Aaron's Kiss Series Boxed Set (Books 1 - 7) (52 page)

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

After they showered, together this time, they went to the upper floors. Aaron didn’t mention that he had seen the couple already that night, and no one was the wiser. He knew what it was like. He and Sara still could not get enough of each other. A simple look or a touch could send them into need that would be embarrassing if it wasn’t so deliciously fun.

“I’d like to say something, if you don’t mind.” Pete, the name everyone had agreed suited her much better than Piccadilly, looked at the people assembled in the room. “I’ve looked over this journal and I want to tell you that while I appreciate you wanting to help me, my family isn’t your problem. No, wait, let me finish. I know that you think because Dominic and I have something, and I’m not sure what it is yet, but because we have this thing, that doesn’t mean you have to risk your lives for me. These men are dangerous, more dangerous than what you have in this book. I won’t have anyone getting hurt for me out of a sense of duty or obligation to a woman you just met.”

“Are you quite through, young lady? I must say that I’m hurt and not a little disappointed. To think that I would not want to help you is just mean. I have grown quite fond of you. And I do not have many that I call friend. Do you think that I have hooked my pony to a stupid person? I do not; I consider you my friend. Now, I do not know about the rest of this household, and they had better think on it carefully because Miss Penny is with me on this. I’m standing beside you, in front of you or behind you. I don’t really care, but I will be there, wherever you need me. Besides, I have taken a liking to that ridiculous name you call me and I do not believe I could stand to hear it if you were not around to say it to me.”

That was the longest speech anyone had ever heard Duncan give. Pete walked over to the older gentleman and kissed him hard on the mouth. With tears in her eyes, she leaned in to his ear and told him how much she thought of him too. And also, it was horse, not pony.

“Well, if that silliness is over, then let us get down to business, shall we? You mentioned you looked through James’ book; tell them what you have found, and I shall bring in some snacks for everyone.”

No one said a word as Duncan wiped away the tears on his cheek. Aaron felt his own eyes water at Duncan’s speech. Aaron decided that he needed to do something special for his friend, something the older man would enjoy.

“I’ve made a list of each of my brothers after I looked at what you had listed for each being described in here. You know, their eye color, hair, what they seem to be able to do, something like you’ve done here, see?”

Pete, with tears still in her eyes, handed around the stacks of paper she had printed out, giving each person a copy. Aaron was at first overwhelmed, then impressed with the way she had laid out and put everything together.

“I went through the book carefully and matched each trait to the being on the page. Some of them overlapped a little, but I noted that. In the first column is their name and birthdates; that seemed important to you, Mr. James. For them, I don’t know how much help it will be, but I marked in anyway. The second is their physical descriptions, any markings that I might have seen, and tattoos they had when I was a child.”

“I put the dates there to keep track of how long they lived. You can tell a great deal about a being that way. Where they’ve lived, whose lives they’ve touched. Why, I once—”

“James, do you think we can hold off on that until later? Her family will be arriving soon and I, for one, would like to know what we are up against.”

“Of course, Aaron. I’m so excited, you see. This is so wonderful. Sad but wonderful. It’s a shame that we’ll need to kill them all. Continue, child.”

Pete looked stunned for a minute. Whether from James’ enthusiasm or his statement that they would need to kill her family wasn’t clear. After Pete stared at James for a moment longer, she continued on where she had stopped.

“A lot could have happened in all this time. Someday, I’d like you to show me how you can tell the difference between a mark, sigil, and a tattoo, please. The third and fourth columns are how they obtained the power and what it is or does. When I knew for sure that it was Sherman, I put the ‘S’ next to the power. That will be helpful to a point, but it’s been almost nine years, so a lot could have happened between then and now. He could have taught them how to raise the dead by now for all I know. The last column is who my mother claims their father is or was. That should be taken with a grain of salt. She told me that I was the child of a king for a few months. Of course, she might have been talking about someone else, but...well, there you have it. That may or may not be accurate. She was consistent with what she told us, but I image a good liar would be able to keep it straight, don’t you think?”

Aaron watched a very confident woman as she went over the documentation she had given them, then when she sat down, he saw a very shy little girl take her place.

“This is very well done. I must say, I’m impressed. You did all of this in one day? Good heavens, think what you could do with more time. Yes, it will be my upmost pleasure to show you anything you’d like to know about anything I know, but the tradeoff will be to teach me how to do this. Oh yes, I’m quite impressed.”

James was beside himself. He had not had anyone take his book or his musings this seriously in a very, very long time and Aaron was happy to see Pete had brought a smile to his face.

“We have to discuss Sherman’s part in all this. Mel said she would like to have a private chat with Pete and Dominic first, and then she would share what she knows with everyone else. She is understandably upset. And no matter how much I’ve tried to tell her this is not her fault, she feels that she should have done more to keep everyone safe.” Aaron pulled Sara into his arms. She was taking this just as hard as Mel, and felt just as responsible.

“When do you think they’ll arrive, Aaron? Soon? And what kind of plan do you have in the works to take care of this?” Colin was a warrior of old and details were important to him. Aaron, a warrior himself, understood this in him and appreciated it.

“They will be here within the next forty-eight hours, maybe a little longer if I can make it happen. They’re moving slowly. They seem to keep having car trouble.” Aaron grinned at that. His helpers were having a good time slowing down Pete’s family, maybe a little too much fun. He wished he could join them, but he was needed here.

“I believe that we need to stay together, form a united front now and when they get here. Aaron, do you have any objections to us using this house as a base?” Dominic asked him.

“No,” Pete said quickly. “I’m sorry, but the babies are here. I...we can’t risk them. Somewhere else, please?”

“You are quite right,” Aaron agreed with her. “We will take the babies away from the house. I think they would love a visit with their Uncle Demetrius and Aunt April in Molavonta Keep. What do you think, Sara?”

Mel was the Mistress of Light, and Sara’s cousin. Mel actually lived in a very large castle in another realm different than the human world. They would be safe there, very safe, as the castle also had its own royal guard. Aaron liked this idea very much.

“I think that’s a wonderful idea.” Sara agreed readily with a glare at her mate. “They would be well tended and cared for, yes. Thank you for the suggestion, Pete.”

Aaron knew better than to say that he had hoped Sara would stay with the children in the Keep as well, but he knew that it would be safer if he did not mention it to her.

“I knew you were a very smart man the first time I saw you. And you are right. I would have hurt you very badly. I think I might have a sexy little number that I bought with you in mind. I’ll model it for you when my body is mine again. I love you, Aaron.” Sara had heard his thoughts, apparently, and whispered through his mind her approval.

“You did not think I was a smart man when you met me. You told me you didn’t care if that rogue killed me or not, just before you sliced off his head. And I love you too. Now pay attention, I want to get this meeting finished so I can ravish my mate later.”

Nearly three hours later, they had a plan. Pete was never to be alone, this was a given, of course. The women seemed to feed off of each other’s powers, strength in numbers it seemed, so it was logical that they would work together. Also, they were all going to help Pete meet her full potential by training her how to use and control her powers.

Pete had finally given up trying to tell them that she did not want the one curse she had, and certainly did not want to add to her misery. She spent the rest of the evening and nearly the new day doing things she did not know she could. And actually having fun.

“Sire, if I could have a word with you, please? In private.”

Dominic had been dreading this conversation all evening. He was still getting used to Aaron as his master. The man who he had been a subject to before had been a horrific man, flaying vampires while still alive or staking them in the sun long enough for them to burn for the most minor of infractions. He was not sure how he was going to react to his news.

Aaron said that was fine, and asked if the study would be all right. The two of them walked to the room as if it were a guillotine and one or both of them was about to die.

“Come, man, out with it; the anticipation is killing me.” They had been in the room five minutes with neither of them speaking. Dominic was having one argument with himself right after the other. He began unbuttoning his shirt and watching for a reaction from his master as he spoke.

“I’ve mated with Pete, sire, as you know, and—”

“Hold,” Aaron said, exasperation in his voice. “My name is Aaron. Not ‘sire,’ not ‘master,’ and not even ‘Mr. MacManus.’ I think I would prefer most anything to being called ‘sire.’ I’m your master, yes. But Dominic, I’m also your friend.”

Dominic lost his train of thought. He’d always referred to Aaron by his first name, but had never called him that to his face. He wasn’t sure if he could do so now, but was willing to try.

“Thank you, Aaron. I’ll try and remember. It’s about Pete and I. We’ve mated and bonded; we’ve exchanged blood. This isn’t her fault. I bit her first, you see. I knew the story about Colin and Shade, but I still bit her. I love her. Please don’t punish her. I take full responsibility for this.” He bared his left shoulder, and there, wrapped around his bicep, was vine, and exact match to Pete’s without the flowers.

“It started growing on me last night, I guess. I could feel it, but I didn’t know what it was. It was just itchy at first. I beg of you, master, don’t blame Pete. She had nothing to do with this.”

The silence was profound. Dominic started to fidget, and stopped. When the answer came, it was not at all what he had expected. Nothing even close to it.

“You expect me to do what to her, Dominic? Kill her? Maim her in some hideous way? I thought that we had move beyond that, you and I. I’m disappointed. Not in you, but in myself. I should have tried harder to make you feel safe and secure here, but I’ve failed you. I’m sorry. You and your mate did nothing wrong, Dominic. Nothing, do you hear me? You love her and she you. This was fated, not planned. She is as welcome in this Kiss as any of you. Sara is excited about having another woman around. She seems to think that the two of them are already good friends. You won’t let me disappoint my mate by moving away, will you?”

Dominic kneeled before the man. He was wrong not to have trusted Aaron. He had lived for so long with tyranny that he almost missed something very important standing right in front of him. A true friend.

“No, sire…Aaron. No, we aren’t planning to move away. I know that I have pledged myself to you before, but I do so now with my heart, not my head. Before I wanted freedom, now, sire, if you would but give me a chance, I pledge to you with my heart and I ask you for your friendship. I meant no disrespect to you. I would—”

“Enough, Dominic! Christ. You are my friend. I welcome you into my heart, as well as my Kiss. And if you call me sire once more, I’m going to be a very unhappy vamp. Now, go be with your mate. You might need to know some of the things Pete is learning too.” The two men embraced and moved back into the living room where things were just starting to get interesting.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

“Pete, honey, please put my father back down on the floor. He’s rather old and maybe fragile.” Pete grinned at Mel. She loved upsetting Queenie. It was almost worth the stupid curse for that alone. And, not that she would tell these guys, she was having a blast learning how to control the thing.

“Melody Keeper, I’ll have you know that I am not fragile and I would really appreciate it if one or all of you would please stop teaching her this particular trick. I no longer find it to be amusing to be lifted up in the air. Now, please put me down, dear. You have done it perfect eight times already and I don’t like being the guinea hog.”

Pete gently lowered Phillip to the floor, thinking that she should have maybe held him there just a little longer for pulling a knife at her back. Of course, if he had not have, they would not know all they knew about her now.

“Its pig, not hog, sir. Miss Pete, err Pete taught me that one quite some time ago.”

Duncan had just entered the room with a large platter of food. Keeping the ladies of this family fed was a full time job evidently, and he and Penny seemed to love every minute of it. And they loved finding recipes off the Internet and trying make them together. Pete was glad that she had showed him out to search for them.

Daniel had joined the party sometime while Aaron and Dominic had been gone. He told her he had wanted to talk to her about the security set up she had had him put in. Just a few questions. But he seemed to be enjoying the lessons going on more. He turned to Duncan as he set down a large platter of what looked like giant hoagies.

“How’s it hangin’ there, Dunc, my man?” Daniel always asked the man this same question every time they were saw each other.

“Oh yes, I know this one. ‘Low and to the left, low and to the left.’ I was told to repeat it when I said it. Did I do it correctly, Miss Pete?” Duncan looked around the room that had suddenly gotten very quiet. “Did I not say it the right way?”

“Hummm, Dunc, has Eon been hanging around you in the kitchen lately?” Pete felt she knew the answer, but wanted to be sure.

“Why, yes, he has. A very nice young man, Master Eon. But I do believe he is not what he seems. We will need to investigate that more soon, I believe. Master Daniel, please have a few sandwiches. We have plenty.”

Duncan delivered his line and his food and exited stage left as it were. Pete burst out laughing at the stunned look on Daniel’s face.

Poor Dunc. Who would explain to him what that statement meant? Pete decided to have a little talk with Eon next time she saw him. Goodness, what if little Brent said something like that to Shade or Colin? She looked at the couple from across the room and thought they looked as if they could handle it.

The meeting with Mel happened just after they finished with the first set of the lessons. Pete and Dominic had met in of all places, a palace. Molavonta Castle Keep, the castle of the queen. The room they were lead to she’d been told was the queen’s personal chambers and few had ever been inside.

“I wanted to tell you personally about the man in your past. Sherman, the man from your home, is...was my mate. He tried to have me step down by causing me to have a miscarriage. He is more evil than you can ever imagine.”

Pete didn’t say anything, but looked at Dominic. Something wasn’t adding up. This was not the Queenie that Pete had come to dislike.

“He was also instrumental in the kidnapping of Shade and Brent a few months ago. Sherman planned to kill them both. Brent was a pawn. He...Brent was unharmed by Sherman, but he could have been...Sherman could have killed him too.”

“So, this is your fault? You’re to blame for my family being as powerful as they are? Gee, Queenie, you really are an awful person, aren’t you? I mean, to know that he was doing all this and being aware of it. Well, that makes you more evil, doesn’t it?”

Pete felt Dominic trying to get her to stop, to not say those things, but Pete knew this was an important step for them both. She and the queen had had their differences, but this was personal. This was something that went beyond their boundaries as women of magic.

“Of course I didn’t know what he was doing! Do you think I would have allowed him to continue if I had of known? Do you think if I had known he had taken that little boy, I would have let him? Do you think that I would not have put a stop to whatever involvement he has in your family’s evil? I wouldn’t have stopped it immediately.”

Magic shimmered in the air, hot and heavy. Dominic did not move. Pete stood up, walked over to the queen, and hugged her. “Yeah, I know you would have. But you didn’t know, so stop beating yourself up over it. What’s done is done. Now...now, Queenie, we kill the bastard.”

~~~

Pete had a business to run and after the meeting with Mel that had lasted until early morning, she sat down in the kitchen with the house phone and took care of a few things. She made two calls to suppliers and another to Toby, setting up a time to have the wiring and other equipment delivered to Colin’s house.

Colin had asked her last night if she could come by and set up their computer equipment and the game system. He had been impressed when he’d seen what Aaron’s system could do and wanted to get started. She told him she would do what she could, as she was limited on her movements while her family was coming for her. Then she called Mr. Mackey.

“Hello, this is Pete Bartholomew; I’d like to leave a message for Mr. Mackey or Ms. Mackey to call me back at this number, please.”

The person who had answered was not Shelia this time, and Pete wondered what had happened to her. She thought she was a great person. Pete knew she was Mackey’s daughter and loved the fact that he’d made her work for a living.

“Yes, Ms. Bartholomew, could you hold, please? I’ll only be a moment.”

“Ah, sure, but I just wanted to leave a message—” She realized that as soon as she said “sure” she had been put on hold.

Duncan set a large platter of food in front of her. She looked up at him then back down at the food. She was going to weigh as much as this house if they kept this up.

“You do know that I don’t eat this much food in a week, right? I do know when I’m hungry. And come to think of it, why are you always feeding me?”

The voice from the ear piece of the phone at Pete’s ear answered for Duncan. “If I know anything about women, it’s that they don’t eat near enough most of the time. Good morning, Ms. Bartholomew. I’m glad you called.”

Mr. Mackey himself was on the phone.

“Mr. Mackey, I didn’t mean for her to get you. I was more than willing to leave a message for you to call at your next opportunity.” She found herself straightening up in her chair as if he could see her. She slumped back down with a frown.

“As it so happens, this is perfect timing on your part. When can you come in to see me? The sooner the better, actually. I just need a couple of hours to set up with Shelia, if that’s okay.”

Meeting for what? she wondered, and looked over at Duncan. “Hang on a sec, let me check with someone. I have to clear a few things with the people I’m staying with.” She turned to Duncan and stared at him, hoping he could help her out. He reached out, took the phone from her, and pushed the hold button on the hand set.

“You look a little shell-shocked, Ms. Pete. What has happened? Shall I call Master Bradley? That man on the phone, he did not threaten you, did he? Why I’ll have you know I was quite the boxer in my day.” Duncan danced around the room with his fists up and bounced on his toes like a professional. Then he smiled at her.

“No,” Pete said with a small laugh. “It’s Mr. Mackey. He wants me to come in to see him. I do need to talk to him, but I promised Dominic that I wouldn’t leave the house without him. Dunc, I have a business to run. It’s not much, but there are people that depend on me to help them. I can’t walk away from a call because I might or might not run into trouble. I don’t want to make Dominic mad either.”

Although, if she thought about Dominic when he was mad at her the last time, she thought it just might be worth making him upset again. The last time had been so...so delicious. She squirmed in her seat. Just thinking about it got her all hot and bothered.

“Why not take the ladies of the house with you, Miss Pete? Her ladyship and Lady Shade would love to go out, I’m sure. I believe you would be quite safe with the two of them in tow. The day nanny is here for the children and Miss Penny and I are on hand as well. There is also the matter of your clothing. Was it not pointed out that you might be running low on certain items?”

She and Dunc both colored a little at that, and yes, he was right. Dominic was a little rough on her underwear and wow, another jolt to her groin area. She pushed the hold button again before her train of thought went too far off course.

“Mr. Mackey, I was wondering if we could meet, say, at two this afternoon? I have other business I need to attend to beforehand, and if that’s okay with you, I could meet you around then. But I don’t...hummm...as you remember, I don’t do dress up. Is that still okay?” She barely owned jeans and t-shirts much lest business attire.

“Yes, that’s fine, fine indeed. You wear what’s most comfortable to you. I’ve been wearing ties for so long...well, it’s my new comfortable I think,” Mackey told her with a chuckle. “Two will be fine with me. I look forward to seeing you again, Pete.”

Pete was nervous now. She needed to find Sara and Shade and then convince them to spend time with her on a shopping spree. Like Pete had any idea how to go shopping at all much less on a “spree.” Pete found Sara in the nursery.

Pete did not step into the room, but watched as Sara nursed the little boy. Pete had not seen the babies since she had delivered them. She didn’t have a lot of experience with kids. Spending one afternoon with Brent was okay, but the babies were so tiny yet.

“You should come in and meet them. They aren’t so small anymore,” Sara told her without looking up from her son.

“I don’t want to intrude. I’ll talk to you later.” She started to walk away when Sara called her back.

“No, this is perfect, Pete. Come in and meet your namesake. Well, sort of namesake. I’m so glad I didn’t know about your real first name when we named Mac after you. Can you image how much trouble a name like Aaron Piccadilly MacManus would give him? But he’ll be just like his father and slay the infidel, I’m afraid. Anyway, his name is Pete, Aaron Pete, but we’ll call him Mac.” Mac stared at Pete as if he knew who she was, and what she had done for him. “Why don’t you hold him?”

“Oh no, I don’t know how. He’s little, isn’t he? No, I’ll just talk to him this way. His bruise looks good, doesn’t it?” And it did, it really did, Pete thought.

“Nonsense! Sit down. Here, hold Lizzy. Her real name is Melody Savannah Elizabeth MacManus, but we’ll call her Lizzy.” Sara just simply handed her the tiny bundle of pink.

The babies had their own beds in the big nursery. Plus everything one could ever want for a new baby, and as soon as they were old enough, they would have their own rooms as well.

This room was perfect as a room for babies. The walls were a light wainscoting that was nearly halfway up the cream-colored walls. The hardwood floors, also a light oak, had throw rugs scattered all over. The pink side of the room had bright pink curtains and pink bed set. Dolls of every imaginable size, shape and color were loaded onto several shelves. There were even pink books on the lower shelf. The blue side of the room was blue everywhere the opposite was pink, including the blue books. But instead of dolls, there were balls, bats and mitts. She could even see that there were several trucks and cars lined up in neat rows.

“You think this one is going to have any less trouble with her name?” Pete looked at the little girl in her arms and fell in love.

Lizzy was a beauty even at one week. Her hair was as red as her mother’s, long and thick too. Her skin was so soft it defied words. Her eyes were the deepest blue that Pete had ever seen, and she looked so serious. Pete would swear there was a tiny frown between her eyes, just like her father’s. But she had her mother’s coloring and her lips.

Pete tried one of the tricks she had been taught last night and opened her mind to the baby. She immediately felt the connection. And unbelievably, Lizzy spoke to her. Not in words, but in images and sounds.

“Shit! Sorry, she...she spoke to me. I don’t know why that should surprise me. She’s called to me before. But this time, she actually spoke to me. Told me she liked me, and that I’m pretty.” She felt the goofy grin, but couldn’t seem to stop it from spreading.

“She called to you? When?”

Pete looked up at Sara at the sudden tone in her voice.

“When her brother was in trouble the day they were born. That’s why I showed up at the restaurant. She sent out this, I don’t know, an alarm, I guess. I just followed it and there you were. No big deal.” And it hadn’t been either, not really.

“You have unborn children talk to you all the time, do you?”

Pete could tell Sara had meant it as a joke, but as Pete did indeed talk to all sorts of people, she answered her seriously. Turning back to the baby, she told her the truth. “No. Not all the time. And not always kids. Sometimes there are adults that are in comas who will call out. I used to drive myself nuts trying to do what they wanted, but I couldn’t keep up. Some of the things they wanted were like last requests, you know? No one believed me, of course. So to offer comfort, I’d tell them that it had been done or I had told whatever it was they wanted said to their family. I know that’s lying to them, but trying to get people to believe that this family member who has been out of it for like ten years suddenly wants them to forgive and forget is hanky.”