TO BITE WITH LOVE

DOREN’S CALL

CHAPTER #16

DOREN’S CALL

ALEXI’S POV:

Driving Jade to the auto repair center had been bliss. We hadn’t really spoken much, just sat in a warm, almost uncomfortable silence. Despite my compelling her to forget, and she had, she was indeed drawn to me. She had wanted to be cold and crass with me, yet the bond was too strong to combat. That fact was slightly unnerving frankly. I needed to keep her safe, and although I needed to keep the fact that she was my mate guarded, having her as an assistant and a business specialist on her father’s company would keep her close to me. I would be able to keep an eye on her.

I was concerned that our bond would grow quickly and complicate things. I would have to be diligent and remain strong. I wanted her, so badly it hurt. She was my other half, the soul I had lost. She completed me. But I needed to remain strong for her, to protect her from the evil this world had to offer, until I was able to secure her future and safety with me. I needed to expel and defeat all our enemies, even if those enemies were once friends. I would be forced to deal with that more later this evening.

I had dropped Jade off without incident and she had been grateful. I resisted the urge to touch her as she exited my black 7-series BMW, my go to for work. I will never forget the sweet smile of thanks and those bright sultry doe eyes of hers, how she smoothed her white pencil skirt gently as she had exited the car. As I drove back to my condo, I kept seeing her face over and over in my head. Dimitri had tried calling me multiple times; however, I ignored him. I would hear all about it in due time, especially when he discovered that I had made Jade my assistant. He would be livid, but ultimately it was my decision. After seeing her again this morning, I knew I was not going to be strong enough to stay away from her.

As I entered my private garage to my condo my phone began ringing once more and I simply shook my head. Dimitri really didn’t give up did he. However, as I put the car in park and reached down to grab the phone since I had disconnected the Bluetooth, I nearly panicked when I saw the name on the screen. Doren. I hesitated to answer the phone, staring at the phone like a kid that had just been caught by a parent, yet, I knew, like any busted kid, it was inevitable that I would have to answer.

“Doren.” I greeted much more coldly than I would have normally. My instincts told me somehow that he knew, but how? Only Dimitri knew, and he would never call Doren on me, or would he?

“I think you have some explaining to do.” He said, his voice, more gruff than usual. Boy, this call was going to be fun, the dread pooling in my gut.

“About what?” I asked, honestly curious to know what he knew, I certainly didn’t want to expel any additional information.

“You have a mate?” and although those words were said like a statement, a question radiated out of them as well. I felt my mouth dry, my throat felt as thought it was going to close. This was not something I wanted to speak about. Everything was so raw, but I did know in my heart that Doren would never betray me. I cleared my throat and locked the car doors before I answered.

“I do.”

“Um hmm.” A short growl came over the line. “And she’s human, her name is Jade.” Damn, where was he getting all this information? Only Dimitri knew her name and that was solely because of the business dealings earlier today. I felt my jaw fall and I began stuttering in response.

“Uh, uh, yeah, but how, how did you find all this out?” I was unnerved, if Doren could find out about Jade from across the ocean, we were doomed, Karl would find her by nightfall. I felt my heart nearly crash and a cold sweat began to form over my brow. I heard the old vampire chuckle; I was suddenly terrified.

“You think you are the only supernatural being in Miami? The witches are the ones that called you out. One saw you taking the girl home.” I took a deep breath, allowing my shoulders to relax a little until Doren continued.

“However, kid, I am concerned. The witches tell me they had to put a blocking spell on her. Who is after her and why? What kind of human did you get mated to? And did you mate her? Did you mark her? What does she know?” I could hear the fervid in his voice. He was alarmed. I sighed with deep resignation. Doren was the one person I should have called, he was after all, my creator and an ancient, but damn I was terrified he would tell me I needed to leave my beloved, and I could never do that.

“I met her at Karl’s opening. I caught this remarkable small scent of Madagascar cinnamon, and when I peered around Karl and Dimitri, there was my perfect little mate. I knew it, I recognized her immediately, and it terrified me.”

“And so, it should.” A new tone to Doren’s voice emerged, a softer, more fatherly tone.

“So left her standing there with her friends. I realized I could not have a human for a mate and fled. The problem was, shortly after I saw Karl’s minion, Jake escorting my mate to the back room. I saw red, he was going to kill her.” I paused and there was a silence over the line, so I continued with my story. “I hurried to the back room and stopped Jake just as he had my little mate pinned up against the wall. Doren, she was so scared, my heart broke and my temper raged. I tore Jake’s head right off and I took my little mate home.”

“You killed Jake?” I could hear the horror in Doren’s voice, and I shuttered.

“I did.”

“Did you mate her?” a sternness flashed within his voice, and I paused nervously.

“I did.”

“Did you mark her?” this question was much more anxiety filled. Doren seemed almost afraid for me.

“I did not.” A relieved sigh escaped my creator’s lips, and reluctantly I understood why.

“It has to be Karl searching for her. He must be looking for retribution for killing Jake. But tell me, how did he find out about the girl? Who would tell him you had a mate?” My heart dropped in my chest, as I knew it had been Dimitri that had let it slip.

“Dimitri told Karl I had killed Jake over a woman, over a woman I believed to be my mate.”

“Oh, dear Goddess. That stupid fool. He has put you both in jeopardy.” Doren growled furiously. “I ought to kill that senseless fool myself.”

“He didn’t do it maliciously.” I retorted to my creator. Although I was less than thrilled with Dimitri’s gaff, I didn’t solely blame him. I did indeed kill Jake myself, and I had no regrets about that. He was the scourge of the undead.

“You are going to have to deal with Karl. He can never find out who your mate is. You may end up having to kill him. Be prepared my son.” The solace in Doren voice made my blood run even colder than it ever had. I knew he was right, but I could hope. Things were so much simpler 100 years ago.

“I know, but I can not leave my mate. The bond is too strong, and she completes me.” There was remorse in my voice, it shouldn’t be like this. I should be celebrating not hiding. Another deep drawn-out sigh echoed in the phone.

“I know. I have a mate, and she is an ocean away from me. It’s the most painful feeling one can ever experience, loosing the other part of your soul.” I gasped upon hearing that Doren had a mate out there somewhere and my heart broke for him. How was he able to cope without being with her? I couldn’t imagine being away from Jade.

“How can you cope?” another characteristic deep sigh exuded from Doren before his explanation began.

“We met in France and, like you, I knew she was mine the moment I saw her. Her radiant black hair and crystal blue eyes, her deep melodic Welsh accent. She was perfect. And powerful. She is a witch of all things and although she felt the bond, it was nothing like what I felt. Our relationship was plagued with hardships, our union was not met well by the supernatural’s, and in time, her calling to her coven was more powerful than her bond with me. I never marked her, and I never told her that she was my true mate.” I was aghast, how could he not relay something so sacred to her? How was he strong enough to let her go?

“How were you able to go forth without her?” I asked dumbfounded.

“I know where she is, and I know she is well. I must be satisfied with that until the time, if ever, that we can be together.” His words were so matter of fact, I frowned, I couldn’t even imagine being without Jade for any length of time. Even that single day when I had reserved the thought that I would never see her again placed me in a deep depression. When I had left her that night and compelled her to forget about me, I had shed tears, it nearly broke me. Having a mate was so sacred.

“I will go and speak with Karl this evening. In the meantime, I ran into my little mate this morning and it turns out she is a very astute businesswoman, so she has agreed to become my assistant. I hope that this way I can keep her close and keep her safe without drawing to much attention.”

“Will you be able to be near her without being with her?” I could hear the seriousness in Doren’s voice, and I questioned that of myself. Would I have the willpower to resist her, resist touching her, making love to her? I wasn’t sure frankly, but I would do anything just to be in the same room with her at this point.

“I am not sure, but I will be careful. Doren, I love her, I want nothing more than her.” I relied honestly.

“I know my son. I know.” My mind weighed heavy as I heard his exasperated tone. “I will call and check on you tomorrow. We will discuss things further when I can get more information from the witches. She has a friend among them, and they will do all they can to help keep her safe as well. Until tomorrow.” He said as he quickly hung up the line before I had time to speak. I stared down at the phone.

“Until tomorrow.” I muttered, turning off my phone and sliding it back into my jacket pocket. My heart felt heavy. I knew that my life had changed with this phone call, my future was uncertain, our future was uncertain.