Caressed by Moonlight (19 page)

Chapter Twenty-Seven

“I won’t stay here!” Victoria snapped.

“You need to understand that I want you to be–”

“Safe,” she finished. “Yes, I do understand.”

Dorian sighed. He had won. She was going to stay. He leaned back in his chair. They had been arguing for the last hour and his head was starting to hurt.

“I am still going with you.”

He let out a loud growl and roughly drew his fingers through his hair.

“No, you are not.”

“Why?”

“We’ve just gone over this,” he sighed. “You and Margaret are staying here, under Queen Sonya’s protection. That is final.”

Crossing her arms over her chest, she stepped between his legs and peered down at him.

“No, it’s not,” she stated. “I am going and if you leave me behind, I will follow.”

“What of Margaret?” Thinking that he had made an excellent point he waited for her to change her mind.

“Falcon could stay here. She is particularly fond of him and I know he adores her and would keep a close eye on her. She thinks of him as the uncle she never had. Ophelia and Dobbins will be here too. She is in capable caring hands.”

She had answers for everything.

Finally, throwing his hands in the air, he grumbled and agreed. She smiled and kissed his brow.

“Come, let us go below and join the others. I am starving.”

Taking the hand that she offered he allowed her to tug him from their room and down to the hall.

Sonya sat next to Margaret as the little girl chatted and ate her porridge. Falcon stood by the still flaming hearth. Servants skirted about; each with a special task to perform.

“Good morning,” Sonya greeted. “I hope you slept well.”

“Exceedingly well,” Victoria beamed as she sat across from her sister.

“Would you like some cider?”

“It is really good, Tory. Have some,” Margaret urged.

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Dorian left the women to their meal and joined Falcon, who stood by the hearth. He sighed and fell into the chair he had sat in the night before.

“The plan has changed,” he grumbled.

Smiling, Falcon returned to his seat. “She refused to stay, didn’t she?”

“That woman can be insufferably stubborn.”

“Can’t we all?”

Dorian shrugged.

“You will stay and keep Margaret company. Ophelia and Dobbins will remain here as well. We want Margaret to be comfortable and surrounded by people she knows.”

“I have no objections, but you must be extra careful on your journey. I will not be there to guard your back.”

“I will be ever watchful. In no time, I will be back in power.” Glancing over his shoulder at the women Dorian chuckled,

“And this will be the perfect opportunity for you and Sonya to become better acquainted.”

Falcon’s eyes turned sharp. “You know that nothing could possibly happen between us. It’s forbidden.”

“Have you ever thought that some rules are meant to be broken?”

“Not these rules, Dorian. No knight is to have a relationship with a noble woman, least of all a queen.”

Dorian said nothing as he studied the knight. Falcon was smitten, there was no denying it and Sonya seemed to be interested, but the law would not allow a knight to court a noble woman. The early vampires feared that such a relationship would compromise the warrior’s judgment and the lady’s safety. It was a shame their laws were so backward, but nothing could be done until Hadrian returned, the only way a law could be changed or thrown out was if all the kings agreed and signed an amendment with their blood.

“I am willing to let it be, Dorian.”

Dorian nodded. Falcon took his vows very seriously, sometimes too seriously, but he would never go back on his word.

Dorian’s eyes traveled back to his wife, her face bright with laughter, and the sound sent pleasant chills down his spine. He wished Flacon would one day find a love that would last him throughout eternity. If there were anyone in the world that deserved happiness it was the Black Knight.

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When Margaret bounded out of the hall with Ophelia in tow the men joined the women at the table.

“She wished to go and tour the forest,” Victoria answered when Dorian inquired where the little runt was heading.

“Has my wife told you that she will be accompanying me on my journey?” Dorian asked placing his hand over Victoria's as he sat beside her. He squeezed her fingers to show his displeasure.

She winced with a smile then stomped on his foot. “That wasn't nice, wife,” he groaned low, his toes throbbing.

Victoria said nothing, turning her attention back to Sonya.

“No, she hadn't. I am glad to hear it. Not that I wouldn't have enjoyed your company Victoria, but it is better that you go.

You can keep Dorian out of trouble.”

“Earlier this morning, Dorian was telling me some very interesting things about you and he raised my curiosity. Would you mind if I asked you some questions? You don't have to answer them if they make you uncomfortable.”

“I don't think any question will be too painful to answer.

Ask away.”

Falcon scooted closer so he could hear this conversation more clearly. He craved to know all he could about this gorgeous warrior queen that set his body on fire.

“Are you from Livonia?”

“No, I was born and raised in Estonia.”

“What century are you from?”

“I'm nowhere near Dorian’s age,” she stated with a light laugh. “But I was born in 1561, the year the Swedish gained control of northern Estonia. My father was the lord's stable master and mother was one of the lady's personal maids.” She smiled. “I had a younger sister, Sveta, who would follow me every where, even to the knight's training yard.”

“You watched them train?”

“Not really. I would go when they had finished their workouts. Heino was a great friend of mine, and a great warrior.

He taught me how to wield a sword and many other weapons.”

A pinch of jealously pricked Falcon as he thought of Sonya in the arms of some faceless man.

“And when were you changed?” Victoria quizzed.

“My mortal life ended in 1580, I was nineteen.”

“You were young.”

“Not as young as some,” she said with a shrug.

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“Will you tell me about it?”

“Victoria,” Dorian warned his voice low and stern. No vampire as powerful as Sonya could have had an easy transition.

The fact of the matter was, the harder a human fought for their life the stronger they would be as a vampire.

“It's all right Dorian. I don't mind.”

Falcon's ears twitched with anticipation as he waited to hear the tale. He was almost flush against Dorian's side.

“Could you back up?” Dorian asked. Falcon slid back an inch, but no more. Dorian shook his head. The poor man's eyes were fixed on Sonya. Despite what Falcon said, Dorian knew his friend was a goner.

“Heino had said I was a natural fighter. He had given me a few of his old weapons and I cherished them and practiced every day,” she began. “It was a full moon that summer night. I was coming from the fields when I heard screams from the village. A pack of shifters had attacked, ripping and tearing their way through the homes and cutting down those who stood in their way. I ran, my legs carrying me as fast they could, to my home behind the keep. Sprinting past the soldiers preparing to battle the supernatural beings, I demanded my mother and sister into the house. My father was nowhere to be found.” She paused, her eyes dropping to the table. “I strapped my sword to my belt and stuck daggers in my boots and headed out to join the battle.

“The soldiers fought bravely, but were slaughtered along with the civilians of the village. They lay butchered. Heino was lifeless, bleeding into the earth. I fought on until I came to the stable. My father was impaled with a hoe. I stood and stared at him for what seemed like days but could only have been seconds. The screams of my mother and sister slapped me from my daze. I hurried to my home in time to see a wolf leap for my mother, curling its white teeth about her throat. She was dead. I couldn't save her.

“I slit the throat of the shifter who held my sister. Shoving her behind me, I fought them. Some were in human form others were transformed into wolves.” She took in a deep breath. “I tried to protect my sister, but in the end I failed. My name being shouted out in terror was the last thing I would ever hear her say. I was the last to be killed. A swift stab in the gut took me down.” Her bottom lip trembled the slightest bit. Falcon was the only one to notice. He wanted to comfort her and that worried him. A knights’ purpose was to protect, not to love.

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“They laughed as they left me to bleed to death. I managed to crawl to Sveta. I held her to me as she took her last breath.”

Victoria's throat was dry and her chest was tight. All she could think of was Margaret. She could imagine how Sonya must have felt holding her sister as she died. A chill swept through her as she realized that one day she would see her sweet sister pass on to the next world. Victoria would live forever and Margaret wouldn't. Tears welled in her eyes, but she blinked them back. She would not dwell on what was to come. If she did, life would be miserable.

Dorian brought her to him and she laced her arms about his waist. He kissed the top of her head. He would help her when the time came to say goodbye to her sister. He would be there.

“It was almost dawn when Dorian found me.”

That statement slammed everyone into the present.

“Dorian found you?” Falcon repeated.

“Yes,” she smiled, the sadness vanishing from her voice.

“I had smelt the blood and smoke of the town. I searched for survivors and only found one.”

“He carried me to Gudmund's camp. He was the sixth king to rule my clan,” she clarified. “Gudmund changed me and gave me the strength to hunt down every one of those rebel shifters.”

“I love happy endings,” Dorian sighed, hoping that Victoria was done with her questions, but he was not that lucky.

“How did you become queen?” Victoria asked.

He wanted to change the subject and she agreed that Sonya could use a break but she needed to know.

“The Swede, Gudmund, and I became great friends, he was like the brother I never had. Upon his passing, he named me as his heir and since my reputation as a skilled warrior and leader was well known, the clan accepted me despite my young age.”

“Now, that is a happy ending,” Victoria sighed. Turning to Dorian, she said, “And you thought her changing into a vampire and killing all those nasty shifters was a great ending.”

“Yes I did, and don't tease me wife, unless you want to be on your back.”

“Dorian,” Victoria gasped, her eyes wide.

“I'm in a playful mood,” he admitted.

She smiled and rolled her eyes. He could be impossible.

“Are you still planning on setting out tonight?” Sonya asked.

“Yes, do you have the letter?”

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“Of course, it is stamped with my seal and ready.”

“I hope you don't mind Margaret staying here. She can be a handful at times, wanting you to play with her and all. Falcon will be here to keep her occupied.”

“You needn't worry about me,” Sonya said. “I will love to entertain her.” With a sigh she dropped her eyes back to the table.

“She reminds me of my own little sister.” Then her fist tightened and her eyes flared. “I will protect her with my life, she will be safe here.”

Victoria reached across the table and patted the other woman's hand. “I know.”

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Chapter Twenty-Eight

Kal’s heavy footsteps echoed through the corridor. Fury blazed in his eyes as he shoved the heavy doors open. The room immediately fell silent.

“What is it?” he snapped.

Jacque stood and Kal pinned him with an angry glare.

“Where is Mark and what the hell are you doing here?”

“Mark is dead,” Jacque said. “And I am here because Vlakhos has left London.”

“Why aren’t you searching all over that damn island for him?” Kal barked.

“Because he left by ship,” Jacque clarified. “I have reason to believe that he is on his way here.”

Kal’s hands curled into balls at his sides. This was very dangerous news. His plan to usurp the throne was slowly falling apart. Dorian had to know what he was up to by now and Raphael was missing. He had left his former ally for the sun to burn, but when he had returned the night after, he found no ashes and no sign of a chard corpse. Someone must have rescued him. Kal had searched and burned every vampire village within fifty miles of the scene, but Raphael was nowhere to be found. For a moment, he had thought the Validus could have taken him, but that was impossible. The Validus would never cross the border. Now, Dorian was missing and there was only one place he could be heading. Home.

“Did he leave alone?”

“I don’t know.”

Kal scowled. He wished he had the ability to read other’s thoughts. Jacque never hid his feelings about him. It was well known that this particular hunter despised him and the feeling was mutual. Kal’s fists twitched as he envisioned ripping the hunter’s head from his body.

“Henry!” Kal snapped.

The young dark-haired vampire jumped to his feet.

“Yes, sir?”

“I want to know if Dorian had any visitors while he was in London and if he is traveling alone.” He needed to prepare himself and his army if Dorian was not alone. A slow chill climbed up his
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spine as he thought of one frightening possibility, Gabriel could be coming.

“It will be taken care of,” Henry announced and hurried from the room.

Kal would not be surprised if the noble knight, Falcon, had skipped off to London if his clan had found Raphael. However, Kal was not about to hop the border to find out.

“I trust all the borders, roads, and ports are being watched,” he asked his commander.

“Yes. Every vampire-dominated port is swarming with our men. We will be notified the instant his ship enters any harbor. We also have hunters posted in every town within your territory, he will not be able to seek refuge anywhere.”

Turning back to the Jacque, Kal said, “How long ago did he set sail?”

“I wasn’t there,” Jacque lied. “Mark had launched an attack on the ship and I was told by one of the survivors that Vlakhos had taken to the sea.”

Kal’s eyes narrowed. “When did you leave London?”

“The night after.”

“He has most likely landed and is working his way here.”

Kal cursed. “Tell everyone, if they see Dorian, kill him and bring me his head. I would love to mount that son of a bitch’s skull on my wall.” With that, he stormed out of the room, his rage following him like a hurricane, slamming the door shut behind him.

A lump threatened to choke the life from her. Tears spilled silently and rolled down her cheeks. She had been thrown from her horse, surviving a fall that any mortal would have died from, but that was not what upset her. She had lost the horse, it galloped away, and her backside ached with every step she took.

“I’m just glad that the transformation has begun. You could have died.”

She shrugged his concern aside. “We are never going to find that damn horse, we have been looking for hours.”

“I’m sure she will turn up,” he added, answering her glare with a smile. “She got spooked.”

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“This is going to set us back. I know you want to reach your home as soon as possible.”

“True, but a day isn’t going to make much of a difference.”

Lightning cracked above and thunder rolled across the sky before the heavens opened and unleashed its tears.

“This is just perfect,” Victoria sighed, exasperation wrinkling her pretty face. “The storm will surely frighten the poor horse even more.”

“She will be fine.”

“We need to find her.”

“If anything, the animal will find us. These horses are very intelligent.”

“Most of the food and clothing are in my saddle bags,” she pointed out.

“You can survive a night with no food.” Reading her thoughts he added, “I don’t need to eat. Vampires thrive off blood.

Food is unnecessary, but we can eat if we like.”

“What about clothing?” she asked. “We could catch our deaths out here in these soaked garments. It is raining if you haven’t noticed.”

“We can’t get sick and I’ve noticed the rain.”

His warm breath curled the tiny hairs on the back of her neck, heating her flesh and sending shock waves through her body.

The cold had been nipping at her toes and fingertips, but now it was replaced with a ravenous flame.

“I never knew how seductive men’s clothing could be.”

His hand ran across her belly as his arm slipped around her waist.

“They hug every curve,” he finished, his fingers brushing over her breasts ever so lightly.

Her annoyance evaporated. Dorian stroked her erect nipples through the thin material of her shirt, each hand cupping and massaging a feminine globe. His tongue drew sensual circles across her nape, tickling and pleasing, sending shocks down her spine.

Snatching off her hat and tossing his cloak to the ground, he gripped her tightly to him and dropped to his knees. Victoria folded eagerly with him, her back flat against his chest.

Dorian inhaled her flowery scent and growled with primal satisfaction as she rubbed her hips against him. His fingers quickly freed the buttons of her shirt and delved inside to explore her heated flesh.

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Victoria quivered as the cool air and the warmth of Dorian’s hand caressed her. He nipped playfully at her neck and shoulder. His hands slowly, lovingly, skipped their way down to her trousers.

He had to have her. He had to take her here and now.

Nothing in the world could stop him. It was amazing how easily she could spark his lust. Her rain soaked clothing had left nothing to the imagination and with just one touch she had gone from tantrum to withering goddess.

Dorian shoved her pants down as he frantically worked at the band of his. Kissing her throat, flicking his tongue over her raging pulse, he thrust into her sleek, hot passage.

Victoria’s cry echoed through the forest. He was so hot inside her. She reached up; wrapping her arms about his neck, she tunneled her fingers through his thick, wet hair. Her legs shook as her breast quivered; exquisite pleasure coursed through her veins and rang in her ears. She blindly moved with him, leaning against him, giving him all her weight.

Her breasts bounced as he pumped into her, impaling her, driving to the hilt. She tugged at his hair as her smooth inner muscles clenched him. She was taut, on the brink, and with one more thrust she exploded. His name had never sounded so good or so right. Her body shuddered all around him, fueling his animalistic need. He drove into her with a feverish frenzy, cupping and kneading her breasts, until she cried out in excruciating pleasure again, this time taking him over the edge with her.

They both kneeled panting, desperately clutching each other as they breathlessly returned to earth. Dorian tilted her chin up. Their lips met with hunger and desperation.

The rain still poured, soaking them through. Dorian helped Victoria fix her clothing before he bothered with his own.

He stood, hands on hips, studying the forest as if he had forgotten where he was. Victoria remained kneeling, the ground quickly turning to mud all around her. Her limbs were weak and she feared she would fall if she tried to stand. Dorian’s complete possession of her had left her dazed and limp.

“We really need to get out of the rain,” he stated. “There are no towns until we reach the border.”

“Perhaps, we can find a cave.”

Turning his stormy sea gaze upon her, he smiled and nodded.

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“I think we can manage to find one. I will start a fire and we can dry our clothes.” Kneeling back down, he cupped her heart-shaped face and added, “And we can warm each other.”

“I would like that.”

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