Chapter 2
Demetri did not stop taking Felicity outside. He knew what he was doing was dangerous. He was well-matched with Jackson. It was impossible to predict who would win in a fight. And there would be a fight if Jackson found out about what Demitri was doing. Though they shared blood, their bond was fragile at best. They stuck together out of convenience. But Demitri was drawn to Felicity. She was no longer just Jackson's pet.
The time spent in the fresh air made her happy. Demitri had spent years learning to suppress his emotions. They were a weakness. This girl had no such inhibitions.
She took pleasure in the simplest of things. Watching her stirred something inside of Demitri, something that had long been dormant. He would not stop taking her outside. Eventually it would lead to conflict, but he would just cross that bridge when he came to it.
Felicity was beginning to feel rather like a dog. Jackson had not fed from her since Demitri started taking outside. She was grateful for that and she was grateful for being able to be out in the fresh air, but she was still on a proverbial leash. She still slept in a very real cage. Demitri fed her and took her out, just as if she were a dog. Occasionally Felicity caught him looking at her in a way that convinced her he did not see her as a dog.
One night when the sky was particularly clear, Felicity laid on the ground and looked up at the stars.
She was surprised when Demitri joined her. She did not question his presence. Felicity did not think he was going to hurt her. “What do you know about constellations?' Felicity asked after several moments of silence. There was a pause before Demitri answered.
“More than most people. I've had plenty of time to learn.”
Felicity sat up. “Show me. Please.” All her life she'd lived in a city, where the stars were rarely visible.
“More than most people. I've had plenty of time to learn.”
Felicity sat up. “Show me. Please.” All her life she'd lived in a city, where the stars were rarely visible.
Demitri sat behind Felicity. The sudden closeness made Felicity tense.
“Do you see that star?” Demitri began, his voice low. “The big, bright one?”
Felicity looked up, nodding when she spotted the star Demitri was talking about. She relaxed as he talked told her about it.
“Do you see that star?” Demitri began, his voice low. “The big, bright one?”
Felicity looked up, nodding when she spotted the star Demitri was talking about. She relaxed as he talked told her about it.
When she shivered Demitri adjusted their positions so the were closer to each other. Felicity did not mind. He did not radiate warmth like a human, but he was enough to keep her from shivering.
Demitri was more reluctant than usual to force Felicity back into her prison than he normally was. She provided a kind of companionship he hadn't realized he was missing.
When Demitri turned from locking the door to the basement, he was pulled into a tight hug.
“Kennedy. You should have told me you were coming.” Demitri said, doing his best to sound pleased. Kennedy was the vampire closest to him. She knew him best, though even she could not say she fully understood Demitri. He liked to keep it that way. Demitri trusted Kennedy implicitly. They were friends. They'd started out as lovers, but there was never much love between them. When Kennedy found her mate that part of their relationship ended. They grew more distant, growing closer again after Kennedy's mate was killed. The two often went their separate ways. Kennedy was a much younger vampire. She was restless, and she had a habit of just popping in on Demitri whenever she felt like it.
Kennedy was not fooled by Demitri's feeble attempt at sounding happy. She led him over to the couch, where the two vampires sat down.
Kennedy wrinkled her nose at Demitri's scent. “That girl you were with. She's a human.
Demitri nodded.
“Why is she here?”
Demitri was silent. Kennedy exhaled slowly.
“She's Jackson's, isn't she.” It wasn't a question. Kennedy knew the answer.
Demitri nodded.
“Why is she here?”
Demitri was silent. Kennedy exhaled slowly.
“She's Jackson's, isn't she.” It wasn't a question. Kennedy knew the answer.
“You're an idiot Demitri. He'll kill you. Both of you.”
“Not if you fight with me, when the time comes. Jackson is alone here.” Demitri said, his tone guarded.
“Is she worth it?” Kennedy asked. If she did not know Demitri as well as she did, she would assume he was after this girl for no reason other than to piss off his brother. But this was Demitri. There was a better reason, even if she didn't know what it was.
“Not if you fight with me, when the time comes. Jackson is alone here.” Demitri said, his tone guarded.
“Is she worth it?” Kennedy asked. If she did not know Demitri as well as she did, she would assume he was after this girl for no reason other than to piss off his brother. But this was Demitri. There was a better reason, even if she didn't know what it was.
Demitri stood, going to look out of the window. “She is.”
“When do you plan on fighting him?” Kennedy said, leaning forward.
“Not now. We must wait until the time is ripe.”
Kennedy nodded. She did not understand Demitri, but she would stand with him.
“When do you plan on fighting him?” Kennedy said, leaning forward.
“Not now. We must wait until the time is ripe.”
Kennedy nodded. She did not understand Demitri, but she would stand with him.