Beside him, Kavan chuckled. “Well, that makes things a little easier, doesn’t it? Although, not for you. You’ll have a tough time catching up, won’t you?”
“Not so hard. I just hope that Bethany doesn’t get too frightened.”
Kavan nodded seriously, then turned back to him. He rolled his shoulders, grimacing. “Well, I know you’re in a hurry and all, but you better make this look good. Although maybe it’d be better to spare my pretty face so I could get the Godfather’s daughter to fall madly in love with me and convince him to spare my life.”
Philip laughed, grinning at that. Even though it was all too real a possibility that Kavan might be killed for this. He reached out, grasping his friend’s hand. Then he decked him in the face. Kavan went down with a groan, and Philip straddled him, punching him a few more times to give him plenty of bruises. Kavan lifted his arms to defend himself, and Philip wrapped a hand around his throat. He pressed on the arteries on either side of his neck until Kavan’s eyes rolled back and he went limp.
After checking to make sure he hadn’t done too much damage, Philip retrieved rope from the stores and tied Kavan securely, turning him to his side to make sure he didn’t choke. But he was a shifter, and ought to be healed up quickly. Then he left the cabin, slashed the tires of his truck to make sure Kavan couldn’t just drive it in. On second thought, he emptied the truck’s tank into a jerrycan and took it into the cabin, leaving it with a lighter beside it. Kavan would understand when he woke up—Philip didn’t often burn down buildings, but it would help to make it look like Philip was trying to kill him.
Without anything else he could think of to set the scene, Philip headed outside, stripped down and tied his clothing into a bundle, then shifted. He picked up the clothing bundle and dashed out after Lizzie. She would be terrified, and the sooner he got to her, was able to calm her down, the sooner they could come up with where they were going.
His heart beat shallowly as he ran through the trees. For the first time in his life, he could see a clear opening for him to get away from the family. To have a life that wasn’t bound to violence and obeying people who’d kill him if he didn’t. And more than that—Bethany would never have to have that life. She would never have to face the demons that crowded in his brain at night.
If they could get away.
His ears perked up at the sound of an engine, and he headed for the road. He reached it just as Lizzie was taking a turn on the rocky dirt road. He bunched his muscles, timing it just right. As she whizzed by where he hid, he sprang; his body moved smoothly through the open window in the back, and he crashed in the other side, Bethany letting out a surprised cry as he landed half on her. He quickly straightened himself out, shifting back to his human form as Lizzie screamed.
Bethany laughed, and he grinned at her. Lizzie gently pressed the brake, her knuckles white and her breath coming in quick pants. She looked like she was about to pass out. Philip found his boxers in the pile of clothes, pulled them on, then reached up to touch her shoulder.
“Kavan’s cleaning up at the cabin,” he said. “He suggested that the three of us take a trip together. Somewhere more fun than the middle of the woods. What do you say?”
Lizzie came to a complete stop and turned, staring at him with wide incredulous eyes. Like she couldn’t quite understand what it was he was saying. Like she didn’t quite know how to respond. Her gaze flickered to Bethany, and when Philip turned to smile at his daughter, he was surprised to see her eyes flashing with anger.
“What’s wrong, sweet pea?” he asked gently.
Bethany folded her arms. “You and Uncle Kavan were fighting. I heard you.” Her voice rang with accusation. “And he was upset when he came back to get you. Why did you send me off with him, Daddy? And why is Lizzie crying?”
Lizzie hurriedly wiped her face and tried to smile, but she was so tense that it wasn’t believable. Philip sighed as he ruffled Bethany’s hair. He knew that this was going to need an explanation, but he was damned if he knew what to say. His normal lie, that he was a stuntman in Hollywood, wasn’t going to cut it this time.
“Well?” Bethany demanded again. Her hands clenched over her seatbelt, her face a mask of fury as she glared at him. “What is going on? And don’t say I’m too little, I'm five years old already. I’m practically grown up.”
Philip would have laughed, if not for the fact that she was only five, and already far more grown up than she should be. Had he failed at giving her a proper childhood? The weight was heavy on his shoulders, and all he could do was turn to Lizzie, hoping somehow that she would have an answer to the question.
***
There was almost a pleading look in Philip’s eyes. If what Philip said was true—that Kavan had stayed behind—then maybe they had time. She turned off the car and stepped out of it, trying to figure out how to breathe again. It seemed like there had been so much happening these last few hours that she was on the brink of collapsing.
Philip followed her out, and even though Bethany shouted at them that it wasn’t an answer, neither of them spoke. He touched her shoulder and Lizzie tried not to fall into his arms. There was still far too much that had happened. Too much distrust that had been built between them in those heart-stopping moments when she thought he was going to kill her.
“Bethany,” she said, her voice surprisingly firm when Bethany tried to leave the car, “your father and I have to talk. And I know you don’t want to be left out, but it’s private, and we need you to stay in the car.”
Bethany growled, pulling the door back with a sharper snap than necessary. Lizzie turned on her heel and walked several meters away, her hands clenched at her sides. Yes, she had suggested that Philip come with her when they ran from the family, but now… It wasn’t like she wanted him to stay behind and die, but she knew from witnessing Philip and Kavan’s fight, that running wasn’t going to be enough. She would be giving up everything, her family that she loved, and would always be looking over her shoulder.
And hadn’t he said, even if it took years, the family would come after her again? They had to figure this out somehow. His brow rose quizzically as she turned to him.
“Will running work?”
Philip opened his mouth, then shut it again. He turned his face away, jaw clenching. “It has to,” he spat out.
“But will it?”
“If we go somewhere remote and keep our identities a secret—"
“Philip.” Lizzie blew out her breath, shoulders sagging. “Philip, please. Don’t give me ifs or maybes. Will running work? Or will it just mean that we’ll be looking over our shoulders for the rest of our lives? And what will we tell Bethany? What do we say when she wants to become a movie star or a singer or any other famous individual? What do we say when she wants a freaking Facebook account?”
Philip sighed in aggravation. “We can figure that all out later. Right now, we just need to get away. Your life is in danger! The future will take care of itself, the most important thing is that we just hide. Keep you safe.”
Part of her wanted to accept that, to stay with that line of thinking. Maybe it was her type-A personality, but she couldn’t. She had to have some plan for the future, otherwise, they’d always be running. What sort of life was that for a child?
“And what are you going to tell Bethany now?”
Philip cursed and turned away. He ran his hands through his hair, and Bethany knew he didn’t have an answer. She waited for a moment, hoping that he would come up with something, anything, but of course, he didn’t. He was silent for so long that Lizzie’s heart sank down into her toes.
“If we run scared, I think we’ll be running forever,” she admitted, her voice low. “And I think that it’s just going to end up being devastating for Bethany. I am rich. What if I paid myself out? What if I made a deal with this Godfather of yours?”
“Yeah, right.” Philip frowned as he gazed back at the car.
Lizzie wrapped her arms around herself. If running
was the only option, then she would. If it was the best option, then she would. But if there was some other way they could get out of this…
“Maybe,” Philip murmured. “And that would help explain why I left Kavan alive… so he wouldn’t be as big a risk…”
“Maybe what? Maybe I could pay him off?”
Philip turned back to her with a heavy frown on his face. “Something like that. I don’t know if it will work. And I can’t risk you. So, we have to get you away so that I can try to work it out with the Godfather—”
“We’re not doing that if it’s going to get you killed,” she stated flatly. Lizzie’s eyes burned. Her hands clenched. “I won’t let you.”
He stared at her for a moment and nodded. “We can figure something out. The main thing is getting somewhere safe, where the family can’t touch you. And…” His chin sank to his chest and every muscle in his body seemed to sag. “I’m so sorry.”
“Sorry?”
When he looked back up, so much guilt wracked his gaze that it took her breath away. “You thought I was going to kill you. And I… I was considering it. I shouldn’t have even let those thoughts in my head. I hated myself, but I thought… if it was the only way to keep Bethany safe…”
Even though she knew she should be furious with him, even though she knew that he had no right to her forgiveness, the fact was that forgiveness welled in her anyway. He hadn’t killed her. Hadn’t even hurt her. He was risking his life, now, to help keep her safe. How could she stay angry at him for that? She stepped forward, wanting to kiss him but only taking his hands.
“If my death was the only way to keep Bethany safe, you wouldn’t have to do anything,” she assured him. “Because I’d be willing to do anything for her, too.”
A small, pained smile twitched his lips. “I know. And that’s why this is so hard.”
She blinked in surprise. “What is?”
Philip made a gesture with his hands as though to say, ‘all of this’. He dragged a hand through his hair and sighed. “I might have a place where we can hide out for a while. As long as you’re not afraid of vampires.”
***
The stereotype that all vampires were wicked creatures of the night that wanted to rule the world and destroy humanity was grossly overstated. For instance, King Gregory of the Starlight Mountains was only somewhat wicked and while he wanted to rule the world, he did not want to destroy humanity. His schemes for world domination were more due to boredom than anything else, really.
Philip bowed toward the king, then straightened. Gregory cast him a dismissive look, content to keep allowing the two beautiful, scantily-clad women to either side of him continue to buff his nails. After a moment of silence, the king glanced at him again and smirked.
“Oh, very well. I can see you’re biting your tongue, Mr. Philip, and so why don’t you tell me what’s on your mind so I can ease it?”
“You are very kind,” Philip mumbled, staring hard to see what sort of mood Gregory was in. How he approached this depended greatly on what the king was feeling. Bored, and Philip could get away with anything. Amused, and he would be looking to keep that going. Annoyed, and Philip would have to beg for any sort of mercy. Right now, though, the king’s face was unreadable. “I trust you are well.”
Gregory snorted, waving off one of the women and pulling the other into his lap. “Your Godfather has been most troublesome of late. Our relationship is strained. And you come here, with a girl and a woman. Last I heard, you had taken some woman out to the woods and were told to kill her. So… Care to tell me the story? Have you turned against your family?”
“I…” Philip pressed his lips together, wondering how much to divulge. “I can’t do as I was ordered without putting the family in greater jeopardy. You see, the woman I was ordered to ice… Is Lizzie Hendrix.”
Gregory smiled, looking amused. “I know. It’s been all over the news. Her cousin is beside himself with worry.”
Philip scowled; he should have allowed Lizzie to call Varton and tell him that she was leaving after all. He had been concerned that she would give him some clue as to where she was going or what she had seen, though, and had convinced her that it would only put her cousin in danger.
“I must say, I was not expecting her to have the curves she has. Most human women with her wealth seem to starve themselves or subject themselves to the knife.” Gregory looked thoughtful. “I would so love to see what she can do with those thighs.”
Philip straightened himself. Gregory was just trying to bait him, and he would not be baited. “You know what would happen if she was to be killed. And… And I will not kill innocent people, especially not women.”
Gregory’s expression sobered. Something flashed over his face. Was that… pity? Or envy? “And the girl?”
“You know who Bethany is. Someone as well-informed as you…” Philip let it trail off and arched a brow, daring Gregory to deny it.
“Oh, very well. Yes. I do know who she is. So why have you come here?”
“Sanctuary.”
Gregory looked intrigued. “Sanctuary? In this sanguinary place? What could have inspired you to come to me? Won’t your godfather take that as a betrayal indeed?”
“I don’t care.” Perhaps that was too honest but Philip, as he stated, didn’t care. “I want Lizzie and Bethany to be safe until I can talk some sense into the family. And I have a plan… Varton Kirk is rich. He will pay anything to have his cousin back. If you took responsibility for her disappearance—”
“I’d have the army down on my ass.”
Philip rose a brow. “You wouldn’t and you know it. The government is in no hurry to start making wars with the vampires, and every kingdom under the sun would rally to your defense. Especially if Lizzie admitted to trespassing.”
“And why would she do that? What possible reason could she give?”
“Because she has started up a paranormal dating agency. And she wants to reach out to vampires, to have them join as well as shifters.”
Gregory’s brows shot up. He shifted the woman off his lap, and she hurried out of the room. Philip watched her go, frowning, but his attention was soon drawn back to the king. He had gotten to his feet and stalked toward Philip. Philip tensed, which made the guards around him tense. The king shoved his face into Philip’s, searching.
“Would she really?” Gregory’s eyes brightened. “I have long wanted to help shed the image that humans have of vampires. Bats, burning up in the sunlight, insatiable bloodlust. Becoming involved in an actual, legitimate agency… that would be most helpful.”
“I’m sure she would agree to it,” Philip lied smoothly. It was true that Lizzie wasn’t as prejudiced as most humans, but even shifters didn’t get vampires. He doubted, with all the misinformation out there and the sensationalized news stories throughout the ages, that there was anybody who was free of those prejudices. “So long as the applicants have a clean criminal record.”
Gregory burst out in laughter. “A vampire with a clean record? I was walking my dog above the other day… me. A king. And I was stopped and nearly arrested for not having an ID on me. You find me a vampire that doesn’t have a criminal record and then we’ll talk. If that’s all you can offer—”
“I also know where Isaac Fisher is.”
Gregory’s head whipped around. He stared for a moment before grinning, fangs flashing in his mouth. “Why didn’t you say that in the first place? Well, then. If that’s the case, then we can talk. So, sit down. Let me order you a drink. And then we can decide what to do with this Miss Lizzie Hendrix of yours.”
Chapter Eight
The vampire den wasn’t what she had expected. She had thought either it would be some broken-down and dreadful place, or so elaborate as to be the worst imaginable place to stay. To her surprise, though, it was… comfortable. Nothing over the top, just a nice, cozy place to stay. The condo had two bedrooms, one that she stayed in, one for Bethany and Philip, and a large open-concept living room
, kitchen and dining room.
They stayed for a few days, during which she and Bethany played cards (she was uncannily good at poker, which was her favorite game for some reason; Lizzie was a little intimidated by how good her poker face was, honestly) and other games, or watched movies, read books, or just sat and talked. The vampires had an extensive collection, and she was allowed free reign to go from the condo to the library, the exercise room, and even a heated pool. There was always at least one vampire guard with her on these outings, which she was assured was for her own protection, but that didn’t make it any less nerve-wracking.
One night, and she knew it was night because of the clock on the wall, even though there was no natural light this deep underground, Philip came back to the condo, looking beat. After he tucked Bethany into bed, because he wouldn’t hear her protests that he was too tired, he came back to the living room and sank onto the couch. He yawned. Lizzie joined him, tucking her long legs under herself as she grabbed an afghan off the back of the couch to spread over her knees.
“Long day?” she asked, arching a brow.
“You better believe it.” Philip stretched his legs out, grimacing. “Gregory was in a foul mood today and argued with everything I said, even if it was something he brought up previously. I think I have it sorted, though. In a couple of days, you’ll be given back to Varton and I…”
He what? Panic shot through her as she sat upright. “But you said we had to get away. Run.”
“And you wanted a different option. Well, we have it now.” Philip took her hand in his. Warmth sparked in her skin, helping to ease her fears. “The vampires have agreed to act like they’ve been holding you, hostage, this whole time. Gregory will say that he caught you trespassing, which means he’s allowed to hold you as long as he wants and will ask Varton for ‘bail’ money. He’s already reached out to the Godfather and spoken with him. You’ll be left alone. As for me, I need you to adopt Bethany right away. I’m not sure what it will all mean for me. The Godfather did give me a message that he was impressed with me being able to find a workaround to killing you, but that doesn’t mean that he’s happy with me.”
The Wolf’s Surprise Babies Page 9
