Unbound (34 page)

Chase walked around to the driver’s side and said, “No sir, Mr. Paris. I have to get Danielle home where she belongs.”

SIXTEEN~

There had been a steady stream of visitors for the past couple of days but it’d been quiet that day. Dani received an invitation to a dinner party, in her honor, at the home of Christopher Stafford. The Stafford house wanted to show their gratitude for her efforts in the rescue. She didn’t like the attention
, but
Mason said it would be an insult if she declined. Mason had given her a lot of the answers she had regarding the
Council
and how their justice system worked. He explained more about vampire longevity. They reached their prime at around twenty-five and then the aging process slowed way down. If they took care of themselves and fed regularly, they could live for hundreds of years. The older the vampire the stronger they became. The young were much more vulnerable until they came into their power. He believed her need for blood hadn’t kicked in until she had come of age. When her powers started to kick in, so did her need for blood. He explained that baby vamps got blood cells from their mother’s milk and they breast fed longer than humans would consider normal. He’d been bringing bags of blood to the
Enclave
for her but she’d have to learn to hunt soon. Obviously, she didn’t need to worry about sunlight, crosses, or any of that other silly stuff.

According to the history, vampires were just creatures that evolved from your garden variety human, like the missing link or something. Both species shared many of the traits but there were huge differences in metabolism, dietary needs, basic strengths and abilities. Humans could be turned into vampires if enough blood is exchanged but that didn’t happen often because the human died more often than living through the process. If it was attempted it was usually done out of love. Made vampires couldn’t have children and the reasons why eluded scientists. They tended not to live as long as born vampires. He hadn’t found any records of a vampire and a human ever having a child that survived. He had found a few very old references but the mother and child had died in every case. This wasn’t a problem anymore because of the vampire’s prejudice against humans. Humans were lower on the food chain and therefore beneath consideration for a mate unless the human was turned first, but then children were out of the question. Mason believed Tessa had convinced Griffin to turn her if she survived childbirth, so they could stay together.

Speaking of her mom, she was going nuts because she had to stay away. Dani suggested she expose her humanity, and then Tessa could come and go whenever she wanted. She’d told her mom to give Griffin a call from the grave. Tessa didn’t want to do that. She was convinced that Dani would be scorned. Dani believed her mom d
idn’t want her father to have the
pleasure of knowing she’d lived. She probably thought he’d lock Dani away to keep her safe if he discovered she was his daughter.  Dani wondered how long the charade would last. Someone was going to notice her differences soon. She didn’t heal as fast as a vamp. Her physical attributes were seriously lacking but her mental gifts were over the top. Dani believed that had a lot to do with her mother’s paranormal ability to see the future and her father’s telekinesis.

Charlie had been begging to visit and she’d finally agreed. Chase pitched a fit until she explained that either he would be a gentleman to her guest or she would find someplace else to stay. He’d been trying really hard to make her comfortable and rebuild their relationship. She couldn’t be any more than friends with an engaged man but he kept trying anyway. He insisted he was working to get out of the engagement, but she’d told him he shouldn’t ruin the relationship between the two high-powered families over her. Whoever would have thought nightmare Barbie would turn out to be her half-sister. She’d found that out the day she left the hospital. Mrs. Vaughn ‘the second’ was on her cell phone going on and on about the bonding ceremony. She kept looking at Dani to be sure she was listening. Dani didn’t know why Sarah came to visit. Then it dawned on her. The woman was trying to relay a message without coming out and saying it. Sarah was there to make sure she understood Chase was taken. Dani got the memo loud and clear. Her life was moving on.

Cayden was outside pacing the hall. Dani had just informed him that Charlie was on his way. That sucked, considering he still hadn’t gotten over the panty incident. She reminded Charlie to act like he knew nothing about the black-eyed freaky people. He said he’d act like he didn’t know his own mother if it got him a visit with her. She really missed her friend. The sex had been great but it was the friendship she really craved.

She wanted Cayden to leave since she couldn’t leave, but he wouldn’t go. She’d also told him he should date other people. Not that she really wanted him to, but how could she date Charlie and expect Cayden to be any different. Cayden bragged that he had the onl
y female warrior in the world, h
ow could he need anyone else? He also had the only demi vamp. Just wait until he got that news flash. He’d probably run like his ass was on fire and never look back. Dani wonder if they would revoke her honorary warrior status. A knock on the bedroom door pulled her out of the morbid thoughts. She knew it was Cayden by his woodsy essence.

“Come on in, Cay,” she called out.

He sulked in and flopped down on the bed face first. She couldn’t help checking out his butt. No wonder all those girls chased him around. The view from behind was almost as good as the front. She plopped down next to him face up, using his muscled arm for a pillow. He was just breathing in and out and she could feel the tension rolling off of him. She employed his way of letting a person be with their thoughts until he finally cracked. “We need to talk,” he finally announced.

Oh, shit. This is it. He was going to break up with her because of Charlie. In that moment, her heart sputtered to a stop and suddenly she knew. She knew if he asked her to choose between him and Charlie she would choose Cayden. This knowledge made her sad in one way and happy in another. She wasn’t as twisted as she believed herself to be. She cared for all three of the men in her life but right now if she had to choose, Cayden would be her guy, hands down. She loved Charlie, but it was a familiar and safe, you took my virginity and you taste really good, kind of love. The feelings she had for Cayden were anything but safe. He made her feel norma
l, like she belonged with him, n
ot to me
ntion the physical attraction. B
ut she’d made it clear she needed time before she’d be ready for a sexual relationship.

“What do you want to talk about?” She sat up and waited for the other shoe to drop.

“Us...
You and me.”

He still didn’t face her. Oh God. She was right. He was ending it. They’d only been together just over a week and she didn’t want lose him now.

“I’m listening. Are you going to look at me or what?” Anxiety made the words harsher than she had intended.

“I don’t know why this is so damn hard for me. I’ve been dating since I was fifteen and I’ve never had an exclusive relationship, but knowing you’re seeing someone else makes me crazy.” He still couldn’t look at her.

Here it comes. She’d have to decide to let him walk away and see if he came back or throw herself at him before he made it to the door. He rolled over to face her with his beautiful hazel eyes burning a hole in her heart and said, “I think I’m falling in love with you.”

That wasn’t what she’d expected. The words needed to soak in for a minute. He watched her nervously until it was absorbed. The smile she gave him felt oddly shy.

“I’m falling for you, too, Cay.
I just think we need to take it slowly.
” He took a deep breath and hauled
her
flush against his body, squeezing her so tightly it hurt her ribs.

“Ouch! I do still have broken ribs.” He instantly loosened up but didn’t release her.

“I was so af
raid you were gonna laugh at me,
” he admitted, and his voice wavered a little.

“Why would I laugh at you?” She ran fingers through his hair in an effort to comfort him. He was so damn cute when he got nervous. Truthfully, he was hot all the time, but this unsure side of him was endearing. As big and bad as he could be, he could also be sweet and vulnerable.

“Everyone says you’re above me,” he confessed, “I’m not good enough for you. I was afraid they were right and that’s why you need someone else. You need them because I’m inadequate.” He blushed. This big strong man blushed in her arms.

“You know better than anyone else that I don’t believe the class system you people live by. Even if I did, how in the world would I be above you? I come from no house at all in a town with
out any
other
vampires. Hell, I’m probably
beneath you, Cay. Maybe you should leave before my low-class upbringing starts rubbing off on you.” She laughed and tousled his hair. “God forbid I should sully the son of the mighty Gage Paris.”

“You’re not funny. I guess because you’re so powerful and beautiful, you’ve risen above the status of the warriors. Did you know that there’s talk of you being voted onto the
Council
when you get older, purely on the merit of your power? You’re not even a member of one of the ruling houses. That would surely put you way above me,” he explained.

“No. I didn’t know that. B
ut I do know they wouldn’t want me on the
Council
. I won’t play by their rules. But that’s a discussion for another day. For now, why don’t you tell me what you came in here to say? Your anxiety
level
tells me that you’re not done.” She encouraged him to continue.

“It’s more of a request really. I know I can’t tell you what to do. I mean, we’re dating, not bonded.” Again, he couldn’t look her in the eye.

She cut him off, “Even if we were bonded, you wouldn’t
be able to tell me what to do. I
n c
ase you haven’t picked up on i
t yet
, I usually go my own way
.”

“If we were bonded you likely wouldn’t want to do this anyway
,
so I’d be pretty safe.” He smiled and brushed her cheek. “I actually like that idea. I didn’t think I would ever want to do that, but if you agreed to it, I would exchange blood with you right now.”

He pressed his face into her neck and breathed her in deeply. “I need to ask you not to have sex with Charlie tonight. I know it’s crossing the line, but if you care about my sanity or emotional well-being at all, you won’t do it while I’m here. I can’t leave after what happened to you. I have to stay nearby until
my relief comes. I’ll be honest, e
ven if I got some relief, I don’t think I could leave. Leaving you here with Chase is maddening enough but knowing you are with that guy…” Cayden trailed off.

She thought about that for a few minutes. Sure Cayden was waiting for a response but her mind was working out a few things. First, she tried to imagine how having Cayden dating and having sex with other girls would affect her. It
would
suck
. Second, she tried to process everything Cayden had said to her. When he said he would bond to her right now the only thing that stopped her from saying, “let’s do it,” was her half-breed nature. She would have to tell him the whole truth first. She couldn’t go into something so permanent and sacred with secrets. Then he would probably change his mind about her entirely. Third, she thought of all the danger and drama she’d faced in the last month and how unsafe it was for a human. She was sure she’d have been dead twice over if it weren’t for her vamp genes. Fourth, she was trying to decide if she had the strength to do what she needed to do in light of how things one, two and three worked out. She did. She had to.

“Are you gonna say anything? Or am I just gonna go crazy wondering what you’re thinking about?” Cayden was on edge.

Dani kissed him lightly and held his face in her hands. She was on the verge of crying at the thought of what she knew needed to be done. She left the bed to go look out over the high-rise view, “I won’t have sex with him. I need some time to myself, please.”

His expression was a mixture of relief and sadness. She wanted to comfort him but needed some comfort of her own and he couldn’t give it to her. She’d have to find it in herself. As soon as he was gone, she called Mason for some fatherly advice and education. He promised to come take her to his house for a while to begin teaching her more, but for the moment, she understood her task.

Charlie called from the lobby and she went to meet him at the elevator. Chase had left and Cayden had stationed himself in the hall outside of the condo. Dani couldn’t look at him while she waited for the elevator but she could feel him watching her. When the elevator doors slid open and Charlie stepped out, he turned in the opposite direction to give them privacy, or maybe he was sheltering himself from seeing Charlie touch her. Once inside the condo she didn’t want to go to her room. They sat on the sofa and held each other while he told her about school and all the fun stuff she was missing. He talked about his stress over not knowing where she was and when she had finally called him with the news that she’d been hurt and unable to contact him, it just got worse. He kissed her and Dani allowed herself to be enveloped by the scent of mint and rain while she remembered the loving they had shared. Then, she had to get it over with before she was lost in the sweet aftershocks of their time together.