Much Ado About Vampires

Or, rather, the original version of her.

Jesus wept, what had I gotten myself into? I should be happy she was back. Now I could wash my hands of him and be through with vampires forever.

My inner devil delighted in the feelings of intense unhappiness that thought triggered.

“I was dead,” Eleanor said, kissing Alec’s chin before turning to face me. I ground off a good layer of enamel trying to keep from yelling at her for doing so. “But they had me brought back.”

“We know a necromancer,” Pia said, her gaze flicking between Alec, Eleanor, and me. “We thought if we brought her back, the council would be forced to get you out of the Akasha, Alec. We didn’t know that you . . . that Cora . . . oh, man, what a mess.”

“One that I’m sure we can figure out,” Kristoff said, gesturing toward a couple of couches. “Please sit, Cora.”

“Where are my manners? Yes, please, sit down, all of you. We have so much to talk about.” Pia shook off her stunned expression and smiled as she moved over with me to one of two couches.

“It’s a lovely room,” I said, standing awkwardly by the door, miserable but refusing to acknowledge that when Eleanor, with one hand on Alec, tugged him down next to her on a love seat. “And a lovely house.”

“It is pretty, isn’t it? It’s built on a twelfth-century tower that was later part of a monastery. There’s a cloister and everything. But I can show you around the house later—there are so many questions that Kristoff and I have. Like how did you meet the Ilargi who stole Ulfur? And how did you get out of the Akasha, Alec?”

Alec had been watching me with an avidity that evidently didn’t make Eleanor happy at all, for she put a proprietary hand on his thigh and gave me a cool look as he answered. “I have Cora to thank for that.”

“Do you indeed?” Eleanor said softly.

“Are you a . . . what do they call them . . . ? ” Pia turned to Kristoff.

“Guardian,” he said, eyeing me. “She does not appear to be one.”

“I’m not. I’m a secretary. I got zapped into the Akasha myself, and when I was de-zapped, I arranged for Alec to be brought out, as well.”

“Why?” Eleanor asked.

I swallowed back the urge to shout at her that I was his Beloved, not her, and I had saved him because he needed me, chastising myself for such stupidity. I had an out in the form of Eleanor—I would be an idiot not to take that.

And leave Alec, never to see him again.

My heart shattered as everyone looked at me, curiosity almost palpable.

“It seemed like the thing to do,” I said lamely, avoiding Alec’s gaze, but all too aware of the swift lance of pain that shot through him at my words.

Both Pia and Kristoff looked at me as if I had turned into a giant dancing panda bear.

“I think Kristoff’s right, and you’re going to have to tell us what happened from the beginning,” Pia said, gesturing toward a pale blue brocade couch.

As I passed Kristoff, he froze, an odd look on his face as I could have sworn he sniffed the air.

“Cora, why don’t you—what?”

Pia turned a shocked expression first on her Dark One, then on me.

“What what?” I asked, wondering if I had somehow offended them.

“You’re . . . you’re a Beloved? Alec’s Beloved? But Eleanor . . . Kristoff, are you sure?”

It was my turn to freeze. “Uh . . .”

“Cora can’t be my Beloved,” Alec said, rising from the love seat, much to Eleanor’s dissatisfaction. His face was a mask, absolutely devoid of emotions, but I could feel them all twisting around inside him. “I don’t say that we don’t have a blood bond, but . . .” His voice trailed off as he glanced toward Eleanor.

“What sort of a blood bond? ” she asked, her eyes narrow with suspicion.

Alec ignored her as Pia spoke hesitantly.

“But . . . but Kristoff said . . . he said she smelled . . .” Pia blinked at me.

“I smell?” My voice came out close to a shriek, because honestly, if being told you stink by people whom you were going to ask for help isn’t a moment to shriek over, I don’t know what is. “I don’t know what . . . I mean, I took a shower.... Did I step in something? . . . Jesus wept, Alec! Why didn’t you tell me I stink?”

“Kristoff is wrong,” Eleanor said, her voice as hard as granite. “I am Alec’s Beloved. He said I was, the first day he saw me. He was courting me, had asked my father for my hand, and I was going to agree to it, except that stupid woman with her stupid oxen came down that hill and ran me over.”

Sympathy welled up inside me. I knew just how bitter she felt about those oxen and that woman. I was just as annoyed when they had run me over.... What was I thinking?

I put my hands to my head, hoping to shake some sense into it.

“No, no, you don’t smell at all, Corazon,” Pia said soothingly, reaching out to pat my arm. I backed away, worried that I might have some sort of hideous Akashabased body odor that had escaped my notice. Why the hell didn’t you tell me I stink? I could just die!

You don’t stink. You smell wonderful, like sun-warmed wildflowers.

Your nose is clearly out of whack because the others certainly think I smell. I realized that I was talking to Alec, something I hadn’t done since we’d come into the house, and immediately was swamped with emotion. Can you . . . er . . . can you talk with her, too?

It took him several seconds to answer. Yes.

“I don’t think I am wrong,” Kristoff said slowly, his eyes filled with speculation as he looked at me. I was too busy battling a sense of nausea that followed Alec’s admittance. That he could talk to Eleanor confirmed she was truly his Beloved, and made my path clear. I had to leave. He no longer needed me, and if I stayed, I’d just end up confusing myself with the desire I had for him.

“Explain it to Cora,” Pia growled at Kristoff, pinching the back of his hand.

He shot Alec a look. “He can explain.”

“Cora, before you run off to bathe yourself in perfume, please sit down,” Pia said, shooting both men annoyed looks.

“I’d like to know just why he thinks that woman is my Alec’s Beloved,” Eleanor said with an injured sniff. “When it’s clear I was, and am.”

“Yes, but you don’t smell. At least I don’t think she does. Does she, Kristoff?” Pia asked.

Kristoff lifted his chin and sniffed. “Not really, no.”

“Your nose is wrong,” Eleanor told him.

“I don’t understand this smell thing,” I said, wrapping my arms around myself. “But I’m sorry if I’ve offended anyone.”

“You haven’t offended anyone, Cora.” Alec moved over toward me, but stopped when Eleanor grabbed his arm and held him back. His face twisted in anguish for a second, his eyes burning into mine.

Stop it, I told him. Stop looking guilty. You found your Beloved. You should be happy.

My Beloved is dead, he answered, shaking off Eleanor’s hand to move over next to the couch.

That was true enough. And she’s been brought back.

As a lich.

So?

His gaze wavered. Something is not right here, Cora, the least of which is the pain I feel in you.

I gently pushed him out of my mind, uneasy that he could read my emotions so effortlessly.

Pia sighed. “Since Alec never bothered to explain this to you—honestly, men!—I will. There’s this weird thing about Beloveds. I know I freaked out when I heard about it, but Kristoff assures me it’s no big deal, and it can vary, so don’t think you’re walking around smelling like a big ole manure factory to all Dark Ones.”

“Mother Mary,” I gasped, staggering to the couch, drawn against my will toward Alec. If I was going to stink, he could just be inflicted with it. “I smell like manure ? ”

You do not stink. Just the scent of you makes me hard.