Shadows of Eternity

Chapter Thirty

L eia pulled the covers over her head in an effort to shut out the persistent knocking on the front door, but it didn’t go away.

Slipping out of bed, she pulled on her robe, shuffled into the living room and opened the door. “Janae! What are you doing here? It’s not even six a.m.”

“I just had to talk to someone.”

Leia blinked, only then noticing how pale Janae’s face was, the tears trickling down her cheeks. “Come on in. What’s happened?”

Janae collapsed on the sofa and buried her face in her hands. “It’s Trent,” she sobbed. “He’s a … ” Shudders wracked her body.

“A what?” Leia asked, fearing she already knew the answer.

“A bounty hunter. He works for some international government alliance that hunts felons and turns them in for the reward, like some Old West lawman. Dead or alive,” she exclaimed with a shiver. “I asked if he’d killed anyone and he refused to answer. You know that means yes. How am I supposed to live with that?”

“It’s no different than being married to a cop,” Leia said, hoping to calm her friend down. “They hunt bad guys and sometimes they’re forced to shoot them. It doesn’t make them bad people.”

Fresh tears dripped down Janae’s cheeks. “It gets worse. One of the bad guys is after him and is threatening me and the boys. Trent told me to take the kids and get out of town for a while.” Janae shook her head violently, as if she could shake the threat away. “I still can’t believe it! What are we going to do? I’m scared to death.” She dashed the tears from her eyes. “What do you think I should do?”

“I agree with Trent. I think you should pack up the boys and leave town just as soon as you can. Maybe go stay with your parents in Oregon for a while.”

“Maybe you’re right. The boys would like that. I’m sorry I bothered you so early,” Janae said, rising. “I’m probably overreacting, just like Trent said. But no one’s ever threatened my life before.” She sucked in a deep breath.. “Well, I’d better get going. I have a lot of packing to do.”

“Keep in touch,” Leia said, walking Janae to the door. “And try not to worry.”

Janae forced a smile, then hurried down the porch stairs to the parking lot.

Leia stared after her, praying that her friend and the boys would be all right, that Josiah wouldn’t kill Trent. Maybe Rohan could do something to protect the family. Yawning, she shuffled back to bed and crawled under the covers.

“Everything all right?” Rohan murmured.

“Go back to sleep,” she said, snuggling against his side. “We can talk about it later.”

He muttered something indistinguishable before the dark sleep carried him away.

Leia spent the morning torn between worrying about Janae and fighting off a bad case of nerves as she thought about introducing her parents to Rohan at the show that night. Sitting at the kitchen table, drinking one cup of coffee after another, she told herself Janae would be fine. She could stay with her mom and dad in Oregon until it was safe to come home again. As for her own parents, she could think of no reason why they wouldn’t approve of Rohan.

She forced herself to eat a couple slices of buttered toast and then, needing something else to think about, she dressed and went to the store. There was a certain odd sort of peace in pushing her basket up and down the aisles, checking brands and prices, making choices that weren’t life or death. She wondered what Rohan’s last meal had been before he was turned, before blood became the only item on his diet. Did he ever yearn for anything else?

Standing in the check-out lane, she thought about her favorite foods. What if she could only eat one of them for the rest of her life? How long would it take before she couldn’t stand the thought of eating one more slice of pizza or another plate of pasta?

She shook her head as she paid for her groceries and headed for her car, amused by her bizarre thoughts.

At home, Leia put her groceries away, then called Janae. She frowned when there was no answer. Had they left town already? Even if they had, it wouldn’t keep Janae from answering her phone. She waited a few minutes, then tried again, with the same results.

Worried now, Leia got into her car and drove to Janae’s house. Even before she knocked on the door, she knew there was no one home. Truly worried now, she drove back to her apartment, wondering if she should wake Rohan. Perhaps, with his supernatural senses, he could determine if Janae and the boys were all right.

Trent was waiting for her when she reached her apartment. She didn’t invite him in.

“I just came by to tell you that I sent Janae and the boys to stay with her parents,” he said. “She left late last night.”

“Why isn’t she answering her phone?”

“I bought her a new one and told her not to contact anyone but me. I don’t know how powerful this vampire is but I don’t want him to be able to find her.” He shrugged. “Better to err on the side of caution and all that.”

“What about you?”

“I’m staying in a hotel for a while.” He shuffled from one foot to the other. “Anyway, I told Janae I’d let you know she’s okay.”

“Is she? Really?”

“No. But I can’t tell her the truth or she’d really freak out.” Trent laughed, but there was no humor in it. “She’s talking about a divorce, said she doesn’t want to be married to a man who hunts other men for a living. Imagine how she’d feel if she knew I was hunting vampires.” He stared into the distance. “My father was a hunter, and his father before him. He warned me not to get married. I guess I should have listened.” His eyes narrowed. “Are you still determined to marry that bloodsucker?”

Leia nodded.

Trent blew out a sigh. “I know I can’t talk you out of it, so I won’t even try. Just be careful.”

“You, too.”

Trent went down the stairs to his car and opened the door. He stared at her over the hood, then said, “Be careful. Rohan’s not the only vampire in town.” With that final warning, he slid behind the wheel.

Leia felt a wave of pity for Trent as she watched him drive away. It occurred to her that hunters and vampires both had to hide what they were in order to survive. She shook the thought away. There was nothing she could do for Janae and Trent except pray that they would be able to work things out between them, that their family would be safe.

She had worries of her own, she thought, as she went into the kitchen and poured herself a glass of milk. Introducing her parents to Rohan. Last minute wedding details … She sighed. The wedding wouldn’t be the same without her best friend, who was also supposed to be her matron of honor, but that wasn’t possible now.

Needing a distraction, she carried the glass into the living room and picked up the novel she’d been reading. Settling on the sofa, she opened the book, hoping to lose herself in a good mystery for an hour or two.

Leia glanced in the bathroom mirror, smiling as Rohan came up behind her, slipped his arms around her waist, and nuzzled her neck. “So, tomorrow night’s the big event, huh?”

She turned in his arms, closed her eyes as he lowered his head to kiss her.

“What if they don’t like me?” he asked, still holding her close.

“I guess we’ll have to call off the wedding.”

“No chance, darlin’. I’ll be on my best behavior, I promise.”

“See that you are,” She ran her fingertips down his bare chest. “Rohan?”

“Hmm?”

“What’s going to happen to Janae?”

“What do you mean?”

“Trent told her a felon is out to kill him and sent her to stay with her parents for a while. Is she really in danger from Josiah?”

“I don’t know, but it’s probably a good thing Trent sent her away. As for Trent?” Rohan shook his head. “I think his days are numbered.”

“Can’t you do something? I mean, you can’t just let Josiah kill him.”

“Do you think Trent would hesitate to take Josiah’s head—or mine—if he had the chance?”

Leia stared at him, too stunned by his answer to reply. And yet, she knew without a doubt that Trent wouldn’t hesitate to kill either man. That was what hunters did—destroy vampires. But to do nothing to help Trent seemed so cold-blooded.

She sighed. There was nothing she could do about Janae at the moment. And right now, her major worry was introducing Rohan to her parents. Maybe she was worrying too much. After all, either her parents would like him or they wouldn’t, she thought with a sigh.

Tomorrow night would tell the tale.

Rohan slid an admiring glance at Leia as they drove to the theater. She looked as pretty as a spring day in a dark pink sweater and a white skirt. She had been unusually quiet since they left her place. He didn’t have to read her mind to know she was stressing out about introducing him to her parents and still worrying about her friend’s safety.

It was twenty minutes to show time when he pulled into the theater parking lot.

“They’re here,” Leia said, pointing at her dad’s car, a pale blue Subaru.

“Here are the tickets,” Rohan said, passing her a white envelope. “I’ll have to meet them after the show. I don’t have time now.”

“All right.” Leaning over, she kissed his cheek. “Break a leg.”

“I never understood why that meant good luck,” he muttered, with a grin.

“Me, either.” She kissed him again, then opened the door and exited the car. It would have been faster for him to transport them to the theater, but how then to explain the lack of a car to her parents? Smiling, she watched him park near the stage entrance and hurry inside.

Her parents were waiting for her in the lobby.

“Leia!”

“Hi, Dad,” she said as he hugged her. “I’m so glad you could come.”

“Can’t wait to meet the man who seems to have stolen my daughter’s heart.”

“Me, either,” agreed her mother, elbowing her husband aside so she could get a hug.

“I found a church!” Leia said, her voice laced with excitement. “I’ll text you the details. Let’s go sit down, shall we? Unless you’d rather get something to drink?”

“Later,” her father said.

Leia led the way into the theater. As always, Rohan had secured front row center seats.

“How did you meet this guy?” her father asked when they were seated.

“At one of his shows. I was so mesmerized by his performance that I went to the stage door to get his autograph.” She laughed. “Something I haven’t done since I was a teenager.”

“He must really be something,” her mother remarked, “to have won your heart so quickly.”

“You’ll love him,” Leia replied, and prayed that, if they didn’t love him, they would at least like him. “I haven’t heard from Luke in months. Have you?”

“He called last week,” her father said. “He’s in Spain working on some Marvel movie.”

“And he’s in love with a stunt woman,” her mother added with a grin.

Leia’s brows went up. “Really? What’s her name?”

“Diana something. It sounds serious.”

Before Leia could ask any more questions, the lights dimmed and Jay Deer Killer welcomed the audience to the show. He came on before each dancer to announce the name of the performer, and give a brief explanation of the dance.

Leia’s heart began to pound in anticipation as Rohan’s first number was announced. She sat forward, watching as intently as she had the first time she had seen him perform. As always, she was enthralled by his sinuous movements, the way he stamped his feet, the power and beauty of each intricate step.

Leaning closer, her mother whispered, “He really is marvelous, isn’t he?”

Leia nodded, her gaze fixed on Rohan. He made love the way he danced, she mused with a secret smile.

The applause was thunderous when he took his bow. The other dancers seemed tame compared to Rohan. Not that they weren’t terrific dancers in their own right, Leia thought. But Rohan put his whole heart and soul into every performance. She grinned inwardly, thinking the extra zing in his dancing was probably due to his being a vampire.

Her mother let out a sigh when the show ended. “I do believe I could watch that man dance all night.”

“Stop drooling, Cynthia,” her father admonished with a wry grin. “It’s unbecoming in a woman your age.”

“Hah! I saw the way you were looking at that Cheyenne girl. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.”

“Yeah, well … ” Brian Winchester cleared his throat. “Let’s go meet Mr. Wonderful.”

As expected, there was a large crowd at the stage door. Leia and her parents stayed back.

“Liable to get trampled in the rush,” her father muttered dryly.

Leia had eyes only for Rohan as he patiently signed programs and posed for dozens of selfies with young girls, teenagers, and grown women of all ages. Every now and then, he looked in her direction and shrugged. She grinned at him, knowing this was his least favorite part of the night. Once, she had asked him why he didn’t like it and he’d replied that it was hard, being surrounded by so many beating hearts.

Finally, the last admirer drifted away and Rohan strode toward her. “Mom, Dad, this is Rohan. Rohan, this is my mother, Cynthia and my father, Brian.”

“Pleased to meet you,” Rohan said, shaking Winchester’s hand.

“You were wonderful!” Cynthia gushed. “I’ve never seen anything so colorful and inspiring. I’ve seen Indians … or do you prefer Native American?”

“Indian is fine.”

“As I was saying, I’ve seen Indians dance in movies, but this … Well, words fail me.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed the show. Leia said something about going out for drinks.”

“Sounds like a prime idea to me,” Brian said. “We’ll follow you.”

Rohan opened the car door for Leia, then rounded the car and slid behind the wheel. “Your parents seem like nice people.”

“Oh, they are. You wouldn’t think my mother would be the type to be star-struck,” Leia said. “I mean, she rubs elbows with famous movie stars all the time.”

“Well, I’m glad she enjoyed the show.”

“She’ll be talking about it for weeks.”

Ten minutes later, they pulled into the nightclub parking lot. Her parents pulled into the slot beside them.

Cynthia took Leia’s arm as they walked toward the entrance. “He’s even more handsome than you said,” her mother whispered. “He’s like Redford and Newman and Harrison Ford all rolled into one.”

“He’s sexier than all three,” Leia said, laughing.

Inside, a hostess led them to a table. Five minutes later, a waiter came to take their order.

“How long are you staying in town, Mr. Winchester?” Rohan asked.

“We’re leaving in the morning. And since you’re almost family, you might as well call me Brian.”

“In the morning?” Leia asked. “I thought you had some time off?”

“I did,” her father said, “but I got a call late last night. One of the security guards at the studio took sick and I’m taking his place for a few days.”

“But we’ll have to get together again real soon,” Cynthia said, smiling at Rohan.

“Well, you made a hit with my Mom,” Leia remarked later that night, at home.

Rohan shrugged.

“I think my Dad likes you, too.”

“He seems like a solid guy.” And suspicious as hell , Rohan thought.

“I can’t wait for you to meet my brother.” Leia kicked off her heels and ran her fingers through her hair. “I haven’t seen him in months.” Smiling at Rohan, she said, “You were wonderful tonight.”

“Thanks, love. I danced my heart out just for you.” He groaned dramatically. “I could use a back rub.”

She quirked a brow at him. “Is this your sneaky way of getting me into bed?”

“Did anyone ever tell you that you’ve got a suspicious mind?”

She made a face at him. “If all you want is a back rub, stretch out on the sofa.”

“The bed’s more comfortable,” he said with a wicked grin.

With a long-suffering sigh, she took his hand and led him into the bedroom. “Can you undress yourself, or do you need help?”

Stifling a laugh, Rohan said, “Help is always welcome.”

With a shake of her head, she removed his shirt, his belt, unfastened his trousers. “Shoes,” she said, pointing at his feet.

Obligingly, he toed off his boots, his fingers threading through her hair as he stepped out of his pants and sat on the edge of the bed.

Leia removed his socks and tossed them aside. “Lay down.” He stretched out on his back on the mattress. Lord, he was gorgeous, she thought, every fiber of her being eager to touch him, to hold him and never let him go.

He smiled a knowing smile when his eyes met hers.

Leia fisted her hands on her hips, her brows raised. “I thought you wanted a back rub?”

“Well, my front could use a massage, too.”

“You’re incorrigible,” she muttered as she stepped out of her skirt, peeled off her sweater and removed her underwear. “This is going to cost you,” she warned as she stretched out beside him.

“Name your price,” he said, his voice whiskey-rough with desire. “Everything I have is yours.”