All Souls' Night - Renee Rose Page 0,206

lets go and tries the doors again. Ignoring her, I start up the car and head to my hotel room. Her shrieks of indignation and rage fill the car as her fingers grip and tug at every inch of the door.

“It’s not going to open cara. Child locks. It came standard with the car. Seeing as you’re my first passenger, I never felt the need to undo them.”

Glancing back into the mirror, I watch as her form slumps against the seat. Resignation fills her eyes. Those eyes, so close to my Alessandra’s, well up with unshed tears. My heart breaks just a little more.

“I promise I won’t hurt you. I just want to get you somewhere safe.”

“Safe? How do I know you’re not a murderer yourself? What kind of a wacko goes strolling along in a cemetery, anyway?”

Staring her down in the mirror, I remain silent, but simply raise my eyebrow. She ducks her head, a faint blush staining her cheeks and creeping down over her throat. Gods, I want to see just how far down that blush could go. Shaking my head, I try to dispel her, this temptress with eyes not her own.

“I was there for a purpose.” She sniffs. It’s different. I—”

My phone interrupts her, shattering the tenuous trust being built between us. I hit the answer button, letting it go to the car’s speaker.

“Hey, I—”

“He’s kidnapped me!” Dahlia erupts from the seat, her voice fast and earnest. “Please, someone rescue me! He’s holding me against my will!”

Anger flares through me. Enough is enough. Jerking the car over, I turn in my seat and pin Dahlia with a deadly glare. Thankfully, she has enough self-preservation to look ill at ease and slink back into the seat.

“Sleep,” I growl, watching her eyelids droop. “You’ll awaken in one hour.” After a moment or two of her fighting it, her eyes finally close. Her body stays upright for a few more minutes before slumping over in a dead sleep.

“Did you really kidnap a girl?” Augustus chuckles through the speakers. “Because, you know, we’ve got women here you can partake of. No need to take helpless females against their will.”

“Helpless. Bah. If she’s helpless, then I’m a kitten.” Shaking my head, I glance back into the mirror and watch her sleep. Her breath is coming out in small snores. It is cute, actually. And once more, the band around my heart starts to ease open.

“We got the vampire. Not one we recognized, either, but others have been having issues as well. Stay alert and keep her safe. I’m not sure what these rogue vampires are after, but we don’t need humans as collateral damage.”

“Don’t worry,” I reply, my fangs lengthening, “no one will touch a hair on her head.” Except me, of course.

I don’t dare look back at her as thoughts of using her body for my pleasure roll through my brain. She was so wild when she tried defending herself, I can just imagine what her reaction would be if she woke up cuffed to my bed.

Shaking my head, I dispel that notion as soon as it enters my mind. I’ve never forced myself onto anyone before, and I’m not going to start with her. Besides, after I’ve fed her, looked her over, and made sure she’s okay, I’ll be taking her right back to where she belongs. But why does my heart hurt at that thought? She’s not Alessandra. As much as she looks like her and has her spirit, keeping this human will just result in the same course of action. Death.

Taking a deep breath, I close my heart and mind off to this slip of a woman, who is drooling on my leather seats. I haven’t allowed myself to tangle with humans in centuries, and Dahlia isn’t going to entice me to relive that pain.

As I approach the hotel, I park my car and look up at the building. How am I going to get her inside without raising suspicion? Humans will be wary enough, but if some of the other vampires there saw us, that would certainly raise some questions. Besides, she screamed out ‘kidnapped’ loud enough that I’m sure vampires all the way over in New York heard her.

I ease the back door open and scoop Dahlia into my arms. Her weight is insignificant, and I’m once again reminded of her mortality. Who am I kidding? Like I could ever forget. Shifting her a little in my arms, I check the time on my watch.