It was a repetition of their previous run together, silent and focused. But she wasn’t human anymore. She could run faster, and she was more agile and could easily avoid low-hanging branches and the debris that cluttered the forest floor. Her running had been graceful before, but now she was mesmerising to watch. Jeremy was having trouble minding his own step, his attention claimed by her.
He found it incredible that only two weeks ago she was injured and her promise fulfilled. She didn’t tire at all. He lost the count of how many times they went around the entire estate, following the wall. A marathon didn’t cover the distance they ran. It was an endurance race, not against the clock or other competitors, but one’s own limits.
But when she wouldn’t pause even to drink, he began to worry. Superhuman or not, she needed to hydrate. But she was fighting for control with her Rider, which didn’t usually occur this early in a new vampire’s life. He didn’t dare to interrupt.
He wished there was something he could do for her to make the fight easier, but each vampire had to do it alone, the struggle internal. For the first time in his long life he was useless and helpless, and he didn’t appreciate the feeling. Robbed of all other options to participate, he kept at her heels, pushing his aching feet and thirst out of his mind. As long as she needed, he would be there.
He lost the sense of time. It wasn’t until a change in the night air heralded morning that he put a stop to it.
“The sun will come up soon. Let’s get you to bed.”
“I don’t want to stop yet. The Rider might win.”
“Trust me, you already won.” He couldn’t hide the pride in his voice. “You’ll pass out once the sun rises and the Rider will too.”
Sighing, she headed to the manor. He kept an eye on the horizon so that the sun couldn’t surprise them. He hadn’t needed to worry about the daybreak in ages, but now he would have to learn the habit again. It would take time before she remembered to do it herself. Not that he would allow her to be in a situation where a sunrise would compromise her safety.
She didn’t slow down when they reached the manor. The warrior guarding the front door opened it hastily for her as she ran through without pausing. The warriors gathered in the foyer after the night’s patrol watched bemused as she jogged past them and up the stairs, all the way to his room.
Only when he closed the door to his room after them did she stop. “I need a shower.”
He smiled. “Yes you do. But you have to be quick. The sun is almost up.” That got her moving. The need to follow her to the shower was so strong he had to physically restrain himself. It wasn’t merely that he wanted her; he needed to take care of her, to make sure she was physically all right. But his help wouldn’t speed things up at all.
She was impressively quick and had time to spare when she emerged from the bathroom, drying her hair with the towel. She limped a little and he went to her and swept her up in his arms so she wouldn’t have to walk. She giggled as he carried her to the bed. “I’m hungry.”
“I bet you are. But you don’t have time to eat. So here.” He offered his wrist to her. He would have preferred the vein in his throat, but time was against them.
She hesitated. “Won’t that bring the Rider out again?”
“No, the opposite.” He settled down comfortably next to her on the bed. “Drink.” And she obeyed, thirstily.
Never, until her, had he realised that the simple act of feeding someone could be so pleasurable. He felt every pull deep inside him, arousing and exciting, and grew impossibly hard even as he was losing blood. He wanted her, madly. Maybe if he was very quick–
The sun rose. She clocked off.
“Fuuuck.”
This would be a long day.
Corynn stayed tightly in the bedroom for the next couple of days. Recovering took its toll – her feet wouldn’t heal as fast as she had hoped – and she feared she would lose the Rider again if she was around other people. But mostly it was because she was embarrassed.
“Are they all laughing at me?” she asked Jeremy, worried, when he told her it was time to sit at the common meal again – at the grand hall no less.
He looked stunned. “I would like them to try. And no, they’re all extremely impressed with you.”
That wasn’t what she had thought to hear. “They are?”
“It’s a rare new vampire who can bring their Rider to heel on their own. Usually it takes at least one stronger vampire, often more who do it for them. That’s why I had Marcus at the dinner with us.”
“Yeah, well, he was so scary I thought I’d rather try it myself.”
He guffawed. “I can’t wait to tell it to him. Maybe we could use him as an incentive for the other new vampires to try harder.”
“Not funny.”
“Actually, it is.” His smile turned tender and her heart missed a beat. It was a loving smile, one she hadn’t seen in a while. She had begun to fear that he had lost interest in her now that she was a vampire. Then she checked her emotions hastily; the Rider might use them to free itself.
“Truly, it was impressive what you did. And simply by running.”
She gave it a thought. “Maybe other exercising would be good too, something that requires mental control.”
“Combat sport?”
“I was more thinking of yoga. I’ve done that before with Toby.” The moment she said his name, she missed her friend immensely. She hadn’t even called him. He must be worried sick.
Jeremy sensed the change in her mood. “What’s with the two of you?”
“We’re just friends. I told you.” Then she sighed. “He’s gay, so you’ve nothing to worry about.”
He smiled, relieved. “Oh. Well, that’s good.”
“Mmm-hmm.”
“Hey, you’re worth getting jealous over.”
“I noticed you weren’t happy with my thoughts about some of your warrior brothers either.” He shrugged, not at all apologetic. “Are you able to read my thoughts?”
“Not exactly. I can sense your moods. Once you’re more in control of yourself, that’ll go away too, and I’ll only get what you communicate with me.”
“So if I think that Marcus is extremely handsome–” Her sentence cut off when he charged at her and threw her on the bed.
“No one is extremely handsome to you but me,” he stated, growling. It was a playful sound, a tease. She smiled.
“Absolutely.” She wrapped a hand around his neck, pulled him down and kissed him. He kissed her back, deliciously, but just as she was getting in the mood, he cut it short.
“I don’t think you’re strong enough yet.”
She growled in frustration. “If I’m strong enough to run all night, I should be strong enough for this too.”
But his face closed and he stood up, pulling her up too. “Let’s just go to dinner.”
* * *
“I’d like to see Toby soon,” Corynn said to Jeremy when they were strolling in the park after dinner.
The overwhelming need to run she’d had the other evening was gone and they were ambling aimlessly around the formal French garden. It looked pretty in the moonlight, her improved vision making her able to see the sculpted hedges and the maze in the dark, but she wished she could view it in sunlight. It must be magnificent.
Their mood was reserved. She was upset that he had turned her down, and he was brooding too. She wished she had the ability to reach his mind to find out why. Was he regretting that he had her turned? Or rueing the slowness of her recovery?
Feeling lonely despite his company, her mind naturally turned to her friend. “He’s the only one of my friends who wouldn’t be shocked with what has happened to me.”
“That can be arranged, but he would have to come here. It’s too soon for you to venture out in the world.”
They walked in silence while she gathered courage to bring up the other matter she needed clarified. “So, when Marcus–” She paused to punch him playfully in the arm when he growled a
t the name. “When he offered me the job, what did he mean by it? Permanently, or what? And where would the job be?”
He gave her a surprised look. “I’m pretty sure it’s permanent for now. We’re long-living so you might get bored with the job after a couple of decades. And it would be here.”
“Could I live here too?”
He paused to think about it. “I have no idea. We don’t have many women living here. The cook and the housekeeper have their houses on the estate, but most of the other staff commutes, even the technical staff. They’re all humans though.”
“There are no married warriors?” She held her breath.
“Of course there are, though not all that many.” Then he got what she was truly asking about. He shot an imperious look at her. “You’ll live where I live, of course.”
“Oh really?” It was what she had wanted to hear, but it would have been nice if he had asked instead of dictated.
“You don’t want to live with me?” He sounded genuinely worried.
She was about to say that of course she did, but the words didn’t come out. “I have no idea. I’m not sure who I am anymore, and I’m not sure I’m the woman you think I am anymore.”
He stiffened and she sensed he was hurt, but then he nodded. “We have time to learn who we are again.”
Corynn tried to make sense of her emotions, a near impossible task when she had to tip-toe around them so that she wouldn’t stir the Rider. Reason was easier than emotions anyway. “I have a poor record with men,” she finally said. “I tend to fall for selfish bastards who either cheat on me or expect me to become their extension. Or they dupe me some other way. I hadn’t dated anyone in ages when I met you.”
“And the first thing I did was erase your mind.”
“Exactly.”
He sighed and pulled her closer, wrapping his arm around her. She buried her nose in his chest, enjoying his scent. She had loved it before, but as a vampire she was able to detect new, delicious tones, not all of which had to do with blood, a heady mix of masculinity and strength.
“I can’t deny I was the kind of guy you should stay away from. But you’ve changed me.”
“People don’t just change like that.” Well, not unless they were turned into vampires they didn’t. “And I’d be betting my eternity on you, not just a couple of decades.”
“Vampires change.”
“How? And don’t say magic.”
He smiled. “Well, it’s not magic exactly. But it has to do with Might. I don’t know how it works. Might has decided that you are the perfect woman for me and I agree with it.”
“So, just like that you’ll be mine for the rest of our long lives?”
“Yes.”
She stared at him in a stupor. It wasn’t exactly what she had wanted to hear – what any woman would want to hear from the man she … loved. Her heart missed a beat when she had to face the fact that she was in love with a man she didn’t fully trust. At the heels of the realisation came a flush of emotion but she stifled it ruthlessly. This wasn’t the time for the Rider to show up.
“Well, forgive me if I don’t actually believe you.”
“I guess I’ll just have to prove it to you every day for the rest of our lives.”
She wanted to take him for his word, but it was difficult. She was about to speak when he stiffened all of a sudden. “I’ve been summoned back to the house. Something’s up.”
Chapter Fifteen
Jeremy had a bad feeling when he waited for Gabe to begin their briefing. Something big must have happened, otherwise they wouldn’t have called him back in. His duty was to Cora for the present and he hadn’t been out patrolling in three weeks. Pretty much every warrior that wasn’t already on patrol seemed to be present too.
Gabe soon confirmed his suspicions. “Three more bodies were left for us to find tonight. Same MO.”
“All human women with promise?” Zach asked. He looked angry.
“Yes. We’re a little late for the party, but we’ll spread out and follow every single trace we can find leading from those bodies to their ends. I want these bastards found.”
They didn’t waste time getting into their cars and heading out. Jeremy had barely time to change into his leathers and inform Cora he would be away for the night. “Remember to get back to bed before the sun rises. If you’re unsure about the correct time, you can check on the web.”
“I don’t have a computer.”
He cursed his stupidity for not buying her a new one like he had promised, but there was no time for that now. “Our computer room is on the east wing, second floor.”
“Okay. Be careful.”
He leaned down to kiss her, unable to leave without it. “Always.” And then he dashed out.
The body was still in place when Jeremy, Zach, Jas and Nick reached the spot assigned for them, guarded by the pair of warriors on patrol who had found it. It was on a tiny patch of greenery behind the St Michael Paternoster Church that had the imposing name of Whittington Gardens. It was shielded from prying eyes by a low brick wall, tall hedge, and some trees, so what few cameras pointed towards it probably wouldn’t show anything useful. At that time of the evening there weren’t many people around, but the warriors had covered the body with magic and it was invisible to human eyes. They didn’t need human police meddling with their investigation.
“They’re getting bolder,” Jas noted in a low voice, but Jeremy could only growl. The dead woman lying at his feet, slashed and cut, could so easily have been Cora. She may still have her reservations about becoming a vampire, but he was grateful that her promise was now fulfilled. At least she was away from the clutches of the serial killer. Or killers, as it had to be. No one could wreak this much havoc alone.
“Or they’re getting more desperate,” Paul, one of the warriors guarding the body said.
“What the fuck do they want with these women?”
“Not that, apparently,” Nick answered to Zach’s angry question. “According to the police, none of the victims were sexually violated.” They always let the police have the crime scenes eventually, after they had finished their own investigations.
“I think they’re trying to make female renegades.” Everyone paused to stare at Jeremy, who shrugged. “I didn’t think of it before, but having witnessed Alexander fulfil Cora’s promise, I think it’s the only explanation. The body has similar markings, but not quite. And then there are these extra cuts.” Each body had been cut with ritualistic symbols that oozed black magic.
Zach studied the body. “So, instead of trying to trigger the gene into making them vampires, they’re making renegades?”
“Trying and failing, more like,” Jas said dryly. They all nodded. They were looking at a failed experiment.
“But why only women?”
Jeremy shrugged. “Maybe it works on men. They have to come from somewhere, and I mean, have you ever seen a female renegade?”
They considered Jeremy’s idea. Demon vampire was a name they had given to renegades, because there were some similar characteristics. The notion that renegades could have been vampires made Jeremy a little sick in the stomach, but what else could explain the bodies.
Zach nodded. “I’d say your theory is at least plausible. But right now, I don’t care about the hows or whys, I just want to catch them.”
The trail that led away from the body was strong, late though they were in following it, created by at least four renegades. But it grew weaker by the minute, as Might filled the void renegades had ploughed through it. The warriors started as one group, but the trail soon divided into two and they broke up. A couple of blocks later the trail Jeremy and Zach were on split to two again.
“It’s like they know our MO of not working alone,” Zach cursed.
“Well, after a couple of centuries, even an idiot would’ve caught on to it.”
But they had come prepared. The City was swarming with warriors and Zach pulled in two more teams. The trail Zach and
Jeremy were following twirled around the City, deliberately leading them in circles. Occasionally they crossed their earlier path, or the path of some other renegade that another team was tracing. Jeremy had a vivid image of a busy anthill where the soldiers scurried to and fro, seemingly without any plan.
After an hour of this, their path crossed with Gabe’s and Marcus’s. Their leader was furious. “They’re making fun of us.”
“It would seem so,” Zach answered his brother. “The question is, what are they doing while our attention is drawn here?”
“Fuck! That’s it. Call in the teams. We’ll gather at the cars.”
He had barely finished giving the order when they sensed a change in Might. A renegade, somewhere near. The four of them took off without a word towards the source. The bastard wouldn’t stand a change.
Jeremy had practiced running lately so he was soon in the lead, a place he preferred. In this part of London some of the alleys were barely wide enough for one person and he didn’t want to be stuck behind the other three warriors. He soon had a visual of their prey, a couple of blocks ahead of him, running fast.
The bastard led them through a succession of alleys towards the Guildhall. In its large courtyard they briefly lost him from their sight, but the trace was easy enough to follow. It led north, towards the London Wall that marked the traditional edge of the City, but Jeremy didn’t hold his breath that the bastard would stop there.
Do you think he’s heading to the Bunhill? Jas asked in Jeremy’s mind, sounding grim. A black magician colluding with renegades had almost managed to sacrifice Pippa there a couple of months earlier. The warriors had ambushed them at the cemetery and freed her, and the battle that ensued had been fierce.
I wouldn’t wonder it.
But their prey led them towards Barbican Centre instead, a little to the east from the cemetery. They were close to St Bartholomew’s hospital too, where Jeremy had chased the bastard he killed the night he met Cora. The memory made him run faster.
Her Warrior for Eternity Page 11