A few minutes passed, and with each second, Dakota grew stronger. At the same time, Gatlin was starting to fade. He slumped to a sitting position and his eyes fluttered closed, all the color draining from his face. Trixie helped Dakota sit up as he released Gatlin’s arm and licked the wound closed. She barely noticed when Gatlin crawled over to the base of one of the trees, seeking out the protective shade.
Without waiting for Dakota to say a word, she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly, her mind instantly seeking out his. I almost lost you. She pressed her face into the crook of his neck and squeezed her eyes shut, reveling in the feel of his strong body and the beautiful, comforting scent of sandalwood.
Dakota pulled back and cradled her face in his hands. He pressed a firm kiss to her lips, and when his mind slipped into hers, she almost wept with relief. Baby, you ain’t never gettin’ rid of me.
Trixie giggled and rested her forehead against his. She was so caught up in the feel of him that it took her a moment to realize that the sun had risen. A delicious blanket of warmth, one she vaguely could recall from her human life, spread slowly over them. Trixie linked her fingers with his. Golden rays of sunlight danced over their intertwined hands, and for the first time in decades, neither of them was burned by it.
“Oh my God,” Trixie said with pure wonder. “It worked. The bloodmate bond worked.”
“See that, woman.” Dakota pushed himself to his feet with a grunt and pulled her up with him. “Now you’re never gettin’ away. Daytime. Nighttime. Darlin’, I’m not gonna give you a moment’s peace.”
“You better not.” Trixie punched him playfully in the gut, but her smile faded quickly when she spotted Gatlin. “We might be daywalkers, but Gatlin isn’t.”
Dakota and Trixie went to him and as the sun began to peek through the leaves, it was clear that Gatlin was no longer immune to the sunlight. Whatever spell Pilar had cast all those years ago was long gone.
“What can I do?” Dakota asked. His eyes were rimmed with empathy as he laid a hand on Gatlin’s shoulder. “After what you did for me. How can I repay you?”
“Let’s call it even,” Gatlin bit out. “No one owes me anything.”
A look of understanding passed between the two men and Trixie knew that there had to be more to Gatlin’s story. Now that Dakota had read his blood memories, he seemed to have sympathy for him.
“Help me up.” Gatlin gritted his teeth. Trixie and Dakota each took a hand and helped him to his feet. “I will not die sitting on my ass.”
“Die?” Trixie looked from Gatlin to Dakota, whose expression was grim. “What are you talking about? What about Chelsea and Rebecca?”
“They’ll have both of you.” Gatlin limped away and put his hand up when they tried to stop him. He shuffled closer to the encroaching sunlight and a green glow began to emanate from his body. “I’ve caused enough misery for one lifetime. He knows how to get into the Dome now.” He stood taller and flicked his serious dark eyes to Dakota. “You tell them what happened. Will you? Tell Queen Alana that I tried to make it right. Promise me that you’ll return the gold to them and tell my story. I never meant for anyone to get hurt.”
“I will.” Dakota tilted his head in deference and linked his arm around Trixie’s waist. “You have my word.”
“Hang on,” Trixie shouted. “What about Chelsea? What do I tell her?”
“You tell her that I love her.” He clutched his side and grimaced but continued toward the sunlight. “When we met that first time at the coffee shop to talk about the coin…she flashed that beautiful smile and I was a goner.” He sighed. “It was like she flipped a switch inside me. Woke me up. I think I fell in love with her that afternoon.”
“You should be the one to tell her all of this,” Trixie pleaded.
“No more time.” His boots touched the edge of the shade line and he cast one last glance at Trixie over his shoulder. A sad smile curved his lips. “I do love them, you know. Please make sure Chelsea and Rebecca know that.”
Trixie moved to stop him, but Gatlin stepped into the sun, and an emerald-green light erupted from him. He shifted into his gargoyle form and spread his massive wings wide. A crackling sound split the early morning air. The sunlight shining over his weakened form grew stronger, and a split second later, two massive fissures rippled up Gatlin’s stone body.
As the sun moved higher in the sky, Gatlin’s body exploded, then crumbled into a pile of dust.
A combination of sadness and relief settled in Trixie’s chest as she snuggled deeper into Dakota’s strong embrace. Gatlin gave his life to save Dakota. It was a clear example that mistakes and poor choices from the past didn’t have to define the future. Gatlin may not have lived most of his life like an honorable man, but he chose to die like one. Would that be enough to soothe Chelsea’s broken heart? And what about the baby? Rebecca would never know her father.
“Please tell me that you know where the baby is,” Trixie said, grimacing. She pulled back to look him in the face, and when his eyes crinkled at the corners, relief flooded her. But that was quickly replaced by excitement. “Well, don’t keep me in suspense. Where is my granddaughter?”
“She’s with Hector and Addie. The boy went old-school and put her in a basket on their front porch with a note sayin’ she belonged with you and me.” Dakota squinted in the sunlight. “Gatlin knew what the endgame would be, what it had to be.”
“The endgame for him, sure.” Trixie hugged him tightly and peered at the Dome, a shudder rippling through her. “But what about for us? What if the gargoyles and the emperor aren’t as forgiving as we hope they are?”
“How about we get on over to the ranch and see that baby girl?” He kissed the top of her head before tangling her hand with his. “Once we get the ball rolling to bring the gold back to the gargoyles, I’m going to have my hands full with Presidium politics. I say we take one more day…and one more night…just for us.”
Trixie nodded but said nothing. If she tried to speak, she’d start blubbering again like a lovesick teenage girl. He squeezed her hand and sadness flickered behind those pale blue eyes before he led her into the sunlight and toward an uncertain future.
Chapter 19
Luckily, Hector and Addie had heard the baby crying within a few minutes of Gatlin leaving her on the porch. They’d brought her in and Addie immediately went about fixing her up a bottle with some of the formula that was in the bag. When Dakota and Trixie got back to the house, it was as if the baby had always been there. Addie and Hector were doting on little Rebecca like she was their own. Dakota even caught cranky old Hector making silly faces at her.
Dakota leaned against the wall with his arms folded over his chest, taking in the oddly normal scene, but he couldn’t stop stealing looks at Trixie. She was curled up on the couch with the baby in her arms. That’s where she’d been since they got back to the house hours ago. The expression on her face was one of pure peace and love. It was the first time he’d seen Trixie look totally and completely at ease, and he was pretty sure he could watch her hold that baby every minute of every hour of every day for the rest of his existence.
To say she was in her glory would have been an understatement. But the truth was, so was he. He never thought he’d have a family like this once he’d been turned vamp. The joy was only tempered by the fact that his undead life was probably on borrowed time.
Dakota had already spoken with Olivia, and it wasn’t looking good for him. He’d told her what had happened and what he and Trixie planned on doing with the gold, but she didn’t seem overly optimistic about his future. All he knew was that Emperor Zhao was on route to the States and wanted to speak with Dakota face-to-face.
Great. The most powerful vampire in the world was pissed at him. This was exactly his kind of luck. Here he finally had the family he never dared dream possible, and a three-thousand-year-old vampire was comi
ng to New York to execute him.
He was screwed.
“Now, Dakota,” Addie said sweetly. She was wiping down the big table, cleaning up after dinner, when she flicked her big eyes to his. “Gettin’ a sweet baby girl dropped on my porch before sunup was more than enough surprise for one day, but when you and Trixie came strollin’ up to the house in the light of day?” She waved a hand like she was having heatstroke. “Well, that almost had me thinkin’ I was hallucinatin’!”
“Sorry, Addie.” Dakota took off his long coat and draped it over the back of the large sectional. He smiled at Trixie and reminded himself that Hector and Addie didn’t know about the gargoyles or little Rebecca’s true parentage. “It looks like our visit has caused you two more stress than I intended.”
“No worries,” Addie said with a nervous laugh. She wrung the dish towel between her pudgy hands and hurried back into the kitchen. “Does that mean y’all are cured?”
“No, ma’am.” Dakota settled his hands on his hips and chose his words carefully. “Let’s just say that me and Trixie got an extra bonus. Sunlight isn’t a problem for us anymore, and I want to assure you that we’ll be out of your hair tomorrow. We have one more item to take care of before we head back to the city with little Rebecca.”
“She’s your granddaughter, Trixie?” Addie’s confused expression was almost comical. “Is that right?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Trixie shifted her position and put the baby on her shoulder, gently patting her back. She peered across the room at Dakota and smirked. “But she’s just a regular human baby. She’s one of my descendants and I’m going to take her back to New York City to her mama. Her daddy couldn’t take care of her anymore.”
Silence filled the house for a few moments, but Dakota didn’t miss the look that Hector and Addie exchanged. Hector was finishing his dinner, and as usual, he hadn’t said much all day.
“I see y’all got that book about the town’s history and downloaded it on the computer.” Hector pushed himself away from the table and hitched up his pants. “Anythin’ interestin’ in there? I’ve been meanin’ to read it myself.”
“Thank you for that, but no…nothin’ of any interest really.” Dakota shook his head slowly, but a tickle of warning flickered up his back. “I just thought it would be fun for Trixie to learn more about where I grew up. After all, the Shelton family has been here for generations.”
“It surely has,” Hector said quietly as he grabbed his hat by the front door before pulling on his coat. “There’s been a Shelton here since the town rose up out of the dirt.” He tugged the door open and a brisk wind blew in, prompting Trixie to cuddle the baby back into her arms. She cooed and tightened the pink blanket around the sleeping infant. “I best be gettin’ back out to the horses. Miguel already headed home for the day. Thanks for dinner, Addie.”
The sun was beginning to set, and even though Dakota would like nothing more than to let Trixie hold Rebecca through the night, there was one more job to do. They had to get that gold and return it to the gargoyles beneath the Dome.
He rose to his feet and touched her mind with his. Time to go, darlin’.
“Already?” Trixie’s shoulders sagged but she nodded her agreement. She carried Rebecca into the kitchen and passed the adorable little bundle to Addie. “She finished that whole bottle and burped a bunch. She should sleep for a while. I can come back and get her later,” she added quickly.
“Don’t be silly,” Addie cooed. She kissed the baby’s forehead and kept her voice to a whisper. “You two go do what you need to do. She’ll be just fine. Babies need a schedule and some normalcy. No point in shufflin’ her around tonight. I’ll put her bassinet in the guest room and sleep in there with her.”
“Will Hector be okay with that?” Trixie asked.
“Oh please.” Addie rolled her eyes. “He probably won’t even notice I’m not there. The man sleeps like a log and snores like a freight train. Besides, the Lord never blessed us with a baby of our own. It’ll be fun for me.”
With Trixie’s hand planted firmly in his, Dakota practically dragged the woman out of the house and down the steps. That didn’t stop her from repeatedly looking over her shoulder and nibbling on her lower lip, the sweet gesture that belied her nervousness.
“She’ll be fine, darlin’.” He brought her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss there. “And you need to focus.”
“I know.” Trixie sighed. “But after everything that’s happened, I hate to let her out of my sight.”
“Then let’s do what we need to do so we can get on with our future.”
Once they were past the barn and had hiked over the ridge, putting the ranch house and the barns out of sight, Trixie and Dakota leaped into the early evening air. The sun had finally dipped below the horizon and the stars were beginning to glimmer in the deep purple sky. Being able to walk in the sun again had been wonderful, especially with Trixie by his side, but Dakota would never tire of the night. Evening was peaceful and comforting, and he hoped like hell that the emperor would have mercy on him so he could enjoy many more nights like this one with Trixie.
They landed quietly by the pyramid of rocks, and as far as Dakota could tell, it looked exactly like they had left it hours ago. Trixie rubbed her palms on her jean-covered thighs and cautiously approached. He scanned the area, assuring there was no imminent threat, and provided cover for her while she knelt next to the rock formation.
Unlike before, this time nothing happened.
“Now what?” Trixie sat on her heels and glowered at the pyramid. “Maybe I needed the gold to open this thing up.”
“Damned if I know, darlin’.” He holstered his weapon and rubbed his hands together before waving her away. “Maybe what we need is some good old-fashioned brute strength.”
“Right,” Trixie snorted with laughter. “This pile of gold is hidden with a witch whammy, and you think you’re just gonna knock these over like bowling pins?”
“Can’t hurt to try.”
Dakota spit on both hands and rubbed them together before using all of his strength to try to push one of the rocks aside. He grunted and strained but the damn thing didn’t move an inch.
“Well, shit.” He dropped his arms to his sides and stepped back, feeling more than a bit embarrassed. Avoiding Trixie’s gaze, he rolled his shoulder, which was actually feeling strained from the effort. “It’s the spell… Has to be.”
“Uh-huh.” Trixie smirked and patted him on the arm. “It’s okay, babe. I know you’re strong. Let me try something.” Trixie stepped between Dakota and the pyramid, raising her hands so they were just inches from the boulders. She closed her eyes. “Maybe if I imagine the rocks opening up, just like they did before…” Her barely audible voice trailed off and her focus was intense.
Within seconds, Dakota detected a subtle pulse in the air that rippled and throbbed off Trixie’s body, much like it had with the computer. He took a few steps back, wanting to give her space. As the waves of energy increased, the earth began to shake.
“You’re doin’ it, Trix,” Dakota whispered. “It’s working.” His chest puffed up with pride as the rocks opened up and revealed the treasure hidden within.
When the massive boulders slammed onto the ground, Trixie’s arms dropped to her sides and she wavered on her feet. Dakota caught her before she fainted.
“Trixie?” He knelt down and cradled her in his lap, while trying to shove aside the cold finger of dread. “You did it…baby?” His gut clenched with fear when she didn’t respond right away, but a few seconds later, those gorgeous brown eyes fluttered open.
“Oh, hey,” she murmured, a small smile curving her lips “Did it work?”
“It sure did. But if you’re gonna pass out when you use your witchy wiles, I’d just as soon you didn’t pursue that particular hobby.” He helped her to a sitting position and tapped the tip of her nose.
“I like my women to be conscious, thank you very much. Even if you do enjoy fightin’ with me half the time.”
“Oh, please. You love it.” She rolled her eyes and pushed her blond-and-blue-streaked hair off her face before pushing herself to her feet. “Is all the gold still—” She stopped mid-sentence and her body went completely still. Trixie’s hand curled around his and she inched closer as the distinct scent of gargoyle rushed over them. We’ve got company.
Gargoyles. Definitely more than one. I’m bettin’ on several by the smell of it. Dakota slowly removed the gun from his holster and lowered it to his side as he scanned the area. But even with his night vision, he saw nothing. No pain this time?
No. Now it’s more like a tingling in my belly, but it’s not painful. Trixie shook her head, but he could feel the tension in her body as she inched closer to him. This is so weird. I don’t know what’s going on. Maybe we should just go and let them take the gold.
No way. Dakota caught sight of movement above them and the unmistakable sound of wings filled the air. We don’t know who they are, and there’s no guarantee they’ll take it back to the gargoyles in the Dome.
Before she could answer him, two massive gargoyles swept down and landed in front of them, their wings spread wide. They were bigger than the others he’d seen recently. Each of them stood over six feet tall and had a ten-foot wingspan. Seconds later two more hulking beasts landed behind Dakota and Trixie, along with one on either side.
We’re in trouble, darlin’. Dakota’s gruff voice sounded in her head as pulled her into his embrace and held her tightly against him. We’re surrounded. I count at least six.
Something is definitely different. Their eyes aren’t glowing. The two at the club, their eyes glowed yellow and so did Henry’s last night. Trixie looked around at the six massive creatures. Moving slowly, obviously not wanting to incite the creatures, she slipped from Dakota’s arms and turned so that they stood back to back. Why aren’t they attacking us?
Good, the Bad, and the Vampire Page 22
