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Chapter Nine
Zander
It had been a month since I’d been released from my living quarters.During that time, I spent a lot of time watching the news recorded and stored during the five months that I had been restricted.I was floored by the shit that was happening and the numbers of vampires tortured and killed.It made my blood boil, and now I understood why Kristin seemed so distressed by what was going on out there.
Clayton, Gabe, and I spent quite a few hours discussing all the events and what the world might be like in another six months if things kept going the way they were.
While I saw Kristin during meetings and around the complex, our conversations were kept to business and general familiarities.I respected her mating, even though I didn’t give one shit for Hugh.
Hugh and I were distantly aware of one another.He knew how I felt about Kristin, and I didn’t hide the wistful looks or thoughts as I watched her from a distance.So many times in my life, I had been on the outside watching her and wishing things were different.
The difference this time was that I knew how fragile the relationship was between Kris and her mate.When the time came, and she gave birth and didn’t need Hugh at her side to feed her, I was going to make sure she knew I was there for her—in all ways.I would protect her and their child.
Although, their daughter already had a protector in Isaac, the vampire she had rescued from the facility.He was always a few steps behind her, ever watchful of her.A few times, we had spoken, and I found him to be a kind man who was determined to protect Kristin and then her child once it was born.He had told me that the child would be spectacular, and I think Kristin was a little nervous about that knowledge.
I lifted my head from my plate at the table and watched Hugh on the other side of the room, sitting beside Kristin.Maybe that’s why Hugh was glued to her side now.Perhaps he was trying to get on Kristin’s good side so that after their child was born, she wouldn’t kick him to the curb.I knew he wasn’t stupid, and I also knew he didn’t love Kristin—not as I did.She deserved to be loved beyond reason.
Now that I was bonded to him, I could easily feel his emotions and see his thoughts.He cared about Kris, but he didn’t love her.Her very strong and bold sister owned his heart.I hoped that once we opened the doors and went back into the world, he would find Angelina right away, and I could have Kristin to myself without a bitter fight with him.
Even though I kept my distance from Kristin, it didn’t mean we didn’t communicate—we did.Or I guess I should say I communicated with her.It started a couple of weeks ago, when we were in a meeting, and she was agitated and snappy.
I recalled a memory that I had of Julian and Calista when Angelina was then our young daughter, Anastasia, and we were all curled up on our bed and watching something on the new television I’d just purchased.I had put myself back into the memory, and I sent the memory vision to her.
She jerked back in her seat slightly and blinked when the image appeared inside her mind.As she glanced around the conference room, I knew that she wasn’t seeing the table or virtual terminals or the other people in the room, but our modest bedroom and the small black-and-white television that we had.She turned to look to the side.The side where I was lying on the bed in the vision, and I winked at her.
“I thought you could use a good memory to relieve the stress.”
I heard her chuckle into my mind, and for just a second, a blip of a smile arched the edges of her lips before she took a deep breath and then shook her head, and the vision vanished.
She seemed a bit more relaxed after that.Later, when I saw her stressed or upset, I brought her into a memory with me.Sometimes it was only for a few seconds, and she wouldn’t speak, just be there.Other times we’d stay there for a minute or two and have a short discussion.I knew that they helped her, and if that was all I could for her, so be it.
I knew that Hugh couldn’t see this, and it became our private time together.Our way of communicating without anyone else knowing what we were doing.
I wished that we could spend time together in person, but that wasn’t likely to happen anytime soon.I would have to remain somewhat satisfied with our occasional secret vision meetings.
“Whatcha thinking about?”Olivia asked as she set her food tray on the table across from me.Kristin and Hugh were leaving the dining area, and a moment later, Garrett joined us on my right.
I shrugged.“Not much.”
“Bullshit!”Olivia laughed.“You were thinking about Kristin.I could see the faraway brokenhearted lover look in your eye.You can’t fool me.”
I laughed slightly and shifted in my seat.“I do not have a brokenhearted lover look.”I didn’t think talking about Kristin while her son was seated beside us was a good idea.
“Actually, you do.”Garrett grinned my way as he tore a chunk off his roll.I stared at Garrett in surprise.“What?You thought you were hiding your feelings?”
“I wasn’t trying to hide them, but I didn’t realize I had them on display.”
“You do, big-time!”Olivia said with a hearty laugh.“Don’t worry, you’ll get your chance.”
I frowned.“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Garrett and Olivia shared a look, and then Olivia glanced around to make sure no one was obviously listening.Luckily, most everyone was gone or getting ready to leave, and no one was paying us any attention.“It means, after she has the baby, you can kick Hugh’s ass and take your rightful place.”
“My rightful place?”I barked on a laugh.“Who says that’s my rightful place?”
Garrett responded in a low voice.“Pretty much everyone in this place.”
I stared at him a bit slack-jawed.“Why would you say that?”
