The Kyriakis Curse (10 page)

“I’ve thought about that, but those eyes say otherwise. Explain how you met her.”

Constantine could see the tension coursing through his father’s body, the intensity of those ice-blue eyes burning through him. “Papa, have a seat; I’ll fix you a drink.”

“You think I’m in need of calming down? Just tell me how you met her!”

Constantine cocked his head. His father rarely raised his voice, which made him realize how important this was to the alpha, and the situation all the more odd. “Relax, Papa.”

Paris sighed, raking his fingers through his hair. “I’m sorry for snapping at you, but I really need to know.”

“You look stressed. Sit, I’ll get you that drink, then tell you everything you want to know.”

“I don’t need a drink.” Paris dropped onto the recliner with apparent resignation.

Constantine dropped onto the coffee table across from his father and relayed the events of the day, leaving nothing out. “...and you know the rest. I brought her here because it’s clear that whoever is after her won’t rest until she’s dead.”

Paris remained silent as though trying to absorb all he’d been told.

“You’re right. We’ll have to keep her here for a while, although I’m not sure that this is the safest place. Maybe we should take her to Circe, where no one gets on or off without my permission.” Circe was the family’s private island, just off the coast of Greece. Many members of their pack also resided there. Sarah would be better off there.

“That might be an idea. You were pretty shaken when you saw Sarah. Could it be

possible she hails from the same pack as Zahara? That would explain the slight resemblance.”

“No. I don’t think so. Pack Nkruma keeps to itself in its part of the world. After Zahara went missing, the alpha decided to isolate them from other packs. They all live in their own contained community, only venturing out periodically to seek mates. Besides, their pack is so small they have to stick together to fend off any Hunters.” Paris’s brow furrowed. “Wait a minute. You said Sarah was attacked by a wizard and a shifter?”

Constantine nodded.

“Do you remember any visible tattoos or marks on their bodies?”

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Constantine tried to think back to the fight. “I think so. The wizard had a half-moon tattooed on his neck, surrounded by some odd symbol.”

“Hunters,” Paris muttered.

“There’s something else I forgot. Before I killed the wizard, I touched his mind to see if I could get some information. I got nothing but vague impressions, except the name Gage. Do you think he could be their leader?”

Paris’s eyes widened with apparent alarm. “Gage? Are you sure?”

“Pretty sure, why?”

Paris leapt to his feet and began pacing back and forth across the room again, his

movements agitated. “Gage was the leader of a renegade group of Hunters and well known for his methods of torture. He disappeared several hundred years ago and was believed to have been terminated since hunting shifters was outlawed by the council. I’ll need to question Sarah when she’s healed.”

“Can’t we just find this Gage guy and take him out? I’ll do it myself.”

Paris shook his head. “It’s not that simple. Gage isn’t the typical Hunter. If he wants Sarah, he won’t rest until he and his henchmen have her. But I don’t think he wants to kill her. Whatever he has in store for her is far worse, I feel.”

Constantine’s heart dropped.

* * * * *

She gagged, tried to turn her head to the side, but her chin was caught in a firm grip.

“Lie still and drink.”

Reluctantly, she swallowed; she didn’t want to, but the cobalt eyes looking down into her own eyes had a hypnotic quality to them. The stranger put his wrist against her lips again. A drop of crimson plopped onto her mouth from the open cut on his flesh.

“No,” she groaned.

“Drink, Sarah. You will heal much faster if you do. I’m sure the pain has already

lessened.”

Sarah moved her injured arm; to her surprise, he was right. She only felt a dull

throbbing.

“Go ahead and take more of my essence,” he coaxed.

She did as she was told and sucked his flesh. The taste of his blood was surprisingly pleasant. As the fluid filled her mouth, she could feel her strength returning.

He pulled his wrist away after several moments and licked it. “That’s enough for you, I think. You should probably rest for a little longer before your bones are fully mended. Are Kyriakis 1: Kyriakis Curse

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you feeling better?” He smoothed her hair out of her eyes with a smile. The man wasn’t a shifter or a human. What was he? Wizard? Vampire?

He was certainly good looking, but he didn’t make her heart leap like Constantine did.

As she thought about the shifter, she wondered where he was. “Where’s Constantine or Aries?” she asked warily, feeling uneasy with this stranger.

“Downstairs. Relax.”

“How can you say that after the day I’ve had?” She sat up. “I have to get out of here.”

When Sarah made a move to roll off the bed, the man held her firm.

“We’re not your enemy.”

A woman Sarah hadn’t noticed standing by the bed till then spoke for the first time.

“For Pete’s sake, Uncle Dante, can’t you tell she’s scared out of her mind? Considering what she’s been through, cut the kid some slack. I’ll take it from here.”

“My apologies. I sometimes get carried away in my role of nurturer.” He chuckled

lightly as he stood and faced the woman. “Don’t tire her out with all the questions I’m sure you’re dying to ask.”

“Shoo.” She pushed him out of the bedroom and closed the door behind him. It was

obvious there was a lot of affection between the two. Instinct told her she would come to no harm from them, but years of fending for herself made it difficult for Sarah to trust anyone.

The woman turned to her with a brilliant smile. She had to be one of the most

beautiful people Sarah had ever seen. She was tall and statuesque, with the proverbial hourglass figure. Her hair fell around her shoulders like a cape of ink-black silk. Warm gray eyes sparkled, a contrast to her dark coloring, and reminded her of Constantine. Were they related? “Are you... are you Constantine’s sister?”

The woman grimaced, plonking onto the bed beside her as if they were life-long

girlfriends. “Unfortunately, yes. I’m Persephone.” She rapidly switched topics. “So, I heard you have some pretty powerful enemies.”

Although Sarah hadn’t had a chance yet to form a complete opinion on this woman,

there was no doubt that Persephone wasn’t shy. “I’d rather not talk about it.” She studiously looked at her fingernails.

“Don’t worry. You can tell me. We’ll help.”

“Look, Persephone, I appreciate all that you and your brother have already done for

me, I really do, but I’m feeling much better now. If you return my clothes, I’ll be out of your hair in a jiffy.”

Persephone crinkled her nose. “Are you serious? If you leave, whoever is hunting you could kill you this time.” A smug grin crossed the female shifter’s face. “Besides, I don’t think Constantine will let you go very far.”

Sarah narrowed her eyes. “What do you mean?”

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Persephone rolled her eyes with a sigh. “He has a thing for you. You were kind of out of it when he brought you home so you weren’t aware, but he would barely allow anyone else to come near you. He’d still be here if Papa hadn’t called him.” She gazed at Sarah solemnly. “Why would you leave when you’re in such great danger? We can protect you.

You’re a half-breed, and while you’re stronger than most mortals, something far worse could happen to you compared with what you experienced earlier.”

“You don’t understand. I can’t impose on your family. Having me here will put you all in danger. I can’t have that on my conscience again.”

“Again?”

“I’m trouble.”

“You don’t look like it to me.”

“You’re being deliberately obtuse. You and your family will be better off without me here. By the way, who was that man -- or should I ask what was he? He’s not a shifter.”

“No. He’s a vampire. That was my Uncle Dante -- well, not my blood uncle but a good

family friend.”

Sarah’s jaw dropped. “Wait a minute. A real-life vampire? I drank vampire blood? Oh, God. Does that mean I’ll become one, too? I’m an artist. I need lots of light, and I like to paint the sunrise sometimes. Oh, this really and truly sucks.” She grabbed her head as she thought about the ramifications of being nocturnal for the rest of her life. Just dealing with shifters and wizards was hard enough, but now she might be a vampire as well? This was just too much.

Persephone let rip a loud belly laugh. Sarah glared at her. “What’s so funny? Why did you let me drink his blood if you know he’s a vampire?”

“How in the world have you existed without knowing such basic things? I mean, even

a half-breed should know something of her heritage.”

“That’s beside the point. Am I going to be a vampire or not?”

Persephone explained patiently. “Not. Trust me. Becoming a vampire is far more

complex than just drinking a little blood, and I hate to disappoint you, but vampires aren’t nocturnal. The real-life versions are nothing like those caricatures in movies and books. The only reason you had to drink Uncle Dante’s blood was because it has healing agents in it.

That’s how your arm was able to mend so quickly,”

“Oh.” Sarah felt like an idiot. It was nice of the Kyriakis family to offer her information and shelter, but she couldn’t stay. “I have to go. Kindly return my clothes.” She slid off the bed, surveying the luxurious guestroom for her things.

“Can’t do that, hon. Your clothes are in the trash.” The shifter shrugged, an amused smile on her lips.

“Then would you lend me something? I’ll mail it back to you when I can.”

“Can’t do that, either.”

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“Why the hell not?” Sarah was extremely irritated now.

“Because I’d never hear the end of it from my brother, and I like peace in my life.”

Sarah looked down at the white silk pajamas with red polka dots that she was wearing.

They were more than comfortable, but she’d look ridiculous appearing in public like that.

Still, her embarrassment wasn’t enough to keep her here. The last thing she wanted was for the Kyriakis family to suffer the same fate as her previous caregivers.

She spotted her ankle boots and picked them up.

Persephone frowned. “What are you doing?”

“I think it should be obvious; I’m leaving.” Once her shoes were on, she moved to the bedroom door and opened it.

Persephone placed a hand on her shoulder, halting her. “Sarah, you’re being silly. You can’t leave.”

Sarah shrugged the hand off. “I can, and I will.”

A tall, dark man with glowing blue eyes approached them. “On the contrary. You’re

not going anywhere.”

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Sarah backed away from the formidable figure.

“Papa! Shame on you for frightening Sarah like that! What’s wrong with the men of

this family that they must resort to threatening defenseless women? Sheesh!”

The newcomer’s icy blue gaze never left Sarah’s face as he addressed his daughter.

“Your friend Isis has arrived. I suggest you go downstairs and keep her entertained.” He spoke in lightly accented English. Sarah wasn’t good with accents, but she assumed it was Greek. It sounded rather sexy on him, even if he was a bit scary.

Persephone shook her head. “I don’t think I should go just yet. I--”

“This isn’t up for debate, cub.” The man spoke in a voice of dead calm, but Sarah didn’t miss the undercurrent of steel in it.

Persephone gave Sarah’s arm a light squeeze of reassurance. “Call me if you need me,”

she offered, before heading down the stairs.

Sarah held up her hands. “Look, I don’t want any trouble. I’m going right now, and

then I won’t be your problem anymore.”

“Your ears must have been damaged in the scuffle. I reiterate: you aren’t going

anywhere.” The deep-throated voice oozed authority. If she didn’t find this man so damned intimidating, he’d be very handsome. Even if it hadn’t already been established that he was Constantine and Persephone’s father, no words would have been necessary to explain the connection; the resemblance was obvious. Were there any ugly people in this family?

“Look, pal, this is America. You can’t just hold me here.”

“If I must tie you down, you’ll not exit these premises without my say-so.” He bared shiny white teeth. “As alpha of this pack, I’m not in the habit of repeating myself. Since you are in my home, you fall under my care. Come with me, cub.” When he turned and began to move down the hall, Sarah stayed rooted to the spot, astonished and indignant.

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Who does this guy think he is?

He swung around with a growl. “I said, come!” His sharp command set her into motion.

She followed him downstairs and through a long corridor. Sarah felt as though she were being led to her doom and held herself tightly to keep from shaking apart.

Calm down, Sarah. I’m sure once this talk is over, he’ll let you be on your way.

Not on your life, a voice filtered into her mind.

What the--?

No more questions until we get to my study.

This situation was getting weirder by the minute. Soon she’d be too scared to think, because it was obvious this man could read her mind. Figuring there was no use in arguing, she walked inside the room he indicated. It was the size of her entire apartment, and every piece of furniture was clearly expensive, though it wasn’t ostentatious. A large bay window looked out on a picturesque lake. Kyriakis senior shut the door quietly.

“Have a seat, Sarah.”

“Where?” She was afraid to make a wrong move.

“Anywhere you’d like, cub. There is no need to be frightened of me.”

She took the windowsill. There was something peaceful about the outside scene