by Ashlyn Chase
“I don’t mind making it,” Sly said. “I don’t know how you’d explain having to add a few ounces of old wine to each bottle of new stuff before it ferments.”
“Besides,” Morgaine said, “to make a commercial wine takes months. The recipe we got off the Internet is quick and easy.”
Jason shrugged. “Oh well, it was just a thought.”
“Thanks for thinking of it.”
Merry rubbed her hands together. “You’ll need wine racks for the cellar.”
“And a big ol’ wooden vat,” Gwyneth said. “Morgaine and I can stomp grapes and make it from scratch when the summer comes. Maybe we can even plant a few grapevines on that little patch you call a lawn.”
Sly laughed. “As much fun as that would be to watch, I think using frozen grape juice works just fine.”
Gwyneth looked disappointed. “Dang.”
Merry studied her. “What’s the matter, Gwyneth?”
“It’s nothin’. I was just hopin’ for some extra income is all. I thought if we could make more than Sly could use, we might sell a few bottles to local vampires.”
Jason snapped to attention. “You mean there are more?”
“Oh, I don’t know about that, y’all. I just figured there might be.”
Morgaine crossed her arms. “Gwyneth, don’t go upsetting a young family with ideas of local vampires unless you know they exist.” Then she focused on Merry and Jason. “If you like, we can find out for you.”
Jason’s eyebrows rose. “You can? How?”
“Well, we won’t know their names or addresses, but we can scry with a greater Boston area map and see if anything comes up.”
“Do it,” Merry said. “No offense, Sly, but from what I hear, they’re not generally as trustworthy as you are.”
“No offense taken,” he said.
Morgaine cleared her throat. “I’d like to know too. If my step-grandson is going to grow up here, I want to know he’s safe.”
Merry’s eyes rounded. “Step-grandson… Are you two engaged?”
Morgaine giggled. “Oops, I let the cat out of the bag.”
Sly tugged her to his side and kissed her cheek. “That’s all right, love. I’m glad you told them.”
“Yahoo!” Gwyneth yelled. “I feel another party coming on!”
Jason extended his hand to Sly. “Congratulations. Have you set a date?”
“Not yet.” Sly shook his hand and winked at Merry.
Merry hugged Morgaine. “Do you know where you’ll have it yet?”
“Well, we’ve ruled out a church wedding.”
Gwyneth laughed. “Y’all got that right.”
“Jason?” Merry nudged him with her hip.
At first he seemed confused, until she whispered, “The penthouse,” in his ear.
“Great idea.” He bent down and gave her a peck on the lips. “Sly, Morgaine, how about having your ceremony at our place?”
Morgaine grinned. “I’d love that.”
Sly stroked her arm. “Then it’s decided.”
* * * *
Later that afternoon, Sly flicked the light switch in his apartment.
The lights came on and Morgaine cheered. “At last! Heat, hot water, and electricity!”
He chuckled. “What a diva. Who knew you’d demand all these luxuries?”
Morgaine rested a fist on her hip and smirked. “Do you want to get through the winter without frozen pipes or not?”
“I suppose for the sake of the other residents I can deal with having utilities. But…” He strolled over to her and patted her ass. “My needs are simple. A loaf of bread, a glass of wine, and thou.”
She tipped her head. “What are you going to do with the bread?”
“Feed you, of course. I may not eat, but you’ll need to.”
His thoughtfulness always impressed her. She could never picture him losing his humanity.
He continued to mosey to the kitchen where he retrieved a glass for his special wine cure. They had taken to calling it Sly Wine.
Morgaine looked down and shuffled her feet. “I need to discuss something with you.”
“Sounds important.”
“It is.”
“You haven’t changed your mind about marrying me, have you?”
“Goddess, no! That’s not it at all.”
Sly smiled. “Good. Come here, love.” He set down the glass, took her hand, and led her to the sofa.
Morgaine perched on the edge so she could face him and took both of his hands in hers. “We only scratched the surface of this conversation before, but I need to finish what I wanted to say.”
Sly nodded. “Of course. Go ahead.”
“It’s about my getting old and dying and you going on alone for who knows how long.”
He hung his head. “Oh, yeah. That.”
Morgaine threaded her fingers through his hair. “I love you, Sly. I’d do anything for you. I think you know that, right?”
He smiled and gazed at her. “Yes, I know.”
A golden shimmer appeared in his eyes. She didn’t think he was trying to mesmerize her. They had already established that he couldn’t, and his eyes weren’t changing from brown to blue and purple. The brown irises simply glowed with amber light.
“I… I want you to turn me.”
His jaw dropped and he reeled back as if slapped.
She placed her finger against his lips to silence him. “Please don’t say no.”
“In that case, I’ll say absolutely not.” His eyes narrowed, and the rich brown faded to cold black. “How could you even suggest it? You know what I’ve had to do to survive. You know how much I hate my condition. I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy.”
“But I’m not your enemy. I’m your beloved. And from what I understand, I may be the only one you get. I want to do this, Sly. I want to be with you… forever.”
Sly stood and paced, his lips clamped shut in a tight line. Morgaine waited. She was about to ask if he was okay when he finally spoke.
“My answer is still no. I can’t ask you to do that for me.”
“You’re not asking. I am. If necessary, I’ll beg.”
He stopped pacing and held his head in his hands.
She couldn’t see his eyes. He was silent so long it scared her. “Sly?”
He dropped his hands to his sides. “Morgaine, I love that you want to be with me, but I really need to think about this.”
“Why? Maybe you’d rather be single and free to date whoever you want after a while.”
He stared at her openmouthed.
Oops. That might not have been the right thing to say. It sure wasn’t the smart thing to say, considering how long Sly had gone without anyone.
“I’m sorry, Sly. I didn’t mean that.”
He shook his head. “I’m not ready to discuss this any further right now. Maybe you can give me a little space.”
“Oh-oh. ‘Space’ can be a euphemism for I don’t want to be with you anymore.”
He gave her an intense look. “You have to get over this insecurity, Morgaine. I don’t want to be with you right now. It doesn’t mean I want you to go away forever.”
She nodded sadly. “I understand.” She rose and strode to the door.
He was beside her in a split second. “I love you,” he said and kissed her.
When he released her lips, he escorted her to the stairs. As she ascended, she heard him lock his apartment door and go outside.
Chapter 23
“Oh, Gwyneth, I’m afraid I blew it.”
“Of course you didn’t. Any fool can see that Sly loves y’all with all his heart.”
“He probably does have to think it over, Morgaine.” Chad interjected. “This isn’t the kind of decision a man like him would take lightly. Now, if it were me, I’d say definitely not, because who wants to be saddled with the same ball and chain for centuries? Maybe millennia? Not me.”
Morgaine flopped backward in her chair. “Thanks, Chad. You’r
e a big help.”
“I’m just sayin’…”
“Don’t listen to him, Morgaine. I don’t think the problem is with Sly. Personally, I think y’all are nuttier than a tree full of squirrels for wantin’ to be turned.”
Morgaine questioned her own sanity for the umpteenth time. “I probably am. I don’t know. It just feels so right.”
“Let’s pretend for a minute that he did it. He turned you. What would you get out of it?”
She placed a finger over her lips as she thought. “Hmmm… immortality. The chance to spend eternity with the man I love.”
“Every woman’s dream… to be twenty-nine forever.”
“Thanks, I’m thirty, and so is Sly. He turns thirty again next month, and the year after that and the year after that…”
“Anything else?”
“Strength and speed, I guess.”
“Okay, and what would you lose?”
“As long as we have Sly Wine, nothing.”
Gwyneth planted one hand on her hip. “Which brings up a major point. What if somethin’ happens and y’all don’t have it anymore?”
“What could happen?”
“What if the building burned down and all you could do was get your asses out on the sidewalk. Or say a nuclear war started. Everything would be contaminated.”
Morgaine huffed, annoyed. “Yeah, and what if a spaceship full of alien monkeys broke in and made off with it?”
“I don’t know about the aliens, but a gang of teenagers might steal all the alcohol you have.”
She threw her hands in the air. “Well, one good thing came out of this little exercise. Clearly we need to hide a fireproof safe somewhere with a separate supply in case of disaster.”
“See? I’m good for something.”
“I never said you weren’t, Chad.”
“Then why do you ignore me when I’m trying to reason with you? Oh, that’s right, you’re a woman.”
Gwyneth wagged her finger. “That’s enough female bashin’, Mr. Chad.” She cocked her head. “I’m curious. What happened to make y’all hate women so much?”
“I don’t hate women.”
“Then why do y’all criticize us every which way?”
“Because it’s fun.”
“Fun for y’all, maybe. Not so much for us.”
“Turnabout is fair play. Why don’t you get into the spirit and try some man bashing?”
Gwyneth laughed. “I can think of much better things to do with a man.”
Chad groaned. “It’s times like this I really miss my body.”
“So, Gwyneth, how are things going with Nathan?” Morgaine asked.
She giggled. “Well, now… I’m havin’ loads of fun with him.”
“Really? That’s a nice surprise. I didn’t expect you two would have that much in common.”
“Oh, we don’t. But for some reason, it don’t matter neither. I get more out of how he makes me feel.”
“Really? How?”
“Well, I’ve never realized my full power as a woman before now.”
Chad coughed. “The hot, witchy Southern belle is just discovering she has power over men? God help us.”
“It ain’t like that, Chad. I could take advantage, but I don’t. I’m simply teachin’ him how to treat a lady. That way if things don’t work out for us, he’ll be all prepared to find someone else to love someday.”
Sometimes Morgaine thought she knew her cousin, and then Gwyneth would do something completely unexpected. “That sounds very altruistic of you.”
“All true what?”
“Altruistic. Adjective. Unselfishly concerned for or devoted to the welfare of others as opposed to egocentric.”
“Oh. Well, yeah. That’s me all right. I’m as concerned and devoted to Nathan’s well-bein’ as I am for y’all’s.”
“Good.” Morgaine smiled. “I’m glad to hear it. So how are you teaching him to treat women?”
“Well, today he’s buyin’ me a Christmas present.”
“Christmas? But we don’t celebrate—”
“That don’t matter. He does. So I’m lettin’ him buy me a gift. It’s part of bein’ all-true-istic.”
Morgaine smirked. “Oh, is it now? I hadn’t thought of it that way. So what are you buying for him?”
“Do I have to buy him somethin’? It ain’t my holiday.”
Chad snickered and muttered something about the blind leading the dumb.
Gwyneth jammed her fists on her hips. “You take that back, Chad. I am not dumb.”
“I should say not. Any woman who gets a guy to buy her a gift without being expected to give one in return is pure genius.”
“Crap,” Morgaine said. “I just remembered Sly probably celebrates Christmas too. Gwyneth, will you take me shopping?”
Gwyneth’s eyes brightened. “Shopping? Y’all want to go out with me to shop for presents?”
“Yes. If I made it all the way to New York and back, knowing there was an evil vampire out there waiting, I think I can make it to downtown Boston now that the danger is gone.”
“Oh, that reminds me. Weren’t we gonna check to see if there were any other vampires in the area for Merry and Jason?”
“I already did. There’s a small faction in East Boston.”
“Ain’t that where the airport is?”
“Yes.”
“It makes sense they’d hang out there. Cheap rent and they can sleep through the noise.”
“With plenty of people coming and going, and no one aware of who belongs and who doesn’t, it’s a perfect place to pick off a stranger once in a while. Someone who might not be missed right away.”
“So how does that help Jason and Merry?”
“I don’t know. On the one hand, their kids won’t be playing there, but on the other, Jason has to travel.”
“Doesn’t the team travel together?”
“I imagine so. I’ll just warn him not to go off by himself if he can help it.”
“I guess he’ll have to hold it until he gets on the plane and use the tiny bathroom onboard,” Gwyneth said. “That’s a shame. At least when women go to the bathroom, we go in groups. Who’s the stupider sex now, Chad?”
* * * *
Sly needed a long walk to clear his brain. This was a decision he couldn’t make lightly. On one hand, he’d never be lonely again, and he wouldn’t have to watch Morgaine age and die, but what if after a century or two, she just wasn’t into him anymore?
What would she be getting out of it? Immortality? If she was right and vampires lost their humanity over the years, it might not be all that great. Strength, agility, the power to mesmerize others? She probably wouldn’t use those assets anyway, unless for self-preservation. He’d want her to have those abilities if she ever needed them.
Perhaps they’d give her an added sense of safety and she’d be able to overcome her agoraphobia. But, oh Lord, what if something horrible happened and they no longer had the wine cure. How the hell would a nyctophobic vampire deal with a darkness-only existence?
As Sly wandered the Boston University campus, he snapped out of his obsessive musing when a scream shattered the evening. Charging in the direction of the distress, he realized his inner crime-fighter had become an ingrained habit. He no longer had to hunt down criminals to feed. What would he do with the perpetrator?
A young man dashed across the Quad with a purse. A female student was in pursuit but lagging behind.
Sly still could make a difference and would. It was crazy to think he’d lose his humanity. Just as it was crazy to think Morgaine could ever lose hers.
He spotted where the guy would resurface after rounding the corner of an old brick building. The nearby parking lot might be his destination, so Sly stationed himself between the building and the lot.
Sure enough, the purse snatcher cast a glance over his shoulder as he zoomed around the corner and ran headlong into Sly, who stood his ground as firmly as the brick building.
&
nbsp; “Oomph!”
Sly picked up the guy by his jacket collar. “Hand over the purth.” Oops. His fangs had descended out of habit.
The young man stared openmouthed but didn’t release it. Not that he wouldn’t have if he could make his fingers move.
Sly shook him. At last the purse fell out of his hand and landed on the ground.
Now, what to do with him? Sly had no desire to drink from him. He could retract his fangs and mesmerize him so all the young man would know was he had been bested by a freakishly strong older dude. That would work.
“What’s your damage?” he asked the petty criminal.
“I need money. I-I can’t feed my family.”
Sure. Chances are he can’t feed his coke habit.
Sly erased his memory and tossed him in the direction of the parking lot with a final bit of advice. “Get a job.”
The female student approached carefully. “Mister, can I have my purse back, please?”
Sly smiled, picked it up, and handed it to her.
“Thanks. I don’t have very much money in here, but I’d like to give you something for your trouble.”
“Keep it,” Sly said. “I’ve got everything I need.” Realizing he was right, he sauntered off, whistling.
* * * *
As Sly approached his apartment building, he spotted a couple at the top of the stoop. A very tall blond man and a woman with short, highlighted brown hair turned, and two pairs of blue eyes brightened, recognizing him just as he realized who they were.
“Konrad, Roz! What brings you here this lovely evening?”
“Sly.” Konrad jogged down the steps and surrounded him in a man hug, thumping him on his back.
Sly returned the friendly raps and glanced up at his old werewolf friend.
Roz smiled and waited at the top of the steps. “I heard you have your own key now.”
Sly chuckled as he ascended with Konrad. “Yeah, and my own apartment, but you knew that.”
She cocked her head and stared at him quizzically… as if she didn’t know.
“I may be giving it up soon though.”
Roz sucked in a deep breath. “You’re moving out? Why?”
“I’m getting married.”
Konrad’s jaw dropped. Roz glanced at Konrad and mumbled, “That was fast.”