Fallen Darkness (The Trihune Series Book 2) (22 page)

Chapter 47

Kate woke to footsteps outside her door. She braced herself for a knock. Should she pretend to still be sleeping? Or did she want to see Lucas?

Against all logical protest, she knew what she wanted.

But a knock never came.

She hadn’t meant to fall asleep earlier. Had just sat on the floor on her makeshift bed, thinking about skipping her break altogether, trying to force Lucas from her mind. Along with the memory of the orgasm he’d given her. Sure she had them before. But nothing so explosive. Or with someone else in the room.

She had wanted to wrap her arms and legs around him. Wanted to take off her clothes and his, too, so he could keep doing what he was doing but with no barriers. It’d been so hard to stay against the wall, to find solace in touching him with her gloves on.

Had she ever wanted to kiss someone so badly?

No. Never.

She’d forgotten about her ability. About her no touching people rule and why it was so extremely important. Shudders ran through her, making her sick to her stomach. Completely irresponsible. What had she been thinking?

Oh, yeah, that it felt so damn good. Along with, don’t stop. Don’t stop. Don’t stop. When it was over, when the cloud of bliss coating her body had evaporated, insecurity rose. How should she act? What was she supposed to say? What did it all mean?

Could they do it again?

Dammit, she hated feeling uncomfortable. So when Martha asked if she minded postponing her break, working a bit later, Kate had been more than happy to oblige.

It didn’t make her a coward. This was her job.

It’s not like she wanted to watch a movie with Lucas anyway. She snorted.

Like a date.

She didn’t date. Couldn’t.

She’d never been on a date before. Might be nice. Fun, even.

Damn it. Why was everything so confusing? Lucas was making her forget her plans. Forget about Stacy. She had stupid ideas running through her head, like what if she stayed here. Permanently.

Forgetting Stacy? Inexcusable. Kate had a broken promise to fix.

Staying here permanently? A joke. Cade didn’t want her here, for one thing. The other, she didn’t belong with a bunch of vampires, or Behns, or whatever they called themselves. They saved people.

That was their whole job. It was why she was here. Lucas believed he was saving her.

If they ever found out what she did, they’d probably kill her just like they killed those monsters they hunted.

Cade’s eviction deadline was good. She’d be gone in less than a week. With three thousand in her pocket. She’d find Stacy. Get two new IDs and head to Mexico. Start her new life.

With all this crap still running through her head, more sleep was a no go. So, Kate gathered her things and headed to the bathroom down the hall. Ten minutes later she was back in her room storing her stuff. Before heading to find Martha, she walked the hallway, checking her map for which rooms she had to clean next. Place was freakin’ huge.

Maybe she’d clean one before heading downstairs. Thoughts of Lucas still swirled in her mind and nothing but hard work would drive him away. Plus she didn’t have the energy to smile and be polite to the old woman right now.

“I said no, Emma. And that’s that.”

Kate paused.

“We’ve had this talk before, Cade. You’re not my boss. I’m your equal. Just because you say no doesn’t mean that’s that.”

“I don’t understand why you’re acting this way. You know the dangers.”

“What do you expect me to do in this house? Wander around the rooms waiting until you come home or aren’t busy leading a war? I need a purpose other than being your girlfriend.”

“You’re not just my girlfriend,” Cade’s voice was low, filled with such emotion.

Kate blinked hard. Must have gotten dust in her eye.

“You’re my
bahshrett
,” he continued. “My everything.”

Kate heard a sniff. Emma replied, voice thick. “I know, Cade.” A pause. “Will you still feel that way in fifty years when I won’t be able to be your everything? When I’ll be so old? What if I get sick? Like cancer or something. At least if I had something to do I wouldn’t just be waiting for time to catch up. To change me. Change us.”

“We’ve been over this. I don’t care if you get gray and wrinkly. I love you. That’ll never change.”

“You don’t understand because you’ll never change. You’ll always look this way.”

Cade sighed. “I don’t know what to do to make it better for you.”

Emma mumbled something Kate couldn’t understand. Her gaze moved to the closed door, ahead on the right. The one she was supposed to clean.

Eavesdropping wasn’t nice. Though it was good to know the happy couple of the castle had problems.

Though growing old wasn’t really a problem.

Not having enough food was a problem. Sleeping on the streets was a problem. Worrying about dying a frozen Popsicle because her coat wasn’t warm enough was a problem. Having to be completely covered up because if she touched someone she could kill them without even meaning to was a damn, frickin’ problem.

Kate rolled her eyes. This place was ridiculous.

Yep, she was definitely glad she was leaving.

Heavy footsteps reached her ears a bit too late. Cade rounded the corner from his wing. He paused, gaze landing on her.

Lucas’s boss wore black jeans, a black T-shirt, and black boots. His dark hair was tied back. The scars by his left eye made him appear more menacing. Although maybe it was the expression on his face, the tightening of his eyes when he looked at her. Or, it could be the large weapon strapped to his back that made her want to run.

How fast could she pull off her gloves?

At least his eyes weren’t glowing that unnatural blue color. She averted her gaze long enough to grab the doorknob of the room in front of her.

“I’m not going to hurt you,
nheqeba
.” His voice was low and held a hint of a growl.

She lifted her chin and tried to ignore the pounding of her heart. “I’m not worried.”

He paused a good distance away. “What are you doing here?”

“Cleaning.” Her tone implied the duh.

He frowned. “Lucas likes you.”

Um. “Oo-kay.”

His eyes narrowed even more. “How do you feel about him?”

She wanted to say it was none of his business. Would she be able to make it inside the room before he caught her, though? Even if she did, if he wanted in the bedroom there’d be no way to stop him. Apparently she didn’t care too much about surviving, because she opened her mouth and spewed, “That’s none of your business.”

He cocked his head. “I could read your mind you know?”

She inhaled sharply. What if he did? What if he found out? What if he already knew? No. She wouldn’t be standing here if he did. Kate waved her hand in front of him. “Does it work better with touch?” Wiggling her fingers, “I’ll take my glove off for you.”

He didn’t respond.

Crap. Time to find a place to hide.

Then he laughed. A loud burst. “I think I might like you. You remind me of my Emma.” With a wave of his hand, he said, “continue cleaning,” and swept past her.

“This place is full of crazy people,” she muttered, staring after Cade. His shoulders, so much wider than Lucas’s, took up half of the hallway.

“Was that Cade laughing?”

Kate held back a sigh. She should’ve escaped while she had the chance.

Emma looked like crap. Red rimmed eyes. Rudolph nose.

“Yeah.”

“Oh.” The woman’s face crumbled.

What the hell was she supposed to do now? She glanced behind her, but Cade had disappeared.

“I’m sorry.” Emma covered her face with her hands. “I’m not much of a crier. Not really.” She gave a small laugh. It didn’t sound like she thought things were funny. “Lately it seems that’s all I’m doing. Crying or fighting with Cade.” She lowered her arms. Her gaze moved past Kate to the deserted hallway.

Kate shuffled from foot to foot. The movement caught Emma’s attention. Her cheeks were red now, too. God, the girl was a mess.

“I’m sorry. You don’t want to listen to me.”

Kate was ready to take the opening, escape into a room, any room, but Emma’s expression stopped her. “Did you want to talk about it?” Please say no. Please say no. She didn’t know the first thing about—

“You don’t mind?” Emma asked, hopeful. “I miss talking to another woman. I have a girlfriend, Jenny. But it’s not like I can tell her why Cade and I aren’t happily in love. And Martha, well, you know, all the
ebhed
think Behns walk on water.” A horrified look crossed over her face. “Not that I don’t think they do a great job. An important job—”

Kate raised her hand. “Don’t worry. I think their adoration is a bit much, too. I’m mean Behns eat, sleep, and piss just like us humans do, right?”

Emma blinked. “I never thought about it like that.” She motioned behind her. “Did you want to come in?”

Kate hesitated. “Sure. For a bit. I have to get a lot of rooms cleaned. Martha’s in kind of a panic. Apparently there’s never been so many people in the HQ before.”

“That’s what Martha does best. Worry and fix things.”

Kate followed Emma. She eyed the dark walls, dark carpet, and large bed with black sheets. “Don’t tell me you decorated this place?”

Emma laughed. “No. This is all Cade.”

“He keeps you hostage and doesn’t let you decorate your prison? Nice guy.” She stepped in the room with a glance behind her expecting Lucas’s boss to come back and rip into her. Literally.

“It’s not like that.” Emma frowned.

Oops
.

“I didn’t mean to offend you.” This was why she didn’t have friends.

Emma waved her hand, dismissing Kate’s apology. “Cade and I haven’t known each other long.”

“So like a year?”

Emma shook her head. “More like a couple months.”

Kate’s mouth dropped. “You’re kidding right?”

“No.” She gave a little laugh. “It sounds a little fast, huh? Jenny said the same thing. And Sean.” Another frown.

“I’m not here to judge. What people do with their own lives is their business.” She paused. “I assume something told you moving in with Cade was the right thing to do.”

A small smile lifted her lips. “Yes. Just like you with Lucas.”

“Whoa. Lucas and I are not living together. Not like that. This is a business arrangement only.”

Emma’s gaze roamed over Kate’s face. “Okay. Sorry. I just thought Lucas saved you like Cade saved me.”

Kate frowned as a memory flashed. She was at Opulent. Alarm blaring. Cops right outside. Then waking in the church. Lucas standing over her. “He offered me a job. I’d just lost mine.” Well would have if Bev found out she broke into the place. “I’ll be out of here in a week. Before the rest of the ‘saviors’,” she air quoted the word, “Get here.”

“You’re leaving? That sucks.”

“I have someone waiting for me.”

Emma’s eyes widened. “Really? A boy?”

Kate snorted. “No. A sister, of sorts.” Then snapped her lips closed. Emma might want to be girlfriends and bare her soul, but Kate would only be taking dares at this party.

“A sister? I always wanted siblings. What’s her name?”

“What did you do before you came here?” Kate asked quickly.

Emma blinked, cocked her head, studying Kate intently.

Kate inhaled sharply. Did Emma have an ability, too? This place was full of people like that.

“I was an elementary school art teacher,” she answered after a moment.

Kate breathed a sigh of relief. “Art, huh? I can’t draw to save my life.”

The woman flashed a smile. “There’s an artist in everyone. And you don’t have to be able to paint like Titian in order to be called one.”

“Who?”

Emma laughed. “Never mind.”

“So you had to quit your job to live here?” She wouldn’t do that in a million years, let someone have that much power over her.

“No. I was laid off. Lost my job the day I met Cade actually.”

“And you want to get a job but the old man says no?” She guessed.

“Pretty much. Cade’s scared something will happen.”

“Because of the kidnapping?” Martha had told Kate all about it.

Emma rubbed her wrist, cheeks losing color. “Yeah. I think so.”

“He took you from one prison and brought you into another one.”

Her eyebrows lowered. “It’s not really like that. I want to be here with him. I love him.”

“What’s the problem then?”

Emma shot her a look.

Uh-oh
.
Was she being rude again?

“I just need more,” she said quietly, as if to herself. “I can’t sit around all day waiting for him. What’s my purpose?” She waved her hand. “You at least have a job. You don’t just sit around all day, waiting for Lucas to come back.”

Kate frowned. Opened her mouth to tell her, again, that she didn’t have any sort of love interest for Lucas, but an image of him pressing her into the wall, the strong desire to touch him without her gloves flashed in her head and before she could utter a sound Emma was talking again.

“What the hell do I do? I mean, I can paint, but I’m done painting for my closet.”

Painting her closet? Kate looked at the set of doors across the room. They weren’t painted. Just the normal wood color with a heavy-duty locking system. Must be some damn expensive pants in there.

“I want to show my work to the world,” Emma continued. “Is there anything wrong with that?”

Kate shook her head. “And Cade won’t let you leave to show your paintings?”