A Destined Death (21 page)

Draven retrieved my bag from the hotel in Paris, and he lay on the bed beside me for days while I typed my story. I pressed forward and made it through the thirteenth chapter but I made sure to take many, many breaks to do nothing more than touch him or hold him or kiss him. With him as my muse, the words fell out easily.

My life seemed more perfect than I had ever imagined, and I was the happiest dying woman alive. My terminal illness: Love.

****

“Tell me again why you want to drive to Washington instead of teleporting.” Draven sprawled out on the Hecate’s hood in protest. Wearing nothing but blue jeans, he let the rain fall all over him, creating a wet playground on his bare skin. Sometimes I swore the vampire didn’t know how to play fair.

I stood frozen under the cover of the garage in front of the car, my eyes glued to his smooth, muscular chest. My heartbeat––erratic. “Weren’t you the one who said something about enjoyment sometimes means taking it slow?”

“No.” His smile was nothing less than seductive when he sat up, and his finger rose and curled, beckoning me.

I walked out into the rain, into his arms to kiss him.

Upon contact, my hands roamed his chest, and my heart soared before he whispered in my ear, “The sooner we get to Washington, the sooner we get married. The sooner we get married, the sooner we get to the wedding night.”

I gazed at him dreamily. “Has there ever been a time when I didn’t give you your way?”

“You’ve been utterly impossible, and payback is…
very sweet
,” he said with a wink.

I blinked and the rain stopped. Draven sat on a large marble table instead of on the car, and we were indoors. Startled by the shift in scenery, I jumped away from him. “This is it? We’re there? We’re in Seattle?”

He held his grin. “Yes.”

The luxurious dining room held dramatic hints of ancient Greece. From the large pictures of temples to the oversized columns on the table, the room came together elegantly, but it didn’t seem to be…him.

“You’re not Greek, are you?”

He bit down on his lip, holding something back. “Forgive me, but let’s just leave it at…someone very special decorated the room a long time ago.”

“Oh!” I finally said. “In that case, I love it! I really do have great taste.”

He chuckled, appearing relieved.
“Wait until you see the Egyptian room.”

I narrowed my eyes at him slightly. “Hello, I can hear you.”

He laughed again. “No, really, I love it. I don’t even need to travel when I’m home.”

I started to respond but stopped when voices neared the interior door.

“No Charles, the market is down
now
! We’ve got to strike while it’s still low because by tomorrow at this time, the stocks will have doub…Oh, Milord, Milady…”

The woman’s voice had gone from a strong-headed executive to slave girl in less than ten seconds flat when she walked through the door. She wore a professional business suit but the instant she saw us, she went down on one knee. Charles followed suit.

“Good evening, Charles, Candy. I’d like for you to meet Elizabeth. You know who she is.”

“Oh yes, Milord. Forgive us. We didn’t expect you home today or we wouldn’t have walked around so inconspicuously.”

“It’s all right,” Draven insisted.

Candy marched directly up to me. Breathing hard, she pulled her long blonde behind her head, revealing her neck. She appeared excited when she asked, “Do you need me now, Milady?”

I stared at her, trying to come up with something to say. Nothing came out but I was sure my face had darkened three shades.

“Not right now, Candy. She isn’t ready yet,” Draven answered for me.

“Oh.” She nodded, her disappointment obvious. “It’s just that you told me after the change, she would be ravenous.”

I cleared my throat uncomfortably. “We’re waiting until we’re married. I’m still human.”

“Of course,” she said, bowing her head as she returned to her spot by the door.

“Charles,” Draven called.

“Yes Milord, do you need me now?” he asked, stepping up quickly. He dressed more casually than Candy, but showed just as much inclination toward being bitten. He quickly unwrapped the thin scarf he had around his neck, revealing a mostly healed wound.

My eyes widened. The two looked like a normal, mid-twenties couple. Both had blonde hair, blue eyes, and were physically fit but I feared they were both secretly insane.

“No Charles, I was wondering about my affairs. Are they in order?”

Charles glanced at my neck, a slight frown on his face. “Yes, Milord. The nightclubs are running fine, and Candy has made quite a bit of money in the stock market while she awaits her role. The information you wanted on the publishing firms is in your office. Will there be anything else?”

“How was your vacation?”

“My vacation, Milord?”

“Rome, wasn’t it?”

“Oh yes, Milord. It was very beautiful.”

“Excellent. Is the car here for Elizabeth in case she needs to go somewhere?”

“Oh, I can take her,” Candy quickly offered. “I’m here to serve. I’ll take her anywhere she wants to go.”

“Yes, you’ll have to go. Make sure you stay with her.”

I turned to him uneasily, trying to see above the lunacy going on around me. “Why can’t you take me, Draven?”

He only smiled. “Leave us.”

Without another word, the couple left the room, and the madness subsided. I took a deep breath and eyed Draven curiously.

He smirked and pulled me into his arms. “Why can’t I take you where?”

“I don’t know. Why can’t you take me anywhere? Are you actually thinking about leaving me here?”

“It was your idea that I go to France,” he reminded me.

“Not by yourself! No! You can’t leave me! Send Charles and Candy to find him,” I pleaded.

“Oh yes,” he said sarcastically. “I’m sure they have excellent tracking skills or maybe he’ll be in the phone book.”

“Then take me with you!” I demanded.

“There is no way in hell I’m taking
you
back to France.”

I frowned. “I don’t want to be without you.”

“I’m sorry, it’s too dangerous. I told you, I won’t lose you again.”

I sighed. “Why didn’t you heal Charles’ neck like you healed mine?”

“He won’t let me. You’ll see. They wear their bite marks like trophies. They are proud of what they are and who they serve.”

My eyebrows rose high unto my forehead. “So they’re crazy?”

“No, actually, they’re quite brilliant. Both of them graduated at the top of their class in business management, both are homosexual, and both masochists. The perfect servant. Voila.”

“Why is it better that they’re homosexual?”

He cleared his throat. “Honestly, being close to someone they’re attracted to raises their heartbeat faster, and that heartbeat increases the speed at which our fangs grow.”

I shook my head disbelievingly. “Well, you’re home now, and he offered you his neck. Why didn’t you feed?”

“I thought you’d never ask,” he said, possessing me with a solid kiss while his cool hands slid off every inch of my clothing.

I thought my heart would beat right out of my ribcage when he laid me on the table and stood back to stare.

“I think I’m finally starting to love this table. I knew it just needed the right centerpiece.”

“Kiss me,” I beckoned.

He moved toward me slowly, speaking softly, “You drive me wild.
Your
heart, when it races…”

“Shut up and kiss me.” I lost my patience and sat up, pulling him into my body.

I drew his mouth to mine so he could put out my fires with his cool tongue but it only made me ache to have more fires extinguished. I knew he wouldn’t make love to me so I opted for the pain that would calm my urges. When I saw his fangs grow, my breathing increased to redlining speeds. He was beautiful. I pushed his head down to my most potent spot, where he found his desire, and I found the agony that released me from mine. Truly a win-win solution, all things considered.

When he finished, he fell to the floor with happiness dribbling off his face. I felt better too, weak, but strong enough to be around him for another day. I dressed quickly and gathered myself on the floor beside him.

“If I died today, I’d die a happy vampire.”

I giggled. “Stop talking so silly. We have to go to France now.”

He smiled at me and played with my hair that dangled down around my face. “
You
have a wedding to shop for.”

“What?”

He sat up slowly. “That’s why you’re here instead of in South Dakota. Candy is going to help you shop for a dress and whatever else you need.”

“O-kay, well, don’t you think you should tell me when and where the wedding is? Aren’t you afraid I’ll stand you up without those small details?”

“You’ll be there,” he insisted and then leaned over to kiss me again.

“What about Candy? What if she says no?”

“She won’t. Oh, and one more thing…try not to encourage her too much.”

I sucked in my breath. “Will do!”

When he stood, he helped me to my feet and gave me what I feared was a goodbye kiss.

“Draven, I’m scared.”

He reassured me with another kiss and a smile. “I won’t be long. You know how fast I can move, and if you need me, you can always call me. We can still talk to each other.”

“Even from that far away?”

“I told you, our bond stretches beyond everything. If you really need me, I can be back here in minutes. Besides that, Candy would give her life for you.”

“She would?”

“Don’t underestimate their loyalty. They take their oaths very seriously.”

“What oaths?”

Draven sighed and cocked his head to the right. “You’re stalling.”

“You’re right. I’m sorry. Please, be safe.”

“Candy,” he called out before he disappeared.

Candy entered the room and brightened immediately when she saw me. Her soft features smiled shyly, and she knelt on one knee again. “Yes, Milady?”

I took a strengthening breath. “Thank you, Candy, but you don’t need to get down on your knee, and you don’t need to call me Milady. You can call me Elizabeth.”

She stayed on her knee, her head still bowed. “Yes, Miss Elizabeth.” She looked up after the words came out. “May I call you Milady if I prefer?”

Another breath. “Sure, I guess.”

“Thank you, Milady!” She glowed again when she bounded toward me. “Are you ready to find the most perfect wedding dress?”

“Yes, but I’d like to ask you something first. What’s your last name?”

“Candy McDahl, Milady.”

“Candy McDahl, would you please be my Maid of Honor?”

When the smile ran off her face, my hope fell, and when the girl dropped to her knee again, bowing her head, I figured she didn’t know how to say no.

“It’s all right. I understand if you don’t want to…”

Candy sprang back up with tears running down her face. “Of course I will, Milady! Forgive me! It’s just…such an honor.”

I sighed with relief. “Thank you.”

“Oh no, Milady, thank you!” she gushed with what looked like pride.

I tried to give her a small hug but quickly pulled away when she froze, and a look of terror filled her eyes. “I’m sorry. I won’t hurt you.”

Candy didn’t respond, but her blue eyes were wide, filled with some unexplained happiness as a slow smile spread across her face. “That was intense. I didn’t think it would feel like that until after you were turned.” With a deep breath, she wiped her tears and then dug into her purse. She dangled keys in front of me a moment later. “Let’s go!”

When she bolted toward the front door and held it open, I smiled uneasily and stepped out. Candy’s behavior would take time to get used to.

Outside, the view of the property was breathtaking. The gray brick mansion sponsored large windows that spanned the length of all three floors. All had the shades drawn. Ancient trees encircled the property providing privacy and cover from the city. Beautiful red roses lined the long length of the house, and strategically placed topiaries littered the lawn. The wide front steps led down to a paved driveway that wrapped around in a circle in front of the house. I gasped when I saw the brand new, red Camaro waiting for us. 

“Oh my…It’s beautiful!”

“Milord ordered it special for you,” Charles said, stepping up behind me. “Let’s hope he didn’t waste his money.”

When I turned, I found his face set without expression. “What do you mean?”

“If you hurt him again,” he said gruffly, his steely blue eyes piercing mine, “it will be a waste, won’t it, Milady?”

I stared at him, unable to speak.

“Enjoy your day,” he added with a polite nod.