Anaïs knew Ryder and Jacky were keeping something from her. They must know something was going to happen, she thought, if both decided to come to work with her. Jacky was sitting in the back room scowling and Ryder had not once stopped pacing. He would look toward the glass window every once in a while and frown; but if he was worried about something in specific, he didn’t say. Anaïs dealt with her customers the same way she normally would and put Ryder and Jacky in the back of her mind. She couldn’t allow herself to provide poor service to her customers simply because she was anxious. So what if something was supposed to happen? It wouldn’t be prevented simply by worrying over it and letting it stress her out.
It wasn’t till noon that she finally decided to put an end to it. Her customers were eyeing Ryder as if they feared he would pounce. She pulled him aside and gently cupped his cheek so his attention wouldn’t waver.
“Why did you come today?” she asked.
Ryder focused on her for all of two seconds before turning once more to the entrance.
“Where is Frédéric?” he asked absentmindedly.
“I gave him some time off. I didn’t want to put him in the middle of this. But Ryder you’re not listening to me. I know something’s wrong.”
Ryder looked at her and frowned. His eyes were dark and stormy; she couldn’t tell what he was feeling. Was it worry? Was it anger?
“You know Jacky had a vision. It wasn’t… pleasant.”
“I know, you told me but-”
“Anaïs I’ve made no progress; I’m no closer to finding your stalker than I was when I first got here and quite frankly, it’s pissing me off. You’re in danger and I haven’t done anything to change the situation,” Ryder sighed.
“You’re here and that’s enough.”
But Ryder knew it wasn’t. He knew that every day that passed was a step closer to some culmination. He remembered the angst in Nikolas’ voice when Iris was kidnapped and it made him fear all the more for Anaïs. If she were taken from him… if he allowed her to be taken he wouldn’t be able to control himself. God help him, he was falling in love with a woman he could never possibly be with. She was a vampire and he… he was in no hurry to become one.
“I want you to leave the country,” he said suddenly, “Go visit Nikolas. Send my regards to Iris and help her pick things out for the baby. I’ll arrange for a private plane. Small, with a trusted pilot and we’ll make sure that you leave unnoticed. You can leave tonight.”
“You want me to run away?”
“I want you safe.”
Anaïs couldn’t bear the thought of leaving him here while she ran. What if her stalker took it out on him once he found out that she was gone? Besides, she had never run from a fight before. Goddamn it! She wasn’t some weak woman to run off like a frightened rabbit! She wasn’t powerless and she certainly wasn’t a coward. How could she possibly-
YOU ARE READING
Amour éternel
VampireAnais lost her dear Jacque a very long time ago because she didnt believe in his love. Now, hundreds of years later, in a chance meeting, she comes across a man who looks exactly the same as her beloved. His name is Ryder and he says he has had a vi...
