Forever Black (Nightwalkers 2) (5 page)

"That's cause when you're around me, you're too busy
staring at my dick."

"I do not." She glared at space in front of her.
"So, where's your phone?"

"Broken."

“How? You have one of those tough cover thingies on it.”

“I jumped outta a window, and it fell out of my pocket.
Busted the fucker in a million pieces. I just got that damn thing, too.”

“And
why
did you
jump out a window?” Ashleigh sat on the bed and picked up her laptop.

“Kris dared me to jump into the pool.” Caleb was in a good
mood, his voice playful. “I was totally hammered.”

“Right.” Ashleigh laughed as she ran a spell check on what
she was doing. “Like you are now?”

“
Kinda
.”

“
Kinda
.” Ashleigh sighed as she
fixed a few mistakes that popped up. “Where are you?”

“After party." Caleb had obviously walked into a room
with lots of people, his voice getting harder to hear. "Looking for some
take out. I’m starving.”

“Will you talk to Aiden for me? I don’t want him calling me
anymore.”

“Umm…" Caleb paused. His voice got clearer. “I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“Does it matter? I just said I can't.”

“Why not?”

"Hey…so about coming on tour…"

"I'm not going back on tour with you."

"Come on, I miss you."

"Why can't you talk to him, Caleb?"

"I love you, babe. Please, just come—"

"Why can't you talk to him?"

"Come on…just—"

"Caleb! I'm going home if you don't tell me, right
now!"

“Fine…fine…just don't leave. I’ll talk to my dad about it. I
promise."

"Why can't you talk to him yourself?"

"Cause the little fuck turned me into the Council.”

"Aiden?"

"Yeah. Now, I'm on suspension and can't go near him or
attend any of the family functions for the next year."

“Suspension?”

“Like detention.”

“For what?”

“Beating the shit outta another Elder.” Caleb’s voice
softened, “I gotta go, babe."

“Okay.”

“But I'll fix it. I promise. I love you, Ashleigh."

“Thanks for everything, Caleb. I couldn't survive without
you and Nathan."

"I'll be playing the Tempest tomorrow night. If you
want to come and surprise me, you're welcome to. I'll have a few tickets
waiting for you…as always."

"I'll think about it."

"Okay."

"Bye."

She heard him hang up. She knew he was upset. Making a sour
face, Ashleigh had lost her mood to write. Leaving her laptop on the bed, she
tromped downstairs.

She found Nathan watching television. His feet were up on
the coffee table, and his hands delved inside a bowl of popcorn. He smiled at
her briefly then looked back at the screen.

He was wearing a suit, though his tie was hanging around his
neck, and his shirt was partially open. He was handsome, his blond hair slicked
back perfectly. He played the part of her protector well. Though he clearly
found her attractive, he had never once tried anything with her.

Nathan was doing a great job of taking care of Ashleigh,
maybe even more than she liked. He never let her leave by herself, and she felt
like she was under house arrest. She didn’t argue though, because as a vampire,
she depended on him to provide her next meal.

She hadn’t thought this all out before she said that
breathless “yes” to Caleb when he asked to give her that third and final bite.
All she could think about was the great sex and how madly she was in love with
this rock star. She wished she could go back and say she needed more time. She
hadn’t realized how much she’d be giving up for him.

It isn’t fair
, she thought. How women had to
depend on their men to get their every meal. Not having fangs infuriated her.
She felt like a child. She had always been the independent loner, and now she
was forced to depend on Nathan and Caleb to survive. This wasn't glamorous like
was in her books. It sucked.

“Did you know Caleb was suspended?” Ashleigh sat down on the
recliner across from Nathan.

Nathan didn’t look at her as he spoke, his eyes glued on the
hockey game, “Huh?”

She jumped from the chair and took the remote from his hand,
shutting off the television so she'd have his full attention. “Why’s he
suspended?”

“Suspended for what?” Nathan sighed as he watched her sit
again.

“He said he can’t talk to Aiden because he’s suspended.”

“Oh…that.”

“What’s
that
?”

“He beat the piss outta Aiden a few months ago. Elders
aren’t supposed to do that.”

“Is he in trouble?”

“Well…yeah.” Nathan laughed, a cocky look on his face, as if
he felt she had asked him a stupid question. “He almost killed another
Elder—he's in a shit load of trouble. Master Mason Sr. is trying to bail him
out. They’re having a meeting about it soon…or they did. I’m not sure.”

“What’s
gonna
happen to Caleb?”
Pulling her legs up onto the chair, Ashleigh’s voice showed her great concern.

“I’m not sure. It all depends on what the Council decides. I
heard Master Bristol is pissed and is throwing a major fit about his son
getting hurt.” He sent her a reassuring smile. “But don’t worry about it.
Master Mason gets in trouble a lot, so he's used to it.”

“He’s gotten in trouble before?”

“Oh, yeah.” Nathan was slouching on the couch, his position
messing up his hair a little. “That’s why he can’t be on the Council of the
Elders.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“Now, you do.”

“So can I do anything to help him? Like, testify that Aiden
is a complete pervert, and Caleb was saving me from him?”

“You’re in trouble, too.”

“Huh? Why am I in trouble?”

“Because Master Mason made you an Elder without permission
from the Council. That kind of stuff has a process, you know."

“And that’s my fault?” Putting her hand to her chest,
Ashleigh shook her head. “How did I know he was supposed to get permission?”

“You can’t fix what’s done already.” A small sigh escaped
his lips. “Just ride this out. Master Mason knows what he’s doing.”

“So, what about Aiden? What do I do about him stalking me?”

“Ignore him." Like a lecturing father, Nathan pointed a
finger at her accusingly. “And don’t you dare tell him where you are, or go
teasing him and pissing him off.”

“I need a set of fangs, so I can bite his ass. This being a
princess thing sucks.”

“Being a princess is easier than being a hunter.” Nathan
didn’t laugh at her comment, but instead, a stern expression washed over his
features. “And because you’re such a little rule breaker, you’re not allowed
outside.”

“Is that Caleb’s rule?” Narrowing her eyes on him, there was
a challenging look in her glare.

“Mine.”

“I only listen to Caleb.”

“We’ll see if you say that when I have you locked in your
room.”

“Whatever.” Letting out a small grunt, Ashleigh grabbed a
nearby pillow. She held it to her tightly as she pulled her body into a tight
ball. “I’d rather have Robert watch me than you.”

Nathan grinned as he received her glare. “Robert isn’t a
babysitter.”

“No…only little girls like you are.” She quickly got up from
her chair and whacked him in the head with her pillow.

He grabbed it and sent her an annoyed scowl. Ashleigh rolled
her eyes and went back upstairs. She took out her phone and called Caleb.

He picked up on the first ring. “Hey, babe.”

“Are you in a lot of trouble, Caleb?” She began to speak
quickly, a fearful tone in her voice, “For what you did to Aiden?”

“Don’t worry about it.”

"Caleb…"

"Seriously. Don't worry about it." He changed the
subject. "So, did you go see your mom?"

"Not yet." His question caught her off guard, her
whole reason for coming to Kingston
hitting her in the face.

"Not yet." Caleb laughed lightly at her answer.
"You've been there two weeks, so why haven't you done it yet?"

"I will."

"If you don't do it by tomorrow, I'll come home and
spank
ya
."

"Nathan will do that for you."

"Huh?" Her answer obviously caught him off guard.
"What?"

"I was kidding." She laughed as she pushed a piece
of hair behind her ear. "My ass hasn't been pelted in weeks."

"Well then, I have a lot of ass to pelt when I get
home."

She let out a quick huff of air through her nostrils. "
An
ass," she corrected him.

"Ashleigh's ass." He chuckled.

"Better." Her face filled with a huge smile as she
flirted with him.

Chapter Three

Ashleigh ran down to the garage when she heard the rev of an
engine. She knew how much Nathan admired Caleb's shiny, black corvette, and he
had always threatened to take it out on a cruise while Caleb was gone.

She went to the window and tapped on it. Her expression was
cross. "Nathan!" She opened her mouth to say something more, but was
halted when the window rolled down. Her face quickly filled with a flirty smile
when she who it was. "Caleb? What are you doing home?"

"I don't play another concert until Friday, so I
figured I'd stop by and check on you. I figured you missed me." He
motioned for her to get in.

She jogged around the other side and happily hopped into the
passenger seat. Her bottom hit the soft leather, which was warm and inviting.
She loved this car, being in it was heavenly. "That only gives you two
days."

"
So'd
, you chicken out?"
He was holding the steering wheel loosely as he backed out of the garage. His
hand reached to the dash and turned down the music.

"No."

He passed her a thermos. It was decorated with characters
from a popular preschool TV show. "For you, babe."

She quickly grabbed it and twisted off the cap.
"Thanks."

"So, where's she live?" He pushed a button on the
remote snapped onto his visor. The tall, front gates near the end of the drive
opened slowly.

"In Kingston."

"I know, smartass. I meant, like what street?"

"Twenty-four Appleton." She took a long drink as
her eyes took in some people walking by.

"
Ooo
…she works for the old
money." He laughed and his tongue made a quick pass over his top lip as he
tapped on the steering wheel.

"Old money?"

"The Harpers." He stopped at a light but revved
the engine a few times. His hand played with the stick as he let the car roll
backward and forward slightly.

"So…you…" His answer soured her expression, but
she turned from him so he couldn't see it. "Know the Harpers?"

Caleb sent her an evil grin.

"Come on…" She lightheartedly punched his
shoulder. "Tell me."

"The Harpers are Elders."

"Vampires?" She had finished the contents of her
thermos, her hand quickly screwing on the cap. Ashleigh gazed into her lap, a
large frown filling out her lips.

"Can I come with?"

"I’m not ready to go yet."

"You look beautiful, so you got nothing to worry
about." He stopped in front of a set of gates. Near them was a small
security house. “Here we are.” Ashleigh glared at him, but he ignored it.

"Master Mason." The guard went up to Caleb's
window. A friendly smile filled his face as he peered inside. "What're you
doing on this side of town?"

"We're looking for…" Caleb paused and whispered to
Ashleigh, "What's her name?"

Ashleigh spoke softly, her voice barely audible,
"Cadence
Dellon
."

He turned back to the guard. "Cadence
Dellon
."

"Ah." The man nodded. "Mrs.
Dellon
. She's up at the manor. Want me to call up there for
you, Master?"

"Sure. Tell her Miss Br—"

Ashleigh interrupted, "Tell her she's got
visitors."

"Umm…yeah." Caleb was a little confused by
Ashleigh's quick action. She had almost jumped into his lap to stop him from
saying her name. He found this strange, but he figured she had her reasons.

"Surely. Just let me call up there." The guard
walked back to the small building.

"Hey," Caleb cooed. He reached over and gave
Ashleigh a hug. He could see she was terrified as she fidgeted with her
fingers. "Calm down, babe." He placed a soothing hand on her
denim-covered knee. "You'll be fine."