Twice Cursed (49 page)

“
It has come to our
attention that you have within your midst, a traitor responsible
for acts of cruelty, injustice and treachery against the vampire
community. How do you plead, Sean Leighton, Alpha of the
Brethren?”

“
Guilty,” he answered. “But
only in that a Were of my clan has caused said pain and suffering
to the Vampires of New York, and to you, Sébastien, in particular.
In retribution, I have brought the guilty party as promised. Do
with him what you will. He has been abnegated by his own, and is
Were no longer.”

Sébastien rose from his seat and
walked toward Sean. The two clasped arms and the master vampire put
his hand on the alpha’s shoulder. “We accept your offering of
justice, and let it be known here and throughout my territory that
no vengeance shall be harbored against the Alpha of the Brethren or
any of his ilk. The matter will be settled tonight. Blood calls for
blood, and blood shall have blood.”

The other adjudicators nodded in
agreement, as the master returned to his seat.

Sean remained standing and raised one
finger, earning the floor once more. “If I may, Sébastien…” he
said, and then paused to turn toward Lily who handed him a
beautifully engraved wooden box. “May I approach?”

Sébastien waved him forward, and all
eyes were riveted on Sean, their regard curious as he approached
the master.

Sean placed the box in the vampire’s
hands. “You said blood calls to blood, and blood shall have blood.
However, I promised you a heart for a heart, as well.”

The master’s eyes widened and he ran
his hands over the box’s carved wooden edge. “Is this what I think
it is?”

Sean nodded once, his face somber.
“Yes. Jack Cochran was the puppet of the one responsible for this
mayhem. He was the one accountable for Chen’s death. His heart is
inside the box.”

A new appreciation for the Weres was
evident in every face, and an air of respect filled the room. Even
Abigail grudgingly nodded her approval.

“
Perhaps the time has come
for our species to have more than just a treaty of remoteness.
Perhaps it’s time for us to form a true pact. An alliance for all
supernatural beings.”

Sean looked thoughtful. “It would
certainly be something for the ages,” he replied. “And in the
spirit of that notion, I vow that over the next week, a contingent
of my hunters will be at your disposal to scour your shadow houses
for others infected.” He fixed Sébastien with a look of severity.
“I expect their safety will be guaranteed, yes?”

The vampire spread his
hands, as if the matter was
au fait
accomplie
. “I will personally see to it
myself.” A shadow passed over Sébastien’s face. “I am beside myself
that so many of mine must be destroyed. Such a waste.”

Sean exchanged glances with Lily, and
Etienne nodded vigorously, catching Rémy’s eye. “You have more
information for us, Sean?” The older vampire asked, curious as to
what made their own seer so animated.

“
Yes, Rémy. The cure that
may help save those whom you are loath to destroy lies in the
blood.” The Alpha’s face was grim, as he gestured to the door and
what lay waiting behind it.

The misshapen vampire smiled, the
intact side of his mouth curving up as understanding dawned. “Thank
you again, my friend. We will make sure not to waste a
drop.”

Curious whispers vibrated throughout
the room, and Sébastien raised his hand. “It is time. Again, we are
indebted to the Weres for bringing us the one who has wrought such
heartache.” With a wave of the vampire’s hand, Sean stepped back,
and the master shifted his regard toward Lily. “My dear, you have
suffered the most of any of us. Would you like Abigail to cleanse
your memory and give you peace?”

Lily’s eyes moistened at
the considerate gesture, but she shook her head. “Thank you
Sébastien. Your offer is kind and generous, but this is my world
now, for better or worse. I accept it as it is, and I hope it
accepts me for who I am in return. A friend once said,
‘If this is my world, then I have to see if
there’s a place for me…as me.’
And he was
right.”

A warm gaze and an even
warmer smile beamed from Sébastien’s face. “Clever girl. Oh, how
you would make me smile every day if you would only share our
blood.” He sighed, “
Ah, c’est la
vie,
” and with a lighthearted chuckle,
drew himself up from his chair. “Perhaps one day we will be lucky
enough to see you change your mind…” He stepped forward, kissing
Lily on both cheeks. “Until then, you are always
welcome.”

He then clasped arms with Sean once
more, before returning to his seat. It was time.

Sean turned, motioning toward the
steel reinforced door at the entrance. It swung open, and he
gestured for his hunters. The men carried Edward between them,
bound and gagged. He struggled, his feet scrapping across the
concrete floor as they dragged him forward. The hunters dropped him
in front of the adjudicators, as instructed, and then immediately
turned to go. Not a word was spoken.

Lily hooked her arm in Sean’s, and
with a final nod, they were escorted out. She glanced over her
shoulder once, and what she saw would haunt her for the rest of her
life. It was the true face of the vampire, and it wasn’t the
polished, romantic image romance books love to paint. It was evil
incarnate.

She jerked her eyes away, keeping her
gaze straight ahead and glued to the vampire leading them out. As
the door closed behind them, the sound of Edward’s scream echoed
through the hall. Justice had been served.

***

Lily pressed her cheek into Sean’s
chest as they sat arm in arm on the couch in her living room, her
feet tucked up behind her. All she wanted to do was crawl under his
shoulder and stay there forever.

She had given her landlord notice, and
by the end of the month she’d no longer be a New Yorker. Her choice
had been made.

“
It’s really over isn’t it?
Things can finally get back to the way they should have been in the
first place, right?” she asked, her voice uncharacteristically
small.

Sean pulled her tighter against his
chest and kissed the top of her head. “I hope so.”

“
I feel like I could sleep
for a week,” she yawned.

Tilting her chin up, he kissed her
mouth. “You’re entitled. It’s been a tough one, hasn’t it?” She
gave him a sleepy smile, burying herself even further into his
chest.

He glanced around the room, his eyes
centering on all the pictures of her and Terry. “Are you sure you
want to leave? You don’t have to, you know.”

She looked up at him. “I know. And I’m
not really leaving anything behind. Most of them are memories. Very
portable.”

“
That’s not what I mean,
and you know it,” he said, running his fingers through her
hair.”

“
I know.”

He shifted on the couch, pushing
himself back so he could face her. “Did you mean what you said to
Sébastien, that this is your world now?” he asked, drawing his
fingers across her cheek.

She took his hand and placed it over
her heart. “In my heart, your world has been my world from the
beginning, but you know me. My brain is stubborn, and it takes
longer for awareness to sink in,” she said, tapping her temple with
her other hand. “I want this, Sean. All of it. You, the Compound,
everything.”

“
Does this mean what I
think it means?” he asked, cocking his head.

She nodded. “Yes.”

He just looked at her.

“
What’s the matter,” she
asked, suddenly nervous that her decision had come too
late.

“
Nothing. I just have
something I’ve wanted to do for a very long time.” He got up and
went into the other room. When he came back, he sat on the end of
the coffee table and took her hand in his.

Into her palm, he placed a ring. It
was silver in color, but from the sheen, Lily knew it was either
white gold or platinum. The sides were scrolled, engraved with
beautiful lettering, and at the center glittered a large, square
cut diamond.

“
It’s gorgeous,
Sean.”

“
It’s been in my family for
over one hundred years. The lettering is an oath. It’s in Gaelic,
so don’t ask me to pronounce it, but its literal translation is
this—
with my heart I love, with my body I
protect, with my life I trade for yours, forever to
keep.”

“
It sounds like a
vow.”

He closed her fingers around the ring,
and then lifted her hand to his lips. “That’s exactly what it is,”
he said, kissing her fingers. “It’s very precious.”

Lily kept her hand in his for a
moment, not saying a word. When she gently pulled her hand back,
she opened her palm and stared at the silver glinting in the light
from the side lamp. The diamond sparkled like the tears in her
eyes. “Maybe this should be in a safe place.”

Horrified, her eyes widened
the minute the words left her mouth, realizing how awful they
sounded. She only meant this was New York, and leaving expensive
items like that in her apartment...
oh
crap
. She swallowed hard, hoping he didn’t
take her meaning the wrong way.

His lips curled in a soft, closed
lipped smile, and he took the ring from her left palm and slipped
it on her finger. “It’s right where it belongs.”

She stared at the glittering stone on
her hand for a moment, then looked at him. “How does this work? Is
there a ritual or some ancient rite that has to be completed? I
want to make sure we do this right.”

Sean nodded. “Yes. It starts with a
single question,” he said, slipping down onto one knee. “Will you
marry me?”

Heat rushed to her cheeks. “That’s
some question,” she said, then threw her arms around his neck.
“Yes!”

He pulled her to standing and cupped
her face, kissing her deeply. “I love you, Lily.”

“
I love you, too.” With a
crafty smile, she pulled back from him, taking his hand. “Come on,”
she said, tugging on his arm. “I’ve got a sudden desire to be on
all fours.”

He lowered his chin, a playful smirk
at corner of his mouth “I thought you were tired.”

“
Yeah, but we’ve only got
three weeks before the next full moon. Do you think you can have me
ready to run with the moon by then? It might take some time and
effort.”

His smirk spread into a seductive
smile and his eyes darkened with desire. With one fluid move he
pulled her onto to his lap on the couch. “Maybe,” he growled,
licking her bottom lip.

Straddling him, Lily ran her hand down
his chest, hooking her fingers into the waistband of his jeans. His
breath hitched, and the rumble at the back of his throat took on a
dangerous, untamed tone.

“
Make that
definitely.”

Acknowledgements

When an author publishes a book,
whether it’s their first or their five hundredth, it’s nothing less
than a defining moment in their life. Since I began this writer’s
journey, I’ve run the gamut in terms of emotion…from ‘no excuses do
the work’ to ‘what was I thinking?’ to ‘be careful what you ask for
cause you just might get it!’

This is my third book, and I still
have to pinch myself. So many people have helped and encouraged me,
even when the writing dragon had me spewing fire and belching smoke
at every turn.

My unbelievably patient husband, Bill,
for putting up with the insanity and verbal barrages that accompany
being glued to my laptop for hours. Our three kids for knowing
enough to leave Mommy alone when she’s writing, despite laundry
piling up and pasta for dinner, yet again.

I need to send my undying gratitude to
retired New York City Homicide Detective, William Mendez, for his
many hours of counsel regarding the ins and outs of NYPD protocol,
and the nuances of police department politics and its hierarchy.
For his unfailing courtesy, and his generosity in sharing his
recollections from case experiences, some of which so horrific it
seems unfathomable they were forged from actual events. There’s
nothing like realism when trying to give depth to a scene, and
Detective Mendez was integral in that. I also need to thank Officer
Ronald Faivre, for his insights into surveillance and the daily
life of an undercover street cop.

I would be remiss not to thank my
father and mother and my wonderful mother-in-law for their guidance
and their help, and my siblings for their support.

To all my hometown friends, especially
Karen Marsh, Ginger Hardman and Ginny Ryan. My wonderful beta
readers, Gloria Lakritz, Penny Nichols, Karen Wirtz, and Dianne
Bylo, for giving it to me straight—good or bad. My author friends,
Tracy Mitchell, Karen Fuller, and Kelly Abell for putting up with
my incessant questions.

I have to thank, Melanie Nowak, author
and founder of WoodWitchDame Publications, for reading, editing and
holding my hand through the publishing process. And to New York
Times bestselling authors, Catherine Bybee and Angela Knight for
giving your time and support and encouraging me to do what I love
to do.