest honor.  The human will challenge your best and worst decisions.  And my son will compliment you with any great need that I can’t bring to you.  I leave you now.  You have much to do.

              I’d accepted who I was now.  I knew I was created for some greater purpose.  And there was
much to do
.

              We were eating and enjoying ourselves with light conversations and laughter floating around the room.  For once, I felt normal with friends and family in attendance avoiding the much to do.

              Then Cord did his worst.

              I stood to check on dessert expecting everyone to stay seated but as it would happen, Cord, who was five seats down from me, kneeled in front of my feet blocking my entrance.

              I peeked over to Cas, but he wasn’t in his seat.  Where did he go and
when
?

              “Quit playing games Stace and come back to me?” Cord’s hand went to his heart and the other jutted out in front of me like he was about to sing Tom Cruise style. Being a comedian was his goal here, but with Cas on constant watch of who spoke to me and in what way and when would throw him over the edge.

              He pointed back to himself and said, “It’s not going to work.  I know you want me.”  He smiled trying to win the crowd more than me. 

              “What do you think you are doing Cord Ryan?”  I gritted my teeth and tried to back away but only hit the chair I was just sitting in.  Szar yelled for him to keep it up.  I was so confused.

              “You can’t deny the way you’ve been looking at me.  You were once my betrothed, Anastacia.”

              “Are you drunk?” I countered hoping it would make everyone think he’d lost him mind.

              “I am on to you.  You make it so hard to focus when you whisper in my ear during those interesting sparring lessons,” Cord sighed dramatically.

              “You are insane.”

              “Insane with you.”  I glanced around a second time watching the crowd egg him on, even my brother.  They are all enjoying this.

“Kids these days are too spoiled.  You can’t have everything you want, Cord.  Didn’t your mother whoop you enough as a child?”  Szar shared his insights.

              “Please say you’ll leave the loser Vampire and come home with me tonight?”

              “Yeah, like walking on four legs is sexy!” 

              He jumped up and threw his hands in the air turning to the table and spoke even louder than before, “Folks, she thinks I’m sexy!”

              “If you don’t shut-up Cord Ryan, I’m going to shut you up,” I blazed with fury.  His moronic idea of a sideshow was going to get him scarred and burned. And not just by me.

              “If I let the others go on without them knowing you’re denying true love, they will all give up before it comes.  I can’t live without you, baby.”  He grabbed my hand and pulled it to his chest at my vehement refusal.

              The entertainment ended when Cas stepped back into the room.  His dark look went from bad to worse when he saw Cord’s hand touching mine.  He was not happy and I was bubbling up fast to severe the situation as a joke and not a fistfight, but something else inside of me wanted to see Cord punished for his farce.

              “Anastacia, can I see you a second,” the deep timbre of his voice boomed low enough for me to hear.

              “No.  He started this.  He can finish it.  Tell him what an idiot you are Cord?”

              All eyes turned to the Were.  “I was just telling Stace here that she has a fine—

              I lost all control.  One second I was standing and the next I was lying prostrate over the Were barring his hands and feet without touching another single part of his body.  I wanted my point made and Cas diffused.

              “Cord is the one who started this ridiculous coo.  Don’t blame her,” Calum actually came to my defense.  "He planned it."

              "Shut up, Green."

            
 
“Man down,” yelled Szar.  “Rubbernecking essential.  My fine sister, the badass chick who has never kissed the earth, has face planted...well a Werewolf.”

              He thought he was so clever with his words.

              “Oh, Stace.  He is so jealous of our special connection.  It doesn’t do to let him see us making more.”  Cord wiggled his eyebrows up and down a mere inch from my face.  So...it wasn’t my greatest moment.

              “I don’t know what game you’re playing at right now, but it won’t work.  Cas knows my every thought and how utterly revolting I find you, so this little show only makes you look like the foolish one.”  It was then I remembered I wasn’t wearing pants.  And although I had a knee-length pencil skirt that was rubbing at my thighs to tear in pieces at the strain my legs were pulling on it, I knew that only Cas was behind me and he was a gentleman.  I peeked back to be sure to show Cord of “my connection” with Cas was evident and was greeted with a very lengthy stare that was not aimed at my eyes.

             
CAS! 

              Kissa.  You need to get up and pull that skirt down...now.

              And here I thought you were a gentleman.
  I rolled off the chump on the ground and stood a little taller beside Cas adjusting my dress just to prove a point with an extra wiggle in my step.

              “I enjoyed that from my view babe,” Cord stretched his hand out to pull up on my chair to standing.  “But I’m betting my man Thorn, had a better one.”

             
You need to walk into the kitchen right now or I will pick you up over my shoulder and carry you.

              “Will you fill in all of us on what we are missing?” Cord dusted his hands.  “Although I imagine the conversation is insatiably dirty to my virgin ears.”

              I half turned back to everyone and told them I would be right back after checking on dessert.   A collective hush had befallen the room, waiting for the two of us to disappear through the swinging door.  

              I expected one of his episodes from previous experiences involving Cas and a kitchen but it was bustling with people this time.  I felt him lean in closer as I stopped just past the first counter. 

             
All the way to the back, in the storeroom.

              Uh oh!  What was he doing?

              “Miss?  Miss?” a female voice interrupted our silent march.

              Thankful, I turned to her and asked, “Is there a problem?”

              “Just a little one.  It will be fifteen more minutes than scheduled due to the ovens.  We needed a temperature change and it held us back.”

              “No prob.  Just get it there when it’s ready.  I will go let them know.”

              A hand shot out to my arm.  

              I swallowed my words and said differently, “I will run an errand and be back to tell them in five.”

              My lead feet made every possible noise towards the ten steps it took to get to the said storage room.  If the sounds of my heels were loud, the sound of the door closing shut was louder.  And he didn't slam it, I was sure.  I faced away waiting for the usual manner Cassius Cross approached when he was unhappy with others around me. That possessive alpha male thing was sexy to me, but it grated on my nerves when he embarrassed me in front of others. 

              He hadn't moved in yet so I slowly pivoted and leaned farther away against the heavy wooden counter now behind me. Cas was in front of the door looking darker than anything with the combination of anger and jealousy and want in his eyes. I just didn't understand this Cas most of the time, but could predict the reaction.  He usually wanted to melt his frustrations out on this subject with interaction first.

              I waited now, bracing the countertop with my fingers.  He stepped backward causing confusion to show on my once well masked face that I could no longer hold in front of Cas much anymore.

              Finally, I couldn't take it.   With breakneck speed I said without stopping,  “Cas.  I didn't start it.  I didn't set him off.  And I didn't egg it on like our so called friends.  I didn't mean for you to see it and freak out either. I just wanted him diffused and out of my way befo--

             
Kissa, stop.  I know you didn't start it.  I can read you, remember?

              He slipped a foot in closer without me seeing.  I caught the second step only because I released my gaze off the single thump of hair that had fallen into his right eye.  I couldn't see his whole face and it made me want to move it.

              “I know you’re angry right now.  If I could make him stop, I would.”

              His feet even in front of me I had to tilt my head up to see if he replied facially since his mind and voice were silent.

              “Say anything and I'll do it.  Whatever you need?”

              His eyes changed sliding into that transparent glow that sent shivers down my spine.  He wasn't happy. Sometimes I thought that look was pure anger but I'd learned months ago it was something else.  Yes, I'd felt the desire from the very first time I'd met him, but I'd denied it in my own naivety and misunderstanding. 

              “Marry me.”

              I smiled broadly and rolled my eyes hoping to calm him, “Silly man, I said yes.”

             
Tonight.

              Oh!  I gripped the too thick countertop pushing my fingernails into the soft wood.  On one level I wanted to blow this off and get him calm enough to head back into that room where all of our friends would laugh it off and continue on like we always had.  But there was a part of me that knew I might only have so much longer to love this man.  A year and a half ago, I was just a girl.  I'd grown up fast in the world my father pushed on me, but I'd become a whole new version of me in the time since leaving his court.  Since meeting Cas, Calum, Cord, and all of the worlds away life changing events that have happened in that time I fell in love with him.  His ability to just fit in my empty spaces and know my every move was a part of me I couldn't ignore anymore.  Where I didn't complete myself, he did. Even in the smallest of moments, he was aware of my every move.  And I his.  I didn't like being away from him and I could feel the anxiety in his body away from mine.  I wasn't that girl anymore and this girl wanted to own Cassius Cross.  If he knew it so well, why couldn't I?  Forget that I pictured more time like we were, because in all reality, I was ready to make us real.  Destiny might be leading me somewhere, but I knew many events ago that I was in charge no matter what. 
Allow Eos's son to calm you. 
So with that, it was decided. 

             
Alright.

              Like a blur of fleeting light, I was suddenly in his arms.  He pulled me in like he might kiss me, but he didn't.

              “You're sure.” His voice was husky and really, really low.

There are some events that one wishes to remember, if only in a picture of the mind, for they alter everything in the life path walked so far.  The imprint  it offers to your very soul can break into a thousand pieces if the memory is shattered with sadness.  I know it will be the turning point for the two of us.

              “I never had a doubt about the yes, just the when Cas.  I was just scared before.  I'm not now.”

              He did kiss me then.  It wasn't a long kiss or very passionate like his usual, but chaste and loving.   Like a thank you.

              He let go of me and tangled his hand into mine.  The second his hand went on the doorknob reality set in.

              “Wait.”

              Kissa.  You can't change your mind.

              I giggled.  As if.  “No.  Not that.  I can't wear this.  Our friends are here.  And what about--

              He pulled me into a bear hug.  “I have it covered.”