My darling husband,
Happy anniversary. What would this have been? Forty years of wedded bliss? It really is a shame that you couldn’t get over the little matter of my vampirism, because having you inside of me was a beautiful reminder of what once was, and what could have been all these years. Every kiss and every powerful stroke had me in ecstasy. You really do know how to make love better than anyone I’ve ever met. But alas, you had to fall in love with the fairy. Yes, I know what she is, Vance. And if you don’t stop looking for me, I will come back to remove the rest of her blood. That’s not a threat, my dear; it’s a promise. I hope you enjoy my little gift. I will be leaving the country for a while so you can relax for now. But know this, lover...we will meet again.
Eternally Yours,
Maria
I crumpled the paper in my fist, and bent over to puke up my lunch. After I was done retching I said, “I don’t even know what to say.” I conjured some dust in my hand and placed it on my tongue, imagining minty freshness. Ah, much preferred over bile.
Vance had been holding my hair back for me, and released his grip as he took the note from my hand. “What did she mean when she said she’d be back to remove the rest of your blood?”
I winced at the reminder of Maria’s attack. “Um…she drank from me. In the warehouse. Twice,” I admitted.
Vance’s jaw tightened. “What? Why didn’t you tell me this before now? Why does it always take you so long to tell me the most important stuff?” He was referring to the fact that I’d failed to tell him about the first time Leo had drank my blood until several days after the fact.
“Excuse me for the lack of full disclosure, but I was in the process of picking up the pieces of my broken heart! I didn’t think it was relevant at the time. I had Irina remove the blood bond so it’s no big deal.”
“No big deal?” he shouted. “Are you kidding me? You could have died! Again! How in the hell did she resist the bloodlust?”
“I don’t know,” I snapped. “I wasn’t exactly in the mood to ask her.”
He raked his hand through his hair. “I don’t get this. First Leo, then Maria. They’re not supposed to be able to resist your blood. What in the hell is going on?”
A wolf howled in the distance again making me shiver. “Look, can we please get out of here?” I nodded towards Jake. “This isn’t exactly an ideal location for a heart to heart.”
“Let’s go,” he grumbled as he led me back to the car.
Twenty-six
When we got back to the parking area, I could see that Erica was sitting inside Leo’s Audi. “How’s she doing?” I asked him.
“As expected,” he replied.
Tara walked up to us. “A team should be here in about thirty minutes.” She looked at her watch, then at Vance. “It’s just after midnight. Why don’t you take the ladies home and meet me back here afterwards?”
“I can take them,” Leo offered.
I nodded towards his car. “Does that thing have a back seat?”
He looked ashamed. “I’m afraid not. I’m sorry, my love… I didn’t think about it.”
Vance dug his car keys out of his pocket. “Take mine,” he said, throwing them to Leo.
“How are you going to get back?” I asked.
He shrugged. “I can hitch a ride with Tara.”
Leo gave him his keys. “Don’t be silly, Detective. We’ll trade. But if you break it, you buy it.”
He looked at the R8 and I swear he had a little gleam in his eye. “I’ll try to take it easy.” Oh lord, what was it with men and fast cars?
Leo helped Erica switch cars and held the door out for me expectantly. “Are you coming, my dear?”
Vance looked at me. “My house keys are on that ring. Take her home and I’ll be back as soon as possible.”
*****
We drove back to Vance’s. Erica said she needed to sleep, so I got her settled in bed before meeting Leo back out in the great room. He was looking around the room and appeared to be uncomfortable for some reason.