A Vampire's Saving Embrace (17 page)

“Unbelievable,” Desmond seethed - his hold on her tightening. “I certainly hope you told him to go straight to hell - right before sending him back there.”

Lucas looked back to Desmond and nodded. He cleared his throat - fidgeting slightly in the chair. “But not before he told me to tell you that Argramon sends his regards and looks forward to seeing you again.”

Desmond’s entire body stiffened - his eyes turning that luminescent silver in a flash, and Abby could feel the anger rolling off of him in waves.

“Who is Argramon?” She questioned breathlessly - frightened by the look on Desmond’s face. There was pure fury written across his features.

“Are you certain?” He asked Luke – a muscle in his jaw twitching dangerously.

“Positive. That’s not a name I would easily mistake…or forget.”

“How did that son of a bitch return?” He ground out –his entire body now trembling with rage.

“
Who
is he?” Abby insisted - scared to death because of the way Desmond was reacting to the news. She had never seen him so angry. Not even after her little standing by the window stunt – and it literally was scaring the hell out of her. She needed to know who this Argramon was.

“He’s the demon that killed your father,” Luke offered finally, when he realized that Desmond was not going to answer her.

“Lucas!” Desmond bellowed - his fangs exposed.

Abby ignored him and concentrated on Luke. “But… you said that he was dead?”

Desmond tried desperately to maintain his control - but the fact that Lucas had taken it upon himself to discuss the killing of her father with her set his body into pure predator mode. Why hadn’t Abby bothered to tell him that she knew the truth, and just how much
had
he told her exactly? Desmond growled, deep in his throat -wanting nothing more at that moment than to jump up and throttle the mangy cur.

Luke knew Desmond was furious – but he also knew that he would get over it once he realized that Abby thought no less of him. He wasn’t blind to the fact that this woman cared about his friend deeply, nor that, whether he would admit it or not, Desmond cared for her. Christ, he could smell them all over each other!

Yet, it seemed that what she thought of him was terrifyingly important to him. Something he had never seen before in the vampire. He gave him a crooked grin and looked back to Abby. “Sometimes, and very rarely, from what I understand,” he went on - as if Desmond’s anger was of no consequence to him at all, “the really powerful ones can be brought back – but it’s damn hard and it takes time.”

“Holy Hell.” Abby stated, her breath coming out in a rush. She finally turned her attention to Desmond. “Would you quit
fanging
out, and just calm down, please?” She said to him in her best
I mean business
tone and Luke couldn’t help but to burst out laughing – the look on the vampires face was priceless.

Never would he have thought that
anyone
would talk to the foreboding vampire in that manner – especially not this tiny slip of a woman. But damn - Abby could certainly hold her own – and Luke loved every minute of it. His friend looked completely dumb-struck.

“Abby…” he began, but her finger to his lips stopped him. “Take a deep breath, Des,” she urged him, and he did - even though he didn’t need it. “Now is not the time to discuss why you didn’t tell me that you knew my father –
or
that you killed the demon who killed him –well, at least temporarily it seems. My being here is putting you all in danger and it’s...”

“Abigail...” Desmond warned, but again her finger went to his lips. His eyes narrowed, but he remained silent, that muscle in his jaw twitching again with a vengeance.

“No, it is – and that’s just not fair. You, Luke, Marcus and the others didn’t ask for this. It isn’t right that you should all be endangering yourselves because of me. And if this Argramon or whoever
is
the same demon that you came up against before…” She broke off, shuddering at the memory of Luke’s words that this demon had almost killed Desmond. Killed him! And no matter how indestructible he seemed in her eyes - the cold hard reality was that he
could
be killed. And she just couldn’t allow that. She wouldn’t.

She looked to Luke beseechingly – hoping that he would agree with her and help to convince the headstrong vampire that she was a serious danger to them all, and it would probably be best if she just left now that they knew she was here.

The thought of leaving Desmond was sobering to say the least, and she bit back the tears that were threatening – but his safety came before hers. He didn’t ask to be pulled into her problems. She would have to just disappear and hope that the demons couldn’t find her. Besides, she thought with a painful twist of her heart – she was used to moving around. Why should her life change now just because she happened to fall in love.

“Don’t even bother,” Luke said, locking eyes with Abby. “You have no say so what so ever in the matter, I’m afraid.” He spoke matter-of-factly and glanced to Desmond - who only nodded stiffly. “It’s our choice Ab - and we
choose
to protect you – all of us. This isn’t just about you anymore. We are all in this together and nothing is going to change that. We have discussed this as a pack - and as brothers,” he continued, looking once again to Desmond. “We stand together.” She was about to protest when Lucas stood and stretched. “Listen, I really need to get back to the pack and do some research on how to rid ourselves of this bastard for good. Marcus and I are still planning on doing some recognizance work tonight.” He smiled reassuringly at the pair. “I’m pretty confident that those stupid sons of bitches aren’t even dumb enough to strike again tonight – so why don’t the two of you get some much needed rest and relaxation.” He graced Abby with a sly grin, which instantly caused her cheeks to flush. “Good night.”

“Good night,” Abby whispered – her voice barely audible.

“Thank you, Lucas,” Desmond replied distractedly. His mind focused on the fact that Abby knew. But just how much she knew was yet to be determined – which caused a strange feeling in the pit of his stomach, and he swore that if vampires could get ulcers, he would have one – possibly several!

As soon as Luke closed the bedroom door, Abby turned to Desmond, her mouth set in a determined line, her eyes narrowed. “I don’t like this at all,” she stated quietly, but with conviction.

Desmond tried to pull her closer, but she placed her hands firmly against his chest and pushed herself away slightly - her green eyes snapping fire. “No, Des,” she insisted, shaking her head. “Don’t you dare try and distract me. We need to discuss this.” She took a deep breath and held his gaze. “I won’t do this to all of you. I just won’t. I’m a danger to all of you.”

Desmond sighed in frustration. How the hell was he going to convince her that she had no choice in the matter. He didn’t want to argue with her, he only wanted to hold her and to find out exactly how much she already knew – plus he needed to deal with the fact that Argramon was back – and try to figure out just how in the hell the bastard had done it. Lucas was right - this wasn’t just about protecting Abby anymore, he thought with a frown.

“Abigail, this is not open for discussion,” he stated stubbornly, his mouth set in a tight line that masked her own - his expression as impassive as hers.

“Not open for discussion?” she repeated, in complete shock at his gall. This was
her
problem, she silently reasoned – and she could not accept the fact that these people were risking themselves for her. A complete stranger who had stumbled into their lives because a drop-dead
gorgeous vampire took it upon himself to become her Knight in shining armor.

“Desmond, Luke told me that you almost
died
the last time you came across this demon,” she breathed and he immediately tensed -his damn jealously bubbling to the surface once again. It was bad enough that Luke had taken the liberty of calling her “Ab” – which had set his blood boiling, but now they seemed to have discussed him at length. What else had the two talked about? The thought infuriated him – and as ridiculous as he knew it was – he was unable to stop it.

“Did he now? Well, it seems that you and the cur seem to be exceedingly chummy all of a sudden,” he bit out, much more harshly then he had intended - yet his eyes glittered with anger.

Abby stiffened, her mouth turning down in a frown. “We are friends,” she replied, pulling away from him and standing - her tone cool. “At least he had the decency to be honest with me.” She snapped, her entire body tense.

“I have been nothing but honest.” Desmond countered - standing and walking up beside her. She turned and looked up into his eyes – the eyes that she loved, and tried to remain calm - but she just couldn’t pull it off. Her overwhelming fear for him wouldn’t allow it – it clenched at her insides like a vise. All she could think of was trying to find a way to keep him safe.

“Have you?” she demanded softly. “Sometimes not telling someone something can be worse than lying,” she said and immediately regretted her words – not meaning them in the least. He
had
been totally truthful with her from the start, and he most likely had his reasons for not telling her about her father. It didn’t mean that he wouldn’t. She was just so consumed with worry that he would be hurt - or worse yet, killed if she didn’t stop this.

She opened her mouth to tell him that she hadn’t meant it, but snapped it closed when she realized that she needed him to be angry. She needed him to distance himself from her. “At least Luke trusts me enough to tell me the
whole
truth,” she said, hoping this would do the job. “Not just bits and pieces of it.” She watched guiltily as hurt flashed across his eyes to suddenly be replaced with a cool indifference.

“Forgive me. I stand corrected,” he replied softly – his features strained. He took her arm and began walking towards the door and Abby felt a moment of panic rush through her – was he kicking her out of his house? She glanced down at the robe she wore and inwardly cringed.

Well, she thought sadly, if he
was
throwing her out - at least that would mean that he and the others would no longer be risking themselves for her – but the thought of leaving Desmond sent a wave of utter terror through her. And the thought of being thrown out on the street dressed only in his oversized robe sent a current of heat to her cheeks. What the hell was she going to do?

When he turned down the hall, away from the staircase leading downstairs she breathed a sigh of relief. He opened a door at the end of the hall and motioned her in. “You can sleep in here tonight,” he said, his voice still controlled and distant. “It won’t be safe in my room until that window is replaced.”

“I…I, thank you,” she whispered, wanting more than anything to reach out and lay her hand on his bare chest - but knowing that she couldn’t. She needed him to keep that coolness in his voice – no matter how much it destroyed her, and she knew that if she touched him - she would be lost.

She thought she could do this – but Desmond’s attitude was like a knife to her heart and she felt her eyes welling with tears and did everything in her power to bite them back.

“Get some rest, Abby,” he replied, his face unreadable. He lifted his hand as if to touch her cheek, but caught himself and lowered it back down to his side. “I’ll bring you up a tray. You must be famished by now.” He turned and headed downstairs, leaving her to stare after him - choking back a sob as she desperately fought the inner battle between what she knew she needed to do and what her heart wanted her to. And as selfish as it was – her heart was putting up one hell of a fight.

Desmond stormed into the kitchen, cursing under his breath. He knew he had done the right thing. Let her be angry with him. He needed some distance between them anyway - especially now that he knew he had to deal with Argramon once again.

His body tensed at just the thought. Argramon was the most powerful demon Desmond had ever come across and he knew this was going to be dangerous – for himself as well as for Abby. But he would give up his very existence to protect her, and if the last time that he came across the demon was any indication -he might just have to do that.

The bastard had almost brought him to his knees – but it didn’t matter, he
would
make sure that Abby was safe – no matter what it took. She was his first and only priority – and the thought of that bastard knowing about her and sending his flunkies after her enraged him.

“Why in such a snit brother?” Marcus asked, walking through the back door.

“Careful,” Desmond warned - glaring at him as if he was ready to pounce.

“What? Don’t tell me there is trouble in paradise?”

“I mean it Marcus,” Desmond ground out, his eyes flashing silver. “I am not in the mood for your bullshit right now.”

“Des, I understand that you’re all jacked-up over Argramon and all, but please don’t take it out on Abby. She doesn’t deserve that.”

“This is none of your concern,” he growled, his voice low – yet threatening.