by Tina Donahue
She shouldn’t hope, but couldn’t deny the emotion.
He regarded her closely. “Is that a beginning smile I see?”
“No.” She killed it to confront the brutal truth. “What happens when the potions and spells stop working on my bloodlust?”
“I’ve already told you.”
“I’m not taking a drop from you. And I’d drive a stake through my own heart before turning you into what I am.”
“In that case, I’ve had another idea to help.”
He really was into her. She grasped his hand. “Please don’t say you plan to buy me a blood bank.”
His chuckle made his pecs jump. “Not even close. I—”
Hard knocks sounded on her front door.
“Must be Mike. I’ll get it. Go on, finish your chocolate.” He pecked her mouth and jogged into the living room.
Mike lumbered inside, a mountain of a man who could have easily snapped a sumo wrestler in two without breaking a sweat. Noticing her, he offered a shy smile. “Evening.”
“Hi, I’m Desiree DuBois.” She joined him and offered her hand.
“Mike Lundford.”
They shook. She squeezed his fingers harder than he did hers.
Hunter shoved his hands in his front pockets. “On your way in, did you see a bat or a red-headed woman anywhere?”
If the question surprised Mike, he didn’t show it. “Uh-uh.”
“Let me know if you do.” Hunter gestured to the window. “There’s the problem.”
“No biggie. Let me get my things.” He hauled a toolbox and plywood from the hall.
Desiree’s phone rang. She stared at her purse, afraid to open it and find out Brooke was calling.
Hunter touched her arm. “Want me to get it?”
That would be worse. Brooke would know what he sounded like in mortal form and might somehow learn who he was from such a small clue. If nothing else, Desiree had finally understood one thing from this mess: the insane were fucking determined. “No, I will. It’s probably the wrong number or a salesperson.”
“At this hour?”
“I’m a night owl, remember? I’ve gotten sales calls this late before. I’m sure the telemarketing companies have me tracked on their computers.” She grabbed her phone and hurried to the hall, her back to Hunter. The display showed Unknown Caller. She wanted to heave. Gritting her teeth, she answered, but didn’t speak.
The silence lengthened. It had to be Brooke.
Desiree wanted to curse her, but kept her tongue.
“Hello, hello? Are you there, dear?”
Gerri? Desiree sagged against the wall.
Hunter strode to her. She put out her hand and mouthed, “It’s Gerri.”
Mike hammered away.
Torn between him and her, Hunter stayed put.
“Hi.” Desiree padded toward her bedroom. “Why are you calling?”
“Did I wake you? I thought you stayed up most of the night because of your show and being wound up after it, trying to help those poor listeners who have so many problems.”
“I am. That is, I do, but—”
“Are you with Hunter now? Are you two in bed? Oh no. Is his cock deep inside—”
“Would I be talking to you or anyone if it was…if we were…if…”
“It’s called making love or screwing, dear. Either works for me. And I would hope you wouldn’t be the kind who absolutely must answer a phone or look at your computer to the exclusion of interacting with someone in the flesh, as it were. That is so rude.” She sniffed. “But back to your problem. Why isn’t Hunter’s rod deep inside your mouth or pussy, making you happy?”
Desiree breathed hard and kept her voice as quiet as she could. “Excuse. Me?”
Gerri clucked her tongue. “No need to be dramatic or surly, dear. I know you two like each other. I don’t make mistakes when I match. You love him, don’t you? And he loves you.”
Holy fucking hell. “Negative on both counts. Want to know why? I’m a freaking vampire.”
“You’re lying about your feelings, but we’ll address that later. What does your undead state have to do with anything?”
Hunter and Gerri had to be related. They both owned the same stubborn streak and a refusal to accept cold, hard facts. “I suck blood, or at least crave it. I can turn into a bat, which isn’t pretty. My kind has been reviled throughout history, despite those sappy Twilight movies. Chalk that up to adolescent girls believing anything no matter how goofy.”
“I agree, but those aren’t good reasons as to why you and Hunter can’t work out, now are they?”
A scream rose to Desiree’s throat. She fought to keep it down. “You’re right. They aren’t, but here’s one. I can’t give him a family, all right?”
“How can you be so sure?”
She pressed her forehead against the wall. “I’m dead. That’s how.”
More tongue clucking. “You’re looking at this the wrong way. Family is simply and purely people who love you, nothing more or less. I’m sure Hunter will guide you in the correct direction, if you’ll only listen. You do adore him. I hear it in your voice. I’m so pleased, though hardly surprised given my track record.” She chuckled. “I hope you’ll consider filming an infomercial for PDA about you two for your show.”
This is nuts.
“Dear, are you still there?”
Barely. As Mike worked on the window, Hunter stood close to him, speaking too softly to overhear, a determined look in his eyes.
Hunter kept his back to the hall and Desiree as he talked to Mike. “I don’t care what it takes, I want everything you and the guys can find on Brooke Ayers, right down to how much she weighed when she was born or hatched.”
“Got it.”
“Have it to me by noon, no later, along with a plan on how to trap her. Call Nolan and Kylar for insight into what her moves might be.”
Shock crossed Mike’s face. “We’re working with vampires now?”
Being in love with one had changed everything for Hunter. He frowned. “We use whatever resources we can to accomplish our goal. No burns or talking shit when it comes to the undead, especially around Desiree. Understand?”
Mike’s gaze darted to her. “Completely.”
“When you’re back at the office, tell the other guys, too. Also, I want a 24/7 detail outside this apartment building, watching this unit. Anyone or anything, especially a bat, nears this place, the men are to stop it whatever way they can and call me.”
“Done.”
Phone in hand, Hunter speed-dialed Francisco, the head warlock in his New Orleans group.
Even this late, or early, he answered immediately. “Hunter. What’s up?”
“Have a question. Actually, a problem.”
“I’m here to help whatever way I can.”
That’s what Hunter wanted to hear. He opened the door and stepped into the hall.
Hurried footsteps followed.
Before Desiree could join him, Hunter pushed his head into the living room, their mouths close, breaths colliding. “You need to stay inside.”
“Who are you talking to?”
“Not Brooke, all right? Do you believe me? Better still, do you trust me to do what’s right by both of us and not make matters worse?”
She chewed her lip. “I know you’ll try…”
“Then you think Brooke is smarter than I am?”
“She’s out of control and has lunacy on her side. She has no fear.”
He thumbed chocolate from Desiree’s mouth. “If that were true, she wouldn’t have split tonight when she saw me. Ever hear the old saying, there’s a method to the madness? Even if she seems unpredictable, she isn’t. If she’s not outside watching this place, then she’s somewhere listening to your program when it’s on. As soon as my men get her phone records to know where her calls are pinging from, we’ll have a map detailing her movements. My guess is she doesn’t venture far from here and you during the day or night.”
�
��Is it really that easy?”
It was, unless Brooke didn’t have her smartphone on her while she was outside this place or wherever the hell else she lurked. Please, not that. “It is. So, stay where you are, all right?”
She nodded.
The moment she stepped back, he closed the door and strode down the hall. “I’m back.”
Francisco hmm’d. “Who was that?”
“Doesn’t matter. To your knowledge is it possible for a vampire to blush?”
“Huh?” Francisco laughed. “Not that I know of. Every one I’ve seen is pasty.”
“Can you or a witch cast a spell or concoct a potion to make a vamp’s face color?”
“Beats me. Hang on. I’ll call Stella and put her in conference with us.”
She joined them in seconds. Hunter repeated his questions.
“I’ve never heard of such a thing, and I’ve been around forever.” Her raspy voice proved it. “Are you sure the person you’re talking about is actually undead.”
Hunter kneaded his aching shoulder. “Yeah. I saw her fangs, and she morphed into a bat.”
Francisco whistled. “Maybe she’s a new breed. A genetic deviation.”
Or something else Hunter hoped for. “Is it possible to undo a vampire bite? That is, to become mortal again through inherent goodness and someone else’s love?”
Silence.
“Hey guys.” He gripped his phone hard enough to make the casing squeak. “Help me out here. I’m serious.”
Francisco spoke. “If that’s what happened, or is happening to her, it’s news to me. Stella?”
“Same here. Are you in love with a bloodsucker, Hunter?”
He closed his eyes. Telling Desiree his innermost thoughts and baring his soul to her was one thing. For anyone else, he’d cut out his damn tongue first. “Can either of you or those you know cast a spell or produce a potion to change a vampire back to a mortal state?”
“No.”
They’d answered at the same time and far too quickly.
He rested his arm against the wall, his forehead pressed to it. “Fine, okay, you win. I’m in love, all right? She’s my mate. It’s killing her that she can’t have children any longer. It’s destroying me to see her in such agony. If anything happens to her… Fuck, I’ll die. Help me out here.”
Stella cleared her throat. “I could research spells and potions. You can, too, right, Francisco?”
“Absolutely.”
“Do it fast.” Hunter pushed away from the wall and paced. “Also, I need incantations and brews to fight her bloodlust.”
Francisco made a troubled sound. “She’s not trying to sink her fangs into you, is—”
“Don’t even think it, understand?” Hunter stilled. “She’d off herself before harming me or anyone else for that matter. Ergo, the problem. I’d gladly be her blood slave or become undead for her, but she won’t have it.”
They didn’t comment.
He hardly cared. “Can you do this for me?”
“On it.” Stella’s aged voice soothed. “I’ll call a coven immediately.”
“Thanks. Francisco?”
“I’ll get my bros together and see what we can do.”
“Hurry, please.”
“You got it.”
Hunter ended the call.
A young man approached, three heaping sacks from New Moon hanging from his arms.
Hunter gestured him to Desiree’s door. Once he added a generous tip and signed the bill, he slipped inside.
Desiree and Mike sat facing each other, the window repair forgotten, his head down, shoulders slumped.
Damn. She should work for Hunter’s business, interrogating stalkers until they knuckled under and became upstanding citizens. He cleared his throat.
Mike flinched and reddened.
She squeezed his shoulder then gave Hunter a peeved look.
Now he was on trial when she was picking his staffer’s brain for whatever she wanted to know? He longed to ask but, instead, lifted the bags in surrender. “Chocolate time.”
“In a minute. Mike’s got a problem. It’s personal.” She jerked her head like she wanted Hunter gone. “Do you mind?”
He couldn’t believe this was happening and lowered the sacks. “You expect me to leave?”
“Just from this area. There’s a TV in the bedroom. I have all the cable channels, even sports. When I’m done, I’ll call for you.”
Given Mike’s crestfallen face that could be hours from now. Hunter glared at him.
Desiree jabbed her thumb at the bedroom.
After dropping the bags on her kitchen table, he stormed away. Rather than watching the tube, he paced the room, scouring his mind for anyone else he could call to help find Brooke, return Desiree’s mortality, and if not that, make certain she gained an aversion to blood rather than an affinity for it.
A name popped up. He speed-dialed the number.
“Hunter!” Gerri gushed her greeting. “How are you?”
“Horrible. I need help fast.”
“Uh-uh.” She sniffed. “If you think I’m going to help you get over Desiree, you are dead wrong. You needed to be mated, and she’s perfect for you. It’s my guess you crave her as you never have another woman, and not only for her personality or smarts, but her figure, too. Given her publicity shots, you’re one lucky dude. Her ass. Those boobs. Wow. So don’t you dare tell me your dick is limp around her. I won’t believe it.”
He pinched his nose. “And I wouldn’t blame you, because you were right all along. I adore her. She’s my mate. I’ll never want anyone else.”
“Of course not.” She cleared her throat delicately. “So, why do you need my help? Is it because she can’t have children?”
“She told you that?”
“Of course. It hurts her terribly, but I said you’d convince her this isn’t the end of the world. It isn’t, you know. Use your head, man. The answer to her and your problem is staring you in the face, if you’d only look.”
He had and didn’t see it. “You mean you helping me?”
“No.” She sighed loudly. “How could I help with that?”
“By changing Desiree back to a mortal state.”
“What? Impossible. It can’t be done.”
Just what he needed, more pessimism. “Not you doing the actual transformation.” He sagged against the bathroom door. “But maybe someone you know pitching in. You’ve mated hundreds of paras and—”
“Thousands. The current count is on the PDA website, if you ever bothered to look at it.”
He gritted his teeth. “I swear I’ll read every line when we’re through here, but right now, I need you to ask whatever witch, warlock, and vampire you know if there is any way on earth to give Desiree her life back.”
“Are you certain you want that?”
“Why in the fuck wouldn’t I?” He squeezed his fist. “I want her happy. I’d give my own life to see her free and return to the woman she once was.”
“That hasn’t changed, only her undead state and attitude has, which I must say is awful. She needs more positivity in her life, but won’t get it if she turns mortal again.”
He threw up his hand. “Why not?”
“If she’s mortal and you’re a shifter, she’ll die when she’s eighty or so while you’ll have thousands of years to get through without her.”
Another complication he hadn’t considered. His legs gave out. He sank to the bed. “Fuck.”
“Exactly.”
“No, wait. I still want to try. Millennia with me might not be what she thinks or truly wants. I’m willing to sacrifice my happiness for hers. Will you please ask your former and current clients if they know any way to help in this? If not them, then those guys on Nova Aurora or any other planet you’ve visited. Their technology rocks. Surely they or someone in this damn universe has the key to changing this.”
“Have you told Desiree you’re asking around about it?”
“I’d rather not
until I have a positive answer. Then I can give her a great surprise.”
“Or another dilemma. Right now, she believes she has no choice except to be a vampire. If you give her an option between that and being mortal, then having children only to see them and you hurt when she dies younger than the rest of you and you’re forced to continue without her, what do you think her answer will be?”
Five
Desiree counseled Mike on a problem that had torn him apart for too long. Having given him some peace, she called out twice to Hunter.
No answer.
Either he’d fallen asleep or was still miffed she’d shooed him away. Curious as to which, she checked the bedroom.
He sat on her bed, arms resting on his knees, fingers laced, head down.
An ordinary man might have been praying. Uncertain what he was doing, she touched his shoulder.
He started and looked up.
“Hey.” She swallowed the chocolate in her mouth and pushed her remaining brownie inside, talking around it. “You okay?”
His smile looked sadder than hell.
Frightened, she sat next to him. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” He shook off his grim mood and rested his hand on her thigh. “Everything okay with Mike?”
Not until he gathered enough courage to tell his family and colleagues he was gay. A sad commentary on this supposedly advanced century when people still couldn’t find comfort in being the way they were born. At times, civilization seemed to race backwards rather than learning from its earlier mistakes, allowing everyone to merely live their life and find happiness where they could. “We finished talking. I called twice, but you didn’t answer.”
“Must not have heard you.”
Her apartment was little more than seven hundred square feet, not Buckingham Palace where they’d need an intercom to communicate.
Hunter glanced at the hall and craned his neck. “Mike still here?”
“He finished a few minutes ago. I let him out. He and the guy guarding my front door exchanged hellos. He probably did the same with the incredible hulks loitering near my other windows.”
