The Beacon (The Original's Trilogy Book 1) Page 18

  “Just seems odd. The Council might think you’ve gone rogue.”

  Rogue. James scoffed. “Seriously? I go a few days with minimal assassination jobs and that means I’m rogue?”

  “Look at me.”

  “Fuck off.” He’d never look this male in the eyes.

  Julius laughed.

  The sound sent a shiver of unease up James’ spine. “What do you want?”

  “I want to know what’s in that house.”

  “Dust. Cobwebs. The ghost of an old woman.”

  Crowley bent at the waist, trying to sidle into James’ line of site. “There’s a human in there.”

  James got off the bike, his hands fisting.

  “I came to see how you were doing. Door shield blocked my entrance.”

  James grabbed Crowley by the shirt front and hauled him up until they were nose to nose. Still, he kept his eyes lowered, focusing on the son of a bitch’s clean-shaven chin. “There’s nothing in that house for you.”

  “Oh? Not a pretty brunette who likes to wrap her long legs around your waist and scream your name?”

  James released him. What the fuck? He must be guessing. Jesus, he had to be. The windows were boarded up for Christ’s sake.

  Crowley tipped his head to the side, trying to get in James’ line of vision. “You didn’t happen to notice a crescent moon birthmark on her skin while you were fucking her, did you?”

  James withdrew his blade. Pressed it to Crowley’s throat. “She’s innocent. She’s not who you’re looking for.”

  “Careful now, pleb. I disappear and the Council will come looking. Then what? They’ll see you shacked up with that pretty, very human brunette. They might think you’ve broken the Discovery Laws. They might think you really have gone rogue.”

  Goddamn it to hell. He released Crowley. “She doesn’t have a birthmark. Not a crescent moon, not anything.”

  “Liar. I can feel the power in that house. It’s not as strong as years ago. . . . What happened to her?”

  James focused on Crowley’s shirt front. “Nothing. She’s just a plain human woman.”

  “With a pentacle hanging from her rearview mirror?”

  Shit. “She fancies herself pagan.”

  “A witch.”

  “A pagan. There are no witches left.” Except his. And no one was touching her.

  Julius smiled, straightening his shirt. “Just remember, when she destroys the rest of us, she’ll ash you, too.”

  James shook his head. “You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about. The Watchers would tell us if she were a threat. We’re part of the balance they protect.”

  “You’re sure? Why don’t you go ask the Historian?”

  James flinched.

  “What? You thought I didn’t know you allowed the bitch to live? You think I don’t know about that little cabin you set her up in? You can’t hide from me.”

  If he’d known all this time . . . . “Seems funny you haven’t done anything about it.”

  Crowley smirked. “Perhaps I will. Are you going to warn her?”

  He wished to hell he could look Crowley in the eye and see his expression. What the hell was he after? He was almost goading him to speak with the Historian . . . but how the hell would that benefit Crowley?

  “Don’t underestimate me. You’re on notice, Pasquino.”

  He flinched a bit at hearing his last name. Jesus, how did he know that?

  Julius smirked. “Yeah, I know your name, Samael James Pasquino. Don’t fuck with me, boy. I’ll give you forty-eight hours to bring Lilith to me. Believe me, you don’t want me to take care of things myself.”

  James got on his bike. Two days. He had two days to pull together some kind of plan and run with Lilith. He needed to get to Lou’s. See if she’d discovered any news.

  He slapped the visor down on his helmet.

  “Oh, and James.”

  He paused.

  “If you run, I’ll ash every last one of the daemons who work for you.”

  ***

  Lilith had just finished her meditation when she heard the sound of a car pulling up. Curious, she opened the front door. A little red Honda convertible drove up, a familiar ebony-haired woman behind the wheel.

  She raced down the steps. “Trina!”

  Trina cut the engine and leapt out, letting out a shriek of joy. A full head shorter than Lilith, she'd always made up for size in sheer volume and presence. The women hugged each other, rocking from side to side one minute and jumping up and down the next.

  “I didn't expect you for ages yet.” Last she’d heard Trina still had six weeks of her enlistment left.

  “They let me off early for good behavior.” Trina grinned.

  “Look at you.” Trina had grown her hair long again, and the dark locks framed her face in a becoming way. “I love the new style—it suits you.”

  Trina's slender body was a combination of curves and sleek muscles men never failed to notice. Where Lilith was slender, Trina was more voluptuous. She also had the advantage of a constant tan, with her Latina coloring.

  “Let's get your stuff inside.” They each struggled with the heavy bags. “What'd you do, pack the ship?”

  “Hey, my whole life is in these bags.” Trina dragged the heavier two up the stairs. “I thought I did pretty good, getting all my stuff in four bags.”

  “If you drove up ten minutes ago, James could have done this.”

  “James?” Trina quirked her brow. “What happened to only letting him stay a few days?”

  Lilith's cheeks heated.

  “Mm-hmm.” A knowing gleam entered Trina's eyes. “Hussy.”

  Lilith sniffed. “Witch.”

  Trina rolled her eyes. “So where is he? Out for a bite?”

  “Work . . . maybe.”

  “Let's get the bags upstairs. We'll have ourselves a drink and you can tell me about this James-who-might-be-at-work.”

  Ten minutes later they lounged around the kitchen table, a bottle of vodka and a two-liter of Sprite between them, courtesy of Trina. Neither drank often, but their first night together they always got sloppy and told all. Lilith poured half a shot of vodka in each shot glass. Trina followed with the Sprite, filling the glasses the rest of the way.

  “No tattoos this time, right?” Lilith referred to the last time they'd done this. The next morning they woke outside a tattoo parlor in Portland amid the shouts of an irate taxi driver.

  Trina laughed. “No more tattoos. All right, you ready?” Both women covered their shot glass with their hands, raising them above the table. “On three. One, two . . . three.” They slammed the glasses down and rushed them to their lips, the carbonation from the Sprite foaming, making the shot easy to swallow.

  The warm sensation of the alcohol spread through Lilith’s joints.

  “Wow, another one or two of those and I'm going to be under the table.” Trina wiped her palm on a napkin.

  “Yeah, right. I bet you're used to drinking with all those handsome sailors.” Lilith laughed. “All right, you first, I want to hear how you got out early.”

  “No way, you can't give me teasers about your mate, and then leave me hanging. You're first.” Trina leaned on the table. “What's he like?”

  She grinned. “Big.”

  “Where?” Trina laughed.

  “You're impossible.”

  “Come on, girl, details, please.” Trina poured them another drink.

  “He's tall, maybe six, six-one. He's . . .” She did her best body-builder pose. “Built, lots of muscle, your type of guy. Handsome, strong features, full lips.” Lilith drifted off.

  Trina rested her chin on her hand. “Mm, good kisser?”

  “Wonderful.”

  “Good in bed?”

  Lilith grinned, unable to restrain her smile.

  Trina stared. “Oh, my gods, you're glowing.”

  Lilith covered her blazing cheeks with her hands. “Shut up.”

  “You never go to bed with
anybody.” Trina slammed back her shot, wincing. “I mean . . . holy shit, you got laid?”

  Lilith glared. “When you say it like that you make me sound like some ugly, uptight spinster. It's not like I had an entity attached to me or anything. You try getting freaky with a guy with something staring over your shoulder all the time.”

  Trina held up a placating hand. “My bad. You are correct. I'm not keen on being the object of voyeurism, either. I get it.” She settled back in the chair. “So, when did he get transformed?”

  “I'm not sure. He doesn't talk about himself much.”

  “A guy exists who doesn't revolve entire conversations around himself?” Her hand flew to her mouth in mock surprise. “Call the press.”

  Lilith laughed. “I don't know a lot about him. He has no family.”

  “A fellow orphan.” Trina bobbed her head. “Okay.”

  “He's from Italy, but doesn't have an accent.”

  “So he's been in the States a long time. Is he dark-skinned, then?”

  “Darker than me, lighter than you.”

  “Nice.” Trina nodded. “Have you met any of his friends? Where does he work? How long has he been here?”

  Lilith took a deep breath. “So, we've kinda got this 'don't ask, don't tell' thing going on.”

  “Great. I've moved in with my best friend and her boyfriend the ax-murdering vampire. But it's okay, 'cause we just don't discuss it.”

  Lilith’s lips twitched. “Over-dramatic much?” She poured them another shot. “I like him. He's not like what Nan told us about vampires. He's controlled and intense and protective.” She shrugged and reverted to speaking through their psychic link. Had the Clearances not happened, we'd have been working closely with him—he's a Guardian.

  One of Trina's brows rose. “He told you that?”

  Lilith shook her head. I've seen his blades.

  Really?

  Lilith nodded. “I like him.”

  “You're repeating yourself.” Trina folded her arms over her chest. “Are you trying to convince me you like him, or are you trying to convince yourself you just like him?”

  “You shouldn't read so much into everything.” If she told anyone about her feelings it would be James, and she wasn't ready to do that yet. Not until she told him everything. But what if he didn’t want her once he found out she was part of the Grigori coven? She regarded Trina. He doesn't think vampires have mates. The Vampiric Council forbids Guardian from being attached to anyone.

  “And you haven't corrected his thinking.”

  I wanted to. They'll ash him if they find out about us.

  So you'll do what you need to do to protect him.

  It wasn't a question. Trina wanted to remind her of her duty. She need to protect him and protect the coven. The best way to do that, would be to walk away from him. The problem was, she really didn't think she could. Something happened last night and even though she had no way of knowing where James went tonight, she did. She felt him. It was like some psychic string linked them, drawing thinner, pulling tauter the farther he went. She had no doubt if she followed that feeling, that sense of his presence, it would lead her right to him. That must be why the Council didn't want Guardians to mate. It put them at risk.

  Trina's gaze narrowed. “What are you thinking, Lil? I don't like that look.”

  Lilith dropped her gaze. “I don't know if it'll be that easy.”

  “Easy? None of your options are easy.” Trina cursed. If you stay with him, he'll change you eventually. You'll lose your Magic and any place you might have within the coven. The two of you will be on the run for the rest of your lives, outcast from both the coven and the Council.

  Lilith looked away. And the farther he goes from me, the more I can feel him.

  Trina cursed. She stood and another series of curses flew from her mouth.

  Lilith waited, letting Trina's fury wash over her. Her friend wasn't mad at her. Nor James. Just the situation. And where Lilith always held things in, Trina vented enough for both of them.

  Trina stopped and her lips parted. You two didn't just have sex, you've mated. The two of you mated, and he doesn't have a fucking clue.

  “He's been fed lies for a very long time.”

  “And you like him.”

  Lilith pressed her lips together. She had no intention of voicing her feelings to anyone but James.

  You're stuck with him now, does he care for you?

  He took me, thinking he'd signed his own death warrant. What do you think?

  That he's probably questioning his sanity and can't come up with a reasonable explanation for his behavior because he has no fucking idea how you two are linked. You have to tell him.

  “I will.” Lilith took a deep breath. “I have a plan.”

  “From what I remember, your plans never work out the way we intended them to.”

  A small smile tugged at Lilith's lips. “Yeah, well. You're back. You'll help. Everything will be okay.”

  “Will I? I haven't decided yet if he's good enough.” Her gaze narrowed into dangerous slits. I might just ash him instead and save everyone else the trouble.

  Lilith shook her head. “You wouldn't upset me.”

  “Better upset than dead.”

  They stared at each other a long moment, a silent battle of wills.

  Lilith frowned. “I forbid you to hurt him.”

  “If he hurts you, any vow I make now is void.”

  “Fine.” James would never hurt her.

  “Fine.”

  George sprang onto the table and meowed. “What? You want an introduction? George, this is Trina. Trina, George.”

  “When did you get a cat? Get lonely without Aimee around?” She reached over to pet him.

  “Nice.” She rolled her eyes. “Actually, he belongs to the ax-murdering vampire.”

  “Oh, well, there you go.” Trina sat back, waving her arm out to the side. “He must be all right if the cat likes him.”

  “What about you?” Lilith rested her elbows on the table, pinning Trina with her gaze. “I want to hear about what happened to what's-his-name.”

  Trina groaned. “I knew you'd bring him up.”

  For years, every time they spoke, Trina had a new guy. Then for a while it was all about one guy in particular, Trevor. Then nothing. No Trevor. No more men. Period.

  “It's been two years.” Lilith shook her finger at her. “Two years ago, you said next time we got together you'd explain.” And then Trina had avoided coming home. Avoided meeting Lilith when she was near ports where Trina’s ship had docked. She’d been hiding from her for two years. And it hurt.

  Trina gave a negligent shrug she didn't buy for a moment. “He proposed.”

  “So you dumped him.”

  Trina had never been one for long-term relationships. The six months or so she'd spent with Trevor was unheard of.

  “No,” Trina said quietly. “I accepted.”

  “You what?”

  “I know, moment of insanity. Luckily, I caught him with his pants around his ankles, banging a third class petty officer.” Trina's effort to sound flip failed miserably.

  “I'm so sorry, Trina.” Lilith placed her hand over her friend's. “I can't imagine.” Trina never let her feelings get involved. She'd taken a risk with Trevor, and it'd been shoved back in her face.

  Like I said, I got lucky. Who would want to spend the rest of their lives shackled to one guy? No one is that interesting. Trina pulled her hand away and did another shot, wincing.

  There was more to the story, but she sensed Trina wasn't ready to share. Afraid her friend would shut down if she pried, she changed the subject. “We might as well get all your news out now—so how did you happen to get released from the Navy early?”

  “Oh, no, it's your turn. Tell me about Aimee.” Trina's eyes narrowed. “I've been waiting for you to tell me what happened.”

  “Wait here.” Lilith left to retrieve Aimee's jar. She set it down in front of Trina, presenting i
t with a flourish. George hissed and leapt off the table. Lilith laughed. “Bad memories, maybe.”

  Trina picked up the amber jar, squinting. Shadows moved restlessly against the glass. “Aimee?”

  Lilith nodded. She caught Trina up on everything that happened since she’d returned to Haven House.

  Trina rolled the jar back and forth across the table while she digested the story. “I never considered a dybbuk. To be honest, I didn't think there were any left.”

  “I knew Nan hated me, but I never thought she'd curse me.”

  Trina picked up the jar and shook it.

  Lilith's phone rang. “Hello?”

  “Lilith, dear.”

  She froze as she recognized the voice. Her gaze shot to Trina. “It's so good to hear from you, Rowena.”

  Trina winced.

  “Lilith, I heard you were in town and I want you to come to dinner tonight. Just to catch up.”

  “Well, I . . . .”

  “Now, I won't take no for an answer, dear. You've been away from home far too long. I need to see my girl.”

  Lilith pulled the phone from face to stare at it. Granted, she'd always considered Rowena sort of a surrogate mother, but she never considered Rowena felt the same. “Ah, sure. In that case, I'd love to come.”

  “Perfect. I'll see you at nine-thirty.”

  They said goodbye and hung up.

  Lilith glanced at Trina. “I'm having dinner at Rowena's place tonight. Wanna come?”

  Trina stared at her as if she'd lost her mind.

  “Well, I wouldn't want you to feel left out. I'm sure she'll be ecstatic to know you're home.”

  Trina shook her head, paling. “Don't tell her. I'm not back. Not really. I came for a visit, that's all.”

  “What is going on with you?”

  Trina leaned back in her chair, letting her head fall back.

  Gods, she was worried about Trina. She wasn't acting quite herself. And she still hadn't told her how she'd come to be here weeks early. “Did you have leave you forgot about?” It worried her that Trina kept avoiding the subject. Trina going AWOL from the Navy was the last thing they needed.

  Trina's eye's filled with sadness before she dropped her gaze to the thick tangle of plastic bracelets covering most of her left forearm. Lilith hadn't taken much notice, but they weren't something she'd ever seen her friend wear before.