"I'm aware of that. And if I had died out there in the desert, my ghost would have haunted you mercilessly until you destroyed every one of the motherfuckers who did it.” His soft lips crooked up in a slight smile. “But I didn't die, Raphael."
"She intended you to die. Or worse. Far worse."
Cyn frowned up at him. “Is this really about me? Or is it about you? She betrayed you too that night. More than me. Is this just some vampire bullshit?"
He gave an impatient sigh and pulled away. He would have walked away from her, but she put a hand on his arm, holding him in place. “Don't kill her, Raphael. You'll never forgive yourself. You'll never forgive me."
His eyes flashed to meet hers.
"This is the woman you moved heaven and earth for, catering to her every whim, for how many centuries, Raphael? You hired me to find her when your enemies took her from you, and destroyed every one of them in revenge. Don't tell me you have no love for her, even if it's only love for the child she used to be. Her death will hang over you, over us, like a cancer, eating away at everything we are until every time you look at me you'll see nothing but her death.” She stepped closer to him, placing her palms flat against his chest. “I can't live that way, Raphael. I won't. I love you too much."
He looked away from her, but before his eyes left her face, she saw a brief flash of relief in their obsidian depths. She felt him sigh, felt his entire body relax beneath her hands.
"Very well, lubimaya. I will spare her. But she will know it was you she owes for her life."
Cyn shrugged. “I hope she chokes on it. Believe me, I have no love for Alexandra."
He smiled then, as if she'd once again said something he expected and it pleased him. He pulled her against his body, holding her firmly within the circle of his arms. “I'm thinking of chaining you to my bed from now on,” he murmured against her hair. “I'm tired of waking up to find you gone."
She snorted. “You can try."
He swept her up and into his arms. “I can do better than try, lubimaya. There are many kinds of chains."
"Kinky,” she commented. “Do your best, Lord Raphael."
"With you, my Cyn, always."
Epilogue
"Buffalo?” Cyn repeated in disbelief.
"I know,” Sarah agreed ruefully. “But it's a good university, and the job's tenure track. Plus, it's not in California, and you know I want out of here."
"Honey, Buffalo's about as far from California as you can get and still be in the United States. They have real winters there, you know. Watch the weather channel. They're always showing footage of Buffalo with people up to their asses in snow."
Sarah laughed. “You're so crude, Cyn."
"Yeah, well. It comes from being a cop."
"I think you just use that as an excuse."
Cyn smiled. “Busted."
"So,” Sarah said, dragging the one syllable out. “You have something you want to share with me?"
Cyn took a sip of her martini, giving Sarah a wide-eyed look over the rim of the glass.
"Oh, come on, Cyn. Let me see the rock."
Cyn laughed. “Oh, you mean this little thing?” She held out her hand and Sarah took in the gorgeous little thing. There were at least five carats sitting on that slender finger, and that was only the pillow-cut diamond in the center. She'd bet on another few carats in the channel set band around it.
"It's beautiful, Cyn. But you know that. So, when's the wedding?"
"Wedding?” her friend scoffed. “You know how I feel about marriage. Besides, vampires don't get married, they have this whole mating thing they do."
"Mating? Like gorillas?"
Cyn laughed. “Very similar, yeah."