Chapter 7
He would follow her anywhere. Nevin materialized right beside Amalia in a darkened bedroom, instantly on the alert. There was a shape beneath the bedding, but he couldn’t see anything other than dark hair on a pillow. Rage filled his veins, flooding them with the heat of his fury. This was the vampire who had tried to kill his woman. Nevin would rip his head off and place it on a pike at the entrance of the castle. Every Nightkind who came near would know that to fuck with Amalia meant death.
“Amalia, darling. To what do I owe this surprise?” A smooth, accented, familiar voice cut through Nevin’s thoughts. And it came from behind them. “Have you received my,” he paused, “gifts?”
They swung around to face the man who had been killing her people and leaving them as presents.
“Vlad,” Amalia greeted him. “Taking your Dracula act a bit too far, are we?” She waved her hand in the direction of his clothing. Was the vampire wearing a cape? Unbelievable.
“I see you are charming as ever. And we have a guard dog today, how quaint. I don’t think you’ve ever needed—” he trailed off with an audible gasp. “You,” Vladimir accused. “You are dead. I killed you centuries ago. I saw it with my own eyes. You died! I will not have anyone stand in my way. I will have her!”
All logic left him as Nevin faced the man who had cut his throat, nearly severing his head, several centuries ago. With a roar, he leapt for Vladimir, drew his dagger, and returned the favor. But his prey was fast. A gasping Vladimir materialized on the other side of the bed, his bloody hands wrapped tightly around his throat. The gaping wound would kill him if he bled out, but he staggered to the form on his bed and tore the sheets off. The pale woman had time to do little more than blink before Vladimir savaged her neck.
Amalia and Nevin were quick, but they were not fast enough. Vladimir had gotten enough blood to start healing and was already across the room. Nevin reached over his shoulder to draw his sword, but Vladimir was gone. Amalia had a candelabra in hand and was inspecting the woman. He caught her gaze and she shook her head. The human was dead.
Within seconds, Vladimir was back, sword in hand, fresh blood down his shirt. Nevin raised his sword, and found Amalia at the end of it. It hadn’t gone through, thank the goddess, but Vladimir had fisted her hair and used her as a shield. The coward.
“You bitch! This is my favorite castle,” Vladimir wheezed out.
Pulling his sword back from her chest, Nevin calculated how quickly he could materialize behind the Russian king when the smell of smoke thickened in the room.
All three of the vampires looked at the fully engulfed bed. Amalia must have dropped the candelabra when Vladimir grabbed her.
The momentary distraction was all he needed. Nevin materialized behind Vladimir and, once again, swung his sword. His momentum was so great, that when Vladimir disappeared, Nevin spun a full circle before standing in front of Amalia. He knew Vladimir was gone, but he also knew he’d turn up again. Whether it was another several centuries or only a few hours, Vladimir would not let this go.
Alerted to the sound of Amalia choking on the smoke-filled air, Nevin embraced her and dematerialized. They appeared outside the fortress walls and watched the morning sky fill with smoke.
Sebastian sauntered towards him, the weak daylight apparently didn’t bother him.
“How is it you’re out in the daylight, Sebastian?”
“Oh, don’t let my stunning good looks fool you, Highlander. I’m weak as a kitten.”
“Right,” said Nevin. A kitten with really big teeth.
“My Lady,” Sebastian bowed. “We should return to the stronghold. Your people will want to know of Vlad’s death.”
“He isn’t dead.”
“What? But his bedroom is on fire.”
“I know, but he got away.” She laid her hand on his arm. “I’m so sorry, Sebastian. I know how much his death would mean to you.” Of all people, Sebastian perhaps had the most reason to want Vlad dead.
“All the more reason to get you back home. You need to be protected.”
“I know.” She turned to look up at Nevin, who was watching the dark cloud of smoke.
“You should go back with him.”
“Aren’t you coming?”
“You know I can’t.”
“I know no such thing. I don’t understand. My people will accept you, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
Nevin shook his head, “It’s not that.”
“Is it,” her voice cracked, so she cleared her throat and began again. “Is it because you’re still angry that I turned you?”
Her eyes were bright with unshed tears, but he forced himself to say it anyway.
“You know it was just sex.”
Her eyes widened at the insult, but she didn’t flinch. Instead, she straightened her shoulders, blinked back the tears that never fell, and she vanished.
Sebastian said, “I don’t normally interfere in things—”
Nevin snorted, interrupting him. “Aye, you do. You make great sport of it.”
Sebastian continued on, ignoring the comment, “She mated you that day.”
“Yesterday? I know.”
“Not yesterday. The day she found you dying in a field.”
“What? No, she turned me into a vampire. She didn’t mate me.”
“True,” he acknowledged with a dip of his head. “But you drank from her again after you became Nightkind. We don’t drink from our own, and very rarely do we mate. Mating is forever, you know, and forever is a long time when you’re immortal. That’s why you’ve been seen as such a threat. Most of us were fine with the mating, as long as she never claimed you.” Sebastian sighed heavily and shook his head. “But after yesterday? Her life will be in danger, and so will yours.”
Nevin growled, “I will hunt down the Russian and put his head on a pike.”
“Well, I think you would be better off by her side, than scouring the world for Vlad.”
He eyed him warily. “Why are you telling me this?”
“Amalia is my friend. She saved me from a bad situation once. She deserves my loyalty. And she deserves to have the man she loves stand by her, even if he is a barbarian from the Highlands who isn’t good enough for her.”
She didn’t love him. Nevin knew she cared, but it wasn’t love. She was stubborn, she wouldn’t have left so easily if she loved him. A small voice whispered that she would never have turned him into what he hated if she truly loved him, but he knew that wasn’t true.
Sebastian left as silently as he’d appeared, allowing Nevin’s mind to wreak havoc on emotions long-since forgotten. If Amalia loved him, Nevin would find a way to make sure she never regretted choosing him. He would spend every second of every day seeing to her happiness. If she loved him, he owed it to them both to find her. She had told him once that he was the best tracker out there. She wasn’t wrong. He’d hunted men he’d never met, vampires whose scents were masked. He could hunt her. And he had her taste now; she could never escape him. It was time for him to hunt. Besides, he knew where she was going.
***
Nevin found Amalia in her condo, packing a suitcase and picking through the rubble.
She stiffened, but otherwise ignored him.
“I’m sorry about your home.”
She still ignored him.
Scrubbing both hands across his face, Nevin tried a different tactic. “In my seven centuries I’ve never needed anyone for anything. I handled becoming Nightkind on my own. I dealt with nearly being beheaded on my own. This is new for me.”
“Are you saying you need me?” Amalia sounded wary, but she still hadn’t turned around.
Nevin strode across the room, giving them both some space. He leaned back against the counter of her breakfast bar and shoved his hands in his pockets.
He was silent for a long time before answering her. “I am.” He laughed, an ugly, harsh sound. “I can’t seem to help myself, can I? I breathe, I smell you. I eat, I
taste you. I think, it’s about you. I fuck, and all I want is you.”
She finally faced him, her lips twisted into a sad smile. “You keep going on like this, and I’ll think you like me.”
Nevin didn’t like that look on her face. He had to fix this. “I don’t like you. Not even a wee bit.”
“Wait, what? You don’t?” she gaped at him. “What the hell, Nevin!”
He stalked towards her and interrupted her by placing his palm over her mouth.
“Will you be quiet? I don’t like you. I love you.” Nevin felt her lips soften behind his hand. “You’re bossy, opinionated, and you think you know what’s best for everyone.” She tried to pull away, but he pressed his hand against her mouth a bit harder. “You’re also fiercely loyal, determined, and most of the time you do know what’s best for your people. So yeah, I love you.”
Finally, he moved his hand away from her mouth, his fingers lingering against her soft skin. Pressing his lips to a stunned Amalia, Nevin was patient enough to wait.
“B-but you said that it was just sex.”
“I didn’t mean it. You’re a queen. You should be with someone who will help you rule your people, not someone like me.”
“If this is because you were a blacksmith 700 years ago instead of a nobleman—”
He cut her off with a shake of his head. “No, it’s not that. It’s that I don’t know how to be anything but alone. I’ve been alone for so long, I can’t help you with your people.”
“Nevin, I don’t care about that. I just want to be together. I’ve been in love with you since I first saw you. You have no idea how hard it’s been for me to stay away.”
“Why did you?”
“You needed space. And you hated me, remember?”
“I never hated you.”
“I don’t believe that for a second.”
Nevin closed his eyes. “I hated myself. I hated what I’d become. Subjected to living in the shadows, drinking blood, becoming what I loathed.” Lifting his lids, his voice deepened, “Lusting after a vampire.”
She pressed her body against his and tipped her face up, silently asking for a kiss.
He was only too eager to kiss her. He wanted her more than he’d ever wanted anything in his life. He wanted to take it slow, to worship her body, but she was already breathing hard, the rise and fall of her breasts taunting him.
He dropped to his knees and unfastened her pants, sliding them down, one leg at a time, over her bare feet. His hands gripped her hips as he pressed a hot kiss against her core.
They made it to her bed this time, but he wasn’t able to go slowly.
***
Lying in bed, his fingers trailing up and down her side, Amalia was content. For the first time in centuries, she felt whole. “He won’t give up, you know,” she murmured, “Vlad, I mean.”
“Aye, I know. I burnt down his favorite castle. It’s revenge he’ll be after. And I’ll be ready for him.”
She twined their fingers together. “We’ll be ready.”
Turning, he looked into her eyes, “Aye, we’ll be ready.”
###
About the Author:
Laura Hunsaker spends way too much time daydreaming and not enough sleeping. Staying up late at night writing, ensures her daydreams become reality. Her first book in the Magic of the Highlands series is available now at all major retailers.
www.laurahunsaker.com
Discover other titles by author Laura Hunsaker:
Highland Destiny
Highland Games
Amethyst Heat
Acknowledgements:
Thank you to Cynthia Eden. A big, giant Thank You.
Annie, thank you for each time you put everything aside to help me out. Another big thank you to all the book bloggers out there. Each one of you rocks. And how could I forget you? I would never! Thank you to all the readers of this story.
Disclaimer:
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer's imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the author.
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Cover Design by LFD Designs for Authors
Highlander Reborn
Laura Hunsaker
Copyright September 2012 by Laura Hunsaker
Smashwords Edition
Highlander Reborn Page 4