Scorched Ice (Fire and Ice #3)(82)

She glanced at Chris when he ran a hand through his disordered hair. Shadows lined his eyes as he stared at the beach. “You look tired,” she said.

“I am,” he muttered.

“Get some sleep.”

“Easier said than done,” he replied and turned to walk away from her.

When the last of the sun dipped behind the sparkling, clear blue ocean, she slid open the door and stepped onto the sand. The sea breeze drifted over her, flattening her sundress against her calves and blowing her shoulder-length hair around her face. Despite the fact she knew they were safe here, she had stakes strapped discreetly away on her. She’d never be caught unawares again, but she’d relaxed enough while they were here to wear a bikini again, and she’d discovered swimming wasn’t difficult with stakes holstered to her ankles.

Julian turned to face her as she made her way toward him. The fine grains of warm sand slid between her toes when she wiggled them on the beach. He held his hand out to her, and she took hold of it. Her ability had increased to the point that they were always connected by it now, but for a second, his heart gave a solid beat when their skin slid into contact again.

Her ability may have grown stronger over the past two years, but she hadn’t used it to kill again, and her constant connection to Julian helped to keep her grounded when the urge for more power and life swept over her.

The connection had also made them both stronger, something she knew the other vampires could sense when they were around. That strength helped to solidify Julian’s leadership over them and their belief she was their savior. She still hadn’t gotten used to the idea of that, but she had learned to deal with it.

She marveled as the setting sun created pinks and oranges that burned across the sky. The colors reflected in the rolling waves of the ocean. “I’m not ready to leave here,” she murmured.

They’d finally found a measure of peace on this island for the past month, but it was time for them to get back to the real world. “I’m going to bring you back here every year,” he promised.

She tilted her head back to smile at him. “I’m going to hold you to that.”

“I have no doubt. I know you’re looking forward to seeing Clint and Hawtie though.”

“I am!” she said eagerly.

It had been two years since she’d last seen her friends in Vegas. Their lengthy tour through Europe and Asia had taken more time than any of them had anticipated as they stopped in nearly every country along the way. Then, their travel plans had been extended into Central and South America when the vampires there also wanted to meet with them.

They’d left Belize behind before coming here. She’d seen so much of the world in the last two years, more than she’d ever dreamed of being able to see, and she’d loved so much of it, but she was ready to return to her loved ones.

Their very first stop was going to be Canada to meet up with Hawtie and Clint at Cassie and Devon’s property. Over a year ago, Hawtie and Clint had grown tired of the RV life and taken Cassie and Devon up on their offer to help with training the young Hunters and Guardians. Clint and Hawtie both gushed over the phone about how happy they were, and Quinn couldn’t wait to see that happiness in person. She also couldn’t wait to see Cassie, Devon, and all of the children again.

“I thought Canada might not be such a bad place to set up a solid base of operations,” Julian said.

“You hate the cold.”

He draped his arm around her shoulders to pull her against his chest. “We won’t stay there year round. We can stay there six months out of the year—no, four months.”

She chuckled as she rested her palm against his bare chest. His skin had taken on a golden hue from the sun. The tan would fade by morning, but there were no blisters or burns on him, not anymore.

“June through September,” she said.

“Maybe three months.”

She stood on her toes to kiss his jaw. “Then what do we do for the other nine months?”

“Then we come south, to here.”

She turned to gaze back at the large home with its wall of tinted windows facing the beach. Despite the heavy tint, she was still able to see within the home whereas no humans could. She watched Luther, Dani, and Lou walk by the wall of windows on the first floor. They went to the sliding glass door leading to the beach.

Lou opened the door for them to exit and followed behind. Quinn licked her lips when she saw the pitcher of pink liquid she knew held some delicious concoction that Luther had mixed together. Dani set the pitcher and an assortment of glasses on the table near the house.

“I really do love this place,” she murmured.

“So you’ve said,” Julian replied, drawing her attention back to him. “Many times.” His ice-blue eyes reflected the colors of the sunset when he smiled at her. “That’s why I bought it for you.”

Quinn’s gaze shot from him to the house and back to him again. “Seriously?” she blurted.

“I don’t kid, Dewdrop, not about making you happy.”

She opened her mouth to sputter something, but words completely failed her. Finally, she was able to think clearly enough to speak again. “But we’d be so far from all the vampires we’ve taken charge of.”

And they had gathered quite the following over the past two years. Vampire attacks on humans were way down. The vampires who had joined with them had all formed a tenuous truce with the Hunters and Guardians. A truce she knew would only grow over the years as the trust deepened with time.