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  “It would be most accurate to predict that function would improve, but not perfectly. That’s why it’s very important to get your body into peak physical condition before a change, if it is planned. Becoming vampire increases the strengths you already have, which is why Baojia is so strong, even though he is relatively young for our kind.”

  “Got it.” She buttoned up her jeans. They were snug; she’d have to get new ones soon. The thought made her smile.

  There was a long pause until Lucien finally said, “Can I ask… are you leaning toward yes? After you’ve had your children?”

  She took a deep breath and stepped from behind the curtain. the cur “I don’t know. To be completely honest, some days I watch the sunset and think… how could I spend an eternity without this? And then I see him when he wakes up and think, how could I ever say goodbye? How could I ask him to live the rest of his life without me? To watch our children—our grandchildren maybe—without me? Is this too cruel?”

  “He wants this child as much as you do.” Lucien smiled. “Maybe more.”

  She blinked back tears. “So every night I lean a little more toward that compromise. But I don’t know; I still have doubts. What do you think, Doc?”

  She saw Lucien look toward the window that had been blacked out with shutters. A faint glow of afternoon sunlight peeked through. “I don’t want to influence your decision, Natalie.”

  “But?”

  He looked back at her with a rueful smile. “I had to say goodbye. And I didn’t want to live afterward. You have nights you still debate living as a vampire? Well… so do I. So I’m probably biased.”

  Her heart broke for him; she walked over and kissed his forehead. “We’d miss you if you were gone.”

  “I’m sure he’d say the same thing.” Lucien squeezed her hand. “Better get out of here if you want to catch that sunset. You can take a picture for me.”

  “You got it.” She patted the phone in her pocket. It was new. Baojia broke them every six weeks or so. It was a good thing the guy was loaded.

  Natalie left the hospital, walking into the afternoon sun and down the path leading toward the ocean. Her new home rested on top of the cliffs with a winding path that led down to the beach. She was still working on making that walk by herself without a cane or a helping hand, but she’d get there eventually. For now, she sat down on a clump of rocks that overlooked the Pacific and watched the scarlet sun set into the water. She took a few pictures to show Lucien later, and she waited.

  The salt spray rushed up the rocks as the tide came in, tickling her nose with the scent of the living water. The ocean here smelled exactly right. She worked as much as she wanted to and had a new life growing in her. Change was good. Change was living. And the world was always changing. What wonders would she see if she lived as long as Lucien? Would the world still excite her? Could she ever grow bored? An eternity stretched in front of her if she wanted it. An eternity with Baojia by her side. An eternity to watch him change. Watch herself change.

  Natalie heard the door to the house close just after the sun slipped below the horizon. The sky was growing dim, but it was still lit with a last wash of glorious color when Baojia settled behind her, wrapping his arms around her belly and laying his cheek on her shoulder. He placed teasing kisses on her neck, brushing her hair to the side and pulling her closer.

  “How is everything?” he asked quietly.

  “Good. Everything looks good and normal and no problems.”

  “Excellent.”

  She knew her short response wouldn’t satisfy him, and he’d seek out Lucien later for a full report. He was thorough that way. The thought only made her smile.

  He craned his neck around. “What is that smile for?”

  “You. You make me smile.”

  “That’s good news.” His hands teased under the shirt the wind was blowing up. “I’m hungry.”

  “Lucien says you’re stuck with donor blood until my labs come back. He wants to make sure I’m not anemic.”

  “Not that kind of hungry,” he growled.

  “Oh.” She blushed. “Got it.

  “I love that you still blush.”

  “I’m glad one of us thinks it’s funny.”

  He turned her in his arms and kissed her, worshiping her mouth as his hands held back her unruly hair and the breeze whipped around them. She felt her body responding to him as he pulled her closer. His lips teased along her collar, then up to her ear, whispering promises of what he would do to make her blush more. She could feel his smile against her skin. A year. Ten years. An eternity. She didn’t think she’d ever stop wanting him.

  “Why don’t you go for your swim, and I’ll go in the house?” she said.

  “Why don’t you do that?” He kissed her once more, then stood, walking toward the edge of the cliff and pulling off his shirt as he walked. He turned at the edge of the rocks, smiling and beautiful. Startling creature that he was. He was incandescent against the dying day. He ran the last few feet and leapt off the edge of the cliff. She gasped in delight as she watched him. He soared over the water as it rushed up to greet him. The wave caught him in midair and pulled him toward the churning ocean, welcoming him as he laughed.

  Baojia laughed. The deep, joyful sound rushed up the cliff and spread on the breeze, causing her own smile to bloom when she saw him dive deep. His happiness only fed her own.

  “How could I say goodbye to that?” she whispered. Then Natalie turned and walked home.

  THE END

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  Thanks, as always, to my wonderful family and friends who put up with me while I am writing, especially the

  Small Boy who makes me laugh. Thanks to my pre-readers, Kristy, Sarah, Kelli, Gen, and Natalie. Thank you for forgiving my mental instability at odd moments and sacrificing your time and attention to this book. Thanks to Florence + The Machine, whose album, Ceremonials, was my almost constant soundtrack while writing.

  Thanks to the many reviewers and bloggers who promote my work and spread the word online and in person. I am constantly amazed by the level of professionalism so many of you exhibit in what is usually a volunteer job. Many, many thanks.

  And thanks to Johnna for the last minute catch on the egregious Doctor Who error. (I’m still a little embarrassed.)

  Thanks to my editing team, Anne and Sara. Such a pleasure working with you!

  Thanks to my agent, Jane Dystel, and all the team at Dystel and Goderich Literary Management.

  Thanks to my girls. (You know who you are.)

  And thanks, always, to my readers. Thank you for being enthusiastic about this world. Thanks for your encouragement and kind words. I hope I will always do justice to the confidence you place in me as a storyteller.

  Much love,

  Elizabeth

  BLOOD AND SAND

  Copyright © 2013

  Elizabeth Hunter

  ISBN: 978-0-9885205-8-5

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means

  , graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination, or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Cover Design: E. Hunter

  Edited by: Anne Victory

  Formatted by: Elizabeth Hunter

  The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

&nbs
p; For information about the Elemental Mysteries series, please visit:

  ElementalMysteries.com

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  ELIZABETH HUNTER is a contemporary fantasy, paranormal romance, and contemporary romance author. She is a graduate of the University of Houston Honors College and a former English teacher. She once substitute taught a kindergarten class, but decided t

  hat middle school was far less frightening. Thankfully, people now pay her to write books and eighth-graders everywhere rejoice.

  She currently lives in Central California with an eight-year-old ninja who claims to be her child. She enjoys music, writing, travel, and bowling (despite the fact that she’s not very good at it). Someday, she plans to learn how to scuba dive. And maybe hang glide… but that looks like a lot of running.

  She is the author of the Elemental Mysteries and Elemental World series, the Cambio Springs series, and other works of fiction.

  Website: ElizabethHunterWrites.com

  Elemental Mysteries fan site: ElementalMysteries.com.

  E-mail: [email protected].

  Twitter: @E__Hunter

  Find me on Facebook!

  The Elemental Mysteries Series

  A Hidden Fire

  This Same Earth

  The Force of Wind

  A Fall of Water

  The Elemental World Series

  Building From Ashes

  Waterlocked (novella)

  Blood and Sand

  The Cambio Springs Series

  Long Ride Home (short story)

  Shifting Dreams

  Contemporary Romance

  The Genius and the Muse

  THE ELEMENTAL MYSTERIES

  ~~~

  Get the best-selling series that readers, writers, and reviewers have raved about.

  ~~~

  “Elemental Mysteries turned into one of the best paranormal series I’ve read this year. It’s sharp, elegant, clever, evenly paced without dragging its feet, and at the same time emotionally intense.”

  —NOCTURNAL BOOK REVIEWS

  Welcome to the Elemental Mysteries, where history and the paranormal collide, and where no secret stays hidden forever. Join five hundred year old rare book dealer, Giovanni Vecchio, and librarian, Beatrice De Novo, as they travel the world in search of the mystery that brought them together, the same mystery that could tear everything they love apart.

  Praise for the first book, A HIDDEN FIRE, semifinalist in the Kindle Book Reviews Best Books of 2012:

  “A tantalyzing paranormal romance, full of mystery and intrigue. One of the best books I’ve read in a long time. Sign me up for book 2!” —Nichole Chase, best-selling author of Mortal Obligation, Book One of The Dark Betrayal Trilogy

  “Lush with detail and sweeping in scope, the emotional depth that you get is almost unheard of in recent years.” —Stephany Simmons, author of Voodoo Dues

  “A Hidden Fire is saturated with mystery, intrigue, and romance…this book will make my paranormal romance top ten list of 2011.”

  —BETTER READ THAN DEAD

  Get the complete series in e-book or paperback at all major online retailers.

  ElementalMysteries.com

  Table of Contents

  Blood and Sand

  Title Page

  Dedication

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgements

  Copyright

  About the Author

  Bibliography

  Other Work