Stefan nodded, running his free hand through his blond hair. “Yes, it is still a concern. Her punctures heal within minutes of me biting her. I deduced that it may be a side-effect of our blood exchanges.”
A hushed silence fell over the room. Disbelieving and curious looks were exchanged between the group.
“You willingly offered your blood to her and she accepted? Most vampires would never willingly exchange blood with a human, unless if you were choosing to turn them,” Sofia murmured in a mild, fascinated tone. She glanced between me and Stefan, then turned to look at Nigel.
“I did. It sort of happened in the heat of the moment,” I muttered hastily, averting my eyes to observe the pattern on the rug. I had no desire to explain the circumstance to anyone, let alone this group of vampires.
“Stefan, Josephine. Please leave us for a few minutes so we can discuss the matter. We'll send for you when we're ready.” Nigel waved his hand in dismissal.
Stefan inclined his head, leading me out of the large room. We walked down the hallway and entered a much smaller sitting room.
“Come. We need to sit and wait.” Stefan crossed the room and sat down on the couch, opening his arms for me to join him. There was nothing I needed more at that moment than to be close to him. I curled against him, my head tucked into the crook of his neck.
“I needed this,” I mumbled against his chest, snuggling closer to him.
“It is going to be fine, Josephine. Please do not worry,” Stefan whispered against my hair. I felt him place feather-light kisses where his lips had been.
“I know. I just feel like this isn't over, Stefan,” I murmured, leaning my head back to look at his face. He smiled down at me briefly before lowering his lips to mine. His kiss was gentle, slow and consuming. I could feel myself responding despite the situation we were in, my mouth hungry against his. He reluctantly lifted his lips from mine, chuckling lightly.
“I want you as well, Josephine. Let us take care of this business here and we can spend some time alone.”
"We can stay here in New York for a day or two. Just the two of us." His mental words caused desire to burn deep in my stomach when I thought of the things we could do in a day or two. I hoped that our time in New York didn't include sightseeing.
I nodded, placing my head back on his shoulder. My body was close to exhaustion due to the stress of the situation, the 20 hour flight and the time change. I needed a bath, a nap and I just wanted to wrap myself around Stefan and forget about judgmental councils of vampires.
A knock on the door caused me to jump and Sofia peeked her dark head in the door. “Please come back in.”
She led us back into the main room, my eyes sweeping over the vampires again as I waited for their decision.
Nigel spoke, his voice level and filled with authority. “We see no risk as to you being together. However, Josephine, we would like to ask for your assistance from time to time. You have the gift of seeing the futures of humans, which we cannot. From time to time we are faced with the problem of worrying about being exposed by humans. Your gift would be helpful on how to handle the human aspect of the issue.”
“I'll help. I just want to go home,” I readily agreed. I just wanted to see the ocean and feel the sand beneath my feet. Not to mention I was growing tired of feeling like a t-bone steak in a room of starving people.
“You both can go. Stefan, we'll be in touch,” Nigel said, rising to signal the end of the meeting.
“I need to find a bathroom, Stefan.”
He nodded, and I followed him down a hallway to a spacious bathroom, decorated in expensive red glass tile. Heading to the sink I splashed water on my face, taking in my tired expression. My green eyes were bloodshot and my reddish-blond hair a tangle of waves. I ran my fingers through my hair to try to smooth it, but it seemed to make it worse. Patting my face with a fluffy hand towel, I opened the door to see Stefan waiting on the other side. A smile of relief broke over his face as I rejoined him.
“Are you ready to leave?” Stefan asked, his large hand smoothing down the side of my face tenderly.
“Yes. Get me the hell out of here,” I muttered. If I had the energy, I would have sprinted out of the building to escape. I settled on linking hands with Stefan and relying on the groaning elevator for my getaway.
We started down the hallway towards the elevator when a door opened, blocking our path. An otherworldly looking man stepped into the hall, his red hair shining under the bright overhead lights. His clear green eyes were large and almond shaped, his body compact and small boned. His very presence spoke of power and ageless strength. I could feel my mouth open and close as I tried to speak, feeling my heart racing out of control. Looking at this man was like looking into a mirror.
Stefan's arm wrapped possessively around my waist, holding me close to him.
“Josephine, I have been waiting for this moment for 28 years. You are everything I expected and more.” His voice was filled with depth and authority. He was well dressed in a dark suit and shirt and his skin was pale with the same iridescent quality I'd come to associate as a vampire characteristic. “And Stefan Lifsten, you have found your mate. Wonderful!”
Eying him with a calculating expression, I was curious as to the identity of the vampire that looked like me and acted as if he knew me. And why was he so happy that Stefan had met me? Speechless, I could only stare at him in disbelief.
“Have we met before?” Stefan's asked, his voice smooth and guarded.
The man let out a laugh that resonated throughout the entire floor. He stepped closer to me, his green eyes sparkling as his piercing eyes searched my face.
“Stefan, you are always so pragmatic. I am Kian Ahearne. I am on the Administrative Board.” He paused, a dry smile breaking across his face. “I am who you've been searching for, Josephine. I am your biological father.”
My mind slowly closed in on itself like a falling house of cards, effectively shutting down and refusing to accept any other information. My knees buckled and I was aware of the hardness of Stefan's arms catching me as I began to collapse to the floor. The last thing I recalled was seeing Stefan's face hovering above me, his face lined with worry before everything turned black.
###
Swedish to English Translations
Translations from the first chapter
Nog! = Enough!
Jag vill begrava min kuk i dig. Jag vill att du ber för mig att sluta. = I want to bury my cock in you. I want you to beg for me to stop.
Du kommer att vara död för mig. = You will be the death of me.
Knulla det. Jag kommer! = Fuck it. I am coming!
Det var otroligt. Du är en gudinna. = It was unbelievable. You are a goddess.
Translations from the third chapter
Vackra = Beautiful.
Du är vacker när du är arg. = You are beautiful when you are angry.
Translations from the fourth chapter
Knulla det. = Fuck it.
Translations from the sixth chapter
Jag har saknat att vara med dig, din jävla. = I missed being with you, fucking you.
Vackra = Beautiful
Jag vill känna din min på min kuk. = I want to feel your mouth on my cock.
Du är knulla magnifik, Josephine. = You are fucking magnificent, Josephine.
Aldrig nog av dig. = Never enough of you.
Du är min, som jag är din. = You are mine, as I am yours
Ja! Drick mitt blod, min vackra gudinna. Knulla! = Yes! Drink my blood, my beautiful goddess. Fuck!
Translations from the eighth chapter
Jag älskar knulla dig. Din fitta är såvåt. = I love fucking you. Your pussy is so wet.
Translations from the ninth chapter
Jag älskar dig, vackra. = I love you, beautiful.
Jag kan inte få nog av dig! = I cannot get enough of you.
Jag är din och du är min. För evigt. = I am yours as you are mine. Forever.
Translations fro
m the tenth chapter
Inkompetent rövhål. = Incompetent asshole.
Contact Alexandra Anthony
Email me at alexandraanthony80 at gmail dot com and share your impressions of this story. Thanks for your interest in the Vampire Destiny series!
Coming Soon!
Visit my website at www.alexandra-anthony.com to learn more about the next book in the Vampire Destiny series.
08.12.12
Table of Contents
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Fated Page 19
