Lisa had accepted long ago that she had no life. Her life was her magic shop. She never dated, she had no friends and her family . . . well, her family didn’t exist to her anymore. She wasn’t ugly by any means; she just had one of those faces that was forgettable. She wore glasses and always had her mousy brown hair pulled back in a tight bun. When she attended her 20-year class reunion last year, no one remembered her. It was as if she never existed. So, Lisa buried herself in her magic shop and lived each day as it came, looking forward to nothing and having nothing to look back on.
She was about half way through the alley when she sensed she was not alone. She clutched her purse to her side and stopped to peer into the darkness of the alley. “Who’s there?” She asked nervously. “I-I h-have a gun.” She didn’t really, but she hoped it would be a good bluff anyways. She heard a deep chuckle come from the darkness before she saw the tall man appear.
The moon was behind him so she could only tell that he was tall and had brownish hair. The rest of his features were hidden in the shadows. He was dressed in an expensive dark suit and Lisa almost felt her self begin to relax, after all, why would a distinguished gentleman want to attack her? “Forgive me, Sir. I thought you might have been a hoodlum, trying to rob me.”
“Rob you, my dear? Hardly.” Came a rich accented voice that intrigued Lisa immediately. “But perhaps there is something that you can do for me.”
Lisa smiled as she took a step towards the man. “Certainly, sir. Are you lost?”
“What is your name, my sweet?”
“My name?” Lisa asked confused, not certain why he would need to know this.
The gentleman moved closer to her. She could smell him now, he wore a very expensive cologne that she recognized but could not think of the name. He towered over her and Lisa suddenly felt afraid again. The man lifted his hand and caressed her cheek with long graceful fingers. “Your name?”
“M-my name is L-lisa,” she stuttered out as his fingers moved down to her throat. They paused over the pulse in her neck before moving across her collerbone.
“Lisa,” he smiled. “You are a very beautiful woman, Lisa. I bet under that bland look you try to hide under, there is a woman looking to be free and to explore a world of sensuality that has never been shown to you.”
Lisa was paralyzed, unable to budge. She tried to move away from him, she tried to lift her arms to push away his hands that had begun to unbutton the front of her blouse. He pulled her blouse open, pushing the material and bra straps off her shoulders and tugging down until her breasts were exposed to him. “P-please,” she begged, then gasped when she felt his large hands squeeze her breasts roughly, painfully. His finger and thumb pinching her nipples hard.
The man leaned forward until his face was even with hers. She could see him now. He was handsome with eyes that reminded her of lion’s eyes. Then he grinned, baring his fangs, his eyes suddenly glowing an unholy red, “Oh yes, my sweet Lisa. I please very much.” Lisa opened her mouth to scream, but was cut off when he leaned in and sank his teeth into her throat. For the first and last time in her life, Lisa Gibbs’s experienced an orgasm. For some reason, she found that rather amusing as she felt her heart slowing and darkness closing around her.
Mikhail Rovenski let the very dead Lisa Gibbs drop to the ground. He licked his lips and smiled, “Aahh, nothing like virgin blood to get the old heart pumping!” He turned and walked away, forgetting that Lisa Gibbs had ever existed.
It was still over an hour away from dawn and Megan sat on the couch in the library trying to keep her eyes open. Nicolae still had not returned and she wished he would. Over the last few hours, Valerian and revealed much about Nick that helped her to understand better who he was. It also helped her to decide that she wasn’t going to put up with his shit either. They needed to talk, they needed to discuss the future and if there was one for them.
Megan’s head dropped and her eyes popped open as she straightened up again. “Go to bed, belleza,” Valerian commanded from his station at the bar. “Nick will have to wait until tomorrow night.”
“Perhaps you are right.” Megan yawned disappointed. She stood and stretched, then walked over to Valerian. Kissing his cheek, she turned and headed towards the door, “Good night, Valerian.”
“Good night, Megan,” He answered. He watched her leave the room, then he shook his head sadly. Nicolae was an ass, and if he didn’t straighten out soon, he would loose the best thing that had ever happened to him.
Megan entered her room and wandered over to the large dresser and opened the top drawer. Sometime during the afternoon, Stevens had come in and unpacked her clothes and put them away. She pulled out a soft blue silky gown and undressed. Even though Nick’s home was furnished with all the modern necessities, her room was lit with candles. Pulling the gown over her head, she sighed as the cool silky fabric brushed across her warm skin. Loosening the braid in her hair, she picked up her brush and began to brush it. As she did so, she wandered over to the balcony doors and opened them. Moonlight spilled into the room and she stepped out into the cool early morning air. It was still dark out, but life outside was beginning to wake up for the day. Birds were beginning to sing, crickets chirping, she even thought she saw a squirrel running across a tree branch as she leaned against the balcony railing.
What was she going to do about Nick? She already knew in her heart that she was in love with him. But how did one go about dealing with a vampire for a boyfriend? He wasn’t exactly the kind of guy you introduced to all your friends. Then there was the whole aging issue. She would get older and he would remain forever the handsome, intense man that he is. She sighed as she stared off into the darkness. Turning, she headed back into her room, but then stopped just at the balcony doors. She stood there as if contemplating a decision, then she turned her head and look right into the darkest corner of the balcony.
“Are you going to lurk outside all night or are you going to come in so we can talk?” Without waiting for an answer, Megan entered her bedroom and crossed the room to the dresser, where she placed the brush. When she turned back around, Nicolae stood framed in the doorway. He still looked pissed. His dark eyes roamed over her as he took in the sight of her in her sleeveless, white, silky gown. Other than looking like he would like to kill something, his expression was unreadable.
Nicolae had been startled when she had spoken to him. He hadn’t realized that she had known he was on the balcony from the moment she had stepped out there. He had stayed in the shadows, but apparently some kind of bond had formed between them and she could sense his presences. He was still angry with her for calling her editor without talking with him first. She had no regard for her safety and she had just proven it again when she had come out onto the balcony with no protection.
“You were told not to leave the protection of the house,” he stated angrily.
Megan frowned, her eyebrows furrowed down between her eyes. God, now he as angry because she had gone out on the balcony? “I was hardly unprotected. Valerian is in the library and you were right there on the balcony with me, even if you were lurking. If I was in any danger, more than likely it was from your attitude.”
“Damn it, Megan you have no idea who or what you’re dealing with!” Nicolae growled.
“Yes, I do!” Megan snapped back. “I’m dealing with a childish vampire who can’t get a grip on reality!” She saw his face harden more as his eyes began to glow with his anger. “Oh knock it off, Nick! Trying to intimidate me will not work! I’m not afraid of you!”
“Intimidate you?” His voice was deadly soft. His eyes glowed; all trace of their natural brown was gone. His fangs were lowered and she caught the glint of them in the candlelight as he spoke.
“You can’t make me stay away from other men, Nick,” she continued ignoring the warning signals. “Richard has been my editor from the very beginning. He is like a brother to me and I will not cut him from my life because of your petty jealousies. You will not turn me into a mindless robot who does your bidding every time you speak.”
Nick was beyond rage. He was beyond control of the beast within him. He reacted without thought, without regard for the consequences. He would teach her to respect what a vampire was capable of and if she hated him for it afterwards, then so be it. Without moving from where he stood, he raised his hands, “You have no clue of what real intimidation is, Megan.” His voice was deep and rough from the beast. Megan froze where she stood. Nick was clear across the room from her, yet his hands were on her throat. She could feel his fingers squeezing, cutting off her air and for the first time she truly feared him.
Her hands came up to grab at the invisible fingers, then just when she thought she might pass out, he released the pressure and her lungs sucked in much needed air. But Nick didn’t stop there. She felt his invisible hands grab her breasts roughly, then suddenly one hand was between her legs, spreading her thighs, his fingers seeking what was hidden between them. Megan felt her body respond and cried out in anger. He was being cruel to her and she never expected that of him. She wanted to rage at him, to hit him and at that very moment, she hated him. Then suddenly his hands were gone and she could move again. Her body shuddered from unfulfilled sexual tension. She glared at him, but he didn’t seem to care. “Now, you know what intimidation is. Now, you know to fear vampires and what they are capable of. Rovenski could have killed you from across the city. Alls he would need is a fix on you.”
Suddenly, Megan understood. All her anger at him, the sudden hatred for what he had just done to her was gone. He was trying to protect her. He had a shitty way of doing it, but sometimes extreme measures were needed to get through to someone. She had romanticized vampires so much that she never realized how dangerous they were and what they were capable of doing. On shaky legs, she began to cross the room towards Nick. He hadn’t a clue what she was planning, he supposed he could enter her mind, but that was something he swore he would never do without being invited first. It was one thing to touch someone’s mind to get a feel of what they were thinking, it was quite another to fully enter in.
Megan didn’t stop until she was standing before him. She gazed up at him unafraid even though his eyes still glowed and his parted lips revealed his fangs. “Lesson learned, Nicolae.” She said softly as she placed her hands on his chest. Slowly, she began to unbutton the front of his shirt until his warm olive skin was reveled to her. Leaning in, she inhaled his scent before placing a kiss in the center.
Nick inhaled sharply at her actions, his hands coming up to clutch her shoulders. “Cara, mia,” he whispered hoarsely. He had expected her hatred, not her forgiveness and it humbled him. He didn’t deserve a woman like her. When Megan looked up into his face again, his eyes had changed back to the soft brown and his fangs were gone. The anger and frustration were gone also, leaving only her Nick.
Their eyes met and Megan reached up on tiptoe and pressed a kiss to his full lips. “I meant what I said, Nick.” He raised an eyebrow in curiosity and question. “I will not give up my friendship with Richard.”
“Megan,” he bit off, his anger coming forward again, but she shook her head, stalling his retort.
“What do you want, Nicolae? A mindless robot who responds to your every command? Do you want me to react only when you say so? Do I touch you and feel your touch only because you have deemed it okay?” She leaned forward again and flicked her tongue across his flat nipple and smiled when he jumped. “Or would you rather have a woman who can touch you like this,” Megan’s hand dropped down to cup him through his pants. She rubbed her palm against him and smiled again when he grew instantly hard, his breathing suddenly becoming harsh in the quietness of the room. “Wouldn’t you much rather have a woman who can respond to your touch because she is turned on by it?” Megan unbuttoned his pants and pushed them down over his hips, his erection springing free of its confines. She wrapped her hand around it and began to work it. Again, Megan looked up to see his reaction to find that his eyes were again glowing, but this time for a totally different reason.
Before she realized what had happened, they were on the bed. Her gown was gone and Nick was climbing over her, parting her thighs as he settled his hips between them, his clothes mysteriously gone too. His mouth was on hers, his tongue sweeping through in a state of frenzy. Megan managed to get her own tongue in his mouth and she carefully traced the length of each fang, feeling the smoothness of them, but respecting the sharp tips. Nick dragged his mouth down her throat, stopping briefly at her pulse, to nip at it and stroke it with his tongue. He continued down until his mouth closed over a nipple and he suckled it hard and deep, eliciting a deep groan from Megan as she arched her back up towards him. He moved to the other nipple and applied the same attention to it. Megan began to wreath beneath him; an ache building between her legs that she knew could only be fulfilled by him. His hard length pressed against her inner thigh, seeking the one place that would bring him heaven. Megan was the closest thing he would ever have to sunshine and he cherished her beyond reason.
“Nicolae!” Megan groaned as her hands circled his hips. She wanted him inside her. “Please, Nick, I need to feel you. See inside my mind and know how much I ache to feel you inside me.”
He did as she said and the beast roared. Sitting up suddenly, Nick rose up to his knees, then sat back on his calves. He lifted Megan up easily allowing her to wrap her legs around his waist as his hands slid around over her ass and down between her legs from behind. He parted the twin petals that guarded the entrance to her honeyed chamber and impaled her on his sex. Megan gasped sharply as he suddenly filled her without warning. She was so wet that she slid down on him easily. She gazed lovingly down at his face as he removed his hands from her and leaned back, propping his hands behind him.
“Now, ride me,” he commanded gruffly.
Megan braced herself, planting her legs on either side of him, her hands rested on his chest. She began to rock against him, their eyes locked. She was being possessed by the beast within him and she reveled in it as the friction from her movements began to build the climax within her. Tighter and tighter, higher and higher the ache between her legs throbbed beyond reason, only the movement of his thick shaft inside her pressed her forward. She sought release, the beast sought possession, their movements coming faster and faster as their hearts thudded, their breathing ragged. They moved as one, Nick thrusting his hips forward, Megan meeting him half way down. When her climax hit her, it was like a freight train. Her nails dug into his shoulders as he moved forward to pull her to him. She screamed as she felt her body explode, coming completely undone, every nerve in her body pulsed. Nick pulled Megan closer to him, bringing her breasts up even to his face. He took a nipple deep into his mouth, his tongue playing, swirling. His hands gripped her hips, helping her to continue rocking against him. Then as his own climax exploded within him, he sank his fangs into breast. His groan came out in a growl as he slammed his hips up, driving his seed deep within her. Megan’s hands tangled in his thick mass of curls and she held his head to her breast, looking down and watching as he sucked her blood as if he were a babe sucking milk from his mother. It was the most erotic sights she’d ever witnessed and she groaned as a second climax pulsed through her body. Nick didn’t stop moving his hips until her body quieted against his. He carefully removed his fangs and his tongue swept across the pinpoints, then curled once more around her nipple.
Raising his head, their eyes met. He leaned forward slightly to press his mouth to hers, “Are you alright, cara mia?” He asked concerned.
“Yes,” she answered. He had been rough, and she would be sore later, but it had been worth it.
Carefully, he lowered her to the bed and withdrew from her tight sheath. He lay beside her and pulled her into his arms. “I can’t make any promises, Megan, but I will try to tolerate your editor.”
Megan smiled, “Thank you, Nick.”
“But if he touches you, Megan,” he added, “If he ever tries to make a move on you. . .”
“Stop the chest beating, Nick,” she thumped him lightly.
Nick shook his head in bewilderment and then laughed softly. “Dawn will be here soon, love, I must go.”
Megan groaned and tightened her arms around him. “Can you wait until I am asleep?” She asked on a yawn.
“Alright, cara mia. Go to sleep and I will stay with you for a while longer.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead, then looking over towards the still open balcony doors, he lifted his hand and made a slight movement with his fingers and the doors slowly closed and locked. Another movement of his hand and the heavy drapes pulled closed, blocking out the rising sun. Wrapping his arms around her and holding her close, he waited for her to go to sleep.
“I love you, Nicolae Kristof,” Megan whispered just before she drifted off to sleep.
Nick sighed softly as he nuzzled her hair with his cheek. And I love you, cara mia, he whispered to her sleeping mind.
Chapter 9
Detective Kaitlin Sanders of the L.A.P.D. stood near the corpse of a woman in an alley. It was the fifth one in the last three days. They were all the same, five different women, all found drained of their blood in alleys in different parts of the city. Each one had two puncture wounds in their necks making it appear as if a vampire had done it.
“God damn, I hate these weird cases,” she snapped at no one in particular.
“The press is going to have a field day with this one, Katy,” retorted her partner, Detective Peter Simpson.
Kaitlin sighed as she began taking notes of the scene, noting the similarities of the other murders and anything out of the ordinary. “I take it there are no witnesses?” She asked Peter as he moved around the crime scene looking for any evidence or clues as to who their new serial killer could possible be.
“Not a single one,” he answered as he moved to avoid another police officer who had come on the scene. “No body saw anything, no body heard anything.”
“Great,” she answered putting her notepad away. She glanced around the filthy alley and wrinkled up her nose as the nasty smell of urine, unbathed bodies and trash wafted passed her. In the ten years she had been on the L.A.P.D., she thought she had seen the worse that people could do to one another, but inevitably something always happened to shock her a little more.
“Hey Kaitlin,” came a familiar voice.
Turning her head towards the sound, she frowned, “What are you doing here, Mac? I thought you were on vacation?”
Matthew “Mac” Mackenzie worked for the county coroner’s office. He was tall, slender, good looking and Kaitlin’s ex-husband. “I was,” he answered as he came to stop next to her, “but I decided to come back when all the fun started.” Leaning down he kissed her cheek. Kaitlin and Mac had met her first year as a beat cop. They had had a whirlwind romance and had married two months later. Five years and no kids later, they divorced. They had fought constantly about Kaitlin’s job and how she put herself at risk. Then things really went downhill when Kaitlin suffered a miscarriage due to being attacked by a drug crazed lunatic. Mac had really wanted kids, but Kaitlin didn’t. She had been really upset when she had discovered she was pregnant, but because she knew Mac really wanted this baby, she had decided to see it through. Surprisingly enough, she had been pretty upset when she found out she had miscarried, but she never could understand Mac’s devastation over the whole thing and it tore their already tattered marriage apart. That had been nearly five years ago and it wasn’t until last year, when Mac’s mother had died that Kaitlin and Mac had become close again. Not romantically, the damage was irreparable there, but they had formed a simple friendship again and spoke often on the phone, occasionally having lunch or dinner together. Kaitlin had adored Mac’s mom and had remained very close to her, even after the divorce. Her death from a sudden massive heart attack had taken them both by surprise.
“I worry about people who hang around dead bodies all the time.” Kaitlin shook her head as she walked off to talk to another police officer that had been interviewing possible witnesses.
Valerian watched the scene from the rooftop of the building next to the alley. He kept to the shadows, as there were cops and people everywhere. Another body, drained of blood had been found. There was no doubt in his mind now that Rovenski was here. Nick would not like this; he had been temperamental enough as it was the last week. He and Megan had this kind of love/hate relationship going on right now and Valerian, who normally enjoyed Nick’s company, found he would much rather be somewhere else. His green eyes quickly located the female detective that was working this murder case. Valerian had been fascinated with her from the moment he had seen her at the first murder scene three days ago. Kaitlin Sanders resembled no female cop he had ever seen before. She was tall and willowy and had the longest pair of legs you could imagine. Her shoulder length blonde hair was cut and styled simply and she had the brownest eyes. The past few nights, Valerian had taken to following her around and quickly learned that she was tough as well as stubborn. Several times he had to force himself from stepping in when she was dealing with a criminal who had gotten out of control, but as it turned out, she hadn’t needed his help anyways.
Valerian stiffened suddenly when he saw the new man come on the scene. His large hands gripped the side railing hard as he watched the man bend and kiss Kaitlin on the cheek. It took every bit of control to keep from flying down there in a rage and destroying the man right then and there. Valerian sucked in a deep breath as he examined the feelings that nearly overwhelmed him. In his thousand year existence as a vampire, Valerian had never loved anyone. He was carefree, flirtatious and other than his loyalty to Nick, he needed no one. He had had many women, loving them thoroughly, then leaving them none-the-wiser that they had been relieved of a little blood in the process. Releasing the railing, he stepped back to discover his hands had left deep indentions in the piping. Jealousy was not like him. Valerian was not stupid enough to think that he was not interested in this female detective, but he was not ready, however to delve any deeper into why he felt the need to destroy any man who came within five feet of her. Tightening his jaw, he turned and began to shape shift. Soaring up high into the air, he headed back to Nick’s home. It was time to tell him that Rovenski was in town.
Nicolae?
Yes, Valerian.
Is it safe to come in?
Go to hell!
We need to talk, amico mio. It’s important.
Fine.
Valerian shape shifted back into human form as he landed on the balcony of Nicolae’s library. When he entered the room, Nick was brooding near the bar watching Megan as she sat on the couch reading. Valerian shook his head as his eyes met those of his friend.
“Don’t start, Valerian. I’m not in the mood to hear it,” Nicolae snapped angrily.
Megan glanced up and smiled at Valerian. She didn’t seem to be suffering from the same malady as Nick was. “Good evening, Valerian. How are you?” She hadn’t seen much of Valerian the last few days and she could only imagine that it was because of Nick. Nick was still in a bad mood, but she was beginning to understand that it was because he worried about her safety and until Rovenski was caught and destroyed, he would be a bear. At least now when he came to her in bed, his mood changed. After their last argument the other morning when he had demonstrated on her what kind of power a vampire had, their coupling had been rough. She had been sore the next day and after rising, she had spent some time soaking in the tub, then what was left of the afternoon sitting in the library. When Nick had finally risen, he had come to her guiltily and had apologized profusely for hurting her, then his mood had soured again and she had pretty much left him to his own devises until she went to bed. His lovemaking since then had been gentle. He couldn’t stay away from her, no matter how hard he tried, no matter how sour his mood he needed her. He needed her like he needed blood to survive. The knowledge of this drove him insane and combined with his fear of loosing her, of failing to protect her from Rovenski put him in such a mood that even his best friend could not stand to be around him now.
“I am well, belleza and you?” Valerian smiled at her easily as he crossed the room to lean over and kiss her cheek.
“Valerian,” growled Nick in warning.
Megan rolled her eyes and sighed as Valerian straightened to glare over at his friend. For once the happy go lucky vampire was not in attendance. “Grow up, Nick. I have no desire for your woman,” he snapped. It was so out of character for Valerian to respond in such a way that both Megan and Nick stared at him dumbfounded. Valerian sighed and reached down to take Megan’s hand. Bending over, he brought it to his lips and kissed the back of it. “Forgive my rudeness, belleza.”
“Valerian,” Megan began, then gave a startled shrieked when Nick suddenly had Valerian pinned to the wall, his hands at Valerian’s throat.
“You will not touch her again,” he growled. Valerian didn’t react, he merely met Nick’s glowing gaze with nonchalance.
“Nicolae!” Megan was up off the couch and grabbing his arm and tugging hard. “Let him go, now!” Her feeble attempts to move Nick away from Valerian were useless. Megan was afraid that Nick was going to kill Valerian if she didn’t get the two apart. Nicolae! She tried their mental path. Damn it, Nick, answer me!
He will not touch you again, cara mia. She heard his harsh answer. His eyes never left Valerian, his hand still had Valerian’s throat pinning him to the wall with his great strength.
Release him, Nick! Do it now, or I will walk out of here. I’ll leave you!
Nick released Valerian immediately and turned his anger on Megan. She backed up, a feeling of dread welling up inside her. She continued to back up, Nick stalking towards her until she hit up against the bookcase. He towered over her in a threatening manner, his breathing heavy, his stance tense and ready for a fight. His eyes glowed eerily as he glared at her.
“Son of a bitch,” Valerian cursed softly. This was getting way out of control. “Nick, back off!”
Nick ignored Valerian and leaned in close to Megan. She was trembling, but she lifted her chin defiantly and glared up at him.
“So leave,”
It was said so softly that Megan wasn’t sure she even heard it. Her eyes widened in surprise at the harshness of it then the surprise turned to hurt. She fought back the tears that burned the back of her eyes. So it came to this. All right fine, she didn’t need him! Without another word, Megan pushed Nick away from her and quietly left the library.
“Dio Nick, you are a bastard!” Valerian told him after Megan was gone.
Nick felt numb; his pride and anger the only things that kept him from going after Megan and apologizing profusely. “Stay out of it,” he commanded roughly. He really felt the need to kill something. Rovenski! Nick would welcome a battle to the death right now.
“Rovenski is here,” Valerian said as if reading his mind. Nicolae stiffened. “The past three days, I have been following the trail of several murders. All women all drained of blood. It’s him, Nick, I am convinced of this now.”
“How many women?” Nick asked, not really wanting to know.
“The fifth one was found tonight,”
“Son of a bitch!” Nick cursed softly. “I take it the police are heavily involved now?”
“Yes. There is a female detective, a Kaitlin Sanders. She is smart, she could prove to be a problem for us,”
“Damn it, it would have been better if he had remained in Romania!” Nick growled. “Now the police are involved and it will make our job much tougher.”
“What do you want me to do?” Valerian asked.
“Keep an eye on the cops, especially this Detective Sanders. We must know what they know,” Nick answered. “Tomorrow night I will begin searching the city.”
“What about Megan?”
“She is not your concern, Valerian,” Nick turned and snapped at him.
“You are going to loose her, amico mio,”
Nick glared at Valerian, but he knew that his friend was right. This irrational anger that raged through him was making him unreasonable and if he weren’t careful, he would drive away the very thing that brought light to his dark world. Nick took a deep breath and glanced towards the window. Dawn was approaching.
“Go ahead and check on her, I’ll lock up,” Valerian told him and turned away to complete his task.
Nick nodded and left the library. He knocked on Megan’s door and after not receiving an answer, he quietly opened it, thinking that maybe she was already asleep. He would quickly check on her, then seek his rest. Nick moved into the dark bedroom, his vampire vision seeing through the darkness as if it were the light of day. He quickly located the bed only to find it empty. Frowning, Nick glanced around the room. He opened up his senses and quickly discovered that Megan was nowhere in the house.
Nick let out a string of Italian curses as he crossed the room to throw open the balcony doors. The early morning sun burst through, nearly blinding him, the heat of the sun burning into his flesh. Nick turned away screaming out in pain, his hands coming up to protect his face. The balcony doors slammed shut, the heavy draperies closing as Valerian appeared beside him.
“Dio Nicolae, what the hell do you think your doing?”
“She’s gone,” Nick gasped through the pain of his burning flesh. He felt as if a million tiny needles were stabbing his face where the sun had touched.
“What?” Valerian quickly glanced around the dark room. “How the hell did she get out of the house without you knowing?”
Nick didn’t want to think about that. If something happened to her because of his jealous anger, he would never forgive himself. He dropped his hands from his face to reveal several large blistered welts on his face where his flesh had burned from the exposure to the sun.
“Dio, Nick, that is not an improvement,”
“I’ve got to find her,” Nick ignored Valerian’s attempt to lighten the mood.
“You are not going anywhere right now, amico mio,” Valerian informed him. “She will be safe while the sun is up. We will find her tonight.”
Nick nodded grudgingly knowing that Valerian was right. He could not look for her now, besides he was already beginning to feel the effects of the injury and the sun was draining his strength.
“Come on,” Valerian took his arm, “there is nothing we can do now.”
Nick sighed and sent a mental message off to Megan and hoped she would hear it. Moments later he was lying in his bed, hidden away from the sun and the outside world. His last thoughts as he drifted off into a healing sleep were of Megan.