Part 9 (1/2)
”Okay, so I didn't tell you,” Valdemar said as he stood before her.
”You should have.” It was not a small detail that he should have left out. It was life- changing stuff and to forget to mention it was dramatic.
”Would it have made a difference?”
”Well...yes...no...I don't know, but the thing is you should have told me, prince.”
Valdemar raked his hand through his hair. ”You are the most frustrating woman, Aureliann.”
She rolled her eyes at his words. ”You're no walk in the park either. Besides, if you love me as you say you do, then you'll put up with me.” Aureliann was aware how totally selfish that came across but his news had caught her off-guard.
”As will you.”
They stared at each other. Both wrong, both right and both in love and apt to say or not say something they should.
”I'm sorry, lovely.”
The look in his eyes made her melt. Valdemar was so d.a.m.n s.e.xy and sweet. Aureliann found it impossible to remain angry with him. ”Well...”
”I was scared you would not come.”
Before they left Brisbane she had suggested inviting the vampires they had met along to aid them in the upcoming struggle with Victor.
”No need for that. We have a strong power base in Serawych,” Valdemar had said.
”But Marlow and Asher seem pretty switched on and-”
Valdemar interrupted Aureliann. ”They may not be able to go back, lovely.”
She had stood gobsmacked as he explained in some cases people from other worlds had been trapped in Serawych. Apparently, as dimensions went, it was sometimes reluctant to let travelers pa.s.sing through leave. Aureliann may not have come with him if she had known there was the chance she would not get back home.
She looked at Valdemar. Despite his momentary lapse, the man was strong, smart and loving. So where was home now? In Brisbane or with him?
”What?” He reached for her hand and linked it with his own.
”I don't know.” I thought I used to know stuff but more and more I am out of my depth.
Valdemar pulled her to him. ”It will work out.”
Aureliann knew she should have been more upset at him but she was helpless to do anything but mold herself to the heat from his hard body.
”It had better.” She stopped when she realized how that sounded. Aureliann did not want to come across as a harpy but she was scared of not being in control. She seemed to be losing it a lot with Valdemar around.
”I'm sorry, Val.” Aureliann reached up and stroked his face.
He caught her hand and kissed it. ”Lovely, you never have to be sorry. d.a.m.n...”
”What? Did I stand on your toe or something?”
”When you call me Val and look at me that way...”
Aureliann knew what he meant. There was a fierce hunger for him that she doubted would ever be quenched. ”You have to go do prince stuff, remember? The whole 'save your people and the kingdom'.” A week ago that statement would have made her snort in amus.e.m.e.nt. It was so soap opera. And yet I seem to have walked into one.
”Yes, I do.” Valdemar's mouth descended onto hers and kissed her with the hot, needy pa.s.sion of a man in love.
They walked out to the forecourt of the castle. Aureliann had not seen much of her surroundings but what she had seen was mind-boggling. The building they were in was a huge gothic castle set on the rise of a hill.
The city below seemed to spread out for miles. She had to admit she was eager to further scope out new surroundings.
”Wow.” She watched in amazement as what seemed like a battalion of elves stood ready, waiting to serve the heir to throne.
”They are very loyal men.” The original three elves who Aureliann had taken to calling Bob, Bill and Binky appeared. ”They will look after you.”
Aureliann liked these men and enjoyed battling wits with them. ”What do you do?” She arched her eyebrows and looked at them with mock interest. ”Bite people's ankles if they attack? Maybe gnaw on an enemy's toe?”
”You're a b.i.t.c.h,” one of them retorted with a reluctant smile.
”But we kind of like you,” another one added.
”Ah, you're just saying that to get on my good side.” It was nice to have someone other than Valdemar in this strange land. While she loved him, she knew he had his duties to perform. She expected no less of him.
But having someone else to talk to, albeit a challenge, was a bonus.
”Maybe we are, maybe we aren't.”
Aureliann put her hands on her hips and looked down at them. ”Listen, don't try to do inscrutable with me.” They stamped their feet. She stamped hers back. ”You're not going to rattle me, lads. I'm a bigger pain in the b.u.t.t than all three of you combined.”
Valdemar shook his head in amused confusion. ”Are you all going to play nice?” ”The gnomes-I mean elves-and I are just having some fun.” Aureliann stuck out her tongue at them.
”Yeah, she'll be fine with us, your highness.” All the elves nodded. ”We'll show her where she can swim in the tar pits and maybe let her play in the snake house-”
”Oh boy,” Valdemar murmured in concern. ”Maybe I had better stay.”
Aureliann put her hand on his arm. ”Bill, Bob, Binky and I will be fine, Val.” She leaned in and kissed him, savoring the taste of pure male on her lips.
”Oooh Val,” the elves all cooed in girly-sounding voices as they made smooching noises and hugged themselves. Aureliann pushed him away. As she watched him go, she wanted him back already. Yeah, I'm in love. She turned to the trio. And I have smart-a.s.s elves. What more could a girl want?
Valdemar did walk away but stopped and turned back to stand behind a pillar. While he trusted the elves, if anything happened to Aureliann it would kill him. He smiled as he heard Aureliann's voice.
”So, do you lads have girlfriends?”
Valdemar smiled. Few people understood elves straight away but she did. Elves liked to test people.
They came across as nasty and a pain in the a.s.s to some. But others, like Aureliann, understood right from the start that it was all an act on their part. Once an elf gave you loyalty, it was forever. Valdemar admired her more than he could put into words. He had given her the shock of her life and yet here she was ready to stand beside him and face whatever would come.