Donnie

“You gotta stop looking like the fucking cat who got the cream, dude…it’s enough to turn me off my pint.”

Ricky’s comment only kicked up Donnie’s lips into a bigger grin, one that had yet to falter since the woman of his dreams became his. And that’s what she was now, his Caitlyn, and he would send any bastard to Hell who threatened to take her from him.

After leaving Caitlyn—grudgingly so—Donnie and Ricky had hit up some of the supernatural bars in Cork and been extremely visible. He ignored the muttering and gasps of the gossip hungry supes who caught Caitlyn’s scent on his skin, and some who would no doubt pass on the information to the monster. Hopefully they’d made such a scene celebrating Donnie and Caitlyn finally getting together that the bait had been set and he’d make an appearance soon.

The bar was empty, no patrons allowed to come inside as they awaited the monster of Paris, Chester generously putting his bar in their hands for their confrontation.

Sitting in the foyer of Chester’s bar, an area usually reserved for humans, Donnie and Ricky sat on plush couches, in full view of the street. Anyone passing by would know where they were.

“Sorry, mate,” Donnie replied, not a sorry bone in his body. “Don’t think I’m gonna stop grinning like an idiot for a couple of centuries. It’s the best feeling in the world. Even better than winning the rugby world cup.”

The warlock lifted his pint to his lips and gulped down the liquid. Donnie picked up on the slight tremor in his hands as Ricky set down the pint. Donnie tried his hardest to stay out of his friends’ minds, yet Ricky’s seemed to be screaming at him since they’d started on their drinking session, and Donnie felt true fear for his friend.

The path Ricky was travelling down tended to be a dangerous one, especially for someone who leapt first, then considered the consequences after the fact.

“Tell me how you managed to talk her round. I mean, twenty years is a long time to reset your charms…did you recite some poetry? Oh. Oh! Did you recite a sonnet at the Eiffel Tower and get down on bended knee?”

Donnie barked out a laugh. “Rick, you’ve been watching far too many chick flicks, bro. A gentleman never kisses and tells.”

“I’m gonna find out eventually…might as well tell me.”

“How about you tell me what’s going on in that little head of yours instead?”

Darkness flooded both the warlock’s eyes and mind, and Donnie winced at the sheer volume of it.

Donnie knows.

He’ll tell her…tell her why you will never be right for her.

A waste of space, just like your da said you were.

If they find out, you’ll lose your job.

Kill him…burn him to ashes and he will tell no one.

Donnie sank back into the couch as Ricky rubbed his temple. Gulping down another long slug of his pint, Ricky glanced over at Donnie, worry splashed all over his face.

“I have it under control.”

Donnie quirked up a brow, not believing him for a second. “You know where I am if you need help.”

“I’m good. Girl guide’s honour.”

Donnie shook his head as Ricky glanced out the window. The dark thoughts still swirled around in his friend’s head, so Donnie tried to pull him free of his demons. “So, do we have to have the talk? I mean, since Melanie is Caitlyn’s ward and all.”

Ricky narrowed his green eyes and glared at Ricky. “That is not a conversation you and I will ever be having.”

“You’d rather have this conversation with Caitlyn?”

“Hell no. But I don’t need any advice that I don’t know already.”

Lifting his own pint to his lips, Donnie drank deep, setting the glass down as he spotted movement outside the door to Chester’s. “And tell me what advice I’d give ya for my little sister.”

“Don’t hurt her or my legs will be broken. Treat her like she deserves to be treated. Get to know her, like you did with Caitlyn. Don’t start something I don’t intend to stick with. Don’t play with her. Melanie’s too good for that. And if I don’t think I can be all I can be to be with her, then let her go find someone else.”

“Almost. Have faith that you deserve her. You are a good man, Ricky. But better men have gone down the path you are on and failed to come out still good men. When you thought you’d been broken before, you came back swingin’.”

Donnie felt the presence enter the bar from behind. He leaned back into the couch to show he was not at all bothered by the monster and his second who walked into the bar. Markus would be Donnie’s to kill since the vampire had taken his arm.

At Donnie’s grin, Ricky drained his pint and mumbled, “I take it we have company.”

“We sure do, brother. You get going now. Make sure Caitlyn knows he’s here.”

Ricky shook his head. “I’m not leaving you here outnumbered.”

“You got any magic on you?” At Ricky’s snarl, Donnie inclined his head. “If I don’t make it out of here, if Cait…if Caitlyn doesn’t make it out, we need you to take Melanie and Kenzie and run…he will come for her. Promise me, Ricky. If we fail, you will protect her.”

Donnie held out a hand and Ricky clasped it tight.

“Until my last breath, Donnie. But my bets are hedged on you, dude. I’ll see you on the flip side.”

Ricky rose as an immense sense of power reached out and brushed over Donnie’s skin. He slammed his shields up, because Donnie was of Caitlyn’s blood and she had taught him well. Donnie remained sitting as Ricky stood in front of Caitlyn’s maker and snarled.

“You hurt him or Caitlyn and I promise you I will see to it that you burn. We are not blood, but we are family. And I will fucking find a way to end you if you harm those who are mine to claim as family.”

The vampire tilted his head slightly, a smile that didn’t meet his eyes on his lips. “You would make a formidable vampire, warlock. Let me turn you, and with my blood in your veins you will be a king amongst men.”

When Caitlyn’s maker spoke, Donnie understood why people had fallen to their knees and bowed to him. His voice sounded as if a god had spoken and praised you, no matter if he condemned you to death or embraced you.

“No, thanks. Donnie bit me once and it did nothing for me, and he’s a handsome bastard. Besides, you ain’t my type.”

“I have powerful females of my line who could change you over.”

Ricky rocked back on the heels of his feet with a grin that might just get him killed.

“I’m sorry. You’re ancient and must have misheard me. You should really get that checked out, mate. Next step and you’ll need those little blue pills to perform. Anyways, what I meant to say was you’re a sadistic, narcissistic prick and the thought of having you turn me into a vampire makes me want to upchuck all the alcohol I’ve drunk in the last few hours. If I ever change my mind, I’ll ask my family.”

Ricky spun and with his back to Caitlyn’s maker, flashed Donnie a grin and sauntered out the door whistling ACDC’s “Highway to Hell.”

Donnie cast his attention to the bastard who had ripped Caitlyn’s life to shreds. His hair hung loose around his shoulders, red eyes glaring back at him. He wore a three-piece suit like it was a shield, hiding the monster that coiled underneath, but Donnie knew a predator when he saw one. Sweeping out of a grey coat before handing it to Markus, the vampire moved like he was floating, coming to the table and settling into the space Ricky had vacated. Resting his elbows on the table, Caitlyn’s maker rested his chin in his hands and assessed Donnie.

“I can see why my rose is attracted to you. You are quite handsome. Brute strength must also be a factor. Yet, you are so young. You may wear her scent today, but she will tire of you. A vampire like you cannot keep a woman like Caitlyn.”

“Well, mate, you haven’t been able to keep her either. She came to my bed willingly. I never forced her to do anything she didn’t want to.”

A muscle ticked in Donnie’s opponent’s jaw and he let a smug grin light up his face. Donnie found himself being studied, as if Caitlyn’s maker was unsure of him.

“You are not afraid of me.”

The words were a statement rather than a question. However, Donnie chose to answer him regardless. “I have no need to fear you because I do not fear death. I have already lived twenty years after I should have been bones in the dirt. I have known family and love and companionship. I have friends who would take a bullet for me and I for them. Loyalty was earned, not compelled. Can you say the same?”

Markus growled, but a swift hand in the air cut him off mid snarl. Oh, Donnie was going to enjoy ripping him to shreds. Returning to his original position, red eyes that marked him as the first of his kind, eyes that never changed colour, held Donnie’s hazel eyes. If they had been wolves, the most dominant would have demanded the submissive look away first, but they were not wolves, and Donnie knew he was dominant enough to hold the stare.

Donnie had stared into the eyes of the All Blacks of New Zealand during a haka and not batted an eye…and some of them were scary ass motherfuckers.

“She belongs to me.”

Donnie retorted, “She belongs to herself.”

“I am the one who created her. I am the one whose blood made her immortal and allowed you to be graced with her presence. You should be down on your knees thanking me for ripping her from her life of squandered potential.”

Donnie couldn’t believe the bullshit this man—this monster—was spouting.

“You saw a pretty trinket you wanted to keep and slaughtered her entire family because she said no.”

“I was blinded by devotion.”

“That’s not devotion, that’s madness.”

Lifting his chin off his hands, though they remained clasped, Caitlyn’s maker let out a sigh. “You do not understand. You cannot. I knew deep in my soul that Caitlyn was meant to be mine the moment I saw her. She laughed, and for a moment, I felt the heart that had not beaten for an age kick. I knew she was a hunter, one who killed my kind, but I could not be without her. Caitlyn invaded my dreams, my thoughts, my actions. She was meant to be mine and I would have her. I love her.”

Donnie clenched his fists and let loose the growl that had been building low in his throat. “That’s not love, that’s obsession. You wanted the one person who would not bow to you. You make it out like you had no choice in the matter, and what you did was wrong. But I’m sure the concept of right and wrong is lost on you.”

A slow, sadistic smile stretched out on the other vampire’s lips. “You should be thanking me. Had I not made her a vampire, she and you would have never met.”

The table groaned under the strain as Donnie reined in his need to punch the smug look off the monster’s face. “I would have preferred that Caitlyn grow old enough to grey and watch her children and her children’s children walk the earth. I would have preferred that she died, old and happy in the arms of her husband than be subjected to what you did to her.”

Puzzled, silence suffocated the air for what would have been several heartbeats, if those in the bar still had hearts that beat. Donnie reached out with his power, the other vampire seemingly unaware that a mind reader sat before him.

Does he truly believe the words he has spoken?

Caitlyn is mine to claim. The deaths are justified.

I will not have a little upstart make me question all I have achieved.

“Is it really an achievement if the woman you claim is yours belongs to another man? Caitlyn is mine, and I am hers. The thing between us goes both ways.”

With a hiss, the monster jerked back and snarled at Donnie, who held out his palms in mock apology. “Did you really think that Caitlyn’s vampires would not have a few tricks up their sleeves? Let me ask you a few questions.”

Intrigue crossed over the older vampire’s features, though he didn’t inch forward, instead resting his arms on the couch behind him, appearing relaxed, though Donnie could see the coiled tension in his body.

“What’s Caitlyn’s favourite colour?”

“Excuse me?” Bewilderment sounded in his tone as his eyebrows almost lifted off his face.

“You heard me. If you claim to love her, if Caitlyn is really yours and not mine to claim, then there are things you would know, the little things that to you may seem insignificant. What is her favourite colour?”

After a brief pause a reply came. “I do not know.”

Donnie rested his elbows on the table. “Let me tell you. It’s orchid, the colour of her favourite flower. What’s her favourite movie? Don’t know? I’m not surprised. If you ask Caitlyn, she will tell you that Gone with the Wind is her favourite, but I know she has this weird obsession with car movies. Give her The Italian Job, Fast and the Furious, Gone in 60 seconds and she gets this silly little smile on her face. It’s breathtaking to watch.”

Donnie gave him a minute to take what he was saying on board before he rambled on.

“When it comes to music, she’d totally surprise you. She likes the songs that mean something, where the lyrics hit you and remind you of things. She will listen to a typical song when people are around, but she is also a fan of indie, even if she complains to Ricky that it is noise, because she feels that’s what’s expected of her. Caitlyn wears her clothes like they are body armour, right down to those goddamn Louboutin heels that make her legs go on forever. But she is happiest in leggings and a tee, sat on our couch at home, just being herself.

“Caitlyn laughs and loves too much, even though she is afraid to show it openly because of what you did to her. It’s in the little things, buying my favourite beer when we’ve had a hard week at work, criticizing Melanie’s choice of tee, then a slew of new ones arrived two days later for her to wear. It’s the midnight walks she takes with Derek or the times she has come to gigs with me and Ricky just to support us.”

Donnie was not surprised that Caitlyn’s maker seemed as puzzled as ever and continued watching him. In that instant Donnie understood why Caitlyn could never love him. He didn’t understand the concept of the emotion.

With a rush of breath, Donnie said, “You know why Cait could never love you? Because you saw a beautiful woman and wanted her. You never knew her. You didn’t take the time to get to know her. I did. It took me over twenty years, but I know her better than I know myself. I’ve held her as nightmares from her time with you threatened to swallow her whole. I’ve been there. I spent the time to persuade her that I was worthy of her love. And that’s the thing, mate, I’m not. I’m simply a lucky bastard who belongs to the most beautiful woman in the world.”

Donnie smiled, showing teeth as he went on. “You went about things the wrong way. You demanded her love. I earned it. You broke her spirit and I helped build it up. I saw beneath the darkness she claims holds her captive, the broken pieces of her, and saw that a light still sparked inside her. I gently pulled the light out and now, even on her darkest of days, I will always show her there are things in this world worth living for. You forget that despite her being a treasure, she was also a woman who deserved more than you could give her.”

His jaw ticked once more, and Donnie knew his words were hitting home. “Caitlyn is mine, Donnie. I made her. Everything she is, she is that because of me.”

“That’s where you are wrong. Caitlyn is everything she is despite you. Caitlyn is a badass with a heart the size of Texas. She is soft, but so fucking strong. Unapologetic and brutally honest. Caitlyn is the type of woman you go to war beside, not against.”

The monster rose, looking down at Donnie. “I am not human. I never was. Why do you expect me to act as such?”

“I’m not,” Donnie replied. “I’m simply telling you that Caitlyn belongs with me. And there are others who claim her as theirs as well. Take her from us, and not only will I hunt you down, but you will have started a war against vampires, werewolves, shifters, and warlocks, just to name a few.”

Donnie rose and stepped down so that he was level with both Caitlyn’s maker and Markus. Tension bubbled in the air as Markus lunged forward, but Donnie caught the vampire by the scruff of the neck and slammed him face first into the bar, the wood cracking under the force of the blow. Markus dropping to the ground with a thud.

“It looks like, mon coeur, you have started the fun without me.”

Caitlyn’s scent washed over him, and he gave her his best lopsided smile. “I know how much you like my pretty face, babe. Couldn’t have let him cut me up if it displeased you.”

Caitlyn’s husky chuckle was a caress along his skin as he strode over to stand beside her under the watchful gaze of the monster who waited. Donnie pressed his lips to Caitlyn’s throat as she patted his cheek, her gaze never straying from her prey.

“Have you come to finish me off, my rose?”

Donnie could feel the rage building inside of Caitlyn as memories flashed through her mind of her Sebastian, of her children, of her father, and all the other innocents who had died under the guise of his love.

Donnie turned Caitlyn to face him, pressed a quick kiss to her lips, and said in her mind, He does not get to keep you, Caitlyn, he doesn’t. Do this for your Sebastian, for your Jessamine, and the boy you would have called Luc. Do this so you are free to stop living half a life. Take my hand and we can take on the world.

Caitlyn closed her eyes and when she opened them, the cold grey of her eyes held his. No matter the outcome, thank you for seeing me. The real me.

Always. You can thank me in many, many ways when this is all over.

Caitlyn shook her head, smiling, the smile only dropping when she turned her icy glare to a very amused looking vampire. Caitlyn flashed her fangs and snarled.

“Hello, Cain.”