Dark Promises(35)

Vampires would never associate with humans and not destroy them. They do not have that much discipline.

Fane. They do have it now. Master vampires have been collecting followers—lesser vampires. They use them as pawns. The master vampires formed an alliance in South America and planned to assassinate Mikhail Dubrinsky. They practiced their plan first on the De La Cruz brothers. They are a very big threat to our people now.

There was another long silence as Fane tried to process how the world had moved on while he and his brethren had locked themselves away in the monastery. This cannot be. Vampires are vain and would never be able to resist killing one another.

Andre didn’t argue. He didn’t ever argue. He’d told Fane the truth. Some of the master vampires had grown crafty, and they sought power. Having lesser vampires surrounding them fed their egos and allowed them more power.

This is not good, Andre. We had no idea.

Warn the others. I will do my best to rid the threat to you, but should any get past me, understand what you could be dealing with. The society members also use drugs—drugs that can paralyze us.

Fane remained a presence in his mind. And then Andre felt him reaching for Teagan. Instantly he was there, a shield, preventing Fane from doing more than a cursory examination. He allowed his ancient friend to see her resolve, but refused to let him into her mind any further. Fane seemed to respect the boundaries because he didn’t push.

When you have rid us of this threat, bring your lifemate back. I will allow her to try her healing skills on me. If she succeeds, no doubt a few of the others will allow her to try it on them as well.

Andre couldn’t ask for anything more than that. He knew that living in complete darkness, one century after another flowing into one another until there was no difference and no way to mark time, took its toll. When you added hunting and killing old friends and even family, the toll got worse until it was one’s very soul that paid the ultimate price. When one could no longer even hear the whisper of temptation, it was time to go. One more battle. One more kill. That could easily be the one pushing an ancient over the edge. After living a life of honor, that would be the worst possible fate.

Arwa-arvo olen isäntä, ekäm—honor keep you, my brother, Andre whispered telepathically in the language of his people. Meaning it. Asking Fane to hold out just a little longer.

Sívad olen wäkeva, hän ku piwtä—may your heart stay strong, hunter, Fane replied back.

Andre took Teagan’s hand. “Remember what I’ve told you. They shot at the owls flying. We cannot take any chances. We will hike down as humans. I will set up a camp off the path, down in the rocks where you climbed the boulder. We will meet them accidently. We are spending our time alone up here after our marriage.”

“They can check anything with the Internet, Andre,” she cautioned. “We haven’t gotten married.”

He gave her a look. One that said she was married. She was bound to him in the way of his people. The vows had been said. They were married. More than married. It was impossible to separate them. One could not survive very well without the other.

“Josef filed our papers, Teagan. We are officially married. I once told you I never used surnames that meant anything to me. Not until I met you. You have my name.” He looked down at her, his gaze moving over her face. “It matters.”

He watched her eyes go soft. Melt into dark chocolate. Her lashes fluttered, and he wanted to kiss her upturned mouth, so he did. She was irresistible. Her mouth was a haven wiping out his past, a dark lonely period that had gone on century after century, just as Fane and the other ancients suffered.

She slipped her arms around his waist, pressing her front to his, her breasts tight against him. She was much shorter and he always found that when her soft breasts brushed against his groin, his cock leapt to life, looking for a warm place to rest.

“It matters,” she murmured against his mouth. “Nice to know to the outside world we’re married, but my grandmother is not going to be happy. I’m certain she’s come here to prevent me from making a mistake. She thinks you’re involved in a human trafficking ring or some sheik that will put me in his harem in the desert.”

He ran his hand over the back of her head. Teagan always braided her hair when they were outdoors. Rows and rows of cornrows that were tight over her head and drawn back in a thick ponytail that fell to her waist. He objected on principle. He loved her hair and preferred it down. She complied when they were alone inside the cave where they had a resting place, and he was content with that—for the moment.

“We’d better keep going down the mountain, sívamet. We need to know what we are dealing with, and they are a good distance away. I want to travel as humans, just in case. If they can shoot at owls, suspecting them to be more than the natural wildlife in the area, they have someone other than your grandmother assisting them.” His voice was grimmer than he wanted it to be.