Eloise saw her image in a man’s t-shirt, and not much more. Sweat glistened on her long legs, the smell of sex thick in the air. The woman’s blood called to her, the scent intoxicating. Her fangs descended as she stalked closer.
The woman turned toward her with an arched brow.
Fury rolled through Eloise. “You slut, taking another woman’s husband.”
Crossing her arms over her chest, she rolled her eyes. “Eloise, I presume?”
She stepped forward. “Did he call my name while he thrust into you?”
The woman paled, shaking her head. “Look, your husband is in the woods, trying to tear apart the man I love. I want nothing to do with Stefano. So put the fangs away, and maybe we can all get what we want.”
“You can’t have Stefano!” she hissed, charging at her lookalike.
She ran headfirst into a barrier of ice.
Rubbing her head, she slammed one palm against the frozen wall.
“Stop for a minute,” the other woman ordered. “Let’s talk. I don’t want Stefano, but he believes you’re dead. Honestly, I’m thankful you’re not because he has some twisted obsession.”
In frustration, Eloise battered the ice. “He’s not good enough for you?”
The other woman snorted a laugh. “Are you pissed because you think he fucked me? Or that I didn’t want to fuck him? Pick one. I’m hoping the first because he hasn’t. I want nothing to do with your husband.”
Eloise stilled. “Nothing?”
“I’m Jackie, by the way.” She held out her hand as the ice melted.
Eloise glared at the offending appendage. “I don’t think so. I won’t fall for your games, devil.”
“Devil?” Jackie dropped her hand and shrugged. “Look, Stefano thought you were dead. I look like you. His head’s all twisted around, and he thinks I can be you.” She let out a bitter laugh. “His viewpoint is ancient, and I don’t fit into your mold. Convince him you’re alive, and all of this goes away, except Sidra and Clive, which should be dealt with shortly.”
“You don’t want him?”
“Are you deaf? I’ve already covered this. No! I don’t want him! I prefer my independence, and I’ve never been real fond of someone telling me what I can and can’t do.”
“Would be for your protection.”
“Don’t want protection. If you do, that’s perfect. Please, before Stefano kills Eddie.”
“Eddie?”
Jackie huffed in exasperation as rain began to fall in huge drops. “I mentioned I’m with someone else, right? He chased Stefano because your husband was trying to take me away against my will. Can you help, or not? Because I’m seriously losing patience.”
“It’s a trick.” Eloise dove at her.
Jackie sidestepped with a cry of frustration, dropping down to straddle her back. Her skin froze, the ice spreading as sand filled her mouth, nose, and eyes. Then Jackie’s weight was gone, but she couldn’t move as she stared into the grit.
* * * *
Jackie turned to the tree line, reaching out for Eddie. Pain tore through her chest and she burst into motion. Right into a solid wall of vampire.
Stefano gripped her arms and lifted her from the ground as his mouth stretched open.
Throwing her hands up, Jackie pulled moisture. Her power flared, the temperature plummeting as drops surged into streams, and froze into spears. They pierced Stefano’s body, stopping their progress inches before her own.
Stefano howled in pain, dropping her. She summoned more water to her palms and glared at him. “Touch me again and you die. Your wife is out there, on the sand. She’s not dead, yet. I suggest you forget about me and go to her.”
“She’s alive?”
“Yeah, and she wants your crazy-ass control. So leave me the fuck alone and have at it.”
Stefano stared at her with a mixture of horror and guilt on his face.
Jackie ran past him and found Eddie, his hand wrapped loosely around a blade buried in his chest. She fell beside him as Brent showed up.
“Eddie?” she whispered.
Brent dropped down beside her. “You can heal him. Pull the blade out, and then kiss him, or whatever else you do, but infuse your love into it. The magic will take over.”
“Shit,” she muttered, but moved Eddie’s hand away to pull the blade free. Blood gushed, bubbling out of his chest with each labored breath.
Tears fell down her face as Jackie pressed her hand over the wound and leaned down to kiss his lips. “Come back to me, Eddie. I love you.” She caressed his mouth with hers, focusing on the love that had grown since they were little. All the emotion they’d shared through the years, and the way she was happiest when he was beside her. Every smile he gave her.
His skin mended as his hand tangled in her hair, bringing her tighter to his mouth, allowing him to slip his tongue between her lips. He moaned, rolling her under him.
Brent cleared his throat. “Chill out, you two. Chatan was nibbled on and so they likely know where we are. I’m assuming someone found you already?”
Eddie pushed himself to his knees and Jackie shot up, grabbing the knife.
“Stefano’s going to die.” She ran back to the beach and found him kneeling over his bitchsicle wife, whispering in Italian, while the stupid vamp growled at him.
Jackie stormed up to him, grabbed a handful of his hair, and slammed the knife into his chest. “You nearly took Eddie from me. I was willing to let you go make up with your crazy wife, but now you’re going to fucking die!”
Eddie pulled her back as Stefano slowly turned, drawing the blade from his chest. “How did I not know she’s alive?”
Jackie kicked at Stefano, hitting the blade still partially imbedded.
He cried out and Eloise screamed something unintelligible.
“Oh, fuck you,” Jackie spat at Eloise. “You really want this douchenozzle? He stabbed Eddie so he could take me, because I resemble you.”
Eddie dragged her further away.
Brent sighed. “You have Eddie back. Those two have been through enough.” He shot Stefano a dark look. “Go back to Italy, or somewhere on the far side of the world, and stay away from Jackie and Eddie.”
Stefano shot to his feet, but quickly sank again. With a grunt, he finished ripping the blade from his chest. “You froze her solid.”
“She tried to bite me, after I attempted to be reasonable! I don’t take kindly to that under most circumstances.”
“You froze her!” he snarled.
“She’ll thaw. Jared did.”
“You whore!”
Jackie twisted in Eddie’s arms, trying to break loose.
Eloise sneered, her face apparently thawing. “You’re jealous she didn’t sleep with you.”
Stefano turned to her. “You were dead. She could be you.”
Eloise roared, “She’s not me.”
“Thank you, Eloise. Please take his ass far away and never come back.”
He looked at her. “You led me on.”
“You kissed me, and before I could stop you, Sidra and Clive tore me away. When you drank from me, I saw how you thought our relationship would go. She might like that—more power to you—but that’s not me. You have what you want. Take her and get lost.”
Stefano nodded, looking back at Eloise. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”
“Not fucking good enough.” Jackie tried to get loose, but Eddie wasn’t having it.