Dark Destiny

DARK DESTINY

By

Christine Feehan

They were masters of the darkness, searching through eternity for a mistress of the light…

Her childhood had been a nightmare of violence and pain until she heard his voice calling out to her. Golden and seductive. The voice of an angel.

He had shown her how to survive, taught her to use her unique gifts, trained her in the ancient art of hunting the vampire. Yet he could not bend her to his will. He could not summon her to him, no matter how great his power.

As she battled centuries-old evil in a glittering labyrinth of caverns and crystals, he whispered in her mind, forging an unbreakable bond of trust and need. Only with him can she find the courage to embrace the seductive promise of her…

Rave Reviews for

New York Times
Bestselling

Author Christine Feehan!

"Feehan has a knack for bringing vampiric Carpathians to vivid, virile life in her Dark novels."

—
Publishers Weekly

"Christine Feehan is a magnificent storyteller."

—
Romantic Times

DARK MELODY

"[Feehan] creates a richly evocative fantasy world… This may be her most emotionally engaging installment to date."

—
Publishers Weekly

"
Dark Melody
provides the right tune for fans of the author and anyone who enjoys a strong supernatural romance."

—Midwest Book Review

"Christine Feehan produces another intriguing, soul-grabbing romance in
Dark Melody
. The characters she creates and the story that she weaves bring joy to my heart and soul."

—
Romance Reviews Today

"Feehan never fails to deliver the sexual tension or romance, and
Dark Melody
is no different… For a different and utterly satisfying vampire romance, this Dark series sets the bar pretty high."

—
Roundtable Reviews

"Ms. Feehan has penned a heartwarming story of an epic love. Precious few authors write this type of love story anymore."

—RomanceReview.com

MORE PRAISE FOR BESTSELLING

AUTHOR CHRISTINE FEEHAN!

DARK GUARDIAN

"Just when you think Ms. Feehan's series can't get any better, she ups the ante by producing the utterly wonderful
Dark Guardian
. This book has it all and then some. A true keeper!"

—
Romantic Times

DARK LEGEND

"If you have a taste for intense relationships and the darker side of fantasy, it's hard to do better than Christine Feehan."

—
The Romance Reader

DARK FIRE

"Ms. Feehan is on a major roll!"

—
Romantic Times

DARK CHALLENGE

"The exciting and multifaceted world that impressive author Christine Feehan has created continues to improve with age. By introducing this new band of Carpathians, she is setting the stage for more exhilarating adventures to come."

—
Romantic Times

DARK MAGIC

"With each book Ms. Feehan continues to build a complex society that makes for mesmerizing reading."

—
Romantic Times

DARK GOLD

"The third in Christine Feehan's Carpathian series is her best to date.
Dark Gold
is imbued with passion, danger and supernatural thrills."

—
Romantic Times

THE RAVES CONTINUE FOR CHRISTINE FEEHAN!

DARK DESIRE

"A very well-written, entertaining story that I highly recommend."

—
Under the Covers Book Reviews

DARK PRINCE

"For lovers of vampire romances, this one is a keeper… I had a hard time putting the book down… Don't miss this book!"

—
New-Age Bookshelf

THE SCARLETTI CURSE

"The characters and twists in this book held me on the edge of my seat the whole time I read it. If you've enjoyed Ms. Feehan's previous novels, you will surely be captivated by this step into the world of Gothic romance… Once again, Ms. Feehan does not disappoint!"

—
Under the Covers Book Reviews

LAIR OF THE LION

"Eerie and engrossing… [an] inspired retelling [of Beauty and the Beast]."

—
Publishers Weekly

"The rich beauty, dark mystery and sensuality of the secluded mountainous region of Italy come to life… Christine Feehan is a magnificent storyteller."

—
Romantic Times

THE CALL OF THE NIGHT

She woke to the knowledge that she was a murderess and that she would kill again. It was the only reason she continued her existence. It was what she lived for. To kill. Pain and hunger crawled through her body endlessly, relentlessly. She lay very still with the earth surrounding her, staring up at the star-studded night sky. It was bitterly cold. She was bitterly cold; the blood flowing in her veins like ice water, like acid that burned it was so cold.

Call me to you. I will warm you.

She closed her eyes as the voice slipped into her head. He called to her on every rising now. The voice of an angel. The heart of the demon. Her savior. Her mortal enemy. Very slowly she allowed breath to seep into her lungs, her heart to take up its steady beating. Another endless night. There had been so many and all she wanted was rest.

She floated out of the ground, clothing herself with the ease of long practice, her body clean, where her soul was damned. The sounds and smells of the night were all around her, whispers and scents that flooded her senses with information. She was hungry. She needed to go into the city. As hard as she tried, she could not overcome the need for rich, hot blood. It beckoned and called to her as nothing else could.

Other books by Christine Feehan:

DARK MELODY

LAIR OF THE LION

DARK GUARDIAN

DARK LEGEND

DARK FIRE

THE SCARLETTI CURSE

DARK CHALLENGE

DARK MAGIC

DARK GOLD

DARK DESIRE

DARK PRINCE

AFTER TWILIGHT (anthology)

THE ONLY ONE (anthology)

CHRISTINE

FEEHAN

Dark Destiny

LEISURE BOOKS

NEW YORK CITY

A LEISURE BOOK ®

July 2004

Published by

Dorchester Publishing Co., Inc.

200 Madison Avenue

New York, NY10016

Copyright © 2004 by Christine Feehan

ISBN 0-8439-5050-1

The name "Leisure Books" and the stylized "L" with design are trademarks of Dorchester Publishing Co., Inc.

Printed in the United States of America.

Visit us on the web at
www.dorchesterpub.com
.

This book was written for so many people. First of all, two men who have dedicated themselves to a way of life. George Chadwick, sixth Dan Black, Korean Tang Soo Do; and Roberto Macias, fourth Dan Black, Korean Tang Soo Do.

For Gayle Fillman, fifth Go Dan, World Aikido Federation, and her unfailing dedication to providing a safe training area and a refuge for women in need.

These wonderful, dedicated people have always reached out to women in difficult circumstances. Without their guidance and continual support I would not have learned the things necessary to help the women whose lives I touched. Thank you for your generosity and caring on behalf of so many you helped and probably were never even aware that you did.

For Anita, Billie Jo and all the others who rose out of the ashes to become someone special, giving your time to so many in need.

A special acknowledgment to Judy Albert and my sister Ruth Powell, for sitting up until all hours of the morning, talking shop with me and working out the kinks.

Thank you all.

DARK DESTINY

Chapter One

She woke to the knowledge that she was a murderess and that she would kill again. It was the only reason she continued her existence. It was what she lived for. To kill. Pain and hunger crawled through her body endlessly, relentlessly. She lay very still with the earth surrounding her, staring up at the star-studded night sky. It was bitterly cold. She was bitterly cold, the blood flowing in her veins like ice water, like acid that burned it was so cold.

Call me to you. I will warm you.

She closed her eyes as the voice slipped into her head. He called to her on every rising now. The voice of an angel. The heart of the demon. Her savior. Her mortal enemy. Very slowly she allowed breath to seep into her lungs, her heart to take up its steady beating. Another endless night. There had been so many, and all she wanted was rest.

She floated out of the ground, clothing herself with the ease of long practice, her body clean, where her soul was damned. The sounds and smells of the night were all around her, whispers and scents that flooded her senses with information. She was hungry. She needed to go into the city. As hard as she tried, she could not overcome the need for rich, hot blood. It beckoned and called to her as nothing else could.

Destiny found herself in a familiar part of the city. Her body traveled the accustomed path before she had even thought where she was going. The small church tucked among the rising buildings and maze of narrow streets and alleyways beckoned to her. She knew this neighborhood, this small city within the larger city. The buildings were stacked on top of each other, some touching, others with narrow pathways between them. She was familiar with each and every apartment and office building. She knew the occupants and she knew their secrets. She watched over them, watched over their lives, yet she was always alone, always apart.

Reluctantly Destiny climbed the steps to the church and stood at the entrance as she had so many times in the past. With her acute hearing, she knew the building was occupied, that the priest was finishing his duties and would soon be leaving. He was much later than usual.

She heard the rustle of the priest's robes as he moved through the church to the double doors. He would lock them—he always locked them before he left—but it wouldn't matter, Destiny could open them easily enough. She waited in the darkness, deep in the shadows where she belonged, watching the priest in silence, nearly holding her breath. There was an urgency inside her, a desperation. She returned again and again to the beauty of the small church. Something drew her, called to her, nearly as strongly as the call for blood. Sometimes she believed this was where she was supposed to die; other times she thought repentance might be enough. She always went to the church when she knew she had no choice but to feed.

The priest stood for a moment just outside the doors, looking around him, his eyes adjusting to the darkness. He actually looked right at her, but she knew she was invisible to him. He started to speak, hesitated, and made the sign of the cross in her direction. Destiny held her breath, waited for a lightning bolt to strike her. "Find peace, my child," the priest murmured softly and made his way down the stairs with his slow, measured tread. She remained in the shadows, as still as the mountains rising above the city. How had he sensed her presence? She waited until long after he had gone down the block and turned into the narrow alley leading to the garden behind his rectory. Only then did she dare to let her breath out slowly, to breathe again.

Destiny went to the ornate double doors, but this time they weren't locked. She looked back to the street where the priest had disappeared around the corner. He knew, then. He knew she needed his church, and he had silently given his permission for her to enter the sacred, hallowed place. He didn't know what she was, but he was a good man and he believed all souls could be saved. She pushed open the doors with a trembling hand.

Destiny stood in the doorway of the empty church, wrapped in darkness, her only ally. She shivered, not from the cold air surrounding her, but from the ice deep within her soul. Despite the pitch-black interior, Destiny could easily see every detail of the church's beauty. She stared at the crucifix over the altar for a long time, her mind in turmoil. Pain crawled through her as it did every moment of her existence. Hunger was sharp and ravenous. Shame was her constant companion. Destiny had come to this sacred place to confess her sins. She was a murderess, and she would kill again and again. It would be her way of life until she found the courage to destroy the evil thing that she had become. She dared not enter, dared not ask for sanctuary.