Chicagoland Vampires - Some Girls Bite Part 22

He looked back at me and nodded slightly, and I sank to my knees before him. Then he took a step forward and gazed down at me. His eyes fairly glowed, bright green gla.s.s beneath the fringe of long, blond lashes.

This was it. The time to pledge myself, or not, in service to these vampires.

To Cadogan.

To Ethan.

"Merit, Initiate of Cadogan House, in the presence of your brothers and sisters, do you pledge fealty and allegiance to Cadogan House, to its honor, to its Lord? Do you pledge to be true and faithful to Cadogan House and to its members to the exclusion of all others, without deception? Do you pledge to uphold the liberty of your brothers and sisters?"

I kept my eyes on his and with a single word, accepted an eternity of obligation. "Yes."

"Merit, Initiate of Cadogan House, do you pledge to serve the House and its Lord without hesitation, and to never, by word or deed, seek to harm the House, its members, or its Lord? Will you help to hold and defend her against any creature, living or dead, and make this promise, gladly and without dread, and keep it for as long as you shall live?"

I opened my mouth to answer, but he stopped me with an arched brow. "Immortality makes for long life, Merit, and for an eternal promise. Think carefully before you answer."

"I will," I answered without hesitation, having already made the decision that I was, for better or worse, a Cadogan vampire.

Ethan nodded. "So be it. Daughter of Joshua, beloved of Charles"-I smiled at the mention of my grandfather's name-"you offer your faith and fidelity, and we accept you into our grace and favor."

He took the last medal from Malik, leaned closer, and clasped it around my neck. His hand, I thought, lingered for a moment before he stepped back, but before I had a chance to wonder at what that meant, his voice boomed through the ballroom.

"Merit, Cadogan Initiate, I anoint you . . . Sentinel of this House."

The crowd gasped. Ethan looked down at me, waited for my reaction.

My fingers instinctively touching the flat of the pendant, I gave him a reaction immediately-lifting wide eyes to his and staring, mouth open, at the revelation. I was shocked, partly that I actually knew what a "Sentinel" was, and partly that he'd made me one. Like I'd explained to Mallory, the position of Sentinel, like much of the House, was feudal in origin, and wasn't used much in modern Houses. Where the House's Guard Captain, in this case Luc, stood as head of the House's small army of guards, the Sentinel was responsible for guarding the House as an ent.i.ty. As Sentinel, I'd be responsible for the structure itself, and most important, for the House as a symbol.

As Mallory put it, I'd be defending the brand. And I'd be honor-bound to serve the House, any lingering distrust for Ethan completely beside the point.

In effect, he was ensuring my loyalty to Cadogan in the shrewdest way possible-by giving me the duty of defending it.

It was brilliant. A strategy worthy of applause. An Ethan-worthy strategy, for all that he prided himself on political maneuvering.

Still on my knees, I stared up at him. "Well played."

He smiled beneath hooded eyes, offered me a hand. I took it and pulled myself up.

"Yet again," he said, his eyes alight, "we see your potential to wreak havoc."

"It wasn't my intent to wreak havoc. I can't help it if I'm . . . abnormal."

Ethan smiled. "Not abnormal," he said. "Unique. And I believe we'll adjust to this development."

He was being unusually ungrumpy, and I wondered if by taking the oaths I'd crossed some important threshold for holding Ethan's trust. Maybe now that I was officially a Cadogan vamp-subject to the Master's rules and the Canon's detailed scheme of discipline and sanctions-he could afford to trust me.

But Ethan kept his eyes on me, his gaze darting back and forth across my face. He still seemed to be searching for something, waiting for something, so I knew, even if we'd made progress, that we weren't quite done.

"What?"

"I want your allegiance."

I frowned, not understanding. "You have it. I just swore an oath. Two of them. Two oaths to protect you and yours against all things living and dead. I don't even know how that second part works, and I signed up for it anyway."

He shook his head. "The Houses will hear about your strength-they'll learn about your speed and agility. They'll learn you can withstand glamour." He lifted brows, and I realized he was asking for confirmation. I nodded.

"Others, when they learn of your origins, will test your loyalty, question whether you're . . . biddable. There will be doubts as to your willingness to accede to my authority." His gaze intensified, his irises now a deeper green-like cold, dark seawater. "I want the other Houses to know that you're mine."

I heard the strained note of possessiveness in his voice, but knew it wasn't personal-it had nothing to do with me, but reflected his concern that another House might lure me away. And Ethan wasn't interested in sharing his new toy. Whatever his physical attraction to me, I was a weapon, an instrument, a secret tool to be garnered in defense of his House. In defense of his vampires.

But he'd given me a weapon of my own. While I was a Cadogan vamp, subject to his dictates-and while I had no immediate plans to buck his authority-I was Sentinel for Cadogan House, not Ethan Sullivan. My plans for protecting the House would supersede his individual plans for me. Ironically, while he thought to reel me in further, he'd actually given me the keys to my independence.

"While it might be fun for you to show me off," I told him, "it's better for Cadogan if my strengths aren't paraded in front of the other Houses. It's better to keep them in the dark and for you to let me do my job. I'll attract less suspicion if they don't know how strong I am, especially if they don't know I have some immunity to glamour. The surprise will work to our advantage." My tone didn't allow for disagreement, just offered a strategy that I knew he'd see was right.

As I waited for an answer, as he considered what I'd said, I offered, "Unless you only wanted me to be a figurehead-and not actually employ my skills to secure the House."

Ethan shook his head, frowning as he did it. "No. You'll stand Sentinel. But they'll still question your loyalty. Word of our, let's call them, conflicts has spread."

"Then my word that all is well in Cadogan House, that I'm, let's say, committed to your service won't have much effect. They'll respect deeds, Ethan, not words."

I saw the glint of appreciation in his eyes. "Fair enough." His gaze slid to the crowd behind me, and I realized they'd been watching the entire dialogue. Our positions weren't exactly inconspicuous, standing as we were in the front of the room, scores of still- attentive vampires watching.

"Let's continue this discussion tomorrow, Sentinel."

Noting that I'd now lost my first name as well to my new t.i.tle, I nodded my acquiescence. At the motion of his hand, I took my place as the twelfth addition to Cadogan House, standing directly in front of Amber. I could feel her glaring behind me, but kept my gaze open and blank and on the vampires in front of us. Their suspicious stares weren't any better, but at least they regarded me with a little less overt, Ethan-induced jealousy.

Ethan turned to the crowd. "Friends, having heard the oaths of our twelve new members, we face the dawn as a House made larger, made stronger, made more secure against its enemies. I bid you welcome your new brothers and sisters with open arms."

A male vamp in the crowd called out, "Open arms are great! Just don't forget to lock your bedroom doors!"

Ethan chuckled along with the crowd. "And on that irreverent note, I call this Commendation closed and bid you good night. Dismissed."

The crowd offered a simultaneous "Thank you, Liege," and the lines of vampires began to relax and cl.u.s.ter into smaller groups. The women to my left squealed happily, and began embracing one another, probably thrilled they'd finally been admitted to the House.

I didn't feel comfortable joining in the celebration-for better or worse, I wasn't one of them-and instead glanced back at Ethan.

He was back in the pirate-inspecting-his-crew pose, and I wondered if he felt that same sense of separateness-being both a member of Cadogan but, by virtue of being its Master, not really one of them.

I moved back to him, confident that I'd taken his measure, but needing to rea.s.sure myself about something.

"Ethan?"

Eyes on the crowd, he responded, "Hmm?"

"What do you think about the Bears?"

He slid me a glance, one blond brow arched. "That they're large hibernating predators?"

I opened my mouth to clarify, but realized the answer said enough. "Never mind," I said, and melted into the crowd.

Just outside the ballroom, the new vamps cl.u.s.tered together, grinning and laughing about the ceremony, patting one another on the back and sharing victorious hugs. I watched the celebration, not quite sure my joining them would be appreciated.

Something nudged my back. I turned to find Lindsey, who held out a stack of binders and thick manila folders, the topmost of which had a lumpy bulge. I took the materials, which must have weighed ten pounds, and lifted questioning eyes.

"Paperwork," she explained. "Insurance forms, House rules, all that good stuff. We've got a Cadogan Web site. Luc's security protocols are in the secure section. Log in and look through them as soon as you have a chance. You'll need to be familiar with them in a week or two. Your beeper's in there, too. Keep it with you always-no exceptions. If you're in the shower, take it into the bathroom. Luc considers all security personnel on-call twenty-four-seven. That even includes a high-and-mighty Sentinel."

In between smirks, I managed to ask, "Does that include you?"

She nodded. "I'm a guard." She nudged me with her hip. "So we'll be seeing a lot more of each other now that you're standing Sentinel. Historic move, that. Answer a question?"

I instinctively looked around, checked that we were far enough away from the other vamps that I wouldn't be giving away any state secrets by answering something honestly. The new Novitiates seemed to be arranging their celebration party, so I figured I was safe.

"Ask away."

Lindsey c.o.c.ked her head at me. "Are you sleeping with Ethan?"

Why did people keep asking me that? "No. No. Definitely not. No."

Probably the first no had answered the question, but I couldn't seem to stop throwing them out. Was I protesting too much?

"Oh, 'cause it's just. . . ."

"It's just what?"

She patted my shoulder. "Don't get your hackles up. I don't want to end up pinned to the training room floor."

I arched a brow at that, but she grinned back. I was beginning to like this girl.

"You two just seemed to have a connection." She shrugged. "It doesn't matter to me, either way. He's hot as a son of a b.i.t.c.h."

Lindsey cast an interested glance back toward the open ballroom doors, just in time to see Ethan saunter out, deep in conversation with Malik. "Tall, blond, body of a G.o.d."

"Ego of a G.o.d," I put in, and watched them walk right past the newbies and toward the stairs. Ethan was apparently done playing the interested Master, and was back to playing chill and aloof. "He is pretty, though."

Lindsey giggled, a laugh that came out kind of adorably snorty. "I knew you had a thing for him. Your eyes melt when he's nearby."

I rolled my eyes. "My eyes do not melt."

"They silver."

After a pause, I allowed, "Not every time."

Lindsey snickered, and this time the sound was a little evil. "You're whipped, toots."

"I'm not whipped. Can we talk about something else, please?" Lindsey opened her mouth, and I added, "Something else that doesn't have to do with me and boys of the vampire persuasion?" When she snapped it shut it again, I was glad I'd taken the offensive.

A hand at my elbow stopped us before we could switch to a more pleasant topic. "Come out with us."

I looked over, found one of the new vamps beside me, and had to pause to remember his name. Tallish, youngish, curly, cropped brown hair, cute in a vague, East Coast blue-blood kind of way. Connor-that was it.

"What?" I asked.

"We're going out to celebrate." He inclined his head toward the knot of Novitiates heading collectively down the stairs. "You have to come out with us." I opened my mouth to give a wavering answer, an "I don't know" that would have captured the fact that I knew I wasn't really one of them. But he stopped me with a hand.

"I'm not going to take no for an answer. It's our first official night as Cadogan vamps. We're going to Temple Bar to celebrate.

There's twelve of us, and it would be wrong for only eleven to show up." He gave Lindsey an endearing smile. "Don't you think?"

"I definitely do," she agreed, and slipped her hand in the crook of my elbow. "We'll meet you at the bar."

Connor looked back at me, grinned boyishly. "Wicked. We'll see you then. And I'll have a drink ready." He stepped back, fisted hands on his hips, and looked me over. "Gin and tonic?"

I nodded.

"I knew it. You looked like a G and T girl. We'll be waiting for you," he said, then clucked me beneath the chin. Flipping his suit jacket over his shoulder, he bobbed down the stairs and out of sight.

Lindsey sighed audibly. "He's cute."

"He's a child." I hadn't meant chronologically-he was probably twenty-five, twenty-six. But he carried that sense of wealth-bred optimism shared by lots of the kids I'd grown up with. I was a little too cynical for that. Give me the jaded, slightly disillusioned boy instead.

"A little too pampered," Lindsey agreed, getting to the heart of it. "But that doesn't mean he can't pay for our drinks." She took a step forward and tugged at my arm. "Come on. Let's go spend a few hours pretending that being a vampire means partying and couture and being twenty-five forever."

We trotted down the stairs, and walked by the parlor, where Malik and Ethan were still deep in discussion. Ethan's brow was drawn, hands on his hips as he stared at Malik, who looked to be explaining something. Lindsey and I paused in the doorway, watched Ethan shake his head, then deliver instructions to Malik, who nodded obligingly and tapped on a PDA.

"Come on, ladies! The alcohol awaits!"

Ethan's gaze flicked from Connor, to Lindsey, to me, and his expression blanked. Tomorrow. My office. We'd only just concluded the ceremony, and he was already making use of the mental connection he'd opened between us "Come on, Merit," Lindsey said, tugging me away. I nodded back at him, and let her lead me away.

Temple Bar was housed in a narrow building squeezed into a corner in Wrigleyville. It was owned by Cadogan House and stocked with Cubs gear; it made a killing, no pun intended, during baseball season.

It was just after midnight when we arrived, and the bar was packed. A mix of vampires and humans (apparently oblivious to the predators surrounding them), filled the narrow s.p.a.ce, the right side of which was lined by a memorabilia-laden bar, the left by a series of booths and tables. A small loft was perched in the back, which gave a handful of customers a bird's-eye view of the room and its supernatural patrons.

We saw Connor and the rest of the Novitiates around a long, narrow bar table at the edge of the seating area, drinks in their hands.

"Merit!" Connor yelled out when we made eye contact, pushing through the crowd to get to us. "I was afraid you were going to stand us up."

I started to clarify that it had only been minutes since we'd seen each other, but got an elbow in the ribs from Lindsey. I gave her a dirty look before smiling back at Connor.

"We made it!" I lightly said, and accepted the gin and tonic he handed me. He followed suit with Lindsey, and she immediately pulled the lime off the rim of her gla.s.s before taking a big sip of the drink. I bit back a smile, guessing she needed the liquid patience to get through an evening with baby vamps.

Randomly, I also wondered, given Catcher's theories about my physical and psychic strength, if I could form the same kind of bond with her that Ethan had formed with me. I stared at her, tried to reach out, to push through a mental tunnel between us, but all I got for my trouble was the beginning of a sinus headache and a weird look from Lindsey.

"What are you staring at?" she asked.

"How does Ethan do that mental connection thing?" I asked back, as we followed Connor through the throng to the other new Novitiates, holding our drinks aloft to avoid dumping them onto the people around us.