Seared by Desire (41 page)

“
Lucian,” she purred, leaning against a wall seductively. “I
need you.” The words flowed from her lips, deliberately enticing
him. “But,” she drawled. “If you won’t help me, if you’re unwilling
to help satisfy my needs then I’m sure someone else will be more
than happy to do it.” A soft growl filled the air and her heart
raced in response. It was working. “Maybe,” she continued. “I’ll
ask Gareth. Maybe, I’ll ask Russell. I’m sure they’d be willing to
help me. I’d be wearing my sword crafting suit after all, that’s
sure to entice them.” The growl became louder. “Then again,” she
mused softly. “It seems like a lot of effort to put on clothes
seeing as I’m already naked.” She turned from him and shrugged. “I
think I just won’t bother. I’m already almost at the door, there’s
no point in me getting dressed, they’re both just
outside.”

She heard the faint rustle of sheets before her back was
pressed hard into the wall, Lucian's body preventing her from
moving. “You’re not going anywhere. You’re mine Sara.”

She felt no fear as she stared into eyes the colour of blood,
only an overwhelming sense of relief that was almost tangible in
its strength. Her hands rose to wrap around his neck and she
embraced him tightly. “Lucian.”

The arms around her were fierce, holding her far too tightly
but she didn’t complain, simply relieved that he was alive. He
lifted her from the floor, wrapping her legs around his waist as he
ground against her forcefully. A moan slipped past her lips, the
pleasured sound quickly turning to one of distress as he pushed her
further into the hard wall.

“
Lucian,” she pleaded, cupping his cheeks and forcing his eyes
to meet her. The red hadn’t faded from his eyes and though they
were aglow with lust, there was no recognition in his eyes.
“Lucian?”

“
Who is Lucian?” he growled.

“
If you’re not Lucian, then who are you?”

“
It doesn’t matter who I am bride. All that matters is that
you’re mine.”

His fangs lengthened, dripping with thirst. For a moment Sara
contemplated struggling against the vicious grip the man before her
had on her body but instead she let her body relax, her head loll
back to expose the skin of her neck. Lucian was still in there and
he needed to drink from her if he was going to live. His fangs sank
into her skin, carelessly ripping through her flesh to reach the
rich blood beneath the surface. He groaned in pleasure as the rich
nectar touched his tongue and then began to draw deep. Sara gasped
in shock at the tearing pain, as he continued to ravage her neck
but forced herself to endure, even wrapping her arms around his
neck to keep him drinking. Uncaring of the consequences, Lucian
continued to drink drawing long and hard until Sara’s limbs grew
weak. She could barely see straight and it was only the strength in
Lucian's arms that kept her from sliding to the floor. Her arms had
long since fallen away from his neck and her legs were barely able
to maintain the hold around his waist. Her head lolled in weakness
but Lucian ruthlessly held her to him, greedily taking
more.

“
Lord Lucian!” Russell bellowed as he slammed through the
door. “That’s enough! Heavens above, Lady Sara, what have you done
to her?”

Lucian eyed the man, contemplating tearing his head from his
shoulders but too entranced by the taste of Sara’s blood to do so.
He continued to suck her neck, hoping the man would go
away.

“
Lord Lucian, do you understand what you’re doing?” Russell
pleaded. “Look at her. Look at what you’ve done to your bride. Do
you really want to kill her? You have to remember who she is. Sara.
Remember Sara, Sara and her swords. The only woman to get under
your skin, to make you laugh, to make you smile. You love her
dammit and if you take any more blood from her you’re going to kill
her.”

The words sunk in slowly but as they did, Lucian began to
claw his way back from the depths of himself, wrestling control
away from the monster that had to be hidden. His fangs released her
skin and he gasped in shock to see the damage he’d caused. Her skin
was red, torn raw by the number of bites he’d inflicted upon her.
The many wounds were bleeding, her precious blood dripping down her
skin and onto the floor.

“
Sara?” he croaked, lifting her weak body and cradling her
against his chest.

Her eyes fluttered open, the simple movement taking far too
long. “Lucian.” She sighed happily, smiling despite the frown he
was directing at her, immeasurably glad to see that he’d recovered
even if it was at her expense. She could feel the coolness of the
air around her, her ability to feel the change in temperature a
sure sign that she was perilously ill.

“
What have I done?”

She tried to reassure him, tried feebly to lift her hands so
that she could touch him but her limbs were so weak she couldn’t
muster the strength to raise them. “You’re alive and that’s all
that matters,” she croaked, her voice fading away as her tired body
began to feel the effects of Lucian's treatment of her.

He could hear her heart stuttering, struggling desperately to
beat. “I’ve killed you.” The words were torn from his throat in
anguish. He wanted to scream, wanted to shout, to tear the world
down so that he wouldn’t have to endure the grief of his beloved
bride’s passing but he could do none of those things. Sara looked
so fragile in his arms as though the simple raising of one’s voice
would be enough to send her into the after life. He cursed himself
for his actions and cursed Sara for her stubborn determination to
save him. It seemed that their desire to ensure the other lived
would be the end of them both.

“
Better me than you.” She smiled again weakly, her body
starting to shiver violently. Her vision was beginning to fade, the
tears in her eyes making Lucian's face even more of a blur.
I don’t want to die,
she
sobbed.
I don’t want to leave him all
alone.

Get warm,
Seraphina hissed
angrily.
Get warm and live.

The spirit’s annoyed words reminded Sara of the strength that
had returned to her limbs once she had let the fire wash over her
that morning. The strength she received was in proportion to the
heat of the flame but surely any heat would suffice to tide her
over until her strength returned by itself. “Lucian I don’t want to
leave you, I want to live. Help me, please.”

“
Anything! Just tell me what to do.”

“
Fire. I need fire…” Her words teetered off as her grip on
consciousness faded.

There was no time to process what exactly she might have
meant by her final words and Lucian was in no mood to try and
divine any secret meanings there might have been. Time was short.
He sprung into action, racing past his commanders and up the stairs
to the kitchens, the only place he knew would be guaranteed to have
a roaring fire whatever time of the day it was.

His arrival in the kitchens was a shock to everyone but he
ignored the staff, pushing past them to reach the hearth. The
flames were hot, the heat from the fire trying to force him to step
back but he pushed the discomfort to the back of his mind. Kneeling
in front of the flames, he guided Sara’s legs into the fire,
watching as it raced along her calves before seeping into her skin.
He waited expectantly for something to happen and when she sighed
in relief, her legs trying to sink further into the flames, his
heart calmed. Ignoring his burning flesh, he eased more of her legs
into the fire. With her blood overflowing in his veins his skin was
healing almost as fast as it burned, the raw blisters fading into
nothing even as his clothes burned.

In all Lucian's centuries of living he’d never once felt
nervous, the emotion seemed like far too much a waste of time for
someone who was likely to outlive his peers but nervous anxiety
filled him now…nervousness and embarrassment. He was far too aware
of the many eyes upon him and his bride and all together too
conscious that people could see the result of his lack of control.
Sara was his bride, he was meant to protect her from any and all
threats and not only had he failed to protect her, it was he that
had endangered her life. The kitchen suddenly seemed too crowded.
He wanted to care for her privately, wished to savour the comfort
her presence brought alone.

“
Have a fire started in my bedroom,” he ordered quietly, his
normal imperious tone vanishing in the face of his latest mistake.
“And someone bring a torch here so that Sara doesn’t become cold
when I move her.”

“
Yes Lord Lucian,” the unseen voices replied.

He could hear them moving, rushing to obey his command but
his eyes were focused solely on Sara, all his senses trained on
her. He watched the orange flames continue to lick at her skin, the
heat transferring into her body rather than burning her like it was
doing him. He listened intently to the stuttering sound of her
heartbeat, each pause making his own still before it returned to
its regular beat.

I should have told her,
he
sighed.
I should have told her why I
disappeared, that I was a threat to her life. Maybe then she
wouldn’t have been so eager to wake me before she was at full
strength. What would have happened if Russell hadn’t brought me
back to my senses? Would I have killed her?
He groaned, crushing her body against his. He knew the
unfortunate answer to that question was probably yes. The monster
within was possessive and while it may have understood that Sara
belonged with them, it didn’t know or understand how to care for
her.

“
Lord Lucian?”

The softly asked question brought his mind away from his
melancholy thoughts and he turned to look at George, his dark eyes
assessing. “Yes?”

“
The fire in your room has been prepared and there’s
additional firewood next to the hearth to keep it going and here is
the torch you requested.” His eyes darted about the room determined
not to witness Sara’s state of undress.

Pleased by the cook’s actions, Lucian pried the torch from
his fingers. “Thank you George.”

“
It’s an honour to serve Lord Lucian and if you’ll excuse me
for being so forward, I wish Lady Sara makes as quick a recovery as
you my Lord.”

I doubt it,
he mentally scoffed
though outwardly he remained silent. He placed the torch on Sara’s
stomach, his heart clenching at the pained moan let out when her
feet were removed from the flames.

Despite the heat from the torch, her skin paled when he
lifted her into his arms and away from the fire’s intense heat. He
moved quickly, ignoring the curious glances that were directed at
him as he walked along the halls. It was only when they were in the
sanctuary of their room and the sweltering heat of the fire greeted
him that Lucian felt himself relax slightly.

He strode to the fireplace and eased Sara’s legs back into
the flames. Caressing her face, he was pleased to note that colour
was returning to her skin, the ashen pallor disappearing the longer
she was exposed to the fire’s heat. Though it went against
everything he knew about healing, he forced more of her body into
the flames, bending her legs to get her closer to the heat. Minutes
passed and her breathing began to steady, her heart beating more
regularly.

Now that they were alone he was distinctly aware of her state
of undress and he could feel desire building within him. Cursing,
he turned away from her, laying her gently against the thick
carpet. His desire for her was intimately linked to his lust for
her blood and she couldn’t afford to lose any more.

A dress is too complicated,
he
decided quickly.
Breeches will mean I have
to take her out of the fire and I don’t want to risk moving her
again. That leaves me with only one option.
Quickly, he gathered one of his discarded shirts and guided
her arms through the sleeves. The heavy material swallowed her
small frame and Lucian nodded his approval, with her body swamped
by his clothes he wouldn’t be tempted by tantalising glimpses of
her naked body and deliciously perfect curves. His normally nimble
fingers fumbled to place the small buttons through the equally
small holes with his eyes closed. As the fourth button missed the
hole for what felt like the thousandth time he cursed.

“
How do you dress yourself in the morning?” Sara chuckled
softly, Lucian's attempt to dress her waking her from her sleep as
the fire strengthened her weak body.

His eyes clashed with hers, day meeting night before he
exhaled in relief. “Sara.”

“
I’m right here Lucian.” She struggled to lift her arm
desperate to touch him but her body refused to cooperate with her
wish.

Her feeble attempt to touch him made anger course through his
veins and he clasped her hand tightly, his eyes flashing red. “What
were you thinking?” he hissed angrily. “And who helped you? I’m
going to have them executed.”

She rolled her eyes at his words. “Lucian, if that’s the
stance you’re going to take on the matter then it’s obvious that
I’m not going to tell you anything.”

His grip relented but his stare intensified, the emotions
he’d felt when he thought he’d killed her clear in his eyes.
“Please Sara, tell me how you found out.”