Chapter Twelve #2
In the afternoon, they made their way to Hever Castle in Kent, former home of Anne Boleyn, infamous queen of Henry VIII.
They arrived in the castle forecourt just in time to meet King Henry and his queen and a few of their loyal foot soldiers.
A little vampire magic got them to the front of the procession, right behind the king and queen as they made their way to the event field.
There was fanfare and applause as the king and queen took their seats.
It was easy to imagine she was back in days of old when knights were bold, Kadie mused.
The banners snapping in the breeze, the colorful costumes, the pageantry, the shouts of the crowd.
It reminded her of A Knight’s Tale, one of her favorite movies.
The next hour was the most thrilling Kadie had ever known as she watched armored knights in action, performing amazing stunts and falls and sword fights.
The jousts were her favorite part. The horses were beautiful, the contests exciting.
How she wished she could have seen Rylan in action! He must have been magnificent.
She glanced his way when he tapped her on the shoulder.
“I’ll be right back,” he said.
“Where are you going?”
“Nature calls,” he whispered with a wink.
“Ah,” she said, and turned back to the games.
Kadie was wondering what was taking him so long when one of the knights in the next event drew her gaze. “I don’t believe it,” she murmured. But it was true.
Clad all in black, Rylan sat astride a prancing white horse, lance in hand.
He smiled at her as he took his place at the lists.
Her heart beat fast as the flag dropped.
His horse reared, forelegs pawing the air before man and beast charged forward to the cheers of the crowd.
She had no doubt who would win the match.
Standing up, she cheered for her hero as he met his opponent and unseated him. She was still smiling when he returned to his seat. “How did you get on the program?”
“Just a little vampire magic, darlin’.”
“You read my mind, didn’t you?”
He shrugged.
“Well, you were just as magnificent as I knew you would be!” she declared, and kissed him soundly.
She hated to see the show end.
“I’m glad you had a good time,” Saintcrow said as they strolled back to the castle forecourt.
“I could almost believe we were in the past,” Kadie said. “The sights, the sounds. Were you ever defeated in the lists?”
“Of course not.”
“I’m serious!”
“Once,” he admitted. “But I beat him the next time we met.”
She smiled up at him. He was truly the most remarkable man she had ever known.
“Do you want to spend the night in the hotel or go home?” he asked.
“Home. I want to sleep in our bed.”
“And make love to your husband?”
“Maybe.”
“Maybe?” he growled.
But she only laughed as she stuck her tongue out at him and willed herself to their lair.
He was right behind her. She had no sooner materialized in the living room than she was lying naked beneath a fully aroused male in front of a roaring fire. “I love you,” she whispered.
“I know.”
“Quoting Star Wars now?”
He laughed softly.
And then all thought of Jedi’s fled her mind as he began a slow exploration of her body, his hands and lips teasing and caressing until she was hotter than the hearth fire. She clutched his shoulders, wanting him to be closer, closer.
“Now,” she begged, and let out a gasp as he buried himself deep inside her, sending shockwaves of sensual pleasure through every fiber of her being.
~ * ~
It was hours until dawn when Saintcrow woke abruptly, overcome with a sudden urge to hunt.
He’d been feeling pretty good the last few days and had harbored a secret hope that whatever had been plaguing him was losing its power.
But now, staring into the darkness, he felt the hunger rise within him, an overpowering need to exert his power, to drink until he was drunk on human blood.
To plunge his fangs into a mortal’s throat and feel the life slowly drain out of him.
..The depths of his need, the urgency, scared the hell out of him.
Slipping, out of bed, he padded naked up the stairs to the living room where he paced the floor.
And then, feeling the need to be surrounded by the night, he stepped outside.
Morgan Creek lay dark and quiet below. Nothing moved save a lone coyote prowling the empty streets.
Another predator, he mused, hunting for prey.
He licked his lips at the thought of fresh, warm blood flowing over his tongue, the music of a frightened mortal heart beating a wild tattoo, the scent of fear in the air.
Predator.
“Rylan?”
Kadie’s voice. He turned his back toward her, not wanting her to see his face which would surely betray his thoughts.
“Rylan, come back to bed.”
“Later.”
She placed a tentative hand on his shoulder, felt his whole body stiffen at her touch. She could sense the blood lust pounding within him. People would die this night if she couldn’t get him inside. She closed her eyes. She had been so sure he was getting better....
“Kadie, go to bed.” His voice quivered with his effort to stay calm, afraid if he lost control now, he might hurt her.
“Not without you. You can fight this, Rylan. You’re strong, stronger and more powerful than anyone or anything. I know you can fight this if you want to. Please, love, do it for me.”
He clenched his hands into tight fists. “Keep talking.”
“I love you. You know that. You were so wonderful today at the tournament. My knight, my hero. I was so proud of you. Would it help if we...” Her voice trailed off. She had been about to suggest they shift into wolf form and go hunting, but perhaps that wasn’t a good idea just now.
He was reading her mind again, she thought, as a black wolf suddenly appeared where he had been standing.
With a smile, she shed her human form and followed him down the stairs and around the house to the narrow path that led up into the hills behind the town.
She knew immediately it had been the right thing to do.
She felt the tension drain out of him as they ran effortlessly through the thick brush, jumping over rocks and fallen trees, padding across a narrow stream.
He caught a fish and swallowed it whole, and then they were running again.
They ran for miles until he flushed a jackrabbit. He caught the critter in his powerful jaws and broke its neck. Sitting on his haunches, he indicated she should go first, but she shook her head. It’s your kill. You take it. I can find my own.
With a wolfish grin, he devoured the rabbit in a couple of bites.
Kadie watched curiously, wondering why he could eat meat in wolf form but not as a vampire. She rarely dined on wildlife. When he finished, she licked the blood from his muzzle. And, with a toss of his head, they were off again.
The sun was peeking over the mountains when they returned home. They showered together, a long slow shower as they took turns washing and then drying each other. Kadie was utterly content as she slid into bed beside him and fell asleep, wrapped in his arms.
~ * ~
Saintcrow muttered an oath when his cell phone rang. Disentangling himself from Kadie’s arms, he rolled over and picked up his phone. “What?”
“She contacted me again.”
Saintcrow jackknifed into a sitting position. “Elowynne?”
“None other.”
“What did she say?”
“She asked if I knew where you were. I said I wasn’t sure.”
“Dammit, Izabela, you should have told her.”
“Temper, temper, vampire.”
He muttered an apology. “On second thought, maybe you were right not to tell her. I don’t want her coming to Morgan Creek. Can we meet at your place?”
“Are you prepared to pay the price?”
He huffed a sigh. “Between you and Alara, I’m surprised I have any blood left.”
“I’ll let you know when,” Izabela said. Her amused laughter sounded in his ear as she ended the call.
Slipping out of bed, Saintcrow padded upstairs and contacted Oriana who agreed to meet him at the bridge in twenty minutes and give him a little more of her blood.
Kadie was awake when he returned to the bedroom. “What’s going on?”
“Izabela heard from Elowynne. She’s going to arrange a meeting at her house.”
“And?”
“And Oriana has agreed to share her blood with me again. I’m going to meet her at the bridge in twenty minutes.”
“The bridge?” she asked, sitting up.
Saintcrow shrugged. “It won’t take long.”
“Why didn’t you ask her to come here?”
“You seemed uncomfortable watching me drink from her the last time.”
“Maybe I was. But she’s helping you and I don’t have a problem with that.”
“I love you,” he said, brushing a kiss across her lips. “I have to get dressed.”
“Good idea,” Kadie remarked as she ran her gaze over him, admiring the sheer beauty of the man from his broad shoulders to his long muscular legs and everything in between.
With a shake of his head, Saintcrow pulled on his briefs, jeans, and a shirt, gave her a long, long kiss, before he left the house.
~ * ~
Saintcrow whistled softly when he saw the vampire waiting for him on the bridge.
Oriana wore a long fur coat over a sparkling silver gown that fit like a second skin.
The skirt was slit up the side to mid-thigh, revealing a slender leg and a pair of three-inch silver heels.
A diamond necklace glittered in the moonlight.
“Thank you,” she said.
“Are you coming from a party or on your way to one?”
“On my way, as a matter of fact Would you like to come with me?” she asked in a deep, sultry voice.
“I don’t think Kadie would like that.”
“Then don’t tell her.”
Saintcrow shook his head. Damn, she was as sexy as hell. An indrawn breath carried the scent of her desire.
“Why did we never make love?” she asked.
“I don’t know,” he said, with a shrug. “I guess the timing was never right.”
“It’s not too late,” she purred, with a come-hither smile.
“I’m afraid it’s no longer an option on my part.”
“You always were an honorable man, Rylan Saintcrow. It’s one of the reasons I’ve always admired you.” Oriana blew out a sigh of regret as she peeled off the fur coat and let it fall to the ground. “Take what you need, old friend.”
The gown was strapless, which gave him easy access to her throat.
She smelled of expensive soap and perfume.
He bit her as gently as he could, his eyes closing in something near ecstasy as her warm, ancient blood slid smoothly over his tongue and down his throat.
He could feel it moving through him, making him feel like himself again.
Perhaps, if they couldn’t find a cure for his problem, he could arrange to drink from her regularly.
He wondered if the blood of the other ancients would work as well.
With a sigh, he ran his tongue over the twin wounds in her neck. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
Retrieving her coat, he held it for her.
“Your wife is a lucky woman,” Oriana remarked.
“I’m the lucky one,” he replied. “Have a good time tonight.”
“Oh, I will!” Oriana said as she pulled the fur around her shoulders.
And then she paused. “Though it’s hard to believe, I heard someone mention a vampire even older than you are.
It was so far-fetched, I’d decided not to mention it.
Personally, I’d always thought this mysterious vampire was just a myth, but when I mentioned her to an acquaintance of mine, she insisted she’s real and claimed that she lived in Cleopatra’s time. ”
“No shit! What’s this mysterious vampire’s name and how is it that I’ve never heard of her?”
Oriana shrugged. “I have no idea. What always made me doubt the story is that she’s supposed to have lost her powers, regained her humanity, and then had a child. Sometime later, she asked her centuries-old lover to make her a vampire again. It’s said she’s as powerful today as she ever was.”
“Sounds pretty far-fetched,” Saintcrow agreed. “Does your acquaintance know where to find her?”
Oriana shook her head. “I don’t know. I’ll ask if and when I see her again.”
Saintcrow nodded. Blood that old would be powerful indeed. “If you hear any more about this mystery vampire, you’ll let me know?”
“Of course.” And with a wave of her hand, she was gone.
“You can come out now,” Saintcrow said.
Looking chagrined, Kadie materialized at the other end of the bridge.
“Spying on me?” he asked as he walked toward her.
“There doesn’t seem to be any point in denying it, does there?”
“Not much.” Reaching out, he pulled her into his arms. “Kadie, what am I going to do with you?”
“I’m sorry. But you can’t blame me for being jealous, watching you drink from a beautiful woman. Knowing she’s giving you pleasure.”
With a rueful shake of his head, he covered her mouth with his, his tongue teasing her lips, then slipping inside to taste her sweetness. “I love you, Kadie Saintcrow. No one but you. Surely, after all these years, you believe that.”
“I do,” she said. “Honest. But, Rylan, you’re so gorgeous. It drives me crazy, knowing every woman who sees you wants you.”
“Ah, darlin’, I don’t want any of them.”
“I know. I’m just a jealous fool.”
“True,” he said, with a laugh. “And I wouldn’t have you any other way.” Still holding her in his arms, he transported them back to their lair and showed her, one more time, just how very much he loved her.