Not An Angel (A Poryria Vampire Novel (Book 1))

by Dawn Chartier

  Trace trusted her, and the Queen would, too. At least, she hoped so. She couldn’t think about the alternative. He lifted her hand to his lips, his eyes searching hers. He said he wasn’t capable of loving. She believed he was. He’d just never allowed himself the chance. And, other than holding her captive if you could call it that, he hadn’t hurt her. In the back of her mind she knew he still tried to protect her.

  Her gaze swept over the dress again. “Thanks for the gown and shoes. How did you know they’d fit?” Kira smoothed her hands over the sapphire beaded material. She touched her exposed shoulder and wished it was covered like the sparkly diamond brooch on the other side.

  Trace squeezed her hand again. “Another trait I have, and we couldn’t have you showing up in my sweats. The Queen, as you’ll see has a way with intimidation. Especially toward women. Human or not.” His eyes darkened as they surveyed her gown. “This blue suits you perfectly.” As he measured her, his gaze warmed the consuming chill that had invaded her body. She glanced down, holding the material out. Nothing she could ever afford. Standing next to him in his stunning black suit, gave her more confidence than if she wore plain clothing.

  “I wouldn’t have picked it out for myself, but you have good taste.”

  “I know.” Trace’s gaze traveled down her torso, to her exposed toes and slowly up to her face. “And you take my breath away.” He kissed the inside of her wrist.

  Heat shot up her inner arm overpowering any nervousness she may have felt earlier. She leaned into him and whispered, “You breathe?”

  Trace half smiled. “Sometimes.”

  She blinked. “Oh.” That meant sometimes he didn’t breathe either.

  Trace stiffened, then glanced toward the entrance flanked with four massive columns. It took a moment before she heard footsteps in the foyer. Five men entered the parlor. All dressed similar to Trace, except their cold penetrating eyes made her worry. Scared was more like it. One man strode toward her, eyes narrowed, mouth pulled down in a frown. She swallowed, then took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. They will not get to me. I will be strong.

  “He won’t hurt you. Will you, Dev?” Trace stepped forward and crossed his arms.

  Dev smirked and stared through his long dark lashes. “Depends.”

  An eerie rumble vibrated the room. Kira advanced toward Trace. The sound of a wild cat drifted in the air. She tilted her head, glanced at Trace and realized the noise came from him.

  “Boys. Boys. Boys. Dev won’t touch her, but I might.” A slender brunette appeared out of thin air and stood directly in front of the other men. Oh hell. Everything about this woman oozed royalty, and Trace was right, she and her apparel mesmerized. The almost sheer satin material shimmered as she crossed the room. The sway of her hips, shoulders and her entire body demanded all eyes upon her.

  The Queen’s beauty blinded her. She strained to look away, but an invasion in her mind forced her gaze on the Queen. Kira squeezed hard to shut her eyes as a severe headache split down her skull.

  Kira’s legs trembled. She gritted her teeth to remain standing but an unseen force dragged her to her knees. Her knees stung when they hit the stone floor. A groan escaped her lips. What the hell is going on?

  Trace bowed his head as he knelt along side of her. “Don’t fight it,” he whispered.

  Kira nodded and the pain eased.

  “Queen Mary.” His voice echoed through the room.

  “Get up.” Mary raised her arms.

  Shaking off the splitting headache, and the shock, Kira felt Trace wrap his hand around her arm, tugging her off the stone. Her knees sore, it took a second to find her footing from underneath the curved train of her gown. She roughly rubbed her aching legs. Proof of being a pissed-off klutz.

  The Queen sauntered closer and paced in circles around them. Her stare trapped Kira’s, causing her skin to crawl in caution. The Queen observed Trace, and Kira noticed her stare held a different regard toward him. One of passion.

  The Queen considered him, sized him up. Her chin lifted, inhaled and she closed her eyes. As her tongue traced her lips, she opened her eyes into small slits as though contemplating Trace and taking in his scent, savoring him. Then her glare shot back to Kira. She reached out and gripped her hand; the strength in her grip could have broken every bone in her hand. The Queen narrowed her eyes and then dropped her hand as though she weren’t worthy of her touch. “I should kill you right here,” she said casually as if commenting about the weather.

  Trace stepped forward. “Queen.”

  Kira swallowed, but didn’t back down. Instead, she stood straighter. The Queen turned to Trace.

  “Been too long, T.” Her fingers trailed down his arm.

  Trace’s chest rose as though he were straining in pain. “A while.”

  She took in a deep breath. “Your blood calls to me. I’m thirsty.”

  Kira swallowed. Would the Queen drink his blood right now in front of her? Would he drink hers? She didn’t want the Queen to touch Trace or vice versa. Trace unbuttoned his silk collar, exposing his thick neck, and tilted his head. An offering. No. How could he?

  Mary hissed at Kira, then smiled, raising her lips, exposing long fangs. She wrapped her hand around Trace’s neck and jerked him forward. As Mary opened her mouth, she sank her teeth into his skin, all the while staring at Kira. Possessively.

  Kira couldn’t watch, so she turned and met the gaze of the man Trace called Dev. His cold stare chilled her to the core, and then he slightly bowed his head as though he understood what she was thinking. Was he able to read minds like Mike? A slight nod of his head told her yes.

  Queen Mary released Trace. “You’re hungry.” The Queen tilted her head, offering herself.

  Bile rose in Kira’s throat. It wasn’t the fact that the Queen drank blood in front of her. It was that another woman drank blood from Trace and Trace was about to drink from her.

  “No.” Trace looked at Kira.

  The Queen scowled at Kira. “You’re pathetic.”

  Kira frowned. “What? You don’t know me.”

  “I know drinking blood disgusts you.”

  “No. This display disgusts me.” What was this all about? Was she trying to show her that Trace was hers? Why didn’t he stop all this?

  “Watch it! This is no show, human. This is how we live. And believe me. I know more about you than you wish. If you like, I could end your life for you as you so terribly failed to do yourself.” The Queen smirked.

  “Mary.” Trace’s voice rose. “Why are we here?”

  The Queen narrowed her eyes on him. “I’m your Queen, call me as such.”

  Kira blanched. Trace glanced at her and she searched his face. She should have known there was something between him and Queen.

  He shook his head as though he’d read her mind. It didn’t matter if he did. The room shrunk like the size of a small broom closet. The air sucked out of her lungs. As she inhaled she shrugged, she could do this.

  “Why is this human still in your life?” The Queen glared at both of them.

  “I am protecting her.”

  “Isn’t her abductor in jail?”

  “For now.”

  “Then erase her mind and disregard her. We do not need any complications, and you have better things to attend to.”

  Kira blinked. Erase her memory. No. She didn’t want to forget Trace. God, no.

  “I know my duties,” he said.

  “Good. Then do them and be on your way.” The Queen fixed her gaze on Trace and paraded up to him. Her face was mere inches from his as she licked her fangs clean of blood. “I expect you to return within twenty-four hours. Alone.”

  “And who do you think…” Kira tilted off balance when they appeared back at Trace’s house. She huffed, pissed that he hadn’t allowed her to finish her statement. She swayed. Disappearing and reappearing didn’t agree with her, and neither did the Queen. She found her footing and crossed her arms. “I didn’t realize the two of you
were lovers.”

  “Don’t hold your tongue.” He gestured for her to continue.

  “I’m not. I’m done with going along for the ride.”

  She wouldn’t share him. The Queen could kill her in a blink, and she’d have no chance in win Trace, if she’d decided she’d want to fight for him.

  His hand gripped her arm and tugged her against his chest. “I’m glad, but be careful of what you say and to whom you say it.” His gaze traveled down. “So, what else are you done with? Me?”

  She couldn’t speak in fear that she might say something she’d regret. She tilted her head waiting for his answer if the Queen and he were lovers. She wouldn’t answer his question until he answered hers. She waited.

  Trace exhaled. “Hundreds of years ago we had an arrangement. Our contract is over. We are no longer useful to each other.”

  “Useful? Arrangement?”

  “It’s not what you think. We were never lovers. You really don’t want to know how things are between us. The Poryria world is different from the human world. We are different. We are two parts. One part good, and one part ready to surrender to darkness. I fight the darkness every day of my existence.”

  The more he spoke the more she didn’t want to know. His words hurt. Did he think less of humans? Not that she thought highly of most of them either. “How do you view me? Am I of some use to you?” He’d said the Queen was no longer useful to him, so she couldn’t help but wonder would that happen to her too?

  “You’re twisting my words.”

  He still hadn’t answered her question about him and the Queen. How were things between them? “Am I? You haven’t answered my question in order for me to do that.”

  “No?” His hand slipped down her exposed back.

  Even in a pissed off state of mind, her skin tingled in the wake of his touch. “Well?”

  “You’re a woman who’s been through rough times, a woman who closed out the rest of the world. But I’m getting glimpses of who you can be. I want to bring more of that woman out. I see beneath your shields. You won’t be able to hide very long. Underneath, you’re a woman of great passion, desire and purity of heart. And even if you don’t see it, you are strong. You’re not the person I thought you were when I found you on that bridge”

  Kira hadn’t thought about that in awhile. No, she wasn’t that woman. “Answer me. What good am I to you?”

  Trace smiled. His fingers cupped her chin. “You-have-no-idea.”

  “I’d like to know.” Her pulse beat hard in her neck. She lifted her hand to cover it. Was it the temptation of her blood he was after?

  “When I found you I thought I was giving you a second chance at life. Instead, it was you giving life to me.”

  Squeezing her eyes closed, she wanted to believe him. He was not a monster. The Queen on the other hand…Damn her. Why did she have to drink from him and remind her he was not hers? With her being human and Trace Poryria, he probably never would be.

  As her lips parted to speak, he pulled her close and his tongue swept inside. Her breath caught. Maybe he was tempted by her blood, but she was tempted by his touch.

  *******

  Trace had waited for the right moment. She thought he would throw her away once all this was over. He needed to prove otherwise, and he wanted her in more ways than she gave him credit. And since her eyes had closed and her mouth opened, the moment was now or never.

  He swept his tongue inside exploring her.

  She pulled back and broke the kiss. “Trace. You’re not getting out of it. Answer me.”

  He licked his bottom lip. “Hmm. I forgot what you asked.” He took her mouth again with possessiveness. Her mouth was so sweet. She didn’t belong to him, but he wanted her to. His hunger woke. He had to taste more. He had to claim and bond with her.

  Was he crazy? Was this crazy? He couldn’t. Frustration, built within him. His hand caressed the back of her neck and then down her spine. When he released her, he was breathing heavily.

  Her hazel eyes were full of confusion mixed with desire.

  He wiped her lips dry with his thumb. “Did that answer your question?”

  She blinked dazed. “Lord. What question?”

  A smile pulled at his lips and he whispered, “You are useful to me in so many ways. I can show you more if you want me to.” He tilted his head going in for another kiss. His hunger growled at him. It hurt. Deep inside it ached to be filled. He ignored it as best he could. Pushing it deep down, trying to keep it quiet.

  “Wait.” She touched her lips with her fingers.

  “I’ll try.” He knew he couldn’t for long.

  “Why did you let her drink from you?”

  How stupid of him not to realize their display bothered her. In his world it was natural. It was expected. “I had no choice.” He didn’t enjoy the Queen’s power over him, but he couldn’t deny her.

  “Why not?”

  “She is Queen. I’m a protector. All male Poryria are hers to feed from. It is the way of it.” He kissed her hand. “Unless we are mated.” Don’t go there.

  She flinched.

  He shouldn’t have said that. Change the subject quick. “I’m sorry her feeding made you uncomfortable. Did it scare you?”

  Kira’s brows rose, and then she glanced at their embraced hands. “No. It was weird. She touched you in such an intimate way.”

  “Intimate? It’s not like that. ” His thumb stroked her palm.

  Kira dropped his grip and walked to the window, her back facing him. “I don’t know. She watched me while she fed. She had this…odd look in her eyes.”

  Could Kira be jealous? Could she care for him more than she was letting on? He came up behind her and turned her around. “It was a feeding, nothing more.”

  “It doesn’t matter.” Her eyes lied; she was confused. “This is your world not mine.”

  His hands rested on her shoulders. “I’d rather be in your world.”

  “Why?” Her voice cracked.

  Trace rested his forehead on hers. How could he explain? He didn’t want to scare her, but he wanted her to understand that he really cared about her. He pushed her hair behind her ear. “Kira.” How could he tell her that instead of watching the sunset every evening, he’d rather watch the sunrise with her? Darkness calls him when the sun goes down.

  Fear hid behind her eyes. She wasn’t ready to connect with him like he wanted to with her, but she would in time. At least he hoped so.

  “Don’t,” she whispered.

  He tilted his head. All of these emotions were strange to him too, but he couldn’t deny it. “You feel this…between us don’t you? It’s more powerful than you and I. And if we were to…” No. What was he thinking? They couldn’t bond.

  “Stop.” She pushed away. “We don’t truly know each other. I don’t even know me right now.”

  How could she think that? He knew her heart and soul. “I know all I need to.” He stepped closer and reached behind her neck. “If you’re not ready, I’ll wait.” He kissed her cheek.

  “Okay.” She nodded and then leaned her head against his chest. The feeling of her in his arms was the most wonderful feeling he had in a very long time.

  As Trace lifted her, he pressed her body against his. The warmth of her skin felt so good. He closed his eyes, savored each second. His cock grew, longing to claim her, as her sweet blood called his name.

  He trembled. Damn it. The timing is wrong. He fought the urge to rip her clothes off and mount her on the floor. Hell, he was so damn hungry. It had been a while since he'd fed, and the Queen drained him more than she should have.

  He held her, his hands around her waist. Kira deserved better. She deserved passion, not gluttony, greed. He needed to cage the urge, show her he could be a man, not a monster. It was too late. He felt himself slipping into darkness. In the next second, he had them naked underneath his silk sheets. A growl rumbled inside his chest. His control shattered. He shook his head and shoved her to the side of the b
ed. "Run."

  Kira leaned on her elbows. "What?" She blinked. "What's wrong with your…they're glowing orange, almost red."

  Trace covered his face with his hands. "Get out of here. Lock yourself in the bathroom." His teeth extended with his blood lust, and he squeezed his eyes shut. "Leave!" He pointed toward the door. "Now."

  Silence filled the room, except for his heavy panting. He opened his eyes. She was still there, standing by the side of the bed. Hands on her hips and a frown on her lips. She held her ground. When she glanced down at her naked body, his gaze followed hers. Shit! She shouldn't have done that. He sat up quick. His body trembled, his cock hard.

  Why wasn’t she running? Damn it. Her defiance excited the beast in him. His control broke as he leapt into the air, landing in a crouch at her feet. Slowly, he rose. His voice wasn’t his own anymore. "You should have run while you had the chance."

  Chapter 13

  Trace’s eyes flickered with unnatural illumination. He tilted his head studying her as though he’d never seen her before. Kira shivered. Was he even aware of what he was doing? What was happening to him?

  Each time she dropped her guards around him, something happened.

  Why? Why? Why?

  He paced back and forth like a caged tiger, then stopped. He inhaled and curled his lip. Slowly he circled her. The heat of his breath touched her neck, warming her, but the rest of her flesh held goose bumps. When he faced her, his stare pinned her, and she took a nervous step back. He growled a warning. She froze, but a second later found her voice. “I’m not afraid of you!” Yes, she was.

  He ran his tongue over one elongated tooth, showing her his pearly weapons. She swallowed, turned and sprinted toward the door. With the knob in her grip she pulled. It inched open the second she felt Trace’s hand at the base of her throat, and the huff of his breath crawling through her hair. She tried twisting around, but he thrust his hips against her bottom and pinned her on the door.

  “Let go.” She angled her head in order to see his face, then gasped, stunned by his lopsided grin. “Let me go.” What was the matter with him?

  Trace pulled her around, his gaze penetrated her with such hunger. As much as she was nervous, uncontrollable heat coiled through her faster than she could blink. She shivered as his fingers traced the hollow of her neck, then slid between her breasts. His glowing gaze never left hers. Liquid thickened between her thighs, and she held back a moan. Where was this lust coming from? She couldn’t believe his actions turned her on—why was it?