United Eden (11 page)

When Wil iam responded with a chuckle, the majority of tension flowing from his muscles, I knew I not only owed Cora, I owed her big time. Shed diffused in one sentence what would have taken me a few days.

Abigail smiled over at me, sharing something of an empathetic look, like she not only knew the concerns running through my mind, but understood them. Its not about the venue or the veil, its about the vows you make to one another.

I nodded my acknowledgement, letting Wil iam tuck me back to him. His chin pul ed my head against his neck and the concentrated sensations of having him this close”the beat of his heart against mine, the warmth pulsing from his body, the scent rol ing from his neck”calmed me into a state of near hypnosis. Where I was a master at setting a moment on fire, he was a master at extinguishing it.

This partys coming to an end, Cora changed the subject, searching the half empty tent. After party at our place? she asked, excitement already bubbling to the surface at the thought.

Were in, Nathanial answered instantly, running his fingers under his col ar. I cant get out of this thing soon enough.

Need any help with that? Abigail murmured, running his hands up to his neck, loosing the bowtie.

Nathanial didnt hesitate. Give us an hour, he said to Cora, already steering his wife towards the exit.

Or two, Abigail lilted back.

Cora snickered at the two of them, power walking through the tent, before answering Josephs hopeful expression without even looking. Dont get any thoughts, babe. Ive got an after party to prepare for. She was bouncing from the excitement of it.

Joseph groaned. Its just the six of us, we dont need anything more elaborate than a good playlist and a slice of your red velvet cake to have a good time.

Nice try, Cora said, spinning to Joseph. Youd think from that sad puppy face you have that youre deprived. She looked up at him with a heavily lidded expression. But I know better. She turned his exaggerated frown over with a lingering kiss. Come on, she instructed pul ing on him. You wil be greatly rewarded for your assistance.

Joseph fol owed her, shrugging his shoulder into Wil iams as he passed. See you guys in a few, or whenever you decide to stop pretending to be utterly, sickeningly enamored by each other. He stared at the two of us entwined on the dance floor before lurching forward from a yank from Cora.

A few paces away, Cora came to a screeching halt. Looking back at me, I knew whatever she had to say wasnt going to be to my liking. Oh, and Bryn? she said, sugar-coating her tone. I might have forgotten to mention that youre not al owed to see Wil iam until your Unity ceremony.

What?! I shrieked, sure Id heard her wrong or she was teasing . . . or exaggerating. Please tel me youre not serious.

Oh, I most certainly am, Cora replied, eliciting a moan from both Wil iam and me. Another ancient tradition. It makes the Unity ceremony that much more special going without seeing each other during the Betrothal period. She was grinning in a wistful kind of way. I could have strangled her.

So you better enjoy tonight because, come sunrise, you two are official y cut off from each other, Cora said, pul ing her earrings out and sliding them into Josephs pocket. Stil looking forward to that long, drawn out Betrothal, Bryn? she asked, reviewing my expression.

Words were difficult to form in this shel -shocked state, but in my desperation I found a few. Cora? I cal ed out as she and Joseph continued towards the exit. She looked back at me, knowing shed won. Do you think we could get a Unity ceremony put together by tomorrow night? I asked, only somewhat teasing.

Theres the Bryn I know and love, she yel ed across the room. Dont worry, wel get this thing rol ing. You can count on me.

Wil iam nuzzled my head back from his chest, his face glowing. You want to be United with me tomorrow night?

Tomorrow
morning
if it means not seeing you until we are, I answered, mirroring his expression.

There is something so sexy about knowing you cant stand to be away from me as much as I cant stand to be away from you, he said, his voice low. It makes me want to ditch this party and Coras just-announced after party.

The vibrations of his voice heavy in my ear sent tingles down my spine. Something tel s me that the certainty weve been given tonight would upend our threadbare restraint. I dont think we better chance being alone.

You just denied me, he stated, sounding appal ed, but his eyes were excited. Even sexier. His words came out muffled as they positioned at the height of my neck, journeying down . . . and down”

Eh-hmmmm, one of Wil iams guards announced himself, looking uncomfortable interrupting our moment.

Yes, Max? Wil iam asked, barely removing his lips from my col arbone. He obviously didnt care how uncomfortable the guard or I, for that matter, was.

Might I inquire as to how much longer youre planning on staying here? Max asked, eyes circumnavigating the room, mine fol owing suit. Save for the four guards interspersed around the dance floor, several members of the orchestra clasping their cases closed, and a couple dozen waiters, the place was empty. The world Wil iam and I created had eclipsed into the realm of ignorance to everything around us and that was dangerous. A room of hundreds of Immortals had emptied out and wed been none the wiser.

Wed have to make more of an effort to pul ourselves from our blissful bubble of there being no one else in the world except for us.

It seems we real y know how to clear a room, Wil iam said, scanning the room with me. Ready to move on to the next place?

If we have to, I sighed, al owing him to lead me from the dance floor we hadnt left since our Betrothal was announced.

My sentiments exactly, he grinned back at me, nodding over to Max. Wel be at Cora and Josephs for the remainder of the night.

Means of transportation, Max listed off, keeping stride beside Wil iam, somehow managing to make a six foot three man that was muscled to perfection look like a shrimp. I had to give the Council credit for attaching the biggest, scariest, stone-faced guards to Wil iam they could . . . and I guess I had to give them credit now for our Betrothal.

Wil iam shrugged. Foot? He looked back at me, seeking approval.

Moonlit walk with my Betrothed . . . and five guards in tow? Thats the stuff romance is made of right there, I teased, snickering when he tried to give me his sternest look.

Youve turned into quite the comedian, Wil iam said as we left the tent, five figures ghosting into position around us, far enough away to grant us a semblance of privacy, but close enough to be effective if need be.

It was reassuring having them there and even more reassuring knowing they were there when I wasnt, but I was the deadliest thing in our party of seven, not to mention my protection of him stemmed from love rather than duty. If anyone was foolish enough to attack Wil iam when I was around, they were certifiably insane, because doing so in my presence was like signing your own death certificate. I didnt value life so little I was eager to deal out death, it was just that I valued his life so much death was overshadowed by it.

So turning into a regular wisenheimer means youve been spending too much time with Patrick again. I knew Wil iams tones wel enough to know he was only teasing, but he also knew my tones.

So when I replied, Hardly, in my high-pitched voice, accompanied with staring straight ahead, he knew hed struck a chord.

Busted, he said, not pretending to ignore my tel as I hoped he would. What are you not tel ing me? Something having to do with Patrick?

My eyes stayed forward when I answered. Hes the buzzing mosquito in the ear of Immortality. Not to mention a serious pain in my butt, I mumbled.

Nice try, Wil iam said, wrapping his arm around me as we meandered into the night. And high marks for trying to distract me from my topic of seriousness.

I learned from the best”this time I looked over at him with accusing eyes”and I took real y good notes.

I can see that, he said but you cant distract a distracter. So time to fess up. What do you know about Patrick that I dont?

I wrapped my arms around myself, sliding into the crux of his arm like I was cold. I shouldnt have been cold, but I
felt
cold. Um, I dont real y know what to say . . . I began, knowing I couldnt keep this from him, but not knowing when or how to phrase it, or where to begin.

How about with the truth? he offered simply, like the truth was the simplest solution to anything, and for him, I knew it was, but for me, things had always been more complicated.

The truth, I repeated to myself, the last thing I wanted to be divulging to him tonight, but I knew the last thing was usual y the way every situation I was involved in resulted in. Like I was the final stroke of black marring an exquisite painting.

Wil iam waited, his patience unwavering. After a few more internal grumbles, I resigned myself to the truth. Im worried about him, I began, trying to ease our way into it. Hes been acting strange lately”Wil iam shot me a look”wel ,
stranger
than usual.

Wil iam nodded. Ive noticed the same thing, too. Any idea why? he asked, straight to the point, just his style.

Months of Patrick-quipping experience answered, He realized he just went through the entire planets population of women and hes going to have to start at the beginning again.

Good observation, Wil iam answered, trying to look serious. But I think my womanizing brothers ways are ending because hes found . . .”he looked at me, his eyes happy”the
one
.

I stumbled over a non-existent impediment in my path. Wil iam caught me like he was always ready for my grace to make its appearance. Why do you think that? I asked, clearing my throat mid-way through.

A hundred smal reasons and one big one, he answered, spinning in front of me and leading me through the fields with his back to the world.

Oh, yeah? I said, giving indifference a try.

He erased his black book of phone numbers”that was legendary, by the way”and wont take a cal if a girl cal s. I mean, did you see him tonight?

He wouldnt even look at one. The only one I saw him with was you, Wil iam said, the lightness in his face tel ing me he didnt suspect anything. Hes not eating, hes not sleeping, and hes taken to writing poetry. The mushy, sappy kind that goes down in history.

It should have made tel ing Wil iam that much easier since hed opened the door for me, but it made it harder. I could see he was happy, excited even, that his brother had shunned the Immortal way like his big brother and fal en for someone before he was granted permission, but I knew the happy would drain from his expression the moment after I told him who the girl was.

And the big reason? I asked, delaying, but I couldnt much longer. The lights from Joseph and Coras place were glowing in the distance.

Wil iam shrugged. Hes got that tortured look in his eyes of a man thats in love in the kind of way that could break him.

Guilt like lava flowed over me. How do you know that? I said, trying to imply he was over exaggerating.

I
lived
that look for two hundred years, he said, his eyes showing me what he was talking about. It was heart-breaking in a beautiful way. Im stil living that look.

Forever now, I said, smiling through the moment. Nothing, not even dodging around the truth of Patrick professing his love to me, could extinguish the reminder of Wil iam and my Betrothal.

Thats right, he said affectionately. I never knew torture could feel so good.

I laughed as he swept open the picket fence sweeping around Joseph and Coras.

So? he asked expectantly, reaching for my wrist and pul ing me to a stop.

I sighed, realizing if tonight was the last time Id see him until our Unity”my stomach dropped at the thought”there was no other time to tel him than now. I couldnt Unite with Wil iam with this huge of a weight hanging on my shoulders.

I spun to him, forcing my eyes to look into his. I think I know who that girl is.

You do? he whispered. Who?

CHAPTER EIGHT

SECRETS AND SURFING

I sighed, squeezing Wil iams hand as a preemptive form of comfort. Im pretty sure that girl is m” Here they are! a voice shouted the instant the front door slammed open. He hurried down the steps, hooked an arm around Wil iams and my necks, and led us into the house. You guys kept us waiting long enough. We almost sent out the cavalry, Patrick said, scanning the guards positioning around the outside of the house. Wel , a second cavalry.

Hope I didnt interrupt anything too important, Patrick said, keeping his voice light as we stepped through the door.

Not real y, Wil iam said, throwing a play punch into Patricks ribs. We were only talking about you, after al .

Oh, yeah? Patrick asked. What were you talking about? He gave me a quick look, the arm over my neck squeezing.

Hey, the near newlyweds decided to final y grace us with their presence, Joseph cal ed out from behind his guitar.

Wil iam weaved out of Patricks arm as he turned to him. Later, he said, but I expect a ful disclosure. He tried sounding stern, but he was so happy for his brother it was impossible.

Super, Patrick muttered as Wil iam retrieved his guitar from Cora. Ive got to borrow Bryn for a moment, brother, Patrick cal ed out, pul ing my arm in the opposite direction of where I was headed. I need a little help in the kitchen.

You need more than just a little help, Wil iam joked, fingers strumming against the guitar strings.

Dont I know it, Patrick said under his breath, picking up his pace when we entered the hal . Emerging into the kitchen, he turned on me. You were about to tel him, werent you? His voice was low, but I couldnt tel if it was from anger or hurt.

Yes, I whispered, glancing towards the hal .

Are you trying to get me kil ed? He took a step into me, too close for comfort given tonights professions.

I took a step back. Stop being so dramatic, Patrick. Hes not going to kil you.

Thats what Id do if some loser told my girl he loved her. His eyes fel and this time he took a step away from me, and another, until he turned his back on me and opened the refrigerator.