Damien gave a guttural growl and leapt like a predatory animal at Sirene who swung her attention on him and with another burst of words from her lips, he fell to the floor bound in ropes much as Fabian had been earlier.
In the midst of all the chaos, confusion and carnage, Adrian’s eyes met Faiths who was standing frozen, tears flowing down her face, and as he watched her he felt his chest tighten at the pain on her face. She looked shattered, devastated, totally and completely broken. Her eyes lifted and she caught him looking at her, and when he met the full impact of the pain in her expression, he closed his momentarily. He needed to shield himself from the sheer impact of the overwhelming desolation he saw. He knew exactly what was wrong with her and he didn’t need to touch her to feel it. She blamed herself for everything that was happening.
Father had turned on son, son turning on his father’s woman, everyone turning on one another. Adrian felt the burn of fresh tears in the back of his eyes. Faith was not to blame for all this, he was. He caused this, from the moment he bit Lucas two years ago and almost killed him. From when he panicked and had turned him vampire, he had inadvertently set the wheels in motion for the scene unravelling before him now. He needed to get to Faith and reassure her that this was not her fault, it was his.
Faith
I wept, I wept for what was happening. I wept at seeing family turning on family and I wept because all this was my fault. I had insisted on revealing Adrian’s secret, and if I was honest I’d done it not just for the noble reason I had given, to free him, to relieve him of the burden of his guilt. I’d done it for selfish reasons too. I thought if he no longer had to live a double life, sneaking around behind his family’s back, that he would be free to be with me.
I met Adrian’s eyes across the room, across the fighting vampires before us, and I could see my pain mirrored in his.
I took a step towards him but he did too so I stopped and watched him, waiting to see what he would do next. He continued across the room, skirting wide to avoid what was happening and he didn’t stop until he stood in front of me.
His hands reached out and closed over my shoulders. I could see flashes of images immediately begin to fill my head but I didn’t want them now, I didn’t want the interruption to this moment with Adrian.
“This is not your fault sweetheart. You must stop blaming yourself. Don’t you see?” He paused, his eyes closing, pain etched across his beautiful features. “I started this, I am responsible. You were merely the catalyst that brought it to fruition. It was going to happen, sooner or later, this was destined. I think I always knew that I’d never be able to hide it forever.” He lifted his hands and gently swiped at my tears with the balls of his thumbs but fresh ones immediately replaced them.
When I raised my tearstained face to his, he was watching me, his expression intense and there was something in his eyes, a look as his gaze moved over me. Through the wash of my tears that blurred my vision I saw his focus shift to my lips and as if unable to help himself, despite what was taking place in the room, he lowered his head, his mouth claiming mine.
At first he did nothing more than move his lips over mine. He didn’t pressure me to open to him; he made no attempt to deepen the kiss. Even when I let my hands slide up his arms and over his shoulders before delving into his hair, still, he kept the kiss light. When I pressed my body against his, my tongue darting out to trail over his bottom lip, finally he groaned. When I began to move against him, grinding my hips into his, Adrian’s control snapped and he yanked me harder against him, his hands moving restlessly up and down my back. Rapidly the passion rose between us and everything was forgotten as the haze of sexual desire consumed us. It was only when an angry female voice pierced the air that we parted. Adrian pulled away from me and it gave me a moment’s satisfaction to see him obviously fighting to get himself back under control.
I turned to see what was going on, and Francesca stood eyes wild, as she looked at us then at what was going on in the room. When I looked around I felt a wave of disgust course through me. I’d let my passion for Adrian, my own selfish need momentarily distract me from the fighting amongst the vampires.
“Do you think you can save the sucking face bullshit until after our family are not about to fucking well kill each other?” She snapped sarcastically and I turned to where the vampires who had once been family, now fought like enemies because of me and my impulsive decision to reveal Adrian’s secret.
“STOP THIS.” I screamed as loudly as I could. The scene before me had calmed slightly since my sister’s attention was off Lucas and focused on Fabian. He was circling her, his lips pulled back like he was baring his teeth and I could see his fangs were down. All the bloody slashes Sirene had inflicted on her were healed over with the benefit of the vampire accelerated healing I noticed, as she kept her bright green gaze centred on Fabian.
The witch herself stood to one side, all her attention focused intently on them, and I knew she was keeping watch, ready to do something, jump in or cast a spell again, whatever would be necessary for her to defuse the situation.
“Stop it, I said STOP!” I cried again and jumped forward, clutching at my sister, trying to pull her back. She lashed out, a reflex response, striking me hard up the side of my head and I stumbled backwards, almost falling until strong arms closed around me and I saw Adrian had caught me.
Much as I could have stayed where I was savouring being in his arms, I pulled free of him and walked back to Flame, blood flowing from where her fingernails had cut my cheek. I grabbed at her again and this time when she lashed out, still too wound up to know it was me since her focus was on Fabian, I leapt at her.
As I hit her from behind, taking her by surprise, she tumbled to the floor, and I went down too, landing on top of her. Finally frustrated with her, with her inability to let anyone explain, to let me explain, I growled and sank my fangs into her neck, drawing her blood into my mouth.
She screamed and bucked up, throwing me off her and as we both rolled, so I ended up beneath her, finally she seemed to see me; really see me for the first time since she’d come home and all hell had broken loose.
“Faith; fuck what happened to you? Why are you bleeding? Who did this to you, I’ll fucking kill him.”
“You did and if you would damn well stop acting like some stupid idiot I would explain everything to you. There was no need for you to attack everyone. Adrian has done nothing wrong; he saved my life and Lucas only did as I asked him to do. No, I didn’t ask him, I badgered him and convinced him that it was the best thing for all of us if he did as I asked. Now can you calm down and stop attacking everyone while I explain what happened? You have no right to hurt anyone and why the hell are you attacking Fabian? He has provided us all with a home, a safe place to live; stop being such a hot headed fool and hurting those who care for you. Look at what you have done, look at the damage you have caused.” I waved my arm around so she would look and hopefully see what her shoot first then ask questions attitude had led to.
She sat up and looked at Damien who stood, still bound by the ropes Sirene’s spell had wrapped around him. “Why are you tied up? Who restrained him?”
“I did.” Sirene spoke up. “I will release him now it appears things are calming down.” She gave some quietly spoken command and the ropes disappeared. As soon as he was free, Damien dropped to Flame’s side and wrapped his arms around her, burying his face into her neck where he held her tightly.
“Damien, you don’t need to hold me so tightly, I’m not going to do anything more ok? I’ve calmed down a bit now.”
“I’m not letting you go babe, I want to hold you, so get over it.” Damien lifted his head long enough to grin at her, and I turned from them, suddenly envious of the love I saw shining in his eyes.
“So it would appear that the drama is over now?” Fabian said glancing around. “You however owe everyone in this room an apology Flame but most of all, you will apologise to my son.” He raised his hand when Flame open
ed her mouth as if to complain. “There will be no arguing with me. You tried to kill my son. You dared to come into my home and attack this man, the fruit of my loins. I am disgusted with you. I would like to see you locked up in the dungeon for a week.”
We all turned when Francesca erupted in peals of laughter, muttering something about ‘fruit of my loins,’ and even Sirene lightly slapped her vampire on his arm.
“Oh Fabian, you sound every one of your six hundred plus years when you come up with that stuffy crap. Flame had no right attacking Adrian or Lucas but I think we all know what it took to conceive our son without you having to use that term, ‘fruit of my loins.”
Fabian gave her a lazy grin, his lids shielding most of his pale eyes as he looked down at her. “Are you making fun of me my beauty? You know what will happen if you do that, don’t you?” He pulled her closer and I watched his lips brush her ear as he said something to her. The look they exchanged at his words was so heated, so sexy; I think I’d have blushed if I was still capable of doing that.
It was a relief that the fighting seemed to be over. I couldn’t believe how quickly it had gone from violent to almost back to normal. Was this typical vampire behaviour? If it was, it was going to be a wild, dizzy ride being a part of this lifestyle.
“So is all the excitement over now?” Francesca asked. “Seriously little Miss Ex Virgin, you sure know how to stir up a crowd and you had to bring him.” She gestured to Lucas.” He’s Mr Sexually Frustrated I presume?”
“Enough Francesca; I think you can leave us now. Your input is not needed from this point.” Fabian dismissed her.
“Oh come on father, you’re always asking me to leave.” She whined.
“That’s because you have a habit of speaking and acting inappropriately.”
“Well can I take him? I’d like to play with him.” She pointed to Lucas who said nothing at her words, merely raised an eyebrow. I was impressed with him. For a vampire who had been locked up like a prisoner for two years, and now suddenly thrust amongst several vampires, one of which was obnoxious and more than a little annoying, he was holding his own surprisingly well.
“I have not finished speaking with Lucas yet Francesca, plus I will not allow you to turn Adrian’s son into an instrument of your amusement.”
“Oh but I just want to fuck him father, not fuck with him. Let me test drive him and see if he’s got what it takes. Plus think of what I’m prepared to do for him. He’s been vampire for two years and hasn’t been able to fuck all that time? Shit, I’ll be doing him a favour. Providing a service if you will. I’ll relieve the poor bastard’s two years of sexual frustration. Wouldn’t you like to fuck me?” She turned her attention to Lucas and I saw him swallow. It was the only outward sign he gave that he was not as cool and calm as he appeared to be. Finally after staring at her for what felt like minutes, he gave the slightest nod and I struggled not to smile. He was interested in her which worked out well given what I’d seen in my visions.
“I think it’s time this whole situation was explained to me.” Flame interrupted.
Fabian turned on her, anger flashing in his eyes. “Oh so now you wish to hear an explanation rather than just attack my son and his son?”
“I’m sure Flame is very sorry for how she behaved, aren’t you babe?” Damien answered before she could.
“I’m sorry Fabian, I’m sorry Adrian and Lucas, but my little sister went out human and returned home vampire. It’s not easy for me to accept, and you know how I felt about becoming vampire myself.”
“You don’t feel like that still do you?” Damien asked, and Flame shook her head.
“Of course not; I have you, I have all of you, and I know I nearly destroyed that but I…the rage was intense and overwhelmed me.” She said in an attempt to excuse her behaviour, but I wasn’t sure there was anything she could say that would be her redemption in Fabian and Sirene’s eyes.
I walked over to my sister and put my arms around her. “You need to control that anger of yours Flame, and you should have let me explain. I’m vampire because this is what I want and without Adrian, I’d be dead now. I begged Lucas to change me, but he’s a young vampire himself and has been locked away for two years, so he tried but he must have taken too much blood, and he couldn’t get me to drink his. Fortunately Adrian turned up and was able to complete the change, he turned me vampire. Don’t hate him, please. Now listen to me, I will explain it all.” As quickly as possible I told her everything from when Adrian accidently turned Lucas, his work to care for his son and Lucas’s mother, right through to when she’d walked into the house and discovered I was vampire. “Please don’t judge him, you don’t know him.” My eyes lifted to hers and I whispered. “I love him.” The words forming on my lips, but without sound so only she could see what I’d just said. Her eyes widened and she started to shake her head.
“No Faith, no, you could do so much better. Not him.”
“It’s my destiny.” I whispered and pulled away from her.
“How can you say that? He’s never given you any encouragement, and the bastard took your virginity for fuck sakes. He took something precious to you, and once he’d fucked you he walked away.”
“He took my virginity because I would not leave him alone until he did, and he left me because he had to go to work so he could continue to support Lucas and his mother.” I explained.
“He walked from your arms, from your bed into the arms and bed of not just one other woman but numerous other women Faith. Don’t make excuses for him. Ok, I get what he did and why he did it, but he fucks women for money.”
“Your sister is right. I am no good for you sweetheart. I am not worthy of someone like you. You are beautiful and sweet and kind and I am...I am...” He paused for a moment. “I am no good…no good for you or anyone.” He turned tortured eyes on me before spinning around and rapidly walking from the room.
“Adrian, don’t go.” Sirene called but other than hesitating briefly, he kept walking. “Fabian, this would be the time for you to do your overbearing, lording it over everyone bullshit and go after your son.”
“No my beauty, let him go. There will be plenty of time to speak more with him. He needs a break from this right now. It has been a very stressful, tense evening and I personally would like to get some rest now. Are you coming?”
“But someone should go after him, make sure he’s ok. He’s very hard on himself Fabian. Our son…” She trailed off. “I’m worried about him.”
“I’ll go and speak with him.” I stepped forward. “I’d better hurry in case he leaves.”
“No Faith, don’t go after him. He’s no good for you, even he said that.” Flame reached out to grab my arm.
I shook her off suddenly angry with my sister’s constant interference when it came to my feelings towards Adrian. “Leave me alone.” I snapped. “Stay the hell out of my life.”
“But…” She started to say until Damien took her arm and pulled her away from me.
“No babe let her go. This is not the time.” He warned her, and after shooting him a grateful look, I hurried from the room, breaking into a run as I headed down the hallway towards the front door.
Chapter Sixteen
Adrian
Once outside his father’s home Adrian paused, unsure of what to do next. He wanted to climb into his car and drive away; maybe go to his own home, but Katherine was there and if he went there, she’d ask questions he didn’t feel like answering.
A part of him knew it was wrong to walk out. All hell had broken loose inside tonight because of him, and now Flame’s relationship with his father had been severely tested and might never be the same again. He’d left Lucas alone with his family, vampires who were strangers to him, although it seemed he was going to have his first opportunity to relieve some sexual tension if Francesca got her way. Reluctantly Adrian smiled to himself. His sister could be such a bitch and he wasn’t exactly sure what her motives were for wanting to fuck Lucas. He could on
ly hope she was gentle with him and made allowances for not only his lack of experience, but his lack of exposure to anyone, human or vampire for the last couple of years. Of course when he thought of that, the blinding reality of the situation hit him. The only reason his son could be vulnerable to being treated like an experiment or played like a toy by Francesca, was because of him. He had done this to his son by keeping him hidden away like his dirty little secret.
Then there was Faith, the one who had brought everything to a head by coming here tonight and revealing all to his family. He wanted to hate her for that. She’d blown his lifestyle right out of the water. Ok, he hadn’t entirely been happy, carrying his guilt around with him every single day. Yet he’d become used to what he was; what he’d had to do to survive and keep his secret. All that had transpired tonight could have been avoided if Faith hadn’t been so hell bent on ‘saving’ him. She’d been so convinced that the truth would free him; that everything would be just fine, but it hadn’t quite worked out like that. His parents were disappointed with him. Ok, they’d tried to shoulder the blame instead, but it was him that had turned Lucas, and it was him that had kept what he’d done a secret for two damn years.
Lucas was probably disappointed in him, and Flame hated him. She’d tried to kill him after all. Perhaps it would have been better for everyone if she’d been successful. Yeah, Faith had opened the gates of hell by coming here with Lucas, but despite the trouble she’d caused him, he still couldn’t hate her. She had such blind faith in him, such an all-consuming, total conviction that she was meant to be with him. Nothing had changed though. His secret might be out but he would need to find someone to care for Katherine. Her health was only going to continue to slowly decline. That would cost money. He needed to work but it wasn’t just the money, it was the regular blood and sex his work provided. Faith would never understand that. He couldn’t give it up because he couldn’t just go out and hunt like his family did. He didn’t know how to hunt. He was afraid of what might happen if he tried. He was used to getting his blood supply from willing women who were basking in their euphoric glow from the multiple orgasms he’d given them. The last time he’d gone and hunted for blood, he’d killed him and sentenced him to two years imprisonment until one annoying, persistent, beautiful, sexy, sweet, kind, stunningly frustrating woman had entered his life and turned it upside down.
Passion For Hire (Passion #5) Page 19
