Stefan filled in. “Has problems accepting what she has become? Or worse, what if she is not the true one you seek and is now completely deranged?”
“She is the true one. Can you not see her presence, her light, in me already? She has given me life, light, emotion. I see colors once more, and they are radiant. I feel things, everything from anger to a melting warmth. She has returned the world to me. She will wake as one of my people, and yes, I expect considerable resistance from her, but not in front of the child. She loves him very much, and she will try to appear as normal as possible for him. He has been her prime motivation for years, and he will continue to be so. It will be as important for her to see him as for the child to see her. I suspect that if Joshua can accept me into his life, that will be half the battle.”
“Aidan!” Joshua ran into the room and flung his arms around Aidan’s legs. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you. Marie told me where your bedroom is on the third floor, but you weren’t there.”
“I told you to stay out of Mr. Savage’s rooms,” Marie said with her best scolding tone, but there was no way to conceal the warmth in her expression.
Joshua looked a bit ashamed but answered her with spirit. “I’m sorry, Marie, but I have to find Alexandria. You know where she is, don’t you, Aidan?” he asked.
The Carpathian male rested his hands gently on the boy’s silky curls. His heart twisted, a funny, melting sensation. There was so much trust and faith in those blue eyes looking up at him. “Yes, Josh. She is still asleep. I want you to give her another hour or so to rest, and then I’ll bring her to you. How is that?”
“Is she all better? I’ve been afraid she wouldn’t come back—you know, like Henry and my mom and dad.” The young voice trembled with fear.
“Alexandria is not going to leave you, Josh,” Aidan assured him quietly. “She will always be here, and we will look after her together so that nothing will ever take her from either of us. You know I will always protect her, and I am not easily defeated. No one will take her from the two of us. Is that a deal?”
Joshua grinned up at him trustingly. “We’re best friends, aren’t we, Aidan? You, me, and Alexandria.”
“We are more than best friends, Joshua,” Aidan replied soberly. “All of us who live in this house are a family.”
“Marie says you want me to go to a new school.”
Aidan nodded. “I think it would be best. The one you were attending is far from here, and the school we have in mind for you is very good. You will have friends and good teachers there.”
“What does Alexandria say? She usually takes me to school. She thinks it’s dangerous for me to go by myself.”
“Not this school. In any case, Stefan and Marie will go with you if you like. They will escort you there every day until you feel comfortable with the arrangement.”
“I want you to go with me if Alex can’t take me.” Joshua managed a decent pout.
Aidan laughed softly. “You little devil. I can see you are used to getting your way. Alexandria is a soft touch where you are concerned, is she not?”
Joshua shrugged, then laughed, too. “Yeah, she lets me have just about anything I want, and she never gets mad when I don’t do what I’m supposed to do. Sometimes she tries to yell at me, but she always ends up hugging me instead.”
“I think you need the firm hand of a man in your life, young Joshua,” Aidan said, reaching down to lift the boy up to his broad shoulders. “A great big strong man who will not take all your nonsense.”
Joshua’s arms circled Aidan’s neck. “You don’t ever yell either.”
“No, but I mean what I say when I say it, right?”
“Yeah,” Josh admitted. “But I still think you should take me to school when I have to go.”
“I have to stay here to make certain your sister does everything she is supposed to do to get well. Her illness was very dangerous, and we have to be very careful for a few days. She can be quite stubborn, as you know.” Aidan said the last with a conspiratorial wink.
Joshua nodded with a small smile. “I know if you’re with her, nothing bad can happen to her. I’ll go to school with Marie and Stefan. Of course, if you took me, all the other kids would think I have a big daddy, and they wouldn’t try to pick on me.” He shrugged. “But Stefan’s big. Maybe he’ll work.”
“I am certain Stefan will scare off any bullies. But this is a nice school, Joshua, with nice children. No one carries weapons, and no one is going to try to hurt you there. If something like that were to happen, you would come to me right away and tell me.” The golden eyes stared directly into the blue ones.
Joshua nodded. “I would tell you, Aidan.” He blinked and squirmed until Aidan put him down. “Marie said dinner was ready. She’s a good cook, better than Alex, but don’t tell Alex, ‘cuz it’ll hurt her feelings. Are you going to eat with us tonight?”
Aidan found himself grinning for no reason at all. He suddenly felt as if he had a family for the first time. People had cared for him for centuries, been loyal to him, and that had helped keep him a part of the world of sanity. Now, though, he had more than mere loyalty, fine as that was. He had emotions choking him, tearing at him, warming him. He loved it, even as he found it somewhat overwhelming. “We will never tell Alexandria that one,” he agreed solemnly.
Marie took Joshua’s hand. “He just compliments me so he can stay in my good graces. He likes to lick the frosting bowl.”
Joshua was shaking his head so hard, his blond curls bounced. His voice was solemn, his eyes earnest. “No, Marie, it’s really true. Alexandria is a terrible cook. She burns everything.”
Chapter Five
She heard noises first. A drum beating. Wood creaking. Water running. Whispers of conversations, rumbling car engines, and the distant laughter of a child. Alexandria lay perfectly still, not daring to open her eyes. She knew she wasn’t alone. She knew it was night. She knew the drum beating was her own heart—and that of another in a synchronized rhythm. She knew the conversation she could hear so clearly was taking place at a distance from her, on the first floor, in the kitchen. She knew the child laughing was Joshua.
She didn’t know how she knew these things, and it terrified her. She could smell cookies and spice. She could smell... him. Aidan Savage. He was there watching her with his beautiful eyes. Liquid gold. Penetrating. All-seeing. She let herself breathe. Hiding like a frightened child beneath the covers was not going to change anything. She was whatever he had made her. And he had somehow made her... not human. But, the voracious hunger now crawling through her body in a way she had never known was a fact she had to deal with.
Her long lashes lifted, and the first thing she saw was his face. It was amazing how beautiful he was, in a purely masculine way. She studied him carefully, thoroughly. He was strong and powerful. It was there, all of it, the violent nature hidden just beneath all that civilized charm. His eyes were like a cat’s, golden orbs, unblinking and steady, lashes long. He had a strong chin, an elegant nose. His lips were very defined, inviting, his teeth exceptionally white. His hair was a tawny mane of shimmering gold flowing to his broad shoulders. His muscles were ropey and rippled when he moved. But now he remained utterly still, like a part of the room, almost blending in, watching her intently. He was a magnificent predator. She knew he was, knew there was no other quite like him.
She touched her tongue to her lips to moisten them. “So, what do we do now?”
“I need to teach you our ways.”
His voice was quiet and matter-of-fact. Did that mean people turned into vampires every day? Alexandria sat up tentatively. Her body was sore and stiff but not agonized as it had been before. She stretched her muscles gingerly, testing them. “I don’t have any desire to learn your ways.” She glanced up at him, a flash of blue eyes quickly concealed by long lashes. “You tricked me. You knew I thought I would become... human again.”