Chapter 59 Karson
Karson
Out of the corner of his eye, Karson watched them dance.
Watched his hands on her back, watched the way he smiled at her.
If it had been anyone other than Ethan, Karson would tear his hands off at the wrist. Ethan protected her like she was his and Karson appreciated him for it.
They were good friends. But that didn’t stop a physical response from occurring as he watched them—his heart sinking, twisting, then rising again, a maddening churning in his chest. He wanted that, to be able to hold her in public, to whisper in her ear, to teach her to dance.
These tendrils of thoughts rose from the dark and rushed through him with lightning speed.
It was a dangerous notion to love her openly.
To allow himself to be loved openly. If the world knew of his love for her, she’d be in more danger than she was already.
And he hated himself for it. The weight of Amelia’s immortality crushed the life from his lungs.
While ever she wore his necklace with the protection symbol engraved around the stone, the vampires wouldn’t touch her.
She didn’t know it had hidden meaning. Her eyes had sparkled so brightly when he’d given it to her, he didn’t want to tell her why he’d had it made, didn’t want to see the light dim in those emerald eyes.
Besides, it was the least of the secrets he kept from her.
And it would keep her safe. Scarring her neck would keep her safer.
But there would be witches with grudges against him who didn’t adhere to the same rules and values vampires did.
Turning her would make her safer still.
“Karson?” Jacque said, and Karson realized he’d been speaking to him.
“Sorry, what were you saying?”
“I know you have history, but it is good to see witches and vampires willing to keep the peace.” They both scanned the room.
There were barely any witches here, only the young, or those who didn’t have much magic or the knowledge of the long war between them.
Most patrons were human and there was a good number of vampires.
“The humans have been restless and I’m worried there might be trouble.
There were a dozen men slaughtered these last few days.
They think it’s the work of vampires,” he said gravely, shaking his head.
“It was,” Karson replied casually.
Jacque’s eyes widened. “How do you know?”
“Because it was me.”
Jacque stilled. “Why for the love of Paris would you do that? If the humans take revenge …”
His friend looked so distraught Karson smiled. “You really should start using technology, Jacque. The humans are cheering that the child abusers and pedophiles are dead.”
Jacque dabbed at sweat that wasn’t on his forehead with a white hanky. A habit from his human days he’d never let go of. “The police most definitely are not pleased, if the visit I had today was any indication.”
Karson patted his shoulder. “Publicly, they may not be. They must be seen doing the right thing. Privately is another matter. Besides, humans are not stupid. If they start a war on vampires, they will lose.”
Jacque tucked the hanky in his pocket. “Unless they team up with the witches?”
“You worry too much. Neither witch nor human can defeat us. We keep the peace to keep them safe, it is not the other way around.”
“And if vampire turns on vampire?” he said, a clip to his tone.
Like Gerald, as the owner of a night establishment, Jacque would be aware of the happenings in the town. He’d probably heard of the vampires Karson had slain and didn’t believe witches did it. Probably even knew he hunted for Sarah.
Karson didn’t answer. He lifted the glass to his lips and took a sip, his eyes flicking back to Amelia. She was laughing at something Ethan said and the whole room lit up.
Jacque leaned closer and murmured, “Rodney has been asking a lot of questions.”
Rodney was the keeper of vampire laws; he was the judge and his crew the executioners when it was required. It was not a surprise that he was asking questions.
“He’s particularly interested in a girl, so I’ve been told. A girl that is residing with you.”
Karson bristled, something akin to panic flickering in his chest, but he kept his body relaxed. Was Rodney trying to find out who Amelia was? If he was interested, he would stop at nothing to get all the answers. Answers that would crush Amelia.
Truths he’d kept buried to keep her safe. Secrets that were slithers of rain in an ocean compared to the depth of love they had found.
And yet, each one had the power to drown her. Drown him.
No, he shook the thought away. No one could find out. Rodney might be the king of laws, but Karson was the king of vampires for a reason.
“That’s true, I have been asking questions.” Rodney sidled up behind them, making Jacque flinch. Jacque was lethal when he was forced to be, but he abhorred violence. Unlike Rodney, who reveled in the power he had. “I was scouring town trying to find a certain runaway.”
A breath of relief fluttered from Karson’s lips before he could stop it. Rodney didn’t notice, he was too busy staring at Georgie dancing with Josh. “It turns out some women are immune to Karson’s charms.”
“I struggle to believe that to be true.” Jacque’s teeth flashed. “I take it you found her?”
“Of course.”
“Jacque.” An attractive redhead rushed over.
She was human, the scent of her blood, like nectar, drifted to his nose.
She leaned in and murmured in his ear, “We have a little issue in one of the relax rooms. A couple of vampires have fed on humans until they passed out, and one is not in a great way.”
Jacque lifted his eyes to the heavens. “For the love of creation, where’s security?”
She grimaced. “Busy with another small hiccup.”
“Excuse me, gentlemen.” Jacque inclined his head in a show of respect. “I have a few vampires who are about to have my boot firmly up their sorry asses.”
Karson chuckled, watching as Jacque strode across the room, the redhead scurrying after him.
Amelia wobbled as Ethan spun her, and he fought back a smile. Envy pinched beneath his ribs. He yearned to be the one to spin her, to hold her in his arms, to come together like the tune and verse of the song.
“You know, if you keep staring at her like that, the whole room is going to think you care for the witch.”
Until Rodney spoke, Karson didn’t realize he was lost in the vision of her. His gut twisted, but he kept his tone smooth as he dragged his gaze away. “There is little point pretending to care about her if she does not believe it to be true.”
A slither of rain.
Rodney took a sip of whiskey. “What do you need her for?”
The last thing he wanted was for Rodney to start digging.
He needed to shut him down now. “You are one of my oldest and most trusted friends, and you will find out if and when you need to. Until that time, you should trust that everything I do is for a valid reason and is for our species,” he replied, a flare of warning in his tone.
“Or do you forget I am king and it is I who gave you your position of power and could just as easily take it away?”
It was a low blow and it struck. Rodney’s jaw hardened. “I do not forget, but you seem to forget I am on your side and only want to help you.”
“I do not need help with a mere witch.” Karson retreated a little, forcing a smile. “And I can assure you, you will be the first I will ask if I do.”
“It would be my pleasure to assist you.” Rodney bobbed his head. “Your command is mine to follow and I will ensure others do the same.”
As he said them, the words stormed through his mind, coming to life inside him. Slotting back into place like long-forgotten pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.
The humans had the numbers, but they were weak.
Witches had their tricks, but they were not immortal.
Vampires, however, were immortal and lethal.
Firstborns were able to turn many more to their side, and while they usually respected each other’s space and stayed apart, they would come together if need be.
He was the king of vampires, for God’s sake. The most lethal of them all. No one, not witch, not human, would control what he did. No one told him what to do. They would not keep him from the woman he loved.
Loved.
With every beat of his cracked, hardened and deceitful heart.
His eyes tracked to Amelia. “Excuse me, Rodney, I have a certain witch I need to convince I care about.”
As he stalked toward her, he felt like it was pouring.