She caught his hand and pulled it down, holding it pressed to her heart. “It’s okay. I was with you all the way. One hundred percent. A willing participant.”
“But, it’s not okay.”
“Well, one thing is for sure, you can’t keep doing that. I mean, all Ethan did was take my hand.”
“It wasn’t that. You tapped his frequency. I could feel it.”
“That’s right, I did. It was so weird.”
But his body stiffened all over again and he had to work to calm down. “Apparently, there’s more going on here, more than I comprehend. Just…don’t ever touch another mastyr vampire again.”
“You think this would be true of all mastyr vampires?”
“Even the thought of it torments me.”
She shook her head. “I’m just trying to understand.”
He nodded. “Very well, my instincts tell me that you could reach the personal energy of any master vampire.”
“Well, then I don’t think it’ll be a problem since there are so few of you. And because it bothers you, of course I won’t touch Ethan again. I promise. Or any others.”
He appeared stunned, his eyes wide. “Just like that, without argument?”
She smiled. “I may be pricklish about many things, but I’ve been in Merhaine for over a year now and I’ve come to understand that there are differences between my specie and yours. I notice that most men don’t draw close to women who don’t belong to them, usually at a pace of five feet. I think this was my fault, but I just liked his smile.”
“Because I don’t smile,” he said, scowling.
She couldn’t help it. She laughed then launched herself against his chest and slung her arms around his waist, which turned out to be a lot of leather coat to hold even though so soft. But the whole thing was absurd. She still wore her tank top and bra, but had nothing on below. And she had her face pressed against the silver-studded Guard belt.
She liked the feel of his bare legs against hers, though. But man, had her life really gotten bizarre.
He was tentative, but after a moment he surrounded her with his arms as well. Which made her sad because this was his truth, that he hadn’t had someone in his life for a long time.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” she said. “I’ve grown very fond of your scowl. I may tease you about it but I’ve come to understand that it reflects how serious you take your job as the Mastyr of Merhaine. I really do understand, or at least I try to. I think that was what I saw when I observed you and the community leaders last night through the entrance hall landscape.”
“Indeed? You saw my concern for my realm-folk?”
“The weight you carry on your shoulders.”
“Is that why you…washed my hair?”
She looked up then kissed him again. “I washed your hair because I admire and respect the hell out of you.”
At that, his scowl softened at least a little and he kissed her back. “You warm my heart.”
“Oh. That is the sweetest thing you could have said.”
He looked away from her, and his scowl deepened once more. “We need to visit Vojalie.”
At that, she backed away from him, feeling her own brows high on her forehead. “I’ve never met her before. I’ve heard of her of course. She’s said to be the most powerful fae in Merhaine.”
“She is. Perhaps in all the Nine Realms. She’s also very wise. But I think we need to understand better what is going on here. With you.”
“And with us?”
“Yes. I want to understand why I could have killed Ethan right now for touching you.”
Abigail nodded. “Well, give me a few minutes, to, uh, make myself presentable.”
He smiled. Well, perhaps just a half smile. But it was all she needed.
*** *** ***
Gerrod worked himself back into his leathers and boots, then left the absurd storage room to give Abigail some privacy. He rolled his eyes, all accusatory thoughts leveled at himself.
He had been badly lacking in control. But he had spoken truly when he said he could have killed Ethan and was glad that his good friend and fellow mastyr had understood his dilemma so quickly. If he hadn’t backed off, Gerrod would have fought him.
Not a good thing.
How had his life gotten so complicated? He did not understand what was going on. He needed advice, good, worthy, fae advice, the kind he always received from Vojalie.
She was pure fae and wed to a very unattractive troll, whom she adored with every fiber of her being. The union had been one of the most stunning of Gerrod’s long life, so unexpected, even absurd, that the elegant, beautiful Vojalie of Shepherd County would have been wooed and won by the homely troll, Davido of Bergisson Realm.
He was very old, perhaps one of the oldest realm-folk Gerrod had ever known. The best historians thought he was perhaps two-thousand-years-old, but Gerrod had a strange feeling that Davido was well beyond that. Davido seemed to take peculiar enjoyment in refusing to reveal his age. He was funny, charming, and devoted to Vojalie, to her comfort, to her security and protection especially when with child as she was now.
He drew his phone from the pocket of his leathers and made the call.
“Vojalie The Wise’s residence, your handsome troll speaking. What might I do for you this fine realm day?”
Gerrod felt his mouth curve up, well at least part of it. “Hallo, Davido. This is Gerrod.”
“Well, by the Goddess’s beautiful pink ni**les, how the hell are you?”
Ethan and Davido got along really well, but then they both had deep ties to Bergisson.
He heard Vojalie in the background. “Stop that nonsense. Give the phone to me. Gerrod’s been on my mind for days now.”
“Yes, my lovely one, anything you desire.” Then to Gerrod, he continued, “Heard you got laid last night.”
Gerrod really did need to have a long talk with Gus. Maybe he should seriously think about firing ‘his gossipy troll’s ass’, as Ethan would say.
“I was given a measure of blood by the human and it has bolstered my physical well-being. I wish to bring her to Vojalie to see what she can discern about Mistress Abigail. I,” he cleared his throat, “I nearly battled Ethan for her because she shook his hand.”
The next words were muffled as though Davido held his hand loosely over the phone, but Gerrod could make out the words. “My dearest most pleasing one, love has struck Gerrod at last. He almost killed Ethan over the human, the one called Abigail.”