Promise Me Anthology (27 page)

Before David’s confession last night, she’d
been ready to commit to relocating. But hearing she would probably
die as the eventual result was a definite mark in the cons column.
Rethinking the conversation, Krys thought she knew now why Devlin
had mentioned it. When she got close to death, David was planning
on helping her become what he was. He either needed Devlin’s help
to do it, or his permission...

“Krystin,” David called from the other room.
“Please come in here. I’d come in there, but there are no
drapes.”

Startled, Krys got up, and went into the
living room. There David sat, a blanket draped over his head and
shoulders, sunlight shining in the window behind him.

Krys closed the drapes, then sat next to him,
sliding the blanket back. “Why aren’t you sleeping?”

“Because I’m scared you’re reconsidering,”
David replied, taking her hand in his. “You’d be crazy not to,
after what I’ve told you.”

“Did you come down to convince me otherwise?”
Krys said, squeezing his hand.

“I came down to enjoy being with you,” David
said, looking into her eyes. “If we only have a few days, I can
accept that. But I’m not going to waste any of that time apart from
you.”

God, he was lovable. “Go up and sleep,” Krys
said affectionately, her heart melting. “I’m just going to pick up
more groceries. I’ll be back after.”

“Good,” David said, his eyes mischievous.
“Because I wanted to play something for you tonight, if you would
like to listen.”

“I’d love to,” Krys replied eagerly. “Give me
an hour, tops.”

* * * *

That next week was heaven. David healed most
of his injuries that first night, awakening the next with just a
small limp. He and she walked each night in the dark, admiring the
falls by moonlight, and watching the deer as they came out to feed.
They made love in the mornings, then slept late into the
afternoons, limbs entwined. And each day at dusk, David would play
for her, sometimes on his keyboard, and sometimes the violin, the
compositions stirring and magical as the notes flowed over her.

Krys had never been so happy. So what if the
moon was in the sky and not the sun? What mattered was she had
someone to share her life with and each moment that made it
special. Maybe this wasn’t a happily ever after. But she was happy
now with David. She would trust him, and take whatever consequences
there were.

On their last night at the park, David led
her in front of the falls, and then turned to her.

“Will you come with me?” he said softly,
taking a ring from his pocket.

Krys blinked at him, then at the diamond. The
ring was a broken loop, with diamonds set into either end.
“That’s...I’ve never seen a ring like that before.”

“It was the most unusual design they had,”
David said sheepishly. “I wanted something special. But I can get a
traditional one, if you’d prefer that.”

“You want to marry me?” Krys whispered, her
eyes still staring at the sparkling ring.

“I do,” David said, kissing her hand. “But
I’ll settle for you agreeing just to come live with me in Colorado,
if you’d prefer that for now. I don’t want to rush you. But I also
can’t imagine going back without you, Krystin. I want you with me.
But do you want that, too?”

“Yes,” Krystin said seriously, putting her
hand over David’s. “I’m scared about what you’ve told me, but I
also don’t want to lose you.”

“So is that a yes?” David asked
hopefully.

“Yes,” Krys said, nodding. “Yes. I love
you.”

“Good, because I’m in love with you,” David
said, his face breaking into a wide smile. “Now kiss me,
sweetheart.” He leaned in close.

“I’m sorry,” a voice said excitedly. “But I
just wanted to tell you that this was so romantic, proposing right
here at the falls. Congratulations!”

Krys and David turned to an older couple,
both of them beaming.

“Thank you,” David said graciously. “We’re
very excited.”

“Actually,” Krys said, rummaging in her purse
and producing her phone. “Can you take our picture, please? We’d
love to capture this.”

“Of course,” the man said, taking the phone.
“I’ll take several. Now just smile, you lovebirds.”

David turned to Krys, then kissed her hand
gallantly, then took her in his arms and kissed her, the phone
flashing again and again.

“There are some good ones,” the man said,
handing the phone back when they were finished. “You make a lovely
couple.”

“Thank you,” David said, handing the phone
back to Krys.

Krys stashed it, then looked up at David. His
look was relaxed and confident. “You know, you never told me if
Devlin liked it,” Krys said coyly. “Your song, Night Music.”

“Your song,” David corrected. “And yes, he
loved it.”

Krys stared at him. “My song?”

“‘
Night Music for Krystin’,” David said
formally. “I changed the title.” He smiled. “Your name added just
what I needed to make it remarkable.” He kissed her hand. “You are
just what I needed.”

“So are you,” Krystin said, blinking at her
filling eyes. “I’m so glad I found you, David.”

David took out a handkerchief, and wiped away
her tears. “What would you like to do first, my fiancée?” he asked
lovingly. “We should celebrate.”

“I want you to kiss me, of course,” she said
sexily. “We’ll wing it from there.”

Her lips met his once more, her happy bliss
making the kiss perfect. At that moment everything was possible,
the future shining out before them like an unwritten sheet of
paper. Two weeks ago, just the thought of being this happy had been
impossible. Now Krys had found not only lasting love, but a new
start. Together, she and David would find a way to make it
work.

Tears and Rain

Rain poured down on
the tall man standing before the newly etched gravestone. The drops
that struck his exposed skin sizzled, then became steam.

“I got her for you, brother,” Terian said
softly.

The stone wept tears of rain that seemed to
mock his words, showing them for empty verse.
That’s what they
were.
Why should Keriam care that his murderer had been
punished? He was dead now and no spell known to sorcery could call
back a soul from Heaven. Even if there had been one, Terian
wouldn’t have attempted it. He was half demon. Just the thought of
Heaven was enough to give him a headache.

I’d surrender my soul if it would bring you
back. But do I even have a soul?

Just a few months ago, Terian’s life had been
simple, if miserable. Terian had lived with his mortal brother,
Keriam, most of his life. His small skill in potions—learned from a
sympathetic “white” witch long ago—had been enough to bring in a
small income. His brother’s new wife, while not exactly
compassionate, had been okay.

Then had come his brother’s death, a murder
that Terian had been sure was the work of the vampire turned
entrepreneur, Danial Racklan. Blinded to the danger by rage, Terian
has kidnapped Danial’s lover Sarelle, and challenged the
bloodsucker to a fight. He’d expected to win and be vindicated...or
to lose and be put out of his misery. Instead, Danial had hurt him
with a blow Terian had never seen coming: that he was not a
dhamphir—a half-vampire—as he’d always thought, but instead a
bastard mix of human and demon. The blessed blade Danial had used
hadn’t cut deeply, but the scar still graced Terian’s cheek. It was
the first wound he’d ever had that hadn’t immediately healed.

Sarelle had helped him escape certain death
that night. Her kindness had been a surprise, especially as she was
afraid of him like most humans were. After Terian had driven away,
he’d headed to the closest church. Keriam had never been religious
at all; it was his first time being near one. And “near” was as
close as Terian could manage; he could not cross onto the grounds
of the church, much less go inside.

He stood for a while on the sidewalk, looking
at the brick structure forlornly.

“You aren’t doomed just because you can’t go
in,” a solemn voice said from behind him.

Terian turned. A priest stood there, hands in
his coat pockets. “Who are you?” he said, letting out some of
anger, wanting to see the priest cringe away from the feelings of
dread his violent emotions always evoked in others.

“Control yourself,” the man ordered. “Or
you’ll make me think I’m wasting my time on you.”

Terian took a step back, forcing himself to
be calm with deep breaths.

“Better,” the man allowed. “My name is Father
Ben. I used to be a priest with a human flock.” He took a card and
handed it to Terian. “Now I tend the larger flock that’s
scattered.” There was something sad about his smile, though it was
genuine. “I’ve found they need a friend the most.”

Dr. Stephen Camlyn.
“This is a
doctor’s card,” Terian said skeptically, turning the card over to
view office hours listed on the back.
Odd.
Half the hours
listed were mornings, the rest early evenings.

“A doctor who treats supernatural beings of
all kinds. He can show you how to hide your eyes behind special
colored contacts that can withstand the natural heat of your body.
The fees are reasonable.” The priest handed him one more card.
“Call Colin, too. He can help you adjust, give you a purpose.”

“I don’t need anyone to give me a purpose,”
Terian said, flashing his pointed teeth.

“You have no morality. You have taken human
lives.”

Was he guessing, or did he know about
Alexa?
Only ones that killed other people I loved.”

“You can pledge to fight evil, or become it,”
the priest said portentously. “Only you can make the choice,
demon.”

Terian looked at the card. This had been more
what he’d expected. The card was swirled purple clouds, the name
Colin Underwood in metallic blue in neat print across the front.
But instead of some hype about paranormal investigations or magic,
it said, “Existence Coach.” Across the back in the same metallic
blue was the phrase, “You get one lifetime. Make the most of
it.”

Terian was tempted to rip the card in two.
He’d already lived a human’s lifetime, and looked only 20 years
old, at most.
What could this man hope to teach him?

“To lighten up, for starters,” a mirthful
voice said behind him.

Terian whirled, then struck out with his
fist. The man evaded him effortlessly. Terian murmured the words to
the only attack spell he knew, calling up the shadows from around
him to cloak him in a living cover of darkness. The man’s eyes
widened, then he murmured words, making his hands into fists, then
snapping them open, throwing a still-forming shimmering silver ball
of light toward Terian. The light smashed into his shadows,
scattering them to leave him revealed before it faded.

“What do you want?” Terian growled, drawing
his boot knife.

The man held up his hands in supplication.
“Not to fight.” He laughed. “That’s my card you’re holding. I’m
Colin. I felt your wish. I’ve built a sort of homing device into
the cards, so I can teleport to anyone who holds a card.” He put
his hands down, some of his levity leaving him. “Sometimes even
that’s too long.”

“What can you hope to teach me?” Terian said
bitterly. “I already know really well how the world works, Colin. I
don’t need any happy bullshit.”

“To teach you hope,” Colin said, offering
Terian his hand. “And maybe a few more defensive spells, not that
Calling Shadows is lightweight.”

“You foiled it easily enough,” Terian said
sullenly, not making a move.

“Because I’ve studied magic, specifically
defensive spells, for close to a hundred years,” Colin replied.
“That isn’t a common spell, so most people wouldn’t know the
rebuttal. Who taught you?”

“A witch,” Terian admitted grudgingly. “She
knew I was different, and she was nice to me. She taught me all the
magic I know.”

“Was she your mother?”

Terian shook his head. “My mother died giving
birth to me. I never knew my father. My only family was my brother.
He died less than a month ago.”

“I can teach you more spells,” Colin offered.
“I have more than a few tomes you are welcome to borrow, if you’re
interested. It’s all white magic.”

A crow scolded harshly from the trees above
him, shaking Terian out of his reminiscing. He pulled his coat
around his shoulders, then moved off toward his truck. There would
be time enough for pondering what his next move would be on the
road. Right now, he had to get out of New York State before Theo
caught up with him. That werecougar friend of Danial’s would kill
him if he had the chance.

Terian started his truck, then plotted a
route west. Theo likely wouldn’t pursue him beyond the boundaries
of New York state, his boss Danial’s territory. Danial wanted
Terian dead, because of his friendship with Sarelle. Sar had saved
Terian’s life that night he’d fought with Danial. She’d repaid his
holding her hostage with kindness instead of the killing blow he’d
expected.

She doesn’t love you. She never did.

Sar had risked a lot to help him. Terian had
returned her kindness by telling her of Danial’s secret request for
two expensive potions. Demon blood was an expensive ingredient
needed for its creation. Half-demon blood was a less expensive
option, but needed to be doubled when used in spellwork as a
replacement for full-demon blood. Terian thought darkly that he
could sell his blood and never have to make another potion himself,
if he was inclined.

Sar had brushed his warning about complicated
potions aside, refusing to believe Danial was up to no good. When
she’d discovered too late her vampire had hoped to start his own
immortal family with her as mom, she’d left Danial. Terian had also
discovered Danial’s plans, and known he had to warn her. He’d found
Sar at her old home that New Year’s Eve, distraught and mourning a
broken heart. To cheer her, he’d given her a late Christmas present
of magical wings. She’d been so happy. She’d never suspected he’d
laced the spell with a bit of extra magic.