Caressed by Shadows (Rulers of Darkness Book 4)

by Amanda J. Greene

  “Thank you, this is all really thoughtful,” she said.

  He mumbled something and she bit back a laugh.

  “I also found a club where you can feed.”

  Sonya’s good humor vanished, instantly replaced by an overwhelming burn. Hunger. The vampire within her strained against its chains, her fangs descended, her vision wavered as the demon surged for control.

  “I checked it out last night right before sunrise and it should be safe enough, as long as we don’t stay long. I booked you a private room. The less people who know you are there the better,” Falcon explained.

  Sonya swallowed, her mouth and throat suddenly dry, and when she spoke her voice was as rough as sand paper, “Are the people willing?”

  Falcon’s hands paused. “The bleeders are well taken care of and provided protection. I was informed that every mortal goes through an extensive background check and are seen by physicians every month. They are also limited to how many clients they can take. Sex is also their choice and cost extras.” Falcon went back to his work. “Gabriel doesn’t keep blood slaves.”

  He didn’t have to explain why; she had heard the stories about the blood bastard, Gabriel Erhard. He had once been a blood slave, changed into a vampire against his will so that his Madame could keep him forever.

  Now, slavery was illegal amongst the clans, but many within the outcast society still practiced the horrific tradition. But knowing the humans were well taken care of made her feel a little less like a parasite.

  During her early years as a vampire, she had fought the urge to feed until the itch of madness set in, weakening her will and allowing the vampire within her to overpower her. She would gorge herself, taking from whom ever crossed her path, the demon showed no prejudice when it came to gender or age.

  Sonya swallowed the bile that climbed her throat as the vampire within her growled as unwanted images of the past fluttered through her mind. She knew well what bloodlust could drive her to do and tonight, she would need to be vigilant. Her stomach grumbled, her limbs felt heavy, yet her senses were on high alert and she could hear the heart beats of the mortals within the building; they played like a haunting melody calling to her primal instinct.

  Would one bleeder be enough? Or would she need a score or more?

  There was no telling. She could politely take from the mortal and leave them unharmed, no worse for wear. Or― her fingers began to tremble ― she could kill them and demand more.

  “Get a grip,” she chided herself.

  Falcon would never allow her to fully vamp out. He would make sure she didn’t go on a murderous rampage. The thought soothed her nerves. She took up another bag and found shoes. A pair of sleek black pumps, a set of flat, knee-high lace up boots and lastly, fuzzy slippers.

  Sonya rummaged through the clothes and selected a figure flattering, purple dress and the sexy stilettos to match.

  She resisted the crazy urge to skip to the bathroom. This was not a date. Falcon was taking her to some underground club so she could feed. They weren’t going to dinner and a show. And she couldn’t forget about the witches that were no doubt out in force, searching for her. Yet, she still had to force herself not to imagine how a date with Falcon would end.

  She dressed quickly and arranged her hair as best she could. She pulled the front back away from her face, twisting the pieces into a delicate braid, leaving the bottom half of her hair to tumble down her back. She was surprised to find Falcon had purchased a few make-up items. She only used eyeliner, mascara, and lip-gloss.

  Before she headed back out, she gave herself a once over in the mirror. Meeting her own gaze, she whispered, “This is so not a date and I will not kill anyone tonight.” She smiled at her reflection, allowing her fangs to elongate. “With the exception of Red Order hunters.”

  Sonya threw open the door and strutted over to the couch.

  “Ready,” she announced, placing her hands on her hips.

  Falcon holstered his guns and stood.

  “I’ve got something else for you.”

  “Sweetheart, my look is complete. Unless you want to strap me with a gat.”

  He chuckled. She rarely used slang even though she thoroughly enjoyed it. Blending with the times was an art form, every vampire had to hone their craft.

  He pulled a black leather sheath from his duffle bag that rested beside the couch.

  Sonya took the knife he offered, her fingers wrapped easily around the hilt. Her heart clenched as she pulled the weapon free.

  Her eyes foolishly misted over with tears. Swallowing the lump that suddenly formed in her throat, she asked, “Where did you find this?”

  “Embedded in the skull of a hunter. I came across it when I surveyed the scene of your…abduction.”

  Sonya slipped the blade back in its sheath. She thought she would never see her father’s hunting dagger ever again. But Falcon had recognized the blade and saved it for her. He had even carried it with him for three weeks as he searched for her.

  God, the knight was just too much. She blinked the tears away. “Thank you, Falcon.”

  Unfortunately, there was no comfortable way for her to conceal it beneath her skintight dress. She replaced the blade in its sheath, kissed the hilt and gently set it on the coffee table.

  She smiled. “Let’s go clubbing. I’ve been on my best behavior ever since I made my vows and accepted the crown. And I’m in need of a seriously good time.”

  Red velvet lined the walls of the hallway, sensuous and erotically inviting. Hypnotic rock music thundered through the club. Wisps of smoke curled about the dance floor where half naked women moved along with the music as if in a trance. Their bodies were draped with shimmering red light, tinting their skin, darkening their hair and lips.

  Shadows hugged the walls, disguising the numerous alcoves where patrons could sneak away. The sound of grunts and moans were faint and went unnoticed by those without enhanced hearing. Sonya glanced toward one corner, her superior vision allowing her to see perfectly, she discovered a man dressed in black leather was pounding into a very enthusiastic woman. The scent of sex mixed with the heady aroma of liquor and sweat.

  Sonya thought this could easily become her kind of place, an escape from the strangulation of the hypocritical vampire high society. The pricks that served as her council were extremely old fashioned. It was considered unseemly for royalty to attend an establishment of this sort.

  The Black Knight had led her down the narrow, red hall and metal stairs to the common area of the club. There were two bars, one flanking each of the right and left walls, and a raised dance floor situated in the center. Booths and alcoves claimed the remaining space. Glancing up, she noted the one-way mirror windows that rimmed the second floor. She assumed those were the private rooms Falcon had mentioned earlier.

  Tonight, she had every intention of adapting the “what happens in Vegas” logo to “what happens in London, stays in London.”

  Her gaze raked over the tall, sexy vampire at her side.

  He walked with purpose, a man with a dangerous mission and a deadly destination, yet another thing she loved about the Black Knight.

  Falcon leaned down. “Want a drink?” he asked, his lips brushing her ear as he whispered.

  She suppressed a shiver and nodded.

  Normally, she wouldn’t accept a drink, but tonight? Hell, yes! Her nerves had gotten the better of her on their way here. She had hoped Falcon wouldn’t notice her trembling fingers or the wild glint that had sparked in her eyes when a group of stumbling, drunk girls had passed them on the sidewalk. Easy prey.

  Placing his hand on the curve of her lower back, Falcon guided her past the dance floor to the bar on the right.

  Liquor bottles of all kinds glowed various shades of red atop the glass shelves, while the bar top shimmered and glimmered like flowing lava beneath a sea of cool crystal.

  “I.D.” the bartender barked when they approached, his eyes fixed on Sonya.

  She smiled sw
eetly and her eyes slowly fading from shimmering gold to demonic black as her fangs elongated.

  The bartender nodded. “What will it be?”

  “A shot of Silver Moon,” she answered.

  Falcon ordered nothing. One of them needed to be sober and sharp.

  “When is my…appointment?”

  “Fifteen minutes.”

  She tossed back the liquor, enjoying the way it burned her throat. Silver Moon was the only liquor that could get a vampire drunk and only the Mylonas Clan knew the recipe. Those vampires had the market cornered.

  “Let the fun begin.”

  She flipped her hair over her shoulder and fixed Falcon with a bold stare. Closing the awful distance between them, she slipped her hands up his chest.

  Falcon didn’t push her away and he didn’t remove her hands. Instead, he leaned into her touch.

  Peering up at him, she asked, “Will you dance with me?”

  His hands came up to her shoulders. Sonya tensed, preparing for him to set her aside, but he brought her hard against him. Spears of pleasure shot through her at the contact. Her breasts pressed against his unyielding chest.

  “If you would like to dance, then we shall dance.”

  His fingers ran down her arms, leaving a trail of goose bumps in their wake.

  Sonya clasped his hands in hers and led him to an open spot on the red-cloaked dance floor.

  Falcon broke her hold and whirled her around before snatching her back to him. Their bodies came together in a rush. She wrapped her arms around his neck, getting as close as she could. Sonya knew this was a stolen moment, never would he hold her like this again. And she was going to take advantage of this night.

  She straddled his leg, his thigh pressing against her core as they began to sway along with the music.

  The knight surrounded her. He radiated savage strength and vitality. He was big, his shoulders wide and he made her feel small, delicate, and beautiful. No man had ever made her feel that way. She was tall, gangly, with odd colored eyes. When she had been human, she had doubted her fiancé had found her attractive. As a vampire the males only saw her as a key to potential power.

  Falcon’s hands slipped down her back to grip her hips. God, she wanted to feel those strong fingers all over her body. His soft exhalations fanned across her cheek. Every movement brought them closer. His thigh rubbed against her aching center and she felt his shaft, hard and long press against her abdomen.

  Sonya surrendered to the moment and the ecstasy laced sensations that coursed through her veins. She tilted her head back. Falcon’s intense molten silver gaze sparked with need. Her breath hitched. His eyes revealed long suppressed desire, dark fantasies that would drive any woman wild.

  Falcon cupped her face, his thumbs gently stroking along her jaw.

  If he kissed her, she would lose control. She would drag him into the shadows and―

  He brushed his lips across her brow then pressed a kiss to her cheek. He nibbled on her earlobe. She almost came.

  “Sonya,” he whispered, his voice low, sensual.

  All she could do was moan in response.

  “We must go.”

  “Yes. Anywhere. Take me anywhere,” she sighed.

  Falcon groaned. God, yes, he wanted to do exactly what she was suggesting.

  But he wouldn’t be selfish. She needed to feed. She needed to heal before they could―

  “It’s time,” he said.

  “Time for what?”

  “Your appointment.”

  Sonya’s fangs burst forth as a red haze clouded her mind. Instantly bloodlust entwined with her desire.

  Her eyes fell on Falcon’s pulse.

  Oh, yes. She was hungry. For him and his blood.

  Chapter Six

  Falcon deposited her in the private room as he went to retrieve the bleeder.

  She had hoped he would’ve changed his mind and offered her his blood, as he had offered the night before.

  Only, this time from the vein and not a glass, she thought, running the tip of her tongue over her fangs.

  Still anticipation robbed her of breath. It had been so long since she’d fed directly from a human. She had been secretly thrilled with the advent of bagged blood, having never cared for the feeding act. But tonight was different and she was…excited.

  Falcon had brought her up to the private room he had reserved.

  Would Falcon leave while she fed?

  She wanted him to stay. To watch. She wanted to gaze into his swirling silver eyes as she sank her fangs into her prey. The deliciously wicked thought caused a wave of heat to rush through her.

  The footsteps paused just before the door. She could hear the muffled voice of Falcon and a woman.

  Sonya’s throat went dry, her fangs extending. Hunger gathered like a crimson haze in her mind, blurring her vision. It had been so long, too long since she had fed. Her body was weak, unable to heal, and the vampire within her lurked dangerously close to the surface, waiting for a chance to strike, to take over her so it could gorge itself on human blood.

  If Falcon did not want to watch her feed, she prayed he would stay if only to keep her from killing the mortal woman.

  The doorknob twisted and the bleeder stepped in. Sonya’s predatory instincts flared. Sonya barely resisted the urge to launch herself at her prey.

  The woman was short and nearly too slender. She wore a black leather tube top and matching mini skirt, with knee high boots. She had short, bleached blonde hair, dull brown eyes, and a nose ring.

  A low growl vibrated Sonya’s throat. The woman stumbled in surprise when her gaze fell on Sonya. She quickly regained her composure and turned towards Falcon, who stood just inside the doorway.

  “Ménage à trois or is she going to watch?” She shrugged her pokey, bare shoulders. “I’m good with either, but it will cost extra.”

  “No, dear,” Falcon said, his voice low and rough. Sensual. “I brought you up here for her.”

  The blonde’s thick lips curled into a smile. “Good. I’ve always preferred women.” She sashayed across the room. “What will it be?” she asked. “Just a quick bite or,” she ran her tongue over her stained red lips, “more?”

  Sonya did not answer, her ravenous gaze focused on the woman’s pulse. It thrummed enticingly under her pale, smooth skin.

  Falcon turned to leave, his fingers wrapped around the knob.

  “Don’t leave,” Sonya called. Her words were hard, her voice deep and not her own. She fully expected to sense fear from the human. The demonic sound generally terrified humans, but this girl, she was a pro. The coarseness of Sonya’s voice excited her.

  “I thought you would prefer privacy,” he said.

  Sonya switched to an old form of French, which she knew was Falcon’s native tongue. “Please. I don’t want to…harm the girl.”

  “I will be just outside the door,” he responded, matching the language.

  “What if I lose control? What if I take too much?”

  Her gaze remaining on the bleeder, she shook her head. Sonya could sense Falcon’s hesitation and doubt. But there was something else. Curiosity? Simple interest? Or was it something more, something like…desire?

  “I really think—”

  “Stay,” she growled in English, her lips peeling back over her fangs.

  “Yes,” the woman added. “I won’t even charge for you to watch.”

  Sonya heard Falcon’s hard swallow and felt the surge of lust that rocked his massive frame. With a whispered curse, he closed the door, hesitated a moment, then crossed the room and collapsed into a black velvet armchair.

  Sonya’s gaze flickered to the knight. His body was tense, his jaw set, and his eyes captivating molten pools of silver.

  Lust thickened and heated the air—hers, Falcon’s, and the woman’s.

  Sonya took the woman’s hand and guided her down to crimson the velvet chaise.

  “What is your name?”

  “Star,” the blonde replied.


  Sonya nodded. She hadn’t expected the woman to provide her true name.

  “You are very attractive, Star, but tonight I only require sustenance,” Sonya explained.

  Star’s red lips pouted before she said, “Whatever you wish.”

  Sonya smiled, her fangs glistening in the dim red light. Star’s pulse spiked, drawing a predatory growl from Sonya.

  She circled around, coming up behind her prey. Sonya crawled onto the chaise. Slipping her arm around Star’s waist, she drew the woman’s back against her.

  Star shivered as Sonya’s fingers stroked up her arms to her shoulders. Titling her head to the side, the woman's eyes drifted closed. Her pulse rocketed, the rhythm intense.

  Sonya captured and held Falcon's gaze. She slowly ran her tongue over the tips of her fangs. His fingers gripped the arms of the chair, his knuckles turning white. God, he would give anything to exchange places with the mortal woman. He longed to feel Sonya's mouth at his throat, her fangs scoring his flesh as she drank deeply of him.

  A low growl rumbled his chest when Sonya pressed her lips against Star's throat. Sonya's liquid gold gaze remained on him, burning him, taunting him, beckoning to him. He shuddered as Sonya flicked her tiny pink tongue over the mortal's pulse. Star's moan was drowned by Falcon's envious groan. Sonya flashed him a wicked smile then whispered his name, her breath brushing over the woman's sensitive skin.

  Star moaned, wantonly. Her hands shot out, she clasped at the edge of the chaise.

  “Yes. Yes. Please,” she sighed when Sonya scrapped her fangs over her throat.

  Falcon, this is where I want to kiss you. Lick you. Bite you. Suck you.

  Falcon's breath hitched, her words echoing in through his mind. His heart froze mid-beat when Sonya sank her fangs into the slender column of Star's throat. The woman cried out in pleasure, tossing her head back, surrendering to the ecstasy of the bite.

  He was unable to look away. Sonya gripped Star’s shoulders, her golden locks spilled over Star’s shoulder to her breasts. Sonya’s delicate pink lips pressed tightly to the mortal’s throat, concealing lethal fangs. He could hear her draws, her swallows and found himself wishing that Sonya was at his vein, wishing that it were his blood that was filling her mouth, slipping down her throat, and healing her body.