Forever (The Forever series Book One) (16 page)

“Help me with my necklace?” I ask Devon.

He jumps up and follows me back to the bedroom. Taking the
jewels from the case, I hand him a $1 million emerald and diamond necklace. He
takes it from me and clasps it around my neck. Fingering the four-carat emerald
dangling near my cleavage, he murmurs, “Matches your beautiful eyes.” I raise
an eyebrow at this very rare compliment to my natural form. I bend to retrieve
the earrings from the case--two perfect three-carat drop emeralds--and poke
them into place. Literally. Permanently pierced ears on Vampires are a no-go as
we heal, but if the earrings are already in place it stops the healing process
until they are removed. Flinching slightly at the pinch I finish the task and
then spin and ask, “Well?”

“Beautiful,” is the reply as Cole reappears after his
shower. He whistles and moves to kiss me.

“You look amazing,” he whispers.

Devon backs off and heads to the shower as I pull out the
diamond and emerald tennis bracelet to complete the look.

“Holy crap,” Cole says as I fasten it to my right wrist.

I glance up. “What?” I ask, surprised.

“You. All that jewelry,” he gestures.

I smile serenely, “This is nothing, wait until it’s tiara
Sunday.” I giggle but he remains serious. Narrowing my eyes at him he turns to
dress. I watch him, enjoying taking in his every move. Conscious of my gaze he
eventually turns to me with a cryptic smile. I raise an eyebrow at his look and
he cocks his back.

“Like what you see?” he asks seductively.

I breathe in deeply. “Oh yes,” I reply.

He reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out a small pale
blue box. My breath catches and I take a step back.

“You need one more,” he says as he drops to his knees in
front of me and opens the box. Inside is a perfect circular five-carat black
diamond ring with three quarter-carat clear diamonds on either side in a
platinum setting.

“Marry me,” he says simply.

My brain fights to keep up as I stare at him.

“What?” I ask in horror.

“Marry me,” he repeats. “I love you and I don’t want to be
without you, Liv. Please say ‘yes.’”

I inhale deeply and try to quickly process this. Marriage is
one thing; him growing old and dying while I continue to get stronger is
something else entirely.

“Cole… I…” I falter. He knows the root of my hesitation and
looks me straight in the eye. “I don’t want to ever be without you, Liv. My
answer is ‘yes,’ if yours is.”

“How do you know what my question is?” I ask stupidly.

He laughs quietly, “It’s been the elephant in the room for a
few days now. I know I can't be with you unless you turn me, and my answer is
‘yes.’”

“What?” I say again sounding like a complete imbecile. I
can’t turn him. Not now, not after this prophecy nonsense. I can’t risk it
coming true or worse, Gregor and Eloise finding out and killing me before I can
do it. Or even worse, they kill Cole before I can get to him. That thought
turns me cold inside and I just stare at him.

Dropping to my knees in front of him, I clasp his hands in
mine, searching his eyes. “Do you know what you are asking for?”

He nods slowly, “I do.”

“Really, truly, no going back? This is what you want?”

“Yes,” he says with conviction.

“Are you sure?” I press, trying to put him off. I haven’t
sired anyone in 506 years, and I am reluctant to start again now. Oh, and Devon
is going to be pissed, flashes through my head.

He nods again, “Positive. I want to make history with you,
Liv.”

“Are you sure you know what you are giving up? Your family,
your friends… they can never know.”

“I don’t have any family that counts, except you. You are my
family now. You are all that matters to me. Marry me, turn me. All I want is
you.”

Inwardly I am melting at his words but reality is a vicious
bitch. I want to say “yes” in the worst way. I want to be with him, I don’t
want this Council thing to ruin what is the best thing that has happened to me
in a really long time. Since being turned I have been married exactly once in
one thousand years, to Fraser, who didn’t want me to turn him. With the
exception of Constantine, who never asked and Devon who asked but then that
plan went to hell in a hand basket, I have never wanted anyone that much before
or since that I would even consider marrying. Cole is different. He is special.
I love him completely, I want him, I want to be with him forever.

“If you mean what you say…”

“I do, Liv. I do.” He kisses me. “Never have I wanted anyone
as much as I want you. If that comes with a price? I will willingly pay.”

“A price?” I ask, feeling like someone has just chucked a
bucket of cold water over me.

He nods. “Yes, a price. I will renounce my life for you. I
will become what you are so I can love you forever.”

I falter at his words. He is saying everything I want to
hear.

“Please say ‘yes,’” he whispers.

“Yes,” I whisper back and, elated, he pulls me to him,
kissing me. He slips the ring on my finger and I grip his hand in mine.
Overwhelmed with happiness, and fear, that I am making a massive mistake, I
ignore all thoughts of Constantine’s warning and I just fall into the moment.

Cole and I are still on our knees kissing when Devon
saunters back in. “Oh, don’t mind me,” he says sarcastically.

Pulling away from each other, Cole and I are grinning like
teenagers as we stand up, hand in hand, turning to face Devon. Knowing I am
going to have to tell him now, I say to Cole, “Can you give us a moment,
please?” Cole nods his understanding and kisses me quickly, squeezing my hand
and leaving us alone.

Devon is eyeing me suspiciously, “What’s going on?”

“Devon, sit, please.” I sit on the bed and pat the spot next
to me, his eyes never leaving my face he walks slowly over.

“He asked you didn’t he?” he says, a statement, not a
question. His blue eyes fill with sorrow as they flick to the ring on my
finger. “I see,” he says softly.

“Devon, I…”

He interrupts me. “Liv, it’s okay, I knew it was coming.
I’ve known for years, centuries even, that this day would come. I knew it would
be with him the second I saw you look at him.” He sits down heavily and takes
my hand. Tears well up in my eyes at his words, I want to tell him about the
prophecy but CK said to keep it quiet. Instead I say, “I want to keep it quiet.
I don’t want anyone getting wind of this until after it’s done.”

He frowns, “Yeah, I understand. Do it right this time, eh?
No murders, accidental or otherwise, to fuck it up. Get to Holy ground and do
it right. I will help you.”

Oh my darling boy. “I love you, you know,” and he turns to
face me.

“I know,” he says simply and gets up to get dressed.

“This doesn’t change anything between me and you,” I say,
pausing with my hand on the door handle, casting a sideways glance at him. He
pauses briefly midway through putting his shirt on. “Meaning?” he turns to look
at me

“Meaning, it doesn’t change anything between me and you,” I
repeat pointedly.

He silently nods his understanding and resumes getting
dressed.

Exiting the bedroom, I take a moment to steady myself. That
went better than I could have hoped for. I know he won’t say anything as I have
asked him not to. He wouldn’t betray my confidence. I just hope that we can
keep a lid on it. However, I now have the added problem of my sire needing to
know the details. If anyone can protect me, it is him, should I need it. Which
I sincerely hope that I don’t. I don’t foresee a very pleasant afternoon on the
horizon for any of us. Calming myself and putting on my game face to cover my
dread, I head back to the Main Cabin. Cole is seated at the table fiddling with
a drink. He looks up as I sit next to him and he slides the bourbon over to me.
“Thought you might need this.” I smile my thanks and down it in one gulp,
slamming the glass heavily to the table, my charm bracelet hitting the deck
with a loud thunk. “Everything okay?”

“Funnily enough, yes,” I say still surprised at how okay.
“More than okay, accepting even.” Cole looks relieved. “One down, a bigger one
to go,” he says, adding, “if he tries to kill me, I give you my blessing to
turn me on the spot.” He jokes but I can sense his nerves and I gulp.

“He’d better not try to kill you. When I turn you, it will
be by choice,” I say wryly, cottoning onto the idea that the prophecy said a
“Holy union”. If I don’t do it on Holy ground then we should be left alone.

“On Holy ground?” Cole asks. “To bind us together, forever?”
he asks.

Startled, I look at him, “How did you know about that?”

“Devon’s story. You were supposed to do that with him.”

Oh, shit!

“Of course. Yes well that didn’t end very well. I hope it’s
different with you.” Meaning no murders, no Holy ground, just a plain old,
garden variety turning.

He leans forward to kiss me softly. “Me too. I don’t fancy
missing the race because I’m too busy turning into a Vampire.” I giggle in
spite of myself and we both relax a bit as Devon joins us. He sits opposite
Cole and stares at him for a long time. Cole stares back. Finally Devon speaks,
“I guess I should welcome you to the family, but instead I’m going to warn you
that if you hurt her in any way whatsoever, I will hunt you down and rip your
head off.” Cole looks alarmed.

“Try to look less startled when Constantine says it to you.
He’s big on ripping people’s heads off,” he says while grinning, and Cole
chuckles.

“Will do.”

“Seriously though. I’m happy that Liv is happy. It’s been a
long time and she deserves it. Take care of her.” They both look at me and Cole
takes my hand. “I intend to,” he says.

We land in Nice shortly thereafter and catch the helicopter
into Monte Carlo. From there a limo takes us to the hotel. The press are out in
their droves snapping away looking for the money shot. I have asked Cole to
hold off announcing our engagement until I have told CK. It would be far, far
worse should he (and the rest of The Council) find out via the press. I have taken
off the emerald necklace and replaced it with the long, dangling gold chain
that I had on earlier, which I popped the engagement ring onto. It is now
nestled between my breasts under my dress where it can’t be seen. I was
reluctant to take it off but it had to be done. We pose for a few photos,
Cole’s hand in mine and finally we are in the suite and Cole immediately heads
to the balcony overlooking the hairpin.

“This is fucking fantastic!” he says with a massive grin,
his concerns about CK momentarily forgotten. Devon joins him outside. I want
him here for damage control and moral support. He readily agreed, I think, more
interested to see how this plays out than anything else.

I start pacing, restless. I check the clock for the
millionth time, 2:15 PM; it glares at me. Cole and Devon have cracked open the
champagne but I can’t drink anything. Not yet.

“Relax, Liv,” Devon admonishes. “You’re driving me crazy
with the pacing.”

I stop dead in my tracks, at the familiar tingle up the back
of my neck followed by a loud knock on the door.

Glancing quickly at Cole, I smooth down my dress and square
my shoulders. I motion to Cole to wait where he is and he nods. I walk to the
door and with a deep breath, open it.

My breath catches when I see my sire in the doorway,
casually leaning against the frame in his $4000 suit. My face lights up as he
smiles that killer smile and pushes himself upright.

“CK,” I say

“Liv, good to see you my sweet.” He swoops his head down to
kiss me full on the mouth, for longer than is strictly necessary, I might add,
and pulls me into a hug, his hand “accidentally” stroking my rear. I feel him
smile against my mouth and he pulls away. “You look ravishing,” he compliments
me, holding me at arm's length.

“As do you,” I compliment back. “Please come in.” I nod to
CK’s ever-present head of security. “Nico. Nice to see you.”

“And you Liv. You look lovely,” I nod gracefully. Nico is
human. Six feet, four inches of Italian yum with his black hair and eyes to
match, scarily good at his job and just plain scary if he wants to be. Super
protective of his boss and as loyal as they come, he has worked for CK for
about twenty years. Monetary gain aside he would rather die than betray him. I
admire that.

CK takes my right hand in a show of possessiveness. “Did you
have a good flight?” he asks, ignoring Cole and Devon, for now.

“Yes, very. How was the commute?”

“Frustrating,” he says, with a pointed look and leaves it at
that.

His gaze flicks then to Devon lounging on the sofa. “Devon,”
he says coldly, nodding his head.

“Constantine,” Devon says coldly back.

Like a panther stalking his prey, his gaze slowly lands on
Cole, his face impassive. “And you must be Cole,” he says with even more chill
to his tone.

Cole nods once, holding his gaze.

I pipe up, “Constantine, this is Cole O’Dell. Cole, my sire
Constantine Kaius Anasetti D’Arcangelo.”

“Nice to meet you. Liv has told me quite a bit about you,”
Cole says with a hint of amusement.

CK turns to me, “Really?” He turns back to Cole. “She’s told
me nothing about you,” he says dismissively.

The look of faint amusement on Cole’s face grows a tiny
fraction deeper and doesn’t go unnoticed by CK who narrows his eyes.

“I see you at least had the good sense to prep this one,” CK
says to me, to my relief, also now looking slightly amused, to which Devon
snorts with mirth.

“Yes, well I haven’t been trying to avoid you this time and
so your presence is expected,” I say smartly and he laughs.

“And for that I am grateful,” he says, kissing my hand. “So
what tales of me has my charge been telling you?” he asks back to Cole.

“We’ve covered the basics,” Cole says sliding a hand into
his pocket in a show of indifference.

“Hm,” CK says and nods. “Liv, my sweet, will you get me a
drink?” he asks, letting go of my hand.

“Of course,” I say and I move quickly to the bar to pour out
a scotch, neat. No one says a word while I pour and the silence is deafening.
Picking the glass up, I move back to CK and hand him the glass. He accepts it
with his left hand and brings his right up to stroke my face. His molten
chocolate eyes lose all trace of their amber flecks as they darken. He traces a
finger down my cheek, down my neck to hook it into the gold chain around my
neck. He pulls it out of my dress and his eyes turn black as he takes in the
engagement ring. I should have known, he would know. “Doesn’t match the rest of
your jewelry, my sweet,” he says as he gives the chain a rough yank and it
snaps free from my neck. He holds it up to peer at it and then clenches it into
his tight fist. My ring! I step forward to take it back, but then my stomach
drops as he turns to Cole, his gaze like ice. The tension in the room goes up
several notches.

Cole, to his credit, doesn’t flinch, but does shift his
posture and adjusts his features to one of nonchalance.

At this point even Devon is reacting to the atmosphere as he
rises and to my utmost surprise, stands just to the left of Cole, a little bit
in front. Nico steps back and my Louboutins now remain glued to the spot.

CK cocks an eyebrow at Devon’s bold move and takes a long
sip of his drink. Nobody else moves. The tension grows thicker as each silent
minute passes. After an eternity CK speaks to Cole. “What gives you the right
to ask
my
beautiful girl to marry you?” The menace in his tone chills me.

“Constantine,” I say but he interrupts me. “I’ll deal with
you later,” he says, pointing at me but never taking his eyes off Cole.

I shut my mouth and snap my gaze to Cole. He’s glaring back
at Constantine.

“I love her,” he says simply. Constantine takes a step
forward and again the tension goes up a notch. My breath hitches. I know how
CK’s mind works and right now I know he is processing and deducing and coming
up with the correct conclusion. “She said she’d turn you, didn’t she.” A
statement. “The ultimate prize.”

Cole remains silent. CK nods at the obvious confirmation.

“Aefre, on the balcony. Now.”

Uh-oh, I’m in so much trouble.

I force myself to move and stiffly walk out onto the
terrace, hoping he doesn’t chuck me over the railing. He follows me and closes
the door.

“So you are going to do it anyway? Even after I specifically
told you not to?” he says quietly.

“I don’t need your permission to turn him, CK.” I turn my
fiery gaze to him, “And I certainly don’t need your permission to marry him
either, especially because of some dumb prophecy that a) probably isn’t even
about me and b) won’t come true even if it is. It won’t be a Holy union.”

“When did you decide to turn him? Before or after he offered
you a ring?” he snarls nastily and I flinch inwardly at his tone.

Snapping, I growl, “At least he offered me one.” His eyes
narrow in anger at my words and my tone. I know I have hit a nerve and think
‘Good’, before I regret saying it. Drawing a deep breath I then say, “After he
asked me to, which was after he asked me to marry him. He knows we can’t be
together if he stays human.” I pause as the anger at having to explain myself
to him grows stronger. Shooting an icy glare back at me, he softens slightly
when I don’t look away.

“I am surprised you feel this way, though. After Fraser
died, I never thought you would marry again.”

His words hit the desired pain button and I feel sick, but I
won’t give him the satisfaction of knowing he hurt me, “I knew I loved him the
second I laid eyes on him. It’s the next natural step for us. Prophecy or not.”

“Yes, I suppose it is, but I’m not happy about this, Liv.”

“Why? I don’t see what the problem is and I don’t see what
the fuck it has to do with you! I told you it won’t be a Holy union! I get the
man I love and your precious Council will remain intact!” My anger gets the
better of me and I start yelling. His face goes cold and unreadable, his voice
deathly quiet when he says, “It has everything to do with me because you are
mine, my destiny.” He slams his fist on the table and I jump. I stare at him,
dumbfounded.

“What?” I asked shocked.

He glowers at me from across the terrace, and I realize he
has said something he either shouldn’t have or didn’t want to. My outrage
provoked him and that alone is enough to shock me to my core. His words?… well,
I have no words.

He turns his back to me and drums his fingers on the
railing, an oddly nervous gesture coming from him.

I suddenly have a strong need to feel his arms around me so
I move forward slowly. He turns and folds me in his arms and I cling to him
like a vine. I can tell he needs this too, although he would never admit it.

“You know this is a mistake. Prophecies find a way of coming
true, Aefre. If you do this, there will be consequences.”

I can feel his phone buzzing in his pocket and with that he
pulls away, leaving me devoid, and stalks back into the suite. I glance at the
table where he had slammed his fist down and scoop up the ring that he had left
there. Still reeling from his words of warning, I follow him.

Cole and Devon leap up off the sofa with matching looks of
concern. “Liv,” Devon says, “everything okay?”

I nod dumbly and he tilts his head in question. CK is now
talking on his Blackberry in rapid Italian. He slides it shut with a quick snap
and focuses on me.

“I have to go back to Milan,” he says curtly.

“Will you be back tomorrow?” I ask quietly.

“Unclear. It’s Council business.”

My heart wrenches at his words and he knows he’s hurting me
with his tone. He closes his eyes for a split second and then opens them again
with a softer look. He walks to stand in front of me and tilts my chin up to
look him in the eyes. “I have to fix this,” he whispers, “I will try and be
back.” He bends down to kiss me sweetly on the mouth as if no one else was in
the room but us. I want to fall at his feet and beg him to stay, but then he
pulls away and I crash back to reality. “Goodbye, my love,” he says softly,
rubbing his thumb over my bottom lip.

He snaps his gaze to Cole who is watching us with a
murderous look on his face. CK has his usual smug-arrogant features in place
and I inwardly cringe.

“I’m sure Devon has told you what I will do to you if any
harm comes her way.”

Cole nods, his mouth grim.

“Remember that is a promise, not a threat,” he nods at Devon
who nods back.

“Always a pleasure, Constantine,” he says sarcastically.

CK sneers at him with intense dislike and turns his back and
heads to the door. Nico is already there holding it open and CK sweeps through
without a backward glance.

“Bye, Liv,” Nico whispers and I wave vaguely at him and he
disappears too.

“Holy motherfucker!” Devon exclaims after I close the door.
“That was…”