Kadie stared at his back. People always said they wanted to live forever but suddenly it didn’t seem like such a great idea.
She sat there for several moments, wanting to comfort him, but not knowing if her touch would be welcome.
Finally, she went to him. Hesitating a moment, she slid her arms around his waist and laid her cheek against his back. “I’m sorry, Rylan.”
For a moment, his whole body went rigid. And then he turned and wrapped her in his embrace. He held her for a long time, one hand stroking up and down her back, his forehead pressed against hers.
“Kadie?”
It wasn’t a question, not really.
But she knew what he wanted. What she wanted.
Taking him by the hand, she led him up to her room and closed the door, shutting out the rest of the world.
“You don’t have to do this,” Saintcrow said.
“I know.” She squeezed his hand. “I want to.” Moving closer, she clasped her hands behind his neck. “I think you need it.”
“What makes you think that?”
“What makes you think you don’t?”
“Are you reading my mind now?”
“I don’t have to. You’ve spent centuries ignoring your emotions, pretending you don’t care. Pretending that you can’t risk loving anyone.” She brushed her lips across his. “You can love me, Rylan. I’m young and healthy. I won’t leave you for a long time. And when I start to grow old, you can let me go so you won’t have to watch.”
He gazed into her eyes, his mind probing hers, searching for the truth. With a shake of his head, he folded her into his arms and buried his face in the wealth of her hair. He was a vampire, a monster who preyed on others to sustain his own life.
What had he ever done to deserve her?
And how would he ever let her go?
Chapter 24
It was after midnight when Vaughan met with the other vampires in the tavern. A quick glance and he knew that Gil, Wes, and Lilith had fed earlier that night. He swore under his breath, wondering how often Saintcrow fed on the delectable Kadie Andrews. But for Saintcrow’s high-handed tactics, the woman would still be his. He swallowed his anger. There were plenty of beautiful women on the outside and he intended to have his share. Blonde, brunette, redhead, bald. He didn’t care. Variety was the spice of life and he had a lot of lost time to make up for.
“So,” he said when he had the group’s attention, “what are your thoughts?”
“I don’t think it’s as bad out there as Saintcrow wants us to believe,” Quinn said. “According to the latest news, the hunters have withdrawn from most of the cities. There haven’t been any reported hits in over a week.”
“Maybe they’re just lying low,” Browning suggested.
Lambert snorted. “Why would they do that?”
“Who knows? But if we’re ever gonna leave, this seems as good a time as any,” Felix said. “I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’ve had it.”
Lilith nodded. “I agree with Felix. The time to go is now. The world has changed in the last forty years. I want to experience it.”
“Admit it,” Vaughan said. “You just want to kill something.”
“And you don’t?” she retorted.
Vaughan glanced around the room. “We’re agreed then?”
“Agreed,” Gil said. “Now, who’s gonna break the news to Saintcrow?”
A knock on the front door brought Saintcrow to his feet. He glanced at Kadie. She was sleeping soundly.
After pulling on a pair of jeans, Saintcrow padded down the stairs. He lifted an inquisitive brow when he saw Vaughan standing on the front porch. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“The others are waiting at the tavern,” Vaughan said. “They sent me to get you.”
“Yeah? I can guess why.”
“And you’d be right. We want out.”
Saintcrow bit back an oath. He’d much rather be in bed holding Kadie in his arms than meeting with a bunch of unhappy vampires, but this night had been a long time coming. It was time to end it.
It took only moments for them to reach the tavern.
As Vaughan had said, the vampires of Morgan Creek were all inside. They looked up as he walked in, their expressions wary. He held the power of life and death in his hands, and they all knew it.
“All right,” Saintcrow said. “I’ll make this short and sweet. You want to go? Then get the hell out of here.”
“You mean it?” Lambert asked.
“I said it, didn’t I? Get whatever you’re taking with you and meet me at the bridge in ten minutes.”
“It’s not like we aren’t grateful for what you’ve done for us,” Browning said. “It’s just . . .”
“The clock’s ticking,” Saintcrow said. “Get a move on. I’ve got a woman waiting for me and my side of the bed is getting cold.”
Lilith waited until the others were gone, then said, “I want to take Jeremy with me.”
“No. He’s mine.”
“You never feed on any of them. What do you want him for?”
“To keep him away from you,” Saintcrow retorted. “I’ll see you at the bridge.”
She glared at him, her eyes blazing with anger as she swept out the door.
Saintcrow stared after her. “Nothing stays the same,” he mused. “Not even for vampires.”
He met them at the bridge at the appointed time. Most of them carried luggage of one kind or another, but little else.
There was a ripple in the air as they crossed to the highway.
There were no good-byes. In moments, all the vampires were gone save for Vaughan.
“What are you waiting for?” Saintcrow asked.
“She should have been mine.”
Saintcrow snorted. “Are you still upset about that?”
“I saw her first.”
“And now she belongs to me.” Saintcrow folded his arms across his chest. “Do you want to fight me for her?”
Vaughan shook his head. “You’d rip my heart out.”
“Damn right. Now get the hell out of here before I change my mind.” Saintcrow stood there, gazing into the darkness, wondering what Kadie and the others would think when they discovered the vampires were gone. No doubt they would be relieved. He knew he was, just as he knew that Kadie was going to hound him to let all the humans go as well. Maybe she was right. Maybe it was time to turn them loose and leave this place.