Death Bringer

Chapter Nine

“So you’re saying Ms. Phelps died from inhaling your magic shield.” Feehan frowned. “Has that ever happened to you before?”

“No.” Vadim glanced around the room at the rest of the team. “It was unprecedented. I do, however, accept prime responsibility for Ms. Phelps’s death.”

Ella shook her head. “I was there too, Morosov. There was nothing either of us could do against that amount of power. We just weren’t prepared for it.”

Feehan paced in front of the whiteboard. “If this thing is growing stronger, maybe it’s time to call in the Otherworld authorities.”

“I don’t think Adam was acting alone this time,” Vadim forced himself to say. “The level of power that was used against us was far too high and too complex to belong to one being.”

“I agree.” Liz’s Fae-Web was busy lighting up over her head. “What happened wasn’t normal. I’ve never seen anything like it either.”

Before Liz could start asking awkward questions, Vadim spoke up.

“I’m meeting with a member from my family today to ask for additional information about Adam.”

“Whom exactly are you meeting?” Mr. Feehan asked.

“A cousin of mine called Rossa.”

“Rossa?” Liz grimaced. “I know him. He’s a devious little shit.”

He smiled at her. “You’re right, but he’s also afraid of me, and terribly indiscreet.”

“Then you should learn a lot.” Liz’s smile disappeared. “But you also need to be careful, Vadim. I’m seeing you as central to this case, even more central than the poor victims.”

“That’s certainly worrying.” He hesitated. “Would it be better if I removed myself from the investigation entirely?”

Everyone else in the room except Ella looked at each other. Mr. Feehan cleared his throat.

“We did think about that, Vadim, but Liz doesn’t believe it will help.”

So that was why everyone had already been in place when he and Ella arrived. What time had the nine o’clock meeting really started?

Ella snorted. “That’s a nice way to treat a team member, boss. Aren’t you the one who’s always going on about us working together as a unit?”

“It’s okay,” Vadim reassured everyone. “I understand why you considered it.”

Feehan shot him a grateful glance. “Thanks.”

“Do we need to speak to Ms. Phelps’s family?”

“She doesn’t have anyone in the area. They’ve asked us to return her to Kentucky for burial in the family plot.”

“What about her face?”

“We’re going to seal the coffin and make it impossible for them to open it at their end by sending an SBLE team home with her.” Feehan grimaced. “It’s not perfect, but it’s the best we can do for all of them.”

“So all we have to worry about is victim number three,” Sam said.

“If Adam returns. After that clash with Vadim and Ella, maybe he won’t have the balls to come back.”

“It might delay him for a day or so, but he’ll be back,” Vadim replied. “He’s obviously a creature of habit, and he has a goal to accomplish.” He put away his pen. “If that’s all, I’ll go and speak to Rossa right now and get back to you as soon as possible.”

Feehan nodded. “Sure, go ahead. We’ll finish up here.”

Vadim deliberately didn’t catch Ella’s eye as he rose and left the room. She didn’t need to be with him for this encounter. He had a few things he wanted to say to Rossa without an audience. Not that he’d shut her out entirely—that would make her too suspicious—but he could still shield some of his emotions if she wasn’t breathing down his neck.

He went into their office and then immediately magicked himself to his hotel room. Rossa was already ensconced on the bed, watching porn on the TV.

“Hey.”

Vadim turned off the TV and Rossa pouted.

“I was watching that.”

“You can do it in real life. Why watch it?”

“True.” Rossa turned toward him. “What can I do for you, cygnet?”

“I need you to take a message to my mother and grandmother.”

“Okay...”

“Tell them that if Adam intends Ella to be his third victim, they have to stop him.”

“And why would they want to do that? They don’t like your mate. If Adam killed her, it would make things all nice and tidy again.”

“If Adam kills her, I will return to Otherworld and to my full powers. I’ll demand vengeance for her death, as is my right as a bonded male.”

“Um, that’s not good, right?”

“It is for me. I’ve missed slaughter and bloodshed more than I thought I would. If my mate is involved, I strongly suspect my rage will have no bounds.”

“You mean, you’d kill your own family?”

“If I had to.” He paused for effect. “If I felt they had failed me.”

Rossa’s color faded. “I don’t think anyone can stop the sect from completing their games.”

“I’ve stopped them in the past.”

“But only a great personal cost!”

Vadim held Rossa’s silver gaze. “And I’ll do it again, but this time I’ll save my mate and take everyone who opposes her down with me. Tell them my terms.”

“And what if they won’t help?”

“If she is harmed, they’ll be dead. It’s quite simple.”

“You can’t—”

“I can, Rossa. You know I can, and so do they.” He hesitated. “And if I’m killed, I’d appreciate it if you would look out for Ella.”

“You’re asking me? Frakk, cygnet, I’m probably going to get fried just for being your messenger.”

“But if you survive, you will protect her?”

He shrugged. “Sure, I like her.”

“Swear it.”

Rossa sighed and placed his hand flat over his heart. “I will keep the faith until the sky falls upon me, until the earth opens and swallows me and until the sea rises and covers me.”

Vadim nodded as relief swamped him. “Thank you. Now please go and deliver my message.”

With a wink and a flash of light, Rossa was gone. Vadim slowly let out his breath and stared at the rumpled counterpane where his cousin had been sitting. Would it be enough to save Ella? Adam had touched her to show Vadim that he could. Luckily for him, she hadn’t seen it as a threat, only as a near miss.

He got up and straightened the bed covers. Despite what he’d claimed, if the sect combined their powers again, they might have the strength to harm his mate. That was unacceptable. He hadn’t been making empty threats to his family. For the first time in his long existence he was willing to lay down his life. Would they understand that? Would they act?

There was nothing else he could do at the moment to stop the inevitable battle between him and the cult. It was his destiny, one he’d tried to avoid by running away.

Ella would survive. He would make damned sure of it. She was worth dying for. Now he just had to find a way to convince her of that too...

“So you’re okay about this.”

Ella studied her companion as he drove across the bridge toward the East Bay and the joys of her parents’ house in Walnut Creek.

“Are you deaf? I believe I’ve said that at least three times.”

“I’m just worried. You know my mom will be all over you, right?”

“Yes.”

“And my sister, Madison?”

“Yes.”

“And you’re okay with that.”

“Yes. For God’s sake, Ella, stop worrying.”

“Madison can be difficult.”

“I noticed that the first time we met.”

“We used to get on okay, and then over the last few months, she’s just shut me out again.”

“Of course she’s shutting you out.” He glanced over at her. “For an empath, you can be surprisingly obtuse sometimes.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“She’s obviously scared about losing you again.”

“So she treats me like shit?”

“Exactly.”

She rubbed at a nonexistent spot on the glass. “I suppose that makes some weird teenage kind of sense.”

“When she finds out that you’re sticking around, she’ll come back to you.”

“Do you really think so?”

“Yes. And if she and your mother get too annoying today, you can soothe them with magic.”

“Or stop them talking entirely. That might be fun.” She smiled for the first time. “I’m going to have to tell them I’m not going nuts.”

“I’m sure they’ll be delighted.”

“But that means I’ll have to tell them about you.”

“Which is also okay.”

“She’ll probably cry all over you.”

“I have a handkerchief. Stop worrying.”

She studied his handsome profile. He wore jeans and a tight black T-shirt that molded his biceps and muscled chest. She wanted to rip off his clothes and run her hands over his abs and tight ass...

“You can do that later. I wouldn’t recommend trying it in front of your parents.”

“I don’t know, it might be fun.” She patted his muscled thigh. “Mom already said we can stay the night if we want.”

“And you want to have sex with me in your parents’ house?”

She looked out of the window. “I’ve never done that before. I missed out on all that adolescent fun while I was at the empath college.”

“You didn’t get to go home a lot?”

“I never went home. My mom said it would be too much for her to cope with.”

His hand covered hers and squeezed. “Then we’ll stay the night. The shock should’ve worn off by then, and hopefully they’ll leave us alone.”

“You have no idea.”

“Are your brothers coming, too?”

“I think they’ll all be there for dinner at least.”

“Great.”

He didn’t sound too rattled, but then he came from Fae royalty whose family gatherings were probably more terrifying and gory than she could even imagine. She stared out of the window at the rolling hills and the shady trees that covered them. By the summer, everything would be dry as dust and golden brown and ripe for a fire. Despite everything, visiting her parents was still an ordeal. How the hell was she supposed to have a relationship with the people who had dumped her in an all-year boarding school in Otherworld for empaths at the age of five? Sure, they’d done it to protect the rest of the family from the creatures who were magically drawn to her, but it still hurt.

And now she was bringing the Boy Wonder home with her...

“What do you want me to tell them about you?”

“What do you mean?”

“Should I say you’re not human?”

“I am human.”

“About one percent, right?”

“More than that.” He clicked on his indicator and moved smoothly across the lanes toward the upcoming exit. “If you think they’ll be okay with it, you can tell them the truth.”

“I don’t know the truth.”

He glanced at her briefly, his black sunglasses shielding his eyes. “You know I’m related to Fae royalty. That’s usually enough to make people happy.”

“Maybe as one of your lame pick-up lines,” she grumbled. “My mom isn’t so easy to fool. She hates anything that’s different. She certainly hated me.”

“Hate is a rather strong word.”

“What else would you call it?”

“Fear? Worry? Love? Some people find it difficult to express their true feelings for those they love.”

She glared at him. “Is that a dig at me?”

“I thought we were talking about your mother.”

“So did I.”

“Well, let’s see how it goes. Maybe she’ll be so pleased to hear you’re going to survive that she won’t give a damn about me.”

“Humph. I hate it when you’re being nice.” She subsided into her seat and crossed her arms over her chest. She wasn’t sure what worried her most, telling her mom about her escape from madness or about her relationship with Vadim. If only they could avoid the party entirely...

“Ella!”

Her mom opened the door, and Ella submitted meekly to an awkward perfumed embrace. Her mom’s blond hair was short and spiky, her makeup perfect, and her velvet pantsuit emphasized her lean, well-exercised body. She always made Ella feel like such a frump. The house smelled of her mom’s overpowering floral scent. It always had. Apart from the addition of a pool, the sprawling ranch house in the neat subdivision of Walnut Creek her parents had bought in the eighties to house their growing family remained exactly the same.

“Happy birthday tomorrow, darling.”

“I brought Vadim. Is that okay?”

“Of course it is.” She hesitated and whispered loudly. “Did the people at your work not want you to be alone at this crucial time?”

“Something like that.” She left Vadim shaking hands with Darlene and headed down the hallway. “Where’s Dad?”

She opened the door into the kitchen and family room and surveyed the glum faces. Apart from the removal of the horrendous purple flowery wallpaper and the addition of a flat-screen TV, nothing had changed much in there, either.

“This must be the party place. What’s up?”

Her dad rose from the couch and hugged her hard. “Hey, princess, how are you doing?”

“I’m good.” She buried her face against his shoulder and inhaled the familiar smell of beer and spicy aftershave. Both of her brothers came over to hug her, as did her pregnant sister-in-law, Julie. No one looked happy. There was also no sign of her younger sister, which was never good. Madison had a fondness for drama that rivaled their mother’s.

Vadim came into the room with Darlene at his side and was soon busy shaking hands with everyone and being reintroduced. By the time they were all seated again, Ella noticed the pile of presents under the table.

“Hey, are they for me?”

Her dad patted her knee and passed her the first present. “Yes, love. Happy birthday. We weren’t quite sure what to get you, but—”

“Considering I might be dead soon?” Ella grinned at her dad. “It’s okay, there’s no need for anyone to get all morbid and stuff. Hand it over.”

She unwrapped the present and studied the pink furry slippers. “Wow. Thanks Dad, these are awesome! They’ll look really good when I’m shuffling around the empath mental health facility out in Santa Rosa.”

“Ella...”

She ignored Vadim and smiled brightly at Julie, whose lower lip was already trembling. Julie handed her a gift bag. Pregnancy hormones were obviously an emotional minefield. Ella could pick up her distress far too easily.

“Is this from you and Scott?”

“Yes. If you don’t like that brand, you can change it to something else. The gift receipt is inside.”

Ella unwrapped the tablet. “Cool! I’ve been meaning to get one of these to read on for ages! Is this the new mini?” Julie nodded. “Thank you. I can load up on books and games and keep myself busy.”

“I’m so glad you like it.”

She held Julie’s gaze and sent her soothing mental images. Her sister-in-law relaxed back in her seat and leaned into Scott. “I really do. Thank you.”

Her mother laid a big parcel across her knees. “This is from me.”

Everyone watched as Ella carefully ripped open the wrapping paper.

“It’s a quilt.” She looked up at Darlene.

“Yes.” She perched on the edge of the couch next to Ella. “Do you recognize any of the fabrics?”

Ella spotted a piece of neon orange cotton. “Didn’t I have a pair of shorts made out of something like this?”

“You did.”

“You kept them?”

Darlene traced another chevron of fabric. “Every year when the school sent back your outgrown clothes, I hung on to a few pieces. It was stupid, I know, but I found it hard to let go of them. Eventually your aunt suggested I make them into something useful, so I made this quilt.”

“That’s...” Ella stared down at the myriad of colors until they began to blur and dance before her eyes. Vadim took her hand and squeezed it.

“It’s beautiful, Darlene.”

“It really is. Mom, I—”

“I just wanted you to have something from home when you—” She moved away from Ella and returned to her seat. “—when you leave again.”

“How long are you going to let this go on?”

She glared at Vadim. “Okay, I’ll tell them.”

“This is all very nice of you, but I do have some news of my own to share—”

Before she could continue, Dave cleared his throat. “I didn’t get you anything.”

“That’s okay. Seeing you is all the present I need.”

He stood up suddenly and glared at her parents. Beside her Vadim tensed. “I thought you’d like to know that I got into that Otherworld class down at UCLA. I’m going to be a licensed medic in both realms by the end of the year.”

Ella rose too, then hugged him hard. “And that’s the best present ever. I’m so proud of you.”

He shrugged out of her embrace. “It’s the least I can do to make up for the rest of this family’s neglect.”

“Excuse me?” Darlene’s voice rose on each syllable. “We’ve done nothing wrong. We’re members of a close and loving family!”

“Ella could hardly be described as being close, Mom. She was stuck in Otherworld.” Dave turned his full attention on their mother. “You sent her away and never even let her come back for vacations.”

Darlene squared up to him. “I did what was best for us all!”

“No, you did what was best for yourself. You always do.” Dave shook his head. “And it’s too late to argue about it now, isn’t it, when she’s going to disappear on us again, this time forever. Do you really think a homemade quilt is going to make it up to her? “

“Well, that’s just it, Dave, I’m—”

The door flew open and Madison sauntered in, her gaze drawn immediately to Vadim. She wore kitty pajama pants slung low on her hips and a bikini top. Her long blond hair hung straight down her back, and her makeup was perfect—if you liked teenagers looking forty.

“Sorry I’m late. Happy birthday, big sis. I didn’t get you anything. I didn’t see the point. Haven’t you gone nuts yet?”

“I think I might start right now.” Ella glared at her sister as she insinuated herself into the nonexistent space beside Vadim on the couch and cuddled up to him. “As I’ve been trying to say for the past few minutes, I’d like to thank you for the presents and the birthday wishes.”

“You’re welcome, Ella,” her parents said dutifully.

Dave muttered something uncomplimentary and took another swallow of his beer. Vadim inched away from Madison’s questing hands and kept his gaze fixed firmly on Ella.

“I never thought I’d live past my twenty-seventh birthday, but it seems I was mistaken.”

“They found a cure?” her father asked.

“Well, not exactly.” She took a deep breath. “I changed my mind and took the Otherworld Community Outreach Services mate offered to me.”

The silence was deafening.

“You took a mate? You mean you have a man?” Darlene gripped her hands together until her fingers were as white as her face. “Where is he?”

Ella pointed at Vadim. “Right there. Why else do you think I’d bring him?”

“Nice.”

“Can it, Morosov. Can’t you see I’m nervous as hell?”

“What exactly does it mean?” Her dad sat forward. “I know you mentioned it as an option years ago, but you seemed so set against it. What changed your mind?”

Madison waved a hand in front of her father’s face. “Duh, Dad, have you looked at Vadim? He’s hot. He’s also, like, way out of her league. How could she say no?” She poked Vadim in the side. “The real question here is, why the hell did you saddle yourself with my sister?”

“He didn’t. He was matched with me by the Otherworld mating service.”

“Like an arranged marriage?”

“I suppose so.”

“Like, is that even legal in this country?” Madison demanded. “Look at the poor guy. He’s still in a state of shock.”

“Morosov, help me out here!”

“I thought you told me to shut up and let you handle it.”

“Morosov...”

He stood up, gently setting a clinging Madison aside, and took Ella’s hand. “I’m delighted to have been selected as a mate for your daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Walsh.”

Ella couldn’t decide who looked more stunned, her mother or her father. “This is a good thing, right? I’m not going nuts anymore.”

“But it’s so unexpected!” Darlene glanced at her husband. “Why didn’t you say something to us before?”

“I thought it was better said in person. I didn’t want you to be shocked.”

“Well, I am shocked!” Darlene pressed her hand to her bosom. “How could you do that to me?”

An all-too-familiar sense of anger rose in Ella’s gut. “Mom, this isn’t about you. Aren’t you pleased?”

“Of course I’m pleased! I just wish you’d mentioned it before we bought you all these presents.”

“The presents are great. It’s still my birthday, isn’t it?”

Vadim’s calm voice slid over hers. “I was hoping to take you all out to dinner this evening to celebrate Ella’s big day. Would that be acceptable?”

“That would be lovely,” Ella’s dad answered. “It will give us a chance to get to know you better, as well.”

“Dad...”

Vadim kissed her cheek. “It’s all right. I expect your parents have a lot of questions for me.”

“I have one.” Madison waved her hand in the air. “How long do you have to stick with my sister?”

He smiled down into Ella’s eyes. “For all eternity.”

“Oh, please... you don’t have to lay it on so thick.”

“You poor dude. But I suppose in her line of work, she might not last that long.”

“Thanks. By the way, I don’t think you can date your sister’s grieving ex. That would be icky.” Ella made a face at her sister. Why did she feel like a teenager again?

“I’m not being mean. I’m just stating the facts.” Madison flipped her hair over her shoulder. “Empaths don’t last very long, do they?”

“Only if they don’t take a mate.”

“It’s not fair,” Madison whined. “How come she ends up with him?”

Dave came across and shook Vadim’s hand. “Welcome to the family. I’m glad someone will take care of my baby sister for a change.”

“Oh, for goodness sake, Dave, can’t you say anything nice?” Darlene faked a laugh. “Poor Vadim will think he’s joining a family of freaks! Are you thinking of getting married?”

“God, no.” Ella turned to Julie, who had started to cry. “It’s okay.”

“I know, it’s wonderful. Isn’t it, Scott?” Her husband hugged her close.

“And you don’t have to worry about naming your poor baby after me either.” Ella winked at Scott, who winked back. He was a man of few words at the best of times. Stuck with his mother and his wife in the same room, he barely uttered a word.

Madison patted the couch next to her. “So, Vadim, tell us all about your family. Do you have any brothers or gorgeous male cousins?”

“Both my siblings are dead.” He remained standing by Ella. “But I still have quite a large family.”

“Ooh, are they local? Can you introduce me to some hot dudes?”

“Madison!” Darlene thundered. “You are hardly old enough to be dating anyone!” She turned to smile at Vadim. “Are your family from around here? We’d love to meet them.”

She felt Vadim hesitate and replied for him. “No, they’re not. He’s Russian, remember?”

“Oh, that’s true, I don’t suppose that nasty government over there lets people out much.” She waved at her husband. “Shall we have a drink to celebrate Vadim joining our family?”

“How about my survival, Mom? Isn’t that worth celebrating too?”

Darlene patted her hand “But you wouldn’t have survived if Vadim here hadn’t agreed to ‘mate’ with you, whatever that means.”

“It means Ella and I are bonded physically, emotionally and psychically for life.”

She glanced up at him while he was speaking. There wasn’t a hint of mockery in his voice or his expression. When he said it like that, it sounded so...permanent.

“It is.”

“Shut up!”

“You might as well get married, then!” Darlene laughed. “Although I don’t envy you having to deal with all that Otherworld stuff.” She hesitated. “You do know about that, don’t you?”

“Oh, he knows. Probably more than I do.”

Darlene continued to ignore Ella and grill Vadim, while her father passed out glasses of champagne. “And you’re okay with her being like that?”

“I’m fine with it. I wouldn’t have volunteered to be an OCOS mate if I hadn’t been.”

Darlene patted his cheek. “You’re obviously a saint.”

Ella made a gagging sound. “Hardly that.”

Darlene grabbed her elbow and steered her into the kitchen. “You should be grateful he took you on, Ella. Now that you have him hooked, try not to lose him too quickly, okay?”

Ella took the bag of peanuts her mom handed her and dumped them in a bowl. Several bounced out onto the floor. “Didn’t you hear what he said? We’re in this together for life.”

“Men say these things, dear, but do they really mean them?” Darlene pointed her bread knife at Ella. “Let’s hope he’s not the kind to stray.”

“Yes, Mom.” She picked up the bowl of peanuts, aware of a strong desire to burst out laughing. How had her redemption turned out to be all about Vadim? “Let’s hope.”

She walked through into the family room and found Vadim in conversation with Scott and Julie. He looked up and she grinned at him. Within a second he was by her side.

“What’s so funny?”

“This.”

“Your family?”

“My mom just told me you would probably stray. Should I arrange to have you neutered?”

His smile was breathtaking. “You know you’d regret that.”

“Will you stray?”

He held her gaze. “Never.”

She swallowed hard as the echo of his spoken word reverberated through her mind. “That’s kind of scary and reassuring at the same time.”

“Will you?”

“Will I what?”

“Stray.”

“Hell, no.”

He bent his head and kissed her hard on the mouth. “Then what do we have to worry about?”

“Apart from crazy Otherworld sects, our dangerous jobs and your family? Nothing much.” She shook her head. “In fact, when you think about it, my family is easy.”

“Exactly, so let’s just relax and enjoy the rest of the day.”

Much later, she closed the door of the guest bedroom and stared at Vadim. It came complete with pink roses on the wallpaper and Austrian swag drapes. For the first time in years she’d actually enjoyed an evening with her family, and it was all due to Vadim. His attitude toward her and his excellent manners had almost made them behave like a regular family celebrating a normal family occasion.

“They still drive me nuts.”

He appeared to follow her thoughts even as he stripped off his T-shirt, displaying his flat stomach and perfect abs. “Of course they do. They’re your family.”

“Is it true that both your siblings are dead?”

“Yes.”

“That must’ve been horrible for you.”

“Yes.”

She raised her eyebrows. “That’s all you’re going to say?”

“What would you like me to say?”

“Do you miss them?”

“Our relationship was...difficult. They were allied with my father. My sister worshipped my brother and hated me.”

“Why?”

He shrugged. “Because I was the eldest?”

“That’s stupid.”

“Families often are. Your mother doesn’t appreciate you at all.”

“Because I disrupted her life.”

“But that was hardly your fault, was it?”

He held her gaze and she hurriedly looked down at the buttons on her dress. “I can’t believe how she fawns over you, though.”

“I am rather spectacular.” His smile was wicked as he unbuckled his belt and unzipped his jeans to reveal his already erect cock.

“You sure are. Spectacularly arrogant.” Ella shrugged out of her jacket and dress. “Do you want to shower?”

“Let’s do that later. I have to fulfill your fantasy first.”

She paused. “Which one?”

“Having sex under your parents’ roof.”

“I was kidding.”

“No you weren’t.” His gaze fastened on her bra and the tight buds of her nipples. “Maybe I’ll make you scream when you come, so they’ll hear you.”

“And make my dad all awkward over his breakfast cereal?”

He advanced toward her. “Then you’ll have to keep quiet, won’t you? And I know how difficult that is for you.”

He moved even closer until he was right in front of her. One gentle push on her chest and she was flat on her back, with him covering her. She couldn’t help grinning up at him as he lowered his head. Who would ever have imagined sex could be so much fun?

“Now, lie back and enjoy, Ms. Walsh, and for God’s sake, keep it down.”