by Ruby Raine
He stopped her with another gentle kiss. “Now what fun would that be?”
She bit back a grin.
What a wicked and dangerous thing this was. Making herself utterly vulnerable to a vampire. Wouldn’t it be the same with any man though? To some degree. Perhaps losing Mathew had made her realize how lonely she really was. How bleak her future looked, even more so without her friend. And there was that sadness again. Like a heavy stone weighing her down.
“Please tell me,” Grayson pleaded. “Please trust me with your secret.”
“What you ask is... difficult. Not because you’re a vampire,” she clarified.
He got them off the sandy ground and had her back into cradle position a second later.
“Because you don’t share, do you?”
“Can you read my mind?” she wondered. She followed it with a head shake. “No. Of course not. You’d not be asking me about my secret.”
“I cannot read your mind,” yet, he added in excited silence. Although he was very much looking forward to the day he did. He’d leave no corner of her mind unturned.
“But somehow you read me like an open book,” Lisbeth said pointedly.
“Do not ask me how as I have no answer. This is new to me. Please, Lisbeth, allow me to be the keeper of all your secrets.”
“Will you do the same?” she turned it back on him.
“Whatever you want of me. I can hold back nothing.”
She let out a languid sigh, looking downward. He lifted her chin.
“I... I lost a friend. He died saving someone else.” She needed a minute to continue and he was ever so patient. “He was my only true friend. The only person I was ever honest with. He was... a treasure. Now lost, forever.”
“You lost him in the battle?” Grayson surmised.
“Yes.”
“And you came here to this beach, to be sad? And alone?”
“Yes. It is better this way.”
“To be alone in grief? Never.”
“For you, or others, this might be true. But for me it’s better this way. It’s necessary.”
Grayson didn’t know quite enough to understand the whys of that statement. But he didn’t care. This solo act changed from now on.
“You come to me now when you’re sad. Or alone. Or upset. Or in need of comfort. Or kisses.” He spoke like it was decided, no option of refusal.
“I do not understand you.”
He lifted a brow in question.
“A vampire with his choice of human women, and I’d wager vampires. Who is capable of living anywhere on this earth, who possibly has lived nearly anywhere on this earth. I’ve heard the stories. I’m not so naïve as you might think. Some human women take vampire lovers, usually to their own demise. My point being, you could have any human in this world with a few simple words of persuasion, so why me? Why do I fascinate you? Why are you so kind to me?”
The inflection between her words admitting she was not used to extreme kindness from many. Probably one of the reasons she chose to mourn in secret. To show weakness among those who already show little respect is to show weakness.
“I cannot say, other than I cannot stay away from you. Like I said, this is new to me. Something in all my years I have never experienced. Perhaps it’s because I cannot persuade you. That your mind is your own. I did try to leave the Isle after our first meeting; my feet refused to be obey my order to do so. I am drawn to you like nothing else on this earth.”
“Except for blood.”
“Not even the purest, most delectable blood on this planet could wrench me away from you. Which is why I must stay. I need to understand what this is.”
“So I’m an experiment?”
“No. I hope you are my life.”
She had no response to that other than a flutter of electricity surging through her veins. His words finally sank into her rattled and befuddled brain.
“Wait... you’re going to stay? Here? On the Isle?” How in the hell was this going to work out? Her fellow witches would not take kindly to a vampire living on the Isle, not one who was a danger anyway. A good vampire though? And was he? Really?
“Actually, I’m not only going to stay, but I’m going to agree to your terms.”
“What terms?” she sat back a little, staring, with no recollection of setting any terms.
“No more human blood. You will never fully trust me unless I do this. And I must have your trust, Lisbeth.”
Her breath caught, shocked by his willingness to even consider trying such a thing. And all for her, because he had some crazy infatuation.
Which might go away once he gets bored, or decides he likes human blood more.
Possibly even yours.
So many things about this screamed, dangerous. With the potential for utter destruction. At the same time, she wondered if he wasn’t an innocent of sorts sent her way as a test of some kind. Was it possible to help him do this? Wasn’t it her duty to try, at the very least, if nothing else ever came of them, together?
“Please, My Lisbeth.” His use of that term already endearing to her.
How had this creature wrapped himself around her heart so easily?
“Grayson...” no other words made it past her tongue.
He grinned confidently. “I am afraid that no is not an option.”
She giggled. Her face flattening to stone. She did not just giggle for goodness’ sake! She tried like hell to hold it back but to no avail.
Grayson had her on her back in the sand in another flash.
“I like that sound, a most happy one,” he ground out. “A sound that absolutely forces me to kiss you again.” His timbre promised he planned on being the only man who kissed her for the rest of her life.
And in that moment, Lisbeth Deane fell madly in love with a vampire.
RILEY DEANE SAT AT a long wooden dining table, him, the only human in attendance or eating real food. However, this did not keep his present company from sitting together and enjoying a late family dinner.
The injuries he’d subjected himself to in his drunken stupor a few nights before, healed, little by little. After that ass-beating, he woke up the unexpected guest of the vampire, William Wakefield, and no longer staying in Jean and Annie’s free room above the pub. Riley had assumed he’d be returning there, but William had adamantly insisted he remain a guest in his home.
Riley wondered what the vampire’s version of guest was, but so far, he’d been nothing but hospitable. Distant and not around much, but not unfriendly. Which only kept Riley on his guard even more as he figured the vampire was just waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
How the hell had this even happened?
A guest in the home of William Wakefield, and not on The Demon Isle. But in New Orleans. Inside Sorcier, a magically hidden town of supernatural beings who somehow managed to live peacefully and in secret. A place the vampire had created before his time on the Isle serving the Howard family.
Guest?
Prisoner?
In Riley’s mind they were one and the same in William’s home. Although he trusted Jean and Annie. They’d given him no reason not to, other than not coming clean about it being William, who created Sorcier. Regardless, he hadn’t pushed his luck by trying to escape. Had not dared would be more accurate. And after his severe beating the other night, he’d been in no mood to go far anyway. He needed a few days to recover from that stupidity.
And now here they were, acting out the part of a happy foursome eating dinner. Well, he was the only one eating. The other three were drinking their meals. Annie was in the seat next to him, with Jean and William on the opposite side; the three of them speaking freely and easily, like old friends. Which they were. Like hundreds of years old friends.
So many secrets William had. Riley suspected not even the Howards were aware of this place or the vampire’s part in creating it. And how bizarre, to be the one human seated at dinner with three vampires. A young man alive a mere blip of the lives
they’d lived. Riley chugged down some beer, plate emptied. First drink since his bad trip a few nights ago; funny, how fast a body forgot what feeling like complete shit felt like. The drink went down easy. With plenty of room for another.
He’d been so out of it when he’d awakened a few nights ago to a strange room. He’d even thought he might be dead for a brief moment, until he saw aspirin on the side table. It was only a few minutes after realizing he was alive, but in a home he didn’t recognize that he came back around to, I may not be dead, but I’m about to be. The murderous stare on the vamp’s face had claimed such.
But a second later, Annie sauntered into the room like she owned the place and put her hands on her hips and glared at her “father” who abruptly evened his stare, and shrugged as if to say, had to scare him, just a little. Turns out, this is where Annie and Jean lived. He hadn’t been to their home, only seen them in the pub, or hanging out with Annie around town.
He had been beyond shocked to discover it was William who saved his ass from a beating that would have put him in the ground if it had continued much longer. And the vamp had brought him here, to this house.
His house. In Sorcier, in the middle of the French Quarter in New Orleans.
God damn, wrapping his brain around all this was driving him nuts.
Riley was finding it difficult getting over the fact that not only did William save him, but had this whole other life no one on The Demon Isle seemed to be aware of. The vampire had hinted as much, but Riley had only been half listening, his nerves on high alert, sure the vamp had saved him only so he could personally inflict pain and suffering, himself.
But so far, nothing but hospitable. A little distant on his part, and often, lost in his own thoughts, but no hint of danger flinging out at Riley whenever he was around the vampire. He’d wanted to ask him a hundred times why he wasn’t on the Isle, and how everyone was after the Feyk battle, but each time had lost his nerve. So afraid of the answer.
And there was that letter, apparently from Jack, the Howard’s father. Riley’s memory of it was hazy as his head had just been recently bashed in, but he’d guess it had more to do with that letter than anything else.
And like the vampire needed a reminder of the torture Riley had subjected him to, by bringing up the Feyk and Eva Jordan. He’d finally remember why he had saved Riley, so he could be the one who broke his neck, or...
Riley shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
Probably just biding his time.
Tricking me into thinking I’m safe.
Attack me first chance he gets.
Perhaps now was a good time to move on.
He’d miss Jean and Annie though, they’d been nothing but kind and welcoming.
Hard to believe it was William who created Sorcier. He was Annie’s sire, her father, for all intents and purposes. Riley huffed under his breath. It was so William to come the rescue. Except Sorcier was a much larger group of people and not one of them was named Melinda Howard.
From what he was beginning to understand, William was practically royalty here.
And of course, this is where he’d end up, smack dab in the middle of a world created by the vampire he wanted nothing to do with. One who deserved to take some sort of revenge out on him after the torture William suffered at his hands.
And Annie was right in her summation of him. Though he looked upon his daughter with utter adoration and genuine love, it was encased in deep regret. He still held tremendous guilt over what he had done to her.
As he should, thought Riley. It didn’t matter Annie was okay with it. She hadn’t had the choice; it was done to her. No one should ever not have a choice.
He’d not had a choice in getting cursed. It was not something he wanted to experience again.
Reluctantly, part of him empathized with the damn vampire he loathed so much. They’d both done unforgiveable things they could not undo.
And dang it, we’re back to I’m hanging out with fricking vampires!
What the hell had become of his life?
Oh, right, ran away after said curse ended because he didn’t have the balls to face everyone he’d hurt. Most especially Melinda. Who had feelings for his vampire host. No, not feelings for, was in love with.
Riley had remembered enough from his time under the Feyk’s curse. Melinda loved him too. She loved them both, just in different ways. But which was real? Which kind of love, won? If it was him, was it enough to know she loved him more? Or differently. Or the way that mattered most?
If the vampire wasn’t a vampire, who would Melinda choose?
Riley believed the answer to that question mattered more than any other.
And if her response was not him, but she still chose him because she refused the vampire for a human, well, how did he reconcile that?
It was just another type of prison really, to be in love with someone and never be certain they wholeheartedly loved you back, not like you loved them. Albeit it would be a much nicer prison than being under a curse. And hell, he was acting like this was still some kind of option. Like he had any chance after what he’d done. Curse or no curse, he’d ruined any chance of a future with Melinda.
Annie nudged his arm, looking at him pointedly.
He cleared his throat. “Sorry. Lost in my own mind tonight.”
“I can see that. I can hear it too. Your heartbeat is all over the place.”
Great... stupid vampire hearing.
“Anything you want to share?”
“No.” His answer was short and emphatic. Annie caught him casting a wary glance at William and guessed it had something to do with him, and therefore, Riley would not speak openly. She didn’t push, but she’d try later.
“Jean and I are off to open the pub for the night.”
“Right, time to get to work.”
“Not you.” It was William.
“Why not?” Riley blurted, pissed by the clear angst he did not hide.
William’s pose relaxed, he thumped back in his chair. Almost like he didn’t want to say why. But then, “It’s time we had a talk.”
Riley was not excited about that idea at all.
Annie grasped his hand and squeezed. Jean cast William a distant, yet somehow fixed, stare. She wasn’t privy to this topic either, is what Riley guessed. But she didn’t give off vibes of being concerned for his personal safety.
Jean and Annie departed.
The house got eerily quiet.
Quite instantly, Riley was sick of hearing his own breaths. He gave a start when William listed forward, but all he did was lean forward putting his hands up to his face. Such a seemingly human act, and so not the vampire he was getting used to.
“You are not here because of the reason you think.” William lifted his head, gaze on Riley.
“Um...”
“Your gift did not bring you to Sorcier, is what I mean.”
Riley’s brow lifted, not understanding. “My gift is the exact reason I got here.”
“Fake. I hired some friends to create a spell to mimic your gift and get you here.” Blunt and honest. This was the vampire he remembered.
Riley plunked back in his chair, although he was seriously wondering if now was the time to try to run. If he was brought here on purpose, William must really have some plans to torture him. Or kill him. Or make his life miserable in some way.
“I didn’t bring you here to harm you, Riley.” His tone didn’t sound so certain. But the nature of Riley’s entire being must have shown that’s what he’d been thinking.
“Why did you bring me here?”
William stalled for a moment. His even façade cascading into a rush of emotions that charged across his face with such speed Riley wasn’t able to pin them.
“Melinda,” the vampire finally got out. “I did it for her.”
Riley froze. His blood, his skin, his breath. The hot, sticky New Orleans air didn’t melt a thing.
William continued.
“She may not r
ealize it yet, but she still loves you. And I cannot allow you to come to harm. It would kill her.”
Could Riley’s mind and body freeze up any more solid? This is not what he expected to hear. Not by any stretch of the imagination.
“You are an idiot for running away,” William spoke bluntly. “However, you are young. And human. And male.” There was a hint of amusement in his tone now. “If I recall correctly, this pretty much equals all things idiot. And I dare say, being a vampire aged over four-hundred-years means no less.”
Riley let out a rush of air, his body thawing out, and the corner of his mouth turning upward in an awkward attempt at a smile. Was the vampire attempting to be funny? Logic warned this was no laughing matter but his gut told him to relax. He lifted a brow at William, the smirk refusing to simmer down to anything too serious. If the vampire was attempting to diffuse the tension, he’d succeeded. Which surprised Riley.
William returned the gesture, albeit a thin smile, which held an honest compassion behind it. It was more humanity than Riley thought possible for the vampire.
“I um,” he shook his head, trying to get his brain to start working right.
“You were an idiot for running. I did not say I didn’t understand why you did.”
“How can you do this?” Riley grimaced, that hadn’t come out right.
William needed no explanation.
“You were under a curse, Riley. I can hold no permanent hatred. I seek no revenge. I, more so than most, understand curses.”
“But you love her... and she’s in love with you.” Riley bent into himself. He really should not have said that. Was he asking for trouble? And they both knew the her he was speaking of.
William said nothing, those mix of emotions surfacing and sinking again.
Riley changed the subject. “So the psychic chic, Aunt May, that reading was fake too, I suppose? Why does everyone want me to go back to The Demon Isle? That’s what you really want, right?”
“The reading was meant to help you clarify things. Give you some perspective. It turned into more but it was in no way, fake. Aunt May doesn’t do pretend. As for returning to the Isle, it is your choice, Riley. But on my part, you should.”
