Vampire Mine - Kerrelyn Sparks [83]
Bugger. Anger swelled inside him. She was trying to take care of him, trying to protect him.
That was his job! He was supposed to protect her! And he’d failed her.
Just like he had failed to protect his wife and bairn. “How can ye love me? I was bloody useless!”
She stiffened with surprise. “Don’t say that.”
He paced away. “All this time, I’ve stayed by yer side in case that bastard showed up. And when he did, I did nothing.”
“It’s not your fault. He has powers that are beyond both of us.”
Connor rushed toward her and grabbed her by the shoulders. “Did he hurt you? If that bastard harmed you, I’ll find a way into hell and—”
“Don’t say that!” She pressed her hand over his mouth. “Don’t ever try to fight him. Please.”
Connor took her hand in his. “What good am I to you if I canna protect you?”
“You do protect me. You saved me from the truck. You saved me that first night.”
He kissed her palm. “It breaks my heart that I couldna protect you from the demon.”
“I’m fine. Darafer can’t take me to hell unless I agree, and I will never agree.” She rested her hands on his cheeks. “You have never failed me. You have been a blessing to me since the moment you found me.”
“Och, lass.” He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. It made his ribs hurt, but he couldn’t complain. He would have her for only a short while.
“Shall we go home?” he asked.
“Yes.” She picked the white robe off the ground and shook it out. “We were lucky Bunny showed up.” She plucked Connor’s phone off the ground, and it instantly lit up. “I was going to call your friends for help, but I didn’t know how.”
“I’ll show you later.” He dropped the phone into his sporran and pulled her back into his arms. “Let’s go.”
Connor dropped his torn and tattered kilt on the bathroom floor. It was beyond repair. The T-shirt he’d worn was shredded, too. He examined his leather sporran. Scuffed up a bit, but it would still do.
He took a quick look over his body. Apart from a little soreness, he appeared intact. Marielle’s angelic boyfriend had patched him up well. He didn’t know whether to be grateful or pissed. Just the thought that he’d been frozen and then later unconscious while demons and angels had dropped by to visit, it was too much.
He stepped into the shower and lathered up his bloodied hair. He decided on being pissed. Aye, that suited him well. He was a vampire, dammit. A supernatural being with his own set of awesome powers. He’d been able to control mortal minds for centuries. He’d been able to defeat any mortal or Malcontent in battle. He was top dog. Top of the food chain.
Not anymore. He could be frozen and rendered helpless? Bloody hell! How could he defeat an enemy who could control him?
How could Marielle trust him? He stood under the showerhead, letting the hot water pound on his head. That was the real problem. He was afraid of failing her. He’d failed before, and he’d lost his wife and baby daughter. And then, he’d lost his soul. He’d become a coldhearted bastard who fed on others to stay alive.
But she still loves you.
He closed his eyes and let the water run down his face. His angel loved him. She called him a blessing.
With a sigh, he turned off the water. She would be with him only a short time.
He dressed in a clean pair of plaid flannel pants and a T-shirt that either Phil or Howard had left behind. It was Howard’s cabin, actually. He and Phil used to come here on a full moon so they could shift and hunt. But now Phil was shifting with the other werewolf lads at the school, and Howard was joining them there. Connor smiled, imagining a big bear hunting with a pack of wolves.
He peeked into the bedroom to make sure Marielle wasn’t there half dressed. Or undressed. The room was empty. Too bad.
When they’d arrived back at the cabin, all covered with dirt and grime, he’d insisted she shower first. He’d needed a bottle of blood to regain his strength.
He usually showered at his room in the basement at Romatech, but he couldn’t leave Marielle alone, so he’d showered here.
He padded into the main room, still