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Rane took one look at Savanah’s tear-streaked face and drew her into his arms. “What happened?”
He stroked her back lightly as she explained, her voice a dull monotone. When she fell silent, he said, “You can’t stay here.”
“That’s what the police said.”
Taking her by the hand, he led her into the house and spoke to the policewoman, who allowed Savanah to go upstairs and pack an overnight bag.
“Ready?” Rane asked when Savanah came down the stairs, a small suitcase in one hand, her handbag in the other.
She stared at him out of grief-stricken eyes.
“Where are your keys?”
She pulled them from her purse and handed them to him, then followed him out of the house. He unlocked her car door and tossed her suitcase into the backseat.
She didn’t ask him where his car was, and for that, Rane was grateful, since he hadn’t driven to her house.
“Savanah, do you want to go to my place or a hotel?”
“I don’t care.”
He dragged a hand over his jaw. As tempted as he was to take her home with him, a hotel seemed the wiser choice. Having her in his room, in his bed…He shook his head. Definitely not a good idea.
The Kelton Inn was located at the end of town. If it wasn’t for the adjoining restaurant, the place would probably have gone bankrupt years ago. Rane asked for the best room the hotel had to offer. He signed the register with an old alias; then, lifting Savanah into his arms, he carried her and her overnight case up the stairs, all too aware of the hotel clerk’s curious gaze on his back.
The room was spacious and well-appointed, although the furnishings were sorely out-of-date. Dropping Savanah’s bag on the floor beside the sofa, Rane sat down, cradling Savanah in his arms.
For a time she just sat there, stiff and unmoving, and then the tears came, slowly at first, then building in intensity as the full impact of her father’s death washed over her. Knowing the healing power of human tears, Rane said little. He simply held her, one hand lightly stroking her back, wondering all the while if the Vampire he had scented had killed her father and if so, why, and if it had anything to do with Savanah’s mother being a hunter. Savanah had said the house had been ransacked. What had the Vampire been searching for, and had it been found?
After a time, Savanah’s tears subsided and she rested in his arms, her body limp.
Blinking back her tears, she looked up at Rane. “I’ll miss him so,” she murmured, her voice little more than a whisper.
“Of course you will.”
“I can’t imagine my life without him. He was always so good to me, so patient.” She sniffed. “He tried to be both father and mother to me. It wasn’t easy for him, but he did it. He helped me with my homework, he went with me to buy my first prom dress, he held me in his arms after I broke up with my first boyfriend.” She sniffed again. “When I got older, we took care of each other. And now he’s gone…. Oh, Rane, what am I going to do?”
“You’ll grieve a while,” he said, brushing a lock of hair from her cheek, “and you’ll miss him, but, with time, the pain will get a little easier to bear. You’ll get on with your life, and eventually the hurt will go away and you’ll be able to remember the good times without crying.”
“You sound like you’re speaking from experience?”
“In a way.” He hadn’t buried anyone he loved, but he had grieved when he cut himself off from all contact with his family.
“Thank you for coming over.”
“I’ll always be here if you need me.”
She blinked at him. That sounded like a commitment, which was odd, since they had only known each other a few weeks. Still, there were times, like now, when it seemed as if she had known him her whole life.
Rane brushed a kiss across her cheek, and tasted the salt of her tears. “I should go so you can get some sleep,” he said, though he didn’t intend to go far. Until he discovered otherwise, he would assume that one of the Undead had killed her father. It would be an easy thing for him to find out. A quick trip to the morgue after Savanah was asleep would tell him everything he needed to know. But whether the killer was mortal or Vampire, Rane intended to stay with Savanah tonight and every night until he was certain that whoever had killed her father hadn’t also marked her for death.
“I don’t want to be alone tonight,” Savanah said, her voice little more than a whisper. “Will you stay with me?”
“Sure, darlin’, if that’s what you want. Go brush your teeth and put on your nightgown and call me when you’re done.” He winked at her. “And I’ll come and tuck you in.”
Blinking back a fresh wave of tears, she slid off his lap. Retrieving her overnight case and her handbag, she went into the bedroom and closed the door. She unpacked her nightie, her robe and her toothbrush, and then went into the bathroom.
Were the police still at her house, searching for clues? Would they be able to gather enough evidence to find and arrest whoever had killed her father? The culprit had ransacked the house from top to bottom, but as near as she could tell, nothing was missing. What had the intruder been looking for?
With a shake of her head, she splashed cold water on her face, then brushed her teeth. She had packed the most modest nightie she owned, a plain white cotton gown that fell to midcalf. She slipped it on and then brushed out her hair. Going into the bedroom, she crawled under the covers, and then she called Rane.
He appeared in the doorway as if by magic. She knew it was only her imagination, but his presence seemed to fill the room.
“They were looking for something,” Savanah said. “Whoever killed him was looking for something.”
“Any idea what it was?”
“No. We don’t keep anything valuable in the house.” She smiled faintly. “Not that we have anything of value to anyone else. Oh, Rane, they killed him for nothing.”
“Try not to think about it now.” Sitting on the edge of the bed, he bent down and kissed her cheek. “Get some rest. I’ll be nearby.”
She grabbed his hand when he started to rise. “Don’t go.”
He gazed at her for stretched seconds, then nodded. “All right.” He took off his shoes and socks, removed his shirt, and slid under the covers.
Savanah scooted closer. “Hold me.”
Muttering an oath, Rane put his arm around her and drew her against his side. Did she know what she was asking? Did she expect him to lie there beside her, to breathe in the warm, womanly scent of her body, listen to the siren call of her blood, and do nothing? Of course she did. She had no idea what kind of monster she had invited into her bed. He fought for control as the predator within him stirred, sharpening his senses, urging him to take her. His tongue brushed his fangs as his innate lust for blood sprang to life. Each indrawn breath only added to his desire. Drinking from her would satisfy him on so many levels; he would revel in the sounds of her sighs as he seduced her, in the heat of her flesh warming his own, the enticing smell of her surrender, the rich taste of her life’s essence pouring sweetly over his tongue…
