Burning (11 page)

"Why are you helping me?  I know you're still in love with her," I
accused. 

"You're a good guy.  I do love Chloë, and I want her to be happy.  She can have a life with you.  Get married, have children
—hell, even an afternoon picnic.  I want her to have those things," he answered pensively. 

I could see everything he described and it didn't scare me anymore.  Ok
ay, the idea of kids was a little scary, but I was sure, far in the future, I would welcome that too.  I guessed I was growing up.  Forever with Chloë sounded like heaven.

I felt hands slide up my back, and I tensed. 
"Am I interrupting?" Chloë asked, amused.

I relaxed, realizing it wasn't Bridgett.  "No, Grey and I were just talking," I told her. 

"Is something wrong?" she asked nervously. 

I looked at Grey
, and he nodded encouragingly.  "It's just Bridgett kinda made a pass at me, and I was afraid you would get upset," I admitted. 

"So you were talking to Grey about that?" she
questioned. 

"I approached Finn
, actually," Grey interjected. 

"This is weird though, right?"

"We are coven mates, and I'd like for us to be friends.  You are happy with him, right?" Grey asked her.

It was strange
to stand there and listen to them talk about me.  It was also hard watching them.  There was a connection there that hadn't disappeared.  The worst part was that Grey was actually a decent guy.  I wanted to hate him because he had been her first, but he made it impossible.

"I'm very happy," she whispered. 

"That's all I want for you.  Be happy," he said softly and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear.  I wanted to rip his arm off and beat him with it.  I recognized that urge as irrational, but my possessiveness was only growing stronger when it came to her.

"What do you mean she kinda made a pass at you?" Chloë asked suddenly. 

"Ugh, she touched my forearm a couple of times and said we should get to know each other better," I fumbled out. 

"And
? What did you tell her?" she demanded.

"I told her I don't like the way she treats you, and when she pressed the issue, I got up and left," I answered, feeling stupid.  Maybe I was making a bigger deal out of this than it was. 

I glanced at Chloë's face
, and her eyes were glowing bright green.  Not a good sign.  "I really don't like her," she seethed. 

I stroked her face and kissed the end of her nose.  "Hey, you don't have anything to worry about. 
I only want you," I told her. 

She smiled shyly at me
. "Good, because I only want you.  I'm glad you are getting along with Grey." 

"I'm trying to come to terms with him still being in your life.  It's uncomfortable, but I can see
that he's a good guy.  As much as I hate to admit it." To change the subject, I said, "I can't believe Dean and Anita are really getting married today."

"I don't know. I
t seems inevitable, doesn't it?" Chloë said quietly. 

I ran my hand through her long, silky hair, tucking some of it behind her ear.  I let my thumb graze the skin of her cheek and cradled her face in my hand, tipping it so she looked into my eyes.  "Are you talking about them or us?" I crooned. 

Her eyes flashed instantly back to green, and her pupils dilated.  Slowly, the warm brown returned.  "I'm not sure.  I know I'm not ready for marriage yet.  I'm afraid our magical biology will speed our relationship faster than we are ready for." 

I pulled her into my arms and leaned down to her ear.
"Hey, we will figure this out together.  I believe we are meant to be together, but it doesn't mean we have to make it official until we are ready."

The
‘fasten seat belt’ light flicked on, and I reluctantly let her go.  The plane began making its descent.  In minutes, we would be in Vegas.  Our best friends were getting married, and I was jealous.  My body was screaming to bond with Chloë, and not in the usual hormone-driven way.  I would have been lying if I’d said that I didn't want her.  The number of cold showers I'd taken since returning this summer proved that I did.  But I didn't just want her underneath me. I wanted to be near her—and yeah, inside her.  I just wanted her to be mine completely. 

Anita

"Hi, Dad!" I shouted giddily when he greeted us at the plane.  I started giggling nervously.  I knew Dean wanted to ask him for my hand in marriage, which I thought was totally unnecessary, but he’d insisted.  I was worried about how he was going to respond.  I sensed Dean walking down the steps behind me, and my giggling started to turn hysterical.

"Is something wrong
, Nita?" my father asked. 

I shook my head a little too vigorously. 

"Can I speak to you a minute, Mr. Sanchez?" Dean asked. 

"Sure.  Take a wal
k with me," my father directed. 

A limo pulled up
, and Chloë gestured for me to follow.  "Come on, girls!  We have some shopping to do!" Chloë called out enthusiastically. 

Leah and Jo linked arms with me and we skipped toward the car.  I was actually starting to like the twins. 
Chloë's grin fell, and I realized Bridgett was right behind us. 

"I called for two limos.  The guys' ride will be along in a minute.  But before we meet up with them
, we have some dress shopping to do," Chloë announced. 

I slid in next to her.  "Weren't you going to help bring in your cousin?"

An apprehensive look passed over her face.  "I can't use too much magic right now.  I'm not sure I'd be much help." 

I frowned at her.
She wasn't telling me something.  "Spill it." 

She groaned.  "Ok
ay. Something is screwing with my mojo.  I get worn out fast, and I've still been having nosebleeds.  I promised Finn I would lay off until I figure out what's going on."

"How long has this been going on?"
 

Her eyes snapped up to mine
.  They were reflecting apprehension and evasion.  "I don't want to tell you," she whispered. 

I felt my stomach drop.  "Has it been since I...you know
...since... Since I bit you?"

"Anita, please don't blame yourself.  I used so much magic in the days before the confrontation with Angeline.  Think about it.  There was Alexander and the other
vampires' attack on the dorm and erasing memories of all of the witnesses.  I used a lot of magic when we trained with Eli in the foothills.  Not to mention all of the magic I used to save that exchange student at that disastrous Halloween party.  Of course, there was the fight by the waterfall.  It takes a lot of juice to open portals to the afterlife and fight a demon."

I hadn't really ever thought about what she
had gone through.  I’d worried about her when’d she passed out after the vampires had attacked our dorm room.  But after she got better I just took her word that she was strong enough.  Chloë always seemed so confident that it made me feel like I could do anything too.

"Really, I took on too much is all.  I'm not even sure my
screwy magic has anything to do with that," she said and shrugged. 

"Chica, when I said spill it, I meant everything.  Don't make me bite you again," I threatened. 

"Chill. Keep your fangs in.  I don't really know how to explain this."  She looked around and jerked her head toward Bridgett to indicate that she didn't want her to overhear. 

I smiled at her impishly.  "
I can still hear you like this,
" I thought at her. 

"
Devious. I love it.  Okay, here is the deal.  I feel strong sometimes, but only when I'm near Finn,
" she answered telepathically.

"
I've felt on edge lately.  Like my temper could explode at any minute.  I can feel my vampire half fighting against me.  The only time I feel calm and in control is when I'm near Dean.  I'll let you know if that goes away. You know… After tonight." 
I giggled out loud.  Today I was getting married, and tonight was my wedding night. 

"Why are you two gazing at each other like lovers?  Does Finn know you have a thing going with your best friend?" Bridgett taunted Chloë. 

"God, you're stupid," Jo snapped at her. 

"They're witches," Leah
said, finishing Jo's thought. 

"What are you saying
? All witches are lesbians?" Bridgett scoffed as if the word witch were dirty. 

"No moron.  They are telepathic," Jo ridiculed.

"You know, I'm really starting to like you," I said to Jo. 

"Yeah, you're not so bad yourself.  Sorry I was
such a bitch when we first met," she apologized. 

"Totally forgotten.  I have my moments too," I
admitted, accepting her apology.

A sly smirk crossed Jo's face, and she glanced sideways at Bridgett.  Oh, she was the best kind of bitch
—my kind.  I knew now that we were going to be friends, and Jo was the type to stand up for people she cared about. 

"We need to go dress shopping, and afterwards
, we need to hit a lingerie store.  Anita needs to blow that man's mind tonight like only barely concealed flesh can accomplish.  I think Chlo should pick out some sexy nighties too, seeing as how she never seems to sleep alone," Jo said, waggling her eyebrows. 

"True
. I think Dean should suffer for keeping me waiting all this time.  What about you, Chloë? Ready to drive Finn a bit crazy?" I asked her, playing along with Jo. 

Bridgett
snorted.  Chloë's eyes burned bright green, and her hair started blowing around her. 

"Got a problem with me flirting with my man?" Chloë asked Bridgett.  Her voice was cold and had a knife sharp edge to it.

Bridgett turned her glacial-blue eyes on Chloë.  "He isn't yours yet." 

"Please
. That boy has been hers since the moment he laid eyes on her," I mocked. 

"Finn is a prince among the elves.  Our families are connected.  In fact, the only family higher than mine in the elvin hierarchy is the Christensens.  Politically
, we make sense together.  My father wants the connection and is preparing to speak to Finn's parents.  You might have him now, but I'm not giving up," Bridgett responded coldly.

"See now, what you said is really funny," Jo taunted. 

"I'm not trying to be funny.  Logically we make sense together," Bridgett stated. 

"Leah, remember what Mr. Christensen said when they rescued us from Oregon?" Jo asked her twin.
 

"That thing about arranging a marriage for Finn?" she
questioned, playing along. 

Sparks started dancing on Chloë's skin.  Her magic was out of control, and we were heading into nuclear Chloë territory here.  Not good.
 

"Yeah
. He was talking to Carlos about the future of the
Council
.  I remember Carlos saying he hoped Anita was going to marry Dean, but he wasn't comfortable arranging a contract the way the Christensens had.  But who did he say the contract was with?" Jo contemplated, tapping her lips with her index finger. 

"How could you forget
, Jo Jo?  I mean, Marguerite Du Lac is only the most famous witch in the world.  I remember you saying it was weird that they were arranging a marriage between a witch and an elf," Leah reminded her sister.

Holy shit!  Chloë was arranged to marry Finn?  Did she know this?  I sneaked a look at her.  She cocked her head to the side, and the sparks died down.  But her eyes were still an intense green.
 

"
Did you know about this?
" I asked silently. 

She nodded slightly. 
"I didn't know per se, but Grey hinted at it."

"Mr. Christensen said the contract didn't seem to matter since they had both naturally gravitated toward each other," Leah continued.
 

"Nice try, but the representative of my people would never consent for his only child to marry a witch," Bridgett said in disbelief.
 

"Oh, I think you'll find my mother can be quite forceful when she wants something," Chloë said ominously.

"You didn't know about any of this, did you?" Leah asked, concerned. 

Chloë
shrugged.  "I had my suspicions, but I don't think Finn does." 

"How are you going to respond to this?" I asked cautiously.  Chloë
could be stubborn where her mother was concerned. 

She waved dismissally
.  "What can I do about it?  I love him.  If it happens to coincide with my mother's wishes, all the better.  I'm tired of fighting her all the time.  Maybe if she thinks she won this one, I can scrape out some kind of independence."  A naughty smile spread across her face.  "Besides, why would I fight her over Finn?  I mean, he is painfully sexy and very talented." She waggled her eyebrows.