C ole is quite insistent that we don’t make love that night, wanting me to rest after all my drama. I’m touched, but also annoyed, as I want him. But after the last two days, I could do with a break, so I don’t protest too much. We are set to fly to New York first thing in the morning, being 6 AM due to the time difference again. The gods. I’m so sick of time zones, I want to puke, but refrain and try to behave for the rest of our time in L.A. Cole is sliding slightly, I can see. I know it's because I haven’t been here, and I scold myself for not being there for him. I stay with him for his feeds and he is happy with that arrangement. I feel awful as I know if Constantine had left me as I have done to Cole, I would have been floundering at a total loss. I am a bad sire and a bad wife and that makes me feel even worse than I already do.
As a result, I don’t stray far from his side, so he is content. But because of that Devon and I haven’t had a chance to talk about what happened at CK’s castle. I know he is dying to understand it, but he will just have to wait. Cole is my priority now.
Back on the G6 on Friday morning at the crack of dawn, we all drag our feet, sick of this bloody jet and yet here we are again. I apologize to my boys, so loyal, for coming with me. They are gracious, as expected.
“Still no clue?” Devon asks.
“Nope. All I know is, it’s a Council thing. Hope I get more info when we are on the ground than that. I might be new, but I could kick all of their arses, if I wanted to,” I grumble.
“Really?” Devon asks. I smile at him mysteriously. “Oh really!” he says with delight picking up on my subtle confidence. “Ooo, I think I like badass Lizzie.”
I grin at him but don’t say any more. There will be plenty of time for that after I have gotten rid of Eloise and Gregor.
We take off, then the onboard phone rings. Devon answers and passes it to me wordlessly.
“Yes?” I snap.
“You are on your way, yes?” It’s CK, as oblivious as ever to my mood.
“Obviously, as you called the jet’s phone,” I grump at him.
He snorts. “I’m sorry we have been so secretive, my love. I will tell you everything once you are here.”
“Well, I’m pissed that you three all already know, and I still sit on the outside like some kind of…outsider,” I finish up lamely.
“There is a reason, my love. I promise I will tell you everything when I see you in a couple of hours.”
“Humph,” I mutter as I hang up on him to my own delight. Short-lived though, as I still don’t know what’s going on.
“Well?” Devon asks.
“Fuck knows. We have to wait apparently. I’m still not one of the ‘inner circle.’” I’m seriously pissed and so is my She-Power. I drum my fingers on the table in agitation. Devon claps his hand down on mine. I smile as he picks up my hand, peering closely at my ring.
“It’s beautiful,” he says softly. “Must be five or six million dollars?” At my look, he says, “Seven?” He’s impressed but Cole grunts unhappily and stares out of the window. “Well, it’s not like he can’t afford it, but I’m surprised. I don’t think he’s ever given you anything of this magnitude. What’s the occasion?” Devon asks.
Glaring at him to shut up, I just shrug and say vaguely, “You know, fourth member…”
Clearly though, Cole knows what it really is, despite my denial, but to my relief he doesn’t say anything. The less people who know about this arrangement the better.
L anding at JFK, we all rush to the exit trying to get off first. I am the winner of that race and gratefully descend the steps. Nico meets us on the tarmac and drives us off to the Four Seasons. We are booked into a suite on the top floor and the ride up is interminable.
Stepping off the elevator and into the sitting room of the suite, I’m annoyed that everyone is already sitting there like they own the place. CK, Gregor, Eloise, Nico’s team and James (yuck), who flashes his baby blues at me with a wicked grin and asks, “Been a while since I’ve seen this place, eh Lex? Good times.”
Eloise sends me a scathing look. I scowl at him, however I have a momentary heated flashback of 1995, when he came to see me here. We embarked on the second of our two passionate affairs that night, but it ended in tears again two years later when he left me – again, because his Mistress ordered him to. By his Mistress, I mean that in the sense of the woman who dominates him. The woman he submits to in everything, sexual and non-sexual. His Mistress being, of course: Eloise. It’s no wonder why I hate this woman so much. She has been nothing but cruel to me and I cannot wait to see her punished.
“Lex? Who is Lex?” Cole asks, bringing me out of my very fiery flashback. James’s eyes are on mine as he smirks at me, clearly remembering that night as well.
“Lexie was who I was, here in New York before we went to L.A. and I became Liv,” I say absently, feeling somewhat flushed, ignoring James and Eloise and focusing on my sire.
“Well? I snap rudely to everyone in the room, “How come I am the last to know?”
CK comes over to me and kisses me, not so innocently. He takes my right hand and fingers the ring. “Good,” he murmurs.
“How come James gets to know this secret befor
e me?” I whine. I don’t care that I sound like a spoiled brat.
“He doesn’t know anything yet. He only just got here,” CK says patiently. “And it’s not so much a secret, more of a caution.”