“I am not angry with Gabriel or with you. Perhaps, at first I was, but not now. I am glad he gave you his blood.” He rounded the bed. Leaning down, he placed a feather soft kiss on her lips. “I would have lost you tonight if it weren’t for him. This world would be miserable without you, my angel.” His lips moved to her brow. “Truth be known, I am envious of him. I wish it was I who changed you.”
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“Really? But I thought you had sworn to never change anyone.”
“You would have been my exception and to ever think otherwise is foolish.”
Kerstyn swallowed the tight lump that had formed in her throat and blinked back the tears that stung her eyes.
“I love you, Kerstyn,” he whispered against her lips.
“Oh, Dimitri, I love you,” she said, between their kiss.
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Dimitri silently shut the bedroom door, not wanting to disturb Kerstyn.
He needed blood. The vampire within him was restless with hunger. His muscles ached and his limbs were heavy. Yet, there was one thing more he had to do before he saw to his hunger.
Dimitri knocked on the office door. When silence greeted him, he pushed the door open.
“Sire.”
Gabriel sat on the small sofa in the center of the room, an IV in each of his arms, pumping blood into his starving body. His face was ashen, dark circles rimmed his eyes. He looked used, worn, and disgraced. He did not meet Dimitri’s gaze. His head hung low.
“Sire, I know I do not have the right to request―”
“Gabriel,” Dimitri sighed, shaking his head, “you have done nothing that warrants forgiveness.”
Gabriel’s head snapped up, his eyes pooled with unshed tears.
“But, I―”
Dimitri held up his hand, “You have always been a man of your word.”
“I failed you.” Shame shook his voice and self-hatred dripped from his words. “For that, I offer my life.”
“No, my friend.”
Dimitri crossed the room to stand by Gabriel’s side.
“I was unable to keep her safe.”
“You did what you could.” Dimitri’s smile was light. “You and I both know there is no escaping Fate. Why I even allowed myself to hope she would make it through this night unharmed, I will never
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know.” He clapped the younger vampire on the shoulder. “I thank you.”
Gabriel started. Confusion gave some color to his face.
“What?” he demanded, “I thought you would be enraged and disgusted by what I had done. I shared my cursed blood with your mate, changing her into a vampire. Forcing this wretched life upon her.”
“And I am thankful. Gabriel, if you had not, she would be dead and I…well, I would rather not think about what I would have done.” Gabriel slumped on the sofa. Bemusement had shocked him into silence. Dimitri gave Gabriel’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze before he headed back to the hall.
“I am entirely sincere, Gabriel. Thank you. I will forever be in your debt.”
“No.” Gabriel shook his head. “No, Sire. It is I who am indebted to you. If it weren’t for you, I would still be imprisoned, chained, beaten, and…used. The price of freedom can never be repaid.” Dimitri nodded. He was not about to argue with Gabriel for it was a battle he would most certainly lose. Instead, he exited the office, softly closing the door behind him.
His thoughts snapped back to the needs of his body. Every cell within him cried out for nourishment. When he stepped into the living room, he was not at all surprised to see Silvie wearing red velour lounge pants and a white tank top, but he was surprised by what she was holding.
“Forgive me for not telling you what I had seen?” she asked, offering the mug of microwaved blood to him.
Dimitri took the mug and nodded for her sit with him on the couch.
“I won’t be long,” she began, “Denise is waiting for me. I knew she would call and that Kerstyn would… Anyway, I went and picked her up from the bar and settled her in one of the rooms with a pint of Häagen
-
Dazs. Gannon is with her now, keeping her company.”
“What is it you wish to discuss?”
Silvie’s hands began to fidget as they rested in her lap. “My uncle. Our Shaman.”
Dimitri took another sip as he waited for her to continue.
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“Dorian has his mate, you have returned to reclaim your Clan, and Hadrian will be reentering vampire society shortly. Many changes have taken place, but there are more to come. In two years' time, our world will be completely different. My uncle refers to it as a 'new era'.
It will be a new beginning for not just vampires, but for shape-shifters and witches.” Her hands stilled. “Including the Shaw.” His eyes narrowed as he tried to fall in line with what she was saying. He understood that significant change was coming. He had received glimmers of the distant future. He knew Gabriel was heading towards a life-altering event, though he did not know exactly what was to take place.
“My uncle has decided to retire.”
Dimitri felt the mug slip from his fingers, but did not hear it shatter. It hung, suspended in midair, which was Silvie’s doing. She must have anticipated his shock. He was stunned and absolutely speechless. The word “retire” vibrated his skull like a jackhammer on cement.
“He has yet to share his decision with the tribe.”
“Why?” Dimitri asked, plucking the mug from the air and setting it on the coffee table.
“He wanted to wait to make sure I passed my final test.” Dimitri slowly began to shake his head as everything Silvie said began to fall into place.
“You are to take his place,” he said in awed understanding.
“His death will be true and final. No longer will he be repeatedly reincarnated. Upon his demise, all of his knowledge and power will be passed on to me. I will be the next leader of the Shaw tribe.”
Dimitri’s ears twitched as he detected a hint of depression in her voice.
“Is that what you want, Silvie.”
She shrugged and stood. “It does not matter what I want. This is what is meant to be. As my uncle says, with a new beginning there should be a new ruler. I already possess great strength for one so young and he will train me well. I will reign and be reborn until it is time for me to join those I know and love on the other side.” He nodded and took up his cup.
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“This is an honor,” she whispered and Dimitri was unsure whether she said the words for his benefit or her own.
He was about to ask when his senses focused on Kerstyn. She was coming down the hall. He quickly downed the blood in his mug and stood. She entered the living room still wearing her ruined clothes.
“Silvie,” Kerstyn happily greeted her friend with a long hug,
“thank you so much for getting Denise.”
“No problem,” Silvie said with a surprisingly easy smile.
Dimitri silently commended her for her acting.
“If Dimitri is with me,” her gaze shifted to Dimitri, “do you think I will be okay around Denise? I don’t want to attack her. I am feeling hungry again, but I really would like to talk to her. She doesn’t know we are engaged.”
“You should feed once more,” he said.
Kerstyn’s eyes dropped to his pulse. “You’re right. I am hungry.” Her gaze slowly moved down his body. “I will also need to clean up before I see her. I’ll scare her to death looking the way I do.” She gave Silvie a mischievous wink before turning and waving to Dimitri to follow her. “I won’t be long, Silvie. I’ll be ready for girls'
night in just a few. Oh, don’t forget, we have mad planning to do. My wedding is in two months.”
“And what a joyous night that will be.” Dimitri replied, his lips lifting into a smile that could only belong to Prince Charming.
“New Year's at midnight,” Kerstyn added.
“The mark of a whole new beginning,” Silvie said with a happy smile and anxiety in her heart.
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At the stroke of midnight, they sealed their vows with a kiss, just like a fairytale.
The stars speckled the black sky like glitter and the moon cast its soft, loving glow over the ceremony and festivities. Lights twinkled in the trees and lined the yard while candles flickered on the tables situated about the pool, which had been turned into a dance floor with a clear glass cover. The celebration had been going on for hours and Kerstyn never wanted this night to end.
She peeked up at Dimitri beneath her long, flirtatious lashes and he smiled at her.
God, he was gorgeous in his tux. She licked her lips as she envisioned undoing his dark blue tie, biting off the buttons of his shirt and ripping the fine black jacket from his wide shoulders.
Dimitri’s arm slipped about her waist and he pulled her against his side. “Naughty, wife.”
Kerstyn blushed and playfully pulled away from Dimitri, catching the short train of her dress so that she would not trip on the pearl silk. She had had a difficult time finding a dress, searching for something that was elegant yet sexy. Finally, she found this masterpiece: halter-sheathe style that clung to her curves with a deep v-neck line that was not too revealing while the back was almost nonexistent.
“If you like, we could sneak off and―”
Dimitri did not allow her to finish. In a flash, he had her in his arms, his masterful lips ensnaring hers in a long, deep kiss.
“We will have our fun,” he whispered.
Kerstyn was unable to respond, her need and hunger heating her blood. She was about to pull him back for another lust filled kiss when a chill slowly wrapped about her spine. Danger.
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“Is your…how do you say… ‘your vampire sense tingling’?” Dimitri asked with a light laugh that eased some of her tension.
Kerstyn nodded as she searching the crowd of guests for the cause of her reaction. “You know I’m still getting used to the changes.
Heartbeats are louder, smells are way stronger than I would like most of the time, and I’ve noticed that every time Silvie is around the air shifts and it suddenly becomes warmer. But…I’ve never felt anything like this before tonight. I sensed it earlier, right before the ceremony. It feels like…a dark soul.”
Dimitri made no reply, but turned towards the doors. Kerstyn stood beside him, trying to hide her nervousness.
“He came.”
“Who?” Kerstyn asked, following Dimitri’s gaze. She could feel her blood turn to ice in her veins as her eyes fell upon the pair standing just inside the double doors that led into the house.
“Hadrian Lucretius.”
“The King of the Validus? The one who exiled himself?”
“Yes,” Dimitri answered.
The guests parted for them, creating a path directly to the bride and groom. Kerstyn inched closer to her husband as they drew near.
“Which one is Hadrian?” she whispered.
“He has dark hair.”
Kerstyn was struck speechless as Hadrian’s obsidian gaze met hers. Deep. Black. Cold. She had never seen eyes like his. His hair was cut short, buzzed in a military fashion. His skin was pale, even for a vampire, his cheeks were hollow, and yet he was still beautiful.
Menacing, dangerous, and stunning.
Kerstyn forced her gaze to his companion. They were of similar height, both clearly over six feet, but his eyes were warm pools of liquid silver. Swirling. Hypnotizing. His hair was also short, but not nearly as short as Hadrian’s. His features were finely sculpted while Hadrian’s were sharply edged.
The duo, that had the guests in a trance, came to a stop before them. Hadrian bowed his head as the other man fell to his knee his head hung low, his right fist placed over his heart.
“Sire, I am honored you have invited me to your wedding. The ceremony was lovely and your bride,” his eyes flickered to Kerstyn,
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“beautiful. You are a fortunate man.”
“Hadrian, I am so pleased you have come.” Dimitri clasped his arms about the mysterious dark vampire in a bear like hug. “It has been too long. Thank you for joining us.”
Dimitri pulled away and turned his attention to the kneeling man.
“You may rise, Falcon.”
The vampire came to his feet.
“Kerstyn, may I formally introduce Hadrian Lucretius, King of the Validus Clan and his second, Sir Falcon Kenwrec, of the Black Knights.”
“It is a pleasure,” Kerstyn said, extending her hand.
Hadrian gently took hold over her fingers. His touch was cold, but his breath was warm as he placed a soft kiss upon her knuckles.
“The pleasure is mine, Your Majesty.” Hadrian said, his voice deep. He gave a tight, respectful nod, before stepping away and allowing Falcon to take her hand.
“As a Black Knight, I pledge to you my sword and my life if you ever have need of them,” Falcon stated firmly, his silver eyes flashing to that of stone gray.
“Th-Thank you,” Kerstyn said, not sure what to make of his oath. She turned her quizzical gaze to Dimitri, who presented her with a smile.
Unable to resist any longer, Dorian came forward. “God, it is so good to see you,” Dorian exclaimed, throwing his arms about Hadrian.
“Yes,” Hadrian said, “I have been away for far too long.” Dorian released him and wrapped an arm about Victoria, drawing her forward.
“I would like you to meet my wife, Victoria.”
“My lady, I’ve heard much about you from Falcon, I am pleased to finally meet you.”
He kissed Victoria’s hand as well, before turning to Sonya.
“Queen Sonya,” he greeted with a smile that softened his face and his dark eyes.
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“Oh, Hadrian,” Sonya sighed, her voice trembling as tears made her gold eyes sparkle. “It does my heart good to see you.” Hadrian gave her a low respectful bow before nudging Falcon to do the same.