Sophia

by D. B. Reynolds

“Colin,” she said, pulling back to see his face. “You do understand that if you go with me to Vancouver, if you continue to take my blood . . .” She paused, searching his eyes. “We will live a very long time together. You need to be sure—”

  He laughed with relief, squeezing her tightly. “Is that all?”

  “I’m serious.”

  “So am I, darlin’. And I am sure.” He bent his head and kissed her, drinking in the sweet warmth that was his Sophie, feeling her soften in his arms.

  “I love you, Sophie,” he murmured against her mouth.

  “Colin,” she said breathlessly, her eyes wide open and staring into his from only inches away. “You’d really leave your home here and go with me to Canada?”

  “Just try to keep me away. I do have one question, though.”

  “Just one?” she said, smiling.

  “Just one. Who says we have to clear out on his high and mighty’s timetable? There’s plenty of hours left before sunrise and Vancouver’s not that far. I say we blow this place tonight and the hell with Raphael.”

  Sophia fisted her fingers in his hair and pulled him in for a quick, hard kiss. “I like the way you think, meu querido. You drive.”

  “Damn straight I’m gonna drive. Don’t let this vampire lord thing to go your head, woman.”

  Sophie was still laughing as they drove out to the highway and turned right, heading for Canada.

  Chapter Forty-Six

  “You didn’t destroy Sophia,” Duncan observed quietly, as they sped back to the compound.

  It wasn’t a question; Duncan would never have questioned him. But Raphael heard the curiosity in his lieutenant’s voice. He considered the statement for a few moments, then said, “In the end, she wasn’t really a part of this. Lucien played her just as he did the rest of us. But mostly, I want the Canadian territory stable, and she’s strong enough to hold it. She’s also indebted to me now. That will be far more useful in the coming days.”

  Duncan nodded thoughtfully. “The Koepke woman didn’t know Lucien was using her.”

  “No,” Raphael agreed.

  “Lucien knew her in Vancouver. He’d never bound her to him, but he’d used her. It was easy for him to find her and use her again.”

  Raphael shook his head irritably. “Lucien might have pointed the killers at Marco and Preston, but they didn’t need him for the addresses. They’d both been here long enough that people knew where they lived. They may not have gotten out much, but they did go out, and Marco’s horses made it easier to identify his property.”

  “Even so, my lord, if they’d only upgraded their sleeping arrangements, this wouldn’t have happened.”

  Raphael nodded. “When the new compound was commissioned, I authorized whatever expenditure was necessary to bring everyone’s security up to modern standards. Loren was to have seen to it.”

  A few more miles went by as Raphael thought about everything that had happened since they’d arrived, all the details that had slipped his mind in his worry over Cyn. His hand tightened into a fist as he fought the urge to punch something. Or someone. But Loren wasn’t here, and Lucien was no more.

  “I want someone new brought in,” he said abruptly. “Someone from outside the Seattle nest. Wei Chen can remain the nominal leader, but I want a strong head of security, someone more powerful than Wei Chen.”

  “I’ll compile a list, my lord. Do you want it before we leave?”

  “No. We’re leaving first thing tomorrow night. Cyn will be able to travel by then and I want to take her home.”

  They pulled through the compound’s gate, Juro guiding the SUV to a smooth stop below the stairs to the main building. One of Raphael’s security contingent was waiting. He pulled the door open and Raphael climbed out, giving the vampire a nod of greeting.

  As he started up the stairs, Duncan joined him. “How is Cynthia, my lord?”

  Raphael gave his lieutenant a small grin. “Well enough to fight with Doctor Saephan over his restrictions.”

  Duncan laughed. “I would expect nothing else. I will see you both tomorrow evening, then, my lord. I will make the arrangements.”

  * * * *

  The next night came none too soon for Raphael, nor for Cyn, although for all her professed eagerness to return to the comfort and security of their home, there was something troubling her.

  He didn’t push her, though, knowing she’d eventually tell him what it was.

  He glanced over to where she sat on the bed, resting after the exertion of her first shower since the shooting. She’d managed to pull on her underwear and a sweater, but her long legs were bare, and far too thin.

  Doctor Saephan had finally permitted her to eat something this evening. Or rather to drink something. He’d arrived bearing a high protein liquid shake instead of the usual blood bags. He’d made it up for her himself, adding plenty of chocolate syrup, which testified to how well he knew his patient. Cyn hadn’t even whispered a protest.

  “Raphael.”

  He shook himself out of his thoughts and smiled at her, picking up the yoga pants she’d chosen to wear.

  “Stay there, lubimaya. I’ll put these on for you.”

  “I can stand.”

  “Of course you can,” he agreed, standing in front of her. “Now, slide over here.”

  “Bossy,” she muttered, but she did as he asked, sitting on the edge of the bed while he slipped the pants over her feet and up her legs. He held out a hand and she took it, letting him help her stand and then support her while she wiggled the pants over her hips.

  “I look awful,” she said miserably, stepping into her shoes.

  “You don’t. You look beautiful, as always.”

  But her eyes when they met his were shining with tears. “I don’t want everyone staring at me,” she whispered.

  Ah, he thought to himself. So that’s what it is.

  “Then no one will,” he told her and pulled out his cell phone. “I want the great room cleared, Duncan.” He looked around, gauging their departure time. Everything was packed and ready, except for Cyn. “In five minutes. You, Juro and Elke. The rest of our security can wait in the vehicles outside.”

  “Thank you, Raphael,” she said, then gave him a weak grin. “It’s good to be the king, huh?”

  “Only if you’re my queen, lubimaya.” He bent over and touched his lips to hers. “Come. I’ll carry you.”

  “No!”

  He scooped her up easily. She was too weak to fight him, but she didn’t try very hard, wrapping her arms around his neck and resting her head on his shoulder. He touched his cheek to her freshly shampooed hair and smiled, remembering her almost orgasmic sigh when he’d washed it for her.

  “You’re thinking about the shower,” she murmured, stroking one finger along the back of his neck.

  “Be good,” he scolded, carrying her to the elevator.

  “Give me a few days,” she said softly, switching her finger to the curve of his ear. “And I’ll be very good.”

  “And now you’re just toying with me.”

  Cyn nestled into the curve of his shoulder, her kiss soft and moist against the underside of his jaw. “Have I told you you’re my very favorite vampire?” she murmured tiredly.

  “Not often enough,” Raphael said smoothly, fighting a tidal wave of emotion at how light she was in his arms, how very fragile.

  He felt the curve of her lips as she smiled against his skin. “I’ll have to remember that. I love you, fang boy.”

  Her body softened and Raphael knew she was close to falling asleep. He tightened his hold on her, the terror of almost losing her still too fresh and too horrible to remember. He didn’t know what he would have done if she’d died. But he knew one thing . . . She wouldn’t have died alone.

  Epilogue

  Malibu, California

  Raphael settled the phone back on its cradle and shared a sober look with Duncan, who sat across the desk from him in one of the two visitor chairs.

  “It
’s time, my friend.”

  “I know.”

  “I will miss you. Cyn will—” He lifted his head and nearly groaned. “Cyn will be joining us soon.”

  Duncan stood immediately. “I’ll give you some privacy, my lord,” he said and headed for the doors.

  Raphael laughed grimly. “Coward.”

  Duncan grinned, bowed slightly from where he stood at the open door and disappeared down the hall.

  Raphael sat alone, tracking Cyn’s movements as she drew closer to his office, automatically gauging her mood and her physical well-being. She’d made considerable progress since coming home from Seattle, but she was far from her usual fighting form, and she still tired much too easily. He hated that he was about to upset her. Hated the news he was about to deliver almost as much as he hated telling her about it. But now that the decision was made, word would travel like fire through the household, and she would be angry and, even worse, hurt if she heard it from someone else first.

  The doors pushed open and Cyn strode into the room. She’d come from her daily, and carefully monitored, workout in the gym and her lovely face was flushed with life, her green eyes sparkling as she smiled at him.

  Raphael sighed and rose to meet her, walking around to take her in his arms.

  She might be angry if he kept the news of his decision from her, but she would never forgive him if it turned out he had just sent Duncan to his death.

  To be continued . . .

  Acknowledgments

  As always, my first thanks go to Linda Kichline of ImaJinn Books for her support and the incredible talent that goes into every single book. And to Patricia Lazarus for creating a beautiful cover for Sophia and Colin, despite my PITB messages.

  There are so many people I lean on for advice and expertise when I’m writing a book. I can only list them here and hope they know how much I appreciate their contributions. My foremost thanks go to my critique partners Steve McHugh and Michelle Muto. I could never put out a single book if I didn’t have these two incredible writers to tell me what works, to rein me in when I go a little nuts and to keep me going when I’m ready to scream. Someday we’ll all be famous together!

  To John Gorski once again for advising me on everything that goes bang or has a sharp edge, plus for keeping my characters from getting shot dead because they didn’t follow basic police procedure! To Ken McDaniel for being “overly technical military guy.” To Sophie of the OWG for her assistance with French and general wonderfulness, and to Carlos Looney and Elaine Villafane for helping my Sophia’s Portuguese make sense.

  I’m delighted to say that two of my readers contributed to this book very directly. Mary Walker (aka Amy) came up with the perfect name for a bar in lumber country. Babe’s was her inspiration, the bullet-riddled sign was mine. (I’m sure that says something about me, but let’s not go into that.) Another reader, S. C. Liu, gave me the character Maxime, whose scene was cut from Rajmund, but who finally made it on-screen in Sophia. Huge thanks go to all of the reviewers and bloggers who help get the word out about my vamps, and to my readers who let me know every single day how much they love Raphael, Cyn and all the gang. Your support means so much to me!

  Thanks to Adrian Phoenix (writer of brilliant books) for her generosity and support, to Kelley Armstrong for hosting the OWG, the best online writing group ever, and to all of my fellow OWG members for their advice and enthusiasm. Special thanks go to Danielle Wegner for hosting me in the Book Club at KelleyArmstrong.com. Totally cool!

  And finally, thank you to my enormous family for their continuing love and support, and to my wonderful husband for putting up with a wife who writes all the effing time!

  Stop by my blog at http://dbreynolds.wordpress.com for the latest news, contests, and Vampire Vignettes!

  If you’ve enjoyed this book, you’re sure to enjoy the books written by our other authors. Search ImaJinn Books on the Kindle website, or visit us at www.imajinnbooks.com to view our full catalog.

  Copyright

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Sopha ©2011 by Donna Beltz. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express permission of ImaJinn Books, Inc.

  E-book ISBN: 978-1-61026-050-3

  10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

  Cover design by Patricia Lazarus

  Cover picture credits:

  Mans photo - Sophie Phelps - dreamstime.com

  Sophies photo - Konradbak@dreamstime

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