Cain's Identity (Scanguards Vampires Book 9) (22 page)

Well, it appeared he had a ballroom, not that he’d had any time or inclination to inspect said room so far.

“Carry on,” he dismissed her and marched to the entrance door, when he saw John come out of one of the doors on the other side. Cain motioned him to approach.

“Good evening, Cain,” John greeted him politely.

“Evening, John. I see the festivities are coming along nicely.” Though Cain wasn’t interested in talking about the stupid party, it suited him fine as a lead-in to another subject.

“Yes, it’s going to be quite an event.”

“Looks like it.” Cain paused for a moment. “Listen, I wanted to let you know that now that I’ve changed my mind about the leader of the king’s guard not being allowed to be in a relationship, I figured it would be appropriate if you brought your woman—Nicolette’s her name, right—to the party. I’m planning to announce some policy changes, and having you there with Nicolette would underscore my sincerity.”

John stared at him, clearly stunned for a moment. “Well, uh, I don’t—”

Cain put his hand on his forearm. “Don’t say no. Bring her. I’d like to meet her. I won’t take no for an answer.”

“Of course, in that case. I’ll make sure she attends. And thank you for the invitation.” He nodded. “Excuse me, I have to go over the shift changes with the guards.”

“Thanks, John. And, uh, thank you for not giving me a hard time about having moved Thomas and Eddie into your rooms.”

“I expected it. I know you trust your men from Scanguards more than anybody here. Maybe in time . . .” He didn’t finish his sentence.

“Yes, maybe in time.” Then Cain watched the leader of his king’s guard turn and disappear down the corridor.

He hoped that Thomas and Eddie would find out that everything with John and Nicolette checked out, so Cain could lay his worries about the leader of the king’s guard to rest.

With a sigh, he opened the entrance door and looked down the long driveway, while the warm night air made his shirt cling to his body. A dark limousine was approaching, kicking up dust from driving too fast on the gravel road. When it finally came to a stop by making a dramatic turn to the side, gravel was whirled up by the back tires and landed on the steps to the house.

Cain refrained from rolling his eyes and instead walked down the steps to greet his visitors.

The door to the passenger area behind the driver’s cab opened and Gabriel stepped out. He turned immediately to gallantly help his wife, Maya, out of the car. Cain had to smile. Gabriel was an old-fashioned kind of guy and a gentle soul, despite the hard exterior he displayed.

When he turned back, Cain had no problem making out the large scar that marred Gabriel’s face, reaching from the top of his left ear to his chin. It lent him a dangerous air, and in his job as the second-in-command at Scanguards, it came in handy. He was both feared by his enemies and revered by his colleagues and subordinates—and sometimes also feared by them.

The dark beauty by his side was something special. A doctor in her human life, she’d been turned into a vampire against her will, but had found true love with Gabriel. The blood-bonded pair was utterly devoted to each other. It was therefore not a surprise that Maya hadn’t flown out to New Orleans on her own, but had brought her husband along for company. Though Cain suspected that Gabriel was here for a different reason: to protect the woman he couldn’t live without.

“Gabriel, Maya, I’m so glad you came,” Cain greeted them now and shook their hands.

Any other woman he would have given a hug to say hello, but he knew Gabriel’s sentiments about his wife being touched by other men, and finally Cain understood the feeling. He felt the same about Faye.

“So this is your place,” Gabriel replied and cast an admiring look at the enormous property. “Who would have thought?”

“Everybody sends their love and congratulations,” Maya added with a smile. “They’re all very happy for you.”

“Thank you.” Cain’s gaze drifted to Blake, who was getting out of the car. “Blake, would you get their luggage, please? I had a guest room on the second floor prepared for them.”

Blake nodded and walked to the back of the limousine, opening the trunk, while Cain motioned to the front door. “Shall we?”

“Have you settled in?” Gabriel asked, sidling up to him.

Cain shrugged. “As much as I can. It’s an adjustment.”

“I bet,” Maya commented, walking hand in hand with Gabriel. “But I’m sure you’ll manage.” She paused for a moment before changing the subject. “I’m anxious to see my patients. Are they in the house?”

“I put them up in one of the cottages on the property. They are somewhat frightened and I thought it would be best if they had a place by themselves. Particularly the girl is scared out of her wits.”

“Pain will do that to a person,” Maya agreed as they crossed the foyer and walked toward Cain’s office. “I did a little research on the practice of defanging a vampire.”

Cain looked at her from the side, curious. “And?”

“It’s been employed sporadically over the centuries, but lately the practice has been largely banned. It’s considered cruel and unusual punishment.”

“Well, it hasn’t stopped the Mississippi clan from using it on those two unfortunates.” Cain entered his office and motioned Gabriel and Maya to take a seat on the couch. He took the armchair opposite them.

“What do you know about that clan?” Gabriel asked.

“Precious little. My understanding is that we’ve been at war with them for decades over border disputes, but that they’re seeking a peace agreement. I’m afraid I can’t see how making peace with a clan that treats its own people so cruelly is in the interest of my kingdom.” Calling it his kingdom still sounded foreign in his ears. “Wouldn’t it mean I condone what they’re doing?”

Gabriel contemplated his answer before he spoke. “Maybe it could become part of the peace negotiations. You’ll make peace with them if they abandon certain practices.”

“Sure, but who’s going to enforce those rules? The only reason we know about their crimes is because those two vampires managed to escape and survive long enough to find shelter with us. Had Faye not tended to them and given them what they needed, they might have perished and we’d never be the wiser.”

Maya smiled at him. “And how is Faye? I can’t wait to meet her.”

“She’s charming.” More than that, Faye was everything he’d ever dreamed of and more. Every minute he spent with her made him want her more. And what she’d done to him in the shower the previous night had been out of this world. To feel her mouth on him had been more than amazing, it had been mind blowing.

Gabriel chuckled and exchanged a look with his wife. “It seems our friend is quite smitten with her.” Then he looked back at Cain. “I’m happy for you. How about your memory? Is anything coming back?”

“I’m afraid not. Which makes certain things difficult. I don’t know who I can truly trust without knowing what my history with them is.”

“That’s understandable,” Maya agreed. “But it’s also an opportunity.”

“An opportunity for what?”

“To see everything with fresh eyes.”

Cain sighed. “Right now, I’d settle for remembering just a few essentials, rather than having to worry every moment of the day that I’d trip myself up and make people suspicious that things aren’t the way they should be. I can’t afford to appear weak.”

“And you’re not weak.” Gabriel’s words were reassuring. “I’ve always told you that you were an exceptional bodyguard when you were in our service. We’re sorry to lose you.”

Cain laughed. “Are you trying to tell me that I’m fired?”

“I believe by taking on this job here you were subtly trying to tell me that you quit,” Gabriel joked. Then he turned serious again. “You were a skilled bodyguard. You’ll be a great king.”

Cain looked toward the window. “Would you believe me when I told you that before I became king here, I was actually the leader of the king’s guard? I guess that’s why I did so well with Scanguards. I had prior experience.”

“Doesn’t surprise me at all. From the start you knew what you were doing. You didn’t need much training at all. Though your willingness to take orders did lack toward the end,” Gabriel said and winked.

“Must be the fact that I’m not meant to take orders.”

“Guess so.”

Maya sat up straight. “Hate to interrupt your reminiscing, but I’d like to see my patients as soon as possible and examine them.”

“Of course.”

“Is there a place where we can do that in private? I’ll need access to water and blood, and a surface to turn into an operating table. My guess is that the operation will be painful, and without any means to sedate them I’ll need help restraining them. Maybe strap them down.”

“The old plantation kitchen may be suitable for it. There’s water and blood supplies, and it’s a little separate from the rest of the palace. It’ll provide some privacy. I’ll be happy to assist.” Cain looked at Gabriel, who nodded instantly.

“I’ll help with restraining them,” Gabriel agreed.

“Cain, I’m sure you have better things to do,” Maya said. “Why don’t you get Thomas to do it. He might even be able to calm them down a little with mind control. He’s the only one who can safely use his skill on another vampire.”

Maya was right. Thomas was a master of mind control. “I’m afraid Thomas and Eddie had to go into New Orleans to follow up on a lead. They won’t be back for twenty-four hours.”

“Oh, that’s a shame.”

“What kind of lead?” Gabriel wanted to know.

“We’re not sure yet. Just a hunch. I’ll fill you in later.” Cain rose. “Let me introduce you to David and Kathryn and have my staff set up the kitchen for you to use.”

Both Maya and Gabriel also rose when the door was suddenly ripped open. Cain whirled his head to it and saw Faye storm into the room.

“How could you!?” she yelled at him, her face a mask of fury, her eyes glaring at him.

Stunned, Cain froze. What had he done now? “Faye.”

She marched toward him, when she suddenly seemed to realize that he wasn’t alone.

“Faye, these are my friends: Gabriel and his mate Maya. Maya is the doctor I told you about.”

Faye took a deep breath and nodded toward them. “Nice to meet you.” Then she looked back at Cain. “Can we talk? In private.”

Her tone told him that this conversation couldn’t wait. He glanced at his friends, but didn’t have to say anything.

“We’ll be unpacking in the meantime,” Maya suggested and took Gabriel’s hand. “Shall we, baby?”

With a concerned look on his face, Gabriel followed his wife and shut the door behind them.

Cain waited another few seconds, before he looked back at Faye. He’d never seen her this furious. “What’s wrong?”

32

Looking at Cain’s clueless expression, Faye fumed even more. As if he’d already forgotten what he’d done!

“You locked up Robert! As if he were your enemy! How could you?”

Cain stiffened visibly. “I’m afraid that’s my business. I have to protect myself.”

Faye felt tears of frustration well up and pushed them down. “Robert is my friend! He’s an honorable man! He’s not your enemy.”

Cain widened his stance, bringing his hands to his hips as if he wanted to intimidate her with his physicality. “Then why was a copy of the palace’s blueprints found in his possession, together with an envelope with an address in Mississippi?”

Faye instinctively took a step back and pressed her hand against her chest. “You think he’s a traitor?”

“What else am I supposed to think given the evidence?”

She shook her head in disbelief. “Robert would never do that. He’s loyal to you. It’s all a mistake.”

“The evidence doesn’t lie.”

“Robert wouldn’t betray you. He was my support all this time. He was there for me when I needed a shoulder to cry on. He’s not a traitor. You have to believe me. Somebody must have set him up.”

“You sound like him. He claimed that somebody planted the blueprints.”

“You must believe him,” she pleaded.

“How can I do that when in the same breath he admitted to having addressed the envelope himself? Thomas compared the address with Robert’s ledger. It’s his handwriting. Without a doubt. He did this, Faye. You’re wrong about Robert. He wanted to sell sensitive information to the Mississippi clan to help them attack me. Most likely assassinate me.”

Faye shook her head, trying to drown out his words. “No! You’re wrong. Robert hates the Mississippians. He despises their practices. No way in hell would he sell information to them.”

“Please stay out of this, Faye. Clearly, it upsets you. Let me handle this.” He reached for her, but she shrank back.

“Stay out of it? So that’s how it’s gonna be between us, is it?”

Cain narrowed his eyes. “What are you saying?”

“Don’t pretend you don’t know. Are you really that blind?”

He clenched his teeth and took a step toward her. “What is going on, Faye? Why are you behaving like this?”

“Because of how you’re behaving. This relationship is a farce.”

An expression of shock spread over his face as fast as wildfire engulfed a forest during drought season. “You can’t mean that. You and I, we are amazing together. We have great—”

“Sex?” Faye spat, interrupting him. “Oh yes, we have great sex. But that’s all we have.” She scoffed. “We have fabulous mind-blowing sex and then you turn away and close yourself off as soon as I want to talk to you. You don’t share anything with me. What happened to you while you were gone?”

Cain evaded her gaze. “It’s complicated.”

“See!” She pointed her index finger at him. “You’re doing it again. You’re shutting me out and refuse to answer any of my questions about what happened during the year you were gone.”

Cain sighed. “Faye, please, baby—”

“Don’t call me baby. It clearly means nothing to you. Because beyond sex, there’s nothing between us. You don’t give a damn about my feelings. You make no effort getting closer to me, and you thwart every single one of my attempts to understand you. What do you want from me?”

“Faye, you’re my fiancée.”

“I don’t care about being your fiancée. I want to be the woman you love. I want to be your confidante again. But you’re shutting me out. And I can’t pretend any longer that I can live like this.”