“Well…one of the Beloveds threw herself in front of her vampire when someone was about to stake him, and she got stabbed instead. Another one got her throat cut, but that was a really special circumstance because I heard that she got turned, and lost her soul. But then she got it back, so it ended up OK.”
“Eek,” I said faintly, clutching Nikola’s arm. I’m sorry if this is going to sound selfish and uncaring, but I don’t want to be stabbed or have my throat cut. Or lose my soul!
“How do you know this?” Nikola asked Ben, looking up from where he was—naturally—taking notes. “This is not something I taught you.”
“No. Actually…” Ben cleared his throat. “I learned it after you severed ties with us. I turned to the Moravian Council for help, and they gave me quite a bit more information than you ever did. I used to think you deliberately withheld the information from us in an attempt to put us at a disadvantage, but with this new insight into the past, I’m willing to admit that you didn’t intend that to be the result.”
“I have never heard of this Beloved business, or the Joining needed to create one.” He looked at me. “Hindsight leads me to believe that I should have contacted the Moravian Society earlier, Io. I should not have let the fact that they knew things I had not yet determined for myself sway me from contacting them. I have nothing but my pride to blame.”
“You didn’t know better,” I reassured him, leaning in to give him a quick kiss. “No one told you how to be a vampire after the demon lord made you one, so you couldn’t have known all the rules.”
“I should have contacted them,” he repeated. “I may prefer to discover knowledge for myself, but I should have made an exception in this situation. However, that is now moot. This Beloved that you speak of, she has her soul, yes?”
“Yes,” Fran said, smiling at Ben. “I have to say, it’s kind of romantic that your dad had to come into the future to find his one true love.”
“Oh, we’re not in love,” I said quickly, a little embarrassed that everyone should think we were a madly romantic couple. “I mean, I’m very fond of Nikola, and we enjoy being together, and yes, I did say that I wouldn’t mind spending however long with him because he’s really fascinating, but we’re not in love. Just kind of…in fond. Right, Nikola?”
“I shall draft a letter to the council immediately, demanding that they tell me everything that they told my son,” Nikola said to himself as he made another note.
“See?” I waved toward Nikola.
Fran turned to her husband. “Didn’t you tell me that all vamps are madly in love with their Beloveds?”
“Yes, but—”
“And Io smells like a Beloved?”
I straightened up. “I beg your pardon!”
“Then that means he has to be in love with her,” Fran said, gesturing toward me. “So why isn’t your dad getting with the program?”
“He’s always been a little…different,” Ben said with obvious apology.
“Hey! There’s nothing wrong with your dad. He just likes to keep track of important stuff and things he’s curious about. Nikola, tell your kid that you’re not weird just because you’re not in love with me.”
“And perhaps I’ll conduct some research into the phenomenon of losing and regaining a soul—hmm? Why are you pinching me?”
“Ben thinks you’re defective or something because you’re not in love with me.”
“He does?” Nikola eyed his son. “I tried to love your mother, but was unable to do so despite the fact that she was quite worthy of that emotion. It is no surprise that I am unable to do likewise for Io.”
“Mama was not your Beloved,” Imogen said, giving me a long look. “Evidently Io is.”
“And that should make a difference?” Nikola asked them.
“Yes,” Fran answered.
“Ah.” He considered me. Would you like me to be in love with you, sweetling?
No! Of course not! No, unless…you know…you wanted to be. I don’t want you to feel like you have to pretend you’re in love with me, because that’s not the sort of relationship we have.
Exactly what do we have? In reference to our relationship, that is?
Well…we like each other a lot.
Yes, we do.
And of course, the sex is spectacular.
Most gratifyingly so, yes.
And we want to spend time together. I mean, I like being with you, and you said you like being with me, so that’s what we have.
With no love?
No. Er…not unless you wanted it. Do you?
I don’t know. Do you?
Everyone is staring at us. I cleared my throat. I think this is going to be one of those discussions that we’ll have to have another time.
As you like. He turned back to the others. “Io is thinking over whether or not she wishes for us to be in love. Until she makes up her mind, we should go on with what advice this kind lady has for us.”
“I wondered if anyone was going to remember me,” Tallulah said with a private smile. “It is Sir Edward who offers the advice, and that is this: Find the man who has used the portal. Find him as quickly as you can, and do what you must to restore balance where you have brought unbalance. For if you do not…”
Her voice trailed off dramatically, leaving me with a shiver down my back and arms. Once again, I leaned into Nikola for comfort.
“If we do not?” he asked her.
Her gaze moved along each of us, ending on me. “If you do not, countless lives will be sacrificed.”
It wasn’t until almost an hour later that we were able to gather—“we” being Imogen, Ben, Fran, and Nikola and me—in Imogen’s trailer. She had insisted that we meet Peter Sauber, who was one of the two owners of the fair, and explained to him that Nikola was her long-lost father.
“Cousin!” I had said quickly, flashing a very toothy smile to Imogen before turning it on the balding, slightly worried-looking man. “Nikola is Imogen’s cousin. He couldn’t be her father because he barely looks ten years older than her. He’s her cousin.”
“It’s all right, Io,” Imogen said, patting my hand. “Peter knows about Ben and me. What we are, I mean.”
“Oh.” I pursed my lips as I examined the man in question. “Sorry. Are you a vamp, too?”
“No,” he said, his forehead wrinkling a little. “I’m a magician. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Baron. I understood that you were in South America recently.”
“No, that was the wrong past,” I corrected him, smiling at Nikola just because he was so incredibly handsome, it took every ounce of strength I possessed to keep from flinging myself on him.
You are more than welcome to—
Stop right there, or I will have no resistance whatsoever.
Nikola laughed in my head.
“The wrong…no, don’t tell me. There’s enough going on without trying to figure that out.”
After meeting a few more people, we finally ended up in Imogen’s pretty trailer, the inside of which was done in shades of olive and taupe.
Imogen, Fran, and I sat together on a gently curved taupe and olive polka-dot sofa, while Ben and his father stood at the far end of the trailer, their heads together as they discussed something. It made my heart happy to see Nikola reunited with his son, especially since it was obvious they were having such an emotionally intense conversation.
“Io, I think I owe you an apology,” Fran said, drawing my attention back.
“About being so mean to Nikola? I suppose it’s understandable, although really, even if Nikola had been from the past you remembered, he’s still Ben’s daddy, and thus due a little respect—”
“No,” Fran said, holding up a hand to stop me. “I meant about mentioning you guys being in love. I didn’t realize that it was possible for a vamp and his Beloved not to be in love, and I think I made you very uncomfortable. I’m very sorry if I did.”
“Ah, that.” I waved a hand like it didn’t mean anything. “I think it’s because Nikola and I are so much more matu—er—settled in our ways. We’re not young, like you and Ben are. Or rather just you. Not that you’re an infant, but…oh, you know what I mean.”
“Yes, I do.” She laughed. “I’m glad I didn’t offend you. And I’m really glad that you found Nikola, no matter how it came about, or what form the relationship takes. It’s just nice to see another Dark One who’s found his other half.”
I couldn’t help but look at Nikola, my gaze caressing him in a manner that I knew was going to spell trouble if I let it continue. I swear, my mouth started watering just from looking at him with his head next to Ben’s as they talked quietly.
“Isn’t that cute?” I said softly, nodding toward them. “Seeing them together like that, I feel like the Grinch when his heart grows so many sizes.”
“What do you think they’re talking about?” Fran asked Imogen.
She smiled, her eyes a bit bright with tears of happiness. “I don’t know, and I don’t care. I’m just so pleased to have Papa back, the Papa I remember from my youth. He was always such a loving man…until that day.”
“Which didn’t happen anymore,” I pointed out, feeling my own eyes getting misty, as well. “I bet they’re talking about something deep and important. I bet Nikola’s telling Ben how proud he is of him, and how much he’s missed him, and maybe even is offering fatherly advice.”
“Oh, yes,” Imogen said, sniffling happily.
What are you talking to Ben about? I couldn’t help but ask. Something sweet and tender and touching?
Yes. Nikola glanced my way. I asked Benedikt if he often caught his pubic hair on the fastening device of these breeches. He said that is what Jockeys are for. What is a Jockey? I do not wish to appear ignorant in front of my son. Is it something you stuff down the front of the breeches to protect your genitals?