Vampire: A Dark Protectors/Rebels Novella by Rebecca Zanetti (love letters to the dead .txt) 📕

“Who are these from?” he asked.

Her stomach dropped, and she craned her neck to see better. A teenager handed Raine a bouquet of at least three dozen white roses.

The kid shrugged. “I’m just the delivery guy, but there is a card.”

Raine tipped him and then shut the door, looking at the roses. He tugged out a card and flipped it open. His jaw clenched.

“What does it say?” Mariana whispered.

He looked up, and his eyes burned a bright green. “It says: Mariana, I’m sorry our date was interrupted. I’ll see you soon.”

Chapter 7

Raine sensed the demoness before he saw her. After pacing the kitchen for about an hour, the hair on the back of his neck stood up. He paused and looked toward his bedroom. Sighing, he turned and walked inside the room, shutting the door. “What the hell are you doing here?”

Tabi sat on his bed, her legs crossed at the ankles of shiny boots. Her white-blond hair was wet from the rain, but a raincoat had been placed over the deckchair, so at least she wasn’t getting the bed wet. The window remained open to show the darkened night. “You smelled off earlier today, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it.” Her black eyes appraised him. “You’re still off. Like an ill human. I’m confused.”

Well. All he needed was to deal with a confused and slightly crazy demoness. “Where’s your mate?” he asked, looking toward the darkened night.

“Right here.” Evan came into view through the window, standing right outside. “I was scouting the area and didn’t feel comfortable infiltrating your bedroom.” He gave his mate a look.

Raine couldn’t help the grin. “I appreciate the kindness, Evan. Want to tell me what your mate is doing on my bed?”

Tabi sighed. “What’s wrong with you? Vampires don’t get sick, and neither do demons, and yet…” She delicately sniffed the air and then her gaze pinpointed on his neck. “I’ll read your mind if I have to, but I’ll need to attack it to get in. Sure you want me to do that?”

Evan put his hand on the sill as rain dropped onto his hair. “There will be no demon mind attacks, Tabitha.”

The demoness pouted.

Raine smiled his thanks at his friend. Oh, it wasn’t as if Tabi had an obedient bone in her body. Rather, Evan had the ability to shield his mind and others from a mind attack, and apparently he was willing to do so for Raine. “I appreciate it. Sure am glad you mated the demoness here. How’s immortality going for you, E?” When an enhanced human mated an immortal, their chromosomal pairs increased to immortality. An enhanced human male was a feared anomaly because of the sudden strength and power.

Evan shrugged. “I feel better than I did as human, but I did accidentally break a window by sneezing the other day.”

Tabi sighed. “We’re keeping him under wraps to avoid the multitude of assassins that would come out of the woodwork. I swear, I had no idea it was so rare to find somebody like Evan. But we’re handling it, just like we’ll handle whatever is going on with you. Start talking, Raine.”

“Can’t. Blood oath,” he said quietly, knowing a demon would back off.

“Too bad. I can smell illness, and that makes zero sense,” she returned, power all but cascading from her. “I will fry your mind.”

Evan sighed. “No, you won’t. I already have him shielded, so stop pushing against my mind. It isn’t nice, Tab. If Raine wants privacy, we’re going to give it to him.”

Yep. Even as a deadly emerging immortal, the ex-cop was a good guy. Raine forced a smile. “I’m fine, Tabi. If and when I need help, I will call you immediately. Right now, I have to keep my vow of silence. Besides, there isn’t anything else you can do.” He glanced pointedly at his watch. “It’s after midnight, and I need sleep.” Mariana had gone to bed at least an hour or so before. “Thanks for visiting.”

Tabi crossed her arms over her chest. “I am not leaving until you tell us what’s going on.”

Raine didn’t want to fight with her, and he really didn’t want to take on Evan right now. “Later, Tabs. Give me some time.”

Evan motioned her toward the window. “All right, sweetheart. Give the guy a break.” He looked at the wall behind Raine. “Any luck with the stalker?”

“No. He sent more roses today but used an online form. The IP address traced back to the local library.” Raine was going to owe more favors after the ones he’d called in today, but he was fine with that. “I had a friend hack into the surveillance system at the library, and turns out there isn’t one.”

Evan’s eyebrows lifted. “When I become sheriff, I’ll start taking a look at surveillance in town. We need some CCTV in areas like that, just to keep people safe.”

Tabi sat up. “So the stalker guy is here. Good. Let’s find him and rip off his head.”

“That’s my plan,” Raine agreed. Mariana had turned an alarming pale shade when the roses had arrived. “She’s scared, and I don’t know how to reassure her that she’ll be okay.” Especially since now she knew that his time was limited. “I want to tell her about me, about us, but…”

Tabi bit her lip. “You can’t unless you mate her. I’ve seen the mating mark on your hand. What’s the problem?” When a demon met his or her mate, their marking appeared so it could transfer during the mating.

The problem was that he was dying and he couldn’t ask her to give up her life so he could live.

“Tabi—enough,” Evan said. “Let’s go. It’s starting to rain harder.”

Tabi turned her gaze on her mate through the open window. “You’re immortal now. Rain won’t hurt you.”

“Tabs.” Evan’s gaze darkened. “Let’s. Go.”

Interesting. While Tabi had the strength of her species, Evan was unreal. It’d be interesting to see them wrestle a bit, because Evan