Page 44 of Blood Ties
“I don’t understand.”
He sighed. “I was injured, badly. I knew I would not make it back to heaven to mend. I had been retrieving a soul that Lucifer had claimed. But before the mortal died, he sacrificed himself to save another. God redeemed him.” Damien was staring off looking like he was watching the whole thing play out. I was trying not to get too tied up on the fact that the devil was real. It made sense, but to hear it from someone who knew for sure... “Well, as you can imagine Lucifer did not take kindly to God’s interference and sent demons to stop me from extracting the soul. Several demons.” Whatever he was remembering looked bad judging by the pained expression of his face. “I lied on the floor aware that I was dying when a fellow angel appeared. I had taken several demons out before I succumbed to my wounds, but he took out the remaining.” He turned watching me. “Angel blood is healing, but there is a natural order to things and God believed it was my time. The angel was a friend and was not willing to watch me perish when he had the ability to save me.” His story reminded me of when I changed Grayson. I had the ability to save him, and I did even though I hadn’t had his permission. “He offered his blood and I accepted without hesitation. Neither of us where aware what the consequences would be. We were both condemned; him for breaking the rules and giving me his blood, therefore messing up the natural order of things and me for accepting it. As I’ve said, angels need blood when they’re on this plain, but for me the thirst was nearly unquenchable. It eased when I created Jade. It seems that with every new vampire created my thirst lessens.”
Damien seemed done with his story, but I was curious about one thing.
“Who was the angel who fed you their blood?”
Damien’s eyes seemed a mixture of emotions before he uttered a single word. “Sebastian.”
I arrived back at the apartment and could feel that Grayson was already home thanks to our mating bond. I had talked with Damien for a long time. I wanted to know everything. His experiences, his knowledge, anything. I had lost track of time. Sebastian had insisted on bringing me home, but I refused to have him escort me to my door.
I needed to talk to Grayson about Damien’s small gathering. Damien and I had discussed it and he’d informed me that if I did not want it to be public knowledge that I was his daughter, he understood and would not take it personally. He actually hoped that I wouldn’t want it mentioned, knowing that I was safer without people knowing. I agreed. My parents had split in order to keep me safe. Now that I had a clear head about it I was able to understand their reasons, but it didn’t matter. The New York nest was already aware of my parentage and soon so would others. It was easier to control the spin now.
Grayson was in the shower when I arrived home. I carefully stripped then quietly made my way to him, slipping inside effortlessly behind him. He didn’t startle, which disappointed me.Pesky vampire hearing.I wrapped my arms around him laying my cheek against the warm plains of his back and was overwhelmed with the comfort his nearness brought me. His hand instantly covered mine and I sighed at the small contact. Grayson continued showering for a few seconds when he suddenly stiffened. He lifted my hand to his nose, inhaling deeply.
“Gaby, why do you smell like Sebastian?” His senses seemed stronger than they had been or he was gaining better control of them.
The accusation in his voice was troubling. “I was summoned to see Damien today and Sebastian was my escort.” I spoke like what I was saying was insignificant.
“Summoned?” He turned to face me. I inhaled sharply watching the water roll off his body. Even after all this time, the sight of him in all his glory still was enough to get my heart pumping faster. I swallowed trying to regain my focus.
“Damien wants us to attend a gathering at his house this Saturday.”
“Saturday?” I nodded. “And he couldn’t call to ask?” I choose not to answer. I figured he was just spouting his annoyance with the situation. He seemed to ponder the information for a moment before he spoke again. “Gaby, I can’t.”
“What? Why?” My immediate thought was that he was resentful so he was being stubborn, but I knew Grayson wasn’t like that.
“I have a client flying in from California to sign a deal my company has been working on for months. I’m sorry, but I can’t cancel.” I bit me lip and lowered my eyes before nodding slightly. I tried not letting him see the disappointment that was radiating off of me. Grayson sighed. “Look, I’ll see what I can do. Maybe I can move some things around…” I heaved myself into his arms, sealing my lips over his.
“Thank you.” Having him by my side would make the whole thing bearable.
Saturday morning I found myself lying in bed with my fiancé enjoying the simplicity of the moment. My face rested against his bare chest while his fingers gently brushed my hair. The bedding was knotted around us. I wanted to freeze the moment, but all too soon Grayson unwrapped himself from around me.
“I’m going to try Gaby. If anything I’ll just be late.”
I beamed at him reminding myself just how lucky I was to have him. “I know Grayson. I’m just glad you’ll be there. I hate the idea of being around all those strangers. Not knowing anyone…”
“What about your father. And there is always Jade.”
I groaned at the mention of her name. Over the past week I had become more familiar with the ancient vampire. Her personality was a bit rough and somewhat of an acquired flavor that I just didn’t seem to have a taste for. Seeing the look that passed over my face Grayson chuckled. “We couldnotgo? You could just wait for me here…inthisbed.” I pressed my lips trying to stifle a smile. Grayson shrugged in a, at least he tried, way. “Tell you what? Once I get there I’ll rescue you from having to make polite conversation, alright?”
I sighed. “Alright.”
Grayson’s mouth lifted in the corner before placing a chaste kiss on my lips. “I’ll see you tonight.”
I settled back in bed for some time after Grayson left when I heard the front door open. “Gaby?”
“Shawn?” I called out wondering what he was doing here and why he just walked into my apartment.
“Yeah, you descent?”
I clutched the sheet to my bare skin. “Uh… No. Give me a minute.” I waited a moment to make sure Shawn heard me before climbing out of bed speeding around the room finding clothes.
Once I was descent, I left the confines of the bedroom to find Shawn resting on the sofa.
“Hey baby girl. Long time no see.”
“Yeah. You haven’t been around much. Does Clive have anything to do with that?”
