Falling For Darkness

by E. M. Moore

  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Previous titles in the Ravana Clan Series

  Other Books by E. M. Moore

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Falling For Darkness

  Ravana Clan Vampires #3

  E. M. Moore

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

  Copyright © 2017 by E. M. Moore. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce, distribute, or transmit in any form or by any means. For information regarding subsidiary rights, please contact E. M. Moore.

  Manufactured in the United States of America

  First Edition November 2017

  Ravana Clan Vampire Series

  Chosen By Darkness #1

  Chosen By Darkness #2

  Chosen By Darkness #3

  Chosen By Darkness #4

  Chosen By Darkness #5

  OR

  Chosen By Darkness Full Novel (1-5)

  Into the Darkness #6

  Into the Darkness #7

  Into the Darkness #8

  Into the Darkness #9

  Into the Darkness #10

  OR

  Into the Darkness Full Novel (6-10)

  Falling For Darkness #11

  Falling For Darkness #12

  Falling For Darkness #13

  Falling For Darkness #14

  Other Books by E. M. Moore

  Chronicles of Cas Series

  Reawakened

  Hidden

  Power

  Severed

  The Adams’ Witch

  Bound In Blood

  Cursed In Love

  Adams’ Witch Spinoff Series, Order of the Akasha

  Novella Starter — Stripped

  Phoenix Series

  Flight of the Phoenix available in the CREATURES box set!

  Witchy Librarian Cozy Mystery Series

  Wicked Witchcraft

  One Wicked Sister

  Wicked Cool

  Chapter One

  I wiped my brow with the sleeve of my shirt. It wasn’t that it was particularly hot down in the basement of the main building, it was just that the air was stagnant. Musty almost, and it hung like a thick fog over my shoulders. Once training started up again, I’d have to ask for a fan in this room. What would it be like with all my fellow trainees squished in here, as well as me? Unpleasant.

  As it was though, it was just me for the time being. Samuel and his family decided to shut The Fort down for a couple weeks, prolonging graduation, my life with the Ravanas, and pretty much everything I was looking forward to. Not that he didn’t have good reason because he certainly did. Our lives had been scattered into disarray from the attack on The Fort. Some of us dealt with it better than others.

  Turned out Samuel was right. A lot of the guards didn’t take being thrown into combat without warning, without proper instruction, and with a deep-seated fear very well. In fact, we’d lost a few because of it. They decided to leave The Fort, the training, everything, and due to it being such an extreme time, Gregor Ravana gave them options. Two, in fact. They could work for vampire families, or they could have their memories wiped and turned out into the human world.

  We were in an era of change. Before the attack on The Fort, if any trainee had chosen to cease his instruction there, they would’ve been ushered into helping the vampires in other ways, some of them far less glamorous than guardianship. The fact that they were even given a choice was unheard of.

  And we could all thank Gregor Ravana for that.

  I twirled the familiar feeling wooden stake in my hand before sizing up the target on the opposite side of the room. My shoulder injury was healing, but not fast enough for my liking. Soren, our rogue vamp prisoner, had really thrown one hell of a stake that night. I chalked it up to his superior strength, but regardless of how he’d done it, the impact was still there. I had another puckered scar and there seemed to always be a dull pain at the exact point where the stake entered me. With the threat of the Dumont clan still very much lingering in the air, I needed this shoulder healed, and I needed to up my training game to keep those I loved safe.

  The attack on The Fort was an invasion, an intrusion into our very way of life that no one could’ve foreseen. I read the shock in the eyes of the other trainees, too. They walked around campus like starstruck homeless, looking around corners and hesitating before they walked into rooms. I understood the choice some made to leave, but it just wasn’t my choice. Never would be.

  Though everything had been done to erase what happened in the guardian building, it still hovered like a thick cloak, heavy on the shoulders and draping like a black cloud. New cafeteria furniture had been ordered and a swarm of janitors were brought in to completely clean and sanitize the room from top to bottom until it shined, but memories couldn’t be replaced as easy as that. Not a day went by that I didn’t look into the cafeteria with a shudder. What those trainees must’ve gone through. Sickening.

  I threw the stake at the bullseye and it sunk with an echoed thunk. The target I aimed for was shaped like a silhouette of a man and my weapon landed exactly where I’d wanted it to—just right of center. Massaging my shoulder, I circled my arm up and around to stretch and flex the muscles. The door creaked open behind me, and I turned to find Stephan watching. His emerald eyes scrutinized my every move, taking pains, in particular, to watch my shoulder and my face for any reactions at my movements. After a lengthy once-over, he turned, locked the door, and moved toward me. A lock of his dark brown hair fell just shy of his eyes, and my heart thumped in my chest.

  Stephan Ravana took his job very seriously.

  The way he studied me threw me like nothing else. He and I were so different in many ways, yet so alike in others. Lately, I’d wondered what it was about me that drew him. He didn’t like violence, yet, here I was. Training, fighting, busting my ass to keep them safe in any way I could even if it did come down to the very violence he hated. Hell, he’d even administered the type of fighting I prepared for to protect us all. Though he saved us, it damn near broke him. He worried me more than the others when I thought about our most recent future. Coming up on what was bound to be a fight for our lives, for our very livelihood, the thought of Stephan having to go through any of that tortured pain again twisted my gut. Poor, sweet Stephan. He was too good.

  He frowned. “Don’t look at me like that.”

  I twisted the corner of my lip up to try and keep it light. The last thing any of us needed was more negativity. It was like feeding a machine that would quadruple it and drop a shitstorm in your lap. “Look at you like what?” I teased.

  He shook his head, his whole body sighing. We’d been playing this game a lot lately where he knew what I was thinking, but wasn’t willing to call me out on it. As for me, I didn’t want t
o give voice to what I thought. He was strong enough to withstand this all, that I was sure of, I just wish he didn’t have to. Of course, I also worried over the overall lasting impact. Events like the one that had just happened, and the others that were sure to come, changed some people. Take for instance the trainees who’d just given up their whole lives so they wouldn’t have to deal with the next problem and the next fight. For the innocent ones like Stephan, the threat of upheaval was greater.

  When he got to me, he moved aside the strap of my tanktop and peered down at my puckered skin. His gaze turned calculating, intense, as if he could see right through my skin to the muscle, tendon, and bones underneath. “You didn’t show up for our appointment. I need to keep tabs on your shoulder to make sure it heals properly or you won’t be able to do things like throw stakes and take down opponents.”

  I bit my lip. I’d purposefully avoided our appointment. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to see Stephan, I always did. It was just that he insisted we meet in the infirmary now since the nurse there had asked for his help taking care of the patients who needed it after the attack. He’d never really left the place after that, taking up his own hours, his own revolving door of patients like a regular doctor. Don’t get me wrong, I was thrilled for him, but I didn’t want to be seen like another one of his patients. “You know I don’t like to meet you there.”

  His finger trailed down the scar, then further south along my side and rested on my hip. “Where would you like to meet me then? Here?” he asked, motioning around the dank room, his face betraying every emotion he felt about this place. “Your room, maybe?”

  I stepped forward, taking in the way his eyes devoured mine. “Just anywhere but there.”

  “But all my supplies are there,” he offered rationally.

  I pulled my hand up and placed it on his cheek. “Not your special salve, and that’s all I need.”

  “So you’re a medical professional now?” He raised his eyebrows, but the slight upturn of his lips told me he wasn’t mad. “Did you suddenly take up an interest I don’t know about?”

  “No, but I’m with one very smart medical professional,” I told him, giving him a wink. “And I know he won’t let anything bad happen to me.”

  He smiled then, his lips stretching into a wide grin. The stranglehold on my heart released. I hadn’t even realized it was there until his whole demeanor changed. “I know you don’t want me to treat you like a—”

  “Patient,” I said, ending his sentence with finality “Yes, you’re right, Stephan.” My thumb traced his angular cheekbone. “I’m not your patient. I’m a lot of things to you, I hope. Just not that. Going there makes it feel so impersonal, like I’m just another guard you see throughout the day. You look me over, speak medical terms to me, and then usher me out.”

  His eyes clouded over as he regarded me. “You know you’re not just another person to me, Ariana.”

  “I know. Internally, I get it, but I also can’t shake the feeling when it’s happening. I like it when you see me in my room or…” I swallowed, understanding now what the problem was. I only got to see Stephan now when he checked me over. He was so busy at the infirmary that he either saw me there, or when we were in a group with the others, which wasn’t very often. The other guys weren’t working like he was. Sure, they did things for their parents and the Council, but they didn’t have set work hours. The four of us had ample time to hang out with one another since training was postponed again, but with Stephan, we didn’t. I wanted more. I wanted more of this time, and more of him being present around all of us.

  He understood now too. His other hand came up to rest on my opposite hip. “You miss me?” he said, more like a statement rather than a question.

  I nodded, feeling like a complete girl when I did. He was doing important things, yet I was over here like, ‘Hey, what about me?’ That wasn’t fair. But I still couldn’t shake the truth to what he said. I missed him. God, I missed him.

  “I know I’ve taken a lot on.”

  “And I’m happy that you did. I couldn’t be more proud of you, Stephan. You’re doing what you want to do. It’s…great. I’m just being stupid. I—”

  “I understand. Completely.” He let out a breath, his chest deflating. “You know, I think about the time we shared in your room a lot.” Stephan blushed, the color bringing life to his features as his brows pulled in to look me in the eye. “In fact, I can’t stop thinking about it. Maybe that’s my response to missing you. I can’t shake you from my mind.” He paused and ran a hand down his cheek. “I can take some time off. They don’t really need me. Sonja is perfectly capable of running the infirmary on her own it’s just that…”

  “You like doing it. I know. I would never stop you.” All of us were trying to find a way to deal with this time of in-between. This nothingness that felt like we were one step away from a trap being sprung. I trained. Lex gathered info. Stephan helped. That was just what he did. “You’re perfect the way you are,” I told him.

  Stephan darted forward, his lips seizing mine. I grabbed both sides of his face and urged him on. A desperation I hadn’t expected took hold and I clung to him for dear life, sliding my hands up his back. His muscles tensed under my scrutiny before he slowed the kiss, kissing me softly and then pulling his mouth away to tug me toward him. He wrapped his arms around me in a solid embrace that eased my nerves and calmed my soul. “Don’t ever think you’re not important to me,” Stephan said, his arms tightening. He made one last fierce embrace and then stepped back. “Now. It’s a good thing I brought my cure-all with me.” He pulled out a small tub from his pocket and smiled.

  I lowered the strap on my tanktop, revealing my puckered scar again, and looked up at him. “Thank you.”

  He dipped his fingers into the salve, rubbed the ointment between his palms, and then rubbed my shoulder. I closed my eyes as he worked his magic, his vampire blood seeping into my pores and already dulling the ache that had sprouted from my stake-throwing practice. “Your muscles are tight. They’re overcompensating for your injury.”

  “Mm-hmm,” I moaned as he kneaded his knuckles into my shoulder blade.

  “You should be resting up.”

  My head lolled to the side, giving him enough room. “Yeah.”

  “Ariana?”

  “Huh?”

  He chuckled. “Are you even listening?”

  He pulled his hands away and I blinked out of my stupor. Turning toward him, I frowned. “Why’d you stop?”

  “You’re not listening to me,” he said. Amusement flickered in his eyes.

  “Not true. You told me you’d love to continue this session in my room.” I reached out for his hand, interlocking my fingers with his before turning toward the door. Since Gregor had decreed to place back into law the previous guard-vampire relationship rule, the Ravanas and I didn’t worry about being seen around campus together anymore, especially in the privacy of my room as long as there weren’t any overnight stays. In fact, the princes tried to endorse more personal relationships, even inviting Shannon, Liv, and Evan to go out to eat with us once. It ended up being ridiculously awkward, and it hadn’t happened again, but at least they were trying. Christian, most of all.

  Stephan pulled back. “I can’t, actually. I’m supposed to meet with my father, some of the Council members, and Samuel to put the finishing touches on tomorrow’s festivities.”

  My gut clenched. “Don’t remind me.”

  He pulled me to a stop and ran his fingertips down my cheek. “No one deserves this more than you and T.J. And you said yourself what an opportunity it will be to bring together guards and vampires.”

  I focused on the political aspect of it. The fact that the vampires were actually having a celebration in our honor was a big deal. On the other hand, I didn’t want to be the center of attention or used as some sort of prawn for the greater good. I was just me.

  The door jiggled and Stephan checked his watch. “Plus, I believe you owe a certain pri
nce an hour of your uninterrupted time.”

  I scowled toward the door. “Yeah, but we’re going dress shopping.”

  “That’s because no one wanted Connor picking out your dress again. You’ll have fun.”

  The door jiggled once more and then two abrupt bangs sounded. “For some reason, dress shopping and Nicolai just don’t seem to fit together.”

  Stephan shrugged. “He insisted.”

  That was what worried me.

  “Alright,” Nic huffed from the other side of the door. “Come on. Open up.”

  Stephan tipped my chin in his direction and gave me a sweet kiss on the lips before making his way toward the door. I followed along after until Stephan flicked the lock. The door immediately sprung open and Nicolai walked in. Dressed in a black shirt and jeans, his gaze swept through the room before landing on me. “You ready, Ri?”

  I took in his devilish smile and relaxed persona. If I had to pick one of the princes who would volunteer to take me dress shopping, Nic would’ve been my last choice. I didn’t understand what was up with him. He seemed truly excited to do this. I glanced at Stephan and he only shook his head, a look of complete befuddlement etched into his features. We walked with one another out into the parking lot before Stephan waved goodbye and Nicolai helped me into the passenger seat of their shared Jeep.

  He ran around front, got behind the steering wheel, and smirked at me. “Alright, spill,” I said. “What’s got you so excited about this?”

  He turned the key, and backed out of the parking space. “I can’t be excited about spending time with you?”

  I faced forward, taking my Rajyvik Training Facility ID out of my pocket and handing it over to Nic. He pulled up to the new machine where he swiped both our cards as I looked out the passenger side window. Construction had begun on the perimeter walls only two days after the attack. They were being added on to, increasing the height to ten feet in hopes of keeping out any more intruders. With all the extra security measures, not only were we feeling safer, but also a tad like felons who needed to be kept inside rather than keeping others out. It was a necessary evil, but I couldn’t help thinking that if this was what The Fort had looked like when I first got here, I would’ve had a much different impression of the place. Maybe I would’ve fought Christian harder on escaping… Then again, probably not.