“Who?”
“All I have seen is a shadow. I could not tell you if they be friend or foe.”
“Surely the Shaw witch can tell you.”
Dimitri’s shoulders slumped. He knew he could not ask Silvie.
The Shaw were bound by sacred oath to keep their knowledge of the future to themselves. Even if they were to speak of what was to come, no details were permitted. She had warned him that once he launched the raid on Ven that his plan would quickly fall into place.
“Last night, after Kerstyn went to sleep, I had a vision. Ven has decided to come sooner.”
Dorian let out a stinging string of curses. “What did you think was going to happen when you challenged him?”
Dimitri’s low growl was a warning. Dorian reined in his anger, clamping it down. “I mean no disrespect.”
“I do not understand what has been happening with me lately.
My demon seems…restless. I have the urge to hunt, to kill, to feed. It has been centuries since I have experienced such yearnings.”
“You have taken Kerstyn’s blood?”
Dimitri nodded. “It is as I feared.”
Dorian waited for Dimitri to continue. The old vampire’s eyes searched out his mate again, locking on her. A light began to glow at
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the center of his pupils, slowly expanding until the black core was nearly consumed.
“What is?” Dorian prompted.
Dimitri did not look at him. His burning stare remained on Kerstyn who was still on the dance floor.
“I want more.”
“Blood? Well, I know Gabriel doesn’t feed directly off humans. He must have a few insiders at the hospitals and blood banks.
He does own a clinic―”
“I want
her
blood.
Only
her blood.” His eyes drifted closed, focusing his senses on Kerstyn as he took in a deep breath. Her teasingly light, rose scent filled his lungs sending warm chills over his body and a buzzing in his head. “The thought of taking Kerstyn’s blood, feeling her pulse grow weak beneath my lips…I want to drain her. Completely. I want to take her life into my body, then slice my own vein for her. The desire to change her is dangerously alluring, especially since I know she is fated to die.” His eyes opened. They were consumed by the white, glowing light.
“You would rather change her than bond her to you?”
“No,” Dimitri snarled, his jaw snapping like a wolf, his fangs long and gleaming. “I want her bound to me, but there is something dark within me that tears at my soul. It wants to change her.” Dorian shifted in his seat, suddenly uncomfortable with this subject. Never had Dimitri been so open. He was glad his friend was finally sharing with him, but Dimitri was right. There was darkness in him. Pure. Malicious. Starving.
“I need to protect her, Dorian. From Ven and from myself.”
“You would never harm her. You don’t have that kind of evil in you. Never would you raise a hand or speak an unkind word against an innocent.”
“It is not me that causes my worry,” Dimitri’s shoulders straightened as he leaned forward, his eyes still on Kerstyn. “Silvie has grown fond of Kerstyn, they are good friends. The witch has been reluctant to rejoin her people. She has resorted to teleportation, constantly traveling back and forth between Las Vegas and her family, so that she may complete her training and become a priestess. She refuses to permanently move back because she wants to protect Kerstyn.”
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“Understandable, Ven is―”
“Not from Ven, from me. You have only the faintest idea of what I am capable of doing.”
“Every vampire is capable of horrific deeds. Hell, even humans succumb to their inner animal.”
“I have struggled to keep the demon within under control since the beginning, but I do not know how much longer I can keep holding it back. Deep down, I am like the others. The Fathers.” Enraged by Dimitri’s words, Dorian shot to his feet, his fangs flashing and his eyes burning with loathing.
“You are nothing like the other purebloods. You did not take pleasure in torturing, raping, and murdering countless innocents. They destroyed entire villages like gluttonous savages; they drained every man, woman, and child. They even tried to lick the blood from the mud. You never captured and imprisoned children to use as playthings and snacks. No, Dimitri, you are nothing like the Fathers. Never compare yourself to them.”
“Not at that time.”
“Not ever. Do you think the heavens above, Fate, and the Shaw would work together to bring you your mate if you were evil? I think they would let the curse take you.”
Dimitri’s gaze shot to Dorian whose own eyes had turned a murderous black. He was reluctant to hope his friend was right. Dimitri knew he did not deserve a treasure like Kerstyn. He was unworthy of her love, but here they were. Together. She had taken him into her life, her heart, her body, and he wanted her soul.
Kerstyn had brought him back to life in more ways than one.
He had been dead for so long. Feeling nothing. No hunger, no pain, no emotion of any kind. Nothing. The night they had met in the alley, everything changed. She fired his lust, drew out his hunger, and brought light to the darkness of his soul. But he was dangerous for her.
“Do you remember the feeling of bloodlust? It usually begins as a dull pain in the pit of your stomach, then spreads throughout your body. Your muscles cramp while every cell craves nourishment. Once your body is weakened, it attacks your mind, sending you into delirium.
Before you know it, all you can think about is blood, feeding, and death.”
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“Your fangs burn your mouth,” Dorian added, breathless as he sank back on his seat. Cold, pure dread pumped through his veins as he remembered the last time bloodlust infected him. He had almost killed Victoria. If it had not been for their accidental bonding, she would have died in his arms. “What do you need me to do?”
“Take Kerstyn with you when you leave on Thursday. Right now, I am as serious a threat to her as Ven.” The unnatural light in his eyes slowly began to fade.
“What will you do about your hunger?”
Dimitri shrugged, his large shoulders rolling and loosening. He had not noticed every muscle in his body had tensed. “I am not sure, but I cannot risk Kerstyn’s life.”
Dorian leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. “You can rely on me to keep her safe,” he vowed, “however, if Kerstyn is anything like Victoria, she won’t go.”
“I will explain everything to her.”
Dorian snorted, “Good luck with that. Explanations and reason have never worked on my wife.”
“It is better for her. She will be safe with you and far away from Las Vegas. Ven will not be able to get to her.”
“And you?”
Dimitri’s eyes dropped to the floor. “I will work on strengthening my control.”
“Kerstyn is your mate, Dimitri. It’s only natural to desire her blood. No other’s life fluid will appease your hunger.”
“You feed from Victoria regularly?”
“Only when it is necessary, I can’t afford bloodlust to overwhelm me.”
Dimitri arched a brow in suspicion. Dorian’s lips turned up at the corners, “Okay, we occasionally share blood during…special moments.”
Dimitri chuckled and shook his head. He envied Dorian the security he had with his mate.
“I think there is another solution.”
“What?”
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“Hear me out before you make any decisions,” Dorian insisted.
“Don’t demand that she leave. From experience, this will only anger her. Instead, give her a choice. Now, I know Kerstyn would rather stay here with you. I also know that she would rather continue on with her life than be locked in a room with guards. So, this is my idea.” Dorian rubbed his palms together. “The two of you move to Vamped until the situation is resolved. This way, she can continue to work and go on about her normal routine. Gabriel’s security system is top-notch and you can assign someone to be her bodyguard.”
“I would much rather she leave the city.”
“I know, but this way, you have a backup plan.”
“What about my thirst for her blood?”
“If you really think you cannot control yourself, I am sure Silvie can find a spell,” Dorian answered with a shrug. The witch was powerful and he had no doubt she could find a solution.
“I have asked Silvie for too much as it is.”
“Then control yourself.”
“Much easier said than done these days.”
“I don’t have any more suggestions for that problem. Though, I do have one more for your other issue. If Kerstyn decides to stay, you will need someone to protect her while you’re fighting Ven. Gabriel is strong and more than capable of keeping her safe the night of the battle.”
Dimitri turned the idea over in his mind. Dorian did make some valid points even though he was ignoring the fact that Gabriel only tolerated humans.
“Vamped is secure. As long as she stays within the hotel’s walls, she will live.”
“I would have to run this past Gabriel,” Dimitri replied.
“I heard my name,” Gabriel said as he exited the elevator.
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“It’s about time you showed up. I was beginning to wonder if our host was ever going to join us,” Dorian joked as he stood.
“I’m in high demand,” Gabriel replied with a chuckle as he shook Dorian’s hand. He gave a short, respectful bow to Dimitri.
“Are the whispers burning your ears?” Dorian asked.
Dimitri nodded as he scanned the crowd. Every vampire quickly turned away, each praying he had not caught them staring.
Gabriel cleared his throat before changing the sound of his voice. In a nasally tone he repeated the whispers, “Arsov’s alive.
Vlakhos will be backing Arsov, no doubt about it. Ven won’t stand a chance. Is Erhard conspiring with them? Why are they all here? Some serious shit is about to go down.”
“They couldn’t be more right about that last one,” Dorian laughed.
“So, Dimitri,” Gabriel began as he claimed a chair, “I assume your plan has changed.”
“Ven will be here this weekend,” Dimitri said.
“Saturday evening, to be precise,” Gabriel added. “His assistant contacted me, requesting permission to enter the State. Apparently, Ven doesn’t want to start anything with me or he would not be so polite.”
“Where will he be staying?” Dorian asked.
“Henderson. I’m not about to let him stay directly within my city. I would rather he didn’t even set foot in my State.” Gabriel shrugged, loosening the tension building in his shoulders. “He’ll be about fifteen to twenty minutes away and watched. He won’t even blink without me knowing.”
“How many men do you think he is bringing with him?”
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“He hasn’t disclosed a number and I don’t think he will. We’ll find out when they arrive.”
“I wish I could be here for the fight of the century,” Dorian sighed, “but duty calls and I must return home. I have to get back to negotiating with the enemy.”
“The Red Order? You’re still talking with those psychopaths?
After what they did to your Clan? They nearly cut your population in half. Dorian, you should do all vampire kind a favor and finish them off. ”
“An eye for an eye, Gabriel,” Dorian said, his eyes glimmered between haunting black and cool sea blue. “I’ve had my revenge. For almost two hundred years I have been working on evening the score.”
“Like I said, you shouldn’t stop.”
“The Shaw and Jacque, the new council leader of the Red Order, want peace,” Dorian said with a practiced, civilized tone.
“Peace? There could never be peace with those murderous witches,” Gabriel spat.
Dimitri held up his hand. “That is where you are wrong, Gabriel. Peace will come.”
Both vampires turned to their superior with wide eyes. Neither believing that such a pact could be possible. The Red Order had been formed and existed for one purpose, to kill vampires.
“How—”
Dimitri shook his head and Dorian snapped his mouth shut.
“One day, I will share with you what I know. Until then, focus on the present.”
“Fine.” Gabriel’s light green gaze turned to ice. “What are your plans for Ven? Details.”
“You will deliver a message to him. A challenge. The two of us will meet in the desert. Far from any would-be spectators. There, I will treat Ven to a fair fight.”
Dorian felt his jaw go slack as the rest of his body went numb.
Dimitri’s words slowly penetrated his shock.
“Fair fight?” Gabriel repeated with a laugh. “You could kill the son of a bitch with a simple thought.”
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“Yes, but that would be anticlimactic, do you not agree?” Dimitri replied. “Gabriel, I never said I do not desire revenge, but I want to win with honor. I will defeat Ven with the same amount of power he possesses.”
“How do you plan to do that?” Dorian asked.
“Silvie will bind my power, locking away just enough to bring me down to his level.”
“Did you do that when you fought Red?”
Dimitri’s gaze turned to Gabriel. “Yes, it was necessary for my death to appear believable. I asked the Shaw to bind my power for twenty-four hours.”
“I don’t understand why you wouldn’t want to finish Ven off as quickly as possible,” Gabriel said.
“He wants a satisfying win,” Dorian explained. “I would, too.” Gabriel rolled his eyes. He understood honor and sometimes he even thought he had it, but this was ridiculous. He saw no reason for Dimitri to equal the playing field. No matter the battle, having the upper hand or an ace in your pocket was advantageous.
“I think I will check up on the ladies,” Dorian said as he stood.