The Fabled (34 page)

“You act like we’re rabbits.”

“You are more than welcome at my home
Brennan,” Roman interjected.

I looked at him surprised. “She’s right. She
can keep Tristan busy. He has been pressuring me to take him with
me. Especially when you were in danger. Perhaps if Brennan is there
he won’t feel left behind.”

I nodded then turned to Lucian. “What do you
say father? Is she cleared for leave?”

“She has come a long way in a short amount
of time. I think she is ready.”

“Excellent. Go pack your bags shorty. You’re
hittin’ the skids.”

She squealed and hopped up and down before
running over to Lucian and kissing his cheek. Then she ran upstairs
lightning fast.

Roman pulled me back to him and placed his
hands on my shoulders. I took the opportunity while Brennan was out
of the room to tell Lucian everything I knew about my abduction and
the people who took me. He seemed thoughtful for a moment after I
finished.

“It does not surprise me Desiree was
involved. This is not her first attempt at stealing power but this
is the first time she has killed in order to obtain it.”

“Did the cleanup crew find anything at the
facility?”

“No. By the time they arrived the building
was fully engulfed in flames.”

“What?!”

“My guess is they had a self-destruct plan
in place.”

“Wonderful. So there is no way to find out
who the other members of this group are.”

“I fear Mr. Niobe was telling the truth
about how widespread they are. Think of the Witch at the
asylum.”

“Yeah, but she worked at a facility he
owned. That doesn’t mean there are thousands of members working
around the globe to take down the Fabled.”

“Why don’t we worry about the immediate
threat? The other can be thought on another day.”

I nodded in agreement. “I’m going to call
Doyle and see if he can arrange a meeting.”

Lucian nodded. “The incubus does have a soft
spot where you are concerned. Just make sure he is not playing both
sides.”

“It’s a chance I’m willing to take. You know
as well as I do Desiree isn’t going to stop and who knows what
other connections she might have if there are other members out
there.”

“I agree. She must pay for her crimes but be
careful doing it.”

“I will.”

Brennan came bounding down the stairs with
two bags. “You ready?”

“Give me a moment. I need to make a phone
call.”

I stepped outside and dialed Doyle’s
number.

“Finally grow tired of that Vamp bossing you
around?” he answered.

I smiled. “He is rather demanding, isn’t
he?”

“Nothing a good whip and some cuffs couldn’t
cure.”

“How are you Doyle? Really?”

“I haven’t killed anyone if that’s what
you’re getting at.”

“Because Desiree’s been feeding you?” He was
silent so I continued. “I need you to arrange a meeting with her
for me.”

“She’ll never do it.”

“Then tell her you’re giving me to her.
Pretend I don’t know about the two of you. Say whatever you want
but I need to end this.”

“I never wanted that to happen to you, my
Sun. You’re a light. One that never should be put out.”

“Will you arrange it?”

He was silent for a minute before he
sighed.“Yes, meet me here tomorrow night at eight. I’ll make sure
she comes.”

“Thank you, Doyle.”

He hung up. Now the question is if he will
betray me or not. I really want to believe he wouldn’t but I know
the hold she has on him. Hell, she locked him in a coffin for forty
years and he still referred to her as his mistress. I just hope he
does the right thing. I’m sure I would feel a lot better if he
wasn’t a demon but what can you do.

“
Putting on the relic”

“I think I’m going to live here.”

“Here, at my home? That’s rather presumptuous
of you, don’t you think?”

“I was referring to a more localized portion
of your home. Primarily, this bathtub.”

It was a large garden tub with jets spaced
strategically in just the right places to massage all the muscles
in your back and legs. If I had to describe it in one word,
heaven.

“Ah, I see. Do you think to move it to your
home?”

“I don’t know. That’s seems like a lot of
trouble.”

“Then I suppose I will have to become
accustomed to seeing you here.”

“That’s rather presumptuous of you, don’t you
think?”

He smiled at me from his perch in the
corner.

“You know, you don’t have to play the voyeur.
You could always join me. There is certainly enough room.”

“I like the sight of you lounging in my
tub.”

“I’m sure the sight of both of us would look
much better.”

“You are persistent.”

“I’ve been called worse.”

He laughed before pushing himself off the
wall and moving toward me. He slowly undressed with much more grace
than I ever would have then slid in behind me. He wrapped his arms
around me and I sighed.

“What are you thinking?”

We had been sitting in companionable silence
for a while.

“I thought about you a lot when I was at that
facility. There was plenty of time for thought and you took up most
of it.”

“I thought about you too. Tristan wasn’t
lying when he said we were worried about you. I think we took turns
losing control.”

“My poor boy. I haven’t seen him in almost
two weeks and I haven’t been able to even speak two sentences to
him since I’ve been back.”

“He knows you have things to take care of.
You will have time.”

“It doesn’t feel like it. There’s never
enough time.”

“There will be.”

I turned to him. “What if there isn’t? My
biggest regret when I was captured was that I wasted so much time
blaming you when I should have been asking you for
forgiveness.”

“Shh. There is no need for regret now.”

“I don’t want to waste any more time. I don’t
want to have any more regrets.” I stroked his face and ran my hands
into his hair. “I love you Roman. I want you for eternity. I’m sure
there are times we are going to fight. Mostly because you’ll be
wrong and think you’re right. But I never want you to doubt my love
for you. Even when I tried to deny it, it never ended and never
will.”

He smiled at me then kissed me softly. “I
know, Sunshine. I’ve always known. I merely waited for you to come
to the realization I was right.”

I laughed and kissed him back. After a minute
I pulled back. “So, what do you think about an extended
family?”

He took a deep breath. “I already have
Tristan. Who else are you planning on moving in?”

“No, we have Tristan. He has always and will
always be my son. I am willing to share with you though.”

“How noble of you. You didn’t answer my
question. Other than our son who do you wish to live here?”

“Well, apparently I’ve adopted a Phoenix
baby. You don’t happen to know the typical growth rate of Phoenixes
do you?”

“I’m afraid not. I’m sure your father would
be willing to educate you.”

“Yeah, his version of educate is to either
sit down and tell me a long detailed story of his interactions with
a Phoenix or to toss several extremely heavy books at me. Or
both.”

He chuckled and nipped my ear. “You would do
well to listen to those stories. Your father has been around a very
long time.”

“Yeah, yeah. So anyway, I guess I’ve also got
a nanny and her, uh, lover? I don’t think they will want to live
here. Then again I haven’t talked to them about it so I’ll find
out.”

“And what of Brennan?”

“Brennan. I don’t know what she will do. She
has a grandfather who seems to genuinely want to get to know her. I
guess it’s her choice. She’s welcome to live with me but if she
wants to give him a try I will understand. Just know I will be
kidnapping her at regular intervals to spend time with her.”

“That sounds acceptable. No long lost cousins
or aunts or uncles.”

“Not that I’m aware of. You know I can stay
at my home. I know this is all happening so fast. Hell, a couple of
weeks ago you were on your own.”

“And now I have you. As long as we are
together you could move the entire state of Texas into my
home.”

“Are you sure? Babies crying in the middle of
the night, teenager angst, it’s a lot to handle.”

“We’ll handle it together.”

“That sounds beautiful.”

“Of course I will require recompense for my
poor nerves.”

“Oh really? What kind of recompense did you
have in mind?”

He snapped his fingers and the ring I had
worn all those years ago appeared in his hand. I looked at it then
at him. He raised his brows in question and I nodded slightly. He
smiled as he placed it on my finger once again.

“This will help but I should think more work
on your part will be needed.”

My brows drew together in confusion and he
smiled devilishly before kissing me deeply. After a few moments I
pulled back and returned his smile.

The next night while I was getting ready for
my date with Doyle Tristan knocked on the door.

“Come in son.”

He opened the door and walked in. “How did
you know it was me?”

“There are only two Vamps in this house and
Roman is a lot stronger than you.”

He nodded. “You’re pretty good at reading
magic.”

“It comes with the territory. Come over and
have a seat. I’d like to talk with you for a minute before I leave
again.”

He walked over to one of the chairs setup in
an alcove off to the side of the room.

“Tell me how you are, really.”

“I’m alright. I’ll admit it was kind of a
shock waking up to find I’d been turned into a Vamp and Roman was
my sire but after thinking about it I realized it was because of
you. I know he didn’t turn me out of the goodness of his
heart.”

“That doesn’t mean he cares less for you
now.”

“Oh I know. I can feel it through the
bond.”

“Really? How does it feel?”

“Like when I catch you watching me out of the
corner of your eye just because you want to see me and know I’m
alright.”

I smiled at him. “And here I thought I was
being sneaky.”

“It’s fine. Actually it feels nice to be
loved. Although I will point out once again that I’m a grown
man.”

“Ah, but now you’re a baby Vamp so I get to
treat you like my itty bitty boy again.”

“You’re not my sire.”

“No, but I’m your sire’s, uh,
girlfriend.”

“Oh I think you’re a bit more than his
girlfriend. I don’t think most guys would give just some girl
they’re dating an elixir to make them immortal.”

“Okay, whatever I am. I’m still your mother
and you’ll be my baby until the end of time.”

“I wouldn’t expect it any other way.”

“So we’re good? You’re not mad at me for
having Roman change you?”

“And be dead instead? No, I’m not mad. Have
you actually been worried about that? You should know better. It
would take a betrayal of epic proportions to have me mad at
you.”

“I’m glad to hear that. I wouldn’t say I was
worried. Just concerned about our relationship. I don’t want
anything to take you away from me son.”

“Only death. Then I’d probably haunt you or
something.”

I smiled at him.

“So, are you really going to raise the
Phoenix? You already have Brennan and me.”

“Yes, but I’m setting a limit. No more kids
until the ones I have are grown.”

He raised a brow. “You know you just
contradicted yourself right.”

“I’m a contradictory kinda gal. Now get out
of here I have an incubus to see.”

“Are you sure you can trust him?”

“As sure as anything. Look, I’ve known Doyle
for a long time. Sure he has certain feelings of obligation to
Desiree and I don’t know what they stem from but I know he changed
from the heartless bastard he was when he used to run with her. I
don’t think he wants to go back to that.”

“I don’t know mom. That sounds like a long
shot.”

“I’m willing to take my chances.”

“I can’t believe Roman would be willing to
chance your safety like this.”

“He might be under the impression I’m meeting
Doyle somewhere that I’m not.”

“You lied to him?! Are you crazy?”

“Some think so. It’ll be alright though. I’ve
got it covered.”

“This doesn’t seem right. You should take
backup.”

I stood up and patted his face. “Don’t you
trust me?”

“It’s not you I don’t trust.”

“I love you son and I’ll see you in a little
while.”

“Please don’t do this.”

I bent over and kissed his forehead before
walking out of the room.

“
Heads will roll”

“Are you sure you know what you are
doing?”

“Don’t worry Gabriel. Roman isn’t going to
kill you for bringing me here.”

“I assure you. If you do not survive this
encounter, he will do his best to achieve that goal.”

“Only you and I know you teleported me. If
I’m dead, I won’t be telling him.”

“Was that your attempt to make me feel better
about this?”

I put my hand on his arm in a friendly
gesture. The fact that I stole a bit of his magic had nothing to do
with it. “Look Gabriel. Just go back to Aery and help her with
Phae. I’ll be fine, trust me.”

He didn’t look convinced so I raised a brow
and gave him one of my hard looks. He finally sighed and nodded
once before disappearing into a cloud of smoke. Jeez, with
everybody telling me this is a mistake it’s starting to give me
second thoughts. I don’t need second thoughts. I need to hype
myself up and know before I go in there that Doyle is my friend and
he will never betray me. I know he won’t. It’s everyone else I’m
having a hard time convincing.