Vampire Betrayed (Vampires Destined) (13 page)

“I’d say we have a winner,” Joaquin drawled from the darkness.

Charon tried to mutter something, but Ariana leaped onto her back and shoved her face harder into the ground while glaring up at Joaquin. “You’re not supposed to be here.”

“Really? You didn’t
really
think I was going to let you come alone, did you? So much to learn.” He jerked his head toward Charon’s downed body. “You want me to finish this?”

Ariana followed his line of sight. Now, with Charon at her mercy, she wasn’t so sure she could follow through. This wasn’t a vampire she’d followed for a kill. This was a woman she’d spent six months with. A woman she’d trusted. Talked to. Confided in. And now she was supposed to kill her.

“I should,” Ariana responded, her voice cracking.

“There are no laws about who does the kill.”

Warm hands curled around her shoulders and lifted her off Charon’s back. Before Ariana could protest, a loud crack snapped her head back around to where Joaquin now stood behind Charon.

The sorceress still lay on her stomach on the ground, but her head was twisted at an odd angle, her eyes open and sightless. Seconds later, she disintegrated into dust.

Cold shivers ran through Ariana’s body. “I should have done that.”

 “We can argue about that later.”

She turned away from him. For the first time in over six months, she was exhausted. Mentally. Physically. Just drained. And she needed something

Joaquin wouldn’t understand.

“I have to go.”

He came around to face her. “Go where?”

“I need some time alone.”

A frown darkened his face. “Why?”

“Because I’ve just spent the last several months believing one lie and before that, three months believing another. My life has been turned upside down, and I have to process it.”

His hand lifted as though to reach out to her, but then it dropped back to his side. “Do you know how to take care of yourself?”

What was he talking about? She was perfectly capable of taking care of herself. “I’ll be fine.”

“No, Ariana, I meant now that Charon is gone. She won’t be providing the illusions anymore.” His voice had gone soft. “But you’ll still need to feed.”

The knowledge struck her like an iron fist, making her physically ill. How could she take an innocent life just to prolong her own? An ache settled in the pit of her stomach. “I’m not sure I can live like this.”

He came closer, his hands grasping her shoulders lightly. “Unfortunately, you don’t have a choice.”

She wanted to push him away, to deny what he was telling her, but she couldn’t hide from the truth. “Killing vampires is one thing, but I can’t kill people. I won’t.”

 Joaquin snagged a handful of her hair and gave it a slight tug. Her eyes widened and stared into deep pools of black. “I feed to live, but I don’t kill innocent people, Ariana. The ones I choose are always left alive, and they never even know I was there.”

She caught hold of his wrist. “So you just take what you want from them without their permission or knowledge. Kind of like a thief.” 

“You might want to get used to it, sweetheart. Now that your benefactress is gone, you’re going to have to learn to survive.”

“I don’t know if I can do this, Joaquin.” Her voice was barely above a whisper. She hated admitting her fear, but it had settled deep inside her bones. And the thought of sinking her teeth into the neck of some unsuspecting person intensified it.

With a sigh, Joaquin pulled her into his embrace. “You can do it because you won’t be alone. I’ll help you, but you can’t push me away.”

She rested her head against his chest. “You lied to me.”

He kissed her hair. “I did, but as hard as it might be, you have to put that behind you. Your life is this now, and,” he threaded his fingers through hers, “it’s with me. Forever.”

She could only imagine her heart racing at his words. “I wanted to kill you. There was so much anger inside of me because of your betrayal.” Her gaze found his. “How do I know I can trust you?”

“What does your heart tell you?”

“Nothing. It’s not even beating anymore.” Tears stung her eyes, and she quickly blinked them away.

He stepped back and held out a hand. “So what do you have to lose by giving this, giving us, another shot? Come with me, Ariana. Let me show you a world you never even knew existed.”

Her mind raced with the possibilities. She could still walk away, feel sorry for herself for as long as it took for her to realize she needed help, or she could go where she was wanted. Accepted. With him.

Accepting the invitation, Ariana slipped her hand into his.

* * * *

Rome, Italy

The Westin Excelsior

“Did you really have to book the best suite in the hotel?” Ariana managed to ask before her surroundings took her voice.

She’d never even heard of the
Villa La Cupola,
and when Joaquin didn’t bat an eye at the $40,000 plus per night room fee, she’d almost fainted. Not all vampires lived this extravagantly, but she never expected anything different from Joaquin. But this was definitely beyond the norm even for him.

Wealth whispered around every corner, hung from every chandelier, and beckoned with the glistening promise of perfection. With over 11,000 square feet of living space— in case they decided to stay a while as Joaquin explained—the suite boasted everything from a private spa to a cinema. 

Ariana walked from room to room, inspecting her surroundings. With each step, she could feel Joaquin’s eyes on her spine. He followed her, remaining silent, giving her time to come to terms with the turn her life had taken.

Slowly, she climbed the marble staircase, one hand on the banister. As Joaquin ascended behind her, she finally broke the silence. “This place is magnificent, but why did you bring me here? We could just as easily have gone back to my home or a hotel in Paris.”

He stayed one step below her, but it still didn’t give her the height advantage. “This is your world now, my love.”

Ariana threw a look over her shoulder as she reached the top. “I’m not so sure I belong in this one.”

Joaquin placed his hand at the small of her spine and guided her down the opulent hallway. “You belong with me.”  He walked ahead of her and opened a door at the far end of the hallway. 

The master suite boasted a large, red-canopied four poster with a sitting area, plush carpeting reminiscent of the Orient, and enough space for twelve people.  A tiered gold chandelier illuminated the Roman art decorating the walls, and heavy brocade drapes hung beside translucent panels that gave her a glimpse of the balcony.

Her throat tight, Ariana walked to the bed and sat on the edge.  Did she really belong in this world? With him? Looking around, she wasn’t so sure.

Joaquin approached her, coming to stand next to her knees. He began to stroke her upper thigh. “What are you thinking?”

“So many things. About tonight. Tomorrow. The future.”

His fingers continued the light touches, inching further up her denim-covered leg. “Why don’t we just focus on tonight? We’ll just take it one day at a time.”

Ariana closed her eyes as sensations swamped her. Just the slightest touch of his fingers curled her stomach into knots. She shook her head in an attempt to focus. “I’m not sure sex is the answer.”

Joaquin’s fingers slipped between her thighs. “I wasn’t aware there was a question.”

Her skin began to burn. “But this isn’t getting us anywhere.”

He sat down beside her, lifted her hair away from her neck, and blew softly. “I didn’t know we had anywhere to be. Now, let me show you one of best perks of your new life.”

Ariana knew she should protest. Hot sex would get them nowhere, but as Joaquin said, they didn’t have anywhere to be. And right now, hot sex sounded pretty damned good.

Her lashes fluttered. It only took a look to make her come alive, but a touch could make her implode. For Joaquin was a master at touch. And taste. He was especially good at tasting.

“Lie back,” he instructed, wrapping Ariana in a fantasy of silken limbs and scented candles. Standing over her, Joaquin snapped his fingers and blew fire from his fingertips. One by one, as if reading her most intimate thoughts, he lit the candles lining the walls, creating a soft, golden glow.

As Ariana’s shoulders made contact with the mattress, Joaquin unzipped her jeans and slid them down her legs, tossing them aside.

Joaquin knelt, and electricity sizzled from the top of Ariana’s head to the soles of her feet. Anticipation became a gnawing ache in the centre of her stomach as she waited, eyes squeezed shut.

She heard the whisper of his clothing as it fell away from his body then the warmth of his body covered hers, and she sighed with pleasure. Tomorrow could take care of itself. Tonight was all theirs.

He rose up over her, his eyes dark and challenging. For a long moment, he just stared into her eyes, until Ariana slid one hand up the wall of his chest. “Joaquin?”

“Shhhh. I want to watch you as I make love to you, to know that this time is just the beginning. We have forever.”

* * * *

Ariana woke at dusk, her body deliciously tired and tucked next to Joaquin’s. Late into the night he’d shown her the nocturnal activities of vampires, and now her muscles ached. But she could definitely grow accustomed to this manner of living...as long as it was with Joaquin.

Slipping off the mattress, she padded to the window on bare feet. Drawing the curtain aside, she watched the night come alive. Stars began to appear against a backdrop of black, and a sliver of moonlight drenched the city below. She pressed her palm against the cool glass pane.

“I don’t know what to do now,” she whispered.

“You’ll stay with me.” Joaquin spoke from behind her, his voice husky from sleep.

She didn’t turn around. “I’m not sure I can.” The blankets rustled and his feet thumped against the carpet. Seconds later, his hands settled on her shoulders.

“Why not?”

Her head fell forward to rest against the window. “This is all so new to me, Joaquin, and I have a lot to learn. I have to rediscover my entire identity.”

“And you can’t do it alone.” Massaging her muscles, he pressed a kiss against the back of her neck. “We can have a good life together, Ariana. Let me show you.”

“You live life waiting for the next attack.” Her skin warmed as his arms crept around her waist.

“And you used to live for the next kill. Ariana...” The way he said her name sent shivers down her spine. “...I know this is hard for you. Finding out that you are the enemy can’t be easy, but you can’t deny what you are.” He turned her in his arms. “You have to face this, accept it, and learn to live the life you were really meant to live.”

She gave a bitter laugh. “Those words sound strange coming from a vampire.”

He bumped his forehead against hers. “I was speaking metaphorically, of course.”

“I’m scared.”

Joaquin raised his head and cupped her cheek. “You’re not alone. I promise. Now, come back to bed. There’s still so much more I want to show you.”

She tipped her head back with a suspicious look. “More?”

White teeth flashed in a devious grin. “You haven’t forgotten that I’ve been around for long, long time, have you? I’ve learned a lot in my lifetime.”

Ariana eyed the bed. “Lucky me.” She allowed him to guide her back across the room. Perhaps thinking about a life with Joaquin wasn’t such a bad thing, but she didn’t have to decide anything right now.

At present, she only had to live moment to moment...especially this one. As Joaquin pushed her lightly against the mattress, the familiar tingle began. “So do vampires have any other nocturnal activities besides sex?”

Joaquin stood over her, his face thoughtful. After a long pause, Ariana prompted him. “Well?”

“I’m thinking.”

She laughed. “I have a feeling life with you is never going to be boring, Mr. Shepherd.”

He wiggled his eyebrows at her. “Lady, you don’t know the half of it.”

Acknowledgements

For all her help and guidance, I want to thank my friend, Lisa Renee Jones. A talented author, she has dedicated herself to teaching other authors and helping them succeed. She’s made this journey so much easier. If you want some great reads, visit her website at
www.lisareneejones.com
.

I’m also extremely grateful for my beta-reader, Denise Vance Fluhr. She stands between me and horrendous mistakes that would have readers returning the books in droves. This is the third book of mine she has read, and she always helps me plug the holes.

Author Notes