Trust Me When the Sun Goes Down: Forged Bloodlines, #8

Copyright © 2014 Lisa Olsen, all rights reserved.

Cover Image licensed by Depositphotos.com/Eaniton

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This is a work of fiction.  Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination, or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.  The use of any real person, company or product names are for literary effect only and used without permission.  The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for third-party websites or their content.

Visit the author’s website at http://www.lisaolsen.net

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Acknowledgements

Okay, so I know I say this every time, but this book wouldn’t be in your hands so quickly without my editing team who blasted through this one!  Beckie Pimentel of Lady Bex Editing Services, Marilyn Weaver, James Olsen, Randi Pandi and Laveda Kasch.  Thanks to all my Streetbots for spreading the love and to Laveda for organizing the blog tour to help launch this sucker and generally pimping me like I was her favorite bitch.  Thanks to the Captain for being made of awesome, as usual, on the designs and formatting. 

Chapter One

Anja... Rob tried again, silencing me with a kiss when I kept right on talking. 

Yes? I breathed when he released my mouth.

I love you and I don’t care much who knows it no more.  The quiet torture behind his eyes that I’d come to expect was gone, replaced with something I’d glimpsed only a handful of times since I’d known him.  Happiness.  All of a sudden the pain in my arm didn’t seem to matter, nothing mattered because we’d won.  We were finally free.  Not without scars, but all of us had a chance to heal and be happy now with both Ellri effectively gone. 

I could get used to hearing you say that, I beamed, leaning close to steal another kiss.  No... not steal, because there were no more furtive moments between us any longer.  These kisses were freely taken and given, without the threat of torture or death, and it felt glorious! 

But despite the newfound freedom, I started to think this wasn’t the best place in the world to get too kissy, what with Hanna sobbing in the corner in Lee’s arms and Bishop sitting there on the couch like a lump.  And that’s when it dawned on me, he’d been sitting there for an awfully long time. 

Bishop, are you alright?  He made no move to acknowledge me and I let go of Rob to approach him, worry gathering in the pit of my stomach.  Bishop, is there something wrong?

He looked up at me, his green eyes haunted.  I know what Lodinn said, his final taunt to Jakob.

The worry did a flip-flop and turned into a hard ball of fear.  What is it?  What’s so awful?

She’s still alive.  Carys is still out there alive somewhere.

Sweet zombie Jesus, Carys was still alive?  Of all the things he could’ve announced, that was the one guaranteed to make my jaw hit the floor, and it was several seconds before I could muster a reply.  But how could that be?  Aubrey saw... 

Exactly what Lodinn wanted him to see.  He led me to her ashes and I never questioned it, not once.  I never thought...  Bishop’s words trailed off, deep in thought. 

I traded looks with Rob, neither one of us sure what to say.  The idea of Bishop’s Sire being alive and well after all those years was definitely a game changer for most of the people I knew – if it was even the genuine article.  Do you think he was telling the truth? I finally asked as gently as I could.  Lodinn wasn’t exactly the poster boy for honesty.  I mean, he could’ve been trying to get a rise out of Jakob, one last dig before he bit the big one, you know?

I don’t know.  Bishop slumped there for long moments before he shook himself out of it.  Pushing himself up to his feet, his entire body took on an I’m outta here cast. 

Are you going after her?

What? he blinked, my question drawing him out of whatever mental plan of action he had going.  No, that part of my life is long past.  I’ll leave it to Jakob to go chasing after old ghosts.

Was he for real?  I knew what Carys had meant to him, even if most of the memories were more bad than good.  But she’s your Sire, I started to say and he cut me off with a wave of the hand.

And my obligation to her ended hundreds of years ago.  My life is with the Order now.  His gaze swung up to focus on Rob, whose hand splayed possessively around my waist.  Especially now.

I could understand why he didn’t want to stick around and watch my happy ever after with Rob, but how could he ignore the possibility of finding Carys after all this time?  Especially if she was trapped somewhere against her will by Lodinn?  Come on, Bishop, if anyone can find her, it’s you.  He had the resources and he had the skills.

It’s really not my problem, Anja, I’m not her lapdog any more.  Let Jakob scour the ends of the Earth to try to find her, I have to be getting back to Rome, he muttered, already moving to the door, and I rushed after him, uneasy with his whole blasé attitude.  There had to be something deeper going on behind those green eyes of his, the Bishop I knew wasn’t this detached.

Wait, don’t go like this.  You’ve had a big shock.  It’s understandable if you’re still sorting through how you feel about it.  If you need to talk...

Thanks all the same, but I think it’s for the best if I just go.  Bishop glanced at the ruined mess of Lodinn’s corpse on my parlor floor and my sister Hanna still quietly crying onto Lee’s shoulder.  Good luck.

That’s it, you’re leaving?  Like it’s no big deal?  How could he be so cold?

He hesitated at the door, a furrow of something that might be pain crumpling his brow but a scant second later it was gone, the light of love I’d come to expect returning to his eyes.  Goodbye, Anja.  Be safe.  He leaned down to kiss my forehead in a chaste benediction. 

Bye, I whispered, unbearably sad at the defeat I saw in his face after he’d seemed to find a sort of peace not too long ago.  But maybe he was right, I was the last person he should be unburdening himself to about his conflicted feelings for Carys. I only hoped he found a way to deal with it that didn’t leave it to fester and rot inside. 

Hey, Bishop? I called to him once he was halfway down the front walk.  Thanks.  For everything.

You know where I am if you need me, he smiled with a shadow of his old self. 

Rob materialized by my side as I watched Bishop stride away.  You and me is gonna have words later as to why he was included in this venture and not me.  But for now, I reckon we should do something about this mess, yeah?  His head jerked to where Lodinn lay inside. 

He was making a fairly large stain on my hardwood floor.  What should we do with him?  Bury him in the back yard?  Cut him up into wafer thin slices and put him down the garbage disposal?  We couldn’t call the usual cleaner squad, not without inviting a whole lot of questions as to why an Ellri lay dead on my parlor floor.  Even with his heart outside of his body, I couldn’t quite relax enough to believe he was completely gone for good.

How about we light the bastard on fire? Hanna sniffed, swiping at her wet cheeks with the back of her hand.  Of everyone present, she had the most motivation to see him dead and gone for good.

That’s not half bad, Rob considered aloud.  It’s one way to make sure he don’t come back.

Never mind the fact that we were in a drought and uncontrolled burning was strictly verboten in California, I felt fairly sure I could fudge it if anyone reported me to the officials.  Besides, it wasn’t like we were about to build him a huge pyre and burn him Darth Vader style.  A little lighter fluid and his natural flammability should take care of it with nary a scorch to my back patio. 

Let’s do it, I decided.  Rob, would you mind...?  I would’ve offered to help, but my broken arm still hurt something fierce.  Not bad enough that I felt the need to lunge for Lee or Hanna, thanks to Jakob’s blood, but enough that I didn’t want to try lifting dead bodies. 

Rob didn’t seem to mind the request and rolled Lodinn up in the ruined rug, toting him out the back door, easy peasey.  I wrapped an arm around Hanna’s shoulders as Lee went off in search of a lighter and by the time we got outside, Rob was already dousing the soiled carpet with lighter fluid.  We watched wordlessly, everyone’s mood somber as he prepared the morbid bonfire.  Without being asked, Rob grabbed a hose and wet down the grass surrounding the courtyard, in case any wandering embers touched down on the neighboring gardens, and then it was time. 

Anyone feel the need to say any words? Lee asked, holding the lighter out to me.

He doesn’t deserve any words, Hanna growled, her voice low and almost unrecognizable to me as she snatched the lighter out of his hand and bent to set the rug on fire.  The blaze instantly caught with a rush of air, and I dashed in to grab her by the waist and pull her to safety before the flames licked at her clothes or hair.  The rug itself was consumed quickly, fed from within as Lodinn’s combustible body caught fire. 

Thick, black smoke billowed, the lack of a breeze making it linger to burn the eyes and throat.  Luckily, I didn’t have to breathe and neither did Rob, but Lee and Hanna ducked under their arms, starting to cough.  Lee produced a handkerchief, pressing it to his nose and mouth while I started to lead Hanna away to the safety of the house.  Only she pulled free with surprising strength, a light of panic coming into her eyes. 

No, I need to see him, I need to see him burn.  I need to know it’s really over, she wailed. 

In the space between one heartbeat and the next, Mason appeared, plucking her out of my grasp to enfold her in his strong embrace.  It’s really over.  He’s gone, kitten, he murmured into her hair, eyes closing in relief as she turned into his chest, the tears coming in earnest again.

I teared up a bit myself, watching them together, and I felt Rob take my hand and give it a gentle squeeze.  All of a sudden it occurred to me –where was Gunnar?  If Lodinn’s hold over Hanna was gone now that he was dead, shouldn’t we be hearing from him soon? 

Shaking my hand free of Rob’s hold, I dug out my cell, awkwardly pulling up his number with one hand.  Rob lost the miffed expression on his face as soon as he spotted the bodyguard’s picture on my display, replaced by a keen interest that was quickly thwarted by Gunnar’s voicemail.  Disappointment surged and I left a brief message, asking for him to call me as soon as he was able. 

Of course, there was one person who might know where Gunnar was.  Hanna? I said gently, not wanting to disturb her and Mason, but if Lodinn had Gunnar tied up somewhere, I wanted to go get him.  Do you know where Gunnar is?

She shook her head, peeping out from under Mason’s arm.  I have no idea.  He wasn’t around at all for the last few days.

I felt the color drain from my face as the worst case scenario shoved its way into the forefront of my thoughts.  He’s not... Lodinn didn’t...  It was almost too awful to say.  He’d have no reason to kill him, right?  I mean, not without making a big show of power to me first.  Gunnar had to be alive, I couldn’t lose another friend.

I wish I knew, Anja, Hanna shrugged.  One day he just wasn’t there anymore.  I didn’t think to ask where he went.

I’m sure we’ll hear from him in no time, Rob said softly.  He might not be near a phone is all.

That makes sense, Lee agreed.  Or he might be stashed away where it’s still daylight out.

I shot them both a grateful look.  I hadn’t thought of that.  We know where his house is in Pacifica, I guess we can start off looking there.  Hanna, did he take you anywhere else while you were with him?

He took me... She swallowed, the words getting caught in her throat as memories clawed their way to the surface.  He um, one time he took me to the Fairmont.  And last night we... he took me and...  She swallowed again, choking back a sob and Mason rubbed her back in soothing circles. 

Don’t worry about it, sweetheart, you don’t have to get into it, he said, sending me a pointed stare.  We’ll find him on our own.  You should get some rest, you’ve been through a lot these past few weeks.  Why don’t you let me take you home?

I don’t... I don’t want to go with you.  Hanna looked up at him, her eyes clouding with tears.  I’m sorry, she said, her voice barely above a whisper.  I can’t...  Pulling out of his arms, she ran for the safety of the house, those of us with vampire hearing tracking her movements up to the bedroom where she dissolved into racking sobs. 

Mason stared after her, unmoving, the flicker of dying firelight emphasizing the scars on his face, grown fainter, but it would take a long time for them to disappear entirely.  Finally, he heaved a sigh and lumbered away.

Mason, I’m sure she’ll come around, I called out after him.  She just needs time after everything she’s been through.  I know he heard me, but his footsteps didn’t slow. This sucks.  There has to be something we can do to help them find their way back to each other.

It’s bollocks is what it is, Rob muttered his assent. "Don’t neither one of them deserve the hand they’ve been dealt. Fucking Ellri, always messing in people’s lives."

Ain’t that the truth, Lee nodded.  But we can count ourselves lucky to be rid of them both for now, he pointed out.  I reckon I’d better go on in and make some calls, get someone out to take a gander at Lodinn’s house.  And Miss Maggie’ll be chompin’ at the bit to hear we survived the night.

Thanks, Lee, I’d appreciate that, I said with an appreciative smile, unable to go in myself until the last ember was extinguished.  Even then, I intended to scatter his ashes as far as I could.  Rob stood by my side, his fingers laced through mine, offering his own stoic brand of comfort until the last pile of ash stopped smoldering.  Then he simply turned on the hose again and washed the remnants of the Ellri into the rain gutter behind the house, down into the sewers where he belonged. 

What shall we do now? he asked after tossing the hose aside, and I wrapped my good arm around his waist, leading him back to the house. 

"What do you want to do now?"  I posed the question, arching a single brow.  It was early yet, the rest of the night stretching before us. 

The hint of a smile played around his lips as he caught onto my meaning.  Seems a bit crass to talk of celebration after all that’s been lost, but...

But part of you wants to giggle like a little girl with a new pony?  I smiled, affected by the jumble of emotions as much as he was.  Yes, I feel it too.  It’s almost too much to take in, the idea that Lodinn’s dead and Jakob’s gone and we’re both here alive – well, technically undead – but free to do whatever we want. 

What you are meaning, Jakob is gone?  On silent feet, Nelleke stepped out of the shadows, and Rob tensed before he realized who it was.  The statuesque blonde was still dressed for battle, her chin length hair braided away from her face. 

Chapter Two

He’s gone, he left as soon as Lodinn was killed.

Then it is finished?

Yep, nothing left of him but dust. 

The tension went out of her shoulders and her hands relaxed.  Maeja will be much pleased of this, she said with a nod of approval.  Jakob has proven himself.

He had help, I pointed out, miffed that Jakob was getting all the credit for my master plan, and Rob seemed to share my affront.

Just a bit, he muttered. 

There is being much cause for celebration.  I will give my respects when you honor him.

"No, Jakob’s gone, gone, I explained, realizing she had no idea of the demands I’d placed on Jakob for healing his wounds with Maeja’s blood.  He left the West for good.  See, that was part of the terms for my saving his life.  He agreed to finally leave me alone."

Several emotions flitted across her face, too fleeting to process before her expression shuttered, her brows pinching together.  I must go. 

Wait, I called out, blocking her path.  Nell, is something wrong?  She’d been acting weird ever since we pulled up to the house and she’d refused to go into battle.  I’d chalked it up to fear at the time, but now I wasn’t so sure.

Leave me to pass, I must find him.

Who, Jakob?  I imagine he’s at home packing.  It shouldn’t be all that hard to find him.  I don’t think he’s running scared, more than likely Jakob’s more concerned with feeding and recharging before he goes anywhere.  In fact, I’ll be surprised if he leaves without another word.  Or several of them. Jakob did like to make his public appearances.  I only hoped he didn’t stir up too much controversy with the locals before he finally moved on. 

"Still, I can no longer avoid this.  I must not fail.  Where is Gungnir?"

It’s back in the house.  What have you been avoiding?  All of a sudden it hit me.  Are you supposed to kill Jakob with it? I squeaked, eyes wide. 

No, of course not. She looked aghast at the suggestion. 

"It’s not just because he’s an Ellri, is it?  You want to see what all the fuss is about?"  I supposed I couldn’t blame her, plenty of others seemed to feel the same way. Though growing up with Maeja in her village, I wouldn’t have taken her for an Ellri groupie. 

Nelleke’s voice dropped to little more than a whisper.  He is my father.

My jaw dropped, and I felt Rob’s sharp intake of breath beside me, just as shocked.  How is that possible? I thought he was pretty much banned from the vale.

It is true, Maeja is forbidding his return since his poor treatment of her.  It is nearly two hundred years since he is come to the village.

Then... did he meet your mother out somewhere else in the world?  I remembered she’d once told me she’d gone to college in Oslo for a few years before returning home. 

No, my mother never leave the vale since before then, she said softly.

I was still wrapping my head around that when Rob made the intuitive leap I’d missed.  Maeja ain’t just your boss-lady.  She’s your mum, ain’t she? he prompted.

That meant Nelleke had to be at least a couple of hundred years old.  With Ellri blood on both sides, that was understandable, but I was too stunned to do more than goggle at her.  With Jakob as my Sire, and her his daughter, what relation did that make us?  It was enough to make my head spin.

I have this honor, yes, Nell admitted with a proud tilt of the chin.

Is that why they fought?  Because he didn’t want to have anything to do with her having a baby?  I could’ve sworn he said he didn’t have any descendents.  Are you sure Maeja told him she was pregnant?

I am not knowing what was said between them, I only know she still carries the scars from the loving.  She shook her head. 

I’m guessing it has something to do with him being a right wanker, Rob smirked, but Nelleke didn’t find much to smile about.

I must go.

Wait, Nell, what are you going to do?  Are you going to tell him? I asked, wondering how Jakob might take the news after such a crazy night.  Would he welcome her with open arms, or brush her off?  He’d seemed wholly uninterested in the idea of any descendents he might have, but that was when we’d been talking about them in the abstract.  Having a flesh and blood daughter standing in front of him, he might react very differently.

I am thinking this is a big mistake in my coming here.  You are finished with the spear, I am taking it home.

But you came all this way.  Do you want me to go with you?  I can make him sit down and listen to you.

She suddenly looked like she was going to be sick.  No, please, do not say anything to him of this.  I go back where I belong now.

I couldn’t imagine coming so far and not even meeting my own father, but I wasn’t going to force her to stay and hash it out with him.  Fine, we won’t say a word.  But if you’re ever in this neck of the woods again, come and see us.  There’s always a place for you here if you decide you want to be out in the world again.

I will remember this, she said, laying a hand over her chest, her shoulders squaring.  Luck to you, shieldmaiden of Odin. 

Luck to you in your quest, Nelleke, I replied just as formally before giving her an encouraging smile.  But give him a chance.  Jakob might be a bastard about some things, but I can guarantee he doesn’t know you exist.  Whatever slights he might’ve delivered to Maeja, it doesn’t have anything to do with you.

She nodded, offering the briefest of smiles before she stalked off into the house, almost running into Lee as he opened the back door.

You takin’ off, Nelly?  The party’s just gettin’ started, Lee grinned.

Yes, I must take my leave and return home.

Well, that’s a cryin’ shame.  Don’t think you’re gettin’ out of here without a hug, darlin’, the old shifter drawled, pulling her close. The two stayed pressed together longer than I would’ve thought, and Nell looked misty eyed when they pulled apart.  I’ll walk ya out.

Goodbye, Nell.  I hope we meet again, I called out after her and she turned with a final smile.

Who can say what the future will bring?

You can say that again, I muttered, giving Rob’s hand a squeeze.

Let’s get you inside to take care of that arm, yeah?

My body had already started to heal the break, thanks to the strength of Jakob’s blood, but he was right, I’d need to feed before I regained full use of it.  A cup or two of bagged blood and I’ll be fine, I assured him, feeling his concern like a palpable thing. 

You sure that’s what you need?  He raised a single brow.  Don’t seem like it’s enough.

I hardly think Lee’s in a giving mood and I’m definitely not asking Hanna, I snorted. 

Wasn’t what I had in mind. 

All of a sudden I understood the extra benefits of exactly what Rob offered, and it sent a rush of awareness through me.  The rest of the night stretched out before us, full of possibilities.  Except for I had to remember that the tinge of warmth coming from my hand in his had more to do with his own need to feed than any excitement he might have from the idea of sharing blood.  My eyes narrowed as I fixed him with a penetrating stare.  You haven’t fed tonight, have you? 

Rob shrugged, less concerned over that fact.  Came straight over as soon as I found out what you was up to. 

Then the last thing you need to be doing is offering up your blood or anything else until we take care of that.  Come on, let’s go into the kitchen and I’ll get us both fixed up.

He allowed himself to be tugged along, lack of enthusiasm written all over his face.  I’ll pass, but you go on ahead. 

While I didn’t enjoy the gloppy bagged blood all that much either, it was the simplest solution.  But it wasn’t all that late yet, and I wasn’t so hurt I couldn’t go out to eat if he preferred, as long as we took it easy.   

Do you feel like going out hunting instead? 

Let’s get you fixed up first and then we can talk about that, he said, steering me into the kitchen.  I don’t want you out and about unless you’re up to strength.  I can wait a bit and get something later.

There wasn’t any reason not to let him go hunt by himself, only I wasn’t eager to part company with him yet, not after everything we’d been through.  How about we both have a snack here and then we can decide whether to go out or not?

Fair enough, he nodded, fetching two mugs from the cupboard.  I filled both and set them in the microwave to warm up, adding a dash of cinnamon to mask the plasticky taste.  He still made a face when he took the first sip though. 

Do you want me to put a dash of my blood into it to make it taste better, like you used to do for me? I teased, quickly downing my cup and warming up another.  Not that I was hungry, but I was eager to regain the full use of my arm. 

I’d rather have it straight from the source, he grumbled, tipping his mug up to get the last drips out of it. 

I can make you another cup if you’re still hungry, I offered, taking the mug out of his hands and refilling it to heat up with mine. 

I thought this was meant to be a snack.  Ain’t we going out later?

See, I was sort of thinking we might stay in tonight, I suggested, catching his gaze.  His hazel eyes flashed with heat as he caught onto my meaning. 

Keep talking. 

And I thought that maybe you might want a bit of stamina to help tide you over, I said, pushing the mug across the counter to him, but he ignored the blood, his eyes dropping to my lips with another kind of hunger. 

The things you say, he rumbled, pulling me close for a greedy kiss. There was no hidden danger, no fear of being caught, but it didn’t diminish the thrill one bit.  My mouth met his with equal fervor, a soft sound of need escaping me.  Rob immediately let go of me, his face riddled with guilt. 

I didn’t hurt you, did I?  How’s your arm?

It’s fine, it’s only a tiny bit sore now, I said, flexing my hand and turning my arm experimentally from one way to the other.  It was amazing how quickly we healed what would be a pretty catastrophic injury to a human.  You know, I can’t decide if it’s a good thing or a bad thing that humans don’t know about the healing properties of vampire blood.  Well, about vampires at all, I guess.  Can you imagine how many diseases and life threatening injuries could be healed with a few pints of our blood on tap in hospitals? 

What you going on about now? Rob said, his tone full of open skepticism.  There’s no good to be had in talking that way.  They’d never settle for a few pints, you can be sure of that.  And what would be the benefit to us?  There’s easier ways to make a few bob.

Maybe we could work out some kind of a trade?  Hospitals provide us with a steady supply of blood to feed on and we provide them with a source for our healing blood.  We’d both benefit from something like that.

It’d never work that way. Lee popped up to weigh in with his opinion, dropping a handful of empty beer bottles into the recycling bin.  Take it from someone who knows, it ain’t never the right decision to offer your people up for experimentation.

I know, it was wishful thinking.  I’d seen enough movies on SyFy to know an arrangement like that would end up in a bloodbath for one or both sides.  I just wish we could give something back for all the blood we take, you know?

That’s a sweet thought, darlin’. Lee smiled indulgently. 

Did you reach Maggie?

Yep.  She’ll be back here tomorrow night.  Jakob’s got her making all manner of arrangements for him back at his place. 

I’ll bet.  Ah well, whatever helps him get out on the road, as long as he leaves her here and doesn’t think about taking her with him.

If y’all will excuse me, I think I’d better grab some shuteye while things is quiet.

Goodnight, Lee.  Thanks for your help tonight, we couldn’t have done it without you.

You could’ve, but it’s a pure pleasure to hear, all the same, he winked, disappearing up the back stairs.

Now then, where was we? Rob’s fingers curved into the belt loops of my jeans, pulling me to him. 

We were about to finish our meal. 

I don’t think that’s what I had in mind. 

I have something for you.

Do tell.  The