Goddess Rising, page 9
After the Fae War, the people loved us more and the government less. They saw other ways of living that made them question in a world where questioning is unwelcome.
The former Fae Queen was an evil beast and would have defeated the uprising had it not been for my wife’s magic, and given the circumstances, any country might try to weaponize her. Cage her. Rule her. Her own grandmother tried to do the same.
Still, she’d been so sure the US would not and had loved our home so much. I had hoped, I suppose. Hoped that my fears were unfounded. But hope is one thing, and complacency another. I had begun making the transition a few years ago and planning Amexit long before even that. Lara had dozens of homes and would come to love them all in her immortal life.
She sighed, her chest rising and falling deeply. I texted Jeremy, letting him know I would see him and our people when he arrived before showering and joining my wife in our bed.
A few hours later, I awoke to find Lara still sleeping. Her color was better, and the rise and fall of her chest not as deep, which meant she was recovering. I got up, finding tea in an old ceramic pot, hot and rich, waiting on a trivet on the granite countertops. I smiled, thinking about Cook or whatever Brownie had come to Ireland with us, well, come with Lara. She’d attracted him to start with, and he stayed as her family grew.
But he made me tea instead of coffee despite my vampiric disability because it was her he cared for.
I imagined it was him, anyway. Now that the Maryland house was empty, they wouldn’t stay. I’d book a manager to keep the American homes in working order as this absence would be long.
I sipped my tea, checking on news events from around the world, checking the markets, and so on. Our departure from the US was major news everywhere, which was the only new thing about the process of leaving. My, how the world had changed, getting so small that everyone was a neighbor.
As the sun rose, I heard my wife awaken, and her delicate footsteps cross the stone floor. The shower turned on, and I started coffee in the French press for her. Had I left the kitchen to look at the moors, food would’ve appeared, but I chose to cook for her myself, making her favorite pound of bacon with a side of French toast.
“Ah, babe. You spoil me,” she said, wrapping her arms around me from behind and peeking around my shoulder.
“I am not a babe,” I said, not letting her see my smile.
“We’ve been over this,” she chuckled.
I spun to face her using vampire speed and took her mouth in a white-hot kiss. The mintiness on her tongue was sweet against the robust flavor of the tea, mixing perfectly. A low hum escaped my throat at her insouciance. Should she fear me? Of course not. But should she know I might nibble at her a little for calling me a babe? Absolutely.
I nipped at her neck with my fangs, grinning around my teeth as her knees went weak and the smell of her arousal soaked the air. “Must I prove I am no babe?” I asked, knowing what her answer would be.
“Whatever makes you feel like a man, babe,” she chuckled, squealing as I tossed her over my shoulder, spanked her rear end, and carried her up the stairs. “My bacon!” she tried, squirming under my hands.
“It will heat.”
“It’ll,” she chuckled, causing me to spank her harder, delivering three quick strikes as I blurred up the stairs.
Most of the time, I loved Lara as a man would, a dextrous, skilled man with the stamina of a vampire, but sometimes, I took her with my enhanced abilities. Sweeping her off my shoulder, I used my speed to strip her clothing before plunging inside her wet heat before she quite grasped what was happening.
Her body stiffened against the intrusion, scrambling to brace against me. A brazen moan echoed around our bed chambers as I powered into her as fast as possible, the speed replicating a sex toy or power tool on high. She came almost immediately, screaming only seconds after I started.
My fingers would leave bruises where I gripped her hips, angling higher to bring on a second orgasm, this one deeper in her pelvis.
“Coi!” she shouted. “Fuck!” My proper name on her lips almost undid me, but I held fast, powering a third consecutive orgasm from her before she went limp.
“Call me a babe again, Anamcara,” I dared. “I am no babe.”
“Babe,” she groaned, causing me to laugh into the timbered ceiling before spilling myself deep inside her with a howl of my own.
We were downstairs, and she was crunching bacon before it, or her coffee, cooled, the self-satisfied smirk on her face saying it all.
I didn’t mention the attempts to breach her wards or phone calls in the middle of the night. She looked happy and peaceful for the first time in days, and I wanted to foster that. She had a partner for a reason, and it was my job to shoulder some of the worries. More worry would come, as it always did, so for today, she could feel safe and rested.
“What are your plans?” she asked, her bright cheeks and emerald eyes sparkling in the sun.
“I am meeting Jeremy this morning and helping oversee the transfer of our people into Headquarters. You should come and check out the new place; you also have offices there.”
“Perfect. I think someone delivered some cars, and I’ve never driven a Peugeot.” The grin, combined with the cut of her eyes, made me sigh.
“Sounds wonderful,” I groaned. Geoffrey would definitely earn his money.
Chapter 12
Coi gripped the handle of the Peugeot 508 Sport so hard that his knuckles were white. It was ridiculous, really. He was immortal. Maybe. Mostly. Pretty much anyway, and the way he worried about how fast I drove the winding cliff roads to town was hysterical.
The Peugeot was quick and responsive. Maybe it wasn’t as flashy or fast as others in our stable, but it held its own and was fun to drive. We screamed through the countryside with the windows down and Aedan’s white-knuckled grip making my smile wide.
I slowed as I neared town, chuckling when he let go of the handle and sighed. I mean, his behavior was kind of ridiculous when I thought about it.
Coi directed me to a giant industrial building on the outskirts of Belmullet that bustled with activity. The stately old brick warehouse was beautiful in an industrial way with its twisted wrought iron and patterned brick walls. ‘The Warehouse’ was beautifully etched in concrete above the front of wide, frosted doors.
Native landscaping dotted freshly mulched beds along crisp sidewalks, and well-placed benches encouraged their enjoyment. The parking lot was freshly paved, the lighting updated, and the individual storefronts brightly painted.
I gave my husband some side eye because this didn’t happen overnight, making me wonder how long ago he’d planned this. He was a master at the long game while I was still trying to survive daily, so it shouldn’t surprise me.
I parked the car, stepping into the mid-morning Irish gloom, unable to take my eyes off the place. “It is self-contained,” he explained, probably noting the awed expression on my face as we stepped inside. “There are grocery stalls, food vendors, clothing vendors, living quarters, and much more. Anything needed is here,” he added as I tried to take it all in but couldn’t because of the enormity of it.
“Is it open to the public?” I gasped, taking in the three-story mall surrounding an atrium with a waterfall and scattered seating groups. Tables sat to one side, and a stream filled with Coi fish meandered through the entire area. “What?” I asked, drawing the word into two syllables in true Southern style. “This place is nuts.”
“I am glad you like it.” He smirked, pulling me deeper inside the building. “We have a suite here as well, should we have a late night and not want to drive home. The entirety of our House is contained within these walls. Let me show you.”
He nodded and spoke to those we passed as we toured the building. Aedan and I had offices on the third floor that overlooked the waterfall, and it was prettier than any workspace I’d ever seen, but it definitely had been designed more than a day ago.
“When did you set this up?” I asked as we looked at the winding water below.
“Some years,” I suppose. I had it updated recently,” he answered, hedging his words.
“You always knew,” I responded, frowning a little.
“It is easier to assume the thing will happen and prepare for it than to play defense when it does.” He tucked me into his side as he surveyed his new kingdom, where even the air smelled sweeter.
Large planters filled with local plant life bloomed in an explosion of scents and colors. The place was incredible and unlike any other I’d seen.
Guiding me away, he used his fingerprints to access a nondescript white door that opened to a small antechamber with cushioned benches, coat racks, and a place for shoes. Beyond that was another door; again, Aedan used his fingerprint to gain entry. “Your fingerprints will also work, Anamcara.”
Because, of course, they would; Aedan would take care of everything. He shut the door, nodding at me to try and open it, and I almost missed his wide smile when I swept the door open. My hand flew to cover my gaping mouth. The entire front wall of the condo was glass, looking onto Belmullet Quay. The room was large, open-concept, and done all in white and muted stainless steel. Soft grays accented here and there, but other than that, there was no color. A gas fire crackled in the fireplace, and I fell in love with the peace it offered.
Through the bank of windows, A riot of boats and birds floated on the water, providing contrast to the muted interior design.
Our home on the cliffs was amazing. It was grand in the way castles are, but it was enormous. As much as I loved it, this place instantly filled the need to have a cozy getaway, not that it was exactly small, but it wasn’t huge under anyone's definition.
Opposite the living area, a cook’s kitchen gleamed, warm, and inviting, with a giant island begging to be the focal point of a meal. In usual Coi style, the space was breathtaking.
“Sephone has a condo and office here as well; for the day she may work with us.”
“Aedan,” I said, watching him blink at the name, but I was overwhelmed and falling back on the familiar. “Coi, this is amazing. I am amazed. How?" I wanted to ask how he knew me so well, designed something perfect, and planned all this without me knowing, but I knew the answer.
The long game.
Consideration, intelligence, and the ability to see dozens of moves ahead on the chess board had made this place what it was.
Walking forward, I opened French doors that led to the only enclosed area of the wide open space where a queen bed covered in an explosion of whites, blues, greens, and greys, the only colors occupying the condo, waited. Windows lined that wall, too, and I could look out, watching birds dip and dive into the water below.
Stepping forward, I saw that a long, narrow, wrought iron balcony spanned the distance from bedroom to living room and would be a perfect place for morning coffee and flying in the minds of birds.
“It’s perfect,” I said as I flew into his arms.
“It is a nice addition,” he downplayed as always.
But it really was perfect. It would keep us close to our people and businesses while allowing us to separate from them. I loved it.
“Let’s go see to Jeremy,” I said, thinking of my first co-opted child.
Coi did not separate his vampires and had many hereditary vamps under his umbrella because of that. After the kidnapping and attempt on his life, Aedan cracked down, narrowing the roles and responsibilities he’d spread to others worldwide. He ran the vamp world for the most part, only delegating to children he’d made and trusted, who were few. His rule covered North and South America and most of Europe, but he was the defacto king of all of them.
Having his core group of people set up in a place like this would make it easier for him to maintain a watchful eye on vampire activities. He had children in high-ranking positions watching policy and guiding laws; one of his children was setting up for a US presidential run, and having all those buttons within reach would be valuable.
Jeremy had been a daredevil eight-year-old when I met him. He’d almost died in my arms after drowning in a neighbor’s pond. Before Jeremy, I’d never attempted a healing so complex. Saving him had changed many things in my life, and I’d grown to think of him as a son. He was all grown up now with a child of his own and a cute, dark-haired human wife, following in his father’s footsteps. Sometimes, I wished he’d waited on Seph because he was that good a man.
Still, hereditary vampires had expiration dates, and Seph might not, so it was for the best to save them from that. Jeremy’s mother and father had died of old age about ten years ago and only a few months apart, leaving him to live with us as parents for the next one hundred and fifty years or so.
Samuel Alston, one of Aedan’s strongest allies and head of the old vampire House in Charleston, South Carolina, had also died, leaving his holdings to twin boys around Jeremy’s age. Samuel hadn’t lived as long as I’d hoped but outlived many others. We’d been friends, and losing him was difficult, which was the biggest disadvantage to being longlived.
Sighing at the sudden downturn of my thoughts, I followed Coi from our rooms in search of our adopted son.
“Mom!” he yelled, waving to catch my attention, and my heart found happiness again, looking at his angled face three stories below.
People stopped, staring between us as I returned the wave and sifted to where he stood, wrapping my arms around him as he gave a startled yelp.
“I’ll never get used to that,” he laughed, smiling up at Aedan, who sifted someplace not nearby and possibly in Scotland. “Where’d dad go?” he asked, looking.
“Eh. Who knows. He hasn’t quite nailed it yet. How is everything?” I asked as people moved around us carrying boxes and other items.
“Everything is good! Katie is unpacking while I oversee this stuff.” He waved around the atrium. “The retreat was orderly and problem-free.” Jeremy yelped again when Coi stumbled into him, muttering under his breath and glaring at me while he straightened his suit jacket.
“Everything okay, Jeremy?” he asked as if everything was normal, making our kid wrestle with a smile.
I turned away, covering my grin with a fist as Coi growled something unintelligible.
“Everything’s great, Dad. I love the building, and everyone is saying good things. Only a few didn’t want to come, and I made them sign the waivers and let them stay.”
“Excellent work. How are your quarters?” Coi asked.
“Better than I expected, and I expected a lot,” he laughed, giving me a wink. “Thanks, old man. Katie loves it.”
“You are welcome.” Aedan clapped Jeremy on the back, turning around to speak to another vampire.
“You’re,” Jeremy muttered, making my husband’s head snap around. Jeremy always loved getting in on the game with Seph and Rora, and I loved that they loved picking on their bimillennial old father.
“You’re going where?” I rushed, not really trying to cover for him because I encouraged them to fuck with Coi openly.
If I needed to stay humble, so did he, and nothing keeps you humble like children.
Coi’s glare was epic. Ten of ten on the scale.
“Uh, Lunch?”
“I’ll go with you.”
Jeremy and I left Aedan behind to check in on his people and set his office up to his heart’s content. We discussed the move and his wife before separating so he could get back to work. I took another lap of the building, familiarizing myself with the layout and locations of stores before finding my own office and digging in.
Movers had placed everything from the office in Baltimore into boxes and stacked them against the far wall. A bank of windows overlooked the atrium and another the Quay. I moved my desk to the middle of the big room, facing the door, and put my back to the view of the water. Then I unboxed files, pens, and the pictures that made my space homey before turning in my chair to look down upon the sea.
I found a gull and let my mind drift. The smell of the water on this side of Belmullet was sharper and more condensed than on our cliff, and it mixed with the smells of the town, creating a miasma worthy of a candle. I enjoyed the short flight of freedom until movers dropped another box on my floor, forcing me to pull my mind back with a sigh because there were so many reasons to want to keep drifting.
Yes, life is about change. I get that, but I was shot, relocated completely, and dealing with angsty not-children. We still hadn’t heard from Dani, and I was getting worried because it was not like her. It was especially not like her to not come during these times of crisis. She’d missed Coi’s torture all those years ago and blamed herself for being absent in her life. She hadn’t missed much since coming back to him.
These were all valid reasons to want to drift away, but if it was this hard to stay in the present at my age, I couldn’t imagine being hers. A few times, Coi fought to bring me back from the edge of the stars, and who did Dani have for that if not us?
But then again, Dani had been around since the world formed, so there was that.
Taliah poked her head in the door, saying, “The president is on line one for you.” She smirked, knowing what I’d say.
“Forward that to my husband; I think he’s taking her calls.”
“She says she only wants to talk to you.”
“Fine, they probably will shoot me again if I don’t answer it.” Sighing, I picked up the phone using my best angry nurse voice. And let me tell you, you do not want to hear that. “Hello?” I growled.
“Mrs. Hennessey,” she oozed like pine tar in winter. “I’ve been trying to reach you.”
“Oh?” I replied like I hadn’t known. I was southern, not stupid, but I could play the game with the best of them. “Bless your heart, Mr. Hennessey has been taking my calls for me,” I lied.
“I want to apologize for your recent trouble with some political fringe elements, and I think it’s reflected badly on the overall situation. Your husband and I were nearly in agreement over future dealings when the talks fell apart. We want you both to return to the table so we can work this out.” I heard the rustling of papers and knew she was speaking from a prepared argument.
