A Touch Too Much (11 page)

Why had Rogan left her? Where was he? How come she wasn’t connected to him instead of the vampire king now stepping into her cell? If destiny had decided to play a trick on her, it wasn’t funny. So Liv conjured an image of Rogan to muster up her strength before Raskhan could lay down his cards.

“Where’s Rogan?”

“Hopefully dead.”

‘Hopefully’ meant that he had no clue as to Rogan’s whereabouts. Her saviour must be alive somewhere, biding his time to rescue her, surely drawing a cunning scheme to free her.

“Why do you hate him so much? What has he done to you?”

“None of your business. Here, wear this!”

Raskhan threw a light bundle at her. She caught it with one hand, recognising at once a similar black robe to the ones the vampires wore. Was she supposed to blend in the landscape? As if that would happen with bloodsuckers wary of her every movement.

“Why?”

“You’re to stand before the council.”

Liv swallowed, a knot of fear obstructing her throat. Whatever they wanted with her, it couldn’t be good.

“And if I don’t want to?”

“I think we’ve already covered that.”

His mischievous smile reminded her of their first encounter. The way Raskhan had pounded her body until she exploded with passion, the way she had betrayed Rogan. But she didn’t have the will and the energy to dwell on that now. Too painful. Too confusing.

“What if you can’t force me? What if I’m stronger than you?”

He regarded her as if she had just lost her marbles. Great. On top of stupid she had just managed to pass for a whacko. As he took a step towards her, she tensed but stood her ground.

“What if I’m a vampire?”

He burst out laughing. Captive of his merriment, his features softened. Dear God, he was so attractive!

“You aren’t a vampire. Where did you get this foolish idea?”

This time, his assertion surprised her. Sure, she had been able to withstand the full power of the sun today, but for how long? Her transformation had to come at some point.

“Because Rogan bit me, and he said I was a vampire now.”

“Well, Rogan was wrong, wasn’t he?”

As soon as the question left his lips, his mood changed. Not teasing anymore, his gaze showed irritation.

“And is that all you can think of? I’m sick and tired of hearing Rogan’s praise. I don’t think I can stand you whining about him one more minute. The man is gone, deal with it!”

His eyes darker than a midnight storm, he had never looked so powerful.

Dumbfounded, she stared at him. “Are you jealous?”

He licked his lips, his sensual gesture calling to mind a male wolf dominating his female.

“No reason to be. You’re mine now.”

Despite her precarious situation in this unknown world, the simple words stabbed her and a deep coldness suddenly iced her veins.

“You may well be able to satisfy my body, but don’t be mistaken, you will never touch my heart. Never.”

She didn’t see him move. Yet he was behind her, his marble chest pressed against her back, his hands on her breasts. She gasped. She dropped the black robe. The coldness departed in a flash, immediately replaced by a wave of heat as his palms found her nipples through the cotton halter top. His face on her neck, he passed his lips over her already healed bite mark. Slow and grazing, he licked her ear.

“Who said I wanted to touch your heart?”

He grasped her sensitive teats, and his grand palace seemed to rock beneath her. He twirled the erect flesh, and the vibe writhed in her stomach. Cheeks hot, pulse in tatters from his unexpected move, she pushed the words out of her mouth.

“You’ve made your point. Let go of me.”

Although she couldn’t see him, she knew the sly smile was back on his face. He lowered his hands to her belly, soon sliding them down to her crotch. Then he whispered in her ear.

“That’s my girl!”

Before she could react, he had whizzed around her again. Holding out the robe, he shook his head and emitted a ‘tsk, tsk’ sound.

“Such a pity we don’t have time right now!”

By now Liv knew better than to try to change his mind. She removed her clothes, keeping her underwear on. He watched each of her movements. As she lifted the robe over her head, her gaze fell on his groin. His jeans were bulging, and his hands had balled into fists.

When she looked up, she noticed the obvious tension swelling the muscles of his neck, hardening the straight line of his jaw, creasing his brow. His whole body strained, he was actually making an all-out effort to drive back his lust. For him to do that only meant he had no choice but to give her over to the council without delay.

She wouldn’t be a woman if she didn’t seek revenge. Aiming wrong, she let the robe down on her face. Blind, pretending to get tangled in the loose folds, she called out to him.

“Would you give me a hand?”

Seconds stretched away while her body hair rose as if a magnetic gust had invaded the room. She thought he would bail out. Then she felt two strong hands on her head actually attempting to disentangle her. Arms up, on the verge of being freed, she feigned confusion and took a step forward.

Their bodies collided. His hands froze. As if hit with a powerful blow, his chest seemed to cave in. Yet his paralysis didn’t last long. Quicker than a heartbeat, he brusquely groped her buttocks. He sank his fingers into her flesh while he pressed her hard against him.

Although she had initiated this retaliation, Liv wasn’t positive she’d come out the winner. Not with him. Not with something in her calling out to him. Intensely aware of his rigid body along her bare skin, still blinded by the fluid fabric, she kept as still as a cornered hostage.

“Fuck!”

His rough cry jolted her. She almost toppled over as the brick wall grasping her vanished. Silence and emptiness followed. What was he doing now? Donning the robe only took her an instant. She glanced around to find out she was alone in the cell. Where had he gone? And, God, wasn’t his damn speed irritating? Smoothing out the black clothing, Liv walked out into the hallway.

Facing the wall, hands flat on the marble surface, arms straight and head down between them, Raskhan’s position reminded her of a marathon runner recovering from an all too exhausting run. Seemingly sensing her presence, he straightened up and strode towards the stairs without looking at her.

“Come!”

She had done it. Cool and composed, she had managed to drive him to intense frustration just like he had done to her in the motel room. Solely relying on her feminine assets she had contrived to put him in her shoes. Sure, it wouldn’t last, but for a little while she’d enjoy her victory. Following him, she stuck out her tongue at his stiff back. Tit for tat!

Down they went, across the Greek godly entrance hallway she had landed in earlier, past the staircase where she had spotted the older vampire with grey hair, straight on to an open door. Raskhan never checked back to see if she was following him, and the servants around the place steered clear of them.

The vampire king didn’t stop at the threshold. Master of the palace, he entered the room like a conqueror. Although apprehensive, Liv had no option but to tag along behind him.

The interior very much resembled a courtroom. Up on a large bench sat three vampires, their faces hostile, eyeing her from head to toe with icy stares. As Liv advanced towards them, a fourth vampire emerged from behind a statue to sit alongside her judges—the older one with grey hair. Only his eyes softened when he glanced at her.

Having walked around the bench, Raskhan pulled back the empty chair in the middle. Of course, where else would the king preside over a hearing? In front of the judges’ bench, five or six feet apart stood some kind of witness stand. Looking at it, Liv figured the stand was meant for her. Swallowing a lump in her throat, she marched into battle.

As she reached the witness box, the vampire beside Raskhan unrolled a piece of paper. “Human, you have been brought before us today to answer for your actions.”

“What actions?”

He furrowed his brow. No doubt piqued by her brisk tone, he glared at her. To his right Raskhan banged his fist on the table.

“You don’t get to question anyone here. Watch your mouth, human!”

“Is that my new nickname? How sweet of you!”

She knew she was playing with fire, but if they had wanted her dead she’d be pushing up the daisies by now. Besides it was high time to oppose them. Without giving Raskhan any chance to vent his growing irritation, Liv addressed the vampire holding the paper.

“OK. What are the charges against me?”

“Crime of lese-majesty.”

She couldn’t believe her ears. They were accusing her of a crime against Raskhan. He had assaulted her, not the other way round. This was far worse than unfairness, this was utter madness.

“Do you have anything to say, human?”

Oh yes, she did. Unfortunately she didn’t have time to express her righteous indignation. Raskhan banged his fist on the table again, his voice booming through the courtroom.

“No, she doesn’t, and I don’t have all day. Let’s move on, shall we? Read her sentence.”

Icy and unwavering, the judge’s gaze fell on her. “You have slain the king’s brother. You will be put to death.”

Chapter Eighteen

That had to be the briefest trial ever. Although Liv felt positive she could have walked, two servants dragged her out of the courtroom. Her feet didn’t touch the floor as they flew upstairs, along galleries, into a room where they dropped her on a metallic chair. Despite her total bafflement, she perceived their unease. They rushed her so because they couldn’t wait to be rid of her.

Left alone, she took her head in her hands. She emitted a low whimper and swung her body back and forth. Her mind in unison with the gentle rocking motion, her pulse soon decreased to its regular rhythm and her thoughts clicked into place.

Holy mackerel, but they were really going to execute her for a crime she hadn’t committed! Not just a random crime, but the murder of the king’s brother, no less. How could she have been so stupid? The thought had crossed her mind at some point, but it had seemed so ridiculous she had dismissed it out of hand. Why did she not see this coming?

When she heard the soft whoosh of the door opening, she ceased her rocking and whimpering. Tears brimming in her eyes, Liv raised her face to stare at the king of the Overworld.

“Rogan is your twin brother.”

Raskhan nodded.

She took a deep breath. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Oh, kitten, I couldn’t do that. I had so much fun watching you grapple with the mystery of my appearance. Boy, did I enjoy that. Not to mention the fact that it got me a fantastic view of your little ass.”

She felt like grinding her teeth. She breathed, determined not to go down that road but to stay focused on crucial matters.

“But how? I don’t get it. I mean, vampires can’t have kin. How did this happen?”

“Does it matter? Would the explanation make you happy?”

She supposed not. Yet a part of her kicked with frustration, screamed her need to understand.

“Why do you hate him so much? You’re the king, he’s not. What can he possibly have done to you?”

“I’ve told you before. It’s none of your business.”

Raskhan’s level tone outraged her even more than being sentenced to death. She stood up.

“I didn’t kill Rogan.”

“I know.”

She must have looked confounded because a curious smile appeared on his face when he witnessed her expression.

“Although Khord swore you did, I’m sure he lied. Now that I’ve seen the way you consistently wail for my brother, I believe you’d go to great lengths to keep him alive.”

“Then where is he?”

“Well, as you’re here and he’s not, I’d guess Khord found a way to end his miserable life.”

No way would she believe that. Rogan must have been delayed, cornered, maybe trapped somewhere and unable to run to her rescue, but he was alive. He had to be. She so wanted to see him again. If she was to be executed, she needed to look on his beloved face one more time.

“Khord is the one who shot Rogan, and he almost killed him. As a rule I thought you vampires stuck together, you know, the whole vampires against humans thing. So how come that bastard Khord…?” Liv raised a hand to her mouth. “Please, don’t tell me you ordered your brother’s murder.”

“As much as I would have liked to, that’s Khord’s doing. Those two never got on well. I guess it had to come to this sooner or later. What I’d like to know is how Rogan pulled it off.”

“Well, I…”

Her teeth clacked as she shut her mouth. Why would she give Raskhan any information? After all she owed him nothing, and he was going to have her executed anyway.

“You what?”

Abs pulled tight to maintain her back as straight as possible, chin up, Liv didn’t answer him. Her refusal must have been funny to him because the freckles glinted in his eyes as he brought a finger to her neckline and stroked the skin above her breasts.

“Come on, little girl, do I have to make you say it?”

Deadlock. She knew he was making no idle threats, but giving in twisted her guts. Or did it? Couldn’t her stomach be roiling because he was now tracing her collarbone with a slow finger?

The bell didn’t save Liv, but the older vampire with silver hair did. As he entered the room quietly, Raskhan backed off. Mischief playing in his magnetic eyes, he blew her a kiss.

“Don’t get too worked up while I’m gone, kitten. I promise you we’ll finish this later.”

His mean yet sensual tone ignited a familiar sensation between her legs. Caught by desire, she bit her lip to quell her rash excitement, and watched him exit the room. Why was he leaving her with the old guy? And what was she doing here now?

Now that she had the opportunity to look around, she realised this place resembled a scientific lab. A long stainless worktable displayed microscopes and various pieces of equipment she had no name for. Holy mackerel, did they have in mind to torture her?

“My name is Zontag. Don’t be scared, I won’t hurt you.”