Awakening (The Vampire Destiny Series Book #3) (5 page)

Absorbing myself back in my e-mails, I barely noticed when Stefan entered the room.  Peeking over the screen, I offered him a distracted smile.  Still looking ruffled and sleepy, his eyes were fully alert as they roamed over me.  They were bright blue, highly irritated and bored through me.

"You were not in bed when I woke up."  Stefan accused irritably.  He walked around the counter and swiveled the stool I was sitting in around to face him.  He moved my legs apart to slip between them and braced me in with his long, muscular arms.  "I missed you.  Come back with me.  Unless you have more snooping on the internet to attend to or you feel the need to resume your conversation with Aidan."

Several emotions detonated inside of me instantaneously.  His closeness ignited my desire for him and an almost reptilian anger unfurled at his insinuations.  I also had the answer to my earlier question.  It took less than 10 minutes for the crypt keepers to trace my innocent exploration of their website.

"Excuse me?"  I stammered.  "
My
snooping?

"Yes, Josephine.  Why were you attempting to enter the Board and Council website?  Nigel was able to divert the information from being passed on,"  Stefan remarked sharply.  His voice had taken on a similar tenor that he used with Lukas.  He needed information and wasn't going to beat around the bush to get it.

"I was getting my laptop when I bumped your computer.  It powered on and your e-mail was open.  I wasn't snooping.  I just happened to notice one e-mail that said your testimony was required.  I looked at the sender and I was curious.  Do you want to explain what that means?"  I folded my arms and raised an eyebrow in expectation. 

I listened to the rapid sound of his fingertips tapping on the wood.  He pushed off the arms of the stool, crossing his arms as he stood in front of me.

"Do not attempt to divert the conversation.  And no, I do not wish to explain right now." His blue eyes hardened and his jaw tightened.

"Tough.  Start talking."  I narrowed my eyes and sat back on the stool, waiting for him to continue.

Stefan let out an unnecessary breath.  His posture relaxed slightly and he resumed his earlier stance of caging me between his arms on the stool.  "PB&C stands for the Premiere Board and Council.  My testimony is merely a formality.  I killed a vampire.  They need my version of the events for their records." Stefan shrugged.  His mind fractured off into a half a dozen different directions.  He was annoyed at me for my inquisitiveness, he was scanning the future of the Council members to see their response to Derek’s death.  He was also worrying about Kian, probing the tie to Anna and wondering how irritated I was with him for not sharing this information.

"I'm not mad, Stefan.  Just stop trying to protect me from everything.  I'm capable of handling more than you give me credit for,"  I snapped, jutting my chin out defiantly.

He gave me a wry smile.  "This is interesting news.  The last time you were given information you did not like you crept out of the apartment like a thief, fleeing to drown yourself in tiny cups of coffee while refusing to take any of my phone calls.  Do you understand my concern in sharing potentially upsetting news with you?"

His words deflated some of my anger.  He was right.  Stefan had a way about pointing out my flaws without making me feel guilty or angry.  He only stated the facts.

"I'm doing better with this now.  The information about our bonding on the plane was the perfect example.  Can you at least explain what testifying entails?"  Trying another tactic, I gently stroked the skin of his arm from where his t-shirt ended to his wrist.  I felt his quiet enjoyment of the touch of my fingers on his skin.  Continuing to caress his arm, I kept my gaze fixed on his.

"Vackra, we will discuss this at length later.  Let us deal with Anna's situation and then we will contend with the Council.  Can we agree to shelve the issue temporarily?"

Reluctantly, I nodded in agreement.  "Yes.  But once Anna wakes up, we need to have a serious talk about this Council business."

He grinned widely, his blue eyes gleaming.  He kept me locked between his arms as his lips brushed against mine, softly pressing lazy kisses against my mouth.  Groaning softly, I locked my arms around his neck to pull myself closer to him.

"Agreed.  Now tell me who this Aidan character is."

Chapter 2

Who’s Jealous Now?

"You can't be serious, Stefan.  You're jealous of my book editor?"  I pulled away and looked at him with narrowed eyes.  "You were listening in on my phone call to Aidan?"

I wanted Stefan to at least pretend to appear a little guilty.  Instead, a look of smug satisfaction spread over his handsome face.  He was completely shameless.

"I heard the end of your conversation.  He wants to meet with you?"

"
Us,
"  I corrected.  "He wants to meet with
us
."

Stefan pressed a kiss to the tip of my nose. "Ah, I think he would be happier if you met him alone.  I cannot blame him.  You are beautiful, Josephine.  Any man would love to have your undivided attention for even a moment."

"You’re way too smooth you know.  And completely biased," I whispered, smacking at his chest with my hand.

"Perhaps I am biased.  I also see how other men look at you.  I am also cautious.  Set up a meeting.  Perhaps having a drink would be best for Aidan to meet your ‘
boyfriend’
."  Stefan accented his comment with air quotes.

"What am I supposed to call you?  My vampire mate?" I asked pointedly.  I impishly pushed him away, concentrating on the the computer screen long enough to press ‘send’ on the e-mail to Aidan.

"You can call me what you wish, vackra.  I just wish to hear you call my name many times."  His eyebrows waggled and smiled crookedly, sitting down on the chair facing the couch.  His mood instantly sobered as he focused on Anna, his intense stare analyzing her lifeless state.  I joined in his silent observation, looking for any difference.  She looked slightly paler, her hair more vibrant, but those were the only real changes I could notice with my mostly human eyes.

"Sit with me?" Stefan asked quietly.  His question piqued my interest since Stefan rarely asked.  His requests usually sounded more like statements, not requests.

Moving from my perch on the stool, I crossed the room and fell into the expanse of his lap.  He held me close, his chin resting on the top of my head.  His thoughts were heavy, as was his mood.  Stefan had been troubled since we’d returned to New York from Bali.  He was much more experienced at shielding his thoughts from me, but his emotions were more difficult for him to disguise due to our newly formed bond.

Letting my fingernails run over his muscular arms, I nuzzled my nose against his neck.  “Please talk to me, Stefan.  Tell me what’s been bothering you for two days.”

He released yet another sigh.  His voice sounded detached and soft when he finally began to talk.  "Changing Anna had made me remember the day I awoke as a vampire.  My human memories and attachments were muddled, yet I clearly remembered dying at Solveig's hands.  The fear of feeling my life slip away was horrifying.  It was the second time in my life I felt helpless."

"I can't imagine you ever being helpless," I murmured.  It was true.  He was so strong and vital, imagining him weak and defenseless was difficult for me to fathom.  It didn’t help hearing the mere mention of his maker’s name.  Solveig been dead for more than 700 years, yet she was like an invisible wedge between us.  Stefan had loved her once.  More than likely, there was a part of him that always would.

He barked out a soft laugh, his cynical smile making his face look harsh.  "I was dying and was no match for Solveig.  I was angry at her.  I felt as if I was supposed to die a human death.  My own miscalculations cost me my life.  As a warrior, I had been defeated and I was willing to accept death.  I fought and I lost.  Dying was my punishment for my mistakes.  When Solveig found me, she quickly recognized my ability and chose a different kind of death for me."  Stefan paused, his deep voice becoming stronger.  "Lukas lay dying when I offered this life to him.  I was never able to offer Anna the choice, to give her the opportunity to decide if she wanted immortality.  As a vampire, I made an oath to myself that I would never change a human without their consent.  I vowed that I would never become like my maker.  Yet here I sit with you, waiting for my unwilling child to rise.  I am preparing for her anger, her confusion and pain once she realizes what she has lost because of our decisions.  You must be ready for it as well, vackra.  She may be angry and resentful.  She will never have children.  She will live a life in the shadows, pretending to fit in while watching the world pass by."

"I didn't think about how you would feel.  I didn't want Anna to die like that.  She would have wanted to live,"  I responded sheepishly.  I had only thought of saving Anna in any way possible way during those hectic, frantic moments at my villa.  Stefan could offer her an eternal life.  I had no idea of his reservations or his own personal code as a vampire.

"How could you have known?  I do not blame you, Josephine."  Stefan had read my mind.  He monitored me closely, especially when the subject matter was tense.  Part of him was always going to be afraid I’d run again.  "Let me continue with my story.  When I awoke, I was overwhelmed.  I could hear the wind rustling through the leaves, able to discern the different type of tree by the sound the leaf made in the wind.  I could scent human blood miles away.  I could see colors that my human eyes could not.  My strength had increased to amazing proportions.  I could uproot a tree with one hand."

My fingers kept tracing invisible patterns over his skin.  “I can’t imagine what it must have been like for you.  Even my small changes have been difficult to handle.  Why are you telling all of this to me this now?”

His large hand cupped my chin and tilted my head upwards to stare into my eyes.  His sea blue eyes were thoughtful, his Nordic face wise.  "Seeing Anna like this has brought back many different memories.  When I changed Lukas, I was alone and had been searching for you.  I found you and have you at my side and I want you to know everything I can tell you about this life.  I also tell you these things because you are changing as well.  You need to understand what to expect with each change as it happens."

Turning on his lap to face him, my eyes searched his curiously.  I brushed his blond hair back from his face as he stared off into space, thinking and searching for my future.  He momentarily envisioned me as a true immortal at his side.  The picture faded away as quickly as it came.

"You’re seeing me as a vampire?  Changing from what I am now?” I burst out impatiently.  The image had been fleeting but it was the first time he’d seen me as an immortal.  I was both excited and nervous as I deduced the possibilities of his vision.

Stefan smoothed his fingers over my back, causing a shiver to run down my spine.  "Do not read too much into it.  Many things we already know.  Your skin temperature has cooled.  Your flesh heals quickly.  Your vision has improved and your strength and speed has increased.  I have noticed the cadence of your heart.  Each day its rhythm slows.  There are so many unknowns.  Since you are already partially a vampire and our bond, you may make the transition on your own.  I want you to be..."

Two sharp knocks sounded on the door before Lukas entered the apartment, interrupting our conversation.

"Is it time?" Lukas wondered as he buzzed to Anna's side, staring at her critically.  He turned his head from side to side, his attractive face unreadable.

When Stefan didn't answer, Lukas turned to face him.  Stefan and Lukas exchanged a long look, the kind where nothing needed to be said aloud.  Their years together and sire/child relationship linked them, enabling them to exchange information with a single look.

Stefan spoke slowly, deliberately.  "I am inclined to say yes."

Exhilaration raced through me.  I threw my arms around Stefan's neck, hugging him tightly.  His arms wrapped around me loosely.

"I stated I was inclined to say yes.  Her future is still unclear."

"You said it was that way when I changed, Stefan,"  Lukas chimed in.  I could hear the hope in his voice.  Lukas’ guilt still haunted him.  Anna was his friend and he'd been unable to save her, a prisoner to the fear of his own nature.