Constantine waved away Lenore’s suggestion. “I will fix this. I promise you that but it will have to be in my own way.”
“My lord—”
“I have already spoken my will, Lady Lenore.” His eyes brightened to the color of freshly spilled blood. “Do not attempt to undermine me in this.”
She bowed in apology. “I understand, my lord.” Straightening fully, Lenore noted, “If you have no further need of me, my lord, I will assist the young mistress in her preparations.”
Constantine nodded in dismissal. He waited until she glided away, careful to keep her back from him, before asking, “Do you think this is why we are engineered to be paired?”
Lenore stopped, halfway between her lord and her mistress’s rooms. The corridor lengthened, leaving the vampiress unable to reach Cassandra until she answered Lord Constantine’s question adequately.
“You were paired because you are complementary. Mistress Cassandra has the ability to withstand this world and bear strong sons and daughters for your esteemed line.”
“And what of me? What do I bring her?”
“Joy.”
“Joy.” Constantine contemplated Lenore’s reply. “There must be more she would want from life than to be my Beloved and mother to our children.”
“A partner, perhaps? One who can respect her wishes and support her when she needs him?”
“Lady Lenore, you sound far more human than I ever expected!” Constantine teased, amused to see her twitch in chagrin. “You are right, of course.” His easy smile faded away. “She cannot stay sheltered forever, can she?”
“Mistress Cassandra is your true match, my lord, for a reason. She can survive our dreamland of terror and nightmares. She is capable of taking the burdens of managing this world by your side.”
“Can she really? She is not afraid of what goes here because I keep much of it away from her. I constructed this house to be the antithesis of our reality. She is all smiles and happiness, untouched of mortal concerns, living in beauty, thinking she knows how this world works. If she only knew. . .”
“Mistress Cassandra is ready to move forward with you, my lord.”
Constantine allowed himself the luxury of hiding his face behind his gloved hand. The partial obscurity gave his words the freedom to tumble forth.
“I do not want to let her go, Lady Lenore. I want to keep my darling all for myself. Once I make her my Beloved, she can no longer hide away in these rooms or stay attached by my side. She will have to fully face the world trapped inside this kingdom and I am deathly afraid she is not strong enough to do so.”
Lenore understood what Constantine secretly feared. “Mistress Cassandra’s love for you is eternal, my lord. Truly living among us will not change that.”
His mouth curled. Arm falling back down, Constantine remarked, “Eternity is our birthright, yet Nephilim keeps their sovereignty over us by enslaving us to these cruel, delicate humans. Cassandra has the power to slay me, to make me a shadow of the man I am now, and all in a handful of years.” Constantine whispered in bewilderment, “Love is truly a terrible thing, is it not?”
“Yes, and entirely worth it, my lord.”
“I hope you are right, Lady Lenore, for all our sakes.” The hallway darkened before returning to its normal length. He bowed slightly to his subject. “Thank you for your generous counsel, Lady Lenore. You may assist our little darling now. I have promised to entertain her and I shall keep my word.”
Even if it tortures me to the point of madness.
4
Cassandra sat next to her lord, ensconced in a luxurious sedan that meandered its way towards the center of town. Curiosity tempted her to pull back the velvet curtains, to see what peculiar events were happening outside, but one peek at Lord Constantine’s foreboding expression promptly killed the urge.
He has warned me not to look out unless he has given me permission. I do not want to upset him further.
She sighed and continued to stare straight ahead. Their driver remained a shadowy outline behind the privacy curtain. Cassandra wondered what he thought of her and her lord. Did he too see her as a nuisance?
Perhaps it is better that I am not seen out with my lord very often.
“Does my company not please you, darling?”
She shifted in her seat towards him. “Of course it does, my lord. Why do you ask?” The corners of Cassandra’s plump mouth turned down. “You heard my thoughts.”
“Fears are amplified beyond the castle. That and,” his gloved hand found hers, “you have yet to speak a single word to me.”
Cassandra lifted her arm and rubbed her cheek against their entwined fingers. “I have been afraid that you were angry with me.”
“Do you fear such a thing often?”
She bit her lip and shook her head. “Not often.”
“But the fear you feel often centers on me, does it not?”
Her cheeks bloomed in embarrassment. “I am truly sorry for the way I acted earlier. You have always been so kind to me and I repay you with bad behavior. I do not know what came over me.”
“You were already forgiven, my darling.” Lord Constantine leaned down and whispered in her ear, “You are very beautiful this evening. I am pleased to see you wearing one of your new gowns.”
Cassandra preened. “Did you notice my hat as well?”
The vampire inspected the delicious confectionary of ribbons, feathers, and roses. “It is rather large.”
She gasped in mock outrage. “I designed it to be so! It gives me the illusion of being taller so my lord does not look like he is escorting a small child.”
“You can never be confused for a child, darling.”
Cassandra felt the sadness in his voice. Thinking back to Lenore’s warning about the danger of love between them, she wondered if Lord Constantine believed it as well.
“Well, I must trust you are right.”
He noticed her lack of enthusiasm. “I seem to be making you unhappy again. Forgive me, darling. I meant no offense. Your hat is beyond lovely. I especially like the blue rose.”
Cassandra mustered a cheerful smile. “It is beautiful, is it not? I love all the roses we grow but these are my favorite.”
The vampire studied the decorative composition further. “I see you have included a raven feather or two. These are mine I presume?”
“As if I would wear any other’s feathers! You left them behind the last time you left.” Cassandra’s expression softened. “I love watching you transform into a crow. It makes me wish I had the power to do so as well. Then we could fly together and see all the wonders of the world.”
“I rather like you in this form.” Lord Constantine kissed the back of her gloved hand. “Have you found much to occupy you while I have been gone?”
“There are always new things to learn and see. Lenore,” she halted and corrected, “I mean Lady Lenore is the best tutor a person could have. I do not think a subject exists she is not knowledgeable in.”
Lord Constantine, normally stringent on matters of etiquette and protocol, allowed her slip of familiarity to pass without comment. “She is very wise.”
“Yes, she is.” Cassandra gestured to the window. “Where are we going?”
“I never told you?”
“No.”
“Really?” The vampire king stroked his chin. “I thought I did.”
Cassandra bumped her bare shoulder against him. “No, you did not.”
Lord Constantine shrugged. The exaggerated nonchalance of the movement matched his silky tone. “Since we are so close I shall have to let it be a surprise.”
Her mouth dropped open before snapping shut. “No fair.”
“Now, darling, do not pout.”
Cassandra turned away with a sniff. “I do not pout. I contemplate things with an extreme degree of intensity. That is all.” A sly smile nudged her rosy lips. “My current contemplation involves my lord’s promise to entertain me. I do believe the emphasis was on m
e.”
Lord Constantine laughed and flicked the brim of her hat. “Naughty minx.”
The sedan rolled to a smooth stop. “See? We are already here.”
Cassandra looked down to ensure her strapless gown hadn’t been inadvertently tugged out of place. She smoothed each arm; satisfied her black gloves remained pulled above her elbows.
“Are you ready, darling?”
She nodded. Cassandra was so excited to see where Lord Constantine had brought them. The door snapped opened to a cornucopia of light, sound, and color.
“A carnival! You remembered!”
“Of course I remembered your request—especially when you asked me so prettily.”
Cassandra hugged his arm. “You were in such a hurry to leave that I thought you did not pay me any heed.”
“I always pay you the utmost attention, precious.” He kissed her cheek. “Darling, before we go I must ask something of you.”
Cassandra’s rapt gaze focused on a man wearing a tiger head as a mask accompanied by another man with a leashed wolf in tow. “Yes, my lord?”
“Cassandra, please look at me.” He waited until she complied. “You must promise to stay close to me this evening. No wandering off on your own. Do you understand?”
“My lord, I am not a child lacking sense.” The air surrounding Cassandra hummed from her tangible excitement. She squirmed, looking past his broad shoulder to catch another fantastic glimpse of the carnival.
Lord Constantine gripped her chin with firm fingers. He waited until Cassandra concentrated on him completely. “Do not argue with me, darling. This is important.”
“I am not. I am merely pointing out your warnings are unnecessary. I promise I will not purposely part from your side.”
The stiffness dissolved from his body. “Thank you.” He studied her upturned face and breathed, “You are especially lovely this evening. Has it always been so?”
Cassandra melted in pleasure. She hoped Lord Constantine would kiss her not on the cheek, chin, or temple but on the mouth. Cassandra’s heart leapt when his beautiful mouth descended towards hers. Arching up, she met him more than halfway. Cassandra swallowed his faintly reproving use of her name.
Finally!
Sweet and luscious, their kiss blurred the lines between poignant adoration and sharp lust. Cassandra twined her arms about his neck as he wrapped his around her waist. Lord Constantine’s mouth seduced hers open. However, Cassandra’s bold flick of her tongue conquered his.
She forgot frivolous amusement and pursued the addictive rush of being able to truly kiss him. He tasted of everything sweet and right. Cassandra hoped he enjoyed the sensation of her warm mouth as much as she craved the feel of his cool touch.
Fire flicked down. Cassandra’s thighs shifted, suddenly restless in their confine of silk stockings and embroidered garters. Uncaring that the car door still stood open, she toyed with the urge to pull him down upon her. Cassandra, though innocent in body, knew the natural course of where their actions could lead.
She wanted that with him. Badly.
Lord Constantine squeezed her tightly, causing Cassandra’s mouth to open wider. The vampire took advantage. Feral moans rumbled in Cassandra’s ears, drowning out the sound of her heart slamming against her ribs.
They eventually parted, shaken and looking at the other in amazement.
“I love you, Lord Constantine.” Cassandra’s heavy-lidded gaze sought his. “I love you more than I have loved anything else in the world. I cannot wait until I get to fully show you what that means.” She kissed him again, deliberately sliding her tongue against the razor points of his extended fangs.
“Cassandra!” The vampire pulled away but not quick enough to escape the rich taste of her virgin blood.
She smiled, aware of the crimson liquid coating her teeth and lips. “Thank you for allowing me to share myself with you.”
Lord Constantine’s gaze gleamed gold. His lips parted from the heady combination lust and hunger. He carefully pulled Cassandra towards him. “You slay me, darling.” Cupping the base of her neck, Lord Constantine bade her to be still. Cassandra, eager to obey, relaxed into his large body.
“I love you, my lord!” she proclaimed again with a kittenish sigh. Giddy and flushed desire, Cassandra murmured sweet promises of eternal devotion while her vampire’s lips feathered over hers. Lord Constantine thoroughly lapped up all traces of spilled blood. Kissing her a final time, he rested his temple against hers.
“I adore you, Cassandra. If you believe nothing else you must at least believe that.”
“I know.” She smiled and arched up to kiss him again.
“No, no!” he admonished. “Let me see your tongue.”
Cassandra stuck it out, eyes wide with question. Peering at the pink flesh, Lord Constantine frowned in concentration. “How much does it hurt?”
Cassandra closed her mouth. “It doesn’t.”
“The cuts look deep enough to hurt, darling.”
“I swear it does not.”
“Let me heal it.”
She clapped her hands over the bottom half of her face.
“Cassandra, darling, you must let me heal your wound.” Lord Constantine gently tugged her wrists until they fell back into her lap. “I cannot bear the thought of you suffering unnecessarily.”
Cassandra remained mute and shook her head.
The vampire sighed in defeat. “You odd little thing. If I see you in any type of pain, any at all, I will heal it without another thought. Do you understand?”
“Yes, thank you! My lord?” She glanced up at him from beneath a coquettish fan of lashes. “Did you enjoy our first true kiss?”
“Fishing for compliments already?” Lord Constantine traced her flushed cheek with the one finger. “I enjoyed it very much, my darling. Far more than I can adequately express without making a complete fool of myself.”
She snuggled against him in bliss. “I am so happy I think I will burst!”
“Please do not do so. I would hate to have to reassemble you. What if I put this,” Lord Constantine tapped her nose, “here on your throat by mistake?”
Cassandra giggled. “You are so amusing, my lord! I would think you would be especially careful with my neck since one night it will be yours.”
His mouth parted in a devilish grin. “The future is promising of exciting things. Alas, my attention should remain on the beautiful sight before me.”
Aware of his neat sidestep, Cassandra refused to allow melancholy to continue to dog her. Even the knowledge of where Lord Constantine went when he left her and who he spent his time with could not shake Cassandra.
I belong to him and he belongs to me. No one else can interfere with our bond.
“How do I look, my lord?”
“Thoroughly kissed.”
“I feel it.”
“Here, let me fix your lipstick.” Lord Constantine rubbed his thumb over her lips. “Perfect.”
Darling Page 3