This Blood (30 page)

“You bring me here,” I said, glaring at Gavyn, whose proud stance slipped a little. “Yet you have no clue as to what you want me to do? I could wipe all of you out with a single thought!” 

Gavyn balled his fists at his sides. His look was a silent warning. The men took me seriously, though. I took a shot in the dark in assuming that they weren’t privy to all the details about the ring. Glad he kept something back.

“How can you put your trust in a stranger?”  I asked, getting perplexed.

Gavyn relaxed a little, “Because we must,” he replied simply. He looked so deflated, tired and sad. The proud man he was only seconds before fell away. What I guessed must be his true form was breaking my heart.

My sigh silenced the room. I turned to look at my friends. Lucian’s face was so controlled I had no idea what was going through his mind. Ann’s, however, was an open book. Her eyes were pleading, I knew she wanted me to instantly fill the room with chubby, little elfin babies.

I smirked at the thought; yeah, if only.

I glanced at her new companion. His face told me nothing. Damn men. I cleared my throat again, “I will do what I can to help you. But first we must meet and discuss how.” I turned to Gavyn and his smiling face. “But, there’s one thing I insist upon,” I said, in a grave tone. “The women must be included in the discussion. All the women!” 

I waited for a heartbeat in case there were arguments. When none came, I placed my hand gently on his cheek, “Now, that’s all we need to say for now. I’m a little starved here. Where’s the food?”

He laughed a warm, velvety sound that wrapped around me like a hug.

“Dear Grace, how can I ever repay you?”  He rang a small bell. We sat as the women were quietly ushered in. “You will help, wont you? I knew you were good, and also very wise. We are thankful for that. You have proven yourself to be a true Madea.”

I scooted my seat further under the table, as his last sentence was getting on my nerves.
A true Madea indeed!
Well, one day I was going to leave no doubts in anyone’s mind. I folded my hands under the table as several men came forward with huge trays of strange looking food that smelled like heaven. Leaning toward Gavyn, I said quietly, “About repaying me, well, you could start by giving me back my ring.” I smiled over a forkful of peppery smelling salad.

His face fell a little. “I will, after all the details have been worked out.”

“Well, then we better get moving. I think it’s better if we get this over with soon.”

Lucian spoke then, “It’s a good thing you’re trying to do for them, Gracie.

“It is?”  I was shocked. “You mean
you
want me to help them? I thought you were totally against them. What happened?”

Just then, Andrea approached the table.  Her long hair was twisted with the same silver threads I had in my headdress. She looked beautiful. Gavyn stood, offering her his hand. He placed a light kiss on her palm and turned to me.

“Grace, you have met my mate, Andrea. If you do not mind, she will sit at my side for the remainder of the feast.”

“Mate? You mean you’re married?” I asked, more than a little shocked.

“In the sense that we are bonded, yes. Andrea and I have been together for seventy-five years. Misha is our daughter.”

As if on cue, Misha approached with a dazzling looking man on her arm.

“Father, may we join the others at the far table?”  Her head turned in the direction of a large table filled with boisterous young men. As far as “young,” I really had no idea if they actually were, they could be pushing fifty for all I knew.

“Yes, please, celebrate.”

She left laughing, a spring in her step. I turned a suspicious eye toward Lucian.

“So, my handsome friend, how long have you known that Gavyn was married? Would this have anything to do with your sudden change of heart?”

He looked so guilty, I almost laughed out loud. “Of course not, and I only found out about it a couple of hours ago.”

I smiled to myself, he was really too much.

The conversation stayed comfortable. Ann chatted animatedly with Tobias, his smiles and small touches revealing his pleasure at her company. We all ate happily, stuffing ourselves with strange meats and fruits, steaming vegetables and savory sauces. Everything was wonderful. Then, after what seemed like several hours, the room began to slowly empty. The few women that were present pared off with their mates. No doubt, they were all retiring after a long day of excitement.

“What a meal,” Ann said, yawning theatrically. “Grace, I’m so tired. Where are we going to sleep, do you think?” She was asking me but her eyes were all for Tobias.

I put my hand over my mouth to hide my smile. It would seem the old Ann was back in full force. She was never one to let an opportunity pass her by, and by the look of mixed shock and pleasure radiating from Tobias, this was a quality he might benefit from.

I turned to Gavyn. “It seems we’re all a bit tired. May I ask where we’ll be sleeping tonight?

He pulled his gaze reluctantly from Andrea. “We have prepared chambers for you.” His eyes focused above my right shoulder for a moment. “Well, it would seem that you will have more room in your cottage.”

I turned to see Tobias and Ann walking hand in hand across the room and out the main doors. “Well, I guess they hit it off,” I said nervously, hoping they wouldn’t think Ann was a huge tart.

Gavyn smiled. “She honors us with her choice to bed one of our men. I am very pleased.”

“Oh... You are?”

“Absolutely, she is a strong woman. Her blood will mix with ours. Their children will be strong.”

“Children? Whoa now. I don’t think Ann wants to get married.”

He frowned at me. “She is willing to mate with him.  She will be told what that means before she is touched. Do not fret, she will be fine. We do not believe in using trickery in our desperation to reproduce.”

“I’m sorry if I offended you. I just know Ann, and Tobias is quite a looker. It would be just like her to want to taste the goods with no strings attached. Don’t get me wrong. Ann is a wonderful person. In fact, she is the best person I know, but our world is, I’m sorry to say, a bit different in relationships than yours.”  

I thought about that, and then back to what Ann said at the bath. She dreamed of this place as a girl, and said she could live here.

“Then again,” I said, “maybe she knows exactly what she’s doing.”

“I’m sure she does.” Lucian’s voice came from behind me. “She was spellbound during dinner. She seemed to forget everything that happened to her so far. She didn’t speak of any of it. She just kept asking him questions about his life here. I think she might want to stay. That is if we’re ever offered the opportunity to leave.”

“Well, my friend,” Gavyn stood with Andrea rising to her feet beside him. “It will all work out for the best. Even with Grace’s help, we will still be woefully short of females. Ann is more than welcome to join our people.  Now, if you will follow me, I will escort you to your chambers.”

THIRTY-TWO

We left the large hall along with the last remaining guests. Walking slowly behind Gavyn, Lucian grasped my hand. He could be a jealous pain in the ass, but he was definitely great when it came to giving comfort.

“What are you thinking?” he asked softly

“Your hand is soft, I like it.” Looking up at his handsome profile, I was really thinking that this was the kind of man a woman kept, one that would stay by your side, protect you and love you with a singular intensity that would make your head spin.

“You’re frowning; that means your thoughts are on more than the simple softness of my hands.”

“I don’t know,” I breathed. “I guess it’s because my life has been thrown into a blender and I can’t identify the pieces. So many things are confusing. You, Gavyn, his cause, Ann the elf mommy and… Oh yeah, my embodiment of a mystical and powerful species thought long extinct. Now, may I ask you what you’re thinking?”

“Point taken. I guess what I wanted to know is if you’re okay. You seem to be doing pretty well. I mean, from the horrors of Seth’s torture and the threat of the Council.  Well, now doesn’t it seem to be part of a different life? A different time? I remember everything perfectly, of course, but something’s gone. I’m no longer afraid for us all.”

“We’re not safe yet. Don’t forget Gavyn still possesses the ring. If things go bad, we might just wish for the tortures of Seth’s coven.”

“I would never wish for that, no matter how foul things might turn in this strange land. I would never wish to return. And after meeting Chloe, Eden and Ael, who will always remain there, ready to play their sick games. No, thank you.”

“Ael is dead. His ashes are probably clogging Seth’s Hoover right about now.”

“Dead?” Lucian paused on the path, his eyes huge and hopeful “How? When?”

“Dead, very dead. I staked his undead ass with a piece of broken picture frame just before we rode to your rescue.” I smiled sweetly, as if I had just shared my best shortcake recipe. The thought of that bastard being wiped from the face of the earth made me giddy.

Lucian began walking again, his steps quicker now as his excitement grew.

“This is fantastic! I can’t believe you killed him. I mean, I admit seeing you pump Chloe’s full of lead was a surprise; but rendering one of them to ash is very impressive. You could have been killed, you know.”

We rounded a bend in the path and stopped a few feet from Gavyn and Andrea. The house they prepared for us was beautiful. The white rounded walls were covered in a soft growth of velvety foliage that made it look homey and inviting.

“This will be your home for the remainder of your stay. There are three sleeping chambers within. If you will follow me, I will show you around.”

He walked inside the cheery orb.

“This is the main dining room.” he said as we entered a large room furnished with a long dining table and padded wooden benches. “All of your meals will be prepared for you, unless you wish to join some of my people who prefer to dine together in the Great Hall.”

“This is lovely, Gavyn, thank you,” I said, admiring the artwork carved into the walls. Pictures of mermaids frolicking in silver pools were painted with such care and skill they almost seemed alive.
Holy crap, mermaids?
I didn’t even want to ask.

“These doors open to the sleeping chambers.” He pointed to three doors, each designated to one of the three walls surrounding the dining room.

“You will find a separate closet in each to take care of any of your personal needs. Now, if you do not mind, my mate and I will take our leave. Please enjoy your rest and we will see you with the morning sun.”

Andrea placed her hand on Gavyn’s arm and turned to me. “I sincerely thank you, Grace. You have no idea how happy you have made us all. For the first time, we will lay our heads to rest with hope in our hearts.”  With her parting words, they departed, leaving Lucian and me staring at the closed door.

“Are you sleepy? Or do you feel like talking for a while?” Lucian looked a little wound-up. I guess sweet sleep would have to wait a little longer.

“I wouldn’t mind talking for a while,” I said. “It might do my mind some good to unload. But first, I need to take this headgear off.”

I walked toward the door in the middle of the round room. It opened to a small, feminine suite. A large canopy bed draped with white fabric and thin vines occupied most of the room.

A slender chair sat in the corner, taking up almost no space, and next to that, was a long twisting pole that held several candles. They were the only sources of light, but surprisingly, the room was bright. The rest of the space was simple, offering no dressers or mirrors. It screamed temporary.

I opened the only other door in the room to what I assumed was the bathroom. A small basin filled with water hung on the wall next to a round silver seat. The seat was open in the center like your everyday toilet; however, this one had fast flowing water that continuously swirled down. This was the toilet, I hoped, or I’d have some serious explaining to do tomorrow.

I helped myself to the comfy seat and then washed my hands in the basin. I sighed after noticing that this room was mirror-less as well.

I had two choices. Either I trudge back outside to the main bathing room and take this cumbersome thing off there, or ask Lucian to help me.

Hoping to sound calm and unflustered, I hollered his name.

He entered the room faster than I expected. He must have been sitting at the table just outside the door.

“Sorry, but this room was intended for a less elaborately coiffed female. I’m afraid I’m going to need your help in getting all this off.” I sat nervously on the bed.

His eyes held heat. His legs brushed against mine as he moved closer. My breath left me slowly, moisture rushing to my palms.

“I only need help with my hair. My clothes are staying put.”

His lip quirked. “I know what you meant.” he said softly.

His fingers went to my hair and he slowly worked the twists and curls loose from the silver headpiece. I sat still. My body felt warm, but small chills ran along my spine as his fingers moved deftly through my long locks. My breathing deepened, and I could almost hear my heart.

He was so close, his legs pressed against me. I held my breath as he bent closer to untie a difficult loop and I closed my eyes. My body’s reaction to such a simple thing was embarrassing. I only hoped he couldn’t sense what he was doing to me. He straightened, lifting the ornament off my head, and placing it on the chair by the bed.

I ran my fingers through my hair, rubbing my scalp to ease the slight soreness.

He sat on the bed next to me. His hands once again attending to my head. He slid his fingers into my hair, massaging the sore areas on my scalp. My head fell back, my mouth opening, and I let a moan of pleasure escape my throat.

“God, that’s great.” I admitted.

“You were all but harnessed to that thing. I can see why you wanted it off.” He rubbed my neck, his short nails grazing the sensitive skin behind my head.