Forever Black (Nightwalkers 2) (17 page)

"I think you're mistaken." Ashleigh mustered a
smile, even though inside she was angry. She needed to be nice if she wanted to
get away with the car. "I've never been with him like that. We're just
friends."

"Sure, whatever you say." Nicki pushed her body
away from the side of the wall. "But you are one lucky bitch, you know
that? The Count's the ultimate catch. I'd die to be in your shoes."

"Well…" Ashleigh’s hands wrapped tightly around
the keys. "I really should get going."

"See
ya
around." Nicki
waved. "I'm working in the garden all day today, so when you get back,
I'll be here."

"See
ya
." Ashleigh waved
then quickly made her way to the car. Her mind raced as she thought about what
Nicki had said. Ashleigh decided it was just a case of mistaken identity and
blew the whole thing off.

This time it was easier to drive away from the castle
knowing that Caleb was waiting for her. She needed to get out of here, needed
to…vomit. The feeling welled up in her stomach and shot up to her lips before
she was ready for it. Slamming on the brakes, she opened her car door and threw
up on the shoulder of the road. She waited for the sickness to subside before
she could drive again.

After a few stops along the road, she finally made it to the
airport. The wait inside was long, and she kept looking over her shoulder
thinking someone would come and make her go back.

When her phone started ringing, she quickly answered it,
"Hello?"

Caleb's voice was teasing, "Where's my runway model?
We're refueling, so get your sexy ass out here."

"Coming." She quickly pushed to her feet and
walked toward the guard near the entrance to the terminals. "I'm boarding
a private jet on terminal six."

"Okay." The guard took her to the side and made
sure what she said was correct before walking her out to the runway.

As she got closer to the plane, she saw him. He was standing
near the stairs of the plane, joking around with Robert. A giant smile filled
her lips as she studied him. Memories of when she had left him standing at those
stairs almost a year ago flooded back to her. That day, she had promised never
to see him again. She had looked at the man she loved and thought it would be
for the last time.

Today felt different. She wanted nothing more than to run
into his arms and never let him go. She had made a decision. After today, she
would never leave his side, and no matter what anyone told her, she wouldn't
doubt him. This is what she wanted. Caleb.

She ran to him with outstretched arms, Caleb opening his to
receive her. Her arms encircled his neck, and she jumped into his embrace. Her
legs wrapped around his hips, Caleb taking hold of her thighs and hoisting her
up. "Caleb!" She began to cry as she held him close.

"Hey, babe." He set her on her feet. He pushed
back her hair and gazed at her lovingly. "I missed you."

When he started kissing her, Ashleigh's body pushed so close
to his that there wasn't even a millimeter between them. Their kisses were
light and friendly, Caleb's hands massaging her butt. Moving away, she grabbed
his hand and pulled him up the stairs. "Let's go."

Leaving in a private plane was so much easier than trying to
escape on her own. As they rose, she felt a great relief. Finally, she was free
of this place.

* * * *

After a few days, her fangs disappeared. It was something
that left her disappointed but relieved at the same time. Caleb had a break in
his touring schedule and soon would be taking an even longer one to start work
on his next album.

They were now back in Kingston, and Ashleigh was playing video
games with Caleb and Kris downstairs. They were having a lot of fun chasing
each other through the fictional building and trying to kill one another. Kris
was a pro at the game and had the highest score, Caleb coming in second.

"Hey!" Ashleigh's face was scrunched up. There was
anger in her voice as she gave Caleb a firm shove, "That's not fair! I was
unarmed!"

"No mercy, babe." Caleb laughed, but didn't turn
to her as he continued to pursue Kris. He was trying to avoid the proximity
mines Kris had laid out around the floor.

"I…" Holding her head, Ashleigh suddenly felt
dizzy. "Caleb." She grabbed his arm as she swallowed hard. "I'm
gonna
—" Her eyes quickly rolled back in her head, and
she passed out.

"Shit." Caleb quickly caught her, shaking her as
he tried to rouse her. "Ash, wake up."

"Is she okay?" Kris paused the game and peered
over at them curiously. He grabbed the beer near him. He took a long drink from
it as he watched.

"Ash." Caleb continued to shake her, but she
wasn’t responding. Letting out an annoyed sigh, he quickly put his wrist to his
mouth and bit down on it. He then held it to Ashleigh’s lips.

"What are you doing, man?"

At the taste of his blood, Ashleigh quickly latched onto
him. She grabbed onto his arm like she were drowning, and he was her float.

"Whoa." Kris laughed as he pointed to Ashleigh.
"What's with her? We just ate a little bit ago."

"I don't know." Caleb's eyes narrowed on Ashleigh
as her grip loosened, and she slowly stopped drinking from him. "Maybe
she's—"

"I'm…sorry," Ashleigh interrupted. She gazed up at
him sheepishly as she pulled away. She licked her lips as her world came back
into focus.

"It's all right." Caleb laughed as he shook her
shoulder. "It's not your fault."

"Oh!" She quickly grabbed some napkins on the table
near the box of pizza. She quickly put them to Caleb's wrist. "Let me help
you with that."

"Did this happen when you were in
Krest
,
too?" Caleb studied her suspiciously as he held the napkins in place.

"No." Ashleigh shook her head. "I don't
understand what's going on. That was—"

"I have a guess." Caleb was sitting on the edge of
the couch, his eyes still narrowed on her.

"She's pregnant," Kris spoke in a casual tone as
he turned back to the game.

"What?" Ashleigh shot Kris an angry look. "I
am not." When she saw Caleb's eyebrows raise, she spoke quicker. There was
fear in her voice, "Caleb? Why are you looking at me like that?"

Caleb let out a small grunt as he sighed. He gazed down at
his knees as he patted his perfect Mohawk with a light hand.

"Caleb?" Ashleigh shook his arm, and finally, he
turned to her. "What's wrong?"

"You weren't hungry, but you needed vampire
blood." Caleb's concern melted, his brow lowering as he sent her a nasty
glare. "That means you’re pregnant. Damn it." Covering his eyes, Caleb's
elbows rested on his knees. "Fuck."

Kris glanced at them briefly. "Ouch…"

She stood, suddenly angry. "Why is that so bad?"
She balled her fists at her sides and glared at Caleb, who was sulking.

"Because…" Kris answered, a sour expression on his
face. "It's not Caleb's."

"Why wouldn't it be?" Ashleigh's voice wavered,
and she was on the verge of tears. She spoke with her hands. "Unless I was
mysteriously impregnated, then it's Caleb's."

"Have you been drinking vampire blood?" Kris
bounced the controller on his knee. He glanced at Caleb then back at her.
"’Cause if you were, it could still be Caleb's."

"Actually, I have."

"Huh?" Caleb quickly turned to her.

"Well…" Ashleigh rubbed her arm nervously as she
tried to avoid Caleb's eyes. "I've been drinking the Count's blood."

"What?" Caleb's jaw dropped as he stared at her in
disbelief. Soon, that expression was replaced by repulsion. "You've been
drinking his blood? Why?"

Putting her hands up in surrender, Ashleigh tried to find a
way to cease his anger. "It's not what you think. He'd let me drink his
blood sometimes, but that was it, I swear. I wanted to keep my fangs, and
he—"

"You had fangs?" Kris had picked up a piece of
pizza. His mouth was full, and the rest of the piece dangled from his fingers.
"That's hot."

"Caleb." Ashleigh ignored Kris. Her hands quickly
took Caleb's as she sat next to him. "Do you really think I could be
pregnant?"

Caleb glanced down for a second before looking back up at
her. He studied her fragile expression then conjured up a smile. "If what
you've said is true, then sure…we're having a baby."

"This is what we wanted before everything got bad.
It'll be okay."

"So…" Caleb's face filled with a large grin, one
that had a hint of school boy charm mixed with bad boy sexiness. He gripped her
hands tighter, his nails painted black and chipping slightly at the edges.
"Does this mean we can get married now?"

"Sure." She nodded quickly. "Let's do it like
we planned. When everything's straightened out, we're
gonna
elope."

"Beach wedding?" Caleb bit his lip as his brow
lowered over his icy eyes.

"Just me…" She wrapped her arms around Caleb's
neck. Her voice deepened as she gazed into his eyes, "And you."

"And me." Kris chimed as he raised his hand. He
was playing the game again, this time starting over in single player mode.

"I can't wait." Caleb rested his nose against
Ashleigh's. "I love you."

She swung her leg over his and took a seat on his lap.
"I love you, too."

They kissed, Caleb's hands going up the back of her shirt
and rubbing her bare back. Well they were busy making out, Charlotte and her
husband, Sam, came into the room.

Charlotte's voice was loud as she glanced at Caleb and
Ashleigh then over to Kris, "Hey."

"Ready for practice guys?" Sam looked over at
Caleb, who was shooing Sam away with his hand as he continued to kiss Ashleigh.

"Ash is pregnant." Kris didn’t look up from the
screen.

"Hey!" Ashleigh quickly pulled away from Caleb and
glared at Kris. "Why'd you say that?"

"I gotta go to practice, babe." Caleb placed a few
swats on her ass. A tired sigh escaped his lips as he laid back lazily.

"Fine." Ashleigh got off his lap.

"You're pregnant?" Charlotte sat down next to
Ashleigh, setting her bag on the floor.

"Caleb thinks so." Ashleigh watched Caleb get up
from the couch. "I'm not sure, though."

"Well, we're going to find out now, aren't we?"
Charlotte giggled as she took Ashleigh's hands in hers.

Chapter Ten

Ashleigh was indeed pregnant, but because her periods had
almost come to a stop since becoming a vampire, they had no way of knowing how
far along she was. The doctor guessed it was a month, but there was no way of
being sure. She didn't worry for one second that it could be the Count's
because she believed their relationship had been innocent.

Ashleigh and Caleb now entered their house, laughing and
joking around. That is, until they were met with a few angry faces.

"Caleb." Standing up, Lucas' voice was stern as he
straightened his suit jacket. He then glanced over at Ashleigh, who immediately
clung to Caleb's arm. "You’re in a lot of trouble."

Caleb immediately snapped at his father, taking on a
defensive tone, "For what?" He pulled away from Ashleigh and took a
few steps toward his father. His chest puffed out a bit as he spoke angrily
with his hands. "I didn't do anything. Why the hell are all you here,
anyway?" He motioned toward the door. "Get the fuck out of my house
before I call the cops."

"Caleb." Lucas stood between Caleb and the others.
"We need to take Ashleigh back to
Krest
."

Caleb angrily pointed a finger at his father. "You need
to get the fuck out of my house."

"Listen to me—"

"Call the cops, Ash." Caleb didn’t look back at
her. His eyes were focused on his father and the other Council members.

"Caleb." Ashleigh glanced briefly at her mother
then placed a hand on Caleb's shoulder. "Calm down."

"I won't fucking calm down. I want these people out of
my house."

"I won't go back to
Krest
,"
Ashleigh's voice was soft. "Caleb and I are—"

"No." Caleb held up his arm and didn't let
Ashleigh step ahead of him. "Don't waste your words on these narrow-minded
idiots. They don't care about us."

"Master Mason?" Robert was standing near the
doorway, watching the situation unfold. His voice as calm. "Do you wish
for me to be of assistance?"

"Yes." Caleb was still glaring at his father. He
was toe-to-toe with Lucas, who was more massive than the fit and trim Caleb.
But Caleb wasn’t intimidated by the strong, elder vampire. "Get the
Council out of my house."

"Of course, master." Robert nodded then walked
over to the group. His large presence commanded everyone's attention.
"Please leave." He motioned toward the doorway gracefully. "You
are trespassing."