“When are you leaving?”
Hearing the tears in her voice, he held her tighter. “If I go at sunset, it will get me there somewhere around three in the morning, long before any tourists arrive.”
The dam broke then. With a sob, she buried her face in his shoulder.
Saintcrow swore softly, hating her tears. Hating himself for causing them. “If I get into trouble, I’ll contact you. If I can’t, you’ll know it.” He put his finger beneath her chin, tilting her head up. “If that happens, come running, okay? And bring Kincaid with you.”
Unable to shake off the feeling that something terrible was about to happen, Kadie pulled him down on the floor and wrapped him in her arms.
Aware of her fears, he made love to her tenderly, whispering that he loved her, would always love her, promising that nothing bad was going to happen. And because she loved him, she let herself believe him.
~ * ~
It took only a few moments to transport from home to the church. Built from stone in the Byzantine style, it was rumored to have once been a pagan Roman temple. Two lion statues adorned the roof. The interior walls were made of brick. At this time of the morning, it was dark inside, but he didn’t need light to see the ancient paintings and statues.
Making his way to the circular altar, Saintcrow stood there for a long time, letting the silence close in around him. Why had he really come here? What had he hoped to find? He had long ago given up hope of heaven. He’d once heard a preacher say no one was beyond forgiveness. He hadn’t believed it then. He didn’t believe it now.
So why in hell was he here?
Gradually, the peace he had found centuries before enveloped him. He had lived his life the best way he knew how, he mused, considering the hand he’d been dealt. He snorted softly. Maybe whoever judged him would take that into consideration.
He lost track of time as he stood there lost in the past, thinking he wouldn’t change anything if it meant never meeting Kadie.
Saintcrow was about to turn away from the altar when he realized he was no longer alone. Turning, he came face to face with a man and a woman. He knew immediately that they were vampires. The male was old, but the female was older than any vampire he had ever encountered. His eyes narrowed as he wondered why he had never run into either one before.
The female smiled a knowing smile as Saintcrow’s gaze ran over her in open admiration. Clad in tight-fitting jeans and a white sweater that outlined her ample curves, she was incredibly beautiful. Her hair, long and inky black, fell past her hips. Her skin was smooth and pale, her eyes a deep emerald green.
“I am Mara,” she said. “Perhaps Oriana mentioned me.”
Saintcrow shook his head. “Not by name. She said she thought you were a myth.”
“Hardly.” She inclined her head toward the male. “This is Father Lanzoni.”
Saintcrow’s brows rose in surprise. “Father?”
Lanzoni smiled. “I no longer have a parish.”
Saintcrow grunted softly. Damn, what were the odds of meeting her here? “You’re the one they called the Queen of the Vampires, aren’t you?”
She nodded. “And you are Saintcrow, are you not?” she asked.
He nodded. “How did you know I was here?” Their presence couldn’t be a coincidence.
She smiled faintly as she settled on a pew, then gestured for him to join her. The priest took a place on her other side.
“We have a mutual acquaintance,” Mara remarked. “She gave me a bit of your blood and I followed you.”
Saintcrow frowned. He only knew of two people who could have given her his blood. Which witch had it been?
“This acquaintance mentioned your problem to me. It sounds fascinating.”
“Fascinating,” Saintcrow muttered. “Right.”
“Father Lanzoni may be able to help you, if you’re interested.”
Saintcrow glanced at the priest. Lanzoni looked to be in his late thirties, with hazel eyes, olive skin, and shoulder-length black hair touched with silver at the temples. Quiet power radiated from him. “I’m interested.”
Lanzoni cleared his throat. “I’m told that you’ve been cursed or touched by a combination of dark magic mingled with vampire blood. I believe I can break the curse.”