Sam hands me a glass of wine as he steps beside me at one end of the makeshift room. “Have you been helping the Mannings sleep every night these last weeks?”
“Not as much. The twins are recovering. I suspect Lori still struggles, but she hasn’t asked for my help in over a week.” It’s actually been eleven days since I saw Lori. It’s strange how much I miss our nightly chats over a glass of wine and how I long to help her with her sleep just so I can be near her. I drink the wine, which is not very good.
Mari and Tilda are across the tented area talking to a gentleman about his piano lessons. Max had to work and will likely make his way here later.
Sam drinks a quarter of his giant-sized beer. “She’s dancing with John Fieldstone.”
Shifting my attention to the dance floor, my vampire senses heighten. Having only ever seen Lori in jeans or baggy sweatpants and loose-fitting shirts, the sight of her in a yellow dress that clings to her curves is enough to tighten every muscle in my body. And I mean every muscle. The material slips along her hips and ass, making my mouth water and my canines extend.
It’s impossible to ignore the male hand riding her back just above the swell of her bottom.
Jealousy is an emotion I’ve not experienced in my vampire life. Once, when I was a human, I thought myself in love withthe daughter of a farmer who lived outside my town. She loved and married one of her neighbor’s sons, and my heart broke. That pain pales in comparison with seeing Lori in another man’s arms.
I’ve met John Fieldstone on two occasions. He’s a nice enough fellow. He lives in town and has some kind of online business. He’s tall and fair-haired. I find no fault with the man, but the monster inside me doesn’t feel the same.
Sam drains his supersized beer. “You did say you thought she should find a human man. John is human and decent.”
Something about Lori Manning brings out parts of me that I worry I cannot control. Desire, rage, and jealousy sweep through me like a wildfire in a drought. As controlled as I can be, I place the wine on a nearby table. “I think it’s time for me to leave.”
Placing his large hand on my shoulder, Sam says, “They’re walking this way.”
Blinded by my emotions, I hadn’t noticed that the music had ended and Lori and John were indeed making their way in my direction.
The front of her dress does nothing to relieve my growing sense of chaos. The dress is cut low, showing off her full breasts, and tied behind her neck. She’s like a sunflower in full bloom.
Holding myself in place, I meet her gaze. “Good evening, Lori. Hello, John.”
John smiles and keeps his hands tucked into his pockets. “Hi, Mr. Radu. I wasn’t sure you’d remember me.”
Forcing down an aggressive growl, I put on a nonthreatening mask. “The benefit of being a vampire is that I remember everything. It’s nice to see you both.”
Lori fidgets and wrings her hands. “I’m surprised to see you here. I didn’t take you for a man who enjoys this kind of thing.”
Because I’m old. Too old for this fresh young woman. “I am attempting to be an active part of the community. Where are your daughters tonight? How have they been sleeping?”
“They’re with Willa’s family, admiring the animals in the petting area.” She points in the general direction of the corral built specially for this event. “They’ve been sleeping through the night, and tonight they’re going to try a sleepover.”
“I’m pleased to hear that they are feeling better.” I would swear she gave me a deeper look when she told me the twins would not be at home tonight. My body certainly believes there was an unspoken offer behind her words.
She blushes, and the sound of her blood rushing through her veins increases. “Sorry that I haven’t been in touch lately.”
My heart pounds once, then again. Her perfume, light roses and musk, with an undertone of her own alluring wildflower scent, is like a sensual beacon calling to me. I long for her, and getting out of here before I do something regrettable is urgent. “I should be going. Forgive me.”
Sam calls, “Ion?”
I ignore whatever else he might have said as I walk at a brisk clip away from the laughter and crowds. As soon as I’m far enough so as not to be seen, I break into a run and head for the forest.
Not stopping, I let the beast free, hoping the exertion will remove all human emotion and feeling.
When the sun comes up, I am still running and hunting. It’s rare for me to allow my vampire to take control, but the monster needs release. Feeding on a deer is not the blood I truly crave, but it will suffice. It is the hunt, not the kill, that I need.
The first tawny hint of morning is the best time, and I scent the buck before I see him. When I end his life, I do so easily and infuse calm into the animal. He need not suffer for mysurvival. His blood is sweet and nourishing, but the monster is not satisfied.
When I circle back to a cool stream, I plunge into a deeper shaded area and wash the blood from my clothes, hands, and face.
“Ion, what’s wrong with you?” Head in my hands, I let the cold water soothe me. Even as a young vampire, I never sought to kill or destroy. Many vampires I made, and those sired by others, became obsessed with their power, but I never allowed the curse to control me. Meditation and finding a sense of peace with the world around me have always been my guides.
Since meeting Lori, my grasp on that focus is in pieces. She is in my every thought. The sight of her with another man, even a more appropriate one, forced a simmering rage to the surface. I haven’t felt anything like it since my village was destroyed.
