Caressed by Moonlight (14 page)

“A little before dawn, Victoria slipped out and headed for her friend’s home, I think the girl’s name is Lana. Knowing you would prefer that she not go out alone, I shadowed her.”

“Will you get your point?” Dorian demanded impatiently.

“The girls talked for a bit before Victoria headed home, but this time she wasn’t alone. I followed at a safe distance, not wanting to alert the hunter to my presences,” Falcon continued.

“Mark was waiting for your beautiful wife around a corner. Don’t worry,” Falcon laughed at Dorian’s black scowl, “nothing happened to her. She is fine and is healthy as you saw a few moments ago.”

“Thank you for saving her.”
When I couldn’t
.

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Dorian had stormed from their room last night and did not return. He knew he had to be strong, he had to do what was best for Victoria and that meant he had to leave.

“Its my job as a Black Knight to protect the royal house members,” Falcon said with a shrug. “My point is, Dorian, that the hunters have now targeted Victoria and I think it is safe to assume that they will go after little Margaret too.”

“Once I’m gone they will follow me and leave the girls alone.”

Falcon shook his head and stood. “No, they may have followed you once but I doubt they will follow you again. They know as well as I that there has to be a hidden meaning as to why you got married.”

“There is none!” Dorian declared. “I married her so I could have her that is all.”

“So you say.” Flacon’s eyes narrowed in accusation.

“Are you calling me a lair?”

“I have called you nothing of the kind.”

“If I leave her then they should know I don’t care about her and they will follow me.”

“You know that once the Red Order singles a person out for death they will not stop until the deed is done.”

“She is not a vampire.”

“Mark has told me himself that humans mean nothing to him, he would not think twice about putting a knife to Victoria’s smooth throat.”

Dorian whirled away from the door and slammed his fist into the wall, shattering the wood panel.

“Once you leave, Dorian, the girls will no longer be protected. They will be fair game.” Falcon paused, watching Dorian with a close eye; he took in a deep breath and said, “If you don’t take them with you, I am staying here.”

“You can’t, you have a clan to run.”

“If the hunters follow you and give up on Victoria and Margaret in two weeks then I will leave, but if they stay and still threaten the girl’s lives, I will take them back home with me.”

“The hell you will,” Dorian snarled.

“If you will not protect them, I will. I pledged to always protect the members of the royal families and I never go back on my word.”

“I protect my own.”

“I know,” Falcon smiled. He had won.

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Dorian growled. Damn! Falcon knew how to play him. He knew how to get under his skin. He knew how to call his bluff, damn the vampire. He turned and flung the door open and stomped up the stairs. He kicked the door of his bedroom in and stood like a conquering warrior. Victoria sat in his chair before the window, her green eyes wide as they met his.

“You better start packing your things, my sweet kitten, for we set sail in two nights.”

He whirled back around and stormed out of the house. The front door banged shut behind him; the entire house shook from the force.

Dorian’s anger was about to boil over. He needed to hit something, to pummel something, to kill something, and today the witches would be the hunted.

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Chapter Twenty

Victoria was rudely shaken awake. It was still black outside, but Dorian was dressed and ready to go. He thrust her clothes at her with a rough command to hurry. She slid the gown over her head and he helped by fastening the hooks while she brushed her hair. He wrapped her cloak about her shoulders and left the room without a word. She washed her face and swept what remained of her toiletries into a handbag before scurrying off to wake Margaret.

Dorian brushed her aside, cradling the young girl in his arms with tender care. Margaret still slept peacefully. They descended the stairs and swept out the door into the waiting carriage that would carry them down to the docks.

The ship was covered in life as men rushed about preparing to sail. Dorian handed Margaret to Dobbins, who quickly took the girl below to settle her in bed. Victoria glanced up at the sky and wondered what time it was. She had thought they would be leaving early in the morning not in the middle of the night, sneaking away like thieves.

Dorian did not pressure her to get on the ship. In fact he completely ignored her and went about helping the men load the trunks and the rest of the valuable cargo that had decorated his fine house.

Victoria was hurt and confused by his treatment of her. She had honestly believed that some feeling had grown between them over the last few weeks. Then duty called and the man she had once known was gone. He had not come to bed the past two nights and she now knew where he was, here, at this ship, working. She knew she could not be angry with him for wanting to go home, he had his people to think of, but why would he not want to take her?

He had said time and time again that she was his and that she and Margaret were his family, yet he had meant to leave them behind.

A pebble rolled past her foot and before she had anytime to wonder who had kicked it she was seized from behind. A warm hand was placed over her mouth as another snaked around her waist. She screamed against the palm pressed to her lips, but she was sure the muffled sound was drowned by the waves crashing on the docks.

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Dorian turned. There was no fear, no rage, no concern of any kind in his eyes or on his face and for a moment Victoria thought he would turn back and continue with his work, allowing her attacker to carry her away.

“I have no quarrel with you, sir, but if you don’t release her I will be forced to kill you,” his voice was cold and stern, like a headstone.

“Why don’t you come down here and say that, leech?” the man challenged tightening his grip on Victoria’s waist, pinning her hard against him. She tried to wiggle free but the man’s hold on her was impossible to break.

“We have your lovely woman, Vlakhos,” Mark taunted, stepping from the shadows.

“You were warned to stay away from her,” Dorian said tiredly shaking his head. “Do you ever listen?”

In a breath Victoria’s attacker’s hands slipped from her mouth and waist, releasing her. She jumped aside and gasped, staring wide-eyed at her would-be-abductor, a dagger protruded from the center of his forehead. Had Dorian thrown it? She had not seen him move. She looked up at him. He stood on the deck, his face cold as stone.

A shuffle of feet sounded behind her. Another set of hands tried to capture her and she shoved the man back with all her strength. He stumbled over the edge of the dock and fell with a large splash into the freezing ocean water. She did not waste anymore time and sprinted up the plank to the ship. She was about to rush to Dorian when Ophelia grabbed her wrist and dragged her to the door under the quarterdeck.

“What will be your next threat?” Dorian asked with a light chuckle. “You no longer have my wife to hold hostage.”

Mark growled and let out a piercing shriek. Hunters poured from the shadows. Dorian scoffed at their meager number, only twenty-seven. They seriously underestimated his strength.

“Trouble?” Falcon said coming to stand at Dorian’s side.

“Just a bunch of boys playing war.”

“Come down and fight, vampire!” Mark said.

“Go away.” Dorian waved his hand dismissively as he turned back to his work. “I have no desire to be delayed.”

“Need to set sail before the sun rises?” a witch called.

“Afraid of the light?” another sneered.

“Naïve little bastards,” Falcon cursed under his breath.

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“Or are you so eager to be in your harlot’s arms that you shrink from a challenge?”

Mark had a feeling that would prick the vampire’s anger, and it did. Dorian turned and fixed his eyes on the short witch.

“Was that comment really necessary?” Dorian asked his voice smooth and lethal. “Need I remind you that I would gladly take your life?”

“You couldn’t take anything,” Mark spat.

“That is where you are wrong.”

Dorian clasped his hands behind his back and, with measured strides, crossed the deck and descended to the dock, Falcon on his heels. The crew, made up entirely of shape-shifters, came to the railings. They watched, bloodlust clouding their eyes.

They knew of the hatred between the vampires and witches, but they had never witnessed a battle such as this.

“And I’ll prove it,” Dorian added.

Mark’s lips curled with a vile smile. He unsheathed his hunting knife and waved it above his head, the witches attacked.

Dorian and Falcon waited for their enemy, making no advancements and pulling no weapons. Dorian struck the first enemy down with one blow, dodging the arrows and daggers that were flung at him.

The witches swarmed the two vampires like bees around their hive. Mark stood back, watching hungrily as Dorian fiercely fought off the hunters. Dorian threw a witch to the ground and punched another, knocking the hunter unconscious before he struck out with his mind. The witches flew back as if hit by an invisible tidal wave, six survived the impact.

The wind blew cold with an evil whisper.

Falcon watched him warily. Something had changed within Dorian, something dangerous. The wind cracked like a whip and all fell silent, Dorian’s power floated in the air.

“I warned you to stay away from her.”

“She is a filthy vampire whore and deserves to die.”

He walked slowly to Mark and came to a stop when he stood toe to toe with the hunter.

“It is a shame that so many hunters had to die because of your foolishness.” Dorian’s smooth pleasant voice sent chills down Mark’s spine. “I’m surprised that Jacque allowed you to head the hunt tonight.”

“That ancient relic doesn’t tell me what to do,” Mark snapped. “He doesn’t even know we came to see you off.”

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A perfect white smile graced Dorian’s beautiful lips. It was a predatory smile and possessed no warmth. The beast that had been so carefully chained was suddenly unleashed.

“How unfortunate for you,” he chided softly, his eyes fading to black. “He is the only person that could possibly save you. Did you ever wonder why Kal never tried to kill me himself?”

Dorian asked with a smug grin. “He knew he would never succeed. That is why he has chosen you to do his work for him, you witches are a dime a dozen, expendable.”

Mark roared and raised his knife. He slashed at Dorian but met no flesh. He swung again and stumbled in shock when the vampire disappeared. He looked about the dock anxiously, his eyes covering every inch of what could be seen in the night.

“Behind you,” Dorian whispered. Mark swooped around striking the air with his knife. “Do you really think I would sneak up and attack your back?” he asked with a light chuckle. “I have more honor than that.”

The witch growled and spun to face his foe. Every fiber in his being demanded that he drop the knife and run, but he was no coward and this vampire was nothing special. He was just another bottom feeding leech. Dimitri had been killed easily enough and he was one of the original vampires. This vampire was a fledgling and even though he was old he was nowhere near as powerful as Dimitri had been.

Mark ran at the vampire, hacking away at the air with his knife. Dorian caught Mark’s wrist, twisted his arm and buried the knife it the hunter’s gut. Mark fell to his knees shock and pain mixing in his eyes as his face turned pale. Dorian grabbed the witch by the hair, dragging him up. His strong fingers bit into Mark’s throat with magnificent force and incredible ease. He bent over the hunter’s vulnerable artery.

“Dorian!”

Dorian’s head snapped up. Falcon stood frozen and horrified. He had never seen Dorian like this. His eyes were as black as the pits of hell, his fangs like that of a lion.

Dorian closed his eyes. He could not stand the look of complete shock on Falcon’s face. He had lost control and almost made the biggest mistake of his unnatural life. With a slight twist, he snapped the hunter’s neck and allowed the body to drop. Dorian gasped for breath as he shook uncontrollably, trying desperately to regain control of himself. Falcon came and placed a hand on his
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shoulder trying to stable his friend’s quaking body. He had allowed his inner beast to surface. Dorian slowed his breathing and willed himself to calm down; it would do him no good to show weakness.

“I see I’m too late.”

Falcon turned and found Jacque stepping into the light. He glanced about the dock at all the bodies. The witches that still lived were coming to their feet and retreating.

“They will be heading back to base for reinforcements,”

Jacque said watching the hunters disappear.

“Get that damn ship loaded,” Dorian demanded.

The deck once again became busy with life as the crew scurried about their work.

“Why are you helping us?” Falcon asked his eyes narrowed.

“I’m not helping you,” the witch answered. “But I’m not going to stop you either.” He went to Mark’s body and turned the younger hunter over with his boot. “He was such a fool,” he sighed.

“He said you didn’t know he was here.”

“I didn’t until one of the drunk hunters spilled the news. I came here as fast as I could, hoping that I could stop the fight. But looking at this place,” he glanced around once more at the dead hunters, “I don’t think I could have stopped anything.”

“It was a long time coming, Jacque,” Dorian said.

“I don’t hold it against you, Vlakhos. You did what you had to do. Mark was an idiot and was unfit to lead.” Jacque turned his back to the vampires as he continued. “I was there the night that Kal came to Mark’s home. They made a pact, the two of them, to get rid of you and your clan. I have no love for vampires, as you both know, and I have killed many in my time, but I never butchered them or raided their homes like they do. There is no honor in trickery.” He turned back around, his eyes meeting Dorian’s. “I refused to kill any of your people during this staged feud. That is why most of the men turned to Mark. They thought I had grown weak and that Mark was the strongest hunter, but he never hunted. Kal offered your people to him on a silver platter, telling him where to attack, telling him all their hiding places.”

Jacque shook his head. “And the way that fool treated your wife, going after her like a snake. He was nothing but a dog.”

“It is strange to hear a witch talk like this about a fellow witch.”

“I didn’t like the whelp,” Jacque stated.

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“Thank you for telling me all this,” Dorian said. “It is nice to know that not all hunters are morons.”

“You gave that worm more chances than I would have if I were you.”

Dorian nodded and turned back to his ship. Falcon was about to follow when Jacque grabbed his arm.

“The King needs to feed.”

Falcon fixed the hunter with an icy glare and demanded,

“How do you know?”

“The only time a vampire would even consider taking a witch’s blood is if they need to feed. I would say that Dorian’s time is up.”

“You saw him?”

“Yes and it is good that you stopped him, Mark’s blood would only whet his appetite, he probably would go chasing after the other hunters that had fled. Keep a close eye on him, Knight,”

Jacque warned. “None of us want anything to happen to Queen Victoria or Princess Margaret.”

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