As Twilight Falls

“So?” She shook her head. What did that have to do with anything?

“I’ve never kept a woman with me,” he said. “Most of us are solitary creatures by nature. I didn’t want to share anything of myself with anyone else. And then you came along, and I found myself wanting your company.”

“I still don’t understand.”

“When the other vampires go, you’ll be staying here.”

She had expected that. “You’re not making any sense.”

“You’re staying,” he said. “And because I want you here, the women will be staying, too.”

“But why? You said you don’t drink from them.”

“I don’t want you to be alone during the day. Here they are, and here they’ll stay.”

“I don’t need them, Rylan. Let them leave. They have families. . . .”

“My mind’s made up, Kadie. Let it go.”

She clenched her teeth, horrified to think that Marti and the others would have to remain here because Saintcrow wanted her to have company. Suddenly, it was all too much. What kind of company would they be when they found out he was keeping them here because of her? They would probably never speak to her again, and she wouldn’t blame them.

“I’m going to bed,” she said abruptly. Avoiding his eyes, she rose from the sofa and hurried out of the room.

Saintcrow started after her. He flinched when he heard the slam of her door, the turn of the lock. As if a lock could keep him out.

Cursing under his breath, he left the house in search of prey. It was time to act like a vampire instead of a lovesick teenager.

Chapter 21

In the morning, Kadie found the bag with the boxes of Godiva chocolates on the table in the kitchen. She removed hers, then looked around for her phone, hoping Saintcrow had returned it, but it was nowhere in sight. Had he changed his mind about giving it back to her? She had hoped to call her mom and dad and assure them she was all right.

She lingered over a cup of coffee, wondering if she should tell Marti and the others that the vampires might be leaving. Thirty minutes later, she was still trying to decide. Grabbing the bag of chocolates, she drove to Marti’s house for a little girl talk.

“Hi, come in,” Marti said, smiling brightly. “I just made some cinnamon rolls. Would you like one?”

“I’d love it.” Kadie followed her into the kitchen and sat at the table while Marti dished up cinnamon rolls still warm from the oven and poured two glasses of milk.

“So,” she said, sitting at the table, “what brings you here so early?”

“I brought you a present.” Kadie pulled one of the gaily wrapped boxes of candy from her tote bag and slid it toward Marti.

“A present? Why?”

“No reason.” Kadie took a bite of the cinnamon roll. “These are great.”

Marti quickly tore the paper off the box, her eyes widening with surprise. “Godiva chocolates!” she exclaimed. “My favorite. Where on earth did you get them?”

“I went shopping with Saintcrow last night. I bought some for everyone.” She took another bite of her roll, then licked the sugar from her lips.

“Well, bless you,” Marti said. She popped a truffle into her mouth, then closed her eyes, sighing with pleasure.

“You look like you’re having great sex,” Kadie remarked.

“Oh, chocolate is better than sex,” Marti replied with a grin. “Except that sex doesn’t go to your hips. So, where did you go? What was it like, to be outside?”

“We went to a mall. Rylan . . .”

Marti’s brows shot up. “Rylan?”

“That’s his name,” Kadie said defensively.

“You’re on a first name basis with him now?”

“Anyway, he bought me some new clothes. And he said I could have my phone back.”

“He did! Kadie, that’s great. Where is it? I can call Brad.”

“He still has it. And even if I had it with me, it wouldn’t be wise to call for help. Anyone who comes here would be trapped with us.”

Shoulders sagging, Marti rested her elbows on the table, her chin propped in her hands. “Then what good is it?”

“It’s a victory, of sorts. We can find out what’s going on in the world.”

“What difference does it make? We’re no longer part of it.”

“Saintcrow was attacked in the parking lot.” She hadn’t meant to share that, but the words slipped out.

“What? By who?”

“Vampire hunters. Four of the biggest men I’ve ever seen. He killed two of them. Tossed them around like they were matchsticks.”

“Why didn’t you run away?”

“I don’t know. I thought about it, but”—she shrugged—“I couldn’t leave him.”

Marti stared at her. “I don’t believe what I’m hearing. You had a chance to get away from this place and you didn’t take it?”

“Forget about that. I have something to tell you, but it’s a secret. You can’t tell anyone else, at least not yet.”

Marti leaned forward, her dark eyes alight. “What is it?”

Kadie hesitated. Should she tell? Saintcrow hadn’t told her not to. “The vampires might be leaving Morgan Creek.”

“Leaving?” All the color drained from Marti’s face.

“I thought you’d be happy.”

“Happy?” Marti shook her head. “They’ll kill us before they leave.”

“Why would they do that?”

“So we can’t tell anyone what happened here.”

“No! No, they won’t. You’ll all be fine. Saintcrow will still take care of you.”

“Why would he do that? If the vampires leave, there’s no reason to keep us alive.”

“Yes, there is, because I’ll still be here.”

“So?”

“So you’ll all be staying, too.” Kadie took a deep breath. “To keep me company.”

Marti plucked another chocolate from the box and nibbled on it. “Well,” she said, licking the chocolate from her lips. “I guess it’s a good thing I like you.”

Kadie spent the rest of the morning handing out boxes of candy. She was relieved when none of the women blamed her because Saintcrow refused to let them leave Morgan Creek.

She saved the men for last.

“Well, this is a first,” Jeremy remarked when she handed him one of the boxes. “I’ve never had a lady buy me candy before.”