Redemption (28 page)

A tiny sliver of guilt manages to wiggle in as she realizes she could have been a bit nicer to Fane.
 
He is obviously hurting.
 
Poking fun at him probably wasn’t the brightest thing she’s ever done.

“Where do you want to go?”
 
Nicolae asks over his shoulder.

“Oh, now you’re speaking to me?”

His shoulders rise and fall with an exaggerated sigh.
 
“I’m not going to do this with you, Sadie.
 
We are here to work, not bicker.”

She stops and crosses her arms over her chest.
 
When Nicolae finally notices she’s not behind him, he turns and walks back.
 
“What?
 
You really want to do this here?”

“Sure.
 
Why not?
 
You afraid people might hear what you have to say?”
 
She lashes back, knowing exactly how much he would prefer not to speak about their relationship around his hunters.

“You want to talk now?
 
Fine!”
 
He stomps up to her, allowing his height and bulk to intimidate her.
 
She steps back but doesn’t let her glare fade.
 
“You want to hear how seeing you ever day but not being able to be near you drives me crazy?
 
Or how torn I feel between my duty to the hunters and my love for you?”

She gasps, stepping back a step.
 
“You love me?”

“Of course I do,” he shouts, reaching out to pull her close to him.
 
She stumbles forward, placing her hand on his chest.
 

“I’m a mess without you, Sadie.
 
I can’t think.
 
I can’t eat.
 
I can’t fight.”

Her mouth gapes open, but he continues before she can speak.
 
“Do you have any idea what kind of pressure I’m under?
 
If I choose you, my men might turn on us and hunt us for betraying them.
 
I can’t risk that, not if it means risking your life.
 
So yes, I pushed you away, but only because I can’t stand the thought of losing you for good.”

His grip tightens on her arms as her knees threaten to give out on her.
 
She blinks rapidly, trying to process everything he said.
 
She can’t seem to get past the
I love you
part.

“You really love me?”

Nicolae’s gaze softens as he raises his hand to gently brush along her cheek.
 
“I have since the first time you rejected me.
 
And every time after that.”

She flushes, thinking of how mean she’s been to him.
 
“You were just so…”

“Nerdy?”

“I was gonna say you were as annoying as a bad rash, but yeah, that works too.”
 
She cracks a grin.
 

He pulls her close, leaving only a few inches between them.
 
Sadie’s lips part, mesmerized by the way he is staring at her.
 
She can feel the importance of this moment.
 
She could turn him down and walk away, forever regretting that decision, or she can embrace his love and risk losing everything.

“Just kiss her already,” a gruff voice shouts from down the hall.
 

Sadie looks over Nicolae’s shoulder, instantly flushing when she realizes the hallway beyond is filled with hunters.
 
Nicolae blinks, obviously shocked by the smiling faces around him.
 
“Seriously?”

Grigori laughs as he steps out from behind his men.
 
“Look, we may not like the way things turned out, but Sadie hasn’t ripped your throat out yet, and believe me, some of us wished she would have over the past few days.”

A chuckle of agreement rumbles through the hunters.
 
Sadie flushes as Nicolae’s fingers slide down her arm to grasp her hand.
 
“So what are you saying?”

Grigori looks to Costel and Bodgan.
 
Sadie knows these two men are the ones Nicolae is most worried about. When they each crack a hardened smile, she breathes a sigh of relief.
 
“We will stand by you, even if that means she is by your side too.”

Tears sting her eyes as the men begin to hoot, pumping their fists into the air.
 
She laughs, embarrassed and overwhelmed at the same time.

“Thank you,” she says, clinging to Nicolae’s arm.
 
He turns to look at her, his gaze filled with tenderness.

“Will you have me?”

“Of course, you big oaf.”
 
Reaching up behind his head, she yanks him close, crushing her lips upon his.
 
Roars of laughter and clapping fill the hall, but she hardly hears any of it as she sinks into his embrace, knowing that she is finally where she is meant to be.

***

L
ucien breathes deeply, savoring the metallic aroma that clings to the snow covered ground.
 
Crimson streams out around him in wide rivers of cooling blood.
 
The scent is heady, mouthwatering with its intensity.

Lifting the edge of his cloak, Lucien tiptoes out of his masterpiece, careful not to disturb any of the bodies he has so elegantly arranged.
 
The human cross spanning the middle of a clearing just on the outskirts of Anchorage, Alaska is twenty bodies long and fifteen bodies across, his largest feat yet.

Each have been stripped of their exterior clothing, leaving their flesh open to the elements.
 
Lucien looks to the sky above, noticing the churning gray clouds pregnant with snow.
 

“That won’t do.”
 
He leans down to retrieve a red canister, sloshing with gasoline.
 
Throaty laughter rises into the night as he walks the line, dousing each man and woman.
 
He pauses at the base of the cross and tosses aside the canister.

“This should get their attention.”

With a flick of his wrist, Lucien tosses a lighter onto the foot of the man closest to him.
 
The blue flames spread like wildfire, bubbling flesh and burning hair.
 
The scent brings a wide grin to Lucien’s face, and he digs out his cell phone to place the emergency call that will bring reporters swarming to the area.
 
 

He cuts off the call and momentarily closes his eyes.
 
He is getting closer to Roseline.
 
He can feel it.

“I’ll see you soon,” he whispers to the north sky as he turns and heads back to town.
 
He has business to attend to.

Twenty-Four

R
oseline slips from the conference room, curious to find out what all of the racket is.
 
Hooting and hollering echoes from the north end of the building.
 
She silently winds down one corridor after another, her steps silent.
 
These passages are as familiar to her as the halls of Bran Castle.
 

“Hey, gorgeous.”

Gabriel appears in the doorway of the room that he shares with his angel guardian.
 
Peeking past him, she is amazed to even consider that the two of them have any space to move in the closet sized room, especially with Elias’ wingspan.
 

“You all moved in?” She asks, offering an awkward wave to Elias.
 
Their first meeting in the forest beyond the ice cage had been strained.
 
This one isn’t gearing up to be any better.

When Elias dips his head, his wings rise over the planes of his shoulder.
 
Her smile falters at the imposing sight.
 
Although Gabriel has told her that he trusts Elias completely, she still isn’t sure that she does, not after her time spent with Malachi.

Elias may not be among the Fallen Ones, but that doesn’t mean he is as good as he claims to be.
 
She vows to keep a close eye on the angel.
 
If he so much as dares to look at Gabriel the wrong way, she will take him down.

“Home sweet home.”
 
Gabriel grins, closing the door behind him.
 
“I assume you weren’t just passing my way for a stroll.
 
On your way to be nosy, aren’t you?”

“Am I that obvious?” She laughs as she takes his hand.
 

It feels like it has been a lifetime ago since they began their hunt for information on the mysterious cross that is tattooed onto his forearms.
 
Now, she hardly even thinks of it.
 
The markings have become a part of him, forever etched into his flesh as evidence of who and what he is.
 

At first, she had feared that their forbidden bond would bring pain to him, and she had been right, but not in the way she had thought.
 
She never could have dreamed that it would have been Sorin that tortured him instead of her husband Vladimir.
 
But now, both are gone and there is nothing to stand in their way from being together once they deal with Lucien.

She smiles as she squeezes his hand, knowing with all her heart that this is right.
 
He
is right.
 
Their bond has never been stronger.

They walk side by side down the darkened hallway, following the swelling sound by instinct.
 
Although the compound is not overly large, it has many twists and turns to slow down any attacker that might stumble across it.

She allows Gabriel to take the lead, wanting to measure how much his senses have been dulled by Lucien’s poison, but he never falters, never attempts to go in the wrong direction.
 
She breathes a sigh of relief.
 

Perhaps the poison didn’t affect him near as much as I thought,
she muses silently.

“There they are,” Gabriel whispers as they round the corner and come face to face with a human pile up.
 

The hunters near the back sense their presence and fall silent, turning with their backs to the wall to allow them room to pass.
 
As soon as they do, the hunters fill in behind Gabriel who takes up his position at her back.
 

Roseline steps forward, smiling at each hunter in turn as they move aside.
 
She recognizes many of them from their attack on Vladimir; others are new to her, but seem no less interested in her.
 
She holds out her hand in greeting to Grigori, grateful to see that he has come to join in their fight.
 
“How’s the nose?”

He laughs.
 
“It’s been better.”

“Still fit for battle, I assume.”

His chest puffs up.
 
“Of course.
 
Nothing could keep me from it.”

“I thought you might say that.”
 
She grins and waits for him to move aside.
 
When he does, Roseline squeals with delight at the sight of Nicolae bending Sadie over in a long, slow kiss.
 
She had no idea he was so limber.
 

“Sadie!
 
You’re alive!”
 
She wants to rush forward and embrace her friend. but Gabriel tightens his grip on her hand, holding her back.

Sadie breaks off the kiss and pokes her head out around Nicolae.
 
“Rose!”
 

Beating against his arms, Sadie fights to be free from Nicolae’s grasp.
 
He blinks, disoriented for a second.
 
When he looks up and sees Roseline, he releases Sadie.
 
Once fully upright again, Sadie throws herself at Roseline, crushing her in a huge bear hug.

“It’s so good to see you,” Sadie gushes, squeezing Roseline tightly.

“Easy, Sadie.
 
You can hurt me now,” she chuckles as she pries herself out of her friend’s grasp.

“What happened to you?
 
You were all…”
 
Sadie sticks her fingers in the sides of her lips and pulls, growling in imitation of a very silly looking monster.
 
“I was so worried about you.
 
I tried to come see you, but Fane was tossing his weight around again.”

“For good cause, I’m sure,” Roseline laughs, stepping back just far enough to get a good look.
 
“Wow.
 
You look amazing, Sadie.”

A hint of a blush rises along her neck as she ducks her head, uncharacteristically silent.
 
“Oh, don’t let her fool you.
 
She’s loving it,” Nicolae smirks, reaching out to take Sadie’s hand in his again.

Roseline tries to smother her own grin.
 
“And I’m sure you’re not complaining too much either.”

“Heck no,” he crows, yanking Sadie back into his arms.
 
He lifts her chin and plants a kiss on her lips.
 

Grigori chuckles, drawing Roseline’s attention.
 
She arches an eyebrow.
 
“You’re ok with this?”

He shrugs.
 
“It’s better than listening to him mope all the time.
 
I think I would have slit his throat myself if he hadn’t finally gone and kissed her.”

Gabriel’s laugh vibrates in his chest as he draws Roseline into his arms.
 
“It’s about time.
 
The way you were staring at him on our way to Romania made me want to gag, Sadie.”

Nicolae’s eyes widen in surprise.
 
“Really?
 
You did that?
 
I never noticed.”

Sadie shoots an evil glare in Gabriel’s direction.
 
“It wasn’t
exactly
like that.”

“Oh, yeah it was.
 
You were practically drooling over him,” Gabriel laughs.
 
He cries out as Roseline pinches his side, shushing him.
 

Sadie flushes several shades of red when Nicolae pulls her close, dipping his head to whisper in her ear.
 
There is a definitive increase in the heat staining her cheeks.
 
Roseline smiles, thrilled that her friends have found happiness.

“Is William here too?”
 
She glances around but finds him oddly absent.
 
He should be here, ready to do his brotherly duty in the event Nicolae decides to get a bit too handsy.

Sadie’s grin widens.
 
“Oh, he’s probably off hunting for Claudia.
 
She loves hiding in dark corners and leaping out to scare the crap out of him.”

“Claudia Voss?
 
How did that happen?”
 
Roseline turns an arched eyebrow toward Gabriel.
 

He laughs and shakes his head.
 
“Once he stopped panting after Daelyn, he finally realized how great Claudia is.
 
Now the guy is smitten.
 
Fane tried to warn him against falling for her, but you know Will.
 
He’s too hard-headed to listen to reason.”

Roseline chews on her lower lip, unsure if this new turn of events is a good thing or not.
 
She looks back over her shoulder at the group of hunters, still in shock over their acceptance of Nicolae and Sadie.
 
When she turns back, Nicolae catches her eye and winks.
 

“Is this the part where you say I told you so?” Roseline smirks.

He shrugs.
 
“Only if you want me to.”

“Don’t hold your breath,” Gabriel chuckles, pulling Roseline into his embrace. He wraps his arms around her waist and rests his head against the top of hers.
 

“Alright.
 
Show’s over,” Grigori calls, turning his back on the two couples.
 
“We have drills to run, gentlemen.
 
Let’s get those done before dark, shall we?”

Most of the men linger long enough to pat Nicolae on the back before heading to retrieve their winter gear.
 
A few linger to cast worried glances at the new couple.
 
Bogdan and Costel are among them but are quickly sent on their way by Grigori.

Roseline leans back into Gabriel, loving the feel of being in his arms, safe and secure.
 
But how long will it last?
 

“Fane mentioned to me earlier that we are going to try to lure Lucien here so we can avoid any more human deaths.
 
What do you have planned, Nicolae?”

Nicolae releases Sadie’s hand and shoves his own deep into his pocket.
 
When he removes it, he holds up a small black device, not all that unlike a normal smartphone.
 
“This is a satellite phone.
 
Once the rest of our men arrive tomorrow, you’re going to make a call and entice him here.
 
I’m sure once he hears your voice he will send his entire army here to retrieve you.”

Gabriel’s arms stiffen around her.
 
“You’re using her as bait?”

Nicolae nods.
 
“For now, but there’s no way Lucien’s going to get close to her.
 
I promise you that, Gabriel.”

Roseline’s lips peel back as anger floods through her.
 
“On the contrary.
 
I’m planning on getting
very
close to him.”

***

R
oseline pins her hair back from around her face, expertly weaving her long tresses into a braid that hangs over her shoulder.
 
The wind in the Arctic Circle is fierce, easily blowing strong enough to knock a human over on a nice day, which today isn’t.

Her hands are still shaky from her healing the night before.
 
Her memories are vague, hardly more than a whirlwind of images, most of which she would rather not think upon.

She remembers Gabriel’s face.
 
His hair is longer now and his jaw is lined with stubble.
 
His beauty has only increased in their time apart, but that is not what she remembers now. It is his eyes.
 

There is a depth to them that she has never seen before, an awareness or perhaps an awakening.
 
He seems so sure of himself now, as if he knows exactly who he is and why he is here.
 
She envies that strength.