A moment later, he resumed his own form, careful not to touch her.
“It’s true.” Face pale, body trembling, she stared at him as if she had never seen him before. And even as she acknowledged the truth, she told herself it couldn’t be real. He couldn’t be real. “Why are you telling me this now?”
“You need to know. We’ve been seen together. Any vampire who gets near you will know you’ve been with me. You asked me who those men at the Den were. They were hunters, and they were after me. I should have realized just being with you would put your life in danger. I’m sorry.”
Feeling suddenly faint, Sheree sank onto the sofa, hands clasped in her lap, as she tried to absorb what he was telling her. She wanted to yell at him, to blame him for involving her in his life, but how could she?
He was right.
She had wanted to find a vampire. And she had found one.
Chapter Sixteen
“I seem to be asking this a lot lately,” Sheree said, looking up at Derek, “but where do we go from here? What am I supposed to do now?” She was in over her head, she thought, treading in unfamiliar territory. Even though she had been certain vampires existed, she had never really expected to find one. Certainly not one she found as attractive and desirable as Derek. Just her luck, she mused glumly. She found a man who excited her and he wasn’t even a man, at least not in the usual sense of the word. “Does your sister know? I mean, what you are?”
“Yeah. It’s hard to keep a secret like that from your family.”
“How long have you been a vampire?”
“Since I was thirteen.”
“Thirteen! That must have been terrible. How did it happen?”
“I’ll tell you about it sometime. Right now, there are a few things you need to know.”
“Like what?”
“For starters, you can’t tell anyone about me.”
“Who would believe me?”
“It doesn’t matter. For your sake and mine, this has to be our secret.”
“All right. I promise. What else do I need to know?”
“Never invite a vampire into your house.”
“A little late for that bit of advice, don’t you think?” she muttered dryly.
“Invitations can be rescinded, so if you want me to leave, just say so and I’ll be gone.”
“Really? Just like that?”
“Just like that. Most popular vampire lore is true, which is why it’s been around so long. I know you have a wooden stake in your possession. You need to keep it sharp and carry it with you whenever you leave the house. It’s more effective if you dip it in holy water. Vampires are strong, but their flesh is easily penetrated with wooden stakes or silver-bladed knives. If you think your life is in danger, never hesitate to strike first.”
He paced away from her to look out the front window, debating whether to tell her that his mother and Logan were also vampires, and that Mara was his mother, not his sister, then decided such information was on a need-to-know basis, and right now, she didn’t need to know.
He turned to face her again. “Do you have any questions?”
She shook her head.
He didn’t have to read her mind to know she was still reeling from what he’d told her. “I’d advise you not to go wandering around alone after dark. And to stay out of Goth clubs. Oh, one more thing. Vampires are pros when it comes to hypnotizing people, so if you meet someone you think might be a vampire, don’t look into their eyes.”
“Have you hypnotized me?”
“Not exactly, but I’ve erased things from your memory. Things you remembered anyway. I guess I need more practice.”
“The two men who broke into my house? You killed them, didn’t you?”
“Yeah.”
“Were they hunters, too?”
Derek nodded.
“It all sounds like something out of a horror movie. Vampires and vampire hunters. I . . . thank you for looking out for me.”
“It’s the least I can do, since I’m the one who put you in danger in the first place.” He blew out a breath. “Like I said, I’m sorry I got you involved in this. Take care of yourself.”
“You’re leaving?” She should have been glad. He was a vampire, after all. But the thought of never seeing him again made her heart ache. It made no sense. She should be terrified of what he was, running for her life. But, strange as it seemed, she wasn’t afraid of anything but losing him.
“It’s for the best, don’t you think?”
“But . . . who’s going to protect me if you go?”
“You probably won’t need protecting as long as I’m not around.”