Nightshifters (12 page)

The cellar door opened and Vladmir, dressed in a long, dark
trench coat, stepped into the night. Rana sought Alexandru’s eyes. The worry,
anger and jealousy she saw in them punched her in the gut. Did he really still
care that much for her?

“I’ll be all right. Are you with me or not?”

Alexandru nodded then reached for her. He pulled her into
his arms and lowered his head. His lips brushed hers, then he crushed her mouth
against his.

Rana’s body heated like a furnace. She sighed inwardly and
responded with the same passion. She still loved this immortal man. She had
never stopped loving him. He deepened the kiss for a moment then thrust her
from him. “Go,
cara
,” he whispered hoarsely. “Save your son.”

 Rana nodded, tossed him the gun and the stake, then
stepped out of the shadows into the moonlight.

Alexandru fisted his hand around the pistol. He shouldn’t let
her do it. Allowing Vladmir anywhere near Rana filled him with a river of rage.
He didn’t want that monster looking at her much less touching her. And
certainly not… He closed his eyes. Jealousy pierced his heart. The thought of
Vladmir feeding from her sweet nectar repulsed him. It also renewed his desire
to destroy him. From his position behind the tree, he could see Rana walking
toward Vladmir. His chin tightened.

“Rana, my lovely, we meet again.” Vladmir’s lips spread over
his fangs. “How’s my son?”

Rana stopped in midstep. Alexandru held his breath waiting
for her response.

Don’t let him get to you, Rana. Keep your cool.

Anger boiled his blood at Vladmir’s brazen remark. Alexandru
wanted to send Rana telepathic encouragement, but was afraid Vladmir would
intercede. It took every ounce of his strength to veil his presence from
Vladmir. The veil wouldn’t protect him for long. As a fledgling, he knew the
elder vampire would be able to sense him. And that would be deadly. For them
both.

“Not well,” Rana resumed her step. “I thought you should
know. He’s very sick.”

Vladmir kept his eyes on her. “That so?”

“I thought you might be able to help.”

To Alexandru’s surprise, Rana kept her voice steady and her
emotions at bay.

“You want my help?”

“Yes.”

“And what shall I get in return?”

Alexandru gritted his teeth.
Your demise!

“What do you want?” he heard Rana ask softly, without
emotion.

Vladmir’s grin widened. “Your blood flowing through my
veins.”

“All right.”

“All right?” Vladmir’s eyebrows shot up.

“My son is sick, Vladmir. I’ll do whatever it takes to save
him.”

“I see.” He licked his lip. “So you’d be willing to give
yourself to me in exchange for helping our son?”

“Yes.” Rana stood in front of him now, tilting her head to
expose her neck. Pale skin glistened in the moonlight like a star in the night
sky. Alexandru could see her knees shaking, but she held her own. His Rana had
always been a strong woman. It was one of the qualities he admired in her.
Alexandru waited in the shadows. Ready to go in for the kill.

“This is a pleasure, my lovely.” Vladmir’s eyes glittered.
“A pleasure indeed.” He lowered his head, fangs bared, and punctured her neck.
She flinched but didn’t move away.

Alexandru recoiled as if shot. It was too painful to watch.
He sniffed. The scent of her blood filled the air. Alexandru salivated. He
could almost taste her warm nectar, coppery and sweet, sliding down his throat,
heating his veins. Alexandru sucked in a deep breath. He hated that Vladmir
took what should rightfully be his. Rana was his woman. She always had been and
always would be. And after today no man, mortal or immortal, would ever touch
her again. He would make damn sure of it. Somehow. Some way. He would convince
her that he was nothing like her father. Alexandru’s nerves stood on end. He
wanted to stop it.

Not yet. Wait for the swoon. That orgasmic moment when
her blood rushes through his veins, and he is disoriented. The moment he is the
weakest.

Predatory instincts kicked in. Alexandru paced like a caged
animal in the shadows behind the tree. He forced himself to remain in control.

Not time. Not yet. He waited with the patience of a lion on
the prowl. Waited for the exact moment Vladmir had to be taken by surprise.

Wait.

The seconds ticked by.

Wait.

Now!

Alexandru materialized beside them. With the cry of a
warrior he plunged the wooden stake through Vladmir’s back straight through to
his heart. Stunned, the elder vampire reeled his head back and screamed a
horrible sound that echoed through the bowels of the French Quarter. Rana
jerked away and ran off to the side. Vladmir’s face contorted with rage. He
lunged for Alexandru. Both vampires rose, claws and fangs bared, and fought in
midair. Snarls and hisses pierced the night. Power against power. Good against
evil. Alexandru reached for the pistol. He aimed it toward Vladmir’s chest. The
elder vampire howled again and knocked it out of his hand. The gun fell to the
ground below them. Rana scrambled for it.

Alexandru circled his rival in the air then positioned
himself behind Vladmir. His gaze caught Rana’s.

Shoot! Now!

 Rana raised the pistol and aimed it directly toward
Vladmir. Her startled eyes held Alexandru’s gaze. Questioning. Alexandru
nodded.

Now!

The elder vampire howled again then dissipated into thin
air. He reappeared behind Alexandru, his eyes flaming like twin fireballs. He
lunged toward his fledgling, claws extended and fangs glinting in the
moonlight. Alexandru hissed and dodged the elder vampire’s attack. Rana
followed the battle with the gun, her finger on the hair trigger. Alexandru’s
eyes bored into Rana.

Now!

Alexandru disappeared. With shaking hands, Rana aimed and
fired. Vladmir fell to the ground in a heap. Rana fired again and again until
she emptied the gun. She ran to her backpack — still on the ground behind the
cypress tree — and grabbed the bottle of holy water. She returned and poured it
over the writhing vampire. Vladmir’s body sizzled then burst into flames. The
flesh melted away, leaving a pile of bones behind. Within minutes, the bones
disintegrated, and Vladmir’s body vanished into thin air.

 It was over.

 Alexandru reappeared beside Rana as she finished off
the bastard. The battle had weakened him and he needed to feed. Needed to renew
his strength. His legs shook, and he crumpled to the ground.

“Alexandru!” Rana rushed to his side and knelt down. “What’s
wrong? Did I hit you too?”

Alexandru moaned.

Blood. He needed blood.

Now!

Rana cradled his head in her lap. “Talk to me. What’s wrong?”
She patted his body, checking for injuries. Sharp pain pierced his veins and he
collapsed, weakening him more. His body convulsed, jerking left and right.

“Alexandru!” Rana held him steady.

He heard the terror in her voice. Was she really worried
about him? Or would she just finish him off? Alexandru’s eyes rolled and his
lids closed. He was slipping.

Fast.

Rana’s hands gripped the sides of his face. She shook him,
hard. “Stay with me, darling. Tell me what to do.”

Alexandru’s eyelids fluttered. He needed her, but he
couldn’t ask her to do the unthinkable. He loved her too much for that. His
body stilled and his head rolled to the side. He felt Rana jump to her feet.
Somewhere in the darkness, he heard her running across the yard. Sadness
engulfed him. She had left him.

Then…

Something shattered. Glass? Had she hurt herself? He
struggled to open his eyes, but his body remained in a catatonic state. He
couldn’t move. Seconds later, she returned.

“Hold on, Alexandru. Don’t leave me.” Rana pressed her wrist
against his lips.

The first drop of blood trickled into his mouth and
Alexandru’s body burned with need. His veins reacted like a druggie in
withdrawal.

“Take what you need, darling.” Rana whispered. “I trust
you.”

She trusted him? Alexandru struggled to rise, but his body
refused to cooperate. The steady stream of blood filling his mouth tasted
sweeter than any he’d ever had. A metallic substance that he needed more than
life itself. He swallowed and suckled her wrist. A rush of warmth surged through
his veins bringing him pleasure beyond description. He moaned softly and fed
until his body regained strength. Then he opened his eyes. His gaze locked with
Rana’s. For the first time he didn’t see repulsion in their stormy depths.
Instead, her eyes shimmered with the same love he had seen in them before he
had been turned. His heart quickened. Did she … Could she?

“Welcome back.” A curve touched her lips, and she pulled her
wrist back.

“I thought I had lost you.”

“Would you have cared?”

“Yes.” Rana’s smile widened. “Yes, I would have.”

“Why?” He held up her red-stained wrist. “Why did you do
it?”

“I didn’t want to lose you again, Alexandru. I love you.”

Hope flared through him. Did she mean it? Or would she hate
him again in the morning? “I’m still a vampire.” Alexandru watched her face
carefully for any sign of disgust. To his relief, he found none. “That’s never
going to change.”

“I know.” Rana nodded. “I’ve hated my father so long, that
I’ve let it cloud my judgment.” She touched his cheek and her eyes sparkled in
the moonlight. “You are nothing like him. You never have been. I’m so sorry,
Alexandru. I never meant to hurt you. I really do want to be with you. I love
you.”

Alexandru’s heart slammed against his chest. Dare he trust
her this time? “What are you saying, Rana?”

“I still want to marry you. Are you going to deny me my
dream wedding?”

 Alexandru grinned. “I could never deny you anything.”
He stood and pulled her to her feet. Moonbeams danced off her hair. “I love
you,
cara
. More than anything. But, how can this work? I’ll live forever
and you won’t. I can’t bear to lose you again.”

He shuddered at the thought.

An impish smile touched her lips. “I have an idea.”

“Not another,” Alexandru growled softly. “I didn’t care for
your last one.”

“It worked didn’t it?” Rana asked smugly.

“Barely. What’s this idea of yours this time?”

She took a deep breath. “You know how much I love my son.
And I want him to have a somewhat normal childhood. But after he grows up, I
want you to turn me.”

“You’re sure?”

“Absolutely. It’ll just be a few years. In the meantime, we
can work together to rid the city of the evil vamps. Vigilante justice, I call
it. I realize now that all vampires aren’t bad. Just like all people aren’t
bad.” She grinned and pointed to the smoldering soil beside them. “Besides, I
think we make a pretty good team. Don’t you?”

Alexandru laughed and slipped his arm around her. “That we
do. Only this time we are not waiting to get married. The sooner the better, I
say.”

“I agree.” Rana laughed as the music from her cell phone
penetrated the night. She unhooked the phone from her belt loop and answered
it. Seconds later, she grinned and flipped the top down. “That was Jill. Damien
is awake, his fever is gone, and he’s asking for chocolate ice cream.” She
hugged Alexandru. “Thank you for saving my son. He’s going to be all right
now.”

“Our son.” Alexandru brushed his lips across her temple.
“He’s our son now.”

 “Our son,” Rana agreed softly as he lowered his head.
His lips found hers and he kissed her with the promise of eternity.

Tamelia Tumlin has worked with several online publishers, but
is now writing exclusively for Steel Magnolia Press. Juggling motherhood,
teaching and writing is a challenge, but one she welcomes to pursue her
passion.

Her romance stories range from sweet and sassy to dark and
dangerous. Titles include: