“Okay,” he said. “I know we’re bound the vampire way because of the sex, but are there other things you’re supposed to do?”
I cupped the back of his neck and said, “I claim you.”
When vampires claimed anyone, which could be their children, their donors, or their mates, their symbol was imprinted onto the person. Other vampires could see it; then they knew the human, or whoever, was protected. My symbol was simple: a heart.
“There’s another part,” I said. “It’s called the word-giving. It’s sorta like saying vows. The most profound sentiment I can offer you is that I love you like I’ve loved no other. And I’m so very glad you’re mine.”
“I’m glad we’re together,” he said. “I’m happiest when I’m near you. You are my heart, Elizabeth, and I love you.”
We kissed, sealing our words and our bond.
“But as soon as we solve this mystery, you and I are locking ourselves in the bedroom and not coming out for a week.”
“Good thing Martha packed you some dessert,” I said.
He grinned.
“Aren’t you supposed to say something romantic, like ‘You’re all the dessert I need,’ ” I pointed out.
“Well, I could,” he admitted. “But we’re talking about Martha. That woman can cook. You know, I’m thinking about becoming a polygamist.”
I socked him in the shoulder, and he laughed. Then he pulled me in close, looked me in the eyes, and murmured, “You’re all the dessert I’ll ever need, Elizabeth.”
He kissed me.
And I melted.
I could get used to a lifetime of this.
He helped me put on my panties and jeans. There was something very sensual about the way he helped me slide on my underwear, and even in the way he tugged up my jeans and buttoned them for me. I never imagined getting dressed was nearly as sexy as getting undressed. But I think Tez was capable of making any mundane act a sensual one.
We were soiled, leaf-strewn, and badly in need of showers, but we were happy.
When we entered the clearing, the women were waiting for us. I was relieved to see that during our tryst, they had managed to shower and dress. I didn’t see Tawny, so I assumed she was locked up somewhere. I hoped it was a basement filled with mold and spiders.
All the women knelt before us and bowed their heads.
“Hail, the new alpha and his only mate,” shouted Emma.
“We pledge our loyalty,” responded the women.
“Aw, crap,” muttered Tez.
Emma clutched a pair of pants in her hands and she moved from her place of supplication to give them to Tez. He slipped them on, and I looked at her gratefully. The were-cats might not mind running around naked, but I did—especially when my husband was the one on display. Frankly, I wanted to be the only woman ever who got to ogle him naked.
“Okay, um . . . you.” He pointed to Emma. “You’re in charge or whatever until I get back. Wait. Isn’t there another guy around here? Where’s Serri?”
The women looked at each other, and I had a sudden chill. How in the world could I have forgotten poor Serri?
“She was hurt when I talked to her,” I said to Tez. “She’s the one who told me about the upendo challenge. Oh, I feel terrible!”
Guilt flashed across Emma’s features. “We didn’t think to check the house. Tawny told us they had dishonored the pride by leaving to live on their own. We thought they were gone.”
Tez and I strode across the clearing. The pyre was dying down, and the alpha body had finally succumbed to the flames. When we got to the porch of the little house, I smelled something foul.
“Shit,” said Tez. He opened the door and crept inside. I followed him. We found a young man in the living room facedown in a pool of blackened blood. Trak.
“Oh, no!” The man had paid the ultimate price for trying to protect his family, and his pride. We followed a trail of blood spatters down the hallway, and found Serri. She was sitting in a rocker, her arms around a baby boy fast asleep.
She was chalky white, her lips blue. And she was horribly still.
“Tez, is she . . .”
He pressed two fingers against her neck and shook his head. “Faint pulse. We need to get her to the hospital.”
She’d known her husband was dead when she approached me, and that she might be dying, too. She was protecting her child, waiting for . . . me? Had she known I would win the challenge, or had she just hoped I would?
“C’mon, baby,” I said, gently scooping out the boy from his mother’s arms. His eyes opened sleepily. The back of his shirt was sticky with blood.
“It’s not his,” said Tez.
The blood had seeped from the wound in Serri’s belly. It soaked her clothes, and her baby’s, too. Horror washed over me.
Dayton stared at me with big brown eyes, and then he yawned and snuggled into my arms. My heart turned over in my chest. He was so precious. I wanted to rip off Tawny’s head for ruining this beautiful family.
“Alpha?” Emma stood in the doorway, the only one brave enough to follow us in. She took in the scene, her expression hardening. “Tawny did this.”
“She’ll be punished,” promised Tez.
“Emma, come with us,” I said. “We’re taking them to the hospital, and I want you to stay and watch over Dayton.”
“Of course,” she said. “What about Trak?”
“Tell the others to prepare his pyre,” said Tez. “But do nothing until we return.” Gently he picked up Serri, and carried her toward the doorway. “And tell everyone to pack their stuff and be ready to move into town. We’re burning this creep-assed place down to the ground.”
“Burning it?” exclaimed Emma. I didn’t know if she sounded excited or upset.
“Yeah,” said Tez. “That’s what I said.” He paused and leveled a look at her. “You got that, kid?”
Emma nodded, wide-eyed.
The alpha had spoken.
And that was that.
Chapter 19
“As soon as you’re done expressing the alpha’s wishes,” I said to Emma (and, my, did it sound strange to say that), “then meet me at the Mercedes.”
“I’ll take Serri in my Honda,” said Tez from the hallway. “We’ll meet at the hospital.”
I carried Dayton out of the house, and saw the women lined up outside looking pensive and sorrowful. What a terrible life it was here. It was like a cult. Isolated from others, dependent on a dynamic leader for direction, bound in sexual slavery . . . Yuck! The whole situation made my skin crawl. Were all prides set up the same, or was it just this one? I hoped this were-cat community was not the standard for all prides.
Tez left before I did. I cradled Dayton, not caring about the blood, and thought about how nice he felt in my arms. It made me wonder if adoption was possible. Maybe not a human baby, but perhaps there were orphaned paranormal children?
Emma was wise enough to grab a diaper bag and the car seat. We strapped it in the back, and settled Dayton into it. Emma slid into the passenger side. Her eyes were as wide as saucers. “This is the nicest car I’ve ever been in,” she said.
“I’ll buy you one,” I said. And I meant it. The lives of the were-cats were going to change. Big-time. I was surprised to be excited about having a hand in shaping the new community.
So much had happened.
I hadn’t quite processed that I was married.
It didn’t feel real, though the collar around my neck certainly did.
When we arrived at the emergency entrance to the hospital, several people awaited us. I realized that Tez had had the presence of mind to call Damian, who probably then in turn called in the troops.
I saw Damian, his brother Drake, Dr. Stan Michaels, and thank God . . . er, Goddess, Brigid waiting under the portico. Lorcan and Patrick’s grandmother was an actual Celtic goddess who not only had goldsmithing skills; she was an amazing healer. Brigid was at least six feet tall with long red hair, and milky white skin. She had magica
l tattoos all over her body that changed into healing spells she needed to help the injured and the sick. She always wore a mossy green gown that certainly gave credence to her goddessness.
I had always been in a little awe of her.
Drake took Serri from Tez, and Brigid took Dayton. They hurried into the hospital, followed by Emma. Relieved that Serri and her son would get the care they so desperately needed, I joined Tez at the trunk of his Honda, where he was giving Damian and Stan everything we found in my grandfather’s attic room.
“I have the other items,” I said. Emma had transferred all the stuff from the seat to the passenger floor, so I leaned down and grabbed the box with the diary and letters. I gladly handed it over. I wouldn’t be sorry at all if I never saw any of it again. I just wanted the whole thing to be over with.
“Any sign of Phoebe or the others?” I asked.
Damian shook his head. “We cannot locate the trunks, either.”
“Lenette has suggested that we gather the dissected body of Jeremiah and perform a cleansing ritual,” said Stan. “She said that covering all of his bones with rock salt and then burning them should drive his spirit back into the underworld.”
“What about the demon?”
“Connor and his sister are working on the incantations,” said Damian. “They say it’s complicated. It might be easier with Phoebe.”
“She could invoke the talisman,” I said.
Tez was worried about something else entirely. “You’ve got Jeremiah’s skull,” he said, “but how the hell will we find his other parts?”
“Flet,” said Damian. He glanced at Tez and cupped his hands. “He is this tiny, annoying pixie.”
“He says all the bad energy is getting worse,” Stan said, “and it’s making everything stink.”
“Getting worse?”
Stan nodded. “Fights are breaking out, especially among couples. You know Rand got engaged to MaryBeth?”
I nodded, pleased that he had popped the question.
“Not anymore. She broke up with him because she said he was cheating.”
“That’s ridiculous!”
“It’s a plague,” said Damian. “Anyone in love is either arguing or giving each other the silent treatment. It makes coordinating the searches difficult. We have to end this.”
“Or call in Dr. Phil,” said Tez.
“I don’t think he could fix this,” said Stan with a sigh. “Not even Oprah could fix this.”
“Wow. It really is bad.”
The demon’s mere presence was infecting the residents of Broken Heart. We had to find and dispose of him. I wondered if Tez and I might start fighting, too. Would I begin to believe he was cheating on me? Would I let distrust and hurt worm through my love and destroy it inch by inch? I couldn’t imagine such a thing and felt terrible that so many of my friends were experiencing this.
“Getting Silverstone’s body back together and burning it is a good start,” said Tez.
“Well,” I said, feeling the funk of my dirty, blood-stained clothing, “we need to get cleaned up. Is there a search headquarters? Because we could meet you there later so we can help track down the others.”
Damian nodded. “At the café.” He stared at my collar. “I haven’t seen one of those in a very long time.” His gaze slid to Tez’s neck. “You are mated?”
Had I the wherewithal to blush, I would’ve done so. This was not how I wanted to announce my marriage. I fingered the collar. “You’re familiar with these?”
“It’s particular to shifters,” he said. “And they’re quite rare. You’re very lucky.” He nodded toward Tez. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
“Yes,” said Stan. “Congrats.”
And on that note, Tez and I decided to retreat. I followed his Honda all the way to my house. I mean, our house. Or would it be? Maybe he didn’t want to live here. Maybe he wanted a place we had both chosen. And how would he feel about adopting children? Maybe he’d chosen a vampire as a bride because he didn’t want any kids at all.
“What are you thinking about?” asked Tez, peering inside as he opened the car door for me. He glanced at the Victorian, then at me. “I like this house.”
“I swear!” I popped out of the car. “You can read my mind, can’t you?”
“Nope. I’m just really good at reading your expression. You’re an open book, Ellie Bee.”
“Humph.” I turned and reached over the seats to grab my purse from the passenger floorboard. Tez took the opportunity to cop a feel. Both of his hands grabbed my buttocks and squeezed.
“Tez!” I pretended offense, and jerked my bag so hard as I came up out of the car that it went flying. It landed with a thud near the porch, its contents spilling over the ground.
“I give it a ten,” said Tez. “The arc on that was pretty good.”
“Oh, hah.” We walked over to the mess and bent down to gather up the items. I immediately recognized something square and silver. “How did that get into my purse?” I asked.
I picked up the box and immediately knew it was the wrong thing to do.
I heard Tez shout my name, and then I felt like I’d been wrapped into a black blanket and tossed into a tornado.
I landed on something flat and hard. For a moment, I couldn’t see and then the darkness floated away like a dissipating mist.
“The gang’s all here,” said a female voice.
I got unsteadily to my feet and looked around. I was in the center of a circle of people who were chained to chairs. The woman who’d spoken was none other than Jessica.
“I thought you were safe.” I sounded rather offended that she’d gotten caught. In fact, I think I was angry with myself for even touching that stupid box again.
“Yeah, well, you probably did what I did . . . touch some stupid object,” groused Jessica. “Mine was a spoon. Can you believe that? I touched a freaking spoon and got zapped to spookville.”
“Mine was this jewelry box.” I was amazed to see it still in my hands. “What am I doing? We’ve got to get out of here.”
“Not gonna happen, sister.” This edict came from Phoebe. “I’ve been to hell. This place is worse.”
“No way to leave,” said Eva. “Something’s blocking our telepathy. No one can find us.”
“Is Marissa okay?” asked Dr. Clark. His expression held both anger and worry.
“She’s fine. Lenette’s protecting her.” I spun around. Four people in four chairs. And I was the fifth one, the last of the Broken Heart five that the demon needed.
“Elizabeth!” The black shadow wavered in front of me. I felt the hatred, and I instantly dropped the box. I heard a howl of rage, and then the shadow disappeared.
“That happen to any of you?” I asked.
“Uh, no,” said Jess.
I got a good look at everyone. “What are you all wearing?”
“He made us put on the dresses our ancestors wore when they died,” said Eva. “He seemed insistent on it.”
“Your ancestor didn’t die,” I said. “Your great-grandmother survived.”
“How did he get her dress, then?”
I shook my head. Even Dr. Clark was wearing a dress, and he looked none too thrilled about it. “What does he hope to accomplish?”
“Sacrifice,” I said. “Five of us, to the ancient demon Mammon, trying to complete what Jeremiah Silverstone set into motion more than a century ago.”
Something kept digging at my hip, and it had been since I left the were-cat community. I dug into my pocket and pulled out my iPhone.
“Holy shit,” said Jessica. “Call someone already!”
“If magic won’t work, or telepathy,” said Eva, “what makes you think we’ll have access to a cell tower?”
“Maybe wherever we are just dampens the mystical,” said Dr. Clark. “It’s possible technology will work.”
“Dial already,” screeched Jessica, “before the psycho comes back.”
I hit my CONTACTS
button and, because I hadn’t yet put Tez into my phone list, I dialed Damian.
“Ja?”
“Oh, my God. I can’t believe this worked!”
“Elizabeth? Where are you?” He sounded relieved, and I had no doubt that Tez had immediately tracked him down.
“I have no idea. We’re all here. It’s some cave or . . . or something. Magic doesn’t work here and it blocks out telepathy, too.”
Suddenly, the air got heavy, and the hair on the back of my nape rose straight up.
“He’s coming! Hide the phone!” Jessica’s eyes bulged with fear, and there wasn’t much that scared her. I put the phone on the ground and slid it so that it went under Jessica’s chair.
We could still hear Damian talking, and then shouting. Jessica cried, “Shut the fuck up, Damian!” The lycanthrope went silent—and none too soon.
A man appeared next to me in the blink of an eye. Then his image wavered, skin sliding away from muscle, from bone, until there was nothing left but a skeletal shadow.
I could see why Jessica was scared. He emanated suffering. The feeling swirled out from him and encompassed me. I doubted everything, everyone. I knew, beyond doubt, beyond measure, I could trust no one with my heart.
He truly was the embodiment of the Broken Heart curse.
And I was not immune.
Tez had been with other women. He didn’t love me. He betrayed me. He was a lying, sneaky bastard.
“Elizabeth.” The voice was low and mean; his words slithered out like a snake’s tongue. His eyes were empty.
“Put it on.” He dropped the dress at my feet. I instantly recognized the velveteen gown with the copper roses. Elizabeth had been wearing it when he’d strangled her. I realized now what had been in the trunks. He’d kept the clothes of his murder victims, along with the stolen trinkets on those shelves of his.
He grabbed my throat and shook me. “Put. It. On.”
Cold swept over me, and I felt as though daggers were stabbing me from the inside. He dropped me, and I fell to the ground, right on top of the dress.
Shaking, I put it on. It fit well enough, but I didn’t like wearing it. I hated the idea he wanted to replay his last murders, with me and my friends as the victims. Vampires could live forever, but they weren’t unkillable. The demon might not be able to choke the life out of us, but he could cut off our heads.
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