by Gina Rosavin
Even now, her body still warmed at the recollection of his touch. Despite all her doubts, nothing in her life had ever felt more right than being in his arms. God help her, it was where she wanted to be.
She reached her door, and opened her purse to take out her keys. A movement in the shadows drew her attention. She stepped toward it, then stopped short. Sitting on the sidewalk, staring at her with large, golden eyes, was a black wolf. He was perfectly still, almost as if he were a statue carved of marble. His sleek coat glinted in the moonlight, the cool night breeze ruffling his fur.
He watched her intently, then slowly stood and took one step toward her, stopping when she stiffened. Once again, he neared, and she took a deep breath. But he did not threaten in any way.
Katerina remained motionless as he came beside her, sniffed her hand, then rubbed his head against her. Surprised, she remained still, her heart racing in excitement and wariness. He nuzzled her again, and she stroked him, marveling at the silky fur. The animal drew away, and once more watched her before turning and disappearing into the darkness. For several moments, Katerina stared after him, puzzled and exhilarated by the encounter, which capped an already unbelievable night. She finally turned and let herself into the house, and up to her flat.
* * *
Adrian paced the great hall. He shouldn't have appeared to Kat. What had he been thinking? When he saw her alone on the darkened street, he hadn't been able to resist. At first, he meant to confront her, tell her how foolish she was for placing herself in such danger. Then she turned back home, and he used his superior speed and agility to arrive there before her.
She hadn't recognized him.
She hadn't been afraid of his wolf form. Wary, hesitant, but not frightened. The thought pleased him. One more interesting facet which made up the jewel that was Katerina. He wondered how she would have reacted if he had transformed before her. Imagining it brought forth a chuckle.
"Do you find something amusing, du Lac?"
He spun about. Niccolo Machiavelli leaned against the doorway. How had he not noticed the presence of his former friend? The surge of anger was hard to keep at bay, but he managed to maintain his outward sense of calm. He folded his arms.
"Niccolo. I heard rumors you might be in the neighborhood. I didn't expect you to be daring enough to encroach upon my territory."
Niccolo smiled, his dark eyes filled with hatred, his tall, lean frame casting an eerie shadow on the wall. "You never did expect anything of me. You always thought of me as beneath you. How many times did I have to listen to your low opinion? True, you've always been stronger than I am, but not anymore. I've found your weakness. And I will use it to take you down."
Adrian smiled, and fought back a laugh. "Greater creatures than you have tried and failed. You have no idea what you are up against."
"I own Machenicco Corporation."
Adrian stared, his eyes narrowing. It could not be! During the recent proceedings he began against Eurocom, Machenicco had made an attempt to out-maneuver him. So far, Adrian had managed to hold the aggressive company off, but today he received word of a hostile takeover attempt of one of his Swiss banks. By Machenicco Corporation, the same company which had failed in a hard-fought and bitter attempt to gain control of one of Adrian's chemical processing holdings in Russia just weeks earlier.
Machiavelli was making a concerted effort to gain control of companies key to du Lac's success. All the steady progress Adrian had made in the last several years would be undone if he didn't stop the attack. He suspected the wily Italian vampire had more in mind. He narrowed his eyes. "Why are you here? We both know you've been unsuccessful. As you will always be."
"Don't be so sure, du Lac. I thought it was time to let you know who you're dealing with. You will not be the victor this time."
"You've failed in the past, you will do so again. You may go now."
A cold and heartless smile glimmered. Adrian returned it.
"Du Lac, you are making this more enjoyable for me. I can't wait to see you when I finally crush you."
"What makes you think this time will be any different?" "Because I have been keeping a close watch on you. I now have something I can use to ensure my success."
Adrian adjusted his sleeve and lifted his chin. "I doubt that." Niccolo leaned closer. "A certain witch seems to be spending quite a bit of time in your company."
The fury, which rose at the mention of Kat, brought him immediately into full vampire state. He reached for Machiavelli, lifting the Italian easily. Instantly, the other's clawed fingers were at his throat. Adrian held him off with superior strength, baring his fangs with a loud predatory growl. Machiavelli hissed in return, but his struggles weakened as Adrian's hand clamped around his throat. With a roar of outrage, du Lac tossed his nemesis to the floor. He advanced slowly, ready to pounce and destroy the creature of his own making, once and for all. But when the Italian rose to his feet, he held a long stake in his hand. Adrian let his lips curl over his fangs in a mocking sneer. He held his hand out, beckoning Machiavelli to attack.
Chapter Seven
Katerina sipped her tea, her thoughts awhirl with the events of the night. She replayed her evening with Adrian, wishing she could overcome her fear and let him close. If only he were a mortal man, then the fear of him attacking her wouldn't be there. But if he were a mortal man, she knew she wouldn't feel this way. Part of what intrigued her was the fact he was a vampire. A dangerous creature of the night. A shiver passed along her spine. Yet, he had never done anything to harm her. He'd been charming and witty and when he kissed her, she could almost forget the world existed. She wanted him, no, she ached for him. Then why did she keep refusing? After the last time, he seemed so angry. She couldn't blame him. Why had she turned him away? She was the moth and he the deadly flame, enticing her to a dance to the death. Why did she suddenly want to die a glorious, explosive death in his arms?
When he bade her good night, she read the annoyance in his eyes. Had she pushed him too far? Had he read her thoughts and known she feared he would kill her? Worse, did he know she feared more falling in love with him? She was halfway there already. When he looked at her as though she were all that mattered in the world, she was giddy with excitement. It was a good thing she had turned down his job offer. Being near him all day would wreak havoc on her. In the last months, she had established herself as a tough negotiator who got results. Revenues were up at KNT, and she had been a large part of that. She would never have been able to perform at her best if she had to worry about Adrian always being around.
She imagined him coming up behind her in her office, locking the door and sweeping her desk free of clutter before he laid her upon it and…she shook her head. This was getting her nowhere. What was she thinking, mooning over a vampire?
As he had pointed out, he was also a man. A very tempting man, charming, attuned to her every desire. His steady seduction eroded her defenses. She couldn't fight him forever. She knew once she gave in, it would be unlike anything she'd ever known. How she knew that, she wasn't sure, she just believed it.
She paced the living room of her tiny apartment, wishing briefly she had stayed with her parents, for being alone with her racing thoughts was driving her insane. Yet, she knew that would not have helped. Her parents' presence would probably have made all the turmoil worse. Fifteen years in the States had changed her in so many ways. She was not the simple girl who had left the mountains of her homeland for the shiny and noisy USA, with its wonderful freedom and variety of life.
She thought when she finished school, she would finally be her own person. She returned home, determined to face the man who was responsible for her success and be free of him.
How differently things had turned out. Now, slowly drawn even further into his web, she wasn't sure she wanted to escape. What did he really want? Could she truly trust him? He had assured her many times she was in no danger from him. Still… Doubts rose once more. One thing she was certain of, he wanted
her, but as a woman, or as a meal? So far, he'd stood by his word. But every so often, he'd been tense, and there had been a frightening hunger in his eyes. His control was admirable, but would there ever come a time when he had none? Would her greatest fear become a reality?
Forcing her thoughts away from him, she recalled the strange encounter with the black wolf. How odd she had felt no threat from the animal, even though she knew it could rip her throat out if it had attacked. The beast had been strangely tame. When it rubbed its head against her, she felt as if the creature sought her affection.
A knock at the door drew her from her thoughts, and it was all she could do not to run to it. Had he come for her? She wanted to find him on the other side. She yanked the door open, utterly disappointed to find herself face to face with a young woman. Katerina recognized her. Sophie. The one who had tried to kill Adrian.
"Ms. Romanov?" she asked.
"What do you want?" Katerina eyed the dark-haired young woman warily.
"I came because…it's du Lac."
Katerina's heart pounded, though she forced herself to remain outwardly calm. "What about him?"
"He's been…h-hurt."
Katerina's fingers clenched as panic rose in her throat. "You stupid fool, what did you do to him?"
"I-I didn't do anything. But Machiavelli found him. He's been wounded."
Katerina swallowed the lump of fear. "Is he…will he…"
"He says he'll be fine. He's been staked."
Katerina gasped. Staked? Then he'd be… "No! How? What happened? You said he's all right. How?"
"It was in the back, in his shoulder, and his heart wasn't…or he'd already be…but, he's still hurt."
Katerina grabbed her purse and slammed the door behind her. She felt like her own heart was rising up to choke her, her stomach clenched with nausea. "Where is he?"
"At his castle. Dr. Vining is with him, but he was calling for you." Sophie ran after her and jumped into the car before Katerina could protest. In moments, she sped toward the castle. Keeping her eyes on the road, and her voice steady, she asked, "What were you doing there?" "We were trailing Machiavelli. By the time we realized where he'd gone, they were already facing off. When du Lac was hurt, Joshua went after Machiavelli, but he got away."
Katerina didn't voice the next question, since she already knew the answer. Joshua had not destroyed Adrian. "And what did you do?"
"I…I helped du Lac and waited until Vining got there. Then I came for you."
"Who's Vining?" Katerina pushed the gas pedal further, silently cursing the vehicle for not responding quickly enough.
"He's a vampire, too. Sort of a, if you can believe that. He and du Lac go back a long way."
Katerina shot a glance at the other woman. "You know an awful lot about Adrian."
"I was raised to be a hunter, Ms. Romanov. I know everything there is to know about du Lac."
Everything? Katerina wondered. "Then why didn't you kill him when you had the chance?"
As she pulled up in front of the castle, she didn't even bother to listen to Sophie's whispered reply. Katerina ran inside, her legs like rubber. Barely aware Sophie still trailed her, she took the stairs two and a time and burst into Adrian's bedchamber.
He was in the large bed, a man beside him checking his…pulse? Did he have one? This must be Vining. She was aware of Joshua across the room. A quick glance revealed concern in his face, and she briefly wondered why. Then her attention focused on Adrian.
His eyes were closed, and she stepped closer. She moved nearer still and reached a hand to touch him. His cool fingers curled slowly around hers and his eyes opened.
"Kat."
"Adrian. Are you all right?" She leaned over him, touching his cheek, his chin, as if to assure herself.
He smiled. His other hand came up to brush her cheek. "Yes. Dr. Vining has taken care of my wound, and it's healing now. I'm just very tired."
"Rest then." She stood, but he didn't release her hand, drawing her back.
"Stay."
She couldn't refuse him. She nodded and sat down. He closed his eyes. She glanced at Dr. Vining.
"He'll be all right?"
"Yes, he'll be fine. Although he'd heal much faster if he wouldn't…"
"That's enough Vining." Adrian didn't open his eyes as he spoke.
"You heed my words, du Lac, or next time you won't be so lucky." Dr. Vining stared at Katerina a few moments, nodded and smiled approvingly before he turned. And vanished into thin air. Katerina gaped at the spot where he had stood. A throat clearing behind her drew her attention. She turned.
Sophie and Joshua watched her curiously. She stood and folded her arms. It seemed this time their presence had actually helped Adrian. Despite that, she wanted them gone.
"What are you still doing here? You were not invited."
"We just wanted to…" Joshua started to say. When she fixed him with an icy glare, he trailed off.
"What? Take the opportunity to kill him now, when he's already wounded and unable to defend himself?"
Joshua shook his head. "No, I won't. I…"
Adrian's voice cut the hunter off. "I assure you, I am perfectly capable of defending myself."
"Really, we aren't going to…" Sophie stopped at the glare Katerina shot her.
"Thank you for helping Adrian. But you're not needed, and frankly, I don't trust you. Get out."
"Ms. Romanov, be careful," said Sophie.
Katerina narrowed her eyes when she recognized the longing in the younger woman's eyes as she gazed upon Adrian's sleeping form. "Get out," she repeated.
The hunters disappeared, and Katerina turned back to Adrian. He looked peaceful and content. She slipped off her shoes, slowly slid in beside him and pressed herself up against him. In slumber, his body moved toward her, and she nestled her head on his shoulder. She would only stay for a little while.
* * *
Olga sat at the table, watching the man pace. She twisted her hands, and waited for him to break the tense silence.
"What you did was foolish. If Machiavelli destroys du Lac, all we're working for will be lost."
"No, he promised he wouldn't kill him."
"He almost did tonight. If those two bumbling excuses for hunters hadn't shown up, all we've done would have been wasted before it began." The man slammed his fist on the table. Olga jumped back startled. He straightened and offered a regretful smile.
"It's all right. Du Lac still lives." Olga tried to keep the worry from her voice, but judging from the sharp glare he sent her, she'd failed.
"Yes, and you're lucky. But we're running out of time. Katerina must be trained. Have you told her anything?"
Olga shook her head. "I am honoring my husband's wishes by not revealing all. I fear she will be angry when she learns what we did."
"Tell her it was for her own safety, which is the truth."
"Not all of it."
"That is your choice, woman, not mine."
"How am I supposed to tell her I've promised her to another? When she learns everything and du Lac is destroyed, she will come willingly."
He stalked closer and leaned over her. "You had better hope so. I do not like to be cheated out of what is mine."
Olga stood, forcing him back. "Do not try to intimidate me. Without Katerina, there is no chance of this plan succeeding. I know that without her, we will never achieve our goals. You must be patient and let things play out."
"I've waited long enough…"
"Think of how sweet it will be when du Lac realizes the catalyst of his destruction is the woman he loves."
He paused, his eyes narrowing. "What do you mean?"
"I mean he is already falling in love with my daughter. And when she completes the circle, his downfall will be doubly sweet."
He nodded as he contemplated her words. "All right, for now, I will go along with you. But be careful, you play a dangerous game when meddling in the affairs of the heart. You had better pray it doesn't back
fire."
Olga smiled. "It won't. When she has all the facts, she will hate him, and will help us willingly."
"If you're wrong, it will mean all our deaths."
"I'm not wrong."
Chapter Eight
If I'd known this would drive you into my arms, I might have arranged to be injured sooner."
Adrian's voice drifted through Katerina's sleep-dazed mind. How long had she been asleep? Still dark out, so not very long. As she stirred, she realized the intimacy of her position. She curled into him, and his arm kept her anchored against his side. A flash of heat between her legs drew her attention to just how closely. She finally opened her eyes and met his gaze.