Page 66 of Love Lives
A shiver went down Aldrich's spine, because he knew that look. It was the same way he looked at the peoplehewas about to kill. A predator's gaze.
Someone called his name, spurring him into action. If he could just get back to Remy and the others... they would have an escape plan, right? He whipped around and ran. At least, he tried to run. Something was holding him in place. It wasn't like the spell Remy had unleashed before. It was more... forceful than that. Aldrich's paws moved, but he wasn't getting anywhere.
Vlad closed up to him.
Still, Aldrich tried to move. Because he had to. Hehadto get away. He wasnotgoing to die yet.
Or maybe he was. Maybe there was no getting out of this. Aldrich's heart stopped in his chest as a cold certainty settled over him. This was it. Time to breathe his last breath.
Automatically, his gaze sought Remy. He was still with Talon, and next to him, Collin. Collin who was holding a hand out to Vlad. Something about that sight seemed familiar, though Aldrich couldn't quite place it now.
Not until a blinding white light shot out of Collin's fingers, whooshing over Aldrich's head and targeting Vlad. Aldrich didn't know if it hit, all he knew was, he could move again. He didn't waste any time thinking about the how’s and whys. He sprinted toward Talon. Everyone was huddling together now, around a weirdly shaped stone that Puck was holding out.
"Touch it," someone hissed into his ear.
Aldrich didn't have to be told twice. His paw touched the stone and the next moment, he was transported away.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
When Aldrich foundhimself on solid ground again, he was standing on the lawn in front of the large house where he'd first met Remy. Back when Zenon had still been alive. Before this whole mess had escalated. There was no time for him to waste thoughts on the old days, though. Casting his gaze around, he took stock of everyone. Aside from Caspar, nobody seemed injured--and Talon was still carrying Remy.
Aldrich rushed over to his partner.
"He's only sleeping," Talon said.
"Fainting seems to be a dhampir thing," Puck added.
Aldrich glared at Puck, but didn't say anything. If that witch hadn't put all sorts of silly ideas into Remy's head...
"We need to get settled in the house," Collin announced. "And we need to examine Caspar."
Right. Aldrich glanced at the other witch again. The man was awake, but he was gonna take some very visible battle scars away from this event. And what for? In the end, they'd had to give up their hideout anyway.
Once he was certain that Remy would be fine with Talon, Aldrich left the others to take care of Caspar and decided to explore the house instead. This was where he'd first killed another vampire. He remembered that moment well. It wasn't something he was proud of, but nothing that caused him a great deal of grief either. He and Betram had never gotten along very well. He wouldn't have offed the guy without a reason, but for Talon? It was a small favor.
Besides, this was also where he’d first met Remy. He grinned to himself, considering the sight he must have made with another vampire’s blood on his face.
Moving on, Aldrich found Remy's room easily. It was the one with all the recipe books on the shelves. Not only recipe books, though. There were gardening magazines too, and a French dictionary. A book on how to keep chickens lay on the desk. The drawers were filled with clutter. Pens, tape, highlighters, paper clips, old receipts, even older birthday cards… and no small amount of valentine’s cards, shoved to the very bottom. Aldrich examined one of them, then dropped it into the empty trash can next to the desk before taking in the rest of the room.
A fishing pole stood in the corner, gathering dust. Two posters hung on the walls. One showed a brown bear catching fish in a stream. The other was the movie poster of the originalJurassic Park. Aldrich liked that one better.
A framed photograph of an elderly woman sat on the bedside table. Aldrich studied it for a moment, then opened the bedside drawer. He wasn't surprised to find Remy didn't keep lube and condoms around. Something that would have to change.
He fished around in his own coat pocket for a pack of condoms and deposited them in the drawer before closing it again. A small gift for Remy. Aldrich wasn't sure it would be appreciated, but if Remy chose to glare at him instead, that would be fine too.
A smile stole on Aldrich's face just at the thought of Remy's glare cutting into him. Yeah, he had issues, but whatever. It wasn't his fault that Remy was hot when he was mad.
Done with his explorations, Aldrich wandered back downstairs again to find that Talon had set Remy down on the couch in the living room. Aldrich shoved his arms under his back and knees and lifted his sleeping beauty up.
"What are you doing?" Collin asked.
"Gonna take him back to his room." He studied Collin quietly for a second. "You got an issue with that?" Aldrich didn't exactly need Collin's blessing, but he was curious to see what the younger mortal would say, anyway. He and Aldrich had been off to a bit of an unfortunate start. Aldrich didn't think that Collin held a grudge against him for what he'd done under Zenon's orders, but being kidnapped left a lasting impression on most people.
"No issue," Collin said. "As long as he doesn't have an issue with it."
Aldrich's lips twitched up. "He doesn't need you to watch out for him."
Collin shrugged. "Just saying. I've never known him to be into guys."
