As he watched Vellum hobble the horses, Clay assessed the male. He'd already known the vampire was dangerous and could move faster than human thought, but Clay hadn't known a vampire could look as Vellum did. Clay had always assumed they were misshapen, monstrous creatures, or that if they did took human form, the horror of their natures was evident in their appearance.
But Vellum looked like a man, albeit a pale one. His dark hair was thick and lustrous, his skin healthy-looking. Despite his literally thin diet, he was built as strongly as Clay, and was maybe an inch or two taller. And he was attractive, which really stuck in Clay's craw. Vellum was a male who'd be competition for women if he and Clay were in a saloon together.
But they were out here, with only Mariel for company.
It was then that Clay realized why he was so concerned for her: he could see that the vampire and she had made a connection. It wasn't plain curiosity that caused her eyes to track the vampire's every move. She found him attractive. Maybe his thrall continued to work on her, compelling her interest. Or maybe it was Vellum himself, who was definitely attractive enough to garner such attention from her or any woman. Hell, even Clay found himself glancing from time to time at the vampire with something other than wariness.
Clay's fears that he and Mariel wouldn't make it to Everton Fort took on a new nuance. Maybe Vellum would decide to keep her for himself.
"Alright, Marshal. Mariel. Time for sleep." Vellum studied them both for a moment, sizing them up. "I want you to be well-rested in the morning, so hog-tying you isn't going to be an option."
"Thank the Lord for small kindnesses," Clay drawled.
That drew a twinkle from Vellum's eyes that made Clay uncomfortable. Last thing he wanted to do was provide amusement to the vampire.
Vellum pulled a pair of bedrolls from the horses. They'd belonged to Beaufort's men but Clay wasn't of a mind to be picky if it'd spare him from sleeping flat on the dirt and rocks. Vellum spread the blankets into a makeshift bed and uncoiled a rope around the area to deter snakes. Wouldn't do for the food to become contaminated with snake venom, Clay supposed.
Finished with his preparations, Vellum said to Clay with a polite smile, "Kindly remove your boots, Marshal, and hand them to me."
Having anticipated as much, Clay didn't complain as he did as asked, though he did grit his teeth when Vellum's fingers brushed his as Clay was handing over the boots. The vampire's fingers hadn't been cold like that of some undead creature, but had been warm. Warm as any man's.
"Thank you, Marshal."
Vellum placed the boots inside his sleeping crate, at one end. He then turned and smiled at Mariel. "I won't ask the same of you. I trust you."
She didn't smile, but Clay was worried to see her nod, very slightly. Vellum was winning her over. Clay had to keep an eye on that.
"Now, if you'd please, lie side by side here."
Clay nodded to indicate that Mariel should take the position against the rocks so Clay would be a barrier between her and the desert…and Vellum. Once she was down, Clay lay next to her. He shifted over and found some comfort in the soft press of Mariel's limbs against his. He hoped she took some measure of comfort from him, too. He turned his head and smiled encouragingly at her and was rewarded with her answering smile. She didn't appear to be afraid, and he thanked the stars that it was she with him rather than a woman who lacked her backbone.
Vellum kneeled beside Clay and tied his hands together in front of his belly. Clay tested the binding and found it impossible to shift. The knots would likewise be too tight for a mere man to pick loose. Vellum repeated the process with Mariel's hands. Then their feet. Clay expected the vampire to then attach him and Mariel somehow, but Vellum backed away and draped a cloth over them, carefully tucking it up around their shoulders. He also set a canteen of water nearby.
For a mad instant, as Vellum paused where he kneeled above them, Clay thought the vampire was going to kiss them goodnight. Clay's heart began pounding, though he couldn't say why.
Vellum met his gaze and smirked. It was a smile that Clay had never had aimed at him; it was the sort he aimed at women. Before he could dwell on it, Vellum rose to his feet. The rush of air into Clay's lungs physically hurt.
"If there's an emergency, shout for me," Vellum told them. "I'll hear you. Otherwise, I will see you just after the sun sets. Sleep well."
Clay snorted and watched carefully as the vampire climbed into the crate and pulled the lid over it, sealing him inside. Clay thought he should feel revulsion, but all he felt was exhaustion.
He turned his head and kissed Mariel's forehead.
"Goodnight, Mariel."
She sighed and rested her face against his shoulder. "Goodnight, Clay."
After all that they'd been through, sleep came within seconds.
4
"Our clever vampire didn't bother concerning himself with whether we'd need to eat," Clay grumbled as he glared at the crate where Vellum continued to sleep.