Sighing, he focused back on the ticker. Why did they have to make those things move across the screen so fast? After a few minutes, he noticed the messages repeating, so he was able to read what he had missed before. From what he could tell, the US had been attacked from all sides. Most of the state of Alaska was one big wildfire. Both coastlines had been attacked with a barrage of bombs.
He knew that the growing number of socialist and communist countries hated their new president, but he didn't know the hatred had run that deep, though. He'd had plenty of conversations about it with his dad and people from the country club. There were several with strong opinions against communism that he had always thought were blowing hot air, but now it looked like they had been right.
Where was Nichole or her mom? He really wanted a coffee. He felt like someone was squeezing his brain, and he knew that was a sign that he needed caffeine. Clara had always teased him about his coffee and diet soda habits, saying he was addicted. These headaches always reminded him that she was right.
He sat up. If Delphic Cove had been hit, and he had clearly been injured, where was Clara? Was she okay? His heart raced and his stomach twisted in knots. He couldn't bear to think of her getting hurt. What if she was injured somewhere, alone and scared? What if she was worried about him? He had to find her.
William stood up. Searing pain shot through his knee, nearly knocking him to the ground. He was obviously not going anywhere. He sat back down, covering himself up again.
Where was his family? Were they all right? Surely, if they were able to get to Nichole's house and bring him home, they would.
He ran his hands through his hair, accidentally hitting the sore spot again. He winced.
A commercial for a jewelry store came on the screen, and William remembered his last conversation with Clara. He had been uncharacteristically cold to her. The blood felt like it all drained from his body. It was replaced with a heavy dose of guilt.
What if that had been their last conversation…ever?
Why had he been so rude? That wasn't like him. He had been raised to put on a good face all the time, no matter what. He was going to be an attorney, and he was going to have clients he loathed. He would have to act like he was their best friend, not giving them a hint of how he truly felt.
He closed his eyes. What had Clara said or done to upset him? Images of the pictures from his dad's album came into his mind's eye. She had claimed that it was actually her in them. That she had been in love with Liam two centuries earlier. She claimed to be a vampire.
William took a deep breath. That was why he had been so upset. He had been certain that she was lying to him. But she had never lied to him before, unless it was true that she was some kind of immortal. Then she was lying by omission the entire time.
More than anything, he wanted to believe her. He just wanted to wrap his arms around her and never let her go. So what if she thought she was a vampire? Vampires were sexy, right? She was off the charts hot. They could always role play—pretend she was a vampire and he was her willing victim. So what if she thought it was real?
At least he would be with the woman he loved, and she was gorgeous and smart to boot. Everyone had their flaws. She thought she was a blood-sucking creature of the night with some kind of daylight blessing. It could be worse. He had heard horror stories from his dad about people who were truly insane.
There were people out there who tried to kill their love interests. People who killed their families. Fathers who impregnated their daughters and then blamed them for sleeping around. Parents who hit their kids and others who tore theirs apart verbally. Teachers who took advantage of their students. Religious and political leaders who did horrible acts against humanity.
Clara was none of those things. He had seen her risk her own life to save a child from getting hit by a car in England. She almost always gave ten dollar bills to beggars on the street. She had helped out their neighbors more times than he could count. She supported and encouraged him through his studies. When he had wanted to quit school altogether, she talked him into sticking with it.
He was lucky to have her. She loved him—him! So what if she thought she was a vampire? Her kisses were amazing…and whatever it was she had done when they were camping, and then again at his house, that was indescribable. If that was a side effect of being a vampire, or her thinking she was one, he would take it. Why not?
His heart ached as he recalled his harsh words. She didn't deserve that.
Footsteps behind him caught his attention. He turned around.
Nichole smiled. "Oh, good. You're awake. You've been asleep quite a while. How are you feeling?"
William's heart sunk. He wanted out—away from her. "I'm good. In fact, I'd like to go home now."
She shook her head. "Not on that leg, you're not."
"We can send for my driver."
"Phones are down."
"But the electricity is running."
"Backup generators, silly."
"Don't you have a driver? He can take me to my house. I'm sure my cook is home, and she can take care of me."
"My driver is on vacation this week. Actually, he quit. But those are just minor details."
"You have a car. I remember that much. Please. I want to go home."
Nichole frowned. "Poor William. My mom and I have medical training and supplies. You're better off here."
"My knee and wrist are sprained, right? It's hardly rocket science. Sally's quite capable. She's good for a lot more than just cooking. She's practically a second mother to me."
She sat down next to him, patting his knee over the blanket. She gave him a sultry pout. "If she comes for you, you can go with her, okay? But I can't in good conscience send you back home. I saved your life, you know."
"And you're never going to let me forget it," William muttered under his breath.
"What?"
"I said thank you."
Nichole smiled. "You know you're in good hands with me. I could have run off, scared from the bombs, but I didn't. I made sure you were safe, even after that fatty nearly crushed you."
William nodded.
Her mom came into the room, holding two bags of ice. "Put these on your sprains." She handed them to William, in his good arm.
Nichole snatched one. "I'll help you with the one on your knee." She pushed the blanket off his leg, exposing more of him than needed to be to put ice on his knee. She looked along his thigh, smiling.
He pushed the blanket down, so that only his knee was poking out.
She frowned. "How do your hips feel? Maybe we should ice them just to be sure."
"Nichole." Her mom sighed.
"What? I'm just trying to take care of him. You didn't see the size of that fatso who landed on him. I'm surprised he wasn't hurt worse. In fact, he'll probably feel sore in more places tomorrow. You know, delayed reaction."
"Just help him with his knee and wrist, will you?"
"I want him to know who's here taking care of him. You know, who really cares about him."
"He's not a pet, Nichole. Remember, Dr. Anderson suggested getting a dog for you take care of and focus on? Maybe I should have let that gir—"
"Mom!"
"What?" William asked.
Nichole shook her head. "Don't listen to her. She's delirious."
Her mom glared at her. "Watch your mouth, young lady. One word from me and you're going back to—"
"I was just talking smack. Leave me alone, Mom. I'll take good care of him. I promise."
"You'd better." She looked at William. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to yell."
William raised an eyebrow. He didn't like the tone Nichole's mom used. He nodded and then she left the room.
Nichole pulled the blanket off William, throwing it behind her, where he couldn't reach it.
"Could I get that back? It's a little chilly in here."
She moved closer to him, putting her hand on his leg, above his knee. "I'll keep you warm."
She squeezed her hand, moving it up a few inches.
"I have a fiancée, you know."
"Yeah, so I've heard. Don't you remember her stomping off at the lake? I wouldn't put much stock in her. If she really cared, don't you think she would have come for you?"
He narrowed his eyes. "Not if she couldn't get here."
Nichole moved her hand up even further along his leg. "I think a good all-over massage is exactly what you need after everything you've been through today."
William pushed her hand away.
"Tsk, tsk." She shook her head. "Don't do that, you're going to make your wrist worse." She put her hand back, this time higher, and dangerously close to reaching his boxers.
He pushed her hand away again. "You can hold the ice on my knee. Stay away from the rest of my leg."
"I'm just trying to help."
"No, you're not. You're being pushy and obnoxious. I don't want you rubbing my leg—or even touching it."
"You're not being very nice to the person who—"
"Saved my life. I'll have my parents send you a check. Then we'll be even."
She put her hand back on his thigh. "I don't need money. Look around you. This house is one of the largest in the whole development. We have everything we could ever want. There's nothing you could offer me that—"
The doorbell rang, interrupting Nichole. A look of fear crossed her face, and then she quickly gained composure. "I wonder who that could be. Just wait here while I see."
"Can I at least get the blanket back?"
Nichole sighed and rolled her eyes. "Fine. Whatever." She tossed it at him before running out of the room.
Chapter 30
CLARA WALKED ALONG the sidewalk outside of Mr. Foley's house, not wanting to be inside with his servants any longer. Their disdain for her was so strong it could be felt, and if there was one thing she wasn't going to put up with, it was being looked down on by werewolves.
Something caught her attention at the edge of her line of sight across the street. She didn't care, though. She was mapping out her plan to get William out of Nichole's house.
A movement distracted her once again and chills ran through her, indicating that she was being watched. Why then, of all times? It was probably just some human. She wasn't going to allow herself the distraction.
She turned around, walking in the other direction. Should she go through the front or the side of the house while Tobias worked his magic? One of the sides would keep her out of sight, but on the other hand, going through the front would bring her closer to William, and though she was fast, he was only human with so many limitations. He—
A noise came from across the street where Clara had seen the movements. Her eyebrows came together, she clenched her fists, and then stormed across the street. "What's going on? Show yourself!"
She heard a chuckle and knew who it was—not that it was any big surprise.
"Victor, what are you doing here?" Clara demanded.
He stepped out from behind a tree. "Were you ignoring me, Clare-bear?"
"What do you want?"
"I thought I'd check on you after the attacks. Too bad no one gave you a heads-up on those. Oh, wait…" He laughed.
"You can see I'm fine. Go away. I'm busy."
He leaned against the tree and crossed one foot over the other. "Did you ever tell the Lennox kid your little secret? How is he, by the way?"
Clara's eyes turned red. "What's it to you?"
"You and me—we're meant to be together. I don't know what your obsession is with that family, but it's unhealthy."
She narrowed her eyes. "If you're so convinced we're meant to be together, give me space. In about eighty years, I should be available again, right? Bug off."
"Ouch." He clutched his chest. "You didn't answer my question. Did you tell him?"
Clara's fangs extended and she hissed at him. "It's none of your business, Victor. Why have you shown up recently? You know you're a convenient backup and nothing more. I'd think you'd have the patience to wait less than a century."
He relaxed his stance. "We belong together, Clare-bear. It's—"
"Stop calling me that! I will not tell you again."
Victor took a strand of her hair and twirled it around his finger. "Come on, Clara. Forget about the humans. They're no good for you, unless you actually enjoy the heartbreak."
"I don't have time for this."
"Yeah, I could see you were busy pacing. Sorry to interrupt something so important." He stepped closer to her. "Baby, let's—"
"Don't call me baby. I don't care what you think, Victor." She spun around, but stopped halfway through, because he still held her hair. Clara jumped at him, ready to bite down and rip his flesh off.
"Oh, yeah. Bite me…you remember how much you've always loved my blood."
She slapped him. "You're incorrigible."
"I do my best."
"This rat again?"
Clara turned around to see Tobias wearing a thin, tightly fitting shirt and snug leather pants. "I see what you mean about the outfit."
He glared at Victor. "Why is it that you keep showing up around Clara and she never appears happy to see you? Can't you take a hint? She's taken."
"If it's by you, then I'll walk away now. I'm not going to get into a fashion war like that." He chuckled.
Clara grabbed his collar. "You know full well who I'm engaged to. Find someone else to annoy."
Victor pulled away, fixing his shirt. "If you tell me Lennox is fine with you being a vampire, you won't hear from me for the next hundred years."
Fury ran through Clara and she could feel the red in her eyes deepen to a shade they rarely reached. "We've discussed it."
"And he's still madly in love with you?"
She clenched her fists before opening them and jumping on top of Victor, knocking him over. She bit into his skin while simultaneously clawing his face, not even caring if she plucked out his eyeballs. He had been bothering her for about two hundred years and it was time for him to stop.
Clara felt arms on her shoulders.
"You told me he's not worth it."
"I don't care! He needs to die. He's a loser with no redeeming value whatsoever, Foley. Stay out of it."
Tobias cleared his throat. "I would, but you're the one who inquired about my services. We have someone to save, remember?"
Her fangs retracted, remembering William. She shoved Victor's face into the ground, forcing dirt into his mouth. "Tobias is my witness. William loves me and needs me."
Tobias pulled Clara up, dusting some dirt off her arm. "She's right. I was there for the engagement, and he's very much in love. Right now, though, he needs our help."
Victor stood up, hissing. "I can take you, wolf."
"And you think that would soften my heart for you, Victor? Dream on. You can join us if you'd like, but we're leaving."
"Right. You're into weakling humans." Victor spat.
Tobias whistled. Before Clara had the time to wonder why, Bruno and two other equally huge werewolves appeared behind Tobias. One of them growled and they all looked ready to attack.
Narrowing his eyes, Victor backed up.
"You'll leave her alone for the next century. Right?" Tobias asked.
Victor bared his fangs, but nodded.
"These three," Tobias indicated toward his staff, "have your scent memorized. If you so much as show your face around Clara, I'll sic them on you. Got it?"
"You have a century, and then you'll see me when you least expect it. You won't be able to hide behind guard dogs, Clare-bear. Maybe by then you'll realize that we were made for each other." Victor glared at Tobias and the other werewolves before running out of sight.
Clara gave Tobias a look of appreciation. "I can't thank you enough."
He shrugged. "Think nothing of it. Let's get William." He turned to the others. "You're free to go."
Clara led the way and stood at the corner
of the porch, out of sight from the front door at Nichole's house. Mr. Foley stood in front of it, standing as though posing for a steamy romance novel cover. Neither Nichole nor her mother would be able to take their eyes off him. Clara almost couldn't either, but she knew she had more important things to focus on, besides a werewolf.
Once Nichole and her mom were tripping over each other to keep Mr. Foley's attention, she would have to sneak in and get William out.
The door opened and Clara didn't wait a moment before she slid through the wall. She found herself in what looked like a small office. Nichole's mom was at the front door, but she couldn't hear Nichole's voice. She went into the hall, looking down both directions. She was in the clear for the time being.
She headed toward the room William had been in before. She sniffed, and found that his scent was getting a little stronger. She was at least going in the right direction.
Footsteps could be heard not far away. Clara pushed her back against the wall, listening. It sounded as though they were headed for the front door. That had to be Nichole. Good. She would forget about William while Mr. Foley was talking with them.
Clara kept going down the hall, following William's scent. She kept listening for any sounds that Nichole or her mom were heading her way, but she could hear them talking with Mr. Foley, and it did sound like they were vying for his attention. She had clearly made the right choice in asking for his help, as much as she would have rather asked anyone else. There was no denying his eye candy factor.
She started to worry that she was going in the wrong direction. It was taking longer to get to the family room than before, but she was also taking a different route and was on the lookout, not wanting to get caught.
Rounding a corner, she found herself in the family room. William was still sitting on the couch, but at least he was covered in the blanket. He was sipping something from a coffee mug. Clara's stomach twisted in knots. What if it was poisoned? Nichole had to know that Clara wouldn't give up that easily.
He looked up in surprise, nearly spilling the drink.
Clara ran at top speed to catch the cup. She set it on a coffee table and threw her arms around him.
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