Ageless (8 page)

Jonah smiled at her and together they stepped into
the ballroom.

The room took Violet’s breath away.
Just as she had imagined, there were couples moving to the music in
the middle of the room, but the songs were from another time, and
the dancing was just like what she saw in old movies. Others stood
on the fringes of the dance floor, laughing and watching the
dancers. Couples moved on and off the dance floor frequently. There
had to be at least a hundred people in the room. This was the
farthest thing from the Bayersfield high school prom that she could
think of, but that was the only dance experience that she had to
compare it to. She had gone to the prom alone, though, and only
stayed fifteen minutes. She felt her chin rise as she thought how
she and Jonah must appear to all of them.

She saw waitstaff skimming in and
out of the gathered groups with silver trays that had tall crystal
flutes on them. It was only then that the red liquid inside
registered in her mind, and she realized that although this looked
like the setting for an eighteenth-century ball, there was the
undercurrent of something far darker. She couldn’t forget where she
was, not even for a moment.

“Would you like to dance?” Jonah
asked, bending close to her ear.

Violet shook her head. She was
feeling a bit faint and her eyes focused like lasers on all the
glasses in people’s hands that they were sipping so delicately. She
felt a bit nauseous. Jonah’s hand was at her back again and he led
her to the bar that took up the back half of the room. He pulled
out a stool for her and she gratefully slid into it.

The bartender was there seconds
later. “What can I get for you, Mr. Montrose?” Although he had a
smile on his face, his eyes were blank. It creeped Violet
out.

“I’ll have the usual, Bobby. Bring
champagne for the lady,” Jonah said.

“Coming right up, sir,” Bobby said
as he moved away.

It sounded strange to hear the
bartender address Jonah so formally when Jonah looked like he was
just a couple of years older than her. But of course he wasn’t.
Given what Margo said, Jonah had to be a thousand years
old.

His hand crossed to her knee and
her eyes were drawn to his. “What is it, Violet?”

“I was just thinking how much older
than me you are,” she said truthfully.

Jonah shrugged. “Time means little
when you are immortal. But I can understand how that would seem
confusing and strange to you.”

Bobby set two glasses down in front
of them. Jonah’s was a highball with ice cubes and a brown liquid
in it. Jonah gestured for Violet to take her glass. “Cheers to new
friends,” he said.

She didn’t know how he did it, but
Jonah seemed to have a knack for saying exactly the right thing and
making her feel more relaxed. She smiled and they clinked glasses.
“You know I’m not twenty-one,” she said, taking a small sip from
the crystal flute. The champagne was cool on her tongue and the
tangy fruitiness perked her up.

“I promise not to tell,” he said
with a wink. He caught her looking at his glass as he took a long
swallow. “Not what you expected?”

Violet looked out at the crowd. She could see that
there were many who were watching them openly, and most of the
others were trying to not be obvious about it. But Jonah and Violet
were the center of attention. She nodded as a server flew past them
with a tray full of the glasses with the red liquid.

“I guess I just figured you’d be
having what it appears everyone else is having,” she
said.

“I understand why you’d think
that,” Jonah said with a sigh. “It’s frustrating how much is
misunderstood about my kind. Honestly, I love a good
Scotch.”

Violet sipped from her glass again. The warmth of
the alcohol was starting to warm her limbs. She was a complete
lightweight, but she figured it would help get her through the next
few hours.

“That’s what Margo said too.”
Violet paused. “If I’m misunderstanding things, though, it’s
because of what I saw at Mike’s house; including your
face.”

Jonah closed his eyes and groaned.
“I admit that it’s pretty hard to resist the siren call of blood,
especially when it’s right there,” he said. “While I’ve passed the
point where the bloodlust controls me, that’s not the case for many
of the newer vampires. What you saw was a complete waste of good
blood. Those kids were playing a dangerous game, and unfortunately
for them, the vampires they invited over weren’t as gracious as
most of those in our coven.”

“It seems there’s a lot that I have
yet to learn,” Violet said, taking another sip of
champagne.

“Margo said you were a quick study,
so I’m not worried,” Jonah said, smiling.

Just like earlier, Violet felt Jeremiah right before
he appeared at her side. She stiffened as he settled his hand on
the bar behind her. His arm was close enough that it was touching
her bare back, and she hated to admit it, but it sent a small
thrill through her.

“Pamela and Gregory have asked to
meet Violet,” Jeremiah said to Jonah. “After that mess last night,
we need to make amends. They aren’t happy with you. I will need to
borrow her for a few moments.”

“Sure, c’mon, Violet,” Jonah said,
starting to stand. As Jeremiah started to growl, Margo appeared out
of the crowd and stepped smoothly between them. She pushed Jonah
back into his seat.

“It wouldn’t do for you to make a
scene,” Violet heard Margo whisper into Jonah’s ear. “You need to
back off.”

Now Jonah was the one scowling. Violet was surprised
that it appeared that Margo was siding with Jeremiah when she had
expressed such open dislike of him.

More eyes were watching them now,
and Violet knew that this was exactly the type of weakness that
Jonah was talking about, and if he was to be believed, then the
Montrose brothers could ill afford to be showing it, especially
over her. “It’s fine, Jonah,” she said standing up. “I’ll be right
back.”

Jeremiah had a smug look on his
face as he turned her to delve deeper into the room. He brought his
head low to hers as he led her deftly through the crowd, nodding to
people along the way. “You’ll have to forgive my brother. He is a
bit impetuous and doesn’t always think before acting.”

“I don’t think Jonah was the only
one acting without thinking. I’m doing this only because I don’t
want to cause any trouble between the two of you. Plus, if you guys
start duking it out over me, I think you make me way more
attractive than I want to be to other people around here,” she
said.

Jeremiah’s eyebrows shot up and he
looked surprised. “Very perceptive, Violet,” he said
finally.

They were on the other side of the
dance floor now, and as Violet looked back at the bar, she could
see that Jonah was still watching her. Margo was trying to get his
attention, but his eyes were focused on Violet. She wondered again
if Margo still had feelings for Jonah that she wasn’t fessing up
to.

“Who am I meeting again and why?”
she asked. She tried to remember the names that he said just
moments before but they escaped her. She had a feeling the
lightheadedness was a byproduct of the champagne, or it could be
the man beside her whose hand had moved possessively around her
waist.

Suddenly, the crowd parted and
Violet found herself standing in front of a stunningly gorgeous
woman. Although the woman’s face didn’t look a day over twenty,
Violet could tell by her stance and the wickedly sharp look in her
eyes that the woman was far older. Her dress was a pale peach that
set off a stunning contrast to the cascades of dark red hair that
floated around her shoulders. The dress was fitted to her every
curve and Violet was instantly envious. The man at the woman’s side
barely came up to the bottom of her chin. He looked liked he was in
his forties, and although handsome he looked out of place standing
next to the woman.

“Pamela, Gregory, I’d like to
introduce you to Violet,” Jeremiah said smoothly.

Violet felt herself flush as Pamela
looked her up and down and then sniffed as if she didn’t know why
she should be bothered. Gregory simply nodded in her
direction.

“I suppose I should be flattered to
be the first to meet the infamous Ward descendant, although after
your brother’s antics last night I guess you owe me, don’t you,
Jeremiah?” Pamela said in a husky Southern drawl.

Violet tried to process the woman’s
words.
What had Jonah done?

“That was nothing but a
misunderstanding, as I’m sure you are fully aware, Pamela. Didn’t
Jonah let your coven members take those mortals? The Montrose Coven
is at full strength, and we are happy to help recruit for our
allies. It all ended well,” Jeremiah replied smoothly.

Pamela shrugged and took a long sip
from her glass. Then she looked down at Violet again. “After all
this fuss, I guess I expected someone a little bit...more.
Especially to have obviously gotten your attention,
Jeremiah.”

Violet realized that not only was
Pamela making a rather rude statement about her, but she was openly
flirting with Jeremiah. Violet opened her mouth to retort but felt
a warning squeeze on the top of her hip that caused a rush of
warmth to run up her spine. Her mouth instantly closed.

“We were delighted to make Violet’s
acquaintance quite recently,” Jeremiah said. “I know you are going
to be as enthusiastic as I am when you see what she’s brought to
the Montrose coven.”

Pamela sniffed again. “I guess
we’ll just wait and see.” She snagged another flute off of one of
the trays passing by and deposited her empty one on it. As her eyes
settled on Violet again, Violet had the uncomfortable feeling that
she was being studied for a completely different reason. “She’s
still mortal.”

“Of course,” Jeremiah said. “You
may recall that the Wards coexisted with my coven for hundreds of
years peaceably. There’s no reason to turn her, as her gifts are
revealed more strongly in her mortal form.”

Jeremiah’s words spun around in her
head. She had no desire to be turned into a vampire, and she made a
note to clarify that point as soon as she had a minute alone again
with Margo.

She realized that Gregory had added
nothing to the conversation so far and was simply watching her with
a longing expression. He stepped closer to her and she felt herself
shrink back into Jeremiah’s side.

“You smell...delicious,” Gregory
said, running his tongue across his lips. He smiled and she saw his
fangs were out.

Violet found herself pulled back
slightly behind Jeremiah’s tall form.

“You will find plenty of
refreshment being served, Gregory. And I’d be happy to provide
something fresher for you later if you are still so inclined.”
Jeremiah’s displeasure was clear.

A sly grin slid across Gregory’s
face as he stepped back. “I didn’t mean to offend, of
course.”

“Of course,” Jeremiah said grimly.
“Violet has more guests to meet, so we’ll take our leave. Thank you
both for coming, and enjoy the party.”

Violet was relieved that the
interview was over, but Jeremiah surprised her when instead of
leading her back to the bar, he pulled her to a door at the back of
the room. Moments later, she found herself standing on a wide
veranda under a steamy summer moon. Although a few people strolled
about, the area was mostly empty. She couldn’t see anything out in
the darkness but the shadows of trees. It felt isolated but the
fresh air was intoxicating.

“Where are we?” she
asked.

“My estate in North Carolina at the
foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains,” Jeremiah replied as he guided
her to the stone railing. “I don’t know about you, but it was
feeling a bit stuffy in there. I thought you might appreciate some
air.”

“North Carolina?” Violet said with
a start. Bayersfield was in Pennsylvania.

“If you help me, Violet, I will
ensure that you are safe and sound back in your old life in no
time,” Jeremiah said quietly.

His voice was sincere, but Violet was still trying
to process the fact that she was hundreds of miles from home. That
made the idea of escaping that much more difficult. But strangely
she felt in tune with the quiet solitude and the man who was
studying her reaction. He kept behaving differently than she would
have expected.

“I don’t know what you need me to
do, but as long as you promise that you aren’t going to hurt me,
I’ll try to help you,” she said finally. As much as she didn’t want
to admit it, she was intrigued by the idea that she might actually
see the Fountain of Youth. To be able to know that her obsession
was actually real was something that she wouldn’t turn down in a
million years.

“I couldn’t harm you, Violet,” he
said. He reached out and softly touched her arm.

She felt her heart skip a beat. He
was making her head spin, and she needed to keep her thoughts
clear. “Why did Jonah introduce me saying that my last name is
Ward?” There were still too many things she didn’t know, and
although pieces were starting to fall into place, she still
couldn’t see the bigger picture.

“Margo told you the story of my
family and the battle with the warlock?” Jeremiah asked. He
continued when he saw Violet nod. “The warlock’s name was Bruckhart
Ward.”