Blood passion

Blood Passion Mara Lee (c) 2005

Blood Passion Mara Lee Published 2005 ISBN 1-59578-141-2 Published by Liquid Silver Books, imprint of Atlantic Bridge Publishing, 10509 Sedgegrass Dr, Indianapolis, Indiana 46235. Copyright © 2005, Mara Lee. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author. Manufactured in the United States of America Liquid Silver Books http://lsbooks.com Email: [email protected] Editor Christine Miller Cover Art by Colby Hausmann This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and dialogues in this book are of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is completely coincidental.

Dedication To all of you who believe in love.

Chapter One Katherine Marie Ernshaw was tired. No—taking on an extra five hours a week at work—wasn’t tired. This was bone shattering, mind numbing, needing four bottles of Nyquil tired. Work was excruciating. Her boss had the I.Q. of a cold cucumber and the mouth of a wharf worker. Her mother had called at the beginning of the week to inform her that she was getting married, again—to husband number seven. Her half sister was flunking out of college and her pseudo boyfriend had decided finally to cut her loose; i.e. he had dumped her ass. Yeah. She was tired. “I need to win the lottery, move to Bermuda, get myself a couple of tropical drinks and a cute Cabana boy,” Katherine muttered under her breath. She pulled the collar of her winter coat tighter and swore. It was freezing, absolutely freezing. Ugh, she should be sniffing daisies right now. Where the heck was spring? Katherine frowned. Spring was probably taking a vacation—like she should be doing right about now. But oh no, no vacation for her. Her moron boss’ idea of a vacation was taking a trip to Staples for an extra box of manila envelopes. Oh yeah, life was just triple whipped candy dandy. “Pretty, pretty girl … come to me, pretty.” Katherine spun around, where had that voice come from? “Who’s there?” Katherine felt her heart beat faster and she quickened her pace. It was too dark. How had she not noticed how dark it was? She began to fish through her purse for her keys. She had to get home … she had to get home now. “Pretty, don’t run away from me…” “Okay, whoever you are, you should just know… I know Karate,” Katherine shouted. Well, it was sort of true. She had seen the ‘Karate Kid’ like four hundred times. She knew wax on, wax off, by heart. Katherine screamed. Something had her neck. It was on fire. Her heart was pounding in her chest like two caged birds. She felt burning, shocking pain. Oh god, oh god, she was going to die. “Oh pretty, just a passing death for you.” The voice was at her ear now, low and grating, but surprisingly soothing. Katherine’s pain-filled eyes began to clear. “You … you’ve killed me,” she whispered. “Ah no, never that.” Katherine saw him then. He was hideous, frightening beyond belief. Black hair, clumped around a round, white face, which was dominated by two large red eyes and a mouth—a mouth that was stretched impossibly wide. It had fangs, oh my god, the creature had fangs! Katherine shook her head. She was delusional. She had lost too much blood and she was seeing things. There was no way she was staring at this thing in front of her. She had been attacked, mugged, that was it, yes that had to be it. Even now her mind was trying to compensate, to make sense of her attack. She was not seeing this.

“Oh yes, you are pretty. But then, noble blood should always have a certain bearing,” the creature spat out. It was smiling, its mouth twisted into a gruesome parody of such things. “Please…” Katherine whispered. She was lightheaded now, lightheaded and losing more blood than her body could bear. “Yes, pretty… I plan on pleasing you a lot.” Katherine began to pant. She desperately tried to keep a rein on her quickly decomposing senses. She turned her head. Where was everyone? Sure it was late, sure it was dark, but there should be people here … it was a crowded city street, right? Oh god, she was going to die. The creature bent down and began to lick her neck. “The Council … so stupid … they could not even find their Hybriantu … but I did, I found you, pretty … so you are mine.” “Wrong, she is mine.” The new voice that pierced the dark was beautiful, rich, smooth and creamy. It soothed, caressed and seduced the ear. Katherine coughed. Blood dripped from her mouth and pain wracked her body. “Okay, I hate to break up this little … convention, but I’m, I’m bleeding to death here…” She groaned. “I need a doctor.” Well she could still give out a good quip—that had to mean she was still conscious, right? The creature that had attacked her growled. “Mine. She is mine. You cannot have her. I found her.” “Nonetheless, she is mine.” The man cracked his knuckles. “I suggest you leave her, and leave this place, before I take your head.” The creature shoved Katherine away. Her head hit the pavement. Blackness engulfed her. It was a blessing, for she could not have borne the pain much longer. **** Lex eyed the wraith in front of him. The creature was foul. It disturbed his sensibilities that such things were even half considered to be in the league of vampires. This creature was nothing but a shell. It was not human, not true immortal, merely twisted and unfulfilled. It was not and could never be a vampire. Then why did mortals believe such? Believe that this thing was a Night Walker. “She is mine…” The wraith spat out. It was crawling now, crawling on all fours toward the shining dark one. This Night Walker could not have his prey, she was his, first bite, first claim … it was his right. Suddenly he lunged. Lex easily jumped back from the slashing claw that came at his face. It was laughable, this wraith thought to destroy him? With one graceful jump he was elevated five feet off the ground. He stood suspended there, waiting, eyes gleaming and anticipating. He crooked his finger at the wraith tauntingly. “Come. You want the girl— prove to me that you are worthy.” He laughed as the wraith launched himself into the air toward him. Lex’s fingers pulled and stretched until his talons were free. Their points were razor sharp and with one swipe, he easily slashed the wraith’s neck open. He watched as the wraith screamed and fell to the ground. It was so easy it was almost sad. “You see, you cannot win.” He leaned over the wraith. “I give you a choice now … easy … or hard?”

The wraith was making gurgling sounds from its torn throat. Blood was pouring in great waves from its broken flesh. And yet it still had the strength and will to lunge forward, grab the dark one’s leg and dig its claws into his flesh. Lex pulled his leg free and sighed. “Hard then. It was your choice, wraith.” Lex removed a long silver dagger from his arm sheath and with one efficient motion cut the wraith’s head off. The wraith’s body wriggled and jerked and Lex took that moment to cut out its heart and drop it along side of its head. It stopped moving then. “Your choice,” Lex whispered, dropping the dagger. Lex made his way over to Katherine. He checked for a pulse and when he found one he smiled. She was still alive, thank the stars for that. She was still alive, thus she could still be turned. Lex gathered Katherine up in his arms and shot up, disappearing into the night sky, shadowed by the clouds.

Chapter Two Katherine groaned. Everything hurt. She felt as if she had been run over by a semi. What the hell had happened to her? One minute she was walking home and the next … the next … well, that was still fuzzy. Had she been mugged? Her hand went automatically to her side, feeling for her purse. There was nothing, literally nothing. Oh god, she was naked. She swallowed and looked down. Yep, she was naked all right. Okay, there was a perfectly good explanation for all of this. She had to still be dreaming. This was all part of her delusion. She had been attacked, yes, that made sense. She had been attacked, wounded, she lost a lot of blood and she was still delusional. That would account for her nakedness, the fuzziness in her brain and of course … the weird sensations that were flooding her body. “Good, you’re awake.” Time stopped. The most beautiful man Katherine had ever seen appeared in front of her. He was so beautiful in fact, that she knew she was dreaming. Because men this yummy just didn’t exist in real life. “You slept well. I believe your body has healed itself. We’ll be able to proceed with the ritual soon.” Katherine swallowed. This man was just too gorgeous to be true. He had hair the color of honey and eyes so silver they appeared twice touched by lightning. His features were perfectly patrician, high cheekbones and well defined mouth. Only his complexion remained odd. He was pale, deathly so. He was so white that Katherine wondered if he, too, had lost blood. Had the thing that attacked her, attacked this man? No, he looked too virile, too good to have been attacked by a wild animal, or a wild man? “What is going on here?” Katherine whispered more to herself than to anyone else. “I have been searching for you a long time. I saved you. I saved you, my Kat. Your life now belongs to me, so shall your death. I will be the first … the only to taste the blood of a Hybriantu. Now come, come to me Kat.” Katherine shook her head wildly. What the hell was going on here? She skittered backward and gasped when her very naked back touched cold … brick? Oh god, where was she? Lex was confused. She was not supposed to resist him. He had saved her from the wraith and cleansed her. She was now infection free and ready to be turned—by him. He had probed her mind. She was still human and thus she should be susceptible to immortal thought. She should want to come to him. He had planted the seeds in her mind. Why then was she resisting him? “Okay buddy, just because you’re better looking than Brad Pitt, doesn’t mean I’m not going to scream the place down if you don’t give me a phone, like right now.” “And who would you call, Kat?” “Katherine … my name is Katherine.” She shook her head to clear it. “I need to call … well first off, I should call the police.” “And tell them what?”

Katherine swallowed. “That I was attacked by something … something really ugly.” Lex laughed. “You’re precious, my Kat. Yes, you were attacked. But I saved you. I saved you and now you’re indebted to me.” She didn’t like the sound of that. “Okay, if I owe you thanks for helping me out with the ugly mugger—here—thanks. But I’m going to go now, okay. I’ll send you a fruit basket later.” Katherine looked around for her clothes. Lex was thoroughly bewildered. She was behaving so strangely. They should be having sex by now, not arguing about her clothes and a phone. “Where are my clothes, you pervert?” “Your clothes were ruined. They had to be destroyed.” Katherine narrowed her eyes. She vaguely recalled lots of blood. All right, perhaps her clothes had been ruined. But what about her undergarments? Had they been ruined too? Because she knew she had been wearing a bra and panties. She wasn’t the commando sort of girl—not daring enough. “So, give me a towel or something.” He rocked back. “A towel?” “Yeah, I need to get home.” She groaned … her head was killing her. “I have to feed my cat, call my sister, and oh god, do my taxes.” “Taxes?” Lex was not following this conversation. “Yeah, taxes. They’re due the 15th, you know.” Lex glided over to Katherine and graced her with a large, blindingly brilliant smile. She frowned. Shit, why did he have to go and do that? Now he looked like Brad Pitt crossed with Orlando Bloom—yeah, that yummy. She shook her head, again. Jeez, she had to get her thoughts under control. She was shacked up with a lunatic, a gorgeous lunatic, but still a lunatic. She couldn’t find the nut case attractive. Weren’t there like rules against that? Lex took advantage of Katherine’s stupefied nature. He easily pulled her into his embrace, encompassing her with his heat. He leaned over and shook his hair free. It fell in honeyed strands against her bare skin. She shivered. He bent over and licked the delicate shell of her ear. When she moaned, he blew gently against her neck. “Beautiful…” Lex whispered against her heated flesh. He drew his hand down her back, taking in the smooth, perfect plane of her. When he reached the globes of her ass he squeezed gently. Katherine whimpered. Oh boy, oh boy she was in trouble. Yes, she was trapped in a room with a beautiful madman, but that wasn’t her biggest problem—the biggest problem she had was currently pressed against her thigh. “This is crazy … you’re a figment of my imagination.” “Am I?” Lex began to knead her flesh. He locked his mouth onto the skin directly under her ear and bit, gently. “Oh … oh,” her breath quickened. He smiled against her skin. “Like that, my little Kat?” “Uh yes, I can like anything, right? It’s my dream.” “We should get something straight…” Lex said, all the while rubbing his length against her. “This is not a dream. I do not feel right continuing this if you still believe you’re dreaming.” Katherine pulled her head back, confused. “Are you telling me you don’t want me?”

He groaned. “Not want you?” Lex reached for Katherine’s hand and drew it down over his crotch, letting her feel exactly what she did to him. “I’m hard as a steel pipe. Not want you? Are you daft?” “What’s daft?” Lex shook his head, exasperated. “We’ll deal with the English lesson later. We have more important things to deal with now.” Katherine ran her hand down the length of him. She was frustrated by the fact that he was still wearing clothes. If she was naked, then he should damn well be naked. “Off,” she said, tugging at his belt buckle. Lex jerked and grabbed her hands. “Kat, Kat, we’ve got to talk.” “Sex first, then talk,” Katherine said. Oh yes, eureka, she felt the buckle come loose and she had her hands on the first two buttons of his fly. Perhaps she was better at this entire undressing the opposite sex thing than she had originally thought. Lex groaned when he felt Katherine’s hot, wet mouth on his skin. She had her mouth on his chest and she was using that talented tongue of hers. Jeez, what he would give to feel that talented tongue on a different part of him… He clenched his jaw and brought his raging thoughts under rein. He had to get through to her. He could not complete the ritual if she believed she was dreaming. He had to make her understand. “Katherine, Katherine.” At hearing her full name from coming from the hot guy’s lips, her head jerked up. “Yeah, what do you want? I’m sort of busy here.” Lex tried not to laugh, and tried to think thoughts that weren’t sexual. He had to get control of things. Okay, thoughts that excluded sex… He growled … he was going to have to think of another plan. Katherine was completely befuddled. Her dream man wasn’t supposed to be resisting her advances. It was her dream and she wanted sex. Why wasn’t he cooperating? “Katherine.” Lex’s voice was hoarse. “For a figment of my imagination, you sure talk a lot.” That stopped Lex cold. “The men in your dreams do not talk?” What was he talking about? He couldn’t believe he had asked that question. Better not to encourage her. “Well…” Katherine thought for a split second, “No.” His mouth dropped open right before he burst out laughing. “So they’re mimes then.” “Mimes?” “Your men, the men in your dreams, they’re mimes.” Katherine frowned. “Don’t be ridiculous.” Ugh, this was getting to be the WORST wet dream she had ever had. Oh well, at least her dream guy was gorgeous … her mind had done something right. Lex ran a hand through his thick hair and sighed. “Katherine, what I am about to say is dearly important. You must listen to me.” Katherine groaned. It was getting worse by the minute. God, even in her dreams she didn’t get any. “Fine, fine.” She looked around for a place to sit down—other than the giant bed. Finally she plopped her naked self down. “So handsome, what do we need to talk about?”

Lex swallowed hard. He had to remember that he was not an untried youth. He was a vampire, a very experienced vampire. But damn, did she have to be so delectable, so beautiful? He had expected the rush of power he would feel when he took Katherine Ernshaw into his arms. It was to be expected, she was a Hybriantu. He had expected the thrill of victory, the sensation, the adrenaline that came with knowing he would win. He had not expected this, this odd feeling he had every time he looked at her. She was special, that was for sure, but she was also mysterious. “Are you going to talk, or just stare at me?” Katherine crossed her arms under her breasts, lifting them up. “Well?” “You are a tempting morsel,” he struggled to keep his voice light and detached. “And there is little doubt as to your … charms … however you have an annoying way of disassociating yourself with reality.” Reality? Was he kidding? Katherine couldn’t stop herself—she burst out laughing. Once she started she couldn’t stop. She felt pain clench her stomach as laughing cramps overtook her. Oh, oh he was too funny. “You’re a riot. Now I see why I’m having this dream. I needed some laughs in my life.” Lex was at a loss. What the hell was he supposed to do now? Left with no other option he lunged forward, grabbed her by her forearms and pulled her up, flush against his body. He ignored her startled expression, loosened his jaw, and opened his mouth to reveal huge gleaming fangs. Katherine screamed. Oh no. It had to still be a dream. But why then was she dreaming about a man with fangs? A nightmare, yes a nightmare, that made sense. “Katherine Ernshaw,” Lex’s voice was deep and serious. “I claim turning rights. I invoke the Rights of Blood and claim you as my mate.” With those words he dropped to his knee formally, touched his fingers to his forehead and then his lips and waited. “What is going on?” Katherine was beginning to realize she was way out of her depth. This dream was getting too real for her. “If this is a nightmare it’s the weirdest one I’ve ever had, and I’ve had some weird nightmares—like the time I dreamed that bitchy Patty Turner had poured ketchup all over my new white shorts, making everyone believe that I had…” Suddenly Lex was in front of her, hand over her mouth, effectively shutting her up. “No dream, Kat. I have invoked rights and I mean to claim them.” “What rights? Who are you?” “I am Lexarius Maxim,” he winked, “affectionately known as Lex. And I’m a vampire, Kat. A Night Walker.” Katherine snorted, but her face turned somber when she saw his expression. “You really believe this, don’t you?” “I believe because it is true.” “Listen, vampires don’t exist,” she poked him in the chest. “There are no such things as vampires.” “How do you explain the fight, the fangs and the fact that you’re touching very real flesh right now? None of this would be possible if this were a dream.” Katherine exploded. “It’s not possible now. This is totally impossible.”

Lex brushed a strand of her hair away from her face and smiled. “Do you not believe that things exist beyond this realm, Katherine? Or, at least acknowledge the possibility?” “No.” Lex laughed. He began to slowly knead her breasts. Katherine’s nipples had gone instantly hard and were now pebbled beneath his palm. She began to hiccup. “St-hic-stop that.” She slapped his hands away. “You’re distracting me. I’m trying to rationalize your presence here.” “Stop rationalizing. Perhaps there is no explanation … perhaps the explanation is that no explanation exists.” Katherine’s face screwed up and she began to shake her head wildly. “And perhaps you’re loony as a toon. And … and … I don’t like philosophical shit.” Lex looked into Katherine’s confused and annoyed face and thought she looked adorable. He swooped down and locked his lips to hers, silencing all protests, mumbles and squeaks. He smiled against her mouth. His tongue laved her tongue and tickled her teeth. He pressed his body tightly against her and deepened the kiss. He wanted everything. He wanted to inhale her, drown in her and sail away. She felt so good. Her mouth was so sweet … he knew everything would be sweet. “You claimed to want sex before…” he murmured against her mouth. Katherine raked her hands down Lex’s back and groaned. “No, no more talking. We’re just getting to the good stuff.” She smoothed her hands against his chest, reveling in the hard flesh under her palms. He was flawless. She needed, wanted more. She quickly undid the buttons to his pants and pulled them down. Her mouth dropped open. Oh my, now that was impressive. Her dream man’s cock was huge—then again he was her dream man. He was long, smooth, perfectly formed and hard. Even now, as she watched in amazement, he grew larger. Katherine tossed him a coy look before she wrapped her lips around his cock. She licked the bulbous head and ran her tongue down his length, taking her time to taste him entirely. Relaxing her throat she drew him more deeply into her mouth. Digging her hands into the flesh of his thighs, she tightened her lips and began to suck. She moaned in delight when his cock began to leap and jump within her wet mouth. Lex dragged Katherine up his body and, ignoring her yelp of surprise, claimed her lips in a searing kiss. He dug his hands into her ass and moved his mouth to her neck. Licking the soft, sweet flesh of her neck, he groaned when she began to wriggle and squirm against him. “Kat … sweet Kat … stop…” Katherine shook her head, gasping when Lex’s teeth scraped her shoulder. “I can’t stop … I don’t want to stop…” Katherine grabbed the back of Lex’s head and pulled him in for another kiss. When she had kissed him thoroughly she broke away, panting. “Now … fuck me.” Lex let out a sound that was halfway between a laugh and a groan. “How can I resist that sweet plea?” scooping Katherine up and striding toward the bed. She gazed up at Lex through her lashes. He was so beautiful. And he was hard everywhere.

She licked her lips and watched as he began to crawl up the bed toward her. His hair was free, brushing her body as he moved up her length. His face held a knowing, predatory smile. Katherine gasped when she felt his hot mouth against her ankle and instep. God, she had never known she was sensitive there. She jerked and moaned, oh yeah this was good … totally worth waiting for. Lex moaned at the first taste of Katherine’s heated flesh. She tasted just as good as he knew she would … better. He abandoned Katherine’s foot, smiling when she uttered a feeble protest, and continued up her leg. He paid ample attention to her gorgeous thighs, they were fleshy and yet toned in all the right places. She had thighs that begged to be wrapped around a man’s waist, squeezing and loving. He kneaded her flesh and nibbled, loving the taste of her Lex parted her legs wider, and inhaled … yes … so very, very sweet. He felt the thrum of energy that was emanating off of his Kat and smiled. Passion, he had known she would be passionate. It was a pleasure to discover how much so. He ran his hair between her legs, tickling the soft lips of her pussy. When she moaned and thrust upward toward him, he couldn’t resist—he covered her fully with his mouth. She was ripe as a peach and just as sweet. He took his time getting to know her, all of her. He nibbled on the fleshy lips of her pussy and then dipped his tongue deep into the heart of her. He smiled when she groaned and shouted out his name. It was good. It was right. She should shout out his name for all eternity. He quickened his pace. She was so beautiful, his Kat. He located her clit and ran his tongue gently over it. When he felt Kat tug at his hair he laughed and wrapped his tongue around the hard bud. His hands dug into her thighs and his mouth continued to taste and learn her essence. “Oh god, it’s so good…” she breathed out. Lex answered with a broad stroke of his tongue against her clit. Katherine screamed and thrashed. “My god…” He looked up then. His lips were glistening, shining with her juice, and smiled. “Not god—Lex. Say my name Kat, say it.” She gasped as one of his strong fingers entered her pussy. “My name, say my name Katherine,” Lex added another finger. “Lex, oh my god, Lex…” He laughed a joyous laugh. “Yes, that will more than suffice … for now.” Lex felt the heat of her passage. She was burning up. Her pussy was scalding his finger, surrounding it in molten lava. “I need you, my Kat.” He stared at her flushed face with passion-glazed eyes. Katherine sighed in relief. Thank God. “Well, what are you waiting for?” and let out a peal of laughter when Lex whooped, wrapped his arms around her legs and flipped her easily onto her stomach. “What … what…” Her voice was muffled against the thick mound of pillows. Lex captured her wrists easily and held them down. He swallowed, his voice thick with emotion. “Do you even know how beautiful you are?” Kat’s voice was breathy. A shiver of anticipation ran down her spine. “I want this gorgeous ass of yours in the air,” Lex said.

Katherine could do nothing but obey. Truthfully, she wanted nothing more than to obey. A moment later Lex entered her. His cock imbedded deep with the first thrust. Katherine groaned and thrust back against him. She felt his hands digging into her ass and his cock pressing deeply within her body. She molded her hands around her breasts and began to knead. The sensations were overwhelming. He was so big and hard and now, now, he was in her. She could feel her pussy as it began to quiver and shake. Her body was a mass of nerves, all of which were on fire. Her heart was pounding and she was seized by hot and cold flashes. “Oh God!” Katherine screamed. “Not God…” Lex panted from behind her. “Lex … Lex…” Katherine gasped as his strokes quickened and deepened. She hadn’t known it was possible to touch her so deeply. Katherine felt each nerve in her pussy responding and she clenched her lower muscles automatically. She smiled when she heard his responding groan. She clenched again and his groan turned into a growl. “It’s time,” Lex whispered in her ear. “Time?” Katherine panted out. She gasped when she felt herself flipped onto her back. But her beautiful dream man was still plowing into her—so it was all right. She arched her back and hips and wrapped her arms around him. He was moving more quickly now, more forcefully. Katherine felt his hands in her hair pulling her head back. She opened her glassy eyes and saw his face. He was so beautiful. But what was with the eyes? His eyes were now solid black. No pupil, no nothing, just a yawning pit of black. She opened her mouth to ask him, but suddenly heat seared her chest and she was thrown into a realm of pleasure she didn’t know existed. She vaguely felt as hands gripped her head and brought it down to solid, muscled flesh— and then salty metallic liquid was filling, flooding her mouth. It felt as if she were flying, soaring, and her body was elevated on a cloud of pure paradise. She could still feel him hard and thick within her body. And he was still moving with steady grace in and out of her pussy. But now, now, she felt everything. She could hear her heart beating—she could actually hear it speaking to her. She could hear her muscles, tendons, veins and arteries as they worked together towards her pleasure. And she could hear— “My beautiful Kat!” Lex’s voice was meltingly seductive in her head. “What’s happening to me?” Katherine felt her pussy clench and white lights were dancing in her head. She clawed at the blankets of the bed and went climbing toward her orgasm. “Yes, yes, come for me … my beautiful Kat.” “Ohhhhh my … ohhhhhh FUCK!” Katherine wailed. She felt Lex as strongly as she felt herself, and she knew that he was going to come. His cock leapt and pulsed and just as she let herself go, let her own body find its fulfillment, she felt him filling her with his essence.

Chapter Three It was done. And it had been done with supreme pleasure. Lex trailed his fingers through the blood, which was beginning to dry on his Katherine’s chest, and smiled. It was a predatory smile. A smile filled with many secret meanings. “Holy shit. That was amazing,” Katherine said. Her voice was less hazy now, as she came out of her sleep. “It was.” Lex brought his fingers to his lips and licked them clean. This move was not missed by his very observant Kat. “Gross. Oh gross. Did you just lick blood off of your fingers?” He nodded. “Your blood. And it is delicious.” Katherine stilled. Her eyes went wide. “My blood? What blood?” Lex dropped his eyes to her chest. She sat up immediately and looked down. Right over her heart was a set of teeth marks and a deep puncture wound. The wound was still bleeding lightly and the teeth marks were puffed and slightly swollen. Her mouth dropped open. “What the hell did you do to me?” Lex sighed. He leaned back. “As I was trying to tell you … before … I am a vampire, sweet Kat. And you, you are now my blood companion.” “Excuse me?” “Blood companion—one joined by blood,” he said formally. “You bit me.” “Yes. But you drank…” “—you bit me.” Katherine said again—going on as if she hadn’t heard him. “Yes. The mark is permanent. It is my claim.” “This … this thing is never going away?” “That’s right. But you’ve stopped bleeding, as is the way.” “Oh my…” “—God,” Lex finished for her. Katherine rubbed her temples. “Let me get this straight. You … you’re a vampire.” “I told you that before.” She looked at him with furious eyes. “Shut up. Just shut up. You’re a vampire?” Her voice was incredulous. “You … you suck blood from … from…” “People, yes.” “That … thing that attacked me … it really did have fangs.” “Indeed.” “And it bit me.” “Yes.” “You saved me?” Katherine was trying not to hyperventilate. “I did. And I took your life into mine.” “What the hell does that mean?” “It means that you, too, are now vampire.”

That did it for Katherine. She jumped out of bed and began to walk away. “Hey, ouch, ouch … let go!” She screeched. Lex had her forearm in an iron grasp and his eyes, now nice and normal, were filled with heat. “Let me go.” “You cannot go anywhere, Kat. You must feed.” “Feed? You’re kidding, right?” “No. You are newly turned. You must feed to keep up your strength.” Katherine grabbed the hand and began to pry his fingers off of her. She was stunned when she heard his fingers crack, one by one. She jumped back in horror. Lex cleared his throat and stared down at his broken fingers. “Well, yes, I knew you’d be a perfect companion. You are already incredibly strong, and you are just newly turned. But then, we have been tracking you for some time. A Hybriantu, imagine. So rare.” Katherine watched Lex’s hand, stupefied. The skin and bone were re-knitting right in front of her eyes, until—his hand was perfect. “This is too weird, even for me,” she whispered. “Come, sweet Kat. You must eat.” “What I must do is get the hell out of here.” Katherine looked around for her clothes. When she didn’t find them she threw up her hands in disgust and made her way to the door, stark naked. Lex materialized in front of her—arms crossed against his chest. “I cannot let you go. You MUST feed!” She growled. It was an inhuman sound. Her eyes narrowed and her hands clenched. Without even thinking, and faster than the human eye could possibly see, she grabbed Lex by his arm and flung him over her shoulder. She heard the crash, as his body connected with the wall, but didn’t bother turning around. She left. **** Katherine walked into her house. This had to have been the worst day ever. She made her way to her bedroom, intent on finding herself some clothes. She hadn’t had a choice. She had to leave Mr. Beautiful Psycho a.k.a. Lex’s house in her birthday suit. Her clothes were nowhere to be found. Surprisingly she had been able to run all the way to her house in something less than ten minutes and at a frightening speed. She opened her bedroom door and stopped. Her sister Lorna was in her bedroom. Her sister Lorna was on her bed. Her sister, Lorna was on her bed with a man and they were— “NO WAY!” Katherine shrieked. “You are not having sex on my bed. Oh my God. What is wrong with you?” Lorna and her bed buddy sprang apart. “Uh, hi, Katie.” “Don’t call me Katie. What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Katherine approached the pair. “Well.” Lorna swallowed and attempted a smile. “Uh, mom, well, mom kicked me out. She said she’s on her honeymoon and that she doesn’t need me around while she and Kurt uh … well you know.” Lorna laughed. She stopped when she saw her sister’s

murderous glare. “So …well I found your spare key and let myself in. I didn’t think you’d mind.” “You didn’t think I mind?” Katherine shook her head in disbelief. “And what about him?” She pointed to the still silent bed buddy. Lorna became more animated. “Oh, this is Bobbie. We met at Ventilation—you know—that bar over on east nineteenth. We really hit it off. So…” “—you decided it was fine to come back to my place and go at it on my bed?” Katherine was still in shock. Could her sister really be that stupid? “I … well … I didn’t think…” “I’d mind.” Katherine finished. “Yeah. You already said that.” Lorna’s head tilted to the side. “Hey, Katie … did you get highlights? Your hair looks terrific … actually … everything about you looks…” Lorna cleared her throat, “better. But why are you naked?” Katherine thumped her hand to her head. “What? You just noticed?” “Well, yeah. You were sorta screaming at me and I didn’t…” “—Okay, okay.” Katherine held up her hand. “That is a whole ‘nother story. Right now, you and Mr. … Mr…” Bed buddy finally tore his eyes from Katherine’s generous breasts and spoke. “Smith, Bobbie Smith.” “You and Mr. Smith need to get lost.” “Katie…” Lorna whined. “No. You do not just let yourself into people’s homes…even if they do happen to be your sister. And you do not have sex in other people’s beds. Eeew, that is sooooo gross, Lorna.” “But Katie, where am I supposed to go?” “Go back to mom’s.” “But mom and Kurt…” Lorna dropped off. “Can just suck it up and deal. If they really want some privacy then they’ll stop being so damn cheap and they’ll go to a hotel.” Katherine found her robe thrown over her rocker and put it on. “Now, get lost.” Lorna made a disgusted sound from deep in her throat but crawled out of bed. “I’ll be in the kitchen,” Katherine said. She stalked out of the room, thinking—how can I possibly be related to that nitwit. **** Katherine was preparing herself a sandwich and small salad when Lorna and her bed friend entered the kitchen. “It’s funny … your hair is shinier and your eyes are brighter but you still … well you still sorta look like hell.” Lorna said. Katherine smiled sweetly. It was so nice of her sister to change her mind about her appearance. It was so very a Lorna thing to do. “Oh, that’s so sweet of you, Lorna. And here I thought I could win the title of Miss America.” Lorna rolled her eyes. “You’re all pasty.” “Uh-huh, whatever.” Katherine took a bite of her sandwich and promptly spit it back up onto the plate. Lorna’s lips curled. “Gross.”

Katherine swallowed. God. Her stomach was killing her. And her head … her head was pounding. “Katie?” Lorna’s voice was genuinely touched by concern. “You … you don’t look so good. Are you going to hurl?” Lorna grabbed the trashcan and held it under Katherine’s head. Katherine sighed. “I’m fine. Put that down.” “I was just trying to help.” “Fine. You can help by going away.” Lorna huffed. “Whatever. I know when I’m not wanted.” “Do you?” Katherine said under her breath. “I heard that,” Lorna said. Katherine sighed. She was already beginning to feel bad. It wasn’t her sister’s fault that she was in a bad mood. Perhaps she should apologize for being so grouchy. “Bobbie and I will just go to his place.” Katherine grabbed her sister’s arm. “OUCH!” Lorna cried. Katherine released her sister quickly. “Are you telling me that you and Mr. Nakedin-my-bed could have gone back to his place to begin with? That you came to my house and had sex in my bed when you could have gone and done the nasty at his place?” Lorna, totally oblivious, shrugged. “Your place was closer.” “OH MY GOD!” Katherine shrieked. She had had enough. “Get out. Get out now.” Lorna grabbed Bobbie’s hand. “Come on.” She tossed Katherine a dirty look. “My sister is such a drip.” The moment they were gone Katherine dead-bolted her door. Her head was still pounding—worse than before. Her eyes were burning and her mouth felt dry. She sank onto her couch weakly and put her head between her legs. What was wrong with her? Could it be? No. She would not believe it. She could not believe it. Vampires didn’t exist. Vampires did not exist. She just had to keep telling herself that. It was scientifically impossible, and went against every rational thought. And Katherine was nothing if not rational. “You must come to me, Kat. You need me. You need me.” Katherine’s head jerked up so quickly she felt like vomiting. “You stay out of my head. Stay out!” She was not going to let that infuriatingly handsome man get to her. Not even through her susceptible brain. “Katherine … sweet Katherine…” Lex’s voice was cajoling now. “You are being unreasonable. You must come to me. Or let me come to you.” “I think you’ve done enough coming,” Katherine muttered. She groaned when she heard his laughter filling her head. “Why can’t you just leave me alone?” Katherine jumped up, startled, when her door slammed open. The hinges were now broken and twisted. Lex stood in the doorway. His hair was pulled back. His body encased in a black TShirt and jeans and on his feet, really expensive sneakers. He looked casual, comfortable, and absolutely scrumptious. Good enough to eat. “If you were trying not to freak me out … then newsflash, you just failed miserably.”

“I’m trying to make you understand. Nothing can keep me out.” Lex smiled and fingered some pieces of splinters from her now broken door. “Especially not puny doors.” “I’ll have you know that that door was oak. You owe me three hundred and seventy five dollars.” He laughed. “Of course. Now, if you truly want something sturdy, you’ll consider steel … reinforced steel.” Katherine’s face scrunched up. “A steel door? Oh yeah, that’s welcoming.” “It’s not meant to be, Kat, my love.” “My name is not Kat. And I’m not your love.” “You most certainly are.” She groaned. “You’re totally infuriating.” Lex smiled. “Thank you.” Katherine opened her mouth to speak when pain speared through her stomach and she doubled over. “Oh God … I don’t feel so good,” she moaned. Lex was at her side immediately. He brushed some of her hair out of her face and saw the sweat that was sliding down her cheeks and forehead. “Ooohhhh…” Katherine closed her eyes. “You MUST feed now.” Lex picked her up gently and walked out of her apartment.

Chapter Four Katherine woke up bright eyed and bushy tailed. She felt like a million bucks. She felt strong, and sharp and— “—Holy shit! I drank blood!” Katherine shrieked. Lex rubbed his ears. “By the way, Kat—we vampires have amazing hearing. You needn’t yell.” She chewed on her lower lip, nervously. “My love, what is wrong?” “Well if you must know, I’m a little freaked. I drank someone’s blood, right?” He nodded. “You were in need of it, yes.” “Uh … how…” “—Did I manage it? It was simple. I brought the human here. You were nearly incoherent in your pain. I brought the human up to your mouth, and well, instinct took over.” “Ugh, that is so gross.” Katherine began to shake. “Did I … well, drink a lot?” “A sufficient amount.” “Was I bloody?” “A bit.” “Have I slept long?” Lex smiled. “Long enough.” “Do you ever give anything straight?” she asked impatiently. “What do you mean?” “These quick lipped answers are bugging me.” Lex’s mouth twitched. “Oh?” Katherine groaned and jumped up to her feet. “Impossible, you’re bloody impossible.” She looked around and scowled. “Back again.” Lex shrugged. “I needed a place to bring you, Kat. I couldn’t think of a place more appropriate than my home. And, I guessed that you would not have wanted me to bring fresh food home.” “Food?” she asked quietly. “Food. Yes, I didn’t think you’d want me bringing an unconscious stranger into your home.” “You guessed correctly,” Katherine muttered. “Fuck!” “If you’d like,” he replied with a smile. Katherine tossed him a dirty look. “I’m dead,” She said flatly. “No.” “No?” “No, you’re not dead. You’re not a corpse, not really. You are of the living dead. Your flesh does not rot, or decay or smell…” “Enough already, yuck,” Katherine cried. “I get the picture. But, you made me into a vampire.” “I converted you.”

Katherine wrinkled her nose. “Converted? This isn’t like changing religions, asshole. I was alive, and now I’m not. Hell of a conversion, if you ask me.” “Well, yes. Rather.” Katherine, for the first time since waking, took stock of her situation. She was naked—again. Her eyes narrowed. “I take it you stripped me.” “I presumed that you would not want blood spilt on that lovely robe of yours.” “You’re presuming a lot, aren’t you?” she asked curtly. “Well, we have bonded, so yes, I suppose I am.” Katherine clenched her fists. “We are NOT bonded.” “Yes, we are.” “Oh my God. This is too much.” Lex sighed. “You should try not to take the Lord’s name in vain, Kat.” “You’re dead. What the hell do you care?” Katherine shot back. She took a step back when she saw the tautening of his skin and the stretching of his jaw. He was doing that whole ‘freaky vampire thing’ again. “I may be dead. I may be damned. But even I know not to piss off the creator.” Katherine swallowed. He really was a scary sonofabitch. Okay—a scary, beautiful sonofabitch. “You, uh, still believe in God?” Lex sighed, a deep sigh. “My beliefs are too complicated a matter to go into right now. Let me just say that angels and devils do exist and they can exist on earth. I would rather not tempt either sect with my errant tongue.” “That was a pretty speech,” Katherine said. She saw his look, and held up her hands in supplication. “What? I wasn’t being sarcastic, really. It was a pretty speech. You’re a regular orator.” She sighed. “Okay, so that last bit was sarcastic.” Lex’s lips curved up into a smile, but he said nothing. “I’ve got to go home.” “Go home? And do what?” “Well, for one, I should probably call my sister to tell her I’m sorry.” Katherine was already feeling pretty lousy. She had definitely been sharper with her sister than she had intended. But it was the psycho Lex’s fault for being … well … so psycho and putting her in a bad mood before she had confronted her sister. Lex’s eyes widened. “You want to call your sister, on the phone?” “No—telepathically—of course on the phone.” Katherine shook her head. “I think I really pissed her off.” Lex held up an authoritative hand. “Wait. Let me see if I get this straight. You want to call your sister, on the phone, to tell her … no—to apologize? For what?” “Well … I did tell her if she needed a place to crash, she could come to my place. I didn’t think she’d bring a stranger over and have sex on my bed. But, sheets can be laundered and I guess I’m being a little uncharitable…” “Uncharitable. You’re being uncharitable?” His face was filled with disbelief. “Your sister brought some stranger back to your house and had sex on your bed and you want to apologize to her?” Katherine sighed. It was hard staying mad at her sister. She was still her sister. “It wasn’t like that. Well, okay, it was like that. But, hey, you should be talking. You bring strangers over to suck blood from their necks.”

Lex’s eyes twinkled. “It is not even close to being the same thing, my love.” “Stop calling me that.” “We’re bonded, Kat. If you prefer we can use your human word—married.” Katherine froze, looking like a deer trapped in headlights. “Excuse me—did you just say we were married?” “In a sense, yes.” “Uh, hell no. There is no way I married you. Just to let you know. If I were to get married I would choose someone who was sweet, kind, intelligent, quiet, someone who could support, or would help me to support myself and my possible children, someone…” “—Who would bore you to death in a minute. Yes. That sounds like a perfect marriage to me, Kat.” Lex said sarcastically. “Hey, you don’t know anything about me!” Lex’s eyes glittered and he moved closer to her. “I know everything about you, Kat.” Katherine held up her hand. “Stay away. You stay away from me.” Lex laughed. It was a rich, throaty laugh. “You don’t want me to stay away from you, my love. You want me close … close enough so that I may smell your desire on your skin.” Katherine shivered. She did want that—no, wait—she didn’t want that. He was not her prince charming. In fact, he wasn’t even the toad. This was a corpse that was walking toward her—a dead man. She couldn’t be attracted to a dead man—could she? Shit. She was so screwed and not in the good sense. Lex materialized in front of her. He ran a hand down her cool cheek. “I can smell it now—your desire.” She swallowed. “Please … get away from me.” Katherine’s hands were shaking. She wanted him so much. “I cannot, my love.” He leaned forward and blew against her neck. “Oh boy. I am in so much trouble,” she muttered. “But trouble can be so much fun, love.” He wrapped on arm around her back and drew her to him. Katherine groaned when her body made contact with his. Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy. Un-sexy thoughts, she had to think un-sexy thoughts. Her boss with bad B.O. Her flighty mom and her freak attack step-father (number seven). The fact that she was down to her last pair of clean underwear… “You smell like sex, my love.” He licked her throat. Damn it. There was the end of her un-sexy thoughts. “Lex. We are so not doing this.” She tried to put iron in her words. She tried to mean them. Suddenly she felt Lex’s hand between her legs, dipping into her hot, wet, core. It felt amazing. She couldn’t help herself—she widened her legs. “Oh yes, my love, that’s the way.” Lex inserted two fingers into her hot pussy and began to scissor them slowly in and out. “Liquid heat,” he whispered against her neck. Katherine’s breasts were heavy and swollen, her nipples tight and pebble hard. Her head was spinning and pounding. She arched her hips towards his hand and pressed more deeply against him. She wanted more. Lex laughed. “You will have it.” Katherine was unaware that she had spoken out loud.

Suddenly she was burrowed amongst pillows and satin sheets. They were on the bed. Wow. He moved fast. “Not so fast, my love. Not so fast,” Lex murmured. Katherine writhed as he added a third finger to the foray. “Stay out of my mind,” she groaned. She began to pant as the fingers quickened. Her pussy began to tingle and spasm. And when he found her clit she could no longer contain her scream. Digging and twisting her hands into the sheets, she arched off of the bed and let her orgasm carry her away. Lex dug his fingers into Katherine’s thighs and pulled them fully apart. He licked his lips, moved up her body, and with one thrust imbedded himself fully within her. She felt like heaven. He molded his hands around Katherine’s breasts and began to pump steadily. She was warm and unbelievably wet around him. He felt her rake her nails across his back and groaned. He couldn’t resist—didn’t want to resist. He took a hard nipple between his sharp teeth and bit. Blood filled his mouth … rich, warm and coppery. His body began to thrum and pulse and he pushed ever forward, his thrusts becoming stronger. He let go of Katherine’s breast and shook from the force of the sensations that were bombarding his body. Blood trickled down his chin. “Katherine, Kat, my love,” he groaned and burrowed his head into the side of her neck. He could hear, feel, her veins as they shimmied under the surface of her pale white skin. Lex clenched, and unclenched his fists. He wrapped one arm around her and drew her hard against him, never breaking contact. His cock was straining and screaming for release. He had to have her. He had to have her completely. He wrapped Katherine’s legs around his waist and thrust as deeply as he could into her body. Katherine screamed and dropped her head back. “I’m … I’m … going…” her words dropped off as she began to pant. He jerked his Kat head to the side and sank his fangs deeply into her neck. His body shook uncontrollably as his seed burst forth. He felt her pussy clench and tighten as her screams of ecstasy filled the room and shook the walls. Even as her shakes subsided he drank deeply—it was, after all, his right. **** Katherine bit her lower lip as she studied her reflection in the full length mirror. It was like déjà vu. Hadn’t she been here, done that? Of course, doing it with Lex wasn’t a hardship. He was beyond beautiful. And his voice was sexier than sin. If he could bottle that voice, he’d be rich—then again, it didn’t look like he was hard up for cash. She frowned when her reflection was joined by Lex’s. “So, I guess that whole ‘vampires can’t see their reflection’ is a load of…” “…Malarkey? Yes. We can obviously see our reflections. In fact, I’m rather fond of mirrors.” “What else is a load of malarkey?” Katherine grinned at that last word. Who used the word ‘malarkey’ anymore? “There are many vampire ‘tall tales’ if you will.” “Like?” Katherine urged.

“Garlic.” “Garlic?” she asked, clearly surprised. “Garlic doesn’t have any effect on us at all.” He grinned. “If, and I say if, I could eat solid, human food, I could consume tons of garlic and not fall to the floor dead,” Lex laughed, “Deader.” “Mmmmmm.” “Coffins.” “What about coffins?” Katherine’s eyes went wide. “We don’t need to sleep in coffins. Actually, most of us do not sleep in coffins. We find it—using your word—icky.” Her face fell. “Oh.” Lex grinned. “What? You have seen my bedroom twice now, you thought I skulked off to a coffin come dawn?” Katherine shrugged. “I don’t know. But I always thought the whole coffin thing was kinda … well … kinda cool.” He grimaced. “You wouldn’t think so if you had to sleep in one.” “So, garlic is a yes, and coffins are a no. Anything else?” “You will learn as you go, Kat.” “Uh, I don’t think so. That is not an acceptable answer. You, Mr. Big shot vampire, bit me and turned me into a blood-sucking fiend. I think you owe me all the answers I want.” Lex wrapped his arms around her and smiled when she shivered in his embrace. “No way!” Katherine pushed away. “Forget it. You’re just going to distract me again.” “I should certainly hope so.” “Well, no way, no how. Forget about it.” She fetched her robe, slipped it on and secured the sash. “Goodbye.” Lex sighed deeply. “Katherine.” “Goodbye,” She said more firmly. “Where will you go, my love?” Kat straightened and held her head at a haughty angle. “Anywhere where you’re not.” “I’m crushed.” She snorted. “I doubt that.” “You will need to feed, next rising. What do you propose to do about that? Will you get over your squeamishness and find yourself a blood source?” “Gross.” “That is what I thought.” “Can’t I like … uh, well, find a blood bank or something?” Lex burst out laughing. “What do you think this is—a bad B-movie? No, my love, you cannot just find a blood bank. We cannot drink blood from cold sources. Do not even think to raid a hospital. It will do you no good.” “Damn it,” Katherine swore. “At times.” She ignored him. “Well, I’ll think of something. I’m quite resourceful.” “But all your resources have not prepared you for life amongst the blood horde.”

“The what?” “The blood horde—vampires, Kat—vampires.” “Yeah, well. Like I said, I’ll think of something.” Katherine clenched her fists. “I’ve got to go.” She headed for the door. Her steps faltered, as if she had suspected he would try to stop her, try to keep her with him. “Goodbye, Lex.” “Not goodbye, my love. Goodnight,” he whispered. Katherine didn’t stop. But she heard every word he whispered. Super-sensitive vampire hearing—right?

Chapter Five Katherine saw the blinking light on her answering machine and pushed the play button. She was startled when she heard her boss’ nasal voice over the machine. “Ms. Ernshaw. Since you feel working at Campbell and Harris is not worth your time, as made obvious by the fact that you haven’t showed up for work in three days, you’re fucking fired.” Her eyes went wide. Three days? She hadn’t been to work in three days? What the hell? Her boss’ rant continued. “I’m fucking disappointed in you. When I hired you, I was under the impression that you were an intelligent, rational, steady, diligent and trustworthy employee. I never would have expected such airheaded behavior from you. Ms. Strickland will be sending you your last paycheck. Don’t bother coming for your things. We’ll send them.” The machine beeped and the message ended. Katherine sank down onto the couch. That had to have been the weirdest message she had ever received. Her boss never could keep the foul language out—not even when he was trying to be serious and formal. She blinked. Shit. She had been fired. She had actually been fired. Katherine rubbed her temples. She had never been fired before. And she had worked steady jobs since she was fifteen. Heck, she had worked at the pretzel store, rolling pretzels for ten hours when she had been sixteen—even then she hadn’t been fired. She had quit after rolling her one millionth pretzel (and falling into the butter vat—don’t ask). She couldn’t believe she had been fired. Katherine fished her remote control out of her sofa seat and turned on the television. She flipped channels until she found the late night news and gasped. Oh my God! She had been gone for three days. How had that happened? She had been at super-scary Lex’s house for three days? Her mom and sister had to be worried sick. She picked up her phone and dialed her sister’s number. “Hullo?” Lorna’s sleepy voice answered. “Lorna? Lorna?” “Katie? Is that you?” Lorna yawned on the other end. “What the heck are you doing calling me at,” there was a pause and then a curse, “four in the morning.” “Uh,” Katherine hesitated, “I wanted to hear your voice.” “Huh?” “I just thought you might be worried.” “Worried, why?” “Well, because, well…” Katherine broke off. Her sister obviously hadn’t noticed that she had been gone for three whole days. “Why would I be worried?” Lorna sighed impatiently. “I’m worried now because you woke me up at four in the morning. And I have class at seven thirty.” “What class?” Katherine asked. “Music history.”

“Really? I didn’t know you were taking music history, Lorna.” Lorna groaned. “For fuck’s sake, Katie, can we not have this conversation now? I’m dying over here.” Katherine choked back a fit of hysterical and nervous laughter. Dying? Her sister was dying? She didn’t think so. If Lorna wanted to see dead—well, then—she could show her dead. “I’m hanging up now, Katie. Don’t call me again at four.” Katherine heard the click of the dial tone and sighed. Well, that answered her question—her sister hadn’t missed her. She placed her receiver back in its cradle and drew her legs up onto the couch. She sat Indian style with her elbows resting on her knees. What now? She was out of a job, soon to be broke … and dead. Katherine got up and walked over to her bookshelf. She wasn’t sure why the sudden fit of nostalgia, but here it was. Perhaps the fact that she was now one of the legions of the undead was the reason that she felt compelled to remember that she had family. Dead or not, she had family. She pulled down her photo album and began to flip through. When she got to her parents’ wedding photo she stopped. Her mom looked so happy. But then, her mom looked happy in all her wedding photos. Her father looked equally happy and dashing in his suit. Her father. Katherine sighed. Now, that was a painful subject. He had left when she was six years old. No explanations, no goodbyes. He had just packed his bags and left. Before he had left she had thought they had a great relationship—a loving relationship. He had taken her on outings and dropped her off and picked her up from school—since her mom couldn’t be bothered. She was too busy getting her nails done. But then, suddenly, it was over. Katherine came home from school one day to find that her father was gone. Her mom was cheerfully marking pages in a catalogue—her hair in curlers, her feet resting comfortably out in front of her. It was a scene that Katherine would remember for the rest of her life. Her mom announced (without looking up from her catalogue) that Katherine’s father, her husband, was gone—that he wasn’t coming back. It was the end of the world as Katherine knew it. Three months later her mom remarried. Henry, the new hubby, was short, fat, bald and very, very wealthy. That marriage lasted one year and seven days. Suddenly, Katherine felt it—the dawn. And somehow she knew that the sun, once a friend, would now be the death of her—true death. She would fry, like an egg. She shrank back and dropped the album to the floor, cowering. Oh God. It was bad. She was scared. This was something she had no experience with—sun, death, burning to a crisp. She rushed to her bedroom and looked around. The curtains were thick, but somehow she wasn’t reassured. One little ray of sun and it would be au revoir—right? Katherine began to pace. Great—a five room house and nowhere to rest her dead body. But then, she hadn’t bought the house thinking she would be converted into a vampire. Damn it. She swallowed. She didn’t really have much choice did she? There were very few places for her to sleep that closed tightly and were completely free of sunlight. Shit. This was going to be so gross. And so, so demeaning.

**** Katherine woke up the next evening—starving. She pushed hangers, dirty laundry and bags out of her way and tumbled out of her closet. God, her closet was disgusting. When had it gotten so disgusting? She really needed to clean it, but first things first— food. **** Katherine gnashed her teeth together. Oh my God. What was she doing? She was hanging outside of Club Dive II, in a very, very dirty alley, waiting for—what? Dinner? This was so crazy. She sank against the side of the building. Hell, she hurt. Her head was pounding, her stomach clenching and she was hungry, so hungry. “Shut up bitch!” The voice that broke the dense silence was harsh and grating. It was soon joined by a woman’s high-pitched screams. Katherine narrowed her eyes. What was this? She walked further into the alley, toward the back door of the club, and froze. In front of her was a man—a very large man. He was holding a crying woman by the neck and grinding his hips into her. Katherine wasn’t even aware of the fact that her eyes bled to solid black. “Fucking bitch. You were asking for it. Fucking tease.” The man shook the woman and began to tear at her shirt. She was still trying to scream. But now, with her windpipe being crushed, her cries were strained and broken. When the man began to fumble with his belt buckle, Katherine flew at him. She hit the man on the side of his head with her elbow. He flew across the alley, hitting the opposite wall. She was on him in a millisecond. Her body straddling his, her eyes a yawning pit of black. She grabbed the fallen man by his neck as he had done to the woman a moment before and turned to stare at the still quivering woman. “Go!” Katherine said. Her voice was foreign to her—more a growl than anything else. “Thank you … oh … oh … thank…” “GO!” Katherine shrieked. The woman fled. Katherine turned back to her prey. Her eyes felt hot, as if they were burning, and her mouth was stretching to accommodate her huge fangs. Fangs? Shit. She had fangs. “Hey … hey … please … don’t…” The fallen man was babbling. Katherine growled. “You were going to rape that woman.” “No … no … she … I…” he continued. “You are slime!” Katherine growled. She yanked his head to the side. “SLIME!” She didn’t give him a moment to answer, sinking her fangs into his neck and beginning to drink. Heaven. It was heaven. The warm, salty, essence of life was pouring down her throat, filling her with energy, vitality, spark. Her dead body was responding—begging for more. She complied.

Katherine felt free … she felt alive. When she lifted her head, disengaging herself from the man’s flesh, she felt as if she were flying. Her head and body felt light. She couldn’t believe how right it felt. Not icky, not weird … just right. She needed this. She needed blood. Katherine sprang away from the now unconscious man and stood over his body. She wiped her mouth and frowned. Now that she was done with her meal … it was sort of icky. “Good. So, you overcame your squeamishness. Do you now wipe the slate clean … or do you kill him? Your prey, your choice.” The voice was smooth as cream and soft as satin. It slithered through the night. Katherine rolled her eyes. Great. It was just what she needed—a really bad craving for blood, a passed-out man whom she had just sucked blood from—and now … now the sexiest vampire this side of hell. “Go away. I’ve got it under control.” How was it that Lex always knew where she was? What? Had he implanted a tracking device under her skin? “I know because I live in you, as you live in me, my love.” “Yuck. Stay out of my mind. And don’t call me ‘my love’.” Lex smiled. “As you wish. However, I believe that I have answered your question, Kat.” “Don’t call me Kat.” Lex laughed then. “You leave me with little else.” “Katherine. My name is Katherine.” Lex frowned. “Katherine does not seem to suit you, my…” He broke off and cleared his throat, “It seems to speak of a different age, a past time. Do you not find it rather ‘old’?” “What the hell are you talking about?” “Your name. It doesn’t seem to suit you.” Katherine waved that away. “Whatever. What are you doing here, Lexarius?” She knew it was petty, but she was supremely satisfied when she saw him grimace. Ha, two could play that game. “You have need of me.” “I don’t.” “Yes…” he pointed to the unconscious man, “…you do.” “Like I said, I have it under control.” “Do you know what to do now?” “Excuse me?” “Do you erase his memory, or do you just kill him. Frankly, if you wish my opinion … you should just kill him.” “Gross,” Katherine shrieked. “What is so gross about it? He is just a human animal.” Katherine narrowed her eyes. “Have you forgotten? I was human, up until a couple of days ago.” “But you were never as he. He was attacking someone before you came along, was he not?” “Yeah, how did…” she stopped. “Forget it, I know.” “So. You must decide.”

Katherine wrinkled her nose. “Erase his memory. Or kill him. Those are my only choices?” “What else would you do?” Lex said dryly. “I don’t know. I guess…” “You have no idea, do you?” “Fine, fine, I have no clue.” Katherine hated to admit it. “I have already given you my opinion. He has served his purpose. You could just dispose of him.” “Ugh. No. I’m not killing him.” Lex sighed. “Fine. Then erase his memory. You must leave no trace of you, or what happened here tonight, within his mind. It must all go.” He frowned. “Although I still believe you’re being way too generous.” “Okay. Memory. Has to go. Right now. Got it.” Katherine went on as if she hadn’t heard him. She turned toward the fallen man and clenched her fists. No way. She was not going to do it. She was not going to ask. “Katherine…” Lex’s voice was cajoling. She sighed. “Yes?” “I will make it easy on you.” His eyes twinkled. “I will.” “You will what?” Katherine asked. Lex laughed. “I will help you.” “Don’t go to any trouble on my behalf,” she said sarcastically. “I won’t,” he shot back. Ugh. He was so annoying. Katherine planted her hands on her hips. “Well … are you going to help or not?” Lex grinned. “On one condition.” “WHAT? There are conditions now?” she wailed. “Oh yes,” Lex said. “There are always conditions and terms.” “Conditions? Terms? You sneaky jerk. I knew there had to be something.” “I will help you—if and only if you will agree to let me call you by names of my choosing.” Katherine’s mouth dropped open. Outmaneuvered. Damn. She hated being outmaneuvered. He laughed. “Well?” Katherine ground her teeth together. “Fine,” She said quietly. “I can’t hear you, Katherine,” Lex said, grinning. “I said fine, okay.” “Very good, my love.” Lex’s eyes were twinkling with merriment. “Now. What do I do?” “You must take blood again. But this time you must plant thoughts in his brain and erase the ones that he has. And most importantly you must only take a small amount of blood. You cannot drain him—it is easy to do. You will be under the passion.” “The passion?” “Yes, blood passion. You will want to take it all. His blood will call to you, tempt you. But as you have already fed from him, his system is weak. You could inadvertently kill him. Not that his death would be such a great loss. But as you seem to wish him alive, you must be very careful. I will guide you through the process.”

Katherine swallowed. “This is hard, isn’t it?” Lex seemed to weigh his words. “It is tricky, yes—especially since you are newly turned. Some fledglings cannot manage such a feat, as to implant thoughts—not in this stage. But you are strong, my love. And I know you can do this.” She nodded. She walked over to the still unconscious man. “So, I, like, just suck on him again?” “You may take from his wrist, my love.” Katherine nodded. Oh yeah. She much preferred that option. The wrist seemed less intimate. She knelt down by the man and held his limp wrist to her mouth. “Now remember. You must drink and plant, at the same time. Figure out what you are going to plant in his mind, now. I would suggest planting thoughts of overdrinking and giving him a wicked hangover. It would probably be the most realistic scenario. His puny little brain would be easy to accept it.” “Okay.” Katherine took a deep breath and, before she lost her courage, sank her teeth into the man’s wrist. It was so good. Damn. It was so good. She was getting light-headed, again. And it was wonderful. Her whole body was thrumming with energy and she could feel— “PLANT!” Lex’s voice broke through her reverie. “Plant the thoughts, now.” Katherine planted the thoughts. She wiped all memory of herself, the attempted rape, and what the man saw, from his memory. Instead, she told him that he would wake in the alley with a wicked hangover. That he drank too much, threw up all night and … for good measure … gave him a little problem with gaining an erection—for the rest of his life. She broke free. “Very good, my love.” Lex smiled. Katherine felt like she could fly. Her whole body felt alive. She was tingling all over. She turned her black eyes onto Lex, and smiled.

Chapter Six Lex tested the bonds. They were more than secure. Who knew his Kat could tie such a superior knot. His breath hitched in his throat when she appeared. Naked skin bathed in candlelight, she was breathtaking—his Kat. They had barely made it through his door before Katherine had launched herself at him. He knew that her, uh, willingness could come from her newly discovered blood passion—taking blood was a very, very, intimate thing. But for the death of him—while Kat was sucking on his lower lip he couldn’t think of one real good reason why that was a bad thing. He and Katherine had made it to his bedroom, fumbling, fondling and groping each other all the way. He felt like an untried youth. It was amazing. When, with the exception of feeding, had he felt so alive? Only with his Kat could it be this way. When they had bumped against his wooden chest, knocking it over, his toys, along with several long lengths of rope, had tumbled out. Katherine had gone still, Lex silent. When she broke into a smile, he got a tight feeling in his chest. The most amazing sense of anticipation filled him. His Kat’s look was positively feral … almost predatory. Lex was tossed back into the present when he felt something feather against his bound leg. He looked down. Katherine was running her long hair against his instep. He swallowed. She was so beautiful. Her full breasts swung with each toss of her hair. Her skin was like pale porcelain dusted with gold in the candlelight and her eyes twinkled with mischief. Mischief she meant to inflict on him. “Kat, my love,” Lex said hoarsely. Katherine said nothing. She just smiled. She reached down and over the side of the bed to retrieve a leather whip. His nostrils flared. Would she? Could she? The whip hissed as it cut through the air and cracked when it connected with his chest. Oh yeah. She could. Katherine didn’t know what had come over her. She had never—absolutely never— done anything like this before. In fact, before she had met Lex, her sex life had been almost non-existent. She could count the number of partners she’d had on half of a hand. But that was before—well, before she had died. Now, here she was, whip in hand. It was like something was driving her, urging her to do it. She wanted Lex with a passion that defied logic. She wanted to see what she did to him. What she could do to him. He was moving through her … his voice, his blood, his essence. She could feel him in her head—even though he hadn’t spoken a word. She wanted his cock—hard and warm spearing through her. She wanted his blood coating her tongue. She wanted him. All of him.

“How much can you take?” She asked. Her voice was hoarse. She cracked the whip and watched as it scored his thighs. Red welts appeared on his pale, glowing flesh; then disappeared almost immediately. Katherine watched in fascination as the puffy red skin melted into perfection. “Well,” she whispered, “it seems as if you can take a lot.” Lex’s look was smoldering. “Oh yes, my love.” With one sinuous move, Katherine straddled his prone body. She smiled when his eyes widened and he swallowed. Katherine leaned over him, her breasts rubbing his chest, her hair blanketing them both. Lex groaned. “Kat…” Katherine continued to rub against him. Her nipples were pebble hard and her breasts felt swollen with her need. She widened her legs, tantalizing him with the promise of honeyed warmth. She glided down his front until her mouth came to rest just above his jutting cock. He was hard as stone and quivering. “So beautiful…” Katherine murmured, running her tongue around his bulbous head. Lex groaned and arched his back off of the bed. “I … I think…” His laugh was strained. “That you are the beautiful one.” Katherine formed an O with her mouth and encompassed his shaft. She took him all the way to the back of her throat. When she felt him bumping the back of her throat, she relaxed and took him even deeper. He was hard and pulsing within her wet mouth and tasted faintly of salt, sweat and … peppermint? He was delicious. Katherine smiled. She felt Lex twisting and jerking against his bonds. He was growing—if possible—larger. She dug her fingers into the hard flesh of his thighs and began a slow, sweet suction. She took him deep, and then shallow. Bringing his cock all the way out, so that she could encircle his head with her tongue, only to breathe him in a second later. She heard his groans and felt the leaping of his flesh under her tongue. She increased her suction, now raking her teeth very gently over his needy flesh. Lex growled. His back arched and his hips thrust. She tightened her lips, swirled her tongue around him, and felt his flesh jump in her throat. She raked her hands against his thighs a second before his cock pulsed and erupted into her welcoming mouth. She swallowed—once, twice, three times—taking him all in. Katherine looked up, her eyes bright. She caught his gaze and licked her lips. Lex groaned when she lowered herself onto him. Her pussy was so warm, so wet … so … tight. Her head was thrown back, her hands digging into his shoulders. She was so gloriously beautiful. He arched up and swore. He was still bound—and now, now she was taking him in measured moves. His hands clenched. His cock was unbelievably tight and it was throbbing as her wet warmth engulfed him. “Let me…” he gasped. “I want to hold you.” Lex knew he could break the bindings anytime. But this was his Kat’s move—her orchestrated plan. She needed to know she had power. And God knew … he didn’t mind the plan, or the ride. Katherine moaned. “You don’t need to hold me,” she swallowed, “just feel me.” She ground down and gasped when she felt him so deeply within her body. Lex swore. “Kat, Kat, my love.”

She reached down and lightly caressed his balls with one hand, never faltering with her rhythm. She traced his texture with her fingers, learning him. Her pussy was beginning to clench around his cock, her sweet liquid pooling down her thighs. Lex arched his back and clenched his hands in the sheets. His Kat’s clever little hands were tickling and rubbing the soft, smooth flesh of his balls, while her pussy was grinding mercilessly down on his cock. The alternating friction was enough to make his eyes bleed black, his mouth open up in a snarl, and his body glow. It was beyond incredible. She was beyond incredible. Katherine’s eyes went wide. “What…” “Do not stop,” Lex pleaded. “Please … do not stop.” She leveraged herself by placing her hands on either side of his twisting body and moved up and off of his straining cock. She teased him for a moment—her pussy lips tantalizing the head of his hard begging flesh—before plunging down on his shaft once again. She took him to her very core. Her pussy clenched tightly, as she felt him pulsing, beating within her. She felt him grow harder and harder in her body and she felt her own muscles answering. Katherine saw the fine blue veins pulsing beneath Lex’s pale skin as it glowed. He was a shining, beautiful thing. His eyes shot open. They were yawning midnight pools. He opened his mouth but no sound came out. She felt the thrumming within her body and she knew—as surely as she knew that the sun would rise and fall—that she needed to taste him on her tongue as she crested. Without missing a beat, a pulse, a thrust … Katherine placed her mouth over Lex’s heart and just when she felt his cock stiffen and erupt she sank her fangs deep into his flesh. It was salty, and thick, and delicious. He tasted like—life. She felt her pussy quivering and her cream flowing as she drank her fill. Her head was filled with light and the light moved and separated to reveal images—images of Lex. He was moving through her now—his blood coursing and flowing in her body. When she disengaged from him and drew up from his chest, she knew, she could feel the change within her. They were truly one. **** “It was different this time,” Katherine murmured. She was huddled at the foot of Lex’s enormous bed. Lex nodded. “The sharing of blood, my love.” “Yes.” She swallowed. “I … I took it before, right? I vaguely recall you making me drink your blood … uh, the first time we…” “Made love?” Lex finished for her. He smiled when he saw the slow crawl of red up her cheeks. She had just taken blood and thus could blush. It was adorable. “Yes. But this was different. I felt different.” “It was different because the first time you were unaware. I had to make you take the blood to complete the ritual. This time you willingly accepted the sharing. You took it upon yourself and thus opened yourself up to the powers and the beauty of the act. The giving and receiving of blood between mates is the most intimate of things, my love. The most intimate.”

Katherine swallowed. “I saw things.” Lex stiffened. “What things, my Kat?” “You. I saw you, Lex.” “Oh?” His face was bland. “It was like… I was watching really choppy movie. I kept seeing scenes of you … different scenes, different times.” Katherine shivered involuntarily. “Will this always happen?” “No. You, in essence, opened a portal tonight. You were so open that you let everything in. You can learn to block those images. You can learn to block me, my Kat.” She nodded slowly. “Some … some of the images weren’t, well, weren’t so … uh … nice.” “I’m sure that you’re being diplomatic, my love,” he said bitingly. “I am certain some of what you saw was truly horrifying.” Katherine said nothing. “But, it is part of the bonding. You and I share an unbreakable connection, my Kat. And now, now you know it all. You have seen it all.” “No.” “No, what?” “No, I don’t know it all.” Katherine drew herself up. Her voice was much stronger now—her posture strait and unyielding. “I don’t know why you chose me.” Lex seemed to be choosing his words carefully. “You are very special, my love.” Katherine snorted her disbelief. He ignored her and continued. “We have been searching for you for a very long time.” “Who’s we?” “The Council.” “What council?” “The Council of vampires.” “There’s a council of vampires?” Katherine’s eyes were wide. Lex smiled slightly. “There is a council for everything, my Kat. The vampire council is made up of the most elite of vampire houses—nobility, if you will.” “Noble vampires?” Katherine still looked like she was in shock. “Indeed. Vlad’s line still exists … they hold a revered chair on the council.” Katherine thought back on her history lessons and she swallowed. “Uh, as in Vlad the Impaler? The guy people think was … uh … Dracula?” “Yes,” was Lex’s curt answer. “Oh, okay,” she said softly. She was shaken. “So, uh, back to the council.” “Yes,” Lex’s voice was whisper soft, “back to the council.” He moved closer to Katherine. “The council has been searching for centuries for their Hybriantu—their crossbreed.” Katherine stared at him blankly. Lex sighed and continued. “A Hybriantu is a cross breed, a creature that is of two worlds—such as a Dhamphir.” When he saw that Katherine still looked blank he added, “Have you seen “Blade”?” Her eyes brightened. “I love that movie.”

“Yes, well, “Blade” is a Hybriantu—although a more common cross is he. He is vampire and human. There are other strains of Hybriantus that are rarer. There are crossbreeds that are so rare that they have been delegated to mere legend—one such cross is anamalia and the vampire.” Katherine found her voice. “You realize I flunked French. I have no head for foreign languages … and what you’re telling me is so far foreign it might as well be a form of alien communication.” Lex sighed heavily. “You are a part vampire and part shifter, Kat.” “Okay. Let me get this strait. Three days ago you turned me into a vampire.” Katherine shook her head, slowly clucking her tongue. “But now, now you’re telling me that I’m also a … uh … what—shifter?” “In its most basic incarnation—yes.” “A shifter,” Katherine repeated slowly. Lex smiled. “It is quite incredible, my Kat. You are the first anamalia/vampyre Hybriantu to be known to us in over two thousand years, perhaps longer. Such a strain is very, very, very rare. The council has been scouring the world for you. They have put many a vampire on the task of locating you.” His grin took up his entire face. “But I found you. I did. First.” “Actually, technically you were second,” Katherine said blandly. “The guy with the really bad teeth, pocked mark skin, and terrible posture—he was first.” Lex’s grin faded. “That creature does not count. He was put on your trail by accident. He has been sneaking around the covent for too long now.” “The covent?” Katherine saw he was about to answer and shushed him with a hand in the air. “Actually, don’t tell me. I don’t want to know.” He acquiesced. “Suffice to say, that thing,” he spat out, “was not a vampire. It was a wraith—a being more demon than anything else. It has never, and will never, be in the league of the vampire.” She sighed and rolled her eyes. “Okay, whatever. So, to recap: I’m a vampire and also some freaky shifter. You all have been looking for me for two thousand years and now, well now, you find me in the form of…” she swept her hands over her body, “…this very pathetic person. Bet you’re disappointed.” Lex growled. “You are not pathetic. You are perfect. You are the perfect being, the perfect creation.” “Creation huh?” Katherine nodded. “Nice. Nice to know, thanks—like some weird messed up science experiment.” She rushed on. “No, and don’t say anything. I’m not finished yet. I know you can’t be right, because I know, for fact that my mother gave birth to me. I wasn’t, like, zapped together in a Petri dish. I have birth footage,” She finished triumphantly, for the first time grateful for home movies. Lex’s face was unnervingly stark of expression. “A Hybriantu is created naturally. You would have been nurtured and housed within your mother’s womb. You would have been birthed the same way. The secret is in the genes—the blood—Katherine. The blood that flows through your veins is mixed. There is nothing you can do about that.” Katherine leapt out of bed. “Now I know you’re full of baloney, buster. My mom is like the flakiest, most annoying, infuriating, selfish, self-absorbed woman on the face of the planet—basically she’s a bitch. But no way, no how is she a vampire … or a whatever else you call it.”

“You’re right,” Lex said. Katherine looked supremely satisfied. “Your father is—or should I say—was.” Katherine’s mouth dropped open. “Excuse me?” “Your father held the blood genes that carried the Hybriantu strain. He was the cross breed.” “You’re crazy.” Katherine found her discarded clothes and began to dress hurriedly. “Your father carried the genes—but since they often skip a generation, he most likely never left his human form. And, as it is ancient vampire blood that is needed to awaken the dormant genes, he might not have even known that he was a carrier.” Lex went on. Katherine looked wildly around the room for a means to escape. She rushed to the door and screamed when Lex was suddenly there—blocking it. “Let me out of here.” “Not until you have listened.” “I’ve done enough listening. I’ve done nothing but listen to you. You are full of shit.” “It is jarring, I know—the truth. But you asked. You wanted to know. I believe you have the right to know.” “Jarring? It’s insane.” Katherine pushed an errant lock away from her face. “I have just begun to process the fact that I am indeed dead, do you hear me—dead! And now you tell me that I’m actually a cross breed of … of … do you even know what I’m a cross breed of?” “An anamalia shifter can take many forms. It is an amazing power. The ability to shift at will, into any animal of your choosing.” She rubbed her temples. “Crazy. This is crazy. My father was not a carrier of this … this gene. He was an insurance salesman for goodness sakes,” she said this last under her breath. “Actually Brendan Ernshaw was not your father.” Katherine’s mouth dropped open. “What?” “He was not your father. Your mother lied,” Lex said flatly. “You’re the liar.” Lex sighed. “Vampires can lie quite convincingly, yes—but of this I do not lie. Your father was not Brendan Ernshaw. Your father was a man by the name of Alexander Azyn. He was a man your mother had an affair with. It was a brief affair, as I believe all your mother’s affairs are, but this affair had a different result—you.” Katherine’s head was ringing and pounding. She couldn’t—no—she wouldn’t believe what Lex was telling her. Her mother was a spoiled, selfish idiot, but she couldn’t be that … that … horrible—not telling your own daughter about her real father. “I don’t believe you.” Katherine said. “I don’t believe you,” she said, stronger this time. She shoved him—hard—and was gratified when he actually stumbled. She wrenched open the door and rushed out.

Chapter Seven Katherine rose at about eight o’clock p.m., having fought her way out of her messy closet, intent on confronting her mother. It wasn’t like she actually believed what that jerk, Lex, had told her. She just wanted to hear it from her mother. She just needed to hear it from her mother. The current Mrs. Delia Warner lived in a lovely two story house. With its painted shutters, wraparound porch, and lovely garden it was the model home, for the model wife. Katherine knocked on the front door. Nothing. After four more tries, the door swung open. “Katherine?” Katherine’s mother, Delia, was a beautiful woman. A beautiful woman who knew just how beautiful she was, and knew how to use her good looks to her every advantage. She had done it seven times already. “Katherine, what are you doing here?” “I came to see you, mother.” Delia frowned. “Well, I guess you should come in.” Katherine’s expression was one of forced politeness. “Thank you.” The moment Katherine walked into her mother’s home, she felt suffocated. It was the strangest thing. There was nothing outwardly wrong with Delia’s house—actually it was perfect. The rugs, the paintings, the figurines, furniture, flowers and plants were all perfect. And yet, there was nothing welcoming or comforting about her mother’s home. It was a showpiece—much like Delia. “What do you want, Katie?” “Don’t call me Katie. You know I hate it.” Delia sighed. “I don’t have time for this, Katie. Kurt will be home soon.” “You have time for this, mother.” Katherine said. Her words were edged in steel. Delia’s eyes widened. “Whatever is the matter, Katie?” “I am going to ask you a question, mother—one question. And I expect a truthful answer.” Delia rolled her eyes. “What is this about?” Katherine pinned her mother with an intense stare. “Did you have an affair while you were married to my father?” Delia went pale. She gasped, but quickly composed herself. Her face fell back into its stoic mask. But Katherine had her answer. Oh God. Oh God. “You cheated on dad. How could you? How could you do it?” “Don’t be ridiculous. You are completely out of line. Why are you even asking these absolutely inappropriate questions?” “Inappropriate? You have the audacity to stand there and … and chastise me, when you’re the one who slept around on your husband.” Katherine was shocked. How could she have not seen this in her mother? How could she not have known this? The door opened and Kurt walked in. “Sweetheart.” Delia rushed over and placed a big kiss on his lips. Kurt pulled away and looked over to where Katherine was standing. “Katie, hi.”

Katherine’s nod was her only answer. “You didn’t tell me Katie was coming over, Del, honey.” Delia’s smile was icy. “I didn’t know. She surprised me … quite surprised me.” Kurt’s face was thoughtful. “Have you, uh, done something to your hair, Katie? It looks really good. Did you get highlights?” Katherine said nothing. Kurt continued. “Actually, you look … well, terrific—beautiful in fact.” Kurt’s eyes were wide with apparent appreciation. Delia pinched him. “Katherine was just leaving.” Katherine clenched her hands into fists. She walked to the door, turning when she reached it. “We’re not through, mother.” Delia gave her daughter a cool and collected smile. “You are mistaken, Katherine Marie, we are certainly through.” Katherine opened her mouth to speak. But when she saw the expression on her mother’s face she swallowed back her words. Cursing her inability to see things through with her mother, she left, stomach in knots, heart so twisted it hurt. **** Katherine got home and promptly tore up her photo album. She knew it was petty— stupid even—but she didn’t care. She had been fed lies all these years. Her mother had lied to her. She stood over the ruined remains of her photos and felt hot tears scalding her eyes and dripping down her cheeks. She wiped them away with the back of her hand and was shocked to discover that she now cried black tears. She was so frustrated and angry. She slammed her hand down on her kitchen table and gasped when it split it two. Oh yeah—she had forgotten about vampire super strength. “I am truly sorry you had to find out like that.” Katherine didn’t bother turning around. She knew who it was. And he had just let himself into her house—again. It was becoming a bad habit of his. “Yeah, well, shit happens.” “And then you die?” Lex asked—a smile in his voice. Katherine couldn’t stop the slow grin that broke her face. “Yeah—and then you die.” She turned to face him. He was so gorgeous. How was it that he just got more beautiful every time she saw him? Tonight he was resplendent in a black silk shirt and casual black slacks. His long honey-colored hair was pulled back with a length of black cord and his feet were encased in butter-soft leather loafers. His silvery eyes were bright and there was a slight tint of rose to his pale cheeks. She knew what that meant—he had fed. “It is all right, my Kat. It will all be all right. You needed to know.” Katherine scoffed at that. “What? You would have rather the council have located you—and then found out about your true nature? Trust me when I tell you that the council would have explained nothing. They think they are beyond explanations. You would have been turned for their

purposes and everything else … well—that would have been a courtesy. You would have had to beg them to tell you about your history.” “So what you’re saying is … better you than them.” A smile was his answer. “So, then … let me ask you something—what now?” Her eyes challenged him. “Pardon?” “What now, big shot? What do I do now?” “Whatever you want.” Lex grinned. It was a boyish grin. “You have power beyond your wildest dreams—beauty and an eternity before you. Whatever you wish for can be yours.” Katherine clucked her tongue. “Really? Let’s see. Power—I have the power to knock down doors, break tables, stalk evil men, and scare the living shit out of my mother. Well, that bit has some possibilities. Beauty—I’ve never been beautiful in my entire life. Smart, yes. Beautiful—no. And about that whole eternity thing—I can still die, right?” She snorted. “I’ve watched Dracula 2010: The Return. I know how it works. People are going to be after me now. I’m going to have to dodge stakes and silver, sunlight and crazy maniacs wielding battle axes who all want to chop off my head.” Lex laughed. It started out as a small laugh and then became an all-consuming guffaw that wracked his whole body and shook him from his head to his toes. “You are so young. I had forgotten what it was like to be so young.” “Young?” Katherine planted her hands on her hips. “Young. You’re an infant. You have just been turned. You’re a fledgling with more than fledgling powers and abilities. It’s quite amazing actually. You have power that you can’t even begin to understand, my Kat. It will come to you—the knowledge. And you will learn as you go. The fact that you do not see your beauty, well, that is a testimony to your humble nature—it does you credit.” He came to stand but a mere three inches away from her. “But know this. You are beautiful.” He reached out and caressed her cool cheek. “More beautiful than any woman I have ever known.” “Any dead woman.” Lex smiled. “Any woman.” Katherine looked into his deep silver eyes and sighed. “This has been the weirdest week,” she said quietly. Lex laughed, and pulled her into his tight embrace. **** “This is unacceptable,” Lex growled. There was a hanger poking him in the ass. Katherine tried to stifle her giggles—she was failing miserably. But Lex dodging falling clothes, and wrestling with clothes hangers was just too amusing for words. “You will come and live with me. My quarters are…” “Not mine,” Katherine finished. “No thanks. I like my home.” “You have no resting place.” “I do too.” “A closet does not count as a resting place!” he snarled. He could not believe that he was spending his evening cramped inside a dirty closet with his mate. How in the devil’s name could she choose a closet as a resting place? “Why not? When I’m sleeping I wouldn’t know a closet from a five star hotel.”

Lex rearranged his cramped legs and snarled. “Unacceptable. Vampires do not sleep in closets.” She grinned in the darkness. **** Katherine looked at her reflection in the mirror and groaned. She looked ridiculous. She looked worse than ridiculous. The striped orange and red hat that was perched on her head. It was too small. And her matching uniform was too big. Katherine knew Lex thought she was nuts. He had yelled at her for an hour. Okay, he didn’t exactly yell—he just did that entire scary ass vampire thing—which was way worse. His eyes got really dark and his skin paled, and his voice changed timbre. She didn’t like it any more than Lex—but she didn’t really have a choice. She needed a job and save a mortuary, she didn’t have a lot of choices. She had been on her way home when she saw the sign in the ‘Stop and Shop’, the local gas station. They needed a cashier, someone to work the late night shift. Katherine didn’t think twice. She took it as an omen. So here she was. Dressed in tacky orange and working a job Hitler wouldn’t touch in Hell. Her thoughts were interrupted by a deep voice. “I’ll have a pack of Nitro Lights, a lighter, and twenty dollars in gas.” Katherine retrieved the cigarettes from behind her and rang up the sale. She wrinkled her nose. “These things will kill you.” She told the customer—a big, brawny man with sandy colored hair. “I know.” He sighed. “I’ve tried quitting at least twenty times now. Nothing works.” The man smiled a brilliant smile when Katherine turned back towards him with his change. “I’m William, William Witting.” She nodded. William Witting waited. With a sigh, Katherine pointed to the nametag on her top. “Katie E.” He grinned. “Cute.” Katherine grimaced. Stupid manager. She had told him her name was Katherine, Katherine with a K. And what did she get … Katie. He claimed that her full name wouldn’t fit on the tag. Bullshit. “Well, Katie E. Can I take you to dinner?” Katherine tried not to roll her eyes. “I work the late shift… I don’t get off until five … in the morning. Would you like dinner then?” “Then I’ll take you to breakfast.” Katherine laughed. Oh yeah, breakfast. That would be a hoot. Mr. Lumberjack would be scarfing down his breakfast while she hid under the table to avoid the sunlight. She could just see it now. “No thanks.” “Drinks?” She cleared her throat. “Thanks for shopping at ‘Stop and Shop’ and please do come again.” “I will, I definitely will.”

She watched as Mr. Lumberjack walked out the door with his cigarettes. Well—nice to know that she got hit on now that she was dead. Alive she couldn’t even score a second glance. Guess dead girls did have more fun. **** Katherine waved goodbye to Sherry who had come to take her place on the morning shift and left the ‘Stop and Shop’. She cut across the back of the island and was just passing the pumps when something struck her in the shoulder. Pain shot through her body and she stumbled back. She saw an arrow protruding from her shoulder—a really big arrow. She dropped to her knees and took several deep gulps. Holy shit—it hurt. It really, really hurt. She reached up and tried to pull the arrow out but excruciating pain prevented her. She was feeling light-headed and she began to shake. Blood was streaming down her body and she knew that she could ill afford to lose blood—especially since she hadn’t fed in over eight hours. She got to her feet slowly but was knocked back by two more arrows. Katherine looked down and saw them sticking out of her chest. She screamed. “Oh come on!” She shrieked. Wasn’t this just overkill? She looked around quickly trying to locate her attacker, but could see nothing but shadow. This was bad. Katherine braced herself against a tree and tried to keep her mind sharp. She had to think of something. Come on—she was a big, bad vampire now—right? “Beautiful. You are quite beautiful.” She shivered as a cool voice broke the still silence. She swallowed when she saw a man step out of the shadows. He was brandishing a crossbow. Wow. She had never seen a crossbow before except in movies. He was tall. With jet-black hair and piercing blue eyes, he was also beautiful. Pale skin and a strange magnetic aura gave him away—he was a vampire. She was surprised at how easily she could detect one now. “Listen buddy. This has been like the single worst week…” Katherine looked down at the arrows protruding from her shoulder and her chest and sighed. “You’ve just succeeded in elevating it to the single worst week of my life. Way to go.” The vampire frowned. “So … Mr. Vampire. Is there a reason you’re trying to kill me?” The vampire advanced. “You seem inappropriately unafraid for one who is to meet their end.” She nodded weakly. “Well, I don’t seem to stay dead too well. Excuse me if I’m not frightened.” “I am Azra.” “Well, nice to meet you.” Katherine nodded weakly. “I’m going to sit down now, okay.” She didn’t wait for the vampire to give an answer. She fell down to the ground with a flop. “So—like to tell me why you’re trying to kill me?” Azra came closer still. “You have been discovered. The council feels that if you cannot belong to them … then you cannot belong to anyone. A shame, in my opinion … as you are a unique creature. But one does not cross the council.” He finally reached Katherine’s prone form. He leaned over and brushed a strand of her long hair out of her face. “Beautiful. You are truly beautiful. But then, you are one of a kind.”

Katherine’s eyes narrowed suddenly. She clenched her hands into fists. She had had just about enough. “By the way, asshole—you’re a shitty shot.” He growled, revealing long fangs. He put down the crossbow and pulled a long silver blade from his belt. “Goodnight … sweet one.” He drew the blade up, but before he could separate her head from her neck he was lifted up and thrown across the asphalt. Katherine smiled wanly. “Lex … what the hell took you so long?” “I am sorry, my love. I was detained.” Lex reached Azra’s fallen form. He jumped back when Azra lunged at him with his talons. “Azra. You get uglier with each passing night.” Azra got to his feet a little unsteadily. “Lexarius—my old nemesis. You have signed your own death warrant.” Lex circled Azra silently. “You took her. You knew the council’s intent. But you took her regardless of their will. You have done the unspeakable. They will hunt you down and your end will be slow and terrible.” Lex sighed. “You bore me, Azra.” His fingers slowly morphed into claws. “And they will destroy your lady love. Perhaps her end will be more merciful—as she is a revered creature.” Lex’s face began to glow. His aura pressed forth. He was furious. “They will not touch her. She is mine. She is mine by Blood Law.” Azra leapt. He grabbed hold of Lex’s neck and twisted. Lex hunched his shoulders, lumbered low to the ground and easily tossed Azra off of his body. He reached up and touched his neck. He was bleeding. Azra smiled evilly. “First blood, Lexarius.” Lex matched that smile. “Last blood, Azra.” He withdrew two silver daggers from his belt and watched as Azra tossed his own from hand to hand. When Azra launched himself, Lex was prepared. He leapt up, over Azra’s head and came around in back of him. He whipped his hand forward in one sinuous move and slit Azra’s throat. Blood gushed forth in torrents. Azra howled and stumbled back. He opened his mouth to speak but more blood poured out. His eyes went wild in his fury. Lex grinned. He was enjoying himself. “Whose wound is deeper, Azra?” “Hello, Lex…” Katherine called out, her voice was growing weaker. “Could you hurry it up?” “My love is right. Playtime is over.” Lex materialized by Azra’s side and lifted him off of the ground by his neck. He held the vampire aloft with one hand. Lex lengthened his claws and held them up for Azra to see. He could see fear in Azra’s eyes. And, when it was at its highest point, he dug his claws into Azra’s chest, twisted, and pulled out his heart. Azra’s body went limp. Lex dropped the corpse to the ground and retrieved the silver dagger. He cut off Azra’s head and watched as the body began its decay. Within moments there was nothing left to identify him save black ooze that sank into the grass. Lex quickly materialized next to Katherine. “My love,” he whispered. He picked her up gently and disappeared into the shadows.

Chapter Eight “Ouch!” Katherine slapped Lex’s offending hand away. He sighed. “You must let me see the wounds.” She pouted. “They’re healing already. I don’t need your help.” His eyebrows rose. “Oh?” He moved away. “All right, my love. Then I will leave the last arrow where it lies.” His lips quirked when she scrunched up her nose. “Fine. Fine. I need your help. Take it out.” she motioned toward the arrow. “I’ve never had to remove an arrow before.” Lex nodded and smiled. “Since you asked so graciously.” He broke the head off of the last arrow and slipped the stem out of her body. It left her body with a rush of blood. He pressed a heavy wad of gauze to the wound. “The skin will re-grow in a matter of minutes, my love. Vampire bodies heal themselves at an unbelievable rate.” He grinned. “You realize, my love, if this habit of me saving your life keeps up … you may have to learn to say … thank you.” Katherine narrowed her eyes. “You realize that since you’ve bit me, I’ve died, drunk blood from somebody, been shot full of arrows and—lets not forget—taken up residence in a closet. I think I’ll leave the thank you for later.” He laughed. “You’re just in a sour mood since you skipped dinner.” “Ugh. Did you have to put it that way?” Lex ignored her. “I have some donors. You will take some nourishment now. Your body needs it.” “Donors? What the hell are you talking about?” He took her by the arm. “Come.” “Donors? What donors? Lex, are you listening to me?” **** “So you just want me to snack on them?” She was currently standing in one of Lex’s massive sitting rooms studying an array of very pretty young women. “Choose one.” Katherine swallowed. “Can I, uh, ask their names first?” Lex inclined his head. “Will it make you more comfortable knowing the name of your meal?” She shot him a dirty look—one that he answered with a brilliant smile. “You’re a pig.” She ignored Lex’s chuckle and stepped forward. The first girl was lovely, about five foot five. She had a voluptuous figure and a mass of curly auburn hair. She was smiling broadly—a Barbie smile. “Hey,” Katherine said. The girl’s smile widened. “I’m Katherine.” “Amber.”

Katherine nodded. “Nice name. Uh, all right—Amber. I’ll remember that.” She moved down the line and one-by-one learned each girl’s name. There were nine girls in all. By the time she was through she was scowling. She walked to the far wall—as far away from the flock of girls as she could get—and turned back to Lex. “So, what, you just keep them here to snack on?” Lex laughed. “No. I call. They come.” “Oh.” She nodded. “Of course. You call. They come. So simple, right? Pig.” “That’s twice you’ve called me a pig,” Lex said cheerfully. “Well you are, you know.” Katherine stifled back a groan as her head began to throb steadily. “Eat. You’re starving, Kat.” “Go to hell.” Lex laughed. “They’re all very willing.” Katherine gave him the bird. His head reared back. “My, my, temper, temper.” Katherine braced her hand against the wall and pointed to the third girl. “Okay. Penelope—that was your name, right?” The girl nodded enthusiastically. “Okay.” Katherine turned to Lex. “I’ll take Penelope.” Penelope looked thrilled to be chosen. The other eight girls couldn’t suppress frowns and groans of frustration. They were obviously upset with the choice. Lex walked over to Penelope and held out his hand. “Come, dear. My lovely mate has chosen you.” Penelope eagerly took the hand. Katherine’s frown got deeper and deeper the closer they got to her. She was not pleased by this turn of events. Not pleased at all. **** Katherine was positively drooling. She didn’t know why. It wasn’t as if she was a lesbian. Of course—there had been Becky Sherman in college. But they had only kissed. And it had been on a dare. Becky had been a lot more enthusiastic than Katherine and had stuck her— She shook her head to clear it. Back to the matter at hand. Penelope. Dinner. But for some reason—the sight of Penelope’s luscious, smooth, white skin was almost too much to bear—and made Katherine think of things other than … nutrition. She was suddenly feeling … warm. Penelope was laid out on Lex’s massive bed. She was naked—her dark brown hair spread around her like a halo. Her eyes were bright and her lips were parted. She was panting lightly—begging Katherine with her body—to have her. Katherine swallowed. Suddenly she wished she had some clothes on. Lex had insisted that she get naked. She had told him it wasn’t necessary—but he had insisted. She wasn’t sure why she had relented. But here she was—naked in bed with Penelope— the pretty donor. She was vaguely aware of crawling toward the lovely young girl. “So pretty … so pretty…” Katherine murmured.

Lex watched from the side of the bed. His eyes had gone dark with desire and anticipation. “Yes, my love. See how she begs you for it?” Katherine reached Penelope’s side. She ran her cool hand over the girl’s body. She was hot—almost feverish. She brushed Penelope’s hair off of her neck and stroked her smooth flesh. Penelope moaned. “Please…” she whispered. Her voice was breathy. Katherine leaned over Penelope’s neck and licked her skin. She tasted delicious— sweet and salty. “No, my love. If you wish to take blood … take it from somewhere else…” Lex’s eyes were probing. His voice was urgent. Katherine felt compelled to obey. She wanted to taste this sweet, nubile young thing. She wanted to taste her and have her intimately. She moved down Penelope’s body until she reached her full, straining breasts. She slowly licked the dark pink nipples, worrying them with her tongue. The girl’s skin was soft as silk and pebbling beautifully under her warm, wet tongue. Penelope moaned and arched her back. “Ohhhhh … ohhhh my … more … more please…” “Yes, more…” Katherine murmured against the other girl’s skin. She needed more. Katherine sucked Penelope’s nipple and began to knead the flesh of the other girl’s thighs. She had beautiful thighs. They were firm and yet fleshy and soft as silk. She nibbled the underside of Penelope’s breast and when the girl began to undulate and arch, she held her down with gentle firmness. “You are so lovely…” Katherine said. Her hand came to rest gently between Penelope’s thighs. “Oh yes … please…” Penelope said with a gasp. Katherine gently parted the folds of Penelope’s pussy and inserted a finger. The girl was unbelievably warm and wet. She was smooth and beautifully textured. Katherine slipped in another finger and began to scissor them slowly in and out. Penelope groaned and widened her legs. Katherine felt as if her blood was boiling. The girl’s reaction to her ministrations was causing heat to rise in her cold, dead body. Penelope’s eyes were unfocused and her breath was coming out in short, labored pants. Katherine felt her fangs come out. She quickened the movement of her hand. “Up. Up on your hands and knees.” Katherine’s eyes shot open at the authoritative command. She turned her head and saw Lex at her back—naked. His eyes were hungry and yawning black. “Up, my Kat.” Katherine got on her hands and knees, never breaking contact with Penelope. She could feel the young girl’s pussy tightening and straining against her quickening hand. It was wonderful. Katherine gasped when Lex entered her with one sure stroke. His cock was hard as stone and big—very big. “Yes…” Katherine hissed. She began to move against Lex—each of his thrusts brought her hand more strongly against Penelope’s gushing pussy.

Katherine was lightheaded. Her own pussy was quivering and pulsing and Lex’s cock was growing larger and harder within her aching body. She pushed against his cock and felt each nerve in her body react to his pounding. Penelope’s pussy began to spasm and tense, she arched her back off of the bed and Katherine could no longer resist. Katherine’s fangs extended to full length and she sank them down on the girl’s inner thigh. Penelope screamed and bucked. Katherine smiled as Penelope came against her hand. She continued to drink deeply of the girl’s blood. When she had had her fill she detached herself. She had only a moment to bask when Lex yanked her head back. His hand was twined fully in her hair. Katherine could see his eyes—black, bright and full of heat. She murmured, “Yes,” just before he sank his teeth into her neck. Katherine felt as if she were floating. She fell against Penelope’s prone figure as Lex continued to feed. She began to writhe and twist, his body hard and hot against her— within her. She felt Lex’s cock pulse, and tighten—a moment later he emptied his seed into her body. Katherine lay limply against Penelope. She turned her head sideways and saw that Lex had come to lie beside her. “Penelope’s out,” she said quietly. Lex smiled. “I’m not surprised.” He smoothed a strand of hair away from Katherine’s flushed face. “Why did you choose her, Kat?” Katherine, if possible, blushed further. “She was the only one with real boobs.” Lex’s eyes went wide a moment before he burst out laughing. **** Katherine let herself into her house. Much to Lex’s chagrin she had refused to stay at his place. When pretty Penelope had gotten up to take a shower, Katherine had bolted. Even now her face was hot with the knowledge of what she had done—what she had enjoyed. She placed her keys on the hallway table and frowned. Something was different. There was a door. There was a door in her hallway. There hadn’t been a door in her hallway when she had left for work. She walked slowly to the door. There was some odd screen right by the side of the door. Katherine touched the screen—nothing. She poked at it with the same result. Finally, she placed her entire hand on the screen and was shocked when the door swung open. Her mouth dropped. She had a basement? No—wait—it wasn’t a basement. It was more like a hidey hole. The room was dark, but Katherine could see as if it was lit by a thousand candles. It went back about six or seven feet and was about four to five feet deep. There was a mattress at the bottom—a really nice mattress. And several thick goosedown pillows. It was a resting room—a hideout. Katherine hadn’t built it. That meant… She scowled. Lex—he was presumptuous, annoying, egotistical—and, if she would admit it to herself—quite a dear. Katherine stepped into the room. She found that she could levitate quite easily now. It was a nifty trick. She shut the door and sank to the bottom of the room. The moment she placed her head on to the pillow, she was out cold.

**** Katherine rolled her eyes. Mr. Lumberjack was back. He really was cute, if you liked that footfall player type. She had his order ready—a pack of Nitro Lights and a lighter. “Hey, Katie E.” Katherine bit back a smile. “Hello.” “Ah, come on.” “Hello, William,” she sighed. William smiled. “See, isn’t that better. By the way, you can call me Will. I prefer it.” Katherine raised an eyebrow. “Will?” “Yeah. Don’t I look like a Will?” She shook her head. “Not exactly.” “What do I look like?” “I’m not sure. A Bob … or maybe a Bruce?” Will laughed. “My dad’s name is Bruce.” “Really?” “Yeah.” Will leaned forward. “So … Katie E. Will you let me take you out?” She shook her head. “No Will W. No, sorry.” Will’s smile never faltered. “Why not?” “Why not?” “Yeah, why won’t you let me take you out?” Katherine grinned. “Well, for one thing—I don’t know you.” “William Benjamin Witting. Twenty nine, unmarried, two hundred and ten pounds, vegetarian Sagittarius.” his smile broadened. “Good enough?” Katherine laughed. “Vegetarian. You’re a vegetarian?” “Yeah. What? I look like a meat eater?” She eyed his large frame and nodded. “Yeah. You look like a meat eater. A big, bad, carnivore.” “What about you, Katie E?” “What about me?” “Tell me about yourself.” Katherine swallowed. Hmm, what could she say? ‘Hi, my name is Katherine. I’m twenty six, single, like long walks on the beach, and piña coladas—and—I’m dead. Now my day consists of twelve hours of sleep. And my nights consist of sucking blood from people’s necks (and other places), dodging arrows, and the advances of a very handsome dead man. “Not much to tell,” she murmured. “Aw. I’m sure that isn’t true.” “It’s true. What you see is what you get.” Will’s smile was illuminating. “Well, what I see is very beautiful young girl.” Katherine cleared her throat. “Does this usually work?” “What?” “This … uh, charming Boy Scout routine.” He laughed. “Sometimes.” Katherine joined him in laughter. “Go away, Will. Believe me. I’m more than you can handle.” Will winked. “I’m counting on it.”

Chapter Nine Lex clenched his hands into fists. She was laughing. She was laughing with that boy. What did she see in him? He had been watching Kat and her human for almost half an hour. It had taken a great deal of self-restraint not to barge into the station and rip that human in half. Somehow he doubted that his Kat would appreciate that. His eyes narrowed when Kat tilted her glorious head back and burst into peals of laughter. He was going to have to do something about this. **** The light on Katherine’s answering machine was blinking. She pushed the button and listened. “Katie?” It was Lorna. “Katie? I … I’m just so upset. I failed my music history exam. And … and I got a stain on my favorite Chanel skirt. Listen, I need to talk to you. Why aren’t you home? Where are you?” The message ended. Katherine rolled her eyes. Trust her sister to put failing an exam, and getting a stain on her Chanel skirt in the same sentence. She sank down onto her couch and switched on the television. She indulged for a moment—only a moment. Her lids felt heavy and fatigue was settling into her body. She knew then that the sun was coming. She sighed. It seemed that death was following the same path as life, work and then sleep. Of course, now there was a lot more sleep—and the hot dead guy to contend with. After the second infomercial she made her way to her new hidey hole. It was time for bed—again. **** Katherine watched Lex. She was frowning. “Why are you doing that?” He looked up from his parchment, quizzically. “Why am I doing what? Writing?” “No, why are you using … a … a … quill? What’s wrong with stationery and a Bic?” Lex laughed. “I find parchment and a quill much more satisfying. It is how I am used to writing. How I shall continue to write.” “It’s archaic,” she said blandly. “Indeed. But it is a force of habit. I have my creature comforts. They usually come in the form of the ‘old ways’, Kat.” She watched as he dipped the quill into a well of ink and began the slow maneuver of quill to parchment. The lettering was perfect, round, smooth and completely illegible, in her opinion.

“Are you going to tell me what you’re writing?” “Can you not tell?” he asked with a smile, still writing. “No, I can’t, smarty,” Katherine said, annoyed. “I am writing to an old acquaintance. I seek some information.” “Oh?” she waited. “You are not about to let this drop, are you?” he asked, now impatient. “No. I’ll wait you out. And you know what—now I can.” Lex schooled his face to blandness. “The information I seek is about you, my love. I wish to see if my friend has any more information about the council’s intent. They sent Azra to assassinate you. I didn’t think they would resort to such a thing—but they did. If they are willing to send an assassin after you … I must know what else they are capable of.” Katherine shivered. It was a lot to take in—the fact that someone wished to kill her—again. “Fabin is—was—a good friend. He has always had an eye on the council. And I believe he will be able to tell me what I need to know.” “You said, was.” He nodded. “We were travel companions for many years, until we chose to go our separate ways. I haven’t seen nor spoken to him in some time. I am counting on our past friendship to smooth the way.” “And you think he’ll be able to tell you if this council is going to send anyone else after me?” “I do.” Lex looked up then. His eyes were probing. “I must know something, my Kat.” Kat continued to study the fancy writing on the parchment. “Uh-huh?” “Am I going to have to ‘do something’ about this human you have been speaking to?” Katherine’s head jerked up. “Excuse me? What human? What are you talking about?” “That, that human,” he spat out. “That human you were talking to at that … job of yours.” Katherine’s eyes narrowed into slits and she planted her hands on her slim hips. “Were you spying on me?” Her voice was hot with anger. “Not spying, my Kat.” “Then what would you call it?” “I was merely worried for your well-being. I came to see you. I saw you laughing with him.” Lex growled. “I do not like you laughing with him.” Katherine clenched her hands into fists. “His name happens to be William, and you’re a jackass. If you ever spy on me again, I’ll… I’ll…” Lex laughed. “You’ll do what?” “You don’t want to challenge me on this one, buster.” “Oh?” Katherine spun away from him. “You’re impossible! Oh my God, do you know how rude it is to spy on someone? I’m not a child. I don’t need watching over. And by the way—I’ll laugh with anyone I want to.”

Lex shot out of his chair. He was gripping her arm in a second. “You will do no such thing. You are mine. You are my mate.” She tried to shake free. It was hopeless. Lex was determined and he was strong. It was like trying to pry off steel bars. “Let go, you big bully. I’m not yours. I’m not anyone’s. I am my own person. I will come and go as I choose and do what I please.” “You and I have shared…” “—Blood, yes, yes I know. I have heard all of this before. God, you’re like a broken record. I don’t care if we’ve shared blood. Frankly we could wade in the stuff for all the difference it makes. You don’t own me. Do you understand?” Katherine saw the stubborn glint in his eyes and sighed. “You don’t. You don’t understand. Well, let me clarify things for you. I’ve been taking this time of ours as ‘dating time’—which goes to say I’ve considered us a couple—somewhat a couple. I thought we were making some ground. That you got all this. But obviously I was mistaken. You’re a Neanderthal.” “Actually,” Lex interjected, “I am…” “—Shut up.” She ignored his affronted look. “You act like a caveman. You can’t just go around pounding your chest and pulling me around by my hair. You have to have some trust. You have to have some faith.” Katherine ran her hair through her hair and sighed—deeply. “I am a vampire, my love. I don’t trust. And faith—that is against our nature.” His expression was very solemn. “Oh, Lex,” Katherine murmured. How could she ever have thought that this could become a ‘normal’ relationship? She was dating a dead man. There must have been something in her voice because he relaxed his grip on her arm. “My sweet Kat…” Lex said softly, cajolingly. Suddenly Katherine was so tired. She dropped her head. “Lex. I need some time.” “Time?” “Yeah, I need some time. I have a lot on my mind. I think we need a little space.” “Time?” Lex asked again. He was frowning. Katherine continued. “I just need to figure out what I’m going to do with my life…” She stopped, “…my death. I have to … I just have to…” She broke off helplessly. “My love.” Lex pulled her into a tight embrace. She was stiff in his arms and his frown deepened. “My sweet one. You cannot leave me. I will always live in you.” She wrinkled her nose. “That’s totally icky.” Katherine sighed. “Let go, Lex.” His eyes darkened. “Never, my love.” Katherine closed her eyes. When she opened them they were bright with black tears. “Let go.” His grip was almost punishing right before he let go. Katherine walked to the door. “Just give me some time, Lex,” she said, right before she walked out. Lex’s face was stoically beautiful. “We have nothing but time, my love.” **** Katherine reapplied her lipstick and wondered for the umpteenth time what the hell she was doing. She had to have lost her mind. The doorbell rang.

Taking a deep breath, she answered the door. Will Witting looked good—real good. His sandy colored hair was thick, his green eyes bright and he looked in the pink of health—he looked alive. Katherine was digging it. Will was struck dumb. She was beautiful, absolutely beautiful. He had thought Katie was a knockout when he had first seen her at the ‘Shop and Stop’ wearing her bright orange uniform and wearing that funny hat. But now—now he could barely breathe. Standing bathed in the artificial light, she appeared ethereal. Her hair was a golden curtain that fell nearly to her waist in loose curls. Her eyes were a strange shade of silver, almost metallic, and they seemed to look right into his soul. Her skin was perfect— smooth and pale as porcelain. And her lips lusciously plump and pink. He had to be in the presence on an angel. “You look incredible,” he said, finally finding his voice. Katherine smiled. “Thank you, Will. Shall we go?” Will nodded. When she passed him, he tried not to sweat. Holy cow—she was something. **** Katherine looked sheepishly over at Will. “I’m sorry about that.” He smiled. “About what?” “About, uh, inside.” “I didn’t notice,” Will said. Katherine rolled her eyes. “Oh yeah, right. You didn’t notice when the couple in front of us turned around and told me to shut the hell up.” Her eyes twinkled merrily. “I’m sorry about laughing. I couldn’t help myself.” Will’s lips quirked, “Hey, you thought it was funny, no harm done. Of course, I’m not sure if ‘Dracula Revisited’ was supposed to be so amusing.” Katherine had found it hilarious—especially the part where Dracula whispered sweet nothings in the young girl’s ear right before he sank his fangs into her neck. The blood had been too red, the fangs had been too white, and the actor playing Dracula—well, he couldn’t even begin to compare to Lex’s beauty and power. All in all, it had been fun, but totally inaccurate. “Thanks.” She leaned over and placed a light kiss on his cheek. “For what?” Will’s eyes had gotten very bright the moment she had touched him. “For taking me to see a cheesy vampire flick,” Katherine smiled, “And for being such a total sweetie.” Will laughed. “If all it takes to get you to kiss me is a vampire movie … hell, Blockbuster, here I come.” She grinned. He really was cute, and so sweet. But … she frowned. There shouldn’t be any ‘but’s. He was a nice, respectable, handsome intelligent man. In life she would have been all over him. In death—well—in death she craved something—someone else. Damn Lex and his infuriating, unyielding and … irreplaceable ways.

Chapter Ten Fabin Montifore was an impressive creature. Handsome beyond any reckoning, it was his undeniable aura of power and keen intelligence that called beings both dead and alive to him. With his dark hair and equally dark eyes he had the look of a wild gypsy about him—it was in fact possible that in life he had been gypsy. But now—in death—he was all vampire. “You have angered the council greatly, Lexarius,” Fabin said. His voice was cool, elegant and softly menacing. Lex shrugged. “I have angered them before.” “Yes,” Fabin nodded, “you have. But you have never stolen their prize from under their noses before. They are … very unhappy.” Lex swirled his brandy around. He could not drink. But he enjoyed watching the amber liquid swish gently in the fine cut crystal glass. “I am surprised you came, Fabin.” Indeed, if he had known Fabin was coming he would have made sure to greet him in something other than his favorite dressing robe. “Oh?” Fabin watched Lex with deep dark eyes. “You could have just written.” “Yes, I could have.” Lex turned to face his old friend. “Why didn’t you?” Fabin smiled. It was a strange smile—one with eerie intent. “Do you remember the last time we saw one another, Lexarius?” Lex stiffened. “I see you do.” Fabin’s eyes glittered. “I didn’t come to see you, of course.” Lex remained silent. “I came to see … her.” Lex placed his glass down. “You will not touch her, Fabin.” Fabin smiled then. “Unless she wishes me to, old friend.” Lex felt anger burn its way through his body. Fabin laughed and waved Lex’s anger away. “For hell’s sake, Lexarius, lighten up. I do not remember you being so tense. As it is, she is not here. I would sense her if she was.” Lex nodded curtly. “No, she is not here.” “I take it you know where she is?” “Indeed.” Lex clenched his hands. “She is on a date.” He spat that last out. Fabin’s eyes widened. “Pardon?” “A date.” Lex repeated. Fabin’s laughter filled the giant room and rolled off the walls. He braced himself against a large armchair. “A date? Your mate … the council’s Hybriantu is out on a date?” Lex’s lips thinned. “That is priceless,” Fabin continued. “And who would she be dating?” Lex gritted his teeth. “He is nothing, a nobody.” “Who is he, Lexarius?”

“A human. He’s human.” Fabin chortled. “It gets better and better. My, my, you’ve lost your mate to a human.” “I’ve lost nothing.” Lex’s voice was low and menacing. “And yet, she prefers the company of this human to you.” Fabin continued to dig the wound deeper. Lex growled. “She knows she wants me. In her heart of hearts, she knows.” “Ah, but there you are wrong, Lexarius. You were always shortsighted.” Fabin’s voice was now silkily caressing. “You stole that heart from her. You crushed it. She is vampire now. She has no human heart to love. She no longer has a heart in which to house you. She must loathe you.” Fabin’s smile was cruel. “You made your bed…” he laughed, “…and now you must lie in it.” Lex was furious. Fabin’s words enflamed him. His Kat … his Kat needed him, she wanted him. This infatuation for this puny human was nothing. She was merely confused and … and … hurting. But once she was back in his arms she would see the way of things. She would know what she wanted, what she needed, was him. Lex shot toward the door, only to find it blocked. Oh yes, he had forgotten how fast Fabin was. “Get out of my way,” he growled. Fabin’s smile was placating and bored. “What do you plan on doing, Lexarius? What? Are you going to break down her door and demand that she come to you? Oh yes, that shall win her over.” His smile dropped and suddenly he looked solemn. “You were always so … forceful in your desires.” Lex swallowed. “We are not discussing this now, Fabin. You will move.” Fabin’s eyes darkened. “Or you’ll do what?” Lex was just about to answer when the doorbell rang. Both of the vampires’ eyebrows rose in surprise. **** Katherine waited impatiently outside of Lex’s house. She was already feeling stupid, already regretting her decision to come by tonight. Her date with Will had gone well—really well. He had been intelligent, sweet and attentive. At the end of the date he had been a perfect gentleman. She frowned. Yeah? Why had he been a perfect gentleman? Didn’t he find her attractive? Wasn’t he even the slightest bit interested in her? He hadn’t even tried to kiss her. She shook her head to clear it. It didn’t matter. It wasn’t like she was going to go out with him again. It was ridiculous really—she was dead. That fact in itself made the possibility of her continuing to date Will a total implausibility. The door swung open. Katherine barreled in. “Do you know you’re a total asshole? It’s completely your fault. I was on a perfectly nice date, with a perfectly nice man tonight and all I could think of was you. I half expected you to jump out of the shadows. I mean, it’s ridiculous. I should be having wild monkey sex with the nice man and instead I’m here … ranting at you, you infuriating…” She broke off and gasped. “Uhm, you’re not Lex.” Fabin smiled brilliantly. “No, although I’m infinitely better looking.” He took Katherine’s hand and kissed it. “Fabin Montifore at your service.”

Katherine swallowed. The man kissing her hand was gorgeous. Okay, perhaps he wasn’t as gorgeous as Lex, but he came pretty close. He had thick black hair and dark, dark eyes. His body was quite magnificent and it was currently housed in a wickedly sharp three-piece suit. “Uh, hi, where’s Lex.” Fabin’s eyebrow rose. “Pardon?” “Where’s Lex, Mr. Dead Guy?” “Right behind you.” Lex’s voice caressed her ear. Katherine jumped. “Holy shit. Don’t do that. You can’t just sneak up on people like that, Lex. You could have given me a heart attack.” Lex bit back a smile. Fabin wasn’t so fortunate. He began to laugh, and laugh hard. “My love … you can’t have a heart attack.” She hit Lex on the shoulder and was pleased when he winced. It seemed as if she was getting stronger. Cool. “I know that, you jerk. I was just saying … you could have given me a heart attack,” Katherine frowned, “If I was alive that is…” Her voice dropped off. “She is adorable, Lexarius. And quite beautiful.” Fabin came to stand beside Katherine. Katherine drew back. “Uhm, have you ever heard of personal space, mister?” “What?” Fabin asked. “Personal space,” Katherine muttered, “You’re like—in mine.” Lex grabbed Katherine by her arm and began to drag her down the hall. “What are you doing here, my love?” Katherine tried to pry Lex’s hand off of her arm, but found that his fingers were holding strong. “Hey, hey! Do you mind?” “Yes, Kat, I do.” “Don’t manhandle me, Lex.” “What are you doing here? Not that I am not overjoyed to have your company, but were you not on your … date?” Lex spat out that last word as if it were poison. Katherine frowned. “I was. It was great. But…” “But?” “But … well … hey, it’s none of your business.” Lex’s mouth curved up into a smile. “Did you not say that you needed time, my love?” Katherine squirmed. “Uhm, yeah, well … I gave it … twenty-eight hours … that’s time.” When Katherine saw his expression she sniffed. “Well it is.” Lex laughed. “Of course.” He let go of her then. “Why are you here, my Kat?” His voice had grown softer … infinitely more seductive. Katherine shivered, and not from the cold. She swallowed. “I … well … I … DAMN YOU!” She screamed. Lex reared back. “Pardon?” “I said, damn you! All of this is your fault. You ruin everything.” “Oh?” Lex said blandly. “Yeah, you do. I would totally be enjoying Will’s company if it weren’t for you, you big … big … vampire Neanderthal.”

Lex smiled widely. In fact, his smile was so wide it threatened to split his face. “Oh my dear one,” he laughed, “you do care.” “I do not.” “Yes, you do.” Katherine sighed and her face fell into a pout. “Fine, I do.” Lex wrapped his arms around Katherine and pulled her into a tight embrace. “My love,” he whispered into her hair. “I hate to break up this touching reunion … but we were discussing some important matters,” Fabin said from behind them. Katherine tried to break free of Lex’s embrace but couldn’t. Jeez, the man had a fiercer hug than Superman. “Yeah, sorry, didn’t mean to break up your pow-wow.” Fabin’s eyes widened. “Is she for real?” Lex grinned. “Yes. There is no one like her anywhere. She is unique.” “She is lovely.” “Stunning,” Lex countered as he finally let her go. “She has a shocking lack of protocol.” “But she shall learn.” “She also happens to be right here, right now, with you,” Katherine called out. “Indeed. Accept my apologies,” Fabin said gallantly. He dropped into a half bow. Katherine would have felt better and taken the gesture in kind, if he didn’t have such an odd expression on his face. It was like he was laughing and sneering at the same time. “Uh, who are you again?” “Fabin Montifore. Lex did not mention me?” Fabin directed the question at Katherine but aimed his sharp gaze in Lex’s direction. Katherine shook her head. “I don’t think so.” “I did tell you I was writing to a … friend for advice.” Katherine nodded. “Oh yeah, you’re that friend?” Fabin cleared his throat. “It would seem so.” “What are you doing here?” Fabin’s mouth dropped open. “Are you always this blunt?” Katherine shook her head. “No, sometimes it’s worse. So, what are you doing here?” “I came to see you and Lexarius.” Katherine’s nose wrinkled. “Lexarius. Ick. It makes him sound like he’s a thousand years old. I mean, really, it’s a terrible…” her voice broke off when she saw the twin expressions on the vampires’ faces. “You’re not a thousand years old, are you?” she asked hesitantly. Lex said nothing. Katherine groaned. “Trust me to get bitten by the man old enough to have witnessed the Mayflower docking.” “Yes, well, the Mayflower docked in sixteen twenty, so technically Lexarius would have been around to witness a lot more…” “Oh shut it,” Katherine said. “By the way, is it hot in here?” Katherine took off her cardigan. Lex’s eyes narrowed. “What are you wearing?” “Uh, a dress.” “Where’s the dress?”

“What do you mean?” “I think she looks charming,” Fabin said. Lex shot him a look that said, ‘Mind your own business.’ “You wore that tonight?” “No, I wore the other dress, the one that is up my sleeve,” Katherine replied sarcastically. Lex clenched his hands. Katherine was wearing a slip of a dress—less than a slip. It was light pink with cap sleeves and was cut above the knees. The bodice was low cut and showed a generous amount of bosom. It was hot—he hated it. “It is forty degrees out. What are you doing wearing that … that … thing?” Katherine felt her hackles rise. “Hey, we’re dead … it’s not like we feel the cold, ass.” “But we can still see … can’t we?” “What is your major malfunction?” Katherine planted her hands on her hips and glared at Lex. She heard Fabin chuckling off on the side but ignored him. She could only deal with one annoying bloodsucker at a time. “This happens to be a very fashionable dress.” “Yes, what little there is of it,” Lex muttered. “You’re acting like a baby.” “Pardon?” Lex’s voice grew hot and his eyes followed. Katherine rolled her eyes. “Is this because you really hate the dress? Or you really hate the fact that I wore this dress on a date?” Fabin’s chuckles turned into fierce laughter. He laughed so hard he cried black tears. “Oh, oh my, it seems that she is your perfect match, Lexarius. I do believe that you have come into your own punishment.” Katherine turned on Fabin then. “Excuse me? Did you just insult me?” Fabin grinned. “Never, dear lady.” “Uh huh, whatever.” Katherine’s glare was still in place. “So, are you going to answer me?” Katherine asked of Lex. Lex raised an eyebrow. “I do believe I have forgotten what we were speaking of, my dear.” Katherine growled. “You are so full of it.” She kicked off her heels, plopped into an overstuffed chair and folded her legs under her. “Please, do make yourself comfortable,” Lex said with a broad smile. “I will. Thanks.” Katherine turned back to Fabin. Her eyes were now cool and calculating. “So … what’s this all about?” Fabin’s smile was mysterious. “It is as I said before… I came for a visit.” “You’re almost as bad as he is,” Katherine said dryly. Fabin grinned, a genuine grin. “Oh, I do believe I am a good deal worse.” Fabin strode over to Lex and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Aren’t I, Lexarius?” Fabin’s eyes challenged him. “I was always the ‘bad boy’.” Lex had stiffened the moment Fabin had touched him. He growled—his eyes were glittering dangerously. “This is neither the time nor the place, Fabin.” Fabin laughed. He ran his hand down Lex’s smooth, silky hair. “I believe this is the perfect time and…” he shot a look in Katherine’s direction, “…the perfect place.” Fabin, within a second, had materialized by Katherine’s side. “Have you told her, Lexarius? Have you revealed yourself to your mate?”

Lex’s face was taut with barely suppressed rage. Katherine had had enough with the weird testosterone display. She made a disgusted sound from deep within her throat, jumped to her feet and placed both hands on either side of Fabin’s shoulders and pushed—hard. She was pleased when Fabin stumbled back, surprised. Oh yeah, she was getting stronger. “Whatever is between you two—deal with it. I’m getting sick of the vampire macho act.” Lex glided over to Katherine’s side. “What if it is not an act, Kat?” Katherine laughed. “Then, I’m going to have to kick both of your asses. I did not cut short my evening to play referee.” Lex smiled. He reached out and trailed his fingers along the length of Katherine’s low cut bodice. “Yes, why did you cut short your oh-so-delightful evening, my Kat?” Katherine swallowed. She was a total goner. Lex’s hand on her skin was already causing it to tingle. They could be stranded, alone, on a desert island, or in a room full of people—she wouldn’t know the difference. All she could see was Lex. All she could feel was Lex. She clenched her hands into fists. She was fast losing control. He was so handsome … so … incredibly sexy. Katherine wanted to dig her hands into Lex’s hair and run her tongue across the smooth expanse of his chest. She wanted to feel his cock hard and thick within her hand and bring it to the entrance of her moist and waiting pussy. It would be so good. It would be so good to feel him pounding deep and hard within her, moving with those precise and staggering strokes of his. “God!” Fabin’s voice was hoarse and brought Katherine out of her stupor. Fabin was staring at her with fervor and his face was intense in its need. “No wonder you could not resist her, Lexarius. Her need calls to you. Her face is so expressive … her eyes so clear. I can see her desire mirrored on that stunning face of hers. I would not have been able to resist such raw emotion either.” Lex had moved to stand beside Katherine. His hands were now cupping her face. He did not look at Fabin as he spoke. “It is more than that, Fabin. She is unlike any other vampire in creation. She can still feel.” He leaned over and brushed a soft kiss to Katherine’s forehead. Just that small kiss caused Katherine to shiver. “And with you my Kat,” he looked deep into her eyes, “I almost believe that I can feel. You and only you can make me relive those moments of humanity … those moments before I was turned.” And because he could no longer resist, Lex claimed Katherine’s mouth in a searing kiss. He groaned when Katherine opened her mouth to him and welcomed him within. Her tongue was smooth as satin, and was stroking him mercilessly. He grew hard instantly. Forgetting everything else—Fabin, the Council and even himself—he wrapped his arms around her and pressed her tightly against his body. A small part of Katherine was screaming to stop … stop what she was doing. She was making out with her vampire lover in front of another crazy blood-sucker. The rest of Katherine was screaming at her to continue. She felt what small amounts of blood were in her body rush up to her head. Her head fell back helplessly when she felt Lex’s mouth move against her neck. He nipped. She moaned wantonly. She knew it was insane. But with Lex’s hands and mouth moving across her skin, she didn’t care what—who—was watching. She was in lust—major lust. She gasped when she felt Lex’s hands on her bare skin. Bare skin? What was going on? Katherine looked down and her eyes went wide when she realized that she was naked

from the waist up. Lex had pulled down her dress and her breasts were now bare, gleaming in the lamplight. She moved away from Lex and quickly crossed her arms against her chest to hide herself. “No … don’t hide yourself from me,” Fabin’s voice was tickling her ear. Katherine let out a short scream and all but jumped back into Lex’s embrace. It was one thing knowing that Fabin was watching her … another thing altogether realizing the impact of those eyes—that mouth. “You are stunning.” Fabin reached out to touch her. Lex drew her away from his reaching hand. “It is cruel to let me watch but not partake of the bounty, Lexarius.” That drew a response from a rather stunned Katherine. “Hey, hey, hey, if the bounty you’re referring to is me … then don’t I have a say in the matter?” Fabin’s eyes widened and he grinned. It transformed his face. He looked younger … less strained. “By all means, what does the lady want?” Katherine swallowed. She felt Lex’s arms tighten around her body and she looked up into his eyes. He was staring at her intently, but his face was devoid of any expression. She had no idea what he was thinking. She craned her neck and saw that Fabin was staring at her with a look similar to Lex’s—intensity. It was strange and disquieting for her to realize that she did want Fabin, but that was it—want. She was attracted to Fabin. Who wouldn’t be? But she didn’t need him … long for him the way she did Lex. Of course … that didn’t stop her from rolling the idea of having him around in her buzzing brain. Jeez, dead less than a month and already she was becoming a slut. “Katherine?” Lex asked. His voice held some note that she could not quite identify. “She is curious, Lexarius,” Fabin said, rather smugly. “Yes,” Lex said. His voice betrayed nothing. “She has a right to be.” He gently pushed Katherine back and looked into her eyes. “She has a right to know … to experience everything.” Lex moved her hands away from her breasts and caressed them tenderly … lovingly. “The world, this life and beyond is open to you, my love. You can have everything … anyone.” He leaned over and whispered into her ear. “Because, my love, I know that in the end … you are, and always shall be mine.” Katherine shivered. Lex moved forward and gently guided Katherine back onto the couch and into Fabin’s waiting arms. Katherine gasped when her bare back met Fabin’s bare chest. He had undressed and his thick black hair was hanging loose. Fabin moved his hands around Katherine’s front and cupped her heavy breasts. He squeezed and molded the soft flesh, and tweaked her pebble-hard nipples. He pressed kisses to the crook of her neck and whispered against her skin. “So beautiful … you are so goddamn beautiful.” “Yes, you are.” Lex had slipped out of his robe and was pressing against Katherine’s front. “Touch me, my love.” Katherine reached out and trailed her hand gently down Lex’s cheek. She smiled. She moved her hand down his chest, taking the time to circle his sensitive nipples, and then continued downward until she reached his hard, pulsing cock. Lex had dropped one of his legs over the side of the couch, opening himself up to Katherine’s wandering hands. “Yesss…” he hissed. “God … yes…”

Katherine squeezed his hard aching flesh gently at first, and then with more force. She ran the pad of her thumb in tantalizing circles around the small slit at the head of his cock. When he groaned, pressing himself more fully into her hand, she increased her ministrations. His cock began to weep and she rubbed and messaged the milky liquid across his aching flesh. Unable to resist, Katherine scooted down. She dropped to her haunches and quickly replaced her hand with her mouth. He tasted incredible—all sweet salt and sweat. He was pulsing in her mouth and growing harder and larger by the second. She swirled her tongue around the head of his cock and then swooped—taking him to the root. She could feel him bumping the back of her throat and relaxed her muscles, allowing him to slip even further down. She convulsively worked the muscles of her throat, massaging him within the allencompassing vacuum of her mouth. Suddenly she felt the soft probing of a tongue against her dripping pussy. She knew it was Fabin—Fabin who was licking and sucking her slit. She shivered and gasped, but did not release Lex’s cock from her mouth. Her eyes rolled back and she groaned against Lex’s flesh when Fabin finally speared her pussy with his stiff tongue. He was working in and out with knowing, practiced ease and his tongue was flicking at the hard kernel of her clit. Her pussy muscles clenched almost painfully. Katherine dug her nails so deeply into Lex’s taut thighs that she drew blood. She could feel his cock jumping and pulsing in her mouth and knew that he was close. She increased the suction of her mouth and rolled her tongue over the bottom of his cock. In return, her own senses were racing frantically as Fabin moved his tongue even deeper within her warm, wet cavern. She could feel him—nose buried within her flesh, learning everything there was to know about her sensitive folds and secret button. It was wicked, it was lewd … it was delicious. Her muscles were clenching and her body was straining toward it peak. When her every sense began to scream, and just as her pussy began to vibrate and hum, she felt Lex’s cock pulse one last time and erupt within her waiting mouth. The feel of him … the taste of him … it drove her over, and she gave herself up into the waiting arms of her climax. Katherine sank helplessly down onto Lex’s prone form. She rubbed her face against his chest and smiled a sleepy smile. “Mmmm, s’good, s’ real good,” she mumbled right before she let sleep claim her. Fabin ran a hand over the soft flesh of Katherine’s taut butt and molded her curves with his hand. He leaned over her thigh. “No, Fabin,” Lex said. His stare was glitteringly cold. “No.” Fabin schooled his features to blandness. “Why not, Lexarius? It is not as if we have not shared before.” His smile was cruel. “It is not as if we have not just shared her.” “We did, with her consent. But what you wish to do now,” Lex shook his head. “You do not have her consent, and you do not have mine. You will not take her, and you will not drink from her.” He gently extricated himself from Katherine and moved her so that she was cushioned comfortably against the plush softness of the couch. She still did not stir. Lex clenched his teeth. Fabin’s eyes were hot as he took him in. He had seen that look before—right before he had walked away from Fabin, many years past—he had seen it. He slipped back into his robe. “She wished it, the experience. I would give her what

she wishes for,” Lex smiled slightly, “Whatever she wishes for.” His face quickly sobered. “But the rest—I would not have her in the middle of … of…” Fabin’s smile was mocking. “Of what, Lexarius? What would she be in the middle of?” “Of us,” Lex said tightly. “Oh? I did not know there was an ‘us’ to be between.” Fabin moved stealthily closer to Lex. Lex clenched his fists. “Of us, of our … feud.” Fabin stopped when he was but a mere inch away from Lex’s stiff, unyielding form. “You were the one that walked away from me, Lexarius, old friend.” Lex narrowed his eyes. Fabin continued. “You were the one that took Lissette from me.” “So we see now what it is all about.” Fabin snarled. “If you think this is all about Lissette … how little you know.” “But you have never forgiven me, Fabin. It has been over four hundred years and you have never been able to let it go.” Fabin dropped his head and clenched his hands into fists. When he raised his head his expression was once again tightly controlled. “We shared Lissette … why should she matter.” “I don’t know,” Lex said, “Why should she?” “We both took pleasure from her body.” Fabin gritted his teeth. “But in the end she wanted you. She wanted you … as they all do. As we all do,” he whispered. Lex sighed. It was for this reason he had not wanted to write to Fabin. These wounds ran too deep, and Fabin … Fabin could not, would not forget. Lissette DeChambray had been Fabin’s human blood companion for over one hundred years before Lex had even entered their lives. She had been bound by blood to Fabin but she had not been turned. When Lex had met Fabin he had seen something in him, it had been buried deep in his eyes. He had seen the same loneliness, the same pain—and he understood. He and Fabin had struck up a friendship. Both were strong with keen intelligence and together they were able to resist the lure of the Council. They had one another and the Council did not wish to expend energy on fighting what they considered to be two rogue vampires. But there was still Lissette. Lissette had felt left out. She had had Fabin for her own for one hundred years and now there was an intruder in their lives. It had taken some time—fifty years—but she warmed, warmed deeply to Lex. Fabin took notice of Lissette’s interest in his friend and offered her to Lex. From that day on the three struck an odd balance. Lex’s and Fabin’s eternity was no longer so bleak, and Lissette, Lissette had the companionship of two truly glorious Night Walkers. There was perfect harmony until Lissette had fallen in love with Lex. And until Lex had discovered that Fabin was in love with him. “Katherine is not Lissette.” Lex’s eyes were cold as he regarded Fabin. “She is my mate, mine. It is true by blood law and nothing will change that.” Fabin reached out and ran his cool hand down Lex’s equally cool cheek. “You were always so passionate, Lexarius. It was one of the things that … drew me to you.” His eyes grew sad, “One of the reasons I loved you. You are vampire and yet your passions run as deep as any human … deeper.” He turned away suddenly. “For our once

friendship, Lexarius, I shall tell you this. The Council has sent Talbot after you, after your Hybriantu. They fear what the two of you shall do … what you shall become together. They wish you destroyed.” “Talbot. Talbot’s appetites run deep. The Council would not have done such a thing.” “Nevertheless, they have sent him. He should arrive within a matter of days, Lexarius. You should prepare yourself.” Fabin looked over to where Katherine was sleeping. “You should prepare her.” “I do not wish her to know. I do not wish her to be involved…” “She is involved!” Fabin’s voice shook now. “You have made it so. You turned the Council’s Hybriantu; you bound her to you. And now she is involved, whether you wish it to be or not.” “She was never the Council’s,” Lex argued. Fabin laughed silkily and shook his head. “Ah yes. Well, you try that logic with the Council, Lexarius. Somehow I doubt they shall see it your way.” Lex cast his eyes in Katherine’s direction. “I will never let any harm come to her. She is mine, Fabin. Her blood speaks to me.” he looked into Fabin’s eyes, then. “I love her.” Fabin’s eyes dulled. “Then I wish you luck of it. Have your love. See if it shall protect you against the might of Talbot and the entire league of vampires after your head.” With those words Fabin de-materialized.

Chapter Eleven Katherine chewed mercilessly on her nails. If there was one good thing about being dead, it was that everything regenerated—even nails. She had bitten her nails down to the quick and they had grown back in a matter of minutes. She sighed and banged her head down on the counter top. Her striped orange hat fell off of her head and tumbled to the floor. She couldn’t believe she had let Lex’s friend touch her … kiss her … have her so intimately. She just hadn’t been able to help herself. He was just too gorgeous. And then there had been what she had seen in his eyes. There was something about him—something lonely, something tragic. She had wanted to take his hurt away. Give him some measure of comfort. Katherine groaned. Comfort, hell, she had given him a lot more than comfort. When she had awakened in Lex’s bed, Fabin was gone and Lex was sitting, naked, book in hand. His face had been shadowed and Katherine had watched the play of emotions flitter across his gorgeous face. She had walked over to him and placed her hand on his shoulder. He had covered it with one of his own. They had remained that way until Katherine had to leave for work. She knew that there was a lot still unspoken between the two of them. Indeed, she suspected much of what was unspoken was about Lex and Fabin. It had been impossible not to see the current between the two men. Oh yeah, she was going to have to talk to Lex about what was up with Fabin. “Hey, Katie E.” Will Witting’s smile was infectious. Katherine laughed. “Don’t you have someplace better to be than the ‘Stop and Shop’? It’s like three in the morning, Will.” His face turned serious. He picked up her fallen hat and handed it to her. “Well, I wanted to see you. And you haven’t returned any of my calls. I thought this was my best bet.” Katherine sighed and put the stupid hat back on her head. She really didn’t want to do this right now. “Will. Uh … well … you see.” Damn, she sucked at this. “Katie?” His brow furrowed. “Will … you see, you’re a great guy, but uh, well, dating you … I can’t … what I mean to say is … shit!” she finished helplessly. “You mean to say shit?” Will asked, humor lacing his question. “No … yes, I mean … what I mean…” “What she means is … she cannot see you anymore, human.” Lex stood imposingly in back of Will. He spun around. “Who the hell are you?” Katherine groaned. Great, just what she needed—another cock fight. “Will, meet Lex, Lex meet Will.” Lex growled. Will turned back to Katherine. “Katie? Who is this guy?” “He’s my, he’s well … he’s my … my…” “I’m Katherine’s husband.” Lex’s voice was chilling. “WHAT?” Will yelled.

“WHAT?” Katherine screamed. Lex’s face stayed perfectly bland. “I’m Katherine’s husband. And you will stay away from my wife.” “Will…” Katherine didn’t get any further because Lorna took that moment to enter the ‘Stop and Shop’. “Oh my God, It’s true!” Lorna was staring openmouthed at Katherine in her hideous orange uniform. Katherine groaned. Oh shit. Why was God angry at her? “Tommy Gabone told me that he saw you here. I didn’t believe him, of course. I mean it was just too ridiculous for words. My sister working at the ‘Stop and Shop’ … and oh my God … what are you wearing?” Katherine could tell the moment Lorna became aware of the two men standing on either side of the counter. Her eyes widened and glittered in appreciation and she smoothed back her hair in a practiced move. “Well, hi.” Lorna sauntered over. She looked between Lex and Will, obviously unable to decide who she was going to hit on first. “I’m Lorna, Katherine’s sister,” she said finally to Lex. He nodded. “I thought as much. You are exactly as Kat described you to be.” Lorna fluttered her eyelashes. “Oh, Katherine spoke of me?” “You came up, once or twice,” Lex said, voice dry as dust. Lorna laughed and turned then to Will. “Hi.” “Hello,” Will said. He held out his hand politely. “Will Witting.” “My, my, now I can see why Katherine is working here.” Katherine sighed. “If I gave you my new Marc Jacobs skirt, would you leave?” Lorna seemed to consider it. “How new? Are you talking spring flower new … or fall tweed?” “Floral pattern.” “I don’t think so,” Lorna finally said. Katherine groaned. “Oh come on. It’s current season.” “Floral would have worked like two months ago, but Marc is gearing up for the fall … it’s all about tweed and maybe if you had offered me cashmere.” Lorna turned to the men and smiled. “Cashmere is timeless, you know.” Katherine rolled her eyes. “Give me a break. Lorna, I’m working. Could you please go?” Lorna pouted. “Well, I’ll go if one of these handsome men will walk me to my car. It’s awful late and you never know who’s out there.” Both Lex and Will remained silent, and Lorna became impatient and began to tap her foot. Will finally relented and attempted a smile. “I’d be uh, happy to walk you to your car, Lorna.” When he turned to Katherine, his eyes were angry. “Okay, I’ll leave you and your husband alone.” Katherine threw up her hands in despair. Great, now he had gone and done it. She turned tentatively toward Lorna and saw that her sister had gone completely still and her eyes were wide with shock. “WHAT! Your husband? What the hell is he talking about, Katie?”

“Nothing.” Katherine began to fidget. How was she going to explain this mess? She didn’t even understand it. “Didn’t she tell you?” Will asked of Lorna. He turned back to Katherine. “It seems that you married suddenly,” he added. “Oh, it was sudden all right,” Katherine muttered. “We could not help ourselves. It was love at first sight,” Lex interjected smoothly. Lorna was still gaping at the two of them. “I can’t believe you accepted a date with me considering you…” Will’s voice trailed off. His face was now flushed. “Will, I can explain.” Katherine swallowed. “Well, no, I can’t, not really. But … but … you have to know I didn’t mean to hurt you.” She shot an evil look in Lex’s direction. “My husband and I have been having some difficulties and, well, I know it wasn’t right. But you were—are—so sweet. I … I … well—I wanted to go out with you. I’m sorry, so sorry,” she finished miserably. She was going to kill Lex. She had to figure out a way to get her hands on some sharpened stakes. Lorna laughed suddenly. “Oh-ho, this is priceless. Ms. Perfect Priss went off and got herself hitched without telling anyone. What? Are you pregnant too?” Katherine gritted her teeth. “That would be a no,” she ground out. “Lorna, listen, I’m sorry…” “You needn’t apologize to her, my love,” Lex said. His eyes glittered like diamonds. “You have done nothing wrong and owe her no explanation.” Lorna narrowed her eyes. “Wait till mother hears about this.” Suddenly Katherine had had enough. She might be a doormat. But there was only so much shit she was willing to take. It was four in the goddamn morning. Her sister, her expossible boyfriend, and her vampire lover were all crowded around her in the ‘Stop and Shop’. She was wearing a truly ugly uniform that was the color of orange sorbet mixed with puke, and to top it all off she was dying of thirst. “Okay! Finito! Out, all of you, out!” She turned her angry eyes on to Lorna. “You, you can tell mother anything you want. Considering good ol’ mom just married husband number seven … well, let’s just say I don’t put much stock in her little pep talks anymore. Lorna, I caught you in bed with a man you had just met at a club, in MY bed no less. I mean, come on…” She shook her head, “No, just forget it, just don’t speak anymore.” She moved onto Will. She rolled her eyes. “What can I say? I’m sorry. And you,” her eyes felt as if they were burning when she turned to Lex, “you and I are going to have a long talk later.” “I can barely contain myself at the thought. I love our talks.” “You won’t love this one,” Katherine said under her breath. Lorna’s mouth was gaping open like a fish. Will’s jaw worked back and forth. Lex smiled an infuriating smile. “Well … well … you’re like in so much trouble,” Lorna sputtered finally. She turned on her heel and marched out of the store. Katherine sighed. Trouble, yeah she knew she was in trouble. “Try telling me something I don’t already know,” she said quietly. “I … well … I guess I’ll be going too.” Will looked at Katherine and then at Lex. “Bye Katie.”

Katherine was genuinely sorry about how things had played out between her and Will. “Goodbye Will.” She watched him leave with a heavy heart. She had really handled that all wrong. She should never have accepted a date with him in the first place. “Would you like to talk now, Kat, my love?” Lex said with an easy grin. “What I would like now is to burn this stupid hat, shoot my sister, and put a stake through that block of ice you call a heart.” “Now, now…” “Don’t now, now, me, you rotten bastard. You just made my life a whole lot more complicated. Not to mention you totally lied your ass off.” Lex laughed. It was a deep rolling laugh. “My love, your death is already complicated. And as for lying … I did not lie. I told a small fib.” “Small fib my ass.” Katherine clenched her hands into fists. “I do not know why you are so upset, my love. You had to have known that this, this, thing with that mortal had to end. And how much longer could you have taken being a doormat for your sister? She deserved much more than you gave her. Indeed, if you would just let me…” “Absolutely not! Don’t you dare touch her. Lex, if you hurt her…” He reared back. “You wound me, my love. I would never hut her,” he smiled, “not too much. She is a silly, nasty, impudent…” “Yeah, she is. But she’s my sister. And if you knew my mother, you’d understand it is not all Lorna’s fault. My mother is…” Katherine sighed. “Yes. I have observed Delia.” Katherine narrowed her eyes. “You’ve been spying on my mother?” “It was my duty to learn all there was to know about you, Kat. Your mother was an intrinsic part of my investigation into your past, your … life.” Katherine rubbed her eyes. “God. Spying on my mother. Just don’t do that anymore, okay.” “As you wish.” Katherine looked at the clock. “You’ve gotta go. I have a lot of cleaning up to do before Sherry comes in for the next shift.” “You will come to my house when you are done.” “I don’t think so.” “You will come because you have no choice. You are thirsty. What will you do? Will you stalk prey now? The hour grows late and you have no time … nor do you have the temperament.” Katherine scrunched up her nose. She hated him. She hated him because he was right. She didn’t have the time. And she certainly didn’t have the stomach for biting an unwitting pedestrian. “I’ll see you in an hour.” Lex nodded. “In an hour.” **** Katherine let the hot stream of water glide down her body. She let out a long moan of pleasure and continued to bask in the merciless spray of steam and heat. She had just finished devouring her meal—a rather rambunctious twenty-something who had all but offered herself up on a plate.

Katherine sighed. It was weird, yes. But she was no longer squeamish about taking blood—from willing donors. She had to deal with it. She was dead and she needed blood to survive. And hey, it wasn’t all bad. She was becoming rather wild in her dead days … it was rather fun. Everyone had always locked her into a niche, a small, staid, boring niche. She was the doting daughter, the good sister, the reliable friend. Her life had been a narrow path of inactivity. But her death … well her death held more surprises than even she knew what to do with. The shower door opened, letting in a merciless gout of cold. “Go away,” Katherine said. Her eyes were closed but she obviously knew who it was. Lex chuckled. “We had an appointment, my love.” Katherine turned her back to him. “Yes, an appointment that I kept. I was at your house in under an hour. So, all bets are off. Go away.” Lex took the lavender soap from the shelf and lathered up his hands. He ran them over Katherine’s slippery body. Katherine couldn’t suppress the tremors that ran through her body at his touch. Her eyes shot open. She grabbed the soap from his hands and glared at him. “I can do it myself, thanks.” “But why should you when I am oh-so-willing to help you?” Katherine counted to ten and tried to keep control of her rapidly failing patience. “What? Are you deaf? Go away. I don’t need your damned help.” He smoothed his hand over her plump breast and tweaked her nipple. It hardened instantly. Before she could offer up a protest he dipped his head down and captured the taut bud within his mouth. He suckled hard, rolling his tongue around the pebbled flesh. Lex nipped lightly at her nipple and trailed his free hand down her stomach. When he reached the slick folds of her pussy he didn’t hesitate to push two fingers in. Her wet flesh immediately encompassed his thick fingers, hugging him with her heat. Katherine’s head was reeling. What had she been saying to him before? It was hard to remember anything with his hands and mouth on her. The alternating sensation of the pulsing hot water, hard fingers and suctioning mouth was too much to bear. She felt as if every nerve in her body was screaming—screaming with lust. She wound her hand within his hair and dropped her head back, emitting a long groan. She could feel his nimble fingers plucking and circling her hard clit and the teasing motion was driving her crazy. She reached between their wet bodies, placed her hand over Lex’s and shoved him against her dripping pussy. She wanted more. She got more. Instantly she felt the smooth, hard, push of a third finger and her pussy muscles began to shake and shiver. “Kat…” Lex murmured against her skin. He moved his mouth up to her neck and began to press hot kisses to her heated flesh. She began to pant. His fingers were pressing against her soft walls and his mouth was whispering the skin of her neck. She desperately edged closer to him, wrapping her leg around his. She felt her one foot give from beneath her and then suddenly, brilliantly she was elevated off of the shower floor. She found herself looking into Lex’s passionfilled gaze and knew that her own look had to mirror his. She bent her head and slanted her mouth over his, pulling him into a voracious kiss.

Lex dug his hands into the globes of Katherine’s ass. “Wrap your legs around me, love.” Katherine eagerly complied. He braced her back against the shower wall and with one fluid move brought them seamlessly together. He latched his mouth onto her breast and began to suckle and bite. He wanted to draw on each and every one of her cries and build on them. He became even more insistent and drew even more of her breast into his mouth. When Katherine began to shake and moan he lifted his head up and smiled. “Shall I go?” She looked down at him. Her eyes were glassy and bright. “What?” What was he saying? How could he say anything at a moment like this? She was dying—again. “You wished me to go?” Effortlessly Lex lifted her higher until her legs dangled to either side of his head and her pussy was in direct contact with his waiting mouth. He flicked his tongue out and teased her soft, moist flesh. When she gasped he lapped her from the bottom to top of her slit. “More,” Katherine groaned out. “So you wish me to stay?” Katherine was going crazy. Her pussy was on fire with need. “YES! YES! YES!” She screamed, grabbing fistfuls of his hair and pulling. Lex smiled triumphantly, stiffened his tongue and speared it through her dripping cavern. She was gloriously hot and shamefully wet. He wanted to bathe in her forever. The hot water continued to batter their bodies, adding fuel to the already out of control fire. She started to quiver. Her pussy was hot and tensing and her toes were curling. “Please, I need you, Lex, I need you.” He groaned. “Oh my love…” and let her back slide down the wall. He repositioned her legs, and with one sure stroke he imbedded his cock deep within her waiting body. God, her pussy was delicious. It was grabbing his cock in a velvet vise and scalding his flesh with liquid fire. He began to pump furiously, knocking her back into the wall with each powerful thrust. Keeping a firm grip on her thighs he groaned when she tightened her legs around his body and squeezed. He felt his Kat’s pussy pulse and swore he felt electric shocks swim through his body with each clench of her muscles. His cock continued to swell and he increased the tempo of his thrusts. He watched Katherine’s face. Her eyes were screwed tightly shut and she was shaking her head back and forth. Little mews were coming out of her mouth and she began to pant, gasp and cry out. It was building. Lights were going off in his head and Lex could hear a great buzzing in his ears. His cock was harder than a steel pipe, and was pulsing wildly as it swept through her gripping channel. Lex heard Kat’s breath catch and knew the moment that her orgasm was upon her. She dropped her head back, hitting it on the shower tiles, tightened her legs around his waist and arched forcefully up. Her hands dug into his back, clawing at his heated, slippery flesh and she opened her mouth and let out a mind-shattering scream. “My Kat … mine … MINE!” Lex ground out. He met her at her crest. His hips, like a piston, shot forward. Digging his hands almost painfully into her thighs he ground himself against her and emptied his hot seed into her waiting body. Spasms shook him from head to toe and he dropped his head to hers.

Katherine’s breaths came out short and labored and she slowly, sluggishly opened her eyes. She ran her hand gently down Lex’s wet hair, traced his lips with her fingers. When she spoke her voice was husky and warm. “Sex can’t solve everything.” He looked into her languid eyes and smiled. “But it’s a start, don’t you think?” Kat fought a grin, and failed. “Perhaps.” She rolled her eyes. “Hell, yeah, it’s a start.”

Chapter Twelve “So, let me see if I get this straight.” Katherine was sitting naked on Lex’s divan. “This … this … Talbot is going to come and try to kill me?” Lex dragged his eyes from Katherine’s plump, full breasts and nodded. “Yes. In fact, I believe he will try to kill both of us.” She frowned. “Like kill, kill right?” Lex laughed. When he saw her expression he stopped and cleared his throat. “Yes, little one, he will try to give us permanent death.” Katherine was completely befuddled. She had seen vampire movies before. She knew how it worked, or she thought she did. Vampire haters, religious fanatics and the odd bounty hunter or two, they were always after the vampire. But what was this about vampires after vampires? Wasn’t there some unspoken rule—like, vampires shouldn’t try to stake other vampires. First, what was his name, oh yeah—Azra—and now, this Talbot. It was completely disconcerting. “I tell you this because I believe you deserve to know the … truth.” He nearly choked over the last word. “Oh, thanks so much. It’s so nice of you to decide that I deserve to know that someone is going to try to kill me,” she said with an all-too-bright, smile. Lex frowned. “Are you being sarcastic?” Katherine looked disgusted. “Yeah, I’m being sarcastic. I, mean, come on.” “You are so unpredictable. Are you upset, now, again?” Katherine sighed. “Yes, I mean, no, I mean…” She groaned. “I don’t know. Maybe I’m a little disgruntled. I mean, how long have you known that this Talbot is going to try to take us out?” She didn’t let him answer and barreled on. “And you just now decided to tell me about it? You keep doing this. You keep things from me. You tell me that I’m your … du, du, du, dum … soul mate, and then you hide things from me.” “It is not my intention to keep things from you, my love.” “Nevertheless, that it what you do, Lex.” “How so?” “Oh come on. How long did it take you to tell me about my father? You didn’t tell me that that nasty vampire with the crossbow was going to try to kill me. You’re just now telling me about this vampire Talbot. And…” Katherine wondered if she really should open this can of worms right now. Oh hell, what did she have to lose? She was already dead. “You’re not telling me about Fabin.” Lex’s face shut down immediately. “What?” His voice was icy cold. Katherine swallowed. Ick. Okay, so she’d opened a very large can of worms, judging by his face and voice. “What the hell is the deal between you two?” “There is no ‘deal’, Katherine Ernshaw.” Oh shit. He was using her full name. That was certainly not a good sign. “I’m not stupid, Lex.” “Did I say you were?” His voice was chillier than a winter in Minnesota. “What I believe I said, was there is no ‘deal’ between Fabin and myself.”

She decided it was now or never. For once in her life she was not going to be a doormat. She was not going to show her claws, merely to retract them a minute later. She was dead, she drank blood, and by God, she could be a bitch! “That’s bullshit!” Katherine jumped off the divan and strode angrily over to Lex. She ignored his wide eyes and planted her hands squarely on her hips. “You’re so full of it. Here you’re trying to convince me that you’re not keeping things from me, that you’re so,” she rolled her eyes, “open. And then you lie to me. You outright lie to me. You can stand there…” She had to admit that he looked mighty fine standing there all smooth, muscled skin, gleaming … she shook her head to clear it. Down girl, down, she had to remember that she had a point to make here. “You can stand there,” she repeated, “and tell me that there is nothing going on between Fabin and yourself, when there so obviously is. The air all but rippled when the two of you were in the same room. Now, I don’t know if that is a good thing or a bad thing … but it is definitely something. I want to know.” She held out her hands to him. Her eyes softened. “I need to know.” Lex took her in, hands held out to him, eyes beseeching him, and he knew he could not deny her. He could not hold himself back. He loved her. God help him. He loved her. He swallowed—hard. He had claimed her. Taken her and turned her, knowing what she was, what she could become. She was his mate. He knew that she was meant to be his. And why not? He had waited centuries for her. He had thought, simply, that he had earned her—time owed him. God, how wrong he had been, how foolish, how full of hubris. He might have her, but did he have her? The body was willing, eager, but now he knew … he wanted more than her body. He wanted everything. But had he lost her with the callousness of his ego? He had not known, until this very moment, how much love he could feel, that he was even capable of such love. He had been a shell, an empty vessel for so very long. But now, with his Kat, his world was one of possibilities, excitement, passion … and love, all consuming love. “Fabin and I were never intimate.” Katherine nodded. Her eyes held his steadily, and urged him to continue. “I … I was drawn to Fabin, drawn to the emptiness, the loneliness that I saw housed in his eyes. It was a loneliness that mirrored my own. We struck up a friendship. It was an easy one. But Fabin already had a companion…” Lex cleared his throat. “Yes?” Katherine said quietly. “Lissette. Her name was Lissette DeChambray … and she was lovely. She was Fabin’s human blood companion. She was not fond of me.” Lex smiled at the memory. “She did not like the competition. It took fifty years for her to warm to my presence. But once she did,” he sighed, “it was the first peace I had in centuries. For the first time, in too long, I felt as if I were a part of something, something … good.” Katherine pressed herself against his side and ran her hand down his arm. Lex covered her hand with one of his own. “But something was always missing, something…” He turned to Kat and smiled slightly, before continuing. “I would have left eventually … but, but, something occurred to speed me on my way.” Katherine studied Lex’s face and suddenly she knew. “Lissette.” He sighed. “Yes, Lissette. It seems that she had become too fond of me. Indeed, she fancied herself in love with me.” Lex ran his hand through his hair before beginning to rub Katherine’s hand absentmindedly. “But it was worse than that … worse. I discovered that Fabin, too, loved me.”

Katherine swallowed. Oh boy. “Lissette told me when I confronted her about leaving the nest. I told her that it was time for me to make my own way. That their comfort, shelter and companionship had meant the world to me, but I needed to find … find … find that which was missing from my life—death.” Lex clenched his jaw and his eyes grew darker, stormier. “Lissette became hysterical. First she professed her love. Then she ranted and forbade me to leave. When it was obvious that nothing she said would change my mind, she told me. She told me that Fabin was in love with me, and that she could no longer remain with him.” “Oh, Lex.” Katherine wrapped her arms around his stiff form. “Lissette begged me to take her with me. I denied her. I told her that I could not do such a thing. She was Fabin’s. And even if it were not so … she was not my true mate. I left then. I left without even saying goodbye to Fabin. I was … I was a coward.” “No!” Katherine cried. “Yes. I could not face him. I did not want to see the truth in his eyes.” He broke free of her embrace and strode across the room. He knew what he would tell her next would change them forever. She would hate him. It had to be so. “I did not learn the truth until many years later. I did not know … I did not want to know.” Lex closed his eyes as visions assaulted him. God, it was all so clear. He could taste the memories, they were that fresh. “Lissette followed me, but she was not vampire and swiftness did not guide her feet. But still she searched … and wandered. Without blood from her vampire companion she began to age and to wither—although slower than the mortal flock. Ten years she trailed me…” His voice broke. “Ten years,” he whispered, then. “It was in the tenth year that she came to the village of Thesellai. It was in the tenth year that she met her end.” He braced his hands against the wall and hung his head. “She was raped and tortured by a group of village men. When she tried to escape they chased her down. They hung her, like a common thief.” He did not want to continue but he knew that he must. His Kat had to hear it all, had to know about the demons that continued to haunt him. “Fabin found me. I was sojourning in Vienna at the time. He told me of Lissette’s death. The Council had notified him of his companion’s demise, and he wished to share the news with me.” He laughed bitterly. “Share … he wanted to make my frozen heart bleed. But I could do nothing. I could feel nothing. Shock had my senses in its heavy grasp and would not let go. I asked him what he wished me to say? What did he want from me? He raged at me then. Told me that it was I who drove Lissette away from him. That it was my fault that she had died so violently. I told him what I had told her … that I was grateful for their companionship, their friendship, but that I had to leave. I had to seek the source of my own emptiness. I could not fill theirs.” He could still hear Fabin’s voice as it had been then—caressing, soothing. He had turned to Lex then, his eyes suddenly bright and filled with yearning. The yearning and need had shaken Lex to his very core. “He told me then. He unleashed himself to me. He told me that I and only I could fill his emptiness. That the ten years without me had nearly driven him mad and that more than Lissette’s death, it was my abandonment that broke his shriveled heart.” Lex spun around to face Katherine. His face was grim. “I turned from him then. Like a little boy I ran. I took shelter in the Americas and tried to forget Fabin and his words. But they haunted me … they do still.” Katherine remained completely still, and said nothing.

Lex’s face fell suddenly and his grief was a tangible thing. “I deserve nothing more from you, my Kat. You have every reason to hate me, to be disgusted with me.” He started to turn away from her and was shocked when in a second Katherine had materialized at his side. Lex blinked—shocked. It was the first time that his Kat had materialized, the first time she had used that particular vampiric power. “Kat?” He asked questioningly. Katherine wrapped her arms tightly around him. Her grip was like a vise. She looked up and captured his eyes with her own. “Now, you will listen to me, Lexarius Maxim.” Lex drew back. She had called him by his full name. “You are not to blame for Lissette’s foolishness. Nor should you blame yourself for Fabin’s crush.” Foolishness? Crush? Lex had to smile. His Kat’s words came so easy, and she seemed so earnest. “Lissette made her decision. She wanted to follow you and she did. What happened to her was terrible.” Katherine swallowed and fought back a shiver. “Worse than terrible, but you did not cause her death. Did you rape her? Did you torture her? No. She was a grown woman with her own mind. Now, about Fabin…” She bit her lip. This was more complicated. Personally she thought the other vampire was a sulky, self-absorbed, brat … but he was Lex’s friend. And, hey, he had been dead an awful long time. That would make anyone grumpy. “You don’t choose who you fall in love with. Fabin fell in love with you. That is his problem. Why are you doing the whole Byron thing?” “The Byron thing?” Lex asked with amused curiosity. “Yeah, you know—dark, brooding and all, woe-is-me.” Lex laughed then. He couldn’t help himself. She looked chagrined. “Okay, let me know. Is the fact that you’re laughing at me a good thing or a bad thing? Should I be worried? Did I totally offend you?” He just laughed harder. Fat, black, tears began to roll down his pale cheek. He wiped them away with his hand. “Oh, my love, I am sorry, I do not mean to laugh at you.” “Really? You could have fooled me.” Because he could resist her no further, he wrapped his arms securely around her body and pressed her close to him. He dropped his head down to hers and nuzzled her soft, fragrant hair with his face. She was a paradox, his Kat. A beautiful paradox. And he was learning to expect—expect everything, where she was concerned. And then they were there—the words. He held Kat at arms length and looked deeply into her searching eyes. “I love you, Katherine Marie Ernshaw. I love you.” Katherine’s eyes widened. And since it was too late to turn back, Lex continued. “I was alone in the darkness for centuries. I had nothing, was nothing, until you came along. It was a cruel trick I played on myself, telling myself that I merely wanted you to anger the Council. I talked myself into believing that the pleasure I would gain stealing you away from the Council was the only reason I sought you out and turned you.” He swallowed, his heart was in his eyes. “But more fool was I. I sought you out because I could do no less … my heart … the heart I thought was dead, waited for you. You and only you are my soul mate, the true part of me that has been missing for so long. I love you. God help me, I love you. And I know. I know it now. I do not deserve you. But I am begging you … please give us a

chance. Please tell me that it is not too late. That I have not turned you away with my callousness and my cruel disregard for your nature.” For once in her life—and death—Katherine was stunned speechless. She wanted to speak. She tried to. But words failed her. Her tongue felt heavy and leaden in her mouth and her mind was whirling like a tornado stuck in a vacuum. Lex loved her? Fearsome, enigmatic, badass, Lex—loved her? Oh she had known he wanted her, was attracted to her. I mean, come on, it didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that one out. She could barely keep her own hands off of him. Obviously the attraction was mutual. But love? What did she know of love? What did she know of being loved? Her family didn’t count. They were totally dysfunctional. Her sister was a selfcentered, neurotic, whiny brat. Her mother had C.B.S.—chronic bride syndrome. And her father … whoever he may have been, had totally dumped her ass. But, flawed as they were—she loved them, as only family could love family. But could that sort of love be enough? Could she really have a loving relationship with a vampire? A vampire? Was it fair to use Lex as some sort of science experiment? A guinea pig, if you will. And then, clichéd as it sounds—it hit her like a bolt of lightning. What the hell was her problem? Why was she over-thinking things? This was Lex. Impossible, incorrigible, temperamental, handsome as the very devil—Lex—and yes, she loved him. Who would have known it to be possible? But here she was, naked (she was getting naked a lot lately), with her heart in her hands. “I LOVE YOU!” She shouted out and quickly slapped her hands to her mouth. She hadn’t quite meant to shout it out. “You love me.” His smile was positively brilliant. Katherine nodded slowly. She removed her hands from over her mouth and said more quietly this time, “I love you, I do.” He pulled her into a bone-crushing embrace and lifted her off of the ground. “You love me. You love me.” Katherine began to laugh. She couldn’t help herself. Oh-so-suave and serious Lex was acting like a carefree boy. It was adorable. “Put me down, you fool.” “Never,” Lex said, still smiling. His expression sobered. “You love me, even with what I have revealed to you?” Her smile was warm. “Even more because of what you’ve told me, Lex. You finally shared your heart with me. You truly opened up and revealed yourself to me.” Katherine reached out and caressed his beautiful face. “How can it not be love? You’ve been through so much, Lex. And you’ve borne it all, alone. It has made you stronger, more resilient … it is one of the reasons that I love you so.” She smiled. “I resisted it too. Like you, I did not want to believe that I could love someone so much. But I do. Now, don’t think you don’t drive me batty, because you do. Sometimes, hell most of the time, I just want a stake and some holy water.” She ignored his wide eyes and how his mouth dropped open and rushed on, “but, isn’t that the most telling thing of all? It must be love.” Katherine laughed. “Love drives you crazy. Don’t you always want to strangle those you love best?” Lex cleared his throat and smiled. “I’m not certain. I’ve never loved anyone but you.” “Do you ever want to strangle me?”

He laughed and nodded. “You could drive a man to drink, my Kat. Yes, often I wish to strangle that pretty little neck of yours.” Her grin was positively brilliant. “So there, you see, we’re in complete agreement. Love equals total and complete abandonment of your senses.” His laughter was sure and strong. He squeezed her closer. Katherine began to squirm and her eyes shot open when she saw the glint in his eyes, a glint she knew all too well. “Oh no, no way. I have stuff to get done. Stuff that requires that I be fully clothed and out of your mile wide bed.” Lex chuckled but let her down. “You want to stay, my Kat.” “I may want to stay, but I can’t stay.” She looked around the room. “Where are my clothes?” “I believe you left them in the bathroom, my love.” He grinned. “My dearest, it is too early, you do not want to leave now.” She wrinkled her nose. “It is early.” He nodded. His eyes were bright. Katherine shook her head. “No, I have to get out of this den of sin.” “Den of sin?” His voice was laced with heavy amusement. “Yeah.” Just before Katherine went into the bathroom she turned her head to look at him. She gave him a saucy smile. “I’m finding that sin suits me really well.”

Chapter Thirteen Katherine slipped on excess Slurpee, fell ass first in the blue sludge, and swore. Damn it all. She hated this job, she absolutely hated it. The Slurpee machine had broken down—again. And of course she was expected to fix the stupid thing. Not that she knew anything about machinery or how to fix it. She grimaced. Her hands and legs were covered in blue goop and the mess was already sticking to every bare patch of skin it could find. Katherine wiped some Slurpee from her cheek and shook her head, disgusted. It was frigging freezing outside, (okay, so it didn’t effect her), who the hell was drinking Slurpees in this weather anyway? She retrieved the mop from the back room and began to clean up the gooey mess. “It is terribly undignified to be cleaning like a commoner.” She stiffened. That voice. She knew that voice. Katherine looked up and shook her head. He was beautiful, in a dark, ominous way. Fabin Montifore had switched his threepiece suit for more a more casual look tonight—black slacks, black button-up shirt and black leather jacket. His long midnight colored hair was pulled back from his perfect face and he wore the now-all-too-familiar expression of sourness and mocking amusement. “I’m busy,” she muttered, continuing to mop. “Yes, I can see that.” Fabin stepped forward. His dark eyebrows rose. “What is that monstrosity?” he asked, pointing to the spilled sludge on the floor. “This,” Katherine said, “is what we Colonials like to refer to as, blue raspberry Slurpee. As you can see, I have a lot to do. The stupid machine broke tonight and spilled this crud everywhere.” “Why are you here?” He sounded genuinely curious. Katherine stopped mopping. She slammed the mop down and leaned on it heavily. “Are you kidding me?” “I assure you, Katherine, I do not kid.” “Well, great, thanks for letting me know that.” She blew a strand of wayward hair out of her face and sighed. “I’m working, Fabin. Have you heard of that word before?” “But here?” “Yeah, here. Where else would you have me work? I’m dead. And you know what, that doesn’t look so good on a resume. ‘Recently turned vampire seeks employment in the professional field’,” Katherine said sarcastically. “Oh, and please ignore the fact that she has to take blood breaks and needs to stay in during the daylight hours. This of course won’t impede her ability to give you her very best.” Fabin frowned. “You are quite an impudent little thing, aren’t you?” “Impudent, annoying, sarcastic, aggravating and downright bitchy, yeah, I’ve heard it all. Tell me something I don’t know.” “I think I liked it better when you were open under my tongue and the only sounds coming out of your mouth were cries of pleasure.” Katherine blushed fiercely. What could she say to that? Well, she did have a couple of choice words in mind, but she was certain they wouldn’t put her in good standing with

the brooding Fabin. And, whether or not she liked it, she was not going to isolate him. He was doing a fine job of that himself. “What, nothing to say? Have I finally rendered you speechless?” Katherine growled. Oh boy. He was making it difficult for her to keep her temper in check. Okay, she just had to remember that this man meant something to Lex. And because of that fact, he meant something to her. When Fabin realized he hadn’t evoked the expected response from her he sighed and leaned against the front counter. “You are a vampire and you’re working at a gas station, a gas station. You are serving mortals,” Fabin shuddered, “Slurpees and…” he let his eyes roam over to the hot dog spit, “…wieners. This is surely beneath you.” She didn’t stop mopping. “You know what’s not beneath me? Making money. I may be dead but I still have bills to pay.” “Now that … is what gets to me the most, Katherine. You merely need to take up residence with our dear friend, Lexarius. He will certainly care for you.” Fabin’s face twisted. “He does caring so very well.” Katherine finished cleaning up the floor. Ugh, a girl could only take so much. And because she felt spiteful she brought the mop over to where Fabin was standing and dropped it down on his shiny shoes. Her eyes went innocently wide. “Oops, so sorry about that,” her lips curled up. Fabin’s eyes narrowed. He drew his feet back and stared down at his now sticky shoes. “Never you fear.” His smile was tight. “It was a mistake.” Katherine grinned. “Uh-huh, of course.” She wiped her hands on her uniform, walked behind the counter, and began to straighten it up. “So, if there is nothing more … I have a lot to do before my shift ends.” “But there is,” Fabin’s smile was now cruel, “more. You are either incredibly foolish or incredibly stupid. Perhaps you are both.” Katherine felt her hand tighten around the pack of gum she was holding. She counted to ten and reminded herself that she was above such silly insults. She would take the high road and remain completely composed and sweet—even if it killed her—again. She almost laughed. Take the high road? Take the high road with a vampire. “Sticks and stones may break my bones,” her smile was open and wide, “I’m sure you know the rest.” Fabin clenched his hands into fists. The look on his face was not friendly. “The Council’s personal assassin is coming after you,” he said. “Mmmmm, oh yeah, that’s right. His name is uh … let’s see, Timmy, Tommy, Teddy…” “Talbot,” Fabin ground out. Katherine snapped her fingers and laughed. “Oh, you’re right, Talbot. Funny name, don’t you think?” Katherine ignored his affronted expression. “Why do vampires all have such funny names? Lexarius, Fabin, Talbot…aren’t there any blandly named vampires? Like, oh, Mike, or Mark, maybe Bob? Hey, wouldn’t that be great, a vampire Bob.” Fabin couldn’t seem to believe what he was hearing. “You wouldn’t be, by any chance, on medication?” She grinned. “No, why?” “It is the only explanation. That, or you were dropped on your head as a child and never fully recovered.”

“Sorry to disappoint you, nope and nope.” Katherine couldn’t help it. She began to laugh. The expression on Fabin’s face was totally priceless. He didn’t know what to make of her. She loved it. “You are completely…” He broke off. His eyebrows drew down, as if he were deep in thought. Before she could stop herself, Katherine reached across the counter and patted Fabin’s arm. “Don’t worry. I seem to have this effect on a lot of people.” She thought for a moment. “A lot of dead people.” His eyes widened. “Do you now?” Katherine shrugged casually. “What can I say, it seems that dead, I’m totally incorrigible.” “You were different in life?” She laughed. “I don’t know, maybe I wasn’t. Maybe I just thought I was.” “An honest answer,” Fabin said thoughtfully. Suddenly his voice was no longer so cold. “I try to be, honest, that is.” “That is part of what makes you different, Katherine.” Fabin turned the full force of his eyes onto Katherine. They were black, turbulent and filled with such depth that they, alone, commanded presence. “You are a vampire. There is no need to be honest. Indeed, I believe most of us have forgotten what honesty is. We are completely submerged in our own universe. Our universe does not include honesty or anything else tied to human, thus fragile, emotions. We command such great power that being omnipotent is expected. Why bother with anything less? But you,” his eyes searched hers, “are different. In so many ways, you are different. It is disturbing, and also compelling.” Katherine wasn’t sure if she liked the idea of Fabin finding her compelling. “You know of Talbot,” he said. It was simply stated. Katherine nodded. She didn’t blink at the change of subject. “Yeah.” “Lexarius told you.” “Uh-huh, Lex told me.” Katherine bit her lip, “Lex told me everything.” Fabin’s eyebrows rose. “Everything?” “Yes.” Because she was moved to do it, she reached over for Fabin’s cold hands. She clasped them—tightly—within her own. He wasn’t so bad. You just had to get past that cold, stony, ‘I’m a tortured loner’ and see beneath the surface. He had had it bad. And he had had it bad for a lot longer than she had. A couple hundred years of unrequited love could certainly dampen a persons mood. “I’m sorry.” His nostrils flared and he tried to pull his hands away. He was surprised to find that Katherine’s grasp was firm—more than firm. “You dare to pity me?” Katherine shook her head. “I don’t pity you.” She willed him to see the truth as it was written on her face. “I feel for you. Because I love him, too. I love him so much.” Fabin’s head fell. But he no longer tried to free his hands. He didn’t look at her when he said, “So you do know it all.” “I do. I know we don’t know each other that well, but I want to tell you this. And I don’t want you to feel as if I am presuming,” she stopped and laughed a little, “okay, I’m presuming. But I hope you listen anyway. We don’t choose whom we fall in love with, Fabin. God, wouldn’t it be easier if we did. But we can choose how to live with our love.” She squeezed his hands. “Lex does love you. And he has missed that love for these

many years. I’ve seen it. I’ve seen it in his eyes. The loss of your friendship has hit him hard.” She searched Fabin’s face. “As hard as I know it has hit you. But here you are, now, returned. The time is different,” she smiled, “so are the players. But the friendship, the love it is still here. Don’t waste your death on fear and anger … and … guilt. Embrace the chance, now, to get to know him again.” She swallowed. “Get to know us both. Life is so short. But death will be shorter, without him.” Fabin was completely still. His eyes, so dark, seemed to go darker still. His face glowed pearly white and his lips were bloodless. Finally he spoke. “I take it back.” “What?” Katherine asked. His face still glowed bright. “I take it back, Katherine. You are not foolish, nor are you stupid. In fact, your understanding staggers me.” Fabin smiled then, but it was a sad smile. “But I have housed my anger and torment for so long. I fear I do not know how to change things. I do not know how to find my way back.” “We all get lost sometime, Fabin. And we all need help to find our way back home.” Katherine graced him with a beatific smile. “Won’t you let me … won’t you let us, help you?” He disengaged his hands. He turned his back on her. “You are well matched—a true set. I did not want to see it. It pained me too greatly to believe that he could have someone that was meant to be his … someone who was not me.” Fabin paused for a moment before continuing, haltingly. “But you are his. And … and … it is right. I will not bother you again, Katherine.” He began to walk away. Katherine rushed around the counter, and in three long strides had reached his side. She grabbed his arm. “Fabin, please, don’t leave. Talk to him, please, talk to him.” Fabin shook his head. “I cannot. There is too much pain, there is too much…” he sighed, “there is just too much between us. It is better this way.” Fabin looked down at where she was holding his arm. “Let go, little Katherine, let go.” Katherine swallowed, hard, but she let go. She watched as Fabin exited the ‘Stop and Shop’ and disappeared into the shadows of the night. **** “I don’t think I heard you right.” Katherine’s mouth was hanging open and her eyes were glassy with shock. Delia Warner’s voice came through the phone loud and clear. “Since you married in such haste,” there was definite disapproval and anger in her voice, “I feel the need to meet my new son-in-law. So, Kurt and I have set up a little dinner.” Katherine shuddered. Delia’s dinners were never ‘little’. “Wednesday, we’ll expect you at eight o’clock sharp.” The phone went dead. She put the receiver back in the cradle and began to grind her teeth together nervously. Oh God. Oh God. Oh God. Her mother wanted to have them to dinner. Her mother wanted to have Lex and her to dinner. To dinner? It was almost too much for her to take in. What the hell was she going to do? Lex was laughing so hard that big, black tears ran down his face. He doubled over and grabbed his sides. Katherine, hands planted on her hips, glared at him.

“Oh my love,” Lex choked on his laughter, “It is too delicious for words. Your mother wants to have us to dinner. I love it. It’s … it’s … magnificent.” Katherine was exasperated and frankly, more than a little freaked out by the whole thing. “What is so magnificent about it?” She began to pace back and forth. “Oh God, you don’t know my mother. It’s going to be a nightmare. It’ll be formal, my mother loves formal, and it’ll be as fun as having your heart cut out.” Lex cleared his throat. “Colorful.” “Maybe, but true.” She covered her eyes with her hands. “Oh, Lex, I think I’m going to be sick.” Lex was instantly by her side. He wrapped his arms around her and brought her in close. “Shhhhh, shhhhhhh, oh Kat, it shall be fine. Just wait, it’ll be fine.” Katherine looked up at him and shook her head wildly. “No, you don’t understand…” He put his finger over her lips and smiled. “I do understand, my Kat. But you have let your mother intimidate you for too long. You are a powerful, liberated,” he grinned, “vampire. You do not fear a self-absorbed, self-indulgent woman” “Mother,” she grumbled. “Even if said woman happens to be your mother, be strong, my Kat, be empowered.” She swallowed hard. “I’d rather be somewhere else.” Katherine’s eyes lit up. “Isn’t that a great idea? Let’s take a vacation, Lex. A long, long, long, vacation.” He laughed. “At what time does your mother expect us?” Katherine felt the sick feeling return. She licked her dry lips. “Eight o’clock, eight o’clock, Wednesday.” Her body felt cold, very, very cold. Her head was pounding and she felt like she had cotton in her mouth. He turned her so that her back was pressed against his front and leaned down to place a kiss over the pulse in her neck. She jumped and he smiled against her skin. “What are you doing?” she whispered. Lex licked her skin and then blew gently upon the wet patch, cooling it. “Distracting you. Is it working?” Katherine shivered. Her nipples were already hard and her bones were liquefying. It was incredible how he managed to do this to her every time. “Uh, you, we, I…” her voice broke off and he laughed. “I guess that is a yes.” Lex began to massage Katherine’s breasts. He plumped them and then tweaked her hard nipples. When she let out a low moan he pressed his hand firmly against the apex of her thighs, caressing her through the thin silk of her skirt. He walked her forward until her hands were braced against the wall and his front was pressed demandingly against her back. His cock was already hard and aching and he fought for control. Time, they had all the time in the world. “Lex…” His name was drawn from her lips on a breathless sigh. She could feel his cock, hard and insistent against her thigh and she was desperate to have him. Desperate to feel him within her. “Fuck me, please … please…” He bunched the silk of her skirt up to her waist and played with the lace of her panties. He teased her, rubbing his hand over the length of her slit through the rapidly warming fabric. Katherine’s arms began to shake.

“My Kat … you will hold your position. You will hold it or I shall stop, do you understand?” Lex’s voice went deep with his command. She nodded jerkily. She was wild to feel him. “Good. Good.” He pushed her panties aside and slipped one thick finger into her core. She enveloped him like a molten vise, her flesh sucking him in instantly. “Yesss…” He hissed. Because he could not resist her, he added a second finger and began to fingerfuck her. His fingers were explorative and searching. They tickled and caressed each crevice of her wet passage. He reached down with his free hand and began to massage the outside of her heated mound, all the while continuing the forceful strokes of his masterful fingers. “You love it … tell me … tell me … you love me finger-fucking you.” Lex nipped the skin under the delicate shell of Katherine’s ear and waited for her to respond. She let out a ragged moan and tossed her head from side to side. She ground herself against the probing fingers. “Tell me,” he hissed. Katherine opened her mouth to speak but he took that moment to add a third finger into her sopping pussy and to flick at the hard kernel of her clit. The sensation was gloriously agonizing. She felt as if she was burning and freezing at the same time. Her body was wracked with shivers and the heat of unbearable longing and need. “More … More … oh god, Lex…” “I’m waiting,” he said. His voice was heavy but steady. Lex quickened the motion if his hand. His fingers pressed deeper still and his movements became more forceful. He could hear the soft mew of her pussy each time he pushed and withdrew his fingers. Her juices were coating his hand and dripping shamelessly down his flesh. His own fluid was dripping down his cock—the strain was pushing him to his limit. He screwed his fingers deeper still. His wrist was almost housed at her gaping entrance. She was molten lava to the touch. He wanted to shove his cock deep into her hot, wet, pussy, and to feel her flesh closing around him, squeezing him dry. He wanted to see her face and watch as she screamed her release to the heavens. He wanted— “I love when you finger fuck me, I love it, I love it, I LOVE YOU!” Katherine screamed. Her body stiffened, her arms went tight as nylon cord and she began to shake uncontrollably. Her pussy began to pulse and spasm and she fell forward on her arms, still shivering. Lex growled. He quickly zipped down his slacks and freed his straining cock. He ripped away her panties, turned and lifted her up and slammed her against the wall. With one sure stroke he imbedded his cock deeply within Katherine’s wet and welcoming entrance. She gasped, clutching his taut shoulders. Lex groaned and began to pump strongly into her eager flesh. he could feel every tremor, every spasm of Katherine’s unbelievably slick and scalding channel against his cock. She was grinding herself against him. Her nails were digging into the flesh of his shoulders. The sharp bite of pain was delicious. HE increased his speed. His hands dug tightly into the firm globes of her ass, as his cock hammered into her. “Kat … Kat … Kat…” Her name was a litany on his lips. “Oh God, Lex, it feels … it feels … harder, fuck me harder!” Katherine screamed when he did just that. She arched, back falling off the wall. She felt her pussy pulse and

tingle. In fact, her whole body was tingling. She began to pant, her heart felt as if it were in her throat and her pussy was beginning to shake and quiver. Katherine bent her head over his neck, and just when her whole body exploded in a blast of light and shocking heat, she bit him—hard. **** Katherine leaned up on her elbow and trailed her fingers across the wide expanse of Lex’s chest. She loved the feel of him, so smooth, so hard, so unbelievably strong. Everything about him was perfect. They had moved to his bed after the fifth round. Quick as lightning, he flipped her onto her back. He now leaned over her. His face wreathed in a giant smile. “More?” He cupped her breast just before he began to toy with her stiffening nipple. Katherine gasped. “Stop it … Lex … you…” “Yes, my love?” “Stop, oh, oh…” she moaned, “We’re never going to get out of bed.” He laughed. “And that is bad, why?” He leaned down, intent on capturing her lips in a kiss. She twisted away from him and jumped up to her knees. She looked at him through her thick lashes. Her mouth was curved up in a smile. “We can’t stay in bed all night.” Lex let out a long suffering sigh. He rolled onto his back and stared up at the ceiling. “Infernal woman…” Katherine straddled his supine form. She looked down at him with laughing eyes. “Hey, who are you calling woman?” She rolled her eyes. “And stop sulking. It’s not like we didn’t just go at it like a couple of love-starved teenagers—five times, Lex. FIVE TIMES.” He sat up and twined Katherine’s legs and arms around him. He answered her smile with one of his own. “You’re right, of course,” he said. And then he kissed her with such force that her toes curled. When he pulled away from her, her expression was dazed and goofy. He grinned. “It is just when I’m holding you within my arms I can think of little else but fucking you senseless.” Katherine gulped. Suddenly her cold and dead body felt very hot indeed. “You’re doing it again,” she said. “Doing what?” He asked innocently. “Distracting me.” Lex laughed. “I love to distract you.” “Uh-huh.” She ran her fingers across his shoulders and toyed with strands of his silken hair. “And I love when you distract me. But…” “I hate when you say, ‘but’, my Kat.” She disengaged herself and jumped out of his huge bed. “I’m starving.” Lex laughed. “Well, it’s little wonder, with all the activity.” She smothered a smile. “Uh-huh, so, red-head or brunette?” He shrugged and grinned. “Your choice my love, either, or,” His eyes twinkled. “better yet, both.” Katherine’s eyes went wide with shock and then her face took on a thoughtful expression.

His laughter was full and booming. “It’s always better buffet, my love.”

Chapter Fourteen Katherine smoothed down her hair and bit her lip nervously. Okay, she could do this, she told herself. She could totally do this. It was nothing, just another dinner with mom. Holy shit, it was dinner with mom. She was going to be sick. She was going to puke right here on her mother’s welcome mat. “Calm yourself, my love.” Lex tightened his hold around her and smiled. “You are strong, remember. You are strong.” She tried to speak but nothing came out but a squeak. He laughed. “Well, that’s a start.” Lex rang the doorbell before Katherine could stop him. After about a minute the door flung open to reveal Delia Warner’s entrancing form. She was resplendent in a light cream-colored silk blouse with small seed buttons, and a sleek peach-colored, a-line skirt. Her dainty feet were encased in the newest Monolo Blahniks and her pale blond hair was done up in a chic bun, tendrils loose, framing her delicate face. “Katie,” Delia kissed her daughter’s cold cheek. She turned calculating eyes in Lex’s direction. When her eyes met his she gasped, and blushed. Her face instantly warmed and her eyes widened—a sure sign that she liked what she saw. “And this must be my new son-in-law.” She was delighted when Lex took her hand and brought it to his mouth. There he placed a cool, soft kiss to her flushed skin. “Lexarius, but you may call me Lex.” Delia swallowed, with difficultly. “Well, yes, I mean, of course.” She was obviously flustered. And Delia Warner did not get flustered. “Come in, please.” She rushed into the house. Lex turned to Katherine and saw that she was eyeing him suspiciously. “What?” He asked, all innocent. “What did you do to my mother?” she hissed. He grinned. “Could my charm not have momentarily struck her dumb?” A disgusted sound came from deep within Katherine’s throat and she swept by him into the house. Lex smiled and followed. Delia had pulled out all the stops. Her table was set beautifully. Her best china and silver were set out, along with crystal wine glasses and hand-embroidered napkins. When Delia Warner set a table, she set a table. Lex’s manners were impeccable. He had had over a thousand years to perfect them. He kept cool eyes trained on Delia. He knew what she was about. He had met, been with, women like her before. Women like Delia believed that the world owed them. They were beautiful, cultured, perfectly groomed and they wanted the best of all material things. And what they wanted they got. It mattered little to them that they hurt the ones around them … the ones they claimed to love. Women like Delia Warner didn’t recognize real love.

He sighed. He really didn’t give a flying fuck about Delia Warner. But she was his Kat’s mother and therefore what hurt his beloved, hurt him. He would do right by her. For his Kat, he would try to remain civil. Delia’s voice cut into the weight of his thoughts. “So, Lex, what is it that you do?” She threw cold eyes in Katherine’s direction. “My daughter never did mention what it is that you do. Of course, my daughter didn’t mention the fact that she had married, either.” Lex’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly. He gripped Katherine’s hand tightly under the table, willing her to remain calm and to trust him. “I do apologize Mrs. Warner,” his voice mellowed slightly, “Delia, the hasty wedding was my fault entirely. I did not want to wait. I knew I had to make Katherine mine the moment that I saw her.” Delia blinked. “Well, considering how Katie looks these days, I would have snatched her up myself … if I weren’t married already, that is,” Kurt said jovially. Delia glared at her husband. She turned quickly back to Lex. Her face softened as she spoke to him. “Well, I was ever so surprised when my daughter, Lorna, told me that Katie here had married. I told her, well I just have to meet this mystery man who swept my Katie off of her feet.” She looked between Lex and Katherine. “I mean, I don’t even know where you live, Lex. Are you in the city?” She laughed. “I’m assuming you and Katie have moved in together.” Katherine shook her head. “Actually, I’ve kept my place, mother.” Delia’s eyes widened. “Why?” Horror struck her face as a notion hit her. “Oh, Lex doesn’t have a place suitable for the both of you, does he?” She turned to her husband. “Kurt, darling, weren’t you telling me the other day about Mr. and Mrs. Ostriter. They’re moving aren’t they? I think their home is going up for sale. You could always…” Lex smiled. He couldn’t help it. He was going to enjoy this. “Actually, Delia, I have a home in Westridge Farms,” he ignored her gasp and continued, “and a condo downtown. Katherine and I have decided that keeping her home would be beneficial at this time, the market is steady and her house is in good condition. When we’re ready I am sure we could get a good price for it. At the moment, we have three homes to choose from. It’s a satisfactory arrangement.” He felt like crowing, seeing the shock written all over Delia’s face. “What is it that you do, again?” Delia’s face had taken that cold, calculating look she was so famous for. “A bit of everything, Delia. I am quite a man of all trades. However, my passion lies in antiques. I own a small antique store downtown. Perhaps you’ve heard of it, ‘Priceless’.” Lex smiled when Delia’s eyes went wide. He could also feel his Kat’s questioning eyes on him. “I’m also the C.E.O of Colonnade, Inc.” “Man, I’ve been trying to get a meeting with you guys forever,” Kurt interjected suddenly. Lex smiled slightly at the other man. “Oh?” Kurt nodded. “I couldn’t get past your administrative assistant. She’s a battle-axe.” Lex laughed. “Mrs. Hammond, she’s been with me for ages. She’s very efficient, organizes my life very well. If you would still like that meeting, Kurt, I’ll set it up. How does Tuesday of next week sound to you?” Kurt’s mouth dropped open. He sputtered for a minute and then found his voice. “Yes, yes, that would be great. Thanks.”

“Think nothing of it. We’re family now, aren’t we?” Katherine’s teeth were chattering. Holy hell, her vampire boyfriend was loaded. Well, she had known he was well off. His house was huge. His clothes were expensive. But she had not known he was C.E.O. of Colonnade, Inc., or that he owned ‘Priceless,’ a very, very, well known antique store. Colonnade employed thousands, even some of Katherine’s acquaintances. “Well, Katie, it seems that you’ve caught yourself a good one,” Delia said. Katherine stiffened. She hated her mother’s haughty and chilling tone. And she hated how her mother said, ‘caught’, like Lex was a fish she had hooked and reeled in. In her mother’s eyes, that was it precisely. “We are equally ensnared, Delia. My Katherine is a rose among,” he looked at her tellingly, “weeds. I am the luckiest of men.” Delia’s lips twisted into a sneer, one that marred her lovely features. “How nice for the both of you.” She picked up a small gold bell that was next to her and rang it. Within a moment a young woman in a maid’s uniform appeared. Delia scowled. “How long do we have to wait for the soup, Wendy?” Wendy flushed. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Warner, but you said you were…” her voice trailed off when she saw Delia’s expression. “Did I say not to bring the soup, Wendy?” Wendy shook her head. “No, Mrs. Warner.” “Then what are you waiting for?” Delia waved her away. She turned to Kurt. “I don’t know why you hired her, she’s completely inept.” Kurt shrugged. “You wanted a maid, and a cook, you didn’t like any of the others, darling.” Delia harrumphed. “Well, she won’t do.” When she turned to Katherine and Lex her features were again perfectly composed. “I’m sorry you’ve had to wait so long for your soup.” Katherine swallowed. “The soup isn’t important, mother.” Delia laughed. “Of course it is, Katie. Everything in this house is important.” Katherine felt a splitting headache coming on. And she was dead? Were the dead supposed to get headaches? She rubbed her temples. Her eyes shot open when she heard the unmistakable voice of her sister. Katherine’s mouth dropped open into a giant O. “Mother? Is that Lorna?” Delia smiled triumphantly. “Oh, did I forget to mention that I invited Lorna to dinner, Katie. I thought since we were all meeting for a family dinner, we couldn’t exclude your sister.” Katherine went pale—quite a feat for her. She was in hell. This had to be hell. Lorna bounded into the dining room. She kissed her mother on both cheeks and gave Kurt an exuberant hug. When she turned to Katherine and Lex her smile was polite and forced. “Katie, Lex, I’m so glad to see you. Isn’t this great? All of us having dinner?” Katherine nodded jerkily. “Yeah, great.” Lex’s voice was silky smooth. “Lorna, so good to see your lovely face again.” Lorna swallowed audibly. She took the empty seat next to Lex. “I was so happy when mom told me that she had invited the both of you to dinner.” She tossed her sister a knowing look. “Mom was so surprised to hear about your marriage.” Katherine stiffened. “I’m sure she was.”

Lorna coyly batted her lashes at Lex. “You’re even better looking out of the artificial light.” Lex stifled back laughter. Oh yes. Now Lorna was her mother’s daughter. “Thank you. It’s kind of you to say so.” “You’re looking nice, Katie, is that a new blouse?” Lorna asked. Katherine nodded. “Yes, thanks. Lex bought it for me.” Lorna and Delia rushed to compliment Lex on his good taste. Katherine rolled her eyes and Kurt generously buttered one of his rolls. Katherine sighed. This night was going to be endless. **** Katherine looked at the piece of angel food-cake in front of her and grimaced. Shit. Sometimes being dead totally sucked. Alive, she had loved angel food-cake, dead, she could barely tolerate looking at it. Katherine felt Lex’s eyes on her and turned. She opened her mind to him and instantly heard his words in her head, crystal clear. “You may do the same as before, my love. Push the food around with your fork, and when the young girl comes out to clear the table you merely put the plate back on the tray. They will not even notice, I promise.” She sighed. “It’s not that, Lex. I’m so sorry about all of this. My family is a mess.” Lex’s eyes were filled with laughter. “Yes, they are. But at least they are not boring, my Kat.” Katherine laughed out loud. Delia raised an eyebrow. “What is so funny, Katie? Care to share?” Katherine opened her mouth to speak but Lex’s hand on her arm stopped her. She turned questioning eyes onto him. “Do you hear it, Kat?” She shook her head. “Hear what?” Lex jumped out of his chair and pulled Katherine up with him. “GET DOWN!” He screamed and pushed Katherine to the side. A blazing arrow shot through the dining room window and landed squarely in Katherine’s now empty seat. Delia and Lorna started screaming. Kurt bellowed for Wendy. Lex was at the window. And Katherine picked up a pitcher of water and dumped it over the flaming arrow. She clucked her tongue and set the pitcher down. “I guess dinner’s over.” **** “So, they won’t remember anything, right?” Katherine kicked off her shoes and collapsed into Lex’s bed. “Nothing. I erased their memories completely.” She nodded. “Terrific.” Lex had bitten and erased everyone’s memories. She was grateful. It wasn’t like she was eager to take a bite out of her family. “So, the arrow, it was a calling card, right?”

Lex tensed. “I could find no trace of Talbot, but yes, I believe it was him.” He shook his head, disgusted. “Talbot always was theatrical.” His voice lowered to a mere whisper, “A flaming arrow, ridiculous.” Katherine couldn’t agree with him more. “What is it with you guys and arrows? You just walk around with crossbows and shit?” He smiled. “Actually, I believe Talbot used a standard bow tonight. He never was fond of the mechanical release. Always preferred the tried and true method.” “So, he’s an ancient bloodsucker and set in his ways, that’s what you’re saying.” He laughed. “Yes, my love.” Her face sobered. “I don’t like that he shot an arrow into my mother’s home.” Lex’s expression turned fierce and cold. “Neither do I, my love. He is taunting us. Telling us that he can get to us no matter where we are.” “They drive me nuts, my family,” Katherine blurted out, “but if he hurt them I’d never be able…” “Calm yourself, my love. He won’t hurt them. He is merely playing with us. Talbot has no reason to harm your human family. His appetites run to…” He stopped. Katherine was alarmed. “What? Go on. His appetites run to, what?” Lex sighed. “Talbot has always had a thing for prostitutes. When he feeds, he will feed all his needs.” Katherine’s eyes fell flat. “So, screw and bite?” “Yes.” She rubbed her eyes. “So what, what do we do now?” He took her cold hands within his. “You will do nothing. I will hunt him down, kill him, and send his head back to the Council.” She grimaced. “Uhm, do you think that’s a good idea?” He smiled. “You have a better idea, my Kat?” She sighed. “I don’t know. I just find UPS’ing some dead guy’s head kinda icky.” Lex’s mouth dropped open right before he burst out laughing. “You would rather I use FedEx?” She rolled her eyes. “You know what I mean.” He nodded and drew Katherine closer. “I do, my love. But do you understand the gravity of the situation?” She buried her head against his chest and nodded jerkily. “I understand some vampire just shot an arrow into my mother’s dining-room chair. By the way, I’d love to know what memory you planted into my mother’s mind to explain that.” Lex smiled enigmatically. She saw his face and sighed. She wasn’t going to get an explanation. That much was obvious. “I am so over this shit.” “Pardon?” Katherine rolled her eyes. “Death is so damned complicated.” Lex burst out laughing Katherine wrinkled her nose and huffed. “Well, it is.”

Chapter Fifteen Katherine chewed on her lower lip and used her red pen to circle viable ads in the paper. “Mmmmm … waitress … I could be a waitress,” she murmured. She’d probably make good tips, too. “Toll booth operator…” Katherine frowned. “Toll booth operator … dunno about that one.” Katherine chewed on the end of the red pen. Go figure, there weren’t a lot of options for late night work. You’d think that everyone who needed a job was alive. She laughed and then frowned. Well, staying at this dead-end job was not an option. She had to get out of here. Lex hadn’t been pleased that she had come to work tonight but she wasn’t about to stay home twiddling her thumbs. And anyway, how could she pass up nine fifty an hour? “Such fuss for such a little lady.” Katherine looked up when she heard the voice and found herself staring into a pair of unbelievably blue eyes. “Wow.” The man chuckled. She narrowed her eyes when she saw something glinting in the man’s raised hand. Glinting? Raised hand? She had a moment to register the fact that she should probably take off running, before the man’s hand came slashing down over her neck and something sharp speared her. And then there was nothing. **** Katherine woke up groggy and sporting a wicked headache. She sat up and rubbed her eyes. “Okay, abducted again, this sucks.” she looked around. She was in a large, cold, stone room. Somehow she didn’t think that this abduction was going to go as well as when she had been abducted by Lex. Wait … being abducted by Lex had gone well? She had died, DIED, when Lex had abducted her. How much worse could it get? “I truly don’t see it,” The voice said from right behind hr ear. Katherine shrieked and jumped. She whirled around and planted her hands firmly on her hips. “Don’t do that. God, you nearly gave me a heart attack.” The man’s eyebrows rose. “A heart attack? That is not possible.” She rolled her eyes. “Oh, whatever. You guys take things so seriously.” She tilted her head to one side and nodded. “Yeah, it’s still wow.” The man seemed taken aback. “You’ve got great eyes, really great eyes.” “Thank you. Aren’t you at all curious as to my identity?” She shrugged. “A little. But I assumed we’d get to that eventually. Didn’t want to start off on a bad foot.” “You are most strange.”

“Mmmmm, yeah, I know. So, who are you?” Her eyes widened, “WAIT! Don’t tell me, vampire?” When she saw the look on his face she smiled. “Eureka, I’m right, aren’t I?” “Indeed.” “Ooohhh, great, I’m getting better at this. I mean, the eyes kinda gave it away. They’re just too blue to be … well, normal. And, you’re really pasty.” “Pasty?” “Yeah, pasty, pasty and pale … kinda icky, except that you have those great eyes to recommend you.” “This conversation is going nowhere.” “Not entirely my fault,” Katherine said. “It takes two to have a conversation. Well, that’s not always true, you could be schizophrenic…” “For the love of,” the strange vampire shook his head, “I’d kill you even if they were not paying me.” “Talbot,” Katherine said calmly now. Her eyes were clear and intelligent. The vampire reared back. “How…?” “Did I know? Well, I don’t know many vampires, even fewer who are trying to kill me. You were the most logical choice.” She narrowed her eyes. “By the way, I have a very large bone to pick with you. You shot an arrow into my mother’s home.” Talbot smiled evilly. “Yes, I did.” “Not that I didn’t appreciate the fact that you broke up the little disaster that tried to pass as dinner, but if you ever do that again,” Katherine’s eyes filled with deep intention, her mouth thinned to a small tight line, and her voice went utterly flat, “I will fucking kill you.” “You will do what?” Talbot’s voice was filled with disbelief. “You heard me. I’ll kill you. I’ve got a stake with your name on it at home.” “Remarkable…” He walked closer to her. “You are really unafraid.” She shook her head. “No, actually I’m scared shitless. I just hide it well.” Talbot eyed her curiously. “What the hell did you stick in my neck?” Katherine asked. She rubbed the still tingling spot on her skin. “Hypodermic needle, filled with diluted silver, and pagent.” “Pagent?” “A sleeping aid. We’ve found that it works rather well on vampires. There is little that lays us low, pagent can.” Katherine nodded. “Mmmmm, okay, good to know.” She frowned. “You are telling me all of this because you think that you’re going to kill me, right?” Talbot laughed then. “No, my dear, I know that I’m going to kill you.” “Hey, don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched.” He smiled. “You’re a fledgling. You’re undernourished and you’re unaccustomed to our ways. You are no match for me.” She began to skirt away from the evil vampire. She swore when her back hit the wall. “By the way, this room is really weird. Circular? You put me in a circular room?” “It is actually a well.” “A well?” Katherine took in the starkness of the space, the stone, dampness and smell and nodded slowly. “Okay, that would make more sense, sort of. It’s a big well. I

mean, the lighting is pretty good for a well.” The lighting was good for a well? What the heck was she saying? Yeah, she was scared. It was the only possible explanation for her ridiculous rambling. By-the-by, who the hell used a well as a dumping ground? She didn’t want to think on that too much. Talbot opened his cloak and pulled out two long silver daggers. “I am slightly sorry to have to do this. You are an intriguing piece of baggage… I would have liked to play a little longer. But…” “Thanks so much,” Katherine said blandly. She used her hands to navigate her way around the circular room, keeping her eyes trained on the advancing vampire. Katherine knew the moment he was going to attack. She could sense it before he charged. One minute he was standing before her, the next he was flying toward her, daggers in hand. Katherine rolled to her knees, dodged the coming blow and slid to her side, effectively escaping him. “Cool,” she muttered. She had moved before she even knew what she was really doing. It was as if her body instinctively knew when and where to go. She was also astonished to find that the moves came easily. “I kick ass,” Katherine said moments before a blow to the side of her head knocked her down. She shook her head to clear it and groaned. Ouch. Now that had hurt. She quickly sprung to her feet and gave Talbot the evil eye. “That hurt, asshole.” He smiled. “It’ll hurt more when I rip your heart out.” “Mmmm, think I’ll have to pass on that one.” She saw Talbot bring the dagger down swiftly and she brought her hands up to ward off the blow. Sharp pain speared through her hand and made its way through the rest of her already aching body. She was shocked when similar pain hit her in the gut. She looked down to see one of the silver daggers lodged in her stomach. “Fuck.” Talbot withdrew the dagger and watched as she staggered back. “It is as I said … such a fuss.” Katherine groaned. This wasn’t supposed to hurt that much, right? She was supervamp. Like hell, this hurt like a sonofabitch. “I don’t want to die, not again,” she murmured, more to herself than to anyone else. “So sad…” Talbot was still smiling, having wiped the blade clean of Katherine’s blood … by licking it. “I’ll bet you are. By the way, that is so gross.” Katherine concentrated on taking deep breaths … well, breaths anyway … she hadn’t been doing a lot of breathing since she’d died! It was so damned cold in this well (she thought she was impervious to the cold) and her body was really clammy. It had to be the effects of being stabbed. Yeah, getting stabbed was never a good thing. God, she wished she wasn’t here. She wished she was somewhere … well, somewhere where someone wasn’t trying to kill her. Jeez, if she were a bird she could just fly out of this hell hole. Suddenly things were a little clearer, actually, they were a lot clearer. Her body was pulsing … and she could feel her blood coursing through every vein. Her eyes felt sharper and her skin was tingling. Wow … cool. Talbot narrowed his eyes. “What do you do?” His voice was low and menacing. Katherine, with a voice that did not sound like her own said, “I have no idea … but, watch out…” She screamed as pain twisted her gut. And this was not the same pain as

before. She felt as if her stomach were being ripped and stretched. Her entire body felt as if it were on fire and suddenly, suddenly she could feel her skin actually stretching, stretching and pulling. And as suddenly as it had begun … it was over. She stood … or perhaps she hopped on her two tiny feet. Katherine looked down and her mouthed dropped open—well, actually, her beak dropped open. HOLY SHIT! She was a bird. She was actually a bird. Katherine had one second to register that totally bizarre fact, when Talbot launched himself at her, daggers drawn and a look of wild intent in his huge eyes. Katherine, freaked beyond belief, pushed off on her now webbed feet and flew right over his head. There was some pain, as her tiny bird body experienced the wounds that her human body had taken just before she had changed, but all-in-all, what the hell did it matter … she was flying! Katherine heard the inhuman growl from below her and quickened her motions. She flapped her wings and soared up high, hoping to God that this damned well had an opening. And … hoping this strange shifting thing wasn’t like a temporary power. Like, was she going to revert back to her human form in a second and plummet to her death? “God, get a fucking grip,” she said. “Concentrate on escape … escape … yes, that’s the ticket.” Katherine kept flying up, and up, and up … until … thank God … she saw a dim light in the distance. She pressed her wings tightly to her body, straightened her legs and zoomed up and out of the well. She landed, rather unceremoniously, on the grassy ground beside the smelly hole. She reached out to brace a hand on the well, a hand? And started to laugh hysterically—which, coming from her bird mouth sounded more like, chip, chip, chip. It was too ridiculous for words. She was a bird, a BIRD!! How in the name of all that was holy had this happened? One minute she was being attacked by a nasty vampire, and the next she was hopping around on two little bird feet. Of course, she had wished that she was somewhere else, someone else … something else. She distinctly remembered wishing that she was a bird so that she could fly away. But did it work like that? Katherine rolled her eyes … guess it did. Because one minute she was human, the next, WHAM, she was a frigging bird. She felt her wings shiver and tense. She was getting that clammy, cold feeling again … it was not pleasant. Her eyes began to dilate, she could feel them popping and burning, then her flesh began to burn, shake and peel away. Her back arched her toes curled and she screamed … and screamed, and screamed. And then … then she lay puffing on the cold, wet, grass … naked and very definitely human. Her limbs lay out before her, pale, smooth and recognizable. “Ugh, feels like I have a hangover!” Katherine got to her feet unsteadily and swayed. She looked around. It was dark but her eyes took everything in perfectly. She was in a forest? Or perhaps a field, oh whatever, she was someplace deserted standing by an old, stinky, well. She looked down at her belly. The wound was almost gone. It was pink and a little puffy, but it had stopped bleeding. She whipped her head around when she heard the

unmistakable sound of rushing wind. She jumped back when Talbot cleared the well. His eyes were solid red and in his hooked hands, he held a long sword. “How did you do it?” Talbot growled. His fangs were crowding out the rest of his mouth and his face was so pale that his blue veins and rush of blood were all but jumping forward. He looked unearthly, he looked menacing … he looked scary as all hell. “Would you believe me if I said I had no fucking idea?” Katherine began to move backward, never taking her eyes off of the advancing vampire. “No.” That word held a wealth of meaning. “Hmmmm, then, sorry, I can’t help you.” She darted her eyes about, desperately searching for something with which to defend herself. There was nothing. She was alone and unarmed. “Freak…” Talbot sneered, his face began to glow and shimmer. Katherine’s eyes shot open. “You’re calling me a freak?” She laughed. “Oh, that’s rich … you’re calling me a freak.” She gasped when Talbot lunged at her. She dodged sideways and rolled to her knees, cursing when she lost her balance, reeled back and landed on her ass, back against the cold well. Damn. She was going to have to work on her moves. Sarah Michelle Gellar made it look so easy. Talbot’s red eyes burned brighter. “We finish it now. You are out of tricks.” Katherine gulped. Damned if he wasn’t right. She was all out of ideas. She pushed against the hard stone and tried to find some leverage in which to draw herself to her feet. She slipped in the grass and hit her head against the stone. OUCH! She watched evil vampire Talbot raise the sword and she closed her eyes tight. She didn’t want to see. She waited a moment, then two, then three … when nothing happened she cheated, and cracked open one eye. OH MY GOD! Talbot and Fabin were at one another’s throats—literally. Fabin had his arm around Talbot’s neck and was twisting back. She watched as Talbot’s eyes bulged and then screamed when he jerked his hand back and slashed Fabin’s stomach wide open. Blood gushed, but Fabin barely spared a second for his injury. He retaliated by slitting Talbot’s throat with one of his long clawlike fingers. Talbot roared, and fell forward. Blood was pouring from his neck and he grabbed at the wound with both hands. Fabin’s eyes gleamed and he moved in for the kill. Katherine rushed forward, a scream, a prayer, a warning held upon her lips, but she was too late. With one fluid motion … Talbot lifted the discarded and forgotten sword from the ground and thrust it back, impaling Fabin to it. Fabin’s dark eyes went wide and then flat. He stumbled back, staring at the sword that pinned his heart and fell to his knees. He opened his mouth to speak but no words came out. He turned glassy eyes to a horrified Katherine and held out his arms to her before hitting the ground. “NO, NO!” Katherine rushed to Fabin, dropping to her knees beside him. She smoothed back his hair and felt tears rush to her eyes. “What were you thinking, you stupid man?” She whispered. Fabin smiled a half smile, and coughed up blood. “Thinking to save you…” His voice was but a whisper.

Katherine shook her head wildly. “I don’t … I don’t know what to do…” she brought her hands to the sword hilt but stopped when Fabin covered her cold hand with his. “No, sweet Katherine…” Katherine rested her head for a moment against his. When she finally drew away from Fabin’s fallen form, her entire body was on fire. She was no longer afraid. She was no longer unsure. There was only her … only her and the pain, anguish, and hatred that burned its way through her. Fury coursed through her, unimaginable fury. She felt as if she were on fire. Pain was clouding her vision but nothing mattered to her now … nothing but retribution. She stood … lines of sinew, bone and melting flesh and with a roar shifted. Her form was that of a sleek panther. She pushed off from the ground and landed on Talbot’s surprised and still recovering person. She slashed at him, feeling waves of satisfaction when she saw deep red grooves dig into his flesh. Blood was pouring out of his body from multiple wounds but she continued. She continued to bite, slash and work her fury off on Talbot. Talbot weakly slashed with his one working arm but Katherine easily dodged the blow. She dug her fangs into his arm and ripped at the flesh and muscle. She flattened him against the ground with her massive body and before he could recoup she ripped the remainder of his throat out. He shook and then stilled. She used her paw to roll the fallen vampire over. She looked at him dispassionately through clear and burning eyes. He was absolutely still, but his eyes were open … staring. Without hesitating she used her claws to dig his heart out, and dumped the bloody organ next to his body. She growled when she heard the snapping of twigs and turned around … ready to pounce. Lex crossed the clearing, his steps were unsteady and his face was even paler than usual. He held a large sword in one hand. “Let me,” he said coldly. He came to Katherine’s side, raised the sword and brought it down, effectively severing Talbot’s head from his body. Within moments the vampire began to decompose. Soon there was nothing but a pile of sticky black ooze. “My love,” Lex dropped the sword and knelt down by Katherine’s panther form. Katherine snarled and jumped back. She trotted over to Fabin. Lex followed. “Fabin,” Lex said. He ran his hand down the other vampire’s smooth and cold cheek. Fabin’s voice was but a whisper. “I can hear you, Lexarius…” “Yes, my friend, I am here. Stay with us. Stay with us, Fabin.” Lex turned to Katherine. “We must get him to my home. He needs blood … lots of blood. And,” Lex’s voice was chilly with rage, “we must remove the sword.” Katherine nodded. She watched as Lex lifted Fabin within his strong arms, cradling him to his chest like a small child. “I will fly him home, my Kat. Will you follow swiftly?” She inclined her head, acknowledging him. Lex took off.

Chapter Sixteen Katherine paced nervously around the bed. She was still in panther form. Damned if she knew how to change back into her human body. God, she thought, this stupid power should come with an instruction manual. Lex had laid Fabin out and the other vampire was still, so very still. “You make a beautiful panther, my love,” Lex said. “I am sorry, love, Talbot caught me unawares. He shot me full of silver. Stupid Talbot, he was always a poor shot. Nicked the vein, nothing else, he should have waited to see if he had laid me low … but he was always too impatient for his own good,” Lex continued to speak in a distracted manner, as he brought a young girl forward. Katherine recognized the girl. It was pretty Penelope. She watched as Lex instructed Penelope to ready herself. Penelope nodded, leaning close to Fabin’s unconscious form. Lex’s jaw worked back and forth. He grabbed the hilt of the sword with both of his hands and steadied himself. Then, swiftly, he pulled the sword free of Fabin’s body. Fabin arched, his eyes opened and blood began to pour from the open wound in his chest. Lex poured something over the bleeding wound and Fabin screamed in anguish. Katherine roared right along with Fabin. God, that looked like it hurt like a sonofabitch. The wound was bubbling and burning but it had stopped bleeding. Lex pressed Penelope to Fabin. “Drink, friend, drink.” Fabin complied, eagerly. He sank his fangs into Penelope’s neck and drank. Katherine could see Fabin’s throat as it convulsed. And she felt the heady rush of being so near to fresh blood. She was unaware that she was pressed up against the bed, or that her mouth was open and panting until Lex ran his hand over her slick head. “Visualize your form … let go of your anger … and let it happen … naturally, my love.” She looked up at Lex. His eyes were glittering … and his mouth was curved up in a small smile. That smile … God, it was so beautiful. She nudged her head into his hand and rubbed against him. She felt the steady thump of her heart, wow, she could actually hear it in this form. And then, suddenly, her body felt light and free. She arched back, let out a moan and shifted back to human form. Katherine slumped against the bed. She pushed back a strand of straggly hair from her face and wrinkled her nose. “Now, just tell me I don’t have to do this every day.” Lex’s eyes widened. His eyes crinkled at the corners and he burst out laughing. Katherine ran a hand across the puffy and ragged skin that marred the otherwise smooth flesh of Fabin’s chest. “Looking pretty good for a guy who just got skewered like a kabob,” she said. Fabin smiled. Katherine recognized that smile, half sneer, half taunting bait. She loved it. It was so Fabin. “Have I told you already how much I appreciate that you came to save my ass?” Fabin raised a brow. “Well, it is such a pretty ass.” Katherine grinned, and then sobered. “Thanks … thanks a lot.”

Fabin reached out and fingered a loose strand of her hair. He ran the soft silky thread through his fingers and sighed. “I am sorry I didn’t make it to your side sooner. I was tracking you … but I lost your scent in the well.” Katherine shrugged. “No biggie, right?” She ignored the flash of surprise in his eyes and frowned. “Will this uh, will it stay like this?” She asked of the scar. “Holy water scars will not fade,” this came from Lex. Katherine fought the urge to whistle when Lex entered the room. He was naked, gloriously naked, and boy, did he look good. “What’s with the birthday suit?” Lex smiled enigmatically. He spoke to Katherine, but his eyes caught Fabin’s. “I felt overdressed. What with you,” he raked his eyes over them, “and Fabin in such a bare state.” Katherine licked her lips. Yep, he looked yummy. “Hey,” she sputtered as Lex crawled onto the large bed with them, “Hey, hey, you’re squishing me.” Katherine swallowed heavily when Lex ran his hand down her back. “I … I … I … feel like the damned inside of a sandwich.” Lex laughed. “But what a sandwich, my love.” Katherine’s eyes widened when Fabin drew her into the circle of his arms. “Weren’t you like, totally incapacitated a moment ago?” Fabin nibbled at the delicate shell of her ear. “Your beauty revived me.” She rolled her eyes. “Oh puh-leeze. Don’t give me any of that … that,” her breath caught when Lex reached over and pinched her hardened nipple. “That what?” Fabin breathed against her neck. “Was I saying something?” Katherine asked stupidly. She dropped her head back on Fabin’s shoulder when Lex’s mouth closed over her nipple. “Ohhh … ohhhh…that feels…” She clenched her hands into fists. “Go under, my friend,” Lex said. He drew Katherine forward and watched with hot eyes as Fabin positioned himself on his back. Lex relinquished Katherine. Fabin drew her down. He dug his hands into the soft globes of her ass and urged her to spread her legs wide. He ran his tongue lovingly around the soft, succulent lips of her pussy and tickled her fine pussy hair with his hot breath. Katherine moaned and bit her lip. Her eyes widened appreciatively when Lex’s hard cock came to rest in front of her face. Lex, on his knees before her, was smiling widely. He inched closer. His eyes twinkling like star struck topaz. She wet her lips. Her pussy was pulsing and fine tremors were working their way through her body. Fabin’s tongue was spearing its way through her dripping, eager flesh, and curling contentedly with slow and sure strokes. She leaned forward, ducked slightly, and caught Lex’s cock within her warm, wet mouth. She groaned, delighted, as the hard, thick flesh filled her mouth. She swirled her tongue around the aching head and then lapped slowly at the base. She smiled when she felt his hands curling their way through her thick hair. She knew he wanted more. And she wanted to give it to him. She wanted to give him everything. She quivered as Fabin’s tongue delved deeper and felt her pussy spasm deliciously around his talented tongue. Katherine relaxed her throat and took Lex’s cock deeper. She encompassed all of his hard heat and began to suck in earnest. He was so hot in her mouth … and he was swelling, growing thicker and more substantial. She moaned and began to hum. She let the vibrations stroke his hard cock and was rewarded by Lex’s groan of pleasure as his

hands latched themselves onto her full and aching breasts. She increased the suction of her mouth and ground herself even deeper onto Fabin. She could feel her pussy beginning to clench and shiver. Each shimmy shot its way through her aching body and lights were beginning to dance before her eyes. She sucked hard on Lex’s cock, taking his head in shallow strokes before going completely down upon the thick shaft. Lex stiffened, roared and twisted Katherine’s taut nipples hard. His cock pulsed, leapt, and suddenly he was emptying himself. Katherine took it all. She swallowed eagerly, once, twice and licked her lips clean. And then she was there. Her back arched, her body shook, convulsed, and she was barely aware of Lex’s hand on her body, soothing, caressing. Her pussy spasmed, tingled and lights exploded and fireworks took her away. She screamed as the pleasure rode her, and collapsed forward. Fabin was on her in an instant. He shoved her onto her back, wrenched her legs apart and with one thrust imbedded his hard and aching cock into her dripping pussy. Katherine moaned. Her spent body was responding, begging for more. She locked her legs around Fabin’s hips and arched up. Fabin returned in kind. He dug his hands into the soft flesh of her back and pounded her mercilessly. His hips thrust wildly as he plunged again, and again, and again into her willing body. “Ohhhhh … my … ohhhhhh.” Katherine raked her sharp nails across Fabin’s shoulders and locked her legs even tighter around him. Her pussy began to shake and intense pulses hit her one after the other. Her eyes shot open and then rolled back in her head. Fabin’s cock was heavy, hard, and pulsing. He felt his need building and spilling over. He leaned over, shoved Katherine’s hair away from her neck and locked his teeth over her susceptible flesh. He shot Lex a look and waited. When Lex smiled, he growled and then pierced her skin, took her to the vein and drank. As blood filled his mouth his orgasm shook him to the bone. Lex saw Katherine’s eyes go glassy and her back stiffen. He saw the shudders that wracked her body and knew. She was in the throes of her blood passion. He dug his hands into the soft flesh of her thighs, wrenched her legs apart and away from Fabin, and sank his fangs into the vein that rode high on the inside of her thigh. He moaned as blood, heat, and passion coursed through his cold body. His head felt light, his limbs weightless, and sharp pangs of pleasure worked their way through his heart. Katherine, his Katherine. She was light, she was love … she was life eternal. Lex took his last gulp, disengaged and rested his head against the cushion of Katherine’s thigh. Fabin licked his lips clean, smiled and wrapped his arms securely around Katherine’s still quivering form. Katherine moaned, her head fell forward and she collapsed weakly, completely sated against Fabin. She cracked open her heavy, sleepy eyes and grinned. “So, boys … I’m taking this to mean that we’ve all kissed and made up.” Fabin held his laughter at bay, but his eyes twinkled merrily. Lex was not so reserved. He nearly choked on his laughter. He slapped Katherine’s thigh soundly. “Lord, woman … you will be the death of me.”

She looked at him through the corner of her eye. She licked her lips slowly, provocatively and whispered, “One can only hope so, love, one can only hope so.”

Epilogue “Hi honey, I’m home.” Katherine strode through the door of Lex’s house wearing a large grin. Death was pretty damn good. She had quit the ‘Stop and Shop’ and, after much cajoling on his part, had accepted Lex’s offer of a job. She was now the head administrator over at Colonnade. It was a good job. Hell, it was a great job. She was well respected and accepted in the ranks of Colonnade employees (yeah, a lot of them were dead) but what the hell did that matter, they understood her. Not to mention she got blood breaks … and got to work at night. She had finally gotten her freaky shifting habits under control; having learned that intense emotions (like being stabbed and watching your friend sawed apart) brought about the worst and strongest of the shifts. She could finally control when and where she changed. Oh, and shifting did have its benefits. She had totally taken cat form and peed on her mother’s best rug. Fabin had gone back to the Council and plead Lex and Katherine’s case. His rank among them, and his own personal assurance to the Council that Lex and Katherine were not planning a coup to overthrow their archaic little society had convinced them NOT to send any more assassins, and to leave them alone. The Council still insisted on meetings once a month and had set Fabin up as their liaison. Personally, Katherine thought the Council was ridiculous. It was like dealing with parent-teacher conferences except these teachers all had fangs and if you disobeyed or angered them, they’d cut out your heart, chop off your head and burn your body. However, Fabin as liaison … now that … that was a very nice perk indeed. “Back here, my love,” Lex called out. Katherine made her way to the study. When she pushed open the door her mouth dropped open in shock. Lex and Fabin were sitting across from one another. They both wore similar mocking but good-natured, smiles on their faces and little else. Katherine bit her lip and leaned against the doorjamb. “Well…” Lex shrugged his broad shoulders and tossed her a saucy grin. “Strip poker,” was all he said. Katherine nodded. “Uh-huh, right.” She quickly divested herself of her clothes, rushed forward and jumped into Lex’s lap. “Now boys, you know better than to start without me.” She laughed as Lex tickled her and gasped when Fabin slid over the table to capture her mouth in a searing kiss. Hell yes. Life … oops, death … was sure good. The End

About the Author: Ever since I could pick up a pen, I have been writing. I became fascinated with fantasy at the age of eight, when my mother bought me a copy of “The Hobbit”. Not too long after, that I became addicted to anything and everything about vampires. The duality of nature fascinated me. But it was an event four years later that would shape my future career as an author of erotic romance. At the age of twelve I discovered my grandmother’s stash of romance novels, hidden, of course, in her closet. I devoured them. My grandmother kicked me out of the closet. But alas, the damage had been done… I was a hopeless junkie—a romance junkie. To this day I keep my love of fantasy, vampires and romance. What’s more, I have learned (through much practice) to meld the genres to create, for myself, the perfect environment to pen my erotic romance novels. I live, quite simply, for love, lust and the complex nature of the human heart. And I write to share my love, lusts and complex nature with others.

Meet LSB Authors At Http://Lsbooks.Net We invite you to visit Liquid Silver Books http://lsbooks.com for other exciting literary erotica romances. Weekend Games—Chris Tanglen Destiny's Magick—Rae Morgan Love Lessons—Vanessa Hart Portal—Sydney Morgann Bittersweet—Louisa Trent And many, many more!!