Betrayal (19 page)

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Still fully dressed Emma woke with a start. She must’ve fallen asleep on Cyn’s bed.

She grabbed her cell and saw that it was six in the morning and sat up blinking to fully wake-up.

Cyn wasn’t in the bedroom. It looked like he’d never come to bed. She wondered where he was and why he hadn’t come to find her last night. Fear filled her and she ran from the bedroom to the living room.

The house was empty. The bed in the spare bedroom wasn’t rumpled.

Cyn hadn’t slept in there.

Confused and worried, she went to find Blue. She knocked on his bedroom door and heard a mumble. She opened the door and walked over to his bed and shook him gently. Half asleep Blue rolled over and looked up at her.

“Where’s Cyn?”

“heeelft anot” Blue mumbled and turned back toward the wall.

“What?” Emma grabbed his arm and shook him harder this time. “Blue! What did you say?”

“He left you a note on the kitchen table.” Blue mumbled.

Emma hurried out of the bedroom to the kitchen. His note was propped up in the middle of the table. Dread filled her and with shaky hands, she picked it up.

“Emma,

Everything is fine, don’t worry, I’ll see you tonight. Your place.

I love you,

Cyn.”

She sagged with relief. How was she going to get home? Should she stay there until Cyn returned?

She went back to Cyn’s bedroom to find her cell phone. Her car keys were next to her purse on the nightstand along with a small garage door opener. She smiled. He’d had her car brought to her.

After she ensured Blue deactivated the alarm system and she reminded him several times to reactivate it after she left, Emma made her way to the garage.

Her light green VW beetle was indeed there.

Emma went home.

# # #

The thickness of the tension in the room was hard to ignore. Whatever Julian was about to announce could not be good. Cyn leaned against the counter at Kieran’s house, his body strung tight with apprehension. Kieran and Julian were already in the room. Kieran sat at the table and drank from his ever-present cup of coffee. Julian stood still as a statue and peered down at a map of the city that had been spread across the table. Fallon and Roderick entered and gave Cyn questioning looks before they sat.

He shrugged.

Julian began to speak without a greeting. “Our numbers are not growing as fast, especially in comparison with the increasing growth of the demon population. I like to keep the Protector force at one for every two hundred demons or so. I’ve recruited three new Protectors in the last year. The demons on the other hand, have multiplied by hundreds. This means that no Protector can be relieved from his duty and those that have been, will be asked to return to the force.” He looked at Roderick. “I have to ask you to resign from your job at the hospital and return to the force.”

Roderick nodded his acceptance. Next Julian leveled an intense look at each Protector. “With the number of high-level demons converging in this area, I don’t want any of you to patrol alone for the time being. I don’t have extra men I can send to help right now.” He stared at the map seeming to be lost in thought before he continued. “Fallon and Kieran will work together as partners. Cynden and Roderick, you two are partners.”

Kieran and Cyn looked at each other with raised eyebrows. Julian glowered at them. “I can’t have brothers as partners. It makes you too vulnerable.”

“We’ve fought alongside each other many times,” Kieran began, but stopped when Cyn glared at him in warning. “Fine, whatever.” Kieran frowned into his coffee cup.

Cyn didn’t like the idea of partnering up; they couldn’t cover as much territory that way. By the stoic faces of the others they weren’t too keen on the idea either.

Julian cleared his throat and got their attention again. “There will be an influx of demons at the next full moon. The festival of Dionysus will commence. Atlanta will be a popular destination. At that time, Rowe, Thor and I will also come out to help, if needed. Any questions?”

The Protectors spent the next hour discussing how to divide the city, to ensure every area was patrolled, and decided who would patrol where. New high-powered, silent motorcycles would arrive for them in a few days.

“Rachel, Brock, Blue, and now Emma, will have to be placed under protection,” Julian told them. Cyn’s eyes snapped up, but the leader continued, not looking at him. “I know they may be resistant to the idea of losing their freedom, but it’s the only way for your families to be kept safe. I have hired bodyguards for them. The guards are human, but they are trained to battle demons. They have been sworn to secrecy and are trustworthy, skilled men.”

Julian sank down on a chair, and for the first time that Cyn could remember, the Roman looked fatigued. “I fear we may be fighting a losing battle at times. But I never wonder about the commitment of the Protectors to keep innocent people safe. I know you will defend humans to your last breath. And, I am just as sure that when I return at the full moon, all of you will be present.”

When Julian stood to leave, he motioned for Cyn to follow him outside. The other Protectors remained seated, each deep in thought taking it all in.

Julian walked to a sleek sedan, his face softened as he placed his hand on Cyn’s shoulder. “You must observe the Roman ritual to marry Emma. She is your life-mate.” Julian hesitated to let the information soak in. “You have succeeded in finding her.”

The pull — that’s why he’d bitten her the first time they’d made love. And why they’d felt such a strong draw to each other from the beginning. It was her being half-demon that had given him cause for doubt.

Through the fog that took over his brain, he became aware that Julian was still speaking. “She must agree to every part of it in order for your union to be valid and become your mate. You will find the vow scripts and everything else you need in the box I left in your truck.” Julian tightened the hold on Cyn’s shoulder and Cyn returned the gesture.

“Are you sure?” Cyn didn’t know why he asked. His brain no doubt was still addled.

“Yes, I knew it as soon as I saw her. If she is to become your wife, I congratulate you and wish you the best.” Julian walked away to his car.

Emotions flooded over Cyn, he leaned against a tree and looked up at the sky.

He was going to get married.

He’d found his life-mate.

Julian’s taillights disappeared from view.

A wide smile spread across his face. Cyn let out a loud yell.

The Protectors rushed outside. Kieran held his sword in his hand and sported a large coffee stain on his shirt. They stopped in their tracks at his laughter.

Roderick and Fallon instantly understood the reason for his jubilation. They came over to shake his hand and thump him on the back.

His brother’s solemn eyes met his. Kieran nodded his head and went back inside. It was as close to a congratulation as he would get from him.

# # #

“Where is he?” Emma wondered aloud going to the front window. She peered out for at least the tenth time. She considered driving back to Cyn’s house but someone could follow her, so she discarded the idea, not willing to put Blue in any danger.

Flames from candles swayed in the light breeze from the swirl of the ceiling fan casting an intimate glow about the room. Besides the candles, the dining room table was set with a vase of fresh white tulips and all white china. The tantalizing aroma of rosemary chicken flowed from the kitchen.

Emma pictured Cyn’s face when she surprised him with a romantic evening. Emma fought against the impulse to peek out through the blinds again and instead resumed pacing. She glimpsed into a wall mirror and smoothed her hair. She had to admit the extra effort spent on her appearance was well worth it. She’d taken time to apply eye make-up and brush her hair up into a French twist. A knee-length, black dress and matching sling-back sandals completed her look.

A tingle of anticipation ran through her. What would his reaction be to the new black lacy panties and bra she wore?

She wanted at least one last night with Cyn.

Last night, while she fretted over Julian’s visit and paced in Cyn’s bedroom, Emma had plenty of time to think. She knew that Julian would never agree to their marriage. She had no other choice but to release Cyn from his proposal. It was the right thing to do, but it still tore her to pieces. Every instinct screamed at her to fight for him. Taking a shaky breath, she picked up a glass of wine.

The ding of the doorbell made her jump.

Wendy walked in not waiting for her to open the door. She grabbed the wine out of Emma’s hand and gulped it down. “I hate to bother you, but you were so distracted on the phone today…oh!” She stopped when she saw the table set for dinner. “Oh shit did I interrupt? Is he here?” Wendy peered toward the bedroom.

“Not yet, he’s coming over. He called earlier,” Emma replied. She grabbed her friend’s hand. “Wendy, he asked me to marry him.”

“Eeeeek!” Wendy jumped up and down clapping. “Wait, was this before or after you told him you are preggers?”

“What the hell are you talking about? I’m not pregnant.” Emma snatched the wine glass back. It was empty.

“You shouldn’t drink in your condition.” Wendy cautioned her and grabbed the glass back. “How can you not know you’re pregnant?”

With surprising strength for her petite size, Wendy grabbed Emma by the shoulders and pushed her into a dining room chair. She pointed her finger into Emma’s face. “You haven’t had a period since the last time you and Mr. Tall, Blonde and Yummy did the mattress mambo. You eat everything in sight.” She motioned to Emma’s hand, already holding a piece of bread. Emma threw it back into the bowl as if it was poisonous. “And you’ve been dizzy and have an upset stomach in the mornings. Duh.”

“Oh. My. God.” Emma sat transfixed and stared wide-eyed at Wendy, as she went over the last few days. “Oh my God Wendy, I can’t be pregnant. I mean they are…well you know.”

“Who are what? I know what?” Wendy asked her, with a befuddled expression.

“The Protectors are sterile,” Emma told her. She reached for the bread again and she took a healthy bite. “Well unless they have sex with their life match, perfect mate or ….some kind of mate,” she spoke through a mouth full of bread.

Both women jumped this time when the doorbell rang. Wendy gave Emma a reassuring squeeze before she ran to open the door.

Cyn stood at the door with an intricately carved wooden box in his hands. He seemed surprised by Wendy’s presence, but smiled politely at her.

When he directed his attention to Emma, his face softened.

Her knees turned to jelly. Love, this is what it felt like.

“Well I better go, just came by to give Emma some…er, news.” Wendy headed out the door. She patted Cyn on the shoulder, having to reach up to do so. “Bye.”

Cyn wasn’t dressed in his standard casual attire. He wore a tunic style shirt and loose linen pants. On his feet, he wore sandals. He didn’t speak right away. His expression closed and difficult to read. At his silence, Emma tensed. Was something wrong?

He peered past her to the table and his lips curved and she relaxed.

“I made dinner for us,” she told him when he approached. She stood on her toes to kiss his jaw. “Is everything okay?”

Cyn placed the strange box on her coffee table.

Then he came back to her and took her into his arms. When his mouth covered hers, she gave into his kiss and lost herself in the feel of his strong body against hers. God, she could never tire of his kisses.

Cyn lifted his head and looked into her eyes. “Hi. I’m sorry if I’m late, I didn’t know you were cooking. Do you want to eat?”

Emma shook her head. She’d lost her appetite after her talk with Wendy. “I’m not that hungry now, are you?”

Cyn shook his head, “I ate before I left home. Well, I tried to eat. I made spaghetti, but it tasted like crap.” Emma enjoyed the rumble in his chest when he chuckled. “It smells very good. Maybe we can eat later.” Cyn took her hand, “Come sit down, I have some things to explain to you.”

Once they were seated, he regarded her for a long time before he spoke. The sparkle in his eyes helped Emma feel at ease at whatever he was about to tell her.

“Emma, you have to promise to listen to everything I tell you without interrupting me. All right?”

“Okay.” Emma leaned back on the couch and folded her legs beneath her. She waited to hear what he was about to tell her and tried to untie the knots in her stomach.

Cyn took both of her hands in his and frowned for a minute. “Julian won’t allow me to leave the Protectors. And I agree with him.”

Emma felt her heart tear in two. She’d expected this, but the pain still ripped through her upon hearing his choice. It was a good thing she’d promised to listen and not interrupt. If she had to speak right now, there was no way she could get the words past the lump in her throat.

“But he has also agreed to our marriage.” Her eyes widened but she bit her lip to keep quiet. “In order for our marriage to be valid, you must agree to marry me in an ancient ritual that I will explain to you and we must complete it exactly as directed.”