Top Secret Vampire (Monsters, PI #4)

30. Wolfram

Chapter 30

Wolfram

I woke to find Reese gone and lay under the covers, pretending I was still asleep. She’d teased me one too many times about how deep a vampire slept. This time, when she returned to bed, I’d be waiting to pounce. I’d soon show my pretty little mate the error of her teasing ways.

But after waiting a bit, she didn’t come out of the bathroom.

Rising, I listened and didn’t hear her inside the suite. Had she gone to the kitchen for a late-night snack? She never had before, but there was always a first time.

That’s when a bang rang out from the first floor.

I mistified to the foyer and was drawn across the open space to Reese’s office, arriving in time to hear Charmaine tell Reese that she was going to erase Reese’s memory back to when she’d lived in New York, that she’d plant a suggestion that Reese wanted to live there more than anything. Reese would leave me and sell her house, and Charmaine would step in to “cure” my wounded heart.

With a flick of my wrist, the magical bindings holding Reese shattered. I advanced into the room and tugged her behind me, snarling at Charmaine. My claws snapped out at the ends of my fingers and my fangs descended. My growl ripped up my throat. “You dare threaten my true mate?” Power surged through my voice, freezing Charmaine in place.

Fear shot through her eyes. “True mate?” She gaped at Reese. “I would never harm a vampire's mate. I only wanted—”

“Silence! You wanted immortality? You thought by eliminating Reese, I'd turn to you?” A dark laugh escaped me. “You're delusional if you believe I'd ever bite you or turn you into a vampire. There will be no immortality for you, witch .”

Desperation clawed across her face. “But Wolfram, please—”

I closed my eyes and summoned my witch friend. She appeared in a swirl of smoke, her floor-length, deep blue cloak hiding her body and features.

“Charmaine has been using magic to harass and manipulate Reese—my true mate,” I told my friend. “She impersonated Reese, framing her for a crime she didn't commit. She slashed her tires, hacked into Reese’s social media accounts to sabotage her career. Sent a seagull to attack her. That’s the one thing that confuses me. Reese came to Monsters, PI after the seagull and mirror incidents. How are they connected?”

“You were supposed to fall for me . The blender, the seagull, and the writing were just me having fun with Reese.” Charmaine lifted her chin. “But then my mother had to ruin my plan by telling Reese’s mom about Monsters, PI. Once I saw you were with her, I had to heat things up to drive her away.”

Clever. I should’ve asked Reese’s mother again where she’d heard of Monsters, PI. “What else were you planning?”

“Whatever it took.” She didn’t sound a bit remorseful.

“I’m sure there are other things we haven’t yet discovered,” I said.

“Jewelry box.” Reese pointed to her desk.

“Where?” I growled at Charmaine.

“The jewelry store one town away. Marcelle’s.”

I’d make sure it was returned before it was noted missing.

“To top it off,” I said to my friend, “Charmaine was going to wipe Reese’s memory and compel her to move away. All in the hope that I’d give her the bite of the undead.”

The witch nodded, the hem of her cloak shifting as she stalked toward Charmaine. The air grew thicker around them, swirling with power.

Charmaine let out a muffled scream, quaking as she watched the witch approach. The witch reached out, a pulse of energy spiraling from her palm, encircling Charmaine like a snake winding around its prey. A flick of her hand, and they both disappeared in a second puff of smoke. Charmaine's panicked shriek cut off and the room returned to silence.

“Where did your friend take Charmaine?” Reese asked, creeping closer to wrap her arm around me from behind.

Spinning, I roamed my hands over her, checking for injuries. “Are you hurt? Did she harm you in any way?”

Her laugh bubbled up, bright and clear. “Stop, that tickles. I'm fine, Wolf. You got here in time.”

Relief flooded through me as I pulled her into my arms, holding her.

“Their council will take care of this,” I said. “There's no excuse for what she's done, and she knows it. With magic, they'll drag a confession from her and then they’ll impose a sentence. She won’t be able to come near you or harm you again. That’s guaranteed. Let's just say she'll wish she'd never decided to seek immortality from a vampire. I’ll make sure Detective Carter is made aware as well.”

“He’ll want to prosecute Charmaine.”

“Not after my friend speaks with him. This is for their council to handle, not him.”

“It's over, then.” Reese looked up at me with joy in her eyes.

“It is.” I traced my fingers through her hair before I pulled her into my arms again. Wrapping her in my embrace was the best thing I’d experienced in years. She was safe. She was alright.

“When we went through motives for our suspects, we didn't think of anything like this.” She nuzzled my chest. “She truly thought, with me out of the way, that she'd be able to convince you to change her into a made vampire.”

Something I'd never do.

She melted into me, her softness fitting perfectly against my frame. I gazed down at her, my heart beating up so forcefully that I was sure she could feel the thunderous beats. She was everything to me, every dream fulfilled, every wish granted. The culmination of a lifetime of longing.

She tilted her head back, her eyes locked onto mine. In those deep pools of blue, I saw a myriad of emotions, trust, love, and a hint of vulnerability that made me want to protect and cherish her all the more. Her fingers grazed my cheek, her touch lighting a fire within me that burned hotter than any sun.

Our lips met in a soft, lingering kiss that fanned the flames inside us both. Her taste was intoxicating, a nectar that drove away all thoughts but of her.

She pressed closer, her hands exploring the planes of my back, her fingertips tracing the line of my spine. Every touch sent bliss coursing through me, making me want more. My arms tightened around her as if I could somehow merge us into one being.

Her lips parted, the soft gasp escaping her driving me wild. I deepened the kiss, my tongue exploring her sweet mouth.

She arched into me, seeking more contact, more connection. I reveled in the feel of her curves, her softness that was both yielding and strong.

I mistified us to our bed and broke off the kiss, rolling onto my back while taking her with me.

She rose over me, her palms warm on my chest. “I love you, Wolfie. I always will.”

“Wolfie,” I growled, flipping her onto her back and looming over her. “I’m a fierce vampire. The terror of all I survey. And you persist in calling me Wolfie ?”

“You adore it.”

My sigh bled out, and my smile lifted, driving my pretend horror away. “I do. Almost as much as I adore you, my precious love.” I traced her cheek with my fingers. “No more threats. No more fear. Just us, together.”

“Together sounds perfect.” Her eyes sparkled. “Just so you know, I still plan to call you that dreaded nickname, tease you about your deep vampire sleep, plus grin at the cute way you cuddle a bag of blood while your fangs pierce it.”

“I do not suck blood in a cute way.”

She winked. “It’s all a matter of perspective. Trust me. It’s incredibly cute.”

My growl of mock outrage made her laugh, the sound sweeping away the last shadows from my soul.

I kissed her again, planning to show her all the ways I loved her.

We were safe.

We were together.

Nothing would come between us again.