by Michele Hauf
She squeaked when they shot out. Holy—
The vampire knocked Dak back a couple steps and came at her. Nicole hacked out with the talons, but she was incredibly awkward.
With a rumble low in her throat, Nicole charged. She brandished the claws, but they seemed to have a mind of their own, going different directions than her fingers were telling them. To hell with it, she decided, and pulling them in, she went in low.
Nicole's shoulder connected with Mary Beth's midsection and she took her down to the ground.
She punched her until the vampire tossed her off. Nicole rolled to her feet, but Dak was already there, taking over where she'd left off.
She wanted to be the one to defeat the vampire, but at least Mary Beth would die. At least Nicole's family would be avenged even if it wasn't by her hand.
Dak raised his head, his breathing harsh. "She's your kill."
Nicole met his gaze. He meant it. Dak was standing down for her. He moved away.
Mary Beth surged to her feet and ran. Nicole tackled her to the ground. The vampire writhed and cursed. A talon caught Nicole's arm and she nearly dropped the wooden dagger. Transferring the weapon to her right hand, Nicole swung it down in one, smooth motion, driving it into the heart.
For a long moment, she remained kneeling on the street next to the body. It was over. It was really over. Slowly, she climbed to her feet and slid the dagger back in its sheath. Looking into her mate's eyes, Nicole said, "Thanks."
"Do you have the peace you wanted?"
She took a long, hard look inside her heart. "My family's still gone. I still miss them. I'll still live the rest of my life without them." And she was still alone. Nicole shrugged. "But I have something. I finally have justice."
"Then killing the vampire was worth it."
"Yes, it was."
Dak slung an arm around her shoulders and tugged her against his side. "You're not alone, Nic—you have me. You'll always have me." He pressed a kiss to the top of her head and hugged her closer. "Let's take care of the vampire's body and go home."
Epilogue
Nicole felt the emptiness of the condo as soon as she stepped inside. Damn, Dak wasn't home yet.
She locked the door behind her, hung her jacket in the closet, and shed her weapons. He worked less often than she did, but his job was more dangerous and she worried about him every assignment. It didn't help that he'd learned to block her when he was hunting. He wouldn't drop the shield until after he came down from the adrenaline.
"Stay safe," she whispered and turned on more lights.
After four months of living with Dak, it continued to take Nicole by surprise when she saw her things mixed with his. Her pink lamp looked ridiculous next to his tan leather sofas. His stone sculpture—a horse—seemed amused to be alongside her egg-shaped, acrylic curio cabinet. A cabinet she'd filled with things like a Rubik's Cube, sunglasses, and colorful miniature furniture.
The miracle was that Dak thought her cheap stuff looked fine with his elegant, expensive belongings. Nicole knew better, but she kind of liked it, too.
Unable to settle while he was gone, she went upstairs and changed into her pajamas. The drawstring pants rode low, the spaghetti-strap tank fit close and bared her midriff, but demons ran hot and she wouldn't be cold.
She was coming back down when the door opened. Nicole froze on the spiral staircase and studied Dak. He appeared weary and there was a definite pallor to his skin.
The urge to race down the stairs and demand to know if he was okay slammed into her and Nicole fought it. Instead, she concentrated on the fact he was alive, that he was moving without noticeable pain as he put his jacket away and walked into the living area.
With her self-command firmly in place, Nicole started down again. Dak stopped near the foot and waited. He reached for her as soon as she got to the bottom and she moved into his embrace.
"Rough night?" she asked, stroking his shoulders.
"There've been worse."
"And better, too?"
"Yeah." But he smiled slightly as he said it and that allowed Nicole to relax. She went up on her toes to kiss him and the rest of her tension seeped away. Her mate was home and safe.
Dak broke the kiss and put her an arm's length away. "You're okay?" he asked, checking her over.
That warm, mushy feeling swamped her again. "I'm fine."
"Good." Dak hesitated. "Things were closer tonight than I'm used to."
Her tension roared back and her fingers tightened on his. She took a deep breath to beat off the panic. "How close is closer than you're used to?"
"Not as bad as you're imagining. It got me thinking, though, about what matters. What doesn't."
Wariness kept her tense. "What did you come up with?"
"A couple things." Dak tugged her a step closer before she locked her muscles. "The first thing I realized was that I was damn glad you'd be here. This condo was just a place to sleep before you moved in, now it's a home."
Nicole gaped at him. She couldn't help it. This from the man who said he didn't want to be mated?
"I was wrong about that," Dak said. "Being mated to you is the best thing that ever happened to me. That's the other thing I realized. I love you, Nic."
He stopped blocking her, let her feel his emotions. She got his fear about the battle he'd been in earlier tonight. Nicole was tempted to find out what had happened, but Dak was also scared about her reaction to what he was saying. That amazed her. Didn't he already know how she felt about him?
But then she hadn't been aware his feelings for her either. Maybe he'd been as afraid to probe that direction as she'd been. "I love you, too," Nicole said, voice thick. "Always and forever."
This time when he tugged her closer, Nicole went.
"Always and forever," he promised. And then with a grin, he asked, "Why the hell did you make me wait twenty-nine years to find you?"
"You're lucky I didn't make you wait another thousand."
Dak laughed, then went serious, leaned in, and bit her shoulder. "Mine."
Nicole pushed his T-shirt collar aside and bit him in return. She didn't get a chance to make her own verbal claim. He bent down, swooped her over one shoulder, and headed up the stairs.
"You're not going to do me on the kitchen counter?"
"We'll save that for later." Dak put her down on the bed and covered her with his body.
As she looked up into the red glow of his eyes, Nicole ran her hand along the side of his face. She wasn't lost or alone any longer. This was where she really, truly belonged—with Dak.
###
More from the Crave the Night Authors:
From Michele Hauf and Swell Cat Press
Vampires, witches, and the Enlightenment.
Award-winning author, Michele Hauf, introduces a new
story in her world of Beautiful Creatures.
Available in print/digital format from most online retailers.
For more information about the stories in Michele's world visit:
MicheleHauf.com
blog.michelehauf.com
Clubscarlet.michelehauf.com
Twitter: @michelehauf
From Sharon Ashwood
RAVENOUS: the Dark Forgotten
One kiss is all it takes to lose your soul.
Holly Carver’s grandma warns her that vampires are like a box of chocolate: they seem so tempting, but over-indulgence is a killer. That doesn’t stop Holly from wanting her undead business partner, Alessandro. Unfortunately, an evil demon seems bent on dragging them into a supernatural war, and Holly’s own magic holds the key to a hell dimension.
SCORCHED: the Dark Forgotten
Welcome to the Castle. The price of admission is your soul.
When they say ex-detective Conall Macmillan is hot, they have no idea. Now half-demon, he has ended up in the Castle, a supernatural prison. There he meets Constance, a strangely innocent vampire, who needs his help to find her kidnapped son. Will cracking this final cas
e cost Mac his last scrap of humanity?
UNCHAINED: the Dark Forgotten
2011 RITA® Winner, Paranormal Romance
Been there, slain that.
Ashe Carver is one kick-ass monster killer, but a custody battle for her ten-year-old daughter has led Ashe to hang up her stakes and take a job at her local public library. Now supernatural prison guard Captain Reynard has only weeks to live if Ashe can’t find the thief who stole his soul.
FROSTBOUND: the Dark Forgotten
Every dog might have his day, but the hellhound guards the night.
Someone’s beheaded the wrong girl, and vampire-on-the lam Talia Rostova is the prime suspect in her own botched murder and the prisoner of her smoking-hot neighbor, Lore. He’s the Alpha hellhound, bred to serve and protect. A good thing, because an ancient vampire is wreaking vengeance on the city—and on her—and Lore will have to go beyond a stake to put their enemy back in his grave.
http://www.SharonAshwood.com Excerpts. Videos. More.
From Lori Devoti
TRUST ME
The first book in the new Vampire Hearts series by Lori Devoti
Dhamphir Harry Bisson has been hunting the female vampire
who turned his father for over a century. The vampire, who has been building her power by feeding off her own family, thinks her bloodline has run out, but Harry has found one last relative--Lindsey Dennis: beautiful, trusting and the perfect bait.
With no knowledge of vampires, Lindsey thinks Harry is her savior and the key to finding the family she has always dreamed of having.
Will Harry save her? Or will his thirst for revenge cause him to sacrifice the only woman he could ever love?
www.loridevoti.com
From Patti O’Shea
Stories set in the same world as Enemy Embrace:
Blood Feud – When a demon starts murdering vampires, a vampire enforcer and a demon prince are assigned to find the killer before war erupts. But Isobel and Seere have a past and that complicates their mission. (Short story)
Demon Kissed – Demon slayer Bree Molina has been tried for murder by the demons and sentenced to death. Andras has a plan to get her out of trouble, but he has secrets that will rock Bree’s world. (Nocturne Bites)
Shadow’s Caress – Former vampire hunter Cass Lanier didn’t believe vampires could become ghosts, until the shade of the last one she killed shows up. Malachi James needs Cass to return him to his life, but other hunters have learned she can resurrect the vampires she killed and they plan to kill her first. (Nocturne Bites)
Other paranormal romances by Patti O’Shea
In the Midnight Hour – When a troubleshooter for a society of magic users rescues a private detective from a dark spell, she finds more than an ally as she faces down her former mentor. (2008 Booksellers Best Award Winner – Best Paranormal)
In Twilight’s Shadow – Troubleshooter Creed Blackwood is trying to capture a demon hunting Maia Frasier’s sister. But if Maia’s suspicions about Creed's falling to dark magic are true, he might be a bigger danger than any demon could be. (2009 Write Touch Readers Choice Awards Finalist – Best Paranormal)
Edge of Dawn – Troubleshooter Logan Andrews has his loyalties torn between his people and the woman he’s been assigned to protect. (2010 Aspen Gold Award Winner – Best Paranormal)
In the Darkest Night – Kel Andrews has spent the last year living with nightmares and flashbacks. He's withdrawn from his family and been removed him from his position as a troubleshooter. But when a woman asks him for protection from a demon, Kel reluctantly agrees to help—and finds himself facing an unexpected adversary, one he doesn't know how to fight. (2011 Beacon Award Winner – Best Paranormal)
www.pattioshea.com For excerpts, videos, and more
Authors’ Thanks
The authors would like to thank you for buying this book. We hope you enjoyed the stories within, as much as we enjoyed creating them!
