Crimson Psyche (18 page)

The expression on Victoria’s face gave me a good idea about what she intended to say, so I beat her to it. “Yes, I know. He’s a complete ass and an insufferable egomaniac. We’ve known each other for so long, believe it or not, he’s actually my oldest friend. Strangely, he’s the closest thing to a brother I have. Well, okay, maybe a third cousin twice removed who’d sell me to white slavers for a shot of Botox, but for now let’s both pretend he’s not the biggest dickhead in the universe.”

She shook her head. “Come on, Kismet, level with me. How could you ever have lived with someone like Tom? I know he’s handsome, but didn’t he drive you insane?”

I thought for a moment. “Yes, he really did.” I grinned. “But I met him in grad school, when I was young, insecure and shy. He was already the Wunderkind of the psychology department and I was incredibly flattered by his attention — a bit shocked too, actually. He was so popular. I mostly just trailed around after him, allowing his life to become mine. It took me a while to realize how empty the relationship was. It wasn’t his pomposity that broke us up, it was his infidelity. He never could resist a pair of perky breasts.” I paused for a few seconds. “After we split up and I stopped pretending not to see the obvious, I actually started to enjoy him. Mostly. He’s much worse when other people are around than when it’s just the two of us. Maybe he doesn’t think I rate the full obnoxious act. Sometimes he can actually be fun to spend time with. But if you ever tell him I said that, I’ll lock you in a room with him!”

We both laughed. Then I became serious again. “So, what did you want to tell me?”

She scooted a chair to the edge of the bed and sat. “We both know that Devereux, delightful soul that he is, has a tendency to be a little arrogant. It never occurs to him that his view of something might not be universal. He’s convinced that Hallow’s only communications with you have come through your dreams.”

I nodded, recalling the mountaintop scene. “Hallow
has
been in my dreams.”

She folded her hands on her lap, nodding. “I can’t read your mind, but I have various psychic abilities, and my strongest gift is the same as yours: clairsentience. I simply know things. And sometimes I’m clairvoyant. That’s how I’m aware that you’ve had more contact with Hallow than merely through dreams. I saw you on a stage somewhere with him, both of you covered with blood. Then I saw him again in your townhouse. I watched him bite you.” She hesitated, frowning. “That part was very sexual. Despite what Devereux might believe, Hallow appears to have unlimited access to you, no matter how many magic spells and vampire enchantments are involved. Do you remember any of what I described?”

I stared at her as the memory came flooding back. The stage was probably at the amusement park —
how could I forget witnessing a murder?
I drew a blank about him being in my house.

“Yes.” I nodded, licking my very-dry lips. Anxiety twisted my stomach and I couldn’t make eye-contact with Victoria. “I do remember being in an abandoned building with Hallow. He killed the radio host who’d been so obnoxious to me that morning. He made me look at the body and said he’d done it for me.” I raised my gaze to hers. “But I have no memory of him being in my home. Are you sure you saw that? Maybe you were just afraid it might happen and you imagined it?”

“I wish it was my imagination, but unfortunately I’m sure. Do you remember coming to the Crypt last night and being rather... rowdy?”

“What do you mean?” I grabbed her arm. “Are you saying I came to the club under my own power? Why don’t I remember? Did you come with me?”

“No. I met you on the front stairs. You definitely weren’t your usual self.”

“What did I do? Pick a bar fight? Take off all my clothes?” I cringed and briefly covered my eyes with my hands. “No, wait, I’m not sure I want to know. Just tell me that I didn’t do anything to humiliate myself personally or professionally.”

She shrugged. “One fight. No nudity. You were simply... uninhibited.”

“Oh, my God!
One fight?
I don’t understand. I
never
fight. Are you sure?” I glanced down at my unblemished hands.

“Absolutely. You were the talk of the club. A waitress who came in at the end said you mopped the floor with a large woman named Jenna.” She laughed. “You should’ve seen Devereux stalking into the women’s bathroom. He erased the memories of the women in the room and gave away free drinks, then he planted the idea in Jenna’s mind that she had fallen down drunk and slammed her face against a table edge.”

“Oh, shit.” I covered my face with my hands. “Is that the worst of it?”

“Pretty much. You did a fair bit of flirting, but there was no harm done. All of Devereux’s employees are aware of Hallow’s presence and his effect on you.” She paused. “And I need to confess something. Nigel and I were so worried about you that we went to find Devereux and — well, I’m afraid I’m the one who said you were behaving like a hormonal adolescent. He told me he mentioned it to you, although I know you don’t remember anything that happened while you were at the club. But still.” She lowered her gaze and shook her head. “I’m so sorry. I just wanted Devereux to understand that the demon’s influence had caused you to regress to a younger, more primitive part of your consciousness, rather than have him think your normal personality had made those decisions. Do you forgive me?”

I pulled a corner of the blanket up and flipped it over my head, trying to hide from my misbehavior. “Of course I forgive you,” I mumbled through the cloth. “I’m sure the label was accurate. I’m just confused. I don’t know whether to be embarrassed that everyone knows what’s happening to me except me, or happy that I didn’t do any irreparable damage.”

She tugged the blanket away from my face. “You have nothing to be embarrassed about.” A slow smile slid across her lips. “You were certainly enjoying yourself. You’ve got quite a way with men. You were just about to add another boy-toy to your collection when Devereux showed up and brought you down here. Then, from what I heard, things got a little... out of hand.”

A way with men? Not in this universe.

My heart started to beat faster. Dread trickled through my body. “Is that what Tom was talking about? Did I actually attack Devereux?”

She shook her head. “I don’t think so — at least, not exactly. Devereux didn’t tell me everything, but at some point in your... intimacies... you broke a glass vase, cut his skin and drank his blood. That’s why you were unconscious.”

I jerked up like my upper body was spring-loaded. “Holy shit! Did I hurt him?”

“No. He probably healed immediately, but you were knocked out, and Devereux doesn’t know what other longer-term effects his blood will have on you. He did discover that for some odd reason his blood has deepened Hallow’s control over you. Devereux said he could perceive an even more powerful presence in your energy field.”

I stared at her, frowning silently for a few seconds. “Is Lyren Hallow controlling me now? I don’t feel anything different. I’ve been aware of everything since I woke up a little while ago. Is he just taking a break from making me do inappropriate things?”

“Devereux and the others worked all night to remove as much of Hallow’s influence as possible,” Victoria said, trying to sound reassuring. “Your protection necklace has been strengthened and enhanced, so it
should
be harder for Hallow to enter your mind while you’re awake, but nobody knows for sure. Unfortunately, I doubt if anyone could restrict him from your dreams. He’s a force unlike any other, but for now, you’re mostly back to being the Kismet we’re all familiar with.”

Suddenly anxious, I chewed on my bottom lip. “But
why
would I want to drink Devereux’s blood? I’d never do such a thing in my right mind, or maybe that’s the problem. Perhaps Hallow is driving me mad. What if I reach a point where there’s no going back?”

Since neither of us had an answer to that question, we just stared at each other.

A commotion near the entrance drew my attention. Ankh, the cadaverous door vamp, was holding a struggling Tom aloft by the back of his shirt. “He was trying to crawl out the storage-room window. I thought I’d check with you before I disposed of him.”

“Thank you, Ankh,” I said with a laugh. “You can just leave him here.”

“Yes, indeed.” A commanding voice floated through the air a second after a golden-robed Devereux manifested at the foot of my bed. “He wanted my attention. He now has it.”

Ankh lowered Tom slowly to his feet, then bowed to Devereux. “Will there be anything else, Master?”

Devereux smiled at the tall vampire. “No thank you, Ankh. You may return to your post.”

With a tiny
pop
sound, Ankh vanished.

Ignoring Tom, Devereux greeted Victoria before gliding over to sit beside me on the bed. He gazed into my eyes a few seconds before speaking. “I am glad you are awake. How are you?”

I blinked a couple of times, waiting for Hallow to flip the switch on my personality again, but nothing happened. I still felt normal — whatever that was. “I’m okay,” I said a little nervously.

Devereux’s calm confidence had reappeared. I wondered how he’d take the news that Hallow had gotten through all his spells and enchantments. I wasn’t looking forward to that conversation.

My gaze fell to his ornate golden robe and I grinned. Devereux usually dressed in high-fashion contemporary clothes. Or his bare skin. I’d never seen him decked out in such Grand Poobah raiment. There were no moons or stars on the fabric, but the neckline boasted enough gemstones to finance a small country. He was as gorgeous as ever, but it was certainly a different style for him. Did he really sleep — or die — in such a fussy get-up?

He matched my grin. “My robe amuses you?”

I opened my mouth to answer and was distracted by an intrusive, repetitive sound. Tom had crossed his arms over his chest and was impatiently tapping his foot against the marble tile floor. “I thought you said I had your attention. It would be common courtesy for you to speak with me for a few moments. I have a serious issue to discuss.”

Devereux lifted my hand and kissed the palm. “Excuse me, my love. I must attend to an annoying detail.”

So fast my eyes registered only a blur, Devereux grabbed Tom by the front of his shirt, hefted the shocked man aloft and locked eyes with him. All of Tom’s muscles loosened and he collapsed into a Dr. Sex ragdoll. Devereux growled, his voice low, “You forget yourself, Dr. Radcliffe. You are in
my
world now and you have no power here. You have been allowed to remain only because you are Kismet’s friend.”

Devereux closed his eyes for a few seconds and Zoë appeared next to him. He acknowledged her arrival and refocused on Tom, speaking very slowly, anger dripping from his words. “Doctor, I have a low tolerance for nonsense, and you are fast becoming a nuisance. My staff tells me you have been frequenting my club every night, asking questions and causing difficulties. Zoë has been ordered to inform you that I no longer transform humans, and even if I did, your ridiculous reason for wanting to join the ranks of the undead would not sway me to your cause. I have also forbidden her from attempting to bring you over herself.”

I was stunned by the rage in Devereux’s voice. I’d completely missed his animosity toward Tom. I wondered what else I’d been oblivious to over the past couple of days.

I wasn’t sure what I intended to do, but I leapt out of bed and hurried over to Devereux. I pressed my body against him and slid my arms around his waist, hugging him from behind. I caught Zoë’s frightened eyes. “Devereux, please, let him go. Don’t hurt him. He’s behaving badly because he’s afraid for his future. He’s not thinking clearly. Please. I’m sure he’ll apologize for whatever he did to upset you.”

We all stood, frozen in our weird tableau for what seemed like eons, but was really only seconds, then Devereux stroked my arm. I released the breath I’d been holding and my contracted muscles relaxed. I surrendered my grip on his midsection and stepped sideways. He lowered the boneless Tom to the floor. His enticing voice whispered, “Sleep,” and Tom closed his eyes, pulled his knees up to his chest like a baby and followed the instruction.

Devereux spoke to Zoë, a sharp edge to his voice. “Take him to Kismet’s townhouse and do not let him out of your sight. I am willing to be tolerant this time, but do not try my patience. He is not to visit my club or show himself here in any way. Is that clear?”

Zoë nodded, her lips pressed tightly together, her pale skin even whiter than usual.

“Do you understand the danger to Dr. Radcliffe if you continue your attempt to transform him? You will not succeed, and he will simply die.”

Her shoulders slumped and she stared at the floor.

“Go now.”

Zoë slanted a quick and grateful glance at me, then bent to lift Tom into her arms. She mouthed “thank you” before they vanished.

I stepped in front of Devereux. “Are you going to tell me what that was about? And why you told Zoë to take Tom to my house?” I’d rarely seen him behave so aggressively. Maybe I wasn’t the only one splintering under the heightened stress.

Devereux shifted his gaze to Victoria, who’d waited silently during the impromptu drama. “Victoria, please make sure everything Kismet requires is brought to my penthouse. I will leave all the details in your capable hands.”

Victoria rose and smiled at me before exiting the room.

I wiggled my index finger in his face. “Have I suddenly become invisible, or are you just ignoring me?”

“Come.” He grabbed my hand and tugged me over to the bed, where we both sat. “I am happy to tell you anything you wish to know.” He paused before speaking again. “Your friend has overstepped his bounds and I had to take action, for his sake as much as anyone else’s. I regret that you were distressed by our... disagreement. I had Zoë take Tom to your townhouse because it is a safe haven for him. He will sleep for hours. And, regarding my penthouse, I hope you now see the benefit of living there temporarily. Even though I can cast protective spells at your townhouse again, it is easier for me to take you to a fortified space. You will be even safer there.”

I wasn’t going to argue with him about stashing me away in his building. I didn’t remember large portions of my recent past, and accepting his plan seemed prudent for everyone — although after my discussion with Victoria, it was probable that Devereux was the only one who thought I’d be safe anywhere.

“It is good to have you back. I have missed you.” He lifted me onto his lap, smiling. I felt his warm breath on my face as he enveloped me in his arms and kissed my cheek with his soft lips.

I knew what he meant, but being curious about my other personality, I fished for more information. “What do you mean? I never left — I was here all the time.”

Apparently aware of my tactic, he raised a brow. “Why not simply ask what you wish to know?”

I enjoyed studying his face for a few seconds, then brushed aside a few long blond strands of his silky hair and tucked them behind one of his perfectly shaped ears. “Just tell me if I did anything to embarrass myself or anyone else in any way. Victoria said I was
uninhibited
. I suspect that’s an understatement. How bad was I?”

“You were not
bad
at all, merely not yourself. Or at least not the self you normally show the world. You were very influenced by the one who tainted you. He has little regard for others. He is a violent sexual predator, often crude and sadistic, and you exhibited mild aspects of his tendencies. According to my staff, you behaved as if you were youthfully intoxicated, nothing more.”

“That’s what Victoria said, too.” Ridiculously relieved, I blew out a breath. “It’s very upsetting to lose chunks of memory. I feel as if I’ve crashed and my personal black box is still missing.”

“I do not understand.” He tilted his head and frowned. “Did you misplace a black box?”

“I’m sorry.” I chuckled. “That’s an airplane reference. Since you have no need for conventional transport, you’ve probably never heard about the recording devices used on aircraft. Never mind, it’s not important. It’s just a metaphor.” I kissed his chin. “So, what’s the plan? We’re going to your penthouse, right? I have clients tomorrow morning.”

He grinned, his beautiful eyes twinkling. “What is the rush?” He lifted me off his lap and tossed me onto the center of the bed, and in a heartbeat, I was pinned under his body. I opened my mouth to complain about his weight and got a mouthful of hair. I sputtered, pushing at the strands with my tongue, all the while listening to him laugh. As quickly as the sweet-smelling mane had covered my face, it was gone again as he flung his platinum veil behind him with a masterful flick of his head.

“Hey, are you trying to suffocate me?”

He braced his arms and feet to lift his body, lessening the pressure on my chest. “I am sorry, my love.” His voice still held traces of his laughter. “That was not very romantic, was it? In the future, I will remember to tie my hair back before jumping on you.”

I inhaled the delicious scent of his skin and sighed in satisfaction. “I guess I’ll forgive you this time.” I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulled his body against mine and tenderly kissed him.

He deepened the kiss and moaned softly.

We explored each other’s mouths, tongues joyfully caressing, as we reignited the romantic flame between us. As much as I craved Devereux sexually, I was blissfully content to press my lips to his and revel in his presence. For the moment, all I needed was the closeness — the touching.

Finally coming up for air, he rolled onto his side, and balanced his head on his palm. He watched me, his face serious. “Kissing you is always as amazing as the first time. You cannot know how incredible it is for me to share your life-force, to lose myself in you. It is as if you were created especially for me. I am very grateful that the ritual restored you to me.”

“Well, I don’t know where I was, but I’m glad to be back, too.” I trailed a finger along his lower lip. “You certainly know how to raise my heart rate.” I laughed. “I never could resist a guy in a sparkly dress.”

He smiled. “That is the second time you have mentioned my robe. Druids are fond of such garments. Why does it make you laugh? I wear it merely for convenience.”

Visions of a rhinestone-studded Liberace swept into my mind. My parents had taken me through the flashy pianist’s museum in Las Vegas when I was a child and I never forgot the outrageous capes and robes displayed there. I wondered if he and Devereux had the same tailor.

I toyed with the gemstones circling Devereux’s neckline, still smiling. “I guess it’s because I’m used to your leather and the robe makes you look like a monk in drag.”

“Is that a bad thing?” He frowned. “What is a monkindrag? I am fluent in many languages, but I am not familiar with that word.”

I hooted out a laugh. “It’s English — three words, not one. Monk. In. Drag.”

He appeared completely confused. “Drag? What is drag?”

“It’s just a joke. Being in drag means dressing flamboyantly like the opposite sex.”

His lips pressed into a tight line and he raised his chin. “Are you saying my very expensive, custom-designed robe makes me look like a
woman
?” He lifted the hem of the robe, gathering the fabric in his hand until it exposed his lower body. He nodded at the thick erection straining upwards. “Is
this
the body of a woman?”

I could have soothed his indignation and doused the fire with some calming words, but the expression on his face was so perfectly outraged, so theatrically appalled — the lord and master had been insulted — that I couldn’t stop smiling.

I shook my head. “No, that’s most definitely not the body of a woman, but in that fancy robe you could be acting out the drag-queen role in the vampire version of
The Birdcage.
”

I really didn’t want to upset him, but he
had
asked me why I kept smiling at his robe. If we couldn’t be honest with each other, what did that mean for the longevity of our relationship? A sense of humor was crucial, although apparently I could’ve been more tactful.

“What? Drag queen? Birdcage? I do not understand. No one has ever before expressed any such opinion about my attire.”

I didn’t think his chin could lift any higher and still be attached to his neck. He flung the bottom of the robe down, covering himself. He was obviously waiting for me to apologize — or grovel.

Instead, I opted for logic. Reaching out, I stroked my hand down his arm. “Devereux, we have to be truthful with each other. You said you want a twenty-first-century relationship with me, and that means we
communicate
. We have
differences of opinion
. We can tease each other in a loving way.” He lowered his chin just enough to acknowledge he was considering what I said. “My comments about your robe were not meant to be insulting. I was being playful. You have to admit all that sparkly gold with the gemstones is rather...
unusual
in today’s world. It just took me by surprise.” I thought a little flattery wouldn’t hurt. “I love your body in all that sophisticated leather. It’s so...
you
.”

He stared at me, his eyes narrowing. “Are you attempting to sweetly manipulate me, my love?”

“Maybe.” I leaned in and kissed his lips. “Is it working?”

He flashed a brilliant smile. “It would appear so. I understand what you mean about communication. So, in the spirit of compromise, I am willing to overlook your amusement about my wardrobe. In fact, I will wear other robes that are even more majestic and you can acclimate. And, to be fair, I promise to be naked as often as possible, for I would not want my gender to be in question for you in any way.”

I slid my hand over the bulge under the gold fabric and batted my eyelashes. “You know you’re all male. You’ve definitely got the alpha thing down. After all, you’re the big cheese vampire.”

“That is true.” He nodded, smiling. “And I can assure you that you have only just begun to understand how my
alpha thing
can benefit you.” He peeled one of the spaghetti straps of my red satin nightgown down my shoulder with the tip of a finger.

The touch sent a pleasant shiver along my arm. “Oh, yes. I like the way your mind works.” I was glad his good humor had returned.

Effortlessly, he stood, pulled the robe over his head, and tossed it on the floor next to the bed. He noticed I was enjoying a slow scan of the lean muscles of his pale frame and waited for a few seconds to allow me to complete the review. His platinum hair tumbled over his shoulders and down his chest, creating a shining veil of silk. Some men looked silly with long hair, but Devereux’s suited him perfectly. He always managed to be the “after” photo in a shampoo commercial. He did have a vast array of soaps, shampoos and gels in his bathroom, and they were clearly responsible for a portion of his excellent hygiene. But I’d become convinced the perfect state of his body and his wonderful aroma were by-products of his mystical transformation from mortal to undead. He’d once told me that his aroma was another vampire enticement, that humans were attracted to his fragrance and unable to keep themselves from responding. I could personally vouch for that.