Chapter Two
Sage
A soft tremor slid over Sage’s nerve endings. She rubbed her bare arms even though the breeze was far from cold. Who is that man? Not just a man, he was a vampire, or Aletheia—she’d seen the metallic silver sheen to his eyes even though he’d been standing half naked on a balcony three stories up. Had she imagined a sexy masculine scent in the air? She didn’t have enhanced senses, so it was likely her mind toying with her.
He’d held her in his gaze, or at least it had felt that way. Jesus. What would have happened if she’d been close enough to see everything? All she’d caught was the sheen of his eyes, his short dark hair, and tanned, tattooed skin.
She wondered what the hell was wrong with her. She instinctually checked her mental wards, feeling as if her skin was suddenly too tight. He hadn’t gotten into her head—she would have felt the intrusion into her mind.
She breathed a little easier once she and her mostly silent escort-slash-bellhop, Niko, rounded the corner and she gained her first look at the soaring towers of the castle before her. Giant stone gargoyles stood sentry on either side of the wide stone steps. The place was impressive, very vampire-esque but with incredible views of lush jungle and angry seas crashing along the rock cliffs. The place was gorgeous, dark, and so very full of magic. The grounds hummed with it.
Two-story-high carved wooden doors swung wide, and Sage made out her sister’s silhouette. Tension she hadn’t realized she’d been carrying seemed to fall away.
“Did you kiss the ground like I did after my first teleport?” Calista asked, humor sparkling in her golden eyes. Her sister was dark to Sage’s light. Calista’s skin was a smooth, dark chocolate, and her long mass of hair was in thick braids weaving down her bare shoulders and back. A jet-black king cobra comfortably settled beneath the braids. Lines of blue marked the scaled body running over one of her shoulders and twining over the long black dress Calista wore.
“I considered it.” Not really. She’d been too busy trying not to vomit to kiss the ground. She was grateful her escort hadn’t called her out about it. He’d kindly allowed her to get herself together before calling the hell beast to scan her intent. The scent of sulfur hadn’t helped the nausea, but it had been over quickly.
She pulled Calista into a hug. The tension that rolled off Niko was priceless. The man was likely worried about the deadly snake—how sweet.
Sage wasn’t worried in the slightest. Jeff’s scales slithered over her cheek beneath the weight of her sister’s hair. She felt his hooded head loop around the back of her neck and knew from experience that his tongue was darting out around her hair. She smiled. Her sister smelled of spiced rum and home. Her braids slid over Sage’s cheek, and Sage took a moment for Calista’s warmth to filter into her.
After breaking the hug and Jeff’s hold, they stood grinning at each other before Calista looped their arms together. “You obviously met Niko. He’s going to be keeping a close eye on you this week.” Her sister waggled her eyebrows playfully at the man in question, and he winked back.
Sage had guessed he was more guard dog than fancy hotel greeter. A greeter would have actually spoken a word or two.
He seemed to have found his voice. “Don’t cause trouble. I’d hate to send you home early.”
Sage offered the sweetest, most innocent smile. “I promise to be good.” She’d been well versed in the rules of her stay—along with her luggage, he also held a million legal agreements she’d had to sign to get this far. Causing trouble was the last thing on her mind. Taking a real vacation, seeing her sister, and figuring out what she wanted to do with the rest of her life while drinking cocktails and possibly ending her dry spell were her sole intentions. It would be pointless to say it, though. They would still watch her every move.
Niko made a noise that said he didn’t believe her. He was making her very interested in what all their background checks had uncovered.
Her thoughts trailed off when they stepped onto polished marble and she caught sight of a three-story-high carved wood staircase that curved up to a view of painted ceilings. A crowd of beautiful people mingled with vampires. The glitz and glitter wowed.
“Your stuff will be put in your room. And remember, you will be watched. Have a nice visit.”
Wow, she warranted two warnings from a man who could probably gut her in the time it took her to blink. Oddly, it boosted her ego. The hellhound dismissing her so quickly had frankly been a little pride crushing.
“It’s amazing, right? I was in with my boss when you got here. They extended my contract for an entire year.” Calista’s voice peaked at the end of the sentence. Excitement radiated from her sister. It was infectious enough to make Sage smile.
Aletheia gave her and her sister appreciative glances, but as gorgeous as they were, no one caught her eye. She felt off. Her nerves were on edge. She breathed through it, trying to focus on Calista’s news. “Tell me everything.”
“Let’s go to the conservatory. I know that’s what you really came to see.” There wasn’t any real pout in the words. Her sister was too busy riding the high of her good news to be unhappy about anything.
“You’re right. I have absolutely no interest in your happiness. I’m only here for the plants,” she deadpanned. Her sister pinched her playfully.
In minutes, Sage would be standing in the rarest gardens in the world, and the thought sent a thrill through her bloodstream.