Craig's Heart

by N. J. Walters

  She’d never been this frightened in her life, not even when the monster had stalked and attacked her. She had a feeling Damek would laugh at the power of the creature that had made her. She didn’t know if she should be comforted by that fact or scared out of her mind. Right now, she was terrified. Maybe if she survived the next few minutes she might find some comfort in the idea of Damek’s power.

  “Let me do this.”

  Evie knew Damek didn’t need her permission, but he was asking for Craig’s sake. Craig gave her shoulders a squeeze. Evie nodded, knowing she really had no other choice. If she didn’t allow him into her mind, he’d do it anyway. And she had a feeling that wouldn’t be a pleasant experience.

  The corners of Damek’s mouth turned upward and his lips parted to reveal gleaming, white fangs.

  Pain lanced through her skull. It felt as though a giant fist was burrowing inward. She would have fallen to her knees but Craig gripped her, holding her upright. “You’re hurting her,” Craig accused his friend.

  “She’s fighting me.” Damek’s tone was one of total indifference.

  “Don’t fight him, Evie,” Craig pleaded. “It doesn’t have to be this way. Relax. I’ve got you.”

  She let go then. What did it matter what happened to her? While she wanted to destroy the one who’d done this to her, she didn’t fear death. It was preferable to the way she’d been living. Hiding in a vacant building during the daylight, scavenging the back alleys for drunks or addicts so she could have enough blood to survive. She was no different than the rats that slunk around the dumpsters of the city.

  The minute she stopped fighting, the pain stopped. Her memories rolled backward like a reel of film, stopping when it got to the point just before the attack. She watched, totally detached as her life played forward. She flinched when the monster attacked, but it didn’t really touch her, not now. She felt removed from it all.

  She hated having to watch herself in the alley, drinking from Craig when all he’d wanted to do was help her. She’d sunk lower than she’d thought she ever could. The memories played by at the speed of light, but she saw them all.

  Finally, it was done, and she felt the second Damek pulled out of her memories. It was downright freaky to know that someone else was in her mind with her. A heaviness lifted and she was alone with her own thoughts once again.

  Damek stared down at her and sighed. “This complicates things.”

  “It wasn’t her fault.” Craig pulled her against his chest, and this time she couldn’t resist burrowing closer to his heat. She was so cold and couldn’t seem to regulate her body heat.

  “You need to feed. Both of you.” Damek glanced at his watch. “You’re coming home with me.” He frowned at Craig. “Your brother and sister are back in the city and they’re looking for you.”

  “Shit.” Craig’s arms tightened around her. “I can’t go home. Not yet.”

  “Quinn and Chrissten love you.”

  Evie found herself fascinated by the conversation between the two men, or rather vampires. One young and one old, yet you could really feel the bonds of friendship between them.

  “I know, but can they accept this?” Craig motioned to himself. “I’m not sure they’ll understand.”

  Damek’s expression hardened and Evie shivered. She did not want to be this man’s enemy.

  “If they do not understand after all you’ve sacrificed for them, then it is they who are not worthy of you.” Damek turned and started toward the door of the abandoned building. “Come. My car is waiting outside.”

  Damek walked away, fully assured they would follow him. And he was right. They really had nowhere else to go. Evie took one last glance around the dark, empty room and put one foot in front of the other.

  Craig leaned his head back against the leather seat and tried to stay awake. It wasn’t easy. Exhaustion pulled at him, but he didn’t want to sleep. Not until he knew he and Evie were safe.

  True to his word, Damek’s car had been idling outside the building, the driver waiting patiently. The vehicle wasn’t quite as large as a limo, but it was close. Evie was sitting next to him, her entire body rigid. Her eyes were on Damek as though she were afraid to blink.

  “Everything will be okay,” he promised her.

  She shook her head. “You keep saying that, but I don’t see how it can be.”

  “We’re safe for now, and we’ll have some time to learn to control our new powers and the bloodlust.” At least Craig hoped they would.

  Damek leaned back against the seat opposite them, his expression grim. “I would not wish this on you, my friend.”

  “I know. But it’s happened and I have to deal with it.” Craig’s life as he knew it was over. That was hard to swallow, but then again, he hadn’t had much of a life of his own to begin with. His entire existence had been wrapped up in protecting his siblings and keeping their secret safe. It wasn’t as though his job would be affected. He worked for himself.

  What would his family think of him now? Not just Quinn and Chrissten, but his extended family at Haven. They were all werewolves and he was now a vampire.

  Damek removed his phone from his pocket and hit a button. Craig was amazed how easily he could hear both sides of the conversation.

  “Did you find him?” It was Meredith and she sounded upset.

  “I have him.” Damek ignored her questions and spoke over her. “Inform his brother and sister. There is a slight problem and Craig will be staying with me for a few days.”

  Damek looked at him and raised one dark eyebrow in question. Craig shook his head. Maybe it was cowardly, but he didn’t want to talk to anyone. Not yet. Not until he fully came to grips with what he now was and what that meant for his future.

  “He will call them when he can. Tell them he is safe.” Damek ignored the questions Meredith fired his way, ended the call and tucked his phone away. “You know that will not keep them away for long. They don’t know where my home is, but I have no doubt they will eventually find it.”

  Craig glanced at Evie who was carefully listening to their conversation. Her eyes were wide with questions, but she didn’t say a word.

  “I know. But it’s the best I can offer them for now. I need to understand myself.” Craig reached out and took Evie’s hand in his. “And I need to help Evie.”

  Damek studied them both and sighed. “I was afraid of that.” The vehicle turned and pulled into a closed parking garage beneath a tall building. “We’re here.” The car came to a stop next to an elevator. Damek climbed out and held the door for them.

  Craig stepped out and helped Evie exit. She was swaying on her feet and Craig could sense the fatigue pulling at her. The longer they were together, the more in tune he was becoming to her feelings and moods. It was strange to understand so much about a person without really knowing them or even having to look at them. He was just very aware of her at all times.

  He wondered if she was feeling the same with him or if it was all one-sided?

  “This way.” Damek motioned them inside the elevator. They stepped inside and the doors silently shut behind them.

  Evie swallowed hard and fought down the panic welling up inside her. Who was Damek, besides being a vampire, and where was he really taking them? Craig might be safe with his friend, but she was under no such illusions. Damek didn’t like her, didn’t like what she’d done to Craig, and she couldn’t blame him. She didn’t like what she’d done to him either.

  Craig stood by her side, his sandy-brown hair disheveled and his blue eyes half closed. His heart was barely beating, yet he was alive. Just like her. She couldn’t sense Damek’s heartbeat at all.

  She didn’t want to notice how nice it felt when Craig slipped his fingers around hers and held her hand. Nor did she want to notice how his heat warmed her.

  He was uncertain about his future, but not truly afraid. That amazed her. She’d been utterly terrified when she’d discovered what she’d become. Of course, he’d already known vampires e
xisted, so maybe that made it easier for him to accept that he was now one himself.

  Evie didn’t know what to think. Her life had become a roller coaster of nightmares and endless nights. She missed the sunlight.

  Damek turned dark, soulless eyes on her and she shrank back before she could stop herself. But any sane person would run from the threat in the vampire’s gaze. “My mate is home. If you make any motion to harm her, I will kill you.”

  Craig scowled. “Is that really necessary? Neither of us is going to hurt Sonia.” He offered her a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “You’ll like Sonia, she’s great.”

  Evie didn’t know what to expect when they exited the elevator and stepped into a small foyer that contained one door. Damek placed his palm over a fancy metal plate and the door opened. He stepped inside and held it for them.

  The elevator door closed behind them and a quick glance confirmed her suspicion. Another palm plate. This place had more security than her bank. There were no windows in the foyer. No other way out. The only direction to go was forward.

  Craig’s hand was warm against her spine, urging her inward.

  Evie took a deep, steadying breath and marched into the room. The door banged shut behind them and she heard several locks engage.

  “You’re home.” The woman’s voice was deep and full. Evie blinked at the slender woman with curly black hair and gray eyes who hurried toward them, her arms wide open. But it wasn’t Damek she hugged, it was Craig.

  Evie felt her hackles rise and she had to fight the urge to pull Craig away from the other woman. She felt…jealous. Which was ridiculous. She had no real relationship with Craig, no hold on him.

  “I’m so glad you’re okay. Damek’s been worried sick.”

  “Sonia.” The warning in Damek’s voice was clear, but Sonia ignored it.

  “I’m so happy you’re safe.” Sonia paused and slowly stepped back from Craig. Her smile disappeared and worry entered her gaze. “You’re not okay, are you?” Sonia glanced Evie’s way. “Oh no.”

  “It seems our friend has had a slight mishap.” Damek pulled his mate to his side. The action reminded Evie of a lion protecting its next meal. There was no doubt Sonia belonged to this powerful creature.

  “A slight mishap,” Sonia repeated. “A slight mishap is when you trip going down the stairs or maybe drop your cell phone in the sink. Being turned into a vampire is a bit more than that.”

  “Can we maybe sit down and talk about this.” Craig swayed on his feet.

  Damek was by his side in a blink. “Come this way, my friend. You need to feed and you need to rest.” Damek lifted Craig into his arms as if he were no more than a child and not a grown man at all. He carried him down a hallway even as Craig protested he could walk. Evie followed, not wanting to let Craig out of her sight.

  She was very aware of Sonia following behind them.

  The room they entered was more luxurious than anything she’d ever seen. It was as big as her entire studio apartment, but there was no window. Damek set Craig down on a king-sized bed and removed his boots and socks and then his jacket.

  “I’m not an infant you know?” But Craig said it with a smile.

  “You are compared to me, my friend,” Damek shot back.

  Craig chuckled. “I guess so, but I’m not calling you dad,” he joked. “I’m so damn tired.”

  “That will pass,” Damek promised. He turned to his mate. “They need blood.”

  “I’m on it.” Sonia quickly left the room.

  Evie swallowed hard. Did they have people chained up somewhere that they fed on?

  Damek whirled on her, his eyes hard. “No, we don’t keep people chained up to feed on. What nonsense.”

  Shit. She’d forgotten he could read her thoughts. Hadn’t imagined anyone could until she’d met this man.

  “Blood banks.” Craig’s words were slurred. He held his hand out to her and she hurried to his side, making a wide circle around Damek. “You okay?” he asked.

  Her heart swelled and her eyes welled with tears. His concern for her touched her deeply. “Yeah, I’m fine. You worry about yourself. I can take care of myself.”

  Craig frowned, but before he could speak, Sonia hurried back into the room. The scent of fresh blood made Evie’s fangs explode and she knew her eyes had turned red. She licked her lips and rose from the bed.

  Damek was in front of her in a heartbeat, holding the glass toward her. “Remember what I said. Make one wrong move toward my wife and your life is over.”

  The threat pushed back the bloodlust like nothing else could. It was still there, lurking, hungry but controllable. Evie licked her lips but waited. Damek handed her the glass and she drank, chugging the entire amount.

  The blood, thick and sweet, rolled over her tongue and down her throat. Every cell in her body expanded, reaching for the life-giving liquid. She moaned at how wonderful it tasted.

  She licked her lips again, not wanting to lose a single drop. “More.”

  Damek shook his head and every muscle in her body tensed, ready to attack. It was only through sheer willpower that she kept from flinging herself at him. It appalled her that she even thought to fight him.

  “Very good.” Damek gave her a nod of approval. “Too much blood too quickly will only incite greater bloodlust. You need to learn to make your feedings small but regular until you are stronger.”

  Evie nodded. This was the kind of thing she needed to learn if she was going to have a chance to survive and find justice for herself and for Craig. If she hadn’t been attacked, she never would have accidentally converted Craig into a vampire.

  “You are only two weeks made. You have exceptional control for one so young who has no mentor guiding her.”

  Well, that was something. Not that she felt as though she was in control. She distinctly felt out of control.

  “You need to rest. Come.”

  Damek started out of the room, but Evie sat on the bed next to Craig and shook her head. “I’m not leaving him.” She kicked off her shoes, removed her thin black coat and tossed it on the chair by the bed.

  Damek studied her carefully. Sonia put her hand on his arm and the two seemed to share some silent communication. “Very well, you may stay. But if you harm him…”

  Evie was getting tired of the threats. “I know. I know. You’ll kill me.” She turned her attention to Sonia. “Does Craig need any blood?”

  The other woman gave her a small smile. “He drank when you did.”

  Shame filled her. She’d been so caught up in getting blood for herself she hadn’t even noticed Sonia helping Craig drink. That was her job.

  Confusion filled her as anger warred with gratitude.

  “Sleep,” Damek told her. He guided his mate out of the room and shut the door behind them. Once again, Evie heard several locks engage. They were locked in, but she was too exhausted to care.

  Sonia was a brave woman to be married to a creature like Damek. He’d called her his wife as well as his mate.

  Craig moaned and Evie immediately forgot the other two vampires. She lay down next to Craig and wrapped her arm around his waist. “I’ll watch over you. Sleep.” She rested her cheek against his back and closed her eyes.

  They both needed a shower and some clean clothes, but now that they’d fed, they needed to rest. The conversion was incredibly hard on a body, and she was shocked Craig had managed to stay on his feet and lucid as long as he had. The night hadn’t been easy on either of them, and Evie could fight sleep no longer. Dawn was swiftly approaching. She closed her eyes and gave herself up to the darkness that beckoned.

  Vladimir tossed aside the body of the unfortunate creature he’d just fed from. Blood pumped through his veins, strengthening him, making him feel alive. He tilted back his head and roared his displeasure.

  She had escaped him.

  It shouldn’t have been possible. Newly made vampires were weak and undisciplined, killing everything in their path. He’d been one
once, a long time ago. He’d even made a few younglings over the years, destroying all of them as unworthy after only a few months.

  But she was different.

  Evie was to be his masterpiece, his creation. He’d gifted her with immortality and how had she repaid him? She’d run, leaving her apartment when he was out feeding.

  It should have been easy to track her. He’d simply follow the trail of dead bodies until he found her gorging herself on some puny human. But there hadn’t been any bodies, nor had there been a blood trail of any sort.

  Vlad sauntered down the alley, scowling as the sky grew lighter in the east. Dawn was only a short ways off. He’d come to hate the sun over the past two hundred years.

  Was Evie dead?

  He touched a hand to his chest and felt the lightest of flutters. No, she was alive. He could feel it in his blood. Blood they shared.

  He would find her. No matter how long it took. And then he would punish her for what she’d done.

  He stepped out onto the street and turned to his right, searching for prey among the shadows. He smiled, his fangs long and sharp, and ran his tongue over one of the sharp tips. He was still hungry. He wasn’t done yet. Not by a longshot.

  Chapter Four

  Craig woke briefly twice during the day. Each time it had been like trying to pull himself out of fast-drying concrete, all but impossible. His body hadn’t wanted to move. He’d panicked for a brief moment until he realized Evie was lying beside him and then fallen back to sleep. It was evening now. The sun had just set in the west, bringing with it darkness.

  He frowned, not liking the idea that she’d become so essential to him even as he pulled her closer. Her head was pillowed on his shoulder, one of her legs thrown across his thighs and her arm rested on his chest.

  His entire life had changed. He took some time to think about how he really felt about things. Worried, for sure. What would his siblings think? Could he adjust to this new life? What changes would he have to make to accommodate his new status?