As Twilight Falls

She hadn’t mentioned a husband or a lover. Was she a virgin then? In this day and age, that seemed highly unlikely.

She stirred in his arms, her eyelids fluttering open. “What happened?”

“You fainted.”

She touched a hand to her head, then frowned. The last thing she remembered was Saintcrow’s mouth on hers, his fangs brushing her throat.

She bolted upright. Another memory tugged at the corner of her mind, but it eluded her. She licked her lips, wondering why there was such a bad taste in her mouth, and then she stared up at him. “You gave me your blood!” She grimaced. “How could you do that?”

“You needed it.”

“That’s ridiculous! I’m not a vampire.” Her eyes grew wide. “Am I?”

“No, Kadie. I got a little carried away and took more than I should have. That’s all.”

“That’s all? That’s all!” She pushed away from him and stood up, swaying as the room spun out of focus.

“Easy, now.” He was beside her in an instant, his arm steadying her. “Rest a minute,” he said, urging her back down on the sofa. “I’ll get you something to drink.”

She watched him leave the room, her mind filling with morbid thoughts. He’d taken too much. How could he be so casual about it? If he had taken it all, she would be dead now, just another body buried in an unmarked grave like all the others. The thought made her stomach roil and she leaned forward, her head down, afraid she was going to faint again.

“Kadie? Here, drink this.”

He handed her a glass of orange juice. She hadn’t realized how thirsty she was until she’d drained the glass and asked for more.

She drank the second glass more slowly. Not meeting his gaze, she said, “You could have killed me.”

He didn’t deny it.

“Was that what happened to Leslie? You took too much and killed her?”

“Is that what you think?”

“Did you?”

“It wasn’t me.”

“Do you know who it was?”

“Of course. I know everything that happens here. It was Quinn.”

So, Kadie thought, Marti had been right about that.

“You should go to bed,” Saintcrow said, taking the glass from her hand. “You’ll feel better in the morning.”

She lifted a hand to her neck, but there were no bite marks, at least none she could feel. “Will I?”

“What do you want me to say? I’m sorry?”

“Are you?”

“No. I can’t make you understand. I don’t understand it myself. But like it or not, Kadie, you’re here to stay.”

Her heart sank at his words. “Have you ever let anyone leave here?”

“Just once, under duress.”

He was referring to Carl Freeman, she thought, smiling faintly. “One of the women said the other vampires can’t leave either. Is that true?”

He nodded.

“So, they’re prisoners, too?”

“In a way. They came to me for sanctuary. I agreed to give it to them, but only if they agreed to stay inside.”

“Why?”

“I don’t trust any of them not to betray this place.”

“Why would they?”

“There is a rather large bounty on my head.”

Kadie’s eyes grew wide. “Really? Why?”

He shrugged. “Perhaps because I’m the most powerful vampire in the country.”

“You are?”

“Impressed?”

“I don’t know. Should I be?”

He laughed, amused by her bravado.

“How much are you worth?”

“Last I heard, they were offering a cool five million for my head.”

Kadie’s brows shot up. “Wow!”

“Thinking of trying to claim it for yourself ?”

“Of course not!” She didn’t think any amount of money would persuade her to do such a thing. “So, who wants you dead so badly?”

He looked at her askance. “You don’t know?” Was it possible she really had no idea?

“Well, since you’re a vampire, I suppose a lot of people want you dead,” she replied candidly.

He laughed again. “True, enough, but there are others—hunters—who are more persistent, more knowledgeable about my kind, who have sworn to wipe us from the face of the earth.”

Kadie’s brows drew together. “But you leave town.”

He shrugged. “I’m a master vampire. I can do whatever I wish.”

In a voice dripping with sarcasm, she said, “Must be nice.”

He nodded again. Then, reaching for her hand, he drew her to her feet and walked her up the stairs. “Shall I tuck you in?”

“That won’t be necessary.”

“Too bad.” His gaze swept over her from head to foot. “Good night, Kadie,” he said quietly. “Sweet dreams.”

She closed the door, then stood there, his scent all around her, her thoughts muddled. How was it possible to hate him so much and still burn for his kisses?

Chapter 15

Sunday morning, Kadie returned to the cemetery. She studied the two newest graves, but there was no way to distinguish one from the other. She told herself again it didn’t matter. Mona and Leslie were beyond caring. Tears stung her eyes as she carved Mona’s name on one of the crosses, and Leslie’s name on the other. She thought about Saintcrow. He had taken more of her blood than he should have the other night. Had he taken too much, she might be buried here, another casualty in an unmarked grave.

Blinking back her tears, Kadie bowed her head and prayed for the courage to endure what could not be changed, prayed that Saintcrow would relent and set her and all the others free, prayed that her parents would be comforted and not give up hope. Her father had become distant ever since Kathy took sick. More and more, he’d been away from home, and when he was there, he was always preoccupied. Men in dark suits came and went at odd hours of the day and night. They rarely stayed long, thank goodness. Her father never spoke of them. She knew little more than their names, but there was something about them that Kadie found disturbing.

Unable to hold back her tears, Kadie dropped to her knees and prayed for Kathy, pleading for a cure to be found before it was too late, praying that Kathy would hang on until Kadie got home. She had never mentioned her sister to Saintcrow, but maybe she should. Surely, if there was the slightest bit of compassion in his soul, he would relent and let her go home.