Vampire Coven Book 3: A Vampire's Embrace (9 page)

“Remember, no running in the water,” Rhett said, his scolding was mild but firm.

“I’ll remember,” Ann said.

Hope held her hands out for her daughter. Rhett released the child reluctantly. His longing gaze settled onto Ann before his facial expression once more became stone cold. He gazed around for a moment, and Hope wondered if he would leave. Many of the other vampires were staring at Hope, including the one named Tate who was grinning openly at her. She felt her heart rate increase. As much as she hated the idea, Hope knew as long as Rhett was with her and Ann no one would touch them. Rhett seemed to come to some sort of decision, and he took Hope by the arm and led her from the water.

“I wanna swim,” Ann wailed in her ear.

“That’s what we’re going to do,” Rhett said.

“Dooder,” Ann squealed.

Hope snatched the doll from the ground. She playfully waved it at Ann. “Dooder,” Hope said. She pretended to hug Ann with it. Ann giggled and Rhett watched with a curious expression. The special secret belonged to Ann and Hope. Rhett could go to hell before Hope would allow him to be included in a bond of love.

Rhett led the pair farther away from the others. Hope was feeling concerned, wondering if he planned on drowning her. The vampire was so unpredictable it played with Hope’s emotions—one moment wanting his protection, the next wondering if it was him she needed protecting from. When they reached a fair-sized body of water, Hope scanned the area; they were alone. Hope had seen large bodies of water, but they were filled with bulky chunks of ice. The surface of this water was smooth. Rhett stripped down to what he referred to as ‘boxers.’ He told Hope she could keep on the clothes she was wearing; he’d find her dry clothes when they finished. Rhett took the doll and tossed it on the bank.

Before Hope could protest, Rhett dragged Ann into his arms and was waist high in the water. He bounced the child up and down getting her used to going deeper, as the pool had been so shallow. Ann was in a giggle fit. Hope stepped into the water. It was cooler than the pool, but not unpleasant. The bottom was sand with a small amount of rocks. Rhett ignored her as he played with Ann.

As Hope got closer to the pair, Rhett moved deeper. He was taller and Hope floundered for a moment as the bank dipped and she was immersed to her neck. Ann had her little arms wrapped around Rhett’s neck.

“Take a step back,” Rhett ordered Hope. She complied.

Rhett disengaged Ann’s arms from around him and slid his hands under her belly, he told her to look at her mother. Ann, smiling, began paddling her hands. Rhett let the child go. Hope panicked and cried out and lunged forward. Hope went under as the water went over her head. This time she didn’t remain unmoving, her child might drown. Hope clawed at the water, kicking her feet. She reached for Ann and broke the surface. She held one of Ann’s legs, Rhett had the child in his arms, he was grinning at her.

“You just needed something to swim for, little seal,” he said.

Hope wanted him dead. She lunged at him. Rhett laughed and pulled her to his chest. He then pulled them deeper into the middle of the water. Hope had no choice but to cling to him, he moved so fast. For the next while, Rhett taught them both to tread water. He taught them something called a ‘dog paddle.’ The term was confusing; they were humans paddling. Hope had no idea what a dog was. He taught them the basics of how to stay afloat if they ever found themselves submerged.

Rhett was patient with them both. He seemed to have an unlimited amount of patience with Ann. He explained everything over and over until both Ann and Hope swam with some mild assistance back to the shore. Once there, Rhett gripped them both in his arms, grabbed Dooder, and took them to the shallow pool where he picked up Hope and Ann’s footwear and then to the main building. He strode through the hall until he came to a door. Hope knew it would be his room.

A towel was found for Ann who he wrapped up. Tenderly, he dried her off while Hope stood watching, dripping onto the floor. Rhett was so confusing. It was apparent he loved her daughter, why she had no clue. Ann was loveable, but a niggling in Hope’s chest made her wonder. Rhett was beyond good with Ann. He seemed to know how to talk to her to make her feel happy and safe.

After a casual glance in Hope’s direction, Rhett rifled through a drawer, scowled at the material he held and then handed it to Hope. A knock on the door sounded and soon Rhett held smaller clothes for Ann.

“Go through that door,” Rhett said and pointed. “There’s a room both of you can change in.”

Hope took Ann and closed the door behind her. Rhett yelled for her not to lock the door. Hope had no idea what a lock was. It became apparent Ann did. After Hope was dressed she couldn’t open the door. Rhett was behind it grumbling they weren’t supposed to lock it.

“Ann,” Hope said sternly. “Did you lock a door earlier today?”

“Yup.”

“Rhett told you not to.”

“But it clicks.”

“Can you un-click it for Mommy?”

“Yup.”

Ann reached out and played with a latch of some kind. Hope tried fiddling with it. Rhett was rattling the handle. She heard a heavy sigh.

“Never mind, just let go of the handle,” Rhett said.

Hope watched as the door handle turned, stopped then crunched. Rhett swung the door open. He was gazing down at Ann. Ann gave him a huge smile as he waved a stern finger at her. A bell rang.

“Food time,” Ann squealed and raced from the room.

Hope tried to dodge around Rhett, but he kept his arm across the door barring her escape.

“Ann,” Hope began.

“Ann is fine. She knows where to go and where to sit. I apparently have told you nothing.”

Hope wondered why he looked so angry. “Well, you haven’t.”

Rhett looked her over and smirked. Hope wondered what was so funny. She wore a one piece of some kind with weird fastenings at the bottom she had fiddled with. They were impossible so she left them open, other women had too. As long as she kept her legs crossed when she sat nothing should show. Besides, when the fastenings were opened the garment hung longer. It felt strange not to be covered from head to toe in furs but the weather was too warm; she would broil.

“Well, let me tell you one thing. That teddy you’re wearing is kept fastened unless you expect breeder men and vampires between your legs. It’s an open invitation. Unless of course it’s what you’re going for.”

Hope felt the blood rush to her face. She panicked. “I couldn’t do them up. I don’t know how the fastens work.”

Rhett smiled the smile she hated and slowly dropped to his knees before her. His huge hands slid up her thighs and Hope wanted to run. He lay his finger against her lower lips and she pulled back. He held her ass with one hand for a moment.

“The snaps hurt like a son of a bitch if tender skin gets caught between them. I’m making sure you don’t get hurt. I’m not in the mood for theatrics.”

Hope squirmed as he released her behind and leisurely did up each snap. She was positive he dawdled on purpose. Before each snap was clipped into place Hope felt a finger trail her outer skin.

“Stop,” she whimpered.

Rhett stood before her while she trembled. He studied her features. “You have a child, you’ve been touched before.”

“Not like that,” she whispered.

“Where you raped?” he asked. For a second, only a second he looked concerned.

“Ben and I married in secret. We said our own vows. We were young and thought we were in love. We broke a law.”

“By having sex?”

“Yes. We were caught and because I was younger, they blamed Ben. He was a hunter and valuable to the clan. But our leader said he was useless if he was going to go around screwing every female he got his hands on. I was less valuable but couldn’t make anyone pregnant.”

Hope swiped at tears that had begun falling. She never told Dirk about Ben. She didn’t know why she mentioned him now, but it felt like a relief to talk about him.

“You were with Ben only once?”

“Yes. The cavern was cold. We kept our furs on except for a brief moment. Ben went behind me and it hurt. There was blood. Ben had finished by the time another found us but there was blood everywhere. Ben hadn’t been very patient. But neither of us knew I would bleed. I couldn’t pass it off as my bleeding time; Ben had blood where he shouldn’t have on his furs. We were charged. After Ben died, no one talked to me. I was ignored, alone, blamed. I had no one. Then one morning, I started vomiting. A woman, not a friend, told me I was pregnant and would either be put to death or my baby would be killed the second it was born. She laughed harder, telling me our leader might use my belly as a punching bag. The idea made me sick.

“I ran. I ran and ran until I thought I would die. It was so cold. The food I stole ran out soon enough, no matter how hard I tried to eat only small amounts. I’d never been outside in my life. Snow fell from the sky; I never knew that. I taught myself how to find food, mostly scavenging dead kills with the other smaller animals. I got bigger and clumsy. It was luck to run into Dirk.”

“Dirk?”

“A very old and wise man who helped me deliver. He didn’t think humans should die out. That was why he was alone; he challenged human laws. For a year, he helped me with Ann. He was a good man. The only man I knew who was good. In the end, even Ben pleaded with the elders to kill me instead. He said I seduced him. I hadn’t. I only wanted a friend.”

Rhett stood silently for a moment. “It’s dinner time.”

“Where am I supposed to sit?” Hope had seen confusion on many faces the first time she went to Ann’s side.

“Until Ann is gone you will sit with her. If anyone says anything to you, tell them to take it up with me.”

Hope was surprised to say the least. Rhett looked angry, then confused, then stone-faced he walked out of his room leaving Hope to follow after.

Chapter 6

Rhett lay in his bed, hands laced behind his head. A cool breeze from the window ruffled his hair. In a corner, he listened to the even breathing of Hope and Ann curled together on a cot. Hope’s declaration of her first sexual experience bothered him. He didn’t know why, he hated that it bothered him, still it did. Hope had been betrayed. If Ben had been successful at turning the normally all-male councils, as most human males were successful, then Hope and Ann would be dead. Selfishness at its finest. Betrayal at its worst.

Rhett turned onto his side to face them. They looked so young and peaceful. Hope must have been so young when she gave birth. That pissed him off further; females weren’t bred until they turned twenty-one. Hope didn’t look much older than that now. Ann was in Hope’s arms. They must have slept often like that. Cecily had never slept with Acca. Rhett had curled up beside his daughter some nights when she was afraid, and her mother had sent her back to her own room. For the most part, the slaves and servants cared for Acca. Rhett knew in his heart Cecily blamed Acca for his death. She was a daily reminder of what had been lost.

His guess was Cecily didn’t allow Acca to sleep with her, not because she didn’t want the child close. Cecily suffered nightmares, often calling to Rhett until Rhett couldn’t take her anguish. One night, he had compelled her to forget. Rhett had simply gone away. He should have realized he would be responsible for his actions. Still, Cecily should have remained faithful.

No one ever visited Cecily, except the man she had run off with. He had come to treat an ailing horse. Cecily had been so alone when the man gave her the slightest attention, a crumb of recognition for which she had been grateful. His lonely beautiful wife was eager for attention. Rhett knew the fault lay with him. His pride surpassed his skill as a warrior. Those lions should have died.

Dooder fell to the floor as Ann stirred. The child woke, disoriented. She rubbed at her eyes. Rhett got up and retrieved the doll. He stared at it for a moment; there was something symbolic about the doll, he had seen the exchange between mother and child. As he handed the object to the child his eyes met Hope’s. Rhett tucked Ann in, pulling the blanket up over them both. He should have realized Hope would hear an ant crawl across the ceiling.

He could feel Hope’s eyes follow him as he climbed back into bed. She had the most innocent face. Hope, her expression was hope. Even here, dealing with him, she wouldn’t give in to despair. When Rhett turned to gaze back, Hope closed her eyes. Noises from outside the open window began to increase as darkness settled in for a rest. Ann loved the noise. She had claimed the ice was too quiet. Acca had loved sound too, any noise was music. Rhett fell asleep to a symphony of crickets.

In the morning, Ann jumped onto Rhett’s chest while he slept. A loud whoosh of air expelled from his lungs as he took a startled gasp and Ann giggled. Hope jumped up to retrieve her child; she looked terrified. Rhett tossed Ann into the air then caught her. He sat up and placed the wiggly child on the floor. The breakfast bell rang. Ann took off, leaving Rhett to chuckle.

“That child goes running for food when she hears the cow bells in the field,” he said, he rubbed at his eyes then noticed Hope was racing to the door, but Rhett was quicker. He slammed it shut and gripped Hope’s arms. “Ann knows where to go. We went through this last night. You can be sure she has found Galf and will be soon at the play center. You, on the other hand, need a shower and some clean clothes.”