Read The Power of One (The Forever series Book Two) for Free Online Page B

off, realizing I’m talking
to the dial tone. He fucking hung up on me!
    Fine then. I’ll just message him. Arse.
    “Cole knows about us.” Short and to the point.
    I count back knowing he will call: 3, 2, 1, and right on cue
my phone rings. CK. I grin and leave it to ring. Knowing that I will pay for
ignoring him, I pocket my phone as it continues to buzz. I answer eventually as
he doesn’t give up.
    “Liv,” comes CK’s steely voice and I know that I am in for
it.
    I sigh and try to make it right. “I’m sorry, my love. I had
something important to tell you and you know how much I hate it when you hang
up on me,” I say petulantly.
    I hear his world-weary sigh. “Your defiance won’t be
tolerated, my sweet,” he says quietly, adding, “I shall have to think of a new
way to punish you.” I feel a thrill go down my spine and my knees buckle.
Dropping onto a nearby stool, I whisper, “Mm, it’s been a while since you
punished me, my sire. I look forward to seeing what you come up with.” I know
when I hear him inhale sharply that he can’t stay mad at me. “So do I,” he
whispers back, then clears his throat. “Did you tell him?”
    The abrupt change of subject spins my already dazed brain.
    “Uh, yes and no. He actually asked about Devon and connected
the dots,” I say, recovering.
    “I see. And?”
    “And, nothing.  He knows and he’s accepted that I’m not
giving you up, ever. Either of you,” I add for clarification.
    “Like he would have a choice in taking you away from me,” he
mutters in a very un-CK like way. This trip is throwing up all kinds of
interesting things.
    “Yes, well. I needed you to know before you see each other
again. He won’t challenge you, just don’t provoke him, Okay? Please. We have
terms and I intend to honor them. This doesn’t mean that we are all one big ménage
a quatre waiting to happen.”
    Silence, then, “I wouldn’t dream of it,” he says smoothly.
    “Good. Now go back to whatever was so important that it kept
you from answering me,” I say.
    He chuckles, humor restored. “As frustrating as you are, I
love your fire,” he says and again he hangs up on me but this time I am glowing
from the praise.
    Thinking back to what he said--"I wouldn’t dream of
it”--I believe him. He wouldn’t expect all of us to jump into bed together and
get it on. Devon would of course but not CK. In all the years since I turned
Devon, CK has never once asked him into our bed. Strangers, yes. Acquaintances,
friends, yes. Men and women, even several of each, but never my beloved boy. I
have often wondered if it is in fact some sort of jealousy, that he would see
our bond and how fantastic we are together. I have never dared to ask, and I
probably never will.
    “Everything, okay?” Cole asks, making me jump.
    “Yes, my love. I’m fine. Was just giving CK a heads up,” I
hold up my phone and he scowls.
    “Oh,” he says flatly.
    “Don’t worry baby. He won’t take advantage,” I try to
reassure him.
    He nods grimly, “But still…”
    My heart lurches at his sadness and I stand to pull him to
me tightly. He sighs and relaxes at my touch.
    “Things seem okay between you and Devon?” I dare to ask.
    He tenses up again but answers me, “He’s a good guy. I like him.
I just don’t know if we can be friends now, if that’s what you are asking. I’ll
always be wondering what you are up to when you two are alone together.”
    “I know, baby. But it won’t be like that. I promise you. We
do have to work together and when we go to work, we work.” He nods again. “Try
to work on forming a bond with him, my love. We are all going to be around each
other for eternity now. It will be easier. On you and on him.”
    He looks surprised as my words sink in. Eternity, together.
Reluctantly he agrees. “Yes, I never thought of it that way. I still have so
much to learn about what ‘forever’ really means. And I can’t blame him for
wanting to be with you,” he