The Vampire's Kiss

by Cynthia Eden

  He wanted to lay her down. To strip the clothes from her perfect body and sink into her. To join with her. To lose himself in her warmth.

  But his brother was out there. Stalking the night. Hunting.

  And he had to be stopped.

  With a fierce effort of will, he pulled away from Savannah. Her eyes were deep, mysterious pools. She stared at him, waiting.

  He took a deep breath, bringing his rampaging body back under control. Now wasn’t the time. Later, they would be together. They would have forever.

  He stood and with a wave of his hand he sent the balcony doors crashing open.

  “Come, Savannah. It’s time we hunt.” They would find their prey. They would find Geoffrey.

  And destroy him.

  HE SENSED HIS brother the moment he rose. He could feel William’s anger. His rage.

  Geoffrey smiled. His brother was losing control. Good. His emotions made him weak, vulnerable.

  Easy prey.

  And he could feel the women. Savannah. Her mind was strong. He could sense her anger. Her fear.

  He loved it when his victims feared him. Fear tasted so good, so sweet.

  He knew they were coming for him. Fools. They actually thought they could defeat him. Didn’t they know the power he held?

  They would find out. Yes, they would find out very soon. It was time to set his trap.

  And time for them to die.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Death is coming for me.

  —Entry from the diary of Henry de Montfort,

  December 24, 1068

  THEY RETURNED TO the park where they’d sensed Geoffrey. His resting place had to be close by.

  Savannah watched William carefully. She wanted to weep for him, for all that he’d been forced to endure. He’d watched Henry die. She knew he blamed himself for his brother’s death. She could see the guilt, feel it emanating from him. She wished she could take that burden from him. She knew that he’d tried to save his brother. He’d taken the dark kiss, just to spare Henry’s life.

  But in the end, he’d lost Henry.

  And now, he would be forced to kill Geoffrey. To slay his own brother before his brother killed him.

  “This way.” William began walking down a faint trail, his sharp gaze scanning the area.

  Savannah took a deep breath and followed him. She knew that William could sense his brother, and she was desperately afraid that Geoffrey could sense him, too.

  “Do you think he knows we’re here?” She asked, shivering as she remembered the sound of Geoffrey’s voice calling to her. Savannah. He’d known they were here the night before. Would he know now?

  “He knows,” William said simply. “Try to guard your thoughts as best you can.”

  She nodded.

  The path ended at the edge of the park. William’s dark gaze swept the area, drifting lightly over the empty street and the old houses. He began walking, his stare intense, as he focused on Geoffrey.

  The street was eerily silent. It was fairly early in the evening, just a little after eight, but no one was around. All of the houses were locked up tight, almost as if those who lived there sensed something evil was on the streets.

  William turned at the street corner. “Where are you?” He whispered softly. His brows were drawn together, and she knew that he was concentrating fiercely, using all of his psychic power.

  “Dammit!” He exploded. “Where the hell are you?” A muscle flexed along the hard plane of his jaw.

  Savannah’s heart pounded. She could feel his frustration beating against her. “William?”

  He swung around, his expression stark. “It’s just like every damned time before. I feel the echo of his presence, but I can’t tell where he is.” He took a deep, shuddering breath. “Or where he’s gone.”

  In the distance, Savannah heard the wail of a siren.

  “Focus, William,” she ordered, her voice calm and clear. “Use your power and picture him. See him.” Find him.

  He shook his head. “I can’t. I’m not strong enough.” He waved his hand toward the houses. “There are too many people in the way. Too many thoughts. Too many voices. They’re drowning him out.” Understanding flared in his eyes. “He’s using them to hide behind. That’s why he picked the city. He could disappear here, and the voices, the thoughts, would shield him.” I’m not strong enough, he finished mentally.

  “Maybe you’re right,” she said softly. “Maybe one vampire’s mind isn’t powerful enough to track someone like Geoffrey.” She hesitated. “But maybe two vampires can do it.” She closed her eyes and focused her mind on William, pouring all of her power and strength into him. Into his mind.

  “What are you—” His body trembled as he felt her warmth pour through him. “Savannah?”

  “Use me,” she whispered. “Find him.”

  William swallowed. Lust flared in his eyes. His need, his hunger, wrapped around her. She could feel him, his emotions, his needs, swirling within her mind.

  And she knew that he could feel her. Her thoughts, her dreams, her fears.

  His eyes flared red. “Are you sure?” he gritted.

  “Yes.”

  And he took her power, pulling it, pulling her, inside of him. Deep inside.

  Their minds linked. Their thoughts, their feelings. They merged and became one. She could feel him, feel his body, his strength. She couldn’t tell where she ended and he began.

  His power doubled, and his mind flashed as he sent a psychic pulse into the night. Together, they focused on Geoffrey, channeling all of their strength into finding him.

  A faint black cloud appeared before them.

  Savannah gasped. “What is that?” She could feel evil, dark twisted hate.

  The cloud stretched out, heading down the street and into the night. “That’s Geoffrey.” William’s gaze was locked on the dark cloud. Come on, I don’t know how long I can hold his trail.”

  They ran, following the dark cloud, snaking down streets and alleys.

  And for every step they took, their minds stayed joined. Completely linked. Their hearts pounded in unison.

  They ran forward, knowing they didn’t have a minute to lose. The road curved, and then it snaked sharply to the left.

  Savannah’s eyes widened at the sight before her.

  “A cemetery?” She knew William had to hear the horror in her voice. “He’s resting inside a cemetery?”

  A huge wrought-iron gate surrounded the cemetery. Savannah could see crumbling tombstones and high stone vaults nestled behind the gate. The grass was overgrown, weeds covering many of the headstones.

  “I should have known,” William muttered, easily leaping over the fence. “A place like this would appeal to him.”

  Savannah bit her lip, surveying the high gate. It was at least twelve feet high. The top of the gate was lined with sharp pointed tips, like spearheads. She crouched low, keeping her eyes locked on those sharp points, and then she sprang into the air.

  She landed on the other side, her knees barely buckling beneath her.

  William’s gaze swept over the cemetery. The black cloud had led to the gate. There was no trail inside.

  “Stay close,” he whispered. “And don’t let your guard down for a minute.”

  Adrenaline and fear pumped through her. She knew Geoffrey could attack them at any moment. He could be anywhere. In the ground beneath them. Crouched above them in the branches of the old oak tree. Or waiting, lurking in the old mausoleum.

  The wind howled softly. Dead leaves crunched beneath Savannah’s feet. And she smelled death. Her body was tense. Her heart pounded.

  William walked before her, his body crouched and ready for battle.

  She stepped carefully over a broken heads
tone. “Can you sense him?”

  No. I can’t feel him at all.

  She scanned the cemetery, her gaze drifting over the graves. She saw a faint flash of light, a brief glimmer in the darkness.

  Her eyes narrowed and she took a step forward. What was that? She moved closer. She could see what looked like a handle of some sort, a gleaming handle encrusted with jewels. It was—

  “My father’s sword.” William crouched down and picked up the weapon, removing it from the old headstone. He held the weapon easily.

  The long blade gleamed in the faint moonlight. Looking at William, with the broad sword clutched in his hands, Savannah could easily imagine him as he once had been. A warrior. Strong. Deadly.

  “Why would he leave your father’s sword here?”

  “He was sending me a message.”

  “What kind of message?”

  His fingers clenched around the sword. “The last time I saw this sword, I was on my father’s land and my brother was using it to try to kill me.” He took a deep breath.

  Savannah waited silently, wondering what was next.

  “He used this weapon to kill my father. He almost killed me with it. He wouldn’t just leave it behind for no reason. He values it too much.” His gaze swept over the dark cemetery once again. His shoulders seem to drop.

  “What is it?”

  “Geoffrey’s gone. Gone from the cemetery. Gone from Seattle.”

  “What?” Impossible. He couldn’t have gotten away from them!

  William gazed down at the weapon in his hand. “Geoffrey returned home. He went back to my father’s land. Back to the place where this nightmare began. And he wants me to follow him.”

  “How do you know that?” She asked, stunned.

  He pointed to the headstone. “The sword was placed on this particular slab for a reason. Read the inscription, Savannah.”

  She glanced down. Time had erased the dead man’s name, but she could still see the faint words etched in the middle of the headstone. Death takes us back to the beginning.

  “The beginning,” she whispered as understanding dawned. The beginning of William’s life as a vampire had been in a blood-soaked European castle. She lifted her chin and met his stare. “Let’s go.”

  THEY ARRIVED IN France three days later. They’d had to charter a private plane. William could have flown on his own, using his powers, but Savannah wasn’t strong enough for such a journey.

  They’d gotten the plane and made arrangements for all of the back windows to be blackened out. The owner of the plane had agreed to their request with only a raised brow. He’d told them that after flying numerous celebrities, he was used to people’s “oddities.”

  The plane touched down in the airport an hour after sunset. Savannah and William thanked the pilot, and then after giving him a small compulsion, they disappeared, knowing the pilot had completely forgotten about the man and woman that he’d just taken across the Atlantic.

  WILLIAM CRADLED Savannah carefully against him, feeling her heart pound as they flew across the countryside. He cloaked their presence, so if anyone happened to glance into the air, they would not be seen.

  He wished that he could stop, find her a room in a quiet village, and face Geoffrey on his own. He was terrified that something would happen to her.

  “I’m going to be fine,” she murmured softly, her voice music to his hungry ears. “Stop worrying about me.”

  Let me take you to safety. I can face him alone.

  “No. We’ll face him together.”

  But would they survive together?

  He kissed her temple, inhaling her sweet scent. And, for the first time since Henry’s death, he prayed. He prayed for God to protect Savannah.

  The miles flew past, the countryside little more than a green blur beneath him. Then he saw the river. The winding, black river. And he knew that he was home.

  He could see his father’s land, could see the crumbling remains of the old keep. The ancient stone wall. The empty moat. But there was no sign of Geoffrey.

  He drifted to the ground, placing Savannah gently on her feet.

  He walked toward the stone steps leading to the old entrance to his father’s keep. “This was where I found my father.”

  He could still see the red stain on the top step. His father’s blood. His hands clenched, and he walked up the steps. For just a second, he thought he heard his father’s voice.

  “William?”

  He blinked, glancing back at Savannah. Her arms were crossed over her chest. Her face was tight with concern.

  Concern for him.

  He walked back down the steps. Turning his back on the old stone, on the past.

  “Link with me,” he whispered.

  And she did.

  Her warmth flooded through him. Her goodness, her strength.

  In that brief moment, he forgot his past. He forgot Geoffrey. His only thought was her.

  Savannah.

  He pulled her into his arms, his lips touching hers. She met him eagerly, her passion a perfect match for his.

  Their bodies pressed together. Their hearts pounded.

  He lifted his head slowly. “Savannah, I—”

  A cold wind swept across the land, chilling him. And he heard the mocking sound of his brother’s laughter.

  He spun around, pushing Savannah behind him. He scanned, drawing on both his own power and Savannah’s new strength. He could feel his brother, feel the taint of his presence.

  Geoffrey was close. Too close.

  If you want me so badly, brother, then come and find me.

  Geoffrey’s taunt whispered through his mind. Behind him, he felt Savannah shiver. Connected to him as she was, she’d heard Geoffrey’s voice, felt his evil.

  Abruptly, William severed the link with Savannah.

  “William? What—”

  “We can’t be linked, not now. If something happens—” He ran his hand over his face. If something happened to him, and they were linked at the time, then Savannah would experience his death, just as she’d been forced to share Mark’s last moments. He wouldn’t put her through that agony again.

  “We can’t afford the link now,” he told her, carefully shielding his thoughts. “It will drain our powers too quickly.”

  He could feel her confusion and fear. But he knew she struggled to contain herself, to be strong.

  In that moment, he wanted nothing more than to pull her into his arms and hold her. Just hold her. But his brother was waiting. And death would come for either him or Geoffrey this night.

  “Where is he?” Savannah whispered.

  William’s gaze scanned the rough terrain. Where would his brother hide? Where—

  A wolf howled.

  William froze. There’d never been a wolf on his father’s land. Never.

  The howl sounded again. Louder.

  The wolf was close, and William could feel the beast’s overwhelming hunger . . . and its dark rage.

  “That’s him, isn’t it?” Savannah stepped forward, standing by William’s side. “It’s Geoffrey.”

  William nodded. His brother was using his power to shapeshift.

  She took a deep breath. “Are you sure that you can do this?”

  He glanced down at her gleaming eyes and pale face. “Geoffrey has to be stopped.” He couldn’t let his brother hurt anyone else.

  She nodded.

  He turned back to face the night, to face his brother. He could sense the wolf’s location, could even hear the soft crunch of leaves beneath the pads of the wolf’s paws. The wolf was running, deep into the brush, and he wanted William to follow him.

  So he did.

  He ran into the night, with Savannah close on his heels. He ran over the d
ank earth and into the dark woods. Over the fallen trees, over the land that had seen centuries of murder and pain. He ran past the old village. Past the river where he’d nearly drowned. He ran as fast as he could, following the wolf as it led him deeper and deeper into the night.

  The trees began to thin, the brush to disappear. The glowing moon shone down upon him, illuminating the sloping land, and William realized where the wolf was leading him.

  Death takes us back to the beginning.

  The cliffs stood before him.

  And there, in the clearing, with red eyes and bared fangs, the wolf waited.

  He stopped, staring at the cliffs, at the wolf, and he remembered.

  Henry, covered in blood, his body still upon the hard earth.

  His father, his body slashed, his blood staining the stone steps.

  And Geoffrey, aiming his father’s sword straight at his heart. Laughing.

  William reached back, and pulled his father’s sword from the sheath he’d strapped to his back. The blade gleamed in the moonlight. William swore he could still see blood on the shining tip.

  The wolf blinked, and in a flash, Geoffrey stood before him.

  “Welcome home, brother.” His red stare drifted briefly over Savannah’s tense body. “I see you brought me a nice treat to enjoy. And believe me, I will enjoy her . . . right after I kill you.”

  William stepped forward, lifting the sword. “You’re not going to touch her.”

  Geoffrey lifted one dark brow. “Let me guess. You think you’re going to stop me, to kill me.” He smiled and shook his head. “I do not think so. You couldn’t kill me before. And you won’t be able to kill me now.”

  “Don’t bet on it,” William growled.

  Geoffrey laughed. “Come on, I’m your brother. Your blood. You can’t kill me. You won’t kill me.”

  “You’re not my brother.” William took another step forward. “My brother died on this cliff over nine hundred years ago. Henry was the only brother I ever had. You’re nothing to me. You never were.”

  Geoffrey’s eyes flashed, and he attacked, launching his body not at William, but at Savannah. Geoffrey’s hands shifted, becoming deadly claws. He reached for Savannah, his face a twisted mask of hate.