“I am afraid I don’t know how to dance.”
She sensed that Kearn wasn’t happy, and then she felt something else.
Being here was important to him and it wasn’t just about catching the vampire.
She had to dance with the man or he would throw them out. She couldn’t let that happen.
“It is truly a shame.” He raised his hand.
Amber grabbed it and the whole room gasped.
The man’s red eyes narrowed in contempt, telling her that she had done something wrong. She quickly released his arm. Her heart beat painfully fast against her ribs and she trembled under his scrutiny and that of the entire room.
“I didn’t say I wouldn’t dance with you,” Amber said it so fast it sounded like one word. She took a deep breath to smooth out her feelings, aware that her racing heart was probably drawing as much attention to her as what she had done. “I only said that I didn’t know how to.”
He still looked as though he wanted to call the guards and have them kicked out.
His gaze roamed down to her neck and she was thankful when it carried on, running over her body. She preferred him staring at her breasts than at her throat.
There had to be something she could say that would please him and stop him from signalling security. She couldn’t think with everyone staring at her. Their red gazes flustered her and she wished she could see Kearn’s eyes, could stare into their cool green depths and feel safe again. Right now, she felt like dinner. If the man kicked Kearn out, would they let her go too, or was she facing death?
She felt as though she was staring it right in the face.
The man’s red eyes met hers and he slipped his mask back on. She was failing. Think. It was too hard to when panic was turning her insides to jelly and jumbling her thoughts. Flattery. Flattery got you everywhere and she was sure that he would like his ego rubbed as much as the next man.
“I would not want to be a poor partner for you at your own ball.” She made a dip of a curtsey, feeling silly for suddenly speaking so formally. The man smiled at last. “I only ask that you give me time to learn to be a worthy partner of such a prestigious man as yourself.”
His smile widened to reveal sharp canines. Amber swallowed. Either she was about to become dinner, or he was pleased.
“Stand, Venator,” the man barked.
Kearn got to his feet in one swift graceful move but kept his head bowed.
He hadn’t said Kearn’s name since arriving. Why?
The man’s eyes shifted to Kearn. “I will accept your presence here.”
Kearn dipped his head lower. His hair parted enough for her to see his eyes. There was gratitude in them and deep inside she knew it wasn’t purely because he would be able to continue his mission here tonight. Something else was going on.
“I am only glad my dearest sister could not attend.” The man turned away and disappeared into the crowd.
The music started again.
Everyone slowly went back to dancing and talking.
Kearn remained with his head bowed, his eyes wide now and fixed on the floor. She felt strange inside, muddled and hurt.
“Kearn?” Amber whispered, wanting to look into his eyes and see if those feelings were his. She wanted to ask him what was going on and who that man’s sister was.
“You are very brave to jump into the lion’s den to save my brother.” Kyran stood where the other man had been.
He smiled, his red eyes warm behind his slim black mask. His clothes were similar to all of the other men’s, but Kyran’s stand up collar jacket had black detailing and buttons. His highly polished riding boots reflected the golden light of the candles around the room.
“He is lucky this is our uncle’s ball or your flattery would have been worth nothing.”
“Uncle?” she said.
Kearn moved away a few steps and scanned the crowd. He was ignoring Kyran. Why? She caught a glimpse of his eyes. The hurt was still there in them, and in his feelings, and she wanted to know what was going on. If she went to him now would he push her away? Kyran shifted slightly and she looked back at him. As much as she needed to go to Kearn, it would be rude to leave Kyran alone when he had come over to them, risking the glares and whispers of everyone else.
“Duke Montagu is our mother’s younger brother,” Kyran said and glanced at Kearn, drawing her gaze back to him. “I admit, I was surprised to see Kearn here tonight, and yourself also. So you know about us now?”
She nodded. She knew all about him and the others here. Vampires. Kyran smiled and leaned in close to her, his red eyes fading slowly to blue. His fangs showed between his lips as he spoke.
“Are you scared?” he whispered and Amber lowered her gaze to his chest and studied her feelings. Was she?
Maybe she had been at first, but she wasn’t now. Another feeling overshadowed her fear. Concern. She glanced at Kearn and then met Kyran’s gaze and shook her head. He smiled, no hint of fang in it. His expression lost its cold edge and he looked her over, his gaze lingering on her throat and her dress before settling on her face again.
His smile widened, turning charming. “The duke is right about you. You are as radiant as the night, Amber. Breathtaking.”
A blush scalded her face.
Kearn’s eyes narrowed.
He had heard that at least.
His fists clenched.
Was Kyran trying to upset him? It was cruel to do so when he was already hurt and humbled by his own family and kind.
Kyran looked over at Kearn. “Nothing much has changed in the fifty years since you last dared to attend. It surprises me, but it seems as though the old man retained his soft spot for you. I had thought that out of the attendees, he would hate you the most. Do not expect others to show such restraint. Watch your back.”
Kearn didn’t even acknowledge him.
Kyran frowned, his irises bleeding into crimson and eyes narrowing into thin lines behind his mask. “Kearn?”
Kearn nodded but his gaze remained on the dancers.
“Would you like me to teach Amber some moves?” Kyran grinned and this time Kearn did turn to face them. His expression was black and his eyes were red. “I always was the better dancer.”
Kearn shook his head and came to stand close beside her. Amber felt relieved to have him back with her, where she needed him to be.
A blonde and a redhead woman wearing fine black corseted dresses came over to Kyran and wrapped their arms around his. They sidled up close, all beautiful smiles directed at his face.
“Come away, Marquess Savernake. You would not want to sully our reputations by speaking with this Venator, would you?” The blonde woman smiled widely at Kyran and tilted her head to one side, causing her ringlets to sway. She looked like a doll.
“I would dearly love to sully your name another way.” He patted her hand where it rested on his arm. The redhead on his other arm mewled in disapproval. He smiled at her too and touched her cheek. “I am quite adept at sullying more than one woman at a time, my sweet, no need to pout.”
Kyran smiled at Amber and both women glared at her. They turned with Kyran and walked away.
“Bitches,” Amber muttered under her breath. It seemed they were rampant in every walk of life.
“I can teach you to dance,” Kearn said and her attention was with him again. The worry and hurt had left his eyes and she couldn’t feel it anymore, but she wasn’t convinced that it was gone.
“Was Kyran telling the truth?” The moment that question left her lips, Kearn was looking away from her again, staring into the dancers. He nodded. “If he is your uncle, why was he so cold to you?”
Did it have something to do with Kearn’s mother, the duke’s sister?
Kearn smiled at her. “It is a conversation best saved for another time. Come, I will teach you to dance. Have you ever danced a waltz?”
It was a very polite way of telling her not to ask and not to mention it again. It hurt that he had shut her out when she
only wanted to make him feel better. She was sure that he would if he shared his pain with someone. She wanted that someone to be her. She wanted to know more about him.
“I danced a waltz once with my brother. I hit his feet more than I hit the right steps.”
“You have a brother?” Kearn’s silver eyebrows rose. She nodded and smiled.
“I’m a terrible dancer though. I don’t hold out much hope of you being able to instruct me. I’m going to make a fool of myself out there.” Amber looked at the dancers. Couples spun around the dance floor, elegant and graceful, their heads held high. Vampires or not, they were beautiful and everything she couldn’t even dream of being.
Kearn cleared his throat. “Amber, would you allow me some freedom with your blood?”
A shiver danced down her spine. Her blood? Her eyes widened and her lips parted as her mouth turned dry. He wanted more blood?
Kearn smiled and it was warm and genuine.
“There is no need to panic. I do not need more blood. What little remains in mine is enough to give me control.” His smile reached his eyes and her heart fluttered in her throat at the sight of him.
“You can control me like the other man,” she whispered, lost in how handsome he looked now that he was smiling and no longer held hurt in his eyes. It distracted her from the topic of conversation, drowning out the fear she felt whenever she thought about someone using her blood to control her.
He nodded.
“I would never do such a thing without your consent though.” He looked honest enough, his expression serious once more. “You have my word on that.”
He didn’t need to give his word but it was comforting to have it. The thought of anyone controlling her was disturbing, but the idea of Kearn doing it against her will hurt her. Her vision blurred as she remembered the events of the past few days. She didn’t want Kearn to use her like that, making her do things like that terrible man had.
Kearn took a step towards her and her gaze met his again. The worry in his eyes warmed her heart and she shook away the dark memories of what the man had made her do and say, and nodded.
“Just enough to help with the fancy footwork,” Amber said and looked across the room to the duke. He sat in a tall-backed gilt chair on a stage above everyone, surrounded by men and women of varying ages. They were all speaking to him but he was watching the dancers, putting them under incredible scrutiny. He seemed displeased with everyone. She thought they were all amazing and no one was putting a foot out of place. “I get the impression that if I fail to make an impression on his lordship we’ll be going home early.”
“He is not a lord.” Kearn’s tone was hard, matching his frown. “He is a duke and you must refer to him as such.”
She nodded quickly, taken aback.
“Amber…” His look changed, softening instantly, and the darkness left his eyes. “The only reason we can be here is because of you… because you are… Amber, you are beyond merely beautiful and outshine the radiance of the night. You are as entrancing as the moon and as stunning as the million stars that glitter around her. You are breathtaking to behold, and I am honoured to be in attendance with you tonight.”
Her heart doubled its pace, cantering in her chest. She stared into his eyes, lost in them and what he had said. He thought she was more than beautiful. Her cheeks blazed, burning with the intensity of the sun. His words had been so eloquent and poetic. She had never had a man speak of her in such a way and she was surprised that he had said it, and wished that he had told her earlier, before the duke and Kyran, but perhaps it was because they had voiced their opinion that he had found the courage to voice his too.
She wasn’t sure how to respond so she went to look away but stopped. He hadn’t touched her face, but it had felt as though he had. She had sensed his desire for her to remain looking at him, and had done so.
Was this Kearn controlling her? It hadn’t felt as it had when the other man had done it, forcing her to do things in a way that made her feel as though she wasn’t master of her own body. It had felt as though he had physically touched her to keep her attention on him.
“Thank you for doing such a thing for me,” he whispered.
She warmed inside and smiled. “I haven’t done it yet. Thank me when I don’t make a fool of myself with the duke.”
Kearn held his arm out. The music quietened. Amber hesitated a moment and then placed her black gloved hand on the back of Kearn’s. It felt so formal that her smile widened.
Her nerves increased as they approached the dance floor. The vampires surrounding it parted to make way for them, their eyes on her. They wanted to see her make an idiot of herself. They wanted her to fail. She tilted her chin up. She wasn’t going to fail. Kearn was with her and he would be a good teacher, she was sure of it.
“Have you danced many waltzes?” She glanced at him. He had his head held high, his profile to her, and his green eyes fixed straight ahead. The silver lengths of his hair caressed his cheeks and neck, shining in the warm light of the chandeliers. He looked like the other vampires—noble, beautiful, and powerful.
Her heart fluttered again but not out of fear. It fluttered over the sight of him, and the feel of his hand under hers, and the thought that soon she would be in his arms again.
“Several hundred. I attended the balls every year since I turned one hundred and sixty.”
Amber stopped dead. A couple almost collided with her. They sneered in her direction and she couldn’t believe her eyes. They were a young girl and boy. Neither of them looked over twelve but they held themselves with such poise that they were unmistakably of noble blood. Amber looked around her. There were other girls and boys, varying in ages from young children to teenagers. Had someone turned them?
Kearn moved his hand forwards, a silent order for her to keep walking, and she obeyed.
“They were born vampires,” he said, as though he could read her mind. Did her blood give him that power too? It was a relief to know that no one had turned the children. Kearn had mentioned that he had been born to his parents. It was strange to think that vampires could have children and could age.
“How old are you?” She stared at his face, trying to figure it out. He must have been alive a long time on top of the one hundred and sixty years he had mentioned if he had clocked up several hundred waltzes.
“I was born in sixteen forty nine.”
Amber stopped again. He was over three hundred and sixty. He looked at her with cool eyes as she struggled to comprehend it. He had been alive over ten times longer than she had, and yet he only looked a handful of years older. It didn’t seem to bother him. She smiled at her thoughts. It was normal to him so why would it bother him? He probably thought it was strange that she was aging so rapidly.
“Come,” he said. “We should not keep the dancers waiting.”
“Wait.” She held her hands up. “You can’t drop a bombshell like that and expect me to just dance afterwards. It isn’t normal.”
“I assure you it is.” He placed her hand on his again and started walking.
Amber had no choice but to follow him.
“My species ages at a different rate to yours. Initially, we take ten years to physically age the same as a human would in one year. Our bodies are different. Our heart beats only once per five seconds at resting pace. When we reach five hundred, around fifty in human terms of appearance, the aging process slows again, so thirty years is like one.”
That was a lot to take in. She looked over at the duke.
“How old is he?” she whispered, afraid he would hear and throw her out for asking such a question.
“Duke Montagu is over one thousand years old.”
Kearn stopped again with his back to the duke. Amber stared wide eyed at him over Kearn’s shoulder. The duke was watching her now, a smile curving his thin lips.
He looked barely older than her father but he was really over one thousand. Incredible.
The music started again, low stri
ngs slowly working up to include the woodwind instruments. Her eyes gradually moved away from the duke. Kearn was watching her too, his green eyes warm with amusement. She smiled.
“Ready for your lesson?”
Amber didn’t think she was.
But she nodded anyway.
Looking into his beautiful eyes, she realised that she didn’t care if she made a fool of herself.
Not if she was dancing with Kearn.
CHAPTER 11
Amber looked around her to see what everyone else on the dance floor was doing. The ladies curtseyed to their partners so she did too, going low enough that she would make the right impression on Kearn and the watching vampires, but not so low that she wouldn’t be able to get back up. She rose again and the ladies stepped forwards into their partners’ waiting arms.
She went to touch Kearn’s arm and take his hand.
Kearn stepped back.
“The first thing you need to know is never touch me or anyone above your rank.” His voice was stern again. She had committed a faux pas by grabbing the duke. Everyone here was probably above her. “You must allow your partner to place your hands.”
Kearn gently placed her right hand on his shoulder and held her left, their palms pressing together. His hand was warm and his fingers curled tightly around hers. Both of his hands were steady. Hers shook like crazy.
She swallowed to ease the dryness in her throat but it didn’t help.
“I need a drink,” she whispered and Kearn’s gaze slid to her neck and then back to her eyes. A shiver tripped through her at the flash of red in his irises.
She jumped when his left hand settled against her waist and then they were moving. The tempo of the orchestra was slower than before. It was a triumphant sounding piece, with rising strings and deep brass. The choir sung beautifully but she didn’t hear it. She was lost in Kearn’s eyes and the way he was holding her, moving with her. They turned in slow circles and it didn’t feel as though he was moving her feet for her. She felt in control.
“See,” he whispered and smiled into her eyes, “nothing to it.”
She smiled and his look turned serious, his head tilting to one side. His eyes dropped to her mouth, briefly enough that she might have missed it had she not been watching him so closely. Did he want to kiss her? She swallowed again. She wanted to kiss him.
Forbidden Blood (Vampire Venators Romance Series) Page 13
