Chapter 3
"Who are you and why are you here?"
Lucas' emerald-colored gaze pierced hers, waiting.
"You're not very nice," she said, and with a wave of her hand, signaled Missy to answer for her.
Missy nodded. "Lucas, her name is Riley, and she's an elder."
"A vampire elder? Like your father?"
"I don't know who her father is but I can guarantee you that her father is much younger than I am."
"Like one thousand years old?" Maya asked.
"I like you. You're nice. Unfortunately, I'm much older than that."
"Your Grace, why are you here?" Missy asked.
Riley rolled her eyes, "Please. Riley will do. But tell me Missy Beaufort, why do you have the Isis Charm?"
All eyes turned to Missy, she explained how her father had removed the pendant from its hiding place. Every fifty years the amulet had to be used or its powers waned. Marcus used the Isis charm to help an ailing member of their vampire clan and afterward, Ian 'borrowed' the charm.
Tension knotted Missy's stomach. "Ian said he wanted to wish me into mating him. But that's not why I stole it."
"Not reason enough?" Lucas asked.
"The charm only grants each person one wish. He wanted to destroy all werewolves because he hates them I think he wanted that more than he wanted to mate me."
'Killing off an entire race? He bluffed," Zay asserted.
'I caught him saying the words and stopped him."
Lucas cursed softly. Missy pushed at her hair.
"You know how dangerous, and determined, he is. You must find a way to keep the charm safe."
He flashed Missy a mocking smile. "I'm no superman, or superwolf. Why me?"
"Because you're the only one I can trust," Missy burst out. "Everyone else I know is always out for themselves. You were the only one there for me when I really needed you. I need you now, Lucas."
Lucas approached until he stood barely a foot away. Missy inhaled his delicious scent of pine and leather. Lucas trailed a finger over her cheek.
"You asked me once for a favor, and look what happened," he murmured. "Are you so certain I'm the right choice again?"
…..
Riley closed her eyes. One hundred years ago, and yet the moment was still vivid, Missy was 17, sitting on the ceremonial bed prior to the Blood Rite. Another vampire had been chosen to be the first to take her blood. The thought terrified Missy. Alone with Lucas, who'd stopped by to wish her well, she'd begged him to be her first.
Lucas had been gentle, his tongue lapping over her skin in soothing caresses. His bite was piercing and erotic. Pleasure escalated until they tore at each other's clothing. Missy had taken his blood and surrendered her virginity. When the clan arrived for the ceremony, the intended vampire had nearly torn Lucas' head off. He had convinced her father that Missy was ruined by mixed blood.
Riley's eyes opened. She studied the two ex–lover. As a powerful elder Riley can tap into any vampire's thoughts. She can see and feel their emotions, past and present. What she felt from Lucas' emotions startled her. He has the passion she'd been longing for. Riley felt sadness like she's never felt before. She found passion and yet it already belonged to someone else.
Missy looked at Riley. "My apologies, I didn't mean to invade your privacy."
"This does not concern you, your Grace."
"You fear me and at the same time you dislike me."
Riley wanted to ask Missy what is troubling her when she felt another shift in the air. Something dark is hovering close by and her cloak is thinning. The hunger is weakening her. She can survive without blood for weeks but she won't be able to use her powers. Missy is right, this does not concern her. Yet, as she looked at the werewolves and the Halfling, a strong feeling of protectiveness engulfed her.
"There are forces outside that wants blood," Riley murmured.
"Ian has found me," Missy continued softly, "he wants the Isis charm."
Missy pressed her hand to her forehead. Warm, strong hands caught hers.
"I won't let him come near you," Lucas said.
Riley looked up into Lucas' face. How beautiful it was. In that moment Riley felt passion. It was hers. She's not feeding off from someone else's emotion. There is something else she's feeling. Annoyance, perhaps anger. She feels anger towards Missy.
Lucas looked at Riley. He saw the light in her eyes and something inside him stirred. Her gaze was clear, certain and bright with hope. How can an elder vampire with so much power emanate hope? Vampires are children of darkness. He should know. He's half vampire.
He looked into Riley's face again. Her eyes were still dreamy, still fixed on him as if she saw in him her only salvation. A shiver of entirely irrational excitement—or fear—left him paralyzed.
"Lucas," Missy said in a flat voice, "we need to get away from here."
Riley stood before Missy, chin lifted, cool brown eyes appraising, "Where would you go?" she asked.
"It really is none of your business is it your Grace?" Missy asked.
"What happens to Lucas is our business batgirl." Maya said.
Riley chuckled, a warm, rich sound that Lucas felt down to his toes.
"Dogs are not included in this conversation," Missy hissed.
The humor vanished from Riley's face. "Thread carefully," she said.
Riley cannot ignore insults towards another being. With calm authority that Riley could only wish she truly felt at the moment, she addressed Missy, "It's a simple enough question, straight forward answer will do Miss Beaufort."
"My apology, your Grace. I came to Lucas for help. Given the history we share, I trust that he will keep me and the Isis charm from harm. Perhaps, the fewer people involve, the better it is will be for me."
Now Missy is mocking her. "In former days," Riley said, "insolence would not be tolerated and the one who committed it would have been put in their place." Riley's throat closed and she almost looked away. No. She would not let Missy claim victory in this engagement. She's an elder damn it!
"I beg your pardon, Your Grace."
Riley considered that Missy might actually be sincere in her apology, she almost looked contrite.
But I see it, Riley thought. You do not believe me. You think, like the rest, that I am weak.
They were wrong, all of them. She's powerful. Very powerful if she choose it. But there is more to power. There is more to Riley than just being an elder vampire.
Riley chanced a look at Lucas. Why should I care for his opinion of me? Why—
"Well I like you." Maya took Riley's arm, an impertinence that Riley was too startled to correct. "She stays with us."
"Maya," Lucas said.
"What?! She's very pretty, nice and powerful. What's not to like?"
Lucas flushed. Maya knew she caught her brother out. She knows Lucas. Riley definitely caught his attention. Maya never cared about vampires, but Riley is different. She has a good feeling about her.
…..
Lucas is in a fickle. Maya went to show Missy where she can stay for the night. The elder vampire politely declined their offer for her to stay. Left with Riley, Lucas can't help but notice the fact that she was absolutely stunning. A goddess.
Considering she was an elder, maybe that wasn't so far from the truth; in the vampire world, the elders were like gods.
From the corner of his eye, Lucas took in all of her. The black leather she wore looked as if it were painted on the womanly curves of her body. Her long shiny, wavy brown hair was a shock of dark against the ivory of her skin. She was something to behold, he realized, Riley was like the light of the sun to Missy's dark night. Fun to Missy's fear since, despite his earlier denial, on some level he was afraid of what Missy's return can bring about.
Riley could take his life with a flick of her finger. He would be foolish not to respect her and yet…
There was something different about her. Something almost…human.
He liked his women tall, Lucas realized, recalling Missy. Riley was of similar height, actually taller than Missy, but much more womanly with all those delectable curves.
Not that he was interested, Lucas thought. He had enough problems with women in his life, and without a backward glance, abandoned Riley to Zay's company.
Lucas went to the kitchen to grab a drink and wondered why Riley bothers him more than the unexpected arrival of Missy.
He gulped, fighting the thrum of power Riley was releasing as she spoke with Zay. He wasn't the only one feeling it. He realized as he walked back in the room, Zay is also experiencing it. Both Lucas and Zay are tapping into the spill of her elder power. Only Lucas knows that the price to be paid for fully experiencing a kiss of that power could be lethal if the elder was so inclined. Lucas signaled Zay to leave.
All the time, Riley kept her gaze locked with Lucas, clearly conscious of her effect on him. She began to head his way, and Lord help him, Lucas wants nothing more than to kiss her right now knowing it would be a mistake. A major mistake.
Her kind are known for their cruelty. There's only two things elder vampires value, blood and power. Riley could never love anyone.
But love was highly overrated anyway, wasn't it? Lucas thought as he rose from the stool and walked toward her.
Lucas approached and, despite his better judgment, laid his hand over Riley's. Barely a foot taller than she, it took little for him to bend down and whisper in her ear, "You're projecting."
Riley shot him a look, but beneath his hand, the hum of power surging outward warmed his palm. "We can feel your essence—"
"I'm not doing anything," she corrected.
"You are doing something. You have to stop," he urged, and surprisingly she did as he asked.
"I'm sorry, I didn't even know I was doing anything," she said, and was about to walk away when Lucas raised his hand.
He caught her slim wrist in his fingers. "Riley, when did you last feed?" He didn't mean to make his voice so rough, but habit, and old protective feelings, died hard.
Riley glanced away. "I was in a hurry."
Lucas frowned and squinted. "When?"
"Couple of days ago. I think."
He swore under his breath. "You have to feed."
Something flickered in her eyes. She put a hand to her throat.
"We're heading out to find you a decent meal."
Riley ground to a halt. "I can't," she whispered so soft it was barely audible.
"Austin has lots of tourists. Most of them tanked up, so if your preference is nonalcoholic, we can head over to the hotels…"
"I can't. Thank you for the offer but I really can't," she said in a low voice. "Besides, don't you feel it?"
Every cell screamed a warning as Lucas scented the air. It felt tainted and thick with foreboding.
Riley looked over her shoulder. "I sense something out there. It's making me edgy and as you saw earlier my power wants to break free. I'm sorry, but I can't risk endangering you or anyone else."
He grabbed her arm. "You need to feed."
Riley stared at the street. Lucas' guts tightened.
"Chère, what do you want me to do?" Lucas' heart lurched at the stark hunger in her expression.
"It's okay, Lucas. I can survive without blood longer than the other vampires. I just can't feed from strangers right now."
Hunger pulled at her, as if someone were wringing her stomach like wet laundry. Fangs elongated in her mouth, ready to pierce and take.
Silence dripped between them, "Take my blood."
Yup. Another chapter...please be kind and leave your comments and or review. Some of you may be wondering why I'm asking for your comments when this is not a new story, well to answer, I want feedbacks, yes it's not new but as mentioned I did make some changes and as a writer I want to know if I made an improvement or not. Till next time.