Timeless (Immortal Love Series) (27 page)
Read Timeless (Immortal Love Series) Online
Authors: Amy Richie
“
No,” Claudia laughed, “you are sharing with Achilles. Eva is in with Nadia.”
No,” Claudia laughed, “you are sharing with Achilles. Eva is in with Nadia.”
“
Oh,” her black hair fell forward with her nods, “you will like Nadia, but not as much as you will like me.” I couldn’t tell if she was kidding or not.
Oh,” her black hair fell forward with her nods, “you will like Nadia, but not as much as you will like me.” I couldn’t tell if she was kidding or not.
“
I’m tired,” I blurted out. “David, I’ll share a room with you.”
I’m tired,” I blurted out. “David, I’ll share a room with you.”
“
No, that would put Nadia with Dominick,” Claudia objected.
No, that would put Nadia with Dominick,” Claudia objected.
“
I have a better idea,” Dominick put his hands around my waist, “you can share a room with me.” He just wanted to hear my heart stutter.
I have a better idea,” Dominick put his hands around my waist, “you can share a room with me.” He just wanted to hear my heart stutter.
“
Who’s Nadia?” I asked quickly. “Did you tell us who she was?” I didn’t take my eyes from Claudia.
Who’s Nadia?” I asked quickly. “Did you tell us who she was?” I didn’t take my eyes from Claudia.
Claudia smiled kindly. “She’s a close friend. I think you’ll get along fine. Marcus has already told her you were coming.”
Dominick’s fingers brushed lightly along the skin on my stomach. “Sounds great.” I took a step forward but Dominick’s hands hesitated to let me go.
“
Come on Dominick, she’ll be fine.” With a low growl, he pushed me forward a few steps.
Come on Dominick, she’ll be fine.” With a low growl, he pushed me forward a few steps.
“
I’ll see you in the morning David,” I called without turning around.
I’ll see you in the morning David,” I called without turning around.
***
When I opened my eyes again the first thing I saw was a young girl with light brown hair and baby blue eyes. She sat cross legged on the bed, waiting for me to wake up.
“
You’re Eva, right?” She smiled to reveal slightly crooked teeth, adding to her youthfulness.
You’re Eva, right?” She smiled to reveal slightly crooked teeth, adding to her youthfulness.
“
Nadia?” I smiled back.
Nadia?” I smiled back.
“
I tried to wait up for you, but Elizabeth told me that you would be late and I could just see you in the morning.”
I tried to wait up for you, but Elizabeth told me that you would be late and I could just see you in the morning.”
I sat up and brushed the hair off of my forehead. “She was right.”
“
Here.” She handed me two large strawberries.
Here.” She handed me two large strawberries.
“
Thanks.” My eyes were huge with delight. I shoved most of one juicy fruit into my mouth. “Mmm”
Thanks.” My eyes were huge with delight. I shoved most of one juicy fruit into my mouth. “Mmm”
The door burst open. “I thought you’d never wake up,” Elizabeth hummed with the thick accent. “Dominick is chomping at the bit but he won’t enter because Nadia is still in here.”
I smiled gratefully at the girl called Nadia. “Oh, I can leave so he can…”
“
No,” I clutched her hand.
No,” I clutched her hand.
Claudia came in next, clutching a bundle of clothes. “I’m sure you’ll want to shower and these will help you fit in.” She held the clothes out. I finished my strawberries before I went to shower.
The tee shirt and jeans were a perfect fit. I had never worn jeans but I had heard about them before. “Do I fit in now?” I asked nervously.
“
I prefer your other look,” came a deep voice from the doorway.
I prefer your other look,” came a deep voice from the doorway.
“
No one asked you.”
No one asked you.”
“
You going somewhere?”
You going somewhere?”
“
No.”
No.”
“
Good girl.”
Good girl.”
I clenched my mouth shut tight. “Don’t you have someone to kill?”
“
Not at the moment.” He didn’t smile. “When you’re ready, I’ll be waiting in the living room.”
Not at the moment.” He didn’t smile. “When you’re ready, I’ll be waiting in the living room.”
“
Don’t hold your breath, or better yet — do hold your breath.”
Don’t hold your breath, or better yet — do hold your breath.”
“
Either way,” he shrugged, “I’ll still be waiting.” He winked and ducked out of the doorway.
Either way,” he shrugged, “I’ll still be waiting.” He winked and ducked out of the doorway.
“
He is so…so…gah,” I flung my hands up, beyond aggravated. It irritated me even more to see Claudia and Elizabeth smiling.
He is so…so…gah,” I flung my hands up, beyond aggravated. It irritated me even more to see Claudia and Elizabeth smiling.
“
He is handsome, isn’t he?”
He is handsome, isn’t he?”
“
No, Nadia, he’s…ugh!”
No, Nadia, he’s…ugh!”
“
Let’s get your hair brushed,” Claudia pulled me down.
Let’s get your hair brushed,” Claudia pulled me down.
Dominick was sitting alone on the couch when the four of us joined the men. David and Marcus were deep in conversation standing by a window and Achilles was looming next to the front door. The huge bald man looked like he was ready to bolt. I stopped in my tracks when he approached.
“
Elizabeth,” the same thick accent, “I have to get out of here. This tiny box is driving me crazy.”
Elizabeth,” the same thick accent, “I have to get out of here. This tiny box is driving me crazy.”
“
Just relax Achilles.”
Just relax Achilles.”
“
No one can leave alone. You haven’t forgotten already, have you?” Claudia didn’t even flinch when the giant turned to glare at her.
No one can leave alone. You haven’t forgotten already, have you?” Claudia didn’t even flinch when the giant turned to glare at her.
“
I think I can handle myself.” Undoubtedly.
I think I can handle myself.” Undoubtedly.
“
Just go sit down,” Elizabeth swatted him away like he was a pesky fly. “You’re scaring Eva.”
Just go sit down,” Elizabeth swatted him away like he was a pesky fly. “You’re scaring Eva.”
“
Are you scared child?” His glare turned to me. I silently shook my head no. I heard someone laugh but I couldn’t tell who.
Are you scared child?” His glare turned to me. I silently shook my head no. I heard someone laugh but I couldn’t tell who.
I hardened my eyes, ready to retort, but an order was barked from the couch. “Eva, come here.”
“
I don’t have to listen to you.”
I don’t have to listen to you.”
“
Will you please join me in the living room my dearest heart,” Dominick made his voice thick with false sweetness.
Will you please join me in the living room my dearest heart,” Dominick made his voice thick with false sweetness.
Like a small child, I stomped into the living room. I stood with my feet slightly apart, hands on my hips. “What do you want?”
“
Does he need to say it out loud?” Elizabeth slurred.
Does he need to say it out loud?” Elizabeth slurred.
“
You know, Eva, I just can’t understand why you are so angry. I mean I get the whole “mission” thing but I told you I was going to come back and claim what was mine.” He spread his arms out invitingly.
You know, Eva, I just can’t understand why you are so angry. I mean I get the whole “mission” thing but I told you I was going to come back and claim what was mine.” He spread his arms out invitingly.
“
Why did you lie to me?” I accused angrily.
Why did you lie to me?” I accused angrily.
“
I didn’t lie.” He sat comfortably on the couch, not even bothering to look guilty.
I didn’t lie.” He sat comfortably on the couch, not even bothering to look guilty.
“
You did. You said your name was Nickolas de Gant.”
You did. You said your name was Nickolas de Gant.”
“
I went by that name often, and I was going by it when I met you.”
I went by that name often, and I was going by it when I met you.”
“
But even after you knew everything, you still didn’t tell me the truth.”
But even after you knew everything, you still didn’t tell me the truth.”
“
You were there to kill me and I loved you, so of course I lied.” He shrugged, unaffected by our audience. “I needed to figure out what to do.”
You were there to kill me and I loved you, so of course I lied.” He shrugged, unaffected by our audience. “I needed to figure out what to do.”
I couldn’t deny the thrill that went through me but I did deny reacting to it. No smiling. I snorted slightly. “Or were you just a coward? Afraid to face me?”
He laughed loudly, startling me where I stood. Six pairs of eyes almost popped out of their sockets and silence erupted in the room. He was up and in my face before I could blink. “Oh Eva, I am so glad I waited for you.” He pressed his cold lips against my too warm cheek and then he was gone, leaving me tight lipped and trying to glare.
“
And where does he think he’s going?” Nadia tried to take the unwanted attention from me, “I thought we weren’t supposed to leave.”
And where does he think he’s going?” Nadia tried to take the unwanted attention from me, “I thought we weren’t supposed to leave.”
Claudia wrapped her arm around Nadia’s thin shoulders. “He’s just going to get some air, he’ll be back.”
“
He certainly won’t go far with Eva still here.”
He certainly won’t go far with Eva still here.”
I rolled my eyes and slumped over to where David stood. “Morning.” He half hugged me, still not completely comfortable showing affection. “Did you sleep well?”
“
Yep. You?”
Yep. You?”
“
Decent.”
Decent.”
Nadia skipped up to us. “Eva, Claudia says it’s ok for us to go to Cookie’s and get an ice cream. You in?” Her eyes lit up.
“
I…”
I…”
“
We can wait for him to get back if you need to make sure it’s ok.”
We can wait for him to get back if you need to make sure it’s ok.”
“
What?” I was outraged. “I don’t have to…yeah, ice cream sounds…great.” I breathed evenly, although I was fuming on the inside. “I just…don’t know what ice cream is.”
What?” I was outraged. “I don’t have to…yeah, ice cream sounds…great.” I breathed evenly, although I was fuming on the inside. “I just…don’t know what ice cream is.”
“
You don’t know what ice cream is?” Her wide blue eyes filled with tears. “You poor dear.” She looked genuinely distressed.
You don’t know what ice cream is?” Her wide blue eyes filled with tears. “You poor dear.” She looked genuinely distressed.
“
You must be Nadia?” David offered his hand.
You must be Nadia?” David offered his hand.
“
I am.” She beamed, her sadness instantly forgotten. I couldn’t help but smile, Nadia was so likeable. David smiled back.
I am.” She beamed, her sadness instantly forgotten. I couldn’t help but smile, Nadia was so likeable. David smiled back.
“
I’m David.”
I’m David.”
“
David, I’ve heard a lot about you.”
David, I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“
How do you know Marcus and Claudia.”
How do you know Marcus and Claudia.”
“
They rescued me.”
They rescued me.”
“
Nadia was a part of the trio that escaped the Geneva Project.”
Nadia was a part of the trio that escaped the Geneva Project.”
“
You were part of the Geneva Project?”
You were part of the Geneva Project?”
“
Yes. Me and my two sisters.”
Yes. Me and my two sisters.”
“
You seem so young.”
You seem so young.”
“
Claudia thinks I quit aging at about seventeen.”
Claudia thinks I quit aging at about seventeen.”
The Geneva Project. So Nadia was an original SH. The first of her kind — our kind. Nadia and I were two of the same; possibly the only two. No wonder Claudia said we would get along.
“
Do you want to come with us, David?”
Do you want to come with us, David?”
“
Sure, I’ll come along.”
Sure, I’ll come along.”
“
Only to Cookie’s, then back here,” Claudia wagged her finger at us.
Only to Cookie’s, then back here,” Claudia wagged her finger at us.
“
I hope Dominick doesn’t get mad about you leaving.”
I hope Dominick doesn’t get mad about you leaving.”
“
David, you worry too much, who cares what Dominick thinks?”
David, you worry too much, who cares what Dominick thinks?”
He swallowed visibly but still followed us out to get this thing that Nadia called ice cream.
Chapter Thirty-Two
“
Eva you take the blue ones,” Claudia shoved a huge pile of puzzle pieces in front of me. “I’ll take the barn and Elizabeth; you can work on the fields.”
Eva you take the blue ones,” Claudia shoved a huge pile of puzzle pieces in front of me. “I’ll take the barn and Elizabeth; you can work on the fields.”
Like Nadia before them, Elizabeth and Claudia loved to introduce me to things I had never heard of before. That morning Claudia had dug out an old jig saw puzzle and insisted we spend the morning fitting the jagged pieces together to form a picture. So far, the ice cream was better. I just couldn’t understand why we needed to spend so much time putting together broken pieces when the same picture was on the box if they wanted to see it.
David and Nadia were on the couch doing what they had been doing for the last two days — staring at each other.
“
Why do they stare at each other like that?” I asked to no one in particular. “They’re not even saying anything.”
Why do they stare at each other like that?” I asked to no one in particular. “They’re not even saying anything.”
“
Maybe there is love in the air,” Claudia wiggled her eyebrows dramatically.
Maybe there is love in the air,” Claudia wiggled her eyebrows dramatically.
“
Love?” I crinkled my nose. David in love?
Love?” I crinkled my nose. David in love?
“
Do you not believe in love?” Elizabeth asked without looking up from the puzzle.
Do you not believe in love?” Elizabeth asked without looking up from the puzzle.
“
Neleh says that love is not real. It’s only made up in books so that lonely people have something to dream of.”
Neleh says that love is not real. It’s only made up in books so that lonely people have something to dream of.”
“
That is not true. Love is very real.”
That is not true. Love is very real.”
“
How can you be so sure? Have you ever been in love?”
How can you be so sure? Have you ever been in love?”
“
My dear, I am still in love.”
My dear, I am still in love.”
My eyes moved to take in the three men standing nearby. “You mean with Achilles?”
“
Yes, of course.” Achilles grunted a little, making me wince. This amused Elizabeth. “Do you find it so hard to believe that someone as beautiful as I could love a man so large and scary looking?”
Yes, of course.” Achilles grunted a little, making me wince. This amused Elizabeth. “Do you find it so hard to believe that someone as beautiful as I could love a man so large and scary looking?”
“
He is intimidating to look at,” Claudia tried to defend me.
He is intimidating to look at,” Claudia tried to defend me.
“
I’m not intimidated.”
I’m not intimidated.”
It was as if I hadn’t spoken. “Ah, he is large but he is very gentle,” Elizabeth sighed. “He is like a kitty cat.”
I couldn’t stop the laughter that burst forward. I couldn’t imagine Achilles Letrell being described as a kitty cat. A lion would be more accurate.
“
You may laugh, but it is true. I could defeat him in any battle.”
You may laugh, but it is true. I could defeat him in any battle.”
“
You could?”
You could?”
“
I would think, Eva, given your past that you would be the first to agree that a woman can fight just as well as a man. I hear that you yourself are a little warrior.”
I would think, Eva, given your past that you would be the first to agree that a woman can fight just as well as a man. I hear that you yourself are a little warrior.”
“
I’m not a warrior.”
I’m not a warrior.”
“
But you defeated a warrior.”
But you defeated a warrior.”
“
You fought a warrior, and you were not killed?” The kitty cat was shocked. “Which warrior?”
You fought a warrior, and you were not killed?” The kitty cat was shocked. “Which warrior?”
“
Henri Fremont,” Marcus supplied the answer.
Henri Fremont,” Marcus supplied the answer.
“
That is impressive.”
That is impressive.”
“
She sent his head rolling.”
She sent his head rolling.”
“
They did not let you burn him?”
They did not let you burn him?”
“
No.”
No.”
“
It is unfortunate,” Elizabeth brought my attention back to her, “he is such an evil creature.”
It is unfortunate,” Elizabeth brought my attention back to her, “he is such an evil creature.”
“
Dominick Letrell is a friend to no one. He is evil and despised among his kind. He is known only for violence.”
My stomach tightened.
Dominick Letrell is a friend to no one. He is evil and despised among his kind. He is known only for violence.”
My stomach tightened.
“
That brings me to my point though, a woman can fight. I could defeat Achilles.”
That brings me to my point though, a woman can fight. I could defeat Achilles.”
“
He would let you win,” Claudia barely looked up.
He would let you win,” Claudia barely looked up.
“
Does Achilles love you back?”
Does Achilles love you back?”
She folded her hands on the table and regarded me with intense ice blue eyes. “You know, Eva, I have always resented being born a female. But Achilles makes me glad I was. He loves me so much more than I can ever love him. This is how it is to be loved by a Letrell warrior. Any woman who captures the heart of one of my brothers is indeed fortunate.”
Her eyes captured mine and refused to let go. “He would do anything for you, sacrifice anything. He lives for you and would die for you. If you can try to understand the depth of his love, maybe you can understand the things he has done.”
My breath caught in my throat. When did this become about me and Dominick? There was a time when I would have died for him. I shook my head to dispel the images of that day by the river. When Nickolas was taking me to meet Dominick.
I stood abruptly, knocking my chair over in the process. “It’s hot in here.”
Sweet Nadia came to my rescue. “There’s a balcony with a lovely view,” she exclaimed happily. “You want to come see?”
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