Stefan eyed her carefully, and Emma leaned alittle further away from her. Ethan’s eyes shone the strangereddish-green color they’d become before he and Emma had completedthe mating ritual. If Ethan considered this woman a threat to hiswife, he’d kill her and never look back. Ian shifted, instinctivelypressing her closer against his chest. Ethan’s gaze slid away tofocus on the road once more, but he gripped the shoulder of Emma’sseat, keeping his arm in between her and the woman.
The woman in his arms stirred briefly beforegoing still once more. Ethan took an exit ramp and raced down it atspeeds that probably would have petrified a human, but Ian found ittame. Stefan directed him up and down the hilly roads. They drovethrough a small town with a bus station, hardware store, diner, abar and other small stores that were all shut down at this time ofthe night or actually early morning. Leaving the town behind, theyclimbed higher into the mountains.
“Turn here.” At Stefan’s instruction, Ethanpulled onto a bumpy dirt drive. It twisted through the trees andclimbed steadily upward. Ian yawned. It had nothing to do with himbeing tired and everything to do with trying to ease the pressureon his ears. Beside him, Stefan did the same thing.
A circular driveway emerged at the top ofthe hill; Ethan pulled the Jeep up in front of the small cabin. Heparked it next to David’s sleek black Camaro. Ian stared at the onestory log cabin illuminated by the fading moonlight. The frontporch sagged beneath the weight of its years. The simple design,and the logs used to build it, brought to mind the late eighteenhundreds and the pioneers. In the distance, the lonely howl of acoyote rang through the mountains and echoed across the clearing.If they weren’t sitting in this Jeep right now, he may havebelieved he’d taken a step back in time.
David and Mike stood outside the cabin,leaning against the wall beside the doorway. Light flickered in oneof the windows; he couldn’t tell if it was from a lamp or if theywere actually using candles and lanterns inside. As soon as Ethanturned the vehicle off, the front door opened to reveal one ofEmma’s best friends, Jill. Ian pushed open the Jeep door andstepped into the cool breeze stirring the night. Mandy emerged inthe doorway behind Jill as they approached the cabin.
“Is she ok?” Jill inquired, anxiouslybouncing on her toes.
“I gave her some of my blood, but she stillneeds medical attention,” Ian answered.
He stopped outside the door as Stefan walkedinside. “Come in,” Stefan said over his shoulder, allowing thevampires to finally enter the home.
Jill and Mandy stepped aside to let himinside. The lights flickering inside were from a lantern sitting onthe glass topped, wagon wheel coffee table in the middle of theliving room. To his right, a single candle burned on the counter inthe kitchen. “Are you ok?” David demanded, his gaze resting on theblood staining Ian’s shirt and the tear in it.
“Only a scratch,” he assured the man who hadbeen like an uncle to him his entire life.
“Did she do that?” Mike, his other adopteduncle, inquired.
“No,” Ian informed them. “Should I put heron the couch?”
“There’s a bedroom back here,” Mandysaid.
She hurried down the hall. The slight hitchin her step wouldn’t have been noticeable to anyone with humaneyesight and who didn’t know she had a prosthetic leg. The dimcandlelight flickering in the room she led him into illuminated hermocha skin. Ian laid the woman carefully on the maroon quiltcovering the full size bed.
Mandy opened a small medical bag and beganto shuffle through it. “I have some needle and thread…”
“The punctures are already closed, but sheneeds blood.”
Mandy turned toward him, her deep brown eyeswere filled with concern. She’d cut her black hair since he’d lastseen her; it was now cropped close to her head and enhanced herhigh cheekbones and full mouth. “I’m only a med student,” she said.“I don’t have anything like that.”
“We can get some,” Stefan volunteered.“There’s a small emergency clinic in the next town.”
Ian’s hands lingered upon the girl; heforced himself to take a step away from her. “I’ll be the getaway.”Jill smiled after saying this, but her light words didn’t ease thetension in her sable eyes. The blond streaks she’d had when he’dfirst met her had faded from her mahogany, shoulder lengthhair.
“I’ll go with you,” Emma volunteered.
“Stay, I’ll go.” Ethan took hold of her handand squeezed it. Emma started to protest, but Ethan pulled herclose and kissed her forehead. “Help Mandy. We’ll be backsoon.”
She stepped away from him as Mandy broke outa blood pressure kit and stethoscope. “I’m going to need a syringetoo,” she called after them, but her attention remained focusedupon the girl lying on the bed. “And make sure the blood is Onegative.”
Ian found his attention riveted upon thegirl while Mandy wrapped the cuff around her sinewy bicep.
CHAPTER 4
Ian sat up straighter in his chair and rubbed at thestubble lining his chin when the woman lying on the bed stirred.Her eyelids fluttered briefly before closing again. Ian slumpedback in his chair, folded his hands in his lap, and stretched outhis cramped legs. He stared at her slumbering form.
“She’s going to be fine,” Mandy assured him.“She’s still healing.”
She had his blood in her and a whole pint ofsomeone else’s, but the knowledge couldn’t help him shake hisconcern for her. Mandy glanced between them before walking out ofthe room. “We’re going to have to change her memories,” Stefan saidfrom the doorway.
Something within him bristled and revoltedat the idea of messing with her mind, but Stefan was right. Noddinghis agreement, he turned to find her startling turquoise eyeswatching him. He’d expected to see fear in her gaze; he hadn’texpected the simmering fire and resentment smoldering within theirdepths.
Sitting forward in his seat, he folded hishands in front of him before speaking. “You’re going to befine.”
Her forehead furrowed as she stalwartly heldhis gaze. Stefan shifted in the doorway, drawing her attention tohim. “Do you remember what happened?” Stefan inquired.
