Caressed by Shadows (Rulers of Darkness Book 4) (22 page)

Her eyes widened then narrowed as she studied him. She looked as if she were sizing him up. Gabriel stood rod straight under her gaze.

“Yes,” she said.

“My name is Gabriel Erhard. Ms. Peterson may have told you about me.”

She shook her head. “I’m sorry, no.”

Gabriel took a step toward her. She didn’t back away. “I own the V record label. I’m in town on business caught a rumor that your act was the one to see.”

A charming blush rose in her cheeks. “That’s flattering.”

“I’ll be heading back to Vegas tomorrow.”
Gabriel pulled a business card from his suit pocket. “But I’d like to meet with you, Ms. Culver, and discuss your future with the industry.”

Her fingers trembled betraying her nervousness as she reached for the card. “Thank you.”

Gabriel nodded. “I look forward to hearing from you.” He turned and began to head back the way he came.

“Wait,” she called, grabbing ahold his hand.

He paused. She gasped and recoiled as if he had electrified her. He watched her as she fought to disguise her reaction to him. She desired him. The scent of her need…He had to leave before his own lust took control.

“I’m free the rest of the night.” She cursed. “I mean, we could talk…If you don’t have other plans.”

She blushed again. Gabriel smiled. “My evening is free, Ms. Culver.”

“Please, call me Jordan.”

He nodded. “I’m staying at the View Point. If you like, we can meet at the restaurant there.”

She took a step forward and Gabriel forced himself not to shove her against the wall and kiss her until she gasped for air.

“Okay. I just need to get my things.”

“I’m heading there now. Would you like me to wait?”

“No. Go ahead. I have my car here. I’ll meet you in thirty minutes.”

Gabriel watched her walk down the hall and disappear into a dressing a room. He wanted to follow her. He wanted…nothing. She was a human. So easily breakable.

He turned and headed for the exit.

*                             *                          *                          *                          *

Jordan combed her fingers through her hair and fell back against the door.

Her finger
s still tingled. His skin had been smooth, hot, electrifying. That one touch had triggered something deep within her. A need and desire she had never known.

A soft knock sounded on the door. Jordan swept the remaining make-up off the vanity and into her gym bag. She took one last look at her reflection.

Another knock.

“I’ll be right out.”

She had been the first of four acts tonight. The second was already on stage, which meant the others would be filing in to use the dressing rooms.

Tossing her bag over her shoulder she surveyed the room once more, making sure she left nothing behind. Silently, she bid the room farewell. Tonight was the beginning of her new life.

Opening the door, she smiled at the man who had been knocking.

“Jordan Culver?” he asked.

His voice was hard and had an unnatural lit to it. Alarms sounded in her head.  Fear choked her as he smiled, his twisted and scarred lips pulled into a smile. His eyes were black pits in his skull and gruesome fangs extended from his gums.

Demon.
Oh, God. No! They had found her.

She fell back a step.

“I’ll take that as a yes.”

He lunged for her. She fought. Kicking and swinging, she tried to scream, but fear chocked her. The demon laughed as she struggled. She managed to elbow him in the gut and slip through the door. Running down the hall she called out, but the band’s music drowned her cries for help.

She refused to look back and she prayed she could out run it.

Jordan darted through the emergency exit. The door knocked her bag from her shoulder, but she didn’t stop to pick it up. Her car keys were in her pocket and she was getting the hell out of her
e.

She sprinted across he wet asphalt. Her heart raced as a van pulled up alongside her. Panic threatened to consume her.

She cut to the left and sprinted down the alley towards the parking lot.

A large arm
wrapped around her middle, pulling her up. Her feet left the ground. She gasped, ready to scream, but a large hand slapped over her mouth. She bit into the meaty palm.

It dropped her. The air punched from her lungs when she hit the ground.

“Bitch,” the demon snarled as he turned her over.

Jordan kicked at him as he pulled her up.

“You’ll pay for drawing my blood,” he said, holding up his quickly healing hand. “Now, be good.” He swung and everything went dark.

*                            *                            *                                 *                                 *

“Did she say she would meet you at the restaurant?” Gannon asked.

“Yeah.”

“Then shouldn’t we head to the hotel?”

Gabriel ignored Gannon’s exasperated tone. Tension coiled within him as he waited for what, he didn’t know. His demon prowled within him, testing its chains.

Something was wrong.

“Are we going to follow her? You know, Gabriel, your starting to creep me out. All stalker status and shit.”

The sound of squealing of tires sliced through the air.

Gabriel’ vampire howled. “No,” he growled.

Launching himself from the Escalade, he ran across the street. Horns blared as he dodged cars. Gannon yelled after him.

Gabriel increased his speed, turning into a blur of movement that swept past the humans congregating outside the bar entrance and those having sex in the alley.

He came to a stop in the rear parking lot. A bag covered with Jordan’s scent was discarded in a puddle.

Rage boiled like lava beneath his skin, the heat slowly building, rising until his entire body shook with the raw emotion. The sky splintered. Lightning whipped and thunder crashed.

Gabriel let out a blood crystalizing roar. The ground shook, the glass of the car windows shattered. A symphony of car alarms rang through the air.

Gannon hesitantly approached and grabbed Jordan’s bag.

Gabriel’s chest collapsed, his bellow died. He brought shaking hands to his face.

“Boras. The son of a bitch! He took her. He stole one of my subjects
. He took her from my territory.” Gabriel’s vision wavered. The demon was dangerously close to tearing free.

“We’ll find her. There has to be security cameras inside. I’ll get the tapes,” Gannon said.

Gabriel held up his hand, motioning for him to wait. He sucked in a breath, then another and another. Fighting to bring himself back under control. Fear spiced the air as the ground continued to tremble beneath his feet. Lighting flashed. Thunder roared.

Boras
. His lips peeled back over his fangs.

“That fucking slave trader,” he snarled.

His gut twisted as memories danced from the shadows in his mind. The slave brand on his chest began to burn. Fresh pain as if the iron had just kissed his skin.

The things they would do to her. She would pray for death, but they would keep her alive. The light would slowly fade from her eyes until she became nothing but a ghost, a shell.

He closed his eyes, reigning his rage, locking down his emotions and shoving his memories back where they belonged, in the dark. The sky cleared and the earth stilled.

This had to end. Slavery had to end. The
Clans had outlawed the practice centuries before, but the Outcastes were not subject to their ruler. It was time things changed. It was time the Outcastes were united and had a king.

“Give me your phone,” he demanded.

Gannon pulled his phone from his pocket and slowly walked over to him. He knew not to make any sudden movements.

Gabriel called the most powerful vampire in existence, Sire Dimitri Arsov. His call was answered before it even rang.

His voice roughened, he bit out, “I need a meeting. With all the Clan Chieftains.”

Chapter Twenty-
Seven

Snow softly drifted
, the chilled air cut by the wind. Moonlight poured into the ballroom, unabated and gave life to the room. The chandelier glittered and the mirrored walls shimmered.

Falcon took in a deep breath. T
he cold sting of the air had a calming effect. He paused in the doorway of the balcony. Hadrian stood strong in the storm, his arms wrapped tightly around his mate, Eva.

Falcon hesitated, loath to interrupt their moment. He turned to leave. He could discuss everything with his king later. Besides, Sonya was probably wondering why he was avoiding her. The truth, he was protecting her. The Validus Counsel had called for a meeting tomorrow night and they would surely interrogate her. They were not a forgiving sort. They would seek to blame her for his faults. He had abandoned his Clan to search for her. He had broken his oath to place his king and Clan first by doing so. Falcon knew he would be reprimanded. How, he didn’t know. He hoped to spare Sonya from his Clan’s vengeance.

“Knight,” Hadrian called, his voice cutting through the wind.

Falcon’s steps halted. He slowly turned back to his king. Hadrian still stood, his back to the balcony doors.

Eva placed a kiss on Hadrian’s lips and gently broke his hold on her waist. She walked back to the shelter of the castle, pausing a moment to say, “Welcome home, Falcon.”

Falcon thanked her and waited for Eva to cross and exit the ballroom before he stepped out into the snow.

Hadrian clasped his hands behind his back and turned to face Falcon. His black gaze was sharp as he scrutinized the knight from head to toe.

“Your Majesty,” Falcon greeted. He punched a fist to his chest over his heart and went down on one knee, his head bowed.

Minutes slipped by as the wind wildly howled. Chards of ice whipped through the air, hitting him in the face. With long strides, Hadrian came to stand before him. Falcon kept his head down, his eyes focused on the ground. Anxiety rocked him, his nerves raw as he waited for his king to speak. Was Hadrian angry with him? He could not bear to see disappointment in his king’s eyes. But he refused to apologize for his action.

“Rise,” Hadrian commanded.

Falcon stood and straightened his shoulders.

“It is good to have you back,” Hadrian said. He clapped Falcon on the shoulder.

Falcon frowned when Hadrian walked away, heading back into the keep. He followed.

“My king?”

Hadrian mounted the steps to his throne, tucked in the shadows of the ballroom. He reclined, his long legs stretched out, his heavy boots crossed. Silence stretched between them. Falcon tried to speak, but couldn’t find the words. His mind raced with questions as he battled an emotion he despised. Anxiety.

“You should be recovering,” Hadrian said.

“My king?”

“You are pale. Your pulse is weak.” His black as night eyes flickered with ribbons of red. “I can smell the poison in your blood.”

“In our last fight against the hunters−”

“You’ve made a miraculous recovery.” Hadrian paused for a thoughtful moment. “I must thank Queen Sonya.”

Hadrian could not read minds or see into the future, but he was a genius and his demon instincts were strong. Had his king somehow discovered he and Sonya were bound? He could smell the poison in his veins. Could he scent their combined blood?

“Why have you sought me out, knight?”

Falcon cleared his throat. “I wish to explain my actions of the past few weeks.”

Hadrian propped an elbow on the arm of his throne. Resting his chin on his palm, he said, “Very well.”

“When Lady Gwendolyn announced Queen Sonya’s disappearance, I acted on impulse. It wasn’t until after I left that I realized the impact of my decision. Truly, I meant no offense.”

Hadrian shrugged. “I endured no insults.”

“The Counsel−”

“Their opinion does not matter.”

“If they seek retribution, I fully understand. As a Black Knight, my oath binds me to our Clan. I broke the covenant by abandoning my post.”

“Yes, that is what they would have me believe.” Hadrian leaned forward. “What other crimes do you feel you are guilty of?”

Falcon shifted uncomfortably beneath Hadrian’s intense stare. The king’s eyes flickered between black and hell fire red. He could sense Hadrian’s demon, strong and threatening.

“Love. I am in love with Queen Sonya.”

In a flash of movement, Hadrian stood at Falcon’s side. “And the Queen, does she reciprocate your affections?”

Falcon’s shoulders proudly stiffened. “She does.”

Hadrian nodded. “Good.” He began walking toward the exit.

“My king,” Falcon called after him, his voice thick with confusion.

Hadrian stopped and turned back to face him. “I do not want nor do I expect an apology from you. Given the situation, I would have reacted in the same way. I could never allow my mate to suffer.” His hard features softened with a half-smile. “I assume you have consummated your relationship.”

“Yes.”

“It seems you did not seek me out this eve to explain your actions, but to confess.”

Falcon blanched. “I know the Counsel will question me and more than likely, they will launch an investigation. I will not
answer, therefore, I will be found guilty. I wanted you to know that my loyalty remains with you and the Clan, but circumstances beyond my control have risen−”

Hadrian held up a hand, silencing Falcon. “I know. You are mated.”

His voice cracked from shock, “How do you know?”

“Allow me to put your fears to ground. The Validus Counsel has been dismantled. It became apparent that during my absence the Counsel ex
ploited its position and abused its power.” His lips slowly peeled back from his fangs. The glowing red of his gaze sliced through the shadows. “They suggested you be strung up and left to burn in the sun.”

Falcon was not at all surprised. The Validus were a blood thirsty, violent sort.  The ugly sense of betrayal spread through his chest.

“You have loyalty and valiantly protected and guided our Clan. You led them when I could not and they flourished beneath your rule.” He growled. “I will not abide such behavior.”

“What did you do?” Falcon asked, hearing his worst fears had come true. He
had worried the Clan would not accept Hadrian that they would turn on him. Was another civil war brewing?

“There is no law that state a monarch must have a Counsel. I also pointed out that you no longer reside under their jurisdiction.”

“Jurisdiction?”

“You are not a Validus Black Knight.”

Falcon shook his head as he tried to piece everything together. “I don’t follow.”

“Some weeks ago, the Shaw High Priestess came to me with a request. She desired a personal guard and specifically asked for you. I can’t say if she will ever summon you to serve or if she only made the arrangement to save your head. I would have told you, but she insisted we keep it a secret.”

“What the hell for?” Falcon exploded.

“The Shaw are mysterious creatures and hate to tempt Fate. Your knowing could have changed the course of the future.”

The information had a staggering impact, literally. Falcon stumbled back and fell to the steps below the throne.

“As for your question regarding my knowledge of your union with Queen Sonya, it is simple. I can smell the lingering aroma of chard flesh
and sex, coupled with my suspicions of the High Priestess’s motives, I assumed you were bound.”

The room began to spin as Falcon struggled to process. He was no longer a Black Knight, meaning the time he spent fighting his need for Sonya and pushing her away
was for naught.

“Silvie,” he whispered.

Hadrian’s red gaze narrowed. “Yes. The witch is cunning.”

“Sonya told me Silvie was the one who suggested she leave the night of your coronation. She had encouraged Sonya to walk into the Red Order’s trap.” Falcon was grateful he was already sitting. “She set this all up.”

“Indeed.”

Falcon scrubbed his face with his hands. “What does this all mean?”

“Four clans. Four mated rulers. The shaman and his niece clearly have something planned. Unfortunately, we can only wait for it to be revealed.” The ballroom vibrated as Hadrian growled low as he turned to leave.

“Wait. What of the Counsel?”

“It has been dismantled and those members I felt to be disloyal to the crown were banished.”

“Do you think that is wise? They were all nobles. They could have supporters.”

“Civil war is always a possibility in this volatile Clan.”

“Hadrian, if you need me, I will stay. I can help keep the peace and−”

Hadrian paused just before the large double doors of the ballroom. “No. Your place is with Sonya. Besides, with my heir as King of the Voidukas, I highly doubt civil will come. No one would want to brave the wrath of two Clans.

Falcon swallowed hard. King. Him? Was he ready for the responsibility?

“Have a pleasant night, Falcon. We will discuss
this more tomorrow, when Dimitri and Dorian arrive. Word has spread that two of the Red Order Hunters Counsel members met their end. Samuel and Oliver. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about the tragedy.”

Falcon shrugged. “It was nice to watch the bastards’ burn.”

Hadrian smiled, revealing his fangs. “Carter has called Dimitri. He desires another audience.”

“Do you think we can successfully negotiate peace?”

“No one can or will ever fully understand Fate. Not even the Shaw Priestess.”

With those last words, Hadrian vanished.