Warm, exquisite relief flooded her at his words. She swallowed and took a deep breath. It was now or never.
Angelica chose her words carefully. “I love you, Ian. Please, make me like you and take me with you wherever you go.” When he didn’t immediately protest, she continued. “When we married, I had believed that you were going to Change me and keep me by your side forever. I was heartbroken when I overheard your conversation with your second.” She stopped as a choking sob escaped her lips.
Ian enfolded her in his arms. “Hush, darling, don’t cry.”
She pulled away from him, determined to pour out the rest of her explanation. “I never meant to ruin you with my vampire story. I wanted to write a story that showed vampires can be heroes, and…” She drew a ragged breath and dared to speak the long-secret wish. “And perhaps give you the idea that it would be possible for us to have a happy life together.” She fell silent and looked down at her hands, fighting back tears.
The silence seemed to draw out for an eternity. Then he smiled. “How would a trip to Paris sound to a new vampire, my love?”
Fresh tears welled up in Angelica’s eyes, but this time they were tears of joy. “Oh, Ian, do you truly mean it? When?”
Ian gathered her into his arms. “As soon as the Elders approve my petition to Change you. That could take anywhere from mere days to a few weeks.”
“Wonderful!” She clasped her hands in joy. “May we get out of this horrid place? I am cold and quite famished.”
Ian shook his head. “I am afraid we are trapped here until sunset.” Frowning, he added, “And you had better close the mausoleum door before the afternoon light makes its way to me.”
Angelica cursed herself for her foolishness. The sun would burn Ian if they left the mausoleum. She should have thought of that. Her head swam and her limbs were heavy and weak as she pulled herself from her husband and made her way back up the stairs. The journey seemed to take an eternity.
When she dragged herself back, her husband lifted her into his lap, easing her sore backside from the hard cold stone. “It won’t be as bad as all that, Angel. This is the first uninterrupted time I’ve had with you in a long time. I am certain we can make the best of the situation.”
They talked until sundown, reconciling and laughing at their foolishness. “I’d thought you were sleeping with another,” Angelica said, fighting the ache the thought still invoked.
Ian raised a brow. “When my every waking thought was consumed by you? When you haunt my dreams every day? Never. Who did you think I’d been with?”
Angelica shook her head, wanting the conversation to return to its former coziness. “It’s not important. Were you truly still thinking of me, even when you were angry?”
“Yes, always,” Ian said, pulling her closer and yawning. “Would you mind if we rested awhile? My wounds will heal better with the day sleep.”
They lay back down on the slab. Ian cushioning her from most of the stone surface. It seemed Angelica had barely closed her eyes before Ian woke her.
“We must leave now, Angel.” His eyes glowed with unholy hunger. “I need to feed soon, or you will not be safe around me.”
“How are we going to explain what happened to the servants?” Angelica asked worriedly. “They have likely been searching for me since morning.”
Ian frowned. “You are quite right, I fear. There is little hope of hiding the body, then. We will have to act very carefully.”
***
“But why can’t I be the hero?” Angelica complained as they emerged from the mausoleum, determined to keep up a casual conversation.
Ian shook his head at her temerity. The sight of the vampire hunter’s body had made her flinch and gag as the realization that she had killed a man sank in. Ian had shielded her from the corpse, but she was humiliated, thinking she had acted like a ninny. He thought she’d been unbelievably brave.
Angelica dragged the vampire hunter’s heavy bag behind her. Ian had wanted to carry it, but she refused to let him since she was still worried about his injury. She’d stuffed her blood-soaked dress in the bag, having no notion how she would explain its condition. The servants would just have to put up with the scandalous sight of her wearing nothing but her underclothes. She winced at the sharp gravel poking her feet through the thin fabric of her house slippers. Ian wished he could carry her, but he lacked the strength.
Ian chuckled, looking up at the night sky. “Because there is no way anyone would believe that my tiny duchess could fight like such a lioness, or that a man of my size would be so vulnerable. Besides,” he added with a wink, “a man must protect his pride at all costs.”
She sighed and threw the bag down a dry well. “Very well, I suppose I must allow you to hold on to your tender pride.”
Ian slid the well’s cover back in place, concealing the evidence.