Chapter 25

This time the jolt of jealousy came through the Bond. It was just a split second before Vincent was able to clamp down on his feelings, but it was there nonetheless. Once again, it wasn't jealousy in thinking that Catherine would betray him, but rather that Elliot had the confidence to ask for what he wanted in such bold way.

Catherine stood there staring at Elliot and actually felt sorry for him. He might think that he loved her, but he would never really understand the full commitment to another that she and Vincent had. Sadly shaking her head she answered, "Elliot, if you need payment, I'll gladly write you a check; I can even date it for before my abduction if you think that might be a problem, but in the meantime there's someone I think you should meet."

She felt Vincent's start of surprise. When Elliot had let meeting him go with only a reference of 'someday', he figured that was that. But now for some reason Catherine thought it was the time.

"He's here? He's been here all along?" Elliot questioned, suspiciously looking around the small room for somewhere that someone might be hiding. Not seeing an obvious place or the person Cathy was talking about, Elliot turned back to face her.

"Vincent has excellent hearing and remained close in case there was any trouble, or if you had been followed," she replied. Looking past him, she said, "Vincent, will you come out?"

It was broad daylight, no shadows at all to hide in, so there didn't seem to be much point in having his hood pulled up since it wouldn't be able to hide his face in any case. He stepped boldly into the room only to find Elliot's back was to the door.

Spinning around as he sensed someone enter the room, Elliot staggered back a step at the sight he beheld. Before there was time for him to do more than that, Mr. Lee entered the room carrying a tray. He beamed at the newcomer to the room and said, "Ah good, Vincent! So there will be three for lunch? I will bring more food!" He quickly placed the tray on the table and left the room.

Elliot's eyes flew from Vincent to Cathy and back again. She could read what was in his mind. Disbelief. Not at what Vincent looked like, but at the fact that she had chosen Vincent over him. "This is Vincent?"

"Yes. Elliot Burch, I'd like you to meet Vincent Wells. He helped me get your father out of the hospital and covered our escape into the tunnels."

"Those sounds…this…you made them?"

Vincent just nodded and held out his fur-covered, clawed hand to Elliot. "It's good to finally meet you, Mr. Burch. My father and I owe our lives to you for the materials you gave Catherine."

"I don't understand…"

Catherine answered, "There was a cave in. Vincent and Father were trapped. The things on that list helped us to get them out."

"I see," Elliot said as Mr. Lee came back into the room with another tray of food and a second pot of tea."

"Please…all enjoy," he said and once again left them alone.

Looking from the food to Vincent, Elliot stated, "I don't think I'll stay to eat."

Vincent's head bowed and his hair fell forward hiding the expression on his face, but Catherine knew he was injured at this latest lack of acceptance from the world Above. "Please stay, Elliot. Mr. Lee went to all this work and it is the least we can offer you for the work you did on the book."

Elliot's gaze had still not moved from Vincent, and he asked, "You heard me ask her for a kiss, didn't you?"

His head came up and two pairs of male eyes locked. "I did," was all Vincent said.

"Don't you hate me for that?"

"No. I understand what it is to love Catherine. I know the agony of loss you must be feeling. I felt that too when she told me she was going to marry you to stop your tower from being built."

"Stop the tower…that was the only reason you agreed to marry me?"

"Only in the fact that I would be leaving behind the man that I loved with all my heart, Elliot."

"I see." This time it was Elliot Burch that hung his head. He knew when he'd been defeated and it was this tiny woman with a heart bigger than any he'd ever known, that had brought about his downfall. She had been willing to sacrifice the man that she loved in order to marry him and stop his tower. He in return, couldn't give up building the tower to have the woman he claimed to have loved.

To be continued….