Darkness Rises(59)

The chairs at the head and foot of the table were vacant, reserved for the eldest immortals. At the far end, Ami sat beside her eight-century-old husband Marcus. Ami looked rather pallid tonight. She must have heard about the mercenary attack and, having been the primary target of the last one, was understandably distressed by the news that the threat had resumed.
Roland, the notoriously antisocial, nine-hundred-plus-year-old immortal, sat beside Marcus. The two Brits had known each other for eight centuries and were like brothers. Roland’s wife Sarah, transformed only a couple of years earlier, occupied the seat beside him and leaned into his side.
Next came Yuri and Stanislov and their Seconds. They were fairly new to the area, and Étienne hadn’t had a chance to get to know them very well. Ethan, an American and formerly the youngest immortal in their midst at a hundred years, lounged beside the Russians. Then Edward, another Brit. Their Seconds.
A scowling Chris Reordon occupied the chair across from Ami. Beside him were Dr. Melanie Lipton, only recently transformed, and her husband Bastien, the black sheep of the immortal family who was still pretty widely hated. Next was Bastien’s Second, Tanner. Sheldon, who actually seemed to like Bastien now. Richart. Jenna. Tracy, who was Lisette’s Second. Lisette, who studied Krysta intently.
I like her, Lisette declared in his head.
You don’t even know her, he countered.
She’s a mortal who strode into a house full of immortals with her head held high and her body loaded down with weapons. And she’s smart enough to be attracted to you.#p#分页标题#e#
Can you read her mind? he asked curiously. He didn’t like the idea of his sister intruding upon Krysta’s thoughts, but wanted to see if he were the only one who couldn’t (most of the time).
She frowned. No, I can’t. Can you?
No. Not really. Not at will.
A sly smile slid across her pretty features. Perfect.
He didn’t dispute it. It was hard to pursue a relationship with someone when you could hear her every thought, including the ugly ones that slipped through when she was cranky or the occasional dark one that made even her think, Where the hell did that come from?
The soft sound of boots hitting bamboo drew his attention to the hallway that led from the living room to the back of the house and basement.
David entered, garbed in the black hunting clothes everyone else wore. His dreadlocks had been pulled back from his face and framed his hips as he strode toward them.
Étienne glanced at Krysta and saw her mouth fall open.
Wow.
He frowned. That thought had come through loud and clear.
She gazed up at the elder immortal as though he were the most gorgeous thing she had ever beheld. He knew women found David’s hair, height, muscles, and dark-as-midnight skin attractive, but Krysta looked as though she were about to begin drooling.
Don’t get your shorts in a bunch, Lisette admonished. She isn’t drooling. Your jealousy is making her response seem more than it is.
David stopped before them and smiled. “Krysta, Sean, welcome to my home. I’m David.” Taking Krysta’s hand, he raised it to his lips.
Étienne listened carefully to Krysta’s heartbeat and relaxed a little when it didn’t speed up at the attention.
“Nice to meet you,” Krysta offered.
He shook Sean’s hand. “I’m glad you’re both safe and have decided to join us tonight. The events of the past twenty-four hours have caught us off guard. You, too, I understand. But we’ll sort it all out together.”
The sister and brother shared a look.
“Okay,” Krysta said.
David turned to Sean. “No, we aren’t vampires. Étienne told you the truth. We’re immortals and I’m sure Dr. Lipton would be happy to discuss all of the medical intricacies of our differences with you.” He looked at Krysta. “Yes, I’m reading your thoughts. The safety of everyone under my roof is my responsibility and I wish to ensure you mean them no harm. And, no, Étienne was not lying when he said he couldn’t read your mind. You have very strong natural defenses, but I’m older and more powerful, so they proved minor obstacles for me.”
Is she attracted to me? Étienne asked before he could stop himself. It was odd, not being able to freely access her thoughts and he was eager to confirm what the little glimpses he had managed thus far had told him.
“Yes,” David answered aloud, “she’s attracted to you.”
Krysta frowned at Étienne and popped him on the arm. “That’s not fair.”
David turned to Sean. “No, Étienne isn’t brainwashing her. And this isn’t a total clusterfuck. Chris Reordon has already taken steps to purchase the home you rent so the two of you won’t have to worry about the landlord giving you grief. Our cleanup crews are salvaging all of your possessions that they can and are packing them up for you so you can move into a new place—a safe house of your choice—once we’ve squelched this latest threat. I know it will take some time to earn your trust, but whether you wish it to be true or not, you’re one of us. We were all gifted ones like you before we were transformed. And we take care of our own.”