Creature of Habit (Book 3) (17 page)

Chapter 29

Grant

As much as it grated against my nerves, I allowed Noor into the office I use while in Black Mountain. It was not as intrusive as it would have been in Asheville, or even at The Foundation, as I hadn’t truly lived there in such a long time, but still, there’s a difference between an invitation and a demand.

Noor fell into the latter.

She arrived on her own, gliding in through the open door, absorbing everything quickly. The map on the wall, the papers on the desk. The notes jotted on the yellow, lined pad.  She ran her finger down the list I’d made and cut her eyes in my direction. “Your system seems a little antiquated, don’t you think?”

I shrugged. “It works for me. I like to see everything laid before me.”

“Hm.” She sat in the desk chair. “Explain the process—the purpose. Justify the time and reasoning.”

I fought the anger boiling beneath the surface. “I don’t typically justify my actions to others.”

She laughed. “I’m sure you don’t. Like the child. You did that?”

Child. That was a reference to Amelia. “Yes.”

Her head tilted. “Why?”

Why? The memories of Amelia flood my head. My heart. From the instant I smelled her in my home to the moment I gave her life—reborn. “I thought you were here to find out more about my profession.”

“I assume you’ll find your family—only after leaving a wake of bloody deaths behind you. Your motives are bizarrely clean. Your conscience less so, but who of us is without sin?” She crossed one leg over the other, a sharp heel angled away from her body. “You’ve spent a lifetime—or two—meddling in the affairs of your family and the humans you feel compelled to protect. Wouldn’t you like to rise above all of that? To something greater?”

“Not particularly.”

“So you’re content cleaning up the mess of the lesser and raising pennies for the unfortunate? Do you not think you’ve repaid any and all debts that you may have incurred?” she asked.

“This isn’t about debts.”

“No? Not to your mother? To Olivia. Even Caleb? Do you not see that in your world you do nothing but create chaos that returns tenfold?” She picked up a stack of papers on the desk.

I crossed my arms over my chest and counted, mentally, to ten. “What exactly do you want, Noor?”

She flipped through the papers, barely paying attention, but she was a vampire, I’m sure she culled what she needed. At her leisure she asked, “What do you think will happen to the girl? The one you’ve marked like a dog in heat?”

My hands clenched. “Nothing. Nothing will happen to her.”

“Perhaps.” She shrugged with false indifference. “That pulsing heart tells me differently. She’s a liability. A babe born with a weakness. She should have been terminated on the spot.”

Blind rage flickered over my senses.

“How dare you—“

She stood, walking close. I restrained myself from choking the life out of her. “When you’re ready, we’ll be there. For both of you.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?”

“The Council. We want you.”

The idea floored me. “Ridiculous.”

“I know.  I thought so, too. I did, I knew the arguments I laid out were weak and would never sway you. You’re as rogue as the men you hunt.” She ran a finger over the starched collar of my shirt. “Just dressed better.”

I snatched her wrist in mine.

“I thought that but then you revealed the girl.” She smiled, mean and hard. “You won’t be able to protect her.”

“I will
always
protect her.”

“Hmm…” she hummed, flicking a tongue over her lips.  “Have you tasted her yet? The blood of an immortal?”

“Stop.”

She’d easily revealed my biggest fear. A fear she picked up on immediately.

“No?”

“Shut up.”

“Someone will,” she said with confidence. “It’s only a matter of time. By nature we’re a curious species.”

Noor stood very close to me, inches from my chest and face. I could end her in a moment, I had no doubt about that. But then I’d lose everything. Amelia. My family. I narrowed my eyes and asked, “Are we finished?”

She looked up at me and pursed her lips, as though we were very much not finished, but she thought better of it. “For now.”

She passed me, and I watched her leave, eyes hard on her back. At the door she paused and said, “The offer stands. When you’re ready, let me know.”

She said it as if it was a done deal. That we would cave and come to them. Over my dead body.

Chapter 30

Amelia

Sharp, clean air. Gray, full sky. Wind slapped against my cheeks like the sound of my name, echoing in my ears.
Amelia… Amelia… Amelia…

The feeling of cold settled in my bones, working into my muscles. A spot in my mind told me vampires don’t get cold. That we’re beyond that sort of weakness, but the weight of it crushed me.

I blinked, tree bark coming into focus, brown and weathered. Lined with veins of lichen. A bird twittered. The earth crunched.

“Amelia!”

“What?” I whispered, pressing my fingers to my ears. There was something I had to do. A purpose for my mission. A dot on the horizon that needed my attention. I shielded my eyes and attempted to focus.

“Amelia!”

My body jerked back, wrenching me from my goal. I spun, hand fisted, making contact. The loud crack on impact, doubled with the howl of pain, shook me from my stupor. The cold vanished and I stared at the man in front of me, holding his cheek.

“Adam?”

“What the fuck?” he said, carefully working his jaw. I stood frozen as the world zoomed back to me, proportional and clear.

“Where am I?” I asked, looking around the unfamiliar terrain.

He spat, blood landing on the thin layer of snow and said, “About five miles from Lost Cove.”

“I…” I stumbled for words. I had no recollection of leaving the house or for what purpose. “I’m sorry. Are you okay?”

“I was just about to ask you that. That was a hell of a punch.”

“Just, uh, a little confused.” The feeling returned to my fingers and toes. My hearing evened out. “I should probably get back.”

“Does Grant know you’re out here? Alone?”

I stared over his shoulder at the tracks I’d made getting to the clearing. Single line—paced at a run. Adam followed my line of sight and his eyebrow lifted. Dozens of footprints marred the area. All mine.

“I don’t know.  Sometimes the new senses are overwhelming. I must have gotten distracted and lost track.”

He frowned. “I’ll take you back.”

I nodded and followed him out of the woods.

~*~

Grant and Adam stood on the front porch discussing me. They didn’t try to hide it or anything. I supposed that was nearly impossible with my hearing change. So I pressed my back against the wall and listened as Adam described how he found me and my behavior on the way back to Black Mountain.

“She seemed confused.”

“It’s common,” Grant said. “The smallest thing can overwhelm the senses.”

“But to get that far away? She was very close to Lost Cove. I don’t think anyone would have done anything but the agreement stands—no vampires on Melungeon property.”

“I know, and thank you for looking out for her.” We’d passed Grant on the main road, his SUV coming to a skidding halt. I’d barely gotten out of the car when he had me in a tight embrace, worry etched all over his features.

“Just luck. I was heading to the woods when I caught her scent.” He paused. “From the look of her tracks she was in a hurry and maybe agitated. I called her name over and over but got no reaction. Well, until she clocked me.”

I sensed rather than heard Grant smile. “She’s definitely strong. It’s taken some getting used to.”

“How are things going with the other stuff? The heart…”

“I can’t say it hasn’t caused some concern. It puts a target on her back. It makes her different—vulnerable, I guess. My species isn’t kind to outliers, especially one that can be exploited.”

“What do you mean?” Adam asked.

“Her blood. There’s nothing like it. And there’s nothing more important to my people. Nothing—other than power. Combine the two and…” He laughed bitterly. “I don’t know what lengths others will go through to hurt her.”

Grant’s voice was raw. Trembling. I’d never heard him so revealed, outside our bed—outside of the two of us. He’d tried to explain the risk to me, but I’d resisted, thinking he was being over protective as usual. But his tone. The strain. Realization took hold.

“Do you think it gives her an edge? Or some sort of special power?”

Grant hesitated, probably afraid to share too much information with someone that was a known enemy, but the lines had blurred between our people. “Her blood may be powerful to those who drink it. It could enhance their own abilities and strength.”

“You haven’t tested this theory?”

“No.”

“Shouldn’t you?” Adam asked to my surprise.

If he answered or gestured I couldn’t make out what it was.

“I understand, I guess. Well, is there anything I can do?” Adam asked.

“Is that a serious offer?”

“I owe you a debt. I’m ready to repay it when you need it.”

My ears tickled at the sound of Grant rubbing his hand through his hair. Delegating wasn’t one of his strong suits, unless it was over paper clips and dusting. To my surprise though, he replied, “I think I have something that would be perfect for you. How good are you at tracking?”

“Found your girl, didn’t I?”

Grant laughed. “You did. Now let’s see if you can help find Sebastian.”

~*~

Teeth bore down on my hip, lips trailed across my belly. His hands were everywhere, as though they hadn’t traveled the territory before. It felt different—each time was different.
I
was different.

Lifting his chin upward, his face leveled with mine. His hair shooting up in a dozen directions, eyes dark purple and dilated. He was naked, exposed—out of control—making me dizzy and hot. Looking down on me he smiled, wolfish, predatory and my hips lifted to him—for him.

“Gran—“ I began, but was cut off my his mouth. He kissed me hard, fully, and again my body sought connection with his. After the first time at the cabin, I learned that Grant liked rough sex. Vampire sex he called it, heightened and full intensity. It was more than that, I knew. It was his preference, which made my blood thrum and boil. He’d gone decades without a partner and now he had one that he loved and could handle the physicality he desired.

Like now, he slipped two fingers inside, while rubbing me with his thumb.

The rigorous pace thrilled me. My mind was consumed with constant images of him on me,
in me
. On this we seemed to be at the same footing. Today, he’d come to me after Adam left, in the middle of packing now that things were settled with the Council. I hadn’t expected him to shut the door with a slam and push me onto the bed. I hadn’t expected him to rip my shirt off at the shoulder and tear the thin strap of panties at my hip. I hadn’t expected any of it, which made it all the more delicious. Hard was how we did it—
hard
was how I liked it.

The spikes of his hair tickled my face, and I laughed, brushing them off. Feathery and soft they landed back in my eyes and I counted the hairs, two… eight… seventeen… while fucking his fingers. “Did you know,” I wondered aloud, “That you have coppery gold mixed in with the brown?”

His fingers slowed. His thumb stopped. I blinked into the dark, the question lost in the silence. He shifted , brushing the warm, heated spot once in warning. I raised my eyes to his and saw a pout on his lips, petulant that I’d lost focus and prepared to withhold on me until I regained my senses.

“I’m sorry.”

He tilted his head. “Are you?”

“Yes.” I licked my lips. The ache grew with each stalled moment. I’d say anything to get him to start again and he knew it. “Swear.”

Slowly, he started up but kept his eyes on mine. The brush of his thumb sent sparks through my body. A deep shudder trembled through my limbs and he said, in the lowest voice, “You wandering off, like earlier today? That can’t happen again, Amelia.”

His hands felt soft and cool. My body feverish. “I know.”

“You have to keep sharp—stay focused. All the time.”

“I know,” I repeated, feeling the build-up tighten and coil. I let my eyes slip from his, landing on the way his muscles clenched across his shoulders, flexed in his arms. He shifted and cool air replaced him but only for a moment. I grappled for him, reaching for his arms, hips, and he rolled us over so I was over him. Quickly I mounted his erection, feeling the fullness of him inside.

“Thank God,” I declared with a sigh.

“Fuck me, Amelia,” he said, drawing me back again. His eyebrow quirked.
Oh
, I realized that he’d given me control. He’d given me a purpose. Not just to be fucked but
to
fuck. Him.

Staring down at his body, his perfect, perfect body, was the only motivation I needed. I arched my back and rocked my hips, lifting with each movement. Slow but hard. Hard but slow, until we both spiraled into mind numbing bliss.

I rolled off and curled into a ball by his side, nose pressed against his skin. “Tell me something,” I said.

“Anything.”

“Do you want to taste me?”  He quirked an eyebrow and slipped his hand between my legs. “No, not there. My blood.”

He stared at me for a moment, but answered easily. “No.”

“Why not?”

“Because your blood isn’t what I crave. Your body sets me on fire, but your blood, as it’s always been, is my compass home.”

“But other vampires?” I splayed a hand over his stomach.

“Have to get through me first.”

I kissed the skin on his side, under his arm. “Do you think it can mean something? Have power or something? Like Rebecca said?”

“It’s possible. But we’ll never know.” He squared my face to his, moving his lips close to mine and repeated, “Never.”