Microsoft Word - The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance.doc (41 page)

His hands found the bottom of her shirt and slid beneath it.

She closed her eyes as his hands caressed her skin. She’d

sated his hunger, she knew. Now it was time to satisfy him.

“I care.”

Nikolai’s tone was dark and defiant as he faced Kyle in the

latter’s very formal dining room.

“That’s all well and good, Destrati, but do you think that  will in any way, shape or form move Dominic and Sarina?”  Kyle swirled red liquid around in a crystal wine glass he held  between his middle and fourth finger.

“My name is Nikolai,” the younger ethereal stated with a

scowl.

“Is it?” Kyle mocked him. “You’ve been a Destrati for so  long  you don’t even remember your own surname. Now you’ve  found something worth turning on your own family for and  suddenly the name offends you?”

“The way you say it offends me,” Nikolai replied,  glancing over his shoulder in the direction of the bedroom where Katrina  lay sleeping.

“’Recovering’, more like,” Kyle corrected, taking a sip of

his drink. “Did you do as I instructed?”

“You know I did,” Nikolai nearly spat in disgust. “Why do

you ask what you already know?”

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“Courtesy,” Kyle replied, before draining his glass and  setting it upon the mantelpiece above the fire he’d been absently  watching. “Unlike you, Destrati, I have manners.”

“Why are you helping us?” Nikolai asked. “Me, in  particular? Your hatred of the Destrati is nearly as legendary as  your  powers are.”

Kyle considered Nikolai for a moment, and raised an

eyebrow at his use of the word ‘us’.

“Are my reasons important?”

“Very,” Nikolai answered. “I remember well the lesson

about not questioning the thing set before you.”

“Clever lad,” Kyle  replied with a genuine smile that flashed  his fangs. “I knew your cause would be a worthy one.” He  glanced meaningfully towards the bedroom and Katrina.

Nikolai understood, and nodded.

“Now listen carefully, Nikolai, for I will only explain this

once.”

Sarina paced back and forth, though she tried to stop herself. There had been no news from any plane, neither mortal nor ethereal. Her dark eyes met Dominic’s pale ones for the umpteenth time and, for the umpteenth time, he had no words for her, comforting or otherwise.

There was an audible sigh of relief as a messenger finally appeared at the doorway to the Council chamber of Clan

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Destrati. The messenger began to bow, but was stopped by

Sarina’s impatient gesture.

“Speak!” she commanded. “Tell us!”

The messenger looked to the doorway for his reply.

Kyle entered. He met Sarina’s eyes.

“It seems the rudeness of the Destrati extends upwards  through the echelons.” Kyle stepped into the room and bowed to  Sarina. He inclined his head towards Dominic as he straightened.

Dominic bent his head in return, though it seemed forced and stiff. Kyle smiled and quickly withdrew his power from the back of Dominic’s head.

“No need to curtsey, Sarina,” Kyle said. “No doubt the  centuries have robbed you of that knowledge, if ever you  possessed it.”

“You are not welcome here Betrayer,” Sarina hissed darkly.

“You have no business in our Council chamber ”–

Her words were cut off suddenly by an indifferent wave of

Kyle’s hand.

Sarina’s hands went to her throat, as if the  gesture would

restore her voice.

“Of course he has business here, Sarina,” Dominic said,  though his own voice trembled slightly as he left the centre  Council seat to stand. “Kail doesn’t waste his time on trivial

things or make a habit of appearing where  he isn’t wanted. Isn’t

that so, Ancient One?”

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“Playing the sycophant doesn’t suit you, Destrati. You both  know I am no Ancient,” Kyle said lightly. He gestured again at  Sarina. She immediately went to Dominic’s side.

“You’re frightened,” Kyle said aloud. “That’s good I trust I

have your attention then.”

The Sovereign and his lady nodded in unison.

“Since you two would not hear any other voice, I speak as

an emissary.”

“On whose behalf?” Dominic asked.

“Mine,” Nikolai entered the room behind his emissary.

Sarina laughed. She spoke before Dominic could. “What is this?” she asked, looking from Nikolai to Kyle and back again.  “You can’t possibly be serious. Consorting with the Betrayer?  An outcast? An outcast you yourself were hunting to bring to justice. And now he speaks for you?”

“I do,” Kyle said formally. “On behalf of Nikolai Peityr of

Clan Destrati, I issue a Challenge for Sovereignty.”

Sarina laughed. “On what grounds?”

“Tyrannical dominance pf the once-wise Council Destrati,  its proceedings and even the personal lives of those who claim  kinship of Clan Destrati,” Kyle answered, grave and unyielding.  “Not even allowed to choose one’s own bride? That is more  than tyranny . . . that’s totalitarian lunacy, and no longer  tolerable.”

“Nikolai,” Sarina purred sweetly. “We’ve all seen Kail’s

Power. We all know of it. It’s mythic. Legend. He’s a Betrayer .

. .
 
the
 
Betrayer, with no clan who will claim kinship with him.

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Are we to believe that you are issuing a challenge of your own will?”

She turned to  Dominic before Nikolai or Kyle could reply.  “I propose that Nikolai is under the Entrancement of  Kailkiril’ron the Betrayer.” She charged, looking to Kyle haughtily.

“We are rather rude aren’t we?” Nikolai muttered to Kyle.

“Quite,” Kyle replied with a smile.

“That’s going to change,” Nikolai said, smiling, before  raising his voice that Sarina and Dominic might hear him.  “Sovereign, I deny the accusation and remind Sarina that a  Challenge may not be issued under Entrancement. Further, the  accusation is fallacious in that, if Kyle’s Power is indeed myth  or legend, he would not need to resort to Entrancement to obtain  his aim, if indeed he wished control of a clan. The Challenge  stands.”

“Let the Council of Clan Destrati be summoned,” Kyle

pronounced, raising his arms to vaulted ceiling.

When no one appeared, Kyle raised his eyebrows. “Well, that was dramatic,” Kyle said ruefully. He eyed Dominic and  Sarina. “You two
 
are
 
the Council then, I take it?”

“Very good, Betrayer,” Sarina spat contemptuously.

“Sarina,” Dominic said quietly, his tone betraying his guilt.

“I didn’t realize that tyrannical dominance of the Council,  meant that you
 
were
 
the Council,” Kyle mused with a sidelong  glance at Nikolai. “There should be at least ten others sitting at  this table. So many attempted to separate Nikolai from his  chosen lady . . . don’t tell me you sent Council members out on

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errantry as well as your faithful minions. Ahhh now I see . . .

Sarina. I’m surprised at you. Well not truly.”

Sarina was beginning to look  as uncomfortable as Dominic.

Nikolai only looked confused.

“She fancies you,” Kyle said softly to Nikolai. “And  thought to keep you either unmarried or for herself when you  wished a bride . . . didn’t you, Sarina?”

Dominic looked at his second and, indeed, lover. Sarina

would not look at him in return.

“I’ve done everything you wanted,” Dominic said to her,  deeply hurt. “Even things I didn’t agree with, because it made  you happy. You rule beside me . . .”

“Dominic  –” Sarina began.

“Enough!” Dominic growled, silencing her with a hand held  up. “A challenge has been issued. We will settle our own issue  later. Provided we survive.”

Dominic looked to Nikolai. “Weapons?”

“Power, and Power alone,” Nikolai said firmly.

“No,” Sarina said, horrified.

“Oh, come now, Sarina,” Kyle said with a wicked grin.  “Nikolai is a gentleman  –  of a sort  –  and wouldn’t dare strike a  woman. Well perhaps if she came at him with a weapon. You  should have spent more of your time learning to use less pointy  means of defence.”

343

Kyle looked to Nikolai. “The challenge is yours. I leave you

to your fate.”

Nikolai offered his hand. Kyle considered it, hesitating only a moment before grasping it firmly. Then Kyle took his leave, effortless and against the protections and wards set about the  Council chamber of Clan Destrati. Nikolai shook his head and

looked to Sarina one last time . . .

“Love. Wake.”

Nikolai’s voice brought Katrina back to herself. She was cradled in his arms. Funny, she couldn’t remember him moving from the bed. And why was she dressed in a nightgown? Where were her clothes? What . . .

“Shh,” Nikolai soothed. He reached to stroke her hair. “I  know you’ve always wanted to be a princess,” he said warmly.  “And now you are, albeit of something not quite as you  expected.”

Katrina started to speak, and met his eyes. In one moment, she knew everything that had happened. She could hear his thoughts. It was the only way she could explain it, and knew it had something to do with him taking her blood.

Momentary panic gripped her as she realized that weeks had passed. Kyle had kept her safe while Nikolai dealt with his family. Nikolai had challenged, fought for and won leadership of his family. But what about Dan, and her family . . . her job?

Nikolai waved his hand dismissively, as he had at the bar

that night.

344

Katrina raised an eyebrow at him.

“You were bored,” Nikolai said contritely.

Katrina smiled in spite of herself. He was adorable when he

was defensive. She reached to touch his face.

Nikolai looked up at her. “I can fix everything, if you like,”

he offered quietly.

“Why me?” she asked.

“Kyle says it is because you are the other half of my soul,”

Nikolai replied.

“A soul you don’t have,” she said, studying him.

Nikolai looked away and nodded.

“Why did Kyle help  you? You were hunting him, weren’t

you? Isn’t he an enemy of yours?”

Nikolai nodded, and then shook his head as she had the night they met. “He is no friend, but no longer an enemy,”  Nikolai explained. “Not truly. It was his idea that you play dead until  . . .

“Until . . .?” Katrina prompted.

“Until he taught me to use my abilities well enough to  challenge the Sovereign of the Destrati and win leadership,”  Nikolai continued. “It was time for a change. I, too, was bored, I  suppose.”

“Idle hands make mischief, my grandmother used to say,”

she said with a nervous giggle. “So you’re Sovereign now?”

345

“Of the Destrati,” he replied. “Not the largest of the vampire

clans, but the most powerful.”

“What makes them so?” she asked. “You?”

“No,” he said, shaking his head. “We’re united.”

“United?”

Nikolai smiled. “All in time, my love,” he soothed. “For

now, you need to rest and refresh yourself.”

“Am I a vampire?” she blurted. “You bit me!”

Nikolai rolled his eyes. “You watch too much television,” he chided. “I’ve made you immortal, not a vampire. Why do you think my clan tried so hard to prevent me from choosing my own bride? Do you think I would damn another soul to Hell?  ‘Destrati’ means ‘Destroyers’. I meant to destroy Kail the  Betrayer, and found the other  half of my soul instead. I mean to cherish it  –  cherish
 
you
, my beloved one  –  for all eternity. In order to do that, I had to destroy those who would destroy you.  The Sovereign and his queen would never have let me become your bridegroom.”

Katrina slid her arms around his neck. When he leaned close

to kiss her, she stopped him with a finger upon his lips.

“Did you just say we’re married?”

“Do you need some other formal declaration?” he asked,

dumbfounded.

“No, just checking,” she said, laughing a little. “Though you  really need to stop the whole ‘doing without asking’ thing. It’s a  little outdated.”

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“The Destrati are ill-mannered,” he said with a teasing sigh.  “As Kyle reminds me whenever possible. Perhaps you could  bring us out of the Dark Ages, Katrina Francesca.”

Katrina groaned. “Trina,” she replied “My friends call me