Fall For Me ((The Tate Chronicles #1)) (13 page)

“You are heaven in the flesh,” I whispered, gazing into her sparkling blue eyes.

Grace smiled and more tears spilled down her cheeks, shimmering in the sunlight like tiny flecks of quartz. I kissed her again, only this time with a hunger so intense I never wanted it to end.

GRACE

Wednesday Afternoon

C
harlotte sat on her bed while I leant on the desk and looked out her dorm room window. Her room was on the second floor so it had a better view of the yard than Emma’s. I’d come to make sure Charlotte would be ok for the night, and to borrow some clothes. Archer wouldn’t be happy when I told him what I’d done and that I wasn’t planning on going home. I wanted to spend a little time with Josh—surprise, surprise.

“You did what?” she asked. “How did he take it?”

“A lot better than I expected actually. I think he’s a little freaked, but he didn’t run. Arch is going to spit chips,” I said, sighing.

I quickly threw on one of Charlotte’s tops and a pair of jeans, which I had to roll up considerably, then flopped down onto the bed next to her. When I’d first looked in the wardrobe there were Charlotte’s uniforms on one side, and an assortment of dark jeans and black tops hanging on the other. She only owned one jumper because she didn’t feel the cold—it was also black—but I wasn’t one to judge, black was practical.

Charlotte had gone to no effort to liven up the place. She hadn’t changed the standard issue blue bedspread, and the walls were bare. Emma on the other hand had posters of her favourite bands and boys everywhere.

“I’m sure he won’t be too hard on you,” Charlotte said, smiling.

“How are things between you two anyway?” I asked, shifting and folding my legs beneath me.

“I’ve noticed a slight change in his attitude towards me, if that’s what you mean.”

“I think he’s beginning to like you.”

From the look on Charlotte’s face I assumed this was not a good thing. Her expression changed from shock to confusion, then outright denial.

“No. Not with a human. Not with anyone.”

“Charlotte?”

“What if I lost control, Grace, what if I hurt him?”

“You wouldn’t. You’re good, remember. Besides, Arch can hold
his own,
” I said.

“Not with me he can’t.”

Well that was news to me. Archer had never fought a vamp he couldn’t handle, which is why he was still breathing, but Charlotte was far too serious and it frightened me.

“You forget that I’m a Blaze, Grace. I’m different to other vampires. If I wanted to kill Archer he would have no chance of survival.”

“But I’ve seen you fight.”

“It’s not about fighting; it’s the fact he trusts me now. His guard would be down.”

She had a point; I thought she was being too hard on herself, but I wasn’t going to push the issue. Things would run their course and we would all deal with it together. We were a team whether any of us liked it or not. I got up and headed to the door.

“Well, wish me luck. I think I know already what Arch is going to say.”

Charlotte hesitated and I lingered with my hand on the door knob, waiting for her to speak. She sat perfectly still in that familiar way of hers. I was about to leave when she finally said something.

“What if I did have an inkling of some feelings for him, how would you feel?” she asked.

“If I know one thing about my brother it’s that he’s very loyal.” I stared at Charlotte across the silence. “Of course his decisions are his, not mine. I love you both so please just promise you’ll try not to hurt him. When it boils down to it he will always come first, and I don’t want to be in that position.”

Charlotte replied with a nod and a tight lipped smile. I pulled the door closed behind me then headed down the stairs out into the fresh air and towards the boys’ dorm. Archer had said he’d meet me in the common room. I was getting a little nervous about telling him my news; boy, was I going to be in trouble.

When I got there, Ryan was on one of the couches reading a magazine.

“Catching up on the latest celebrity
goss
huh?”

“Oh, hey Grace.
Gotta
love those trashy mags.”

“Have you seen Arch anywhere?” I asked.

Before he could answer I felt two strong hands on my shoulders, and a soft kiss was planted on my cheek. My heart fluttered and I turned to smile at Josh.

“I just saw him walking across the yard,” Josh said.

“You haven’t said anything to him today, have you?” I whispered, folding myself into his arms. He shook his head and gently kissed my lips. It made me feel a little light headed and I had to pull back to re-focus. When I saw Archer walking towards the door, I prised myself away from Josh.

“I’m just going to take a walk with Arch,” I told him. “I’ll see you in a bit?”

“Don’t be too long.”

I stepped outside and linked my arm through Archer’s, pulling him away from the common room.

“What’s with the hugging?” he asked, looking over his shoulder. It looked like Ryan was pumping Josh with questions, about me no doubt.

“I need to tell you something.”

“Ok, Gracie, what have you done?”

“Why do you automatically think I’ve done something?” I asked. I walked to the dorm steps and sat down in a patch of low afternoon sunlight. Archer sat beside me and gave me his big brother concerned look.

“Because when you start sentences with, ‘I need to tell you something’, it’s never good news.”

“Well, that depends what side you’re looking from.”

“Just out with it would you.”

I tried to stall for a few seconds, to form the words in my head into a coherent sentence and find a way of saying what I needed to without the risk of a freak out from Archer. But I knew that would never happen, so I just had to come right out and tell him.

“You showed him your wings?” he shouted at me.

“
Shhh
, not so loud.”
I looked around and luckily no one was within earshot.

“And then he kissed you?”

“Yes,” I squeaked. “He thinks I’m heaven in the flesh. It was the most perfect first kiss ever.”

Archer was pretty mad, so much so he wouldn’t say anything. His look said enough anyway, and I’m pretty sure I saw steam coming out of his ears.

“You do know that’s it now, you’ve probably sealed your fate,” he said. Yep, he was angry.

When I’d come back from the rock ledge, I’d floated through the rest of the day on a cloud of happiness. I hadn’t let myself think about the consequences of my actions, even though I knew they would probably be huge. Archer was right, everything would be different now. It was one thing to swear to protect the enemy, but another to commit an angel’s ultimate sin. Ever since the great fall we were strictly forbidden to have any intimate relationships with a human, but I knew that and had gone and done it anyway.

“Please don’t burst my bubble.”

“I don’t think it will be me bursting your bubble, Gracie, you’ll have to answer to them.” He pointed to the sky. The sun was setting, turning the clouds blood red. I put my face in my hands and moaned quietly. What had I done?

“But we’re in this together, right?” I looked up at my brother and saw the anger was gone, replaced by sympathy, or was it pity? I didn’t want pity!

“I love you, so yes, we’re in this together. I think we established that when we were born, and again when we agreed to protect a vampire.”

“Speaking of Charlotte,” I said, getting up. “I know how you feel about her.”

“Is there anything you don’t know?”

“Yes, believe it or not.
But you of all people know how it works.”

“Definitely hard to have secrets,” he mumbled.

“She has never had a human companion before, give it time.”

Archer gave me a brotherly hug. We walked back to the common room where Josh was waiting for me.

“Oh, hey, you guys are back,” he said cheerfully as we walked through the door.

“I’m going to stay here a while,” I said.

Archer sighed. “Guess I’ll see you later, then.”

I caught a quick exchange between him and Josh before he left. In the meantime, Emma and Claudia had turned up. I didn’t see Abby anywhere which was probably a good thing. I said a quick hello to Claudia before she wandered off to play cards with a group in the far corner.

It turned out I was pretty good at playing pool. Emma and I teamed up and we kicked some serious butt, showing the boys how it’s done.

“How about some one on one this time,” I said.

“You’re on!” Ryan went to rack the balls again.

“Alright everyone, time to get a move on,” a strong male voice boomed. I’d been having so much fun I didn’t realise the time. Mr Bruner stood in the doorway with his arms crossed. “Lights out was ten minutes ago, and you,” he said pointing to Ryan and Josh, “both have an early training session in the morning, first one for the year.”

“Yes sir, Coach
sir
,” Ryan said comically, standing to attention and saluting him.

“Don’t be smart, Mr Pierce. Five minutes everyone.” He spun on his heels and marched down the hall.

“They start you early,” I said

“We’re playing Macquarie High first up. There’s a bit of competition between us. Coach says we have to be on our game,” Josh replied.

I’d never been interested in soccer, or any sport that didn’t involve killing a vamp for that matter. I didn’t really understand the point. Josh snuggled into my neck and I giggled.

“Room twenty-nine,” he whispered.

“That tickles, and I don’t need to know your room number to find you.”

“So you’ll come?” He stared hopefully into my eyes.

“Why do you think I’ve been hanging around all night, silly?”

I leant in, softly putting my lips on his. When Josh kissed me I no longer felt the dread in the pit of my stomach, and in his arms nothing else mattered. To me he was the sun, moon and stars, and my entire world was in orbit around him.

“See you in a bit,” I said.

I told the others good night and walked slowly back towards the girls’ dorm with Emma and Claudia. I needed to give Josh enough time to get to his room and make it look like I was leaving.

“You and Josh, huh?”
Emma said, nudging me. “Good on you, Grace, you were driving me crazy.”

“I don’t think Abby is very happy,” I replied, glancing at Claudia.

“They were together a long time, but we all knew it was going to end,” Claudia said. “She was the only one who couldn’t see it.”

“So you don’t hate me then?”

“Why would I hate you?” Claudia asked.

“You’re Abby’s friend, I just thought…”

“No, don’t be silly,” she said. “Abby will get over it. See you tomorrow.”

Emma and I squealed over some juicy details about Josh before parting ways. I stood in the shadow of the Moreton Bay fig and shivered. It looked creepier in the moonlight. I’d decided to make myself wait five minutes, but five minutes seemed to drag out for eternity and I couldn’t wait any longer. I took cover behind the thick trunk of the tree, checked no one was watching then thought of Josh. My light surrounded me, and moments later I was smiling at his awestruck face as I landed in his room.

“It really amazes me how you do that. I still can’t believe you’re real.”

“Some things just can’t be explained,” I said, curling myself into his arms. “Can I stay all night?”

“I wouldn’t let you go even if you tried.”

We talked for a while about all sorts of things; his dad, his mum, Charlotte, me. Josh’s mum died in a farming accident when he was ten. I didn’t need to ask too many details, it was all there in his head. He liked talking about her; the part he didn’t like was how she died. He felt responsible, and couldn’t understand why it had happened. Everyone knew the story, but no one ever talked about it.

After a while I began to doze. Josh’s fingers gently caressed my cheek, and I fell asleep with my head on his chest listening to the melodic thrum of his heart.

GRACE

Late Wednesday Night

W
hile I lay in Josh’s arms I was summoned before the Council. At that point I knew I was in big trouble, but was beyond caring. I could handle being exiled if it meant I could be with Josh and save Charlotte. The Council was wrong to ask me to take her soul. I stood before them in the light, my white dress flapping in the breeze, and the silence around me was deafening. I felt like a stranger in my own home.

“You bring me here and yet you’re afraid to speak,” I shouted. “What has been asked of me is wrong.”

“No, Grace. You have turned your back on us and sworn to protect your enemy.” The Council’s response echoed around me.