Reawakening (37 page)

There were things she wanted to tell him before he left. In case this was the last time they laid eyes on each other in this lifetime.

“What are you thinking about, beauty?” Rom asked quietly, as his hand found her naked breast under the warm water, gently tweaking her pebbled nipple.

“Mmmm … so many things,” she replied, sighing at his ministrations.

“Tell me,” he whispered against the shell of her ear. She wished they could stay like this forever. The deep tub had quickly become one of her favorite spots in the house and when they sat there like they did this evening, watching the stars sparkle like diamonds in the sky, her back pressed firmly against his chest, it was like a fairytale. Only this was an
erotic
fairytale, because it always ended in mind-melting sex.

“I found out my mother’s name.”

His hand stilled. “You did? How?”

“I, um, asked Giselle to help me.”

Laughing, he linked their hands and placed them across her belly. “I would have liked to have been a fly on the wall during that conversation.”

Sarah had a weird urge to defend Giselle. “She’s not so bad.”

“Outside of me, she’s the coldest vampire I’ve ever met.”

Twisting her head and capturing his gaze, she said, “You’re not cold. Just … misunderstood. And I think she is too.”

Leaning forward, he kissed the tip of her nose. “You see the good in everybody, Sarah. I so love that about you.”

Turning back around to look out at the night sky, she continued, “Her name was Marna Clark. And I have an aunt and a grandfather alive. My grandmother died last year. They live in Illinois.”

“Would you like to meet them?”

“Yes,” she answered, no hesitation. “Someday.”

“Then we shall make that happen.”

This next part was a little harder, because she hated to ruin the moment by talking about his past. About Seraphina. But she wanted him to know.

“And my grandmother had a very extensive family tree that Giselle managed to get me as well, along with quite a few pictures. It goes all the way back to the late thirteen hundreds.”

“Mmm, really?” he asked, hips gently thrusting behind her, his erection digging into her back. Clearly other ways to fill their remaining time together was on his mind. But she wasn’t through.

“Yes. And I saw a name and an old picture that caught my eye.”

“Sarah, I need to fuck you before I leave,” he mumbled against her neck, her stomach fluttering in anticipation.

Oh my
. His wandering hands and naughty words made it
very
difficult to form sentences.

“It appears I’m a descendent of Willa Glynn.” When he didn’t react, she added, “Seraphina’s sister.”

He turned her around to face him, sloshing water over the sides of the tub. “What did you say?”

Crooking her eyebrows, she shrugged. “Pretty incredible, huh?”

“Are you sure?” he asked doubtfully.

“Positive.” Hating that she felt so insecure that she wasn’t his first, she decided to ask the question that had plagued her since Rom finally divulged who Seraphina was. “I thought vampires could only have one Moira? Are you sure I’m yours, if Seraphina was?”

“Yes, Sarah. I’m sure. I never bonded with Seraphina, as I told you, so apparently the Fates granted me another chance of finding my one true mate. I don’t think Seraphina was ever intended to be my mate and I should have listened to my gut the second I saw you, instead of spending days questioning fate. And because I didn’t, we’re now both in danger from my father.”

“What do you mean?”

His smile was thin and didn’t reach his eyes. And that made her slightly sick. He looked away before capturing her gaze again. “I’ve been alive a very long time, Sarah, and I’d never heard of a vampire having two Moiras, but there was no denying in my gut and in my blood that you were mine. And so I sought answers from the only person I knew would have heard of such a thing. My mother. But to get to her, I had to go through my father first. If I had just trusted my instinct, I wouldn’t have to confront him tonight. I wouldn’t have to kill him. I wouldn’t have put us in danger.”

Her brows furrowed. “But if you kill your father, doesn’t your mother also die?”

“Taiven claims to have found a way to prevent that. I’m not convinced.”

“And you’re willing to take a chance?”

His face turned impassive. “I’m not willing to risk losing you. Period.”

“I’m sorry,” she muttered, laying her head on his shoulder.

Strong arms wrapped around her. “I’m the one that’s sorry, beauty. I’m the one that’s sorry.”

Chapter 61

Rom

Standing on the steps once again of his father’s house, he was half surprised there wasn’t an ambush waiting for him. When he was growing up, that was a tactic his father regularly used with unsuspecting visitors called to his home under false pretenses. Makare much more preferred to trick and play with his enemies than battle them fairly and squarely.

As they’d all agreed having cell phones was too risky, Rom was going on blind faith that Taiven, Ainsley and Geoffrey had everything in place for his arrival. If they ran into any glitches, he wouldn’t know until it was too late.

Sarah had told him before he left that in a dream, Seraphina said that reuniting him and Taiven was the key to saving Rom’s life. He still wasn’t sure what to make of that and he wasn’t at all sure what to make of what the vampire on the mountain had told him of Taiven.

“He’s a good vampire. Trustworthy.”

Rom snorted. “Good and trustworthy aren’t adjectives I’d use to describe my brother. Cocky, self-centered, and sadistic? Yes. Good? Hardly.”

“You haven’t seen your brother in over five hundred years. A lot can change in that time. Your father is the sadistic one. Taiven has saved hundreds of women from a fate worse than death. A fate imposed upon them by your father. He’s even saved many of your American women’s lives.”

“How so?”

“That’s a longer discussion than we have time for, I’m afraid. What you need to know now is that Taiven’s objectives and yours align. Taiven is respected and benevolent and fair. And our true leader. Everything Makare is not. It’s only a matter of time before Makare discovers Taiven’s subterfuge and when that happens, he will be publicly executed and our people cannot allow that to happen. Together, I believe you’ll be powerful enough to finally rid the world of your father.”

The sound of the castle door opening yanked him back to the present. Dammit, he could not afford any distractions, no matter how momentary.

“Sire, this way, please.”

Showtime.

The servant took him on the same path that he’d taken just a few short weeks ago, winding through the castle directly to the throne room. Upon entering, his steps wavered. As expected, perched high on his throne was his father. But this time, instead of a naked whore on his lap, his unclothed mother sat instead.

There was a collar around her neck and attached to it was a leash, which Makare held in one hand while stroking her hair with the other, much like one would do with a lap pet. Even from this far away, she visibly shivered, but it wasn’t from a chill or in anticipation. It was from
fear
.

When he entered the room, his mother’s eye caught his briefly but quickly looked away. He could almost feel her embarrassment at being put on such vulgar display.

Mother. Fucker
. He wanted to rip Makare’s fucking head off this very instant. How
dare
he debase his mother in front of her children? And how dare Taiven let this happen? Where the fuck was this supposedly honorable vampire that Malachi had spoken of? He was supposed to be here. Sixty seconds in the door and their plans were already shot to shit.

“Romaric,” his father greeted. “I’m surprised you actually came.”

Taiven and Ainsley were to tell his father that Rom had been found and had reluctantly agreed to come listen to his father’s
request
to rejoin the family. He wouldn’t be able to hide it now, should his father look, but at least Makare hadn’t known of his mating to Sarah since he wasn’t bonded last time he was here. That is unless Taiven or Ainsley betrayed him. Which, at this point, since they were both notably absent, was very fucking likely.

Inclining his head, Rom let his power flare slightly, stating evenly, “You shouldn’t be.
I’m
an honorable vampire.”

He didn’t miss the quick nostril flare at his unspoken insinuation that his father wasn’t.

“You know why you’re here?” his father clipped.

So you can try to kill me, asshole.

“I have a pretty good idea.”

“You really should learn better manners, Romaric. Let’s start with bowing to your King.”

“I said I was honorable. Not respectful.”

His father stood abruptly, causing his mother to fall with a thud to the floor and down a few stairs. Makare still had a tight hold on the leash and from her angle on the ground she was clearly choking, clawing at the collar for relief.

Rom gritted his teeth and barely held his fury in check. He should end this now, but he didn’t know what had become of Taiven, Geoffrey or Ainsley. Not that he should give a fuck about the first two, but he didn’t wish any harm to come to Ainsley.

“Do you know what happens to traitors, Romaric?”

“I’m sure you plan on telling me, Makare.”

Malevolent eyes never leaving his, his father snapped his fingers. Seconds later, two men walked in, dragging a severely beaten and tortured vampire between them. He didn’t recognize the vampire until they got closer.

Taiven.

They were royally fucked.

This was absolutely
not
part of the plan.

“I don’t think I can describe how gut wrenching it is to have not only one, but
two
, sons betray you,” his father continued, still brutally holding his mother’s life in his hands.

The vampires viciously threw Taiven on the cold floor at his feet, taking only a few steps back. They crossed their arms, pinning Rom with a hard, cold glare, clearly ready to do their master’s bidding. Taiven wasn’t even moving. Where the
fuck
were Geoffrey and Ainsley?

Makare began walking slowly down the stairs; finally abandoning his mother, who now gulped lungsful of air.

“You could have had everything.”

“Freedom was preferable to living under a tyrant’s rule.”

Makare’s jaw clenched and Rom felt the first inklings of his father’s power. Instead of throwing up his shields and negating his father’s control, he welcomed it. He reaped it. Took it as his own.

“You
will
return to your rightful place or you will die. Today.”

Rom’s eyes flitted to Taiven’s still form. He could hear the vampire’s breaths. They were shallow and uneven, but even for the short time he’d been unceremoniously dumped there he was rapidly improving. He wondered if his father was aware.

“Cut the shit. You’d sooner have my head than have me rule by your side.”

An evil smile curled his father’s mouth. “Not true. You may have left, but I’ve decided that’s a betrayal I can forgive. Your brother’s betrayal, however, I cannot.”

Makare didn’t know they were working together to kill him? What other betrayal could he possibly be referring to?

“My plate’s kind of full at the moment. I’ll check back with you in another six hundred years.”

“Hmmm. I think I have something that may change your mind.
Son
.” Makare’s eyes slowly made their way to Rom’s mating mark and his blood ran ice cold. “Ah, yes. I
am
aware of your recent mating status.”

As if waiting for her cue, Ainsley walked in. And she wasn’t alone.

“Sarah …” Rom uttered.

He could hardly breathe. Unbridled rage boiled his blood to the breaking point and his gut burned at Ainsley’s betrayal.

How the fuck did they find Sarah? He’d only left her a couple hours ago and she was supposed to be at Dev’s. Was Geoffrey in on the ruse as well, pretending all along to help him? Of course he was. How could he not be?

He couldn’t work out the fucking mess he now saw in front of him.

“Come here, pet,” his father called to his mate.

“Don’t. You. Fucking. Touch. Her,” he gritted. The one advantage he’d had over his father he’d given away as part of their elaborate scheme to take him down. He’d not liked the idea from the beginning, but his father would expect something unexpected from Rom. He wouldn’t from Taiven.

And now … now he had nothing to best his father with. Taiven lay in a broken pile on the ground and his father had his mate. His father had him firmly by the balls and by the smirk on his face he knew it.

This was a clusterfuck of epic proportions.

This was the end.

“It’s okay, Romaric. Your mate and I have been getting to know each other.”

Sarah shook, but didn’t say a word as Ainsley walked her straight to his father. Makare’s pulled her in front of him and wrapped an arm around his mate’s neck, pinning her tightly to his body. It was a clear threat.

“Sarah, are you okay?”

No response.

Fuck!

His mind completely shut down. Whatever his father asked of him, he’d gladly do. He now had the upper hand, holding the only thing that mattered to Rom in his dirty, slimy hands.

“Whatever you want, I’ll do it. Just let her go.”

“Good. I’m glad we’re finally seeing eye-to-eye. First, what I want is for you to kill your traitorous brother. Right now. And if it’s all the same to you, I’ll hang onto your lovely Sarah until you comply.”

Makare looked to the two vampires standing just a few feet away and one produced a long, sharp sword, similar to the Kilij that he favored. He was handed the steel, which now hung heavy and offending in his hand.

Rom may not trust Taiven, or even like him at this point, but he certainly did
not
want to kill him. And not when he was unable to defend himself. But what other choice did he have? He would not put Sarah’s life in jeopardy.