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When she went back into the house, Shirl was in the living room doing her nails.
“Are you going out?” Megan asked, thinking what a silly question it was. Of course, Shirl wasn’t going out.
“No, I’m just getting ready. I want to look my best when he turns me. Some people believe that however you look when it happens is how you’ll look forever. And I want to look good.”
Ignoring the knot tightening in the pit of her stomach, Megan nodded, then went upstairs to take a shower. She wanted to look good, too, and the fact that she did irritated the heck out of her. But Rhys would be there soon, and, even though it was over between them, she didn’t want him to see her in a pair of worn jeans with her hair all scraggly and dirt under her fingernails.
She slipped into a pair of white pants and a blue silk shirt, brushed her hair, applied her makeup, spritzed herself with perfume, and went downstairs.
“I ordered dinner from all my favorite places,” Shirl said, indicating several covered trays on the coffee table. “Filet mignon, lobster, shrimp, and all the trimmings. Pizza. And half a gallon of chocolate fudge brownie ice cream for dessert.”
“Your last meal?” Megan asked, unable to keep the bitterness out of her voice.
“Meggie…”
“Shirl! Think about what you’re doing! This isn’t right. It isn’t natural.”
Shirl clapped her hands over her ears. “I don’t want to hear it! My mind is made up. You’d do the same thing in my place.”
Megan started to deny it, then dropped down onto the sofa. She had no idea what she would do in Shirl’s place. She knew what she hoped she would do, but when it came right down to it, there was no way to know until it happened.
“Please, Meggie.”
Megan surrendered with a nod. “I’ll pour the wine.”
They had just finished dinner when the doorbell rang.
Megan didn’t miss the panicked look that flashed in Shirl’s eyes before she blinked it away. Hope flared in Megan’s heart. Maybe Shirl wasn’t as sure about her decision as she thought.
Megan took a deep breath before she went to answer the door.
Rhys was dressed all in black. Fitting, Megan thought, since he was bringing death into the house.
She stared at him, struck again by the sheer beauty of the man. Unable to think of anything to say, she didn’t say anything at all, just turned on her heel and walked back into the living room. When he didn’t follow, she remembered she had rescinded her invitation.
She was about to invite him in when Shirl called, “Mr. Costain, please come in.”
Megan felt an odd vibration in the air as he crossed the threshold. Why hadn’t she felt it before?
He moved into the living room on silent feet. Watching him, Megan wondered what was different about him. And then she knew. He was no longer hiding the truth of what he was. The supernatural power that was a part of him was a palpable presence in the air. Stunned by the irrefutable truth, she sank down on the chair beside the sofa.
“Please, sit down, Mr. Costain,” Shirl invited with a weak smile.
“No need to be so formal,” he replied, taking a place on the sofa beside her.
She nodded. “Rhys.”
“That’s better. Are you sure you want this?”
“Yes.”
“Do you know how it’s done?”
Shirl clasped her hands in her lap. “I think so.”
“Do you have any questions?”
“Have you done this before?”
Megan leaned forward, her arms wrapped tightly around her waist, as she waited for his answer. Funny, she had never wondered about that.
“Once or twice,” he said.
“And were they…” Shirl hesitated a moment, as if searching for the right word. “Successful?”
He nodded. “Anything else?”
“Will it hurt?”
“No. It’s quite pleasant, actually. I’ll drink from you. You’ll drink from me. When you wake tomorrow night, you’ll be as I am.”
“I have a question,” Megan said, and felt her breath catch in her throat when Rhys turned to look at her.
“What do you want to know?”
“Is it going to be safe for me to live with a vampire, or do I need to find a new roommate?”
“Meggie!”
“I’m sorry, Shirl, but I have to know what to expect.”
Rhys nodded. “It might be wise for Shirl to move in with me for a few days, until she becomes accustomed to her new lifestyle.”
“I’d never hurt Megan!” Shirl exclaimed. “She’s my best friend!”
“Perhaps not intentionally,” Rhys said. “But it’s sometimes difficult for new vampires to control their thirst.” He’d had to destroy the first vampire he’d made for that very reason. She had run amok, killing everything in sight, putting his existence and the lives of everyone she knew in danger. “So, are you ready?”
When Shirl didn’t answer right away, Megan felt a rush of hope. Had Shirl finally come to her senses and changed her mind? Hardly daring to breathe, Megan waited for Shirl’s answer.
Rhys sat beside Shirl, unmoving, patient as only a man who isn’t ruled by time can be.
“Shirl,” Megan whispered. “Please don’t do this.”
A single tear glistened in Shirl’s eyes. “I’m sorry, Meggie,” she said quietly.
Megan nodded. She had done all she could. The rest was up to Shirl, but she didn’t have to watch. Rising, she said, “I’ll wait upstairs.”
“No!” Shirl exclaimed. “I want you to be here.”
Megan stared at her best friend, horrified by the mere idea. “Why?”
When Shirl seemed reluctant to answer, Rhys answered for her. “I think she wants you here in case something goes wrong.”
“Wrong?” Megan echoed. “What could go wrong?”
“If her will to live isn’t strong enough, she won’t survive the exchange.”
“Shirl, is that true? Are you telling me you’re willing to do this when you might die anyway?”
“It’s the best chance I have,” Shirl replied, her voice barely audible. “Please stay with me.”
“If you’re not sure, we can do this another time,” Rhys said.
“No!” Shirl said, her voice tinged with desperation. “It’s got to be now!” She pressed her hands to the sides of her head. “I can’t stand the pain any longer.” She looked at Rhys, her eyes wild. “Do it! Do it now!”
