His stance didn’t change, but his perfect lips curved into a delicious smile. His eyes copied the stars, glinting spots of a sizzling sparkle. “Whatever you need.”
I nodded, surprised I didn’t get a little more fight out of him. I carefully moved back through the attic, and Jonah followed. He was forced to stoop to avoid hitting his head against the sloped ceiling. I hesitated, rocking from the balls of my feet to the base of my heels as the reason for his vague response occurred to me. Whirling around, I positioned my mouth next to his earlobe, and for once, not having to stand on my tiptoes to meet his face, I whispered, “Ruadhan’s listening, isn’t he.”
Pressing his palm against my cheek, gently moving my hair back, he murmured in my ear, “Yup.”
His breath tickled my bare neck and a tingle rippled the full length of my spine. I couldn’t help returning his naughty grin, but I tried to disguise it by rolling my eyes at him and carried on down the stairs, being careful not to lose my balance.
Ruadhan stood waiting in the kitchen, a glass of orange juice poured for me. “You look fresh, love, the sleep did you good. We were worried about you, but Gabriel said to let you sleep. I hope you don’t mind, he asked me to leave you with the chess set.”
I nodded and chugged the juice, realizing how thirsty I was.
He gestured to follow him into the living room and presented me with the wall-mounted flat screen, pulling out a drawer full of DVDs. “So, we’ll be here awhile. Gabriel thinks it’s best if you stay in the house and on the grounds. But don’t worry, there’s plenty of grub, drink, and movies to keep you occupied!” He scratched his stubble almost apologetically.
I looked over his shoulder at Jonah, who winked at me, as if to say not to worry about it.
“Thanks, but I’ll decide what’s best for me from now on. Gabriel is thousands of miles away across the Atlantic, having a ball with Hanora, I’m sure. Do you really think I’m going to let him have all the fun?” I tilted my head, attempting to be assertive.
Before he had the chance to argue I called for Brooke, who, in a flash, was snuggled in the dip of the corner sofa, one leg over the other and hands behind her head.
“Yo!”
“Film tonight, shopping tomorrow?” I asked.
One thing was for sure; I wasn’t about to be a prisoner.
Not anymore.
“There’s not really any shopping around here. The market should be open tomorrow in Mirepoix, that one you were telling me about, Ruadhan.”
“I was actually trying to educate you about the history of the town, not about the shopping facilities!” He huffed, irritated.
I plonked myself down a seat over from Brooke, maintaining a safe enough distance.
“Sounds good, what time do we leave?” I asked, directing myself at Brooke only.
“No, Cessie,” Ruadhan said firmly.
“I know you’re looking out for me, but I am my own person, and I’ll decide what I do and where I go from now on.”
Grinding his teeth together, he threw his arms up in the air and said, “If you insist on going, we all go.”
“You can visit that Saint Maurice Cathedral you were harping on about. See, I do listen,” Brooke said victoriously. Leaning in to me, she added, “I listen, but I really don’t care.”
I couldn’t help but giggle; she was quite a character when she wasn’t trying to kill me.
“Jonah, stick a movie on, and bring Cessie some popcorn,” Brooke said, flapping her hands at him lazily. “Oh, and some of that wine in the fridge for us…”
It never failed to amaze me that he gave in to her every whim with no argument. The most he managed was a sarcastic grunt and I was sure that was for my benefit. Why Jonah, of all of them, took orders from Brooke was beyond me.
Very kindly, Ruadhan brought over a knitted blanket. The light scent of countryside wafted over me, reminding me that I was far from the city. He excused himself to the study. More reading, I assumed.
Popcorn and wine now in our hands, Jonah pressed play on the remote. I couldn’t help but turn to look at him, sitting still on the opposite end of the sofa, as the opening title sequence to The Highlander began to play.
Winking at me in reply, he tilted his head a little, attempting to read my thoughts. Luckily for me, only Gabriel possessed that particular gift. I shook it off. I didn’t belong to a race of immortals trying to kill another race of immortals, though I got the underlying statement he was attempting to make. He knew there was far more to me than what met the eye; he didn’t believe I was an ordinary human girl. He wasn’t wrong and I could only assume this was his way of reminding me that he wasn’t buying it.
Trying to avoid being noticed, I slyly shifted under the blanket to check my phone. No messages. Remembering what Gabriel had said, I opened up the last trail and deleted it.
I managed to make it halfway through the film before nodding off again. I blamed the wine and the fresh air.
NINETEEN
THE NEXT MORNING, as the sun rose from the east over the mountains that surrounded the barn, I was startled to find myself slumped against Brooke. She had her arm over my shoulders; she had stayed with me all night.
“Ah, good, you’re awake. Now I can get up!”
My eyes swept the room. “Where are Ruadhan and Jonah?” I asked, tying my hair back with the elastic around my wrist.
“Ruadhan’s still reading and Jonah popped out to get you eggs for breakfast. The nearest neighbor is a few miles away, but he’s pretty fast and they have chickens.”
“Thanks for, erm, not waking me. I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to fall asleep on you.” I apologized, still wary of the redheaded Vampire.
“Listen, Cessie. I’m sorry I lost my cool with you the other night. I, well, I just overreacted. But I understand now that you’re not interested in him like that. It might’ve taken me some time, but I know where your affections lie.” Her expression was triumphant, like a naughty girl with a secret.
I straightened myself underneath the blanket. “You do?”
“You like Gabriel, I get it. You’re barking up the wrong tree with him, though. Unattainable is not an exaggeration! But I get that you can’t help who you fall for. Look at me. I can never have who I want, but you learn to live with it. And the way you’re heading you might not be living much longer so at least you don’t have that worry!” She chuckled.