“Sounds right to me.”
Mara glanced out the window. There were still a few hours until sunrise. “If we leave here by five, we can be there by three P.M. Romanian time.” She looked at Edna and Pearl. “You can stay in the servants’ quarters in the castle. There are no lights down there, so you should be able to rest comfortably until nightfall.”
“What about Sheree?” Derek asked, his voice thick.
“She must go with us, of course.”
Derek shook his head. “No!”
“She’s all that saved you from killing the last time,” Mara reminded him.
“It’s too dangerous. No one should go with me except Pearl.”
“What?” The old vampire’s voice was little more than a squeak.
“Pearl, the serum, and a gun loaded with silver,” Derek said. “Let’s end this one way or another.”
“Pearl is not going alone,” Edna said, moving to stand beside her friend.
“And I’m certainly not staying here!” Mara exclaimed.
Logan put his arm around his wife’s shoulders. “And your mother isn’t going without me.”
Mara smiled at her husband and then at her son. “We’re all for one,” she said in a voice that brooked no argument.
“And one for all,” Logan added.
“You’re all crazy as hell,” Derek muttered. But he was damn glad to have his own musketeers at his side.
“You don’t have to go with us,” Derek said. “I can take you home to Philadelphia. You’ll be safer there.”
“Are you trying to get rid of me, Derek Blackwood?” Sheree asked, jabbing her finger against his chest. “Because if you are, you can just forget it. I’m your wife now, and my place is with you, wherever that might be.”
Touched beyond words, he pressed his forehead to hers, closed his eyes, and breathed in her scent. His life might be a mess, but right now he wouldn’t trade the woman in his arms for anything in the world.
“It’ll be all right,” Sheree murmured. “I know it will.”
Lifting his head, he gazed deeply into her eyes. “I love you,” he said fervently. “No matter what happens in the next couple of days, remember that.”
She nodded, unable to speak past the lump in her throat.
Thirty minutes later, Derek transported the two of them, along with their luggage, to the castle in Transylvania.
Mara was waiting for them in the main room. “Logan is upstairs,” she said. “Edna and Pearl are resting.”
Derek nodded.
“I’ll keep Sheree company while you rest.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Sheree said. “I want to stay with Derek.”
“Of course you want to spend as much time together as you can. I’ll see you later, then.”
“Thanks, Ma.”
To his surprise, she gave him a fierce hug before vanishing from their sight.
Upstairs in their room, Derek undressed, then sat on the bed. “You don’t have to stay here while I rest.”
“I know, but I want to.” Standing in front of him, she pulled her sweater over her head and tossed it aside. After stepping out of her sandals and jeans, she pushed him down on the mattress. “I just thought you’d like some company until you fall asleep.”
“Is that what you thought?”
“Was I wrong?”
His gaze moved over her hot pink bra and panties. “What do you think?”
Straddling his hips, she leaned forward and licked his chest. “I think you want me.”
“I think you’re right.” Wrapping his arms around her, Derek rolled over, pinning her beneath him, his weight pressing her into the mattress.
She’s prey, the werewolf said. Take her. It will make us stronger.
Lowering his head, Derek sniffed Sheree’s neck, then licked his lips. Young, tender flesh. Warm blood.
“Derek? Derek! You’re scaring me.”
Hands clenched, he rolled to his feet. “Get out of here.”
She didn’t argue. And she didn’t run. Grabbing her clothes, she backed slowly out of the room and closed the door. Dressing quickly, she went downstairs, where she collapsed on the sofa and let the tears flow. Face buried in her hands, she prayed that the untried serum would work and that this whole nightmare would soon be nothing but a bad memory.
“Sheree, child, what’s wrong?”
She looked up at the sound of Mara’s voice. “Everything.”
“He sent you away.”
“It’s not just that. It’s . . . it’s not knowing what’s going to happen. What if he stays a werewolf? Will he still be the same Derek he is now? Will he still love me? Will I still love him?” She dashed the tears from her eyes. “What if the serum doesn’t work? What if it . . . ?” She couldn’t say the words.