He sighed. Regardless of whether or not sex had triggered the nosebleed, he still felt bad about it. As much as he wanted to keep her, he couldn’t. They’d been there long enough anyway. Eventually, she’d be missed.
He glanced at his cell phone. The men he was supposed to meet with would arrive at the hospital roof in the next half hour.
After drying off, he started to dress, and acutely felt Gaelen’s disappointment when she came back.
He wished he could manipulate time and stay with her here the entire night, talk with her some more, make love to her again. But he couldn’t.
Their night of laughter and magic was over.
Three
“I have to take you back,” he told her in a solemn tone.
“I know.” She started dressing.
The emptiness in her voice ripped his heart open.
Several times, he stopped and turned to her to say—what, he didn’t know—while she dressed with her back to him. She couldn’t see the conflict on his face, the war within him, the desire to change her circumstances. Despite his feelings, he cleaned up their love nest quickly, then scooped her up in his arms. She lay her head on his shoulder and held on. Every step and jump to the hospital made his heart pang with the loss he knew he’d feel once he walked away from her.
He landed on the hospital roof, and with great reluctance, set her on her feet. The thought of never seeing her again made him want to punch the brick wall. Where was this coming from? His instincts roared in protest at the thought of separating from her, but it was too overwhelming to comprehend why he felt that way, and logic said to let her go.
Their gazes were locked and, unable to control himself, he pulled her back in his embrace and kissed her like it was their last.
Because it probably was.
She whimpered, hugging him tight.
Stop. Before you can’t stop. Breaking off, he struggled to find a level tone, his hands shaking as he cupped her face. He couldn’t leave her without offering an answer to her problem. “Gaelen, let me turn you.”
“Into a vampire?”
“Yes. It’ll cure you.”
“You would do that?”
“Because I…” Words of his intense affection for her almost burst from his mouth, but he clamped it shut. It scared him why they were even on the tip of his tongue. “Because—it isn’t fair you’re dying. You deserve a long life. I want to give you that gift.”
Tears shining in her eyes, she shook her head. “Oh, Fitz. You’ve already given me so much tonight. You not only made me forget I was sick, you made me remember what life was all about. And I lived. Tonight with you. Don’t you see? I don’t feel as if I’ve missed out anymore.”
“But you deserve more! More loving, more laughter, more experiences.” If she became a vampire, he’d know she was out there somewhere, living and loving life, even if it mostly had to take place in the dark. Why would she say no? “It’d be the first good thing I’ve done in a long time.”
She withdrew and hugged her middle. “Fitz, I’m…meant to die. I had my time and I’m not afraid. I don’t like messing with what’s natural.”
Humans. Always worrying about disrupting the order of things. “What isn’t natural is you dying long before you’re old and gray. Unlike so many others, you have a choice. Become vampire, Gaelen. You’ll never get sick again, have to worry about your health, or age.”
“I’d never feel the sun on my face either. And I’d have to drink blood to live.” She paled.
“It’s not as bad as you think. You’d need it to survive, so it’d taste like the best meal you ever had. The moon will be your sun. The world your oyster.” He gripped her shoulders. “Please. I’m begging you.”
She swallowed, casting her gaze away, conflicted. “I can’t believe I’m even considering this. If I let you turn me, I’ll have so many questions. Will you be with me?”
It killed to him to say this. “No. I can’t.”
“So you’ll change my life and just walk away? I won’t know what to do or where to go.”
“Go to Spencer’s. I’ll give you his address and key code. He’s taken in dozens of shadows. You can stay there in the meantime. Tell him you know me and he’ll welcome you with open arms. You won’t be alone.”
She blinked, then frowned. “I want to, but I can’t. I can’t do this without you.”
Couldn’t she see he couldn’t commit like that? He was a fateblood. His kind would heavily frown upon him taking responsibility for a shadow. Could he be with her, knowing he was meant for someone else? What would he do if he met his fated? He’d have to let her go. Perhaps this wasn’t the best idea. “All I can do is turn you. Nothing more.”
“You don’t feel what I do?” she asked, eyes imploring. “I was just a one-night stand for you?”
“No!” The conviction in his voice startled him and he wasn’t sure which question he was actually answering. “It just isn’t fair you’re dying, and I want to fix that.”
“You know what isn’t fair? That I feel more for you in two hours than for any man I’ve ever met. The fact you stole my heart—like it was nothing.” She turned her back but not before her saw her look of despair.
And she’d robbed him of his like it was nothing. He closed his eyes and exhaled. “Just let me turn you,” he beseeched, but she just shook her head.
Feet landing on the gravel caught his attention.
The men were here; he had to say goodbye. He grasped her shoulders, touching his forehead to the back of her head. “Listen to me. You stole my heart first. I never expected to… Don’t waste your life like I have.” He felt her tremble and forced himself to step back. “Goodbye, Gaelen.”
The breathy whimper from her almost destroyed him.
He strode to the trio without a backward glance.
J.R., the tall, blond leader, greeted him with a short nod. His companion, Dean, crossed his arms, expressionless. The other one with sunglasses and the Edward-from-Twilight hair—whose name Fitz couldn’t remember—just smiled at him with the kind of grin an android might give.
“What’s with the human?” J.R. sneered.
“She’s no one. Just someone I was passing the time with.” He felt Gaelen’s eyes on his back. Why hadn’t she gone back inside yet?
Dean glanced over his shoulder. “Passing the time?”
Fitz hardened his stance and glared, a possessiveness sparking through his blood.
The vampire smirked. “Calm down, man. Not interested.”
“You ready to go?” J.R. asked.
He sighed, a niggling feeling at the back of his head. “Yeah.”
Gaelen approached, setting a hand to his shoulder. “Fitz, wait.”
He faced her, checking the plea from his voice. “Don’t make this harder than it already is.”
She flickered a worried glance at the three waiting for him. “Stay with me.”
“I can’t.”
“Whatever it is they want you to do, don’t. I can feel your reluctance,” she said, entreating him with her pretty eyes, holding onto his jacket. “And I can’t let you go.”
“No,” he quipped. “I’m letting you go.” Summoning up the willpower he so desperately needed, he gripped her hands, yanked them off his jacket, and strode away. Every single step he took away from her was piercing agony.
“Gave her some and now she’s hooked, eh?” J.R. sneered.
I gave her my heart and body and now I’m the one who’s dying inside. “Yeah, whatever. Let’s get the fuck out of here.” He jumped on the ledge, refusing to look back.
A low, droning sound began in his eardrum. He shook his head quickly, desperate to ignore it. This pull to her was maddening.
J.R. and Dean’s voices were imperceptible as they spoke, but he nodded as if he heard everything.
Gaelen’s words rang in his head. I can’t let you go.
J.R. smacked Fitz’s pec with the back of his hand. “You got it or what?”
�
�I got it.” He glowered. They’d already told him the plan ten times before tonight.
Some time ago, Marex Daulton had contacted him out of nowhere and asked to meet with him in a vague location, then said he’d call for the exact meeting place that night. At first, Fitz wanted to ignore it, but their past affiliation, and indeed, curiosity, led him to accept the request.
They weren’t even friends; Marex used to work for his father, who’d sung the male’s praises for years.
Fitz respected him solely on that.
Too bad his father wasn’t around. He could use the man’s advice.
Why would the Vesser killer take such a chance and reach out to him anyway? Surely Marex knew Fitz would alert the UCC.
Except, he hadn’t.
Underworld gossip said Marex had committed no crime. That he was set up. But what rational men believed rumors? They were hard to ignore and even harder to believe. Unsure, Fitz had sought the counsel from an ally, who’d said, “I know Marex was favored by your father.” She advised, “But times are different now. You don’t taint your family name by helping a very hunted, wanted criminal. A Vesser killer, no less.”
In turn, she’d put him in touch with J.R., an underworld bounty hunter who was rumored to do all kind of nefarious shit. The male reeked of greed. “McEvoy. It’s too late to back out now,” J.R. commented, as though he could sense Fitz’s growing resistance to this plan. “Remember our deal.”
“I remember.”
“As soon as Marex shows up, text me.”
He checked his frustration. “I said I would.”
“Right. Come on, guys, it’s payday.”
One by one, they dropped off the ledge, each landing in the alleyway. Fitz came down last. The rank smells of being in the streets again made his stomach roil. He looked up and saw Gaelen staring down from the roof. Denying the emotions exploding inside him, he pulled up the hood of his jacket and strode ahead of the three.
His cell went off. Unknown number. He answered with more bitterness than intended. “Marex?”
“Building C. West side entrance.”
Fitz approached the door of the abandoned address, a sickening feeling settling in his gut.
He didn’t like what he was doing. Nausea filled every limb; he sucked in a deep breath, thinking he might be sick.
The door screeched as he entered the large space with discarded pallets and boxes. He looked around, waited.
A minute later, Marex stepped out cautiously from behind a stack of barrels, holding the hand of his fated.
They were a striking couple. He, dark and formidable, she with her auburn hair and distrustful gaze.
“Thanks for coming,” Marex greeted. “Honestly, I didn’t think you would.”
“I did out of respect for my father. You took an enormous risk coming to this city after escaping.”
“I had no choice. You’re the only one I know with an extra key to the Centurias.”
Now it made sense. Because of his heritage, he was automatically granted a key, and also had a second one in his possession, since his parents were no longer living, and he’d had yet to sell it. Now that he was the only living McEvoy, he could do what he wanted with it. “Why ask me?”
Marex looked at the female beside him. “Tell him, Nadine.”
She gave a slight lift of her chin. “Because even though you’re planning to sell us out, you won’t.”
A little taken aback they knew—and came anyway—he frowned. “So you took your chances and still met with me. You two addicted to risk?”
“No,” Marex answered. “I have faith the gods didn’t bless me with my fated and allow me to escape the UCC’s clutches only to let me fall to a second betrayal.”
His intense faith in the gods’ intentions impressed Fitz. He couldn’t recall a time he’d felt so ardently for something.
Except for Gaelen.
Unexpectedly, his heart started to pound at the thought of her. “I have no intention of tainting my father’s legacy by sponsoring a wanted vampire. Even in secret.”
“Even if he’s innocent?” Nadine countered.
He raised a brow. “I don’t know that he is.”
“Think about it,” Marex said. “Whether or not you agree with my mission to unite shifters and vampires is irrelevant. Why would I piss it all away to kill Lionel? What purpose would killing him have served me?” he roared. When Fitz didn’t answer, he added, “If it hasn’t crossed your mind, the murder of an active Vesser hadn’t happened in centuries. Someone would have to get extremely close to them to have even a remote chance of harming them, let alone kill one of them.”
Fitz shrugged, though he was beginning to see his point. “Maybe your purpose attracted Lionel Rothwaite to you. Perhaps that was your plan all along. To snare the attention of a benevolent Vesser so you could end him.”
“For what reason, damn you?”
“Many folks are murdered for reasons no one else can explain.”
Nadine charged a step forward, but Marex grabbed her arm. She blasted Fitz with her contemptuous gaze. “Won’t you wake up? Humans murdered Mr. Rothwaite. To stop the peace negotiations and ensure my fated would be swiftly and quietly executed. To keep us killing each other off forever. We’re going to prove it and we don’t need your key to do so.”
Humans…? He took a pause to think. Of course. Who else but their cousin species would have vested interest in framing a leader like Marex? Finding a truce with the shifters could lead to a whole new underworld that had never existed before. A greater underworld. Humans would hate that shit. Maybe even demons would lighten the fuck up and join them. Fitz started to smile.
Finally, something he actually believed to be true.
His cell vibrated in his pocket. J.R. and company are getting impatient.
Now he had that choice to make.
Gaelen’s words rang in his head to follow with his gut instincts. And he would. They’d been there all along. “Go. Get out. Bounty hunters will be here in seconds.” He brought his cell to his ear and answered the call. “Didn’t work out. They didn’t show.”
“Motherf—”
Fitz hung up.
“Wait!” Nadine cried as Marex tugged her away. “No! What about the key?”
Marex grasped her face in his hands. “Don’t worry. We’ll find another way.”
She placed her hands over his, lowering her lashes with a frustrated sigh. Marex raised her face, and slowly, she began to smile. “Yes, my love. I know we will.”
Gods, look at them, totally devoting, trusting one another. If only he had such a partnership to cherish...wait. He could have it. If she’d still have him, that is. “Marex. I’ll give you the key.”
He whipped his gaze on him, as if remembering his presence, then gave a short nod. “My deepest gratitude.”
“Tell no one. Otherwise the bounty hunter will be after us both.”
“Add him to my long list. This change of heart might cost you, Fitz.”
“You made me realize it’s worth it.” He glanced at Nadine. “I also have someone I need to protect now.”
All night, Gaelen had questioned whether her disease had a mental side effect she didn’t know about. Had she really spent hours on a roof with a vampire? Made love to him in the rain? Did he really offer to turn her into one so she could live to see another year and beyond?
Surreal was hardly the word to describe her memories.
Back in her sterile hospital bathroom, she squeezed a towel to the ends of her wet hair. She kept the lights off, preferring the dull light by her bed as the only illumination. Three in the morning. Wide awake. Aside from the nosebleed, she hadn’t experienced any pain, any coughing, or seizures. Then again, she hadn’t been kissed, caressed, and made love to like that. Ever. Was she still high from the sex?
Visions of him rocking between her legs, their fingers intertwining, his laughter and sexy voice in her ear, the explosion in her heart every time they kissed...
Her knees buckled and she sank on the floor, covering her mouth. Tears dropped to her cheeks unbidden. She hoped wherever he was, whatever he was doing, he was okay. Though he’d treated her coldly at the end, she knew it was because they were from separate worlds, and that he didn’t like how she turned his offer down.
Why was she crying? There was nothing to mourn.
No. She was crying because of the ache. The beauty and shock of what she’d been through was barely comprehensible. And now it was over. A wobbly smile moved her lips. At least she’d experienced it. She had knowledge many people would kill to be privy to. The world would never look the same. Out there were vampires, magic, demons… Oh, God, how she wished she could’ve seen more of it.
No more pity parties, remember, Gaelen?
Right. Get up. She dried her tears and pushed up to stand, gazing at her dark reflection in the mirror, feeling different. She didn’t look any different. Sensibly, she should shower, but she couldn’t bear washing Fitz’s scent away just yet.
Oh, his smell. She moved her shoulder toward her nose, breathing in.
There he was. All over her.
She closed her eyes and hugged her arms around her middle, imagining he was there with her. Imagining his muscled arms wrapping around her, pulling her in, his voice whispering her name…
Instinctively, she reached back and touched his face, ran her fingers behind his head. He grazed his nose from her ear to her shoulder.
It felt so real.
Her eyes flashed open, meeting glowing green ones in the mirror.
She gasped, frozen. “Fitz?” She hadn’t even heard him come in.
“Forgive me,” he said, turning her around his arms. “For leaving you like that. The words I spoke. I’m so sorry.”
“You came back?” She caressed his cheek, disbelieving his presence, but so happy she could sob.
“I couldn’t stay away,” he told her. “And as long as you want me around, I will be at your side.”
Yet another shock to the system. “What about your plans?”
Fitz: Immortal Forsaken Series #3 (Paranormal Romance Novella) Page 4
