Blood and Sand (37 page)

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Natalie woke in the dark room to the feel of soft lips against her neck and steady arms turning her over in bed. She was drawn to a hard, familiar chest and the smell of the ocean. Her eyes were still closed and part of her wondered whether she was still dreaming.

“Natalie?”

“Hmm?” she murmured as she burrowed toward his scent. The bed was warm and her arms felt too heavy for her body.

“I’m back.”

“Hey.” Her eyes fluttered open. “What time is it?”

Baojia kissed her forehead. “Don’t wake up. It’s almost dawn. Sleep more. I’m going to rest “Ho soon, too.”

“Okay.” She sighed and closed her eyes again, feeling herself drift as she was tucked into his chest. “Goodnight. Or… day. Whatever.”

She felt him playing with a lock of her hair, twisting it around his finger as he liked to do. His voice came as if in a dream.

“If I were human… would you want to marry me? Have children with me?”

Was he serious? She’d never met anyone more devoted to family, even one that didn’t appreciate him.

“Course, silly.” She sighed and snuggled closer. “You’d be an amazing father.”

The heavy press of sleep bore down on her, and she couldn’t seem to fight it off. Baojia’s hands ran up and down her arms, soothing her. Protecting… always protecting. Natalie hadn’t felt so safe or loved since her world came crashing down when her mother died. It didn’t matter if he gave her the words or not—she’d known it after the first time they’d made love—he’d give her everything else.

When she woke again, it was still dark, but the clock on the phone by her bed told her it was four in the afternoon. She blinked and untangled herself from Baojia’s limp arms. His complete stillness no longer seemed inhuman or frightening. It was just how he slept. The solid weight of him behind her was comforting, not strange. Again, she shook her head at how quickly and drastically her life had changed. It was only a matter of weeks, but everything she had planned for the future had been thrown in the air by the startling, unexpected man who lay before her.

Would you want to marry me? Have children with me?

Had she been dreaming? She really didn’t know. Natalie showered and dressed, locking the room carefully behind her before she walked upstairs. She stopped by the kitchen and made a sandwich before following the low voices into the den. Ben was there, along with Carwyn. The vampire
looked groggy, but was still fairly awake. She smiled and plopped down next to him.

“Hey, stranger.”

He grinned. They’d flirted shamelessly the few times they’d met when Beatrice was in school, but Natalie had known it was just for fun.

“If it isn’t my other favorite redhead.” He tugged on her hair. “How are you, Nat?”

“Good. Feeling a little more rested finally.” She took a bite of her sandwich. “You were holding out on me, mister. A priest?”

His low laugh rumbled across the room. “As if that was the worst of it. It was up to B to decide who knew what. Don’t blame me. Is your man still sleeping? He’s a young one, eh?”

“Young? Riiiight. How are you awake?”

Ben piped up. “Because he’s old. Really, really old.”

“I can still beat your ass at
Mario Kart
, boy.” But Carwyn winked at her. “It’s true though. Brigid’s a young one, too. She has to have a full day’s rest.”

“But Beatrice can be up during the day?” Natalie frowned. “How’s that work?”

“She’s had Tenzin’s blood in a roundabout way,” Carwyn said. “Makes her a daywalker. Not unheard of, but rare. Not that desirable, to tell you the truth. We all crave sleep. Let our brains rest. As old as I am, I still sleep most of the day. Baojia will too. At least for another few hundred years.”

She must have paled, because he patted her knee. “You’ll get used to it.”

Natalie heard Ben leave the room, mumbling som, an>mething about a snack. She cleared her throat. “I… uh, I don’t know that I will, to be honest. It’s pretty hard to wrap your mind around, even when you…”

“You love him.” It wasn’t a question, but she nodded anyway. “Then you’ll figure it out. Brigid and I, we didn’t have the easiest go of it. Still don’t. But we do our best. You don’t have to be perfect, you just have to try and don’t quit.”

Try and don’t quit. She could probably do that. Natalie tried to smile again. “Sorry. I’m being silly.”

“No, it’s a whole new world for you. Nothing to be embarrassed about.” He patted her hand and sat up a little straighter. “Tell me everything. I used to be a priest, and I have four daughters. I’ve probably heard it all at this point.”

She blinked in surprise. “You have…
what
? Four daughters?”

“Eleven children all together. And more in my human life.” Carwyn grinned. “I enjoy mayhem. Nothing says fun like immortal family dysfunction.”

Natalie snorted. “Wow, so… Wow! You have a family?”

“Course I do. Did you think that wasn’t going to be part of the picture?” He frowned. “Is that what’s been bothering you?”

She shrugged. “Kind of. I just… I always wanted a family. My mom and dad were really great, and I always figured that would be part of my life, you know? Eventually anyway. Husband, kids. I hated being an only child. I wanted a big crazy family the same as you, I guess. Well, maybe not
exactly
the same.”

“So what’s the problem?” Carwyn asked with a laugh. “There are ways—especially in this modern world—for you to have the family you want. I can see him wanting that, too. He’s one of the most loyal fellows I know. Trust me, I’ve known a few. And he’s crazy about you.”

The corner of her mouth lifted. “Yeah?”

“In his own quiet, try-to-guess-what-I’m-thinking, mysterious way, yes.” Carwyn’s eyes crinkled at the corners. “It’s completely obvious.”

She shook her head. “Oh yeah. He wears his heart on his sleeve.”

“He loves you, Natalie. Very much.” Suddenly Carwyn’s merry face turned serious. “He’s going to try to keep you out of this. Are you going to let him?”

She leaned back into the couch. “What do you think?”

“I’m going to say no.” He sighed. “Ah, Nat. I wish you would. I know I’m banging my head against the wall, but this thing is so dangerous.”

“I can’t believe you’re even asking,” she said. “With
your
wife?”

“It’s got nothin’ to do with doubting you.” He nodded toward the hall again. “That one? Drives me out of my mind. Love her like mad. And she’s a frightening creature, Natalie. Powerful. Focused. Has a mind like a blade. Did as a human and she’s even sharper as a vampire. Bloody woman is a force to be reckoned with.”

“So you should know better than to—”

“And I’d wrap her up in tissue paper in the blink of an eye if she’d let me.” He smiled ruefully.
 

Natalie’s mouth dropped open. “You wouldn’t!”

“I would. She’d never let me and I’d probably be a fool to try, but if I had my way…” He shook his head. “Has nothing to do with doubting her, love. It has everything to do with my own fear. The fear of losing her makes me weak. When you’ve found your mate in this life, the thought of losing her—living the rest of this eternal night aloneernal n al’m-tit can lead you to a very dark place, Natalie. So don’t be too hard on him. He’s just found you, after all.”

“And, uh…” She took a deep breath. “If I don’t want to become a vampire? What then?”

Carwyn’s smile was wistful. “Then the time only becomes more precious, doesn’t it?”

She felt a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

He winked. “You do that.”

She watched him later that night, a map spread on the table in the library. He was pointing out the area where the hunt had been to Giovanni and Tenzin. Tenzin’s head was cocked to the side, studying the map intently, chiming in with a question in Chinese every now and then. Natalie didn’t think she even realized she was doing it. She asked and Baojia answered. Natalie made a mental note to learn Chinese.
 

“So this area is completely deserted?”

“I asked Beatrice to find satellite photos last night. It appears to be clear of any real development for approximately thirty miles in every direction. There’s an old mining road that leads to about here.” He pointed at the map. “Then the road ends. You’d have to have the right truck, but you could access this. The terrain is rugged, but passable. They must be knocking out the girls with amnis, transporting them out there, then dumping them—”

“Is that an old crater?” Giovanni asked.

“It looks like it. There’s a natural depression of some kind, but the tunnels Tulio dug seemed solid.”

Giovanni and Tenzin both nodded. “So this plan of yours—”

“Won’t work.” Baojia shook his head. “I’d need seven or eight vampires. We have no way of knowing how many will come, or if Ivan will be with them. Probably not. I don’t expect you to go down there. I’ll just have to figure something else out. Maybe if I go down alone—”

“What?” Natalie sat up straight. “No way! You can’t go alone. With all those other vampires?”

He gave her a warning look. “I’m not going to risk anyone else to do this. And don’t even think—”

“I’ll go,” Tenzin said quietly. “Between the two of us, we should be able to take out the rest.”

“We’ll tag along,” Carwyn called from the door, his hand on the small of Brigid’s back as the two walked toward the table. “We’ve been looking for some fun.”

Brigid added, “And if all of these vampires have taken elixired blood, they’ll be stronger than average. There’s no need to take chances with the two of you.” She nodded at Baojia. “Carwyn told me your plan. It’s a good one. We’re in.”

Giovanni said, “Beatrice and I—”

“Can provide a distraction,” Baojia said quickly. “See if Ernesto wants to meet for dinner tomorrow night. The last thing we need is for the two of you to become involved in a political problem. If you meet with him, it provides both you and Ernesto with cover should this turn messy and the cartel raise a fuss later.”

“Are you sure?”

He nodded. “I’m sure. It’ll be a relief to know that this isn’t going to come back and cause more problems down the road for either you or my sire. All I want is to stop Ivan.”

“Only if you’re sure, Baojia.”

“I’m sure.”

Natalie watched the quick exchange with mounting anxiety. The plan seemed e pre,to be that Baojia and the other vampires would go down to the desert and stake out the hunting grounds where the women would be taken. Then, when all the vampires were there, he’d launch a surprise attack and kill them with no one in Ensenada or Los Angeles the wiser.
 

Brigid looked at her. “We’re going to need some humans. If you want to get the women out of there, we’re going to need someone to replace them. The first thing they’ll notice when they get there is scent. If it doesn’t smell like humans, they’ll know something is wrong.”

“I’ll go,” she said. “It’s my story. I’ll go.”

“No,” Baojia said quietly. “Not acceptable.”

Tenzin ignored him and spoke to Natalie. “Ben has already offered to help. He’s well-trained. With us providing cover, he’ll be able to guard you while we handle the vampires. You’ll be safe with him.”

“No,” Baojia said again, slightly louder. “She’s not trained. She’s staying here.”

Tenzin cocked her head. “She has to go. We need her. Ben’s presence will not be enough. And he’s male. They’re expecting women. If you want to save these girls—”

“I’m not saving them by putting her at risk,” Baojia said, stepping closer to Tenzin. “It’s not an option.”

Both vampires broke into a sudden flurry of Chinese that looked seconds away from turning into blows. Tenzin’s voice was raised and she gestured toward Ben, who had been sitting quietly on the couch by the fire, seemingly at ease with the angry voices. Baojia looked furious, biting out words and baring his fangs at the small woman who would not back down.
 

Finally, Natalie stood and shouted, “I’m going, okay?” They both stopped and stared at her. “I’m going.” She looked pointedly at Baojia. “You knew I was going to. Don’t try to stop me.”

His nostrils flared while Tenzin simply nodded. “Good. So, we will leave at dusk tomorrow. We will stake out the crater and wait for the women to arrive. When they do, Carwyn can tunnel under the crater and hide them while we leave Ben and Natalie as bait for the other vampires. Ben will cover Natalie while Baojia, Brigid, and I kill the vampires who come to hunt the women. Will Ivan be with them?”

Baojia’s fangs were still down, and he was still glaring at her. “We don’t know.”

“So how are we going to make sure this doesn’t happen again?” Tenzin looked cross, but Natalie was still focused on Baojia, who had not taken his eyes off her.

He said, “Because if he is not with them, then I will hunt him down and kill him myself.”

“Oh,” Natalie muttered. “But
I’m
the reckless one.”

He slammed his hand on the table, spun around, and stormed out of the library. Natalie watched him go but did not rise to follow him. She raised her chin and looked at Tenzin. “I want a stun gun. Two of them would be better.”