8. Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight

By the time they'd gotten to the Oahu and arrived at the airport, night obscured both the ocean around them and the mountains further inland. Dawn was still hours away, and Eden had exhaustedly dragged herself through the airport gates and out to the car Nero had called for them.

She'd fallen asleep again on his shoulder and had no memory of how long the drive to his house had been. Like the class act she was, she even left drool on his shirt.

Whispering in her ear, Nero asked, "Eden, do you want to stay in the townhouse, or would you like to use my extra bedroom?"

"Bedroom's fine," she murmured through the curtain of tiredness she just couldn't seem to pierce.

Nero's shoulder bounced with a chuckle, then somehow turned itself even more comfortable. As the car rolled to a stop, he asked again "Shall I carry you inside, professor, or would you prefer to walk?"

"Nope, I'm up."

Despite her intentions, her eyes remained closed, and her words slurred together. She murmured a sleepy thank you to the driver before slowly hoisting herself out of the car's leatherbound interior and into the fresh, salty air of Oahu. She swayed on her feet. Jet lag had never agreed with her, and her medication only made it worse.

Nero sighed contentedly beside her. He'd taken both bags she'd packed—and Marianne's crate—without batting an eye.

"Just a little further, and you can rest in my guest bedroom."

She tried to thank him, but it only came out as indiscernible mumbling. Eden gave up and followed his lead. After several days with him, she trusted him explicitly. Though it should have felt odd, the last few days had laid bare her deep-seeded need for affection. Nero had given it to her and protected her when she had needed it most. It wasn't something she'd soon forget.

With a kind chuckle, he directed her up several stairs and through a doorway, then another flight of stairs upward. By the time Nero pointed to the bed and said he'd take care of Marianne, she collapsed into the Feathertop comforter. Too exhausted to even remove her shoes, Eden laid facedown as several pillows and blankets were piled around her to make her comfortable. She promptly fell asleep.

One minute she'd faceplanted into a most inviting bed, and the next, her eyes were blinking open to a place she'd never seen before. Jolting upright, it took her a moment to remember where she was. Taking stock of herself, Eden glanced down at the nest of pristine white comforters and sheets she'd been snuggled in. Light streamed in through the drawn curtains, tinting the room in soft cerulean, and she even fancied she could faintly hear the ocean waves.

And then she looked at her watch. The time stared back at her, taunting her until the white lettering flashed out. How could it be the afternoon? Had she truly slept so long?

It'd been ages since she'd been able to wake up leisurely, without an alarm blaring or her cat knocking a plant off the shelf for her own entertainment. Stretching back into the luxurious bedding, Eden cherished every moment of bliss like she'd promised herself months ago when she was diagnosed.

Four months ago.

Panicked, she looked around the room wildly in search of her bags. She remembered that Nero had carried them in last night, but she hadn't registered where he'd put them.

There .

Lunging for one of the suitcases, she unzipped the front pouch and grabbed the prescription bottles. Downing one after the other, she breathed a sigh of relief. No sense in dying as soon as she arrived in paradise.

She looked sidelong at her tennis shoes, neatly arranged beside her bags. Clearly Nero's work, since Eden had been a walking zombie last night. He was responsible for tucking her in, too.

After making both her and her father safe from at least one of the threats on her life, Eden knew it was a debt she could never repay. Keeping him in the dark about her health—especially now that she was in his home—seemed duplicitous. At some point, she would need to come clean, no matter how difficult it was.

Sighing, she finally examined the room properly. There was an undeniable charm in the layout—and the décor. Abstract art, the kind one would expect to see in art galleries, framed the walls. Some, like the impressive pencil sketch of a boat near the doorway, were to her taste, while others were decidedly not. The room had a nautical theme, with an anchor type decoration plastered against one wall and a fishnet-style blanket covering the arm of a soft blue and white pinstriped chair in the corner.

Over to her right, there was an airy bathroom that beckoned, and she made quick work of showering and turning into something a little more human.

The sounds of children playing outside brought a smile to her lips. Chicago, for all its merits, was not family-friendly, and she couldn't imagine raising a child in a high-rise apartment. Not that she'd ever have the chance now. The thought made her shiver.

By the time her hair looked acceptable, and her under-eye bags had disappeared beneath a thin layer of concealer, she was ready to face the world. Eden threw on a vibrant green sundress and called it good. Almost timid, she stepped into the hallway.

"Nero?"

His answer was instantaneous. "Down here!"

Padding down the ultra-soft carpeting of the stairs, Eden folded her arms self-consciously across her stomach, feeling out of place amidst the grandeur of Nero's home.

It truly was a mansion. In her sleep-deprived haze last night— this morning? —she hadn't gotten a good look. A grand piano sat amid comfortable looking chaise lounge chairs, breathtaking chandeliers focused the attention of the landing, and the walls were a shade of green eerily close to that of her eyes. Wood flooring, a warm walnut grey, ran the length of his home, from the two-story foyer to the kitchen she'd just entered.

She'd never dreamed of living anywhere as magical as this. Overhead, long wooden beams opened up the already airy space, the natural color accenting the stark whites and soft greys of the marble countertops and wooden cabinetry. Subway tiles raced across the backsplash below the large window that sat over the sink and looked out across the ocean. A wall wreath and a bowl of red apples that rested on the spacious center island were the only pops of color.

While she'd been gawking, Nero's luscious sea salt cologne caressed her senses as he moved closer. "How'd you sleep?"

"Like a rock. That bed is way more comfortable than mine is." She smiled at him. "How about you? Did your insomnia strike again?"

"Surprisingly, no. Got a couple decent hours last night."

"A couple is generally on the low end, Coffee Shop Cutie," Eden coached. "I'm beginning to worry for your sanity."

He shrugged. "I think the better discussion is whether the granite in my kitchen passes your test. I remember something about you being very opinionated about countertops."

Snorting, Eden inspected it with a critical eye. "Top Ten."

"Top Ten Worst or Top Ten Best?"

Her lips twisted in a sarcastic line. "I think I should make you wait. Keep on guessing. Wouldn't that be cruel?"

"Kind of like torture?"

"I am an expert." Winking, she let him off the hook. "I love this color, Nero. It's gorgeous. The entire house is. My inner monologue has basically been an excerpt of Architectural Digest since I woke up."

"I'm happy you like my home, Eden," he replied, his voice low with honesty. "And I'm glad you agreed to join me here, even if it was to get away from the Citizens . Please, consider it yours for as long as you decide to stay. Mi casa es su casa."

"You're too kind, you know."

"You might've mentioned it before." He gestured to his kitchen. "Besides, if you hate any part of it, I'll just rip it out and build a new one that meets your expectations. Now come in, the night air is chill, and you must need to eat and rest."

Eden cleared her throat as she took a seat. "Never! It's gorgeous. Don't change your castle on my account, Count Dracula."

The Bram Stoker reference and subsequent wink had managed to completely put her at ease. Nero had the ability to take any awkwardness between them and transform it into a moment that connected them. No man that handsome had the right to also be that kind and empathetic.

Her inner musings on the unfairness of life were interrupted by the clatter of pans.

"Hungry?"

Eden blushed. "Starving, actually."

"Can I make you breakfast?"

And he cooked, too. Criminal. "Pretty sure it's called lunch when it's eaten at this hour, but I'll totally take you up on that."

"Do you like eggs Benedict?"

"I love eggs Benedict." Eden's mouth watered at the prospect. "I'll be forever in your debt."

Not that she wasn't already. As Nero grabbed bacon and laid it in the waiting pan, Eden asked, "How long have you lived here?"

"I built the house about ten years ago, but I've always owned the plot of land. Been in the family for centuries."

"Long lineage on the island?"

"You know it." His gaze found hers, radiating sincerity. "I can't wait to show you around and introduce you to everyone. I know they'll be as charmed by you as I am."

Giving him a look, she said, "Maybe I should play the lotto."

"Why?"

"I've somehow managed to find the kindest, sweetest man I've ever met, who rescues me from rabid wolves, makes me feel like I'm the most important person in the world, and can somehow just whip up hollandaise sauce at a drop of a classical vampire reference." She raised her eyebrows. "I think my chances of winning the Big Bucks are good."

Ten minutes and some reasonably heavy-duty flirting later, Eden enjoyed the best eggs Benedict of her life. She wasn't stingy with the praise for his culinary skills, which clearly made him outrageously happy.

"We should get out of the house before my head gets too big to make it through the door. Are you ready to see the island?"

"Absolutely. We've still gotta settle our bet between Oahu and Illinois. Besides," she bit her lip, "I'd love to see it properly. I was a bit tired last night when we got in."

"Ocean first, then."

As soon as Nero slid open the spotless glass door, the crash of waves nearly made her knees buckle. She hadn't imagined hearing the sound. Eden couldn't stop her feet from moving toward the rocky crag that set about two hundred feet from the back of his home.

Black volcanic rock jutted out from the manicured lawn, capping off the frenzied water below, a roar that never dulled. She couldn't stop a gasp at the beauty of the vast, deep blue horizon.

When Nero's arm coiled around her waist, she dissolved into his hold, content in his warmth and overjoyed with the opportunity to be here.

"Beautiful, isn't it?"

"It's absolutely amazing. You were right: Oahu leaves Illinois in the dust." She sniffed. "Thank you for inviting me."

"Wouldn't have had it any other way, professor." A rumble of masculine laughter, followed by that odd vibration she could've sworn was a purr. "Have you had your fill of ocean, or would you like to enjoy a bit longer?"

"Oh, I don't think I'll ever have my fill of ocean."

Nero didn't respond, but his arm cinched tighter, and she eagerly rested her head on his chest. Casual intimacy felt so natural with him. It was almost instinctive, as though they'd always belong to each other.

Tearing her eyes away from the frothy dark blue below the cliffs, Eden's attention shifted toward the cluster of palm trees next to his home. Picture perfect wide palm fronds swayed with the consistent breeze, but something had caught her eye. A pattern of parallel scores against the bark, as if a large animal had taken claws to it. Curiouser and curiouser.

She suddenly realized she completely trusted Nero to keep her safe, as ridiculous as that certainty might seem for someone she'd only met days before, in a place that she'd never been in.

"I can't believe you live here. It's so perfect."

"Precisely my reason for staying." He tipped his head inland. "Come on, there's so much more I want to show you."

As they made their way toward a massive white dome that seemed like a central location, Eden feasted her eyes on the sights. Gorgeous homes dotted the walkway that led out from Nero's home, varying in architecture and style, size, and scope. While some were new builds—given the state of the recently laid grass—several appeared more traditional and weathered.

She did notice one thing all the homes had in common: they were missing garages. Perhaps all of the cars were housed in a common car park.

When Nero opened the door to the dome and she stepped into the chilled, air-conditioned air, Eden forgot all about the differences and felt her jaw drop.

Massive windows sprawled from the floor to halfway up the dome, illuminating the entire area with brilliant white sunshine. Minimalist décor only enhanced the classical lines and elegance of the venue.

"What is this place? Except heaven's antechamber?"

"It's our only official building. A gathering hall of sorts when we need to do so. But mostly, it's where our offices are and where we keep some rec stuff."

"You keep saying ‘we'," Eden remarked while he led her down a hallway. "Is it a traditional community or …?"

Or a cult , her mind offered.

Nero's genial laughter boomed, ricocheting off the walls. "Not a cult. I could read that one all over your face. Originally, yes, a small Samoan settlement or nu'u, the place we belong to. But we've grown a bit since then. We're not exclusive and ‘adopt' people all the time. Don't we, Key?"

Startled, Eden turned around to look at the person Nero addressed over her shoulder. She found herself face to face with one of the most beautiful woman she'd ever beheld. White-blonde hair cascaded down her shoulders, stick straight but thick and lustrous. The apparition's vibrant eyes, a golden-brown Eden would've thought an impossible hue, were so stunning that she couldn't help but stare.

"It's so nice to finally meet you in person," Key greeted.

"In person?"

"I've read your book." Key's smile only grew. "I'm a big fan of the era, myself."

Eden would always fawn whenever someone said they'd taken the time to read her book. She'd dedicated nearly four years of her life to it, and reader interest was a gift unlike any other.

"Wow! That's such a coincidence! Did you like it?"

"I read it in one sitting because I couldn't stop. It was riveting," the other woman admitted. "Can't wait to read more in the future."

Although braced for it from experience, the words were a kick to the gut. The metallic click of high heels announced someone's impending arrival, saving Eden from a reaction that would out her secret. Not yet. I get to enjoy this a bit more.

She glanced around, unwilling to let another vision of female perfection blindside her. There was something in the paradise-blue water that made everyone here stunning.

When the mysterious woman finally appeared around the corner, she was indeed breathtaking—and way too far away for Eden to have heard her approach.

Attributing the odd blip in her hearing to the acoustics of the dome, Eden found herself gawking once again. This particular supermodel— vampire queen? —had piercing sapphire eyes one could see even from miles away. A waterfall of red curls, much more vibrant and rich than Eden's own coppery strands, completed the otherworldly vision.

"This is Luna, our resident doctor," Nero explained, his tone light and playful. "Another one of our adopted residents. Eden, Luna. Luna, Eden."

"Pleasure to meet you, Eden."

They shook hands. "Nice meeting you, too. Though I've gotta say, whatever they're putting in the water over here, I need some. You all have beautiful bone structure."

The surprise on their faces made her blush, but Luna quickly covered the awkwardness with a smile. "Mahalo, Eden—though I think you're doing just fine for yourself."

"I'd echo that, professor. You're gorgeous."

Nero slung a possessive arm around her waist, and made weapon-grade eye contact with her. There was no way the man had a permit for that much genuine intensity.

"Before Key and Luna decide to abduct you for shopping or something equally as torturous," he said, "I wanted to show you one more thing."

As the two women waved a goodbye, he sifted his fingers through hers. She allowed him to tug her down a hallway, toward several empty offices. Part of her began to wonder if this was where the virgin sacrifices portion of the tour came in.

The last office was clearly Nero's; she could tell his style as soon they walked in. He immediately started rooting around in one of the drawers. "I have it here somewhere. Hold on."

"Holding."

Eden took the opportunity to sit down. Her temples pulsed, the consistent ache more annoying than it was painful. After long flights, her condition had a tendency to flare.

"Found it!"

When she glanced up, Eden's heart flipped. She leapt up from the chair, holding out her hands as if she was receiving the Holy Grail.