A Fire in the Blood(37)
“Andrei said that, since she’s here, she wants to take up where they left off.”
“Oh, that’s not good, is it?” Jilly frowned. “Why doesn’t he just tell her to go to hell?”
“Apparently that’s not an option. She’s very old, older even than he is, and very powerful.”
“And?”
“He’s worried about what she might do to me.”
“Oh, crap.”
“That’s not the only troubling thing he said.”
“I don’t think I want to hear any more.” Jilly dropped two English muffins in the toaster. “Okay, tell me.”
“He said vampires aren’t the only supernatural creatures that are more than myth.”
“Oh, there’s good news,” Jilly said dryly. “Did he say what other scary creatures are running around?”
“He didn’t elaborate.”
“Well, I wouldn’t mind if one of them was Thor.” Rising, Jilly set butter, jelly, honey, and peanut butter on the table, along with a couple of knives and two plates. She spread peanut butter and jelly on her muffin.
Tessa opted for butter and honey. “You know, a couple of months ago my life was ordinary. Dull, even.”
“Did Andrei say how long his missus was staying?” Jilly asked, resuming her seat.
“No. But apparently she bores easily and he’s hoping she’ll soon tire of small-town life and go home.”
“Let’s hope.” Jilly refilled her coffee cup. “What are you going to do now?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t talked to Andrei since last night.”
“Well, I’m sure he’ll call you when he can.”
“I guess. One thing for sure, staying with him now is out of the question.”
“No kidding.”
Tessa sipped her coffee, thinking how glad she was to have a friend like Jilly, someone she could talk to, confide in.
Someone who could keep a secret.
* * *
Tessa was extraordinarily busy at work Monday morning, for which she was grateful, because it didn’t give her much time to think about Andrei or his centuries-old wife. Still, in those rare moments when she had a few minutes to spare, she found herself constantly wondering if she should stop seeing Andrei—at least until Katerina was no longer a threat.
When she wasn’t worrying about that, Tessa’s mind filled with images of Andrei and Katerina wrapped in each other’s arms. Andrei was a passionate man. Katerina was beautiful and she was his wife. He professed to hate her for what she had done to his family—to him. But he was a man, and men had been known to make love to women for whom they had no affection.
She was clearing her desk of the day’s work when her cell phone rang. “Hello?”
“How was your day, dragostea mea?” His voice was like liquid honey, warm and sweet.
“It was all right. I’m almost afraid to ask about yours.”
“It would be better if I was with you.”
“Are you and Katerina playing house?” She grimaced as soon as the words left her mouth. That was the last thing she wanted to know.
“So far we’re just hunting companions. Listen, I can’t talk long. I asked Luke to drive you home. I’m not sure our seeing each other is a good idea as long as Katerina is here. But if she’s with me, she won’t be looking for you. And you shouldn’t be in any danger as long as you’re inside before dark. I’ll call you when I can.”
Tessa glanced around to make sure no one was in earshot before whispering, “Did you find out why she wants my blood?”
But he had already disconnected the call.
* * *
Tessa didn’t know who was more nervous on the drive home—Luke, Jilly, or herself. She found herself constantly looking out the windows, jumping every time the car hit a bump.
She didn’t argue when Luke insisted on walking her upstairs to her apartment. Not wanting to be left alone, Jilly went with them.
After unlocking the door, Tessa switched on the porch light. “I’ll be all right now.” Reaching inside, she flipped the switch that turned on the lamps in the living room. “You two be careful going home.”
“We’ll be fine,” Luke said. “Nobody’s after us.”
“I’ll call you tomorrow,” Jilly said.
Nodding, Tessa shut the door and shot the dead bolt home. It was, she thought, going to be a long, lonely night.
* * *
As Andrei expected, Katerina was ready to go hunting as soon as the sun went down. Tonight, she wasn’t in the mood to play. In less than an hour, she drained two men and a woman. When she chose a teenage girl for her fourth victim, Andrei had no choice but to intervene. Knowing he was risking his sire’s wrath, he pulled the girl from Katerina’s grasp and wrapped a protective arm around her.