Page 42 of The Highwayman's Bite

Chapter Fifteen

Vivian froze like afrightened hare at the sight of Rhys’s glowing eyes and sharp fangs. Yet she wasn’t frightened, not really. Instead, a strange sort of elation filled her. At last was the explanation for all the odd things she’d noticed about him. How his gunshot would had healed so fast, how he sometimes seemed to move quicker than what should be possible, his insistence on them all remaining inside the cave during the day.

Most of all, she finally had closure for the things she’d suspected about him. She hadn’t been imagining things, not in the slightest. He was stronger than a man should be, and that first night, when she’d seen him leaning over Madame Renarde’s bunk, blood trickling from his mouth had not been a dream. She wasn’t cracked.

But when Rhys’s mouth closed over her neck, she finally felt a trill of fear. His teeth stung as they sank into her flesh. Then, the pain vanished, replaced by a heavy, drugging pleasure that made her gasp and cling to him. She heard him swallow twice and realized he was drinking her blood. She should struggle, but it felt so good.

Vivian heard Madame Renarde roar. Rhys released Vivian then, holding her shoulders for balance as her legs wobbled beneath her.

Sand flew through the air as Madame Renarde charged the vampire. With impressive speed, she picked up the sword that Vivian had dropped and thrust it at Rhys’s heart.

His hand a blur, Rhys seized the blade. Blood dripped from his hand and he squeezed the sharp steel and Madame Renarde futilely tried to pull it back. “Let go of the sword, Madame, and we may speak civilly.”

“How can I be civil when you’ve bitten my charge?” Madame Renarde snapped. “I told you that if you were to hurt her—”

“It didn’t hurt,” Vivian interrupted, not knowing what possessed her to defend the vampire. Especially with a sword prick and puncture wounds in her neck.

“I can heal her,” Rhys said. Then that eerie amber glow returned to his eyes as he stared down Madame Renarde. “Release the blade and remain still.”

The companion went stock still and the handle of the rapier slipped through her slack fingers. Rhys dropped his end and once more approached Vivian.

She braced herself to run, but then Madame Renarde cried out in panic, “I cannot move!”

“What did you do to her?” Vivian demanded, outraged at the thought of her dearest friend being trapped.

“I merely immobilized her. She’ll be released in a moment.” He gripped Vivian’s upper arms with steely strength. “Now hold still.”

He did not work his magic on her, though, since Vivian’s knees quaked and her feet shuffled on the sand. For a moment she thought Rhys intended to bite her again, but instead he merely placed his bleeding palm on her wound.

After he stepped back, he turned his gaze on Madame Renarde. “You may move now.”

The companion started to lunge at Rhys, then paused and instead rushed to Vivian. “Are you all right, Cherie?”

Vivian nodded. The sting in her neck was fading, replaced by a tingling sensation.

“Mon Dieu!” Madame Renarde gasped. “Your wound is healing.”

---