Sweeter Than Wine (17 page)

she chuckled, “all the magic makes up for it. I mean, Atticus can do things…” Her eyes went misty as she trailed off.

“Yeah,” Christy agreed softly. “Sebastian is pretty amazing too. I never knew a man could care so much about my feelings, or my safety. He’s…”

“Hard to put into words, isn’t it?” Lissa smiled.

“I never expected to feel this way after the hell I went through with Jeff.”

“Oh, honey.” Lissa reached out to Christy. “I suspected something wasn’t right with your marriage, but you hid it so well. If I’d known what was really going on I’d have tried to do something.”

“I know.” Christy patted Lissa’s hand. “I didn’t want any of you to know what a fool I’d been.”

“You were never a fool, sweetie. Jeff was the fool, to squander the happiness you could have had. He’s an ass, Chris, and if Atticus hadn’t already made me promise not to track him down and give him a piece of my mind, I’d have had a posse over at your old 135

house while you were still recovering. As it is, I’m still tempted, but this connection with Atticus can be problematic when I want to do something behind his back. I mean, he
knows
every thought in my head.” She made an exaggerated face. “I can’t get away with anything anymore.”

Christy laughed, nodding. “It certainly takes some getting used to.” They compared notes on how to cope with their new mates for the next few minutes, enjoying the night and the companionship.

The men had been gone for two hours when out of the night a fiery ball of energy shattered the stillness, streaking through the air to land between the two women seated on the patio. Christy saw it coming and shoved Lissa out of the chair and onto the flagstones as she dove the other way. A split second later, a smoking crater was all that was left where the patio furniture had been.

“Get inside, Lis!” Christy yelled as she jumped behind the low stone wall of the patio. Lissa was nearer the door. Christy felt relief when Lissa ducked inside.

But whoever was lobbing fireballs at them was still out there. Allowing her senses to expand, Christy searched the night with her enhanced vision, hearing and olfactory senses. A movement behind the third pine tree on the right. She knew the magic user was there, but she wasn’t sure what she could do to distract him until the cavalry arrived. She knew without question that Sebastian was already on his way. He would’ve felt her terror, even over the miles that separated them, but neither wanted to distract the other with the effort of speech at the moment.

When no further fireballs were forthcoming, Christy gambled on engaging the stranger in conversation. It might help her keep track of him and perhaps she could learn something useful while she stalled for time.

“Who are you? What do you want?” she called into the woods.

Silence met her query.

“What’s with the fireballs? And who the hell are you?”

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A man stepped from behind the third tree, as she’d suspected. He had a dark complexion in the murky light, but she could see him clearly with her enhanced vision.

He wore a smug look on his face, his dark eyes eager.

“Don’t hide, little witch. I promise to make it painless if you give yourself up now.

Don’t make me come after you.”

“Sebastian, I hope you’re close. This guy means business.”

Atticus and Sebastian knew the instant their mates came under attack. Miles away, they shot to their feet, and headed outdoors.

“What’s wrong?” Hastings asked behind them, but neither of the vamps wasted any time on explanations. Matt knew what was going on. He explained to the rest.

“The women are under attack at Atticus’s place. I think our mage, Mario, just showed himself.”

“How do you know?” Marc demanded.

Matt shrugged, speaking quickly. “I’m connected—a little—to Sebastian and Christy. I heard her scream. I’m hearing what she’s telling Sebastian. A man came out of the trees and started lobbing fireballs at her and Lissa while they sat on the back patio at Atticus’s house.”

Marc nodded grimly and headed out the door, after his friends.

The vampires were nowhere in sight. They’d transformed and flown away at top speed for the vineyard. Behind him, Matt heard the rest of the group moving uneasily in their seats. He spared a moment to look back at them.

“I don’t know about you, but I’m going over there. We need to stop this asshole before he kills again.” Matt shed his clothes, shifted, and then bounded out the door after the vampires.

Cameron stood and rubbed his hands together. “I’m heading over there too.

Were
folk, I suggest you aid your brethren. My senses tell me we’ll be too late to capture Mario this night, but your skills might yet be needed.”

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Steel was fascinated to see all the shifters take off at high speed. There were a few raptors that simply flew out the door and a large number of wolves and big cats that loped off after Matt. Steel wasn’t sure what to do. He had no way of keeping up with the animals or vampires, but he wasn’t out of the fight. He caught Hastings’ eye before the man shifted.

“Tell me where. I’ll take a truck.”

“Go right out of the drive, then about ten miles to Mill Road. Go left and up the side of the mountain about halfway. You’ll see the vines. The house is set back in the middle of the fields. Take the gravel road on the left. It’s marked Private.”

“Got it. I’ll be there as soon as possible.”

Hastings nodded then shifted and flew out the door after his brethren.

A large hand settled on Steel’s shoulder. Turning swiftly, he saw it was Cameron.

“Mr. Steel, will you accompany me? I prefer not to travel magically unless I have no other choice. It attracts too much attention.”

Unsure exactly what the fey warrior meant, he nodded anyway. “I’ll drive.”

Energy sizzled along the edges of Christy’s vision. She rolled away as a ball of fire swept where she’d been not a moment before. Her arm was singed, but she couldn’t think about that now. If this man had his way, she’d be a lot more than just singed.

Rolling faster than a mortal could, she gambled and moved closer to the man. She had to jam him up. Running away would only give him a clearer shot at her. If she moved in close where he had no room to maneuver, perhaps she could save this situation after all. Or at least buy some time until Sebastian showed up.

She knew he was coming. She could feel him in her mind, silently advising and reassuring her even as he worried. He was flying but he nixed her idea about shifting shape to escape even before it had fully formed in her mind. She was too new to shapeshifting to depend on it in such a situation.

She rolled once more, a blast of fire making a crater where she’d just been. She used her forward momentum to rise not a foot away from the man. He gasped, shock and a bit 138

of panic showing on his face as he tried to back away. But there were trees at his back.

Big ones. Directly behind him.

“Now, what is your problem?” she demanded, angry now that this man would try to hurt her and Lissa. She’d had enough of men hurting her. She was done with that.

Forever.

He tried to throw a punch at her, but she threw up a block with her forearm, the way Hiro had taught her. She was a little shocked when she heard the bone of his arm snap.

His magical energy flew up into the trees, burning a path through the leaves, but it was otherwise harmless. The man screamed and cradled his arm. It was hanging at an awkward angle that made Christy’s stomach turn.

But she couldn’t let it distract her.

“Tell your maker. I’ll be back, witch. I’ll stake you all out for the sun.”

“I’d like to see you try, you bastard. I’m through taking this shit from anybody! I refuse to be anyone’s punching bag ever again!” Anger rose once more. She was shaking with it. All the recent turmoil in her life had finally come to a head. The incident with Jeff the night before had started something inside her. She wouldn’t be a victim again. Ever.

She moved forward, ready to trap the man, but he raised his good hand palm outward and she was just too distracted to duck. A pulse of power hit her, impacting against her whole body and sending her flying back. The side of the house stopped her cold. And very hard.

As she slid down the side of the house and onto the stone patio she saw the man turn and run into the woods, making his getaway. Christy thought about going after him, but she hurt too much to even get up. It was enough he’d left.

“Christina! Are you all right?”
Sebastian’s voice sounded through her mind.

“I think I’m okay. He only knocked the wind out of me.”

“Get into the house if you can.”

“I don’t think I can move right now, but I’ll grant you, it’s a good idea.”

“Oh, love, I’ll be there in a minute. Hang on.”

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“It’s okay, Sebastian. He’s gone. I broke his arm.”
She still felt a little sick at the thought, but perversely it also felt pretty good to know she’d been able to defend herself and inflict a little damage on someone hell bent on killing her.

“You did well, my love. I’m so proud of you, but this is all my fault. I should never
have left you alone.”

“Sebastian, don’t blame yourself. How could you have known this maniac would be
able to attack us at Lissa’s place? I mean, this vineyard is practically a fortress.”

“Still…”
Sebastian sounded agitated,
“…when it comes to your safety, I should
never have taken the chance. You are too important to me, my love. Without you…”

“I know.”
She lowered the feel of her voice, stroking him with her thoughts.
“I feel
the same way.”

A streak of fog shimmered in through the trees. Part of it went straight into the house through the open patio doors and another part congealed before her. A moment later, the mist became a man—her man. Sebastian knelt and lifted her into his arms. He wasted little time taking her into the house.

He laid her on the couch in a room with no windows at the center of the house.

Atticus and Lissa were there, but Christy couldn’t look away from Sebastian. His beloved face was wreathed in worry as he ran his hands over her limbs as if to reassure himself she was truly all right.

“Are you feeling any better?”

Christy nodded. “I’m okay. Give me a few minutes and I’ll be good as new.”

Unfortunately, she had experience with pain, though this time, her hurts felt like they were healing themselves as she sat there. Instead of the usual days it would have taken her to heal before, she could feel her body repairing itself at lightning speed. This ‘being a vampire’ stuff did seem to have its benefits. She cupped Sebastian’s cheek, looking into his eyes. “Really. I’m okay.”

He took her hand in his and raised it to his lips.

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“Christy,” Lissa came over to the side of the couch, “you were amazing! I watched the whole thing. I can’t believe the way you took on that man. Where’d you learn all that kung fu stuff?”

Christy smiled at Sebastian, squeezing his hand before looking over at her friend. “I told you, Lis, I’ve been studying with Sensei Hiro. And Sebastian taught me too. He’s a man of many talents.”

Lissa’s look was speculative. “I bet.”

Atticus came up behind his wife and drew her back into his arms. He placed a tender kiss on the top of her head.

“Thank you, Christy. Your brave actions saved both your lives this night. I am forever in your debt.”

Christy was taken aback. The ancient vampire meant every word. She could hear the ring of residual fear for his mate in his voice and feel the truth of his tone. The very idea floored her.

“Lissa is one of my best friends,” she said simply, unsure how to respond.

Atticus nodded, seemingly satisfied with her words, and drew back.

Just then, Marc showed his face in the door, a wolf howled in the distance and a hawk screamed overhead. Atticus patted his wife’s hand and headed outside to speak with Marc and meet the
were
.

Christy was feeling well enough to sit up. Sebastian made room, though he didn’t relinquish hold of her hand. They both needed the contact after the scare they’d just had.

“I’ve never been so frightened,” Lissa said, perching on the overstuffed arm of the couch. “Nothing like that’s ever happened to me before. I mean, there we were enjoying the evening air and suddenly some lunatic starts lobbing fireballs at us. I can’t believe how you stood up to that man, Chris. How did you know what to say? What to do?”

Christy grimaced. “I’ve faced a maniac before. I‘ve been thinking a lot about how I should have stood up to Jeff, but I never did. Not until—”

“Not until now, my love.” Sebastian squeezed her hand, encouraging her.

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An uncomfortable silence reigned for a moment before Lissa spoke again. “I’m so sorry, Chris. You can’t know how glad I am you’re away from that jerk. I never liked Jeff.”