“Out!” A high female voice shook him out of his thoughts and he stepped back towards the doors when a wave of anger hit him.
His gaze snapped to his mother when she stood, leaving his father sitting alone on the gold couch to the right of the black marble fireplace.
The rage in her dark eyes made Kearn hold Amber closer to him. His mother stalked towards him with intent and he resisted his desire to change. He couldn’t threaten her.
“Leave my house.” She flung her arm towards the doors.
She looked so slight and small in the black corseted dress and he couldn’t remember a time she had felt so weak to him. The initial anger he had felt in her had covered the fear he could now sense, and the hurt. His father must have told her what had happened and why they had to guard the house.
His mother no longer had any children.
She would have banished them both.
Kearn stood his ground, unwilling to leave the safety of the main house when Amber was still recovering. She had to remain here, even if he couldn’t. He would beg his mother for her sake.
His mother stopped a short distance from him, the long sleek locks of her black hair shining in the firelight at her back, her face shadowed. She stared at Amber and then frowned, her delicate features growing dark with it.
Her eyes turned red.
She took a deep breath.
The moment she did, her eyes widened and she hesitantly stepped forwards, her hands dancing around in the air, as though she wasn’t sure what to do. Her gaze didn’t leave Amber and Kearn was tempted to step back again until his father stood, an incredulous look on his face.
“You took her humanity?” His mother’s voice was quiet and trembling.
Kearn nodded and held Amber closer still when his mother took another step forwards.
“She is weak. You took too much blood from her… she is too weak.” The note of panic in her voice surprised Kearn. “You took too much!”
“Kyran took too much,” he countered and moved back a step. His mother looked furious. “I only took a small amount, enough to tie us and to give me the strength to fight Kyran.”
His mother reached out a hand but Kearn moved Amber away from her. He wouldn’t allow anyone near her, not when she was so fragile. He couldn’t trust anyone with her.
“Amber is strong. She will survive.” He didn’t have a chance to move back again.
Before he could take a step, his mother was right beside Amber, her hands fluttering over her, checking her throat and then touching her face. Kearn held the growl inside when he saw how gentle his mother was being and felt her fear deep in his blood. This time it wasn’t fear of Kyran coming for them. It was fear for Amber.
He didn’t understand.
Instinct told him to keep Amber away from his mother but he caught his father’s gaze and saw his smile, and his blood told him to stay still and allow his mother to check Amber.
“She needs rest… and warmth. We must make sure she is warm. She is so pale. So much blood taken from her yet her heart beats strongly still. Rest and warmth.” His mother frowned at the maid who had opened the doors for him. “Bring the others, and ready a room, and tell the kitchen to ready themselves also.”
Kearn could only watch his mother. Her hands danced over Amber, touching and caressing. Her feelings collided within him—concern, fear and affection. He wasn’t sure what to do.
And then his mother tried to take Amber from him.
Kearn growled and stepped back, pulling Amber close to his chest to protect her.
His mother looked horrified, her wide dark eyes sparkling with what looked like tears.
Tears?
His father came forwards and his mother turned to look up at him, her eyebrows raised high in an expression of pleading.
Pleading him why?
Kearn kept Amber close to him.
His father touched his mother’s shoulder and she looked back at Kearn and Amber. There was so much warmth in his mother’s eyes.
“The maids will make her some food… and tea, yes, she needs some tea to bring back her colour and her warmth. Humans like tea.”
The sight of his mother so concerned about Amber broke through some of Kearn’s defences. He searched their connection, trying to discern whether she meant Amber any harm. She seemed genuine enough, but why had she suddenly changed towards him and Amber? Was it purely because Amber was becoming like them now? He had expected his parents to be angry with him for bringing a human into their ruling line, not this.
His mother looked back up at his father, her eyes filling with affection.
“She needs me to take care of her,” she whispered and his father nodded.
“Let your mother have her way, son,” his father said in a soft voice. “Your female will be safe.”
Kearn was only considering releasing Amber when his mother was in front of him, taking Amber from his arms. It was strange to see such a slight woman carrying another in her arms as though she weighed nothing, but it was even stranger to watch her walk away singing a lullaby.
He recognised it. His mother had sung it to him and Kyran when they were small.
Kearn went to follow her, intent on remaining close to Amber, but his father’s hand came down heavily on his shoulder, stopping him. He stared after his mother, a deep need to go with Amber filling his blood.
“Do not worry, son. Your mother would never harm Amber, not now.” His father smiled warmly. “You have achieved the forgiveness you seek. How does it feel?”
Kearn looked at him, into green eyes and at silver hair that matched his own. He didn’t understand. His gaze went back to the gallery but his mother was gone. He could still feel Amber and would be able to follow the feeling to her whenever he wanted, but he didn’t like her being out of his sight in his family’s home. He wanted to go to her and make sure that she was all right.
His father walked around him and closed the double doors. He smiled.
“You have given your mother that which I could not and that which she has wanted above everything else—a daughter.”
Kearn stared at him. “A daughter?”
He had never realised. He had known that his mother had wanted more children, but he had never known that she had dreamed of having a daughter. She had never acted so motherly towards the countess. She had always been cold towards her. Had she felt that the countess was rotten inside, unfit to be a part of their family? Such a thing would make his mother despise her.
Amber was strong though, and would become a vampire fit to rule the Savernake bloodline. She would be fit to rule all of their kind. And she was pure, kind-hearted, and most of all in love with him. Had his mother seen all that in Amber and did she know that Amber had chosen to become like him, to join him in his world, forsaking her own so they could be together?
If his mother truly saw Amber as her daughter now, then his father was right. His mother would never harm Amber. She would dote on her.
“Leave them alone for a while. Come and sit with me. We must discuss what we shall do when Kyran arrives.”
Kearn followed his father to the two gold antique couches that stood either side of the fireplace and sat on the one opposite his father.
“She feels happy,” his father whispered and looked at the doors. There was so much warmth in his eyes. He looked happy too. “She will love and care for her as a daughter, Kearn. Your love is in safe hands.”
Kearn lowered his head, honoured to hear his father call him by his name and to know that his mother had welcomed him back into the family. He hadn’t expected it. Everything had happened so fast that he was still trying to come to terms with it. He had turned Amber out of selfish need for her, to have her as his for eternity, because he loved her. He had never considered that it would also reunite him with his family.
Society would be different now. He could take Amber out without fear of any Lesser Nobles or Nobles attempting to harm her. She would be safe wherever they went, protected by
his kin rather than despised. He would have been able to bear their treatment of him, but he had never wanted it for Amber.
And now he didn’t need to fear it.
His mother would announce that he was a lord of the Savernake bloodline again, and Amber would become a lady of Savernake. His lady.
“I need mother to keep her safe here, when Kyran comes.”
“He will come then?” his father said and Kearn nodded.
“I am afraid so. If Pendragon cannot defeat him—”
“You are sure he would go to Pendragon first?” his father interjected.
Kearn frowned. He had been certain that Kyran would go after the strongest family first. His senses reached out to Amber. What if Kyran came to destroy him first in order to take her again? Kyran would have all the power he needed then. He could drink from Amber to restore his strength and then go after Pendragon.
Kearn went to stand but his father raised his hand. He stopped and lowered himself back onto the couch.
“But what if you are right?” Kearn’s heart beat fast and it wouldn’t slow down, not while he was convinced that Amber was in danger. Not only Amber, but his mother too. She wouldn’t stand a chance against Kyran.
“Kyran will not come now, when it is daylight. The Sovereignty informed me that you found him at the Huntingdon estate. The Lesser Nobles are weaker in daylight.”
His father was right. The sun was high right now and, under such strong sunlight, the Lesser Nobles would be in danger. Kyran would wait until it was dark enough for his army and then attack. That was only a few short hours away.
“We still have little time to prepare.” Kearn’s senses reached out to Amber again, latching onto her for comfort. The connection was still weak but she felt warm and happy. Was she dreaming of him?
“The guards have been notified and the Sovereignty has sent us several of their best Venators. We are well protected.”
“Guards and Venators will not be enough.” Kearn stared at the fire, trying to find a plan amongst the flickering flames. It mesmerised him and his mind emptied as he began to relax. He looked away, needing to keep his edge in case his father was wrong and Kyran was already on his way. “Kyran has taken a lot of Amber’s blood.”
“We will be ready for him,” his father said. “You have also taken Amber’s blood and are strong enough to win this fight. Kyran has chosen his path and you must choose yours. I will lose one son this coming night. I know it will not be you.”
The confidence in his father’s eyes was also in his blood. He was so calm even at a time like this, showing strength that Kearn could only dream of achieving. His father had been one of the top Venators and Kearn had to live up to that reputation and earn such respect for himself. He had never wanted to become a Venator, but he was one now and that was all that mattered. He had to do his duty, and he would do it well so he would only strengthen the name of Savernake.
Kearn fell silent and stared at the fire again, mulling over his father’s words. The outcome of this fight would hurt his mother and father regardless of who won. They would lose one of their sons. He wished with all of his heart that it didn’t have to be that way, but Kyran had chosen to threaten their family and Amber, and Kearn couldn’t allow that. He would defeat his brother, no matter what pain it caused him.
He sensed Amber stir.
Kearn stood.
“Your mother will not harm her,” his father said as though he had read his mind.
Kearn focused on Amber’s blood. The connection between them was growing stronger again. She was close to waking. He couldn’t allow her to wake with only his mother and maids for company. It would frighten her.
“I know.” Kearn walked to the dark double doors. “But I must go to her.”
He opened the doors and strode down the gallery, heading for the entrance hall. His senses reached out and locked on Amber, and he followed them to her, climbing the elegant staircase and turning right at the split to continue upwards. Her scent filled the sunlit gallery that ran along the front of the house on the first floor. He walked swiftly down the corridor and then turned left when her scent was stronger, and then right at the end of that hallway. His mother had taken her to the guest quarters at the back of the house.
Two young maids stood outside a room on the left hand side in the long corridor. They curtseyed when he approached. It was strange to gain such a reaction from them. His mother must have informed the family that he was a part of it again.
He sensed Amber alone in the room and waved the maids away. He opened the door, stepped into the large dark room, and closed it behind him. A pass of his hand over the locks and they clicked into place. He placed a message on them, telling anyone who tried to open the doors to keep away on pain of death. He had been kind enough to his mother, giving her time with Amber that was rightfully his. He needed to tend to her now.
A thin ribbon of light streamed in through a chink between the closed curtains beyond the bed, and he was tempted to open them to light the room, but wanted some privacy for Amber. Instead, he waved his other hand in the direction of the double bed to his right and the lamps on the bedside cabinets either side of it glowed into life, filling the room with soft warm light.
Kearn frowned at the sight of Amber. She lay under the black covers, her shoulders bare and her wavy brown hair tied up in a knot at the back of her head. He didn’t doubt that she was naked and was glad that only women had attended to her.
There was no trace of blood on her throat now, leaving the cut and the pronounced marks of his bite on show. The sight of them filled him with a hunger to kiss her throat and taste her, to reignite the deep passion he had felt during biting her.
She stirred, a frown wrinkling her nose, and wrestled her arm free of the thick covers. They fell back, exposing her left breast as she rubbed her face. Kearn stepped over to her and covered her again so she didn’t present such a strong temptation. He sat beside her and she peered up at him.
Her hazel eyes widened when she looked around the large bedroom and a spark of panic laced her heartbeat.
“Where am I?”
“In the main house,” he said in a low voice, not wanting to break the intimacy between them, and stroked her brow to soothe her and let her know that she was safe. She was warmer now and had more colour compared to his pale skin, but her blood still felt weary, heavy in his veins. He smiled for her when she glanced at her bare chest. “You were well attended to. My mother seems to have adopted you as her daughter.”
Amber’s eyebrows rose high. “Daughter?”
“You have gained me not only an end to my loneliness, but a way back into my family. My mother will dote on you as she would have a daughter. I never knew, but my father assures me that my mother wanted a daughter more than anything.”
She looked worried. Kearn smoothed the wrinkles from her furrowed brow and smiled again.
“There is no reason to fear, Amber. I will not allow anyone to harm you, and I do not believe my mother means any such intention towards you.” He traced his fingertips down over her right temple and cheek, watching her closely and monitoring her blood. The fatigue was still there, lacing all of her emotions. “How are you feeling?”
Amber rested her hand above her head on the dark pillows. Her skin looked so pale against the black. He wished his mother had chosen a nicer room to place Amber in, one that had more colour and looked less funerary. He didn’t like the sight of her surrounded by so much darkness when she was weak.
“Tired.” Her smile was playful and her eyes narrowed on his. “Not too tired though.”
She reached up to him with her left hand and Kearn leaned down, following her silent command. He pressed his lips to hers, kissing her lightly and savouring the scent of her and the feel of her mouth on his. There was strength to her kiss and it flowed through her, chasing back the weariness that had been there a moment before. Perhaps he had sensed sleep rather than fatigue. She had only just awoken after all. Now she felt stro
nger, more like her usual self, and the heavy feeling in his blood disappeared.
He drew back, not wanting to tire her out. She smiled broadly at him, her hazel eyes warm with it, and he touched her cheek and sighed. She was so beautiful, and so brave to step into his world for him. He would never be able to find the words to convey just what it meant to him, and just how honoured he was that she had sacrificed her humanity, giving herself to him.
“Is something wrong?” she said with another frown.
He smoothed that one away too and shook his head.
“Nothing for you to worry about. You should be resting.”
Her frown returned. “Kyran is coming, isn’t he?”
Kearn couldn’t lie to her. He didn’t even need to open his mouth and tell her the truth. The understanding that dawned in her eyes and her blood said that she had sensed it in him.
And in the house.
There was an air of tension in it, a cold gloom that he could feel in his blood and that Amber would sense through him. Preparations were underway and even the servants were being instructed on how to fight. He had never experienced anything like this. Never in his lifetime had his family had to prepare themselves against a foe this strong.
He stroked Amber’s cheek, trying to clear his blood of any negative feelings so she wouldn’t pick them up. She didn’t need to fret. The Savernake guards were stronger than the Huntingdon vampires, and he would deal with Kyran.
He wouldn’t let anything happen to his parents.
He wouldn’t let anything happen to Amber.
He would keep them all safe.
Even if the only way of defeating Kyran was to go with him into the eternal darkness.
CHAPTER 30
Amber gazed up at Kearn, trying to decipher from his blood what was playing on his mind. He had been quiet for a few minutes now and it worried her. The emotions she had sensed in his blood, the concern, the fear, and the anger, had disappeared one by one, replaced by a feeling of calm that felt false.
Was he lying to her through his blood?
She hated the thought that he would do such a thing and told herself that he wouldn’t. He was probably trying not to frighten her. She did need to believe that they would survive the fight against his brother, but she needed even more for him to be honest with her.
Forbidden Blood (Vampire Venators Romance Series) Page 33