They went to a dance club that served beer and pizza. Bryn felt her heart melt every time Conor looked at her. Just her luck, to be attracted to a man who lived so far away. She’d never had a fling, but maybe now was the time to start.
Seven o’clock came all too soon. Conor drove her to the theater to meet her sister.
She was tempted to ask him to join them, but decided against it. He was far too attractive. Far too tempting. And she needed some space. Space to think and sort out her feelings.
He grinned at her as he got out of the car, opened her door, and handed her out of the convertible. “Okay if I call you tomorrow?”
Bryn hesitated a moment before saying, “Alright.” She lifted her face for his kiss, blew out a sigh as she watched him get into the car and drive away. Tomorrow couldn’t get here too soon.
~ * ~
Conor was watching an old John Wayne western when the phone rang. A look at the display said it was Bryn. He smiled as he answered the phone. “Missing me?”
“Oh, Conor.”
He frowned when he heard the tears in her voice. “What’s wrong?” he asked.
“My mom just called. They rushed my father to the emergency room a few minutes ago. They think he’s having a heart attack.”
“I hope he’ll be all right,” Conor said. “Is there anything I can do?”
“No, but thanks for asking. Rae and I are on our way to the airport.”
“Have a safe trip.” He swore softly. If he was a vampire, he could have transported her to Vermont in minutes instead of hours. “I’ll miss you.”
“I’ll miss you, too.”
“Take care, Bryn.” He blew out a sigh as he dropped his cell phone on the table beside the sofa. Perhaps, after he’d been a vampire for a while and had learned all that he needed to know, he would make a trip to Vermont.
~ * ~
Conor made his final decision a week later, on the eve of his twenty-fifth birthday. He spent the night glutting himself on all his favorite foods and drinks, surrounded by those who would, on the morrow, be prey.
At midnight, he went back to the house his parents had built for him when he wanted a place of his own. They were already in his bedroom, waiting for him.
“You got any questions before we get started?” Saintcrow asked.
“A couple. Will I be as strong as you are when I’m turned?”
“Hell, no. But you’ll be stronger than any other fledgling.”
“How long before I can be awake when the sun’s up?”
“I’m not sure. It’s different for every vampire. It usually takes quite a while. I’ll give you some of my blood every week or so. That’ll speed things up.”
“How often will I have to...hunt?”
“Every night for a while. Don’t worry, one of us will go with you until you get the hang of it. Your need to feed will be strong, but since I’m siring you, you should be able to control it if you want to. It might be difficult in crowds, but not if you feed first. Anything else you want to know?”
Conor shook his head. He had lived with his parents his whole life, seen all the remarkable things they could do, weighed what he would be giving up against what he would be gaining.
“Are you sure you still want to do this?” his mother asked.
Conor nodded as he stretched out on his bed, his mother standing on one side of him, Saintcrow on the other.
“This is your last chance to change your mind,” Saintcrow said.
“Let’s get it over with,” Conor said, and closed his eyes as the man who had raised him sank his fangs into his neck. There was a bit of pain, a warm sensation, and then a growing sense of weakness, helplessness. Fear.
