Twilight Desires

by Amanda Ashley

  “No. Come on; I’ll take you to your room.”

  She clung to his hand as they made their way down the stairs.

  “Stay here and lock the door.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “Don’t worry. I’ll be right back.”

  He waited until he heard the click of the lock before going down to the living room. Materializing on the front porch, Ethan opened his preternatural senses again, his eyes narrowing as he caught an unfamiliar smell. It wasn’t Browning. It wasn’t another vampire. But it wasn’t entirely human either.

  He followed the scent down the hill toward the town until it disappeared across the bridge. Brow furrowed, he transported himself back to Saintcrow’s.

  Sofia opened the bedroom door when he called her name. “Did you find anything?” she asked anxiously.

  “No, but someone was definitely here.”

  “Was it that vampire? Browning?”

  “No. I think we should spend the rest of the night in Saintcrow’s lair.”

  She looked at him in horror. “Why?”

  “Just a safety precaution until we figure out who’s been prowling around.”

  Fighting to overcome a growing sense of trepidation, Sofia put on her new robe and slippers and followed Ethan to the turret room. He held the tapestry aside for her, opened the door, then took her hand in his.

  “There aren’t any lights down here, so stay close.”

  Sofia’s apprehension increased as they made their way down the spiral staircase. She couldn’t see anything as Ethan moved forward. Her footsteps echoed loudly in the all-encompassing darkness.

  “We’re in a tunnel,” Ethan said, sensing her unease. “It’s pretty long.”

  “A tunnel?”

  “Yeah, it runs under the house. The door at the end leads to Saintcrow’s lair.”

  “Have you been spending your nights there?”

  “Yeah.” After what seemed like forever, he said, “We’re here.” He opened the door. “There are matches on the table if you need them,” he said as he lit a candle with no more than a quick look.

  Sofia glanced around. She wasn’t sure what she had expected. Certainly not what she saw—a large room with pale gray walls. An old-fashioned wardrobe stood across from a king-size bed covered with a thick black quilt. Several wrought-iron wall sconces held fat black candles.

  “Nothing to be afraid of,” he assured her as he closed the solid oak door and slid a heavy wooden beam in place to lock it.

  Sofia stared at him. Nothing to be afraid of? She was trapped in an underground lair with a vampire.

  Her discomfort was a palpable presence in the room. “I’ll sleep on the floor,” Ethan said.

  “No! No need. The bed’s big enough for two. Besides, we’ve shared a bed before.” Sofia folded the quilt and laid it across the foot of the bed. The sheets were black silk.

  She ran her hand over the pillowcase. Real silk. Saintcrow’s doing? Or Kadie’s?

  Removing her robe and slippers, she slid under the covers. The silk was shivery cool against her skin.

  Her heart skipped a beat when Ethan stretched out on his back beside her. She was glad he’d left the candle burning.

  “Get some rest, Sofie.”

  She closed her eyes. Took several slow, deep breaths. “I can’t sleep.”

  “Come here.” Ethan drew her close, his arm curling around her shoulders.

  Sighing, she snuggled against him. Vampire or not, he comforted her on so many levels. His scent was appealing, his presence intoxicating, his hair soft against her cheek. She closed her eyes, all the tension draining out of her.

  Ethan was here.

  She was safe.

  Ethan knew a moment of regret as sleep claimed her. She had snuggled against him so willingly, so trustingly, he had dared hope they might make love before he succumbed to the sun’s light. He supposed it was just as well that nothing had happened. Things were already complicated enough. But he wanted her in every way a man—and a vampire—could want a woman.

  Lying beside her was torture of the sweetest kind. The scent of her hair, her skin, her blood aroused his senses. The warmth of her body, so close to his, was almost painful.

  Closing his eyes, he let the slow, steady beat of her heart lull him into oblivion.

  * * *

  “Well, this is a hell of a sight.”

  Sofia woke with a start at the sound of Saintcrow’s voice, let out a gasp when she saw him standing beside the bed. Fear that something might be wrong mingled with her embarrassment at being caught in bed with Ethan. She darted a glance at him, but he lay still and unmoving.

  “Meet me upstairs,” Saintcrow said. “I’ll buy you a cup of coffee.”

  She knew an order when she heard one. She waited until he was gone, then swung her legs over the edge of the bed and stepped into her slippers. As she pulled on her robe, she wished fleetingly that she had something more fitting to wear.

  She found Saintcrow in the living room, a large cup of takeout coffee on one of the end tables. Sitting on the sofa, she reached for the cup, hoping its warmth would chase away the chill of the room.

  “Did you hear anyone prowling around outside last night?” he asked.

  “I think someone tried to break in. Ethan said someone had definitely been here, but he didn’t know who it was.”

  Saintcrow nodded. “Somebody was here all right.”

  “Do you know who it was?”

  “Not who, but I know what.”

  “Not who, but what?” Sofia blinked at him. “I don’t understand?”

  “It was a black witch. And a damned powerful one, unless I miss my guess.”

  “Why would a witch come here?”

  “I’m thinking Browning knew he couldn’t defeat me on his own, so he hired a little help.”

  First vampires and now witches, Sofia thought. What next? Zombies? “Could a witch defeat you?”

  “I have no idea. The few I’ve met never tried.”

  She wondered if the thought of facing a witch scared him, but she couldn’t imagine anything in heaven or earth scaring Saintcrow. “So, what are you going to do?”

  “Good question. I could restore the wards around the town, I guess, and see if they’d hold.”

  “Wards?”

  “I guess you could call it vampire voodoo. Years ago, I warded the town so anyone who crossed the bridge couldn’t leave. It also kept people from leaving by going over the mountains. I don’t know if it’ll fend off witches.” It had kept Mahlon out, he thought, but he had no proof Braga’s henchman had been a witch. If he warded the town again, he would have to tweak the spell a bit, so the workers and the mailman could come and go.

  It seemed like a lot of trouble. Better to just face the threat, whatever it was, and be done with it.

  He frowned as he watched Sofia sip her coffee. He could handle himself. Ethan was growing stronger and more confident every day. But Sofia . . . she was completely vulnerable. He had grown rather fond of her. And then there was Ethan, who was crazy in love with her, whether he knew it or not.

  Black witches meant black magic. He hadn’t lived as long as he had without learning a thing or three. Salt was a known defense against black magic. Some thought it had to be in the shape of a circle to protect you, but that wasn’t true. And while he’d never had occasion to test it, he decided now might be a good time. He grinned inwardly, thinking he would need a buttload of salt to scatter around his lair and Sofia’s office.

  Blessed amulets—religious items, herb bags, crystals—were also supposed to be effective but, again, he had no experience with any of them.

  Saintcrow slapped his hands on his thighs. “Come on; I’ll take you to the off ice,” he said briskly. “And while you read the mail and pay the bills, I’ll ward the town and we’ll see how that works.”

  “I really need to go home,” Sofia said. “If I’m going to stay here, I need to pack more clothes and put a stop on my mail and empty my fridge and . . .”
r />   “All right. Are you ready?”

  Before she could say ah, yes, or no, they were in the middle of her apartment. “Do what you’ve got to do,” Saintcrow said. “I’ll rest in the closet of your guest room for a couple of hours. Wake me when you’re ready to go back.”

  “My closet?”

  “It’ll be dark in there.” He sent her a wink and headed for the spare room.

  Sofia shook her head. Could her life get any more bizarre?

  * * *

  She had showered and dressed, canceled her mail, emptied her refrigerator, and started packing a suitcase when her phone rang. It was Rosie.

  “Hey, Sis, I haven’t heard from you in a while, so I’m guessing things are going well with Holly’s cousin.”

  “I guess you could say that,” Sofia said.

  “I sense some hesitation in your voice. Is everything okay?”

  “Yes. And no.”

  “Uh-oh. What’s wrong? Is he vamping out on you?”

  “No,” Sofia said, laughing. “It’s just your normal human-girl-dating-vampire kind of problems. I’m really crazy about him, Rosie, but I don’t want to be a vampire and I don’t see any future for us otherwise.” She decided not to mention the trouble at Morgan Creek.

  “Well, if I were you, I’d end it now. The longer you wait, the harder it will be.”

  “I know. You’re right.”

  “Mom and Dad are starting to wonder why you haven’t come home. I told them you were probably pregnant.”

  “Rosa!”

  “I’m kidding,” Rosa said, hardly able to speak, she was laughing so hard. “But seriously, you should come home.”

  “I know. Did I tell you I lost my job? The company went out of business, but I got a new position that pays even better. How about you? Have you found another job? Or a new boyfriend?”

  “Job, yes. I’m working as a receptionist in a dental office. Bor-ing. Boyfriend, no. Listen, I’ve gotta go. I’m meeting Mom for lunch. I wish you were coming with us.”

  “Me too. Hugs.”

  “Hugs.”

  Sofia sank down on the chair by the window. She really needed to see her family. Maybe being surrounded by her parents and siblings would help make up her mind about Ethan. She wondered when Micah and Holly were coming home.

  She glanced over her shoulder toward the hallway. Was Saintcrow comfortable in her guest room? The thought had barely crossed her mind when she found herself tiptoeing into the bedroom and easing the closet door open.

  He lay on his back, one arm at his side, the other folded over his waist.

  “Are you ready to go?” he asked, eyes still closed.

  “Just about. Sorry I bothered you.”

  “Curious?”

  She nodded, even though he wasn’t looking at her. “I’ll be ready in about ten minutes.”

  He didn’t answer, merely waved her away.

  With a hmph, Sofia closed the door.

  * * *

  She had just tossed the last of her clothes into her suitcase when Saintcrow materialized in her bedroom.

  “Is that it?” he asked, his voice laced with tension.

  At her nod, he closed the lid. Picking up the bag, he wrapped his arm around her waist and hissed, “We’re leaving.”

  Before she could ask what was wrong, they were back in his house in Morgan Creek. “Lock the doors. Don’t leave the house. And when Ethan wakes up, tell him to stay put until I get back.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “They’ve got Kadie! Dammit, I never should have left her alone.” He dropped Sofia’s bag on the floor. A wave of his hand and he was gone.

  A tremor, cold as ice, slid down Sofia’s spine. Kadie was helpless during the day. Would they kill her while she was at rest? Or was she bait to trap Saintcrow?

  With her nerves drawn as tight as piano wires, Sofia paced the floor. Time lost all meaning as she tried to make sense of what was happening. Browning had come here to determine Saintcrow’s whereabouts. A witch had come sniffing around. And now Kadie had been kidnapped.

  Chilled to the marrow of her bones, Sofia wrapped her arms around her middle and sank down on the sofa, willing the hours to pass more quickly, wishing Ethan could be awake during the day like Saintcrow.

  * * *

  Saintcrow prowled the house he had rented in New Orleans. The wards he had erected were in place but hadn’t been strong enough to repel the witch. The same black witch who had been in Morgan Creek. The stink of dark magic hung heavy in the air. It blocked his ability to track the witch. Worse, it somehow managed to hide Kadie’s scent from him as well.

  He swore long and loud as he prowled through the house, looking for a clue, for anything that would tell him the identity of the witch who had taken Kadie. He came up empty, which only added to his growing frustration. All he knew for sure was that Kadie was still alive. His only hope was that, once she woke from her daytime sleep, he would be able to find her through their blood bond.

  Returning to the living room, he expanded his senses, filtering out older scents, separating human from inanimate. An oath escaped his lips and he whirled around, surprised that no one was there. If he hadn’t killed the man with his own hands, he would have sworn Mahlon was in the room.

  Saintcrow was about to leave the house when he saw the small slip of paper, half-hidden under the sofa. Apparently, it had blown off the coffee table when he opened the door.

  He read it once, twice, his anger growing with every word.

  We have your woman,

  but it’s you we want.

  When we have you,

  we will let her go.

  We’ll be in touch.

  It was signed NB.

  “Nolan Browning.” Saintcrow crushed the paper in his hand. “You’re a dead man.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Ethan caught the scent of Sofia’s distress as soon as he emerged from the dark sleep. He instantly willed himself to her side, his worry rising when he saw how pale she looked.

  “What is it?” he asked.

  “Someone’s taken Kadie.”

  Someone with a death wish, he thought. “Where’s Saintcrow?”

  “I don’t know. He’s been gone for hours. He told me to stay inside and to tell you to do the same.”

  “Does he know who’s got her?”

  “Not that I know of. You don’t think they’ll hurt her, do you?”

  “Not until they have what they want.”

  “Nolan can’t be doing all this just to get the town back, can he?”

  “I don’t know, but I don’t think so. I think someone wants Saintcrow dead.”

  “Browning?”

  Ethan shrugged. “Maybe. Maybe not. Saintcrow’s been around a long time. I’m sure he’s made a lot of enemies. Maybe one of them just found out where he is. Maybe . . .” His words trailed off as Saintcrow materialized in the room. “Did you find Kadie?”

  “No. But I caught a scent that . . .” Saintcrow shook his head. “It can’t be him, and yet I’d swear it was.”

  “Who?” Sofia asked.

  Saintcrow paced the floor. “You remember Leticia Braga?”

  A shiver ran down Sofia’s spine. She had never met the crazy vampire who had terrorized some of her family, but what she’d heard had horrified her.

  “And Mahlon?”

  She frowned. “He was her bodyguard, right?”

  “Yeah.” Saintcrow paused in midstride. “I always wondered about him, about what he was. I knew he wasn’t entirely human. Now I think he must have carried witch blood. Or maybe demon blood. Whatever. I think one of his kin has come seeking revenge.” Hard to believe there was anyone on the planet who gave a damn about avenging Mahlon’s death. The man had been a soulless monster.

  “Are you talking about the witch who was sniffing around here?” Ethan asked.

  “It’s the only thing that makes sense. What I don’t understand is the relationship between Browning and the witch,” Saintcrow mu
ttered. And then frowned. “Unless Browning agreed to lead the witch here. I guess he figured once I was out of the way, Morgan Creek would be up for grabs. Although how Browning and Mahlon’s kin got together, I have no idea.” He resumed his pacing, then stopped abruptly. Eyes narrowed, hands tightly clenched, he said, “Kadie should be awake by now.”

  Sofia and Ethan exchanged glances. From the taut expression on Saintcrow’s face, it was obvious he still had no sense of her.

  Saintcrow fixed his gaze on Ethan. “How brave are you?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I want to try something I don’t think has ever been done before. It could be dangerous for both of us, but more so for you.”

  “What are you trying to say?”

  “I want a blood exchange between us.”

  Brow furrowed, Ethan muttered, “Didn’t we already do that?”

  “I want to do it again.”

  “I’m already a vampire, remember?”

  “If I’m right, it might make you strong enough to walk in daylight.”

  The possibility was tempting. “And if you’re wrong?”

  “Hopefully, you won’t be any worse off.”

  “Yeah, hopefully,” Ethan said.

  “I can compel you to do it,” Saintcrow reminded him with a feral smile.

  Ethan went still all over as he tried to decide whether his master was serious.

  “The choice is yours, fledgling, but it would be a big help to have you here to back me up during the day.”

  Ethan glanced at Sofia, who stared back at him, eyes wide. She shook her head almost imperceptibly.

  “I’ve gotta try it,” Ethan said, giving her hand a squeeze. “It would be great to be able to be awake during the day.” He might even be able to get his old job back if he could come up with a good enough excuse for his long unexplained absence.

  She nodded unhappily.

  “All right!” Ethan slapped his hands on his thighs. “Let’s do it.”

  “Stretch out on the sofa,” Saintcrow said, pulling a chair up to the couch. “Sofia, stay close. If something goes wrong, a little human blood might come in handy.”

  Hands damp, mouth dry, Sofia sat on the floor, hoping she wouldn’t faint.