Page 71 of The Highwayman's Bite

“You’re not giving me much reason to be optimistic.” She frowned into her teacup. “Can you share any positive aspects of your existence?”

“Oh yes.” Rhys favored her with his first genuine smile of the night. “You will be able to move faster than the blink of an eye. You’ll never sicken or grow old. If you are wounded, you will heal rapidly. You’ll be able to see and hear things that humans cannot perceive. And you will have the strength of ten men. Some vampires can read people’s thoughts. Others can make objects move with their minds. A few can even fly.”

“Fly?” she echoed in awe. “Can you?”

He shook his head. “Thus far, I am not so blessed. Some say it is an ability gained with age, others say it depends on the bloodline of who Changed you.”

For the rest of the night, he regaled her with tales of him reveling in his powers, the knowledge he’d gained, and the benefit of having time at one’s disposal. Vivian could tell that he was skirting around the less pleasant facts about being a vampire, and only doing his best to reassure her.

However, she was grateful for everything he could tell her. She drank an entire pot of tea as she listened to him. They then went out to the beach to fence for their last time before dawn. After Rhys shut them inside for the day, he made love to her with such fervent devotion that tears sprung to her eyes.

She tried to stay awake as she held him, savoring her last minutes in his arms. Tonight, Rhys would visit the human he’d instructed to collect the ransom. If the money was there, that meant that Rhys would take her to an inn tonight and her uncle would collect her tomorrow.

But sleep was relentless and sucked her down into a world of fractured dreams and incessant fears.

When Rhys kissed her awake, she clung to him, not wanting to let him go. “What if my uncle has laid a trap?”

“Then it will be him who returns here instead of me.” Despite his attempt at dismissing her worry, she detected a note of trepidation in his tone.

“Take me with you to meet with your contact then.” If Uncle Aldric tried to capture Rhys, maybe Vivian could persuade him to see reason.

“No. It is far too dangerous. If any vampires see a rogue in company with a mortal woman, it won’t take long to reach the ears of your uncle. I’m fortunate that the rogues who tried to take shelter with me haven’t spread the gossip.” He kissed her somewhat roughly before leaving the bed to dress. “With luck, I’ll be back shortly.”

After he departed, Vivian paced the cave, wringing her hands with worry that Rhys would be caught. Between praying that he would receive the ransom money and return safely, a selfish part of her hoped that her uncle would again refuse to pay. If that proved to be the case, then perhaps she could convince Rhys to let her stay with him. Maybe they could both go to the Americas and build a life together and Rhys would be safe.

What about Madame Renarde? Vivian’s conscience prodded her. Guilt knotted her belly. She’d hardly spared a thought for her dearest friend in the past few nights. Was her uncle taking care of her and had he sent for a doctor? Was he treating her with kindness or cruelty?

Vivian slumped back on the cot and sighed. She couldn’t abandon her best friend. But she didn’t want to be parted from Rhys either.

Why did this situation have to be so hopeless?

A key rattled in the lock of the cave door. Vivian’s heart leapt in her throat. Rhys had made it back safely. She ran to his side the moment he entered the cave.

“He paid the ransom,” Rhys said hollowly, withdrawing a sack of jingling coins from his pocket. He took out a few pounds and put the sack in a hidden compartment behind his bunk.

For a few moments, Vivian’s heart refused to beat. It lay frozen and aching in her breast. Her time with Rhys was over. In mere hours, she’d never see him again.

She struggled to form a smile. “Your family is saved at last.”

“Yes.” He did not sound as pleased as she’d expected. “Soon I will have accomplished all I set out to achieve. Emily can pay off the mortgage, and the farm will be restored to my family at last.”

“Where will you go after you’ve given the money to Emily?” Impossible as it was, she hoped there was some slim chance that she’d see him again.

“I will have to leave the country. It is no longer safe for me to remain here after what I’ve done.” Something in his tone conveyed less optimism than his words. “I’m going to try to find passage for the Americas. I’m told that rogues can find a fresh start there.”

“I hope you make it there safely and no longer have to run.” Still, a sudden anger filled her. It shouldn’t be that way in the first place. “It’s not fair. My uncle will be getting back the money he paid, and you will have to flee anyway. I wish there was some way that—”

“There is no way.” Rhys paced in front of the cave door, his head down so his hair concealed his expression. “What I’ve done is unforgiveable in vampire society. There is no Lord Vampire who would shelter me. Even most rogues would slay me if they knew of my deeds.”

When he looked up, Vivian saw the hopelessness in his eyes. She remembered that he’d been resolved to die the last time they’d spoken of his fate after the ransom was paid. Only now he tried to reassure her, but she knew the truth. He didn’t expect to make it out of the country. He expected to be caught and killed. If his family didn’t need the money, she would have begged him to take her with him. Perhaps together, they could be safe and happy.

With utmost reluctance, she abandoned that dream. Besides, she couldn’t leave Madame Renarde anymore than Rhys could allow his family to lose their home. “When are you returning me to my uncle?”

“Tonight.” Rhys’s voice sounded hoarse. “I will take you to an inn in Lytham, where you may send a note to him tomorrow morning.”

She gasped in shock. “So soon? But I thought we’d have a little more time together.”

Rhys shook his head, his features contorted with pain. “I’m sorry. The journey is long, and I must be able to return to the cave before sunrise.” He took a shuddering breath. “Let’s pack your things.”

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