Vampire Coven Book 3: A Vampire's Embrace (17 page)

“Tate’s young, he’ll have his own female in time. He may even chose a female I feel is past childbearing years, if we find more ice dwellers. That way he won’t have to share.”

Rhett knew any female Tate found and kept would be declared past childbearing years no matter the age. Tavish knew his men and their needs. Breeder females were important, but his men always came first. Tavish must have known the second he saw Hope she was what Rhett needed.

“Hope needs you,” Tavish said.

“I need her, too.”

* * * *

Desolate.

Hope knew the meaning. True to his word Rhett had been reading to her. Books were so interesting, Hope thought as she stared without seeing into the lake Ann loved. There was a beginning, a middle and an end. An anticlimax, a villain, a hero and sometimes heroine. Hope was no heroine. A heroine was powerful, engaging, sweet and sometimes fueled with fire.

Rhett was the warrior, a hero, illness the villain. Ann was the heroine. Did heroines die in stories? None that Rhett had read. Books were a lie, all had happy endings. No wonder they stopped making them. Hope shivered and wrapped her arms around her knees curling within herself. She closed her eyes. She would make her own story.

“Once upon a time there was a beautiful little girl born named Ann. Ann was so precious and sweet. She was strong and healthy and loved life in a strange vampire coven who adored her. She ate cookies and pizza every chance she had. Ann grew to have many beautiful children and saw her children’s children. She lived a wonderful life. The end.”

That should have been Ann’s story, with a happily ever after. Hope winced, nowhere in the story had she mentioned her mother or father. Hope didn’t belong in Ann’s story, she had failed her. Rhett wasn’t her true father, but he had given the child so much love, he deserved a part.

“Ann was watched over by her adopted vampire father her entire life. He protected her and kept her safe from all harm.”

“Ann was adored by her beautiful mother.” Hope heard Rhett’s voice from behind her. Her body stiffened.

She was hoping he would never return. If Rhett stayed away, Ann would never be gone, not really. Hope squeezed her eyes tight. If she didn’t look she wouldn’t see if his arms were empty. In her imagination, she saw Rhett standing there with Ann; her daughter was all smiles pressing her little rag doll to Rhett’s cheek. A bell would ring and Ann would squeal it was food time.

“Hope.”

No, don’t make me see.

“I’m not going away.”

Hope felt her hands held tight. Her image crashed. He used both hands—there were none holding her child. Her eyes fluttered open. Rhett’s blue eyes were moist, calm. Hope launched herself into his arms. She clung tight as he took to the sky. Hope watched as the scenery changed. Before long, Rhett set them down. There was a body of water that stretched as far as the eye could see.

“This is the ocean,” Rhett said.

“It reminds me of the glacier; it goes on forever. It makes you wonder if it goes anywhere.”

“Long ago there were things called ships that would take you across huge bodies of water. Cruises, some were called, others had different names.”

Small talk. Hope wondered if he felt as uncomfortable with her as she did with him. Was Ann the only thing they had in common?

“Why did you bring me here?” Hope asked.

Rhett took her hand when she made a move to turn away. “I want you to listen.”

“To what?” There would never be another sound as sweet as Ann’s voice.

“I know what you’re thinking.”

Of course he knew, he had lived it too. Rhett ran his thumb across her jaw. Sorrow was a powerful emotion. It blocked everything except the pain. The emptiness surrounded her in a cocoon of despair eating her heart. How would there ever be a way out?

“Every day it will get a tiny bit easier,” Rhett said. Hope shook her head. “I promise you.”

“You said when Ann was gone I wouldn’t be anywhere. You were right.”

“I said that in anger. I know you feel lost—but I found you. I know you feel alone—but here I am. Listen to the waves caress the shoreline. You will always have your memories. Make new ones.”

“But they won’t include Ann.”

“There hasn’t been a day go by when I don’t think to myself, wouldn’t Acca love this, or wouldn’t Acca have loved bubble gum ice cream. I keep her memory alive and so she will never be gone. Live if only to keep Ann’s memory alive, at least for now, until the hurting isn’t so unbearable.”

Hope closed her eyes. She wouldn’t picture Ann here playing in all of this sand. They had a sand box at the coven the child had loved, that’s where she would keep her memories. When she opened her eyes she instead reached for a handful of the soft white sand beneath her feet. It slipped through her fingers.

“Ann would have loved this sand.”

Rhett smiled. “Yes, she would have.”

Chapter 12

“Rhett, she needs someone like me,” Tate said.

Tate had approached Rhett a week after Ann’s death. Hope spent much of her time in the bedroom. Rhett hovered on occasion when he thought she needed him; he gave her space when she needed that too. At night, she lay on the cot; she’d wake disoriented and scramble around for Ann, then realize she wasn’t there. Her weeping hurt Rhett. He wondered if Cecily ever wept for Acca.

Rhett determined he would take her on another outing today. They hadn’t been anywhere but the beach since Ann passed. Although Rhett had made some progress, he had found three statues to place in the field where he was certain Ann and Acca played. Never having been into gardening, it was therapeutic to find wild flowers and plant them. He often wondered if he was being selfish not to share their resting place with Hope. But he wanted it perfect the first time she saw it; it
had
to be perfect.

Hope had been so curious about the world around her. She wasn’t a breeder female and so the rules didn’t apply to her. Rhett could take her anywhere, and he planned on taking her everywhere. She would never forget Ann; he would never be able to take Hope’s mind off of her. He just wanted her to see other things. Maybe even things that would make her happy and excited to be alive.

“Tate, I know you honestly feel that way but I think I’m what’s best for Hope.”

“But you want a breeder female and have kids. You were amazing with Ann. I’ve never seen that side of you except with children. You were always good to me. It’s the women who make you angry for some reason, and I know it’s not just Tanya’s fault.”

“With Hope, it’s different,” Rhett said. And it was.

“But, I, but…”

“Tate.” Rhett put his hands onto Tate’s shoulders. “I know you mean well. Your time is coming. Have patience. Before you know it, a female will fall into your lap and you’ll be smitten.”

Tate looked less than happy as Rhett walked away. Hope was looking out the window when Rhett entered his room. She backed into his arms when he pressed against her. The bell for lunch sounded. He heard Hope’s tummy growl. She had a small smile on her face and Rhett knew she was thinking how much Ann loved that food bell.

“It’s time for lunch. I know you’re hungry.”

Hope turned and gazed up at him. “I don’t belong anywhere. There’s no table for a barren, childless woman.”

Rhett had thought that was part of the problem. “Come with me.”

Hope stood trembling in the main hall. Everyone who had been talking quieted. Rhett led her to a small table to the right, near the breeder table and those her own age. Hope sat, flustered. There were only two seats. One for her and one for him. There was a single red rose in a vase. After Rhett sat, he began to pile food onto Hope’s plate.

“Here,” came a voice. Rhett looked at the breeder table. It was within reaching distance. A young man was smiling at Hope as he handed her a bowl of strawberries. “It’s nice to see you back.”

Hope smiled as she accepted the berries, Ann’s favorites, besides cookies. Eyes lowered Hope nibbled a berry. She wasn’t about to be let off that easy. The breeder table was a boisterous bunch; they laughed told lewd jokes and included Hope and Rhett in everything. Rhett knew just because Hope was barren it didn’t mean the males weren’t interested; what they did on weekends or who they did them with was their business. Except, Rhett made it known Hope was off limits.

Though many faces showed their disappointment, some of the males remained suggestive until Hope blushed. Rhett wanted her to see she was desired, beautiful. It was working. Hope had needed those days in seclusion, but this was what she needed now. To feel welcomed and wanted and that she did belong, Rhett would always find a place for her.

As the humans began filing out of the hall, Rhett took Hope into his arms. There was a place he wanted to show her. At one time after the ice age hit and the humans weren’t always considered an endangered species, a few of the other harder vampires indulged in a few games. Rhett knew of them, but didn’t condone them. He knew the games were still being played behind Tavish’s back, but only older males were used in the game, and never any from a vampire coven.

Below Rhett could see the maze. There was no one there, but the high walls were recently cut and well cared for. He had no intention of dropping Hope into the maze as the other hunters did with their prey.

“What is this place?” Hope asked.

“It’s a maze.”

They were standing at one of the two exits, or entrances depending on where they started. A human would be released and forced to flee. If they found their way out they were granted their freedom, but they were hunted, on foot, by vampires. As far as Rhett knew there wasn’t a human alive who had won. Today there would be.

* * * *

“It looked spooky from the sky. It looks creepier up close.” Hope gazed up at the ten foot high shrubbery. Someone must have trimmed it regularly. It wasn’t as overly wild as the other places she had seen. The entrance was foreboding and Hope shuddered as Rhett encouraged her in.

“This is called a maze. Long ago your ancestors had all kinds of them, some made of corn others more inventive. They did it for fun.”

“If it was my ancestors then how can it still be standing?”

“Even vampires like to play games.” Hope didn’t think she liked the sound of that. She wasn’t in the mood for games. “Come and find me.”

Rhett was suddenly gone. Hope didn’t know whether to go forward or back. She was already lost. Why was he doing this? There were enough panicked and saddened emotions battling inside of her. Now he was adding abandoned to the list? Alone with her emotions.

Well fine, I’m broken but not defeated.

No not defeated, but so damned close to it. If she just stood there she would get nowhere. Grumbling, Hope trudged along around corners to dead ends, backtracking. Her frustration grew. She refused to call for Rhett. If her ancestors could play this stupid game so could she.

As she continued on, she came to another dead end. The bushes had her boxed in. She couldn’t see where she was going or where she had been; it was all so hopeless. Stopping for a breath Hope looked up. For just a second, she caught a glimpse of someone. It had to be Rhett keeping an eye on her.

It took her only seconds to see why she was playing this game. It was no game. It was how she felt. She was boxed in, alone, frustrated. For every step forward, she took two back. Rhett had allowed her to see him or she wouldn’t have. He was there; all she had to do was call for him. Knowing that made her feel better. With determination, Hope squared her shoulders and began walking, and turning, right, then right. She wasn’t trapped as long as she could move and breathe.

Before long, Hope stumbled from the exit into Rhett’s arms. “There, you see?” He ran his hand down her hair as he pulled her close. “You belong, and you aren’t helpless. You haven’t lost your spirit or determination.”

“I have felt that way. As though I were in a maze not knowing which way to turn and every dead end resulted in grief. I needed to find my way out. But it still hurts.”

Rhett hooked a finger under her chin to tilt her face up. “It will always hurt. But one day you will think of the memories you have of her and smile, not always cry.”

“What do I do for the rest of my life? I’ve always had Ann to take care of. I feel useless.”

“Then we will make you feel useful.”

“How?”

Rhett glanced around. He wrapped her in his arms and took off. Hope thought she saw other vampires approaching. Before long they were far away from the maze.

“Did they have a human man with them?” Hope asked.

“Yes.”

“Rhett?”

“Don’t ask.”

“Games, huh?” she asked dryly.

“Why don’t we check out a new area?”

When Rhett set them down, Hope shivered. She clasped her arms around her chest. Goose bumps covered her. Rhett ran his hands over her body. He cast a glance around and took her to what appeared to be a large rounded bush. Rhett studied it intensely.

“Hmm.”

“What is it?” Hope whispered.

“There’s something odd about this bush it…”