Caressed by Moonlight (2 page)

Chapter Three

Dorian rubbed his temples; his head throbbed beneath his fingertips.

“Are you insane?”

“Yes, I'm insane. I have gone completely out of my mind.

I'm crazy, like Hadrian.”

Raphael gasped and jumped back. “God save us!”

Hadrian had been a great vampire ruler. After the murder of his brother he had gone insane and exiled himself to an ancient fortress high in the Carpathian Mountains. There he lives alone in silence and madness. No vampire dares journey to that ancient palace.

“It was a joke.”

“Hell's teeth, Dorian. That's not funny. The vamp truly has gone completely mad.”

“Is that not what you are accusing me of?”

“Well…yes.”

“What is it that you want from me?” Dorian said.

Raphael had not stopped hounding him since he had walked through the door.

“You deserted your clan.”

“I didn't desert them.”

“You packed up and sailed across the ocean without a word to anyone,” Raphael argued.

Dorian slammed his fist down upon the desk.

“Are you accusing me of running away?” he said, his voice low and menacing.

Raphael took a step back; fear began to creep up his spine.

He swallowed hard and said, “No.”

“Good.” Dorian relaxed back in his throne like chair.

“It's just that the hunters–”

“Are on a mission to destroy the clan,” Dorian finished.

“And they won’t be satisfied until every member of the Mylonas Clan is dead.”

Raphael nodded. “Why are you here in London instead of back home where you are needed?”

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“Can you think of anything more terrifying to a hunter than a vampire chieftain residing in London, which so happens to be one of the most populated cities in the world?” Raphael's eyes grew wide in understanding. “I am here to draw the attention away from the clan.”

“That is brilliant! You are a genius,” Raphael raved, grinning from ear to ear.

“And a moment ago you were accusing me of being insane.”

“Genius and insanity go hand in hand.”

“I suppose,” he said. “Why did you follow me? You couldn’t have honestly believed that I would abandon my clan.”

“I came to talk you into coming back, but now I understand your motive for leaving.” Raphael paused as he chose his next words carefully. “It’s Kal. I believe he is trying to turn the clan against you.”

Dorian tipped his head in agreement. “There is no doubt in my mind that Kal is up to something. He has always desired the Mylonas crown.”

Dorian had left Kal to rule in his absences, he had given him complete control, he had trusted him, but it was obvious that the vampire did not return his trust. Was he trying to steal his throne? Kal could have hired the hunters to exterminate the clan in hopes of building his own. That sort of treachery, he feared, was not beyond him. He must change his second in command, for the protection of his people.

“I never really liked Kal.”

“Then why on earth would you make him your successor?”

“Viktor had requested that I make Kal my second. It was his last request before the curse had taken him. How could I say no? I kept my word and, upon his death, I accepted the throne and named Kal as my heir. As I have said, I never liked the vampire.”

Dorian leaned back in his chair and glanced at the tall oak clock that stood against the opposite wall. “I have a task for you, Raphael,” Dorian said, yanking off his boots. “You are to be the ruler of the clan during my absences. You are a military man; you have stood by my side in many battles. I know I can trust you and I know your loyalty is to our people. You will do what is best for them.”

“I thank you, Dorian. I will be honored to be your second and your heir.”

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“I should have given you the job in the first place, but I could not go back on my word,” Dorian said, massaging the nape of his neck. An irritating tingle had begun at the base of his spine and was now spreading throughout his body.

“My clan and I are suffering because of Viktor’s mistake in judgment. It is obvious, from your description of Kal’s actions, that he cannot be trusted and therefore he must be removed from power.”

Raphael nodded in agreement.

“Now no more depressing talk,” Dorian sighed as he stood, rubbing his temples once more. “I must get ready. I have a ball to attend.”

“A ball?” Raphael’s brows rose with surprise.

“Yes. I must be social.” Dorian said as he stepped into his large closet, closing the heavy wood door behind him. “Otherwise I'm not a threat–”

Dorian’s voice failed him as unbearable pain rippled over every inch of his body, causing his muscles to spasm. He silently fell to his knees, his hand gripping his chest. Raw, pure emotion engulfed him and ignited his black soul. Loneliness, despair, and misery consumed him. He gasped for air as sweat broke out across his brow.

The curse dug into his heart with poisonous talons. Dorian prayed his death would be quick but the witches would never allow that. Every king who had come before had suffered, why would he be any different? He had known one day he would join the other chieftains in Hell. He had ruled for almost four hundred years, making him the longest reining monarch in vampire history. It was a miracle he had lived this long. He had failed, just like the previous rulers, in finding his mate and he would die. He only hoped his demise would not come until he had saved his people.

They needed him.

Another wave of burning pain washed over him, he clenched his jaw, his teeth ground together. A need to be loved, to be held, to be cherished ripped at his soul until he thought he would burst into tears.

He refused to let the curse weaken him. Dorian gathered his strength and desperately tried to shove the pain aside. He pushed himself to his feet but had to press his back against the wall for support. Closing his eyes, he took in deep calming breaths. As the emotions began to fade, he ran shaking hands through his hair.

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He pushed away from the wall and stumbled to the water basin.

The cool liquid was a blessing to his tense and heated flesh.

Once he had regained his composure, he continued disrobing and reached for a fresh white shirt.

“I don’t suppose you would like me tagging along to watch your back. The news of your presence here, I’m sure, has traveled fast. Hunters must be swarming the city.”

Dorian took a quick peek into Raphael’s mind and was relieved to find his friend had no idea what had just taken place within the closet. He could not afford to have his secret known.

He cleared his throat. “You’re right in assuming that I don’t want you hanging on my coat tales and I've been protecting myself for over three thousand years. I don't need your help, but I do appreciate your offer.”

Raphael rubbed the back of his neck. He hated social gatherings and he knew Dorian loathed them even more. Their clan rarely held parties for that very reason. Dorian was not a social being; he was a warrior.

“I do understand why you are mingling with the rich and entitled but I am having a hard time picturing you at a ball. You know how boring and stuffy those parties can be. All those blue hairs chatting like birds, the young hopefuls prowling for a husband, and the men boasting about…everything.”

“It will be dull but I must draw the hunter’s attention to me. I doubt they would like the royal family or parliament to turn up dead with all their blood drained.”

Dorian stepped from the closet dressed as his title demanded. Raphael had to try hard to resist laughing.

“I do hope you have a nice time.”

“Not bloody likely,” Dorian snapped, noting the laughter dancing in his friend’s eyes. “But I must be on my way. I am already late.” Giving himself a once over in the mirror, he turned to the other vampire. “I trust you will take care of the clan.”

“You can count on me. I will set sail tonight.”

“Good to hear.”

Dorian snatched a fresh jacket from its hook on the wall and headed off to the ball.

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Chapter Four

“What did I tell you?” Lana said as she pulled Victoria away from her mob of admirers. She had been the center of attention since she walked through the door. Men crowded around her and argued over which one would dance with her next. Her feet ached from their clumsy feet and her ears rang from their boisterous voices.

“I told you that your age would not matter, nor your lack of a fortune.”

“Indeed, you did,” Victoria whispered back.

“And these girls certainly pale in comparison to you,”

Lana went on. “You look ravishing and I'm confident that all the men here will agree with me.”

“I had not expected to have so many suitors. How am I to choose?”

“Well, all I can say is that every girl here is jealous of you.

No woman has ever had so many men after her at one time.”

“I feel like a fox in a fox hunt.”

“Yes and they are the hounds,” Lana said as she glanced back at the group of men watching them walk away. “But you needn't pick one just yet, there are more parties to go to, more men to meet. London has a pool of young bachelors ripe for the picking.”

“You make them sound like fruit,” Victoria laughed.

“And when you hear them talking about us they make us sound like a bunch of mares waiting to be bred.”

The girl's giggles vibrate through the room, turning curious heads. They smothered their smiles and slipped from the ballroom to the hallway.

“So,” Lana began once she got her giggles under control.

“Have any of them caught your fancy yet? I noticed some very handsome gentlemen surrounding you. Would you like to add any of them to the list we made this morning?”

“Just about every one of them in that group,” she glanced over her shoulder, “are too young for me.”

“Too young my foot.”

“If you haven't noticed, Lana, all the older and more mature men are in the card room. Those that are in the ballroom
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have kept their distance. They must be intimidated by all the young blood.”

Lana glanced across the hall at the smoky room. “Those men are no fun.”

“Exactly, they are more serious. If I told them my predicament they would be more apt to understand than those feather weights parading themselves out on the dance floor.”

“So you don't want some jack-a-dandy, that makes sense,”

Lana said with a shrug. “I don't blame you, I wouldn't want my husband chasing after light skirts all the time either, but the men in the card room have the game of seduction down like a science.

They know how to twist a woman's heart.”

“Scandal is more than likely attached to their names, but I also think they would find a marriage in name only more suitable.”

“That is a very good point if you don't plan on having any children,” Lana added.

“I could marry a man who already has children.”

“Ms. Richmond!” a woman called waving her handkerchief in the air.

Lana groaned, smoothed her dress, and rolled her eyes.

“We have been spotted,” she whispered.

“By who?”

“Tabitha Wisten and her mother, the two worst gossips in all of England,” Lana said. “They probably want to get to know the woman who has been turning all the young men's heads. Be careful,” she warned, “they may pounce on any word you say.”

“Here you are. I have been looking all over for you. Have you been hiding from me all night?” Tabitha said with a smile.

“No, of course not.” Lana gave her the best fake smile she could muster. She had deliberately stepped from Tabitha's view every chance she got.

“I see that you are being unsocial, Ms. Richmond,” Lady Wisten noted, her eyes pinned on Victoria. “Will you please introduce us to your friend?”

“Yes, I'm sorry. Lady Wisten and Ms. Wisten, allow me to introduce, Ms. Kingston.”

“Kingston? That name sounds very familiar.”

“Of course it does, Tabitha, we just read about Lord Kingston's death in the paper,” the mother said. “I'm sorry about your parents, it must be hard.”

“Yes, it was hard,” Victoria agreed, ignoring the woman's insincere tone.

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“Is your son and husband in attendance this evening?”

Lana asked changing the subject. She knew that if she did not interfere, Lady Wisten and her rat of a daughter would rip into Victoria like a sack of grain.

“Garry is in the card room with my husband. Is any of your family here?”

“My mother,” Lana said.

“I trust she is in good health,” Lady Wisten asked her eyes still fixed on Victoria who returned her stare.

“Yes my mother is always in excellent health, thank you.”

“And your aunt, Ms. Kingston, is she well? I am afraid I have not seen much of her recently.”

“She seemed in perfect health when I arrived.”

“And when was that?”

“Last evening.”

“Don't you think attending a ball so soon after your parent's deaths is inappropriate? I would–”

“Oh mother,” Tabitha interjected. “Did you see who just walked in?”

The Wisten women craned their necks as they peered down the hall to the front door.

“What is
he
doing here?" Lady Wisten asked.

“Thank God. They have someone else to talk about now.

Watch these gossipers go,” Lana whispered in Victoria's ear.

“He has not accepted an invitation to a social gathering in almost two weeks.”

“No doubt he’s been entertaining himself with all the ladies that threw themselves at him at the last ball he attended,”

Lady Wisten grunted. “I heard that Lady Tillman was spotted leaving his home the other day and just this morning, three gypsy women departed from his front door. One can only imagine the sinful things that are taking place in that fine house.”

“Or perhaps he did not like any of the other hosts,”

Victoria suggested. She had no clue as to whom they were talking about, but she could not resist the urge to ruffle their feathers.

The two Wisten women cast irritated glares at her and returned to their chatting.

“I heard that Sir Rowel’s wife was seen leaving his home as well.”

“Do you think he even received an invitation? Lady Allen normally doesn't approve of his type,” Tabitha pointed out.

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“My dear, his type does not need an invitation and Lady Allen will probably be ecstatic that he has graced her over stuffed ball with his presence.”

“His type?” Victoria asked Lana in a whisper.

“I can't see the man, but I assume they are talking about Dorian Vlakhos. He is a prince from some far off country near Russia. He arrived about a month ago and quickly became the talk of the
ton
. Women just flock to him every time he enters a room and, according to the gossip mill, he has sampled his fare share of ladies this season. Despite the rumors of his love making skills, he remains quite a mystery.”

“Well he won't stay a mystery for too long with those two around.” Lana smiled and they turned their ears back to the gossips.

“Have you heard about Prince Vlakhos, Ms. Kingston?”

Tabitha asked.

“A little,” she answered, glancing toward Lana.

“He is the most eligible bachelor this season, extremely rich and titled,” Lady Wisten stated.

“But he is a rake,” Tabitha added. “And it is just sinful the way women flaunt themselves before him.”

“He is very handsome,” Lana admitted simply.

Mother and daughter gasped at her forwardness and Victoria bit her lip trying not to laugh.

“I wonder how many hearts he will conquer tonight,”

Tabitha said. “It seems that the second he enters a room all the young girls fall in love with him.”

“He will conquer plenty I fear. You two,” Lady Wisten snatched up both Victoria and Lana's hands, “should be careful. He will try to steal your hearts I'm sure. Don't fall for his sugared words or his sinful smiles. He is a devil, that boy, and he will lead you straight to ruin.”

“Being ruined by him wouldn't be so bad,” Lana whispered.

“What was that?” Lady Wisten said.

“Your advice will be heeded.”

“Good,” she released the girl's hands and once again fixed her eyes on Victoria. “I'm sure the last thing your parents would have wanted is for you to be swimming in scandal.”

“I full-heartedly agree,” Victoria said.

“Your mother caused enough trouble for your family, you needn't add to it.”

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Victoria opened her mouth, a deadly insult ready on her tongue, but Lana pinched her arm in warning. Victoria glared at her friend.

“It is awfully warm in here. Lady Allen really should cut her guest list,” Lana said as she tugged on the back of Victoria's dress.

“Yes,” Victoria agreed, fanning herself with her hand.

“Champagne may cool us off.”

“I could use a drink,” Victoria mumbled under her breath before she turned, and stomped into the ballroom, leaving Lana behind to excuse them.

She snatched up a glass of Champagne but did not stop.

She smiled to a few of the men at the refreshment table and continued on into the night. To Victoria, the cool air was refreshing and a blessing. It was hot beyond belief in that crowed room and her rising temper was no help at all. Lady Wisten's words stung.

She would not be surprised if the Lady and her aunt were best friends. Their opinion of her dear late mother was the same.

Dorian despised parties. He hated the young girls fighting for his attention and he hated the jealous men. But he could not serve his clan if he wasn’t seen. He had to mingle with the people if he was to draw the attention of the hunters away from his family.

Women smiled at him, fluttered their lashes, and even winked at him as he made his way through the room. Some were even bolder. They pressed against him and quickly whispered their names and addresses in his ear. It was the same everywhere he went. Even when he had been human women would beg for him to take them to his bed. Ever since it got out that Lady Tillman had paid him a strictly social visit he was now the talk of the
ton
. He had been interested in renting one of her properties to store his horses and, naturally, the rotten minds of the aristocracy would have to twist it into an afternoon tryst. He could not deny that he had taken lovers within the last month. He preferred his own kind.

Humans could be so frail. His few tumbles had been vampires with the exception of those very talented gypsy women.

Dorian shook hands with a few of the men and exchanged pleasant words with a few of the more respectable ladies before he dashed outside. He took in a deep breath of the fresh night air and spared a glance up at the moon. The sky was not as clear as back
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home and he found it irritating. The one thing that had ever given him peace was the brilliant shine of the moon.

“It isn't as clear as the country.”

“I'm sorry?”

“The sky. It is clearer in the country,” Victoria said as she stepped from the shadows of the trees.

The man turned to face her and she gasped as if she had been struck. He was tall, taller than any man she had ever seen, muscled and thick. Strands of deep brown hair fell across his angelic yet masculine face, her fingers twitched with the desire to brush them away from his magnificent eyes. Those fathoms of blue were like the sea after a tremendous storm, piercing, penetrating, and exotic. His jaw was straight and square, his lips thin and alluring. He was absolutely beautiful, in a dangerous, masculine way.

“Yes.” Dorian’s delicious lips turned up in a smile.

His husky voice moved over her skin like a caress, her entire body was aflame from his cool gaze that roamed over her, leaving nothing untouched.

Dorian was swept away by this young woman's beauty.

She looked like an ancient goddess. Her nearly black hair sat in tight ringlets atop her head; a few tussled locks fell and rested on her shoulders. He could see every detail of her face in the moonlight. Her deep green eyes framed with long flirting lashes, her slim nose, perfectly molded cheekbones, and lush lips that would tempt any man. His eyes slowly moved down the length of her bare neck, over her slender shoulders, and paused for the briefest of moments on her full breasts. Then continued their journey across her waist and hips, all the way down to the hem of her gown.

Victoria shook her head trying to remember why it was she had come outside. She demanded herself to think and forced the thick sensual haze from her mind. She turned her eyes back to the man and found that his had never once left her. The way he studied her was beginning to grow irksome and she had the sudden desire to slap that satisfied smirk off his face.

“I do believe you are staring, sir.”

“I am,” he said, his smile widening. And he wasn't finished. He looked her over once more, much to Victoria's aggravation. “Do you belong to anyone?” he asked.

“Belong, sir?”

“Yes.”

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“In that case, no one.”

“No one?” he repeated, his interest rising.

“That is what I said.”

“And why is it that such a beautiful woman belongs to no one?”

“I'm not married or engaged,” she stated then snapped her mouth shut. She should not have given this seductive man that information. In his hands the knowledge could be dangerous.

“I concluded that, but surely your parent's–”

Victoria tilted her chin up. “My parents have recently passed away.”

“I'm sorry,” he apologized, his smile gone.

“Why should you be? You didn't know them,” she stated fighting the tears that threatened to fall. Now was not the time to cry, not in front of him, even if she had the desperate desire to feel his strong arms around her.

“The little kitten has claws,” Dorian said intrigued. “I like that.”

She laughed. It was a warm sound that made him want to kiss those rich lips of hers.

“You are trying to make me blush, but it won't work. I’ve dealt with men like you before.”

It was Dorian's turn to laugh now. She had never dealt with anyone like him. He was no ordinary man. He was a vampire king.