Night's Promise(75)

In his mind, he saw her bristle at his use of the word Ma, which she thought was demeaning, but which he used with affection.

Let me know what happens. And be careful.

When he returned, Sheree was waiting for him in the lobby, a cup of coffee in each hand. “What did she say?”

“She said giving him a little of my blood might help. It’s up to you.”

“It’s worth a try! Hurry!”

“Wait. You need to get your mother out of the room.”

“All right. How long will it take?”

Following her into the elevator, he said, “No more than a few minutes.” When they exited the elevator at the intensive care ward, he said, “I’ll wait here. When you get her out, I’ll go in.”

“Okay.”

A short time later, Sheree and her mother left the room.

As soon as they were out of sight, he dissolved into mist, then resumed his shape at her father’s bedside. Derek forced the man’s mouth open, bit into his own wrist, and let a dozen or so drops of his blood drip down the man’s throat.

At a sound from the hallway, Derek dissolved into mist once more and left the ICU. In the corridor, the scent of blood and pain and death was overpowering. A thought took him outside, where he took several deep breaths.

Sheree found him there an hour later. The smile on her face said it all. “You did it! The doctor is calling it a miracle.” She threw her arms around him, tears of joy trailing down her cheeks. “Thank you!”

Derek held her close. For the first time in his life, he felt truly grateful to be a vampire.





It was after three A.M. when Sheree persuaded her mother to leave the hospital. “You need to get some sleep,” she said as they took the elevator to the lobby. “You don’t want Dad to see those dark shadows under your eyes.”

“We could have lost him,” Meredith said, her voice thick.

“You heard the doctor. Dad’s going to be fine.”

Meredith nodded.

Sheree looked at her mother, a little surprised to realize that her mother’s distress had been sincere. Maybe she had been wrong about her parents. Maybe, in their own way, they really did love each other.

“How did you get here so soon?” Meredith pulled a lace hanky from her pocket and dabbed at her eyes.

The question caught Sheree off guard. She couldn’t tell her mother the truth, of course. Mind scrambling, Sheree opted for a part of the truth. “I had decided to come home for a visit. A friend of mine has a private plane and offered to save me the price of a ticket. We were on our way to see you when I got your call. Look, there he is now,” she said, before her mother could ask any more questions she couldn’t answer.

“Thank you for bringing my daughter home,” Meredith said after Sheree introduced Derek.

“I was happy to do it, Mrs. Westerbrooke.” He gestured at the cab waiting at the curb. “I took the liberty of calling for a taxi.”

“That was very thoughtful of you. You’ll stay with us, of course,” Meredith insisted as Derek opened the car door.

“Thank you, but it isn’t necessary.” He winked at Sheree as she climbed into the backseat. “I have a place of my own.” He was grateful when she didn’t argue.

They arrived at the Westerbrooke home a short time later. Sheree’s mother bid them good night and immediately retired to her room, leaving Sheree to look after Derek.

“Thank you again,” Sheree said. “If it wasn’t for you . . .”

He drew her into his embrace as tears of gratitude flooded her eyes. He held her until her tears subsided, then wiped the last of them away with the pads of his thumbs.

“You’d better get some sleep, love. I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

“Do you really have a place here, in the city?”

“No.”

“Then where are you going to spend the day?”

“At Mara’s place.”

“You heard my mother. You’re welcome to stay with us.”

“It isn’t safe, love. Your mother is here and there are servants in the house. It’s best if I leave. Don’t worry, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“You promise?”

“I’ll be here as soon as the sun goes down.” Derek shook his head as her thoughts invaded his. Sometimes, as now, being able to read minds was as much a curse as a blessing. “Come on, love, I’ll get you tucked in.”

“And stay until I fall asleep?”

Nodding, he swept her into his arms and carried her up the long, winding staircase to her room, tucked her into bed after she changed into her nightgown.

“Sweet dreams, darlin’.”

“Thank you again,” she murmured, and tumbled into sleep’s waiting arms.