"What's the Bruen clan's vote, Ian?"
Ian gave him a roguish grin and flipped the disk into the air toward the table. End over end it turned until it landed, skittering across the broken glass, hitting Drace's boot, crest side up.
Drace narrowed his eyes on Ian. "You can't vote for the Bruens."
Ian met his challenging gaze. "I can now, and my first order of business is to hunt you down." He glanced at his watch and gave Drace a humorless smile. "To be fair, I'll even give you an hour head start."
Drace ground his teeth in anger and then hissed at him before shape-shifting into a raven, his clothes dropping behind him as he flew out the way he came.
Rana returned her gaze to Lucian. He looked at her and smiled. Her heart soared for him. He seemed happy, fulfilled. The smile on his face brought a memory slamming back, a memory of Lucian dressed in clothes from the 1930's, smiling at her just like that. All the little things that had seemed familiar about him, the coffee, the way he looked at her, she knew. He had found her because of her connection to Elizabeth.
She sent a silent thank you to Elizabeth when The Gatekeeper suddenly appeared, standing right next to Lucian. Rana drew in her breath. Tonight the old man wore a flowing white robe, but he still had that red baseball cap perched on his head.
The Gatekeeper looked at her and nodded.
Her lungs started to contract and her chest burned with slicing pain. Spots formed in front of her eyes and her vision began to blur. She looked at Lucian and gasping though the waves of agony spoke to him in his mind, I love you, Lucian, right before she collapsed.
"Rana!"
She felt Lucian's arms around her, lifting her against his chest, heard the anguish and fear in his voice from far away as if he were speaking through a tunnel. "Hold on, Rana love."
Chapter Eleven
Cold fear trickled down Lucian's spine as he cradled Rana's limp body in his arms. No, this can't be happening. She'd told me she loved me. I heard her.
"Uncle Vlad, get Mora," he barked over his shoulder. He walked out of the room and vaulted up the stairs as fast as his vamp powers would let him. Once in his bedroom, with Rana cradled in his arms, he lay back against the headboard of his bed and looked down at her beautiful face.
Her closed eyes and furrowed brow indicated she was in pain. But she wasn't moaning and the silence scared him more than anything. He pressed his finger to her throat. Her pulse beat at an unsteady, sputtering rhythm.
He smoothed his hand over her head and down her hair. Somehow he sensed that Rana's life hung in uncertainty. "You can't leave me, Rana. I won't allow it," he said angrily.
Mora and Vlad entered the room and Lucian implored her as he lay Rana down on the bed, "Please help her, Mora. I can't lose my wife when I've just found her."
Lucian moved out of the way, so Mora could check Rana. He trusted her explicitly. She had years of experience with old vampire medicine. She checked Rana's pulse against her throat, looked at her pupils, listened to her heart.
"Her pulse is very weak." When she touched her fingers to Rana's throat once more, Mora quickly leaned near her mouth. She jerked up and said, "She's stopped breathing."
Lucian's heart thudded in his chest while she showed him how to elevate Rana's neck for CPR.
"Now, I'm going to press on her chest in three counts, after that you breathe for her, got it?"
Lucian nodded, his hands shaking as he waited for Mora to tell him to breathe for Rana. His stomach tightened in knots while they worked in unison to revive his mate, but after a few minutes, Mora put her hand on his arm.
"I'm sorry, Lucian."
Lucian set his jaw, his heart constricting in his chest at his loss. "Please leave us," he said quietly.
Vlad and Mora reluctantly left him, shutting the door behind them.
When the door clicked closed, Lucian climbed back into the bed and gathered Rana in his arms, holding her close. As he rocked her, her head fell back, her neck limp like a broken flower. He touched her hair, her face, and her neck. "No, Rana, you can't leave me. No."
Lucian finally let the emotions he'd held back for so many years punch through to the surface —anguish over waiting and wanting for so long, pain for the brief time they had together, and regret for the family they would never have. He kissed her forehead and accepted the emptiness as deep sorrow filled the void left open when he surrendered his long suppressed feelings.
"She came back for you."
Lucian jerked his head up and focused his gaze on the man standing at the end of the bed. He wore a flowing white robe and a bright light surrounded him. Lucian clutched Rana closer, wincing at the pain the brilliant light caused.
"Rana died from the car accident," the old man said. "I couldn't change that. I only bought her time so she could help you. But now I'm here to make it right." The old man looked at Rana, cradled in his arms. "Make her yours, Lucian. The child she carries is special. He possesses the psychic gift passed on from his mother. Raise him with your ideals in mind and keep your promise to rid the Kendrians of the evil that permeates it."
Before he could speak, the man vanished as quickly as he'd come.
Lucian lowered his hand to Rana's stomach in awe. Our child.
He looked at her beautiful face, her pale, flawless skin. He heard her breathing start anew, heard the slow, sluggish whoosh of her blood pushing through her veins once more.
"I love you, Rana."
Lucian touched her weak pulse with his lips and fed. Her blood was the sweetest of wines as the warm liquid flowed into him, thrumming through his body, feeding the fire he knew would never extinguish between them.
When he gingerly closed her wounds, Rana stirred and moaned, her eyes fluttering open. She put a limp hand on his arm and met his gaze. "Lucian? Where am I?"
He pulled her close and said huskily against her temple, "You're home, sweet Rana, you're home."
"But…but…"
"Shh," he said and ran his hand over her hair, soothing himself as much as her. "I want you to sleep now. We can talk later."
"Lucian…" she began.
"Sleep, my love," he compelled her.
Lucian watched her eyes drift closed, thankful for his ability to send her to sleep. He didn't want her to suffer through the painful metamorphosis her human body would have to undergo as she became a vampire.
* * * * *
Lucian walked into the library and saw Ian standing by the window and his sister and uncle each sitting in wing back chairs, waiting for him. Apparently the other vampire leaders had returned to their homes. Ian turned to him, concern in his eyes. Before he could ask, Lucian supplied the answer with a smile. "Rana is fine."
"What?" his uncle Vlad said, looking pleasantly surprised.
"But she's no longer human, is she?" Trish accused from the doorway. She glanced back toward the staircase and then returned her gaze to him, stating in a detached, matter-of-fact tone, "I heard her heart stop."
Lucian rubbed the back of his neck, hoping to release the tension that had taken over his body. Rana's whole miraculous recovery scenario was indeed beyond his comprehension. His mate may be fine now, but his body had been so tightly coiled throughout the whole ordeal, the bunched muscles in his neck and back would take more time to work themselves out.
He sighed. "It's a long story, but suffice it to say, Rana's my true mate now. I sent her to sleep during the change."
"So you saved her," Trish said, her words more of a statement than a question.
Lucian met her gaze. "No, she saved me."
Trish smiled. Apparently she liked his answer, for it was the first smile he'd seen on her face since she arrived. She turned and walked away without a word. He chuckled when he heard her mumble, "You're still all a bunch of freaks."
His uncle shook his head and looked at the empty doorway saying, "That one is going to give us a run for our money. I feel it in my bones." He turned to Lucian. "I'll let Mora know the good news concerning Rana."
<
br /> Sabryn jumped up and hugged her brother tight around his neck. "I knew you'd find peace and happiness one day, Lucian. I'm so thrilled for you."
Lucian hugged her back and then set her away from him to look into her lilac colored eyes. "Now it's your turn, Sabryn. You deserve your own happiness."
Sabryn punched him in the arm. "Already trying to kick me out are you?"
"No, I—" He stopped mid sentence when he saw the devilish gleam in her eye. She'd deftly changed the subject, putting him on the defensive on purpose.
Before he could call her on her game she waved to their uncle. "Come on, Uncle Vlad. Let's leave Lucian and Ian to strategize on how best to hunt down Drace."
Lucian waited until Sabryn and his uncle left before he addressed Ian. "I want him eliminated yesterday, Ian."
Ian chuckled, always his laidback self. "No worries, Luc. I'll get Drace."
Lucian met his golden gaze. "Whatever it takes, my friend. Getting Drace will help establish your role as the new Bruen leader." Then a thought occurred to him that might help Ian out, too. How many times had Ian told him of his brother's self imposed seclusion? "Why don't you ask Duncan to help? What better way to accomplish your goal of bringing your brother into both the human and the vampire world than for him to become a vampire hunter?"
"You do have a valid point." Ian grinned as he sat down. That's an angle I hadn't considered with my brother. But Drace is mine, Luc. I'll handle him myself. As for Duncan, it'll have to be just the right kind of case or he'll smell my efforts and take the exact opposite course."
Lucian nodded. "I'll leave the timing up to you then, but you may need some additional help since you'll have other responsibilities to fulfill as the Bruen leader."
Ian rolled his eyes and said, "What have I gotten myself into?"
Lucian laughed, enjoying the rich, hearty feeling in his chest. It felt so good to really laugh again. "Welcome to my world."
* * * * *
Rana awoke to the sound of Lucian closing the door. She noted her naked state underneath the covers as she lifted her head and looked at the clock.
"Is it really eight o'clock in the evening?"
Lucian nodded as he stripped out of his navy blue sweater. Rana's heart thudded against her ribs at the sight of his broad, muscular chest. She closed her eyes briefly and inhaled his scent. Even from across the room, she could smell the exotic aroma that was all Lucian.
He slipped out of his pants, stripping his silk boxers with them and turned toward the bed, his erection hard and proud, bouncing against his lower stomach. Rana drew in her breath at his magnificent body. She'd never tire of looking at him.
Wait a minute. Wasn't she supposed to be dead? As Lucian approached, she heard his heart pounding, the rush of his blood as it coursed through his veins. The sound made her realize how incredibly thirsty she was. Okay, that's a bit on the freaky side. The idea of rushing blood should make me nauseous, that is unless I'm a….
"Lucian?"
Lucian lay down beside her and propped himself up on his elbow while he gently pushed her onto her back. "Yes, love?" He leaned over her and ran his hand down her neck and collarbone and then skimmed his fingers over her breast.
She grabbed his wrist before he could continue his downward path and heard his heart beat trip in his chest. "Am I a vampire?"
Lucian smiled and kissed her forehead. "Yes, love, you are. It appears you were given a second chance at life—a life with me."
"But I was supposed to die." Happiness and confusion warred within her.
Lucian pulled his wrist from her loosened grasp and clasped her hand in his. Sliding their hands lower, he splayed her fingers over her lower belly, covering her hand with his larger one.
"You have a reason to live other than for us, sweet Rana."
Rana jerked her gaze back to his silver one.
He smiled. "You carry our child. The next Vité." He chuckled. "And apparently he's going to be quite special according to an angel friend of yours."
She smiled. "A child?"
Our child, he answered in her mind and brought her hand to his lips.
Rana gave him a seductive smile and pulled his hand to her mouth. She returned the favor, kissing his fingers, but instead of letting his hand go, she put her lips around his finger, sucking it into her mouth.
Lucian's breathing changed, blatant desire reflected in his eyes as he watched her. When she sat up and straddled his hips, running her hands of his chest, he leaned back against the headboard and growled his approval.
"You're all mine," she said and gave her own growl of appreciation as she slid her warm, moist entrance along his hard length.
Lucian grasped her waist in his hands, lifted her, and placed his erection against her hot core before thrusting hard and deep into her, touching her womb inside.
She gasped in delight at the pain-pleasure she experienced as his shaft forced her body to immediately adjust to his size and length.
Lucian's expression turned to one of concern. "The baby?"
"Is just fine," she finished with a smile and she began to rock against his hard body.
At her seductive pace, he inhaled deeply, "God, you feel so good. I could stay buried in you for a week."
"How about for a few centuries." Rana grinned at him as she rose up on her knees and then sat back down, taking him fully inside once more, causing him to groan his satisfaction. The glide of his hard shaft deep within her made her shudder in excited anticipation. Her vampire heart couldn't keep up with her spiraling emotions. It thumped slowly underneath her ribcage, heightening her arousal, making her want to know what it would take to make her heart beat harder. Lucian's strong hands clamped around her waist and guided her movements, feeding the coiled tension burning within her.
She kissed his neck, reveling in his ragged breathing, and the upward thrust of his hips against hers. He smelled spicy and clean and totally aroused. The scents and the sound of his pumping heart and racing blood only heightened her desire. Her nostrils flared and the strange sensation of her canines lengthening made her feel so totally out of control she paused her movements.
Before she could pull back, Lucian clasped a firm hand on the back of her neck while he drove into her. "Feed, Rana," he rasped out the order.
Rana moaned at the pleasure his powerful thrust caused and slid her teeth into his throat. Lucian gave a low growl and climaxed as she fed, his pistoning thrusts sending her over the edge right along with him. His blood tasted so heady and powerful, she wanted more, more. Her mind had a hard time deciding which satisfied her more, his blood coursing down her throat or the delicious climax she'd just experienced with him.
When her thirst abated, she reluctantly pulled away, licking the wounds closed on his neck. Gazing into his silver eyes she asked, "Is it always like that when you feed? So incredibly, emotionally erotic?"
Lucian drew a finger along her cheek and jaw line. "No. Only with your anima is it like this, Rana love."
Rana gave him a stern look. "Good, because I was beginning to wonder if you feeding on men would be a problem for me, too."
Lucian chuckled and reached over to pull something from the nightstand drawer. He leaned back against the headboard, turned her around and gathered her in his arms. Settling her back against his chest, he lifted her hand and touched the ring on her finger. Rana stared in awe as he effortlessly slid the piece of jewelry off her hand.
"How did you do that…?" she started to ask.
"Magic," he chuckled in her ear as he added a thin band to the ring and slid it back on.
Where there had been a teardrop opening at the top of the ring, a single pear shaped diamond now nestled in its space right in the middle of the two blood red pear shaped rubies.
She held up her hand and the stones glittered in the light. "It finally looks complete." She sighed.
"And so am I," Lucian said as he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her neck. Running his thumb over the ring, he said, "Now
you have a part of me and a part of you."
Rana's heart contracted in her chest as her excitement grew. She glanced up at him. "The diamond? Is it really from my tear?"
He nodded.
Her sluggish heart beat faster. She looked back at the ring. "And the rubies?"
"Are my blood."
Lucian laced his fingers with hers. Tears and blood, Rana love. I think we've shed enough, don't you?
Her heart soared at his words. Rana snuggled into his warmth, appreciating the secure feeling of his strong arms around her. She kissed his hand and smiled. A life with Lucian and their child. I love you with all my heart, she whispered in his mind. And yes, I believe we've both paid our dues.
Also at Ellora's Cave
Bad in Boot’s: Harm’s Hunger
Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.
www.ellorascave.com
A Taste For Passion Page 13