Lisa’s lips parted in an O shape, and her blue eyes went wide with shock. “You can’t believe that nonsense. That man is crazy. Vampires! Good God, Corinne, he must be mentally ill!”
“Dayan’s right,” Cullen said as he entered the room carrying two cups of steaming liquid. “I belonged to the organization at one time. They investigate anyone who appears the least bit different. Most of those on the bottom rung are kids who love anything gothic and like to pretend they believe in vampires. They think it’s all fun and games, but the information they supply often determines who is under investigation. Those at the top are very serious about killing anyone they think is a vampire. They do it in a ritualistic way. A stake through the heart, garlic in the mouth, beheading — the whole bit. These people are fanatical, and they’re killers.”
Lisa was staring at him in horror. “You joined something so stupid? Why would you do that?”
“I believe vampires exist,” Cullen admitted. “I saw one.” He kept his gaze fixed on Lisa, waiting for shock, for condemnation. Waiting to lose his chance with her.
Corinne and Lisa exchanged one long look. They were suddenly very aware they were alone in a house with someone they didn’t know very well. And the man was probably very ill. Last night, when Dayan was talking to her, Corinne thought he’d made perfect sense, but now it all seemed totally insane.
Cullen handed each of them a cup of tea. “Don’t look at me that way. I know what you’re thinking, but I’m not crazy. There was a time I thought I was losing my mind. Several years ago, I was engaged and my fiancйe and I had gone out to dinner. At that time there was a serial killer loose in the city. He targeted women, and their bodies were always drained of blood. My fiancйe was murdered that night, and I witnessed it. I saw him bite her neck and drain the blood out of her. I saw it with my own eyes. He would have killed me too, but something interrupted him.” He tapped his finger against the palm of his hand. “
I saw
him kill her. No one would believe me. I wasn’t drinking. I don’t use drugs, but the cops wanted to lock me up in a mental institution instead of listening to me. Those in the organization listened to me. Unfortunately, my anger and terror bought me a membership into the inner sanctum of the group.” He tried not to sound bitter, but even after all this time he still felt the pain of that time. He looked directly at Lisa. “I swear to you, I’m not crazy. I saw a monster. I saw it.”
There was a look on his face, totally vulnerable, very sad. Lisa wanted to cry. There was an actual pain in her chest. It was all she could do not to run to him and comfort him. She didn’t know what he had witnessed that horrible night, but he certainly believed he’d seen a vampire. “I know you’re not crazy, Cullen,” she said softly.
Cullen stared at her a moment longer, then began to blink rapidly, fighting some strong emotion. When he looked away, Lisa caught the sheen of tears in his eyes, and a large lump in her throat threatened to choke her.
She was happy she hadn’t blurted out a condemnation. Whatever he had seen that night had changed his life for all time. Lisa knew about murder and trauma.
She glanced apprehensively at Corinne and caught her watching her thoughtfully. For no reason at all, Lisa found herself blushing. “What?”
“Don’t ‘what’ me.” Corinne took a cautious sip of tea. “Mmm, perfect, Cullen, thank you. I think you’ve revived me. I swear I was so sleepy I didn’t think I could ever get up.” Her hand crept up to cover a spot on her neck, just over her pulse, where she felt a sudden warmth, as if Dayan’s mouth had moved over her skin.
“Are you sure we shouldn’t take you to the doctor just to be on the safe side?” Lisa asked anxiously.
“Believe it or not,” Cullen said, “I sometimes wake up that way in the middle of the afternoon. I actually have to go back to sleep. I think when you hang out with musicians, you start staying up most of the night and then you start sleeping all day like a bat. I’ve seen Dayan stay up all night just playing his guitar. When he plays, I can’t seem to walk away and just quit listening. I tell myself to go to bed, but then I don’t do it. I’ve seen a packed house stay that way all night, even when no one is drinking anymore. They just don’t go home until he stops playing.”
“Last night,” Corinne said, “not one person went near Dayan when he stepped off the stage and we were dancing. The crowd just opened up and let him through. No one asked for his autograph, no one tried to talk to him, none of the girls even went up to flirt with him. When we went outside, not one single person attempted to stop him. Explain that to me.”
“I noticed that too,” Lisa said. “I was certain they would crush him, but no one went near him.”
Cullen shrugged. “He’s like that. I can’t explain it, but I’ve seen it often enough. They come in wanting to meet him, they talk about it at the bar and on the dance floor. I’ve heard them, the women. They flirt outrageously while he’s on the stage, but when he puts down his guitar, when he’s finished playing, he always does the same thing. He looks at the audience just once and then he steps off the stage. No one ever approaches him. I honestly think he has some kind of look that terrifies everyone. He can scare the hell out of me when he looks a certain way. I’ve also wondered if maybe he’s a psychic and simply warns everyone to leave him alone.” He looked at Lisa. “Did you want to meet him?” He seemed to be holding his breath, waiting for her answer. “Was that why you went to the bar last night?”
Lisa shook her head. “I wanted to surprise Corinne. She loves music, and she’s always talking about the Dark Troubadours. A friend called to tell me Dayan was playing.”
Cullen arched an eyebrow. “A friend?”
Lisa smiled. “Bruce, an associate I work with. I did joke about meeting Dayan, but once I was in the bar all I could think about was...” She trailed off, the color rising steadily in her cheeks.
Corinne nudged her teasingly. Lisa scowled fiercely over her teacup, signaling Corinne to silence. Corinne smirked at her. Cullen looked at them both, and a slow grin spread across his face.
Corinne opened her mouth to tease Lisa some more, but words faded from her mind. Everything faded but the knowledge of Dayan’s presence. She could feel the burning weight of his stare. She turned her head slowly, knowing he was standing in the doorway. A moment before, the doorway had been empty, and in the next instant it was filled with his powerful frame. He was simply standing there in total silence, his hungry gaze fixed on her face.
At once her heart accelerated, slamming alarmingly hard. She swept one hand through her tousled hair. He looked immaculate. Elegant.
Dangerous.
So sexy he robbed her of breath. She found herself staring helplessly at him. Just drinking him in. His black eyes never left her. Intense. Hungry. He was everything she remembered from the previous night. All of her resolve went flying out the window. How could anyone look like he did and not be a mythical Greek god?
A slow smile curved his sculpted mouth, enhancing his sensual black magic.
I am reading your mind.
His voice brushed at the walls of her mind, velvet soft and very intimate. Sheer temptation.
For one moment Corinne could only blink up at him helplessly, a shiver running through her body. The illusion of being alone with him, his strong arms wrapped around her, was so strong, she forgot for a moment that Cullen and Lisa were beside her. “Just stop.” Her voice wasn’t her own, but instead a blatant invitation.
Lisa stared at her, open-mouthed in disbelief, and Cullen gallantly cleared his throat, drawing Corinne’s attention. Dayan’s white teeth flashed at her.
Got yourself in trouble.
He was laughing at her, warmth leaping into his fathomless eyes.
“Showoff.” Corinne said it very softly, teasingly.
Lisa shared a puzzled look with Cullen and shrugged her shoulders. Dayan hadn’t said a single word, but Corinne and Dayan were definitely communicating in a very intimate way. Lisa tried not to feel left out
, tried not to be hurt by the look in Corinne’s eyes when she stared at Dayan. Tried not to be totally shocked. Corinne had never looked at anyone the way she was looking at the musician.
Dayan glided into the room. A ripple of muscle. Casual. Silent. Lethal. There was something frightening about him that none of them could define. He emanated danger. He was wild. Untamed. Yet he was elegant, courtly even. Corinne smiled up at him, a dimple appearing in the corner of her mouth. She watched him cross the room effortlessly, his body so perfectly coordinated it was sheer poetry.
Dayan reached down and took possession of her hand, bringing her knuckles to the warmth of his mouth. “Did you sleep?” His teeth nibbled, teased.
He knew she had slept deeply, Corinne realized instinctively. She studied his sculpted features. “You should know.” It was half a guess, but she was becoming slightly alarmed. Could he somehow force her compliance? Her reaction to him? She had a strong talent. If she could do unusual things, why couldn’t Dayan?
Amusement crept into the depths of his black eyes.
Of course I can do those things. But I do not need or want to force your reaction to me. What good would that do? You are my true lifemate, the light to my darkness. It would be an abomination to force your compliance.
Her eyes flashed at him, a hint that she was not amused.
Stop talking to me in my mind and talk aloud. It’s very disconcerting.
She tried thinking the words, picturing them in her mind and throwing them at him along the same mental path he was using.
This method of communication is as natural to me as breathing, but I will speak aloud if you insist.
Dayan looked more amused than ever. “Good evening, Lisa. I trust you slept well. Corinne looks rested.” His voice was soft and unbelievably gentle.
Lisa tried not to stare at him. He was claiming Corinne. He was letting all of them know his intentions. His possession was in the way he held Corinne’s hand, the way he looked at her, even his protective body posture. Very male. Territorial. The word crept into her mind uninvited. There was something about him she didn’t quite trust. He was too
untamed.
She let out her breath and glanced at Cullen for protection.
Cullen smiled encouragingly at her even as he spoke to his friend. “This is early for you, Dayan. We just got up a little while ago.”
Corinne moved her wrist, a subtle motion designed to get her hand back. Dayan simply leaned into her, his powerful frame looming over her. “You are not drinking your tea, honey, Cullen’s tea is very good.”
Cullen’s eyebrow shot up. “Quite a compliment.”
Lisa scooted closer to Cullen, sliding off the bed to give Dayan a place to sit. “Rina told me you found two men in our house last night. Are we really in danger?”
“I am afraid so, Lisa,” Dayan answered quietly. “Do not worry. Cullen and I are quite capable of protecting you and Corinne.” He looked around the small room. “But I prefer to move you to a place easier to defend.”
“What do you mean, defend?” Lisa asked suspiciously. She looked at Corinne. “My sister is pregnant. She can’t be traveling all over the country,” she said, hoping to shock him.
“I am well aware of Corinne’s pregnancy,” Dayan replied gently. “Do not worry, Lisa. On my word of honor, I will always place Corinne’s health and happiness above my own. I would never allow anything to harm her.” His black eyes rested on Cullen. “I have family. The band is scattered at the moment, but I’ve called them and they are on their way to meet us. I contacted Darius last night, and he is sending for one of our greatest healers. I believe we should move toward them.” His gaze was steady on Cullen’s, but there was no “push” for approval of his plan. He was being courteous for the moment.
Cullen caught Lisa’s hand. “Darius and the others would make it impossible for any harm to come to you or Corinne. I agree with Dayan. I think we should leave.”
Lisa withdrew her hand. “I work. Tomorrow I have a major photo shoot with one of the top photographers in the country. I signed a contract with a cosmetic company to do ads. It may not seem like a big deal to you, but I take my business very seriously. These people are counting on me. I can’t very well run out on them. And Corinne needs to be close to her own doctors, who understand her case.” She looked at Corinne. “I want to go to the police, Rina. We can’t let someone else run our lives or scare us into leaving everything we’ve ever worked for. We didn’t see anyone at our house. I’m not even sure someone was there. Are you?”
It was the first time Corinne had ever seen Lisa take a stand on anything. She obviously felt very strongly about what she’d said. Corinne believed someone had been in their home waiting to harm them. She believed those same people had killed John. She glanced at Dayan. His expression hadn’t changed, but there was something about him that gave her pause. There was an impression of menace. Of ruthlessness. A merciless slash to his mouth, something in his eyes perhaps, but she couldn’t put her finger on what it was. She shivered unexpectedly. It was that menace more than anything else that made her throw her support behind Lisa.
“In all honesty, Lisa, I think someone
was
in the house, and I’m certain we’re in danger. But if you want to handle the situation by going to the police, then that’s what we’ll do.” Corinne watched Dayan carefully as she gave her reply.
His black eyes swept her face, then rested there thoughtfully. Corinne lifted her chin in defiance. He was nothing to her. What could he do?
Amusement crept into the depths of his eyes as he read her thoughts.
I am everything to you, honey. You will know that in time, and there is much I can do if it is needed.
His words brushed at her mind, a sensual velvet caress, wrapped in warm humor. His strong teeth scraped gently, almost tenderly over her knuckles.
“That’s exactly what I think we should do,” Lisa said, glaring triumphantly at Dayan. If he thought for one minute she was going to let him walk in and take over Corinne’s life because he was a good-looking musician, he was in for a surprise.
Dayan shrugged his broad shoulders, a lazy ripple of muscle. He had deliberately safeguarded Lisa from the mesmerizing effect he had on humans; now he thought he might have done too good a job of it. Prompted by her protective instincts and her fear of losing Corinne, Lisa was reacting with outright hostility toward him. Corinne loved Lisa and considered her family. Dayan couldn’t have Lisa so antagonistic toward him.
“Lisa.” He said her name very gently, very softly, commanding her attention. There was something hypnotic about his voice, something impossible to ignore.
“Dayan.” Cullen made it a protest.
Lisa couldn’t look away from those demanding black eyes. They were empty, fathomless; she found herself falling forward into them. Why was she afraid of him? Dayan had her best interests at heart. He would protect Corinne with his very life, protect Lisa. He was trustworthy, completely so. Why had she ever doubted him? Everything he said was the truth. They were in terrible danger and they needed to leave with him.
Suddenly furious, Corinne attempted to reach around Dayan to grab Lisa’s shoulder. She had a feeling that his brooding black eyes were working black magic. He was a wicked sorcerer bent on having his way. Dayan restrained her easily, a casual move of his body that was almost no movement at all. He wrapped his arms around her slender shoulders and pulled her back against his chest. “And just what do you think you are going to do, honey, leap out of bed and run away? Your running days are over.” His lips were against the nape of her neck, his warm breath stirring tendrils of hair and causing a minor earthquake somewhere deep inside her.
Corinne forced herself to lean forward and away from him. She knew he had used his psychic gifts to influence Lisa. It angered her that he would do so. She knew Cullen realized it too, yet he was simply standing there, watching her reaction. “Let go, Dayan. I want to get up.” She resisted the desire to dump her te
a on him. “I think we should call the police, Lisa Absolutely. In any case, I don’t want to stay here.” And she wouldn’t. Who was Dayan anyway? Nothing to her.
Everything to you,
he repeated, his voice calm, tranquil even, as it brushed in her mind. His arms unlocked, releasing her, and at once she felt bereft. That annoyed her more than ever. Dayan casually helped her to her feet, his obsidian eyes laughing as she shoved his hands away from her.
“I’m not sure,” Lisa said thoughtfully. “What do you think, Cullen? You know these people. Do you think we’re really in danger? Can the police help us?” She looked up at him, her heart in her eyes.
Corinne nearly groaned aloud. She took a breath, determined to save Lisa from whatever black-magic spell Dayan had placed her under. The palm of his hand slipped gently over her mouth, and he pulled her back into the hard frame of his body. “Let them figure it out together. I want to talk with you.” He breathed the words against the nape of her neck even as he walked her out of the room, his body hot and hard, so needy against hers.
The moment they were outside in the cool evening air, Corinne wrenched herself away from him, then turned to glare at him. “You had no right to do that to her. And don’t even try to play innocent.”
He didn’t look at all remorseful as his possessive gaze drifted over every inch of her. “You are even more beautiful than I remember from last night. When I woke, I thought I might have dreamed you up. My night fantasy.”
His voice was mesmerizing, so beautiful Corinne found herself wanting to hear him speak more. She wished he had his guitar in his hands so she could listen to him sing. No one had ever called her a night fantasy before. She was certain she wasn’t beautiful, but he made her feel beautiful. For a moment she could only stand there, blinking up at him, caught in his spell.
Corinne bit her lower lip hard to wake herself up. “You must have been a poet in another life. Or a gigolo. Stay on track here, Dayan. I’m not letting you off the hook.”
Dark Melody (Dark Series - book 12) Page 8