Page 16 of The Vampire Always Rises
Merrick’s attention was already focused on the job at hand. First, he needed to return to Prague to try to locate his car, and to pick up his possessions from where he’d left them at a hotel. And after that ... his eyes narrowed as he reviewed his plan to locate the people who ran the nefarious organization responsible for creating new Dark Ones from innocent mortals, and using them for profit. Uppermost on his mind was locating Jens and Henri to find out who had paid them to trap him, and after that, he’d go to Genoa. With luck, he’d find the house where Victor was supposed to spend some time. And then, he’d be one step closer to bringing down the biggest threat to mortals and Dark Ones alike.
It was just too bad he was in such a dangerous line of work. He wouldn’t mind thanking the redhead himself for saving him.
He pushed away thoughts of her, her elusive flowery scent, the feel of her skin against him, her heat surrounding him, and most of all her sweet mouth. Such things had no place in his life. Not while Renata’s murderer still walked free.
Not while he was a marked man.
Chapter Five
“Hello again, Aunt Roxy.” I was delighted to see her name pop up on my cell phone’s display. “Are you still enjoying Australian men?”
“I was, but then Richard got called back to work three days early, so now we’re home. What did you mean by your text?”
“Which one?” I asked, setting down a pamphlet advertising a boat tour around the La Spezia harbor.
“The one where you said that Allie kicked you out of the Czech Republic. What on earth did you do? You didn’t try to ... oh lord ... tell me you didn’t fling yourself on Christian, did you? I know he’s adorable and has a voice that sounds like velvet, but trust me when I say that he’s not for you. I told you about Beloveds, didn’t I?”
“Yes, but—”
“I told you how for every unredeemed Dark One there’s just one single woman out there—or two, if you’re Christian and one of those women is Joy, but we’ll ignore that because really Joy was crazy picking Bob over Christian.”
“Joy?” I asked, not recognizing the name.
“Another friend; you don’t know her. And I don’t want you thinking that I don’t love Allie, because I do, and I think she’s just perfect for Christian—where was I?”
“You were telling me the rules about Beloveds. Not that I need you to, because I’ve read the books, and I know about the steps—”
“The steps! That’s what I was going to tell you. Each vampire goes through these seven steps that tell him the woman in question is his Beloved.”
“I know about the steps—”
“The first one is marking, and then there’s protection from afar, followed by a spit swap—actually, it’s any bodily fluid, but Allie says that most vamps do that by kissing—and then a few more steps. Somewhere in there is the woman saving the vampire from his darker self, which I think is just the most romantic thing ever. I mean, who wouldn’t want a sexy vamp after you saved him from his bad self?”
“Aunt Roxy—”
“I’m just explaining why Allie got upset when you made a move on Christian, that’s all. Don’t take it personally.”
“I didn’t try to do anything to Christian!” I almost yelled into the phone, immediately dropping my voice when I realized the French doors to the balcony were open. “I barely said hello to the man before he was bustling me out of the castle and insisting I go off to the Italian Riviera, where I’m supposed to meet my friend Ellis in a week.”
“Oh.” Roxy was silent for a few seconds. “Then what did you do to piss off Allie?”
“I don’t know!” I spent the next fifteen minutes giving her an account of my movements in the Czech Republic, excluding the sexual hijinks that the nearly dead vampire and I got up to.
“Well. You have had a time. Hmm.” Roxy mulled over my story. “You know what I think it is? I think it’s you being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Christian is the head honcho of all the vampires, and I bet you got caught in something that was going on, and they got you out of there for your own good.”
“Yes, but now I’m ahead of schedule. I’m here in Italy seven days ahead of my friend Ellis, although I suppose I can move up the meeting with Cousin Carlo.”
“Cousin Carlo? I don’t recall having a cousin with that name.”
“He’s one of Papa’s cousins. Mom suggested that since I was now free of the cult and could see anyone I wanted, that I reconnect with family members. That’s why Ellis and I are in this part of Italy—so I can meet Carlo.”
“Ah, that makes sense. And good for you for stretching your familial wings that way.”
I sighed. “The problem is that this was supposed to be my vampire time, not Cousin Carlo time. I don’t suppose you know of any Italian vampires? I’d be willing to travel to see one, although I realize that sounds kind of desperate. Oh, just ignore me. I’m acting like a baby because part of my plans fell through.”
“You’re not acting like a baby at all. I’d be disappointed if I went to Europe to see Dark Ones and didn’t get to do more than be hustled out of Christian’s castle ... although, to be fair, he did that once to Joy and me ... but I’m afraid I don’t know of anyone you could ask for help other than Allie.”
My heart sank. I flopped down in one of the plastic white chairs on the balcony, enjoying the warmth of the sun even as my spirits took a nosedive. “I guess I could call her. Even if I was in the way while I was there—and honestly, I can’t see how that is possible since I was only there for one night—she wouldn’t hang up on me, would she?”
