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CHAPTER FIVE
Edward had gone further than intended, but he couldn't pull back or slow down when Cooper was playing along, and their relationship was becoming clear. He wasn't afraid, just skeptical, which was expected, and Edward could deal with that. Any lingering distrust would fade away with time and proximity.
"Are you seriously considering me as your beloved?" Cooper asked, and Edward was taken aback since he thought they had gotten beyond the acceptance stage of this relationship.
"I thought I made that clear. You, Cooper Sloane, are my beloved gifted to me after all these years as a token of Fate's mercy." Cooper pulled away a few inches and looked up at Edward.
"Why do you speak as if you are undeserving? Why did Fate leave you on your own for so long? You're a powerful vampire with a fierce magical repertoire from what I've witnessed." Edward wasn't sure where Cooper was headed with this, but he listened and waited and continued to hold him. Cooper wasn't trying to get away from him, which probably spoke more to the natural pull, but it still felt good.
"I've lived a long and often inglorious existence which, as I've stated, left me an outcast in many ways. Vampires with a past like mine rarely are awarded the splendor that is a predestined lifetime bond. We are ignored and discarded, and our deeds pushed to the back of paranormal history with the intent to try and forget.” He gave a rough unfunny laugh at the memory of his life before moving to California so many centuries ago.
"You can talk yourself down all you want, but we can both see very clearly that you are a gentleman, a nobleman, a man of particular breeding, and I am a street urchin, to put it nicely. Fate would never do this to you, no matter how dastardly you might have been." Edward was on the verge of simply scooping up the clueless young man and spiriting him away to his castle in California.
They were abruptly cut off from continuing their discussion when three armed men appeared in the room. Edward instantly pushed Cooper to the floor and commanded him to stay down. “They’re after me, Edward. They’re Norman’s men.” He told him and crouched using the bed as cover.
They made a move on Edward, who, in one sweeping motion, slid his sword from his cape that lay on the bed and cut the first of them clean in half without word or warning. The other two faltered for a second and then started shooting, but no bullets penetrated, so they came at him armed with daggers, and Edward cut them down. It was quick and clean; death came fast for the three intruders.
"They wanted to kill us, or just me, and you got in the way." Cooper was looking at the carnage, and he started to freak.
"More will be coming. I need to get you somewhere safe." He said and picked Cooper up in his arms, grabbed his cape, and they vanished from the room. He brought Cooper to his study. It was a quiet room of beauty and balance, a place to talk and relax. He would be comfortable there.
He sat him down on the golden brocade sofa and crouched down in front of him while still holding his hands, channeling their bond and alleviating his confusion as best that he could under the circumstances.
"Where are we?" Cooper asked. Edward noticed his previous confidence had faded, and he looked small and scared. The attack back at his hotel room had been violent and brutal, and although he claims to be worldly, Edward could see his innocence the moment they first met.
Cooper had a kind soul, and violence such as this was very jarring. If he could have spared him, he would have, but the intruders were not there to talk, only to kill and take what they wanted.
“We’re at my castle in a vast forest in southern California.” He told him and watched as Cooper’s eyes got wider.
"We traveled two thousand miles in just a few seconds?" He was shocked and scared but also a little impressed if Edward was reading him right. "Are you a warlock?" That question truly surprised Edward, for warlocks were grievous individuals.
There was nothing worse than a warlock, and Edward had only met one in his entire life. Warlocks were heinous, self-centered, and could be cruel beyond imagination. They tended to travel alone and enslaved other beings when they needed assistance, only to destroy them when finished, never leaving a trail or too much information.
Their power was tempered by the fact they could not tolerate sunlight or natural light that poured from pure souls and objects of sanctification. Their darkness was such that it held them captive in a way.
"Do you know what a warlock is, sweetheart?" Edward asked as gently, although he was very eager for the answer. He couldn't imagine such a creature ever getting close to his sweet beloved.
“I heard about them and was warned that they eat magics like me for breakfast.”
"Very true, and no, I am not a warlock."
“Where does your magic come from?” Cooper asked.
"I was befriended by a sorcerer many years ago by the name of Batiste, and he taught me many useful skills."
“You’re friends with a real sorcerer?” Cooper again was mystified but did not appear weary and no longer unconvinced.
"Friends perhaps is too strong of a word to use when speaking of Batiste; I doubt he has any friends. The man has people he tolerates and people he kills, and fortunately, I fell into the tolerated column." Edward stood and moved to sit next to Cooper, who was much more relaxed now. "Sorcerers can be unpredictable, but from what I gather, Batiste has matured and become centered after finding his mate at the Pittsburgh Coven."
“Sorcerers have mates?” His questions were becoming rather cute.
Edward nodded. "He is bonded to a Vampire guard. Although I do believe they spend a lot of time at Batiste's home, which he carved between worlds. I've never been there, but I hear that it is quite magical."
"I was trained by the mage who didn't know a lot about water mages and by a spell caster I met in a bar one night. I wish I'd met Batiste instead of Ruby. My skills would probably provide me better protection than my illusions and water travel. That's the extent of my power." Cooper suddenly fell silent, and Edward placed his hand on his shoulder, squeezing gently. He looked troubled.
"If you hadn't been with me at the hotel, those men would have killed me. I had no defense against them. I would be dead right now, and no one would notice or care." He took a deep, shaky breath once again, showcasing his vulnerability.
"They weren't there to kill you," Edward stated and caught Cooper's attention. "They wanted to kill me to get me out of the way, but they were there to capture you. They were a wolf shifter and two jackals. They were hired to do the job, and others were on the way."
