Free Bride of the Night by Heather Graham

waning.
    She turned back; she could hear noise on the island. The men from the Union ship had reached the shore at last.
    How many men had survived from the Union ship? Oh, God, if the men thought that one of them was an assassin, indeed, they might not make the night.
    She wanted to sink to the sand in exhaustion; she must not.
    She turned again, forming a plan in her mind. She had to keep them away from Richard through the night, and in the morning steal one of their longboats. No oneknew the coast and channels and the islands like Richard did. If she could steal one of the longboats, they could escape. That was it, a simple plan.
    She stiffened, her muscles suddenly burning again as if the fire on the ship raged near once more; she felt him behind her, knew that he was there.
    How?
    She turned, and he was.
    Just behind her, so close she could feel the heat of his body, sense him there.
    He stared at her, waiting; she didn’t speak. “Agent Finn Dunne, miss. Pinkerton. By the power invested in me by the United States of America, I’m placing you under arrest for seditions and attempted murder.”
    She gasped. “I’m not attempting to murder anyone! And you’re still an ass. I will not go anywhere with you.”
    â€œI honestly suggest that you do. I can chase you around the island all night, or you can come with me now. You can bring me to your companion, and when the others arrive, we can administer medical aid to him.”
    â€œI don’t have a companion.”
    â€œReally, miss. I’ve seen whereabouts you’ve hidden your friend. Not very endurable alone and injured, and he probably does need medical attention.” He shrugged. “Such as we can offer.”
    She shook her head, feeling lost, impotent and helpless.
    She could escape. Eventually, she could escape.
    But Richard…
    â€œWhatever you’re thinking someone is guilty of doing, it’s not us.”
    â€œYou were on a blockade runner.”
    â€œWe are still at war,” she reminded him.
    â€œChoice is yours,” he said softly. “Show me to your friend, and we can see to him. Keep trying to escape, and I will keep coming after you. I never give up, miss. And if my companions come upon your companion without my protection, well, I’m not sure how things will go.”
    â€œYou will not hurt Richard?”
    â€œThat I swear.”
    â€œAnd I should believe you? Why?”
    â€œMy word is sacred to me. And besides, you really have no choice. I don’t know if you’ve heard it yet or not, but the Yankee longboats have reached the shore.”
    â€œThen we will return to Richard,” she said.
    He nodded. She was surprised when he looked at her curiously, head at a slant, dark eyes seeming to have that ripple of fire again. “Richard. Richard…?”
    â€œRichard Anderson,” she said. “Captain Richard Anderson.”
    He nodded and came closer to her. She bit her lip. She wasn’t going to move.
    â€œAnd you?” he said politely. “Who are you? I don’t know your name, or who you are—even though I’m quite sure that I know exactly what you are.”

CHAPTER FOUR
    T ARA STOOD STILL , for a moment not sure that he’d said what she thought he’d said. Maybe her fear of discovery was becoming irrational. Maybe she was imagining things.
    She stared back at him, desperately praying that she would show no emotion.
    There were others of her kind; she knew that. And that “her kind” came in full-blood and half-blood—those who had an ancestor generations before, and had inherited certain traits. Her mother had done her best to teach Tara everything that she had known, that she had learned from Tara’s father. Tara had never actually met another of “her kind,” but she knew that someone was out there; she also had half siblings, and she often felt an emptiness inside, wishing desperately that she