The Chosen (18 page)

“So you’re saying that out of every female in the entire world, I was picked to be your
Chosen
? Why me?”

“Why does anything happen the way it does? Why is anything ever created? Maybe it’s all a result of a higher power, or maybe it isn’t.” He took her hand and brought it to his lips. “We can be together forever, Lana, if that is what you choose.”

136

Jenika Snow

“Wait a second. What are you trying to say?” She sat up fully and stared at him as his hand dropped to the bed.

“I can make you immortal like me. I can make it so we can be together forever. If you choose not to, then I will gladly grow old with you and leave when you do.” She stared at him as if he was crazy, but maybe he was.

“You can make me a vampire? Y-you would grow old with me if I didn’t want to be like you?”

“Well, I can’t grow physically old, but if you decided you didn’t want to become like me, immortal that is, then I will gladly stand by your side and leave this earth when you do.”

She breathed out heavily and lay back on the bed, her small hands running over her face. She turned back toward him and stared at him.

“How exactly do you become immortal?”

His heart beat fast. The very idea that she would contemplate becoming an immortal was too good to be true. “I can only change my
Chosen
into an immortal. You would not become like me, a Blood Breed, that is. You wouldn’t be too different than you are right now.

The only thing changing would be your life span, although I guess that is quite a hefty change.”

She got off the bed and paced the length of the room—the moonlight glowing off her glorious body.

“You’re serious, aren’t you?”

“I am.”

“How? How would you do it, I mean?”

“It would require an exchange of blood.” He slid off the bed and walked over to where his pants lay. He pulled them on before walking back to the bed and sitting on the edge. “I should have never asked you such a thing. I’m sorry. What was I thinking asking you to give up everything you know for me? It’s just the feelings—such a mild term for them, really—the feelings I have for you go beyond everything I know, any kind of reason that has gotten me through my life. I have been waiting for you my entire life, and when I finally find
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you, I scare you with a question that probably makes me look insane.”

He stared at the floor, not wanting to see what emotions her face held.

The bed dipped beside him, and he looked over at her.

“Aleksei, when I’m with you all
my
reason goes out the window.

Since meeting you, I feel like I’m in a dream. Weird, yes, but a wonderful dream nonetheless. You tell me vampires really do exist and that you want me to become immortal, and I feel like I’m outside looking in.

“You need to give me time to come to grips with everything, to let my mind settle over what you have told me. It’s still hard to believe that creatures from the myths and fairy tales do exist.” She took a deep breath and intertwined her hand with his. “I know with certainty that I want to be with you, for however long that may be. Eternity is a long time for me to comprehend.” He leaned in and brought her lips to his. “Just give me time to adjust to everything you’ve told me. I want to go slow and enjoy what we have.”

He pulled her onto his lap and buried his face in her vanilla-scented hair. “You have all the time in the world, and for however long you want, I will be right by your side.” He kissed her head and stood. “Will you go out to dinner with me tomorrow night?”

“Of course.”

She gasped as he scooped her up and carried her into the bathroom where they let the water run off their bodies as they made love.

138

Jenika Snow

Lana woke the next morning to the sun’s rays shining through her window. She smiled and stretched as the night before replayed in her mind.

Aleksei took her in the shower and then again on her bed, leaving her deliciously sore and aching. He hadn’t wanted to leave her by herself, but she assured him she did just fine before she met him.

Finally he left, but only after he made her promise him she would call him as soon as she woke up. She grabbed the phone and picked up the piece of paper on which he wrote his number. He gave her every number he could think of so she could reach him at any time. She punched in his number and laid back against the pillows.

“Hello, my sweet.”

Aleksei’s deep voice came through the receiver after the first ring and had her smiling. “Well, hello yourself.” She looked at the clock and realized how early it was. “I’m surprised I didn’t sleep longer since you wore me out.”

His deep-throated laugh came through and had her arousal starting all over again. For the next twenty minutes, they talked and made plans for later in the night. Aleksei wanted to take her to a Japanese restaurant that had just opened up outside of town. She hung up and dialed Kayla’s number.

“Hello?”

“Hey, it’s me. I’m home and thought you might want to have breakfast.” She slipped on her robe and headed to the kitchen for some much needed coffee.

“You’re home! Okay, stay right there and I’ll be right over.”

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The line went dead before Lana could say goodbye. She got ready for the day and read the paper in the kitchen as she waited for Kayla to arrive. A loud knock sounded on her door, and she was surprised Kayla had made it over so soon. Opening the front door, she craned her neck up to see the hulking man standing on her doorstep. He filled her entire door, blocking out the sun with his immense presence. She swallowed in nervousness.

“C-Can I help you, sir?”

His black hair hung to his ears and was mused like he didn’t care what it looked like. He wore faded blue jeans and a black shirt under a black distressed leather jacket. Sunglasses covered his eyes, and he had an air of menace that surrounded him. He took a step toward her, and her heart sped up. Just as he opened his mouth to say something, a car horn honked continuously until it sounded right in her driveway.

She breathed out a sigh of relief knowing Kayla arrived.

“I’m sorry, miss, but I’ve lost by dog. Have you seen him?” He slid his sunglasses down so they rested on the bridge of his nose and stared at her with eyes the color of melted silver. “Have you seen him, miss?

“N-no, I’m sorry.”

He gave a half smirk before thanking her and walking down the street. Kayla got out of her car and stared at him with her mouth hanging open.

“Who, or should I say
what
, in the hell was that?” Kayla walked up to her, her eyes still on the man as she pushed her way inside and closed the door.

“He lost his dog.” Lana stared at the closed door, still feeling uneasy.

“Dog, huh? I have to say that was one hell of a man.” Kayla went into the kitchen and threw her purse on the counter. “Uh, I am in dire need of some caffeine.” She poured herself a big cup of coffee and sat at the kitchen table, looking at Lana above the rim. “Spill it.”

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Jenika Snow

She walked over and sat across from Kayla, her fingers twisting together as she suddenly became very nervous. Kayla set her cup down, her eyebrows knitting together as she stared at Lana.

“What’s wrong?”

“Okay, the story I am about to tell you is going to sound like a fairytale.” She looked at Kayla, one of her eyebrows arched as Kayla brought the cup to her mouth and took a long sip.

“Okay.”

* * * *

Lana watched Kayla as she finished telling her everything, the vampires, the blood drinking, absolutely every detail she could remember. Kayla sat back in the chair, her finger lazily running over the edge of her coffee cup, not speaking a word.

“Let me get this straight. You are dating this guy who happens to be a vampire, I mean a Blood Breed, and who has claimed you because you’re his
Chosen
? Oh, and last night you had unprotected sex with him, which, by the way, means you gave your virginity to him? Does that about sum it up?”

There was sarcasm and disbelief in her voice, but Lana couldn’t blame her. “Yeah, that about sums it up.”

“You have got to be kidding me. Aside from everything you just told me, which is so unbelievable I don’t know what to say about it, you had unprotected sex with a man. What about STDs? Pregnancy?”

Lana covered rubbed her face and stared at Kayla. “So after everything I just told you, the thing that sticks out in your mind is the whole virginity and no condom story?”

“Well, those are pretty big things. Honestly, Lana, so you actually expect me to believe you? The story is crazy.”

Lana shook her head and moved her hair off her neck, showing her the mark on the side of her throat. Kayla’s mouth dropped open as
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she leaned in close and lifted her arm to run her fingers across the tender spot.

“He bit you? I didn’t even know you where in to that kind of thing.”

Lana snorted as she let her hair fall back over her neck. “I’m not in to that kind of stuff. I’m showing you he is a vampire.”

“That doesn’t prove anything. Some people are into biting and stuff.”

“Look at me, Kay. Do I look like I’m into letting guys bite me?

I’m telling you the absolute truth. It was hard for me to believe at first, too, but when I saw everything, it was kind of hard not to believe.” Kayla leaned back in her seat again and didn’t speak. They stayed like that for several minutes, just watching at each other.

“You’re really not lying, are you? How can all of that even be possible?”

Lana nodded, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders at the knowledge that Kayla believed her. “I don’t know how it’s possible, but it is. Trust me, I’ve seen him change right before my eyes.”

“Wow. Do you think he’d do it in front of me?”

Shocked, Lana stared at her, surprised that Kayla actually wanted to see the change. “Are you serious? Why aren’t you more freaked out?”

She shrugged and got up to set her empty cup in the sink. “I guess I always thought that there was more out there than just
us
, you know.

I always believed in aliens, so why not open up my mind to the idea of vampires or mermaids or any other creature?”

“I guess, I mean, I just can’t believe how well you’re taking all of this.”

“Yeah, well, until I see the proof I am still a little skeptical.”

Lana breathed out and looked out the window.

“Listen, let’s just hang out, like old times. I can call Kaleb, and he can meet us for lunch. He is leaving tomorrow, you know.” Kayla reached across the table and placed her hand on top of Lana’s.

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Jenika Snow

“So soon?”

“Yeah, he got called back earlier than he expected. It can just be the three of us again, like the good old times.”

Lana couldn’t help the smile that covered her lips at the memories that came to mind—the three of them eating popcorn as they watched B-rated scary movies.

“Yeah, that sounds like fun.” And it did, something “normal” to get her mind off of everything that seemed anything but.

* * * *

Aleksei stood with his feet braced apart on the cushioned blue mat. Dimitri stood much the same way with his sword hanging loosely in his grip. They started to circle each other, hoping to best one another. Aleksei needed to work off some steam, and working with a punching bag didn’t have the same effect.

“Are you sure you’re up for this, old man?” Dimitri brought his sword up to shoulder level as he stared at him.

“Oh, so the youngling wants to throw out the old man jokes, huh?” In one swift move, he swung his sword around in a move that would have sent the blade right through Dimitri’s shoulder. He stepped out of the way at the last minute and brought his blade down, cutting Aleksei’s bare chest before he had time to side step away.

The warmth of his blood trickled down his skin a second before the cut knitted itself back together. “Very well done, although I have to say I gave you that one.”

Dimitri gave a loud and deep laugh before he held his weapon high in the air and went for Aleksei’s thigh. Using his speed as an advantage, Aleksei moved behind Dimitri before the Breed knew what happened and placed the blade to his neck. He pressed the tip to Dimitri’s skin so it started to cut his flesh. A small line of blood formed just as he pulled away.

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“See, that just pisses me off.” Dimitri spun around with a grin on his face and bent, sweeping his feet out and brought Aleksei to his back. Dimitri swung his blade down, aiming at Aleksei’s pectoral.

The blade slammed into the blue mat as Aleksei swung his sword in the air and ran it against Dimitri’s jean clad thigh. He hissed an oath and spun around with his sword held high. Adrenaline pumped through Aleksei’s veins, and he relished the sensation. He gave a purely predatory smile as they both lunged for each other at the same time.

* * * *

Osip left the female’s house pissed off and fuming. He should have just taken her, but then her little friend had shown up, and things would have just gotten messy. He had never been in a situation like this, and it infuriated him. He should have already had her, but no, he was playing these cat and mouse games, and they were getting old.

The female was so tiny all he would have had to do was grab her.

He ran a hand through his hair as he made his way back to his place.

He watched her house, waiting for the right opportunity, but it never came. The two females stayed inside the house before they both left in one car. He followed them to a small restaurant before following them from one shop to the next. He gave up and headed home.

He had a feeling her vampire would be back for her tonight, and as much as he wanted a confrontation, he didn’t have the time for it.

He would just have to wait until the following evening.