Blood Life Seeker (14 page)

I felt the stake slide out even before I had finished that thought, but I didn't step away. He would have been able to smell me this close, he would have been able to feel my warmth. Somehow Gregor was able to do those things despite me Dream Walking. It didn't scare me. Gregor was not going to kill me. Hurt me maybe, but not physically, not now. His eyes opened and he looked right at me, as though he
could
see me. I raised my eyebrows at him and he smiled. Shit.

“You can see me?”

“No. I can sense you. I can feel you. It's almost like I can see you. You shine so bright, I see the light, the silhouette of your face, your body. It calls to me.” His hand reached up and stroked my skin on my cheek. I jumped. Yikes. This was too weird. Michel could sense me and feel me in a Dream Walk, it was a by-product of the Bond, but Gregor should not.

“How?” was all I could manage.

“The
Sigillum
, we both share a connection to each other. It binds us together.”

“Oh no. That is so not happening. Stop it.”

He laughed. “I cannot,
ma petite chasseuse
. It is permanent. Neither of us can change what has come to be.”

“Damn you, Gregor. I did not want this. You forced it on me.” And just like that, my anger was back and with it my stake against his chest. Just resting, not entering, not yet.

His hand came up and wrapped around my wrist, the wrist on the arm holding the stake. He raised it effortlessly up from his chest - or maybe I just wasn't trying too hard any more - and brushed his lips across the back of my hand. So close to the stake, but somehow missing it. His lips were so soft, warm and wonderful. I felt my grip on the stake loosen and then the stake simply fall away to land on the carpeted floor.

He pulled me towards him and claimed my mouth with his. I tried to push back against his hold, but it wasn't really a concerted effort. His body called to me in a way I couldn't explain. I didn't wrap myself around him, pull him closer, or any of those other stupidly romantic things, I just didn't stop him from kissing me. And then his mouth left mine and his hand at the back of my head tilted me gently, carefully over, exposing my neck. And before I could register what was happening - although in hindsight I think I kind of knew but chose to ignore it - his mouth found my pulse at the base of my neck and his fangs slid effortlessly in through my skin to find my blood below. The sharp sting of his bite replaced with the warmth of his desire and the pull of my blood making my heart race and breath quicken and other parts of my body tighten in response.

His voice in my mind, so familiar, so natural,
mark me with your Light, ma petite chasseuse, mark me again.

No.
I couldn't possibly consider marking him again, I'd done that once and look where it had got me.

It is only a sharing, do not fear, it is not permanent.

Sure. So you say.

He ramped up the desire then. His
Sanguis Vitam
flowing through me unhindered. I had no way of fighting it, it called to me, it enticed me, it lured me in and told me all would be right, to trust, to let go. To fall that last forbidden step and allow this to happen. So I did.

I let the Light build inside me, let it fill me up and when I could hold it no longer, I released it. I pushed it hard against his shields, against his wall and mind, and felt it slip effortlessly in, bathing him, cuddling him, holding him dear.

He groaned out loud and we both slid down the wall, me landing in his lap, cradled by his arms. The Light flowing through us both, circling us, touching us, enveloping us, until there was nothing left but pure bliss. And the rapid beating of our hearts.

His fangs withdrew slowly, I felt his tongue against the marks, his breath against my neck and I let myself collapse against him, moulding to him, almost clinging to him.

What the...?

Neither of us spoke for a minute, just basked in that after glow, that was so not sexual, but oh so much more intimate than that.

Thoughts tumbled restlessly against my mind. Why had I let this happen, again? How had he tricked me, again? Did it matter? He had said to me that I could become additive, I wasn't so sure that applied to just me any more.

He kissed my cheek, so softly, so intimately, it was wrong, he wasn't Michel. But for the life of me, right then, I didn't care.

There was a low whistle from the other side of the room. I think we had both forgotten Alessandra. I had assumed she was still held captive by his
Sanguis Vitam
, but then it occurred to me, Gregor had lost all control whilst basking in my Light. To do that, he had stopped his attack on Alessandra. She had stood unhindered and watched it all unfold in front of her eyes.

“
That, mia cara
, was entertaining. And I am sure Michel will find
this
very much part of his business.”

My words, back at me. And I didn't, for a second, think she was bluffing.

Damn.

I stiffened in Gregor's arms. He gently stroked my back, the side of my neck, but I didn't relax. I couldn't move, not yet, so I couldn't defend myself should Alessandra choose that moment to attack. I was guessing, but I'm not sure, that Gregor couldn't move yet either. We were both at her mercy and I did not like that at all.

I felt Gregor's
Sanguis Vitam
before he spoke. It was hot and harsh, but laced with a power that I recognised, Michel used that type of power when he commanded vampires in his line to do his bidding. It was the power that made the request or demand, a command, something they could not ignore, even to save their own lives. But why would Gregor use it on Alessandra? She was a master vampire in charge of her own line, she was definitely no one's flunky.

“Alessandra.” Just one word, but behind it a wealth of threats and unsaid challenges.

“Master.”

Whoa. What the hell was she saying? How could she be subject to another master, just like a level two or lower master vampire or vampire servant. Either Alessandra was acting above her station when with us. Acting the role of a level one
Sanguis Vitam
master, which is impossible I would have thought, or there was something going on here I did not comprehend.

“Leave us. I will call for you when I am ready.”

“Yes, Master.” She turned towards the door taking a few steps, but Gregor had not finished. “You will speak of this to no one.”

She paused, as though she really was trying to battle that command, but Gregor's hold was obviously too strong and she simply continued, after a moment, on out the door. Closing it softly behind her.

To say I was confused, was an understatement. Alessandra was one of the strongest vampires I had ever met. No where near as strong as Michel was now. But she had managed to hold off an extremely strong master vampire once, Max, all on her own, until Michel could recover enough to come to her aid. She had been phenomenal. I have yet to witness another female vampire as strong. So what was with all of this?

I turned back towards Gregor, who was watching me closely. That in itself was unnerving, he shouldn't have been able to see me to watch me that intensely. He smiled when our eyes met. It lit up his silvery eyes and made my mark shine back at me, coating me in light.

“You knew I was powerful, Hunter. Why is it such a surprise that Alessandra is one of my own?”

“She's a level one master, in charge of her own line. I didn't realise it was possible.” There was no point denying what I felt, I was puzzled, I wanted to know. Did Michel know? Was this something that could threaten him?

“I made her. She is mine and I have never fully released her. I give her some leeway, enough to strike out on her own, but she is mine to call when I require it.”

A thought occurred to me then. “Did you make her come to Michel's aid when he asked recently?”

Michel had called for aid from those vampires closely aligned with him when Max came to New Zealand to capture me. Alessandra, along with two other vampires called Enrique and Jock, had honoured their alliances with Michel and come to his aid. I wondered now if Alessandra had been sent as a mole.

Gregor's face didn't betray him, but through that damn connection we now shared, his feelings, or more accurately, his aura did. I've never been very good at reading auras, but when connected to someone, it was a little easier to accomplish it would seem. Gregor's aura fluctuated slightly, the striking lights that had started glowing more and more brightly over the past 24 hours, shimmered and waned, just enough to let me know he wasn't about to tell the truth. Master vampires can smell lies, I can't, but it would seem when I have a connection to a vampire, such as mine to Gregor, then I have truth seeking abilities too. Handy to know.

Not that I wanted to connect to another vampire in the same way any time soon.

“I have not seen Alessandra for over a year, she has been following her own path for some time. I had no need of her until tonight.”

“Liar.”

OK, so I could have been more diplomatic, but no one likes being told porkies. They just don't.

He cocked his head at me, looking hard at whatever it was he saw in this Dream Walking realm. Maybe he could sense my aura too. After a moment he seemed satisfied with what he saw and said, “Interesting. I guess I shall have to be more careful around you in the future, my little Hunter.”

“Who says there'll be a future.”

He  smiled. “There is still the challenge, it cannot be left unanswered for long. I have already set in motion my planned visit to your country. I believe it is an entertaining destination. I look forward to my...holiday.”

“
You're taking a break from the
Iunctio
?”

“
One never takes a break from the
Iunctio
Lucinda, but a change is as good as a holiday, or so they say.”

Yeah, right. But, it hadn't been lost on me that he had changed the topic of conversation easily, deflected my question without even trying too hard. He didn't know me well enough yet, to realise I don't give up that easily.

“So, did you send Alessandra to Michel?”

He sighed. “You will not give up, will you?”

“No. I guess that's something else you should remember for the future. If there is one.”

He laughed, that warm chuckle that made his body move and sent warmth through to my soul. The movement reminding me I was still sitting in his lap, his arms around me, his hands stroking my side. I hadn't even noticed that he hadn't stopped touching me after Alessandra had left. I was losing my edge, I had to get my game back on.

I made an effort to stand up, to get away from him, but he growled, low and long, and gripped me even tighter.

“
I am not ready to relinquish you so soon. You have called unexpectedly, unannounced, after a challenge has been set. You have attempted to harm me, outside of the rules. And you will be unavailable to me for three days, I do believe, as this is your second Dream Walk within 24 hours.” He raised his eyebrows in a challenge when he sensed the surprise in my aura. I had not expected him to know that little secret. Dream Walking is rare, even Michel had not been familiar with that little titbit of news, prior to my first Dream Walk where I had been out for a week afterwards. “I will not let you go so easily, so soon, my dear. You are my prize for the inconvenience of your visit.”

I laughed, I couldn't help it. This guy just had a tendency to make me smile.

“Inconvenience? I didn't see you complaining,” I managed to get out between chuckles.

“Just because I enjoy your company does not mean you have not inconvenienced me. I had business to attend with Alessandra this night and you have delayed that for me. I will seek compensation.”

Oh dear. I didn't like the sound of that one little bit.

“What kind of compensation?” My voice was slightly breathy, anticipation I guess, I cringed inside though. Damn, I did not want him to know the effect he had on me.

His smile broadened. “I have not yet decided, but I'm sure I can think of something that will fit the bill.”

I'm sure he could, but I wasn't planning on being around to find out. I began to seek the blackness of that void, that space where  nothingness enveloped me and allowed me to Dream Walk back to my body. I knew a lost cause when I saw one. I'd stuffed up big time tonight, I wasn't hanging around to see how much worse things could get. As much as I would have liked to have left with the upper hand, I knew my advantage, whatever surprise my unexpected visit had had, was well and truly over. Gregor held all the cards and I just needed to be big enough to realise it and let myself walk away. Not an easy thing for a vampire hunter, let me tell you.

I felt his soft, warm lips meet mine, his tongue force its way in through my teeth, his hand reach up and cup my breast, kneading, stroking, tweaking. His other hand run up under my skirt and flick the top of my tights, my underwear, ever so slightly, then run a finger along the inside, just a bit, not too much. And I realised I had fallen away from the black nothingness right back into his arms.

Once he sensed I was back, he pulled away and smiled. “Oh, I don't think so, little Hunter. You cannot leave until I say so.”

Oh dear God.

I took a deep steadying breath in. I don't usually let the bad guys see that they have had that much of an affect on me, but I needed that breath, I needed it like a lifeline to the drowning. Once I had myself more or less under control, I hardened my resolve and prepared for battle. Not physical, but mental, emotional. I would not let him see fear and I would come out guns blazing. I called on every trick, every small thing I had learnt over the past two years and in particular over the past few weeks with Nero, and I met his gaze.

“Either exact your compensation or let me the fuck go.”

“Tsk, tsk. Such language, Lucinda. I understand the antipodes are a little unrefined, unsettled as it were by those of us with far greater standing, but you do yourself no justice by resorting to such foul language.”

“I don't give a shit what you think. You don't like it? Go fuck yourself.”

He laughed, a full bodied laugh, that sent goose bumps down my arm. Damn him.

“You are simply too easy to rile,
ma petite chasseuse
. You wear your heart on your sleeve, I can see your thoughts, your desires, you are like an open book to me.”

Open book this. “Why do you want to die, Gregor?”

That had the desired effect I was looking for. He stilled, vampire still, that preternatural calm they do when they feel threatened, or wish to conceal their feelings from a particularly difficult opponent, or when they get surprised. I was betting this was a result of the last. He hadn't expected me to ask, to be so bold, so blunt. It had caught him by surprise all right and he didn't like it. Oh goody.

“What makes you say that?” Even, low, threatening. But, I hadn't come this far to back down now, besides, what other options were open to me. Give up? I don't think so buddy.

“It's obvious. It's written all over your face.” It wasn't, but he didn't know that, I was going for unsettling, so far it was working. “You want out of this life, this existence and you want me to help you achieve it. I won't. You have to know that. Not unless you threaten me, try to kill me. Not unless you deserve it.”

His smile was bitter, but it didn't match his next words. Somehow I thought he had been about to say something else, then in the last minute changed his mind.

“You are simply a challenge, my little Hunter. Nothing more. And a challenge I intend to win.”

“Not if I can help it, Gregor. I may have changed my mind about killing you tonight, but don't take it as consent to march forth and battle for my affections. I am not yours, nor will I ever be. I will do what is necessary to protect myself. You don't want to back me into a corner”

“Oh, but I think I do.” His hand had come up to stroke my cheek, his soft smooth thumb running along the edge of my jaw, his eyes scanning whatever it is that he sees while I Dream Walk. “I most definitely do.”

I hadn't realised I'd been holding my breath. Damn, why was it he had such an effect on me? Why did my life have to be so complicated?

“Find another Hunter, Gregor. I'm not yours.”

“You were mine the moment you first Walked to me. You just have not realised it yet, Lucinda.”

I stared at him. I didn't want to agree, I didn't want to acknowledge what he had just said, but a part of me, a very small part, just nodded. I felt a pull to this man like no other, not even Michel, not even Nero. Michel I loved, I craved his body, his company, him. Nero was my Nosferatin idol, someone I respected, I admired, I strove to impress. But Gregor? What was Gregor to me? A challenge too? Or was he someone I could save? A fallen Nosferatu that called to my Nosferatin side. The Dark calls to the Light and vice versa.

And with that, I knew without a doubt, that I would not kill this man. Not now, not ever. For whatever reason he called to me, the thought that I could save him, could lead him to the Light was too big, too strong, too compelling. I fought almost daily to draw Michel towards the Light. I think I was even winning, but it would no doubt be a constant battle, one I would be committed to for the rest of my life. But I loved Michel, I was joined to him, Bonded to him, it was not too far from reason to see that I would accept that responsibility.

Gregor held no sway over me emotionally, well not in that regard. Clearly I was attracted to him, but I wasn't sure that was all simple physical attraction. The attraction could have been because I longed to bring him towards the Light. I sighed. I could tell myself that, but could I really believe it? Still, committing myself to bringing Gregor to the Light could very well be a lifetime chore. If I battle Michel's Dark daily, then surely Gregor's would require that amount of attention too. Could I do that? Would I do that?

And then what? More vampires call to me? More make me long to lead them to the Light?

My life was only so big, my abilities only so strong. I am only one person, I can't do this alone. Nero helps, but I really needed those other Nosferatin to show up and fulfil this prophesy. Where the hell were they?