Chapter Seventeen
As if seeing the look of fear on Jessica’s face did not hurt enough, feeling her fright was immensely worse. It wasn’t simply the usual increased heart rate and quickened pulse that caused Ricard to want to shelter her from the world.
But having tasted his mate, having a piece of her gave him a direct link to her that amplified everything. It seemed as though the fear was his own more than it was hers.
When she placed a trembling hand on his chest, he wanted nothing more than to hold her and force the world away from her.
“Ricard, I know you hate the idea, but please don’t argue about Rafe questioning me. We have to know what I might know, and the sooner the better.” She sat watching him, and Ricard felt her trying to comfort him. “You can trust him, even with your own life.”
“I do trust him with my life, but it’s not my life I’m worried about.”
He literally felt the way his mate’s entire being focused on soothing his worry and coaxing him to agree with her request. Silently, but as sure as she was sitting on his lap, her being moved around him, assuring that everything would be fine, that there was nothing to fear.
Without a word or a movement she provided him with the knowledge he needed, showing him that when Rafe last questioned her nothing untoward happened, nothing frightened her. She opened herself to Ricard and showed him that Rafe had been nothing less than kind and respectful in his probing.
“This connection mates have that allows them to communicate and know what the other needs is indescribable. From the moment we met I felt it.” He could not stop the smile that slowly appeared.
Remembering how good it felt to have a mate, someone who existed for him, someone who gave meaning to his existence, brought such solace and joy to his old heart.
Still with this pleasure for himself, he owed Jessica an explanation, the truth. “Love, I have spent many years trying to understand the mating bond, trying to rationalize and understand something I thought to be so far out of my reach that it never occurred to me it might happen again.”
“Again?” Her hand came to his cheek.
He nodded, keeping his gaze trained on her face, not wanting to miss any sign of upset. “Yes. My first mate died many years ago.”
He studied her smoky eyes and for the first time noticed how they had deepened to a dark chocolate. He noticed the way they shimmered in the dimly lit room, as though they were lit from the inside by something too powerful to be hidden.
“I’m so sorry, Ricard.” She threw her arms around his neck and squeezed him close. “That must have been an awful time for you.” Kissing his neck she said, “If you felt about each other the way we feel now, I don’t know how you went on living.”
“Yes, we did.” Ricard held Jessica, savoring the feel of her soft body against his, the scent of her skin, and the warmth of her love. “Mates are for life. It’s very rare for one to go on without the other, and practically a miracle for a remaining mate to find another.”
“It’s a blessing. A real blessing.” She sniffled. “I’m so thankful to have you.”
Jessica’s very essence seemed to flow through Ricard, not just around him, or near him. She literally moved through him, as though she were part of him.
He remembered this feeling, remembered the very first time he felt it with Genevieve. They had both been surprised by the exhilaration, the intimacy, and the power of the pure love.
“I am surprised by this new experience. It is…illogical.”
Jessica tilted her head to the side, sending curl upon curl tumbling to the side. “No one said love was logical.”
He shook his head very slightly. “You don’t understand. What is happening right now, this thing that you are able to do, I expected this after we had…consummated our bond.”
Ricard caught the flush of Jessica’s cheeks and admired it along with the way she maintained eye contact with him. “I am surprised you are able to do this in advance of that act.”
She gave a slight lift of her shoulders, the same one that said she had an opinion to share. “Maybe I’m so loving I’m more powerful than all the other girls.” The slow blink, pinkish cheeks and sly smile made Jessica Stevens the most beautiful, sexiest woman Ricard had ever seen.
“I am certain that wherever I am concerned, you are by far the most powerful woman to exist.” He pulled her close and pressed a kiss to her lips. “Far more powerful than I.”
“Tell me you are not worried and that you will not interfere with Rafe questioning me.”
“I cannot. I am worried. I will be worried until it’s over, and even then I will continue to worry.” He squeezed her close and noted the way her body tensed. “But, I will not interfere. We must get the answers we seek, and if you are comfortable with Rafe, I will not impose my own wishes upon you.”
It would take every ounce of patience and self-control Ricard could summon to keep from reacting to Raffaele Barone being so close to his mate. But, if this was what she wanted, and it seemed this might be the easiest, quickest way to gain the information they needed, Ricard would find a way to make it happen.
Jessica managed to wriggle out of his grasp and rose from his lap, holding out her hand. “Let’s go. No more delaying.”
Following her to the lab where Rafe and Serge waited was like following a Siren to his death. He walked behind, trying to convince himself all would be fine. But nothing he told himself was believable.
Rafe and Serge stood before one of the white boards, discussing the contents and suggesting possible conclusions to why things were the way they were. As Ricard and Jessica entered, they turned.
“Good evening, Jessie. It’s nice to see you again,” Rafe said.
Ricard felt the cold burn of jealousy churn in the pit of his stomach.
It was not that he did not trust Rafe. In fact, he trusted every member of The Vampire Guard with his own life. But, he could not trust anyone with his mate. No vampire could. It defied every cell in their bodies to leave the safety and comfort of this one perfect being to anyone.
Jessica squeezed Ricard’s hand. “It’s nice to see you as well.”
Rafe stepped toward Ricard. “You know I would never—”
Ricard held up his hand. “Let us not linger on the formalities or promises of things that we both know will serve only to annoy me.”
Rafe gave a slight bow of his head. “As you wish.”
Jessica closed any space between her and Ricard, pressing her body to his. The warmth of her touch instantly soothed his anger.
He glanced down to see her gentle smile and could not help but smile. “I do not understand.”
“I know.” She shrugged. “But I like it.”
“As do I.” Ricard turned to Rafe. He wanted to offer some sort of apology for his behavior, but the sight of the vampire who was about to use his skill of influence on Jessica nearly caused him to become violent.
Jessica cleared her throat. “Why don’t we get started?” She stepped around Ricard to take a seat at the table.
Rafe sat across from her while Serge moved to stand nearby. Ricard remained positioned directly behind Jessica, his hands resting on her shoulders, ever certain the touch of their bodies would be a comfort to her as Rafe questioned her, thus forcing her to remember things Ricard was certain would be painful.
She brushed her cheek against his hand, then pecked a soft kiss to his knuckle. That was the moment he realized he needed her touch during this moment, as much, if not more than she needed his.
This weakness only fueled his anger more. It made him hate Rafe.
His eyes narrowed, lips curled up into a sneer, revealing his fangs. He barely breathed. Instead, he stood glaring at the man who would intrude upon his mate’s private thoughts.
“If you’re ready, we’ll begin,” Rafe said.
“Sure.” Jessica inhaled deeply, then let out a slow breath.
Ricard wondered if she recalled the sensation of having Rafe use his vampire influence to question her. The question set off a barrage of thoughts whipping through his mind with the anger of a hurricane.
Did she recall? Did he touch places that were not his to see? Did he know details he never should? Did she like the feeling of being compelled by Rafe?
Jessica moved, drawing Ricard’s attention from his adversary and reminding him he was to comfort her. He glanced down and saw her flinch. Her eyes widened for a second before her face softened. Ricard felt the ice-cold anger in his chest warm, then subside a bit.
Rafe cleared his throat. “Jessie, it will help if you focus on me.”
She turned back to face Rafe.
Ricard glared over her head. Not blinking he stared at Rafe.
“Good. Now, think back.” The smooth, accented allure of Rafe’s voice floated in the air.
Jessica visibly relaxed, her shoulders dropping a bit, her body swaying. She did exactly what every human did when a vampire worked his magic.
“What do you recall of…”
The sound of Rafe’s voice trailed away, replaced by Ricard’s own words. Who does he think he is? What gives him the right? They are all the same. Every one of those bastards is exactly the same.
Jessica jolted forward, fully awake. She turned to Ricard, a questioning look on her face.
He realized he had no idea what Rafe had asked, whether he’d probed a portion of Jessica’s psyche where he should not have gone.
He’d failed to protect her.
She touched his hands, and he realized he was squeezing her harder than he meant. He released her at once.
“Ricard, you worry for no reason. I feel it. Nothing happened the last time and you’re standing right here this time. So there should be no worry.” With arms crossed over her chest, she massaged her shoulders.
The sight of her soothing away any pain he caused her, made Ricard hate himself. Again he was failing his mate. Again the Barones were destroying his world.
“Do you want to try first?” Rafe asked.
“We know a vampire cannot compel his mate so there is no point,” Ricard growled. His heels clicked the linoleum as he stepped back from the chair, fearful he’d hurt her once more. “But I must admit I am not able to allow you to do it.”
“Is it Rafe or anyone?” Serge asked.
“It is him.” Ricard breathed deeply, breaths that sounded angry and feral.
In centuries he had not lost his temper. He’d worked hundreds of years to forgive and to not hold the sins of one against another. But here he felt the rage he’d bottled away rearing its head.
Only this time he did not believe he wanted to hold it back. He would not live through a recurrence of what happened all those years ago.
Rafe stood, pushing the chair back. He watched Ricard, not blinking.
“If I am honest, it is Rafe and Gabe more than any other. But there is no way I can allow anyone to touch my mate’s mind.” He shook his head. “She is my mate. I will kill to keep her safe.”
“But you are here. You said earlier you trusted these men with your own life.” Jessica stood and faced Ricard then stopped. “Your eyes.”
He knew what his eyes must look like. He’d seen it before, and the last time it had lasted for years. No longer would his eyes be the deep purple color. They were not alluring. Instead, now they lit with a red fire that screamed a warning of what would come next.
“I fight the beast within.” His voice dropped to a deep whisper as he fought not to roar his answer. “It is a battle I fear losing.”
“How much have you told her?” Rafe asked.
Jessica did not move. Her confusion was palpable, and Ricard was certain even Serge and Rafe felt it.
“We’ve had so little time together.” He stared past Jessica at Rafe, his mind’s eye focused on vengeance. His shoulders were wide, arms hanging at his side, hands opening and closing to fists. Over and over he flexed and curled his hands.
Rafe tossed his leather jacket aside. “It is time, brother, to clear the air once and for all.”
Ricard pulled Jessica behind him. “There is no clearing the air.”