Chapter 22
Jared and Sid practically pulled Duncan’s door off the hinges as they both tried to fit through the door with Tessa being pulled behind them.
“What the hell?” Duncan and Sloan both stood.
Sid just pointed at Tessa, opened his mouth then shut it again.
Sloan took a step forward his eyes on Tessa. “You must be Tessa Pride.” His features softened as he looked at her. “I’m Sloan Murphy.” He inclined his head slightly. “On behalf of the Vampire Council I would like to thank you for giving us the vial. We have our people working on it now.”
“Why wouldn’t you help my brother when I called?” Tessa demanded rudely ignoring his thank you. She knew Sid and Jared had their agenda for being here now, but she had waited a long time to face one of the Council members. “If you would have been a little more understanding you would have had the vial sooner.”
His look of surprise was priceless. “I’m not sure I understand.” He looked at Jared then back to her.
“I called when my brother was first turned after we got away. I ask for help, but the only help the person on the other end wanted to offer was locking my brother up.” Tessa replied anger making her voice tremble.
“Why have I not been informed of this?” Sloan’s angry question was directed toward the warriors in the room.
“That’s what we would like to know.” Duncan replied. “I have been getting text messages from an unknown source. The number cannot be traced because it’s never the same phone number. The last text I received a half an hour ago indicated that we have a traitor in our mist. Whether it’s the council or among the warriors wasn’t clear.” He tossed his phone to Sloan.
The older vampire just stared at the phone his face a mask of irritation and rage. Finally he looked away and back to Tessa. “Ms. Pride I apologize for what has happened and believe me, we will get to the bottom of it. We are here for the protection of not only our own kind, but the human race and we take our job seriously.” Tessa nodded, still weary of her brother’s standing with the Council, but this guy seemed to be on the straight and narrow. “After meeting the warriors I believe that. They have done nothing but help my brother and the others who have been turned.”
He took his gaze from Tessa turning it on Sid and Jared. “Now what is so important you about tore Duncan’s door apart, not to mention dragging this beautiful young woman in here?”
Sid was still pointing. “I can’t read her.” Sid choked out casting a sideways glance at Jared who snarled at him.
Duncan’s head snapped back in shock. “What do you mean you can’t read her?”
“Nothing.” Sid pointed to her head glaring at her. “I mean absolutely nothing.”
Tessa rolled her eyes which caused Sloan to chuckle. He turned to Jared. “And you? Can you read her?”
“No.” Jared hissed his eyes narrowed at Sid. “Absolutely nothing.”
Well, at least Jared didn’t point to her head. “My brother said he unblocked me.” Tessa added as if it would help. She then noticed that both Duncan and Sloan were looking at her with the same horrified expression Sid had in the kitchen.
“You have got to be f*ckin kidding me.” Jared cursed smacking his hand on the wall beside him.
“Thank God! I thought I was literally dead meat.” Sid stepped away to stand beside Duncan and Sloan. All three stood staring at her as if she was some kind of science experiment. “Can she be a mate to more than one vampire?”
“Hell no she can’t!” Jared stepped in front of her bearing his fangs.
Sloan was the first to snap out of it. “Get her brother and Damon in here.” Sloan glared at Jared. “Put them fangs away warrior. No one here is going to touch her.”
“Damn straight.” Jared replied, but then did as told and backed down.
Adam walked in looking at the door dangling on the hinges. “What’s up?” He grinned, then his eyes narrowed at the tension in the room.
“You’re Adam Pride I take it?” Sloan assessed him quickly.
“Yeah.” Adam glanced quickly at Tessa. “And you are?”
“Sloan Murphy, Vampire Council.” He stated matter of factly. “Have you unblocked your sister?”
He waited for a second before answering. “Yes.”
“You’ve had her blocked ever since you both escaped?” He questioned further.
“At all times until just fifteen minutes ago.” Adam answered walking to Tessa to stand by her side.
“Impressive. Can you block anyone?”
“Yes.” Adam replied. “I can also read anyone, even if they block, by touching them.”
“What number am I thinking of?” Sloan put him to the test.
“Don’t know….you’re blocked.” Adam grasped his wrist when Sloan held out his arm. “One thousand six hundred and forty.”
“Nice.” Sloan grinned impressed. “You planning on joining with us?”
“Depends.” Adam didn’t grin or jump for joy at being complimented by one of the famed Council members.
“On?” Sloan frowned.
“What happens with my sister in the next few minutes because obviously this is about her.” Adam didn’t pull any punches. His loyalty has been and will always be with his family.
Sloan inclined his head. “I respect that, but your sister’s welfare is very important to us as is all human affairs.”
“Good.” Adam’s response was said firmly, his stance strong.
“I like him.” Sloan looked at Duncan. “Make sure he starts training right away. We can use someone like him on our side.
“Done.” Duncan replied glancing at Adam who hadn’t taken his eyes off the Council leader.
“Obviously you can read your sister.” Sloan said as Damon walked in the door.
Adam grinned. “Yes, but I don’t because she swore she would stab me in the heart with anything she could find.” At Sloan’s confused expression Adam glanced at Jared who nodded. “I have a heartbeat. The only way to kill us is to stab us in the heart. Silver doesn’t bother us either.”
“So you are truly half human..half vampire.” Sloan’s expression clearly showed his interest. “We seriously need to find out what is in that vial.”
“Okay, can we get back to this little problem we have.” Sid threw his hand up in the air. “I mean no disrespect, but I really want to live to see another day.” He eyed Jared who was still glaring at him.
Duncan looked over at Damon. “Can you read Tessa, because she is a total blank to everyone in this room other than her brother?”
“Yeah, totally nothing in there.” Sid pointed at her again as if accusing her of doing it on purpose.
Damon looked at Tessa and grinned. “Sid, I would suggest you stop saying there is nothing in her head because she is about ready to kick you…” Damon laughed staring at Tessa. “in your…ah…pride and joy.”
Sid narrowed his eyes, but took a step back. “So you can read her?” He asked Damon without taking his eyes off Tessa.
“Yes.” Damon actually winked at her. “Clear as day.”
“What the f*ck is going on.” Sid cursed truly freaking out. “I don’t want my brother thinking I’m going to move in on his territory.”
Sloan crossed his arms. “I’ve heard of this, but never experienced it before.”
“What?” Jared tried to keep the edge out of his voice, but failed.
“Where an unmated female has all the power.” Sloan sighed. “It can cause total chaos among vampires, especially warriors, if she doesn’t mate with one soon. It’s very rare and I have never heard of it happening with a human female before.”
“Doesn’t the male have to have some kind of feelings toward her?” Sid had started to calm down a little. “Cause I mean in all honestly she’s nice, but not my type.”
Tessa snorted. “That’s good cause you’re a little short for my liking and Brad Pitt never did anything for me.”
“She’s perfect.” Jared growled.
“I’m not saying she’s not.” Sid held out his hand. “Jesus, this is a no win situation. If I say she’s hot I get my ass handed to me by you and if I say I’m not a attracted to her I hurt her feelings. Dammit man. If I could sweat I’d be sweatin balls right now.”
Damon laughed followed by Duncan, Adam, Sloan and finally Jared. Tessa didn’t join in with their laughter she did smile however, shaking her head. “What in the hell have I gotten myself into?”
“That’s a loaded question.” Nicole walked into the room heading straight toward Damon. “Hey Sloan.”
“I guess you’ve been listening in.” Sloan grinned.
“Ah yeah.” Nicole snorted. “Have to make sure my girl was being treated right.”
“We are not barbarians Ms. Callahan.” Sloan sighed shaking his head.
“Most times.” Nicole shot them all a wicked grin. “Anyway I’m here to get Tessa so she can help me shop for some wedding stuff. Pam is going to meet us.”
Tessa and Nicole frowned when all the men started shaking their heads with huge frowns and talking at once. “We have training so you are going to have to wait.” Damon said above the other voices.
“Whoa! Whoa! Whooooa!” Nicole threw her hand up in the air her voice growing louder with each word. When they all stopped talking she put her hands on her hips. “First of all I didn’t ask your permission. Second of all I don’t want anyone going but my bridesmaids….”
“I thought Pam was your only bridesmaid?” Damon frowned.
“Noooo.” Nicole said slowly as if he was an idiot. “I told you last night, but obviously you were not listening, that Tessa was also going to be my bridesmaid because you have fifty groomsmen and I don’t want to look like a loser so I was going to ask Tessa to stand up with me.”
“Seriously?” Tessa grinned clapping her hands together.
“I don’t have fifty groomsmen.” Damon grumbled with frown.
Nicole nodded at her grinning back. “Guess I should ask you.”
“Yes!” Tessa laughed. “I would love to be a bridesmaid.”
“Sweet.” Nicole leaned up and gave Damon a peck on the cheek. “See ya soon babe.”
“I don’t like this.” Jared frowned. “Adam, go with them.”
“What? Ah, come on.” Adam actually whined. “I don’t want to go shopping with them.”
“Good call cause we don’t want you coming. Love ya kid, but you’ll cramp our style.” Nicole patted Adam on the cheek. “We’ll be fine. I got vamp moves now.” Nicole bobbed her eyebrows up and down.
Jared rolled his eyes before glaring at Damon. Damon just shrugged his shoulders with a grin. Tessa went to walk past him, but he grabbed her pulling her close kissing her so hard he bent her over backwards.
“Oh God my eyes!” Adam gagged scrambling to the door. “Dude that’s my sister…ugh.”
“We get the point man.” Sid grumbled with a good natured grin as he followed Adam out the door. “She’s yours. Get a room man.” Everyone else got busy with anything other than watching Jared attack Tessa.
Jared slowly pulled her to an upright position with their lips still sealed. Finally letting her go he tipped her reddened face to his. “Stay safe and keep your phone on and with you at all times.”
Tessa nodded looking into his eyes suddenly not sure she wanted to go with Nicole, but go back to Jared’s room instead.
Grabbing Tessa by the arm Nicole pulled her away and out the door. “Girl we need to have a serious conversation.” Nicole groaned at the glazed look in Tessa’s eyes. “Damn warriors.”