The Dark Rose

by Ramsey, Valentine

  “I’m vampire born. I know what I say.”

  Offering herself this way was an act as momentous as losing her virginity. Pan had never given her blood to anyone. It was royal and pure. Ambrosia. The experience of drinking her would be euphoria to the blessed chosen one.

  Dom brushed his fingers over the thumping pulse in her neck, feeling the power beneath.

  “I taste you I take you forever.” He said it like a warning.

  “You already had me forever.”

  He brushed his lips against hers feather light, still looking uncertain. “I don’t know if I’ll be able to stop. The way your skin tempts me so—your blood…” He shuddered.

  Pan didn’t share his concern. She knew him. He could and would.

  She tilted her head back, trustingly. “You will.”

  His lips tickled her throat as he kissed it. Pan ran her hand up the back of his neck, cradling his head to her. Dom’s breath shuddered out, fanning hot over her neck as his tongue swirled over her skin, making her shiver. Teeth grazing her flesh, he bit.

  Pan gasped at the pleasure never having experienced anything its measure. She clutched his back. The sting of pain was gone before she even knew it had come. Dom moaned, his lips moving against her neck.

  “Dom,” Pan panted after a moment.

  He pulled away, eyes glazed. Pan licked the blood from the corner of his lips. He groaned and kissed her hard. Richly sweet and spicy, Pan loved the taste of her blood on his tongue.

  “You’re not doing it right,” said a silky voice. “She’s not screaming.”

  Dom’s head whipped around. The redhead vampire melted out of the shadows of the forest, amber eyes gleaming with wickedness.

  He ran his tongue over his fangs and tisked. “I hope you saved enough for us.”

  Four others stepped out of the trees behind him. Dom was to his feet in a flash, pulling her up with him so fast Pan was a little disoriented and swooned. She clutched his arm to steady herself.

  “Deacon,” Dom said, a growl lacing his voice.

  The vampire Deacon laughed. “You naughty boy, devouring a human before you corrupt her.” He pouted. “And you didn’t even bother to share.”

  Pan noticed the shortest male was the one that had given her the crown necklace she now had hidden in her jewelry box when they were escaping from the party. The others she didn’t recognize. A short female dressed in all black with blond hair down to her ass, a black vampire wearing an unbuttoned vest with nothing else beneath but his muscles with diamonds embedded in his cheeks like freckles, and an Asian one with long black hair and eerie jade green eyes.

  The latter of the two were both watching her with blood lusting eagerness. Pan recognized a hope for carnage when she saw one, though she had never been the one playing the trade of prey. It gave her a new appreciation for the complexity of such a fundamental character.

  She had no doubt of Dom’s strength, but against five others—if she got out of this alive she would make sure as a vampire to do her prey the courtesy of being seduced first.

  Clinging to Dom, Pan peeked out at them from around him.

  “Leave,” Dom said, tone dark with order.

  “Ooo,” Deacon laughed. “Greedy are we? She must be real yummy.”

  The way he said it made her tremble. Dom was right. She was so sheltered she had no experience in this world of fear.

  Deacon’s taunting eyes flashed to her. Not able to look away from his golden gaze, Pan knew her eyes were enormous with fear as she shrunk further behind Dom.

  But suddenly, like a light switch being flicked, fury contorted Deacon’s face as his eyes flared with recognition. Bellowing a war cry he moved so fast Pan lost sight of him. The air whooshed around her, making her hair fly up as Dom vanished from in front of her and intercepted him. He slammed into Deacon with such a force the percussion was like a ground shaking thunderclap.

  Pan fell back with a startled scream. Snarling, Dom shoved Deacon back. Lips peeled back, Deacon hissed, sinking into a low crouch.

  Dom paced back as the Asian and black vampire fanned out, teeth bared as they ignored him, their gleaming silver eyes fixated on her. Reaching her, Dom sank into a protective crouch in front of her.

  “Whatever you do,” he said tensely. “Don’t run.”

  Run? Pan was so scared she didn’t think she could move to attempt it. And earlier he had teased her that she was fearless. That was laughable now. Andre had always warned her of what Gray vampires would do to her if they ever caught her, but Pan had never taken it seriously. He had always protected her so well. Her father sheltering her her entire life she had never been privy to a threat so terrifying.

  The two other vampires stood calm, taking in the situation, as the others stalked, calculating the best way to divert and attack.

  “Move away from her Dominic,” Diamond Face growled in a heavy English accent.

  “No.”

  “Dom!” Deacon roared. “She is the Rose Princess! We kill her and victory is ours!”

  “I know,” Dom said.

  They all paused, stunned by his admittance.

  “You know she is the enemy of our blood and yet you protect her?” Diamond Face demanded. “You know when you yourself are—”

  Dom roared so fiercely Pan shrank into herself, cringing. She wasn’t the only one who felt the power in it as Jade Eyes and Diamond Face recoiled like his authority had been a searing heat.

  Deacon remained crouched. “You betray our coven!” He shifted like he was ready to spring. Dom shifted with him, bracing for it.

  “I betray no one,” Dom said darkly.

  “Let me slaughter her,” Deacon begged, voice trembling with need.

  “You so much as come near her—” Dom’s voice shook. “And you will suffer a fate far worse than death.”

  He made the threat sound like a promise, sound like banishment. Claiming it was so dishonorable in itself all covens turned their backs, none willing to harbor an outcast.

  The female gasped. Deacon’s face went dead blank. He slowly rose and took a reluctant step back. Dom snarled, advancing a foot and the vampire backed up further.

  “This isn’t over,” Deacon said.

  Dom growled. “You ain’t kiddin’.”

  Backing up till he stood with the others, they turned and fled, vanishing into the wooded darkness. Dom waited a minute, his sharp vision piercing beyond her own. Time stretched on forever until he finally turned to her.

  “Pan.” His voice was anxious, his face more so as he grabbed her arms and pulled her up.

  He hugged her tight then pulled away to frame her face. “You’re trembling.” He rubbed her arms to warm them, but his hands were colder than usual and didn’t do much good.

  “They know now,” Pan said. She could only imagine what they would do with this information. She closed her eyes, scared for both their sakes, terrified of what would happen if Raphael and her father found out.

  “Shh,” he said and held her against his chest. He rubbed her back, attempting to soothe and kissed her forehead. “They won’t tell.”

  Looking up, Pan searched his eyes. “How can you sell such certainty?”

  “They are—” Dom paused. His face closed down a fraction as he searched for words. “Family,” he finished, his tone making the explanation uncommitted. “Of a sort. Please trust me on this Pan. I swear I will never let anything happen to you.”

  Believing him, hearing the truth in his words, the idea of her angel lying absurd, Pan rested her head against his chest and closed her eyes. Dom wrapped his arms around her in a sheltering, protective embrace.

  Pan never wanted him to let go.

  Never let go….

  + Chapter 15 +

  So Thrive My Soul

  So thrive my soul, Dom thought stroking his knuckles over Pan’s rosy cheek of milky flesh. Night’s eyes may wink, but I refuse to blink.

  Lying next to her, propped on his elbow, he watched her sleep. She was so
innocently beautiful, if the angels were to see her now they would weep. She sighed in a dream he hoped that was peaceful and serene. Stroking her thick silky hair back, he kissed her temple.

  “Sleep dwell upon thine eyes,” Dom whispered, and lightly ran his thumb over her closed lid, her thick black lashes fanning her cheek. “With peace in thy breast.” He placed his hand over her heart, feeling its slow rhythmic beat. “Would I were sleep and peace, so sweet to rest.” Stroking her hair, he lightly pressed his lips to hers. “Let your dreams be of me, my Queen, tomorrow of which I will glean. Take one last kiss or else I shall miss.”

  Caressing her cheek, Dom laid a lingering kiss on her lips. Carefully, he eased out of bed so not to disturb her as it had taken her awhile to fall asleep, though he doubted he would as she was a heavy sleeper. Dom tucked the blankets back around her. Gazing down at her for a moment he had to rub his chest as there was a physical pain at leaving her to rest. Using every excuse why he couldn’t stay, Dom tore himself away and reluctantly left.

  He couldn’t convey the torture it was always having to leave her. But tonight he had some business to attend to.

  With every step Dom took a fury like he had never felt before built within, around, surrounding him. A rage so hot it irradiated from his pores, made his insides burn, churn and yearn to ease the offended score. Deacon, his own entourage, dare think to disobey him and threaten his love? The absurdity of it astounded him, confounded him! That his fighting whore dare spring at him. Him? He could roar! He’d do that and more.

  Blurring up the grounds, Dom burst through the doors of his home with resounding crack as they stuck against the walls as winds of his own creation gushed in after him. Deacon sat above, perched on the balcony railing. A cruel smirk wore his face.

  “Let peace be with me, here is my man,” Deacon said in false surprise, glaring coldly as he flipped a butterfly knife open and closed. “Or a prince of cats, perhaps.”

  The few vampires lazing on lounge chaises looked around, unconcerned at first. Their eyes gleamed silver in the muted light as they glanced uneasily at one other, smoke swirling from a couple of cigarettes held daintily on stems.

  “Get out,” Dom said, not taking his eyes from Deacon.

  Sensing his power of authority in those lone words the vampires fled, not wanting to get caught in the crossfire against his assassin of higher.

  “My worship and loyalty in a sense designates me to call you a ‘man’,” Deacon said, sharp teeth bared. “This will not excuse the injuries that you have done to me, boy.” His lip peeled up over the last word, his features contorting into something demonic.

  “That I have done to you?” Dom said, stunned. It did not matter if he was to date a saintly nun. Insubordination had no place in their relationship. And continuing to challenge deserved punishment on the run.

  “That you have done to me with your betrayal!” Deacon dropped to the floor, landing in a crouch. Standing, he flipped the butterfly blade closed, pocketing it. “Are you going to explain?” he demanded. “Is there some plot of destruction I was excluded from that involves you banging the Rose Princess? Your pump well flowered by a very good whore because she gives it all and more!”

  Dom snarled, nearly lunging for quarrel. “I warn you only once! Not to speak of her that way.”

  “And you defend her!” Deacon threw his arms up at the absurdity he thought it to be. “She is the enemy! You should kill her for your honor, for my honor, as a Gray!”

  “She is no enemy of mine,” Dom growled.

  Deacon gaped at him, astounded. “Are you not the least bit worried of what would happen to you if you were caught with her? The repercussions that would stem from both sides with this monstrosity you hide and want me to abide?”

  “No, I am not, but I suppose you are, all selfish Deacon?”

  “My selfishness is always your gain! But to put yourself and our coven in jeopardy… unfathomable. Dom, your survival is my life!”

  “As hers is mine! She is worth the risk.”

  Deacon laughed humorlessly. “Oh alas, silly me, I have forgotten! They cannot kill you Dom. How foolish of me to forget you are already dead, stabbed in the eye with a white Rose’s poisonous black thorn and shot through the ear with a love song to morn. The very pin of his heart now located where he farts as he was shot with Cupids blind bow and now he loves her so! Who can blame you? Men’s eyes were made to look, and let them gaze, but to wander further onto a Rose—I cannot let you feel praise. You must end it.”

  Dom’s eyebrows shot up at the order. “I must end it?”

  “Yes.”

  “Or what? I’m curious to see where this threat leads.”

  Deacon shifted his stance, hesitating a moment.

  “Are you going to tattle on me?”

  “Tattle? Insult me further, why don’t you. I would do what you should. Take the war into our hands where it belongs! I would kill her!”

  Snarling, Dom flew at him. Deacon met him and they clashed, fighting furiously. Asserting his authority, Dom flipped Deacon into the air by the collar sending him crashing into a table. The legs buckled under the force and it snapped in two. Deacon made to push up, but Dom bore down with his royal birthing strength, pinning him.

  Beaten, Deacon went limp.

  “You will not harm her!” Dom said. “You will not order anyone else to. If a fire happens and she is burned, I blame you. If God wills a storm and a tree falls and injures her, I blame you. If she so much as gets a splinter, I blame you. Are we at an understanding?”

  Jaw clenched tight, Deacon glowered fiercely. “Yes,” he bit out.

  “You will not speak of her to anyone or my wrath will fall upon your crimson head.”

  Boring his order and threat into Deacon’s golden eyes with his heated gaze alone, Dom released him and slowly backed away. Deacon shoved himself to his feet and brushed off his velvet blood red tailcoat.

  He slightly bowed his head in demoralized submission, eyes unwilling to meet Dom’s.

  “Cousin,” Deacon said and left.

  Glaring after him, Dom let out his breath and ran his hand through his hair.

  “My, my, my,” came Urijah’s smooth voice as he stepped from the shadows above. “I do so love your methods of redecoration. I appreciate you utilizing Deacon as a wrecking ball. Goodness knows his head is as hard as one. The devil is always in the details.” Hitching a hip on the banister, he slide down and hopped off.

  “You need not worry of the others,” Urijah continued, striding to him. “I’ve spoken to

  them and while they are—perplexed of the circumstances they agree as Prince it is your prerogative to pursue whomever you wish, though they caution against the danger and wish you would only tend your Gray manger. They stand with you.”

  “Deacon on the other hand…” Dom trailed off, not yet knowing what to do, not yet wanting to think of what he might have to do. Deacon was a lifelong friend, kin of a distance. Disowning him for his disloyalty to his Prince—Dom could hardly think, but if it kept Pan safe and out of harm he would do anything, even sacrifice one of his own.

  “Keep an eye on him,” Dom said.

  Urijah inclined his head. “As always. Anything else?”

  “Trade lives with me. Bear the burden of Prince so I can run away with my Princess to never be known.”

  Urijah clapped him on the shoulder. “You’re on your own with that one.”

  Dom sighed. “So I thought,” he said then thought, A lot more has yet to be fought.

  + Chapter 16 +

  Butterfly Kisses

  Dom was in a mood tonight she couldn’t figure out, his words holding no clout. He was on edge though trying to hide it with a tense smile that didn’t escape her common sense.

  Tired of trying to decipher it and failing, Pan finally asked, “My love, what is the matter?”

  “Nothing of consequence.” His tone was light, airy, and made her wary.

  Pan sat up to study him closer. Dre
aming of his face constantly, she knew the gorgeous plains of it to recognize secrets lain in wait. She thought hard, trying to figure if she had caused this.

  “Are you mad at me?” she asked. “Have I done something wrong?”

  “No! Of course not.” He shot up and looked at her appalled. “What would ever cause you to think that?”

  “You.”

  He frowned.

  “You’re tense,” Pan explained further. “I’ve barely gotten ten words out of you all night. Your mind is elsewhere when it should be here with me. Why?”

  Dom sighed. “You’re right. Forgive me for being such bad company, my mind… remember those vampires from the other night?”

  A shiver shot through her. “How could I forget?”

  “I fought with one—”

  Pan’s eyes went wide in horror to think of what could have happened to him. But he was here, he was whole…her hands frantically felt his chest for wounds even though she, his soul, would have known the damage.

  “Be calm,” he said, grabbing her wrists. “Let me finish. We fought, no real viciousness in it, but in the end he swore his secrecy. They all have.”

  Pan couldn’t help, but be doubtful. “What makes you think they’ll keep it?”

  “I’ve been raised with them, I have to trust them.”

  “If you do, I suppose I have to as well,” she said, resigned.

  He framed her face, looking intensely into her eyes. “I will never let anyone or anything hurt you Pan. I don’t expect you to trust them, but I need you to trust me.”

  “I do.”

  “Okay then.” He kissed her. “No more talk of this. It’s too serious.”

  “No more keeping secrets.”

  Dom said nothing more on the matter, but laid her back, resting his head on her shoulder. Pan began to run her fingers through his hair. Looking up at her, he slid his hand under the waistband of her panties and began to massage her hip. After a moment, he shifted to lie on his stomach, chin resting on her hip. Fingering the bottom of her top, he slowly pushed it up.

  Pan watched Dom revealed a little more skin, her bellybutton…goose bumps spread over her flesh and he met her eyes with a smile. Pan would have let him completely raise her wear, having no fear of him seeing her bare, she was his, but Dom stopped just below her small breasts, leaving the rest uncharted.