Cole runs a hand through his hair, causing it to stick up in that adorable way and he bangs his fist on the steering wheel. “We?” he growls, followed closely by, “Christ, Liv! You should have told me,” he yells. “I feel now that you just did it for your own purposes.”
Abruptly, he pulls off the road and slams on the brakes. “Fuck!” he yells.
I give him a minute to calm down. I don’t blame him for being angry with me; he has every right to be pissed.
“Dev, give us a minute?” I ask after a few moments.
“Most definitely,” he says and jumps out gratefully.
I pull Cole’s face into my hands and I glare at him for his insubordination. He instantly relaxes and apologizes, “I’m sorry, this is all so new. This is what I was talking about the other night. The politics.” He drops his face into his hands, the bond is making him feel guilty for yelling at me.
“Hey,” I say, pulling his face back to mine. “I’m sorry. I love you. I want to be with you, now, like this, regardless of whatever else is going on. That fact hasn’t changed. I wanted to keep you safe. I’m sorry. I should have told you.”
He sighs heavily. “I know. I just wish you could have trusted me.” He leans his forehead against mine. “I love you,” he murmurs.
“I love you, Cole. More than you will ever know,” I reply, knowing that this is only the tip of the iceberg with regard to my secrets. I need him to know how much I love him before I turn around and hurt him again.
He smiles and turns into me for reassurance and we are all right again. For now.
Devon interrupts us by jumping back into the car. “Minute's up. Let’s roll,” he says.
We both glare at him, but oblige, nonetheless. All of us will be happier once we are back at the hotel and out of this damn car.
“Why does that Councilwoman hate you so much?” Cole asks.
I grimace not eager to share. Eloise and I have a bad history. She is obscenely jealous of my relationship with CK and our various encounters have not endeared her to me in the slightest. I recount the tale of our first meeting that even Devon hasn’t heard, but then he’s never had reason to ask. He has never had the pleasure of seeing Eloise and I snarling at each other before.
Caen, Normandy, 1066 – Aefre
T he first time I met Eloise was in 1066. William II, Duke of Normandy, was to set sail to England to claim the throne from Harold Godwinson. Constantine was to join the fight, ever the warrior, my sire, in an effort to hold onto his land and Castel in the duchy and to also keep an ally in William, who was also a good friend. I was terrified that something would happen to him, but he assured me no harm would come to him, being what he was, what we were.
That night in September before the fleet was due to leave, was the night Eloise turned up. Constantine and I were at his Castel, which I had named Castel Gradile. We were in bed at the time, when she barged into his bedchamber like she owned the place.
Casting her bright green eyes at us, she raised her eyebrow at our indelicate position. Me, on my hands and knees, with Constantine pounding into me from behind. I was certainly no stranger to all manner of sexual positions now after fifty-four years of being my sire’s Vampire, but this was, however, my first time with someone watching us. Constantine didn’t seem to mind though as he acknowledged her presence but continued pounding away until he was done. I didn’t finish, for the first time since we’ve been together, and that unsettled me. Eloise, on the other hand, seemed delighted by my lack of satisfaction. “She obviously doesn’t know of your proclivities, my dear. Perhaps we could show her how it’s done?” she drawled.
He glared at her as he dressed, clearly unashamed to be naked in front of her. “Leave her be,” he growled.
“On the contrary, she is a pretty little thing. Wherever did you find her?” she asked and then paused and said, “Ah, wait, let me guess…the land you mean to conquer tomorrow?” She raised her perfect eyebrows at me sitting motionless on the bed. She moved towards him and placed her delicate hands on his bare chest. My heart thudded and I inhaled sharply with jealousy stabbing at me. She cast her gaze back to me with a cruel smile, enjoying my envy. Seconds passed, but finally he pushed her away.
“Enough,” he growled. “Go and find someone else to play with.”
She laughed, a sweet tinkling sound, which was in contrast to the vicious mouth it came out of. “You know I would rather play with you,” she said seductively.
“Go now, before I make you go,” he said mildly.
She grinned, thrilled with his dominance over her and bowed her head in submission. “As you wish, my lord. Be sure to come and find me when you are done with this one. I will give you a proper send off, in the way I know you like,” she murmured, and sent a wicked glance my way as she flicked her auburn hair over her shoulder and left.
“Who is that?” I asked my sire in pained tones. “Another one of…yours?”
He sneered and replied, “Who, Eloise? No, that bitch has nothing to do with me. Have no fear, my love, she is just trying to make you jealous, as she herself is jealous that my affections are towards you.” He tried but failed to reassure me.
“But who is she?” I pressed.
He sighed and said, “Eloise Delacourt, she is an Initial Vampire and a member of The Council.”
“I see. Are you and she…?” I trailed off, unable to complete the sentence.
He looked puzzled for a moment, but then he realized what I was trying to ask. “No! No, my sweet. She is interested, but I am not. I despise her, but sadly I am stuck with her. Please stop these thoughts. I love you. You are mine and I am yours. Always and forever.” He kissed me sweetly, deeply, and I wanted to believe him. He set sail for England the next day, but unbeknownst to him, I was also aboard the ship, unable to be apart from him, for even a second. The next time I saw Eloise, she was half naked with my sire in 1112 and I ran.