Мишель Роуэн - Fanged & Fabulous

It was difficult to be friends with somebody who had been effortlessly perfect for seven centuries. She’d seen everything and done everything at least once. Plus, she had really great hair.

She also had a nasty habit of being right.

I ran a quick hand under my nose, sniffed, and tried to compose myself. “You’d better go. Don’t want to miss your plane.”

Veronique nodded. “Of course. Take care, my dear.”

She looked at me with concern for a moment longer. Then, with a single glance at the driver, she left the club without another word.

I took in a deep breath and let it out slowly and shakily as I tried to compose myself.

“When my Thierry leaves you.”Her words kept repeating in my mind like a bad burrito.“It is quite obvious that this will only be a short-term relationship.”

I shook my head. No. Thierry wasn’t going to break my heart. Our relationship was on solid ground.

Rock steady.

Even though he was absolutely perfect and I was far from it, I wanted us to work out. I’d do whatever it took to prove to him that I was the right woman for him. Long-term.

Sure, he’d been a little distracted lately with trying to open the new club in record time. I’d barely seen him at all for the last couple of weeks, but that didn’t mean a thing.

Not a damn thing.

It was only a little over two weeks ago that we’d gotten back from a fantastic trip toMexico . Romance.

Margaritas. Sunscreen.

It could have been better, I suppose. Even while staying mostly out of the blaringly bright sun, I’d still managed to get a serious burn on my back that made it difficult to move without screaming. Thierry warned me about staying out of the sun, but I hadn’t listened to him. Vampires are not killed by sunlight as is the popular myth. However, it still makes us a bit weaker physically and annoyed by the brightness of the “big ball of fire death” in the sky, which is what I call it now, ever since the sunburn from hell.

Especially after going through vats of Noxzema during the healing process. Talk about putting a major crimp in your love life.

After getting back, Thierry focused all his attention on the club. But now that it was open . . .

I glanced around. Where in the hell was he, anyhow?

No. I couldn’t think about this right now. I had rumors to worry about. Hunters to hide from. Etcetera.

Veronique was crazy. Thierry and I were just fine. Sure he was a little distant, but that was just the way he was. We had a deep, romanticconnection .

Well . . .

Except for the fact that we hadn’t had sex sinceMexico . Oh, didn’t I mention that? Yeah. Might be a problem.

I swallowed hard.

Maybe Veronique wasn’t so crazy.

“Sarah—” a deep, familiar voice said from behind me. “George says you’re looking for me?”

Iturned around to face Thierry. Sometimes when I’m out of his company for a while I forget how easily he takes my breath away.

He was, without a doubt, the most handsome man I’d ever seen in real life. Dark, almost black hair framed his face. His skin was pale—he tended to avoid the sun as much as possible even though it didn’t hurt him—but glowed with an inner power. His intense eyes were gray, with thick dark lashes—gray eyes that sometimes seemed silver. And it wasn’t just his looks: tall, dark, and handsome; a man who moved with grace and presence. It was his very essence. Without even trying, he became the focus of any room he was in. All eyes, female and male, were immediately drawn to him.

“Thierry,” I said, my voice sounding awkward all of a sudden. “I . . . I’ve been trying to find you.”

“I know.” His forehead furrowed and he stepped closer to me, close enough that I could breathe in his cologne—spicy and masculine. “I’m glad you’re here. Are you all right?”

I let out a long, shuddery sigh. I didn’t like to appear too shaken by anything that happened. I guess I thought it made me seem weak and needy. Therefore I ended up coming off a little flippant to some people. Covering my fears with a sarcastic comment. It usually worked. But the events of the day were tough to shake off. “I’ve been better.”

He closed the remaining distance between us and brought a hand under my chin, prompting me to meet his silver-eyed gaze. “Tell me.”

So I did. I told him all aboutChad the hunter. About my new “Slayer of Slayers” nickname. About the taxi driver who’d dropped me off tonight and how he’d freaked out when he looked in the rearview mirror and noticed it didn’t reflect anyone in the back seat. Really had to remember to only use the vampire-owned cab companies. It was such a hassle waiting for them to show up, but definitely worth it for the lack of screaming.

I told Thierry everything except for the doubts Veronique had managed to wedge into my brain about him and me. The stuff that made me want to both fight like crazy to keep him and run away and hide. He listened to my tirade right through to the end without saying a word.

Then he nodded. “I feared this.”

“You did?”

“Yes. Sarah, I would like to tell you not to be concerned, but this is very serious. I have been on the telephone for the last two hours dealing with this very situation.” A shadow crossed his expression. “I was worried that what happened at Midnight Eclipse would not go unnoticed—that the hunters would see you as more of a threat to their safety than you truly are.”

I didn’t like how serious he looked.

“So I’ve got a reputation.” I tried to make my voice sound way lighter than I felt. “Just like back in high school. By the way, that one was a big lie, too.”

He frowned at me and held my gaze, then ran his fingers through my shoulder-length brown hair. I caught his hand in mine.

“Look,” I said. “It’ll be okay. I got away fromChad . It was no big deal. I’ll just avoid going anywhere hunters may be hanging out. It’ll blow over, right?”

“I sometimes forget how young you are.”

“Veronique seems to think I’m in my midthirties. Is it wrong for me to say I’m glad she’s gone?”

A small smiled played at the edge of his lips. “You have only been a vampire for a short time. There are still many things you need to learn.”

“That’s why I have you.”

“Then I have failed you. For hunters are not the only things in this world to be wary of. So many things would do you harm now. Even those of your own kind.”

“My own kind?” I blinked with confusion. “Other vampires?”

He nodded. “Yes.”

“But vampires are just like regular people. I just toldChad we’re like pointy-toothed bunnies. Cute and harmless.”

He raised an eyebrow. “You actually said that to him?”

I shrugged. “I was grasping at straws. I admit it.”

“I have spoken with several of my informants who tell me that the rumors quickly spreading about your skills as a vampire have caught the attention of hunter and vampire alike. There are those of both factions who would see that as a threat. Also, those who would like to use your skills and reputation for other purposes.”

I nodded slowly. “In other words, I’m screwed.”

His gaze flicked to mine. “In a word, yes.”

I felt a line of perspiration slide down my spine. “So we just spread the word that it’s all a big fat lie. No harm done.”

He shook his head. “It’s too late for that, I’m afraid. Too many hunters know. And . . . ” he paused,

“there are other vampires . . .elder vampires who will be interested in learning more about you as well.

One of whom, I am told, is en route to Toronto as we speak. If they find out the rumors are a lie and that you are no more dangerous than you truly are, they’ll . . . ” He trailed off.