Free Awakening by A.C. Warneke Page A

Adam’s cheek with it, unintentionally snubbing Auberon to be with Adam. He wasn’t sure whether he should be offended or jealous. Her voice was soft, comforting, as she murmured, “Darling, if you hold me any tighter, you will steal what’s left of my breath.”
    Auberon studied his brother’s face, the emotions warring on the normally impassive man, and the jealousy he felt morphed into amusement that his staid, uptight brother was losing it over a mere girl, a human. Laughing, he rubbed the odd pain around his sternum and asked, “I trust you will be spending the day together?”
    “Yes,” Celeste smiled beautifully, her eyes still on his brother’s face. Auberon felt a twinge of something that felt suspiciously close to envy as he watched her expression.
    What the hell happened? Did you feed her and forget? Auberon asked silently, unable to tear his gaze from the smooth lines of her throat, the steady beat of her pulse.
    No, I did not feed her, Adam replied, his claim on the girl screaming from his every pore. You already know that. Stop looking at her.
    Auberon’s head shot up as he met his brother’s black glare and he smiled effortlessly. She is definitely not Thraell and I see no signs of Calix in her either and yet her scent is still that of a human; most peculiar.
    I agree, Adam returned, taking a breath and glancing down at the girl as bemusement furrowed her adorable brow. With a smile, Adam asked, “What is it, sweetheart?”
    “It’s the oddest thing really,” she began, glancing between the two of them, her hazel eyes sparkling with human intelligence. But then she deliberately wiped her expression clean as she shook her head and smiled, “It’s nothing; I’m just thirsty.”
    Taking Celeste’s hand in his, Adam brought it up to his mouth and kissed her delicate fingers. “Then you shall drink the nectar of the gods.”
    Celeste laughed as she glanced away from Adam and looked at Auberon, and he felt the power of that gaze in his gut. And lower. “Will you be joining us?”
    “I have some business to take care of,” he replied , smiling at the girl to tweak his brother a little. There has been no damage, there is no cause for alarm , Auberon thought easily. She is simply an anomaly that we must keep and study, Adam. There is no need to tell the Council and there is definitely no need to inform Mother .
    Adam nodded his head in agreement. I will keep her and study her. She is mine, Auberon.
    Auberon made a face and started to stride away, his gait loose as he pretended his brother's words did not hurt. Walking past the wretched couple, Auberon turned around to take one more look at the bite marks on her neck. Good God, there was a third marking on the curve of her neck near her shoulder! He stumbled, knocking over an expensive vase and sending it crashing to the hard wood floor. Adam’s head turned sharply as Auberon awkwardly set himself to rights, hoping the girl did not notice his clumsiness. You might want to do something about those marks, brother.
    Nodding his head , acknowledging the warning, Adam continued down the hall with the enigma that was Celeste tucked up against his side.
     
    *****
     
    “He’s very handsome,” Celeste said with a grin, looking up at Adam as he watched his brother disappear down another corridor.
    Adam ’s head snapped around, his black eyes meeting hers as he growled, “He’s arrogant.”
    Tilting her head to the side in wonder; his speech sounded slightly different, less formal somehow. Shaking the thought away, she smiled at him and murmured, “As are you; I find I like it; it… suits you. But that doesn’t make either one of you less attractive, though.”
    He scowled, “Are you attracted to him?”
    She laughed outright, her stomach aching as her body tightened and shook. Reaching up, she ran her hand along his jaw line, “He looks exactly like you, Adamanteros, but he’s not you. I am drawn to you , just you.”
    “Oh,” he frowned a