Dead and Beyond (22 page)

I draped myself over the sofa, propping my head up on my elbow, only to sit up a second later. What was I doing? I couldn’t look seductive if my life depended on it, so I decided to go with the girl next-door look. Be cute and funny, behave like it isn’t a big deal. I nodded enthusiastically at my own thoughts.

Yeah, I could do that. Only too late did I notice Aidan had already returned with countless pillows and a blanket, and was regarding me amused as he pushed another log into the burning fire. I realized he hadn’t bothered to put his shirt back on. My gaze lingered on his broad chest, smooth and perfect with clearly defined muscles he could only have acquired through lots of exercise. I wanted to bury one hand in his dark hair and let the other trail down his chest to feel, maybe even taste his skin. My tongue flicked over my lips in response, eager to fulfill my brain’s suggestion.

“You look a little flustered. Are you okay?” Aidan asked with a smirk. Clearly, the guy knew he looked good and he had no intention to claim otherwise.

Heat rushed to my face, scorching my skin. Thank Goodness it was semi-dark and he might not catch it, but I knew I was kidding myself. Aidan sensed everything.

“Yeah. I was just removing lint from my top. It tends to bother me a lot,” I said. “You’d think for the price I paid for it you’d actually get good quality.”

Smiling, he ambled over, his blue gaze, now the color of dark sapphires, focused on me. My mouth went dry while my hands turned all clammy.

“Maybe we should teach your top a lesson for misbehaving. Let’s get you out of it and buy a new one tomorrow.” His voice came low and husky. I nodded and opened my mouth to offer my assistance but he didn’t seem to need my help pulling my shirt over my head. My fingers trailed up and down his naked torso, my mind marveling at how strong he seemed. In the soft light, I could make out a few scars that had healed and faded but never disappeared. I meant to ask him about those when his hot mouth met mine and drew me into the sweetest and most breathtaking kiss I ever had. By the time he finished, my mind was reeling and I was seeing stars. Literally.

Outside the window, a million stars dotted the night sky. I had never seen so many in my life.

I sat up mesmerized and whispered, “You were right. This is the most beautiful view ever.”

“Second most beautiful view. It could never compare with you,” Aidan whispered, drawing a circle on my shoulder. A shiver of pleasure ran down my spine. I leaned back into him, wishing we could just merge into one being.

That’s the moment I saw it for the first time: a tiny silver thread, sparkling like diamonds, enveloping Aidan and me. Drawing us together.

Bonded for life. Forever and beyond.

“I guess this is our proof,” Aidan whispered. “We’re officially in love. It sure took you an eternity to fall for my charm.”

I smiled and wrapped my arms around him as I pulled him on top of me. “No, it didn’t. I fell for you the moment I saw you. I was just really good at hiding it.”

Spending the night with Aidan felt so natural, so right. As our passionate kisses became more intense, our bodies moving in accord, I knew I had been wrong thinking my sudden bloodlust had anything to do with Aidan’s magic. Whatever was happening to me was definitely not his fault. The magic infused gates didn’t break the Shadows’ ritual either. And finally, I realized even though turning into a vampire had never featured on my bucket list, as in Top 100 Things To Do Before I Die, it was actually a blessing rather than a curse because I’d get to be with the man of my dreams for the rest of my existence.

In the morning, when the first rays of the rising sun spilled through the windows, I knew I had to talk to him about my bloodlust but he looked so content I just couldn’t spoil our first night together, and hopefully one of many more to come.

“You’re perfect,” Aidan whispered, wrapping his arms around my waist as he joined me at the window to watch the silent sea hundreds of feet below us.

Bright sunrays bounced off the crystal blue water. Seagulls circled the sky, their cries filling the air. Everything looked so peaceful and serene, the complete opposite of last night’s high tide when the sea had hit the stony cliffs angrily, covering everything in a blanket of gray foam.

“Thank you. So are you.” I snuggled against him and took a deep breath of his manly scent, wishing I could hold it forever. “Do you think we could come here more often?”

He laughed softly. “That’s not up to me to decide, babe. It’s your place now. If you invite me, I certainly won’t say no.”

“In that case you have a lifelong request to pop over as often as possible.” I turned to meet his beautiful blue eyes fringed by dark lashes. I wanted to kiss him so badly it hurt, but I was barefoot and he was so impossibly tall I had to settle on tapping the tip of his nose with my finger. “It’s a great responsibility, so don’t take it lightly.”

“I promise I won’t,” he said. “But are you sure you really want to extend a lifelong invitation to a vampire? He’ll be able to cross your threshold any time he so desires. He could even teleport without your knowing and hide in the shadows to watch you because he can’t get enough of your beauty. And finally, he might even decide to visit at the most inappropriate hours, such as during working hours, or when he feels he just can’t take another second without you.”

“Yeah, I think I want that.” I nodded. “In fact, let’s make it an invitation valid forever and beyond.”

***

Like everything in life that’s so beautiful it takes your breath away, our perfect time together came to an end quicker than I wanted. By noon we returned to the safety of Aidan’s mansion. Last night’s events still burned bright in my memory, making me feel all giddy and loved up, and even a bit shy. Aidan felt the same way not including the shy part because the guy knew no shame. He couldn’t keep his hands off of me. It took us a while to reach his bedroom on the upper floor because we couldn’t stop kissing and touching each other.

“I need to get back to the Lore court and finish this Layla assignment,” Aidan said eventually.

I pouted. “I miss you already.”

“Me too, babe.” He pulled me into his bedroom and closed the door behind us. I honestly thought he changed his mind at the last minute so I dropped down on his brocade bed, ready to take off my clothes again. Unfortunately, Aidan stopped me. “I’d love to, but there’s no time. There’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you.”

I pushed up on my elbows as I regarded him intently. What could possibly be more important than a roll in his clean and expensive sheets, which always smelled of musk and him? I could actually live in those.

“I haven’t found Seth yet,” Aidan started, sitting down next to me, interrupting my thoughts.

“You’ll find him eventually.”

Aidan shook his head. “You don’t understand. Do you remember why Thrain couldn’t find Sofia in Rio?”

I nodded, thinking back to our trip to Brazil not too long ago. “Her ex cast some sort of magic around her so the shape shifter couldn’t track her down. But he did, eventually. Thrain’s not even a professional. But you are, so I’m pretty sure you’ll find him sooner or later.” I leaned in for a kiss. He averted his gaze. I sighed and decided I might just give up right now because there was no point in trying to seduce him into bed. When broody Aidan was in his working mode, he was worse than the cute rabbit from the Duracell adverts that, once you inserted the batteries, couldn’t be stopped for hours.

Aidan ran a hand through his hair, hesitating. “You know Cass asked me to help track Sofia down because Thrain couldn’t get her scent. What I never told you is how I track down whatever I’m supposed to find.”

“You use a GPS?”

“No.” He grinned. “I have something much better.” Fishing in his pocket, he retrieved a tiny object and placed it in my palm. Stunned, I peered down at the gold ring with an emerald stone in a marquise setting adorned with tiny leaves and flowers. It looked just like the ring on the ghost’s finger.

Just like Rebecca’s.

My laughter died in my throat.

“Witch’s blood,” Aidan explained. “It was infused into melted gold to create three rings that would track down everything, from objects to people, dead or alive.”

My finger traced the stone as thick as a fingernail. I regarded him, horrified. “You killed a witch to get her blood?”

He shook his head. “I didn’t. They gave it away in exchange for something else, but that’s another story. Anyway, the power of the witch’s blood is released through this emerald. The gold alone wouldn’t work, and neither would the emerald. They build a symbiosis, just like the vampires and the witches have for years. This ring helped me find you in London. It’s been in my possession for centuries, and never let me down. That is, until the Sofia incident, and now again.”

For a few seconds, silence ensued between us while I tried to understand the meaning of his words. I resumed our conversation first. “Do you think Seth is using the same kind of magic as Gael and that’s why you can’t find him?”

“It’s possible.” He hesitated. “But the strange thing is, two days ago I found out Gael was at the shed in the woods. I could sense him. I just don’t understand why I couldn’t see him.”

“How do you know it was Gael?”

“Remember the first time he was here to pick up Sofia a few weeks back?” he asked. I nodded. “I picked up his blood’s scent. You know, I’m wondering what he’s still doing here with Sofia gone.”

“Did you say he’s at the shed?” I raised my brows. “That’s where I think Angel is.”

“Your Shadow friend? What’s she got to do with it?”

I tried to read his expression. Was he just pretending he didn’t know about Angel’s disappearance or was he indeed clueless? His mind remained blank as I pushed past his barrier and saw…yet more blankness. He had no idea what I was talking about.

pushed past his barrier and saw…yet more blankness. He had no idea what I was talking about.

“Stop that,” Aidan said.

I ignored his comment. “Angel disappeared while under Shadow surveillance. A few days ago, right before you stormed off to Layla’s gig for the first time —”

“I was summoned,” he corrected.

I waved my hand. “Yeah, whatever. Anyway, I had a vision of Angel trying to get in here. Judging from her expression, she was pretty distressed. I thought we had the same vision because you just tuned out.”

“I told you Layla summoned me. It wasn’t really a matter of choice, Amber.”

“Got that part,” I muttered.

Aidan leaned in, suddenly suspicious. “Since when do you have visions? You’re just a necromancer.”

“Just?” I couldn’t believe the cheek! “Well, as far as I remember I’m very popular. Everyone wants a piece of this.” I wanted to point at myself but ended up pointing down my chest. Aidan’s expression darkened.

“No one but me is getting a piece of that,” he growled. “And having visions isn’t part of your job description.”

I moistened my lips as I tried to find a way to diffuse the situation. “It was just once or twice and it always involved your gates, so I’m assuming it’s a vampire protection thingy. No biggie.” I waved my hand in his face. His mistrust softened just a little bit…until it came back full force. I realized the guy would’ve made the perfect mother-in-law: prying and overbearing.

“Who told you about Angel’s disappearance? And what were you looking for at the shed? You still haven’t disclosed that bit of information.”

“A friend told me.” I shrugged. “And I went to the shed because I was looking for Angel.” A frown crossed Aidan’s forehead, and I knew he wouldn’t drop it until he had his answer.

“Was it Devon?”

I shook my head. “I have other friends, you know.”

“Who?”

The guy made me sound so unpopular. I rolled my eyes, irritated. “If you must know, it was Angel’s boyfriend, Brendan.” Aidan’s face remained blank.

“Doesn’t ring a bell?” I smiled triumphantly. “Yeah, you probably don’t know him.”

“That’s not what I’m thinking about.” He got up and started pacing up and down the room. His sudden restlessness made me nervous. I tapped my fingers against my jeans as he asked, “What made you think you’d find Angel at the shed?”

I shrugged again. “Don’t know. I can feel she’s there.”

“Just as I can feel Gael’s presence.” He stopped in front of me. His gaze bore into mine and his voice became a mere whisper. “Do you know what this means? They’re both there. Gael must somehow be involved in her disappearance. That reminds me of Sofia. He whisked her away to Brazil to kill her and get hold of her powers.”

“That’s ridiculous. Angel has no special powers. I always thought Shadows were trained to cast a spell, perform the odd ritual, and astral travel.” I scoffed even though Aidan’s words left a bitter aftertaste in my mouth.

“How old is she?” Aidan asked.

“Seventeen.” And that’s when it dawned on me. “If she has any, they’ll only manifest when she turns eighteen, meaning she’s completely exposed to anyone trying to take advantage of her. We’ve got to find her.” I leaned in to brush his hair out of his eyes, my gaze begging him to help me.

Aidan nodded. “We do because something’s not right. It wouldn’t hurt to find out who Angel really is and why Gael would need her.”

“I have something that might help. Be right back.” I signaled him to stay there, and dashed down the stairs to my bedroom to retrieve the tiny mirror. When I returned, Aidan hadn’t moved from the spot. I smiled and squeezed the tiny mirror into his hand. His expression changed instantly.

“Where did you get this?” He turned the mirror in his hand to inspect it from all sides. His thumb rubbed over the irregular edge until I could see a tiny trail of blood where it cut into Aidan’s skin. The red liquid spread across the surface and then disappeared leaving no trail behind—as though the mirror soaked it up. It was barely more than a drop, but it still managed to awaken something inside me. I bit my tongue hard and dug my nails into my skin until I felt the tiniest sensation of pain.

“Why, a mere thank-you would’ve sufficed.” I slumped down on the bed, crossing my arms over my chest, so I could hide the red marks on my skin where my nails had cut in.