Saintcrow woke with the setting of the sun. For a time, he remained in bed, thinking about Kadie and the night they had shared. It still amazed him that, after over nine hundred years, he had found a woman who pleased him in every way, a woman who was rapidly becoming far too important to him.
Her scent lingered on his skin, reminding him of the intimacies they had shared. He felt a brief twinge of guilt for taking her virginity. He had done a great many things he regretted, but it had been a matter of pride with him that no matter what other atrocities he had committed, he had never defiled a woman nor killed a child. To ease his conscience, he reminded himself that he hadn't taken Kadie against her will. Far from it. She had been all too willing.
Jackknifing into a sitting position, he raked his fingers through his hair, then opened his senses, homing in on his blood link to her.
He felt her terror as if it was his own. She was trapped in the tunnel, had been trapped there, in the dark, for hours.
Not bothering to dress, he left his lair with all the speed at his command. Seconds later, he was at her side.
"Kadie, I'm here."
"Rylan!" She collapsed against him, her whole body trembling uncontrollably.
"It's all right now," he said, gathering her into his arms. "I've got you." A thought opened the door behind the tapestry, another carried the two of them into the living room, a third lit a fire in the hearth.
He sat on the sofa, holding her against his chest, cradling her head on his shoulder. The scent of her blood teased his nostrils. Taking her hands in his, he licked the blood from her knuckles, sealing the wounds, then whispered words of comfort in her ear until her trembling stopped.
"Thank you for coming after me."
"Did you find what you were looking for, Pandora?" he asked.
"You know I didn't."
"Are you so determined to see where I sleep?"
"I'm sorry. I should have respected your privacy," she said, "even if you don't respect mine."
"Touche, milady. But if you decide to explore down there again, you need to know that once you step through the door behind the tapestry, it closes automatically. You can't open it from my side."
"You did."
"I said you couldn't. Nor can anyone else."
She drew back a little so she could see his face. "Why is that?"
"It's my own form of revenge. Should anyone find my lair and take my life, theirs will also be forfeit."
She shuddered as she imagined being trapped down there in the dark for days or weeks with no food and no water. "Has that ever happened?"
"Not until today." He stroked her cheek. "You have all the tenacity of a pit bull."
"I don't like secrets. It's not fair for you to have them when I can't."
"Hasn't anyone ever told you that life is unfair?"
"What other secrets are you keeping from me?"
He sighed in resignation. "What do you want to know, Kadie?"
She shrugged. "I just want you to promise that you won't lie to me. You've taken away my freedom and everything that's familiar to me. You're all I have, and I want to know that I can trust you to be honest with me."
"All right, Kadie. I promise not to lie to you." Though he could not promise he would always tell her the whole truth.
Kadie rested her cheek on his shoulder and closed her eyes, content to be held, to feel his hand lightly kneading her back and shoulders. Vampire or not, she felt safe in his arms. He was impossibly strong and powerful. Nothing could hurt her as long as he was with her.
There was no sound in the house. Gradually, she became aware of his skin beneath her cheek. His cool, bare skin.
"Rylan?"
"Yes, Kadie?"
"Why are you naked?"
Laughter erupted from his throat, filling the room with pure, masculine amusement.
Stiffening, she frowned at him. "Did I say something funny?"
Still laughing, he shook his head. How had he lived so long without her? He had laughed more since Kadie arrived in Morgan Creek than he had in years. He was surprised by how good it felt.
When she started to slide off his lap, he wrapped his arm around her waist, holding her body to his. "I felt your fear in the tunnel," he explained with a grin. "I thought it might be more important to find you than pull on my pants. Next time you need rescuing, I'll take time to dress first."
She stuck her tongue out at him, then wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek.
His laughter turned to a groan as she wriggled in his lap.
"What's wrong?" she asked. "Am I hurting you?"
He inhaled sharply. "You have no idea."
"I'm sorry. Should I get up?"
"No." He buried his face in her hair as desire shot through him. He was an old vampire, practically indestructible, yet this fragile creature had the power to humble him, to bring him to his knees in ways no one else ever had. He had spent his life guarding his existence, hiding his true nature from the world, refusing to let himself care for those around him because he knew from experience that, in the end, they would wither and die.
And then Kadie had come along. Young, innocent, and ignorant of his kind, she had burrowed deep into his heart and taken root there.
He undressed her slowly, raining kisses on her cheeks, her neck, the hollow of her throat. He caressed her, delighting in her warmth, in the little sounds of pleasure that rose in her throat as his hands moved over her.
Stretching out on the sofa, he settled her on top of him and kissed her until she cried for him to take her.
Murmuring her name, he rose over her. He could never let her know the power she held over him, he thought as he buried himself deep within her. Never let her suspect she had the power to destroy him.
Kadie blew a strand of hair out of her eyes, her heart still pounding, her body bathed in sweat, Saintcrow's taste still on her lips. They were lying side by side on the sofa, their bodies still joined together. His eyes were closed and she studied his face. It was a strong face, a handsome face. She moved and his arm tightened around her. "Don't go."
"My foot's asleep."
Grunting softly, he lifted his leg from hers.
She loved being in his arms, feeling his body next to hers. He was so masculine, so tall and strong, with incredible powers at his command. What must he think of her when she was so weak, so human?
"I think you're beautiful," he said, his voice husky. And anything but weak. She had captured him, heart and soul. If she ever suspected the power she held over him, she could have anything she desired.
She tangled her fingers in his hair. "What's it like, to live so long? You must have done everything there is to do, seen everything there is to see. How do you stand it, when there's nothing new, nothing to look forward to? No surprises left."
He opened his eyes. "You were a surprise. Totally new and unexpected."
"Me?"
"I've never known anyone like you before."
"I've never known anyone like you before either," she retorted with an impish grin.
"Kadie, I'm being serious here."
She shook her head. "I'm just ordinary, no different from thousands of other women my age."
"Are you accusing me of lying when I've just promised to tell you the truth?"
"No, but . . . you must have known hundreds of women. What makes me so different?"
"There's no one else like you." He cupped her cheek in his hand, his thumb playing lightly over her lips. "I'm not sure how to explain it. You may think you're like everyone else, and to other people, maybe you are. But I perceive you differently. The beat of your heart, the scent of your skin, the sound of your voice . . . You're beautiful to me in ways others don't see." He stroked her cheek with the back of his hand. "Your skin is softer than the petals of a rose, your hair is like silk in my hands."
She blushed at his praise.
It was on the tip of his tongue to tell her he loved her, couldn't live without her, but he swallowed the words, afraid to appear vulnerable, afraid she would take advantage of his love and ask for her freedom. He would willingly give her anything. Anything but that.
Later that night, after Kadie was asleep, Saintcrow drove to town. He didn't often mingle with the other vampires, but lately, he had sensed some unrest among them, especially among Vaughan and Lilith. He wasn't surprised to find the whole vampire community gathered in the tavern when he arrived. Nor was he surprised when Lilith bolted out of her chair.
"Where is he?" she demanded, jabbing her finger into his chest. "Where's Carl?"
Saintcrow grabbed her hand and bent it back until she flinched. "If you point that finger at me again, you'll lose it." He bent her hand back a little more, until she dropped to her knees. "Remember who you're talking to."
She nodded, her lips compressed in pain.
"Carl and Kiel have both been dispatched," he said, his gaze moving over the other vampires. "They accosted my woman, and they paid the price. The rest of you might remember that." He released his hold on Lilith and she scrambled back to her seat. "So," he said, "what's going on?"
"We're tired of living like this," Vaughan said.
"Right," Wes agreed. "We're living like sheep instead of wolves."
Saintcrow glanced at the other vampires, his gaze resting momentarily on each of them. "You all feel this way?"
Trent stood, his arms crossed over his chest. "We do." "I take it this is something you've been talking about for quite a while."
Vaughan nodded.
"You might want to rethink it," Saintcrow suggested. "The hunters have united. They aren't hunting individually now, but in packs. They're well armed and well informed. And relentless."
"You're just saying that," Felix said. "You like keeping us here."
Saintcrow snorted. "Why the hell would you think that?"
"Well . . ." Felix shrugged.
"It makes you feel like you're the king or something," Gil said. "Giving orders, keeping us here like we're serfs."
Saintcrow shook his head. "You want out? Fine. Get the hell out of here, all of you."
"You mean it?" Lilith asked. "We can go?"
"I said it, didn't I?"
"What about the humans?"
"What about them?"
"Are they free to go, too?"
"No. When you're ready to leave, let me know, and I'll escort you across the bridge."
Lilith looked at him, her eyes narrowing with suspicion. "How do we know you're not going to destroy us when we leave here?"
"I won't have to. The hunters will take care of that for me. Like I said, let me know when you're ready to go."
With a last look at the vampires, Saintcrow left the tavern. So, they wanted out, did they? Well, to hell with them. He'd taken them in, provided them with a comfortable lair and a variety of human prey. And now they wanted out. Well, good riddance.
"We're free!" Lilith exclaimed. "I don't know about the rest of you, but I can't wait to get out of here."
"Maybe we're being hasty," Vaughan said.
"Hasty?" Wes exclaimed. "This was your idea in the first place!"
"I know, but he's right. We don't know what's going on outside. We haven't had to seek a safe lair or hunt in years."
"I'm pretty sure we all remember how," Lilith said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
"That's not the point," Vaughan said. "Saintcrow is the oldest vampire among us. If he's reluctant to leave here, maybe we should reconsider. Maybe we could convince him to let us know what's going on outside."
"Maybe," Gil said dubiously.
"What do you think he'll do with the humans?" Lilith asked. "He won't have any use for them when we're gone."
"Forget the humans. We need to know what's going on in the world outside," Nolan said. "When I came here, the people who believed we existed were few and far between. If that's changed, we need to know."
"So, we ask him to bring us up to date," Vaughan said.
"Fine," Lilith said. "You go ask him. And ask him what he's going to do with the humans while you're at it."
"All right, I will."
Saintcrow scowled when he opened the door and saw Vaughan on the porch. "You ready to go?"
"Not yet."
"So, what are you doing here?"
"We talked it over. We decided we need to know what's going on outside before we leave." He cleared his throat. "We want you to help us connect with others of our kind in the outside world, find out what we're up against when we leave here."
"Is that right?"
"Come on, you owe it to us."
"I don't owe you a damn thing."
"I know. We came here of our own accord and in spite of whatever was said earlier, we appreciate what you've done. You've taken good care of us."
"Uh-huh."
Vaughan grinned. "You don't buy that, huh?"
"Not for a minute," Saintcrow said.
"Would it help if I said please?"
Saintcrow shook his head in amusement. "I'll see what I can do."
"Oh, Lilith was wondering what you're going to do with the humans."
"Tell her to keep wondering."
Saintcrow stood at the door, staring out into the night long after Vaughan had taken his leave. So, the coven wanted to be brought up to date. No doubt they'd want cell phones and newspapers next. Letting them stay here had seemed like a good idea at the time. It had all started with Nolan. He had saved Browning from being staked by a couple of hunters and brought him here. Browning had asked to stay. He had found Lilith the same way, the ungrateful shrew. She'd been nothing but trouble the whole time she'd been here. Trent and Quinn had found the place by accident. He had run into Vaughan and the others on various trips outside and offered them his protection.
Well, he was tired of playing nursemaid. Hell, they were free to go, all of them. The sooner, the better, he thought, then paused. Without the coven, he had no need for the humans. He never fed on any of them, preferring to hunt outside. Still, Kadie would be lonely without someone to keep her company during the day. The men could go, but like it or not, the women would be staying.
