Prime Vampires - I Hunger For You Part 24

Colin drove his wood splinter into the side of the other Prime's neck. Blood spurted, and Belisarius howled. Then Colin's fangs sank deep into the other side of Belisarius's throat, and his claws ripped deep into the Manticore's chest.

Mia felt the instant Belisarius died, like a psychic candle suddenly being snuffed out. She had a moment of elation at Colin's survival, but it turned to terror even as Colin sprang to his feet to face the circle of Tribe Primes, Belisarius's blood on his face and hands. Despite Colin's snarling triumph and defiance of the pack, they were still deeply, deeply in trouble.

Mia rose to her feet. She was aware that her great-grandfather slumped sideways when she moved, but she didn't have time for concern for the old man right now. She stood side by side with her bondmate as the pack slowly circled them, eyes glowing, fangs bared.

"Take them apart," Justinian ordered. "Do it slowly."

This was definitely a scene out of her worst nightmare. Only in her nightmares the man she loved wasn't with her. Maybe she was going to die, but at least she wasn't alone.

"What have we got to fight vampires with?" she whispered out of the corner of her mouth.

Colin wiped the blood off his mouth, and his hands on his shirt as he looked beyond the encroaching pack. Then he flexed his fingers and gave her a bright, rea.s.suring smile.

"Personally, I think other vampires are good to fight vampires with," he said.

Then Barak, Tony, Alec, David Barus, and others whose names she didn't know came out of the shadows, encircling the Tribe vampires.

"Back to the original Plan B," Colin said. Then he put himself between her and immediate danger as the fighting started all over again.

Mia took her gaze away from the body on the couch when Tony Crowe came up to her. "Is it over?"

Colin was outside, searching for those who were trying to get away.

"It's all over except for the cover-up," Tony answered.

The fight hadn't gone on for very long, but it had spread all through the house and the estate grounds. Mia hadn't taken part; she'd been giving CPR to her great-grandfather. And that had been done out of hopeless duty, because- "He's gone," Tony said. "No light of soul left at all."

"I know." She also knew that the old man hadn't had a soul for a long time. "I don't know if one of the vampires killed him, or if it was just his time." She rubbed the back of her neck. "I did what I could."

"I'm sure you did."

She supposed he was thinking that Garrison's death left the vampires one less loose end to tie up. She couldn't blame him for feeling that way, but was glad he was too polite to say so.

He took her by the shoulder and turned her away from the couch. "We'll take care of everything. And thank you," he added.

"Your plan worked."

Mia gave him a sardonic look. "Which part of my plan involved you and the bad guys showing up?"

"Ah. Those elements were factored in later. We knew we couldn't trust the Manticores to abide by the rules, so we-"

"Didn't follow the rules, either," she contributed. "Not that I mind."

"They followed Laurent, we followed you. Our only surprise was that Justinian's people got here first." He gave an eloquent shrug. "It all worked out. There were mortal casualties," he told her. "I'm sorry, but the Manticores killed two of the guards."

In movies and television shows, no one worried about the spear carriers. She'd hoped to keep very real humans from getting hurt.

"It would have been much worse if you hadn't shown up. Did you kill Manticores?"

"A couple of them got away, but most of them surrendered," he answered. "That's almost too bad, because now we have to lock 'em up and reeducate them, and that takes years."

Suddenly a thrill ran through her and Mia turned away, all her senses focusing on the most important thing in the world. Colin had entered the room, and she didn't care about anything else.

He came to her, took her hands, and smiled, but he spoke to Tony first. "It looks like Laurent and Justinian got away."

"We'll keep looking." Tony stepped away.

Colin took her in his arms, and Mia collapsed gratefully into his sheltering embrace. They did nothing but hold each other for a long time.

"h.e.l.l of a night," he finally said. Then he held her out at arm's length. "Are you all right? What can I do to help?"

Mia was incredibly touched by his gentleness and concern. She couldn't answer for a moment, overwhelmed just by looking at him. He was strong, brave-handsome. She'd known all these things, but now she recognized and absorbed how much everything he was, was a part of her.

"As you are a part of me," he told her. "Come on."

He put his arm around her waist, and they went out into the morning light. The breeze was scented with pine, and morning sunlight sparked off snow-covered peaks. Mia took a deep breath. Then Colin kissed her and took her breath away.

"I was so afraid of losing you," he said when they finally came up for air. "Afraid of losing you before we really found each other.

I've been a fool and a jerk and a complete-"

"I know." She put her fingers over his lips. "Don't make a speech about it, okay?"

He kissed her palm and she thought she was going to melt. "You deserve a speech."

His earnestness sent joy flooding through her. "Yeah, but it wouldn't match the groveling abas.e.m.e.nt I've lovingly imagined."

"That's harsh." His eyes sparkled teasingly. "Do I get down on my knees, in your fantasy?"

"Yeah, but not in the apology fantasy." His low, wicked chuckle sent a thrill through Mia. "Just apologize and tell me you love me, and we'll be okay." She held him close.

"I'm sorry."

He ran his hands down her back and looked thoughtfully out at the mountains. For a moment she grew cold with dread. Maybe he wasn't able to say the words.

"I've never told you that I love you, have I, Caramia?" He laughed softly. "Of course, your name says it all.Cara mia means 'my love,' doesn't it?"

"Yes."

He rubbed his cheek against hers, and whispered in her ear, "I'm never going to call you anything else. I love you, Caramia."

"And I love you."

"Really?" he asked eagerly. "Since when?"

"You first."

"Probably when you yelled at me for being late to the hostage rescue. I thought it was l.u.s.t, but the connection went so much deeper. You?" he urged. "When you showed up at the hospital to see if I was all right."

"I just wanted to get into your pants."

"Yeah, but it was still sweet. And you get extra points for saving me from Belisarius. Ireally love you for that." She fluttered her eyelashes at him, but she meant it when she said, "I knew you'd come for me, my hero."

"d.a.m.n right. You know I'll always be there for you, right?"

"d.a.m.n right." She gave Colin her complete and utter trust.

"I was so scared of losing you. The bondmate in danger thing really helped me put things in perspective. You tired, Caramia?"

"Exhausted. And tired of the whole situation. Let's go home."

"To your place," he said. "You've got more room. You're going to have to adjust to being married to a cop. That won't be easy, Caramia."

"It has to be easier than adjusting to being bonded to a vampire."

"I guess."

"And you have to adjust to being married to a vampire hunter."

"What!" He held her out at arm's length again. "No way."

"Yes," she answered. "There are bad guys out there that need policing. It's part of my heritage, and I'm going for it. But properly, officially, with your help and training."

He clearly didn't like it, but he didn't argue. Mia figured there'd be plenty of time to argue when they got home. Arguing was one of the things they did very well together. They had a long lifetime to do lots of things well together.

He put his arm around her shoulders once more and led her toward the driveway, where they approached a lovely, low-slung red sports car. She didn't know who it belonged to, or if there were keys in it. But she did know that Colin Foxe had every intention of driving away with her in it.

"You know what I'm going to do when we get back to Los Angeles?" he asked as he held the pa.s.senger door open for her.

"After making love to you for a couple of days?"

"What?"

"Take you to Harry Winston's and buy you a proper wedding ring. Something with lots of diamonds."

"Or rubies," she answered, succ.u.mbing to a sudden impulse. "I think I'll let you buy me rubies."

She glanced for the last time at the mansion perched on the mountainside as Colin slid into the driver's seat.

"Let's go home." She smiled at him, and at being with him forever, as they drove away.