Page 73 of Night of the Vampire
Lizzy sighed. "Look," Reaching across the table, she covered her aunt's hands with her own. "I love you, Aunt Jude. You're the only family I have left. Or, at least, the only family I remember," she corrected. "I understand you all don't get along with Killian and his vampires, but I always thought you were a better person than to just sit by and let an innocent person—"
"She's a vampire," her aunt said. "Not a person."
I'd heard enough. "You know what?" I told Lizzy. "I appreciate what you're trying to do here, Acushla. Truly, I do. But I think it's time we go."
After a moment, Lizzy nodded and stood up from the table. "Come on, boy." She waved for Wiggles to join us.
We were walking out the door when Judy said, "Fine. I'll call the coven together tomorrow night. But I'm not promising we'll be able to help her."
Lizzy and I exchanged a look, and she gave me a small smile. "Understood," I told her aunt.
"Where is Kenya? Your house in the Quarter has been empty."
"I can take you to her. Just let me know where to meet you all."
"Lizzy, I'll text you tomorrow."
"Oh, yeah. About that..." Lizzy gave her aunt her new phone number. "Thank you," she told her sincerely.
"I'm only doing this for you," her aunt told her. "And Lizzy," she stopped us again before we could leave. "Please think about getting to know your family better. I know you've made it this far in your life without our help, but there's no reason not to have it for the years we have left."
Lizzy only nodded, and then took Wiggles out to the car.
"Vampire."
Ah, the moment I'd been waiting for.
"If you hurt one little hair on my niece's head—"
"You know damn well I would never do that, Judy. I couldn't, even if I wanted to. Your niece has never been safer than she is with me."
"I'm holding you to that."
I gave her a nod. "Understood."
The next night, Lizzy and I led a small parade of cars out to the swamp. I was putting a lot of trust in the witches by showing them where we were. If things went bad between us, it would destroy the fragile trust we'd managed to build over the years.
After we left the high priestess's home the night before, I'd dropped Lizzy and Wiggles back at the hotel and then stopped by the club and informed the others what was happening tonight. Although they didn't like it, I'd made them agree to stay at the club. Even Jamal. He'd tried to convince me to let someone else take my place, but there's no way in hell I was about to hide out at The Purple Fang and let one of my vampires put their life on the line. I know that was the way some master vampires worked, but it wasn't how I worked.
Shite, but I was nervous.
As though she sensed my unease, Lizzy reached over and took my hand. It was the first time she'd ever done such a thing, and it touched me more than I could say. Bringing our linked hands to my face, I inhaled her scent and kissed the pulse in her wrist, letting the proof of her life force calm me.
"It'll be okay, Killian."
"I wish I had your confidence, Acushla."
She was quiet a moment. "I guess it's hard for me to picture my aunt as some great and powerful witch."
I'd told her some stories after I'd gotten back to the hotel the night before. We'd talked for many hours, only stopping when Lizzy could no longer keep her eyes open. Pulling the drapes closed over the big window by the bed, we slept on the couch in the sitting room, just in case. I'd held her in my arms the rest of the night and half the day, and I'd never felt more at peace.
"Appearances can be deceiving. Once you see her in action, you'll never look at her the same again." I glanced up in the rearview mirror, watching the string of headlights turn behind me onto the narrow road that would lead to the house where Kenya lay alone. Helpless.
"I won't let anyone hurt her."
I gave her a tight smile. I had to believe the witches would live up to their word. I'd never known them to do otherwise. "What if they can't help her?"
Though I felt Lizzy's eyes on me, I wouldn't look at her, afraid to see the truth in her eyes. And she didn't respond.
