Blood's Voice Page 9

  “He ended up sending me away that night. I have refused to engage in that with him, not that he has actually tried to push. He’s been very patient and respectful, honest. Tonight . . . I–I couldn’t help it, I swear. When he got here, the craving overwhelmed me and well, he hasn’t moved since I disentangled myself from his embrace.”

  “You what? Why? Did he not explain anything about this to you before he did this? Fool!” Jonathan was so irate that he gave me no margin to speak.

  “Sorry, but please, do you know how to wake him?” I was literally begging by this point.

  He began to laugh as he looked over my desperate form. “Dear child, you are the only one that can awaken him. But, he hasn’t been harmed; you just overwhelmed him into stillness.”

  Amber looked away from Nicholas’s unmoving form to look at me. Her gaze was more penetrating than Jonathans had been. “Ah, I see.” She smiled softly and her entire being relaxed. “Yes, that’s all isn’t it, my beloved.” She shifted her gaze to Jonathan.

  “What?” I groaned. “I don’t understand. What do you mean ‘that’s all’ and that only I can awaken him. I’ve been trying; I wouldn’t have called you otherwise.” I was past confused and could feel my temper flaring. I had to keep it in check before I sent them into the same defensive panic I’d caused Nicholas the first day.

  Amber came to my side and put her hand on my shoulder. “Dear child, he is still locked in the reverie of what you did to him. He is not in any pain. The exact opposite actually, but only you can wake him. The only problem is you did not break the connection correctly. Your blood is drastically stronger than his, or either of ours for that matter. You need to reconnect and mentally call to him . . . sort of like leading him back to his body. You left him locked in ecstasy, dear,” she giggled with a coy smirk playing at the corners of her perfect, smooth lips.

  “Wait, so to fix this I have to redo the connection, but call to him as I break it this time?” Fear, yes pure, unadulterated fear was overwhelming me. “But, but . . . what if I only make it worse?”

  “Relax dear one, he will respond to your call. This is one of the reasons that it’s so rarely done. Well, that and most would never willingly share their power, not even with an eternal partner.”

  “Are you sure? I’ve already trapped him once; I don’t want to make it worse.” I was trying to calm, slowly it worked.

  Jonathan interjected again, “Amber, we should go before she awakens him. He won’t be happy if he has an audience. He will know what happened, but this is something that’s private, just between the two of them.”

  “Yes,” she agreed, “we should go home. We are not upset with either of you dear, but please, try to be more careful in the future. We love our son very much.”

  With that, they joined hands and quietly left, gently closing the door as they did.

  I slowly rejoined Nicholas. I was very nervous, but as soon as I touched him again, I was abruptly caught up in the painful longing. This time when I pulled back I remembered what they said, and called, “Nicholas, beloved, come back to me, please.”

  His eyes fluttered and closed for a moment. Then . . . his eye’s cleared. “Anya? Wow!” He lay back as if he was weak, though I knew he would truthfully be stronger than he was when he entered my home hours earlier.

  “Nicholas? Are you alright?” I was sure he could hear the worry though I fought to control it.

  “Alright? I am more that all right. Never in my existence.” Slowly sitting up he looked at me with unreadable eyes. Reaching out his right hand, he caressed my face. “I can still feel the power coursing through me, settling into me. I can still feel you!”

  He suddenly sat bolt upright with his eyes going wide. “My parents were here? Oh no! You called Amber and Jonathan,” he groaned and flopped back with a huff.

  “I had to, Nicholas. I couldn’t figure out how to wake you. It had been hours and you continued to sit, as if you were a carving, frozen in time. I didn’t know whom else to go to for help. Star couldn’t help, though she tried.

  “Are you angry with me?”

  “No, I’m not angry, just a bit embarrassed. They never approved of this kind of thing and truthfully, it’s a very powerful and private thing. Or, it should be.” He laughed a nervous laugh, looking at me again.

  “I didn’t know how to draw you back out and then they said I had to reengage you. I was so afraid I would make it worse somehow.” I threw my arms around him, so thankful that he seemed complete and unharmed.

  Carefully, he pulled me back into his arms, wrapping me so gingerly, curling me into his form. “I love you, eternally,” he whispered.

  We stayed within each other’s embrace until the sun peeked above the horizon and I had to get ready for my day as a ‘human.’

  As we pulled out of the parking lot Friday, Skye leaned forward to speak. “Hey Anya, could you swing by their house for a minute, then drop Kayla and me off at my house? We’re having a sleep over for the weekend.”

  “Sure, not a problem.” No problem indeed. That meant getting alone time with Declán would be easier. I tried not to smile and failed, which started their giggling again.

  It wasn’t long before we were pulling away from Skye’s home, Declán sliding up front . . . Just the two of us, finally.

  He watched me as I drove and I noticed his hand twitch toward me. “Anya, do you think we could hang out tonight? We haven’t really gotten any time this week to talk.”

  “I figured you would want to talk considering our discussion last weekend.” I sighed as I continued, “Where to?”

  “My parents are out of town this weekend, so we won’t have to worry about being overheard there. Or your house if you’d rather.”

  “Yours is fine, no worries.”

  We chatted about inconsequentials for a while, but the suspense was beginning to drive me a bit nuts. While he had his dinner, I finally couldn’t take it any longer.

  “Are you trying to drive me insane, Declán?”

  “Insane? I don’t understand. What am I doing wrong?” He asked, looking a touch mystified.

  “Last weekend you pushed me to tell you things, but we haven’t spoken of it again in all this time. I must know what you’re thinking, please.” I’d get on my knees and beg if he needed that level of pleading, but I had to know what he thought about my secret.

  “It doesn’t matter to me what you are,” he said as he waived his hand dismissively. “You are simply Anya to me. I don’t know what else to say.”

  “You really don’t care, even though my being here is dangerous to you and your family? I would never harm any of you, but I am still not safe company to keep.”

  He laughed. How could he laugh? “You said you don’t harm humans, and I’m human so . . . or I was the last time I checked.” Humour and sass, it would almost be cute if not so exasperating.

  He cleaned up quickly and extended his hand, waiting. “I assume I still can’t touch you, though everyone else seems to.” His annoyance was back about that. Well, we would see if Nicholas was right soon enough. I knew things couldn’t stay as they were. Besides, I could feel the cravings for him growing moment by moment. Things had to change; if he still wanted me.

  I gently took his hand and, happily, his eyes didn’t cloud. “I’m sorry about that, I can see how aggravated you get about it, especially when Skye or Kayla . . .”

  Anger flashed across his face again, just for a moment. “Yes, it’s so . . .” He looked away for a moment before returning his gaze. “Let’s go upstairs to talk, just in case the girls decide to drop by for anything.” He was nervous. Adorable.

  Following him up, he led me to his room. He laid out the blankets from his bed to make a rug for us to sit on, again.

  “Anya, I need to say something before this continues any further. I know you’re worried about what I think of what you told said before. I want to know you, all of you. I don’t care that you’re different.”

  Gently, my hand stro
ked slowly down his face again. Ah, it was a relief, a pleasure to allow myself this again. I ached for him in so many ways, and only being with him seemed to ease that pain.

  I nodded as I thought of how to begin. “Declán, Nicholas believes he knows how to allow us to remove the burden of touch from you. However, it’s dangerous as it’s only likely to make the cravings worse, and no matter how much time or distance you put between us later, you will always feel the effects. It won’t make you like me, don’t worry, but it will bind you to me, in a way.”

  “This binding . . . will make it where I can touch you?”

  “Nicholas believes so.”

  “Seriously? Please!” He was on his knees, eyes bright with excitement.

  “Wait, please. It can’t be undone later, so you must be sure this is what you want. It’s not like anything you have ever known and it will last as long as you live.”

  “Anya, are you not sure you want me for that long?” I could see the worry crease his forehead, but he did not relax his posture.

  “Yes, I’m sure, but I must know . . . Are you?”

  “Please, let me love you,” he whispered with such conviction I nearly wept.

  Gently taking him in my arms, breathing in his maddening scent, I was suddenly overcome with such desire, cravings, as I had only known with Nicholas. No, not the same, similar but not the same. I wanted him, wanted his taste, his touch, his blood and his desire. I gently kissed him on the lips.

  “Once this is begun you will know me forever, even if you run.” I gently kissed down his throat, enchanted and tormented by the sweet fragrances that encompassed his being. Allowing my teeth to graze his skin gently, I whispered fervently, completely intoxicated by his essence, “You will be mine, always, if you don’t stop me now.”

  I moved swiftly back to his sensual, delicious lips and began kissing him in earnest. Tracing his lips with my tongue . . . devouring his tongue as he explored my kisses. My body ached and my throat burned for him. Once I could feel his body give in completely, I let my teeth carefully pierce my tongue, allowing our blood to mix within him. He gasped as the thick crimson torrent briefly filled his throat and bonded our souls. The fire burning through me was so excruciatingly beautiful I thought I might become as lost as he seemed to be. I pulled back long enough to whisper against his lips, “You are forever, grá mo chroí.”

  I could feel my blood coursing through his veins. It frightened me. It was ecstasy! I began to shower him with kisses again. The sensations were so powerful I started to lose myself in him. Before I allowed this, the longing for his blood to overcome me completely, I gently but forcefully slid him back from me. It took a moment for both of us to sober from the sensations and the power of what just happened.

  I watched in a euphoric daze as Declán’s senses returned and waited, so nervous I didn’t dare even breathe. What would he feel? Would he be able to touch me? Would he be joyous or finally repulsed?

  His eyes, filled with wonder, began to stream with tears. “What, what just happened? What was that? I can . . . feel you!”

  He reached over and gently caressed my face with his hand. It felt as if he was merging with my skin when he touched me, but his eyes did not empty, his body did not seize. I could still smell him though and feared the consequences if I didn’t pull back. I couldn’t risk anything further right then; my body was too excited, ravenous.

  Taking his hands with mine, I worked to keep control. “Declán? Say something, please?”

  His voice was thick with tears. “I touched you. I can feel you with me.” And with that he collapsed . . . unconscious.

  “Great!” I cannot win. Now what do I do . . .? Suddenly I heard Nicholas outside; he then appeared in the window.

  “Anya, what did you do?” Just then, he seemed to have registered Declán unconscious in my arms. “You bound him? I thought you said you weren’t ready for that. Wait. Why isn’t he moving?”

  “Nicholas, stop. Yes, I did the binding, but he is moving a bit. He’s still breathing.” He visibly relaxed some.

  “But why is he unconscious? Are you sure it’s that and not the daze like I was in at first?”

  “He moved afterwards. He spoke to me for a minute, and he even was able to touch me. I fear this all became too much. He collapsed. I don’t know how long he will be like this. What do I do now?” The last part was more rhetorical, really. “Will he be okay?”

  “Anya love, if that’s what you did then he will be fine. He just needs time. He is only human after all. His mind and body needs time to adjust and accept what all just happened. For now, he needs sleep.”

  “Fine, but when he’s safely in his bed, you have to tell me why you came when you did, and why you were so wild. Agreed?” I wasn’t going to delay Declán’s rest, but Nicholas was going to talk.

  Quickly, I wrote a note and left it on the pillow next to Declán. I was only going downstairs to talk to Nicholas for a few minutes, but in case he awoke.

  Declán,

  I am sorry you had to wake up alone, but you needed sleep. I will return shortly.

  Forever,

  Anya

  Nicholas and I did not speak as we moved silently down the stairs. He was obviously not happy with my choice even though he was the one that pushed me. Once safely downstairs, I turned to begin.

  “Nicholas, please tell me why you showed up here as you did and why are you angry?” I asked, bewildered by his earlier reaction.

  “Oh Anya, I wasn’t angry with you. I was confused and overwhelmed. I hadn’t thought of the possible complication our link might cause if you bound Declán. I flew in here because I could feel when you fed him. I have never personally made that link with one of them and the sudden, overwhelming sensations nearly brought me to my knees.” He half laughed. “I’m sure Amber thinks I’m either possessed or insane. We were talking when that happened, and as soon as I could clear my head enough, I came immediately to find you. I wasn’t counting on your link, no pun intended, bleeding over to me. I can still tell you exactly where he is.”

  “Um, I’m sorry. I thought of our link but not in this case, I was thinking it might make it where he could touch you without negative effects like at the park that day.”

  “I’m not angry, but I am a bit curious what this means. I’ve never heard of such a thing. Wish we knew what all was done to you, what all you can do. You are absolutely fascinating!” He looked at me with wonder clear in his eyes again.

  Oh, joy. Not interested in being a curiosity. “Let’s hope this doesn’t happen every time. I shudder to think if he were to feel in reverse, he wouldn’t survive the intensity of our joining.

  “Are you sure there has never been a situation like this?” Could a human survive if the links continue to flare like this?

  “I don’t know. Let me see what I can find out. We’ll have to be very careful until we know for sure though. I’ll be back later.” For once, he actually left using the door.

  Chapter Seven

  Focus was impossible as I waited to hear Declán stir. Would he be okay? Would he still be all right with what we are? Would things change for him while he slept? How long would I have to wait?

  Early the next morning I finally got at least part of my answer. Hearing him stir, I went to his door and knocked softly.

  “Declán, may I come in?”

  “Yes.”

  He was sitting on the edge of his bed looking around oddly. His sapphire blue eyes were so wide and awed. Odd. There was something different about him too . . . hmm.

  “Um, how did I get in bed? I was down there,” he pointed at the floor, “and now it’s morning, and I’m up here.”

  “You needed sleep, so I tucked you in to bed. Would you rather I have covered you with the blankets on the floor?” Should I not have moved him?

  “You carried me to bed? Huh. Weird. I’m sorry about that. I don’t know what happened exactly.” He reached over and took my hand, and again, was fine. “I remember what you s
aid, and the fact I was able to touch you, but the next thing I remember is waking up here, in my bed.”

  I sat down next to him on the bed, happy he seemed so comfortable with me. “Declán, do you understand what happened last night?” I knew he could see my concern but, oh well.

  “Yes, though I don’t know what you called me after,” he whispered.

  I smiled. I hadn’t thought of the fact he would not know the language. “What I said was grá mo chroí.”

  “Yes, that. What does it mean?” he asked, sounding slightly annoyed.

  “It’s Irish; it means ‘love of my heart.’”

  He reached out for me, pulling me into his arms gently, and kissed me again. As much as I enjoyed the warmth and closeness, I was not immune to his scent . . . I had to pull away after only a short time to clear my head.

  “Sorry, you may be able to handle what I am, but I still have to be careful not to hurt you.” Would this admission not make him afraid? No, of course not, not him. He smiled and nodded.

  “The closer we are,” I explained cautiously, “the more your scent affects me. I cannot afford any mistakes. Please, understand that it’s not a lack of want but rather a concern of control.”

  “I can wait,” he answered simply. His smile was so soft and enchanting.

  I was suddenly angry, not with him but at the realization, that if I wanted him so would others. Why do I not scare him? Nicholas, his parents, and myself are the only of our kind that won’t try to steal his life, it was maddening . . . he didn’t even recoil when I mentioned losing control.

  “Here you sit neither horrified nor entranced by my will; you are here out of choice.” Why? How?