Flowers and Fangs (Stake and Dust series, Book II) (7 page)

He lifted his hand, putting a stop to her
nattering. "Tim is not human any longer. He is a predator now, and
he's going to hunt you down. He's already tasted your blood and
he'll do all he can to find you. So whoever you think your going to
stay with won't be safe either. You'll put them in danger just by
showing up on their doorstep." His phone vibrated and he pulled it
out and glanced at the number. "I have to get this. Do us both a
favor and just stay put for a moment.

She rolled her eyes then gave him a curt nod.
"Take your call. I'll still be here."

He let out a sigh and answered the phone.
"Hello, Wade."

"Are you having any luck tracking the
runaways?" Wade asked.

"I have a few leads. And you?"

"Axel and I picked up something on the police
scanner that sounded like the work of our couple."

He didn't bother correcting him. Explaining
how he knew Sloane had no part in whatever slaughter that had gone
down would mean coming clean with where Sloane spent the night, and
boy wouldn't that be a fun conversation. "And what makes you so
sure it was them?"

"I'll let the evidence speak for itself. I'm
sending you a photo. It's them all right and it looks like the
bloodlust is getting stronger. They added a little serial killer
touch to the slaughter." Derek frowned at his brother's last words,
but before he could question him, Wade spoke again. "We're heading
out. Check in with you in a few. Stay safe, Derek."

"Stay safe." He ended the call and his phone
vibrated again when the photo appeared on his screen. He looked at
the grisly scene: a couple with their throats ripped out and the
flesh a mangled mess. Red roses were scattered around the victims.
Tim the romantic.
Not!

"Was that one of your brothers?" Sloane
asked.

He hesitated showing her what Wade sent him,
but maybe if she saw the cold hard facts, she'd realize he wasn't a
whack job. Then perhaps she'd trust him to help her. "This is what
your boyfriend did after he left your house." He turned the screen
so she would have a front row view.

Her hand flew to her mouth and she gagged and
whirled away, trying her best not to lose the contents of her
stomach.

He frowned and glanced at the photo again
before it dawned on him what he had done. "Crap. I'm a real
jackass," he cursed under his breath.

She sobbed back a cry and fell against the
wall for support.

He took the steps separating them and pulled
her into his embrace. "I'm sorry. That's all I seem to be telling
you, but it's the truth. I shouldn't have showed you the photo.
I've been hunting for so long that I forgot how shocking the
violence can be."

She shook her head and pushed at his chest.
He let her go. "No, I'm glad you showed me." Her eyelids lowered
and she swayed on her feet as if she were reliving the horror of
the photo all over again, but then she steadied herself and met his
gaze. "You're sure Tim did this?"

"Yes."

"And you think I'll end up like him, don't
you?"

"You haven't so far."

"But that isn't what I asked." Sarcasm
dripped from her words.

He nodded. "I think you'll turn, but there
are signs to warn us."

"Like red eyes."

"Yeah, that's one. You won't be able to stand
sunlight. You won't be able to tolerate food though some liquids
won't be a problem." He waited, wondering if she would reveal if
any of these things bothered her.

"You aren't here to protect me, are you?" She
wasn't really asking, but stating the fact.

However, she was wrong. The crazy thing was
he did want to protect her. "Listen, I don't expect you to believe
me, but if I wanted to stake and dust you, you'd be dead already."
This got her attention and her gaze riveted to his. "I called my
sister," he told her.

"Sister? Jeez, how many are in your
family?"

"Two brothers and a sister. Cassandra—that's
her name—she knows a… Oiche Sith."

"A what?"

"He's a vampire from a different sept than
the vampire that attacked the Wilkins. My sister and this…vampire
are on their way to see you. I would have told you over breakfast,
but you decided to make a run for it."

She crossed her arms over her chest. "Can you
blame me?"

He sighed and let out a long tired breath.
The saving business took more out of him than hunting did. "No, I
don't blame you. The vampire who may be able to help you is
Tremayne Graystone. He's an original."

Her brow furrowed and he knew he was
overloading her with information. "I'm assuming an original is a
good thing and that he doesn't change humans into monsters." She
took a ragged breath, obviously thinking about the photo and what
Tim had done.

"Some vampire septs have learned to control
their urges. Perhaps you can, too." At least he hoped so or all
this would be for nothing. "If I promise you that I won't chain you
to the bed—"

"That was a bit kinky," she teased and her
lips curved, making him smile, too. Through all this, apparently
she hadn't lost her sense of humor. "And I'm not into kinky," she
said. "Just in case you were wondering."

"Gotcha. There will be no chaining or tying
you to my bed—unless you ask me." His teasing won him a chuckle
from her.

"I want to pack a few things." She gestured
toward the stairs."

"I'll go with you." He didn't want her out of
is sight just in case she had second thoughts and slipped out
another window.

"Okay." She turned and headed up the stairs.
He followed and he couldn't help but notice the slight sway of
Sloane's hips or the way her dark slacks hugged her lovely shaped
behind. He swallowed back the lump in his throat.

They had just made the landing, when Lad's
low menacing growl drew their attention. They both whirled around
expecting trouble, but Lad stood where they left him, staring at
them, his fur standing on end. His growl turned to a low
threatening rumble and his lips curled revealing his teeth.

Derek didn't have to turn around to know Tim
stood behind him on the landing. Sloane's face said it all. Her
expression a mask of terror and her skin turned a nice shade of
ash. The contrast with her dark hair made her eyes stand out like
twin pools large enough to drown in.

He turned slowly to face Tim, not wanting him
to rip his throat out before he had a chance to defend himself.

"So we meet again," Tim said, obviously the
remark was meant for him and not for Sloane, but then he directed
his malice toward her. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you were
cheating on me." He clicked his tongue and shook his head in
disapproval.

"Why don't you leave Sloane be," Derek said
and wished he'd kept his big mouth shut.

Tim's eyes glowed red and his lips were
smeared with blood as if he'd snacked on someone's neck on the way
over here. He lifted his hand and held up flowers he'd been hiding
behind his back. The other hand held a box of chocolates. "I'm here
for our date. Be my Valentine and all that." Tim glanced at Derek
with a snarl. "Didn't she tell you? We have plans
for…
dinner
." His lips curved revealing his pointed
incisors.

Lad had scrambled up the stairs to stand
beside Sloane, his snarls upping the tension.

"Sloane, shut the mutt up or I'll do
it—permanently," Tim ordered.

Sloane grabbed for Lad's collar, but the dog
broke free from her grip. "Noooo!" she screamed, but Lad was beyond
listening. Lad leapt onto Tim, knocking him off balance. Chocolates
and flowers flew from Tim's hands as he tried to ward off the
attack.

Derek took the distraction and withdrew his
dagger. "Get out of here, Sloane. Now!"

His command burst her into action and she
sprinted down the stairs.

Tim found his footing and swiped at Lad,
sending the dog flying away from him and slamming into the wall
with a sickening thud. Lad yelped then lay still. Derek charged
forward intent on ramming the dagger into Tim's heart and putting
him out of commission. As his hand came up to hit his mark in an
upward thrust, Tim's arm blocked the attack. The force was like
hitting cement and the jolt knocked the dagger from his grip,
sending it hurdling down the stairs, bouncing as it went.
"Crap."

Tim flitted and grabbed Derek by the throat
and slammed him against the wall where a photo of the McBride
family had been hanging. The glass frame splintered and shards of
glass bit into his back, but that was the least of his worries if
he didn't break free from Tim's grip. He had maybe a minute before
he would lose consciousness and then it would be over. He grabbed
at Tim's face, pressing his thumbs as hard as he could into his
eyes. Tim cried in agony and flung Derek away from him. He flew
down the stairs like a tossed bowling ball. His shoulders and back
took the brunt of the tumble.

"You're going to die… painfully," Tim spat
and came after him.

He got the pain part as he tried to ignore it
radiating down his spine. He forced his limbs to move and stood.
Every muscle in his body ached and his vision blurred, but if death
lurked in the shadows to claim him, he'd meet the son-of-a-bitch on
his feet. "Bring it on." He waved to Tim with a come hither
gesture.

Tim's eyes blazed redder and saliva dripped
from his fangs. He let out a hiss that choked back in his throat as
his head jerked forward. He let out a bellow that pierced his
eardrums.

Derek lowered his hands in confusion. What
had just happened? Then he knew. "Oh, hell no."

"You think you can hurt my dog, you bastard!"
Sloane clobbered him again with a cast iron frying pan.

Tim screamed in agony, not only because the
frying pan weighed a ton, but because iron weakened a vampire and
the touch of it sizzled their skin. If she could have chosen any
weapon in the kitchen, this one was the best, but she wouldn't be
able to ward Tim off for long.

He needed his weapon. His gaze landed on the
dagger resting on the stairs. He scrambled up the steps, jarring
his bruised shoulder as he grabbed for it.

"You bitch," Tim's low growl filled the room
with his fury. "I was going to turn you, but now I'll just rip out
your throat and drink you dry." He stalked toward her with
precision of a predator.

Derek's hand gripped the hilt of the dagger.
He whipped around. The sudden pain radiating down his back blurred
his vision, but he couldn't wait for clarity. He let the weapon fly
from his fingertips and he fell back on his behind with a
grunt.

The knife slammed into Tim's back, but it was
too high. He didn't manage to hit the heart, but the dagger's blade
was made of iron, too. An agonizing guttural scream filled the
room. Tim focused his eyes on him, hatred evident in his gaze, but
he must have realized he was in trouble. Instead of attacking him,
he flitted out the front door in a blur of colors.

Sloane dropped the frying pan and ran over to
Derek. "Are you okay?" She gingerly brushed his hair away from his
brow. Then her hand caressed his bruised neck.

He gave her a half smile. "I've been better,
but I'll live. How's Lad?" He gestured toward the landing.

She left his side and charged up the steps.
Derek managed to get to his feet and followed close behind. Lad's
low whine, gave him hope the dog wasn't too badly hurt. He knelt
down beside Sloane and gingerly looked Lad over for any apparent
injury. He caught sight of the awkward way one of the dog's limbs
was angled and hoped this was the extent of the injuries and there
weren't any internal ones. "His leg is broken. We'll take him to
someone who'll take care of him. He'll be okay." He looked at her
for signs of objection, but she nodded her head, putting her trust
in him.

Once he stabilized the leg so no further
injury would occur, he went for the car. He didn't fear that Tim
would return any time soon. The vampire's injuries would prevent
him. He'd have to rejuvenate, but when he did, they better be ready
for him. Tim wouldn't bring chocolate and flowers next time.

Chapter Nine

Sloane sat with Lad in the backseat of
Derek's car. "You were so brave." She gently stroked the dog and he
licked her hand with a pathetic whine. "It'll be all right, baby.
You'll be all right."

She glanced at Derek and met his gaze in the
rearview mirror. At the house when Derek told her to run, she had
every intension of doing as he ordered, but at the door she heard
Lad's yelp and the sickening thud. She didn't even think. She saw
red. She grabbed the frying pan on the stove. From the bottom of
the stairs, she caught site of Derek and Tim fighting, and on the
landing, Lad lying so still. She believed the worse about Lad, but
she could still stop Tim from killing Derek. She couldn't believe
how strong Tim had become. He threw Derek down the stairs as if he
weighed nothing. She knew if she didn't do something quick, Tim
would eventually kill Derek. She swung the pan like a baseball bat.
The impact jarred her arms. She expected Tim to topple over, but
the impact barely fazed him, but something else happened. The skin
and hair at the base of his skull sizzled and popped as if it were
on fire. "The frying pan wasn't hot," she said out loud, more to
herself than for Derek's benefit. "Tim's skin…"

"Iron will burn a vampire's flesh," he told
her. He glanced in the rearview mirror again.

She casually glanced at her palms. They
weren't blistered and she hadn't felt the effects of the iron. She
let out a sigh of relief.

"That's a good sign," Derek said and she
realized he had wondered the same thing and had been waiting for
her reaction.

She licked her lips that had suddenly felt
dry. "Tim's not going to stop coming after me, is he?"

"No." He didn't even hesitate to answer her.
"Whatever your relationship was before with him, it will be
amplified in Tim's mind. All his emotions, senses, and feelings are
out of control." He paused for a moment, concentrating on the road
and turning onto the major street and merging into traffic. "How
long have you and Tim been a couple?"