by Tamsin Baker
“It wouldn’t work.” Hadn’t he learnt from Marie? He hadn’t controlled himself or resisted the blood lust. He’d finally agreed to her pleading, believing she was his mate. With her transformation, he realised his mistake too late and his infatuation had diminished every day. Her well-hidden madness, activated by the change, made her a monster that had caused her ultimate destruction.
“I can’t go through that again.” In his younger years, he’d turned many—both men and women—without concern. Marie’s turning was different and a disaster—it had to have been the mating ritual. He couldn’t do that to Amy. He cared too much to damn her to a life of immortal insanity.
“Because of Marie?” Thierry paused. “How she…”
Etienne nodded.
“I know you loved her at the start. We all knew it was hard to continue with what she became.”
“How do you know it won’t be the same with Amy?”
“We don’t. What if it isn’t?”
No. Etienne fisted his hands. I can’t do that to Amy. I love her too much. He stiffened. Mon Dieu, I love her. She is my mate but I can’t claim her. Make her forever mine.
Etienne rubbed his brow. What if Amy asks me to turn her? His body spasmed. I can’t do that. I won’t. He’d tried that once and it ended in disaster. He couldn’t put Amy or himself through that again.
Amy, you brought light into my life. Such a stunning, brave woman, her vibrant tattoo a reminder of her personal passage through fire. Also a reminder of her illness and drug-tainted, unique blood.
I’ll be damned if I ask her to stay. And she’ll be damned if she stays. Etienne groaned. I have to let her go.
Thierry grimaced. “You’re making this harder for both of you. If you say she’s not your mate, stop seeing her or being near her. Cut the ties now.”
Etienne closed his eyes, heavy resignation swamping him. I love her too much, I must let her go. He opened his eyes and fisted his hands. Life will go on—hers away from me, mine forever on this island. He pointed to the computer screen. “Can you check this email before I send it?”
Thierry paused, as if to say something, then focused on the screen.
It has to be done. His shoulders slumped. I have to stay away from Amy. It’s for the best—for both of us.
Amy pounded down the path, her breathing heavy and her loud, racing heartbeat echoing in her ears. Come on, another few minutes. Humidity blanketed her and she plucked her damp t-shirt away from her chest. I definitely need a cold shower.
She’d spent the past hours wandering around the resort, despite the overcast skies with intermittent rain. Anything to keep my mind off Etienne. Meeting with familiar guests, and also new people helped, many being Etienne’s family outside with the cloudy day. I’m sure they’d disappear in a second if the weather changed.
She shook her head. I still can’t believe I’m on an island resort, met the most wonderful man, and he’s a vampire, the leader of a large vampire family.
She jogged past Olivia’s bungalow, the doors and windows shut. Is she at the tennis game she mentioned yesterday? Or is she in there with someone else? A puff of air escaped her lips. I hope she’s having fun—and staying safe—no matter what she’s doing.
Amy followed a curved path that led through a park area. The same area where she’d seen Adam and that woman. A shudder swam through her, remembering Adam’s eyes and fangs. He scares me. She stopped her in her tracks, bending over with hands on knees and sucked air into her lungs. Yet, Etienne doesn’t. His eyes are seductive, hypnotic, and when he looks at me, oh my. His teeth, long and sharp, fixing to my neck and sucking. In time with his cock slamming into me. Her body heated, clenched, thinking of him, wanting him now. Is he thinking and wanting me as much as I do him?
Stop it. Amy closed her eyes for a moment. Get a grip. You’re leaving tomorrow. This is a holiday fling and nothing more.
Amy pushed through a canopy of palms and the hot, clammy air intensified. Sounds muffled, even the birds fell silent. Her pulse jumped, her senses tingled. One word screamed in her mind. Danger.
A figure stepped from behind two palm trees and grabbed her arm. Amy yelped and yanked away. “No!” I belong to Etienne.
Her shock-clouded sight cleared. “Roger?”
“Hi.”
Anger flooded her. “You scared me.”
“Sorry.” He shuffled from foot to foot.
His tired, grey face seemed thinner, as did his body. He hasn’t enjoyed his holiday. Faded marks covered his right arm. He’s been sharing himself with a few night staff.
Amy stepped back. His slightly crazed gaze flittered around the park. Something wasn’t right. “What’s wrong?”
He lifted a hand to her neck. His eyes widened. “They got you too.”
Amy held still. He knows. How? “Excuse me?”
“I know what’s going on here.”
Her racing heartbeat echoed in her ears. “What do you mean?”
“You know.” Roger laughed, the sound sad and tinged with hysteria. “You must know what your lover boy is.” He examined her. “You do.” He stepped back. “It doesn’t bother you?” He checked around. “They’re monsters.” His voice was a weak, shaky whisper.
“Why do you think that?”
He lifted his arms, palms outstretched. The fading bite marks were more prominent on his pale flesh. “They’re parasites, taking what they want without any concern for us.” Roger dropped his arms and shuddered. “They’ve killed and the world needs to know.”
Horror scorched her heart. “What?”
“They’ve kept their killing secret with their mind tricks but I know. I beat them at their own game.”
What’s he talking about? Amy shook her head. “They don’t kill, they only give mutual pleasure while feeding.” Etienne wouldn’t allow it, would he? Her gut churned. Do you really know him to know the truth?
“There’s one death I know of. Maybe there’s more.” Roger’s face fell, his mouth compressing as if in pain.
“Who?”
“My ex-girlfriend. She came here a year ago and never returned home.”
“Are you sure? If she’s your ex, she might have gone home and not told you.”
“No.” Roger tensed, his hands fisting at his side. “Her parents received a strange phone call saying she was fine and not to worry about her. Then an email saying she’d decided to stay here and start a new life.”
“Maybe she has. Have you seen her around?”
“No, I’ve searched.” He shook his head several times. “Her phone and email are disconnected. Her bank balance is untouched.”
She sighed. “I’m sure there’s a logical answer to all this. She may not be dead.”
“She is and the monsters on this island did it.” He gestured wildly into the air. “She’s dead and they’ll try to do the same to me.” His face creased into a mask of horror and slight insanity. “I’ll get them. Once I get back home, I’ll show everyone the photos I have, the videos I took. This place will be destroyed and the monsters with it.”
“You can’t do that.” When he stepped away, shaking his head, her stomach tightened. I have to stop him. “Let me help you. Maybe your friend is here and you haven’t seen her.”
“No, she’s dead.” Roger’s face darkened with anger. “You don’t want to help, you want to protect your lover.” He backed away. “Lock your door tonight, otherwise you might not survive until tomorrow to leave this hellhole.” He disappeared into the palms.
He can’t do that. Amy broke into a run. Roger must be stopped. She headed towards the mountain. I have to tell Etienne. A sharp pain hit her and the breath hitched in her lungs. She stopped and clutched her side. Get going. Etienne’s life depends on you.
She ran against the pain. I can’t let the man I love get hurt. She slammed to a stop as the truth filtered through every brain cell, into her blood stream, and warmed her body until it settled into her heart. I love Etienne. I’ve fallen in love with a fi
ve hundred year old vampire. Amy shook her head. One problem at a time. I’ll sort it out later—if I can.
Her body shook with fatigue when she stopped at the tunnel entrance. She placed a hand over her frenzied heart thumping in her ribcage. I’ve never run so fast.
Amy sucked air into her lungs and headed into the tunnel. Half-way down, Thierry stood in her way.
“What are you doing here?”
“I need…I need to see Etienne.”
“He’s busy.”
“This is important.”
His mouth twisted into a sneer. “What? Your time together a few hours ago wasn’t enough?”
“What is your problem?” Amy fisted her hands on her hips. “Are you jealous of him, that he’s found someone who lov…likes him?”
“No.” Thierry’s features hardened. “What do you want? Can’t you enjoy the resort like other guests until you leave tomorrow?”
She marched to Thierry and punched a finger into his chest. “Stop being a jerk.” He looked down at her finger until she backed away. “If I don’t talk to Etienne now, the resort and your family could be in serious trouble.”
Thierry rolled his eyes. “Fine.” He headed down the tunnel. “If this is a trick to get Etienne to fuck you again, I’ll throw you out myself.”
“Can you be any more of an arsehole?”
“Yes, when I need to be.”
Amy shook her head. “Do you hate all humans—useful only for sucking blood and fucking—or it just me you hate?”
Thierry spun around. “You’re not right for him. He’s been here for centuries and will survive after you’ve left to get on with life. You’ll find a man and have babies, get old and someday die. Etienne will still be here, as will I.”
Amy bowed her head for a moment. “I understand that you care for him.”
Thierry was silent for several seconds. “Yes, he’s my sire. My brother. My friend. I’d do anything for him—necessary things that he can’t or won’t do.”
“At least you’re honest.” Amy sighed. “I still need to see Etienne. It’s about Roger.”
“What about him? I’ve dealt with him.”
She shook her head. “No, he’s still a problem. A big one.”
Thierry growled. “Come with me.” He entered the lounge room.
Amy slammed to a stop, her pulse racing. Etienne sat at a desk, his back facing them.
Thierry glared at her. “Wait here.” He headed into the study and spoke in French to Etienne.
Etienne spun around, his eyes sparkling and his mouth a wide, sexy smile. In an instant, his face froze into a grey, still mask.
He listened to Thierry, then came to her. “Amy, is it true what you told Thierry?” His serious, solemn voice pierced her heart.
He doesn’t believe me. “Yes, of course.” What’s wrong with him? “He’s deranged, saying he has photos and videos to show the world.” She stepped forward. “You have to stop him.”
Etienne stepped back, his body stiff. “I will.”
The words, deep and ominous, sent shudders through her. “Don’t hurt him.” Amy frowned. Is what Roger said true? “Etienne, he thinks his ex-girlfriend was killed on the island. Could it have happened?”
“No.” Etienne’s face darkened. “I’ll handle this, once and for all.”
Amy gasped. I’ve never see him like this. “Can I help?”
“No.” Etienne grabbed a mobile from the desk and dialled a number. “Dan, please come to my office.”
“Please don’t hurt Roger.”
Disappointment, regret and hunger radiated from Etienne. “Have I ever given you cause to think that of me?”
“No.” Amy shook her head. “I’ve never seen you this way. Cold, distant.” She pressed her lips together. “What happened in the hours from when we were in bed together to now?”
“Nothing. I’ve been working.”
“Something happened.”
A man entered the room and bowed to Etienne.
“Or have you had your fill of your latest plaything, since I’m leaving tomorrow?”
“No.” Etienne stepped towards her, his hand outstretched. “It’s…” Thierry coughed and Etienne’s shoulders dropped. “Dan will take you to your bungalow.” He moved to the desk. “I’ll let you know about Roger.”
I’ve lost him. Tears filled Amy’s eyes, Etienne’s rigid back still clear despite her blurry vision. He doesn’t want me anymore. “Fine.”
Amy wiped her eyes and left. He doesn’t love me as I love him.
An unearthly growl echoed down the tunnel, followed by two loud thumps. The tunnel walls shook.
Amy stopped. Dan stared back towards the lounge area, as if he knew what the sound was. He blinked. “Please follow me.”
CHAPTER TEN
Amy slowed her pace to match the man beside her, trudging down the path towards what he thought was his death. Evening darkness descended, interrupted at regular intervals by the solar lights. Heavy, humid air surrounded them, adding to the glum atmosphere. They headed towards the park area where they’d met the night before.
“This is crazy.” Roger stopped, wiping sweat from his brow with jittery hands. “I shouldn’t be doing this.”
“Roger, it’s okay.” She patted his shoulder. As I told you two minutes ago. “Etienne wants to talk to you.”
“Or kill me.”
No, he wouldn’t want me to be a witness to that. “No.” Etienne’s angry face filled her mind and her gut churned. I hope I’m right. “He’s not like that. He asked me to bring you there.”
Roger shuffled forward. Amy’s shoulders dropped and a sigh escaped her lips. Etienne didn’t ask her personally. He’d sent someone—one of his human staff—to deliver the message. She’d spent another day alone, forcing herself to take part in resort activities with other guests. Anything to pass the time, to not think about the man she wanted to be with. Why doesn’t he want to see me? What happened to the attentive, passionate man who made love to me and worshipped my body earlier?
“I searched again.”
“What?”
“I’ve walked the island all day, checking everyone I saw, knocked on bungalow doors. Nothing. She’s not here, she’s dead.”
“I can’t believe that.” Fear coursed through her. Was Roger right? I won’t believe it. “Please listen to Etienne. If you’re still not convinced, I’ll help you.”
“How? Why?”
“Because you deserve the truth.” She swallowed the lump in her throat. “We all do.”
A group waited for them in the park. Etienne, Thierry, Chantelle and two people she recognised as resort staff—human—as both worked during the full sunshine hours.
Movement to the right in a clump of palms caught Amy’s attention. Two shadows stood, waiting. Who are they?
Her heartbeat raced being near to Etienne. He watched her with a soul-deep intensity, then blinked and looked away.
Amy’s heart ached. He doesn’t want me. She stood beside Roger, who tensed when Etienne came to them.
“We haven’t met yet. My name is Etienne.” He offered a hand to him.
Roger ignored it. “I know who and what you are.” He retreated. “What they are.”
“Not these two. They’re human and have lived on the island for years. Of their own free will, without worry and threat of harm.”
“So you say.”
Thierry growled. Etienne’s glare silenced him. “Why would I lie to you? If I was the monster you think I am, why would I request this meeting?” He took a menacing step towards Roger. “You could have been killed ten minutes after you attacked Amy. I’ve seen the security footage.”
Roger shivered. “I didn’t attack her.” He stared at Amy with a pleading, silent message. “Yes, I did scare her and I already told her I was sorry.”
“I’ll accept your words.” Etienne’s brows rose. “Will you give me the same courtesy?”
Roger took some deep breaths. His head dropped in a stiff n
od.
“Thank you. This resort has run for decades, and in all that time both vampires and humans have co-existed amicably.”
Roger’s face creased in disgust. “You used those humans for food.”
“Yes. Some volunteer. Others, mainly guests, are rewarded with physical pleasure. You know what I mean.” Etienne studied Roger’s bruised arms. “No one gets hurt. No one has died.”
“How can you be sure of that?”
Thierry growled again. “Because he’s the boss and our leader. What he says is the truth.”
“Who is this woman you think has died here?”
“My ex-girlfriend, Anna. She came here over a year ago and never left. No one’s seen her since.”
“She’s not dead.”
Disbelief clouded Roger’s face. “Then where is she? She hasn’t returned home and I haven’t seen her around the resort.”
Two people stepped from the palms.
Roger gasped. “Anna.”
“Roger, what are you doing?”
He rushed to her. “You’re alive.”
“Of course, I am. You haven’t seen me because I was busy
working in the fields, doing what I love.” She bowed to Etienne. “Providing for the family as they’ve done for me.”
Roger scowled. “Your family? They haven’t heard from you in months.”
She shook her head. “I meant my family here. Where I belong.”
“No.” He shook his head. “Y…you disappeared. You didn’t call your parents, you left your job, your car.”
“I didn’t need all that anymore.” She glanced at the man beside her. “I found what I wanted here.”
Roger lifted her arm and ran fingers over her skin. “You don’t have any marks.” The man growled, his eyes fierce and flaming red. Roger dropped Anna’s arm and stepped back.
“Not on my arms.” She held the man’s hand. “I’ve given myself willingly to Claude—as he has to me—and I’m in no harm.”
“You know what he is and you still want to be with him.”
“Yes.” She sighed. “Roger, thank you for worrying about me. You have to let go. I’m not your girlfriend anymore and you need to get on with your own life.” Anna squeezed her vampire’s hand. “As I have.”
