Deceptive Changes: Kat LaMond Book 1 (15 page)

Bright blood decorated Thorn’s mouth, making his lips ruby in the light.  I shoved my wrist against his mouth and felt him move.  It was almost like he was trying to move away.  “Todd, hold his head.  He’s fighting.”  Todd gripped Thorn’s head and I pressed my wrist to Thorn’s mouth harder.  His lips opened and blood trickled in.

My wrist started to cramp from the pain but I kept it there.  Finally, Thorn’s teeth slid into my wrist.  I gasped as pain shot through me.  He sucked at my wrist for a moment and then his hands wrapped around my arm.  My vision started to darken as he continued to suck my blood.  My breathing slowed as his mouth, and throat, worked in conjunction to give him life sustaining blood, my blood. 

I knew I had cut deeper than I had intended and, now that he was sucking the life out of me, it was only a matter of time before my breathing stopped completely.  I tried to yell or scream or anything.  The only word I could get out was, “Stop”, and that came out as a whisper.

Even as I was losing consciousness I saw Thorn’s brown eyes open in surprise.  I let my body fall into oblivion as I watched his eyes focus on me.

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I woke up.  I was looking at the ceiling in the sitting room.  I looked around and found that I was still on the floor.  Everyone was looking at me.  Todd took two steps and fell down at my side.  “Kat, are you okay?” he whispered. 

I nodded.  It took me two tries but I finally asked, “What happened?”

He smiled and kissed me softly.  “You saved Thorn but it took a lot more out of you then any before.”  I think I said, ‘uh huh’, but I passed out again.

I blinked into sunlight.  I was lying in bed with warm bodies all around me.  I tried to sit up but found that I was pinned to the bed.  I groaned and bodies shifted.  I was able to sit up and found not only my guys in bed with me but Sven and Thorn. 

Sven was the one that had had me pinned to the bed.  I tried for a graceful way off the bed but couldn’t see how.  Instead of graceful I went for escape.  I crawled over bodies and stood at the edge of the bed.  All five of them looked at me like I had disrupted their good night sleep.

I bumped into the wall.  I hadn’t even realized I was backing up.  “Todd, what the hell is this?”  My voice came out in a harsh whisper. 

He looked at me and sighed.  “You needed people to keep you warm.  Sven and Thorn wouldn’t leave.  They think they owe you for saving their lives and such.  You were frozen and Trace, Erick, and I weren’t enough warmth.”

I nodded and walked into the bathroom.  I shut and locked the door.  I turned on the shower and looked at my wrist.  There was hardly a scar where I had sliced it open.  I stepped under the hot water and washed up.  I stayed until the hot water turned warm.

I toweled off and grabbed the robe that was hanging from the hook on the door.  I wrapped tightly into it and wrapped a towel over my head.  I walked out of the bathroom and found that they were still in the bed.  They all turned their heads to look at me.  I stared gaped-mouth at them.  It was like five heads but one unit.  It was weird.

I shut my mouth and shook my head.  No way could I say anything to that.  I walked out of the bedroom and went into the kitchen.  Beatrice and Ardeness were in the kitchen.  They looked at me like I had just killed their favorite dog or something.  I grabbed some breakfast and sat at the table.  They continued to look at me.  I took a bite of my cereal and asked, “What?”

“How could you take them away from us, Katja?” Beatrice asked as pain filled her young face.

“I didn’t steal them.  They have some dumb idea that because I’ve saved their lives they owe me.  I can only say they don’t owe me a damn thing.”  The explanation did nothing to ease their pain.  I sighed and finished my cereal.  “Look.  I don’t want them.  If you want Thorn and Sven, that’s for you two to decide.  I have enough on my plate without two more.”  I stood up and tossed my bowl in the sink.  I grabbed a juice on the way out of the kitchen and went into my office.

I sat at the desk, turned on the computer, and drank some juice while it booted up.  When it was up and running, I shot off an email to Starla and informed her that I would be at work today.  I found several emails from her.  I read them and got all the updates that I needed for work.

I turned the computer off and went back into the bedroom.  Trace, Erick, and Todd were getting dressed but Sven and Thorn were still in bed.  I raised an eyebrow in their direction and rolled my eyes.  Lazy vampires.  I grabbed work clothes. 

Todd looked at me and asked, “You’re going into work today?”

“Yeah.  I have some things I need to take care of.  Why?”

“Someone needs to go with you.”  I nodded and went into the bathroom.  I changed into grey slacks and a light lavender blouse.

I stepped out of the bathroom and got whistles from the bed.  I grimaced and walked out of the room.  I slipped into some low heeled shoes and grabbed my purse.  I was almost to the door when Erick stopped me.  “You have to have someone go with you, Katja.” 

I turned and looked at him.  “Are you going with me?”

“No.  I have to talk with the guys about some stuff.  Why don’t you take Thorn?” 

I gave him the look he deserved on that.  “Are you kidding?  He’d probably pick up the clients.”

“Then take Sven.” 

My mouth fell open in even more shock.  “No.  How do you think it will look when I walk in without one of you?  They’ll think I’m flouncing around with more than just the three of you.”

He sighed and his shoulders sagged.  “Take them both.  Maybe they’ll keep each other out of trouble.” 

I grimaced.  “I’ll just go alone, it’ll be better that way.  I have a lot of work to do.”

Todd walked into the room.  “Kat, take Sven.  He’s promised to behave.” 

I started to argue but I could tell that Todd and Erick weren’t going to budge on me taking one of the vampires.  I let out a groan and nodded.  The two of them walked over to me and gave me a peck on the cheek.  “Tell him to move now.  I’m already late.” 

They walked into the bedroom and Sven walked out.  He was dressed professionally in dark jeans, a black dress shirt over a black t-shirt, and black casual shoes.  He looked completely different than when I had met him that one night.

Trace walked out of the room and skipped over to me.  He gave me a big hug and a passionate kiss.  He released me, winked at me, and walked back into the bedroom.  I stared after him for a moment and then shook the cobwebs from my brain.

I turned on my heel and walked out the door with Sven close on my heels.  He grabbed the keys from my hand before I could even get to the SUV.  We were taking Todd’s truck since I still didn’t have a replacement for my Mercedes.

I got into the passenger seat and Sven started the truck.  “Do you even know how to get to my work?”  He nodded.  I guess he was playing silent bodyguard. 

It was a long drive to my work, even though it’s only a half hour drive.  I was lost in thought when Sven stopped the truck at my office.  I got out and walked into the building.  Sven was walking just behind me.  I rolled my eyes when two of the three clients turned their heads and let out low whistles.

I waved to Starla on my way into my office.  Sven pulled the blinds when I shut the door.  I sighed heavily.  “Why did you do that?”  He smiled at me, staying silent, and sat on the couch by the door.  I sighed again and went to work.

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Several hours later Sven stood up and pulled my chair from the desk.  I saved my work and stared up at him.  “It’s lunch time.  I was told that you don’t eat very well when you get into your work.  I’m to take you out for lunch.”  I grimaced and wondered what his idea of lunch was.

I stood up and walked out of the office.  I told Starla that I would be out for lunch and she waved me off without asking questions, thankfully.  Sven held the door open for me.  I stopped and looked at him.  He was being the perfect gentleman.  I walked through the door.  I was almost to the truck when Sven was just there with the passenger door open.  I sighed again and got into the truck.

“You shouldn’t show that you’re a vampire in public,” I said when he got into the truck.  He grinned at me and took off down Main Street. 

We went for about twenty minutes and then pulled into a parking lot.  I looked at the restaurant and found that it was my favorite Italian restaurant.  Yum.  He stopped the car and in his faster-than-the-eye-can-see way, he had my door open.  I slid out of the truck and he held out his arm.

I just looked at him.  “Oh, come on, Katja.  I’m not going to bite you.  If I were to bite you it would because you want me to.” 

I heaved a big sigh and slid my hand around his arm.  He smiled as he guided me to the door.  He opened it and guided me through.  We walked up to the hostess and Sven informed her that our party was in the back.

She started to pull menus but was waived off by the owner of the restaurant.  He took us to the back personally.  I found that Trace, Todd, and Erick were waiting for us.  Oh, and Thorn.  I took my hand from Sven’s arm and went to my guys.  They stood up and gave me a big hug.  I was happy to see them.  It wasn’t like I had been gone for very long, but still…I had missed them.

“What are you guys doing here?” I asked as they took their seats.  Sven was waiting for me to take mine.  He held my seat for me.  I sat down and he placed the chair perfectly under me. 

“We thought we’d meet you for lunch.  We found something out.” 

I didn’t know if I wanted to know.  I knew one thing, I was famished.  “Before we start.  Did you guys order yet?” 

Todd nodded.  “Yeah.  We ordered your favorite.  I hope you don’t mind.”  I shook my head.

A couple moments later, a waiter brought in a cart with food and drinks for everyone.  My favorite meal was Fettuccini Alfredo with grilled chicken and a glass of wine.  The guys had everything from spaghetti to eggplant parmesan.  Sven and Thorn had salads placed in front of them and a glass of wine.  I started to eat and mmm’d as the wine complimented my meal.

After we finished our main course, Todd said, “The reason Sven wasn’t attacked was because of your blood, Kat.” 

My mouth fell open again, good thing I didn’t have any food in it.  “What are you talking about?”

“When Thorn was attacked, the spell was supposed to attack both of them, but it only worked on Thorn because he wasn’t bound to you the way Sven is.”  My meal slid in my stomach.  I clenched my teeth to keep from throwing up.  I leaned into the table with my arms wrapped around my stomach. 

When I could speak without fear of tossing my meal, I asked, “Sven’s bound to me?”  Todd nodded.  I grimaced.  “How could this happen?”

“When he was near death.  It’s similar to the power that you used to raise Erick and the others.  Anyway, now that Thorn has your blood in his body, he should be impervious to the spells.” 

I frowned.  “How do you feel about this, Todd?”

“I’m happy.  If it means that my people are safe by sampling your blood, then I am very pleased.  It means that we have yet one more way to protect them.”

“But if they’re tied to me, what about you?  You’re their king, I’m not their queen.”

“I don’t have the power to raise people.  I can give them blood but its king’s blood and not as potent or as magical as yours.” 

I looked at him closely for a moment and then asked, “What does this mean for me?” 

“It means that I may ask you for a favor if, when, the time comes.” 

“What kind of favor?”  Not that I didn’t already know.

“The kind you probably don’t want.” 

I lifted an eyebrow and blew out a sigh.  “How many?”

He raised his eyebrows in astonishment.  “It would be in the neighborhood of a hundred or so.” 

“Come on.  You’re joking, right?” 

Todd shook his head.  “I’m not joking, Kat.  I really have that many.”

My shoulders sagged.  “I don’t think I’m into letting a hundred or more suck on my wrist.” 

Sven chose that moment to pipe in.  “Katja, it’s not that bad.  You could have multiple orgasms.” 

I gave him the look he deserved, and then swung my gaze back to Todd.  He was giving Sven a look too and it wasn’t friendly.

“If they were to take my blood, would they feel what, say Sven and Thorn feel?  Or would they just go about their business and not be attached to me like a puppy dog.”  I flicked my eyes to Sven as I said this.  He grimaced and then plastered a fake smile on, though his dark blue eyes sparkled with laughter. 

“I’m not sure, Kat.  They may be drawn to you as Sven is.” 

I noticed he left out Thorn.  “What about Thorn?”  I looked at Thorn as I asked. 

“Ask him, Kat.  I’m not sure.” 

I lifted an eyebrow at Thorn.  “Well?”

“I don’t feel any different from the way I did before.  You’re blood called to me when I first saw you but I don’t feel a desperate urge to be with you.”  He flicked his brown eyes to Sven and then back to me.  That flick of the eyes told me more than any of my guys ever did.  It meant that Sven desired me in a way I wasn’t comfortable.  Not that I was totally comfortable with Sven from the beginning.

The waiter came in with a selection of desserts and I almost lost it.  I held my stomach and nose until the guys had selected a dessert.  I waved my hand at the waiter and he left quickly. 

I stood up and paced the room.  It wasn’t that big so I didn’t have very far to go as I paced.  I stopped and looked at my guys.  They were eating their desserts as if this was just another day and it probably was.  To them.

Maybe I was the only one with a problem.  Maybe I was the only one that didn’t want this.  Or maybe I was the only one that couldn’t deal with this.  Sven’s eyes never wavered from me.  His blue eyes were following me from one end of the room to the other.  Though I stayed away from where they were sitting.

I groaned inwardly and sat back down.  I tried to listen in on what my guys were talking about but I wasn’t up to listening to external words.  I was wrapped up in the fact that I was now a…a something.  I didn’t even know what I was anymore.  I knew I was a killer, which I’d come to terms with.  I know I’m a good person in a sordid way.  Now, it seemed as if I were some protector person who has some weird magic or something. 

I never grew up where spells and magic were practiced.  We lived in a normal neighborhood, went to a normal school, and had normal friends, which isn’t totally true.  I didn’t have a ‘normal’ life.  I see ghosts, woo hoo.  Every Tom, Dick, and Harry can see a ghost.

I watched as the guys interacted and it seemed so natural.  Even Erick was starting to act more comfortable around the vampires.  Trace, well he was Trace.  The waiter came in and everyone shut up.  “Is there anything else I can get you?”  We looked at each other and then shook our heads.  The waiter tapped out a bill and being me, I paid it.  The waiter left.