The Vampire's Mail Order Bride by Kristen Painter

He bent and kissed his sweet Delaney one last time. How long the rook had been there, Hugh had no idea. He went numb with pain as his reason to live slipped away. He couldn’t bring himself to think the truth of what had happened, to give place to the reality that his beloved was gone, but it shadowed his thoughts, lingering like a specter at the edge of his mind.Īnother half an hour, and there was no way to deny what had happened. It was nothing compared to the ache in his soul. Hour six dawned, and the sun’s imminent rise announced itself with the delicate irritation of his skin. This turning seemed very much like the last one he’d been a part of. Stopped twice to check that her ring hadn’t somehow slipped off.įinally, he sat beside her and clutched her hand. Hour five came and went, bringing nothing but a return of the fear Hugh thought behind him. Hugh scratched the animal’s head until he left again. But knowing didn’t help.Ĭaptain sauntered in and sat by Hugh’s chair.

He searched her face and body for signs of life, but she still lay like the dead. The tiniest sound brought him to full alert. Hugh drank, reveling in the thoughts of the things he would show Delaney, how he would spoil her with experiences and find new joy in life through her eyes.Īt the fourth hour, Hugh’s anticipation lived on his skin. “Can I get you anything? Coffee? Brandy? Blood?” He pulled a chair near the bed and settled in, his only desire now to be at her side and be the first face she saw upon waking in her new life.Īt the second hour, Stanhill stuck his head in. In four or five hours, the turning would be complete. Both his brothers and Juliette had done the same. As startling as that was, he knew it was part of the process. Watched as the color drained from her and she went ashen. He stayed at her side as she drifted off.

The word was sweet and silly and caused a fierce surge of protectiveness to rise up in him. She smiled, her lids heavy already with the drowsiness brought on by the turning.

The Vampire's Mail Order Bride by Kristen Painter