“That would explain a few things. Like why I’m having such a hard time keeping up with you.”
“Well, combine the man, with the monster.”
“You guys are pretty serious about this whole mating thing, huh?”
“When you spend as much time in hiding as we do, and you find someone you love, who loves you in return, you do not let go easily.”
“I understand.”
***
It was dark again, or maybe it was still dark. By the time they’d landed she couldn’t tell anymore. Kendra wasn’t used to things like jetlag. That, combined with keeping Alessandro’s nocturnal schedule, had left her feeling like she had no idea what was going on. She’d slept a bit on the plane so she could press on. Had to press on. There wasn’t any choice in the matter.
She’d eaten all of her food and was hungry again. That would have to be dealt with sooner than later. And of hunger, she sensed Alessandro’s coming thirst, wondering how jetlag affected him. There would be one whole day yet before he planned to feed. He’d wanted to time it just right so he’d be satiated on their wedding night. She worried about him growing weak, her need to satisfy him, and whether she would be strong enough not to make things harder than necessary.
And the daylight, of course.
There was always the daylight to fear.
Alessandro wouldn’t risk anyone at the monastery, so he planned on them being gone from there at sundown. He’d rented a black Audi. Very fast and very expensive. The plan was to drive through the night, as usual. He’d arranged for them to meet up with the jeweler, a quick stop to pick up the rings.
She opened the car door and slipped into chilled gray leather, closing herself gratefully inside, ready to be moving again. This was to be their shared existence for the foreseeable future. Made her wonder what would happen if this were to go on long enough. Would she have her fill of it and offer herself over to Theron? She shivered, not particularly liking that idea. But really, could they live like this for the rest of her life? And if she could help end it, shouldn’t she?
Alessandro was checking his phone. Standing out in the dark didn’t seem to bother him any. He could sense other vampires, so he always had a heads up. Not her. The dark just made her anxious.
He put away his phone then stored their bag in the back of the rental. His scent filled the car as he joined her. Kendra leaned her head back, feeling safer with him next to her. She watched him start the engine and then turn on the heat.
“It still seems like I’m causing a lot of trouble,” she said.
He pulled out, glancing at her. “From what I have observed, it is a lady’s right to test a man.”
“Sure, so I’m making you earn bedroom privileges. That makes me feel so much better.”
His smile surprised her. “I’m not alarmed. Where I am from, you would not be worth the trouble at all if you hadn’t tested me.”
Maybe there were a few benefits to being with such an old man. “I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“I’ve faced bigger obstacles than a little sun exposure, habibti. I will be fine. Tomorrow we’ll both be fine.”
His warm voice made her turn down the heat. “What if I don’t really need all this, you know, for you to risk yourself or to share your money with me.” She hated the shrill sound to her voice, especially in air that wasn’t blowing loudly. Since when had she become such a nag anyway?
“Too late. I am a stubborn man and I’ve made up my mind.” His brows lifted slightly, suggestively, and he smiled like she was going to be dinner.
It still alarmed her that she wanted, literally, to be dinner. It also alarmed her that she was being so indecisive. She was beginning to annoy herself. That part about him feeding on her just felt so unnatural, but it was a compulsion in her too, a need she couldn’t shake, like a drug addict who would sooner die of an overdose than to quit. She was an addict for the first time in her life, and yes, that was disturbing.
They stopped for food and to pick up a phone for her. He wanted her to have her own as a precaution, in case they ever got separated. She didn’t remind him that if they were to get separated, it would be too late for her anyway.
They left Zürich behind, Alessandro driving faster than needed, especially given it was dark and the road they’d just turned on didn’t have any guardrails. He was enjoying it so Kendra didn’t say anything. It seemed reasonable to believe that if he could save them out of a plane he could save them from a car too.
It was three AM when they pulled into a quaint Tudor village, streets lined with antique black iron streetlights. Someday she wanted to drive through Switzerland and actually enjoy it too. The jeweler lived in the rooms over his shop. Lights flicked on as they walked up to the door. Kendra blinked until her eyes adjusted.
A gray haired man in rumpled clothes opened the door, looking as if he’d been dozing while waiting up for them. He smiled broadly at her vampire. It had been Alessandro posing as his own father to serve as patron to the man decades ago when he’d opened his shop. Alex Stoughton had no idea he’d been doing business with the same man since the nineteen eighties.
Sleep deprived eyes flicked over Alessandro, who was dressed like your average run of the mill—really good looking, rich, son of an oil and gold dealer.
Kendra knew she didn’t exactly look normal herself anymore, more like she’d just walked off the cover of a magazine, complete with built in airbrushing.
Alex spoke in Swiss German, Kendra understanding none of it.
“English, please,” Alessandro told him. “My fiancé is from the United States.”
“Yes, of course,” the man said, his words heavily accented. He looked at her as he spoke. “Everything is ready for you. I’ll just take you back...”
“No,” Alessandro said.
She watched his gaze flick to a lit fireplace. He focused back onto Alex. “She’s exhausted. We just flew in.” Alessandro slipped his arm around her and she played along, yawning into her sleeve.
“Jetlag,” she said.
“If you could just get the rings for us that would be great. You will find the rest of your payment is already on your account.”
The man perked right up at that. “I’ll be right back.”
While he went into the back room, she looked questioningly at Alessandro. “What is it?”
He tipped his head toward the fire. “Better I don’t go near it.”
She looked over the inviting fireplace, feeling even colder for it. She nestled into him but he wasn’t any warmer than she was. “Why not?”
He looked at her with a half-smile. “What is the sun made of, habibti?”
“Fire.” Oh. “Oh.”
The man returned with two gold foil bags. One had a green ribbon tied around it. “Are you sure you don’t want to look them over first?”
“I’m sure they’re perfect,” Alessandro said. “Besides, I don’t think she wants me seeing my ring by accident since it’s meant to be a surprise.” He smiled and the jeweler nodded in agreement.
“I understand. Be sure to let me know if there are any problems.”
“I will.”
Alex handed her the bag with the ribbon. “That is for you, it’s his ring.” He handed the other bag to Alessandro.
She’d picked the design out over the internet and really wanted to see it in person, but there was little chance of getting away from Alessandro long enough to do it without him catching a peek. Maybe at the next bathroom break, and even that was iffy.
They got back into the car without any trouble, Alessandro stowing her ring with their things in the back. She decided to hold onto his just in case that illusive moment alone actually became reality. Kendra peeked inside at a green velvet box, the jeweler’s watermark in gold emblazed across the top. She put the bag in a cubby on the dash with a sigh.
It was hard being patient, especially when trying to outwit such an old man. Patience was kinda his game.
She turne
d her attention onto him as they pulled out. “You can’t look at fire?”
“I can’t get too close to it.”
“How did that work before electricity?”
“Not very well. Mostly I came across as an eccentric foreigner who only associated with business colleagues, and even then just when I had to. A single lit candle was all I ever allowed for.”
“Why do I have the feeling you’re talking about more than banking and mineral rights here?”
He smiled briefly. “That was my past. Nothing you need to worry about.”
“Wait a second. You can only go out in the dark, and people used candles for light?”
“Then I avoided being near them. As long I don’t look at it directly, it’s okay, but to walk past a fireplace and then pretend it didn’t hurt is risky. Not worth the trouble.”
“And you can’t risk being found out for what you really are.”
“Most business could be done by post. Money will get you anything you want. Whenever possible I paid people to do my business for me. They knew that if they didn’t do it right, well, no one crossed me and they got paid for that.”
She watched the road, aware of him glancing her way. “You okay?” he asked.
“It’s just a lot to take in. We could talk about your unlife forever and when you do it’s so nonchalantly.”
“I speak of facts. If it bothers you, we don’t have to.”
“You’re so worried about my sanity that sometimes I worry too, just because you are.”
His brow creased. “Did you get enough sleep?”
“I got enough sleep.”
“Food?”
She eyed him. “See what I mean? I’m stronger than you think.”
“What I have put you through is more than most could take. I worry, because I care.”
She shrugged off his words, or at least made it look like she had.
He grinned at her. “You are marrying a monster this afternoon, habibti.”
“Well sure, when you put it like that and all.”
Chapter Fourteen
Alessandro checked the clock on the dashboard. 7:35 AM. Kendra was across the car from him with her head leaning against the window. She looked dazed from all the driving but she was awake. He’d had to drive all through the night even though it didn’t take that long to get there. He’d taken the scenic route. The very scenic route.
“What time is sunrise?” he asked her.
She stirred, reached for the phone. “Can’t you sense it?”
“I can, yes, but let’s check to be safe. There is nothing wrong with taking advantage of technology.”
“Fair enough.” She brought up a weather app. “Sunrise is at 8:04.”
He had a few minutes then. “We’re not far but you’re going to have to drive the rest of the way.”
She nodded, scrolling up the GPS. “I’ve got it.”
“Father Davide will be expecting us. I won’t be of any use to you until I can get out of the light.”
“Yeah, I understand. I don’t like this, but it’s my fault anyway.”
“Stop,” he said, fangs drawn and slurring his words eerily. “You want to cast blame? I’ve got a longer list than you.”
“Yeah, yeah,” she said, rubbing her arms. “I hate it when you talk around your fangs like that.”
“It serves to get my point across.”
“We need to work on your sexism.”
He frowned. “What does protecting my incredibly fragile mate have to do with sexism?”
She opened her mouth, then stopped and shook her head. “Just forget it.”
“You’re supposed to wait at least a few weeks after the wedding before you get annoyed with me, habibti.”
“Too late for that, I was annoyed from the start.”
She was worried about him, was what she was. He drove them as far as he dared before sunrise, then pulled over.
“My turn,” she said, getting out.
He caught up with her before she’d even closed the door.
“That’s going to take some getting used to,” she muttered.
He tipped her face up and kissed her.
“You’re getting cold.”
“I’ll be fine,” he iterated.
“But will I?”
“We’ll stay only until dusk. I’m sure you will behave yourself at a monastery.”
She pursed her lips at that and he kissed her once more before letting go. Kendra came around back as he pulled out a pair of black sunglasses from their bag.
“Will that work?” she asked.
“Not really, no.” He took out a baseball cap and put that on too. “But it’s less suspicious than a blindfold.”
“Would that work better?”
“No. We all try, the first few years as a vampire, but the light finds its way through fabric or around edges.”
“This is not a good look for you, like you’re from the Iranian mafia.”
He shook his head at that. “It will have to be my look for now.” He checked the sky. The horizon was glowing orange. “Go on,” he said.
He got out her ring box and put it in his coat pocket, then made it into the passenger side before she’d even opened her door. She sighed when she saw him there. “You just don’t even try when no one else is watching, do you?”
“Don’t really have to.”
She started the engine and they pulled out, the wheels squealing. She wasn’t used to the amount of horsepower now under her rein. “Careful, habibti,” he warned with a smile.
“Oh, shut up.”
As the sun rose, she kept glancing at him with worried eyes, like she thought he might burn to ciders at any moment. No, habibti, I will not burn away, although I might wish for it.
He kept his face averted as the first of the sun’s rays hit the car. He sensed it there, teasing him, forever torturing just out of reach. The warmth he could feel and remember what it had been like in his mortal life; to lift his face to the sky, to see the sun raining down on the sepia sand and having to shade his eyes from it even then.
He’d seen a good deal of the world by now but always under the cover of darkness. The sun and its domain remained forever out of his reach.
Kendra pulled into the monastery, gravel crunching under tires. He’d only ever seen the Gothic architecture through his night vision, not as she saw it now.
“Do I just leave the car out front?” she asked.
“Yes, please.” The shorter the distance he had to walk the better.
She stopped and turned off the engine. “Oh, look at that. I drove and I didn’t get us killed,” she said in the same tone she used when she said the word, whatever.
“Did you want to drive?”
“Once in a while it would be nice to feel useful.”
“I call her my life and my soul, and she still thinks she is not useful,” he droned.
“Shut up.” He heard her open the door. “Do you need help or something?”
This was the part he wasn’t looking forward to. “Yes, I do,” he said.
He heard her hesitation. “Okay,” she said softly.
Kendra took up the bag with his ring in it and he assumed that she had stowed it in her coat pocket. The door closed and she came around. He opened his door at a normal human rate. The last thing they needed was for him to hit her with it. He got out, wincing, knew he could run inside in a fraction of a second but without his eyes he was disabled. He couldn’t even find the door without her help.
Kendra slipped her arm around his waist. “Here we go.”
She led him across the drive too slowly. The sun was hitting the snow and reflecting everywhere. He saw the red glow behind his eyelids, was hyperaware of it; felt the burn.
“You can walk a little faster,” he gritted.
“I’m sorry.” She sounded teary. Perfect, now they would both be blind.
“Calm down,” he told her. Not that it was likely to happen.
He smelled Father
Davide, and then heard his voice. “It’s all right,” Davide said. “I’ve got him now.”
Alessandro felt his friend’s hand on his arm. Kendra stayed at his other side.
“I should have parked closer,” she said hoarsely.
“Watch the steps,” Father Davide warned. Alessandro lifted his foot, feeling his way up the stone stairs one at a time. Finally, they got him through the door and it closed behind them. He was enveloped in darkness.
Literally.
He pulled off the hat and glasses.
Kendra knew without him having to tell her. “How long will you be blind for?”
“A few hours.”
“Does it still hurt?”
It was burning behind his eyes. “Yes,” he hissed. “But not as much.”
“Let’s take him to my cell,” Father Davide said, a voice of calm amidst the trial. “You’ll both be more comfortable there.”
***
Kendra took the tea offered to her by Father Davide, gladly clutching red porcelain in hands that had gone cold. The monastery lacked central heating, and since Alessandro couldn’t take any natural light, there would be no fire for her.
He was next to her on a settee, shoulder to shoulder, unable to offer any heat. He felt distant, like he was pulling away emotionally. She didn’t like that.
The werewolf sat across from them on a wooden chair with cracked paint. He was dressed exactly like she would have expected for an ascetic monk, in black robes and a rope belt, a silver cross with wooden beads dangling from it. Davide’s cell was bleak gray stone, the only decor consisting of two gold-leafed icons on the walls. The Holy Mother was behind her, and Jesus feeding the ten thousand over Father Davide’s head.
Kendra focused her attention on the priest, realizing she had no idea how to talk to this stranger. Alessandro seemed unwilling, or perhaps unable, to offer her any aid. She felt the awkward awareness of it pressing down on her.
As if to make matters worse, she remembered that in all the chaos she’d forgotten to cover her neck.
Davide stood again. “Forgive me, I’m accustomed to the weather here, and forget that guests are not.”
He left them without another word. Kendra pulled all of her hair over her neck self-consciously.
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