My head was light; the deep colors of the room were brighter to me. Even from across the room I could feel the fire’s glow, as though I sat on the hearth.
I curled up on my side and held my burned hand out in front of me. I rode out the after-glow of my first blood exchange and tried to ignore the lonely ache deep inside me; not for David, or for home, but for the strange creature who had taken me against my will and held me captive. It was a sickness to want to know him; not just about his kind; the man who had fought his own brother to protect me. I ‘d heard pain in his voice as he begged me to let him heal me. Those weren’t the actions of a monster.
The darkest feeling in me was the war between everything I had known before and my fascination with the emerald-eyed stranger whose tainted blood still coated my tongue with metallic sweetness and ran through my veins like fire.
Chapter 12
There was sunlight on my face when I awoke. It was so bright against my eyelids that I was afraid to open them so I lay very still and listened for anything that could tell me where I was. Still air and the musky smell of old stone and the passage of centuries surrounded me. I gathered my bravery enough to crack one eyelid. I was in the fortress or castle, after all, but not in my room. I forced myself to unwind the bandage from my hand while I was still partially hidden by my bedding, as though it would also protect me from whatever I would find.
I drew in a shaky breath as the bandage fell away to reveal almost unblemished skin. Only the barest marking of the burn remained. It was weeks— maybe months— healed. I didn’t know if that was from the vampire blood or if I had been held even longer while I was unconscious. Either way, I wasn’t about to be killed and that thought gave me the bravery to poke my head out completely and look around.
So much light surrounded me I could almost convince myself that I hadn’t been kidnapped at all. I had fallen, bumped my head, and woken up here and in my inured state conjured dreams that combined my history and life with the Venatores. Then I looked again and my heart sank into the pit of my stomach. The windows were high up and while sunlight had fallen on my face, I could see the gears and pulleys that would drop a metal cover over them, shutting any trace of light out.
Along the walls were bright, well-preserved tapestries. They hung all around the room and told, in the most graphic pictures, a story of violence and death: a story where vampires hunted peasants and aristocrats alike and bathed in the blood of their victims. Such grisly displays made my stomach heave. Still, I had to get off the island of comfort that I hid in and the door was only a few steps away.
I slipped out of the bed and my feet landed silently without even a whisper as my bare soles hit the stone floor. The stone itself wasn’t cold to the touch and belatedly I realized I didn’t feel cold at all, even though I was naked. It was as though the air had warmed itself to the temperature of my skin. Or, I thought with a shudder, my skin had cooled to the temperature of the air. I felt my wrist and was relieved to find a strong, steady pulse there.
I wrapped myself in a coverlet from the end of the bed for modesty’s sake, and slunk to the door. I reached out with my ability to feel for signs of anyone on the other side of the door. I felt no presence, but received something like a sonar image of a stone corridor that turned a corner not far from the door. I inhaled sharply; pleased with how much my skill had grown and how much clearer the image was than any I’d gotten before.
Of course; the door was locked from the outside and I kicked it angrily, stubbing my toe hard. My eyes teared up and I pressed my back to the wall, biting off a curse. I held my breath and listened. When no sound came from the other side, I released the breath I’d been holding and continued to inspect my surroundings.
I dropped the blanket and wandered around the room, touching furniture, books, anything within reach; reveling in the sensation of the different textures under my skin. I looked down at my hands. My hands and arms were still mine but like I was wearing a new skin for the very first time. I found the only truly familiar thing in the room when I sat in a high-backed chair and drew my knees up to my chest, heels resting on my bare buttocks.
I happened to glance next to my seat and all by itself, lying on the table as though it was left for me; was the leather packet that contained Dominique’s spells. In the light of day, they were far easier to read, and I retied the leather thong and lifted it into my lap. Underneath it was a small piece of parchment, folded in half. I opened it and read the note.
Lady Caroline,
It grieves me to have to use such an impersonal method to give you such a deeply personal piece of news. However, if my business detains me, you cannot wait until night has fallen to learn what I am about to speak of.
I will keep my promise of returning your own foster brother to your people. However, I cannot promise that violence will not follow back to us. You were taken with war in mind and though I know you wished to leave with him; it is something that I cannot allow. You will understand more as night falls, but you are likely already feeling the effects of the blood exchange between us. When the sun goes down you’ll feel it more, and you will need to be with us to avoid the dangers thereof.
I must thank you. In finding David, you unwittingly uncovered my brother’s ambitions, which have increased these last decades while he was leading the coven. I was not aware of my brother’s ability to block me from his mind and once I pulled the thread that you uncovered ; his plan to replace me as Master of the City was exposed. I do not know the breadth of his betrayal. For this reason, you have been moved to my own quarters for your safety.
As intriguing to me as you are, I would not have wished for this to be the reason you stay with us and I hope that you understand no deception was intended when I healed you. I thought only of healing your injury, which was most severe.
Most Sincerely Yours,
Lord Nicholas De Elbrecht
I read the note again, then stood and examined my body. My hand, if possible, looked even more healed than it had minutes before. I shuddered; cold despite the absolute lack of a chill on my skin. If this was what vampire blood did to me in the warm light of day, how much more did I have to look forward to when night fell? Determined to rise to the challenge, I tried to clear my mind. There were no clothes in sight for me and I hoped that meant someone was coming for me. As if my thoughts were being read I heard the metal on metal grind of the pulley system above my head and the metal covers clattered into place, sinking the room, and me, into darkness.
My eyes adjusted fast and I could tell the depths of shadow apart; so when the door opened, I could see the difference between the dark inside the room and the heavier dark of the hall outside. Nicholas entered the room and I covered myself as best I could with my limbs, watching him. When he realized I was out of bed, his face turned and I could tell from the flash of his eyes that he had found me. He picked up the fallen coverlet and swung it over me, letting me tuck it in around myself.
“You will have help to dress soon,” he said curtly.
“I only want Rachel to help me,” I replied. He dipped his head in agreement.
“Thank you,” I replied.
“You can see me.”
“A little,” I admitted. “You’re a less dark shadow on black, but I can see you.”
“Are you angry?” His voice was devoid of emotion, but there was regret in his words.
“I was in so much pain, I couldn’t have told you no if I wanted to.
“As soon as the others had him, all there was, was blinding pain,” he reminded me
“You felt my pain?” His form paced; until with a curse, he bent toward the fireplace and a flame leaped from the logs.
“Yes, I could feel, or, rather hear your pain, screaming in my head.” I nodded, and glanced toward the fire. “How did you do that?”
“That, well, that was just natural gas and an ignitor, you could’ve started it anytime you wanted.” He looked away from me and cleared his throat, while I sat back, feeling l
ike an idiot.
“So, not vampire magic?” I said drily. He turned to face me, and the air whooshed out of my chest. His face, ruggedly handsome even in its usual brooding expression, was made irresistible by his smile. I closed my mouth and tried to hide the blush that I felt climbing my spine to spread over my chest and shoulders to my face. I dropped my eyes and went still as his shadow fell over me.
When I looked up from under my eyelids, he was over me, his face as close as he had been the night before. The memory of his touch made my heart speed up and I licked my lips; trying desperately to think of something to say, that would make him stop staring into my eyes with that hunger.
“You are such an old soul, for one so tender in years,” he whispered softly. My body trembled from the brush of his breath over what little skin was exposed and I wished I’d covered even more of myself with the blanket.
His lips brushed my forehead and I turned my face up to him as his lips came down again, brushing my lips once, twice, and then again with a deeper kiss, until I pricked my tongue on a fang and the swift pain brought me back to myself.
“You were in my head!” I gasped, ineffectually shoving against his chest. He stepped back from me, anger plain on his face for a split second, before it smoothed out to its usual unreadable calm.
“Whatever gives you peace from your hypocrisy, my lady,” he said coolly. I knew that he hadn’t done any more than I wanted him to and bit my lip to stop talking. I changed the subject before I was forced to face my own desire for not just that kiss, but more; so much more I didn’t understand what it was I wanted. He spun on one heel and strode toward the door.
“Wait,” I called out, my voice cracking with emotion, “Please don’t go. Not like this.” He turned his head toward me.
“Then how should I go?”
“Please stay with me. How long have I been here? I have been alone in the dark for years, it seems. I thought you wanted to talk to me.” He slowly turned his body to face me.
“Perhaps I should find someone else to speak with me. A Venatores hunter is not an appropriate choice in a consigliore or liaison with the outside world.”
I raised an eyebrow at his words.
“It would seem to me that there is no one better to advise you on the world than someone who lives on both sides of the veil between humanity and the creatures of the night” I countered, tucking my cover under my arms and pushing it in at my sides so it looked like a dress. “I still want to go home. But, you and Rachel, and even Colette, in her half-crazed way, have taken care of me and tried to keep me safe. Let me do what you had me here for.”
He slowly walked back to the fire and sat in the other chair. He looked me over and I flushed again, my eyes dropping to my lap.
“Why do you do that? Drop your eyes like an errant child under the scrutiny of a parent?” he asked, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth when I glanced at him.
“You remember having parents?” I asked, amazed.
“Not as much as I have experienced being the parent, of sorts. These are monsters to you. To me, they are my children, the good ones and those who vex me, equally.”
My shoulders sagged. “You aren’t all monsters,” I admitted. “But, Vittorio won’t be punished for what he did to me and David?” I asked him, doing my best to keep my voice measured and calm.
“He is already being punished. He will not be killed so don’t ask for it. He’s special to me. He was my brother before we were turned and is the last surviving member of my birth family. And now, it is time for you to answer my questions, tiny hunter.” His voice was gentle. He smiled at me and my heart melted.
“But you have so much more to teach me. What can I do, tell you the best cell phone provider and steer you toward the coolest clothing stores? I’m seventeen and I feel younger in terms of the world. I don’t know anything, except what the Venatores want me to. Because of you, now I know that’s practically nothing.” I took a breath. “But you must know so much, about where I’m from, and what I can do with this ability in my head.” I leaned forward and touched his hand without thinking, forgetting to breathe as electricity shot through me. I sat back and twisted my fingers together, afraid to look in his eyes.
“You are very brash, for one who seems so afraid of herself.” He chuckled and my eyes met his as I glanced up in surprise.
“I’m not afraid of myself, I’m afraid of everything else,” I corrected him, embarrassed and ashamed.
“And yet, the only times I’ve seen you afraid, have been when you were confronted with your own power, your own emotions, and your own beauty.”
I crimsoned, my face hot. He leaned forward and took my hand, making me tremble as a tingling sensation pulsed through my body. “You are beautiful, and wise, it is easy to forget how young you are.”
“How old were you, when you were changed?” I asked taking my hands back from his grip.
“I was twenty-two years old. Almost a man,” he scoffed. “Vittorio was nineteen. Even then, he had a predilection for causing fear in women. He preferred them uncertain and unbalanced when he courted them.”
I shook my head at him. “I admit, this blanket is not enough cover if he’s going to be the topic.” I shuddered as the mood changed with mention of his brother’s name.
“We are, who we are. When we’re infected, we don’t change; we simply become more of who we already are. Hunting our food is necessity. Not all are cruel; some refuse human blood altogether. Others,” he sighed and stared into the fire, “others were never human, and they too become even more monstrous than they were.”
“But you let them live,” I coaxed, and he scoffed and stood, towering over me with the flames behind him, casting an eerie shadow.
“You live among hunters, who do not discern between good or evil, but if given the chance will hunt everything and anything that is different from them and you presume to judge me?” he stated. His voice was cold and flat and my mouth dried up even as my palms dampened. “What exactly was your brother up to, when you were taken? He is a predator too, after all. How long would you have looked the other way as he used his ability to prey on the women around him?”
“He can’t help it!” I began, but something in his eyes made me stop. “You have that same ability,” I accused him. “I’ve felt it and seen it work.”
“But you do not feel it now, do you?” He asked, coldly. For the second time in hours, tears stung my eyelids as I realized the truth of what he said.
“I think you were right, after all. I’m sorry I asked you to stay, you have much more important business to attend to,” I said. I was proud that at least my voice did not betray the pain I felt as I thought about how long I had desired David; possibly against my own will.
“I’ll send Rachel to you. You need to be dressed before you say goodbye to your David.”
“He’s not my—” I started to argue, but slammed my mouth shut and nodded. He left without a sound besides the loud click of the door being locked. I was left reeling from the understanding that my best friend had used his glamor on me for years to manipulate me. It wasn’t until I felt the darkness fall over the last rays of a sunset I couldn’t even see; that I realized I had failed to ask what should have been the most important question of all. What was going to happen to me now?
Chapter 13
It was only a few minutes before Rachel joined me, her arms full of fabric. She didn’t greet or speak to me and I was afraid that my last words with her master had pushed him too far. I obediently stood and moved as she gestured, helping her dress me, and tried to fight my tears. She had been kind, almost warm, but it was my fault for forgetting what she was and what I was to her.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, the words slipping out without my meaning them to. I thought of Simi; the bold, brash hunter who had pushed me harder than any of the others in my class. I also thought of Dominique who had told me I was special and given me her own spells to learn from on my own. I was apologizing to t
he vampire for being a hunter. In my thoughts, it was the hunter’s I was too ashamed to face again.
I felt a hand on my shoulder and when I turned the eyes peering into mine weren’t angry, but sympathetic. Rachel winked at me and walked over to the wall nearest the bookshelves. She turned an old-fashioned switch I’d missed in my exploration of the room and low, flickering Edison bulbs glowed. She motioned me to her and when I got close enough; she pulled down the collar of her dress to show me a long, crooked line of dried blood across her throat. I gasped and she folded her collar up.
“Who?” I asked, but I was sure I knew. “Nicholas?” I suggested, and she shook her head. “Vittorio.” I growled. She set her mouth in a thin line. “How?” I asked then waved my hands. “I’m sorry. It’s not my place, even if you could speak.”
“Oh, she’ll be talking soon enough,” said a low, husky voice that sent chills down my spine.
Adored by The Dragon: (The Dragon Lord - Book 3) (The Dragon Lords) Page 85
