ShadowsofNight (22 page)

Dorian stood on his terrace overlooking the Mediterranean
Sea, watching the waves churn and roll just before crashing on the rocky shore
below. The majestic azure waters usually had a calming effect on his moods, but
not this eve.

No, there would be no peace tonight.

He turned to look at the beautiful female lying naked in his
bed after spending the last hour attending to his needs. Sex, feeding. He’d
hoped to lose himself in the pleasure of Petrina’s body. It hadn’t worked. He
shook his head and turned back toward the roaring waves.

“Roman…” he snarled under his breath.
Damn him to Hades.
The Order proved to be a formidable foe. Now he knew why. Marcus had recruited
from Dorian’s own legion.

Bastard.

They were sons of Sparta, thrown into military training at
the early age of seven. Discipline and courage became a way of life, taught to
them through harsh adversities and corporal punishment meant to test a boy’s
endurance.

Roman had been a natural-born fighter, constantly competing
against Dorian for a leadership role over their peers. But in the end, it was
Dorian who’d led their regiment. Roman became his second-in-command. Their bond
was forged through many battles fought and won. Blood, sweat and death had also
become a part of their existence under Pausanius’ rule. It was all they knew. War.
There had been nothing else for them.

Dorian had grown weary, his body bruised and beaten from
just over a decade of battle against the Persians. He hadn’t wanted to lose his
edge, grow old and die. He prayed to the Gods for a different life.

His prayers were answered when a chance encounter with the
Night Beings changed him forever. He became what he was now—an immortal with
immense strength and agility outweighing that of most turned vampires, because
he’d been bitten by a pureblood.

The Anunnaki were an alien race of blood drinkers who he had
the misfortune of encountering after an especially brutal battle with the
Persians. Their leader called himself Luki. Dorian and his men tried to fight
them off but they were no match for the powerful beings. Luki offered him a
choice—immortality or death. Too bad the offer had been nothing more than a
trick to enslave him. At first he’d believed it was a gift from the gods.

Still, in the end, giving up his mortal life proved to be a good
trade. His body wouldn’t have withstood much more abuse. Their human life had
held no glory. They’d been nothing more than puppets to the king and a corrupt
senate.

Roman, on the other hand, had strongly disagreed with the
idea of becoming immortal, fearing it was a trick and that they’d be prevented
from crossing into Elysium if they chose the path the Anunnaki offered. He also
feared ending up in Tartarus, or worse, becoming a shell of his former self,
eternally cursed to walk the Earth, forced to exist in the shadows.

No, Roman didn’t trust the mysterious beings who fed off the
living. He had been the smart one.

They’d left him for dead—or so Dorian had thought.

Roman, you’re the fool. No warrior’s death or reward of
paradise. In the end, you still aren’t in Elysium, but here, serving another
master. And me? I serve no one.

Dorian rubbed his hands down his face, frustrated and angry
all over again. No battle would be necessary if he hadn’t shown his hand the
day Emma appeared unannounced at his compound. Her capture had been within
reach, until he’d scented that other male’s bond all over her. Primal instincts
were a bitch.

You lost control of the situation. Let’s face it.

An infuriating enigma he’d soon put to rest. Emma’s body
defiled by another male during her transformation made him angry.
I’ll make
that bastard pay for touching what is rightfully mine.

“Curse the gods for all the trouble I’ve endured!” he
roared, the sound traveling over the waves.

“Dorian,” a soft female voice from behind whispered. “My
love, what’s wrong?”

“Don’t use that term with me, Petrina. Go back to bed.” He
didn’t look at her, couldn’t, though he briefly pondered over his strange
connection to the female. The warrior side of him felt nothing beyond physical
attraction. But there was another side, full of confusing emotions he couldn’t
make sense of, so he locked them away.

Still, she had a way of calming his beast. He’d hoped sex would
sate his frustration. But he was still too keyed up to rest.

“Come, Dorian. Let me take your mind elsewhere.” Warm,
slender arms slid around his waist as perky little breasts grazed his lower
back with a soft caress. He let out a sigh, looking up at the millions of stars
dotting the sky.

“There will be no rest for me this night, Petrina.” Not
until he got what he wanted.

“I know the battle didn’t go as you planned but there are
other ways. You will get another chance, my lord.”

Dorian turned to face her. Long black hair fell in waves
around her delicate shoulders, her skin flawless and smooth as fine silk. She
glanced up at him with eyes that showed the depth of her concern. It made him
feel uneasy. He couldn’t allow an emotional attachment to develop between them.
He wasn’t capable of it anyway.

Petrina had always been a means to an end. If she had been
able to bear him young, things might have been different between them.

It didn’t matter now. Emma would belong to him soon enough.
No
one takes what is rightfully mine.
“You know of the woman I seek. This
coupling we share will not last.”

“Why should it end between us if she has no claim on your
heart? You’ve told me my sister is but an instrument to serve your purpose, and
nothing more.” Petrina pressed her lips together, her disposition wistful. He
didn’t want her to hope for a union between them when there wouldn’t be one.

“
No one
has my heart, Petrina. Not even you.” He
turned away, his mood turning black again. He didn’t need this distraction.

“I know you care about me, yet you continue to deny it.”

“Don’t fool yourself. I only summon you for one thing.”

“Why are you being cruel with your words? Push me away if
that is your wish, but I know better.”

“My plans do not include you. They never have.”

“I won’t stop caring about you, even if you refuse to care
for me.”

“Females and their constant need for emotional connection.
I’ve never understood such weakness.”

“It’s not a weakness to love someone,” she whispered.

Damn female.
“Go back to bed.”

“What of Roman and the others? He’s immortal like you, and
more powerful than most vampires because of his creator. How will you stop the
Order with over half your legion following him? I worry something might—”

“Don’t.” More issues to deal with. His frustration turned to
anger that blazed through him like a roaring fire
.

“If I cannot have your heart, then your body will do for
now.” She grabbed his hands, trying to pull him toward the bed, her eyes sad.

“I warn you, Petrina. Do not tempt my beast.”

She trailed his hand down her stomach to the soft thatch of
curls at the juncture of her thighs. “I ache for you, Dorian,” she whispered,
running his fingers against the seam of her pussy, not willing to heed his
words.

Dorian’s cock grew hard. For Petrina, he was truly the only
one, and he sensed it.

“I’ve no tenderness in me. I’ll not be gentle,” he growled
aggressively.

“You need not be tender with me.” She pulled him forward. Dorian
abruptly threw her on the bed, pinning her beneath him, using his thighs to
open her legs wide. He gripped her arms, restraining them above her head. Adjusting
his hips, he slammed into her with such force, they both cried out. His was a
sound of ecstasy, hers a shout of pain.

He looked down at the woman beneath him, not seeing Petrina
but Emma, her face a mask of agony.

“Yes,” he hissed. Physical pain and degradation fueled his
arousal, assuaging the blackness that threatened to blow up like a powder keg
inside him. After only a few thrusts, he came with a deafening roar, releasing
inside her. He learned forward and bit her neck with a snarl, drinking deeply. He
shook with each powerful jet of his seed, barely aware of her body trembling or
the tears running down her cheeks from his vicious assault.

“Dorian, please…stop,” she whimpered.

He released her neck, his aggression suddenly evaporating
with the passing orgasm.
Damn it.
Why did she push him to this point? It
was
her
fault.

“I warned you,” he rasped, rolling onto his back, feeling a
slight twinge of regret.

Christ, he shouldn’t care that he’d hurt her. He
didn’t
care. To grow soft was weakness.
Yes, weakness. This female will not get
under my skin.
He looked over at Petrina to find her curled into a ball on
her side. Regret momentarily flooded him but he refused to comfort her, to give
in to such an illogical impulse. He threw the blanket over her body and climbed
out of bed. It had never been his way to comfort a female, and he wasn’t about
to start now.

Petrina had grown accustomed to his prowess as a lover, and had
needed a reminder of her place in his life. She was there to serve
him
.
Not the other way around. He knew what pleased a female but pleasuring wasn’t on
his mind. He’d warned her but she’d refused to listen. That was her choice. He
wasn’t going to feel bad for the outcome.

“Leave my room now, Petrina,” he growled.

“Y-yes, my lord.” She let out a sob and quickly rose from
the bed, gathered the sheet around her and left the room.

Smart girl.
Petrina had her uses, but she wasn’t like
her sister.

He’d taken Petrina after killing her father, in the hopes
that her blood link with Emma would lead him to her. He enjoyed her body and
she had a place in his coven. But the future of that coven centered on her
sister.

He walked out onto the balcony again, feeling more like himself.
Unemotional, hardened. He was a warrior, a Spartan male with war in his blood,
nothing else. He’d lost the battle tonight, which was a pity. But it wouldn’t
happen again.

“Ah, Christian and Emma. Glad you could join us.” Marcus
smiled as they entered the spacious, warmly lit study, as did Lena. Emma
noticed several other males standing in the room.

“Conner!” Christian said.

The handsome blond turned around and smiled. “Yeah, I heard
what was going on around here and decided to crash the party. Wish I’d had a
formal invite though.”

“There was no time, mate. Besides, I needed you to keep on
top of things at Voss in my absence.” Christian walked over and slapped his
friend on the back, giving him a bear hug.

“And I’ve brought some friends with me.” Conner gestured to
several other males standing in the room.

“Nick, Alden, Tahath…” Christian smiled.

“You should have called upon us,” Tahath said.

Emma watched the males getting reacquainted with one another.
It wasn’t hard to see they were very close. She didn’t have many friends. No
close girlfriends.

She frowned, realizing her own relationships with others had
been nothing more than a series of acquaintances. No bonds with anyone like
Christian had with these males. Well, unless you counted her boss Cain. Her
colleagues from work were the only people she’d socialized with in her former
life, and they were kept at arm’s length.

How depressing.

Her and Christian’s lives had been so different. No
parallels. He had friends. She didn’t. He wanted marriage and kids. She didn’t.
They didn’t know each other’s likes or dislikes. It wasn’t as if they’d started
off like a normal couple. Dated, fell in love and decided to get married. They
were brought together by a series of circumstances that had put her on a path leading
to him.

I wouldn’t change it. I love him. God, it’s weird to
think of him in those terms.
She wouldn’t be whole without him.

“Hello, Emma. I hear congratulations are in order.” Conner
held out a hand to her.

“Uh yeah, thanks.” She looked at his hand but didn’t take
it.

“It won’t bite,” he chuckled.

“Sorry.” She grabbed his hand and gave it a quick shake.

“Not a problem.”

Christian came over and stood next to her, placing his arm
gently around her waist. “I’m trying to convince her to have a civil ceremony.”

“Sounds like another party.” Conner winked.

Emma bristled. She didn’t want to make a big deal of it. No
parties.
What next, are you going to tell him you want babies too?
“Yes,
he’s been making all sorts of plans. But we’re going to deal with the present
situation first, right, Christian?”

“Yes,” Christian replied.

“I hear Dorian fled with his troops.” Conner crossed his
arms over his well-defined chest. “Has he decided to give up the fight?”

“He fled because he wasn’t expecting a fight that was evenly
matched,” Marcus replied.

“Did his men turn on him?” Conner raised an eyebrow.

“No. My Sentinels once served as part of Dorian’s regime
before they were turned into vampires. Dorian betrayed them, trading their
lives for immortality.”

“How come you’re only telling us this now?” Christian asked.

“I had my reasons,” Marcus replied.

“Who turned them?” Christian asked.

“Roman called them the Night Beings.”

“That’s certainly an interesting name for our kind,” Conner
said.

“Not
our
kind. They weren’t turned by vampires who
were once human. Roman told me these beings weren’t from this world,” Marcus
explained.

“So the myths about a pure race are true then?” Christian asked.

“Apparently so, although Roman believes they came from
Tartarus. He said they were powerful creatures and easily took them captive,
drained their bodies and left them for dead. Accept some of them
didn’t
die. Roman woke a few days later with a terrible thirst and the strength of a
hundred men, as did most of the others. They feared the purebloods would return
and take them to the underworld, so they fled Greece. I gave them refuge with
this coven.

“Roman made me swear not to reveal their identities to
anyone.” Marcus sighed. “I gave my word, and in return, they’ve guarded this
coven ever since.”

“Where’s Roman now?”

“He’s with his men in the underground caverns. They’re
preparing to do battle. Now that Dorian knows they’ve survived, he will no
doubt regroup and try to attack again.”

“Where are these Night Beings now?” Conner asked.

“No one really knows.” Marcus shrugged. “I’ve never
encountered them and Roman refuses to speak of them further. The research I’ve
done has yielded very few clues.”

“Pure-blooded vampires from outer space. What’s next? I
guess it would explain their strength, and Dorian’s.” Christian shook his head.

“Roman and his men were Spartan warriors who were already a
part of a highly skilled tactical unit before their transformation. Though it’s
possible this alien race of vampires may have enhanced strength beyond that of
a turned vampire, which would definitely make them more lethal.” Marcus rubbed
his chin thoughtfully.

“So if Dorian was created by one of these alien vampires,
then I don’t understand why he’s so anxious to get his hands on
me
. I’m
half human, for God’s sake. He could always impregnate a human and create his
own half-breed alien,” Emma said.

“I’ve already explained to you how rare human-vampire
conception is. Besides, it’s more than that. You were promised to him, and half-bloods
have the ability to go out in daylight. You were
born
with the vampiric
gene. Dorian is already very powerful and if he were to breed with you, his
children would be even more so,” Christian replied.

“I’ll castrate him first before I breed with that bastard,”
she glowered.

“You’re not getting anywhere near him again.” Christian gave
her a stern don’t-argue-with-me-right-now look.

She wanted to do just that, but decided to let it go for
now. “Neither should you,” she muttered under her breath. Did he forget he’d
almost died tonight? “If we work as a team, we could take him out.”

“I agree with Christian. You need to stay away. Dorian
wouldn’t go through this amount of trouble if you weren’t valuable. This is
about power. That’s why he wants you so badly. He wants his children to be
genetically supreme.” Marcus gave her a stern look.

“You can’t expect me to sit back and watch from the
sidelines. I’m a solider. I want to fight.” She could sense Christian didn’t
like where this conversation was going.

“You’ve already risked your life and that of your mate.”

“I didn’t mean to put his life in danger, I just wanted to
help.” Nothing like pouring salt in her wounds, even if Marcus
did
have
a point.

“You were weak from your injuries and the transformation.
Christian’s instinct to protect you under the circumstances was a logical one.
You shouldn’t have joined the fight.”

She glanced at Christian. Marcus was right. He’d just tried
to protect her. “I know.”

“I can’t lose you,” Christian whispered. There was no anger
in his voice, only tenderness.

“Can we
please
do this as a team?”

“All right.” He nodded. She felt his reservation but it
warmed her heart that he was trying to see her side, and willing to accommodate
her wish.

Emma wrapped her arms around his waist, reveling in his
purely masculine scent. In that moment, everyone around them disappeared, her
breath sped up and the force of their connection held her captive. He leaned
forward and kissed her slowly, passionately, threading his hands through her
hair and cradling the back of her head with the skill of a lover who knew
intimately what she needed. Slipping his other arm around her, Christian
brought her flush against him and the heat of his massive body surrounded her,
further stoking the flames threatening to consume them both.

She vaguely heard a few throats clearing when he finally
broke the kiss. He didn’t release her though.

“Is there a problem? We’re working things out.” He shrugged.

“I’m glad you two are finding some common ground because we
need you both at the top of your game,” Marcus replied.

“Let’s just get one thing clear between us,” Christian said
to her.

“What’s that?” she asked.

“I’ve never doubted your ability to fight. You’re strong and
quite capable of handling yourself. However, Dorian is different. He’s not your
typical vampire, so I don’t want you taking him on alone.”

“For your sake, I won’t. But if push comes to shove know
this—I
will
take him out.”

“Em…” he growled.

“I’m just saying.
God
, I told you I don’t do the
damsel thing very well. Don’t know if I’ll ever get used to a man wanting to
protect me.” And it was a waste of breath anyway with all the fucking
testosterone in the room.

“You both will train with Roman before we encounter him
again, are we clear?” Marcus stated.

“Agreed.” Christian nodded.

“May I ask why we’re waiting for them to attack again? Why
don’t we go on the offensive and finish this?” Emma asked. They had the
advantage, especially with Roman and his crew. If she were still in the
Network, that was exactly what they’d do.

“I have reasons for not leaving these grounds unprotected.
While I understand your eagerness, we shall do it my way,” Marcus replied.

“You’re in charge.” She shrugged.

“Need some help?”

“
Dane!
What are you doing here?” Christian’s eyebrows
shot up in surprise.

Emma was shocked by the handsome man who’d entered the room.
He was big and, like Christian, beautiful. Their family gene pool clearly got
the choicest DNA. “That’s your
brother
?” she whispered.

He nodded, his eyes still focused on the man.

“I heard there was trouble. I came to assist,” Dane said.

“You didn’t need—”

“I asked him to come, Christian,” Marcus interrupted.

“And who is
this
?” Dane asked, walking toward them.

“This is Emma. She’s my mate.”

The expression on his brother’s face hardened slightly. But with
the next breath, he smiled and ran a hand through his hair before extending it.
“Hello, Emma. I’m Dane Voss. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Hello.” She placed her hand in his and gave it a firm shake.
He surprised her again by leaning forward and placing a kiss on her knuckles.

“The pleasure is mine.” His beautiful green eyes sparkled as
he straightened to his full height. She took a step back from the heavily
muscled man. He was graceful and intense and dangerous, just like her
Christian. Together, they were mesmerizing.

“Has everything been resolved with the Rogue uprising?”
Christian asked, irritation clear in his voice.

“Yes, we’ve taken care of business. Caiaphas has been
imprisoned and things seemed to have settled down, for now at least.”

“I hear you’ve taken a mate as well. Where is she?”

“I, uh…yeah—that’s a story for another time, perhaps.”

Dane frowned, the strain between the brothers apparent. Christian
didn’t give him the same reception he’d given his friends. It depressed Emma a
little. Family should be important. She wondered why the pair had never made
amends. It bothered her.

“Is there trouble in paradise already?” Christian asked.

“Something like that. I needed some space to think about my
future.” He shrugged.

“Sorry to hear.”

“It’ll work itself out or it won’t.” He didn’t make eye
contact with his brother as he stabbed his hands into his pockets.

Christian cleared his throat. “Thanks for coming.”

“You’re my brother. Of course I’d come. He threatened your
life, almost ended it. So what’s his beef with you?” Dane’s expression darkened
and he looked dangerous. A powerful male for sure, and someone Emma didn’t mind
watching Christian’s back. They were blood, which meant something to
her
,
even if it didn’t to Christian.

“He wants my mate.” Christian glanced in Emma’s direction.

“Not good…Dorian’s dangerous when he wants something.” Dane
rubbed his chin. “He’ll be looking for a way around Marcus’ defenses.”

“We were just discussing our next move in regards to that,”
Marcus replied.

“Maybe I can contact Dorian and try to put an end to the conflict
between our two covens,” Dane suggested.

“There’s no reasoning with a monster like that. He
slaughtered Emma’s parents in cold blood, without remorse. She’d been
defenseless. He’ll never compromise. He wants me dead and my mate as his sex
slave—and neither is going to happen,” Christian said.

Emma swallowed the lump forming in her throat as she tried
to hold her tongue.

“Master, there’s a messenger outside the gates. Do you give permission
to speak with you?” One of the Sentinel guards stood in the doorway.

“Is he one of Dorian’s men?” Marcus asked.

“It’s a female, Sir. She asks for an audience with you.”

“Interesting,” Marcus commented, “he sends a female. I
wonder what he’s up to.”

“No telling,” Christian replied.

“Tell our guest we will meet her outside the gates. It could
be a trap. Dane and Christian, come with me. You,” he said to the guard, “summon
Roman.”

“Yes, my lord.” He bowed and left the room.

“Emma, you and Lena remain inside the compound. Let’s go.”
He gestured to Christian and Dane.

“Christian…” Emma thought they were a team.

Marcus shot her mate a look.

“You will do as Marcus orders,” Christian replied.

Emma cursed under her breath and looked away in frustration,
feeling her fangs pierce her bottom lip.

“We’ll wait here—thoroughly unpleased.” Lena placed her
hands on her hips.

“I don’t agree with this.” Emma shook her head.

“Ms. Hayes, I agree you are strong and a very capable
fighter. But you are also still the target, and I’m the one in charge. Don’t
you forget that. Are we clear?” Marcus asked.