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"Remember, I'm one hundred and one years old. I can call you 'little girl' or 'little child' or 'wayward brat' if I want to, as long as you're younger than me."
"You really think so, do you?"
"I've got seventy-five years on you, Cicely--never forget that, even though I look your age. Rhiannon's right. And you're right. You and Grieve do have a connection. But I also believe that he has you under his power. Probably a venom in his fangs. The Fae of the Indigo Court are extremely seductive, and they inherited the vampire's ability to seduce along with their own natural charms, which pretty much makes them rocket scientists when it comes to sex."
Without thinking, I reached up to touch the grazed skin on my neck. Was Kaylin right? Was Grieve playing a game with me? The memory of his touch, his tongue on my neck swept me under again and I let out a soft moan as I pressed the skin where he'd bitten me.
"Hell, woman, you're lucky I have any honor," Kaylin whispered.
My eyes fluttered open. He was staring at me intently, and I could tell he was aroused right through those tight jeans of his. Blushing, I lowered my hand. "I'm sorry . . . I don't know . . ."
"You reek of desire. I can smell you from here. And the look on your face--you're begging to be fucked." He shook his head when I started to protest. "Save it. I'm not standing on ceremony because if I was any other man--a man with a weaker will--we'd be on the floor right now and I'd be screwing your brains out. You'd better go take a cold shower and think long and hard about the situation."
Stunned, angry, I made my way up to my room, where I stripped off my clothes, then hit the shower. I scrubbed the slightly sore wound on my neck--and every other part of my body--with a vanilla body wash, thinking about what Kaylin had said. As I stood under the pounding water for a good half hour, my thoughts began to clear.
Fuck. Could Kaylin be right?
After a while, I stepped out of the shower and dried off, feeling self-conscious. Maybe Grieve was on our side--I wanted to believe it. But could we risk Heather's and Peyton's lives if my feelings for Grieve were due to a powerful aphrodisiac in my system?
Slowly pulling on a clean cami and pair of jeans, I let out a long breath. Truth was, my heart wouldn't let me walk away. And neither would the vampires. They wanted information and I was apparently their conduit. I was caught between two enemies, a pawn for one and in love with the other.
I headed down the stairs, a dozen questions racing through my mind.
Leo and Rhiannon were back in the living room with Kaylin, and they all looked at me as I entered the room. I gave them a wary look.
"I'm sorry. I . . ."
"Kaylin explained what might be going on," Rhiannon said. She was holding The Rise of the Indigo Court in her hands. "I skimmed through. Listen to this:"
Like true vampires, the Vampiric Fae developed a venom in their bite. But the venom is specifically focused. The mutation happened when the first Unseelie were turned. The Fae's sexual powers were infused into the toxin and the controlling focus became of a sexual nature rather than the ability to create general suggestions. In other words, a member of the Indigo Court can sexually enslave someone through their bite. With the true vampires, the suggestion can be of any sort--from something as simple as handing over money to killing oneself. The primary difference, besides the sexual component, is that the venom of true vampires will wear off after a while unless a mutual blood bond is created. But the Indigo Court Fae venom is cumulative and at some point the victim will be hopelessly enslaved, unable to break free. The number of bites this takes is unknown.
She glanced up at me. "How many times has he bitten you?"
My stomach churned. My feelings couldn't all be the result of a drug, could they? There was a link between us--we'd proven that.
I shrugged. "Just once . . . twice maybe?"
"You can't let him keep biting you," Leo said.
"At least, not until we find out just whose side he's on," Rhiannon added softly. I jerked my attention to her and she gave me a soft smile. She understood.
She understands better than any of them, Ulean's voice whispered low behind me. Truth be, there is a danger with Grieve, but not in the manner that they think.
I wanted to protest, but decided to just roll with it. "I'll be careful. I won't say anything to him about working with Regina without talking to all of you." I let out a long breath, about to head into the kitchen for a bite to eat when the doorbell rang. "You expecting anybody?"
They shook their heads. I slowly crossed to the door, but then it occurred to me that the Indigo Court wouldn't just come knocking. They'd forcibly abducted Heather, they wouldn't politely ring the bell.
I opened the door but there was no one there. Curious, I opened the screen door and peeked out, and then I saw it. On the porch--a huge basket filled to the brim with what looked like expensive treats.
Reaching out, I poked it with my foot. Nothing moved or exploded. Finally, I picked it up and carried it into the living room. The sucker was heavy and I set it down on the coffee table.
"Apparently, somebody likes us," I said. "Christmas is still a couple weeks away but it looks like we got a present early."
"Who's it from?" Rhiannon leaned forward.
"I don't know. Let me see if there's a card. Meanwhile, is there anything to eat? I'm starving." I cautiously opened the cellophane holding everything inside. I wasn't used to presents. Krystal's idea of a birthday or Yule gift had been along the lines of a Happy Meal or a quarter-ounce of pot.
"I'll start dinner," Leo said. "Let me know what it is--and yell if you need me. Rhiannon, why don't you call Anadey?" He headed into the kitchen.
