Whisper to Me (Borne Vampires Book 1) by W.M. Petzler

shades, the color so
vibrant and unnervingly bright in the bathroom light.
    “Why?”
    What Rathe told her last night sunk why he’d
returned to her cabin. She ran back into the bedroom and threw open the drapes.
Sunlight hit her. Instantly, her eyes watered and her skin started to hurt,
turning red. She yanked the drapes closed. Crumbling to the floor, she drew her
arms around her knees, rocking back and forth.
    “I’m turning. Oh, God in Heaven, I’m becoming a
vampire!” Should she call out to Rathe? Maybe he could stop it.
    No, he said if I
turned, he would have to kill me.
    Frightened, she fought not to cry at the mess she
was in. Salish whined and put her head on her arms, trying to comfort her. Bear
lay down beside her, his brown eyes watching her.
    Drawing in a deep breath, she let it out slowly. “No,
I can beat this. Just gotta keep my emotions under control and eat human food,
to slow down the-the virus. The longer I hold out, the stronger I will become.
Just as long as I do not drink vampire blood or anyone else’s, I will return to
normal.”
    Salish lifted her head and calmness returned as
she gazed into those loving, topaz-colored eyes. Stroking her soft fur, Mariah
sighed. “I will forget about him, and everything will be fine.” Who was she
kidding? Never in a million years would she be able to forget Rathe Romulas.
Never.
    Checking the time, she couldn’t believe she’d
slept the day away again. Seven o’clock. Where did Rathe sleep? Ugh, why was
she thinking about him again?
    “Well, my babies, I need to shower. After that,
we’ll plot our next move.”
    After showering, she felt better until she had to
put back on the wrinkled clothes she’d worn the day before. Slipping on her shoes,
she grabbed the jacket and cautiously opened the door, surprised to see Rathe’s
black SUV parked in the spot designated for her room.
    Why had he returned?
    Maybe he left the car for her to drive home. Checking
to see if the keys were in the ignition, they were. Well, if he didn’t return
by the time the sun had disappeared, she’d take the opportunity and drive the
SUV home. Taking a seat on the cement curb next to the SUV, she finger-combed
her hair, trying to work out the knots while she waited.
    A small part of her hoped he came back for her,
but she was a realist and dashed it. The dogs barking jerked her head to her
left and she saw him walking straight for her. Jacket slung over his right
shoulder, she could see the ripple of his chest muscles as he walked. Garbed in
the same clothes as before, he looked remarkably fresh and clean, which pissed
her off because she looked like rumbled crap.
    Lord, he was gorgeous!
    He grinned, a wolfish one, and the heat in his
dark eyes blazed. “You look sexy, too.”
    “What?”
    “You forget I can read your intriguing mind.”
    Face burning, she felt like a teen caught ogling. “Hasn't
anyone ever told you it's rude to read a person's mind without her permission?”
He held out his hand to help her to her feet. Reluctant, she accepted and his
fingers closed around her and he pulled her to her feet.
    “And only last night you were demanding me to look
inside your head. Fickle woman.”
    “Not that I mind, why are you back here?”
    “You cannot rent a car.”
    “Huh? Why not?”
    “You do not have a driver’s license.”
    Damn, she’d forgotten about needing one to rent a
car. Heck, she couldn’t fly either, not without identification. “So, what are
you saying? You’re going to drive me home?”
    “Yes, I am.” Rathe opened the car door for her. “Are
you hungry? There’s a truck stop not far away.”
    Stunned he would jeopardize his life for her, she
was relieved, too. She had to get home, preferably in one piece! “Yes, starving.”
Actually, the thought of eating greasy food made her want to vomit, but she was
going to force food down her throat, even if it killed her! No way was she
gonna turn into a vampire, not without a fight.
    He was