Page 19 of Revelations

“Being more stubborn than I, Greylyn needed a little more convincing. Your exercise in the garden, I believe, showed us both the undeniable truth. No matter how hard we’ve fought against it, hidden ourselves from it…it’s still there. It’s not going away, and we can’t ignore it any longer. Not after today.”

Greylyn forced herself to break eye contact with him. Much more of this and she would start to believe it. That was not a luxury she could afford—the lies of a dark guardian should never be mistaken for truth. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she faced the grinning vampire. Instinctively, her jaw tightened along with every muscle of her body. Fight mode steeled her body for battle, but another hand squeeze—this time more painful—alerted her to back down and play the game. She softened her gaze, relaxed her jaw, and hazarded a glance up into Kael’s face again.

“Is that right, little one?” Claude crooned. “Do you truly realize this man is your soul mate, your destiny, the other half of your heart? Did the garden reveal the truth in your souls?” One of his jet-black, perfectly styled eyebrows arched high as he waited for her reply.

Not trusting herself to refrain from spitting out a wise-ass answer, she simply bowed her head in defeat and nodded. This, apparently, was acceptable, as Claude clapped his hands together once in delight.

Before he began celebrating his victory too much, Kael interjected, “Howeverrightwe may be for each other, we are concerned about our friends. They are not exactly a goodever afterstory.”

Claude nodded as his lips crept up in a coy smile. “Yes, I could not agree with you more. Kristina and Brian are beginning to bore me, anyway. I think we can agree they should be let go.”

A hesitant wash of relief passed through her, but she didn’ttrust the monster to keep his side of the bargain. “We did exactly as you requested. You said that you would let them gounharmedif we did.”

With his violet eyes trained on them, the vampire walked over and sat down on the bed, crossing his legs. “Well, we should at least give them the opportunity to decide for themselves.” He leaned back, propping himself up on his elbows. “They can leave once they have given me their own decision. Not before. You cannot stop them if they choose to stay. That was also part of our agreement.” Claude sat up and tapped his finger against his dimpled chin. “Now, I admit you have a point about their potential for an everlasting love connection. The girl is obviously head over heels and would do anything that Neanderthal tells her. However, his devotion to her is questionable, at best.” Licking his lips, he added, “But he would make a tasty meal.”

“No, that’s not part of the deal,” she protested, letting go of Kael’s hand and stepping toward the bed. All thoughts of playing nice zapped out of her head.

“Oh, no need to get yourself in a fuss. If they choose to leave, fine…they can leave, unharmed. However, you may change your mind about letting them slip away once you need to feed.”

Okay, now that’s just disgusting.

Her facial expression must have registered her doubt because Claude rolled his eyes and then motioned to the guard standing just inside the doorway. “Have Simone bring in the other couple, please.” When he turned back to her, he shrugged. “Happy, now?”

Moments later, a tall, slender woman in a stylish designer shimmering gray pantsuit and classic black patent leather Louboutin stilettos ushered in the hapless captives. Simone was stunning! Chestnut hair in perfectly shaped waves flowed down to the small of her back. Eyes the color of the Dead Sea narrowed with suspicion at Greylyn but widened with admiration when she looked at Kael. Her pink tongue licked her lips and a low, almost inaudible growl escaped as she crossed to stand directly in front of him.

Rage—or was that jealousy?—reared up in Greylyn; an emotion that she was nottoo familiar with, and did not like how it slithered into her aura, coating it with an ugly, sick blackness. Despite Kael’s ironclad grip on her hand, she put herself between him and the bloodsucking temptress.

Claude’s laughter filled the room. “See, Simone? I told you this one was feisty.” He had moved without making a sound to stand next to his mate. His hand reached out to stroke Greylyn’s hair, eliciting a warning growl from Kael. “And to think these two did not believe they were compatible, much less soulmates. It boggles the mind, does it not, dear?”

Without a word, Simone nodded and turned her attention away from Kael. She placed her hands on Claude’s shoulder, while her long, pointed blood-red fingernails stroked lazily back and forth. She peeked up at Greylyn through long eyelashes, but they did not veil her disdain.

The expression told Greylyn all that she needed to know. This succubus desired Kael for her own and Greylyn was an obstacle. Perhaps vamp-family life was not as rosy and harmonious as Claude liked to pretend.

The hapless human couple had been completely forgotten in the interchange. It was only Kristina’s sobs that broke Greylyn’s attention away from Simone. Ruined mascara marred her otherwise pretty face, while Brian simply wore a scowl.

Remembering his role as the gracious host, Claude turned around to face the couple. He sighed deeply. It was clear that he did not enjoy this part of the game and just sought to finish this unpleasant business. “As you all know, I look for a special quality in couples to join my family.” He glanced back at Greylyn and Kael. “For lovers,truelovers, to be together for eternity, they must make the decision of their own free will.”

Dramatically, he pivoted to face Kristina and Brian again, and added, “Some are not cut out for this life. Some do not have the special connection I believe is necessary for an eternity of love. Even those who do, they do not always choose this life. However, I do not force anyone to join us.” Claude stepped over to the quivering female, placing a finger underneath her chin to raise her swollen, red eyes to his. “Choose wisely. Once made, the decision cannot be reversed. Eternal love comes at a price; one paid for with your life’s blood.”

Walking over to a corner desk, Claude extracted a letter opener from a drawer. He proceeded to dig out invisible dirt from under his nails, as if the discussion was over whether to order pizza to be delivered or picked up, rather than life and death.

Should’ve checked the damn desk for a weapon. Damn it, Greylyn. What’s your problem?

Greylyn glanced over at Kristina. The poor girl had gone ashen and her eyes were as wide as silver dollars. She reached for Brian’s hand, but he pulled away from her. So much for true love!

Claude turned his violet eyes back on his guests. “Now, our lovely friends, Greylyn and Kael, agree it may be best for you to decline the invitation. Not everyone is cut out for eternal life, after all. Not everyone has that deep connection that goes beyond the flesh to the very soul. But the decision has to be yours. No one else can answer for you.” He replaced the letter opener in the drawer with deliberate slowness. “I will give you a few minutes to discuss.”

With that, he joined hands with Simone and walked out the door with all the magnificence of strolling down the red carpet at the Oscars. Thankfully, his goons followed before locking it behind them.

Tears streamed down Kristina’s face as she tried to stutter a question. No sound came out of her mouth. Brian, on the other hand, sneered at his girlfriend.

“Stop sniveling, Kris!”

Before Greylyn could tear into him, Kael grabbed the young man by the arm and threw him against the wall, knocking over a vase in the process. “Show some respect or you won’t have a choice to make, because I’ll rip your heart out of your chest before the vamps can bust in to save you.”

Startled, Kristina finally found her voice.

“They…they’re…vampires?”

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