In the Beginning... Read online

  Aodhan nodded, then watched his sister walk away. Auri so longed to be loved. She had been there when her best friend, the healer Kindara, met her own Rajni. And had been there for her friend after that Rajni had been murdered at Leo Taniss’s hands. Understood how deep a Rajni bond went. And Auri had seen many of her age mates find their mates through the last two hundred years. Female Dardaptoans scarcer than males often found their Rajnis earlier, usually around their two or three hundred years. But Auri was past that, and still alone. Aodhan knew his sister wanted her mate and children, despite her insistence that she was a warrior of Equal measure to any male of their Adrastos family house. Auri had always had such a soft spot for children.

  Hopefully, his sister would find her own happiness sometime soon. Aodhan hated seeing the hope fade from her eyes a little more each year she spent alone.

  Chapter Eleven

  After he led her back to the damned suite Mallory waited until he was gone to do whatever it was damned vampires did for a living, then took another shower and scrubbed herself clean. She couldn’t seem to remove the feel of his touch against her skin, no matter how hot she ran the water or how hard she scrubbed her body. Finally after nearly an hour under the spray, she sank to the bottom of the shower stall, and wrapped her arms around her knees. Giving up.

  She didn’t cry. She didn’t think she had any tears left to cry. It wasn’t him she was trying to wash away, and she finally had to admit that to herself. She’d fed from him, had touched him and tasted his blood willingly. Willingly. God, there was no way she could go home. Not and be around her sisters and cousins. Some of her male cousins were still teenagers, the youngest Taniss, Dylan, was only twelve! She couldn’t be around them, couldn’t put them in danger.

  And neither could Emily, Josey, or Mickey. It wouldn’t be fair to any of them.

  Mallory felt ill when the realization sank in that she had to stay right where she was. She had to protect the rest of their human family from what she and the others had all become.

  She pulled the remnants of her strength around herself, and stood. She flicked off the still steaming hot water then stepped out of the shower. She dried herself and dressed, deliberately donning the turquoise tunic and trousers identical to what she’d seen him wear instead of the jeans and sweatshirt with Dardanos Resort emblazoned across it he’d ordered her from somewhere.

  If she was no longer human, she would no longer dress as such. No, she’d wear this symbol of whatever it was she’d become until the knowledge of the danger she presented others was instinctive within her. She wound the white silk scarf around her waist deliberately, and another around her hair, then studied herself in the mirror.

  Determination was evident in her face and she squared her shoulders.

  She had survived so much worse than this losing her mother when she was seven, her aunt dying when she was eleven, being raped when she was twenty-one she could get through this somehow.

  Her first order of business was to find her family and then learn as much about this place and its occupants as possible.

  ***

  She looked for her sister and cousins as she explored the hotel, but didn’t see them. Where were they? Had the men who’d kidnapped them kept them locked in their suites? Mallory hadn’t been stopped by anyone when she’d left the wing decorated in turquoise and gold, though she had passed quite a few people dressed in clothing similar to hers. After an hour of wandering through the hotel she decided to find a spot and just watch. To study and learn what she could. A plush chair covered in orange velvet was located in the corner of the lobby and she sank down onto it. It swallowed her, obviously built for someone bigger than her own near six feet. Were all of these creatures huge?

  Aodhan was close to seven feet tall, and his friends were all at least six and a half feet tall. Even the women Mallory saw milling through the lobby were her height or taller. Why? Something genetic?

  She’d have to ask Josey about that. Mallory was an accountant at heart, and had been working with her father to eventually become Taniss Industries Chief Financial Officer. Genetics were not her thing.

  She closed her eyes at the thought of her father and what he must be experiencing right now with both her and Mickey missing. Longing for him hit her so hard she almost doubled over. She hoped he was ok, that Rand and Becca were keeping an eye on him. Hoped he was remembering to take his heart medication. Despite looking twenty years younger than he actually was, her father had a few heart problems. He’d had them all his life, and Mallory lived in fear of the day his heart finally gave out. Having two of his four children missing could possibly be killing him.

  She didn’t know how long she sat in the hotel lobby watching the people coming and going. It didn’t take her long to realize that about a fifth of the people obviously guests wandering through the hotel were human. That surprised her. Unless the vampires were luring them here as a blood source?

  That didn’t make sense. Mallory was close enough to hear some of the conversation from the front desk area. Many of the humans were actually checking out of the hotel and leaving. Was it a real hotel, then?

  Every indication said yes, it was. But Mallory knew instinctively that the men posted at the doors, wearing grey tunics with turquoise stripes down the sleeves were there for a reason. Her. And her cousins.

  They were security; she could see it in the way they stood, the way they watched everyone coming and going into the hotel. The way they’d studied her when she’d first entered the lobby, and the way they’d tensed. They had fighting experience, most likely martial arts like he did. And just under their tunics she’d seen the holsters. These men were armed, but to keep people out, or to keep people her in?

  Mallory made a note of where each man was positioned and studied each man’s mannerisms. There had to be a weak link among the security staff somewhere, and though she’d determined she was not going anywhere for a long while, having that knowledge would only come in handy.

  “Well, kitten, have you enjoyed your day exploring in the hotel?”

  His voice came from beside and behind the chair and Mallory turned to look at him. He wasn’t alone, the man Cormac was at his side, looking dark and dangerous. Criminal. Poor Josey to be held captive by such a man. There was no gentleness about the Dardaptoan dressed in green, and Mal feared for her cousin.

  “Where’s my cousin?” Mallory asked, ignoring the hand Aodhan held out to her. “Have you hurt her again?”

  Chapter Twelve

  Aodhan was thrilled to see her dressed in his colors, despite the wariness still in her green eyes. She stood challenging Cormac, her spirit that of a true warrior. A fighter.

  “Your cousins are all quite well, kitten. Including Jocelyn. I believe she and her dog are exploring the gardens at the moment. Come, we will take a walk ourselves, then will have dinner this evening. I’ve arranged something special.”

  “Bully for you.” She said it, but her words lacked heat. Aodhan was resolved to ignore her reluctance to be with him as long as that reluctance existed. The Goddess decreed they be together. No one on the planet better suited him than this once-human girl. And what was a few days or even weeks of her resistance, considering they would be together for centuries? He nodded at Cormac and the other man left, probably to search out his own Rajni.

  Aodhan brushed a kiss against red curls, ignoring the way she stiffened beneath his hand. “I hope you enjoy fine dining, kitten. This resort features four restaurants, including one that is quite divine. Our chef routinely takes classes in France. He makes the best seafood. After dinner, we are going to the elementary school. Their theatre club is putting on one of my favorite fairytales.”

  Startled green eyes stared at him. “You have an elementary school here?”

  “Of course. Not all of our children in this city are homeschooled, although more are than most. Many have parents well into their five hundreds, kitten. Tradition is strong here. We also have a 20% human demographic in this cit
y. We have human children in the schools.” That surprised her, he had no difficulty seeing that. “We are normal people, Mallory. We just have slightly different DNA than humans. We have the same basic needs, and we love our children deeply. You will see.”

  He led the way to the restaurant, keeping his hand on her back. For some reason, he felt as nervous as a schoolboy on his first date. He had to smile at that it was his first date with his Rajni. Why wouldn’t he be nervous?

  They didn’t have reservations, but Aodhan didn’t need them. Being Equan of the Adrastos family had its perks. He held out the chair for his female and waited for her to be seated. He’d never dated a female before, but he was damned determined to do this right. His female deserved it.

  She was the most beautiful woman in the room and he told her so, ignoring the way she shook her head. She would need to get used to hearing him say it; he meant it, too.

  He tried to make small talk with her over the course of fish and fruit, but she was reticent. At first. Most likely because he refused to let go of her hand where he’d captured it on the table. He needed to touch her. As the meal went on, she relaxed some. By the time they reached the elementary school, she was relaxed enough with him that when he laced his fingers through hers and led her to the section of the auditorium reserved for the heads of each House, she barely seemed to notice.

  She enjoyed the children’s production of Grimm’s Fairy Tales, laughing at the kids’ antics and holding her breath when some of the more nervous children said their lines. Compassionate. Aodhan enjoyed watching her watch the children.

  She would be a wonderful mother to their children someday. He wasn’t sure he wanted to rush those children, though. Maybe they would take a decade or so and spend that time together loving each other and learning as much about one another as they could?

  Maybe that was something he would have to discuss with her after she warmed up to him?

  After the children’s production they returned to the hotel suite. She watched him warily, like a frightened cat, cornered in a back alley. He knew what she feared; how could he not?

  How was he to help her realize he would never hurt her again?

  “If you’d like, I’ll give you some privacy while you change for bed.” He said the words in as coaxing manner as he could. “The servants put your clothing in that chest there. It was my great-aunt’s. She never married and was one hell of a warrior. Fought in the Roman Civil War in the first century A.D.”

  She looked in the direction he pointed. “It can’t be that old.”

  “It is. And been carefully preserved, used through generations of my family. It is yours now. Get changed, the night grows late, and there is much for me to do on the morning.”

  “What exactly is it that you do, exactly? Besides kidnapping unsuspecting accountants?”

  “I am head of this tribe’s security. It is my job to ensure everyone in this city is kept safe. From Dahr Rydere down to the smallest child.”

  She stared at him for a long moment. “I won’t have sex with you.”

  “I know. Not yet. But you will sleep beside me every night. That is where my

  Rajni always belongs.”

  “I’m not your Rajni or anything else.”

  “Do you always deny the obvious, kitten? Go on. Go change. If you don’t, I’m going to assume you prefer to sleep naked, and I’ll do the same.” He leered at her, teasing.

  Green eyes widened and she scurried to the bathroom. He laughed. One day...one day she would sleep against him naked. He would guarantee it.

  Less than ten minutes later she returned bundled in a thick vestis and pardus sleep set. Her hair was braided and hung halfway down her back. Her face was scrubbed clean. She looked so young; he so wanted to debauch her. He yanked the blankets back, exposing the mattress. “Get in.” She hesitated.

  “I promise you, Mallory, I will not touch you this night. Just get in and go to sleep.”

  “Yeah, like that will be easy. If you try anything, I’ll emasculate you first chance I get.” She climbed onto the mattress and scooted to the far edge. She leaned back against the pillows and watched him.

  Aodhan pulled his tunic over his head and tossed it to the laundry bin. His pants followed and he stood before her wearing modern boxers in blue. Her eyes dropped to his shorts and then widened. Aodhan felt a smirk hit his face. He lay on the bed beside her, pulling the blankets up over them both. He turned on his side to face her. “Goodnight, kitten. I am glad I found you.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  His warmth threatened to suffocate her. The smell of his skin threatened to overwhelm her. What in the hell was she supposed to do?

  He wasn’t touching her, was keeping to his half of the bed. He wasn’t even looking at her the room was too dark for that and he was turned away, sleeping soundly on his stomach. But he was taking up a massive amount of mattress. She had nowhere to go. The bed was pushed up against the wall, and the cool plaster blocked her from escaping that way. No, she was stuck, right where she was. If she climbed over him, he would wake and stop her.

  Mal jumped when a large crack of thunder sounded overhead, the sound startling the crap out of her.

  He rolled toward her, his eyes opening. “Kitten? What’s the matter?”

  “Nothing. Just thunder. I wasn’t expecting it.”

  “Are you afraid then? It’s just a storm and this hotel has stood against many such storms.”

  “I’m not afraid of storms. It just startled me.”

  “I see.” He adjusted the blankets around her, tucking it over her thoroughly.

  Mal fought back a sigh. She was already burning up from the heat he exuded.

  She didn’t need blankets on top of her, too. “You must stay covered. As a Dardaptoan female, the cold is not your friend.”

  “I’m not a Dardaptoan female. And I’m burning up. You’re like a living furnace, you know that?”

  “Are you saying I’m too hot for you?”

  Mallory resisted the urge to snort. “Not quite ”

  She stopped speaking when his hand covered her mouth. “Shh. Did you hear that?”

  Mal shook her head. All she could hear was her own heartbeat and the sound of the rumbling thunder. Then she caught it, a shrill screaming voice like none she had ever heard. Her soul froze as the sound echoed through the suite. Her nails dug into his arm. He pulled her close, holding her tight as the shrill echo grew louder. Closer. “What is it?”

  “A Beansidhe. You’d call it a banshee.” His arms were strong and tight around her as lightning flashed again, filling the room with a momentary hot blue glow. He sat her aside and stood, grabbing for the trousers he’d thrown in the laundry basket just hours before.

  Furious pounding sounded on the door and Mallory barely resisted releasing a scream.

  “Stay here, kitten. I’ll get the door.”

  “What is it doing here?”

  “A Beansidhe foretells death, and is best met head on. If not, her wails will only grow until her message is delivered. You just stay in bed; you’re perfectly safe here.”

  Mallory had no intention of hiding under the covers. “I’m coming with you.”

  He studied her for a moment, as the knocking on the door continued. “Then come. But stay behind me when she gets here, and stay quiet. Can you do that?”

  Mallory nodded. She wasn’t afraid of him, but the creature responsible for that bone-chilling cold scream terrified her. He led the way out of the bedroom and threw open the door to the suite. A woman stood there, a look of panic on her face.

  “Auri.” He pulled the woman into the suite and then closed the door behind her. “It woke you, too?”

  “Yes. I wonder who...”

  “I don’t know yet. The Beansidhe will be here shortly. In under fifteen minutes. How is the rest of the House doing?”

  “Some are awake. First cousins, mostly.”

  “So our line, then.” Grief hit his face and Mal studied him. He hadn’t
showed fear, though the woman who looked like him was obviously frightened.

  “Yes.”

  “Excuse me, you’re saying that this thing is telling you someone in your family is going to die and you are doing nothing about it?” Mallory couldn’t even begin to understand it. She’d do whatever she could to fight such a thing. “Can’t you stop it, somehow?”

  “No, kitten. Once a Beansidhe attaches itself to a dying soul, nothing will prevent that death. Nothing. Not even the deities above.” His words were resigned, and he grabbed Mal’s hand and pulled her closer. She let him, too surprised at what was happening to protest. “We can do nothing but wait until we gain news of the death. One of us must speak with the Beansidhe, listen to the message she delivers.”

  “And then what?” Banshees were mythological. They weren’t real. None of this was real, was it? “What will you do after?”

  “Try to determine who the message refers to. It can be anyone we are related to.” The woman that Mallory assumed was Aodhan’s sister sank onto the couch, shivering. “Anyone anywhere in the world.”

  “You mean the thing won’t tell you?” How horrific, to know someone you loved was going to die but not who that person was.

  “No. Not likely. And we won’t even know when it will happen either. It can be instantaneous, or can be weeks down the road.”

  “Do these banshees tell of every death of your people, whatever you call them Dardaptoans?”

  He paced around the room, back and forth from where Mallory stood near the wall between the sitting room and the bedroom to the couch where his sister sat. “No.”

  “Then why you?”

  “Our line gained the attention of Beansidhe through exploits on various battlefields. Beansidhe admire fierce fighting and appreciation of death. This particular tribe have attached themselves to the Adrastos family, foretelling deaths for the last five millennia. They always come in the night, in the midst of horrible storms,” the sister said.