Vampire Mine

Chapter Eighteen

She loved him.

Connor’s heart filled with joy. It was not a feeling he’d felt very often in his four hundred and ninety-nine years of existence, so it came coupled with fear. Fear that it wouldn’t last. It couldn’t last. She would eventually return to heaven where she belonged. But for now, he would try to savor the moment.

She loved him.

He smiled, recalling the night they’d walked in the park and ridden the carousel. He’d bought her ice cream and gotten hard, watching her eat it. He needed to stop distancing himself from her. Instead, they should create more beautiful memories that he could cherish after she was gone.

She loved him.

He chuckled. Marielle looked so embarrassed. She should be embarrassed. A beautiful angel like her falling for a coldhearted old undead bastard like him. How could he be so fortunate? Better not question it, and just enjoy the moment. Here he was, lying beneath a tree with—

His smile faded. Where the hell was he? He struggled to remember, but his thoughts were fuzzy.

A memory flashed through his mind. A blaring horn and bright headlights. “The truck!” He sat up and winced at the tenderness in his ribs.

“Careful.” She touched his shoulder. “You may still be a little sore.”

Sore from what? He looked her over. “Ye dinna get hit?”

“No, you saved me. And I know I should be grateful, but really, Connor, it makes me angry. You left yourself right in the path of the truck. You have to be more careful. It would have killed me if you’d been run down.”

His mouth twitched. “Because ye love me?”

“I’m serious. Don’t you dare put yourself in danger like that again.”

“How did I get here?” He touched the thick white robe that had fallen into his lap. “And where did this come from?”

“Bunny gave it to you.”

His eyes widened in feigned horror as he examined the length of the robe. “That’s one hell of a big rabbit.”

She laughed. “It’s from Buniel. My friend, the Healer.”

“I figured that.” His jaw shifted as he imagined her perfect angelic boyfriend. “Why was he here? And why was he taking off his clothes?”

“He healed you.” She gave him a wry look. “You can thank him later. You had a fractured skull, a concussion, cracked ribs, multiple contusions—”

“I was injured?” He rubbed his rib cage. No wonder it seemed a bit tender. “I was hit by the truck?”

“No. I managed to move you out of the way with a blast of air.”

“Och, that’s good. Thank you.” He smiled. “All yer hard work and practice paid off.”

“I suppose.” She ducked her head, still looking embarrassed.

He felt his head. There was dried blood in his hair. A fractured skull? No wonder he couldn’t remember much. “How did I get injured then?”

“You . . . uh . . .” She pointed up a rocky incline. “The road is up there. You . . . fell down here.”

“I fell off a bloody cliff?” How could he have been so clumsy? Why hadn’t he simply teleported to safety?

“I . . . it was my fault.” She hung her head. “I may have used a little too much force with the blast of air—”

“Ye blew me off a cliff?” he shouted.

She winced. “It’s not really a cliff. It’s more of a . . . slope.”

He huffed. “Is that how ye treat the man ye love?”

“Well, yes.” She lifted her chin. “I was desperate to save you. And when Darafer froze you—”

“What?” Connor jumped to his feet. “Darafer was here?”

“Up there.” She stood and pointed to the road. “He froze time. He froze you right in front of the truck.”

Connor shook his head. This was too strange. “He froze time?”

“Yes. Darafer froze everything except himself and . . . me.”

Connor’s heart plummeted. She’d been in terrible danger, and he—he had been completely helpless. “I—” He stumbled back, knocking against the tree.

“Careful.” She grabbed his arm. “You may be a little dizzy from the concussion.”

“Nay.” He moved aside, breaking her grip.

Bugger. Anger swelled inside him. She was trying to take care of him, trying to protect him.

That was his job! He was supposed to protect her! And he’d failed her.

Just like he had failed to protect his wife and bairn. “How can ye love me? I was bloody useless!”

She stiffened with surprise. “Don’t say that.”

He paced away. “All this time, I’ve stayed by yer side in case that bastard showed up. And when he did, I did nothing.”

“It’s not your fault. He has powers that are beyond both of us.”

Connor rushed toward her and grabbed her by the shoulders. “Did he hurt you? If that bastard harmed you, I’ll find a way into hell and—”

“Don’t say that!” She pressed her hand over his mouth. “Don’t ever try to fight him. Please.”

Connor took her hand in his. “What good am I to you if I canna protect you?”

“You do protect me. You saved me from the truck. You saved me that first night.”

He kissed her palm. “It breaks my heart that I couldna protect you from the demon.”

“I’m fine. Darafer can’t take me to hell unless I agree, and I will never agree.” She rested her hands on his cheeks. “You have never failed me. You have been a blessing to me since the moment you found me.”

“Och, lass.” He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. It made his ribs hurt, but he couldn’t complain. He would have her for only a short while.

“Shall we go home?” he asked.

“Yes.” She picked the white robe off the ground and shook it out. “We were lucky Bunny showed up.” She plucked Connor’s phone off the ground, and it instantly lit up. “I was going to call your friends for help, but I didn’t know how.”

“I’ll show you later.” He dropped the phone into his sporran and pulled her back into his arms. “Let’s go.”

Connor dropped his torn and tattered kilt on the bathroom floor. It was beyond repair. The T-shirt he’d worn was shredded, too. He examined his leather sporran. Scuffed up a bit, but it would still do.

He took a quick look over his body. Apart from a little soreness, he appeared intact. Marielle’s angelic boyfriend had patched him up well. He didn’t know whether to be grateful or pissed. Just the thought that he’d been frozen and then later unconscious while demons and angels had dropped by to visit, it was too much.

He stepped into the shower and lathered up his bloodied hair. He decided on being pissed. Aye, that suited him well. He was a vampire, dammit. A supernatural being with his own set of awesome powers. He’d been able to control mortal minds for centuries. He’d been able to defeat any mortal or Malcontent in battle. He was top dog. Top of the food chain.

Not anymore. He could be frozen and rendered helpless? Bloody hell! How could he defeat an enemy who could control him?

How could Marielle trust him? He stood under the showerhead, letting the hot water pound on his head. That was the real problem. He was afraid of failing her. He’d failed before, and he’d lost his wife and baby daughter. And then, he’d lost his soul. He’d become a coldhearted bastard who fed on others to stay alive.

But she still loves you.

He closed his eyes and let the water run down his face. His angel loved him. She called him a blessing.

With a sigh, he turned off the water. She would be with him only a short time.

He dressed in a clean pair of plaid flannel pants and a T-shirt that either Phil or Howard had left behind. It was Howard’s cabin, actually. He and Phil used to come here on a full moon so they could shift and hunt. But now Phil was shifting with the other werewolf lads at the school, and Howard was joining them there. Connor smiled, imagining a big bear hunting with a pack of wolves.

He peeked into the bedroom to make sure Marielle wasn’t there half dressed. Or undressed. The room was empty. Too bad.

When they’d arrived back at the cabin, all covered with dirt and grime, he’d insisted she shower first. He’d needed a bottle of blood to regain his strength.

He usually showered at his room in the basement at Romatech, but he couldn’t leave Marielle alone, so he’d showered here.

He padded into the main room, still drying his wet hair with a towel. He spotted Marielle, lying on the couch with her head resting on the pillowed arm. As he approached, he noticed she was bundled up in Buniel’s white robe. The angel sun catcher was in her hands, and she was studying it, running her fingers over the crystal wings.

He sat on the other end of the couch, next to her bare feet. “You miss heaven.”

“Yes.” She sat up and drew her legs in to make more room for him. “It’s been my home since I was created.” She tugged the robe closed around her neck, then rubbed her chin against the soft white material.

No doubt, she missed her angelic boyfriend, too. He eyed her damp blond hair that curled on the ends and her freshly scrubbed lovely face. “Do ye look like that in heaven?”

She smiled. “My form is similar, but not this solid or detailed. I’m more of a spirit there.”

“Ah.” Good. Then Buniel couldn’t touch her or kiss her.

“I miss my wings.” She lifted the sun catcher up to the ceiling light. “I miss the thrill of soaring through the heavens and feeling the air rush by me. I miss the freedom of going anywhere I please.” With a sigh, she lowered her hand. “I really missed my wings when you were injured, and I couldn’t take you anywhere for help.”

“Ye doona like feeling powerless.” Connor tossed his towel onto the coffee table. “I feel the same way.”

“You have plenty of wonderful powers.” Marielle poked at him with a bare foot. “Stop being down on yourself.”

He smiled. “I canna fly, but I can levitate. Would ye care to go up a wee bit?” He pointed up in the air.

She gave him a dubious look. “How far can you go?”

He shrugged. “Mars. Venus.” When she laughed, he grinned. “Would ye believe the top of the chimney?”

She laughed again, and the sound was music for his soul.

He stood and extended his hand. “Come.”

She took his hand and followed him outside.

The grass was chilly on his bare feet. He stopped in the middle of the clearing.

“Good thing ye’re wearing this.” He folded the voluminous white robe around her. He had spotted a pair of knit pajamas underneath. “I hear it is a bit chilly on Mars.”

“Or the top of the chimney.” She smiled up at him. “So how does this work?”

“Ye have to hold on to me.” He put her arms around his neck, then grabbed hold of her waist.

He started up slowly. Three feet. Five feet.

She peered down. “Is that as fast as you can go?”

He zipped up another ten feet, and she laughed.

She tightened her grip around his neck. “I like it. Thank you.”

He slowly rose another ten feet.

She glanced down with a speculative look. “I wonder what would happen if I directed a blast of air down at the ground?”

He frowned. “That doesna sound verra wise.”

“Oh, come on.” She stretched a hand out and boom!

They took off like a rocket, shooting straight up into the sky.

“Bloody hell!” He pulled her close.

She squealed with laughter. “Yes! This is what it’s like. Don’t you love it?” She flung her arms out and arched her back with her face toward the stars.

“No!” He grappled to keep ahold of her.

They slowed to a stop, hovering in the air. Connor’s heart stopped pounding and he glanced down. Holy Christ Almighty, they had to be a mile above the Earth.

“Wasn’t that fun?” She wrapped her arms around his neck.

“I was afraid I would drop you.”

She traced the line of his jaw with a finger. “Do you really worry so much about me?”

“Aye.”

“You sweet man.” She kissed his cheek. “I was never worried. I trust you.”

His groin tightened. Great. He was getting hard a mile up in the air. And as fiercely as he was holding her, she would be sure to notice.

“I want to try something.” She stretched a hand out to the side and let loose a little blast.

They flew in the opposite direction. She repeated it a few times more, laughing each time they took off. Soon, Connor was laughing with her. She was right, he did enjoy the wind against his face and the canopy of twinkling stars around them.

She hugged him tight. “Thank you, Connor. I was afraid I’d never fly again.”

He rubbed his chin against her temple. “It took powers from both of us to pull it off.”

She leaned back and smiled at him. “We make a good team.”

Now that they were no longer flying and laughing, he became aware once again of how tightly he was holding her. Her body was molded against his, and they hovered in mid-air, surrounded by stars.

Below them, the world spread out, dotted with trees and lush green pastures. A bird flew by, did a double take at them, then squawked and hurried away.

They both laughed.

“Thank you for this.” He kissed her brow. “I’ll always remember it.”

“So will I.”

He studied her lovely face. “I want to touch you, but I doona dare let go.”

She leaned forward and rubbed her nose against his. “How is that?”

It was enough to make his groin grow even harder. And his vision turn red. He kissed her cheek. “Do ye really love me?”

“Yes. How do you—” She blinked with a startled look. “Your eyes are glowing.”

“Aye. Ye look pink like a rose.” His gaze focused on her lips, so red now, so alluring. “I want to kiss you.”

Her eyes widened, but she didn’t refuse. When he leaned close, her lips parted. When his mouth touched hers, she melted against him. He was lost.

And they plummeted about half a mile.

She squealed, latching on to his shoulders.

He regained control, and they came to a stop, hovering once again.

She took a deep breath. “Good heavens! What was that?”

His pounding heart thudded in his ears. “Sorry. I—I lost my concentration and forgot I was levitating.” He glanced at the ground below. “Maybe we should go down. Slowly. Make a gentle landing.”

“Instead of a crash? Sounds good to me.” She chuckled. “Your eyes aren’t red and glowing now.”

“Aye. Sheer terror will do that to a man.”

She grinned. “It was a wild ride. Thank you.”

“Ye liked it?” He brought them down slowly. He could think of other wild rides she might enjoy.

“Where are we exactly?”

“It doesna matter. I can always teleport us back to the cabin.”

They landed in the middle of a green pasture, surrounding by forested mountains. The grass was soft and cool beneath his feet.

She let go of him and sauntered across the meadow. “What a beautiful place.”

“Shall we stay for a little while?”

She turned. Her hair was wild and windblown, her cheeks pink from the rushing wind.

He walked toward her. “If I lose my concentration now, we willna plummet to our deaths.”

She smiled slowly. “What did you want to concentrate on?”

He pulled her into his arms. “I’d like to give you pleasure.”