Desire the Night

by Amanda Ashley

  Dorothy paused a moment, her thoughts obviously turned inward as she ran her thumb back and forth over her wedding ring. “It wasn’t until a few days after you were born that I found out your father was a werewolf. I’m amazed now that I didn’t realize it sooner. Maybe I didn’t want to admit it. I don’t know if he ever intended to tell me, but one night I went outside for something, I can’t remember what, and I saw him change from wolf to human. It terrified me and I ran into the house. I grabbed you and Mark, then ran into the nursery, and locked the door. My fear enraged your father. When he broke down the door, I told him I wanted a divorce, but he just laughed and told me that werewolves mated for life.

  “I ran away a few times, but”—she shrugged—“he always came after us. He became even more possessive after Mark died. Then, when he found out you had inherited the wolf gene even though you were part human, I knew there was no chance he would ever let you go. And I couldn’t leave without you. You were all I had left.”

  “So, you just, what? Gave up?”

  “You have to understand. I didn’t know how being half werewolf would affect you. It just seemed like you’d be better off here, with those who would understand you, who would be able to help you handle the change when the time came.” She sighed again. “Once I resigned myself to staying here, it wasn’t so bad.” She took Kay’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “I had my little girl. I had a lovely home and every luxury imaginable.”

  “Mom …” Kay shook her head. “I don’t know what to say, except that I don’t want to live your life. Ever.”

  “I know,” Dorothy said sadly. “But I’m afraid you don’t have any other choice.”

  It was near dusk when Kay returned to the house. As soon as she stepped inside the back door, she knew something was up. The house was ablaze with lights. Peeking into the dining room, she saw a number of buffet tables groaning under the weight of numerous large platters of meat and cheese, roast hens, hams and spareribs, and a variety of side dishes. A square table held bottles of wine and champagne, as well as a crystal punch bowl filled with sparkling cider for the kids. A quartet of smaller tables held an assortment of cookies, cakes, pies, muffins, and scones.

  Her father met her in the hall. “There you are!” he exclaimed, his voice sharp with impatience. “Hurry and get dressed. We’re having a party.”

  Kay’s heart skipped a beat. “What kind of party?” she asked, though she was certain she already knew the answer.

  “We’re announcing your engagement tonight.”

  “Don’t you think you might have mentioned it to me?”

  “I thought it would be a nice surprise,” he replied, his voice cool. “Hurry and change. Most of our guests are already here.”

  “I’m begging you, please don’t make me do this.”

  Her father’s eyes narrowed ominously. A muscle throbbed in his jaw. “I am not going to discuss this with you again, Kiya. My decision stands and will be obeyed. Now go upstairs and make yourself presentable.”

  She wanted to argue with him, to beg him to reconsider, but there was no changing his mind once it was made up. As Alpha, he held the power of life and death over her and everyone else in the pack. His word was law. Knowing that, she lowered her gaze in surrender. “Yes, sir.”

  Blinking back hot tears of resentment and frustration, she ran up the back stairs to her room. Mindful of the guests gathered in the dining room, she fought off the urge to slam the door.

  A new dress of dark blue silk was laid out on the bed. She stared at it, thinking it should have been black, to match her mood.

  Her father had never been one to express his affections openly, yet Kay had always been sure he loved her in his own way, but now … she shook her head. If he truly loved her, he wouldn’t force her to marry a man she despised. How could he condemn his only daughter to a life without love? It wasn’t fair. Worse than that, it just wasn’t right. But there was nothing she could do about it.

  Forcing everything from her mind, Kay brushed her hair, carefully applied her makeup, put on the blue silk dress, and stepped into the matching heels.

  When her father knocked on the door twenty minutes later, she was ready.

  “Smile, daughter,” he said. “This is a happy occasion.”

  She didn’t reply. And she didn’t smile as she followed him down the stairs.

  A number of people milled around in the large family room that served as the pack meeting place. Men, women, and children smiled and nodded as she entered the room on her father’s arm. Her mother stood between Victor and his parents. There was a smile on her mother’s face, but her eyes were sad.

  “Welcome!” Alissano said jovially. “As you all know, we’re gathered here tonight to celebrate my daughter’s betrothal to Victor Rinaldi.”

  Cheers and applause greeted his announcement.

  “Victor, join me, please,” Alissano said.

  Looking like the cat that ate the canary, feathers and all, Victor strutted forward.

  Alissano pulled a diamond-and-ruby ring from his coat pocket. “This ring has been handed down from father to son in my family for generations. Since I have no blood son, I would be honored if you would use it to plight your troth to my only daughter.”

  “It is I who am honored,” Victor said. “I will be proud to call you Father.”

  Beaming, Alissano handed the ring to Victor.

  “Kiya Marie Alissano,” Victor said, slipping the ring on her finger, “with this outward symbol of my love, I plight thee my troth.”

  Kay stared at the ring. It felt like a lead weight on her finger. She flinched when Victor put his arms around her, closed her eyes tightly when he kissed her.

  There was more cheering. More applause.

  When Kay opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was Gideon standing in the doorway.

  * * *

  Chapter 21

  Gideon’s first thought was that Kay was the unhappiest looking bride-to-be that he had ever seen. Of course, he hadn’t seen that many, but even vampires knew that brides were supposed to have some kind of inner glow. Whatever fire had once burned inside Kay, it had gone out. No surprise, he thought, glancing at the prospective groom. Victor Rinaldi was strutting around the room like the pompous ass he was, grinning as if he had just won the lottery which, in a way, he had. Being married to the daughter of the Shadow Pack’s Alpha probably carried a lot of weight within the werewolf community.

  Gideon remained where he was as the guests moved into the dining room.

  Smiling and nodding at those she passed, Kay made her way toward him.

  “Looks like congratulations are in order,” Gideon remarked sourly. “Although I must say, I’ve seen brighter smiles on condemned prisoners.”

  “They were probably a lot happier than I am,” she muttered glumly.

  “I might have an answer to your problem.”

  “Really? I’d love to hear it.”

  Gideon took a deep breath. “You could marry me instead.”

  Kay blinked up at him, wondering if she had heard him right.

  Gideon rocked back on his heels. “Not such a good idea, I guess.”

  “No. I mean, I don’t know what to say.” She shook her head. “Are you serious?”

  “Yeah, I’m afraid I am.” Looking over Kay’s shoulder, he said, “We’ve got company.”

  “Kiya,” Russell Alissano said, “you can talk to Mr. Marquet later. Your guests are waiting.”

  “Yes, Father.”

  “You’re welcome to join us for dinner, Mr. Marquet,” Alissano said, taking a possessive grip on his daughter’s arm.

  Kay sent Gideon a pleading glance, then obediently accompanied her father into the dining room.

  Gideon waited a moment; then, muttering, “What the hell,” he followed Kay and her father.

  The dining room was papered in a rich dark red stripe. Long white tapers set in elegant gold wall sconces cast a warm golden glow over the room. A glance through the archway re
vealed four antique trestle tables laid with crisp damask cloths, delicate china and crystal flutes. These were arranged in a square in the center of the room. The buffet tables against the back wall held enough food to feed a small army. Or maybe just a pack of hungry werewolves, he thought, remembering Kay’s prodigious appetite.

  A round table covered with crisp white linen stood in the center of the square formed by the other tables. Kay’s mother, Greta and Brett, and Victor were seated at this table. A tall austere man and a fair-haired woman sat at Rinaldi’s left. Victor’s parents, Gideon surmised, noting the resemblance between Victor and the couple.

  The invited guests had already been seated. Assuming the entire pack had been invited to the party, Gideon counted twelve couples, three girls who were in their early twenties, and thirteen kids under the age of eighteen. The youngest was perhaps slightly more than a year old. Everyone applauded when Kay and her father entered the room. Bringing up the rear, Gideon took a seat at the far end of one of the long tables. Several of the men cast suspicious looks in his direction.

  The Alpha raised his hands for silence. When the applause died down, he smiled expansively. “Once again, I wish to welcome you all here tonight on this joyous occasion. There will be dancing for the adults after dinner, and movies and games for our younger guests. But first, a toast.” Lifting his champagne glass, he said, “To my daughter, Kiya Marie, and my future son-in-law, Victor. I wish you both long life and happiness.”

  Scattered shouts of “Hear, hear” rang out as men, women, and children raised their glasses.

  When Victor leaned toward Kay and kissed her, it was all Gideon could do to keep from grabbing the man by the neck and ripping his heart out. The fact that Gideon could sense Kay’s revulsion at Victor’s touch only made it worse.

  He had to get out of there before he did something stupid. Cussing under his breath, Gideon eased away from the table and left the house.

  Outside, he stared up at the sky. Here, away from the lights of the city, the star-studded heavens stretched away into infinity. He rarely thought of the past, or dwelled on how many years he had lived as a vampire, or what he had lost when his mortality had been stolen from him.

  Until now, mundane things like home and family had seemed insignificant when compared to what he had gained. He liked being a vampire. Living forever, never growing old and feeble, never getting sick, more than made up for whatever he had lost. He reveled in the incredible speed and power of his kind, the ability to read minds, change shape, dissolve into mist, will himself from one place to another. Who would give all that up for a few paltry years of humanity?

  Gideon glanced back at the house, which was lit up like a Christmas tree. He could hear the musicians tuning up, the clink of silverware against china, the mingled sounds of conversation and laughter, the aromas of roast beef and fried chicken. With a shake of his head, he admitted he would happily give up the next five hundred years of immortality to spend one human lifetime with Kay.

  And even as her name crossed his mind, she was hurrying toward him, throwing her arms around his neck.

  He gathered her close, inhaling the fragrance of her hair and skin. The underlying scent of her blood called to him, clouding his senses. “How’d you get away from your guests?”

  She shrugged one shoulder. “I said I had to make a trip to the ladies’ room.” She looked up at him. “Gideon … ?”

  “I know.” Lowering his head, he claimed her mouth with his.

  She held nothing back as she returned his kisses, her arms tightening around him as if she would never let go.

  “You never gave me an answer to my proposal,” he murmured between kisses. “Although I’m guessing it might be yes.”

  “Yes,” she whispered, then shrieked as someone jerked her out of Gideon’s arms.

  Before Gideon could react, two men wrestled him to the ground, holding him immobile while a third dropped a heavy silver chain across his chest.

  Rendered physically powerless, Gideon glared at the man holding tight to Kay’s forearm. “Rinaldi.” He hissed the word between clenched teeth.

  “I told you before, bloodsucker. She’s mine.”

  Kay struggled in Victor’s grasp and when he failed to release her, she sank her teeth into his arm.

  Grimacing in pain, he slapped her, hard.

  A low growl rose in Gideon’s throat, but he was helpless to do anything.

  “Lock him up,” Victor said.

  “And then what?” one of the men asked.

  Victor shrugged. “Kill him or let him go. I don’t care.” “Rinaldi! Damn you!” Gideon stared after the man as he dragged Kay into the darkness. A moment later, he heard the throaty purr of a car’s engine, felt his anger and frustration mount as Kay’s panicked voice rang out in his mind. Gideon!

  I’ll find you, he promised.

  Looking at the trio of burly men staring down at him, he hoped it was a promise he could keep.

  “Let me out of here!” Kay shrieked as Victor stuffed her into the trunk of his Lexus and slammed the lid. “Let me out!” She couldn’t believe what was happening. She had resisted with all her might, but her struggles had been in vain. Now, with her hands tied behind her back and her ankles lashed together, there was little she could do except scream her outrage. Sadly, there was no one to hear her.

  And what of Gideon? Once again, his life was in danger because of her.

  Victor drove for what seemed like an eternity. Where was he taking her? What would her father do when he found out Victor had kidnapped her? She frowned as a new thought wormed its way into her mind. What if her father knew that it was Gideon she wanted? Her father’s hearing was exceptionally keen. Had he overheard Gideon’s proposal? What if it had been her father’s idea for Victor to abduct her?

  The more she thought about it, the more likely it seemed. Victor didn’t have the guts to do something as outrageous as this on his own.

  Anger replaced fear as certainty overcame doubt. She knew her father loved Victor like a son, knew that Victor had taken Mark’s place in her father’s heart. If her father had any weakness, it was his inability to see Victor for what he really was.

  She would never forgive her father if he had had any part in this, whether he had planned it, or had merely given Victor his blessing. Never! But what hurt worst of all was realizing that her father cared more for Victor than he did for his own daughter.

  That knowledge unleashed the tears she had been holding back. Closing her eyes, she cried herself to sleep.

  Gideon glared at his captors as they debated what to do with him. The oldest of the three was in favor of killing him then and there. The other two—younger and less bloodthirsty—opted for letting him go.

  Gideon’s physical power might be negated by the silver, but he retained enough power to mesmerize those around him. Focusing on the youngest of the bunch, he willed the man to remove the thick chain that held him immobile.

  “What the hell are you doing?” the other two men exclaimed in unison.

  But the question came too late. As soon as the young man lifted the chain, Gideon dissolved into mist and disappeared from their sight. Had he been in corporeal form, he would have laughed at their startled expressions.

  But there was no time for that. It was almost dawn. Leaving his car behind, he sought shelter from the rising sun.

  The sudden absence of noise and motion roused Kay from a horrible dream. Forgetting where she was, she sat up. A harsh gasp escaped her lips when she hit the back of her head.

  Reality returned with the pain.

  She blinked against the early-morning light when Victor opened the trunk. “My father will kill you for this.” There was little conviction behind her words; the smug look on Victor’s face only served to reinforce her earlier suspicions that her father was behind the whole thing.

  Smirking, Victor untied her ankles, then grabbed her around the waist and lifted her, none too gently, out of the trunk and set her on her feet.


  Kay glanced around, a groan rising in her throat when she recognized her surroundings. Victor had brought her to his pack’s home.

  “How long do you intend to keep me here?” she demanded.

  “Until we’re married and you give me an heir. After that, I don’t care what you do, or where you go.”

  Kay stared at him. Victor had always been concerned with pack politics. As the eldest son of the Green Mountain Pack’s Alpha, he was next in line to be pack leader. With Kay as his wife, the bond between the Green Mountain Pack and the Shadow Pack would be solidified. Add a son or daughter who was the grandchild of the two pack Alphas, and Victor’s rank would be secure.

  “Are you going to keep me tied up until then?” she asked, her voice laced with venom as he dragged her toward the house.

  “Maybe. I haven’t decided yet.”

  “I’ll never marry you.”

  “I think you will,” he said smugly.

  “You can’t force me to marry you.”

  “True enough. But your Alpha can. And will.”

  Kay’s shoulders sagged. Victor was right. As much as she might wish to resist her Alpha’s wishes in the matter, she wasn’t sure she had either the strength or the courage to do so.

  Victor’s father was waiting for them when they reached the house. Diego Rinaldi was tall and slim. He wore his brown hair cut short. His eyes, as hard and gray as stone, were cold when he looked at her. His wife stood behind him, her blue eyes worried. Vivian Rinaldi was almost as tall as her husband. She smiled uncertainly as Victor pushed Kay across the threshold.

  “The room downstairs has been prepared for her,” Diego said. “I’ll call Russell and tell him you’ve arrived safely.”

  Kay’s insides went cold at his words. So, they were all in this together. Knowing it was useless, she sent a mute plea for help in Vivian’s direction. The woman managed to look ashamed, but Kay knew she couldn’t expect any aid from that direction.

  Nodding, Victor tugged on Kay’s arm, forcing her to follow him down two flights of stairs and into the cellar. He flicked on the light, revealing a dozen or so wine racks. At the far end of the room, a door stood ajar, revealing another, smaller room.