Page 30 of Twilight Longings

Before he finished speaking, they were on the bed in her bedroom. A wave of her hand left him clad in nothing but his briefs. “You will make love to me now,” she demanded. “Show me what you think I’ve been missing.”

“No.”

Eyes blazing, she unleashed her power, driving Saintcrow off the bed and onto his knees. He let out a harsh gasp as a wave of excruciating pain lanced through every cell of his body.

“Change your mind,” she urged. “I can make you forget her.”

“No.” The word was torn from his throat.

“Then she dies tonight.”

The words, softly spoken, left no doubt in Saintcrow’s mind that his sire meant exactly what she said. How could he betray Kadie’s love, shatter her trust in him? Even if Kadie never knew he’d betrayed her, he would know. Hands clenched, eyes closed, he visualized her lying helpless and unmoving, growing weaker day-by-day. Perhaps it was better to let Eleni end Kadie’s life now, before she wasted away to nothing. Once she was gone, he would follow her.

Eleni frowned as she read his thoughts. He meant to destroy himself if she killed his woman. She had no doubt that he would do it. She could not comprehend a love such as that. Saintcrow was in pain, not only from the agony she was inflicting on him, but at the thought of betraying his woman. She would never understand a love like that, Eleni mused, and knew, in that moment, that it was not something she wanted. Surely loving someone that much gave them too much power over you. She could not envision giving up her freedom for anyone, man or vampire.

“One night,” she said. “Surely that is not too much to ask? After all, you would have died centuries ago if not for me.”

“No.” The word was a groan on his lips.

“You would rather see her dead than betray her,” Eleni mused. “Interesting.”

He didn’t answer, just stared up at her, panting softly as pain splintered through him.

Eleni shook her head. He was a fool, she thought, but she had to admire his loyalty. That was the one thing she understood and respected. “What if I could heal your woman? Would you spend a night with me then?”

Hope flickered in the depths of Saintcrow’s eyes. “Can you?” he gasped. “Heal her?”

“Without a doubt.” It wasn’t exactly a lie, she thought. She had the means but not the ability.

“How?”

“That’s for me to know.”

He swallowed a groan as the pain knifing through him grew stronger. “One night?” He would never forgive himself for betraying Kadie, but surely she would forgive him if it meant saving her life. And although he didn’t trust Eleni to keep her word, he was willing to risk it for Kadie’s sake.

“Do we have a deal?” Eleni asked.

“Yes,” he gasped. “But onlyafteryou heal Kadie. I don’t trust you to keep your word.”

“And yet you expect me to believeyouwill keepyours?”

“How soon can it be done?”

“I will have to retrieve something first.”

“How long will that take?”

“Not long.” A wave of her hand released him from the pain. “If you change your mind,” she warned, “what you felt here tonight will be as nothing compared to what comes next. I will let you know when I have what I need. Now, get out of here.”

Saintcrow lurched to his feet, stumbled into the living room and grabbed his clothes, and willed himself to Morgan Creek. Materializing in the cemetery, he burrowed into theearth beside Kadie. Taking her in his arms, he sighed as the earth settled around them.

Whispering, “Forgive me, sweetheart,” he closed his eyes and surrendered to the blessed, healing power of the dark sleep.

Chapter Twenty-One

Kincaid stared at Saintcrow. “And you believed her?” he asked, after Saintcrow finished explaining the deal he had made with Eleni.

Saintcrow shrugged. “Right now, she’s the only hope I’ve got.”

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