Real Vampires Hate Skinny Jeans (39 page)

“No need for violence. Glory proved a point. I had a little fun at her expense. It’s over now and we’re done. I want nothing more to do with her.” Ian’s eyes flashed. “Just get me the fuck out of this, Gloriana. Now!”

“I didn’t really hear an apology.” I felt Ray squeeze my hand. Okay, so Ian had a dozen guards he could call in. “Fine.” I thawed him then braced myself.

Ian just strode around the room, obviously testing his freedom, then stopped to write something in his tablet.

“Son of a bitch but I hated that! Wish I could do it myself though.” He glared at me like it was my fault that I couldn’t transfer the power.

“Did she tell you she can also blast through your mental blocks when you’re trying to hide your thoughts?” Ray threw himself into a chair. “That one’s a real pisser.”

Ian blanched and frowned at me. I gave him a finger wave with a smile, not even pretending I hadn’t poked around in his brain.

Ray gestured at his bodyguard. “Will, you can go back outside now. Disaster averted.”

“I hope so. MacDonald, is he right?” Will waited until Ian nodded. “Too bad. While you were standing there frozen, I had a chance with my stake. But it wasn’t to be.” He ignored Ian’s growl. “Glory, good to see you. Glad you and Ray here finally hooked up. Though I’m sure Blade wouldn’t agree.” He winked at me. “Don’t see anyone’s ring on your finger, though, do I, lass?”

“Will, aren’t you supposed to be outside sharpening that stake or something?” I really didn’t need to hear Jerry’s name right now.

“Sure. Guard duty. I’m on it. Just one more thing.” Will stopped in the doorway. “MacDonald, Blade sent ye a message from the homeland.” He said something in Gaelic that Ian obviously took exception to. Will grinned and saluted before taking off.

“Might be time to let that slacker go.” Ray grumbled.

“Couldn’t agree more.” Ian threw down his tablet. “I assume you’re here for the daylight drug, Ray. I’ll go get your order.” He left the room after sending a last angry look my way. An effort to read his thoughts just got me a bunch of indecipherable Gaelic. Ian had obviously switched languages, my hopelessness with any languages other than English no secret.

“I wonder what Will said.”

“Doesn’t matter. I won’t fire him. He’s a hell of an Xbox player and we have a tournament going. He’s on my team against Nate and one of the other guards.” Ray smiled ruefully at me. “No comment on the plane trip?”

“Let’s wait until we’re out of here for that discussion.” I sat on the arm of his chair. Before I could stop him, he’d pulled me into his lap. “I’m sorry, Ray, that you walked into the middle of that. But have to say I wasn’t sure how it was going to play out.” I didn’t let him know I could have vanished out of there.

“Glad to help. Ian was certainly pissed. Please don’t do that to me. Not sure I could take it.” He pulled me close, my head snug against his chest. I inhaled, savoring his nearness and realizing again how much he meant to me.

What was wrong with me that I could have such strong feelings for three different men? And be willing to use them so shamelessly? Because I had to talk Ray out of going with me on that plane yet it seemed like I was going to let him foot the bill. If I could pay him back somehow… Oh, sure. How many thousands of dollars did a charter flight cost? I’d end up like Diana, drowning in debt.

But I’d let Jerry pay for bodyguards for hundreds of years. Obviously using men was Siren behavior, I just hadn’t known that’s where it had come from. It was past time I let it go. I didn’t want to be that person anymore, always taking.

“My, oh my. Look at the cozy couple.”

“Get up, Glory,” Ray growled in my ear.

“No. Ignore her, Ray. Lucky, go away.” I noticed she hadn’t brought her bodyguards in with her.

“Are you kidding? Ian’s expecting me. We have a date.” She tossed her hair then smiled. “Hey, Ray. How’s immortality treating you?”

“Glory, I’m about to dump you on your pretty behind.” Ray stood and dropped me on the chair. “Lucky, I figure you don’t give a shit about me and my immortality.”

“But I do. Didn’t Glory tell you? I’m sorry, Ray. I’ve had time to think since I did the deed. Maybe I was hasty, turning you like that.” Lucky was smart enough to keep the couch between her and Ray, especially when Ray stepped closer to her.

“
Maybe?
You hadn’t seen me in what?—decades—and you rip out my throat and make me vampire on a fuckin’
whim
?” Ray stalked her, fangs down, following her when she backed away from him. “Now ‘Sorry’ is supposed to clear the air? Some things are unforgivable, Lucky. You with me on that, Glory?”

“Ray, settle down. It can’t be undone so there’s no point in—” I stood behind him, trying to find the magic words to calm him down. He kept his eyes narrowed on Lucky like he was ready to spring.

“In what? Taking revenge? But it would feel so damned good.” Ray jerked a stake out of his back pocket and Lucky and I both gasped.

“What the hell are you doing? Vampires don’t—” Lucky’s eyes were saucers and she’d backed up until she hit a wall. A painting that had hung there fell to the floor with a crash. I figured the only reason that Ian hadn’t come running was because he was somewhere enjoying the show.

“Don’t stake each other? You wish. I figure sending you to hell would be a public service, Lucky.” Ray’s hand was steady as he aimed the stake at Lucky’s heart. There was still a leather chair between them but I knew it would be an easy leap for him to be on her.

“Ray, the council won’t stand for this. You know the penalty for taking out another vampire.” I kept my hand on his back, willing him to listen to me.

“Let them try to find me.” His smile was wry. “I have the resources to live wherever the hell I please.”

“I won’t run with you.” I squeezed his shoulder.

“I’ll miss you like hell, sweet thing, but that threat won’t stop me. And I’m warning you, Glory. If you freeze me now, I’ll never forgive you. You hear me?” Ray’s voice was cold and I believed him.

“I won’t do that to you, Ray. This is your decision. But she’s just not worth it. You’ve made a decent life here. I can’t bear the thought of you bringing it down over this worthless bitch.” I leaned my face against his shirt, too sick and terrified to cry.

“Freeze
him
, Glory. I know you can do it.” Lucky’s voice wobbled and I realized she was actually scared.

“No.” I rubbed his back, absorbing his pain, hurt and fury. If I were still a killer, a real Siren, I’d take her out for him. Obviously I was damned anyway. No wonder Lucifer had been drawn to me, wanted me for himself. I swallowed nausea at the thought.

But I knew Ray wasn’t the cold-blooded killer he thought he could be and regret would haunt him later. I held on to him, feeling the thrum of his tension in the set of his shoulders. How could I help him?

“She’s all yours, Ray. Make your choice.” I raked her with my eyes and pinned her where she stood.

“You froze her.” Ray turned and faced me. “I can stake her now and she can’t get away from me.”

“Right. So make a decision. Do it and ruin everything. Or let her go. Lucky’s promised to leave town. I don’t think she’ll be interested in coming back.” I sucked in a breath. It took everything in me not to fall to my knees and beg him to do the right thing.

I’d left Lucky’s eyes mobile and she blinked frantically as
if to say she was more than ready to get out of Austin. Ray glanced at her then back to me again.

“She doesn’t deserve to live, Glory.” His voice was low as he leaned his forehead against mine. “I’ve dreamed of doing this ever since…”

“I know, Ray. I do.” I slid my hands up to his face, running my thumbs over the stubble of his evening beard. “Look at me. Please.” He leaned back and it took me a moment to collect my thoughts. “I love you, Ray. Enough to step back and let you take her out if that’s what you need to do. But please let Lucky go.” I felt his jaw tighten under my fingertips.

“Glory…”

“Don’t do it for me, Ray, do it for yourself. You’re vampire. Done deal. We can’t turn back the clock.”

“That’s the problem, babe.” He looked down at the stake, the sharp point too close to his own lean stomach in its dark T-shirt. “What she did… I can’t be mortal again. God knows I’ve done everything in my power to try to figure out a way…” He met my gaze again. “Sorry, but you know how I feel about losing daylight. If I’d had a choice, like you did… Shit. But I didn’t.” He gritted his teeth. “She took the choice out of my hands and that’s what I just can’t accept.”

“Well, accept this, Israel Caine.” I gripped his hand that held that stake. “You’re stuck. Get over it.” I sighed and kissed his cheek. “I’d hoped you’d become used to this life enough by now to realize how much it’s brought you—immortality, strength, enhanced senses. Damn it, love the night, Ray, and quit fighting against it. Find the beauty and stop mourning what you can’t freakin’ have.”

“Shit.” One arm went around me and he took a breath as he held me for a long moment. Finally he looked at me again. “Guess I have turned into a whiny SOB, haven’t I?” Ray’s mouth worked until he managed a slight smile. “But I want to kill her so damned bad.”

“I know. She’s done horrible, unforgivable things. But I’ve got to believe that somewhere down the line she’ll get
what she deserves. Divine justice. What goes around, comes around. Karma. Whatever you want to call it I’m pretty sure Lucky will get hers in the end. Can’t we leave it at that?” I took the stake from his fingers, surprised when he let me. “You’re a good man, Ray. That’s just one reason I love you, whines and all. What say we let her go now and then get the hell out of here?”

“Yeah. I want to hold you, be with you, before you leave. And, no, I’m not going with you. There’s nothing for me in Scotland. But I’ll send Will with you. How’s that?” He kissed me sweetly, then hungrily. “Damn, Glory. I can’t believe I let you talk me out of this.”

“Neither can I.” Ian walked into the room with a small package. “Daylight drug. Now go stand by the terrace doors, then release Ms. Carver, Gloriana. I’ll deal with the fallout.” Ian nodded toward Lucky. “I’ve got a note here for Campbell. An answer to the message passed by Kilpatrick. Will you take it for me?” He held out a small sealed envelope.

“It’s not going to aggravate the feud, is it? I don’t trust you.” I stared down at it. I was too anxious about Ray right now to get into Ian’s thoughts. I was pretty sure they were still in that indecipherable Gaelic anyway, the note too. I awkwardly held that stake, not about to hand it to Ian, though I was desperate to be rid of it.

“It shouldn’t if Campbell is reasonable.” Ian smiled like he doubted that. “Good luck.” He nodded at Ray. “I’ll see you another night. Enjoy your daylight.”

“I always do. Now if you get the urge to poison that bitch”—Ray glanced at Lucky—“go with it. No great loss.”

“I’m beginning to see that some people think so. Please just take off. Gloriana?” Ian raised an eyebrow.

“She’s thawed.” I stuck the note in my bra then ran out the door behind Ray. We shifted, only stopping long enough to get Will from the front lawn where I handed him the stake. Then we headed toward Ray’s house.

When we got there it was quiet and Ray pulled me into the dark living room.

“I have a question for you,” I said before he could drag me down the hall to either the playroom or the bedroom.

“Shoot.” Ray faced me, not even trying to evade the showdown.

“What in the hell were you doing carrying a stake?” I paced the length of the room.

“I started the night you told me Lucky was in town.” He sat at the piano and stared down at the keys. “What did you expect? I hate her. The fact that she was here and I could run into her was eating me alive, Glory. I figured she was still gloating about what she did to me. I had to do something about it.”

“She told you she regretted it, Ray. She isn’t gloating and I believe her.” I sat next to him. “You have any idea how dangerous it is to have a stake on you? You’re still a relatively new vampire. What if someone had overpowered you? Or frozen you, like I can do? They could take that stake and use it against you, Ray.” I bumped against his shoulder. “Please promise me you won’t do that again.”

“No worries.” He played a bar or two of scary music. “I’ll let Will handle it from now on. That’s what I pay him for.” He smiled.

“Thank God.” I laid my hands on top of his.

He turned his hands over and gripped mine then stared into my eyes. “You sure you need to go to Scotland? I think we’ve got a good thing going right here. You really came through for me back there. I could feel the love.” He pulled me to him, holding me almost too tight. “Damn, girl, I seriously felt all that emotion from you just lift me right out of my anger.”

“I was hoping…” I held on to him and rubbed my face against his shoulder. “I couldn’t bear it if you self-destructed, Ray. But, like I said, don’t do anything for me, do it for yourself. You’re worth it. Believe that if you believe nothing else.”

“Shit. This sounds like a good-bye speech.” He leaned back and smiled sadly. “You leaving now? Tonight? Without…”

I put my fingers over his lips. “I can’t take your plane. It’s not fair. And I’m not taking Will either. I’ll get to Scotland on my own somehow. Don’t worry about it.”

“No plane. Then how…?” Ray brushed my hair back. “No, I don’t want to know. Just promise me you won’t shape-shift and try to fly yourself over the Atlantic as a bird or bat or something. That’s too much for anyone but one of those macho types like Blade. And I bet even he has pit stops.”

“No, I won’t try to do that. A girl’s got to have luggage, you know.” I leaned against him again. I knew I had made the right decision.

“Okay. You’re smart. You’ll figure it out. You need cash—” He didn’t get to finish that offer with my hand over his mouth.

“I’m through with what I’ve figured out is Siren behavior, Ray.” I stopped and shook my head. “No, that’s an excuse. I’m through being a user. Especially men. Jerry, Rafe, now you. No money, bodyguards, plane rides.” This was like stepping off a cliff, no safety net, no bottom in sight. But I pasted on a confident smile, glad Ray couldn’t blast through
my
mental blocks.