Part 24 (1/2)

She would want him to hold her, to rea.s.sure and kiss her, to give her proof of his love.

For a long time he'd sat in the bathroom after scrubbing furiously at the wound on her neck. If only he could have washed away any trace of damage, taken the bite from her with the cleansing water.

What now would he feel when he again looked upon her?

”I love her,” he growled at his insensitive thoughts.

Could he love a vampire?

A minute possibility remained that she would not change. To do that, she had to survive till the next full moon. Elvira had planned this so well. The moon had been waning but a day. There were four long weeks till the next full moon.

”She'll never survive without going mad.”

Exhausted, and knowing that Severo was busy with the cleaning and security crews, Bella slept through the day. After she'd showered, the wound had stopped bleeding. She crawled naked into bed and fell instantly asleep.

A fitful sleep. She'd been aware when the water in the shower again beat against the tiles, and then when Severo had carefully tiptoed about the bedroom, selecting clean clothes and leaving her alone.

All she craved was spooning against his body and knowing that everything was going to be all right. But the dread that their relations.h.i.+p would never be the same kept her in bed, even when her stomach growled for food.

When the noise from the cleaners ceased and the sun had again set, she decided to sneak out for a morsel. At least now she wouldn't have to see piles of ash or signs of the struggle she'd been through.

Pulling on a black silk robe, Bella combed her hair and leaned toward the mirror. The bite mark was swollen and red. She couldn't conceal it with makeup. It didn't hurt, only ached.

”How did you do it, Seth? This is not my idea of a good time.”

Of course, when the wound healed, she could get on with her life. She suspected Severo was avoiding her for the very reason that she bore the mark of the vampire on her neck. It couldn't heal fast enough.

Answering her hunger pangs, she headed to the kitchen. It was spotless, with no sign of broken dishes or the wooden stool she'd thrown at a vampire and had broken across his shoulder. She opened the fridge and grabbed the plastic bottle of pomegranate juice.

When she closed the door, she dropped the juice. Tall and strong, Severo posed as if ready for a challenge, head lowered and fingers coiled, ready to fist. She thought she could smell the fury on him, and his eyes appeared even darker.

The vampire's eyes had been so beguiling. Blue, deep and seductive. She couldn't remember anything after looking into them.

”I'm sorry. I was hungry.” She picked up the plastic bottle. To run into his arms felt wrong but she so desired it.

”How are you feeling?” ”Better. Much. I think this stupid bite mark will heal in a few days. I know how it must make you feel. I understand you haven't had time for me. You've been busy all day, I'm sure. Can I make you something to eat?”

His inhale stabbed her in the heart. Bella closed her eyes. Please, touch me. Hold me.

”We need to talk, Bella.”

Call me sweet. I am yours. You won't abandon me after you realize this bite means nothing.

”Sure.” She screwed off the bottle cap and took a slug. She didn't realize how achy her jaw was until she swallowed. ”Let's sit over there.”

Drawn to their favorite chair, she waited for him to sit and pull her onto his lap. ”Severo?”

He nodded as if jerking himself out of busy thoughts. ”Yes.”

He sat, and when she wanted to climb onto his lap, he allowed it, but he didn't cradle her as he usually did, only sat stiffly, as if he wouldn't push her away but would like to if he could.

”Are you angry with me?” she asked.

”Never. No. I'm sorry, Bella.”

”It's the bite, isn't it? It reminds you of them. It'll soon be gone-”

”It's going to change everything, Bella.”

”No, it won't. When it's healed, you'll forget all about this stupid incident.”

”It will heal. But you will not. You will be transformed.”

She pushed against his chest and leaned back to study his face. He couldn't meet her eyes. How dare he not look at her, to make her feel as if she were contagious. Now she wished she would have found a scarf to tie around her neck.

”Transformed? You mean...? But Seth didn't change when he was dating Elvira. Not until she wanted him to.”

”Because a vampire usually licks the wound after it takes blood from a mortal. The infusion of vamp saliva seals the wound and keeps back the vampire taint. A bite that isn't sealed introduces the taint to the mortal's system. It will stir up the blood hunger in you, Bella, and you will change with your first taste of human blood.”

”No.” She shoved off from his lap and paced toward the opposite wall.

The now gla.s.sless picture of Aby and Severo had been rehung there. In the ten years they'd been together, why hadn't Elvira gone after Aby? Was it because he'd never made love to her?

”I don't want to be a vampire. I don't want-” To be the one thing her lover despised. The thing that would always remind him of his family's tragic suffering. ”There must be some way to stop it.”

”There is.”

The warm weight of his hand on her shoulder made her flinch. Bella did not turn to him. Aby's bright smile taunted her. She had had Severo for an entire decade. Would Bella lose him after but a few months?

”You can wait for the full moon.” His voice hurt her heart. So calm. Yet not affectionate, as it had been. More removed, clinical.

”If you don't drink human blood before then, you'll be in the clear. But you'll be mad from resisting the intense hunger. d.a.m.n it, Elvira planned this well. It'll be another month before the full moon comes again.”

”But you said if I drink human blood. Maybe I could...drink yours?” She winced at the thought of doing something so reprehensible.

”Bella, listen. There are three options for a mortal bitten by a vampire when the wound has not been sealed. You can answer the blood hunger-which should emerge within days-and complete the transformation, thus becoming a vamp.”

”What are the other two?”

”You could kill yourself.”

She gasped.

Severo punched a fist into his palm.

”Door number three, please?” she asked softly.