Page 90 of Twilight Longings

“If she hadn’t taken a bullet meant for me, there would have been no choice to make,” Saintcrow muttered.

“All right, have it your way. But I just can’t picture you as human. Or as a father. You know you’re going to hate it.”

“I know. But Iloveher.”

His voice thick with anger, Jake said, “Ifshelovedyou, she wouldn’t ask you to do this. Has she even asked you if this is something you want?”

“No. I told her I’d do whatever she wanted. She knows me well enough to know that I’d tell her if I was against it.”

“Don’t you think you should say something before it’s too late?”

“Dammit, Jake—”

But he was talking to the wind. Saintcrow scrubbed his hand over his jaw.Shit!What if Jake was right? But he couldn’t change his mind, not now. Kadie had been through hell and if a baby would make her happy, he intended to do everything in his power to make her dream come true.

Chapter Forty-Six

Saintcrow had just mesmerized his prey when his cell phone rang. He stared at the screen. Did he want to talk to the witch? She could only be calling about one thing. Taking a deep breath, he answered it.

“I have news,” Izabela said briskly. “Do you want to hear it?”

“I answered the phone, didn’t I?”

“You didn’t want to.”

“So, what’s the news?”

“I have found an incantation that may work. Are you interested?”

“No,” he said, with a sigh. “But Kadie will be.”

Izabela snorted. “If you wish me to pursue it, you must abstain from blood for a week before we begin.”

“Why?”

“It doesn’t say why. When do you wish to start your, ah, fast?”

Saintcrow glanced down at the woman in his arms. “The day after tomorrow.”

“Want to have a few more drinks for the road, do you?” she asked, laughter in her voice.

Saintcrow muttered an oath and ended the call. Just what he needed, a dark witch with a sense of humor.

Kadie was thrilled when he told her the news the following day. “I can’t believe it’s really going to happen! Did she say how long we’d have to wait for the spell to take effect? I mean, will it happen instantly or over time? Oh, Rylan, I’m so excited. Just think, a baby of our own!”

Taking her in his arms, he forced a smile while she continued to ramble on about how wonderful parenthood was going to be, how she couldn’t wait to tell her sister, Kathy, that she was going to be an aunt.

But it wasn’t a baby Saintcrow was thinking about. He was wondering how much Kadie would hate him if he turned her without her consent. Would she would ever forgive him? Hell, why should he care? He was an ancient vampire, with the power to do whatever the hell he wanted. And he wanted her, now.

“Did you hear what I said?” Kadie asked, her voice still tinged with excitement.

“What? No. My mind was … elsewhere.”

“Oh?”

He shook his head. “It’s nothing to worry about,” he lied, brushing a kiss across her lips.

“Are you sure?”

---