Bless The Beauty (9 page)

If it was his too, that is quite different.”

Chase sighed, his expression still a mask of hesitation. “What is this claiming bit then?”

Oh good, he was coming around to the idea. Asking questions was a good thing, right? Maybe Kellen’s straightforwardness actually helped here. It got the facts right out on the table leaving Chase to just face it dead on. Truthfully, I wasn’t expecting him to settle into resignation so soon and was quite glad of the direction this was going.

“Nothing happens really. We just go before Mistress Ellery and state our decision.”

“A Mistress?” Chase laughed, a deep confused sound. “Now you’ve lost me completely.”

Kellen answered before Chase finished laughing. “She is the leader of the Pacific Northwest.”

Chase’s laughter ceased as his expression swept back to confusion. Oh boy, he was going to be spent after tonight—shifting moods so quickly had to be exhausting.

“We, as vampires, are ruled by a leader. They are known to us as Mistresses.”

Chase’s confusion only deepened so I added, “Each Mistress has been granted a region within the United States that they run as they please. It is their territory to protect, prosper—you know, that kind of stuff.”

Chase was silent a moment, blinked, then laughed. “You have got be fucking kidding me!”

I shook my head, slow and serious. “No joke, really.” Regret filtered through me that I hadn’t told him any of this earlier. Then at least, he’d have more time to accept all this, instead of just being thrown into it all head first. But what was done was done. I couldn’t dwell on what ifs, or at least, tried not to.

Chase leaned forward, his gaze intent on mine. “Tell me, just how have these
Mistresses
risen to power?”

Before I had a chance to open my mouth, Kellen interjected. “Age mostly—they have more years behind them then you could fathom.”

After a long hushed moment, Chase snorted a sound somewhere between annoyance and bewilderment. “Wonderful. I am about to go and meet some crypt creeper.” Then he looked out his window and his snort came again resembling laughter. “Where exactly is this Mistress?”

I followed his gaze out the window to see we were approaching a small private airstrip. I glanced at Chase, his brows raised in question, I laughed softly with him.

“California and we are a bit short on time.”

Chase sent his examining gaze to land on Kellen. “You always have planes at your disposal?”

“Mmm…not exactly,” Kellen responded. He pulled up to the small jet that sat along the airstrip then turned off the car. As he opened his door, an older gentleman began to approach the car. I had to wonder what the man was doing here so late at night, but I assumed Kellen must have called him to meet us here. Who knew what he told him to get him out of bed. Not that I really cared, we just needed to get this done.

“Can I help you?” the man asked just as I stepped out of the car.

Kellen nodded firmly, his gaze focused on his. “We need to go to California. You will take us there now and quickly.”

The man nodded with a bright smile. “Of course, it’s clear skies, a perfect night for flying. We’ll push this jet to the limits to get you there quickly.” Then he strode off toward the garage.

I could kiss Kellen for knowing of this place. That was just an added bonus from his years spent as a shield. There wasn’t a city he hadn’t been to and he never went anywhere unprepared. If it was imperative that he move quickly, he needed to know where he could go to do so, and he gotten this one dead on. The shiny aerodynamic jet would provide just the speed we needed. Shaving off time was a necessity at this point.

Chase burst out laughing as he watched the pilot head back to the plane. He shook his head slowly. “That is fucking incredible.”

I laughed with him, glad to note the sound of his laughter had returned to the playful tone I loved. “Being a vampire does have its perks.” I hooked my arm through his as we began to walk toward the jet and leaned my head against his arm. “By the way, I hope you know how happy you are making me for doing this.”

Chase kissed the top of my head. “I do what I have to, doll.”

I sank further against him. I knew he loved me, but we never talked about just how deep it ran.

Now, I discovered that his love was just as strong as mine. He wanted to keep me just as much and that knowledge elated me.

The pilot was waiting by the cabin door with his hand resting along the railing.

“Welcome aboard the Gulfstream G550, I hope you have a pleasant flight,” he said to me.

I raised my head from Chase’s shoulder and removed my arm from his. “Thank you.” I climbed up the steps and entered the plane.

Quickly, we settled into our seats. After the pilot finished up with the flight plan, we were in the air. The clouds whipped by as the plane shot through the night sky with impeccable speed.

An hour whipped by. As each minute passed, Chase became more uneasy. I reached for his hand, laced my fingers through his. He glanced at me with quiet, thoughtful eyes.

If only I could read his mind. “Where have you gone?”

Chase smiled softly. “I’m here.” He brushed his thumb across the back of my hand.

“Just trying to process.”

The whirlwind had reached its peak and had reached his limit. Now, was the time to have the
talk
. There was no putting it off, he needed to get things off his chest and I needed to listen. “A lot has happened, hasn’t it?”

Chase let out a loud sharp laugh. It wasn’t a happy sound, but more exasperated.

“Hadley, my world has just been torn out from under me.”

He was right, it had. I basically threw a bomb at him and forced him into a situation he never would have agreed to before. Not only did he have to share me with Kellen, but now, he was been whisked off to a society he didn’t know existed. I squeezed his hand tight. “Are you really okay with it all?”

Chase shrugged deeply. “Still processing.”

I glanced toward Kellen and gave a little nod toward the cockpit. I needed time alone with Chase.

Kellen winked, stood then said, “I’m hungry. I bet the pilot has something around here…or in him…I could eat.” He laughed and headed off down the aisle.

I glanced back at Chase to find his gaze steady on me. “What are you finding the hardest to deal with?”

Chase sighed as he leaned his head back against the beige leather headrest. “I suppose this sharing bit.” He shifted his head to the side, met my gaze again. “What will it mean?”

“It just means you will have to share my time.” I placed my other hand over top of his in hopes to give more comfort.

He laughed softly, but it wasn’t a laugh of amusement, it was more out of uncertainty. “What’s the plan then, are we going to work out a schedule?”

I shook my head and gulped at the same time. I hadn’t quite worked this out yet. And what I did want, I wasn’t sure Chase would agree to. “Kellen will be busy with his duty to the Mistress. He’ll be gone for long stretches.”

He worried his bottom lip with his teeth before he said, “All right, so, on those stretches you will be with me?”

I nodded without hesitation. That about summed it up. “That’s right.”

Chase pondered that for a moment, his bottom lip now looking red from the action with his teeth. “And when he’s back, you will be with him?”

It was an important question and he deserved an answer. But I wasn’t really sure how it was all going to play out. “I don’t really know.” I glanced to our joined hands and for the first time with Chase, I was completely truthful. “I was kinda hoping we could all be together.”

The silence grew heavy. When I couldn’t take anymore, I glanced back up to see Chase’s inquisitive expression. “Together?” he repeated, brow arched.

Trying to lighten the mood, I resorted to my usual playfulness that always eased him.

“Yeah, like a big happy family.”

His jaw clenched, the muscles flexed. This time my action didn’t work in the least.

“And who will you spend your nights with?”

So,
the
question had finally come up. The one that I knew he’d been eager to ask.

Truth was I had no answer to this one. Maybe a schedule would work with allotted time with each, but would either of them agree to that? I wasn’t sure.

I lifted my hand from his and reached up to touch his cheek. “We will work it out.

It’ll be all right, I promise.”

Chase gave a soft smile in return.

Suddenly, my thoughts had me worried. He hadn’t seen anything yet. He might still be processing what had taken place, but he was about to partake in something I didn’t know how he would respond to. I could only hope it wouldn’t tip his scale into a mental breakdown.

“We’re landing,” Kellen’s sudden voice broke through my concern.

I smiled a thank you to Kellen for giving Chase and I some privacy, as he sat down, he returned it. I glanced back at Chase, hoped the answers settled him and by the softened look of him, it did. For now, anyway. I raised my other hand to place on his cheek. “You ready to do this?”

Chase nodded, I pulled his face down toward mine, needed to reassure him. I wanted him to remember all the reasons he wanted me in his life so when the time came, he’d get through all this. I laid my lips against his and followed his movements as our tongues swept across each other’s passionately.

I didn’t stop reminding him until the plane touched down.

Chase cleared his throat deeply as his gaze stayed on the vampire before him. “This is the Mistress?” He glanced around at the lavish mansion set deep in the Hollywood Hills. “And this is where she lives?”

I chuckled softly, understanding his surprise. I’d seen it in mortals before. Their disbelief of how normal vampires lived. It wasn’t gothic castles and coffins. They were wealthy and enjoyed plentiful lifestyles. He was probably expecting the Mistress to have the look of death. Ellery was anything but that. She held the air of royalty, a natural beauty with dark eyes that swelled with softness, skin that was without a single blemish and rosy lips that needed no shade. “Yep, that’s her.”

“I see you went and found what you were looking for,” Mistress Ellery said to Kellen as her gaze swept over me.

When I looked over at Kellen, he gave a gentle nod with a supple smile spread across his face.

“Indeed I did.”

Ellery rose from her chair, approached us in a fluid stride. “It’s nice to see you again, Hadley.”

I bowed my head in a sign of respect. I’d met the Mistress when I first came into this region asking permission to live here. That was a must in vampire society. From what I heard of her and knew her to be, she was an old school vamp—very tough and strict, curt almost. Tonight however, the Mistress was in high spirits.

Ellery did a once over on Chase then met his gaze and smiled. “You are a mighty looking mortal.”

Chase snorted, furrowing his brows. “Is that a compliment?”

“Very much a compliment.” Ellery laughed. Then, she examined him as she smoothed her skirt with her hands. “Do you know what you are entering into here?”

“I’m about to become a pet,” Chase groaned.

Ellery laughed loudly as did Kellen. My own laugh sounded more nervous than anything else.

“Not what you want?” she asked him.

Chase shrugged and gestured toward me. “I want to be with her.” He gave his head a little shake. “The term used is wrong.”

Ellery’s smile remained, but her gaze was clearly questioning. “If you do not wish to be a consort, would you like to become a vampire?”

I froze stone solid and glanced to Kellen who just grinned at me. I shouldn’t have been surprised that Ellery would be the one to let the cat out of the bag. But damn it, I didn’t want Chase to even think of that as an option. I liked him just the way he was and didn’t want that to change anytime soon.

“Excuse me?” Chase drawled.

Ellery glanced my way, curious. “You have not told him?”

I shook my head. That would be a big no to that question. This wasn’t what I wanted for him and I was silently cursing Ellery for mentioning it.

Ellery clucked and gave me a rebuked look. “Very selfish of you.”

Before I had a chance to respond to that, Chase turned an accusing gaze on me. “You can make me a vampire?”

I sighed, annoyed, pissed off—probably a bit of both. “I could, yes.” I didn’t want to tell him though and the words ground through my teeth, but I couldn’t lie to him. I never lied, especially to the ones I cared for. Hiding something wasn’t nearly as bad as outright lying, I thought. Judging by Chase’s angry expression, maybe I was wrong.

Chase dropped his gaze for a moment and when he raised his head, again there was sadness in his eyes. “Why didn’t you tell me that before?”

After I got over the fact he wasn’t angry, the wonderment of what had made him so sad consumed me, I quickly stepped forward and grabbed his hands. “I never said anything because I like you like this. You’re happy. You have a good life, family. You love your job. All of that would be gone if you were turned.” I squeezed his hands, pleaded with my eyes for him to understand. “I will not do that to you.” Instantly, I felt ashamed for not sharing this before. Seeing that hurt look in his eyes cut deep within me.

I betrayed him over and over again.

Chase’s expression washed away from its grave position to become hard steel. “Isn’t that my choice?”

“Not this time.” I shook my head firmly. “I won’t do it, Chase, not ever. I’m sorry.”

And no one else would either. Chase was my mortal—mine to keep, to love and nothing was going to change that fact.

Chase’s brows squinted together, perplexed. “That is the reason then? It’s not that you hate the idea of my becoming an immortal?”

What had upset him became clear and it instantly explained his sadness. He thought I didn’t want him forever. I stepped closer toward him, needed to rectify his misconception and he wrapped his arms around me. “Of course, I would want you around forever, but there is too much to give up. When I was turned I was so young, I had nothing to lose.

My family had sold me to a rich nobleman because they needed the money.”