On the Edge of Destiny (Book 3) (A Vampire SEAL Novel) (9 page)

“Thanks.” He sat up, resting his own head against the headboard.

“What did you and Dad do today, other than shopping?” I walked into his dark room.

His bed butted against a wall, in between two windows. Two nightstands stood on each side of the bed. A dresser and a desk lined one wall, and a chair sat adjacent to a closet door.

“We checked out the place where they’re having the charity benefit. I ran into Ms. Costner, too. She wasn’t surprised we were vampires. She said she knew.”

“Wow. How could she tell?” I sat down on his bed.

“She mentioned something about scent and our eyes. Your eyes did shift the last time we were in her class.”

I wasn’t surprised. I’d gotten into a scuffle with Blake Turner just before her class. “Did she say anything on why she hadn’t turned vampire?”

“No. We’re heading over there early so she can talk with both of us before the party starts.” He lifted his arm and placed a hand behind his head.

“Where is it?” I picked a piece of lint off his brown comforter.

“Her father’s house. He lives up in the Highlands, in one of those humongous homes on the top of the hill.”

“You mean like Ben’s house.”

“No. Ten times bigger.”

“Speaking of Ben, has he called you or anything?” I asked hesitantly, keeping my eyes on comforter.

Sam grabbed my hand, and I looked up.

“You can’t talk to Ben or see him, Jo. You got that? I know you want to help him, but let Pops.” Fear laced his tone.

“Hey, I know you’re scared. But how the heck am I going to see him? He’s not going to be there tonight, is he?”

“No. Why would he? This is a charity event for the illiterate kids Ms. Costner supports—which, by the way, humans will be attending. I think that is one of the reasons why Pops is freaking out. We’re still new vamps, and he thinks our bloodlust might be a problem.” He let go of my hand.

“He’s not worried about Kate?”

“Not really.” He pushed a hand through his hair. “According to Pops, she wouldn’t try anything at a public event. Although he’s not one hundred percent certain.”

“If Dad is so worried about our bloodlust and all, then why are we even going? Why couldn’t Ms. Costner just come over here?”

“I asked Pops that, too. His response was we need to learn how to live among humans, and he can’t keep us locked up forever. Plus, Ms. Costner coaxed him into donating a lot of money for this charity. Look, if someone makes you mad tonight, don’t get into your
Carrie
mode. Okay?”

“Ha, ha,” I said sarcastically.

There was a knock on the apartment door.

“That’s Olivia,” I said as I stood then turned to leave.

“Jo?” Sam called.

With my hand on the doorjamb, I glanced over my shoulder.

“You’re going to look pretty tonight.”

I smiled wide. “Thanks, Sam.” I tapped my heart twice then headed for the apartment door.

Dad came out of his room. “I have to get something out of my office. I’ll need you and Sam ready to leave in one hour.” He passed Olivia at the door. “Petty Officer Brock, are you ready for this evening?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good. We can’t have anything go wrong,” Dad said then left.

Olivia and I went into my room. She was wearing short yoga pants and a tank top.

She set her sport bag on the bed. “We’ll have to make this quick, since I still have to change into my uniform. Do you want your hair up?” she asked, all business.

“I think so.” I sat on the bed.

She eyed the dress then opened her bag. “Okay. Let’s get started. I think your hair will look best up, with the sweetheart neckline.” She removed a small curling iron, a brush, and several hairpins from her bag.

I shifted into a position on the bed to give her better access to the back of my head. After plugging in the curling iron, she brushed out my hair. She curled, braided, pinned, teased, and sprayed. Within five minutes, she had my hair up and in place.

“Before you look in the mirror, I want to chat a minute.” She grabbed something from the front pocket of her bag before joining me on the bed. She tucked one leg underneath the other.

I did the same.

“I know you haven’t trained with any weapons yet, but just in case something goes wrong tonight, I want you to have this.” She uncurled her fingers, revealing a small thin rectangular metal box.

It reminded me of one of those magnetic hide-a-key contraptions, only smaller. How was a metal box going to help me?

“I know what you’re thinking. This is actually a Taser.” She slid back the top. “This button inside”—she pointed to it—“is what you will push to activate the Taser. It’s not going to kill anyone, but it will slow an attacker down. The Taser is cobalt, and it does pack a powerful punch. You can slip it between your breasts.”

“Cool. Sometimes I feel like I’m part of a James Bond movie.”

She laughed. It was the first time I’d seen her laugh or even smile. All the sentinels were rather reserved by nature.

She closed the box and absently scratched her leg. “Keep it tucked away. The banded bodice should keep it from falling out. I don’t expect any trouble tonight, but you never know.”

A half-inch scar marred the skin above her right knee. Where did she get that?

“Any questions, Jo?” She handed me the Taser.

“Not really. It seems simple. Can I ask you something?”

She nodded.

“Is that a battle wound on your knee?”

“It is, but not a military one,” she answered softly, not with the hard soldier tone she usually used. “I pissed off a boy in catechism, when I was a little girl. He chased me for, like, five miles, all the way to my house. When I got to the gate of the yard, I hesitated. That’s when he drove a knife into my leg.” The edge of her mouth turned upward. “From that day on, I never let my guard down. That one incident taught me a lot.”

She rose from the bed, went over to her bag, and fished out a silver clip.

Her story reminded me of my own stabbing by my foster dad. I absently rubbed the scar on my face.

“You want to talk about it?” she asked.

“I try to forget about it, but it’s hard when I’m reminded of that night every time I look in the mirror.”

“Did he…”

“No. If Sam hadn’t shown up, I’m not sure I would even be here. The creep was going to have his way with me whether I was dead or alive.” Tears suddenly stung my eyes. I wanted my foster dad to pay for what he’d done.

“Have you talked to anyone else about this?” she asked gently.

“No. If I do, like now, I shift between crying and anger, and all I want to do is hunt the asshole down and kill him. And since I can’t…”

“Jo. Do you believe in karma?”

I shrugged one shoulder as I traced the outline of my scar. “I’ve never thought about it.”

“The brute will get his due. The boy who stabbed me got his. My parents wanted me to report him to the police, but I didn’t. I thought I could take care of the situation myself. Then the following week, when I walked into catechism class, he wasn’t there. I asked about him afterwards, and a girl in class said he’d been sent away to a school for delinquents.”

I hoped karma would knock on my foster dad’s door one day.

She grabbed a can of hairspray. “Why don’t you see if your hair passes inspection? I’ll spray it and add this clip.”

Standing, I took the small mirror she held in her hand. I walked over to the dresser then positioned myself so I could check out her masterpiece. “Wow! You did a fantastic job.”

I had a small part on the right side of my head, where Olivia had woven a loose French braid that traveled from the front to back over my ear. Each section of hair outside of the braid had been teased and loosely twisted before being secured with bobby pins. My straight hair was a mess of curls, all strategically pinned.

“The hairstyle is called a twisty hawk,” she explained, securing the small silver clip just above my right ear where the French braid began. “I learned the style for one of the balls I had to attend when I was younger.”

I was in awe.

“My mom relates this style to a Mohawk, though it’s an elegant take on the style. Hence the name Twisty Hawk.”

I could see why she likened this style to a Mohawk. My hair had raised curls on top of my head to the nape of my neck. “It’s amazing. Thank you so much.”

She applied hairspray. “Webb’s heart is going to fall out of his chest when he sees you,” she said in a low voice, as though hesitant to bring up his name.

We locked gazes in the mirror.

I’d never spoken to the sentinels about anything personal. Actually, this was the first time I’d spent any time with Olivia outside of training. I’d bet she knew more about my life than I did about hers, if only because the sentinels had been protecting Sam and me from our archenemy, the Plutariums. Still, I wondered if Webb had told her or any of the sentinels about him and me.

Then again, I didn’t know what special abilities Olivia had. She might be an Empath, able to feel the emotions between Webb and me, or she might just be very observant.

“How do you know?” I asked.

“It’s hard not to see, Jo. Remember when he came into the training room, the day you and Sam were fighting with poles?”

I nodded as I stared at her in the mirror.

“That was when it clicked for me. But my suspicions were confirmed when I visited him in the medical facility and found you sleeping in his arms.”

Well, that was proof enough, I guess.

“Webb is like a brother to me, Jo. Whatever you do, please don’t break his heart,” she said, almost pleading. “Or else I’ll have to hunt you down and kill you.” She winked then smiled. “Seriously though, I hate to see either one of you hurt.”

I had no intentions of breaking his heart. Although I knew we’d probably fight about things like any couple.

She turned away and began packing her bag. “Oh, and one more thing,” she said, whipping out a compact. “Let’s apply a little blush. That’s all you need.” She brushed on a small amount of pink blush.

A knock sounded on door. “Jo,” Dad said. “You need to be ready in fifteen minutes.”

“No problem,” I replied.

“Okay. You’re ready,” Olivia announced, fiddling with something in my hair. “Slip on the dress, make sure you carry the Taser, and have a great time.” She retrieved her bag before heading for the door. Opening it, she turned. “Jo, thanks for asking me to do this for you. I enjoyed it.” Her brown eyes sparkled. “I’m here if you need anything at all. I know that this life can be challenging, especially among all the men.”

“I appreciate that,” I said.

“See you tonight.” Then she was gone.

I stood frozen for a few seconds, overwhelmed by our time together. I did need a girl to talk to. I loved Darcy, but our friendship was strained because of the difference in our species. I had made a new friend at St. Anne’s Academy, the vampire high school, but Zea didn’t live close by. Plus I wasn’t sure I would see her anytime soon, since I wasn’t allowed back to school until after the court hearing.

I slipped into my dress, and I had begun to strap my feet into the sandals when Dad’s voice sounded from the hall. “Jo, can I come in?”

“It’s open.” Sandals on, I walked over to the mirror to make sure everything was in place. My mouth fell open. Was that me? Holy…

“Cow,” Dad said, finishing my thought. “You look amazing.” His wide green eyes reflected in the mirror as he stood near the door dressed in a tuxedo with a velvet box in his hand.

Before I could process anything else, Sam sidled up next to him, messing with the bow tie on his tux. He opened his mouth then closed it. “Holy crap. Is that my sister?”

I smiled. “That tux looks a lot better than the school uniform.”

Did it ever. Sam had his black hair tied back in a low ponytail, just like Dad. His green eyes stood out over the black tux and white shirt. Again, just like Dad. If it weren’t for the lines around Dad’s eyes and forehead, I probably couldn’t tell them apart.

“We should go,” Dad said. “But before we do, I wanted you to wear this tonight, Jo.” He walked over to me then opened a velvet box. “It was your mother’s. She wanted you to have it when the time was right. I don’t know if there will ever be a right time, but this feels like one.” Melancholy tinged his voice.

A necklace graced the inside of the pretty box, a blood-red ruby sparkling in the center of a square diamond. My lips parted.

“It’s beautiful, Dad. But I can’t wear that. It looks too expensive. What if I lose it?” I’d never owned any jewelry, let alone something that looked as if it cost a fortune.

“I insist. Your mother would be disappointed if you didn’t wear it. Turn around.”

“Can you tell me more about Mom?” I knew little about her. Dad had only shared pictures and said how he’d loved her.

“When we have more time.” He latched the chain in place.

“Thank you, Dad.” I kissed him on the cheek.

“You’re welcome, pumpkin.” He held out his arm. “Let’s go. We need to meet with Alia before the function begins. And Webb is waiting downstairs.”

At the mention of his name, my stomach started quivering.

Chapter 7

O
n the elevator ride down, I took in a few calming breaths, attempting to tame the beasts burrowing in the pit of my stomach. I smoothed my hand over my dress, absently touching the Taser, which seemed to be burning against the skin between my breasts. My imagination was on a collision course to freak-out zone.

Several questions contributed to my edginess, but only one had my palms clammy. Would Webb like the dress?

The elevator doors opened, and cold air whooshed in. Sam exited first. Dad offered his elbow. Without hesitation, I grabbed onto him. Anything to keep me upright.

“Breathe, pumpkin. Webb will falter where he stands when he sees you.”

Sam walked ahead of us as we passed the circular reception desk in the middle of the lobby.

“Can you do me a favor?” I asked Dad.

“What is it?” Dad’s gaze darted to the sentinel guarding the door.

“Please stay out of my head tonight.” Even though I’d gotten used to Dad reading my mind, I couldn’t have him skipping through my brain, especially when I saw Webb in the next few minutes.

“We’re taking two cars anyway, Jo. You and Webb will be in one car. Sam and I are riding together.”

A small bit of tension waned as I searched for my date. “I thought you said Webb was downstairs?”

Dad placed his hand on mine—the one gripping his forearm like a vise. “He’s outside.”

“Commander,” the sentinel at the door said.

“Lane, good evening. Make sure the doors are secure when we leave,” Dad ordered.

“Ms. Mason.” Lane nodded, his soft bronze eyes glistening.

The warm air coated my skin as Dad and I strode out into the humid night. Light sprayed down from the lamppost on the median across from us. I didn’t need light to know Webb stood to my left. I drank in his delicious woodsy scent, and my heart fluttered.

For some reason, I sought out my brother. Why? I didn’t know. Sam leaned casually against a black SUV, his hair tied back in a low ponytail, his green eyes glinting my way. As though he knew my reticence, he tapped his heart twice. A gesture of ours to say we loved each other and everything would be okay.

Whether I was okay or not, desperation or anticipation made me turn. Or maybe Webb’s presence pulled me to him. Regardless, when his eyes latched on to mine, my heart roared in my ears.

If anyone were talking to me, I wasn’t listening. My focus fixed on the vampire standing near a sleek black car, dressed in a tuxedo that made him look…imposing, beautiful. He swept a languid gaze along the length of my body, and my pulse quickened.

Fortunately, Dad walked me over to him. I didn’t think my feet would move.

A slow smile graced Webb’s lips as we approached. Lips I wanted to kiss.

If Dad were reading my mind, I didn’t care one bit. He pried my hand from his arm. The small sensation seemed to get the blood moving inside me again.

“Webb,” Dad said, breaking through some of the fog in my head. “Have the sentinels left?”

“Yes, sir. They’re on their way.” His gaze never wavered from mine.

“Good. Sam and I will meet you there.”

“Yes, sir.” Webb took my hand. Electricity skittered up my arm before his husky voice filled my head.

You’ve taken my breath away before, but nothing—absolutely nothing—like right at this moment. Your radiance consumes me, your beauty captures my soul, and your presence makes the world around me disappear. You are my beautiful angel.

His words sent a shiver up my spine and fire down my belly.

“Be careful,” Dad added, walking away.

“We will,” Webb answered Dad.

Webb grabbed the handle of the Audi. “I want to kiss you desperately.” He opened the door. His hand nestled against my lower back.

I lifted my skirt and slid in slowly.

Webb said something to Sentinel Lane before he climbed in on the driver’s side. Wasting no time, he started the vehicle and shifted into gear. Silence filled the space as we wound through the base and out the main gate. After several turns and traffic lights, he flicked on the blinker and turned left into a parking lot.

Mmm
! What was it with him and parking lots?

He released his seat belt and let out a growl before he leaned close to me. I followed his lead, silently cursing the console separating us.

His warm lips brushed mine as his fingers traced the curve of my sweetheart neckline. “You are stunning, Jo.”

“And I’m crazy about you,” I whispered.

His hand froze. He pulled back slightly, his eyes searching mine as if in search of the answer to unasked questions.

Did I say something wrong? Maybe “crazy” wasn’t the word to use.

His piercing gaze continued, making me very uneasy all of sudden.

“We need to go.” His tone hardened. He strapped his seat belt around him.

I didn’t move. My forearm rested on the console while I stared at him. What just happened? He went from the lovable Webb to a cold soldier, as if I’d told him I hated him. I was about to ask him what was wrong, but his phone rang.

Damn it.

He drove out of the lot, ignoring the sound. No sooner had the phone stopped ringing than it trilled again, cutting through the quiet.

I flinched.

He answered. “Yes, Commander. No problem. Sure. We’re almost there.”

The tension between us skyrocketed with every turn and stoplight. What the hell? Tears would not be shed tonight. I interlaced my fingers in my lap to keep him from noticing them shake. I struggled to understand why he would react this way to what I’d said. I’d told him yesterday that he made my world better. He didn’t wig out then. So why now?

My door opened, and a chill skittered up my arm. When had we stopped? I flicked off my seat belt, and a white-gloved hand reached in for mine. In one fluid motion, I swiveled, planted two feet on the brick pavement, and accepted the offer for help.

“Thank you,” I said to the valet dressed in black pants and a short red jacket with a white shirt underneath.

“Ma’am,” he responded as he escorted me to the two-story portico held up by classical columns.

Webb spoke with one of the valets. Two more cars rolled in behind Webb’s Audi. Ladies exited the vehicles with the help of more valets. Their gowns glimmered under the muted spotlights shining on the Colonial Mansion. Music spilled out from the house as a door opened. Webb patted one of the valets on the back then strode over to me.

He extended his elbow, and I hesitated, searching his face. He lifted his eyebrows as if to say, “Well?”

The vampire was confusing me tonight. I wanted to desperately ask him what happened in the car, but this wasn’t the time. So I raised the skirt of my dress with one hand and took hold of his arm with the other. Instead of going into the mansion, we headed toward a lighted path nestled between a canopy of trees.

“Alia Costner is waiting for you at the guest house,” Webb said sweetly, as though whatever bothered him in the car was now gone.

As we stepped under the tunnel of trees, I couldn’t take it anymore. “What’s wrong, Webb?”

I inhaled, absorbing the sweet fragrance of the slew of flowers bordering the path. Lavender, lilacs, roses, lilies, and jasmine lingered in the air.

Webb was breathing but not talking. What the heck?

We’d just passed a cement bench when a shiver crept up my spine. I stopped, checking my surroundings. Water trickled from somewhere in the gardens. The warm air turned cold all of a sudden. Rubbing my arms, I looked at Webb. He too scanned the trees, flowerbeds, and beyond.

“What is it?” I asked.

“Not sure. It’s probably nothing. Let’s go. The cottage isn’t far.” He kept scanning the area as we made our way down the path.

“Are you going to talk to me about what happened in the car?” I looked around as well.

“
No
,” he said emphatically. “We’ll talk later.”

Let it go for now
, my inner voice told me. I wasn’t sure I could. Tears threatened.
Don’t cry. Don’t cry.

We stopped walking.

He turned and framed my face in his strong hands. “I promise we’ll talk later. Okay?”

I nodded as I stared into his onyx eyes, seeking clues to his ire. Yeah, like I could read minds.

He dipped his head and planted a chaste kiss on my lips.

“Sis, Ms. Costner is waiting.” Sam’s voice was somewhere near.

Webb stepped back. “Go with Sam,” Webb said softly.

I didn’t want to go anywhere until we talked.

“Sis,” Sam said. “You can see Webb later.”

I reluctantly walked away.

Another shiver crept up my spine when we arrived at the cottage. Again I scanned the area. Nothing. Shaking it off, I entered the home. My senses immediately went on high alert at the cinnamon fragrance that tickled my nostrils, matching Kate’s unique vampire scent. I straightened my spine. Was she here? I clenched my fists at the thought.

“Jo, dear.” Ms. Costner glided gracefully toward me, smoothing out her black gown. Her blond hair was twisted up into a chignon, her bangs swept to the side. “Good to see you again.” She kissed me on my left cheek then the right. “Come. Let’s sit for a spell.” She interlinked her arm with mine.

I found it odd that her human scent didn’t bother me. Then I recalled what Ms. Lawrence had said to Dad, that Ms. Costner had the unique ability to mask her humanity.

We crossed the foyer into a sitting room. Dark browns and blues colored the fabric curtains and walls. Two loveseats faced each other, separated by a rectangular coffee table, and a stone fireplace graced the wall adjacent to the sofas.

A blond teenage boy lazed near the fireplace with a beady-eyed dog at his feet. Instinctively, my nostrils flared, and my fangs slid out.

“Jo.” Sam darted out of nowhere, blocking my view of the human.

“It’s all right, Sam,” Ms. Costner said. “She’s reacting to Biker’s blood. I didn’t mask his scent.”

The dog growled, as if in annoyance that she didn’t protect him.

“Weird,” Sam said. “I didn’t react like that. Then again, Jo seems more sensitive to scents than me.”

“You’re making Biker nervous, Sam,” the blond boy said.

Sam stepped to the side.

“Jo, this is my son, Matthew.” Ms. Costner waved a hand at him.

“Hi,” he said.

I nodded. “Nice to meet you.”

Ms. Costner guided me to one of the loveseats. Sam and the blond eased down onto the other. The dog stayed on his haunches in front of the crackling fire.

“You’re nervous, aren’t you?” Her blue eyes sparkled beneath her heavily mascaraed lashes.

“Something isn’t right around here,” I replied. The path, the gardens, and the scents floating in the air were definitely unsettling.

“What you’re feeling is magic,” she said. “My home and gardens are protected by a spell.” Ms. Costner lifted her glass from the tables and sipped on the red liquid.

I wasn’t surprised about the magic, but I was curious about the liquid in her glass. Why was she drinking blood?

“That dress looks amazing on you,” she said. “I wasn’t sure if your father gave me your right size or not.”

“Thank you for letting me borrow it, Ms. Costner. It’s gorgeous.”

She placed a well-manicured hand on my knee. “Please call me Alia. So, your father tells me you’re showing early signs of your powers. What are they, if I may ask?”

Sam chuckled.

“What are you laughing at?” I glanced at my brother.

“My sister is very talented,” he said, adjusting his bow tie.

My gaze slipped from Sam to Matthew. “You’re human, right?”

“I am. Why?” His voice was deep.

“Just curious. And are you a natural-born vampire?”

“No.” He shook his head, smiling and seeming pleased.

“Jo, neither Matthew nor I are vampires. My son doesn’t carry the vampire gene, either,” Ms. Costner stated outright.

Dr. Vieira had once explained that genetically natural-born vampires were produced of a male vampire and a human female who had a blood type of Vel-negative, which meant that Matthew’s father wasn’t a vampire.

“So why are you drinking blood?” I dropped my gaze to the glass in her hand then back to her.

“Ah,” she said. “The short answer is because I have to. The long answer is for another day. Now, let’s talk about your powers. I need to see if I can help you.”

I accepted her answer because I had to. Her authoritative tone reminded me of my dad. “I thought you didn’t want to help me.”

“It’s not that simple.”

“Just tell her,” Sam piped in.

Ms. Costner withdrew her hand from my knee and tangled her fingers around the stem of the glass.

I shifted where I sat. “I can make things move without touching them. I seem to have two of the elements. And I can speak telepathically.”

“You can?” Sam leaned forward, elbows on his knees. “Just don’t get in my head, Sis. You know I hate that.”

I guessed I hadn’t told anyone about my mind-speaking ability except Webb.
Whatever.
All I wanted to do was get out of the stuffy room. Maybe it was the magic or the cinnamon fragrance making me antsy. I had to find Webb. I had to be there when he spoke to Kate. What if she tried to kill him again? I couldn’t let that happen.

“So how are you going to help me?” I turned my attention back to Ms. Costner.

“Which elements?” she queried.

“Water and air. And if I ever have fire, I just might puke.”

Matthew laughed.

My sentiments exactly.

“Mmm.” Ms. Costner rose, setting down her glass. “We should go. The guests will be arriving, and I have to meet the head of the Illiteracy Foundation.”

“Huh? Ms. Cost…Alia, you haven’t answered my question.”

“I’m not sure yet, Jo. You have many powers for such a young vampire. Your father tells me they’re strong, too.”