The Vampire's Curse, A Paranormal Romance (Undead in Brown County #2) by S.J. Wright Page B

followed me, and he closed the door behind us then took up an uneasy stance beside me.
    Victoria nodded briskly at both of us, “I’m glad you’re both here. Michael needs blood.”
    I felt Alex’s warm fingers tangle with mine, and I did not pull my hand away. Victoria noticed the move with a darting glance down at our hands and then sighed, “I am going to Indianapolis to meet with a contact that can provide him with bagged blood until he fully recovers.”
    “ How badly is he hurt?” I asked.
    “ He’ll be fine. As long as he doesn’t try to attack Alex again.”
    He shifted beside me, “I had to defend myself.”
    Victoria held up her hand, “I don’t think you understand the power inside you. Whatever happened out there, you will need to control it if you’re going to help Sarah.”
    I groaned inwardly when I remembered what he had done to Trevor. It was very unlikely that asshole was going to keep his mouth shut about the unnaturally powerful guy who had broken his arm. Trevor’s father was an attorney at a lucrative firm in Bloomington. The whole thing was going to become very complicated. Another huge complication.
    “ I need your permission to go.” Victoria said.
    Nodding, I pulled my hand from Alex and wrapped my arms around myself, “You have my permission to leave the containment field.”
    She reached out with a white card in her hand, and looked at me somberly, “My cell phone number. Call me if you need anything. I should be back in a day or two.”
    I pushed the card into one of the back pockets of my jeans. When she turned to go, my mother did not follow her. She stood there and watched me with a frown creasing her mouth. Alex touched my arm, and I knew what he was asking before he even said a word.
    “ Yes, I’ll talk to her alone.” I murmured.
    He disappeared into the shadows of the yard like a ghost, barely touching the ground. I listened for the sound of leaves under his feet, but heard only the dull thud of my own heart. What could I say to this woman? Did it matter if she offered any excuses or apologies?
    “ I’m leaving too.” She began smoothly, “Alex is well equipped to deal with any problems that might develop. I understand that you two have become… closer?”
    I sighed and studied the dark shapes of the trees against the horizon, “Things have changed. He may be in some danger after tonight.”
    She laughed, “I don’t think so. By giving him your blood, you’ve given him true immortality.”
    “ What?”
    Her lips arched in a mocking smile, “The Breath-Giver gave him his humanity back, but she also gave him something else. When Michael and Victoria drained him completely, what they didn’t know was that he couldn’t be killed. He didn’t need to be resurrected.”
    “ So he’s what? A god?” This further bit of information was alarming.
    “ He’s a Guardian.” Irritated at my lack of understanding, she rolled her eyes, “Look, the Breath-Giver is a Seraph. An angel, fairy, or whatever. She chose Alex for you. When Michael turned him, she was furious. She was the one who influenced the Council to punish him. What she didn’t count on was him being sent here.”
    “ Holy crap.” Michael was locked up because he had turned Alex. No wonder there was such animosity between them.
    “ Exactly. Therefore, when Alex was hurt, it was not serious. He would have recovered. But they gave him their blood. Then he had your blood as well.” She sighed and turned her gaze on the dark trees before us, “Now what you’ve got is a Guardian angel vampire who can never be killed or repelled.” She focused on me again and reaching forward, wrapped her fingers around my upper arms. Her eyes were hollow and dark as she stared at me, “If his temperament changes, if he becomes angry and difficult, no one can stop him. You’ll need to keep him happy, Sarah.”
    Well, shit. She let go of me slowly and then moved away.
    “ I know you probably hate me. That’s fine. I