Authors: Nadja Notariani
Brushing his hand over her dark hair, Malcolm looked his fill of her perfection. The sleep of exhaustion claimed her, and he tucked her into the lonely bed.
The Council awaited him.
“
You’re seeing him again this evening?” Lara asked incredulously. “Getting serious about this guy?”
“
I don’t know,” Paige answered honestly. “I feel a connection with him I can’t explain.”
They continued weeding Sissy’s herb garden, a square three meter area which held various potted plants in the tenement building’s backyard. No one complained since Sissy shared with anyone who asked. The potted earth steamed as Paige turned it over in the cool, evening air.
“
I can’t believe these are still growing,” Lara remarked, changing the subject. “Are we taking them inside, or risking another week outside?”
“
Let’s give them one more week,” Paige answered. “I’m a little afraid, Lara,” she confessed quietly. “It’s all moving so quickly. And my feelings are so strong. It feels so…so…right. I know it probably makes no sense, but that makes me want to turn and run the other way.”
“
I do understand, Paige. You know how I feel already. You’re afraid of losing someone again. You want to bolt so you don’t have to risk being hurt.”
“
I know I can’t run forever. I’m afraid of ending up alone.”
“
Then you’d better stop running, Paige.”
Lara walked to the small shed and tossed in the gloves and hand shovels. Paige stayed on the porch stairs awhile, the exchange heavy in her thoughts. Crisp air caused her nose to run and brought the pink up in her cheeks. Other, more frightening things were happening to her. These made her want to run farther, faster, until she outran them.
Drink…
Paige closed her eyes. Last night’s dreams had been the most vivid by far. This time, there was no question of her dream lover’s identity. It was Cael Maccinnis. Only in her dreams Cael wasn’t simply a gorgeous man and successful furniture craftsmen. He was a vampire, and she welcomed him. She knew she should be shuddering with horror but couldn’t conjure the least bit, and that concerned her above all else.
Almost.
For in her dreams Paige kept another secret. She did shudder at this recollection.
Thank goodness it was only a dream.
Combined with the other changes she was noticing, Paige wasn’t sure she could dismiss her dreams so easily anymore. Her heart pounded, her thoughts swirling in violent tempest’s storm.
What’s wrong, lass? I feel the tumult inside ye…
The sound of his voice in her mind soothed her, and her heart rate slowed along with her thoughts.
What’s happening to me?
Paige knew instinctively she was hearing him, feeling him. They hadn’t acknowledged this fact, but there it was. Either she was losing her mind, or she was rapidly becoming capable of inhuman behavior, smelling things, hearing things, and just…knowing things.
Everything’s going to be all right, lass. I promise ye.
She didn’t know how, or even why, but she believed him.
I miss you…
This was crazy.
Around the side of the building emerged a sight that brought tears to her eyes.
“
Hi there,” Cael smiled. “I know I’m early. I hope that’s all right with ye.”
“
I was just thinking about…”
She didn’t finish the thought. The last thing she wanted was to have him learn she was on her way to becoming a nutter. Finally finding someone she cared for, maybe more than cared for, Paige wasn’t about to scare him off with her crazy imaginings.
“
About what?” he grinned.
“
Oh, nothing, really. Do you want to say hello to my Aunt Anna and cousins before we go?”
“
I’d like that.”
His voice slid over her like satin, raising the hairs on her arms. Following her up the stairs to Sissy’s back door he wrapped her waist with his arm, sending another delicious wave of pleasure rolling through her. Lara and Sissy sat around the kitchenette table; Brooke stood leaning against the counter-top. Conversation screeched to a halt when they entered through the back door, her cousins gaping at the sexy hunk beside Paige, and Sissy looking as if someone had just walked over her grave.
“
This is Cael,” she introduced. “And these are my cousins. Brooke has the strawberry blond hair and Lara the yellow,” Paige explained. “That’s how everyone tells them apart. And this,” she said, pointing to her aunt, “is Sissy.” Looking around, she added warily, “What’s the matter in here?” not understanding their odd reactions.
“
It’s great to meet you, Cael,” Brooke chimed in. “Paige never dates; that’s why we’re staring like fools, in case you were wondering.”
Brooke always knew just what to say to lighten a situation. With Sissy still pale as a ghost and her cousins’ first reaction, Paige sent a grateful look Brooke’s way, even if it was a mite humiliating.
“
It is nice to meet ye, likewise,” Cael offered, shaking the twins’ hands. “And you also.”
He moved to shake Sissy’s hand, but her aunt sat still as a stone.
“
Sissy!” Paige, Brooke, and Lara said in unison, unable to believe their eyes.
None of the three had ever seen her act rudely toward another human being in her life. That she did worried them.
“
Oh,” Sissy recovered. “Ye have to excuse me young man. It’s that ye made me think of someone I knew long ago.”
Paige dismissed the incident thinking Sissy overly affected from some long ago memory, as did Brooke and Lara, and they continued with pleasantries a few minutes.
“
Paige tells us you’re a wood craftsman. What exactly do you work on?” Brooke nosed.
“
Mostly I craft furniture pieces. I have done custom work for new construction and remodels.”
“
How interesting! Is that what your father did, too?”
“
Something like that,” he grinned, his sensual mouth curving upward.
“
Cael keeps a home in the Northern Highlands. It’s open to the public in the summer months. His wood shop is there, and he works through the winter months.”
“
You must be very talented, Mr. … What did you say your last name was?” Anna inserted herself into the conversation.
“
Maccinnis,” Cael stated. “It pays the bills,” he added lightly.
“
Well, Paige, ye have yer job here in the city. Ye can hardly be traipsin’ off to the Highlands,” Anna snorted her rebuke.
Tension trailed Anna’s words, wrapping the kitchen in its grip. Paige was mortified.
“
Paige can do as she pleases, Sissy,” Brooke leapt to Paige’s defense. “She’s a grown woman with sense enough to know if she wants to be traipsin’ off anywhere.”
Brooke laughed, Lara joining with her.
“
It’s the mother hen coming out in her,” Lara added.
Paige relaxed somewhat at the girls’ comments, knowing Sissy worried overmuch for her. On the other hand, she bristled. She liked Cael. He was kind, smart, and thoughtful; and didn’t deserve to be treated rudely. A few minutes later Paige made her apologies and they departed.
“
As a matter of fact,” Cael started as they stepped out into the black night, “I was wonderin’ if ye would traipse off with me tonight. I want to show ye my home.”
He awaited her response, aware that he was moving quickly yet desperate to remove her from the city after what he’d learned.
After what he’d seen in his dream…
“
It’s not that I wouldn’t like to, Cael,” she apologized. “But I’ve got work.”
“
Ah, I nearly forgot,” he lied, pretending to be casual when he wanted to punch something. “I’m not used to a regular nine to five schedule anymore. How about this weekend?”
“
I’d like that,” she smiled shyly.
Her hair hung in soft curls around her face, the knit tam keeping the night’s chill at bay. Black leather riding style boots came to just below her knees, soft blue denim covering her thighs and hips. The corduroy jacket lined with plaid cotton hid her beneath its bulk, and Cael wished to be indoors where he could relax his guard and appreciate her form without distraction.
Each sound, each smell had to be cataloged, explored. The Druid magic surrounding Paige was very old and very strong, the spells crafted specifically to mask a vampire’s signature. In other words, someone put these enchantments on Paige Kinnell believing that she was vampire. She wasn’t – yet. Cael intended to change that. But it hinted at a dark possibility.
Paige could be half vampire, half mortal.
It would explain why she responded to him, why he was attracted to her scent in the first place. It also made their situation more dangerous than ever. Paige had powerful and ancient blood running through her veins, of that he had tasted. His bite would have begun her Awakening, the Druid masking spells only able to hold so long. With every day, every drink of her he stole, their bond grew and her Awakening mounted. He would only be able to conceal her for a time, and if she hadn’t completed her Awakening – or begun to drink – the danger would grow. The Vampire Council would not allow her to live. Cael would not allow her to die.
He dare not stray far, for it was impossible to tell when first thirst would consume her. Her first drink would be of him, and if it be in his power she would drink from no other. Changes were about to take place in Paige’s body and mind, and Cael needed to be near, comforting her, ensuring she made it through unscathed. The Awakening was a brutal process, and Paige lacked the advantage of knowing what was happening to her. He wanted to get her far away. His home in the Highlands was secluded, and once there he could devote his full attention to her, for it was well protected.
Protected.
That bothered him. Danger could come from any direction here in the city. His woven charms would keep out any intruder or lesser vampire, but he could not guarantee protection from another ancient. He had to maintain constant vigil until stealing her away. His dream of the previous night haunted him as well.
He had felt the shadow of her death
.
*
Charity slumped back against the chair, cross and pouting. The game wasn’t exciting anymore.
“
What’s wrong, Charity?” Jael asked, her curls bouncing as she hopped on the chair beside her sister.
“
I’m bored with my new game is all.”
“
Here,” Jael smiled, taking a small metal object from her sweater pocket. “Play with this. Games are always better with one of these.”
Charity, taking the miniature figure, smiled at her younger sister in delighted glee.
“
Oh, Jael! It’s perfect!” she clapped. “Will you play again, just like you did last night?”
Jael rubbed the scuff mark from her Mary-Jane.
“
Can I show more this time?” she asked innocently.
“
Of course, silly,” Charity chided with a loving hug. “What fun would it be if we kept all the secrets to ourselves? But you can’t show it all in one dream, Jael,” the older sibling warned. “That will spoil it too soon.”
Jael bounced on the cushion excitedly.
“
Can I show the toy, Charity? A clue.”
“
I don’t know…” Charity thought about it a moment more. “I don’t want him to stop playing. Maybe you’d better.”
Charity would need Harry, too. She set up the board and moved the pieces, Jael showed the players glimpses of what lie ahead, and Harry flipped the cards. The last card read that Charity had to skip her turn. That’s why she was sulking in the first place. But later, Harry would turn a new card, and she would play again.
With renewed interest, Charity could hardly wait.
“
Let’s go find Harry. Maybe he’ll want to play now,” Charity invited.
“
No!” Jael stomped her foot in childish protest. “You promised to come to my tea party. That’s why I came looking for you.”
Charity laughed.
“
I never want to miss one of your tea parties, Jael. We’ll find Harry later. Are there biscuits – and jam?”
The sisters skipped toward the nursery holding hands, lost in the joy of make believe.
*
Polished mahogany gleamed under the green glow of the lawyers’ lights. Council members clad in crimson robes filed into the meeting chamber. In silent order each took their place around the U-shaped table, all facing the podium, large and looming at the table’s open end.
Malcolm of Clan Gaunson, one of the oldest members of the vampire society, took his place. Peculiarly, he was quite confident that the Druid priestess’ enchantments would hold. He wondered if that made him a traitor – or a realist. Quickly, he put her from his mind. He could not draw unwanted attention to himself and thinking of Pilar would garner just that.
“
All rise,” Rhys announced, bringing the Council members to their feet in unison. “Council is now in session.”
As one, they sat. There were four senior members: himself, Rhys of Clan Macdouglas, Conrad of Clan Maccinnis, and Elinor of Clan Maceoghan. Arrayed outside in the great hall were the coven leaders of the four distinct precincts, ready to testify if called upon, awaiting any ruling handed down from the Council.