Shadows of Eternity

Chapter Eighteen

A s happened every time Leia spent time in Rohan’s arms, she woke smiling, her whole body tingling with the memory of his touch, the soft caress of his voice whispering that he loved her more than life itself. She wished he had spent the night, but he’d left while she slept. Would he stay if she asked him to?

She lay there for a long time, thinking about what a remarkable man he was. How incredible, to have lived so long, to have experienced more than three hundred years of life. She couldn’t imagine the things he had seen and done. He had obviously loved his previous life with the Lakota. She could tell he missed it even now, after so many years. How sad, to see everything you had known and loved be swept away. Had he lost many people he cared for over the centuries? Or had he never let anyone get close to him, knowing he would inevitably lose them in a few short years? How many women had he loved?

She slammed the door on that train of thought. He was a virile, handsome man. No doubt he had known hundreds of women. The knowledge was like acid in her soul. She told herself it was foolish to be jealous of women who were long dead. And then she frowned. Maybe they weren’t all dead. Who knew what he’d been doing, who he’d been seeing, before they met? For all she knew, he might be seeing other women when he wasn’t with her.

Once that little seed of doubt had been planted, it took root and try as she might, she couldn’t dig it out.

Leia called Janae later that afternoon to let her know she’d talked to Rohan about double dating and he had agreed. “What do you think about a movie and drinks afterward?” Leia asked.

“Sounds good to me. How about tomorrow night? I’ll ask Mrs. Johnson next door to sit with the boys.”

Leia checked her phone. “The first evening show is at 6:30, or would you rather go later?”

“No, that’s fine.”

“Okay. We’ll pick you up at six.”

“Can’t wait. See you then.”

Leia smiled as she ended the call. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been out on a double date. Her last date had been over a year ago, when she’d broken up with the man she’d been seeing for almost that long. She’d thought Jeff was ‘the one’ until she discovered he had a rotten temper. Things had come to a head the night he’d slapped her because she didn’t agree with something he’d said. She couldn’t remember now what it had been.

Leia made a quick trip to her favorite shop where she bought a pair of gray knit slacks and a long-sleeved blue sweater with a square neck. She picked up a pair of gray heels, as well.

She ran a few errands, stopped at her favorite fast food place for some sweet-and-sour pork and fried rice for dinner, and headed home.

Rohan was waiting at her front door when she arrived.

“Hope you didn’t have plans,” he said as he unlocked the door and followed her inside.

She dropped the garment bag on the side table. “What do you think?”

“I think I’m the luckiest man alive.”

“You’re here awfully early tonight,” Leia remarked, heading for the kitchen.

He shrugged one shoulder. “What can I say? I missed you.” He wrinkled his nose when she lifted the Styrofoam cartons out of the sack. “I think I’ll go in the other room while you eat.”

“Sure you don’t want to share it with me?” Leia asked, smothering a grin.

“No, thanks.”

She laughed as she pulled a plate from the cupboard, poured a glass of milk, and sat at the table. She had never considered what it must be like for him, with his enhanced senses, to be around food he could no longer eat. How awful, to have to give up the food and drink you loved before you became a vampire, to exist on nothing but the blood of others and an occasional glass of red wine. She had withdrawal pains if she went more than a day or two without chocolate.

She ate quickly, threw the takeout boxes in the trash, rinsed her dishes and placed them in the dishwasher.

Rohan smiled when she joined him on the sofa. “How was your day?”

“Fine. I talked to Janae and we’re all set for the movies tomorrow night. I bought a new outfit. Hope you like it.”

“I’m sure I will, if you’re inside it.”

“How was your d ay?”

He snorted. “Same as any other.”

“If I ask you something, will you tell me the truth?”

“I don’t know. Depends on what it is.”

She punched him in the arm.

Raising his hands in surrender, he said, “All right, all right, the truth. What do you want to know now?”

“Does my asking questions about your past bother you?”

“No, love. I told you before, you can ask me anything.”

“Have you been with a lot of women?”

Well, damn, he should have seen that one coming. “Define a lot.”

She huffed an impatient sigh.

“Yes, I’ve been with a lot of women. I may be a vampire, but I’m still a man with all of a man’s needs.”

It was the answer Leia had expected, but it hurt just the same. She knew it was foolish to be jealous of his past. After all, he’d lived hundreds of years before she was born, and he’d live hundreds more when she was gone.

Rohan muttered an oath as he put his arm around her shoulders. “Leia, don’t think about it. The past is past. The future isn’t guaranteed to anyone, not even me. There’s just now.”

She snuggled against him. He was right, of course. And then he was kissing her and nothing else mattered but his arms around her, his mouth hot on hers, his voice telling her he loved her. Would always love her.

Leia was a nervous wreck the next evening as she dressed for their double date with Janae and Trent. What if the men didn’t get along? She didn’t know Trent Frumusanu very well. He’d always been polite, if a little reserved, when she saw him but he was also very stern and at times, a little overbearing. He was also very strict with his boys, though he treated Janae like a queen.

“Stop worrying,” Rohan said, coming up behind her. “It’s just a movie with your best friend.”

“I know, I know. How do I look?”

He whistled. “Like a million bucks, darlin’. Why don’t we skip the movie and stay home and make love?”

“Is that all you ever think about?”

“You’re thinking about it, too,” he said with a wicked grin.

“I am not!” she exclaimed. Although she was now.

“Come on, it’s time to go.”

With a sigh, she took a last look in the mirror, grabbed her handbag, and followed him out of the apartment to his car.

“Nice ride,” Trent remarked as he opened the back door of the Challenger for Janae.

Rohan nodded. “Thanks.” He closed the passenger side door for Leia, then walked around the car and slid behind the wheel.

Leia knew a moment of relief as they pulled out of the parking lot. She’d been worried when Janae had made the introductions earlier, but nothing untoward had happened. The two men shook hands and exchanged a few pleasantries while Janae grabbed her coat. Now, she glanced at Rohan, wondering if she was imagining the tension she felt between the two men. She told herself it was just her imagination. There was no reason for any strain between Rohan and Trent, but she felt it just the same.

Rohan winked at her. “Stop worrying.”

With a sigh, Leia settled back in her seat. It was only one night. Rohan parked the car and the four of them walked a short block to the theater. The men paid for the tickets. Trent bought popcorn and a Coke for Janae. Rohan bought a frozen lemonade for Leia.

They found four seats in the middle of the theater. Leia and Janae sat side by side, flanked by the men.

Rohan put his arm around Leia’s shoulder and gave her a squeeze. “Relax, love.”

She forced a smile. “I’m fine.”

He chuckled. “What are you afraid of? That I’m going to bite your friends when the lights go down?”

Leia glared at him and then burst out laughing. A moment later, the house lights dimmed.

Leaning toward her, Rohan whispered, “I might bite you, though.”

“So, where shall we go for drinks?” Trent asked as they returned to the car.

“Anywhere is fine with me,” Janae said. “As long as they have a dance floor.”

“The Velvet Room is nice,” Leia said.

“Oh, yes,” Janae said. “Let’s go there.”

“The Velvet Room it is,” Rohan said as he pulled out of the parking lot.

During the drive to the nightclub, Janae and Leia talked about the movie. Rohan glanced at Trent in the rear-view mirror, wondering if his wife knew he was a vampire hunter.

Rohan grinned inwardly. He and Trent had recognized each other immediately. It was the cause of the tension Leia had sensed in the car earlier.

“I love this place,” Janae gushed as they waited to be seated. “It’s been ages since we’ve been dancing. Oh! Trent, you should see Rohan dance. He’s fantastic. Too bad the show closed.”

“Yeah, sorry I missed it.”

The hostess showed them to their table a few minutes later. Trent ordered a beer, Janae and Leia opted for strawberry daiquiris, and Rohan asked for a glass of red wine.

As soon as the band broke into a new tune, Janae grabbed her husband’s arm. “Come on, honey, this is my favorite song.”

“So, what do you think of Trent?” Leia asked.

“He seems like a nice guy. A bit stiff.”

“I can feel the tension humming between the two of you,” she remarked.

He grunted softly.

“I’m not imagining it, am I?”

“No.”

“So, what’s the deal?”

“He’s a hunter.”

“A hunter?” Leia exclaimed, then clapped her hand over her mouth. “You mean, someone pays him to kill vampires?”

“Yeah.”

Leia stared at him in disbelief. “How do you know?”

“I can sense what he is, just as he senses what I am.”

“How is that even possible?”

“It’s something vampires and hunters are born with. Frumusanu is an old Romanian name. His family has hunted vampires for centuries.”

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner? You let me put your life in danger. What if he … ?”

“Calm down, darlin’.”

“But … you said … ”

“Leia, he’s been hunting vampires for maybe five years. He’s no threat to one as old as I am.”

“Does Janae know what he does?”

Rohan shook his head. “Hunters are sworn to secrecy. The penalty for telling anyone what they do or who they’re hunting is death. And that includes their family.”

Leia shuddered. “That’s terrible.”

“What does Janae think he does?” Rohan asked.

“She told me he works for some secret government organization, but she doesn’t know exactly what his job is. She thinks he hunts wanted men and brings them in for questioning.”

“Interesting,” Rohan remarked. “Come on, let’s dance.”

The rest of the evening passed pleasantly. Janae seemed totally oblivious to the tension at the table. After an hour and a half, Leia couldn’t stand it anymore and pleaded a headache.

Trent and Janae decided to stay a while longer and take a taxi home.

“I’ll call you tomorrow,” Janae said. “Hope you feel better soon.”

“I’m glad that’s over,” Leia remarked as they pulled into the apartment parking lot.

“What were you worried about?” Rohan asked as he parked the car and walked her to her door. “He wasn’t about to jump me at the table.”

“I know. But the tension between you and Trent was thick enough to cut with a knife. I’m surprised Janae didn’t feel it, too.”

Rohan shrugged. “I need to go,” he said, drawing her into his arms. “See you tomorrow night?”

Leia nodded, her eyelids fluttering down as he kissed her.

“Sweet dreams, love,” he murmured.

She watched him drive away before going inside. Sitting on the sofa, she replayed everything Rohan had said about Trent. And then she huffed a sigh at the strange turn of events. What were the odds that she would meet and fall in love with a vampire, or that her best friend would be married to a hunter?