The Taste of Magic (32 page)

"Find her. Use your energy to seek her out."

"Adrian, I don't know if I can do anything like that. I've never tried. All I can do is conjure a storm or levitate a book." How did he expect her to find Sophie when all the other methods had failed?

"What about the night at Machiavelli's villa? You used your power to create a field to ward off danger. You kept Sophie at bay. Surely you can use the energy in other ways."

Could she? Was this what Stefan was to teach her? If she could manipulate the energy to perform tasks such as Adrian asked, that might have something to do with how her teacher planned to instruct her to kill.

She'd mended Joshua's aura. Somehow, those uses for her powers were connected. The more she thought about it, the more it made sense.

"You might be right. But I have no idea where to find out."

"Let me help."

She shook her head. "And what do you think you can do?" He was beside her in a moment. "I can find you another teacher. One who can teach you…"

"I don't think so. I'll find my own teacher, thank you very much."

"Kat, I only mean to help."

"You mean control the situation, don't you?"

"No. Your skills are an asset, one we should take advantage of. Before Machiavelli does. You will have final say in whoever it is."

Katerina knew he was right. There was no reason she couldn't use her powers to defend herself and Adrian. And…she forced herself not to think of it. She would tell him soon, just not yet.

Forcing herself back to the matter at hand, she nodded. "All right. I'm not sure how I can help, but let me think about it and see what I can do." He smiled. "Good. Dinner will be ready in an hour. Will you be joining me tonight?"

She hesitated before answering, but there was never any doubt. "Yes, I will." Her reward was the delight in his eyes.

* * *

Katerina pushed her plate away and laid her napkin on the table. The fluttering sensation had started a few minutes ago, and showed no signs of stopping. She fought the urge to place her hand on her belly.

"Is something wrong?" Adrian asked. His eyes reflected his concern.

She shook her head. "I'm just not very hungry." She would have to tell him, her figure had already started to change. She noticed it as she dressed for dinner. Adrian would surely notice it as well. Besides, she needed to tell him, not just for him, but for herself. This was a time to be shared, and she didn't want to go through it any longer by herself. She wanted to share all these wonderful emotions and marvels with him. This was his child too, and she wanted to experience it all with him. She had to tell him. Now. But the words wouldn't form.

"Perhaps you need some air. Let's go outside." He stood beside her, holding out his hand. She took it and allowed him to lead her through the doors to the terrazzo. The clear night was wonderfully cool against her flushed skin. She was thankful for the brief reprieve, even as her mind searched for the right words.

Aware he watched her curiously, she turned to face him. Here was her chance. The moment she knew would come, as much as she'd been both dreading and looking forward to it. Yet, she still said nothing, unsure of how to begin, concerned about his reaction.

"Something is troubling you." He reached out and brushed a stray lock of hair from her face.

She turned away and wrapped her arms around herself. His hands were on her shoulders, though he made no effort to draw her near. Finally, she took a deep breath and turned to face him.

"There's something…you need to know."

His eyes hardened, wariness evident in the way he stiffened and lifted his chin. She swallowed deeply and began.

"It's just something has happened that I never expected…I don't think anyone did…and I wasn't going to tell you yet…but now it's moving, and it's all happening so fast…and now there's only three months left…"

He grabbed her, his face a mask of worry and anger. "Three months left before what?"

"Ow, Adrian, you're hurting me."

Immediately contrite, he released his hold. "Why is there only three months left?"

"That's what I'm trying to tell you. Somehow, you and I…we…well, I'm…"

He rolled his eyes and twisted his neck in frustration. "What is the matter?" The sharpness in his voice startled her for a moment.

"I'm pregnant."

He blinked, several times, before his eyes began to turn with flecks of gold.

"How did this happen?"

She recognized the predatory note in his voice. "There's only one way…"

He growled at her sarcasm. "I cannot reproduce. It's impossible." He stepped closer, his hands clenching into fists, his eyes flecked with gold. Only the truth kept Katerina's fear at bay.

"Actually, it's not. I'm a witch, Adrian, the only person capable of carrying a vampire's child, as long as it's conceived on a full moon."

He stared at her, as disbelief and confusion warred in his eyes, finally giving in to a hesitant curiosity. His stiff shoulders visibly relaxed as he pondered her words. Then his face brightened, taking on a glow of pleasure.

"Kat, are you saying…?"

She nodded. "I've seen Dr. Vining already. He confirmed it."

"Vining knew? He didn't tell me? How dare he…"

Katerina held her hand against his chest."I asked him not to. He respected my wishes. And my privacy."

He held her gaze for several moments, then nodded. She sensed his difficulty in not immediately summoning Vining and extracting punishment for what she was sure he saw as a betrayal. He was doing this for her. Pride at his efforts warmed her.

"Very well. And he says you are fine?"

"Yes. Everything's just fine. Except for one thing."

Immediately his gaze grew concerned once more. "What?"

"I'm going to give birth in three months."

His silence hung heavily between them. She pulled her hand away, her heart pounding as she awaited his response. But none came.

Finally, he blinked, and shook his head as if to clear it. "Three months? How can this be?"

She sighed. "I don't know all of the details. I know it was a full moon the night we…" She turned away. With a deep breath, she continued. "Anyway, with that and the pomegranate juice you gave me, we were able to…and because you're a…vampire, the baby will not be..."

"Like human babies." He stood right behind her, but did not touch her. "Dr. Vining assures me the baby will not be…like you. He'll be normal, but he'll also have some special abilities. Vining says he won't be able to tell exactly what until…"

His hands were on her shoulders, drawing her against him, one arm sliding around her waist. His embrace was comforting and she didn't resist. "I never imagined I would…it's been so long."

She turned her head to meet his gaze. "You've had children?"

He nodded. "I buried those memories a long time ago."

She turned in his arms. "Tell me."

He closed his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them again, the bitterness tore at her. For a moment, she considered telling him she'd rather not know, when he began to speak.

"Obviously, I was still mortal at the time. I was considered well-off, though my assets were certainly not what they are today." He paused then, and smiled, almost to himself. Wanting to know more, she reached out with their link. His surprise jolted through her.

Go on. I want to know about your life.

His smile broadened. You delight me all the time, Kat. As I said, I was well-off, but once Rome was starting to lose control in various places, the battles began. It was a difficult time, but I was aligned with Falvius toward the north in Aquitania, what is now part of France, and we were successful in holding onto our realm for a time. A very brief time.

Tell me about your children. Did you have a wife?

He hesitated, and a tumble of thoughts assailed Katerina, an image of a fair young woman suddenly clear in her own mind. She had her answer. He'd been married. Granted it was almost two thousand years ago, but still…

"It was a long time ago. We were children when we wed, and our sons were born soon after." His voice was suddenly loud after their telepathic exchange.

"Sons?"

He nodded. "Gervais was the oldest, Simon the baby."

She smiled, as the images of two fair-haired boys materialized. His sons had looked like him, and she sensed his pride as he recalled them.

"They resembled you."

He smiled and nodded. "It's been a very long time since I thought of them."

She reached out and took his hand in hers, twining their fingers together. "Tell me what happened."

"It was a surprise. We had no idea anyone threatened us. They came in one night, and they destroyed everything."

Adrian's fingers tightened on hers, and she wriggled free, as the recalled anger came to him again. He turned away, letting the millennia-old memories wash over him. He could almost smell the burned homes and people, hear the cries for help, the pleas for mercy. He could see the fires, the mangled bodies of those he'd loved. His children, lifeless and cold, their bodies twisted and broken beneath the attackers' swords.

Behind him, Katerina gasped and he realized their link was still open. He blocked his thoughts from her and sensed her frustration. How odd, for once he was hiding from her?

"You shouldn't have seen that."

"I'm sorry." She choked on the words, and her arms came around him. "I didn't mean to make you remember, not that. Adrian, I can't imagine enduring such a terrible loss."

He smiled, and turned in her arms. Tears made her eyes liquid, and he pressed a kiss to her lips. That she felt such sorrow brought forth the recollection of the first night he'd ever seen her, when she'd been a child. Her magic enabled her to feel his pain.

"Kat, it's all right. It was a long time ago, and I no longer grieve for what is lost."

"But to lose a child! Both of them. Adrian, it bothers me more than I ever thought it could, simply because I know now losing my child would destroy me."

He shook his head. "I won't let that happen to you. I promise you will be safe."

"Yes, but Adrian, you have enemies. What if…"

He pressed a finger to her lips. He'd barely had time to adjust to the fact he was actually going to become a father, the many difficulties in raising a child had yet to be considered. "Don't trouble yourself with such worries."

"Your enemies killed your children before. What if…?"

He shook his head and held her closely. "It will not happen. After I avenged their deaths, I swore no one would ever take anything from me again."

"I hope you had them drawn and quartered."

He fought back a chuckle. Every so often, she displayed a ruthlessness which never failed to surprise, or please, him. The tigress in her called to the wolf in him.

"Did you?"

Her question drew him from his thoughts. "Did I what?"

"Have them drawn and quartered?"

He smiled at her unrelenting thirst for answers. But it was not what he wanted to dwell on, not now. "That is a tale for another time. You are tired, and I'm sure you need to rest."

"I feel fine. I want to know this. Please. Tell me."

He shook his head. "Tomorrow, perhaps." Tightening his embrace, he winked, and she gasped as he teleported them to his chamber.

"Adrian, I don't think we should…"

"Shhh. I just want to hold you tonight, Kat. Nothing more." Tears welled once more in her eyes and she nodded. He gave her a few moments to ready herself, and when she was settled in the bed, he slid in beside her, drawing her close. Tension made her stiff, and he caressed her back until she relaxed against him. After a few moments, her arms slid around his neck and she snuggled closer.

His mind whirled with all that had been revealed. The idea he had sired a child created a strange tangle of emotions he did not recognize. While he was proud Kat was going to bear his child, he didn't know if he wanted to be a father. His only experience with children had been so long ago, and what had led him to become what he now was. The agony of losing his sons had driven him nearly to madness. Being found by the vampire Antonus had given him the strength to go on. And when he had accepted his master's gift, he put his past behind him, once he destroyed those who had taken everything from him.

His grip on Katerina tightened, and the feel of her soft body against his calmed his growing anger. She had brought back these memories, and he had to face them now or he would never be a proper father to this new child. A new heir. He smiled. But as the image of a crying infant came to him, the smile faded.