Chapter Forty-Seven
Tessa stared at her reflection in the mirror. It was her wedding day. Again. Hopefully, this one would end better than the last. Andrei had assured her last night that there was no way Katerina could cause trouble this time. She couldn’t enter Tessa’s house, couldn’t mess with Tessa’s mind as long as she kept her walls up.
Praying Andrei was right, she lifted a hand to her veil. It was as light and airy as finely spun sugar.
She heard the doorbell, the sound of voices as Jilly and Luke came in, followed by Bailey and Tristan.
Jilly was starting to look pregnant.
Tessa sighed. Why was she letting her friend’s good news upset her so? Given a choice, she would rather have Andrei than a dozen babies fathered by another man.
There was a knock on her bedroom door. “Tess?”
“Come in, Jilly. You too, Bailey.”
Faces wreathed in smiles, they stepped into the room.
“Oh, Tessa,” Bailey murmured, “you look just like Cinderella going to the ball.”
“Told you so,” Jilly said. “Seriously, girlfriend, you look beautiful.”
“Is Andrei back yet?” Tessa asked.
“No.”
“Maybe he couldn’t find a priest willing to marry us on New Year’s Eve.”
“I’m pretty sure Andrei can persuade just about anyone to do just about anything,” Jileen said dryly.
“I’m sure you’re right,” Bailey remarked, grinning.
“We brought a wedding cake,” Jilly said. “Even if you don’t eat it, I thought you should have one. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Jilly, that’s so sweet! Of course I don’t mind. Thank you.” Tessa glanced toward the living room, her heart suddenly beating faster. The way it did whenever Andrei was near. “The groom’s arrived. And he’s not alone.”
Jilly nudged Bailey. “Time to take your place out front.”
Bailey winked at Tessa, then left the room. She and Tristan were going to be their witnesses.
“Are you ready, Tess?” Jilly asked.
She nodded. This was it. Finally.
Moments later, Luke poked his head into her room. “Ready?”
“Yes.” More than ready, she thought, as a million butterflies of excitement took wing in the pit of her belly.
Jilly took her place and Luke and Tessa fell in behind her. Tessa placed her hand on Luke’s arm, took a deep breath, and then they followed Jilly down the narrow hallway into the living room.
Andrei and the priest stood in front of the fireplace. Tristan and Bailey stood to one side, his arm around her waist.
Tessa’s heart skipped a beat when she met Andrei’s gaze. He was all man, she thought, admiring the width of his shoulders, the inky blackness of his hair, the heat in his eyes. All man. And all hers.
She and Luke stopped in front of the priest. Luke stepped back and Andrei took his place at her side. He smiled as he took her hand in his. Hello, beautiful.
She squeezed his hand.
The priest cleared his throat. “We are gathered here today to join Andrei Dinescu and Tessa Blackburn in the bonds of holy matrimony. Marriage is an honorable estate, not to be entered into lightly. Andrei, do you take Tessa to be your lawfully wedded wife, to love her and cherish her as long as you both shall live?”
“I do.”
“Tessa, do you take Andrei to be your lawfully wedded husband, to love and to cherish as long as you both shall live?”
“I do.”
“Then, by the power vested in me by Holy Mother Church, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Andrei, you may kiss the bride.”
“In a moment.” Andrei reached into his pocket and withdrew a wedding band studded with diamonds—the mate to her engagement ring. Slipping it on her finger, he drew her into his arms. “I will love you and no other as long as I live,” he murmured, and kissed her.
It was, Tessa thought as his mouth closed over hers, the sweetest, most gentle sign of love and affection she had ever received.
“All right,” Luke muttered as Andrei deepened the kiss, “break it up, you two.”
Tessa laughed softly as Andrei growled low in his throat, kissed her again, then let her go.
Bailey and Jilly stepped forward to hug her while Luke and Tristan congratulated Andrei.
“Time to cut the cake,” Jilly said.
“And drink a toast to the bride and groom,” Luke added.
“Cake first,” Jilly insisted. She had not only brought a small wedding cake, complete with a little bride and groom on top, but paper plates, and a knife tied with a white bow as well.
“Ladies first.” Taking the knife from Jileen, Tessa cut a thin slice of cake. She hesitated a moment. Many brides and grooms smeared the dessert over their partner’s face, but she didn’t want to make light of the occasion. She fed it to Andrei, then handed him the knife. His gaze met hers as he cut a small piece and offered it to her. She ate it quickly, then licked her lips. Even though she couldn’t taste it, she still remembered the taste of cake and buttercream.
Luke filled seven glasses with champagne and Bailey and Tristan passed them out.
Smiling benignly, the priest joined in the toast.
“Time for a wedding photo,” Jilly said, digging her phone out of her handbag. “This is a day we want to remember.”
Feeling as though she had swallowed a piece of the sun, Tessa stood beside Andrei. Her husband. She glanced at her wedding ring. In all the fuss and excitement, she’d forgotten to buy him one. Something she intended to remedy at the soonest possible moment. He was a married man now, and she wanted everyone to know it.
The party broke up a short time later amid lots of winks and smirks. Jilly and Luke offered to drive the priest home so that the newlyweds could “start their honeymoon right away.”
“Happy New Year,” Jilly said, giving Tessa a hug. “Let’s hope the new year is Katerina-free.”
“I’ll drink to that,” Tessa said, laughing.
“Luke and I are going out dancing at the Stardust later. If you and Andrei get bored before midnight, come find us.”
Tessa glanced over to where Andrei and the others were standing by the door, chatting with the priest. She could hardly wait until they were alone. She grew warm all over just thinking about being in Andrei’s arms, running her hands over his hard body, testing the strength of his arms, hearing his whiskey-rough voice murmuring love words in her ear.
“Tessa?”
“What? Oh, thanks, but I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
“No, I guess not,” Jilly said, following Tessa’s gaze. “Happy New Year.”
* * *
Andrei closed the door. “I thought they’d never leave.”
Tessa nodded, surprised to feel suddenly shy now that they were alone.
“We did it,” he said, slipping his arms around her waist.
“So we did.”
He gazed down at her, his brows drawn together. “You okay?”
She stared up at him, felt her cheek grow hot under his probing gaze. “I should cover that cake and put it away.”
“Now?” He nuzzled her neck. “I had something else in mind.”
“Did you?”
“Can’t you guess?”
Her gaze slid downward to the obvious evidence of his desire. “No guessing required,” she muttered, then burst out laughing.
“I hope you’re not expressing an opinion of my masculinity,” he said dryly.
With a shake of her head, Tessa took him by the hand and led him to the bedroom. “Have no fear. I know just how to ease your problem.”
Andrei’s grin stretched ear to ear. “I know you do, love. I’m counting on it.”
In the bedroom, he drew her into his arms, then turned her around so he could unfasten her gown. He whistled softly when she stepped out of it, revealing a lacy white bra and matching bikini panties.
He groaned softly. “I’m not sure you’re solving my problem.”
“In time,” she promised as she removed his coat and tie.
He obligingly toed off his boots and peeled off his socks.
He sucked in a breath as she unbuckled his belt, unzipped his fly. He kicked his trousers aside, then scooped her into his arms and carried her to bed.
“I love you, wife,” he murmured.
“Love you more.”
“Impossible.” His hands played over her body, lingering in those places he knew aroused her most, carrying her to the peak, then backing off until she thought she might go mad with wanting him.
She clutched his shoulders as, with a lustful growl, he thrust into her, carrying her over the edge of desperate need into ecstasy and beyond.
* * *
Tessa was drifting off to sleep when her cell phone rang. She sat up, instantly alert. People never called with good news at three a.m.
“Who is it?” Andrei asked as she reached for her phone.
“Jilly.” She mouthed the word before answering. “Jilly, what’s wrong?”
“I’m afraid Jilly can’t come to the phone right now.”
“Katerina!”
“Sorry I missed the sham of a wedding. Do tell my husband hello for me.”
“What do you want? Where’s Jilly?”
“Oh, she’s right here. The hunter, too. And the priest who dared to marry you.”
Tessa stared at Andrei. With his preternatural hearing, he could listen to both sides of the conversation.
He took the phone from her hand, his expression grim, his eyes as hard as flint. “What do you want, Katerina?”
“I want what’s mine. But since you don’t want me, I don’t want you to have anyone else. So, tell your whore that if she ever wants to see her friend and the hunter again, to come and meet me.”
“That’s not going to happen.”
“Then put her on the phone so she can tell her friend good-bye.”
Tessa snatched the phone from Andrei’s hand. “What do you want?”
“I’ve decided to fight for what is mine. If I win, I get Andrei. If you win, you get your friends back. I’m afraid it’s too late for the priest.”
“You killed him?”
“I never could control my temper.”
“Just tell me where you are.”
“We’re in the high school gym. Be here in ten minutes, or she’s dead. Oh, and come alone. I’ll know if you don’t.”
There was a loud click as Katerina ended the call.
“Are you crazy?” Andrei exclaimed. “You can’t fight her.”
“Well, I can’t let her kill Jilly and Luke.” She jumped out of bed and went to her closet.
“I’m not letting you go alone.”
“She’ll know if you’re there.”
“I don’t give a damn,” he said, following her across the room.
Tessa pulled on a pair of jeans and a sweater, tugged on a pair of fur-lined boots.
“Dammit, Tess, she doesn’t play fair. For all you know, Jilly’s dead already.”
“Katerina loses her leverage if she kills her. Because I’ll know if Jilly and Luke are alive as soon as I get there.”
Andrei bit out a curse.
Tessa put her arms around him. “You know I have to go, don’t you?”
“Yes, dammit, I know. I’ve been expecting her to pull a stunt like this. Stay strong, love. I won’t be far behind.”
* * *
As soon as she left the house, Tessa’s courage deserted her. Katerina was ancient. She was a fledgling. But she had Andrei’s blood in her veins. And by extension, Katerina’s, too. Hopefully, that would make all the difference.
When she arrived at the school, all the windows were dark. After vaulting over the fence, she made her way to the gymnasium. One of the doors stood open. It was pitch-black inside. Pausing, she opened her senses. Katerina was inside. So was Jileen. She could smell her friend’s fear. And Luke’s. And overall, the smell of blood and death.
Taking a deep breath, she entered the gym’s yawning maw.
“So, he let you come alone.”
In the darkness, Katerina’s voice seemed to be disembodied.
Tessa’s gaze swept the room. Jilly and Luke were bound to metal chairs. The priest lay dead in the far corner, his blood congealing.
There was no sign of Katerina. But she was there.
Tessa moved to the center of the floor, her hand reaching into her back pocket for the weapon Andrei had thrust into her hand as she left the house. “Let’s get this over with. I’m on my honeymoon, you know. Andrei’s in bed, waiting for me.”
With a growl, Katerina materialized and launched herself at Tessa. Hands like claws, teeth bared in a feral snarl, she grabbed Tessa’s arm and hurled her across the room.
Tessa bounced off the wall and scrambled to her feet. Whirling around, she deflected the blow she saw coming. Katerina fought like a wildcat, her nails scoring Tessa’s arms and cheeks while she hurled insults.
The smell of fresh blood filled the air.
Tessa fought back as best she could, amazed by her own strength. She had never been in a physical fight in her whole life. And never a fight to the death. She thought of Jilly and Luke. If she died, they would die. She thought of Andrei, of how much he loved her. How much she loved him. If she lost, she would never see him again.
It was that thought that spurred her on.
At Katerina’s next charge, Tessa feinted left, then lowered her guard. And waited.
With a cry of impending victory, Katerina sprang at Tessa. Tessa fell heavily and Katerina landed on her chest, eyes glowing red.
“All too easy,” Katerina crowed as she pinned Tessa’s shoulders to the floor. She leaned down, intending to sink her fangs into Tessa’s throat.
“You think so?” Tessa retorted, and plunged the dagger Andrei had given her into Katerina’s back.
Katerina let out a shriek of pained surprise as the silver-bladed dagger penetrated her heart. She stared at Tessa in shock for stretched seconds before she toppled sideways.
Tessa scrambled to her feet, eyes growing wide as the vampire disintegrated into a pile of dust and ashes.
Swallowing the bile that burned the back of her throat, Tessa crossed the floor to turn on the lights before hurrying toward Jilly and Luke. She quickly untied them.
“Are you two all right?”
“We are now!”
Luke glanced around. “Where’d she go?”
Tessa gestured to the pile of ashes in the center of the floor. A silver-bladed dagger winked in the light. “That’s her.”
“You destroyed her?” Jilly asked. “All by yourself?”
“I had a little help from an ancient weapon,” Tessa said, retrieving the knife.
“Where the hell’s Andrei?” Luke asked.
“Right here,” he said, materializing in the doorway. “You didn’t think I’d let Tessa confront Katerina alone, did you?”
Luke shrugged, his expression sheepish.
“It’s over, isn’t it?” Jilly asked, her voice touched with awe. “Really over?”
Tessa nodded. “Come on, we’ll take you home.”
* * *
“I destroyed her,” Tessa said, crawling into bed beside Andrei. “I can’t believe it.”
“I can.” He smiled at her. “In fact, I think you were the only one who could.”
“I couldn’t have done it without your dagger.”
Andrei grunted softly. “I’m not sure about that. I think your blood would have been just as deadly.”
“Really? Even now, when I’m a vampire, too?”
“I don’t think becoming a vampire would have altered the curse. I think anyone who takes your blood by force will pay the ultimate price.”
“Well, that’s something you’ll never have to worry about,” she said, snuggling into his arms. “Because I’m giving you permission to taste me as often as you like, as long as I can taste you, in return.”
“Good to know, Mrs. Dinescu.” Stretching out on the bed, he drew her down beside him.
“Mrs. Dinescu,” she repeated. “I love the sound of that.”
“You’re gonna love this, too,” he growled as he rose over her.
They had made love before, but it was different now, she thought, more meaningful, more intimate.
Later, wrapped in the warmth of her husband’s embrace, she smiled, thinking Jilly had been right. It was better when you were married.