Kindling Flames: Flying Sparks (The Ancient Fire Series Book 2) (32 page)

“Let me know how many you need, and I’ll come up with them.”

Vicky recognized Dakine’s voice coming from the far end of the kitchen.

“But make sure they know something about their handling. Fairy blades are not to be trifled with,” the elf lord warned Rupert.

Zak looked up from the conversation before rolling across the room to Vicky. The discussion stopped, and everyone turned to look at the new addition to the room.

“Victoria.” Darien sat up straighter in his chair. “What are you doing away from the group?”

“Needed a drink.” Pulling a glass from the cabinet, she filled it with water. She was not fully awake yet.

“Do you want me to take you back?” he asked and started to rise from his seat.

Vicky waved him back as she came over to stand next to him. “It’s too loud in there.”

Darien wrapped his arm around her.

She scrubbed her eye with the back of her knuckle. “Can I just stay here?”

He was confused by the question. “Of course.”

To everyone’s surprise, Vicky sat down on the floor next to Darien. When, Zak crawled into her lap, she pulled the blanket around him and rested her head against the side of Darien’s leg.

Recovering from his shock, Darien dropped his hand down to slide his fingers into the loosening curls at the side of Vicky’s head.

She sighed contently as he rubbed her scalp gently. Listening to the group pick back up their planning, she relaxed to the almost-musical tones of their voices without hearing what they said. The rhythmic caresses from the fingers in her hair and the soft vibrations from the creature purring in her lap lulled her tired mind back into a deep sleep.

***

“I think we had better wrap this up,” Elliot said from where he sat in one of the corner windows. “Dawn will be coming soon.”

“These windows have blackout curtains, too,” Darien pointed out.

“Well, unlike some unnamed vampire, there are those among us who don’t function well in the daytime,” Clara sassed at him.

“True.” He chuckled at her. “So, is there anything else we need to address?” Darien looked to the other six people sitting in the breakfast nook.

“I think we covered it all,” Dakine said from across the table.

Rupert looked over at Phelan to see if he had any more questions. “We’re good,” he said when Phelan shook his head.

Darien looked over to Clara sitting next to him.

She shook her head before looking down at the woman asleep against Darien’s leg. Zak’s face could just be seen poking out from her blankets where he had been listening. “You understand?” Clara asked the purring fay.

Zak gurgled quietly and wiggled his tips in a positive answer without moving from Vicky’s lap.

Clara looked at the girl that had spurred them all to such drastic action. Darien’s hand rested on her head, petting it lightly.

“Do you love her?” Rachael asked from where she leaned in the corner of the room. She had watched Darien’s actions since the young woman had come in. His hand hadn’t left her as they talked, and his heart rate had sped up to match hers without him realizing it. “Or, is she just a passing fancy?”

Surprised by this question, Darien’s hand froze on Vicky’s head. He looked down at the golden curls his fingers had pulled loose, and a warm feeling flowed though him. “I suppose I do,” he answered after a few moments of thought.

It had been a while since he had truly loved someone. He tried to avoid letting people close to his heart. Somehow, Vicky had found her way past all of his defenses. Was it her charm and subtle beauty, her innocence, or maybe her complete trust in him, even after he nearly killed her? Perhaps it was a mixture of it all. He wasn’t sure, but what he did know was that he would give anything to make sure the young woman by his side was safe.

“Then, I suggest you mark her before something else tries to steal her away.” Rachael looked pointedly at the small fay snuggled into Vicky’s blanket.

Darien chuckled and rubbed her head again. “Point taken.” He looked down at his sleeping assistant. “Let’s get through this week, first.”

A murmur of agreement circled the room as people started to shift in their seats. With all the important details decided, they just had to wait for nightfall.

“Then, I suggest we get as much rest as we can.” Dakine stood up. “We’re all going to need it.”

***

Vicky shifted in her slumber. The blanket she was wrapped in had become too warm as the rays of the morning sun shone in the window on her. As sleep withdrew, she could feel the wiggly warmth of Zak in her lap and Darien’s gentle fingers toying with her hair. She rubbed her cheek against the smooth material of Darien’s pant leg. Opening her eyes, she looked up at the man she was using as a pillow. Darien had leaned forwards and was resting his head on his arm on the glass table.

“Good morning,” he said softly from where he had been watching her sleep. The morning light glinted off her golden curls, giving her a slightly ethereal look.

Vicky smiled as she yawned. “Morning.” Zak gurgled in her lap as she pulled the blanket back to expose the little fay. “Good morning to you, too.” She petted the grumpy fay until he purred happily.

“Did you sleep well?” Darien asked as he continued playing with her hair.

Vicky nodded sleepily. “I didn’t disturb your meeting?” she worried.

“No.” Darien shook his head as he watched her wake up. “Everything is set; we just have a few final preparations before nightfall.”

Vicky nodded and rubbed the rest of the sleep from her eyes. She stretched a little and coaxed Zak out of her lap so she could get up.

Darien let his hand slip from her hair to run down her back lightly and end in the hollow of her lower back.

“Breakfast?” Vicky asked as she looked down at him.

Darien’s eyes widened in surprise before an impish grin turned up the corners of his mouth. “Miss Westernly.” He sat up as the mischief lit his face. “Are you propositioning me?” His words were nearly purred as he moved his hand from the small of her back to her hip.

Vicky squeaked as he pulled her off balance, and she ended up plopping down into his lap sideways.

Zak gurgled loudly from the floor before attacking Darien’s pant leg.

Darien laughed at the blush on Vicky’s skin as she realized what her simple question could have meant to the vampire.

“I, um… That is, um…” she stuttered as she tried to find the words to clarify her meaning.

Darien gave her a light squeeze. “I’m kidding.” He patted her on the back. “But I do think breakfast would be a good idea.” Helping Vicky off his lap, Darien stood up and shook off the fay ruining yet another pair of his pants. Turning to the refrigerator, he pulled it open. “So, what would you like this morning?” He looked back over to the shocked expression on Vicky’s face. Darien laughed and shut the door. He walked back over to her and wrapped her in his arms.

She stood there rather stiffly against him.

“Don’t worry,” he said soothingly, “I won’t do anything to hurt you.” He rubbed his cheek against the side of her head.

Vicky relaxed a little and lifted her hands to hold him.

“Besides, I’ve taken enough of your blood already; I won’t endanger you more.” Darien placed a kiss on the side of her neck, drawing a gasp from the girl. She clenched her fingers into his shirt as a tingling sensation shot through her. He leaned back, and Vicky looked deep into his swimming green eyes. The memories of Daniel and Mizty in the kitchen swirled up, along with the sudden urge to ask Darien to show her how pleasurable a vampire bite could be.

He smiled at the confusion and desire he found in her blue eyes. “Eggs,” Darien said, before leaning over and kissing Vicky’s forehead. He released the girl and turned back to the kitchen before he decided to do something he might later regret.

A pang of disappointment shot through her as Darien pulled from her arms. Did she really want him to bite her? Vicky sat down in the chair Darien had left as she tried to sort out her feelings. Her thumb found the two scars on her wrist, and she rubbed them lightly as she thought. She watched him search his cabinets for things that the invading horde hadn’t put back in the right places. A smile slipped across her face as he found the pan he was looking for with a loud ‘aha’ and dropped it on top of the stove. Vicky studied his movements.

Darien was long limbed and graceful as he shifted through his kitchen, pulling out supplies. She couldn’t help but wonder if he had always been so elegant, or if it was something he had learned over time. The only thing disrupting his graceful movements was the occasional shake he would give his leg as he tried to dislodge the fay chewing on his pants.

She considered him as he pulled out a knife and started chopping up some ham with flair. Darien was old. Really old. What did that mean if she stayed?

Vicky shook the thought away before she could dwell on it. She just wanted to get through this ifrit thing before she even considered the future. Then, when everything was sorted out, she would see about the possibilities for a relationship with her boss.

“Can I give you a hand?” Vicky asked, saving Darien from the fay still trying to eat his pant leg.

Darien chuckled as she leaned against the counter next to him with the wiggly ball of tentacles. Zak had a torn bit of Darien’s cuff sticking out of the corner of his mouth. “Don’t let him eat me,” he teased. “I don’t taste good.”

Laughing, she stole a strip of the ham Darien had been cubing. She held it up, and Zak grabbed it happily. Vicky pulled on his tentacles softly. “So, what do we have to do today?”

“Rest, mostly.” Darien cracked a few eggs into a bowl and added a little milk. “I need to gather a few things together, but it shouldn’t take long.” He pushed Zak’s feelers back from the bowl as he whisked it together.

Vicky looked around at the tranquil kitchen, surprised there weren’t more people coming in for breakfast. Listening carefully, she was stunned at how quiet the penthouse was. “Where is everyone?” Vicky asked as she looked towards the door to the foyer.

“Rupert took most of the wolves with him when he left so they could get ready,” Darien explained. “Clara, Daniel, Michael, Rachael, Elliot, and a few other vampires are holed up in the bedrooms for the day. Everyone else is sleeping off the overdose of Monty Python.”

Vicky stared at him, shocked. “Wait… Michael is here?” She looked around as if his name would summon the man.

“Yes,” Darien said, pouring the eggs into the hot pan. “He brought his kiss over last night so they could be ready to leave at dusk. The only council members not here are Victor, William, and Lillian. They all live closer to where we are going tonight. They’ll meet up with us after nightfall.” He stirred the eggs a little before adding in some shredded cheese and the ham.

Vicky let out a deep breath as she thought about this. If she weren’t in danger, would the Vampire Council and the werewolves be going to such measures to stop this ifrit? “I’m sorry, Darien,” she said, setting Zak on the floor.

Darien looked away from his omelet at her. “For what?”

Vicky sighed again. “For causing all of this grief,” she said sadly.

Darien wrapped his arms around his assistant and pulled her in for a hug. “You’re not causing any grief,” he reassured her as he patted her on the back. “We would have to deal with this thing anyway.” Darien held her out to look at her. “If anything, you’re helping.”

Vicky cocked her head, confused. “How?” she asked. She couldn’t see how she was helping the situation at all.

“Without you, we wouldn’t have a way to track this thing down.” Darien took Vicky’s bandaged hand in his. “You’ll get to ride at the front of the hunt tonight and lead the hounds straight to him.”

Enlightenment filled her eyes as she realized how important her part was. The horror hit as she remembered what Brian had said. “But, I thought the Wild Hunt wasn’t safe for humans,” Vicky said, wide-eyed. “Brian said it was known for running off with the riders.”

Darien released her to turn back to the omelet before it burnt. “True.” He slid the eggs onto a plate. “The Wild Hunt
is
dangerous for humans. It’s dangerous for all of us,” he said solemnly. “But, I can promise they won’t ride off with you. I’ll be with you.”

Zak barked angrily from the floor.

Darien chuckled. “And Zak will make sure you’re safe.”

Vicky looked down at the creature at her feet; he had a tentacle curled protectively around her ankle again. What could the little creature do against hellhounds?

“Breakfast time.” Darien cut the large omelet in half and slid part of it on a second plate. “Get yourself a drink and come sit down.” He took the two plates to the breakfast nook.

Vicky found a glass for some orange juice. Zak dragged behind her as she made her way down the kitchen. She was surprised to find Darien had set one of the plates on the floor.

Zak gurgled happily and scampered over to dig into the food.

“Aren’t you eating?” Vicky asked as she sat down at the table.

He smiled at her, and she blushed again, having forgotten for a moment what he was. The fact that he stood in the sunlit room didn’t help her fit him into her preconceived notions of a vampire.

“I’ll get something from the fridge,” Darien said warmly.

Vicky watched as he moved through the shadows to collect his breakfast. Had she not been thinking about it, Vicky might never have noticed the practiced motion. She turned back to her food and thought about all the time she had watched Darien dance between the sunbeams without knowing what he was doing.