Unbound (Forbidden Bond Book 1)(31)

"Dad, we need to talk. I've been doing a lot of soul-searching lately. I  need to start thinking about the future and what I'm going to do with  my life. I'm ready to join your ranks, if you'll still have me. I hope  you can forgive me for my hesitation in the past, but I wanted to be  sure I was ready for the commitment. I am now, Dad. It would be an honor  to serve you and our people." Kayden spoke to his father from the  heart. Every warrior in sight stopped and watched father and son staring  at each other.         

     



 

Gage's always-stern face never changed during Kayden's brief speech. He  seemed to be measuring his son's sincerity. Finally, after several long  moments, the smile that cracked his face stunned the crowd of onlookers.

"Welcome to your new family, son. I'm sure I speak for everyone when I  say it's about damn time." Gage wrapped his son in a manly embrace and  pounded on his back. The other warriors broke the silence with hoots of  approval.



Chase knew Griffin would want his Lovely protected after he met her and  observed her talents for himself. If the stories were to be believed, it  was dangerous for Danielle to be out there alone. Someone was on the  hunt for powerful young vamps, and Danielle had spelled out some of her  abilities for the hunter. Chase couldn't stand the thought of her coming  to such a brutal end. He'd protect her at all cost.

The problem was going to be Samantha. Would Griffin place Danielle in  his care if Samantha protested the arrangement? Chase needed to speak  with his father again about the situation. He didn't want to be with  Samantha and didn't want his life ruled as if he were already bonded to  her. There had to be another way.

He continued to prepare the spacious spare bedroom in his condo,  refusing to accept any possibility of Dani not staying with him. He'd  ordered new linens and towels, along with a plush bathrobe. He wanted  her to be comfortable, and his taste tended to run toward a manlier,  darker color scheme. He selected the new bedding with the image of her  soft skin laid against it. The deep peach and ivory would be warming  against her alabaster shade of heaven.

With his eyes closed, he could clearly imagine the soft curves of her  body sleeping peacefully, wrapped in the warmth of his protection. He  imagined her scent filling his home the way it had filled his bedroom  when she had slept there. He still couldn't enter his studio at the club  without being overwhelmed by her aroma. He went hard just thinking  about having her under him again.

She was angry with him for the moment, but once she spent some time with  him, she would realize how much he cared for her. She would see how  sincere his intentions had been from the beginning. Chase would do  whatever it took to get her in his arms again.





Danielle woke to find the smiling face of Kayden Paris looking down at  her. She was disoriented for a moment, until she remembered where she  was and how she'd come to be there. She had a kink in her neck from  sleeping on a sofa in the dorm's common room.

"Hey there, Sleeping Beauty." Kayden's grin grew even wider when he  surveyed her outfit. "I'm sorry to disturb your rest, but your help is  desperately needed. I'm told Chase informed you that we needed to talk  to you about your attack."

"Yeah, he did mention that to me. Thank you for coming to talk to me. I  can't handle Chase right now." She blushed because she knew Kayden was  well aware of why she didn't want to see Chase. He'd been there to  witness her embarrassment at Chase's condo.

"Actually, it isn't me who wants to speak with you. Not that I don't  want to talk to you," he rushed on. "It's the council, you know, our  governing body, that needs to hear your story." At her look of confusion  Kayden sat next to her and quietly, so as not to be heard by the others  in the room, educated her on the vampire executive branch. He explained  that the ruling houses of North America consisted of the three families  who originally settled in America. Three members for each of the three  houses made up a committee that created and enforced their laws,  protected their secrecy, and maintained their historical records. The  continent was split into regions that were governed by principals who  report to the council.

"I'm to take you to meet one of the councilmen at his home today. He'll  report his findings back to the rest of the council. Thank you for  coming with me today. We have two missing people at the moment. It's  possible you could remember something that will help us find them," he  finished.



After a quick shower, Dani packed an overnight bag for her trip home  while Kayden waited in the common room. When she returned from her room  she found Kayden seemingly absorbed in watching sports highlights on the  news, while girls gathered in the common room looked at him and  drooled. As soon as she entered the room, he was on his feet and  ushering her toward the door and out to the parking lot, which made her  believe he wasn't as oblivious to his surroundings as he appeared to be.  They drove separately. Dani followed him across town and parked her car  behind Kayden's in front of a huge house. Well, house wasn't really the  correct word. It was a mansion on an estate with a guarded gate at the  entrance.         

     



 

Her phone startled her when it rang in her jacket pocket. It was her mom.

"Hey, Mom, what's up?" she answered.

"Danielle, where are you? Please tell me you're not where I think you are!" She sounded panicked and out of breath.

"I have an appointment." She hesitated. "It's kind of a long story that I  planned on telling you tonight. Why are you so upset?" Dani didn't like  the way her mother's voice was shaking.

"Are you at the home of Griffin Vaughn? Was there a big ‘V' on the front gate?"

"Yes. There was a ‘V' on the gate, but I don't know whose home it is.  Should I leave? Who is Griffin Vaughn?" Dani began to feel sick.

"Oh my God, I'm going to vomit!" Tessa wailed.

"What's going on? Did you have a dream; should I leave? Who is Griffin  Vaughn?" Dani jumped when Kayden tapped on her window. She put up her  finger to ask for one more minute.

"No, it's too late to leave, and yes, I had a dream. They will follow  you and ask way too many questions if you run now. I don't have time to  explain this properly. I was going to do it tonight, but you need to  know right now. You are at your father's home."

Dani felt like she'd just had the air knocked out of her. Her head spun  while she listened to her mother's hurried account. "He believes that  you and I both died not long after you were born. You look so much like  him, I'm afraid he'll guess who you are, so you need to lie. I want you  to give him a false last name; using your first name is fine. Tell him  whatever you have to, but don't mention me. Can you do that and call me  as soon as you're out of there?"

Dani sat in stunned silence. She was about to come face-to-face with her father. "Alright, I have to go. They're waiting."

"I love you, baby. I'm sorry. I was only trying to protect you. Are you wearing the necklace I gave you?"

"Yes. I'll take it off. I guess it came from him … my father?" She could hardly speak.

"I promise to explain everything later. Just call me as soon as you're out of there," Tessa prompted, before she hung up.

Dani opened the car door and practically fell out. Her knees were weak,  and her stomach was on fire. Kayden steadied her with one large,  muscular arm.

"Are you alright? Chase said you were still injured." Genuine concern showed in his eyes.

"I'm not feeling well. Let's get this over with, so I can get home." She fought back nausea.

As they walked, she could tell by the way Kayden kept opening his mouth  and shutting it before any sound could escape that he had something to  say. Finally, he seemed to find his voice and stopped walking halfway to  the door.

"I was wondering-" He paused, running his fingers through his hair and  looking down at her. "I don't know why this is so hard. I'm never this  nervous."

He tripped over his words, suddenly unable to look her in the eye. He  took a deep breath, reached out to take her hand, and asked, "I was  wondering if you would consider going to the gala with me. I know you've  never been before. It's a stuffy, formal, vampire-only affair, but it  may be tolerable if I have the most beautiful female on my arm."

Dani's head was too busy preparing a believable lie to tell the man she  was about to meet to really absorb Kayden's invitation. She smiled  absently, mindlessly.

"Sure, Kayden, that sounds like fun." She pulled her hand away and continued toward the house.

From behind her, she heard Kayden exclaim under his breath, "Yes!"

They reached the ornate double doors, and Kayden rang the doorbell. Dani  realized she hadn't removed the necklace. She cursed and pulled it off,  stuffing it into her front pocket. A string of complaints could be  heard from the other side of the door. It seemed the butler was nowhere  to be found and the lady of the house was displeased about answering the  door herself. A tall, elegant woman with an air of superiority answered  the door and invited them into the foyer. The twist in her pale blond  hair was as tight as the stick that seemed to be lodged in her ass. Dani  looked around the big entry, with its white marble floors and a crystal  chandelier hanging from the high ceiling between two staircases. The  woman spoke to Kayden and hadn't even acknowledged Dani.