14. Daisies and Deceit
Before I knew what was happening, Caden was easing me to the ground, my legs having given out on me. “What’s wrong?”
My mouth opened but it took a few tries to form any words and when I did, they came out in rapid spurts and stammers. “I couldn’t … I couldn’t have been more than four. The playground near our old apartment. Red and white–striped monkey bars. The old kind.”
“What playground?”
“The one in Sofie’s painting!”
Caden crouched down in front of me, cupping my chin gently with his hands. “Evangeline, slow down. You’re rambling. Start from the beginning.”
I took a deep breath, suddenly overwhelmed with nausea. I swallowed a few times before I could speak. “Sofie painted a picture and hung it in my room at Viggo and Mortimer’s. It’s a picture of a little girl picking daisies in a playground.” I paused. “I knew there was something familiar about it …” I locked eyes with him. “It was me! Sofie’s been watching me since I was four years old!”
Caden sighed heavily, pivoting to sit on the ground beside me. “I wonder why?”
I shrugged. My whole body felt numb from the shock. “It means she’s lying. She told me she didn’t mean for this to happen to me, but she did. She’s been planning it for fourteen years!”
He thought for a moment. “Or she’s leaving important details out.”
“Not telling me more than I need to know,” I murmured. It was exactly what she’d told me to do. “I wonder if Viggo knows. If he does, he hasn’t let on. Maybe he didn’t want to freak me out.”
“Maybe,” Caden said softly, though his tone suggested doubt. “Why would she paint that picture, though? It’s as if she wanted to you find out.”
“Some sort of sick joke?”
He shrugged. “Or some other reason. I don’t know what’s going on, but I guarantee you there’s a lot more to it than any of them are letting on. It’s what I’ve been trying to tell you.”
I nodded, committing that to memory. I’d have to question everything from now on.
Caden leaned in, his shoulder nudging mine affectionately. “You going to be okay? You look a little pale.”
Nausea surged through my body again. “I feel … like I just found out I’ve been standing naked in a room full of people with magnifying glasses for years.” I shuddered. “I can’t trust anyone.”
“No. No one,” he said with cold certainty.
“Even the dog is against me,” I mumbled, picking tiny leaves off a fern branch and tossing them aside.
“Assume you’re only ever getting half the truth—if any.”
I hesitated, terrified of the answer. “Even from Amelie and Fiona and Bishop … and you?”
“Yes,” he said quickly. “I mean,” he looked off in the distance, frowning, “we want you to trust us, but we don’t expect you to do so blindly. We hope we’ll earn it one day.”
I already trust you, I whispered to him in my thoughts.
He turned and locked eyes with me for a moment, his expression unreadable. He opened his mouth as if to speak, then quickly clamped it shut. Grabbing my hand, he pull me up. “Come on. Let’s keep walking, if you’re up to it.”
“As long as there are no more lurking animals. I’m feeling pretty fragile right now.” Fragile, but unbroken, somehow—though by all counts I should have fallen apart. Any normal person would have by now, wouldn’t they?
Caden reached down to pick up the daisies I’d scattered when I realized the extent of Sofie’s treachery. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have.”
“No!” I exclaimed, grabbing the flowers out of his hand and inhaling their scent again, welcoming the fond memories that flooded back with it. My mother’s laughter as she chased me through the park … “Thanks for these.” I smiled timidly. “I love daisies.”
Caden picked up a pebble and casually threw it into the trees, no doubt hitting some impossible target I couldn’t see. “I know.” He laughed at my bewilderment.
“We’d better get to the others before they empty the stream.” He began walking briskly down the path, calling over his shoulder, “Hurry up, pokey!”
I trailed quietly, alternating my attention between the perfect, agile body ahead and the daisies in my hand before saying, “So Fiona and Amelie obviously told you a few things about me.”
“Obviously.”
“What else did they tell you?” I asked, wracking my brain to remember the conversation.
He responded by casually tossing out his own question. “So you’ve never even had one boyfriend?”
Ugh. They told him that? I felt my face flush at the thought of them discussing my pathetic social life. So he must have figured out there’s something wrong with me.
“I never would have guessed it, based on the other night …” He glanced back, and I saw the corner of his mouth curving in a smirk.
The other night? What’s he— My eyes bulged as I realized he was talking about the night of the attack. I opened my mouth to respond several times, always faltering, lost for words. Even the pendant’s powerful magic couldn’t have masked my blazing cheeks. Mercifully, Caden kept his eyes ahead.
We wandered deep within the valley forest, where the trees blocked out most of the sunlight. In the few places where the thick canopy granted the sun access, shafts of light beamed down over the area like spotlights, the contrast between the deep shadows and the sunrays creating a mystical setting.
An enormous, knotty tree root jutted at least six feet from the ground, blocking our path. I hooked my foot into a nook and started climbing, but Caden’s hands grabbed my waist and yanked me back down. “Where are you going?” He laughed, and in the next instant, we were sailing over to the other side.
“I thought you couldn’t fly,” I said sarcastically, releasing the mouthful of air I had sucked in.
“That was a jump.” He chuckled and continued walking.
We found the others sitting on a pile of rocks beside a narrow, murky river that wove through the trees. Fluorescent green algae rested like a camouflage on its surface, bright against the inky water and the dark forest.
“So we’re going to … fish?” I asked, eyeing the metal rod Bishop held. Three more lay beside him, nestled among some ferns. This is what vampires do to kill time?
Caden smirked. “You sound surprised.”
“I thought your diet consisted of … liquid.”
“They’re for Bishop’s pet. Are you any good?”
“I don’t know; I’ve never tried. But I don’t see myself as much of the ‘angler and hunter’ type,” I answered.
Caden laughed, picking up a rod. “You could be a natural cave woman.”
“Maybe.” I doubt it. Seeing anything with more than two legs scurry past made my skin crawl so I didn’t expect a flapping, slimy fish impaled on a hook would bring about a different reaction. I crouched by the riverbank and laid my flowers beside it with their stems dipped in the murky water.
“Whoa! Not too close,” Caden exclaimed, leaning over to pull me back. “There are things in this water you don’t want to … disturb.”
A shiver ran down my back as I studied at the calm river. “Like snakes?”
Bishop answered. “Snakes, crocodiles, piranhas—I’m surprised you didn’t meet one of them the night you went in for Amelie.”
“But you didn’t,” Caden reminded me, seeing my eyes widen. He threw a look of exasperation Bishop’s way.
“Here you go, Eve,” Bishop said, smirking as he handed me a rod.
My mother used to call me that.
“I found these babies in a vault a few hundred years ago and I’ve been hoarding them ever since. I knew I’d have a reason to keep them!”
I stood awkwardly holding the rod. “Okay … what do I do now?” I inspected the metal contraption at the end of the long pole. A reel, Caden informed me.
“Well, first, you put one of these on.” Bishop picked something up off the ground beside him and grabbed my free hand. He placed a six–inch leech into my palm. It began wiggling and I shrieked, shaking the slimy thing off my hand. “Poor little fella.” Bishop stooped down to pick the disgusting thing up. Grabbing the end of my line, he jabbed the barbed hook through its body several times. It writhed furiously, trying to escape.
I screwed up my face in disgust.
Bishop snickered. “You’re such a girl.”
Fiona glanced over. “Bishop, seriously, you are so juvenile sometimes.” She rolled her eyes at me. “Sorry.”
Bishop squatted beside Caden, who already had a line in the water. Caden chuckled. “So those leeches are terrifying.”
“Not terrifying, repulsive. Two entirely different things,” I clarified, bending down to wipe the leech gunk off my hand on some leaves. I straightened and regarded my rod. “Okay, I’m in need of a lesson.”
Caden seemed happy to oblige, using his own rod to demonstrate how to cast and reel in.
“Looks simple enough,” I said and got ready to cast. My bandaged hand made things difficult.
Caden held up his hands. “Wait.”
I froze, assuming his vampire senses noticed something in the water.
“Wait … hold on … okay, now! And put your whole body into it,” he commanded.
I complied with his instructions, swinging the rod back over my right shoulder before casting forward with all my strength. But my hook lodged in something behind me, at the same time that a howl of protest made me whirl.
Bishop stood wincing, the sharp metal barb through his left earlobe. I gasped, tears welling. “I’m so sorry!”
Beside me, Caden and Fiona were doubled over in laughter. Caden straightened and strolled over to inspect the hook. “Nice catch!” he called back to me, winking.
I rushed forward with the intention of begging forgiveness but stopped short, cringing, as Bishop yanked the hook out of his ear, tearing a sizeable chunk of flesh out with it. I expected blood to start gushing but the wound immediately closed up, leaving his ear looking unscathed.
“Pay more attention next time!” Caden lectured Bishop, giving him a whack on his back.
“Fiona was distracting me with—” Bishop stopped, realizing he was the dupe in a joint effort by Caden and her. “You’ll pay for that later, woman,” he threatened Fiona, though he was grinning when he said it. “My new shirt’s ruined now!” He rubbed the sleeve where a few drops of blood had landed.
I stood there, wide–eyed with both amazement and horror.
“Don’t worry, Bishop’s fine,” Caden said, strolling over to gently squeeze my shoulder. “It’s next to impossible to catch one of us unaware like that. Impressive.”
“What was Fiona distracting him with?” I asked, frowning. But then I saw the devilish smile she gave him and his answering grin, and I had a good idea what it was. I turned away, flushing.
Caden cast his hook into the water and seated himself on a boulder. I followed suit, glancing around to check for snakes. “So how long have they been together?”
“They met during the war. Bishop had just been turned and he was lost. It’s not a natural process, the transition to what we are. He likely would have been killed in the war, had Fiona not taken to him. She took him under her wing, helped him. They’ve been together ever since.”
“Wow. Seven hundred years? That’s a long time to be with one person.”
Caden smirked. “For a human, yes. Human desires change with age. People outgrow one another. It’s different with us. Every day with Fiona feels like the first day Bishop met her—the sparks, butterflies, all that.”
“Butterflies … I thought that was a chick thing,” I muttered.
“No, definitely not,” Caden murmured, glancing peculiarly at me before turning back to his rod.
“What about you and Amelie? Were you … turned in the war?”
Caden shook his head. “An attack about forty years before the war.” He paused. “I was twenty–four. Amelie was twenty–one. Our parents ran a horse ranch, thoroughbreds—The Jennings Resort for Horses, some called it. One night we heard this awful sound coming from the barn. My father grabbed his shotgun, expecting to scare off some thieves. When we hadn’t heard from him for too long, I grabbed another gun and headed out. Amelie and our mother followed with flashlights. We got to one of the barns and …” Caden’s voice fell; he stared out at the placid water. “There were rumors of strange things happening at cattle and horse farms but nothing could have prepared us … Every horse in that barn was dead, their throats torn out, blood sprayed over the walls, the hay—everything. Mom and Amelie ran to get the police while I checked out the other barns, looking for my father …” Caden’s voice drifted off and he sat for a moment, deep in thought. “I found him lying beside one of his prize–winning stallions. And that’s where they found me—I never even saw a face.”
I noticed the tip of his fishing rod dip, but Caden didn’t seem too concerned.
“They decided Amelie and I were too appealing to waste—we’d make good additions.” His voice was edged with bitterness.
“I’m so sorry, Caden,” I said softly. And I was. It pained me to know that he and Amelie had suffered so.
He gazed down at his hands, a haunted smile on his face. “Do you realize that’s the first time I’ve ever heard those words from anyone?”
My heart sank. I wanted to wrap my arms around him, to comfort him, to take his grief away.
I glanced over to the others as Amelie leapt into the air, squealing with excitement about the fish dangling at the end of her hook.
“So … Caden Jennings,” I said aloud. Evangeline Jennings, the voice in my head said. I shook my head, feeling foolish.
He sighed. “In another time, yes. Amelie is all that’s left of my family. At least we found Bishop and Fiona.”
What about Rachel?
I noticed that the pile of fish had grown quickly as we talked. There was enough there to supply a supermarket. “So Bishop’s pet is going to eat all of those?” I nodded at the silvery mound. “How big is this pet, exactly?”
The end of my rod dipped, followed by a second, then a third tug—the last one sharp. “I think I caught something!” I whispered, as if speaking too loud would let the fish know he was ensnared on a sharp hook. Like he’s not already well aware of that.
“Reel it in!” Caden exclaimed. As if in response, the tugging became fierce and frantic. It was all I could do to grip the rod in my injured hand. Caden reached around me and placed his hands over mine, helping me wind the reel. “Almost,” he murmured, his mouth close enough that his voice tickled my ear.
I’m going to pass out, I thought, feeling a strange excitement ripple through my body. By the time the line was out of the water, I was too busy trying to stop my hands from trembling under his to notice a fish three times the size of the others dangling off my hook.
“Big Brown’s gonna love that one!” Bishop hollered.
“Who’s Big Brown?” I croaked, allowing myself to release the breath I’d unknowingly held during the entire ordeal.
“He is,” Bishop said, jerking his chin toward someone behind me.
I turned, expecting to see another cat. Instead, a grizzly bear with fur the color of milk chocolate lumbered toward us, equivalent in size to a young elephant I’d once seen at the Portland Zoo. It was eyeing the prize at the end of my rod—or me; I wasn’t exactly sure which yet. My mouth opened to scream but no sound came out.
“It’s okay,” Caden whispered calmly, pulling me closer to him, his other arm slowly wrapping protectively around me. “No sudden movements and it’ll be okay.”
I couldn’t move if I wanted to. Caden’s arms were like a vise. “He’s big,” I managed to whisper. Big enough to slice me into six pieces with one swing of his paw. The ground shook as the bear neared us. I tasted bile in my throat. “I’m going to be sick,” I groaned, wanting to give Caden some warning. I turned my face, praying he was out of range. I’d rather be torn apart by this beast than puke on Caden.
Big Brown stooped to sniff the fish on my line and then, with one lightning–quick chomp, bit the thing right off the line and swallowed it whole—hook, leech, and all. He continued on to the pile of fish behind Amelie and devoured it in mere seconds. No one moved.
With that pile done, he ambled over to stand in front of Bishop, stooping so that their eyes were level. After a minute–long menacing stare–down, Big Brown simply turned and barreled away, disappearing within seconds.
“No signs of anyone coming,” Bishop said. “He can tell you’re not one of us,” he added, looking at me.
“So he’s like Scout. And Max,” I confirmed.
“Yes, only less predictable,” Caden answered, his arms dropping from their protective embrace around me.
I took that as my signal to slide away from him, to allow for the appropriate amount of space. I began inching away.
“You seem cold. If you’re warmer next to me, you should stay put.”
I bit my lower lip. Before catching the fish, I had been contemplating taking off my pink fleece hoody. Even in the shadows of the trees, the air was muggy. “I am a bit cold,” I lied, faking a shiver. Caden turned his attention back to the river, a knowing smirk on his face. Could he tell I’m lying? “So … that’s Big Brown,” I said, changing the topic.
Caden chuckled. “It’ll take some time before he lets you rub his belly.”
“And he eats fish? He’ll need a lot more than that pile.”
“That’s just it. He’s a bottomless pit. I think he’s devoured half the deer population around here in a few weeks; we’ll be fighting with him over food soon enough. Bishop didn’t know what he was getting himself into. He should have stuck with wolves; even a cougar would have been a wiser choice. This one’s a lot more work to feed and much more difficult to convert.”
“Really? Don’t you just have to bite them?”
Caden chuckled, shaking his head. “It’s the same process as converting a human—with venom—but grizzlies fight back and they’re vicious. More than likely, the animal will rip you to shreds before you can pump enough venom into him. You’ll heal, of course, but … It took Bishop three tries. You should have seen him.” Caden released another chuckle. “He was practically naked when he stumbled into the cave, his clothing bloody and shredded to pieces.”
My eyes went wide. “Well, why would he do it, then?”
Caden paused, choosing his words. “Cougars and wolves make fierce allies. They’re quick, fierce, and follow command like a programmed soldier. They usually travel in packs, making it easier to take down a vampire if they have to. Their teeth are strong enough to tear him or her apart and then carry the heart to us so we can burn it.” He stopped talking, a funny smirk on his face. “You’re looking at me like I have two heads,” he commented.
“I’m sorry … heart?”
He grinned. “Yes, we still do have hearts in here.” He thumped a fist against his chest. “All of our organs are still there. I guess they’re basically ornaments now, though. Useless. Except our heart.”
“Don’t forget to tell her about that other organ that still serves a useful purpose,” Bishop boomed. “You know, our—”
Fiona cut him off with a swift whack across the chest. “You’re a regular Casanova,” she muttered, shaking her head. Behind her, Amelie was giggling.
“So, your heart still works?” I blurted, getting flustered as I realized what Bishop was about to say.
Caden was shaking his head, eyes downcast, smiling to himself. I wasn’t sure if it was at my loss of composure or at Bishop’s brazenness. “Our heart,” he began again, glancing over at Bishop, who was grinning like the Cheshire cat, “still beats and pumps blood through our veins. As long as our heart remains within our bodies, we can regenerate. And it’s strong. Piercing it with a wooden stake or a sword won’t kill us, unless the weapon is on fire. That’s the only definite way to kill one of us—burn our heart, either with our body or on its own. If you can get it out of us, that is.”
“Once,” Amelie spoke up, “I saw a vampire’s head get cut off and thrown aside. A few minutes later, the body stumbled around, looking for it. When it picked it up and ‘plugged’ it back in, all the flesh mended itself. Good as new.”
“Oh, come on!” I looked skeptically at her.
“Honest. Scout’s honor!” She held up two fingers.
I glanced at the others, expecting to see a hidden smirk or the crook of a smile.
“Well, don’t say I didn’t warn you!” Amelie chirped.
“Always burn them,” Fiona said in a serious tone. “That way, you know they can’t come back and hunt you down—because, believe me, they’ll be pissed.”
“As if any human would get a chance in the first place,” Bishop muttered sarcastically.
Caden nodded in concession. “Back to Big Brown. A pack of cats or wolves can’t match the ferocity of one grizzly. Having an animal that powerful at your command, especially in a situation like this, where we need all the protection we can get—that’s why Bishop did it. One of those things will rip a heart right out of a chest cavity and eat it … good luck trying to get that back.”
I glanced over at Bishop, lying precariously on a bed of rocks, flicking Fiona’s ear. He still looked like that easygoing, sometimes obtuse cool kid from high school. Not exactly someone who ever paid an ounce of attention to me, let alone willingly battled a two ton animal three times for my protection.
My heart swelled.
As the shadows lengthened and the dappled sunshine faded, the first pangs of hunger rumbled in my stomach. I was sure it was a mistake—I hadn’t been here that long, had I? It rumbled again, this time loud enough to attract Caden’s attention. He looked down at my stomach, then up at my face, concern sweeping over his. “Time to go!” he announced. “The human is hungry.”
I shrugged it off, not wanting to disrupt their fun. “I’m okay.”
“No you’re not. Come on!” He hopped to his feet, whistling.
“What am I, a pet?” I quipped.
Caden threw an arm around my shoulders and pulled me close to his chest, scratching behind my ear.
“Ha–ha,” I said sarcastically, hazarding a peek up to find those beautiful jade eyes gazing back, an inexplicable look in them. You are so unbelievably hot. My heart began thumping wildly in my chest. Thank God the pendant masks that.
“Ready to go?” Caden asked, chuckling.
I nodded dumbly. Anywhere. I’ll go anywhere with you.
“Looks like chicken feed,” Bishop commented dryly, his nose scrunching up in disgust as I inhaled three nature bars. They had found me some figs and berries to snack on but the exertion of walking up the mountain drove my hunger to levels of starvation.
I good– humoredly elbowed him in the stomach, wincing as my funny bone cracked against his rock hard muscles. He bellowed laughter, earning an eye roll from Fiona.
“What a mess!” Amelie announced as she surveyed the stuff scattered all over the cave, though her childlike face wore an eager expression. Suddenly she shrieked, diving down to grab something small and black. She held it up. A bathing suit.
I frowned. Why would Sofie—that’s right. I had mentioned the oasis. I didn’t think she was paying attention though.
Amelie frantically rooted around until she found one for each of us. Trunks in hand, Bishop and Caden bolted, Caden covering his eyes dramatically to hide his view of his sister, who had already begun shamelessly peeling off her clothes.
Fiona handed me a black bikini. I swallowed, holding up the two–piece, trying to figure out top from bottom. There was more string than covering. “Is there something in there a little more … modest?”
“Oh, don’t be silly, Evangeline,” Fiona murmured, already adjusting her own skimpy hot pink bikini over her supermodel–like curves.
“Okay,” I grumbled, changing quietly, dreading standing next to these two. When I was done I felt naked, even though all my vitals were covered. The cold air wasn’t helping.
“What are you looking for?” Amelie asked, seeing my eyes darting over the piles of clothing.
“There was a big, fuzzy red blanket somewhere here.”
“Come on!” Fiona looped her arm through mine and dragged me down the tunnel, picking up speed until we were jogging. Amelie ran ahead of us, giggling hysterically, holding a giant flashlight that had come in the mountain bag.
I forced them to slow to a walk, out of breath. “So … when do you think Rachel will be back?” I asked casually.
“When the Council gets bored of watching vampires bludgeon each other nearly to death, only to heal and do it over again,” Fiona answered. I cringed in horror as she elaborated: “A gladiator tournament.”
“She’s a Council member and, as such, must keep up appearances,” Amelie added in a haughty voice in snide imitation of Rachel.
“Where did she go?”
“To New Shore. It was the capital city when this was a country. Most of it has crumbled and grown over now. She wouldn’t have gone if she had known you would be here—you’re so early! She won’t be back for another week, at least,” Fiona answered.
I exhaled loudly, earning a laugh from them. “She’s not the nicest person I’ve ever met,” I said, wrinkling my nose.
Fiona snorted. “Evangeline, you’re too polite. She’s a cold–hearted, vicious bitch!” Her violet eyes flashed with anger.
I looked at her, not prepared for the blatant loathing in her normally serene voice. “Yes, well, she is also drop–dead gorgeous. I guess all guys are the same.”
“What?” Amelie asked, her face twisting with confusion. “Ohhh, you mean Caden. Believe me, their ‘relationship’—and I use that term loosely—has nothing to do with her looks,” Amelie said. “But she is madly in love with him—crazy, fanatical, psychopath love.”
“But he doesn’t love her?” A spark of hope—a glimmer of the impossible—ignited within me.
Fiona held her finger up to her lips as we rounded the corner and entered the oasis, ending the conversation before I could get an answer.
“Wow,” I mumbled, taking in the scene. Steam rose from the water, swirling in the chilly mountain air that stirred the countless flames around the cavern to create a beautiful, dreamlike mist.
We found Bishop and Caden relaxing in a small, circular alcove. The water lapped just below their chests, the precise height to adequately show off Caden’s strong shoulders and neck. He had the perfect curves and ridges around his frame, the perfect amount of flesh and muscle to make him look neither beefy nor lanky. Perfect. I heard myself groan wistfully before I could control myself.
They stopped talking and turned, Caden’s eyes immediately landing on me. My shoulders hunched inward as I instinctively wanted to hide, wishing I could cocoon myself in that red blanket. Maybe the mist will blur his vision, I hoped. Highly doubtful. I wrapped my arms around my chest, trying to cover my entire upper body—a justifiable action, considering the chill in the air.
Fiona trotted over and slithered in beside Bishop, wrapping her arms around him before resting her head on his broad shoulder. Amelie was no less confident about her body as she jumped in beside Fiona, taking enough space for herself that I was forced to squeeze in beside Caden.
Next to those two, I probably resembled a rodent, scurrying to the edge and gracelessly clambering down, half tumbling in my hurry to find concealment in the water. Caden offered his hand and I took it, knowing I would likely end up falling on top of him otherwise. I didn’t know what was wrong with me lately. I wasn’t so physically inept anywhere else but near them and their superpowers.
When the warm water covered my flesh, I was able to relax and breathe again.
“Ah, the good old days: hot tubs, girls in bikinis …” Bishop reminisced, leaning back with his arms stretched lazily to either side of him, displaying his muscular biceps. “Eve—next time back, surfboards and a keg, ‘kay?” He waited for my giggle and nod of assent before his head fell back and he closed his eyes, resting peacefully.
“So, you all used to be human, right? Do you forget all of your skills when you … convert?” I asked cautiously. “I mean, why couldn’t you pick up where humans left off, with all the manufacturing, electricity—all that stuff?”
“Sounds so simple, doesn’t it?” Caden laughed without mirth. “Because we’re narcissistic, selfish creatures who want all the luxuries with none of the hard work behind it.” He paused. “Think of Viggo and Mortimer. The ‘good vampires.’” I caught the sarcasm. “Where do they get their money? Do you see them working? Earning a living?” Caden’s Adam’s apple protruded as he dropped his head back against the rock ledge. I had the urge to run my finger along it, but I resisted. He chuckled. “They rob their victims. They go after the ones whose wallets are thick, and whose illicit activities make their death unsurprising and welcomed. I’d bet my life on it. It’s what I used to do.”
I shuddered at his blunt admission. But was he right? I had wondered where they earned their money.
Caden continued. “You’ll be hard–pressed to find a vampire fixing toilets or serving drinks, unless they have an ulterior motive.”
“Sofie serves coffee,” I answered, challenging him.
Caden’s head rolled to face me. “I wonder why …” His voice was soft, protective. A gentle warning.
“You’re right. I have to question everything, don’t I?”
He nodded, a small smile touching his lips before he sat up again.
My eyes drifted around the alcove, landing on each vampire for a brief moment, listening to them chatter and laugh happily. That means I’m supposed to question all of you? The idea distressed me. I didn’t want to question them.
Every fiber of my body was keenly aware of Caden’s presence, so close to me. Now and again his arm would bump against mine as he laughed. I’m sure it was accidental, but each one of those nudges sent electric ripples through my body. I managed to steal several glances at him, pacing myself so I didn’t get caught ogling. Soft–looking masculine fuzz had started to grow in the center of his chest. Hairy chests had never appealed to me before. Now, though …
“Bishop?” Fiona’s low, worried voice cut into my fantasies. I glanced over to see the male vampire no longer languishing in the tub but sitting rigid, scowling and shushing her with his hand while he listened for something. The group sat tense for a moment, aware of something I was blind to.
Finally he shook his head, then grinned at Caden. “Nothing. Big Brown took care of it.”
He had been communicating telepathically with his pet. About what, though? “More vampires?” I guessed, a shiver running down my back.
“Not anymore,” Caden answered, turning to smile reassuringly at me. “We’re good.”
“Told you he was worth the battle.” Bishop smirked arrogantly at Fiona, then threw a wink in my direction. He leaned back again, closing his eyes.
More vampires. Lurking in the mountains—the mountains I had hoped would be impenetrable—on their way here to torture me when they found me. I swallowed a lump. “Are they ever going to stop?” I whispered. “One of them may get past—”
“They won’t.” Caden’s voice was soothing. “Don’t worry.” Underwater, an invisible hand landed on my knee and squeezed gently before sliding away again. A thrill rippled from the point of contact to the rest of my body. I swallowed. If he was trying to distract me, he was doing a fantastic job.
“You wanna go stretch? I need to stretch,” Amelie announced, grabbing my hand and effortlessly pulling me to the connecting pool, no doubt to further distract me from the talk of vampires in the jungle.
“Sure,” I mumbled, glancing back at Caden. He was watching me. Always watching.
When I learned that “stretching” meant doing a swan dive off a twenty foot–high boulder into a shallow part of the pool where jagged rocks peppered the bottom, I politely declined. I instead dove under, swimming toward the center of the lake.
Something brushed lightly against my leg. I turned to see Caden beside me, giving me an open–mouth grin, reminding me that I was the only one who had to resurface for air. We both surfaced.
“Follow me. I want to show you something,” he said. I nodded eagerly, willing to follow him into the pits of hell. “Big breath, okay?”
I nodded again. We dove under and Caden grabbed my hand and began towing me, swimming effortlessly. Down, down we descended, flying through the water at high speed. As the lake floor dropped beneath us, swallowing us whole, I began to think the pits of hell was exactly where we were headed. Soon I couldn’t even see my arms in the darkness enveloping me. Caden must have sensed my agitation because he drew me closer, one of his arms wrapping around my waist to pull my back against his chest. Now I had two things to freak out over—the paralyzing darkness and Caden’s proximity.
I sensed a directional change. And then we finally surfaced. Spent air burst from my mouth and I inhaled loudly. Luckily I had been so focused on his hand against my ribcage that I forgot about panicking over my need for air.
“Too bad the pendant can’t breathe for you,” he said into my ear, still holding me tightly.
“Yeah, that’d be helpful.” My voice broke. “Where are we?” I looked up at moonlight shining down through a circle of night sky—a gaping hole, I realized—to illuminate the placid lake and a powerful waterfall maybe thirty feet high, far down on the other side of this particular spot.
“We’re on the other side of the mountain, near the ocean.”
Caden’s arms slid from my body. I turned to see him already out of the water, standing on a rock ledge that extended the full length of the cave wall. The black and gray swim trunks that Sofie had chosen for him sat low on his hips, revealing the defined, muscular shape of his abdomen and pelvic bones. A fine line of hair crept all the way down his stomach, disappearing under the waistband of his trunks …
“Evangeline?” The sound of my name snapped me from my blatant gawking. I turned away quickly, heat crawling up my neck. You’re such a pervert, Evangeline. It took a moment to regain my composure. When I finally felt brave enough to look back, Caden was grinning at me, not the least bit uncomfortable. He offered his hand. “Here.”
I took it, and he effortlessly yanked me out into icy air. My body tensed with the cold. I briefly considered jumping back into the water but Caden’s grip on my hand tightened. “Come on.” Caden began walking briskly along the ledge, tugging me along.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“I want to show you something.”
We walked to the other side of the cave and stopped by the ferocious waterfall, the sound of its rushing water reminding me of Viggo and Mortimer’s jet engine. Caden turned and said something.
“Pardon?” I yelled.
He leaned in close, his mouth next to my ear. “You need to hold on tight.” I nodded, squeezing his hand. Chuckling with amusement, he yanked me toward him until our chests were touching. My heart started pounding. I heard myself suck in air as he again moved his mouth next to my ear. “Close your eyes and put your face against my chest.” The vibrations from his words tickled my skin, making my heart pound harder. “You feeling okay?” His voice was innocent enough.
“Yup,” I said, annoyed with the telltale thumping in my chest. How can he not know? Could this vampire be that oblivious? Maybe he could be, thanks to my necklace.
“Are you sure?”
More vibrations causing more tickling causing more pounding. My breathing became raspy. Unable to speak, I instead nodded and buried my face in his chest, expecting to pass out.
His body shook. Was he laughing? He leaned in to speak to me again. “Wrap your arms around me.”
I locked my arms around his back, feeling his smooth skin and rigid muscles. His strong arms lifted my body, squeezing tightly. The ground suddenly disappeared from beneath us. And at that moment I realized Caden’s intention. We were jumping through that giant, ferocious waterfall.
The torrent of water hit us, beating down on every muscle in my shoulders and back and effortlessly driving my hands apart. Thankfully my bare feet were touching hard ground before I had a chance to panic.
“You can come out now,” Caden whispered.
I pulled my face away from the comfortable nook I had located in his chest.
“I figured it was best not to tell you what we were doing,” he explained, looking sheepish.
“Good call,” I muttered, allowing only a fleeting scowl. I can’t be mad at you.
He smiled—such a sweet, genuine smile—then nodded to something behind us. I turned. And squinted at a sea of silver, thousands of metallic, ropelike vertical strands glowing brilliantly in the darkness of a wide tunnel. They swayed gracefully back and forth as if being coerced by a gentle breeze that never touched my skin. They had to be at least three feet high, growing in round clumps right out of the bedrock.
Stepping forward, awe slowing my feet, I reached out to touch one of the strands. It was soft and pliable, like yarn. My eyes widened. I knew what it was.