The Ties that Bind (The Forever series, Book Five) (5 page)

He must really be watching me as not five minutes later
there he is, walking towards me, eyes narrowed in caution. He knows he can’t
kill me and he also knows I want to kill him. He should be nervous.

“Still want to kill me?” he says.

“Depends,” I say nonchalantly. “Who was it you killed?”

“It doesn’t matter. He hated you though so I still think I
did you a favor.”

“Hm, I’ll be the judge of that. Make this quick. I can’t say
for sure how long until someone comes looking for me.”

He comes to stand in front of me, quite boldly, and looks
down at me still sitting on the table with those serious gray eyes of his. I
stare back up at him, not particularly liking being so short next to him. I
focus on his rapidly beating pulse and he steps hastily back. “Well?” I prompt
him.

He blinks and clears his throat. “I have a proposition for
you.”

“So you said on the phone. Get to it.”

He sits next to me, a few feet away and launches into his
quite frankly bizarre business offer, and catches me completely off guard. I
just stare at him momentarily trying to organize my thoughts.

“I see. It’s interesting. Of all the things I thought you
would say, this wasn’t one of them.”

His smile doesn’t reach his eyes, “Thought I might surprise
you.”

“What would your reasons be?” I ask, genuinely interested.

“Those are my own to know.”

“How do I know I can trust you?” I ask.

“You could snap my neck like a twig and yet I trust you,” he
says by way of an answer.

“I will think about it.”

“I would expect nothing less,” he says now standing again
and turning to face me. I bring my legs up onto the table and raise myself to
my knees so I am now looking directly into his eyes. This is better. He doesn’t
think so as he shifts back a bit. His eyes drop to my mouth and back up to my
eyes quickly and I mentally chuckle. He’s wondering what it’s like.

“Have you ever been bitten, Cade? I would imagine in your
line of work it must be tricky to avoid, in spite of your magick blood.”

He sneers at me, “The day I let any of you get your fangs in
me is the day I will kill myself.”

“But you don’t mind that I have drunk from you already?” I
ask.

“That’s different,” he says shortly.

“How so?”

“A self-inflicted wound that I offered to you.”

“Hm,” I say. He actually seems to think there is a
difference. I put my hands on his shoulders and he tries his best not to flinch
under my touch. I drop my fangs and lean in close to his neck and inhale
deeply. “You know I could take you if I wanted to,” I say to him quietly. He
remains perfectly still, wary of me like he would any other predator. He says
nothing, so I lean even closer and even though I have no intention of biting
him--not with the crazy rage that follows suit--I tilt my head to make him
think I will and he has his hand at my throat in a flash.

“Try it and we’ll see just how invincible you really are,”
he whispers to me. I giggle at him and retract my fangs, pushing his hand
easily from my throat. “You shouldn’t knock it till you’ve tried it,” I say,
using the old Devon adage.

“No thank you. I will not reduce myself to being a source of
food,” he says stiffly.

“It’s not just about sustenance, Cade. It is also about
pleasure. I can make you feel things you have only ever dreamed about.”

“I would rather shoot myself in the eye than be with one of
your kind,” he says insultingly and I am rather insulted. Jerk.

“Very well,” I say dismissively. “Let me know if you ever
change your mind.”

“I can assure you, Mrs. O’Dell, that that will never happen.
Think about what I said and get back to me, tomorrow. Your time is running
out.”

“Fine. Why do you call me Mrs. O’Dell? Liv will suffice.”

“Someone has to keep reminding you of your wedding vows,” he
says as he walks away. “Good day,
Mrs. O’Dell
.”

I pull my face at his retreating back in a childish move
which makes me feel better but glad that no one else was around to see it. Oh
well. I will probably accept his proposal, even though I know the shitstorm it
will cause--but mine is the only vote that counts so everyone else can just
stuff it. I suppose I am going to have to slink off to see Xane now and explain
that he is about to have a ravenous baby Vampire waking up any time now in his
hotel. Christ, I wish I knew how he would react. I know nothing about him.

I stalk across the casino and up the stairs to his office. I
am stopped by two enormous bodyguards that must be Demons as they aren’t any
other species that I know of. I glare up at them and tell them my name. They
let me through without incident, fortunately. It wouldn’t do to stand there
like an idiot while they checked to see if I was allowed entry. Most
undignified.

“Liv,” Xane says slyly, “I knew you would come to me.” He
leans over to give me a kiss on each cheek and I let him but then push him
back.

“Sorry to disappoint you, but this is business. Unpleasant
business,” I say seriously and his whole demeanor changes.

“What is it?” he says then, all brusque.

I go into my tale of woe about Jess, the stupid girl, and
his face goes dark as he frowns.

“So one of you has sired a Vampire in my hotel?”

“I’m afraid so. It was unavoidable.”

“Well I suppose the alternative wouldn’t have been great for
business,” he says ruefully. His eyes suddenly snap up to mine. “Wait. Are you
sure?”

“Sure about what? That she is sired? Yes,” I say curiously.

He shakes his head, “No, it shouldn’t be possible.”

“Why not?”

“The wards. This office is the only place where magick can
be conducted. The wards are especially strong and are up all over the building
to prevent magick from being used to cheat.”

“But siring isn’t magick,” I say, confused.

“It is in its own little way. It should have failed. Are you
sure she isn’t just dead?” he asks again.

“Of course I’m sure. She isn’t dead. She healed. She’s in
transition.”

He frowns again, “Come.” He takes my hand and leads me out
of his office.

“Where are we going?”

“I want to see this for myself,” he says curtly.

Okay, don’t believe me then, I think, a bit annoyed.

“By the way,” he adds casually, “you look amazing in that
suit.”

“Thanks,” I say, taking the compliment. “So do you,” I
murmur at his seemingly standard black suit and black shirt. It definitely
suits his persona.

“Thanks,” he says, pleased.

I practically have to jog to keep up with his long, quick
strides across the casino and hotel and once in the elevator I start to get
anxious. What if it did fail somehow? What if she never wakes up? I’ve never
heard of a “failed turning” before but maybe it has happened?

We go up in silence and as the doors ding open he takes my
hand again and leads us to the suite where he just barges in like he owns the
place. Oh, well I suppose he does, actually.

“Where is she?” he asks a startled Lincoln and Scott steps
back. Devon is awake at this point as well and points to the bedroom. Xane
marches us across to the bedroom where he stops and peers down at her. The
other three are standing behind us not very pleased that Xane is still holding
onto me.

“Corinne!” he suddenly bellows, making me jump, and he turns
around as she Teleports into view.

Erm, how the fuck did he do that? Calls her name and she
just turns up? I have tried for months to contact her with no joy. I gape at
him and vow to get him to tell me how he did that.

“Yes, Xane?” she snaps before she sees me. “Oh, hello,
Aefre. So nice to see you,” she says as she curtsies.

“Corinne,” I say and look from her to Xane and frown. If
there are strong wards, how come she can Teleport? In fact, how can any of us?
I mention this to him and he stares at me in surprise. “You can Teleport?”

“Well, no, I don’t Teleport as the older Vampires do,
exactly. I call it Astralling. But so far I’ve done it, Constantine has done
it, and so has Sebastian. And I have been able to do everything I normally do.”
I am getting more confused by the second here.

“Aefre. You are Queen. The wards don’t affect you. They
don’t affect me, as I am the ward setter. As for the rest, I don’t know. It
shouldn’t be possible. And this…” she looks down at Jess, “this should have
failed. Unless…” she turns to me, “Did you?”

“No, no. It wasn’t me. It was Devon.”

She turns to Devon and he shifts uncomfortably under her
scrutiny. “Did you have anything to do with it?” she asks, turning back to me.

“Like what? Only one can sire,” I say, glad that CK isn’t
here to hear me say that.

“Did you tell Devon that he had to do it?”

“No, I told him the opposite. I didn’t want him to do it. I
offered to do it myself but CK stopped me due to my… unknown status.” All eyes
land on me then at that nugget of information.

“I see,” Corinne says. She is silent for a long time and we
all just stare at her.

“You sire, your sibling, and your charge? Yes?”

I nod.

She taps her fingers on her chin and asks, “Have they have
all fed from you recently?”

Again I nod. She clicks her fingers as the realization hits
her, “Your blood. They have it coursing through them and it is amplifying their
own abilities. They become a part of you for a short while. It makes perfect
sense.”

It does? I blink at her and look at Xane and say, “That
makes you able as well. Probably more so after the ritual.”

He tilts his head at me and clicks his fingers. He has
brought to his hand my necklace of Hellfire that I took off yesterday.
“Interesting,” he murmurs as he clasps it back on me. “Why did you take it
off?” he asks absently.

“It hurts my Vampires,” I tell him as if he is a bit dim.

“It’s only a little heat. Won’t kill them,” he says
offhandedly.

“Not the point,” I say through gritted teeth and he shrugs,
unconcerned. “Corinne, may I have a word with you, alone?” I ask.

She bobs her head and I excuse us, taking her into the other
room. I am sure that they are all eavesdropping but I need to know. “Sebastian
spelled me yesterday. How did he manage to do that?” I ask her quietly. “It
can’t be because of my blood because my own magick doesn’t affect me.”

“Vincentius is a rare creature,” she says carefully. “I would
pay extra attention when you are around him.”

“Okay, noted. But that doesn’t answer my question,” I say,
irritated.

“You should ask your sire. It is not for me to gossip,” she
says warily.

“I am asking you. You know he won’t tell me anything,” I
implore her.

She raises her perfect eyebrows in agreement. “Who I am to
disobey a direct order from my Queen?” she asks with meaning.

“Corinne,” I smile at her, “I order you to tell me about
Sebastian.”

She sighs and says, “He wasn’t human. He has never been human.
Before Constantine turned him, he was Faerie.”

Come again?

“Faerie? As in…” I hold up my left thumb and wiggle it to
indicate my protection ring.

“Yes.”

Whoa. That’s intense. It makes perfect sense now. His
ability in the first place is remarkable and not something that humans should
possess.

“But how was he able?” I press for an answer.

“Faeries are extremely powerful, and his abilities have been
magnified by his turning and by drinking your blood as well... it is a very formidable
combination.”

Oh. My thoughts are racing and wait, now that I think about,
Sebastian doesn’t have a ring. At least not one made from Faerie Silver, that
is, and, doing a quick mental check, he doesn’t have any other adornment (that
is visible on the parts of him that I have seen at any rate) that is made from
Faerie Silver--because he doesn’t need it. If he is Faerie--even though he is
now a Vampire--he doesn’t need it. “That’s how it was figured out wasn’t it?” I
ask her, my voice so low she has to lean forward to hear me. “He discovered he
could walk in the sunlight and that is how your ancestor figured it out.”

“Yes,” she says not really wanting to admit it.

Fuck me. Talk about a revelation. “The spell. The spell used
to enchant the Silver. It uses Faerie blood, doesn’t it? It’s not the Silver,
it’s the blood. That’s why they are so hard to procure. The tests so stringent.
Why we have to be deemed worthy. The sacrifice has to be worth it,” I say. Fuck
me. Fuck me. Fuck me.

She is looking not too pleased that I am figuring all this
out and especially within earshot of my little group. We have spoken in very
hushed tones and I don’t think anyone has overheard us, but we can’t be sure. I
lower my voice even more, “How was I allowed to get more? For charges that already
had been given the gift. How was I allowed to get more?”

“You are Queen,” she says simply and I have to admit that is
the first actual perk I have come across since getting my Powers and title.

“Thank you, Corinne. I am most grateful for your cooperation.
I see things more clearly now and it makes a nice change, having been in the
dark for months now. Anything else you care to share about…anything? While you
are here?” I ask sweetly.

She smiles sweetly back and says, “I have already said too
much. Your mother wishes you to learn on your own. She believes it is the…”

“Making of oneself,” I interrupt her with a nod. “Yes, so
I’ve heard,” I add wryly.

She tilts her head. “Xanthe?” she asks with a small smile.

“Yes,” I affirm and she chuckles. “Well, if I may take my
leave now? Ahmed will only be worried.”

“Of course. Thank you for coming,” I say sincerely. “Oh, and
tell Ahmed I say ‘Hi.’”

She nods, “I will. He holds a great affection for you.
Having watched over you for the last millennium he feels quite avuncular, the
big softie. He will be pleased with your greeting.”