“Nothing wrong with your ego,” Jake said dryly. “In the meantime, don’t do anything you’ll regret. And don’t give up hope. Not yet. Go home and make love to Kadie,” he advised, and vanished.
Saintcrow stood there for a long time staring into the darkness, feeling the night wrap around him. He was a powerful vampire, one of the oldest in existence. He had fought and won numerous battles, physical and mental. Was he going to let a dead necromancer send him away from the best thing in his life? If he felt himself getting out of control, he would leave the house until it passed. If necessary, he could call on Jake for help. They had been friends for a long, long time.
Saintcrow swore softly. If worse came to worst, if he got to where he couldn’t control himself, Jake would do what needed to be done and put him out of his misery. He’d been out of his mind to think about leaving Kadie. She anchored him, believed in him. Loved him as no one else ever had. Or would. And he loved her more than life itself. Needed her strength, her faith in him, her courage.
A thought took him home. It was near dawn when he undressed and slid into bed beside her.
“Rylan?” she murmured sleepily.
“Were you expecting someone else?”
“I was afraid you’d left for good.” Her gaze searched his. “That’s what you were thinking when you left, isn’t it? You were going to be noble and leave me for my own good.” She had paced the floor for hours, terrified that he was never coming back, afraid that his fear for her safety would drive him away. The very thought made her blood run cold. She couldn’t imagine her lifewithout him, didn’t know if she would want to go on living if he left her. He was her whole world. She loved everything about him. At times he could be cruel, callous, but never to her.
“Kadie–”
She covered his mouth with her fingertips. “I need you, Rylan. And you need me, whether you like it or not. If you abandon me, I’ll never forgive you. Not in this life or the next!” She turned onto her side and put her arms around him. “We belong together,” she said with quiet conviction. “And that’s how we’ll beat this thing. Together.”
Saintcrow brushed a kiss across her lips. How could he have ever thought of leaving her? After a moment, he said, “Kincaid knows a powerful witch.”
“More powerful than Izabela?”
“So he says. He’s going to see if he can find her.”
“I’ll get in touch with the family,” she said, propping up on one elbow. “I know they’re all still relatively young vampires, but they’ve been traveling the world for the last few years. Maybe they’re heard of someone who can help.”
He snorted. “We don’t even know what we’re up against.”
“It doesn’t matter. We need all the help we can get. Now, no more negative thoughts,” she said. “Not when there are other, more enjoyable things to think about.” A thought made her nightgown disappear. “Stop worrying, my brave knight, and make love to your lady fair.”
Saintcrow grinned wryly. “Always my pleasure,” he growled, as he rose over her and trapped her hands in his. “Nothing I like better than having my wicked way with you.”
“Then have at it,” she purred, grinding her hips against his arousal.
And moaned with pleasure as he fulfilled her every desire.
Chapter Five
It was late afternoon when Saintcrow went to his office located on the top floor of the Morgan Creek Hotel. It held the best of everything, from the state-of-the-art computer to the large mahogany desk, matching file cabinet, and the luxurious leather chair. The window to his right looked out on the town. A flat-screen TV was mounted on one wall, a large painting of Morgan Creek depicting the town as it had been in the 1800s adorned the opposite wall.
He had spent a lot of time in this office, going over accounts, balancing the books, paying what seemed like a never-end stream of bills, hiring and firing employees, ordering supplies. Sometimes it amused him, how his life had changed from knight of the realm to vampire to the owner of a popular vacation spot.
Damn! What kind of life was this for an ancient vampire? He could rule a kingdom as he had once ruled the vampires who had lived in Morgan Creek. His word had been law. People had lived or died at his whim. He stared out the window at the crowd of people strolling down the sidewalk, dining outside, laughing and talking. He could destroy them all with a thought. Imprison them as he had the hundreds of men and women in the past, feast on their blood until he was drunk with it....
Rylan! Stop it this instant! You don’t want to do that. I love you. Think about how happy we’ve been here. I can’t bear to lose you.
Kadie’s voice in his head. He took a deep breath, remembering how her love had changed him, made him realize how cruel it had been to keep people here as prey, to feed on them as if they were animals.
Thanks, Kadie. Darlin’. Don’t ever stop loving me.
Never! We’ll fight whatever this is together. I love you.
Love you more.
No way.
He grinned at the smile in her voice. Kadie loved him, that was all that mattered. He told himself he could get through anything as long as he had her in his corner. He just hoped it was true.
~ * ~
