Don’t blame me. She sounded innocent.
“Are you a cold-blooded killer? Would you kill my family and friends?” Gary persisted.
“Yes to the first question,” Gregori answered honestly. “And a true vampire is a great deceiver. Surely you have read the legends that vampires often lure humans into their power? A true vampire would destroy you and all you love. That is his sole enjoyment. Do not ever wish an encounter with a vampire upon yourself. As to killing you and your family, were you to threaten mine, I would not hesitate.”
Gary stopped walking and stared up at the man beside him. Gregori moved through time and space soundlessly. His unusual silver eyes were mesmerizing, as was his beautiful voice. He moved like a predator, his eyes unblinking and restless. Everything about him screamed danger, yet Gary was strangely drawn to him. He could have listened forever to the sound of that voice. “You aren’t kidding me, are you? But are you saying you aren’t a vampire?”
“I am a hunter of the undead, a destroyer. There is, however, a true vampire among the members of the society you are in league with. He will destroy them all.” The voice was soft and dispassionate, without expression.
Gary pushed a hand through his hair. “You’re telling me all this because you’re planning to take away my memory of you, aren’t you?”
The silver eyes settled on Gary’s face with regret. “I
can do no other. I should not have revealed myself to you, but you had great courage, and your one wish that I could grant to you was to allow you to meet something of what you sought.”
You’re so sweet, Gregori, Savannah purred, her voice strong in his mind.
I am not sweet, he objected strenuously.
“I don’t know what I did to deserve this,” Gary said, “but I’m really grateful.”
“You tried to save both the girl and me. I did not believe one of your kind, from your society,’ would ever attempt to come to the aid of one of one of my kind.” Gregori was truthful because he felt the human warranted it.
“You can trust me, you know. I’m not about to give away your secret. Aren’t there any humans who know the truth?”
“They are in constant danger. I would not wish that for you.”
You are the sweetest man, Savannah inserted softly, her voice brushing at him. Echoing.
Gregori frowned. Echoing? Close. He swung around, cursing in French, an eloquent dissertation that had Gary cringing. Savannah, however, simply took Gregori’s arm and smiled up at him, the stars in her eyes dancing. She was like that. Distracting him and then slamming him sideways with her smile. With her blue-violet eyes with their accursed star centers. She didn’t even have the decency to look repentant.
Don’t be angry, Gregori. I was lonesome in the house all by myself. Are you really, really angry? Or just a little angry? Her voice was soft, a siren’s whisper, made of silk sheets and candlelight. Her long lashes were thick and heavy, a sweep of magic that caught his eye and held it there.
It is impossible for you to be lonely when you are always running around in my head.
“You’re Savannah Dubrinsky.” Gary breathed her name reverently. “My God, I should have guessed.”
Gregori’s entire demeanor changed, becoming all at once menacing and dangerous. His face was etched in stone, his mouth hard and faintly cruel. The hair on the back of Gary’s neck literally stood up. He swallowed hard and instinctively moved a little distance from the woman. Not that he blamed the man, creature, whatever, but his reaction was more that of untamed beast than civilized man. Gary was taking no chances.
Savannah laughed softly. She leaned into the man despite Gregori’s restraining arm. “He can read your mind,” she reminded Gary softly, her breath swirling with tantalizing warmth over his neck.
He jumped away as if he’d been burned, his face flamed crimson, and he looked guiltily at Gregori.
Gregori’s dark features relaxed. The hard edge to his mouth softened. “Do not worry, Gary, she is incorrigible. Even I have trouble with her. I cannot blame you for what I myself cannot control.” His arm swept around Savannah’s small waist, and he tucked her beneath his shoulder.