Night's Illusion Read online

  Cupping his face in her hands, she begged, “Don’t wait, Johnny.”

  Rearing back a little, he gazed down at her flushed cheeks, her lips swollen from his kisses, her eyes smoky with need.

  “Please, Johnny.”

  How could he refuse her sweet entreaty?

  How could he deny what he, himself, wanted so desperately?

  He was on the verge of surrendering to his desire when the bells of a distant church chimed the hour.

  Cassie swore softly as they tolled seven and the moment was gone. “Looks like you’re saved by the bell,” she said with a wry grin. “Just as well, I guess. I’ve got to get ready for work.”

  Rolling swiftly to his feet, he pulled her up beside him, wishing he knew what to say.

  “It’s all right.” Cassie kissed him lightly. “I guess I’m glad nothing happened. I don’t want you feeling guilty when it does.”

  “And you? You’d be all right with that?”

  Cassie bit down on her lower lip. “I guess, before we get married, I should tell you that . . . that I’m not a virgin.”

  He nodded, his expression troubled.

  “Does it make a difference in how you feel about me?”

  “No,” he said, slowly. “I told you before, whatever you did in the past is of no consequence.”

  “But you’re disappointed.”

  He smiled a crooked smile. “Maybe a little.”

  “I love you, Johnny. When I get home tonight, we’ll set a date, if you still want me.”

  “Of course I do, cara.”

  “It was only one time,” she said. “And he finished so quickly, the only thing I remember is how glad I was when it was over.”

  Taking her hand, he gave it a squeeze. “We’ll find our way together.”

  * * *

  After Cassie left for work, Giovanni picked up the book she had been reading and settled on the sofa. But he couldn’t concentrate on the words. His vampire senses had told him she wasn’t a virgin. It made no difference in the long run, but he was glad she had told him before the wedding. He liked her the more for her honesty.

  Laying the book aside, he left the house. Then, on a whim, he transported himself to Mara’s house in the Hollywood Hills.

  The look of surprise on her face when she opened the door was worth the trip.

  “Giovanni! What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing. Can’t an old friend stop by to say hello?”

  “Well, sure,” she said, taking a step back so he could enter. “It’s just that, in all the years we’ve known each other, you’ve never dropped in for a visit.”

  “Well, there’s a first time for everything.”

  “Like the kisses you’ve shared with your young woman.” Leading the way into the living room, she said, “Logan, we have company.”

  “Hey, Padre! ” Logan rose to shake his hand. “It’s good to see you. Is something wrong?”

  Giovanni laughed softly as he took the seat Mara offered. “No. I guess a visit from me really is unexpected. So, what’s new with you two?”

  “Mara killed a hunter last night,” Logan said.

  “Really?” Hardly surprising, Giovanni thought, with Alric leaving bodies all over town.

  She shrugged. “Your sire is getting to be a problem.”

  “A hunter came here?” Giovanni exclaimed. If they could find Mara, they could find anyone. Including him, he thought, feeling a stab of concern for Cassie’s safety.

  “No. I ran into him on Sunset Boulevard while I was hunting. Alric’s stink was all over him. Before he died, he told me Alric had sent him after me.”

  Giovanni nodded. “There might be others.”

  “I’m sure there will be. But I’m not worried. Sooner or later, I’m going to have to destroy Alric.”

  “I’m surprised you haven’t already,” Giovanni remarked.

  Logan laughed softly. “That’s what I said.”

  Mara glared at her husband and then at Giovanni. “I’m trying to be more . . . more . . .” Her voice trailed off.

  “Kind?” Logan suggested.

  “Compassionate?” Giovanni added.

  “Patient!” she snapped.

  Logan and Giovanni exchanged amused glances, then burst out laughing. They stopped abruptly as her power wrapped itself around them, stealing their laughter and their breath.

  She withdrew it abruptly. “Still feel like laughing at me?”

  Logan smiled at her. “Woman, you know we weren’t laughing at you.”

  “Do I?” she asked, her voice as frosty as a winter morning.

  Giovanni watched as Logan crooked his finger at her, amazed when Mara went into her husband‘s arms and kissed him.

  He looked away, not wanting to intrude on such a private moment, all the while hoping that he and Cassie would one day enjoy that kind of intimacy and affection, and that their love would last as long.

  “We’re ignoring our guest,” Logan said after a moment.

  Mara smiled at Giovanni. “I’m sorry, Father.”

  He dismissed her apology with a wave of his hand. “I do have some news.” He looked at Mara, one brow raised. “Unless you already know what it is.”

  She shook her head. “Tell us.”

  “I asked Cassie to marry me. And last night she said yes.”

  “I’m so happy for you, Giovanni!” Mara exclaimed.

  “Congratulations, Padre.” Then, looking at his wife, Logan said, “I told you he didn’t need any help.”

  * * *

  Giovanni thought about Mara’s incredible power when he returned home. She could have killed him and Logan both with little more than a thought. He knew other powerful vampires. Nick Desanto was one of them. He was almost as old as Mara, and he had been turned by her, which made him even more deadly. Logan, too, had been sired by the Queen of the Vampires.

  Giovanni frowned into the fireplace. He hadn’t been turned by Mara, but he carried her blood in his veins. He had never considered himself to be above average in the strength department, but maybe he had underestimated the effect of her ancient blood. He had rarely used his preternatural abilities for anything other than calling his prey, transporting himself from one location to another, and occasionally defending himself, though those occasions had been rare.

  Feeling restless, he decided to walk to the Winchester Lounge and ride home with Cassie.

  He was three blocks from the lounge when he caught the scent of a hunter approaching from behind. Giovanni slowed, all his senses alert. He had lived here for fifteen years and in all that time, he had never encountered a hunter. Was this one somehow in league with the one Mara had killed? Or had the killings mentioned in the paper drawn him to town?

  Or had the hunter come here searching for him?

  Dissolving into mist, he floated upward, drifted past the man, then materialized behind him. “Looking for me?”

  The hunter reached into his jacket pocket, gasped with pain when Giovanni grabbed his wrist and twisted his arm behind his back.

  “Who are you?” Giovanni hissed.

  “Go to hell.”

  “Not yet.” Giovanni yanked the man’s arm upward. “What’s your name?”

  “Rocco.”

  “Why are you following me?”

  “I wasn’t!” He let out a howl when Giovanni gave his arm another twist.

  “Next time I’ll break it.” Giovanni reached into the hunter’s pocket and withdrew a nasty-looking wooden stake and a bottle of holy water. He tossed both aside, then reached into the man’s other pocket, only to let out a hiss when his fingers closed over a pair of handcuffs. But they weren’t ordinary cuffs. They were coated with a thin layer of silver. He threw them away, hand clenching in pain as his skin burned and blistered. “Were you planning to use those on me?”

  The hunter’s silence was damning.

  “How did you know I was here?” Giovanni asked, his voice silky soft with menace.

  “I was hired to find you,” Rocco
muttered.

  “By who?”

  Rocco shook his head. “I can’t tell you that. He’ll kill me.”

  “What makes you think I won’t?”

  The hunter cringed, his gaze darting left and right in search of help that wasn’t there as Giovanni’s power slammed into him.

  “Alric. His name was Alric. But he didn’t want you dead. I was supposed to bring you to him.”

  “I guess he wants to take my head himself.”

  Rocco stared at him, eyes wide with fear.

  “Next time I see you, you won’t get off so easy.” Giovanni gave the hunter’s arm one last twist, then released him.

  The man sprinted down the street without a backward glance.

  Giovanni grimaced as he stared at his burning palm, then at the fleeing hunter. Damn. He should have held on to the man a few more minutes, he thought glumly. A little fresh blood would have quickly eased the pain.

  Hand throbbing, he transported himself to the Winchester parking lot.

  * * *

  Cassie let out a gasp when she saw someone sitting in the front passenger seat of the car, heaved a sigh of relief when she realized it was Johnny. “Hi,” she said, smiling as she opened the driver’s side door. “This is a nice surprise. What . . . ?” She gasped when she saw his expression. “Are you all right?”

  “No. But I will be.”

  She frowned at the stress in his voice. “What’s wrong?” she asked, sliding behind the wheel. “What happened?”

  He quickly related his encounter with the hunter, then showed her his hand.

  “Oh, Johnny, that looks awful. Just touching silver did that?” She shook her head. “Let’s get you home. I’ve some burn ointment that will ease the pain and help it heal faster.”

  “I’m afraid it will take more than that.”

  Brow furrowed, Cassie looked at him, wondering what he meant, until he glanced at her throat. And then she understood. Swallowing hard, she asked, “Can you wait until we get home?”

  Mouth set in a hard line, he nodded.

  She drove as fast as she dared. A sideways glance in his direction made her flinch. She could only imagine the pain he was in. Regular burns hurt like hell, but his skin was charred almost black. The pain must be beyond bearing.

  At home, she parked in the driveway, then hurried around to open his door. He followed her into the house, then dropped onto the sofa, his injured hand resting, palm up, on his knee.

  He glanced at her high-necked sweater. “Are you wearing your crucifix?”

  Her eyes widened. “Am I going to need it?”

  “I hope not,” he said, though he couldn’t guarantee it. The pain of the silver searing his flesh was excruciating.

  She sat beside him, her expression wary, her heart pounding.

  “Don’t move,” he warned, his voice tight. “And don’t let me drink for more than a minute or two.”

  Cassie went still all over. It hadn’t hurt when he’d taken her blood before. Quite the opposite. But he hadn’t been injured then. What if he lost control? He was in terrible pain. After seeing what silver did to him, how could she even think of causing him more injury? Still, if causing him a little added pain would stop him from taking too much . . . She took a deep breath. “Okay.” She wrapped her fingers around the cross. “I’m ready.”

  He didn’t take her in his arms this time. Brushing her hair out of the way with the back of his good hand, he feathered kisses along the length of her neck and then, when she was more relaxed, he bit her gently.

  Giovanni closed his eyes as a slow river of warmth ran over his tongue. No matter how often he fed, he was always surprised at how it affected him. Her blood warmed him inside and out, strengthening him, easing the agony in his hand to the point that it was bearable.

  And still he drank.

  And drank.

  “Johnny. Johnny, stop!”

  Just a little more, he thought. She tasted so good. Surely she could spare just a little more.

  “Johnny! Don’t make me hurt you!”

  The panic in Cassie’s voice penetrated the haze of pleasure that engulfed him. With a low groan, he lifted his head and looked away, not wanting her to see the hellish red glow in his eyes, his fangs stained with her blood. “Are you all right?” he asked gruffly.

  “I’m okay. How are you?”

  “Much better.” He closed his eyes, willing himself to relax as he ran his tongue over his teeth. When he felt he was in control again, he turned toward her and kissed her cheek. “Thank you, cara mia.”

  The love in his voice, the gratitude in his eyes, almost made her sorry she’d had to ask him to stop.

  When he was in control again, he took her in his arms. “I’m sorry,” he murmured. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

  “I’m glad I could help, although I admit, I was worried for a moment there at the end.”

  “I know.” He brushed his knuckles along her cheek. “You can’t imagine how good you taste. You’re so sweet. Drinking from you fills the emptiness inside me—drives the darkness from my soul and gives me hope.”

  “Darkness?”

  “Guilt would be a better word, I guess. Remorse for the lives I took when I was first turned. For drinking from you when you mean so much more to me.”

  Laying her head on his shoulder, she murmured, “I love you, too.”

  Cassie’s words filled his heart and banished the pain in his hand as nothing else could. He claimed her lips with his, thinking he had never been happier or more content in his life.

  But he couldn’t help wondering how long it would last, with Alric still out there looking for vengeance.

  Chapter 28

  Cassie was in the midst of rearranging the contents in one of the kitchen cupboards when she heard a knock at the front door. Wondering who it could be, she went into the entry way and looked out the door’s peephole. A woman with long, black hair stood on the porch. Mara.

  Oh, Lord, Cassie thought. What was the so-called Queen of the Vampires doing here? And in the daytime? Why wasn’t she resting in her coffin? But then, she was older than dirt. If Johnny could be awake during the day, surely the vampire queen could, too.

  Stalling for time, she called, “Who’s there?”

  “Mara.”

  What to do, what to do? Johnny had told her not to invite anyone in during the day. Did that include his friend?

  “Are you going to invite me in, Cassandra?” the vampire called, a note of impatience in her voice. “Or should I come down the chimney? Like the Big Bad Wolf?”

  Before Cassie could decide what to say, the front door swung open and the Queen of the Vampires stood framed in the doorway. As always, she looked too perfect to be real. Today, she wore a deep green dress and a pair of matching stiletto heels.

  Cassie retreated into the living room until she came up against the back of the sofa. Grasping her crucifix in her hand, she stammered, “What . . . what do you want?”

  “We didn’t have a chance to chat last time we met,” Mara said, her voice smooth as black silk. “Giovanni speaks so highly of you, I decided to pay you a visit. Do you mind if I come in?”

  “Would it matter if I said no?”

  “That’s not very friendly, but I can see why Giovanni loves you.” Mara’s gaze moved over Cassie from head to toe. “You’ve got spunk, and you’re really quite lovely.”

  “So are you.” The woman was even more stunning than Cassie remembered, with her long, dark hair and flawless skin. Her eyes were a bright, mesmerizing green.

  “Why, thank you.”

  Questioning her better judgment, Cassie’s fingers tightened around her crucifix. “Please, come in.”

  Mara seemed to flow into the house, almost as if her feet weren’t touching the floor. “I hear you’re going to marry our priest.”

  “Yes.” Remembering her manners, she said, “Would you like to sit down?”

  “I’m not staying. I just wanted to let you know how gratef
ul I am to you. Giovanni has been alone far too long.”

  “I love him.”

  “And he loves you. Once you wed, you will become a part of my family. As such, we will be here for you if you ever need us.”

  “Did you really know Cleopatra?”

  “Told you that, did he?”

  Cassie nodded.

  “It’s true. I knew her quite well. I was there when Antony died in her arms. I offered to give her the Dark Gift, but she refused. With Antony dead and the prospect of being made a public spectacle in Rome, she had no desire to live.”

  “That’s so . . . tragic,” Cassie murmured. She had seen the movie Cleopatra, of course, but hearing the queen’s fate from someone who had actually been there made it all the more real.

  “Our Giovanni is a kind and gentle man,” Mara remarked. “Be good to him.”

  Though the words were softly spoken, Cassie didn’t miss the warning underlying them. “Can I ask you something?”

  “Of course, though I don’t promise to answer.”

  “I thought vampires had to sleep during the day.”

  “Most do,” Mara said. “Direct sunlight will destroy fledglings. Ancient ones, such as myself and Giovanni, can be active during the day, although bright sunlight quickly weakens most of us. I’ve given my blood to some of the family, which also allows them to be awake when the sun is up. But it is natural for our kind to rest until nightfall, although most vampires are able to rouse themselves from the Dark Sleep if they sense danger nearby. Is there anything else?”

  “No. I was just curious.”

  “Very well,” Mara said. “I hope to see you again soon, Cassie Douglas. Perhaps at the wedding.”

  Cassie nodded again.

  And Mara vanished from her sight.

  Cassie stared at the place where the vampire had been. How on earth did they disappear like that?

  Feeling as if she had been a bug under a microscope, she dropped down on the sofa. Mara had done nothing more than enter the house, and yet her power, invisible as the wind, had permeated the room. Cassie couldn’t help thinking that if the vampire had chosen to do so, she could have leveled the house and everything in it with no more than a casual thought.

  * * *

  Giovanni hesitated when he reached his house that night and caught Mara’s lingering scent. What the devil had she been doing here?