Dangerous Promise by Gwendolyn Cease Read online

  Two tragic little faces turned up to her, but she stood firm. Neither girl was a morning person, and she didn’t want the fight to start first thing on Monday.

  “Can Grimm help tuck us?” Olivia asked. “Please?”

  Kate agreed as the girls took the large man’s hands and led him up the steps.

  Tori nudged her. “Wow. First, he’s even hotter than I remember. Second, he’s awesome with the girls, and he looks at you like the sun, moon and stars shine out of your butt.”

  “Well that’s gross,” Kate said with a laugh.

  “But true, which means I’m going to leave so the two of you have a bit of time to yourselves. I’ll call you later to get all the deets so you’d better spill.”

  “Thanks,” Kate said as she ushered her friend to the front door.

  Grimm followed Olivia into her room and waited until she hopped up onto the bed. He could hear the water running as Abby brushed her teeth and Kate downstairs saying good-bye to her friend. Quickly, he knelt next to the bed and pulled the phone and charger out of his pocket. Olivia’s eyes got big when he handed them to her.

  “These are yours, now. To get a hold of me all you need to do is touch the big green button marked Call on the screen two times. My number is the only one in the phone.”

  Olivia held the phone in her hand as if it were precious. “How will you know it’s me?”

  “Why don’t you try it out?”

  She double tapped the screen and instantly the phone in his pocket began to play Believe by Cher. He pulled it out and showed the screen with her name on it to her.

  “You made it play my favorite song,” Olivia said then jumped in his arms and hugged him.

  Grimm held her tight, promising himself that he would do whatever was necessary to keep her safe. He helped her climb into bed and put Mr. Tiddles next to her then tucked the two of them in. He put the phone and charger in the little nightstand next to her bed.

  “Remember, if you need me call me. I can be here instantly.”

  “You can?” she whispered back.

  “Yep.”

  “Be careful fighting bad guys. Will you have your friends with you?”

  He thought about Reaper waiting for him. “We don’t go anywhere alone. So yeah one of my friends is waiting for me.”

  “Good.” She nodded. “You can kiss me on the forehead, now.”

  He followed her directions as Kate entered the door. He stood, and as Kate walked past him, he squeezed her hand. She smiled shyly, and he felt his world tilt. This woman was his. He knew it. They belonged to one another just as Joelle belonged with Talon and Aislinn with Charon. Now, he had to convince her of it.

  Abby was waiting for him in the hallway. He smiled at her rosebud-covered nightgown and bright pink slippers. He could easily smell the fruity hair shampoo and her freshly brushed teeth. Yeah, he’d kill anyone who dared touch any of them.

  “I’m ready for bed.”

  “I can see that. Do you need some help?”

  “If you want to help tuck me, I’d like that.”

  Grimm held her tiny hand and followed her into her bedroom. Where Olivia’s was bright colors and clutter, Abby’s room was princess pink and neat as a pin. She even had a large wood crown-looking deal over her bed with her name done on it in cursive. He helped her into bed and crouched down beside her to pull the covers up and over her.

  “Do you need anything before I tuck you?” Grimm asked.

  “You like Momma don’t you?” Abby asked quietly.

  “I really do. Is that okay?”

  “Yes, it’s okay.”

  “I like you and Olivia, too,” he told her softly. “And not because I like your mom. I like the two of you because you’re you.”

  She smiled. “I know. I can tell.”

  Grimm felt a squeeze around his heart as he looked into her face. Yep, he’d fallen for the whole bunch of them. He wouldn’t make fun of Talon and Charon any longer. He was in the same boat and was happy for it. He kissed her forehead. “Sleep well, princess.”

  “Momma and I painted my tiara and put the gems on it.”

  “It looks good.” He smiled at her as he checked her windows to make sure they were locked. “I’ll see you later.”

  “Night, Grimm.”

  He met Kate in the hallway, and the two of them walked downstairs together. He couldn’t stay long but wanted to spend time with her. If he could, of course, he’d blow off his job altogether, but he doubted anyone would understand. Okay, Talon and Charon would, but they also went out into the field when they’d rather stay with their women. So basically, he was fucked, and not in the way he wanted.

  Kate pulled him to sit by her on the couch. “I know you can’t stay long. I have to work tonight, too.”

  “You’re right, but I can stay long enough for this.” He leaned forward and claimed her lips.

  Shit, she was sweet and hot as she wrapped her arms around his neck and eased her tongue into his mouth. He pulled her so she was straddling his lap, and he slid his hands up under her shirt. Her skin was soft like silk, and he wanted nothing more than to strip her naked. He knew he couldn’t. When he made love to Kate, he wanted to take his time and savor every inch of her, and he had to talk to her before. He wanted her to understand what she was getting into with him.

  She backed away rumpled and panting. If he were a lesser man, he’d have come in his pants just looking at her.

  “You can’t stay,” she said breathlessly.

  “No, but I wish I could.”

  “Me, too.”

  He drew her in for another kiss. He loved the way she sank into his embrace as if she were totally comfortable and safe with him. She was, too. He would never hurt her, and he’d make sure no harm ever came to her.

  She ran her fingers through his hair and sucked on his tongue as he palmed both of her breasts and squeezed. She shuddered and ground herself against his erection. A beeping caught his attention, but he didn’t want to let her go. Not yet. When the sound came again, she eased away from him to look around.

  “It’s my fucking phone,” he said, teeth gritted.

  “You should get it,” she said and kissed his cheek.

  “Don’t move.” He clasped her to his chest and dug out his phone.

  She relaxed against him, resting her head on his shoulder. He wanted to stay like this for the rest of the night but knew it just wasn’t possible.

  “What?” he said into the device that he was growing to hate.

  “Sorry for the interruption,” Joelle said in his ear. “We need you back here. Reaper is already on his way.”

  “What’s going on?”

  “Just come in, okay?”

  “I’ll be there.”

  He disconnected and figured whatever was going on had to do with the wall-crawler from the other evening. Shit, he hoped somebody had some answers or at least could tell them where the blood-addicted were coming from. The faster they could deal with them, the more time he’d have to spend with Kate and the girls.

  “You have to go.”

  “And you have to get to work.”

  “Sucks to be us.”

  He totally agreed.

  * * * *

  Quenton eyed the group around him and wondered what the hell he’d been thinking. Ancients were volatile at best, and he had invited a bunch of them to sit together in a room to have a discussion. Yeah, he needed his damn head examined. While he and Lucian sat at the large conference table pretending to have a conversation, Feral, Reaper and Styx circled the room and one another.

  He really hoped when Joelle and Aislinn arrived it would bring the tension down, but he just didn’t think it would. When they showed up, they’d bring Talon and Charon, which would probably start a brawl. He knew he should have stayed hidden in his office, but he felt responsible for bringing Lucian and Feral into the group.

  “This is fun, isn’t it?” Lucian leaned toward Quenton and said sotto voce. “I can’t wait until they
bare their fangs and start flexing muscles.”

  Quenton could only laugh. He really did like the man, and the fact that he didn’t take any of the Ancients seriously just made him practically perfect.

  “Wait ‘til the others arrive,” Quenton said, rolling his eyes. “I’m sure it will get so much worse.”

  “Dude, you knew we were trying to catch one of the blood-addicted alive.” Joelle’s voice came from the hallway.

  Lucian raised an eyebrow at Quenton, but before he could say anything, another female voice answered.

  “He came at me. What was I supposed to do?”

  “Maim him. You were supposed to maim him.”

  Joelle and Aislinn walked in together, Aislinn carrying the naginata Charon had made for her. The naginata she was currently using a towel to wipe blood from.

  “I tried to, but he kind of moved a little too fast.”

  “You loped his head off and practically cut his torso in two.”

  Aislinn shrugged. “I slipped.”

  When the two women realized everyone in the room was looking at them, Aislinn put her hands on her hips. “What? It was an accident. It could have happened to anyone.”

  “Of course,” Quenton spoke into the silence. “Joelle and Aislinn this is Feral and Lucian.”

  Joelle smiled broadly and stepped forward. “Oh my gosh, it’s so nice to meet you.” She shook Lucian’s hand and waved to Feral. “Are your accommodations okay? Is everyone treating you politely?” As she said this, she sent a glare toward Styx and Reaper.

  Aislinn moved to shake hands with Lucian and noticed the blood on her fingers. “Oh, let me wash up first, but it’s really great to meet you both.” She leaned her weapon against the wall and exited the room.

  “Talon and Charon should be along in a minute as well as Grimm.” Joelle took a seat across from Quenton and Lucian.

  “Can I gather from the conversation we heard,” Lucian said, “that she hunts?”

  “Aislinn? Oh yeah, that’s how Charon met her. He trained her and now she goes out with them.” One of the Hunters made a hissing noise and Joelle turned around. “What? What’s the hiss?”

  “I think they don’t wish you to share information with us,” Lucian said.

  “Whatevs, here’s my deal—you two are here to help. If you don’t know everything, you can’t help. So, can I ask how old you are? I know you’re human, but the stuff we read tells me you are way older than you look.”

  Lucian smiled. “Oh thank goodness, there’s another one of us.”

  Quenton nodded. “Yes, she is.”

  “What?” Joelle exclaimed. “I asked a question.”

  “Exactly,” Lucian said, “you ask. You don’t dance around the subject or subtly question. You just jump right in.”

  “Cool, so how old are you? And don’t try and fib, because I know you’re from somewhere in the mid-seventeen fifties.”

  “How do you know that?” he asked, glancing back at Feral.

  “Journal,” Quenton supplied. “We have a journal that Feral kept at the time you met.”

  Lucian nodded. “We wondered where it had gotten to. But, you know, the older you get, the more things accumulate and somehow get misplaced.”

  Quenton nodded. “That’s where I come in. I try to collect and preserve as many letters and journals as I’m able. As well as keep them out of the hands of humans.”

  “Well then to answer your question I was born in seventeen twenty-nine, which makes me nearly two-hundred and eighty-five.”

  Quenton knew Lucian was old, but had no clue he was born nearly fifty years before the American Revolution. The idea that a human had survived as long as he had was astounding. What kind of power did the Ancient/Liaison bond have when it could halt a human’s natural aging cycle?

  “Did no one tell you?” Lucan direction his question at Joelle.

  “Tell me what?”

  “When an Ancient and human bond, you don’t die,” he said, matter-of-factly. “As long as Feral lives then I live and vice versa.”

  “I’ve never met anyone else bonded to an Ancient. Okay, that’s not true, Aislinn is, but Talon and I were first. So really, she doesn’t count. We’re really new at this.”

  “Oh,” Lucian said in surprise. “Well, don’t you worry, I can fill you in on all the gory details. I will tell you everything I can.”

  “Good, because, dude, we stumble from day-to-day without a clue on what’s going on.”

  Quenton relaxed a bit. Finally, they were going to get answers. He hated not knowing what to tell Joelle or Aislinn when they came to him with questions. He felt he should be able to help them, but with nothing in the library, they were literally flying blind.

  Talon and Grimm entered the room, followed by Kenshin. Quenton rose and began to introduce everyone. Lucian bubbled with personality as he greeted each person while Feral, as with all Ancients, nodded coolly. Joelle pulled the chair out beside her for Talon, but he ignored it as he picked her up and sat down with her in his lap.

  “Really?” She eyed him.

  “Your fucking cat knocked over the flowers I brought you. The vase broke and water went everywhere.”

  She shook her head. “That cat is a total assface. Oh, and he’s our cat, honey, not just mine. He’s like our baby.”

  “Yeah, well, if he doesn’t straighten up, I’m going to hang him by his tail from the light fixture,” Talon pronounced darkly.

  Joelle laughed. “No, you won’t. I see how he snuggles up on your chest at night. He loves you.”

  Quenton couldn’t even imagine Talon allowing anything to curl up with him, much less the cat. He’d mellowed some since bonding with Joelle, but no one would call him cuddly. Except Joelle, he imagined, but didn’t want to speculate on their relationship. He was just getting to the point that he could stand to be in the same room with Talon. If he thought about their relationship too hard he’d probably break out into hives and puke.

  Finally, Aislinn reappeared with Charon. She was slightly out of breath, and her hair flowed around her instead of tucked back in her normal braid.

  “Wow,” Joelle said, “your hands must have been so dirty.”

  Aislinn rolled her eyes and tossed her the finger. Quenton knew Joelle loved giving Aislinn a hard time since Aislinn hadn’t had friends before Charon had brought her to live with them. Joelle told him she was trying to get in all the friend teasing Aislinn had missed out on and pointed out that he should tease her, too.

  Kenshin closed the door and took the seat at the head of the conference table. “As everyone is aware, Feral and Lucian have come a very long way to see if they can assist us in understanding the Ancient/Liaison relationship.”

  “I thought they were here about the blood cult, too,” Joelle spoke up.

  Kenshin gave her an icy glare. “That is an internal matter, which we will deal with.”

  “How do you propose we deal with it?” Quenton asked. “When we don’t know what’s going on? I was also under the impression that Feral and Lucian were to be brought up to speed.”

  “The two of you over-step your bounds,” Kenshin spoke slowly. “I would suggest you drop it.”

  “No,” Talon said. “I know Feral. He can be trusted.”

  Feral gave a small nod as Kenshin looked back and forth between the two men.

  Quenton also studied them both then gave a short laugh. “You two are related.”

  Chapter Seven

  Quenton knew he should have seen it earlier. He was observant, but all the emotions flying around the room had distracted him. Feral gave a brief smile as Talon nodded. “Cousins, on my father’s side. It’s been awhile, though.”

  “It’s been…what? A hundred years?” Feral said.

  Talon nodded. “Perhaps a bit more.”

  “Where was I?” Lucian asked.

  “Sleeping quite well as I remember. We’d had an adventuresome evening.” Feral almost growled the last part of the sentence as Lucian blushed. />
  “Ah, yes.” Lucian cleared his throat and smiled at Talon. “Nice to finally meet you.”

  “So, now can we talk?” Joelle asked.

  Kenshin sighed. “Yes, but please do not discuss with anyone what is heard in this room.”

  “Yeah, cause you Hunters are all yap yap yap, all the time,” Aislinn said.

  “It’s got to be them since I am certain Kenshin would never insinuate that we go around talking indiscriminately.” Joelle glanced over at the director. “Right?”

  “Just nod and agree,” Grimm advised. “It’s so much safer that way.”

  Kenshin closed his eyes for a long moment, and Joelle took the opportunity to smile at Aislinn and Quenton. Yes, they all drove Kenshin crazy, but really, he needed it. The man was too uptight by far. And there weren’t enough people around to give him shit. Normally, others bowed and scraped when he addressed them, though Quenton had refrained. He just didn’t see the reason, truly. And from what he could see, it was never going to happen with the people currently sitting in the room.

  “Blood cult?” Lucian prompted.

  “There’s a group of vampires that are drinking human blood,” Kenshin said. “It’s not a random incident. They seem to be organized and have, somehow, gained inside information. They attempted to kidnap Joelle and Aislinn but obviously failed. We believe an Ancient is somehow involved.”

  “Blood cults, unfortunately, aren’t anything new,” Feral said. “There are instances of them popping up throughout our history, but the number of vampires is small since it’s not a secret that regular vamps can’t handle human blood.”

  “Yeah, but what did they do before the blood substitute came out?” Aislinn asked.

  “Vampires can drink a minute amount of human blood,” he replied, “or at least, they used to. Most would partake perhaps twice to three times a month at most. Anything beyond that and they got sick. As with any group there are the ones who think they are immune so they try to drink more.”

  “What about Tomas?” Joelle asked. “When I first met him, he’d sealed a wound on someone’s neck. He had to have had some blood.”