Odyssey (The Vampire Destiny Series Companion Book 1) (38 page)

His face went blank as he lost himself further in his memories.  “Her name was Armes.  She had long brown hair that hung in waves.  Her eyes were the deepest blue I’d ever seen.  She was very much in love with Kian then…”

My fingers twitched against her back as I interrupted Nigel’s story.  “Armes.  The name means prophetess in Welsh.  Did she have any abilities?”

Nigel closed his eyes and gave a swift nod.  “Yes.  She could see the future and read minds.”

Gasping, Josephine covered her mouth with her hand.  It was no wonder Kian had watched her from afar for so many years.  She had the same ability as her mother and would be a valuable asset to him.  I patted her leg and gestured for Nigel to continue.

“Kian coveted her abilities.  It only took 10 years for Armes to tire of him and his manipulations and games.  He flaunted others in front of her.”  Nigel swallowed; his Adam’s apple bobbing in his throat.  “One day she came to me and I will admit that I didn’t refuse her advances.  I loved her very much and had been in love with her for many years.  We made plans to disappear and she confronted Kian.  I never saw her again after that day.”

You could have heard a pin drop in the room.  None of us breathed until Nigel began talking again.

“Kian informed all of the Council that Armes had left him and abandoned her family.  You were just a baby, Josephine.  He thought it best if a human family raised you.  He claimed he wanted you to have a chance at a normal life.”

“Where do you think my mother is, Nigel?” She whispered hoarsely.

“I do not know.  I continue to look for her.  I hold on to the hope that she’s alive and content, even if that happiness comes from a man other than me.”

“Do you truly think she left Kian on her own and disappeared?” I questioned.  I knew Kian well enough to know that he had likely murdered her when Josephine’s mother confronted him.

“At first, I was in shock.  I didn’t want to believe she’d leave without saying goodbye.  Now I’m unsure, Stefan.”  Nigel folded his hands in his lap.  He knew as well as I did Armes was no longer living, even if he chose to live in denial. “She may have wanted to leave the world of vampires behind.  I could understand why she would.”

“Do you know anything else about her?”  Josephine was desperate for information.  It was clear she wanted to know everything she could find out about her.

“Nothing else that will be helpful at this junction.  I wish I could tell you more.”  Nigel stood up and made his way to the door.  He turned and looked back at us, a wistful look on his face.

“I meant what I said the other day.  Your mother was almost as beautiful as you.”  He looked at the floor before looking at us both.  “Cherish every moment you have with her, Stefan.  Take nothing for granted.”

Inclining his head, he slipped out the door, closing it quietly behind him.  Josephine sat unmoving on my lap, focusing on my fingers running up and down her back.

“What do you think, Stefan?”

I sighed heavily.  “Are you sure you want to know what I am thinking?”

“Of course.  You know more about this vampire stuff than I do.”

“I think your father is much more dangerous than I originally thought.  We must be on our guard at all times.  He will view you as a valuable tool in his arsenal.”  My face hardened as I spoke.  “Do not meet him alone. 
Ever
.”

Her face paled and she stared at me with wide eyes. “What are we going to do?”

Wrapping my arms around her, I pulled her against my chest.  “We go about our lives as normal.  We are heading back to Indonesia in two days to prepare to come back here to live.  I can better keep my eye on what he is planning if I am closer to the Council members.”

Her voice became bitter. “I’m dragging you into what you hate, Stefan.  When is it going to be too much?”

“It will never be too much, Josephine.  These are minor details, remember?”  I hugged her tightly and my mind switched into motion.  I began making calculations and playing out scenarios in my mind.  I was planning strategy, engaging in a complicated game of mental chess that would hopefully result in Kian’s wrong move and if we were lucky, his death.

“Remind me not to play chess with you.  I wouldn’t want to be a pawn in any game you play.”

I was still not used to her ability to read my mind and I toyed with the necklace I had given her for a moment before meeting her eyes.  A roguish smile flashed across my face. “You would never be a pawn.  You would be my Queen.”

“Sweet talker.  Don’t try to seduce me with your sexy talk.” She slapped at my chest teasingly.

“I speak only the truth.”  I kissed her lovingly before gently moving her off my lap.  “I need to talk to Lukas.”

I stalked across the room and pulled open the door.  Josephine’s mental voice stopped me.

“Stefan?”

I turned to face her with one hand on the door, my face filled with curiosity as I stared back at her.

“Thank you.  For keeping me safe.  For loving me.  For risking your life.”

A grin broke over my face. 
“Ah, I would do anything for you, vackra.  I will be back in a bit.”

I waggled my eyebrows and closed the door behind me.  Things just became extremely serious and potentially dangerous.  I just was not sure if Josephine understood how deadly Kian could be.

Chapter Fourteen- Run

“Please come home.  I need you.”

Her frantic request made me walk out of the meeting I was in with potential investors.  I could not care less about their money.  I had more money than I could spend in 20 lifetimes.  I only had one mate.

Bursting into the living room, I looked around anxiously until I found her in the kitchen.  I did not acknowledge Lukas’s presence.  I rushed to her side and jerked her in my arms, muttering inaudibly against her hair.  She clutched at me, her fingers twisting in my shirt. She began to weep, her knees giving out on her.  I sank to the floor with her, rocking her in my arms.

“Lukas? What happened?” I demanded harshly.  I needed to know who had done this to her.

“I don’t know.  She hasn’t had the chance to tell me anything.”

“Kian,” she sputtered.  “Stefan, let me show you.”

Giving me access to her memories, she replayed her confrontation with her father at the art gallery for me.  I stiffened against her and was ready to find Kian and rip him apart piece by piece.

“What?!? Will someone tell me what’s going on?” Lukas asked, tapping his foot impatiently.

“Josephine had an argument with her father.  He apparently has been following her and confronted her today,” I said, placing a kiss against the top of her head.

Lukas was on the floor beside of us before I even realized he had moved.  His fangs had dropped and he looked terrifying, so unlike the sweet Lukas we knew.  “If that bastard even thinks he’s going to mess with her, I’ll end him, Stefan.”

Letting out a resigned sigh, I reached to place a hand on my child’s shoulder.  “No one is ending anyone, Lukas.  Only the game has changed.  We knew it would happen eventually.”  I focused my attention back on Josephine, smoothing her hair back from her tear-stained face.  “Vackra, did he harm you at all?”

As I comforted her, I knew in that moment that I would kill Kian Ahearne and rejoice at his blood on my hands.  His demise meant freedom for not only Josephine, but also for me.  Her fear, her agony gave me the justification I had been waiting for.

“No.  But he’s a monster.”

“You are safe now.”  I nodded towards Lukas, who stroked Josephine’s arm gently before rising gracefully to his feet and leaving the apartment.

I scooped her up in my arms and carried her into the bedroom, sitting her down carefully on the edge of the bed.  I motioned for her to lie down and I sat next to her.  I removed her ankle boots, placing them on the floor beside the bed.  The bed shifted under my weight and I collected her in the strong embrace of my arms, whispering against my temple.  “Han kommer aldrig att röra dig.  Om det är det sista jag gör på denna jord, kommer jag att dö skydda dig.  Du är mitt liv, min kärlek.”

She let out a shaky sigh as she breathed in the smell of my skin.  “When you speak in your native tongue, it sounds so beautiful.  What did you just say?”

I snorted and closed my eyes.  “You will not be happy with what I said.”

She pushed against my chest.  “I’m already unhappy.  Unless you just told me we’re over, I think I can deal with whatever you said.”

I let out a weary sigh.  “I used to be a much stronger vampire.  I give in to every whim, every request you have.”  Smiling sheepishly, I rested my face against her hair.  “I told you that he would never touch you.  If it is the last thing I do on this earth, I will die protecting you.  You are my life, my love.”

Letting out a dry laugh, she leaned back to look at my face.  I am sure even though I tried to remain calm, the worry was there.  She reached up to cup my cheek, her thumb tracing the taut skin over my cheekbone.

“Why are you laughing?”

Her green eyes twinkled.  “I told Kian that I would kill to keep you safe.  That if it came down to losing you or keeping you with me, I would do anything.  I also told him he was a megalomaniac.  And the Swedish sounds nicer than the translation.”