The Last Vampyre Prophecy (25 page)

Her lips press into a hard line but I can feel the pleasure float through her. She suppresses her smile and looks out the window.

I pull to the curb at Tiffany’s and open her door. A concierge is at our side instantly and escorts us into the store.

“I want to look at Grecian style settings. Olde world with a flawless stone and intricate filigree.”

He nods and smiles. Adonia is staring at me, mouth open. I grin and pull her following the concierge.

He leads us to a case in the center of the store. Lines of shining diamonds fill the clear space but my eyes go directly to the one at the top.

I point, “That one,” I say immediately, “We’ll take it.”

Adonia gasps and stares at me, “Khai, that’s too much!” she screeches.

I level a glare at her but smile wide, “It’s always too much with me, love.”

She gapes at me as the man pulls the ring from the case and reaches for her hand. She watches as he slips the platinum creation easily on her finger. It has a brilliant oval center stone with delicate pave diamonds surrounding in an ivy pattern connected with a fine filigree encircling the sides.

She gasps, “It’s stunning.” She whispers.

I shake my head, “You’re stunning that is just good craftsmanship.”

The man stifles a laugh, “Very true, sir.”

I turn to him, “I have an account. Garai Enterprises. Bill me.” And I turn for the door. Adonia pulls my hand and gapes at the man, “How much is it?” She asks horrified.

He just smiles, “1.3 million.” He says proudly.

“No fucking way,” she shouts, “You are not paying that much for a ring on my finger.”

I just tug her in my wake, “Too late, already done.”

She tries to dig her heels into the ground to halt me so I turn and sweep her off the ground and carry her protesting to the car. I open the door and shift her into the seat closing the door on her enraged face.

I smile all the way around the car. She’s fired up and this is going to be a good one.

But the entire ride to the restaurant she sits and broods quietly plotting her revenge.

When I catch her thoughts I laugh, “Oh you can do that but I’ll just buy you another one.”

She whips her head around and scowls at me, furious.

I smile sweetly at her, “I thought you would be more imaginative than something as petty as throwing it in the Hudson, Adonia.”
I chide.

I can see she has no retort because she’s just that angry
and none of her thoughts are coherent. Finally she huffs and looks out the window.

We pull to the entrance of the restaurant and I toss the keys to the valet who smiles wide when he takes in the car.

I lead her up the steps and into the bar. The smell of so many different bodies floods my nose and the burn sears up my throat. I need to feed. Badly. I’ve ignored it with the distraction of Adonia.

I bite my tongue as we walk
across the wooden floor. A loud squeal shoots across the room and I see a girl jump from her seat and run toward us. She nearly knocks her to the ground when she throws her arms around her neck.

Adonia laughs, “Whoa!” she exclaims, “It’s just been a week lady.”

The girl pulls back and scowls, “A long week!”

The she eyes our linked hands and darts up to my face. Her mouth forms an O as her thoughts turn positively
carnal.

I extend my hand, “Khai Garai.”

She blinks and gapes at me. Adonia clears her throat and that breaks the trance. She puts her hand in mine, “T—Tiffany.” She stutters.

Adonia sighs, “
Tiff, you can stop staring now.”

Tiffany slowly looks to her, “Exactly what the hell happened in a week?”

Adonia laughs, “You wouldn’t believe it if I told you. You have NO idea.” She looks to me and winks then back to Tiffany. “Did you save us a seat at the bar?”

I shake my head, “No need. I have a table here.” I say motioning the hostess. Moments later we are escorted to the table facing the glass wall with a view of Times Square.

Tiffany squeals, “Oh my God! This is the most exclusive table in Manhattan.”

I gesture Adonia in and slide
in beside her ignoring the statement. Another loud annoying screech comes from her mouth when she sees the ring on her finger, “What the fuck is that?” She wails.

Adonia blushes and tries to hide her hand but I pull it back to mine. She looks down and I can feel her embarrassment.

I look over to Tiffany, “She’s agreed to be my wife.” I say bluntly.

She gapes at me then turns angry eyes on Adonia. Her thoughts spike anger in me as I see the lashing she fully intends to rain upon her.

“How?” she hisses, “You don’t even know him.” She says thumbing her hand in my direction, “I don’t know him!”

Adonia straightens her back and leans in, “I know everything about him, Tiffany. I love him and I want to marry him, get used to it.” She clips.

They glare at one another for several minutes sizing each other up. They are toe to toe and I can see the indignation flaring in both.

Finally Tiffany softens slightly and leans back against the booth. “It’s just so sudden. Do your parents know? I can’t even begin to imagine what Dean will say.”

Adonia exhales, “They know and trust me it was a scene but it’s good and I want you to be good, too. You mean so much to me.”

Tiffany smiles slightly and reaches for her hand, “You too,” she says fondly then looks down at the ring, “Now let me get a look at this huge fucking rock
.” She whistles and releases her hand, “That is some piece of work.”

I shrug, “It serves the purpose.”

She rolls her eyes at me, “Ah, I see you’ve roped a smug one, Ade.”

Adonia laughs, “Tiffany, you have NO idea.”

And with that the conversation warps into our trip and then on to the wedding. I’m distracted by the sound of a healthy heart beating in the corner booth. She’s a sprinter and a vegan. Her blood is rich and thick.

I wait until she stands for the restroom to excuse
myself, “I’ll be right back, love.” I say then place a kiss to her temple.

She nods and smiles as I stand and walk toward the back of the restaurant. I catch her
heart beat inside the stall and duck in the door. I scan the room but she is alone. I turn the lock and stalk toward the heavy thrumming of her blood pumping strong through her veins.

When the metal lock
on her stall door clicks I step to the side as she walks out with her head lowered looking at the screen on her phone. I take a step in and grip her neck pulling her toward me.

The shock of my
touch finally registers and she opens her mouth to scream but I place my hand over her face. “Don’t.” I warn and she stiffens against my chest. “Just let go.” I say as I watch the terror cover her face then sink my teeth into her neck.

The blood rushes down my throat and sinks into every part of my body. I taste her healthy diet and can pinpoint the areas of the country her vegetables are grown by the flavor of the dirt they were grown in.

Her heart begins the uneven rhythm before I pull another round and it stutters to a stop. She falls limply in my arms and I pull her into the stall then moments later watch her ashes spread across the black and white tile floor.

I gather the remnants of her clothes and stuff them to the bottom of the metal can and step out to the sitting area. I scan for minds and see that I have a
five second window before a man rounds the corner carrying a tray of dishes.

I ease out and dip my hands into my pockets as I stroll across the room. Sated and in a much clearer frame of mind. Everything is crisper and the sounds around me
are ringing clearly.

Adonia
is chatting excitedly when I reach the table. She looks up and gives me a blinding smile. I can feel her depth of emotion for me and the way she missed me. I was gone for four minutes and thirty two seconds but we both felt the loss.

I slide beside her and wrap my hand around her waist. I can
feel the chemicals begin to mix in her blood and the way her thoughts drift to my hand on her waist.

I lean in to her ear, “It’s time to go,” I murmur, “I want to run my tongue over your body and worship you tonight.”

Her breath hitches and she turns heated eyes on me. She blinks then nods and turns to Tiffany. “It’s late and we need to get home for work tomorrow, but let’s have lunch this week. Anywhere you want.” She says smiling.

We stand and they hug then I wrap my hand on
her lower back and lead her out the front.

I pull her into my side as we wait for the valet to bring the car around. A young attendant is eyeing Adonia salaciously and I catch his thoughts that are mixed with violent sex and bondage.

I feel the growl inch up my throat, “If you want to make it home in one piece tonight you should train your thoughts in a different direction and wipe her image from your mind.”

He stares at me dumbfounded then nods jerkily, “Y-Yes sir!” he blurts then turns and busies himself with the key rack.

My anger is burning me up as I remember the images he had of her, what he wanted to do to her. The images make me shift closer to him on the verge of yanking him off the ground and crushing his skull between my hands.

But then I feel a calm drift over me and it feels like a numbing agent to my brain. Everything feels neutral, my anger sated.

I look down at her and she has her eyes closed and I can feel the peace rolling out of her.

I lean down, “I can’t describe the ways you affect me. I’m both astonished and annoyed.”

She snaps her eyes open, “Annoyed?” she asks affronted.

“Adonia, my emotions are like
a scrabble board. They’re all over the place and make no sense but it’s who I am. I’m annoyed at the affect it has on me not you.”

We stand staring at one another when my car purrs to the curb. The valet h
ops out and opens her door. I palm him cash and throw one last glance at the other man then walk around the car.

I catch his parting thoughts and they have circled back to Adonia and he sneers at the way he would beat her then fuck her.

He’s going to die—tonight. I will come back for him.

I pull into traffic and smile when she turns the dial on the radio and selects a classical station. She hums the verses of an old ballad and I realize there’s another thing we have in common.

As we pull into the garage I feel his presence and I grab Adonia pulling her into my lap.

Bassam is here.

I scan the area and see that he is hovering atop my building. I open the door and rush into the house wanting to get her to safety.

I can’t get a read on his intention because he is shifting many different conflicting things through his mind to confuse me.

When I open the door I feel him shift and land on my balcony floor. Adonia is staring at me panicked because of the emotions running through me.

I take her to the bedroom and sit her on the bed, “Don’t leave this room. Stay right here.” I hiss then run to the balcony.

He’s already inside my house standing at the threshold. Every muscle in my body coils and I am ready to tear him apart.

He steps forward sneering, “Trust me when I say, you’ll never catch me.”

I blur to across the room to where he stands next to my picture window, “Not one fool has ever bet against me, Bassam. Don’t be the first.”

His eyes spark with fury then he steps closer to me. “Don’t fucking temp me, Garai. You’ve brought enough melee into my existence and I am dangerously close to ending you.” He says sharply.

I grin at him, “The end will only come for one of us and I can promise you it won’t be me.”

I feel the heat building within—the fire. He does too and steps back. We glare at one another then he finally relaxes.

He inhales a labored breath and stares at me, “It’s Mehi.” He says eventually. “She’s back.”

Every wave of emotion I’ve ever felt wafts through my body and I am suddenly completely out of control.

I hear the scrape of the door as it opens against the frame. She grips the wood and braces herself. The terror on her face is enough to send me into defcon four.

Her hand flies up to her mouth, “It’s not over,” she sobs and my whole world goes black.

See you again soon…