At that moment, he knew exactly what he had to do. He closed his eyes and asked for all of the powers within him to save Sephina. To make her human again.
Another wave of power flashed through him. It was so strong it sent him flying backwards. He rammed into one of the ceramic ceremonial cups and it spilled rancid blood onto his arm. Christ, he hated vampires! Well, most of them.
When his head cleared from the impact and he stood, he saw everyone lying on the ground unconscious. Dear Lord! What had he done?
He rushed to Jess’s side. When he dropped to his knees beside her and gently lifted touched her face, her eyelids fluttered open. “What was that? Residual blowback from before?” she asked with a weak grin.
Even now she could joke. Britt shook his head and grinned back at her. “Sort of.”
He looked at the others lying on the ground. James and Terry were still unconscious, but Sampson was starting to move. Sephina lay beside Jess, and he could already tell the child was human. Her skin tone was pink, and she was sleeping. Her little chest rose and fell as she rhythmically sucked her thumb.
He returned his gaze to Jess and helped her sit up. Then he said, “I don’t know how to tell you this, my love. But Zeke gave me a gift to pass on if we succeeded. I could save one vampire. I could make that vampire human again, but I couldn’t ask permission. I had to choose who to save.”
Jess blinked at him. She looked shocked, and then her gaze moved downward, as if to see if he’d made her human. When her gaze came to rest of Sephina she burst into tears.
He’d never seen Jess truly cry, but right now she cried as if her heart was breaking.
“Oh my God, Jess. I’m so sorry.” He pressed his hands over his face, so miserable he wished he could die. He’d made the wrong choice.
Britt could feel his world crumbling around him. He was human again, and he’d destroyed Jess’s chance at humanity. She’d never forgive him for this. Never.
When he felt her hand on his shoulder, he forced himself to look at her, even though he knew it would kill him to see her pain.
But to his surprise, she smiled at him through the sea of tears. A smile brighter than he’d ever seen. “Thank you, Britt. This is the best gift you could ever give me.”
She smiled down at Sephina. “You’re the most amazing man alive.” She reached up, pressed her cool lips against his and kissed him so thoroughly he felt the room spin.
“Jess, Britt. You’ve done more than save Sephina,” James said from behind them.
Britt reluctantly let go of Jess as she shifted to face her friends. When he looked at James and Terry, he gaped at them in disbelief. Their burns were gone, and their eyes were also glistening with tears. Were they also …
“You’ve saved us, too, Britt. We’re human,” James said, confirming Britt’s unfinished thought.
Britt shook his head. “I don’t understand how I saved all three of you.” And why not four? he inwardly railed. Why hadn’t Jess been saved? His gut churned acid and he wanted to die all over again.
He watched Jess lift the baby from the floor, drop another kiss to her head, and then hand her to her mother.
Sephina snuggled against Terry, sleepily opened her eyes, and said in a soft little voice, “Mama.”
“I don’t understand,” Britt said again. “Zeke said I could only save one.”
“But you did save one,” Jess said. “One family.”
James cleared his throat raggedly. “You’ve given us the best gift you could ever give, Britt. Thank you.”
Jess leaned against Britt, and he wrapped his arm around her and held her close. All he’d ever wanted to do was to protect her, and he’d failed her.
“You’ve given me the best gift ever too,” Jess said. “I took James’s life, and you’ve given it back.” She threw he arms around him and buried her face against his neck. “How can I ever thank you?”
His tension disappeared and he eased her back so he could see her face. He kissed her, and then he pulled away and smiled into her eyes. Dark, vampire eyes, the filter to her essence, to the heart behind the woman who fought every day to retain her soul. Eyes that reflected the love he felt for her at this moment and would feel for her forever. They’d be okay. They’d go back to life the way it had been. And that wasn’t so bad.
He raised his brows and feigned an evil look. “How can you thank me? I think I could use a long soak in a hot tub. How about you?”
“With bubbles?”
He looked disappointed.
“Something wrong with bubbles?” she asked.
“Only that I can’t see through them.” He winked and threaded his fingers through hers, then pulled her hand up his mouth and kissed it.
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Epilogue
James, Terry and the baby were safely home and getting to know each other all over again. Jess even took the time to phone the chief to tell him she’d changed her mind about quitting and she and Britt were back on the job.
The phone rang as soon as she and Britt entered her apartment. She picked up the receiver. “Hello?”
“Jess?” Regent’s voice wrapped her in an instant cocoon of warmth. She couldn’t wait to tell him the good news.
“Regent, my baby brother! Are you home?”
“No, dear, I’m on my way though. I’ve got some news to tell you.”
Jess heard an underlying edge of something in Regent’s voice that she couldn’t quite decipher. “Tell me,” she said.
“I can’t tell you everything, but you need to know that I’m no longer a priest.”
“Oh no! It’s all my fault …”
He cut in, “No, you don’t understand. I’ve been given a promotion. I’m in charge of a new unit within the Church. It’s something I never expected to happen, dear. It’s hard to believe.”
Jess wondered how Regent could be expected to take on a new job at his age. “Are you sure, Regent? I’m mean, maybe you should just pack it in. Retire.”
“Retire? Forget it. However, there’s something else you need to know, but I can’t tell you over the phone.”
“When will you be home?” She scowled at his evasiveness. He knew she hated surprises.
“Meet me at the airport in an hour,” he said. “I’m coming in on a private jet.” He gave her the necessary airport information, then said, “Bring Britt with you, Jess. This is very important.”
“Can’t you just tell me what’s going on?” she asked in her best wheedling voice.
“No, I absolutely can’t. And be sure you don’t come alone. Britt must be with you.”
“What’s going on?” She gripped the phone tighter in her hand. His undecipherable tone was starting to scare her.
“It’s something you’ll have to see in person,” he said …
To be continued
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