“Who, me?” He blinked up at her, his expression one of total innocence.
“We won’t be long.” Leaning down, Mara kissed her husband, then took Sheree’s hand. “Ready? Here we go.”
When they arrived at the hospital, they found her father dressed and ready to go home.
He smiled warmly when he saw her. “Hey, pumpkin!” he exclaimed, folding her in his arms. “You’re just in time to get me out of this place.”
“Where’s Mother?”
“Oh, she had a meeting with the mayor this morning. I was just about to call her. The doctor decided to let me go home a day early. This way we can surprise her.” He nodded at Mara, standing in the doorway. “Miss Blackwood, how nice to see you again.”
“Thank you. You’re looking much better.”
Just then, a nurse bustled into the room pushing a wheelchair. “All set, Mr. Westerbrooke?”
“Yes, indeed, Jeannie.” He settled himself in the chair. “Let’s go. Grab my suitcase, will you, pumpkin?”
“Sure, Dad.”
Sheree and Mara trailed her father and the nurse into the elevator and down to the lobby.
“If you bring your car around to the front of the hospital, we’ll meet you there,” the nurse said.
Sheree glanced at Mara. They hadn’t come by car.
“I’ll get it,” Mara said. “Just give me a few minutes.”
Sheree smiled reassuringly at her father, even as she wondered what car Mara intended to get.
The vampire returned a few minutes later. Keeping her curiosity in check, Sheree followed Mara and her father out of the hospital, felt her eyes widen when Mara opened the passenger door of a late-model sedan.
After settling her father in the front seat and stowing his suitcase in the trunk, Sheree climbed into the backseat.
Mara engaged Brian in small talk on the short ride to the Westerbrooke house.
“I’m not sure I should go in,” Sheree said when Mara pulled into the driveway.
“Of course you’re coming in,” her father said.
“I’m sure Mother doesn’t want to see me right now any more than I want to see her.”
“Sheree, that’s not true!”
“Yes, it is. She’s never going to forgive me for marrying Derek.”
Brian sighed. “Just give her some time,” he urged, getting out of the car.
Sheree joined him on the sidewalk, waited while he got his suitcase out of the trunk. “I’m glad you’re feeling better, Dad. I’ll call you when I can.”
“I love you, pumpkin.”
“I love you, too. Take care of yourself.”
“You, too.”
Blinking back her tears, Sheree slid into the front seat. She waved at her dad as Mara pulled away from the curb.
“I take it your mother’s not happy with your choice of a mate,” Mara remarked.
“No. She had a husband and a life all picked out for me.”
“Well, at least she didn’t abandon you in an alley when you were a child.”
“Is that what happened to you?”
“It was a long time ago,” Mara said. “And yet it still stings.”
“I’m sorry,” Sheree murmured, though it seemed odd to offer sympathy for something that had happened so long ago. She was curious to know how Mara had survived. Surely someone had adopted her.
“Perhaps I’ll tell you the story one of these days.”
Sheree nodded, thinking she would love to hear it. But there was something else she was curious about. “Where did you get this car?”
“I . . . uh, borrowed it from a parking lot. And right now, we’re going to return it before someone misses it. And then we’re going home.”
Home, Sheree thought. Nothing had ever sounded so good.
It was dark when Sheree and Mara returned to the castle. Logan, Derek, Edna, and Pearl were seated in the great hall. Sheree noted they all looked well fed. It was easy to see once you knew what to look for.
Sheree hugged Derek and exchanged greetings with the other three vampires, but her attention was fixed on the large brown case on one of the side tables. She shivered as Edna lifted the lid and rummaged inside. For better or worse, Sheree thought, her future lay inside that ugly brown box.
“So,” Pearl said, lifting a small bottle from the case, “tomorrow night we’ll administer this and then . . .” She shook the vial, causing the dark red liquid to slosh back and forth.
“And then what?” Sheree asked, her voice sharper than she intended. Her blood was in the mix, after all.
“We’ll just have to wait and see,” Edna answered.
“Am I supposed to drink it?” Derek asked, eying the bottle’s contents.
“Yes, dear. It should be quite tasty, if a little tart.”
“The original serum was given by injection,” Mara said.
Edna nodded. “But Pearl thinks, in this case, drinking it will be more effective and faster acting.”
“What’s the gun for?” Sheree asked.
“For you, dear,” Pearl said. “It’s loaded with silver.”
“Why do I need a gun?” Sheree asked, and immediately felt as if she had just asked the stupidest question in the world as all eyes swung in her direction. “Oh.”
Derek slipped his arm around her shoulders. “It was my idea. Silver isn’t just effective against vampires,” he said flatly. “But werewolves, too.”
“You don’t expect me to shoot you?”
“Damn right! If I come after you, it’s the only thing that will stop me.”
Logan glanced at Mara. “So, what’s the plan? We lock Derek in the dungeon, slip him the serum, and hope for the best?”
“It doesn’t sound like much when you put it that way,” Derek said.
“Have you got a better plan?” Mara asked.
“After you lock me up, don’t let Sheree out of your sight. I don’t want a repeat of what happened last time, if I can help it.”
“I want to stay with you,” Sheree said.
“No! Not this time. No one knows how this stuff will affect me. I don’t want you anywhere near me.” He held up one hand, staying the argument he saw coming. “This isn’t open for discussion, wife.” He placed his hands on her shoulders and gazed into her eyes. “I’ve put your life in danger too many times already. I won’t knowingly do it again.”
Pearl cleared her throat. “I think you should feed again tonight,” she said, placing the vial back in the case. “Drink as much as you can hold. It will strengthen your resistance. And whatever you do, don’t eat any meat.”