Desire by Blood (10 page)

“Here? In the ballroom?”

He gave her a glance. “No. They are waiting in the study to
meet you. Mother could not put it off any longer.”

That sounded very ominous. “Indeed?”

He leaned down so that only she could hear him. When he
spoke, his breath caressed her ear, and she shivered. “She does not bite unless
you threaten her offspring.”

Her sister shifted beside her, and Cordelia pulled her
attention away from Blackburn to look at Diana.

“I think you should go with him to meet his parents, but I
will go with you.”

She looked at Diana and realized that her sister was worried
about her. It had been too many years to count since someone had actually
sought to protect her. Now she had a husband-to-be who was marrying her to
protect her, and a sister who had ignored her for years stepping in to ensure
she was safe. Her world had certainly become strange.

“Of course. They would like to meet more of your family,”
Blackburn said.

“I am sure they would,” she said, unable to keep the sarcasm
out of her tone. No one really wanted to meet her brother.

“Come.”

She did not like to be ordered. By anyone. She hesitated for
that reason. He sensed it because she saw his jaw flex. One thing she wanted to
avoid was another scene. They were already the objects of fascination of most
of the ballroom.

With a sigh, she went with him. Out of the corner of her
eye, she saw Malik offer his arm to her sister. Cordelia was surprised when
Diana didn’t hesitate as she had. It seemed to take so long to get to the
library. The spectacle of their departure was definitely noted by everyone as
they made their way through the milling crowd. More than one or two people
tried to catch Nico’s attention, but he ignored them.

"People are going to think you are rude," she
said.

"I am," he said.

Cordelia glanced at him out of the corner of her eye and
noted the stoic expression. She sensed that he was trying to warn her not to
expect him not to be.

By the time they reached the oak doors of the study, she
wanted to scream. Her nerves were already on edge and having to meet his
parents...it was a little too much. She had never thought to marry, and now she
had to deal with in-laws.

Nico opened the door and led her into the room.

Cordelia did not know what she had been expecting, but the
diminutive woman was not it. Even with her sitting beside her husband on the
couch, it was easy to see she was probably a few inches shorter than
Cordelia—and she was considered short. It wasn’t until she saw the power in her
dark blue eyes that she knew this was a woman to be careful of. The lavender
dress was the perfect shade for her peaches and cream skin. Her hair was as
dark as Nico’s, but there were threads of silver throughout it.

Her attention shifted to the man beside her. For a moment,
she was transfixed. Nico’s father was an older version of her fiancé, his hair
heavily layered with gray. She realized this was Nico in thirty years, although
his father’s smile was much more pleasant than Nico’s constant frown.

“Cordelia, Lady Diana, these are my parents, Adelaide and Samuel
Blackburn. Mother, Father, this is my intended and her sister.”

Adelaide’s gaze raked over Diana, then she met Cordelia’s.
Her inscrutable expression dissolved into a welcoming smile.

“Cordelia,” she stood, as did her husband. “I am so very
happy to meet you.”

Relief swept through her along with another feeling she
could not discern. It was as if she felt a kinship with the woman, as if she
was meeting an old family friend. It made no sense at all.

"Thank you."

Then his mother looked past her to her sister and Malik.
Something stirred behind those blue eyes, but she said nothing. Her smile
widened.

"Please, have a seat, Cordelia," his father
offered. Adelaide sat back down and patted the couch next to her.

"Yes, do. We need time to get acquainted."

She nodded but Nico held her hand against his arm. His
mother shifted her attention to him. For a moment, she thought Nico would not
allow her to walk forward, but the struggle was won by his mother. That was
something to note. Her very powerful fiancé apparently acquiesced to his
mother. She did not know if that was good or not.

She settled beside Adelaide, and her sister sat in the chair
beside her.

"Now, you can leave," Adelaide said to the men.

All three men frowned. Cordelia had to bite her lower lip to
keep from smiling. The men in the Blackburn family might be powerful, but after
this meeting, Cordelia was sure who really held the power.

His father sighed. He bent down and brushed his lips against
his wife's cheek. He whispered something to her. She looked up at him, and for
a moment, Cordelia could not look away. The love and admiration between them
almost overwhelmed her. She knew it was a private moment, but she could not
seem to tear her gaze away from the couple. Then he straightened and looked at
Cordelia.

"It was very nice to meet you, Cordelia. And you, Lady
Diana."

She glanced at her sister and noticed she was blushing
again. Lord, her night was descending into something definitely odd.

Samuel walked out, and after a quick glance and nod in Diana's
direction, Malik followed him out. Nico hesitated.

"You can leave, dear boy. I have refrained from
cannibalism lately. I will not harm your Cordelia."

He gave his mother a warning glance as he stepped forward.
He bent down in much the same fashion that his father did, but he did not kiss
her. Her breath was hot against her ear as he spoke.

"Do not allow her to push you around."

She smiled at him and turned to meet his gaze as he was
pulling back. Something hot and scary filled his eyes as he stared at her.
Everything in her body heated, her nerve endings dancing, and she felt herself
moving toward him without thinking.

"Really, Nico," his mother admonished.
"Control yourself for one night."

Cordelia dropped her gaze to her lap, a blush heating her
face.

Nico straightened. "Has anyone told you that you are
too blunt, Mother?"

Mortified, Cordelia looked at Adelaide, expecting her to be
mad. She was surprised to find her smiling.

"Your father just told me that very thing earlier
today. I find it is one of my most endearing qualities."

He chuckled. "I fear you are correct."

He bowed his head to her and Diana one more time, then
walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.

Adelaide sighed. "Thank goodness they are finally gone.
I love my men, but sometimes they can be too much when you have them all in one
room together." She smiled at Cordelia. "Now, tell me about yourself,
Cordelia."

She panicked for a moment. What did she tell the woman? That
she was a bastard, one whose own father and brother left out in the cold to
survive?

"Cordelia is a lover of words," Diana said. She
threw her sister a grateful glance and was surprised to see the determined look
in her eyes. It struck Cordelia that her sister was ready to do battle with
Adelaide.

"I would assume so. I knew when my Nico fell for a
woman she would not be an idiot. Normally, I would not like you speaking for
your sister. I believe I asked her the question, not you." She settled
back against the pillows. "But I can see that you think you are protecting
her from me. There is no need, Diana."

The silence that followed was strained. Cordelia could not
take it. Growing up in a household where long silences were usually followed by
screams and a smack or two, she always tried to keep things happy.

"I am sure Diana meant nothing by it."

Adelaide leaned forward and patted her leg. The familiarity
was one of a mother or aunt. Any other time, Cordelia would be disconcerted by
it. She was not accustomed to physical affection, especial from a matron. But
tonight, she was comforted.

"Oh, I think she did, and I applaud her. I was an
orphan by the time I married my husband, and calling his mother a harridan
would be kind. I have more respect for your sister for trying to protect you. I
would say she is a little late to the job, but she is making up for it, I am
sure."

Cordelia did not know what to say to her. She glanced at her
sister, whose face had no expression whatsoever.

"Oh, dear, I was too blunt again. It is something I
have never been able to free myself of. I would rather have plain speaking than
pretty words. And I think you are the same way."

Cordelia couldn’t help but return the smile.
"Yes."

"Wonderful. Now, why not a good spot of whiskey?"

She stood and walked over to the table with the liquor and
glasses.

“Mrs. Blackburn, I am sure you understand society’s rules,”
Diana said in admonition. They both knew women did not hide in libraries
drinking.

Adelaide said nothing for a moment as she poured two
glasses. She handed one to Cordelia as she studied Diana.

“If you know anything about the Blackburns, dear girl, you
would know that we don’t like rules.”

And with that, she tossed the entire glass of whiskey down.
Then she sat next to Cordelia again and said, “Why don’t we become better
acquainted.”

*
 
*
 
*
 
*

Nico glanced down the hallway for what seemed like the fifth
time in as many minutes. He could not get past that feeling that he needed to
check on Cordelia.

“Your intended is not in any danger from your mother,” said
his father, humor lacing his voice.

He glanced at the man who taught him everything he knew.
"I would not be so sure of that. You know mother can be slightly scary to
new people."

"She likes Cordelia."

"How do you know that?"

“After the years we have been married, you know I can sense
her feelings. I believe you are starting to understand this more now. You
definitely will after the mating."

Nico sighed and fought the urge to pace the ballroom. He
wanted nothing more than to leave the house with Cordelia, take her home, and
strip her naked. He was sure the primitive feeling to protect her would stop
once he did.

"And you believe me now?" he asked his father.

"You were right. She is definitely a strong Carrier.
What I cannot understand is how they went undetected for so long? Diana is
strong also, but not as strong as Cordelia. She must have had a Born as a
sire."

He nodded as he noted there was no one nearby. “It is
rumored they all had different fathers.”

"I am sure that is why Malik reacted so strongly to the
woman," his father remarked. Malik had not stayed. In fact, he had made
excuses that he needed to check on Hurst. They both knew he was just trying his
best to run away.

"You think he's attracted to Lady Diana?"

His father nodded. "It would be hard for him not to be,
but we both know his feelings on mating. Of course, fate is fickle. Look at
yourself."

"What does that mean?"

His father shook his head. "No, I will not reveal all.
I believe you need to accept your fate, and this old man is going to enjoy
watching."

He hated when his father talked in riddles, so he decided to
change the subject. "I hope to have the wedding tomorrow.”

"I would wait for a few days, son. Women do not like to
be rushed."

He frowned. "I need to be working on the
investigation."

His father nodded. "You can do that while waiting for
the arrangements to be set in place."

He did not like that. Waiting days until he had her in his
bed...it would not work for him. He did not know how he would be able to go
days without touching her, feeding from her. Nico never had a problem
controlling his need to feed. Since he reached his majority, he had a firm hand
on his baser needs—sex and feeding. But now, he felt as if he had no control.
Even now he wanted her, wanted to taste the sweet blood he had scented. His
feeding teeth descended, and not for the first time that night, he had to grind
them back up.

"It will just get worse, you know."

He glanced at his father. "What are you talking about
now?"

"The need you have for her. It is going to be worse
after mating."

Nico did not know how that was possible. Right now, he felt
sick from the demands of his body. Worse, every other woman he saw made him
almost physically ill. His hands were shaking. It was as if overnight he had
lost his desire for any other woman than Cordelia.

"You will have to let go, Nico. Let go of the past, and
allow yourself to enjoy having a mate."

They both knew he had reservations about mating and bonding.
He had been with his brother near the end. His father had not. He did not want
to suffer the same fate. Losing a bonded mate, then slowly dying—there was no
way he could endure.

The scent of her blood reached him before he knew she was in
the room. He could not see her at first, and he felt the first stirrings of
panic. He needed to see her, know she was all right. Then he did, and his body
responded.

He had been irritated when he first saw her. The
embarrassment that she had not told him of her move had been enough, but seeing
her body so exposed almost sent him over the edge. In all the time he had known
her, Cordelia had dressed modestly. Her clothes had been a season or two out of
fashion, and he liked it that way. The red dress draped over her generous
curves brought out a golden hue to her flesh. Her breasts were a little too
much on display for his liking. He licked his lips, thinking of tasting the
blood that was now calling to him.

His father gave him a nudge. It took every bit of his power
to pull his gaze away from Cordelia. He looked at his father, who wore a
knowing smile.