Cronin's Key (13 page)

“They can’t,” Cronin answered, then he amended, “Well, until now. This is new to us also.”

“And what’s up with Eleanor?” Alec asked. “She’s blind, yes? But she can see? How the hell does that work?”

“She was blind as a human, what they would now call cataract blindness,” Cronin explained. “Normally humans of that age are not turned, though she believes her creator was interrupted. Her blindness came through to this life, but she has mental sight. She is a seer. She can see the future, but not all things. It’s a valuable gift, but fallible.”

Eiji walked back into the room. “Pizza and liquor is ordered. It will be delivered as soon as possible.”

“Delivered?” Alec questioned. “It’s four in the morning.”

“Money can buy anything,” Eiji said with a smile. “Though I was unsure of how much pizza one human could eat.” He shrugged. “You are hungry, yes?”

“Starving,” he replied.

Cronin flinched. “I should have realized. I apologize.”

“It’s fine,” Alec said. “I didn’t realize I was even hungry until now.” He turned back to Eiji. “You touched Bes and gave Cronin a nod. What did you read from him?”

Eiji smiled. “You don’t miss much, do you?”

“No.”

“He has honor. Not just to his country, but to do good. His life has intention, honesty. And he lives a while yet. Many years.”

“You can see lifespans?” Alec asked. “What have you seen of mine?”

Eiji smiled, though he looked mostly at Cronin. “I have seen many years for you, my friend. Many years.”

Cronin sighed and closed his eyes, as if Eiji’s words soothed him. Alec lifted his hand from Cronin’s chest to his face. “You asked Eleanor if she saw me human or vampire?”

Cronin nodded. “It’s harder to kill a vampire than a human.”

Alec understood what he meant. He pulled his hand back. “You would change me?”

Cronin’s answer was immediate. “Yes.”

“And if I don’t want to be changed?” Alec asked. “Were you even going to ask me what
I
wanted?”

“I thought only of your best interest,” Cronin started to say.

Alec pointed his finger at Cronin. “Well, let’s discuss
your
best interest, shall we? If you change me without my consent, you’ll spend eternity walking with a fucking limp, understand?”

Cronin had the decency to look rebuked, whereas Eiji laughed long and loud. “Oh, Alec, you are such fun.” Even Jodis smiled.

Alec rubbed his temples while Cronin told Eiji and Jodis of their meeting with Kole and how he’d explained the chosen name of Ailig. Then Cronin told them how Kole had relayed the stories of a certain Japanese vampire who’d saved Alec’s life many times over the course of his childhood.

Eiji laughed, clearly delighted. He clapped his hands. “Oh, the bike incident was the funniest—”

Cronin’s eyes to shot to Alec. “What bike incident? You never mentioned a bike incident.”

Just as Alec was about to speak, his head began to swim with hunger and fatigue. He was saved by the concierge calling to say a delivery of food had arrived, and Eiji went to collect it. Alec went to the bathroom to wash up, and if he were honest, to avoid making eye contact with Cronin. He was still pissed at him for even considering changing him to a vampire. It was just a few moments later that the aroma of pizza lured him out to the kitchen. Alec hadn’t realized just how hungry he was.

He also hadn’t realized Eiji had no idea how much pizza one human could eat. “I wasn’t sure which you preferred,” Eiji said by way of explaining the dozen pizza boxes on the kitchen counter.

Alec stared at the mountain of food. “So you ordered one of each?”

Eiji grinned proudly, then nodded toward the crate on the floor. “And there is also the liquor you requested.”

Alec looked at the wooden crate that had twelve different bottles in it: a dozen different types of scotch and bourbon. He opened the first box of pizza, not even caring what kind it was, took out a slice, and bit into it. He scarfed down two pieces and reached for the familiar red bottle cap in the box. Alec wasn’t much of a drinker, but his father loved a Johnnie Walker nightcap, so Alec thought it was fitting to choose it.

He didn’t bother with a glass. Alec opened the bottle, lifted it to his lips, and drank a mouthful straight. It burned down his throat, liquid fire, and when a rush of breath escaped him, Alec half expected to see flames.

“Jesus,” he breathed, shaking his head. “That tickles.” And because Cronin looked a mix of concerned and horrified, Alec stared him right in the eye and took another swig from the bottle.

Eiji bit back a laugh and Cronin pressed his lips together, clearly less than amused. “It’s not funny,” Cronin said. “Inebriation dulls the senses.”

“I think he’s entitled to have his senses dulled a little,” Jodis said. “He was certainly thrown into the deep end today.”

Alec bit into another slice of pizza. “Thank you,” he said with his mouth half-full.

Cronin looked at Jodis and Eiji then. “Again, Eiji, I am truly sorry for blaming you for withholding information. I should have known better. My reasoning was clouded by fear, and I am sorry. I hope you can forgive me.”

Jodis smiled at him. “Your newfound loyalty to Alec is confusing for you, though reasonable, Cronin. We understand, truly. Don’t apologize for something you cannot control.”

Eiji snorted out a laugh. “Do you not recall the times when we had not long met that I accused you of harboring affection for Jodis? I was struck with madness.”

“You were struck with love and fate,” Cronin said with a smile. “And a dash of idiocy.”

Eiji raised his eyebrows and gave a pointed nod toward Alec. “Touché, my brother.”

Cronin’s eyes went wide before he schooled his features, and he quickly turned to face the window. “I, uh…”

Alec raised the bottle of scotch to no one in particular. “I
am
still in the room,” he said, annoyed that they talked about him like he wasn’t even there. He took another swig of liquor and it burned as much as the first and, as Cronin had said, it dulled his senses. It also dimmed his brain and loosened his tongue. “So, you guys never mentioned you were coven leaders.”

Cronin still stared out the window, obviously not going to answer.

“Elders,” Jodis corrected Alec gently. “We are the three remaining elders.”

Alec was half-tempted to make a joke about their age, but one word stuck out. “Remaining? What happened to the others?”

Jodis answered. “The Yersinians.”

“The Black Plague?”

“Yes,” Cronin said finally, still staring out across the darkened city. “The elders, as we knew them, were killed.”

Alec knew they weren’t telling him something by the way Jodis’s and Eiji’s eyes darted to Cronin. Before Alec could chew his mouthful of pizza and ask what that was about, Cronin sighed and turned to face the other two vampires in the room. “Alec and I need to talk.”

Well, that sounded ominous. Alec swallowed his food. “Is this the ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ speech?” he joked.

Cronin looked at him, confused. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“Never mind,” Alec said. He took a quick sip of the scotch, his head buzzing. He pretended to speak into a police radio. “This is Detective MacAidan. I request an APB. I repeat, an APB on a sense of humor. Belonging to a Mr. Cronin I-have-no-last-name-like-Cher. Last seen approximately in the year 744. Yes, you heard correctly. 744.”

Eiji burst out laughing and Alec joined in with him, swallowing another mouthful of scotch.

Then Alec thought of something. “Hey, when we left the warehouse, you brought these guys home with us,” he said to Cronin, pointing his thumb to Jodis and Eiji, “and they didn’t have to put their arms around you.”

Cronin’s lips twisted, and again, Eiji laughed. It only took Alec a drunk-hazed moment to figure it out. He gasped at Cronin. “I don’t need to put my arms around you at all, do I?”

Cronin smiled and looked to the floor. Clearly embarrassed, he shook his head. “No. Touch alone, by a fingertip if need be.”

“So you just wanted me to put my arms around you, for no other reason than your own satisfaction?” Alec asked.

Cronin looked him in the eye. “Yes. The very first time, in the police station, I needed to feel you against me. I thought I’d rather die if you didn’t.” He swallowed hard. “I apologize for misleading you.”

Alec snorted. Despite the white lie, Alec preened a little to know Cronin needed to touch him. “I don’t know whether to be pissed off or impressed.” Then he huffed. “Though don’t lie to me again. You know how I talked about you walking with a limp for all of eternity? Well, that’s what happens if you lie.”

“Duly noted,” Cronin said. Eiji and Jodis both laughed.

“And who was the freaky vampire in the warehouse standing to the left who was trying to kill me with his eyeballs?”

“Who what?” Cronin snapped.

“He was about five foot ten, wearing black pants, a blue jacket. Brown hair, dimpled chin.” Alec said. He looked straight at Cronin. “Didn’t like me standing so close to you.”

“That would be Johan,” Eiji said.

“Oh,” Cronin mumbled. “I ignore him.”

Alec bit into a piece of pizza, trying to act nonchalant. “An ex-boyfriend, maybe?”

Jodis, trying not to smile, put her hand on Cronin’s arm. “We shall leave you to talk.”

“No, we will go,” Cronin said. “I want to show him something also.”

“Does this involve leaping?” Alec asked, not sure how alcohol would affect his traveling. He also tried not to slur his words. “Because I think I’m drunk, and I don’t want to be turning up god-knows-where in a jumbled mess because my brain’s too wasted to put me back together again.”

This time Cronin smiled. “You won’t be affected.”

Alec put his head down, suddenly feeling every ounce of alcohol in his blood. “Can it wait?” he mumbled. “This human’s had enough for one day.”

Cronin was quick to put his hand to Alec’s chin and lifted it gently. “Alec?”

“Just tired, is all. And I have so many questions. So many,” Alec said, and his eyelids suddenly weighed more than he thought possible. He fought to keep them open, Cronin’s handsome face just a few inches away. “I wanna kiss you so bad.”

Cronin blinked. “Oh.”

“But I’mma go to bed instead.” Alec pushed off in the direction of the bedrooms, past the dining table, stumbling over the sofa and almost walking into the hall wall. When he got to his bedroom door, he remembered Sammy and upon finding his own bed empty, he knew where the traitorous cat would be sleeping. Alec opened the door into Cronin’s room and found Sammy curled into a ball of purring slumber. Alec considered picking up his cat and taking him back to his own room, but thought he just might lie down next to him on Cronin’s bed. It sure did look comfortable, and it smelled so damn good…

* * * *

Alec woke six hours later. It took him a moment to realize where he was. He was sprawled diagonally across Cronin’s bed, Sammy was nowhere to be found, and his head felt as though it was in a scotch-induced vise.

He was certain about one thing. He was
really
grateful for the sun-blocking window cover. The darkened room was a godsend, given his watch told him it was almost eleven.

“I trust you slept well,” Cronin’s voice was soft, coming from somewhere in the room. Too far away to be in the bed beside him, and a pang of disappointment sounded in Alec’s chest.

“I must have fallen asleep in here,” Alec said. “I was looking for my cat. I think.” He sat up in bed and scrubbed his hands over his face and through his hair. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize,” Cronin answered gruffly. “It would be dishonest of me to admit I don’t like the sight of you in my bed.”

Alec was still too half-asleep and too hungover, his normally quick-fired wit was nowhere to be found. So he groaned and palmed his dick instead. Apparently social graces were noticeably absent as well. He was also grateful he was still wearing his jeans. At least they would hide his morning wood more than if he’d stripped to his briefs. Though the risqué comment from a normally proper Cronin didn’t go unnoticed.

“It’s a remarkably great bed,” Alec said. “It would be dishonest of me to admit I don’t like the idea of you being in it with me.”

Cronin cleared his throat, and Alec could hear him swallow hard. “I shall start the coffeemaker for you? Can I order you breakfast?”

“Coffee. I would kill for a cup of coffee.”

“Do you always have these homicidal tendencies?”

“Only before coffee.” Alec swung his legs over the side of the bed. “Um, were you watching me sleep? Because that’s creepy.”

Cronin snorted. “No. I came in to set down some clean clothes and fresh towels in this bathroom for you.”

Alec stood up and stretched out his back, and then, because his dick was begging for friction, he gave himself a squeeze.

Cronin hissed out a warning. “Alec.”

Alec imitated him the best he could with the sexy, gravelly voice, though it was comical at best. “Cronin.” He laughed at the scowl the vampire gave him. “Totally not my fault. Your bed smells like it was made just to turn me on.”

Now it was Cronin who groaned. “May I suggest you sleep in your own bed?”

Alec nodded toward the bed. “May I suggest next time you join me?”

Cronin took a moment to reply. “May I suggest you take your shower cold?”

Alec snorted as he walked past him into the bathroom. “May I suggest you make my coffee hot?”

Alec stripped off in the bathroom, not caring if Cronin was still watching. In fact, he kind of hoped he was. He was still conflicted about Cronin. Alec wanted to know everything about him, he was intrigued by this age-old vampire, and he wasn’t joking about Cronin joining him in bed. He wanted him, Alec couldn’t deny it. His attraction to him was confusing, yes. But it was too damn potent to ignore.

Whatever this fated thing was, Alec could no longer doubt it. He felt it in every cell in his body.

That didn’t mean he had to just give in or surrender his free will. It didn’t matter if the planets aligned for their fates to meet or whatever cosmic, destiny bullshit made it happen. Alec was still a free-thinking human, and this predisposition toward Cronin—a man he’d known for just a few days, and a vampire no less—irritated Alec as much as it amazed him.