Free Cherishing Destiny (A Dangerous Destiny) by Noelle Blakely Page A

sunlight, but that’s not the only change. I have been feeling a
little off, not quite as strong, and I have a fluttery feeling in my stomach as
if it’s a bit upset.”
    “Maybe you should take my blood.” Sara blurted the words
out quickly so that she wouldn’t have a chance to chicken out. 
    It wasn’t the part about giving blood that she was concerned
about, but she was afraid she would be too embarrassed to tell Aurora that she
wouldn’t mind being bitten.  She blushed when she thought of the fantasies she
had indulged in starring Alex and Aurora. 
    Aurora looked at Sara’s flushed cheeks and knew exactly
what that was all about. The Lake Vampires were so magnetic that they were
often propositioned.  “Let’s wait and see what happens,” she said. Sara looked
so embarrassed that Aurora was compelled to add, “Sara, I sincerely thank you
for your offer, and I may have to take you up on it in a day or two if you truly
mean it.”
    Sara relaxed a little. “Of course, I mean it.  You saved my
life, but it’s more than that.  I just want to help you like you’ve helped me.”  And I want to know what your teeth would feel like on my flesh .  She
didn’t say that part, but she thought it, and it made her warm in places she
wouldn’t have expected when thinking about another woman. 
    “Thank you again, little dove, you honor me.” Aurora
inclined her head at Sara.
    Wow, sometimes she sounds so formal and elegant , Sara
thought. And all I was thinking was how hot she was.
    Oh my god, these people are so out of my league.

Thirteen
    Alex rode up to the remains of his garage and dismounted. 
He went first to the Rover where he had been able to squeeze into the passenger
side just enough to check the console.  This time he just reached in the
window.  The oversized, walkie talkie style CB was still laying on the seat
where he left it.  He tried it again but got the same squeal as before.  He
turned it off, but put it in the bag he had tied to his saddle horn.  He could check
it again tomorrow. 
    He could smell the decay as he pushed through the debris to
where he had covered old Nate’s body with a tarp.   There were fallen beams
making it hard for him to maneuver and he was reduced to dragging the body by
an arm underneath some of the beams to get it out. 
    When he got Nate outside, he rolled him in the tarp and
carried him to the walnut grove.  He remembered that there was a shovel in the
shed, so he retrieved it and buried Old Nate under a tree.  He found some wood
and fashioned a cross, tying the pieces together with some baling wire.  
    Crosses didn’t bother Vampires.  He thought he remembered
that the story began circulating around in the twelfth century that crosses
would burn Vampires. 
    He brought the horse around from the garage and mounted. 
He sat there thinking that he should say something, but he couldn’t think what.
    The wind was whipping around more strongly than it had been,
and it was blowing almost straight into his face making his eyes sting and
hiding the scent of the man approaching.  He was completely unaware, and he was
just going to turn and leave when a voice came from the trees right behind him.
    “Get down from that horse and don’t try anything, mister.”
    Alex turned his head and saw a big man with black hair and
gray eyes pointing a crossbow at him.  He smiled. “Hi, Ryan”
    “Mr. Lake?” Ryan lowered the crossbow. “I didn’t realize it
was you. I’m looking for Sara.” Just then he noticed the fresh grave and
cross.  “That’s not…”
    “No, it’s not Sara. It’s old Nate, I’m afraid.” Alex turned
the horse toward Ryan and moved up next to him.
    “Old Nate? I’m sorry to hear it.  He was a nice old guy.
Look, Mr. Lake, I’m not looking for any trouble.  I just came for Sara. Have
you seen her?”
    “Sara is safe with Aurora and me.  We are looking out for
her.” Alex said a bit of protectiveness seeping into his