The Kyriakis Curse (27 page)

“Perhaps there was a greater danger to him from Gage if he did tell us what he knew.”

Paris sighed. “You’re probably right, Dante.”

“Could it possibly be because of her mother’s pack? The Nkruma aren’t like other

shifters,” the vampire mused.

“I thought the same thing. I’ll just have to renew my efforts in finding out Gage’s plan.”

Silence fell between the old friends as they sipped drinks in Paris’s study.

“I’m sorry about Eleni,” Dante offered softly.

Paris shrugged. He blamed himself more than anyone for Eleni’s betrayal. He should

have set her straight a long time ago. To think she had been determined enough in her efforts to win him that she had orchestrated her own husband and sister’s murders. While knowing the truth of Melanie’s death saddened him, it didn’t cut as deeply as the loss of Zahara. It was time he truly moved on with his life without thoughts of her haunting him, although that would probably be damned near impossible. From what Sarah had revealed, he now understood that Zahara had taken on the identity of Anne Devereaux to escape her past.

Paris doubted he ever would get over his loss of her. How could he do so when every time he looked at Sarah he saw the eyes of his lost love?

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When Constantine and Sarah had cubs of their own... what if one of them reminded

Paris of the cub’s grandmother? What then? Would his torment ever end? Was he doomed to love Zahara forever?

Paris believed the joining of Sarah and Constantine would lift the dark cloud of Nana Nkruma’s long-ago words from Pack Kyriakis... so why did he still feel cursed? And would the curse truly be broken if this was how he’d feel about Zahara for eternity? These thoughts tore at him.

“Are you all right, Paris?” Dante patted him on the shoulder.

Paris swallowed the remainder of his gin and tonic before speaking. “I suppose I am.”

“You’re thinking about her, aren’t you?” the vampire asked perceptively.

“I can’t remember a time when I’m not. But enough about me. I had an interesting

conversation with Persephone while you were cleaning up. She says you and Isis seem to be getting a little cozy with each other.”

Dante’s face turned beet red. “She’s... she’s a lovely young lady.”

Paris chuckled, amused at his friend’s reaction. “So it’s like that, eh? I knew you would hit it off. My daughter tells me Isis has a thing for vampires. Do I take it your interest is reciprocated?”

Dante shrugged. “I don’t know. When I talk to her, my mind isn’t on Maggie. As a matter of fact, ever since I met her... I’ve realized that maybe what I need is a mate of my own, but I still have to sort out my feelings. There’s too much going on with my family right now to consider such emotions properly. Speaking of my family, I checked my messages earlier and have to get back to them. I have a new niece.” Dante sounded awed.

“Maggie had the baby?”

The vampire nodded. “Yes. There hasn’t been a female child born in our family, so this is a miraculous feat she’s accomplished... And all my brothers are there with their families.

I’ve stayed away too long. Hell, I haven’t even been properly introduced to Romeo’s children yet. In fact, I’ve been a lousy brother.” He snorted in evident self-disgust and rubbed his jaw.

“I’m sure your brothers wouldn’t accuse you of that. You’ve been there for each of

them when they needed you. And you’ve never let me down, either. I appreciate that, my friend, and I’m sure your brothers won’t begrudge you your time away from them. You

deserve to have selfish moments every now and then. We all do.”

“Deep down, I know this, but it doesn’t lessen my guilt.”

“It’s the kind of person you are. You give so much. I’ve always admired that in you.”

“As I have you, especially at how much you’ve matured over the years. I remember a

time when you were just a brat, chasing skirts and causing trouble -- not unlike my brother Romeo. Spyros would be very proud of you.”

Paris always got choked up at the mention of his grandfather. He wished Spyros were

here now to offer him guidance, but Paris was alpha, and it was his responsibility to watch Kyriakis 1: Kyriakis Curse

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over the welfare of his pack. “Thank you, Dante. It means a lot to me to hear you say that.”

He reached for the gin to refill his glass, not bothering to mix it with the tonic water.

“These next coming months will be a challenge. Not only will we be dealing with the

Gage threat, but Constantine and Sarah’s mating ceremony is in a couple of weeks. I’ll be inviting Pack Eriksson so I can formalize Persephone’s betrothal. I’m sure she won’t like that.

Then I have to focus on finding Aries a mate.” Paris sighed, taking a healthy swallow of his drink. At least he could forget about his worries for a while.

“Should you need me, you know you can call on me for anything.”

“I know, but your family has its own set of problems to deal with. It must be terrifying to face these new threats who claim to be your older brothers. I don’t know what I would do in your situation.”

“Or I, in yours.”

“Here’s to getting out of our respective messes in one piece.” Paris held up his glass, which Dante clinked with his own.

“I’ll drink to that,” the vampire murmured.

* * * * *

Gage paced the room, furious at the turn of events. Pack Kyriakis would pay for

interfering yet again in his plans. Dammit! He knew he should have killed Paris Kyriakis when he’d had the chance.

Once more, the half-breed had eluded him, but it wouldn’t be long before she was in

his grasp. No matter. He had yet to play his ace in the hole. He looked at Pet sleeping in front of the fire.

Laughter rumbled in his chest.

Oh, yes. When he struck again, the Kyriakises wouldn’t see it coming.

* * * * *

Constantine moved in and out of Sarah’s tight sheath, immersing his senses in the moist warmth of her. He didn’t want this moment to end. When he thought of how close he’d

come to losing her, it made him drive harder and deeper into her.

“Constantine! Oh, yes! Please take me! Don’t stop!” She clawed at his back, holding him closer, her pelvis grinding against him. Her vaginal muscles clenched around his cock so tightly, the sensation was mind blowing.

This was his bitch, his woman, his mate. No one would ever separate them again. His

mouth met hers in a hot, hungry possession; his tongue thrust into Sarah’s mouth, devouring her. The taste and feel of her seared through his body, sending bursts of fire through his veins. His love for her only intensified the sensations.

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Sarah’s tongue darted forward to meet his, twining, licking, and twirling with his. As their bodies moved and strained against each other, the fiery lust within him grew until Constantine tensed. Ripping his mouth from hers, he roared, his orgasm hitting him like an earthquake, yet he continued to pump rapidly, shooting his seed into her tight cunt.

“Constantine!” Sarah screamed her own release until she was writhing and shaking

uncontrollably beneath him.

He collapsed on top of her, his breathing ragged. Nothing compared to being with

Sarah like this. Nothing. He’d walk though fire, kill, and lay down his life for her.

“I love you so much, mana mou. Don’t ever doubt it for a minute. And if you run away from me again, I will find you and drag you back by the hair.”

Sarah laughed.

Constantine lifted a brow. “Oh, you think I’m kidding?”

“Not at all, but I didn’t know you could be so very much the caveman.”

“You’d be surprised at the lengths I’d go to keep you by my side,” he growled. “From the moment I laid eyes on you, I knew it was forever, even if it did take me a little while to fully realize it.”

She kissed him. “Thank you for not giving up on us. I’m sorry I ran away instead of

coming to you and expressing my concerns. I suppose I’m so used to running, it was an automatic reaction.”

“Whatever challenges we face, we’ll do it together. My pack may not be as large as

some, but we’re strong, and we stand together.”

A worried expression crossed her face. Sarah nibbled on her bottom lip.

“What is it, Sarah?”

“You don’t... I know this is an awful thought, but if Eleni could turn on her pack, how can you trust anyone else?”

Constantine sighed. His aunt’s treachery had surprised the hell out of him. He’d known she was selfish and had harbored an unhealthy obsession with his father, but Constantine never would have believed her to be capable of the havoc she’d wrought. That she was responsible for both Sarah’s mother and his mother’s deaths affected him the most. Her own sister! There was only one explanation he could come up with to make sense of any of it: she hadn’t been in her right mind for a very long time. Sometimes obsession could warp a person until nothing else existed except achieving a single goal.

“Unfortunately, I think there’s an exception to every rule. I don’t believe she’s been quite sane for a while. Like humans, immortals can be crazy, too. There are certain incidents that come to mind now to make me think that she has had long-standing mental illness, but no one really noticed it, or I suppose we all just attributed it to her flair for the dramatic. I know that real evil exists in this world, but I’d like to think she was more misguided than evil. It’s the only way I can rationalize her killing my mother and yours.”

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She looked at him sympathetically. “I’m sorry, Constantine.”

He put his forehead against Sarah’s. It felt good to have someone in his life who

understood.

Sarah stroked his back. “Constantine?”

“Yes, my love?”

“The ceremony you were telling me about... will all your relatives be there?”

“Yes. When we join, it’s tradition that the entire pack be present. But we don’t have to actually perform the act in front of everyone. Only the alpha and immediate family.”

“I’m a little nervous about doing that with people watching.”

“Every mated couple has to do it, sweetheart. I know this must frighten you, but it’s our way.”

“And we’ll have to mate in wolf form?”

He smoothed her hair back in a loving gesture, unable to take his eyes off her lovely face. “Yes. Does that make you anxious?”

“A little, but I trust you.”

It warmed his heart to hear her say that. Constantine was so in love with this woman he could barely contain himself. Squeezing her tightly, he kissed her.

“I love you, Constantine,” she sighed against his mouth.

“And I you, mana mou. After our formal joining, your body will go through changes

until you’re completely immortal.”

“This living-forever thing is kind of daunting, but I can’t think of anyone I’d rather spend the rest of eternity with than you.”

Constantine hugged her close.

Sarah’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. “Not long ago, I didn’t think I’d ever find love, but then you came into my life. Thank you for loving me and giving me hope. With you, I’m no longer afraid.”

“And because of you, I have a reason for waking up every morning to become a man

you can be proud of.”

She laid her hand against his cheek. “You do make me proud, and I’m honored to be

the woman who’ll always be standing by your side.”

He kissed her again. There was so much love in his heart that he wished all the people he cared about could know the same happiness he felt, especially his father. With the Kyriakis curse broken, Paris was free to love again -- or, at least, Constantine hoped so.

The sleep he’d been fighting was slowly taking over. The last time he’d drifted off with Sarah, she’d left. “Don’t go anywhere,” he muttered drowsily.

“Never. I’ll never leave you again,” she whispered.

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And he knew she’d be there when he woke up and for the rest of his life.

Eve Vaughn

Eve Vaughn enjoys writing above all else. She began writing short stories to amuse

herself since she could form letters. Mischievous as a child, she lost her television privileges quite a bit and found writing to be her outlet. Besides writing, Eve likes reading, baking, volunteering, traveling, and spending time with her family. She currently resides in the Philadelphia area with her husband and turtle.

Eve loves hearing from her fans so feel free to contact her at [email protected] or join her yahoo group at [email protected].