Vows of a Vampire

Vows of a Vampire – Ann Cory

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Vows of a Vampire By Ann Cory Prologue “Come closer, I can hardly see you.” Varick fought back the tears. It pained him to see the most important person in his life lay in front of him, weak and unable to stop the shadow of the beyond from taking him. This was his great mentor, the one who had helped raise him in the coven. Where his father had failed, Dante had risen above and prepared him for a future. “I am here.” Varick’s lips trembled as he spoke. He wasn’t ready for this. No one was. It would be the ruination of all balance within the coven. He sat in the chair beside the bed and did his best to smile. Dante looked at him, his eyes filmy. “Good. It is you I summoned beside me in my final hours.

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We have quite a history, you and I.” The thought of the time they’d spent together brought a faint smile to his lips. “Yes, we do, and I am thankful for every moment of it.” “As am I. Don’t lose sight of your destined path. One day you will be the leader and all eyes will fall on you. Until then, you must remember what I need you to do. It is imperative that you watch over Laura’s daughter for me. She’s all I have left of the woman I will forever love.” Varick took hold of his trusted friend’s hand and stroked the pasty, dry flesh. “You can count on me. I won’t let you down. You’ve prepared me for years.” He watched Dante’s pupils lose the last of their light. “I promised to always look after her. Imagine me, an immortal, unable to keep my promise for an eternity. I deserve this torturous end.” Varick hated to hear the defeated sound in Dante’s voice. “Please, don’t say such things. Don’t push the disease further. Let go of your anger.” Hardly able to breathe, Dante’s words came out uneven. “The disease has already taken hold of me. There’s no escape. I can only hope that one day I will find Laura in the Netherworld. She was everything to me.” “I know, Dante, I know. If there is a way for the two of you to reunite, then I pray it is so. Is there anything I can do for you, to make you more comfortable?” Dante’s eyelids fluttered and then closed. “What I need, you cannot give me. I wish to touch Laura, one last time, and smell the apple blossom scent of her hair. I never wanted to let her down. She gave her life for me and this is how I repay her.” Varick couldn’t bear to listen any longer. “Stop. You aren’t letting her down. I will make sure no harm comes to her daughter. I make this promise as strongly as the promise you made to Laura. Please, Dante, trust me to do the right thing. I don’t want you to pass on with the belief I won’t succeed. I’ve never failed in my life, and I have you to thank.” “You mustn’t listen to my mutterings. I thought I had all the time in the world. I wanted to love her like a daughter.” “You had no way of knowing the outcome.” Dante’s hand twitched and he let out a gasp. “It is time for me to part. I trust you. I trust you to…” Varick turned his head and stared at the stone floor. “I promise, my friend. I will do everything in my power to keep her safe.”

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With a final breath, Dante shuddered and lay still. Shrouded in grief, Varick struggled to his feet, a heaviness in his heart. The rest of the coven would want to pay their last respects. He wiped his face with the sleeve of his shirt. Laura’s daughter would become his ultimate focus. Night and day he would watch over her. The promises of two souls rested solely in his hands.

Chapter One Varick sat in the study, the fire blazing, illuminating a wall of old books. It had been ages since he’d read anything, his mind always filled with too much inner dialogue. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d taken the time to relax. A quiet knock at the door snared his attention. “Yes? Come in.” The door swung open, and a billow of floral perfume rushed through the room, nearly choking him. There was no mistaking who it belonged to. Melenge stepped inside, her dark body scantily clad in a short, sheer dress. Her smooth skin reminded him of chocolate silk. Long as he could remember, she’d tried her best to seduce him. She claimed a taste from him would make her feel like a queen. While flattered, his loyalty lay with another, and he wouldn’t betray her. Hips swaying, Melange approached stealthily, sliding what little clothing she wore off her flawless figure, and stood before him. Eyes averted, he took a deep breath in. At any sign of arousal, his cock would be between her lips, deep-throated. “Look at me, Varick.” Her breathy voice drifted around him. To appease her, he bypassed her nakedness and stared into her eyes. Hauntingly violet. “Evening, Melenge. Restless?” “Only for you.” Never one for subtleties, she looked him over and locked on his groin. “Maybe you didn’t hear, but I’m your prize tonight.” He smirked. “I’ve won nothing. You know very well I won’t fall for your charms, tempting as they are.” Melenge knelt in front of him, the glow from the fire highlighting her cheekbones. “Don’t you think me beautiful?” What an understatement. “You know you’re the most beautiful vampire I’ve ever seen.” Her bottom lip stuck out. “Then why don’t you let me have my way with you?” A sigh escaped his throat. No matter how many times he’d explained, she refused to listen. “Because my heart belongs to another. It is the way of things.”

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She dragged a long blood-red fingernail along the top of his pant leg and stopped half an inch from his cock. “I can make you forget her in a heartbeat.” Damn she tested him tonight. “I’m certain you can, but I’ll have to decline your tempting offer.” Her supple lips deepened into a frown. “I’ve only wanted two men in my life and haven’t had either one. You, of course, and Dante. The way you both keep a woman hanging on, it’s torture.” Varick gently slid her hand off his leg. “There are plenty of healthy sexual appetites here in the coven. My brothers are a horny lot. I trust your desires can be sated by one or more of them.” A faint hiss resounded from her throat. “Of course I can have them, but they give themselves to me willingly. I crave a challenge. It’s what makes my pussy wet.” He stood and gestured toward the door. “You won’t find me taking the bait tonight or any other night. Please, enjoy yourself with one of my brothers.” Melenge retrieved her dress and met him at the doorway. “Very well, but don’t think I’ll stop trying.” She cast him a smoldering glance and made a point to graze her palm along his cock on her way out. Varick knew she wouldn’t give up. Not while she viewed him as a conquest. It took a strong man to tell her no, but he would continue to. He reserved his passion for one woman only. Someday he hoped to know the soft touch of her skin. Aubrey. The thought of his lips pressed against hers, tasting her sweet, moist mouth, sent shivers along his body. She’d managed to capture his affections without her knowledge. During the day he’d observed her graceful catlike moves, but it was at night when he suffered most. He envied the blankets that embraced and cradled her body. He even envied the nightgown she wore, the way it lay against her breasts and outlined her nipples. His lips ached to wrap around each tight nub as she writhed beneath him. To explore her body and all its textures and tastes. Until then he’d keep up the watch as he vowed, and admire her from afar. Aubrey sprinted along the slick street toward her car. The sound of her high heels crunching on pavement helped drown out Gil’s voice. “Wait, I can explain.” She looked over her shoulder and caught a brief glimpse of his silhouette in the doorway, a white silk shirt slung around his lower abdomen, his hand out in an innocent gesture. Did he think her stupid? Any hint of virtue had been destroyed in a single moment. Eleven torrid months together and this was how it would end. Wasted time she could never get back. “Can we at least discuss this?” His reverberated words were empty and meaningless. “Fuck off,” she screamed while fishing the car keys from her purse. They were the only

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two words she could manage. Aubrey unlocked the door of her Buick Skylark and opened it part way. Her eyes locked on the fuzzy stuffed bat she kept on the dashboard, a gift from Gil on their six month anniversary. It had been a romantic evening. Dinner on the veranda of their favorite restaurant, candlelight, soft violin music playing in the background. She’d had her fill of sumptuous beef tenderloin slathered in a port sauce, garlic and parsley mashed potatoes and roasted vegetables. He’d fed her bites of decadent French vanilla Crème Brulee in between telling her how much she meant to him. More surprise followed with an invitation to dance, the hauntingly beautiful Unchained Melody playing, and oh, the passionate sex until morning. He’d made love to her body with an attention she never expected. The bat had been a souvenir from the hotel where they’d stayed to attend the Halloween Ball also taking place there. They’d never made it down but instead sat in the hot tub talking about their future. A future now over. Aubrey grabbed the stuffed animal and pressed it close to her chest. Why did men always ruin things when she started to get comfortable? It was as if they’d read her mind and would do anything to take away her security. She looked into the bat’s eyes and shook her head. Any reminder of Gil would be too painful, even the cute ones. Aubrey kissed its cherubic face and tossed it to the ground. She slid onto the plush leather exterior, slammed the door and started up the car. Her hands shook as she fumbled for the windshield wiper switch. A layer of raindrops swished to the side, and she pulled away from the house, refusing to give Gil another look. Darkness enveloped the slick road. Aubrey drove slowly through the neighborhood despite the adrenaline rushing through her veins. The last thing she needed was to get into a wreck. What a blind fool she’d been. Late-night meetings, his toned-down public displays of affection, and the so-called business calls after midnight. All the goddamn signs she should have seen. Naïve little Aubrey struck out again. Same song and dance, different dance partner. “Bastard,” she shouted inside the car. For five minutes, she spouted one obscenity after another until her voice gurgled from an onslaught of tears. The words wouldn’t change Gil’s selfishness, but they did help her feel better. In their time together Aubrey never once questioned his loyalty. She knew the rules of dating. Don’t act jealous, give the guy space, allow for nights of male bonding, don’t try and change them, and be accommodating in every way possible. Short tight skirts, cleavage baring tops, and flimsy lingerie were all plusses, too. From her mental checklist, she ticked each rule off. Where had she gone wrong? Aubrey glimpsed at her appearance in the rear view mirror. Her looks weren’t plain Jane. Men frequently complimented her and did double takes when she walked by. She flaunted her assets in sleek designer clothes that showed enough to spark interest, but not in poor taste. Her long, raven mane hung straight to the rise of her bottom, and she worked hard to keep a slim,

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size six figure. While she didn’t consider herself gorgeous, she was hardly just another pretty face. She didn’t have a problem attracting men, but for some reason she couldn’t keep them. The car sped up and she watched the white lines of the road flash by. Aubrey repeatedly replayed the scene she’d witnessed. How could Gil stand there doe-eyed and say nothing, with the paper-thin blonde in his arms, bare-naked. No apology, no last minute pathetic excuses, only her pride on the line. She couldn’t help think he’d planned it. He wasn’t mature enough to end it like a real man, so he’d taken the cheap way out. It made perfect sense to her crushed ego. The rain started and made the road difficult to see. Bright headlights from oncoming traffic burned her eyes and the car started to careen out of control. As if watching a movie she felt helpless to do anything, overcome with panic and fear. A tinny taste rose from her stomach as she swallowed. Her breath hitched, lungs tight as she realized the car was going over the edge and she would die.

Chapter Two Varick roamed the mansion, his mind preoccupied. He paused in front of the Grievance Hall and laid his head against the gilded door. If only his mentor were still alive. There’d be peace among his brothers. There’d be peace within himself. With a heavy heart he pushed open the door and entered. He knelt beside Dante’s tomb and traced the letters of his name, etched in gold. Ten years to the day and time hadn’t lessened his pain or eased the empty void. The coven—his coven—had become unsettled and no longer united. He didn’t know how to mend the situation. Each passing day only made him feel more like a failure. The great leader was gone, and he was a sorry substitute. Others looked down on him and he saw the disappointment in their eyes. Unable to stay longer, Varick rose from his knees. A sudden violent wave of panic rocketed through his being, nearly toppling him. He reached out toward the wall to steady himself. Bile crept into his throat. He’d never experienced such a powerful force before. It took him only a minute to understand. Aubrey’s life was in danger. Varick fled into the night, a dark cape wrapped around his body. The image in his mind startled him. She was going to crash. Through his mind’s eye he watched the scene, as it would happen if he didn’t reach her in time. Her car headed over a cliff, crashing at the bottom of the jagged embankment. She would die on impact. He soared with fierce momentum. Even a second too late would be disastrous. His energy was

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low from a lack of sustenance and rest, and he cursed himself. Of all the times to be weak. Besides his solemn promise to Dante, inside he knew another reason for his concern, one that Varick wished didn’t exist. Over the years, the extent of his feelings for Aubrey had grown. She’d become a part of him and it was her life that fuelled him through his pain and despair. From the jet-black sky he watched her car skid over the lines. Varick descended and caught the front end of her car before it tipped. He forced the vehicle back onto the road and mentally steered it himself using his powers until she was off the freeway. His pulse pounded. He’d almost lost the one thing left in the world that was precious and dear to his heart. He’d been waiting for the right time to make his presence known. That time was now. Aubrey’s heart thumped loudly as her car spun around and ended up on a different road. A dark cloud covered her windshield and for a moment, time stopped. She’d held her breath, unable to explain or understand what happened. The car somehow steered itself and continued on until she came to a stoplight at an unfamiliar intersection. She tried to read the street names on the poorly lit signs. Carson and Blowfish. Where the hell was she? There weren’t any other cars and the town looked deserted. She waited while the red light flashed, still trying to catch her breath. Several minutes passed and the light continued to flash. Things eerily changed around her. Shadows moved along the sidewalks, but she couldn’t make out who or what they were. An unsafe feeling crept up her back. She cursed herself for not paying attention to where she was going, and tapped her thumbs along the steering wheel. Come on. Hurry up. The rhythm of her heartbeat matched the hypnotic flashing red light. On. Off. On. Off. A cool, relaxed calm rose from her feet until her anger at Gil dissipated. The weight on her shoulders melted away. Aubrey was vaguely aware of the shadows crowding around her car. She sensed it, but she couldn’t shift her gaze from the stoplight. A combination of smells caught her attention, dark aromas she could almost taste. Bourbon. Blood. Sex. Musk. A lustful hunger started in the pit of her stomach. The light continued to flash. On. Off. Aubrey’s arms rested at her sides and she leaned her head back. Invisible lips brushed along her ear with whispered promises to slake her rapacious appetite. Her body lifted up out of the car. She moved her lips to ask questions but her words were inaudible. The voices soothed her. They promised safety. Someone cared for her greatly and waited for her arrival. Aubrey wondered if they meant her mother. Fingers combed through her hair and swept along the slope of her neck. Lips teased along her flesh, the heat from their breath penetrating her skin. More fingers slid along her legs, higher toward her inner thighs. The movements promised fulfilled desires and mind numbing orgasms. Despite her inability to see anything or anyone, she parted her legs, groaning as fingertips

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prodded beneath her panties and taunted her clit. Hands tight around the steering wheel she ground her hips until her body shuddered. As she came down from the euphoric high, faint voices floated around her head. He waits for you. The flashing red light stopped and the sudden blackout rendered her blind. Her body moved through the darkness on a chariot of invisible arms, her feet dangling beneath her, unmoving, unfeeling. Had she been in an accident? Was she dead? A crimson red glow came into view, creating a tunnel that looked to stretch forever. Aubrey glanced behind her, unnerved to find the tunnel stretched just as long the other direction. Whatever hands had carried her had disappeared. Her feet touched the ground and she teetered a few moments until she regained her balance. Seeing no other choice, she continued on. After several minutes of walking into nothingness, a door opened. Aubrey stepped into a bloodred room lit with hundreds of candles. Immediately the amber glow soothed her and prompted her all the way inside. Fascinated, she could only stare at her surroundings. Elegant glass vases filled with roses hung from the blackened stone walls. Sensual baroque music played faintly in the background and beckoned her forward. “Where am I?” She was startled to hear the sound of her own voice as it echoed off the walls. “Welcome.” Aubrey looked around for the owner of the feminine voice, but didn’t see anyone. “Excuse me, wh-what am I doing here?” “He sent for you. I will inform him of your arrival. Please, make yourself comfortable and someone will bring you a drink.” Who was this mysterious he? “Wait, who sent for me?” “Varick.” The name hung in the air, as mystifying as the room itself. A contoured chaise lounge sat in the middle of the room, surrounded by transparent curtains held open by red ropes. It looked luxurious. Something fit for a queen. She walked toward it and ran her fingers along the fabric. Velvet. Sinful. The texture against her flesh nearly brought her to another orgasm. Nothing about the night made sense. Since the moment she’d walked in on Gil, she’d felt stuck in a dreamy haze. Perhaps this Varick person would help her make sense of things.

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She tested his name out on her tongue. Varick. A liquid sigh escaped her throat as a thrill fluttered low in her belly. How was it possible her body instantly became aroused at the thoughts of a man she’d never met before? You do know me. I’ve never been far away. Aubrey gasped at the faint words that echoed around her. Trembling, she took a seat on the lounge to keep from falling. Too many voices. A silly imagination. Clearly it was all a dream. It beat her flimsy existence. Legs outstretched, body tense, she chewed on her lip and admired the rest of the room. The beauty impressed her. This Varick, as the voices called him, had exquisite taste. Gold roses adorned picture frames of delicate artwork. Lampshades covered with sheer scarves gave the room a rich ambience. The tension from her neck and shoulders lessened. Here she could be someone else. Here she was safe. “Pardon me, miss. Might I offer you a drink?” Startled, Aubrey glanced over her shoulder. A tall, dark-haired woman walked toward her carrying a silver tray with a glass of red liquid. “Would you care for a glass of wine while you wait?” Even in a dream she could stand to be pampered. “Thank you, yes, I would.” She took the glass and raised it to her lips. When she turned to ask the vintage, she found herself alone again. With a shrug she rested her lips along the rim and tilted the glass. The delicious liquid easily slid down her throat and tickled her insides. Notes of dark cherries with a hint of leather livened up her palate and left a silky residue on her tongue. Aubrey closed her eyes. Images shifted in her mind like a naughty slideshow. Two people naked, their bodies entangled with one another, sheets crumpled at the bottom of the bed. Melodious sounds of heavy breathing and elated moans drifted into her ears. The dark musky smell returned, only stronger this time. Infusing her with a decadent invitation. She squirmed. The feeling of warm breath against her neck awakened her desire. Her nipples reacted sharply, pushing through the thin fabric of her lightweight blouse. She hadn’t bothered with a bra when she’d gone to see Gil. Aubrey opened her eyes and blinked back the haziness. In the distance, a figure emerged. At first glance he was strikingly handsome. His clothing differed from the usual men’s fashion, but weren’t at all unappealing. The tightness of his black pants enhanced the bulge of his cock, drawing a sigh from her lips. A white long sleeve shirt hung open to the last button, exposing his smooth, toned chest. His dark hair, black as midnight, hung long and straight. Her heart thudded fast as her ravenous appetite increased. With a mere look he’d managed to awaken her entire being. If she hadn’t believed in lust at

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first sight before, she believed now. He walked toward her with a suave, sophisticated gait, watching her with his dark, piercing eyes, almost hypnotic, like the flashing red stoplight. She couldn’t turn away. His gaze offered something she wanted, without knowing what she wanted. It promised fulfillment, pleasure, satisfaction, and loyalty. “Aubrey.” The last part of her name faded off and made her dizzy. She wet her lips several times until they parted enough for her to speak. “Yes.” “I’ve looked forward to our meeting. At one time I never thought it possible, but here we are. Together at last.” He had an accent she couldn’t place, but it made him all the sexier. Whatever sweet, delectable words he wanted to seduce her with, she would gladly listen to. Her head grew heavy, and she rested it against the soft velvet lounge. She should scream, and run instead of sitting in a vulnerable position. The man was a stranger and shouldn’t be trusted. Her mind said move, get out of there, but her body wanted to be open, alive, and at the mercy of his predatory gaze. “I won’t harm you, I promise.” He knelt at her outstretched feet, the bulge inside his pants prominent and erect. Could he sense her soaked panties? Did he smell the headiness of her sex? The aroma of musk exuded from him and drove her wild. She couldn’t help but steal glances at his cock encased within the sleek, black pants. They were so tight, outlining his sex, drawing heat from between her thighs. Aubrey shuddered at the thought of how thick his cock was and bit her lip to keep from salivating. She needed something to slide down her throat and quench her growing thirst. What had happened to her drink? “My beautiful Aubrey.” His voice made her toes curl in ecstasy. “I thought I’d lost you. Are you hurt?” Pain was the last thing on her mind. “I don’t think so. How did I get here?” “I saved you.” She found it difficult to focus on his words, his chiseled features were distracting. “I-I don’t understand. Did I need saving?” The look on his face had her believing so. “Yes. Your car almost went over a cliff.” Somewhere in the back of her mind a scene played, but she couldn’t internalize it for anything. “I don’t remember.”

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His head tilted to the side. “I expect you’re still in shock. Let’s talk of more pleasant things, shall we?” He removed her shoes and caressed the bottom of her feet. No man had ever given her a foot massage before. She had always been touchy about her feet, but now she welcomed it. Pressure along her upper sole made the right side of her neck tingle. “I control everything from here.” His voice was deep. She could listen to him talk forever. Control was an issue she’d always had, but the way he spoke made her vulnerable. Questions swam in her mind but as he circled his fingers along the soles of her feet she started to forget them. “I’m Varick.” Her mind strained to remain clear. “Have we met before?” He paused the movement of his hands and pressed his lips together. Aubrey admired the shape of his face. Square jaw, slight cheekbones and unblemished skin. His full lips parted slightly. “Not in a way you’d remember.” His hands resumed their trail along her heel and up her calves. Her breath shortened. “I picked up on your anger tonight. Someone you cared about let you down. Am I correct?” Her eyes widened. “Yes, my boy…ex-boyfriend showed his true colors.” All her rage returned and she couldn’t help but vent. “I went to Gil’s place to surprise him. We’d made plans to meet for dinner earlier in the week, but he called at the last minute to say he’d be working late. I have his key, so I decided to surprise him with dinner and a massage. Ten minutes after I arrived, he came down the stairs with a young blonde in tow. They were both naked and couldn’t keep their hands off each other. When Gil saw me, he looked like a kid caught eating junk food when he shouldn’t.” Stray strands of the stranger’s midnight black hair moved when he shook his head. “I’m sorry. What a terrible thing to witness.” She felt oddly removed from it now and shrugged. “Well, I’d forgotten about it until you brought it up.” His eyes were so expressive, framed by dark lashes. “I have a reason for mentioning it.” He circled her calves and moved his hands up to the swell of her knees. It tickled in a good way and made her scrunch her nose at him. The hem of her skirt lay only half an inch from his fingertips. If he dared go further, she’d tell him to stop, or at least she should consider it. Aubrey noticed the slick sensation between her thighs and pressed her legs tight together. When she looked up at him, he smiled, his eyes crinkling at the sides. He distracted her at a

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feral level. The images she’d had flash in her mind earlier came back to her, naked people having sex, only this time she saw their faces. This time the faces belonged to them. Her mouth open, head turning from one side to the other, her body arched and trembling. She gripped the sides of the lounge to steady herself. Her libido was on fire around him, but none of it made sense. His coy smile brought a rush of blood to her face. Could he read her mind? Could he see the images behind her eyes? As if to relieve her of worry, he looked away. “Do you remember what happened afterwards?” She shook her head as if it helped dislodge her explicit fantasies. “Yes. I got in my car and drove as far away from Gil as I could. I was so mad I didn’t even know where I was going.” He nodded and hummed in agreement. “What is the last thing you remember?” Aubrey closed her eyes, bringing herself back to the last memory she could recall. “Some dark shadow. It flew over my car, I think. A flashing red light. Then I was here. And apparently you saved me?” He nodded his head. “Yes. Had I not intervened, you’d be dead.”

Chapter Three Varick’s pulse quickened at the thought of almost losing Aubrey. All the years of watching her from a distance, making sure she was safe, and in a split second he’d experienced true fear. He hadn’t even realized until now how fiercely possessive he was of her. How much it pained him to see her with other men. She’d been his from the very beginning, even before he’d realized how strongly he’d come to care for her. Now, he couldn’t imagine any other man touching her. Not if he had any kind of say. He thought it surreal that they were in the same room together, talking, his fingers touching her delicate flesh. Smooth as porcelain. Every muscle in his body twitched. To be close enough to feel her warm breath against his skin. His mouth watered for a chance to taste her lips. It wouldn’t be easy, but he had to restrain himself. If he breached her trust now, all would be lost. Her brows furrowed but did nothing to hamper her luminous green eyes. “How did you stop me? Were you in the car behind me?” The questions would be tricky to answer. He could tell her the truth or talk in circles. Her beauty only strengthened his need to protect her, but she wasn’t a child anymore. She deserved to know. “I happened to be in the right place at the right time.”

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Varick didn’t dare move his hands beneath her skirt without permission. The feel of her skin— magnetic. He craved her womanly softness. Her heady scent played games with his senses, making him want to lose control and have her the way he’d always pictured their first time together. All the long years of saving himself would be more than worth it. She deserved to have a man treat her right and please her. When she let him, he would take her over the edge time and again hold her in a tight embrace until she fell into a peaceful sleep. His gaze settled on the delicate slope of her neck. A potent craving crept in and her mortal blood teased him, but he fought to control himself. Aubrey narrowed her eyes. “Why do you look at me with—” “Such passion,” he interrupted. She appeared visibly shaken and he smiled. At any moment he could destroy the warm flow between them and harm her fragile emotions. “Er, yes, with such passion. You claim to know who I am, but I can’t for the life of me figure out where I would know you from.” Fear almost kept him from exposing the answer. She’d been lied to by many men over the years and he didn’t want to be added to that list. “I’ve watched over you for a decade. My mentor, Dante, watched over you for a decade before that. You’ve never met me personally, but you’ve seen me in your dreams.” What he wouldn’t give to kiss away the stern lines that bracketed her sensuous lips. A frown marred her brow. “No, I’d remember. Besides, nightmares are all that consume my sleep.” Varick knew her nightmares well, which is why he entered her dreams and led her to happier thoughts. “It’s not uncommon to forget dreams and only remember the bad ones. I have often turned your nightmares into dreams.” He drew his face close, talking barely above a whisper. “Do you recall a figure who appears right before you wake?” Her gaze deepened, eyes darting back and forth as she stared into his face. He held his breath, hoping she’d remember. She tapped a finger to her forehead. “The one dressed in white. Long, dark hair. I can’t make out his face, but I remember, vaguely. How would you know something so personal?” His breath left in a rush. She had seen him. “When you’ve struggled in your sleep, I’ve slipped inside your mind. I’m the figure in white. I help you leave the world of your nightmares.” The crease in her forehead increased. “Why?” He smiled. If only she’d realize he did it out of love. “I never want you to feel alone or be scared.”

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The look in her eyes sent heat rushing through his body. Varick yearned to reach out and stroke her cheek, to feel the texture of her perfect lips against his own. To splay his fingers through her sweet smelling hair. The power she held over him was intoxicating, a drug he couldn’t deny. He’d always worried that being in her presence, he’d get the urge to feed. But not with her. Not with his Aubrey. His cock pressed against his pants painfully, and he half expected it to bust the seams. Every minute with her only magnified the strength of his need for her. Made him hungry to claim her lips and body as his. Her beautiful gaze alternated between grief and sadness. If only he could caress away the doubts and make her believe in his existence. Show her the level of his devotion. Love away the demons that haunted her with every stroke of his cock. “I’m afraid I don’t understand any of what you’re telling me. Why did you bring me here?” He reached out to smooth away the wrinkles from her forehead. Eyes wide, she recoiled from his touch. “Don’t.” Varick felt the gentle warmth disappear. He was losing her and it hurt him to the core. “Aubrey, I…” Like a shield, he felt her place a block between them. “Am I a prisoner?” How could she think such a thing? If anything he was the prisoner. “No, of course not. You can leave anytime you wish. I promise. I wanted to make sure you were safe. I had nowhere else to bring you.” She wet her lips, leaving a glossy sheen along them. “And where exactly is here?” Varick didn’t know how to answer. By all rights he shouldn’t have brought her here. Still, he worried she was slipping from his grasp. “My home. There are over a hundred rooms in this mansion, this is the West Chamber. I don’t know how to explain our connection without adding to your confusion. You’ve been through so much already tonight.” She jutted out her chin and gave him a hard look. “Try. I feel like I’m going crazy here. I want to run, but something keeps me here. It doesn’t make sense.” Blood rushed through his veins as he fought to keep from kissing her. He wanted to reassure her that he posed no threat, but not with words. He’d do anything for her. “You’re confused because you do know me. Your mind just won’t let you believe what you haven’t seen.” Her long hair swayed as she shook her head, exposing her delicate neck. How he longed to bury his face there and breathe her in. “No, I don’t know you at all.”

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Varick ran a hand over his face. Maybe he’d made a mistake. He’d been so caught up in his own desires he’d failed to consider she might not feel the same. “Listen, please. I understand you’re confused. I would be too, but I won’t lie. You stay because deep inside you’re comfortable around me. You know I won’t harm you because when you’ve seen me, I’ve been your safe place to fall.” A sexy smirk passed her lips. “You’re good, you know that? Do you use these lines on all the women you bring home?” Offended, he sent her a sharp look. “They aren’t lines. I speak from my heart. And, there aren’t any other women. Only you.” Aubrey pressed her lips together and arched her eyebrows. “I have a hard time believing that. I mean, you’re a very handsome man.” His pulse sped up. “I’m flattered you think so, but there is a very real and important reason I don’t see other women.” She broke eye contact and his breath stilled. “More riddles and secrets. You say I know you, and at the same time, you speak in these cryptic words that leave me more confused. If you want me to stay, then explain yourself. Give me a reason to believe anything you say. Tell me why you would come into my dreams like some twisted sandman.” Impressed by her bravery, Varick decided he owed her the truth, even if it drove her away. This secret would always hang over them and would likely draw them further apart. If there was even the slightest chance of her trusting in him, he’d have to be real with her. “I will do my best, but you need to have an open mind.” Her expression softened. “I’m very open-minded.” “Yes well, this will be a stretch. Ten years ago, I made a promise that no harm would come to you. The same promise was made between my mentor, Dante, and your mother.” She gasped. “My mother?” Her body trembled, and he resumed circling his hands along her calves. “Yes. Dante and your mother were lovers, soul mates they claimed. He didn’t want any other woman, but his presence wasn’t welcome by those who knew your mother.” Her brows knitted together and etched a new crease along her forehead. “I don’t remember her mentioning the name Dante.” He shrugged. “To protect you, she wouldn’t have.” The crease deepened and he longed to kiss it away. “Protect me from what, exactly?”

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Varick rested his tongue at the corner of his mouth a moment then continued. “I need you to ignore what makes sense for a moment. Dante wasn’t like you or your mother. He was a vampire. It wasn’t his intention to fall in love with a mortal woman, but he followed his heart.” Aubrey snorted. “A vampire?” He didn’t really expect her to believe him. “Yes.” She shot him a skeptical look. “Give me a break. How could my mother love some repulsive fictional creature?” Varick resisted the urge to overreact or get defensive. She was naïve and frightened. Hell, she was only human. “Tell me something. Do I look like a creature to you?” Her gaze moved along his features, driving his pulse up several notches. “Of course not.” “I appear to you as Dante appeared to your mother. I am a vampire. We are from the same coven.” She jerked her legs away from his touch, her body poised to leave. “What?” Desperation flowed through Varick’s veins. He couldn’t lose her now, not after revealing himself. His mind struggled with words, to say something that would soothe her fears. “Please, you asked me to explain, and I’m doing my best. Vampires are real, and very misunderstood. We are not the bloodthirsty vermin you see in movies. In fact, the lifestyle is subdued and peaceful. It is my duty as coven leader to keep it that way.” Her head moved slowly from side to side. “You can’t be a vampire.” He arched his brows. “You expected me to look a certain way, I presume.” Arm bent, she rested her head into her palm. “Well...I mean, I don’t know. Where are your fangs?” Varick laughed and shook his head. “I don’t wish to feed on you, so they’re well hidden. Let me ask you a question, and I mean no disrespect. Do you remember the night your mother died?” Aubrey gasped. Even after twenty years she found it difficult to hear those words strung together. She’d never truly dealt with the loss of her mother. No one had given her the chance. In a single night her world had changed, and she’d struggled ever since to find a sense of reality. Now this beautiful man stood before her, challenging her reality again. With his haunting eyes and provocative presence, he stirred her emotions. She should be afraid, but her body remained curious. Her mind was too. “I know the night my mother died. I was ten years old and that day I grew up. How my mother died has always been fuzzy. People told me she was ill, others said it was an accident. I’ve had the oddest feeling neither is the truth. My instincts tell me otherwise.”

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“You’d do well to trust those instincts. I’ve watched you toss and turn at night with sheets wrapped around your body, beads of sweat along your forehead. Your nightmares show you the truth of what befell that tragic night.” Goose bumps spread up her spine. She swallowed hard, afraid to ask her next question. “Do you know what happened to my mother?” He sat at the edge of the lounge. His close proximity made her heart pound. “Yes, as do you. Your mind has sheltered you. The scene you witnessed as a little girl could have scarred you for life.” Helplessness, that’s what she remembered most. “I think that I remember bits and pieces, but mostly I remember I was scared and couldn’t do anything. I’ve always wanted to know… Um. Never mind.” He leaned forward and she glanced briefly at his broad shoulders and sculpted chest. It was difficult to ignore the way her body had heated up since he’d entered the room. She flushed and felt herself go wet between her thighs. Why did she act like a kid in a candy store? “Please, what do you want to know?” She chewed her lip, afraid of the answer. “Did she go in peace?” He replied with a solemn nod. Aubrey reached out her hand and touched his shoulder. “Please, would you tell me what happened?” The sadness in his expression seeped into his voice. “I’m not sure you want to hear it from me.” Who else would ever be so bold and honest? “No one else will tell me the truth. I’ve been lied to for most of my life.” His hesitation made her pulse pound. “It’s upsetting…” She sighed. The one person who knew and he was being resistant. “I’m an adult. Twenty years have passed. I should be able to handle it better than I could at ten. Please, I beg you.” Aubrey took hold of both his hands. Warm. Inviting. Strangely familiar. She resisted the urge to reach out and touch his face, press her lips to his. After an extended pause he finally spoke. “Very well. I’ll stop any time you want.” She nodded and prompted him with a look to continue. “There had been a string of murders in the neighborhood where you used to live. Because of the manner in which the people were found, rumors spread of a rabid animal or an evil monster. I’ll spare you the grisly details, for they’re unnecessary.”

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Her chest tightened. “Was it an animal?” His lip twitched briefly. “No, the newspapers would later declare the person a serial killer. At the time, no one cared about facts. Drama sells papers. The truth doesn’t. People sought to put blame on anything or anyone seeming even the slightest bit out of place. Acquaintances and friends of your mother claimed the nights Dante was seen in her home were the same nights the reported deaths occurred.” Shivers feathered down her spine. “Is that true?” He shrugged. “If they were it was merely coincidental. Close friends betrayed your mother and went to the police. They said a strange man visited her at night and was gone well before the sun rose, prompting suspicion. They said he had white, pasty skin and devil red eyes, and that they feared for their lives. Once word got around, the rumors spread like wildfire. They screamed vampire and pointed fingers at Dante.” Aubrey shook. It all sounded frightening and ridiculous at the same time. Something from a late-night movie, not real life. “What did my mother do?” He reached out for her, but she cowered. Not so much out of fear, but more for what his touch did to her. “As Dante relayed it to me, he told your mother he would stop seeing her until the panic died down, but she wouldn’t have it. They were truly in love. He always said it was love at first sight. Your mother refused to let others tear them apart. On the night your mother passed away, Dante had just left when several men broke into your home. She hid you in the closet and told you to stay put, no matter what.” Blood drained from her face, the memory, a faded picture in her mind. “She must have been frightened.” Varick stood and paced in front of her. “Love was her strength. You see, Dante could have changed her into an immortal, but he loved her too much and didn’t want to make her choose. Didn’t want her to regret anything. She wanted to raise you the right way. The men who came to her meant to use her as bait, a way to lure the creature they had fixed in their minds. She refused to divulge Dante’s identity to anyone and paid for it with her life. Your mother sacrificed herself for him.” Small blips of her nightmares flashed in her mind. Tears streamed down the sides of her face as reality hit her. “I remember her screams. At one point I stood and peered out the slits of the closet door. Oh God, and they beat her. She cried and screamed, but they continued to hurt her. I wanted to help but didn’t know how. Then everything went quiet.” Aubrey paused a moment, her chest so tight it hurt to breathe. “When did she ask Dante to watch over me?”

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He stopped pacing and sat beside her again. “She said in the beginning of their relationship that if something happened to her, he would be your guardian. To watch over you, make sure you remained safe. Dante promised and swore an oath to her.” Aubrey covered her face in her hands and sobbed. Varick rested his hand on her knee, but this time she didn’t pull away. It comforted her. “I’m sorry. I’ll leave you alone to grieve.” “No.” She leaned forward and pulled him close. “I’m tired of being alone.” God she wanted to kiss him. Tear his clothes off and fuck him right there. Anything to keep from dealing with the ache inside her chest. Her gaze passed from his eyes to his lips, but he didn’t seem to take notice. With a thoughtful brow, he smiled. “You’ve never really been alone.” She tasted the salt in the corner of her mouth as the tears continued to fall. “Tell me where your part is in all of this. Why were you left to watch me if Dante made the promise to my mother? Did he ever feel remorse?” He cast a prideful glance. “Yes, I can assure you, he did. Every single day. In fact her death ate away at him. The pain of losing the one woman he loved more than anything else made him ill, and every day he faded away until he died. He gave up.” Aubrey scrunched her face up. “But, shouldn’t he have lived forever?” His tone softened. “He didn’t wish to. The day your mother died, something inside him died as well. I watched the changes, subtle at first, but the blackness in his heart overtook him in a matter of months. Believe me, he put all the blame on himself.” “Good.” She’d meant it as a thought, but instead she voiced it. Immediately she felt bad. If she’d hurt him, she couldn’t tell. His gaze had turned downward. “I understand why you feel that way, and I won’t try to make you see things differently. You lost your mother and have a right to all the anger and hatred you hold.” Backtracking, she tried a different approach. “You say this Dante was a mentor?” She watched his gaze drift in remembrance. “Yes. A mentor. A father. My friend. He helped raise me when my real father abandoned the coven. Dante said I would one day take over the coven in his place and prepped me. I never wanted it. At the same time he prepared me to look after you. Even in death he refused to let your mother down. I promised him I would keep watch. I’ve never stopped.” Aubrey heard his words, but she had difficulty digesting them. Age and maturity hadn’t helped her mentally prepare for hearing the truth about her mother. If anything it made her wish she’d been brave enough to do something that night. Grief-stricken, she shook her head and stood. Right now she needed to be alone. She knew

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what it was to be alone. It was safe. If she stayed here, she might do something she’d regret. “I’m sorry. I want to go home. You said I could leave whenever I wanted.” A look of anguish streaked his handsome face. “Now?” Her heart said yes, but her body created conflict. If this is what he did to her, she couldn’t be around him. She felt exposed, irrational, and dangerously close to giving herself to him. How could she even think about sex with a—a vampire? Look where it had gotten her mother. Aubrey’s voice shook as she tried to sound confident in her decision. “Yes. Take me home. As of tonight I want you to leave me alone. I don’t want you in my thoughts, or in my dreams. I want to be my own person, and I can’t if I know someone is watching my every move.” Several minutes of silence passed, and she didn’t know what else to say. Finally he spoke in his deep, rich tone. “You don’t understand.” Why did she feel like an invisible string holding them together had suddenly broken apart? They weren’t bound. Despite what he’d shared with her or the familiarity of his touch and face from her dreams, she didn’t know him. Aubrey averted her gaze from his tortured stare. “Yes, I do understand. The promise you made, you’ve more than fulfilled it. You don’t have to concern yourself with my life or my choices, poor as they usually are. It isn’t that I don’t appreciate what you’ve tried to do, but I’m an adult. I’m not the little girl who had her mother ripped from her. I can take care of myself.” “Please, I—” Hand up, she put considerable distance between them. “Thank you for being the first person to tell me the truth. I will always be grateful. From here on out, we go our separate ways.” He took a step toward her. “You don’t know what you’re asking of me.” Aubrey almost wished her car had gone over the cliff after all. With a sigh she went to the doorway and spoke to him over her shoulder. “No more. Now, take me home.”

Chapter Four Varick paced in the corridor. It pained him to leave Aubrey after everything she’d been through. A near fatal accident, betrayal by a lover, learning the truth of her mother and meeting a man who practically admitted he was a stalker. For years he’d practiced how their initial meeting would go, and none of it had gone according to plan. He’d blown it by revealing too much at once. While not a child, she was still fragile. He smoothed his hand over his face. He’d almost opened up about his feelings. Almost spoken of his love for her. What had he expected would happen? That she’d spread her arms and welcome him without hesitation? Look into his eyes and fall madly in love with a stranger, a

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monster in her eyes? His life had been full all these years only because it held purpose— guarding her life. Her request to part ways didn’t sit well. Without her to look after, he lacked…meaning. Varick stepped into the Grieving Hall and knelt beside Dante’s tomb, his head bowed in shame. “I’ve failed you, and by doing so, I’ve failed Laura, Aubrey, this coven, and myself. I’m sorry.” Everything he touched turned to failure. No one wanted him as leader, they’d rather serve under Luke. Much as he disliked his coven brother, Luke had come before him and had expected to be the next in line. It seemed a day didn’t go by where he wasn’t reminded of that fact. He missed Dante’s guidance. His great mentor had a flawless way of putting their family’s best interests first while keeping balance. Varick knew he would never be as wise and experienced. What good was being leader if he lacked the ability to lead? Try as he might, thoughts of righting the coven were overshadowed by his emotions for Aubrey. More than his craving to kiss her lips and taste the apex between her thighs, he needed to be sure she stayed out of harm’s way. Varick rose and paced the room. He forced himself to not use his mind’s eye to see into her thoughts. The night would torture him, not having the beauty of her dreams to slip into. In the dreams they were lovers. In the dreams she welcomed him and wanted him. But not now. Now that she knew what he really was. How could he separate himself from her after all this time? How could he pretend not to care? He stalked up and down the floor, cursing his own stupidity. At one time he had the strength of ten men. Dante’s death sapped him of everything. His courage, his confidence, and his honour. What good was he to anyone? Frustrated, Varick left the Grievance Hall and descended the marble staircase to the lower level. Blake, one of his coven brothers, sat in the commons room, a thick book sprawled open in his lap. With a glance upwards, he nodded. “Ah, my brother, you look troubled.” Of all his coven brothers, Varick trusted Blake the most. “I’m afraid my mind is reeling tonight.” The silver-haired vampire closed his book and smiled. “I’d be happy to listen if it will help.” Varick sat across from him, his leg propped on his opposite knee. “It’s Aubrey.” “Ah yes, females—they’re the devil.” He winced. While loyal to his coven, he couldn’t bear to have anyone speak unkindly about Aubrey. “Not so. Not her. She’s different.” Blake cast him a comical look and laughed. “Brother, I only meant it in jest. I’m referring to all females and the hold they have over us, whether we like it or not.”

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Varick feigned amusement, not wanting to alienate the one person he could confide in right then. “I apologize. Touchy subject, I guess.” “I’d say so. Didn’t you learn anything from Dante about loving a mortal?” He’d learned how empty one could be without love. “Believe me, I’ve tried to convince myself she means nothing to me, but so far it hasn’t worked. In fact, I believe I made things worse.” Blake groaned. “What did you do?” His muscles tensed as he replayed the scene he’d come upon just seconds before he’d almost lost her. “I saved her life tonight. The car she drove nearly went over a cliff. She would have died had I not intervened.” He didn’t dare meet his brother’s gaze. “Sounds like you were a hero.” Varick studied him, surprised by his nonchalance. “I suppose it could be looked at that way, but...” “Yes,” Blake prompted. “While I’ve done my best to watch over her from a distance, tonight I made the choice to let her know I existed. We…spoke. I told her of the vow I made.” Blake shot forward, brows arched, lips curled in disgust. “You met in person? Are you mad? Please tell me you are joking.” Briefly, Varick worried he’d made the wrong choice in speaking of her. “You don’t understand. She almost died. Her frame of mind frightened me. I did a quick mind sweep and her actions were erratic. She didn’t think there was anything left to live for. I couldn’t in good conscience allow her to go through with killing herself.” Blake put a hand up and shook his head. “While it’s admirable that you saved her, she’s a mortal. Her chosen path isn’t for you to decide.” The path he wanted for her included them together. Forcing himself to stay calm, he took a deep breath in and let it out slowly. “I promised to make sure no harm came to her. In any form. Including if she took her own life.” He watched his coven brother stand and move around behind the couch, the vein in his forehead throbbing. “You can’t make your existence be about this vow to Dante. You’ve let it—her—control you for far too long. And—” Varick didn’t even let him finish. “If you witnessed in your mind that someone you cared for would die, and you held the power to save them, wouldn’t you?”

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Blake sat back down across from him. The silence alone nearly drove him mad. “Yes, I suppose I would. Let’s move past the whole rescue mission and get to the heart of the matter. Why, after you saved her, didn’t you leave her alone?” He dropped his shoulders. “Being in her presence, I couldn’t turn away. I had to talk with her, touch her.” Blake sighed and leaned back against the couch, his fingers steepled. “How did it feel?” Nothing brought him greater pleasure than speaking about the woman he loved. “She nearly brought me to my knees with her beauty and innocence. I thought I’d explode. It was everything Dante said when he first caught a glimpse of Laura. How the rest of the world faded and we were all that existed.” His brother nodded. “Part of me envies you, but I don’t know. The other part of me says you were stupid. Especially in telling her about you. You said she’s in a fragile state of mind. How does revealing you’re a vampire help matters?” Hearing it from someone else only made him feel worse. Around her he hadn’t thought at all. “Trust me, I know it was stupid. But when I saw her, the way she looked sprawled on the lounge, her body glowing from the candlelight. Eyes glazed and dreamy. I felt completely powerless.” Blake snorted. “Well, that’s because you started thinking with your dick.” He couldn’t help but laugh. “Guilty. When I entered the room, she practically undressed me with her eyes. For a moment she was ready to give herself to me, I sensed it.” His brother’s lips pursed together. “Which room are you speaking about?” He hesitated but it was too late for lies. “To the West Chamber. No one has been in that part of the house for over a decade.” Eyes dark, Blake spoke with an edge to his voice. “You brought a mortal here under our roof? Are you fucking kidding me?” Varick could taste the tension in the air. “I had nowhere else to take her.” He half expected Blake to lunge forward and throttle him. “How about back to her home? Dammit, brother. What were you thinking?” Sweat beaded along his forehead. In hindsight he’d made a terrible mistake. “I needed to make sure she’d be okay. Make sure she didn’t try to take her life a second time.” Curiosity shone on his brother’s face. “Is she that messed up?” Varick rubbed his forehead. “She’s lived a harsh life. Nothing’s come to her easily. I told you, she was in a fragile state of mind.”

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Blake stared hard at him. “Had anyone smelt her innocent blood, she could have been killed or turned. Are you willing to risk her life so blindly?” Shivers ran up his back at the thought of one of his brothers feeding on her. “It has been decades since we’ve fed on humans. With our blood supply well stocked, mortals aren’t at risk anymore.” Back on his feet, Blake paced the room in a frenzy. “You idiot. Do you honestly believe Luke and his loyal followers nourish themselves with our blood supply? Have you completely ignored the rise in missing women in the remote cities?” A sick feeling churned in his stomach. He and Luke had never seen eye-to-eye. Especially when Dante had taken Luke in under his wings first. Too young to notice at the time, Varick had made an enemy for life. “Luke? I know he has issues with my being made leader, among other things, but he wouldn’t go against the rules Dante set forth. He loved him as much as I did.” Blake charged toward him and stopped an inch from his face. “Wake the hell up. Dante is dead. He’s been dead. No one cares what the rules are. Sure, they did once. Everyone looked to you to enforce the rules, but you didn’t deliver. This coven runs on each individual’s own set of rules. Some of us, like Luke, lack morals. And some of us allow the wrong emotions to guide us.” Varick swallowed hard. He more than got the dig. “I-I didn’t think. The West Chamber has always been a safe haven to me, and I thought it would be for her, as well.” A disgusted grunt erupted from his brother’s throat as he turned away. “Look, what’s done is done. All you can do is look ahead. It’s your preoccupation with this mortal that makes you unfavorable here. It’s a big reason why your brothers don’t trust you.” Varick’s irritation surfaced. “I’ve done nothing to warrant being untrustworthy. What I don’t understand is that no one cared when Dante romanced a mortal. We all knew his level of love and devotion to Laura. Why am I being treated differently?” A look of pity streaked across Blake’s face, angering him more. “Because he never brought her here. Not once. He also never shirked his responsibilities to the coven. He didn’t choose one over the other, he valued both. Never did he hole himself up somewhere and ignore things that needed to be done, even in mourning over Laura.” Varick clenched his jaw. “I’m not Dante. I can never be Dante.” Blake averted his icy stare. “No one is asking you to be him, but he left you in charge. Sometimes we don’t get a say in things. Sometimes we have to accept things for the way they are. It’s not as if you can’t change. There are ways to bring balance back. It won’t happen all at once, but it will help you gain back respect of your brothers if they see you try.” He appreciated the sound advice, but he couldn’t let go. He didn’t know how. “So much time

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has passed and I still can’t get my head around what happened. His death tortures me every single day. My desire for Aubrey tortures me every single day. I’m torn between what’s expected of me, and what I want.” Blake approached and rested a hand on his shoulder. “You have to stop thinking that she’s yours. You have to accept she may never want to be with you.” The truth had a way of ripping the hope right out of him. “What else can I say except that you’re right? It doesn’t make sense to be so overly protective of her, but I am. To the point of being possessive. I cringe whenever she’s with another man. I find myself willing her to find fault in the men she dates, just so she won’t stay with them.” Blake shook his head. “I’m not sure Dante would approve of you playing with her emotions.” He didn’t approve of playing with her emotions. “No, he wouldn’t, not fully. He’d understand, but not approve. I promised to watch over her, and I’ve kept that promise. I never promised I wouldn’t fall in love with her. “ His brother suppressed a laugh. “That is part of protecting her, is it not? Part of keeping her safe is to not introduce her to new dangers. So in fact, you’ve not kept your promise at all.” Varick frowned. “You’re not helping.” Arms crossed, Blake sent him a challenging look. “I’m also not going to tell you what you want to hear. Consider me a voice of reason. You need to make the coven your priority, and you need to find a way to detach yourself from Aubrey.” He let out a heavy sigh. “Shouldn’t be too hard, at this point. She doesn’t want me watching over her anymore.” Blake patted his shoulder. “Praise her for saying so. You put her in danger whenever you’re together, whether she’s here or you’re there. Dante learned the hard way and you should have learned that from him.” The thought of letting go hurt at a core level. “You’re right. Thank you. If you’d keep this between us, I’d appreciate it.” “Done. No one else knows?” “Vindi, but she keeps to herself. She’s the only Vamp who doesn’t try to seduce me.” Blake raised an inquisitive brow. “Why does she know?” “I asked her to bring Aubrey a glass of wine when I brought her here, to help loosen her up. Apparently Vindi approves of my taste in mortals.” “Gotcha. I still can’t believe you brought her here of all places.”

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Varick rubbed the back of his neck. “It was in the West Chambers. Like I said, it’s deserted.” Blake flashed him a wide grin. “You got lucky this time. Let’s just hope no one goes in that part of the mansion for another decade. Tell me, brother, for I’m terribly curious, how do you keep yourself from tasting her essence? How can you go before a mortal woman and not take advantage of her?” He answered with pride. “I love her. I swear, something drew me to that woman before I ever got to know her.” “You’re just like Dante. A hopeless romantic.” Varick held up his hands in mock submission. “Is that a bad thing to be?” Blake snorted. “It’s dangerous. Anything pertaining to love is dangerous. It’s why we slake our desires with the Vamps. No commitments, no complications, just raw sex.” If his brother saw Aubrey, he’d know why the Vamps didn’t interest him. “How can I be with another when I’m in love with someone else?” “I’ve yet to understand how you can refuse Melenge.” His breath stilled at her name. Something about that Vamp made his skin crawl, despite her overwhelming beauty. “Don’t get me started on her. I’ve warded her off three times this week alone.” Blake gave him a knowing look. “Well, brother, I’ll be off. If you’d like to talk more later, you know where to find me.” “I appreciate you listening.” Relief spread through him as Blake disappeared into the dark hallway. It was good to get some things off his chest. Not surprisingly, Blake had been right about everything. Especially about Aubrey. He’d watched her grow up. The way her figure had changed. How her hair swept along the delicious arch of her back. His body responded to every curve of her flesh. He fell in love with the sound of her voice when she cried out in the night. Varick paced, caught between a promise and a request from the two people he cared most about. Aubrey was a grown woman and didn’t need looking after, but if something did happen to her and it could have been prevented, he’d never forgive himself. Aubrey sat in front of the vanity, easing a wooden brush through her hair. She glanced around her small, plain room. Only a few knickknacks hung on the otherwise empty walls. There were no pictures, perfume bottles, or jewelery on the dresser, only a few books dog-eared in several places. She’d meant to fix up the place, but never quite got around to it. She was notorious for

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starting things, but never one to finish. It didn’t seem to matter what, either. Relationships, books, projects, jobs… Her life was all about starting over, hoping one time she might get it right. Since Varick left, she’d felt strangely exposed. Vulnerable. For whatever reason, she’d known he was there, before ever truly knowing. Without him guiding her, an eerie cold clung to her skin. How could a man she’d never met before know so much about her? Why did he make such a big deal about a promise? As she understood it, promises were made and broken all the time. White lies to make a person feel better without any meaning behind them. When had any man promised her one thing and actually followed through? When Gil had first given her the key to his house, he’d said it was practice for when they moved into their first home together. A home, a safe place to be herself. Words she’d always longed to hear. She’d thought things were going too fast, having only dated for six months at the time, but he’d assured her the emotions he held for her were real and undeniable. The keys had opened a door all right and shown her what a trusting fool she’d been. She’d always had a void in her life. When her mother died, she was thrust into several foster homes before an aunt she’d never known had taken her in. The woman was far removed from the idea of sensitivity and compassion. Aubrey had resigned herself to believe that in the end, no one cared. A tear started and she cursed for feeling sorry for herself. Aubrey raised her hands above her head and stretched. The night had been anything but normal. Mentally and physically exhausted, she changed into her nightgown and swept her hair up into a bun with a few tendrils loose on the sides. The image of the man in white popped in her mind. Immediately she thought of Varick. Her body responded with a liquid sigh. Despite the strangeness of the night, she’d felt protected around him. His touch mysteriously familiar in an arousing way. She’d thought it best to keep her guard up even when she secretly welcomed his touch. To throw herself at someone she didn’t know made her uneasy, but somehow she knew him. All this time he claimed to be watching her. He’d saved her. What if he was the guardian from her dreams? Without her guardian, would she ever wake up from her nightmares? Within minutes of falling asleep, she dreamt of the white figure, only this time she could clearly see Varick’s face. He lay outstretched on a luxurious four-poster bed beside her, their bodies naked. She licked her lips as she eyed his massive length. Would she be able to accommodate him? How far would he stretch her? The idea left her breathless. Wild with desire, she ran her fingertips along the smooth planes of his body. When their gazes met, she noticed the hunger in his eyes and matched it. He positioned himself above her body, his lips unbearably close to her left nipple. His tantalizing musky scent seduced her into submission. Boldly she cupped his face and pulled him close.

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He tasted of a cassis wine. His breath lingered in the back of her throat as their tongues stroked between fervid kisses. When he paused for air, she noted the passion in his eyes. Aubrey cleared her throat to speak. “It’s always been you in my dreams.” He nodded and caressed her breast. “Yes.” “It’s always you leaving me wanting more when I wake with my sheets soaked and thighs quivering.” His extended smile spoke volumes. “Yes.” The white figure knew every pleasurable zone in and on her body. Knowing this, how could she ask him to stay away? Boldly, she made her demands very clear. “Then I want you to fuck me right now and not hold back. Give me all of yourself and prove to me that what you feel for me is real. Show me the level of your devotion.” He chuckled and brushed his nose against hers. “You wouldn’t last if I did that.” She paused, their lips close to touching. “How do you mean?” Her body melted under his smoldering gaze. “I could fuck you into oblivion.” Heat crept up her neck and settled around her shoulders. She tried to think of something…anything intelligent to say in response, but before she could he sealed his lips over hers and delivered a dominating kiss that made her head spin. Warmth spread from her lips, through her belly, and down to her toes. She closed her eyes and allowed the moment to stir sensations deep inside. Aubrey wanted this right now. To let go of her inhibitions and act out all her deepest, darkest desires. Make him take her on a mind-blowing adventure. As they kissed his hands cupped her breasts, kneading them one at a time. He bent forward and took one hardened tip in his mouth, lolling it around with his lips and tongue. She moaned and arched her back. Thrills of bliss rippled through her belly. His cock was so close, it drummed against her upper thigh. She rocked her pelvis, letting him know he could fuck her anytime. Giving him an open invitation to relieve her of the building orgasm raging inside. As if reading her mind, he shifted his cock between her thighs and rested the tip against her pussy. A rush of adrenaline coursed through her veins, fizzing inside her head and made her more lightheaded than before. Why did he make her wait? Her body trembled as she lay at his mercy, his teeth around her nipple and his cock at the entry of her sex. Each kiss, stroke, caress had her fumbling toward ecstasy. Desperate to have him inside her, she reached down and stroked his cock, her fingers wrapping around the smooth, thick flesh. He groaned into her neck.

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“You make my cock so hard, sweetheart.” She nearly came undone at his words. “I know you want to take it slow, but I need you now.” He laughed huskily. “You mortals rush everything.” His finger flicked at her clit again and her legs shook. She stroked his cock harder and faster, swiveling her palm along the slick head. Varick nibbled at her earlobe then dragged his moist tongue between her breasts. For a moment she tensed as his cock prodded heavily against her pussy. Legs stretched wide, she welcomed him in. “Not yet,” he growled under his breath. Aubrey groaned. Didn’t he realize how hot she was for him? How ready and wet? “Damn you, I said take me now,” she cried. He shot her a penetrating look. “Oh, I’ll take you.” Varick lowered his head between her breasts and down her belly, inching lower at his own pace. A rush of sensations hit her hard once he stopped with his face half an inch from her sweet spot. His searing breath against her clit made her body buck. How would she handle him fucking her with his mouth? She held her breath and waited. He dabbled along the tufts of her pubic hair, grazing along her swollen clit. With his fingers he stretched her, his control rousing her beyond all comprehension. The moment his tongue made contact, she gasped, her body thrashing from uncontrollable spasms. Varick flashed her a thigh-melting smile. “Ah, you like that.” She fucking loved it. “Yes.” He circled her clit several times with his tongue and pumped two fingers inside her heated core. Tears formed in the corner of her eyes, the pleasure exquisitely intense, almost too overwhelming. Aubrey reached down and raked her fingers through his hair. “Come up. I want you inside me.” In answer to her lustful plea, he knelt and slipped her legs around his tight abdomen. Everything turned hazy as his cock plunged between her slick folds and forced her pussy wide. Aubrey cried out and felt every blessed inch of him barrel through her, sinking deeper. She blinked away the glaze in her eyes and watched his muscles flex with each delicious thrust, filling her up, probing as far inside as he could get. Hips raised, she met his thrusts, clenching her pussy around his cock, clinging to his slick flesh as he pulled up and away, only to push back into her harder and faster than before.

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His hands grabbed her fleshy buttocks and pulled her even closer, spreading her legs for a different sensation. Faster he thrust and rubbed his fingers over her swollen clit, rubbing it until it was raw and throbbing. Her muscles bunched, the build up inside her core swarmed quickly. “I’m close,” she whispered. He cast her a sexy half-smile, sweat trickling down the sides of his gorgeous face. The fire in her belly heated her whole body, sending tingling waves along her thighs. In that moment, the tightness gave way and the orgasm rushed through her. Varick’s lips curled and then he hollered, filling her pussy with his white heat. A ringing sound pulled her out of the most erotic dream she’d ever had. As she turned to the phone, she felt the slickness of her thighs. With trembling hands she picked up the receiver. “Hello?” Her heart raced so fast she had a hard time hearing the voice. “Hello? Is someone there?” “It’s Gil. I’ve been trying to reach you. Where have you been?” The need to answer to him no longer existed. “I—I wanted to be alone.” Aubrey glanced at the clock and opened her jaw wide. “It’s one in the morning. Can’t this wait?” “I thought we should talk about what happened. I acted like a complete jerk, but I wanted to make sure you know that I still love you.” She snorted. “You have a strange way of showing it.” At one time, his voice had turned her on, but tonight it left a bad taste in her mouth. He cleared his voice a few times and continued. “Look, I know I messed up, but let me make it up to you. There’s a spot on the bed with your name on it.” Had she heard him right? “Pardon me?” If he was trying to be charming, he was missing by a long shot. “Make up sex is the best. Bring your fantastic bod over here and I’ll prove to you how sorry I am.” Right then she couldn’t remember what she’d ever seen in him. “It’s not supposed to work that way. Meaningless sex is something you do with a stranger. I thought we were past that.” His tone deepened. “Ouch. So, now sex with me has no meaning?” She clicked her tongue. “No, you’re not hearing me. It meant something before, but not now.” “Aubrey…” “Hey, FYI, not my fault. And don’t act like that side of your bed has been empty for the last few

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hours. I’m not stupid.” “Don’t be that way. We’re great together. I know how you like it. I can make you forget as I fuck your ass.” Aubrey thought of Varick and ran her hand along her breasts. Her body was still on fire from the dream. If he could do that from a distance, what could he do in person? “Not interested. You cheated on me. It’s over. End of discussion.” “Oh come on. Your track record for staying with a guy was slim when we hooked up. You did the same thing to each poor bastard. You just broke up with them first.” She glanced out the window at the full moon. No wonder the night had been so crazy. “Yeah, hello, which isn’t cheating. I try to spare the feelings of others when I know it’s not working out. I am curious, is this the first time?” He paused and she imagined him scratching his balls. “You lost me. First time for what?” Her fist tightened around the phone. “The blonde trollop. Was she the only one you fucked while we were together?” “Oh you mean Lindsay, yeah. Or did you mean is this the first time we had sex?” Aubrey thought she was going to be sick. It wasn’t humiliating enough to find out about one incidence? “It doesn’t even really matter, but for my own peace of mind, I need to know. How many times were you with her? Be honest.” The long silence just about unglued her. “Four times.” Her brows knitted together. “Four? How is that possible?” Had she been that blind? “Well, she’s my secretary, so we have lunch together. Such a cliché, right?” She pulled the phone away from her ear and flipped off the receiver. “I don’t think we have anything left to talk about.” “Can’t we work this out?” Why, so she could experience heartbreak again and again? Not a chance. “No. I don’t want to be with someone I can’t trust. We had some good times together, so it’s not a complete loss.” “For what it’s worth, I am sorry.” “I am too. It’s late, I need to get some sleep. Bye.” Aubrey hung up without waiting for him to say goodbye and let out a rush of air she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. All her anger at Gil melted away. The tears she’d shed over him earlier were done. They were done. Her level of relief floored her.

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Unable to get back to sleep, she lay on her bed, legs curled under, arms wrapped around a pillow. Like a switch had been flipped, dark memories resurfaced of the night her mother died. All the pain she’d blocked for a decade hit her with a vengeance. Pieces stayed missing. Images she was unable to recall. A nagging question lingered in the back of her mind. Why hadn’t her mother ever mentioned Dante? Suddenly, she remembered the box. When her aunt took her in, a box of her mother’s things had been given to her. She’d considered the contents inside sacred and had never opened it. Aubrey worried that the beauty and memories of her mother would spill out and drift away if she looked inside. A thought that still concerned her. Tonight, however, it seemed important to open it. She slid from the bed and got to her knees. Pulling back the comforter she ducked her head underneath and scanned the floor. In the middle sat the box, blue with white hearts. Without hesitation she reached for it and slid it toward her. Box in hand, she climbed back on her bed, and removed the lid. Inside she found letters bound in red satin ribbon, a worn diary, sparkling jewelery, and dried rose petals. Curious, Aubrey read through each letter and scanned entries in the diary. As she read, she understood. Words of a true, beautiful love spilled from the paper and soaked into her skin. An amazing power radiated around her. For a moment, she wondered if her mother were with her, smiling down on her knowingly. She shuffled through the letters again and reread the one where her mother described meeting Dante as lust at first sight. Much of what she gathered from the diary and letters could easily be penned from her own thoughts. She was more like her mother than she’d realized. Varick had shown her a devotion she didn’t think existed. He was patient, gentle, understanding. He’d saved her life, and she’d hurt him by pushing him away. The sadness in his eyes, burned into her mind. She closed the box and pushed it back beneath the bed for safekeeping. If she ever felt doubt, she’d know where to find some inspiration. Aubrey slipped off her nightgown and sat in front of the vanity, wondering if Varick could see her. Did he watch even though he’d said he wouldn’t? Maybe he was a man of his word, but what if she made it impossible for him to keep his distance? Legs spread, she wanted to see how he would see her. Aubrey ran her fingertips along her nipples and watched them rise. A pink tinge spread across her face and made her smile. Roughly she squeezed one then the other, imagining his tongue flickering around them. She tensed in pleasure. “Can you see me, Varick? Are you able to sense my burning ache for you?” She cupped her breast and brought the nipple to her lips. As she watched herself in the mirror,

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she flickered the hard pebble with her tongue. She grew hot just thinking about Varick watching her with his soulful eyes. Heat fanned her face as she slid a hand down her body and fondled her clit. She groaned and rested her fingers on either side of her swollen nub. “Mm. Nice as it feels, I’d rather you were getting me off.” Beads of sweat coated her brow. She pictured him wrapping his hand around his cock, stroking its impossible length and width. Envisioned him thrusting into her, pumping his thick cock into her wet pussy. Taking her with a vengeance. Her pulse quickened. A dull throb started low in her belly. She needed him now. Craved him. Aubrey hoped she hadn’t lost him for good. “Please, Varick. If you can hear me, I want to see you. I take back what I said before. Don’t let me be alone anymore.” Aubrey hoped he’d answer her plea.

Chapter Five Varick had every intention of honoring her request, but the explicit dream and the racy images she filled his mind with, became too much. His erection pulsed fiercely. He’d seen the way her fingers slipped inside her pink slit, soaked and more than ready for him. Moaning in ecstasy as she rubbed her clit. He loved that she begged for him, wanted him, invited him into her life, and he couldn’t ignore her. Though sunrise was a few hours away, he couldn’t deny her, or his needs. In a short time he entered her room, the heady scent of her pussy rife in the air. She rose from the chair and he kicked it aside, sidling up behind her. His cock painfully erect and pressed against her ass. He stared at her reflection, knowing she couldn’t see his. Varick brought his arms around her waist and slid his hands up to her breasts, pinching her nipples. Her gasp made him want her even more. Almost made him come. He breathed in her perfect essence. Trembled at the feel of her body bare in his embrace. Voice soft, he had to know her intentions. “Tell me, do you want this, or are you toying with me?” She leaned back into him, the softness of her hair smooth against his chin. “I want this. I want to know what your cock feels like inside me. Not through a dream, but for real. I ache so much it burns.” Her sensual whispers tugged at his groin. “Then let me put you out of your misery.” With his knee he assisted her legs further apart. Slowly he ran his hand along the swell of her ass and dragged a finger along her clit. Her body shuddered in his arms.

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“You’re a very naughty tease, do you know that?” She nodded. “I almost came watching you pleasure yourself. The way you fingered your pussy, how your nipples stretched and hardened at the flick of your tongue. There’s no turning back now.” Her impish smile made his breath still. “No turning back.” He jostled her clit and felt her juices run. “I want you to watch yourself in the mirror, the way you made me watch you. See yourself tremble and how your body flushes.” With a tilt of her head, she stared up at him. “Why can’t I see your reflection?” Varick replied with his favorite answer. “Vampires don’t need mirrors. We always look good.” She laughed huskily and he pinched her nipples harder. Instantly she quieted, her face changing to a pleading stance. Fully aroused, he didn’t know where to start first. Fuck her mouth, her pussy, her ass. First he’d get her off and watch her come. He remembered a toy she used on herself a number of times. If he wasn’t mistaken, it lay in the top drawer of her vanity. Varick opened the drawer and eyed the long blue vibrator. She gasped and he smiled knowingly. “I’ve watched you use this. Do you mind if I give it a try?” He didn’t bother to wait for a response and turned it on. “Spread your thighs a little more. That’s it. Don’t stop watching yourself. I want you to see everything I do.” Varick knelt down in front of her. Set to the lowest speed, he pressed the tip of the vibrator against her clit and smiled at the way her body jerked. “Oh God, faster, please,” she groaned. He turned the dial up a notch and pressed it harder to her clit. Her moans increased, but he didn’t want her to come just yet. He splayed her pussy wide with his fingers and pushed the vibrator into her, moving it in and out. The muscles of her thighs tensed as he turned up the speed again. Faster, he pumped the vibrator, while he teased her clit with the tip of his tongue. His erection hardened just hearing her pleasure-filled sighs. He glanced up at her lovely face. “Come for me, Aubrey.” She groaned, her jaw slack, mouth slightly open. “I’m so close.” Varick switched the vibrator to high and eased the base of the vibrator against her clit. “Right

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there, yes,” she cried. He couldn’t take his eyes off her as she came. Her body moved like a wave, breasts swift in their rise and fall. A pink hue spread across her chest and highlighted her cheeks. “You’re stunning, my love.” Another spasm jolted her body and he removed the vibrator. Craving a taste, he ran his tongue along her glistening slit. “Mm. Unbelievably sweet.” He gathered her in his arms and laid her on the bed. Her sultry lips parted as her breath evened out. “Please, fuck me. I have to know how you feel inside me.” His need to be with her was just as strong. “With pleasure.” The slightest touch of his hands sent her arousal on high all over again. At the side of the bed, he undressed. Muscles rippled under his flesh as he moved. The sight of his cock made her mouth water. She’d probably gag on his phenomenal size, but she didn’t care. Aubrey went to wrap her hand around his length, but he took hold of her hand. “No, my love. I’m too worked up. Another time.” She eyed his cock again and stuck out her bottom lip. “Please, I want a taste.” He chuckled and caressed her face with his knuckles. “Anything else you want, it’s yours, but tonight those luscious lips need to stay off my cock.” How dare he deny her the pleasure of sucking him dry? She decided to test that anything else theory. “You won’t tell me no again?” His eyes narrowed. “What are you asking?” From her nightstand she grabbed a small tube of lubricant and placed it in his hand. “I’m not asking. I’m telling. Fuck my ass with that big cock of yours.” A wicked smile etched his lips. “I like the way you think.” Aubrey turned and steadied herself on all fours. Juices streaked her inner thighs at the thought of him filling her tiny hole. With soft sweeps of his fingertip, he lathered her up. The cool gel did little to douse the slow burn of want, but it brought her a step closer in relief. “Put on a lot, please.” “I’ll have you all nice and slicked up.”

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She glanced over her shoulder in time to see him apply gel to his cock. It shined and made him look bigger, if that was even possible. Aubrey bit her lip and closed her eyes. The wait seemed an eternity. “Let’s get you prepared, shall we?” Aubrey shuddered when he pressed a finger into her tight ring. She arched her back and forced herself to relax. He pushed a second finger through and her body bucked. “Ready to feel my cock?” She nodded so enthusiastically she nearly gave herself whiplash. “Yes.” Her breath stilled as he readied himself at her entry. Goose bumps covered her skin as he broke through her lubed orifice, raking along the tiny muscle with his tremendous width. A low moan erupted from her throat and got louder as he slid inside. Inch by blissful inch he worked his cock inside her ass until he was buried to the hilt. “So…tight,” he groaned. She sighed into each movement. “Feels good.” His thick cock worked her ass, the delicious friction beckoning an orgasm that would blow her mind. Aubrey moaned and pushed back into him. She loved the way his hands gripped the sides of her body, strong and authoritative. Her nerves jumped as he reached around and jiggled her clit. “That’s it, faster, oh god, faster,” she cried. He pumped harder, ramming his cock repeatedly, grunting between breaths. Grabbing a fistful of sheets, her muscles tensed. She rocked into him, crazy with need as his fingers kept up a frantic momentum. It only took a few more thrusts and her climax broke free. At the same time spasms shot through her body, she felt his release. Hands tight around her hips he roared. Aubrey bent forward and rested her head on her forearms, enjoying the sweet relief. She swore her body had never known such extreme satisfaction before. Varick smoothed his hands along her back then pulled his cock out, sending a faint tremor through her. “You’re an amazing woman.” She flattened herself on the bed and then turned to her side, patting the empty space beside her. With a smile he stretched up close and kissed her full on the lips. When he broke away, she

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glanced down, her eyes wide. In only a few seconds he sported a full erection again. Her brow arched. “How can you be ready again so soon?” A sly smile curved his lips. “I blame you.” She’d only dreamed of hours upon hours of hot, sweaty sex. It appeared Varick could deliver. “You’ll hear no complaints from me.” Aubrey leaned on her elbow and ran her fingers across his moist, warm chest. “How did you know where I kept my vibrator?” He chuckled. “I may have looked in on you at an especially good time.” Playfully she batted his arm. “You’re bad. So when you say you watch over me, does that include coming into my room at night while I sleep?” His features turned serious. “No. I’ve never been inside your home until tonight.” “But you could have?” Varick slid a strand of her hair behind her ear. “I suppose, but I didn’t dare. I knew how badly I wanted you and feared it would only make it worse.” “How is it you can see me?” Her first thought was some crystal ball, or magic telescope. “My senses are highly developed. I can see events as they happen in my mind, and with you I can also sense what will happen in the span of several minutes. I haven’t been able to do that with anyone else.” Her lip twitched. “Wow, I’m impressed. Is it like a third eye?” “Sort of. Dante taught me how to strengthen the vision and keep focus. Earlier tonight it knocked me to my knees when I saw you going over the cliff.” She’d been very lucky to have a guardian…vampire. “Does it always work?” “There’ve been a few occasions where it failed me, or the sensations came back weak, but usually it’s reliable.” It seemed strange to her that he appeared like any normal man. Or at least a man with a dropdead gorgeous body, long black hair and mesmerizing eyes. Nothing about him screamed vampire. Even his dark and gothic style of dress didn’t look out of the ordinary. Beyond everything else, she knew the truth, and the differences would affect them whether they wanted to acknowledge them or not. They could pretend it all away, but it would inevitably create problems. Aubrey didn’t know how to broach the subject without putting a damper on their mood, but

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the question begged to be asked. “How can we make this work, you and I?” He averted his eyes. “If it’s what we both want, then we’ll find a way.” “I see. So you don’t know either. I don’t mean to upset you, but this has been on my mind from earlier. Why haven’t you tried to bite me?” He brought her wrist to his lips and smothered it with kisses. “My love for you overpowers the need. Besides we don’t feed on humans. It isn’t the way. We have a blood supply and it more than nourishes the coven.” Uncertain how he’d react, she blurted her next question. “What does it feel like for you to drink blood?” Once the words were out, she held her breath. His smile suggested all was okay between them. “Does sex always make you this inquisitive?” Aubrey laughed. “Sorry.” “It’s fine. To answer your question, blood is like water to me. An icy, cool glass on a hot summer day. Once I’ve had my fill I’m recharged,” he explained. She watched him frown as he glanced out the window. “I have to go. The night is fading and it will be sunrise soon.” With a groan she clung to him tighter. “No, I’m not ready.” His hand circled her upper back, soothing her worries. “Trust me, I want to stay, but this is one of the times our lifestyles differ.” Aubrey raised her head. She didn’t want him to feel guilty. “I understand.” He captured her lips with his then rose from the bed. “Until tomorrow evening.” A tear fell as she watched him disappear. He’d turned her whole life around, for the better. Varick passed by the dining hall on his way to bed and was surprised to find Luke sitting at the head of the table, surrounded by his faithful followers. Rarely were they ever in the same area of the house. Still buzzing from his encounter with Aubrey, he refused to let anything or anyone dampen his spirits. He nodded in the fair-haired vampire’s direction. “Luke.” “Varick,” he sneered. “Late night out, I see. Good thing nothing bad happened here, you know, since we were without a leader.” As always his brother liked to point out his faults to others. He didn’t want to get caught up in the banter and waved a hand at him. “Whatever.” Luke

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pushed back his chair and hoisted his feet onto the table, hands resting on his waist. A smug look streaked his face. “You know, the clan is in an uproar. Everyone’s been talking.” Varick sighed. “Talking about what?” Dark eyes bore right through him. “About you bringing a mortal into the West Chamber. How could you be so careless? It’s a wonder Dante left you in charge.” An uneasy feeling passed through his gut. “What’s that supposed to mean?” Luke narrowed his eyes. “You know better, but you acted like a complete idiot. We need someone intelligent ruling over us. Someone worthy to look up to.” He tired of hearing about his shortcomings. “Look, I know I haven’t lived up to the ways of Dante. Believe me it turns my stomach sour. But I’m trying. I need a little more time and then I know I can turn things around. Have some faith in me. Have some faith in Dante. Obviously he thought I was right for the job.” Luke snickered. “Remains to be seen. Nevertheless, you shouldn’t have brought a woman here. Especially not a woman you swore to keep safe. Our brothers are beyond restless, with good reason. They can smell her. Fresh, innocent blood.” A cold draft ran through him. He’d trusted Blake to keep his word. “I don’t know who told you, but that’s my business.” “What difference does it make who I heard it from? We would all like to find a woman to love the way Dante did, but it isn’t right. There are plenty of Vamps to pleasure us. Why do you insist on going outside of the coven?” He turned and started toward the staircase. “I don’t have to answer to you.” In a flash Luke was out of the chair and coming straight at him. “Secrets won’t put this coven back together.” He remembered Blake mentioning the missing women. “I’d say you have secrets of your own. Where exactly are you getting your blood supply? Dare I ask?” Luke pointed a finger at him. “When you start to act like a leader, I’ll treat you like one. Otherwise I owe you nothing. Don’t worry about what I do. I suggest you watch your own back.” His blood boiled at the obvious threat. “Why? Are you and your cohorts going to take me out? Strip me of my title? Plot all you want, but I won’t go down without a fight. If I didn’t think I was capable of running this coven, I’d have given up the title years ago. You’ll never rule here. Not so long as I’m alive.” Luke’s lip twitched as he spoke. “You don’t want to push me, Varick.” “I’m tired of this conflict between us. You’ve blamed me for things I couldn’t control.

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For taking Dante’s attention away from you. I was a kid.” “At least you acknowledge that’s what you did.” “For whatever reason, he felt a bond to me.” His eyes blazed. “One I started before you arrived. One I would still have to this day had you never come here.” Now he’d heard everything. “What? Do you think Dante would be alive right now?” “I wouldn’t have enabled his obsession for a mortal. I’d have talked some sense into him. But not you, no, you were always too busy trying to stay in his good graces. You’ve always been the one allowed to do what you wanted.” Through with the conversation, he started up the stairs. “You sound as immature now as you did back then. Get over it. What’s done is done.” “Oh, there is still much to be done.” He raised a brow. “Meaning?” Luke’s icy smile disturbed him. “Like I said. Watch your back.” Wearily Varick stalked to his room. So Luke wanted to challenge him. Fine. He’d be ready.

Chapter Six Aubrey slept most of the day away, not wanting to leave the spot where she and Varick had lain together. New life pumped through her blood. Awakened from some deep sleep she couldn’t before shake. She knew it was all Varick’s doing and couldn’t wait to be back in his arms. In mid-stretch, she glanced outside. The sky had a gray cast and black clouds billowed like smoke from a chimney. Definitely a storm coming. She propped herself up on her elbows and smiled. God he’d fucked her good. A quick glance at the clock made her groan and grin at the same time. It was already four o’clock, but that meant in a few hours, they’d be back in bed together. With most of the afternoon behind her, she decided to take a nice, long shower. The warm strands of water moved along her body in the same way Varick’s fingers had. Just thinking about his touch ignited new flames between her thighs and sent a rush of shivers across her skin. For once she’d stopped letting fear drive her and had done something spontaneous. She’s

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tended to her own needs and ignored her insecurities. If her mother had been as happy as Aubrey felt right now, she could see why she’d fought so hard to make the relationship work. Aubrey never understood before how deeply a person could love another—the kind of love where nothing else mattered. Where risks only strengthened the bond. And she knew risks were involved by being with Varick, but they were worth it. Unconventional as their love might be, she’d never been happier. Hair clean and smelling of fresh green apples, she quickly dried off and slipped on her robe, its fabric cool against her skin. In the kitchen she looked through cupboards and the fridge for something light to sate her appetite, settling on yogurt with fresh peaches. It tasted sweeter than ever and she savored each spoonful. In between bites, she realized she couldn’t stop smiling. Back in her room she sat at the vanity and took her time applying makeup. When Varick returned she wanted to look perfect. Decadent. She chose a striking red dress that hugged all her curves and matching red pumps. Hair long and slightly tousled, she beamed at her reflection. Yeah, she looked damn good. Wait until he saw her. A bright flash of light broke her gaze from the mirror. Aubrey stepped up to the window and looked out, barely able to see through the rain. Trees and bushes swayed recklessly in the wind. She was surprised to see it so dark out at only six. Shivers shot up her back when a terrifying boom of thunder broke out and vibrated the windowpanes. She hoped Varick would arrive soon. Another streak of light illuminated the sky and all the lights in the neighborhood went out. She stood in the eerie quiet of the dark, her muscles tense. Aubrey hated the dark. Hand out in front of her, she felt her way to the dining room. In the third drawer of the hutch she grabbed an armful of candles and shuffled a few steps forward until her leg bumped the dining table. She set them down and felt around for the lighter. Something smooth glided along her hand, startling her. She moved back until she hit the wall. “Is someone there? Varick?” She didn’t think it could be him. Another flash lit the room and streaked across the face of a stranger. Aubrey’s blood drained from her face. “Who are you? What are you doing here?” An image of her mother running around the house, shrieking popped in her mind. Oh God, was this person here to kill her too? A dusky voice spoke, making the hairs on the back of her neck stand straight up. “I’m Luke, a friend of Varick’s. Actually, I guess you could call him my brother.” If she could get to the kitchen, she’d grab the butcher knife. Until then, she pressed up

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against the wall as if it were her safety net. “He didn’t mention anything about you coming here.” A series of short flashes revealed he’d closed the distance between them and she fought the scream rising in her throat. “Well, I confess, he doesn’t actually know about my being here. He probably wouldn’t appreciate it too much.” “Then why don’t you go,” she offered, hoping to sound brave. His wicked chuckle made her skin prickle. “No, I think I’ll stay, thank you. Did you know that a vampire can smell the blood of a mortal from hundreds of miles away?” She didn’t like where this was going. “N-no. Why are you telling me this?” “Varick made a mistake in bringing you to our coven. It’s not your fault, but unfortunately you’re the one who will have to suffer for it.” Aubrey worried she wouldn’t make it to the kitchen and tried to think up another plan. With the triple locks on her front door, she’d never get out in time. Funny how that worked. “I’d like you to go. You’re scaring me.” His voice sounded close. “You have every reason to be afraid. I promise to go easy on you.” It took everything in her to not freak out. “What are you going to do?” He sidled up to her quickly, his hands wrapping tight around her middle. Aubrey screamed and struggled to free herself from his grasp, but he held her tight. The lightning lit up the room briefly, long enough for her to see that behind the fair-haired vampire stood another man, his face dark with red eyes. “About time you got here Denzen. Help me pin her down.” Her pulse pounded. “No, I beg you. If you go, I won’t mention you were here to anyone.” His lips tangled against her hair as he spoke. “Sweetheart, no one will care. We have business, you and I. We’ll start with one bite.” Her eyes widened. He meant to feed from her? “Wait, I thought vampires didn’t feed on humans anymore?” Again he laughed. “Is that what Varick told you? You see, some vampires drink from the blood supply in the cellar. It’s tasty, but I prefer fresh blood. Especially when it’s a woman’s. Much sweeter. Spicier. Arouses me something awful. I’ve craved you from the moment I noticed your scent clinging to every particle in the air of the West Chamber. Varick should have turned you

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when he had the chance, but now you’re fair game.” Aubrey kicked and screamed, but the two men overpowered her. Down to the floor she fell, knocking her head against the cherry wood floor. She continued to struggle, despite the fact they had her pinned. “Get off me!” Luke twisted her hair in his fist and forced her head to the side. “Stop struggling or I’ll let you bleed to death.” She tensed her neck muscle. Two against one, she didn’t stand a chance. Tears streamed down her cheeks, blurring her vision. “Please, don’t do this,” she sobbed. Luke’s lips were so close to her neck she could feel his cold breath. “Oh, sweetheart. I like the way you say please.” Aubrey held her breath as two sharp points pierced her neck. The pain beyond anything she’d felt before. Excruciating. Her pulse pounded deep and heavy. “Varick,” she cried out. More pain followed as he sank his teeth in deeper. She was vaguely aware of the other vampire’s presence until the lights came on. With a twisted smile he gazed down on her. “Luke here should have been leader. Not Varick. But you can thank your boyfriend for leading us to you. We haven’t smelled blood as pure as yours for ages. I’ll bet you taste good, bitch.” Her stomach clenched. All the goodness in her life seemed sucked right out of her. Why hadn’t Varick come for her? Couldn’t he sense her fear? It seemed like forever before the pain subsided. Luke sat up, a trail of blood dripping down the sides of his mouth. “God, woman, you taste incredible.” His eyes practically glowed in the dark as he stared at her, his chest rising and falling. “I took more from you than I should have, but I couldn’t help myself. I’ve never tasted blood like yours.” Denzen knelt down and licked his lips. “Hey, man. Let me have a turn.” She watched the exchange of dirty looks, doing her best to stay conscious. “Like hell. She’s mine. This is my gift to Varick for what he did to me.” Luke turned back to her and wiped his mouth on his sleeve,

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leaving a stain. “I’ll let you rest for a short while then I’ll feed from you again.” Aubrey lay on the floor, eyelids fluttering. A beautiful darkness beckoned to her, and she wanted to heed it. To let it wrap itself around her and take her someplace safe. To take her to Varick. Varick buttoned up his shirt. He couldn’t wait to be with Aubrey again tonight. In a short while they’d be tangled up in each other’s arms. The thought alone made his cock convulse. He had a surprise in store for her. Something she wouldn’t be expecting. First he needed to nourish himself with blood from the cellar. He took the stairs two at a time and caught a glimpse of Blake walking in the hall. The sting of betrayal sent his adrenaline on high. Hands to his mouth, he hollered. “Blake, I’d like a word with you.” His brother turned and returned a half-smile. What he wouldn’t give to smash those lips in. Varick charged forward, leaving little room between them. Fortunately everyone else cleared out, leaving the two of them alone to talk. His body shook as he struggled with the right words. “How could you inform the coven of my bringing Aubrey here when you swore you wouldn’t say anything.” The smile he’d shone instantly vanished, settling into a frown. “What? I didn’t say a word.” He couldn’t take the innocent act, it only pissed him off more. “Like hell. What, you pretend to be my friend to my face and then stab me in the back when I’m not around? I trusted you.” Blake took a tentative step back, but didn’t tear his gaze away. “Hey, brother, I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about. I said I wouldn’t tell, and I meant it.” If only he could believe. “If anything happens to her, I’ll rip your throat out. Understand?” “I’m not sure where you got your information, but they lied. I didn’t tell a soul, I swear.” He hesitated. “Luke said…” Blake lunged forward and got right in his face. “I see. The one person you have no reason to trust tells you something, and all of a sudden you take his word over mine? I don’t think so.” The words were like a light bulb going on over his head. Why would he trust anything Luke said? “He didn’t name names, but you’re the only one I told.” “Then someone listened to our conversation, because I didn’t make any mention of her. You ought to know me better than that. Like you I’m a man of my word. Maybe more so.” The comment stung, but he bit back a harsh return. Instead he moved out of the face-toface

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confrontation and took a deep breath. “I’m sorry. It’s just when it comes to Aubrey, I tend to react first and think later.” “What happened to distancing yourself from her?” He shrugged. “My intentions were good, but I lack willpower. What can I say?” Blake bellowed and slapped him on the back. “I hope she’s worth it.” “She is. If you see Luke, tell him I’m looking for him.” His brother bowed his head. “Will do. While you’re visiting your lady love, I’ll see if anyone overheard anything. We’ll get to the bottom of this.” Varick turned to leave and almost ran straight into Melenge. “Hey you sexy beast. What’s your big hurry?” He couldn’t help but notice she stood naked in front of him. “I don’t have time for this right now.” Her violet eyes locked on his. “Oh, you’ll make time for me.” Varick crossed his arms. “And why would you say that?” She brushed a nipple against his arm and wetted her lips. “What if I told you someone paid a visit to your precious mortal? Someone you’re not particularly fond of.” Every muscle in his body tensed. “Who visited her? Was it Luke?” Melenge raised a finger and pressed it against his lips. “Humour me, first. I have to know. When you’re asleep, can you feel me sucking your cock?” Varick felt sick. “I’m not going to stand around here talking about this. Is it Luke? Did he visit Aubrey?” Her violet eyes looked darker than usual. “Mm, you’re good. Are you curious to know how Luke found out where she lived?” He’d never known a Vamp to help unless they wanted something in return. “You’d actually tell me?” Melenge moved in front of him and grazed her nails across his waist. “Sure I will.” His eyes narrowed. “What’s the cost?” “Fuck me.” He went to push her away but she gripped his arm tight, her fingernails digging into his flesh. “Relax, I didn’t say now. I’ll bide my time. You’ll give me what I want soon enough.” The pain in his arm was difficult to ignore, but she wasn’t letting up. “I’m not interested in your games. Are you going to tell me who told or not?” Her other hand moved to his zipper. “Let me

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suck your cock first. No other female will take you in as far as I am capable. Let me do that and I’ll tell you everything.” Varick pushed her hand away, still struggling to get her nails out of his arm. “I don’t want you, understand? I never have and never will. Now tell me what you know or let go.” She pursed her lips and fixed him a deadly stare. “Fine. Since you’re playing hard to get. I’m the one who told the coven about your lover.” Varick felt dizzy. “What? Why the hell would you do that?” “For you. You see, I happen to know that Luke’s been feeding on tainted humans. They are ripe with disease, but he doesn’t know. When I told him about your mortal being here, and where he could find her, he didn’t waste any time going to see her. In fact, I’m pretty sure he’s fed from her once already tonight.” His body went weak. “No!” “Oh, yes,” she purred. “Luke put a sensor block on you when you two last quarreled to keep you from realizing he’d gotten to her. Because of the tainted blood, all he has to do is pierce her skin and it will mix into her bloodstream. Here’s the beauty of it all. If he bites her a second time, she’ll die. If he doesn’t bite her a second time, she’ll still die. Either way I’ll have you all to myself.” Varick couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He knew Luke had strong powers, but hadn’t understood just how strong. “You’ll never have me. I feel nothing for you.” She dug into him harder. “I can change that.” Pain seared in his arm. “Remove your nails from my flesh.” Melenge ground her pelvis against his cock and moaned. “You’re too late to save her this time. She’s going to die. Accept it.” “Fuck off!” He wrenched his arm from her grasp, and winced at the bloody gashes she left along his arm. “You’ll pay for this behaviour, tonight.” “Good. I like a little pain with my pleasure. I’ll be waiting.” Varick pushed past her and prayed

Chapter Seven The ceiling spun above as Aubrey lay on the floor, her body trembling. A painful cold coursed

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through her veins, making her shiver uncontrollably. Thunder and lightning played tug of war above her house, allowing brief glimpses of Luke’s face as he sat in a chair, watching her. “Welcome back, angel. You’re just in time for me to feed from you again.” Her throat felt like something had scratched the shit out of it. She tried to talk, but nothing came out. “Oh I know you want to thank me, but save your voice. I can see it in your eyes. You’re a beautiful woman. It’s a good thing I prefer to fuck vampires, or I’d take you right now. Of course, it would drive Varick mad to know I’d fucked you, so maybe I can make an exception.” The other one stood off to the side gawking at her as if she were prey. “I’d fuck her.” Luke shot him an explosive look. She wished they’d leave her the hell alone. “Shut up, Denzen.” He returned his attention to her and slid to his knees. “Ah, you’re such a pretty little treat.” Aubrey tried to pull away but she lacked the energy. Her limbs were mush. “Feisty. I find that sexy. Keep struggling and you’ll find yourself naked with my cock shoved up your ass and Denzen’s cock in your pussy. Oh but wait, you’d probably like that.” She wished her head would stop spinning. “Leave me alone, Varick will stop you.” Luke reached under her dress and pulled off her panties. “He doesn’t even know you’re in trouble. I placed a block on him. Looks like it’s a threesome tonight.” Aubrey closed her eyes and sobbed. Varick moved swiftly though the storm slowed him down. He’d never forgive himself for allowing her to be bitten. He should have known Luke would do anything to get at him. Even involve an innocent mortal. Inside Aubrey’s house he came upon Luke, unbuckling his belt. His body shook in anger. “Stop! Don’t you dare touch her again.” “Varick?” Aubrey rolled her head in his direction, eyes unmistakably glossy. Her faint voice nearly broke his heart. She needed him and that was all that mattered. “Luke, let her go,” he demanded. “Your business is with me, not her.” “Now see, here’s where we differ yet again. I consider her very valuable. Besides, how else can I screw up your life as you screwed up mine.” “This is not the place to fight you. Come back with me to the coven.” Luke glared at him with daggers. “Like hell. First I’m going to fuck your little mortal and then I’m going to feed from her again. Once I do I can claim her and make her mine.” Rage erupted inside Varick. He charged toward Luke but a blast drove him into the wall. He

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slammed into it hard with his back, all the wind knocked from his lungs. When he looked to see what hit him, Denzen picked him up and sent him flying into the wall on the other side of him. Gasping, he pointed at Luke. “Call off your guard dog. This is between us. Are you such a weakling that you can’t fight me on your own?” He knew the comment would sting. “Denzen, leave him be. Come here and make sure the woman doesn’t move.” Luke stood and made his way toward him. Varick picked himself up, ignoring the tremendous pain in his back. Unsteadily he motioned to his brother. “We’re going to settle this feud between us, once and for all. I’m sick of taking all the blame for your problems. I’ve done nothing to you.” Luke’s black eyes narrowed to slits. “Is that what you think? Unlike you, I wasn’t born a vampire. I didn’t even ask for this lifestyle. When Dante took me in, I had no idea what he planned for me. He promised I’d live richly and have everything my heart desired. He gained my trust and took away the only world I knew. I was six. I didn’t know what I was getting into.” “He gave you a new chance. You had nothing.” Luke smirked. “When I finally learned to live like a vampire and accepted Dante as a father, you came along with your pity story about being abandoned by your traitor of a father. After that I didn’t exist where Dante was concerned. Everything became about you because you were a true vampire. He discarded me like I was trash.” Varick wanted to shake him. “Who cares about the past? Has it been that bad, there has been no enjoyment in your life at all? Dante took you away from the abuse and pain you were subjected to you by people you loved and trusted. He did you a favor.” His brother’s lip stiffened. “He led me to believe there was more to this immortal life than there really is. There’s no freedom here. I’m a prisoner to the coven and you expect that I’ll obey you?” He raised his hands to mid-waist, palms up. “Again, I couldn’t control how Dante responded to you. I was a kid myself, just as screwed up as you. And I didn’t ask to be leader, in fact I begged him to choose someone else. We need to get beyond this and find a way to live together under the same roof without driving each other crazy.” It was clear his long time enemy would have none of it. “I’ll never forgive you, and I’ll never accept you as a leader. I will however accept the beautiful offering lying on the ground. If you’d tasted her blood, you’d know what I mean. It’s the sweetest taste in the world, and it’s all mine.”

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Varick had enough. He’d tried reasoning, but it failed. He lunged and flew straight into Luke knocking him down. “Get off me.” Luke tried to roll away but Varick grabbed him and bit into his wrist. Careful to not drink from him, he spat out the blood and gripped his hands around his brother’s throat. “You’ll pay for biting Aubrey.” “Big deal.” Varick struggled to keep a good chokehold against his brother’s prying hands. “You’ve been drinking tainted blood. You’d better hope she has one hell of an immune system or she could get deathly sick.” “Wrong. First I’m going to kill you, and then I’ll turn her. The bitch will be mine.” Luke kneed him in the gut and slashed Varick’s arm in the same place Melenge had dug her nails. He bellowed in pain and went to strike Luke when he was punched in the stomach. The fierce blow sent him reeling. When he tried to stand, the room tilted. Damn. He should have replenished himself. “Stay the hell away from her or so help me, I’ll destroy you.” “I’d like to see you try,” his brother chortled. “Just so you know. I’m well aware of the tainted blood. How do you think I brought our great mentor down.” “What?” “You heard me right. I killed Dante. He thought his illness resulted from Laura’s death, but I gave him poisoned blood. He deserved it for abandoning me when you came along. Now you can join him and I will take my rightful place as leader.” Stunned, Varick tried to pick himself up but Luke brutally rammed into him and pinned him. “I’ll bleed you dry,” he growled and bared his fangs. Before he had a chance to move, Luke sank his fangs deep into his shoulder. He struggled to throw him off, but his brother’s brawn surpassed his own. Varick faintly heard Aubrey calling for him and it helped him gather enough strength to turn the tables on his brother. With the palm of his hand he tore Luke off him and slammed him to the floor. Luke thrashed beneath him, barely able to make a sound. “You aren’t capable of deciding who lives and dies around here. Your anger and hatred have brought enough darkness to the coven. I don’t want to kill you, but you’ve left me no choice. With you out of the way, our brothers will have no choice but to look to me as leader. For too

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long have you been responsible for their loyalty being divided.” He leaned over and caught the flesh of his neck, biting him deep. Varick fed upon him, ignoring the way the tainted blood worked against him. He’d have little left in the way of energy to fight Denzen, but instincts told him his weaker brother would flee without Luke around. He’d always been a follower and would have no one else to turn to. Regardless, Varick would fight to his death. As long as Aubrey was safe, that’s all he cared out. He continued to feed, draining the life out of Luke. His fury would not be tamed until he drank up every single drop. The disease raced through his veins, sapping him of the little energy he had left. His stomach churned and he thought he’d pass out. Aubrey’s elegant face circled around him, and he wished he could reach out and stroke the softness of her cheek. Finally, he removed his bloodstained fangs and moved back an inch. Luke lay still pale and lifeless, his body shriveling up. Within seconds his body turned to ash. Varick couldn’t move. His entire being felt lethargic and slow. Wanting nothing more than to be by Aubrey’s side, he dragged his body along the floor. He needed to make certain she was okay. “Varick, can you hear me?” Through a haze he glimpsed Aubrey crawling toward him and resting her head on his chest. Her faint voice brought him relief. “I’m so weak,” she sighed. He breathed in her sweet essence and choked back a sob. He’d vowed to protect her and he’d done anything but. “I know, and I’m so sorry for everything. If I hadn’t come into your life, you’d be fine.” He never should have gotten caught up in his feelings for her. Raising her head, she stared into his eyes. “No I wouldn’t. I’d have gone over a cliff. You saved me then, and you saved me just now from being bitten again. You are my hero, Varick.” In his mind he felt like a killer. “I should have prevented it. I didn’t want you to be harmed by anyone. It’s my fault they found you.” He paused a moment, his chest tightening making it difficult to catch his breath. Fear filled her beautiful eyes. “What’s the matter? I can tell you aren’t okay.” Here she lay, weak and frightened, and she asked how he felt? “Don’t fret about me, love. I’m more concerned about you right now.” She gripped his shirt in her fists and tugged. “Please, talk to me. I’m worried.” He tried to offer her assurance with a smile, but the pain made him flinch. “My body is starting to shut down. I haven’t fed for several days and I’ve lost a great deal of blood. It’s weakened me.” Her eyelids flickered. “Why haven’t you been nourishing yourself?” He tangled his fingers through her hair, enjoying the soft strands against his flesh. “You fuelled me with your beauty and love. Since we’ve been together, I haven’t thought of much else.” Varick craned his neck to where he’d last seen Luke.

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A tear slid down and rounded her cheek. “I’m sorry you had to fight your brother.” He’d have given anything to find reconciliation between them. “It was inevitable. He despised me. At some point we would have had an all out war. He wasn’t happy, now maybe he can feel a sense of freedom.” She laced her hand in his, sending much needed warmth through his body. “Denzen fled while you two were fighting.” He’d had a feeling that would happen. The loyalty of the coven had ended with Dante’s death. “I doubt he’ll return.” Varick winced as he inhaled. “He mentioned something about blocking your senses. It’s not your fault.” His brows furrowed. “I’m the one who brought you to my home. I went against my instincts and the laws of our coven. I should have left you alone.” She pressed her cheek onto his, nuzzling close. “Don’t say that. I love you.” His heart soared to hear those words from her lips. “I love you, too, which is even more of a reason why I shouldn’t have put you at risk. I hate that Luke got to you before I could save you. You might…” Varick stopped himself. He couldn’t even bare to think it. Her eyes searched his, fear present in her expression. “I might what?” His lips trembled. “Luke fed from humans who were sick. His blood is tainted and when he bit you, the disease may have mixed with your blood. It could make you very sick. Even if you don’t get sick, having been bitten still puts you at risk of being hunted by other vampires.” It sickened him to say the words. The terror in her eyes made his pain worse. “How soon can it affect me?” He swallowed hard. He should’ve been stronger and kept control of his feelings. It had been a mistake to ever let her in his home. He’d never forgive himself. “Days, maybe months. Right now you’re weak from blood loss, so your immune system is shot.” Another tear etched her face. He wanted to reach up and wipe it away, but his arm wouldn’t move. “What about you? How can I help you get better?” Varick looked away. He’d be damned if he asked her to do something that would only endanger her further. “You can’t.” She cupped his chin and forced him to look at her. “Of course I can. Tell me what to do.” His body shuddered as he tried to take a breath. “I need blood to heal.” The look in her eyes noticeably changed to determination. She wiped at her tears and rested her hands along the sides of his face. “Tell me what to do and I’ll bring you some.” He tightened his grip on her. “I can’t allow it.”

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Aubrey clicked her tongue. “Stop being so damn stubborn.” In that moment he was grateful for the time they’d spent together. Even in anger she was beautiful. “Aubrey, I love that you want to try, but if you leave, you’re at an even bigger risk, and right now I lack the strength to protect you. Because you’ve been bitten, every vampire around the city will pick up your scent and be hot on your trail. They’ll want to feed from you and make you their mate. You’ll never make it to the coven.” She sobbed into his chest. “There has to be another way.” Varick couldn’t stand to listen to her cry. At this point he couldn’t even comfort her. What good was he to her? Maybe death proved the best solution. It might buy her some time. “I shouldn’t have allowed myself to go so long without anything.” Her head shot up and a hopeful look passed along her eyes. “But you drank from Luke, wouldn’t that help?” He shook his head. “I’m afraid not. I knew when I drank from him that it would poison me.” Aubrey raised up an inch and frowned. “How could you do something like that? To me?” An icy draught shot through his body and made him shudder uncontrollably. He didn’t want her to see him like this. “I did it for you. Otherwise he’d never stop hunting you. It’s okay. The time we shared means everything to me.” She held her wrist up and brought it to his lips. “Drink from me.” Varick speared her with a glance. “What? No. I can’t allow that. Don’t mention it again.” “Please, I don’t want to lose you.” Gently he kissed her wrist. “I won’t do anything more that might hurt you.” Anger flooded her eyes. “How can you hurt me? There’s a way isn’t there, but you won’t tell me. Please, I beg you.” Did she realize what she asked of him? Of herself? “To heal us both requires my turning you. It means you give up this life for immortality. I won’t ask you to sacrifice your world for me.” Her forehead creased. “Don’t you care about what I want? If we can heal each other, and spend an eternity together, how is that wrong? Please, I offer myself to you willingly.” He wouldn’t let her live this kind of life. She deserved so much more. “No.” She took his hand and kissed each knuckle. He’d miss the feel of her, the smell of her, the precious sight of her. “What will it take? Explain it to me.” His jaw clenched as a spasm ripped through him. “I can’t just feed from you once, I’d have to

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feed from you again, which means turning you. I won’t let you become a vampire.” She knelt over him, her full breasts pushing along the top of her dress. “You said Dante wouldn’t change my mother. Did he want to change her?” Dante’s words replayed in his mind. “No. He loved her the way she was. He believed the risks they took far outweighed making her become something he feared she’d regret later.” She chewed at her lip. “It would have made things easier for the both of them if she’d become a vampire.” Varick shook his head. “Not necessarily. Her number one concern was you. Bonds of blood come first.” Her adorable nose scrunched up. “Does it hurt, to change?” “When combined with pleasure it lessens the pain, but I don’t think this is right. Luke spent his whole life angry for being changed into something he didn’t want to be. I know he claimed it was all my fault, but I don’t think he ever came to terms with being turned into a vampire.” She jutted out her chin. “That won’t happen to me.” Her courage moved him. “How do you know? You can’t predict how you’ll feel years from now.” “I know because of entries in my mother’s diary. She didn’t have enough time to with her true love, and I believe she’d do things differently if she had the chance.” She pursed her full sensual lips. “You go ahead and say anything you want, but I’ve made my decision.” His vision blurred. He could hardly make out the outline of her face. Right then he wanted to die. At least it would keep her from making a mistake. “I can’t agree to this. Believe me, it moves me how deeply you care, but you need to walk away now and not look back. Let me go.” “Not a chance,” she hissed. “Maybe this will help to change your mind. If you don’t drink from me, and you die, then you’re leaving me to fend for myself. You’ll be leaving me for someone else. Is that what you want?” Varick let out a whoosh of air that hurt like hell. “You are your mother’s daughter. Dante always said Laura was the most stubborn and opinionated woman he’d ever met. And he loved her for it.” “Well, there you go. Argue yourself out of this one.” He couldn’t help but smile. “You’re very brave.” She brought her face up close and nuzzled against his cheek. “No. I’m in love. I want to save you for a change, and in turn it will save us.”

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Love radiated from her body and soothed his pain. How could he give up the chance to spend the rest of his life with her? “I’m moved by your words. If you’re sure this is what you want, I will honor your request. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you.” Her lips brushed against his ear. “It is what I want.” Varick fought against his weakened state and knelt over her body. He pulled her dress up and over her head, admiring her immaculate beauty. Temptation had never looked so good. “How about you part those beautiful thighs for me?” He’d never feared anything more, but he wouldn’t hurt her. Varick covered her lips with his. A sweet, hot, passionate kiss. He sought her tongue as he readied himself to enter her. A growl escaped him as her juices coated the tip of his cock. Fuck he loved the way she was so easily aroused. He savored her heat, how it penetrated his body and gave him one hell of a hard on. Wanting to make sure she was lost in his touch before feeding from her, he pumped his fingers inside her wetness and thumbed her clit. Her body trembled beneath his touch, her whispery mutterings of “more, more, more” steadily gaining volume. He had a hard time not coming right there on the spot and realized he’d have to wait before thrusting his cock into her. For now he’d get her off with his fingers, propelling her closer to an incredible orgasm, and time it just right to bite her. “Talk to me, Aubrey. I need to know when you’re just at the edge.” She moaned, her head tilted back, nipples taut and teasing him as she arched, driving her hips against the cadence of his fingers. Varick bit back his own climax. The flush of her skin let him know she was close. Bent over he eased her neck to the side, whispering softly. “Spill your cum along my fingers, baby. Let me feel that orgasm burn through you.” “Yes,” she moaned. “Yes, uh huh, so close, I’m so close. I’ve gotta come. Oh God, I’ve gotta come right now.” Her pussy clenched around his fingers and he pierced her neck. Varick hadn’t fed from a human in so long he’d forgotten the difference in taste and texture. Her blood swept through him, pulsing like electric currents, restoring his body to full health. She tasted sweet, like spun sugar, her loving essence coating his tongue. Her body relaxed after a series of spasms, making it easier for him to feed. He thought her so brave. She didn’t even cry out. The blood made its way down his throat, blazing a sizzling path of seduction and lust. His pulse sped up as he drank. His heart pounded loudly in his chest.

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Varick stopped shaking and again felt alive. Her life pulsed through his veins, filling him with her beautiful agony. Careful to not get caught up in her decadence, he withdrew his fangs and licked up the remaining droplets of blood from around her neck. The craving grew faint and things went back to normal within his body. Suddenly he became conscious of his surroundings and the peaceful look on Aubrey’s face. “Are you okay?” Aubrey’s mind whirred. There hadn’t been a second of pain. Only pleasure. “Yes, I’m fine. I hardly noticed anything, just some pressure against my neck.” She noticed the colour had returned to his face and his eyes sparkled. “How about you? Are you feeling better?” Varick sighed, circling his fingers along her nipples. “My energy is indeed returning. Thank you.” Aubrey had feared losing him, but seeing him now, she let the calm of what she was about to do take over her. With this final feed, her life would forever be changed, and she welcomed it. “Think you can stand my cock in your pussy this time?” His hungry gaze made her light-headed. She wetted her lips and answered in a low, sultry voice. “I’m always ready for your cock.” He bit at her nipples and trailed kisses along her breasts. She tried not to think about him biting her again, instead focusing on the pulse of his cock against her mound. “Bring your knees to your chest and latch them over my shoulders.” She did as he said, aware of how moist her pussy must be. Varick slid his fingers back and forth over her slick cleft. He brushed her hair away from her neck and kissed where the other holes were. “You can still change your mind.” “No. Turn me now. Give us a lifetime to be together. Do this for Dante and my mother.” The head of his cock prodded against her pussy. She waited, not breathing, muscles tense. “Relax, baby.” She forced herself to let go right as his teeth and cock pierced her. The combined sensations sent an orgasm rocketing through her. Still he pumped into her, suckling from her neck with sheer ferocity. Aubrey instantly noticed the differences compared to his other bite. Everything she felt was stronger, harder, and more intense. She didn’t think it possible, but his cock seemed bigger, hitting every nerve ending with each thrust. Her nipples were so taut they hurt and her clit—unbelievably raw and sensitive. Even her toes tingled. With her knees bent he penetrated her further, pumping her somewhere into some far off galaxy. Her hips moved like a

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rabbit as she ground and gnashed her pussy against his cock. Her whole body felt ready to jump out of its skin. “Oh god, fuck me hard. Fuck me so damn hard,” she half-begged, half-whined. Her very breath depended on the release of her juices all over his cock. Varick unleashed his hold on her and thrust into her pussy vigorously. She was so close to a much needed release. “I’m going to come, my love. Come with me,” he commanded. She pushed her hips up into him, locked into a rhythm that promised a lifetime of pleasure, but the orgasm eluded her. The room changed in that moment to a dark crimson. She felt like a rabid dog in heat, unable to keep still or pull him inside her enough. “Come with me, now,” he repeated, and this time she was right there. The orgasm jolted her like a shock of electricity. A long, guttural cry shot up from the pit of her stomach and echoed around the room. He pulled out and pressed himself tightly against her. “It’s okay.” His hands lovingly stroked her hair as she adjusted to the odd changes affecting her. “I want to feel your cock again,” she snapped, not even sure where her demanding voice came from. He spoke gently to her, like her mother used to when she’d come home with a skinned knee. “I know, and I’ll pleasure you again once we’re home.” Trembling she tried to push him off her. She felt restless. Predatory. A craving for something other than food clawed at her stomach and she wanted to hunt for it. “Let me go, Varick.” His embraced tightened, almost suffocating. “No baby, not yet. Give it a little more time.” “I want blood, right now,” she shrieked. Panic stole over her. What the hell was her problem? Her skin prickled and an icy coldness burned through her veins. “Here, drink from me. It will quell your instinct to hunt and feed.” Pulling up his sleeve, he bared his wrist for her to drink. Aubrey brought her mouth to his wrist and gave him a questioning look. He nodded, his eyes soft, voice gentle. “That’s right. Sink your teeth into my wrist and drink. It won’t hurt me at all.” The craving was too much for her and she sank her teeth in, allowing his blood into her body. At first taste she gagged, but as it trickled down her throat it turned velvety, like a fine wine. Her

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stomach clenched, and she suckled his wrist hard, enjoying the way it coursed through her. “Not too much Aubrey, you must start slow or you will never quench your appetite.” After a few more drops against her tongue, she stopped and gazed into the eyes of the man she loved. Her hero. Her vampire lover. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me.” “It will take some getting used to,” he said soothingly. “You’ll learn ways to control the cravings before they control you.” She nodded, feeling somewhere between excessively hungry and slightly drunk. “I trust you.” He lay on his back and cradled her neck in his arm. “Our new life starts now. Soon you’ll be my queen and have the run of the mansion.” “I only want the run of you,” she joked. “My next vows will be marriage vows. You’d better believe I’ll love, honor, and…have you obey.” Aubrey glared. “I think you’ve overfed. Your head has become much too big for your body.” His howling laughter made her smile. “Honestly, I can’t wait for you to be my husband.” He clasped her hand and kissed each fingertip. “A vampire’s vow spans an eternity.” She had a feeling her face glowed. “The same span as our love.”