The Vampire's Fake Fiancée (Nocturne Falls Book 5) (15 page)

Sebastian couldn’t believe the words coming out of his own mouth, but Evangeline’s presence at dinner had put a very hard line under the truth of who she was. And always would be.

Compared to Tessa, she was, well, there was no comparison. Unless you went with something like black and white. Winter and summer.

Angel and devil.

Evangeline’s mouth gaped open.

Sebastian folded his napkin. “I’m not saying I would abandon you, Evangeline. We’ve been connected this long, we can certainly remain…acquainted. But you’ve been out of my life for centuries, except when it suits you. Which is most of the time.”

She sputtered a few words. “But…I—”

He held up his hands. “I’m willing to continue helping you should you find yourself in need of something, because I imagine you have few friends willing to extend themselves for you that way.” Also, he was obligated to help her and would be for the rest of his life so why fight it? “That need would be mostly monetary, the same as it’s been these last centuries, but this more personal relationship of ours, such as it is, has been over for a very long time. Let’s make it official. Let me—and Tessa get on with our life. I can have my solicitor draw up the necessary dissolution papers in a day then we can send them off to the council and be free to live our lives.”

Spending time with Tessa had made him realize just how deeply he was suffering at Evangeline’s hands. There was no reason he couldn’t fulfill his promise to her father but live his own life as well. Having her sign dissolution papers would finally bring this ridiculous relationship to an end. They would be completely divorced in the eyes of the council and there could be no repercussions for either of them after that, even if he was still technically her sire.

Her mental and emotional hold on him would be gone. She would become just another item in his budget to be accounted for.

Evangeline finally found her voice. It held an edge of weepy disbelief. “I came here to make amends and resume our life together and this is how you repay me?”

“I’m not repaying you, Evangeline. That implies a debt I owe you and if it’s cost analysis you want, I assure you your side of the ledger is rather lacking. I’m merely attempting to move on with my life.”

Anger shimmered in her eyes. “I don’t believe you. I think you’re trying to force me into groveling. Trying to get me to beg you to take me back.” She sniffed. “That’s not who I am, Sebastian, and you know it.”

“I do.” Indeed, if she
had
groveled and begged, he might have taken her back no questions asked. But she hadn’t. And he’d told the fortuitous lie that had brought Tessa, and the bright light of reality, into his world. “I promise I’m not trying to force you into anything. Again, this isn’t about you. It’s about me. My life.” He looked at Tessa. “My happiness.”

“Good for you,” Hugh said.

“Rubbish,” Evangeline spat out. “You can pretend all you like, but I know you, Sebastian. I don’t believe for a moment that you’re planning on getting married. This is a game and I, for one, am done playing it.”

Sebastian laughed. “You’re done playing? Games are all you know.”

She reared back in her chair. “Is that what you think? Fine. I have a new game for you. Give me one week, living in this house with you. Let me see the two of you together, twenty-four hours a day. Convince me that you’re truly in love and I’ll give you your dissolution, no questions asked. I’ll sign with a smile. I’ll even pay to file the papers with the council.”

Her words settled over him like a pall. Tessa would never agree to that. She’d never move in with him, not after today. Asking her to keep this charade up for a week with Evangeline in the same house was too much. A bridge too far. “I wouldn’t even let you live in my guest house.”

Tessa spoke before he could say anything else. “I’m game if Sebastian is game.”

Sebastian cleared his throat to cover his surprise. “Be that as it may, Tessa and I need a moment to discuss this.”

Evangeline pursed her lips as though she’d won something and looked directly at Tessa. “He’s afraid that having me around all the time will be too much of a temptation for him. Then your poor little dull librarian’s heart would get broken.”

Tessa rose out of her chair and muttered, “Something might get broken, but it won’t be my heart.”

“What was that?” Evangeline asked over the sound of Julian snorting with amusement.

“Nothing.” Tessa glanced at Sebastian. “I’ll be in the library.”

Without waiting, she strode off. Sebastian stood, frustration souring his mood further. “You’re unbelievable, Evangeline.”

She smiled lazily. “I am, aren’t I?”

He went after Tessa.

She stood, waiting in the library. Fingers interlaced. Face masked with distress. “She is…awful.”

“I know. I’m very sorry. Obviously, I’m going to tell her this preposterous idea of hers is not going to happen—”

“Absolutely not. You have to agree to this. It’s your chance to get your life back. And like I said in the dining room, I’m agreeable. As much as anyone can be in this situation.”

He stared at her, trying to be sure he’d heard her correctly. “I don’t think you understand what you’re saying.”

“Of course I do. I’m going to have to move in here with you for a week.”

He shook his head. “Nothing makes sense to me right now. Why are you all right with this? With her?”

“I’m not all right with her, but this has nothing to do with Evangeline.” A cautious smile curved her mouth. “It has everything to do with you. You stood up to her tonight. And it feels like something has changed within you. Like you’ve finally figured out that you want to be happy and that you can be, if you remove her from your life. I know you still want to keep your promise to her father and I won’t try to dissuade you from that, but if you want your life back, then I want to help you.”

“I don’t know what to say.”

“Say yes.”

No one outside his family had ever done anything like this for him before. Or shown so much concern for his well-being. “I am amazed that you would do this for me. What do you want in return?”

“Nothing.” She shrugged. “You’re giving me a job. A great job. That’s plenty.”

His heart swelled with affection for her. So many people came to him with their hands out, but not Tessa. She was giving him something that had no price. A chance at happiness. “You can keep the ring.”

She jerked back. “What? No, that’s far too much. And I don’t have any use for it. Please, just let me do this. I’m not trying to get anything out of you. Evangeline’s done that enough, I think.”

A true statement. “This isn’t going to be easy.”

“No, it won’t be. I’ll have to run back to my sister’s and collect my things.”

“You can do that in the morning, once Evangeline succumbs to daysleep. She’ll be out cold for at least five or six hours.” He raked a hand through his hair, worry filling him at the thought of everything that could go wrong. “I don’t like this idea at all.”

“Neither do I, but despite what she said about not believing us, she’s doubtful. I could read it in her and a valkyrie’s instincts are never wrong.”

“Is that why you’re doing this? Because she’s on the fence?”

Tessa’s smile returned. “I’m doing this because…I like you, Sebastian. I see a kindred spirit in you. And it makes me sad to think you’ve already spent so much of your long life burdened by responsibility for a woman who doesn’t love or respect you. I understand living a life that feels constrained by something you cannot control, but you have a chance to change that and I absolutely think you should.”

Emotion clogged his throat. He was unaccustomed to anyone wanting to help him, something he knew he’d fostered by his insistence on Evangeline being an off-limits subject. “Thank you,” he managed.

She nodded. “We should go out and tell her the good news.”

He snorted. “I’m not sure I’d call it good, but yes. In a moment.” He caught her hand and kissed her knuckles, wanting to do more, but restraining himself. If this worked, he would be indebted to Tessa for the rest of his life. Unlike with Evangeline, however, that was a debt with which he felt comfortable.

She allowed him to hold on to her for another second, then eased her hand out of his. “Come on. I’m sure she’s chomping at the bit to move in here and cause trouble.”

Sebastian sighed. “Amazing how well you know her in such a short span of time.”

Together they walked back into the dining room, which was uncomfortably quiet. Evangeline’s gaze held the determination of someone prepared to fight for what she wanted. It was not an unusual look for her.

Sebastian paused just inside the door, Tessa at his side. Knowing full well he was taking advantage of the situation, he slid his arm around her waist and settled his hand on her hip. The warmth of her seeped through his skin, a tease of what he couldn’t have. At least not yet. But it was still worth it. “Tessa and I have nothing to hide. You want to see us together for a week, fine. But then you will sign dissolution papers and we are done. My family serves as witness to this. Agreed?”

Evangeline smirked. “Agreed.”

“Witnessed,” Hugh said.

“Witnessed.” Julian pointed at Evangeline. “You’re not getting out of this.”

She steepled her fingers against her chest. “I have no intention of getting out of it. I’m a woman of my word.”

Hugh barked out a laugh. “Bollocks.”

She glowered at him before looking at Sebastian again. “Tell Greaves to get my things out of my rental car.”

Sebastian’s brows lifted. “Get them yourself. He’s my rook, not a servant at your beck and call.”

“I’m a guest,” Evangeline shot back.

“You’re an interloper. I’ve agreed you can stay the week, but don’t for a moment think you’re a guest.
Guests
are invited.”

Tessa slipped her arm around Sebastian’s waist and out of the corner of his eye, he saw the side of her mouth quirk up. This was going to be a very interesting week indeed.

While Evangeline carried her bags in, loudly protesting Sebastian’s inhospitable treatment the whole time, Sebastian and Tessa said goodbye to their guests, then Tessa retreated to the library with her phone to text Jenna with an update.

Jenna was about as understanding as expected, but didn’t give Tessa any more than the usual amount of grief, agreeing to help her sister in the morning with whatever needed to be done.

That accomplished, Tessa went back out to find Sebastian. He was in the kitchen with Greaves, both of them leaning against the counter. The cook had already left, but someone had made coffee. The rich aroma permeated the space. Sebastian sipped a cup.

Tessa glanced around. “Just you two in here?”

Sebastian nodded. “Yes. She’s upstairs in the guest suite.”

Tessa stiffened. “My things were in there from when I changed for dinner.”

Greaves shook his head. “I took care of that, miss. I put your belongings in Sebastian’s quarters.”

“Thank you.” Relief swept her. This was going to be a very long week, but she’d agreed. Too late to turn back now. Not that she would change her mind. Sebastian needed this. And on a deeper level, helping him felt like it might balance her darker valkyrie side a bit. All that proclivity for death and destruction needed a few good deeds to level the scales. Something to appeal to the valkyrie’s nature to protect.

“Thank you, miss.” Greaves put his hand on a large white box sitting on the kitchen counter. “Would you like a slice of cake and some coffee? Dinner never made it as far as dessert and it would be a shame to let Miss Delaney’s cake go to waste.”

“Sure, why not?” She took a seat at the old wooden farmhouse-style table. It matched the rest of the rustic kitchen that had no doubt cost a fortune to look that way. Then she stood again. “I guess I should get myself some coffee before I get settled.”

Greaves held a hand up and moved toward the pot. “I’ve got that, miss. I’ll bring you the cream and sugar, too.”

“Thank you.” She sat back down and folded her hands on the table, looking up at Sebastian. “Jenna’s going to help me in the morning. Won’t take much. One trip. I’ll go first thing as soon as you tell me it’s okay.”

“Greaves will drive you.”

“It’s okay. I can drive myself.”