Prima

Chapter Thirteen

Suitcases lined the wall to the front entrance. Daedalus wished this trip had turned out differently for the shifters, but deep inside he would never regret what he’d done to Sugar. He’d show her that being a vampire wasn’t all bad.

Sam sat in a foyer chair, his head hanging, while Robert and Esther went over their list of equipment. Clementine still slept since it was late afternoon.

The Vasi and Daedalus had taken a nap after caring for Pallas, who rested in the basement.

“Sir, I’d rather not go.” Stephen set his backpack next to the luggage. He kept his distance from the other shifters, a frown on his face. “I can stay in a motel close by if you really don’t want me on the grounds.”

Robert gave Daedalus a look over the younger shifter’s head. He was beta in the Vasi pack, which meant second-in-command. Omega shifters held a soft spot in his heart, and he collected them like trinkets. Except Stephen wasn’t an omega, he was a stray. They could be dangerous and unpredictable. One day Daedalus would earn enough of Stephen’s trust and hear his story. Until then the stray had a home with Daedalus’s nest. Maybe he should listen to Stephen and let him stay in the area, but the look Robert tossed him said he would fight him on this.

With a small gesture, he drew Stephen closer and whispered, “Stay close to them. I’m not sure how the pack will react when they find out what I’ve done to Sugar. I could use your help.” Three birds, one stone. Stephen would be safe, he’d have objective ears in Chicago, and with a little luck Stephen might like the Vasi.

Who was he kidding? It would take a lot of luck.

The young shifter glared at the others. “Fine.”

Daedalus had found Stephen half-starved and partially wild a year before he met Sugar. The young shifter had been his groundskeeper since then. Daedalus had no doubt where his loyalty lay.

Robert shook his hand. “Take care. Call or we’ll have to come back uninvited.” He gathered his and Esther’s bags.

She gave Daedalus a fierce hug. “Don’t lose her.”

He didn’t plan to, but every great general lost a battle at some point.

Sam came last. He couldn’t look Daedalus in the eye. “I know why you did this, but she won’t be happy. Don’t let her do anything stupid.” Sam’s attachment to Sugar had always rubbed Daedalus raw. Friendship between opposite sexes wasn’t tolerated until modern time. It was difficult to teach old vampires new tricks.

He nodded, unable to answer. If he could, he’d lock her in his bedroom for eternity, but that bordered on psychotic. They would have to find a balance. Giving the shifters his best false smile, he left the foyer before they opened the repaired front door. He didn’t need to add getting flash fried by the setting sun to his list of problems.

The bedroom where Sugar still slept loomed at the end of the hallway. Temptation to crawl into bed next to her warred with duty to guard everyone’s rest. Maybe he should have kept Stephen on the grounds after all. That would have been selfish, and he’d done his best to change that habit. Transforming Sugar was a slipup.

How convoluted his life had become since meeting her. Not a night passed where he regretted it though. That might change once she awoke.

A bang echoed in the house. The Vasi had left the building and closed the front door.

His gaze traveled to the armor decorating the walls, and his smile grew wider. He should prepare for her to regain consciousness.

As if an alarm clock had gone off in her head, Sugar jerked awake and blinked at her surroundings. She wasn’t in the library anymore. What the hell? The last thing she remembered was hitting Daedalus. The ass must have pulled a Jedi mind trick on her and put her to sleep.

Grinding her teeth, she kicked the blankets off. Her new fangs nicked her bottom lip, and she gasped at the sudden sting. She fingered the sore spot, and it came away with blood.

“They take some getting used to.” Daedalus sat across the room.

Lasering her gaze in his direction, she scowled. “You have some explaining to do. Can you manage it without placing me under a sleep spell?” She reached for her cane and jerked her hand back when it met air. It must still be in the library. Being able to move like normal again would take some getting used to.

She sat on the edge of the bed with ease and tugged her negligee over her thighs. He must have changed her clothes while she slept. A shiver shook her shoulders. The idea of being so vulnerable and easily manipulated didn’t sit well.

“Sugar—”

“Shut up.” The command popped out. Daedalus’s hurt expression still managed to bother her even after he’d betrayed her wishes. She bit back the apology on the tip of her tongue.

He rose from his seat wearing metal armor across his chest. A brightly colored shield rested against his chair as he set a helm on his head.

Sugar crossed her arms. “Are you expecting trouble?” Damn him for looking so devastating in that stupid costume. All he needed was a sword to complete it. She assessed him further. He didn’t wear any weapons, only armor.

With a snort, he shook his head. “You.” He gave her a weary smile. “I thought you’d wake up ready to smite me.”

“The thought has crossed my mind.” She sighed. “Your outfit is overkill though. I can’t hurt you. You're too strong.”

“When you were human, yes. Only time will tell how strong you’ll become. I’ve no idea what clan you’re from.” He rubbed his chin. “I should have asked the vampire before killing him. It won’t be hard to find out.”

She gasped, and her stomach rolled at the memory of the blood in her mouth. “You mean you’re not the one who did it?”

Daedalus moved toward her, his face grave. “I’ve explained before, I can’t transform a human, only vampire males. I would have killed you.”

Something snapped inside her chest. “I’m already dead!”

He retreated as if her shout had physically pushed him.

She jumped to her feet and stalked after him. “You broke your promise.” Setting her hands on his metallic chest, she shoved. “You knew I didn’t want to cross over. What gives you the right?” She shoved him again.

Hot tears rolled down her cheeks. She wiped them away, and her hands came away blood-tinged. With a cry of frustration, she launched at him. Fists banged against cold metal and bare cheek. She didn’t care where her strikes landed.

An arm snaked around her waist and lifted her from Daedalus. “Easy, Prima. Daedalus only means well.” Pallas set her back on the bed. He twisted to confront the vampire who had betrayed her most principal wish. “Why are you dressed like a Roman? Don't tell me they're still around.”

Daedalus shrugged. “I hoped it would put a smile on her face. It worked for a second.” The despair in his eyes tugged at her heart. “If she tried to stake me, I don’t think I’d have the will to stop her.” He knocked on the chest plate.

“I don’t know where my cane is, so I can’t stake you.” She jumped to her feet, but Pallas blocked her path. She couldn’t see past his back. “Get out of my way.”

Pallas glanced over his shoulder at her with an icy glare. Half-healed bruises and cuts marred his rugged face. He’d taken those injuries for her.

She cleared her throat. “Please.” Daedalus wouldn’t hurt her, but she wasn’t so sure about Pallas. Funny how her fury was focused on the one person who loved her unconditionally. That was what hurt her the most. She had trusted Daedalus.

The tight ball of rage inside of her kept exploding each time her gaze landed on him. With him in the room, she couldn’t think straight. “You need to leave.” She dropped her head in her hands. “I need to clear my head.”

She listened to the creak of metal and leather as he moved toward the door.

“Pallas, stay with her.”

“No.” She refused to look at either of them. An odd shame tore her apart. “Out, both of you.” She understood Daedalus had turned her because he couldn’t let her go. She’d often feared he’d do this, especially after the stroke, but when she’d had the cardiac arrest in the ICU, Spice told her Daedalus hadn’t attempted to change her.

She cringed. He hadn’t the means to change her at the time. He needed another vampire to do it for him. Was that truly the reason why she had remained human and why he’d been so adamant about Clementine moving in with them afterwards?

The ache in her chest grew so strong she wanted to vomit. Could a vampire die of a broken heart? She’d soon find out.

Daedalus’s heavy footfalls followed Pallas.

She twisted in time to meet her lover’s gaze before he left the room. “You’ll need to feed soon,” he said, then closed the door.