Kindling Flames: Burning Nights (The Ancient Fire Series Book 6) (2 page)

“No arguments.” Darien squeezed his shoulder again. “I need you at your peak.” He explained. “Like it or not, you are my second and I need you well so that you can take care of things while I’m gone.”

“You should choose another,” Elliot said softly and looked away from Darien.

“I don’t want another.” Darien gripped his arm tighter trying to make Elliot understand. “I don’t trust any others.”

This pulled Elliot’s eyes up to meet Darien’s.

“I know you’ve been wallowing in your own self-doubt, but I need you to pull yourself together. We both know there’s something going on with the wolves. I need someone here to take care of Sue. And I need someone to watch Josh and Jakob while we’re away.”

Slowly, Elliot let out a long breath. He looked at Vicky, pleading with his eyes, and then back to Darien. “My L…” The sharp look Darien gave him cut the title off before it could get out. Elliot chuckled and relaxed a bit. “My friend,” he started again. “I’ve shown you a great unkindness and I will never be able to make amends for that. But!” Elliot cut Darien off when he opened his mouth to argue. “But I will do as you ask.”

Darien released his hold on Elliot’s bicep and wrapped his arm up around Elliot’s shoulders. He squeezed the younger vampire to his side. “That’s all I want.” He released his friend. “Now let’s get out of here so these girls can get their party started.”

Elliot laughed at him. He turned his attention back to Vicky and raised his still captured hands up, bringing hers with them. “Thank you, My Lady.” He kissed the back of her hands again and released them.

Vicky stood there with her mouth open. What in the world had she done to earn his gratitude? Sometimes, the speed at which the men in her life changed their moods staggered her. She watched as he turned away from her. The set in his shoulders wasn’t as stiff as it had been and he did seem more at peace with himself. It was a good start, but only time would tell if his outlook had improved, or if he was just hiding it better.

“Come on, old man!” Elliot wrapped his arm around Darien’s shoulders and pulled him off balance.

Darien staggered as he tried to keep from falling over.

“I’d say let’s go try to get you drunk, but I think you’ve had quite enough of that for one lifetime.” Elliot winked at Vicky.

“By far.” Darien laughed and stood up. “It wouldn’t work now anyway.” Stepping to the closet, he pulled out coats for himself and Elliot.

Elliot smiled as he thought about the fay that had arranged Darien’s bachelor party. “Oh, I’m sure Patrick might be able to manage it.” He took his coat and tugged it on.

“Damn, crafty leprechaun,” Darien cursed. “He had better not cheat this time.”

Elliot walked over and punched the button to call the elevator. “I don’t think he would cheat you on the night before your wedding.”

“You never know with him.” Darien sighed and turned to Vicky. “Will you be all right?”

She couldn’t help but smile at his worry. This would be the first night they’d spent apart since the ifrit had attacked her. “I’ll be fine.” Stepping into his arms, Vicky kissed him. She smiled when she pulled back. “Besides, if I get too lonely, I can always go cuddle up between the twins,” she teased.

Making a possessive noise, Darien squeezed her against him. “You had better not.” He nipped at her lip in warning.

Vicky laughed and kissed him again. “Of course not.” She rubbed her hands down his back reassuringly. “There’s only one male I want in my bed.” A mischievous glint shone in her eyes. “Zak.” She smiled at him.

Darien growled at her and struck at the soft side of her neck. His teeth latched onto her skin over her pulse point, driving shivers of desire through her, weakening her knees. She gasped as he nibbled at her skin without breaking it. The doors to the elevator pinged open, interrupting the passion building between them. He kissed her neck before claiming her lips one more time. “I’ll see you tomorrow night.” Letting out a reluctant breath, he released her. “And Zak had better be the only male in your bed between now and then,” he warned as he headed for the elevator.

“Good night.” Vicky clutched the banister to keep from falling over. “I love you,” she called as the elevator slid shut, blocking her sight of the two men.

Darien’s response tingled down their link, filling her with love and desire.

Sitting down on the bottom step, she spent a moment collecting herself before standing up and crossing the foyer to the bedroom in the corner. She tapped lightly on the door.

“Come in,” Karl called from inside.

Carefully pushing the door open, Vicky peeked in the guestroom. A square of light from the partially open bathroom door stretched across the floor, just reaching the end of the bed. She studied the mass piled on the bed. Karl had propped himself up and was watching her over Sue’s curled bulk.

Vicky had learned it was best to check on the state of undress Darien’s houseguests were in before coming into a room. They didn’t seem to have the same inhibitions that normal people possessed. Just a few weeks ago, she’d had quite a nasty shock when she’d blindly walked in the living room to find the twins giving Elliot a massage. She hadn’t even stopped to inquire why all three of them were naked on a fur blanket.

Beating a hasty retreat, she had tried to hide in Darien’s room, but the twins had braved the cross in the doorway to explain that their compromising position was not what she thought. They swore they would never do that to Elliot, well, not unless he wanted them to. But by that point in their explanation, Vicky had buried her face in the pillows on the bed and was trying to scrub the image from her brain. Having the two naked men rambling on did not help at all. Eventually, Darien had come in from his office and threw the apologizing men out with orders to not wander around nude. It hadn’t helped much.

“Hey,” Vicky said. She smiled at the pair of wolves and came fully into the room. “I was wondering if Sue was feeling any better.” She considered the very pregnant werewolf.

Sue made a groaning noise and shifted a little on the bed.

Karl stroked her shoulder soothingly. “Not really. Her stomach is still bothering her.”

“Oh, okay.” Crossing the room, Vicky rubbed the soft spot behind Sue’s ear. She was careful not to look at Karl. Now that she was close to them, she could tell that he wasn’t dressed. Thankfully, Sue’s mass hid him from full view. “I just wanted to let you know you’re welcome to come out and visit if you start feeling better.”

Sue rolled her head to press into Vicky’s hand showing her gratitude.

“We might be out later,” Karl said with a warm smile.

“Cool.” Vicky rubbed her friend’s head once more before heading towards the door. Pausing, she looked back at the pair. “Just make sure to put on pants before coming out.” She shuddered slightly, thinking about the party she was about to go to. “I think there’ll already be enough naked men in the house tonight.”

Sue snickered as Vicky shut the door.

Shaking her head, Vicky turned her attention away from the wolves and headed back into the living room. Of all the people Vanessa could have gotten for entertainment, why did she have to pick the two vampires living with her? Vicky had tried to protest, but her friends had overruled her. Apparently, the twins had worked at some nightclub and knew the finer points of stripping. They’d been more than happy to demonstrate their abilities when Vanessa asked.

Coming into the living room, Vicky found that the paper cranes had been cleared away and the furniture shifted around to give the men more room to practice their craft. “What about the birds?” she asked.

“Don’t worry about them.” Josh smiled at her as he and his brother carried the table into the family room.

Jakob grinned mischievously. “We’ve got it covered.”

Vanessa guided Vicky to a seat on one end of the couch. “You just need to sit back and relax.”

Seeing no good way out of the party, Vicky sat down and looked around for her glass of ginger ale.

Beth held out a glass of red wine instead. “You really should have some wine.” She offered it to Vicky.

She shook her head, refusing. “Thank you, but no.” Sue wasn’t the only one in the house that wasn’t feeling good. Stress from the wedding had Vicky’s insides all twisted up in knots. It had been days since Vicky had eaten anything heavier than soup and crackers. She hadn’t told anyone, but those light meals had an annoying habit of making a second appearance more times than not. Even Darien’s healing touch hadn’t been enough to soothe her frayed nerves and upset stomach. Vicky reclaimed her ginger ale and watched the two vampires stretch. This was not what she had expected to do at her bachelorette party. Hopefully, the wedding tomorrow would go off without a hitch and things would settle down again.

***

The sound of the car door closing echoed through the cold night air. Turning to watch his companion fussing with the seat belt, Darien paused before putting the key in the ignition. “What’s wrong?”

Elliot looked up at the unexpected question. “Nothing.”

Slamming his hand into the steering wheel, Darien pushed himself back in his seat. “Damn it, Elliot. I can tell when you’re lying to me.” He turned to face his friend. “Talk to me.”

Bending his head down, Elliot wilted under Darien’s angry gaze.

Silence fell between them as Darien waited for an explanation. He knew that Elliot blamed himself for the attack Darcy had forced him to make, but the younger vampire was taking this whole self-hatred thing way too far. Letting out an exasperated sigh, Darien tried another direction. “Elliot, you have always been there for me. Even when I’ve done something completely asinine, you’ve come through to help me clean up the mess. And, of all the people I know, you have always been the most reliable. Please, tell me what is wrong and let me be there for you.”

Elliot searched Darien’s pleading eyes and let out a long breath. “All right,” he said, giving in to his master. Folding his hands between his knees, he looked down as he spoke. “It’s more than just the thing with Darcy. Yes, he forced me to attack you, but his use of your power was clumsy at best. I should have been able to resist it, but… part of me didn’t want to.” He turned to catch Darien’s eyes. “It’s been hard for me to resist the call of your blood since I first tasted it in your kitchen.”

Darien sat up straighter, surprised. A memory passed through his mind, bringing a touch of forgotten fears. “And does it call to you now?”

“No.” Elliot shook his head. “Since you’ve regained your powers, the pull has stopped.”

Relief washed over Darien.

“But, Darien, there are times I feel that pull from Vicky.” Concern colored Elliot’s eyes. “I fear whatever drew me to your blood may have been transferred to her.”

“Goodness knows enough other stuff has.” Darien laughed wryly.

“Please be careful with her,” Elliot begged. “Don’t let anyone else bite her; they might not be able to stop.”

Darien sat quietly for a moment, considering his friends worries. “I won’t.” He promised. Anyone who laid fangs on Vicky would rue the day they were turned. Now that Elliot had told him what was going on, Darien understood why the younger vampire had been so hard on himself. The desire to drain his master must have been unbearable for Elliot. “Don’t worry about it Elliot. You are not the first to desire my blood.” He patted his friend’s arm and went to start the car.

“There’s more.” Elliot grabbed his arm before he could turn the key.

Darien looked back at him, waiting.

Licking his lower lip, Elliot looked for a place to begin. “Things have changed.” Yes, the desire to drink from Darien had pressed on his conscious, but it was the effects Darien’s blood had on him that bothered him the most.

“How so?” Darien prompted the stalled vampire.

Elliot pulled his hand back and folded it between his knees again. “Well, it’s kind of embarrassing.” He paused again, unsure how to proceed.

“Elliot, you have seen me at my worst,” Darien reminded him. “And some of that was within the past year. Nothing could be as bad as getting drunk and nearly killing your girlfriend. Out with it.”

Drawing in another long breath, Elliot nodded his head. “Things have changed.”

“You’ve already said that,” Darien pointed out. “How have they changed?” He pushed before the man could stall again.

“Well,” Elliot glanced over at Darien before continuing, “I can eat solid food.”

This raised one of Darien’s eyebrows. “So? Lots of vampires can handle solid food. It’s something we learn as we get older.”

“But I couldn’t handle it a few months ago,” Elliot pointed out. “I thought I was going to be in real trouble when Vanessa forced those bites of cake on me at the mall, but nothing happened.”

A smile slid across Darien’s face as he remembered the outing. “I’m glad to see that you’ve developed a new skill. It took you long enough.”

“But it’s not just that.” Elliot turned in his seat to face Darien. “I haven’t needed as much blood as before.”

“That just means you’re getting stronger.” Darien grinned.

“But, Darien, I’ve been living off your drawn blood for over a month now,” Elliot protested.

Darien gave him a confused look. “So? I live off it all the time.”