To Honor: Vampire Assassin League #22 (10 page)

“
Watashi no ai?
”

It wasn’t voiced, but her heart heard it. Christine scrambled from beneath the truck with alacrity. Gained her feet. He wasn’t easy to see. He was standing in the shadow-land between light sources. The scythe things were hanging from his shoulders. He’d retrieved his sword. Blood dripped from it onto the snow. As she watched, he slid his fingers along it, wiping it, and adding more dark red fluid to the pool beside him. He moved, sheathing the weapon onto his back. He appeared to be looking at anything other than her.

She’d never seen anything so wondrous. Beloved. Necessary. Her heart reacted, replacing the painful ache with something else. Something solid. Joy-filled. Rejuvenating.

She heard a siren start up somewhere in the distance.

“I must go,” Takeshi said.

“Wait!”

He’d faded into the night as she said it. Tears instantly stabbed her eyes. And then he reappeared. Exactly where he’d just been. That’s when the tears started flowing. She couldn’t prevent it.

“What is it, Christine?”

Damn snow. She couldn’t get to him quickly. She tried. Slid. He was instantly there, an arm about her middle as he caught her. But the moment she had her footing, he released her. Stepped back. Looked away. And everything was blurred with stupid tears.

“You...saved me.”

“
Hai.
”

“I needed you and you were there.”

“I will always be there.”

“Takeshi? Look at me.”

He shook his head. “You are safe now. I must go.”

“Where?”

“It does not matter. Forgive me. It is...too painful to be near you.”

Christine stepped as close as she could, taking up every spare inch of personal space. Then she wrapped her arms about him and forced him to look at her. He had beautiful eyes. Black. Mysterious.

“You are not going anywhere without me,” she said.

“
Watashi no ai
?”

“Okay. Plain English. I love you. I want to be with you. I don’t care who you are. Or what you are—and damn! You really move fast!”

They went up. The parking lot disappeared in the distance. Reality did the same thing. And she didn’t even miss it.

-o0o-

Jackie Ivie lives in the enormous state of Alaska with her husband and three very spoiled pets.  She started her writing career writing hot highland historical romances for Kensington Publishing.  There are now ten “Clans series” books, available in seven languages.  Keeping her head in the clouds most of the time, Jackie now spends her time researching, developing, and writing her paranormal series – the Vampire Assassin League, as well as her other historical line – the Brocade Collection.

Jackie loves hearing from fans, who can contact her at
www.jackieivie.com
or
www.VampireAssassinLeague.com

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TO HONOR is the 22nd installment of the Vampire Assassin League.  Check out all the assassins in the VAL, available singly, in 4-book bundles, 10-story mega packs, and in print as 2-packs.

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