Tall, Dark & Lonely (Pyte/Sentinel #1)(70)

He held up a hand to stop her. “I negotiated with a very powerful group that’s been after me for the last hundred and twenty years. A group called Sentinels. Before you ask, they are god’s natural defense against vampires.”

“Ten Sentinels are born every ten years. They are marked at birth for their position in life. They’re not exactly human. They’re stronger, more difficult to kill and can heal quicker. They live longer as well and they will look young until they stop fighting and retire.”

“Like Buffy the Vampire Slayer?”

He laughed and shook his head ruefully. “I guess you could call them slayers. They also have another very unique quality.”

“What?”

“Well, they have to be born as a twin. A human soul has to bring them to earth as a guardian. Most of the twins die. It’s very difficult to share a womb with a Sentinel. The special thing is they are born with their soul mates already in line. Five males and five females are born. It’s a gift. True love from god to keep them dedicated.”

“How do they-“

“They know when they find their mates because their marks will change to red, once they’re a mated pair it turns black. It’s along the same lines as a marriage. Before you ask the mark is a crescent moon with a tiny cross just below the navel and it’s originally a light brown color. Most won’t know what they are until another Sentinel finds them and takes them in to train or…” his voice drifted off.

“A vampire finds them. They give off a scent like humans do, right?”

“Right.”

“Why did you contact them?” She kept her voice casual, but inside she was trembling. Was he leaving?

He took her hands into his and led her to the bed. He sat down and pulled her onto his lap. “Madison, surely you realize that I don’t age. In a few years I won’t be able to explain why I’m not aging. As it is I look like I’m in my mid twenties. I can only keep it up for a few more years.”

“What are you saying?”

“I’m done. I’m done pretending. I’m done starting a life only to end it in five years. I want my own life now. I need it, Madison. I don’t want to hide what I am anymore. I don’t want to keep running for the rest of my life. With the Sentinels I can have the life I want. I will be given the status of a Sentinel in terms of pay, privileges and resources. I can’t change who I am. I’m a Pyte. They need me almost as much as I need them.”

“So, you’re leaving the country then?” She choked back a sob.

“No, I’m allowed to choose which area I want to protect. That’s what they do. That’s what I should have been doing all these years. I’ve just been so damn stubborn.”

“But you do protect people! You’re a good detective!”

“Shh, no, baby. I’ve been playing. I do what any human with training and instinct can do. I’ve been neglecting my calling. I need to help. I need to stop what I can. It’s an ongoing war and people are being massacred. I need to do this, Madison.”

“So, what now?”

He kissed her chin. “This isn’t the end for us, Madison. I’ll just be doing something different soon. Something I’m meant to do.”

“How soon?”

“Soon, it won’t affect us I promise, baby. There will be a few changes. I’ve decided that along with doing this I should take more responsibility in my life.”

“Meaning what?”

“For starters I negotiated with Chris’s mother over the phone.” Her breathing stopped. “I’ve adopted him, baby. He needs a man to take care of him. He needs a real home and support.”

“We’re giving him that,” she said through clenched teeth. “I’m taking care of him, Ephraim. You didn’t have to do this!”

His grip tightened around her, keeping her from jumping off his lap. “Yes, I did. I think it would be a good idea that you and your family continue to treat him like one of your own.”

She wiped away a tear. “Why did you do this, Ephraim?”

“Shh, baby, I had to. Don’t you see that? I have to protect him now. He knows about me and what’s out there. It will be okay I promise you.”

“There’s something you’re not telling me.”

He didn’t deny it. He pressed a simple kiss to her cheek. “Everything will be fine. Now, would you like to know about our little friend in there?”

He was changing the subject and she knew it. She would allow it, for now. Mostly because she could hear Trevor moaning again and wanted him out of the house.

“I decided that the best way to deal with him would be blackmail and a few threats in case that didn’t work. I went to New Mexico and told him that I was your boyfriend and that you were struggling. I told him I was willing to pay him a large lump sum if he came here and signed over Joshua. He’s in a bit of a rush to buy a yacht. That’s why he’s been blackmailing you and that was why he accepted the monthly payments. Seems his wife won’t let him buy one so he’s been doing a crime here and there to save up.”

“That ass**le.”

“It took two days of putting up with his bullshit to get him to come out here. I hired a transvestite to flirt with him and promise him a night of fun. He thinks she just wanted a free trip to New Hampshire. He’s been teasing Trevor and offering him nothing but kisses for the last two days. Trevor came willingly.”