Zen and the Art of Vampires (26 page)

“Ah,” Alec repeated, leaning back. “The Zorya, I presume you mean.”

“How did you know she was a Zorya?” I asked slowly, my head starting to pound. It seemed to me as if the room darkened a smidgen. I glanced at the window, but it appeared to be sunny outside, not clouding over as I surmised. “I didn't know who she was when we . . . when we went back to my hotel room.”

“Didn't you?” He frowned, toying with a glass of water. “I thought you said she was.”

“I think what Pia's trying to ask and is too nice to do so is whether or not you killed her,” Magda said bluntly.

Alec glanced at her in surprise before turning his lovely green eyes on me. “Is that what you think? That I killed the Zorya?”

“You did leave without saying anything to me,” I pointed out. “I didn't know what to think when I woke up to find you gone and a dead woman in my bathroom.”

“But I left you a note,” he said, frowning, his eyes sincere. “I told you I had to leave unexpectedly to handle some business, but that I'd be in contact later in the day. You didn't get that?”

“No,” I answered, shaking my head. “A note?”

“Yes. I left it in the bathroom so you'd be sure to see . . . Ah. I begin to see it. Whoever murdered that Zorya must have taken my note. My sweet, sweet love. What you must have thought of me!” he said, wrapping an arm around me and pulling me up close to him, his lips whispering along my jaw. “I'm surprised you didn't run screaming from me.”

“Or at least stick a stake through your heart,” Magda said, watching us with interest.

Alec broke off nibbling on my face to grin at her. “Beheading is the preferred method of execution for Dark Ones. Staking is difficult unless you know exactly where the heart is.” His gaze returned to me, rueful and contrite. “Not that I would blame Pia for thinking the worst of me. Forgive me, my love?”

“I . . . I . . .” I stammered a little, not knowing what to say. I was relieved at the thought that he hadn't just up and left me without a word, but at the same time, I was incredibly bothered by the idea that either Kristoff had lied to me, or someone else, a stranger, had marched through my room while I was sleeping. “I didn't think the worst, Alec, so there's nothing to forgive. But it does leave the question of who killed Anniki. And why she was killed in my room.”

“I was thinking about that,” Magda said, absently pulling a strawberry from my plate and eating it. “You said that you'd run into Anniki earlier in the evening, right? She got the stone from you and told you all about Zorya-ing.”

“More or less, yes. But the Brotherhood people were here. She knew that. So there's no reason why she should try to seek me out over them.”

Alec's gaze narrowed sightlessly on the glass of water. “Not unless she was afraid of seeking help from them.”

I stared at him in surprise. “Why would she be afraid of them?”

He shrugged. “Perhaps she had a change of heart about the reapers. Perhaps she learned something about them that made her hesitate committing herself to them. I think, my love, you've had a very narrow escape, and although I am not pleased with Kristoff's high-handed actions in marrying you himself rather than allowing me to do so, it relieves my mind to know that you are safe from the reapers.”

Magda and I exchanged glances.

She was about to speak when the door opened and Ray entered. “And there's my cue to make a graceful exit.” She pressed my hand quickly. “Call me later, OK?”

“I'll try,” I said, giving her a grateful smile. “You're supposed to go to the glacier today, aren't you? Have fun.”

“Will do. It was nice meeting you, Alec,” she said, standing up.

Alec rose and took her hand, bowing over it. “It is a pleasure to meet a friend of Pia's. We will be moving on to Vienna shortly, but I hope to see you again soon.”

Magda sent me a curious glance, but murmured only a polite good-bye before hurrying to intercept Ray before he saw me. She hustled him out of the restaurant without a look back.

“Vienna?” I asked, trying to postpone the discussion that I knew had to be had. “Why are you going to Vienna?”

His eyes were as warm as his smile as he scooted back in, pulling me over so I was smooshed up against him, and brushing a strand of hair back off my forehead. “That's where the council is based. Kristoff told me of your reticence to meet with them, but I fear it will be required. You truly are a most remarkable woman, Pia. You thought I had left you without a word, and not once did you chastise me, as any other woman might. I can't believe my fortune in finding you.”

His lips were warm on mine, coaxing me, teasing me into opening up for him. I allowed him to kiss me, my mind divided between acknowledgment of his expertise and the awareness of just how different an experience it was compared to the overwhelming, forceful invasion that was Kristoff's method of kissing. Where the latter was constantly dominating and aggressive, Alec's kisses were sweet little sips. He nibbled my lower lip for a moment before moving a line of kisses along my jaw. “My adorable one. I am so hungry for you. Can you feel it?”

I glanced down at his lap, somewhat startled that he was feeling aroused in such a public place.

His chuckle sounded warm and breathy on my ear, making little shivers of delight ripple down my back. “Actually, I meant literally hungry for you, although I desire you in that way, as well. Will you yield to me, my love? Will you give me what only you can?”

“People can see us,” I protested, reluctant to do what he wanted. Why, I had no idea . . . it just seemed wrong.

“No one will notice,” he murmured, pressing a hot kiss to the sensitive spot behind my ear. “Give to me, my love. Let me taste again the nectar that only you can provide.”

Why not?
my inner critic said with a mental shrug. He knows what happened last night and doesn't blame you. Why not let him go for broke?

Because it's wrong,
a tiny little voice answered.

There was that word again—“wrong.” It felt wrong, but for the life of me, I couldn't decide why.

“What happens if you're somewhere without people?” I asked, stalling just a little bit. “Somewhere isolated?”

He made a face. “We can survive on the blood of animals if we have to. It is not preferred, although sometimes necessary, such as when we are separated from loved ones. But that will not happen with us.”

Absently, I fingered my fork, trying to analyze my reluctance.

“Pia, my love, you hesitate. You wound me. Can it be that you prefer Kristoff?” Alec asked, pulling back.

His jade eyes were filled with pain.

“No, of course not.” I felt lower than a snake's belly—here was a perfectly nice man, a man who cared about me, one who I knew was trying his best to help me, and I was spurning him for what? Kristoff? Mentally, I shook my head at that. I didn't want Kristoff. I might not be deathly afraid that he would kill me, but there was a darkness in him that boded ill for everyone. It wasn't for Mattias's sake, either, that I was hesitating. So then why was I not at this moment allowing Alec what he wanted?

“It is me, then,” Alec said, withdrawing both physically and emotionally. “I have failed to capture your heart as you have mine.”

“The situation with Kristoff,” I said, using a feeble excuse. “It's—”

“Unimportant. You worry unduly that I blame you, love. I do not. I have known Kristoff for a long time. He has taken many women from me.” Alec's lips curled in a wry smile. “And I have repaid the compliment, but you he shall not steal. You are mine . . . if you wish to be.”

“I think that's the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me. I'm flattered beyond belief, but after last night . . . well, I think I need to take things a little slower. I like you, Alec. I like you a lot. And if you really want to”—I waved my hands around vaguely—“for lack of a better word, feed off me, then go ahead.”

His smile was tinged with regret. “I have rushed you, have I not? For that, I am sorry, and we will, naturally, proceed slower if that is your desire. You must forgive me for being impatient, my love, but when you have lived as long as I have, you have little tolerance for being made to wait.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but he silenced me with a swift kiss. “No, you are right. You must have time. And I will be happy to give it to you, but I am very hungry for you, and since you said I may . . .”

He waited until the waitress, who had been within sight, moved off before returning to the spot behind my ear. “You do not know how much I anticipate this moment.”

I clutched the edge of the table, bracing myself as if for an injection, torn between a desire to run away and a guilty sense of obligation.

The pain, when it came, was almost instantly over. Alec jerked back with an astonished look on his face, a smear of blood on his lip, which he quickly wiped off.

“Is something wrong?” I started to ask, but at that exact moment, several things happened in a whirlwind of action.

Two people who had been strolling toward us stopped, one of them pointing and calling out, “Dark One!”

The waitress, hearing that, dropped her tray and snatched up a steak knife, vaulting a table as she lunged toward us.

Alec leaped to his feet and jerked me after him, literally dragging me out from behind the table. A slight shimmer to one side resolved itself into the form of Marta, who clutched at me with intangible hands.

“Pia! You must come! The Ilargi has found us! He's taken Jack the sailor, and now he's trying to get Karl!”

“Stay back!” I ordered Marta, which was utterly foolish because no one but me could see her, let alone harm her.

“The light must purge him!” the man who had screamed out the warning about Alec shouted as he, his companion, and the waitress closed in on us. “We must take him back for cleansing!”

“Run!” Alec said, pulling a gun from his jacket. He shoved his cell phone into my hands. “If I am captured, Kristoff will help.”

“But—”

“Run, my love!” He pushed me to the side as he waved the weapon at the three oncomers. The other people in the restaurant, alerted by the scene, leaped to their respective feet at the sight of the gun, stampeding to the door with various startled cries and warnings.

“I'm not going to leave you,” I said softly, assessing the three people who were now warily eying Alec's gun. I didn't recognize them, which meant they likely didn't know who I was. “If I can explain to them who I am—”

“Don't be stupid—they'll kill you before you could get the words out of your mouth. Get out of here now, while you can.”

“You don't understand,” I said, reluctant to explain that in the Brotherhood's eyes, I was the new Zorya. “If you let me have a word with them—”

“Go!” he bellowed, and threw himself forward, knocking down two of the three Brotherhood people. The waitress rushed me with a frenzied look in her eyes, one that, coupled with the sharp knife in her hand, triggered my flight instinct. I leaped over the ball of writhing men on the floor, and bolted for the door. Pain burned deep as the waitress lunged at me, the knife slashing into the flesh of my arm.

She yelled something at me, but Alec, in a supreme effort, kicked out with one of his legs and sent her flying.

“Pia!” Marta cried, running alongside me as I hared down the sidewalk, ignoring the startled glances of passersby. I spun around a corner and headed for the busy center square, panic spurring my flight.

“Pia, what was all that about?” Marta asked as I dashed into a covered alley that featured arts and crafts booths.

“It's a long story,” I panted.

“You must come,” she wailed, and I pulled up, dropping to my knees to hide behind a tarp-covered stack of soft-drink boxes that was located next to a food booth. “Jack, the sailor who was always looking for rum, he is gone. The Ilargi has taken him. And now he's back for Karl.”

“I can't come right now,” I gasped, trying both to get air into my lungs, and to keep my breathing down to a dull roar so any pursuers wouldn't hear it. “I'm a little busy.”

“But you must!” Tears were evident in her voice. I looked up to see her standing before me, transparent as ever, but her face torn with anguish. “The Ilargi will claim Karl's soul just as he did Jack's if you do not stop him.”

“They'll kill Alec if I don't find help,” I told her, my heart torn in two.

Her lip trembled as fresh tears spilled down her face. “I love him, Pia. I love him so much. Please save him.”