Chapter 16

At the slow shifting of the two bodies, I awoke as Susan slid to the edge of the bed. Along my other arm, Desi hesitated. Her blue eyes glimmered in the dim morning sunlight. After a quick glance at her friend, she dove in to press her lips against mine. Once she'd pulled away, she flashed me a brilliant smile.

"Thank you, Jim," she whispered.

After I gave her a wink, she slid from my opening grip and crept after Susan to their room. For a while I lay there, but the sun was rising fast in a clear blue sky. And, as I scanned the trees, a prickle in the hairs of my neck had my teeth clenching.

With a groan, I rolled from the mattress, trying to minimize its creaking. If Mandy appeared, I'd be distracted. At that, a smile crossed my face. She was the best type of distraction. And as I folded the couch, the grin wouldn't fade.

But, after changing and a last glance at her sealed door, I left the cabin to run. Although it had been some time since my training, the old paths came back to me. In the chillier early morning air, I tried to ignore the strange tingling. I was being watched, but there was little I could do about it. And soon I was huffing through the cabins and on up into the lake's other facilities.

Not much had changed. Even the old hidden trails remained difficult to scry if you didn't know where to look. As I made my way back to the cabin, I slowed. Just outside, Charles stood talking with all three women.

Both Susan and Desi wore cutoff denim Daisy dukes, but Susan had a pink bandeau top molded to her chest, while Desi sported a red string bikini. Although Mandy had a colorful coverup, a warm gust provided a glimpse of the tiny swimsuit beneath it. As I slowed to walk closer, the smile returned. Yeah, an incredible distraction.

"All right. Well, you all have fun." In mid-wave, Charles turned at my running shoes crunching on the gravel. "I'll, uh, catch up with you after the meetings."

As sweat trickled down it, I wasn't sure who spent more time scanning my bare torso. While Susan's eyes lingered, Desi's face flushed bright red. But at last Mandy's eyebrow arched. She eased out a hip and gave me a quick flick of glittery tongue.

"We're going to the lake, Jim," Mandy said. "Would you like to come along? For, um, a swim."

While that would have been great fun, my eyes lifted to scan the mountain. It called my name. Even that strange feeling wobbled as I ran my gaze over its lofty peak. Duty called. Or something damned similar. When I returned to them, I forced a smile.

"No, thank you. Enjoy." I pointed over their heads to Mount Aristeia. "I'm going up there."

After turning to the mountain, they all looked at each other. When they faced me, I held in a laugh. How many times in my endless life had I seen that expression? Perhaps they were right, and I was mad. But beneath the strengthening sun, the calling intensified.

"It's a tradition on my first day. That mountain is my friend." It was a lie, but I chuckled and looked at Charles. "Yeah, old as the hills. That's me."

Even as he laughed and the others shook their heads while snickering, my gaze returned to that craggy mount. After dashing inside, I stepped out with binoculars.

"Here." I handed them to Mandy. God, her eyes, again filled with hungry need, were like sapphire lasers, boring into me. For a split second, I thought she'd surge for my lips. I felt the same, but I only flashed her a smile. "You can watch my ascent from the lake if you get bored." As they turned for the beach and Charles took a step toward his car, I cleared my throat. "Uh, how about a rain check? Sorta. Later, I could take you all up to a place. Do a bit of stargazing?"

While the girls and Mandy exchanged glances, Susan and Desi whispered together. Although Mandy smiled, the other two shook their heads. They didn't need to say more. As they glanced at Mandy's back before returning to me, I understood. They wanted me alone again, not with her and Charles, who also nodded.

"Well, I have to go." His sniffly voice broke the awkward silence. "Meetings all day. See you later and ... Uh, yeah, sign me up for stargazing, Jim."

After a final wave to us all, he clambered into the car and drove off. The others gave me a last look and headed towards the lake. Just as I was about to enter the cabin, Mandy, trailing the girls, rose onto her toes and pirouetted. As her coverup flailed outwards, revealing the micro-kini, her tongue glittered in the sunlight.

Damned cute distraction. And she knew it.

It wasn't until I'd reached the base and was setting out my gear that I paused. With a chuckle, I scanned towards the concealed lakeshore. That last smirk before Mandy had sashayed into the trees with the girls. The little tease. In that tiny bikini.

"So you want to put on a show, huh?" I murmured while beginning my ascent. "Okay, slut."

Quiet laughter was still echoing as I hit the first checkpoint along the ever-sharper incline. While I continued the meticulous route, a plan formed in my mind. She'd said she wanted to try anything. Let's see what her next limit would be. When a group of younger, faster climbers passed, they all gave me strange looks as I chuckled. Mandy was fun. And I already missed her.

After making the summit at midday, I stretched out on a flat, sunbaked boulder. Off to one side was the only shaded area. A massive rock cast a jagged shadow over a portion of the mountain. Inset within it was an even darker crevasse.

While leaning back on my elbows, I took in the view. Beyond the thick pine forest on the lower slopes, I traced the winding, slow-flowing river to find the cabins, then the glittering lake. A smile crept across my face. My slutty little Mandy was showing off down there.

"Soon," I muttered before chortling. Well, if the plan worked.

At the slithering trickle of pebbles, the hairs on the back of my neck prickled. Just as I was ready to leap, a flash of curvaceous alabaster appeared within the dim split in the rocks. A slow exhale left me as I relaxed.

"I was wondering how long you'd be able to stay away," I said, while continuing to peer at the verdant valley.

"You expected me?" Kali's low voice answered from the darkness.

"Yes." I chuckled.

"Why?"

Rather than answer, I combed fingers through my short hair and sighed again. "Did he send you?"

There was a drawn-out pause before she replied. "No."

"And you think you're here alone?"

Another hesitation. "Yes."

Of course she thought that, but the Baron wasn't stupid. No, he'd planned well. He always did.

"How long has it been since your fath—the Baron—took your soul?"

"He didn't take my soul!" Her strident retort echoed across the mountaintop.

"Forgive me." A heavy breath left me. Blood drinkers could be touchy about their histories. Not that I had much moral high ground. "When did he make you what you are?" Since she remained silent, I sighed. "Look, I've not seen you with him before. Which means he's had you—"

"—dormant." Her voice was profound coolness. "He's kept me hidden."

"Yeah. Figured as much." While nodding, I peered into the dark cleft. Her pale, regal face gleamed in the dim shadows. "And why do you think he's been kind enough to release you now?"

"I—I, uh, don't know, Iakovos."

"You're bait, Kali."

As much as I tried not to laugh, it erupted anyway. And it was a bitter one. The result of hundreds of years of cat-and-mouse and even stupider games. Her sculpted faint brows narrowed.

"Bait? For..."

"Yep. For me. Right now, the Baron has other eyes watching you. Oh, and scouring me. Assessing everyone and everything around us."

"But ... But, Iakovos. I never..." Her tone was scared and contrite. "I mean—"

"It's alright." My chuckle was warmer. At least he wasn't being obtuse. And she was a beautiful pawn. "I expected it from the first moment we touched. He felt it. As did you."

"What?"

"The reason you're here." I smiled, and she rolled her light pink lips. "To see me. To be close to me again."

"How could—"

"The Baron and I have played this game so many times. It's simple, really. By now, he knows me as well as I know him. As gorgeous as you are, he expects you to get to me. Then he'll pressure you." With a lengthy sigh, I pulled my gaze from her and returned to the valley. "And you will comply. Or he'll end you."

At her gasp, I let a tired grin slip onto my face. "It's alright. Not your fault. At all. It's who you are. What you are. Just like him. And me."

"What does he want with you?"

"He wants to slow me down." I lifted a canteen to my lips and took a slow gulp. "Distract me so he can get away with whatever he's doing."

"Why does he do this?"

"He's bored." That laugh was colder. "Like me. So he gathers more—everything."

"My fath—the Baron already has so much."

"He does." I shrugged. "But when you've been around for so many years, you simply want more. It becomes your only goal."

"And you?"

"I've got more than enough stuff. Money. Riches are nothing to me. Now I build relationships. Alliances. And, I help"—I swept my hand over the tiny dots roaming along the trails or in canoes and paddleboats on the lake—"them."

"Like the beautiful neighbor and her daughters?"

"Yes, I guess so." I took another swig of cool water. "Not exactly the help I'd planned, but yes. And she has only one daughter. The other is the daughter's friend."

"She loves you." Kali gazed down at the lake. "The woman."

With a sigh, I nodded. Had Kali been talking with Mi? Nah, doubt it. It was pretty obvious Mandy had deeper feelings than she would admit. Yet.

"And perhaps Iakovos, it helps you as well?"

"Yeah, maybe."

"So now what?" She swallowed while turning to face me again. "What shall I do? The Baron expects..."

"Well, he'll know we talked up here." I inhaled the fresh, humid air and shoved the canteen into its carrier. "So now you've got a decision to make."

"What do you mean?" Her voice rose.

"Well, pretty little bait. You've hooked me." I chuckled while combing fingers through my damp, sun-warmed hair. "Now find a way to catch me."

"What? Why?" Her eyebrows arched. "Won't that play into his plan?"

"Yep. Figure out how to get closer to me than a dark hole at midday. Make me yours." At her gasp, I laughed. "No. Not like that. As much as you hunger, my blood would poison you. The Baron knows that. He finds it amusing to send your kind after me."

"So what do...?"

"The Baron's not in a rush. Neither am I, anymore. Both of us have plenty of time. Except whatever he's up to, that has a ticking clock. Come to me. Entice me. He'll have watchers on you, just as he does now." I chuckled. "We'll let him think he's winning. That his beautiful bait has distracted poor, lonely Iakovos."

"And this will help, how?" Her ice-blue eyes sparkled and glossy lips smacked.

"It will buy me time." I waved my hand over the valley. "And breathing room for my allies. We'll uncover whatever it is he's planning. And then stop it." I let a long sigh whistle out. "Once more."

"You are a good person, Iakovos."

"I get that a lot, now." I laughed. When I returned to her, my brows furrowed. "Huddle deep inside. The sun's gonna slide down the rear of the mountain around three. The shadows should protect you until dusk."

"How will I know when to find you?"

"You will." After a shrug, I balled my fists. "Every bait so far has done just fine." At her sharp intake of air, I sighed. I hadn't meant to sound so cold. "Sorry, I shouldn't have said it that way. You're ... Well, the best you can be, Kali."

"I—I..."

"I know. You still can have feelings. For me even, perhaps. But at this point, any type of emotions are enticing for you, correct?"

With a sniffle, she nodded, a pair of tears glittering down her pale cheeks.

"Well, then beautiful Kali. Find me. Entice me. And maybe we can explore more of those feelings. The Baron will wait until he knows you've set the hook. And"—I flashed her a smile—"I don't mind being hooked by you. Okay?" After she gulped and nodded, I widened the smile. "Now. I've got to get down or they'll be worried. Remember what I said. Don't move from there until late afternoon. Stay on the Eastern slope."

"Yes, Iakovos." She paused and gazed in the cabin's direction. "She is very lucky. Your Mandy. Even he ... The man with her. The husband. He is, as well."

My eyebrows raised. Not at her knowing Mandy's name, but at the cryptic comment about Charles. At first I swallowed and opened my mouth to ask, but sighed. No. I didn't want to know. Mandy would tell me. All in good time. After a last grin and a wave, I gathered my gear and headed down.