Big Thank you to ... Elenemire, Whenifadeaway, NotSoSweet, and Chrissienuil. Here is the next chapter ... x
Hope you enjoy x
"I love you"
He whispered as he looked into her eyes, before turning and walking out the room.
The minute the door was shut she crumbled to her knees and cried.
Chapter Sixteen
She was trapped.
Nya tried to open her eyes but she couldn't.
Panic.
Panic, pure and all consuming flooded her.
She couldn't breathe. Pain assaulted her.
Where was she?
She tried to cry out, but her voice wouldn't carry. Please!
She cried as she felt the pain return to her, the pain the sun had caused her.
The stone was cold beneath her body and lacking any comfort or compassion for her pain. No! Not again!
She whimpered in the dark.
Alone and in pain.
Her heart stopped as she heard a door creep open, the metal scrapping along the stone tiles.
She froze in fear, before adrenaline began to pump through her. Her heart pounding aggressively as she cowered upon the floor.
She was trembling. So afraid.
Was Joseph back? Had he kidnapped her again?
She let out a cry as she felt someone shaking her, yelling at her.
Please don't hurt me! Please…. She sobbed as the movement only aggravated the pain of her burns. Making them rub and bleed more.
Someone was calling her name.
She shook her head refusing to listen. Go away!
"Nya!"
Nicholas?
She listened to the voice. Was it Nicholas? Had he come for her? Oh, please!
She tried to focus on the sound…
"Damn it, Nya. Wake up!"
Wake up? She focused on the strong grip on her shoulders. She recognized the touch for what it was; Nicholas.
Nya began to feel silk beneath her body not the harsh stone tiles as she drifted out of her nightmare.
Her eyes crept open, slowly, as she woke. She instantly saw Nicholas.
He looked like he was in pain. He looked distraught. Fear and concern where shining bright within his eyes.
Before she could ask him, if he was ok, he sighed in apparent relief and crushed her to his chest. So tight she could barely breathe.
"Nicholas? Your crushing me" She whined into his chest, only to have his grip tighten.
She wasn't truly complaining, after her nightmare, his hot body clutching her tightly made her feel safe and protected, as well as cherished. His heat soothing through the cold fear she had felt in her dream cell.
"Nya don't speak another word!" His hand reached up to fist in her hair as he rocked her back and forth in his arms. "You scared me" He whispered into her locks. She felt him inhale deeply, and knew he was inhaling her scent.
She closed her eyes at his words and snuggled into his heat and strength. Her nightmare had scared her too. It had felt so real. She had felt the wounds again, the fear and panic.
It was as if she was reliving it all over again. She shuddered at the memory of her dream.
"Don't think about it, baby" Nicholas' voice was so concerned she wanted to cry.
She listened to his heart pounding against her ear, his soft foreign words whispering absently into her hair as he rocked her in his arms. She felt so safe here. Safer than she had ever felt before. Her nightmare forgotten she allowed herself to slip back into her sleep.
Nicholas held Nya long after she had drifted back to sleep. He had awoken from the sleep of his people, to hear her screaming and trembling in apparent agony. Her hot, trembling body had been twisting and turning in the silk, her fists clenching it, as she screaming out. Begging, yelling for him as she cried out.
He had tried, desperately, to wake her, but had failed. He had pulled her hot, sweaty body into his arms as she trembled in fear and had shouted her name, over and over. Screaming for her with his mind.
Nothing had worked, he was panicking, her screams shattering his soul, until he was forced to try to physically rouse her from her sleep.
Shaking her, he yelled her name and searched for her with his mind.
He had no idea how she could be having a nightmare, most Carpathian shut completely down in sleep, and he had used a strong command with her, to get her to sleep.
Finally when her eyes had crept open, he had been so relieved he hadn't been able to stop himself crushing her to his chest as he tried to calm his racing heart, still pounding frantically with his fear.
How could she make him so strong and yet so weak?
He held her now, as he rocked her soothingly back and forth in his arms, as he felt the last rays of the sun leaving the darkening sky. He could feel the night coming, the hairs on the back of his neck seemed to prick up in anticipation.
Tonight, he was going to help his brothers hunt for Joseph or formulate a plan to draw him out of hiding. They hadn't thought he would be stupid enough to come after them, after they had defeated his accomplishes last time, but he did.
He came back for Nya.
Nicholas swallowed the lump in his throat as he remembered her torture, before clutching her tighter in his arms.
"Your crushing me again"
He listened to the soft voice that floated up to him from his chest and smiled as he savored the gift of having her.
Her voice was amused and dreamy at the same time. Lightening his mood instantly.
He purposely tightened his hold and enjoyed it when she whined.
She snuggled into the muscle of his chest and he grinned down at the sight. He loved that she seemed to enjoy sleeping with him. He could think of nothing better than nestling her close to his body, as she lay sleeping so peacefully.
Nicholas' grin turned wicked… well perhaps having her naked beneath him was a close rival.
"What were you thinking about just now? Because your heart just skipped a beat" Nya's head tilted up, so she could look at him from beneath her long lashes.
"You"
He watched the smile spread across her face, before she snuggled back into his chest. His heart flipped at the sight of her smile. He felt so content, so happy.
He couldn't ever remember feeling this way.
His whole world was in this room.
He would be happy to never come out.
Apart from his brothers and their families, Nya was all he cared for. All he would die to protect. He kissed along her golden locks as he breathed in her unique scent.
He suddenly felt her tense ever so slightly in his embrace, his brow furrowed as he waited to hear what was wrong.
"Nicholas? I wanted to thank you for earlier" He watched as she shuddered slightly at the memory of her dream "Thank you for waking me"
Her voice was so soft he barely heard her.
He kissed her hair again, as she began to relax back into his embrace.
"I will always come for you, Nya" He whispered as he ran his fingers through her hair. He loved it when the treads slid through his fingers.
He meant those words. It was a vow to her. He would always come for her. Wounded or near dead he would always run head long for her. Never would he leave her. Never.
"I know"
Nicholas closed his eyes as those few words warmed him. "Nicholas?"
"Nya?"
"We haven't really spoken about our relationship"
His stomach clenched as his entire body drew in a nervous breath at her words. He couldnt breath without her, he was certain. He woke thinking of her. Slept with her in his dreams. Craved her scent on his skin. He couldnt leave her. He never would. But did she feel the same?
He kept his eyes staring straight ahead out of the window, watching the night, as he waited for her words.
"Nicholas, I want to go to college"
Six words had never shattered him so badly. He almost shook with his emotions. She was going to leave him now.
He swallowed the lump in his throat before he spoke to her.
"Nya, you should do what would make you happiest" He had never uttered words that painful before. He would let her leave if it would make her happy. Even if it would kill him.
He cursed his lack of knowledge. If he knew how to pleasure a woman better, if he had more experience, maybe he could please her. Get her to stay.
He had thought he had pleased her sexually, but maybe he hadn't? He had no experience. He had felt her body shatter with pleasure, his name uttered with breathless passion, but maybe he hadn't pleased her? He had never felt so lost. He had always been in control and confident. But with handling a woman he had no experience what so ever.
He knew nothing of women. He had had limited contact with any of them. Most of the women he had meet, had been only after money and power, and he had used them for their blood, nothing more.
He should have studied them. Should have learnt how to please her.
Even as he thought it, he knew he never would have been able to touch another woman. He couldnt have touched them, as he would have seen it as a betrayal to his woman.
He felt her nod against him before she rubbed her hand over his chest, as if to find the most comfortable spot to lie her head.
He was still tense, the fear of her leaving was still heavy on his mind.
"What do you know about your father, Nya?" He felt her shrug against him, as she yawned.
"Not a lot. He and my mother weren't together long. There are no photos of him, and mum never spoke about him"
"I am sorry"
"Don't be, I cant miss what I never had. If he didn't want to be part of my life, its his loss. What about your father?"
"He died long ago. He was a good man. He taught me and my brothers to fight when we were small. He died when I was ten"
Nicholas recalled the day his father had died in battle.
They hadn't needed the letter to know. Their mother had broken down instantly, one minute she was smiling, the next she had trembled and broken down.
He remembered clearly, finding his mother shaking on the kitchen floor, overcome with grief, unable to hear his voice, as he had yelled to her.
She had killed herself the next morning, perishing with the rising sun.
He felt the pain of his parents loss, for the first time in centuries.
Thankfully the scent and feel of Nya soothed him, wiping away the pain of his past, replacing it with a future far brighter.
"I am so sorry" Her compassion evident in her voice touched him deeply.
"I don't know how to tell you this Nya, but my brother thinks he may know who your father is" He felt Nya tense in his arms.
"How?"
"His wife and you have similarities that point to you having the same father"
"His wife? What kind of similarities?" Her voice was no longer dreamy, and he wished he had chosen another time to discuss it, but he guessed there would never be the right time to talk about this. "Your eyes. Your gifts. Both are similar. Plus her father was also absent in her life"
He felt her relax again in his hold as if she was dismissing his idea.
"Just because we have green eyes and didn't have a father in our lives doesn't mean we are related"
"And your unique gift?"
She tensed once more, at the mention of her virtually untapped power.
"I'm not even sure what 'my gift' is" She was tracing circles on his chest, and he knew she was thinking about what all this could mean.
"I just wanted to tell you, to keep you informed. You and Colby may not be related but there is a strong possibility"
"Colby?"
He knew it wasn't a question, she was just trying the name on her lips. He could hear her thoughts clearly, thinking about her gift, and about the possibility of having a sister.
"Who do you think my father is?"
Nicholas tensed at the question, it wasn't going to be easy to answer.
"A man named Razvan"
He felt her nod against him. "Is he still alive?"
"We think so" Nicholas was sure he had heard rumors of him being in the Carpathian mountains causing trouble.
"Have you met him?"
"No, but I have heard about him"
"Through your brother" She nodded as if she guessed rightly.
"No, my brother has never met him. None of them have. He is known to the Carpathian people"
He could see her frown. "How?"
"He is…" Nicholas took a deep breath as he tried to think of the best way to tell her "He was a mage"
"Was a what?"
"Mage, like a magician"
Nya's laughter floated up to him, and he couldn't help but grin at the sound. "You are joking!"
"No, he was a mage"
She shook her head and laughed against him. "Was?"
"He became a vampire"
Nya's laughter died completely as she laid her head against him.
Her mind seemed cut off to him, so he stayed outside, giving her room to think.
He knew she was thinking of Joseph. He wished he had some words he could offer her to take away the pain, it caused her.
"And you think this … man is my father?"
"Possibly. Nya, look at me" He waited and when she wouldn't, he turned her and looked into her eyes "It doesn't change anything."
"How can it not change everything? If what your saying is true my dad is a monster, that would make me-"
"Beautiful and compassionate. A wonderful person, Nya. It doesn't change who you are"
He watched as she closed her eyes and breathed deeply as if to calm herself. When she nodded, he cradled her back to his chest.
"Tell me about your family" She asked, as she settled back into his arms.
"I have four other brothers. All now with life mates."
"Are their wives like you?"
"You mean like us. Yes, they are all Carpathian, although Maryann was a werewolf and Juliette was a Jaguar"
Nya instantly pulled back from Nicholas chest. "What!? Run that by me again!"
Nicholas grinned at her look of bewilderment, as she glared at him. "Nicholas you had better be teasing me!"
He shook his head, and ran his finger tip down her jaw, tracing the curve of soft skin.
"My dad may be a magician turned vampire. I could have a vampire step sister, and a werewolf and a jaguar person as sister in laws. Not to mention brother in laws who are vampires! What next? Bloody killer Gnomes!!"
Nicholas laughed at her, even as he felt instant relief when she referred to his brothers, as her brother in laws. It meant she saw them as a couple. He couldnt help but pull her closer to him, and kiss her hair, even as her words amused him.
"Nya, as far as I know there are no killer gnomes. Or any kind of gnome for that matter. And definitely none that are related to you"
"Your not funny Nicholas!" But even as she said it, he could see the amusement in her eyes.
"This is insane" She muttered as she cuddled against his chest again.
"This is our family, Nya" He whispered as he kissed her hair.
"What have you told them about me?" He felt the hidden compulsion in her voice, and knew she was desperate to hear the answer to this question, and that worried him.
"That we are together now" He didn't hesitate in his answer.
"What will they say when you tell them I am an exotic dancer?"
"I don't care"
"Well I would!"
She didn't mean to shout at him but it was true. She wouldn't feel comfortable. She would know what they would say about her. What they would think. She had been judged by too many people.
She didn't want that anymore.
She wanted to be someone she could be proud of. Someone she could feel comfortable being around others. It had been a long time since she felt good about herself.
"Nya, I don't care what anyone says. We are together now"
Nya felt her teeth clench as unwarranted anger ripped through her. She may not be happy working as a exotic dancer, but it was who she had been for a long time. She didnt like the way he seemed to be dragging her away to play the nice, little wife.
"And if I decide to continue working as a dancer?" She felt him tense with her words and growl ominously.
She didn't want to go back, but she would have to, to gain the last bit of money for college.
But she wouldn't be ashamed. She was who she was. She was a good dancer. Talented.
Ok, she didn't like the men leering at her, but she was good at her job. And she wasn't ashamed.
There was worse ways to make money. She had done worse. Much worse in the past.
"That wont be possible, Nya" She felt the malice and tension in every single word he uttered, and each felt like a dagger through her heart.
He was ashamed of her.
She pulled away from his chest, wrapping the silk around her body as she stood up and put some distance between them.
"Your ashamed of me" It wasn't truly a question.
She knew he was rich and well educated. A exotic dancer in the family would be shaming. He wouldn't want people to know it.
She clenched her teeth as tears gathered in her eyes. Tears she wouldn't let spill.
She had thought he had loved her, for her. But now, she was beginning to realise that wasn't true.
He was ashamed of her.
Just like everyone else was...
"Never, Nya!" He went to move to her side, but she put her hand up in warning, stopping him leaving the bed to come to her side.
"And if I go back to dancing?"
"That's not an option"
"Why?!" She yelled at him, as her emotions tore through her. Her mind was screaming... tell me! Tell me you'd be ashamed!
She knew it. He would be. His family would be.
"I wouldn't want other men looking upon you" His voice was guttural, his eyes intense.
"And you wouldn't want people to know" She whispered the words as her heart broke at the reality of them.
"Nya, this is ridiculous!" He snarled the words as he stormed off the bed, before stabbing his legs into some black jeans lying over a chair.
"Not to me!" Her hands where fisted white as she clutched the silk to her.
Was she being unreasonable? She couldn't think straight. The mere thought of losing him was driving her crazy.
Her emotions were beyond her control and right now she was afraid and so sad, she felt as if her heart was being split in two.
After all we have been through, please just say the words I need to hear... She pleaded with her eyes, as she watched him pace up and down the room. His hand roughly pushing his hair from his face.
"Nya" She watched as he sighed and turned to face her "Nya, I -" He was interrupted by a knock on the door, before it crept open, to show the pretty red haired woman, Nya had seen before.
"Oh, I'm sorry" The woman blushed before diverting her eyes from Nya, who stood clutching the silk to her body.
"Colby what is it?!" Nicholas's voice was harsh and angry as he yelled at the woman in the door way.
Colby? Nya stared at the woman in the doorway. So this was Colby.
She looked at the woman closely. They had similarities. But not enough to concrete Nicholas's belief that they where related.
A part of her seemed to burst with emotion as she looked upon her, this could be my sister!
Nya was pulled back into the events in the room, as she saw the annoyance flash in Colby's eyes, and was amazed she answered so pleasantly.
"Your brothers are waiting in the study for you. I came to see how Nya was doing"
"She is fine, now leave us!" Nya bristled at the anger in Nicholas's voice.
If she was Colby he would be on the receiving end of a slap. There was no reason to take this out on her!
"She can speak for herself!" She yelled.
Nicholas nodded at her, before growling and pacing the room again. Colby seemed to look upon her with respect, as well as a quirked eyebrow.
"I'm glad I'm not the only one with a temper around here" Colby smiled at her, a friendly, warm smile that made Nya wish she could have someone like this as family. But Nya had learned long ago she would never have a normal loving family. "How are you?"
Nya nodded as she tried to gain control of her emotions. "I'm fine, thank you"
"I'm glad. We were worried about you for a while"
Nya nearly cried at those words. They had worried about her?
She knew she wouldn't be able to speak with her turbulent emotions, so nodded and smiled instead.
She watched as the door was slowly clicked to a close.
The emotions in the room were still running high.
Her eyes bore into Nicholas's back.
Turn around and tell me your not ashamed! Please... She knew he couldn't hear her, she had blocked him from her mind. But she was so desperate for him to do it.
"Nya, I'm sorry I spoke for you" His voice was quiet, and she felt guilty for snapping at him. But her emotions where out of control at the moment, and she didn't understand any of them.
"Nicholas, I-"
"Nya, I have to go" Nicholas interrupted as he walked towards the door. Her heart sank as she watched him walk towards it.
Stop. Turn around and tell me your not ashamed!
His hand brushed the door and she watched as he hesitated. Do it now!
Her heart flew as she watched him turn and stride towards her, he looked hesitant and almost afraid, as he approached her.
He stood so close, she could feel the warmth of his body through the silk sheet.
Leaning towards her he placed a chaste kiss upon her cheek.
"I love you" He whispered as he looked into her eyes, before turning and walking out the room.
The minute the door was shut she crumbled to her knees and cried.
Thank you so much for reading. I hope you liked it.
All reviews welcome :) :)
Take care
x emmalisa x