Accidentally Married to…a Vampire?(Accidentally Yours #2)(26)
Author: Mimi Jean Pamfiloff

With no time to lose, she raised her arm and flagged down a new yellow chariot.

Again, the stranger made no movement towards her as she loaded herself in a cab.

***

Andrus smiled to himself as he watched the bus, bound for Chicago, pull into the rest stop as it entered Ohio. He’d been leisurely following in his black Hummer the last six hours, ensuring none of the Executioner’s guards had followed the female out of the city.

They had not. But that didn’t mean they weren’t coming. Like him, they had their ways of finding people.

Andrus parked across the lot from the silver bus and waited for the passengers to unload. He immediately spotted Helena peering out the dusty window, looking side to side. She rose from her seat and came down the steps of the bus. This was it.

He quickly left his vehicle and stalked towards her, summoning shadows to camouflage himself until he was on her heels.

“I think you lost this,” he said and then held out his hand. She pivoted and gasped. He quickly grabbed her arm to keep her from fleeing. “It is your ring, yes?”

Helena looked at the ring then up at his face. Was she frightened or confused? No…relieved. Wait. No…angry?

“I’m not going to hurt you, you have my word,” he said in a low voice. His eyes suddenly felt dry. He blinked several times.

“That might actually mean something if you were someone I trusted or knew,” she replied.

“Andrus Gray. I am a scientist—the paranormal kind.” Lie. “I just want to speak with you.” Another lie. His eyes felt drier. Why did that always happen?

Helena jerked her arm away. “Speak to me about what?”

“Your fiancé.”

Helena frowned. “He’s not my fiancé, and why the hell should I trust you—you’ve been following me.”

Andrus nodded. “He’s your boyfriend then?”

Helena didn’t respond and turned to get away.

Andrus had to say something fast to gain her trust. “Okay. His kind”—Andrus rubbed the stubble on his chin—“does not…appreciate the work my organization does. If we are spotted, it often ends poorly. This is why I’ve been following you, waiting until it’s safe to talk.” All true.

“Not my problem.” Helena looked at his closed hand to his side. “I can’t afford to pay you back, and I don’t take charity. So, your little plan was a waste of time.”

Andrus’ lips curled into smug smile. He liked this beautiful woman’s feistiness. Lucky vampire. “I propose an equitable exchange: a few hours of your time for the ring.”

She paused, considering his offer, then narrowed her eyes and shook her head.

She didn’t trust him.

Smart woman.

“I can’t do that,” she said. “The bus leaves in twenty minutes.” She turned toward the convenience store. Andrus moved quickly, blocking her way.

Helena slammed into Andrus’ chest. “What—what are you? Another effing vampire?”

I’m something far worse. “No. Like I said, I’m a scientist—or, more accurately put, a student of the paranormal.” Lie. Blink. “I’ve learned many of their tricks over the years and can teach you. You’ll need my help if you really want to run from him.”

He watched intently as her radiant blue eyes locked on his face. She was still afraid.

Time to close the deal. If she resisted, he’d have to take her and risk witnesses or police being called. That would leave an easier trail for the vampires to follow.

“Look. I know you’re afraid, but I’m your only chance. Vampires never let anything get between them and their mates. He’ll go after the people you love if he has to. He won’t rest until he gets you—”

“He says we’re married,” Helena interrupted, her eyes filled with anger. “That it happened when he took a drop of my blood. Do you know how I can break the bond?”

“I do not,” he answered. “But I can teach you how to evade him. I can even keep him from sifting you away if he gets close.”

“What’s sifting?”

He’s never sifted in front of her? Idiot, Andrus thought. He’s probably worried about using his vampire talents in front of her because of that idiotic Pact. Well, he could give a rat’s ass about the Pact. Besides, what could the gods do to him that hadn’t been done already?

“It’s how vampires travel. They can move from one place to another using their minds. Although, they cannot travel far—it burns up too much energy.”

“Crap. Then there’s no way for me to outrun him?” Helena’s face showed her desperation.

Andrus suddenly found himself feeling sympathetic toward the poor woman. Like him, she felt trapped.

Stay focused. “We rarely do this, but we have an archive. It’s the only one of its kind—centuries of texts and artifacts. Perhaps we can find an answer for you there.”

Was that a flicker of hope in her eyes? Today was turning out much better than he’d planned.

“Where?” she asked coldly.

“North of San Francisco.” The Demilords’ archives were in fact there, but the records were mostly profiles of vampires on their watch list or documents they’d confiscated. Fact was, Demilords didn’t care much about history, just killing vampires. Preferably Obscuros. Now, if a “good” vamp or two—or three or four—got in the way…oh well. No loss.

Three hundred years ago, the vampire queen’s army began failing at containing the Obscuros as the Pact dictated. It was then that the Demilords were created, and it was then that Andrus’ hell began.

“Okay.” Helena nodded. “I guess I don’t have a choice. But if you lay a hand on me, I’ll make sure Niccolo finds out.”

Oh, I hope he does.

***

“She what?!” Niccolo screamed at the top of his lungs into the phone from his lavish 180-degree Strip View Suite at the Four Seasons in Vegas. “How could you let her leave? You had two orders: keep her safe and don’t let her leave! How hard is it for five vampires to keep an eye on one tiny human woman?”

What if something happened to her? He would never forgive himself. He hadn’t even had the chance to apologize for their fight or to make it up to her. This was horrific! He was horrific. He’d made her feel so badly that she’d fled him.

He wanted to wretch. Thank goodness she couldn’t get far; she had no money or anything much of value. Yes, thanks to you, you evil bastard.