“I know, Lily. I know you had to. I’m not saying you didn’t. Killing will never be easy for you – but it was necessary. I’m so proud of you and so thankful for what you did today.” He shivers. “Every moment she had that stake against my heart, all I could think about was you. Not seeing you again, not knowing you, not loving you anymore. I could not believe that my life could end that way.” Sebastian turns on his side to look at me and tries not to groan. “I was made to love you. We were made to be together. I needed that chance.” He gently takes my hand and squeezes. He still has no stamina and I make up for it by pulling his fingers to my lips and kissing them.

  “I was so scared when I saw you unconscious. You looked like you were dead.” I smooth his hair from his eyes.

  “Shhh… Dearest, I don’t plan on leaving you anytime soon.”

  “Try not to scare me like that again.”

  “Never,” he said fervently.

  I kiss him gently even though I know it sends the wrong message. I just need to. He kisses me with more force. His lips still work fine.

  We lay in bed talking for a few hours until Helena knocks on the door.

  “Come in, ‘Lena,” Sebastian says.

  “It’s time to go and feed, Sebastian. I think you should be up to it now. Julian feels well enough to hunt for himself.”

  “Sounds good, let me just get dressed.”

  “I’ll meet you downstairs, dear.” She is off in a blur.

  “Do you need help getting dressed?” I ask, purely from a medical point of view.

  Sebastian raises an eyebrow. “I think if you help me dress we might not make it downstairs, Cherie.”

  “I meant, should I call for Andrew?”

  “Sure you did.” He grins.

  “A gentleman wouldn’t question my motives…”

  He cocks an eyebrow at me. “No one ever accused me of being a gentleman. Wait for me right there, I’m going to throw some clothes on.”

  He rustles around in his closet for a minute or two. I only hear a stifled grunt. He isn’t completely healed. When he comes out he is wearing old, faded jeans, an oversized cable knit sweater and loafers. He looks gorgeous. That’s the thing about Sebastian, he can dress up or down and he still looks yummy.

  “You are looking at me like I am something to eat, Lily,” he says.

  “That’s because you look good enough to eat, Bast.”

  He gives me a look that says behave yourself, Lily.

  “I’ll take that as a compliment,” he says.

  “It was meant as one. Come on, we don’t want to keep Julian and Helena waiting. I’m going with you, by the way. I don’t want you out of my sight this time.”

  We walk downstairs slowly. I don’t help him but I stay close just the same. His face is tight.

  “Once you feed, it will help, Sebastian,” Julian says. “Let’s get you in the car and go get dinner.”

  “Where are we going? I brought some handi-wipes if you’re going to the docks again. Those guys are just disgusting and you’re not getting back in the car with me after you sucked one of their necks without washing it first,” I whine.

  Sebastian sighs.

  “No, we are not going to the docks. My car stands out a bit there, Lily. We thought we would go to Chinatown,” Julian says as Helena starts driving.

  “That sounds good. Easy to find people there too,” Bast agrees.

  I let Sebastian rest his head in my lap on the way. He is worn out from the walk down the stairs. I really hope the food will help with his energy.

  We find a spot to park and only have to walk a little ways. We don’t have far to go before we have the perfect place for Sebastian to rest and wait for Helena to lure him a meal. I sit next to Bast and hold his hand. He is shaking. The walk has taken what remaining energy he had left. In a few minutes we see Helena backing into our alley with a young woman following her in a trance. Tourists are always plentiful around here, especially since we are close to the cable car stop. Helena leads her to Sebastian and he hungrily bends her neck back and starts eating. I get why Bast thought I was sexy when I feed. He turns me on. It’s a vampire thing, that’s all I can say. The primal need to feed, fangs out and knowing of the ecstasy of the taste of the blood, all these things combine to make me excited.

  When he finishes, I lick his lips and fangs. He kisses me long and hard. Helena coughs and I extricate myself from Sebastian. His grip is definitely stronger. I lead the dinner a few yards away where she can recover. When I get back to Sebastian, he looks at me with a sparkle in his eye and a crooked grin.

  Julian walks back joined by a glowing Aidan. He looks so hot with that glow to him. He’s wearing clothes similar to Sebastian. Form fitting jeans and a black cashmere sweater. Not fair, I got double tapped tonight.

  “Look who lives in the neighborhood,” Julian says.

  Aidan looks at Sebastian’s dinner and says, “I recognize your signature.”

  “I was on death’s door and now I’m feeling much better.”

  Aidan nods. “You look like you’ll recover.” His voice neutral.

  I give him a hug. He kisses me on the lips lingering for a moment. I am such a slut.

  “It’s good to see you, Aidan,” I say sincerely. “Did you see Hannah and fill her in on what happened?”

  “Yes, she went a little crazy. She wasn’t happy about missing all the action.” He grins. “She was ultimately happy that everyone was okay. She sends her best.”

  “She’ll get over it. I’ll call her and give her a blow – by - blow,” I promise.

  “Aidan, will you come back home with us for a while?” Helena asks.

  “Yes. I think I’ll just take Lilith with me the fast way though,” he says and winks. He grabs my hand and we are traveling through the warm winds and then land in my bedroom.

  “I couldn’t wait to be alone with you anymore. I know you’ve been around Sebastian all day because he’s been ill. I thought I deserved a few minutes of my own,” he says while pulling me close to him. “I haven’t thanked you properly for saving me.”

  He bends down and kisses me fully and thoroughly. I lose myself in his warmth. It’s hard to remember I told them to back off when they’re kissing me so well. As Aidan’s hand starts to move up under my shirt I come to my senses.

  “Aidan,” I say breathlessly removing his hand. “No.”

  “Yes,” he whispers as he kisses me again and pulls me in tighter.

  “Aidan,” I say as I move back, although admittedly with great effort.

  “Too much?”

  “Yes, although I have to confess, I was about to cave.”

  His eyes twinkle and he kisses me chastely this time. “Love, you made my day.” I laugh and push at his chest, but he captures my hands and kisses my fingers. “I wish you’d hurry up and pick me,” he says while staring seriously at me.

  “Uhh!” I say and throw my hands up. I search the room for hand sanitizer and Aidan, anticipating my need, makes some materialize for me. I smile my thanks and use copious amounts. He got me the good stuff. The kind that smells like raspberries and chocolate. My favorite.

  I hear the front door open and the others come in. I reach for Aidan’s hand and lead him down the stairs. Sebastian’s eyes look pointedly at our hands and then he ignores us. He limps into the library and rings for Andrew.

  I have a twinge of guilt but remember how many times I had been holding Sebastian’s hand when Aidan walked in. Aidan swaggers. Men.

  Andrew rushes in.

  “What can I get you? Anything, oh mighty warriors, vampire rulers, witch wasters…”

  “Enough,” Sebastian barks.

  Aidan laughs deeply and pats Andrew on the back. “Andrew, these women deserve all the praise you can give them.”

  “Can we have some coffee and tea, please, Andrew?” I ask.

  “Of course, Miss Lily.”

  Sebastian eases himself into a chair across the room from me. Aidan pulls me down onto the couch. Sebastian glares.

  “How are you feeling now, Julian?” Aidan asks.

  “I’m feeling back to normal, feeding really helped. I think Sebastian needs the night to rest before he’ll be better though. He had the two doses.”

  “I’m right here. You don’t have to talk about me like I’m not in the room,” Sebastian mumbles grumpily. My, he is in a foul mood.

  Andrew brings in the coffee and tea and everyone makes something to drink except for Aidan. Aidan fixes my drink for me, which irritates Sebastian to no end. I pretend nothing is happening and keep using hand sanitizer. Aidan amuses himself by coming up with different bottles and different exotic scents for me.

  “I’ve had enough,” Sebastian announces. He struggles to get up.

  “You want to help him, don’t you, love? I’ll be back in the early afternoon when you wake up.” He kisses me and jumps the winds before he can hear Sebastian cursing him.

  I’m dazed. The day has been one of extremes. I love being that close to Aidan. I’m always close to Sebastian. It was nice having Aidan spend time with me. I wish the day hadn’t started so brutally.

  I come to my senses as I hear Sebastian struggling to get out of the chair. I rise to help, slipping my shoulder under his arm.

  “Thank you, Cherie. I think I over did it.”

  “I think you did. Let’s get you back into bed.”

  “Only if you’ll join me,” he says between groans.

  I sigh. “Sebastian.”

  “It’s only fair.”

  “I spent all afternoon with you,” I say as we hobble up the stairs. It would be so much easier if he would just let me carry him, but his ego would never recover.

  “Hmph.”

  I support Sebastian safely to his room and he changes into some black silk pajama pants. He looks tired. Worn around the edges.

  “Bast, come get in bed. You need to rest. Not your best look.” He climbs into bed and I tuck the blankets around him. I know he is in pain because he doesn’t put any moves on me.

  “Lily, just sleep next to me. I want to feel your body. It will make me feel better, Cherie.”

  “I think that you’ll rest easier if I’m not in bed with you.” I smooth back the hair from his forehead, the one area of his face unbuttered, and kiss the spot. His shoulders relax and he sinks into his pillows. He gives my hand a final squeeze before I leave his side.

  “I love you,” he says firmly as he shuts his eyes.

  “I know,” I whisper as I shut the door.

  33 . LILITH

  I wake up feeling better, anxious to see how Sebastian is. After a fast shower, I put on some jeans and a sweater with a pair of boots. It’s a rainy day and I want to be warm. I have to work later. I already dread the idea of going out in the rain. Ugh! Aidan promised he’d be here this morning. Maybe he can zap me to work.

  I start towards Sebastian’s room until I hear him in the library downstairs. He must be feeling better. I descend the grand staircase, feeling like Scarlett O’Hara at Twelve Oaks. As I pass the front doors, the bell rings. I turn to answer it but Andrew whisks in front of me looking affronted.

  “I’ll get the door, Miss Lily,” he tells me frostily. I wait to see who it is.

  “Hola everyone,” Hannah says, sweeping in, shaking drips from her black umbrella dotted with tiny pink skulls.

  “And good afternoon,” Aidan adds as he follows.

  I give a hug and kiss on the cheek to both of them. Aidan takes advantage and kisses me on the neck in retaliation. “What are you up to?”

  “We thought we’d see how the boys are feeling today,” Hannah says giving Aidan a raised eyebrow.

  “Good afternoon Ms. Hannah, Mr. Aidan,” Andrew says.

  “How are you Andrew?” Aidan asks.

  “On death’s doorway. It’s my birthday today and it’s all downhill now.” I roll my eyes behind his back. Hannah jumps on Andrew and gives him a big hug. She’s a hugger but Andrew almost faints. I don’t think he saw that coming.

  “Happy Birthday, Andrew! How wonderful. I didn’t know. Epic fail on my part,” Hannah says.

  “Thank you Ms. Hannah.” Andrew blushes profusely.

  I pull Hannah off Andrew and lead them into the library. I survey the boys. “It looks like they’re fully recovered.”

  “I feel better than ever,” Sebastian offers.

  “I’m feeling back to normal myself,” says Julian, more sedately.

  “Excellent,” Aidan says stiffly. “I thought last night you were recovering, but you look better now.”

  “Hannah, would you like some coffee?” I ask her.

  “Yeah, Lil’. I’m still pissed at you, though.” She gives me a wink.

  “Aidan, I wish I could offer you something,” I say regretfully.

  “So do I,” he says looking at me intently. He is incorrigible.

  I sit down on the couch next to Sebastian which is soon next to Aidan as well. Back to being in the middle.

  “Julian, what do you know about the sisters’ cousin Alexander?” Aidan asks.

  “I’ve heard he’s dangerous. What little we saw of him at the club leads me to think he is very arrogant as well, why?”

  “He’s in town today to handle the details of their deaths and estate. He’s been asking a lot of questions and looking around quite a bit. I destroyed the texts that the witches were using before I left their house. Both the Aramaic and English versions, so there should be no trace of me there. What about you and Sebastian?”

  “Vampires don’t have fingerprints, so there won’t be any trouble from the police that way,” Jules says. “We have to worry about who saw us going in and out of their house though. We will deal with that as it happens. Helena and I can also mesmerize people to a certain extent.”

  “I am worried about Alexander. He has the stink of black magik all over him. He’s taking samples of the wine they concocted.”

  “He’s a very powerful warlock from what I’ve been able to find,” Julian says.

  “If he figures out why they had goat’s blood in that wine then he’ll know vampires were involved and may be responsible,” Aidan says quietly. “I get the impression that he hates vampires and would just as soon see one dead as deal with one. He had no trouble ordering the death of Bertrand.”

  “Let’s hope he doesn’t put that all together then,” Julian agrees.

  “Well, I did bite Iris,” Helena says.

  “Yes, but the bites had healed and breaking her neck should have covered it up. I plan on keeping an eye on him. I don’t like having him in town. Warlocks, by nature, are more powerful than witches, and he was angry,” Aidan says. “That kind of energy is toxic.”

  “Starbright and her coven have been leery of him for quite some time. They are sure that Alexander has been the one pulling the girls’ strings behind the scene,” Helena tells the boys.

  “If that’s the case, we should have been watching him. Would you let us know what we can do, Aidan? Keep us informed?” Julian says.

  “My pleasure. I’m going to trail him now.” He gives me a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll see you all later. Goodbye, everyone.”

  And he is gone.

  “He rode over with me from Berkeley,” Hannah says. “I was so flattered. He has a great sense of humor. He’s also great for finding openings in traffic,” she admits. “Can I stay here tonight? There’s a concert I wanted to see and the after party won’t get over until late, late.”

  Her joy is contagious. Aidan’s fuel is energy and he loves positive energy like Hannah’s.

  “Sure, Hannah,” Sebastian says. He turns to face Julian. “What do you think of this warlock, Alexander?”

  “I’m deeply troubled by it. He will surely have the same protections on him that the sisters had, so Aidan won’t be able to do much to stop him. If he traces the deaths of his cousins back to us, we could be in real trouble.”

  “We’ll deal with it,” Helena says. “We’ll have a better chance of staying on top of this with Aidan’s help.”

  “This time I’m part of the action,” Hannah says.

  “Me too,” Andrew says as he comes into the room. “Ms. Hannah, will you turn me into a vampire? Please? It would be an honor, and I could help so much more,” Andrew pleads as he sits down.

  “I’ve always wanted to turn someone. I don’t know, though. What does everyone else think?” she asks us crossing her tattered stocking legs.

  “We don’t think it’s right to force someone to this lifestyle,” I say pointedly. “None of us had a choice. Andrew is making an informed decision. I think it’s time we finally talked about it seriously.”

  “We should wait until this mess is resolved before we consider it. Having a newborn on our hands would be a major distraction,” Julian says.

  “I agree with Julian. I would like Andrew to really think about it in the next few days, about what it would mean. No more mornings for two hundred years minimum, maybe forever. You would be feeding on blood forever, no more solid foods. Having to keep your lifestyle, and who you are a secret from everyone, outliving everyone you know.” Helena sips her tea and reflects a moment. “You could be living through plagues, wars, countries changing hands. It means never having children. Moving and traveling so people don’t catch on that you aren’t aging. Think about all these things Andrew. Then we will make a decision together,” Helena says.

  “Thank you, Miss Helena,” Andrew says. No drama – the real Andrew and I realize how serious he is about his wish.

  But I don’t think all these things have occurred to him before - it’s a lot to think about.

  “Well put, dear,” Julian says as he kisses her.

  “Hannah, if he still wants to be turned, we will let him. It is a big responsibility,” Helena suggests.

  “This is heavy shit, Helena. The way you put it, I’m not sure I want the responsibility now.”

  “It’s all right, dear. Julian or I can do it,” Helena says.

  “I think that might be best,” Hannah is clearly relieved.

  “I can’t fully grasp the things you’ve seen, Helena. It is overwhelming. I hope there is a world left for me to live in for a one thousand years,” I say.