Page 131 of Evil Hearts

“There’s perfect!”

The painting was perfect!

She gazed lovingly at the portrait of the two brothers. Though the setting around her was drab and lifeless, she’d painted the scenery to set the two in a dilapidated church with a colorful stained-glass backdrop where her room’s window should have been. Several looming shadows and a snarling wolf painted between the two offered an extra touch of fantasy that the brothers seemed pleased with, and as she gave a few final highlights to the masterpiece she felt a swell of pride and admiration from her subjects as they watched the final steps of the process.

“Thank you so much for this!” she smiled at the two. “This isexactlywhat I needed!”

“It’s no’ a problem,” Munro winked. “Anything for ye.”

“We should be getting back,” Lachlan frowned, looking out at the dimming sky.

“Why?” Munro pouted, “Can’t we just stay for a drink or something?”

“And if the vampires find us here?” Lachlan growled, narrowing his gaze to Munro. “If ye haven’t noticed, it’s nearly nightfall!Theirtime, an’ we’re ontheirturf! An’ after the beating we gave ‘em las’ night they’ll be aching t’return the favor!”

“What are you talking about, Lachlan?” Katarina frowned. “The vampires own this land?”

“Aye, lass. T’was a settlement made long ago,” Munro answered solemnly. “Our kin used to run all across the highlands, but vampires began to flock in on European trade-ships, eager t’see what else they could bleed in the world. The truce they made was shady, but they were quite convincing in having the townfolk agree to let them chase the wolves out’ve their hills. T’wasn’t long ‘fore they’d chased almos’ all o’ us out. Those that didn’t go easy they ripped t’pieces.”

“They took out several packs of us. Eventually it was enough to drive most of us out, but our mother was one of the unfortunate ones they made an example of,” Lachlan finished for Munro.

“Then why are you two…?” she stifled a sob, nearly driven to tears by their story.

“We tried to leave,” Munro nodded, “but we were only lads at the time. We knew the vampires stayed in the highlands except to visit the villages they’d claimed, so we kept to the forest and stayed hidden in our cave.”

“Over the years they’ve lost interest in tracking ‘wolves,’” Lachlan shrugged. “We’re pro’ly all that’s left, an’ the two o’us doona stand a chance against them.” He frowned at Munro. “It’s an unspoken truce that’s held up to now, but they will’na take kindly to us being here after sundown.”

“And you two still came to town for me?” she bit her lip, remembering Lachlan’s tension when she’d first asked about escorting her there. “You shouldn’t have done that!”

“It was our choice, lass! You have nothing to apologize for,” Lachlan stood, taking Munro by the arm. “But we must leave now.”

Munro frowned, turning to her and gave her one last wink. “It was nice to model for ye, lass.”

She frowned, frozen at the sight as the two stepped out, leaving her alone in her room. Biting her lip, she turned back to the painting, looking at the fantasy that the two had become.

Was that it then?

As the loneliness set in, Katarina let the first of the tears fall as she crawled into bed.

Chapter Four:

Missing Brother & Found Love

“Lass, I needye, now!”Lachlan’s piercing gaze held hers as he took in every inch of her naked body.

“Then what’s stopping you, highlander?” she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down to meet her.

Lachlan groaned as his lips crashed into hers, and Katarina shivered as he began to deepen the kiss. As his tongue swept past her lips, his hands moved to her breasts, squeezing them and causing her to gasp into his mouth. She moaned, loving the feel of his kiss as his thumb brushed her hardening nipple. He groaned as she cried out against his lips again, and she trembled, feeling his throbbing shaft thrum against his thigh.

“I need you to take me, Lachlan! I can’t wait any longer! I’ve needed this from the first time I saw you!” Katarina cried out.

“Katarina!” he growled, pressing his cock at her entrance. “Ye really are something!”

“Lachlan,” her voice stammered as she felt him begin to enter, “I never want to be without you again!”

“Aye?”

Katarina’s eyes fluttered open at the disembodied burr and found herself staring up into Lachlan’s startled face.

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