The Vampire's Mail Order Bride

“Here’s the thing, that deal is off the table. There’s a new deal in play.”

Elenora’s brows rose stiffly. “And that is?”

Delaney could see Stanhill’s surprised look out of the corner of her eye. No doubt this was news to him, and probably not the kind that made him happy, but he’d understand things soon enough. “You will never again threaten to take away Hugh’s amulet. Ever. Not in the next five hundred years. Not in the next thousand years. Never. You’re not to even speak the word amulet to him. And Alice will not remove or destroy the magic that keeps it working. It is his, free and clear. No strings attached. Not even a thread. Are we clear?”

The woman snorted softly. “You’re giving up the candy shop in exchange for…” She shrugged.

“In exchange for you lifting your thumb off his neck.”

“That’s a rather crude way of putting it, don’t you think?”

“No, I don’t. You used that amulet to force him into entertaining a strange woman in his home all so you could end up with grandbabies to play with. I’d say that was pretty crude, wouldn’t you?”

She laughed, a cultured, deliberate sound. “You are a sweet child. And your love for Hugh is admirable.” She stood and walked over to stand in front of Delaney, making no effort to hide her fangs or flashing eyes. Probably an attempt at intimidation, but Delaney had just been kidnapped by mobsters. A little vampire plumage wasn’t about to scare her off.

Elenora leaned in. “There’s just one thing you have overlooked.”

“What’s that?”

“Leverage. You have none. Which means I will continue to do what I think is best for my grandson. Are we clear?”

Delaney laughed. “I may not have leverage now, but I will.” She grinned at the woman. “See, Hugh and I are going to get married, and he’s going to turn me into a vampire, and then someday, we’re going to have babies. Lots of babies.”

Delaney canted toward Elenora, leaving very little space between them. “Babies you’re going to want to see and spend time with and spoil. But if you defy my wishes on the amulet, I will do everything in my power to keep those children from you. Is that enough leverage for you?”

Elenora’s victorious expression faded. “You wouldn’t dare keep those grandbabies from me.”

Delaney smiled, but was careful not to overdo it. She didn’t want to make an enemy of the woman, just put her firmly in check. “I certainly wouldn’t want to, but for their protection and the happiness of their father, I will do whatever necessary. And if you think I wouldn’t, that’s only because you don’t know me well enough yet.”

Several long seconds passed. Elenora swallowed but said nothing. Emotions clouded her eyes. Delaney felt a little guilt seeing Hugh’s grandmother coming to grips with this harsh new reality, but this was about protecting Hugh. Just like he’d protected her.

Finally, Elenora composed herself and spoke. “I had no idea you were so ruthless. Our original deal is done. There will be no financing for the candy shop. No backing from me whatsoever. But I will abide by your wishes. You can tell Hugh I will never again bring up the amulet. Alice won’t do anything to void it, either.”

“But I will expect to be an active part of those grandbabies’ lives.” She sniffed. “When they arrive.” She fussed at her blouse, smoothing the silk that was already perfectly smooth. “Which I hope is not too long from now.”

Delaney smiled. “I would much rather we be friends than enemies, Mrs. Ellingham. Especially since we’re going to be family for a long, long time.”

Elenora picked her head up. “I would like that too. You’re a far better match for Hugh than I could have ever chosen.”

“Thank you. Turns out blondes really aren’t his type after all.”

Elenora relaxed and a genuine smile lit her face. “Please, call me Elenora. Or Didi, like the boys do.”

“Thank you, Elenora.” That the woman could refer to her nearly four-hundred-year-old grandsons as boys made Delaney grin. “So you were a duchess, huh? What was that like?”

“My dear, I am still a duchess. And when you marry Hugh, you’ll become a Lady, although obviously we don’t use those titles anymore. Shame, that. Ah, well.” She lifted her hand as though signaling the start of something and began walking toward the door. “Now, about this wedding…”

Hugh stood safely within the shadows of the house and stared out the French doors into the garden. The sun had begun to set, painting everything in broad strokes of gold and orange. A subtle melancholy lingered in his bones, but it would pass just as it had centuries ago when he’d said goodbye to the sun the first time.

Merrow had taken the amulet and the cash to Willa, at first balking at being Hugh’s messenger until Hugh had explained just how much money he was sending her and the significance of the amulet. What was the point of keeping the secret now? The amulet would be destroyed in the creation of Delaney’s ring, and the sheriff certainly wasn’t going to use the knowledge against Julian or Sebastian. Not with his loyalty to the town.

Elenora’s days of manipulating him were over.

Hugh smiled, at peace with his decision, despite the magnitude of it. Using the amulet in the production of Delaney’s ring was full circle in a way. The very thing that had forced him into allowing Delaney into his life would be the very thing that might keep her in it.