Vampire Coven Book 3: A Vampire's Embrace Read online

  Once at the lake, Ann took Dooder, her crayons and picture on a small stroll along the bank. Rhett allowed her to walk up to her knees in the water but no further.

  Hope sat at the base of a tree watching her daughter with sad eyes. “She was rubbing her back a while ago. She never tells me when something hurts, but I can tell.”

  “It could be her kidneys,” Rhett said. “She’s been nonstop since she came here. The air has done her good.”

  “She didn’t eat much at breakfast. She started to, but lost her appetite after a few mouthfuls then started drinking water.”

  Rhett crouched beside her. When Acca was dying he couldn’t comfort Cecily, and no one comforted him. His coven brothers were around but Rhett was new to them. Cecily had been alone beside Acca when she breathed her last breath. All Rhett could do was watch from a distance, even while she was laid to rest. Somehow, living through this again and hating it as much, he realized this time he would have closure.

  “Why do you love Ann so much?”

  The question was a surprise and caught Rhett off guard. “She reminds me of someone.”

  “Must have been someone special.”

  “Very special.”

  “Can we call a truce, for now?” Hope asked. “I don’t have the energy to battle a vampire when filled with so many emotions.”

  Rhett thought he could do that, for Ann’s sake. “Can you stop making me look bad?”

  Hope looked surprised. “How have I done that?”

  “You asked Tavish to find you blankets for Ann to sleep on. He brought in the bed. You asked Caine for a cup for Ann in case she needed water in the night, and a change of clothes because of her night sweats.” The doctor had blasted him over that, and Rhett should have realized it anyway, it had been a long time since he had taken care of a child. “Why didn’t you just ask me?”

  “You make it hard to ask for anything and you offer nothing.”

  “Well, ask me from now on. If you keep asking the other vampires for things they will think you’re interested in them taking care of you.”

  “I can take care of myself. Asking for things for Ann is hardly propositioning anyone.”

  Rhett realized she was right. She needed nothing from him, not even life after her child was gone. She didn’t need him, or want him. There was no way for this woman to use him. Hope came from an era that didn’t know about bad boys. She didn’t know about wild and dangerous sex. Rhett was a predator, a hunter. Long ago, women found that exciting. Before the ice age hit, women wanted excitement. Now women just feared him.

  It was a revelation. Women weren’t the same as before. Not really. An element of fear wasn’t fascinating to Hope. Tanya had loved his bad boy ways, she was drawn to mischief. In the end, she proved to be a bad girl. Vampires had gotten soft with humans because they raised them, sheltered them and took care of them. Humans no longer ran from them, they ran to them, for protection. Except the ice dwellers. Their women were taught flesh was a sin, sex was evil. Yet here sat Hope, half naked. Wanting nothing, not even comfort.

  “Just ask me next time,” Rhett said.

  Hope looked at the ground for a moment. When she gazed at Rhett, her eyes sparkled with unshed tears. Rhett knew she wouldn’t let one fall. He waited, wondering what the first thing would be for her to ask for.

  “May I have material to make Ann another doll? Ann never had friends before. She always thought being alone was normal. She wants Dooder to have more friends.”

  Rhett smiled, he should have known it would be something for the child. He gazed over at Ann who was introducing Dooder to a butterfly. “I think Ann needs to go shopping.”

  “What’s shopping?”

  “What’s shopping? Honey, three hundred years ago you would have made your husband exceedingly happy.” Rhett laughed.

  Chapter 7

  Hope stared around the massive open space of room in awe. Rhett called it a warehouse. When she looked at Ann, she could see her daughter’s wide-eyed openmouthed expression mirrored back. Everywhere were toys of all kinds as well as other items, strange items. For a second, she was afraid to move. Ann went to the first rack of dolls and fingered a beautiful brown-haired baby wearing odd clothing. Hope went to stand beside her. The youngest child she had seen so far was a toddler. There were pregnant women in various stages but no babies.

  “What’s that?” Ann asked.

  “This is a baby,” Rhett said. “I’m guessing you were this tiny at one point.”

  “Me?” Ann was definitely skeptical.

  “Yes, you were,” Hope confirmed.

  “Soon there will be more babies born,” Rhett said and stood by Hope. “We had a dry spell for a bit where all the breeder women seemed to get pregnant at the same time. Then two years later there are more carrying but not all. You can’t imagine how busy we all were in the first year of those babies’ lives. Talk about your baby boom.”

  He was chuckling, but Hope didn’t understand his joke. “Where did all these things come from?” Hope asked. “What are all these things?”

  “Vampires bring things back from various places around the world. There isn’t much left to be found, even humans, but one day we may find a use for some of this junk. The toys are for the kids, but mostly the kids are kept busy. A child has one or two items to call their own for bedtime or the rare occasion they develop a cold. But otherwise, children are encouraged to play outdoors all day.” Rhett took the baby and crouched down before Ann.

  “Do you want this baby, honey?”

  Rhett’s tone, so gentle and sweet made Hope long for someone to talk to her in that fashion. But she knew no one ever would. Ann nodded and reached for the toy as though it were the most amazing thing in the world. Hope thought it might be. A replication of a baby was impressive. It made her wonder again at the strange life her ancestors must have lived. If she had been a child hundreds of years ago, Hope wondered what strange toys she would have played with. Yet another fascination of what her ancestors would be like. Hope had to stop wondering, she would never have answers. Why did she torment herself?

  A horrible sound came from outside, a boom and grumble, the roof shook and Ann began to cry. Rhett lifted her into his arms immediately. Another boom sounded and Hope thought she might jump out of her skin.

  “Rhett?” Hope said. Her eyes widened, but she refused to press her body to his for comfort. She doubted he would offer regardless.

  “It’s all right, you two. It’s a thunder storm. The roof makes the noise worse. It won’t be as bad once we’re in my room.” He tickled Ann’s belly. “Tell you what, honey, why don’t we have a picnic inside?”

  “A what nic?” Ann sniffled but her curiosity got the better of her.

  Rhett took a fast glance around the large area and muttered something before snatching a box off a high shelf.

  “Better yet, little one, how about a tea party?” he asked.

  “What’s tea?” Ann said, then as an afterthought: “What’s a party?”

  Rhett grabbed a blanket from another shelf and wrapped Ann in it. He turned to Hope. “You don’t need to be afraid; your heart is pounding. I can hear the rain. The roof is tin which doesn’t help, it amplifies everything. Especially in such a large open space.” It was on the tip of Hope’s tongue to ask what rain was. But he must have seen her confusion. “Rain is simply water falling from the sky.”

  Water falls from the sky? Snow fell from the sky. It led to so many new questions. Hope began thinking this truce would be a big help. She wanted to understand so many things and hadn’t been able to ask anyone.

  Rhett took her in his arms. He adjusted the blanket to fit over Hope’s head. “You can watch the storm from my window but I don’t want Ann to get chilled. I’m going to be moving very fast. Put your arms around me. I won’t let you go.”

  Hope stepped into his arms, she pretended for a second he didn’t hate her. Every inch of him was hard, powerful, safe. Hope clung to him, her eyes squeezed shut.
Her hand clutched Ann’s. In seconds, she felt her world whoosh around her. Soon Rhett was removing the blanket from her as he closed his bedroom door. Hope was stunned. They had been so far from the main building but here they were. The sound of booming noise came again except it wasn’t as brutal. Ann scrambled onto a chair and looked out the window.

  “Lake’s turned over,” she cried out.

  Rhett took her hand in his. “No honey, the lake is right where we left it. This rain falls from the clouds. The noise is called thunder.”

  “Ice cracking,” Ann said.

  “Yes, I suppose it does sound like ice cracking.”

  Hope stood near Ann watching as the foliage bent with the pressure of the falling water. It was a terrifying sight to someone who had never seen such an event. A streak flew through the sky startling her.

  “Flying icicles,” Ann said in awe.

  “It’s called lightning.” Rhett chuckled and moved to open the box he had gotten from the warehouse. He began pulling out tiny plates and cups which he set on a blanket he laid on the floor. Hope helped Ann down from the chair.

  “I’ll go get us some lunch and we can eat in here.” Rhett was gone.

  Ann set up Dooder and her new baby doll next to two cups. Hope gave each toy and Ann a plate and marveled over the smooth curves. Hope was used to eating from flat wood or smooth bones. She held up tiny things she had learned were forks. Hope knew what knives were but all of hers had been bone. Teeny spoons made her smile; all Hope had used were cleaned sticks for stirring anything. Everything was in miniature form, as though made specifically for children. Had her ancestors at one time so adored their little ones to cater to them? From what Hope saw they must have, which increased her curiosity of days of old. How had humans gotten to the point they no longer valued their own children? Except in this coven filled with vampires.

  Rhett returned shortly with his arms loaded. He carefully set a small container off to the side after pouring Ann a glass of juice. He opened a tall bottle and poured the white contents into a cup for Hope and one for himself.

  Hope sipped the contents. The liquid was sweet and immediately sent a warm feeling through her body. She settled back and watched as Rhett put food on plates, making sure not to forget the dolls. It was comical the way he lifted his little finger while he slurped his drink, making Ann giggle.

  “I do hope you find the tea to your liking, Mrs. Dooder,” Rhett said with a strange accent.

  “It’s lovely,” Ann replied while shaking the doll and trying to imitate his words.

  “It’s all the way from England,” Rhett continued. “Do let me pour you more, Miss Baby.” Hope couldn’t help it, she laughed. A grown man playing with dolls was just too funny. Rhett gazed at her. “Why Mrs. Hope, I do believe you need more tea.”

  Her cup was empty and Hope wondered how that had happened. Had she really drank the contents so quickly? She was feeling a little strange, giggly. When had she giggled last? Rhett handed her a sandwich. She liked sandwiches. Especially the kind with peanut butter and a substance called strawberry jam. Ann loved those, too. They were all cut into sections she learned were called triangles.

  Rhett poured her more to drink, and the more she drank the funnier Rhett got. Soon she was laughing at everything he said until he began to laugh. Instead of filling her cup with more white liquid, he gave her juice.

  “Mrs. Dooder and Miss Baby, I think it’s time Mrs. Hope and Miss Ann had a nap,” Rhett said.

  Hope roared with laughter. She toppled over, lying on the floor feeling wonderful. Rhett’s hands slipped under her and she was soon settled onto his bed. Hope rolled over; no longer caring water fell from the sky in an eerie way outside the window. Windows were a novelty. To be inside and yet see outside was strange. Everything was strange. Nothing seemed to matter though. Ann yawned and Hope wrapped her arms around her. Her daughter was alive and beside her. Her tummy was full. Rhett was actually smiling, even with his eyes, down at the two of them. Finally Hope felt some semblance of safety.

  * * * *

  Rhett watched the two of them as they slumbered. Long ago he used to watch his daughter sleep. The rise and fall of her little chest was a comfort. The wheeze in Ann’s chest was getting progressively worse. Caine had medications to relieve her pain but it was a rarity for a diseased human to be allowed in the coven. Ann wasn’t contagious so she posed no threat. Both the woman and child were there only because Rhett wanted them there. He could easily wrap them tight in furs and return them to their ice dwelling. Rhett knew it wouldn’t save him from pain, only add to it.

  A knock on the door and Rhett was quick to answer. Both Ann and Hope desperately needed sleep. Rhett knew Hope was awake most of the night and feared for her and her daughter’s safety. It was why he had given Hope the wine. He wanted her to relax. Maybe he wasn’t the embodiment of a gentleman, but terrorizing a defenseless woman while her child was at death’s door was cruel even for him. He had been happy Hope asked for a truce.

  For now Rhett would let Tanya and Cecily stay in the past. Just like all the other women who had disappointed him. If you looked for disappointment you would find it, Tavish was right. Rhett wanted nothing from Hope, she wanted nothing from him. The arrangement suited him.

  Rhett wasn’t surprised to find Tate standing there smiling at him. Rhett walked into the hall and shut the door behind him.

  “I want to talk to you,” Tate said. “There has been some talk about Hope and I wanted to ask you for her before any other vampire approached you.”

  Rhett had heard the talk. “I haven’t decided what I’m doing with the woman. She’s mine as long as the child lives.”

  Tate looked a little disappointed. “I understand the need to keep them together. I’m willing to wait. I hope you don’t mind, but I asked some of the other vampires and they explained about your daughter. That’s tough man, losing a child. I had a breeder female who lost her baby. Caine called the girl a stillborn. The female was pretty messed up. She’s had another, a boy, but I can see she still thinks about the one who never took a breath. Poor little female.

  “The thing is, Hope’s going to need someone who will comfort her. You’re not exactly the type. Let me get closer to her so when the time comes I can be there for her. I’ve dealt with loss too. The stillborn baby could have been mine. Giving a female two breeder males makes sense because the male never knows if he’s the father. The mother is the one with the burden, and her vampire. But still, there are some children who look like me and it makes me wonder.”

  Tate was a recently turned vampire, at least five years was recent to a vampire who had lived thousands of years. Tavish had turned Tate when Mercy, Tavish and Tate had sex to create Galf. Galf was Tavish’s as much as he was Tate’s. Oddly enough Tate had no interest in Galf; he was kind to the child but had no interest in seeking him out. Sometimes Rhett wondered if that had something to do with a very possessive Tavish. There was some speculation Tate had been compelled to relinquish all rights to the boy.

  Rhett supposed it could be because Tate had been a breeder male for over ten years and sired many children. Hope would be perfect for him. Tate didn’t want any children to be responsible for, at least not yet. Any female he owned who gave birth would become Tate’s property. Rhett thought it was more than likely Tate wanted to wait for a female he wouldn’t have to share. To Tate, Hope was a prize; she was perfect in his eyes. He could have her all to himself and never share her.

  Rhett had wanted a female who could give him children with the breeder males. They wouldn’t be his, but they would belong to him. He would love them and watch them grow. He would make certain none betrayed him. How had he become so tortured?

  “If you’ve spoken to the other vampires you would know how difficult this situation is for me.” Rhett didn’t know why he was pissed. Tate was a good person, he had no angles. But Hope was Rhett’s.

  “Sorry, Rhett. Hope just seemed certain you didn’t want her. She’s scared and
alone. Most females brought back have some semblance of security by now. She says you’re going to kill her once her daughter is dead. It doesn’t seem fair. I mean she was all alone in an iceberg with a sick child. Now she’ll lose her kid. Poor little thing. When will it be Hope’s time? Where is her turn at happiness? She should know love and caring. We all know the heartache ice dwellers go through. Just because she’s barren doesn’t mean she’s useless. Killing her after her daughter dies when someone should be comforting her isn’t right. I want her. I want to offer Hope some hope and comfort.”

  Rhett could have growled. Did every vampire in the coven think he was a depraved asshole? “I’m not going to kill her. And before you ask, I’m not dumping her back in her iceberg. Let me have time with her and her kid. Every time a woman comes in contact with me everyone just assumes the worst.”

  “It’s because you do your worst.”

  Blunt and to the point, good ole Tate. “If I was doing my worst she’d be dead.”

  “The last hunt we went on you killed a female.”

  “She wasn’t of breeding age. She was too old.”

  Tate looked uncomfortable. “You’ve become a friend, Rhett. I’ve learned you have a love-hate relationship with women. Tanya was one of my females for a while when I was a breeder. She was a bitch, but a lonely bitch. What happened with Mercy was everyone’s fault. After I was turned, I wanted nothing to do with Tanya. She was always second in your eyes; indifference seems to be your first love.

  “Maybe, just maybe, Tanya wanted to be wanted. Like your wife, Rhett. You were there for Acca, but you couldn’t be there for Cecily. Who was there for your wife? It wasn’t your fault you couldn’t be there. Don’t turn Hope into another fault, because this time there will be blame. We were all human once. Maybe because I’m young I still possess compassion. I hope to hell I never lose it. I’m a vampire, not human, but I hope to hell to always be humane.”

  Rhett noticed other vampires in the hallway. Many had gathered to listen. All of them looked guilty as Tate left.