Her Warrior for Eternity (17 page)

Cora introduced the men. They measured one another, like two men in a woman’s life would, but also like two-natureds of any variation did when they met for the first time. For shifters especially, the hierarchy was important, and dominant enough vampires would be fitted in it. Toby wasn’t weak, but of the two of them, Jeremy ranked higher.

Good. It would make things easier between them.

“You look wonderful! I don’t know what I expected, but you’re obviously fine. What happened? Why did you suddenly decide you’d want to be a vampire? Why didn’t you tell me?”

Corynn took Toby’s hand that was resting on the table, trying to find the right words. She hadn’t shared the story with anyone yet, not even her parents, and she found it more difficult than she had thought to disclose everything.

“I was shot and I died. It was the only way to save my life.”

Energy spiked around him, warm, and so different from the vampire energy that she snatched her hand away. It wasn’t unpleasant, just unexpected. “Sorry.” She took his hand again. “I felt you more strongly than I’m used to.”

He shook his head, amazed. “You’re a vampire now. It’s to be expected, but I should have remembered and been more careful. The shock made me forget. Tell me everything.”

She explained it as simply as she could, trying not to bring emotions to it, but it was hard. When she finished, he had tears in his eyes. “To think I came so close to losing you. How could you be so reckless?”

She sighed. “I was angry with Jeremy.”

He glanced at Jeremy, who had settled down in one corner, a pint in front of him, seemingly relaxed. But he hadn’t touched his glass and he kept scanning the garden behind them and everyone entering the terrace. “I take it you’re not angry with him anymore? He’s the guy who wiped your memory, isn’t he? You were so furious with him … but I can absolutely understand why you would forgive him.” His voice was appreciative as he checked the big man out.

She blew Jeremy a kiss to let him know they were gossiping about him and he smiled. “I’m not angry with him anymore. He did what he must to save me.”

“So what’s it like, being one of us now?”

His question startled her. She hadn’t come to think that she wasn’t only a vampire, but a two-natured too, and that it would make the two of them alike. It delighted her, and a tension eased inside her. She had known Toby wouldn’t shun her, but she hadn’t thought he would see them belonging to the same side now. “Straining. There are so many rules.”

He gave her hand a consoling squeeze. “I know. It takes a while for a shifter to learn the ropes too. The beast can be difficult to control for the first couple of years, and that simply won’t do in the civilized world.”

“But at least you don’t have to give up the sun.”

He shuddered elegantly. “Don’t even say it. I’m a feline shifter. We love the warmth as much as natural felines do.” He noticed her upset and hastened to console her. “But you’ll get used to it. All vampires do. And it’s only for a century.”

“But I won’t be able to go running with you.”

He gave her a haughty look. “I can easily run in the dark. My eyesight is just as good as yours – better even. When I’m in my leopard form, you won’t be able to match me.”

“I’d love to see your leopard.”

“I can’t exactly shift in a restaurant full of humans. But I can show you my aura if you’re ready for it.”

Finally she would learn what the aura meant. “Show me.”

Without preamble, a leopard surged out of his chest, beautiful and sleek. It reached across the table to her and she pulled back, startled. The next instant Jeremy was standing behind her, a hand on her shoulder, offering stability.

“Hide it,” he snarled at Toby, who obeyed hastily.

“No. I want to see.”

“You almost lost control of … yourself,” Jeremy said, his hand still on her.

“Yes, but that was before I knew what to expect. I know now. Please,” she pleaded Toby. He glanced at Jeremy, but didn’t wait for permission, which she approved of. Circle warriors had their way far too often.

That’s because we’re at the top of the hierarchy
, Jeremy said in her mind, but she just huffed.

Toby released the leopard again. It came out more slowly this time, and stayed closer to his chest. Unlike she had thought at first, it wasn’t real. It was translucent, although three dimensional and in full colour. It stared at her with intelligent, golden eyes, giving her a notion that the relationship between the two was similar to the one she had with her Rider.

“Wow, it’s beautiful. May I touch it?”

“Yes, but you won’t feel anything. It’s not solid.” The leopard stepped on the table, but it didn’t detach completely from Toby’s chest, its hind legs remaining inside him. It was huge enough to reach to her, and it acted like it was standing on the table. It paused before her and regally offered its head for petting. Laughing, she obeyed, though her hand only went through the aura.

“Oh, I wish I could see it in real life.” She shot a challenging glance at Toby. “I bet I could win against it in a race.”

He grinned. “You’re on.”

Chapter Eighteen

Jeremy tried to protest, but not very hard, so they ignored him. He was tasked with selecting a place for their race, and he took them to a large, fenced rugby practice field a couple of hundred yards from the pub.

“This is perfect,” Toby said, approving. “Nice even lawn and not a soul in sight.”

“There’s a huge meadow right after the practice field, but try not to head that far so I can keep an eye on you.”

Like schoolchildren, Corynn and Toby promised to be good. Then Toby took his clothes off, not even a little awkward that they would see him naked. She wasn’t paying attention to his human body anyway, too eager to see what would follow.

He went on all fours and relaxed. His aura began to grow so that it soon filled his body and then beyond it. Once it was full-size, it began to turn solid even as the human form faded. It didn’t look like it hurt, but she watched in worry. Within moments, a huge leopard stood where Toby had been. It shook itself and then leaned down to lick its chest where some fur was out of place.

“Amazing. You look magnificent.” She didn’t know if Toby could understand her, but the big cat shot a superior look at her, as if saying ‘but of course’. She laughed. “Well, then, I guess I’ll have to put my money where my mouth is.” Now that the actual leopard stood before her, she didn’t feel quite as confident as earlier that she could outrun it. But winning didn’t matter. The race mattered.

They settled to their places.
I don’t know if you can boost me in any way, but now would be a good time
. She wasn’t sure her Rider was even listening, as it had been very subdued ever since Foley had forced it down. But then Jeremy sent them on their way, and she shot off faster than she ever had. The Rider could definitely enhance her abilities.

In no time at all they were at the other end of the long field. Turning around seemed almost impossible at that speed, but somehow she managed it without tripping. Toby was right by her side. She was running as fast as she could, but she had a notion that the leopard was only warming up. She pushed herself a little more and got ahead, but right before the finish line Toby reached his long limbs and strained his muscles, and practically flew to the lead, winning easily.

She didn’t slow down, but ran straight to Jeremy, who grabbed her in his arms and lifted her up for a kiss. “That was brilliant. Can we do it again?”

Toby’s leopard seemed equally excited. Jeremy put her back down and she knelt in front of the beast to pet it. Its fur was soft and silky, and its muscles strong and sleek. It might be a deadly beast, but it allowed her to pet it like a cat, and seemed to enjoy it too.

Jeremy put a hand on her shoulder. “Come, we have to let him shift back.” She stepped away, and a moment later Toby was back in human form.

“I won!”

“Give me a little time to practice. I’ll beat you one day.” Laughing, he promised.

“See,” she exclaimed triumphantly, when they had seen Toby on his way home. “Everything went brilliantly. Now, I’ll get the haircut.”

“Fine, but first I need a pint.”

* * *

Jeremy insisted he couldn’t wait until they were home to calm his nerves so they returned to the pub. “It was insane, watching the two of you race.” The exhilarating memory made her grin wide. He nodded towards a table at the corner. “You take a seat, I’ll get us the drinks. Indoors,” he added, when she would have headed back out. “I want you where I can keep an eye on you.”

Rolling her eyes, she went towards the tables at the back. The room was stiflingly hot so she chose the one closest to the open back door that led to the terrace. She was about to sit down when a delighted squeak behind her made her turn around.

“Cora? Is that you?”

“Lisa? What are you doing here?” She leaned to hug her friend, surprised and happy to see her.

“I’m here with my fiancé,” she said, flashing a huge engagement ring. Corynn stared at it, amazed. Lisa hadn’t been dating seriously when they last met, let alone heading to matrimony. She was about to congratulate her when Lisa took her hand and pulled her towards the terrace. “Come say hello.”

Corynn glanced back at Jeremy, who was just paying for the drinks. He would follow instantly, so she allowed Lisa to take her to the terrace. “Where have you been? I haven’t seen you or heard from you in ages.”

It had been a little over a month since Corynn was fired and they weren’t the kind of friends who were constantly in touch. But Lisa had always been prone to exaggerations. She thought to brush her off with something vague, but suddenly she didn’t want to hide the truth. She was a vampire now; it was time she truly owned it.

“I was made a vampire.”

Lisa squealed. “Really? My fiancé is a vampire too! How great is that?” Cora could only nod, flabbergasted. The terrace was empty of vampires that Cora could detect, and Lisa looked around too, confirming her notion. “He must have headed to the car. Come.”

“Is he a new vampire or old?”

“Fairly new, ten years or so.”

This would be a chance to talk with someone who had lost the sun only a short time ago, so she didn’t hesitate to follow Lisa through the garden to the front of the pub where the cars were parked. “How is he coping with the sun thing?”

Lisa laughed, delighted. “You don’t believe that old ladies’ tale, do you?”

Corynn was taken aback. “I can assure you it’s not imaginary.” More than once she had blacked out in the middle of something, only to wake up in her own bed.

“Yes, but there are ways around it. My fiancé is perfectly capable of walking in daylight.”

Corynn’s legs went rubbery in shock and dismay. Her Rider began to rise and she stifled it ruthlessly, using her anger as a tool. Jeremy had lied to her, again. He knew how much she loved the sun, yet he had never even mentioned the possibility. His betrayal hurt so much she could barely breathe. “How?”

Lisa waved her hand casually. “Oh, I have no idea. But here he is, so you can ask yourself.”

A man in a fine suit was leaning against a sleek, expensive car. He smiled warmly when he spotted Lisa. There was something familiar about him, but try as she might Corynn couldn’t place it.

“This is Cora, my friend I told you about.”

Her words caused Corynn’s Rider to push up again. It seemed alarmed, but before it could tell her what the matter was, the man turned to her. Foulness, evil and incapacitating, washed over her. Her stomach roiled and she almost threw up. She tried to reach Jeremy with her mind, but she was too distraught to concentrate.

The man took a step towards her. “Well, little waitress, we meet again.” The world went black.

Jeremy’s hands went slack when Cora suddenly disappeared from his mind. The drinks he was carrying crashed on the floor, but he ignored the mess as he dashed onto the terrace where he had seen her go. She wasn’t there. Frantic, he turned to the human women at the closest table.

“Where is she?” They shrieked in fright, unable to answer, so he took one of them by the arm, slipping inside her mind. “Where did my girlfriend go?”

From her mind he got a vague image of two women entering the terrace and leaving it almost immediately, heading towards the car park at the front. He ran there, but the lot was empty of people. He rushed towards the road with the notion of running after them – and hit a huge void that threatened to cut his connection with Might. He staggered to a desperate halt. Renegades had her.

He had lost Cora.

He dropped on his knees on the hard gravel. A bellow of agony rose from deep within him and he didn’t stifle it. The nightlife went quiet around him, and doors were hastily closed and locked in a distance. He was completely incapacitated, the thought of failing to keep her safe too much to bear.

She’s not dead yet. Snap out of it.

Prompted by his Rider, he pushed himself to action and dug out his mobile. “Renegades have Cora. I need men.” He gave the address and hung up, registering only then that it had been Alexander who had answered instead of Gabe. But he didn’t care if Alexander would take his wrath out on him. Life without his mate wouldn’t be worth living.

He returned to the terrace and the humans there cowed in terror at the sight of him. Great. “Do any of you have anything useful to tell me? Names? What did they talk about?”

He had to charm everyone to calm down before one man was brave enough to speak. “How vampires don’t have to fear the sun. Her fiancé was able to stay up during the day, and your girlfriend wanted to learn how.”

His bones turned to liquid in consternation. He had known she mourned the loss of daylight more than anything in her new life. But he had thought she understood that it was only a matter of time before she could see it again. Why would she believe otherwise?

Because he had lied to her when they first met and she believed he would do so again. Her mate didn’t trust him at all.

The thought broke his heart.

Chapter Nineteen