“But that’s just it. There’s nothing to say. Nothing can be done. We just have to accept what is.”
“I’m not her!” Sydney was surprised by the sudden swell of anger that had her shouting at him. “And I won’t be punished by the actions of someone else.”
Alaric sighed. “Trina and Rhonda.”
“Yes. Even though it’s you who should have told me.”
Sighing again, he stepped away from the door. He didn’t welcome her in, didn’t offer her any kindness, but she entered anyway.
If she’d thought her bedroom lavish, Alaric’s was downright luxurious. He had every modern convenience and amenity money could buy. At present, was playing on his stereo, setting a relaxing mood that Sydney didn’t feel.
He settled himself on his bed, folded his hands and waited.
“You come into my life, practically force your attentions on me, and at the first sign of trouble go running for the hills. You have no right to come into my life and make me feel things for you, then run away just because of Saul.”
“Did they tell you how she died?”
“They did. You did what you had to do. And I’m glad Paul and Umberto rescued you.”
“I’m not putting myself through that again,” he said, beginning to sound angry.
“And you don’t have to. What happened to giving a person the benefit of the doubt? I’ve been tempted by Saul and I’ve rejected him every time. Don’t I get a little credit for that?”
“I cannot do this again.”
She threw her hands in the air. “You know, Alaric, this isn’t even about you. I’m the one who was attacked, I’m the one who lost her best friend, and I’m the one who was targeted because of you. And I’m not losing my soul because some vendetta between you and Saul. I have my whole life ahead of me. That may not mean anything to you, but it’s everything to me. I didn’t ask to be a target, my association with you made me a target. Now, you have the audacity to treat me like this is my fault. How dare you.”
“Sydney, I don’t think this is your fault.”
“You have a strange way of showing that.”
He got to his feet, then sat back down. “I just…I don’t know what to do. And I’m sorry. I’m handling this horribly. I never stopped to think what this was like for you.”
“I don’t know how things went down before, but I think instead of acting like there’s nothing between us, we need to stand together. Fight him together, with your team.”
Alaric looked down at the rug and shook his head. “But what if he turns you.”
“He won’t.”
“What if he does?”
“I’m not letting that happen. Not for you, but for me.”
He rubbed his eyes and rolled his neck. “I’ve been a jerk, haven’t I?”
“Yes.”
He got to his feet and crossed the room. He reached out to touch her, then paused.
“I’m not her,” Sydney said.
Taking in a breath, Alaric lifted his arms and reached out for her hands. “You’re not Lavinia. I know that.” He looked into her eyes and swallowed. “Can we start again?”
Chapter Seventeen
Alaric was pacing, as usual, giving orders into his cell phone.
“No, the outside perimeter. I want it watched at all times. The interior is covered.”
He’d been on his phone for the last twenty minutes.
They’d made up, true, but she didn’t feel as confident about deflecting Saul as she’d let on. She needed to get the image of Saul, naked, out of her mind. She was too drawn to the bloodsucker. He was her sire, but was it like that for all novices with their sire? Despite what she’d told Alaric, Saul made her breathless, he made her want him, even though she knew he was the last thing she needed. Saul was disaster, but there must be some kind of connection between them. When she’d first seen him she knew he was attractive, but all she sensed from him was evil. Once he’d bitten her, that had changed and she didn’t like it. She wanted Alaric.
“What are you thinking so hard about?”
She shook her head to clear it, realized Alaric was standing at the end of the bed.
“It’s been a crazy day.”
“You must be exhausted.”
“I’m afraid to sleep. I’m afraid the cross won’t work.”
“It will work. Trina knows her stuff. What else happened in your dream today?”
If it could have, her face would have turned beet red. “That’s about it. He tried to get me to drink, to murder, and I tried to get him to divulge what he knew about the creatures.
“You know,” she said, “he told me what he knew like it wasn’t a big deal. I don’t like that.”
“I don’t like it either.” He crawled onto the bed beside her. “But we’ll think about that tomorrow.” He stared into her eyes for a moment. “Can I kiss you again, Sydney?”
The question, so sudden and so naked in its desire nearly undid her. Unable to speak, she nodded.
His lips were soft, searching, and sweet. She wanted to lose herself in the feel of him. Lose herself and forget everything that was happening around them.
“You’re lovely,” he said, “do you know that? So very frustrating and so very lovely.”
“Not half as frustrating as you.”
“I don’t know if I can keep you safe tomorrow. If they’ve been procreating there’s no telling how many there may be.”
“I know.”
He stared at her again, his lips inches from her own. His eyes were a beautiful, fathomless, sea green. And the press of his cock, now against her thigh, flushed out the memory of Saul as nothing else could.
“Stay in your room where it’ll be safe. I’ll check in with you throughout the day.”
“If Saul’s blood makes me so strong I should be out there with everyone else.”
He stared, unmoving. “I don’t know how this could happen, but—”
“Saul’s a lunatic, that’s how.”
“No, not that. Us.”
“Oh, you mean—”
“I’m falling in love with you.”
She blinked.
“I don’t want to scare you away.” He shrugged. “But that’s how I feel. When Saul bit you I was terrified. Then watching you run in the streets last night, watching you become something new…I can’t help myself. I’m falling in love with you. We’re both immortal now; we could have an eternity together.”
She looked at him, not sure what to say first or how to say it.
“You don’t have to say it just because I said it. That’s not why I said it. I just want you to understand why I’ve been such a jerk.”
“No, I feel the same way. We’ve only known each other a few days.”
“A few extraordinary days.”
“Yes, but still only a few days. I don’t know when I started falling for you—I think it was when you picked me up and ran me home after Cora’s death—but I did. Saul is nothing compared to you.”
She wanted him to kiss her again. Was desperate for him to kiss her.
And then his lips were on hers.
She met his kiss, nearly swooned. It was the most exquisite kind of pleasure and it was nearly too much. When he slid into her mouth she closed her eyes and let go of all the reserve she’d held onto for so long.
She lost herself. She tangled her fingers in his hair, roved his body. She stroked the hard muscles in his arm, squeezed his buttocks, and dipped her hand under his shirt so she could feel his flesh. And he reciprocated, touching her everywhere. The touch of his fingers on her nipples through the cotton of her shirt drove her positively wild.
He levered himself up long enough to rip her shirt open. “I’ve been wanting to do this since I met you.”
And hadn’t she wanted the same thing.
The buttons of her shirt popped free and scattered across the bed and floor. For a moment she watched them roll and bounce along the wooden floorboards. She was caught up again when she saw he
was removing his own shirt; standing so he could free himself of his pants. A moment after that, her pants and panties were gone too.
The room had seemed warm a moment ago, but suddenly it was scorching. The delicate skin between her thighs was slick. She was perspiring and moist. She hadn’t been this excited in…actually, she didn’t think she’d ever been this excited.
Alaric stood before her, his erection bobbing. Then slowly he crouched toward her.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” he said in a husky voice. “Tell me if I hurt you.”
In response she wrapped her legs around his waist and pulled him close. “Hurt me. Please, hurt me.”
That was the only permission he needed.
He pulled back, his gaze hungry, then he came forward and sank inside of her. She reared up, clutching him and gasping for breath. But he was pulling back again, so slowly she wanted to scream. When he sank deep again, she cried out.
He groaned.
He planted his arms on either side of her head, sucking in air and trying to catch his breath. Then slowly, he pulled back.
“Tell me what you want,” he said, panting.
“I want you.”
“Say it again.”
“I want you.”
He drove into her with a force that had her crying out. He was taking her the way she’d always dreamed a man would take her.
She screamed, she clawed, she became wild and she didn’t care if anyone heard her. For a while she forgot anyone other than herself and Alaric existed.
He rocked his hips into her, milking the orgasm from her.
When she thought it was too much; when she thought she’d go crazy from the pleasure, the orgasm broke over her.
She bucked helplessly beneath him, called out his name.
Alaric fell on top of her, hips still pistoning, as he too climaxed.
Gradually, slowly, he stilled. They both stilled.
She didn’t know how much time passed while they lay there, sticky and clinging to each other.
She was finally able to catch her breath.
He breathed against her ear, whispered how much he loved her.
She stared up at the ceiling for a few minutes, waited for him to move, for his weight to lift off of her, but it didn’t.
Then she realized, Alaric was asleep.
Even more surprising than this revelation was the realization that there was no place else she’d rather be.
Chapter Eighteen
She woke with the sun. The sky was clear and a deep, crystalline blue. It would be a gorgeous day. That didn’t seem right, because she knew today would not be a good day.
Beside her, Alaric stirred. His bare shoulder appeared from under the covers, then his chest as he levered himself up in the bed. “You’re awake.”
She nodded. “I had a hard time sleeping. I couldn’t shut my mind down.”
“I know the feeling.”
She looked at him then tried to smile bravely, but couldn’t manage it. “He’s coming for us today, isn’t he? Him and his creations.”
Alaric dragged a hand through his tangled hair, pulling snags free. “I think so. The SG contacted every motherhouse along the east coast for assistance. Houses in Delaware, New York, Virginia, all the way down to South Carolina, were able to send people. Others need more time. Saul knows that we’re at our most vulnerable right now. As soon as the sun goes down I think he’ll be here.”
“Won’t he know we’re expecting him?”
“Yeah, but if he waits until tomorrow night our numbers will have more than quadrupled. He won’t stand a chance against us.”
They got up after that, showered, dressed and went down to meet the others.
The day seemed to drag by. Everyone was on edge, snapping unnecessarily at each other. The SG made sure everyone had enough blood for what was to come later that evening, but the blood did little to make anyone’s mood better. Along with Alaric’s team of five, teams from Delaware, three from Pennsylvania, two from West Virginia, a team from North Carolina and two from South Carolina arrived. That put them at a head count of fifty Talhari warriors. Which should be more than enough considering only twenty-four had escaped and Alaric’s team had taken down at least seven of those.
Though Alaric’s plan included her locking herself in her bedroom where she would be safe, she rejected that plan. Only the warriors trained extensively for battle, but all Talhari knew how to fight. Her place was with the other historians on the second line of defense.
“She’s stronger than most,” Paul said to Alaric during one of the many arguments of the day. “She has Saul’s blood. We can use her.”
“I don’t like it,” Alaric kept saying. “Saul’s shown far too great an interest in her. She needs to be locked away.”
The argument was settled when she announced, “I’m fighting. Period. If you attempt to lock me in my room, I will break out. And you know I can.”
Alaric glared at her for a few seconds, then waved his hand in acceptance. “Fine.”
As the sun faded into the western horizon, the teams got into place. At least two took up a spot at an entrance. There was an entrance from the rooftop that couldn’t be ignored since some of these beasts had wings, the main level entrances, and the basement entrance. Sydney didn’t like that everyone was so spread out, but it was the only logical thing to do.
The last glimmer of the sun’s rays seemed to flicker out from the west facing windows in the library. Then, like magic, the world outside went black.
In the library, she sat with the SG, Dr. Giles, Trevor and several others who made up the kitchen staff, library staff, and housekeeping staff. There were twenty-five in all. Still, she couldn’t help but feel exposed.
The SG stood at the windows, staring out into the darkness. Sydney could almost feel her tension. An attack like this had never happened at a motherhouse. That it was being led by Saul, the first vampire, was unthinkable. And that Saul had his own army.
She watched the hand on the old wall clock tick each second by. She’d already offered up a prayer for Alaric’s safety, and for her own, and for everyone else. Saul could not be allowed to win. What would happen to this region if they lost the Talhari? But she knew the answer to that. It would be overrun by bloodsuckers and undesirables. And not the ordinary, run of the mill bloodsuckers and undesirables, but bloodsuckers and undesirables on steroids. The Talhari had to defeat Saul. There was no other option.
Saul didn’t wait long to make his move. The SG was staring out the window, people were moving around the library uncomfortably, when a cry rose from upstairs.
Alaric was downstairs, she reminded herself. Safe for now. He was in the basement with his team. No sound had come from there.
Her focus jerked back upstairs when she heard more screaming. And then she heard the sound that had turned her blood cold so many nights ago. A creature cawed. Just as one had on the night Cora was murdered.
Saul was here.
The attack had begun.
Chapter Nineteen
More shouts came down from above, as did the sound of fighting. Was Saul up there? Was she even prepared to see Saul? After their last encounter she wasn’t so sure.
“Stand your ground,” the captain of the Delaware warriors shouted from the main entrance. “They could have broken into multiple groups and be waiting for us to leave our post.”
“But it sounds like a slaughter,” a female said. “We have to help.”
“Stand your ground!”
It did sound like a slaughter. And worst still, Sydney didn’t think the girl would have to wait long to be part of the battle. It was coming closer.
The library became chaos when a bloodied warrior burst into the room. The SG swung around, Dr. Giles and Trevor rocketed to their feet, the others rushed forward.
“They are legion,” the warrior said, falling to his knees as he spoke.
He had a gash across his face and a far more serious one across the abdomen. Blood
was spilling freely from it. Sydney didn’t think he had long.
“You said no more than twenty,” he accused the SG.
The SG came forward, her pristine cargo pants and shirt somehow continuing to look posh. “Yes. Twenty-four escaped, but my team calculate killing seven.”
“There were at least forty of those monsters upstairs.”
The SG stumbled back a step, clutching her throat. “That can’t be.”
“It is.” He coughed and fell forward. His hand landed in the blood that had been pooling on the ground at his knees. “They are legion. We don’t stand a chance.”
He fell face first to the carpeted floor, unmoving.
“How can that be?” The SG demanded. “It doesn’t make sense.”
But it made sense to Sydney. “It’s like Alaric said. Maybe the beasts only killed as a means to lose their soul. They turned the others they attacked.”
The fighting was nearing the main level. Those at the front entrance continued to murmur.
Sydney wanted to do something. It felt wrong to huddle in the library. It felt cowardly.
Glass shattered from somewhere near the front of the house. The Delaware captain shouted, and then all was chaos.
Creatures burst into the house through busted windows and broken down doors. They loped forward, cawing and hissing. Sydney felt quite suddenly like she’d been transported into hell.
The SG was the first in the library to swing into action. She lifted the sword that had been clutched in her hand, and ran forward.
Sydney grabbed an axe off the table where she’d been sitting. They’d said she was stronger than most. It was time to test that theory.
The first creature she came upon lashed out at her. She ducked under his arm, surprised at how fast she’d been able to move, then swung the axe at the side of its knee. She’d expected to cut a chunk of flesh from the beast, but instead the axe sliced through both knees, cutting off its legs from the knees down.
It landed sideways on the floor, kicking helplessly. The pitiful sound it made was one she didn’t think she’d ever forget. But she couldn’t show this creature mercy. Its brother hadn’t shown mercy to Cora.
Remembering what Alaric and his team had told her, she brought the axe down on the creature’s throat, cutting its head off.
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