Blood Bond (Anna Strong Chronicles #9) (12 page)

CHAPTER 19

M
OM IS DOWN EARLY FOR BREAKFAST THE NEXT
morning. She looks so much better, rested, relaxed. I’m determined to see she stays that way. We share a conspiratorial smile and a quick hug before taking our places at the table. Trish and John-John are deep in a good-natured discussion about who would win in a duel to the death—Iron Man or The Hulk. Even with the age difference, John-John seems to be holding his own.

Frey and Dad discuss the wine business; Mom and I go over the wedding list one last time. There really is nothing to do today but fill out that questionnaire from the wedding planner and wait to hear back about when we’ll meet. The real action takes place tomorrow when David and Tracey get in and the grounds are turned into an open-air wedding chapel.

I insist Mom spend the day relaxing. The next two days are going to be more than a challenge. She gives in reluctantly, but does give in. She rises from the table to go up to her room when the front doorbell rings.

“I’ll get it,” she says, switching directions to head for the door.

Conversation between the rest of us—me, Frey, Dad and the kids—swirls around how to spend our Saturday.

But as soon as I pick up on what’s happening at the front door, I’m on my feet. Frey raises an eyebrow, but I wave him off and make my way to join my mother.

She smiles when she sees me. “Look who’s here, Anna. Your friend Monsieur Chael.” She switches her smile to Chael. “Have you come for the wedding?”

Smooth as only the best charmers can be, Chael has taken my mother’s hand and raised it to his lips. “Of course, Madame Strong. I wouldn’t miss it.”

My eyes widen.
You speak English?

I’ve been practicing.

Mom shepherds Chael to the dining room, looking back over her shoulder to mouth at me, “Is he—?”

I bob my head in quick affirmation. Her eyes widen and she opens her mouth again in a silent “Oh my.” But she doesn’t miss a beat; she makes the introductions and at Chael’s acknowledgment of each person in English, Frey’s eyebrows shoot up, too.

Chael turns down an offer of coffee and turns to me. “I apologize for disturbing your breakfast. But I have a message for you from another old friend.”

Dad motions to the kids. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Chael. If you’ll excuse us, we’ll let you speak in private.”

I wait until they disappear through the kitchen door, Mom following, and turn to Chael.

“You speak English?”

“I told you I’ve been practicing.”

“So why didn’t you tell us?”

“You didn’t ask.”

I ball my fists to keep from smacking him. “You have a message for me?”

Frey puts a finger to his lips and bobs his head in the direction of a cacophony of cheery voices coming from the kitchen. “Let’s go outside.”

Good idea. I motion Chael ahead and we step through the front door into the bright sunshine. But before Chael tells us what he came for, he puts a hand on my arm.

“I am sorry about your mother. She is very sick. I am glad you are here. It will make her last days easier.”

My stomach lurches. “What do you know of her last days?”

He touches the tips of his fingers together. “I felt it when we touched. She doesn’t have much time.” He looks at me from beneath a furrowed brow. “If you wish it, I could arrange for her to be brought over. It would be painless. We could spirit her away to another land where she could learn to live as we do. In time, you could be reunited.”

I see Chael in a different light. For the second time, he is offering me a gift—he’s offering to
save
my mother. There is sincerity in his words just as there is sympathy in his thoughts. In his way, he is trying to be kind.

“I appreciate the gesture,” I say, finding I mean it. “But my mother believes in a god that offers her a different kind of eternal life. She is at peace.”

Frey takes my hand as he directs his words to Chael. “You said you could ‘feel’ that she hasn’t much time. How is that possible?”

“In my mortal life, I was a healer,” Chael replies. “I was born with the ability to diagnose through touch. The gift has become stronger with time.”

We have been strolling toward the vineyards. I wonder why I wasn’t given such a gift. My talents seem to lay in brute strength and physical prowess. Worthless talents. If I could have
felt
Mom’s illness in December, maybe—

You are wrong.
Chael is in my head.
You have the ability to lead. That is an extraordinary gift in itself and not to be thought of as worthless. As the Chosen One, you determine whether we live in peace with mortals or war against them. Given the choice, I’m sure your mother would prefer you as protectorate.

I think back to her words last night. In a way, she would.

She said I had a destiny to fulfill.

Frey stirs beside me. “I’m assuming the message you came to deliver is from Steffan?”

His words bring Chael and me back to the reason for his visit. For a moment, I’d almost forgotten.

Chael nods. “Yes. King Steffan is requesting the honor of your company at a small party tonight. If it is convenient, of course.”

Frey and I look at each other.

“If it’s convenient, huh?” Frey is grinning. “Well, Anna, it’s up to you. This will be one of our last free nights before the wedding.”

I release a noisy breath. “Okay. Tell Steffan we accept. Let’s get this over with. Will you be taking us?”

“I will arrange transportation. Shall we meet at the café in the village at seven?”

Frey and I agree and walk Chael back to his car—a sleek new Jaguar sedan—brand-new. The dealer plates are still in place. Impulsively, I run a gentle finger over a door panel. “Nice car.”

“I thought you would like it. It is yours to use while you are here if you wish.”

The offer is tempting. But I decline. No way do I want to become further in Chael’s debt even for a small thing like the loan of a car. If, as we suspect, he is responsible for getting the law off our backs in the deaths of Warren and Judith Williams, that bill will be high enough.

Chael has his hand on the door. “Oh, by the way. The dinner is a formal affair.” He reaches in and produces a garment bag from the passenger seat. “For Anna. Steffan wasn’t sure you would have anything appropriate to wear. Except your wedding dress, of course.” He winks at Frey. “We all know the old adage about the groom seeing the bride before the wedding.”

He thrusts the bag at Frey, whose expression is thunderous. He looks past Chael to the backseat. “What? Nothing for me?”

Chael smiles another of his most charming smiles and settles himself into the driver’s seat.

I watch the Jag purr its way down the drive and sigh.

Then I take the garment bag from Frey’s hands. He gives me the evil eye.

“What? I’m curious.” I draw the zipper down and peek inside.

Wow. Steffan has very good taste.

* * *

WE PASS THE DAY IN FAMILIAL COMPANIONSHIP: DAD,
Trish, Frey and I. A trip next door to meet the horses (and the neighbors, of course; they are almost as excited about the wedding as my family). A trip to town to the outdoor market for fresh vegetables and bread. A trip to the vineyards to supervise the cultivating of the fields.

Frey and I hold hands, the kids never stop chattering and Dad does his best to appear cheerful. Once, when he doesn’t realize I’m watching, the mask falls. Sadness is stamped in dark bold relief on his face.

I leave Frey’s side and link my arm through his. “You doing okay?”

He squeezes my arm. “I’m fine.”

“No. You aren’t. And it’s all right if you aren’t.”

He smiles. “It’s wonderful to have you here. And the kids. I worry how it will be with Trish when you leave. She puts on such a brave front.”

“It’s not just Trish putting up a brave front,” I remind him. “You’re doing a pretty good job of it yourself.”

“Am I? Sometimes I wonder.” He lets his voice drop.

“When the time comes,” I say, not able to bring myself to say the obvious, “why don’t you and Trish plan to spend a few weeks in San Diego with me? Frey will have to go back to Monument Valley so John-John can finish up the school year. I have plenty of room.”

He squeezes my arm once again. “I’ll think about it. See what Trish wants to do. I thank God every day for that girl. You and she are the only things holding me together.”

John-John comes skipping back to ask Dad a question about the grapes and he lets himself be pulled ahead to where Trish is waiting. Frey steps up beside me. “Everything okay?”

“As okay as it can be.” I put my arms around Frey’s waist and give him a hug. “He’s very glad we’re here.”

Frey’s lips brush the top of my head. “Me, too.”

* * *

WE PLAN TO LEAVE THE FAMILY AT DINNERTIME TO GO
into Lorgues. We retreat upstairs late in the afternoon to shower and change. Frey has qualms about my wearing the dress Steffan provided.

Until he sees me in it.

It’s a simple design, a shift of cream chiffon with strategically placed beads and sequins that seem to follow the silhouette of my body. It has a modest boat neckline and short sleeves and hits just above the knees with a scalloped fringe hem.

Not revealing. Not formfitting. It’s beautiful without being ostentatious. Feminine without being overtly sexy. There is a pair of silver sandals in the bottom of the bag to complete the ensemble.

I slip them on and pirouette for Frey to get the full effect.

“So. What do you think?”

“I think Steffan knows too damned much about you.” But his eyes shine and he steps closer to trace a curving line of crystals from the top of the dress to a point just above my right breast. “I like it. Take it off.”

I wave a finger in front of his face. “Later. Right now, we need to get on the road.”

He groans and shrugs into his jacket. He’s wearing a blue Armani suit with a pale silk shirt and a conservative striped tie. I reach up and straighten the knot. “Just like an old married couple,” I tell him.

The family is at the dining room table when we appear. We get a chorus of whistles and a round of applause, which makes Frey take me into his arms and dance us around the table.

Mom has come down to join the family for dinner, too, and her presence makes it hard to pull myself away. Once again, her skin glows, her eyes burn bright. We’d excused ourselves from the family dinner with the pretext of one final romantic dinner between Frey and me before we tie the knot.

“Good idea,” Dad says with a grin. “After you’re married those romantic evenings will be few and far between.”

Mom swats his arm. “Don’t listen to him. We’ve had plenty of romantic evenings. He’s just too busy watching football to notice.”

“Football, huh?” Frey says. “I’m a baseball man myself.”

“You are?” I blink up at him. I can’t believe I didn’t know this about the man I’m about to marry.

He gives me an amused smile. “Well, when was the last time we discussed sports?”

He has a point. “Guess there are still a few things I don’t know about you.”

He puts an arm over my shoulder. “Honey, there are a lot of things you don’t know about me.”

Mom laughs. “Uh-oh, Anna. A man of secrets.”

“It’s good to have a little mystery in your life.” This from Dad. “Keeps the marriage fresh.”

I give Frey another good-natured slap on the arm. “As long as none of these mysteries is named Susan or Elizabeth.”

Frey points to the door. “I think it’s time we were on our way.”

“Evasive, isn’t he?” Mom says.

I let Frey pull me toward the door, turning back to mouth, “I’ll keep him on a short leash.”

Dad has taken Mom in his arms. He leans down to whisper something in her ear. The sound of their laughter as they hold each other warms—and breaks—my heart.

CHAPTER 20

C
HAEL IS WAITING FOR US IN FRONT OF THE CAFÉ.
He’s in the Jag, the engine running. The sound is like the quiet growl of a big cat waiting to spring. I tip my face to Frey. “Sound familiar?”

He rumbles a growl of his own and holds the door open for me to slip inside.

Chael puts the car in gear and gives it its head. He glances over his shoulder. “You look quite beautiful in the dress, Anna.”

“What about me?” Frey says. “Don’t I look beautiful, too?”

Chael grunts and turns his attention to the road. I noticed when we got in that he was in
very
formal dress—a black tux and pleated white shirt. He’s concentrating on the driving, his manner relaxed.

“Tell me,” I say after a moment. “Who will be at this party tonight?”

He shrugs. “I am not privy to the entire guest list. But I do expect one or two dignitaries from the EVL.” He pauses, reading that I don’t know what that is, before continuing. “European Vampire League. Counterpart to our Thirteen Tribes. Many are in town because they are curious about you.” He glances over his shoulder once again. “This is your chance to make an impression on the oldest vampires in existence.”

“Older than Steffan?”

“Oh yes.” He chuckles. “I think you will be surprised.”

“But Steffan is their leader.”

“For the moment.”

His nonchalance raises the hair on my arm. “What do you mean?”

“I did not want to say anything before but there are rumblings in the community. We may be witness to history in the making tonight.”

Frey’s grip on my hand tightens. “What kind of history?”

“You’ll see. Shifter, you should feel honored to be included as consort to the Chosen One. Few such as yourself have been granted the privilege.”

Frey grows restive beside me. I sense an end to his patience with Chael.

“You forget yourself, Chael.” I bite off each word. “Frey is more than a match for any vampire. I suggest you don’t give him the opportunity to prove it.”

Chael takes the admonition calmly. He turns his thoughts inward and closes them off. Frey, meanwhile, is still fuming. I bring his hand to my lips. When his eyes snap to mine, I watch the transformation from anger to warmth as I rub his hand against my cheek. He nods that he is once more in control. Our hands remain clasped tightly together and we relax in our seats.

I let my eyes drift to the world outside our car. We are traveling the main road out of Lourges—to the west instead of the route traveled last night. Up into the gentle hills that surround the village. In the lingering twilight, we pass several side roads that end in huge houses perched like jewels on manicured lots.

Suddenly, an icy finger touches the back of my neck and I shiver.

Frey feels it. His eyes snap to mine. “What’s wrong?”

But I brush his concern away with a hand wave. “Nothing. Really.”

I turn my face away. Glad once again that he can’t read my thoughts; carefully locking those thoughts away from Chael’s prying mind.

Because it
is
something. This night reminds me of another night, almost two years ago. A ride up another hill in another part of the world that ended in a fight to the death against an old-soul vampire.

Avery.

Instinctively, my hand touches the hem of my dress. I was wearing Avery’s gift that night. Just as I’m wearing Steffan’s now.

I was driven to the house then, just as I’m being driven now.

My throat is dry. I have the terrible feeling I shouldn’t have accepted Steffan’s invitation. Worse, I shouldn’t have brought Frey along. I may have read too much into Chael’s show of goodwill, his compassion for my mother. Was it all just a trick to win my confidence?

Blood pounds through my veins, heat rising as the vampire seizes control.

Frey can feel it. My skin hot against his. He turns a puzzled frown my way. “Anna?”

Chael senses a change, too. He can’t see me in the mirror, but he is acutely aware of the transformation taking place in the seat right behind him. It makes him nervous enough to pull the car over.

Once the car is stopped, I’m out of it, at the driver’s door in a heartbeat. I fling the door open, grab Chael by the neck and pull him out, moving too fast to give him a chance to fight back. His vampire nature flashes, then retreats. He acts like a dog showing his stomach to an alpha, submissively waiting for whatever I choose to do.

I choose to shake him until his teeth rattle.
What game are you playing?

None. I am doing as you asked. Taking you to King Steffan.

His mind is open, his thoughts as passive as his body.

I shake him again.
There must be more. All this talk of making history and of King Steffan’s unseating. Do you expect me to fight him?

At this, a smile, thin, unnerving.
No. Not you.

Then who?
I shove him away, stand ready to defend myself if he unleashes his beast.

He tugs at the hem of his jacket, straightens his tie, smoothes his hair back with both hands.
You are still too impulsive, Anna Strong,
he says through gritted teeth and tight jaw.
Has it ever occurred to you to ask first before you resort to violence?

Not when it comes to you. Now answer the question. Who do you think is going to attack King Steffan tonight?

Chael shoves his hands into the pockets of his jacket, locks his eyes with mine.
Ever heard of a vampire named Vlad?