Thunder and Lightning

Not a chance in hell!

There was way too much passion between them. Too much fire and desire.

Damn, she wasn’t helping her plight to keep them together.

Stifling a yawn and wishing she had something to help take the edge off the throbbing of the bruises, she hoped she was wrong about Cane. That he wouldn’t break his promise. That he’d come back tonight.

He had to come back tonight.

Or perhaps she’d go to him, just before dusk so he couldn’t avoid her, because he wouldn’t leave the house until the sun set.

Yes. That was a good plan. Proactive.

Another yawn. And then a wave of exhaustion consumed her. She was beat.

Minutes later, Bev was fast asleep.

* * * * *

Only to be awoken some time later by the most excruciating pain in her neck. She let out a shrill cry as her throat burned and her mind blurred.

What the hell?

Her hand flew to her neck as an insidious laugh filled her quiet room. She hadn’t turned the light off before falling asleep and her eyes snapped to the far corner where a dark figure stood. It was nighttime already—Bev had slept the whole day.

Beneath her fingers, she felt the warm oozing of blood. And given that the woman who stepped out of the shadows had a fresh crimson coat on her lips, which she slowly licked off as though savoring every drop, Bev knew instantly what the hell had just happened.

“Who are you?” she demanded as she lifted the duvet to her neck and pressed it against the puncture wound. The female vampire had only gotten a quick taste. Intentional, Bev suspected, for there was definitely evil at play here.

“Didn’t Cane tell you about me?”

The vampire was of medium height and slight build. She looked to be no more than sixteen or seventeen. Her dirty blonde hair was wild and tangled. Her clothes were plain and dated. And her eyes… As black as Cane’s yet they glowed with a sinister, menacing look that alarmed Bev.

“I’m Amy,” she said, her tone dripping anguish. “His pet project gone horrifically awry. And you, my dear mortal, are the payback I’ve waited impatiently for.”

Before Bev could move, the vampire flew across the room and toppled her, pushing her back down on the bed as her fangs sank deep.

One good scream was all Bev got before she felt the life being sucked from her.

Cane heard Bev’s cry of pain and horror and a sick feeling gripped him. He dropped the box he’d been packing for storage, and was crashing through the French doors of her bedroom moments later.

He reeled from the vision before him. His worst nightmare come to life and he hadn’t even known it’d existed. Because he’d thought Amy was long gone.

Her head snapped up from Bev’s neck and she glared at Cane, her eyes wild. Blood dripped from her open mouth.

Bevelyn’s blood.

“No,” he barely managed to grind out. His fists clenched and the desire to rip Amy’s limbs from the sockets tore through him. His gaze shifted to Bev. Her eyes were closed and her body was limp in Amy’s lanky arms. Her chest barely rose and fell.

She was dying.

“You went too far this time.”

And he launched himself across the room, his body connecting with the mad vampire’s. The inertia sent them sailing into the wall, putting a sizeable hole in it. Rage and fury made him wrap his large hands around Amy’s thin neck and squeeze tight. She was a vicious vampire, but no match for Cane. Especially now, when he was furious and in such agony over losing Bev.

“I can’t believe you fell for a mortal,” Amy choked out.