Мишель Роуэн - Tall, Dark & Fangsome

I froze in place. “I took too much blood.”

“It’s not the blood, it’s—” He raised his silver eyes up to lock with mine, and I felt the full weight of his gaze on me. “Your nightwalker brings out my own darkness. It disturbs me.”

I cringed. “I know. It’s disgusting.”

He shook his head. “No. I find it disturbing because… because I like how it feels. When the darkness takes me, everything seems much too simple. The worries of the world fade away and there is only the darkness and the pleasure it brings.”

I bit my bottom lip. “That sounds kind of sexy, actually. But you’re saying that’s a bad thing, right?”

He made a small sound, almost a laugh. “I made the decision a long time ago to avoid all that brings about that darkness in me.” His brows drew together. “No vampire I’ve ever met has had the same problems with control I’ve had. None that weren’t nightwalkers to begin with.”

“There are lots of vampires who aren’t all that picky about where they get their blood from.”

“Yes, but their desire for blood is not so… addictive as mine.”

I turned over what he was saying in my head. “So you think you might have a little nightwalker in you trying to get out?”

“Perhaps.” I could tell by the strained expression on his handsome face that it had taken a lot for him to admit this to me.

I shook my head. “Nope, not possible.”

His frown deepened and he looked at me. “As one who’s witnessed my darker side more than many, I’m surprised you’d say that.”

“Nightwalkers don’t feel guilt when they’ve had their midnight binge. You? You’re all about the guilt. Nearly seven hundred years is a long time to hate yourself. I bet you were a self-loathing human even before you met Veronique, tending your sheep or whatever people did back then for a living.”

He quirked a dark eyebrow. “I wasn’t a shepherd.”

“Then what were you?”

“I was an innkeeper. I operated several inns and taverns before the plague came.” His eyes got a faraway look for a moment. “Strange. I haven’t thought of that in a very long time.”

“So, you were a medieval Donald Trump?”

“I suppose you could say that.”

That made me smile. “Seems fitting, actually.” I reached out to touch him and he didn’t pull away from me. “I know you had a hard time in the past. Being a vampire isn’t the easiest gig in the world, is it?”

“You’ve handled yourself remarkably well.”

“Are you kidding me? Do I need to pull a transcript of my past misadventures? I’ve fought tooth and nail against it since the night I was sired. I didn’t want to be a vampire. I hated it. And just when I was finally getting used to it, it went and got worse on me.”

“Sarah—”

I shook my head. “I can feel her right now, Thierry—the nightwalker who wants my life and my body. I can feel her clawing her way to the surface. I don’t know how much longer I have but I want you to know one very important thing.”

His expression was tense. “What is it?”

“That I don’t want to be normal anymore. All I want is to be happy. With you.”

He pulled me closer to him. “I swear, Sarah, I will do whatever I can to fix this.”

“I can fix it, but I have to go now.”

“No. You’ll stay here.” His grip on me tightened. “I will find Gideon and I’ll do whatever it takes to stop him.”

My stomach sank. “You mean you’ll kill him.”

“If that’s what it takes.” His eyes narrowed at me. “Would his death affect you? Would you mourn Gideon Chase after all he’s done?”

I guess I didn’t answer quite as quickly as he wanted me to.

“I see,” he said, and his open expression closed off to me behind that annoying, cold brick wall he had.

“You don’t see anything.”

“Gideon’s vision perhaps is much clearer. He seems to cherish your dark side while I restrict it. I suppose you’ll have to decide for yourself which of us is correct.”

A flash of anger pulled my darkness forward and I actually felt my eyes turn black as my vision narrowed and blurred at the edges. “Dammit, Thierry—”

Barry emerged from the kitchen with a tray of coffee and there was even one on there for me. “Here, master. Drink this.”

Thierry absently took the mug of black coffee. “It’s the way it must be, Sarah. Even if you disagree with me vehemently, it’s much too dangerous for you to go to him. Especially being so close to the edge of your control.”

I glared at him, fighting the fogginess inside me, and tried to calm down.

Thierry walked toward the window and glanced outside as he sipped from the steaming mug.

We were silent for a moment as I tried to figure out what to say or do next. I couldn’t just sit around the house all night waiting for news. That was not in line with my “don’t be a chump” advice from Janie.

There was a sudden crash as Thierry dropped his coffee mug and it fell to the floor, causing a dark stain on the light beige carpet that George would not be happy to see. He brought his hand up to his forehead.

I rushed to his side. “What’s wrong?”

He turned slowly and looked past me at Barry. “What have you done to me?”

Barry’s expression was unreadable. “You didn’t give me any choice. I’m sorry, master.”

Thierry collapsed to his knees and I caught him before he fell all the way to the ground.

“Sarah…” he whispered, then his eyes closed and he went limp.

I turned to look at Barry with wide eyes. “What did you do?”

His breathing was so fast his little chest went in and out like an accordion. “Odorless, tasteless garlic tablets. I put a few into his coffee.”

Garlic. It was a myth that vampires were repelled by the cloves. Actually, garlic knocked us out cold. I’d encountered the stuff in darts that hunters used to hit their targets if they didn’t want an immediate kill. It would render the vampire unconscious for a short time.

A harmless but very effective tranquilizer.

I touched Thierry’s face and stroked the dark hair back from his forehead. He’d trusted

Barry and the sneaky little bastard had used that to get the upper hand.

I was so impressed!

“You need to go,” Barry said. “Before he wakes up.”

I eyed him. “He’s going to be furious with you about this.”

“If it’s the difference between saving Amy and sitting here powerless, then I’m willing to take that risk. Now will you go, or what?”

“Bossy, much?”

“I know the master only wants to do the right thing, but he refuses to see logic when it involves risking your safety. You’ve quickly become his blind spot.”

He was right. Thierry couldn’t see past his desire to keep me safe. He’d never let me leave the house tonight even if it meant we were risking Amy’s life.

Also, he obviously didn’t want me anywhere near Gideon again.

I leaned over and kissed Thierry softly on the lips, praying that that wouldn’t be the last time I ever kissed him.

Then I got up and looked at Barry. “Wish me luck.”

“There’s no time for luck. Just go.”

“Sheesh. It’s not like I asked you for a hug or something.”

He glowered at me. “Why are you still here? The master will not be unconscious for long.”

Good point.

I turned and pushed the door open and left the house, hoping that everything would work out perfectly. I’d had enough experience to know that was an impossibility, but a girl could dream, couldn’t she?

I headed to Darkside, since that was the last place I’d seen the billionaire vampire hunter in question.

No one was there. The club was closed for business and deserted.