“I believe Kincaid might still be in the market. If not, they’re welcome to stay.” She glanced at Saintcrow, her smile fading. “How are you, really?”
“Oriana has been generous with her blood. It calms me for two or three days, but I feel the need for it more and more often. I’m not sure how much longer she can continue to let me drink from her.”
“Perhaps Jake....?”
“No. I need him to be strong.”
Izabela nodded. “What of the other old ones? Will none of them help you?”
“No.” He had asked once. He would not ask again. He wouldn’t beg for their help.
“How is Kadie holding up?”
“She’s worried and afraid. She tries to hide it, but she can’t keep her thoughts from me.”
“Had you no idea that Eleni and Elowynne were related?”
“I had no idea they even knew each other. They looked nothing alike. Eleni never mentioned having a sister or any other kin at all.” He hadn’t wanted to destroy Eleni, but when she’d threatened Kadie’s life, she had signed her own death warrant.
“I will have Kadie’s talisman ready by tomorrow night,” Izabela said. “Stay strong, Saintcrow. I have never met a vampire as powerful as you are. Elowynne’s dark magic gives her a slight edge but I truly believe that you will defeat her.”
“I hope to hell you’re right.”
“I am always right,” she said. “Good day to you.”
With a shake of his head, Saintcrow left the witch’s house and transported himself to his office in Morgan Creek. Standing at the window, he gazed into the distance, his thoughts turned inward. He had fought many battles in his long life, both as a knight and a vampire and he had always prevailed. Sometimes bloody, but he had never surrendered.
Taking a deep breath, he reached deep within himself. He had defeated Eleni. By damn, he would defeat her sister, too, or die trying.
~ * ~
Eager to get home to see Rylan, Kadie bid a quick farewell to Rosa, promising they would get together again soon as they left the theater. She tried to hide how worried she was from Rylan when they were together, but it was impossible. Even when she blocked him from her mind, he seemed to know what she was thinking, feeling. Lately, he had shielded a part of histhoughts from her. It troubled her even though she understood his reasons.
At various times, Rosa and the others had all expressed their concern and their willingness to help, but Rylan insisted there was little that any of them could do. And he was probably right. Compared to Saintcrow and Elowynne, she and the others were little more than fledglings.
The house was empty when she arrived. Wondering where he’d gone, Kadie glanced around the room. The new furniture she had ordered had arrived. It always amazed her how quickly things could be done if one had the money to pay for it. Ordinarily, it would have taken weeks to get their new living room set, but Rylan had greased the palm of the store owner in Cheynne and their new furniture had arrived by private jet the day after she ordered it. The windows, too, had been replaced.
Where was Rylan? Opening the link between them, she knew he was in the hotel office. She frowned, wondering what he was doing there. Curious, she pictured him in her mind and the next thing she knew, she was beside him.
“Hello, wife,” he said, with a lazy smile. “Was there something you wanted?”
“Just you, my husband.”
His arm snaked around her waist, drawing her body against his. He had the power to arouse her with no more than a look and the next thing she knew, she was lying naked beneath him on the floor’s plush carpeting.
“Is this what you had in mind?” he growled.
“How did you know?” She raked her fingers down his broad back as he slowly ran his tongue along the length of her neck, in the valley between her breasts, along her collar bone, in the hollow of her throat. She closed her eyes as she felt the touch of his fangs, sighed as his bite filled her with a deep, sensual pleasure made all the more satisfying as his body melded withhers. Lost in myriad sensations, she gave herself into his keeping until, with a low growl, he carried them both over the edge.
~ * ~
Izabela was waiting for them the following evening. Kadie couldn’t help feeling a little uneasy as she and Rylan entered the witch’s house. The undercurrent of black magic was unmistakable. Funny, she had never really noticed it before.
“Please, sit.” Izabela said, settling into her rocker as Kadie and Saintcrow took seats on the sofa. “I have been working a bit of extremely powerful magic,” she explained. “A touch of it lingers in the air.”
Kadie nodded. Earlier, Rylan had told her why they were visiting the witch. She smiled when she noticed the black kittens curled up in front of the fireplace. Were they merely pets, or familiars to do Izabella’s bidding?
Reaching into the pocket of her colorful skirt, Izabela withdrew a bracelet. Made of bronze, it was two inches wide and perhaps a quarter of an inch thick. “This will repel any dark magic sent your way,” she explained as she leaned forward and clamped it around Kadie’s left wrist. “Neither you nor anyone else will be able to remove it.” She glanced at Saintcrow, who shook his head, warning her not to mention the talisman was also to protect Kadie from him if he lost control.