Léopold's Wicked Embrace (Immortals of New Orleans) (7 page)

“I need to be able to trust you. You can’t tell anyone…please,” Laryssa pleaded.

“I swear it to you. Now tell me,” he breathed. Before he could stop himself, he dragged his tongue from the hollow of her neck up to behind her ear. She tasted like the sweetest tropical fruit. For the love of the Goddess, he had to have her. He settled his teeth once again against her flesh, but didn’t break the skin. It was pure torture and pleasure all at once.

“I…I can do things. Move things…by thinking it.” She made the decision to tell him this much, but it was too soon to trust him with all her secrets. Still, her instincts told her that she needed to seek his protection. She released his shirt and wrapped her arms around his waist, pulling him toward her.

Not much could shock the ancient vampire, but the feel of her hands around him made him go stiff.
What kind of game is she playing?
She’d just admitted that she could invoke telekinesis. Immediately, he released her, breaking away from the sumptuous vixen who threatened his sanity. Her look of surprise, then disappointment jarred him further. Instead of running, she fell down into one of her antique chairs and wrapped her arms around herself as if she was missing the feel of him on her skin. He spun around, plowing his fingers through his hair, taking a cleansing breath, willing his erection to subside.
What the fuck is going on with her? With me?
She must be some kind of witch to have this effect on him. He needed to get it the fuck together and damn soon. He thanked the Goddess that Dimitri wasn’t with him to bear witness to his idiocy.

“You’re a witch?” He bit out, and turned to face her.

“No, not a witch. Listen, Léopold.” She lowered her eyes, shaking her head and pressing her fingers to her forehead. “I want to trust you. I need to trust someone, but I can’t tell you everything. Not yet. I’ll say this much, the child you speak of…I’ve felt her. I can’t say how, I just did. But I’m alone. There’s no one like me.”

“What do you mean you’re alone? Surely there must be others.”

“No. Just me. I wasn’t born this way. I’ve only met one other person like me, but she’s not here. Not in the city. We don’t keep in touch.”

“But how did you know? About the child? Or this other person?”

“How do you know when you’re around other vampires?”

“Scent. The power. I feel it.”

“And I feel it too. Like a hum over my skin, in my mind.”

“Did someone infuse you with this magic?”

“It’s not magic.”

“It has to be magic. I’ve seen it happen with witches and vampires. What are you?”

“It’s not important. What’s important is the child.”
And living. I really like living.

“What else do you know about the child?”

“Nothing. I just could feel her.” She dropped her head into her hands unable to tell him anymore. The dark ones were going to kill the baby. And her. Worse, she wasn’t sure how to stop them. Avery had been her only hope of hiding. But the evil was growing stronger. “You need to protect her.”

Laryssa’s voice sounded desperate and Léopold grew gravely concerned. He slowly approached and knelt before her. She kept her head lowered, refusing to look at him. Léopold put a hand on her knee and with the other, cupped her face until her gaze met his.

“You can trust me. I can help you. But you have to let me in.”

Laryssa’s eyes began to water. She didn’t want to cry, but the warmth of his voice surrounded her in a shroud of security. His piercing eyes had softened, revealing the heart of a protector, a man who felt deeply, perhaps more so than she ever thought possible. She hadn’t felt safe in so very long. And here he was offering her trust. She wanted so badly to be able to rely on someone other than herself.

“The dark ones. They’re here,” she whispered.

“What are you talking about? Who’s here?”

“I’ve seen them…their black eyes. Like angels of death.”

Léopold cared, he really did. Clearly she believed what she was saying. But he was skeptical of what she was telling him.

“Ma chérie, it’s not that I don’t believe in evil. I’ve seen it first hand, but…”

“Hollow eyes…well, they’re not really hollow. They’re black, so dark…it looks like there’s nothing in the sockets. And it’s not just them…there’s someone driving them, someone leading them. I know it. It’s like they just stand there. Waiting.” Laryssa knew it sounded crazy, she really did. But she’d seen them.

“Waiting for what?”

“I don’t know. Maybe for someone to give them orders.” She looked up and caught his gaze. He didn’t believe her. She sighed and shook her head. “I’m telling you the truth. There’s something out there.”

Léopold paused, trying to think of the diplomatic words that eluded him. It wasn’t as if he didn’t know that someone had tried to kill the child. The Caldera Wolves Alpha had told him that he’d felt a dark presence. Léopold considered the possibility that perhaps the infant carried the evil within her, but dismissed the idea as soon as it surfaced. No, there had to be another answer. And as crazy as Laryssa sounded, she was his only lead at this point.

“I’ve lived a long time and seen all kinds of terrible things.”
Many done by humans.
“But I’ve never heard of the beings you describe.”

“But they’re real,” she protested, her eyes begging him to believe her.

“I’m not saying they’re not. I’m just saying that I haven’t seen them.”

“But you don’t believe me.”

“Someone tried to kill Ava.”

“What?”

“I told you she was in danger. I found her in the middle of Yellowstone. There was a blizzard. The nanny tried to kill her, but I saved her. Now she’s here.”

“In New Orleans?” Her heart began to race.

“Yes. She’s safe…for now.” Léopold let his hand slip down to the chair, but not before he slid his thumb over her quivering bottom lip. “I think you should meet her.”

“You need to get her out of here…away from them. They’ll find her….if they haven’t already,” she insisted.

“Are you sure you could tell if she’s like you?” Whatever the hell Laryssa was, she was holding back, denying him the truth. Supernatural, she admitted as much. He needed more if he was going to save the child. He didn’t necessarily believe that she’d seen what she thought she saw. But if someone had tried to kill Ava and she and Ava were somehow related, it wasn’t a stretch to think that someone was after Laryssa, too.

“Yes.” Of course she could tell if they were the same. But if the two of them were together in the same room, she couldn’t predict what would happen.

“You’re coming with me now,” Léopold told her. This was utter bullshit. If she wasn’t going to tell him everything, he’d put her and the infant together, see what happened. He wanted the wolves to meet Laryssa. If Ava’s mother had been wolf, maybe they’d be able to sense shifter in her.

“No.”

“What do you mean, no?” Incensed, he shook his head. First she lets him practically strangle her and now she was going to refuse him? The woman was certifiable. She obviously had no idea who he was or what he was capable of.

“Uh, I think you heard me. I thought vampires were supposed to have bionic hearing or something like that,” Laryssa replied, worried that it could be dangerous for both her and the baby if they got together. “Are you hard of hearing? Or just hard headed? No, don’t bother answering. The bottom line is that I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to meet the child. Not only that, I can tell you don’t believe me. So there’s no way I’m leaving my shop in the middle of the day to go off with you. But I’m going to hold you to your word. You promised not to tell anyone what I am. I may not look like much but if you don’t keep it quiet, I’ll….I’ll…well, I don’t know. But I will be really mad and trust me…I can take on a vampire if I need to.”

“Are you seriously threatening me? Me?” Léopold’s voice grew louder. That was it. Not only was she crazy, she was as mad as a hatter. “Listen to me, pet. You will come with me. I’m not asking you. I’m telling you. You really don’t understand who I am, do you?”

“I’m not your pet,” she protested under her breath. Laryssa heard Mason in the back room moving boxes, hoping he hadn’t heard their conversation. Thankfully, he usually listened to music through his headphones when he was sorting the items. She hadn’t told him about her abilities and didn’t want him involved. Keeping her voice lowered, she continued. “You need to keep it down. And yeah, I know who you are. If you remember, you just told me. I also know that you are a pushy vamp who thinks he can order people around. And guess what? I’m not one of those people. I just sat here and told you what I knew and you don’t believe me. So believe what you want, but I’m right about what’s happening in New Orleans. You don’t need to protect me. I can protect myself. I’m still alive. I think you should leave.”

Laryssa was shaking by the time she got finished ranting. Exhausted and frightened, she needed to go call the witch. The vampire couldn’t help her. She doubted anyone could. As she pushed past Léopold, he grabbed her wrist.

“Let me go.” Like a power plant, the electrons began to hum, slowly building in her system.

“No. I need you.”

“I said. Let. Me. Go.”

No longer able to control it, Laryssa’s eyes flew to a settee. Calling on her ability, she hurled the large piece of furniture across the room at Léopold, nearly grazing his head. Laryssa gasped, aghast that she’d nearly hit him. Immediately, fatigue slammed into her and she bent over at her waist, trying to catch her breath. Even though it wasn’t a surprise that she’d be drained from using her powers, it had been years since the last time she’d moved such a heavy object, and she never imagined that it would be so intense.

“Point taken, mon petit lapin.” Léopold jerked to avoid the projectile, but he stood firm, refusing to leave. He was about to yell at her for trying to smash a fine antique, when he noticed her slump in response. Curling his arm underneath hers, he gently set her onto the floor. He knelt, brushing her hair from her eyes. “What’s happening to you?”

“I’ll be fine. I just need a minute.” She wanted to shove his hand away, but couldn’t summon the energy to argue. Regret poured through her at the thought that a piece of the wood could have staked Léopold. She hadn’t intentionally meant to hurt him. She’d just wanted him to stop pressuring her, to let go of her arm. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…oh God, are you hurt?”

“No worries, I’m fine. That was very impressive, but you’ll have to do a lot worse to hurt me. Are you really going to be okay? I’ve never seen anyone move an object so swiftly.”

“It was an accident. I can’t always control it. I was just so mad. You wouldn’t stop.”

“I wouldn’t let you go.”

“No.”

“I may never let you go after that little display. You’re a strong woman, that’s for certain.”
A woman who could defend herself against the likes of him?
Well, damn, that was a major turn on if he’d ever felt it. He laughed softly. “Now can we discuss why you won’t go with me?”

“Because I don’t know what will happen. No, that’s not true. What I suspect will happen is that our energies could be like fireworks. People will notice. The dark ones will notice. It’s not a good idea. Neither of us will be safe.”

“I promise you that I’ll keep you safe.” Léopold gently took her hand in his. He meant what he said. Even if he didn’t believe her, he was confident he could protect her.

“But you don’t believe me…why would you protect me?”

“Because it’s what’s right. Ava. The baby. I can’t let anything happen to her. I won’t just sit by and fend off another attack. I have to find out who’s doing this so she can live a normal life.”

“She’ll never live a normal life,” Laryssa sighed. Ever since she was turned, life had been far from the warm and loving upbringing she’d once known. Now she was a freak, one who’d grown accustomed to her solitary existence.

Léopold’s heart constricted. Whatever had driven Laryssa to conceal her abilities had not been kind to her. Her shame was apparent, and he struggled to understand it. Life as a vampire was not always easy by any means, but it did have its perks. He’d chosen not to get close to anyone, selectively turning only a few humans over the years. Kade was the closest thing he had to family, and it had always been enough. But now? After bonding with Logan and Wynter? The wolves had brought forth an upheaval in his desire to be alone.

“The child. I need you to save her. I don’t know how. But you’re all I’ve got. Please.” Léopold’s voice softened.

“Is she yours?”

“No, she’s at least part wolf. I cannot raise her.”
But I want to keep her as my own.
He’d never admit it to another soul. If things were different…if he weren’t such a self-centered asshole, he’d beg the wolves to raise her as his own. He deserved a lot of things in life; money, accolades, but the privilege of raising Ava, a chance at love and family, wasn’t one of them.

“Why? Why do you care what happens to us?” It made no sense why a vampire would put his own life in danger to protect her or the child.

“Because she’s important to me. She’s innocent. She didn’t ask for this when she was born into this world. She’s in my charge now. I won’t fail her. I won’t fail you, Laryssa. Please. Please help me.” Léopold inwardly cursed at how pathetic he sounded. Dammit, he should just drag her by the hair into his car and make her do what he wanted. Never in his life had he begged. He should resist the temptation, he knew. Yet looking into her soft green eyes, he could not.

Laryssa took a deep breath, studying the vampire. She knew she’d regret her actions but there was a part of Léopold that she wanted to know. He cared about the baby. An ancient vampire willing to protect the life of one human child seemed unbelievable, yet the truth shone in his eyes. And now that he’d held her in his arms, she craved his touch. It was stupid and foolhardy, but she couldn’t deny her body’s reaction. He was dangerous and altogether arrogant, but the way he talked about the child only made her want to get to know him more. As he dangled the key to the treasure chest in front of her, revealing his feelings for the child, the only word on her lips was ‘yes’.