Odyssey (The Vampire Destiny Series Companion Book 1) (49 page)

"Yeah, she's thrilled with me.  She wants to kick my ass."

"Time will pass and her anger will fade," I replied.  “I am sorry.  I wish I could save you from this part.  This is where you lose every human friend you have or choose if it is safe to reveal your secret.”

I tugged her back on the bed until we were propped on the pillows.  My fingers absently rubbed over her back and she nestled her face against my chest, running her hands over the muscles and through the fine hair that covered them.

"I get to keep you.  It seems like a fair trade."

"Now who is the smooth talker?"  I pinched her side humorously.  "You have a new gift.  We must practice to see how it works."

"I don’t know how it happened.  I was scared she was going to run off and I had to stop her.  I just didn’t expect that I’d actually be able to do it without moving."  She looked up at me, pressing her chin into my chest.  “This must be another change.”

"I would assume it is.  Try it on me."

"What?" She looked at me with wide eyes.  “Stefan, I don’t think I can do it again.”

"Try it on me," I repeated.  "Keep me in place."

I was excited to see her talent at work.  I leapt from the bed and my face became predatory, my fangs clicking into place.  “Stop me.”

Giggling, she sat up on her knees with her hands on her legs.  "Stefan, I don't know how I did it earlier.  You’re not scaring me with your fangs, Romeo.  They turn me on.”

I stood up straight and retracted my fangs.  "Let us try something different.  Close your eyes."

Sighing heavily, she obediently closed her eyes, waiting for what I was going to do next.  It would be a cruel test, but nonetheless necessary.

"Your father has killed me.  Kian is coming for you." My voice was a solemn whisper. "Pretend that I am him.  You must stop me."

Without thinking, her hands flew up as she sensed me approaching her. 

She used her fear and pushed her emotions outward, focusing on keeping me away from her.  I felt the shield push out, wrapping around me like a vice.

Through barely opened eyes, she watched in amazement as I struggled against her hold on me.  I was trapped in mid-stride, incapable of moving.  My mind was wide open to her while under my shield.  And I was furious, my thoughts filled with rage at my own vulnerability, incensed at my helplessness.

"It worked!" She exclaimed excitedly.  “You can’t move at all?”

"Not at all."  I pushed against the shield, unable to free myself.  "Release me."

"I don't know if I should.  You're a scary vampire."  She teased.  She sat back on the bed cross-legged. “Did you ever think I’d be able to hold you back?  Maybe I should call Lukas.  I could use FaceTime and he could see this live.”

My gaze darkened and I felt the corner of my mouth twitch.  "Vackra..."

"Fine." She lowered her hands and I stumbled forward as her shield retracted.

I darted to her side and had her back against the bed, looming over her.  I kissed her, my mouth hard against hers.  "Tell no one of this ability, not even Lukas.  What you just did can protect you if I cannot."

I was always pragmatic, thinking three steps beyond everyone else, planning and scheming.  Of course I would protect her with my life.  Knowing that she could stand beside me with her own ability was both a blessing and a curse.

I rolled to her side, staring into her eyes.  “I never wished for things to be so difficult for you. It is my only regret.”

“Stop.”  She placed her palm against my face.  “It doesn’t matter, Stefan.  With or without you, Kian would have found me.”

“Perhaps,” I replied quietly.  “So you have no reservations, Josephine?”

“Not a single one.”  She let her fingers caress the curve of my cheek and shook her head.  "It's worth it, you know?”

"Hmm?"

"To be with you forever.  It's worth all of the worries and fears.  I have you."

She had floored me, rendered me incapable of anything but loving her more.  “Att ha din kärlek är en välsignelse.  Du är min älskare, min vän och min kära kompis.  Jag älskar dig."

She smiled softly.  "I've only been using the CDs for a few days, sweetheart.  I understood that you love me.  What else did you say?"

"I said to have your love is a blessing.  You are my lover, my friend and my cherished mate.”  I lowered my mouth gently to hers.  “I love you.  In every way possible.”

"Jag älskar dig, min man."

"Until the stars stop shining?" I used her words from only a few days ago.

"And then some."

My cheek rested against the top of her head.  "You need to sleep.  You need to wrap up your affairs tomorrow."

"Yeah, yeah."  She snuggled against me and sighed in contentment.

As she drifted off to sleep, I could not help but worry that the issues with Georgia were far from over.

***

Josephine had left early the next day.  She was headed to close out her accounts and transfer money, forward her mail and to meet with Anna to tell her of her departure and to list her villa for sale.

Lukas and I were packing the few remaining items at Josephine’s villa when Georgia arrived.  She had attempted to reason with me, rattling off a list of why it would be in my best interest to turn her.  When that did not work, she played dirty.

Now we were waiting for Josephine to arrive home.  Lukas and I both eyed Georgia as if she were a bug that needed to be squished.  Lukas had tried to convince me to just kill Georgia and be finished with it.  I leaned in the same direction, however we were back to where we were yesterday.  Georgia’s death would destroy Josephine.  Especially if Lukas or I had a hand in it.

The front door opened and Josephine placed her keys down on the table.  She stepped into the living room, her face a mask of confusion as she glanced between the three of us. I could see her take in Georgia’s guilty face and nervous feet as she fidgeted on the couch, Lukas’s normal look of detached boredom and finally, she met my impassive stare.

“Josephine, your friend Georgia decided to join us.  This has been an amusing hour.  She is even testing Lukas’s patience.  It is quite an accomplishment since he defines aggravation.”

Still keeping her gaze on me, she pushed off the door and walked across the room to sit on the arm of my chair.  When I pulled her into my lap, she offered no resistance.  Just her presence alone relaxed me and my thoughts seemed to settle.  She sat back against my chest and rested her head against my neck, inhaling my scent.  She finally noticed another smell hanging in the room.  It was one I was familiar with, but with it being Georgia’s, it held no appeal.  The smell was coppery like a penny.

Blood.

“So, who’s going to tell me what’s going on?”

Her voice rang out loudly in the room, and both Georgia’s and Lukas’s eyes focused on her.  My hand rubbed against the part of her thigh that was left exposed by her shorts, my fingertips soft against her velvet skin.

Lukas let out a puff of breath and crossed his arms.  “Since no one is going to tell you, I will.  Your
friend
wants us to change her.  She thinks it would be the best thing for her since she already knows what we are.”

The pressure of my fingers increased against her leg and she could only stare open mouthed at Georgia.

“Georgia?  Why?”

My voice rumbled behind her.  “She presented a convincing argument.  That I will admit.  I will leave it to her to explain what happened.  Tell her, Georgia.”

Georgia’s whole body collapsed against the couch.  It was as if she had deflated in front of our very eyes, even her voice sounding defeated.  “I just thought that since I knew, it made sense to just have them change me.  Not to mention the idea of not aging seems nice and I’d be like you.”

Josephine stared at her as if she was crazy.  “Be like me? Not aging seems nice? Are you serious, Georgia?  Do you think this is some kind of joke?”

She tightened her grip on the towel on her arm and Josephine noticed the red stain of Georgia’s blood, glaring against the whiteness of the cloth.  When she spoke, her voice was a whisper.  “No, I know now it’s not a joke.  I didn’t really think it through.”

Josephine shot off of my lap and was beside her, clutching her wrist before she had a chance to react.  She blinked at the suddenness of her movements.  “You cut yourself in front of two vampires?  Have you lost your mind?”

“I just thought… never mind.”

“You just thought what, Georgia?  You’d cut yourself and they’d be swayed to change you?  They could have drained you dry,” Josephine snapped.  Peering up at Lukas, he simply shook his head, exasperated with the whole situation.

“I saw Stefan with you.  He didn’t drain you,” Georgia responded haughtily.  Her hold on Georgia’s arm increased and she flinched slightly, gasping at her strength. 

“Georgia, he loves me and he’s not going to drain me.  Stefan could give two shits about you,” she pointed out harshly. She took a deep breath and tried again.  “What I meant to say is that Stefan doesn’t love you and neither does Lukas.  We’re a food source to a vampire.  You can’t go tempting fate.”