Dark Nights Read online

  Traian buried his face in her neck and breathed her in. It was early for him to rise, but he had to see her before he went hunting. He had been handed an unexpected miracle and he wasn’t about to lose her. “I used to think the word ‘forever’ was the worst word in any language. And now, I cannot imagine enough time with you.”

  “I feel the same way,” Joie admitted.

  His shifted her in his arms, pressed her body to the length of his. “Never go away,” he whispered in her ear. “Never leave me to face the endless years alone again.”

  Joie brushed back the long silk of his hair, framed his face with her hands, and stared up at him—at the lines etched into his beautiful masculine features, put there by battles and years of knowledge of foul things walking the earth. Put there by sheer loneliness. “I want you always, Traian. We’ll find our way together.”

  She shattered his heart so easily with her complete conviction. She had confidence in herself and in him.

  “I should have really made you understand about our children and what our women have to go through in trying to have a baby. It has taken a toll on them—one miscarriage after another or carrying the child and loosing it that first year. It is so hard on a mother.” He shook his head. “I know I am asking so much of you, Joie, and when I think too much about it, it breaks my heart to think of you going through that same emotional loss.”

  “I wouldn’t be going through the loss of a child alone, Traian. If I get pregnant, I believe you would feel the same sense of loss. We’d be in it together.”

  “I don’t want that kind of pain for you.”

  She smiled at him. “I can feel that you genuinely don’t, but no one can predict what is going to happen in the future, not even an all-powerful Carpathian. Because your prince’s wife miscarried, as sad as that is, doesn’t mean I will if we are lucky enough to become pregnant.”

  “I will be more careful in the future to explain details to you, so you know what you are getting into,” he promised.

  He leaned toward her, kissing her gently, with exquisite tenderness, with the overwhelming love in his heart that he couldn’t quite put into words but tried to show by worshiping her with his body. He kissed her over and over, long, slow kisses, his body locked deep inside hers, his hands tunneling in her thick hair. His mouth roamed over her throat, down to her breast, and found her heart unerringly.

  Joie felt the swirl of his tongue, and her heart leapt in anticipation. Her body tightened around his. White-hot pain lanced through her, and then gave way immediately to pleasure. She cradled his head to her while he fed, while his body moved slowly and erotically deep within her. The sensation was unlike anything she’d ever experienced. He was in his body, in her mind, filling every empty space with—him while he took her blood, bringing her ever closer to his world.

  She writhed helplessly beneath him, arching her hips up to meet him, her breasts aching and full with need. When his hand cupped the weight of one breast, his thumb sliding over the taut peak of her nipple, she pressed his head closer to her, offering more—offering everything she was to him.

  Joie could hear her heart picking up the exact same rhythm of his. Her blood pounded in her veins, rushing toward him, hot and carrying the very scent and taste of her to him, matching the hammering beat of his blood. It should have been frightening, even disgusting, having him take her blood, but for her, the act was sensual.

  Traian closed his eyes, savoring the taste of her, the craving for her growing as power and energy rushed through his body, soaking into every cell, sinew, and bone, filling him up with such strength he knew she completed him. She’d given him so much just by being born, being in his world, surrendering herself to save him. The gift was a miracle to him.

  He swept his tongue across the pinpricks, tasted the temptation of her breast before finding her mouth to share the taste of their life’s essence. He took his time, his tongue thoroughly exploring her mouth, teasing and dancing and mating with hers.

  “Come into my world, Joie. Another step closer,” he murmured in his dark, mesmerizing voice, a seductive invitation, she couldn’t possibly resist—nor did she want to.

  This time she was locked in a dreamy haze, aware of his body’s sensations as she moved restlessly, wantonly under him. As her mouth moved against his chest, taking his precious gift, his fingers stroked her throat, her breast, keeping the intimacy between them sensual, as well as helping her to feed. His body thickened inside her, moved with greater force and purpose. She felt the now familiar flames, hot and white and pure, burning in his veins, pulsing through him even as they crackled with life, pulsing through her.

  She was overjoyed to be able to bring him such pleasure, so much happiness. She wanted to be fully in his world, with him just like this, so close she couldn’t tell where he ended and she began. She moved more aggressively until he was surging into her with strength and power, until she felt the gathering of every nerve ending, every muscle, and the flow of blood, until they soared together higher than ever.

  I want more time with you. I want to touch your body and know it the way you know mine. I want to see the things you’ve seen and make you feel the way you’ve made me feel, she whispered into his mind.

  “We have time,” he said. “All the things you fantasize about, all the things that matter to you—we have time for everything.” Very gently he stopped her feeding, closing the slash across his chest. He laid her on the bed, his hands gentle, loving, stroking her bare skin while he brought her fully out of the enthrallment.

  Joie blinked up at him. “That’s twice,” she said. “I’m that much closer to being in your world.” She touched his face with gentle fingers. “I’ve fallen pretty hard for you, Traian.”

  He knew what she was saying. She was fully committed and just that little bit scared that somehow he would change his mind about her. There was no way to adequately explain the concept of lifemates when she lived in a human world where divorce seemed a way of life. It would be absolutely impossible to leave a true lifemate.

  “You are not alone, Joie,” he assured. “I had no idea emotions could be so intense, but when I look around me, I can see only you. You are truly the light to my darkness.”

  She sent him a small, tentative smile, rolling onto her side, propping up her head with one hand. “I don’t know about that. I doubt if either of my siblings would ever call me light to anyone’s darkness.”

  “I guess they do not see you as I do.”

  “You guess right.”

  Traian gave a sigh of regret. “I have to go, Joie. It is almost sunset. I have to find at least one of the master vampire’s lairs before he rises.”

  “Do you have an idea where to look?” She traced first his face, and then his mouth with her fingertips, committing his face to memory with each caressing stroke.

  “I hope they did not leave the cave. They were so reluctant to leave it before, but we had not discovered the mage traps. It is a dangerous place to be, even for the undead—maybe especially for the undead.”

  “Promise me that you’ll contact me if you run into any trouble.” She looked him straight in the eye, insisting on the truth.

  “You are my lifemate, Joie. If I run into trouble, you will know.” He bent his head to kiss her. Slowly. Lingering over it. Pouring his heart and soul into it.

  Her mouth went dry the moment he stepped away from her. She sat all the way up and reached for a blanket, holding it to comfort her. “Traian, it’s difficult to let you go alone.”

  “I know it is, sivamet—my love, and I thank you for your understanding. I know allowing me to hunt alone is against your nature, but truly, you and your brother and sister are in great danger here. It is just as difficult for me to leave you unguarded when I know danger is close. Your scents still linger in the cave and the undead can hunt using scent alone. Do not think for one moment that you are not hunted.”

  “Here? Surrounded by everyone in the village? Are they really that bold?”

  “Vampires are very vengeful creatures. And they use humans to do their bidding. Anyone is a potential enemy.”

  “I have a lot to learn about vampires,” Joie sighed. “All the training I’ve been through and my experiences on my job don’t seem to count for much in dealing with them.”

  He caught her chin and kissed her again. When he stepped back, he was fully clothed, looked immaculate and a little bit lethal. “I removed the safeguards at your door so your siblings can enter without worry, but those at your windows remain. I will return as soon as possible.”

  Just that fast, Traian was gone. Joie lay back on the sheets, staring up at the ceiling, her heart pounding in fear for him. He was gone, slipping out through the window, a cloud of vapor streaming into the air. It wasn’t yet sunset, but she felt as if the sun had gone down on her world.

  Nothing can happen to you, she whispered into his mind. I would never forgive myself for letting you do this alone.

  I can see I will have to impart my knowledge of hunting the undead as quickly as possible to you. It really is difficult for you to be left behind when there is danger surrounding me. Think of your siblings, Joie. They have great need of you.

  Joie pressed her hand to her heart in an attempt to control the wild pounding. She took a deep breath to steady herself. This wasn’t just about him going off alone to fight. Dread built fast. Had she not been touching his mind, she knew she would have thought him dead to her. Sorrow lurked just behind the dread.

  It is only the effects of our connection. I am with you. Feel with your mind as a Carpathian must. It takes time to learn our ways, I know, but I cannot have you suffering grief when I am alive and well and able to reach out to you.

  Determined to combat her growing sorrow, when there was no real reason for it, Joie sat up. It is amazing how intense the feeling is. And it is a little frightening to think that emotion is stronger than logic. I know where you are, yet I still have such a need to touch you—to feel you in my mind. It makes no sense.

  The terrible need inside of her didn’t make sense. Joie considered herself a very logical woman. She didn’t like this out-of-control feeling, a dark dread that stole her good sense and her ability to reason. She lifted her chin. There were changes taking place in her body and mind, but that didn’t mean she would give in to melancholy.

  I’ll be perfectly fine, Traian. You worry about yourself. I’ll hang with Jubal and Gabrielle while you’re gone, she assured him. I’m strong and can get through this. Don’t you worry about me, just take care of yourself.

  Stay close to Gary as well. He knows both the undead and my people.

  Joie did the mental equivalent of rolling her eyes. As if. Traian, you’re going to have to get over your outdated attitude toward women. It must be your age. Gary is the one who needs protection. He lives in another world, just like Gabrielle, I can see it in him. He’s more at home in a lab than fighting vampires.

  But he knows the ways of the undead and how best to combat them. Stay close to him.

  Joie clenched her teeth. She was never going to be the little woman, hiding behind the big brave man. If that’s the kind of woman you want, you started something you never should have.

  She felt a stroking caress along her face—feather-light—the gentle touch of fingers, yet he was no longer close to the inn.

  I know exactly who you are, Joie, and what you are capable of. I do not mean to make you feel as if I don’t think you can handle yourself. I know you will not panic and that you will fight the undead without hesitation. I am merely saying stay safe and keep the person who has been around Carpathian hunters close while I am gone. That makes sense, does it not?

  Of course it made sense. She didn’t have to like it, did she? Nor did she want to let go of her irritation, not with the strange grief of separation edging so close to her.

  You might have mentioned your archaic attitude and your stubbornness when you were being so blasted charming a few minutes ago.

  His soft laughter echoed through her mind. You might have warned me I was going to be dealing with a modern female who is determined to get herself into dangerous situations.

  The teasing in his tone warmed her—settled her. She took a deep breath and let it out. She knew he had to go without her in his mind. The vampires could detect him through his connection with her.

  Just do whatever you have to do and return home safe to me.

  Again she felt that feather-light brushing caress along her face. She placed her palm over the invisible mark, holding him close to her as his mind slipped from hers. At once she felt bereft, as though instead of mist streaming through the sky toward the caves, Traian lay beneath the earth dead to her. She was astonished at the strength of emotion pouring into her mind, once he was actually away from her.

  Determined not to give in to the strange reaction to their separation, Joie took a long, hot shower. It was nearly impossible to stand beneath the cascading water without thinking of Traian, but she concentrated on pushing him out of her mind enough to figure out how to tell her parents that she was essentially married—and to someone not quite human.

  Her father was accepting of everything his children did and was a very tolerant man. Her mother was fiercely protective of her children and loved them very much. Her family was her world. It had been her mother who insisted all of them take self-defense lessons almost from the time they could walk. Her father had been the climber of mountains and delved deep into the caves around the world. He had taught them a love of nature.

  Joie sighed. Her mother wasn’t going to welcome Traian. She had a major problem with alpha males, bristling the moment they walked into the room—almost as if she had radar. She’d been particularly hard on Jubal as they’d grown up.

  She found she could hear conversations whispered in the rooms around her and even as far away as people moving in the sitting room. It took some practicing to turn down the volume, but not before she heard her sister and brother walking down the hall to her door. The cursory knock didn’t at all surprise her, but the sound of a tool scratching in the lock did. She tensed and eased one hand out of the shower enough to grip her weapon until she recognized her sister’s scent as she stuck her head in the bathroom.

  “What are you doing, you crazy woman?” Joie demanded. “Were you hoping to get a peek at my man? That’s grounds for shooting you.”

  “Ha! You wouldn’t you know. And hurry up. Jubal and I are getting tired of waiting for you two. And you’d better not be doing anything perverted in that tiny little shower stall.” She sounded more hopeful than anything else.

  “How did you get into my room, you peeping Tom?” Joie threw a wet washcloth with deadly accuracy. “It was locked.”

  Gabrielle squealed when the cloth hit her square in the face. “I’m picking up your bad habits and wanted to show off.” She sounded a little smug. “You aren’t the only one who can pick a lock. In any case, Jubal double-dog dared me. What else could I do?”

  “Pretend you’re discreet while I’m trying to land a man. Sheesh, Gabby, he’s going to think we’re all a pack of perverts. You don’t have to accept every one of Jubal’s juvenile challenges.”

  “You do,” Gabrielle pointed out, not in the least repentant.

  “He only does that to make Mom crazy,” Joie said.

  “Are you in there alone? Because I don’t want to see any naked bodies.”

  Joie let out a little sniff. “Then what are you doing in here, trying to see through the steam. I’m naked, if you want to know, but Traian already went back to the cave.”

  Gabrielle sighed. “I’ve already seen you naked and it’s nothing to get too excited about, but that man of yours is drop-dead gorgeous. I don’t know about this Carpathian business. He likes to be underground so much, he could very well be a troll. What are you going to tell Mom and Dad?” This time there was glee in Gabrielle’s voice.

  “I’ve been rehearsing,” Joie admitted. She emerged from the stall, wrapped in a bath sheet. “It has occurred to me to lie to them. And I thought you preferred skinny men. I saw you ogling Gary last night.”

  “I don’t ogle,” Gabrielle sniffed indignantly. “I never ogle. I just thought he was rather on the cute side. And you weren’t looking close enough. He’s not skinny, he has plenty of muscle, just not obscenely sticking out everywhere.” She sighed heavily, frowning. “I wish I was one of those really beautiful, stick-thin model types all men fall over. Even if I dyed my hair blonde and learned to flip it around, I don’t think I’d ever perfect the art of flirting.”

  Joie glared at her. “You are beautiful, you idiot. You’re just crazy. If this man can’t see your worth, he isn’t as smart as you think he is.”

  “Yeah, yeah, I’m all about brains and he’s going to be madly intrigued with my intellect and dazzled with my cushy body.” Gabrielle made a face, trying to laugh, but looking as if she might cry.

  “Gabby, what’s gotten into you?” Joie asked, stepping closer to her sister, feeling waves of distress pouring off her sister.

  “It’s just that I blow it every single time I’m actually attracted to a man. It doesn’t happen very often. Most of the time, I’m bored out of my mind and can’t stay in their company for five minutes. But when someone comes along who makes sense, and can discuss topics I’m really interested in, if I’m physically attracted, I come off looking like an idiot—or next to you and Jubal—the damsel in distress who needs rescuing.” She stuck her chin out. “I’m not, you know.”

  “Of course I know. You forget, Gabrielle, Jubal and I climb with you and go into caves. We’ve gone down the Amazon and into the rain forest. You never flinch.”

  “I flinched in the ice cave.”

  “Yeah, well, here’s a news flash for you, sister, so did I. Anyone who doesn’t flinch inside that place is plain suicidal and out of their mind.”