Strange Love 71 Safe In Your Arms

Arei let out a heavy breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding as he leaned against the now-closed door. He fumbled around in his pocket for the pack of cigarettes he'd bought earlier. "So much for quitting." He sighed as he took one from the pack with his lips and flipped the flint of the lighter with the other hand. He took a long draw before placing the pack and lighter back into his pocket and took out his phone. He quickly dialed his brother's number, taking another long drag as he waited for the call to connect.

[Areion?] Orion's deep voice sounded from the other end. [Is something wrong? It's bound to be late there right now... isn't it?]

Arei glanced down at the screen of his phone before answering. "Yeah, it's almost 2 am." He let out a loud puff as he took another drag from the cigarette.

[Soooo??? Is something wrong?] Orion asked impatiently. [Are you smoking right now? I thought you quit?]

Arei blew out the last of the smoke and stomped the b.u.t.t out on the ground with his shoe. "Yeah well I was going to... but..." He ran a hand through his hair. "Ah man, it's a mess here. I'm not entirely sure what to do."

[What's going on?] Orion asked.

Arei let out a sarcastic laugh, "I could ask you the same thing! What exactly has our dear little girl gotten herself into this time?"

Orion chuckled at the way his brother said the endearment they used to use when talking about her training all those years ago. [Oh you know the usual political corruption, conspiracy against the crown, s.e.x scandal with royalty.]

Arei's eyes bugged. "Oh wow, our girl has been busy! So how does it all tie together?"

Orion let out a huffed breath of air. [Remember that big vampire uprise about fifteen years ago? They attacked several Mediterranean islands that housed the largest population of lycanthrope in the world. Within the course of only five days, they had eradicated nearly two-thirds of the entire global population.]

Arei thought for a few seconds before responding. "Yes, I remember that. I believe it's part of the reason I've been sent here to investigate the U.S vampires. The council seems to think another uprising is being planned now-"

[And that DeMarco is orchestrating it?] Orion said as a rhetorical question.

Arei frowned. "I wasn't told that part, but after the meeting today..." He thought back over the phrasings used during the meeting and the conversations he'd overheard at the gala. "I believe you're right in a.s.suming as much. DeMarco is trying to bring all the clans together under his leaders.h.i.+p. He's pitching it as a better business but there seems to be an obvious ulterior motive that even the other vampires have been whispering about."

[Yes exactly. That is why I was sent to the Carolina's. As soon as they got word that DeMarco had moved to the area, so close to the wolf twins, they sent me out. It was suspected the move was because they had already discovered Russ and Sh.e.l.ly's location and was trying to take out one or both before they were old enough to take the thrown.] Orion explained.

"But?" Arei pushed for him to continue.

[But it doesn't matter if that was the reason for the move or not now, because they know who they are and knew where they were. I still have a feeling that's why DeMarco is keeping Jos close. He plans on using her to get to Russ in some way.] Orion continued after a minute's pause. [I can't prove that yet of course, but after seeing Sh.e.l.ly and seeing what that other b.a.s.t.a.r.d did to her...] Orion's words were growled out through clenched teeth.

Arei shook his head, "Don't worry about Jos. She's leaving with me tonight. The b.a.s.t.a.r.d tossed her phone into the ocean and smacked her around a bit tonight."

[And he's still alive?] Orion asked, shock heavy in his voice.

"Yes well... I tricked him into leaving long enough for me to get her out of here. I didn't tell her I was easedropping on them or that I saw him toss her phone... I just wish I'd been able to get to her before they left together... before he had a chance to lay a hand on her." Arei let out a sigh.

[So what's your plan?] concern was heavy in Orion's voice, but there was an underlying amus.e.m.e.nt that couldn't be missed.

Arei let out a heavy breath, "Oh G.o.ds, I don't have a clue! I guess take her back to my place tonight

and head first thing in the morning for North Carolina. He ran his hand through his hair. "But-" He glanced back at the closed door before whispering into the phone. "I don't know if I can do this or not... I... Being with her, seeing her again..."

Orion let out a heavy sigh. [Areion I know how you felt and I get how you must still feel, but please for once, think of what's best for her.]

Arei's mouth dropped into a deep frown, "I know... I know... She's already told me she's in love with that 'Russ' kid."

Orion chuckled, [Well the pup will be glad to hear that. See that she gets back safe. I trust you, brother. I'll let you know when I get back.]

"Alright, until then, take care." Arei hung up and turned back to the door. "What is taking her so long..." He mumbled as he gave the door a light tap before opening it.

Joslyn frowned at her reflection in the large bathroom mirror of the villa as she placed the last for her makeup into a small travel bag. "What have you done... This is such a mess..." She berated herself as she continued to frown at her own reflection. Tears streamed down her face as she thought back over all the mistakes she had made with Russ, the stupidity of continuing to get Xavier involved... and now Areion?!?! {He's the cause of most of this in the first place... No, I'm the cause of that too...} Angry tears flowed from her eyes as she squeezed the small bag tightly.

"Kitten? Are you in there still?" Arei called through the bathroom door.

Jos glared at the door. "If you don't stop with the stupid nicknames I swear-"

"Swear what, Kitten? You know threats are way more effective when made face to face instead of through doors, right?" Arei's lips curved up into a smile as he teased her. His eyes sparkled with mischief as the door pushed open and an angry, tear-streaked face emerged. He leaned toward her brus.h.i.+ng away a tear, "Typically tears are reserved for the person getting threatened as well." He stood straight and hooked a finger under her chin. "Cheer up, you'll be rid of me soon enough and back to prince puppy in no time." He took the small bag from her hand and quickly turned away, not wanting her to see the disappointment his own words brought him. He grabbed her other luggage as he walked toward the door. "Hurry up we don't have much time." He pushed the door open and held the door for her.

"What the f.u.c.k is going on here?!" An angry voice yelled for the parking lot.

Jos froze in the doorway for a brief second, worry filling her eyes as she sidestepped behind Arei. "Xavier... s.h.i.+t..."

Arei smiled, "Ah Mr. DeMarco, back so soon?"

Xavier looked back and forth between the two of them. Jos was barely visible as she all but hid behind the large mammoth of a man. Xavier's eyes gazed over the other man, sizing him up for the first time. Much like Xavier himself, the man had removed most of the tux from earlier. His crisp white s.h.i.+rt was unb.u.t.toned at both the neck and sleeves. The sleeves were now rolled to his elbows showing two full sleeves of tattoos. There was another poking out from the neckline of the b.u.t.ton down. His long hair was pulled back into a neat bun revealing shaved side that also had tattoos, some kind of symbols above each ear. The man was impressive for sure but gave off the scent of a human. Xavier's jaw twitched as he watched Jos's tiny hand cling with familiarity to the man's bulging bicep. "That was you that called earlier wasn't it? You guys have this planned?"

Arei smiled widely as he held a protective hand back to s.h.i.+eld Joslyn. "You might say that. Ya can't really expect such-" He glanced back toward her winking so that Xavier could see it. "Good friends to just walk away from each other so easily after so many years do you? I mean we'd planned on meeting back up at the gala but you left so early."
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"What are you doing?!" Jos whispered loud enough for only him to hear as she squeezed his arm tighter.

"Just follow my lead." He said. He took her hand and began walking toward his car.

Xavier didn't budge, he only stood there with his arms crossed as he watched them move across the parking lot. "So that's it? You're just going to leap from my bed to his?"

Arei held the door open for her and waited for her to get in. He smiled brightly as he turned away from her back toward Xavier. "Now see that's where you're wrong... She's only been in one of our beds... and it wasn't yours." His mouth widened into a nice, big toothy grin as anger filled Xavier's expression. And just as suspected the vampire lunged for him. Arei easily blocked the punch and had Xavier flat on his back in a matter of seconds. He laughed as he stepped over the unconscious vampire laying across the empty parking spot. "Poor b.a.s.t.a.r.d, I thought you'd have more fight than that."

He got into the car and started the engine. It wasn't until he glanced over at a pal faced Jos that his satisfied smile slipped away. "What's wrong, kitten?"

"Is... will he be alright?" She asked.

Arei let out a huffed laugh, "You wouldn't be so worried about him if you knew what kind of person he really is." He kicked the car into gear and began driving.

They rode in silence for the longest time, until the city lights began to fade and highway began to be all that stretched out in front of them. Jos frowned, "Where are we going?" She asked.

Arei didn't look away from the road, "I have a place a little north of Tampa. We can spend the night there. Then leave in the morning." When Jos only continued to stare out the window instead of answering, he added. "Lean the seat back and take a nap it's about a two-hour drive.

She nodded and did as he said, leaning the seat back until she was comfortable then closing her eyes. "I'm sorry." She whispered.

Arei glanced her way. "For what?"

Jos turned her head in his direction opening her eyes only fractionally. "About all this, getting you involved."

He laughed, "Kitten, I got myself involved. You have nothing to be sorry for."

Jos frowned. "It's just that I realize it was a little naive of me to trust him, to come here with him..."

Arei patted her knee, "I'm glad you came, otherwise it's hard to tell how long would have gone by without me getting to see you again. I don't know about you but I've enjoyed our little reunion."

Jos frowned, "I was pretty rude to you..."

Arei shrugged, "And I was an a.s.shole to you. We're even."

Jos glanced over at him and couldn't help but return his smile. "I should have listened to your slid of things a long time ago. For that, I'm also sorry."

Arei frowned, "For that, I will take your apology. Everything I said is the truth... everything I said then and everything I say now, Jos. I wish I'd been brave enough to ask you... to make you say MY name then... but I guess deep down I know it wasn't me you wanted and couldn't bear to hear the words from your mouth."

Jos fought a yawn as she rested the side of her head against the headrest of the seat. "You're wrong about that, you know. Thinking back I loved Orion. He was the first person to show me attention the way he had, but it the feelings I had for the man I had confessed my love too and the man that took care of me and trained me all those months after that... the man I fell IN LOVE with..." He met her gaze. "It was you."