Dark Destiny (20 page)

A reluctant smile touched her mouth, gleamed for an instant in her eyes. "I've watched a lot of movies—I don't think we slept together."

He grinned, a slow, teasing grin that swept away the lines etched into his darkly sensual features and managed to give him a boyish look. "We definitely slept together, Destiny. And as you can see, it was sleeping, not making love." He brushed his palm over the thick fullness stretching his trousers.

She blushed. She felt the color rising steadily, and no matter how hard she tried to stop it, it swept up her neck and into her face. She had been looking. Speculating. Maybe even admiring. "I was naked. You were lying beside me and we were both naked."

"That is common practice, I believe, when one goes to ground, especially to heal wounds." He looked totally unrepentant.

"I told you there would be none of that." She gestured with her chin toward his erection.

He laughed softly, pure male amusement. "I do not think we have much chance of controlling certain portions of my anatomy. You will just have to be understanding and pretend not to notice."

Her eyes widened. "How am I supposed to not notice
that
?"

"Well, fine, then." He sighed heavily. "I guess you can notice, but there will be no touching." His voice lowered an octave. "Or stroking."

For some insane reason her breasts ached and her body throbbed. It was his voice. The thought of his hands moving over her body, cupping her breasts… She could picture his thumbs teasing her nipples into hard peaks, could
feel
it. Her mouth was unexpectedly dry, and her incisors threatened to lengthen. Destiny backed a few steps farther from him. She
wanted
to feel the weight of his erection in her palm, the thick hardness of his desire for her. She wanted to kiss him, to see the desire flare in his eyes. She wanted to stroke him.

"Stop it." His voice was husky. "I mean it, Destiny. I am your lifemate, not a saint. You cannot have erotic images in your head and expect me not to react to them."

She did have images in her head—her hands moving over his body, her mouth trailing kisses. She closed her eyes, wanting to shut out the pictures, but they were still there and her body was still in need. Hot and heavy and burning for him.

"What did you do to me?" She glared at him accusingly.

"I healed your wounds; I did not take advantage. You know that."

"I've never felt this way before in my life!"

"That is a relief. I doubt I would be happy if you had wanted many men, Destiny." There was the merest trace of laughter in his voice.

"I'm glad you're finding this amusing."

"Come here." He held out his hand to her. "Let me feed you. You have been to ground for two risings and have not fed."

Her chin went up. "Neither have you, and you gave me blood before we went to ground. I can find my own prey." She felt strange. Divided. Wanting to be close to him. Wanting to run from him. He made her feel out of control. And vulnerable. She hated feeling vulnerable.

"Why would you prefer to feed from humans when you can have the blood of an ancient to sustain you? Can you not feel the effects of my blood? Your suffering is far less on this rising."

"Don't tell me my suffering is far less." Her eyes flashed at him, glinted a red fire in the darkness of the chamber. "I can handle that kind of pain. I know what to do, how to cope with it."
I don't know how to cope with you
.

She didn't wait to hear what he had to say. She bolted from the cave, fleeing as if pursued by demons. She knew exactly where she was going. To the church. Where she always went before feeding. Where she could find some semblance of balance. Of peace. She had entered the church and it hadn't fallen down. A bolt of lightning hadn't come out of the sky to incinerate her. She had touched the priest. And she wanted to look into a mirror again.

You look fine. I do not think you need to become vain. You have enough bad habits
. Nicolae was laughing at her again, but she didn't care. There was something new and unexpected in her life. She found she was looking at the world differently. The stars were glittering like gems over her head and she couldn't help noticing and appreciating them. The wind blew gently over her body like the whisper of a lover's voice. It cooled her body, ruffled the silk of her hair. Lightened her heart.

For the first time in years, her blood wasn't burning her from the inside out. For the first time in years, she hadn't awakened with the thought of killing. She was wide awake, and her mind was filled with Nicolae. As hard as she tried, she could not extinguish the tiny ray of hope growing deep within her.

The church doors were unlocked, and she knew before she pulled them open that Father Mulligan was inside, hearing confession. With her acute hearing she could distinguish soft words and the strangled sob of a woman as she spoke with her priest. In the pew close to the confessional was a big bear of a man. John Paul. His head was bowed, and Destiny could see his big shoulders shaking. Tears slid down his face.

Destiny entered the church suppressing a small shiver of trepidation as she crossed the threshold and slipped into the poorly lit interior. Candles flickered in the alcove and cast strange, shifting shadows on the stained-glass window above it. She studied the depiction of the Madonna and Child, the sweet face and the way one hand held the infant to her while the other was outstretched toward Destiny.

John Paul didn't look up, didn't seem to notice her, so Destiny slipped closer, wanting to get a feel for the man. Had he been touched by a vampire? Was that the explanation for his bizarre behavior toward Helena? Destiny scanned his mind, looking for the blank spots that would reveal the presence of the undead.

John Paul was filled with sorrow and confusion. He feared losing Helena and he believed he might be losing his mind. His thoughts were jumbled and mixed with wild plans of carrying his beloved off to a secluded place until he could convince her he loved her and would never harm her.

Father Mulligan and Helena emerged from the confessional, and the priest put his arm around her shoulders. Even in the dim light, Destiny could see Helena's swollen eye and cut lip. The damage was fresh. She was still crying softly. The priest helped her to a pew and beckoned solemnly to John Paul. The huge man hunched his shoulders as if struck, but like an obedient child, he rose. His tremendous bulk made the slight priest look small and thin and very frail.

Destiny waited until the two men disappeared into the privacy of the confessional before gliding silently to the aisle near Helena, scanning the woman's memories as she did so. Helena certainly had memories of John Paul attacking her. He was terrifying, a tremendously strong man with hamlike hands and a body like a solid oak tree. Helena believed John Paul was insane. She planned to leave him, fearing for her life, yet she loved him fiercely, protectively.

Her heart unexpectedly twisting in sympathy, Destiny laid a tentative hand on Helena's shoulder. "Velda and Inez asked me to help you, Helena. I hope you don't mind." She wished she were Mary Ann with her gift for saying what Helena needed to hear.

Helena shook her head without looking up. "No one can help me. I've lost John Paul. I can't stay with a man who would do this to me."

Destiny gently took her chin and lifted her face on the pretense of examining it. She waited calmly until Helena was caught and held in the depths of her eyes. She saw the relationship clearly; Helena and John Paul were nearly inseparable. Two people wholly devoted to one another.
I didn't know anyone could feel as strongly as they do about one another
.

You just did not want to know, Destiny.

Destiny scowled, wishing Nicolae were standing in front of her. She sent him a visual just in case he didn't get the fact that he was
annoying
. Destiny sighed. She couldn't let Helena and John Paul lose something so rare and precious. Continuing to look deep into Helena's eyes, she planted the idea of working things out with John Paul. Helena needed to allow Mary Ann to put her in a safe place until Destiny could figure out what was going on. Destiny would make certain John Paul understood and agreed with her plan.

I don't detect a vampire
, she told Nicolae.

Are you certain? John Paul is a simple man. Perhaps he is so shaken, you are not receiving a reliable brain pattern.

Destiny frowned.
Does that happen
?

It is possible. If the vampire had a soft enough touch and made the suggestion from a distance, you might not encounter the blankness they leave behind.

Destiny tapped her finger lightly on the back of the pew.
Is there a possibility that there is no vampire? Is there an illness that would cause John Paul to become violent? I don't know much about illnesses. I was only a child when I was converted, and I haven't spent much time around humans
.

She could feel Nicolae weighing his answer carefully, thinking it over.
Do you detect a tumor or a brain bleed, something physical that would affect his behavior
?

No. His brain patterns seem normal enough. He is very focused on Helena. I don't think he is capable of hurting her this way.

Why
? Nicolae prompted.
Everyone is capable of violence
.

Destiny sank into the pew. Nicolae was right. John Paul was a huge bear of a man, quite willing to indulge in a brawl if the opportunity presented itself.
But not violence toward her. Never to Helena. He loves her
.

A wave of warmth flooded her mind. Her heart. Her very bloodstream.
I understand how he feels. I believe you, Destiny. We will figure it out
.

Chapter Nine

Nicolae couldn't miss the purple-haired woman waving at him, as much as he would have liked to. She was flapping her arms and jumping up and down on the sidewalk while the small, pink-haired lady beside her shouted out a welcome to him. He found himself returning to the small neighborhood near the bar, seeking out Mary Ann. The counselor for battered and abused women meant much to Destiny. Mary-Ann also had some psychic ability; he wanted to know more of her.

Destiny might have run from him physically, but he could feel her, a quiet shadow in his mind, sharing her fears, talking over the puzzling problems of "her" humans, laughing with him. She didn't give him any sympathy as he deliberately shared the embarrassing vision of two elderly ladies in neon colors jumping up and down on the sidewalk and making frantic noises and wild gestures.

Their antics were drawing undue attention to him, something no Carpathian desired. Resigned, he turned away from MaryAnn's office to saunter down the street toward the two older women who obviously wanted his attention. He heard Destiny's muffled laughter brush at his mind. It lightened his heart. They would always be connected.

There are times when being invisible comes in handy. You could have warned me.

I think a good dose of Velda and Inez is exactly what you need.

He gave an exaggerated groan just to hear the sound of her laughter. After so many years of pain, it was a miracle to hear the amusement in her voice, to feel the lightness in her heart. She was slowly coming to terms with what she had become, slowly accepting that she might not be the evil creature she had been led to believe.

I am uncertain what I did this rising to deserve such punishment
. Flashing his most charming smile at the two women, Nicolae bowed low over Velda's hand, skimmed Inez's knuckles with brief, old world courtesy. Both women fluttered their eyelashes and giggled like schoolgirls. "What can I do for you?"

Stop with the voice! Do you want to give them heart attacks
? Destiny was really laughing now. She sounded so carefree, he felt a strong burst of emotion.

The women introduced themselves and patted the chair waiting between them, gushing over his name, his foreign accent and wonderful manners.

"What brings you to our neighborhood, Nicolae?" Velda asked curiously.

"We saw you with our dear Mary Ann," Inez added.

"I have come courting," he announced, devilishly sharing the conversation with Destiny. "The beautiful woman you were speaking with the other evening. Destiny. I am doing my best to make her my wife, but she is attempting to resist my charm. I do not suppose either of you would have any suggestions to further my cause?" he added hopefully.

The women made cooing noises and Destiny hissed at him. Nicolae settled back to enjoy himself. Turning the tables on Destiny was no easy task, and he was determined to make the most of the opportunity.
Go attend to your business, little one, and leave me to mine. I think these women might have invaluable insight into the female psyche
.

"I think that's so romantic," Inez burst out, clasping her hands. "Don't you think so, Sister? Romance is just about gone from today's society. But romance is what you need to court her."

Velda clucked, shaking her head in disapproval. "We have to be practical in this day and age." She leaned close to Nicolae, pinned him with a sharp gaze. "You can't get by on good looks and manners, young man; you need substance. What kind of a job do you have?"

Destiny's laughter heated his blood and robbed his lungs of air. It was not only musical, but also held a latent sensuality that whispered promises of hot, silken nights.

Sheesh! Do you have a vivid imagination! Keep your mind on the business at hand, Nicolae. Tell them you hunt vampires and see if they think you're a safe bet as husband material.

Nicolae smirked. A predatory, smug, superior smirk guaranteed to set Destiny's teeth on edge. "I am in law enforcement, a special branch, but I am also independently wealthy, so she would never want for anything." His long fingers stroked his jaw, drawing attention to the singular masculine beauty of his face. "I have searched the world for her. I know we are meant to be together."