Chapter Twenty-Nine
Vlad stepped from the bathroom and pulled the door closed behind him.
“I heard,” Ember announced, entering his room. She laid some clothes on his bed. “I’m pretty sure these will do.”
“Thank you, Ember. I’ll see that you are reimbursed for the cost.”
“Nonsense,” Ember insisted, turning to leave.
She stopped at the door. “Angel and Shon should be back momentarily. Virginia is with them.”
Vlad nodded. “Good to know. I’m sure Nita will be relieved to hear that her mother survived.”
With a soft smile, Ember strode into the hall and disappeared down the stairs.
Mordecai’s footsteps could be heard shuffling across the foyer. Vlad had to fight his instincts to keep from running down there and helping the elderly butler with his burden. But of course, Mordecai would never hear of it.
Vlad moved to stare out the window, enthralled with the scenery of the grounds below. No matter how old he got, he never tired of Alaska’s beauty.
His thoughts drifted to the bathroom where Nita lay soaking in his tub. The water had long since stopped running, giving way to the occasional splash as she apparently bathed.
Her scent, mixed with his shampoo, escaped from beneath the door and drifted up Vlad’s nose. His cock hardened instantly.
If he was honest with himself, he’d been hard since the moment he’d found her in that bear trap.
It seemed an eternity had passed since she’d snuck onto his lands and disrupted his life. Has it only been two weeks?
Vlad could barely recall the life he’d led before Nita Franks had stumbled into it. And he damn sure couldn’t imagine her not being in it now.
What if she didn’t want to stay? he wondered, watching a shooting star arc across the sky. Could he let her go? Could he go on living as if she’d never existed? No. Vlad would do whatever it took to keep her with him. No matter what.
Mordecai finally arrived, holding a tray and Vlad’s favorite wine. “I figured you could use a drink.”
Vlad grinned at his old friend. “What I wouldn’t give to be able to pull a good drunk. The humans seem to enjoy it immensely.”
Mordecai sniffed. “It’s way overrated, if you ask me.” He set the tray on the bedside table. “Will there be anything else, my lord?”
“That will be all, my friend. Go get some rest.”
The elderly butler stopped at the door on his way out, turning to look over his shoulder. “Will Miss Franks’s mother be joining us tonight?”
Vlad fought a smile. He’d already noticed the difference in Mordecai when Virginia was around. “I believe so.”
“Very well,” Mordecai murmured, nonchalantly. “Good night, my lord.”
The bathroom door opened, admitting a flushed Nita wrapped in an overly large towel. “Is that food I smell?”
“It is,” Vlad assured her. “Come sit down, and I’ll get you fixed up.”
The sight of her padding across his room, barefoot and pink from her bath, triggered another untimely erection. “Angelo and Shon found your mother.”
Nita stopped next to the bed, her face lit up with hope. “Is she all right?”
“I believe so. Ember didn’t give a lot of details, so I’m assuming that she’s fine.”
“I’ll get dressed and meet her downstairs.” Nita began snatching up the clothes lying on the bed.
Vlad reached out and caught her by the arm. “After you’ve eaten. She isn’t here yet, and you need to keep up your strength.”
Snagging a robe hanging on the back of the bathroom door, Vlad handed it to her. “Put this on and have a seat.”
Nita accepted the robe, gratefulness shining in her amber-colored eyes.
Vlad held the garment open, watching with humor as she inserted both arms before pulling the towel free and cinching the robe around her waist.
She sat on the edge of the bed before lifting the lid to the tray. “Damn, this looks good.”
Vlad couldn’t seem to take his gaze from her as she ate like a starved puppy.
Water droplets dripped from her hair to be soaked up by the fluffy material of the robe.
She took a sip of the wine he poured her. “This is all so delicious. Mordecai deserves a raise.”
“Herman is well compensated.” Vlad chuckled. “I assure you.”
The sound of a vehicle coming up the road reached Vlad’s ears. “They’ll be here in a minute.”
Nita glanced up from her meal, excitement evident on her face. “My mother?”
Vlad nodded. “You still have a few minutes. Go ahead and finish your food.”
She took another bite of the pasta Mordecai had made her before going completely still. “I can hear it too. The engine, the sound of the tires rolling over the asphalt. Am I becoming a vampire?”
Vlad shook his head. “I don’t think so. I’m not sure what is happening with you. Perhaps your Shaman will give us some insight.”
“If he’s still alive,” Nita muttered quietly.
She set her tray aside and stood. “I don’t think I can eat any more. My stomach feels weird.”
Taking her by the hand, Vlad guided her toward the door and down the stairs to the foyer, where Ember and Laura were playing with Lucius.
The front door opened, and Angel, Shon, Virginia, and the Shaman walked in.
Nita threw her arms around her mother. “Thank God, you’re all right. I saw you fall after that asshole hit you in the head. I’ve been going crazy with worry.”
Virginia pulled back and cupped her daughter’s face. “I’m okay. Just a small bump on the head. We Franks are pretty damn resilient.”
The sound of Nita’s relieved laugh washed through Vlad in a well of warmth that burrowed inside his heart.
Shon touched Vlad on the sleeve. “We have a few injured shifters in the SUV. I wasn’t sure if it was cool to bring them inside or not.”
Vlad nodded. “It’s fine. Take them to the basement. There are beds and plenty of blankets available.”
“Wait,” Nita interrupted, moving to stand next to Vlad. “I need to see them first to make sure none of them were with Miles. We have Lucius to think about.”
Pride filled Vlad’s chest. Nita put a vampire child’s safety above the life of a shifter.
She will make me one hell of a queen, Vlad thought, watching her spring into action like a seasoned general. Because like it or not, she was stuck with him. And he intended to reclaim his rightful place on the council seat, with Nita by his side.