Sundown & Serena (34 page)

I pushed him away gently. “Not now. I’m due
back soon, I’m helping Sar keep an eye on V.”

“Come on, Serena.”

“Why don’t you go with him?” a familiar cool
voice said in an unfamiliar dark tone. “He can’t seem to wait.”

I turned, and so did Nick. T walked up to us,
his steps so graceful he was almost gliding. “I’ll help Mom,” T
said in a noncommittal tone. “And the party will be over soon
anyway.”

Nick looked at me, then back at T. He was
clearly jealous by his scent, but it was also clear he had no idea
what to say, because T didn’t seem angry or jealous himself.

I smiled politely at T. “Thanks, but I should
go back.”

“Don’t bother.” T turned to Nick. “And you
should treat her better, jerk.” He walked off, both of us too
shocked to say anything.

“Well, he’s Sar’s son,” a melodious voice
intoned. Devlin came up to us, smiling, though his eyes were tinged
red. “You had to expect he was going to say something.”

He stopped before us. “I’d hoped to not have
to interfere,” he said, obviously irritated. “But I’ve heard enough
complaints about you that I have to address this tonight, even in
the midst of celebration.”

I felt my face flush red. “I’m sorry,
Devlin—”

“Not you,” Devlin said, his tone more
irritated. He turned to Nick. “You.” His eyes were completely red
now. “Lash has told me you’ve not been at your post, or you’ve been
late to it three times this past week. What’s the problem?”

“I was with Serena,” Nick said immediately.
“I hadn’t been with her or anyone for more than a month, and I lost
track of time.”

“That’s an adequate excuse for one time,”
Devlin growled. “But not for more than once. You’ve never before
had trouble leaving her after sex. Do you have anything else to say
in your defense?”

“No.” Nick swallowed. “Except I know I
deserve punishment, and I swear it won’t happen again.”

“You’re damn right it won’t,” Lash hissed
from behind Devlin. “Or you’ll be fired, Nick. And being as you
know the complete lay of Hayden’s inside, you know when I say
‘fired’ I mean ‘dead’.”

Lash stepped closer. “Come downstairs with me
now,” he said, baring his fangs. “And I’ll give you your
punishment. And you’re to be at the gatehouse at eight a.m.
tomorrow, unless you want that again twice after that shift
ends.”

Nick cast a glance at me, and then followed
Lash down the basement stairs.

I thought about asking Devlin for mercy for
him.
Don’t bother. He won’t be swayed.
Even Sar herself usually didn’t get anywhere with him.

“Rejoin the party,” Devlin ordered. “Lash has
plans for later tonight, so Nick’s beating won’t be long. But he
won’t be seeing you for a few days, probably.”

I hesitated a second, and then Devlin cut me
off, glaring down at me. Yet his voice when he spoke was more
resigned than angry. “It’s been a year and a half since you joined
my employ. But the work you do seems to have lost its excitement
for you.”

“May we walk for a few minutes where we won’t
be overheard, to discuss my future?” I asked, moving back toward
the door.

“Of course.” Devlin fell in step beside
me.

“I’m not unhappy,” I said, when we were out
of hearing of Devlin’s guests. “But no, it’s not something I want
to do the rest of my life, Devlin.”

“You have no special feelings for T, or for
Nick? You don’t love them?”

It hit me then, that my feelings had changed,
the shock of it bringing me to a sudden stop. “No,” I said. “I like
them both very much. I like spending time with them, being intimate
with them, more so than the others who see me. But I don’t love
Nick anymore. T... I might come to love him, if he decides he wants
something serious, but right now he’s acting distant. I’m not sure
why.”

Devlin looked surprised, but then he beamed.
“Good,” he purred. “I was worried you did love Nick. I like our
arrangement very much, Serena.” He took my hand, and kissed it.
“I’d let you be mate to one of the bears, if you wanted, or T, if
he asked for you. But from what I know of you, and them, it
wouldn’t be a good match if you stayed working for me.” He paused,
and then laughed out loud, his rich tone making me shiver. “But
then again, what do I know? Probably no one who knew me or Sar
years ago thought we’d end up Oathed to each other, or be happy
living together at Hayden.” He took my hand. “Come on, little
dove,” he said, moving away. “I can hear the New Year counting
down.”

I followed him, feeling happy and a little
excited about what this New Year would bring.

We arrived back at the party, with only
seconds to spare. “Go to him,” Devlin whispered, indicating T. My
handsome dhamphir was standing alone near the doorway, as if he
planned to make a hasty exit as soon as the clock struck midnight,
and everyone’s attention was on their date. “I should not be saying
this, as it’s not in my best interest. But I’m a romantic at
heart.”

I shook my head. “I told you he’s angry with
me.”

“He’s not, he’s jealous,” Devlin said
conspiratorially. “But he does care for you, Serena.” He embraced
me from behind, leaning in close. “He’s much like his father,
covering hurt with cold words. Don’t let him push you away.”

“He doesn’t like my blood,” I confided. “I
gave it to him one night, and he didn’t seem to enjoy it.”

“Wereblood isn’t a born appreciation for a
vampire, it’s an acquired taste,” Devlin interrupted with a
chuckle. “T is only a few years old in experience, though he looks
an adult. Remember that he’s not as mature as he looks, though
Danial instilled a good deal of responsibility into his son in the
short time he was a child.” He paused, then gave me a push in T’s
direction. “Go and try for the gold, Serena. T deserves happiness
and so do you.” He walked past T with a smile, hurrying to Sar’s
side as the clock struck midnight.

I went to T, clasping his hand in mine. He
turned to me, a scowl on his face. “Aren’t you busy?” he said
coolly.

“Only if you’re available for a kiss,” I said
lovingly, slipping my arms around his neck.

T held his cool expression for another
moment, then his face softened, as he hugged me, then planted a
kiss on my forehead. “Happy New Year.”

I took his face in my hands, then kissed him
for all I was worth, as sensuously as I dared. When we parted, we
were both breathing hard.

Devlin’s right. I deserve
to be happy.
“I want to be with you,” I said, throwing
caution to the wind. “If you don’t want my blood as part of the
deal, it’s okay. But I really like being with you, T.”

T let out a sigh of relief, then hugged me
hard. “I want to be with you too, Serena. The blood issue...if it
doesn’t bother you, it doesn’t bother me.”

I kissed his cheek. “Good. Do you want to
leave?”

“Not yet,” T said with a dazzling smile,
taking my hand. “We have some dancing to do, my sweet fox.”

“I like the sound of that,” I giggled,
following him to the dance floor.

“You know I’ve never heard you giggle
before,” T said with a happy smile. “I hope you’ll resolve to do
more giggling in the New Year.”

“I promise,” I teased. “If you’re around to
provoke me by calling me your sweet fox.”

He brought me in for a kiss. “I will be,” he
murmured lovingly. “I promise you, my sweet fox.”

THE END

About the
Author

Tara Fox Hall’s writing credits include
nonfiction, horror, suspense, action-adventure, erotica, and
contemporary and historical paranormal romance. She is the author
of the paranormal action-adventure
Lash
series and the
vampire romantic suspense
Promise Me
series. Tara divides
her free time unequally between writing novels and short stories,
chainsawing firewood, caring for stray animals, sewing cat and dog
beds for donation to animal shelters, and target practice.

www.tarafoxhall.com

Other works by the author with
Melange Books, LLC

Return To Me

Surrender to Me

The Origin of Fear
in
Spellbound 2011
Anthology

Night Music
in Midnight Thirsts II
Anthology

Partners
in Midnight Thirsts II
Anthology

Kink
in Wicked Christmas Wishes
Anthology

The Oath
in Wicked Christmas Wishes
Anthology

Bedtime Shadows
Anthology

Make Me Behave Anthology

Latham’s Landing, An
Anthology

The Oath

Her Frozen Heart,
in
Frozen Anthology

Night
Music
, a Novella

The Promise Me Series

Promise Me, Book 1

Broken Promise, Book 2

Taken in the Night, Book
3

Taken for his Own, Book
4

Promise Me Anthology, Book
4.5

Immortal Confessions, Book
5

Her Secret, Book 6

Point of No Return, Book
7

Lost Paradise, Book 8

Dark Solace, Book 9

Eye of the Storm, Book
10

Tempest of Vengeance, Book
11

Sundown & Serena, Book
12

Coming Soon

Hope’s Return—Promise Me Series,
Book 13

Also Available
From Melange Books

Promise Me
‘Promise Me' # 1

by Tara Fox Hall

When young widow Sarelle McGarran finds the
vampire Danial Racklan unconscious and hurt in her woods, intuitive
concern quickly becomes passionate love. Together Danial and Sar
work to overcome their own past heartbreaks, their vastly different
lifestyles, and Danial's relentless enemies. Yet Danial needs more;
an Oath of forever. But can Sar give Danial his greatest
desire?

Also Available
From Melange Books

Luna
The Luna Chronicle #1

by S. C. Dane

Beth was raised as a responsible member of
human society. Then she meets Alec, a mysterious stranger, who
knows by her scent that she is a rare Luna, the only being who can
ensure the future of his wolf-pack. When human beings injure Alec,
Beth retreats from the stagnant safety of her human world and
surrenders her fate to the wolf-man.

Beth's and Alec's love for one another
ignites the power of the Luna that courses through her veins, and
she must learn the laws of being wild wolf if she is to live with
Alec and his pack. But they are not the only wolf-people who covet
the blood of Luna, and she must learn to harness the consuming
power of her Luna and use it to safeguard her new family, even if
it means giving up the very thing she was born to protect. Set in
the countryside of Maine, this novel unfolds as Beth surrenders her
body to its absolute essence while she is protected by the loyal
wolves she is destined to love. But their world is not only
precious, it is also perilous, and her freshened passion for life
just may be the catalyst for her death.