He had dark hair that feathered about his ears and neck, a regal nose and piercing eyes, not to mention a friendly disposition.

Cripes, her lover was delivering her to a male model so she could suck on his neck and exchange bodily fluids. The rabbit hole kept getting weirder and weirder.

"You must be Belladonna Reynolds," Ivan offered when Severo forgot the introductions. "Come in, the two of you, and sit down."

Severo put his hands on her shoulders, pulling her to him. "I won't be staying."

"Oh, of course. I could have a car take Belladonna home," Ivan offered to Severo.

"No, I'll pick her up when..." Severo let the end fizzle.

When? she thought. When she had become what he most hated?

"I trust your father," Severo said to Ivan, his hold still firm upon her shoulders. He wasn't ready to hand her over, and that reduced Bella's anxiety. "He's promised me that the same trust should not be lost on you."

"I know your struggles with the vampires, Severo, and believe me, I appreciate the work you've done with the Council. If my father could have been here, he would have helped you. But I promise to be a complete gentleman, or my wife will come after me with some wicked magic."

"You have a wife?" Bella hadn't been aware of that. The squick quotient suddenly rose exponentially.

"Yes, she's in Venice right now with her friend Lucy Morgan. Truvin's wife," Ivan said to Severo. At the mention of the name, Bella felt Severo's body tense. "Truvin," Ivan said to Bella, "is not one of Severo's favorite vampires. But his wife is a charm.

She's involved in a sort of paranormal debunking venture right now. Dez, my wife, has been helping her with it. They keep the myth a myth, so to speak. It is a project that is invaluable to the safety of all paranormal nations. And Truvin-" Ivan cast a wink at Severo "-has mellowed greatly since the Protection was dropped."

"The protection?" she asked.

"The spell that made witch's blood poisonous to vampires," Severo said. "So do you intend to take her out and show her the ways of your kind...after?"

"If Belladonna wants to stay an extra day or two, I would be glad to," replied Ivan. "If one can have a mentor, then it can make a difference for one's entire future."

"I agree." Severo hugged Bella. "So I guess I should leave. Do you feel all right about this, sweet?"

Who could feel right about being left alone with a stranger whose only intent was to make you a vampire? The one creature her lover could not stand. A creature who lived on human blood. A creature.

Was madness such a better option?

"Yes, I'm good about this."

She wished he would stay longer. Truthfully this didn't feel anywhere near right. But what, since she had met Severo, had felt right?

Only him holding her in his arms, making love to her.

Would they ever make love again?

She slid around in Severo's arms. Sensing that Ivan had stepped away to give them a moment alone, she bracketed her lover's face with her hands, sliding her palms over his rough beard.

Remember this, the roughness of him, she told herself. His earthy scent. His whiskey eyes. The mouth she could get lost in.

"I haven't been away from you since the day we met," she said. "That first full moon I was gone three days, sweet."

"I'm going to miss you."

"I will stay close by. Perhaps a few blocks away."

"Thanks, but don't worry too much. I'm a big girl."

She kissed him and it didn't matter who watched; she just needed to fall into him. One last time. Once more as a mortal woman who had crazily fallen in love with a werewolf.

Once more, and then forever.

Chapter 20.

A fter a walk-through tour of the immense penthouse-there was even a lap pool-Ivan led Bella to the main room.

The living room had floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out over the city. It might be a nice view, but Bella avoided walking too close to the windows. She got a woozy feeling even when walking too close to the guardrails on the fourth floor at the Mall of America.

"Would you like something to drink?" Ivan asked.

"Maybe."

His smile was warm and not at all creepy. Not a hint of fangs, either. "Wine? Or I have Evian."

"I'm not sure."

He crossed the room so quickly, she didn't realize he'd moved until his presence loomed behind her. Bella didn't see any drinks in his hands, which made her frown.

"Let's get everything out in the open, shall we?" he offered. "I'm sure we're both feeling awkward about this situation, yes?"

She nodded but avoided looking directly into his eyes. Last time that had happened...She refused to recall it.

"We don't have to be comfortable with it, but know I do genuinely want to help you. My father reveres Severo and would do anything for him. You have nothing to fear from me. And if at any time you do start to experience fear or get uncomfortable, just say so. We'll take this at your pace."

"But I just have to drink your blood to make the change, right?"

"Right."

"So we should just do it and get it done with."

"I'm going to pour us some wine first."

Ivan padded toward the kitchen and Bella followed, to sit on a bar stool across from the counter. He opened a gla.s.s-fronted wine cupboard.

"I don't want it to feel like some kind of pseudo-seduction," he said. "Trust me, I love my wife, and I would never betray her. But we're going to be about as intimate as a couple can be without removing their clothes." "Oh good." She blew out a breath. "I can keep my clothes on."

Ivan smiled and set two goblets before her. "I would insist you stay clothed. Do you know about vampires and their bites?"

"Just that it is what they must do to survive. And that it hurts like a mother."

"Yes, blood is the life."

She nodded, recalling how Seth had waxed lyrical over Elvira's bite. She didn't recall her own bite. Everything from that night was a blur, save those blue eyes.

"Do vampires hypnotize people? Make them want to be bitten?"

"Ah, the persuasion. It's not hypnosis, but an actual persuasion of the mind. Some call it the thrall. If you gaze into a vampire's eyes, you will be caught."

"Yep, I know how that one works."

"And when a vampire bites someone, the victim is not in pain for long. They experience the swoon, which is...o.r.g.a.s.mic." He slid a half-full goblet toward her. "And when you bite me, well...I, in turn..."

"I see." He'd experience the same o.r.g.a.s.mic swoon.

She looked toward the door.

"We can call him back and have him present, if you wish."

"No, that would be too weird. I want it this way. I just..."

"Need to relax and get comfortable with the place, surely. Why don't you step out on the terrace for a while. The view is gorgeous, and I have a heater out there so you can enjoy the view. Take your time and get your bearings. Come back when you're ready for this."

"Thanks, Ivan. I think I will."

Severo rented a gallery suite at the Chambers, a luxury hotel down the street from Ivan's penthouse, but he had to take care of something back home first. He made the hour-long drive to the northern suburb where Bella used to live and parked under a willow tree. He strolled along the boulevard, taking in the nightlife.

His cell phone rang. It was Bella.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. So you going to hang out for a day or two? Listen to some Skynyrd?"

"I have something to take care of tonight, but then I'll be sitting around thinking of you. Are you okay? Why the call? Is it Ivan? I left too quickly, didn't I? I should have lingered, but it felt awkward."

"Ivan's letting me get my bearings. And don't worry about it. We're both doing things we never in a million years thought we'd do. I just needed to hear your voice." She paused, then added, "It's never going to be the same, is it?"

"Bella, don't cry. Please, sweet, be strong. You can do this. And when it's done, you'll come home to me and everything will be fine." He heard a heavy gasp, as if she fought to catch her breath. "You're lying."

He sighed. A quick and rea.s.suring reb.u.t.tal wasn't so easy for him.

"Goodbye, Severo," she said and hung up.

He clicked off the phone and stopped in the dark shadow that crept out from an alleyway. He didn't want to lie to her. He didn't want to be the man who needed to lie because he couldn't overcome this one small issue.

It could be good between the two of them.

He hoped.

The night was cold, and the wine lushly warm. Bella inhaled the crisp October air. It was supposed to snow tonight. She hoped she wouldn't miss the first flakes.

Resolute, she turned to face a future that she would likely manage on her own. She didn't want to do it alone, but she was a big girl.

Ivan sat in the living room, on a white sofa, an empty goblet on the coffee table. Soft jazz music played in the background. His bare feet tapped, his head was tilted back and his eyes were closed.

She approached cautiously but knew he was aware of her entrance. "What is it with all you immortals and the white furniture?"

she said. "Do you have a great cleaner, or what? I mean...blood spots, anyone?"

Ivan smirked and nodded toward the black leather chaise opposite the sofa. "I don't usually hunt on my sofa. But believe me, the wife has tried to get me to change the furniture here dozens of times."

"Smart girl. We women look at furniture and wonder how it can be kept clean, not how aesthetic it is. So, will you tell me about your wife?"

Well-worn and riddled with scratches, the leather chaise was soft and Bella found it more welcoming than her and Severo's chair had been lately.

"Dez is a witch who is twelve hundred years older than me," Ivan offered. "She swept me off my feet a few years ago and succeeded in releasing me from a pact with the devil Himself."

"Wow. Sounds like an incredible woman."

"Amazing. But I suspect you may rank alongside her. Severo speaks highly of you."

"I think I'm the first relations.h.i.+p he's had since Aby."

"I don't know about her, but if the werewolf is willing to allow his mate to transform into a vampire, then you know you've got yourself a keeper."

"Willing or simply has no other option? I'm not much for madness. Oh." Bella doubled over, clutching her ribs. Stronger than it had been previously, the ache eroded her insides.

"It's the blood hunger. It will only increase. You've done well so far."

"It's not in my gut. It's right here." She tapped her chest, just below her diaphragm. "Will it always be like this?" "Not so strong. It'll become instinctual."

Instinctual sounded animal. Animal sounded like her lover. Oh, Severo, don't stop loving me.

"Let's do this, please. Before I change my mind," she said.

Ivan stood and knelt before her, touching her knees comfortingly. His wide hands, traced with thick veins, were beautiful. "You can change your mind."

"Have you seen someone who went mad?"

"I have."

"Not pretty?"