Longing for You, стр. 39
* * *
Alexis paced up and down in front of the fire, her hunger forfresh blood gnawing at her nerves like a million rats.
She downed the glass of blood she had poured herself and preparedanother from the bottle on the mantelpiece. Going without fresh blood wasn’tpleasant, but she could normally cope for this short a period, but this wasn’ta normal situation.
Being in such close proximity to the woman she loved, the womanwho fuelled her thoughts, her fantasies, her needs, was driving her hunger. Nowshe knew how Byron had felt when she fell for Amelia.
Alexis was trying to keep it together for Katie’s sake, but shewas stumbling with every word and had hurt Katie.
It was clear Katie had feelings for her. That had becomeespecially clear in light of Katie’s admission that she’d had a crush on her asa young woman.
And instead of telling Katie the truth about her own feelings,she’d done her best to convince Katie that she wouldn’t be interested in loveor a relationship again. Alexis leaned against the mantelpiece and glared atherself in the mirror.
“You’re a bloody fool.”
But wasn’t she correct? She’d vowed she didn’t want to love anyoneagain, but did she? She had to do something. She put down her glass and sped toKatie’s room’s door and felt even worse. With her enhanced hearing she couldidentify the snuffles of tears.
Those tears were her fault. “Katie?”
She heard Katie blow her nose in an attempt to cover the fact shehad been crying, Alexis suspected.
“What is it?” Katie said with anger in her voice.
“Er, tomorrow…would you like to go a walk with me?” Alexis smackedherself in the head. That’s what you come up with? Seriously.
“If you want,” Katie replied.
At the very least, hopefully a new day would bring Alexis morecourage.
Chapter Thirteen
Byron was worried about Amelia. She’d hardly said a word since theyleft their forest cabin, and she doubted she’d slept much last night. Her mindhad been left reeling from this new information from Sybil, so goodness knewhow Amelia felt. One thing that continued to surprise Byron was how much Ameliahad been wrapped up in Byron’s world all this time, and she never realized it.
The weather matched the sombre mood in the car as the rainbucketed down outside, and in the silence, the pounding of the rain was all themore pronounced.
They pulled up beside a farmhouse outside the village they hadjust passed through, and Amelia grasped at her hand.
“Is this it?”
“Yes, I can’t believe I’ve come back here. I vowed I never would.”
Byron cupped Amelia’s cheek. “This time you have me with you. Noone can do you any harm while I’m around. I promise you that.”
“Words can wound as deeply as any physical blow,” Amelia said.“I’ve become everything Mum and Dad warned I would when I ran to the big cityand bright lights. I’m in league with the devil, or so they’ll think when theysee you.”
“Well, perhaps, but you know differently. Just get theinformation, and let them think what they like. They’ll never know I’m avampire anyway.”
Amelia snorted. “They bloody will. I’m telling you—I grew up withthis. For some reason they believed in your world, the paranormal one. Ithought they were mad and their fundamentalist Christian ideas were as cuckooas them, but here we are—they were right.”
“Maybe that has to do with your past? Maybe they were let into oursecret because of you?”
“Maybe,” Amelia replied.
“Shall we get it over with then?” Byron asked.
Amelia wrung her hands. “Let me gather my thoughts. Just anotherfew minutes?”
Byron kissed Amelia’s hand. “Anything you like, mia cara.”
* * *
Katie had been waiting patiently since this morning for a break inthe weather. She was determined to get out for their walk, just as Alexis hadpromised her, and finally the rain had stopped for the moment.
She was waiting by the front door for Alexis while she finished upa phone call with one of the vampires that Byron had left in the village hotel.Katie sat in the chair on the porch and watched the water drops that the rainhad left dripping off the roof.
There was something calming about the forest scene after the rain,something soothing, fresh. Katie was feeling more connected to life with eachpassing day. It was a great idea of Byron’s to invite her here, and of coursebeing close to Alexis was helping. Alexis, who she knew was her anchor, despiteAlexis’s assertion last night that she wasn’t interested in love.
That had hurt her feelings. Every time they seemed to get closer,Alexis either ran or said the wrong thing. Maybe she had overreacted lastnight, but it was hard to hear all about the woman that Alexis had loved.
Just thinking that made Katie feel guilty. After all, the poorwoman was killed, but it was hard knowing that the person you loved wouldn’t ordidn’t want to move on from the past. Because she did love Alexis, everyannoying, bad-tempered part of her. She always had.
The cabin door opened and Alexis walked out. “Sorry to take solong. I just had to check in with the troops.”
“Troops?” Katie questioned.
“Vampires. I’m an old army officer. It’s hard to shake offsometimes. Are we ready?”
“Yes, is everything all right?” Katie asked.
Alexis looked confused. “Sorry, what?”
“With Byron and Amelia?” Katie said.
“Oh, sorry. I see what you mean. Yes, they set off earlier, andBhal checked in a short time ago to say they were nearly there.”
“I hope Amelia will be okay and find the answers she’s lookingfor.”
Alexis helped Katie up and offered her arm. “I’m sure she will.Shall we take our walk?”
Katie was glad to take Alexis’s arm. She was getting better butwasn’t at her full strength. They walked down the steps and down one of theforest paths beside the cabin. Katie looked at all the colours of the leavesand inhaled the fresh scent of the woods after the rain. She sighed.
“Is there something wrong?” Alexis asked.
“No, it’s beautiful. I’m so glad to be out in the fresh air.”
Alexis smiled. “Good, I’m glad. Listen, I’m sorry if I upset youin some way last night.”
“Why would you upset me?”
“I thought—” Alexis would have to admit listening at Katie’sbedroom door. “It