Léopold's Wicked Embrace (Immortals of New Orleans) (21 page)

“No, no I don’t.” Laryssa covered her eyes and started laughing even harder.

“Easy, Jake. Keep your pants on. Leo’s gonna kill us if he comes out here and sees you showin’ your junk to his girl.”

“I’m not his girl,” she insisted.

“Yeah, whatever you say, cher. Okay we showed you ours…ready to show us yours?”

“Well, I didn’t exactly get to see the show,” she remarked with a grin. “But I do appreciate you telling me about your wolf thing you do…even if I didn’t get to see you change. I will, however, take a rain check on that one.”

“Hey, I can show you,” Jake challenged.

“Not here. I’m tellin’ you both, Léopold will freak. As much as my boy enjoys a good romp in the hay, he’s just getting used to the nudity thing.” Dimitri had seen the way Léopold was looking at Laryssa. Léopold could think whatever he wanted about his no relationship rule, but there was no denying the possessive way he was acting around her. What happened between the two of them remained to be seen, but if Laryssa was a bone, he didn’t want to pick a fight with the big dog in the bedroom who thought it was his.

“As much as I’d love to see you change, and I really would, I think that maybe Dimitri’s right on this. Léopold can get a bit cranky.” In truth, she’d like to make him jealous, but playing games with his friends wasn’t her style. She found herself drawn to Dimitri, though. His honesty was refreshing. It didn’t take her but a few minutes to realize that she wanted to share with them what she’d told Léopold. “Okay, I’ll show you mine. Ready, boys?”

“Hell yeah, let’s go,” Dimitri said.

Laryssa got up off her stool and moved toward the center of the great room. Dimitri stood and walked over to Jake, who was intently watching. She smiled at Jake and extended her hand to him, letting her energy focus toward her target. His donut flew straight out of his hand and into her own.

“Got it,” she laughed and took a bite. “I’m a naiad.”

“Damn, bro, she just took your donut.” Dimitri clapped his hand on Jake’s shoulder.

“Hey, now. Was that necessary?” Jake said, feigning indignation. He licked his fingers and grinned.

“She’s amazing, isn’t she?” Léopold appeared seemingly out of nowhere.
Goddess, she was showing them what she was and demonstrating her powers.
Either she was completely unaware of how powerful Dimitri and Jake were as wolves or incredibly brave.

Surprised to hear Léopold’s voice, Laryssa jumped when he came up behind her and kissed her neck, his masculine scent spiraling into her senses. The man was dizzying and delicious. For a long minute, she felt herself melt into his embrace, closing her eyes. But Dimitri’s cough reminded her that they weren’t alone and that Léopold didn’t want her. Her eyes flashed open and she turned to face him.

“You’re beautiful,” Léopold praised, his eyes drifting from hers down to her parted lips. Her alluring kiss lingered within inches. The temptation was so great, yet he knew he shouldn’t.

“I, uh, I was just showing Dimitri and Jake what I can do,” she stammered. Breaking free of his arms, she recoiled, realizing that she’d almost kissed him. Needing distance, she crossed the room and took a sip of her lukewarm coffee.

“A naiad, huh? Isn’t that some kind of a water-being?” Dimitri asked, closing his fists. He resisted the urge to drag Léopold out of the room and have another chat with him regarding his intentions with Laryssa.

“A mermaid?” Jake guessed.

“More like a nymph,” Léopold corrected. He brushed past her, twirling his finger into a curl of her hair, then let it drop. “A freshwater nymph.”

“Not a mermaid. No tail or scales. Just me.” Laryssa’s skin tingled from Léopold’s touch. She couldn’t take her eyes off of him. He smiled at her as he popped a blackberry into his mouth. He wasn’t playing fair. Shit, he wasn’t supposed to be playing at all.
How am I supposed to ever forget him and our night together if he plans on flirting with me all day?

“Nice trick with the donut, cher. Can you move heavier things?” Dimitri asked Laryssa.

“Yes, that and more, mon ami,” Léopold answered for her, enjoying her eyes on him. Try as he might, he couldn’t deny himself. Like a lure, she fascinated him. Watching her enchant the wolves with her engaging personality only made her more enticing. “We can discuss it on the way over to Ilsbeth’s. We’ve got an appointment with a shrewd witch. Best not be late.”

Laryssa shook her head at Léopold. The man was impossible. Larger than life, he exuded charisma and magnetism, entrapping her emotions. She glanced over to Dimitri who gave her a sympathetic smile. He knew, she thought. She couldn’t decide whether she should feel embarrassed or relieved. Lost in thought, she gasped as Léopold took her hand.

“Come, ma chérie. I promise to look after you today,” he whispered in her ear.

As she looked into his eyes, she knew she was in serious trouble. Her heart squeezed in her chest as he ushered her out of his home.

On the short ride into the city, Laryssa had carefully positioned herself as close to the rear side door as she could get in an effort to keep her leg from brushing up against Léopold’s. Dressed in an Italian trim-fitting grey suit, he’d casually interject his opinion into the conversation, always giving her a sexy smile in the process. Taking time to undo the top button of his white fitted shirt was the only semblance of discomfort he displayed. Exuding confidence and strength, he’d insisted that he sit with her in the back seat for her protection. Neither Jake nor Dimitri had argued, but simply acquiesced to his demand.

Stealing glances at him, her eyes always found his. It was as if he knew when she’d look, what she’d say, making her feel as if he’d known her for a long time. Her thoughts drifted to the way he’d held her down, forcing her to admit she enjoyed her submission. If she’d allowed herself to think of what Léopold had done to her for even a second longer, they’d all know what she was thinking. Quickly remembering she was in a car filled with supernatural men, she diverted her mind to a less sexually arousing memory: the demon. Its memory brought an unsurpassed surge of fear to her psyche, one that left her praying she’d survive what was to come. One week. It’d given her one week. She took a deep breath and blew it out, attempting to calm her nerves.

“It’s going to be all right,” Léopold assured her. He’d sensed her arousal, yet as quickly as it had begun, it was gone, replaced with anxiety. In response, he’d placed his hand atop her thigh, seeking to comfort her. The heat sizzled beneath his flesh. She was fully dressed, but she might as well have been bare to him. Léopold despised his growing need for Laryssa yet all he could think about was making her his.

“You sure you can trust her? Ilsbeth?” Laryssa looked into Léopold’s eyes, searching for the truth.

“Ilsbeth and I have known each other throughout centuries. She’s a difficult woman, but trust her? Oui, I do,” he affirmed.

Léopold’s touch warmed her leg, and Laryssa continued to have difficulty separating herself from her feelings toward the debonair vampire. One minute he was cruel, agreeing that she was nothing more than someone he’d met. The next, he possessively kissed her. His caring words, the caress to her leg gave her reason to suspect that he couldn’t live within his own rules. She sought to squelch the optimistic thought, that he wanted more than just one night, but his actions spoke louder than his words. Unable to withstand the temptation, she placed her hand on his, completing their connection.

After driving through an ornate wrought iron gate, their car circled in front of Ilsbeth’s home. As it came to a stop, Léopold exited first, then rounded the vehicle to open the door for Laryssa. Along with Dimitri and Jake, they made their way up a wide slate staircase that led toward the spectacular home. Its second and third floor windows, adorned in rock, stood watch over the meticulously manicured gardens. A pentagram, nearly eight feet in diameter, garnished the apex of a magnificent dormer that sat perched above the main entrance. As they passed through one of the seven enormous stone arches that led onto the porch, Léopold took Laryssa’s hand into his.

Dimitri forged ahead of the group so he could announce their arrival. As he went to ring the bell, the door opened before he had a chance to press the button. Laryssa’s friend Avery stood in the archway, smiling.

“You’re here,” she called. With a gleam in her eye, she spied Laryssa and pulled her into the foyer.

“Avery, I hoped you’d be here but I wasn’t sure. This place is so…” Laryssa hugged her friend but quickly released her, taking in her surroundings.

“I know, right? It’s amazing. Ilsbeth has a place in the Quarter, but this is where we come for special events. It’s her home. No one else lives here,” she whispered.

Rose-colored plastered walls with ornate crown molding gave way to a cathedral ceiling. Flecks of speckled light danced on the stone floors. Illuminated by daylight streaming through stained glass skylights, the foyer felt spacious yet it had been closed off from all other rooms and hallways. A corner staircase led to a balcony above, where a grand piano sat untouched. As the wooden front door closed, creaking alerted them of side doors being opened and an ethereal presence called Léopold’s name.

Laryssa tightened her grip on Avery’s hand as the panels disappeared into the walls and a beautiful woman with long platinum blonde hair glided into the room. Petite, dressed in a purple, crushed velvet jacket with matching pants, she exuded a preternatural aura. But as she began to speak, it was clear that she was very much of this world.

“Léopold, so very good to see you again.” Ilsbeth gave him a smile, and waited patiently as he kissed the back of her hand.

“Ilsbeth, you’re lovely as usual,” he complimented, releasing her wrist.

“This is Laryssa,” he told her. Laryssa let go of Avery’s hand and reached for Léopold’s. “Laryssa. This is Ilsbeth. Maîtresse des sorcières.”

“Hello,” Laryssa said softly, unsure if there was some kind of special witch protocol she should be following.

“The nymph?” Ilsbeth looked to Léopold for confirmation but Laryssa took the lead.

“A naiad. How’d you know? Did Léopold tell you?”

“No need to fret, my dear. Léopold has kept your secret. But as you will soon find out, I know lots of things.” Ilsbeth sharply turned her head toward Dimitri and Jake. An imperceptible flash of fury glinted in her eyes. “Dimitri? What are you doing here? Léopold, you didn’t mention that you’ve been keeping company with wolves.”

“Hey, cher. I told Léopold you’d be happy to see me. Good to see you again, too.” Dimitri grinned and gave her a small wave from a safe distance. He supposed that he should have told Léopold that he’d slept with the witch. Some things were better left as surprises. The witch was as gorgeous as he’d remembered. Their affair had burned hot, but fizzled out just as quickly. In truth, it had been more of an explosive ending. Quite the argument, as he recalled. His eyes darted over to Léopold, who glared at him. Offering a compliment, he sought to smooth over the awkwardness of the situation. “Ilsbeth, you’re lookin’ beautiful as always.”

“I see you haven’t lost your silver tongue,” she remarked, turning away from him.

“Missed it, did you?”

“Hardly.”

“As I recall, you seemed to enjoy my tongue.” Dimitri regretted his words as soon as he said them, catching Léopold’s look of disgust.

“Tais toi,” Léopold chided.
Damn wolf.
Léopold made a gesture as if he was zipping his lips and nodded angrily toward the entrance, urging Dimitri to shut up and follow her.

“Come, we shall chat,” she told them. Ilsbeth continued to ignore Dimitri, walking into the other room.

Dimitri shrugged at Léopold, giving him a devious smile. Léopold shook his head, trying to stifle a smile. The wolf didn’t need encouragement to get in any more trouble, he thought.

Laryssa followed into the dimly lit room. Candles in assorted sizes and colors flickered atop the fireplace mantle while streams of light poured through thin rectangular floor to ceiling windows. Léopold took her hand in his, and they sat down in a chenille-covered love seat directly across from Ilsbeth, who reclined in a single high-backed chair. Dimitri and Jake made their way to an adjacent sofa. When they were all seated, Ilsbeth nodded over to Avery, who left them in the room, closing the doors behind her.

“What brings you to me today?” Ilsbeth began. “I’m delighted to meet a naiad. Very rare, indeed.”

“There’s a child, too,” Laryssa told her. “I’ve only met one other like me.”

“A child? Interesting.” Ilsbeth raised an eyebrow at Léopold.

“Un bébé. I found her in the snow. In Wyoming. Yellowstone,” he disclosed. His eyes met Dimitri’s before returning to Ilsbeth’s. “She’d been stolen from the Alpha’s den. Someone tried to murder her.”

“Hunter Livingston’s pack?”

“Oui.”

“Did you find her before or after she died?”

“Quoi? She’s alive. Logan Reynaud is providing refuge. Kade and Luca are helping as well. We’re the only ones who know of her existence.”

“I asked, ‘did you find her before or after she died’?” Ilsbeth repeated her question.

“I died,” Laryssa told her, realizing that Ilsbeth had confirmed what she’d suspected to be true. “Why do you think Ava died?”

“Because, my dear nymph, this is how you’re made. Naiads are not born. They are created, granted the gift of life through the water.”

“The baby was alive when I found her,” Léopold claimed.

“Touched by the lady, she awakens new. But as a child, she’s not fully grasped her powers nor does she need water to survive. When she turns of age, she will blossom like a flower. Her price is water. But this cannot be why you’ve sought my assistance.”

“We appreciate you sharing your vast knowledge, but we have a bigger problem. A demon. It seeks something from Laryssa,” Léopold divulged.

“A knife,” Laryssa added.

“A sacrificial knife. Tlalco Tecpatl,” Léopold told her.

“Ah, I see. It seeks a relic. The Aztec civilization worshipped many different gods, you know. Throughout any given year, sacrifice came in many forms, but human blood was, indeed, spilled. No class of their society was spared in the rituals. Men, women, children, even infants, all died for the greater good,” Ilsbeth lectured.