Dark Legacy (House of Winterborne Book 1)

by Luanne Bennett

  A sly grin appeared on his face. “Aren’t you glad I did?”

  Exasperated, I headed for the door. “You can leave the way you came. And don’t bother to come back until you’re ready to tell me the truth.” As I reached for the handle, I felt a gust of wind at my back. A pair of wings spread behind me, making me look like an angel in my reflection in the glass. “Crow?” I said, turning around. But what I saw hovering behind me didn’t have the glossy black feathers and onyx eyes of my AWOL familiar. It was a hawk, with sable wings and golden eyes.

  “Dear God,” I muttered, taking a seat on the garden bench outside the door when I felt my legs begin to buckle.

  The bird landed, and suddenly Hawk was standing in front of me. “I was afraid to tell you,” he said. “A vampire is strange enough. I thought I’d wait until we knew each other a little better before showing you the rest of me.”

  “You’re a vampire and a shifter?” I shrugged as a nervous laugh escaped me. “And I’m a witch. I guess we’re both a little strange.”

  I moved over and patted the seat next to me. His thigh brushed mine when he sat down, sending a rush of warmth through me. Instead of giving me some space, he spread his legs wider so he was pressed against me, and I didn’t try to move away. I didn’t want to.

  “Tell me your story?”

  He inhaled sharply and raked his hand over the top of his head. “Well, let’s see. Where should I begin? My father is a vampire, which explains the fangs.” He glanced at me to gauge my reaction. When I raised my brow, he continued. “But my mother was something very different. She was a falconer. A priestess for a coven of raptor goddesses. I got my wings from her.”

  “I guess that explains that stunt the other night when you caught me.” After you threw me off the building! “You refer to her in the past tense. Is she gone?”

  “Dead? Yes. She died a while back. I never met my father though. I assume he’s still out there somewhere, ravishing innocent women.”

  I looked at him, horrified. “Did he force himself on your mother?”

  “No,” he said, shaking his head. “It’s a bad joke. I just meant he’s probably out there feeding from them. My mother mentioned his preference for female blood. It was her way of putting me in my place when I got a little too cocky with women. She used to tell me the apple didn’t fall too far from the tree.” He quickly added, “But those days are over. I’m a one-woman man now.”

  “Don’t get any ideas,” I said when he gazed at me suggestively. I stood up to put a little distance between us. “I am curious though. Why me? I’m sure there are plenty of women in New York who would be thrilled to have you show up on their terrace.” I left out the part about his smoldering eyes and handsome face because I didn’t want to encourage him. As much as I wanted to take him inside, he was still a vampire, and the clan would invade the penthouse with pitchforks and machetes if they got wind of him up here.

  He lost his playful demeanor and pinned me with another intense gaze. “I don’t know what it is, Morgan. You have this…” He hesitated like he was trying to choose his words carefully. “I don’t want to creep you out, but you have this scent that triggers something in me. It’s like a memory.”

  Nothing disturbing about a guy you barely know mentioning how you smell.

  “It’s time for you to leave,” I said, fearing Cabot and the rest of the Circle would come barging in at any second.

  He stood up and started to walk toward me but stopped when I raised my power hand in warning. “You must think I’m some kind of psycho.” He sat back down and dropped his head, showing no sign that he intended to leave, and to be honest, I didn’t want him to.

  “I think you got the wrong impression from that kiss last night,” I said. “That was my fault. I should have stopped it.”

  He looked back up at me, the gold in his eyes turning to amber. “You wanted that kiss as much as I did.”

  Irrational or not, I couldn’t deny it. But my clan kills vampires; we don’t sleep with them.

  I sat back down and touched his arm. “Why are you so warm? Vampires are cold.”

  He huffed a laugh. “Because I’m not dead. My mother was half hawk and half human, which makes me even more of a mongrel. Her genes are dominant.”

  I broached my next question as tactfully as possible. “I don’t know an easy way to ask this, but—”

  “Do I drink blood?” he said, anticipating my question. “I eat whatever I want. Pizza, ice cream, rabbits.”

  “Rabbits?”

  He shrugged and turned to look me in my eyes. “I’m a hawk, Morgan. And yes, I do need blood, but I get it from prey. It all works out in a strange reciprocal way. I’m thankful that I don’t need human blood to survive.”

  I was relieved. I think that would have ended whatever relationship we were building. What a strange life he was living.

  We sat there for a few minutes without saying another word, and I resisted the urge to invite him in. That would have been too dangerous. Not for me—for him.

  The heat between us suddenly grew from a spark into an ember. Then it flamed as he leaned closer and barely touched his lips to mine, teasing my mouth before attacking me with a kiss that made my body arch against his. He pulled me onto his lap, and I straddled him against the bench, kissing him deeper as I threw all common sense out the window.

  The wind picked up behind us, and the sound of flapping wings interrupted what might have been the most spectacular kiss of my life.

  “No!” I growled, scrambling from Hawk’s lap to face the crow that was hindering my love life. “Get out of here!”

  The crow let out a loud caw that rattled my ears and sent Hawk flying into the air with his wings stretch wide. He flew above the crow and headed toward the park, disappearing into the trees. The crow’s eyes followed him, but it stayed put, hovering in front of me with its shiny eyes fixed on mine.

  “I know what you are,” I said, pulling the pendant out from under my shirt. “You’re my new familiar.”

  The crow hovered closer. After getting a good look at the alchemy symbol hanging around my neck, it flew to the terrace wall and landed.

  “You’re supposed to be my advisor, not my babysitter.” The bird perched motionless like a statue, refusing to leave. “Jesus, Monoclaude sent me this?” I said to no one in particular before turning around to go inside.

  No. You brought me here.

  I whipped around to face him. “What did you say?”

  But instead of letting me die, you chose my fate. I’m indebted to you whether I like it or not.

  There were no words coming out of the crow’s mouth, but I was hearing them clear as day in my head. “Let me make this easier for you. I release you from the debt. You’re free as a bird.”

  And where am I supposed to go, looking like this?

  My eyes ran up and down his unusually large form. Eventually he’d probably be hunted down by some idiot thinking he was the Mothman or some other urban legend. Then I glanced at the conservatory. “You can stay in there until I figure something out.” I owed him that much. “But let me make something very clear—Hawk is off-limits. When he’s here, you’re gone. Understood?”

  The crow didn’t respond. His wings caught the breeze, and he flew into the sky and headed toward the Hudson River. I’ll take my chances, I heard fade into the wind as he disappeared from view.

  I needed to have a talk with Monoclaude about that bird, but my exhilaration had quickly turned to exhaustion. Even my mother’s journal would have to wait. Looking out over the park, I suddenly wondered where Hawk lived. I doubted he slept in the trees. I just prayed that damn crow hadn’t scared him off for good.

  “Good night, Hawk,” I whispered as I turned toward the door, the memory of his lips igniting that flame inside me again.

  Sweet dreams, Morgan, I thought I heard him whisper back.

  Chapter 16

  What the hell are you doing, Morgan? Michael stared at me like he wanted to re
am me out for something.

  “I was hungry,” I said, looking at his disgusted face.

  He grabbed the plate and pulled it out from under my bloody hands, shaking his head. “There is something seriously wrong with you.”

  My hunger was so strong it gnawed at my bones. “I know.”

  A beam of morning light streamed through the window, making me wince when I opened my eyes, but I was thankful to wake from the horrible dream. I considered rolling over and going back to sleep for a few more minutes, but with new commissions coming in and a mountain of follow-up tasks associated with weekend auctions, Monday mornings were too busy for anyone to stroll in late. Especially important international auctions like the one we’d held on Saturday. I also intended to find out what I could about Ryker Caspian. You didn’t just hand an auctioneer two hundred thousand dollars in cash and leave with your goods, so there had to be a paper trail of information on his financial records.

  I quickly showered and got dressed. My appetite was nil, but I grabbed a muffin for later and headed out.

  Jakob gave me a once-over when I stepped off the elevator and entered the lobby. “How did it go last night? You don’t look worse for wear, so I take it your newly discovered skill came in handy.”

  “You could say that. I would have bitten the dust last night if it weren’t for you helping me get my power back.”

  He chuckled. “I doubt that. I’m sure it would have found its way to the surface given the circumstances, which I assume were eventful.”

  I stared down at my shoes and relived the moment again. “I didn’t think I could do it, Jakob. That thing had me pinned against a wall with its fangs pressed to my skin, and I sliced my dagger right through its neck. I kind of enjoyed it too.” My eyes came back up to his. “Does that make me a monster?”

  “It makes you a Winterborne,” he replied with a faint smile.

  Edward pulled the car up to the front door.

  “I better get going. It’s going to be a busy day and I’m already late.”

  “Any sign of the crow?” he asked as I headed out.

  I laughed quietly, but I felt sorry for the bird that seemed to be lost between two worlds thanks to me. “I don’t think it’s coming back.” With no time to explain, I headed for the car.

  “Good morning, Morgan.” Edward gave me his usual charming smile and held the door open. As I climbed in, my phone rang.

  “How’d your meeting go Saturday night?” Jules asked. “And by the way, why the hell haven’t you called me?”

  “Good morning to you too,” I said. I’d told her about the invitation to the Circle meeting when she stopped by Saturday afternoon to drop off Ryker’s gift, but I hadn’t talked to her since because I’d been a little busy. She was going to blow a gasket when I told her about the hunt.

  “I thought you got arrested or something.”

  I glanced at Edward in the mirror and lowered my voice. “We went hunting last night.”

  The phone went silent for a few seconds. “Are you shittin’ me?”

  “Would I shit about something like that, Jules?”

  “Jesus, woman. I can’t believe you haven’t called me.”

  I understood her reaction. Jules had known about the Circle almost as long as I had. I’d relayed every detail my mother had given me over the years, and my best friend had yearned to be adopted by my family so she too could wield a weapon against the Night Walkers. But she’d come to her senses and lost her desire to hunt vampires years ago.

  “Meet me for lunch and I’ll tell you all about it.”

  We pulled up to the auction house as I hung up. I let myself out and headed for the door, determined to be productive for the first time since I took leave to deal with my mother’s death. We had a shipment of rare artifacts coming in from a client in Chicago, and each one needed to be appraised and cataloged for an upcoming sale. I couldn’t wait to get back to work doing what I loved, putting my hands on rare objects full of history and mystique.

  “Morning, Kerry,” I said as I passed her desk and opened my office door. When I walked inside, there were a bunch of boxes stacked high on the table near the window. The new shipment I assumed. “Are these from Chicago?” I yelled through the door.

  She came in and handed me an itemized list. “It’s the first shipment. The rest should be here tomorrow.”

  I tossed my jacket on the chair and noticed a small box on the desk. “What’s that?”

  She shrugged. “I have no idea. The guard at the front desk handed it to me when I came in this morning. He said it was for you.” On her way out, she stopped. “It was left by Mr. Caspian, the bidder who bought the Gurdjieff letters on Saturday.”

  I stared at it in disbelief. Ryker Caspian had left me another box, and the thought of opening it unnerved me. “Did he leave a note or say anything to the guard?”

  “I don’t know, but do you want me to go down and ask?”

  “No, of course not. I can go down myself.”

  “You sure? I don’t mind.”

  I waved her off. “It’s fine.”

  It was anything but fine. After she left, I closed the door and sat down at my desk to see what kind of game Ryker Caspian was playing with me now. The box was long and narrow, but it was the same signature green of Van Cleef & Arpels. After lifting the lid, I sat back in my chair, relieved to see a bracelet that looked similar to the ring and earrings, not something more sinister like someone’s snipped-off finger or an ear. Caspian was showering me with jewels. But why?

  Eyeing the bracelet for a moment, I finally took it out of the box to get a better look at it. It had a string of rubies on each side of an intricately carved medallion in the center, and it appeared to match the other pieces as if they were all part of a set.

  “What do you want from me, Ryker Caspian?” I whispered as I put it back in the box and shoved it in a drawer.

  A few minutes later, I went out to Kerry’s desk. “Can you do me a favor? Find out what address Mr. Caspian has on file.” Bidders often took their merchandise with them the day of auction, but a lot as valuable as the Gurdjieff letters would require at least one business day to settle the funds before he could take possession. Either he was coming back to pick them up or we were shipping them to a listed address.

  When I returned to my office, the bracelet was back on top of the desk. I pulled the empty box out of the drawer, positive I’d put it back inside. With my index finger, I nudged it, expecting it to move or do something else ridiculous. Then for some reason I wrapped it around my wrist and watched as the clasp hooked itself. I let out a small gasp as the stones began to sparkle and glow. It was beautiful. Felt electric against my skin.

  Kerry stuck her head through the door, startling me. “That’s beautiful.” When she noticed the open box on the desk, her brow tightened. “Is it a gift from Mr. Caspian?” I’d be curious too if a client gave her such an elaborate gift.

  “No,” I said, stuffing the box back in the drawer and covering the bracelet with my other hand, feeling like I’d done something inappropriate. “It was my mother’s.” I don’t know why I’d said that. The only thing I knew for sure was that the earrings were hers. “Did you find an address?”

  She handed me a piece of paper. “This is the one from his file.”

  It was an address on Riverside Drive. I planned to check it out later, if for no other reason than to make sure it was real and not some fake address just to satisfy the paperwork.

  “Where are the letters now?” I asked, wondering if he intended to pick them up in person, which would reinforce my suspicions about that address.

  “They’re gone. Mr. Caspian had them picked up just before you got in.”

  I glanced at the time. “The banks are barely open yet.”

  “The banks in London are five hours ahead. The funds were already transferred to our account when our bank opened this morning.”

  “Damn it!”

  Kerry looked surprised. “Is something
wrong?”

  “No. I’m sorry.” I felt like an idiot for snapping. Cabot would have had a field day if he’d seen me lose my cool in front of staff. If I’d used my head and anticipated this, I could have had Caspian’s messenger followed. Then I’d know exactly where to find him when I figured out what he was up to.

  I headed for the boxes piled on my table, the bracelet still wrapped around my wrist. “Where did those come from?” I nodded to a couple of paintings propped against the wall. They were covered in padded blankets, and as far as I knew there were no paintings in the Chicago shipment.

  Kerry glanced at them and shook her head. “I don’t know. They must have been delivered by mistake when they dropped off the boxes.”

  I reached for one of them and carefully lifted the protective blanket to check the tag on the back. The frame was unremarkable, black with slight undertones of gold, but the scene was anything but plain. A tingling sensation ran across my arms and down my spine as I looked at the man slumped over a chaise with his head to the side. Blood was coming from a vicious wound in his neck, and three female vampires were ravaging his body.

  “Good God!” Kerry said, grimacing. “They were definitely delivered to the wrong office.”

  My eyes followed one of the female figures, noting the thick blood covering her fingers as she gripped her victim’s arm and suckled from his wrist. The other two were staged in similar poses depicting bloodlust. It was almost erotic the way they draped over the man, their gowns twisted and torn, revealing their bloodstained breasts.

  “I’ll call downstairs and get someone to pick them up.” As she turned to go back to her desk, she glanced at me with a peculiar look on her face. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine,” I said, pulling my eyes away from the painting while I ran my fingers around the chain of rubies on my wrist. “It’s mesmerizing, isn’t it?”

  An uncomfortable smile formed on her face. “Are you sure you’re okay? Your cheeks are bright red.”