Awaken the Darkness
Page 27
“You made no mistakes, my friend. You did nothing wrong. And my death was actually a good thing.”
Stanislav stared at him, appalled. “How can you say that?”
Releasing him, Yuri stepped back and wrapped his arm around the woman, drawing Stanislav’s attention to her. “Because it enabled me to be with Cat.”
As Stanislav stared at her, uncomprehending, Susan moved to stand beside him and tucked her hand in his. He gripped it tightly, needing the contact. “What?”
“Marcus said you remember all of your past now,” Yuri said.
“You talked to Marcus?”
“I talk to him often, when no one else is around. Your memory is once more intact?” Yuri asked again.
“Yes.”
“Then you remember why I was so distracted in the weeks leading up to the big battle.” He smiled down at the woman. “I had fallen in love with a woman I couldn’t have.”
Cat smiled and held her hand out to Stanislav. “Hello. I’m Catherine.”
Stanislav took the hand she offered and brought it to his lips. “Stanislav. It’s a pleasure to meet you…” He trailed off as realization dawned. “You’re the dreamwalker?”
“In a manner of speaking,” she replied with a British accent.
Yuri spoke, once more drawing his gaze. “She’s a spirit like me, Stanislav. She’s Bastien’s sister.”
He stared at her. “Sebastien Newcombe’s?” The immortal black sheep’s sister had been slain two centuries ago in a fit of madness by her husband after he turned vampire. But Stanislav had thought Yuri had fallen for a human woman who couldn’t safely be transformed. A woman he couldn’t have.
Understanding dawned. He met Yuri’s gaze.
Like Marcus, Yuri had been born with the ability to see spirits.
Yuri nodded. “She haunts David’s home.”
Cat grimaced. “I’ve always hated that term.”
Yuri grinned. “That’s okay, sweetheart. We both haunt it now.”
Because his death had freed him to be with her, the ghost he had fallen in love with. “And you’re happy?” Stanislav asked, trying to wrap his mind around it.
“Very happy,” Yuri professed. “Even more so now that you have returned.” His gaze shifted to Susan. “Thank you for bringing him back.”
Disturbed by his lapse in manners, Stanislav hastily introduced her. “Susan, this is Yuri.” He had told her all about him. “Yuri, Susan.”
She smiled. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Yuri took her hand and brought it to his lips for a kiss. “I’m glad Stanislav found you, Susan.” He winked. “Or vice versa.”
Her eyes widened. “You feel so real.” Color immediately flooded her cheeks. “Oh. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
Laughing, Yuri covered their clasped hands. “No worries. In the dream realm, we feel as real as you do out of it.” He released her hand and winked at Stanislav. “And we can visit you as often as you like.”
“Often,” Stanislav blurted, so damned glad his friend could still be part of his life. He couldn’t wait to get to know the woman who had stolen his heart. He turned to Susan. “Is that all right?”
She leaned into his side. “Of course it is.” She smiled at Yuri. “I’m telepathic and have seen you in his thoughts and memories so much that I feel as though I already know you. If I can get to know you even more here in the dream realm, all the better.”
Yuri winked. “I can tell you all the embarrassing things he left out while recounting the events of his past.”
Stanislav narrowed his eyes. “And I can do the same for Catherine.”
Catherine’s face brightened. “Oh yes. Please, do.”
All laughed.
“Does Seth know?” Stanislav asked. Seth seemed to possess all of the gifts the other immortals had combined, so Stanislav assumed he could see ghosts, too.
Yuri scowled. “No. Seth is the only thorn in my side.”
Catherine cast him a reproving look, then turned to Stanislav and Susan. “Seth blames himself for Yuri’s death. The wound is still raw, so he—”
“Won’t face me,” Yuri interrupted, his irritation plain. “Every time I enter a room, he leaves it.”
Catherine leaned into his side and patted his chest. “Be patient, darling. He’s hurting. He’ll come around eventually.”
Stanislav nodded. “I’ll see to it personally if he doesn’t.”
Yuri smiled. “Damned right you will. If anyone can make him see reason, you can. You’re as stubborn as a mule.”
Susan held up an index finger. “I can attest to that.”
More laughter.
Yuri looped an arm around Catherine’s shoulders and began walking backward, leading them out of the kitchen. “Cat and I have become rather adept at controlling and manipulating dreams while you’ve been gone. And there is something I wish to show you, brother.”
Smiling, Stanislav gave Susan’s hand a squeeze and followed them. “All right.”
Yuri and Catherine led them to the back door and out onto the deck.
Stars twinkled above them in a cloudless midnight sky. A cool breeze rustled leaves as frogs and crickets sang.
Stanislav followed Yuri and Catherine down the steps, Susan at his side, so happy to be with the two people he loved most in the world.
Moonlight bathed them as they walked across the expansive back lawn.
Yuri stopped in the center of it and faced them.
Stanislav halted. “So?” he asked. “What did you wish to show me?”
Yuri’s smile stretched into a grin. “This.”
The moon above suddenly morphed into the sun, bathing the meadow in brilliant light.
Alarm striking, Stanislav threw up an arm to shield his face and prepared to bolt toward the shelter of nearby trees.
But Yuri grabbed his wrist, holding him in place. “Wait.”
Stanislav did, squinting at Yuri in the bright afternoon light.
“What are you doing?” Susan blurted, anxiety creasing her features as she tugged at Yuri’s arm. “You know he can’t be in the sun. It’ll hurt him!”
Yuri held Stanislav’s gaze, his large form unmoving. “No, it won’t.”
When his friend’s lips curled up in a smile, Stanislav cautiously lowered his arm and waited. His skin warmed beneath the sun’s rays. But the telltale tingle that usually warned him he would soon begin to pinken and burn never came.
The sun didn’t harm him. Its rays didn’t cause his skin to burn and blister. It just bathed him in the gentle, wondrous warmth he had forgotten it possessed.
His heart began to pound.
Susan stared up at him, her teeth worrying her lower lip.
“It’s okay,” he told her, then met Yuri’s gaze. “The sun isn’t hurting me.”
Yuri shook his head, his smile stretching into a grin that flashed straight white teeth. “Outside of the occasional nightmare, it never will here in the dream realm. But we’ve lived in the darkness for so many centuries, that you and I stopped dreaming of daylight many lifetimes ago.” He gave Catherine a smile full of affection. “I didn’t know I could enjoy the sun again until Cat showed me. Now you can, too.”
Here in dreams, Stanislav could stand in direct sunlight without having to wear that insufferable rubber suit the Network had fashioned for immortals. Here in dreams, he didn’t have to either remain indoors all day or plot a path through dense shade. Here in dreams, he could feel normal again.
Awed by the revelation, Stanislav stared down at Susan.
“It really doesn’t hurt?” she asked, her brow furrowed.
He shook his head, happiness dawning once more as he cupped her face in his hands and studied it for the first time in golden sunlight. “You’re even more beautiful when kissed by the sun.”
Smiling, she wrapped her arms around his waist. “I would much rather be kissed by you.”
He gladly caressed her lips with his, then held her close as h
e turned back to Yuri and Cat.
Yuri smiled. “We’ve much more to show you, my friend. Now that you’re back, Cat and I intend to fill your dreams with many adventures.”
Stanislav pressed a kiss to Susan’s hair. “I can’t wait.”
She smiled. “Neither can I.”
Thank you for reading Awaken the Darkness. I hope you enjoyed Stanislav and Susan’s story!
If you liked this book, please consider rating or reviewing it at an online retailer of your choice. I appreciate your support so much and am always thrilled when I see that one of my books made a reader happy. Ratings and reviews are also an excellent way to recommend an author’s books, create word of mouth, and help other readers find new favorites.
Thank you again!
Dianne Duvall
www.DianneDuvall.com
Dianne Duvall Books Group
Acknowledgements
I’d like to thank Crystal and my fabulous Street Team for your continued support and for holding down the fort when I’m working hard to meet a deadline. You all rock! I’d also like to thank the members of my Dianne Duvall Books Group on Facebook. I’m having so much fun with you. If you haven’t joined yet and enjoy my Immortal Guardians and/or The Gifted Ones series, we’d love to see you there.
Special thanks go to Anne Victory, who is such a joy to work with, and to Syneca Featherstone, who brings the covers I imagine to vivid life. I also thank the proofreader, formatter, and other behind-the-scenes individuals who helped me bring you Awaken the Darkness.
More thanks go to the bloggers, reviewers, and wonderful readers who have picked up copies of my books and helped spread the word about them. I appreciate you all so much. And, of course, I’d like to thank my Facebook and Twitter friends and my blog followers who share in my excitement with every release and make me laugh and smile even when I’m stressing over deadlines. You’re the best!
About the Author
Dianne Duvall is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of the Immortal Guardians and The Gifted Ones series. Reviewers have called Dianne's books "fast-paced and humorous" (Publishers Weekly), "utterly addictive" (RT Book Reviews), "extraordinary" (Long and Short Reviews), and "wonderfully imaginative" (The Romance Reviews). Her books have twice been nominated for RT Reviewers' Choice Awards and are routinely deemed Top Picks by RT Book Reviews, The Romance Reviews, and/or Night Owl Reviews.
Dianne loves all things creative. When she isn’t writing, Dianne is active in the independent film industry and has even appeared on-screen, crawling out of a moonlit grave and wielding a machete like some of the vampires she loves to create in her books.
For the latest news on upcoming releases, contests, and more, connect with Dianne online:
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Books by Dianne Duvall
THE GIFTED ONES
Historical and Time-Travel Series
A Sorceress of His Own
Book 1
"Full of danger, intrigue and passion. Dianne Duvall brought the characters to life and delivered an addicting and exciting new series. I'm hooked!"
—Reading in Pajamas
Rendezvous With Yesterday
Book 2
Top Pick
“I loved this book! It had pretty much all of my favorite things—medieval times, a kick-ass heroine, a protective hero, magic, and a dash of mayhem.”
—The Romance Reviews
IMMORTAL GUARDIANS
Paranormal Romance Series
Darkness Dawns
Book 1
An RT Reviewers’ Choice Award Nominee
“This is a strong start in what looks to be a thrilling and chilling new paranormal series.
Fantastic!”
—RT Book Reviews
Night Reigns
Book 2
Top Pick
“This blend of kick-butt action, intriguing plot twists and heartfelt passion is utterly addictive! Talented Duvall has carved out a solid place for herself in the paranormal genre.”
—RT Book Reviews
Phantom Shadows
Book 3
Top Pick
“With a deeply emotional love story, two beautiful, complex main characters and a pulse-pounding adventure that won't let up, this book was haunting and addictive and I loved every page.”
—The Romance Reviews
In Still Darkness
Book 3.5
“Readers will appreciate the rich characterizations and the kick-butt action of Duvall's In Still Darkness”
— Publishers Weekly
Darkness Rises
Book 4
An RT Reviewers’ Choice Award Nominee
Featuring a fascinating take on vampires, Darkness Rises is a thrilling, action-packed, suspenseful, funny, steamy paranormal romance readers won't be able to put down until the last page.”
—Affaire de Coeur
Night Unbound
Book 5
“Fans of paranormal romance who haven't discovered this series yet are really missing out on something extraordinary”
— Long & Short Reviews
Phantom Embrace
Book 5.5
"Duvall's hauntingly beautiful novella, set in the world of the Immortal Guardians, portrays the deep love between two people who can never touch, with a wonderfully unexpected ending."
—Publishers Weekly
Shadows Strike
Book 6
“Fans of terrific paranormal romance have hit the jackpot with Duvall and her electrifying series.”
—RT Book Reviews
Blade of Darkness
Book 7
“Dianne Duvall has given us another electrifying page-turner filled with romance, non-stop action, and suspense.”
—Heroes & Heartbreakers