Aaron's Kiss Series Boxed Set (Books 1 - 7) (30 page)

The door opened slowly and Sara watched as a beautiful young woman walk in the room. Shade didn’t even hesitate, but looked directly at Sara. “If you’re here to hurt him, I will kill you, mark my words.” She was a great deal stronger than any of them had thought.

~CHAPTER TEN~

“Hello, you must be Shade Doe. I’m glad we can finally meet. No, I have no ill will toward this little boy. I’ve only come to see you. Will you sit and talk with me?”

Shade wasn’t afraid of the being in the chair that had shimmered into sight, but she was pissed off. She didn’t know who this...this person was, but she really would try and kill her if she tried to hurt Brent.

Shade touched the other woman’s mind gently and as softly as she could. She would only look long enough to assure herself that the other woman meant no harm—not for herself, but for Brent.

Shade found that Sara was a vampire. The second one she had encountered in the past week. She found a great deal of information about the man from the warehouse as well. This woman was his friend, a very good friend. Sara was there for him to get Shade to come and talk to the man. Well, that wasn’t going to happen.

“Will you stay and talk with me now? I think we have a lot to discuss, don’t you? You know that I’m not here to hurt Brent. He’s a wonderful little boy, by the way. He loves you very much.”

Shade walked over to his bed and touched it. It wasn’t warm, so he had been gone a little while. She looked back at Sara.

“I’ll talk with you for a little while, but not about that man, Colin. He is nothing to me, no matter what he or anyone else thinks. I felt...I could feel your power. I only came up here to see why someone like you was here with Brent. Nothing more. He’s had it hard, and I won’t let you or anyone else hurt him. Physically or otherwise, do you understand me?”

“All right, we won’t talk about Colin, at least for now. But you and I aren’t so different, Shade. I may call you Shade, can’t I?” Shade simply nodded to her. “We both have a great deal of magic in our blood, although yours is mostly untapped. Why, I wonder...but we’ll have time for that later. You are also very strong both mentally and physically. You’re undernourished and dehydrated right now. But that’s nothing a good meal and some fresh fruit wouldn’t fix. You are also hurt, though you’ve healed for the most part. Do you heal quickly, Shade?”

“Also, none of your business. You’ll leave my lack of food and water to me. I’m doing just fine on my own, thanks. I didn’t say anything about the babies you carry, and how they need more red meat, but that, like my health, are personal issues. I didn’t ask for nor want your input, so back off.”

“Babies? More than one? You can tell I’m carrying twins? I hadn’t gotten that yet, but then it is often harder to read oneself than others, isn’t it? I don’t suppose you know their sex, do you? The doctor couldn’t tell yet, but, well...you may be able to.” Shade reached out and touched the unborn children.

“One of each. Although the male is stronger physically, the female is going to be born first, which will give her all that you are, as is the way of your kind. They are both bloodsuckers, however. Anything else you want to know, you can ask them. They both have a mental connection to you and are waiting for you to open the path and talk to them. Do you know how? If not, I’ll open the path for you.”

Shade couldn’t only talk with the babies, but she could also see how they were positioned in the womb. They were very tiny yet.

“Yes, I’d like that very much. I wasn’t aware I could speak to them. Oh, how very exciting. Thank you. Will Aaron, my mate, be able to communicate with them as well?”

“I suppose so, if he cares enough to get involved in those sorts of things.” It had been Shade’s experience that men did not give a flying fig about babies, unborn or otherwise.

After a lesson in communication with Sara’s infants, which involved images and feelings and not so much words, the two women felt slightly more at ease. Though Shade didn’t think they’d be having a sleep over or anything.

Sara couldn’t wait to tell Aaron that they could be a part of their children’s lives so early, she told Shade. Preparing them for their lives, especially with all these two would have to challenge them, would give them a bit of a boost.

“I can’t thank you enough for what you have given me. I would like to return the favor, if I might. Your powers are there for you to use. And, like I said, they are very strong. I can give them all to you, open them up for you. I’ll be happy to show you how to use them. And anything I don’t understand, my friend Mel could give you some lessons too. I want to be your friend, Shade; so does Colin. We all want to…”

“
No
! I don’t want anything to do with them or with you people. Don’t you understand? I don’t like using the ones that I do. They’re what get me into trouble. If you could take them all away, I’d be very happy. And as for being your friend...why? I don’t have anything. What could I possibly have that you want?” Shade backed away from Sara’s outstretched hand; she really didn’t want anything to do with the abilities. They made her different and strange.

“Shade, we don’t want anything from you. You have so much to give, so much you could do. I don’t understand why you wouldn’t want that. With Colin at your side, you’d be safe and warm, no longer stealing food for yourself and others.”

Shade felt the surge of power from her anger leave her body and encompass the room. The lights brightened accordingly and hummed with excess energy. She grabbed it back quickly and pulled it back into herself, and everything returned to normal.

“See what I mean? I’m a danger to everyone and everything. Leave us alone. Brent is my responsibility, not yours.”

Shade stood to leave, and would have if the door had not opened and Brent wheeled in. She felt her heart constrict; love poured from her to the little boy. Brent meant so much to her. Shade pulled his little body close to her as soon as the staff left the room. He hugged her just as tightly.

“Shade, you’re squeezing me too tight. I can’t breathe. I’ve missed you so much. Oh my gosh. I gots so much to tell you; you ain’t gonna believe it. There was a queen here, and she has giant teeth and she hides from us humans. And I gots to eat real food today. I had a burger and a tater, some of those yellow things that looks like peaches but ain’t. They said I didn’t have to eat it all, but I knowed you’d want me to, so I choked it down. I get to sit in a real chair tomorrow. Ain’t that so cool? And they said I could have stuff whenever I want it, even chocolate milk. That’s really good stuff, chocolate milk. That nurse what brings in your stuff you send me, she said it was smooth, but she said it funny, like smooooooth.” Shade laughed as he settled down from his excitement. “Are you gonna sit with me for a little bit? I really and for truly missed you.”

“Yeah, buddy, for just a little while. I’m sorry, but I won’t be able to stay long, all right? I have another job to go to tonight. Here, I brought you something to do. That’s really great about the other stuff.”

They played around with the little car for several minutes, completely ignoring the other woman, before Shade stood to leave again.

“I want you behave yourself, okay? Your momma, has she been here today?” Shade was relieved when Brent shook his head no. “Remember what I said. You have one of the nurses come in here if she does. They know what to do if you call them, okay?” She pulled Brent in for a hug, which he returned with enthusiasm.

Shade pulled another plastic bag out of her coat pocket and handed it to him. He opened it and was so delighted by the Matchbox car; one would have thought that Shade had given him the giant toy box that Sara had thought to bribe him with earlier today.

~~~

As the two of them marveled once again over the cars and Shade read him the description from the back, Sara looked at the young girl. Shade’s coat looked to be about three sizes too big. It looked about as warm as a light jacket that would be made for much warmer weather. Her tennis shoes were worn at the toes and the laces needed to be replaced, as they were knotted together in several places on each shoe. Her jeans had the knee out on one leg and the other was just a few threads away from the same predicament. But everything about Shade, her clothes, her face scrubbed and her hair pulled back into a tight braid that hung down her back, was clean and tidy. And she smelled like soap. Not the fancy soaps like the ones Sara had begun to use since becoming mated to Aaron, but plain old Ivory soap. Shade hadn’t been eating well, probably hadn’t for some time, but she had a healthy glow about her, Sara noticed.

Sara herself knew what it was like to have very little money for food. She also knew what it was like to give up everything to protect someone that you loved at all cost. Sara had protected Mel in much the same way that Shade was protecting Brent. She thought again how much the two of them had in common.

“Good-bye, and you behave. Remember what I said, especially the part about your momma, okay?” Shade and Brent hugged again, then she made her way to the door.

“Yeah, I gots it. Will you come back tomorrow? I really miss you. You don’t gotta bring me anything, I just miss ya.”

“I’ll be back sometime soon, Brent.” Just when Sara thought Shade was going to leave and ignore her again, she looked directly at her and whispered through her mind.

“I know that you are immortal, but you hurt him and I will take all that you are away from you, understand?”

“Yes, I understand. You understand this, Shade Doe; we will meet again, count on it.”

After Shade left and Brent was settled down again, Sara asked him about what Shade had meant about his momma.

“If she tries to take me outta here, I’m to scream bloody murder. I didn’t know what that meant. So I asked Shade. She said I was to scream like there were a hundred bad guys after me. I told her I would. Shade is my very best friend. Momma said she kilt Becca, but I know she wouldn’t do that. That bad man did it; I know it.”

Brent turned away from Sara then and held his cars close to his heart. She could tell that he was crying, his thin shoulders shaking. She let him have his privacy, knowing how important a man’s dignity was to them. Men were men, no matter how young of age they were.

Mel showed up a couple hours later. Sara and Brent had fallen asleep in their respective places. Sara came awake quickly, having been startled by Aaron calling to her through their bond.

“Aaron and Dominic are on their way in. Colin was going by restaurants again to see if he could find Shade. I’ve told them she was here today, that I talked to her. Aaron is going to contact him and have him come here.”

“You talked to her? Sheesh! That’s great, so when is she going to talk to Colin? She’ll meet with the big guy, right?” Mel sounded so relieved that Sara almost hated to tell her no, she wouldn’t even discuss Colin, but she knew she would find out sooner or later.

“No, she isn’t. And if you’re really as smart as I know you are, I wouldn’t mention it if you happen to get the chance to meet her. Shade is pretty adamant about not getting to know her better half just yet.”

Sara had thought about it for a long time after Brent had fallen asleep. Something wasn’t right here; there was an animosity that should not be there for two people who were going to be mated, at least she didn’t think so. She would have to talk with Aaron about it then Colin walked in the room and she decided to ask him.

“I can understand that given what I’ve done to her, but I at least want the chance to tell her how sorry I am. I can sense her; she was here for a while. Hello, little human, how was your day?”

Colin looked at the little boy with such intensity that Brent squirmed a little. He didn’t say anything to him, just clutched his car closer and glared. It would have been very funny had the look not been the same one Shade had pinned on Sara before she had left.

~~~

Colin left a short time after the introductions were made to Brent. Brent really was a sorry-looking thing, especially for a human. He knew, however, that looks could be deceiving. Strength was measured in ability and character, not necessarily muscle tone.

Colin followed Shade’s scent for nearly three miles before he came upon her. It wasn’t as difficult as it had been to trace her. Shade’s scent was stronger now; it was still fresh for him. And he didn’t have to try and sort hers out from others. He knew hers as well as he did his own.

Shade was working in the back room of a small restaurant, doing dishes. Hiding himself in a shadow gathered from the darkest corners of the room, he slipped into the kitchen. He reached out to her mentally and felt her pause in her work and look at him. She looked right at him for all of a second, and then turned back to the dishes.

“What do you want, bloodsucker? I’m too busy to fuck with you now.”
She spoke to him mentally; something his kind could do only through a blood exchange. But at least she was talking him, he thought. At least for now anyway.

“I wanted to see you, to tell you how sorry I am that I hurt you the other day. I was wondering if you’d meet me somewhere? I’d like to talk to you, please.”

Colin could sense her pain and her wariness of him. He also could feel her anger, though not all of it was directed at him, but mostly at herself. That gave him pause—her heart was so pure. What did she think she might have done to be so angry with herself?

“No. Now go away.”

Frustration boiled through him. She wouldn’t even turn to talk to him; she just continued to wash the pots and pans.

“We have many things to discuss, you and I. You are my mate, and I want to protect you. I need to protect you, Shade. I can take care of things for you, and help you in so many ways. You won’t have to work like this anymore.”