Between a Vamp and a Hard Place (21 page)

Rand's gaze flicked to me again. His jaw clenched as he studied my face. “She is hurt.”

“She is also an incompetent assassin,” Guy said. “But she tastes oh-so-pleasant.” He winked and licked his lips lasciviously, flashing a hint of fang at Rand.

I braced my hands on the arms of my chair, ready to spring forward.

Rand snarled, an inhuman sound, and made for the threshold. He bounced off it, as if repelled by an unseen force.

“Oh, are we sensitive about that?” Guy crossed his arms. “So we've found something Rand FitzWulf is willing to fight for? Now, that is interesting to me. Is it because of her blood, or something else?” He tilted his head, looking smug. “Perhaps what lies between her creamy thighs? I haven't yet had a chance to sample those, but there's time in the evening yet. Perhaps I shall even leave the door open so you may watch me claim her—”

“Invite. Me. In,” Rand said through gritted teeth. He looked dangerous as hell. I was beginning to be a little frightened of him myself. How could Guy sit there and tease him when Rand looked as if he was about to go apeshit?

“So you can slit my throat?” Guy crossed his arms over his chest. “I don't see that happening. It's much more fun this way, don't you think?”

I stood up, careful to not make a sound as I did so. No sooner had I straightened than Guy said, “Do not even think about it, little one. I can rip out your throat with my teeth before you can bat an eye.”

I froze in place. Looked at Rand. His eyes were gleaming with that odd vampire touch that told me he was inches away from losing all control.

I sat. Gemma reached over and grabbed my hand. I wasn't sure if it was to hold me in place, or for reassurance, but I squeezed her fingers back and remained seated. Whatever played out here would have to be without human help.

His hands on the door frame, Guy leaned forward, practically leaning outward. Now he was just taunting Rand with the fact that he couldn't get to him. Guy's back was to us, and I longed to put a stake through him. He was determined to harass Rand. “So, friend, did you like the whores I sent you all those years ago? You must have. You were so engrossed with fucking the one that you never noticed the other come around to stake you. That takes true . . . dedication to the cause.” He chuckled.

“Do not needle me, Guy,” Rand said in a deadly calm voice. “Not if you value your life. Now, let me in.”

“My life is long ago forfeit,” Guy sneered. “We are both the master's puppets—”

I gasped as something red and shiny sprouted from Guy's back. A sword point.

“If you will not let me come to you, then you shall come to me,” Rand growled. He gave his sword another vicious shove forward, and Guy burbled something, blood spilling from his mouth. His limbs flailed, and the sword in his back grew longer.

Gemma's hand clenching mine threatened to cut off my circulation, but neither of us moved.

Rand lifted his sword, and Guy slid further down it. Then Rand stepped backward, and Guy, still spitted on his sword, went with him. Rand dropped Guy in the grass, and as I watched, he pulled his sword free.

Guy lifted an arm, a feeble protest at his treatment.

“Sleep well, brother,” Rand said, and raised his sword again. In the next moment, Guy's head rolled away.

So . . . that just happened.

My stomach gave a nauseated gurgle. I ignored it, shook off Gemma's hand, and rose to my feet, approaching the doorway. “R-Rand?” Even though I was shocked at the brutality of things, I wasn't surprised. Deep inside, I'd known that either Guy or Rand wasn't coming out of tonight alive, and I was glad that Rand was the winner. In fact, I felt the absurd urge to fling my arms around him. Probably not the best call, considering he looked feral and was spattered with blood and God knew what else. I moved to the doorway, waiting to see what happened. Just like with the two vampires in Rome, a tense minute passed, and then Guy's body seemed to melt into the grass and flutter away as dust.

It was just like Rand said—a momentary pause for the body to catch up with the brain, then nothing.

Was that going to be Rand's fate? I felt ill at the thought.

Rand threw his sword onto the grass. He rubbed a hand over his face, staring down at the spot where the body of his friend had been. He staggered in place, then straightened, as if realizing he couldn't be weak. His gaze went to the doorway, to where I stood. His blue eyes were haunted with emotion. “It is done.”

“It is,” I said softly.

He took a weary step toward me, toward the door. “Invite me in, Lindsey.”

Was this a test? To see if I truly trusted him?

Of course I trusted him. I knew Rand. I knew that no matter how savage and wild he looked right now, he was heartsick at having had to destroy his friend. At being the only one of the four left. So I opened my arms. “Come and join us inside, Rand.”

He went up the stairs slowly, with heavy steps. And as soon as he crossed the threshold, he threw himself into my arms, burying his head against my neck. I stiffened, anticipating a bite, but he was already warm with blood. And as his arms wrapped around me and held me tightly, I realized he simply wanted comfort.

My poor vampire.

I held him in my arms, and my hand went to his hair, stroking it off his face. “I'm sorry,” I told him softly. “I'm sorry it came to this.”

“I had such fear for you,” he murmured against my skin. “I lost my wits when the phone went off. I feared he'd hurt you. That he'd drained you, unable to resist your delicious blood. That he'd deliberately done something to you to get at me . . .” His voice trailed off, his arms holding me tighter.

“Hush,” I murmured. “I'm here, and I'm yours. No one has hurt me. All yours.”

“Am I?” he asked, looking up at me. His face was brutal, all harsh planes and angles. There was nothing modern in this warlord. I'd just seen him run a man through and then behead him. His fangs peeped between his hard lips, and he was covered in blood and cuts from his battle.

“I totally want to kiss you right now,” I breathed, dragging my fingers through his longish hair.

“Then do it,” he murmured, his blue eyes locked to mine.

“I can't,” I protested. “All that garlic—”

“I care not,” he said. “You are mine.” And then his mouth was on mine, his fangs scraping my lips.

I squeaked, surprised that he was kissing me despite the garlic bomb in my belly. But his mouth possessed mine, and I forgot everything but the feel of him against me. I moaned against his mouth, my arms going around his neck as he licked against my tongue, claiming me for his own.

“Mine,” he murmured again hungrily, and his tongue thrust into my mouth, a blatant reminder of what he'd like to do to me. I whimpered and slid my own tongue along his, only to feel him take it into his mouth and suck lightly on it. A blast of pleasure swept through me, and my skin prickled, my nipples hardening in response. Oooh.

“Should I get you two a room?” Gemma called from off to the side.

Rand slowly pulled his mouth from mine. He brushed my hair back from my face, studying the bruise on my cheek. The look he gave me was tender and full of emotion, and I smiled at him. He smiled back . . . and sagged to the ground.

Damn garlic.

S
hould we do something about that?” Gemma asked, eyeing the dirty, sprawled vampire at my feet.

“Let's bring him inside to one of the rooms,” I told her, getting his arms. “We'll stay here until the sun goes down.”

“Do you think we'll be safe?” she asked.

“Completely safe. If Guy's dead, his vampires are, too, remember?”

Once Rand was safely stowed inside, we worked between the two of us to lift him onto one of the beds. When he was in bed, passed out in that weird vampire sleep, I turned to Gemma and put my arms around her. “Can I just say how glad I am to see you?”

She squeezed me close in a hug. “Not half as glad as I am to see you.”

“What happened?” I asked her, sitting on the edge of the bed next to Rand's feet. “Tell me everything.”

So she did, starting with the man who'd approached her in Venice, asking about the estate. She hadn't thought anything of it, because why would she? No one in their right mind would think another crew of vampires would be coming after Rand. Vampires weren't something people normally thought they had to be safe against, so Gemma hadn't paused to consider it. She'd just invited them in. Once inside the apartment, they'd held Gemma captive and started trashing the place. They'd looked for Rand, and when he wasn't to be found, they'd hauled her back to Guy.

“And Guy was crazy nuts. Like, the motherfucker didn't like me cussing or wearing pants. I'm guessing he's still a century or two behind the women's movement.” She tilted her head. “Or . . . was.”

I hugged her again. “I'm so glad you're safe. I was so worried he'd hurt you.” The emotions of the last few days came crashing over me, and I felt tears prick my eyes. “When I saw the apartment wrecked, I thought the worst.” I squeezed her tightly, not wanting to stop hugging her.

“I'm so sorry,” she said, rubbing my arm. “I know you must have been devastated to see all that stuff broken.”

“Gem, they're just things. They can be replaced. Well, maybe not those things, but you know what I mean. Vases aren't people. I can't replace a friend that's closer to me than a sister. You know that, right?”

“Aw, I know, baby girl. I love you, too. And I'm fine.” She gave me a squeeze. “He didn't hurt me. Didn't even drink from me. Lousy fuck, though.”

I pulled back, staring her in the eye.
“What?”

“Oh, don't judge me. I offered.” She shrugged. “I figured as long as he was interested in getting some, I'd stay alive. I've fucked worse after a night at the club.” She grimaced. “I've fucked way better, but I've fucked worse for sure.”

“O-okay.” I'd never get used to how casual Gemma was about something like that.

“Yeah, he was a pretty messed-up guy,” she admitted. “Anxious as hell over stupid shit. Obsessed with Rand. And kept getting instructions from some other guy that was calling him constantly.”

“The Dragon,” I murmured.

Gemma nodded. “I'm thinking he's pulling the strings.”

“I know he is,” I told her. “He wants Rand. And I'm pretty sure he wants him dead.”

“Poor Rand,” Gemma said. “He's got a lot of damn enemies for a six-hundred-year-old man.”

“He does,” I said, looking down at Rand's sleeping body. “He's going to want to go after the Dragon next. I know he will.”

“And are you going to tag along?”

I nodded, swallowing the knot in my throat.

“Lindsey, I love you, but this guy is trouble. I don't know if this is safe. I worry he's going to get you in over your head.” She gestured at the Swiss chalet. “You know, like all this? Trashing the apartment? Kidnapping people? Beheadings?”

“I know,” I said. “I know all that.”

Her gaze sought mine. “I don't want you to get hurt. I know you care about Rand. I do, too. But he's in some deep shit, and I'm not sure you or I can hang with this.”

“I know,” I said again, then bit my lip. “Gemma, I'm going to help him. I feel responsible.”

“Oh, sugar, don't do anything I wouldn't do.”

I gave her a weak smile. “You slept with the enemy. That doesn't rule out a lot.”

“I mean falling in love. Don't do that. Love 'em and leave 'em if you must, but don't get this”—she tapped on my chest over my heart—“involved.”

Funny advice coming from Gemma, I thought with a smile. She fell in love with everyone. Of course, she also fell out of love just as quickly. “I'm afraid for him, Gemma.”

“You should be afraid for us.”

“I am. But Rand is out for vengeance.” I clung to her arms. “He wants the Dragon dead, and if Rand kills him, the connection is severed . . . and Rand will die.” The words choked in my mouth.

“Oh, sweetie.” Gemma hugged me again, then gave me a gentle look. “I know you don't like the thought of it, but put yourself in his place. The Dragon can track him, right? He's got a mental connection to the man. Rand is never going to be free of him. He's also six hundred years out of his own time, and I'm not entirely sure he wants to be here. Maybe death would be kindest.”

Tears blurred my eyes. “But I love him.”

“If you love him, love him enough to respect whatever decision he makes,” she told me in a soft voice. “And if he wants to let go, let him go.”

I wasn't sure I could. But for now, I nodded.

Gemma and I secured Guy's chalet while Rand dozed. We locked down all the windows and barred the doors, and sprinkled a bit of my holy water on each windowsill and over the thresholds. Guy's vampires should be dead, but we figured you could never be too safe. I gave Gemma one of my stakes, and she went to sleep in one of the guest bedrooms.

I went back to Rand's room. I was tired, but I wanted to make my vampire comfortable first, just in case he woke up. So I got a warm washcloth, stripped his clothing from his sleeping form, and gently cleaned him, admiring his cool muscles and noble form. As I cleaned the blood from his face, I wondered.

If Rand chose death as the kindest option, could I stop him? Did I even want to? It would be hard to live with a vampire. I'd have to rearrange my entire life around his.

But it was something I was willing to do. For him. Because the alternative—a life with no Rand—didn't seem appealing any longer. If a life with Rand meant no garlic, no sunshine, and a life on the run, then it was the life I'd choose.

I leaned in and kissed his mouth, wishing he was awake. Then, worried about the future, I curled up next to his naked form and tried to sleep.