by Nina Bangs
Without warning, Asima leaped at the dress Lola still held and gripped the skirt with her teeth. “Give it to me. This is my job.”
Sparkle’s eyes were slits of fury. “Get your freakin’ little teeth out of that dress. I’m the head honcho in charge of inciting horny men. I know what turns men on.” She gave the dress a vicious yank, but Asima held on.
Donna squeaked her alarm. She assumed that superhuman strength was part of the immortal package, and that meant her dress could be in big . . . The sound of ripping material stalled her thoughts.
Sparkle still held the top part of Donna’s favorite red dress. The bottom part was gripped in Asima’s determined jaws. The two parts were no longer one. With a growl of semitriumph, Asima started to drag her half of the dress toward the door.
Donna got there first. “Uh-uh. You aren’t going anywhere.”
The expression on Donna’s face must’ve given Asima pause, because she stopped.
Donna figured it was going to be hard to talk through clenched teeth, but she gave it a try. “Both of you destroyed my dress. Therefore, both of you will work together to make me a new dress for the ball.”
Asima glared up at Donna, but never loosened her grip on the dress. “Impossible. I have perfect taste, and she has no taste. We could never produce a dress together.”
“It won’t happen, sister.” Sparkle folded her half of the dress and then inspected her nails for damage. “It would be like . . . like a nun helping Michelangelo create his statue David. By the time the collaboration was finished, David would be wearing a tutu.”
Donna was seeing red, and it wasn’t the reflection off her ruined dress. “Listen up, kiddies. You. Will. Work. Together. On. My. New. Dress.”
“Or?” Asima didn’t look overly worried.
“Or I’ll complain to Holgarth, and he’ll ban your behinds from the castle. And if you do manage to slip past Holgarth, I’ll never let you interfere in my sex life again. N-E-V-E-R.”
Asima watched Donna warily as she backed out of the room dragging her half of the dress with her. Sparkle remained, seemingly unconcerned as she bent over to study Sweetie Pie and Jessica. “If you and Eric have sex somewhere besides this room after the ball, do me a favor and take the girls with you. I’ve never seen them looking this good. They’ve bonded with you and want to share your joy.”
Donna felt suddenly drained. It’d been a long day and night, and now day again. She was about to crash. “Why is it so important to you that I look sexy for the ball? I mean, more than your normal obsession with all things sexy.”
Sparkle straightened, slid her fingers across the remnant of Donna’s silk dress, and then smiled—a scheming, manipulative, and secretive smile. Scary.
“You and Eric need to kick-start your relationship. Right now you’re standing still. He wants you to accept his vampire nature. You’re not sure about the biting thing. And yes, I’ve been sneaking around in your mind.” She walked over and picked up the bag of chocolate-covered cherries. “I want you so sexed up at the ball that Eric doesn’t care about anything but getting you into his bed, into your bed, or onto the banquet table in the great hall.” She swung the bag of candy slowly in front of Donna’s eyes. “I want you to use these after the ball. I want you so aroused that you don’t give a damn if he bites you, licks you, or changes into his vampire form during sex. I want you to have the ultimate sexual experience, and then we’ll take it from there.”
Donna could only stare at Sparkle. “Why?”
“Because I’m all about sex. It’s my destiny. I hook up people who’re wrong for each other and make them right for each other. And in between the hooking up and the ultimate orgasm, all hell breaks loose. The all-hell-breaking-loose part is what I groove on. So when you win, I win.” Sparkle leaned close to Donna and narrowed her amber eyes. “And if you ever repeat what I’ve just told you, I’ll call your show every night and make your professional life a living hell.”
Her smile turned genuine as she walked toward the door, her walk a sensual sway in her sexy sandals. “Now that we have that all settled, I’ll be on my way. I’ll hunt down Asima the anal retentive, and we’ll come up with something for you to wear that’ll give Eric an instant erection.” She offered Donna a finger wave. “Later.”
Donna staggered back to her bed and collapsed onto it. She just had enough strength to turn off the light. Then she stared into the darkened room with dawn creeping around the drawn drapes. When had her life taken a left turn into madness?
This was God’s payback for all the times she inflicted her opinions on her defenseless family. She’d been wrong. Her parents shouldn’t stay together just to make her happy. She’d been wrong. Her brother had a perfect right to still be in love with his wife even if they never set foot outside their house. It was their life to live. She’d been wrong. Trish had a right to fall in love with a man she’d known only two weeks.
Because heaven help her, there was a good chance that at the end of her two weeks at the Castle of Dark Dreams she might be in love with a vampire.
17
Eric’s Saturday was a winner so far. It looked like he’d be able to slip into Taurin’s room without Donna knowing he was there.
Sure, he’d kind of given her the impression he’d need her help with Taurin. But that was just to get her to stay for the weekend. He didn’t really want her help. She’d muddy the waters with emotion.
Taurin and he would talk. If Taurin still wanted to kill him, they’d settle it like warriors. Taurin would probably want a gun, but the Mackenzie way was with swords.
Eric focused on removing the shield from Taurin’s door, and then he pushed the door open. Taurin was waiting for him, burns healed and eyes blazing defiance. Eric decided to keep the shield around the bed for the moment.
“Looks like a few days of rest haven’t done a thing for your common sense.” Eric pulled up a chair beside the bed. “If you were smart, you’d pretend that you had a change of heart. Can’t change what you don’t have, though, can you?”
Taurin’s smile was simply a baring of his teeth. “Would you believe me?”
Eric shrugged. “There’s that, too.”
“Get rid of this shield, Mackenzie, and we’ll settle this for good.” Taurin’s expression turned contemptuous. “But that won’t happen, will it? You’re the same coward you were when you set that warehouse on fire and then ran away.”
Eric narrowed his gaze. That did it. No one called a Mackenzie a coward. He had his fair share of the Mackenzie temper, and it wasn’t a pretty thing to see. “Right. Let’s settle it. I’ll get you a sword.”
Taurin’s eyes widened. “Sword? You’re kidding. Who fights with a sword anymore?”
Eric’s smile was deadly. “I do.”
“I want a gun.”
“I’m sure you do.” Eric stood. “Want to rethink who’s the coward? A gun can kill long-distance. You can even run and hide before you shoot. No messy emotional confrontation with your opponent. But a sword forces you to stand toe-to-toe and look your enemy in the eye. I’ll be back as soon as I get our swords.”
“Gee, it’s great to see how far you guys have come over the centuries. A few hundred years ago, you would’ve tried to hack each other to death. Now? You’re still trying to hack each other to death. Ya gotta love it. The barbarian hordes are alive and well.” Donna’s sarcasm was coated with a thick layer of anger. “And thanks, Eric, for inviting me to talk with Taurin.”
Eric didn’t turn to look at Donna. “You know, this isn’t your fight. Taurin wants to end it, so I’m giving him what he wants.”
“That’s what I like about you, Mackenzie. You always aim to please.” She pulled another chair over beside his and sat down.
Eric finally met her gaze, and he put every bit of the cold fury he was feeling into his stare. “Don’t criticize something you don’t understand. Taurin and I are vampires, and we’ll settle this in our own way.”
Donna didn’t look intimi
dated. “You know, you guys need a mediator. Talking is my job, so I’ll make a great mediator.”
Resigned, Eric sat down again. “Sure, take your best shot. Convince the hardhead in the bed that I’m not guilty.” She wouldn’t be able to do it, but she couldn’t accuse him of not letting her try.
Donna nodded, all business now. “I’ll need the names of any vampires who were at the warehouse that night.”
Eric didn’t have to think about his answer. He’d gone over that night in his mind hundreds of times, trying to figure out what went wrong. “There were three others besides me—Hakon, Malcom, and Kyla.”
“Kyla? A woman?”
He smiled grimly. “Female vampires don’t sit home knitting fang warmers for their men.”
Donna ignored his comment. “Taurin, did anyone come with Dacian that night?”
Taurin tried to look disinterested, but Eric noticed the slight tremor of his hands. “Gabriel was with my brother, but he stayed outside.”
“Okay, guys, I need some phone numbers.” She looked at both Eric and Taurin expectantly.
“You want to call them?” Eric wondered what Donna thought she’d find that he hadn’t.
“Well, yeah.” She sighed. “Look, I’m a radio talk-show host. I understand voices. I’ve spent years listening to tone and inflection. I’m good at recognizing the truth when I hear it.”
Eric pushed his battle lust aside. He’d give logic a try. For now. “Couldn’t hurt. But if you don’t find anything new, will you let us settle things our own way?”
“Probably not.” She looked at Taurin. “Do you know Gabriel’s number?”
“Yeah, we’ve kept in touch.” Taurin didn’t meet Donna’s gaze. “But he doesn’t know I’ve spent all these years hunting Eric.”
“How about you, Eric?” Her gaze was direct, her expression neutral.
Eric couldn’t help it; he slipped into her mind, and was immediately buffeted by her rush of feelings—worry, uncertainty, and the need for his trust. Guilt prodded him, so he slid from her thoughts. “I’ll get their phone numbers. The clan has a coded directory I can access online if I need a number.”
Donna watched as he strode from the room, and then she turned back to Taurin. “Why do you want Eric to be the guilty one?”
“What do you mean?” His guarded expression told her he knew exactly what she meant.
“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe it’s because you never saw who set the fire, but out of all seven vampires who were there that night, you blame Eric.” She shrugged. “Sounds like there’s something personal going on to me.”
She thought he’d deny it, so she was surprised when he nodded.
“Jealousy. Don’t get me wrong, I still hold him responsible even if one of his friends actually set the fire. He was the oldest vampire in the group. He was in charge.” Taurin’s body radiated tension. “And Dacian trusted him. Dacian never stopped talking about Eric. It was Eric did this and Eric did that. I was just Dacian’s kid brother who never did much of anything right. Being a younger brother sucks sometimes.”
A smile touched his lips, once again reminding Donna that he was a beautiful man when his expression wasn’t twisted with hate. “I’m still screwing up, but if Dacian were here, he’d slap me on the back, laugh, and tell me not to sweat it. He was that kind of guy.” His smile disappeared. “But I am sweating it, and I’ll keep trying until I get it right.”
Donna shook her head. “If you know part of your problem with Eric is jealousy, why do you still hate him so much? And why’re you telling me this now?”
“Have you ever hated, Donna?” He sounded casual, but his hard gaze said he was about as far away from casual as he could get.
“People? No. I’ve hated things—tests, cars with dead batteries, mushy bananas. But never a person. Not like you.” She couldn’t imagine what it would feel like to let hate for one person eat at her for hundreds of years.
Taurin’s gaze turned distant, as though he was looking back over all those bitter years. “Hate’s like a snowball. It starts out being about one thing, and then becomes about a lot of other things as it rolls along gathering speed and getting bigger and bigger.”
“I still don’t know why you’re telling me this.” If Eric knew a little of what was behind Taurin’s hate, would it make a difference? She wanted to believe it would.
Taurin shrugged. “You saved my life and gave me another shot at Eric. I owe you.”
“Jeez, you’re such an immortal idiot.” She wanted to reach through Eric’s shield and shake Taurin until his teeth rattled. “Eric’s the one who lifted you into the car. Eric’s the one who carried you up to this room. Eric’s the one who’s kept Brynn from tearing your head off. Eric saved you.”
Taurin raised a skeptical brow. “He saved me because you asked him to. A man in love does lots of stupid things.” There was that fleeting smile again. “If you hadn’t been around, I’d be history by now.”
A man in love? Really? Nah. Donna couldn’t think of one meaningful rejoinder. So it was a good thing that Eric chose that moment to return with his phone numbers.
“What now?” He stood beside her.
“I want you to call, explain what’s going on, and then let me do the questioning. Asking questions is what I do.” She watched as he moved around her to the night table and started punching in the first number. “Press the speaker button. Everyone needs to hear this.”
“Sure.” He waited while it rang. “Hey, Hakon. Eric. I have a favor to ask.”
A half hour later, Donna had spoken to Hakon, Malcom, and Kyla. Donna sensed an emotion she couldn’t identify when Kyla spoke of Dacian, but since it had no bearing on the mystery of who started the fire, she didn’t pursue it.
All three said the same thing. They’d been stationed around the outside of the warehouse so they could warn Eric when Dacian showed up. No, they hadn’t started any fire. Why would they when Eric was still inside? Yes, they’d let Eric know when Dacian and Gabriel arrived. And all they knew was that as the building exploded in flames, Eric and Taurin were the only ones who’d come out. And no, Eric would never kill by trapping an enemy in a burning building. Eric fought his enemies with his sword as all Mackenzies did.
Taurin listened with no comment, his expression unreadable.
Donna didn’t hear anything that sounded like a lie in the three vampires’ answers. She wondered if Taurin heard the truth in their voices, or if he’d even admit it if he did.
“Tell me Gabriel’s number.” She pressed the numbers that Taurin gave her, and then waited anxiously to hear the night feeder’s voice. Please, please answer. Gabriel was her last chance to find something, anything, to diffuse Taurin’s rage. She took a deep breath to calm herself. If this didn’t work, she’d break a chair over Taurin’s head before she’d let him hack at Eric with some dumb sword.
“Yes?” Nothing else, just the one word.
Whoa, he sounded seriously unfriendly. Donna bet that telemarketers never called his house at dinnertime. She had this mental picture of a Dracula figure in some dark alley bent over his victim and then cursing as his cell phone rang. Maybe she did interrupt dinner.
Drawing on all her experience in talking with people, she introduced herself and then told Gabriel the situation. She didn’t try to minimize the danger Taurin was in if he didn’t listen to reason. Then she waited.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing, Taurin?” Gabriel’s voice boomed over the speaker. “Dacian got you out of that warehouse so you could live, not destroy yourself trying to avenge him. You don’t have the power to take down Eric Mackenzie.”
“But he was responsible—”
“No, he wasn’t.” Gabriel hesitated for a moment as though he was trying to decide what to say. “Maybe it’s time you heard the truth. Dacian made me promise never to tell you, but he didn’t count on you trying to get yourself killed.”
The room’s sudden stillness was complete. Donna shivered. Both Eric an
d Taurin were locked into that utter quiet no human could ever achieve.
“Dacian set the fire. He was the most powerful night feeder in existence, and he could control fire. He told me to wait by the entrance to make sure you got out of the building.” There was a long pause. “And Mackenzie, too. He never told me why he was doing it. I’ve spent two hundred years trying to figure out what was in his mind that night. There’s only one possibility, because Dacian would never choose to die by fire. He wanted to disappear. I don’t know why, but I’ve kept my mouth shut until now. He’d want me to tell you if it meant saving your life.”
“Thanks, Gabriel.” Donna could barely choke out the words. Numbly she listened to the click as Gabriel hung up. She didn’t want to look at Eric or Taurin, but she couldn’t hide from the jagged edges of emotion she felt in the room. Slowly she lifted her gaze.
Taurin’s face was bleached white, his eyes wide and shocked as he stared at Eric. “He wanted everyone to think he was dead—even me. Why?”
Eric saw the exact moment the full impact of Dacian’s deception hit Taurin like a punch in the gut. He clenched his hands into fists and stuck them under the covers, but Eric could still see them shaking.
“He didn’t trust me enough to explain what he had planned.” Taurin’s bitter laugh was painful to hear. “So what else is new? He never trusted me to keep my mouth shut about anything.”
For the first time Eric shared some of what Taurin was feeling. Dacian had been his friend. Then, without warning, he’d withdrawn that friendship and started killing members of Eric’s clan. Dacian had never come after Eric personally, but he’d never tried to contact Eric to explain what ended their friendship, either. And yet, on that final day, he’d cared enough to make sure Eric got out of the building safely.
Eric felt like ripping something apart. Dacian had disappeared, taking with him any possibility of Eric ever learning what ended their friendship. “I don’t think it was you, Taurin. At the end, Dacian didn’t trust anyone.” How could he put into words what he felt? “We were friends, and yet he walked away from our friendship without a word of explanation. He didn’t trust our friendship enough to share whatever demons were driving him.”