Page 5 of Tempting the Dhampir

All the women band together to get the supplies to the shore, taking turns to wade through the tranquil shallows while balancing snacks and drinks above the waterline.

“I’ve got the ice,” Natalie shouts.

I smile at that. I’ve noticed her frequently running ice cubes down her arms. Wonder if she’s got an ice kink.

A few trips back and forth, and we’ve got the blankets, cushions, and picnic tables set up. Helena arranges the food, and Iris the drinks.

By the time we finish setting up, the sun has lowered in the sky, already streaking the blue with hues of pink and gold. The colors reflect beautifully off the surface of the water, making it look as if the sun is dancing atop the sea.

I walk over to Cece, who’s standing right where the ocean meets the beach, listless waves licking at her feet as she stares at the most beautiful sky I’ve ever seen.

Cece takes a deep breath and lets it out on a slow exhale. “Isn’t it the most enchanting sight?” she asks, a wistful expression playing across her face.

She’s undoubtedly trying to memorize the colors for her next big embroidery piece.

“You want to thread paint it, don’t you?” I ask, burying my toes into the sand next to hers.

Cece’s gaze stays fixed on the horizon, her brow furrowed as she says, “Absolutely. I want to take a picture, but also not. It won’t do it justice. I keep thinking about which threads I’d have to layer to even remotely come close to capturing this. But it’s captivating me.”

I slip my hand into Cece’s and turn to face her. “You’re such a talented artist, I’m sure you’ll figure it out. Just like you did with that piece of the woman dancing in the forest. It’s imprinted in my brain. Your best work yet.” I rub at my chest with my free hand, emotion bubbling just underneath the surface. “I’m so proud of you. When I showed your website to Iris and Helena, I could literally feel my chest puffing up more with each piece they saw.”

Cece’s whole face lights up, and she stands a little straighter. Tucking a piece of her waist-length hair behind her ear, she gives me a delighted smile. “That’s my favorite embroidery piece I’ve ever done. The whole scene came to me in a vivid dream. I don’t know if you noticed, but the woman dancing in the meadow looks similar to me.” Cece rolls her lips between her teeth as pink stains her cheeks. “I know the scene can’t be real, but it felt real. Like it was in a past or future life. It was like I could feel the crisp fall air on my skin, even now as I recall the dream. I could smell the fresh forest air, the grass, the trees. Oh, the trees.” Her eyes take on a dreamy glaze as she recalls every detail. “There were shades of mustard, amber, rust, ginger, olive, brick red even…”

“Do you still have it?”

“I haven’t had the heart to sell it yet,” Cece admits. Her lips turn down at the corners, and a hint of sadness tinges her voice.

“Well, maybe you’re meant to keep it,” I say decisively. “I love what a great artist you are and how you’ve developed your craft, how you can paint with thread and bring a picture to life on fabric. I’m also proud of you for being a savvy small business owner, for turning your art into a living.”

Cece surges forward to hug me, but in her usual gentle way—knowing not to mess with the hair I spent an hour curling. I return her hug with just as much fervor.

After a moment, Cece steps back and cups my shoulders. “Sisters by blood.”

I cup her shoulders back. “Friends by choice,” I finish our mantra, beaming.

Letting go of Cece, I close my eyes and cringe at what I’m about to ask. “Soooo, not to ruin this beautiful moment, but you don’t suppose an uninhabited island has facilities, do you? The champagne seems to have gone right through me. Do you maybe want to come with me, just through those trees?” I squint one of my eyes open, my shoulders still high around my ears, knowing it’s a big ask to walk away from this view.

“Dede,” Cece says on a sigh.

“We’ll be quick.” I give her the best puppy dog eyes I can muster.

“Let’s go.” She gives me an indulgent smile. “I’d like to be back in time to catch the last remnants of the rays dancing on the surface, though. I have an idea to highlight the water with this very thin gold thread…” And Cece’s off in her own world, already designing her next pièce de résistance.

On our way toward the lush vegetation, I let Natalie know where we’re going.

“Watch out for any lurking predators!” she shouts with a laugh.

It’s highly unlikely that there’s anything dangerous on the island, but one can never be too careful. All of us probably have at least one story of carrying car keys between our fingers, or waiting for a message from a friend to see if they made it home safe after a night out.

After a couple of paces through the underbrush, Cece stops to look at some peculiar flowers. She lowers onto her haunches and gestures at the blue flowers with their teensy bioluminescent glow, trailing deeper into the forest. I remain standing right behind her, wary of the flowers that look like they’re from a sci-fi movie.

“Aren’t they beautiful?” Cece’s voice is thick with wonder as she inspects them without touching. “It looks like they’re growing in some kind of path. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“Should we call the others to come look?” I ask.

I’m no botanist, but even I can appreciate their uniqueness. Maybe the other women would too.

“Let’s venture a tad farther in, and then we can get the others. I have a feeling there’s something even more special waiting up ahead for us.” Cece rarely does anything remotely selfish, so I really want to indulge her in this flower quest.

---