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JESSE LEANED DOWN TO kiss me. In an instant, as soon as his glorious lips touched mine, it felt like all my troubles instantly melted away. I’d been aching for that divine moment all day.
“So...who did you talk to?” Julie asked.
He met her gaze. “First, maybe you’d like to explain to me why you two didn’t stay indoors like I told you to.”
“I don’t do well with cabin fever,” she retorted.
“But it’s for your safety.”
She motioned around her. “There’s no one out here but seagulls, and I don’t think they’re after me.”
His face grew serious. “Don’t you realize your life will never be the same again? You’ve been thrown into an immortal world, whether you like it or not. If anyone discovers that you’re not really a vampire, you’ll be hauled back to Big Bear Lake with werewolves and witches following you around again, plotting your demise on a ceremonial stone altar in a big, candlelit temple with hooded priests. Then they’ll—”
“Stop!” Julie shouted over the crashing sound of waves.
“They will kill you,” Jesse said. “They are counting down the days, to the first moon in the new year, when they hope to get their powers back. They can’t wait to stick a dagger deep into your heart. Since the werewolves’ curse would then be lifted, they’re just as excited to share in ensuring your death. They’ll be completely obsessed with taking you out.”
All the talk about death and sacrifices quickly jolted Julie back to reality. “I’m so not ready to die,” she said. “It isn’t fair.”
“Then start acting like it,” Jesse sternly replied. “I’m not just trying to boss you around. I’m trying to save your lives.”
“I know you told us to stay inside, but I didn’t see anyone out here, and since there wasn’t a soul around—”
He sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “If you can’t follow the rules, I’ll take Taylor and leave,” he said, cutting her off. “We’ll do this without you. We’ll pick a different location and go somewhere else.”
Her eyes widened in fear. “You wouldn’t! Why?”
“Because you’re gonna get us caught with your careless and reckless ways.”
“Okay, fine! I’ll listen, play by your rules. Just don’t ditch me.”
“This is not a game, Julie,” he said. “I care far too much about Taylor to see her murdered before my very eyes.”
“I won’t slip up again. I promise. Just give me another chance. I’ll stay cooped up in the house twenty-four/seven if you say so.”
“That’s not necessary. You can come out at night,” Jesse said. “In fact, you should, because that’s what vampires do.”
“Got it. No tours to the Salem Witch Museum during the day. Don’t worry. I’ve got the role of vampire nailed down pat.”
I hated that Jesse was scolding my friend, but I knew he was right. We had to stay inside for our own good. I gripped his hand tightly and said, “Let’s go inside.”
We walked through the glittering sand, making our way back to the house. As soon as we walked inside, Jesse drew all the shades and curtains shut. I was touched how committed and concerned he was for our safety.
“It’ll be dark in a few hours,” he said. “If you wanna go back outside then, you can.”
Julie cracked open a soda and plopped down on the couch. “Can you tell us why we’re in Salem? I mean, you don’t have to tell me, if it’s some big vampy secret or something. I’m just curious, that’s all. Seems like an interesting choice if we’re supposed to be running away from witches.”
Jesse sat next to me on the couch. “I brought you here because I have a dear friend who lives here and can help.”
“This friend, Tabby...is she mortal or a freak of nature?” Julie asked. “Can she wiggle her nose and do tricks like that blonde chick on that old Bewitched show? I always thought that would come in handy for doing dishes.”
“Tabitha Parker, and she’s a vampire,” he said.
“Leyna?” I asked.
“Nope. The regular bloodsucking, night-roaming variety.”
My eyes widened.
“Oh great,” Julie said.
He turned to face her. “I trust her...and so can you.”
“But the vampires want us dead.”
“Not this one.”
“You sure this is such a hot idea?” Julie said. “What if she rats us out?”
“I have no fear of that, and neither will you, once you hear her story. Tabby wants to help, and she begged me to talk to you. She wants to save all the petals, and that’s one thing you have in common.”
“Does she know we’re not really vampires?” I asked.
“Yes. But Tabby won’t say a word to the others. I promise you that. You all share...a very special bond.”
“With a vampire?” Julie retorted. “Wait...did you bring us here so she can turn us?”
“Absolutely not! She wants to explain things herself, though, so you’ll meet her soon.”
I gripped Jesse’s hands. “Jesse, if you trust her, then I will to. I know you’d never put me in danger.”
“Never,” he said, then cast me a smile that melted me all over again.
“Well, now I’m dying to meet this Tabby so I can see what she’s got to say for herself.”
“We’ll meet up with her at a secure location. It’s too risky for her to come here, as she might be followed.”
“Sounds good,” I said.
***
WHEN NIGHT FELL, JESSE and I decided to take a stroll on the beach.
Julie winked. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
“Wow. That narrows it down,” I said with a laugh. Jesse placed his hand in mine and led me outside, into the warm night, August air. The waves crashed against the shore, and a million stars glittered in the sky.
Breathtaking!
I couldn’t ask for a more perfect night. “It’s so beautiful out here.”
“Not half as beautiful as you,” he said with another heart-smashing, flirtatious, captivating smile that made my stomach flutter in excitement.
He looked absolutely gorgeous in the shimmering moonlight, and my skin pimpled with goosebumps when he wrapped me in his strong arms. His lips caressed and pressed against mine in the sweetest closed-mouth kiss. In that moment, I realized that it was the kiss of life. Without him, I never would have discovered my destiny; he prevented me from being blindly led to that fatal altar, from dying like so many others before me. Now, in his arms, I felt everything melt away and time stopped for just a moment.
“You are a treasure,” he said, stroking my face.
I smiled. “What did I ever do to deserve you anyway?” I asked dreamily.
“You know, I could say the same thing.”
I touched his cheek as emotion consumed me.
“What?” he said.
“I was just there, living an ordinary life, and the next thing I knew, I was caught in the most extraordinary fairytale.”
“Yeah, complete with vampires, werewolves, and witches.”
My hands ran down his perfectly sculpted chest. “And don’t forget the strong, handsome knight in shining armor—the one I can’t stop thinking about.”
He gazed deeply into my eyes. “I swear I’m gonna give you that happily-ever-after you so much deserve.”
I was so touched by his words and his gentle caresses that I couldn’t say a word. I just grinned at him. Jesse made me feel like a real princess. He was my handsome knight, and I knew he’d slay any dragon that stood in our way. I knew with Jesse at my side, I could conquer any demons who threatened to destroy us.
“I need you in my life, Taylor,” he said. “I can’t live without you.”
“No matter how bad things get?”
“No matter what. I’m here for the long haul.”
Again, his words made my heart flutter. “Thank you for being here with me. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“It must be rough, being away from your parents for the first time.”
“No, it’s not that. I’m not really homesick. I’m just worried about how my mom is handling that I’m a runaway. She’s probably going crazy with worry, wondering if I’m okay.”
He swept my hair back with his hand. “I think she knows you’re in good hands.”
Jesse’s ring shimmered in the moonlight, an ancient, gold band adorned with black onyx. Staring at it, I said, “That’s so beautiful. Where did you get it? It looks old.”
“It is. It’s a supernatural ring, and most immortals would do anything to get their hands on it.”
“Why? I mean, it’s stunning, but does it do something special?”
“The wearer can understand any language and decipher any language they read. It was a gift, from my grandmother, from my father’s side.”
“Hmm. Your father. You never talk about him.”
“It’s a long story, but in a nutshell, he is...an evil man. My mother had to leave him before he led her down a very dark path.”
“But aren’t the Leyna peaceful?”
“Most, but not him,” he said sternly. “Since I know three ancient languages already, I don’t really need the ring. I intend to exchange it for information.”
“Information? From who?”
“A witch named Glenda.”
“But that ring is an heirloom,” I said.
He nodded. “I know, but how else would we get our hands on the petal list?”
I shook my head. “No, I can’t let you do that. That ring is priceless. Even if you don’t need it, it’s sentimental.”
“If we can save the lives of six people, it’s worth it. My grandmother taught me to be a caring individual, someone who will go out of his way to help those in need. If she knew I was exchanging the ring to save lives, she’d be proud of me.”
I couldn’t believe Jesse was willing to give away such a beautiful treasure, an irreplaceable family heirloom, to help the other petals. I was overwhelmed by his kindness and generosity. Jesse was more than a pretty face. He had a compassionate soul and a pure heart, and I couldn’t help but be totally swept away and mesmerized by him.
“But that ring’s special,” I argued.
He pushed a stray strand of hair out of my face. “Not as special as you.”
I placed the softest, most passionate kiss on his lips. I was crazy about the guy, and I couldn’t believe the great lengths he was willing to go to help me. “You’ve done so much for me, Jesse. You’re giving up everything, even left your home to go on the run with me and Julie. The Leyna think you’re shacking up with some horrible vampire, that you’re breaking their rules, and now you’re going to trade in that ring. The witches and werewolves might turn on the Leyna if they find out you helped me escape my destiny. I don’t know anyone who would do so much, risk so much for me, and it simply blows my mind.”
Jesse gazed deeply into my eyes, and that one look told me everything I needed to know, more than words ever could. He wanted to fight for us, and he would never, ever give up on me.
He softly kissed my lips. “You mean more to me than words can ever express.”
Pondering that, I watched his chest rise and fall with every breath as he slowly stroked my hair. I couldn’t take my eyes off of him. Jesse was paranormal and had supernatural connections, and I had to wonder if he’d somehow ordered Cupid to shoot me straight through the heart. He was, truly, the best thing to ever have happened to me.
“I’ll never give up on us, Taylor,” he said.
I touched his face as my eyes welled up with tears. I’d never felt such emotion before. Not only had he selflessly saved my life, but he also genuinely cared about me—about my happiness and wellbeing. I opened my mouth, but no words would come out.
His thumb traced my bottom lip, ever so softly. “Taylor...”
My heart skipped a beat when I heard him say my name.
“I’m scared, Jesse. I try to pretend I’m not, because I want you to think I’m strong, but leaving everything behind is a big deal to me. I feel so guilty, because I know my parents must feel horrible and be terrified. I’m scared about getting caught, worried that I might not be able to help the other petals, scared about getting you in trouble with the Leyna, and—”
“It’s only natural to be frightened, but we’ll figure this all out together. Somehow, we’ll make it all work.”
“If you hadn’t helped me, I’d be dead. You got me away from all of those lunatics, especially Drake.” I shuddered at the thought. “I hope I never have to see him again.”
“I can’t promise that, especially if you intend to return to Big Bear Lake.”
“I know. Drake will be furious when he realizes we deceived him. He’ll kill my parents, then snap my neck.”
“If we have to, we’ll bargain with him. If we can give him something he wants, he’ll leave us alone.”
“He wants my blood,” I said.
“That’s not enough to make you necessary. If he kills you and Julie, he can always get that blood from the other remaining petals.”
I swallowed hard. “Then we need to get him something more valuable.”
Jesse nodded. “Yes, and until we do, we can’t go back.”
“I guess after all this flies over, we can work on finding something that’ll pacify him. Either that, or we blackmail him. We just have to find the perfect bargaining chip so he doesn’t go all psycho on us.”
“He’s greedy. It shouldn’t be too hard to find something he wants, something to get him out of all our lives once and for all.”
“The sooner, the better.”
“For now, we’ll ride it out. We’ll stay hidden, and once we have the list, I have loyal friends who can go warn the others. I know a lot of hiding places where they’ll never find us, and we can just melt into the crowd.”
“That makes me feel so much safer.”
“We’ll just take one day at a time,” he said.
“Do you think Drake and his coven will join forces with the witches, the werewolves, or the other vampires?”
“Drake hates the witches, which was probably why he was so mean to you. He hates the werewolves even more. He won’t want them to create an alliance, so I think he wants to kill the petals before they can be used in the ceremony. He doesn’t want that ceremony to take place. If it does, two of his greatest enemies will gain the upper hand. When the werewolves’ curse is lifted, they’ll be unstoppable. The witches will have unspeakable power. That could mean that all vampires would be wiped out, hunted and killed one by one.”
“Even the Leyna?”
“No. Our people are on peaceful terms with all races.”
“But if the witches and werewolves find out you helped me, and they lose their powers forever, they’ll hate you for the role you played. That could ignite a war with your race. It could break the perfect peace and harmony you have with them right now.” I stepped closer and gripped his hand. “Jesse, we can’t ever go back, not even if we find a bargaining chip for Drake. Everyone needs to think I turned into a vampire and rode off into the sunset...er, the moonlight with you. That’s our story, and we’ve gotta stick to it.”
“But what about Julie? She’s a loose cannon. She’ll never accept it.”
“She’ll have to, because once the witches lose their powers forever, she’ll be at the top of the Witches’ Most Wanted list, right after me. And don’t think the werewolves won’t be pissed either. And talk about bitchy! When those dogs realize their curse won’t be broken after all, I’m sure they’ll have a hit list of their own. And then there’s that psychopath, Drake, and all his mindless minions.”
I cupped his face softly. “Baby, we can’t ever go back.”
He touched my hands as they rested on his face. “This generation of witches will die out, but the werewolves won’t.”
“Does that mean we have to hide our entire lives?” I asked.
“For me, I’m afraid it’s an eternity, but it’s worth it to spend one lifetime with you.”
Those precious words seared into my soul. No one had ever given up so much for me. “That’s the most beautiful thing anyone has ever said to me.”
A tear dripped down my face, and he slowly wiped it away. Cupping his face, I kissed him slowly and passionately. When his baby-blues found my eyes, my knees shook. Our instant attraction and chemistry was beyond amazing. The intensity and length of that heated gaze blew me away. I’d never felt so alive before, so wanted, so desired. Yet at the same time, butterflies fluttered.
Jesse stared at me like we were the only two people left on Earth—just he and I and no one else. Pulling him close, I pressed my lips against his, and something inside of me ignited. I enjoyed the hot moistness of his mouth as his tongue swirled in perfect circles. Nobody had ever kissed me the way he did, and that intimate closeness touched my heart and soul.
Our passionate kisses soon led to heavy breathing as our lip-lock grew more fierce and demanding. Our spark burst into flames, then into a raging forest fire. He raked his hands through my hair as the kiss deepened. I ran my hands over the muscles in his arms. His intoxicating kiss made my heart pound, so I started kissing him back like I couldn’t get enough of him, pouring all my passion into those lips of his. My breasts flattened against his chest as he pulled me closer, and I could feel his heart beating, harder and faster. I kissed him until I was breathless, totally blissed-out, in pure heaven.
His lips trailed down my neck, and he nibbled that sensitive spot on my shoulder. When he lingered on that spot, I moaned. That spot made him irresistible to me, made me want to rip off his shirt right there and then. His hands glided over my curves, and I stared intently at him; I wanted to memorize every inch of his glorious body, from his perfectly angled jaw to his sculpted abs.
“Taylor,” he breathed in my ear, “I need you.”
I ran my hands over his chest as Jesse continued gasping in ragged, hard, heavy breaths. I’d never felt so close to heaven. His hands slid up the back of my shirt, prickling my skin with goosebumps again. I knew if we didn’t stop, I’d be screaming out his name in no time.
“I want you,” he said.
“I want you more,” I said back.
When a low growl rose from Jesse’s throat, I opened my eyes in horror. Deadly intentions registered deep in his steel-blue, glowing eyes, and sharp fangs descended from the mouth I’d just been kissing. His bloodlust had been awakened. I knew Jesse had superior strength and could easily overpower me, then sink his fangs in and rip open my neck in a single bite. My heart pounded with fear, and I stepped back. His eyes grew so intense that I was no longer able to bear his deadly stare.