Much Ado About Vampires

Cora stood down the end of a hallway in an open door, sunlight spilling in around her as she yelled at him to come that way. He didn’t hesitate, just shoved the chatty Guardian toward her, spinning around when de Marco burst into the hallway behind them, a gun in his hand.

“Run!” he shouted to the women, hefting a small half-moon table to hurl at de Marco.

“He’s got a gun, Alec!” Cora yelled back, and he knew even without looking that she was coming back to save him.

Dammit, woman, I am the man! I will do the saving! You will run when I tell you to run!

You can stuff that macho crap where the sun don’t shine. Besides, he’s got a gun! He’ll shoot you!

He can’t hurt me. You, however, are still mortal.

Cora flung herself on him just as de Marco opened fire, sending them both to the floor. He twisted as they fell, rolling over on top of her to protect her, pulling her head down so it was tucked against the wall of his chest.

You fool! he growled into her mind. You’ll get yourself killed that way.

Use me!

What?

Use me! Tool me! Like you did with the demon.

“There’s always a price to pay when you use Bael’s power,” he warned, but did as she suggested, holding her tight. He felt her shudder; then power began to flow from her to him, which he channeled and threw in a mass toward the man just as the first couple of bullets hit his back.

Cora jerked, and he knew one of the bullets had gone through him to her. He ripped savagely at the power, slamming it into de Marco, sending the man flying backward into the wall, where he collapsed in a heap on the floor.

“How badly are you hurt?” he asked as he rolled off Cora, his gaze pouncing on the bloom of red along her upper leg.

“I don’t think badly. Holy moly, we did that?” She stared at the crumpled heap that was Alphonse de Marco, horror skittering around her mind. “Is he . . .”

“Dead? I doubt it. He is not mortal. Let me see your leg.” He tore at the bullet hole in her jeans, ripping it wide open to examine the wound.

“Thank you, that was my favorite pair of jeans!” She slapped at his hands as he found an exit hole on the underside of her thigh, the bullet buried in the floor beneath her.

“I’ll buy you another. Dammit, it’s bleeding heavily.” With no other choice, he bent over her leg, hearing her gasp as he swirled his tongue around the upper wound, fighting the need to suck the blood from the wound.

You’re feeding? Right now? Is this what they call bloodlust?

No, this is what they call stanching the flow of blood. Reluctantly, he gave one last lick to the wound before pulling her leg up and repeating it on the exit wound.

You can do that?

I’m a Dark One, love. If we weren’t able to clot blood , our donors could bleed to death.

Oh. Well, thank you . I’m sorry I accused you of wanting to eat.

I do want to eat, but now is not the time or place. Put your arms around me.

I beg your pardon!

“I don’t want you walking on that leg until you’ve seen a doctor. Put your arms around me. You there, Guardian, see if de Marco is harmed.”

He got to his feet again, Cora in his arms, striding toward the open door at the end of the hall.

“Your back! You got shot, too! Put me down, Alec. I can walk.”

My back is fine. The wounds are already healing over. Remember the attack by the demon? I heal very fast.

“Yeah, but bullets!”

“I’m fine.”

Ulfur emerged from the room behind them, watching silently as Noelle squatted next to de Marco.

“He’s out, but not hurt badly,” she said, hurrying after them.

Alec stopped at the door, looking back at Ulfur. “Can you come with us?”

Ulfur shook his head, gesturing toward the fallen man.

“Has he bound you not to speak?”

Ulfur nodded, his expression one with which Alec had more than a passing familiarity—utter despair.

“I’ll tell Kris and Pia where you are. They’ll help.”

Ulfur smiled, but it was a sad smile. Cora waved and he lifted his hand in response, watching with black eyes as they left the building.

“Have you a car?” he asked, hissing in pain as the sunlight caught him full in the face. He glanced around quickly, but the sun was full on the house, giving no shade.

“Oh man, you’re turning red,” Cora said, glancing toward the sky. “The thing about the sun is true?”

“Somewhat.”

“I’ll get my car,” Noelle said, running down a long flagstone walkway toward steps leading down to a parking area. Scrubby desert plants and a few small cacti lined the path, the air around them hot, and filled with the dusty scent of warm, dry earth. A small gecko dashed out from the shade of a rock in front of him as he started down the path toward the driveway.

“Put me down, and go around the side of the house,” Cora ordered. He gritted his teeth against the pain in his hands and face, ignoring her demand.

“Alec, stop! You’re getting blisters!”

“I’ll survive. I don’t need you opening up those wounds again.”

“Oh, for the love of the saints . . .” She squirmed in his arms for a moment, pulling off her shirt and wrapping it around his head.

Now I can’t see.

“I’ll tell you where to go. Forward five steps, then stop.”

“I really don’t need—”

“Stop being such a baby. Five steps.”

They made it to the car, although Alec’s hands were burning something fierce by the time he placed Cora in the backseat. He was going to sit up front next to Noelle in order to give Cora room to stretch out her leg, but she just grabbed him by his shirt and pulled him in after her.

“Go!” she ordered Noelle, and the Guardian, at least, didn’t argue. Gravel kicked out behind them as the tires spun, finally getting a grip.

“Put your leg up on me,” Alec ordered, trying to arrange Cora’s leg, but she shook her head and pulled him toward her, plastering herself against the window.

“Get in the middle,” she said in her delightfully bossy tone.

“I’m not—”

Get in the middle, you idiot. The sun won’t reach you there.

I’m not going to let you hurt yourself—

“I’ll sit on you, OK? Just sit there.”

Have I mentioned that I don’t like bossy women?

Have I mentioned that I don’t like vampires?

Frequently.

Yeah , well, get over yourself. She waited until he moved to the middle of the seat before she scooted over and carefully sat across his legs. “There. Comfy?”

He closed his eyes for a second, the sting of his face and hands fading as her scent permeated his awareness, the feeling of her in his arms, warm and soft, one of her exquisite hips pressed against his penis, making it instantly come to life. He had an almost overwhelming urge to bite her, not just to feed, but simply