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"Well, I don't have a sword," she said with some asperity. "And don't change the subject! Have you been reading my mind?"
Talk of swords brought Vilnius to mind, but Rourke shook the wizard from his thoughts. He was enjoying his time with Karinna far too much to ruin it by thinking about Vilnius now.
"Rourke? Hello? Earth to Rourke."
"Forgive me," he murmured. "What did you say?"
"I asked if you were reading my mind."
"Ah. Would you believe me if I said no?"
"Yes." She replied without hesitation, knowing in her heart of hearts that he was too honorable a man to take advantage of her.
"I have a good memory for what cards have been played," he remarked as he shuffled the deck.
Kari sighed. He didn't seem to have any trouble concentrating on the game. She wished she could say the same thing, but she spent more time watching him than paying attention to what cards had been played. He wore a pair of black jeans, and a dark green shirt with the sleeves rolled up, revealing muscular forearms. She had never known a man who exuded such raw sensuality. Even doing no more than sitting across from him, she was acutely aware of his every movement, of the attraction that hummed between them whenever their eyes met. Sometimes, when he looked at her, she felt it like a physical caress. Would it be so bad to let him make love to her? She was a big girl. Maybe it was time to leave her morals behind and have a fling with a wildly handsome, dangerous man. Maybe it was time to stop thinking so much and give in to her deepest desire.
She drew her gaze from his. What was she thinking? There was no commitment between them. True, he had proposed, but she hadn't said yes. And as tempting as marriage was, what was the point? He was a vampire. Sooner or later, he would tire of her and move on. Who needed a marriage that wouldn't last? If they made love, no matter how casually she approached it, she knew it would break her heart when he left. Of course, she was afraid she was in for some serious heartache sooner or later whether they made love or not.
With a shake of her head, she put such thoughts out of her mind. Even if Rourke had been just an ordinary man, it was way too soon in their relationship to be thinking about making love, at least where she was concerned.
Rourke was dealing a new hand when he stopped middeal. He swore softly, his eyes narrowing.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
Muttering another oath, he tossed the cards into the center of the table. "Vega has turned Ana Luisa."
Kari blinked at him, wondering if she had heard right. Vega lived on the other side of town. How could Rourke possibly know what was going on there?
When she put the question to him, he simply said, "I know."
He said it with such conviction, she had to believe it.
Kari shook her head. Poor Ana Luisa. First, she had spent three hundred years trapped in a painting, and now she was a vampire, doomed to prey on humanity and walk in the shadows for the rest of her existence. Given her druthers, Kari thought being trapped in a painting might be the lesser of two evils.
Rourke clenched his fist and brought it down on the table. "If he turned her against her wishes, I will destroy him."
"He must have," Kari said. "I mean, why would anyone ask to be a vampire?"
Rourke grunted softly. "Why, indeed."
Kari bit down on her lower lip. "I didn't mean to offend you."
"You did not offend me, sweeting." He rose, then drew her to her feet and kissed her. "I will be back as soon as I can."
"You wouldn't really kill him?"
"No. He is already dead."
"You know what I mean," Kari said. Kill him, destroy him, it amounted to the same thing.
Rourke didn't answer her question. Instead, he kissed the tip of her nose, and then he was gone.
Kari stared at the spot where he had stood, wondering if she would ever get used to his disappearing like that. Probably not, she decided. She would have to ask him how he accomplished it. Did he turn invisible, or just magically transport himself out of the room?
With a sigh, she went into the kitchen for a cup of coffee.
A thought took Rourke to Ramon Vega's house. He pounded on the door, his anger building with each passing moment.
Vega opened the door, a fleeting look of surprise flitting across his face. "What do you want?"
"Where is Ana Luisa?"
"Resting."
"I want to see her."
Vega propped his hand on the opposite door frame, blocking Rourke's entrance to the house. "Why?"
"You insolent pup, I know what you have done!"
Vega shrugged. "I did only what she asked."
"I do not believe you."
"Then ask her yourself." Vega glanced over his shoulder. "Ana, you have company."
She appeared behind him a moment later. "Jason," she murmured. "What are you doing here? Is something wrong?"
Rourke's gaze moved over her. She appeared a little disoriented, but that was to be expected. Already, subtle changes were taking place in her appearance. There was a telltale hint of red in her eyes, a richer luster to her hair. When she rose tomorrow night, she would be a full-fledged vampire, gifted with the preternatural senses and other abilities peculiar to their kind.
"Is this what you wanted, Ana?" he asked.
She blinked at him. "How did you know?"
"I have taken your blood in the past. It formed a link between us." He took a deep breath. "You did not answer me, Ana. Was this your choice?"
She nodded. "The most amazing thing has happened. I am no longer bound to my father." Her smile was brilliant, her teeth blindingly white. "I am free."
Rourke grunted softly. He had not realized that the wizard and his daughter shared a bond. If Ana Luisa felt free, what was Vilnius feeling?
Rourke fixed his gaze on Vega. "Take good care of her. If you hurt her..."
"Yeah, yeah, I know," Vega said, draping his arm around Ana Luisa's shoulders. "You'll destroy me."
"Never doubt it," Rourke said coldly. "And it will be slow. And painful."
Ana Luisa glanced from Rourke to Vega. "Can we not all be friends?" she asked quietly. "After all, we are all the same now."
"It's okay by me, kiddo," Vega said. "Your friend's the one making all the threats."
"They are not threats," Rourke muttered.
"Please, Jason," Ana Luisa said. "For the first time in three hundred years, I am happy. I feel like I am where I was meant to be."
