The Chosen (14 page)

104

Jenika Snow

“So long ago it isn’t worth mentioning. Aleksei introduced me to pointe, and ever since then, I’ve done it.” She walked over to a small table and grabbed a bottle of water. “Ballet is very popular in Russia.”

She turned off the stereo just as another classical song filled the room.

“Do you dance professionally?”

“No, it’s more of a pastime, really. I used to dance in performances, but that was quite awhile ago.”

She didn’t look older than twenty, but she spoke eloquently and intelligently, as if she were much older.

“Would you like something to drink?”

“No, thank you. Aleksei left, do you happen to know when he’ll be back?”

“Sorry, my dear, I don’t. It’s very hard to tell when he will make an appearance. He comes and goes so frequently.”

She watched Aniya gather her things and walk toward her. Her life changed so dramatically in the last twenty-four hours that it was surreal. She had gone from graduating college to becoming the
Chosen
to a vampire. Well, she did think given the circumstances she was handling everything well. She certainly was handling Aleksei very well. The images that came to mind had her face heating and her brain conjuring up illicit thoughts of the hours prior with him. She hoped Aniya didn’t notice her flushed face. Aniya cleared her throat, and Lana knew the woman noticed.

“Well, enough with that. Shall I show you the house?”

Aniya held her hand out and without a single thought, Lana grabbed it and let the woman lead the way.

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Aleksei sat behind his desk as several of his warriors gathered around. Things needed to be set up on a wider spectrum if they were going to catch the monster who killed the women. As he motioned for the men to come closer, he laid out a map of the whole city. Dimitri and Garrik flanked him on each side, and Nikolai, Adrik, and Damien stood in front of him.

“Okay, here is the outer perimeter of the city.” He ran his finger along the edge of Stone Brooke and continued. “Nikolai and Damien, I want you two to take three other Breeds with you and check it out.

Dimitri, Adrik, and Garrik, I want the three of you to take another five Breeds and do a run through of the inner city. I will speak with Aedan and see if he has seen any strange activity in his territory.”

He sat down and opened his desk drawer. He pulled out four Glocks and set them on the table.

“I want to find out what the fuck is going on, and I want to know tonight.” Each male picked up a gun and placed it at the small of their backs. “Go do your thing, boys, and keep me posted.” He would have loved to join them in the little hunt, but right now he had more important things on his mind…Lana

* * * *

“Shit, when did it get so cold?” Dimitri brought the lapels of his coat up around his neck and crossed his arms.

“Quit being a pansy.” Garrik elbowed him in the side, a grunt coming out of Dimitri.

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Jenika Snow

“Both of you shut the fuck up and keep your eyes open.” Adrik walked between the two of them, constantly scanning his surroundings. So far they found a whole lot of nothing. He pulled his cell out and punched in Nikolai’s number. He answered on the first ring.

“Yo.”

“Any news?”

“Nah, I’m juiced for some shit to go down, though.”

“Keep me posted.” Adrik shut his phone and stuffed it back into his pocket. The three of them stuck together as he sent the other five Breeds in different directions. All five checked in to report they hadn’t seen any unusual activity. He looked around, his pulse kicking into overdrive up as he realized where he was.

“The two of you head around to the left and see if you sense anything. I’m going to go over here and see if I can pick anything up.” As the two of them left, he scanned his surroundings quickly and crossed the street.

He was in a small residential area of Stone Brooke—the houses all the same design. He walked briskly down the sidewalk and headed to the back of the house. He slipped behind a thick tree, his body blending into the shadows. He stared at the second story window, the room dark and no movement coming from the other side. He was being a voyeur, yes, but he told himself he was making sure she was safe. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and slowed his respirations and heart rate.

His
gift
was astral projection, and even though this was a really bad idea, he couldn’t stop himself. His body separated into two different beings, his physical form staying by the tree—his other self moving through her window. He stood in Kayla’s room and watched as she slept silently in bed. Her blond hair lay loose around her pillow, the locks framing her beautiful face and making her look ethereal. The sheets bunched around her waist, her legs poking out and causing his lust to spike.

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Her legs were long and smooth, and his hands itched to run up the length of them. He could watch her all night. In fact, he did watch her a lot in this form, and he should have felt shameful for the fact.

Because Kaleb was gone a lot of the time, Adrik needed to know she was safe. He gave one last, longing look toward her and willed himself back into his body.

* * * *

Lana followed Aniya around the massive house and was surprised to know it was built into the mountainside. Aniya pointed out all of the historical and priceless artifacts that littered the house, some being so old it was unbelievable.

“Do you want to go to the club?”

“Really?

“Sure, why not? It’s not fun hanging around the house all night.”

They stepped through an open door and into a very feminine bedroom. A large canopy bed sat in the center of the room—white lace trimming the bed. Aniya walked over to a set of double doors and opened them. Behind the doors was a walk-in closet, the shelves and racks filled with clothes and shoes.

“Let me just change, and then we can head out. I’ll have my brothers follow us out there.”

An armoire sat in the corner, the color a deep cherry with delicate engravings in the wood. Beautifully carved shelving was built into one of the walls and filled with Faberge eggs. Track lighting illuminated the eggs, making the jewels encrusted in them shine and cast rainbows. Lana walked over to the eggs and reached out to touch one.

“Beautiful, aren’t they?”

She jumped at the sound of Aniya’s voice behind her. Aniya smiled at her, her jeans and cardigan set casual yet elegant on her
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petite body. Her hair was piled high on her head, and small pearl earrings dotted her ear lobes.

“They were my mother’s. Aleksei says she used to shine them with a silk cloth every day. He says she would have wanted me to have them.” Sadness crossed her features as she ran her finger across one of the eggs.

“Did your mother pass?” What a stupid question. Of course her mother had died or she wouldn’t have been talking about her in the past tense. “I’m sorry that was a rude and stupid question.”

“No, it’s okay. My mother and father died when I was an infant, and Aleksei raised us.”

“I’m so sorry.” A smile playing across her lips that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“Enough talk about that, that was so long ago. Shall we go?” She gestured toward the door. “How about we take one of Milo’s cars?

They’re pretty fast.”

She admitted she didn’t have the urge to run away again, but that didn’t mean she didn’t want to go back home. Her time with Aleksei had been incredible, but she had a life and a best friend she worried.

The club wasn’t too far from her house, and if Aleksei wanted to talk with her then he could go there to speak with her.

They reached the garage, Aniya opening the door and gesturing for her to go inside. Two men leaned against the opposite wall, both of the familiar from earlier. They stopped talking and stared at them, an air of power surrounding both of them.

“Wow, he marked you up good didn’t he?”

“Shut up, Milo, you’re so rude.” Disgust dripped from Aniya’s words as she looked back at Lana with sympathy.

Milo leaned against the wall, popping a piece of gum. The taller one stood next to him, his sight trained on Lana. Both men looked so much like Aleksei she could definitely tell they were brothers. Milo seemed happier of the two men, making her feel more at ease as he smiled.

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“What? I’m just stating the obvious. I mean that’s the point, right?”

She looked down at herself, slightly confused. “What are you talking about?”

“Nothing.”

“No, tell me.” They were lucky she wasn’t running at them with a stake in her hand for the shit they pulled earlier. Well, maybe not Milo, but definitely the other one. Did stakes work on them? She didn’t know but would have to remember to ask Aleksei.

“Well,” Milo looked at his brother and sister before he turned back and stared at her, “he marked you.”

“Marked me?” Again, Lana looked down at herself trying to see what they meant.

“On your neck. He marked you on your neck.”

Her hand went up to her neck, her skin instantly tingling under her touch. It was slightly sore in one spot, but the skin felt smooth and unmarred.

“He marked you to let all males know that you’re his, and if they even think about approaching you they are as good as dead.”

“What?” Her voice raised, shock resonating within her. “He marked me like some dog pissing on a tree?”

“I don’t know if I would have used an analogy like that. It’s his way of protecting you.”

She wasn’t some piece of property he could just mark up. Who the hell did he think he was? Everyone was silent for several minutes, and her anger boiled more.

“Where are you guys going?”

“We’re going to the club. We still have a few hours before dawn.” Aniya walked toward a small shelf on the wall and opened it.

She plucked off a set of car keys, one of the many that hung from gold hooks. “Aleksei will be there, so it’s not really a big deal.”

“Does Alek know you’re taking her out of the house?”

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Jenika Snow

“Like I said, it’s not a big deal, Luca. Everything will be fine. The two of you can even follow us there if you want.”

Luca, the one who frightened her in the hall earlier, turned his head and looked at her. She squared her shoulders, not about to let a stare rattle her. She made sure to stare at him dead in the eye as she spoke.

“I’m a grown woman and standing right here. If I want to leave this place, then I will, and not even you will stop me.” Aniya and Milo burst out laughing, which embarrassed her. Even Luca had a small smile tugging at his lips.

“Wow. Alek has his hands full with you. I’m going to love watching him try to handle you.”

Milo pushed away from the wall and walked over to the key rack and took a set of keys off. The garage was bare save for a wraparound work area and a few shelves bolted into the walls. Milo pushed a button on the wall, and she heard a ticking noise and then a loud whirling noise. One of the walls opened up in the same fashion a garage door would. On the other side sat several shiny, expensive looking cars.

“Milo, we’ll be taking the Aston.” Aniya walked over to her brothers and kissed them each on the cheek.

Luca watched her the whole time, setting her nerves on edge.

There was just something about him that made all of her instincts go on high alert. She stood by the door and watched as Aniya disappeared into the room full of cars. Lights flashed on, and the purr of an engine started. Seconds later, a sleek black car rolled out, Aniya sitting behind the wheel. The vehicle was like nothing she had ever seen before.

“Hop in?” She looked at Lana and then at her brothers. “Well, are you boys following or not?” Both men walked to where the cars were and disappeared into the inky blackness. Once she saw lights flare to life, she hustled over to the passenger side door and slipped in. Cool
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leather and smooth suede greeted her back as she rested against the seat. It was only a two-seater but had a lot of room.

“Nice, right?” Aniya pushed a small button attached to the visor and waited until the main garage door opened.

“I’d say so. I’ve never seen a car like this before.”

“Better buckle up.” Aniya pulled out of the garage, the wide driveway coming into view. “This is an Aston Martin Vanquish S

V12. It’s Milo’s baby, although he does love his Gumpert.”

“His what?”

“His Gumpert Apollo, the car he’s driving behind us.”

Lana turned in her seat and stared behind her. The car looked like it should be on a race track instead of the streets of Stone Brooke. “It looks like a space craft.”

Aniya laughed, the noise soft and petite. “Yeah, well, don’t go saying that around him. Milo is always ranting and raving about his babies. I, on the other hand, will stick with my little Benz. I don’t know why he’s driving the Gumpert, though. He must be fishing tonight.”

“Fishing? He goes fishing in a car like that?”

Aniya burst out laughing and wiped a stray tear from under her eye. She patted Lana’s hand, and Lana felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment.

“Don’t feel embarrassed. I’m sorry I laughed, really. What I meant was he must be fishing for women.”

“Oh.”

“Milo only brings out the big boys, meaning his cars, when he thinks he’s going to get laid. Although, I thought he already brought someone home tonight.” She brought a perfectly manicured fingernail to her mouth and tapped her lips. “Makes no difference, really. My brother’s appetite for women is insatiable.”

The picture of Aleksei with a harem of women flashed into Lana’s mind. “Does Aleksei fall into that instable appetite category?”

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Jenika Snow

She felt her face become red even before the question was out of her mouth. She quickly turned her head toward the passenger window and watched the trees pass by. In the distance, she could see the lights of Stone Brooke twinkle below. She turned around. The car that had been behind them now gone.