Angels and Hunters (Stoker Sisters 2) (13 page)

“Oh, Ashwin,” she said. Her heart pounded under the sheer intensity of his gaze. Patting her hand over her cherished Jane Austen, she tried to cool the heat that sizzled between Ashwin and herself. “I can’t thank you enough for having saved this for me.”

“The book saved my sanity on more than one occasion. I clung to it, knowing that one day I would be able to share it with you. That thought alone kept me together.”

His eyes suddenly grew somber, dark and thoughtful as he tugged the book from her chest and fingered the slash. “It also literally saved my life.”

“Jane Austen saved your life?”

“That night after I left you, she was tucked into my vest. I’d forgotten all about it… that is until that hunter attempted to stake me. He had me. The surprise attack had taken me aback and I was a dead man. When he raised that stake, when I saw the determination in his eyes, I thought I’d never see another day. But your Jane Austen took the brunt of the strike.”

“Another reason for me to love her,” Sadie said as she snuggled up against Ashwin’s chest.

“She saved my life, but it’s my love for you that saved me from eternal damnation. I’m no different from all vampires in having a strong fear of that fate.” He pulled her closer, hugging her tight.

His love overwhelmed her. For years she thought his heart belonged to Alexis. The many times she had replayed various scenes from her childhood, Alexis had always come out the victor. She’d always held his gaze longer, always enticed him more easily.

Sadie lacked the abandon Alexis had. Reserved and quiet it was hard to compete with the tempest her sister often proved to be.

But now… Sadie pulled back and looked into Ashwin’s eyes. “Alexis would do anything to be with you,” she said. Part of her wanted to tempt and test him. Knowing that Alexis could easily be his, heart and soul, would he falter?

Staring up at him, her heart began to pound with deafening persistence as she awaited his response.

“Alexis may have held my curiosity for a moment, but you’re the one who has always, always had complete control of my heart.”

Her heart swelled, filled her senses and left her feeling dizzy. And when his lips pressed against hers, she was flooded with warmth and love as she never dared dream of.

“I have no doubts where my heart lies,” he whispered as he continued to pepper her eyes, cheeks and neck with passionate kisses. “Unlike Keegan, I know how I feel for you. I have no questions or hesitations.”

Overjoyed with the depth of emotions he was displaying, Sadie wanted to cling to the moment and never let it go. Being in his arms, in his embrace, in his kiss; it was where she belonged and where she wanted to be for the rest of her life.

Lord Ashwin, she thought. A prince and a man of the world. And he loved her.

“For years I’ve suffered at the hands of Skars, all for the purpose of seeing you again, being with you again. Pledging servitude to him is a small price to pay just to hold you in my arms.”

His lips enveloped hers and her head reeled from the pleasurable sensations he brought her. Was love always this wonderful? Was the tender embrace of a man always so welcoming and reassuring?

“But my true pledge is to you, Sadie.” He pulled back suddenly and held her gaze with fierce determination. “I want to do all that I can to keep you safe, and with Skars’ devilish scheme looming over you, it won’t always be easy.”

“Am I really in that much danger? I mean with so many vampires out there, why does he want me?”

“Your lineage precedes you. You can’t escape it, at least not entirely.”

“What do you mean, not entirely?”

“Alexis. You need to break away from her, cut off ties.”

“Ashwin, do you realize what you're asking me to do?”

“She can only bring you danger.”

“She’s my sister. I can’t abandon her.”

“She’s closer to the Darkness than you think, Sadie. I know you want to save her, and I admire you for that. Your love for her is commendable, but it may also be your downfall.”

“What do you propose I do? Just run off, without so much as leaving a word to her?”

“She’ll turn on you if you don’t.” He gripped her shoulders, his fingers digging in as he pressed on. “Stay with me, Sadie. Let me keep you safe. Let me keep you out of Skars’ clutches. Perhaps when it’s safe you can return to help Alexis, but if she turns on you, you’ll never be able to keep her from turning completely to the dark side.”

“Ashwin, I want to be with you so much, and for always, but…”

“Don’t say no, Sadie. Don’t turn me down, my angel.” He took hold of a lock of hair and twirled it around his finger. “My angel. The Angel Skars wants beyond anything. He’s out to get Delilah and there’s little I can do to save her. But you… You’ve no idea what he’ll do to get you. I’ve traveled through centuries and across continents to find you again. I can’t lose you, not to him. I can’t sit by and watch him destroy you.”

“You're scaring me, Ashwin.”

“Good.” His fingers continued to twirl the lock of hair while his eyes positively mesmerized her. “Good.”

Her lips parted and the words that emerged were not her own. “I know it’s not safe for me out there. I trust you, Ashwin. I know you’ll keep me safe.”

“Perfect,” Ashwin whispered. “But we don’t want Skars to suspect you're with me. He has to believe you're with Keegan.”

Chapter 12

I
t took a long moment for Keegan to finally relent and simply turn around. Watching Sadie leave with the likes of Ashwin killed him. He put his hand to the door handle of Rusty’s and pulled, unsure why he really wanted to enter the restaurant at all.

Frank was quick to come to him the moment Keegan sat at the counter, friendly and welcoming as usual.

“What can I do you for?” he asked.

“I don’t know.” Keegan smiled, but knew his heart wasn’t really in it. “I’m not really hungry.”

“Oh, I see.” Frank leaned in. “You're here about a particularly pretty blond.”

Keegan hid his surprise. “Sadie?”

“She’s the one, isn’t she?” 

“You mean the Angel?”

Frank shot him an avuncular grin. “That and perhaps the girl who has really touched your heart.”

“I’m not exactly sure about that.” Keegan thought of Alexis, wondering if she could possibly be the Angel. Stranger things had happened. All her drama and rebellion could just be for show. Beneath it all, she could be the pure one, the angel amongst vampires. She certainly had the mouth to end the feud between Strigois and good vampires.

Alexis had helped him when he’d been attacked, even taking the time to bring him to the hospital. Not many aspiring Strigois would do that. Though he’d not known she was a vampire back then, he now realized how hungry she must have been that night, after all she’d been out to get a meal. Yet she’d shoved that aside in order to tend to his wellbeing.

It made sense. Somewhere in there, beneath the hard veneer and sharp tongue, was the little girl who sought approval and praise. She’d proved that night just how kind hearted she truly was. She hid it so well, this good little girl, but she could very well be an Angel, just like Sadie.

“Frank,” Keegan said, his heart heavy with the thought of Sadie lost out there with that weasel. “Sadie was in here with Ashley.”

“I believe his name is…”

“I know perfectly well what his name is. It just sticks to my tongue and refuses to emerge as it should.” Ignoring Frank’s amused grin, he brought more urgency to his question. “Why did you allow Sadie to leave with him?”

“You don’t see the whole picture.”

“Then enlighten me. Ashley is a Strigoi and when he strolled in here neither you nor Martha batted an eye. You didn’t alert me or any other hunter.” 

“He may be a Strigoi, but…”

“What did he tell you to win such trust from you?”

“Don’t get on the defensive, Hunter.”

Keegan grinded his teeth on hearing Frank’s derogatory tone.

“I should be just as wary of you as Ashwin. You're our enemy, remember?”

Busying his hands with the folding and unfolding of a paper napkin, Keegan kept his gaze on the counter. He couldn’t argue that point with Frank.

“Ashwin is more than just an average Strigoi. He’s strong. Much stronger than you can imagine. Maybe it’s because he’s one of the Ancients before he went to Skars.”

“That hardly changes anything. He’s still a Strigoi.”

“Keegan,” Frank said softly as he leaned closer. “Ashwin saved Martha’s life.”

“I’m sure he had his own reasons for doing so.”

Taking a quick glance at Martha at the other end of the restaurant, Frank shook his head.

“She was on Skars’ death list. As one of Dracule’s followers, she was to be eliminated should she choose not to join Skars’ forces. Ashwin had her, right there in his clutches and of course Martha refused to have anything to do with Skars.”

“Let me guess, he let her go.”

“Yes.”

“Right.”

“That Bulgarian prince had a change of heart, Keegan, just like you did.”

“Perhaps it’s simply Martha who has an overpowering hold on everyone.”

Frank frown his lack of amusement at the remark.  “You need to relax, kid.”

“Yeah, right. I’m trying to figure out what that wuss wants with Sadie and I should relax,” Keegan said with an annoyed smirk. “Other than charming her straight into Skars’ hands, I can’t see what he’s doing with her.”

“Maybe the same thing you're trying to do.” The soft feminine voice wafted from across the bar carrying an edge of wisdom with it.

Feeling the sudden wave of heat sneaking up on him, Keegan glanced at Martha who just looked at him with loving pity.

“You're not the only one to have noticed just how attractive she is,” she went on. “I think Ashwin could really be in love with her.”

“In love?” Keegan echoed in disbelief.

Her smile broadening as she approached, Martha came around the bar and wrapped her arm around his shoulder. “You know, Ashwin may actually be trying to protect Sadie from you.”

“Get serious.”

“You are a hunter, Keegan,” she argued. “You may be a lovesick hunter, but a hunter nonetheless.”

“So you really think she’s safe with him?”

“He’s not Skars,” Frank interjected. “If anything, he loathes Skars and everything he stands for. He’ll do everything he can to keep Sadie away from Skars.” Frank straightened up and looked at Keegan. “Besides, she didn’t really give me the impression of being a frail flower.  Despite her delicate beauty, she looked pretty headstrong and capable. After all, she’s Dracule’s daughter. I bet she can stand up for herself well enough.”

“She may have the power of a vampire, but she’s not that strong. She needs protection, true protection. That pansy can hardly be trusted to be with Sadie.”

Martha giggled. “Trusted to protect her or trusted to simply be with her. I do believe you’re allowing a little green monster to take over, Keegan.”

“I have no time for useless emotions like jealousy. My only concern is in keeping her away from Skars.” The flash of an image of Sadie in Ashwin’s arms came to Keegan’s mind and he fought to keep from crumpling the tattered napkin he still nervously played with. Sadie wasn’t his girl. Despite what he’d seen in her eyes – the affection, longing and caring – he had made it clear to her they weren’t a pair.