He laid her on the couch in a room with no windows at the center of the house. Atticus and Lissa were there, but Christy couldn't look away from Sebastian. His beloved face was wreathed in worry as he ran his hands over her limbs as if to reassure himself she was truly all right.
«Are you feeling any better?»
Christy nodded. «I'm okay. Give me a few minutes and I'll be good as new.» Unfortunately, she had experience with pain, though this time, her hurts felt like they were healing themselves as she sat there. Instead of the usual days it would have taken her to heal before, she could feel her body repairing itself at lightning speed. This 'being a vampire' stuff did seem to have its benefits. She cupped Sebastian's cheek, looking into his eyes. «Really. I'm okay.»
He took her hand in his and raised it to his lips.
«Christy,» Lissa came over to the side of the couch, «you were amazing! I watched the whole thing. I can't believe the way you took on that man. Where'd you learn all that kung fu stuff?»
Christy smiled at Sebastian, squeezing his hand before looking over at her friend. «I told you, Lis, I've been studying with Sensei Hiro. And Sebastian taught me too. He's a man of many talents.»
Lissa's look was speculative. «I bet.»
Atticus came up behind his wife and drew her back into his arms. He placed a tender kiss on the top of her head.
«Thank you, Christy. Your brave actions saved both your lives this night. I am forever in your debt.»
Christy was taken aback. The ancient vampire meant every word. She could hear the ring of residual fear for his mate in his voice and feel the truth of his tone. The very idea floored her.
«Lissa is one of my best friends,» she said simply, unsure how to respond.
Atticus nodded, seemingly satisfied with her words, and drew back.
Just then, Marc showed his face in the door, a wolf howled in the distance and a hawk screamed overhead. Atticus patted his wife's hand and headed outside to speak with Marc and meet the were.
Christy was feeling well enough to sit up. Sebastian made room, though he didn't relinquish hold of her hand. They both needed the contact after the scare they'd just had.
«I've never been so frightened,» Lissa said, perching on the overstuffed arm of the couch. «Nothing like that's ever happened to me before. I mean, there we were enjoying the evening air and suddenly some lunatic starts lobbing fireballs at us. I can't believe how you stood up to that man, Chris. How did you know what to say? What to do?»
Christy grimaced. «I've faced a maniac before. I've been thinking a lot about how I should have stood up to Jeff, but I never did. Not until-«
«Not until now, my love.» Sebastian squeezed her hand, encouraging her.
An uncomfortable silence reigned for a moment before Lissa spoke again. «I'm so sorry, Chris. You can't know how glad I am you're away from that jerk. I never liked Jeff.»
Christy smiled at her friend. «You were always a better judge of character than I was, Lis. I should have listened to you before I married him.»
Atticus came back in, clearly agitated. «Marc and some of the were are trying to track your attacker, but are having a hard time of it. He knew enough to foul his scent and he's got some kind of magic that interferes with their senses. Or so I'm told.»
«What about Cameron?» Sebastian asked.
«He's not here yet. He's driving over with Steel.»
Sure enough, they all heard a truck pull up the drive and skid to a stop out front.
CHAPTER 11
Steel was impressed with the vineyard and cozy mansion Atticus called home. Never in his life would he have dreamed he'd be invited into a vampire's lair, but here he was. In the company of a fey, no less. Atticus met them at the door and ushered them inside. He sent Steel into the living room and took Cameron out back.
Steel saw the woman first. Luminous eyes haunted her beautiful face. He tried to shield himself as best he could from the influence of the vampiress, but it was no good. The men seemed to understand and reined in their natural magnetism, but this lady…she was different.
He stared at her, unable to look away. Sebastian tugged at her hand and drew her back into his arms. It was a clear, protective stance.
«My love,» Sebastian said in a gentle voice to the woman in his arms, «tamp down your energies if you can. You're having an effect on our mortal friend here.»
«I am?» Wide eyes turned to him. The beautiful woman's expression was truly innocent and Steel knew she wasn't doing it on purpose. That look alone made him relax. She blushed in an altogether appealing way. Then again, everything about her was appealing with the vampire magic drawing him in. «I'm sorry,» the goddess said. «You must be Mr. Steel. I apologize. It's just…I'm very new to all this. Up 'til last week I was as human as you.»
«Mortal, you mean.» Sebastian supplied the word they preferred, correcting the woman who looked very comfortable in his embrace.
Steel refocused on the man. «You changed her?»
«It was either that or let her die.»
Steel nodded. He didn't know the entire story, but he could fill in the blanks. For now, he was glad to feel the new female vampire rein in her seductive mojo. Her power drew back and he was able to breathe a bit easier.
He noticed the other woman for the first time, smiling at him from her perch on the arm of the couch. Damned if he didn't feel the heat of embarrassment in his cheeks. Hopefully they wouldn't notice, but then he kicked himself. These were vampires. They'd notice.
«I'm Lissa, Atticus's wife.» She held out a gracious hand. He shook it and tried to smile.
«Ma'am.»
She laughed and the sound shot down his spine. «Please, call me Lissa. Like my friend Christy here, I haven't been in the supernatural game too long myself.»
Atticus returned to the living room with Matt in tow, his face grim. «Cam's not having much luck either, though he's still trying a few things.»
«It looks like the son of a bitch got away.» Disgust was thick in Matt's voice.
«All right.» Sebastian sat back. «Let's take this from the beginning. First, are we certain the attacker was Mario Gonzalez?»
«Good point,» Steel agreed. «Ladies, can either of you describe the man?»
«Oh yeah,» Lissa said with relish. «I saw the whole thing from the window. He's about five foot ten, maybe a hundred and ninety pounds. Black hair. Curly. Cut neat, but not clean cut. A little shaggy. I assume brown eyes, but Christy got right up in his face. She saw his features better than I did.»
«His eyes were green. A kind of creepy aqua green.» Christy took up the description. «And it looked like his nose had been broken a few times.»
«That sounds like Mario,» Steel admitted. The eyes were distinctive.
«And he had a tattoo. Sort of a swirly pattern over his left eyebrow. It…»
«Go on, sweetheart.» Matt encouraged her.
«It glowed.» She looked at Sebastian and then over at Lissa, but the other woman was shaking her head.
«I didn't see anything like that,» Lissa said in a soft voice, as if afraid to contradict her friend.
«Gonzalez doesn't have any facial tattoos,» Steel confirmed, struck by the thoughtful look on Sebastian's face.
«What are you thinking, my friend?» Atticus asked Sebastian.
Sebastian stood. «We'll need Cam's help to prove my theory. I'll go see if he's done spinning his wheels in the backyard. Don't go anywhere.»
«Please have a seat, Mr. Steel,» Lissa invited.
Steel shrugged. The woman was soft spoken and gracious, even after the upset of being attacked and having her patio turned into a series of craters. He took a seat, observing everything. He was on new footing here and wasn't sure of exactly how he fit into this little unit. He'd be cautious until he knew best how he could contribute.