Revelation (The Forever Series Book Three) (8 page)

“Nico is going to help with your mother situation,” I state
then as a distraction.

“Oh? What is he going to do?” he asks cautiously.

“I’m not sure. He just said he’d sort it.”

“Okay. Tell him thanks when you speak to him again.”

“Will do.”

Okay, so what is with this too-polite business?

“Everything okay?”

“Apart from the obvious?” he sulks.

“Oh Cole, my love. Don’t be like that.”

He huffs, “I’m sorry. It's bad enough I have to share you
with him and you come home… the way you said you wouldn’t come home again and
now I have to put up with him giving you expensive jewelry as well.”

“I’m sorry, my love. There is no excuse, I should have
showered before I came home but I was tired, the jet lag and the Power, it’s
disorientating me.” So not the whole truth but it is still truth. “The ring,
well it’s just a gift from a sire to a charge. It’s nothing,” I say, shrugging
it off.

“Yeah, millions of dollars worth of nothing.”

“Cole, drop it please. I’m exhausted. It’s been a very
trying couple of days. I’ve learned things that I don’t think I ever really
wanted to know.”

He stays quiet then and I resume my snuggling and must have
fallen asleep on him as I wake up wrapped in a fluffy towel in bed next to him
watching me.

“Ergh, did I fall asleep again? What time is it?”

“Yes, just after 8.”

“Crap I’d better get to work,” I say, dragging my arse out
of bed.

“Oh no,” he says, pulling me back. “I don’t think you’re
going anywhere. Liv, I’m worried about you. You look paler than normal and you
are clearly exhausted. I think you should stay at home today. Devon can sort
your work out for another day.”

Thinking about Devon and yesterday I sigh and fall back
against the mountain of pillows. I am really comfy and really tired. “Okay,
maybe I’ll have just a couple more hours,” Which in the end turns out to be
another four.

I wake up starving and Cole is there for me with a glass (or
two) of blood, which I gulp down. “Thank you. Christ, I don’t know what’s wrong
with me,” I grouch.

“Hey, you’re awake. Shit Liv, I’m worried about you. We both
are,” Devon says, coming in from the sitting room. He smiles shyly at me
remembering our time together yesterday, or was it today? I can’t get the time
zones straight in my groggy sleep-addled brain.

“I’m okay. I think. Jet lag, Power, etc.”

“Constantine called me,” he says casually and Cole stiffens.
“He was also worried when you didn’t check in. He said to ring him and not to
worry but there might a be a slight problem on the Gregor front.”

“Oh? What?” I am suddenly alert.

He shrugs as I reach for my phone and hit his number,
drumming my fingers anxiously as I wait and wait for him to answer. That’s not
like him and now I am worried. I am just about to hang up and try Nico, when
Nico answers CK’s phone.

“Liv?”

“Where is he? Is everything okay?” I snap.

“Mr. D’Arcangelo is fine. He is in the middle of trying to
sort out an issue. He said to ask if you are okay and he will call you back if
the answer is ‘yes.’”

“Yes, I’m fine. Oh Nico, did you find out anything?” I ask,
meaning Cade and not Mrs. O’Dell. The other Mrs O’Dell.

“I’m still working on it,” he says vaguely and I know
already he’s hiding something from me and now he’s hiding even more.

“Hm, well be sure and get CK to ring me as soon as he is
available.”

No sooner do I hang up my phone rings and I pounce on it.
Caller ID says Gregor. Since when did I have his number in my phone I think as
I warily answer it.

“Hello?” I say casually.

“Liv? It’s Gregor. Are you well?”

“Err, yes I am fine thank you. Are you?” he asks. I’m at a
total loss at the phone politeness coming from the man that has not only
plotted my destruction for a thousand years but also killed my husband in cold
blood.

“Have you spoken to Constantine yet?” he asks, concerned.

“No, I am expecting a return phone call. Why?” I ask
suspiciously.

“We have had an incident. It’s nothing for you to worry
about but it may be wise for you to join us in New York as soon as you can, my
dear.”

“New York? Why, what has happened? Is Constantine okay?” I
ask, panicking now.

“Yes he is fine,” he says as if he wishes he weren’t. “But
we have a Council issue that requires your presence,” he says with mock
casualness.

So it went from “may be wise” to “requires.” This does not
sound good.

“Gregor, dear, “ I say in a smarmy voice. “What is going
on?”

“Just come to New York, the suite at the Four Seasons, and
we shall discuss it further,” he says and hangs up. Christ, is that an I.V.
thing? It really pisses me off.

“I have to go to New York,” I state as my two boys look at
me in query. “Well no, let me rephrase,
we
are going to New York.
Whatever the hell this is, Eloise and Gregor are there and I will end them as
soon as I get the chance.”

At shocked expressions from Cole and Devon I try CK’s cell
again. Again it’s Nico.

“Liv?”

“Christ, Nico. I need to speak to him, please.”

“I will get him to ring you as soon as he is able.”

“Tell him I am not okay,” I say and hang up, feeling
somewhat guilty at the lie.

But as sure as I take my next breath he rings back, and I
smile. “Aefre. What is it?” he asks, overly concerned.

“Why is Gregor ringing me to tell me to come to New York?”

“Because I asked him to. I thought you said you weren’t
okay?” he asks suspiciously.

“I am not okay. I am confused and tired and why is Gregor
ringing me instead of you?” I sulk.

“Oh really Aefre,” he sighs. “Just be here tomorrow. I will
explain then.” And he hangs up. In a right temper I throw my phone at the wall
but fortunately for me Devon catches it before it smashes into little pieces. I
smile gratefully and he shrugs. “What is going on?”

“I don’t know. Something Council related. We have to go. Dev
ask Jim to get the jet fired up… again. For fuck's sake! My brain is so mashed
at the minute. I don’t need a new drama to add to the pile,” I complain loudly,
very loudly, and Cole pulls me to him.

“Don’t stress my love, we will deal.”

“I know. I am just really tired of being blindsided. Every
time I turn around a new revelation comes out and smacks me in the head, and I
am tired. I am exhausted. Just hold me,” I finish up and he does, no questions
asked.

Cole is quite insistent that we don’t make love that night,
wanting me to rest after all my drama. I am touched but also annoyed, as I want
him. But after the last two days I could do with a break so I don’t protest too
much. We are set to fly to New York first thing in the morning, being 6 AM due
to the time difference again. God. I am so sick of time zones I want to puke
but refrain and try to remain impassive for the rest of our time in L.A. Cole
is sliding slightly I can see and I know it's because I have not been here and
I scold myself for not being there for him. I stay with him for his feeds and
he is happy with that arrangement. I feel awful as I know if Constantine had
left me as I have done to Cole I would have been floundering at a total loss. I
am a bad sire and a bad wife and that makes me feel even worse than I already
do. As a result I don’t stray far from his side and he is content. And because
of that Devon and I haven’t had a chance to talk about what happened at CK’s
castle. I know he is dying to understand it but he will just have to wait. Cole
is my priority now.

Back on the G6 on Friday morning at the crack of dawn, we
all drag our feet, sick of this bloody jet and yet here we are again. I
apologize to my boys, so loyal, for having to come with me, and they are
gracious as expected.

“Still no clue?” Devon asks.

“Nope. All I know is it is a Council thing. Hope I get more
info when we are on the ground than that. I might be new but I could kick all
their arses if I so choose,” I grumble.

“Really?” Devon asks and I smile at him mysteriously. “Oh
Really!” he says in delight picking up on my subtle confidence. “Ooo, I think I
like badass Liv.”

I grin at him but don’t say any more. There will be plenty
of time for that after I have gotten rid of Eloise and Gregor.

We take off and the onboard phone rings. Devon answers and
passes it to me wordlessly.

“Yes?” I snap.

“You are on your way, yes?” It’s CK and as oblivious as ever
to my mood.

“Obviously as you rang the jet’s phone,” I grump at him and
he chuckles.

“I’m sorry we have been so secretive, my love. I will tell
you everything once you are here.”

“Well I am pissed that you three all already know and I am
still sat on the outside like some kind of… outsider,” I finish up weakly.

“There is a reason, my love. I promise I will tell you
everything when I see you in a couple of hours.”

“Humph,” I mutter as I hang up on him to my own delight.
Short-lived though, as I still don’t know what’s going on.

“Well?” Devon asks.

“Fuck knows. We have to wait apparently. I am still not one
of the ‘inner circle.’” I am seriously pissed and so is my She Power. I drum my
fingers on the table in agitation and Devon claps his hand down on mine. I
smile and he picks up my hand, peering closely at my ring. “It’s beautiful,” he
says softly. “Must be five or six million dollars?” At my look he says,
“Seven?” He’s impressed and Cole grunts unhappily and stares out of the window.
“Well it’s not like he can’t afford it, but I am surprised. I don’t think he’s
ever given you anything of this magnitude. What’s the occasion?” Devon asks.

Glaring at him to shut up, I just shrug and say vaguely,
“You know, fourth member…”

Clearly Cole knows what it is but to my relief he doesn’t
say anything. The less people who know of this arrangement the better.

Landing at JFK we all rush to the exit trying to get off
first. I am the winner of that race and gratefully descend the steps. Nico
meets us on the tarmac and drives us off to the Four Seasons. We are booked
into a suite on the top floor and the ride up is interminable.

Stepping off the elevator and into the sitting room of the
suite I am annoyed that everyone is already sitting there like they own the
place. CK, Gregor, Eloise, Nico’s team and James (yuck), who flashes his baby
blues at me with a wicked grin and asks, “Been a while since I’ve seen this
place, eh Lex? Good times.”

Eloise sends me a scathing look and I scowl at him and have
a momentary heated flashback of 1995, when he came to see me here. We embarked
on the second of our two passionate affairs that night, but it ended in tears
again two years later when he left me – again - because his Mistress ordered him
to. By his Mistress, I mean that in the sense of the woman who dominates him.
The woman he submits to in everything, sexual and non-sexual. His Mistress
being, of course: Eloise. It’s no wonder why I hate this woman so much. She has
been nothing but cruel to me and I cannot wait to see her punished.

“Lex? Who is Lex?” Cole asks, bringing me out of my very
fiery flashback. James’s eyes are on mine as he smirks at me, clearly
remembering that night as well.

“Lexie was who I was, here in New York before we went to
L.A. and I became Liv,” I say absently, feeling somewhat flushed, ignoring
James and Eloise and focusing on my sire.

“Well? I snap rudely to everyone in the room, “How come I am
the last to know?”

CK comes over to me and kisses me, not so innocently, much
to Cole’s rage. He takes my right hand and fingers the ring. “Good,” he
murmurs.

“How come James gets to know this secret before me?” I whine
and I don’t care I sound like a spoiled brat.

“He doesn’t know anything yet. He only just got here,” CK says
patiently. “And it’s not so much a secret, more of a caution.”

“For what?” I ask warily.

“Come, sit,” he says and leads me to the sofa, having so far
ignored both Devon and Cole.

He nods to them as he sits me down and then sits next to me
in a far too possessive manner for Cole’s liking and mine. Cole sits on the arm
of the sofa and I curl my arm around his leg in my own possessive gesture as
Eloise is eyeing him up like he is a piece of candy that she just has to have.
She licks her lips and greets him seductively, “Hello Cole. It is so nice to
see you again.”

He ignores her to my delight, lacing his fingers through
mine and focusing on CK instead. I can see a simmering rage boiling under the
surface but he keeps it in check as Devon, to his credit, plops himself down on
Eloise’s other side and flashes that devastating grin at her, all in
preparation for our little plan. I smile inwardly as she glares at him
suspiciously but then, seeing no ulterior motive in his innocent blue eyes,
gives him a glorious smile back, preening at the attention.

Whore, I think, wishing I could say it out loud.

I press for more information, “Caution about what? And why
did I have to come all the way here, why couldn’t you just warn me over the
phone?”

“We need you here to identify someone,” CK says
mysteriously.

My eyes flick to Nico who is staring at me intently. I raise
an eyebrow at him and he focuses on CK instead.

“Okay? Who?” I ask, getting impatient now.

“Liv, the man you saw in Milan and again at JFK that you
asked me to look into?” Nico speaks then and I shift uncomfortably at having
that knowledge suddenly out there without the ability to take it back. Cole
glares at me as does Devon, seeing as he knows exactly who that man is.

“Yes…” I encourage him to get this show on the road.

“You said his name was Cade?” CK asks, taking my other hand
casually.