The Taste of Magic (14 page)

"The least you could do is look me in the eye."

He finally raised his head. His cold gaze speared her with a sudden dread.

"I'm a busy man, Katerina. Please tell me why you've come today."

A lump formed in her throat, and she swallowed so she could speak. Why did he have to be so…distant? What had she expected? That he would sweep her into his arms and kiss her, and… She forced her thoughts back to the matter at hand.

"I'm here because…I came to tell you…"

One golden eyebrow arched. "Yes?"

"You've won."

He cocked his head, as if confused, then a hint of a smile moved along his lips. She detected a note of triumph in his eyes.

"I've won what?"

Damn him, he knew full well what she meant. He was going to force her into admitting how he'd manipulated her. "You've made it impossible for me to find a job."

He stood and stepped around the desk. His nearness made her heart race. She'd almost forgotten how intensely he could make her emotions arise.

"You've had no luck? But how is that my fault?"

Her annoyance renewed itself. "Don't play these games with me. You made a few calls, put the word out. No one will hire me."

"You make such amusing accusations, Kat. You cannot blame me for your current situation. Your…resignation was your choice."

She was torn between wanting to slap the arrogant smile from his face and kissing him. Damn, how could he do this? Did he deliberately make her thoughts muddled? He'd certainly done it before. She had to remember why she was here.

"You left me with no choice. You played your games to get what you wanted without any consideration for me. I don't like being manipulated."

His eyes hardened once more. "If you came here to accuse me…"

"Don't play innocent with me. This is all part of some grand scheme, isn't it?" She stepped around him, her eye catching the heading on the folder that lay open on his desk. She peered closer, sure she was mistaken. She wasn't.

"Is that my father's file?" she asked, raising her gaze to his.

"It is."

Suspicion teased at her, but she couldn't quite solidify the thought. "Is there some problem?"

"Nothing that concerns you."

Katerina finally let her anger free. "Enough of this. What the hell game are you playing?"

Adrian shrugged and folded his arms. "I don't play games, Kat. Tell me, why did you really come here?"

"No, answer my question. Why are you reviewing my father's file?

"If you must know, your father's services are no longer needed."

Her eyes widened, and her anger was quickly replaced by shock. "What? You're going to fire him? Because of me? You really are evil, aren't you?"

"If all you plan to do is stand there and make outlandish charges, then please excuse me. I am a busy man and don't have time for this."

She fought the urge to storm out. Where would that leave her and her family? He'd left her with absolutely no job options, at least not in what she'd been trained for. But running to take a job at McDonalds did not help her get her family away from him. And it didn't ensure her parents were secure. No, she would do what she had to, to keep them safe.

"I came here to tell you I'll do anything you want, if you'll free my family." The delighted gleam in his eyes alarmed her. Had she just made the biggest mistake of her life? Anything? Had she really said that? She could only imagine what he would want in return. She backed up one step, but he caught her wrist and drew her near.

"You should be very careful when making such an arrangement. Do you know what you've just done?" He drew one finger down her cheek and she shivered.

"What I meant was…I'll work for you. I didn't mean for you to…"

"Bite you? Ah, but Kat, that is not what I had in mind."

His arm slid around her waist, effectively trapping her against him. His fingers rested on her cheek, then moved slowly down her throat. He paused there, and the presence of his hand was suddenly a threat.

"Adrian? What do you mean?" She struggled to keep a stammer from her voice.

"I want you. But not just as an employee. All of you. In my home, in my bed."

Her eyes widened. The very mention of sharing his bed had her knees trembling. She recalled their encounter the night he'd been injured. Hell, that night had never been far from her thoughts. She hadn't expected this to be his stipulation, and wasn't sure she could do it.

"That's not what I intended."

"I'm sure it isn't. But if you want to bargain with me, that is my condition. There is no negotiation."

"Why? Do you take pleasure in tormenting me, my family?"

The slight tremor in her voice wouldn't be noticeable to most mortal men, but Adrian heard it clearly. He wanted to ease her worries, but doing so would reveal his vulnerability where she was concerned. He would not expose such a weakness. He steeled himself against the panic he read in her gaze.

"I'll do whatever is necessary to keep you near me."

She was silent for several moments. He resisted the urge to read her thoughts. He would know soon enough. She took a deep breath, holding his gaze. She caught her lower lip between her teeth and nodded. "All right. You can have me. The way you…want. But not the rest of my family. I want them completely free of your influence. Totally."

He admired her single-minded strategy. It didn't matter what he promised her. Her family would always serve him, he had seen to that. Now was not the time to enlighten her. He would have both her and her family. Forever. If he had to stretch the truth to bring her to him willingly, so be it. Her family's services, while certainly worth the cost, were easily replaced. She was not. He would do whatever it would take. Besides, the situation would only be temporary.

"Very well, Kat. I will gladly trade your family for you. You are much more delectable and to my liking, anyway. I will tell your father of your decision." He picked up the telephone and buzzed Greta.

"Wait!"

He raised his gaze and shrugged. "There's something else?"

"This is not my decision, you forced me into it with your games, threatening to ruin my father. My parents depend on that money. I need to make some arrangements first. You can't simply cut them off, as if they…" She stopped when he held up his hand.

"Du Lac Enterprises offers a handsome early retirement package. Your family will not want for anything. Do you really think I am such a monster? Please, Kat, give me more credit than that."

Her shoulders lifted as she took another deep breath. He could read the doubt in her eyes. Pressing her lips together nervously, she nodded.

"All right. But he'll be crushed. I have to talk to him."

He smiled, though he had the rather odd urge to shout with triumph. "Don't worry, I will explain it all to your father. He will understand. I'll send a car for you and your belongings in," he glanced at his watch, "four hours. We'll dine together and from there…" He shrugged.

"So soon? I can't just pack up everything in four hours. Friday. I'll be there Friday."

He didn't want to wait three days for her. He wanted her now. But it was best to allow her to take the time she needed. He couldn't risk anything else increasing her resentment toward him. Soon enough, she would realize she belonged by his side.

"Very well. I'll send the car at ten a.m." Kat nodded and turned toward the door.

He stood before her in a flash. "Wait."

She lifted her gaze to his. There was an air of defeat about her, and that bothered him. He lifted her chin.

"What troubles you?"

"You got what you wanted, why should that matter?"

It did matter, but he couldn't let her know. He didn't like the sadness that hovered about her. He studied her for a moment, then nodded. "Very well. Until Friday." He leaned over and brushed his lips lightly against hers before he stepped aside to let her leave.

She didn't look at him as she left. This time, he couldn't prevent that triumphant laugh from escaping. She was his, and he would never let her go. And soon, she would be his for all eternity.

Chapter Eleven

Katerina stared at her mother in disbelief. This could not be happening! "You can't be serious."

"I am. As much as it pains me to admit it, I cannot deny it any longer. I have tried to see another path for you, but it always comes back to him."

Katerina's mind swam with what she'd learned. She came to tell her mother what was happening, to get some help, but she never expected this. The destiny Olga had once referred to foretold Katerina's life would be entwined with Adrian's. She let her head fall to her arms crossed on the table. Her mother's hand on her hair brought tightness to her throat. She tried to take a deep breath, but nearly choked as a sob caught.

"My Katerina, I prayed, so many times, but it is not to be. You must be brave, and strong. If you choose the path of resistance, you will be filled with hurt and despair. But if you do not resist, you shall know great joy."

Katerina lifted her head. "I don't understand. How long have you known about this?"

For several moments, a thick silence hung between them. Then Olga looked away, withdrawing her comforting hand and folding it in her lap.

"Since you returned."

"What? You mean you've known all the while I've been seeing du Lac and you never told me?" What was the matter with her mother, keeping such important information from her?

"I hoped something would change. While you were away, safe out of reach, nothing indicated you would turn to him. But since you got back…"

"And you kept this all to yourself. I wish you'd never sent me away in the first place."

"We had no choice. It was the only way to keep you safe while you grew stronger. If you are to be with du Lac, you must be smart, as smart as he is, perhaps more. And now look at you."

"Yeah, ready to be served over to the Vampire King as an aperitif," Katerina muttered.

Olga lifted her daughter's chin. "One thing you do not realize. Du Lac can easily take you and make you his. Beyond my reach. That he hasn't done so already tells me much. You would be wise to heed that."

"What do you mean?"

"He is enchanted with you. For that reason, you have power over him, and I do not mean magic. What du Lac wants is your essence. He does not want to destroy you, like he did to…"

Olga abruptly released her and turned away. "Who, Mama?"

Olga hesitated before answering, "To so many others. To countless others." She still refused to meet her daughter's gaze.

"If he's so evil, then why am I the one?"

Olga shrugged. "I do not know. But I will tell you this. It is time for your powers to be freed."

Katerina frowned. "What are you talking about? I don't understand. I have no powers and can't do the things you and Papa can."

Her mother looked away again. "There is more I have not told you. I froze your abilities, before you left for the United States."

"You what?" Katerina could not believe what she was hearing. She had powers? Those powers had been denied her? How long would her mother have waited to tell her? If Katerina had not been about to give herself over to Adrian, would Olga have bothered to tell her?

"Mama, how could you? All these years I thought I had no ability, and now you're saying I have powers. What did you do to me?"

"Not to you, only your gifts. Your magic has been frozen, you cannot use it until the spell is cast to free them. You have inherited much, from both your father and me. It is unwise to unleash the fullest capabilities at once. It must be done slowly."

So many questions flooded her mind. She didn't know where to start. "I have powers. All this time I thought…I have powers!" Her voice rose on each word until she shouted.

Olga reached for her hand. "Katerina, please do not be angry."

"What did you expect, that I'd be overjoyed you've been keeping this from me?" The pained expression on her mother's face briefly made Katerina regret her harsh words. But not enough to dim her anger.

Olga lowered her head. "I am sorry. I only wanted what was best for you. What would keep you safe. To have you untrained with such power while you were alone was too dangerous. For you and others you have known."

Her mother's words made sense, and though her annoyance calmed somewhat, Katerina couldn't completely suppress her resentment. The truth had been kept from her. Why did everyone insist on keeping secrets?

"How did you know how to do this?" she finally asked.

"For a time, when I was young, younger than you now, but older than when you went away, my powers were also frozen."