Dark of Night

by Emily Goodwin

  “I…I want your blood,” I moan, wrapping my legs around him. With a growl, he flips us over and pulls me into his lap, I hook my arms around his neck and widen my legs, resituating myself now that I’m on top. Lucas kisses me hard, and then brings his wrist up. He bites down hard, tearing open his skin. Two fresh beads of dark red blood pool against his pale skin.

  My heart skips a beat as he offers his wrist to me. Parting my lips, I wrap one hand around his arm and bring his wrist to my mouth. I lick the blood off, surprised by how bad it doesn’t taste.

  The bites are healing already, and Lucas brings his wrist back. He did say I don’t need to actually drink it, just get some of his blood in me. If I think about it too much, it’ll ruin the intimacy of the moment. He brings his wrist back and pushes me down on the mattress, unable to restrain himself any longer. He drives his cock in and out of me, rocking me into oblivion.

  I’m so overcome with pleasure, body humming as I come for the second time, that I don’t realize his fangs are against my neck until he bites down and sucks a mouthful of blood from my body.

  Crying out, I rake my fingers through his hair and turn my head offering my neck to him. He drinks from me again and then speeds up his movements, coming as he’s licking blood off my neck.

  The sight of blood never bothered me, but I never thought it would be this…this…involved in my life, let alone my love life.

  Then again, I never thought I’d love a vampire.

  And have one as old and powerful as Lucas love me back.

  My heart is racing, which isn’t helping the little wounds clot. Usually, Lucas puts his fingers over them, applying pressure to help get the healing process started. This time, he pulls out, and rolls over, bringing me onto his chest and covering us both with the sheet.

  My eyes fall shut as my body comes down from the insane high he just gave me. He gently runs his fingertip up and down my back. I kind of have to pee, and I want to clean myself up, but I lack the willpower to get up and move. Because moving away from Lucas right now isn’t an option.

  “Your blood was different than I expected.”

  “What did you expect?” he asks,

  “I thought it would taste like a mouthful of pennies.”

  “When have you ever had a mouthful of pennies?”

  “Thankfully I’ve never had one penny in my mouth, but it’s an assumption since blood has a metallic smell.”

  “Vampire blood is different than human blood.”

  “Makes sense. I guess I never really thought about it.”

  Lucas slides his hand down and rests it on my butt. “I suppose you wouldn’t have a reason to.”

  I let my eyes fall shut, totally at peace being here with Lucas. And then I remember Scott is a cat and is in my bathroom. And my bathroom is right next to my bedroom. I’m sure he heard everything. Gross.

  Slowly disentangling myself from Lucas, I throw on a robe so I can go into the bathroom and move Scott into the small guest bedroom so I can use the toilet and shower. I end up moving the litter box and bowl of water into the spare bedroom as well, not wanting to have to get up in the middle of the night and deal with my brother-cat.

  Man, this is weird when I really think about it.

  After showering, Lucas comes into the kitchen with me while I get something to eat. It’s not that late, but I’m wiped out and want to crash on the couch or better—in bed. I end up just sticking a frozen pizza in the oven for myself, and quickly cook up some venison for my familiars. I even cut up a few small pieces for Scott. He’s a terrible person, and I don’t feel bad for turning him into a cat. Not at all. But at the end of the day, I want to say I treated him with a kindness he didn’t deserve because I’ll never be as heartless and cruel as him.

  Though if he was in his human form, mouthing off and being an asshole, I probably wouldn’t feel the same way. Seeing him as a cat is really messing with my mind.

  Taking a few pieces of pizza into the living room, Lucas and I settle on the couch and find something to watch.

  “So, this Pinterest thing,” Lucas starts, putting his arm around me. “What is it?”

  “I’ll show you.” My eyes light up and I hope he realizes he just opened a can of worms. Designing and decorating our dream house together—I can do that all day.

  “I think we’ll at least agree on colors. You seem to be a fan of neutrals, and I’d like to go with a white-and-gray color scheme for most of the house.”

  Lucas nods. “I do find those colors pleasing.”

  “And I think we should try and keep as much as we can original.”

  “Me too. I’ve come to appreciate well-kept old houses over my years, and I find the change in trends and style interesting. Craftsmanship overall has gone down.”

  “It has. They don’t make houses like they used to. I mean, this house isn’t anything fancy, but the details on the woodwork in here would be insanely expensive to have someone do.”

  “I like your house.” Lucas looks around. “It’s very you.”

  “It is.” I smile. “I might be a little sad to sell it.”

  “Don’t sell it then.”

  “Two houses…that’s a little, uh, excessive for me.”

  “Rent it out. You’ll still get to keep it, and you’ll generate income.”

  “That is a good idea,” I say and set my phone down, trading it for a piece of pizza. I’m feeling pretty sleepy by the time our show ends, and Lucas carries me upstairs. We get ready for bed and then climb under the covers together. Lucas clicks on the heated blanket and takes me in his arms.

  “I love you.”

  “I love you, too,” I reply sleepily. We snuggle up, and despite the shitstorm that is currently my life, I fall asleep fast.

  But the feeling of peace doesn’t last long. I’m dreaming, and I know it. I’ve had lucid dreams before, but this one is different. It’s not like I’m making things up as they go, watching my unconscious unfold and be able to control what’s going to happen.

  This time, I’m walking through the woods behind my house. I don’t want to be out here. I want to be back in bed with Lucas, feeling his cool skin against mine under the warmth of the heated blanket. Stopping, I squeeze my eyes closed and try to get the dream to shift. It’s my dream after all. I should be able to control it.

  Opening my eyes and realizing I’m still in the woods, I turn and start back toward the house. I can see the faint glow of my back-porch light.

  “Binx?” I call but can’t even feel my familiar. “Freya? Pandora?”

  “They can’t hear you,” someone says from behind me.

  I whirl around and come face to face with the blue-eyed man.

  Chapter 16

  My breath leaves me, and suddenly I realize the forest is quiet. No leaves are gently swaying in the breeze. No crickets are chirping. There is nothing.

  “Who are you?” I ask, holding up my hand. Blue energy swirls around my fingers, but it’s so bright it blinds me. I bring my hand down, blinking as if someone just took a flash photo right in front of my face.

  The blue-eyed man is gone, but an orange-and-red glow comes from deep within the forest. Suddenly, the breeze is back, and it brings with it the scent of a bonfire. Only, no one is out in the woods sitting around a fire for fun.

  The faint smell of brimstone doesn't hit me right away, but I can feel it deep in my bones. What I’m smelling is hellfire, and for some reason, I know I’m the one about to get burned. I close my eyes again.

  “Wake up, Callie,” I say to myself.

  I’m still in the forest.

  “Wake up!”

  Dammit, I’m still here.

  “Now. Get up before you burn!”

  The wind picks up and embers blow into the air. “Not again,” I whisper to myself and take off, running into the woods. Things are exactly like they would be in real life, with the exception of the pale golden glow that lights up the forest floor enough for me to see. I jump over a fallen tree, an
d when I land, I’m right outside the circle of fire that’s surrounding me.

  The demon that rose from hell stands within, watching and waiting for me to burn. I suck in a breath, and maybe it’s only because this is a dream, but I cough from the smoke. I don’t even feel the heat of the fire.

  “Wake up. Wake up. Wake up.”

  I pinch the skin on my arm, hoping the pain will be enough to jolt me awake, or at least enough to make me flinch in my sleep and get Lucas to wake me up. It doesn’t work.

  I hear myself talking, voice hardly a whisper behind the crackling of the hellfire. But I know what’s coming next. This is the point where I almost gave up, where I didn’t see a way out and thought my death was inevitable.

  But then he showed up.

  Closing my eyes, I step into the fire. I brace for the pain, but the fire doesn’t burn me. It doesn’t even singe my hair. Right, this is a dream. I think.

  I’m honestly not sure anymore.

  I look at myself, tied to the tree by its very own roots. I turn, eyes wide as I stare at the flames. He’s going to show up any second now. My heart speeds up and a dark shadow appears, just like he did the first time.

  And just like the first time, I get an overwhelming sense of familiarity. There’s something in his eyes, in the way the energy comes off of him…it’s not only like I’m looking at an old friend, being around him is comforting.

  Like coming home.

  It makes no sense. I don’t know who this man is. How can he be familiar?

  The other Callie is coughing and choking on smoke. I turn around, losing focus on the blue-eyed man. Lucas said I wasn’t speaking English. Maybe I can hear what I said and maybe figure out who this guy is and—

  I wake with a start, shooting straight up.

  “Bad dream?” Lucas asks, sliding his hand over my thigh. He’s already sitting up with a book in one hand. Right. It’s bedtime for me but party-hours for him.

  “Uh,” I start and let out a breath. “More like a weird dream about that blue-eyed man that I saw in the fire.”

  “I thought you said I had nothing to be jealous about.” His lips curve into a half-smile. “And now you’re dreaming about him?” He pushes his hands between my thighs. “Do I need to remind you why I’m the only one you want?”

  “You are the only one I want, and it was far from a sex dream.” I heft back onto the pillows, body still tired but mind whirling. “It was like he was trying to show me something, but I have no idea what I was supposed to be seeing.” I close my eyes and shake my head. “It was basically just a replay of me almost burning to death.”

  Lucas spoons his large body around mine. “Sounds like a nightmare.”

  It does, but I’m not sure how to explain it to him that it wasn’t. I could just feel that it wasn’t.

  “Maybe,” I mutter and put my hand on top of his. “Was I asleep long?”

  “No, not more than half an hour.”

  “You’re bored, aren’t you?”

  “Not really,” he says after a moment’s hesitation. “I like being with you, and I know you’ve had a tiring day.”

  “Let’s go out tomorrow night. Another fancy date is way overdue.”

  “Can I take you to a fancy French place now?” His lips brush against my neck as he talks. “And I’ll translate for you.”

  “You remembered I said that.”

  “I do.”

  I let my eyes fall shut and snuggle up against Lucas. “My brother said something today—before I turned him into a cat, of course—and it’s nagging at me.”

  “What did he say?”

  “He said I’m not his sister. At first, I thought he meant it in an I refuse to admit you’re related to me kind of way, but I think he meant it. Like I’m actually not related to him.”

  “That wouldn’t be a bad thing, would it?”

  “No.” I slip my fingers between his. “But if I’m not related to Scott…then where did I come from?” The image of the blue-eyed man flashes before me. “I don’t see how I can’t be related to him, though. I told you, I’ve seen pictures of my mother when she was pregnant with me. I have my birth certificate with my parents’ names on it. I just…I don’t know.” I sigh. “And if I’m not related to them, then who the hell am I?”

  “You are Callie. The woman I love and arguably the most badass woman I’ll ever know. You are smart and kind. You are fiercely loyal and stand up for what’s right. And you are insanely beautiful, your blood tastes like starlight, and your pussy was made to have my cock inside of it.”

  I can’t help but smile. “I agree with that.”

  Lucas kisses my neck, gently putting his lips against the bite marks. “Get some sleep, my love. You need it.”

  My eyelids are feeling heavy again. Closing them, I focus on the way Lucas’s body feels against mine. I don’t fall asleep quickly this time, having a hard time ignoring all the noise inside my brain.

  If I’m not Scott’s sister…if I’m not my father’s daughter…that could explain why they hate me so much. I’m a witch, and no one in the Martin family has powers. But then again…how the hell did I get there?

  “I don’t get it,” I tell my familiars, looking out the kitchen window. “Why won’t this one block out the sun?”

  I set the bowl of smoldering herbs down. Every other window in the house has been enchanted and keeps harmful light out. But this damn kitchen window…I don’t get it. Every time I do the spell on this window, the black smoke covers it and then quickly dissipates on its own. I’ve tried it three times this morning, wanting Lucas to be able to move about the house and not go stir crazy from being confined to one room.

  “I don’t think there’s a crack in it.” I climb onto the counter and lean over the sink, looking at the glass. I run my hand along the edges, feeling for any leaks of warm air coming in from outside, and feel nothing.

  “And this window was replaced.” I turn, looking at Pandora. “It’s not like it’s special magic glass or anything.” I bring my hand down, and my fingers catch on the little gemstone wind chime I have hanging on the window. The chain breaks, and the chime falls into the sink. “Dammit,” I grumble. “I liked hearing this chiming when the window’s open.”

  I hop off the counter and take the charm with me. The metal loops in the chain got pulled apart but will be an easy fix. I have tiny pliers upstairs in my room. I went through a phase where I thought making my own jewelry would be calming and a fun hobby, but all it did was frustrate me when I kept dropping the tiny gems.

  I open and close my bedroom door as fast as I can, not wanting to burn Lucas. He’s sitting up in bed, typing on his laptop at vamp speed.

  “You could write a full book in like a day or two at the rate you type.” I sit on the bed next to him. He’s doing something for work and has been going through emails and files all morning.

  “I could. But I lack the imagination to write one.”

  “I have an idea for a very hot forbidden romance. Sexy witch meets her match with an equally sexy vampire.”

  Lucas laughs, sets his computer down, and grabs me around the waist, flipping me down onto the mattress. He runs his hands up my arms, pulling my wrists over my head. He takes the wind chime from me only to drop it onto the mattress.

  “What is that?” he asks, pulling his hand back. There’s a small section of charred skin. It begins healing immediately.

  “That burned you?” I reach for the wind chime. “It’s just a chime…with moonstone and quartz gems.” I gasp. “Oh my god. I think I figured it out.” I drop the chime and run back downstairs.

  I pick up the bowl of herbs and stand in front of the kitchen window. Using magic, I set the herbs on fire and waft it toward the window. “Smoke thick as clouds and black as night, keep this room safe from the harm of light.”

  Thick black smoke rises from the bowl, filling the window. It blocks out all the light, darkening the kitchen. Holding my breath, I wait. The smoke stays.

  “
Lucas!” I set the bowl down and do a happy dance. “Come here!”

  It hits me that he has no idea I’ve made the entire house safe from sunlight when I see him rush down the stairs and into the kitchen.

  “Look!” I point to the window, though it’s pretty damn obvious why I called him down. Light from every other window in the house filters the sunlight, and in a few minutes, I’ll wave the smoke away from this window too. Lucas doesn’t have to hide out in my room like a grounded teenager anymore.

  “The chime kept the spell from working?” Lucas looks around the house, eyes wide. It’s the first time he’s seeing more than my bedroom in the sunlight.

  “The moonstone and quartz. I didn’t even think about it since I was focusing on the glass. But moonstone absorbs the sunlight and quartz enhances the properties of whatever gems or crystals it’s paired with. I knew that, of course, but didn’t realize how much sunlight it could hold until you touched it and it burned you.”

  “Moonstone charged in the sun can burn vampires.”

  “Yes. But I don’t think it’ll keep that charge for long. Crystals and gems absorb light as heat, and once that heat is gone, the light is gone too. I think. I don’t really remember the specifics.” I motion to the house. “But look. The house is safe.”

  Lucas picks me up and sets me on the small island counter. “You are incredible.” He draws his fangs and leans in for a kiss right as my phone rings.

  “Whoever is calling better have something important to say,” I groan, turning away from Lucas. My phone is on the counter next to the sink, and I hold out my hand and telekinetically bring it to me. It’s Kristy.

  “Hey,” I say when I answer.

  “Turn on CNN,” she tells me. “Now.”

  “Okay, I will.” I end the call.

  Lucas, able to hear what Kristy is saying, steps back so I can jump off the counter. We go into the living room. I grab the remote and turn on the TV, using the voice command to turn on CNN.

  “He did it,” Lucas says, seeing the breaking news headline. “He actually fucking did it.”

  I sit on the couch, eyes wide, as I watch the news reporter interview a spokeswoman from the Vampire Council about the “controversial proposed law” that would dictate where vampires live…and how vampires everywhere will be grateful to know it won’t be going any further.