Caressed by Night (34 page)

Gannon shook his head and said, “I hate to disappoint you, especially when your face is glowing with excitement, but I don’t think he is a Viking. I do know he lived during the raids.” Kerstyn’s heart stopped at the thought. Gabriel’s village could have fallen victim to a gruesome Viking attack or he could have been captured and kept as a slave. She could understand why he would never want to speak of the kind of carnage that he must have witnessed or, worse, the torture he may have experienced.

“My point is, he would have some good inside information.”

“Thanks, Gannon, I’ll keep that in mind.”
But I will never ask
him,
she thought.

Gannon shrugged. “Just thought I would throw the idea out there.”

Kerstyn nodded as she took up her pen and made some notes on the blueprint of the showroom. With a heavy sigh, she sipped her sweet coffee.

233

“Shouldn’t you save some work for tomorrow?”

“Anxious to get out of here?” she asked with a light laugh.

“The king wanted you up in the suite as soon as the museum closed.”

“Don’t want to get in trouble?” Kerstyn teased as she began to organize her papers and photos.

Downing the rest of his water, he tossed the bottle in the short recycle bin beneath the card table. “Now, are you ready to call it a night?”

Dimitri leaned his shoulder against the cool glass as large thunderheads gathered in the sky, blocking the light of the setting sun.

“You did not tell her,” Dorian repeated Dimitri’s words.

Falling on the sofa in the office of the suite, his shoulders bumped Gabriel’s as the vampire scooted over to make room for company.

Dorian sighed, “Why not?”

“Last night was not the right time.”

“Will there ever be a right time to tell the woman you love that she is going to die?” Dorian countered.

Dimitri ignored his friend’s sharp tone. “I will tell her.”

“Victoria and I leave tomorrow, early in the morning.”

“I am well aware of that fact,” Dimitri said.

The sound of an elevator’s doors opening pricked Dimitri’s ears. Searching with his senses, he locked onto Kerstyn’s scent. She and Gannon had just stepped off the elevator and were coming down the hall.

“If she is to come with us, you need―”

“I will discuss everything with her,” Dimitri assured Dorian.

“I still can’t believe you are giving her the option to stay,” Gabriel sighed, “and I’m not just saying this because I don’t want to babysit a human. You should send her away for her safety.” Dorian laughed and said, “When was the last time you were in a relationship? Have you forgotten the wrath a woman can bring?” Turning to Dimitri, he added, “You missed your window for the
234

binding ceremony. Even if you share blood tonight, her transition would not be far enough along to save her if she is shot. You must discuss this with her.”

Gabriel shrugged. Perhaps he had forgotten what it was like to be in a relationship. Since the death of his wife and his transition, he spared very little time for the opposite sex other than the occasional one night stand. He didn’t need nor want a woman. He was perfectly content with the way his life was headed…except when it came to the female in the photograph.

Entirely consumed by his thoughts, Gabriel had not noticed the door to the suite had opened and shut. Kerstyn and Gannon were heading down the hall to the office and Gabriel missed the end-of-conversation glare from Dimitri.

“I still think you should tell her about her impending death and then send her off, willing or not.”

“Who?”

Gabriel’s face lost all color as the soft, feminine voice kissed his ears. Dorian’s head whipped around and Dimitri’s curse filled the room.

“Well, judging by your reactions, I’m going to guess you're talking about me,” Kerstyn said.

“Everyone, out,” Dimitri snapped, his fangs flashing, his anger shaking the furniture in the room.

Taking Gabriel by the shoulder, Dorian stood, bringing the other vampire up with him.

Gabriel’s head was bowed, his gaze glued to the floor. “My deepest apologies, Sire,” he whispered.

Dimitri said nothing as Dorian ushered Gabriel and Gannon from the office, closing the door behind them.

Kerstyn took in one deep breath after another, desperately trying to remain calm.

Silence crowded the room, weighing heavily upon Kerstyn’s shoulders.

Licking her lips, she asked, “What is going on, Dimitri?” Curse after ugly curse fell from his beautiful lips, some in languages she did not recognize.

235

“Kerstyn, I―”

She held up her hand. “Do you know my future?”

“I…have had visions,” he answered.

“Visions?” she repeated, her voice low, her throat dry. “Of my death?”

He slowly nodded and Kerstyn went cold.

“How long have you known?”

“The visions began when I decided to come to Las Vegas, about a month before we met.”

“You’ve known all this time and said nothing?” she demanded, coming forward.

“I have.” His words were simple and meek.

“Were you ever going to tell me or was it to be a surprise?” The acid in her tone burned his ears. “I wanted…I was going to tell you.” For the first time in his abnormally long life, words failed him.

Kerstyn felt numb from her head to the very tips of her toes.

Tucking her hair behind her ears with trembling hands, she lowered herself onto the sofa. Focusing on her breathing, she willed herself to keep it together. Now was not the time to fall to pieces. She needed more information. She needed to know how, when, where, and…

Why,
she thought.
Why now?

For the past few weeks, Dimitri had gone on and on about destiny, referring to Fate as if Greek mythology had been correct in assuming they were real. Had they marked her for death? Was it truly her time to die? Go to Heaven? Leave him?

Clearing her throat, she impaled Dimitri with her gaze, “You were going to tell me?”

“I have been trying to find the right words, but how do you tell the one you love they are to die?”

“I don’t know,” she said, her whisper too low for any mortal to hear.

Dimitri came to kneel before her. Kerstyn wanted him to take her in his arms, to comfort her, to protect her, to shield her from the
236

ruthless world. He was the strongest, most intelligent person she knew, but even he could not rescue her from death.

“How―” she stopped and cleared her throat again. “How is it going to happen?”

He did not speak, but the look in his eyes told her everything.

She was not going to die from some sort of natural cause or meet her end in a freak accident. She was going to be murdered.

“I have seen―”

“Please, spare me the gory details. Just tell me when.” Dimitri’s eyes dropped to the floor and Kerstyn’s heart seized.

“When?” she prompted, her voice sounding smooth and controlled despite the fear, the sorrow, and the anger that swirled within her.

“Sunday, when I go off to meet Ven,” he answered.

Pure, unadulterated panic gripped her heart like a fist.

“Today is Wednesday,” she breathed.

“I will not allow death to claim you,” he vowed.

“As if you could stop this.”

“I can and I will.”

“How?” she demanded, her rage taking control of her mind and body. “What can you do? How can you stop this from happening? Will you change me?” Dimitri winced and Kerstyn’s shallow laughter cut through him, “You would not change me, even to save my life.”

“This,” Dimitri gripped his chest above his heart, “this is no life, Kerstyn. This is hell.”

“So, you would rather I die than―”

“Yes. It is natural. All humans die.”

“Then why would you try to save me?” she countered, her voice hard, her gaze sharp. Dimitri reached forward, but Kerstyn flinched away. “Don’t touch me,” she snapped.

“I know what you must be going through.”

“How could you possibly understand? You are a vampire. A
vampire
. You will live forever―”

237

“Do you think I want this to happen?” he snarled, coming to his feet. “I have spent countless hours desperately trying to find a way to save you, to keep you with me. I have prayed until my head ached for divine intervention.”

Kerstyn stood and pushed past Dimitri. Gathering tears blurred her vision and she would have sworn her heart was about to leap from her chest. She drew in short, sharp breaths, her lungs burned. The room began to spin and she pressed her fingers to her temples trying to bring her vision back into focus.

“I think I’m about to have a nervous breakdown,” she said on a gasp as she gulped in air.

“You should sit.”

Her eyesight flickered between black and vibrant color. Nausea gripped her as her chest began to ache from the rapid beating of her heart and her thoughts began to bleed together.

“I think…I’m going to―”

Kerstyn’s eyes rolled back as she slipped into unconsciousness.

Dimitri lunged forward, catching her limp body. Scooping her up he carried her from the office down the short hall to the bedroom. After laying her gently on the bed, he checked her vitals. Her heart slowing to a normal beat as her breathing evened out.

“I am sorry,” he whispered, brushing the hair from her face, stroking the silken strands. “I am sorry for everything, but I will save you. I swear it on my honor, I will save you.”

238

White.

All…white.

Kerstyn blinked as she slowly walked through…nothing. There was nothing and, as she continued through the vast realm of shining, pure white, her footsteps made no sound. She turned about in a circle searching for any sign of life.

“What is this place?”

She stopped when her eyes fell upon a figure draped in a crimson cloak, the hood shielding its face from her sight. The person was moving towards her.

“Hello,” Kerstyn called out.

“Welcome,” the figure said, its voice even and familiar.

“Silvie?” Kerstyn asked.

Delicate hands rose up and pushed the hood back.

“Hi, Kerstyn,” Silvie said.

“Where are we?”

“The realm of dreams,” the witch answered with a slight shrug.

“How did you get in my dream?”

“You aren’t dreaming. That is why everything is blank,” Silvie said with a wave of her hand.

“I don’t understand, why are you here? And why am I here? I was talking with Dimitri and suddenly everything went black.” Silvie gave a soft laugh, her dark eyes twinkling. “Your stress got the best of you and you fainted.”

“Seriously?” Kerstyn groaned.

“Yep,” Silvie answered with a nod.

239

“God, how embarrassing,” Kerstyn laughed, “I toppled over.”

“It is understandable. In your shoes, I would probably do the same.”

Kerstyn shrugged and crossed her arms over her chest.

“How are you?” Silvie asked.

“Other than finding out I am going to die this weekend, I’m perfectly fine.”

“Nothing of your future has been decided. You have the power to change what is to come. Free will. The future changes with every decision we make.”

Shaking her head, Kerstyn tried to focus on what Silvie was saying. Confusion left her mind a jumbled mess of thoughts and emotions. She did not know what to think anymore or…

“Hell, I don’t even know
how
to think anymore.”

“You can talk to me,” Silvie urged, “I know I haven’t been around much lately, but if you ever need me, just pick up the phone.”

“I know you have a life and all your witch…priestess training, so don’t worry.”

“Are you frightened?”

“A hundred percent terrified,” Kerstyn said with a nervous smile.

“Of death?”

Kerstyn slowly shook her head as she turned the word “death” over and over in her mind. No, she had never been frightened of death.

Death was a part of living and what good would it do anyone to be frightened of the inevitable?

“I should be terrified of death, after all I’m only twenty-four and should have my entire life ahead of me,” she shrugged, “but death is natural.” Her last words made her laugh. Dimitri had said the same, but she had been too overcome by shock and anger to listen to him.

“Then what is it that frightens you?”

Kerstyn’s laughter fled. “Dimitri.” She dropped her head as the idea of being without him made her heart shatter. “Being without him. I know it sounds ridiculous and, if I were you, I would think my friend was insane. Dimitri and I have been together for almost a month and
240