Page 55

S aintcrow woke earlier than usual, a sense of foreboding hanging over his head.

Tonight was the night. As a vampire, he had rarely felt fear for his own life, but he had to admit he was apprehensive about putting his future in Izabela’s hands.

She was a hell of a talented witch, but as Luca’s spell had proven, witchcraft didn’t always go as planned.

He stared up at the ceiling. He could hear Kadie moving around upstairs. She was fixing lunch, judging by the smell of tuna, mayonnaise, and onions. Mortal food. If all went well, that’s what he would be dining on all too soon.

Muttering an oath, he headed for the shower.

Kadie hummed softly as she dried the last of her dishes and put them away. She could have loaded them into the dishwasher, but she used so few dishes it just seemed easier to wash them by hand.

She smiled when she felt Rylan’s presence. He walked so quietly, she rarely heard his footsteps, but she always knew when he was near. Wiping her hands, she turned to face him.

“Tonight’s the day!” she said, a smile in her voice. “I just know it’s going to work.”

He couldn’t think of anything to say, so he took her in his arms and kissed her.

An indrawn breath carried the tantalizing scent of her blood, even more tempting than usual since he hadn’t fed in a week.

If Izabela’s enchantment worked, he thought glumly, he would never have the pleasure of tasting it again.

Never again experience what Kadie felt as they made love, never be able to read her thoughts.

He would miss always knowing where she was.

He would miss his blood bond with Kincaid and the others.

Kadie , he reminded himself . He was doing this for Kadie.

“What would you like to do today, sweetheart?” he asked.

“I don’t know. What do you want to do?”

“Make love to you.”

“Now?”

“Right now.” He forced a smile. “We need to practice our baby-making, remember?”

“Of course! How could I have forgotten?”

Kadie let out a squeal of surprise as he swept her into his arms and transported them to his lair.

She didn’t know what she had expected, but he was remarkably tender as he caressed her.

He aroused her over and over again, taking her to the heights of ecstasy, then drawing back to start all over again.

He caressed her slowly, his eyes moving over every inch of her, as if to memorize what he saw.

And then, abruptly, his tenderness was gone, his kisses grew more intense.

Her name was a groan on his lips when he rose over her, his eyes blazing.

Whispering, “I love you,” he buried himself deep within her.

Saintcrow brushed a wisp of silky-soft hair from Kadie’s cheek. She had dozed off after he made love to her the second time. It had taken all his self-control not to bite her, to taste her sweetness on his tongue one last time.

What if her feelings for him changed when he was human? She had never known him as a mortal man.

He told himself he was worrying for nothing.

He didn’t love her less because she was no longer a vampire.

But it wasn’t the same thing. Even as a vampire, Kadie had been Kadie.

It hadn’t changed her. He had been a vampire for almost a thousand years.

It was who and what he was. His whole identity was wrapped up in that single word.

Vampire. How could he go back to being mortal?

Weak? Vulnerable? He would miss the strength and the power, the invincibility, his sense of belonging to the night, his preternatural sight and hearing.

He stayed beside her, content to listen to her quiet breathing, the beating of her heart.

Knowing it might be the last time, he crept into her mind.

She was dreaming and in her dreams she held a pink-cheeked baby girl in her arms. He had never seen his Kadie looking so happy, so content.

And in that moment, he knew he would give up everything to see that smile on her face.

Midnight came all too soon. Wrapping his arm snugly around Kadie’s waist, he transported the two of them to Izabela’s house in New Orleans. For the first time since he’d known the witch, she didn’t ask if he meant her any harm when she opened the door and invited them in.

“As agreed upon, payment must be made upfront,” the witch said, producing a pint-sized bottle from her skirt pocket. “I have no need for human blood.”

Saintcrow grunted softly as he bit into his wrist and watched his dark-red blood fill the bottle.

“Are you ready?” she asked, when the bottle was full.

Holding tight to Kadie’s hand, he nodded.

Suddenly apprehensive, Kadie glanced from the witch to Rylan.

Izabela capped the bottle and set it on a nearby table. “This way.”

They followed the witch through the house to the back yard. An iron cot covered by a white sheet stood in the middle of a grassy square. Candles in tall, wrought-iron holders stood at each corner.

“Take off your shirt,” Izabela said. “Then lie down on the bed.”

Lifting one brow, he slipped his shirt off and handed it to Kadie, who clutched it to her breast. There was magic in the air. It crawled over her skin, making her shiver as with a chill though the night was warm.

“There may be some pain,” the witch said. “But you must not move.”

Saintcrow grunted softly as he stretched out on the cot.

Izabela looked at Kadie. “It would be better if you went inside.”

“Why?”

“Because I said so.”

Kadie looked at Saintcrow, who nodded. Clutching his shirt to her breast, she returned to the house.

Izabela lit the four black candles. Reaching into her skirt pocket, she withdrew a set of handcuffs.

Saintcrow tensed as she cuffed his right hand, then locked the second cuff to the iron frame. He hissed as the silver, treated with the witch’s blood, singed his skin.

“For my protection,” she murmured. Reaching into her pocket again, she withdrew a plastic bag.

“What’s that?” he asked.

“Earth, from Morgan Creek.” She sprinkled it on either side of him, tossed the bag on the ground, took a deep breath, and began to chant. At the first word, the earth around him began to burn. The fire didn’t touch him, but he felt the heat of the flames.

Chanting all the while, the witch reached into yet another pocket and withdrew the Methuselah Stone and laid it in the center of his chest.

He let out a harsh cry as it touched his bare skin.

Next, she removed the small ampoule from the center of the medallion.

Saintcrow went still as she held it to his lips.

Shouting, “No!” Kadie flew out the back door and knocked the vial from Izabela’s hand. The fire around him went out, as did the candles. Standing protectively beside Rylan, she said, “Don’t touch him.”

“Kadie, what are you doing?” he asked.

“I changed my mind! I fell in love with a vampire. What if I don’t like the human you? Why would I want you to be ordinary? I love you, Rylan. Just as you are.” With tears streaming down her cheeks, she kissed him.

“Well, well, isn’t this a tender sight.”

Saintcrow swore at the sound of Eleni’s voice. Looking past Kadie, he saw his sire standing in the shadows. “What the hell do you want?”

“I sensed what was going on and I had to see it for myself.” Eleni shook her head. “I see I came at just the right time. Make all the threats you want. You can’t save her now.”

Shit. Saintcrow glanced at the witch, who had backed up when Kadie intervened.

Izabela met his gaze and shrugged.

Dammit. He tugged against the cuff that bound him to the cot to no avail.

Eleni swaggered toward Kadie, a malicious gleam in her eyes.

“Who shall we save?” she asked, her voice sugary sweet.

“The vampire or the lady? Or neither? Such a hard decision.” She stared at Kadie, a look of disdain in her eyes.

“I can’t believe he chose you over me. Perhaps, when you’re gone, he’ll see his folly. ”

Saintcrow struggled against his bonds as Eleni drew on her power. He felt it build, cursed his helplessness as he felt Eleni gather the full measure of her ancient power. It crawled over his skin, evil, malevolent.

“No! Eleni! No!” He screamed the words, but it was too late.

Kadie sent a frantic glance in his direction, eyes wide with terror, her face deathly pale as Eleni unleashed her power.

Only it didn’t strike Kadie.

With a cry of disbelief, Eleni was driven to her knees as Izabela unleashed a spell of her own. It didn’t destroy Eleni but rendered her momentarily helpless.

Gathering his own power, the same power that allowed him to conjure fire, Saintcrow hurled it at Eleni. For a brief moment, her agonized scream echoed in the night.

And then, in a blaze of blue fire, she was gone.

Kadie sank down on the ground, her whole body trembling with shock and horror, as Izabela removed the shackles from Saintcrow’s wrist.

He quickly knelt beside Kadie and wrapped her in his embrace. “Are you all right? Kadie?”

She nodded, too shaken to speak.

Saintcrow looked up at the witch. “I’m in your debt.”

“Indeed.”

“Whatever you want, if it exists anywhere in the world, it’s yours.”

“I’ll have to give your offer some serious thought,” she said, with a faint grin. “Let me think on it for a while. In the meantime, why don’t you take your lady home?”

Still holding Kadie, he stood. His gaze met Izabela’s, thinking there were no words to tell her how grateful he was for what she’d done.

“No need, vampire,” the witch said.

With a nod, Saintcrow transported the two of them to his lair in Morgan Creek.

Kadie huddled against him on the sofa, unable to stop shaking.

She had almost lost Saintcrow. Why she had ever thought she wanted him to be human was beyond her.

She must have been temporarily out of her mind.

She adored him as he was. Handsome. Strong.

Indomitable. Thank goodness she had realized it in time.

She had almost died herself. Without Izabela’s interference and Rylan’s intervention, she could have been killed and even Rylan wouldn’t have been able to save her. It was a terrifying thought, almost as terrifying as the thought that Eleni could have destroyed Rylan, as well.

“I’ve got you,” Saintcrow murmured, his hand lightly massaging her back. “You’re safe now, sweetheart.”

“I was so … so afraid … Eleni … she might have … killed you.”

“It’s over. Don’t think about. She’ll never hurt anyone again.”

Kadie snuggled against him, her head resting on his shoulder. He was so big, so strong, his arms so comforting. She sighed when she felt his lips move in her hair.

Saintcrow relaxed when he felt her trembling cease. A moment later, she was asleep.

Kadie. She was the light to his darkness, the hope that chased away his moments of despair. He would have welcomed death if Eleni had taken her life.

He rested his head on the back of the sofa and closed his eyes, content to hold his woman while she slept. Doubting if anyone would hear him, he nevertheless sent a heartfelt prayer of gratitude to Heaven.

Kincaid came calling later that night, after Saintcrow had put Kadie to bed. He grinned when Saintcrow opened the door.

“I’ve been expecting you,” Saintcrow said, stepping out on the porch. “And yes, I’m still me. That’s what you’ve come to find out, isn’t it?”

Jake nodded. “I had to make sure my old buddy hadn’t turned himself into prey.”

“Very funny.”

“So, what happened?” Kincaid shook his head as he listened to what had transpired in the witch’s backyard. “And you destroyed Eleni. How do you feel about that?”

Saintcrow shrugged. “No regrets.” And yet, oddly enough, he felt her loss. But for her, he would never have met Kadie.

“You wouldn’t lie to an old friend, would you?”

Saintcrow huffed a sigh. “I’d do it again,” he said resolutely. “I’d dispose of anyone who tried to hurt Kadie. Even you.”

“That will never be a problem,” Jake said, giving Saintcrow a brotherly slap on the shoulder. “I can guarantee that.”

“I know.”

A silent moment passed between them, filled with a deep understanding and an acknowledgement of the bond between them and the history they shared.

“Catch ya later,” Jake said, and was gone.

Saintcrow grunted softly as he returned to his lair and his woman. Being close to death had given him a new appreciation for the love of a woman like a Kadie, the loyalty of a friend like Jake, and life itself.

Yes, indeed, life was good.