Revolution

Carrie

Somehow, I managed to wake up before Colton this morning. I never managed to do that with Deacon. He was almost always awake before me. Maybe it was from weeks of him having to wake up and be out of my bed before I caught him. Maybe he could feel when I was going to wake up. I didn’t know.

What I did know was that I couldn’t lay in this bed anymore. I needed to move. I needed to do something. I didn’t know what time Deacon would be home. I didn’t know what he meant when he told Colton something about noon if he wasn’t back.

I did know that I didn’t like the sound of it.

I slid out of the bed quietly and tiptoed to the dresser. I wasn’t sure how well the hearing on a Vampire Born worked while they slept.

As carefully as I could, I pulled my shorts and tank top out of my drawers, the ones I used to sleep in. With the bar already spotless, that left only one place for me to clean. Upstairs.

I was halfway done scrubbing the floors, by hand, when I felt someone watching me. I turned my head, looking over my shoulder, and noticed Colton standing in the doorway, a Cheshire grin on his face.

“Morning, sweetheart.”

I didn’t need my gift to know what he was thinking, I could see it. The boxer briefs he pulled on weren’t even trying to hide it, in fact, I was willing to bet that he was hanging out on purpose. I rolled my eyes and shook my head, then started scrubbing again. He gave a deep, resigned sigh and pushed off the door.

“Hey! I just washed there!”

He ignored my warning as he crossed the room and sat on the floor next to me. I scowled at him.

“I hope your butt gets all wet.

“That wasn’t the part of me I wanted to get wet this morning, close, but not quite.”

I scoffed and kept scrubbing. “Wow. The two of you have really gotten comfortable in this relationship. Neither of you can come up with anything original anymore, or even slightly smooth.”

I pushed harder on the sponge that was probably as old as Deacon and falling apart in my hand.

“When was the last time anyone washed these floors?”

Colton shrugged, not paying any attention to me. At least not to what I was saying. I threw a look at him and sure enough, his eyes were zeroed in on one part of me. I sat on that part with a huff but kept scrubbing.

Colton finally caught on to my irritation and put his hand over mine, stopping my movements. “The floor looks good. The whole place looks good. How long have you been awake?”

I tried to move my hand again, but he was stronger than me. Stupid vampires and their stupid extra strength.

“I don’t know. A while I guess. I couldn’t lay still anymore. I had to do something. As soon as I am done here, I am cleaning the extra apartment.”

I saw the grin he was fighting when I didn’t call it his. I gave a small smirk myself. It had just come out. Somewhere along the way, I stopped thinking of him living separately from us.

“Why didn’t you wake me?” He lifted my hand off the germ-infested sponge and folded our fingers together.

I shrugged, afraid to speak. I knew if I did, my emotions would get away with me again.

“He’s fine, sweetheart. He will be here soon.”

I glanced up at the clock and noticed it was already well after ten. Less than two hours until Colton whisked me out of here. I’d had lots of time to think about it this morning. I was pretty sure that’s what Deacon meant.

Less than two hours before we had confirmation that something went wrong. My stupid bottom lip quivered.

I yelped when I went from sitting on the wet floor to sitting on a nearly bare lap in the blink of an eye, facing a completely bare chest.

“Should I be offended that you woke up early, didn’t want to lay still, and chose to clean instead of waking me up? Do I come in second place to dirty floors now, too?”

I pushed against his chest with both hands, but he didn’t let me move even an inch. “Don’t start that.”

He sighed and kissed my forehead. Then grimaced. I laughed.

“You smell like Clorox.”

“Yes, dear. That is what happens when you spend a few hours cleaning. You start to smell like the product.”

His frown deepened. “I don’t like it. It’s disgusting and hides your unique scent, and ours.” He stood up, swinging me completely into his arms.

“Where are we going? I haven’t finished yet!” I tried to kick my legs and push away from him. Stupid strong vampires. Why couldn’t my ancestors have passed down super strength as a power?

“I need to do a little cleaning of my own, and then we are going to work on getting these floors dirty again.”

“You’re relentless.” I folded my arms and acted like I was still irritated with him.

The way he dropped me on the bathroom counter and crashed his lips to mine, told me he already knew I wasn’t.

After a long shower, and an even longer time drying off, I went to put on a clean outfit for work. I was trying really hard to not look at the clock. Colton had walked into the front room to take a call, so I took a minute to steady my nerves in peace. At least he couldn’t feel the swirling of nerves in my stomach.

I also picked out one of Deacon’s favorite outfits. The black and blue checkered skirt, and the black version of the top that was little more than a scarf looped around my back and neck.

I was sitting on the bed, zipping up my boots, when Colton came back in with a duffle bag. He dropped it on the bed next to me, with a sad and worried look. My eyes drifted to the alarm clock on their own.

12:05

“No!” I stood up and walked out of the room. “No. I am not leaving. Not yet.”

“Carrie, we have to. I promised Deacon that I would get you out of here if they were not back by noon.”

I spun around and glared at him. “I don’t care. I’m not going. We still have hours before the Nightwalkers, or even Curtis, would be able to come after us. I am not leaving. Not yet.”

Colton ran two hands over his face. “Sweetheart, we need that time to make sure you are far away from here. Long before they start looking for us. That’s the only way to make sure you stay safe. You think I want to run away? You think I want to leave him behind? I have spent the last 400 years protecting him! It’s my job to take care of him.”

I shrank away, knowing he was getting mad. He wasn’t trying to scare me, but I was already terrified.

“I can’t leave, Colton. Not yet. Just two more hours, please?”

He shook his head and turned back into the bedroom. He grabbed the bag and started throwing my clothes inside.

“We don’t have any more time. I just got a call. I’m needed elsewhere. I have to leave. And I am taking you with me.”

I grabbed his arm, he let me stop him. “You’re leaving?”

He softened his face and put a palm on mine. “No, we are. I don’t know where Deacon is. I don’t know when he will be back. The time is up. It’s time for us to go.”

I shook my head. “We can’t leave, not yet. Please, just a few more hours? If he isn’t back by then, I will go with you. But please, don’t give up yet.”

“Sweetheart, I know you are scared. I know you are worried. But we have to leave. We need to go. Now!”

I stepped back, curling inside myself, tears falling down my face. I could feel that Colton wasn’t trying to be mean, he was worried about all of us, and in a hurry to get me out of there. And he was worried about whatever he was being called to do.

I walked slowly back to the bed and sank onto it. Colton left me to cry this time while he ran to the bathroom to get my bathroom supplies.

Like a blast of hot air through my system, I felt him. My mate, the one that fate designed for me. My chest warmed and the tightness eased. I felt his worry and then his happiness when he felt me too.

“Colton, Colton. Stop!” I shouted, jumping off the bed.

“No, Carrie. We have to leave.”

“No. We don’t!”

My laughing seemed to catch his attention. He turned just in time to see me running out the door. I ran straight down the stairs, just in time to see my mate start running up. As soon as he was close enough, I jumped into his arms, wrapping my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck.

Deacon laughed happily at my exuberance. I heard Todd laughing from behind him, with Colton’s relieved chuckle from behind me. I ignored both of them and started leaving kisses all over Deacon’s face.

“Are you okay? What took so long? Did you get hurt?” I threw questions at him right and left, which made them all laugh harder.

“Hold on, angel. I will tell you everything, just give me a minute.” He grabbed my waist, like he was going to put me down, I tightened both my grips. He didn’t try again, he just turned enough to look back down the way.

“Do you need help getting home?” Deacon laughed. “Never mind. I’m thinking your psychic sent someone to get you. I just heard a car pull up.”

Todd pushed the door open and looked outside. “Looks like she did. Scott just pulled in. We’ll see you tomorrow.” He was out the door before we could say goodbye.

Deacon carried me back up the stairs and into the apartment. Colton waited for us to pass him, a hand rubbing Deacon’s back softly. He needed to feel him for himself, to reassure himself that Deacon was in fact safe and home. Colton turned behind us and followed us in.

Deacon made a face as Colton closed the apartment door, spinning in a circle, looking for the root of the smell. “What is that horrid stench?”

Colton laughed like it was the funniest thing in the world.

“That would be the smell of a disinfected apartment.” I grouched at him.

“That would be the smell of a mate who was going crazy with worry.” Colton added.

I stuck my tongue out at him over Deacon’s shoulder. He laughed at that too. Deacon stopped spinning, his body tensing on whatever he saw sitting on the floor.

“Guess I cut it close then.”

I let him lower me this time, but I didn’t move away. He didn’t seem to mind, his grip on my waist was just as tight as the one I had on him.

“You might have missed us altogether, but someone wanted to act like a child and throw a fit about leaving.”

I flipped Colton off. He just laughed and stepped close enough to wrap his arms around both of us. I got squashed. And I loved it.

It wasn’t long before hands started roaming, and not just on me. Colton got his wish from earlier; we dirtied up the floor.

A little later we were all leaning against the foot of the couch, both of them sitting next to me, they each had a hand in one of mine. With our reunion out of the way, Deacon told us the story of what happened, and why it took so long.

My head sagged onto his shoulder, my heart finally at peace. Just in time to be shattered again.

“I have to leave.” Colton told him quietly.

I closed my eyes, my heart sinking. I had forgotten that part.

“Why? What happened?” Deacon asked, not nearly as concerned as I thought he should be.

“Your father called. He has a meeting with the human government officials. He wants me there with him.”

Deacon seemed taken aback by this. “My father? Why is he getting involved?”

Colton shrugged. “This battle has been building for centuries, Deacon. He has stayed hidden in his own little cave while the rest of us fought back. Don’t you think it’s about time he got involved?”

“Yes, of course. You know I do. I’m just surprised. How long will you be gone?”

Colton moved my hand between both of his and held it tight. I looked up at him sadly.

“I don’t know. A week, maybe two. It depends on what happens and what all he needs me to do. You need to get her out of here soon. Don’t wait until it is too late.”

“I’m not even sure where we would go. Where she would be safe.”

“Our clan will protect her.” Deacon shot him a disbelieving look. “Yes, she has more potential to bear a healthy child than any in the past, but she is bonded to you. No one would dare to step between that bond.”

“Except you.” Deacon teased him.

Colton grinned and kissed my hand. “Except me, yes. Which just means she is doubly protected. As was the point all along.”

All was quiet for a few more minutes, then Colton stood up to leave. We stood up with him. By the time my clothes were straightened out, as neither of them had seen fit to remove them earlier, he was back in the room, fully dressed.

I let go of Deacon and stepped forward to hug Colton. He had a different idea. I was practically panting by the time he released me again.

“Be safe. Come back to us soon.” I told him.

“Please be careful, stay inside.” I rolled my eyes at him. “I love you, sweetheart.”

“I love you, too.” I whispered, stepping away. He then hugged Deacon, his hand on the back of his head.

“What? No kiss for me? Sheesh. I see how…” Colton cut him off by giving him exactly what he asked for.

I giggled. It wasn’t nearly as deep or as long as mine was. I was special that way.

“Take care of each other.” Colton added before walking out the door.

Deacon came back to me and held me tight, while I once again cried about one of my mates leaving. Deacon didn’t give me long to cry though, he just picked me up and carried me to the bed.

“We’re going to have customers waiting.” I reminded him.

“They can wait. I missed my mate.” He started kissing up my legs. “I was worried about you every minute. The last thing I felt from you was the pain and suffering I caused you by leaving. I need to remedy that. I’m sorry if you are feeling sad again, over Colton leaving.”

My fingers played with his hair, preparing for what I knew was coming next. “I’m sad, but not nearly to the point I was with you. The emptiness in my chest was unbearable.” My voice cracked with the memory still fresh. “Please don’t ever leave me again, Deacon. I can’t stand it.”

“I can’t promise that. I wish I could. You have no idea how much I wish I could. But until this war is over, I can’t promise to not be gone for small bits of time.” He had stopped on my thighs and looked up at me. “I can promise that I will always return to you. I will always come back for you.”

I didn’t have to worry about what to say to that. I wasn’t given the chance.

All in all, the bar opened nearly two hours late, seeing as it was supposed to be open at noon. The human cook had already arrived, and just waited outside. Deacon paid some of the humans to help unload the trailer he had bought off his contact.

I insisted that he stay inside just in case someone was watching.