DeLeina, Maya - Veil of Seduction [Ambrose Heights Vampires 2] (Siren Publishing Classic) (24 page)

“A rogue one at that. He joined our brotherhood and we bestowed the Welsh name onto him. A few days later, the four of us went back to the palace. Idris had completed his mission and was close to extinguishing. He gathered us together and explained his ability. He had the power to sense the destiny of other vampires. Before he extinguished, he told us what he sensed for all of us, for our brotherhood. He left Steffan for last. Turns out, he gave Steffan his name, crowned king, because that is what he sensed for Steffan. He was destined to be a leader and become a figure of prominence of sorts for our kind. Just before expiring, he gave Steffan the eternal love bracelet that he’d found in the bazaar that night when he picked up Sharesca’s trace on. From that moment on, Steffan has been our leader and he has been searching for his mate ever since.”

“And what about the others?”

“Well, once Idris expired, we went to Vienna, and that’s where Griffin joined our family. He too had lost his mate, somewhere in Australia, and was on his countdown to find another mate match. Steffan then suggested we travel to America. None of us had ever stepped foot on the soil. We wanted to explore, get a feel for the land, you know, gauge our future options. We started with a brief trip to Louisiana, giving in to the rumors of a concentration of vampires in that region. That’s where I met my vampire mate, Catrin. With that, the brotherhood officially turned into a family. We then traveled to Oregon and Haydn made Gwynn, but not as a mate. When we finally took up residence in Alaska, Gwynn met her vampire mate, Aeron. And then Rhys here found his human mate, Brynne, right here in Colorado. All of us—me and Catrin, Rhys and Brynne, Gwynn and Aeron, found each other. Yet Steffan, our leader, after almost a century in existence, was still unmated, unable to find a fated match. But one thing about Steffan, if he couldn’t find his mate, he was happy to be among a family that had found theirs.”

“Then I guess you’re going to tell me that he had high hopes for me, and I blew it because of the blackness,” Ryan stated.

“Ryan, I know this was hard to take, but tomorrow is your reintroduction day. Now that you know everything, it can also be your day for
reinvention
. You and Steffan have given each other true gifts. You led him to his mate, and he gave you the chance to rebuild.”

Eilian paused and put his arm around Ryan’s shoulders. “Now let’s head down and officially start your reintroduction.”

Eilian and Rhys stood in front of the china cabinet. Ryan quietly stood behind them as Eilian reached for the keypad tucked into the wall and entered the code. All was silent as they waited for the interior transformation to be complete and allow them access to the freight elevator.

Ryan broke the silence, “Well, if Steffan is going after Anya, she must be very elegant and very beautiful. Were Anise and Anya
identical
twins?”

“Yes. But Ryan, you know Anya is now off-limits. She’s already being pursued by Steffan. And, as a matter of fact, Steffan’s never really seen her yet. They had a mate connection through touch,” Rhys said as they stepped into the elevator and descended to the tunnel passages.

“Remember how rare I told you that a human and vampire mate match was to detect? Steffan has finally found a true mate match. No one can interfere with what’s already fated,” Eilian added.

Ryan spoke in his defense, “But I really didn’t mean—”

Rhys stopped him abruptly. “I don’t care what you meant. Have you not soaked in anything from the story we told you about Steffan? You do not mess with another man’s mate and especially not someone within your family. And certainly not Steffan’s. Besides, it is against our laws. Don’t mess with the bull, young man. You’ll get the horns!”

“All right, what the hell? I know I’ve heard that before! Why do I have déjà vu with some of the things you say?” Ryan blurted.

Eilian sighed. “Unlike Steffan and I who utilize news broadcasts, books and the internet to keep up with modern dialogue, speech patterns, and slang, Rhys loves his movies and television as his learning devices. Doesn’t help that he has a photogenic memory for things he hears. It’s tiring, but you’ll eventually get used to it.”

The elevator came to a stop, and Rhys lifted the cage as the men followed Eilian to the enthrallment room that sat directly under the garden labyrinth.

“By the way, I don’t believe Steffan wanted you gallivanting around town looking for women. Someone might have recognized you.”

“Look, I only go off at night to places I know I would never be caught dead in when I was human. It’s all good. I understand. ”

Eilian turned around and faced Ryan as they stood next to the large metal door. “You ready?”

Ryan nodded.

Eilian hit the button on the side of the wall, and the door swiveled on its axis, allowing the three men to take in the room’s view. The room resembled a college lecture class. Stadium seating rose above them several stories high. All of the family members were lined up at the edges of the room near multiple exits. Rhys took his mark at the top exit. Gasps and whispers blurted from the audience members when they laid their eyes on Ryan. Eilian motioned for Ryan to take his position at the exit closest to him.

Eilian selected Ryan’s close business associates and the new staff hired for his firm in Denver to attend the afternoon meeting. Eilian calmed the crowd by explaining Ryan’s absence over the past six month—his breakdown, his need for seclusion, his rehabilitation in Arizona. He also informed them of the unfortunate circumstances surrounding his fiancée, Anise, just in case they hadn’t already heard about the tragedy. The last thing he needed was for Ryan to come apart at the seams at work if someone were to ask him how Anise was doing.

At the end of the meeting, the audience was carefully guided out of the predetermined exists manned by the family members. Each of the family had their chance to feed and enthrall their selected audience member before releasing them in various areas of the garden maze.

After the audience made their way through the maze, Vaughn escorted them back to the comforts of the limousine, returning them to their offices. They all recalled their productive afternoon at the team-building camp, tucking away their knowledge of Ryan’s whereabouts all this time in the recesses of their minds to allow him a seamless transition back into his human life.

* * * *

Anya continued polishing the crystals and rocks on display in the window as Michelle stood behind her with her arms folded.

“Wait a minute, so you’re saying there was no penetration, no flesh touching, rubbing, licking, sucking, no nothing?” asked Michelle.

“Uh-huh,” Anya responded, smiling as she remained fixed on her cleaning duties.

“And you both…just…like that?”

“Uh-huh.”

“And he’s picking you up here this afternoon?”

“Uh-huh.”

“And this is the same man who owns the castle?”

“Uh-huh.” Anya turned around and faced Michelle. “And guess what. Not gay. Not ugly.”

“Well, that settles it. I’m canceling my massage so I can stick around to meet this guy.”

A group of women walked in and Michelle welcomed them to the store. Anya walked to the register and took a seat on the stool. Michelle propped her elbows on the glass case in front of Anya.

“So what should I expect to see walk through that door? Describe him to me.”

“Hmmm…” Anya closed her eyes and pictured Steffan. She recalled moments in the evening that took her breath away. His gait toward her from across the studio, the intensity of his gaze, his strength and power, his musical gift, his laugher, his ability to make her feel safe and cared for replayed in her mind. “Seductive, masculine, embracing, safe, caring, talented, comforting.”

Anya opened her eyes and caught her heavy breath. “Completely absorbing.”

“Wow!” Michelle responded as she carefully examined Anya’s expression.

Anya leaned in closer to Michelle and reduced her conversation to a whisper. “I scared myself last night. I was so willing, so responsive to him. I’ve never been like that, ever. I’m always so guarded, worried about consequences. Steffan is the one who saved us. He said he wanted more for us than just sex.”

Michelle sighed, “I don’t know Anya, men like that—well, there just aren’t really men like that out there.”

Anya spoke if she were in a trance, “It was amazing. I just got lost in him. Everything was effortless, comforting, and familiar. I could talk to him for hours. And the music. It was magical.” Anya started to tear up as she looked Michelle in the eye.

“Anya, slow down. You don’t know this guy. I don’t want to see you hurt.”

“And where has
slow
gotten me before? I’ve always been careful and I have been through more hurt than anyone should go through. I’m thirty-five years old, and I’ve been with only three men in my life. The first man, I waited for, thinking it was love. I lost my virginity to him, and he ended up bedding everyone in sight. I finally got married after college, but it wasn’t for love. Mom and Dad wanted me to marry him, and I did so after they died to respect their wishes. And then there was Ryan. I made him wait so long. I waited until I felt it could only be love, and look at what he did to me! I want to love, Michelle. I want to love with everything, all of me, without holding back, without fear. Why can’t I give in? I have nothing. Maybe I’m crazy, but there’s something in me that tells me this is right. I don’t want to wait. I don’t want to do anything but love him.”

“I want to believe in love at first sight, I truly do, but I just don’t think it exists, Anya.”

“How do you explain what’s happened between us? Why did we dream of each other before even meeting? You know I’m not like you. I lost my faith a long time ago because I just couldn’t believe my life was meant to be this way, that something higher had this planned for me. Now, something inside of me is telling me to trust in this man. Something inside of me wants me to follow what I’m feeling.”

“I don’t know what to say,” Michelle responded.

“Just say you’re happy for me,” Anya said as she leaned over the counter to hug Michelle.

“I am happy for you. All I want you to be is happy,” Michelle said, hugging Anya tightly.

* * * *

Anya felt like a school girl on the night of her prom. She was wild with anticipation, downright giddy at times, and was driving Michelle crazy.

“You don’t think the construction cones were too much, huh? I told him that I sectioned off a spot in front of the store since parking can be a mess out there, especially with that monstrosity of a vehicle of his.”

“Construction cones? Nah, not over the top.”

“Oh my god, here he is!”

Anya shot out the door and removed the bright-orange cones as Steffan parallel parked the car. As Anya shot past the window, she saw Michelle parked right up against the glass.

She had no intentions in missing the show.

Steffan stepped out of the black Hummer and ran into Anya’s waiting arms. He lifted her by her waist and shined the biggest smile. Anya placed her hands on each side of his face and lowered into him for a kiss.

The kiss was intensely passionate and long, their bodies radiating a hum of pure delight.

Steffan lowered Anya to the ground. “I couldn’t wait to see you. How was your day?”

“Why don’t you ask me about my night?” Anya winked at Steffan, recalling the intensely erotic dream of Steffan she’d had.

“You too?” exclaimed Steffan. “I really don’t know how we’ll make it through this evening together unscathed.”

“Somehow, I don’t think we would be that disappointed if we failed. Come on, I want you to meet Michelle.”

Steffan wrapped his arm around Anya as they made their way to the store. He held the door open for Anya as he removed his shades.