Chapter 21
“Take the necklace off,” Drake mumbled, his hand reaching out to touch her, but stopping short.
Aidirian watched the exchange, not liking that the man was going to bite her, but other thoughts floated through his mind, others that had to deal with Celeste’s safety. He took a step forward, just enough to bring the vamps attention to him and off Celeste. “She keeps the necklace.”
Drake’s finger reached out, tracing the area where her necklace was. “It will get in the way.”
“No,” Aidirian said, “it won’t, because you’ll drink from her wrist.”
He saw the subtle freezing of the vampire, but didn’t comment on it. Had the others noticed it? Had they saw what he saw, understood what he did? They should, seeing as they were all a little younger than he was. They should know what is happening just from experience. So, why was he the only one doing something about it? Once he dealt with Drake, he would put the others to the test. See if they were worthy of being around Celeste.
“I prefer the neck.”
“And I prefer that you don’t bite her at all,” Aidirian replied, taking another step towards the man and Celeste. “Bite her wrist.”
“Aidirian,” Celeste started, sending him a look that told him that she didn’t understand what was happening.
She was too naïve, something he would have to rid her of if she planned to fight this battle. He wished he could let her keep her naivety; it was a part of her that he loved, but he wanted her safe. If that meant showing her what the world was truly like, uncovering the truth, that was what he would do, and he would start here.
“Bite her.”
Drake shifted on his feet, looking at the others before settling his eyes on Aidirian. “I would prefer to take my payment in another form than blood, a favor.”
“Bite her,” Aidirian demanded.
When the vampire shook his head, Aidirian knew he was going to flee before the man himself knew. Diamond bars formed around all the exits from the room. The whole in the wall was filled with it; the front door was filled with it. Diamond wouldn’t keep the vampire in for long, but it was enough to keep the man from escaping before Aidirian could make his point.
“You did that?” Celeste asked, and when he nodded, she smiled at him before raising her hand. “I guess I’ll get more of these if you can pull this off.”
He laughed at her, but didn’t let the exchange distract him. Celeste fall from heaven had made her feel free, but it also made her vulnerable. Looking at Drake, Aidirian motioned towards Celeste. “You don’t want to bite her, fine. I don’t want you too either. Hell, I don’t even want you to touch her, but you will.”
“Why would I touch her?” Drake asked, a nervous chuckle leaving his lips.
Aidirian shrugged, walking until his stood directly in front of the man. “That necklace that Celeste is wearing is something else, isn’t it? See, you all might not know exactly how it works, but I’ve heard tales. Some that may be true, while others may be false. One that I am inclined to believe says that one who means her no harm can touch her with no harm to themselves.”
“Daryn touched the necklace, and he was harmed,” Celeste mumbled.
He took a second to glance back at her and smile before he turned back to Drake. “He touched the necklace and was harmed. He can touch you, and has, if he wishes you no harm.” He stopped, watching the vampire’s color turn a little paler. “Touch her, Drake,” he whispered.
The vampire shook his head, denying the command. “Touch her, Drake.” He shook his head once more, and that was good enough of an answer for Aidirian. His hand rose, empty when the vampire looked into it, but as Aidirian swung it towards Drake’s heart, the wooden stake formed. It slid through Drake’s ribs, hitting his heart directly. As the vampire’s ash fell to the ground, Aidirian let the stake disappear.
“The rest of you now,” Aidirian said, motioning towards Celeste. “Touch her.”
Innocence blinked at him, a smile on her face. Turning towards Celeste, she bounced towards her. “I like him. I really, really like him.” Her small hand reached out, running down Celeste’s cheek, to her chin, and down to her neck. The fae wrapped her hand around Celeste’s throat, right above the necklace. “Why would anyone want to hurt you?” she whispered, loud enough for Aidirian to hear her. It took everything in his power to stay still as the fae continued to speak. “Such beautiful wings are worshiped in our land. It is why we really fight with you, your gold.”
Her hand dropped from Celeste’s throat, and an audible breath escaped a few people’s mouths. It seemed that it wasn’t just Aidirian that was creeped out by the little fae. Innocence still stood there though, not looking as if she was going to move. When Celeste took a step around the fae and walked towards him, Innocence followed. Stopping next to him, Celeste grabbed his hand. “What is she doing?”
“Ask her,” he mumbled, keeping his eyes on Innocence.
Celeste cleared her throat while glancing at the other female. “Why are you following me?”
Innocence smiled a smile that was filled with happiness. “If I stand next to you, maybe your Jinn will allow me to kill the next who wants you to die.”
“Oh,” Celeste breathed before shaking her head as if to clear it. Turning towards the others in the room, she motioned them over. “Let’s get this over with.”
Antonio was the first to step forward, an apologetic look on his face. “If I knew that he way lying when he promised to protect you, I would have killed him long ago.”
“It’s okay, Antonio,” she whispered, a small smile on her face.
Not hesitating, Antonio reached out and hugged her, pulling her grip from Aidirian’s. Aidirian watched the display, unimpressed. “Touch her skin,” he said, while the two of them hugged.
Antonio looked at him from over Celeste shoulders, a glare on his face. “I understand you are doing this because you care for her, but it’s starting to get annoying.”
“Touch her skin.”
Standing there, he watched as the vampire, whose arms were still wrapped around her, lowered his hands until the touched the edge of her shirt. Aidirian knew what the man would do next. Antonio lifted the shirt slightly, his finger sliding against Celeste’s back. “Happy?”
“No,” Aidirian answered honestly, “but you made your point.”
Antonio tightened his grip once more before letting Celeste go. Nodding at Aidirian, the vampire stepped away. Far enough to be out of the way, but close enough to be of help if it was needed.
“Daryn,” Celeste said, a smile in her voice.
The man sauntered towards her, a large grin on his face. “No dramatics for me,” he said as he stopped in front of her. He reached out, grabbing her face in his hands before pecking her on the lips. He pulled away faster than Celeste could even move.
Aidirian could practically see the glare forming on her face as she froze in shock. He didn’t have to see her expression to know what it would look like. “You didn’t even have to touch me,” she reminded.
Daryn just shrugged, the same grin steady on his face. “And pass on the opportunity? Never. Go on, Star, but touch her hand. We have business to attend to.”
Star did her own version of a saunter as she walked towards Celeste. As she past Daryn, she let her hand trail across his back. Stopping in front of Celeste, she smiled. “A kiss would be nice; you have enough energy to feed me for a year, but Daryn’s orders.” Her hand touched Celeste’s, and when nothing happened, she removed it before turning to walk back towards Daryn.
“Happy?” Daryn asked, repeating Antonio’s question from before.
“No,” Aidirian answered again. “Where is your incubus?”
“On the job,” Daryn said with an unworried shrug, “but when he is done corrupting, I’ll send him here. If you’ll excuse us, Star needs a little nourishment.”
Celeste looked at Aidirian before locking her eyes on Daryn. “I thought she was going to feed on me?”
“No,” Star answered before Daryn could say a word. “He took care of my payment. Believe me,” the woman said, staring at Daryn’s body with a grin. “It is something that I’ve been wanting for a while.”
Daryn’s arm wrapped around Star’s shoulders. “There is your answer. Now, may we leave?”
Nodding, Aidirian motioned towards the doorway. The diamond bars that were once there disappeared. He stood there, watching as Daryn and Star left, feeling satisfied that the two of them truly were on their side. He needed as much power as he could get to keep her safe.
“I didn’t get to kill anyone,” Innocence mumbled, tears in her eyes.
Celeste reached out, patting the fae on the shoulder. “Don’t worry. If you hang around me a little longer, I’m sure someone will appear that needs killing.”
“Really?” Innocence asked, her eyes wide and filled with hope.
“Really,” Celeste answered, a kind smile on her face.
Aidirian shook his head at the exchange. When she had fallen, she definitely did not lose her heart. It took a very caring person to be able to treat Innocence the way she was, but Celeste’s words rang true. Aidirian knew that they may be safe now, but as long as Celeste was out in the open, she wasn’t safe.