Page 75 of Twilight Longings

With his preternatural hearing, he heard her go up the stairs to the blue-and-white bedroom and quietly close the door. A moment later, he heard the muffled sound of her tears.

He was going to have to choose, he thought bleakly. A single lifetime with Kadie, or an eternity without her.

Feeling suddenly trapped, he transported himself to a nightclub in Cheyenne.

Saintcrow wasn’t surprised when Kincaid appeared on the barstool beside him. “What took you so long?” he asked wryly.

“You were so upset I wasn’t sure I wanted to be around you. What’s going on?”

“Kadie wants me to be human again. She figures since the Methuselah Stone made her human, it should work on me, too. She’s sure that if I was no longer a vampire, we could conceive a child.”

“She’s still on the baby kick, huh?”

“Yeah. She was content to adopt one until she thought about the Medallion.”

“What are you gonna do?”

“I’m not sure, but I’m afraid she’ll leave me if I don’t let Izabela give the Methuselah Stone a chance.”

“You’re kidding!”

“She hasn’t said anything, but I’ve got the feeling we’re about to have separate bedrooms.”

Kincaid frowned. “I don’t think the Methuselah Stone had anything to do with her becoming human again. I think maybe it was an unexpected by-product of Luca’s curse that made it happen.”

Saintcrow shrugged. “Maybe. There’s no way to know for sure.”

“Do you really think Kadie would leave you after all you’ve been through together?”

“I’m afraid so. She has a legitimate argument. She agreed to be a vampire to stay with me. The least I can do is be human for her.” But he hated the idea, hated the thought of being weak and vulnerable, of growing old and helpless. Dammit, he was one of the most powerful beings in the world, yet he was at the mercy of one human female.

Taking a deep breath, he went home to tell Kadie she’d won.

At least for now.

Kadie bit down on her lower lip when Saintcrow, looking grim, materialized in the bedroom. For a moment, neither one moved and then he sat down on the edge of the mattress and took her hands in his.

“You win,” he said, his voice flat. “I’ll ask Izabela if she can work her magic with the Medallion.”

“Do you mean it?” At his nod, she threw her arms around his neck. “I promise you won’t be sorry.”

“But you’ll still have to wait until Eleni is no longer a threat.” He wondered what his sire was up to. It had been weeks since their last meeting. Had she given up her determination to take him to her bed? Found someone else? Dared he hope she had left Wyoming? “I might be able to defeat her as a vampire, but there’s no way in hell I can do it as a mortal.”

Kadie nodded. Eleni. How could she have forgotten about that despicable creature?

Chapter Forty-Two

Kadie found herself looking for parenting books and magazines at the library and the grocery store. She went online and looked at cribs and strollers. She drove to the Mall in Cheyenne to look at baby blankets and sheets, bottles and booties, baby clothes and toys. Feeling a rush of excitement, she went to a maternity store to look around. She was tempted to try on one of the tops, but decided it was silly. She didn’t know if it was even possible for her to get pregnant.

With that thought in mind, she made an appointment with a doctor, which seemed like a good idea in more ways than one. After all, she hadn’t seen a doctor in years. And then she frowned. What if being a vampire had changed her somehow? Would a doctor be able to tell she had undergone a transformation? Would her blood be different now? For all she knew, her entire physiology could have changed.

On the way home, she told herself she was worrying needlessly. Her appetite was good, she felt fine, she didn’t have trouble sleeping or doing anything else. Still, she couldn’t help thinking that being a vampire for so many years might have left its mark.

Saintcrow was waiting for her when she pulled into the driveway. She had no reason to feel guilty, she thought. Butshe did. If only he couldn’t read her thoughts. She tried to think of something else but knew by the look in his eyes that she had failed miserably.

She smiled uncertainly as she turned off the engine and stepped out of the car.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were going to Cheyenne?” he asked as he walked her to the front door.

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