Love at First Bite by Susan Squires Page A

what was left of him."
    He turned a shocked countenance on her. "You… ?"
    "I managed." She didn't tell him she had vomited.
    He chuffed a laugh and took her hand. Rufford was sitting at the table in front of the hearth, tucking into a bowl of the stew.
    Fedeyah was pouring wine. He handed Davie a glass. Their wounds were hardly more than scars.
    "Miss Fairfield?" Fedeyah asked, waving a full glass of wine. "You look pale."
    "Thank you." She nodded.
    "She needs blood, Rufford," Davie said, without preamble. His voice had iron in it.
    "I thought she might," Rufford remarked. "Excellent stew, Miss Fairfield. We are not used to such expertise in the kitchen. Or should I call you Mrs. Ware?"
    "That can wait until we find a Christian minister," she said, suddenly shy. The room was doing funny things around the edges.
    Mr. Rufford peered at her. "Take her upstairs where she can be comfortable, Ware."
    "I mean to give her what she needs." Davie said it as a threat, a promise. Emma smiled. He had decided.
    "My blood will do the job faster. I'll send up a cup later. Between us we can muster enough to make her way easier than yours was."
    "My blood is hers," Fedeyah said from somewhere far away.
    Emma felt her knees grow wobbly as the fire in her veins raced up toward her heart. She wanted to thank them, to apologize for being so much trouble… but she couldn't seem to make her mouth work. Then Davie swept her up in his arms. She felt his heart beating against her breast…
    Night. Blessed darkness! Moonlight shone in through shutters thrown wide to the night air. She was alive! She touched the wool of a fine red robe she had been wrapped in. She could feel each individual thread in it The scent of jasmine drifted in through the window. How had she never noticed how wonderful jasmine smelled? Joyful life flowed through her veins… she felt… more than she had ever been. Where was Davie? She must tell him how wonderful she felt.
    She heard noise in the street below. She threw off the covers. How long had she lain here? She remembered Davie sitting with her, Davie making her drink the thick, sweet copper-flavored blood drained from his wrist or sent up from Rufford and Fedeyah. The pain had been dreadful, but always Davie was there to soothe her…
    She leaned out of the window. In the street below, Davie, Rufford, and Fedeyah stood, backs together, sabers drawn, and in a semicircle around them stood what? Fifty? A hundred? Eyes glowed red on both sides. She stifled a cry.
    "Strategic retreat, Ware?" Rufford whispered. She heard him clearly, though.
    "What use?" Davie answered, iron resolve in his voice.
    "Very well. The last stand against chaos starts here." Rufford straightened.
    Lord, God, if such as I am now may pray to you, then help them ! she thought.
    But dash it all, she dared not leave it only to God. Strength rushed through her. She would not again stand by stunned while they fought for their lives as she had in the lobby that first night. She whirled from the window and hurried down the stairs. The lobby had been cleared of corpses. Her bare feet slapped against the cool tile. Over the fireplace in the lobby hung a display of crossed swords. No paltry butcher's knife for her tonight. She climbed on the hearth and stood on tiptoe. If Davie was going to die tonight in some gesture of sacrifice and duty, no matter how futile, then so would she.
    She had a moment of doubt as she reached for the heavy weapon. She was only a woman. But she hefted the sword easily. She was that strong! She didn't stop to wonder. The red robe she wore was a native burnoose, richly embroidered at the edges, much better than her English dress for moving about in. She raised her sword and ran for the street. She had no skill with such a weapon. But that was not the point, was it?
    The three men standing in a semicircle against the hordes glanced back. Rufford smiled. Fedeyah touched his forehead once.
    And Davie, about to protest, closed his mouth