Essence (Nectar 3)

She nodded, “So we can find out why I’m being a bitch?”

He caressed her face and smiled. What he didn’t do was disagree with her statement.

“Are you worried about him?” she asked.

“Not really. I’ve dug around. He has a good rep. Highly respected. Blood that’s bluer than blue. He’s rumoured to be over 400 years old but no confirmation on that. No red flags coming up. He’s stepped back from a few councils in recent years. He was really active in Europe for decision-making but has been quiet the last 30-35 years.”

“What about his strengths?”

“Very little known about that but he’s rumoured to be extremely strong. Telepathic. Has Telekinesis.”

“You’ve got those, too.”

“Uh huh.”

“But you’re not an elder.”

“Nope.”

“Hmm. Wonder what you’ll be like in 400 years.”

He made a funny face and she felt something coming off him that wasn’t pleasant.

He cleared his broody expression and said, “So, I’m thinkin’ that Sam bought some redemption helping me out with you. Maybe I take a little leap of faith with him and his sister, have a conversation or two, at least. Contingency plans, of course.”

“Of course.”

“Sasha promised us privacy, house next door to hers, quiet part of the island where no other vamps visit. We stay there a few days over this weekend, feel things out. And then you and me come back, I have a big meeting mid-week next week back here. We have a chat when we get home about how we feel.”

“That sounds good.” It felt good to be involved in the decision-making process, not simply being told what’d happen.

“Alright.”

“So, we’ll head out tomorrow. I have a few meetings and then we’ll go. Can you pack for us?”

“Okay,” she gave him a squeeze, “Um…do you think I’m gonna get my period?”

He shook his head, “I’m not sure but you haven’t ovulated again. At least not that I’ve noticed.”

“I don’t know if all that’s changed now,” she said, “But these mood swings feel like PMS.”

He let out a big breath, “I don’t know, baby. We’ll get to the island and see what Sergey says. I feel you again so I can only hope I still have the ability to detect ovulation. Your first period with me came without warning, though, other than those cramps but you were on all that birth control. Do you have cramps?”

“No.”

He shrugged, “We have the panic room. We’ll use it if things get scary. You have that dagger. Use it on me if you need to, jab me and get locked in the panic room. If you have to leave the apartment because I can get into the room then you jab me, go, get in my Escalade and drive to the Four Seasons down the road and check in there into the Kovac corporate suite. I set that up when we had the banquet so it’s open for us whenever we need it. I’ll add your name to the list. Then I know where you are. Okay? Maybe you oughta wear that dagger. We’ll get you a belt sheath on our way to the island and a leg holster for it, too. I’ll also get you an untraceable credit card for emergencies. That way you’ve got the means to be safe without anyone knowing your movements. The concierge for this building will have information about you, will know to let you in if you ever need to get in. I’ll get you a card and we’ll leave a double here, in the panic room.”

“Okay.”

This was good. She felt relief. Strategy and forward motion was good. Hopefully things wouldn’t go wrong again.

His phone rang. It was sitting on the coffee table. She glanced at the screen.

It said “Taryn calling.”

Tristan glared at the phone and then rejected the call.

“What’s up with her?” Kyla muttered, feeling a chill.

“I sent her home after things went bad. I haven’t talked to her.”

“You don’t call her mother, mom?”

He looked at her blankly.

“It says Taryn on the phone, not Mom.”

“Not since I turned her and she ceased to be that person.”

Kyla gave him a squeeze, “Wanna talk about what she was like before?”

“No, she’s gone. I fucked that up.”

“But what if Sasha can…”

“Don’t.”

“Don’t?”

“I can’t hope. Not right now. I have too much to do, to keep you safe, figure out how to handle things for us. She’s not on radar other than keeping her away from us. She makes me lose focus, makes me irrational. I can’t…”

“Okay.”

Maybe he couldn’t hope but Kyla could. She’d hope for him. Kyla hoped that somehow Sasha could synthesize whatever in Kyle’s blood turned off the evil in female vampires and that Tristan could have his mother again.-11-They were back on the island.

And it was beautiful, traveling to it on a boat with Tristan, after another chartered flight, of course.

Kyla loved the ride, loved the idea that good things could be coming. She hoped her instincts were right. Her instincts told her something good was on the horizon and that maybe someday soon they could have some adventure. Adventure that didn’t come with looking over their shoulders all the time.