Courted by the Vampire (17 page)

“You are welcome to stay here for as long as you need.”

“The Immortals are a very sneaky bunch.” She squared her shoulders. “As much as I feel compelled to save Edwin, I know my destiny is waiting as well. I want to see how far I can go.”

“Ah.” Her smile was fleeting. “You did die back there. Andre tapped into
your mind and drained your life force to the point that your body lost contact with your brain functions. You simply had a stroke and couldn’t recover from it.”

Hannah clutched Cessily’s crystal. Its ragged edges bored into
her palm. “If I return, will the future you’ve shown me change? Who’s to say I won’t die later down the line? Who’s to say Andre won’t pull the same stunt two days from now?” Her newfound confidence shook.
It doesn’t matter whether I stay here, move on to the next plane, or go back, the outcome will be the same – Edwin will be damned.

Danu’s lips formed a moue of irritation. “The Universe is a fickle thing.
You’re right when you say you could fall victim to the same sort of thing again. I know you better than perhaps you know yourself. You need Edwin as much as he needs you. Let him help you with your Gift. Let him weave his destiny with yours. Let him allow you to be the Enhancer you are supposed to become.” Danu lounged on her chaise, a silver ankle bracelet chiming as she moved. “Or I could show you what your future holds from this point if you choose to move forward. Fate has some wonderful things in store for you.”

Exhausted, Hannah rubbed her eyes. “As tempting as that offer is, Danu,
it wouldn’t matter at this point if I won the lottery. If Edwin becomes a vamp condemned to eternal damnation, nothing in my life will make a difference. My destiny will remain unfulfilled. I suspect he is part of it.” She stood in the most beautiful, tranquil place she’d ever seen and yet she could no longer find any comfort here, no peace.

“Your decision is final?”

She nodded. The fear restricting her chest lessened only slightly. “I have to.” Hannah took one last longing glance at the peaceful reflecting pool and the brilliant emerald grass. She sighed with regret mingled with anticipation. “I have to return. For him. For me.”

“Know this. I will grant you this second chance at life. When I see you
next, I will be forced to make you choose your next plane of existence.” As she stood, the folds of her gown fell gracefully around her. “Remember to use the Mirror of Truth. It will show you how the world in general should be seen beneath the façade of life.” Her lavender eyes reflected sadness. “There will be much pain involved in this going back.”

“I don’t mind.” Hannah flashed a genuine smile. “At least I’ll know I’m
alive. I need to try and head off the stroke, and I don’t imagine that will be pleasant either.” She regarded Danu with a mixture of hope and sadness. “In the grand scheme of things, I think this is the best move for me.” Yet, it would be so easy to just give in and start life over.

Danu laid a gentle hand on
her arm. “Trust in Edwin. He can help. Are you ready?”

She nodded. “Thank you.”

“You are very welcome. Goodbye, Hannah Weybourne. Good luck.” The Earth Mother snapped her fingers.

The world Hannah knew vanished into a swirl of shimmering gold leaves.

*****

Ripples of pleasure coursed through
her body as Edwin kissed her. The silken touch of his fingers on her skin sent her nerve endings into a tailspin.

She became still in his embrace, confused as to where she was in the timeline.
Danu must have sent me back to the moment before Andre invaded my mind.

Hannah’s heart raced with fear, and she thrust the prickles of pleasure
away. She clutched Edwin’s face between her palms, forcing him to look into her eyes. “Please listen to me. I don’t have much time, but I’ll explain everything later. In about two minutes, my mind will be taken over by Andre, I don’t know how or why. If that happens, I’ll die, and unspeakable things will happen to you. You must help me.”

“Surely that cannot
happen.” He attempted to kiss her, but she moved a hand to his lips.

She held his gaze. “Once he gets into my mind, I’ll have a stroke that will
be fatal. I need a buffer to help me keep him out. There’s no time to explain how I know this will happen.” Tears slipped down her cheeks at her inability to make him understand the enormity of the problem. Already, the first tentative probes of her consciousness invaded. Only seconds now. “Edwin, please.”

His sense of valor and dedication appare
ntly kicked in. “Quickly, strengthen your guards and concentrate only on my voice.”

She did as he asked, tried to relax her body. Edwin gently pushed his way
into her mind, past her mental shields. Deep into the hidden recesses of her thoughts, his warmth was comforting.

He is here,
spatzi
, I can sense him. He waits to see if you are strong enough to resist. I need you to concentrate fully on expelling him. Think of nothing else, do nothing else. You must be strong.

Hannah swallowed her fear. The edges of her mind sparkled.
The dark unwanted presence, as irritating as lint in her eye pushed in.
He’s too strong, I’m being repelled…

Do not give up! Push back. Empty your mind of everything but my voice.

Careful to think of nothing, she called up an image of the corridors of the Earth Mother’s residence, the long, unending halls of unrelieved white. The absence of color, devoid of life, devoid of death, just vacant stretches of empty hallways. Edwin moved about her mind and his gentle warmth comforted her. Vivid splashes of gold danced across her vision when he smiled.

It is working
. He has encountered our resistance. Now he waits, hoping you will give up. I will stay with you as long as it takes.

Deep blackness welled into her mind to spread across her consciousness
like spilled ink. It engulfed the golden splotches, encroached on the great white spaces she’d erected. Her body trembled with terror as she recognized Andre’s signature. Little trickles of pain leaked into her brain, spreading out, branching through her mind like spiny thickets until her head pounded.
I can’t concentrate, Edwin, I can’t hold…

Do not give in to him! He looks for weakness. Do not give him the satisfaction of
gaining control.
He gripped her hands.

She forced herself to calm down,
panted with the effort not to give in and end the unrelenting pain. Brilliant sapphire blue poured into her mind, a soothing, peaceful color. Edwin fought with her. Happiness, in the form of a tiny bit of fuchsia, appeared at the edges of her mind’s eye. She’d never seen her own feelings as colors before. Hannah smiled. The vivid pink hue widened its surface space to blend with the blue to create a rich deep purple.

You are doing it
! At the risk of sounding like Peter Pan, think happy thoughts. Andre is wavering.

How can you know of him but not of famous science fiction movies from the ‘70s?
The abstract part of her brain laughed at his attempt at humor. She didn’t have time for that now.
We’re fighting him together, Edwin. I told you we’re partners.

She remembered how wonderful the aromatherapy bath was, how she
could make him laugh even when he didn’t want to. She thought about the endearing way his eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled. Splotches of purple spread throughout her mind to collide with Andre’s blackness. It surged through, fighting it back. It overtook the darkness until finally there was no more room for anything else but the dazzling purple happiness of her thoughts.

Well done, Hannah. I do not detect him any longer, but I will stand guard for a
few moments to be sure.

“Thank you.” For the moment, at least, she was alive, and Edwin was safe.

Exhausted by her mental exertion, she drifted into a dreamless sleep, content with the knowledge he was her telepathic silent sentinel.

Chapter Thirteen

“How are you feeling,
spatzi
?” Hannah stretched and opened her eyes. A jolt of pleasure stabbed through him as he gazed into the green depths. “Have you lost the will to complain?”

A smile parted her lips. “I feel extremely well, as if I’d been away on a
vacation of sorts and had days of rejuvenating sleep.” She touched his cheek. “It’s good to be back.”

Edwin shifted positions to kneel before her. Relief washed over him like a
gentle summer rain. “I thought I lost you. You were out for close to sixteen hours.” He brought her hand to his lips, kissing her fingers. “It now nears half past ten in the evening. I remained in your mind for a good portion of that time. Andre did not come back.”

With a deep breath, she maneuvered into a sitting position. “Thank you
for saving my life. I don’t know what else to say that would even come close to my gratitude.” She glanced up, apparently distracted.

He
followed her gaze. Stars twinkled overhead in the soft velvety darkness. “Did you really think I could just let you die without a fight?” He focused on her inviting curves. “I have much of my time invested in you. Besides, there is unfinished business between us.”

A deep blush stained her cheeks. “But I thought my mind collapse was
caused by our, uh, when we…” She stumbled to an embarrassed halt as he pulled her into a kneeling position. “I mean, that’s what we were engaged in when I was attacked the first time.”

He tapped into her mind. Tightly packed swirls of tan and gray flickered
through her consciousness. She was nervous. That knowledge brought with it unaccustomed laughter. For all her heated glances and subtle hints at intimacy, Hannah felt uncomfortable. “The exchange of physical affection between us would not have called Andre into your mind. It just happened at a very inopportune time when you were otherwise occupied. As you become more confident with your ability, you can leave the mental shields in place even as you do other things.” He grabbed her hand and stood, stooping slightly, bringing her with him. “I want to show you something.” He tugged her outside.

Her steps faltered.
“What’s this?”

Spread on a clear patch of ground near the entrance of the tree was a
snowy white blanket. A pile of fruit rested in the middle with a couple of water bottles nearby.

Her eyes registered confusion first then delight.
“What…?”

“I am inviting you to dinner.” The corners of his mouth lifted in a tiny
smile. Uncertainty clenched cold fingers around his heart.
What if she refuses?
“I realize we are temporarily waylaid in the forest but while you were recuperating, I found the fruit and water in your bag. I hope you do not mind.” He folded himself onto the blanket, pulling her down beside him.

“I brought the food for the both of us.”
She scrubbed at the moisture on her cheeks. “This is very nice. Thank you.”

Her happiness radiated into his mind as the palest lavender. “The blanket
is from Horace’s camp. I did not think he would miss it.” He peeled an orange then handed her the segments, one at a time. “I had a chance to do some exploring while you were asleep. I tried to relocate Horace, but they have moved on.” He swallowed hard then leaned close to lick a drop of juice from her chin.

“Thanks. Where are we?”

He held the flood of desire building within him in check. He did not wish to frighten her away. “Deep in the forest, miles from where Horace’s camp was. It will take one day, two at the most, to return to the lakeshore.”

Hannah shook her head. “I don’t want to return to the lakeshore. We need
to locate someone named Corinne the Wise.” She wiped her fingers on her jeans, leaving wet streaks behind. “Apparently, she’ll know where Duncan is being held. I need to tell you…”

He cocked his head to one side, but held her gaze.
What is it? You wish to say more but are unsure of yourself.

Emotions flitted across her face like a slide show
—incredulity, doubt, resolution. And finally love. She blinked.
How can this be?

These things happen.
He grinned and peeled another piece of fruit. He had been in her mind for many hours, and had seen the emotions she just now discovered.

“No.” She shook her head more vehemently.
It’s too soon. I’ve only known you for a week.

Yes, but we have been in each other’s company all day and all night for each of
those days. It is enough time for such feelings to grow.
He chewed on an orange segment, content to let her digest the revelation. She felt love for him.

The knowledge made his chest tighten with strong emotion. Warmth
filled his being at the thought of returning that feeling but he also knew it would be dangerous to get involved, both physically and emotionally. It could harm them both. It could compromise their mission. He glanced at her, and his heart constricted. Perhaps feeling such a thing for another person was Nature’s way of letting a human know they were alive, needed. Loved.

He did not pursue the issue. In time, he would sort it out for himself. For
now, it was enough he knew what she felt. Edwin gathered the remaining orange peel into a tidy pile. “Tell me about the Goddess of the Earth. You have a rather vivid memory of her. I am curious to know when you met her.” He sliced an apple with his knife then handed a few pieces to her. The mere brush of her fingers against his caused tremors of need to dance through his nerve endings.

“To put it bluntly, I died. When I asked for your help, it was because I got
a second chance at life. Andre had controlled my mind and overloaded my brain functions until I had a stroke.” She took a deep, shuddering breath, and then continued. “When I left this life, I joined the Earth Mother. Did you know she lives in a sort of nether world? It’s sort of a resting place between lives. She gave me the choice to either move on or return to this life.”

“Obviously, you chose to return. My question is why.” He popped a piece
of fruit into his mouth, savoring the sweet crunch. “I know you did not come back because you enjoy spending so much time in the forest.” His voice was quiet, curious, but polite. He would not hurry the story along.

She made a strangled sound in her throat. “No, I don’t like being out here
very much. I’ve never been a camper. My idea of enjoying nature is through an air-conditioned window.” Nervous laughter escaped, and she stood, only wobbling a bit.

“Why did you come back,
spatzi
?” Edwin rose to stand behind her, his lips to her ear. “Why? You could have had a better life, a less complicated life.” He needed to hear the explanation in her own words.

“Would I like a less complicated life? Not really. I’ve gotten used to
the problems of this one. I don’t want to have to re-learn a new set.”

“Hannah.”

“Okay.” She spun around to face him. “I came back to save your life. Danu showed me what would happen to you if I wasn’t around, constantly badgering you every day. She showed me you would have forfeited your life and allowed your vampire genes to take over. You would have become a monster, the very thing you’re fighting so hard against.”

“I would have resisted as long as I could.” He gripped her waist, his gaze
on her perfect lips. “I have been told I am quite stubborn.”

Her laugh sounded forced. “I refuse to give up on you. Whether you want
to believe it or not, you’re a good person. Besides, we have a job to finish, unless you want Andre to take over the Eight Realms and continue to kidnap your friends?”
Whatever the Eight Realms are.

It is a long explanation. I will tell you another time.
The warmth from earlier erupted into flames of desire the longer he touched her. “You are right, Andre needs to be stopped.” He crushed her in his arms, holding her close. “Thank you for believing in me. You will never know how much I appreciate that. My grandfather would be so proud.”

She sighed into his shoulder. “You still need to reveal what that
grandfather of yours told you about me.”

Edwin pressed his lips
to hers with gentle care. “That story will wait for another time as well. Tonight, I have plans of a different sort.” He released her to grab the extra fruit and the blanket, and then he tugged her into the tree. He barely had time to situate the brush and twigs across the “door” before she threw herself into his arms. Bemused, he allowed her to extricate him from his vest and tunic. His earlier assessments of her were wrong. Hannah hid a fierce side of her personality and it fascinated him.

“Geez, Edwin, if I knew how great you looked without a shirt, I would
have made up some reason for you to strip earlier.” She ran her hands over his chest, tangled her fingers in the coarse black hair that peppered his skin.

You’re the hottest man I’ve seen
outside of Hollywood, but at least I get to touch you.

He chuckled. She would never curb her compulsion to blurt out her
thoughts. “It is just a chest. Every man has one.” He downplayed her comment, but he let her look for as long as she wanted. It gave him great pleasure to do so. When she walked her fingers down his torso to play with the waistband of his pants, his benevolence snapped. “Patience,
spatzi
. Lovemaking is an art.”

A petulant frown marred her expression. “You know how I hate going
slow.”

He untied the cord at her waist then drew the dress over her head, letting
it fall to the ground in a heap. “There are certain circumstances where instant gratification is not a desirable trait.”

Heat infused his bones when she freed him from the loose drawstring
pants. She placed a kiss on his hip. He swallowed a groan. His muscles tightened when she caressed his thighs with the briefest of touches. Edwin attempted to regulate his breathing, but he was lost. He brushed his fingers over her cheeks, but she batted him away. When she caressed his buttocks, all the while pressing light kisses into his abdomen, he groaned aloud, only because she chose to giggle when his erection strained against his jockey shorts.

“I warned you two
days ago not to play with fire.” He pulled her into a standing position, desperate to possess her lips.

She smiled against his mouth. “In this case I don’t mind being burned.”
She traced his lips with her tongue and the rest of the wall that kept his feelings at bay cracked. “Show me why the Forest Witch gets so hot and bothered when she sees you.” She rubbed her hips against his. “Show me that man.”

“You will not be sorry.” He chuckled as he knocked her legs out from
under her, cushioning her fall to the ground with his arms.

“That
’s a good start, bounty hunter.”

“This is only the beginning
.” He leaned away from her in order to slip out of the binding jockeys. Two seconds later, he joined her on the blanket, his mouth dry in anticipation. “You have beautiful curves. Never feel inferior to other women. You have nothing to envy them for.” His hands moved on her body as if she was made from the most valuable silk and he could not get enough. He felt her shudder, and then he pressed his lips to her forehead. “You are quite bewitching.”

She arched her back
as he proceeded to cover every inch of her body with kisses. Gently, he slipped the sexy black panties from her hips, trailing kisses down her legs while he went. He fumbled with the hooks on her bra, but she brushed his fingers away to make short work of it herself.

“You’ll need to work on that skill.”

“I’ll show you skill, minx.” He closed his mouth on a hardened nipple, teasing it with his tongue. He grinned when her breath came in small pants.

“Edwin.” His name floated on a sigh.

He ignored her cry since he was nowhere near close to inviting her surrender. She clutched his shoulders when he teased her sensitive folds with his fingers. He wanted to give her the pleasure she gave him.

“Edwin, please.” She nipped at his chest, a finger tangled in the hair there.

He continued to tease her cleft, drawing out her very essence. The first tiny ripples of her bliss began as she tightened around his fingers. “Please what, Hannah? Please do this?” He kneaded her breasts, molding them to his palms. He wanted to own her body, to bring her to the brink of insanity with his lips.

She pressed herself into him. It was his turn to gasp as she stroked the
hard length of his shaft. She tormented and caressed, taunting with her fingers, warning him that she would merely share control. He swallowed, nearly at the brink, but he willed himself to wait. He claimed her lips, savoring the silky softness of her body as he deepened the kiss in an effort to taste all of her.

Orange clouds of her misgivings suddenly shot into his mind.
She pressed her palms against his chest.
What if we don’t fit together? What if you’re too big? What if I’m too small?