The Vampire’s Mail Order Bride

by Kristen Painter

  She spun some noodles around her chopsticks and took another bite. Tomorrow, Hugh would have his apology, and she’d let things between them take their natural course.

  In her heart, she knew exactly where that natural course was going to lead, so sooner or later, she’d end up becoming a vampire and none of this would matter anyway.

  “I know why you refused her,” Stanhill said as Hugh let him in. “But she doesn’t, and so she’s down there feeling like a right idiot and wondering where she went wrong. You’d be lucky if she stays after all this.”

  “Maybe it would be better if she didn’t stay. If that was her decision.” Hugh’s heart was heavy, saddened by the inevitable split that would be required to keep Delaney safe.

  Stanhill held out the bagged goods. “What the bloody hell are you talking about?”

  Hugh took the bag and shook his head. “I will not turn her and risk her life.”

  “But you love her.”

  “Which is exactly why I won’t turn her.”

  “Maybe you’re the right idiot.” Stanhill scowled. “She could come through the turning right as rain.”

  Hugh scowled right back. “And it could kill her. Would you take that chance with Corette’s life?”

  Stanhill’s expression softened. “I…I don’t know.”

  “Exactly.”

  Stanhill sighed. “But you love her. Don’t you want to spend the rest of your life with her?”

  “I do. But I will not have her death on my hands.”

  “So you’re going to break both your hearts on the chance that something might go wrong. Trade an eternity of happiness for an eternity of sorrow. Over a chance.”

  “She’ll get over me.”

  “Will she? Or will she go to her grave wondering what might have happened?”

  “Enough, Stanhill.”

  He snorted softly. “And you. You’ll have centuries to think about her. At least her suffering will end with her death. You don’t have that option. Unless you slip out of that amulet and into the sunshine.”

  Hugh punched him.

  Stanhill staggered back, arms out to keep his balance. “Bloody hell, what was that for?”

  “For not shutting the hell up when I said enough. I know what I’m doing.”

  Stanhill rubbed his jaw, eyes blazing with indignation. “No, you don’t. Or you wouldn’t be doing it.”

  “You’d have me do what then? Marry her? Turn her? What if she dies? What then?”

  “It might not happen that way.”

  “But if it does?” Hugh stared at him, feeling the pain of that possibility like a dagger to the heart. “Do you know what losing her that way would do to me? I can’t be responsible for that. It would…it will kill me.”

  Stanhill’s stern expression remained. “Either way, you lose her. And either way, you’re responsible. Is this the end of you then? Will you wait until she’s gone before you meet the dawn, or do you plan to head out tomorrow at sunrise and get it over with?”

  Hugh went very still. He hadn’t thought about it in those terms. He sank into a nearby chair. “I’m damned if I do, damned if I don’t.”

  “It’s better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all is a cliché for a reason. It’s true. You’re a bleedin’ vampire. Top of the food chain. And yet you’re ruled by fear.”

  Hugh knew he was right. He said nothing.

  Stanhill worked his jaw back and forth. “Think long and hard before you make a decision you will regret for the rest of your very long life.”

  “All I can do is think.”

  The rook left, shutting the door firmly behind him.

  Hugh stared at the bag in his lap as he slowly went numb from the impending loss. His bones felt as heavy as lead, his muscles watery, his brain mush. The only thing good in his life was sitting downstairs, feeling like she’d done something very wrong and not knowing why.

  Maybe he deserved to be alone. Certainly Delaney deserved someone better than him. Someone who couldn’t hurt her. Someone who could return her love with his whole heart, unshackled by the fear that his love would end in her demise.

  Starting tomorrow, he’d begin the process of widening the gap between them. Eventually, Delaney would leave him and truly be safe.

  His hand went to the amulet, his fingertips tracing the ancient carving on the stone. Whatever decisions he made after she was gone would be his and his alone to deal with.

  Morning for Delaney came around eleven a.m. She slipped out of bed, pulled the curtains back and stared into the garden. Blue sky, lots of sun, all in all, a gorgeous day for the parade.

  And an apology.

  She walked out into the hall and, based on the quietness of the house, decided Hugh was still asleep. That would give her time to get ready and figure out what she was going to say. She went back into her room and shut the door.

  Captain had jumped onto the window sill and was basking in a warm ray of sun. She scratched him on the head. “You probably want a little outside time, huh?”

  He leaned into her hand and purred. If only Hugh was that easy. She laughed. Actually, that would be boring.

  After a shower, hair and makeup, she dressed in one of the tops she’d bought at the secondhand store, a pair of cuffed boyfriend jeans and some cute flats. Little gold hoops, the moonstone ring that had been her mom’s and she was done. Well, except for a fresh bandage on her cut hand.

  This time when she walked into the hall, faint kitchen sounds greeted her. Stanhill was making breakfast.

  Hugh rarely slept longer than it took to brew the first pot of coffee.

  She walked down to his room and knocked tentatively on the door. She was a little nervous, but this needed to be done. They’d both feel better afterward, and they’d be able to enjoy their day out.

  She was about to knock again when he answered, wearing only a towel and a few droplets of water. Oh my. She smiled. “I hope I’m not interrupting, but—”

  “I just got out of the shower. What do you need?”

  Okay, so maybe he was still mad. “I wanted to apologize for last night. I’m sorry for trying to force you to do something you didn’t want to do. That was wrong. And I’m sorry.” She’d said that twice. Stupid nerves.

  A flicker of something passed through his eyes, then was gone. “Good. Don’t do it again.”

  “I won’t.” She blinked, trying to find the man she’d fallen in love with, because the one in front of her was so cold and distant she didn’t recognize him. “Do you still want to go to the parade or should I go by myself?”

  “I said I would take you.”

  He hadn’t smiled once. What the hell was wrong? “Okay. Thanks. The parade starts at one. I’ll be downstairs whenever you’re ready to go.”

  He nodded and shut the door.

  She stared at the paneled wood, unable to process what had just happened. Clearly she’d upset him more than she realized. Finally, she trudged downstairs. Maybe he just needed coffee. She sure did.

  Stanhill was in the kitchen. He stood as she came in. “Breakfast?”

  “Um, sure, I guess.” She plunked down in a chair.

  He poured a cup of coffee and put it in front of her. “Something wrong, miss?”

  She stared into the dark liquid. “I apologized to Hugh this morning, but he still seems really upset by what I did last night. I thought he’d be over it by now. Or at least after I said I was sorry.”

  He placed the sugar and creamer beside her cup and sighed like he was worn out. Or frustrated. “Don’t let him upset you too much. He can be like that. Too many years of navel gazing and what have you. He’ll get over it. Just be yourself. You’ve apologized. That’s all that’s required of you.”

  She hoped he was right. After all, he knew Hugh better than she did. She dumped some sugar and cream into her cup and drank.

  “Omelet okay?” Stanhill asked. “I can do ham and cheese.”

  “Great, yes. Thanks.” She sipped her cof
fee.

  “Are you still going to the parade then?”

  She nodded. “I asked him that too. He said he was going to take me so…” She shrugged.

  “You’ll have a good time. It’s quite a laugh what some of the floats get up to.” He cracked eggs into a bowl. “The theme of panic has come to mean what scares you, so most of the floats try to pick a fear and run with it.”

  Stanhill was a little chattier than usual today, but she was glad for it. Better than obsessing about Hugh and his cold shoulder. The look of sympathy in Stanhill’s eyes didn’t go unnoticed, but by the end of breakfast and her delicious omelet, she was feeling better.

  Until Hugh came downstairs. She met him in the foyer. It was clear his mood hadn’t changed.

  He looked handsome in his jeans and button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled to show off his toned forearms, but the seemingly permanent scowl on his face made him look intimidating. He’d added a pair of dark sunglasses, making it even harder to judge his disposition. “Are you ready?”

  “Yes.” She nodded. Stanhill said just to be herself. She focused on that and smiled brightly. “This is going to be fun, huh?”

  He said nothing.

  Stanhill stuck his head out of the kitchen and looked at Hugh. “Can I see you a moment?”

  Delaney stayed by the door. The harsh, muted tones told her whatever they were discussing wasn’t for her ears.

  When Hugh returned, his mood was unchanged. In fact, all the way there, he said nothing. Not until they’d parked did he finally speak. “Stay close. Don’t wander off.”

  She narrowed her eyes at him. “I’m not a child.”

  “No, you’re not. But you’re also not out of danger yet. I doubt Rastinelli has had time to get more men down here, but you need to be careful all the same.”

  She gave him a little salute, realizing the bit of sass probably didn’t help his mood, but she couldn’t help herself.

  People were everywhere. She chalked up their decent parking spot to Hugh’s knowledge of the town. They got out of the car and followed the others walking to Main Street. Crowds already lined the street, which had been roped off. Vendors in Keller’s Sweets-n-Treats T-shirts strolled the street on the insides of the ropes selling popcorn, cotton candy, and enormous pinwheel lollipops.

  “You want cotton candy?”

  Hugh’s question almost knocked her over. It was the first nice-ish thing he’d said to her all day. “I’d love some, thanks.”

  He waved the man down and handed him a few dollars. Delaney picked traditional pink, and the vendor handed her a cloud on a stick. She pulled the cellophane off, wrapped it around the stick for later (like there would be any left) then unwound a gossamer strand of sugar and stuck it in her mouth.

  “Mmm.” The sugar hit a second later, sweet and melty and delicious. She offered the huge ball of floss to Hugh. “Want some?”

  He shook his head.

  “C’mon, have a little. You paid for it. Besides, it might sweeten you up.” She shot him a pointed look, tired of pretending there wasn’t something going on.

  He stared at her for a moment, inscrutable behind his dark sunglasses. Finally, he pinched a piece off between his thumb and finger and ate it.

  She smiled as she turned to watch the little funny cars making their way down the street before the parade began. “Hard to be cranky when there’s something in your mouth that tastes that good.”

  “I’m not cranky.” He spoke softly, maybe because they were surrounded by people now.

  “Hah.” She fed another long strand of spun sugar into her mouth. “You obviously woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning, but you really need to get over it. I apologized. There’s nothing more I can do.”

  He grunted in response.

  She sighed and watched as the parade began. The Nocturne Falls High School marching band and cheerleaders led the way with two majorettes carrying a banner that read Panic Parade 2015. The school’s colors were orange and black—because, what else?—and the band was playing Monster Mash.

  She couldn’t help but grin at the silliness of it all when the band was followed by the local gardening group who were all dressed as Tippi Hedren from the movie The Birds. They sauntered by with their stuffed fowl clinging to their vintage suits and pillbox hats, tossing packs of flower seeds to the crowd.

  The next float was an enormous spider on wheels pulled along by the flies tangled in its web. She leaned in toward Hugh, whose shoulder she was already touching thanks to the press of the crowd. “This is a riot.”

  His answer was another grunt.

  She stuffed bite after bite of cotton candy into her mouth, her patience wearing thin. She’d apologized. She was being nice. What else could she do? She wasn’t psychic. If he wasn’t going to tell her what was wrong, how on earth was she supposed to know?

  Anger made the cotton candy disappear at an alarming rate. A few more floats went by, including a Jaws-themed one complete with bloody beach-goers, and suddenly all she was holding was a paper stick. She folded it up, stuck it back in the cellophane and balled it up in her hand.

  Maybe it was the sugar talking, but she’d had enough of Hugh’s grump. She stared at him, ignoring the seven-person snake trailing past like a Chinese dragon. “Can you just tell me what’s wrong so we can fix it and move on?”

  “Nothing’s wrong.”

  She rolled her eyes and gave him her best look of absolute skepticism. “What a relief! I was starting to think you not talking to me was because I’d done something. Glad to know this whole cold shoulder thing is over.”

  His nostrils flared once, then he went back to stony silence.

  She glared at him, her anger genuinely piqued. “Are you kidding me?”

  Finally he leaned in, his voice softer and a little kinder. “Delaney, enough. This is not the place. Everything is fine. We’ll discuss it more when we get home.”

  Considering that was the most he’d said to her all day, she’d take it. “Okay.”

  What there was to discuss, she had no idea, but clearly something else must have happened. Something serious by the tone of his voice. Why it required him to be so cold, she couldn’t imagine, but hopefully it would all make sense after they talked.

  That didn’t mean her heart didn’t ache at the thought that something serious had gone amiss between them. She’d fallen in love with this man. To think their fledgling relationship was hitting a bumpy road already hurt almost as much as the thought that she might have given her heart away too soon.

  Again.

  Maybe she just had terrible taste in men. Russell was a perfect example. She’d fallen for him and then into his bed, only to find out a few weeks later that she was just a piece on the side to him.

  But Hugh wasn’t a cheater. That much she felt sure of. So what had gone wrong? The only thing she could come up with was…blood. Her blood. She’d pushed him too much on the subject in the lab, trying to force the issue. She glanced at Hugh. Had she upset him more than she’d realized with all that? She didn’t know how all this vampire stuff worked.

  Was he so upset about it that he’d suddenly changed his mind about her?

  No. She couldn’t believe Hugh was that fickle. He’d been sweet and caring and he’d protected her from Rastinelli’s men, even warning her about staying close today. Something else had to be going on.

  Whatever it was, thinking about it only made the ache in her chest widen. She slipped her hand into his, needing to touch him, to connect and know that the man she’d fallen in love with was still the same man standing beside her.

  His fingers tightened around hers, then he tensed and shook her hand away.

  “Hugh,” she whispered, hating the sound of the tears caught at the back of her throat.

  He spoke without looking at her. “Enough.”

  The rejection cut through her like a knife.

  She couldn’t be here right now. Couldn’t face another betrayal. Without another thought,
she turned and took off into the crowd.

  He was a fool. And a coward. The woman he loved was standing beside him, trying to reach him, to make things right even though she didn’t know what had gone wrong and he was shutting her down.

  As far as his plan to turn her away went, it was a spectacular success if the pain in his heart was any indicator.

  He couldn’t do this. He loved her too much. Needed her more than anything else he could think of. Maybe…he could just love her for the rest of her natural life and then find a way to deal with the grief of being alone again when that time came. It was better than not having her at all. He turned toward her. “Delaney—”

  She was gone.

  He growled a curse and twisted, scanning the packed crowd for any sign of her. Nothing. Panic tripped over his skin in electric bursts. Where the hell had she gone?

  “Delaney!”

  But her name was lost in the noise from the parade and the crowd. He shoved through the crush, ignored the protests of the people he pushed aside, and headed toward the shops. Maybe she’d gone inside one of them.

  He scanned each one as he strode by. Nothing. He tried calling her phone. It rang once and then disconnected. He called again. It went straight to voice mail. Had she turned her phone off to avoid him?

  Two blocks ahead, Sheriff Merrow’s squad car sat crosswise, blocking off one of the intersections from Main Street. Merrow leaned against the car, his eyes on the crowd. Maybe he’d seen her.

  Hugh took off at a run, careful to keep his speed to human levels since he was in public view. “Merrow.”

  The sheriff straightened. “Ellingham. What’s going on?

  Hugh came to a stop. “Delaney’s gone. We were watching the parade and I turned to speak to her and she was gone. I’ve searched the last two blocks, looked in the stores, nothing.”

  “Someone grab her?”

  “No. I would have noticed that.”

  Merrow shoved his hat back. “She left on her own?”

  Hugh frowned. “We had a disagreement. But she couldn’t have been gone more than a few seconds before I realized she’d left.”