This Curse: (The Grace Allen Series Book 2 ) (9 page)

“Good to know,” a voice rumbled from directly behind
me.

I swallowed my tongue. Closing my eyes in
mortification, I slowly stood and turned around. I wanted to die as my heart
fluttered in my throat.

Lucian was sitting on the couch across from Seth. His
hair was washed and dried. He looked fresh and clean; nothing like the sex
crazed horror from moments before. Lydia was snuggled against his side and for
a moment, a look of pure venom marred her normally pretty face, making her
appear ugly and distorted. I stared at her but the look vanished as quickly as
it had appeared. I shook my head and did a double take, not entirely sure that
I had really seen anything strange at all. 

They were so serene and perfectly matched; it was as
if they were posing for a yuppie magazine. If I didn’t have the vision of their
sadistic sex session branded into my retinas, I’d think they were the picture
of class and refinement. 

Thoughts and images ran across my mind as I looked at
them. Could I ever think about being romantic with Lucian again? What I had
said to Seth was pretty accurate. I had fantasized about being with Lucian. My
mind had imagined his gentle caresses and soft whispered words as we slowly
made love. I always held out the small hope that one day we would break through
the awkward
friend
stage and move towards a more loving and physical
relationship. But now, that vision has been shattered and covered in blood. Was
this the type of lover he really was, in his heart? And if he cared for Lydia
at all, why the hell was he smacking her? Was that what she enjoyed?
Ugh,
and now he thinks I’m hot for him, and after that scene in the bedroom, I think
not!

 “Um… Lucian, about what I just said, I uh…” I wanted
to flash myself home so badly. I was completely mortified! “I was just trying
to make a point, okay? It isn’t really as if I’ve been lusting for you all this
time. You’re my friend, Lucian, I wouldn’t want to jeopardize that.”

 Seth let out an inelegant snort and I glared at him.
He seemed pleased again and I wondered if he had known the whole time that
Lucian had entered the room while I was all ‘rub it in your face’.

What was I thinking, of course he did,
Asshole.

“Grace, please don’t make yourself uneasy. I’ve
always known that you desired me. It’s just a pity that you refused to admit
it. But it’s never too late.” He winked at me and kissed Lydia on the top of
her head. “We could still have some fun.” He smiled at me and I felt my anger
rise.
What the fuck was he doing?
I could feel my hands ball into fists
at my sides and my jaw began to ache from clenching my teeth over and over.

“Lucian,” I began as calmly as I could, “I know that
your sex life is your own business, but it just has to be asked. What the
fuck
was that?” I was getting angrier. Why was he so crass? Sex with blood and
violence? Hitting on me in front of his girlfriend. No wonder she was pissy.
God, the sound of him slapping Lydia still rang in my ears.

“Grace,” Lucian stood. He was dressed flawlessly in a
pair of dark grey wool trousers and a soft looking, black sweater. His skin
appeared free of damage and flushed with health. “You are absolutely correct,”
he continued, “My sex life is
my
business. It could have been your
business as well, but you refused to let yourself go.” He took a step forward
and I moved back. “You never once took what was always in front of you. But you
considered it, didn’t you? That thought fills me with…
Well…
” Lucian ran
his soft thumb across my jaw. Instantly, Seth was at my side. His cool, vampire
presence felt more comforting than Lucian’s body heat at that moment, which set
off a dozen alarm bells.

Lucian straightened. The look in his eyes was so
foreign. “Why are you here?” he asked. “What made you interrupt me tonight,
Grace?” He eyed Seth. His lip curled in a sneer, then, folding his arms, he
took a step back.

“Do you know anything about Voltaire’s plans?” I
looked from Seth to Lucian. “You defeated him at my house, I saw you. You did
it once, you can do it again.” My voice rose, “I want to know if you can help
us.” I was sure I sounded desperate but I didn’t care. I had to know. Seth
moved closer and taking it as some sort of challenge, Lucian stepped closer as
well. I shook my head and moved away from both men. Their dominating presence
was smothering me. I stood closer to where Lydia sat. Her presence couldn’t
feel much worse.

“Ah, so you want me to fight the demon, Grace? How
strong do you think I am?” Lucian asked as if I were a fool.

“What spell did you use?” I persisted. “What did you
do to defeat him? I’m filled with magic and haven’t even put a chink in his
armor.” I cried. “I didn’t mean to interrupt you tonight.” I looked away at the
memory. I suddenly couldn’t meet his eyes. “I’m sorry.
Believe
me
I am so very sorry I saw anything. But I need your help,” I finally looked at
him.

I felt tingles, like little pins sticking into my
spine and I turned, Lydia was looking at me like I was Lucifer himself. I
almost threw off my glamour and beat the shit out of her. I had to take several
deep breaths and cool my mind. I was rolling in a sea of emotions and I had a
pretty good feeling she was the source.
Or maybe it was just petty to think
that. I didn’t much care for Lydia.

“Please,” Lucian brought my attention back to him,
“my dearest Grace, Seth, sit. I’ll tell you what I know. Who knows, it may
help, though I greatly doubt it.” Lucian sat down next to Lydia again and I
took the small desk chair, opting for some distance.

Seth frowned at me when our eyes met as if he were
trying to tell me something. I focused on his mind and then mentally slapped
myself. I forgot that I couldn’t read his thoughts.

“That is only because I did not wish you to.”

 “Shit!” Startled, I jumped off my chair. All eyes
turned to me expectantly. I laughed a little too loudly and rushed to cover up
my total stupidity. “Oh, this chair is a little loose.” I moved to the couch
and sat next to Seth with a sheepish smile.

“
That was pathetic, Sweet.”
Seth’s deep
baritone whispered in my mind. “
Next time, try harder to control yourself.
And you were always able to read my thoughts; it was only when I realized that
you could, that I held them from you. I have been a mind reader for centuries,
so the little fists you pound on my door are easy to ignore. You are a tiny
infant to your powers. You can do more than you think. Now, listen to this
new
Lucian. I fear we are not among friends.”

A cool chill raced down my spine at his words and I
concentrated on Lucian. He certainly acted like a different man, of that I was
sure. It was as if he was some sort of pod person. The entire time we’ve known
each other, Lucian had never had a relationship. As far as I knew, he was as
celibate as I had become. Could it be that simple? Lucian was getting some, so
now he was a cocky prick? Getting me into the sack wasn’t important anymore so,
he was free to act like a shit-head?

“When I froze Voltaire with our spell,” Lucian’s
voice broke through my thoughts; “he was free after only a few moments it
seems. Once free, he went into a rage. We heard him destroying your property,
Grace, so Lydia and I fled into the desert until all the violence was gone. I
couldn’t risk her safety.” He looked at her lovingly. She smiled at him and
snuggled into his side. “When we returned to your house, everyone was gone. I
wanted to make sure you got back safely, so Lydia and I spent the night in your
home.” He shrugged his shoulders as if to say, ‘see, no help’. “Anything that
went on while we were hiding out is a mystery to me. I’m sorry.” He rested his
ankle on his knee and swiped at some nonexistent crumb on his pristine pant
leg. 

 I was getting pissed and when I got pissed like
this, my glamour tended to slip. It was either an involuntary reaction, or a
completely voluntary one meant to scare the piss out of the offending dip-shit
stupid enough to piss me off. At this point, I didn’t care. Lucian didn’t want
to help, and what was worse, he was also
lying
.

My vision began to blur, a clear sign that my real
eyes would be shining through soon. I didn’t want the new severely fucked up
Lucian to see any part of my true form. He had already seen a version of the
Madea, but that was nothing compared to what I had ultimately become and at the
time he was the kind Lucian. This one was a horny asshole, the last thing I
needed was my Madea pheromones locking on to him as a potential mate. I stood
and turned away from the offending couple.

“We need to go,”
I whispered into Seth’s mind. He casually turned his head and looked at
me. His eyes grew large and I stumbled as Seth’s thoughts thundered into my
mind. He saw a completely different Grace and it thrilled him. My mercury and
emerald colored eyes were a shock to him, seeing as he was never allowed to see
even the smallest shard of my true form. I tried to send another thought his
way, but he stood and had me at the door before I could form the notion. In
another short moment, we were in my bedroom.

I looked around the room in shock.

Did
I
send us here? I turned, to form the
question when all of a sudden his lips devoured mine.

Oh God!
His scent was overpowering as we fell onto the bed. Spice and heat enveloped
me. I felt that familiar thrill fill my belly as my limbs turned into lead weights.

“You have been hiding yourself from me, Sweet.” Seth
kissed along my jaw. “What other secrets are awaiting my touch?” he kissed my
closed eyelids. “Are you even close to human? Does your whole body wear a mask
or is it just your eyes you hide?” He rolled me over until I was straddling his
hips, then reaching for my shirt; he ripped it off with one swift move.

The air fled my lungs. I looked down at him.
He
was utterly beautiful
. His hair never quite stayed bound these days. His
raven black locks fanned around his head and spilled over the side of the bed.
His lips were full and perfect, his jaw square and sharp. I loved the little
bit of stubble that could never be kept away for long.

“You are staring, Sweet. Could it be that you find me
pleasing?” He smiled, seductively. His pale hands were warm as he ran them up
my stomach and along my rib cage, he stopped just under my breasts and I sucked
in my breath. “You please me,” he whispered. “You will always please me.” He
growled low in his throat and yanked me down onto his chest.

I moaned and took his mouth. I savored his beautiful
lips. I sucked them one at a time into my mouth and then swirled my tongue
along the sharp points of his deadly teeth.
Oh, God that made me crazy
;
that dance with danger.

Seth was dangerous and sexy. When his hunger took
over, I was glad to hold him close as he drank. My anger toward Lucian was only
a fog at the back of my mind as we explored each other’s bodies. I was ready to
wipe it all away, I wanted more than his teeth inside me.

“I want you, Seth.” I reached for his pants.

He held my hands, halting my progress. “I can not
believe I am saying this now, but it must be noted before we are too far gone
and I forget to say it at all.” He took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
“Do you find it odd that it never once occurred to Lucian that you and I were
friendly? It was my understanding that he believes us to be mortal enemies.”

“
What?”
I stopped cold. “
What did you say?
”
I tried to catch my breath. Adrenaline and desire pumped through my body making
coherent thought difficult. “
Lucian
?” I sat back on my heels, picking up
my shredded shirt and wrapping it around my body as best as I could. It took a
moment for my mind to start working again and I felt my face drain of blood at
his words. “Oh my
God!”
I put my head in my hands. “
What is going
on?”
My voice came out muffled as I spoke through my fingers. I looked up
and sniffed, not even bothering to stanch the flow of tears.

“What beautiful eyes, Sweet,” Seth gently grasped my
chin. “Never hide them from me again. Your tears make mirrors that reflect such
a wounded heart. Did you truly love him then?” Seth brushed a tear form my
cheek.

He was being kind, but I had no intention of
answering his question. He was a vampire and therefore unstable. I couldn’t
chance it. Besides, I no longer knew the real answer to that question. I loved
Lucian as a friend of course, but was it more than that?

“We need to find that blood, Seth.” I shook my head
and stood. “We have to or who knows what could happen.”

“You are finally seeing.” Relief lit his eyes, “It
will be light soon, Sweet. I must go and you need rest. Push this business
behind you for now; there is nothing that can be done at this moment. When
night falls again, we can take the next steps.” He stood and stretched his
beautiful body, his muscles were long and sleek; his hard abs peeked out from
under the hem of his shirt with his movements. I needed a cold shower or a nice
long run. I almost broke another rule tonight.
No sex with Seth.
It was
a good rule. One made at a time when my friendship with Lucian meant more to me
than sexual gratification or anything else for that matter. I didn’t want to
upset him as much as I didn’t want to miss an opportunity to get closer to him
if possible. Now, it didn’t really matter. He was taken and seeing his true
colors, I was pretty sure I didn’t want him anymore anyway.