Shadows of Eternity

Chapter Twenty-Seven

L eia woke slowly, her body still warm and tingling from Rohan’s caresses. They had made love again when he got home from the theater last night. She smiled at the memory. Last night, every nerve and cell in her body had come alive at his touch as never before. She wondered if he’d been holding back a little the other times they had made love, wondered if he felt differently about her now that she had agreed to marry him.

Raising up on her elbow, she let her gaze move over him. His long, black hair covered the pillowcase like a splash of ebony ink. She admired his muscular arms and legs, his broad shoulders and chest, his flat belly ridged with muscle. Not wanting to wake him, she clenched her hands to keep from running her fingers over all that tempting, copper-hued flesh.

She continued to admire him as she thought of the things she needed to do in the next few days—find a church, order a cake and flowers, call her parents and arrange for them to meet Rohan. She was sure Janae would agree to be her matron of honor, and her friend, Rosemary, would agree to be a bridesmaid. She couldn’t wait to go shopping for a dress. Couldn’t wait to be Rohan’s wife.

She eased out from under the covers so as not to wake him, giggled when his hand curled around her arm.

“Where do you think you’re going?” he asked, his voice whisky-rough as he drew her down on top of him.

“I think I’m staying right here,” she said, stifling a laugh.

And it was a long time before she made it out of the bedroom.

After a late breakfast, Leia called her parents. Her mother answered the phone. “Leia! It’s so good to hear from you. How are you, hon?”

“I’m fine, Mom. Guess what? I’m getting married.”

“Married? Goodness, I didn’t even know you were dating anyone.”

“You’ll love him.”

“Well, what’s his name? What does he do? Where did you meet?”

“Slow down, Mom,” Leia said. “His name is Rohan. He’s Lakota. And he dances for a living.”

“Dances?” her mother asked dubiously. “Like on Dancing With the Stars ?”

“No,” Leia said, laughing. “He’s a professional Native American dancer. That’s how I met him. He performs under the name Shadow Dancer.”

“I think I’ve heard of him,” her mother said. “Yes. Yes, I have. I saw an ad for that show in the newspaper just the other day. I’ve been trying to convince your Dad to take me to see it, but he’s dragging his feet. You know how he is. If it doesn’t have guns or monster trucks, he’s not interested. So, you’re getting married. When’s the big day?”

“Hopefully in two or three weeks, if I can get all my ducks in a row. I’ll let you know.”

“Why the rush? You’re not … ”

“No, Mom, I’m not pregnant. Just anxious. I don’t like big weddings, you know, so it’s just going to be a small affair, with our family, Janae, and maybe a few friends from school. I don’t suppose there’s any way Luke could make it home,” she said, with a sigh. “So, what’s a good day for us to come by so you and Dad can meet Rohan?”

“What about this Thursday, for dinner?”

Leia frowned. Dinner really wasn’t a good idea. “How about this?” Leia said. “Why don’t you and Dad come to the show Thursday night? That way you can meet Rohan and see him perform. We can go out for drinks afterward. I know it’s a long drive … ”

“That’s a wonderful idea!” her mother exclaimed. “Your dad and I can make a day of it. A nice drive. Dinner by the ocean. The chance to meet our future son-in-law. Your Dad can’t say no to all that.”

“All right, it’s a date then. I’ll arrange for tickets. Say hi to Dad for me.”

“Will do. Love you, honey.”

“Love you, too, Mom. Show starts at eight. Get there a little early.” Meeting after the show had been a stroke of genius, Leia mused as she ended the call. She wouldn’t have to explain why Rohan didn’t eat.

Leia spent the next half hour calling churches in the area and finally found one that was available on a Sunday night in two weeks.

Her next call was to Janae. She hesitated a moment before she clicked on Janae’s name, certain Janae wouldn’t approve.

“Hey, girlfriend,” Janae said cheerfully. “What’s new and exciting?”

“Plenty. Are you sitting down?”

“Yeah, why?” Janae asked. “Are you going to shock me?”

“I’m getting married.”

Silence.

“Did you hear what I said?”

“I guess it’s too much to hope that you’ve fallen madly in love with someone else.”

“Janae … ” Leia shook her head, disappointed but not surprised by her friend’s reaction.

“I’m sorry. Congratulations.”

“I know you don’t approve of him, but please be happy for me. And please say you’ll be my matron of honor.”

“You know I will. And if you’re happy, I’m happy. What should I wear?”

“Anything you want. It’s going to be a small, informal affair, just my family, you, and maybe a few of my friends from school, if they’re available.”

“I’ll have to buy a new dress,” Janae said cheerfully. “Any particular color I should look for?”

“Anything but white,” Leia said, with a chuckle.

Janae blew out a sigh, hoping against hope that Leia wasn’t making a terrible mistake.

“Hey, why are you looking so glum?” Trent asked, coming into the kitchen. “Did you lose your best friend?”

“I hope not.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It’s Leia. She’s marrying Rohan.”

Trent grunted, but said nothing. So, Leia was marrying the vampire. Never rains but it pours, he thought, because he’d recently become aware that there were two other vampires in the city. As if one wasn’t enough. If any more showed up, he was going to have to call Headquarters for reinforcements. He wasn’t worried about Rohan. He knew where to find that bloodsucker. As for the other two, he had no doubts he would find them, too, sooner or later. The older one might be a problem, but he’d worry about that killer when the time came. The Company didn’t pay him the big bucks because he couldn’t do the job.

Leia had just finished the dinner dishes when Rohan sauntered into the kitchen. “Good evening, bride.”

“Oh, I like the sound of that.”

“So do I.” He pulled her into his arms and teased her lips with his. “What would you like to do tonight?”

“I don’t know. Is there anything you want to do? Besides that?”

He huffed an exaggerated sigh. “Not even married yet and she’s already tired of me.”

Leia punched him playfully on the arm. “Hardly. I called my mom today.”

“And how did she react to your news?”

“She was very excited. They’re going to meet us at the theater Thursday night. You can get tickets, can’t you?”

“Sure.” Tugging on her hand, he led her into the living room, sat on the sofa, and pulled her onto his lap. “What did you tell her about me?”

“That you were a wonderful dancer and a sexy vampire.”

He lifted one brow. “Very funny. Now, what did you really tell her?”

“Just that you dance professionally. She’s eager to see you,” Leia said, and then frowned. “They won’t be able to tell you’re a vampire, will they?”

“Of course not. I’ve never met anyone who could tell. Except for a few hunters, of course.”

“I asked Janae to be my matron of honor. Is that going to be a problem?”

“Not if Trent behaves himself.”

“I still can’t believe she doesn’t know what he does. Oh! I found a church. We’re getting married two weeks from now. Is that okay with you?”

He nodded.

“Oh!” Leia stared at him, wide-eyed. “I almost forgot! We need to make an appointment to get a marriage license! I’ll do that in the morning.”

Rohan nodded and then he leered at her. “What do you say we go practice for the honeymoon?”

Leia sighed dramatically as she wrapped her arms around his neck. “Sex, sex, sex, that’s all men want.”

Rohan laughed out loud. “And it’s all you think about.”

“It is not!”

“Darlin’, you can’t lie to me. I can read your thoughts, remember?”

“All right, I confess. It crosses my mind briefly from time-to-time.”

“Uh-huh. Well, if you’re not in the mood … ”

“Oh, shut up and take me to bed, you fool.”

She let out a gasp as, between one breath and the next, he transported them into the bedroom and onto the bed. Somewhere along the way, their clothing had disappeared. “You never fail to amaze me,” she muttered as he took her in his arms.

“You ain’t seen nothing yet,” he said, waggling his eyebrows.

“Show me,” she whispered. “Show me everything.”

Pleasure unfurled deep within her as he rained kisses on her brow, her cheeks, her lips, along the side of her neck. She frowned when, abruptly, he bolted upright. “What’s wrong?”

“Magdalena is outside.”

“What does she want?”

“Nothing good, I’m sure.” He was out of bed and pulling on his pants as he spoke. “Stay here. I’ll be right back.”

Before she could protest, he was gone.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Rohan growled.

“Sorry to interrupt you, but I haven’t heard from you. You said you’d get in touch with me in a day or two.”

“I’ve had other things on my mind.”

“Yes,” Magdalena said, with a sneer. “I can smell that other thing all over you.”

“Don’t push me.”

“I may not be able to destroy Josiah, but a human female would be no trouble at all.”

Rohan bared his fangs as his power surrounded her. “You’re on dangerous ground, Magdalena. You’d better think twice before you push me too far.”

Magdalena stared at him defiantly, but not before he saw the fear in her eyes.

“Don’t come here again,” he warned. “You won’t like what happens if you do.” With a last warning glance, he disappeared from her sight.

“Well, what did she want?” Leia asked.

“Same thing she wanted before. She wants me to help her destroy Josiah.” Rohan stepped out of his trousers and slid into bed beside her. “Seems he promised they’d be together forever after he turned her. But forever only lasted a year.”

“What’s that old saying? ‘Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned’?”

“I’ve always found it to be true,” he remarked.

“Oh?”

“Just kidding,” Rohan said, with a laugh. “Pull in your claws.”

“She worries me,” Leia said, snuggling against his broad chest.

“I won’t let anything happen to you, love,” he murmured, sifting his fingers through the thick fall of her hair. And hoped it was a promise he could keep.