Night's Touch (Children of The Night 2)

“Take care of yourself, Roshan DeLongpre. There is evil in this city.”

He frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Can’t you feel it?”

“Not as strongly as my wife. Do you know who or what it is?”

“No, only that it is nearby and growing stronger.” She smiled at him, her green eyes glowing, and then she vanished from his sight.

He stood there for a long while, reliving all that had happened, all that Mara had told him, and then he went home, eager to tell Brenna of the night’s events.

Brenna looked up from the book she was reading when Roshan entered the room. “What took you so long?”

“You won’t believe this,” he said, dropping down on the sofa beside her. “I ran into Mara.”

“She’s here, in the city?”

He nodded. “She asked me to go hunting with her.”

“Oh?”

Roshan grinned. There was no mistaking the edge in his wife’s voice or the jealousy in her eyes. “How could I refuse? But, Brenna, listen, she took my blood…”

“What?” Her eyes narrowed ominously.

“Hush, love, and listen…”

Brenna sprang to her feet. Hands fisted on her hips, she stared down at him. “How could you let her do that?”

“I didn’t let her,” he said curtly. “She wanted it and she took it.” He took a deep breath. “Brenna, listen to me. She took my blood and she gave me hers.” Even now, he couldn’t believe it. “I can feel it inside me. Brenna, you can’t imagine the power!”

“You drank from her?” she asked, her voice little more than a whisper. Between vampires, the sharing of blood was akin to making love.

“Brenna.” Rising, he drew her into his arms. “Listen to me. She said the sun will no longer have any power over me and that I won’t be rendered helpless during the day. That in a year or two it won’t have any power over me at all. Do you know what that means?”

She stood stiff and unmoving in his arms, her eyes swimming with tears. “You betrayed me.”

“Brenna, I did it for you. She said if I give you my blood, the day will come when you, too, will be able to walk in the sunlight. Think of it, love. You won’t be trapped in the darkness anymore.”

Brenna blinked at him, her brow furrowed. “I don’t believe you.”

“It’s true. Read my mind if you don’t believe me. You’ll see that it’s true.” He caressed her cheek. “Think of it, love, to be able to walk in the sun again.” He drew her down on the sofa once more and turned his head to the side. “Drink, love.”

She hesitated a moment before she licked his skin, and then her fangs pierced his flesh. His blood was warm as it flowed over her tongue. She had tasted him before, but it was different now. She felt a sudden rush of power flood her being, felt her senses expand as never before.

Lifting her head, she gazed into her husband’s eyes. And even though she knew it was only her imagination, she saw the sun shining there.

Chapter 19

Cara slept late the following morning. Rising, she made her bed, showered and dressed, and then went downstairs where she had a bowl of cereal and a glass of orange juice for breakfast.

And all the while, she thought about Vince. Last night, he had dried her tears, and while he comforted her, one thing had led to another and they had made love, and it had been even more wonderful than the first time.

Smiling with the memory, she did a load of wash, dusted and vacuumed, took the clothes out of the dryer, folded them, and put them away. She had a tuna salad sandwich and a soda for lunch and before she knew it, it was time to get ready for work.

Leaving the house, she drove to her parents’ home, aware that Di Giorgio was right behind her. She wondered where he was staying now and when he slept, since he was always there, no matter what time she went out.

She pulled up to the curb across the street from her parents’ residence and put the car in park. Sitting there, she stared at the house she had once called home. She had been happy there, she thought. Although birthdays and holidays had been far from ordinary, her parents had done their best to make them happy occasions. She had never wanted for food or clothing or shelter. Or love.

She remembered when they told her she had been adopted. She had been eight at the time. She recalled listening carefully as Brenna explained that she couldn’t have children and how badly she had longed for a child of her own, and how, out of all the children in the world, they had chosen Cara to be their daughter. Of course, she knew now that she hadn’t been chosen out of all the children in the world. Her parents had taken her home because her birth mother hadn’t wanted her. But that didn’t change the fact that her parents had loved her unconditionally every day of her life.

Tears stung her eyes as she pulled away from the curb.

She tried to hold onto her anger and her sense of betrayal as she drove to the library, but it was no use. The truth was, she still loved her parents in spite of everything, and that just left her feeling more confused than ever.

She had a sudden urge to see Vince, but a glance at her watch showed her she couldn’t swing by the garage and still make it to work on time.

With a sigh of regret, she drove to the library. Sarah Beth pulled in right behind her.

“I so didn’t want to come to work today,” Sarah Beth said as she got out of her car. She placed her hand over her swollen abdomen. “I can’t believe I have another two months to go. I feel like I’m ready to explode.”

“You look like it, too,” Cara said with a grin. “Are you sure you don’t have triplets in there?”

“Bite your tongue! I don’t know how I let Dean talk me into this baby. I don’t even like kids!”

“Well, it’s too late to change your mind now.” Cara opened the door for Sarah Beth and followed her inside. “Why don’t you take it easy today? Maybe go through the young-adult database and make sure it’s up to date? You can do that sitting down.”

“You’re a good friend,” Sarah Beth said. “So, tell me, how are things with you and the hunk?”

“Very well, thank you,” Cara replied. She knew she was blushing but she couldn’t help it.

She hoped Bethy wouldn’t notice, but of course she did.

“Anything you want to tell me?” Sarah Beth asked.

“No.” Cara dropped her handbag into the bottom drawer of her desk and switched on her computer.