Burning Both Ends (Guardian Witch #3)

Instead, she and Bella were settled on the couch with the TV on—some late night host, but Ari wasn’t paying much attention. She’d been more unsettled than usual this evening. She ran her hands up and down her arms to discharge the energy tingling on her skin. Sometimes her thoughts of Andreas were so strong she felt his magical power as if he was beside her. Powerful stuff. She often hoped it meant he was thinking of her.

Sometimes her imagination was more persistent than others. Tonight it began during patrol and hadn’t gone away. Now she was on edge, faint shivers skimming over her skin. It was self-delusional, annoying. It also made her want to hear his voice. To re-establish that magical connection.

So why not? Wasn’t that what phones were for? It was late, the middle of the night, perfect time to call a vampire. The worst he could do was say he was busy. She’d still hear his voice.

She thumbed the number. He answered on the first ring.

“Good evening, Arianna.” His voice warmed her instantly. “Your timing is impeccable. I am delighted you called.”

His magic reached out to her, and the funky mood dissolved. She sighed, no longer worrying about the things she couldn’t change. This was enough; it had to be.

“I called to hear your voice,” she admitted.

“I would rather see you, hold you.”

“Hmm, me, too.”

“Then perhaps you should open the door.”

“What?” Ari bolted off the couch, dumping an offended cat on the floor, and froze. She focused on the apartment door, as if it would magically open. “Where are you?”

“Open the door, Arianna,” he prompted.

She flew over, fumbling with the locks. The second she had the door open, she leaped into his arms, knocking his cell phone to the hallway floor.

Andreas laughed as he swung her around. “Glad to see me? Perhaps we should step inside.”

Suddenly self-conscious, she dropped her arms and wiggled to get down. Andreas was having none of it. He trapped her against him with one arm and snagged his cell phone with the other.

“What are you doing here? Why didn’t you tell me?” She craned her neck to see his face, winding her arms back around him.

“I wanted it to be a surprise. It seems I succeeded.” He maneuvered them into the apartment and used his foot to close the door.

“Now,” he said, allowing her body to slide down his until her feet touched the floor, “for a proper greeting.”

His lips met hers with a gentle feathery touch—not overly demanding at first—but with a simple sense of belonging. He deepened the kiss, taking possession of her mouth, and she met him stroke for stroke. When they drew apart, breathing heavily, the last two weeks had melted away.

“How long can you stay?”

“So anxious to be rid of me already?”

“You know better than that. If not, maybe I need to kiss you again.”

“A fine idea.” He dropped onto the couch and held out his arms. “I do feel I need further convincing.”

Ari laughed, sliding onto his lap. She ran her tongue over his lips and worked on convincing him. It wasn’t quite as chaste as before. With a quick intake of breath, Andreas flipped her over, pressing her body with his hard contours. She reached under his shirt and skimmed her fingernails over the muscles of his back. Andreas groaned, grabbing her T-shirt and pulling it over her head. He looked at her a long moment, then began a trail of kisses down her throat.

Later, when they were cuddled on the couch, her head resting against his bare chest, and when Ari could think again, she started wondering why he was there. Wasn’t it too soon for him to be away from the situation in Toronto? Would someone take advantage of his absence?

“Why didn’t you call and tell me you were coming?”

“Until the last minute I was not positive it would be today. And…I really did want to surprise you.”

He threaded his fingers through her hair, his touch distracting her. In fact, everything about him was distracting. How had she let herself get this involved with someone destined to come and go from her life? She sighed, determined to be satisfied with what they had.

“Why the heavy sigh?” He sat up and studied her face. “Would another surprise help?”

“What kind of surprise? Did you bring me something?”

“No. Yes, in a way.”

She gave him an indulgent look. “Am I supposed to guess? Or can you be a little more specific?”

“I am back in Riverdale to stay.”

Ari’s mouth dropped open. Her emotions warred between thrilled and horrified. Had something awful happened in Toronto? He’d been overthrown? She couldn’t have heard him right. She finally found her tongue. “How? Why? I don’t understand.”

Watching her face, his expression turned guarded, uncertain. “Daron is the new Prince of Toronto, and I—”

“Daron?” This time there was no doubt of the emotions that swamped Ari as she leaped to her feet. Rage. Betrayal. “How could he do that to you?”

Andreas rose and frowned at her. “Arianna, cara mia, why are you so upset?” He reached out, and his hands closed around her shoulders. “Daron did not do anything. I gave him the crown.”

“Why? Why would you do that?” Surely it wasn’t because of her. No, dammit! Andreas wouldn’t do that without talking to her. Something had gone very wrong. Why didn’t he call her? Follow the plan. It was only three hours by jet. She didn’t know what to say to him.

“You’re disappointed?” he asked quietly.

“Disappointed?” His understatement broke her restraint. “I’m pissed as hell. What about the others? Russell, Lilith, Gabriel. Tell me what happened.”

Please Goddess, don’t let any of my friends be dead.

Andreas’s face paled, his eyes hooded. “I thought you would be happy to have me in Riverdale,” he said. “Apparently I misjudged the situation.”

“I am, or I would be if things were different.” She scowled at him. “How could I be happy when you gave up so much? I’m not that selfish.”

His eyebrows shot up. “Cara mia, I do not know what you mean. Are we talking at cross purposes? I have given up nothing, except a huge headache.” The cloud on his face began to clear. “All of us have returned safely. Daron and I formed an alliance, a business deal, and traded territories. You are scowling so disrespectfully at the new Prince of Riverdale.”

She was speechless for a long moment. “Really? Truthfully? Why didn’t you say so?”

“I just did.” His chuckle was low, as his knuckles gently rubbed across her chin.

Ari peppered him with questions, and he filled in the pieces of the story, including his secret negotiations with Daron. While Ari had known Andreas and Daron had been talking, she hadn’t known an exchange of territories had been under consideration since the night Sebastian died. Although Ari was annoyed he hadn’t shared this sooner, she was beginning to know her vampire. He wouldn’t understand her irritation. In his mind, it was vampire business and didn’t need to be shared until it affected her. And she was too happy to have him home to start a fight that would gain her nothing.

She nodded absently, wiggling closer to his side on the couch, as he listed all the thinking that had gone into their final decision. Very solid and extremely practical choices. Quite businesslike, in fact. He pointed out that the Toronto court was too large and had too many older vampires for him to hold it indefinitely, that Daron was older and more experienced, that Daron's age and experience would gain him automatic respect from Sebastian's people, especially when the word circulated that Daron was the first son of an elder. Andreas also mentioned something about Daron’s presence in Toronto might slow down the O-Seven. They'd have to think of some clever way to oust him, because his sire would never agree to an assassination. All good, sensible arguments, Ari thought, leaning her head against his chest. Blah…blah…blah. The rest of it went in one ear and out the other.

She listened to the rich vibrations of his voice, savored the familiar scent of his cologne. His magic cradled her, entwined with her own, shutting out the rest of the world. The words were simply lost in the process. Maybe she’d care about the details later and make him repeat it all—especially the part about the O-Seven. The vampire elders weren’t likely to leave Prince Daron or Andreas alone forever. Not after the death of Sebastian and taking over the Toronto court. They’d need to plan for the possibility that bigger and better monsters would come. But not tonight.

When he finished the lengthy explanation, they remained on the couch, wrapped in each other’s arms. Bella hopped up and curled beside them, her loud purr signaling her contentment. Ari’s smiled to herself. She wanted to purr too.

“I’ll miss one thing,” she whispered just to tease him. “The private jet. I was beginning to get used to it.”

Andreas stirred and murmured against her hair. “Then consider it yours. Because I brought that with me, too.”

Ari turned her head to look into his dark, fathomless eyes. Her own mysterious vampire and a private jet. What more could any witch desire?