Chapter Thirty-Two
Nita watched Vlad’s eyes close and his breathing grow even. He looked so vulnerable in his sleep.
She reached up and brushed his hair back, allowing her fingers to linger on his face.
How had she come to fall in love with the one creature she’d been taught to hate since birth? But love him she did. More than she ever imagined she could love another.
She lay down beside him and closed her own eyes. She wanted to sleep next to him, to share in everything that made up who he was.
Heat began to envelope Nita’s body. A sensation of falling overtook her, yet she was powerless to stop it. The room spun around her until nothing could be seen but a swirl of lights.
“Come to me,” Vlad’s voice called from the chaos.
His handsome face suddenly appeared, strong and confident to calm the panic hammering away inside her.
A giant throne rose up from the midst now surrounding her. And in its confines sat her Impaler, strong and larger than life.
On his right side stood a girl, the most beautiful girl Nita had ever seen, with eyes as bright as the sun.
An incredibly handsome man stood on Vlad’s left, tall and powerful, wearing a crown adorned with brilliant jewels.
“Come to me,” Vlad beckoned again, his eyes swimming with love.
Nita inched closer, her hand outstretched toward his.
Armies of bodies appeared at the foot of the throne, their backs toward her. They stood as one, parting to allow her to pass.
Nita reached the throne and took hold of Vlad’s hand, unable to look away from his beautiful eyes.
Without a word, Vlad slowly turned her to face the enormous crowd gathered below, and Nita’s breath caught.
Shifters and vampires stood shoulder to shoulder to form a line stretching as far as the eye could see.
As if one, they knelt, their heads bowed in a show of respect.
One word passed through Nita’s mind as she glanced around at the army before her… Home.
* * * *
Nita awoke to the smell of bacon. She rolled toward Vlad only to find him gone.
“I thought you might be hungry.”
She scanned the room to find Vlad seated near the window in the recliner they’d made love in. She sat up in bed. “How long have you been up?”
Vlad stood and sauntered across the room to sit next to her on the bed. “You’ve been asleep for a couple of days.”
“What?” Nita threw back the covers and moved to get up.
“You eat first,” Vlad gently scolded, pushing her back against the pillows. “The changes to your body have taken a lot out of you.”
He sat the tray of food on her lap and lifted the lid.
Nita’s stomach lurched. She flew from the bed and staggered to the bathroom, dropping to her knees in front of the toilet.
She heaved for several minutes, but nothing came up.
Vlad appeared behind her and handed her a washcloth. “I’m afraid it’s the vampire blood in your veins. I sent for Christof after you didn’t awaken last night. He’s downstairs. Would you mind allowing him to have a look at you?”
“Who is Christof?” Nita questioned, standing to brush her teeth.
Vlad handed her an unopened toothbrush. “He was a doctor in the nineteenth century, before Gina Calimari became infatuated with him and turned him against his will.”
“How awful.” Nita finished brushing her teeth and laid the toothbrush on the side of the sink before turning to face Vlad. “I don’t need a doctor.”
“It would make me feel better,” Vlad admitted, following her back to the bedroom. “What could it hurt?”
Climbing back beneath the covers, Nita stared up into Vlad’s worried eyes. “Fine,” she smiled, softening her gaze. “But if he tells me that I’m going to sprout fangs, we have a problem.”
Vlad’s lips twitched. “There’s nothing sexier than a shifter with fangs.”
A knock sounded on the door. Vlad opened it and took a step back. He waved toward the bed. “Christof, this is Nita.”
A tall, skinny, pale-skinned blond stepped into the room. His blue eyes were friendly, and a crease rested next to his mouth, telling Nita that he smiled a lot.
Christof nodded, a twinkle in his eyes. “It’s a nice to meet you, Nita. Mind if I sit?”
Nita slid her legs out of the way to make room for the skinny doctor. “It’s nice to meet you as well. Listen, I honestly feel fine.”
“Then this shouldn’t take long. I’ll just have a look at you and be on my way.”
With a sigh of surrender, Nita lay completely still while the doctor opened the black bag he’d carried inside and began poking and prodding.
Just when she thought she could stand it no longer, he replaced his instruments and stood. “She’s perfectly healthy. I’m guessing it’s the large amount of vampire blood in her system. The effects of it should wear off soon.”
“But I ate pasta when we returned home a few nights ago,” Nita pointed out. “And it didn’t make me sick.”
The doctor sent her a gentle smile. “I imagine it’s the pasta that’s got your stomach upset. Try some rare steak. That should help settle things down.”
Nita sat up straighter in bed. “How long will the nausea last?”
“I’m not certain,” the doctor informed her. “I’ve never met a shifter. And certainly not one with vampire blood in her veins.”
“We’ll try the steak.” Vlad intervened, showing Christof to the door. “Thank you for seeing us on such short notice.”
“You destroyed Gina,” Christof explained. “I owe you everything.”
Vlad shook his head. “You owe me nothing. I should have killed her long ago.”
“Have a pleasant evening.” The doctor blurred toward the stairs, disappearing faster than Nita could track.
“Damn, he’s fast,” she muttered, snatching up the clothes Ember had left for her.
Vlad laughed. “The skinny ones usually are.”