Becomes the Rose Read Free Page B

much.”
    “How did you know he was The One?”
    “I can’t explain,” Eric sighed. “When we met, there was an immediate attraction. I instantly felt safe with him. His touch electrified me. I just knew. He courted me, though. He wanted me to be absolutely certain before we took the last step.”
    “That’s so romantic,” Tarin said thoughtfully. Eric could have been describing how Tarin felt around Boyce. He wondered how he could make a relationship work with the older man as they headed to the stream.
    As the two men stood staring at the scenery before them, Tarin frowned. By his reckoning, he should be able to see the forest and mountains that surrounded the area. However, although he could see the start of the woods the rest was hidden by grey mist. He gave an involuntary shudder at the thought that it was as though just this little pocket existed, isolated in space and time.
    “It it always so misty?” he asked.
    “Time of year,” Eric replied.
    “Hey, look over here. They’ve let the baby out on his own and given him a pretty little playmate.”
    The taunting words came as a shock to Tarin, and an even bigger shock was the defensive pose Eric adopted between him and the two big men that had silently appeared.
    “Leave us alone,” Eric growled, his eyes flitting from the blond to the shaven-skulled men who were already moving apart, making it difficult to watch both.
    “I don’t think so,” the blond taunted Eric. “I think you’re the one who needs to go and leave us to look after pretty. Anton knows how to show a guest a real good time.”
    Out of the corner of his eye, Tarin saw the blond throw something at Eric. The young man cried out in pain, however, Tarin’s main focus was on the shaven-skulled lout heading towards him. As the man reached to grab him, Tarin blocked the outstretched arm and spun, levelling a solid kick to his attacker’s abdomen, knocking him off his feet to lie groaning. He wheeled to face the blond angrily as he saw Eric on the ground, his hands covering his face.
    “I don’t know what you did, but you’ll pay for hurting him,” Tarin growled.
    “Try using your feet against this, pretty. It’ll carve you up.” The blond hissed, a sharp stiletto knife waving in his hand.
    “You get away from them.”
    Tarin heard Martha’s voice and could see her blowing on a whistle although no sound could be heard. However, the result left Tarin stunned. As the shaven-skulled man got to his knees and the blond turned, Boyce and Flynn were there. Even as he watched, a single blow from Flynn sent the blond flying several feet through the air. Then he was at Eric’s side, peeling the younger man’s hands away to reveal a burn that marred a once-smooth cheek.
    Boyce’s hand wrapped around the other man’s throat, lifting him easily into the air and shook him as if he weighed no more than a rag doll.
    “You and Benton get away from us before I forget my vow not to harm your kind,” he snarled, before hurling the man to join his comrade. The two immediately raced away, and Boyce turned to Tarin.
    “What are you?” Tarin asked in a whisper. “No one could have got here without being seen, and no one has that kind of strength.”
    “Tarin, please don’t fear me,” Boyce said, reaching towards him.
    “What are you?” Tarin repeated, backing away.
    “Vampire,” Boyce said, his head dropping slightly.
    Tarin shook his head. This was madness. “Vampires don’t exist,” he finally said.
    “Yes, we do,” Boyce said, his voice sad.
    “No,” Tarin repeated. He had no idea why Boyce would do this to him. He bolted. He ran towards the mist that hung heavily ahead of him and then stopped with a cry of shock. Already ahead of him, arms folded, stood Boyce. “No, no, no,” Tarin chanted. He turned to run back into the town but Boyce was now in front of him again. Tarin stood, panting heavily. “Vampire?” he asked, his voice so quiet another human would not have heard