Chapter Twenty-One
A Vampire’s Relationship Advice to a Demon Slayer
Stefan was sitting in the living room watching the gulls dive into the white-capped ocean waves when Brandy danced into the room in her stocking feet. “Ready for the celebration at the pub tonight?”
She pirouetted through the room, gracefully coming to rest in front of him. Her arms arched behind her in a fluid movement as she bowed down and then dissolved in a fit of giggles. Reaching out, he gathered her into his lap.
She laid her flushed face against his shoulder, looked up, and sighed. “All our friends and family will be there. Isn’t that wonderful? It’s been so long since I’ve seen the lot of them and been in the mood to party.” She leapt out of his lap.
He raised a brow, puzzled, and watched her again whirl around the room. “Weren’t you here a few months back?”
“Yes, but that was different. I had thinking to do and didn’t want to see anyone. I kept to myself, spending time with Ma and Da. Ma helped ease my mind. She listened and said little. When she felt I was ready, she gently suggested that, no matter what had happened, I was still very much in love with you and I’d best be returning to America to try to work things out, or I’d probably regret it. Then she handed me a one-way airline ticket for the next day back to Montana. Ma’s a very wise woman.” She sighed again and wrapped her arms around Stefan’s neck.
Suddenly, without warning, she was up, yanking him out of the chair and tugging him down the hall toward their room, “Now, let’s get ready. I feel like celebrating! Don’t you?”
Her exuberance was infectious. “Sure, why not?”
She spun around, padding quietly into the closet, pulling out a silky bright-green dress and matching shoes, and holding them up for his approval. “What do you think of these?”
He nodded. “Let’s see them on you.”
She wriggled out of her jeans and sweatshirt and slipped the holiday dress over her head. Striking a pose, she whirled around so the hem of the dress twirled with her. Stefan enjoyed the view as the frock clung sexily to her curves.
“Perfect.” He wanted to wrap his arms around her right then and forget the celebration. She was so beautiful and sexy. Knowing she’d have no part of that, he changed into the black jeans and crimson silk shirt she had laid out for him and waited.
Thankful they had hunted last night, so Stefan’s thirst was controlled. He felt confident to be among her family tonight.
There was a sharp rap on the door followed by Tristian’s annoyed voice. “Stefan, could I see you for a minute?”
That man is becoming a real thorn in my side. Crossing the room, Stefan opened the door and stepped out into the hallway to face Tristian. “What’s up?”
“Do you know what these people are planning?” he hissed. “A celebration. A party tonight. And we are expected to join them. We need to tell these people how much danger they are in, not go to their damn party.” Tristian paced the hallway in front of Stefan, running his hand through his tousled blond hair.
“Tristian, relax, man. Let Brandy and Hannah’s parents enjoy having the girls home. Get to know your in-laws. That’s mainly why we’re here. There’s plenty of time to tell them.”
Fuming, Tristian turned to face Stefan. “But this isn’t the way I had it planned.” Then Tristian stopped, noticing that Stefan had changed his clothes. Groaning, Tristian rolled his eyes. “You’re not planning to go along with this. Are you?”
“Yes, I am, and so are you. Where’s Hannah?”
“In our room. We…ah…had a slight disagreement. Oh, hell, we had a big fight. She told me to get out and not come back.”
Shaking his head, Stefan laid a hand on Tristian’s shoulder. “Oh, let me guess, you told her that you weren’t going to the party and neither was she.”
Nodding, Tristian brought his arms up from his sides palms up and then let them drop. “What was I supposed to do?”
“First off, you’re not running the show here. This is Brandy and Hannah’s time to enjoy their family and introduce us. You didn’t allow Hannah a big wedding, as I believe is the custom in Irish families. Then, on top of that, you wouldn’t allow her to tell her parents she was married.”
Tristian’s thunderous expression changed little, though he acknowledged Stefan’s observations with a curt nod.
“Yet they welcomed you into their home and family like a son. Now you refuse to go to the celebration thrown in our honor. It’s Christmas time, man.” Stefan stared incredulously for a beat. “On top of that, you tell Hannah she can’t go either. Do you know what she is capable of in a fit of anger?”
“What do you mean? She’s pretty even-tempered most of the time,” Tristian claimed proudly. “With a few exceptions,” he admitted.
“Oh, come on. You saw my scars. You know exactly what I mean. Sounds like you have finally pushed Hannah to the breaking point. If you want to keep her, you need to make some drastic changes and quickly. That’s what I think.”
Brandy opened the door and peeked out. “Tristian, what are you doing standing there in just your jeans?” Laughing, she stepped toward him and ran her index finger down his bare chest. “You’ve a handsome enough chest, nice muscles, but Stefan’s, well, now, puts yours to shame. Run along and get changed. We’re all to be at the pub in a bit of a while.”
Tristian shifted from one foot to the other, glowering at her.
Stefan put his arm around Brandy, pulling her close, and kissed her soundly. He glanced at the warlock, then cleared his throat. “Brandy…Tristian has a slight problem.” Stefan couldn’t help grinning at the situation, angling his face away so Tristian couldn’t see it. “Hannah threw him out of the room for being his usual charming self.”
“Well, for heaven’s sake, what’d you do?” she asked, hands on her hips, eyes narrowed. “Oh, never mind. I can guess.” With a twitch of hip, Brandy flounced down the hallway toward Hannah’s room. “I’ll be right back,” she called over her shoulder.
In a couple of quick strides, Stefan caught up with her. Reaching around her waist, he spun her around. “Do you think intervening is a good idea? Maybe we should let them work it out for themselves, as we’ve done.”
She stood in the middle of the hallway, frowning. Turning, she glanced back at Tristian, then to Stefan. “Hmmm, maybe.”
“The upcoming months aren’t going to be easy on anyone. They need to rebuild a relationship on mutual respect and common ground. From what I’ve seen, Tristian calls the shots and expects Hannah to follow. I think that is about to change. For a healthy relationship, it needs to do just that,” Stefan said softly.
Brandy’s brows shot up in surprise, then her face softened. “Stefan, when did you get so smart?”
Smiling, he took her hand, walking back toward Tristian. “You were strong when I needed you to be. I was there when you needed me. We’ve learned the hard way what it takes to make a relationship work, and we’re better for it. Now Tristian and Hannah have to learn the same thing, or—” he hesitated, considered, then continued “—go their separate ways for a time.”
Chewing on her bottom lip, worry creased her forehead, and she nodded, “You’re right. But I suspect this whole situation is pushing Tristian to his limit.”
“Better they work it out now rather than later when it could cost us all.” Returning to where Tristian still stood, looking miserable, Brandy gave him a pat on the arm, then walked into her room, leaving Stefan to deal with him.
“Tristian, from what you’ve told me, you’re way off base. Compromise is the basis of a good solid relationship. You can’t always have your way, just as Hannah can’t either. You need to reach an agreement that both can live with. Explain the reasons for your actions, then listen to her. Don’t just tell her the way it will be. Communicate.”
“Keeping everyone safe is my job. If I explained every little action before I took it… it could be fatal,” Tristian hissed, crossing his arms across his chest, his gray-blue eyes dark and foreboding.
“And there lies your problem. This is personal, not professional. If you want to keep her, it’s time you did. Family is very important to her.”
“I am well aware of that. But I’m only thinking of her safety.” He paused. “Hell, the safety of everyone here.”
“Are you?” Shrugging, Stefan walked back into Brandy’s room. “I gotta finish getting ready. Brandy and I are going to enjoy ourselves tonight. I hope to see you and Hannah there.”