Shadows Strike(71)
Aidan looked at Cliff, uncertain.
Cliff smiled. “I’d rather you ask about it than dance around it. They haven’t been as loud or persistent of late.”
Her smile returned. “Good.”
The room quieted.
“So?” Cliff prompted when the silence stretched into awkward territory. “Would you like to sit down? Can I get you something to drink?”
“Actually,” Ethan said, “we were hoping to talk Aidan into doing us a favor.”
Aidan’s curiosity rose. “What can I do for you?”
Ethan took Heather’s hand.
Heather looked up at him, then met Aidan’s gaze. “Would you please transform me?”
Aidan stared at the couple, damned near shocked speechless. “I beg your pardon?”
“Heather would like to become immortal,” Ethan said. “Seth has given his blessing. And I was thinking . . .”
Cliff gave a slow nod. “You want Aidan to transform her so she’ll be as strong as he is.”
“Yes,” the couple replied.
Aidan frowned. “I’m not certain that’s how it works.”
“Roland has transformed three gifted ones in recent years,” Ethan said.
What a shocker that was. Roland was the most antisocial immortal Aidan had met.
“All three new immortals can match him in speed, strength, and regenerative capabilities,” Ethan continued. “No one knows why, whether it’s because he’s so old or because he’s a healer or if it’s something unique to him. But if it’s either of the first two things . . .”
Understanding dawned. “I’m a healer and am even older than he is, so Heather would acquire the same strength, speed, and the like that I have if I were to transform her.”
“Yes.” Ethan’s eyes practically begged Aidan to understand. “You know the enemy we face. You know the danger he poses. I want Heather to be as strong as possible when she faces whatever Gershom throws our way.”
Aidan could understand that. Vampires had launched no more mass attacks, confirming in many minds that the immortals had successfully eradicated Gershom’s army and thwarted his attempt to spark World War III. But all knew it would not be his last attempt.
How would he strike next? Would Gershom again manipulate the mind of a network employee? Or perhaps impersonate an Immortal Guardian as Jared had done? None were certain Gershom could even do the latter. But both possibilities could breed frightening repercussions. And Seth, Zach, and Jared had not yet been able to locate whatever lair Gershom had fled to to regroup and plan anew.
Aidan had never transformed a mortal before. He had always assumed that when he did, it would be a gifted one who had chosen to spend the rest of forever with him. But he had lived three thousand years without finding that woman. There seemed little point in holding out any longer. Particularly when he could help these two.
“I’ll do it.”
Cliff grinned. “Awesome! Congratulations, guys.” Striding forward, he shook Ethan’s hand and hugged Heather. Even that showed he was returning to his old self. Cliff had been keeping a careful distance from others since his break.
“When would you like to do it?” Aidan asked.
Heather shrugged. “Are you busy now?”
“No,” he responded, surprised she wanted to act so swiftly.
She offered him a sheepish smile. “I’m a little nervous, so I’d kinda like to get it out of the way.”
Aidan laughed. “As you will.”
Ethan looked around his living room and smiled.
The furniture from Heather’s small home that had not been destroyed in the vampire attack had been fetched, cleaned, and now mixed and mingled with his own. The photographs that had hung on her home’s walls now bore new frames and adorned the walls here.
He could see Heather’s touch all over the house. It no longer looked like the home of two longtime bachelors. Heather hadn’t added any of what he and Ed considered feminine froufrou stuff. Yet one could definitely see the influence of a woman in the place.
Ethan liked it.
No, he loved it. He loved her. And intended to tell her as much every day for the rest of their long, long lives.
Heather entered the living room from the kitchen. “The chicken is almost done,” she announced with a smile. She had insisted on preparing it herself.
“Smells delicious,” he praised.
Ed strolled in from the hallway. “All right. I’m out.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to stay and join us?” Heather asked.
Ethan sent her a wry smile. “He has a hot date.”
“Oh.”
Ed flashed her a charming grin. “A very hot date.”
She grinned. “Well, have fun, handsome.”
Ed laughed, grabbed his keys, and headed for the door.
Ethan was pleased to see Heather and his Second getting along so well. Some women would have balked at having the other man live with them. Heather hadn’t batted an eyelash.
As Ed stepped out into the night, he caught Ethan’s eye. “Good luck.”
Ethan grimaced. He’d need it.
“Oh, come on.” Heather said after Ed left. “It isn’t going to be that bad.”
“If you say so,” he muttered.
She eyed him speculatively. “Are you nervous?”
“No. Yes. Maybe. Why do you ask?”
She laughed.
Ethan didn’t know how she could face the night so casually and straightened his tie for the dozenth time. “Do I look okay?”
Her eyes lit with amber fire as she gave him a long once-over. “You look positively edible.” As did she with her iridescent eyes.
Ethan drew her close and pressed a tender kiss to her lips.
She had made it through her transformation with only one hitch. As with Sarah, Melanie, and Krysta, her fever had climbed so high they had had to submerge her in an ice bath to bring it down. It had scared the hell out of Ethan, making him all the more thankful that she would never be sick again.
Fortunately, Heather remembered very little of the three days illness had claimed her.
The doorbell chimed.
His heart leapt in his chest.
Heather laughed. “You really are nervous.”
“Yes, damn it.”
She leaned up and kissed his chin. “Everything’s going to be okay, Ethan.”
“Your eyes are glowing,” he told her.
“Oh. Hold on.” Stepping back, she closed her eyes a moment. When she opened them, they were brown once more.
He smiled, relieved.
She winked. “You’re cute when you’re nervous.”
Ethan groaned. “Don’t make this more difficult for me than it already is.”
“Who? Me?” she asked, the picture of innocence.
“Ah hell. I’m screwed, aren’t I?”
Laughing, Heather leaned past him and opened the front door. “Hi, Dad. Come on in.”
General Lane, wearing slacks and a dress shirt with the collar loose, returned Heather’s smile. Stepping inside, he waited for her to close the door, then gave her a big hug. “How’s my girl?”
“Excellent,” she chirped.
Her father turned to Ethan and offered his hand. “Ethan.” Ethan shook his hand. “Good to see you, sir.”
General Lane glanced at Heather. “Should I have worn a suit?”
“No. Ethan’s nervous, so he overdressed.”
Ethan stared at her. “You said I looked fine.”
A teasing glint entered her eye. “Actually, I said you looked positively—”
“Don’t say it!”
She laughed.
Ethan sighed. “If you’ll forgive me for saying so, sir, your daughter has a mean streak.”
Smiling, General Lane clapped him on the back. “I’ve known that for years, son. So why are you nervous?”
Heather winked at her father. “He’s afraid you’re going to freak out when you find out we’re living together.”
Ethan gaped at her. “Heather!” They were supposed to ease him into things, damn it.
She laughed. “What? You think he isn’t going to recognize my furniture? He bought some of it.”
“I thought that chair looked familiar,” General Lane muttered.
Heather looped her arm through her father’s and guided him into the living room. “The vampires really did a number on my place, Dad. A lot of stuff wasn’t salvageable. And I’m head over heels in love with Ethan. So, instead of taking turns staying at each other’s home, we just moved my stuff in here and I live here now.”
Her father cut Ethan a glance.
Ethan’s palms began to sweat as his last hope of making a good impression began to slip away. “I’m going to marry her,” he blurted.
Heather grinned, enjoying his discomfort so much he feared her eyes would soon begin to glow with mirth.
Ethan sighed. “That’s actually why we invited you over tonight, sir. We were going to provide you with a delicious dinner, maybe some wine to relax you. Then I was going to tell you how much I love Heather and ask your permission to marry her. Your approval is important to me, so I was hoping to make a good impression. But your daughter, it seems, would rather watch me squirm.”
She shrugged, offering him an unrepentant smile. “I can’t help it. I’ve never seen you like this before. As I said, you’re cute when you’re nervous.”
Ethan glanced at her father to see how he was taking all of this.