Summit at Sunset (Sunset Vampire Series, Book 3)

by Primo, Jaz

  He chuckled as his arms reached out to encircle her, and he hugged her to him. He felt her arms envelop him in return, and he smiled. It was exactly what he needed.

  “How’d you sense I was up here?” he asked.

  It was her turn to chuckle. “You’re my mate. I’m keenly attuned to the scent and taste of your body and your blood. I recognize the rhythm of your heartbeat and the music of your pulse. I could pick you out of a crowd of people in seconds if I were blindfolded. And besides, if I can find you in a dark London subway tunnel, how much easier must it be in the open evening air?”

  It was a heady experience that flowed through him as he considered her almost poetic response to his question.

  How can I be so blessed to have her in my life?

  “I love being your mate,” he murmured as he rested his head against her shoulder.

  “As do I,” she endearingly replied, holding his body close to hers.

  Katrina loosened her grip and rotated her body around to stand beside him. She wrapped her left arm firmly around his waist and slowly led him back to the edge of the cliff. She stepped behind him and wrapped both arms around his waist, her body remaining like a pillar grounded to the Earth beneath her as he was tethered by her arms.

  “Let’s give you a more secure vantage point. You can see that it’s still a mess down there,” she offered.

  Caleb looked down over the edge, feeling very safe and secure in Katrina’s arms. The anxiety of earlier had completely dissipated, and he could appreciate all that was taking place down below more thoroughly. He noticed a few of the vampires, including an uncustomarily grinning Alton, momentarily looked up at him. A couple of the vampires gave small waves to him, and he waved back.

  Then he felt Katrina pull him away from the edge as she hugged him closely to her. He wanted to melt into her as he felt the warmth from her body penetrate into his own against the evening’s cool breeze.

  “Kat, there’s something you need to know,” he tentatively began.

  She was immediately concerned by his tone, but lightly kissed the back of his neck. “Yes?”

  “I sort of lost...What I mean is, Georgia’s experiencing some steep budget cuts with the bad economy. And, well, I just found out that I’m being laid off from the college. I lost my job, Kat.”

  She mulled over his revelation for a moment and hugged him to her.

  He loves teaching. It’s so unfair.

  “But don’t worry, I’m going job hunting just as soon as we get home,” he reassured her. He meant to prove to her that he was no slouch. However, he also realized that the major obstacle was more the country’s “jobless economic recovery” than his determination to find work.

  Katrina proudly regarded the man in her arms, touched that he was so concerned with her impression of him. As if he had to impress her after all that he had sacrificed for her.

  He simply has no idea.

  “Caleb, there’s no shame in your circumstances. You were laid off, just like so many other people. The culprit is a faulty economy, not you. You speak of job loss as if I’m going to think less of you,” she mildly chastised. “And yet, you nearly died today for me, for Paige, for strangers, for all of us.”

  He frowned. “But that was an easy decision, actually. You couldn’t flee the building during daytime. I just can’t live without you, not now, not ever. You’re my everything, Kat.”

  Her arms tightened around him, but she relaxed her grip again to prevent hurting him. The thought of losing him to an explosion had been nearly too great to bear, and she didn’t think that she could endure something like that again.

  “I thought you were dead when that explosion went off,” she said as her eyes moistened. “And I can’t bear to see you take risks like that again. I need you in my life, and I need you to be alive to do that.”

  He let that sink in before saying anything.

  “So, it seems that we’re at an impasse, Kat. We need each other too much to see the other risk their life. Sounds like we need to risk our lives together, then.”

  Katrina fondly considered him as she held him in her arms. “An admirable philosophical argument, my love.”

  He tilted his head upwards to kiss her appreciatively as her lips met his. Then perspiration formed on his forehead, despite the cool evening breeze, and he suddenly felt very tired.

  “Are you ready to go back to the room now?” she gently asked, having detected the change in his body.

  “Are you really interested in my answer?” he playfully countered, though his legs were feeling more tired with each passing moment.

  She adopted a sly expression. “I’m always interested in your answer, my love. However, I’m also taking you back to the room now.”

  “Well, I suppose I could use a shower and maybe something to eat.”

  “What a fortunate coincidence then.”

  Releasing him from her embrace, she affectionately held his hand as they walked side by side back towards the hotel. As they reached Paige, she fell into step alongside them.

  “See? I told you she’d come get you,” she teased Caleb.

  * * * *

  The conference only continued for two additional days following Caleb’s return to the hotel. The reconvening of attendees began with Alton’s playing the complete digital recording of the conversation between Major Pietari and Dubravko. It wasn’t as if Dubravko’s failed attempt at murdering the attendees didn’t convey the heart of the matter, but the digital recording added supplementary context to the events leading up to that. A number of attendees made statements, some quite elegant, concerning the important occasion that fate had placed before them.

  In the end, it was agreed by the vast majority that an abbreviated list of fundamental premises for collaboration would be established to distribute worldwide to vampires for consideration. Additionally, a future conference would be scheduled for further discussion of those items by interested parties.

  Alton was quite pleased.

  Towards the end of the day, Caleb was invited into the conference room. Upon entering, Katrina beckoned him to the front of the table to stand between hers and Alton’s chairs.

  The assembled vampires issued a toast to him, using champagne glasses containing warm blood, no less.

  Alton held up a thick manila envelope, informing him, “Caleb, this august group has raised a small token of our esteem and appreciation for your courageous and life-saving actions on our behalf. Each has pledged their support of your actions and bears no ill will for the inadvertent death of Baldar Dubravko. In fact, a roomful of allies would like to greet you and thank you in turn.”

  Caleb realized that any reference to the death of the limousine’s driver was notably absent.

  He likely didn’t warrant recognition as Dubravko’s aide. Was that because he was merely human?

  He made his way around the table with Katrina closely behind him, politely nodding and shaking hands with each vampire in turn. In particular, he was pleasantly surprised that Talise and Rianne gently embraced him rather than merely shaking hands. Certainly, new alliances had been formed.

  “We were glad to make new friends on this trip,” Talise whispered in his ear, while smiling over his shoulder at Katrina.

  “You’ll both have to come visit Maddy and me, Caleb,” Rianne warmly invited.

  Katrina nodded.

  When they arrived at Hakizimana, the ancient vampire looked upon him with an appraising expression as they shook hands.

  “You’ve surprised me, Caleb. It’s been some time since that’s happened, and that’s a good thing.”

  The hazel-eyed, auburn-haired Mara stood beside Hakizimana, inspecting the young man as she reached out to shake his hand.

  “I suppose you’re okay in my book,” she reluctantly offered. “Maybe,” she added as the edges of her mouth upturned ever so slightly.

  Caleb’s eyes darted to Hakizimana to see the vampire smiling at him in evident amusement as he continued around t
he table to greet the remaining vampires.

  When he returned to the head of the table, Alton gestured to Caleb.

  “We all genuinely thank you, young man,” he said with a nod, gently dismissing him.

  Katrina lightly ran her fingernails down the back of his neck and smiled at him before retaking her seat next to Alton at the front of the conference table.

  Caleb turned to depart, but Hakizimana rose, asking, “I wonder if the Chairman might indulge the newest member of our gathering? I have a question for Caleb.”

  Caleb stopped and turned to look at both Alton and Katrina. Each nodded their approval, and he returned to stand between them at the front of the room.

  “How can I be of assistance, Hakizimana?” Caleb politely asked, inwardly pleased that he had recalled how to pronounce the vampire’s name properly.

  “You’ve gone to great personal length to risk your life. In the end, the actions you have taken have certainly furthered the success of this conference. May I ask why all of this meant so much to you?” the dark-skinned vampire innocently inquired.

  Caleb’s face blanked as he grasped for a diplomatic answer, and instead, tapped into the emotions he had been feeling.

  “I’d truly like to say something insightful or prescient, or something inspirational and noteworthy, but I’m afraid that all I can offer is this: I did it for those whom I care deeply about.”

  He looked at Alton, and then his eyes settled on the woman whom he loved so dearly.

  “And if I may say, at first, this conference seemed such a novelty to me. But given all that’s happened, it’s obvious that novelty has given way to necessity. All of you must try to come up with a viable plan for the future because I’m quite sure that humanity isn’t going to have a plan when the day comes that vampires are revealed to the world. I sincerely hope that you can succeed because, for me, it comes down to this: some of my favorite people are vampires, and I don’t want to see them threatened.”

  Katrina warmly smiled at him.

  I simply adore you, my love.

  He winked back at his mate and looked up to scan the room of silent faces before him. Among others, Hakizimana appeared notably pleased.

  “From the mouth of a young man who’s a quarter of a century old,” he observed. “Look at us, beings of history and longevity, many of us ten-fold older than he is, or more. Ask yourselves, how can we dare expect less from ourselves given what this beneficent human has already done for us?”

  There were sobering looks and nods of silent approval as the tall vampire gracefully returned to his seat. Alton adopted a pleased expression, much like the cat that ate the proverbial canary, and looked up at Caleb with overt approval.

  “Thank you, Caleb,” he genuinely offered. “Both for your service and your welcome sincerity.”

  Caleb bowed slightly to the stately vampire and reached down to take the manila envelope on the table before him, but Alton gently placed his own hand over it.

  “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of this for you, dear boy,” he whispered.

  Caleb observed him with a wry grin and quietly departed the room. He had no idea how much might be in the envelope, but was grateful for the gesture.

  Any amount would be welcome. I’m unemployed now, after all.

  * * * *

  After the conference ended for the day, Alton and Katrina met Dori and Caleb in the main dining room for dinner and were joined by Paige and Ethan, who arrived together. Caleb noted that the large manila envelope was on the table to Alton’s left.

  Following some cursory visiting and the arrival of wine for the group, Alton turned to Caleb, pointedly placing his hand atop the envelope.

  “I hope you’ll excuse my presumption earlier, Caleb,” he diplomatically offered. “But Katrina and I feel that it’s best to look after this for you. I have some wonderful investment plans for you that will grow and develop this little nest egg of yours into something formidable.”

  Despite feeling somewhat ashamed for discussing the matter before everyone, he was also dying of curiosity.

  “Um, what kind of nest egg are we talking about, exactly?”

  Alton withdrew a piece of paper from his pocket with a figure written on it and slid it across the table between them.

  Caleb’s eyes widened to the size of saucers. He had never envisioned that kind of figure in his earlier estimations. It easily reflected ten years worth of gross salary as a college professor...at one of the premiere ivy-league universities.

  “Well, uh, that’s pretty impressive,” he stammered in agreement and glanced up at Katrina, who was smiling.

  “I’m confident that you’ll like where this goes,” Alton assured him. “And of course I’ll send quarterly statements so you’re kept apprised.”

  “Oh, sure.”

  This must be a dream, right?

  “Now, a toast to us and the ones we love,” Alton neatly interjected.

  Everyone raised their glasses, and Caleb surveyed those at the table. Alton and Dori stared into each other’s eyes while Ethan smiled at Paige.

  Paige appeared surprised, but winked at Ethan, and then her blue eyes quickly darted over to catch Caleb’s. She smiled at him as his eyebrows rose.

  Caleb’s gaze continued on its way around the table to settle upon Katrina, whose stare bored into his, appearing both sultry and sincere at the same time. A warm, satisfied glow spread across his face.

  My vampire, my love, he thought while sipping his wine.

  * * * *

  The final day at the conference was spent handling last-minute motions among the attendees and assigning post-conference activities and responsibilities. Naturally, Alton and Katrina were assigned a number of them, which she immediately lamented.

  More time being distracted from Caleb.

  Still, a number of the attendees did offer to assist in smaller ways, which held the promise of continued collaboration for the success of the endeavor.

  After word spread about Caleb’s comments at the prior day’s committee, he found himself a bit of a rock star around the facility. Apparently, his off-the-cuff comments had gone over well, which he found encouraging.

  He was busy the next day packing and saying goodbye to his newest acquaintances, including a number of vampire guards. He spent extended time with Maddy and Aiden, clearly two of his favorite new human acquaintances. He promised the New England electrician that he would call to arrange a camping and fishing trip together. In Aiden, he found a kindred male spirit who also happened to have a vampire partner.

  He did manage some additional fishing at the site’s miniature lake. Though it was both therapeutic and relaxing, thoughts of his return to Atlanta pervaded the forefront of his mind on more than one occasion. He almost dreaded his return home, if only for his new career status in life.

  Still, his current circumstances were better than he would have expected a few days ago, although one glimpse of the security guard perched not far away from where he fished confirmed that he was still notorious, despite his newfound popularity among vampires. The fact that the guard was both unassuming and congenial suggested a positive reputation, at least.

  Towards the end of the day, Caleb found Paige and Ethan sitting in the small coffee shop near the shopping area. The two were smiling and chatting just like two old friends.

  It made him happy that his surrogate vampire had found someone to spend time with. He wandered over to the pair, who looked up together at his approach.

  “Hey, if it isn’t the vampire world’s newest diplomat,” Paige teased with a sparkle in her bright, blue eyes.

  “Hi, Caleb,” Ethan happily offered. “How do you feel today?”

  “Much better, thanks. Just a little dizzy now and again.”

  “That’s to be expected,” Ethan replied. “But we’ll need to keep an eye on you for a time, just the same.”

  “I guess that’s for the rest of today, then,” Caleb suggested. “We’re leaving for home tomorrow, afte
r all.”

  Ethan’s eyes darted to Paige, and he grew solemn. “Yeah, I suppose that’s true.”

  Caleb adopted a curious expression and nonchalantly asked, “So, Ethan, where’s home, again?”

  “Hamburg, for now,” he wistfully replied. “Big city, interesting people,” he added with a shrug.

  Paige’s expression turned somber as she listened.

  Such a nice guy. The truth was that she liked the handsome doctor more than she cared to admit, which was unusual given how briefly she had known him.

  Face it, good chemistry makes a difference. Of course, really great sex doesn’t hurt, either, she thought.

  Caleb observed his surrogate’s reaction and ventured, “Ethan, I don’t have a regular family physician back home and was wondering something.”

  “Yes?”

  “Have you ever considered moving back stateside?”

  Paige’s eyebrows rose as her blue eyes met the brown-eyed doctor’s.

  He smiled back at her and then looked at Caleb.

  “On occasion,” he said. “I haven’t been back in the States for years, actually.”

  “I’ll be relocating to Atlanta after this, as a matter of fact,” Paige interjected. “It’ll be nice living closer to Red and tiger, here.”

  “Is that so?” Ethan replied with intrigue.

  He glanced down at his cup of coffee with a probing expression. He patiently took a sip of the dark liquid and observed both Paige and Caleb over his cup.

  After a few moments, he ventured with a smirk, “I suppose it wouldn’t be good to abandon my new patient to a cold, cruel world of anonymous physicians, now would it?”

  “That can’t be ethical,” Paige solemnly agreed.

  Interesting, very interesting, she mulled.

  “It’s hardly in the spirit of the Hippocratic Oath,” Caleb suggested.

  The vampire physician studied Paige at length, as if weighing his options.

  She regarded him with a thoughtful, yet hopeful, expression.

  Finally, he smiled and nodded.

  “Why not? Atlanta it is, then.”

  Paige cast an appreciative, nearly elated, expression at Caleb. Her attention quickly returned to Ethan, staring into his eyes like someone who had just won the lottery.