Don't Rush Me (Nora Jacobs #1)(58)

“So you said you met Xavier at Underworld?” Elijah says. “Is he the one who told you about us?”

Xavier is a great out, considering he isn’t here and won’t be showing up to contradict me. I bob my head in a nod. “He wasn’t just spilling your secrets, of course. He met Nicky. See, there aren’t usually any humans in Underworld. Most humans don’t even know the underworld exists, so Nicky can’t ever talk about the things he’s learned with anyone. When I saw Xavier there, I got a little excited and told him Nicky was human, too. They hit it off right away.

“That’s when he told Nicky about your brotherhood. He said he thought there might be one spot left, and he’d rather Nicky join than some guy named Noah. He said he’d ask you about it, but then he ended up in the hospital. When he called to tell us about this party tonight, he said he didn’t get the chance to talk to you about Nicky yet, but that we should come and meet you guys anyway.”

Elijah sighs. “Not that I don’t like both you and your boyfriend, but Xavier still should have been more secretive about us. That’s one of the rules when joining; you don’t tell people about us.”

“Oh, I know all about that. Rule number one in the underworld is don’t tell humans about the underworld.”

Elijah gives me a wry smile. “Then how is it that your boyfriend knows all about it?”

I look away and try to blush. Who knows if it worked? But the feigned shyness does have the desired effect. Elijah moves his arm from the back of the couch to officially around me, letting his hand fall on my shoulder. His thoughts are a little jumbled. He’s attracted to me, and interested in my power, but he’s still suspicious. The fact that I feel human to him is keeping him wary. He doesn’t like how much I know about him. He doesn’t think Xavier would have blabbed about the brotherhood. He was a solid recruit. He’s also a little wary of Nick still. Nick is too perfect of a candidate. Elijah is concerned about the coincidence that he found us right when he was so desperate for one last member of his circle. He doesn’t like coincidences. He’s not quite ready to trust us yet.

“What are you doing dating a human anyway?” he asks in a soft voice. “Aren’t you supposed to keep to your own kind?”

“I’m sidhe,” I say in the demurest voice I’m capable of. “I’m part of the Summer Court. But I don’t like to stay there much. The sidhe are so emotionless and aloof. It gets boring.” And…I look up at him through my eyelashes. “Humans are a lot more fun. I don’t normally tell them my secrets, but Nicky is special. He’s so persuasive. I’ve really fallen hard for him.” I glance around us as if to make sure no one is listening, then whisper, “He wants me to petition the Summer King to turn him fey. He says he loves me and wants to be with me forever. It doesn’t happen often, but it does happen when the humans are intriguing enough. I think Nicky has a chance. He’d make such a handsome faerie, don’t you think? He’s so strong and good-looking already, I can’t imagine him with the power of my people inside him as well.”

There. Let Elijah chew on that. He drops his arm from around me so that he can lean back. He looks me over with a very considering stare. When I frown at him, he forces a smile. “You’re a very interesting woman, Nora. And, if you don’t mind my saying so, the most beautiful one I’ve ever met.”

I giggle and swat his arm lightly. “Thank you for the compliment, but don’t let Nicky hear you say that. He wasn’t happy earlier. He thought you might be trying to steal me from him.”

Elijah leans in, and his eyes flash with intensity. “And what if I am?”

I allow my eyes to grow big, then I giggle again and shake my head once. “Then I’d say you have your work cut out for you. I’m devoted to Nicky. He’s so strong.”

He wets his lips and drops his gaze to my mouth. “What if I could prove that I’m stronger?”

I’m not sure how to answer. I’m not touching him anymore and am surprised by this line of questioning. I thought he didn’t trust me, and now he’s trying to steal me from my boyfriend? Does that mean he wants me, but not Nick? Or is he trying to prove the two of us are untrustworthy somehow?

I glance across the room at Nick, stalling while I try to piece together the best response, and am startled to see who’s joined him. Parker promised me he’d keep Xavier from the party. But then…I don’t see Xavier. Parker is here alone.

It’s the perfect out. I gasp and call loudly, “Parker!”





When Parker turns in my direction, I beam a smile at him, stand up, and meet him halfway across the room. Elijah follows me, keeping a set of hawk eyes focused on Parker. I don’t think the two have met before, but somehow Xavier figured out who Parker is, and he told Elijah that Parker is a 400-year-old vampire.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, surprising Parker with a hug. I lean my face in next to his and whisper in his ear as soft as I’m able. “Just play along.”

Parker doesn’t miss a beat. “It’s lovely to see you again, Nora. Xavier called and invited me tonight. It’s not Underworld, but it’s something to do. What are you doing here?”

“Xavier called me earlier and told me about it.” I look all around, even though I know my creepy neighbor is not here. Parker might be here, but he wouldn’t have gone back on his word to keep him away. “Where is he, anyway? Didn’t he come with you?”