Winter's Touch (Immortal Touch Series) (15 page)

“Oh, but I do.” The secretive smile he continued to hold was maddening. She desperately wanted to slap him, restraining herself only
for fear of deadly reprisal.

“I’ve had my fill o
’ your depravity. I’ll not stay to watch ye torment an innocent girl.”

“As I said before, you are free to leave.” He glanced up at her. “Shall I book you a flight back to
Scotland? Or did you have someplace else in mind?”

“N
ae, I’ll handle it myself.” Defeated, she stared sadly into his eyes, the very ones that had once shone with all the love and devotion a son feels for his mother. So many years ago, and still she couldn’t forget. No matter what happened, he’d always remain the child she’d never been able to bear herself. Her only son. It was because of this he would allow her to leave unharmed. He knew she’d die before she would condemn him.

As for the girl
...there was no help for her. Evangeline would die as surely as the sun would rise.

The knowledge broke her heart.

~*~*~

A light snow was beginning to fall.

Eva watched it through the barred windows as she carefully pulled a needle through the piece of evenweave fabric in her hands. She’d been bedridden for four days at Lainie’s insistence, and now felt strong enough that the wafting snowflakes called for her to come outside and breathe deeply of the pure air. She wanted to feel the cold wetness on her skin. It would help to remind her that she was still young and alive.

Laying
the needlework beside her, she slipped out of bed and yanked open a window. The chill of the air hit her immediately, but it was a deliciously welcome sensation. She stuck her arm out the window and through the bars, smiling at the feel of tiny snowflakes falling on her arm like icy kisses. Of all the seasons, winter was her favorite and though it wasn’t technically winter yet, the unseasonably cold autumn weather mimicked it very well. The woods themselves were a picture postcard of natural beauty, their lush evergreens sparkling with fresh decorations of ice from the heavens. She could easily see why Julian loved it here.

“Are y
e tryin’ to catch pneumonia?” Lainie had entered the room unheard, and now she sidled up beside Eva to scold her good-naturedly.

“I wanted to feel the snow.”

“Wheesht, likely there’ll be enough o’
that
this year.” She draped a wool scarf around Eva’s neck. “I made this for ye, and none too soon, I see.”

“Thank you, Lainie. It’s lovely.” She fingered the warm material and admired the pretty
hues of intermingled shades of yellow.

Lainie settled beside her on the window seat. “Y
e’re lookin’ much better. More color to ye.”

“I feel fine.
My goodness, you act as if I’m an invalid.”

“Y
e lost a lot o’ blood.”

“I’m sure it’s replenished itself by now,” she said dubiously. How long did
something like that take? Her mother would have known the answer to that. If she had a computer, she could look up the information herself. Being cut off from the rest of the world was a frustrating hindrance.

“Well, y
e do seem to be feelin’ better. I’m right glad o’ that.”

“
Why don’t we go for a little walk? Get some fresh air. I’m tired of being stuck in this room.”

“I’d like to, lamb, but I
...well, I have packin’ to do.” She looked at the floor uncomfortably.

“Are you going somewhere?”

“Aye, child. I’m leavin’ tomorrow.”

“Leaving? Where are you going?”

“Home. To Nethy Bridge, in Strathspey.”

“
Not for good?”

“I’m afraid so.” Lainie took her hand and squeezed it gently. “I hate to leave y
e here, but I made Jules promise to take good care o’ ye. Ye’ll be safe.” It was a blatant lie and she hated herself for telling it, but a bit of security was the most she could leave the doomed girl. If her fib alleviated even a little fear and worry, then what harm was in it?

Eva
was crestfallen. “Oh, Lainie. Must you go?”

She
nodded. “I’ll leave ye my address. If e’er ye’re lackin’ for somethin’ to do, then write an old lady a letter, won’t ye?”

“Of course I will.” Eva hugged the woman affectionately.
“I wish you didn’t have to go.”

“I wish y
e didn’t have to stay.” The words were out of Lainie’s mouth before she could stop them, and she cursed herself. “That is...I’m quite sure ye won’t be here too much longer. He’s beginnin’ to come around, I’m sure o’ it.” Another outright lie.

“Do you really think so?”

The hope in her voice was almost more than the woman could bear. She cleared her throat and stood to leave before her emotions got the better of her. “Aye, wee lamb. I’d be willin’ to wager ye’ll be home in time for Christmas.”

“Thank you, Lainie. For everything.”

“Ye’ve nothin’ to thank
me
for. Take care o’ yerself now, child.” She ruffled the auburn curls, sickened to her soul by the mental image of the pretty young lass before her lying crumpled and lifeless, hidden in an unmarked grave that could never be visited by loved ones.

The next day,
with Eva locked securely in the gilded prison of her room, Julian drove Lainie to the airport in Portland. Strangely enough, he hugged his surrogate mother tightly before she boarded the plane. Maybe somehow he had a premonition of what the future held for them.

~
*~*~

The house was quiet and empty without Lainie’s cheerful presence. After moping about for a few lonely days, Eva relented and asked Julian if he
wouldn’t mind taking a walk with her. Starved for conversation, even the company of a smartass vampire was welcome, much as she hated to admit it.

There was no snow today, but the dull gray skies hinted at the possibility. She made a mental note to check the weather channel later, just to see.

“Are you missing Lainie?” Julian wanted to know.

“I suppose
I am. Aren’t you?”

“I hadn’t really given it much thought.”

It was about what she had expected him to say. What the blazes would it take to get a reaction out of him? Maybe if she shaved her head, covered herself in mud and ran naked through the house...although more than likely he’d just say something like,
Really, Eva. You’re going to catch your death of cold. Stop behaving so childishly.

“How come you won’t let me in the conservatory?” she asked, before her ridiculous
thoughts had a chance to provoke uncontrollable giggles.

“Because I don’t want to be disturbed, obviously.”

“I’d like to hear your music sometime. It’s hard to hear through the door.”

“You listen at the door?”

“Sometimes. You’re really very good.”

“
Mm. It’s something I enjoy. Otherwise, I wouldn’t bother.”

“So can I?”

“Can you what?”

“Hear you play.”

He gave her the same look her father used to give her when he was exasperated but trying to be patient. “Perhaps. If you behave yourself.”

“I hate when you do that.”

“Do what?”

“Talk to me as if I’m
five years old. I’m not a child anymore, you know.”

“I noticed.” The amusement in his eyes was evident.

And what did he mean by that, anyway?
I noticed.
He’d never shown any romantic inclination towards her. Then again, he was as impossible to decipher as an alien language.

“So, my little Evangeline is no longer the child. She has
grown into a beautiful young woman.”

The
statement was unexpected, and a little unnerving. What can of worms had she opened this time? She knew him well enough by now to realize that he always had some enigmatic motive. Any sentiment from him was sure to have a cost.

He took her hand and gazed at it almost
endearingly. “Such lovely skin. So soft and fair. It would be a travesty for your youth and beauty to be wasted.”

She wondered if this was his way of telling her
that he meant to spare her life. “I agree.”

“What if you could hold onto it forever? Would you, Eva?”

Her eyes widened apprehensively. “
What?
”

“If you had the opportunity to remain always as you are now, young and full of health and vigor, would you
not take it?”

She was
stunned. “I...you don’t mean...”

“Assuming it was possible, of course.”

“What are you saying?” She wasn’t sure she wanted to know.

“I thought it might be interesting to try.” He seemed almost to be talking to himself now, rather than to her.

“Don’t even
think
it.” Her voice was firm. The brute was mad indeed if he thought for even one moment that she’d willingly succumb to such an idea.

He frowned. “Do you not understand what it could mean for you? To live forever in a state of perfection, never knowing illness or unhappiness or death. Wouldn’t you want that, Eva?”

“I would not! Never! The price is much too high.” She shuddered at the thought.

“What price do you mean?” He seemed genuinely puzzled.

“The cost of the lives of others, of course.”

“
But you would no longer suffer guilt over such trivialities.”

“
Trivialities?
How can you possibly see it that way? I don’t want to be drained of all my emotions! My God, why can’t you understand that?”

“Why can’t
you
understand that those emotions serve no purpose? You would do well to be rid of them!”

“I don’t
want
to be rid of them. They’re what classify me as human.”

“Precisely my point. To be human is to be inferior.
Subservient.”

“That’s
your
opinion!”

“You wouldn’t
necessarily have to kill, you know. Have you forgotten? You helped me to establish that.”

“I don’t want to talk about this anymore. Please, Julian. Get the notion out of your head. There is
nothing that could ever make me want to be like you.”

His eyes narrowed. “
It would be most beneficial to watch what you say. You forget your place.”

“My
place?
And what is that supposed to mean?” She stopped in the middle of the path and clenched her fists, glaring at him. “I’ve had
enough
of your smug, superior attitude! You know that? What the hell makes you think you’re so damn special? I don’t care what you say - I am not
inferior
to you! So take my life, drain me dry if that’s what you want to do, tear me apart like the wild animal you are, but do me a huge favor in the meantime and stop being such a complete
jackass!
”

For once, the haughty vampire was rendered speechless. He stared at her,
dumbfounded by the furious outburst while she defiantly stood her ground, expecting nothing less than swift and painful retribution.

Then he began to laugh. And to her complete and utter astonishment, he laughed until he was doubled over and tears of mirth formed in his
soulless eyes. “Have you gone insane?” she asked, which only caused him to laugh even harder.

She watched him uncertainly until his
merriment died down and he wiped the dampness from his eyes. Of all the reactions she could have imagined, this most assuredly graced the bottom of the list.

“
Eva. You really are too much.” The onyx eyes were twinkling, and they looked extraordinarily different in their lack of emptiness. Suddenly he seemed less the cruel, condescending barbarian and more like any other carefree young man. She was astounded by the transformation.

“I never know
how
you’re going to react,” she commented.

“I could say the same for you.” He grinned at her, and she felt her heart skip as so many other female hearts must have done when he flashed that breathtaking smile. He must have had dozens of admirers before his mortal life was cut short.
And probably still did in spite of the solitude. A fleeting glimpse of him was more than enough to put the color in any woman’s cheeks.

“I apologize for behaving like a
...how did you put it...a jackass. Will you forgive me?”

“All right.” She still
eyed him suspiciously. This behavior was something new, and she was darned if she knew what to make of it.

“
I wondered when that Irish temper was going to make itself known.” He tugged one of her red curls lightly.

She tried not to smile, but couldn’t help herself. “Do you bait me on purpose?”