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“I wish…”
“What?”
“Nothing.”
Stepping into the darkness between two buildings, Ronan pulled her into his arms.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“Holding you.”
She stared up at him and then she leaned into him, her cheek resting on his chest.
“I always wanted a big wedding,” she whispered. “I used to cut out pictures of wedding dresses when I was a little girl and I had a collection of bride dolls…and now…” There would be no long white dress, no honeymoon, no children. She sniffed back her tears. Crying wouldn’t change anything.
Ronan held her close while she cried, one hand stroking her back. He felt her pain and her anger, sensed the illness that was lying in wait to steal her away from him.
She would need his blood before the night was through.
He waited until she was in bed, asleep, before he went in to her. Sitting on the edge of the mattress, he spoke softly to her mind. When he held his wrist to her lips, she roused enough to take what she needed before sleep claimed her once more.
Feeling restless, he went out into the night. He hadn’t gone far when Valerie materialized beside him.
“Do you mind if I walk with you?” she asked.
“Of course not.”
“You have been here a week,” she said, slipping her arm through his, “and you have not yet come to see me again.”
“I’m sorry. I’ve been busy.”
“With your little mortal?”
“Uh-huh.”
“She hasn’t long to live, has she?”
He shook his head. None of the other vampires had detected Shannah’s illness but nothing got by Valerie.
She ran her fingernails lightly over his forearm. “Are you going to bring her across?”
“I don’t know.”
“Have you discussed it with her?”
“She’s against it. The funny thing is, I met her because she wanted to be a vampire, or she thought she did. Once she found out it was possible, she changed her mind.”
“Mortals,” Valerie said disdainfully. “I’m surprised they’ve survived as long as they have.”
He laughed softly. Like many ancient vampires, Valerie had conveniently forgotten that she had once been mortal herself.
“It’s a good thing for us that they have,” Ronan replied dryly.
“So true,” Valerie said with a grin. “You care deeply for this girl, don’t you?”
“Yeah.”
Valerie looked up at him, her gaze probing his. “You’re in love with her.” It wasn’t a question but a statement of fact.
“I’m afraid so.”
“I warned you years ago not to get involved with mortals,” Valerie said. “No good ever comes of it. If you turn her into a vampire, she’ll tire of you sooner or later and strike out on her own. If you don’t bring her across, she’ll die. Either way, you’ll lose her.”
“You’re right,” he said. “I know you’re right.”
“But it doesn’t change anything, does it?”
“No,” Ronan said with a bitter laugh. “It doesn’t change a thing.”
“I’m going out for a midnight snack,” Valerie said. “Will you join me?”
“Maybe another time.”
“As you wish,” she said, and vanished from his sight.
Returning to the hotel, Ronan went up to Shannah’s room. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he stroked the curve of her cheek, reveling in the warmth and softness of her skin. He ran his fingers through the rich fall of her hair, breathed in the all too human scent of her. She was lovely, more lovely than any woman he had ever known. But it wasn’t her appearance that enthralled him. It was the sweetness of her spirit, the warmth of her smile, her trust.
He sat at her side until dawn’s first light brightened the sky, and then he went in search of his own resting place, impatient for the coming night when he could see her again.
It was late afternoon when Shannah woke. Yawning, she sat up, squinting against the sunlight pouring into the room. Rising, she drew the drapes across the window, shutting out the light.
Ronan couldn’t abide the sun. Was she becoming a vampire? Was that why the sun’s light hurt her eyes, why she slept so late? Was he turning her into what he was against her will?
He had given her his blood last night. She didn’t know how she knew it, but she did. How much longer would he be able to keep her alive? She felt good this morning, yet she lacked the abundance of energy she usually felt after she had taken his blood. Did that mean it was losing its effectiveness, or that the end was near and nothing could stop it? She shivered, suddenly cold all over.
Sooner or later, his blood would stop being effective.
Sooner or later she would have to decide between being what he was, or not being at all.
Shaking off her dismal thoughts, she wondered how the newlyweds were doing and then wondered, with a morbid grin, where they were spending the day. Did they have a double casket? Were they sharing the same one? Or had they just pushed their old ones close together, like twin beds? The thought gave her the creeps.
Feeling tired in spite of the fact that she had just gotten out of bed, she called room service and ordered something to eat.
After breakfast, she combed her hair and brushed her teeth and then decided she just didn’t have the energy or the desire to get dressed and go out.
Still wearing her nightgown, she curled up in a chair. She read one of Ronan’s books for a while, then turned on the TV, flipping through the channels until she found a movie she wanted to watch.
Ronan found her curled up in the chair when he entered the room shortly before sundown. Her nightgown was black; long and flowing, it kept her modesty intact and managed to be sexy at the same time.
He started to wake her, then changed his mind, deciding she probably needed the rest.
Sitting on the sofa, he thought about what Valerie had said the night before. Most vampires shunned any contact with mortals other than what was necessary for their survival. Until he met Shannah, it had been a rule that he had followed as well.
Was Valerie right? Was he destined to lose Shannah no matter what he did? Tonio had brought a mortal woman across thirty or forty years ago. They had lived together for about ten years before the woman decided she wanted to “see the world on her own.” To Ronan’s knowledge, Tonio hadn’t seen or heard from the woman since.
Ronan stared at the TV screen, hardly aware of what he was watching. If he brought Shannah across, would she tire of him after a few years? Would he tire of her? He honestly didn’t know, but it was a chance he was willing to take.
