Light in Darkness

by Brandy L Rivers

  He checked the clock. It was five, giving him two hours to prepare dinner. His phone buzzed and he jumped. Rushing to his room, he glanced at the display and smiled.

  Taking a breath he answered on the next ring. “Evening, Dacia. Tell me you aren’t cancelling.”

  “Definitely not. Though I was calling to see if you managed to invite you-know-who over?”

  Sighing, he sat on the bed and stared out the window. “Afraid not. Haven’t figured out what to say.”

  “Hey, Victoria, I’m having a dinner party. Come join me so I’m not the odd man out.”

  “Really think that has a chance of working?”

  “Maybe bring one of those roses from your yard. The ones that have no business living in this cold, and yet they thrive,” Dacia offered.

  “Thank you.”

  “For?” she asked in confusion.

  “Giving me an idea, and hope. I’ll see you two when you get here.”

  Lincoln hurried into slacks and a button down shirt that he rolled up his forearms. He grabbed the kitchen shears on his way out the door and cut a dozen of the roses he’d brought back to life.

  * * * *

  Victoria sat at her desk writing in her current journal. It was an old habit she found cathartic though she rarely read what she wrote. So many regrets were hidden in her past.

  As she pushed her pen along the paper, the doorbell rang. Looking up, her head cocked to the side. Perhaps it’s one of Declan’s children.

  “Victoria, you have a visitor,” Declan called.

  A visitor? No one ever came for her unannounced, unless there was trouble.

  Concerned, she set aside the pen and walked to the foyer. She found Lincoln standing beside the door with a shy smile and a dozen beautiful red roses. Their earthy-sweet scent was a shameful reminder of her illicit trips through his garden.

  Their eyes locked and her knees felt weak while her heart raced. “To what do I owe the pleasure, Lincoln?”

  He wet his full upper lip before answering. “I’m having a dinner party tonight, and hope I can persuade you to join us.” His gaze slid to the floor before making eye contact again. “Dacia and Preston are coming over.”

  Declan stood slightly behind and to the side of Lincoln. He cast a meaningful nod in the young man’s direction.

  One corner of her mouth tipped up. She was nervous, something she hadn’t felt in so very long. “Dinner party?” Even her voice sounded breathless.

  He nodded and took a hesitant step forward. “I brought these for you.”

  “I’ll tend to those,” Declan offered, taking them from Lincoln’s hands.

  Unable to resist, Victoria smiled. “They’re beautiful, thank you. And yes, I’d like that. As long as you won’t be offended if I don’t eat?”

  “It’s your company I crave.” His Adam’s apple bobbed, but he didn’t break eye contact. “I still need to prepare dinner. You’re welcome to walk over with me now, or come at seven. Whichever you prefer.”

  She smoothed her hands down the scarlet satin dress and considered joining him now. “I’ll be there early, but I’m not yet ready. Maybe later we can go for a drive.”

  “Then I look forward to seeing you.” He ducked his head and let himself out.

  “Don’t you dare chicken out,” Declan warned. “He took a step he was terrified to make. Give him a chance.”

  “If he has the courage to approach me I owe it to him to go tonight.” She looked into Declan’s eyes and shrugged. “It’s a start, but I’m afraid to hope he’ll see me as anything other than a monster.”

  “Even if you were a monster when you were first changed, you certainly aren’t one now. Go get ready. Though you already look lovely.”

  “Oh, I’m dressed well-enough for the party. But it would be awfully rude if I didn’t bring a housewarming gift. Lincoln doesn’t have many worldly possessions. He loves music, which gives me the perfect idea.”

  “Enjoy your evening, Victoria.” Declan waved as she stepped out the door.

  * * * *

  From the shadowy grove across the street, Byron watched a man walk from seemingly nowhere to approach Victoria’s house. Another poor sap falling under the bewitching vixen’s spell. He brought a huge bouquet of flowers that likely cost a pretty penny too.

  He felt sorry for the young man. Likely couldn’t help himself. Same story, new victim. Probably thought he was in love.

  What would the cold beauty possibly do with flowers? The way to her bed was blood, but the bitch didn’t have a heart. Which was precisely why Byron had made it his mission to stop her from preying on unsuspecting humans.

  Byron knew her type. She would argue she made it clear what her prey were in for. That she gave them every opportunity to back out. No love was ever promised. But how could anyone not fall under her spell when she was every man’s fantasy?

  He’d almost worked up the courage to go in there, guns blazing, and stop her from ruining yet another person’s life. Then out came the man, without the flowers, and a smile on his face. He walked into the dark night without looking back.

  That’s not right. Why isn’t he in there being seduced right now? Maybe there’s more going on.

  Minutes later, she drove away in her Bugatti Delahyde. Byron hunkered down, planning to wait for her to come back. He hadn’t prepared to follow.

  Chapter 2

  Nervous didn’t begin to describe Lincoln’s state of mind. The breathing exercises Jamie taught him at the gym weren’t helping. His hands had a fine tremble when he smoothed his shirt down in the mirror one last time.

  Dinner was nearly ready. Everything smelled wonderful, thanks to YouTube and cooking videos he followed in an effort to impress.

  Dacia’s words came back to him. Be yourself. She’ll be impressed, Lincoln.

  Now, he needed to believe. Though, Victoria did agree to come. Question was, would she show? He looked over at the wine rack and considered a drink. Instead, he decided against starting early and began pacing again.

  He wanted to call someone, to ask advice, but he was afraid of what they’d tell him. Surprisingly, Dacia was the one who gave him the most practical guidance.

  Dane, a werewolf and one of the few people who actually hung out with him once he hit eighteen, kept telling him to make a move, but Lincoln wasn’t sure what that meant.

  Clint, the werewolf he often sparred with, told him to jump in headfirst but not expect her to fall for him. Victoria didn’t do love.

  He almost asked Slater, but was afraid of the answer. They’d been lovers for a century, probably longer, yet Slater and Victoria never fell in love.

  More than anything, he wanted to follow Dacia’s advice about being himself. One problem, he wasn’t sure who he was. The old Lincoln would never consider any move. Victoria was the only woman he desired enough to risk putting himself out there, but she was way out of his league.

  At least you took a step, he reminded himself. A smile pulled at his lips. He wished there was something he could offer her while she was there. Nothing came to mind. She drank purely human blood, never Other, and for good reason.

  The bell rang and he walked to the door, glancing at his watch. Still half-an-hour early. Grinning, he opened it and found Victoria in the same scarlet satin dress that hugged her hourglass figure. Her dark hair fell around her in waves. The urge to bury his hands in her ebony mane, and press his body against hers, nearly overwhelmed him.

  Her lush scarlet lips twisted with mischief. “May I come in, Lincoln?”

  He sucked in a breath and nodded. “Please. Sorry. You’re stunning, and I didn’t quite believe you would come.” His eyes slid shut as his cheeks flamed in embarrassment.

  Smooth fingertips traced his jaw, bringing his gaze to hers. “I told you I would come. I do keep my word, Lincoln. And if we’re being perfectly honest,” a light shone in the dark depths of her eyes, “you’re exotic, handsome, and captivating. You intrigue me, and I want to learn your secrets.” />
  “I have no secrets,” he answered lamely.

  “Ah, but you do. Everyone has secrets. Just knowing mine would likely tarnish you forever.”

  That was the last thing he wanted to hear. “Please, don’t worry about my innocence. I’m tired of people viewing me as the quiet man who is afraid of my own shadow.”

  Enchanted by the way he looked into her soul, she shook her head slowly. “That’s not what I see. You are a man on a journey I’m eager to watch. Remember, I’m not a mere mortal. My past is dark and not at all happy.” Her eyes widened as she looked where her hand still rested against his jaw. Her gaze danced away as she dropped her arm in embarrassment. “Sorry. You mesmerized me.”

  He swallowed hard, thinking about her watching, but stood his ground. “And I see a troubled woman with a dark past. Someone who hasn’t realized she’s an amazing person who brightens the lives of everyone around her.”

  Her lips quirked. “You sure I haven’t ensnared you with my vampire talents?”

  He shook his head slightly. “Positive. Your beauty, perhaps, but you’re far better than you give yourself credit for.”

  A shy smile graced her lips. “Here, I brought you something. It’s a month late,” her gaze slid back to his, “but I wanted to give you a housewarming gift.”

  “Thoughtful, as always,” he answered, wishing he could remove that look of doubt from her lovely face.

  She extended her arm, holding a large gift bag between them. He took it and was surprised by the weight.

  His brow arched as he looked down. “I wasn’t expecting anything.”

  “That’s why it’s a surprise, silly. Open it.” Her excitement danced through her eyes and he couldn’t find a reason to protest.

  Taking the bag to the couch, he pulled out a stereo system. An expensive Bose Acoustic Wave with some additional modular pieces. “Victoria, this is—”

  Her hand covered his mouth before he could finish the protest. “You do realize I have more money than I can ever possibly use?” she asked lightly.

  He nodded, his brow still furrowed.

  “I’ve heard you singing, but no music. I’ve seen you dancing recently at the bar. I thought, maybe, you would enjoy having music at your fingertips.”

  “I appreciate that, though I’m not sure how to set this fancy equipment up.”

  “Lucky you have me then. I’m an expert. Take care of dinner, and let me get the music going.”

  He took a slow breath and decided to accept her generosity. “Thank you, Victoria. Truly, it’s a thoughtful gift.”

  “You’ll have music in a few minutes.”

  * * * *

  An hour later, Byron watched Victoria pull into the driveway next door. Her destination, a cozy house with a beautifully maintained yard in the middle of winter. She climbed out of her Bugatti and grabbed a bag with a big red bow from the passenger seat.

  A gift?

  The young man from earlier answered the door with a dumbstruck look as he took in Victoria’s appearance.

  No wonder Byron’s older brother, Monty, fell victim to her whims. When Victoria ended their relationship, claiming he’d become obsessed, he stopped taking care of himself. She single-handedly ruined Monty. He’d turned to another vampire, looking for help finding Victoria. That vampire changed him, used him, and threw him away.

  That’s when Byron got involved. He wanted revenge. The one who had changed his brother was already dead, but Victoria was the root of the problem.

  Byron had studied her from afar and discovered a pattern. She lured them in, had her fill, and sent them on their way with a goody bag when they became too attached.

  Is that what she’s doing to her neighbor? Or is he some current pet?

  Byron’s blood boiled in his veins. He wouldn’t let another innocent fall victim to a fucking vamp who strung along naïve men and women. They were blinded to her manipulative ways by a pretty façade.

  A Maserati pulled into the driveway, parking. A man and woman climbed out. The man, he recognized as someone who investigated Others. Curiosity got the better of him, and he moved closer.

  * * * *

  Victoria stood, brushing her hands down her dress with a coy smile. She found Lincoln watching her with his bottom lip caught in his teeth.

  The desire to close the distance and tug his lip free was nearly overwhelming. She’d taken the liberty of linking his iPod to the stereo.

  Never breaking eye contact, she took the remote and pressed play as it was already set to a shuffle playlist with an eclectic collection of music.

  In a pleasant surprise, a song that always brought a smile to her face came on, Bei Mir Bist Du Schon.

  Her brow arched as he met her gaze. “How did you hear this song?”

  A blush crept up his face. “I always loved the movie Swing Kids. That’s where I first heard it.”

  “Is all of the music swing in the movie?”

  “Most of it. I have it on DVD, if you’d like to borrow it. Or perhaps watch it here.”

  She nodded, but had a better question. “Do you swing dance?”

  Shaking his head, he dropped his eyes to the counter he stood behind. “Until a few weeks ago, I never danced with a partner. Swing dancing requires trust between two people.” He met her gaze and she saw the challenge staring back. “It’s something I’d love to learn one day.”

  “You could be my partner. I love to dance, though I haven’t had much practice in years. There’s a studio in town. They cover everything from salsa, to ballroom dancing, and anything else you can imagine.”

  She could hear his heart racing from across the room and almost wished she could take the suggestion back. Had she been mistaken?

  Then he surprised her with a crooked smile. “I would love to. Tell me when and I’m there.”

  “I’ll make the arrangements.”

  He jumped at the sound of the bell, then moved for the door in long strides. Still, he lacked confidence in his movement. Maybe there was something she could teach him, without taking his innocence.

  Lincoln opened the door with a smile. “Preston, Dacia, thank you for coming.”

  “A pleasure,” Dacia said with genuine happiness. She glowed, and so did Preston. It was both inspiring and depressing in the same instant.

  Looking up, Dacia caught sight of Victoria. Her smile brightened. “Hello, Victoria. I’m pleased to see you here.”

  Preston nodded, amusement dancing in his pale blue eyes as he slapped Lincoln on the back.

  Lincoln looked to the kitchen. “I’ll be a moment. The chicken needs to come out of the oven.”

  Chapter 3

  Lincoln was proud of himself. He’d served dinner, kept up with conversation, and didn’t feel nearly as intimidated by the time he finished his meal.

  Victoria was lively in her adventure telling. “The plane was so loud I thought my eardrums would burst. We flew over the jungle, excitement rushing through me. Julio rechecked my straps and asked, ‘Are you sure about this?’ To which I replied, ‘Open the damned hatch already.’”

  “Weren’t you worried about what you’d find?” Lincoln asked, with a breathless quality he wished he could stifle.

  Her hair bounced with the shake of her head. “Not at all. I knew the wildlife wouldn’t catch me. When Julio opened that door, I leapt from the plane. Nothing is as exhilarating as skydiving.”

  “So exciting. I never realized how much you’ve done,” Dacia said in amazement.

  “Dacia, I’ll take you on any adventure you crave,” Preston offered, then leaned over to whisper in her ear.

  “Hmm, you got it,” Dacia replied. She looked over to Lincoln. “You don’t mind if we take off? Victoria mentioned you two might watch a movie?”

  Preston gave him a wink as he stood to pull Dacia’s chair out. “Lincoln, dinner was excellent. Next time, we’ll invite you over.”

  Lincoln stood as Dacia did. “If you’re sure,” Lincoln hedged, despite tonight’s success, st
ill not entirely sure they were sincere with their compliments.

  “Definitely.” Dacia gave him a hug, before grabbing Preston’s hand and leading him to the door.

  “Enjoy the rest of your night.” Lincoln saw them out.

  When he turned back, Victoria stood, watching him with veiled eyes as she closed the distance. “I can honestly say I haven’t enjoyed myself this well in ages. I don’t want the evening to end.”

  “Doesn’t have to,” Lincoln replied, hoping she agreed.

  “There’s a home theatre at my place. I even have a popcorn machine, though I’ve never actually made popcorn.”

  “I can figure that out,” he offered.

  “Why don’t you bring Swing Kids with you?”

  “One second then.” Not bothering with any clean up, he grabbed the DVD, shut off the lights, and followed Victoria to her car.

  Brushing past her, he hurried to open the driver’s side door with a shy smile.

  Batting her lashes, she looked up at him. “You really are a gentleman.”

  His heart fluttered. “Tell me you like that? Some women don’t seem to.”

  Victoria’s mouth screwed up. Then mischief danced through her eyes. “This one does. And anyone who doesn’t must not know what they’re missing.”

  He bowed his head and offered a hand. She took it and he couldn’t resist placing a kiss on her knuckles before guiding her into the driver seat.

  Her smile tingled through him.

  * * * *

  Lincoln’s lips pressed against her skin, sending a burning shiver down her spine. Desire erupted through her like wildfire at the soft pressure of his mouth. Her eyes slid shut as she desperately tried to wrangle back the whimper of pleasure.

  There was a snarl, and her eyes snapped open. A metallic click jerked her head toward the trees. The crack of a shotgun sent her to her feet with the goal of pushing Lincoln down.