Vampire Mine - Kerrelyn Sparks [48]
“Not a problem,” Brynley said. “You came well armed.”
“Aye.” He set two of the swords on the kitchen counter, but kept one. “Feel free to use these, if ye need to.” He gave Marielle a worried look. “The sun is about to rise. I doona have time to teach you tonight.”
“I’ll be fine,” she assured him. “I still have some of my own skills.”
“Aye. Ye knocked me out twice with that blast of air.”
She tried not to think about how she’d discovered him flat on his back with his kilt up. Don’t think about it.
He opened the door to a walk-in closet, then went inside and placed the third sword on the floor. He took a blanket off the shelf and spread it beside the sword.
She peered inside. “What are you doing?”
“I’ll be falling into my death-sleep soon.”
“I . . . don’t like thinking about you being dead.”
His mouth twisted. “Usually, I welcome it.”
“How can you say that?”
He shrugged. “Ye canna feel anything when ye’re dead.” He gave her a worried look. “Tonight I hate it. I hate no’ being here for you, no’ knowing if ye’ll be all right.”
“I’ll be fine.” She glanced at the floor. “Wouldn’t you be more comfortable in the bed?”
“The bedroom has windows. The sunlight would fry me.” He tilted his head, studying her. “You should use the bed. It has been a long night. Ye must be verra tired.”
She nodded. She was beginning to feel weary. And sad.
“Ye need to go now, lass,” he whispered. “I’m about to keel over.”
She stepped back, then froze when he touched her cheek.
“Be safe.”
She smiled slightly. “You, too.” She shut the door. Why did she feel like crying?
Instead of going into the bedroom, she went out the front door and stood on the porch. The sun broke the horizon in the east, shooting glorious rays through the trees and painting the sky with gold and pink.
“ ‘The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,’ ” she whispered. Her vision blurred with tears, and she blinked them away. She’d always loved sunrises in the past. But now, she could only think of Connor dying in the closet.
A few hours later, she could barely keep her eyes open. Brynley encouraged her to go to bed and get some sleep.
As she brought the sheet up to her chin, she thought of Connor in the closet. Still dead. Her eyes flickered shut.
A moment of panic flared when she felt a dragging sensation on her consciousness. She opened her eyes, staring at the ceiling. She’d never slept before. She’d always rested on the Seventh Day, but she’d never slipped away into a real sleep. It was an odd sensation, so peaceful and comforting, yet terrifying as all her control withered away.
Her eyes burned as she tried to keep them open, but in the end, weariness overcame her, and she drifted into sleep.
She awoke with a jerk, then smiled slowly as she realized how refreshed she felt. After using the bathroom, she washed her face and brushed her teeth, grateful that Vanda had shown her how. Then she dressed and went into the main room.
Glorious scents filled the kitchen, and her stomach rumbled.
“There you are.” Brynley backed away to keep a safe distance. She motioned to the counter. “I made some bacon and eggs. And there’s toast and jelly.”
“Thank you.” She prepared herself a plate. “Did anything happen while I was asleep?”
“Nope.” Brynley settled on the couch with a paperback book. “It’s been real quiet. The sun’s already going down.”
Marielle smiled at the thought of seeing Connor soon and starting her new mission to help the Vamps. After eating, she went out onto the front porch to watch the sun descending in the west.
A new adventure awaited her. She would help the Vamps destroy the Malcontents. The world would be a safer place. The Archangels would be so pleased, they would vote her back into the Heavenly Host.
She strode back into the cabin and headed for the closet.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Brynley asked from the couch.
“I’ll be fine.” She let herself into the closet, turned on the light, then closed the door.
Connor was stretched out on his back with his hands resting