The Vampire’s Mail Order Bride

by Kristen Painter

  She pressed into him, her breath a warm caress that was followed by her tongue. “Then share this with me. Please. I really want to understand your life and what it’s like to be you.”

  “A lot of women faint at the sight of blood.” A weak argument, but all he could come up with against the onslaught of her affections.

  She leaned back, canted her head and tightened her mouth into a firm line. “I’m not most women.”

  “No, you most definitely are not.” He sighed, defeated. But he couldn’t get his feet to move.

  “There’s something else bothering you, isn’t there?”

  He narrowed his eyes. “I suppose there is. I can’t help but think you’ll see me differently after this. It’s something akin to having the wizard’s curtain drawn back.”

  She shook her head. “What I feel for you can’t be changed that easily.”

  “That’s reassuring.” But they’d see about that soon. Knowing a truth and seeing it demonstrated were two very different things. “Downstairs we go, then.”

  He led her to the basement door and unlocked it, then stopped on the first tread. “I’ll lead. I know where the light switches are.”

  She followed him down into the dark, her steps careful but never hesitant. She was as brave as she was beautiful.

  That didn’t mean he was free of misgivings, but he was too besotted not to indulge her. He flicked on the light. “Welcome to my sanctum sanctorum.”

  She looked around, nodding slowly. “This is very cool. Your grandmother said she isn’t allowed down here and has no idea what you do in this place.” She gestured at the tables full of equipment and the tall cabinets stacked with supplies. “What is all this?”

  “My lab.” He stood between the two main work tables.

  “So what kind of stuff do you work on in here?”

  “I…” And then he realized he had one secret left to confess. “It’s occurred to me that I haven’t told you the whole truth.”

  A tentative look crossed her face. “I’m almost afraid to ask.”

  “It’s nothing bad, I swear.” He pulled the amulet from beneath his shirt. “This is how Didi persuaded me to agree to Annabelle’s visit. I have enough money that the loss of any inheritance makes no difference.”

  She came to stand beside him, staring at the amulet. “What is it?”

  “Our most secret of secrets. No one outside my family knows it.”

  She stopped, her eyes widening. “Are you sure you want to tell me?”

  “You said yourself there can be no secrets between us if we have any chance of making things work.” He held up the amulet. “This is what allows me to walk in the sun. Without it, the sun would kill me. The magic that powers this was created by Alice Bishop, my grandmother’s companion. In thanks for saving her life, she found a way to protect ours.”

  Her mouth rounded. “Really?” Her gaze went from the amulet to him then back again. “That’s why your grandmother wears one too.”

  He nodded. “As well as both my brothers.”

  “But not Stanhill?”

  “No, as a rook, it’s not required.”

  Her fingers brushed the amulet, then she wrapped her arms around her torso and leaned back against one of the work tables. “Why are you telling me this? That’s a pretty big thing to reveal to someone you’ve only known a short time.”

  “Because I love you.” What was the point in pretending otherwise? “And I don’t want anything between us.”

  “You…love me?” She paled, looking very fragile and human in that moment.

  “Yes.” He put his hands on her arms and drew her in, holding her loosely against him. “Does that frighten you?”

  Her response came in a breathy whisper. “No.”

  “Good. Because I am utterly lost in you, Delaney. I know it’s only been a few days, but I cannot imagine myself with another woman. You’re my last thought of the day and my first thought when I awake.”

  Her chest rose and fell with her breaths. “What about not wanting to be married? About not being over Juliette?”

  He bent his forehead to hers, needing to connect himself to her as much as possible. “What I’m not over is the guilt of her death. I may never be over that. Losing her devastated me and my fear at feeling that kind of pain again has kept me from loving anyone else.” He smiled, his memories of Juliette more sweet than bitter. “She would be angry at me for not giving another woman a chance. But then, she’s not the one who’s had to bear the burden of her death.

  He sighed. “You know, we married out of a sense of duty. It was expected of us, but I know if given the chance she would have married another.”

  “Did she love you?”

  He turned away. “She was a good wife.” That’s all he could say. Because the real answer hurt too much.

  “That’s really why you feel so guilty, isn’t it? Because she chose to be turned out of duty to you, not because she loved you.”

  He nodded, seeing only the lab before him. “Her entire life was sacrificed upon the altar of Lord Ellingham.”

  “But she could have died from the plague. It was her choice to be turned.”

  He laughed brusquely. “I wish that were true.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I was her lord and husband.” He shook his head. “It was a very different time. Women had less say in things. And I was a man trying very hard to overcome my place in the world as my father’s second son. I’m not sure you would have liked me then.”

  “Maybe not, but…but I love you now.”

  Her words were a whisper, but they rang through him like the peal of church bells. He twisted to see her face. “You do?”

  She nodded, her eyes glittering in the lab’s spotlights. “It’s crazy. But then again, maybe that’s who I am. The crazy cat lady in love with the vampire.”

  He swept her into his arms and spun her around, kissing her face as she laughed. “That’s exactly who I want you to be.”

  “Put me down, you’re making me dizzy.”

  He set her feet on the floor and kissed her again for good measure.

  She gently pushed him away with her hands on his shoulders. “Why did you tell me all that about the amulet?”

  He looked around. “You asked what I do down here. There was no way to answer you truthfully without the rest of it coming out. My work down here has been a struggle to find a formula that would take the place of the amulets.”

  “But why? If you have them, why do you need something else?”

  “Because since Alice created them, my grandmother has used them to bend us to her will. Sebastian would very much like to leave Nocturne Falls and hunt for his estranged wife, but my grandmother refuses to grant him permission, threatening to have Alice revoke the amulet’s magic if he does.”

  “There are other witches in town. Have one of them make you a new amulet.”

  “If only it were that easy. Alice’s magic is something more than what modern witches have.” He raked a hand through his hair. “When my grandmother saved her from death in Salem, Alice somehow managed to harness the souls of her sisters murdered before her. Those souls strengthened her as if she had the power of ten witches instead of one, and she channeled those souls into the magic of the amulets.”

  Shock brightened Delaney’s eyes. “That’s some serious magic.”

  “Exactly.”

  “I can imagine you also wouldn’t want to tell another witch either, because like you said, the amulets are a source of vulnerability.” She frowned. “What would happen if someone were to yank that off you while you’re standing in the sun? Would you really burn up like vampires do in books and movies?”

  An image of the one vampire he’d seen face the dawn filled his head. “If I could not find cover, I would burn to ashes in a matter of minutes.”

  She covered her mouth with her hand. “That’s horrifying.”

  “Indeed. Not something I’d like to experience.”

&nbs
p; “Is there anything I can do to help?”

  He smiled, her willingness gift enough. “No, my darling. I have collected and studied every text that holds even the slightest hint of promise. Someday I will unlock the secret.”

  “Baking is kind of like science. You never know, I might be able to help.”

  A new urge to kiss her arose. “This is not so much science as it is part alchemy and part witchcraft. Not that I am so talented in either, but I’ve taught myself a great deal over the years.”

  “Thank you for confiding in me. For trusting me.” She walked around the closest work table, studying the things laid out on it and trailing her fingers around the edge as she made the loop back to him. “We’re both still hungry and my food will be here soon. You should feed. It’s what we came down here for.”

  “Yes.” Doing this in front of her went against his grain, but the time for protesting was over. He went to move past her, gesturing toward the far bank of cabinets. “I need to get to that refrigeration unit.”

  She hopped up onto the work table and propped her foot on the one across from it, blocking his path. “No, you don’t.”

  “If I’m going to feed, I do.”

  She swept her hair over to one shoulder, and color flooded her cheeks. “You have a source right here.”

  Heat rushed through him in such a surge he saw stars. He’d already had a taste of her when she’d pricked her finger on his fang, but to drink from her…that wasn’t something he could allow. He was in love with her, and any vampire who drank from the mortal they loved risked hurting that mortal. He refused to put her in that precarious position. “No, absolutely not—”

  “Why? Will it turn me into a vampire?”

  “That’s not how it works.”

  “Well, how would I know? You haven’t explained that part to me.”

  “It takes three bites on consecutive nights to turn a mortal into a vampire. Two to make a rook. One has no effect.”

  “Which explains why the world isn’t overrun with you fanged types.”

  “Yes.” Her leg still blocked his path. “Now if you’ll excuse me—”

  “Will it hurt? I’m not afraid. Just curious.”

  “I’m not biting you.”

  She made a face, her voice carrying a teasing tone. “Is it because your fangs aren’t sharp enough?”

  “You know my fangs are perfectly—you can’t prod me into this, Delaney.”

  She leaned in, close enough to kiss. “Are you afraid you won’t be able to stop?”

  Terrified. “Delaney, I’m not doing this.”

  “Then what?”

  How did he explain the spell her blood would weave over him? The way he would come to crave her more and more. The way he would be unable to think of anything but drinking from her until she had nothing left to offer. If he didn’t physically exhaust her first. Then turning her would be the only way to save her. “Because of the risk involved.”

  “I already know. I might not survive the turning.”

  “Not that risk.”

  She jerked back. “There’s another?”

  “Yes, but I don’t wish to discuss it.” She’d only push harder if she knew the details.

  She wrinkled her nose. Disgustingly cute. “No secrets, remember?”

  He said nothing, just stared at her.

  She huffed out a breath and let her leg swing down. “Fine. Go get your gross old bagged-up blood. That is what’s in there, right?”

  Relief surged through him. “Yes. Gross old bagged-up blood.” Which would now forever pale against the knowledge of what he could have had.

  Still, he barely managed not to laugh as he brushed past her. He put his back to her and bent to open the cold storage unit.

  The tinny scrape of metal on metal reached his ears. Then Delaney’s voice.

  “Ow! Crap.”

  The sweet metallic tang of blood filled his nostrils. He straightened and turned to see what she’d done, but he already knew.

  Blood spilled from her hand.

  She held it out in front of her. “I didn’t know that little blade was that sharp.”

  His gaze fixed to the slice across her palm. “It’s a scalpel.”

  She lifted her hand, examining her wound. “Why on earth do you need a scalpel?”

  Tissue samples, but that wasn’t important now. Unable to control his growing hunger any longer, he felt his fangs punch through his gums.

  She lifted her eyes to his and held her hand out to him. “We should do something about this.”

  Need fogged his thoughts. Blood dripped onto the floor. “You did that on purpose.”

  “Yes and no. I only meant to nick myself, not cause arterial damage.”

  “There’s no artery there,” he muttered. Somehow he was standing next to her.

  “You won’t even have to bite me now.” Her voice held innocence, but determination edged her gaze.

  Upstairs, the kitchen door opened and closed, accompanied by familiar footsteps. The pungent aroma of Thai food wafted down. His rook had returned.

  With a staggering amount of control, Hugh shouted for the man. “Stanhill. Bring the first aid kit immediately.”

  “Hugh,” Delaney pleaded.

  “No. Don’t press me on this again.”

  As Stanhill started down the stairs, Hugh strode up them and away from Delaney. Another second and he’d succumb. “Bandage her hand. I’ll be in my quarters. I did not yet feed.”

  Stanhill raised a brow. “Understood.”

  Hugh retreated to his room, his restraint tested nearly to the breaking point. He closed the door and bolted it, realizing the foolishness of that action even as he did it. A powerful, aged vampire, and he was locking himself away from a mortal.

  He closed his eyes. He’d never been so affected by a woman this way before. There was no doubt in his mind that Delaney would want to be turned into a vampire. Especially now that she’d professed her love for him.

  He loved her as well, which only strengthened his refusal to turn her. But she would talk him into it somehow, like she’d talked him into letting her be bait for those thugs at Howlers. He would never be able to refuse her. Not when he already knew he would kill for her.

  And he could see only one way out, one way to preserve her life. She had to leave.

  To keep her alive, he had to break her heart.

  “You can’t force him, miss.” Stanhill dabbed the slice on her palm with a cotton pad dampened with something that stung.

  Delaney sucked in a breath. “I know.” But the sting of the cleanser was nothing compared to the ache in her heart over the foolishness of what she’d done. “I feel like an idiot.”

  Stanhill smiled as he took a bandage from the kit. “He makes us all feel that way sometimes.”

  “Why is it such a big deal? I thought I’d be the better option over blood in a bag.”

  Stanhill peeled off the paper backing. “You are. In theory. But in practice, it’s a much different thing.”

  She held her hand still while he fixed the bandage over her self-inflicted wound. “Why, though? I don’t get it.”

  “You’ll have to get that answer from him, miss.” He snapped the kit shut. “There you go. All better.”

  She held her hand up with the enormous bandage on it. “Yes, this looks normal. Not at all like I did something stupid.”

  He laughed. “No one but you and I know how that happened.”

  “And Hugh.” She sighed and hopped off the table. “I’m not sure I can look him in the eyes again after humiliating myself that way.”

  “Come eat. You’ll feel better. Food’s on the table upstairs.”

  “Maybe you’re right. Not that I’m very hungry anymore.” She started for the stairs, but Stanhill made no effort to leave.

  She stopped on the landing. “You’re going to take blood to him aren’t you?”

  “Yes, miss.”

  With a sad smile, she trudged up to the kitchen. A white pl
astic bag filled with takeout containers sat on the table. It smelled great, but her appetite was gone. Stanhill had gone to the trouble, though, so she pulled out the container, unwrapped a pair of chopsticks and sat down to eat.

  Stanhill came through the basement door, shutting it firmly behind him. She didn’t need to look at him to know he had a plastic bag of blood tucked under his arm. “Everything to your liking, miss?”

  She forced a smile. “Great, thank you for getting this for me.”

  “You’re welcome.” He walked toward the house’s interior.

  “Stanhill?”

  He stopped. “Yes?”

  “Tell him I won’t do that again. Please. I promise.”

  Stanhill nodded. “I will, but I think he’d like to hear that from your lips himself.”

  She sighed and stared at her food. “Tomorrow.”

  “Tomorrow.” Then he left. A moment later, she heard footsteps on the stairs.

  First thing in the morning, when they were both up and the sting of the humiliation had worn off, she’d apologize to Hugh. If she didn’t, the tension between them would ruin what promised to be a very fun day at the parade.

  After all he’d done for her—letting her stay, protecting her from those men—he deserved a face-to-face apology. She loved him and he loved her. That was enough for now, wasn’t it?

  She poked at the pad thai with her chopsticks. Maybe as things progressed, he’d change his mind. How could he not, really? Because their relationship would either lead to them breaking up or deciding to spend the rest of their lives together.

  Which for her, would mean making the literally life-changing decision to become a vampire. A little half smile bent her mouth. Delaney James—no, Ellingham—confectioner and vampire. She stuck a shrimp in her mouth and chewed.

  What a one-eighty her life had made in these last few days. She got up and went to the fridge to get a bottle of water. What would it be like to be a vampire? Would Alice make her an amulet too? Delaney dreaded the thought of going without sunlight for the rest of her days. Or nights, as the case might be.

  No more lazy days off spent by the pool. Or the beach. Or the park. But of course, she’d have Hugh, and his company would help make up for that.