The Vampire with the Dragon Tattoo

Chapter Twenty-three

Was he sleeping? Leah leaned over to peer at Dougal. He was sprawled on the couch at the beach house in Hawaii. He had to be exhausted. After circumnavigating the globe, he and the other Vamps had arrived at the townhouse in New York City almost twelve hours ago.

When the time had come to teleport to San Francisco, Angus had taken Howard the were-bear, J.L. had given werewolf Phil a lift, Gregori had taken his wife, and Leah had traveled with Dougal. As a Vamp, Laszlo had been able to teleport himself, along with some additional supplies and luggage. Angus’s wife, Emma, was staying behind to run MacKay S&I.

After their arrival, Dougal had taken Leah to Chinatown, where she’d enjoyed a nice meal while he sneaked sips of blood from the bottle in his sporran. A few hours later, they’d arrived in Hawaii at Finn Grayson’s beach house. He’d arranged a luau on the beach for them, although only the shifters and mortals had been able to enjoy the roasted pig, rice, and fruit. The Vamps had looked so tired by then that they’d excused themselves to find places in the house to rest.

Leah perched on the edge of the coffee table to look at Dougal. The luau had wound down an hour ago. Finn, Phil, Laszlo, and Howard were lounging outside on the patio. Abby had run off to a bedroom with Gregori.

Leah’s gaze started at Dougal’s scruffed-up shoes, then wandered up his muscular calves, encased in knee socks, to his bare knees. In his relaxed state, his kilt was a bit askew, revealing a glimpse of his strong thighs. How easy it would be to reach underneath his kilt and give him a squeeze. That would probably wake him up. She smiled to herself.

“Are ye planning to molest me?” he asked softly.

She started. “I thought you were asleep.”

“Just resting.” He gazed at her with drowsy green eyes. “I think ye were about to get under my kilt.”

She scoffed. “You wish.”

“I do wish.” He reached down to his sporran. “I have something for you.”

“I know you do. It’s quite a doozy.”

He chuckled. “No’ that.” He rose to his feet and extended a hand to her. “How about a walk on the beach?”

“Okay.” She held hands with him as they sauntered out the patio doors and past the pool.

“Way to go, Dougal,” Howard called from a lounge chair.

Phil howled like a wolf, and the guys chuckled.

“Bugger off,” Dougal muttered, and they laughed some more.

Leah smiled, relieved that even Laszlo looked amused.

They wandered down the beach, and she admired the way the moon glinted on the water. The breeze was gentle, and the scent of flowers filled the air.

“I wish ye could see it during the day.” Dougal stopped to face her.

“It’s still lovely.”

“I have a present for you.” He reached inside his sporran and pulled out a small box.

Her heart lurched. Was it a ring? Was he proposing? Her mind raced. What would she say? Everything had happened so quickly. Three weeks? Was that enough time to know how to answer something that would affect the rest of her life?

He opened the box, and she froze as she stared at the contents. Not a ring. Not a proposal.

She inhaled sharply. What a relief. Definitely a relief, she told herself. Then why was she feeling this strange little jab of disappointment? “It’s a necklace?”

“Aye, there’s a chain underneath.” He gave her a worried look. “Ye doona like it?”

“It’s beautiful.” She ran a finger over the jade dragon. It was intricately carved and stunning in its detail. “I love it.”

He exhaled in relief. “Good.”

She lifted it out of the box and looped it around her neck. The dragon nestled between her breasts.

“Now we each have a dragon to protect us.”

She glanced up at him. “You’re still worried about me.”

“Aye.” He dropped the empty box back into his sporran. “I doona want to fail you.”

“I’m not helpless, you know.” She touched his face. “And I love you.”

“Och, lass. I love you, too.” He pulled her into his arms. “I was sorely tempted to buy you a ring. But I dinna know if ye were ready for that.”

Her pang of disappointment melted away, and she glanced up at him. “You mean an engagement ring?”

He gave her a wary look. “Aye.”

Her heart raced. “Are you proposing?”

“Only if ye’re ready. If ye’re no’ ready, then pretend this dinna happen.”

Her mouth twitched. “You don’t want to be rejected?”

“Nay.” His arms tightened around her. “ ’Twould break my heart.”

“Ah.” She nestled her cheek against his chest. “We can’t have your heart breaking. That would break my heart.”

He was silent a moment, then whispered, “Was that a yes?”

Was it? “I-I need a little more time. I’m about ninety percent there.” Somehow she would have to explain an Undead fiancé to her family. They would probably think she’d lost her mind.

“Ninety is good.”

She glanced up at him, and her heart swelled. He was so sweet, honorable, loyal, and handsome. How could she ever reject him? “More like ninety-two percent.”

“Mmm, I like that.” He leaned down and kissed her so deeply that her knees trembled.

She drew in a shaky breath. “Make that ninety-five percent.”

He chuckled, then squeezed her bottom. “If I get in yer pants, will it improve my odds?”

She grinned. “I never thought I’d say this to a guy, but I’d like to get in your skirt.”

“That could be arranged.” His cell phone dinged, and with a groan, he removed it from his sporran. “Aye, we’re coming.” He hung up. “That was Angus. The sun has set in Japan. ’Tis time to go.”

The difference was startling. In just a few seconds, Leah had gone from a warm, cozy beach with golden sand and green vegetation to a frigid, bleak shore with a bitterly cold wind. Dougal had warned her, and she’d put on a sweater and insulated jacket, but the abrupt change still came as a shock.

Dougal wrapped an arm around her. “Let’s get you inside.”

The icy ground crunched beneath their feet.

“Brr—” Abby shuddered. Gregori swept her up in his arms and dashed up the bluff to the school.

“I could teleport you inside if ye like,” Dougal offered.

“I’m fine.” Leah pivoted around. This was her first trip to Japan, so she was eager to look about. Maybe tomorrow in daylight she could do a little exploring.

A phone dinged.

“That’s mine.” J.L. checked his phone. “A text from Rajiv. He says the sun’s still up in Tiger Town. And stay away from the fox.”

“Fox?” Phil asked. “What fox?”

“The shifter I told you about,” Angus said. “Gu Mina. She works for Kyo.”

Another phone dinged.

“That’s mine.” Howard looked at his phone. “Rajiv’s busy. He just sent me a warning to stay away from the fox.”

J.L. laughed. “He thinks she wants to eat our livers.”

“Our livers?” Laszlo asked, his eyes wide.

J.L. shrugged. “Don’t worry about it. It’s a fairy tale.”

Phil exchanged a look with Howard. “I know at least one fairy tale that turned out to be real.”

Howard grinned. “That doesn’t mean this one will. Besides, we could eat a fox for breakfast.”

Phil nodded. “True.”

With a sigh, Angus started up the bluff to the school. “Be polite to Mina. She works for Kyo, and we need his support.”

Once they were all inside, Kyo greeted them and proudly gave them a tour of the small building. His employees, Yoshi and Yuki, were finishing the installment of security cameras inside and outside the school.

Dougal showed Leah where he’d put her suitcase at the foot of a bed in the female dorm. “Will ye be all right here?”

“Sure. I’ve been in dorms a lot smaller than this.” It still looked like a classroom, with a bookcase beneath the window overlooking the beach. Curtains had been installed for privacy. Three twin beds lined the back wall, interspersed with bedside tables topped with lamps. She supposed the third roommate was the lady fox that had Rajiv freaked out.

On the front wall, she spotted a message written in chalk on the old blackboard. Welcome! Had the fox shifter left that for them? If so, she seemed friendly enough.

“The restrooms and showers are across the hall,” Dougal told her. “And the cafeteria is at the end. Did ye want something to eat?”

“No.” Leah tossed her coat, hat, and mittens on the bed. “I’m eager to get started in the lab.”

Dougal nodded. “J.L. and I will leave as soon as the sun sets in Tiger Town. Before we go, we’ll drop by the lab for the sedatives.”

“We brought some tranquilizer darts so you wouldn’t have to fool with needles.” The captured soldiers needed to remain unconscious during their entire stay at the school so they couldn’t call out to Darafer for help.

“That’s good.” Dougal headed for the door. “I need to get ready to go.”

“Wait a second.” She ran toward him. For the moment they were alone, and she doubted that would happen often over the next few weeks. She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Be careful.”

“I will.” He pulled her close. “I’ll miss you.”

She pressed a hand against her jade pendant. “Thank you for the dragon.”

“Ye’re welcome. Am I still at ninety-five percent?”

“Yes. I-I’ve been wondering about something.”

“When can we make love again?”

She smiled. He still had a one-track mind. “You said there was a letter you wrote that I never saw?”

“Aye, because ye were avoiding me.” He heaved a forlorn sigh. “I may have been such a devastated lovesick fool that I burned it.”

“You did?”

“Nay.” His mouth twitched. “Were ye wanting to see it?”

She swatted his shoulder. “Yes.”

Chuckling, he retrieved a folded piece of paper from his sporran. “Maybe this will bring me up to ninety-seven percent.” He kissed her brow and handed it to her. “See you later.”

She hurried back to her bed, turned on the lamp, and opened the note.

Dear Leah,

I know I frighten you, but I pray you will give me a chance. I know my chance is small, for you are so clever and beautiful. How could I ever be worthy of you?

You are a treasure to behold, a sweet melody to my ears.

You shine light into my dark nights and bring warmth to my cold heart.

You fill me with hope that all things are possible, even an eternity of love.

Dougal

She blinked back tears as she folded the note. He’d been wrong about the effect. He was up to ninety-nine percent.

With a sigh, she looked around for a safe place to keep his note. She might have to share the bedside table, since it was between her bed and Abby’s, so she tucked the note underneath her mattress.

Wiping her eyes, she left the room, then hurried down the hall to the lab. Abby was already at work, telling her husband where to stash supplies. As far as Leah knew, there had been no business reason for Gregori to come on the trip. He simply refused to leave Abby’s side.

Leah smiled to herself. It wasn’t so bad being married to a Vamp. Maybe she should raise Dougal’s status to ninety-nine point five percent.

Laszlo was also hard at work, making sure all the computers and equipment were ready to go.

Leah found the box containing the tranquilizing darts, and she bagged a dozen for Dougal and J.L. Master Han’s soldiers were so strong that it might take several to knock one of them out.

The door opened and a short, young woman came in, carrying a huge box that nearly covered her face.

She peered to the side and smiled at Abby and Leah. “Hello. These are supplies. Kyo wanted you to have them.”

“Let me help you.” Gregori rushed forward to take the box. He set it on a table, then he and Abby started unloading it.

“This is great,” Abby said as she removed test tubes and beakers. “Thank you.”

The young woman bowed. “I am Gu Mina, but please call me Mina.” She smiled at them, then turned and saw Laszlo, who was totally focused on calibrating a sensitive piece of equipment. Her mouth fell open, and her eyes widened.

Leah stepped forward. “Pleased to meet you. I’m Leah.”

“I’m Abby, and this is my husband, Gregori.”

No response. Leah exchanged a look with Abby. The young woman seemed to have forgotten they were in the room.

Mina eased slowly toward Laszlo. “Hello.”

He glanced her way, then did a double take and jumped to his feet. Leah heard his gulp across the room.

“Are . . . are you a scientist?” Mina asked.

Laszlo nodded, and grabbed a button on his lab coat.

Mina licked her lips. “I think intelligent men are the most attractive.”

“You do?” Laszlo twisted the button.

Mina stepped closer. “I like shorter men, too. Cause I’m so short.”

“Y-you’re not too short.”

Mina blushed. “Thank you.” She shoved her long black hair over her shoulder, and Laszlo gulped again. “I like your haircut. It’s very stylish.”

“Thank you.” He plucked at the button. “I have to be honest with you. I’m a vampire.”

She smiled. “I love honest men. And I like vampires. I know several back in Korea. One’s a prosecutor.”

Laszlo frowned. “Is he your boyfriend?”

She waved a hand. “An-ni-o! I don’t have a boyfriend.”

“You don’t? But you’re so . . . pretty.” His face reddened.

She inched closer. “What’s your name?”

“I-I’m Laser.”

“I like that.”

Leah exchanged an amused look with Abby and Gregori.

Laszlo tugged at the button. “What’s your name?”

“Gu Mina. But you can call me—”

“You’re the fox?” He jumped back.

Her shoulders drooped. “You don’t like foxes?”

“Well, I—normally I think they’re cute.” He yanked at the button. “I like their tails.”

She grinned. “I have nine tails!”

His button popped off. “Nine?”

She reached down to grab the button.

“I’ll do it.” He leaned over to snatch the button and bonked heads with her on the way up. “Oh, sorry.”

“I could sew it on for you,” she offered, rubbing her head.

“I-I don’t know.” He eased away from her.

She sighed. “Has that silly tiger been talking about me? I don’t attack men and eat their livers.”

“You . . . you don’t?”

“No! I gave it up a while ago.”

Laszlo turned even paler than usual. “I-I have to check on something.” He ran from the room.

With a groan, Mina slumped onto the stool Laszlo had been using.

Leah winced. Was she supposed to share the dorm room with a cannibalistic shifter?

“Excuse me.” Gregori waved to get Mina’s attention, and she looked up. “When you say ‘a while ago,’ how long ago was that? I mean, you weren’t chowing down on somebody’s liver a month ago, right?”

Mina tilted her head, considering. “It’s been three hundred years.”

There was a collective sigh of relief from Leah, Abby, and Gregori.

Mina frowned. “No, make that two hundred and fifty years. I slipped up once.”