Craig's Heart

Chapter Fifteen

Evie’s body hummed as though it were powered by a high-performance race-car engine, whereas before it had run like a lawn mower. The difference in blood was astounding. She could feel her cells soaking it in, feel them changing, getting stronger.

She was still in shock over what had just happened. Instead of fleeing or being angry with her for bringing an unknown vampire to their door, the Haven pack was standing beside them.

The entire pack, his siblings and their spouses were spread in a semicircle, all facing the main entrance of the club, all ready to fight. She knew them by name only. Had barely spoken to any of them, but they were willing to put their lives on the line for Craig and, by extension, for her.

They’d given both her and Craig blood, for crying out loud. If she ever had any doubts about Craig’s friends, they were gone. He had a family here, both by blood and choice. He would be fine if anything happened to her.

With that in mind, she stepped around him. His gaze was fierce, unlike any she’d ever seen on him. Craig was usually easygoing, laidback and intelligent. Sure he was competitive, but this was different.

Craig was ready to kill. For her.

It was in his stance, the way his eyes glowed red and his fangs flashed. He wasn’t as tall or quite as broad as the werewolf males, but he was more powerful. His brown hair brushed his shoulders and she wanted to reach out and touch it one more time, just in case she didn’t make it.

She was a vampire, but immortality was different for each vampire. Remove her heart and she would die. Do that for Vladimir and he might not. It seemed that immortality grew stronger with time.

And time was one thing she’d run out of.

Her enemy was here, and this time there was no running away.

Even if she tried to lead him away from Craig and his friends, the vampire would come back for them. She couldn’t let that happen. Vladimir had to die.

The front door slammed open and Vladimir strolled in like he didn’t have a care in the world. She could almost taste his arrogant assurance that he would walk away the victor in this fight. Good.

If he was overconfident he would be more likely to make a mistake.

Off to her left, Isaiah cursed. “Damn vampires always want to make an entrance.”

If the situation hadn’t been quite so scary, Evie might have laughed at the disgruntled tone of the werewolf. He sounded totally irritated by Vladimir’s actions, not scared at all.

Vladimir, the monster from her dreams and waking hours, was just as she remembered. He was about the same height as Craig with dark-brown hair and eyes. He looked young, about the same age as her and Craig. But looks were deceiving. He’d lived for more than two hundred years. She didn’t even want to think about the number of people he must have killed over that time period.

“Evie.” Vladimir ignored the others as if they weren’t even there and strode toward her, stopping about five feet away. “You’ve been a naughty girl, running away from me.” He tipped his head to one side and studied her. Evie could feel him trying to get into her head and concentrated on blocking her thoughts from him.

Vladimir frowned and turned his focus on Bethany. Craig’s sister-in-law immediately cried out, grabbed her head and fell to her knees.

Craig pounced. He flew across the room, knife extended and ready to strike.

But Vladimir was faster. He moved out of the way and attacked at the same time, hitting Craig hard. Craig flew backward and smashed into the wall, leaving a huge hole in the drywall. The blade fell from his hand and clattered to the floor.

The force would have killed a human.

But Craig pulled himself up slowly and shook himself.

An unearthly growl came from deep within Evie. Fury, the likes she’d never known exploded inside her. She jumped at Vladimir, claws extended, fangs out.

She only had a second to realize her mistake when he snatched her right out of midair. He wrapped one arm around her neck, choking her. The nails of his other hand dug into her chest over her heart, gouging through the sweater and into her skin. She could smell her own blood.

“How nice of you to come to me, my dear. Now we really must be going. I’ll come and visit your friends again some time.”

“No.” She couldn’t let him live.

Craig would always be in danger.

“Let her go, Drake,” Craig demanded.

Vladimir’s hold on her neck tightened and threatened to snap her neck. She didn’t think that would kill her, but she really didn’t want to test it.

“Have you taken a lover, my dear?”

His words were mild, but she could feel the fine tremor in Vladimir’s arms, feel his anger beating at her.

“No.”

“Yes,” Craig contradicted, practically taunting the older vampire.

“She is mine and she will never be yours. Let her go. Fight me, unless you’re afraid of me.”

Vladimir roared and the power behind the ear-splitting sound shattered all the liquor bottles behind the bar.

They exploded outward, sending shards of glass ripping through the air like deadly missiles. All the werewolves ducked, but not all of them got out of the way in time to keep from being hit.

She heard a female cry and a male’s yell of concern. Teague dragged his mate to the side and worked quickly, carefully removing several large shards from her bare arms and one from her torso, while ignoring the several pieces piercing his own body. Benjamin, the dark-haired werewolf who’d given his blood to Craig, yanked a six-inch jagged piece of glass out of his leg and tossed it to the floor.

Evie sensed their pain and smelled their blood. She struggled harder, but Vladimir’s grip on her was as strong as an iron bar across her throat—

unyielding and potentially deadly.

He grabbed her braid and yanked her head back, exposing her neck. “If you’ve had her, then maybe I’ll just drain her dry.” Her stomach roiled when Vladimir licked her neck. She desperately tried to get away, but he held her as though she were a rag doll. His strength was astounding.

“Coward,” Craig taunted. “It’s easy to subdue a woman or even a human. Bet you’ve never taken on a male of your own kind.”

Vladimir laughed, the sound low and deadly. “I killed my maker and he was much older than you. I can squash you like a bug whenever I choose.”

Evie wanted to yell at Craig to shut up even though she knew he was stalling for time until Damek came. She turned her head so she could see Craig and was rocked by the pure determination and banked fury in his gaze. He really wanted to fight this crazy vampire.

She had to think. There had to be something she could do to get Vladimir away from here. “Let’s just go.” It wasn’t easy to speak with him choking her, but she managed. She had to get him away from Craig and his family and friends before anyone else was injured.

“See,” Vladimir taunted. “She wants to be with me. Don’t you, Evie?”

“Yes.” She’d lie to the devil himself if it got Vladimir away from here. “Let’s go. Now.”

“So eager.” Vladimir smirked at Craig. “You must not be very skilled in the bedroom, my friend, if she is so eager to leave you.”

Craig’s gaze never wavered, never changed. She could practically hear him thinking and planning, examining and discarding various scenarios, trying to figure out how to defeat Vladimir.

Isaiah exploded into the air, morphing into a giant wolf as he flew across the room, his heavily muscled brown and black body flying toward them. The massive muzzle with sharp teeth closed the gap between them in a heartbeat. Vladimir, caught off-guard, all but threw her at the massive beast.

At the last second, Isaiah twisted his huge body in midair. She hit him full on and they both went flying. Before she could recover, the wolf clamped his jaw around her arm and dragged her away from Vladimir. Powerful jaws that could easily harm or kill were gentle and protective with her.

Craig saw his opening and pounced.

He sliced at the vampire with his knife, catching Vladimir in the arm. Vladimir cursed, his eyes blazing, fangs glinting in the light. Before her very eyes, the deep cut began to close.

Vladimir attacked, backhanding Craig. The blow would have shattered every bone in his face if he’d been human. But Craig was fast. Somehow he managed to avoid the worst of the strike, but he still tumbled backward, knocking a table and several chairs askew.

Evie scrambled to her feet and launched herself onto her enemy’s back.

Without hesitation or thought, she wrapped her arms around his neck and twisted, determined to break his neck if she could.

Roaring his displeasure, Vladimir reached behind him. He grabbed her hair and yanked her forward. Evie flew through the air and crashed into a table, splintering it into pieces. The blow knocked the air out of her lungs, but she didn’t stay down. She couldn’t. Craig was on the attack once again.

“I will kill you all,” Vladimir promised. And Evie believed him.

Tonight would mean the end of either him or them, because there could only be one winning side. And in spite of the number on their side, the odds weren’t necessarily in their favor.

If it were closer to dawn the wolves would have a definite advantage, but she sensed the fight would be long over by then. Vladimir was smart and cunning and wouldn’t allow the battle to last that long. He’d run if he had to, and she couldn’t allow that to happen.

The male werewolves had all shifted and attacked as a pack, moving quickly forward and back, nipping at the vampire but managing to stay just out of his reach until one got too close.

Vladimir swatted one brown wolf, sending him flying. Evie had no idea which one it was. Maybe Kevin, the quiet one.

Isaiah was coming up behind the vampire as Craig attacked from the front.

Evie reached beneath her sweater in the back and drew out the wooden stake she’d hidden there. It wouldn’t kill him, but it would definitely slow him down.

Stake in hand, she hurried behind Vladimir. Isaiah saw her coming and moved out of her way. Evie didn’t hesitate. She rammed the stake through the vampire’s back beneath his left shoulder and prayed she’d hit his heart.

Vladimir lurched forward and whirled around, his gums drawn back over his elongated fangs. “How dare you? I made you. I gave you more than your puny human existence. And this is how you repay me.” He reached around and yanked the stake from his body.

Blood spurted from the wound, but he ignored it. Vladimir pulled his arm back and threw the stake like a dagger. Evie managed to jump to the side, but it struck her in the arm and drove her backward.

Pain shot threw her shoulder and coursed down her body.

Craig howled and attacked, forcing Vladimir to turn away from her and defend himself. They couldn’t beat him.

He was merely toying with them. She could see that now.

She yanked at the stake in her arm, biting back a cry of agony as she pulled it out. Pain radiated down her arm. She ignored it and the blood that quickly soaked her clothing and spilled onto her hand. Tightening her grip on the wooden stake, she moved forward. She’d kill the bastard if she had to hack him up one

tiny piece at a time.

The two vampires continued to grapple with Craig surprisingly holding his own. Evie moved closer, ready to strike the second she got an opening.

Craig could smell Evie’s blood and it made him crazy. He could also smell werewolf blood and knew several of them had been hit by flying glass. The vampire had gotten in a few strikes when his friends had attacked as well.

Vladimir Drake had hurt Evie, his family and friends, and therefore he had to die. He couldn’t be allowed to live. If he did, he would always be a danger to the Haven pack, and most especially to Evie.

The vampire would kill her. Oh, he might keep her alive for a while, but he would eventually tire of her. Craig would stake his life on it. There was something not quite right in Vladimir’s eyes. A tinge of insanity, perhaps.

Maybe living all those years had driven him to the brink, but Craig honestly believed there was something intrinsically wrong with the other vampire. He had no moral center, nothing to ground him.

He was also incredibly strong.

Craig battled with the vampire, trying to get the upper hand. They flew around the room, knocking over chairs and tables as they fought with neither of them getting the upper hand.

This had to end tonight.

Craig silently thanked his brother and Hank for all the hours they’d sparred with him as a human. Those lessons held him in good stead. He fought dirty, using his feet to kick at the other vampire, butting his head against his opponent’s face. But nothing seemed to faze Vladimir.

Evie was back on her feet. He could sense her getting closer. And if he could, so could Vladimir.

“It’s time to end this and take my prize,” the other vampire taunted.

Over his dead body. Craig freed one hand and tried to slam it through his opponent’s chest, but Vladimir was incredibly quick. At the very last second, he dodged to the side and pulled himself free of Craig’s hold.

Horror filled him when Craig realized his hand was shooting straight for Evie’s chest and the wooden stake she had clutched tight in her fist was aimed right at his heart. Evie’s eyes widened with horror and she yanked her hand back. Craig threw himself to the side, barely avoiding the sharp weapon.

He crashed into a table and rolled across the floor. He felt a bone in his right arm break and pain streaked up his arm. Almost immediately, the damage to the bone began to mend, but there was no time to marvel at the miraculous new healing powers of his body. He surged back to his feet, his gaze finding Evie, who’d stumbled into a chair but quickly righted herself.

Together, they turned to face Vladimir. The Haven pack was spread out around the room. All of them watching and waiting for a chance to strike. The scents of blood and sweat filled Craig’s nostrils and the bloodlust within him surged to life. Blood. He wanted blood and there was so much of it available to him. All he had to do was take it.

“Craig.” Evie’s sharp voice snapped him back, and he shook off the compulsion to feed. It could be fatal to lose concentration. If he’d ever needed control over his mind and body it was now.

“This is getting tedious.” The older vampire straightened his torn and bloody coat with a quick tug. “Evie, come.” He held out his hand, clearly expecting her to obey.

Craig felt the compulsion behind the command. He saw Evie struggling to overcome the vampire’s command even as she moved a step closer.

“No.” He banded his arm around her waist and pulled her away from Vladimir. No way was he letting the other vampire have her.

“I will kill you slowly for that,” Vladimir promised. “But not tonight.

Tonight I want my Evie and we will leave.” He held out his hand again.

“Come to me,” he demanded.

Craig knew Evie was mentally fighting Vladimir. Sweat rolled down her face and her features contorted in growing pain. Evie dug her fingers into his arm and Craig wasn’t sure if she was trying to hold on to him or get away. A trickle of blood seeped from her nose.

Frustration and anger flashed across Vladimir’s face. He turned and imperiously held his hand out to Chrissten. “Come.” Chrissten’s feet were moving before he finished speaking. She was halfway to Vladimir before Hank grabbed her and dragged her back kicking and screaming.

“You see what I can do,” Vladimir taunted. “How long can you continue to resist me? I can make you all crawl.” He smiled at all of them before arrogantly smirking at Craig. A shiver raced down his spine. The vampire was going to make a move of some kind. Craig could feel it. He tried to read the vampire’s mind but it was totally closed to him.

Everyone in the room was in danger, and Craig was worried he might not be able to protect them all.

“I can kill your friends one at a time until they are gone.” Vladimir moved so fast he was a blur, ending up behind Meredith. He yanked her head back and lowered his mouth to her exposed neck.

“I suppose I could drain her dry. All this fighting has made me hungry.”

“Let her go.” Craig shoved Evie behind him and took a step forward before Isaiah did something that might get himself or his mate killed. “Take me instead.” If he could get the deranged vampire away from his family and friends maybe he could find a way to defeat him. All he needed was time.

Damek was coming. They only had to hold out until he arrived.

Vladimir’s laugh made all the hairs on Craig’s body stand on end. If he’d had any doubts that the other vampire was pure evil, they were now gone. That laugh promised death and let them all know Vladimir would enjoy dispensing it.

The vampire enjoyed killing, enjoyed the rush of taking another’s life.

Craig took another step closer as Isaiah crept behind the creature holding his mate.

The front entrance slammed open and power rushed into the room like a wind roaring down a mountain peak during a storm, freezing everyone. The air turned so cold that Craig half expected ice crystals to form on his breath. The walls of the room pulsed, undulating with the disturbance.

Vladimir’s eyes narrowed as he searched for the threat.

Damek coalesced out of the darkness like an avenging angel. He shook his head. “You couldn’t wait for me, could you?” he chided them. He walked toward Vladimir, totally confident.

“You’ll want to release the woman.”

Vladimir tightened his hold on Meredith. Craig could see the fear in her eyes and his fury and sense of helplessness grew. She might be a powerful werewolf, but she was no match for a two-hundred-year-old vampire.

“I don’t think so.” Vladimir turned slowly toward the door and saw Isaiah behind him. “Get back or I’ll kill her.”

Damek shook his head. “You cannot win this. You’ve brought vampire hunters to my city. And you’ve made quite a mess these past few weeks.”

“Your city?” Vladimir straightened and Craig could see the fury building in his eyes. He wasn’t used to being questioned. He was accustomed to taking whatever he wanted. Damek had found the other man’s weakness—his vanity. And like the master fighter he was, Damek wielded his weapon well.

“My city.” Damek’s blunt words left no space for argument. “I was here when it was nothing but wilderness, and I’ll still be here when you are nothing but dust.”

Vladimir drew himself up and lifted Meredith by her throat. Her feet left the floor and she began to struggle, using her wolf claws to tear at his hand and arm.

Vladimir didn’t even seem to notice or care he was bleeding. The deep, vicious cuts healed almost as quickly as Meredith could inflict them. “I am the oldest vampire in the world,” he announced.

“Really?” Damek raised his hand and deliberately closed his fingers into a tight fist. Vladimir’s eyes widened and he began to wheeze. He dropped Meredith and clutched his throat. Isaiah moved in swiftly, grabbed his wife and dragged her to safety.

A sense of destiny settled over Craig and he grabbed the sharp blade he’d dropped on the floor earlier in the fight.

He silently moved to stand beside Damek. Evie took up position beside him, her gaze focused on Vladimir. He could sense her determination to end this here and now.

The other vampire struggled and finally broke from Damek’s hold. Damek simply shrugged and lowered his arm.

“Who are you?” Vladimir demanded.

“What does it matter?” Damek countered. “You are a dead man and dead men don’t need to be concerned with names.”

Vladimir moved at a blurring speed, racing for the door and freedom. Craig surged forward to stop him. If Vladimir escaped and left the city it might take them years to find him, and the threat to Evie and his family would hang over their heads like a sword waiting to fall.

Damek made it to the door before any of them. He stood in front of it, blocking the exit. Vladimir skidded to a halt, knowing he’d have to fight his way past Damek. Craig took advantage of Vladimir’s momentary lack of concentration, raised his arm and struck out with his knife. Blade met bone as Craig drove it deep.

But once again, Vladimir was fast.

He was on the far side of the room in a flash. He yanked out the blade and blood spurted from the wound. Vladimir slapped his hand over his neck to try to stem the blood loss. The wound began to heal, but more slowly than before. The fighting and having to continuously heal himself from the smaller wounds they’d inflicted seemed to be taking their toll.

Craig knew Vladimir was weakening and would need blood soon. That made him even more desperate and dangerous.

“Enough.” Damek stepped forward, his dark eyes focused solely on Vladimir. “You come to my city and bring your troubles with you. You threaten my friends.” Damek moved forward slowly, each step deliberate.

Craig followed behind his friend, ready to lend a hand if necessary. Evie was right beside him, determination etched on her face and a wooden stake in her hand. Dried blood caked her shoulder, but otherwise she seemed fine.

“I’ll leave.” For the first time, Vladimir seemed conciliatory and ready to bargain. Craig could almost see the wheels turning inside the vampire’s mind, searching for a way out of his dilemma.

Damek shook his head. “No, you won’t. You’d go back to your home and rehash everything that happened tonight until you convince yourself you can defeat me. Then you’d do something stupid like attacking my friend. I cannot allow that.”

Power warped the space and Vladimir flew back against the wall, pinned their like a fly caught in a spider’s web. Damek had given him the opening and Craig didn’t hesitate to use it. He gave a primal yell and leapt at the vile creature. Blade in hand, he struck hard and fast at Vladimir’s neck. The sharp edge driven by his newfound vampire strength cut straight through muscle, sinew and bone.

Evie was right beside him unleashing her own fury. She screamed her anger and plunged the wooden stake straight into Vladimir’s heart. “Die you bastard! Die!” She yanked the stake out and drove it in again and again before staggering backward.

“Evie.”

She turned to him, fangs flashing.

She was breathing heavily and blood stained her clothing and skin. Evie was wild and untamed, partly out of control.

Her eyes were tinged red and he knew both her anger and the scent of blood were bringing on the bloodlust.

He felt the same.

He grabbed Evie and pulled her out of the way as Vladimir’s head toppled off his shoulders and onto the floor, rolling until it came to rest against the leg of a table. Blood spurted from the stump of his neck and sprayed toward them. Craig yanked her back, avoiding the worst of it, and both of them watched as Vladimir’s body slowly tumbled to the floor.

Silence reigned.

Then Evie gave a broken cry, whirled around and raced from the club, shoving her way past the broken front door and out into the night.

“Evie,” Craig called her name and started after her. She shouldn’t be out there alone. Not tonight. Not ever again.

His family blocked the doorway, forcing him to stop. They stepped in front of him, creating an impassable wall. He either had to stop or hurt them.

He stopped.

“Are you okay?” Chrissten patted his chest and shoulders, trying to reassure herself he wasn’t seriously injured.

“I’m fine,” he promised her.

“Really.” But Evie getting farther and farther away from him. He could still sense her presence inside his head, proof that they were connected on many different levels. He could also sense her desperation and fear. “I have to go.”

“No.” Damek came up beside him.

“You need to help me deal with the fallout from this night’s work. Evie will be fine. You’ll be able to find her after we’re done. Her blood is in you.”

Damek clapped his hand on Craig’s shoulder. “She needs some time.”

Every cell in his body was screaming at him to run after Evie. But after everything his friends and family had done to help, he couldn’t leave them to deal with this mess alone. This was his problem and he’d clean it up.

“I’m so sorry, Meredith.” He went to the woman who’d been like a mother to him these past years. He touched his fingers to her neck and scowled at the bruises there. That bastard Vladimir had come close to strangling her.

She caught his hand and gave his fingers a squeeze. “You have no need to be sorry. It was our fight, our choice.”

Her voice was hoarse but steady. “I’m glad you’re okay. And I like your Evie too. She stood beside you and fought.”

“She ran.” That hurt him more than anything. She’d run from him after it was over, leaving him behind.

“She’s afraid,” Meredith whispered.

“Afraid of what’s happened to her, to what she did here tonight, and most of all of her feelings for you. Give her some time and then go find her. Let her know what she means to you.” She sighed and shook her head. “I know you’re not as stubborn as most of the alpha males around here. Don’t be afraid to tell her you love her. I know you do. I can see it every time you look at her.”

Craig released a deep breath. He hated to admit it, but Meredith was right.

Evie was running not from him, but from herself. Even though he knew that, his feelings were still hurt. Well, he’d have to just suck it up and deal with them. He loved Evie and there was no turning back from that. He’d fight for her. Do whatever it took to convince her they belonged together.

Next he faced Isaiah, who stood beside his mate. “Thank you, Isaiah. For everything.”

Isaiah clapped Craig on the shoulder. “You’re pack.” And that was everything to a man like Isaiah. No more needed to be said.

The first thing they needed to deal with was injuries. Teague and Meredith went to work cleaning up various wounds they’d all received. Neema, Teague’s mate, and Benjamin, Meredith’s son, had the worst ones.

They were quickly stitched and Craig knew they would heal quickly due to their paranormal werewolf genes. For that he was thankful.

Next came the cleanup. Michael, Meredith’s eldest son, got an old tarp from the basement and they tossed Vladimir’s body on it and rolled it up.

They placed the head in a garbage bag, not willing to take any chances. Until the body was burned to ash there was always the possibility, no matter how slight, that he could somehow heal himself. Better to be safe than sorry.

Isaiah picked up the tarp with Vladimir’s body. “I’ll take care of burning the body. There’s an old coal-

burning furnace in the basement. It hasn’t been used in years, but it’s still functional. Won’t take long to burn this guy to a crisp.”

Damek nodded. “He’s old so he’ll burn quickly. Be sure to burn the head separately and gather the ash when you’re done. Take it down to the water and sprinkle it to the winds.”

“Consider it done.” Isaiah nodded at Damek and Craig then headed out of the bar toward the stairs to the basement.

Michael grabbed the bag with the head and followed him.

The rest of the pack began to clean up the mess. Kevin, one of Meredith’s adopted sons, and Quinn hauled broken tables and chairs out to the dumpster behind the building. Bethany and Chrissten swept up the shards of glass littering the room and carefully disposed of them. Even Damek went to work, helping Hank repair the front door, at least well enough until they could get a new one delivered.

Craig filled a bucket with soapy water and began the task of mopping up the blood and alcohol staining the floor.

All the while he worked, he worried about Evie. She was out there in the city alone. He was here with his friends and family, but he felt as though a part of himself was missing. It was difficult not to go after her, but there were obligations that had to be met first, things he needed to do.

Plus, Evie needed time to come to terms with everything that had happened.

Or at least that’s what everyone kept telling him. He wanted to go to her now but was practicing patience and biding his time. But there was nothing that would keep him from Evie.

After cleaning up the worst of it, he dumped the dirty bucket of water and detoured to the bathroom. He yanked off his blood-and-sweat-stained shirt, grabbed a handful of paper towels and cleaned himself up as best as he could.

He left the bathroom, dirty shirt in hand, and headed for the employee lockers just beyond the office. Because he often helped out at Haven, he kept some extra clothing on hand. Good thing too, because all the werewolves were much larger than he was. He opened his locker, grabbed a clean black T-shirt and yanked it on. He shoved the dirty one in a plastic bag and hid it in the back of the locker. He’d dispose of it later.

By the time they finished doing what they could, dawn was a little less than an hour away. The bar would probably have to be closed for a day or two while they fixed the damage to the walls, ordered new furniture and restocked the liquor supply.

Still, Haven was almost back to normal. Craig didn’t doubt that all the werewolves would be hard at work, after a few hours of rest, repairing their home. That’s what Haven was to them, a home, not just a place to work.

“We must leave.” Damek inclined his head toward the Haven pack. “Until our next adventure.” He jerked his head toward the door.

“I’ll call you tomorrow,” Craig promised his sister when he stopped to hug her. He found himself enveloped in a huge family hug, his siblings and their spouses surrounding him.

“I want to spend some real time with you.” Quinn frowned at him. “But I guess that will have to wait until you tie up loose ends and find Evie.”

“We’ll spend some time together soon. I promise.” Craig yearned to have life go back to some semblance of normal. He missed his family and his work. But none of that compared to the emptiness in his heart Evie had left when she’d run.

He had to find her and talk with her.

Damek was waiting. Craig could sense his growing impatience so he quickly said his goodbyes, left his family and hurried outside. Damek peered up at the night sky. “Come. We still have work to do. This is a good time for you to test your skills. I want to see just how strong your mind is.”

Evie ran and ran and ran until she finally collapsed against a brick wall.

She’d only used her preternatural speed for a short time before reverting to normal running. She wanted to exhaust herself so she wouldn’t have the energy to think.

It was over. She’d staked Vladimir in the heart, but it was Craig who’d delivered the killing blow, taking off the vampire’s head. But none of that would have happened without Damek’s help.

She owed the ancient vampire big time.

She’d brought nothing but trouble to Craig and his family and friends. The best thing she could do was disappear out of his life. His family certainly wouldn’t want her around, all things considered. And she couldn’t blame them.

Dawn wasn’t far off. She wondered what Craig was doing and immediately chided herself for it. She had to let him go.

Why?

She ignored the soft voice in the back of her head. Maybe she should have stayed and helped them deal with the aftermath of killing Vladimir. She’d left them to dispose of the body and clean up the mess. “You’re a coward.”

She pushed away from the wall and started walking. She was afraid now that the threat was over and Craig could settle back into his old life that he might not want her. Better to leave than to be left.

Once again, she’d fallen back into the pattern she’d lived her entire life.

When you let people get close to you, they inevitably let you down and hurt you.

But Craig hadn’t. He’d put himself in front of her, protected her. And she’d done the same for him. His family and the werewolf pack had stood beside them, fighting for them as well.

She absently rubbed her chest. She ached to see Craig, to touch him. As it was, she could feel him inside her mind and her heart and knew he was safe.

That would have to be enough.

Glancing around, she realized she was in her old neighborhood. She trudged to her building and pulled the door open, barely noticing how easily the lock gave way with her preternatural strength. She was outside her apartment door before it occurred to her that she didn’t have any keys.

She didn’t want to damage the door.

Of course, it might not even be locked.

No reason to believe Vladimir would have bothered. She turned the knob and, sure enough, it opened easily. Taking a deep breath, she pushed the door wide.

Her belongings were strewn everywhere. Not that she had much, but what she owned was one jumbled mess scattered all over the floor.

Evie shut and bolted the door. She stepped over her clothing and books, ignored the open paints and canvases strewn across the floor and grabbed her pillow off the daybed. The curtains had been dragged down and the rod hung haphazardly from the window frame.

There was no window in the bathroom so she’d be safe there. She trudged into the tiny room and tossed her pillow into the tub. It was pitch black, but with her perfect night vision, she could see her reflection in the mirror—sunken eyes, pale skin and the sad expression on face.

She could still smell blood and knew it was on her. No way she could sleep knowing Vladimir’s blood was on her.

Evie pulled her sweater off and used it to clean off as much of the blood as she could. She wondered if she could salvage it. She’d liked wearing Craig’s sweater. It was like having him wrapped around her. The garment was probably damaged beyond repair, not just with blood, but with rips and holes from the fight. She reluctantly tossed it aside.

Then she grabbed a facecloth and wet it under the tap. She rubbed at her arms, neck and face, cleaning away the remnants of the battle. She rinsed the facecloth several times until it no longer ran with blood. A shower might be the best thing, but she was too tired, not just physically, but emotionally. She promised herself she’d take one tomorrow night as soon as she woke.

She went into the other room long enough to find a clean shirt and pull it on. Then she went back into the bathroom and shut the door. She climbed into the tub and curled into a little ball, hugging her arms around herself. It was only then she really allowed herself to think about the mess of her life. She wondered where Craig was and what he was doing. The first tear fell and then another. And as the night waned, Evie cried herself to sleep.