Blood Legacy: The Story of Ryan (46 page)

She had regained it now as she carried another stitch. “You really are Victor Alexander’s child,” she said meaningfully.

Ryan maintained her gaze, her cheeks betraying only the faintest hint of color. She glanced down at Marilyn, finding it difficult to think at that exact moment.

Abigail laid down her stitchery and stood, approaching Ryan. She stood in front of the girl, lifting a hand to her cheek. Abigail was surprised at the heat emanating from the young woman. Ryan grasped the hand and pulled it to her heart, and Abigail was again startled, but this time by her own reaction. She suppressed the flutter, still wearing her mask of unconcern.

Ryan was aware of none of this, so befuddled was she at that moment. Abigail gently removed her hand from Ryan’s grasp, leaned forward to kiss her on the cheek, then made a stately exit from the room.

Ryan sat down heavily in the chair.

Victor was surprised and not surprised to see Abigail enter his room a short time later. He raised an eyebrow when he saw her luggage.

“Leaving so soon?” He leaned back in his chair. “Does this mean you don’t want the gift I have offered you?”

“You know me too well for that, Victor. The truth of the matter is that I want to go back there right now and rip her to shreds.”

“Or allow her to rip you to shreds,” Victor replied dryly.

Abigail smiled her enigmatic smile, but did not disagree. “However,” she continued, “I have always practiced considerably more self-restraint than Marilyn. Delayed gratification can be far more enjoyable than immediate self-fulfillment.”

Victor was suddenly wary. “What are you saying?”

“I am saying, dear Victor, that you did not place any time constraints on this gift. I, therefore, am choosing to take it at some unspecified time in the future.”

Victor’s eyes narrowed. He was not happy at this turn of events. “You ever were the one to hold your cards the longest, Abigail.”

“It makes playing them all the more enjoyable. But I do not hold them as close to my chest as do you, my Lord. I,” she said with emphasis, “do not have any children hidden away. But,” she added as if an afterthought, “I will enjoy taking yours.”

With that, the matriarch took her leave.

Victor was truly surprised several hours later when he heard familiar footsteps coming down the hallway. The knock on the door was a formality.

“Please come in.”

Ryan opened the door, standing for a brief moment in the doorway. Victor was sitting across the room, dressed casually in a pair of slacks and a white cotton shirt unbuttoned at the collar. His tan throat contrasted sharply with the white shirt and his dark hair curled around the edges of the collar. He set his book on the adjacent nightstand, his eyes never leaving Ryan.

She looked a little tired, but other than that, as stunning as ever. Her hair was loose about her shoulders and she was dressed in the same casual manner he was. It was the first time the two had been alone together since his return.

Ryan moved a little further in the room, letting the door close behind her. “May I sit down?” she asked, both polite and formal.

Victor nodded. “Please do.”

Ryan was at a loss what to say, so she allowed her eyes to drift around the room, taking in the tasteful, masculine decor. Her eyes finally settled upon Victor, who was still watching her.

“So,” Victor asked, deliberately casual, “how was Marilyn?”

To Ryan’s credit, her expression never wavered. “You knew.”

Victor simply stared at her, asking for no elaboration.

Ryan continued. “You knew I was the more powerful.”

Victor nodded, then said all he really needed to say. “Yes.”

Ryan continued to gaze at him steadily. “Then why make me go through that?”

Victor did not apologize. “Because you did not know.” He paused, then said, “Nor did Marilyn.”

Ryan looked down, contemplating his words. Victor’s next words were sardonic. “Besides, my dear, you wanted to Share with her.”

Ryan’s eyes flickered upward to his and she had the grace to appear embarrassed at the revelation. But with the embarrassment was a glint of the ever-present mischief he remembered so well.

 Victor sighed. “You will still have to deal with Abigail at some point in time in the future.”

Ryan’s brow furrowed slightly. Abigail was quite a different story from Marilyn. In some ways, Ryan felt she might be the far more dangerous of the two.

Ryan changed the subject slightly, trying to sound as casual as her father. “Speaking of Marilyn, did you Share with her in my absence?”

 Victor saw through the casualness. “Yes,” he said, “I did.”

There was no break in Ryan’s composure. “And did she satisfy you?”

Victor could not conceal his smile. He saw the telltale signs of Ryan’s rather formidable temper forming, so he answered truthfully.

“Marilyn ceased to satisfy me the day you were born.”

Ryan’s composure did not waver, but Victor knew she was secretly pleased. Her countenance darkened, however, and Victor knew she was thinking of her birth.

Ryan stood and walked to the window. She looked out into the darkness, her hand intertwining itself in the tassel to the shades. She untangled the hand, then tangled it again. She began her question slowly, her voice filled with rare hesitation.

“Did you care nothing for her?”

Victor looked down at his hands, knowing whom she was speaking of. “Your mother?”

Ryan nodded, still looking into the darkness. “Yes, my mother.”

Victor shook his head, knowing he could not lie to her. “No, not at the time.”

Ryan took a deep breath, but before the pain could spread, Victor continued.

“I could not allow myself to care for her, or you would not be here.”

Ryan swallowed hard, a distinctly human gesture which held no purpose for her whatsoever. Victor continued.

“But I see much of her in you, and I think that I have grown to love her over the years.”

Ryan held her breath for an endless moment, another distinctly human gesture. She waited to see if the pain would spread as it always did, but Victor’s concession seemed to keep it at bay. His words did not make the pain cease; they were not as much as she had hoped for. But they were a point of departure.

 She turned away from the window, glancing at the door. Victor also turned his attention to his next approaching visitor.

Both identified the footsteps and Marilyn did not bother with the formality of knocking. She strolled into the room, looking all the world like someone who had just achieved her heart’s desire. Two servants with her baggage were in tow.

The servants were left in the hallway as Marilyn closed the door. Victor gazed at her. “I trust you are satisfied that our bargain is fulfilled.”

Marilyn let her eyes rest on Ryan. “Oh yes, dear,” she said to Victor, “completely satisfied.”

Victor raised an eyebrow at the innuendo. It seemed no matter how powerful Ryan had become, Marilyn’s sensual teasing of the girl would continue unabated. It appeared from the color in Ryan’s cheeks that the suggestive comments would continue to hit their mark, as well.

Victor’s eyes narrowed slightly. Marilyn was in incredibly high spirits, contrary to his expectations. He had thought she might be somewhat subdued after her contact with Ryan. But she acted for all the world like a cat that had just gorged on cream. He had a sudden flicker of suspicion.

Marilyn rested her hand on Victor’s shoulder, and her eyes rested on Ryan. “I’m not certain which was more enjoyable, my Lord. Finally taking her, or taking her with your blessing.”

Victor glanced up at the dark-haired woman. “I would hardly call it my blessing, Marilyn. I had my reasons.”

“Oh,” Marilyn said significantly, “oh, that’s right. I quite forgot. You were trying to communicate something to me, I believe.”

Victor’s suspicions were growing. It seemed even Ryan was catching on to what the dark-haired woman was implying. “What are you saying, Marilyn?”

Marilyn dropped her pretense, savoring her words as she spoke them. “What I’m saying, little one, is that you cannot teach me something I already know.” She dropped her hand from Victor’s shoulder. “It appears in this instance, my Lord, that I had you both.”

Before either could reply, Marilyn stepped toward the door. “I shall be returning to France immediately. I do hope you will come to see me, very soon.” She let one last glance linger on Ryan, then on Victor. “I could get used to having you two around.”

With that, she was gone, leaving both Ryan and Victor in silence.

“Well,” Victor said dryly, breaking the silence at long last, “see what you will have to deal with one day?”

Ryan was not quite as dry as Victor. “She is quite manipulative, isn’t she?”

Victor nodded. “And she’s not nearly as bad as Abigail.”

Ryan nodded, unconsciously mirroring her father’s gestures. “Yes, I know. That’s what I’m afraid of.” She turned to Victor. “Now that I have fulfilled at least some of the obligations you have set before me, is there anyone else you’ve promised me to? Anyone else I must settle with?”

Victor gazed at his golden-haired child a moment, his dark eyes gleaming. “Only me.”

Ryan turned to him, her anger immediately evident in her posture. But Victor’s expression was not one of condemnation, nor was there any anger in his words. In fact, he was casually examining his fingernails. “And I believe you still feel you have a score to settle with me.”

Ryan’s anger cooled slightly, but she was skeptical. “What exactly did you have in mind?”

Victor was silent for a moment, still preoccupied with examining his fingernails. He finally folded his hands onto his lap. He gazed up at her. “I thought perhaps a duel would be appropriate.”

“A duel?” Ryan repeated, cocking her head to one side. “What kind of duel?”

Victor shrugged. “The kind you used to engage in all the time. It hardly took more than an evil look for you to throw down your gauntlet.”

Ryan was still suspicious. “And what would be won or lost in this duel? I have already proven I cannot kill you.”

Victor shrugged. “That does not mean you cannot beat me. If you win, I will give you back your freedom.”

“And if I lose?”

Victor paused before replying. “Then you will take your rightful place among the Others.”

Ryan’s head jerked upward. “I have no desire to live among the Others.”

“I know,” Victor said, “but you have obligations. I did not create you for purely selfish reasons. You have responsibilities you have thus far avoided. It is time for you to grow up.”

Ryan’s jaw set. “Very well then. A duel. And when will this battle take place?”

There was a glint in Victor’s eyes. “We can begin now.”

CHAPTER 33

RYAN STOOD IN THE CLEARING, hefting the sword. The cool night air felt good on her skin and the dim light from the waning moon was perfect. It was just enough illumination for her to clearly see Victor, who was standing at the other edge of the trees hefting the weight of his own sword. They were the only two figures within miles.

Ryan swung the sword expertly, leaping up onto a nearby boulder. She could barely contain the shiver of excitement that ran up her spine, an ancient and predatory reflex. The hilt of the weapon felt good in her hand.

Victor approached, still swinging his own sword as Ryan leaped down and landed lightly on her feet. He raised the hilt of his sword to her in salute.

“To first blood,” he said mockingly.

Ryan did not miss the multiple meanings in the sentence. She raised her own sword in salute. “To first blood,” she agreed.

Like lightning, Ryan thrust forward, faster than any human eye could see. But Victor was there, parrying the attack effortlessly. He countered and sparks flew from the swords.

Ryan stepped back, nodding approvingly. “Not bad. I see your skills haven’t rusted. Perhaps you have something new to teach me?”