Jude Stephens (31 page)

Mr. Tun patted my hand in a fatherly way. “You are
everything they say you are. I believe in you. You will fulfill the
prophesy. I will spread the word of your greatness to all of The
Evolved.” With that he bowed low to me and left.

Roberto was the first to speak “He is correct Wren.
You had every right to exact revenge on his family and yet you
forgave them, even offered yourself to them. Not many people would
act in such a manner.”

“
I disagree. I think people are
better than you think.” I couldn’t help proclaiming.

The men at the table, all with years of combat
experience laughed.

“
Oh okay, maybe I’m a little
naïve. I…” At that moment the door opened and Janel burst into the
room.

“
There you are. How could you
leave me to worry about you like that? Do you realize that I’ve
been pacing back and forth for hours! Wren, you have got to stop
these shenanigans of yours or else I’m going to get worry lines on
my face.”

I looked at the guys who were trying hard not to
laugh. What they didn’t know was that this was Janel’s way of
coping with something that she couldn’t handle. I’d seen her use
her narcissism in order to avoid the fear that gripped her.

I hugged her tight. “I’m sorry, Janel. I know I
should have called, but things were just so crazy. And don’t fret
about getting worry lines, your face is as beautiful and flawless
as always.”

Janel smiled and sat down having been reassured that
no one forgot about her. While we had privacy I asked, “What
happened to Draco and Seamus?”

Cheve was the one to answer, “While Alex and Bullet
and Roberto went after you, Mark and I checked the house. They must
have heard the commotion because when we found them they were
jumping into a jeep and took off down the beach. It would have
taken us too long to get back to our SUV to follow so we cut our
losses.”

Mark added, “Funny thing though, the vampire was
stark naked.”

Roberto and I looked at each other, but all I said
was, “That’s strange.”

Alex stood and said, “I think Wren needs to shower,
change and eat now. It’s been one hell of an evening for her, if
you’ll excuse us?”

He began leading me to the door, but I stopped him.
“Wait Alex. I would like to say something first.”

He stopped and I looked at everyone around the room.
These people and wolf were my family. I loved them all. I knew that
they would die for me, and I would die for them.

“
I want to thank you all. I
wouldn’t be standing here if each one of you weren’t as brave as
you are. I love each and every one of you. I just wanted you to
know.”

Alex moved forward again and I put my hand on his
arm “I’d like you to stay here while I shower and change.” Turning
around to include Roberto I said, “I’d like to see you and Alex in
about an hour. Is that okay?”

Roberto nodded stiffly and Alex said, “Sure,
Babe.”

As I left I smiled when I heard Janel say, “I
wouldn’t get your hopes up for a threesome!”

I didn’t take a shower. I took a bath. As soon as I
got to my room my muscles began to ache, especially my sore scalp.
The thought of having the running water beat down on my scalp was
not a pleasant one. I made the water as hot as possible and added a
little of the hotel’s bubble bath. I must have dozed, because the
next thing I knew there was a knock on the bathroom door. I’d left
my robe on the bed. I called, “I’ll be right out.” Crap. I had to
go out wrapped in a towel. There goes my thought of facing them as
a cool confident woman.

I opened the bathroom door to see Roberto sitting on
the corner of the desk and Alex leaning against the door. My breath
caught at the sight of the two of them, both were so handsome.
Roberto’s leg dangled from the desk accentuating his muscular
thigh. Alex had his sleeves rolled up showing his muscular forearms
something that always drove me crazy. For one split second Janel’s
little joke about a threesome didn’t seem so funny.

What the hell was I thinking? I
shook my head to clear my mind of my lustful thoughts. I said to
the guys, “I’m sorry guys; I fell asleep in the tub. Let me just
grab some clothes.”

Roberto said, “That would be a help.”

Alex laughed. “Yeah you better get dressed or else I
won’t hear a word you’re gonna say.” Flashing him a dirty look I
grabbed some jeans and a t-shirt. I went back into the bathroom and
quickly dressed. My hands shook as I brushed my hair. I wasn’t sure
if it was from my sore scalp or the talk I was about to have.

I closed my eyes and took a few slow breaths to
steady myself. I felt Onatah deep in my heart. “It’s as it’s meant
to be Khe:awak.”

I found the calmness that I had earlier when I
walked in the spirit world. I turned and went out to talk to my
vampires. I sat on the bed. I wasn’t sure how to begin so I just
dove in. “We should have done this the last time. We need to always
be honest with each other and it’s hard to explain things when one
isn’t present. First, I want you to know that I love you both.”

I got up and went over to Roberto and took his face
in my hands. “Roberto, you have taught me about strength and
commitment. You taught me how to trust myself. You showed me the
wonders of passion that I never knew existed.”

Roberto stared intently at me, and I couldn’t resist
kissing him lightly on the lips. “Piccolina,” was all he said.

I turned and walked over to Alex. I wrapped my arms
around him and automatically his arms came around me. “Alex you’ve
taught me about life and laughter. I want you to know what happened
at that beach house tonight.”

I watched his face as I told him how Roberto helped
me “get in the mood” to fool Seamus. I was a little worried when
his face showed no emotion.

When I finished he simply looked over at Roberto and
said, “Thanks. I know that wasn’t easy for you.” In awe, he said to
me, “Baby, everyday you take my breath away. You are
brilliant.”

I smiled up into his handsome face. “I want you to
know the choice was not mine. My heart made the choice. That may
sound strange, but it’s the truth. When I look at the two of you
one of you has an aura that surrounds you when I’m in the spirit
world.

I didn’t understand what Onatah meant when she told
me, ‘open your heart to the light and all will be well.’ Now I
know. I looked down on you both from the spirit world and could
feel the love you both have for me.”

I walked back over to Roberto. “I love you, Roberto,
but you’re not my light. Alex and I belong together in this life
and beyond.”

Roberto looked hurt and I felt bad. He sighed,
“Maybe it was destiny after all. Alex did meet you first and staked
a claim. I just interfered and now you’re back on the right
track.”

“
No. You and I were not a mistake.
I cherish every minute we spent together. You too were my destiny.
For whatever reason, you were the man I needed to teach me about
myself and to love me.” Tears streamed down my face. “I don’t want
to lose you Roberto. Don’t cut me out of your life unless you have
to.”

“
I don’t know, Piccolina. Right
now, I’ll be honest. It hurts to know I’ll never hold you again.
I’ll need some time.”

I cried harder, and Roberto tilted my head up so he
could look at me. “Don’t cry. If you ever need me all you have to
do is call, and I’ll be at your side in an instant. I could never
abandon you.”

Alex stood silently by the door. When I looked over
to him he pushed himself off of the door and came over to us. He
offered Roberto his hand. “You’re important to Wren. We can make
this work.”

Roberto shook his hand. “Yeah, we can make it work,
pup.”

Alex growled at the word pup, but then laughed. “Are
you going back to Italy or to Atlantic City?” Alex asked
playfully.

Roberto said, “Actually I have an
assignment that I need to leave for tomorrow night. While Wren was
falling asleep in the tub and you were feeding, I made some calls
to the vampire council to report to them about Draco’s supreme
council. It seems they’ve brought Vasile into their
fold.”

“
Shit,” Alex muttered. “Are you
off to Romania then?”

“
Yes. I hope it isn’t true. To
lose Vasile to these guys would be disastrous.”

I hid a small smile. Roberto would be okay. He had a
new cause.

Sensing that I was thinking about him, he turned
towards me. “So what’s next for you, Wren?”

I looked at the two vampires standing before me.
What I was about to say wouldn’t go over so big. “I’m going to
infiltrate The Guardians.”

Roberto said, “No, Wren. It’s too dangerous. You’ve
dealt with them before you know what they do to our kind.”

“
Not as dangerous as you think. I
can use the incident here to convince them of my change of heart.
After all, The Evolved wants me dead. What better way to get
payback than to help The Guardians.”

“
I hate to admit it, but she has a
good point.” Alex finally spoke.

Roberto still didn’t look like he thought it was a
good idea. “Wait at least until I have some news from the council,”
he insisted.

“
Okay. If you think that would be
best, Roberto. We’ll wait until we hear from you.”

“
Thank you, Piccolina. I’ll,
um…get out of your way. It’s almost dawn. I’ll see you before I
leave.”

He took my hands in his, kissed the top of my head
and was gone.

I stared at the door for a minute before Alex came
up behind me and wrapped his arms around me “He’ll be okay you
know.”

“
I know.”

“
Alex?”

“
Yes, Baby?”

“
Thank you.”

“
For what?”

“
For being so understanding and
letting me do this my way.”

Alex back walked us over to the bed until we fell on
top of it. “I have no problem with letting you do it your way, but
now it’s time for letting me do it my way.”

“
Go for it Handsome.”

We came together in a frenzy of need, love and
longing. Just before dawn, Alex gathered me in his arms and sang in
my ear, “I’ve loved you forever, in lifetimes before, and I promise
you, never will you hurt anymore. I give you my word. I give you my
heart, this is a battle we’ve won, and with this vow forever had
now begun.”

I cupped his face in my hands and trying to sound
serious I said, “You’re kidding right? N’Sync? Is that what you’re
going to sing to me after making love? I expected at least some
Barry White from you.”

Alex swatted my bottom and in his deepest voice
began, “Can’t get enough of your love, Babe.”

We laughed until Alex succumbed to
his sleep. I laid there in his arms and felt at peace and smiled.
Alex had picked the right song. Forever had now begun.

The End