Anathema (Causal Enchantment #1)(23)
Author: K.A. Tucker

“What a mess!” Amelie announced as she surveyed the stuff scattered all over the cave, though her childlike face wore an eager expression. Suddenly she shrieked, diving down to grab something small and black. She held it up. A bathing suit.

I frowned. Why would Sofie—that’s right. I had mentioned the oasis. I didn’t think she was paying attention though.

Amelie frantically rooted around until she found one for each of us. Trunks in hand, Bishop and Caden bolted, Caden covering his eyes dramatically to hide his view of his sister, who had already begun shamelessly peeling off her clothes.

Fiona handed me a black bikini. I swallowed, holding up the two–piece, trying to figure out top from bottom. There was more string than covering. “Is there something in there a little more … modest?”

“Oh, don’t be silly, Evangeline,” Fiona murmured, already adjusting her own skimpy hot pink bikini over her supermodel–like curves.

“Okay,” I grumbled, changing quietly, dreading standing next to these two. When I was done I felt naked, even though all my vitals were covered. The cold air wasn’t helping.

“What are you looking for?” Amelie asked, seeing my eyes darting over the piles of clothing.

“There was a big, fuzzy red blanket somewhere here.”

“Come on!” Fiona looped her arm through mine and dragged me down the tunnel, picking up speed until we were jogging. Amelie ran ahead of us, giggling hysterically, holding a giant flashlight that had come in the mountain bag.

I forced them to slow to a walk, out of breath. “So … when do you think Rachel will be back?” I asked casually.

“When the Council gets bored of watching vampires bludgeon each other nearly to death, only to heal and do it over again,” Fiona answered. I cringed in horror as she elaborated: “A gladiator tournament.”

“She’s a Council member and, as such, must keep up appearances,” Amelie added in a haughty voice in snide imitation of Rachel.

“Where did she go?”

“To New Shore. It was the capital city when this was a country. Most of it has crumbled and grown over now. She wouldn’t have gone if she had known you would be here—you’re so early! She won’t be back for another week, at least,” Fiona answered.

I exhaled loudly, earning a laugh from them. “She’s not the nicest person I’ve ever met,” I said, wrinkling my nose.

Fiona snorted. “Evangeline, you’re too polite. She’s a cold–hearted, vicious bitch!” Her violet eyes flashed with anger.

I looked at her, not prepared for the blatant loathing in her normally serene voice. “Yes, well, she is also drop–dead gorgeous. I guess all guys are the same.”

“What?” Amelie asked, her face twisting with confusion. “Ohhh, you mean Caden. Believe me, their ‘relationship’—and I use that term loosely—has nothing to do with her looks,” Amelie said. “But she is madly in love with him—crazy, fanatical, psychopath love.”

“But he doesn’t love her?” A spark of hope—a glimmer of the impossible—ignited within me.

Fiona held her finger up to her lips as we rounded the corner and entered the oasis, ending the conversation before I could get an answer.

“Wow,” I mumbled, taking in the scene. Steam rose from the water, swirling in the chilly mountain air that stirred the countless flames around the cavern to create a beautiful, dreamlike mist.

We found Bishop and Caden relaxing in a small, circular alcove. The water lapped just below their chests, the precise height to adequately show off Caden’s strong shoulders and neck. He had the perfect curves and ridges around his frame, the perfect amount of flesh and muscle to make him look neither beefy nor lanky. Perfect. I heard myself groan wistfully before I could control myself.

They stopped talking and turned, Caden’s eyes immediately landing on me. My shoulders hunched inward as I instinctively wanted to hide, wishing I could cocoon myself in that red blanket. Maybe the mist will blur his vision, I hoped. Highly doubtful. I wrapped my arms around my chest, trying to cover my entire upper body—a justifiable action, considering the chill in the air.

Fiona trotted over and slithered in beside Bishop, wrapping her arms around him before resting her head on his broad shoulder. Amelie was no less confident about her body as she jumped in beside Fiona, taking enough space for herself that I was forced to squeeze in beside Caden.

Next to those two, I probably resembled a rodent, scurrying to the edge and gracelessly clambering down, half tumbling in my hurry to find concealment in the water. Caden offered his hand and I took it, knowing I would likely end up falling on top of him otherwise. I didn’t know what was wrong with me lately. I wasn’t so physically inept anywhere else but near them and their superpowers.

When the warm water covered my flesh, I was able to relax and breathe again.

“Ah, the good old days: hot tubs, girls in bikinis …” Bishop reminisced, leaning back with his arms stretched lazily to either side of him, displaying his muscular biceps. “Eve—next time back, surfboards and a keg, ‘kay?” He waited for my giggle and nod of assent before his head fell back and he closed his eyes, resting peacefully.

“So, you all used to be human, right? Do you forget all of your skills when you … convert?” I asked cautiously. “I mean, why couldn’t you pick up where humans left off, with all the manufacturing, electricity—all that stuff?”

“Sounds so simple, doesn’t it?” Caden laughed without mirth. “Because we’re narcissistic, selfish creatures who want all the luxuries with none of the hard work behind it.” He paused. “Think of Viggo and Mortimer. The ‘good vampires.’” I caught the sarcasm. “Where do they get their money? Do you see them working? Earning a living?” Caden’s Adam’s apple protruded as he dropped his head back against the rock ledge. I had the urge to run my finger along it, but I resisted. He chuckled. “They rob their victims. They go after the ones whose wallets are thick, and whose illicit activities make their death unsurprising and welcomed. I’d bet my life on it. It’s what I used to do.”

I shuddered at his blunt admission. But was he right? I had wondered where they earned their money.

Caden continued. “You’ll be hard–pressed to find a vampire fixing toilets or serving drinks, unless they have an ulterior motive.”

“Sofie serves coffee,” I answered, challenging him.

Caden’s head rolled to face me. “I wonder why …” His voice was soft, protective. A gentle warning.

“You’re right. I have to question everything, don’t I?”

He nodded, a small smile touching his lips before he sat up again.

My eyes drifted around the alcove, landing on each vampire for a brief moment, listening to them chatter and laugh happily. That means I’m supposed to question all of you? The idea distressed me. I didn’t want to question them.

Every fiber of my body was keenly aware of Caden’s presence, so close to me. Now and again his arm would bump against mine as he laughed. I’m sure it was accidental, but each one of those nudges sent electric ripples through my body. I managed to steal several glances at him, pacing myself so I didn’t get caught ogling. Soft–looking masculine fuzz had started to grow in the center of his chest. Hairy chests had never appealed to me before. Now, though …

“Bishop?” Fiona’s low, worried voice cut into my fantasies. I glanced over to see the male vampire no longer languishing in the tub but sitting rigid, scowling and shushing her with his hand while he listened for something. The group sat tense for a moment, aware of something I was blind to.

Finally he shook his head, then grinned at Caden. “Nothing. Big Brown took care of it.”

He had been communicating telepathically with his pet. About what, though? “More vampires?” I guessed, a shiver running down my back.

“Not anymore,” Caden answered, turning to smile reassuringly at me. “We’re good.”

“Told you he was worth the battle.” Bishop smirked arrogantly at Fiona, then threw a wink in my direction. He leaned back again, closing his eyes.

More vampires. Lurking in the mountains—the mountains I had hoped would be impenetrable—on their way here to torture me when they found me. I swallowed a lump. “Are they ever going to stop?” I whispered. “One of them may get past—”

“They won’t.” Caden’s voice was soothing. “Don’t worry.” Underwater, an invisible hand landed on my knee and squeezed gently before sliding away again. A thrill rippled from the point of contact to the rest of my body. I swallowed. If he was trying to distract me, he was doing a fantastic job.

“You wanna go stretch? I need to stretch,” Amelie announced, grabbing my hand and effortlessly pulling me to the connecting pool, no doubt to further distract me from the talk of vampires in the jungle.

“Sure,” I mumbled, glancing back at Caden. He was watching me. Always watching.

When I learned that “stretching” meant doing a swan dive off a twenty foot–high boulder into a shallow part of the pool where jagged rocks peppered the bottom, I politely declined. I instead dove under, swimming toward the center of the lake.

Something brushed lightly against my leg. I turned to see Caden beside me, giving me an open–mouth grin, reminding me that I was the only one who had to resurface for air. We both surfaced.

“Follow me. I want to show you something,” he said. I nodded eagerly, willing to follow him into the pits of hell. “Big breath, okay?”

I nodded again. We dove under and Caden grabbed my hand and began towing me, swimming effortlessly. Down, down we descended, flying through the water at high speed. As the lake floor dropped beneath us, swallowing us whole, I began to think the pits of hell was exactly where we were headed. Soon I couldn’t even see my arms in the darkness enveloping me. Caden must have sensed my agitation because he drew me closer, one of his arms wrapping around my waist to pull my back against his chest. Now I had two things to freak out over—the paralyzing darkness and Caden’s proximity.

I sensed a directional change. And then we finally surfaced. Spent air burst from my mouth and I inhaled loudly. Luckily I had been so focused on his hand against my ribcage that I forgot about panicking over my need for air.

“Too bad the pendant can’t breathe for you,” he said into my ear, still holding me tightly.

“Yeah, that’d be helpful.” My voice broke. “Where are we?” I looked up at moonlight shining down through a circle of night sky—a gaping hole, I realized—to illuminate the placid lake and a powerful waterfall maybe thirty feet high, far down on the other side of this particular spot.

“We’re on the other side of the mountain, near the ocean.”

Caden’s arms slid from my body. I turned to see him already out of the water, standing on a rock ledge that extended the full length of the cave wall. The black and gray swim trunks that Sofie had chosen for him sat low on his hips, revealing the defined, muscular shape of his abdomen and pelvic bones. A fine line of hair crept all the way down his stomach, disappearing under the waistband of his trunks …

“Evangeline?” The sound of my name snapped me from my blatant gawking. I turned away quickly, heat crawling up my neck. You’re such a pervert, Evangeline. It took a moment to regain my composure. When I finally felt brave enough to look back, Caden was grinning at me, not the least bit uncomfortable. He offered his hand. “Here.”

I took it, and he effortlessly yanked me out into icy air. My body tensed with the cold. I briefly considered jumping back into the water but Caden’s grip on my hand tightened. “Come on.” Caden began walking briskly along the ledge, tugging me along.

“Where are we going?” I asked.

“I want to show you something.”

We walked to the other side of the cave and stopped by the ferocious waterfall, the sound of its rushing water reminding me of Viggo and Mortimer’s jet engine. Caden turned and said something.

“Pardon?” I yelled.

He leaned in close, his mouth next to my ear. “You need to hold on tight.” I nodded, squeezing his hand. Chuckling with amusement, he yanked me toward him until our chests were touching. My heart started pounding. I heard myself suck in air as he again moved his mouth next to my ear. “Close your eyes and put your face against my chest.” The vibrations from his words tickled my skin, making my heart pound harder. “You feeling okay?” His voice was innocent enough.

“Yup,” I said, annoyed with the telltale thumping in my chest. How can he not know? Could this vampire be that oblivious? Maybe he could be, thanks to my necklace.

“Are you sure?”

More vibrations causing more tickling causing more pounding. My breathing became raspy. Unable to speak, I instead nodded and buried my face in his chest, expecting to pass out.