The Vampire’s Fake Fiancée
Tessa laughed and moved closer to Sebastian. He put his arm around her as she spoke. “She was going to kill Sebastian. I had to do something.”
“That explains the blood on your shirt,” Hugh said. “Start from the beginning.”
Sebastian described how Evangeline had pinned him with one of his own weapons, threatening to kill him if he didn’t reveal the secret to his daywalking. “And then Tessa came in at just the right moment and—”
He glanced at her. This wasn’t his secret to reveal.
She smiled back at him with only the smallest bit of worry bracketing her eyes. “You can tell them.”
“You’re sure?”
She took a breath and nodded. “Yes. I’m done pretending I’m not who I really am.”
His heart ached with affection for her. “All right then.”
His cell phone rang. “Just a moment.” He answered it. “Ellingham.”
“Sheriff Merrow again. I’m on my way. Greaves is going to be fine. The doctors gave him something to wake him up. He’s going to have an awful headache for a day or two, but that’s it. The wound is already healing up.”
Relief flooded Sebastian. “Thank you for letting me know.”
“Also, he told me a woman named Evangeline did this to him. Said to talk to you about it.”
“Come over and I’ll fill you in. Any chance you have vampire-proof handcuffs?”
“I do. I’ll bring them with me. Be there in ten.”
Sebastian hung up. “That was Sheriff Merrow. Greaves is going to be fine.”
Hugh frowned. “Greaves was hurt?”
Sebastian nodded. “Evangeline left to go to the chapel with him but I don’t think she ever intended on arriving. She knocked him out, then came back here, probably with the intent to search the house for my secret. She’d already tried to pick the lock on my office door.”
Julian walked to the bar and poured himself a drink. “I still want to know how the librarian knocked out a vampire.”
“Yes, about that,” Sebastian said. “Tessa came in, saw that Evangeline was about to run me through and—”
“What’s going on in here? Is everything all right?” Elenora Ellingham walked in, her brow furrowed. Alice Bishop trailed her.
“How the bloody hell—never mind,” Hugh sputtered. “Alice and her damned police scanner, am I right?”
Elenora lifted her brows as she surveyed the room. “We heard about Greaves. We were concerned. What’s going on?”
Julian walked over to his grandmother and kissed her on the cheek. “Evangeline tried to kill Sebastian and Tessa knocked her out cold. We’re not entirely sure how yet, but obviously it was very effective.”
Elenora swung around to find Tessa. Her lips parted and her eyes filled with the brilliant gleam of unfettered joy. “You dear sweet child. You saved my Sebastian and you defeated that wretched excuse for a wife and vampire?”
Her hand went to her pearls momentarily as she swept forward and embraced Tessa. When she released the valkyrie, Elenora shook her head. “I’m not pleased my grandson didn’t see fit to bring you to meet me, but I am overwhelmed with gratitude for all you’ve done today. I definitely give my blessing to this marriage.”
Tessa blanched. “We’re, uh, we’re not getting married anymore. There’s no reason now that…well…Sebastian?” She turned to find him, clearly looking for rescue.
He stepped up. “Grandmamma, we were getting married only so that Evangeline would sign the papers. I told you that.”
“Yes, but this woman must love you if she saved your life like that.” Elenora gave an imperious nod. “You should still marry her.”
Delaney snorted.
Sebastian sighed. “We only met three days ago, Grandmamma. We need time to get to know each other. To make sure we’re compatible.”
Elenora huffed out a sigh. “Don’t be an idiot. Of course you’re compatible.” She turned toward Alice. “See if—” She let out a blood-curdling shriek as she pointed toward the hall. “What is that?”
They all looked in the direction she was pointing. A ball of brown and black fluff came scampering in.
Sebastian laughed. He scooped the little beast up and held him against his chest. “This is Duncan. Tessa’s cat.”
Elenora’s lip curled. “Not you too.” She sighed. “At least he’s not the size of a horse like Delaney’s creature.”
“Aw, come on, Elenora.” Delaney snickered like she was barely holding in a laugh. “You love your grandcat.”
“Stop calling him that. I want real grandbabies. Not furred ones.”
Julian made a small noise. “Now’s probably not the right time to tell you I’m dating a werewolf then.”
“Julian.” Elenora glared at him.
He grinned, clearly teasing her.
Sheriff Merrow walked in. “The door was open.” He took a long look around the room. “I’m pretty sure I missed something.”
The next few hours passed in a whirlwind for Tessa. The sheriff carted Evangeline off to some special holding cell for vampires, which he said had never been used before.
Hugh, Delaney, and Julian all headed back to their homes to change out of their formal attire while Tessa and Sebastian did the same.
Then they all met up again at the hospital to visit Greaves, who was being held overnight for observation. The rook was rather cranky about that, but happy to see them and even happier to hear that Evangeline had been dealt with.