A Fire in the Blood(79)

“What’s that, dear?”

“Nothing. Do you happen to know his name?”

There was silence on the line. Tessa could almost see her mother’s face scrunched up as she searched her memory. “It was Chea Sequah, I think. Yes, that was it.” Her mother spelled it out. There was more static on the wire. “. . . means Red Bird.”

“Thanks, Mom. When are you coming home?”

“We’ll be back on the twenty-third, just in time for Christmas. You’re coming home, aren’t you?”

“Of course.” Tessa worried her lower lip, debating whether to tell her mother about Andrei. In the end, she decided that the news that she was marrying a vampire should probably be conveyed face-to-face. She was about to say good-bye when static crackled over the line and the phone went dead.

Sitting at Andrei’s computer, she logged on to Google, the researcher’s best friend. “Chea Sequah,” she muttered, typing the name in the search bar.

And there it was. Chea Sequah. As her mother had said, he had been a powerful medicine man. Those who knew him believed he could change shape and travel through time. There were rumors that he had dwelt in darkness and that his blood had magical powers. When freely given, his blood possessed the power to heal; when consumed by his enemies or taken by force, it had been fatal....

Feeling cold all over, Tessa sat back in her chair. It was a story too fantastic to be true. And yet, her blood—freely given—had healed a bite that should have been deadly.

Maybe it wasn’t Andrei who was destined to bring her death and life, but the blood of an old Cherokee medicine man that ran in her veins.

* * *

Andrei listened carefully as Tessa related her conversation with her mother. Some might dismiss what her mother had said about the Cherokee medicine man as so much nonsense, but not Andrei. He had spent time with some of the Plains tribes, seen things he could not explain, heard things that sounded impossible until he viewed them for himself.

He had seen a Lakota shaman who could shape-shift. He had talked to a Cheyenne medicine man who claimed to be able to walk between worlds.

And he had seen a Comanche warrior who was also a vampire, and another who was feared because it was believed he was a witch. One and all, they had possessed mystical powers that could not be explained logically. Why not a Cherokee medicine man whose blood could heal or destroy?

“So,” he said when she had finished. “Chea Sequah’s blood killed his enemies or those who took it by force, but healed those he favored. Much like yours.”

Tessa nodded. She hadn’t really expected him to believe her and yet, why wouldn’t he? If anyone knew there were things beyond mortal ken, it would be Andrei.

“So, what do we do now?” she asked.

“I’m not exactly sure how best to put this knowledge to use,” he replied, choosing his words carefully. “Katerina knows your blood has had some effect on me. I don’t know if she’s figured out exactly what it is. Hell, I’m not sure, either. There’s no telling if she wants to kill you or drink from you.”

“Or both,” Tessa said, grimacing.

Andrei nodded. “Probably.” Katerina might be an ancient vampire, but she was also a jealous, vindictive female. He had no doubt that, given the chance, she would kill Tessa. He was reasonably certain that turning Tessa would protect her from most vampires. But nothing he could think of would protect the woman he loved from Katerina’s wrath.

Except Katerina’s destruction.





Chapter Thirty-Four

Tessa decided to spend the rest of the day at Andrei’s. After assuring him that she would be fine while he took his rest, she found a piece of paper and a pen and wrote out her Christmas list. With all that had been happening, she hadn’t given the holiday much thought, but it was fast approaching. She needed gifts for her parents, Jilly and Luke, Bailey, Mr. Ambrose, and Andrei, of course. She spent a few minutes admiring her engagement ring. What did one buy a vampire for Christmas, anyway?

But she had a bigger problem. And that was going to visit her folks over the holiday. Andrei had eaten prime rib at Thanksgiving. Since then, he had eaten a few other things, but never a complete meal. If they were only visiting for a day, it might not draw any attention, but three days? Of course, there was always a chance that Andrei wouldn’t want to go with her. But, sooner or later, he would have to meet her parents.

Jilly called at noon to see why she hadn’t come to work.

“I just decided to take the day off,” Tessa explained. “I hate to admit it, but I’m still a little shaken up by what happened. I keep thinking, what if Andrei hadn’t come to my rescue? What if the vampire who took me had given me to Katerina?” She shuddered, just thinking about it.