Kiss of the Vampire (The Vanderlind Realm Book 2) (26 page)

“Uh,” Dorian stammered, shifting uncomfortably. “I did have it with me, but I lost it when I caught on fire after being barred from entering this building last sunrise.” That caused some muttering among the Bishops. “But I can easily get it again,” Dorian continued. “All I need is a laptop and an internet connection.”

“No one here can help you there,” Ilona said as if she were in charge. “Your evidence is your responsibility. No one here uses a computer.”

“Ilona, am I mistaken, or are you not an official here?” Dorian asked. “In fact, why are you even in this room? If you’ve already given your evidence, then you are expected to leave.” He turned to look at Everett. “Is there a reason for this?”

“He’s right,” the lead vampire said, although he looked uncomfortable saying it. “It’s not customary. Ilona, your services are no longer required. Please leave the room so we can finish up here.”

Ilona gave a laugh of outrage. “Try removing me,” she said. “Go ahead. Do I need to remind you who my maker is?”

“Who is her maker?” I whispered in Dorian’s ear.

“A very old and very powerful vampire,” he explained. “But that doesn’t mean she should have carte blanche to act like she belongs in an asylum.”

“Yeah, but she seems to be doing it anyway,” I grumbled. Ilona’s maker must have been president of the vampires or something for the nutty way she was getting away with acting.

“I saw plenty of computers on my way in here,” Dorian said, directing his words toward Everett. “If one of Ilona’s guards would please just bring one to us, then we can get this all settled.”

“They don’t work for me,” Ilona insisted, sounding indignant.

Dorian shrugged. “Yes, but they’re on your payroll.” He leveled her with such a steady gaze that she turned away.

“Would one of your go get a laptop for Mr. Vanderlind?” the eyebrow lady, whose name was apparently Irene, snapped at the men in black uniforms. “I do have other things to get done tonight. If there is new evidence, then I for one want to know about it.”

Ten minutes later and Dorian was pulling up article after article stating the dates that the teens had disappeared. “Haley’s maker’s day is December twenty-fifth,” he said. “Unless one of you has figured out the magic of time travel, then I think it is pretty obvious that my scion is innocent.”

Everett frowned at the computer screen. “This seems to be a case of sloppy investigative work to begin with,” he said. “Haley should have never been charged with anything beyond being a bit willful.”

“But she is willful,” Ilona interjected. “And that puts us all at risk. You have to admit that. She needs a few years of reform school at the very least.”

“You’ve got to be kidding,” I groaned. I was not a tough girl. I didn’t know how to tag a building, or hotwire a car, or whatever it was that girls were supposed to do to get themselves sent to reform school. And the thought of being away from Dorian for another second was painful, never mind the years that they would probably sentence me. “If this is the standard you’re using to judge people, then every teenager in America should be in reform school.”

The vampires exchanged glances, none of them willing to contradict Ilona. “Well…” Everett said, as if he was actually thinking it over. “Maybe only a couple of months just to…”

“Who hasn’t been willful at one time or another?” Dorian demanded, interrupting the other vampire. “Especially after first becoming a vampire?” He turned to face the group. “I remember Irene telling me about a time when she snatched a mortal boy away from his flock of sheep and stuffed him in a belfry.”

“He always teased my daughter,” she said. “He would dunk her braids in an inkwell. But I sure gave him the surprise of his life.” It was obvious the memory still gave her satisfaction.

“And what about you, Everett?” Dorian asked. “Didn’t I hear that you and your friends used to steal cars?”

“Just for joyriding,” the vampire insisted. “We always gave them back. And that was when I was a mortal, so it really doesn’t count.”

“But you can see where I’m headed,” Dorian said. He turned to address the whole room. “Haley had a bumpy start when she was turned. We didn’t feel an instant connection and I was having trouble convincing her that vampires actually existed.” This made a few of the other  undead laugh. “But she never killed anyone,” he continued, “which I think shows amazing self control, given the circumstances. And we do feel connected now,” he said, drawing me closer to him. “She’s been coming to me for advice on how to actually be a vampire. So reform school doesn’t even make sense. Not unless you think it’s appropriate to send her to reform school simply because an old girlfriend of mine has a grudge against me.”

“I suppose you’re referring to me with that comment,” Ilona said, her voice scathing. “Well you can just get over yourself. I have no grudge against you. I was just concerned for the wellbeing of your community.”

She was such a damn liar.

“Well, good,” said Everett, clapping his hands together. “Then I think we can agree that Haley Scott has been cleared of all charges.” He turned to look at me. “Haley, you are free to go. And on behalf of the Bishops, I apologize for any inconvenience.”

Everyone leaped to their feet as if they wanted to get the hell out of there before Ilona could make any more of a fuss. Dorian kissed me hard on the mouth. “I can’t believe I almost didn’t get here in time,” he whispered, his voiced jagged.

“But you did,” I told him. “And now we can get the hell out of here.”

He rubbed his nose against mine, nuzzling me. “Good point.” Looking up, he said, “Everett, sorry to bother you, but do you happen to have a change of clothes you can give me? I’d say that you can lend me, but I probably won’t be returning them. We intend to leave immediately, but I hate to travel dressed like this.” He looked down at his tattered shirt and jacket.

Everett nodded. “I have some gym clothes in my office that you can have,” he said. “For when I play racquetball.” I found it weird that a vampire still played racquetball — or that anyone still played racquetball for that matter — but maybe he was turned in the eighties. I think racquetball was pretty popular back then. “Follow me,” he said, leading us out of the conference room.

“Here you go,” Everett said, handing Dorian a stack of clean clothes once we were in his office. The room looked very corporate, all wood paneling and tasteful upholstery. “Consider it my gift to you as an apology for all the hassle.”

“Thank you,” Dorian said. He was much better at being gracious than I was. Given the opportunity, I would punch everyone in the building right in the face.

“And I think it’s probably a good idea that you two are getting out of town,” Everett said in a much lower voice. “Things are…” he searched for the right word. “Things are delicate around here right now. If I were you, I’d go someplace where you can relax and keep a low profile.”

Dorian nodded. “I appreciate that, Everett. We were on our way to New Orleans, but maybe we’ll go to Savannah instead.”

We’d never discussed New Orleans or Savannah. But I had the feeling Dorian was intentionally giving misinformation to throw Ilona off our scent, so I kept my mouth shut. Maybe if she didn’t see us for a decade or two she would calm down. Or at least find some other poor sucker to torment.

“Let me just change clothes and we’ll get out of your hair,” Dorian said to Everett. I tried to follow the older vampire out of the room to give Dorian some privacy, but he grabbed me by the arm. “Oh no, not you,” he said. “I’m not let you out of my sight ever again.”

“But you have to change,” I insisted.

“That’s fine,” Dorian told me, tugging me a little closer. “You can turn your back if you’re worried about preserving my modesty.”

I faced the wall and tried to think about anything, but how delicious Dorian would look after shedding his burnt clothes. His golden hair was already growing back in, but it would definitely need a cut to even it out.

A minute later Dorian said to me, “Okay, turn around.” And then he added, “What do you think?”

I had to laugh. Dorian was not meant for a t-shirt, track pants and a fleece jacket. “You look…” I couldn’t even think of how to describe him.

Dorian shook his head, a grin splitting his face. “Yeah, that’s what I thought.” He hooked an arm around my waist and tugged me close. “Come on,” he said. “Let’s get out of here.”

We headed out the door, smiling at each other. It just felt so wonderful to be with him and coffin free. But then Ilona was waiting for us in the hall.

“Oh,” I said and we both pulled up short. I’d been so happy I’d almost forgotten about her.

“Think you’re pretty clever. Don’t you?” She had a weird way of making pronouncements.

“Ilona,” Dorian said, and I could feel him clutching me a little tighter. “I know I’ve upset you and I want you to know that I’m sorry for whatever wrong you think I’ve done you. It was unintentional and I apologize. I hope you can forgive me so we can all move on with our lives.”

I knew his apology wasn’t going to placate her. If anything, it would probably incite Ilona to even more malice. Women do not like it when men don’t know the reason that they’re angry.

Ilona gave us both a tight lipped smile. Rage was causing her eyes to glitter. She looked like she could spit glass. “You should have gone with the deal,” she said, focusing her attention on me. “Twelve years in a coffin is nothing compared to what I’m going do to you.”

“If you’re going to punish anyone, then punish me,” Dorian told her. I could feel his muscles clenching under his shirt. “Haley has never harmed you.”

The vampiress gave a small laugh. “It’s true,” she said. “But punishing her hurts you so much more.”

“Is everything alright here?” Everett asked, appearing at Ilona’s side. “I hope you’ve settled all your differences.”

“You can always hope,” Ilona said before turning and strutting off down the hall. The three of us stood and watched her go.

Everett shook his head. “It’s a shame that something that crazy comes in such pretty packaging.” Then turning to the two of us he said, “So, you were planning on getting out of here?” He gestured down the hall, in the opposite direction of Ilona’s departure. “Let me see you off.”

As soon as we were airborne and clear of the warehouse district, Dorian swept me into his arms and kissed me while we did a barrel roll across the sky. “Let’s drop by the castle for a moment. I need a quick change of clothes before we head to Cleveland,” he said. “I would feel ridiculous going anywhere dressed like this.”

“Okay,” I said shyly. My heart felt like it was hammering in my chest. It was nearly impossible for me to believe that Dorian actually loved me. But I decided to try to follow my mother’s advice and just live for the moment. So I stuffed all my fears and insecurities way down into the darkest corners of my being. I loved Dorian with all my heart. There was a chance that he was going to break that heart one day, but that was a risk I was willing to take.

Epilogue

Haley

I had just spent more money on clothes in twenty-four hours than I had in the last ten years. I was not exaggerating. Dorian even called around and made some stores stay open late. It all felt so fabulously
Pretty Woman
and I absolutely hated that movie.

There were several moments during our break-neck spending spree through the finer retailers of Cleveland where I felt the crushing grip of insecurity wrap its talons around me. I couldn’t trust Dorian. I couldn’t let him spend so much money on me. At any moment he was going to grow tired of me and demand that I repay him. Or disappear without a word.

But whenever he sensed I was about to panic, Dorian always took me in his arms. He didn’t need to speak; he could say worlds with just one kiss. And then I would know that the fairy tale was true. The frog had turned into a prince. Or, more accurately, the playboy had turned into a prince. Dorian loved me. He’d risked meeting the sun to save me. Yes, he really was a scoundrel, but a noble scoundrel. My scoundrel.

We were headed to Chicago after the next sunset. After all of my planning, I was finally going to make it to that city. But I definitely wouldn’t be sleeping in my car and serving up burgers and fries at an all-night diner. After that Dorian wanted to take me to New York.

“I want to show you off,” he told me. And then we would finally start exploring the undead world. We’d agreed to fire first, although Dorian still refused to give me any more details. “You’re going to love it,” was all he would say. “It really is astounding.”

“Can’t you at least give me a hint?” I pleaded. “Not knowing is driving me crazy.”