“Me?” Travis snorted. “I’ve been a vampire less than a year. I’m no match for any of them.”
Overstreet rubbed his hand over his jaw. “I don’t know. You were turned by a master vampire. You’re probably a lot more powerful than you think.”
“Who’s more powerful?” Sara asked, stepping out onto the porch.
“Nobody,” Travis said.
She handed Carl a mug of hot coffee. “Two sugars, no cream, right?”
“Right, thanks.”
Sara resumed her place on the swing beside Travis. “Why are you both looking so glum? Is something going on?”
“No.” Travis sent a warning glance at Overstreet. “Everything’s fine.”
“Really? Why don’t I believe you?”
Travis blew out a sigh. “Big mouth here was wondering if I thought the vampires would come back to town now that Ronan’s gone.”
Sara’s eyes widened. “Do you think that’s possible?”
Overstreet shrugged. “Anything’s possible.”
“Where are you staying, now that there’s a doctor at the hospital?” Travis asked.
“I took a room over at the hotel. It’s not a bad place. It’s cheap. And they even have Wi-Fi.”
“Are you planning to stay for a while?” Sara asked.
“I haven’t decided. Not much point in it. Still, I might hang around for a few weeks. Nowhere else to go, nothing waiting for me when I get there.” Carl set his cup aside and slapped his hands on his knees. “Well, I’m off to bed. Sorry for the interruption, you two. Thanks for the coffee, Sara.”
“You’re welcome.”
Overstreet shambled down the stairs. He paused at the sidewalk and lifted his hand in a gesture of farewell and continued on down the street.
“He’s a lonely guy, isn’t he?” Sara remarked.
“Yeah.”
“Has he ever been married?”
“Beats me. The subject never came up.”
She leaned into him again, one hand on his thigh, content to sit and stare out into the night. Inevitably, her thoughts turned to Travis. And vampires. Sitting beside her, he seemed so normal, as if he was any other guy calling on a girl. But he wasn’t like other men. Was she making a mistake, spending so much time with him? It would be so easy to fall head-over-heels in love with him. He was soft-spoken, easy to get along with. Hard to believe he was a vampire. Or that he had once hunted and destroyed them. Did he ever regret that, now that he, himself, was a vampire? Did he feel like a monster?
“You’re awfully quiet,” Travis remarked. “Are you worrying about Bowman and the others coming back to town?”
“No. Well, yes, but that’s not what I was thinking about.”
“Want to share your thoughts with me?”
“I don’t know. I’m afraid they might make you uncomfortable. Or angry.”
“I could never be angry with you.”
“I was wondering … I mean, you’re a vampire now, but you used to be a hunter. Do you ever regret what you did?”
He took a deep breath, exhaled it in a long, slow sigh. “I try not to think about it too much. I viewed them as less than human. Not fit to live.” He shook his head. “I don’t know. Maybe now I’m the monster. I mean, I feel different but still the same. Does that make any sense at all?”
“In a way.”
“What if they were all just regular guys before they were turned? I never bothered to find out if they’d been turned against their will, or if they wanted the change so they could murder indiscriminately. When I hunted them, all I saw were vampires and I destroyed them without a second thought.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “I haven’t killed anyone since I was turned. But what if a few years down the road I lose my sense of humanity? What if I start to see people as nothing more than a ready food supply?” He stared into the night and felt the darkness wrap around him as his hunger stirred to life. What if he started to think of Sara as prey? The possibility was like a stake in his gut.
“Travis?”
“You shouldn’t be with me,” he said, his voice thick with pain. “It isn’t safe.”
She looked at him, her eyes filled with concern. “I don’t believe that.”
He groaned low in his throat. “You don’t know what it’s like to be near you. Hear the beat of your heart, smell the blood flowing through your veins. It’s a constant temptation.” He surged to his feet. “What if someday I can’t control it?” he asked, his back toward her. “What if …?” He swore under his breath when she came up behind him, her arms sliding around his waist. Was she out of her mind? Hadn’t she been listening to him?
And yet, her nearness calmed him even as it aroused another desire. Turning in her embrace, he wrapped his arms around her and covered her mouth with his. Holding her, kissing her, left him thinking of nothing but the sweet taste of her lips, the way she leaned into him, her breasts crushed against his chest, the scent of her hair, her skin.
With regret, he let her go and took a step back. “Sara, you’d better go inside before I take you on the porch, right here, right now.”
She smiled up at him, her lips bruised from the force of his kisses. “I’ll see you tomorrow night, won’t I?”
“Try to keep me away.”
“Never.” She cupped his face in her hands and kissed him ever so gently. Then, with a murmured “Good night,” she went inside and closed the door.
Travis waited on the porch until he heard the turn of the lock before he returned to his lair. He spent the rest of the night practicing his vampire powers, doing them over and over again until turning to mist or willing himself from one place to another became second nature.
Most exciting of all was shape-shifting. The first time he succeeded in transforming into a wolf, he let out a victory howl that likely sent chills down the spines of everyone in Susandale still awake to hear it.
Chapter 21
Jason Bowman looked up from the woman he was feeding on, felt an icy ripple of fear when he found himself staring into Jarick’s cold gray eyes. Before he could release the woman from his thrall, the master vampire pulled her from Bowman’s grasp and sank his fangs deep into her throat. He drank until the woman was pale and on the verge of death, then broke her neck and tossed the body aside.
His steely gaze never left Bowman’s. “Let’s go. We need to talk.”
Feeling like a convict on his way to the gallows, Jason followed the master vampire into the shadows.
Chapter 22
Now that the vampires were gone and the women were able to come and go as they pleased, Sara decided to return to her original hours at the shop.
With the coming of summer, tourists arrived more often. The hotel hired three of the local women to work as maids. The Sheriff hired a couple of deputies so that someone was available at the station around the clock.
Business picked up in all the stores. An enterprising young couple from out of town opened a small department store that sold clothing, as well as some household items like towels and dishes, and a small assortment of toys.
The only bad thing about summer was that the days were longer, which meant she didn’t get to see Travis until later at night.
Thinking about him, she sighed as she closed the shop on Friday night. She could no longer deny she was in love with him. They had spent every evening together for the last month or so. During the week, they usually stayed in, often watching a movie, sometimes playing gin rummy, sometimes just listening to music while they cuddled together on the sofa.
Weekends they usually went out dancing or to a movie in Langston, or just went for a leisurely stroll through the town.
Sara paused outside the store and then, on the spur of the moment, decided to eat out. She had a date with Travis later, but she had two hours to kill until the sun went down.
She smiled and waved to several people as she walked down the street toward the café. Stepping inside, she came to an abrupt halt when she saw Carl Overstreet s
itting in a booth with his arm around Winona.
She was debating whether to go over and say hello when Overstreet caught her eye and waved at her.
“Hey, Sara,” he said cheerfully. “I haven’t seen you for a while. You know Winona, of course.”
“Yes. Hi.”
Winona smiled at her. “Hello, Sara. It’s nice to see you.” She leaned over to plant a kiss on Carl’s cheek. “I need to get back to work. Sara, what can I get you?”
“Shrimp sounds good.”
With a nod and a wave, Winona went to turn in her order.
“Well,” Sara said, sliding into the booth, “how long has this been going on?”
“A couple of weeks,” he said, his cheeks flushing.
“I guess that’s why I haven’t seen much of you.”
He shrugged. “I’ve been eating in here a lot and just sort of hanging around when she’s not busy. She’s really nice once you get past that gruff exterior. And best of all, she actually seems to like me.”
“Well, I’m happy for you,” Sara said. “Both of you.”
“It probably won’t last. I mean, she’s young and pretty and … well, look at me.”
“I think you’re being too hard on yourself. I mean, if she didn’t like you, too, she wouldn’t be looking at you now, just hoping to catch your attention.”
He glanced at Winona, his cheeks growing redder when she winked at him.
“See?”
“Yeah. Guess I’ll stick around awhile.” He shook his head. “Life’s funny, isn’t it?
You just never know what the future holds.”
Sara thought about what Carl had said as she drove home from the cafe. She certainly never would have thought she would be in love with a vampire, that was for sure. As for the future? She couldn’t begin to guess where their relationship might lead, or how long it would last.
But she loved being with Travis.
She loved Travis.
But was there any future in pursuing a relationship that, realistically, couldn’t lead anywhere? Was it possible to be happy with someone so different? Someone who lived an entirely different kind of life?
Did she want to spend all of her days alone? What if they moved in together? Or got married? She would have to spend the rest of her life lying to people about why they never saw him during the day, why he didn’t eat. And what about children? Could vampires even have children?
And how would she feel when she started to age and he didn’t? She might be able to find excuses for everything else, but not that. The fact that he didn’t age also meant they probably wouldn’t be able to stay in one place too long.
By the time she pulled into the driveway, she had the mother of all headaches.
Travis arrived at Sara’s house soon after the sun went down. He knew something was bothering her the minute she opened the door. He didn’t have to be a mind reader to know what it was. He was only surprised it had taken her so long to think of all the reasons why dating a vampire was a bad idea.
“Are we still going out?” he asked, noting her forced smile.
“Of course. Just let me grab my purse.”
Stepping inside, he closed the door. “What’s wrong, Sara?”
“Nothing. Are you ready? The show starts in a few minutes.”
“I know something’s bothering you, so you might as well tell me what it is.”
She looked up at him, her expression troubled. “I …” She stared past him, her fingers holding her handbag so tightly her knuckles were white.
“Did something happen? Are you afraid to go out with me?”
“No! No. It’s nothing like that. I saw Carl tonight. He’s dating Winona. You know, the woman who owns the café? And I got to thinking about them. And about us. And …”
“And you started having second thoughts about dating a vampire.”
Still not meeting his gaze, she nodded.
“It’s all right, Sara. If you don’t want to see me anymore, I’ll understand.”
“No! Oh, Travis, I love you!”
“Sara! I love you, too.” He started to reach for her, then hesitated. She didn’t sound very happy about it.
Eyes glistening with unshed tears, she gazed up at him.
“Sara?”
Tossing her handbag on the sofa, she went into his arms.
He held her close, his hand stroking up and down her back while her tears wet his shirtfront. When her tears subsided, he guided her to the sofa and pulled her down on his lap. “I know this is hard for you,” he said quietly. “I know we have a lot of obstacles other couples don’t. I wouldn’t blame you if you don’t want to deal with them.”
Sniffling, she looked up at him. “Do you think we could make it work?”
“Honestly? I don’t know. This whole vampire thing is still new to me.” He wiped her tears away with his fingertips. “I’m still trying to figure out who I am. What I am. I can’t promise that I’ll never hurt you, and that scares the hell out of me.”
Sara nodded. She hadn’t even thought of that possibility. He always seemed to be in control.
“Maybe we shouldn’t see each other for a few days,” he suggested, each word like a knife in his heart. “Maybe you should spend some time alone to think things over.”
Frowning, she bit down on her lower lip. And then she nodded. “If you think that’s a good idea.”
“I want you to be sure,” he said heavily. “If I don’t hear from you in a couple of days …” He eased her off his lap. Hesitated a moment. And then he pulled her into his arms and kissed her, a long, slow kiss. “Good night, Sara.”
Blinking furiously, she forced a weak smile, then gasped when he vanished from her sight, something he had never done before.
Feeling more miserable than she ever had in her life, she burst into tears, thinking that his kiss good night had felt more like goodbye.
Filled with self-loathing for what he was, Travis stalked the dark streets. He’d finally found a woman he loved, a woman he would happily have spent the rest of his life with. But how could he expect Sara—or any woman—to tie her life to his? He looked like a man, but that man had died. And no matter how hard he tried to pretend he was human, he wasn’t.
“Feeling sorry for yourself?”
“What the hell?” Travis’ head snapped up when Ronan materialized in front of him.
“Good thing I’m a friend and not a hunter.”
“What the hell do you want? I thought you went home.”
“I did. But one of the drawbacks of being your sire is that when I let my guard down, I’m aware of everything you’re doing. Or thinking.”
“Everything?” Damn. That was disconcerting to know.
Travis started walking again and his sire fell in step beside him.
“A lot of changes in town,” Ronan remarked, glancing right and left.
Travis grunted. The place could burn down for all he cared.
They turned a corner and Travis found himself looking at the houses they passed. Most were inhabited by the women the vampires had left behind, but a few held families now. Lights burned in the windows. He heard the sound of a child’s laughter in one of the houses and it reminded him that he would never have a child of his own.
“As long as I’m here, do you have any more questions for me about what you are, what you can and can’t do?”
“Gee, Dad, are you getting soft in your old age?”
“I thought I told you not to call me that,” Ronan growled.
“Did you ever marry or have kids before you were turned?”
A shadow of sadness flickered behind Ronan’s eyes. “I had a wife. Verity. She died giving birth to my son. The boy died, too.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It was a very long time ago. I scarcely remember her.”
“So you never married again?”
“Not until Shannah. Three years after Verity died, I chased the wrong woman and when she caught me, she turned me. She gave me th
e same choice I gave you. I refused at first but, like you, I let my fear of death make the decision for me.” He laughed softly. “She said I’d thank her for it one day.”
“Did you?”
“Not until I met Shannah. I would have endured anything to have her in my life.” They walked in silence for a time before Ronan said, “Don’t give up on Sara. Not yet. And …” Ronan huffed an irritated sigh. “If you ever need me, just call my name or think it and I’ll hear you.”
Before Travis could come up with a reply, his sire disappeared into the night.
Chapter 23
Olivia let out a startled gasp of surprise when Jason materialized in their bedroom late that night, and then threw herself into his arms.
He held her close for several minutes, inhaling her scent.
“I missed you so much,” she whispered. “Where did you go? Has the whole coven returned?”
Sitting on the edge of the bed, he pulled her onto his lap, his arm circling her waist. “I’m the only one who’s here. The rest are holed up in some ghost town in Wyoming.”
“Are you home to stay?”
“I don’t know. Jarick found me.”
“Oh, no. What does he want?”
“He wants what he’s always wanted. A ready supply of humans. He has a long list of vampires who are waiting for their orders to be filled.” Jason swore softly. “He let so much time go by before contacting me, I was hoping he’d moved on.”
“What are you going to do? The town is different now. Some of the women have moved out and a lot of new people have moved in.”
“He doesn’t care.”
“What are you going to do?” she asked again, her gaze searching his.
When his gaze met hers, a cold chill ran down Olivia’s spine. She didn’t need to hear the words to know that Jarick had threatened to kill her and the kids if Jason failed to obey. “Have you told the others?”
“I’ll tell them later.” He ran his tongue along the side of her neck, then pulled her down on the bed, his eyes hot with desire and need. “I don’t know what the future holds for us, love, but I had to see you before I go back, even if it’s just for an hour or two.”
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