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“I’m not worth his attention.”
“Power is everything to the vampire,” Sava
Gregori nodded, astonished that she was so adept at reading the situation. Gary was in far more danger than he could ever conceive. “Have you made any calls from this room? Given your address to anyone, even within your family?”
Gary shook his head. “No, I was going to call the airlines and see if I could use the same ticket on a later flight. And I’ll have to call my boss tomorrow. I’ll be fired, Gregori, and I don’t want that to happen. Even if I did end up working for you, I do have a reputation to look after.” The toe of his shoe scuffed at a worn spot in the carpet. “I like research. I don’t want to get stuck in a job I hate because of all of this.”
Gregori took the laptop from Gary and brought up the word processor with skill. Sava
“You haven’t seen my resume,” Gary objected. “I’m not looking for charity.”
The silver eyes glinted, a brief, hard humor. “I had your formula inside my body, Gary. That was all the proof of your genius I needed. The society had access to that blood for some time before you did, but none of them were able to come up with anything that worked on us.”
“Great, I get that dubious pleasure. Someday you’re going to introduce me to one of your friends and you can say, ‘By the way, this is the one who invented the poison that is killing our people.’”
Gregori did laugh then, a low, husky sound so pure, it was beautiful to hear. It brought a lightness into Gary’s heart, dispelling the gloom that had been gathering. “I never thought of that. We might get a few interesting reactions.”
Gary found himself gri
“We will have an antidote for all our people soon,” Gregori reminded him softly. “There is no need to worry.”
“If I had my equipment, I could have one immediately,” Gary said. “I always make certain I can reverse whatever reaction I create. It wouldn’t be all that hard to find where they perverted the formula. In fact, maybe you still have some lingering aftereffects in your bloodstream.”
He looked so hopeful, Sava
Gregori lifted an eyebrow, his face an unreadable mask, the pale eyes glittering with more than menace. White teeth flashed, a baring Of fangs.
“Maybe not,” Gary conceded. “Not the best idea after all.”
Sava
Gregori’s arm swept around her and crushed her to him, nearly enveloping her completely. “She thinks I am going to take her on this ridiculous vampire hunt.”
“She’s right, too, isn’t she?” Gary gri
“Unfortunately,” Gregori admitted. “Do you have enough food until tomorrow night? We will have a plan of action by then.” He dropped several large bills on the nightstand, hiding his actions from Gary as he did so.
“What plan of action? What can be done? We can’t fight the whole society.”
“I was thinking we could use you as bait and draw them into a trap,” Gregori said, straight-faced.
Gary’s eyes widened in alarm. “I’m not sure I like that plan. Sounds a little risky to me.” He looked at Sava
Gregori shrugged his broad shoulders in a casual shrug. “I do not see a risk.”
Sava
Sava
Gary shook his head. “Don’t be asking me. You created the monster.”
“I know I would be unable to stand the press of human bodies in Preservation Hall,” Gregori said suddenly, “but perhaps we could listen to the music from the street. It would get you out of here for a few hours and, with the severity of the storm, hopefully the tourists will have stayed inside.”
Gary leapt at the chance to get out of his room. “Let’s do it.”
Sava
Enfante, I ca
The silver eyes roamed over her face. His hand came up to caress her cheek, his thumb feathering gently back and forth. “I would not allow Gary to be in any real danger. He ca
I should have protected Peter. He would be alive right now if it wasn’t for me.Sava
I alone am to blame for Peter’s death, mapetite. It was my responsibility to detect the vampire’s presence. I had not felt any emotion in so long, so many centuries, and when I went into your show and saw you, colors nearly blinded me. Feelings overwhelmed me. I was sorting them out and trying to get my self under control. In all the centuries of my existence, it was the only time I have failed to detect the presence of the undead. Peter’s death is somethingI must live with.
He felt her instant denial of his assessment of the situation, the quick spring to his defense. And it warmed him as nothing else ever could.
As they moved out of the rooming house and through the rain-wet streets, mingling with the unexpected crowds, he thought about the way she made him feel. He was always in control—it was necessary for one of his power and predatory nature—yet she could make him feel as if he was spi
Gregori glanced down at the top of her silky head and allowed the emotion to wash over him, through him. Just watching her brought him a measure of peace and a flood of warmth. He found he could enjoy the upbeat music, even the craziness of the tourists laughing and crushing close in the streets and on the sidewalks. Merged with her, he could feel what she was feeling—carefree, her sense of humor, the quick interest she had in everything and everyone around her. She spoke to people easily, held them in the palm of her hand with the same ease she held him so captivated.
When he took her home after settling Gary back at his room, Gregori turned Sava
She leaned her head into his shoulder, inhaling his masculine scent. “Thank you for going out tonight. I know it’s hard for you to be among humans, but I’ve spent the last five years living among them. It’s been so long since I’ve had contact with any of our people.”
“I have a hard time,” he admitted. “I want to supply what you need, Sava
“You’ve always been so solitary, Gregori,” she said softly, “where I’ve had humans around me since I left home.”
His mouth found her temples, then drifted across her eyelids and down to her mouth. He lifted her as his lips teased hers, cradling her in his arms. He took her up the stairs to one of the bedrooms. Gregori made gentle, tender love to her, incredibly reverent, showing her with his body what he never seemed to be able to express adequately in words.