Night's Promise (27 page)

“Stop reading my mind! And for your information, I wanted to
find
a vampire. I never wanted to
be
one!”

When he braked for a red light, she jumped out of the car and dashed into the darkness, running away from a decision she hadn’t made. Like a petulant child, she blamed Derek for her unhappiness, for turning her without asking her permission. She was being irrational and she knew it; even if he had asked her, she had been incapable of a response. What would her answer have been?

Derek swore a vile oath as Sheree disappeared from sight. He swerved in front of the car beside him, pulled over to the curb, killed the engine, and went after her.

 

 

Sheree ran effortlessly, jumping over block walls without even thinking about it. And all the while, in the back of her mind, she heard his voice asking if she would rather be dead.

She vaulted over a parked car. Of course she didn’t want to be dead, but she didn’t want to be a vampire, either. All she wanted was her old life back, and she would have it in two weeks.

Slowing, she glanced around. She had no idea where she was. Old buildings hemmed her in on both sides. Most had boarded-up windows. Many were spray painted with gang signs and symbols.

She stopped at the sound of voices. Drunken voices. Coming from the building across the street.

With her preternatural vision, she could see three young men crouched in the doorway, passing a bottle back and forth between them.

One of the men looked up, his eyes widening when he saw her.

Muttering, “Oh, crap!” Sheree tried to dissolve into mist, and when that failed, she whirled around and ran back the way she’d come.

And slammed into Derek.

His arms went around her. “Where the hell did you think you were going?”

“Away from you.” She glanced over her shoulder.

“Don’t worry, they’re too drunk to come after you.”

“Just take me home.”

“Dammit, Sheree, I’m sorry you’re so unhappy, but I’m not sorry for what I did.”

She stared up at him, mute.

Blowing out a sigh, he transported the two of them back to his car, drove her to his house. And left her there without a word.

Alone in his bed, she cried herself to sleep, wishing she had never left Philadelphia.

The next two weeks were the most miserable of Sheree’s life. She never saw Derek, though she sometimes sensed his presence. She thought about going to her own house, but something kept her in Sacramento.

She slept through the days, hunted in the evening, and tried not to think about Pearl, afraid that Derek would read her thoughts and try to stop her.

Where was Derek staying? Was he spending his days at Mara’s? Would he come back here if she left? She glanced at the gaily wrapped gifts stacked in the corner. They hadn’t opened the presents the night of the wedding; at some point, Derek had dropped them off at the house. She had no interest in any of them.

She had no interest in anything except being human again.

She was curled up on the sofa, trying to watch one of the old Iron Man movies, when someone knocked on the door.

When she opened it, a young man dressed all in black stood on the porch.

“Are you Sheree Blackwood?” he asked.

“Yes. Who are you?”

“Here.” He thrust an envelope into her hand, and disappeared from sight.

After closing the door, Sheree opened the envelope and removed a sheet of paper. All it said was, “Meet me tomorrow night at Maxie’s Dress Shop in the mall on 7th Street. 8 P.M. Tell no one.”

After reading the note, she burned it in the fireplace.

 

 

Sheree took a cab to the mall, glancing over her shoulder all the way, but there was no sign of Derek. She checked again before entering the mall, then hurried up to the second floor. It took her a moment to find Pearl. Instead of her usual flamboyant attire, the woman was wearing blue jeans, a gray windbreaker, and a blond wig.

Talk about cloak-and-dagger, Sheree thought.

“Here it is.” Pearl glanced around, assuring herself they were alone before pressing a small bottle filled with dark red liquid into Sheree’s hand. “Drink it before you go to bed tonight. When you wake up tomorrow night, you should be mortal again.”

“Should be?”

“There’s no guarantee. Edna and I tested it on three newly made vampires. All reverted back to their humanity.”

“That’s great!”

“So it would seem. But Edna and I turned the three, and our blood isn’t as powerful as Derek’s. And they hadn’t been vampires for more than a few days. And, well, there are lots of variables in something like this. I just want you to be aware of the danger, and of the fact that it might not work.”

Sheree nodded. “I understand. What do I owe you for this?”

“Nothing, dear. I just hope it works,” Pearl said, and vanished from sight.

Tucking the bottle inside her handbag, Sheree strolled through the mall, her heart pounding with excitement and trepidation. If she had the nerve to take Pearl’s formula, she might wake up her old self tomorrow. Did she have the courage?

She paused in front of a candy store and inhaled the myriad scents emanating from inside. It was unfair that she could now detect even the most delectable smells and could no longer enjoy the taste of her favorite chocolates. She could smell fresh popcorn wafting up from the first floor, and pizza, and pretzels.

She felt a sharp pang when she saw a mother and child emerge from one of the shops. She would never have a child of her own. She told herself that lots of women were unable to bear children, that there was always adoption, though she didn’t see how that could possibly work, given her circumstances.

Lost in thought, she stood there until a recorded voice announced the mall would be closing in ten minutes.

Sheree was outside, waiting for a cab, when Derek appeared beside her. “Need a ride home?” he asked.

She stared at him, her heart pounding. Did he know what she’d done?

“Of course I know, you little fool.” Grasping her forearm, he propelled her down the street to where his car was parked and practically shoved her inside.

His face was a mask of anger when he slid behind the wheel.

“Have you been spying on me?” she asked angrily.

“Damn right!”

Sheree hugged her handbag to her chest. The proverbial shit was about to hit the fan. “So, why did you let me meet with Pearl?”

“I wanted to see how far you would go.” He shook his head. “You’re willing to risk your life on something that’s been tested on three young vampires? I gave you credit for being smarter than that.”

“Well, I guess you were wrong.”

“I’m beginning to think you need a keeper.”

“I’m beginning to think you’re a bully.”

He pulled up in front of his house, grabbed her by the arm, and transported the two of them inside.

Sheree twisted out of his grasp. Hands fisted on her hips, she glared at him. “It’s my life. I’ll do what I want.”

“No, you won’t. I swear, I’ll lock you in the dungeon for the rest of your life if I have to, but you’re not taking that damn formula.”

“How do you know it won’t work?”

“I don’t, but it’s not a risk I’m willing to take.”

“Well, I am!”

He took a deep breath in an effort to calm his anger. “Sheree . . .”

“You were willing to take one of Pearl’s potions not too long ago,” she reminded him.

“And you talked me out of it.”

“Nothing you can say will change my mind.” Closing her eyes, she tried to dissolve into mist, but nothing happened. “Are you stopping me?” she demanded, her eyes shooting sparks at him.

“No.”

“Then why can’t I dissolve into mist?”

“I don’t know. But it doesn’t matter. I’ll find you wherever you go.” He took a deep breath. “Sheree, please don’t do this. I love you. I know that, under all that anger, you love me, too. We can be happy together if you’ll let us. Being a vampire isn’t so bad. I think you’ll find that the good outweighs the bad.”

Tears stung her eyes. “I’m not even a good vampire or I’d be able to turn into mist like everybody else.”

“Maybe you’re trying too hard. Just think about it and it will happen.”

“I’m afraid,” she admitted, chin lifted defiantly. “I’m afraid I won’t be able to get my own form back and I’ll be stuck in some nebulous shape forever.”

“As far as I know, that’s never happened.”

Sniffling, she said, “There’s a first time for everything.”

“So there is. I know you can do it. Try again.”

She closed her eyes and pictured herself becoming invisible, and when she opened them again, she was floating above the floor. She couldn’t speak, but she could see the room around her. It was like looking through gauze.

She could leave now and he wouldn’t be able to see her go. Would he be able to sense her whereabouts in this form?

She willed herself to go higher, and the next thing she knew, she was hovering near the ceiling. There was a cobweb in the corner. For some reason, seeing it made her laugh, which broke her concentration.

With a wordless cry, she plummeted toward the floor.

And landed, with a soft
oomph,
in Derek’s arms.

Staring into his eyes, she tried to summon her anger; instead, she remembered all the nights she had spent cradled in his arms, the warmth of his kisses, the sensual pleasure of giving him her blood. Was that pleasure lost to her now that she was a vampire?

“It works both ways, love. Did you find no pleasure in drinking from me when I made you?” he asked with a knowing grin.

Her gaze slid away from his. “Maybe.”

“Maybe?”

She let out a huff of annoyance. Why did she bother lying when he could read her mind? He could read her mind because he was a vampire. She frowned. Well, so was she.

She knew the moment her mind brushed his by the sudden intake of his breath. For a moment, he blocked her, and then, with a sigh of resignation, he let her inside. It wasn’t so much his thoughts she read as his feelings—his lonely childhood, his love for his mother, his regret at having never known his father, his respect for Logan. But stronger than all of these was his love—and his need—for her.

It was the reason he had been able to resume his own form when she was dying, even though it should have been impossible for him to banish the werewolf while the moon was full.

It was the reason he had dragged her back from the brink of death.

It was the reason he was here now, even though she had repeatedly claimed she hated him.

How could she not love such a man? “I’m still mad at you.”

A faint smile twitched his lips. “I know.”

“You can put me down now.”

“Maybe I don’t want to.” His gaze searched hers. “Are you ever going to forgive me?”

She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Persuade me.”

A slow smile spread over his face as he carried her swiftly to bed and showed her, with every heated kiss and caress, just how much he loved her.

Later, while Sheree slept, a satisfied smile on her face, Derek dumped Pearl’s serum down the toilet, then tossed the bottle in the trash, thinking how mad his lovely bride would be when she discovered what he’d done.

And how much fun it would be to kiss and make up again in the years to come.

 

Sheree smiled at Derek as he released a young couple from his thrall and sent them on their way. Hard to believe there had been a time when she was upset about being a vampire. Once she accepted it and decided to make the best of it, she wondered why she had made such a fuss in the first place. True, she’d had to give up some of the things she loved, but she’d gained so much more in return.

“Happy, love?” he asked.

“More than happy.” Folding her hands over his shoulders, she went up on her tiptoes and kissed him.

His arms slipped around her waist. “So, you’ve forgiven me for everything?”

“Do you need to ask?”

“Not really,” he said, grinning, “but it’s nice to hear every now and then.”

“Yes, Derek, I forgive you. For everything.”

“Good. I forgive you, too.”

“Me?” Her brows rushed together in a frown. “What did I do?”

“Nothing, wife.” He laughed softly as he caught her hand in his. “I just wanted to see your eyes flash with anger.”

She laughed with him. A year ago, she would have sworn she couldn’t love him any more than she already did. But since that time, her love for her husband had grown into something beautiful and rare. Having him know what she was thinking, being able to read his thoughts in return, had created a bond between them that grew stronger with each passing day. She was his equal now, no longer in need of his constant protection. Of course, because he was a male vampire, his urge to protect her was instinctive. And kind of sweet.

He had taken her all over the world, showed her wondrous places inaccessible to humans, sights that few knew existed.

Her friendship with Mara had also grown, due in part to their shared love and concern for Derek. He was still compelled to turn into a werewolf when the moon was full, but as long as he drank a little of her blood before the moon rose, he was able to control the urge to kill. A few days before the moon was full, they went to Mara’s castle in Romania or to some other uninhabited spot where he could run wild and free. When Derek was certain he could control the werewolf, Sheree often shifted to wolf form and ran with him. It was exhilarating, racing through the night beside him. Mara and Logan occasionally ran with them.

At home, the desire that was never far from the surface sparked to life. Making love to Derek was always an adventure. Tonight was no different. They undressed each other as they made their way into the bedroom, leaving a trail of clothes, like bread crumbs, strewn behind them.

Lying in bed, he kissed her leisurely, starting with her lips and slowly making his way to her toes and back up again.

He whispered love words in her ear as, with hands and teeth and tongue, he aroused her, bringing her to the brink of fulfillment again and again until, with a low growl, she sank her fangs into his throat. He nipped her in return and the resultant sensual pleasure carried them both over the edge.

“I’ve married a wild woman,” he murmured when they lay panting softly in each other’s arms.

She raked her nails over his chest. “Do you love me?”

He lifted one brow in wry amusement. “Don’t you know?”

“Yes,” she said, “but it’s nice to hear the words now and then.”

He laughed as she repeated the words he had said to her earlier. “I love you, wife. I loved you from our first kiss, and I will love you to our last.”

“Love’s last kiss.” She gazed deep into his eyes, her heart and soul swelling with emotions too deep for words. “May it be a long time coming.”