Okay, cool. Im too tired to do any impressive proving anyway.
Stark, why dont you drink from me? Just a little, I hurried on when he started to protest. Look, Kalona isnt here. Actually, from my dream its pretty clear that hes far away, since there arent any islands anywhere close to Oklahoma.
You dont know where he is. He could have been making you see him as being anywhere in your dream.
No, hes on an island. As I spoke I felt the truth of my guess. He needed to go to an island to recharge. Do you have a clue where that might be? Did you ever hear him talking about an island with Neferet?
Stark shook his head. Nope. He never said anything about it around me, but the fact that its an island tells us you hurt him. Bad.
Which means Im safe right now, which also means its okay for you to drink from me.
No, he said firmly.
You dont want to?
Dont be insane! I want to, but I cant. We cant. Not right now.
Look, you need my blood and my energy, or spirit, or whatever, to get better. I lifted my chin so he had a clear view of my jugular. So, go ahead. Bite me. I closed my eyes and held my breath.
Stark laughed, which had my eyes popping open to see him chuckling while he clutched painfully at his chest, wheezed, and then laughed some more.
I frowned at him. What is so funny?
Stark managed to control himself enough to say, Its just that you look like something out of an old Dracula movie. You should be asking if I vant to suck yur blood. He made a creepy face and bared his teeth.
I felt my cheeks burning and pulled away from him. Never mind. Forget I even mentioned it. Lets just go to sleep, kay? I started to roll over, but he caught my shoulder and turned me back to him.
Hang on, hang onIm messing this up. He was suddenly serious. Zoey. Stark touched my cheek. Im not drinking from you, because I cant. Not because I dont want to.
Yeah, I heard you before. I was still embarrassed and tried to turn my head, but he forced me to meet his gaze.
Hey, Im sorry. His voice had gone deep and sexy. I shouldnt have laughed at you. I should have just told you the truth, but Im new to being a warrior. Its gonna take me a little while to get it right. His thumb caressed my cheekbone, following the line of my tattoos. I should have told you that the only thing I want more than a taste of your blood is to know that youre safe and strong. He kissed me. Plus, I dont need to drink from you, because I know that Im going to be okay. He brushed his lips against mine. Want to know how I know that?
Uh-huh, I murmured.
I know because your safety is my strength, Zoey. Go to sleep now. Im here. He lay back, settling me against his side.
Just before my eyes fluttered shut I whispered, If someone tries to wake me up, would you please kill them?
Stark chuckled. Anything for you, my lady.
Good. I closed my eyes and fell asleep with my Warrior holding me tightly and keeping me safe from dreams and ghosts of the past.
CHAPTER 15
Aphrodite
Seriously, gay boys. Just go back to bedtogethereesh. I need my vamp for the rest of the night. Aphrodite was standing, arms crossed, just inside the door to the room Darius, Damien, Jack, and Duchess were sharing. She noted, with a vague sense of irritation, that Damien and Jack and Duchess were all curled up in one bed together. Sure, they reminded her of puppies, but it wasnt exactly fair that the penguins were cool with them sleeping together while at the same time theyd banished her to rooming with Zoey. Or at least theyd tried.
What is it, Aphrodite? Whats wrong? Darius hurried toward her, pulling a T-shirt over his completely gorgeous chest with one hand and slipping on his shoes with the other.
As usual, Darius had caught on before anyone else was fully functionalyet another reason why shed fallen for him.
Everythings fine. Its just that Zoey is sleeping with Stark. In our room. And Im not cool with tagging along for that. So were going to do a little roommate trading of our own.
All is well with Zoey? Damien asked.
My guess is that about now all is more than well with her, Aphrodite said.
I didnt think Stark was up to, well, stuff, Jack said delicately. He looked sleepy, with tousled hair and puffy eyes; Aphrodite thought he was even more puppyish than usual, and really cute. Of course shed gouge out her eyes before she admitted that out loud.
He managed the steps up to our top-floor room, so Im thinking hes on the mend.
Oooh, Eriks not gonna like that, Jack said happily. Theres gonna be some serious boyfriend drama tomorrow.
The dramas over in that department. Z dumped Erik earlier tonight.
She did! Damien said.
Yeah, and its about time, too. His possessive crap had to go, Aphrodite said.
And shes really okay? Damien asked.
Aphrodite didnt like Damiens typically too-keen gaze. She absolutely was not going into the fact that Kalona had entered Zoeys dream, and that was why Stark was sleeping with her. She was also not going to talk about her visionsomething she was happy to blame on Zoey, and definitely would in the future when Damien got pissed that shed kept her mouth shut about it. So, to throw off Miss Nosy, she lifted one perfect brow and gave him her standard keep-them-guessing sneer. Who are you, her gay mom?
As Aphrodite knew it would, Damiens fur instantly ruffled. No, Im her friend!
Please. Yawn. Like we all dont know that. Zoey. Is. Fine. Goddess, try giving her some breathing room.
Damien frowned. I let her breathe. I was just worried about her, thats all.
Wheres Heath? Does he know about her breakup with Erik and that shes, well, sleeping with Stark? Jack finished the sentence in a stage whisper.
Aphrodite rolled her eyes. I could care less where Heath is, and unless Z needs a snack Im thinking shes probably not too interested in where he is, either. Shes busy, she enunciated clearly. Aphrodite really didnt like hurting Damien and his girl/boyfriend Jacks feelings, but cutting them short was the only way to keep Damien out of her business, and that didnt even work 100 percent of the time. She turned to Darius, who was standing near her watching her closely with an expression that was a mixture of amusement and concern. Ready to go, handsome?
Of course. He looked back at Damien and Jack before he closed the door. Ill see you two at sunset.
Kay! Jack trilled while Damien just looked long and hard at her.
Out in the hall Aphrodite had only taken a couple of steps when Darius took her wrist and pulled her to a stop. Before she could say anything, he put his hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes.
Youve had a vision, he said simply.
Aphrodite felt her eyes fill with tears. She was totally, absolutely crazy about this big hulk of a guy who knew her so well, and who seemed to care so much about her.
Yeah.
Are you all right? You look pale and your eyes are still bloodshot.
Im okay, she said, although even to her own ears she didnt sound convincing.
He folded her into his arms and she let him hold her, comforted beyond words by his strength. Was it as bad as last time? he asked.
It was worse. Face tucked down against his chest she spoke in a voice so soft and sweet that it would have shocked almost everyone who knew her.
Another death vision of Zoey?
No. This time it was an end-of-the-world thing, but Zoey did figure in it.
Are we going back to her?
No, she really is sleeping with Stark. Seems Kalonas been getting in her dreams and sleeping with a guy keeps him out.
Good, Darius said. There was a sound at the end of the hall, and Darius pulled her around the corner and deeper into the shadows while a nun passed by, oblivious to their presence.
Hey, speaking of sleepI know Zs the big High Priestess, but shes not the only one who needs her beauty rest, Aphrodite whispered when they were alone in the hallway again.
Darius gave her a considering look. You are right. You must be exhausted, especially after having a vision.
I wasnt just talking about me, Mr. Macho. I was thinking about where we could go on the way down here and I came up with an ideaa brilliant idea, if I do say so myself.
Darius smiled. And Im sure you do.
Of course. Anyway, I remembered you telling the penguin nurses that Stark shouldnt be interrupted for at least a solid eight hours. So, hes not in his very private, very dark, very cozy room. Instead it is tragically empty. Aphrodite nuzzled the side of his neck, lifted herself on her tiptoes and nipped at his earlobe.
He laughed and tucked his arm around her. You are brilliant.
On the walk to Starks vacated room, Aphrodite filled him in on her vision, and on Zoeys dream. He listened to her with the quiet attentiveness that had been the second thing about him that had drawn her to him.
The first being his utter hotness, of course.
Starks room was cozy and dark, lit only by a single candle. Darius pulled a chair over to the door and propped it against the handle, effectively barring anyone from busting in on them. Then he rummaged through the dresser in the corner of the room and pulled out fresh sheets and blankets, which he remade the bed with, saying something about not wanting her to sleep on a wounded vampyres sheets.
Aphrodite watched him as she pulled off her boots and jeans, and then slid her bra off under her shirt. She thought about what a weird feeling it was to have someone take care of hersomeone who actually seemed to like her for herself, which was a total surprise. Guys liked her because she was hot, or because she was rich, popular, and a challenge, or, more often than not, simply because she was a bitch. It always amazed her how many guys just flat-out liked bitches. Guys didnt like her because she was Aphrodite. Actually, guys usually didnt take time to find out who she was underneath all the good hair, long legs, and attitude.
But the biggest shock of all about her relationship with Darius, and it was definitely becoming a relationship, was the fact that they hadnt had sex. Yet. Sure, everyone believed they were doing it like bunnies, and shed let them believe they wereshed even encouraged them to believe it. They werent, though. And somehow, that didnt feel weird. They slept together, and had even had some seriously hot make-out sessions, but thats as far as theyd gone.
With a jolt of shocked realization, Aphrodite understood what it was that was happening between her and Dariusthey were going slow and getting to know each other. Really, truly getting to know each other, and she was discovering that she liked going slow almost as much as she liked getting to know Darius.
They were falling in love!
That terrifying thought had Aphrodites knees going weak so suddenly that she backed up to the chair that was in the corner of the room and, feeling light-headed, sat down.
Darius finished making the bed and looked bemusedly across the room at her. What are you doing all the way over there?
Just sitting, she said quickly.
He cocked his head to the side. Are you really okay? You did say you burned along with the vampyres in your vision. Are you still feeling the effects of that? You look pale.
Im a little thirsty, and my eyes still sting, but Im fine.
When she continued to sit across the room without making any move to come to bed, he gave her a confused smile and said, Arent you tired?
Yeah, yeah, I am.
Shall I get you some water?
Oh, no! Ill get it myself. No problem. Aphrodite boinged up like one of those freaky puppets with strings and walked over to the sink in the opposite corner of the room. She was filling up a paper cone with water when Darius was suddenly behind her. His strong hands were on her shoulders again. This time his thumbs gently began to knead the ultratight muscles in her neck.
You carry all your tension here, he said, working from her neck to her shoulders.
Aphrodite downed the cup of water and then couldnt make herself move. Darius massaged her shoulders silently, letting his touch tell her how much he cared for her. Finally, she allowed the cup to slide from her fingers. Her head lolled forward and Aphrodite breathed a deep, contented sigh. Your hands are totally magic.
Anything for you, my lady.
Aphrodite smiled and leaned into his hands, allowing herself to relax more and more. She loved it that Darius treated her like she was his High Priestess, even though she had no Mark and would never be a vampyre. She loved that he had no doubt that she was special to Nyxthat she was Chosen by the Goddess. He so obviously didnt care whether a Mark went along with that or not. She loved that he
Ohmygoddess! She actually loved him! Holy shit!
Aphrodites head snapped up and she turned around so quickly that Darius took a short, startled step back, automatically giving her room.
What is it? he asked.
I love you! she blurted, and then pressed her hand against her mouth like she was trying, too late, to keep the words from exploding from it.
The warriors smile was long and slow. I am glad to hear you say it. Im in love with you, too.
Aphrodites eyes began to fill with tears and she blinked hard to stop them as she shoved past him. Goddess! This sucks!
Instead of responding to her outburst, Darius simply watched her stalk over to the bed. Aphrodite could feel his steady gaze on her as she considered whether she should sit on the bed, or get in it. Finally, she did neither, deciding she didnt like the picture shed be creating in bed. She already felt vulnerable and exposed enough standing there in her T-shirt, panties, and nothing else. She turned to face Darius.
What? she snapped.
He tilted his head. A sad smile lifted just the corners of his lips. She thought his eyes looked decades older than the rest of his face. Your parents are not in love, Aphrodite. From what youve shared with me about them, they may not be capable of feeling that emotion for anyone, and that includes you.
She lifted her chin and met his gaze. So tell me something I dont know.
You arent your mother.
Hed said the words gently, but she felt them as if hed flung knives at her that had buried themselves in her heart.
I know that! She spoke through lips that were suddenly cold.
Darius moved slowly toward her. Aphrodite thought how graceful he washow powerful he always looked. He loved her? How? Why? Didnt he realize what an awful bitch she was?
Do you really know that? You are capable of love, even if your mother is not, he told her.
But am I capable of being loved? She wanted to scream the question, but she couldnt. Pride, who spoke louder to her than the understanding in Dariuss eyes, stopped the words. Instead she did what made her feel safeshe went on the offensive.
Of course I know that. But this whole thing between us still sucks. The truth is youre a vampyre. Im a human. The most I can ever be to you would be your consort, and I cant even be that because Im already fucking Imprinted with stupid-ass Stevie Bumpkin Raean Imprint I cant seem to get rid of even though youve bitten me, too. Aphrodite paused, trying not to remember the tenderness Darius had shown her when he drank from her, even though to him her Imprinted blood was tainted. She tried, unsuccessfully, not to think about the pleasure and peace shed found in his arms, all without having sex with him.
I dont think youre right about all of that. Youre not just a human, and your Imprint with Stevie Rae doesnt affect us. I see it as further evidence of your importance to Nyx. She knows Stevie Rae has need of you.
But you dont need me, Aphrodite said bitterly.
I do need you, he corrected her firmly.
For what? Were not even fucking!
Aphrodite, why are you doing this? You know I desire you, but you and I are more than just bodies and lust. Were connected beyond that.
I dont see how! Aphrodite was perilously close to tears again, which made her even more pissed off.
I do. He closed the rest of the space between them and, taking one of her hands in his, Darius dropped to one knee before her. I need to ask you something.
Oh, Goddess! What? Was he going to do something ridiculous like ask her to marry him?
He fisted his right hand over his heart and stared into her eyes. Aphrodite, Beloved Prophetess of Nyx, I ask you to accept my Warriors Oath. Sworn to you this day I pledge to protect you with my heart, my mind, my body, and my soul. I pledge to belong to you before all others, and to be your Warrior until I draw my last breath on this world, and beyond, if our Goddess so wills it. Do you accept my oath?
Aphrodite was filled with an overwhelming tide of joy. Darius wanted to be her Warrior! But that joy was short-lived as she thought about the repercussions of his oath.
You cant be my Warrior. Zoey is your High Priestess. If youre going to pledge yourself to someone, it has to be her. Aphrodite hated saying the wordsand hated even more thinking about Darius being on his knee in front of Zoey.
Zoey is my High Priestess, just as she is yours, but she already has a Warrior. I have witnessed young Starks enthusiasm for his oath-sworn position. She will need no other Warrior shadowing her. Also, Zoey already gave me her blessing to pledge to you.
She did what?
The warrior nodded solemnly. It was only right that I explained to Zoey what I intended.
So this isnt just an impulse? Youve actually thought this out?
Of course. He smiled up at her. I want to protect you forever.
Aphrodite was shaking her head from side to side. You cant.
Dariuss smile faded. My pledge is mine to give, so that is no hindrance. I am young, but my skills are vast. I assure you that I can protect you.
I dont mean that! I know youre goodyoure too damn good! Thats the problem. Silently, Aphrodite began to cry.
Aphrodite, I dont understand.
Why would you want to be sworn to me? Im a total bitch!
His smile returned. You are unique.
Aphrodite shook her head. Ill hurt you. I always hurt anyone who gets close to me.
Then it is a good thing I am a strong warrior. Nyx was wise in giving me to you, and I am more than content with our Goddesss choice for me.
Why? Tears were running freely down Aphrodites cheeks now, dripping from her chin and soaking into the T-shirt.
Because you deserve someone who values you beyond wealth and beauty and status. You deserve someone who values you for yourself. Now, I ask you again, do you accept my oath?
Aphrodite stared down into his strong, gorgeous face, and something within her broke free as she saw her future in his honest, unflinching gaze.
Yes, I do accept your oath, she said.
With a joyous shout, Darius stood and took his Prophetess into his arms. Then he held her gently until sunset as she cried out the knot of sadness and loneliness and anger that had for so long bound her heart.
CHAPTER 16
Stevie Rae
Steve Rae usually didnt have problems sleeping. Okay, it was a terrible cliché, but during the daytime she slept like she was, well, dead. But not that day. That day she hadnt been able to shut off her mindor, maybe it was more truthful to say she hadnt been able to shut off her guilty mind.
What was she going to do about Rephaim?
She should tell Zoeythats what she should do. Absolutely no doubt about it.
Sure, and then Z would freak out like a long-tailed cat in a room filled with rockin chairs, she muttered to herself, and continued to pace back and forth in front of the entrance to the root cellars tunnel. Stevie Rae was alone, but she kept throwing furtive glances around her like she expected to be snuck up on.
And so what if someone came down here looking for her? She wasnt doing anything wrong! She just couldnt sleep, thats all.
At least she wished that was all.
Stevie Rae stopped pacing and stared into the calming darkness of the tunnel shed cut through the raw earth not long before. What the hell was she going to do about Rephaim?
She couldnt tell Zoey about him. Zoey wouldnt understand. No one would. Heck, Stevie Rae didnt even really understand herself! She just knew that she couldnt turn him incouldnt betray him to everyone else. But when she wasnt around him, when Stevie Rae couldnt hear his voice and see the too-human pain in his eyes, she was mostly on the verge of panic and worried that hiding the Raven Mocker only proved that she was losing every bit of her good sense.
Hes your enemy! The thought kept circling around in her mind, flapping and spiraling out of control like an injured bird.
No, right now hes not my enemy. Right now hes just hurt. Stevie Rae spoke into the tunnel, to the earth that grounded her and strengthened her.
Stevie Raes eyes widened as a thought struck her. It was the fact that he was hurt that had caused this mess! If hed been whole and attacking her, or any of the others, she wouldnt have hesitated to protect herself or anyone else.
So, what if I just get him someplace he can heal? Yes! That was the answer! She didnt have to protect him. She just didnt want to hand him over to be slaughtered. If she got him to safety, someplace where he wouldnt be bothered, Rephaim could get well and then he could choose his own future. She had! Maybe he would choose to join the good guys against Kalona and Neferet. Maybe he wouldnt. Whichever, it wouldnt be her concern.
But where could he go?
And then, staring into the tunnel, she realized the perfect answer. It would mean that shed have to admit some of her secrets, and in doing so she wondered if Zoey could possibly understand why Stevie Rae had kept things from her. She has to understand. Shes had to make some pretty unpopular choices, too. And anyway, Stevie Rae had the sneaking suspicion Zoey wouldnt be all that surprised by what she had to tell her; shed probably been on to her for a while now.
So shed tell Z about the stuff, which would, at the very least, ensure that where she sent Rephaim wouldnt turn into fledgling Grand Central anytime soon. He wouldnt exactly be all alone and totally safe, but he would be out of her hair and no longer her responsibilityor her liability.
Feeling excited and more than a little giddy that shed figured out a solution to her massively terrible problem, Stevie Rae centered herself and checked her ever-accurate internal clock. She had just over an hour until sunset. On a normal day she could never get away with what she was planning, but today she could feel the weakness of the sun as it tried, but failed, to shine through the thick layer of gray clouds, heavy with the ice that seemed to have settled permanently over Tulsa. She was pretty sure she wouldnt burn up if she stepped outside. She was also pretty sure that there wouldnt be any nosy nuns poking around with ice still pelting down and everything outside the abbey being frozen and slick. Same went for the regular fledglings. The red fledglings were the least of her problems, at least from dawn till dusk. They were all still tucked in their cots in the basement. Of course everyone would be getting up in the next hour and, if she knew Z, and she did, theyd be having a big powwow about their next move, which meant Zoey would expect her to be present.
Stevie Rae picked at her fingernails nervously. It was during the big what are we going to do now? meeting that shed have to clue Zoey, and everyone else, in to her secrets. Man, she was so not looking forward to that meeting.
To add to the not-looking-forward-to-it part, there was also the fact that Aphrodite had had another vision. Stevie Rae didnt know what shed seen, but through their Imprint shed sensed the turmoil that the vision had caused Aphrodite, turmoil that had risen and then faded, which probably meant Aphrodite was currently sound asleep. That was a good thing cause she didnt want her psychically being aware enough to get any clue as to what Stevie Rae was up to. She could only hope Aphrodite didnt already know too much.
So its now or never. Time to cowboy up, Stevie Rae whispered to herself.
Not giving herself a chance to chicken out, she went quickly and quietly up the stairs from the root cellar and into the basement proper of the abbey. Sure enough, all the red fledglings were still crashed and totally out. Dallass distinct snoring drifted through the dark room, almost making her smile.
She went to her empty cot and pulled the blanket off it. Then retraced her steps down to the cellar and moved with preternatural confidence in the unrelieved darkness to the mouth of the tunnel. With no hesitation she stepped into it, loving the scent and the feel of being surrounded by the earth. Even though she knew what she was about to do might become the biggest mistake in her life, the earth was still able to touch her and calm her, soothing her frazzled nerves like the familiar embrace of a parent.
Stevie Rae followed the tunnel a short way to the first gentle curve. There she stopped and put the blanket down. She took three deep breaths, centering herself. When she spoke, her voice was little above a whisper, but it carried such power with it that the air around her literally shivered like heat waves off a blacktop road in the summer.
Earth, you are mine, just like I am yours. I call you to me. The tunnel around Stevie Rae was instantly filled with the scents of a hayfield, and the sound of wind soughing through trees. She could feel grass that wasnt there beneath her feet. And that wasnt all Stevie Rae could feel. She felt the earth all around her, and it was that sense of her elementan acknowledgment of earth as an ensouled, sentient entity, that Stevie Rae tapped into.
She raised her arms and pointed her fingers at the low, dirt ceiling of the tunnel. I need you to open for me. Please. The ceiling trembled and dirt showered down, slowly at first, and then, with a sound like an old woman sighing, the earth split open above Stevie Rae.
Instinct had her jumping back into the protective shadows of the tunnel, but shed been right about the sun; it was definitely nowhere to be seen or felt. Was it raining? No, she decided as she peered up at the dismal sky and a few drops found her face, it wasnt raining; it was sleeting, and pretty hard at that, which was all the better for what she had to do.
Stevie Rae wrapped the blanket around her shoulders and began the short climb up the collapsed side of the tunnel to the world above. She emerged not far from Marys Grotto, between it and the trees that lined the western edge of the abbey grounds. It was dark enough that it seemed that the sun had already set, but still Stevie Rae squinted uncomfortably, not liking how vulnerable daylight made her feel, even if that light was so well filtered it was practically nonexistent.
She shook off the unease and got her bearings quickly, sighting the shed where shed left Rephaim a little way off to her left. Putting her head down against the stinging pellets of frozen rain, she jogged to the shed. Just like the night before, as she touched the latch she couldnt help but think Please let him be dead Itd be easier if he was dead
The shed was warmer than shed imagined, and it smelled strange. Along with the scents of the lawn mower and other oiled and gassed yard equipment, as well as the various pesticides and fertilizers stored on the sheds shelves, there was something else. Something that made her skin crawl. Shed just made her way around the lawn-implement obstacle course and was moving slowly to the back of the shed when Stevie Rae realized what the scent reminded her of, and that realization made her steps falter and then stop completely.
The shed, perfumed by Rephaim and his blood, smelled like the darkness that had surrounded her after she had un-died and her humanity had been almost totally destroyed. It reminded her of that black time and those days and nights that had been filled with nothing but anger and need, violence and fear.
She stifled a little gasp of realization as she made the rest of the scent connection. The red fledglings, those other red fledglingsthe ones she was so reluctant to reveal to Zoeyhad this same scent about them. It wasnt a perfect match, and she doubted whether a nose less keen than hers could even draw the connection, but she could. She did. And the connection made her own blood cold with foreboding.