Crave the Night (41 page)

The wooden dagger wasn't good for much, not
unless she could stab it into the heart, but that was all she had.
There wasn't even a rusted pop can around that she could use as a
makeshift weapon, damn it.

Mary Beth swung toward her and Nicole kicked
out, but before she could do more, Dak engaged the vampire.

Nicole held out her right hand, closed her
eyes halfway, and imagined talons extending.

She squeaked when they shot
out.
Holy—

The vampire knocked Dak back a couple steps
and came at her. Nicole hacked out with the talons, but she was
incredibly awkward.

With a rumble low in her throat, Nicole
charged. She brandished the claws, but they seemed to have a mind
of their own, going different directions than her fingers were
telling them. To hell with it, she decided, and pulling them in,
she went in low.

Nicole's shoulder connected with Mary Beth's
midsection and she took her down to the ground.

She punched her until the vampire tossed her
off. Nicole rolled to her feet, but Dak was already there, taking
over where she'd left off.

She wanted to be the one to defeat the
vampire, but at least Mary Beth would die. At least Nicole's family
would be avenged even if it wasn't by her hand.

Dak raised his head, his breathing harsh.
"She's your kill."

Nicole met his gaze. He meant it. Dak was
standing down for her. He moved away.

Mary Beth surged to her feet and ran. Nicole
tackled her to the ground. The vampire writhed and cursed. A talon
caught Nicole's arm and she nearly dropped the wooden dagger.
Transferring the weapon to her right hand, Nicole swung it down in
one, smooth motion, driving it into the heart.

For a long moment, she remained kneeling on
the street next to the body. It was over. It was really over.
Slowly, she climbed to her feet and slid the dagger back in its
sheath. Looking into her mate's eyes, Nicole said, "Thanks."

"Do you have the peace you wanted?"

She took a long, hard look inside her heart.
"My family's still gone. I still miss them. I'll still live the
rest of my life without them." And she was still alone. Nicole
shrugged. "But I have something. I finally have justice."

"Then killing the vampire was worth it."

"Yes, it was."

Dak slung an arm around her shoulders and
tugged her against his side. "You're not alone, Nic—you have me.
You'll always have me." He pressed a kiss to the top of her head
and hugged her closer. "Let's take care of the vampire's body and
go home."

Nicole felt the emptiness of the condo as
soon as she stepped inside. Damn, Dak wasn't home yet.

She locked the door behind her, hung her
jacket in the closet, and shed her weapons. He worked less often
than she did, but his job was more dangerous and she worried about
him every assignment. It didn't help that he'd learned to block her
when he was hunting. He wouldn't drop the shield until after he
came down from the adrenaline.

"Stay safe," she whispered and turned on
more lights.

After four months of living with Dak, it
continued to take Nicole by surprise when she saw her things mixed
with his. Her pink lamp looked ridiculous next to his tan leather
sofas. His stone sculpture—a horse—seemed amused to be alongside
her egg-shaped, acrylic curio cabinet. A cabinet she'd filled with
things like a Rubik's Cube, sunglasses, and colorful miniature
furniture.

The miracle was that Dak thought her cheap
stuff looked fine with his elegant, expensive belongings. Nicole
knew better, but she kind of liked it, too.

Unable to settle while he was gone, she went
upstairs and changed into her pajamas. The drawstring pants rode
low, the spaghetti-strap tank fit close and bared her midriff, but
demons ran hot and she wouldn't be cold.

She was coming back down when the door
opened. Nicole froze on the spiral staircase and studied Dak. He
appeared weary and there was a definite pallor to his skin.

The urge to race down the stairs and demand
to know if he was okay slammed into her and Nicole fought it.
Instead, she concentrated on the fact he was alive, that he was
moving without noticeable pain as he put his jacket away and walked
into the living area.

With her self-command firmly in place,
Nicole started down again. Dak stopped near the foot and waited. He
reached for her as soon as she got to the bottom and she moved into
his embrace.

"Rough night?" she asked, stroking his
shoulders.

"There've been worse."

"And better, too?"

"Yeah." But he smiled slightly as he said it
and that allowed Nicole to relax. She went up on her toes to kiss
him and the rest of her tension seeped away. Her mate was home and
safe.

Dak broke the kiss and put her an arm's
length away. "You're okay?" he asked, checking her over.

That warm, mushy feeling swamped her again.
"I'm fine."

"Good." Dak hesitated. "Things were closer
tonight than I'm used to."

Her tension roared back and her fingers
tightened on his. She took a deep breath to beat off the panic.
"How close is closer than you're used to?"

"Not as bad as you're imagining. It got me
thinking, though, about what matters. What doesn't."

Wariness kept her tense. "What did you come
up with?"

"A couple things." Dak tugged her a step
closer before she locked her muscles. "The first thing I realized
was that I was damn glad you'd be here. This condo was just a place
to sleep before you moved in, now it's a home."

Nicole gaped at him. She couldn't help it.
This from the man who said he didn't want to be mated?

"I was wrong about that," Dak said. "Being
mated to you is the best thing that ever happened to me. That's the
other thing I realized. I love you, Nic."

He stopped blocking her, let her feel his
emotions. She got his fear about the battle he'd been in earlier
tonight. Nicole was tempted to find out what had happened, but Dak
was also scared about her reaction to what he was saying. That
amazed her. Didn't he already know how she felt about him?

But then she hadn't been aware his feelings
for her either. Maybe he'd been as afraid to probe that direction
as she'd been. "I love you, too," Nicole said, voice thick. "Always
and forever."

This time when he tugged her closer, Nicole
went.

"Always and forever," he promised. And then
with a grin, he asked, "Why the hell did you make me wait
twenty-nine years to find you?"

"You're lucky I didn't make you wait another
thousand."

Dak laughed, then went serious, leaned in,
and bit her shoulder. "Mine."

Nicole pushed his T-shirt collar aside and
bit him in return. She didn't get a chance to make her own verbal
claim. He bent down, swooped her over one shoulder, and headed up
the stairs.

"You're not going to do me on the kitchen
counter?"

"We'll save that for later." Dak put her
down on the bed and covered her with his body.

As she looked up into the red glow of his
eyes, Nicole ran her hand along the side of his face. She wasn't
lost or alone any longer. This was where she really, truly
belonged—with Dak.

###

Vampires, witches, and the Enlightenment.

Award-winning author, Michele Hauf,
introduces a new

story in her world of Beautiful
Creatures.

Available in print/digital format from most
online retailers.

For more information about the stories in
Michele's world visit:

MicheleHauf.com

blog.michelehauf.com

Clubscarlet.michelehauf.com

Twitter:
@michelehauf

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