Page 59 of Wynter's Bite

Chapter Twenty-Three

The following evening, Bethany was stunned when the Roma people gave them gifts blankets, a little more food, salt, and other useful items for their journey. With how the women had questioned her purity and the subtle scorn in their eyes when they referred to her as a Gadji, she’d assumed that all but Kallia, the woman who’d provided her clothes for her wedding and given her a protective talisman, would only provide the bare minimum of hospitality. Not that she blamed them. Aside from the fact that she and Justus were strangers and not of their kind, the tribe had limited possessions as suited for their nomadic lifestyle. She was more than grateful for the wedding, feast, and accommodations. To receive more was a delightful surprise and she hoped that someday she could repay them.

Justus disappeared quickly to feed. As she waited for him, trying to listen to the women’s advice on making a good marriage, that strange, twitchy sense of unrest crawled over her body, making her shiver. She fought back a frown of confusion. She hadn’t felt this so severely since her day alone in the abandoned cottage, and that had been from her nightmares about Morningside. Why was she experiencing this situation now, when she was so happy?

All those unpleasant thoughts vanished when Justus returned. Bethany took a deep breath, trying to suppress those odd shivers as they said their goodbyes and walked away from the Roma with smiles plastered on their faces. Once they were out of view, he lifted her into his arms and ran with his blinding speed.

Bethany’s stomach dipped, but not as often as badly as it used to. She wondered how it would behave when she would be able to run like that. As the miles to Cornwall lessened, she thought more and more about her impending transformation into a vampire. Part of her warred with asking Justus if they could find another abandoned cottage to camp in so she could enjoy the sunlight a little longer. The other part wanted to get to Cornwall as soon as possible so their future was resolved and maybe her jitters would abate. Perhaps the Lord Vampire there would allow her to enjoy a day or two walking along the famous seaside cliffs and watch the sun rise over the ocean.

After an eternity of running, Justus slowed to a stop and set her on her feet. “We’ve arrived in Gloucestershire.” A broad smile illuminated his handsome face. “We could be in Cornwall in a matter of days.”

Suddenly, two dark figures tackled Justus, knocking him to the ground. Bethany was seized from behind by a pair of mercilessly strong arms.

As she watched Justus struggle, one of the shadows spoke. “Where’s your writ of passage?”

“If you thought I’d had one, you wouldn’t have tackled me,” Justus grumbled.

The other sniffed in derision. “You’ll have to come with us, Ginger.”

Bethany’s stomach dropped. These must be the vampires of Gloucestershire.

The one holding Bethany turned her around to face his implacable visage. “How much do you know about your traveling companion, girl?”

Girl? She was a woman old enough to be a spinster. Still, she answered as Justus advised. “That he is a kind and honorable traveling companion who is safely escorting me to my relatives in Bath. What of it?”

“I think she’s lying,” one of the vampires restraining Justus said.

“What is this about?” she demanded, playing her role of ignorance to her utmost. “Are you implying that he is some sort of criminal?”

“I’m afraid so,” the vampire holding her said. “You’re lucky we arrived to save you from an unsavory fate.”

“And just who are you?” she asked, challenging them to come up with their own untruth.

“Scotland Yard,” they answered in tandem.

If the situation were not so dire, she might have laughed. With their clearly expensive overcoats and shining hessians, they clearly were thicker in the pocket than Britain’s harried investigators.

“What should we do with her?” One of the Gloucestershire vampires asked. “Do you suppose his Lordship will wish to question her?”

“A delicious morsel such as this?” the one holding Bethany said, twirling a lock of her hair around his fingers as Justus snarled and tried to break free. “Undoubtedly. But I am not inclined to grant him the pleasure. Not after his cruel punishment of Phyllis.”

The third vampire shook his head. “I daresay, denying a Lord his rights because you’re put out with him is not a good reason. However, I have a feeling that he’ll be occupied with this rogue and inconvenienced by a prisoner of her ilk. She may be dressed like a rag tag Gypsy, but her speech is clearly that of a lady.”

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