Once Bitten, Twice Burned

“Rhett?” Sabine’s stunned voice. “I almost killed my brother!”

Ryder kissed her. “You didn’t,” he said fiercely against her mouth. “You didn’t.”

Her lips trembled. “I did . . . kill . . . your brother.”

Ashes to ashes.

“You gave him peace.” The peace he’d sure never found on earth.

The last of his family was gone now.

“I’m sorry,” Sabine said as she hugged him.

He realized then that, no, his family wasn’t gone. His family was right in front of him. In his arms. Sabine was his family. The life he’d wanted for so long.

Keith was sobbing as he hauled out his limp son. The human . . . a human Sabine had known for most of her life.

Ryder glanced back at her lovely face. He could still see the tears on her cheeks.

“Cassie,” Ryder snapped out the other woman’s name.

She rushed to him. One look, and she understood just what he wanted from her. She ran away for a moment, then came back with a small vial clutched in her hand. She reached for Sabine.

Sabine flinched away. “What—”

“Your tears may be able to heal him.” Ryder wouldn’t promise her that Vaughn would survive. Not yet. He didn’t know what Cassie could do with the primal infection, what she could do for any of those who’d been hurt by Genesis. Malcolm had faked his recovery, so they had no proof that the tears would have any effect on the primal.

But perhaps Cassie could do something for them.

Sabine stared into Ryder’s eyes, and another tear slid down her cheek. “I could have lost you. Rhett. Everything.”

Cassie took that tear and hurriedly stepped back.

“You remember,” Ryder whispered.

Her lips rose into a faint smile. “You’re pretty unforgettable.”

The ceiling was groaning. Cracking. The building couldn’t withstand the punishment from the fire. Ryder carried Sabine out of the room. He took the lab coat that Cassie gave to them and covered Sabine’s golden skin. The fire had burned away her clothes.

It had burned away everything.

“Start again with me,” he said. I can do this right. “You have the memories, but this time, I swear, I can make things better.”

Her smile widened as she shook her head.

“Please,” he whispered, when he’d never begged anyone or anything.

“I don’t want to start over.”

They left the ash and blood and smoldering fire behind. Rhett and Keith and Cassie came after them, pulling out Vaughn’s body.

There was no sign of Dante.

Ryder took Sabine outside, where she could breathe the fresh air. Hear the sights and smell the scents of the city she loved so much.

He didn’t know if she was back to being a full phoenix or if part of her remained a vampire. And, really, he didn’t care what she was. He loved her. That was all that mattered.

“What do you want?” he asked her.

Her lips stretched into a smile. “I want to be with you.”

She probably deserved better. No, she damn well deserved better, but he’d kill any man or supernatural who ever tried to take her from him.

So Sabine was pretty much stuck with him.

If she wanted to leave me, could I let her go?

It was a dark thought, and one he didn’t want to examine too deeply. He needed her so much. Too much? Maybe he wasn’t what she—

Sabine’s soft laughter stopped him. “You just faced me and my fire, so why worry now? Don’t you realize, vampire, you’re all that I want? The only man who can get through the flames and get to me?” She pulled his head down toward her. “I want to go where you go. I want to be with you.”

And the only place he wanted to go? Wherever the hell she was.

If she wanted to stay in New Orleans, he’d make the city safe for her. If she wanted to f**king fly to Paris, he’d buy her a jet. He’d do anything for her. Risk anything.

Give anything.

His forehead pressed against hers. “Don’t ever die on me again.” Because he’d wanted to cut out his own heart when her eyes had gone blank.

“If I do,” she whispered, “I’ll come back. I swear, I’ll never leave you.”

He believed her. After all, his Sabine had never lied. She’d also never said . . .

“I love you, Ryder.”

He kissed her.

Then heard the disgruntled, “Hell,” that came from Rhett. “Looks like I’ll have a vamp brother-in-law.”

Yes, he would.