Shades of Blood (19 page)

Cameron looked a little confused by the concern. “I
’
m fine. We were attacked.”

Noah
’
s heart shuddered, his eyes flying to Eden. They ran the length of her, checking for injury. “You OK?” He could tell by the slight stiffening of her body that she
’
d heard his question. She chose to ignore it.

Balls.

He clenched his hands into fists, a pang of pain echoing in his chest. For a moment he was surprised at the feeling. He didn
’
t know why. It wasn
’
t the first time Eden had been cold and distant with him. It didn
’
t hurt any less now than it did then.

“We were attacked by Cosmina
’
s people,” Eden addressed the room at large, careful to not really make eye contact with anyone. “Four of them. Three dead. The other
’
s unconscious. Terrence and Jack retrieved her and she
’
ll be questioned about Cosmina
’
s whereabouts.”

“Terrence said it was a clean job. Well done,” Cyrus told her softly. “To the both of you.”

Eden barely acknowledged him. “While we were on the job, Cameron confided something unusual to me.” She was checking Tobe for a reaction now.

“Unusual?” Tobe stepped back from Cameron, eyeing him suspiciously. “What?”

Cameron stared vacantly back at her. “I have a psychic link to Darwin Rice, the member of The Tribunal who took a piece of my soul.”

Shocked and confused. That
’
s how Noah felt and he was guessing he wasn
’
t the only one by the sudden stillness of the room. How was it possible for Cam to have a psychic link with Rice? He
’
d never heard of that happening to a victim of a soul eater attack before.

“The irregularity of that statement is something that can be discussed at length with your Councilman,” Cyrus responded quietly, gesturing to McLeish who watched Cameron with wide-eyed interest. “It suggests the Scottish Neith have another psychic in their midst. Congratulations. However, and I do not mean to sound dismissive, I would like to know… where is Rice?”

“He doesn
’
t know,” Eden answered, her ocean eyes finally meeting Cyrus
’
. Noah winced in sympathy at the blank apathy she directed towards her adopted father. “But what he does know is The Tribunal has no idea what Rice is up to.”

Noah leaned forward in excitement. “He
’
s gone rogue?”

When Eden didn
’
t turn to look at him he felt hot with the humiliation of her rejection in front of his family and peers. OK. Now he was starting to get pissed off. As she continued, Noah began to plot how he was going to corner her. When he did, he was seriously going to give her a piece of his mind.

“I thought that might be something The Tribunal would want to know.” Eden shrugged at Cyrus. “I mean they
’
ve ordered these guys to stop coming after me. They clearly are not prepared for a war with us… and we
’
ve left them alone because they at least try to police themselves. But if we threaten them, tell them to give us Rice or face utter destruction, I think they might start talking.” Despite her chilly demeanor and earlier disrespect, Cyrus
’
eyes were bright with pride. Anyone could see it. Even Eden. Perhaps that
’
s what prompted her next sentence. “I
’
d like to apologize in front of everyone for disrespectfully telling you to screw yourself.” Cyrus
’
jaw flexed and Noah knew what he was thinking, hoping, because he was thinking and hoping it too. They were both to be bitterly disappointed. “Let
’
s be clear, Princeps, I in no way forgive you for bringing that bitch into what you assured me was my home. But you are my boss and in that I
’
ll respect you.”

It was the coldest apology anyone had ever received.

Noah didn
’
t even bother asking her if she was sorry for telling him to go screw himself. He already knew the answer to that and it would not be in his favor.

“Fine.” Cyrus sighed, suddenly looking exhausted.

Noah felt bad for the guy. For Noah
’
s entire immortal life, seventy years on this planet, he
’
d known Cyrus as this scary, in control guy, who had only ever softened around his wife, Merrit. That softer side had disappeared when Merrit died and was replaced with an even harder, colder Princeps. When Eden came into the picture it had changed Cyrus. He had trouble hiding what he was feeling now. Something he had always prided himself on before.

Noah got that.

His anger started to steadily build again towards his girlfriend. She was acting like the old Eden. Paranoid, insecure… her moods mercurial and dangerous. Before, that had intrigued Noah, how she could fight through all that and show him that sweet, loyal, passionate girl underneath all the darkness. The darkness was back again. And Noah wasn
’
t intrigued. He was terrified.

Of losing her.

“What now?” Alain asked softly, his concerned eyes on his Princeps.

Cyrus
’
features grew taut with determination. “I have a phone call to make to Landon Anderson.”

Eden frowned. “Who
’
s that?”

“The Head of The Tribunal.”

“You have the phone number for the Head of The Tribunal?”

“I have the phone number of a Neith with certain abilities. She will be able to give me the phone number.”

“Another Neith with
‘
abilities
’
?” Eden narrowed her eyes. “I thought they were rare?”

“They are,” Val snapped. “Stop questioning your Princeps.”

Ouch
, Noah turned with a careful expression to read Val
’
s. She looked frustrated as all hell. What had happened between those two? Great, he glared up at Eden. She was isolating everybody. Even the only person in the world just like her.

“Get some sleep,” Cyrus ordered the room. “I will let you know when I have some news.”

Eden could feel
Noah stalking her as she made her way up to her room. She didn
’
t know what he expected but he wasn
’
t getting into her bedroom. He had kept the fact that Romany would be coming to stay at the mansion from her. Not only had he kept that from her but he
’
d actually picked the treacherous python up from the airport!!! Seething, Eden hurried her footsteps, her heart faltering a little at the sound of Noah
’
s curse behind her as he quickened his pace. She knew it was childish but suddenly Eden found herself rushing for her door.

“For the love of gods!” Noah snapped as she slid inside. She tried to slam the door shut but his arm shot through the gap before it closed and he shoved it back open with little effort. He glared at her, his eyes a dark amethyst. “What are you, five?!”

“Get out.” She crossed her arms over her chest, her eyes boring into his with flat disdain. Her hope that he would get the message deflated as he brushed past her, kicking the door shut with his heel.

“No,” he growled back at her. She felt the hair rise on her nape and a shudder of warning ripple down her spine. Eden carefully turned to look up at him. Noah was mad.

Noah never got mad.

What the hell was he mad at?!
She
was the one
he
had wronged, not the other way around!

“I don
’
t know what you think you
’
re doi-mmff…mmm.” Noah
’
s lips cut her off, a hard kiss that stunned her into silence as much as the iron grip that slammed her up against him. Indignation shot through her and Eden tried to block out the dark, citrusy scent of him that drove her crazy, that made her feel safe. Today she wasn
’
t safe with him. Pushing against him, trying to break what was a punishing kiss, Eden was so close to bringing up her knee between his legs to make him let go, when the kiss changed. Noah made a deep, soothing noise from the back his throat and his lips softened against hers. His tongue teased hers, his teeth nibbling at her bottom lip, one hand clasped tight around the nape of her neck and the other brushing the sensitive skin on her lower back. The kiss robbed her of her rationale. There was no anger, or Romany, or rebellion. Just Eden and Noah. She sighed into his mouth and leaned into him, her palms pressed against his broad chest, his thundering heart pounding against one hand. Feeling her acquiesce, Noah deepened the kiss and pulled her even closer. Strangely the possessive passion in his embrace only excited Eden and she found herself curling her fingers into his t-shirt in an effort to get closer.

He left her mouth, trailing sweet kisses along her jaw. “I love you,” he whispered, his breath against her skin sending hot shivers down her spine. His breathing was uncontrolled, ragged, and it spurred her on. The fog truly took hold of Eden. With a desperation born from the darkness that adamantly tried to wade through the fog, Eden pulled her shirt up and off, enjoying the fever in Noah
’
s eyes. He discarded his own top and Eden melted against him, pressing kisses to his broad chest, sighing against him.

“Oh gods,” Noah breathed and reached for her, pulling her up into his arms so she had to wrap her legs around his waist. His kisses were furious again, frantic, deep, erotic. Eden gave him it all back. The bed bounced beneath her as Noah backed them down onto it. His hot lips trailed kisses down her neck, across her collarbone, his deft fingers reaching for the clasp on her bra.

If it hadn
’
t been for the sound of a security guard speaking to the operations room over his comms as he made his rounds Eden probably would have let the fog take her all the way home with Noah. But that voice cut through it and with it she remembered Romany. Her rage. Her hurt.

“Stop,” she whispered hoarsely, pushing Noah away. She began to slide out from under him but he groaned and rested his forehead against her stomach, his weight pressing her down.

“Eden, don
’
t,” he pleaded. “Why are you doing this?”

“I
’
m mad at you,” she snapped, pushing his shoulders back. He took the hint and rolled off her. “I don
’
t want to have sex when I
’
m mad.”

“I
’
m mad at you too,” Noah growled as she bent down to pick up her top.

Eden
’
s jaw dropped as she pulled the shirt back over her head, flicking her long hair out from under the collar. “You
’
re mad?! What the hell have you got to be mad about?”

His eyes flashed but he didn
’
t say anything as he got off the bed and strode over to pick up his own shirt. It was the angriest pulling on of a t-shirt Eden had ever witnessed. His cloudy face and taut features confused and irritated her. They also worried her. Had she missed something? Had she inadvertently done something she wasn
’
t aware of?