by Becky Allen
When that was done, she carefully bundled his remains in a blanket pulled from her bed and carried it outside.
Cradling his body to her breast, she let her tears flow unchecked.
The blanket was wet with her tears when she lowered him gently to the ground beneath the branches of a towering oak. Using her own two hands, she quickly dug his grave.
“I will avenge you,” she whispered, lifting him into her arms once more. “I swear it by everything I hold dear.”
She held him close, reluctant to let him go as she recalled the wintry night he had been born. Her labor had been long, but the pain had faded when she saw the pride and happiness on Rodin’s face.
The sun was rising when she floated, as light as a feather, down into the grave. “Rest well, my son,” she murmured as she lowered him onto the ground. “Rest well.”
Chapter 27
For the first time in his existence, Zack woke to find a woman in bed beside him. Had she slept beside him all day? He found the thought endearing.
He had made love to women in the past—many women—but he had never invited any of them to stay the night, nor had he ever spent the night in their beds. Caution was second nature to his kind, and only a vampire with a death wish let a mortal share his lair, or know its location. There had been times, when, for one reason or another, he had been unable to reach his lair. At such times, night had been his pillow and darkness his blanket.
Turning onto his side, he studied Kaitlyn’s face. Her brows were black and slightly arched, her nose small and finely sculpted, her cheeks smooth and unblemished. Her mouth—ever so lightly, he traced the outline of her lips. They were pink and warm, as soft as velvet, and endlessly tempting.
When he drew his hand away, she murmured, “Don’t stop.”
“I thought you were asleep.”
“No, I’ve been awake for hours.”
“Why didn’t you get up?”
“I did. I had lunch with my mom and then, when no one was looking, I came back here.”
Zack shook his head. “Must have made for a long, boring day.”
“Not really.” She rolled onto her side, facing him. “I like it here. I like watching you sleep.”
“Really? I can’t imagine why.”
“Me, either,” she said, smiling. “But there it is.” She brushed a lock of hair from his forehead. “Do you dream?”
“No, but I guess you do.”
She nodded, remembering her earlier nightmare. He gazed into her eyes, those beautiful, clear blue eyes, marveling that she was in his bed, that she loved him. “What do you dream about, Katy?”
A blush crept into her cheeks. “Making love to you.” “Just say where and when.”
“Here. And now.”
It was tempting, he thought, but then, everything about Kaitlyn was tempting. But it didn’t seem very smart, taking her virginity here, under her father’s roof, especially when her father had no love for him. The chances of getting caught were too great. And as much as he desired Kaitlyn, fighting her father was the last thing Zack wanted to do. Not that he was afraid of being defeated. On the contrary, he was afraid of being victorious, certain that, if he won, Katy would hate him forever. And vampires, whether made or born, were capable of holding a grudge for a good long time. Nadiya Korzha was proof of that.
“As nice as this is,” Zack said, kissing her cheek, “and as much as I would love to keep you in my bed, I think you’d better go before your father comes looking for you.”
“But I don’t want to go,” she said, pouting.
“I know, but it’s for the best.” He caressed her cheek. “I love you, darlin’, but I really don’t want to fight your father, or spend any more time in that tower.”
When he put it like that, what could she say?
She started to rise, but he pulled her into his arms, his mouth covering hers in a long, searing kiss that made her toes curl with pleasure. Heat flooded through her, as if a thousand fireflies had taken flight in the core of her being. She pressed herself against Zack, felt the evidence of his desire against her belly.
Now, she thought. He would make love to her now.
And he might have, if someone hadn’t come knocking on the door.
Kaitlyn bolted upright, then looked at Zack, her eyes wide.
“Zack? Are you awake?”
Kaitlyn’s heart skipped a beat at the sound of her mother’s voice. She stared at Zack, panic-stricken. What was her mother doing here?
“Zack? It’s me, Elena.”
He cleared his throat. “Yeah?”
“Have you seen Kaitlyn? She’s not in her room, and no one’s seen her since this afternoon.”
“If you give me a minute to get dressed, I’ll help you look.”
“Thanks. I’ll wait for you in the library.”
“Right.”
Kaitlyn collapsed on the bed. How could she have been so foolish as to spend the day here? How could she have forgotten that whenever she was home, her mother expected them to dine together.
“Relax, darlin’,” Zack said. He pulled on his pants, then peered out the door. “The coast is clear. You’d better go while the going is good.”
With a nod, she hurried out the door and ran to her room, wondering all the while what she could possibly say to her mother. She had never lied to her parents before, but she needed a good fib now.
In her room, she quickly changed into a pair of jeans and a sweater, ran a brush through her hair, then hurried to the library. Pausing outside the door, she took several deep breaths, pasted a smile on her face, and stepped into the room.
“Hi, Mom.”
“Kaitlyn! Where have you been?”
“I . . . was upstairs. In the ballroom.”
“Whatever were you doing up there?”
Kaitlyn tucked her hands into the pockets of her jeans to keep from fidgeting. “Doing? I . . .” She cleared her throat. “Nothing. I was just . . . you know, just looking at the view. It’s really pretty this time of year.” She bit down on her lower lip to stop the flow of words.
Her mother didn’t say anything, merely sat there, watching her.
“Don’t you believe me?”
“Should I?”
“No.” Kaitlyn’s shoulders sagged. She had never been any good at lying. What had made her think she could get away with it now? “I’ll tell you the truth, but only if you promise not to tell Dad.”
“I can’t promise you that.”
Kaitlyn sank down on the sofa beside her mother. “I was with Zack.”
Elena folded her hands in her lap. “You mean just now?”
“Yes. We didn’t do anything, honest,” she said quickly. “He just woke up a few minutes before you knocked on the door.”
“How long were you in there?”
“All day, except for when I had lunch with you.”
“I see.”
“I . . . I just wanted to be near him.”
“Oh, dear,” Elena said, sighing. “You’ve got it bad, don’t you?”
“I love him, Mom. More than anything.”
Elena smiled wistfully. “Yes, I guess you do.” She took Kaitlyn’s hands in hers. “Don’t do anything you’ll regret later, sweetheart. Don’t hurry into anything. Zack is very handsome. And vampires have an allure that’s hard to resist. But you know that. Just be sure that what you’re feeling for him is real, and not . . . lustful attraction.”
“So, how did you know what you felt for Dad was the real thing and not just infatuation, or some kind of vampire glamour?”
“That’s a good question,” Elena said, smiling. “I wish I had a good answer.”
“What made you love him?”
“I guess it was his goodness, his kindness.” She squeezed Kaitlyn’s hand. “And even though he could read my mind, he never took advantage of it. Well,” she added, grinning, “not often. But the most important thing was, he let me be me. That’s important in a relationship, because you can’t chang
e him, and he shouldn’t try to change you.”
Kaitlyn nodded. Zack knew her better than she knew herself. “You won’t tell Dad where I was?”
“No. But remember this, next time it could be your father knocking on the door.” Elena looked up. “Zack, come in.”
“I see you found her,” he said, striding into the room.
“She told me everything,” Elena said, rising. “In the future, I hope the two of you will be more discreet.”
Zack waited until Elena left the room, then, grinning, he took Kaitlyn in his arms. “Looks like we dodged a bullet that time.”
It surprised Zack to learn that the vampires who dwelled within the Fortress spent their waking hours pretty much like everyone else. They watched satellite TV and DVDs, they read a lot, they danced up in the ballroom, they argued and bickered like most married folks, they played with their kids and made sure they were well educated.
It was all a revelation to Zack. The vampires he knew were a solitary bunch. Occasionally, one or two would band together for a while, but as a rule, the vampires of his acquaintance didn’t share territory or lairs. They didn’t trust each other and pretty much avoided one another whenever possible.
But this was the Carpathian Fortress, and tonight both vampires and mortals had gathered in the game room downstairs to play cards. In order for the games to be fair, the vampires and the humans played at separate tables, since the vampires could read mortal minds. Most of the women played canasta or rummy, while the men, and a few of the women, preferred poker.
Zack glanced at Kaitlyn, who stood behind his chair as he shuffled the deck. Zack rarely played cards. Being able to read human minds made winning all too easy, which took all the fun out of the game. Playing with the vampires was far more challenging. He had met a mortal or two who had what was called a “poker face” but they didn’t hold a candle to the vampires. Kaitlyn’s father was a natural at the game, as was another vampire known as Josef.
Zack played for an hour, scooped up his winnings, took Kaitlyn by the hand, and excused himself from the game. He was keenly aware of Drake’s narrow-eyed gaze following them as they left the room.
“What do you want to do now?” Kaitlyn asked as they climbed the stairs to the main floor.
“Doesn’t matter. I just wanted to be alone with you for a while.”
“Sounds good to me.” She nodded as they passed a couple of young vampires. “But I don’t know where we’ll find a place to be alone at this time of the night.”
He grunted softly. The corridor was crowded with vampires and humans.
Hand in hand, Kaitlyn and Zack checked the music room, the library, and the art gallery, but all the rooms were occupied. Zack suggested the dining room, but it was filled with teenagers chatting, listening to music, and playing with the latest electronic gadgets.
“Maybe the council chamber,” Kaitlyn said. But when they opened the door, they saw a number of vampires engaged in a chess match.
“The ballroom?” Zack suggested.
“It’s probably crowded, too,” Kaitlyn said, “but I can’t think of anywhere else.”
Zack was thinking that, if necessary, he would physically eject anyone he found inside, but this time, luck was on his side and the place was empty. Empty and dark, save for the silvery moonlight that filtered through the windows.
“Ah, perfect,” he murmured. Taking Katy into his arms, he kissed her. “I’ve been wanting to do that all night long.”
“And I’ve been wanting you to.” She glanced around, wishing there was a sofa or a love seat. The only seat for two was the piano bench, or one of the window seats that looked out over the valley. Tugging on Zack’s hand, she moved toward the window at the far end of the room.
She sat down on the velvet cushion. Zack sat beside her, his arm going around her shoulders to draw her close.
“Pretty view, isn’t it?” she murmured. “Especially at night.”
“Very.”
“You’re not even looking.”
“Yeah, well, you look at the view you like and I’ll look at the one I like.” His hand cupped the back of her head, drawing her closer. He kissed her gently, as if she might break at his touch. Gradually, his kisses grew deeper, longer, hotter. His tongue teased her lips, dipped inside to duel with hers while his hand slid slowly, seductively, up and down her back.
Kaitlyn slipped one hand under his shirt, her fingernails raking lightly over his back, while her other hand slid up into his hair.
Time lost all meaning as their kisses grew more intense, their touches more intimate. She didn’t protest when he lifted her onto his lap, merely wrapped her arms around him and kissed him again. And again. The evidence of his desire sparked her own until she felt as though she was melting inside.
With desire came the urge to taste him. She bit his ear lightly. “Zack?”
He drew back, a knowing look in his eyes. “Yes, love?”
“Is it all right?”
“You don’t have to ask, Katy darlin’.”
With a moan that was very near a growl, she gave in to the urge to taste him. And when she’d had enough, she drew his head to her neck, reveling in his bite, in the sensual pleasure of it. She had never been intimate with a man, but she couldn’t imagine anything being more wonderful than this.
Reluctantly, Zack lifted his head. His whole body throbbed with need. It was time to call it a night, time to go downstairs before he did something foolish—like make love to her there, on the floor, in the moonlight.
Kaitlyn looked up at him, her eyes wide, and he knew her thoughts were running parallel with his.
“Come on, darlin’,” he said, pulling her to her feet, “let’s get out of here before we get into real trouble.”
“Not yet.”
“Katy, I’m not made of steel. Besides, we’re no longer alone.”
He had barely finished speaking when the lights went on.
Zack glanced over Kaitlyn’s shoulder. Her father stood in the doorway, his displeasure evident in his expression.
“Kaitlyn,” Drake said sternly, “your mother is looking for you. She is waiting in your room.”
“We’re coming, Dad. We were just . . . uh . . . looking at the stars.”
“Indeed. I will wait for you downstairs.”
“Is he going to follow us everywhere we go?” Zack asked.
“I hope not,” Kaitlyn muttered. “Good thing you’ve got so much willpower.”
“Yeah. I don’t even want to think about what he’d say if I’d let you seduce me.”
“Very funny,” Kaitlyn retorted.
“I thought so,” he said with a mischievous grin. “Be a good girl, and I’ll let you walk me home.”
She batted her eyelashes at him. “Oh, Zackary,” she said with a fake, sugary-sweet Southern accent, “ya’ll are so good to me.”
“Okay, Scarlett,” he muttered, taking her hand in his. Side by side, they walked down the stairs, stopping to kiss on each landing until they reached the main floor. Drake was waiting for them.
“Hi, Daddy,” Kaitlyn drawled. “Don’t wait up.”
Drake scowled at her.
“Well done,” Zack said, grinning.
When they reached Zack’s room, he muttered, “I guess I should have seduced you when I had the chance.”
“I guess so. Good night, Zack.”
“What? No kiss?” He glanced down the hallway to where Drake stood, arms folded over his chest, watching their every move.
Zack grunted softly. What the hell. If her old man wanted to watch, he’d give him something to see. Drawing Kaitlyn into his arms, Zack kissed her slowly, his tongue teasing hers, his arm holding her body tightly against his.
She went up on her tiptoes, her arms twining around his neck as she kissed him back.
The enthusiasm of Kaitlyn’s response, the heat of her nubile body, made him forget that her father was watching. Until Drake cleared his throat.
Stifling a grin, Z
ack released her. “See you tomorrow night, Katy.”
Chapter 28
Kaitlyn was surprised to see her mother in the dining room in the morning. Usually, her mom and dad kept the same hours.
“Hi, Mom. What are you doing up so early?”
“Don’t you know what day it is?”
Kaitlyn looked at her mother blankly.
Elena shook her head. “Have you forgotten today is your birthday?”
“It is? It is! Oh my gosh, I can’t believe I forgot that!”
“Zack Ravenscroft must really have your head in the clouds.” Grinning, Elena hugged her daughter. “Ah, young love, it’s a wonderful thing. Happy birthday, sweetie.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“Your dad and I are planning a party for you later tonight, but I wanted to spend today with you, just the two of us, like we used to. What would you like for breakfast?”
“Blueberry pancakes, bacon, and toast.” It had been her favorite breakfast ever since she was a little girl.
“Coming right up.”
Kaitlyn followed her mother into the kitchen. When she started to help, her mother shooed her away. “Not today. Just sit over there and watch.”
Rolling her eyes, Kaitlyn hopped up on the stool in the corner. “What kind of party?”
“Oh, the usual, you know. Balloons and presents and dancing under the stars.” Elena put the bacon in a pan, mixed the batter, and poured it on the griddle. When the pancakes and bacon were almost done, she dropped the bread into the toaster.
“At least let me set the table,” Kaitlyn said.
“Already done.” Elena placed everything on a tray and carried it into the dining room.
Kaitlyn trailed at her heels. “Oh, Mom,” Kaitlyn said when she saw how her mother had decorated the room. “It’s lovely.”
