“What’s happening to me?” The fear in her voice was palpable.
“Nothing. I won’t let anything happen to you.” Roman stood in one fluid motion, lifting her into his arms and carrying her to the bedroom. He pulled the comforter back and gently deposited her in the middle of her bed. She held onto him when he moved to stand.
“Stay with me.”
Roman wanted nothing more than to acquiesce. If he climbed into that bed, he would take her. Of that, he had no doubt. She had no idea what danger she invited.
His cock twitched with the memory of her breasts before he’d covered her with a towel. The sight of her bare skin would burn behind his eyes for centuries to come.
Roman clenched his jaw in an effort to control his lust. She had the sexiest breasts he’d seen in two thousand years. “I can’t.”
He had to get out of there and regain control. He also needed to check in with Madison for any signs of Simon. Svetlana was the more dangerous one, but the chances of finding her were slim to none. She hadn’t become Queen of the Undead by being careless.
The look of hurt in Lydia’s eyes weakened his resolve, but the demon within was too close to the surface. “Sleep.”
Her lids closed on cue. He stood there for a short time until her emotions quieted and her breathing grew even.
Roman watched her for a few minutes more before fleeing to the guest bedroom. He retrieved his cell and dialed his office.
Madison answered on the first ring. “Hey, boss. I was just about to call you.”
“What’s going on?” He knew she wouldn’t try to contact him unless it was urgent.
“Slutlana sent one of her minions with a message for you.” He could hear her breathing accelerate.
Dark rage poured through him. First Svetlana infiltrates my city then has the audacity to send one of her goons to my property. If she had harmed a single person he cared for, he’d hunt her down, rip off her arms, and stake her with them. “Was anyone injured?”
“No. She sent a newbie fledgling. I could have taken her while wearing heels and a dress. Besides, she never made it past the gate.”
“What did she want?”
“For you to meet her. She claims to have something of interest to you.”
“Where?”
She rattled off an address.
“It’s a trap. I’m not leaving Lydia unprotected.” His fangs suddenly descended and his eyes burned in their sockets. No one touched what was his.
“Of course not.”
“Where is the fledgling now?”
“I sent her back with a note for her master. Mutt boy is following her to see where she goes.”
“Svetlana will kill her if she leads Max to her lair.”
“She will kill her regardless.”
Was that sympathy he heard in her voice?
Roman paced the room. “What did your note say?”
“Fuck off, fang face.”
His lips twitched. He loved Madison’s spunk. For a human, she had more bravery in her little finger than many of the undead he came in contact with, which was one of the reasons why he’d hired her. And the fact that she could dig a needle out of a haystack didn’t hurt. Her skills were unmatched.
“Don’t taunt her, Madison. As I’ve said before, if she sets her sights on you, no place on earth will be big enough to hide from her. Sending the fledgling was intentional and that concerns me. She knows I won’t show.”
“But why is Svetlana sniffing around you? I thought Simon was her obsession of the century.”
“Because I have something she wants, something she and Simon both want.”
“Lydia Hughes.”
“Yes,” he growled.
“I know Simon needs Lydia in order to gain power over the slut of all vampires, but doesn’t the curse only work if she’s a virgin?”
Jealousy was like a knife to Roman’s gut. The thought of another man touching Lydia had his fangs itching to rip out the guy’s throat.
“Partly. It would give him power and bind her to him until death, but not enough power to destroy Svetlana.”
“Okay, then that means the child’s blood would work too.”
“I’m not sure he knows about her daughter, and even if he did, I don’t think even Simon is sick enough to kill one so young.”
A whisper of cloth reached his ears. “I’ll be in touch.” He hung up the phone and tossed it onto the bed.
Roman rushed from the room to find a pale-faced Lydia coming up the hall.
“What about my daughter?”
He stilled.
“Tell me.” Her voice trembled.
“How did—”
“Jacie’s monitor is on. I had a nightmare and heard you speaking when I awoke. Your conversation bled through the speaker.”
He couldn’t believe he hadn’t thought about the monitor picking up his cell signal.
“How’s your—”
“What’s wrong with your eyes?” She gasped, stumbling back a step.
“”Lydia—”
“Oh, my God.” The color drained from her face.
“Lydia, listen to me. Stop.” Roman was behind her in a flash. He picked her up and rushed back to her bedroom faster than a human would be capable of processing.
He covered her mouth with his palm and lowered her to stand in front of him. Fear was an aphrodisiac to a vampire, and hers had to be the sweetest he’d ever smelled. The urge to bite became overwhelming.
It would be so easy to calm her mind, but he needed her to comprehend the dire straits they were in. And the man inside him wanted her acceptance.
“I’m going to let go now. If you scream, you’ll wake the child. Do you understand?”
She nodded. Her pupils were dilated, dominating the blue of her eyes.
“I won’t hurt you.” He inched his hand from her mouth but stayed close. “Deep breaths, Lydia. Everything will be okay.”
He watched her struggle to find her voice. “What’s wrong with your face?”
The whispered words shamed him. He’d give anything to be a whole man instead of the monster that stood before her now.
“Please sit.”
“Tell me.”
His chest swelled with pride over her bravery. She definitely carries Ione’s blood.
“I’m not what you think. I’m not human, Lydia.”
She watched him in disbelief, slowly inching toward the bathroom. “Not human? What are you, then?”
“Please, if you will just—”
“Tell me,” she nearly shouted.
“Vampire.”
Lydia glanced around the room, obviously looking for a weapon or an escape route. A nervous laugh bubbled up. “You’re crazy. Vampire’s don’t exist.”
“Look at me.” He put a finger under her chin and tilted her face up. His fangs were elongated and pulsing.
“How…?” Her frightened gaze locked on to his mouth in obvious horror.
He willed his incisors to calm. “I know it’s hard to wrap your mind around, but I need you to not fear me.”
She paled even more. “In the alley…the man that grabbed me. I remember now.”
Roman’s heart twisted. He hated what he was in that moment more than any other time in his long life.
“Yes. His name is Simon.”
She jerked from his touch. “Get out.”
“I can’t do that, Lydia. You’re in danger. We have to get you and Jacie someplace safe.”
“Safe?” She laughed without humor. “Well, who’s going to save us from you?” She bolted toward the door.
With lightning speed Roman was in her path, catching her before she slammed into him. “Don’t run.” The guttural words sounded as inhuman as he felt.
Her fear called to the demon now clawing its way to the surface, demanding to be freed. Dust motes in the room took on a life of their own. Sounds normally tuned out suddenly roared in his ears. Her rapidly beating heart tilted the scales in the demon’s favor. I
f he didn’t gain control, he’d live with the regret of what might happen for the rest of his unnatural life.
“Calm.” His beast howled from within, rejecting the word.
Lydia relaxed in his hold, blinking up at him with innocent blue eyes, and his chest ached. He hated like hell controlling her emotions, but the alternative was unthinkable. He was too close to the edge. It took everything he had to call his beast to heel.
“You’re okay. We are going to sit over there, and I’ll tell you everything. I’m not going to hurt you.”
“Not going to hurt me…”
Roman gently steered her back toward the bed. He knelt at her feet as she sat on the edge of the mattress. He’d be less intimidating on the floor.
She had a strong mind. He could feel her fighting against his invasion.
“I’m going to be completely honest with you, but I need you to hear me out.”
She just stared down at him.
It felt like a violation to control her in any way. He’d done it thousands of times over the centuries, but it was different with Lydia. He pulled from her mind, and her lost look tugged at his heartstrings.
She brought a hand to her forehead. “I feel sick.”
He noticed her fingers shook. “It will pass.”
“You did this to me.” It wasn’t a question.
“It was necessary, and the only way to calm your hysterics.”
“I’m sorry if my reaction isn’t to your liking. It’s not every day you get told monsters exist.” Her sarcasm wasn’t lost on him.
“Fair enough. I’ll start from the beginning.”
* * * *
Lydia couldn’t believe she sat still for half an hour listening to Roman’s insane tale. Her mind rebelled against everything he’d told her. “Let me get this straight. You’ve been a vampire for over two thousand years. And you knew my ancestors?”
“Yes.”
Her thoughts turned inward as memories of her most recent dream came rushing back.
Cemeteries surrounded her on all sides. Bony fingers clawed at her skin, pulling her down to the earth’s cold, damp surface. A scream formed in the midst of her terror, trapped by the hands now encircling her throat.
Her father’s unfeeling stare as he turned from her pleading.
A man rose from the fog riding a great white horse. His eyes glowed red with demon rage. “Ione!” His shout echoed around her to be swallowed up by the darkness.
Her voice whispered his name while her life’s blood spilled out into a shallow grave. “Roman.”
Lydia shook off the remnants of the nightmare and jumped to her feet. “I have to go.”
Roman stood, blocking her path to the door. “You don’t have to be afraid; I’m no threat to you.”
“There’s a man claiming to be a vampire in my home, in my bedroom. Excuse me for not throwing confetti.”
“Simon is a danger to you. Pack a few things for you and Jacie. I’m going to get you out of here.”
Lydia’s heart sped up. “What does he want with me? I’m just a single mom who works in the local hospital. There’s nothing special about me.”
Roman cleared his throat. “It’s your blood he wants. It’s cursed.”
“Cursed? Explain.” Things were getting crazier by the minute.
She listened to him recite the story of King Barbatus.
“You’re a descendent. Simon thinks if he takes your blood he becomes powerful enough to kill Svetlana, his maker.”
Lydia’s laugh bordered on hysterical. “You expect me to believe all this?”
“I know how it sounds.”
“Okay, let’s say for the sake of argument, it’s true. Then why didn’t he just bite me in that alley?”
“He would have if I hadn’t come along.”
Lydia couldn’t believe she was entertaining his delusions. “How does he even know about my blood in the first place? I’m adopted.”
“He’s done his homework.”
“This is just too much. How do—”
Jacie’s cry cut off her words. “I have to check on her.”
Lydia skirted around him, escaping to the hall. She glanced back when she reached her daughter’s room to find Roman following her. “I’m going in alone.” Opening the door, she slipped inside, closing it softly behind her.
Another nightmare, Lydia thought as she crept over and sat next to Jacie on the bed. One of the side effects of the medication she took. “Hey, sweetie.”
Jacie rolled toward her and muttered something in her sleep, her eyes dancing around behind her closed lids.
“Shhhh. It’s okay,” Lydia whispered, lightly touching her cheek. She’d give anything to take her daughter’s place and fight her demons for her. Her heart ached for her suffering and lost youth.
Lydia stayed with her long after she calmed and her breathing evened out, stroking her little back and humming softly.
Her thoughts drifted back to the conversation she’d had with Roman. Vampire. As ridiculous as it sounded, she knew he spoke the truth. His eyes, the fangs she’d witnessed resting on his bottom lip, his speed, and the guy in the alley were all evidence enough that vampires did in fact exist. And a very handsome one stood just outside her daughter’s room.
Lydia glanced at the closed door. Something told her he wouldn’t hurt her or Jacie. He could have killed them both by now. He saved my life.
Another thought occurred to her. If Simon wanted her as Roman said, that meant Jacie was in danger also. Her heart skipped a beat.
She leaned over and kissed her daughter’s frail shoulder, breathing in her precious scent. I won’t let anything happen to you. I promise.
Chapter Eight
Simon paced the halls of the two-story home he’d rented on the outskirts of town. He hated waiting almost as much as he hated Svetlana.
He knew Roman wouldn’t leave Lydia’s side. If he’d touched her, Simon would flay the skin from his two-thousand-year-old bones and feed it to him. It had taken him years to locate Lydia, and he’d be damned if he’d give her up to the likes of Roman Castillo.
Simon hadn’t been happy to find out that Lydia was no longer a virgin, but her blood would still have the desired effect of freeing him from his maker. Once free, he had all intentions of sending Svetlana to her eternal grave. If he couldn’t be the world’s most powerful vampire, he’d settle for a self-ruling one.
A thought suddenly occurred to him, and he slowed his steps. Lydia’s daughter.
Simon vaulted up the stairs to the room where he’d stashed Jeanie. She lay across the big bed with her hair covering most of her face. She’d been unconscious since he’d willed her to sleep earlier that night. He’d driven her car back and parked it inside his garage in case someone went looking for her.
He sat on the edge of the bed and brushed her hair back. “Wake up, Sleeping Beauty.”
Her eyes fluttered open, blinking several times before she focused on him. He saw the second realization dawned. She scrambled back against the headboard, her eyes huge with fear. “W-where am I?”
Her terror seeped through his skin, tickling his sadistic side. “No worries, my pet. Let’s play a little game. You’ll like this particular game. It’s called Jeanie Lies and Jeanie Dies.”
Simon watched with humor as her frightened gaze darted around the room. “You think to escape? Whatever would the neighbors think if you were running and screaming through the streets? Wait. There are no neighbors.”
“Please…”
“Yes, do beg. It gives my fangs an erection.”
“Please don’t hurt me. I don’t want to die.” Tears sprang to her eyes, and she swiped at them with trembling fingers.
The erratic beating of her heart barely fazed him. It served only to push the blood rapidly through her veins and to bore the shit out of Simon.
He exhaled a theatrical sigh. “I’m not going to kill you, Chatty Cathy. At least not yet.”
“Wh-what do you want?” She hudd
led up tighter against the headboard.
“A steak.”
She stared back at him with a blank look. “I don’t—”
“Get it? Of course you don’t. It means that I haven’t had a steak in centuries and would literally kill for one.”
He laid two fingers against her lips when she attempted to speak, pressing into her mind. There would be time to play with her later once he had his prize in hand. “Tell me about the child.”
“The child…”
Simon listened attentively as Jeanie told him about her time spent with Lydia and Jacie.
The child is sick.
“You saw her with Dickhead. Did they appear… How shall I say this? Intimate?”
“Dickhead?”
“Roman. The man who brought her home tonight.”
“She hadn’t wanted him to stay…” Jeanie’s unfocused gaze locked on a place beyond his shoulder.
Simon pushed deeper into her mind. His power of persuasion was strong. It didn’t take much.
She moaned and closed her eyes.
“Jeanie, I need you to do something for me.”
“Do something…”
“Bring me the child. Think you can do that?”
“Yes…”
* * * *
Strong emotion washed over Roman. He laid his hand against the cool wood of Jacie’s door, soaking up the love Lydia poured into her child. An ache began in his chest. A deep longing for what she unconditionally gave to the little girl. It stunned him how much he craved it in that moment. He shook his head and let his hand fall away.
The door opened seconds later to admit a pale-faced Lydia.
Roman took a deep breath, stepping aside. “Is everything okay?”
She pulled the door shut and spoke in a hushed tone. “She has nightmares often from the meds she takes.”
“How long has she been sick?”
“Two years.”
Her grief and helplessness at the situation almost choked him. He wanted to wrap her in his arms and take away her pain. “I’m sorry, Lydia.”
She only nodded and slipped past him. He stood still until she’d disappeared inside the kitchen before he got it in gear and trailed after her. He could no more stay away from her than he could waltz into the sunlight. She had that effect on him.
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