The Accidental Vampire(88)

where she'd slumped back against the seat.

"Yes." Victor lifted her into his arms. He knew he shouldn't. He'd determined to try to

keep some distance from her while they sorted out who was gunning for him… or her,

but while he'd stood aside and let Harper, Edward, and Alessandro hang over her all

evening, it had been a sort of hell to do so… made worse by the fact that Elvi hadn't

even seemed to care.

He'd originally intended to take her aside and explain what he was doing, but hadn't

got the chance before leaving, and then she'd just seemed so okay with it, his

wounded pride had refused to allow him to do it, reminding him that while he couldn't

read her, neither could the rest of the men. Any of them would suit her as a lifemate

and she apparently had her choice. Despite having slept with him, she may not have

committed herself. After all, Victor had reminded himself, she'd fled the house after

his announcing that she was his lifemate. Perhaps that was her way of telling him

something.

Despite all of that, Victor would be damned if he was leaving her to be carried to the

house by one of the others. As far as he was concerned he'd shown enough restraint

for a lifetime standing idly by while she danced with them when his very blood had

cried out with rage at the very idea. As for the drinks they'd talked her into trying,

Victor would have liked to wring Edward and Alessandro's necks for suggesting them.

And hers for trying them without asking what they were.

Elvi was far too trusting and was just fortunate the four of them were there, acting as a

restraint on each other. He wouldn't like to think of her alone with Alessandro insisting

she drink this or that and not telling her what the contents were until after she'd

imbibed it. The man was a Cassanova, and though he was behaving himself so far,

Victor suspected that was only due to the presence of the others.

As for Edward… Victor frowned. He had no idea what the Brit was up to. He wasn't the

sort to try to get a lady drunk and take advantage of her, but he'd suggested an





intoxicating drink or two that night. Although, that was only at the beginning of the

evening and may have been an attempt to make her relax a little and enjoy herself. Elvi

had been slightly tense and wound up at first.

They were nearly to the gate leading out of the school yard when the helicopter

started its rotor whirling. Pressing Elvi closer to his chest to protect her from the flying

debris it kicked up, Victor scowled over his shoulder at the bloody machine. Elvi had

been obviously impressed that Harper had his own personal whirlybird. He didn't know

why. Hell, he could have a helicopter if he wanted one but he hated the damned

things. He flew in them often enough as an enforcer and always felt like his stomach

got left behind and took hours to catch up.

"You're back!" DJ came running down the driveway as they started up it, his expression

and tone panicked. "Thank God!"

"What is it?" Victor asked, automatically picking up his steps and moving more quickly.

"Mabel," DJ gasped, turning and hurrying back toward the house. "I think something's

wrong."

"Mabel?" Elvi asked sleepily as DJ disappeared into the house, not waiting for them or

even bothering to explain.

Victor glanced down as he crossed the deck.

Elvi was stirring in his arms, rubbing her hands over her face in an effort to wake up.

She glanced around with confusion. "Are we back?"

"Yes," he muttered, stepping through the door Harper held open, and then all hell

broke loose. Mabel's shrieks could be heard the moment they were in the house, the

sound filled with desperate agony. It turned Elvi into a scalded cat in his arms. The only

thing missing was the hissing as she suddenly thrashed around to free herself. Afraid

she would hurt herself, Victor set her down, and then gave chase when she raced for

the stairs.

"Mabel!" Elvi shouted as the woman's screams clawed down her back, leaving icy trails

in their wake. She mounted the stairs at a run, hearing the thunder of the men

following her, but uncaring what they did.

She burst into Mabel's bedroom at speed. Spotting the woman thrashing in the bed

despite DJs attempts to restrain her, she hurried to the bedside to help.

"What happened?!" Elsie yelled, trying to hold down Mabel's shoulders. She was a

thing in motion, head whipping, body convulsing, and Elvi couldn't see her properly to

tell where she was hurting. Much to her relief, on hearing her voice Mabel's screams

dropped to quiet moans. She continued to thrash, though, and Elvi repeated, "What

happened?"

"I was trying to turn her," DJ said anxiously and shook his head. "But something's gone