“What were you doing in there?” she asked sharply.
“Looking for the bathroom,” Fiona answered. “It’s not there.” Making a wry face, she walked off with Nic.
As they slid into the car, Fiona broke the silence.
“What happened in there? You don’t look happy.”
“Let’s wait until we get home to discuss it,” Nic grumbled. He really didn’t want to talk about it. At all.
“That bad, huh?” Fiona folded her arms.
Nic was silent.
Once through the front door, Fiona rounded on him.
“Okay, we’re home. Spill it.” Her hands were on her hips, and he could tell she was mad.
Cho looked up from his branch and watched.
“Look, Fiona. They didn’t have a problem with you. That’s the good news.” He knew that wouldn’t stop her; she’d just keep going, right where he didn’t want to go.
“Well, I’ll be sure to thank them for allowing me to breathe,” Fiona said sarcastically. “And the bad news?”
“I have orders to kill Ivan and Annie, and an orb to help me find them.” He held it out for her to see.
“You’re not going to do it, are you?” Fiona’s eyebrows rose in question.
“Fiona.” He swiped his hand through his hair. “This is my job. I get paid to do what they tell me.”
“Even when you know it’s wrong?” she countered.
“I don’t make those decisions.” Nic sat down on the couch.
“You know as well as I do someone is using that group to get rid of Ivan and Annie!” Fiona said adamantly. “It’s wrong and you know it.”
“Fiona, give me a break. I’ve never been in this position before. I’ve never met or spoken to a vampire, other than to say ‘good-bye and good riddance.’ Forget about actually establishing some sort of a bond or relationship.”
“Can you kill a friend? Because that’s what you’d be doing.” Fiona’s eyes were fierce.
Nic sat back and hit his fist on the arm of the couch. “Fuck! I gave my oath to follow the Council’s orders. To kill vampires. There was nothing in the oath about ‘sort-of friends’ or ‘kind of know.’ This is new ground for me, and it feels like quicksand. I’m going to have to give this some thought.”
“You need to do it soon.” Fiona sat down next to him.
“Just give me tonight to think this over,” Nic sighed.
“Fine. Just tell me your decision in the morning.”
“Look, in this situation, in my job, my decision is final. You understand that, right? We can’t have a difference of opinion come between us, and I can’t have you second-guessing every move I make. I’m the one in control. I’m the boss.” Nic looked at her from under his dark lashes.
“I understand. You’re the boss. About
your
work.” Fiona nodded. ”You’re a good man. You’ll see reason and do the right thing.” She changed the subject. “Did they really say it was okay if I worked with you?”
“Yeah. They asked if you were pretty.” Nic smiled and reached up to brush a strand of dark hair from her face.
“What did you tell them?”
“That I thought you were beautiful.”
“That was sweet.” She slid over and snuggled against him.
“What do you want to do tonight?” he asked as he brought her hand to his lips.
“Do I get a say?”
“Don’t be a bitch,” Nic warned her.
“Can I be your bitch in bed?” Fiona looked at him, lowering her head and letting her long hair fall over her face. With a slow toss of her head, her hair flew back to reveal a wicked smile.
“Oh, darlin’, in bed, on the floor, in the shower, on the dining table…” Nic pulled her to him and rained kisses on her face, shoulders, arms, and even the tips of her fingers.
“Let’s eat first. We’ll need our strength for tonight,” Fiona murmured between kisses.
“How about seafood?” Nic suggested.
“Sure, I like fish and shrimp.” She kissed him, her tongue slipping between his lips to taste him.
“I better order a dozen oysters.” Nic grinned.
“Make it two dozen.” Fiona gave him a final kiss and stood.
“Cho, are you coming?”
“No, I don’t like seafood.”
“Can I fix you something before we go?”
“Sure, Fiona.”
She went to the kitchen and began to prepare something for Cho to eat.
Nic sat on the couch, his eyes closed to think about his dilemma. Already, he knew it would be a real bastard to figure out.
— • —
“I’m going out for a while. I’ll be back soon,” Ivan said as he headed for the door.
“Can’t I come?” Annie sat on the couch and looked expectantly at him.
“No, there’s some business I have to take care of, baby.” Ivan smiled and headed up the stairs.
Annie sat back, turned on the TV, and flicked through the channels before finally settling on a Hallmark family movie. She pulled a pillow to her chest and sat back to watch.
— • —
Ivan stood in the dark alley and watched the whore as she approached him. He was starving. If Annie knew what he was going to do, she’d be pissed.
“Hey, baby, you lookin’ for some fun?” The whore stepped up to him. He could see the dark circles under her eyes, the wrinkles, and paleness of her skin. She looked ten years older than she probably was. “Twenty bucks gets you anything.”
And I think
I’m
damned.
She was a crack whore, asking just enough for her next rock of coke, and then she’d be right back on the street looking for the next john and her next high.
“Yeah, been waiting for you.” He took her arm and gave her the twenty, leading her to the van. “Get in, we’ll do it here.”
She stuffed the money in her bra, climbed in the back with his assistance, and he closed the door.
“What you want? A fuck?” She smiled at him. Her teeth looked bad.
The thought of putting his cock in anyone but Annie sickened him, and he shook his head.
“No, just a suck.” His amber eyes glowed in the dark.
She nodded and crawled toward him on the mattress. Pulling her to him, Ivan twisted her around, her back to his chest, and covered her mouth with his hand. He nuzzled her neck, found his spot, and bit.
The woman’s blood pounded into his mouth, and he feasted, drinking it down, letting it fill him up. He focused on her heartbeat as he drained her.
Gradually, it slowed and the woman became limp in his arms. Soon, she would be drained of life, and as the bloodlust welled up in him, he wanted all of it.
Damn. I promised Annie.
Ivan groaned, pulled his teeth out of the whore, and lowered her to the mattress. He licked his lips to capture the last drops of blood. They really did all taste the same. But he loved the rush, that mix of hunger and sex that felt so damn good.
Blood was his drug, and he was just as addicted to it as she was to crack.
Her eyelids fluttered, and she groaned.
“What happened?” She looked around.
“You passed out. Are you all right?”
“Yeah, I just feel really weak.”
“Here, let me help you.” Ivan helped her sit up, and he opened the door to the van.
“Come on.” He motioned for her to get out.
“Can I keep the money?” She was pathetic in her need for the fix.
“Sure.” Ivan helped her to the wall of the building, and she slid to the ground.
“I just need to rest here.” She leaned her head back and passed out.
Ivan got in the van and drove off. What he’d taken from her wasn’t enough. He needed one more, and then he had to a stop to make before he went home to Annie.
— • —
Annie looked at the clock on the wall and made a face. Damn him, he said he’d be back. What the hell was he doing? Then she knew. He was feeding, and he didn’t want her to know because he knew she’d be mad.
She stood up and paced angrily. He was out there killing someone right now. She’d told him she wanted that to stop. She wanted him to change, to be better.
“Was I asking too much?” she said aloud. Taking a breath, she let it out and slumped onto the sofa.
“Maybe I am.” Annie chewed on her thumb. He’d been the way he was for over four hundred years. Now she waltzes in and tells him the rules have changed. Could she blame him for sneaking out to feed?
But she had asked him to do it for her. And he said he would. Crossing her arms, Annie pouted. She was hurt and angry.
Hearing his key in the lock, she tensed as the door opened and she turned to face him. From the first look at him, she could tell that he’d fed. His color was better, and he looked vibrant, alive, and she moaned…so damn good.
Ivan stood in front of her, his hands behind his back, and watched her face.
“Hi, baby,” he offered and looked at his feet.
“Ivan. You’ve been out feeding,” she accused.
“Well, yeah. I had to do it. With all the blood I lost, I was very weak. And I’m going to need my strength soon. We need to be prepared in case there’s trouble.” His gaze searched hers. He was right and she knew it.
“Okay.” She let out her breath. “Is she dead?” Her gaze bored into him, demanding the truth.
“No, I stopped. I had to find two. I left them weak but still alive.”
“Did you fuck them?” Annie’s voice trembled, along with her bottom lip, scared to know the answer because she didn’t know what she’d do if he had.
“No. I couldn’t, baby. I couldn’t be with anyone but you.” He smiled and shrugged.
Annie’s nostrils flared. A vampire’s sense of smell was almost as good as a dog’s. “What’s that smell? Some of her cheap perfume?” she snapped.
“No, it isn’t her.” He took a step forward. “I brought you something.”
“What?” Annie’s anger changed to surprise. “You brought something for me?”
Ivan pulled the bouquet of red roses from behind his back and held them out for her.
“You said you liked flowers. They’re for your vase.”
“Oh, Ivan, they’re beautiful! I love them!” She rushed to him and wrapped her arms around him, burying her head against his broad chest. He’d remembered. It was so sweet.
Pulling away, she took the roses and began to place them in the crystal vase.
•
Ivan sat on the couch and watched Annie happily arranging the flowers. He loved her, he knew that, and he wondered how he’d ever be able to let her go.
She’d find someone else eventually; he was sure of it. Some vampire younger than he was, someone more like her. As soon as he trained her to be on her own, he’d have to let her go. When that happened and she left him, he’d come back and find Nic and his sword.
Challenge him to a duel, like in the old days. Nic was worthy. Ivan thought he could give Nic a run for his money, knowing that in the end, Nic’s skill with the great broadsword would win.
Yeah, that’s what he’d do. To live on without Annie would be unbearable. Utter damnation.
Annie turned to him and caught the faraway expression on his face.
“What’s up, baby? You look funny.”
“Just thinking. We need to get out of this town. Let’s pack up tonight and leave first thing tomorrow evening.”
Annie sat next to him on the couch and nestled under his arm. They held each other for a long time.
“I’m so sorry, Ivan.”
“For what?”
“For losing your place here and forcing you to go against the Board to save my sister. For everything.” Annie looked at her hands in her lap.
“Nothing to be sorry for, baby. I made my choice. You didn’t force me. Besides, I was getting too comfortable, too complacent.”
“You had a nice life, and I ruined that for you.”
Ivan turned to Annie, put his hand under her chin, and tilted her head up to look into her eyes. “You want the truth? Before you walked into my life, I wanted to die. You gave me a reason to keep going. You gave me a new life, a better life.” He kissed her and melted into her as she pulled him down. Damn, he loved just kissing her, she was so sweet-tasting, but they had to get going if they were going to leave by tomorrow.
He broke the embrace. “Let’s get started. There are some boxes in the storage room. We’ll use them. What we can’t pack, like the furniture, we leave.”
“I assume we’re taking the TV?” She laughed at him.
“Of course.” Ivan made a face at her as if she were crazy to suggest it wasn’t coming with them.
“After we pack, can we make love? Right before dawn. I want to fall asleep in your arms.” Annie went to Ivan and kissed him softly.
“Absolutely, baby. I want you right now, but let’s get busy packing, or else we won’t get anything done.” He swatted her on her bottom, and she went off to get the boxes.
Ivan stood in the middle of his lair and looked around. Of all his places, it had been his favorite. Maybe because he’d worked so hard to get this territory, it had meant a little more than the others.
Heading to the computer, he sat down and pulled up all his accounts to check if they needed to be moved or transferred. His investments could stay at the brokerage firm; they were national. However, his local bank accounts he wasn’t so sure about. He wrote a quick letter to his lawyer, amending his directives.
No matter where he and Annie landed, he’d make sure they would land on their feet. And that Annie would be taken care of. No matter what.
When Fiona woke in the morning, Nic was gone. Sometime during the night, he’d let go of her and gotten out of bed. She stretched a leg to his side. Cold sheets. Sighing, she rolled over and stretched. The clock said six forty-five. The sun must have been up mere minutes.
She sat up, ran her hand through her hair, got out of bed, and padded to the bathroom. No sign of Nic.
“Cho, where’s Nic?”
“Outside, pacing and swinging his sword.”
“How long has he been out there?”
“I don’t know, hours maybe.”
“Does he do this often?”
“No. Only when something is bothering him.”
“It’s Ivan and Annie.”
“Nice couple. For vampires.”
“He’s in a rough place.”
“Yeah.”
“I wish I could help him.”