Roses Wither: Into the Darkness
Fifteen

Chase

Nico and I stood at the car, waiting for everyone to join us. We watched the door as we waited.

“I can feel the power you give off when my child is around you.” He spoke low, not turning away from the door, “She opens something in you.”

“I have no power.” I spoke low, following his lead.

“Do you still not feel it?” His head tilted toward me, but his eyes kept their focus, “It doesn’t matter, you will protect her and keep her safe.”

Those were his final words before Marcus and Nitala emerged.

“You look good.” Marcus grinned up at me as they grew closer.

“I tried.” I grinned and gave a shrug.

I didn’t own a tie, so I had my red dress shirt on, with my black corset and slacks. The corset served one purpose and one alone- to hold my daggers. I never went anywhere without them.

“How have you been, Chase?” Nitala asked me as she looked her arm into her husband’s and Nico kissed her.

“Fine, Your Highness.” I gave the woman a nod, “And you?”

“As the moon shines onto the Earth, I still thrive.” She smiled, as if what she said made any sense.

After all of these centuries, there was something about Nico’s wife that seemed too calm. Too resolved. It didn’t sit easy with me. The woman saw the future and she had no clear explanation of anything.

When Rosa emerged from the castle, I knew it was her before I looked in her direction. I was now highly acute to her presence, in a way I had never been to any other being before.

The red in her hair shown brighter against the deep Ruby shade of her gown. It was pulled back into a tight bun at the top of her head, but there was so much of it that it wrapped around her head like a crown.

Her gown was a cross between the Victorian era and modern, fully revealing her curves and stunning features. She was so beautiful.

I felt other eyes on me and looked away from Rosa for an instant, to chance a glance at her companion, that I was positive would pale in comparison. Then, I stiffened as met the witch’s glare.

How had I not felt her? She had been right in front of me, right in this castle. With Rosa. How had I not felt that damned witch?

Anger rolled through me, along with concern. Emotions that had come to me only decades ago, when I held the infant version of the beautiful Queen for the first time.

Everything in me was suddenly wanting to pull Rosa out of the witch’s grasp. Not only was she a witch, but she was the only remaining witch from the night of battle that lost me two of my brethren. Immortal men, that should be with us now.

That particular witch, the one that walked behind Rosa was the singular remaining loose end I had ever left, and I couldn’t even count her as that, because according to Nico, we were on the same team.

I highly doubted that though, since I took her mother’s head off of her shoulders, then she ran me through. I would have died with my brethren that night, if it wasn’t for Nico.

If this witch had a vendetta against me, all she had to do was tell Rosa what I had done- or worse- hurt Rosa. Is that why she was here? To hurt Rosa in front of me, like I had done to her mother?

If that was the case, and she was here for me, or to hurt my Queen, I would finally get my victory and kill her, as I had intended to do 522 years ago, before I fell.

“Looking good, kiss-ass.” Marcus leaned in teasingly and gave Rosa a kiss on the cheek, as the witch and I glared at each other.

“Say what you will,” She smiled snobbishly at her older brother, “But I get to go into the out.”

“You look stunning, my baby.” Nico gave her a kiss on the cheek.

“See, Father,” She told her father, “I can listen.”

“Only when you get what you want.” He smiled and pulled her in for a hug, then he came away with a dagger and cocked an expectant brow at her as she grinned wickedly.

My eyes darted from the witch to her, where would she-? And then I saw it. And another. And another.

I couldn’t help my snort. This girl was going to dinner with her family, and bringing knives? She even grinned as she was caught with them.

Nico held up the one that had been nestled into her sacral dimple, it must have been sticking out the back of her dess. I could also see the faint outline of a garter, so she had to be wearing one there, and her hair was actually held in place by one, but Nico hadn’t noticed those two.

Her eyes turned to me and she gave me the most beautiful, lazy smile as her silver eyes openly roamed the length of my body.

“You clean up really nice, Chase.” She teasingly grinned, “No leather jacket tonight?”

“No.” I gave her the same appraising look, “I am working tonight, so don’t let my clothing fool you.”

Her face flushed and it made me smile, despite the invisible daggers being thrown at me by the witch.

“This isn’t work.” Nicolae pointed the sharp end of the dagger at me, “You may be The Guard, but you are no longer mine. You are here as my guest. I want people to see you with my children and know they are not to be messed with.” He tossed the dagger to Marcus, who tucked it into his suit, then pointed directly at Rosa who still grinned, “And that one needs supervision at all times.”

“Yes, sir.” I gave a nod and watched as they all climbed into the limo.

I was used to being the hired guard, so I was waiting for everyone else to enter, before climbing in, apparently Rosa was waiting too, but for what, I had no idea.

Once the witch and Marcus were inside the limo I watched her stand to face the setting sun. She was so beautiful. The flushed color the lighting gave her skin, had me staring.

She was so utterly stunning that, if I had been breathing, she would have stopped my breath.

She must have felt my lingering gaze and turned to smile at me, her cheeks turning flushed again.

“Sorry.” Her smile was so weighted, “These moments are far and few between now.”

I watched her and when I didn’t say anything, she gave a slight nod and moved past me, toward the vehicle to join her family.

“Your Highness,” I rushed closer and whispered in her ear, watching with awe as a shiver went through her, “I don’t think this will be needed tonight.”

I pulled the knife from her hair and it fell into thick ginger waves, around her shoulders and down her back.

She turned to gape at me and I smiled. This face was even prettier than the last one.

“I’m going to give you the benefit of doubt and not tell your father about the one on your thigh.” I motioned for her to climb in the car, “I just don’t think it would be appropriate for me to reach for it.”

Rose

After dinner, I needed a shower. The man didn’t even need to touch me to get me going. All he had done was whisper in my ear and I was left in puddle of my own juices. I felt dirty and guilty all at once, for my body reacting in such a way to a man other than Aiden.

My mother and father spent the entire meal communicating in their minds. I could tell from the looks they shared, that it was nothing I needed or wanted to know. Mom left tomorrow and I knew that my dad was planning to keep her in bed until she did. Queue the mental cringe.

Marcus grinned like a fool all night, looking between Chase and I, like he was going to catch something interesting, but, Chase only glared at Clara as she snubbed him. Clara hadn't mentioned it, but if they had a history together, it was none of my business. Especially since I had a mate.

I chose to call Aiden before I took a shower. Hopefully that would put me out of this heat I was unable to tame. Aiden was my mate, and damnit, my body was tempted to break it with one whisper from Chase. It couldn't happen. It wouldn't. Aiden loved me and I loved him. We were mates, despite what my vampire half wanted, I wanted Aiden.

“Hey.” He sounded so tired when he answered his phone.

“Is everything okay?” At my question, he opened his emotions to me and I felt his exhaustion.

“Just a little tired,” He sighed, “I’ve been running since last night and just got home.”

“What’s going on?”

“It’s nothing to worry about, babe. It’s all under control.” He sighed, “I just need to rest and get some dinner.”

He wasn’t telling me the truth. I knew it and he knew that I did. My mother wouldn’t be returning with Marcus tomorrow, if everything was normal.

“What are you up to, babe?”

“I just got home from dinner myself,” I smiled into my phone, “I wanted to call before I went for my run.”

“Food, or otherwise?” I could hear the tightness in his voice now.

We’d grown apart in the years we’d been separated and the more I became the vampire, the more our emotions separated from each other.

When we first left, I could feel his anger and pain, but as time went on, it was getting less and less and I could almost feel him pushing me out.

Although he would never admit it, I knew he hated what I was, what I had become.

“Very funny.” I scoffed.

“Well, it is almost midnight there.” He yawned, “Did you decide to have a little nightcap from a nearby artery or not?”

“Can we just be done with the vampire jokes please? I don’t drink blood. I don’t crave it and don’t need it.” I could feel the tightness in my throat. What would happen if I did return and he decided that I wasn’t the mate he knew?

“Look, you’re the Queen just tell your dad that you aren’t the vampire and come back with Marcus and Nitala tomorrow.”

“You know I can’t do that.” My eyes welled with tears, “I still can’t control myself.”

“I’m getting sick of this shit, Rosa.” I could hear the anger in his voice, “I want you home.”

“I can’t.”

“Really? Because I’ve seen you disobey orders before. I’ve been with you when you ran off, why stay there?”

“Aiden, where is this coming from?”

“I’m sick of this shit, Rosa. You are my mate and I want you here, fighting by my side.”

“I’m not ready.”

“One night. One night is all we got together and I’ve waited three years. I think this has gone on for way too fucking long.” He snapped, “I want you home with Marcus and Nitala or this shit is over, Rosa.”

“We’re mates, you can’t just cut off our connection!”

“Why not?” He scoffed, "You have!"

"You don't understand!"

"Understand what Rosa? Why are you shutting me out? What are you hiding?"

"My training is intense!"

"And mine isn't?!"

"Aiden, you-"

Before I could explain, the anger was gone. I felt nothing from him as the line went dead. It wasn't the first time he'd shut me off from his emotions, but I was left standing there in shock.

“Let’s go for our run,” Clara whispered in my ear as I began to sob, “Clear your mind.”

Chase

Dinner went smoothly, although the witch and I glared at each other all night.

I knew what I had to do. I needed to tell my brother.

“How was dinner?” Matthias asked through the line.

“The witch is here.” I hissed.

“What witch?”

“The remaining one from the Attack of Black Omen.” That was what we had named the way that took our brothers. Nico lost a lot of men that day, and so did we, even if it was only two of us.

“What is going on out there?” The concern in his voice was evident.

“Nothing.” I ground out, “She is friends with Rosa.”

“You killed her mother in front of her, she killed you in return, and you are telling me she is friends with your fated?”

“Nitala kept her as a pet.” I sneered.

“Did she poison your food?” He snorted.

“No.” I scoffed and turned to the window, “She was nowhere near my food.”

“What did you get to eat?” He asked curiously.

“Some sort of hen thing,” My brow furrowed, “What does it matter?”

“Was it good?”

I watched curiously as Rosa and the witch ran across the lawns below. Both wore only a sweatshirt and pants, no shoes. And they were running into the woods.

“It was food. What does it matter?” I was distracted as I watched them.

“Apparently it doesn’t,” He scoffed, “Where is the witch now?”

“Running through the back of the property with Rosa.” I said curiously.

“This isn’t funny, brother.” He snapped.

“I am serious.” I gaped out the window.

It had been an hour since our dinner, and it was close to midnight now. It had to be cold. The earth was covered in frost and there was a nip to the air, but she didn’t seem bothered by the chill.

“Why are they running through the woods then?” he asked.

“She’s going to shift.” I told him, “I think it’s how she links to her mate.”

“She has a what?!”

“Mate.” I ground my word through clenched teeth.

“Who?!”

“A wolf guard.” I felt something rise in me, something that I was familiar with, anger. But, it was different. I wasn’t angry with her. I didn’t want to hunt her and track her down. I wanted him, even though I didn’t know him.

“Wow, how does that make you feel, brother?”

“I want to kill him, when I think of his hands on her.” I spoke matteroffactly, but I was livid inside.

“How do wolves mate? Is it similar to binding?”

In the back of my head, I heard the priest’s words, “Binding is a sin. It is for demons and their creations.”

We were raised to believe that Vampires were one of their creations. As were witches, warlocks & mages, but after my change I realized that wasn’t the case. There was nothing evil in the moon.

“I don’t know anything about it.” I shook my head.

“The wolves or the vampires?”

It was the dead of winter and there was minimal tree coverage. I was able to follow her movements in the woods and watched, intimately inspecting her as she removed her clothes and shifted.

Her curves were a beautiful sillouete in the moonlight, with a small waist and ample breast. The site was for the briefest of moments, before I saw a silver wolf with silky fur stand where she had been. Lord, she was an angel, even as a wolf.

“Chase?! Can you hear me?!”

“Yes.”

“You just groaned.” I could hear the concern in his voice.

“She just shifted and went into the woods.” I turned away from the windows, feeling ashamed of myself. I had never gaped at a woman before. What was happening to me?

Sure, I had used women in the past, but I hadn’t really noticed anything except my release and how good that felt. It didn’t matter how I got there, and if a woman was giving herself to me, sure, I would take her, just for that release.

“Did you hear me?” Matthias laughed, “Was she naked? Did she look good?”

“I have to go.” I stared at my phone for a moment before hanging it up.