He circled the desk twice before lowering his frame onto the throne-like chair.
The beast within him was hungry. For a week, he had refused the demon’s call to feed. He needed to rebuild his strength, but he loathed the vampire within him with such a passion that he would rather starve than give into it’s demands.
The bag glowed a seductive crimson in the candlelight, taunting him.
He brought his elbows up, resting them on the polished edge of the desk.
Remember the taste, his demon whispered. Remember the warmth.
Memories.
They always came with blood, united as one. Memories of sin, torture, screams of fear, screams of unimaginable pain, and death. Always death.
Did he dare drink? Should he risk falling into a maddened rage?
He needed to feed. He needed to keep his strength up and build his power. Hadrian could feel his madness build in the back of his mind. Like a shadow, it lurked ever closer. A bloodcurdling shriek rang in his ears as his entire body began to shake.
No.
He gripped his head, his fingers dug into his skull. The stinging scent of smoke clouded around him as he struggled against the memories. A deep, satanic laughter filled his head. Imbrasus stood over his victims, who cowered in the corner of their crude hut, flames licked ever closer. A mother wrapped her arms about her children as her husband tried to combat the fire with his tattered cloak.
No. No!
His chest heaved as he desperately drew in the cool crisp air that surrounded him in reality. The memories…he was not there. He was in his castle. He was not there.
The flames grew higher as they advanced on the humans. Imbrasus’s eyes danced with murderous laughter as he watched. He stood in the doorway, blocking the only exit. He held a woman by her hair as she wept, blood and bruises colored her face.
“You didn’t listen, girl,” Imbrasus snarled. “Perhaps I should feed the flames with your useless carcass as well.”
Hadrian lashed out, sweeping his arm back. His chair splintered against the stone floor.
Burning flesh, the aroma was so strong he could taste it. Bile rose in his throat. He covered his nose as he staggered to the balcony, taking in gulp after gulp of clean winter air.
Anger filled his heart as the scene continued to play within his mind. If only he could have been there. He would have taken great pleasure in watching his maker, the Father of his clan, burn to ash.
Another scream sounded as the girl cried out for her family. Imbrasus continued to laugh as the shrieks of his victims vibrated the night, then he shoved the girl to the ground. She kicked and scratched as she fought the depraved vampire. Her fear was a sweet, alluring perfume, urging the beast on.
Rage began to pump like gasoline through Hadrian’s veins as the scene continued. He found himself praying that he could save the girl, but he knew well how this memory ended, just like all the others.
He violently shook his head as his hips collided with the balcony wall.
When had he stepped outside? It didn’t matter. He needed action.
Run.
With a glance to the snow covered lawn below, he jumped. His feet hit the ground without a sound, his boots leaving the slightest impression. Shutting down his senses, blocking everything out, he ruthlessly shoved his maker’s evil memories aside and ran. As fast as he could, he ran, tearing through the labyrinth, across the frozen lake, deep into the darkness, seeking refuge amongst the trees.
His rage fueled him on as he crashed through the dense forest.
Run. Keep running. Escape the memories. Escape the death.
Chapter Four
Eva groaned when the clock on the mantle elegantly chimed three. She slid from the bed and began to pace the room again. She could not stop thinking about her encounter with the king. He was a powerful, mysterious, and all together lethal vampire and he had made her desire him. She had struggled to find a logical explanation to her reaction, but came up with nothing. With a sigh, she acknowledged that her confinement was not helping her bewildering thoughts and restlessness.
She circled about the room. Though the space was large and stylish, she felt trapped. At her father’s village, she had been treated like a prisoner, always locked away, always caged. She craved movement and she wanted out. Now. But Falcon was right, she admitted, she could easily get lost and she did not want to be caught by the king again.
Or did she?
No, of course not.
She paced by the door for the hundredth time, casting a longing glance to the knob. It wasn’t locked. Maybe, if she just stepped out into the hall for a moment she would feel better. She shook her head. No, she would wander away. She would be unable to resist the urge to roam. In frustration, she threw her hands in the air. Hoping a shower might help calm her, she went to the dark polished dresser and pulled out a set of pajamas before stomping to the bathroom.
Having inspected the washroom earlier, she had been pleased to find it stocked with all the necessities. After placing her neatly folded pajama pant and tank top set on the counter, she grabbed a bottle of body wash, then studied the collection of expensive shampoos and conditioners and randomly selected a French pair. She turned on the shower and quickly ditched her t-shirt and sweats.
The warm water that rained down from the numerous showerheads was soothing. She took her time bathing and washing her hair, savoring the heated water and privacy. For the past ten years she had bathed in a communal shower with chilled water. Well, no one had actually bathed with her, no one dared to be that close to the half-breed.
“Another positive check for the vampires,” she said as she sat on the bench, basking in the heat and steam that gathered in the roomy glass shower stall.
God, she had missed true civilization. The shifters she had lived among envisioned themselves superior to the human race, deciding that living in the jungle with few modern amenities and technology was the way to go. She rubbed the back of her neck and snorted. The pack was nothing but backward, from their views of the world, of women, of war, everything. Why could they not be like most other shifter packs and live with humans? Have normal homes, eat at restaurants, and enjoy dance clubs and movie theaters.
Enjoy everything I once had.
She had lived within human society the majority of her life. She and her mother had lived happily together, just the two of them before cancer stole her mother’s life and her father claimed hers. She had attended public schools, making friends with humans and even a few shifters. Never had they treated her like a leper or made her feel inferior.
With a sigh, she turned the water off, quickly dried and dressed. Out of habit, she brushed out her thick hair with her fingers, instead of using one of ivory combs, and fastened it in one long braid that extended to her hips. Next, she stoked the fire. It’s flames came back to life with a vengeance and she happily greeted the warmth. Eva fell into a chair and brought her legs up. She hugged them to her chest and rested her chin on her knees. For a while she sat, gazing into the fire. The shower had helped, but she still fought the urge to glance at the door.
Never had she felt so restless, not even during a full moon when she was locked in her hut while the pack shifted into animal form. Their snarls, growls, and fights would echo in the night and, being a half-breed, she remained in human form. Her body grew tense as she tried to keep her focus on the elegant dancing flames.
When the clock’s beautiful melody chimed four, Eva cursed and jumped to her feet.
“That’s it.”
She stormed back into the bathroom and threw open the door to the walk in closet. She wiggled free from her pajama pants and quickly pulled on a set of dark jeans, slid her feet into thick socks and tied on her snow boots. All the while, she silently thanked Falcon for purchasing these items for her. After she snatched a powder blue down jacket, matching beanie and gloves, she reentered her room. Eva paused before the door, her hand hovering just above the knob. She knew she should stay. She knew Fa
lcon was right and the last thing she wanted was to get lost in this inexplicably large castle. Or be found by the king…
An unseen force beckoned to her, calling to the dormant wildness within her. She wanted nothing more than to throw open the door and run.
Eva rubbed her temples and dropped her head.
“What is wrong with me?”
She had never craved movement so much in her life. She needed to be out of this castle. She longed to feel the cool wind whip at her cheeks, the moon kiss her skin and…She frowned as her heart began to slam in her chest. There was something else. Something in the back of her mind demanding that she go into the night. She knew there was something out there. Something she…needed.
Eva opened the door and stuck her head out into the hall. She looked both ways before silently tiptoeing from the room, closing the door. She retraced her steps, descending to the main level and out the front door.
Relief filled her as the wind rushed over her. She quickly tucked her ears beneath the beanie and shoved her hands into her gloves. Taking in a deep breath, she filled her lungs with the clean scent of trees and freshly fallen snow.
“Okay, I’m outside. Where to now?”
An odd sensation compelled her to turn right. She walked along the wall of the castle and continued around until she came to a terrace. The furniture was covered with tarps weighted down by snow. Coming to the edge, she was shocked by what she could see. Below was a large hedge made labyrinth, with a building of made of glass at its center and a lake, frosted over by ice, towards the back. A village of cottages and small empty shops huddled together against the line of trees. The forest beyond stretched to the horizon.
She quickly descended the steps from the terrace and paused when she came to the entrance of the labyrinth. Should she enter? Did she dare? Again, an odd feeling swept over her. Not one of fear, but of excitement. Confusion clouded her mind while instinct compelled her forward.
Eva slowly wound through the maze, using her photographic memory to find its center. She was almost certain the glass building was a green house and she was anxious to see what kind of tropical plants would be living such fragile lives in these unforgiving mountains.
Her steps faltered as she came to a bend. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end.
She was not alone.
Eva froze and strained her senses. Her hearing and eyesight was slightly better than a human’s but nothing compared to a full shifter or—she swallowed hard—a vampire. Unable to detect anything, she slowly crept forward. Placing her back against the twelve-foot tall hedge wall, she peeked around the corner.
A man sat on a white marble bench, his elbows resting on his knees, his head hung low. She could only see his perfectly hard profile and her heart skipped a beat as her breath caught. High, bold cheekbones and a straight, stern jaw descended to thin, yet enticing lips. His hair was black and buzzed in an extremely short military fashion. To her disappointment, his eyes were closed, but she knew they would be intense. He was dressed in all black, a stark contrast to the white that surrounded him.
Raw power radiated from him. He was pure unadulterated male. Lethal. She knew instinctively that this vampire was the crazed king, Hadrian Lucretius. The man—no, the beast that had ensnared her in the hall.
His eyes remained closed as his lips pulled back from his long, white fangs tinted with red.
Blood.
She knew she ought to be horrified but as before…he was making her lust. Her body was hot and heavy, her breathing came in soft gasps, and heat spiraled through her core as she recalled the feel of his powerful body looming over her.
“I know you’re there.” His voice was deep and heavily accented though his style of speech was modern. He spoke again, but she did not comprehend his words. She closed her eyes and savored his voice. Dark. Seductive. She shivered, not from cold, but from pleasure.
Nothing made sense. She knew her reaction was insane. She knew she should be terrified and run as fast as she could back to the castle and the safety of her room. But, she could not bring herself to leave, nor did she want to run. Her heart stuttered at the thought of him chasing her and something wild deep within her roared to life.
In a rush of movement, she was pulled forward and spun about. Her back slammed against the hedge, a cool, strong hand wrapped about her throat. Her cry of shock quickly faded to a gasp of delight. He stood before her, pinning her to the hedge. Her senses flared, taking in his fresh scent. He smelled of pine, wilderness, and male. His eyes gazed deeply into hers as if searching for her very soul. They were fathomless, obsidian pools that swirled with malice, grief, and…desire.
Her heart thundered in her ears as her lips parted, drawing in rapid breaths, filling her lungs with his irresistible scent. Again, she wondered at her response, but lust clouded her mind, blocking all rational thought.
She dropped her gaze to his broad shoulders and chest, which were covered only by a short-sleeved black shirt. Her fingers twitched at the thought of running her hands over the hard muscle. He was lean, solidly built, and tall, clearly over six feet.
He crowded her. Trapping her.
She loved it.
Hadrian’s gaze focused on her pulse. Eva’s heart beat wildly, teasing him. His fangs felt heavy in his mouth and they ached to pierce her slender throat.
The run had helped him immensely, driving away those hateful memories. He thanked God he had recovered before his ward had stumbled upon him in the labyrinth. The memories always left his mind tainted.
Blood.
He had wanted blood. No. Needed blood. Death. Yes, he had craved to taste death, to savor it. He had hunted in the forest and fed from a rabbit. It’s tangy blood and tiny life had brought him precious little relief. It was enough. It would keep him from tearing her throat open and gorging himself on the sweet elixir.
She would be spicy, exotic, and oh, so hot.
He ran his tongue over his fangs and Eva sighed. The scent of her desire grew stronger. He took in a deep breath and shuddered. Intoxicating. His erection strained against his pants as heat consumed him. He wanted to teleport her to his bed, feel her soft body beneath him, her hips rocking with his as he claimed her, filled her. Her lust sang to him like a siren’s song and fired his icy blood.
“We meet again, little one.” He brushed the elegant column of her throat with his thumb, pausing over her pulse with every stroke. “I did not expect it would be so soon.”
Hadrian kept his hand on her neck as he stepped back to appraise his prey. He had known she was small, but his mind had been completely consumed with lust and hunger earlier to focus on detail. She was barely over five feet and slight of frame. Fragile. He could snap the poor girl; easily break her like a doll. He eased the pressure on her neck at the thought.
Her face was delicate with almond shaped eyes that were downcast, concealing their color. She also had well defined cheekbones and a stubborn chin. Her luscious, pouting lips were peach in color. Hadrian shivered as he imagined their taste. He could not remember the last time he had felt another’s lips pressed against his. Never had he kissed the women he took to his bed…not since he had been a mortal man, not since his wife. But damn, her mouth was tempting.
He dropped his gaze to her body. She was tightly bundled in a thick jacket, the blue a perfect complement to her smooth sun kissed skin. Her dark brown hair was pulled back and fastened in a braid that came to her hips. He resisted the urge of freeing her locks, having the absurd desire to run his fingers through her hair.
He released her throat to press his hands to the hedge on either side of her head. Her gaze met his and Hadrian bit back a curse. Amber. Pure, amber stared back at him. Not yellow, as he thought before when he had found her in the hall.
Stunning.
For an instant, his gaze grew sharp. Eva tried to look away, but his hand caught her chin and forced her to face him.
“Look at me, little one.”
She raised her hands, inte
nding to shove him away, like she knew she should. This was wrong. He was a vampire. No, he was a crazed vampire king and she was, well, a lowly half-breed, who was also his ward. Nothing could happen between them. As if I would want something to happen between us, she told herself.
His thumb brushed over her bottom lip, the caress was simple and yet completely erotic. He sank his body into hers and Eva lost her breath. .
Hadrian slipped his hand down her neck to her nape; his fingers began to play with the stray strands of hair that had escaped her braid. His ravenous gaze roamed her body. Despite the bulkiness of her jacket, he could feel her generous curves. The blue material covering her chest strained ever so slightly against her breasts as her hips cradled his, her stomach was flat and soft against his painful erection.
“Shall we continue what we started in the hall?”
Eva swallowed hard as she thought, Oh, god, yes!
His finger danced over her shoulder and her chest to the zipper of her jacket. She watched as he slowly drew it down, heat coiled in her core.
Eva couldn’t think. She couldn’t move. The heat of his strong hands burned through the thin material of her pajama tank top as he spanned her waist. She did not notice the cold but shivered in anticipation. His fingers slowly slid up her sides and paused at her ribs, just below her aching breasts. She arched her back and he hissed.
“Terror,” Hadrian whispered. “You should be feeling terror.”
Eva squeaked in response, unable to speak.
He leaned his head down, his breath brushed along the sensitive flesh of her throat.
“You should run,” he said. Would I let her escape? Yes, he would. He would use what remained of his will to remain still as she raced through the labyrinth. He should set her from him and demand that she go.
All Eva could do was nod. She knew he was right. She should be screaming. She should be praying that Falcon would come to her rescue. This dark vampire had her trapped. Hadrian, the mad king, had her at his mercy. She tried to remember the evil rumors, hoping they might be able to draw her back into reality. Nothing came. All she could think about was how much she wanted to feel his hands on her body, his lips against her skin and his—
Caressed by a Crimson Moon (Rulers of Darkness) Page 5
