His Dark Embrace

“I didn’t have the time or the proper incantation.” Thorne sat on the other end of the sofa, his legs stretched out in front of him. “It isn’t easy, you know. You need to use the proper words for an exorcism. Besides, she wasn’t your ordinary, run-of-the-mill succubus. I’ve never known one to drink blood.”

“A blood-drinking succubus,” Sky muttered. “What next? Flying monkeys? Giant ants? Aliens from outer space? Werewolves?” She was babbling, but she couldn’t seem to stop, couldn’t wrap her mind around the possibility that there might be worse things than vampires lurking in the dark.

Suddenly chilled, she rubbed her hands up and down her arms, then took a deep breath. “What are you going to do about Desmarais?”

“Wait and see what his next move will be, I guess.”

“I can’t believe you saved his life,” she muttered, and then clapped her hand over her mouth as she realized how bloodthirsty that sounded. She had never wished anyone ill before. She believed it was a sin to take a human life. There were exceptions, of course, like self-defense or to protect one’s home and family but, by and large, murder was morally wrong. Where did that leave Thorne? How many lives had he taken in his long existence? And why did she have to think about that now?

“I’m supposed to be the bloodthirsty one in our twosome,” Thorne remarked dryly.

“I can’t believe I said that. I’ve never wished anyone was dead before.”

“You’re probably right. I should have destroyed him.” He rubbed a hand over his jaw. “He’s made no secret of the fact that he intends to kill me.”

“What?”

“I can’t really blame him. I killed his wife years ago. He’s never forgiven me for that.”

“His wife?” She couldn’t disguise the horror in her voice. “Why did you do that?”

“I did what I had to do to survive.”

“But ... a woman. How could you?”

“Marie Desmarais was a vampire hunter and a damn good one. It was her life or mine.”

“He had a wife? I thought he was a monk.”

“Apparently her death hit him hard. For a time, he sought refuge in a monastery rumored to welcome retired hunters. I’m not sure if any of the other slayers who reside there are avowed monks or not. As for Desmarais, whether he’s priest or vampire, he’ll always be a slayer at heart. Nothing will change that.”

“Let me get this straight. Desmarais was a hunter, then a monk, and now he’s a vampire?”

“Yeah. And no matter what hat he’s wearing, he wants me dead.”

Skylynn shook her head, more amazed than ever that Kaiden had saved the man’s life.

“Are there other vampires living in Vista Verde?”

Thorne’s brow went up in silent mockery at her use of the word living. And then he shook his head. “No, I’m the only one who maintains a permanent residence in the town at the moment.” There were vampires in surrounding cities, but he thought Sky would rest easier without that knowledge.

Sky closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Not long ago, she had been blissfully unaware that there were unearthly creatures in the world. Her life, though plagued by sorrow, had been rather mundane. Now, in a matter of weeks, all that had changed.

She had learned that Kaiden was a vampire, and before she had fully come to terms with that inconceivable reality, he had informed her that not only were there vampires, but demons, as well. What other monsters lurked out there in the shadows?

Thorne didn’t have to read her mind to know what she was thinking. It was clearly written on her face—the shock, the disbelief. Life was easier when you didn’t know that the scary creatures of myth and legend were real. No doubt she was wishing she could turn the clock back to a time when she believed monsters were make-believe.

As one of those monsters, there were times when Thorne wished he, too, could return to that state of blissful ignorance.

Chapter 22

Thorne draped his arm across the back of the sofa, his gaze on Skylynn’s face. She was staring at the fireplace, her expression troubled. Life was easier when you didn’t know the monsters were real. He resisted the urge to read her mind. If she was going to tell him good-bye, he didn’t want to know about it any sooner than he had to. The thought of losing her, of never seeing her smile or hearing her laugh, never touching her again, was beyond bearing.

He had endured a lot of misery in the last four hundred years. Even though his parents had disowned him, he had mourned their passing. Love them or hate them, they had given him life. As a vampire, he had never let himself fall in love, but he had watched many men and women he had grown fond of leave this world. It wasn’t easy, watching people you cared about wither and die, and after a while he had refused to care too deeply.

He had kept to himself, doing what he had to do to survive, occasionally mingling with others of his kind. For decades, he had lived a self-imposed solitary existence. Until he moved back to Vista Verde and became acquainted with Paddy and his grandchildren. He had watched Sam and Skylynn grow up and taken pride in their accomplishments.

If he lost Skylynn now, after sharing his life with her, after making love to her, he wasn’t sure he would be strong enough to survive the loss.

“Sky Blue, talk to me.”

With a sigh, she turned to face him. “I don’t know what to say. It all sounds so far-fetched. I’m not sure how to feel or what to think.”

“That’s understandable,” he said, careful to keep his voice impassive. “Nobody likes to think there are flesh-and-blood monsters in the world.”

She stared at him, and then frowned. “You’re not a monster, Kaiden.”

“No? I’ve done some pretty monstrous things in my day.”

“So, that’s how you think of yourself?”

“Not when I’m with you.” Gaining his feet, he moved toward the hearth. He stood with his back toward her, one hand braced against the mantel. “If you knew some of the things I’ve done ...”

“It doesn’t matter,” she said quickly, and then, when he didn’t answer right away, she added, “It’s all in the past. Isn’t it?”

He nodded, but didn’t turn to face her.

“Kaiden?”

“I know what I’ve done. I know what I’m capable of. When I started reverting, after Paddy’s potion wore off ... you don’t know how hard it was to control the urge to kill. You don’t know”—his voice fell to a whisper—“how badly I wanted to drink from you and never stop.” He shook his head. “I’ve been kidding myself, thinking I can control what I am and keep you safe.”