“...and she's driving in today! You have to make sure she's all right,” Glynda said, her voice rising over the phone.
Tristan frowned. He couldn't catch all her words with all the hammering and drilling going on around him. They were rushing to finish this house on time, and his crew was working at a frenzied pace. Tristan owned Gray's Domain, a construction company that prided itself on building quality homes at affordable prices. They would work with the owners to understand their budget and they would design and build lovely, lasting homes for their clients.
Jackson, his youngest brother, helped him in the business. Aidan and Mason, his middle brothers, had gone off to work and live in the city. But it seemed that Gramma had just given Aidan and Mason the order to return home.
Tristan suspected it had something to do with that nefarious secret plan that Gramma and Ne-ma were hatching behind their backs. But for the life of him, he couldn't imagine what it was.
“Wait, hold on, Gramma. I can't hear you,” Tristan said, scrambling down a ladder. “Hey, watch it, Jackson!” he barked at his brother as the guy almost swung a plank into his face.
“Sorry,” Jackson said, and threw the plank up to one of the boys on the roof. Tristan's lips quirked up at a corner. His baby brother was incredibly strong. They all were. His crew weren't all bear shifters, but they were all strong and hardworking. Some of his men were human, half-fae and other shifters. None were vampires because vamps couldn't work in the sun. But the efficient, meticulous architect they worked with was a vampire.
“Okay, what were you saying, Gramma?” Tristan said, leaning against a tree.
“I said that Alisa is driving in from the city and she'll probably reach Shadow Point only in the late evening. I want you to drive out to the highway and wait for her car. It gets dark pretty early and I don't like her driving alone on that lonely stretch of highway in the dark. I want you to make sure she gets to Shadow Point safely,” Glynda repeated with studied patience.
“Okay,” he answered automatically. He never denied Gramma and Ne-ma anything. It wasn't easy raising four wild, boisterous bear cubs, but Gramma and Ne-ma did it with lots of grace, patience and love. These two women were their parents and grand-parents all rolled into two petite, dynamic packages.
“Wait, who's Alisa?”
“She's the new chef at Broomstick Inn. Neveah and I just hired her last night!”
“You didn't tell me you were looking for a chef,” Tristan said, frowning.
“It was a spur of the moment thing.”
Tristan raised a brow when he heard Ne-ma chortling in the background.
“Does this Alisa have a mobile phone? I should call her to check on her location so I don't miss her. What car does she drive?”
Glynda rattled off Alisa's mobile number and Tristan immediately stored the number in his phone. “I don't know what car she drives,” Gramma said.
“Do I have to peer at the driver of every car I pass along the highway?” Tristan asked, incredulous. “How will I know her?”
“You'll know,” Glynda said simply.
“Gramma...”
“Get in your car now, Tristan. Go meet her now!”
Tristan opened his mouth, but his grandmother had already hung up.
CHAPTER FOUR
Alisa finished her fish and chips and slurped down her milkshake. She burped and smiled contentedly. This diner at the side of the highway served really good food and the portions were huge.
The generous advance that Glynda and Neveah had given her had allowed her to buy herself a satisfying meal that would last her the rest of her long drive.
She slapped the crumbs off her jeans and went to refuel her cranky, thirsty car. She didn't think her small car would guzzle that much petrol, but like her, her car hadn't had a full meal in a long time.
After filling her gas tank and her stomach, Alisa turned back out onto the highway and drove on. Her two bags containing all her worldly possessions were in the trunk. She had gone to her landlord early in the morning to pay up everything she owed and terminate her lease. She wouldn't be coming back.
The city held nothing but sad memories for her.
She had started driving at around ten in the morning, and stopped for lunch. She should have covered half the distance by now. In just another five or six hours she should be in Shadow Point.
Alisa turned the knob on the radio but only static crackled from the speakers. Then the radio wheezed its final breath and died.
Alisa grimaced. She hoped her car wouldn't decide to follow its longtime companion and journey through the pearly, electronic gates to car heaven as well.
Her car sputtered almost as if it had heard her. Alisa eased up on the accelerator. Better late than never. At this speed, it was going to be a ten-hour drive at least. But it was better not to put pressure on that wheezing engine.
The few cars on the highway dwindled as the sun began to set. The road signs became few and far between. Alisa frowned and squinted worriedly into the distance. She didn't remember seeing any signs that indicated the remaining distance to Shadow Point. Finally, she saw a road sign and pulled to the side of the road.
When she saw the names of the upcoming towns, she gave a cry of dismay and fought down her panic.
She had taken a wrong turn.
She had to circle back and turn out to get on the right highway. She checked her watch and her fuel tank. She should have enough to get her to Shadow Point, but she'd be lucky to reach the town before midnight.
Alisa made a U-turn and sped down the deserted stretch of road. Dusk was falling and the shadows on either side of the road seemed to stretch and crawl towards her.
Alisa swallowed her fear and kept her eyes on the road. She was just imagining things. She would be fine. She just had to keep driving.
The last rays of the setting sun finally disappeared and Alisa could see only as far as her car's weak headlights allowed. There were no other cars on the road, no other living soul for miles.
Alisa heard the desperate pounding of her heart and her eyes darted from side to side, to her rear view mirror and windows. She had wound down her back windows a little since her air-conditioner had broken down, but now she wished she hadn't.
The wind rushing into the car suddenly felt much colder. She jabbed the button to wind her windows back up but the button didn't seem to work. The windows were stuck.
Alisa felt the hairs at the back of her neck stand on end. She cut her eyes to the rear view mirror again but there was nothing. All she saw was darkness behind her.
Yet, she felt something.
She wasn't alone.
For the first time in her life, she wished she was.
CHAPTER FIVE
Alisa drove faster, but she couldn't shake that clawing sense of dread and terror.
She heard a soft, velvety rustle and gripped the steering wheel tighter.
Was it the wind? The trees? The leaves?
Alisa had never felt so vulnerable, and so helpless. She was driving desperately, speeding towards a town she had never even visited, and not knowing if she would even get there. Was anyone really waiting for her in Shadow Point? Would anyone care if she got there safely or not?
Glynda and Neveah.
They cared.
She had only spoken to them over the computer and seen their faces for a few minutes. But she just knew that they cared for her.
And sadly, Alisa realized that if she were to perish right now, these two kind strangers would be the only people who would miss her.
Alisa swiped at her eyes and tried to wind up the windows again but the damn things were stuck.
Gulping, she engaged the locks but she didn't feel safer.
On the contrary, she felt trapped.
Very slowly, she eased her foot off the pedal and stared into her rear view mirror. She caught a very slight shimmer, and she knew.
Vampires had no reflection.
But they could fade into mist and seep
through cracks and keyholes. And through open car windows.
Alisa whirled round and stared into a pair of blood-red eyes. The vampire bared his fangs in a smile and grabbed her.
Alisa screamed just as she felt sharp fangs sink into her neck.
CHAPTER SIX
Tristan's frown deepened as he sped down the highway. He had been up and down the same stretch of road for hours now, and he hadn't seen a single car. He had tried Alisa's number but all he got was a no-service message.
He called his grandmother earlier and when he told her that he couldn't locate Alisa, she and Ne-ma had panicked and wanted to jump in their cars and drive out of Shadow Point right away. Tristan had told them to stay where they were in case Alisa showed up and promised that he would keeping looking for her.
Tristan fingered his phone, but he didn't call Gramma or Ne-ma. No point worrying and frightening them. He would find Alisa himself and then give her a piece of his mind for making those elderly ladies sick with worry. It was irresponsible of her not to call and let them know she would be late. It was clear that this woman didn't care for Gramma and Ne-ma as much as they cared for her. He grew angry just thinking about it.
But he'd promised them he would find Alisa and he never broke a promise. Not to his Gramma and Ne-ma.
Tristan scowled as he passed another road sign. He stomped on the brakes suddenly and reversed.
The road sign indicated the exit to Shadow Peak. Many people had taken that wrong turning. They had mistaken Shadow Peak for Shadow Point. These two towns weren't anywhere near each other, but their names were confusingly similar.
Could Alisa have made the same mistake?
Tristan turned out of the highway and headed towards Shadow Peak. If Alisa had taken this turning, and just sped on for hours, she would be a long way from Shadow Point by now.
Tristan grumbled under his breath, but his grumbling was just a mask for the first prickling of guilt and fear. He shouldn't have blamed her.
Alisa wasn't late on purpose. She had lost her way, and she might have lost all forms of contact. She might have had an accident. She might be injured, unconscious, or even…
“No, no,” he muttered, accelerating sharply.
He had to find her. She had to be alive.
Tristan's breathing quickened together with his heartbeat. His claws inched out and his bear rumbled to the fore at the scent of danger.
He could smell blood, human blood.
And he could scent a woman's stark terror.
She was just ahead.
Tristan heard a crash and a scream, and he bolted from his car, half shifting as he ran. His claws and fangs extended and coarse, gray fur raced up his chest, protecting his torso and vital organs.
The woman was half in, half out of the car as she tried to fight off the vampire. The vampire was skinny and pale, wearing baggy jeans and an oversized sweater. He looked like a teenager, but Tristan knew that he wasn't a young vampire. He had supernatural strength and speed, and he could fade into mist, something only the older vampires could do.
Tristan saw the woman attempt to punch the vampire, only to have her fist hurtle through a cloud of mist.
She cried out in shock as the vampire materialized at the passenger side of her car and tried to grab her.
Tristan leaped onto the hood of her car and smashed the windscreen. His claws raked across the vampire's face and there was a blood-curdling screech from the vamp.
Tristan could move faster than the vampire, and he stuck his claws into the vamp's throat before the vampire could turn into mist.
“Who is your Master?” he roared.
The vampire gurgled and his mouth widened in a bloody smile.
Tristan pushed his claws in deeper. Every vampire had a Master. He had to turn the vampire over to his Master. Killing a vampire would bring the wrath of the entire coven down on him and Tristan didn't want to risk the lives of his family and his crew.
Tristan yanked the vampire's ponytail to the side and saw the mark of his Master on his nape.
Tristan jerked in shock and the vampire pushed himself free and stumbled away.
“Rosalina is your Master?” Tristan shook his head. “She would never...”
The vampire snarled and his eyes darted to the human woman. Tristan pounced on him but was an instant too slow.
The mist snaked away from him and flew into the night.
Tristan turned to the woman, who was scrambling out of the car and backing away from him.
“Get away from me!” she shrieked, her eyes wild.
Tristan sheathed his claws and put his palms up. “I won't hurt you. My name is Tristan Gray. Glynda and Neveah sent me to find you. You're Alisa, right?”
She made a strangled sound before giving a jerky nod.
“I'm Glynda's grandson,” Tristan continued speaking slowly, calmly, approaching her as he would a wounded, frightened animal.
“The vampire...” she squeaked.
“He's gone.”
“Will he come back?” She whipped her head round, as if expecting the vampire to appear behind her suddenly. She pressed her hand to the side of her neck. “He b-bit me,” she stuttered.
Tristan's eyes flashed.
“Did he drink from you?”
“Yes! No! I don't know! How the fuck should I know? He just bit me, and I fought him. I scratched and punched and jammed my elbow in his face.” Alisa brought her blood-smeared hand down and stared at it. “Am I...going to become...l-like him? Will I turn into...a v-vampire?”
She looked like she was about to scream, or faint. Her eyes were too wide, too wild, and she was deathly pale. She didn't seem to see him. Just stared straight past him and kept murmuring incoherently.
“Alisa, listen to me. You will not turn into a vampire. Only a Master Vampire can Turn someone into a vampire. That vampire who attacked you was not a Master. He has a Master, and I'm going to make sure he gets punished by his Master.” Tristan put his hands very gently on her shoulders. “I'll drive you to Shadow Point, okay? Your car...” He glanced behind him.
“I know. It's gone to car heaven,” she said numbly.
Tristan paused before asking, “Your bags?”
“In the trunk.”
He retrieved her bags and held her elbow.
She got into his car without protest and sat stiffly in the passenger seat, staring straight ahead with glazed eyes.
“You're safe with me, Alisa.”
“Okay,” she intoned.
Tristan wanted to reach out to take her hand but she looked like she might break at the slightest touch. She was holding herself together by sheer force of will.
Tristan glared into the darkness. He would find that vamp and deliver him to Rosalina.
The vampire would beg for death instead.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Alisa felt Tristan's long fingers brush against her arm as he slid the seat belt over her chest and buckled her in. He opened his mouth as if to say something, then cleared his throat and sighed.
Alisa swallowed and kept her eyes on the road ahead as Tristan's station wagon roared down the highway. He had introduced himself as Glynda Gray's grandson, and she knew she should have called Glynda to check if he was telling the truth but her phone was dead. Tristan didn't look like a serial killer, but then, serial killers didn't come with a warning label did they?
She had nothing to go on but her instincts. She hadn't listened to her instincts in the past, but now she would. And her instincts told her that Tristan was a good guy.
After all, he had saved her from a blood-sucking vampire.
With his claws.
“What. Are. You.”
Tristan turned at her question.
Alisa took a sharp breath and asked again, “What are you?”
He studied her for a beat before answering matter-of-factly, “I'm a bear shifter.”
“Okay.” A long pause. “Thank you.”
“You're welcome.”
A longer pause.
“Are Glynda and Neveah...” Alisa gulped audibly.
Tristan shook his head. “No, Gramma and Ne-ma are witches.” When she gulped again, he added, “The good, but...meddlesome, kind.”
“Hokay,” she managed and fell silent.
A few minutes, or it could be a few hours—who knows?—passed before she said, “I should have guessed.”
“Huh?”
“The name of their inn.” Alisa's lips twitched in a small smile. “Broomstick Inn.”
Tristan nodded, apparently unsure of how to respond. He seemed almost afraid to utter the wrong word, lest she splinter into fragments or worse, burst into tears. Big, strong men were terrified of crying women, she'd heard.
Another stretch of silent driving followed. Miles and miles of dark road zoomed past before she said, “Do they ride them?”
“Um...”
“Your Gramma and Ne-ma, do they ride broomsticks?”
That got a choked laugh out of him. “No. But they ride our asses with them. Gramma and Ne-ma used to whack my brothers and me on our buttocks with their broomsticks.” He scrunched up his nose and muttered, “Still do.”
She turned to him with an amused smile. She couldn't imagine those sweet, petite ladies running after Tristan and his brothers with broomsticks in their hands.
He caught her staring at him and smiled back. Alisa blushed. He had a really nice smile, and it transformed his whole face. He'd looked like a deadly predator while he was fighting the vampire. He was tall, fierce and intimidating, but now she realized just how devastatingly handsome he was. Blond, with sparkling green eyes, rugged, tanned features and a lean, hard body. She could see his toned muscles under his white t-shirt and those long legs filled out his old, ripped jeans perfectly.
“Ah, how many brothers do you have?” she mumbled, suddenly aware of how close they were in the enclosed space. He could just lean over and kiss her. Oh, why was she thinking of kissing him? Or was she hoping that he would?
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